2    5nrnhilt.farOt
OF
THE REIGN OF GEORGE THE FIRST.
BY   G. P. RL, JA AES,  ESQ,,
AUTHOR OF'THE' OLD OAK CHEST," "THE WOODMAN," "THE FORGERY," "TIHE CONVICT,"
"RUSSELL," "RICHELIEU," "BEAUCIIAMP," "GOWRIE,"
&c., &c., &c.
NEW YORK:
HARPER & BROTHIER;S, PUBLISHERS,
82 C   LIFF  S T R E E T.




Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty, by
GEORGE P. R. JAMES,
in the Office of the Clerk of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.




CHAPTER I.                      The Square was now vacant for several minutes, longer, perhaps, than it ever is in the presBY the side of the large piece of water in the ent day, or than it usually was then; but the fact
middle of St. James's Square-               is, that almost all the possessors of houses in the
"There is no large piece of water in St. Square, the elder members of their families, and
James's Square. It is a very small one."     a considerable number of their servants, had
But there was at the time I speak of, namely, gone down to Westminster, to hear the impeachthe year 1715; and if you will allow me to go on, ment of Lord Bolingbroke and the Earl of Oxyou shall hear all about it.                ford. It is true, a footman would occasionally
By the side of the large piece of water in St. pass from one door to another; and a cook, with
James's Square, looking at the playing of the  a night-cap on his head, an apron before him,
fountain (which was afterward congealed into a and a knife at his side, was seen to ascend the
great ugly statue), and watching the amuse- area-steps of a house in the corner, and look out
meats of a gay boy and girl, who had come out with an impatient expression of countenance, as
of one of the houses-I think it was Lord Bath- if the fish had not arrived, or the butcher had
urst's-and were rowing about in the pleasure- failed in punctuality. The only other persons
boat on the water, stood a man of some six or who appeared in the Square were, the stranger
seven-and-twenty years of age, dressed in a garb  gazing at the children, the children in the boat,
which did not very well indicate his profession, and an.elderly gentleman who, under the name
although the distinctions of costume were in those  of tutor, had come out to watch them, but who,
days somewhat closely attended to. His gar- seated on a garden chair, had forgotten them,
ments, of a sober color, were very plain, but very  and Bolingbroke and Oxford, and every thing
good. Especial care seemed to have been taken else on earth, in the pages of a book containing
to avoid every thing in the least degree singu- select fragments of Hesiod and Pindar.
lar, or which could attract attention; and it was   The sun was shining brightly and warmly into
more easy to say what the wearer was not, than  the Square; the smoky fluid which Londoners
what he was. He was not a Presbyterian min-  mistake for air, tempered the light, and gave a
ister, although the cut and coloring of his cloth- misty softness to the surrounding objects; and
ing might have led one to believe thathe was so; altogether St. James's Square seemed a very
for he wore a sword. The same mark showed  pleasant sort of place, considering that it formed
that he was not an artisan, but did not so pre- part of the suburbs of a great city.
cisely prove that he was not a trader; for more    There was nothing remarkable in any man
than one shop-keeper in those days assumed the staying there for a few minutes to look about
distinctive mark of a higher class when he got him and enjoy himself, especially if he came
from behind his counter and went into a part of through any of the dark dens in which commerce
the town where he was not known. Yet, had  carries on.her busy warfare in the heart of Lonhe been one of this butterfly tribe, the rest of his don; for the contrast was very great. But the
apparel would have seemed more in accordance stranger stayed more than a few minutes. A
with his assumed rank.                      whole quarter of an hour elapsed without his
He wasnot a courtier; for where was the gold, changing his position, till at length a curious,
and the lace, and the embroidery?  He was not fantaastic-looking man, with a great quantity of
a physician; for there was no red roquelaure, no ribbon at his knees and clothing of very gaudy
gold-headed cane; and who could pretend to colors, came up to his side, and spoke to him in
call himself doctor without such appendages?   a low tone.
He seemed to have been riding too, for he had    The new-comer had some excuse for attemptlarge boots on, and. his hat and coat were some- ing to ornament his person; which, to say truth,
what dusty. In every other respect he was a greatly needed it. He was short, probably not
very indefinite sort of personage; but yet, of more than five feet four inches in height; but he
three nursery-maids who passed him consecu-  made up in width, especially across the hips,
tively, taking out children for an airing, as it is which would have required the full extent of
called-as if there was any such thing as air in a Dutchman's nether garment to cover them deLondon-two turned their heads to have another cently; and the late King William III., of blesslook at his face, and one stopped by the posts ed memory, might well have looked upon him
which fenced the water, and, while affecting to with that favor which he is supposed to have becontemplate the same objects as himself, gave a stowed very liberally upon his countrymen; not,
simpering look toward him, as if to intimate that indeed, that our friend came actually and personshe had no objection to a little pleasant conver-  ally from the shores of Holland, though he cersation.                                     taiily looked very like a Dutchman. His featThe hard-hearted young man, however, took  ures were large and by no means of the most delno notice of her; and she walked on, thinking icate symmetry, the nose having been originally
him a fool, in which she was mistaken.      set somewhat awry on the face, and its obliqui



f6                               HENRY SMEATON.
ty being rendered more conspicuous by sundry    "Stay a while, stay a while," replied the othwarts, knots, and excrescences, with which, in- el'. " Just come with me, and you shall soon see
deed, the whole of his countenance was amply  whether Oxford is as powerless as you think.
provided. The eyes, however, were good, large,  You shall have proof positive with your own eyes
open, merry blue eyes; and, though certainly as and ears. If he call but be got to speak and act,
ugly a personage as one could hope to see, there  the power will not be wanting. I tell you," he
was yet something-strange to say-very win- added, in a lower tone, " fully three fifths of all
ning in his look, notwithstanding the vast Ramil- England are firm Loyalists; and every third man
lies wig by which he had contrived to add to his among the Whigs, from Marlborough and Sunnative ugliness.                             derland down to Townley and Chudleigh, would
Approaching from the side of Charing Cross, throw up their hats and cry,'Long live King
with a rolling, somewhat consequential step, this James!' if they did but see him in the way of
personage advanced to the stranger who had  prospering.   All the common people, too, are of
been standing in the Square, and accosted him in  one mind."
a familiar tone.                               "Ah, the fickle commons!" said Smeaton,
"It is settled, Master Smeaton," he said, speak- thoughtfully putting his arm through that of his
ing in a low voice. " They have carried it by a companion. "Where are you going to take me?"
large majority. It would have done you good to    "Only down to the cock-pit," replied Van
be present. I never saw such attitudes."     Noost, "to see Oxford return from the House."
" It would have been madness in me to go,"    " Was he there?" asked Smeaton, in a tone of
replied the other. "Who moved the impeach- some surprise.
ment?"                                          " Yes," answered his companion. "He came
" Why that depends upon which impeachment down early to the House in case the bill should
you mean," answered his companion. " Wal-  be brought up at once; and there he sat as cool
pole moved against Bolingbroke, with one hand  as a watering-pot. But he must be coming away
clapped in his coat pocket and the other stretch- now, since his impeachment is voted, and a comed out for full five minutes, just like that of my  mittee appointed to draw up the articles."
nymph with the flower-basket. I could have    "He shows firmness in these dangerous cirsworn it had been cast in lead."             cumstances, at least," remarked Smeaton. "Per"Little use of impeaching  Bolingbroke," ob- haps he may be inclined to show vigor also."
served the young man addressed as Smeaton.    While thus speaking, they had entered Pall
"He is safe enough, depend upon it; but it was  Mall, which presented a very different appearnot of him I thought. Bolingbroke, with all his ailce firom that which it displays in the present
abilities, is useless to any party, and would be  day, as well as from that which it had borne half
detrimental to most. He has contrived to obtain  a century before. There were no longer double
a character for want of principle, which makes rows of trees on the one side, and detached
most men doubt and fear him."                 houses, with scattered gardens, on the other; but
"Principle, my dear sir!" said the other with  the buildings were still very irregular, and occaa low laugh, " what is the good of principle? sionally an open piece of ground, with a tall pop-'Tis but an obstinate adherence to notions once  lar or two, intervened between a princely manacquired, after the circumstances have changed  sion-such as Marlborough House or Schomberg
that rendered them worth having. Principle is House-and a common inn, such as the Sugara lane with a stone wall on each side and no  loaf or Richards's Tavern.
room to turn the carriage. Principle is one of    As Pall Mall was at this time a favorite place
those cold, hard, stone statues which, when once  of residence for strangers visiting the metropolis,
broken, there's an end of; not like my dear di- the thoroughfare was somewhat crowded, and
vinities of lead, which, should any thing go wrong  numerous sedan-chairs were passing along, carwith them, I can throw  into the melting-pot rying gentlemen to'visits or to chocolate-houses.
again anld bring out in a new shape- No, no; Thle foot-path, though famous for its mud in wet
give me, in ethics and in art, pliable materials weather, was now quite dry, and the feet of the
which will make a Jupiter one day allnd a dancing  chairmen, as they trotted along in the middle of
faun the next; a Juno now, and then the Queen  the road, raised clouds of dust very inconvenient
of Love. Principle, forsooth!  Who has ever to the eyes.
heard of principle since the blessed Restoration?"   It might be this circumstance which caused
The young man smiled and mused, and then  Van Noost's companion to press his hat -further
asked abruptly: "But what of Oxford?  Did  over his brows as he entered this street, and
that pass as easily?"                       quicken his pace, to the discomposure of the othI' O yes," replied his companion, " more so, if  er's somewhat jaunty steps. A distant shout,
possible. The hounds are always more eager however, seemed to give wings to good Van
when the game is in sight. Lord Coningsby did  Noost's feet; for, whispering, " Come on —come
it very well, with grave emphasis and a grand  on here, across, or we shall be too late. He is
air. Ye gods and goddesses, how he did bespat- issuing out of the House. I know the bark of
ter the noble earl! He must declare himself those dirty muzzles well," he darted to the othnow, if ever."                               er side of the way, and, to the surprise of his
"Is there any good in his declaring himself?"  companion, entered a dingy apothecary's shop,
demanded Smeaton. " Many a man declares indicated by the sign of a golden pestle and morhimself when it is too late. Twelve months ago, tar over the door.
he might have done something; now, golden op-   "Good morning, Mr. Gingle," he said, to a
portunity has slipped through his fingers, and he  man who was pounding something in a very
is powerless. Yet I do believe he is a profound, large mortar, and raising an inconceivable smelL
wise manl if it were not for that vacillating spirit, "Will you just let us pass by your back way
so often the stumbling-block of great abilities. into the park?  My friend and I want to see the
I have a great mind to go back to France, Van  Earl of Oxford come up from the House."
Noost. I do not like my errand "                " Go on, go on, Van Noost," replied the shop



HENRY SMEATON.                                        7
keeper, sneezing into the mortar, and hardly voice, with a somewhac sarcastic tone, addressed
raising his eyes. "You know  the way; but him by name, saying,
don't leave the door open."                    " Well, my good friend Van Noost, you have
With this permission, the two companions shouted loudly for Harley to-day, which is genhurried on through a little back parlor into a erous, seeing that he has little chance of paying
small yard behind the house, and thence by a the obligation."
door-way in the wall into a narrow passage which   "Paid already, my good lord," replied Van
led them by some steps into the mall of the park. Noost, turning round, not in the least discomAs soon as they issued from between the brick posed, and addressing a thin, plainly-dressed man
walls, the roaring voice of the multitude was of the middle age. "He bought two nymphs
again heard, louder and nearer; and, hurrying and two dairy-maids of me no longer ago than
forward, they passed up a narrow passage out of this time twelve-month —size of life —dairythe park, the door of which, in the two former maids with pails on their heads, nymphs with
reigns, had been kept closed, but which was cornucopias in their hands, to say nothing of a
now generally left open as an entrance from the little black boy with a dolphin to be put in the
Spring Gardens. Thence, thridding numerous middle of a fountain. Surely I am bound to cry
narrow passages amongo low pot-houses, mingled'Long live the Earl of Oxford!' If your lordship
in a strange way with finer buildings, and cross- will patronize me in the like manner-and should
ing what was called Cromwell's Yard, they en- you chance to get into a scrape so as to win the
tered the world of coffee-houses and taverns applause of the mob, I will throw up my hat and
which at that time occupied the space known by roar,' Long live the Earl of Stair!' with the best
the name of Charing Cross. Carriages now roll of them."
over ground which, in those days, was covered   "Well, well," replied the earl, with a smile,
with numerous dwellings; but the thoroughfare " only take care what you are doing, imy good
was not less crowded then than now; for the friend; for, thotugh being whipped for a libel has
multitude, ever thronging to and fro, was corn- often made a bookseller's fortune, yet the being
pressed into a narrower space, and on that day sent to New gate for sedition would not greatly
especially the numbers were so great that it was benefit a leaden fi"ure-maker, I imagine."
hardly possible for any one to make his way   "I did it on compulsion, noble lord," replied
along the street.                           Van Noost, in an indifferent tone. "I make it a
At the moment when the two whom we have point never to quarrel with a mob; for I am a
mentioned more particularly were added to the curious piece of statuary, not so easily mended
rest of the human beings there assembled, a sort as one of my own figures; and I don't believe
of compulsory motion was given to the crowd, any king on earth would help to mend me if I
some being driven forward in the direction of the chanced to get head or bone broken by resisting
Hay-market, and others pushed back against the the rabble. Would you not have done the same
houses behind them, by the advance of an enor- in my place?"
mous mob up the center or carriage-way of the   "No," replied the earl, who seemed for some
street, in the midst of which might be seen, tow- reason willing to prolong the conversation. "I
ering above the ocean of heads, a large, clumsy, should have done just as this worthy gentleman
bhut highly-ornamentedl carriage, drawn by four who is with you did; kept my hat on, and repowerlffl horses. Hats were waving in the air, rmained silent. Besides, my good friend, your
handkerchiefs fluttering from many a window, leanings are well known, although one would
and several thousand voices were heard shouting have thought that the son of jolly old Van Noost,
all at once, and " making the welkin  ring." who came over with King William, would not
Some cried one thing and some another, but the have inherited a vast store of Jacobitism."
general meaning was alike.                    "It was nmy mother's property I came into,"
One roared forth, " Oxford forever!" another, replied Van Noost, with a laugh; " fbr, though my
"High Church, High Church and Sacheverel!" father was a Dutchman, my mother was a thoranother, " Down with the Whigs!" and then ou-gh Englishwoman, Betsy Hall by narme. My
again might be heard " Ormnond, the Duke of Or- father never meddled with politics, good man;
mond forever, and away with the Hanover rats!" but my mother was a stanch Tory, and a wise
Not contented with thus asserting their own one; for she always cried when there was any
temporary opinions, the sturdy ruffians of the thing to be got, and held her tongue when there
mob insisted that all persons whom they passed was no use in crying. Bitt how happens your
Ahould give some sign of consenting to the same; lordship to be on foot among the rabble?" he
am-d any one who hesitated seemed likely to be continued, moving as if to pass the earl, who
roaghly handled.                            was right in his way. "Have you not been'Off with your hat, and cry' Oxford forever!'" down to the House to see these gay doings?"
roaued one fellow in the garb of a sailor, ap-   "Not I," replied the Earl of Stair. " My bsiproaching the spot where Van Noost and Smea- ness is to stop intrigues, and not to mix with
ton stood.                                  them."
The latter did not obey the injunction, bhut re-   " A hard cut, that, at your friends, my lord,"
imained covered and silent. Van Noost, howev- said Van Noost, bowing low, and taking off his
er, raised his hat and shouted readily, and the hat.  "Bob Walpole wouldn't thank you, I
min passed on, swaggeriing  and bawling with his think."
companions, and following the carriage of the   While this short conversation had been goilng
Earl of Oxford as it moved slowly forward.  on, the Earl of Stair had more than once directThe crowd of more respectable persons col- ed his eyes, with a quiet, inquiring glance, toIected at both sides of the street began then to ward Van Noost's companion. That personage,
disperse, and Van Noost was turning round to however, had, in an easy manner, without the
walk away with Smneaton, when a sharp tap upon slightest appearance of effort, contrived to keep
his shoulder made him suddenly pause and look his face averted, till the movement of Van Noost
behind him. At the same moment, a calm, clear in advance obliged him to pass the earl, who,




8                               HENRY SMEATON.
then got a full but momentary view of his coun- before them, a number of people were congre..
tenance. The two then walked on; and as soon gated, all talking and debating, and generally
as they were five or six steps distant, Lord Stair discussing politics; for the Englishman has been,
beckoned to a man who was standing at the door during many ages, rather a political than a poliof the Rummer tavern, and on his running up, tic animal, easily led in any course, it is true, by
whispered to him,                            one who knows his weak points, but having a
"Follow the two persons with whom I have wonderfully good opinion of his own capacity
been speaking; see whither they go, and watch, notwithstanding, and firmly convinced that he is
for a little, if they soon separate. Then come fit for the rule and governance of states.  The
and tell me."                                names of' Harley, Ormond, Bolingbroke, Wal-'Without a word of reply, the man glided away, pole, Coningsby, Cowper, met the ear at every
and soon gained sight of Van Noost and Smeaton step; but, without apparently taking any notice,
as they walked on. He kept at a certain dis- Smeaton and his companion walked on, still dogtance behind them, dogged them round the cor- ged by the man who had been set to watch their
ners of streets, sometimes crossed over the way, proceedings, and who kept on the other side of
and watched them fiom the opposite side, some- the way, under shadow of the trees.
times even passed them, and then stopped to   About a hundred yards beyond the grove of
look at something that seemed to attract his at- trees surrounding the reservoir, but on the other
tention. As the crowd in the streets diminished, side of the Reading Road, they came to a house,
however, his office became more difficult of exe- standing a little back, with a paved court before
cution; and his maneuvers were speedily detect- it, and of which the upper half of the lower and
ed by a quick eye that was upon him.         the lower half of the upper windows were cov"There is a man following us, Van Noost," ered by an immense sheet of painted canvas,
said Smneaton, in a low tone, just as they were reprmesenting a variety of curious looking utenentering Piccadilly. " He has dogged us ever sils mingled with figures of men and women,
since we left Charing Cross."                some in a state of nudity, and some clothed in
"He is watching you, not me," answered Van the quaint and starched fashion of the day, while
Noost, with a laugh.  "My character and domi- an inscription underneath announced that Jacob
cil are too well known to need watching. See Harris constructed, repaired, and kept in order
what it is to have an established reputation. But fountains of every kind, size, and description,
you must not go home, for that might be danger- and made chairs and garden-seats, ruined temouns. Come on to my little place: I will provide ples and summer-houses, with various other deyou such dinner as I can give, and will get you vices for the ornamenting of parks, pleasureout the back wayafter dark. In the mean time, grounds, and gardens. The description of his
we can talk over what is next to be done with talents was long and minute; but Van Noost
Oxford."                                     seemed to hold them in but small esteem; for,
The other did not reply, but walked on with as he passed by, and cast his eyes upon the inhis companion. They took their way straight scription, he said, with a sort of grunt,
up Piccadilly, which was then still frequently   "Ha! he's forced to come to me for all his
called the Reading Road. Toward the top of statuary. He can't do that."
the Hay-market, Piccadilly bore somewhat the   Some three or four hundred yards further on,
appearance of a street, although a great number every step giving the country greater predomiof the first houses were inns for the accommoda- nance over the town, and a little on this side of the
tion of strangers coming to ILondon; but as'one spot where Apsley House now stands, was a small
proceeded in a westerly direction, the country dwelling of two low stories, retreating from the
gained the day over the town, and Piccadilly high road, and having a garden before it of about
wore much the appearance of that suburb called a quarter of an acre in extent. This garden was
Kensington Gore. On the right hand especially ornamented witl various fruit-trees, the medlar,
were many splendid mansions, surrounded by the mulberry, and the ditch-loving elder-tree,
large gardens, affecting a rural air, commencing, notorious for its wine; but the principal decoraI believe, with the houses of Sir John Clarges and tion consisted in a whole host of figures, as large
Lady Stanhope, and going on with Queensbury as life, cast in lead, and by no means ill executed.
HIouse, Burlington House, Sir Thomas Bond's One might have thought that a living mob had
house (through part of which has been carried the taken possession of the garden, had not the hetwell-known Bond-street), Berkeley House, with erogeneous costume of the figures themselves deits splendid garden, and several others, built and noted their real nature. Almost all of them were
decorated at an expense and with a degree of lux- painted " to the life."  Here were soldiers preury far beyond the means of any but a very few of senting their firelocks as if in the act of shootirg
our wealthiest countrymen of the present day.   at you; dairy maids and country lasses with baskBeyond these splendid mansions, as the two ets on their heads, long boddices, and goaNys
walked on toward Hyde Park, came a very dif- tucked through the pocket-holes; mowers whetferent class of houses, not in continuous rows, ting their scythes-old Time among the rest;
though here and there two or three were even negroes kneeling and supporting sun-dials; "very
then-beginning to lean their shoulders together black and beautiful," as dear Washington Irvin[
as if for mutual support. Between the buildings says in his negro cosmogony; to say nothing oL
were still gardens, and even fields; and the fair-skinned nymphs as naked as they were bora.
houses themselves seldom soared above the rank The garden was shut in from the road by a rusof the dwelling of some inferior artist, or some tic fence, with a small gate in the center; and
low public house or wagoner's inn, of which last before that gate Van Noost stopped, and opened
there was an immense number, nuder signs it for his companion to pass in.
which are still perpetuated in the names of   As soon as Smeaton had entered the garden,
streets: the Half Moon, the Black Horse, the the statuary (for so I suppose we must call him)
White Horse, the Crown, the Dog and Duck, etc. paused and looked round.  He instantly perRound the doors of these, and -on the bencles ceived the main who had followed them planted




HENRY SMEATON.                                        9
on the opposite side of the way; and, carefully  and bold would be the man who should attempt
locking the gate, he followed his companion  to scale it, still bolder he who should seek to
through his grove of leaden figures, pointing out descend from the height above. This is called
to him, with the mingled affection of a parent Ale Head; and the opposite limb of the bay
and an artist, the various excellences of his own consists of another promontory, not so steep or
productions. He had no modesty upon the sub- precipitous indeed, but still lofty and scarped
ject-it was a quality, indeed, which did not enough, which bears the name of Ale Down.
greatly embarrass him on any subject, and prob- Neither does it project so far into. the sea from
ably Praxiteles did not value the immortal works the general line of coast, which trends away to
of his hand, whether in marble or ivory, so high- the eastward at no very abrupt angle. Protectly: as Jacob Van Noost estimated his own pro- ed thus on three sides by very high ground, and
ductions.                                   with only a somewhat narrow opening in one
"See that Apollo," he exclaimed, pointing to direction, the waters of that bay, during the
a figure of the Belvidere God. " I have caught greater part of the year, are as soft and tranthe fire and the spirit, you see; and as for the quil as a dream of Heaven; but they are very
grace, I think I may venture to say that thelittle deep also, for the cliffs run down far below
elevation which I have given to the left arm  the low-water mark. Standing on the heights
greatly increases it, as well as the dignity."  above, I have looked down, and beheld the sea
Smeaton walked ol with mllore speedthanwas lying beneath my feet as smooth as a mirror
quite flattering to his companion.  He was a  y
good-natured creature, however, Van Noost; and as blue as a sapphire. A hundred-gun ship
could anchor in that bay, within pistol-shot of
and he merely gave his shoulders a slight shrug, the cliffs of
hurried his own pace, and, arriving before the
other at the little old green blistered door, threwit open to give him admission, pointing with his er, however, is a deep dell. I must not call it
hand, at the same time, to the entrance of a small a valley, for the sides ae too steep, and the
parlor, the clean-washed and neatly-sanded floor concavity too narrow to admit of that name
of which you reached by descending a single Down this deli flows a strong deep stream of
step. He then shut and locked the house door, beautifully clear water, over a rocky bed, from
hung up his hat upon a peg behind it, ad, ell-  which a large quantity of sand is carried down,
tering the parlor, placed a chair for his guest forming a soft, dry landing-place where the dell
with a low bow, saying,                     opens upon the bay. This little beach is not at
"Here you are safe, my lord, and here you all extensive, being, from the foot of the rock
had better remain till the gray of the evening. on the one side to the base of the hill on the
Ay, your noble father often sat in that chair, other, not more than two hundred yards wide,
speaking bad Dutch against my father's bad En- and perhaps forty in depth. Through the cenglish, examining his beautiful models, and choos- ter of it flows the stream into the sea, and twice
ing out such. as he wished to possess."     a day ocean comes up to meet its tributary,
covering by far the greater part of the sands.
There were then, and are now-at least I
have never seen it without-some five or six
CHAPTER II.                  boats hauled up on the shore, giving the first
intimation which one receives on entering Ale,
W'E will now move, for a while, to a far-dis- Bay from the seaward that that wild and lonely
taut scene, and go back to a somewhat earlier scene has human habitations near. But so it
period of the year; for, having a violent objec- is; and on each side of the little river, com —
tion to all stiff rules, I can not even consent to mencing at about a hundred yards from the,
bind myself by the very good advice of Count mouth, and ending about a quarter of a mile
Antoine Hamilton  "Mon ami, toujours corn- Ifurther up the dell, are built a number offishermencez par le commencement;" in which he dif- men's cottages, pressed between the steep hill:
fered from Horace, and a great many wonder- side on the one hand and the deep banks of the
ful men of old.                             stream on the other. At various places down
On the western coast of England, and in one the dell, too, little bridges are built across from
of the most beautiful parts of that beautiful bank to bank-sometimes merely the trunk of
coast, is a spot which I must describe, not only a tree flattened on the side that lies uppermost,
for the benefit of those who may profit by it, or sometimes an ill-turned arch of roughly-hewn
of those who may love to identify any place they stone. These are all foot-bridges, I need hardread of with some place which they remember ly say; for horse, cart, or carriage never, I beor imagine, but because many of the principal lieve, ventured so far down the valley.
events of my tale occurred in the midst of that   The next.object, speaking of human life,
precise scene. Those who know the sea-board which you see after the boats, on entering the
of Devonshire will, I think, have no difficulty bay, is the end of the lowest fisherman's hut
in recognizing the locality from certain distinct- peeping out through the opening of the valley;
ive marks.                                  but a moment or two afterward, as you pull on,
The place to which I allude is a little bay, you will perceive upon the side of the hill to the
taking somewhat the form of a horse-shoe, and southwest, if you raise your eyes in that direcindenting the land deeply. It is formed by a tion, the gables and chimneys of a large old
high headland, on the southwestern side, which mansion, rising above a wood of considerable
shelters it from the prevailing winds. The face extent and luxuriance, which clothes the valley
of this promontory, to its very extreme point, nearly to the shore, for in that favored climate
is one precipitous cliff of cold gray stone, vary- vegetation does not shrink from the sea air,
ing from six to nine hundred feet in height, rug- and at no great distance may be seen the trees
ged and broken indeed, but apparently pathless; actually dipping their branches in the waves.




10                              HENRY SMEATON.
Theywiselyeschlew,however, the cutting winds dark, carved wainscoting; and when the sunupon the hill top; and the high summit of Ale shine steals in and brightens it, it is like a sweet
Head is as bare as the back of a tortoise, and smile upon the face of age.
well-nigh as brown.                           In one of these large, handsome rooms upon
We must look a little more closely at the the first floor above the ground, on a spring day
mansion, however. Let us suppose, then, that in 1715, sat a girl of about eighteen years of age,
we have landed by the side of the stream, cross- in the dress of a high-born lady of that time. I
ed the dry sands, and entered the little dell, need not, and had better not, describe it; for it
with light clouds floating rapidly overhead, and was as stiff and ugly a costume as ever was
making the blue bay, and the gray cliffs, and invented by the capricious taste of man. The
the brown downs above, sparkle with gleams character of an epoch is always displayed in the
like the sweet transitory hopes that brighten, dress of the generation; and what could be exas they pass, the hard, stern features of this pected from the dry gallantry 6f Louis the Fourearthly life. Oh ye bright visions of imagina- teenth's latter days, and the stiff decorum of
tion, could one but grasp and arrest ye for an George the First's. Nevertheless, the most
hour, how much happier, how much better might hard and unbending garments in which that fair
man be! what a different thing were life! But form  could be encased could never have reye are of air, and only given us, in this stormy pressed its wild grace, or shackled its free, light
scene, to assure the sad and tempest-beaten movements. Her maid complained that she
heart that there is still sunshine above the burst more boddice laces than any lady in the
clouds.                                     country; and it is a certain fact, that her hair
Walking on before the fishermen's cottages, contrived to disentangle itself from combs and
along the very, very narrow path, we come to a fillets, and sport in the wind like wreaths of
spot where the road extends, but is no longer smoke, more frequently than she herself wished
carried on upon both sides of the stream. It or even knew. Hfow it happened she could not
mounts, too; the valley becomes less deep, tell, and she gave herself no great trouble to inmore wide. The left, or southwestern side, is quire; for her mind was often wandering after
covered with wood; the right slopes up sharply, other things, sometimes with the eager sportiveclothed with short, green sward. Suddenly, at ness of a child after a butterfly, sometimes with
about half a mile from the bay, a road branches steady and untiring thought, like a wayfarer on
off to the left, while that which you have been a long journey.
pursuing by the bank of the stream widens out   It must be said, too, in justice to her good
and becomes a good, sound carriage-road. We taste, that she abhorred the vile fashions of the
must take the left-hand road, however, which, day in which she lived, and would often stand
forming an acute angle with the path by which and contemplate the portraits of Vandyke, of
we have arrived, seems as if its ultimate point, which there were several in the house, or other
or terminus, as we should now corruptly call it, older pictures still, and wonder by what curious
was destined to be the very highesl and furthest process the mind of man had been led to abanpart of the promontory of Ale Head. But it has don what is flowing and beautiful for that which
no such ambitious notions; and, after rising is rigidand ugly. There was arefuge, however,
somewhat abruptly for a little way, it runs on even in the costume of those times, which saved
toward the sea, with a very slight inclination part of the day from being spent in durance vile,
upward, winding through the wood till, with a and this was in what ladies called their nightsharp turn to the right, it passes between two clothes. The term, it is true, was a deceit; and
gates of hammered iron-work, supported upon the words "night-clothes" meant merely a light
stone columns, with large, round globes on the and easy morning-dress, in which they often
top. Then come two or three little glades in a spent the early hours of the day before they
slight hollow of the hill, and then the old man- dressed for parks and promenades. It was put
sion,standingon asomewhathigherpoint. How  on as soon as they rose in the morning, in excan one describe it? It is but a collection of change for the garments in which they had really
innumerable gables, and walls, and windows, passed the night. Sometimes they even went
built in the reign of Elizabeth, added to in the out in those wrongly called " night-clothes" bereign of James, left to go to decay during the fore the conventional hour for appearing in pubCommonwealth, repaired and re-decorated un- lic had arrived.
der Charles II. It is all of the gray stone of the   The young lady I have brought before the
country; but the sea air, and the proximity of reader sat a little out of the sunbeams, which,
the woods, have tinged it with many colors, so pouring in, and painting the floor with moving
that its aspect is not that of a venerable old man tracery, fell also over the table before her; but
who has passed his life in peace and tranquillity, her eyes could reach the blue sky, and catch the
but rather like the weather-beaten face of an old clouds wafted over it, as with silent speed they
sailor, bronzed and tinted by the wind and tem- hurried along upon the wings of the wind. It
pests.                                      was very still and quiet, in that wide, high room.
Within are many rooms and many passages; The birds could be heard singing without; the
flights of steps go down, apparently, merely for busy little flies, those most wonderful pieces of
the purpose of going up again; and you are con- mechanism, buzzed about the windows; and a
tinually meeting doors and new rooms where no- clock at the top of the stairs ticked faintly. But
body expected them. But many of these rooms these were all the sounds, and they seemed only
are very handsome-spacious, lofty, and well to soothe the silence.
formed; and though, to say the truth, they would   The lady stirred not, spoke not, but sat with
be more lightsome and cheerful were they not her elbow leaning on the table, her cheek, warmgenerally paneled with walnut or black oak, yet ly tinged with the rose, resting upon her white
there is something fine and impressive in that hand, the 6" fringed curtains of her eyes" raised




HENRY SMEATON.                                       11
up, and the bright, soft hazel orbs themselves her nearest neighbors. There was none in the
elevated toward the deep sunshiny heavens. A  house with her with whom she could exchange
book was on the table, but she read it not. thought. It had been so during many years;
There was a mandolin in the corner, but she and her mind carried her back to little else than
touched it not. Her thoughts were very busy, the same state. Far, far away, in the distant
and her heart was with her thoughts. Yet the past, images like phantoms were seen by the
images, the questions, the answers which were eye of memory-sweet and pleasant images too,
presented to her mind touched not upon those but faint and ill defined: beings that she loved,
topics which any one who did not know her forms that hang over her with affection, voices
would suppose. She was in the bright expand- that sounded musical even in remembrance:
ing time of life, the spring of existence, when but she saw them as through a glass: she could
the opening bosom of the rose courts the bee. not approach nearer; she could not trace them
But yet she thought not of love. She knew it more distinctly. It was like the sight of a disnot-hardly by name, not at all by sensation, tant land beheld across the sea, pleasant to view,
although the young heart will yearn for that but not to be reached, with the waves flowing
which was the only want in NIden's garden between the beholder and it.
when Adam was first formed. It was not of   After that, and after a succeeding period of
the gay ball, the play, the promenade, or any of darkness, in which she perceived nothing, the
the fashionable amusements of the day, for of figure of a venerable old man, the poor curate
them she was as ignorant as of love; but prob- of the parish, came on her memory. She relems which have puzzled many an aged philoso- membered him well. He had taught her much,
pherwere present to her mind, though not stated and had seemed to regard her with peculiar tenin the most philosophical manner. Wildly and derness and affection. I-Ie had instructed her
strangely they rose, like the fantastic forms of to think, and to delight in thought; to read, and
clouds; and she chased them eagerly in thought, to ponder on what she read; for she had never
as a child chases the fleeting shadows that mock received what may be called the trifling parts
his speed.                                   of a woman's education. Masters, it is true,
"'What am I." she asked herself. " Of what had been procured for her from  neighboring
strange elements composed 2 Body and spirit, towns; but they were dull, heavy, material
soul and mind! What are these things?  Is teachers.  The only one who had really inthe body the spirit's slave, or the spirit's jailer structed her was that old clergyman. But now
-servant or master. I can perceive nothing he was gone, and she was without a guide; for
but what it will permit me to perceive. Through the man who had succeeded was a fat and joits means must be all my communications with vial priest, who loved the material much more
things animate or inanimate. There it rules than the mental, and whose weekly sermon laid
and triumphs. There it is the tyrant, the jailer; a heavier burden on the shoulders of his spirit
and yet I can close my eyes, and the spirit, as than it was well able to bear. I-le sought not
if free from its hard bondage, can wing its flight to acquire or to communicate knowledge, exafar into that bright blue sky, and question the cept as to where good wine was given or good
heavens as to what is between myself and them. punch brewed, or where and at what hour the
Can it be that the human race is the great paus- savory haunch was roasted.
ing point of God's creation, and that between us   I have said that the old clergyman had taught
and Him there is one vast void, untenanted, in- her much; but there was one subject on which
animate?  Or is yonder wide expanse of air, he had taught her nothing-her own fate and
the stars, the heavens, the universe, peopled history.  He had studiously avoided it, sufferwith beings that I see not?  Are there spirits ing-perhaps unwillingly, but still intentionally
in those clouds that skim  like ivory chariots -the facts of the past to drop from memory.
through the sky. Are there creatures of light She had sometimes inquired, it is true, but he
and joy, now sporting with the sun-beams, or had always stopped her gravely; and circumresting under the green leaves of the wood? stances had occurred to make her think, even at
If so, is it possible that there is no means of the early age of fourteen, which she had reachcommunication between me and them, that this ed when he died, that he had been bound by
body is a barrier between the spirit that I feel some promise to forbear all such information.
within it, and the host of spirits thronging She even sometimes suspected that his silence
around me 3 Strange, strange existence! what as to her history was part of a compact-the
art thou, what am I 1"                      condition on which he was permitted to visit
On went the mind in the same course, inquir- and instruct her.
ing, eager, keen, but untutored and unsatisfied.   But with whom was the compact 2 Probably
All the great problems of human existence seem- with that swarthy man who is now walking on
ed to crowd upon imagination, and demand an the terrace below, booted and spurred as for a
answer from that which can not give it.     journey, and waiting for his horses to be brought
These were strange thoughts for a girl of round. There is nothing very remarkable in his
eighteen; but yet, perhaps, not unnatural for a appearance.  His face is not forbidding, his
quick and active spirit in the circumstances features not ill formed, though the eyes are perwhich surround her. The heart had no occu- haps somewhat too near together, and the pupils
pation to give, and it was impossible that im- too small, as if they were always in excess of
agination could rest idle. They were strange light. He is about the middle height, stout, but
thoughts certainly, but such were the thoughts not corpulent, and perhaps fifty years of age.
of Emmeline.                                His air and manner are those of a gentleman,
She was without companionship.  She had his dress rich and costly. HIe is altogether a
none whom she could call friends around her. good-looking middle-aged man, but with a cerThe poor fishermen of the village of Ale were tain look of overshrewdness that might perhaps




12                             HENRY SMEATON.
warn men to be careful in their dealings with personal object. We too often forget that we
him. This is Sir John Newark, the possessor teach children our own characters, as well as
of Ale Manor-House and estates.            other things, and that each day is a lesson.
Emmeline could not remember when she had   One evening, when perhaps such thoughts
first seen him. It was too far back for memory; were in her mind, she said, in a musing sort of
but she knew that she was not his child. She way, that she should like to see foreign lands
felt it too; and he always called himself her and foreigners in their own country. The start
guardian. By that term he did not mean her that he gave alaimed her; but he answered
tyrant, for he was kind to her, as kind as a man nothing at the time, remaining, during the whole
of a cold, calculating, selfish nature could be. of the rest of the evening, in deep and somewhat
Nor was he altogether an unpleasant compan- gloomy reverie.
ion; for, though he had not the slightest spark   The night following, however, he returned to
of imagination, and fancy with him was a bird the subject himself, speaking in a grave but
without wings-though he could not even com- kindly tone, and evidently upon a plan. It
prehend the existence of imagination in others, seemed as if he had made up his mind to enter
and still less any of the generous and thought. upon a subject which he would rather have
less impulses of the heart-yet he had a good avoided, and had weighed every word he was to
stock of information upon many subjects, con- utter.
versed well, and had seen a great deal of the, You told me last night, Emmeline," he said,
world.                                     "that you should like to visit foreign countries.
He did not in the least understand the char- You know not what you wish, my child. To
acter of Emmeline; but yet, as I have said, he do so would be your destruction."
was kind to her, and even indulgent. She had   " Then I will wish it no longer," she answered,
her horses to ride, her servants to attend upon with a bright look, followed by a momentary
her. She was allowed to roam about, through shade as she added, " But I did not know, I had
the woods, over the hills, down to the fisher- not heard, that foreigners were so wicked, or
men's cottages, and even to the neighboring their lands so evil. Indeed, I had read of many
towns. All the restraints he placed upon her a high and noble act among them, and fancied
were such as the customs of society in that day they were much like Englishmen, only speaking
justified, if they did not require. She was not another tongue."
permitted to visit any house unless accompanied   "Far different, Emmeline, and far inferior,"
by an elderly woman, whom he had placed about answered Sir John Newark; *" but if that were
her, and who acted the part of duenna with much all, I should little care, and would take you readskill and discretion.  When she went to the ily to some gay foreign court to let you judge of
small town of Seaford, she was always well ac- the difference."
companied, and was never out of sight of some   " I have seen no courts as yet," replied Emone, except while in Ale Manor-House or Park. meline, " and little wish to see them."
There she was at full liberty, and she enjoyed it., You shall soon," said her guardian; " for it
It must not be supposed that she thought Sir is needful that every woman should see courts
John's restraints very hard: she knew that they who is destined to move in the higher sphere of
were in some degree customary, and he had life. But to return to what I was saying: to
always good reasons to give for every regula- visit foreign lands might be-nay, inevitably
tion. He would often talk with her on such would be-your destruction. Some time ere
subjects in the evening, when they sat alone; long, and certainly when you marry, I will tell
but there were two or three points which he you the whole history of your family. It would
strove to impress strongly upon her mind, and be improper now to do so; but this much I may
which created doubts and inquiries, for I must tell you, that there are pertinacious enemies of
not call them suspicions. He had a great dis- your race living beyond the seas, whose anxious,
like to foreigners, no matter what their class; dearest wishes would be gratified if they could
and when any even of the fishermen or smug- but get you into their power."
glers from the coast of France visited the little  ", What would they do with me?" asked Emvillage of Ale, as was sometimes the case, he meline, simply.
enjoined Emmeline strictly to hold no communi-   The question seemed to puzzle him, and he
cation with them, but to keep herself within the paused for an instant in dark meditation.
walls of the Park, and to receive nothing from    "I can not tell," he said; " but all I know is,
their hands, even though sent as a present.   that they have ruined many by their schemes.
" You are not fond of gauds or laces, Emme- You are the last that remains to destroy. They
line," he would say,'" that I know right well; might indeed," he added, in a thoughtful, considbut you might think it discourteous to refuse ering tone, "they might indeed, in consideration
any little gift, presented with the grace which of your youth and innocence, restrain themselves
all these men have. Remember, however, these to shutting you up in a convent, never to come
things are never offered without an object, and forth again."
that generally an evil one."                ", That would be worse than death," replied
At first, when she was very young, she list- Emmeline.
ened to these injunctions with unquestioning   But he went on, not seeming to listen to her.
reverence; but as she grew older and read   " Their object might be attained by that means
much, she began first to doubt whether he was as well as by others, and it is probably the course
not prejudiced, and then, from his constant re- they would take, if they could make all so sure
currence to the same theme, to imagine that he and irrevocable that no chance of your ever aphad some motive which he did not utter; for pearing again in the world would be left. If
she had already discovered, by his dealings with they could put you to-this living death, they might
others, that he seldom acted or spoke without a be content."




HENRY SMEATON.                                      13
Emmeline shuddered, and gazed at him with than before, dreamed more-waking, I meana look of fear.                            and had found solace in such occupations. She
", My only care is for you, dear child," he went confined herself more to the park, however;
on to say. " So long as I live, I will defend and seemed anxious to have more people with her
protect you. When you are married, your hus- when she went beyond its precincts; and kept
band, whoever he may be, will do the same; but altogether to the house, unbidden, for two whole
till then, be warned, my Emmeline. Avoid, as days, when she was told that a foreign cutter
you would a person with the plague, all persons was in Ale Bay. Her guardian remarked this
from beyond the seas; for there is no art nor conduct, and was well pleased; and now, when
violence to which your enemies would not have he was setting out for London upon business
recourse, if they saw even a chance of success. which seemed of importance, from the thoughtHitherto Ihave guarded you, and will continue ful brow which he bore for two days before his
to do so; but you are old enough now to take departure, he left her, convinced that the appreprecautions on your own behalf. I have warned hensions which he had instilled would act as
you of the danger: keep it ever in mind, and perfect safeguards during his absence. As she
strive to avoid it by every means in your power." sat there, gazing up toward the sky, Emmeline
Emmeline answered not, but remained with did not know that he was actually about to deher eyes cast down and her fair brow bent, as part, for he was not fond of leave-takings, and
if in earnest thought, till he asked, somewhat seldom said farewell when he went away. A
sharply,                                   minute or two after, however, she heard the,"Do you hear me, Emmeline? I said,'Strive sound of. the feet of several horses, and, runto avoid this danger by every means.'"     ning to the window, saw Sir John Newark in
"I will-I will indeed," exclaimed Emmeline, the act of mounting, with two or three servclasping her hands together; but the next in- ants around him, and a pack-horse held by a
stant she burst into tears and ran out of the man on foot. Her guardian raised his eyes to
room.                                      the window as soon as he was in the saddle, and
Her guardian's only observation to himself Ermmeline waved her hand, saying 1" Adieu!"
was,                                       He merely nodded his head, however, and rode,, It has had more effect than I expected; but away, leaving her the mistress of the house,
it is quite as well.".             and apparently of her own actions.
Great indeed was the effect, for it produced
the first fear her mind had ever known. She
was not aware till then that she had-an enemy
upon earth.  Every human being seemed to                 CHAPTER III.
love her; all had been kind to her; even the
rude, dull, obtuse son of her guardian, a lad    W.E must now return to the little parlor of
about seventeen years of age, somewhat defi- Van Noost, the leaden-statue maker, and supcient in intellect, was fond of, and gentle with pose that an hour or two has passed since we
her; when at home (which was seldom, for he left him and his companion there together. We
was kept at a school in London in the hope of have but paused, indeed, to tell a story by the
strengthening and brightening his dull and fee- way. In the mean time, Van Noost had rolled
ble mind), Emmeline could do any thing with about from one part of his house to the other,
him. He would sit beside her, choosing by eager to show every sort of hospitality and atpreference a footstool near her feet, listening tention to his guest. He had called a someto all she said, talking to her in return, and what buxom cook to conference in his workseeming to gain some brightness from her light. shop, and had whispered instructions and diAll had seemed friendly to her, all had seemed rections to a man and two or three boys who
kind. But now she found she had an enemy-  aided him in his labors, and who instantly isan enemy of the most dark and irreconcilable sued forth, by the back door of the house, upon
kind-an enemy without a cause. It was very what mnay justly be termed a foraging expediterrible to her; and even the vagueness of the tion, taking their way toward Mayfair and Shepinformation she had received-the dark, obscure herd's market; though be it understood that
hints, which merely shadowed forth the pas- Mayfair then actually consisted df fields, on
sions, and the danger, and the person, added to which the fair, till within late years, had been
the horror. It was in vain she attempted to held. In the immediate neighborhood were a
nerve her heart against all fears, or to scan the number of public houses, taverns, and eatingthings which surrounded her in order to dis- shops, of which one was the notorious Dog and
cover where any real peril lay, and of what na- Duck.
ture it was: her mind was like a timid person   Notwithstanding all the precautions he had
wandering in the dark, and casting his eyes taken, good Van Noost thought fit to apologize
round only to find obj ects of terror for the sight beforehand for the scantiness and meanness of
of fancy. All she knew was that she had an the only fare which he should have to set beenemy, dark, mysterious, malignant; but that fore his distinguished guest; but Smeaton laughwas quite enough to depress, and agitate, and ed lightly, laying his hand upon Van Noost's
terrify her.                              shoulder, and saying,
The heart of youth, however, has a restora-   "I should be little worthy of the name of a
tive power which does not easily fail, and the soldier, my good friend, if I could not appreeffect of the words which had been spoken to ciate the excellence of horse-flesh and dead cat
her, though permanent, was greatly softened in a besieged fortress, in which light I suppose
during the two or three months which had pass- we may look upon your house, as you have
ed since their utterance. She had taken refuge taken the pains to lock the door. Whatever
in thoughts and fancies; she had read more you can give me will be very acceptable; for,




14                             HENRY SMEATON.
to say sooth, I had so much to do this morning   "Ay, ay," remarked Van Noost; "the people
that I have not broken my fast."           are always fickle, I know well. The time may
The meal, when it was set upon the table, come when even leaden statues may be out of
however, belied Van Noost's disparaging ex- fashion."  And he sighed deeply at the very
cuses. It was not only abundant, but very sa- thought of such a catastrophe.
vory, although there was an hereditary smack   At that moment something seemed to catch
of Dutch cookery in the dishes which might not Smeaton's eye, as he still stood near the window
have recommended them in general to English looking out into the road. His face became
palates. Wine Van Noost had none, but the eager, his brow knitted, his eyes flashed, his
beer was very good; and after dinner, the lips curled, and his nostrils expanded. The
worthy entertainer produced from a cupboard in next instant he threw up the sash, leaped out
the corner a large black bottle, with a neck like into the garden, crossed it at a run (knocking
a crane and a body like a goose, which he press- down two leaden soldiers and a wood-nymph),
ed upon his companion, assuring him that it was vaulted over the rustic fence, and exclaiming
filled with genuine old Dutch cinnamon, the like vehemently, " How dare you strike that boy so
of which was not to be found in England. As cruelly, sir?" caught by the collar a man who
the liquor was potent, however, and Smeaton had just knocked down, with a tremendous blow,
thought he might as well keep his head cool, he a young lad in gentlemanly attire, who still lay
declined the spirit, and left Van Noost to enjoy upon the ground as if stunned. Smeaton shook
it himself.                                the man violently; and the latter replied, in a
Looking out through the low window after sharp and insolent tone, struggling to get free,
the meal was over, Smeaton cast his eyes up   "Why did he switch my leg, then, and dirt
and down the road before the house, and then, all my stockings?"
turning to Van Noost, remarked,              "A  mere accident," answered Smeaton.
" That man is no longer there, and I think I i "He came up the road, swinging his cane about,
might as well take my departure."          and merely touched you hby accident. Stand
", Oh, he is hanging about somewhere near, still! You shall not go till I know who is your
depend upon it, my lord," replied Van Noost. master. The boy is bleeding."
" I beseech you not to hazard yourself in the   "I sha'n't stand still," answered the man.
street till after dark. They will track you home, "1 Take off your hand, or I'll serve you as I did
to a certainty; and then the first thing that him."  At the same moment, he, in his turn,
greets you to-morrow may be a warrant for the grasped Smeaton by the collar, and made an efTower."                                    fort to trip him up.
Smeaton seemed to entertain no great appre-   His opponent, however, was younger, more
hension of such a result, remarking that with active, and not a whit less strong, though his
him there was no pretense for so violent a step. figure appeared a good deal slighter to the eye,
"I would not willingly have them discover from the symmetry with which it was formed.
my abode, however," he remarked, " for they A struggle ensued, but it lasted not a minute;
might hamper my movements. I think I shall and at the end, the running footman-for such
return to France at once, Van Noost," he added, was Smeaton's opponent-was lying-on his back
thoughtfilIly.                             in the dust.
" Not surely before you have seen Lord Ox-   The boy had by this time partly raised himford." said the other, with a look of surprise.  self, and, clapping his hands with child-like sat"Perhaps not," answered Smeaton; "but isfaction, exclaimed,
that can be done to. night. The letter I bear   "Well done, well done!"
will gain me admission at any hour, without   A little crowd had now collected, but Smearaising suspicion in him or any other person as ton noticed nothing at the moment except his
to my real business."                      adversary; and he once more demanded in a
"And even then, my good lord," observed stern tone,
Van Noost, "if I might humbly be permitted to   "Who is your master 1"
advise, you would still wait a while-not in   The man was silent; but one of the byLondon, not in London, but in some quiet coun- standers exclaimed,
try place, where you would not be known, and   " He's one of the Earl of Stair's men. Don't
yet could receive intelligence of all that passes, you see.his colors 1"
and be ready for any occasion. I am but a poor   "Ay, I am one of the Earl of Stair's men,"
statuary, it is true, better acquainted with the growled the footman, rising, " and he will make
arms of Apollo and the ankles of Venus than you pay for what you have done. There are
with the limbs of policy; but still I think it is eyes upon you, master."
better to be on the spot, especially when there   "He shall punish you, or take the act upon
is no real danger. At all events, you would be himself," answered Smeaton.  At the same
able to judge more of the temper of the people moment Van Noost pulled his sleeve, whispering,
and the chances of success."                 "You had better come in, sir, you had better
"I have judged of the temper of the people come in. This is a bad business."
already," replied Smeaton, with a significant   "Come, young gentleman," said Smeaton,
smile; "I mean, of the people of London. I laying his hand kindly on the boy's arm, " come
might, indeed, see something more of the coun- in here with us, and let us see if he has hurt
try gentlemen, though I much doubt their wit if you much."
not their wishes, their discretion rather than   The boy followed'mechanically; Van Noost
their devotion. As to the population of this city, locked the gate which he had opened; the footthe mob that we saw shouting'Long live Ox- man went away grumbling, with two or three
ford!' would in three months shout as gayly at children running after him to look at him, keep'
his execution."                            ing, however, at a wary distance; and the lit.




HENRY SMEATON.                                      15
tie crowd which had collected gradually. dis- danger that can be incurred is incurred already.
persed.                                    A part of it may be obviated by boldness. But
Once in the house, Smeaton and Van Noost see who that is ringing at your bell."
applied themselves to stop the bleeding of a   Van Noost instantly ran to the window and
wound of no great extent or consequence which looked toward the little gate, a large bell hangthe boy had received on his head in falling, and ing at its side having been just rung violently.
the former asked him a number of questions, to   "It is the boy again," he said, "and a genwhich he received answers neither nonsensical tleman with two servants. What shall I do."
nor without pertinence, but somewhat strange   I" Oh, let them in, let them in," cried Smeaand uncommon.  Shakspeare would probably ton, in a gay and indifferent tone. "Now that
have called them  " simple answers," for the I have resolved to throw off disguise, I may as
meaning of that word simple was not so limited well hold a levee."
in his day as in ours; yet there was an occa-   Not without very apparent unwillingness, the
sional touch of shrewdness in his replies which worthy statuary called one of his workmen, and
savored not at all of the simpleton. He used, bade him open the garden gate and give admisit is true, expressions sometimes child-like, sion to the strangers. He did not perform the
sometimes not altogether intelligible to those office himself, for he would be seized with sudunaccustomed to his way of talking, but often den fits of self-importance when he thought it
poetical, or perhaps I should rather say figura- necessary to keep up his dignity. The boy and
tive. His head he invariably called "his nod- the gentleman who accompanied him  were
dle."  The ground on which he had fallen he speedily admitted to the garden, and, leaving
spoke of as " mother earth."  The fist of the the two servants at the gate, walked on to the
man who had struck him he denominated " his house, and were introduced unannounced into
poulter," and the blow "a dunder."  He bore Van Noost's little parlor.
the pain well, and seemed to care little for the   " That is he, that is he," cried the boy, pointaccident, but, at the same time, exhibited a de- ing to Smineaton, who had remained seated till
gree of enthusiastic gratitude toward Smeaton they entered; and the gentleman by whom the
(more than commensurate with the service lad was accompanied, a well-dressed, middlewhich had been rendered) for interfering on his aged man, advanced, holding out his hand, and
behalf, and especially for avenging him on the saying, " I have to thank you, sir, for your genbully who had struck him.                   erous interference on behalf of my son."
" Ay, ay," he said, looking eagerly in Smea-   Taking his offered hand, Smeaton replied with
ton's face, " it was good to teach the coulter- a smile,
head that he's not too long to lie on mother   "I am sorry that it was not called into actearth."                                    ivity sooner, or I might have spared him a very
In a few minutes he seemed quite recovered; heavy blow; but I had not the slightest idea
and Van Noost poured him out a little of his that a great, powerful man like that would think
Dutch cinnamon, which, though Smeaton rather of striking a young gentleman of your son's age
disapproved of the remedy, had a marvelous ef- for an offense which was, evidently, merely acfect in restoring the boy's spirits.        cidental."
Nevertheless, he appeared somewhat eager to   " It is too much the habit with our great men,
be gone, and his companions were not particu- sir," observed the other, " to keep bullies and
larly disposed to detain him when they found bruisers in their service. But the Earl of Stair
that he was not seriously injured. Van Noost shall hear of this, and learn that, though we are
saw him to the garden gate, and, on his return, under a foreign king, his creatures must be a
perceived that his companion had fallen into a little more considerate of the feelings and rights
fit of thought, in which he continued for a mo- of Englishmen."
ment or two after his host entered.           " I know nothing of Lord Stair except by re-," I have made up my mind, Van Noost," said port," said Smeaton; "but, from all I have heard,
Smeaton, at length. " There are circumstances I should not suppose he was one to countenance
in which it is as well to take the bull'by the such outrageous conduct in his servants, and I
horns. It is evident that your good friend, the shall certainly request him to dismiss this man
Earl of Stair, has recognized me. Although we on account of his insolence to myself."
never interchanged a word in our lives, he has   " I shall insist upon it," replied the other.
seen me more than once.  I will not play at " Although lie may never have heard the name
hide-and-seek with him. I will go to him to- of Sir John Newark, yet my possessions and my
night, and demand that this man shall be dis- station in the country will not permit of my becharged for the outrage he has committed."   ing insulted in the person of my son with imVan Noost looked astonished-nay, aghast. punity."
"But, my dear lord," he exclaimed, "think, for   Smeaton smiled slightly as he rejoined,
Heaven's sake, of what you are doing. Were   " I shall hold out no threat, Sir John, but, dealit to take a city or to save an empire, it might ing with Lord Stair as one gentleman with anbe worth while to get into the inside of a wood- other, shall make it my request that he dismisses
en horse and be wheeled into the lion's den, that man as one who disgraces his service. I
like the Greek gentlemen in days of old; but do not think he will refuse; but, of course, in
to punish a running footman, I can not say that your own case, you will act as you think fit.
the object is worthy of the risk. Bethink you Now, to speak of pleasanter subjects," he conof your policy, noble lord."               tinned, holding out his hand to the boy, " I did
" It is the most politic course, Van Noost," not know, my young friend, when I interfered
replied Smeaton. " I have nothing to fear but in your behalf, that I was serving the son of a
a little inconvenience consequent upon discov- gentleman to whom I bear a letter from one of
cry. The discovery being already made, all the his intimate friends."




16                             1-IENRXY  SMEATON.
The boy caught his hand, and shook it eager- the higher classes, so that tnere was nothing at
ly, exclaiming,                              all extraordinary in Sir John Newark consent"I'm glad of that-I'm  glad of that: I was ing to drink a glass of very strong spirit even
sure my lather would like you. You gave the before he had dined. But that worthy gentlecoulter-head a fine fall. I heard all his bones man was not without his own particular mocrack and rattle as he tumbled. I should have tives in any thing he did, and frequently coverliked to give him a kick; but that would not ed, or attempted to cover them by an air of frank
have been fair when he was down, you know."  and straightforward affability. At present, in"May I ask, then, to whom I have the pleas- deed, he seemed to have no thought but of Van
ure of speaking P" inquired Sir John Newark, Noost's good liqulor, watching him as he brought
who had been eyeing his companion with some from the corner cupboard both the long-necked
curiosity.                                   bottle I have before mentioned and an exceed"I am called Colonel Henry Smeaton," re- ingly thin wine-glass, with a tall stalk lightly
plied that gentleman; "though my military rank, cut and gilt.
I suppose, will not be acknowledged in this coun-   "It pours out like cream," observed Sir John,
try, as it has been gained in the service of the as his host held the neck of the bottle over the
house of Austria."                           glass.
Sir John Newark shook him heartily by the   "Ay, this is none of your poisonous drugs
hand with the air and warmth of an old friend. such as they sell at the chandlers' shops and the
" I am most happy to see you, Colonel Smea- barbers', made out of the lees of old wine or
ton," he said.  "I have already received a let- damaged sugar," replied Van Noost, still pourter, giving me information that you would prob- ing; "none of your aqua mirabilis, or aqua saably come to see me at my poor house."  Then, lis, or plague-water, or colic-water, but genuine
dropping his voice to a whisper, he added, Dutch cinnamon, imported by my good father
" from Lord Bolingbroke."                   in his own sea-stock. Take it, Sir John: it will
" The letter I bear is from the Duke of Or- do your heart good."
mond," said Smeaton, in a colder tone, the name   Sir John drank, and praised, and drank again;
of Bolingbroke appearing to have no great and then turning to Smeaton, who was speakcharms for him.," Will you say where I shall ing with his son, he said,
have the honor of delivering it, for at this mo-   "You are hard drinkers on the Continent, I
ment it is not about me?"                  believe, Colonel. Smeaton, and would beat us
"Nowhere, I trust, but at my poor manor- Englishmen at a match any day."
house at Ale," replied Sir John.  "It is a pleas-   ", Not in the countries where I have princiure that I have promised myself; and I was pally resided," returned Smeaton.  " I mean
even now on the eve of hastening back thither Spain, and some of the Austrian states. I have
for the purpose of meeting you on your arrival. heard, indeed, of certain fearful orgies among
My son was walking from his school to meet the French officers in Spain; but I know little
me, in order to go down with me to-morrow, of France or Frenchmen, having merely passed
when he was assaulted. But I think you told through the country once or twice, and that very
me, my dear Richard," he continued, "that this rapidly."
other gentleman had been very kind to you    "Did you ever chance in your travels to
also."                                      meet with a gentleman named SomervilleAnd he looked toward Van Noost, who had Richard Somerville? " asked Sir John Newark,
been standing near the window while the con- in a careless tone.
versation took place.                         Smeaton shook his head, replying,
" O yes," answered the boy.  "i He gave me   "No, I never did. In what country is he resome nice stuff, and cockered me up famously; siding?"
but it was the other that made the big bully take    "I really can hardly tell," returned Sir John
measure of the paving-stones."              Newark; "for, though he is a distant relation
1" Will you not be seated, Sir John," said Van of mine, we have not held much communication
Noost, putting a chair for the knight, " and al- together for many years. France or Lorraine,
low me to give you a glass of the nice stuff, as I believe, was the last country in which he was
your son calls it, which did so much good?"    heard of."
" Well, I don't know what its name is," re-' I think I do remember," remarked Smeatorted the boy, " but I know it tasted like drink- ton, in a musing tone, "having heard the name
ing gingerbread-hot and sweet-and a very mentioned at Nancy. But they said he had
nice taste besides."                        gone to seek his fortunes among the Spaniards
"Dutch cinnamon, I'll warrant," said Sir in the New World. Somerville-yes, that was
John Newark, laughing, and seating himself. the name surely."
" We are not very much accustomed to such    " Ay, very probable," said Sir John Newark.
things in my house, so he might well not know  " I think a rumor of his intention reached me.
what it was. I have almost forgotten the taste You never were in those golden countries yourof it; but I know it is very good, and do not self, were you "
at all object, sir, to try your store.", Never," replied Smeaton.  "The journey
Now be it known to the reader that at that is somewhat far; and, as I am well contented
period of history the greater part of the English with what I have, I feel no inclination to banish
nation had become afflicted with a disease from  myself from civilization in pursuit of wealth."
which they are not altogether free even yet, al-    " I should like to see the country where
though a great physician has lately been among gold grows," observed Sir John Newarkl's son,
them undertaking its especial cure. The dis- looking earnestly at Smeaton. " IfI were a lord
ease I mean is dram-drinking, which for some in golden land, I would give you a whole tree."
time affected not only the lower, but many of', Thank you, my dear lad," said Smeaton,.




HENRY SMEATON.                                        17
laughing.  " I fear, however, I should have take a little more time to consider. It is well
some difficulty in eating the fiuit of that tree." enough for me to brave Lord Stair, and talk as
"i Why, golden pippins-they would be golden impudently to him as if I were his equal; first,
pippins!" cried the boy, clapping his hands at because he can show nothing against me, exthe thought. "iI wish I had some now; but cept that I love one king better than another,
they are not ripe yet."                     and, secondly, because I am too powerless and
The conversation then took another turn. humble to be dangerous: the man who will fight
Sir John Newark became actually gay and jocu' a boar, or a wolf, or even a lion (saving your
lar, pressed upon Smeaton his invitation to his presence), will often turn aside not to tread on
house at Ale, and did not depart till he had ob- a beetle or a worm; but with your lordship the
tained from him a conditional promise to go case might be very different.  You would make
down and spend a fortnight with him, if he de- a fine cast of the net; and they seem fond of
termined to remain any time in England. He taking great fish just now."
shook his new friend by the hand, at parting,   "And very wise they are too," answered
with considerable warmth; but there was a de- Smeaton, with a smile. "A  large fish is algree of hearty cordiality in the boy's grasp of ways better than a small one."
Smeaton's hand which pleased him better.        "Wrong, wrong, my dear lord," exclaimed
" You must and shall come down," said the Van Noost.  "s Smelts for my money; only they
boy, in a whisper; "and I'll show you all the are so dear —a shilling a score-that I can't afcoves, and the paths among the rocks and over ford them."
the cliffs, where nobody ever perches but I, and    "But, my good friend," replied Smeaton,
the sea-mews, and the fishing-hawks.  Old "you are much mistaken as to my objects and
Jones Skinner, the smuggler, broke his neck my position, though I strove hard to explain to
there, and people are afraid ever since; but you you what they really are."
are not afraid of any thing, I am sure."       " Ah! some of my lead gets into my pate,"
"'I trust not," answered Smeaton; and thus said Van Noost with a sigh; "and when an
they parted.                                idea is fixed there, it is as stiff as a river-god
When they were gone, Van Noost, who had in a fountain, and requires to be melted and rebeen, for him, remarkably silent and reserved, cast before it will take another shape. But your
broke forth upon the character of Sir John lordship was going to say-"
Newark.                                        "t Merely, my good friend," rejoined Smeaton,
"s Take care what you do with him, my lord," more gravely, " that I do not come over here to
he said. "  He is not much to be trusted; and, stir up any rebellion in the land, but simply, at
for Heaven's sake, do not let him know your the request of a very dear friend, to ascertain
real name. First he has been one thing, then what are the real feelings of the country, and
he has been another, just as he thought it served especially of the leading men therein. I have
his own interest. He was once very great with no dangerous papers about me, for I refused to
Sunderland, in the old king's reign, and with be the bearer of any such. As yet I have comthe Duke of Shrewsbury too. Then he paid municated with no one but yourself, my object
court to the Duke of Marlborough; and then he being simply to see with my own eyes, hear
was one of Bolingbroke's men. I don't know  with my own ears, and communicate to some
whether he is a good enemy or not, but I am  who are dear to me the result of my observacertain he is not a good friend. He is shrewd, tions.  Thus, although avowedly, as all my
mighty shrewd too, and has contrived to amass family have been, a friend of my legitimate
great wealth, and gain large estates, by not the prince, I have given no excuse for treating me
Tairest means, they say."                    as a rebel to existing authority. The faction
" I will be careful, Van Noost," replied Smea- that now rules the land can take hold of no word
ton, quietly; " but yet I think I shall go. Much, or act of mine. My father, it is true, was banhowever, will depend upon my interview with ished and proclaimed, but such is not the case
Lord Stair. He has recognized me, I am sure with me, and I have a right to walk my native
-nothing escapes his keen eyes-and I will country at liberty."
soon see whether that recognition is likely to   Van Noost was evidently not convinced, and
prove dangerous. If so, I will stay and con- he contrived to detain his companion with arfront the danger here. If not, I will go down guments till the sun had actually set. Then,
to this Ale-Manor for a time, and watch quietly however, Smeaton rose, saying,
the course of events."                         "Now, Van Noost, I must really go; but. I
Van Noost shrugged his shoulders and shook shall see you to-morrow early, and we will talk
his head, saying,                            further."
"Well, my good lord, well. You must have    "I will open the back door," said Van Noost,
your own way, and put your head into the lion's somewhat ruefully, " and let your lordship out
mouth if you think fit; but it is an unpleasant through the garden into the fields. The first
place to rest one's noddle in, and, were I you, I turning on the right will take you straight up to
certainly would not try it."                the Dog and Duck, and then you can not miss
Smeaton laughed, replying,                your way."
"I do not think the beast is dangerous; but  6" No, no, Van Noost," replied  Smeaton.
we shall see. And now, my good friend, I think  " The open way and the straight, if you please,
I shall set out, for the shades of evening are be- my good friend, unless you are afraid to have
ginning to fall."                            me seen coming out of your house. I am tired," Not yet, my lord, not yet," cried Van Noost, of these maskings."
who was evidently much alarmed at his comr-   "Heaven forbid that I should be afraid, noble
panion's determination.  "It is but a cloud lord," cried Van Noost, eagerly.  "I woukl
come over the sky, and I would fain have you walk with your lordship to the Council Oflc
B




18                             HENRY SMEATON.
itself, if you liked; and, indeed, I think I had and when we read any record of those former
better go part of the way with you."       days, we do but open a window to let it in.
Smeaton, however, declined all company; Melancholy may be mingled with it, and it may
and the door of the house and gate of the garden bring upon its wings the tolling of the churchhaving been opened, he issued forth into Picca- bell for all that have departed; but still it is
(lilly, and took his way back toward St. James's sweet and fresh, and beneficial to the health of
Street.                                    the heart.
Van Noost looked after him for a moment or   He laid down that paper and took up another,
two, shook his head gravely, and then, once examined it for a moment and put it aside. In
more locking the garden gate, set to work in doing so, he touched the pile of old letters; they
the twilight to put the leaden figures which fell over, and he laid his hand upon another doc 
Smeaton had knocked down upon their legs ument at random. The instant he looked at it.
again,                                    - however, he laid it gently on the table with a
sort of shudder, and fell into deep thought.
While he thus remained, an old, staid servingman opened the door and entered the room withCHAPTER IV.                  out the earl perceiving him.
"There's a gentleman below, my lord," said
IT is curious what mighty business is transact- the man, with a strong Scottish accent.
ed in mean places. The destinies of the world,   The earl took no notice, but remained exactly
and the widest-spread enlightenment of the hu- in the same position, with his eyes fixed on the.
man mind, have gone forth from  two of the floor.
smallest, dirtiest, and most pitiful streets in Lon-   "I beg your lordship's pardon," said the servdon, Downing Street and Paternoster Row. John ant, "but there's a gentleman below seeking to
Dalrymple, Earl of Stair, one of the most remark- see you, and will indeed take no denial."
a;ble men of the age in which he lived, and aft-   Lord Stair started from his reverie, and told
erward celebrated for the extraordinary splen- the man to repeat what he had said; which he
dor both of his equipage and his table when em- did, with the addition of the words, " He bade
bassador at the court of France, was at this time me give this card to your lordship."
dwelling in a small hired house in Golden Square.   The earl took it, and looked at the name beNevertheless, he had been already marked out fore he answered; then a slight, very slight look
for high employments by the clear-sighted eyes of surprise came upon his face; but, bowing his
of the Whig ministry of that day, and it was head quietly, he said,
without difficulty, though not until after two in-   "Put a seat there opposite to me, and show
quiries, that Smeaton discovered the house in him up."
which he lived. He paused before the door, and   The man did as he was commanded, and in a
looked up in doubt; for the name of the Earl of minute after Smeaton entered the room. Lord
Stair was so frequently in men's mouths, and his Stair rose, bowed, and pointed to the chair opliveries were so well known in the neighbor- posite, saying,
hood, that the young traveler had expected to   "Pray be seated, Colonel Smeaton."
find a magnificent mansion, fitted to contain a   His visitor placed himself in the chair in an
numerous train of servants.                 attitude of easy grace, with his sword drawn np
But let us pass over his surprise and his inquir- by his side, and the hilt resting on his knee. The
ies, and enter the room of the noble earl at the old servant departed, and the door closed.
moment when Smeaton approached his dwell-   "I have intruded upon you, my lord," said
ing. He was seated in a large, straight-backed Smeaton, at once, "to speak upon a somewhat
arm-chair, with a round, carved oak table on his unpleasant subject. I will therefore beg your
left hand, having a thick, solitary candle close to patience for a moment till I have mentioned all
his elbow, shaded by a fan-shaped piece of green the circumstances."
silk fixed in the candlestick. Thus that keen,   Lord Stair listened in silence, merely bownll
penetrating, but noble countenance was com- his head, and Smeaton went on to detail the viopletely in shadow, while the bright light stream- lent conduct of the earl's running footman toed upon a large packet of old papers on the table ward young Richard Newark, and his after insoand upon one which he held in his hand. Bet- lence toward himself, assuring him that he had:ter kInown to the English historian as a diploma- witnessed the whole transaction from the begintist and statesman of consummate sagacity than ning, and that the lad had given no offense but
as a general, it may excite some surprise when I by accidentally touching the man's leg in swing..
state that the paper which he was examining, ing about his cane as he walked along.
with a pleasant smile upon his face, contained a   Still Lord Stair listened in profound silence,
rough plan of the battle of Oudenard, with a num- interrupting the detail neither by comment nor
ber of remarks, minute dates, and numbers writ- question. When Smeaton had completely done.
ten underneath in his own hand. He had drawn however, and paused as if for a reply, he inquirit up while hurrying over to England with dis- ed, in a somewhat dry tone,
patches announcing that great victory, in obtain-   "What is it you wish me to do in this case,
inlg which he had borne a considerable share, Colonel Sineaton?"
that he might be ready with all the details in   "I have trusted, my lord, from your characcase of being questioned by the ministry. It had ter," replied Smeaton, " that a simple statement
been of no service to him at the time, but now  of the facts would be sufficient to guide you as to
the. sight of it occasioned pleasant sensations-  what was requisite. But as you inquire what I
the memory of triumph and success, the recollec- could wish you to do, I must reply: to dismiss.
tion, perhaps, of young, bright hopes and great the man from your service."
aspirations-at all events, the thoughts and feel-   " He is a useful fellow," said Lord Stair, witlh
ings of earlier and happier years. A refreshing a slight smile. " Pray, what is the alternative
breeze is ever blowing from the fields of youth, Colonel Smeaton?"




HENRY SMEATON.                                        19
"Nay, my good lord," replied Smeaton, smil- place you in a dangerous position. I seek not,
ing in return, " I am not quite so pugnacious a my lord, to pry into your secrets, if you have any,
person as to come ready armed with a hard altern- but I only wish to warn you, for your own good,
ative. I trust and doubt not that your lordship that England is, at this present moment, a very
will do that which is right without considering perilous place for persons entertaining the views
any alternative at all."                    which your family have always entertained, and
" Very well," said Lord Stair, more frankly. which, doubtless, you yourself entertain.  Let
" I will consider of it for a few minutes. But now  me explain myself in what respects I think it
let us speak of more important things than ap- perilous. Not alone are the eyes of government
pertain to the fate of a footman. You seem sur- keenly fixed upon every suspected person: not
prised; but I mean the fate of a young nobleman, alone are ministers prepared at all points to put
who has, I fear, placed himself in a dangerous down any attempt at insurrection: not alone are
situation."                                 they ready to take the responsibility upoll themSmeaton paused for a moment, for there was a selves of adopting measures, somewhat beyond
kindness of tone, as well as of look and manner, the law, to meet circumstances not contemplated
in Lord Stair, as he introduced the expected sub- by the law-though all this might render your
ject, which he had not been prepared for. After circumstances perilous enough, but there are othvery short consideration, however, he answered er persons and other designs which may be more
ingenuously,                                 dangerous to you. I speak of those blind and
"If your lordship alludes to myself, I do not infatuated men who entertain vain hopes of beimagine that my situation is dangerous at all."   ing able to overthrow the established govern-'Th;'en why appear in Englandt under a feigned ment of the country, and alter, by force, the sucname?" demanded the earl.                   cession to the crown as settled by Act of Parlin"There may be many sufficient causes, my no- ment."
ble lord," replied Smeaton, "without apprehen-   He had spoken calmly, but somewhat sternly.
sion having any share in the motives. I may be He now again resumed a milder tone, and went
poor and proud, as is generally said of your an- on to say, "These men, deceiving themselves,
cestors and mine; and, to say truth, poverty was are ever ready to deceive others; nay, more, are
one of the causes of my determination not to as- endeavoring, by every sort of artifice, by spesume any rank in this country.  An unknown cious arguments, by false representations, by cunstranger, without any pretensions to dignity, can ningly devised displays of an unreal power, and
act as he likes; but it would not do for an En- by maneuvers too numerous to detail, to lead the
glish nobleman to take up his abode in a little unwary or the ill informed into a belief that
lodging up two flights of stairs."           schemes perfectly impracticable are certain of
"In Gerard Street, Soho," added the earl, with success.  I warn you, my dear lord, of these
a smile. " It is a very good street, notwithstand- things, as an old friend of your father; and, to
ing. Great men have lived there before now." say the truth, nothing would give me greater
He paused for an instant in thought, as if consid- satisfaction than to hear to-morrow that you had
ering how he should proceed, and then said, some- embarked for the Continent."
what abruptly, " Are you aware that your father   "That, I fear, is impossible," replied Smeaton;
and myself were once intimate friends, and that, "for I have business to transact which must dealthough unfortunately differing in our political tain me some little time-business," he added,
views, nothing has ever occurred to diminish my seeing a peculiar expression come over Lord
regard for him, or, that I know of; his regard for Stair's face, " totally unconnected with politics
me?"                                        or party."
"I have always heard my late father speak of   " I think you would not say so with any reseryour lordship with great respect and esteem," vation," replied the earl, and then fell into a fit
replied Smeaton, " but he never mentioned any of musing, which his companion did not interintimacy. Indeed, I was not aware that you rupt. "I wish," he continued, in a kindly tone.,
were personally acquainted."                 after he had brought his rumination to an end,
I" Oh yes," replied Lord Stair, in a very marked "I wish you would allow me to deal with you as
and peculiar tone of voice. " We were very in- a friend, and ask you a few questions in that chartimate in the darker days of my life. There are acter which might be impertinent in a stranger."
circumstances, my lord, circumstances of deep   "Pray do, my lord," replied Smeaton. "Any
pain and grief, which occasionally bind men to- thing concerning myself alone I will not refuse to
gether by stronger ties than anlly which can be answer; but I must beg you not to touch upon
formed amid joys and pleasures. But I see you the business to which I have alluded, which I
do not know my history."                     have undertaken for a friend, but which is, I give
He paused, and fell into a gloomy reverie, which you my honor, merely of a private and domestic
Sineaton suffered him to follow, uninterrupted, nature."
for a few mnhutes, and then, perhaps in order to   "I shall not meddle with it," replied Lord
draw his mind away from thoughts which seemed Stair; " and my questions shall be very simple
very painful, the young colonel recurred to a pre- ones. How long do you intend to remain?"
vious topic, saying, "I can assure your lordship    "Probably not more than three months," remost sincerely that I myself know no danger plied Smeaton.
which I run in coming to England, or even in    Somewhat long," said the earl, thoughtfully.
presenting myself at the house of Lord Stair. I " However, if it must be so, we can not help it.
mean that I am not the bearer of any letters, Do you intend to pass that time in London?"
papers, or messages which can fairly give um-   "Certainly not," replied Smeaton.  "I shall
brage to the existing government."           probably leave London in two or three days,
Lord Stair roused himself from his reverie, and having accepted an invitation to visit Sir Johnr
replied in an altered tone,                  Newark at Ale-Manor, in — shire."
"Letters, papers, and messages may all be ab-   "With a letter from Bolingbroke," said Lord
sent, and yet your intentions and your acts might Stair, dlyly. " We have heard of that."




20                              HENRY SMEATON.
"For once you have been misinformed," re- ful and honest tenants, who would not take adplied Smeaton, smiling slightly. " I have no let- vantage of their lord's calamities. They are all
ter from Bolingbroke, and am barely personally that is left us. But I will not, even in so small a
known to him. It seems he did me the honor point, deceive your lordship," he continued, abof writing to Sir John Newark; but I can not be ruptly, "nor willingly suffer you to deceive yourresponsible for any thing he may have thought self. I am not going to the West to visit that.
fit to say in that letter. The only introduction small estate, and probably may never set my foot
I bear to Sir John is a friendly letter from the on it. I go simply to transact some business for
Duke of Ormond, who gave it to me, klnowing   a friend."
that I had inquiries to make in that part of the   "Is he a royal one?" asked Lord Stair, with a
country, and thinking that it might be of service keen look.
to me; but it has no reference to politics, direct   "No," answered Smeaton, laughing, "' nor now
or indirect."                                at all connected with royalty. My friend is a
"It is in the hands of government," said Lord merchant; but one," he added, gayly, " who
Stair, in a quiet tone, " but it will be restored to does not traffic in any contraband commoditiesyou. You seem surprised; but your arrival at not even in the delicate lace of treason. I have
Dover was known three days ago, and created assured your lordship that this has nothing to do
some suspicion.  Your assumption of another with any matters of state or policy whatever. I
name, and your conferences with Van Noost-  have to thank you for many acts of kindness topoor foolish fellow-increased those suspicions; night. I must beg you to add one more-to beand when I saw you with that person in the lieve me."
street, I sent a man after you to see where you   "I do, I do," exclaimed the earl, warmly.
went, in order that I might have some conversa- " One accustomed to deal largely with men,
tion with you, and save you from pain and an- judges them fully as much by the countenance
noyance, if not from difficulty. You stayed so as by the words. I remember well when your
long, however, with the leaden-figure man, that father and I were studying together, in deep semeasures have been taken by other parties in clusion, with a good minister in Ayrshire, and
regard to you which I could have wished avoid- were told to read the historian Thucyvdides, we
ed.".      could make nothing of him, though we knew a
" Do you mean as affecting my personal liber- little of Greek, till your father got from Edinty?" demanded Smeaton.                      burgh a copy of the wvork with copious notes in
"No, not that," replied Lord Stair, " but ex- Latin at the bottom of the page. In a moment
aminations have been made at your lodging. it became all clear, and we found how often we
Do you know much of this Sir John Newark?"  had been mistaken in our supposed interpreta" Little or nothing," replied Smeaton. "I hear tions. Thus one foreign language served to eluhe is a waverer in politics, and thatis all I know." cidate another; and I have often since had occaThe earl mused again.                      sion to think that the expressions of a man's face
"I believe," he said, after a short interval of are the notes which the grand commentator, Nathouaht,   " that the house of Sir John Newark is ture, has given us for the right unlderstanding of
as safe a place as any for a gentleman in your po- his words. I do believe you, sincerely, and think
sition. He is one of those who, to use a vulgar I can insure that you shall not be molested during
term, do not readily quarrel with their bread and the three months you propose to stay, provided
butter. He is more bold in words than in deeds, -you pledge yourself to avoid all meddling with
it is true; but he is not much suspected by goy- the politics of the country."
ernment, as there are so many holds upon him.   "I thank your lordship heartily," replied
He may always be bound by self-interest. He Smeaton, "' and fully accept the terms."  Then,
may always be restrained by fear. I do not changing the subject suddenly, he added, "I was
mean cowardice-for, personally, he is brave not aware that your lordship had studied with my
enough; but fear of losing an acre of land or a father. He, being a second son, was intended
hundred guineas would make him swear allegi- at first, to be educated for the bar."
ance to the devil or the Grand Turk. It is as   "I also was a second son," said Lord Stair, in
safe a place for you as any that I know; but still, a low voice, with the expression of his face
be on your gliard against temptation; for a great changing to a look of the deepest melancholy,
number of unruly spirits are in the West, who " I was a second son; but not then-not then.
will, before long, bring a heavy hand upon their This fatal hand had by that time done the deed."
own heads, if I am not mistaken. I had fancied,   The surprise which Smeaton felt at the sudden
indeed, that you were going northward; and that change in manner, tone, and look, and at the
might have been more dangerous."             strange words of Lord Stair, could not be pre"I have but little temptation to go to the North, vented from appearing on his countenance; and
my good lord," replied the younger gentleman. the earl, whose eyes were fixed upon him, said,
"It would be a painful sight to see mny family es- " You do not know the story: it is a sad one;
tates in the hands of others, and our once splen- but I often force myself to tell it; and there is
did property enriching those whom even your something strange in your couin0g here to-night.
lordship will permit me to call traitors."   The moment before you entered, I had the letter
" I will not find fault with your doing so," re- now before me in my hand-the letter of recall
plied Lord Stair, with a smile, " for your father out of a long and unjust banishment from the bowas certainly much wronged by near and dear som of my family. To your father's kindness
fiiends, as they professed themselves. If I re- and support during those long dark years I owe
member rightly," he continued, " your mother much; and I may as well tell you how it all haphad lands in the West. Supposing they were pened."
not confiscated, I can conceive the motives of   Smeaton replied in a few common-place words
your journey."                               of interest, for there are times when nothing is
"They were forgotten in the general sweep," appropriate but a common-place. The earl heard
aeplied Smeaton;  and, happily, we had faith- him not, however, but kept gazing into vacaaoy




HENRY SMEATON.                                        21
with a contracted brow and somewhat hangard  have never seen him since; but I forget not one
eye.                                        lihneament of his face, one tone of his voice, one
"I have it all before me even now," he said, expression of his countenance; and you are very
at length, in a low and tremulous tone, "that like him."
dark and horrible scene, and its terrible conse-   As he spoke, the earl extended his hand to
quences. There are some things which brand Sineaton, and then added,
themselves upon the mind even of childhood    "You now can see the causes of the interest I
with marks never to be effaced; and though long take in your fate.  That interest will never diyears and busy scenes, passions, desires, hopes, minish, and will always be active in your favor,
Joys, acts, feelings, have thronged so thickly into whenever my duty to the land of my birth and
the intervening space that one would think they the sovereign whom I serve will give it scope.
raised up a cloud between the present and the I am obliged to make this reservation, for it is a
past which no eye could penetrate, yet there it rule that I have always acted upon, to suffer no
is, that one terrible hour, as vivid and distinct personal feeling whatever to interfere with my
as when it burst upon me like a blaze of light- actions as a public man. But I trust to your own
ning. This hand, younga man, took my elder good sense, toyourown good feeling, topreserve
brother's life-not willingly, mark me —not with you from any position in which your interests
forethought, nor under the rash impulse of any would be opposed to my duties."
sudden passion. We were boys together, and   Sineaton replied not to the earl's last words,
loved each other well. I envied him not his but inquired, in a tone of real feeling,
elder birth, God knows; I hardly even knew or   " How did this sad story end?"
felt its advantages. It was all in sport: I knew    "Perhaps to my advantage," replied Lolr
not that the gun was charged. He had present- Stair. "I recovered my calmness and compoed it at me himself the moment before. God sure of mlind —never my light gayety of heart.
only knows how it was that I was not the vic- My own conscience acquitted me of any fault
tim, and that he was notleft to mourn me. Think, but boyish indiscretion, though the memory of
then, of my horror when the musquetoon went having taken a brother's life remained as a dark
off, and my brother fell at my feet a bleeding cloud shading the too fervid heat of youth. I
corpse! That was the first sickening taste of applied myself to intense study. I learned to
the bitterness with which my cup was to be fill- think when others are dreaming. I sought abed; but when, instead of comfort in my agony, straction friom myself in the study of other men.
and support under the dreadful weight cast upon I acquired in boyhood the mind of a man. The
me, I found the awful misfortune imputed to me stream iniglht be small indeed, for it was not yet
as a crime — when, in spite of its being shown and flooded by experience, but it was diverted from
proved, by those who witnessed it, that all was its natural channel by the rocks and precipices
accidental, and my horror and grief were appar- which surrounded it. At length, representations
ent to all eyes, I was cast out from the bosom of from my good tutor of the forced progress I had
my family like an exile, banished to a distance, mnade, his over-praise of my character, disposiand treated like a criminal who has only escaped tion, and abilities, and his mild, Christian excondign punishment by some quirk of law, and postulations against the injustice that was shown
who lives with the shame, and the reproach, and me, had their effect, and at the end of several
the stigma clinging to him forever-to describe years I was called back to my family. I returnmy sensations then is impossible. At first it was ed with a feeling of dread and anxiety, which
all a chaos of sorroNw; but gradually the sense of was not without cause; for, though I was nom*injustice raised up a spirit of resistance, hard, inally forgiven, I could see in all faces, I could
dogged, malevolent, but still serviceable, for it hear in all tones, that what I had done was not
enabled me to bear up. And then, for my bless- forgotten —that a chilling memory existed of that
ing and my safety, I found two friends, who gave dark accident, which extinguished all warm afl
a better direction to my thoughts-who raised fection toward me. An opportunity of escape
up hope again in my bosom, and softened even from such an icy dwelling soon presented itself,
the memory of the past. The first was the min- and I gladly seized it by entering the army. Life
ister under whose tuition I was placed: a wise was of little value to mle —less so than to most of
and good mlan, who moved in his humble sphere my companions; my previous studies gave me
untainted by the vices or the follies of the day. some advantages over them; and I became what
The other was your noble father: a lad some I now am, succeeding to my father's honors and
years older than myself, who was pursuing his estates on his sudden and somewhat mysterious
studies under the same tutor. Oh, how sweetly deathyears ago. Wealth, power, and some share
those days come back to memory, when first ly of fame have all been mine; but I can tell you.
heart opened to his kindness, and when, loaded my lord, that I would sacrifice them all, fall back
with anguish, such as is rarely known but in into obscurity, or even poverty, and pursue a
manhood, I told him all my thoughts, and wept humble course of laborious and usnknown exerupon his bosom like a child! How sweetly, too, tion, ins any drudgingl profession, without a murcome back his counsels and exhortations! how  mur, could I but bllot out the past, could I but
gently, how kindly he soothed my angry feel- find some breeze to waft away the one dark
ings! how wisely he taught me to rely on high- cloud that hangs upon memory, could I but wash
er and nobler principles for support under my from my handc the stail of a brother's blood,
affliction than the mere stern sense of being however innocently shed."
wronged! how he soothed my irritation, and   As he spoke, Lord Stair covered his eyes with
won me away from my sorrows! My young his hands, and then came a long, silent pause.
friend, it is not to be forgotten; and if there was Slneaton knew not how to bleak it except by
bitterness in the cup pressed hard to my boyish rising to depart; but the movement instantly
lips, there was sweetness to be remembered too. called the earl's attention.'Tis well-nigh thirty years ago, I think —perhaps    " Do not go," he said, " do not go. You must
slore, for your father married very early-and I stay and sup with me. We have other thiogs to




22                              HENRY SMEATON.
think of. I should wish to do something that the fate or fortunes of either was made by Lord
would be of service to you, or might be useful, Stair, when he promised to send his guest, on
in case of need, for my mind foreshadows troub- the following day, a letter for a gentleman in the
ions times coming. But I must think of what West, who might be serviceable to him in case
can be effected."                             of need.
" I thank you most sincerely, my dear lord,"    " You can present it or not, as you think fit,"
replied Smeaton, " lbut assure you as sincerely  said the earl; " but, at all events, it will show
that I do not propose to meddle with troublous that I look upon you as my friend, which, I be.
times, nor take part in troublous scenes."   lieve I am not too bold in supposing, may prove
" Propose!" echoed the earl, with a faint a protection for you against annoyance and sussmile.  "How  many things affect the whole picion in case of any troubles arisingin the land."
course of our existence in ways which we never   Smeaton thanked him heartily, and thus they
proposed to our minds! Circumstances make  parted.
mall more often than man makes circumstances.   The colonel remained for three days more in
Let no one answer for his actions even of to-mor- London; but I will not here dwell upon his furrow, for we may fearlessly affirm that he knows tlhar proceedings in the great city, because I may
no-t Mwhat they will be. It is well to be prepared  have to speak of them hereafter as fully as their
for all."                                    little importance deserves.
He rose and rang the bell, saying, when the
servant appeared,
" Supper at the usual hour. This gentleman
stps with me."                                              CHAPTER V.
Then, resuming the conversation, he led it in
a different course, talking of many general sub-   IT was a bright and cheerful morning, and the
jects, and gradually regaining his ordinary tone scenery round Ale would have been in its greatand manner.                                  est beauty had but one cloud floated in the sky
"Andcl now, my young friend," he said, at to checker the landscape with moving light and
length, " to returne to the object of your coming: shadow. But there was not the slightest stain
what of this business between my running foot- upon the heaven; and the sun, in his hot noon,
man, Thomas Hardy, and young Newark, thrifty  was shining over the flat, waveless sea, and over
Sir John Newark's son?"                      the brown, high-topped hills and deep dells
"I do sincerely hope that your lordship will round about. The trees were in their rich foildismiss him," replied Smeaton, in an earnest age, green andfull; no speck of road-side dust —
tone; " not to satisfy or gratify me-no, nor even  no particle of soot-smirched the pure leaves;
to punish the ruffianly fellow himself, but for the and underneath their branches might be found
repute and honor of my noble friend, the Earl cool shade, and pure, refreshing air, breathing
of Stair.  If your lordship had but heard the lightly from the sea.
comments of the crowd upon the insolence of   There was a clump of ten or twelve beeches
noblemen's servants, and especially of this man, perched upon a little knoll overhanging the road
who was recognized as yours, you would see which led to the nearest town from Ale-Manor
that this is no specious motive put forth to cover aid village. A few were decayed.and hollowed
personal anger. I punished the fellow on the  out, leaving little but the bark standing, with
spot for what he did to me; but the crowd hand- two or three long branches stretching forth, and
led your lordship's name rather roughly on the  still bearing the verdant livery of youth, even in
provocation given by him."                   their extreme old age. Others were in their
"I could swallow that easily," replied Lord  vigorous prime, too regular and rounded to be
Stair, with a somewhat haughty curl of the lip; very picturesque; while one or two were in that
"but he is, as you have said. a ruffianly fellow. state of half-decay which casts this peculiar tree
He has broad shoulders, though, and stout limbs, into the most fantastic forms.
makes his way well through a crowd, and has    Sitting under one of those nearest to the road,
no more fear than decency. Nevertheless, you  from which it might be distant about fifty yards,
have justice on your side. I need hardly say he was Emmeline Newark. She was shaded from
told his own story before you came; but I de- the sun in the position which she had assumed,
tected its falsehood, even in his own showingm. and, at the same time, caught any wind that was
reproved him for what he had done, and informed  stirring; for, blowing, as I have said, very, very
him I should wait till I heard further before I lightly from the sea, it came up the deep dell
decided on my conduct.  He has had much  from Ale Bay and along the course of the stream,
practice in lying, but does not do it dexterously. seeming to pause, as if in sport, among the
He shall be dismissed. Let us say no more on  beeches, and whirling round the wooded knoll.
the subject. Look upon it as done; and now, She had a book in her hand: I know not well
here is supper announced. We will forget all what it was; it might have been Pope, orAddiunpleasant things, and I will endeavor to have  son, or any of those stars that were setting or risone peaceful evening before I set out. You have ing about that time —never mind a mixed metaheard, of course, that I am going to take the  phor, dear critic. She was in one of her musing
chief command in Scotlandcl till Argyle call be moods, however, and the book lay unnoticed on
made available. Then, I suppose, my destina- her knee, as, leaning slightly on one side, with
tion will be Franlce."                       her shoulder supported against the smooth barkl
Thus saying, he led the way to a room on the  of the beech, and her eyes peeping out from unground floor, where supper was prepared, and  der the branches toward the opposite hill and
Smeaton's evening was passed in a very differ- the blue sky above it, she lay, rather than sat, in
ent manner from that which he had anticipated  an attitude of exquisite grace.
in the morning. The topics on which they had    Tlle sun was very near the meridian, and his
touched recurred no more.. General subjects brightness would have been oppressive to the
wrere alone spoken of; and the only allusion to  eye, had it not been that the cool coloring of the




HE NRY SMEATON.                                       23
scene around, the green trees, the brown hills, that she was not alone on the hill side. She
and the gray rocks, seemed to drink up the rays, started at the sound of a footfall, and, turning
or return them softened and mellowed to the eye. round, beheld two strangers with their faces
She had sat there some time, without seeing a blackened. She would have run away toward
living creature or a moving thing, except a large the house; but, at the same moment, one man
bird of prey, which kept whirling in immense caught her by the arm, and the other seized her
circles far over head.  But now a man on horse- shoulder.
back, in the garb of a servant, leading another   "Pardie', nous l'avons!" cried one of them.
horse by the bridle, passed slowly along the road,   The other said nothing, but strove to draw her
without noticing her, and took his way up toward away in a different direction fiom that of the
the old manor house. She gazed after him with house.
that feeling of curiosity which is generated by a   All the warnings she had received now flashed
solitary state of life. She marked him along the upon her memory; all the terrors which Sir John
road till it was lost in the wood, and as she did Newark had instilled took possession of her in
so, some one on foot was heard to pass along un- full force; and, without pausing to question or
der the trees, as if coming up a very steep path remonstrate, she screamed aloud for help, while
from the little village.                     the two men, in spite of her resistance, forced
"It is Richard," she'thought, peeping under her on in the path which they had chosen.
the branches.'"Poor boy i he has not gained   "They won't hear," said the one to the other,
much during the last twelve months. He will in French. "The wind blows the other way.
be a child all his life, I fear."            This eclipse was a lucky chance."
She then turned to the pages of her book, and   Still, however, Emmneline screamed; and the
began to read. Suddenly the page grew some- one who had as yet said nothing, put his hand
what dim, and she looked up, saying to herself, over her mouth to smother her cries, whispering,
" There are clouds coming over."  But, though at the same time, but still in French, what seemshe could not actually see the sun, the sky was ed persuasions to come quietly, and promises
bright and clear. She read on; but the page which she neither heard nor understood.
grew more and more dim, till at length she could   Freeing her lips, she screamed again and again;
with difficulty distinguish the words.       and then-oh, blessed sound!-she heard the
"A thunder storm  must be coming." she noise of a,horse's feet upon the road.
thought, shutting the book and rising to take her   "It is my guardian," she thought; and another
way home; but, on stepping from beneath the long, piercing cry succeeded.
branches of the old beech-tree, not a cloud was   It caught the ear of the horseman on the road.
to be seen upon the sky. All was clear, though He checked his horse, and beheld by the light,
the light had diminished to the faintest gleam of which was becoming now more strong, two mnell
twilight; yet it didnot resemble eithertlthe morn- dragging a woman up the hill. There was a
ing or the evening light.  There was no rosy  steep bank between the road and the turf above;
glow, 11o golden tint, in east or west; a dim gray but he struck his spurs fiercely into his horse's
shadow had spread over earth and sky, and Em- sides, and, with a straining effort, the fine, powreline could see here and there a star glealning erful beast overcame the obstacle, reached the
faintly ill the deep concave above, as if night had turf, and sprang forward. Stretching out as if
just tallen, while a dark shadow occupied the runnin g a race, the horse, in a few  seconds,
place of the sun, with the exception of a narrow  brought him up to the spot where EmmelinI
crescent of light still remaining at one edge. A  was, and even a little beyond it, before his casudden and instinctive feeling of terror seized her reer could be checked. The latter circumstance,
before reason had time to act. She knew not hoa ever, was favorable, for it placed the rider
what she feared; and yet this sudden darkness, between the men and the wood, and also showed
this unexpected extinction, as it were, of the great him in passing, that they were determined to relight of the heavens, seemed something very aw- sist his interference.  As soon as they perceived
fill. Her heart beat, and her breath came thick. that the intruder upon their enterprise was alone,
The next instant, however, she said to herself, the swords of both were drawn, and one of thent
"' It is ain eclipse. How strange and wonderful! said to the other, in a low voice, and in the French
It is not surprising that men in other days looked tongue,
upon these things as portents. I could well-nigh    " Keep him off while I take her on. Three
be superstitious myself under that black sky at hundred yards further, and we shall be within
noonday. The sun is now taking the form of a hail of the boat's crew."
ring of light, with a dark globe in the center."  But the stranger was not so easily to be disShe paused to gaze upon it; and strange wan- posed of. His horse was wheeled rapidly; his
dering thoughts came through her mind, engross- sword was out of the sheath in a moment; and
ing all her attention. She saw not that, from the in another instant he was upon the two men,
edge of the wood behind and above her-where  finom whonul Emrneline was struggling hard to
it stretched out with a sort of spur upon the hill free herself. As if he at once divined their plan,
side, leaving a space of about two hundred yards he suffered the one who had let go his hold of:
of clear soft turf, only broken by that knoll and the lady to advance, sword in hand, and aim a
clump of beech-trees between itself and the road blow  at him, unreturned, merely making his
-she saw not that there stole quietly forth first horse swerve to avoid it; and, pressing hard upok,
one figure and then another, and, with stealthy the other, who still held the poor girl in hi'.
steps over the soft herbage, came creeping down strong grasp, he forced him to turn and defew'
toward her, keeping the beeches between her himself. The rescuer was obliged to play a wau y
and them. The light, indeed, was hardly suffi- game, however, for the other man ran up behirtd,
cient to show her their movements, even had not as if to strike him from his horse; but, practic edt
those trees formed a sort of leafy screen; but, as in every military exercise, although the anlineal
it was, they were completely hidden, and not he rode had never been trained in the maa eige.
till their steps were close to her was she aware he governed his steed with perfect ease wWit7. thee




24                             EHENRY SMEATON.
hand and heel, wheeling him now upon one, a jelly of the big footman who knocked me down.
now upon the other, parrying a blow here, aim- There are some people that have the luck of it.
ing a blow there, and, in the end, compelled the I should like to do such things too, but I am alsrne who had still the young lady in his grasp to ways too late. I came out to meet him, for his
quit his hold in self-defense.               servant and baggage arrived a minute or two
At the same moment, the loud, deep barking ago; but I thought he would come along the road,
of a large dog was heard, and one glance showed else I should have been upon the hill side ill
the gentleman on horseback an enormous hound, time. That brute, Brian, too, ran after a hare:
followed quickly by a human figure, running over and I sat down and reasoned with him, asking
the hill toward them from the lower wood in him if it were decent, in a gentleman of his high
which the road seemed to lose itself.        degree, to run after small game like that. He
The same sight met Emmeline's eye also; and, was too much ashamed of himself to make any
finding herself free, she sprang forward toward answer; but he lifted up his great hairy nose,
the new comer; but, exhausted with struggling and wagged his tail, as much as to say,' Don't
and with terror, she fell upon the green turf be- talk any more about it.' Carried you away, Emfore she had gone twenty yards.              meline!" he continued, in his rambling manner.
" Run, run, Matthew!" cried the man, who had " Where could they want to carry you?  They
last retained his grasp of Emmeline, still speak- did not hurt you, did they?"
ing in French; and then, with one of the blas-   "They pinched my wrists till they will be
pheinous and horrid oaths of which that language black and blue, I am sure," replied Emmeline,
has a copious vocabulary, he added, "She has simply. " But we had better make haste to the
escaped us! Through the wood, and by the path house," she continued, "for there may be more
round at the back! I will show you the way of them."  Then turning, with a graceful inclindown the cliff."                             ation, to Smeaton, while she leaned upon RichThus saying, he turned to fly with his coin- ard's arm, she added, " My guardian, Sir John
panion; but still he retired with a sort of sturdy Newark, will be most grateful to you, sir, as I
cautiousness, stopping short every ten or twelve am; for, had it not been for your courage and
paces, and turning round ready for defense. The kindness, a scheme, against which he has often
stranger, however, seemed in no degree disposed warned me, would probably have proved sueto follow him. His object was accomplished in cessful, notwithstanding all his precaution."
freeing a lady from the hands of two ruffians: he   "I am  more than sufficiently rewarded by
had no knowledge of the circumstances; and, having rendered you a service," replied Sineaton,
after pausing for an instant to make sure that the in a very common-place tone; but the next inscoundrels had no intention of returning, he stant he fell into a fit of musing, which was only
sprang from his horse and approached the poor interrupted by young Newark exclaiming, with
girl, who was now raising herself upon her arm. a laugh,
"I hope you are not hurt, madam," he said.   "I wotld sooner do a day's work at digging,
"Do not be alarmed. The villains have fled, and under a hot sun, than have to catch your horse
will not return in a hurry, I think. At all events, on this hill side. He'll be at Exeter before toI have marked one of them, so that we shall morrow morning. Talking of the sun., Emmeknow him in time to come."                  line, did you ever see any thing look so filnny as
" Oh, thank you, thank you! How much I that great shining gentleman did just now-just
owe yor, sir!" was all that Emmeline could ut- as if he were sick of a surfeit. He's not much
ter. At the same time, the great deer-hound better yet, and looks black enough at the world,
rushed forward as if to spring at the stranger'; though he has now got a cocked-hat of light set
but, with that peculiar and marvelous instinct by on one side of his head. Old Barbara tells me
which dogs of a noble race distinguish friends it is an eclipse, and that it's all very curious. She
from foes, he suddenly checked himself in full saw one just like it in the reign of King William,
career, dropped his tail and ears, and, turning of blessed memory, when all the birds went to
from him with a shy and wary glance, as if yet roost, and the pigs hid their heads in the straw.
not quite satisfied, approached the lady and lick- I think it more disagreeable than curious. But
ed her hand, fixing his large, bright eyes upon look! he has caught his horse! He'll catch any
her face.                                   thing, or any body-perhaps you, my pretty bird,
" Let me assist you to rise," said the stranger, before he has done."
offering Emmeline his hand; " here comes some   A slight blush came upon Emmeline's face.
one under whose protection, doubtless, you can   " Where are your wits rambling, Richard?"
be quite safe. Ha! my young friend, Richard she said. " You should have helped him, RichNewark! You have made your appearance to ard."
help us just at the happy moment."             "Should I?" said the boy, with a start. " 
The young lad caught his hand and shook it amn soITy I did not, then, for I would willingly
heartily, exclaiming,                       help him in any thing. He is a fine fellow; but
"  hat is the matter?  What is the matter? I never know what I ought to do, Emineline, so
I heard Emmeline screaming, and saw you fight- you must tell me while he is here."
ing with two men, and just slashing one of them    " Does your father expect him?" asked Enz
upon the forehead. Why, what a gay coat you've nmeline.  " Ile never mentioned it to ine."
got on! You were dressed in brown in London."   "Expects him as sure as lie does Christmas,'"
" If it had not been for this gentleman's assist- replied the lad; " but, like a wise nmanl as he is,
auice," said Emmleline, rising slowly, " I should he held his tongue, knowing the quality of ex-'iave been carried away, I know not whither- pectation, which, like a bad sword-blade, breaks
over the seas, I thlink, for they talked of a boat." through the middle when you most rely on it."
" Ay, he always comes up to help people when'That is not your own, Dick," observed Emthey are in need," replied the lad, gazing with a meline, smiling.  " You have borrowed it firol
lools of affectionate regard at Smineaton. "This is some onle."'the gentleman, Emrneline, who came and made; Stole it, dear  Emlnly,"   returned Richard,




HENRY SMEATON.                                        25
laughing; "pilfered it from a player in a lace house, and have come for old Bellmouth, here,
jacket, who strutted about, perriwigged, in a to help me. You come along with me, Bill, and
barn at Putney last year, and called himself her  make haste. We'll put the hound upon their
majesty's servant. But here comes Colonel Smea- steps. Then, if he tears them to pieces, it's their
ton again, with his horse in tow, as the fishermen  affair and his, not mine."
say. How I should like to be a colonel! I   As he spoke, he took his way out of the gates,
wonder if I shall ever be a colonel, Emmy?"    the dog bounding on before. The groom caught
Before the young lady could answer, Smeaton  up a stout stick and followed, asking his young
had rejoined them, and now walked by their side master a number of questions, to which he got
toward tlie house. He had cast off'his fit ofmus- no satisfactory answer. By the shortest way,
ing, and conversed with his two young companions partly through the wood and partly over the hill
gayly and easily, from time to time asking Em- side, young Richard Newark soon reached the
meline questions in regard to the shameful attack  spot where he had seen Emmeline on first being
which had been made on her, and endeavoring  alarmed by her cries. Here, thrusting the dog's
to ascertain if she had any knowledge of the per- nose to the ground with both his hands, he cried,
sons concerned, or the motives by which they    "Seek, Bellmouth, seek!"
were actuated. She was obliged to confess her   The enormous brute snuffed round and round
ignorance, however, merely telling him that her for a moment without any other noise but the
guardian had often warned her that such an at- snorting of his nostrils as they were pressed upoxl
tempt was likely, but had entered into no ex- the turf, and then the lad called him forward, a
planations.                                  few paces higher up, still repeating the cry,
It seemed now to have become Richard New-   "Seek, Bellmouth, seek!"
ark's turn to muse, and they had very nearly    The dog obeyed, moving hither and thither,
reached the house before he opened his lips. still keeping its muzzle to the ground, and at
Then looking up suddenly, he brought forth the  length, with a loud yell, sprang forward in the
fruit of his meditation.                     exact direction which the men had taken. Richl."I've been thinking, Smeaton," he said, ard Newark and the groom followed as fast as
"whether we ought not to get all the servants their feet would carry them, cheering on the dog
together, and see if we can not catch these kid- with loud cries; but, dashing away without a
nappers.                                     fault, he soon outstripped them, giving tongue
"They are gone, I am afraid, beyond recall,"  from time to time, as if to lead them on. He
answered Smeaton, gravely.                   took his course straight through the spur of wood,
"Not they," cried the boy. "They can not over the brown hill beyond, and up in a direct
get away except by the river, and we can stop  line toward the top of Ale Head. The two purthem at the mouth. They took the path up to  suers caught sight of him again, as soon as they
the top of Ale Head; and, unless they have got had passed the wood, rushing in a straight line
wings, they can not get down there. If I un- toward the crags; and the groom remarked,
chain the blood-hound and put him on the scent,   "We shall catch them now, Master Richard,
he'll find them out for us in a minute."     or the dog will have them into the sea."
" Nay, don't,,don't, Richard," said Emmeline.   The moment after, however, the dog disap"You must not leave the house without defense, peared; for Ale Head, before it breaks off into
for no one can tell how many there may be."    the abrupt rocky promontory which actually beeNeither did Smeaton give any encouragement ties over the waters, is capped, as it were, with
to the boy's proposal. He looked grave and  a rise in the ground, from which the turf slopes
thoughtful, and the matter seemed to drop of it- down to the edge of the cliff, so that what was
self. The three entered the house together, and  beyond that highest point, and between it and
Emmeline led the way into the smaller saloon, the precipice, could not be seen. On reaching
where Sir John Newark was accustomed to sit the top, the dog was not visible; but they heard
in the morning. While, with a timid grace, Em- a loud baying from some distance below, and
ineline was performing the various offices of hos- Richard Newark ran forward to the edge of the
pitality toward Smeaton, Richard Newark slip- cliff, while the groom exclaimed, "For God's
poed quietly out of the room, hurried to the great sake, take care, Master Richard!" and followed
court-yard, and ran toward an immense blood- with greater caution.
hound which was chained to a kennel near the    When they gained the edge, however, what
stable door. The beast bounded up on his hind  had taken place became visible. On a point of
legs, tugging at his chain, to caress his young  rock close above the water, and reached by an
master, who, kneeling down unceremoniously  exceedingly narrow path, broken, irregular, covin the dirt, threw one arm about the hound's ered with loose stones, and interrupted by chasms,
thick throat, and, while the animal licked his which, to an eye above or below, seemed impassface all over, struggled to unfasten the chain  able, stood the large blood-hound, baying with a
from the collar.                             furious disappointed bark, mingled with a sort of
"Don't unchain the dog, Master Richard,"  shrill whine; while, at the distance of about half
said a groom from the stable. " He'll hurt some  a mile from the point, was seen a small boat rowof you, if you don't mind."                 ing toward a cutter-rigged vessel lying-to about
"That is just what I want him to do, Bill," re- a couple of miles from the coast.
plied the lad. " You come along  with me. Two    Richard Newark had paused suddenly at the
men have been trying to carry off Emmeline; edge of the cliff, and remained perfectly silent;
and Brian, who hunts by eye, was of no use."   but the groom, when he came up, exclaimed,
"Have they got her, then?" cried the man, "They have got off, sir! We are too late."
startin fo)rward.                              " Ay," said the lad, in a thoughtful tone; "t hey
"No, no. Colonel Smeaton came up and broke  must have known the place well, Bill. I did not
their noddles," replied Richard; " but I want to  think there was a man in England knew that way
catch them. So I have left the three-that is to  down, except myself and young Jemmie Harrisay. the lady, the colonel, and the dog-in the  son, the fisherman's son. It is not the first time




;2e6                            3;HENRY  SMEATON.
they have been here. Here, Bellmouth! Mind er than he expected, indeed-not more than a
your footing, old boy. It's the first time you ever mile and a half from the house. Sir Joln was
were down there, and you've got no map."     evidently anxious and in haste, for he was keepIt was some time before he could induce the ing his horse and his attendants, three or four in
dog to quit his station on the rock below and be- number, at a very quick trot, even against the
gin the ascent. Perhaps the animal did not hear breast of the hill. The man ventured to stop
the voice from above at that great distance, but however, and the first words of the knight were,
assuredly he saw his young master looking over,   "The lady —Emmeline?  There has been a
for from time to time he raised his head toward strange sail seen off the coast."
him with an angry howl, as if to intimate that   " Ay, Sir John," answered the man, " and they
the object of their chase had escaped. At length, had very near carried her off. Two of the men
however, he began to ascend; and with difficul- got hold of her, your worship, not far from the
ty, and not, apparently, without fear, for his steps house either; but just then a gentleman, comning
were slow and uncertain, he made his way up to to visit you-one Colonel Seaton, or Smeaton, or
the top of the precipice again, and then gave him- something of that kind-heard her screams as he
self a great and satisfactory shake, and looked was riding along the road, galloped up, and set
up in Richard's face. The boy patted his head, her free. They say he cut one of the men terbut said nothing, and took his way back to the ribly across the head-at least so Master Richhouse in silence.                            aid told me, for he was running to help her too,
and saw the fight, as they did not give the matter up without a tough struggle."
"Thank God, she is safe!" said Sir John NewCHAPTER VI.                   ark; and, though the motives which produced
this pious exclamation might have been of a someFROM the groom to the stable-boy, from the what mixed nature, he certainly did seem to restable-boy to the kitchen-maid, from maid to joice sincerely.
maid and man to man, by housekeeper and old   Pushing his horse on even faster than before,
butler, the tale proceeded, till every lad, and he rode with great rapidity to the house, sprang
lass, and old blue-bottle in the family had heard from his horse's back like a young manl, and hurthat two men had seized upon Emmeline, and ried into the small saloon, where he heard voices
had only been prevented firom carrying her off speaking.
to a ship near the coast by the timely arrival and    The whole party within were laughing and
the gallant daring of Colonel Henry Smeaton, a talking gayly; but the agitation and anxiety on
gentleman well known to Sir John and Master Sir John's countenance at one showed them that
Richard. True, the story suffered many varia- he had heard of the events, which they themtions in its course. It was embellished and im- selves had nearly forgotten in pleasant conversaproved, and gained at every stage, as the play- tion, and made Emmeline feel grateful for the
bills have it, "new scenery, dresses, and decora- deep and affectionate interest which he seemed
tions."  A great degree of confusion, too, pre- totake in her safety. He shook-Smeaton warmvailed as usual in the way in which it was told. ly by the hand, saying,
One of the maids, in relating  it to the house-   "You have rendered me an inestimable servkeeper, either by the confusion of her own ideas ice, Colonel Smeaton, and added to all I owe
or the inaccuracy of her language, made Brian, you for the gallant defense of my son. I learn,
the stag-hound, act a very important and unusual too, from London, that Lord Stair has, at your
part for a dog.                              demand, dismissed from his service the ruffian
"'Just at that moment, ma'am," she said, " Brian who struck the boy; so it seems you are not only
came rushing up, and, with his sword in his hand, our good angel, but a very powerful angel too."
he cut one of the men a great gash across the fore-   "My dear sir, you overwhelm me," replied
head."                                       Smeaton, laughing. "I have no more merit in
" Good gracious!" cried the housekeeper, in the matter than aman who, favored by good luck,
considerable alarm and surprise at this phenom- picks up a purse and restores it to its right ownn01on, "how came Brian by a sword?"          er. As for Lord Stair, I made a point of seeing
" Lawk, ma'am! I meant the gentleman," said him immediately; and, upon due representation
the maid. " He cut the man upon the head just of the man's conduct, vouched for by my word
as the dog came up."                         of honor, his own sense of justice induced him to
We can not, however, dwell upon all these dismiss him, without any threat or means of comvariations. They were numerous and not unin- pulsion whatsoever. It seems the earl was an
teresting; but we have other things to do. Suf- intimate friend of my late father in early years,
fice it to say, all agreed in the general facts that and that consideration, indeed, might ini some
Emmeline had been attacked and rescued; that degree have influenced him. I trust this fair
Master Richard, and Bill, the under-groom, with lady will escape further danger, whatever may
Bellmouth, the blood-hound, had pursued the be the cause of the attack made upon her; and
assailants to the very top of Ale Head, but that we were considering just now what would be
the latter had contrived to get into their boat and the best means of protection for her, without
put to sea. One of the men, who had been long subjecting her to the sort of captivity to which
in the family, and knew Sir John Newark's pro- she seems inclined to condemn herself for the
pensity to gather as speedily as possible all the faults of others. Your son was proposing for her
details of what took place in the house during guards a brace of fierce mastiffs, to go withl her
his absence-a quiet, thoughtful, secret sort of wherever she goes; but I contend that he should
man —walked out leisurely along the road as be, at least, one of her guards himself; and I
soon as he had collected all the facts, knowing doubt not, now he has left school, you will arm
well that his master would not be long ere he him with a sword in so good a cause."
returned from the neighboring town, to which   Sineaton spoke jokingly, but Sir John Newark
he had gone in the morlling. He met him soon- looked somewhat grave.




HENRY SMEATON.                                        27
" I am afraid," he remarked, " Richard would ains losing their heads in the sky, where we go
not know how to manage a sword. He has never on climbing, never thinking ourselves sufficientlearned to fence."                          ly high till we are above the earth. But what
" Let me have the honor of teaching him," is the matter with you, Richard? You look sad!"
said Sineaton. " I will answer for it that in one   "I do not know why it is, Emmy, dear, but
week I will make him a very fair swordsman, great kindness always seems to make me sad,"
whether it be with the small sword, the broad replied Richard, in a low tolle. " If I were with
sword, or any other weapon of the kind. I have that mall always, I believe I should soon be a
always been reckoned the most expert in my man myself. But I fear that will never be," he
regiment at those exercises."               added, with a sigh.  "' I feel inyself so much
Sir John was evidently well pleased, and the younger than other boys of my own years; and
boy delighted.                              I can not get things into my head as they do.
"I trust that he will have the benefit of your This noddle must have some crack in it, Emmy,
kind tuition for more than one week," said the to let the thoughts flyout of it as fast as they fly
ormler, " and it is certainly advisable that he in. It is no better than an old pigeon-house."
should accompany his cousin whenever she goes   " Hush, hush! You must not think so," said
any distance from the house. But surely, Col- Emmeline.  " You will do very well, Richard, if
onel Smeaton, you have not come all this way you will but attend and be a little less heedless."
from London to spend but a week in our rural   " I can not attend," said the boy. " I never
scenes?"                                   could; and I am less heedless than you think,
"Oh no," replied Smeaton. " I shall remain Emmeline."
in this part of the country, I dare say, for six   Then leaving her, he went up to Smeaton's
weeks; but I can not intrude upon your hospi- side, as he stood talking with Sir John near the
tality for so long a period."                window, and, laying his hand upon the colonel's
"If you quit our house one day before," ex- arm, said, with all the eager impatience of a
claimed Sir John, warmly, "we shall conclude child, " When shall I have the sword?"
that you think our hospitality very cold, or our   " To-night or to-morrow," replied Smeaton,
house very dull."                            with a smile; "but, before you wear it, you
His manner was so sincere, and he pressed his must learn how to use it. The first time that
invitation so heartily, that Smeaton accepted it you can parry three lunges rulning, you will be
without much hesitation, and again turned the fit to wear the sword."
conversation to young Richard Newark, pointing   The boy seemed satisfied, and left the room.
out the advantage it would be to him, especial- The conversation between the master of the
ly in the somewhat unsettled state of the coun- house, Smeaton, and Emmeline then turned for
try, to learn various manly exercises early.  a few  minutes to other subjects, such as the
"' They might be of great service," he said, eclipse, the beauty of the scenery, the agitated' both to him and to you, Sir John. As I came state of the country, but gradually worked itself
through Dorchester, I saw two of the magistrates round to the strange attack which had been
of the town taken to the pump in the market- made upon Emmeline. Sir John asked both
place, and pumped upon till they were well-nigh her and Smeaton a number of questions as to the
drowned, because they would not cry'High  appearance and height of the men, what they
Church and Sacheverel forever!' Their cow- had said, and whether she had seen them long
ardly lackeys ran away, and left them to their before they seized her. As to their appearance,
fate, and I did not feel myself called upon to in- Emmeline could give very little information; but
terfere; but I am convinced that one man, with Smeaton described them more accurately, saying,
a little knowledge of horsemanship and the spa-   "One was nearly as tall as myself; and it
droon, would have dispersed the. whole mob, struck me I had seen him somewhere beforeand saved their worships a wetting."         perhaps in France or Spain;. but he was clearly
"It served them right for their thick-headed- disguised, his hair or a wig brought far over his
ness," said Sir John Newark, laughing; " and I face, and an enormous cravat tied in front.  He
can easily guess that you did not find yourself will not be able to disguise limself so easily
called upon to interfere. Your observations are again, I think; for, though I only contrived to
alone the less just, however, Colonel Smeaton, reach him with the point of my sword, it scored
and I will send to Axminster to-morrow for a his forehead pretty deeply, as I felt it grate upon
good light sword for Richard. My own are all the bone."
too heavy."                                    Emmeline gave a slight shudder, and Smneaton
" Pardon me," said Smeaton. " I will supply added,
him with a very serviceable weapon, and as   "Pardon me, dear lady, for speaking of such
light as he could wish. It was manufactured for horrible subjects; but what I did, depend upon
the late Duke of Burgundy, when about your it, was necessary, fte. they seemed two despeson's age, and fell into my hands by accident. rate ruffians, determined not to give up their obIt is with the remainder of my baggage, which ject without bloodshed. I trust they will never
will be here to-night or to-morrow. You shall repeat the attempt."
get him the less deadly weapons-a pair of fenc-   "I think they will not," replied Sir John Newing-foils, masks, and spadroons; for we must be ark, musing. "They have had a lesson. But
mindful of the old proverb, and not jest with they must have been well informed; for, if the
edged tools."                               fishermen had been at home, they would not'There, Richard, you are at the height of your have dared to land. All the men have gone
ambition," said Emmeline to the lad, while Sir round the point, however, and the wind would
John was pouring forth thanks upon Smeaton; not serve to bring them back speedily, even if
" but I suppose, dear boy, with you, as with oth- the appearance of a strange vessel had excited
ers, the ambition of to-day will not be the ambi- suspicion. I heard of her coming upon the coast
tion of to-morrow, for that same steep ascent of this morning, when I was tell or twelve miles
amnbition, the poets tell us, is like the mount- distant, and I hastened back with all speed."




28                              HENRY SMEATON.
" Then had you any cause for alarm?" asked  of the olden time, though it had some cmuious feat.
Smeaton.                                     ures.  Suffice it that it passed pleasantly, and
" Oh no, not particularly," replied Sir John, that Smeaton's easy manners and varied converwith a certain degree of embarrassment; and  sation soon removed from the mind of Emmeline
then immediately added, " But let me show you  the feeling of restraint produced by freshness of
the apartments prepared for you, Colonel Smea- acquaintance. As soon as dinner was over she
ton. Every thing is ready, I know; though, fear- rose and retired. Richard Newark did the same;
ful of any disappointment, I would not give my  for there were yet many hours of daylight left,
fair ward the hope of a great pleasure of which  and his rambling habits seldom suffered him to
she might be deprived."                      remain long in any one spot. Sir John Newark
With this courteous speech, he led the way  pressed the wine upon his guest, according to
out of the room, leaving Emmeline musing, and  the fashion of the day; but Smeaton announced
not altogether satisfied.                    at once his very moderate habits, saying that he
There is a feature in insincerity which always feared the school in which he had been brought
betrays itself. I know not well in what it lies, up did not qualify him to compete with Englishthis error of demeanor, which shows us that men in the use of the bottle. He had remarked,
there is something very different flowing on un- too, that during dinner, Sir John Newark, while
der an apparently calm and clear stream of con- conversing with the utmost apparent frankness,
versation. But so it has ever been; and it is had dropped in questions with regard to foreign
hardly possible to deceive any one well practiced  countries and to Emeaton's own adventures which
in the world's ways as to the ingenuousness or he could not help thinking had a sinister object.
disingenuousness of the persons with whom he  He was, therefore, in some degree upon his
is brought into contact. The object may not be  guard; but he soon found that his companion
discerned; the thoughts, the passions, the mo- knew more than he had imagined.
tives, the wishes, the plans, may all remain hid-   During the space of about five minutes after
den; but what we see is that the surface and  the dessert was set upon the table, one or other
the depth are different.                     of the servants came in from time to time, to put
In the present instance, however, I must add, more wine on the beaufet, to carry away this
for the reader's information, that in many re- piece of plate or that; but when the last of them
spects Sir John Newark's words and demeanor departed, and the door seemed finally closed,
toward Smeaton were sincere. He was truly  Sir John Newark stretched himself back in his
glad to see him at Ale-Manor; he was unaffect- ichair, and said, with a very peculiar smile,
edly grateful to him both for delivering Emme-   " Now, my dear lord, we shall be able to talk
line and for defending his son; he was really  more at our ease, though I suppose it will be
anxious, also, that he should remain for some  better for me to keep up the habit of treating
time at Ale-Manor. But yet a good deal was you as Colonel Smeaton rather than as the Earl
concealed; and Smeaton, perceiving this last of Eskdale?"
fact, doubted, in some degree, all the rest. At   Whatever he might feel, Smeaton did not suffer
all events, he said to himself,              the slightest look of surprise to come upon his
" That is not a sincere man. It is clear that.countenance.  In truth, no sooner had he heard
what the people in London told me of him is that Bolingbroke had named him to Sir John
true."                                       Newark, than he came to the conclusion that his
Every care and attention had been bestowed  present worthy host had acquired a great deal of
upon the preparations for Smeaton's comfort; true, and probably a great deal of false, informatwo rooms in Ale-Manor had been arranged for tion concerning him. He was not, however,
him, for the house had abundant space for its very anxious to correct any false impressions that
inmates; and the good, old-fashioned furniture, Sir John Newark might have received; for there
ponderous but convenient, had been freshly dust- were various reasons which induced him to wish
ed and arranged, the windows thrown open, and  that the notions of theknight regarding him should
free air and sunshine admitted, so that the whole  be as vague and undefined as possible, and he
bore a cheerful and pleasant look. The outer was well aware that nothing serves to puzzle and
chamber had been arranged as a sort of sitting- confuse the minds of very shrewd and cunning
room; the inner contained an enormous four-post people so much as half knowledge. It is worse
bed, with blue velvet hangings; and the small than ignorance, for it encumbers the ground.
quantity of baggage, which Sineaton had sent on  He was resolved, then, on his part, neither to
with his servant, was already deposited in the  tell nor explain any thing, but to let Sir John
first chamber, and spread out ready for his use. pursue his own course, and make any assumpA hand-bell stood upon the table; and, on intro-  tions which he chose.
ducing him into his apartment, Sir John observed,   After a mnoment's seeming consideration, Smea"I am sorry to say that, in this part of the  ton said, " Perhaps, Sir John, it would be better
house, there are no bells hung; but your servant to avoid my title both in public and in private.
has been placed on the opposite side of the court, The name of Colonel Smeaton gives me quite as
so that, by just opening the casement at any time, much dignity as I can well carry in this country,
you can summon him by that instrument on the  for the time being."
table."                                        "Lord Bolingbroke informs me-and I was
Thus saying, he left him, giving him notice of  very sorry to hear it," continued Sir John Newthe hour of dinner, which was now approaching;  ark, after a pause to consider how he should purand, even before proceeding to change his travel- sue the attack, " that her ladyship was very mi
er's dress, Smeaton sat down in one of the large, well when he wrote."
easy chairs, to meditate over his situation and his    " She was so when I left her," replied Smeaprospects.                                   ton, " but my last letters informed me she was
I shall not pause, however, to analyze his much better; otherwise, I should not have venthoughts, but carry him at once to the dining-  tured to protract my stay in this country."
room. Nor will I dwell upon an English dinner    Let it be remarlked that Smeaton hesitated for




HENRY SMEATON.                                        29
a moment at the very first word of the sentence  is in peril of rushing rashly into love. Love is
which I have just reported. The original ex- like all great things, affecting us with awe when
pression which first sprang to his lips was "My  we first see it from a distance, but soon growing
mother;" but, for some reason, he changed it to  familiar by habit and near approach.
the word she; and, after pausing for an instant,   Brought up in perfect seclusion, with few of
he added;                                    her own sex to converse with, hav-ing none whom
"Pray what did Lord Bolingbroke say of her she could look upon as a companion, acquainted
health?"                                    with no one near her own age, or with those feel
Sir John Newark took a letter from his pocket, ings which produce harmony between mind and
and read as follows:                         mind, often bewildered, as I have shown, by her
"The Countess of Eskdale has been very un- own thoughts, and longing to pour them forth,
well, nearly at death's door; otherwise, she she was ready-I must not say she longed, bewould have gone over to England too, I doubt cause there was no premeditation-to give her
not, for they have some lands to claim, and other whole confidence, with the guileless heart of
matters to settle, which might require her pres- youth, to any one who seemed to seek it worthily.
ence also. However, she was too ill to go; and    Sir John Newark could be no companion for
perhaps it is quite as well that she should not go, her. True, he was not without abilities and powas it would only have embarrassed his proceed- ers of conversation, but all his thoughts were
ings."                                       different from hers. He was a complete mall of
Smeaton listened quietly while this was read, realities; and, if he had any thing like imaginaand then only observed, somewhat dryly, that tion or fancy at all, the only purpose to which he
the noble lord took more interest in his affairs could dream of applying such faculties was to the
than he had been aware of.                   devising of schemes for the promotion of his own
" I have had later letters," he added, " since interest or ambition. There was something about
then, and am happy to say that all danger is past."  him, too, she knew not well what-perhaps it
"Then do you think," demanded Sir John  might be this very difference of thought and
Newark, " that her ladyship is likely to come  character, this want of harmony between their
over?"                                       two minds-but still there was something which
" Assuredly not," replied Smeaton. " She  forbade confidence. It was not so with Smeawould not venture upon such a journey without ton. Even in his look there seemed to her a
my company and-protection."                  very winning expression. His clear hazel eyes,
Whatever there might be in this conversation  not without fire nor even keenness, appeared to
of a satisfactory kind, and in whatever degree it beam with high and generous soul; and in his
might affect Sir John Newark personally, certain  whole demeanor and carriage was that sort of
it is that it had considerable effect upon him. chivalrous aspect which had generally, in former
He seemed more frank and fiee in his whole de- days, distinguished the party called Cavaliers,
meanor from that moment; to put a greater de- with a slight touch of their free and careless gaygree of confidence and trust in his guest; and  ety, but no appearance of their reckless liceneven to be more anxious for his prolonged stay. tiousness. There were moments, as we have
He had been every thing that was courteous be- shown, when he could be calm, thoughtful, and
fore, but now he was warm and pressing.      grave enough; but the general tone of his conI need not detail all that took place further versation was gay, and even playful, with no
that night. The potations of the host and his touch of satire or persiflage-one of the great
guest were neither deep nor strong, and the din- vices of the day. Much dignity, at times, was
nor closed with a walk through the park and  evident, but never any haughtiness of demeanor.
neighborhood in the bright eveing air, rather It gave one the idea that, confident in himnself;
than with bottle upon bottle, as was too much  satisfied with his own position, accustomed in
the custom in those days.                    all things to decide rapidly, and habituated fromn
Emmeline was not to be found at the moment youth to act with ease and grace in any circumthey set out; Richard was rambling, no one knew  stances, he was never thinking at all of himself
where; and, during the course of their tgte-A-tte or his own manner, and that always gives an adwalk, Sir John Newark tried hard, and not un- ditional elegance. It was all evidently unstudFmccessfilly, to converse agreeably on indifferent ied; and assuredly, when fair Emmeline lay
subjects with his young guest. He himself seem- down to sleep that night, she not only thought
ed delighted with the earl's whole demeanor and  Smeaton one of the handsomest and most agreeconversation; and, before the hour of repose, he  able men she had ever seen, but lurking at her
had found a moment to tell Emmeline that Col- heart was a conviction that, of all beings on
(rnel Smeaton was one of the most charming and  earth to whom she could pour out her thoughts
distinguished men in the world, laughingly add- freely, such a man would be the foremost.
ilg,                                           Nevertheless, she slept soon and she slept well.
"You must not fall in love with him, however, Nothing in the slightest degree agitated her feel
my dear child, for he is a married man."     ings. She was not even the least little bit in
Nothing could have been a greater relief to love with him; and though toward morning a
the mind of Emrnmeline than this announcement, dream visited her pillow which disturbed her
for she was just at that age when an instinctive  much, and from which she awoke with a beating
inclination to fly from those who are likely to  heart, it was only memory re-enacting, with very
pursue seizes upon the heart of woman; when a slight variations, the scene of the preceding day,
dread of the new and undeveloped sensations in which she had been seized by strangers and
which are soon to take possession of her makes rescuied by Smeaton.
her shrink shyly and timidly from all that can    The same sensations, perhaps increasing a litgive them birth. It is only when woman, in  tie in power, went on during the next three days.
very early life at least, can say to herself, as Em- She became, of course, more intimate with her
meline now thought she could say in regard to  guardian's guest, lost the timidity and restraint
Smemton, " There is no danger with him,e" that she of fUist acquaintance, laughed and talked with




30                             HENRY SMEATON.
him easily, and saw, or thought she saw, more and pleased, and the rest of that second day was
of his mind and character; and every thing she spent in rides about the country. The third day
did see only tended to strengthen her first im. passed m'trh in the same manner, without any
pressions. But during those three days she was event of note; but as the proceedings of the
never alone with him, even for a moment. Sir fourth day will require somewhat more detail, I
John Newark was always present, and his pres- shall reserve them for the following chapter.
ence-it is a curious fact, but so it was-always
checked any thing like free and confiding intercourse in whatever society he might happen to
be. Man has his instincts as well as the brute             CHAPTER VII.
creation, and it seemed to be by instinct that peo-   AN  ld  orman  church built in the earliest
pie felt Sir John Newark was not to be trusted. style of that fine but somewhat heavy architectOn the day after Smeaton's arrival, the whole ure, stands about five miles from Ale Head and
arty rodhase over what was needed forin the instructionod Bay, upon the slope of a gentle hill, with many
to purhichase what was needed or tive instruction other hills around it. It is a large structure for
which Sieaton had promised to give Richard the present population of the adjacent country,
Newark. The gay exercise, the free air, the lit- ife presentmay  udge from the appearance  of the
tie occupation of an hour, all made it a pleasant l and immediately round. The  hill is part of a
ride; and the morning passed over easily enough, land Immediately roun.  The hill is part of a
although there was a little bustle and excitement long range of downs, undivided by inclosures,
in the town, caused by the apprehension of a mal and covered by short, dry sward, very much like
for drinking the health of King James the Third, that which spreads over Ale Head itself. No
which was construed into a treasonable act by trees are to be seen as far as the eye can reach,
the worthy magistrates of the place. Their read- except, indeed, two old yew-trees standing close
ing of the law, indeed, did not seem mTch  to to the church, and probably planted there by Saxplease the people, who made more than one at- on hands long before the first stone of the prestempt to rescue the prisoner; but magistrates in ent edifice was laid. So close are they, indeed,
other parts of the country went somewhat fur- that the long branches of one of them  wave
ther, and were known to commit a man for refus- against the moldings of one of the deep, rounding publicly to drink the health of King George. arched windows, and would, in stormy weather,
It is strange that some of the most tyrannical acts break the lozenges of the casement were they
upon record have accompanied every movement not kept under by the pruning knife or shears.
in behalf of liberty.                        A piece of ground is taken in from the hill to
On the return of the party to Ale-Manor, they form the burial-ground, and is surrounded by a
found that the rest of Smeaton's baggage had ar- low wall, with only one entrance, covered over
rived; and, reading the lad's eagerness in his with a pent-house raised upon high posts. By
eyes, Smeaton hastened to the room  where it this gate pass in and out all who come to the
had been deposited, and took from a long coffer, consecrated ground: the child, to its baptism;
which formed one of the packages, a very beau- the gay wedding party, to the altar; the contiful sword, light, and easily wielded, with a gregation, to the worship of God; the corpse, to
richly-chased hilt of silver and gold intermixed. the grave.
Carrying it in his hand back to the little saloon   About three or four hundred yards below the
in which Richard Newark was still waiting, as church, in the bottom of the little valley, through
if anticipating his intention, the young earl prO- which runs a stream of the'clearest and brightsented him with the weapon, saying, in a jesting est water, are four or five small houses, or cottone, but with some earnestness of words,    tages, I should call them, built of the gray stone
"Here, my young friend, I give you a sword of the country, and most of them, thatched. One,
which once belonged to a great prince; but I however, is of two stories, and has a tiled roof.
must exact from you a promise, such as was ex- They have all their little gardens attached, and
acted from the knights of old, that you will nev- are kept in tolerably neat order; yet, when one
er draw it except in the defense of a cause which looks at this little hamlet from the downs above,
you think just and righteous; for, depend upon and sees it lying gray upon the green and undiit, if you do, though the blade is of the finest vided turf, it has a desolate and neglected look,
steel and of the highest temper, it will snap asun- as if it had been left behind in the world's march
der in your grasp."                            if it had been left behind in the world's march
dThe boy caught his hand, and kissed it and to rest in the desert expanse around it. Except
The boy caueht his hand, and kissed it; andlthose two old yews, there is not a tree near bigSmeaton went on, more lightly, saying,        er than a currant-bush.
" To-morrow you shall have your first lesson      er  th    any other house to be see
in the art of vusion it." -                    Neither is there any other house to be seen,
"Oh, let me come and see," cried Emmeline, look which way you will; for the wide dons
eagerly,.'only serve for sheep-pasture, and have such a
"Nay, I must efuse ylou," answered Smeaton. look of depopulation that, in some of the slopes
"Every one is awkward in his first essays; and of the ground, one might fancy one was standyou must not see your young cousin exhibit till ing alone upon the earth, just after the univershe is somewhat of a master In the art of fence. al deluge had subsided. I know not whether it
Am I not right, Sir John?"                  looks more lonely when all the heavens are cov"Perfectly, perfectly," replied Sir John New- ered with gray clouds, or when the bright su
ark. " You must content yourself, Emmeline, shines upon it from the broad; undimmed sky.
with listening to the stamping, only thankful if   Nevertheless, when the musical bell rings on
it does not bring the old house down, for I can the Sabbath morn from the old pale tower, the
assure you an assault d'armes is no joke in a desert seems to waken into life, and people come
peaceable dwelling."                         streaming over the hills-now a solitary man or
The lesson was given, and certainly Richard woman, now a group of two or three, now a farnNewark was awkward enough, but he was proud ily, young and old, age and boyhood, now a group




HENRY SMEATON.                                      31
of children, sporting as they run. The scene is he was well to do in life. He had a fine bald
all changed, and it is very pleasant to behold.   head, with scanty white hair upon the temples;
Within that church, too, are records of other but his brow was knit as well as furrowed, and
days, which would seem to show that the neigh- a sort of sarcastic expression played about his
borhood was not always so scantily peopled as mouth, which was not altogether agreeable.
at present. The grave-stones in the church- Otherwise his features were good; and on lookyard, indeed, are not thick or many, and you can ing at his face, one did not well know whether
walk at ease without stumbling over the little to think it pleasing or not.
mounds where rest the mortal remain's of thei While he was still hewing away, the solitude
peasantry. But within, against the walls, and of the scene was somewhat disturbed by the
even let into the pillars, are many tablets of trotting of a horse up to the door of one of the
marble, black or white, recording virtues and houses below, over which hung a large, straggood qualities, and affection and mourning, gling bush, with an inscription underneath to
which have now left no other memorial behind the following effect:
them. In the aisles, too, and in the chancel (for "THE NEWARKE ARMES. GUDE BEDS AND FUDE
the church is built somewhat in the form of a
FOR HOSS AND MAN."
cathedral), are various very beautiful monuments of different ages: the mail-clad warrior,   The animal which now trotted up to the door
spurred and sworded, the pilgrim from the Holy of this very rural inn was certainly what the
Land, even a mitered abbot, judges, and states- I worthy landlord might denominate a " hoss,"
men, and soldiers of a later day-ay, and the but it looked much more like a barrel on four
tomb of an infant princess-are there; while  legs, and those not very long ones. It was, in
on the pavement on which you tread, the old fact, a little short, pursy galloway, as fat as it
stained glass window at the east end, the only, could be; and this fat must have been of a very
one remaining, sheds its gem-like colors upon perdurable kind, for, though the dust with which
slabs of marble bearing inscriptions and effigies it was covered, and some splashes of mud upon
in brass.                                  its legs, seemed to indicate that it had come a
Various are the names which appear in differ- long way, yet it had certainly lost none of its
ent parts of the church; but, wherever the eye bulk by the process of perspiration.  It was
looks, more frequently than any other will be sleek and well to do, in short; and when its masfound that of Newark. Statues under which ter stopped at the little public house, it stretched
that name is written in old Gothic characters out its nose, as if prepared to ask the first perare among the Crusaders; and on one black son who appeared if it could have the dinner
marble figure, near the font, is a good represent- and bed which the inscription promised. The
ation of the'heavy plate-armor of the days of rider was a short, fattish man, somewhat reHenry VIII., while above hangs a silken banner, sembling his beast, but rather more gaudily atof which neither the original color nor the em- tired; for the pony contented himself with a coat
blems can be discovered through the dust and of gray, while he who bestrid him was dressed,
mold encumbering it. Nearer to the commun- like Joseph, in a garment of many colors.
ion-table is the monument of another Newark, i The old man upon the ladder heard the horse's
fresher than the rest, while an inscription below, feet on the road, and turned round to gaze,
in modern characters and in bad Latin, attests resting fr-om his work the while. The sight of
that the form above represents a gallant soldier a stranger in the place seemed to give him no
of the name of Newark, who fell, bravely fight- j pleasure. He was callous to all such things;
ing for his king, on Nasehy field. He is repre-, and he only set his jaws tight together, and
sented, certainly, not in the most classical cos- mumbled something to himself. A boy, and
tume, with a buff coat, large boots, and the end then an old woman, came out from the house.
of a lace cravat finely sculptured on his chest. The stranger dismounted, took his saddle-bags
The features are not distinguishable; for, after from the pony's back, and entered the little
the monument was raised-and it was a bold dwelling. The boy led the pony round to the
thing in those days to raise it-Cromwell's sol- rear of the house, and the old man assailed the
diers got possession of the church, and with yew-tree again.
hammers, or perhaps the pommels of their  If, however, he thought he was to go on unswords, sadly mutilated that statue and many interruptedly that morning, he was mistaken,
others. It would seem that the family of New- for in about five minutes more the stranger
ark had been steady Loyalists, for on a tablet walked up to the gate of the church-yard, adhard by is an inscription to the memory of that vanced to the foot of the ladder, and looked up.
warrior's brother, erected during the reign of The other took no notice of him whatever exCharles II., and stating that he died while in cept by stretching forth his arm, and, with
exile with his king.                       greater strength than one might have believed
On the morning of the fourth day after Smea- him to possess, striking off a somewhat thicker
ton's arrival at Ale-Manor, a ladder was placed branch of yew than usual, which fell upon the
against the side of the church, and an old man, visitor's head and knocked his hat off.
with something like a reaping-hook in his hand,   "Ay! ashes to ashes, dust to dust!" mutterwas mounted upon one of the high rounds chop- ed the old man, with a slight smile curling the
ping away at the branches of the yew-tree, corner of his mouth.
which approached too close, as I have said, to   The other picked up his hat, brushed off the
the window. He was far advanced in life; and dust with his coat sleeve, and then, without any
his coat, thrown off, lay at the foot of the ladder. observation on the accident, raised his voice,
He had on, however, a waistcoat with woolen saying,
sleeves. His thin and shrunken nether man was   " I wish you would come down, sexton, and
warmly clothed, and, to judge from his dress, let me into the church."




32                            HENRY SMEATON.
", What makes you think I am sexton." ask- and one of his soldiers gave me a thump In the
ed the old man, gruffly. 1" I never buried you side with his fire-lock which nearly broke my
or any of your kin."                       ribs."
"4 No, but you look like old Father Time," an-   " Then you have cause to remember him,"
swered the other, laughing; "and he buries all answered Van Noost, " and not to like him eimen."                                      ther. These are better times, Master Sexton."
" Then you should take me by the forelock,"   " I don't know that," replied the man, gruffly.
answered the sexton, whom the joke seemed to ", We have got a foreigner for our king, and
mollify a little; " and I have no forelock to take. that's as bad as a Protector-at least I think
So you are out, master. I am the sexton, how- so. But I don't know much of such matters,"
ever. But what do you want in the church? "  he added, with a look of shrewd caution com"I hear you have some fine statues there," ing upon his face. " King George may be a
replied the other, " and I want to see them."   very good man, and Hanover rats as good as
But the old man was not yet satisfied.   any other vermin, for aught I know."
"Why, what do you know about statues." he   Van Noost laughed aloud, and replied, with
asked, running his eye over the round, fat, un- a significant nod of the head,
statue-like figure of the other with a somewhat, They may have a rat-catcher among them
contemptuous look.                         some day soon, Master Sexton; but that is not
" More than you do, old boy," replied the vis- my business either. Gracious goodness, how
itor, "though perhaps you have lived among dirty these monuments are!  And half the
them all your life; for I have made them all my brasses are gone out of the marble!"
life; and, depend upon it, there is no such way  I" Ay, they took the brass to make farthings
of knowing a thing as making it."          of," said the sexton; "and as to the dirt, how
"That depends upon the workman," answer- can an old man like me keep such things clean 1
ed the sexton, beginning to descend the ladder. Besides, I don't know how to clean them prop" I have made graves all my days, and yet don't erly, and I am afraid of spoiling them."
know them as well as many who are lying un-   "I'll tell you what, old boy," replied Van
derneath there. But I'll let you in," he added, Noost, " I am going to stay here for a day or
In a more placable tone; "for they are fine two, and I'll help you. I know all about it;
monuments, finer than any for a hundred miles and if I have time, and can get a little clay, I'll
round; and, if you do know any thing about cast you a leaden head and put it on that cherub
such things, you'll say so."               at the corner. A cherub is nothing without a
When he reached the ground, he picked up head, you know, Master Sexton, because it has
his coat, fumbled in his pocket till he got hold got no body."
of a large bunch of keys, and then, walking     Going to stay here for two or three days!"
round to the door, opened it. The stranger en- ejaculated the sexton. " Well, that's funny!
tered, and his guide followed, with his back I never knew any one stay here a minute after
bowed and his gait somewhat halting. He had he could help it. Perhaps you have come down
the same sort of cynical expression on his coun- to these parts to make inquiries l"
tenance as before; but the visitor's first ex-   "No," answered  Van Noost, "no; I don't
elamation seemed to please him, for all the pride like inquiries, and always get out of their way."
of his nature-and every man has some pride-   The sexton put his finger to his bald forecentered in his church and its contents.   head, and rubbed it slowly for a moment, re" Ay, this is something like!" exclaimed our peating the word "Ha!" more than once; and
good friend Van Noost; "I have not seen any then Van Noost added, in his usual pococurante
thing like this in a ride of a hundred and fifty tone,
miles."                                      "That is the very reason 1 came down here,
"Dare say not," observed the sexton. "Did Master Sexton. People were making importyou come all that way to see it?"          ant inquiries, which offended me, and I left
", No," replied Van Noost, who was some- London in a fit of indignation."
what skillful at evasions;,, but I am very glad   "Ha!' said the sexton again. "I underI have seen it."  And, walking orn he began to stand. You'll be safe enough here, master.
scan the various monuments with critical eyes. You'll see plenty of curlews, and a sea-mew
",Why, the barbarians have been knocking from time to time. I've known a roe-deer too,
the noses off!" he exclaimed, after a momenta- in my day, down about the woody places; but
ry glance at one of the tombs. "i Why did you men and women are the rarest birds of all in
let them do that "                         this country;" and, laying his old hand familC" Because I could not help it," answered the iarly on Van Noost's shoulder, he added, with
sexton, with a growling laugh, " seeing I was a laugh, "No bailiff has been seen in these
a baby and they strong men when that was parts for forty years —that I can certify."
done; and yet I am threescore and ten come   " I fear not bailiffs!" exclaimed Van Noost,
Martinmas."                               in a mock tragical tone. " Sexton, I am well
"Ay, Cromwell, that devil Cromwell and his to do in the world. I pay scot and lot, and owe
sacrilegious fools!" cried Van Noost. "They no man any thing-though many owe me, byhad no more taste or judgment than pigs in the-way, who will never pay me. No, no, sexSmithfield."                              ton,'tis not for debt of vile and sordid gold that
" That's true-that's true," cried the old sex- men, perhaps, may seek me, but for those thin
ton, chuckling.'I remember themwellenough, ethereal essences called opinions, which suit
for I was a school-boy when old Noll died, and not with the tyranny of the times."
heard him preach once. Those might under-   The sexton chuckled, for he had a strong
stand him who could. To me he seemed to be sense of the ludicrous, and Van Noost's bomtalkiug nothing but nonsense; so I grinned; bast amused him.




HIENRY SMiEATON.                                      3
c Aty, ay,"' he said, laughing and coughing,   The next instant another voice answered, " 1:
"- how many a, man there is who is- obliged to. like that free fresh air. It feels like liberty."
make' his- heels save his head for the indiscre-   "Liberty!" said theother voice.  "Have you
tion of his tonguee! Now I'll warrant you've ever felt the want of'liberty?"
been swaggering about London: in, praise of    "They are marvelous sweet-tongued offKing James till you-got frightened to death for cers," thought VAan Noost, listening.  But nor
fear King George should get hold of you. But reply was-made to the question, or, if any, it was'you're safe enough here,. man; you're safe drowned by the cough of the old sexton; and,.
enough here. Sergeants- and pursuivants are when that had a little subsided, the second voiceas rare here as bailiffs; and it is not likely  which had spoken'-was heard saying,
they'll: be able to trackyou across the hills,.even    "We want to go all over the church, good
if a price should be set upon-your head."    Master Mattocks2';," There-is no price upon my head," cried Van    Van Noost trembled for the security of his'
Noost, with. ag strong'feeling of nervous appre- hiding-place; but he was relieved in an instant,
hension. at the very idea,  1"They could' not for the same voice went on, saying,
hurt me even, if they took me; but I love my    "So you must show us all the monuments,
liberty, Master Sexton, and should pine to death' and tell us all about: them, for this gentleman
if I hwere cribbed up in a prison-cell."     will not be satisfied with half information, I can
"It would takle a long time to pine you down' assure you."
even to, a' moderate size," repliedthe sexton, in:  "That Ifwill,mylady," answered the old man,
a thoughtful sort of tone.  "I've dug many a- "that is to: say, all I know, for I never like to
grave in- my day, and'there's only one I recol- say things I: only guess."
lect that would have held you. You are so fat    My lady!" said Van:Noost to himself. "Heo,
here behind."                                ho! It is a party come to visit the church, and
" I have committed no crime," continued Van  I am shut up here like a rat in a rat-trap, when
Noost, anxious. to disabuse his companion's I could'have given them much more information
mind of the idea'that he-might be harboring.a than that old mummy, who has dealt so long
traitor.  "I have commrlitted no crime, F say; with corpses that he has caught the look of
and the blessed English law admits that men  them. I have a great mind to knock to get out,.
may talki treason; though they may not do it."   They'll be in sad want of a:better cicerone."
"Ay, the tongue, the tongue!" exclaimed the    Caution, however, got the better of vanity;'
sexton; " that's what has brought you into dan- and, after a little consideration, he began to feel
ger, I can, see well, enough. It is an unruly  his way down the steps;. resolved to see what'
membert as the Bible says; but here you will the vaults contained.  A'first the place seemed"
be quite safe. If I have to; bury you, I ought dark. enough; but as- he descended, be found
to have aicrownumore for the width of the grave. that he had been admitted, not to funeral vaults.
I had whenthe fat; parsonsdied; this time thirty  in the usual acceptationr of the word, but to a.
years ago,' though- his heirs said they did not crypt or under-ground'church, of a much earlier
like to pay for his fat. But hark-! AMlore people style of architecture than the structure above.
on horseback all in one day! Master, I've a  Low, arched windows, earthed up for at least
notion they've tracked you close."           two thirds of their height, admitted sufficient'
Poor VaniNoost lost, his rosy- color in a mo- light to render every object round dimly visible.
ment, for no-man liked less the idea of martyr- Monuments and carvings were seen in various'
domn than he did.                            different directions  and, with true antiquarian"
"For Heaven's sake, my good frie'd,"' he enthusiasm, Van Noost:soon forgot what was,
cried, as the old sexton peeped through a chink  passing:;above in the examination of all that surof the church door, which had been left ajar, rounded him.
"for IReavens sake, can not you put me somewhere where they will not find me? Let me
go into the vestry!"                                      CHAPT'ER VIII.
The sexton eyed him with his quiet old cyn-ical smile. "' How fond fat men are of life!'    Wai must return here to an earlier'hour in the —
he said. "The vestry! They'dfindyouthere  in lday of which we have just been speaking. The'
hesaid. "The vestry! They'dfind you there                               in
a minute. Here, you fool; go in there, down into  breakfast at -le-Manor was laid'" in the dining:
the vaults. They'll not lookthiere, I'll warrant."'  saloon and piesented-acurious combination ot
As he spoke he unlocked a small door, which  the ancient and modern habits.of the English,
lay in a shadyS nook between two pilasters, and;'p ople. pFis~-  meat, and various sweetmeats
under the impulse of fear, Van Noost hurried in, siler, whic might have sboard; a lalge  at the
of'i the old   vers which might have served up ale at the'
without a word, taking his chance oa the old breakifast-table of Queen Elizabeth, was on the'
man recollecting to let him out again. He saw  sideboaid;: and good Bordeiaux wine was othere
the head of a.-fiight of steps before him, and was in another flagon, fOr those who adhered to the"
rushing dow'n,-when the sound of the key turn- tastes of their' remote ancestors;' but, for' deli
ing in the lock raised up new fears in his mind, cate tastes, the more modern breakfast of coffee
and he paused: for a moment to listen. The  and chocolate was prepared. Sir John Newark
only sound he could hear at first was produced  was in a most gracious moo-; his son Richard
by the slow,.irregular step of the old sexton upon  was all life and gayety; and last came in Emthe pavement of the church, as he again-walked  meline, bright andl blooming from her sweet
toward the great door, and then a loud manly  sleep, like a bluslh rose refreshed by morning
voice from without was heard, as if' saying to  dew. Smeaton could willingly have gazed at
some one at a distance, " Walk them about till her long, but he would not allow himself to do
we come back. The air is- keen~ upon. these  so; and the breakfast was proceeding gayly and
hills, even at midsummer.'                   cheerfully, when one of the servants entered to
C




34                              HENRY SMEATON.
inform Sir John Newark that a messenger had   "Now, what shall we do?"
brought a letter for him from Exeter. When the   Smeaton smiled to see that, even with the
letter was delivered and opened, Sir John New- simple boy, the petted and somewhat spoiled
ark read it with a look of grave and anxious child, the presence of Sir John Newark was felt
thought.  Then, nodding to the messenger, who to be a restraint. He replied, however, turning
had waited as if for a reply, he said,       toward Emmeline, and addressing her more than
"Get youlrself some refireshment, and let his Richard,
worship know that I will not fail to be there by   " You promised to show me some day a fino
two of the clock."                           old church in the neighborhood, with some bealuThe man bowed and left the room; and Sir tiful monuments. Can we not make it the obhJohn, turning to Smeaton with the. letter still in ject of a morning's ride to-day?"
his hand, observed, with a somewhat affected   Emmeline consented willingly, and said she
laugh,                                       would get ready directly for the expedition;
" Here is a strange affair!"              but Richard did not seem well pleased; and, as
Then, turning his eye to the page, he read soon as she had gone to fulfill her intention, hoe
aloud:                                       thrust his hands into his pockets, and said,'" WORSHIPFUL SIR,-Whelreas information has   "I sha'n't go. I hate old churches, and old
"WoRsHIPFUL Sn,-Whereas in-formation has monuments too. What the deuce is the use of
been received that various evil designing persons            too. What th e deuce is the use of
are traveling about the country for seditious pur- o     t o se e                    a pack of stones put on end? I'll go
poses, some of whom are reported to  e pro- out fishing. You are quite old enough to take
poses, some of whom are reported to be pro- care of Emmeline, I should think; but you had
claimed traitors, and others persons lying under care of Emmeline, I should think; but you had
sentence of various offenses and ofugitive fromr better take some people with you, for my dad is
sentence of various offenses and fugitive from
justice; and as it is matter of common notoriety always in a terrible fright for fear somebody
that, inqvarious parts of the land, and especially at should get his bird out of the cage. Poor Emmoeline! I wonder she abides it so quietly. I
several placesin this county of Devon, serious dis- meline! I  onder she abides it so quietly. I
turbances have been stirred up contrary to the could not, I know, if I were kept tight by a
peace of our lord the king, and perilous to the state string round my leg like that."
and constitution of this country as by law esta-   Smeaton gave the boy no encouragement t
lished: this is to give you notice, that a special come with them, merely answering,
meeting of the justices of the peace for this divi- " I will tae care of the young lady, and warsion of the county of Devon is summoned to as- rant she shall come safely back. I will take my
semble in this city of Exeter to-morrow, the  own servant with us; and one or t —o o your
day of July, in the year of our Lord 1715; and people would make our party quite sufficient
you are herebyinvited and required, putting aside even if the country were more disturbed than I
all other business, to attend the same, in order    Then I'll run down and get a  at at once,"
to consult as to the best means of preserving the exclimed Richrd    ark;   nd, before Snce
peace of the said county, and frustrating the de- ton could ad  anoter word, he was boulding
sians of seditious and disaffected persons.
"g s(Signoed), &c." ddown the hill like a great dog.
"(Signed), &c."
His companion betook himself to the stableHe paused for a moment after reading the let- yard of the mansion, to give directions regarding
ter, and then added, with a smile,           the horses, and all the little preparations for the
"They must have got a fiight from some cir- proposed expedition; and then, putting on the
cumnstance or other. I hope no friends of ours great riding-boots of the day, he returned to the
have given them any cause of suspicion."     terrace to wait for Emmeline.  It was not long
"If you allude to me," answered Smeaton, ere she joined him, gay, smiling, and happy at
with a frank smile, "I have not, I can assure the though't of a pleasant excursion. She looked
you, Sir John, and am under so little apprehen- round for Richard, however, and asked where he
sion on the subject, that I have no objection, if was; and when Smeaton told her that he had
you like, to ride with you to Exeter, if you feel declined being of the party, a grave look of anxyourself bound to go upon such a curious sum- iety and hesitation came over her face.
mons."                                         "Sir John Newark," she said, after a moments'.
" Oh, I must go, assuredly," replied the knight; pause, "does not like me to go far, or into any
"but you had better remain here. I shall feel town, without the old housekeeper accompanymore satisfied in leaving my fair ward here un- ing me."
der your good care annd protection, for I must   Her companion smiled, answering gayly,
)alte several of the servants with me."        "But we are going to a church, not to a town;
He did not speak without some consideration; and, on this occasion, you must let me act the
but he was forced to decide quickly, for the ride old woman."
before him was very long, and he was anxious   A joke often prevails where an argument will
to avoid all appearance of disaffection to the not. The horses were brought round, Smeaton
existing government, whatever he might feel. placed his fair companion in the saddle, and
About three quarters of an hour were spent in away they went, at a quiet and easy pace, with
busy preparation; but Sir John found an oppor- the three men following them. He was an extunity, in the midst of all his bustle, to caution cellent and graceful horseman, and not unwilling
his son more than once to watch carefiilly over' to enjoy, f6om time to time, the exhilarating senErnmeline, and, if possible, not to quit her side sations of a wild gallop over the green turf; but,
for a moment. Richard promised, with every for some reason or other, he did not seem, on
intention of performing; and the whole party this occasion, disposed to put the horses out of a
stood on the terrace together to see Sir John de- quiet canter. Down the stony road he proceedpart. They watched himn round the sweep till ed at a walk, and only quickened his pace a
lie disappeared into the woods, and then Rich- very little when, turning to the left at the end
ard, with a boyish leap over a bush, exclaimed, of the wood, they got uponl the downs. But
in a gay tone,                               Smeaton was a good tactician, and he had his




HENRY SMEATON.                                        35
reasons for what he did.  Emmeline did not I have ventured to open a subject with you,
know that such was the case, however, and she  somewhat abruptly, which I have in vain sought
grew a little impatient.                     an opportunity of touching upon from the first
"Shall we not have a gallop?" she asked, at moment of my arrival. We must take opportulength, after some broken conversation on indif- nity when we find it. Now shake your rein,
ferent subjects.                             dear lady. Give your jennet her head, and let
"Presently," answered Smeaton, in a quiet us cast these ideas from us for a moment or two.
tone. "One call not gallop and think calmly  They will return before the end of our ride."
too."                                          " They will not be shaken from me, let me
"Think!" echoed Emmeline, gayly. " Why  gallop as I will," replied Emmeline. " Howevshould you think, Colonel Smeaton? Thinking  er, let us forward;" and, touching her horse
is the most pernicious thing on earth; and what lightly with her riding-whip, she bounded away
gentleman has any right to think with a lady by  some paces before her companion.
his side?"                                    Smeaton was at her side again in a moment,
" It is impossible to help thinking, and deeply  however; and when she turned her eyes toward
too, with you by my side," answered Smineaton, him as he came up, sitting his horse with calm
inl a low voice.                             and quiet ease, motionless in the saddle, as if he
Emmeline almost started-it sounded so like a were a part of the noble animal itself, she could
compliment; but SSmeaton wa-s not a compli- not help thinking him the handsomest man she
mentary person, as she had remarked with pleas- had ever beheld in her life, and so, indeed, he was.
are; and she replied, after turning an -inquiring    To Smeaton she was an object of great interest
glance toward him, in the same light tone, "Why  -ay, and I must add, of great admiration also.
so? do you judge me such an enigma?"        The exquisite beauty of her face and form was at
"Not yourself," answered Smeaton, gravely, that moment heightened, not only by a dress'- but your fate and history are an enigma."  He  which displayed it to the best advantage, but by
paused for a moment, and then added: "For the attitudes into which the exercise threw her,
yourself, dear lady, your character is as clear and  calling forth innumerable graces, and by the
pure as a diamond; which, if we do not see  movements of the mind springing from the conthrough it at once, it is because of its too much  versation just past, and filling her eyes with light
light; but your history, your -circumstances, your and eagerness. Their looks met; and, with that
fate, do constitute an enigma, which might well sort of sudden sympathy which enables those of
make any man of heart and feeling thoughtful."  like character to read in an instant what is passHe spoke very low; but every word fell clear ing in the minds of others, each seemed to divine
and distinct upon Emmneline's ear, and instantly  the feelings of the other. Emmeline's cheek
banished her gayety.                         glowed as if she had beein detected in a fault;
"It is an enigma I can not solve," she answered. and Smeaton withdrew his eyes, with a thougiht
"' I have tried to do so a thousand times, but in  ful look, and made some common-place observa
vain. Whichever way my eyes turn, it is all tion on the scene.
darkness; and, weary with straining my sight   For a few minutes they rode on at the same
upon the blank obscure, I have given it up, re- rapid pace, leaving the servants still further beduced to remain satisfied with knowing nothing  hind them than they had previously been; and
but-which is perhaps as much as most persons then Emmeline drew in her rein, saying,
know of themselves-that I am. But what is it   "I have had enough of this. You will say I
puzzles boou about me? What have you. seen or am a capricious girl, Colonel Smeaton. I wanted
remarked to make you believe that there is any  a gallop when you did not desire one, and I am
mystery?"                                   tired of it as soon as I have got it. But, in truth,"
" Much," he replied: "thIe very circumstances  she added, " I am anxious that you should go on
in which I first saw you-an attempt to carry  with what you were saying. I can not ride fast
you off forcibly from the midst of your family  in a state of wonder and mystery. You say you
and friends-the constant, feverish sort of anxiety  can assist me in explaining all the many enigmas
displayed by Sir John Newark in regard to you  of my fate. You say that you have longed to
-his unwillingness to suffer you to hold commu- talk with me on this subject ever since you have
nication of any kind with persons out of his own  been at Ale. You muist have very keen eyes,
house."                                      or Sir John Newark must have told you some"Is he unwilling?" exclaimed Emmeline, ea- thing about me when he saw you in London."
gerly. "I do not think it-yet perhaps you are    "Neither, dear lady," answered Smeaton, lookright," she added, gravely.  "I remember-  ing behind to see how far off the servants were.
perhaps you are right. I do not recollect ever "I should have remarked nothing calling for
having been suffered to converse alone with any  much attention had I not had previous knowione except the people -of the house, and good  edge, and yet Sir John Newark would not have
Doctor Boothe, who is dead. It is strange! I suffered me to enter his gates had lie been aware
do not attempt to conceal from you that there is that I possessed any information whatever regavda mystery, even to myself."'                 ing you."
"- And you have tried to solve it unassisted?"    "Then you do possess information?" exclaimed
inquired Smeaton.                            Emmeline, eagerly.
"Often and often," she answered. "Oh, what   "You have been an object of interest to me,
would I give to know who were my parents-  dear lady," answered her companion, " for somewhat I am-what are the causes of all this anx- years. This seems strange to you; but it will
iety about me! I have tried, but tried in vain."  seem stranger still when I tell you that, most
"Perhaps I can assist you," said Smeaton, in  likely, I should not hlave visited this part of Ena lower tone than ever. " Nay, do not start, and  gland at all had you not been here. But, tell
look round at me. Those men behind must not me, can you be very discreet? for much depends
see that there is any thing more than ordinary in  upon your prudence and your secrecy. If I toll
our talk. Now let us have a gallop, if you will. you things which have been studiously concealed




6  ENRY SMEATON.
from you, you must put a guard upon your lips   "Yes," she said, at length, "I think I do; and
and upon your looks. You must seem as igno- she was very fond of me, if I remember rightly.
rant as ever of all that appertains to your own Stay! yes, I remember her quite well. You call
fate. That bright frankness-that free pouring her back to my mind. She led me out by the
forth of the heart must all be checked. You hand upon the terrace to see the soldiers go away.
must learn the hard lesson which the world, Oh, yes, I recollect it all quite well now."
sooner or later, teaches to all, to conceal the feel-   " And who was at the head of the soldiers?"
ings and the thoughts —to hide the treasures of asked Smeaton.
the heart and mind, in short, from the eyes of   "I do not recollect," replied the lady, gazing
those who would wrong us. Can you do this?" forward into the air.
" I will try," answered Emmeline, gravely,   "Was it a tall, dark, noble-looking man, with
"though I know not how I shall succeed, for I a broad hat, and a plume in it?" asked Smeaton.
have never yet been proved. I have no experi-   "No, no," cried Emmeline.  " He was standence in the art of concealment-and yet," she ing by my side; and he took me up in his arms,
continued, " I fear I have not been altogether so and kissed me, before he mounted his horse.
frank as you imagine. I can not tell why, but How strange it is that I should have forgotten all
there is something in my good guardian-kind this until now!"
and careful of me as he is-which prevents me   "No, perhaps not strange," replied Smeaton.
from telling him all I think-from  speaking my " A single word will often wake up a long train
wishes or my thoughts upon important things. of memories which have lain asleep for years.
Any ordinary favor, any common gratification, I The association of ideas has wonderful power:
could ask without fear of refusal; but yet, the like the wind touching one string of an Eolian
questions I most long to ask, I dare not put; the harp, it sets all the harmonies of the heart vibratthoughts that are most strong and most busy in ing. But do you recollect any thing more of
my brain, I do not venture to pour forth."  those times."
"It is an instinct," said Smeaton. "You must,   " Not clearly," answered Emmeline; "but still
however, try to attain the discretion to which I you have awakened enough to lead memory on,
have alluded; and perhaps it may be better for I doubt not, through many another path of the
me to say no more till you are more certain of past. I see, indeed, you must know much of me
yourself."                                  and mine. I beseech you, Colonel Smeaton, tell
" Oh, no, no," said Emmeline. " Do not keep me more."
me in long suspense. I will be very prudent, in-   "I would rather, in the first instance," he
deed."                                      said, "let your own memory do all that it can
" Well, then, first let me ask you a few ques- do, placing it in the right road, and letting it foltions," said her companion; " but pray speak in low out the track, instead of prompting you by
a low voice, for the men are coming near, and no information which, after having rested in your
caution can be too great. Can you recollect any mind for a certain time, will seem like memory.
thing of your very early years?"           But there, if I mistake not, is the church before
Emmeline shook her head.                  us. I did not seize so eagerly your offer to show
" Very little," she replied, " and that little in- it to me without a motive, dear lady. I wanted
distinct and vague. Things appear, indeed, to to point out to you certain monuments which it
memory, but they look like the ships I have seen contains, and beg you to remark them particusailing over the sea in a thick mist. I catch a larly, for they may afford you much information."
cloudy outline-a strange, ill-defined form-for   "Oh, I have gazed at them for hours," answer.
one brief instant, flitting by. and then it passes ed Emmeline, "and could extract nothing from
into the fog again, and I see it no more."  them."
" Let us try if we can not render these images' Perhaps you may be more successful now,"
more distinct," said Smeaton. "Do you recol- replied Smeaton.  "At all events, whenevwr I
lect ever having lived in other places different lay my hand upon a monument, remark it parfrom the scenes around you?"               ticularly. If we should be alone, I may, per" No," answered Emmeline, at once. " The haps, read a comment on it at the time; but if
old house, and the wood, and the hamlet, and there is any one with us-and we must not seem
the stream, and Ale Head, and the bright bay, particularly anxious to carry on our observations
are among the earliest things that I remember. in private-I will merely lay my hand upon the
I do not think I ever lived any where else, for I tomb I wish you to notice, and read the inscripcan recollect little things of no consequence hap- tion upon it."
pening at the Manor when I must have been quite   "But, then, do you know them  already?"
a child. I remember well crying over a broken asked Emmeline. "Have you ever been here
puppet in a room that was then called the nursery. before?"
I must have been very young then; and memory    "Never," answered Smeaton, with a smile,
goes no further back."                      "the words upon the tombs will be sufficient to
Smeaton mused.                            guide me. But we are coming near. I had
"I think it is very likely you are right," he better call up the men to hold the horses."
said. "I do not know that you ever lived else-   Raising his hand, he beckoned to the servants
where; but you must have been surrounded in behind, who rode up just as they reached the litAle-Manor by other people than those who now  tle gate at the church-yard.
dwell in it."                                 Both Emmeline and he were very thoughtful
" Oh, yes," cried Emmeline.  " Of that I am  when they dismounted, and they walked on toquite sure; for memories come across me, and ward the great door in silence. Just as they
trouble me like figures in a dream."        reached it, however, Smeaton turned, and call" Do you recollect a lady," asked her compan- ed to the men who were holding the horses in
ion, "tall and graceful, with a smile peculiarly a group, saying,
sweet, and a silvery voice?"                 " Walk them about till we come back. The
Emmeline gazed down thoughtfully.         air is keen upon these hills, even at midsummer."




HENRY SMEATON.                                        37
The rest of the conversation between himself,   "It is fine in its simplicity. What became of
and Emmeline, and the old sexton, on their first the son who is mentioned here?"
entrance into the church, has been already de-   "I don't know, sir," answered the man, shorttailed, as it was overheard by Van Noost; and ly, and then walked on toward another part of
Smeaton and the lady proceeded along the nave, the church, mumbling his jaws together as if he
listening with wonderful patience to the prolix were muttering something to himself.
details of the old man. He pointed out to them    Emmeline looked up in Smeaton's face with
the tomb of Sir Reginald de Newark, who had an inquiring glance, but his only comment was
gone to the Holy Land with Richard the First, by taking her hand and leading her away. He
and told them what gallant deeds he had done in might press it gently as he did so, but he said
battle, and how he had returned to his native nothing till they rejoined the old man, when he
country to die at home of wounds received in inquired, in a careless tone,
war against the Saracens. Many a blunder did   "Are there not vaults, or a crypt, to this
he make, confounding kings, and countries, and church?  From the height of the pavement, I
events in a very disastrous manner. But Smea- should think so."
ton did not correct him, and laid not his hand    " Oh, yes," replied Emmeline, answering for
upon that tomb. Then they came to a large the sexton. "There is a beautiful crypt."
slab of gray marble, with a figure in long robes   "Ay, but I have not got the key, my lady,"
sculptured on it, having a miter on the head, and said the old man.
crosier by the side, but with every feature of the   "Why, it is in the door, Mattocks," rejoined
face obliterated. This, the old man told them, Emmeline.  " I saw it as we passed."
was the effigy of William de Newark, Bishop of   The old sexton laughed aloud.
Exeter, who had chosen to be buried in that   "That's true, my lady," he said; "but I've
church because it stood upon the lands of the got a bird in there, and that's the truth, so that
family. Still Smeaton passed on without ques- I would rather not open the door if I can help
tion or comment. Another and another succeed- it; not that I think you would tell, or this gened; and the old sexton was beginning to think tleman either, for it could do you no good, anld
the visitor exceedingly dull,' when, approaching might do the poor fellow some harm."
nearer to the communion-table, they stood op-    Oh, be assured we will not tell any thing,"
posite the monument of the gallant soldier who replied Smeaton. " But we must sep the crypt,
had fallen at Naseby.                        my good man. To me it is one of the most inThis seemed to interest the visitor more, and, teresting parts of a church."
stretching out his hand, he laid it on the marble,   "Well, sir, must is must," answered the sexsaying,                                      ton, " and I call not stop you, if you like to go.
"What a pity it is they have so brutally de- Only mind, you've promised not to tell about
faced this fine statue!"                    seeing any one there."
The old sexton entered into his usual story    "We'll be as secret as a father-confessor," anabout it, told how the church had been occupied swered Smeaton, gayly; " but first I should like
by Cromwell's soldiers, and how they had made to look at your register-books.  Can not we see
a stable of the nave. Many were the abomina- the inside of the vestry?"
tions with which he charged them; and Smea-   The old man gazed earnestly in his face for an
ton asked several questions, which helped him  instant, and then replied, coldly and repulsively,
on wonderfully with his tale. The colonel then   "You can see the inside of the vestry, sir, if
approached the wall of the church, and, point- you like, but the books are not there. They are
ing to the tablet which recorded the death of always kept by the parson under lock and key."
another member of the family in a foreign land,   "Are they at his house?" asked Smineaton.
he asked the old man, after reading the inscrip- " I think not," replied the old mall; "but all
tion, whether the line had become there extinct. I know is, that they are not at the church. If
"Oh, bless you, no, sir," replied the sexton. you want any certificates out, you must ask the
"After the happy Restoration, this good soldier's parson."
son returned with the kin.   He had been taken   "Well, let us down to the crypt, then," reabroad by his uncle, who died at Breda. His plied Smeaton.  "Can we see down there, think
monument stands there;" and, leading them  you?"
across to a darker part of the church, he showed    "Your eyes are younger than mine, and I
them a tomb with a kneeling figure, having a can," answered the sexton, gruffly; and he prosword in its hand. The inscription on the mar- ceeded to open the door.
ble tablet below was very brief: It simply said,   " I suppose you are clerk as well as sexton?"
said Smeaton, as he passed him.
"' To the memory of Algernon, Baron Newarlk,aid Smeaton, as he passed him.
of Newvark Castle and Ale-Manor, Knight, who    "I am not regularly appointed clerk," replied
~~~ofNeakCteadA-aoKgtw othe man. "I hold boNth offices at thne will and
died on the second day of July, 1690, this monu-         I hold both offices at the will and
ment is erected, as a testimony of love and ven- pleasure of Sir John Newark."
There was something very significant in his
tone and manner as he said these words; but
"That was the day after the battle of the Smeaton merely smiled and passed on, holding
Boyne," observed Smeaton.                   out his hand to guide Emmeline in descending
The old sexton nodded his head significantly. the steps. A few seconds brought them to the
" Ay, sir, so it was. I recollect it well; and bottom, and both looked round, with not unnatwhen they brought the body home from Ireland, ural curiosity, to see whom the old sexton had
these old hands dug the grave for as noble a lord shut up in the crypt. The next minute, howevand as good a man as ever lived. But it was all er, Smeaton laughed gayly.
done very quietly, for people were in great fear   "Why, my good friend Van Noost," he exof what might happen next; and the monument claimed, " is that you?  What, in Fortune's
was not erected till two years after."       name, has brought you into this part of the counSmeaton laid his hand upon it, saying,    try?"




36                              P3[HENRY SMEATON.
6i Ah, noble sir," cried Van Noost, in a lament-   Smeaton, however, asked no more questions,
able tone, " what a fright you gave me a few  but, shaking hands with Van Noost, and givind
minutes ago! It was not fortune, but misfor- the old mall a piece of money, which seemed
tune, brought me. Have you not heard that the more than he expected, left the church, and ret
Earl of Oxford is committed to the Tower, and mounted with Emmeline.
that they are seeking for all his friends and ad-   The lady and her companion rode on for a few
herents to clap them up in Newgate?"       moments in silence; but at length Sineaton said,
No, indeed," replied Smeaton. "Not caring bending his head and speaking low,
much about it, I have heard little about it; but  "6Do you comprehend what you have seen?
I fancy you are frightened without much cause,   She shook her head gravely, and then replied,
my good friend; for, depend upon it, the falcons   " It is like seeing the picture of a city we nevwhich are now on the wing are checking at high- er visited. There are houses, and streets, and
or-flying game than yourself. But what made public places, but, unless we have a guide or a
you think of coming to this part of the world?"  map, we know not what they are. The monu"Why, I know it of old to be a lonely, deso- ments I have already seen, the names upon them
late part of the country," said Van Noost. " Be- I have heard before, but know not to whom or
sides, I knew you were down here, and I thought by whom they were erected."
you might give me a little help in case of need."   Smeaton paused, and gazed at her earnestly,
"How can I do that?" asked Smeaton. "I as if he hesitated to proceed..have no influence with these people. But come   "Dear lady,"' he said at length,'" I needs must
hither for a moment, and speak to me apart. If trust you, or rather must trust to your own disI can help you, I will."                    cretion, for it is yourself and your future fate
As he spoke, he led the way to the other side which is to be influenced by your prudence or
of the crypt, where he conversed with the stat- imprudence. Let me warn you, however, that
uary for a few moments in a low voice, saying, in your own happiness and the possibility of your
the end,                                    obtaining further infborvation depend upon your
" Well, do as you like. If you find yourself concealing from every one that you have received
safe here, stay; but in case of any danger, you any inftrmation at all; but I believe you have a
call go to Keanton, where you will be quite safe. spirit of sufficient power, Emmneline, to govern
Tell the people the word I said, and they will your words, and even looks, when you know that
take care oi' you."                         so much is at stake."
" What a l5eautiful creature she is!" exclaimed   He called her Emmeline for the first timeVan Noost, whose eyes had been fixed on Em- perhaps before the length of their acquaintance
meline for the last minute or two. " Dear me, justified it; but it sounded very pleasant to her
what a delicious dairy-maid she would make, ear; and, indeed, that day's ride, and the matcast in lead!"                             ters of deep interest which had been discussed
" More fitted for a Grace, I think," replied between them, had drawn them closer to each
Smeaton, with a smile. " But, remember, go to other than if they had been acquainted many
Keanton if you like."                       months.
Thus saying, lie rejoined Emmeline and the   "I will be prudent and careful, indeed," she
old sexton.                                 replied.'"I should ill repay your kindness if I
The last words were spoken aloud, and reach- neglected your warning for a moment."
ed the ears both of the sexton and Emmeline.   "Well, then," replied Smeaton, "Cyou, have
The old man muttered to himself the word seen just now the moslument of your ancestor
"4 Keanton," and sciratched his head. The young who fell at Naseby; that of his son, your grandlady turned her eyes quickly toward Smeaton, father, who died the day after the battle of the
but made no comment at the time. The party Boyne; and a tablet to the memory of your
then, followed by Van Noost, commented on the grandfather's brother, the father of Sir John
various things they saw, and the worthy artist in Newark-"
lead enlightened them, from time to time, with   "And my father?" interrupted Emmeline;
opinions on the various monuments. No part of " my father?"
the conversation, however, would be very enter-   "Of that hereafter," replied Smeaton. "This
taining to the reader; and with regard to the is enolugh for one day, surely; but I may add that
monuments themselves, only one seemed, even the little tablet in the crypt which we last saw
to Smeaton, worthy of remark: this was a small commemorates the death of your two brothers
tablet fixed in the lower part of a wall, bearing in ifalcy. They were older than yourself, but
inscribed upon it the following words:      perished early. And now, dear lady, I have toldyou thus much in order to will your confidence,
arkTo te memory of Adwar, thid BaHenry New- for I may yet have to ask you to trust me in many
ark. They died in infanrcy."               things; and, in the very first place, I must crave
a great boon from you, which is this, to give me
There was no date, but the monument was every opportunity-nay, to make opportunities —comparatively new. Dust, indeed, lay on the of conversing with you in private, for much yet
marble, somewhat obscuring the letters, with a remains to be said —nay, perhaps much to be
softening effect, like that of Time on memory of done, and I can clearly see that Sir John Newsorrow; but the pure white stone had not yet ark will not often let our conferences be unwatchacquired the yellow tint of age and decay.  ed, if he can help it. Can you trust me, Emme
I suppose that tablet has not been long put line?"
up," said Smneaton, touching it with his hand.  "Oh, yes, I think I can-nay, I am sure I can,"
"Sixteen years ago, sir, come the day after she answered. " Yet I do not know how I shall
Michaelmas," replied the old sexton; and there manage, for I am unaccustomed to such thingso
he stopped, evidently not disposed to enter into I thank you much for what you have told ne,
any particulars regarding the later branches of but I must-indeed I must-know more. I am
the Newark family.                          not such an enigma to myself as I was; but still




HENRY SMEATON.                                        39
there is a cloud over one part of my history               CHAPTER IX.
which must be cleared away, although I suppose
I shall find to the end that there are enigmas in   EMMELINE had retired to change her dress.
every thing in this world. Do you know that Richard had gone, Heaven knows whither; and
even you are beginning to be an enigma to me?" Sineaton, after pausing for a few minutes in tile
"How so?" exclaimed Smeaton, looking at her hall, seemingly very busy inll examining the suits
frankly as she gazed, with a smile, in his face.  of old armnor which had hung there since the days
" I will tell you," she said, " You bade that of Elizabeth, but in reality seeing none of them
man in the crypt go to Keanton, if he liked, as if with the mind's eye, though he moved round
you were its master. Now I always heard that from  one to the other merely like a piece of
Keanton was the property of the Countess of mechanism, at length walked up the stairs to the
Eskdale-that countess who went to share her two rooms which, as I have said, had been aphusband's exile."                            propriated to his use.
"That enigma is soon explained," replied   We must draw the curtain of the breast and
Smeaton. " I am her son. Heaven send that I look in; not, perhaps, tracing thought by thought
be not soon the master of Keanton indeed! But -who can, even when he looks into his owal
I much fear it; for my mother has been very ill. heart? —but giving such glimpses as may show
As I ask you for much confidence, I must not sufficiently what was passing within.
withhold any part of mine from you, and there-   " This is unfortunate," he said to himself;
fore I tell you the fact at once. But this is a "and I Inust resist such feelings-yet why? I.
piece of knowledge, dear lady,that you must con- can not answer why. She is very, very beauticeal from Sir John Newark, although he knows ful, graceful, gentle, bright, unsullied by this foul
the fact; for, if he finds that I have revealed it and dusty world in which we live. Why should
to you, it may raise suspicion as to what more I I doubt or hesitate? Because my own sensations
have revealed, which it were well to avoid."   take me by surprise, and I feel myself led on by
Emmeline mused for a moment or two with impulse rather than by reason. But what does
her eyes cast down, and then looking up again, boasted Reason do for us in such things as these?;he said,                                    More fiequently she misleads than directs us
" Then your name is not Smeaton really?"    rightly. I will let things take their course. It
"No, indeed," he replied  "My name is Esk- is but my own happiness I peril; and, without
dale. But let me explain to you. It is not at periling it, I can not serve Emmeline as I could
all an uncommon custom now, among the many wish-nay, nor fully keep my promise.  I will
who have been driven forth by the rebellions risk it. Perhaps these sensations will wear away.
tand revolutions in this land, to assume a name I remember when I thought myself desperately
different from their own wheln entering the serv- in love with the Spanish girl, the poor cura's
ice of foreign states. Thus, while I have been niece at Valencia, and it ended in disgust: I do
in the Austrian army, warring ill Spain anId Italy, not think it will do so here. Then it was but
I took the name of Henry Smeaton, rose in the sleepy black eyes, and a warm sunny cheek, and
service under that name, and never dropped it a nleat boddice, and a pretty foot-with passion
until my father's death, somewhat more than a enough in all conscience, but neither soul nor
year ago. I lhave with me my commission, grant- mind. No, no! Emmeline is very differented under that name, and many papers and let- yet it may wear off. If I have thought much of
ters, all addressed to me, or speakilng of me, as her —dreamed of her, I may say, by day and
Colonel Henry Smeaton, so that the title was not night, since I have known her-it is very natamerely assumed for the present occasion. But ral, without love having any thing to do with it.
here comes your young cousin, I think, to meet Her strange fate; the wrong that has been done
us. His fishing expedition, it would seem, is her; the greater wrong, I fear, intended her;
soon over."                                 the eager desire to free her from this thraldom,
"Poor boy!" replied Emrmeline.  "He is so and to open her mind to her own history, and
volatile, he can pursue nothing long. I do not yet the difficulty of so doing, may all well have
think he is so much without ability as he seems, created an interest independent of love. Yet
for occasionally his thoughts are very bright and she is very beautiful and very charming. There
fanciful. But it is the power of fixing his atten- is something winninmg in that smile, half tender,
tion that he wants. Of that he is utterly devoid, half playful; and certainly Nature, in its happi
and it is the secret of his great deficiency."  est leisure, never molded a form of more exquisA moment or two after, they were joined by ite symmetry. It makes one's heart beat almost
Richard Newark, who exclaimed, in a joyful to gaze upon her, surpassing far the highest effort
voice, "I am glad I have found you before my of the sculptor's art, and full of living graces
father comes back, for, after we had fished for which neither sculptor's chisel nor painter's
an hour, I got in a fright, rememberinlg what he brush could ever catch or portray. Hark! she
had said about not leaving you, Emmy; so I got is singing! Ay, a well-remembered song of my
a horse, and galloped all the way here, thinking younlg days. Her chamber must be near this,
every minute I should see him riding baclk with from the distinctness of the sounds."
you. So you must hold your tongne, Emmy, and    "Mellow year, mellow year,
not let hini know that I have been away at all."  The winter time is near
All conversation now ended for the time be-      With its frost, and its snow, and i wind;
When the branches are all bare,
tween Emmeline and Smeaton, for the boy's        And tempests load the air,
presence was of course a restraint, and the minds  And icy chains the dancing rivers bind."
of both rested thoughtfully on the subjects of   The song ceased, and the light accompanideeper interest of which they had been lately ment of a.hlute or manidolin ceased likewise. It
talkinig. This continued till they reached the seemed but a little outburst of that spirit of mumansion; but there they found Sir John Newark sic which is in almost every young heart; and
had not yet returned, and some time was destined Smneaton said to himself, " I will sing her th
to pass before he again appeared on the scene.  next stanza;  perhaps she does not know i.'"




0  HENRY SMEArTON.
And with a rich, mellow tenor voice, he went on had made filled her with many emotions wihich
with the song thus:                          she strove not to disentangle or to scan, but
" But the Spring, the bright Spring,     which, though agitating, were certainly not painOn his green-embroidered wing.          ful. She remained so long silent, however, buss speeding fromr the South all the while;  ied in these thoughts, that Smeaton himself was
Scatt'ring flowers on Winter's way      s
And repairing all decay,                somewhat pained.
And teaching tearful eyes again to smile."  "She has been only thus bright and frank with
He listened for a moment, but all was silent'; me," he thought, "because she believed me to
and then, opening the door of his room, he de- be a married man:; and in all the signs of dclawnscended again to the saloon. He had hardly ing regard which I fancied her looks and words
been there a moment when Emmeline joined betrayed, I have been mistaken."
him, with a bright, frank smile upon her face,   Man's heart, however, is a very da'k and insayincg, as she entered,                     tricate thing.  Solomon and a great many other
"You have been singing-and one of my dear personages have affirlned this, and I believe it.
old nursery songs."'                         There is nothing which spurs love on like a little
" You left it incomplete," replied Smeaton; difficulty; and Smeaton, who a few minute's be"and as it is one of my dear Old nursery songs fore had been doubting whether he was really
too, I felt myself called upon, for its honor, to falling in love at all, and wiether he ought to
add the last stanza-at least, the last that I re- say or do any thling which might tend to win her
member, for I believe there are several more;"  affection, had no longer the least.doubt on the
"Oh, yes," replied Emmeine. " I will sing subject. He did not pause long to consider,,them all to you some evening, though Sir John but, taking her hand in his, he said,
Newark is not very fond of music. Are you?"'    "Emreline, you have been deceived by Sir
"' I do not know what life would be without John's representation; butl does this make any
it," replied Smeaton. "Mine, I know, would difference in your confidence and regard?  Will
have lost many of its few happy hours."      you not trust me-will you not rely upon me,
"And does your wife like music? And does though I be unmarried, as much as you would
she sing often?  And has she a good voice?" ex- fi eely have done, had the tale you heard been
claimed Emmeline, putting question upon ques- true?"
tion before her companion could answer. But   She did not attempt to withdraw her hand
a gay smile upon Smeatoni's lips stopped her at fi'om his, but raised her beautiful eyes to his face,
length.                                      asking simply,
" My wife, dear lady!"' he said, half laughing.    ",Ought I?"
"My wife! I hope she will sing, if I am ever   "Why not?" he exclaimed. " Could my havfortunate enough to have one; but up to the ing a wife make me more a man of honor?
present hour, certainly, I have no wife."    Could it render me more anxious to serve youEmmeline looked astonished, almost frighten- to free you from a painful, a difficult, a dangered; and for a moment she stood gazing in his ous situation?  Could it make you more safe
face in silence, and then said, in a slow and hes- than in trusting to my word as a gentleman and
itating manner,                              a Christian to use all my efforts for your service,,
"Sir John Newark told me you had a wife."  and for the promotion of your happiness alone?'
"Did he, indeed?" asked Smeaton, with a   " No, oh no," answered Emmeline, in reply to
smile, not unminglecl with a look of astonish- his eager questions; but he still went on, saying,
ment; but, the moment after, he added, " Now,   "Would it not rather throw difficulties in our
I remember, there was conversation between us way? Might it not produce a thousand eimbarregarding Lady Eskdale.  He must have chang- rassments, whereas, if any now occur, you can
ed my mother into my wife, it seems, which is yourself remove them by a few short words?"
contrary, dear lady, to the law of all lands. He   The meaning of the last part of the sentence
pressed the subject upon me, I recollect, and I seemed clear enough, and after a time it came
gave him very short answers, not thinking fit to back to her memory; but at the moment, conenter upon my own or my mother's affairs with fused by a variety of feelings, to her new and
him. I imagined that he wished to discover strange, and of thoughts which seemed only to
what we intended to do with Keanton; but he become more entangled every moment, she rehas led himself into a great mistake, for I have plied,
no wife, I can assure you, dear lady."         " I have so little experience-I am so ignorant
Emmeline was agitated, she knew not why. of how I ought to act, or even what I ought to
Indeed, she did not ask herself. All that she think, that-"
felt was that her heart beat more quickly than   She paused, unable to conclude the sentence;
usual; that a change seemed to have come over but, seeing a look of pain on his face, she laid her
her thoughts and feelings in an instant; that all hand gently upon his, saying,
was altered in the relations between her and her   "Do not let me grieve you. I would not do
companion. It seemed very strange to her: it so for the world. I have the utmost trust, the
confused her, even seemed to alarm her; and, utmost confidence in you, and will show it frankwith eager quickness, memory ran back over all ly. But add this to all your other kindness: tell
that had passed between her and Smeaton, as me truly and sincerely how I ought to act, what
though to ascertain if she had committed no fault I ought to do, and I will do it. Guide me, guide
toward him under the mistake into which she me, noble friend, for I feel that I have none to
had been led. She remembered that he had whom I can look for guidance but you."
twice called her Emmeline; and she recollected    The tears rose in her eyes as she spoke; and
snore than once that a look of admiration had Smeaton, with a look which could not alarm or
come upon his face when his eyes were turned agitate her, bent his head and pressed his lips
toward her, the very memory of which deepen- upon her hand.
ed the color in her cheek. She was very young   "I will be your guide, dear Emmeline," he
and very inexperienced, and the discovery she said; "and so God help me as I seek, in guid



HENRY SMEATON.                                       41
ing you, your own happiness, your own safety, press what she meant without some violation of
before any other objects whatsoever."       propriety, "Very few persons here, I believe,
Emmeline raised her eyes to his face, full of are inclined to tell my guardian any thing unless
bright drops; and his words and that answering he asks. Why it is I am sure I do not know, for
look formed a bond between them for life.   he is very kind in most things; yet they seem to
There are instincts far stronger, far clearer, far fear him, and do not like to say what they think
truer than any conclusion of reason or ally deduc- lest they should make mischief.  Some of the
tion from experience. The shrewd, the cunning, servants, indeed, but not many even of them. rethe hackneyed in the world do well not to trust port to him all that passes under their eyes; but I
to them; for in the first two classes, Nature hav- have never dared to speak freely with him upon
ing endowed them with other qualities for their any thing, and I believe Richard feels the same.
guidance and defense, in general denies them  Hark! there is his foot coming through the great
these instincts, just as she denies horns to a lion, hall. It must have been lie who was looking
and claws to an elephant: they are provided, and through the window. Poor boy! he would never
want not further help; and, with the hackneyed think of repeating any thing which he thought
man of the world, if ever possessed of such in- could pain me; but I ought not to ask him to
stiucts, they are soon worn out, and the traces conceal any thing from his father."
of them obscured; but with the guileless and in-   " Certainly not," replied Smeaton, frankly.
experienced, they are a sure, and often the only "Let things take their course; only ascertain as
guide and defense.                          soon as possible what he really does do; and, in
The same instinctive feeling of dread and doubt the mean time, dear Emmeline, let me beseech
which taught her to shrink from Sir John New- you to cast away all restraint toward me. It is
ark, which barred all confidence and checked needful to you and to your own future fate now-;
all affection, made her heart spring to meet the and I feel it is needful to me and my happiness
friendship-perhaps I might call it by a tenderer that you should give me every opportunity of
name-of Smeaton, and long to pour out all its speaking to you, consulting with you, advising
feelings and thoughts before him. The agitation you in private. Though I, perhaps, must find the
of new sensations, however, checked her for the opportunities, you must aid me to take advantage
time, and all she said was,                 of them. Much must be decided within the next
" Oh, how happy it is to have some one in two or three weeks; and upon what is decided,
whom we can wholly trust and rely!"        all the future course of your life will depend-and
That was a blessed moment for Smeaton. It mine also," he added, in a lower voice: " ay, and
was to the affection which had sprung up, and of mine also."
was budding in his heart, like the soft beams of a   Before she could reply, the latch of the door
bright morning sun upon an opening rose, teach- was raised, and Richard Newark entered the
ing it to expand in all its full sweetness; and he room with a slow and thoughtful pace, very difgazed upon her with a look of love which could ferent from his light, irregular walk. Emmeline
not be mistaken. Of words there was little need; drew a step back, but Smeaton remained exactyet words trembled on his lips which could nev- ly where he was, without the slightest change
er be unsaid. Suddenly Emmeline, with a start, of look or manner, while the boy advanced into
withdrew her hand from his. They had thought the room, hummning to himself the snatch of some
themselves, throughout the whole scene, alone; old song, as if wrapped up in his own thoughts,
but it was not so. The windows were partly and hardly conscious that any body was there.
open to admit the balmy air; and, though they   "Well, Richard," said Smeaton, " where have
did not descend to the ground, as modern win- you been wandering?"
dows do, yet they were not raised more than a   " I have been upon the terrace for the last five
foot or two above the level of the terrace with- minutes," replied the lad, simply.
out. For the last two e'~ three minutes, a figure   "That I know," rejoined Smeaton. "We saw
had been standing at tlh angle of the most west- your shadow on the floor."
erly window, and looking in, half hidden by the   "Indeed!" exclaimed Richard Newark, evistone-work. It now moved across toward the dently with some surprise. " I thought you did
great door, and the shadow that it cast upon the not see me; but this preposterous knob between
loor of the room  roused Emmeline from her my two shoulders, filledwith allsorts of things that
dreams of happiness with a sensation of fear.    never get into other people's heads, betrays me,
"What is the matter?" exclaimed Smeaton, I suppose, wherever I go. Well, never mind!
surprised by her sudden start.              What matters it to me if nightingales will sit and
"Some one passed across the window," re- sing on the edge of a hawk's nest?  It is no
plied Emmoline, with the color mounting warm- matter of mine; and I can keep things to myly into her cheek.                          self as well as my elders and my betters. Only,
"' Was it Sit John Newark?" asked Smeaton,'ware the springe, noble colonel. Woodcocks
while a cloud came over his brow. "If so, a have put their necks into a noose before now."
full explanation must come before it is desira-   Emmeline and her lover, for so I think I may
ble."                                       now venture to call him, looked at each other,
"I think not," replied Emimeline. "The shad- as if uncertain how to act; but then, starting
ow first caught my eye, and, before I could see forward with her wild grace, the beautiful girl
distinctly, the figure was gone. Nevertheless, I laid her hand upon her cousin's arm, saying,
think it was that of Richard."                "Do you not love me, Richard? Have you
Smeaton mused for a moment, and then said, not said that, if you were my brother, you could
"Of course he will tell his father what he may not love me more?"
have seen and overheard, and we must take our   The boy's whole manner was changed in a
determination accordingly, Emmeline."       moment.
"I do not think he will," said Emmeline, eager-   "That I do, Emmeline," he cried, catching
ly; but she paused at the Ilext sentence, adding, her hand in his, and holding out his other hand
more slowly, as if not knowing well how to ex- to Smueaton. " I love you both, and will do any




4g2                            HENRY SMEATON.
thing I can to serve you. Trust to me, trust to keep its sounds from their ears; but still it
me, and don't be a bit afraid. I will find means is speaking in the secret tribunal of the heart
to help you at a pinch. I know that my brain -ever, ever speaking, accusing, condemning,
is somewhat askew, but that is not my fault; threatening.
and there is some wit within, though it lies in   There were times, of course, when this senaodd corners. For your salke, Emmeline, and for sation of insecurity was more strong than at
yours too, Smeaton, I will rummage it out, and others:, he never felt safe when Emmeline was
try if I can not make it serviceable. I will do left alone with any body but one of his own
you no harm, if I can not do you good."    creatures; and there was something in the char"Take care of that, Richard," said Smeaton, acter and demeanor of Smeaton which made
gravely.                                   him feel that he might be very dangerous to disThe boy nodded his head significantly, and honest purposes, if he had a knowledge of them..
then added, with a loud laugh,             He quieted himself, however, in some degree,
"And now I will be odder than ever, to cover by a belief in his ignorance.  He said to himwhat is going on within; but I can tell you, dear self,
girl, that I have rendered you one service this   "It is evident he knows nothing of these peomorning already; for, if I had not been at the pie except by hearsay. Moreover, he can not
window, somebody else whould."'           suspect any thing from what he has seen here.
~"Whrl'o?"f exclaimed Emmelne, with a look He beholds nothing but kindness and affection.
oflp  Mrs. Culpepper was goig out for her I treat her as a daughter-a beloved daughter.
"Old Mrs. Culpepper was going out for her No, no, he can suspect nothing. Yet I have
evening airing," replied the boy, smiling, "' with
vnn ia,'rple th hY sing, "ihseen a light come up into his eyes when he looks
her stealthy tiptoe step, like a cat crossing the upon her, a bland, fond smile upon his lip, ehicl
greensward on a dewy morning. She tended upon her, a bland, fond smile upon his lip, which
this way, Emmy; but when she saw me lolling is strange for so short an'acquaintance. It is
against the window-frame, she crept off to prowlnatural, perhaps, for she is certainly very pret
in another direction. She watches you, all the ty; but he is married, so there can be no harm
while sile is purring around you, more closely Yet, suppose his wife were to die? Well, then
than you know, and it is better to have me there I must shut my gates against him; that is all.
than her, I can d tell you."               He can not force his way in, unless I choose to
"I am sure it is, Richard," answered Emme- let him. Perhaps I may make something of
line. "But what you say surprises and shocks this Keanton property, if one could but get him
me. I did not know that I required watching to entangle himself a little more against thea
by ally one. So Heaven help me, as I desire government. He would be glad enough to takl
and seek no wrong, but only to be as rightly a small sum from a friend for that which was
happy as it is God's will I should be."   likely to be forfeited to the crown. It is a fine
"No more does a tit-lark, Emmy," replied the' estate, full three thousand a year, and carries,
boy; "and yet they shut him up in an iron cage, if I mistake not, the barony with it. The~s
and only give him a bit of turf to make him re- troubles must be productive of good, if one knew'member how joyful he would be if he could how to take advantage of them."
spread his freed wings, and soar away up into   This train of thought carried him on further,
the sky."                                  and away from the subject of his apprehensions.
There was something in the simile which He had been riding fast in order to return speedtouched Emmeline to the heart; her eyes filled ily; but now he slackened his pace, and prowith tears; and, darting away, she quitted the ceeded to consider deliberately the condition of
room, leaving Smeaton and Richard Newark to- the times, the position of the existing governgether.                                    ment, and especially the state of that part of the
country in which he dwelt. He was one of
those men-and they are a somewhat numerous
class-who are skillful at angling in troubled
CHAPTER X.                   waters. He was well inclined to stir those
waters, too, for the purpose of catching more
SIR JOHN NEWARK rode away toward Exeter. fish, but he was very careful not to plunge into
At first he went fast, for the thoughts with which them too deeply himself. He knew, as well as
he set out were not altogether devoid of uneasi- any agitator of the present day, how to keep
ness. He did not like leaving Emmeline, Rich- just on the right side of law, how to prompt
ard, and Smeaton together; not that there was without acting, how td suggest-without proposany definite cause in his mind for the unpleasant ing, how to make dissuasion act as a persuasive;
sensations that he felt, but, with most men of how, in fact, to stir up rebellion without being
his character, there is throughout the whole of a rebel, and to act a traitor's part without inlife a pervading feeling of insecurity, which is curring the punishment of a traitor. He had
a hard price, taken at the full sum, and' which moreover, that great skill which consists in leadby slow installments they pay sooner or later ing men, whom you are openly engaged in opfor any advantages obtained by cunning, duplic- posing, to believe that you may be induced by
ity, and deceit. They are never secure. They favors to support them; in fact, to put yourself
are always afraid of discovery and loss. The up for sale at a high price, and to force it from
house they have built is based upon sand, and the purchaser by annoyance; not to ticket or
they know that it is so. There is an ever-pres- label the article with the sum demanded, but to
ent dread, a dark consciousness of the sword let it be understood. This is the most useful
suspended by a hair over them.  They may of arts in the mercenary world we dwell in; and
drown the thought in wine; they may outroar men do contrive to enact such tricks, and yet
the small, still voice in revelry and merriment; bear an unblushing front and a proud carriage,
by laughter and by song, they may strive to, as if the honors and rewards they obtain were




HENRY SiM EATON,                                     43
yielded to merit, not necessity. In his most neighboring inns, and they came out to see what
vehement tirades against a minister or a gov- was the niatter. The great body of' people gatherminent, Sir John could drop some few favor- ered tegether were decidedly Jacobite, and the
able words to show that he was not hopelessly magistrates, who had their eyes upon the knight,
adverse. He could praise one set of measures were of the opposite faction; but he managed
while he declaimed against others. He could skillfully between them. To those in the crowd
affect uncertainty with regard to some of their near him, whom he knew, he spoke a few words
lines of policy. He could pretend to believe of a very inflammatory nature; but when the
the motives good, but the means mistaken. He people called upon him to speak to them aloud,
could single out one man from a ministry, when he harangued them for a few minutes, from his
he saw him falling, and pursue him with the horse's back, in language which suggested more
most virulent rancor in order to attribute all the than it expressed.  He besought them to be
bad acts of his colleagues to him, if they choose peaceable, orderly, tranquil, and to make no disto purchase his support after the other's fall.  turbances; )but he painted in glowing colors,
He was not at all singular. We see such and with much oratorical power, the disturbmen every day, and all the time they are inde- ances which had taken place in other parts of
pendent men. The very excess of their trim- the country; told them how the men of Dorming, when managed skillfully, gains for them, chester had assaulted and pumped upon the
among those who do not see deeply into the magistrates when reading a proclamation from
human heart, a reputation for conscientiousness. the government; how, in another place, they
They are supposed to sacrifice their friends for had burned in effigy " the great personage wthom
their convictions, and to change their convic- they very improperly called the Elector of Hantiofis from their judgment.  Verily, they are over;" how they had driven a party of the milwise in their generation.                   itary out of one town, and forced the mayor in
"'This dynastywill stand," said Sir John New- another to drink King James's health against
ark to himself.  "Yes, it will stand. It may his will. But all the time he besought them to
not have the affections of the nation-doubtless abstain from such unseemly demonstrations of.
it has not; but it has the passions and preju- the popular feeling, and assured them that he
dices of Englishmen-ay, and their good, sober doubted not, he trusted, he hoped they would
sense too. Love is a mad passion that will not ultimately obtain all they could rightly desire,
be subservient. Prejudice is a sturdy beast, without any recourse to violence or breach of
which will be guided any way, so that it get the law.
home at last. There is no lack of zeal among   His words were not many, but they were very
the Jacobites.  Zeal! Heaven keep us from  well chosen, and at the end of his harangue a
seal. It is like a sky-rocket, which no one can great number of the people escorted him to his
direct. The Whigs have something better than inn with acclamations. The very inn lie sezeal. They have firmness, consistence, unity,, lected marked him out as one of the party to
common sense, energy. Then they have the which, for the time, he chose to attach himself.
words that sooner or later rule the multitude: It was called the Crown and Scepter, and was
liberty - freedom - rights - privileges; and the Jacobite inn. There, however, he had but
those not the rights and privileges of the few, time to get some scanty refreshment for himbut of the many. The others have nothing but self before the hour of meeting; and, leaving
zeal. Heaven help us! Andcourage-ay, and his horses and servants behind, he walked to
courage! There is no lack of courage; but the room where the magistrates were now fast
with it, luckily, its usual adjuncts, wild rash- assembling. It presented the usual aspect of
ness, pig-headed obstinacy, and a mighty host such congregations in troublous times, where
of all those brilliant qualities which, sooner or many persons of the most opposite views are
later, bring a party to destruction.  Neverthe- collected to carry out measures in regard to
less, I must be somewhat of a Jacobite for the which very few of them are agreed. The Jactime-with caution-with caution. I must give obite party was here by far the least numerous;
a few hints to the people-some encourage. but they were weakened by want of unity in
ment, also, to my Jacobite friends among the their plans more than by want of numerical
magistracy, for fear of the vigorous energy of strength. Some were for bold and vigorous
the Whigs frightening them; but with many a demonstration; others were for firm and transaving clause, and much reservation."       quil moderation: some were for temporizing
With these thoughts, he rode on, and at the and deceiving; others for throwing off disguise,
end of a few hours entered the good old town and avowing their principles, if not their ohbof Exeter, with dusty dress, and horses and at- jects, clearly. Sir John Newark instantly rangtendants tired.                             ed himself among them, with the most hearty
A good number of people were collected in contempt for every one of them; but he shook
the open space near the Cathedral, for the room  hands with them all warmly, lent an eager ear
in which the magistrates were called to assem- to what every man whispered to him, and said
ble was not far distant, and a rumor of the meet- a few words in reply which signified nothing.
ing had spread through the city, that being   The Whig party, on the contrary, were unitmarket-day, and had caused some agitation in ed in object and in purpose. They felt their
the place. Sir John Newark was well known strength, and were confident in it; yet, at the
in Exeter; and he was very popular —most same time, the entrance of Sir John Newark
rogues are. His name was soon pronounced caused a little stir even among them. They had
among the people. They gathered round him, a sort of fear of him-not of his power, not of
pressed upon his horse, cheered him, asked him  his real talents, not of his courage or energy,
questions. The sounds reached some of his but of his subtlety, for subtlety can be carried
fellcOv-magistrates, who had collected in the to a point where it becomes awfull. He had




44                               HENRY SMEATON.
established a reputation of never forgiving, of 1 mng, presuming that no one was likely to speak
never being turned from his object by any dif- after him. He said,
ficulty or opposition, and of seeking it by ways   "Sir, I believe my loyalty is not at all suswhich could not be seen and by means which pected-"
could not be combated. All that he said or did   A murmur ran among the Whigs, and he inwas a matter of doubt and mystery to those stantly took advantage of it.
around. 1His frankness was as suspicious as   "I do not in the least pretend to deny," he
his reserve; his boldest declarations in favor continued, "that I am, personally, strongly atof a cause were known never to insure it his tached to the ancient royal line of this kingdom.
support; his most resolute opposition to a party I have always declared the fact, and I have sufgave no guarantee that he would not join it fered by it in many ways; but that surely can
next day. It was known, moreover, that most be no imputation upon my loyalty, when I alof his enemies had been ruined by some means ways show myself ready to obey and to execute,
or other-and many of his friends.           the laws. I stand in the same position as many
Inimical critics will say, perhaps, that this others even on that side of the room, whose atcharacter is overdrawn; friendly critics will de- tachment to the house of Stuart is strong, but
elare that it is a portrait. To the latter, if there their attachment to the laws of the realm stronbe guilt, I plead guilty; but it is the portrait of ger. I gave what poor support I could to the
one who lived and died in the times of which I government of King William and Queen Mary,
write, and not of any man now living.       because I thought that the rights and liberties
If a meeting of country magistrates in the of Englishmen required it of me; but I am not
present day is irregular and desultory in all its disposed, and I trust none here are disposed, to
proceedings-and I, as one of that worshipful see those rights and liberties violated by one
body, can certify such is the case-if, in a time monarch more than by another. Now, as far
when artisans are competent to judge of legis- as I can make out what is intended by the govlation, and people who can neither read nor ernment —or rather, I should say, what is here
write rule or overrule the opinions of educated proposed by some rash and misguided men, who
men-if, in such a time, we see that many pub- arrogate to themselves, unauthorized, I am conlic assemblies, called for the discussion of na- vinced, the task of declaring the views of govtional and important questions, are very con- ernment-it is intended to call upon the magisfused and sometimes violent in their discus- trates of the county of Devon to employ meassions and conduct, what could be expected, in ures for quieting imaginary disturbances, and
the beginning of the last century, when learning for apprehending persons who may be tranquilly
and information, if not wit and talent, were con- passing from place to place on their own busifined to the few. Strong native common sense ness, for aught that has been shown to the conoccasionally, in individuals, did a great deal, trary, which would render us a nation of spies
and perhaps the cases were more frequent than and bailiffs, be subversive of all personal as well
now, for no one can look around him without as political liberty, and breed suspicion and disadmitting that, in the present day, common trust between man and man, so as inevitably to
sense in certain quarters is the most uncom- end in establishing within these realms a desmon of all things. It is more valuable than potism as oppressive as can be found in any of
any other quality, and very valuable things are the continental states. Against this I must and
rare.                                       will protest, even if I stand alone; at the same
The course of proceedings on the present oc- time declaring my willingness and readiness to
casion was in somewhat the following order. employ every constitutional means in my power
The presiding magistrate, a verbose, pursy to maintain the peace of the land, and the rule
man, with that self-important air and volumin- of order and law. Do not let us suffer ourselves
ous stomach which carry great weight with the to be agitated by idle rumors, and vain and
public, made a long speech about matters which groundless apprehensions. What proofs have
he did nrot comprehend in the least, read some we that any design is on foot for disturbing the
letters from the Secretary of State and other high peace of the realm, or attempting to overthrow
personages, the sense of which he mangled and the existing government 1 What signs of such
left nearly extinct in the reading, and then add- things are'even alleged? Why, no more than
ed comments in support of the course which he the shouting of a London mob round the carbelieved the minister to recommend, although, riage of the Earl of Oxford, whom, until he is
in truth, it was very different. Then got up a tried and condemned by his peers, I may venfurious Jacobite, railed at the existing order of ture to call a very estimable and intelligent nothings, abused the government, spoke of the bleman.  Some drunken rioting of'prenticecountry being eaten up by foreigners, and asked boys and coal-heavers, worthy of being represshow it could be expected that, in such circum- ed by parish beadles and chastised by flogging,
stances, and devoured by Hanover rats, men rather than being opposed by regular soldiers
should be at all energetic or active in defense and punished by military execution. The sousof a state of things which the whole country ing in a horse-pond of some foolish and obnoxonly tolerated for a time. Another and another ious magistrates, probably detested and scorned
orator followed. Few of the sanerWhigs spoke by the multitude rather for their stupidity and
at all, but some of them showed a good deal of -injustice than even for their hot-headed zeal
temper; one plan was proposed, and then an- upon the present occasion-zeal which we shall
other; nothing was decided, and nothing seem- not do well to imitate, lest we incur the same
ed likely to be decided. Then, when he saw  contempt and share the same retribution."
that time was getting on, and that people would   "The only signs!" exclaimed one of the
soon become anxious to return to their homes, less discreet of the Whig gentlemen present.
Sir John Newark rose and addressed the meet- "What do you call arming ships on the coast of




HENRY STMEATON.                                    45
France in favor of the Pretender, as stated in the that a foreign vessel did appear upon the coast,
Secretary of State's letter, which you have heard and did land and take off again some men."
read?"'.         " Tell us if they were all taken off, Sir John,"," That it is a case to be dealt wvith by our shouted one of his opponents from the other side
embassador at the court of France," replied Sir of the room.
John Newark, adroitly, " and not by a body of   " If the gentleman who spoke can prove that
country justices of the peace. Besides, what one of them remained, and can bring him withhave we to do with Secretary of State's letters. in my grasp, I will pay him down on the spot a
Is a Secretary of State king, lords, and com- hundred guineas, which is somewhat more than
mons at once. and can his mandate supersede the reward of an ordinary thief-taker," replied
the law of the land? All that it is competent the knight. 1" But what is the use of disputing
for him to do is to exhort us to diligence and with a thick-headed brawler who can not hear
activity in the exercise of those functions in- a sentence to the end. I say, sirs, I do know
trusted to us by the Constitution. Arming on that such a ship appeared off the coast, landed
the coast of France! What has that to do with men, and took them off again. I know it well,
gentlemen traveling peaceably from town to for I know it to my cost. She came, with what
town in the county of Devon?"             intentions I do not know. She landed men,
"4 But the secretary says there are suspected whose only act, if not their only object, was to
persons," replied the same magistrate.     insult and endeavor to kidnap my young ward
c By whom suspected?" demanded Sir John Emmeline; and they ran away as swift as they
Newark. " Reasonable cause must be shown could, and re-embarked when frustrated, purfor suspicion before we can deal with the case. sued by my son and servants, with dogs, as if
This Mr. Secretary may be of a naturally sus- they had been beasts of prey. I was myself
picious disposition. He may suspect me-you from home at the town of Axminster; but, as
-any of us. But it would be a bold thing to soon as I heard that a strange sail had appeared
apprehend a man merely upon a secretary's sus- upon the coast, I hurried back at full speed, and
picion. I, for one, will issue no warrant against found that what I could have wished done had
any man upon mere suspicion. I will have it been well done in my absence. Now I will ask
shown what are the grounds of that suspicion." if any one of you, who ventures to call himself
"' He did not deal with his own relations so the most loyal in this room, can impugn my contenderly," said one of the magistrates to an- duct in this affair?  And I repeat that, if any of
other; and a third observed, aloud,        you will put into my hands one of those men
", All we know is, Sir John, that three or four who landed, so that I might bring him to justice
persons, whom nobody knows, have lately pass- for the insult he offered to my ward, and through
ed through certain parts of the county, and taken her to myself, I will pay him a hundred guineas
their way toward Ale Head, if not toward Ale- on the spot."
Manor House. A foreign vessel also was seen   At this moment a dark, stern-looking elderly
upon the coast, and it is certain that she landed man, in a snuff-colored coat, who had hitherto
and took off some persons in the close vicinity sat quietly in a corner of the room, rose and said,
of your dwelling."                         just when Sir John Newark was congratulating
"( I should like to ask the worshipful knight himself on having avoided all mention of Smeawhether there is not a suspected person in his ton's residence in his house,
house at the present moment," cried some one,   "The worshipful knight has not answered
in a loud tone.                           the question whether there is or is not a susOthers were going on in the same strain; for, pected person at this very time staying at Aleon all such occasions, when one person can be Manor."
found to lead an attack against an individual,   "No one suspected in the least by me," remany more will follow. Perhaps Sir John New- plied Sir John Newark, who saw that he must
ark was a little staggered by this close question- grapple with the subject. ", There is a gentleing; but he saw that the allusion to the ship man staying at my house, but let me add that
gave him an advantage, and, waving his hand, he it is who saved my young ward from the
he exclaimed,                              hands of those ruffians who landed, wounding
", One at a time, gentlemen, one at a time, if one of them severely, and that his whole conyou please. You are becoming a little personal duct, as far as I know any thing of it, is above
in matters which should be considered free from  suspicion. General, you are a brave man, as
all personality; but I am ready to give every all the world knows; but I should like to see
man his answer."                          the bravest of you tell my guest, Colonel Henry,, The best answer to such insinuations is the Smeaton, that he suspected him of aught. Mesword," observed an old, hot-headed Cavalier, thinks he would soon have an answer that would
whose brains the snow of sixty years had not satisfy him till the end of his life, even if he
been able to cool.                        lived much longer.",, Pooh, pooh!" said Sir John Newark. -I I   "Perhaps so," replied the other, quite calmly;
repeat that I am ready to answer every question  " but some questions are better decided by pens
separately; but you must not overwhelm me than by swords, Sir John. Although I have not
with too many at once. First, then: if any given up fighting, and trust I may yet fight again
suspected persons have journeyed toward Ale- in my country's cause, it certainly shall not be
Mano. hv land, I know nothing about them, and in a private quarrel upon public matters. You
have hear, clothing of them."             say that this gentleman's name is Colonel Hen"By land! by land!" retorted one of the op- ry Smeaton. I should like much to know if he
posite party, with a scornful laugh.       never bears any other name."
" Wait a minute," said Sir John Newark,, By such only have I known him," replied
sneeringly. " Next, I answer that I well know  Sir John Newark, with a slight inclination of




46                             ITENRY SMEATON.
the head, and without the least change in his which I find he intends to make to your country
complexion; for he never colored, though he house, he will bear me a good report of your
sometimes turned pale.                     son's health.
" Then we have been misinformed, I sup-          " I have the honor to be, sir,
pose," replied the other, whose voice seemed to  " Your most obedient humble servant,
have quieted all the din going on around. "; We                           " STAIR."
were told that the Earl of Eskdale was staying
at Ale-Manor, Sir John. Is it fair to ask you    "Undoubtedly Lord Stair's handwriting,"
who first introduced this gentleman to you as said the old officer, aloud; and, turning to anColonel Henry Smeaton!"                   other, who stood near, he added, "we must have
"I presume I am not under examination," been misinformed."
replied Sir John Newark, a good deal annoyed,   " Pray," cried one of the magistrates, "' will
but determined to evade the question. " How- you tell us, Sir John Newark, if this Colonel
ever, general, I have no objection to answer Henry Smeaton is the only visitor in your house
you; and, if you think fit, you may take down at the present moment?"
my reply, perhaps to be used against me on a   "This is too bad!" exclaimed Sir John Newfuture occasion."                          ark, with well-affected indignation. " Do you
He spoke with a sneering smile, which had suppose, sir, that I am likely to quibble in such
not the slightest effect upon the gentleman a matter as this   There is no one whatsoever
whom he addressed, and who continued to look in my house but my own family and domesti
straight in his face till he went on, saying,  servants, with Colonel Smeaton and his lackey
"' You asked me, I think, who first introduced -a  rude, ordinary man, whom you might as
my visitor to me as Colonel Henry Smeaton. well take for an archangel as a nobleman. It
My reply shall be very simple, and more distinct is by such injurious suspicions of loyal and tried
even than your question. The first time I ever men that you, and such persons as you, fresaw him, he introduced himself to me as Colonel quently produce disaffection. Such, however,
Henry Smeaton. That was some weeks ago, shall not be the case with me; and, having exin London; and I immediately, and on the spot, pressed my opinion upon your proceeding, and
gave him an invitation to visit me at Ale-Manor. repelled the insulting doubts which it seems
I intended to excite your surprise, and I see that you had thought fit to entertain of myself, I
I have done it, gentlemen; but I must now dis- shall leave an objectless meeting, which can
pel that pleasant sensation. My first acquaint- produce no good results, and can only tend to
ance with this gentleman occurred on his de- irritate the people and induce foolish magisfending my son from a gross assault made upon trates to overstep the limits of their duty upon
him by one of the Earl of Stair's servants, and the shallow pretense of zeal. If I might advise,
punishing the ruffian who had knocked the boy all those who think with me will follow me, for
down. I was grateful to my son's preserver I believe the very fact of this meeting may do
and avenger, and invited him to my house; but great harm in the county."
I have had more cause for gratitude since. Not   Thus saying, he-left the room with some thirty
content with punishing the man on the spot, or five-and-thirty other gentlemen.
Colonel Smeaton went that same night to the   A buzz of conversation succeeded amono
Earl of Stair, with whom he is well acquainted, those who remained, the whole assembly seemand made it his request that the man should be ing to conclude that the business of the day
immediately dismissed. Out of friendship for was over, and breaking up into little knots of
him, the earl readily acceded; and, behaving five or six. In one or two of these groups th1
with that true honor and dignity which so well name of Sir John Newark was treated somebecomes him, he wrote me a letter, which Ihave what severely, and his general conduct cenhere, to apologize for what his man had done, sured with very little restraint.  In most of
and inform me of the result. I think, general, them, however, the imprudence of those who
you must be well acquainted with Lord Stair's had first commenced an attack upon him was
writing. There is the letter."             pointedly blamed.
He stretched forth his hand with the letter as,' Strange should not have been so violent,"
he spoke, and the old officer, advancing a step, said one.
took it, and read it aloud. The following were   "Perry should not have insinuated what ih
the contents:                              did,", remarked another.
"He is a very difficult personage to deal
"SiR,-In answer to your note received this with," observed a third. " He is never to be
morning, I beg to inform you that the conduct caught, and is always ready to give back more
lWhlich you complain of in Thomas Hardy, my than he receives in the way of sneers and bitlate servant, was represented to me fully by my terness."
friend, Colonel Henry Smeaton, who called upon   " He often turns what was intended to annoy'
me last night. As he witnessed the whole trans- him to his own advantage," remarked a fourth..
action, and I have every reason to believe him, "The man must be a blockhead or a conceited
from my personal knowledge of his character, fellow who attempts to meddle with him. The.
and old acquaintance with his family, to be a best way is to let him quietly say out what he
man of perfect probity and honor, I dismissed has to say, and then to proceed without taking
the footman at once, and beg to express my re- the least notice of him; but, as he has congret that a servant of mine should have com- trived to break up the business of the day, w8
mitted so disgraceful an action. I trust the had better betake us to our horses' backs."
young gentleman whom he assaulted has not   One dropped away after another till the room
suffered any severe injury, and that, when my was nearly vacant; but a little knot continued
friend Colonel Smeaton returns from the visit in low-toned but eager conversation for nearly




HENRY SMlEATON.                                      47
three quarters of an hour after all the rest were his own again. I dare say, now, you have got
gone, and in it were the old officer whom we somne news from over the water-over the wahave mentioned, the high sheriff of the county, ter-over the water."
and two or three gentlemen of importance and   Sir John Newark replied this time, for a good
discretion.                                number of people were in the street, and Sir
"It will certainly be the best plan," said the James's conversation was getting somewhat danhigh sheriff.  "He is thrown off his guard for gerous.
the time, and I am willing to take my share of   "The last news I have heard of any kind, Sir
the responsibility."                       James," he replied, "was that you had nearly
The general shook his head.               pulled down the old house at Mount Place, and
"He is seldom off his guard," he remarked; were building a very splendid mansion in its
"but I do not fear the responsibility; and per- stead."
haps it is the best plan. Government will carry " Yes, yes, yes," answered the other, tripping
us through, even if we do stretch its authority along on the tips of his toes. "Diruit —diruit
a little in such a case."                  — dirlit, cedificat mutat quadrata -otunZdis —roWith this observation the meeting broke up' tundis —rotundis.   Not exactly the whole house;
and the little knot Which had remained sepa- only the wings —only the wings —only the
rated.
rated.                                      wings."
" Getting yourself new wings, Sir James,"...._Yb~-~-~~:said Newark, " will.make the people say'tis to
fly with."
CHAPTER XI,                     "Only to fly higher-to fly higher-to fly high.er," replied Mount.
THE events which I have narrated in the last   "Higher, higher, higler!" echoed Sir John
chapter occupied nearly two hours, although. in Newark, with a cynical smile; "that is like the
their recapitulation, they fill so small a' space. sky-lark. But you were born to mount, and so
It was thus four o'clock, or somewhat more, be- that is natural."
fore Sir John Newark reached the door of his   "True, true, true," answered his companion,
inn, impatient to return as soon as possible to laughing, and very much pleased at the exceed
the Manor House. As we have seen, many of ingly lame pun. "Like the sky-lark-born to
the party which he had now espoused followed mount-pretty, very pretty!" And he took out
him away from the place of meeting. Some his tablets and wrote it down, talking all the
mounted their horses and rode into the country; time with marvelous perseverance.  " Born to
some strayed to the right or left as soon as they mount," he repeated three times, "like the skywere in the street; some went one way, some lark: must have wings, you know, Sir Johnanother; and but few accompanied Sir John must have wings — must have wings. Shall we
Newark, even a short distance. Sir John was dine together?  I have something very importnot loved or trusted by any one. All readily ant-important-important to discharge my mind
availed themselves of his help; all admired the of."
skill and dexterity with which he took advant-   "I fear that I can not stay to receive your
age of an enemy's mistakes, and sometimes of a fire," replied Sir John Newark. " You know I
friend's, but they did not altogether feel safe in have a guest at Ale-Manor, and raust be back to
his private society.                        entertain him."
There was one garrulous old knight, however   "Ay, that's just the thing-just the thing —
-a Sir James Mount —who had no fears of any just the thing," said the old knight.  " Is he
kind. Wrapped up in his talkative egotism, he Lord Eskdale or not-or not-or not?"
thought little of the character and actions of his   They had at this moment just reached the
associates, chattered away gayly to any one who great arched entrance of the inn, and, without
came near him, sometimes very sillily, some- answering the question, Sir John called aloud for
times well enough, and was ever ready with a his horses. He was doomed, however, to dis.
smart repartee, at which he himself laughed, to appointment and the society of Sir James Mount,
lead the chorus right; and, being full of anec- for one of his servants, coming forward, informed
dote and a great gossip-monger, was tolerated him that they had just discovered that one of thi
and even courted by most of the gentlemen horses had lost a shoe, and that his own beast
round, though he sadly wearied them till they seemed very lame. Sir John Newark was anhad contrived to make him dead drunk. This gry, but he uttered none of the oaths and exworthy baronet adhered to-the side of Sir John clamations common in that day, and merely, in a
Newark all the way to the inn, at which, it would thoughtfull and moderate tone, directed the one
seem, he also had put up.                   horse to be shod and the other to be examined' You posed them, Sir John-you posed them," by a farrier. Sir James Mount instantly fixed
he said, as they issued from the door. " That upon the servant, commended his own farrier to
smart Mr. Seely got a rap-a rap-a rap, I think. him, gave him particular directions where to find
Puppy! his knuckles will ache. It is very droll him, volunteered an opinion upon the cause of
that I am not good at public speaking-at pub- the horse's lameness without having seen him,
lie speaking-at public speaking, for I am fluent and recommended strongly a plaster of soap and
enough —fluent enough-fluent enough in con- boiled turnips, repeating one part of every senversation, I think."                       tence at least thrice, and sometimes more.
Sir John Newark made no reply, nor, indeed,   While this was go.nig on, Sir John Newark
was any necessary. Sir James Mount paused was meditating what he should next do. It was
for a moment to take breath, for he had been very difficult, on all. occasions, to get rid of Sir
walking fast, with a peculiar dancing sort of James Mount; and, taking into consideration the
step; but it was not long before he began again, improbability af his succeeding in an attempt to
saying, "Better times coming, Sir John, better do so. and the length of time he should. probably
time coming, I think, and the king shall have be obli;ged t, stay, he made up his mind to en



48                             HENRY SMEATON.
gage him to dine in a private room, saying to have made a snatch at Keanton, which is better
himself, "I shall, at all events, get from him ev- than a penny loaf —a penny loaf —a penny loaf."
ery piece of news that is going about the coun-   "But I suppose, if the old lady should die, the
try, and shall prevent him from doing mischief property would fall to the crown?" said Sir John
with his tongue for an hour and a half at least." Newark, becoming again interested.
Sir James was delighted with the proposal;   "Oh  no! oh dear, no!" replied Sir James.
and, although the hour was somewhat late for "The young man was a mete boy when the fathe early habits of that period, the number of ther was attainted, and as they had good interest
gentlemen who had visited the town in the course with the late queen, they got a special act of
of the day had created great activity at the inn, grace in his favor. It is not generally known,
and dinner was easily procurable.            but it is true —true-true, I can assure you. So
As soon as it was upon the table in the little he is right on both sides of the house. If King
parlor to which they were shown, Sir John New- James comes and prospers, he'll get the Scotch
ark, who had been kept in some uneasiness by  estates and this too; and if the elector makes his
the incessant loquacity of his companion, dismiss- hold good, and Eskdale keeps quiet, he'll get
ed the man who brought in the dishes, saying, Keanton at all events.'
as soon as he was gone, with a meaning nod to    "It is a fine property, and might be made betworthy Sir James,                           ter," said Sir John Newark.
" It is better to be alone when we may have    "Yes-yes-yes," rejoined the other knight.
Important subjects to talk of."              "I know it well. It is not ten miles from me.
"True —true-true," returned the other. " In Know every inch of it-very good ground-too
such things I am always discreet-discreet-dis- much up and down-overrun with wood; but
creet. I know how to be silent-silent-sisilent, very good tenants —all of them strong Loyalists.
Newark. No one can keep a secret better than We might call them all out in a moment of need.
I can, in case of need. I was just at that mo- But so, this is not the young lord at your house,
ment- at that moment-at that moment think- after all?"
ing of Lord Eskdale; but I was as mum as a   " I only know him as Colonel Smeaton,' said
mouse-mum  as a mouse-mum as a mouse Sir John Newark, thoughtfully, for the intelliwhile the man was in the room."             gence he had received produced some vacillation
Sir John Newark had by this time made up his in his mind. " You heard, too, what Lord Stair
mind as to the course he should pursue in case said of him. Nevertheless, he has all the air and
of the Earl of Eskdale's name being again men- manner of a nobleman; however, Lord Stair
tioned, and he instantly caught at Sir James's would not, I should think —"
words, saying,                                 " That is nothing —nothing —nothing," inter"Ay, the Earl of Eskdale. Can you tell me rupted Mount. "Nom-de-gilerre, perhaps. I recany thing about him?  He must now be advanc- ollect he did take some name like that when
ing in life."                               serving with the Austrian troops in Spain and
"Pooh, pooh! you are thinking of the father," Italy. That is nothing. Lord Stair is a very
replied Sir James. " He died last year, quite a shrewd, secret man —would not tell tales of his
young man: not fifty, I should think-I should own friends, desperate Whig as he is. He knows
think-I should think; married very early, you better than that. I should like to see this young
know, and left one son; know them all quite man. Tell you in a minute who he is —who he
well: Lady Eskdale is an old friend of mine."  is —who he is."
"Is that the young Lady Eskdale or the old   As Sir John had not fully made up his mind,
Lady Eskdale?" asked Sir John Newark; and he took no notice of this broad hint, and Sir
then, seeing that he had a little betrayed himself, James did not receive an invitation to Ale-Manor.
he added, to cover the mistake, " I suppose the What he had heard, however, induced the former
young lord is married?"'                    to hurry his departure at any cost; and after a
" Married-married-married. Oh dear, no. few minutes more spent in conversation, eating
He is not married," said Sir James; " was not a and drinking, he called for his chief groom, and
month ago, at all events: I was over the water inquired for the report of the farrier. That reupon a little business —business —business.  I port was unfavorable; the beast would not be in
could not see the old lady, because she was very  a condition to travel for two or three days; and,
ill in bed-in bed —in bed; but I inquired into taking leave of Sir James Mount, Sir John Newall the particulars of the family, and found them  ark instantly proceeded to purchase a new horse,
better off'than most over there, on account of the in order to set out for Ale-Mianor at once.
Keanton estate-estate —estate."               Before all this could be accomplished, the sadSir John Newark was not a little puzzled and dies put on, and every preparation made, it was
alarmed by his worshipful companion's words, nearly seven o'clock, and the knight looked forand fell into deep thought;. but, as the other ward to being obliged to end his journey in darkpaused, he said, mechanically, merely to fill up ness. He was well accompanied, however, for
the gap, "Ay, about Keanton?"              those were somewhat dangerous times; and, be" Why, you know," answered Sir James, in fore he was quite out of the city of Exeter, he
his usual rapid manner, "it was never forfeited, found that he was destined to have more combecause it waswsettled: upon her. People thought panions. Coming at full speed down the street,
that she had dissuaded her husband from joining  Sir James Mount, followed by two servants, overour friends. That was not true; but it saved  took him about a hundred yards beyond the old
her property, which was settled somehow-  gates, much to the other's annoyance.
somehow-somehow, and they have taken care    "I will ride with you as far as Aleton Church,"
to keep it very quiet. The tenants pay their rents said Sir James. "It is only five miles out of
to an agent-an agent-an agent, and as little my way-out of mny way-out of my way, and
said as possible; for, although Shrewsbuwryspared we can talk as we go.. There is something
them out of generosity, and Marlborough because I want to tell you in your ear. Come close —
le got something by it, I dare say, others might put down your head. Do you. know," he con




HENRY SMEATON.                                        49
tinned, in a whisper, "a. party of horse, under   "Well, I can not remain watching them all
Captain Smallpiece, has just gone out of the town night, and I do not intend to slink into my own
with Best, the justice, and they are right upon house by a back way. If you will take my adthe road before us, as if they were going either to vice, Sir James, you will ride away by the short
your house or mine-or mine-or mine! We had cut over the hills. I shall go on and talk with
better reconnoiter them from the tops of the hills, them."
and see which way they take. It would not be   He saw a little hesitation in his elderly cornpleasant to be athome when such a visithappens." panion's face, and, to put an end to it, he added,
"' Certainly not," returned Sir John Newark;   "For my own part, I have nothing to fear.
though, to speak truth, he did not exactly mean But I think that journey of yours' over the wawhat he said. He had his own views, however, ter,' as you call it, may prove unpleasant in its
and he rode on by the side of his chattering com- results. We could not well spare youi just at
panion, buried in thought.                  present."
" They are gone to Ale to seek for my young   No, that must not be-must not be-must not
guest," he thought. "If he is apprehended, it be. I think-I think-I think I had better go.
will serve him right for deceiving me about his You keep them talking, Sir John, while I gallop
marriage. Ay, and it may drive him, though over the hills. They can not chase me now, for
somewhat too fast, on the way I would have him  their saddles are off. But, upon my life, I bego. If I could but find a means of giving him an lieve they are putting them on again. Good-by
intimation to keep out of the way for a time, be- -good-by!"
fore the military arrive at Ale, it would do very   And away Sir James went, as fast as he could
well. But the party will never let me pass them; go, while his companion slowly rode on toward
and, if I traverse the hills with all these men, we the hamlet.
shallbe discovered. This babbling old ass, who   At some little distance from the houses, Sir
is not contented with saying a foolish thing witl- John Newark beckoned up one of the servants,
out repeating it thrice, would ruin ally scheme on whom he thought he could most rely, and
he had to do with. It would be better to seem to said, in a low voice,
humor him, and to follow his suggestion of recon-   "It is probable that I may stay here some time.
noitering. They must stop to water their horses You contrive to get away as soon as it is quite
somewhere, and perhaps we can pass them then." dark. Ride on to the house, and tell Colonel
Thus thinking, he rode on up the slope of a Smeaton, in my name, that I think it will be bethill in front, and soon after caught sight of the ter for him to be out of the way for a few hours.
party of horse winding through the valley below. Tell old Mrls. Culpepper to put him where he
Well acquainted with every step of the country, can lie concealed; and if he is inquired for, let
he was enabled to follow them unseen among the it be said that he is gone away for a few days."
green lanes and hedgerows, keeping a wary eye   The servant nodded his head quietly, and Sir
upon them all the way, while Sir James Mount John rode on.
continued to pour a perpetual stream of idle prat-   Round the door of the little public house was
tie into his ear, which annoyed him without dis- gathered a group of five or six soldiers, already
tracting his attention from the object in view. taking  deep draughts of ale; and, dismounting,
The troop went more slowly, indeed, than suited the knight exclaimed,
the wishes or purposes of Sir John Newark; but   "Holloa, my men, what has brought you into
at length they began to ascend toward the steep, this part of the world? We are seldom treated
bare downs which ran along the sea-coast on the with such a sight here."
borders of Devonshire and Dorset. The maneu-   "I don't know, sir," answered one of the men,
vers of the reconnoitering party now became civilly; " but Captain Smallpiece is in-doors,
more difficult; for, though the road was often taking a glass to comfort him, with the justice."
cut between deep banks, it was often exposed    "Are you going to halt long?" asked Sir John
upon the bare side of the hill, and worthy Sir Newark, in a careless tone. "I shall be glad
James became very unruly. He had no diffi- of your escort, if you are going my way."
dence of his own powers, and he would at once   "An hour and a half, sir, to feed and rest the
have taken the command of an army, although horses," replied the man.  Having so far satishe had never seen a cannon fired in all his life; fled himself, Sir John Newark entered the inn,
nor was he willing at all to submit to the cooler and walked straight into the only guest-chamber
discretion of his companion, who sought to pass it possessed.
quietly through the hollow ways, while those   The justice and the captain, not being able to
whom they were following crossed the more obtain wine, were discussing the contents of a
open ground, and to gallop over the wide, ex- small bowl of punch, apparently much to their
posed downs, while the soldiers were hidden by satisfaction, when the unexpected appearance
any cut or dip in the road. Struggling with of Sir John Newark startled them in their potathese difficulties as best he might, Sir John New- tions.
ark, with his companions, came in sight of the   "Why, Sir John!" exclaimed the magistrate,
little church of Aleton, with the scattered ham- " we thought you were at Ale-Manor by this
let below, just as the setting sun was spreading time.'
a thin veil of purple light over the broad, naked   "You made a mistake, gentlemen," said Sir
face of the hill. The soldiers had then reached John Newark, dryly. " I had business which
the straggling houses of the village; and, to the detained me in Exeter. But may I ask what is
surprise of all who watched them, they were the meaning of all this military display, which
seen, not only taking the bits out of their horses'' startles the land from its-propriety?' Here,
mouths, but removing the saddles, as if they in- drawer, bring me some punch. My horses are
tended to remain there all night.           so tired they can go no further just yet, and I
Sir James Mount was full of conjectures as to may as well enjoy this worshipful society in the
their purposes; but Sir John Newark's resolu- approved manner."
tion was soon taken, and he exclaimed,        The justice looked -at the captain, antd the capD




50                              HENRY SMEATON.
tain looked at the justice; but at length the lat- currences which Sir John Newark had met with
ter replied,                                 on the road back, let us return to the quieter do"Why, the truth is, Sir John, we were going  ings at Ale-Manor House.
to pay you. a visit at Ale-Manor; and, luckily,   Not long was Emmeline's absence from Smeahaving met with you here, we trust that we shall ton and her young cousin. She came timidly,
have the pleasure of your company on the road."  blushingly, in all the agitation of fresh and strong
"That depends upon circumstances, gentle- feelings; but she. soon became more tranquil.
men," observed the other, quite calmly. "If  Dinner, according to the directions of Sir John
you have business with mle, it can probably be  Newark when he left, was served. at the usual
transacted here as well as at my house."     hour, and when it was over, all three walked out
"Not exactly," answered Justice Best. " The  to linger away the time in the summer eventide.
fact is this: the high sheriff and several of our   After two or three turns up and down the terbrother magistrates are not quite satisfied in re- race, Richard Newark seated himself upon one
gard to this servant of Colonel Henry Smeaton. of the large guard-stones which marked the sepThey think you may have been deceived, Sir aration of the gravel from the turf, from which
John. It is very easy, you know, to assume a he commanded a view of two faces of the house,
rude and vulgar manner; and, having received  and there he remained for more than an hour,
very distinct information that the Earl of Esk- whistling lightly, and apparently lost in thought.
dale, whom we all know to have been attainted  Emmeline and Smeaton continued to walk up
in King William's reign, took his way toward  and down side by side, and their conversation
your house, they imagine that this servant may  was carried on in tones too low to be heard from
be the man, and they wish him to be apprehend- the windows of the house. Had any one been
ed on suspicion."                            watching them, well skilled in the outward signs
Sir John Newark laughed aloud.             and symptoms of the sweet madness, he might
"i What need of a troop of soldiers to arrest a  have divined by the look of tenderness, by the
single lackey?" he asked.                   sudden change of expression, by Smeaton's bend"Why, your fishermen in the village are said  ed head, by Emmeline's faltering and agitated
to be somewhat mutinous," replied the justice; step, and by the frequent raising of a bright and
"and in case of resistance, you know-"       sparkling look to her companion's face, that he
"You do not suppose, sir, that I would resist talked of love, and that she listened to him well
or countenance resistance to lawful authority?"  pleased.
interrupted Sir John Newark.  " But, if this   So, indeed, it was. He led her on, step by
mare s nest is so very important a one, I think  by step, word by word, himself led on by the
you might have ridden on to find it, without stop- growing passion in his own heart. All was said
ping at this house to drink punch."          between them which could be said; and, before
"We had another little business here besides,"  that walk was half over, they were plighted to
rejoined the justice, who stood in some awe of  each other, not only in heart and affection, but
Newark; " but our doing so has procured us the  by words and vows. It might be somewhat sudadvantage, I hope, of your company on the way."  den; but-as I have endeavored often enough
"Nothing of the kind, sir," retorted Sir John, before to make the reader comprehend-there is
sharply. "I certainly shall not go with you to  no such thing as time. The flowing of events
see a gentleman, my guest, and the intimate friend  constitutes what we call time. The revolution
of my Lord Stair, insulted in my house, by the  of the earth round its axis-man's day-is the
pretense that his servant is the Earl of Eskdale, measure which we have capriciously adopted to
forsooth! You may go on when you please. I mete the passing stream; but how inadequate
shall stay here till this unpleasant business is over. is that measure to express the value of the thing
But let me warn you that it be conducted legally, measured!'Tis just as if we should sell at the
for it shall be strictly looked to, depend upon it."  same price the yard of cloth of gold and the yard
As' lie spoke, a man entered with a leathern  of dull serge. The events of one day are not
apron, a dirty face, a bowl of punch in one hand, more like the events of another than those two
and a tallow candle in the other, for by this time  woofs. Thoughts and feelings are also eventsnight was falling fast. Sir John Newark's eyes the events of the mind and soul; and. measured
rested on him for an instant, and a confused, by them, how long a space had Smeaton known
doubtful sort of sensation took possession of him, Emmeline! The last four-and-twenty hours to
which we all of us feel when we see a face that both had been a lifetime. Cleared of the great
we know, but to which we can not affix a name. mistake regarding time, they had not loved sudSuddenly, however, the scene of the statuary's  denly.
house in London came back upon his mind, and    In the little scene which I have depicted-the
the round, odd-shaped, never-to-be-forgotten form  two lovers walking to and fro within sight of the
of Van Noost was there before him, in a disguise  house, sometimes under the green trees, it is
partaking somewhat of the tapster and somewhat true, but more often upon the soft turf before the
of the blacksmith. A single glance of intelli- terrace; Richard Newark sitting whistling on the
gence passed from one face to the other, but not guard-stone; the sky putting on its evening raia word of recognition was uttered. Van Noost ment, and the purple draperies of the sun's couch
set down the candle and the bowl, went back to  being shaken down over the west-one thing
the tap for a fresh ladle and glass, and then, roll- was particularly worth remark, namely, the maring out of the room, closed the door behind him. velous patience of the boy. He, so light, so volatile, so full of wild activity, sat quietly there the
whole time. It is difficult to explain it; and I
can but say, in explanation, that he did it with.
CHAPTER X1[.                   out thought, in all simplicity. The mind might
not be very bright or clear; it might be slightly
FROM the turbulent scene among the magis- warped from the right direction; but the heart
trates at Exeter, and the somewhat annoying oc- went as straight as an arrow. He felt that Em




HENRY SMEATON.                                          51
meline would like to be alone with Smeaton, and Mrs. Culpepper will show you a place where no
he with ler; and, loving them both right well, by one can find you. and you had better seek it
an impulse-by an instinct with which thought quickly."'had nothing to do, he not only left them by them-    Smeaton gazed at him with some surprise, but
selves, but watched that they were not interrupt- withoht much emotion.
ed; and with love like that of a faithful clog, he    " What is the matter, my good friend?" he
watched patiently.                            said.  " I have nothing to fear that I know of.
At length, however, Richard Newark rose, and  I really do not see what can be the use of my
with a quick step joined the two lovers.  Hei concealing myself, for I have committed no of:
had seen some one coming. round the other an- fense, and know not that any one can wish me
gle of the house; and he said, with a laugh,  ill. What is it has alarmed Sir John?"'" There is old Mrs. Culpepper upon the prowl   "I really do not know the whole, sir," replied
again, Emmy. Take care, pretty bird, take care. the man, " out I heard they had a very stormy
That cat's steps are very stealthy."          meeting at Exeter, and that a party of horse was
Emmeline, brighter, but as simple as himself, sent out in the evening toward this place.  We
replied,c                                     followed them close, and watched them all along
"I do not fear her, Dick —I do not fear any as far as Aleton.  There Sir Johm stopped, I dare
thing now."                                   say, to try and keep them as long as possible,
Oh, what a world of revelation was in that lit  while I came on to give you warning."'tie word. now!  It spoke of feelings totally    Smeaton laughed, notwithstanding the anxiety
changed-of hope, and trust, and confidence which he saw in the countenance of Emmeline.
sprung  up-of the absorption, as it were, of her   "My good friend, Sir John," he said, "misvery being into the being of another-of the vast takes altogether my position. I have nothing to
assurance with which woman's heart reposes fear from troops of horse nor from bodies of magupon love.                                    istrates. They may subject me to some little
Richard Newark did not remarlk it, but Smea- annoyance, perhaps, but that is all they can do;
ton felt it, and was very happy, for it told him  and I do not think it either needful or dignified
how completely she was his own. They con- to conceal myself. If discovered, as I probably
tinned their walk, and caught a glimpse of the should be, the very fact of my concealment would
old woman's figure moving quietly along at some justify suspicion and look like guilt."
little distance; but they heeded it not, and con-   "Perhaps, sir," said the old housekeeper, in
tinned talking in a lighter strain, and of more in- that quiet, plausible tone which is so very comdifferent things, but with the spirit that was in mon to housekeepers, "Sir John may request you
their hearts giving life and energy to their to'do. this for his own sake more than yours. He
thoughlts and words, and breathing tones which may have denied at Exeter, perhaps, that there
each understood as meaning more than the words is any such gentleman here."
expressed. There was no weariness for them.   Smeaton looked her full in the face, thinking
The sun sank gradually through the sky, touched that she was not paying any high compliment to
the edge of the horizon, dropped below it, disl he' master's sincerity and truthfulness, and tryappeared. Purple, and gold, and gray had each ing to discover from her countenance whether
their moment ill the western sky, then gave there was not some latent motive for the course
place, and darkness followed. The stars shone suggested which she did not choose to explain.
out bright and clear above, not large, but very  It was all blank, however; smooth, calm, and
lustrous;, and then the moon began to throw her inexpressive; and, unable to make any thing of
light upward from the east, preparing to sweep it, he replied,
the diamond dust of heaven away from her path    "That alters the question greatly;'for I suponl high.                                     pose you do not speak without some knowledge,
Still Emmeline and Smeaton walked on, and my good lady. However, my best course will
talked of every thing.  Heaven! how  their be, in such circumstances, to mount my horse
thoughts rambled, shooting up among those stars, and ride away for a time.' If I meet with any
flying on fairy wings after the setting sun, wreath- of these gelntry, they must take me, if they
mg the purple and the gold into fantastic forms, please; but I should not like to be discovered.
and tWining the evening clouds into rosy coronals. lurking like a rat in a hole."
Aladdin's palace-builders, all spirits as they were,   Emmeline looked at him  sadly, almost rewrouoght not so fast or gorgeously as the spirit proachfully, as if she would fain have asked,
of love.                                         "Will you leave me so soon, and peril your
But hark! The sound is heard of a distant own safety thereby?"
horse's feet coming at great speed along the road,   But the old housekeeper observed quietly,
and the three companions are retiring to the    "There is not the slightest chance of discovhouse quickly.                                ery, sir. I could place you in the priest's chamThe lights had just been lighted, the windows ber, where they say that Henry Garnet, who
closed, and they were seated calmly in the small- was afterward hanged, drawn, and quartered,
er saloon, though two of them were trying to lay for six whole weeks withlout being found out,
banish from look and manner all trace of the nearly a century ago. There is a way out from
emotions which had risen up in their hearts, when it, too, beyond the house; so that, if you heard
a step was heard in the marble hall without, the the door above open, you could get dowvn through
door opened, and a servant of Sir John Newark the wood to Ale, and away for France in a fishentered, followed by the old housekeeper. The erman's boat. Sir John, in case of need, would
man' was dusty from the road, and eager haste take good care tahave a boat ready and the way
was upon his face, as he advanced close to Smea- clear."
ton to avoid being obliged to speak loud.        Smeaton changed his mind in a moment, for
Sir John has sent me, sir," he said, "to tell the woman's words gave rise to considerations
you there is danger abroad, and to say that he which she little anticipated or knew. He was
begs you to keep out of the way for a short time. still of the same opinion, indeed, that boldly to




52                             EHENRY SMEATON.
face inquiry and to meet those who were sent however, descended to the floor; and there was
after him would be the best course for his own a huge fire-place on the left-hand side, which ocsafety, for he was well aware that he had nothing cupied so much space that it seemed impossible
to fear from straightforward conduct; but he re- there could be any means of exit there. The
flected, at the same time, that by so doing he door by which they entered was in the middle
might curtail his stay in the same house with of another wall, and the paneling seemed heavy
Emmeline, and he moreover foresaw that a time and solid.
might come when the knowledge of such a secret   "Now, sir," said the old lady, closing the door,
entrance to Ale-Manor House might be service- " you would never find the way in, I think, if I
able in more ways than one.                  did not show you."
These thoughts passed through his mind in a   "Perhaps a little examination would discover
moment; but, before he answered, both Emme- it," replied Smeaton. "I have been in counline and Richard Newark had time to speak.    tries, madam, where such secret places are very
"I beseech you, be guided, Colonel Smea- common."
ton," said the young lady, trying to conceal, as   "I think I might defy you, sir," she said.
far as possible, from the eyes of the housekeeper   "Perhaps it is here," said Smeaton, approachthe feelings of her heart. " Depend upon it, my ing the black oak bench, and pressing on various
guardian has good cause for his advice."     parts of the picture-frame above. "These walls
"Oh, show it to me, show it to me, Mrs. Cul- are thick enough to contain a small chamber."
pepper," exclaimed Richard Newark, alluding to   The old woman smiled, and he went on pressthe chamber and passage she spoke of.        ing more tightly upon the frame, and thinking
4' I must not, Master Richard," replied the old that he felt it yield a little. At length he heard
woman, in a familiar tone. "It is not a secret to the click of a spring, and the frame, moving
be trusted to such a rattle-pate as yours. You upon a hinge, came slowly forward at one side,
and Miss Emmeline must both remain behind, if showing a room or closet within of about five
the gentleman consents to go, which I think he feet in width by ten or twelve in length, raised
had better do."                              a foot or two from the floor.
"Well, fair lady," said Smeaton, addressing    "Well, that is strange!" cried Mrs. CulpepEmmeline, "as you wish it, I will consent, al- per. "I never saw that before. It must be
though against my own better judgment. Per- done for a blind."
haps Sir John Newark may, after all, have more   "Then, is this not the place?" asked Smeaton.
information than we know; and as I believe him    "Oh dear, no, sir," replied the housekeeper.
to be a very shrewd and prudent man, and to "You would be stifled in there. The priest's
wish me well, I will follow his counsel. I will room is as good a one as this; but that is a good
leave a private message for him with you and hint to mislead searchers, any way. Shut it up,
Richard. I will follow you in an instant, Mrs. sir, and I will show you the other. Will you
Culpepper;" and he then added, in a lower tone, have the goodness to try and move back the bed,
" Send the man away, and wait for me a mo- for it is very heavy?"
ment without. I will fellow you directly."     " I will try," said Smeaton; "but, though I
She only replied by a low courtesy, and re- am tolerably strong, I doubt that I shall be able
tired from the room, closing the door behind her. to do it. We do not see such massive furniture
" Now, Richard," continued Smeaton, in a nowadays."
whisper, " endeavor to see which way she takes   As he spoke he grasped one of the large posts,
me, and if you can discover, tell our dear Em- and endeavored to stir the huge bedstead. It
meline.  Wherever the door of this chamber is, moved not in the least, however; and the old
I will come to it from time to time, and if I hear housekeeper stood near the head, holding the
a voice I know, I will give such intimation of light and smiling at his ineffectual efforts. Smeawhere it is that you can easily find it."   ton remarked her countenance, and the peculiar
" I will find it out, I will find it out," answer. expression which it bore. He saw, also, that
ed the boy, laughing. " I will watch the old cat she leaned her right hand against the post at the
every step that she takes for the next three days top of the bed. Approaching her then with a
as cunningly as she ever watched any one. She gay laugh, he said,
must carry you food."                          "I think I'have your secret;" but, on pushing
"I hope so," replied Smeaton, with a smile. back the velvet hangings from the spot upon,
"But be careful; and now farewell."         which her hand rested, he could only perceive
He found Mrs. Culpepper quite as near the one of two immense iron screws which fastened
door as was discreet; but, if she had been listen- the bed, apparently immovably, to the wall being, she was disappointed, for the conversation hind it. He made one more effort, however, to
within the saloon could not be heard.       move the bed, but in vain, and then laughingly
"Now, sir," she said, in a low voice, "tread gave it up, saying, " I must trust to your guidance,
lightly, that they may not hear our steps. This madam."
way, if you please, sir."                      "Dear me," replied the oldwoman, "I thought
She led him through the hall, up the large you must be stronger than I am; but let me try;"
flight of steps to the floor above, past the doors and, putting her hand gently-to the head-post,
of his own apartments and those of Emmeline, with hardly an effort, she made the huge bed roll
and then up a small stair-case of five or six steps round upon its casters like a heavy door, still reto a large, old-fashioned room, fitted up in the maining attached to the wall on one side, but
style of Queen Elizabeth's days. On one side quite free on the other. When it was thus rewas an immense bed with green velvet draperies mioved, the fluted velvet back of the bed still
and canopy, having a plume of feathers like a remained fastened against the wall, but it might
hearse at each corner, and on, the opposite side now he easily seen that this was a door which
the deep-cat windows, with a sort of benlch of opened without difficulty.
black oak between them. A number of large   Smeaton drew it back, and looked into alarge
pictures hung round the room, none of which, and comfortable room. But he was not a man




HENRY SMEATON.                                       53
to shut himself up in a place from which he did housekeeper. "It is very easily found. Be so
not know the means of exit, and he was run- good as to follow me."
ning his eye rapidly both over the wall and the   Passing through a door to the left of the loop.
back of the bed, when the old lady said,    holes, she led him through a passage curiously
"You see, sir, this.thing, that looks like a great constructed in the wall between the upper and
bed-screw, is, in fact, a catch, which runs into lower row of windows. As soon as it had passthe post and fastens with a spring. To get into ed beneath what Smeaton conceived to be the
the room, you must press the plate upon the post windows of Emmeline's room, came a very narthrough which it passes, and at the same time row flight of stairs, and then another passage.
pull up the screw. Without that, no force on Again came a second descent, steep but broader
earth would move it. But the moment you do than the first, which led to what seemed to have
that, the bed of itself moves forward a little, the been originally a cellar, arched over in brickcatch is thrown off, and you can easily roll it work and of no great extent. Beyond it was a
round."                                     long passage, evidently under ground, and gently
"That is the way in," replied Smeaton, " but sloping downward till the whole was closed with
now, my good lady, tell me the way out. How  a stone door in which was a key-hole.
am I to unfasten the bed when once you have   "The key always lies there, sir," said Mrs.
rolled it back?"                            Culpepper, pointing to a little niche; " but I must
"That is more easily done than the other," re- tell you that, when you open the door, there is.
plied the old woman. "Look here. This iron just before you, the well, which you mast step
bar, made like a screw, passes quite through the over to get out, or you might drown your'self.
beam, with a long handle on the other side, and It is an old well with an arch over it, the water
is fixed upon a pivot. You have nothing to do of which is thought good for sore eyes, so that
but to push down the handle, when the catch the people come here often on a morning to get
will be thrown off, and the bed will move an it; and, when you stand on this side of the door,
inch or two, so as to prevent it from fastening you may hear all they say as they gossip round
again. There is, somewhere in there, a block the well.  The right-hand path leads away
of wood-a sort of rest which you can put under through the wood at the back of the village to
the handle, and then nobody can undo it from  the bay; the left takes round again to the terrace
the outside without pulling the whole to pieces. in front of the house; but that is well-nigh a
I come in here four times every year by myself quarter of a mile off, and no horses calln come
to see that every thing is in order, and that all round here, for the hill is too steep."
moves easily. But we must not wait talking. I   Slreaton did not promise himself any great enwill show you the way, sir;" and she stepped tertainment from overhearing the gossiping of
over the skirting board, which was left plain be- the fishermen's wives and daughters, but quietly
low the opening of the door. "You see, sir," followed his guide back again to the room above.
she continued, pointing to a number of small She there left her light with him, passed through
loop-holes, both round and square, on one side the aperture, closed the door, and he could hear
of the room, " you will have plenty both of light her roll back the bed, and the catch click upon
and air; and there is no fear of any body seeing the spring.
the light, even if you made a bonfire here, for
those holes are hidden by the stone-work round
Miss Emmeline's windows on the one side, and
by the same round the windows of the room we              CHAPTEt  XIII.
have just left on the other. I will bring you
some supper, and any thing you may want out   THERE are moments in the life of every one,
of your room as soon as it is all safe, but you had when some sudden and unexpected change hurbetter not come out yourself till I come and tell ries us rapidly through a bustling and exciting
you, for I do not know how you would pull back scene, where we are called upon to decide and
the bed again if you were forced to retreat."
The  show me the other way out wich act suddenly upon unforeseen conditions, and
" Then show me the other way out which then leaves us to pause and reflect in solitude
you mentioned," said Smeaton. "I am not very and silence upon what we have just done. The
fond of rat-traps, and stories of these secret charm- efect is strange, as all men arrived at mature
bers get abroad about the country, so that people life must have felt, when, left to our own
may know more of the way in hither than you thoughts, we scan the busy moments just pass.
A look of hesitation came upon good Mrs Cul- ed, doubtful whether impulse or reason have
pepper's face, which instantly gave way to her guided us, and still more doubtful whether imusual smooth expression, and she said, " There pulse or reason have guided us aright.  Often
is no fear of that, sir. Nobody knows any thing the answer is "Yes," and often "No;" and
of this room butmyself and Sir John. I had bet- when it is negative, man, with his great skill
ter go now, and make all right below, and I can in covering his own faults and follies from his
show you the other way out when I bring your eyes, satisfies himself by shrugging up his
supper."                                    shoulders and saying, "I acted for the best,"
"No, indeed, my good lady," replied Smea- forgetting too often how much of the fault he
ton, in a determined tone; "you must show me would thus palliate is attributable to the evil
now, or I certainly shall not stay. That piece habit of not making reason his ever-present and
of mechanism might get embarrassed. I might ready guide. Exercise her daily, use her upon
hear people breaking in. A thousand things all occasions, and she will act at the first call.
might happen to make my discovery here inev- Neglect her for an hour: she falls asleep, and
itable, if i did not know the other way, and I requires time to be roused. All very trite; but
will not be caught lurking here.. If you please, do any of us remember this as much as we
you shall show me now."                      ought?
" Oh, very well, sir, very well," replied the   When Smeaton stood alone, shut up in the




Z54                            HENRY  S MEATON.
priest's chamber, he began to ask himself if he tic, by the blessing of God, and the assistance
had done wisely in consenting to be hidden in of capons and strong waters. If you twist my
that retreat, and he could not but acknowledge cravat in'that way, you will get nothing but a
that love for Emmeline, and the thought of ob- dead statuary, which is as bad as a dead lion."
taining means of access to her under some re-   The last words confirmed what the tone of
mote and uncertain contingencies, had shared  voice had intimated to Smeaton before, that his
more in fixing his determination than the con- good friend Van Noost was the person who had
sideration either of his own safety, or of his own  fallen into the hands of the Philistines; and
name and character. He saw that he had not believing, from their conversation that morning,
acted in accordance with reason; but he too-  that the poor sculptor had more cause than himfor he was by no means perfect-treated the  self to fear the pursuit of justice, he felt really
error lightly, saying to himself,           sorry for him.
" Well, it is done, and can not be undone.   "1 Lion, or whatever else you may call yourLet us make the best of it. There is always a self," replied the soldier's voice, "you must
way out of this secret chamber, that is one com- along with me. Come, come, no struggling, or
fort; but I had better examine it more closely. I'll break your pate, master. By-, they say,
I saw the key lying there, it is true, but I did'as fat as a lord;' and if this is a lord, it is a
not satisfy myself that it would turn in the lock; fat one of the sort."
and it seemed somewhat rusty."                " Ugh, ugh!" cried Van Noost.  " I tell you,
Thus musing, he took the light from the table, you will strangle me if you drag me in that
and walked quickly through the passage along way."
which the old woman had led him.              Smeaton could bear it no more. The impulse
"She was foolish," he thought, " to hesitate  to help the poor caster of leaden figures was too
about showing me the way. No one could miss strong to be resisted, and he gave way to it.
it."                                       In a moment the key was turned in the lock
At the end of the lower passage, he found  and the door drawn back, hiding completely the
the key lying in the little niche, and taking it light in the niche.. A slight gleamn of the risen
up, was about to apply it to the lock, when he moon showed the waters of the well about three
thought he heard a step, without being able to  feet across, with a little path beyond, and a soldistinguish at first whether it was in the passage  dier pulling Van Noost along.  In a moment
behind him, or on the hill-side beyond the door. Smeaton was across the well: the man, hearing
He turned round, and looked, and listened, and  a noise, turned his head; but before he could
then clearly heard the step again, apparently  see whence it came or who was his assailant,
close to him, but on the outside. The next in- a blow from Smeaton's clinched fist forced him
stant a voice was heard speaking in a grumbling  to relax his grasp upon the sculptor, and a sectone, and with a strong Devonshire accent:    end, before he could use his sword, sent him
" I don't see what is the use of sending us rolling down the hill side among the trees and
down here," it said.  "Why, twenty people  bushes.
could pass us in this wood."                  "Quick! Come with me!" cried Smeaton,
"Never you mind, Jim; do your duty, and  seizing Van Noost's hand, and pulling him on.
obey orders," said another voice. " Let other " Jump! take a good spring."
people think what is the use. I am sure you    The last words were uttered after he himself
would never find out for yourself, if it made you  had cleared the well, and was standing in the
take ten steps off your horse's back. There, passage, but still holding Van Noost's hand
get on a little lower down. I'll mount guard  across the water. Some of the lead of the stathere, where the path turns."                uary's profession, however, seemed to have got
"Oh ho!" exclaimed Smeaton to himself, into the poor man's hinder quarters; for, though;the search has begun. I may as well wait he made a great effort to follow his conductor,
here a little..Any one coming down the stairs, he fell short by a few inches, and, had it not
and along the passage, would soon be heard; been for Smeaton's grasp, might probably have
and I think these two gentlemen outside would  been drowned.  The other, however, dragged
easily be dealt with."                      him into the passage head foremost, and quietly
Ile accordingly put the candle in the niche  closed and locked the door.
where the key had lain, brought the hilt of his    " Hush!" he whispered, seeing that Van
sword a little round, and quietly placed the key  Noost was about to speak. " Hush! be perin the lock. A few minutes passed in. perfect fectly still."
silence, the men without either standing per-   "Jim, Jim," cried the voice of the soldier
fectly still, or sitting on the edge of the fountain; without, " look after them. They are coming
but then Smeaton's quick ear caught the sound  your way; stop them-shoot them dead if they
of a distant footfall, which evidently came nearer won't- stand."
and nearer, but not by the passage in which he    As hle spoke, he scrambled up again toward
was standing.                               the path, displacing a large stone, which rolled
"Who may this new visitor be, I wonder!" down into the valley. Whether the other solhe mentally ejaculated; and, bending down his dier took it for a flying enemy or not, I can not
head, he listened more attentively. The step  tell, but instantly after he vociferated " Stand!"
came nearer and nearer, and approached the  and the next moment the report of a pistol-shot
door close to which he had placed.himself.  was heard.
Then a loud voice cried " Stand!" and Smea-   Smeaton smiled, and whispered to his comton could hear the sound of what seemed a panion, "All is safe; but keep perfectly silent."!'
spring and a brief scuffle.                   The sound of many feet running from above
"Ugh, ugh! don't strangle me!" cried a was then heard, as some of the companions of
good, round, jolly voice.,i Man, I am apoplee- the men below hurried down, alarmed by the




HENRY SMEATON.                                      55
shot; and great confusion, with much talking, ton and Mrs. Culpepper as far as he dared, and,
ensued, of which only fragments reached the at all events, had discovered the direction which
ears of those in the passage, somewhat after they had taken. Emmeline had run out upon
the following fashion.                     the terrace, and, watching the windows above,
"What is the matter-what is the matter?" had gained some further knowledge from the
"Here, come here. They have gone down here. way in which she saw the light travel. Indeed,
I had got hold of him by the neck, but another she clearly perceived it through the windows
came up and knocked me down."  "Who did next to her own, and it seemed to pause for
you get hold of?"  "They have got a dark lan- some time there.  A distant sound, however,
tern with them, for the light flashed out and caused her to return suddenly into the house
dazzled my eyes. If you don't make haste, they and order the doors to be closed. This had
will be gone. They ran straight down for the hardly been done when the old housekeeper rebay."                                      turned; and, going from servant to servant, in
vM.iany other cries, questions, and answers her quiet, smooth way, cautioned each to say,
were going on at once; but two or three of the if Colonel Smeaton was asked for, that he had
soldtiers, answering the call of the man who had ridden away to Axminster for the day.
fired the pistol below, hurried down the path,   Then came a period of suspense, but it did not
and, accompanied by him, ran on, some between last very long, for at the end of five or six minthe back of the houses and the steep hill side, utes the approach of the troopers was intimated
and others along the verge of the little stream, by the noise of their horses upon the terrace.
thus sweeping the whole course of the valley Sundry orders were given in a loud voice, and
till they reached the smooth white sand on the then the great bell at the door rang.
shore of the bay.                           1" Don't open the door," said Richard Newark
The scene was calm and beautiful, the moon to one of the servants who was crossing the
shining brightly over the sheltered water of the hall. "' Let me see who these folks are."
bay, and changing it into rippling silver, while   Then, partly opening one of the windows of
Ale Head, dark and shadowy, swept like a gi- the saloon, he called out,
gantic wall round the southwestern side, and   "What do you want, my masters! Do you
the opposite point of Ale Down just caught the think we hold a horse-fair here, that you bring
gleam of moonlight on its high head. It was a so many beasts for sale?"
scene which might have led a lover of the pic-   "Open the door, in the king's name and to the
turesque, or one of the unhappy children of Im- king's troops," said the officer in comnrrand, who
agination, to pause and dream. But the soldiers had imbibed as much punch as was compatible
had no such thoughts; one single object attract- with the due exercise of his understanding.
ed their whole attention. This was a fishing- I We require to search this house."
boat, quietly rowing out of the little mouth of   " That you shall not do, were you twice as
the bay, and darkening a diminutive space on tall," replied the boy, boldly, ", without a lawful
the shining sea beyond.                    right to do so. Do you know this is the house
They drew their own conclusions, which, like of Sir John Newark, a justice of peace for the
most hasty conclusions from insufficient prem- county?"
ises, were altogether false.  The boat was   "Oh, let them in, Richard," said Emmeline.
merely filled with fishermen; and, if the pursu- "You can not keep them out."
ers had paused to consider, they would have   At the same moment, Justice Best advanced
comprehended that sufficient time had not elaps- on foot to the window, saying,
ed between the firing of the shot above, and the   "Let your people open the door, Master
moment that they reached the beach, for any Richard. My name isBest. You have seen me
person to have pushed off the boat and rowed with your father, and must know that I am a
to the entrance of the bay. They determined  justice of the peace too. Sir John is aware of
in their own minds, however, that the persons our coming, and makes no opposition."
of whom they came in search had made their   "Oh, that is another case, worshipful Master
escape by that means, and one said to the others, Best," replied the boy. "Open the door, my
"' Well, they are off, that's clear, and there is men, and let in the great magistrate."
no use of trying to follow; for, even if we were   Then, taking a light from the table, he went
to get the boats off, I know no more about'em  out into the hall and bowed low with mock revthan a jackass does of a powder-horn. Do you, erence as the justice and two or three of the
Symes?"                                    soldiers entered.
" No more than you do, corporal," replied the   " Pray, what is your good will and pleasure,
other. "We had better go back to the house and whom do you seek, worshipful sir?" asked
and tell the justice."                     the boy, whose wits seemed to sharpen under
" Tell the captain, Symes-tell the captain," exercise. " As for myself, I am quite harmless.
replied the corporal.  " That is what we must I heard an old woman, one day, call me an indo. We know nothing of justices.  Justice nocent, and my nurse used to call me her lamb,
has no more to do with us than my cap has with so that, unless Justice be a wolf, I have nothing
a bunch of keys. We act under our captain, to fear from her fangs. Indeed, this knowledgeSymes, and to him I shall go and report. Come box of mine is so empty, that there are not maalong, my men."                            terials within it sufficient to manufacture treaIn the mean time, while all these events had son, even against a farmer's orchard; and as
been passing on the side of the hill and in the for robbery or murder, upon my life they never
passage near the well, other occurrences had came into my noddle-always excepting birds'
taken place in Ale Manor-House itself which I nests and mackerel in the bay."
must briefly notice.                       "1 You are a merry boy, Master Richard," reRichard Newark had crept quietly after Smea- turned the justice; "but our purpose in coming




56                             HENRY SMEATON.
hither is to seek a certain personage, passing  i" Here I am, sir," said a small man from befor and reputed to be a servant of one Colonel hind; and, almost at the same moment, SmeaHenry Smeaton. If he is produced at once, we ton's servant entered the room, with a curious
shall give you no further trouble; but if not, we and peculiar sort of leer upon his countenance,
must search the house, for we are credibly in- which seemed to show that he, at all events,
formed that this man, in the disguise of a serv- entertained no apprehension of the result. He
ant, is no other than the Earl of Eskdale, a was followed by the servant who had spoken to
known adherent of the Pretender. It is impos- the justice in the hall, and some other domessible for him to escape, as the house is sur- tics; and, raising his eyes to his face, the jusrounded, so you had better produce him at once. tice asked, with an important air, " Pray who
As I wish to do every thing with courtesy, how- are you, sir?"
ever, you had better communicate what I say    "I am Colonel Smeaton's servant," he anto Colonel Smeaton, who may escape injurious swered, with a strong Cockney accent. " They
suspicions if he gives his companion up freely." told me you wanted me."
1" Colonel Smeaton has gone over to Axmin-   " Are you his only servant?" asked the jusster this afternoon," said one of the servants, tice, a good deal staggered by the man's appearcoming forward, "and won't be back to-night; ance.
but as for his man, your worship, he was in the   "He could not have a better," replied the
hall not a minute ago, and making all the maids man;, and, though I'm the only one, I'm as
laugh with his funny stories."              good as two, for I groom the horses and valet
"' Ah, very likely," replied the justice.  " We the master."
have heard he is a jocular person. This con-   " Oh ho!" ejaculated the justice, " now we
firms our information. Be so good as to ask him  are coming to it. Methinks a common lackey,
towalk hither, and remember you have admitted sir, would not put on such a demeanor to a
that he was in the house not a minute ago."   magistrate of the county acting in the king's
" To be sure I did," retorted the man surlily; name. My lord, concealment is of no avail.
"' and I don't doubt that he'll be in this hall in We know all about you, and have full informaless than a minute more."                   tion."
So saying, he walked away, murmuring some-  "' Lord! lord! I my lord!" cried the man 
thing about a pack of fools, which the justice " to think of my turning out a lord!-I, who
did not hear, or did not choose to hear.    was born in a back garret at the corner of FetTurning quietly to the door of the smaller ter Lane, fattened upon the fumes of soap-suds
saloon, his worship observed, in his usual soft -for my mother was a washer-woman, your
and courteous accents, i" Perhaps, Master Rich- worship-an honest woman, for all that-I to
ard, you will allow me to examine my prisoner turn out a lord! WVell, the transmogrifications
in this room. We have had a long ride, and a of this'varsal world are miraculous, I do deseat in a chair would be pleasanter to me than clare. Has your worship got my certificate in
to remain in the saddle or to stand upon my that little book l for if you have, I'll be a lord
legs."                                      for all the rest of my life-see if I don't-and
" Ay, they seem weakly," answered the lad; get a pension from the king to keep up my dig"' but you shall have right good leave and license nity."
to sit as long as a hen, if it pleases you, and see   "Five foot eleven and a half," said the juswhat you can hatch-a brood of nonsensical- tiee, reading from a paper he had taken out of
ities, doubtless!" he added to himself, as he fol- his pocket-book, and then raising his eyes to
lowed the justice into the room. Then raising the man's figure. "' Deuse take it! he does
his voice again, he said, " Here is Justice Best, not seem so tall as that."
Emmny, come to look for Henry Smeaton's serv-   " Five foot three quarters, without my shoes,"
ant, accusing him of being attached to the three replied the man, smartly; " but perhaps I shall
Kings of Brentford, and committing high trea- grow, seeing that I am only one-and-thirty, and
son against the wise men of Gotham. He is a peer of the realm. I don't see why I should
going to examine him in here, and we shall have not grow to any height, now I have right and
rare fun, I don't doubt. Do stay and see the title to hold my head higher than I ever thought
proverbs of Solomon put into action."      to hold it. Humility has shortened me all this
Emmeline, however, was fain to escape from  while."
the room, with an inclination of her head to the   " Come, come, sir," said the justice, thrown
justice as she passed; for, although she was into a great state of doubt and indecision, "if
desirous enough to hear all that took place, she you are the Earl of Eskdale, you had better acfeared that her'anxiety and alarm might be evi- knowledge it at once; and, whether you are or
denced too strongly.                        are not, treat the court with respect."
It was clear enough to Mr. Justice Best that," The Earl of Eskdale!" cried old Mrs. CulRichard Newark was laughing at him; but, as pepper, who had come into the room with the
the lad was generally considered in the county other servants. Then, seeing that surprise had
deficient in intellect, he contented himself with done what few things ever did do, thrown her
saying, "Poorboy!" and seated himself solemn- off her guard, she added,, No, I can answer
ly at the table.                            for it he is none of that blood. WVhy, the Earl
" This fellow is not coming, it seems," said of Eskdale must be an old, white-headed man."
Captain Smallpiece, who had followed with some   "Ay, ay, but that earl is dead," exclaimed
of the soldiers into the room. " I had better the justice.  " This is the young earl we talk
search the house, your worship."            of, my good lady-Mrs. Culpepper, I believe; I
"Nay, nay, nay!" exclaimed the justice; hope you are well, Mrs. Culpepper-but don't
"have a little patience, Smallpiece.  One of meddle with this business, for I don't think you
you have the goodness to call in my clerk."    can know any thing about it."




HENRY SMEATON.                                     57
" How can you know, Goody'" cried the serv-   "Some of the fools let off a pistol by acciant, turning sharply round to her, with a mock dent," answered the military officer. " Being
look of indignation. " Pray don't do me out fools, they are always committing some folly."
of my dignity: I may be a peer or a prince for   Having been thus oracular, he proceeded, with
aught you know."                          a somewhat unsteady gaze, to examine the cer"I never saw such a one," said the old wom- tificates before him. He was one of those men
an, sarcastically; " but I can answer for your who, even in their most sober moments (and he
Deing none of the Eskdale family, for they were was not now sober), have a certain obscurity of
all tall, handsome men and women, and you are mental vision, which prevents them from perno more like them than a beggar's cur is like a ceiving any thing but what is immediatelybefore
stag-hound."                              them. He stumbled and blundered through sev" Civil, you see, civil!" said the man. " You eral of the testimonials, repeating from time to
perceive that high station is not without its in- time,, Well, I don't see what that has to do
conveniences; but if your worship will only with it. Well, I don't see-Tom Higham may
make me out a peer, I will take any title, you be a good sort of saucy fellow, but who is Tom
please. I am quite indifferent as to names. Higham, I should like to know? You can not
Suppose you call me Lord Fetter Lane, or the tell that this is Tom Higham."
Earl of Newgate."                          1" But it is very clear that he can not be Lord'4 You may soon have a better right to either Eskdale," replied the magistrate, A" for his lordLitle than you expect," growled Captain Small- ship is six foot high, and this man is five foot
piece, who was difficult to convince; but the four. I am sure there has been some mistake.
justice, whose wits were somewhat clearer, Our information is decided, it is true, that the
though not very pellucid either, began to have earl was seen passing this way. But we have
marvelous doubts on the subject of the man's no proof that he came to this house."
real condition.; "Well, we had better search, at all events,"
" Pray, sir," he said, " if you are really Col- said the officer.
onel Smeaton's servant, and nobody else, when   The magistrate, however, was of a different
did you enter that gentleman's service, and opinion. He thought he had gone quite far
where 1"                                  enough in offending Sir John Newark, of whom
"In Lunnun town," replied the man, dryly, he stood in no little fear; he saw many means
" on the fifth day of June last, at about half past which the worthy knight might have of annoythree in the evening. Thank God, I have had ing, if not injuring him, and knew that he would
a good edication, considering the mess I was not at all scruple to use them.
Drought up in; and I am very reg'lar in my   A somewhat sharp altercation ensued, which
nabits-which I owe to my dear departed moth- highly amused Richard Newark, and not less
er, who always kept her washing-books very Smeaton's servant, who, after it had gone on
correct, and wiped her hands whenever she for some minutes, interposed with his usual
took them out of the tub. She used to say she saucy leer, saying,
could always go into court with clean hands,   " Will your worships tell me whether I am to
poor woman, and so can I, for you see I always be a lord or not, after all? I aml very willing
keep a little book here in my pocket, in which to be a lord, if you wish it."
I put down when I enter and when I quit a serv-   "Hold your tongue, fellow," said Justice
ice, and I get my kind masters to sign for me. Best. "You interrupt me in explaining to CapSome of them don't speak as well as I deserve, tain Smallpiece that it would be wrong, discourtit is true, but still they can not say much harm. eous, and perhaps illegal, to search Sir John
There is the book. You may look at it."    Newark's house without information that an at" Let me see, let me see," said the justice; tainted person was actually here. All the susand, taking the book, he read some of the vari- picions were of yourself; and, if they turn out
ous characters which had been given to the man to be groundless, my functions in the case cease.
before him by the different masters whom he had If Captain Smallpiece, indeed, thinks fit to take
served, one of which was as follows:       upon himself-"
Before he could finish the sentence, one of
the corporals of the regiment, followed by the
in my service for eleven months and three days men who had been down on the beach with him,
-a clever fellow, but a saucy rascal-passably pushed his way through the crowd round the
honest, and not given to drink. I discharged door, and saluted in military fashion his comhim for his impudence.                    manding officer.
"pyorl " HENR~y SAHCVILLo, d "Well, what the devil do you want, corporal.
H ter   cer Mjesty's  ousehold.I told you to keep watch outside."
Such was the first certificate he read; but   "I have comrne to report that they have got
there were a number of others, all much to the off, sir," said the man. " We could not oversame purpose, which fully accounted for the take them before they got into a boat and away."
time of Master Thomas Higham from the age, Who, who, who'" shouted the magistrate.
of sixteen up to the moment at which he stood " Who do you mean by' they 1'"
before the magistrate.                      "Why, the earl and his servant, I suppose,
"There must be some mistake here," said your worship," replied the corporal. "I got
Mr. Best, beckoning up Captain Smallpiece and hold of one of them by the neck, but then up
pointing to the papers before him. At that in- comes the other, flashed the light of a dark
stant the report of fire-arms was heard through lantern in my eyes, and, before I could draw
the window which Richard Newark had left sword, knocked me head foremost down the hill.
open, and the justice exclaimed, " Hark! what Good luck to the bush that stopped me. They
is that!'"                                ran away together down through the wood,




58                             IHENRY SMIEATON.
and passed Jim, here, who fired his pistol at
them."                                                     CHAPTER  XIV.
"Ay, that I did," said a man behind him.
" They ran away down to the water, how-   HAVING already changed the venue once in the
ever," added the other, A" and, before we could same chapter, I have judged it best to finish one
overtake them, had jumped into a boat and were of those fragments into which the caprice of anurowing away out to sea."                     thorship induces men to divide romances before
" There, there, now," cried Mr. Best, "I told *I return to Henry Smeaton and his companion in
you how it would be."  And he looked straight the passage. We must now, however, leave the
at Captain Smallpiece, as if the whole of this party in the house, and once more place ourmischance had  been  of that officer's brinin  selves by the side of the well, where, soon after
about.hat offer's bringing  the last words spoken by Smeaton, the moving
away of the soldiers toward the beach could
you did not say any thing of h  kind. You plainly be distinguished, and the path without
"you                   inseemed to be left to solitude and silence.
were cock sure, like all the rest of them, that
" They are gone, my good friiend," said Smeathis lackey was the earl disguised, and that you ton, at length,  till speaking in a whisp   lest
would pounce upon him here like a hawk on a ay lingerer shul sbpeaking bahinisper, lest
any lingerer should be remaining behind; "they
But didyou not wishedge-sph to searcthehouseare gone; but we must still be very cautious, if'" But dill you not wish to search the house we would escape danger. In Fortune's name
without the slightest grounds of pretense." de- what brought you over here, Van Noot?  If I
manded the rnagistrate. The officer, however, had not seen you in the morning, and recotgnized
turned away from him with a look of half-drunk- your voice to-night, you would still have been in
en contempt, and, addressing himself to the cor- the hands of the Philistines, my good friend."
poral, asked,                                  " Thanks, great Samson, thanks!" cried Van
"What'sort of men were they, corporal?"   Noost. " The very next figure that I cast-if I
"One was short and fat," said the corporal, live to cast any more-shall be the Hebrew gi"with a great many ribbons about him. The ant, with his friend's jawbone in his hand. I
other was a tall man, and seemed youngish,.as beg- your lordship's pardon for joking, but it is
far as I could see."                         an'evil habit of mine from times of old, and I
"The earl and his servant, without doubt," shall jest at my last gasp. You asked me why I
said the justice.                            came here. O-dds life, I do not know where I
"I suppose so," grumbled Captain Smallpiece, am; but if you mean what brought me toward
in a disappointed tone. " What is to be done Ale-Manor, all I can tell you is, that it was zeal
now! Shall we search'"                      -zeal, which, like a bad huntsmai, is always
" Search! Search for what," demanded the overrunning the good dog Discretion."
justice, " when they have got offto sea? There   "Hush!" said Smeaton.  "' Do not speak so
is no proof they were ever in the house at all, loud. But tell me in a whisper what road your
and very probably have been, during the time, zeal rall this time."
down in one of the huts.  What is to be done!' Good faith," replied Van Noost, " it was in
Why, march off your men as fast as possible, the road of your service, as I thought; but the
and let us see how we can patch up matters truth is this: ever since you left me in the mornwith Sir John Newark. He won't forget it in a ing till toward the close of day, I have been helphurry, depend upon it. I require you, sir, to ing the good old sexton Mattocks, to clean the
march off your men."                         monuments in the church, breaking hard jests
Oh, very well," cried the captain, indig- upon each other's jests all the time. Iborrowed
nantly.  " That shall be done faster than you a blacksmith's apron, twisted myself up a paper
like, perhaps. There, sound boot and saddle-" cap, and stripped off my coat to keep it clean.
and lhe walked away to the door.             Your lordship would not have known me, I looked
" Could you favor me with a glass of wine, so much like a journeyman. Just, however, as
Master Richard sl said the justice, in an insin- we were leaving off our work, what should I see,
uating tone.  -T We have ridden far, and this is to my horror and consternation, but a troop of
dry work."                                   horse coming down the hill. There was no time
Not a drop," replied the boy, boldly. " You to get my pony, or wash my hands and face, and
came on a fool's errand, and you may go dry  escape. You know  that side of the hll. It is
as bare and as round as a baby's cheek. So there
away. I can tell you, Master Best," he added, was nothing for it but to go down to the little
with a laugh, "you'll want all the wit in your ale-house, keep on the garb I had, which was
noddle to settle accounts with my father, and it disguise enough, and persuade the good people
would be unkind to take a jot out of the can- to pass me off for a tapster. Well, the soldiers
nister by putting wine in. You have had quite came down, swept all the oats out of the hamlet
enough to-night already, I should think; and, for their horses, called for ale in the true dragoon
at all events, you'll get no more here."    style, and sat down to booso round the door,
The servants laughed; and, after trying hard while their captain and a certain justice who was
for a look of dignity which would not come, Jus- with them  demanded punch in a magisterial
tice Best walked out of the room, with his clerk tone. Didn't I make the punch strong for them!
sneaking behind him like a beaten cur.       I paid for an additional bottle of rum out of my
"There, there," cried Richard Newark, run- own pocket to fuddle their worships; and, if I
ning out into the hall and to the foot of the stairs, had dared, I would have treated the whole regi"shut all the doors and windows.  Emmy! ment. A minute after, however, in came Sir
Emmy! come down; all the fools are gone!'"  John Newark, and he called for punch too.
Sharp words enough passed between him and
the others; and suddenly, as I brought him in
his bowl, I found out from what was said that it




HENRY SMEATON.                                        59
was your lordship these people were going after, moment. " The vagabonds are gone. Let us
and not your poor humble servant.  I argued  get out of this burrow."
the matter with myself fbr a minute. Zeal said,   " Stay a minute," said Smeaton; "we had'Go and warn the noble lord.' Discretion said, better get more information first. Wait here for'Take care you don't get caught yourself, Van  me a short time, and I will go above for intelliNoost.''A fico for Discretion,' cried Zeal.'It gence. They will not leave me long without
is quite dark; the soldiers are all drinking; the news if the men are really gone."
pony is at the back of the house; there is a good    As he spoke he took up the light, somewhat,
piece of green turf, which will do as well to si- it would appear, to Van Noost's consternation.
lence his feet as felt to shoe a troop of h'orses; " But, my lord, my lord," he said, " I shall not
up into the saddle, Vanil Noost, and away. Do be able to see if you take away the candle."
as you would be done by, man!' So I listened    "What, are you afraid of the (lark?" asked
to the last speaker, and got off. To say sooth, Smeaton, laughing. " Well, you shall keep it,
though I had some directions, I was not quite  only light me along to the foot of the first flight
clear of the road, and strongly suspect I trotted  of stairs. And then, remember, whatever you
fifteen miles instead of five. However, Ireached  hear, remain below.  If need should be, and
the place at last, tied my pony under a clump  you should ascertain that any of these men have
of trees some way off, and was walking round  remained behind to search the place, you can
the house to find a private way in, when I be- take your chance of escape by that door; only
gan to perceive that other people had come  remember it opens over a well on the hill-side,
straighter than myself. I heard horses and voices, and, if you do not leap more lightly than you did
and saw men and lights, and my wits got into just now, you will go down like one of your own
such a tangle with fright that I could not make leaden figures and be drowned, for the water is
out where I was. I ran up one path and down  up to the brim, and it is deep."
another, and did not know which way to go, till   "You forget, my lord," returned Van Noost,
at length a fellow got me hold by the throat, " that you were pulling me along head foremost,
half strangled me, and was dragging me away, and I knew not where I was going. I can leap
when all of a sudden I heard his cheeks give a as well as any man with a clear space before
squelch just like the sound of a lump of cold lead  me, but one feels some trepidation in jumping
dropping into a furnace, then another tap, some- into a dark pit's mouth."
what harder than one from a lady's fan, and away    " Well, well, take the candle and light me,"'
he went rolling down the hill. Somebody got said the young nobleman.
me by the paw at the same moment, pulled me    Walking quickly on, he reached the foot of the
along, through a horse-pond I believe, for my  first flight of steps. Then, leaving Van Noost befeet are all wet, and here I am, your lordship's low, he ascended to the priest's chamber, to wait
most devoted servant; but where, who call say?" in darkness for some intelligence. As he stood
"In a safe place for the present, Van Noost," and listened —vainly, for some minutes-for any
replied the younllg nobleman, " and I must care  sound in the adjoining chamber, he had time to
for your security as best I can. Hush! I think  ask himself whether he had acted altogether
I hear them coming past again."              rightly in bringing Vail Noost into that secret
Advancing to the door, he put his ear close to  part of Sir John Newarlk's house, andl he conit and listened. A moment or two after, the  eluded that he had no title to do so.
men returned from the beach, some of them, at   " And yet," he said to himself, "it is not, in
least, passing along the same path, and talking  reality, his house at all."
as they went. Smeaton listened with deep at-   But that did not quite satisfy him; and he detention; but Van Noost continued fidgeting about, termined, if he found that the neighborhood was
notwithstanding an impatient gesture from his clear of the soldiery, to send the good sculptor
companion, who, as soon as the soldiershad passed  forth by the same way he entered, so as to let
by, turned sharply round, demanding, " What him see as little of the secrets of the place as
are you doing with the key? You are stopping  possible.
up the wards."                                 He was becoming somewhat impatient of the
"No, no," replied Van Noost, " only taking a oppressive silence, and felt half inclined to open
model. I always carry somue putty in my pock- the door and look out, when he heard sounds not
et for the express purpose."                 far off. A door was opened, closed, and locked,
"That is not right," said Smeaton, sharply. and then the large bed was rolled round upon
" Cease, sir, cease! You have no business with  its casters. The next instant the light shone -in,
the key."                                    and good Mrs. Culpepper appeared, with a can" Oh, very well, my lord," assented the sculp- dle in her hand. Her face bore greater traces
tor, withdrawing the putty from the key, wrap- of agitation than it displayed on any ordinary ocping it up carefully in his handkerchief, and put- casion, and Smeaton began to fear that he had
ting it in his breeches pocket. " It is a curious collsidered himself safe too soon; but the old
shaped key, too, and I should like to have a lady's first words dispelled alarm on that head.
model of it-very old-Queen Elizabeth or King    "They are gone, sir," she said, entering the
Edward, I should think."                     room, " they are gone;" and, with trembling
Smeaton made no reply, but again turned his hands, she set the candle on the table.
ear to the door. All remained silent for some    "I am sorry you have suffered such a fright
minutes, and then came the blast of a trumpet on my account, Mrs. Culpepper," said Siaeaton
above.                                      in a kindly tone; " but I can assure you now, as
"I think they are gone or going," said the  I did before, that there was nothing to fear on
young nobleman. "I fancy I could distinguish  my account."
the sound of the horses' feet marching away.   The old lady seemed hardly to attend to him
Listen, Van Noost!"                          and the state o agitation displayed by so very
" Oh, yes. Praised be God for all things!"  calm and demule a person set Smeaton's fancy
ejaculated Van Noost, after he had listened ibr a busy with fears for Emmeline.




60                              HENRY SMIEATON.
"I dare say not, sir-I dare say not," she said, questioned me sharply. I made a sullen anwith quick but faltering accents. " They came swer, and he would have discharlged me on the
looking for the Earl of Eskdale, and your name spot, for he was a strong-spirited man, and had
is Sm eaton. And yet," she continued, gazing in much to grieve him; but my lady interceded for
his face, "and yet —Will you be kind enough, me, and I was kept on till he was forced to fly
sir, to let me look at your wrist?"        beyond seas. Then, when she was about to join
" I have no objection at all," returned Smea- him, he wrote to tell her what servants should
ton, a good deal surprised. " But what can my accompany her. I was pointedly left out; and
wrist have to do with the business?"       I knew he had not forgotten me. But how you
"I will tell you in a minute, sir-I will tell you cried when you left me, I shall not forget. Oh,
in a minute," replied the old woman. " Your Sil', you do not know what deep root is taken by
right wrist, if you please."                the feelings of our hearts in those early years.
Smeaton drew up the sleeve of his coat as far Though you hIlave not altogether forgotten your
as it would go, unfastened the studs which held poor nurse, you have forgotten a great deal of
it together just above the ruffles, and, baring his what passed then; but there is not one thingarm, held it out to her. The old woman took no, not one of your looks, or any of your little prathis hand in hers, and, holding his arm near to tie-that I do not remember even now. I love
the candle, leaned her head over it. A large ir- Miss Emmeline very much too, though she does
regular scar appeared some two or three inches not know it; but I can never love any one again
above the hand. The young nobleman had often as I loved you."
remarked it, but had no recollection how it came   " I am sure I loved you well too," replied
there; and now, to his great surprise, he found Smeaton, " for the recollection of my poor nurse
warm drops falling upon it from the old woman's is the only thing referring to those days that still
eyes. The next instant she kissed them away remains upon my mind."
with an eagerness quite extraordinary, and then    "I am sure you did-I am sure you did," she
looking up in his face with the tears still upon repeated. " But oh, now, tell me, my lord, what
her cheeks, she exclaimed,                  do you mean by saying you are safe?  Your fa" Oh yes, Henry, oh yes, my lord! I know  ther was what they call' attainted,' I think, and
you now.  That mark cost me the bitterest that affected all his family, so how can you0 be
hours that ever I knew in my life."         safe? They are cruel laws to punish an infant
"Pray explain," said Smeaton. " I do not at for the fault of his father."
all understand what you mean, nor know how    " Make yourself easy, Naiiny," replied Smeathe scar came there."                       ton, in a kindly tone. "The attainder was spe"I';  will —I will," she sobbed, wiping her eyes. cially reversed as it affected my mother and my
"Often have you sat on these old knees-often myself. She had good friends at the courts both
have you clung with your arms round this old of William and Ann, and you know she is a wise,
neck. I was your nurse, my lord, from the time active, and prudent woman, so that she took
you were taken from the breast till you were five every means to secure for her son both safety
years old. You were my nursling, my pet, my and competence. It is true, I might be put to
darling. It seemed as if God had sent you to much inconvenience by the suspicions of the
me to console me for my own child I had lost; government-nay, plans and purposes, greatly
and I loved you as few mothers ever loved a afecting my happiness, might be frustrated or
child."                                     rendered more difficult of execution than they
" I recollect my nurse Naliny very well," said are already, if I were discovered; but I have
Smeaton. "Can you be she?"                  nothing else to fear."
"Oi h yes! Nanny Culpepper-poor Cnlpep-   "I think I understand," said tlie old woman.
per, the sergeant's wife, who was killed," she " Does Sir John Newark know who you are?"
answered. " But let me tell you, Henry, about   " He does," replied Smeaton. " It was very
that scar. When you were just about four, you imprudlently revealed to him by one who had no
were a dear rash boy, and I left you only for a business to meddle."
minute in a room where there was a fire. In   "That is strange-very strange," said the
playing about, you tripped over something, and housekeeper, thoughtfully. " You are not marfell with your arm upon the burning wood. I ried, are you, my lord?"
heard you cry, and ran back in haste, but I found   "No," answered Smeaton; " bhut I have much
you burned all across the wrist there. I dared reason to believe he thinks I am."
not tell my lord or my lady, for I knew they   " Ay, I see, I see," rejoined the housekeeper.
would be very angry at my having left you; and " Now I understand it. But you must on no ac
I thought I should have a hard matter to quiet count let him know that I have recognized you
you. But the moment I told you that, if you He is shrewd and keen. Beware of him, beware
made a noise, and they found out what had been of him, for he pursues his objects without fear,
done, Nanny would be sent away, and you would or remorse, or hesitation, and few knIow what
never see her again, you dried your eyes and those objects are till it is too late to baffle him.
ceased crying altogether. I never saw a child He is a kind and good master to me, because I
do the like; and, though the wound was very do every thing he tells me; and he does not fancy
painful, and I had not much skill, you suffered that he can be watched as closely as he watches
me to go on dressing it for you, and doing my others-no, nor that a poor creature like me can
best to heal it, till it was well, without ever let- perhaps make all his schemes prove vain. Well,
ting any one see that you were in pain. Fortune well, we shall see. But have a care of him."
favored me, or I could not have concealed it so   "I will," replied Smeaton; " and, indeed, I
long, for those were troublous times.- My lord am on my guard against him already. He is not
was moving about, and a great deal in London. aware that I know so much of his history and
My lady was often away, too, anxious for his character as I do."
safety; and the wound got quite well before   "He would not suffer you within these doors
they ever remarked it. Then, however, my lord if he did," returned the old woman. " But now




HENRY SMEATON.                                       61
you can come out in safety, for these people are sects-have always sought for the less intense.
all gone; and they fancy, from some stupid blun- Whether a respectable fat Bonze, having his toes
der of their own, that you have got off to sea in tickled by his fourteenth or fifteenth wife, witha boat, and a fat man with you, whom one of the out the slightest expectation of any thing like
soldiers vows he got hold of by the neck."  high sentimental pleasure, but without the slightSineaton laughed.                         est fear of any thing like strong mental pain, is
"I think I can explain one part of their mis- or is not in a more desirable condition than Galtake," he said; " and, indeed, I was going to ask ileo in his dungeon, I will not take upon myself
your advice upon a point of some difficulty."    to say; yet one thing is certain-that this world
He then related to her all that had occurred being full of miseries, so that when we open the
with Van Noost and the soldiers, as far as he knew  door for one high enjoyment, thousands of pains
it; but when he told her that the good statuary  rush in, there is some policy in having but few
was even then waiting below, she shook her head entrances to the house, and opening them as selgravely, saying,                            dom as possible.
"He must not be seen here on any account. i" A phlegmatic temperament has assuredly the
Send him away, Henry, send him  away, my advantage of leaving few assailable points at the
lord-"                                      mercy of an enemy, and the Dutch are general"Nay, nay," said Smeaton, "call me Henry ly supposed to be as phlegmatic as any other nastill when we are alone, and at other times call tion; but such certainly was not the case with
me, and think of me, as Colonel Smeaton. But Van Noost. Whether, by transplanting, he had
this matter puzzles me. I fear that the poor fel- acquired more the character of a sensitive plant
low may miss his way, and get into mischief, for than of a cabbage, or whether the Norman or
I do not think I can describe the road to Kean- Saxon blood derived from his mother overbalton so that he can find it, not knowing it too well anced the Frieslandish part of his composition
myself."                                    given by his father, I can not tell; but certain it
" You take him out by the door over the well," is, that he was of a very movable and excitable
replied Mrs. Culpepper, "and I will Send round disposition, notwithstanding the national breadth
a boy to the path, who shall guide him so far that of his nether man, and the firkin-like rotundity
he can make no mistake. Sir John must never of his whole frame. His soul was a busy, fiery
know that he has been in there; and hearken! little soul as ever was put into a heavy body;
the moment Sir John comes back, he will make and most intensely did he fret and fidget during
you pledge your honor not to tell the secret of Smeaton's long absence, although he had a canthis place to any one. Therefore, if you wish to die to light him, and the coveted key to work
tell it-and I think, perhaps, you may, if I judge upon. Three times he walked along the passage;
right-do so before he returns."             thrice he measured the size of the key-hole; four
Smeaton paused thoughtfully, and then said, times, he took an impression of the key; and
as if speaking to himself,                  when, at length, he heard a step coming down
"Is it wrong to meet a bad man with his own from the rooms above, he was all in what is exweapons?"                                   pressively called a twitter lest the person ap"No, no," cried the old woman," quite right. proaching, should be any but the person he deI have been doing so for the last twelve years, sired.
and have beat him at them. You look doubtful.   Whether he had calculated upon a comfortaI have no doubt, and perhaps, if you knew as ble sojourn at Ale-Manor House dUlring the night,
much as I do, you would have none either. But or whether his imagination suggested dangers
never mind. It shall be done for you. If you which did not exist on the road before him, or
have scruples, keep  them.  Emmeline shall whether his long evening ride, added to his mornknow without your telling. Indeed, I have oft- ing ride, had somewhat bruised and fatigued the
en thought to let her know, as she has a right, part that pressed upon the saddle, sure it is that
but thought it might be dangerous; for, if he he received the intimation that he must ride
once saw that there was the least secret between twelve miles further to Keanton with a someher and me, I should not be here an hour after, what rueful air, and sprang across the little well
and then all would be lost. But now get this with less than his promised activity.
mapu away, and then come back. Tell him to   Smeaton went first to show him the way, and
wait upon the path till a boy comes up to him, to help him out if he fell in, and his so doing
and says'Keanton,' and then to follow him. I gave some confidence to the poor statuary; but
will wait here till you return, and will find he still besought his noble companion, even after
means to talk to you longer to-morrow."     they had both safely reached the little path, to
remain with him till his young guide came. When
this was acceded to, he became much more composed, and hardly listened to the directions, reCHAPTER XV.                   peated more than once, which Smeaton gave him
regarding what he was to do at Keanton, so much
I AM not sure that the phlegmatic temperament, was he occupied with the contemplation of the
as it is called, is not the happiest for the possess- little well and the scene around. The moon had
or thereof. People are apt to exclaim,      now risen higher-so high, indeed, as only just
"Give us great pleasures, even if they be ac- to catch the edge of the waters with a line of silcompanied by great pains."                  ver light; but she displayed beautifully in her
Hopeful mankind! ye seldom estimate pros- pale beams the small Gothic arch of stone-work,
pective pains at their real worth, and ye always let, as it were, into the face of the rock. The
over-estimate the pleasures-till they are gone. deep tank or well at the foot of this acclivity reTwo great races of philosophers, if not more, the ceived the bright and healing fountain from some
Stoic and the Chinese Mandarins, judging more spot ten or twelve feet below the surface. The
sanely-I am not quite sure that the Epicureans light through the half-opened door showed the
might not be included also, ay, and many more interior of this little cell with its watery flooring




62                              HENRY SMEATON.
and part of the passage beyond; and the eye maids, hald in hand, for the benefit of the chilcould perceive upon the stone door itself how  dren of the tenantry."
skillfully the workmen had marked out the free-   "I did not speak of that exercise of your gestone into divisions, so as to render it like a piece nius,"? replied Smeaton. " Cast as many leaden
of solid masonry. The effect had been rendered figures as you will, my friend. They can find
perfect by the exhalations from  the fountain, you a caldron as big as a witch's, I dare say, and
which had tinted it with many hues of green, you call set up a shop in the old court-yard; but
and red, and yellow.                         eschew politics, Van Noost, and keep your hand
"'I don't see how one could open it fiom with- from the treason-pot. You have put your fat in
out," said Van Noost, after gazing for a moment. peril already, it would appear, my good friend,
"The well is so deusedly in the way, though I so keep quiet till the danger has passed away.
see the place where the key-hole must be well Here comes the boy, I think."
enough."                                      It was as he supposed; and though the boy,
"I swould advise you not to try, Van Noost," with very limited instructions, had expected only
said Smeaton, with a smile. "Your legs are not to see one person to guide, so that he was somelong enough to stretch across.  I think mine what puzzled on finding two, Van Noost was soon
would do very well."                        placed under his guidance; and while Smeaton
" Ay, noble lord, I did not cast myself," replied returned to the house to enjoy for a short space
the statuary. " Gad's life! if we could do that, lofiger sweet converse with Emmeline, the worwe might see strange changes, according to men's thy statuary moved away to seek for the pony he
taste. Some of your stumpy, balustrade fellows had left tied under a tree. It was easily found;
would turn out Apollos, and many a long-legged for, having been left at some distance, it had esAntinous would become a clumsy Vulcan. I am  caped all notice from the soldiery; but the beast
as lengthy in mind as you in limb, my lord, and was tired with its exertions during the day, and
could leap over mountains if-if-"            was very willing to go at such a pace as suited
"If the body were not heavier than the soul," the convenience of the young guide.
said the young earl, kindly, for he saw that the   The way seemed to Van Noost interminably
good man spoke somewhat warmly. "It is not long, as all new ways do in the dark; but the
your fault if Nature made you spread forth broad distance was in reality by no means very great;
instead of running up tall. Some stones are made and at length the boy, who had chatted very freeinto a cupola, others into a column; but they ly with the statuary as they went, pointed to the
have no choice in the matter, and each had bet- entrance of a road between two deep hedgeter be satisfied with. his condition. You have rows, telling, Van Noost to follow it straight on,
one advantage of me, however. You can make and it would lead him to Keanton House.
the figures of other men in a better mold than    "There are seven gates to open," said the boy,
Fortune gave to yourself, and I can not."    "and about half a mile over the turf. You can
"It would be difficult in your case, my lord," not miss the road, for it is all straight."
replied Van Noost, well pleased. " I only long   Van Noost, however, did contrive to miss the
for quiet times to take a statue of your lordship road, for when he came upon the turf the moon
as a dancing faun."                          had gone down, the tracks of the road had dis"'Spare me that! spare me that!" cried Smea- appeared, and, instead of going on as his face
ton, laughing. " The faun had not a good repu- was pointed, he turned a little to the left, which
tation in times of old, nor the dancers in the pres- led him away from the object he had in view.
ent day; and, good sooth! I would rather not The summer sun, however, soon befriended him,
appear in public in either character. But me- first by showing him, in the gray twilight of the
thinks this boy, who is to be your guide, is long early morning, that he had gone wrong, and
in coming, and I am somewhat anxious to get then, by greater light, enabling him to get right.
back into the house again."                  He had to turn back nearly a mile, however, the
" Ay, I can fancy that," replied Van Noost, " if road lying all the way over smooth green turf,
that pretty lady who was with you this morning  covering the gentle undulations of the country,
be within. Do you know, my noble lord, you with no indications of a path, but here and there
must set a guard upon your eyes, if you would the track of cart-wheels in the soft sward, or the
not have all the villagers commenting upon your prints of a horse's feet. Van Noost was led on,
soft sentiments? Why here was the old sexton, indeed, and in the right direction, by the sight
Mattocks, saying what a handsome couple you of some fine old trees rising up over the edge of
would make, and only thinking of burying you a hollow at the distance of about a mile, Wad
both all the time, though he talked of nothing  some chimneys, and sharp-pointed gables and.
worse than marriage."                       roofs, breaking the rounded lines of the foliage.
"It would be a pity to stop them," answered    The sun was just up when the statuary, passSmeaton. " I should imagine they have little to ing through the elms and oaks, came in sight of
think of, and a marriage or a funeral must be a the whole building, a fine old irregular mass of
God-send to the gossips of the place. But now, brick-work, somewhat like an antique French
my good Van Noost, remember, when you are at chateau, with tall masses of no-styled architectKeanton, you must be very discreet, or you may ure, small windows very irregularly disposed,
get into trouble. Keep the eyes of the people and a somewhat superfluous number of doors.
off you as much as possible, and mind not to ex- Gray and yellow lichens and green moss covercise too much in dangerous places."        ered the walls and the eaves; the ivy ran up
"But, bless your lordship, what am I to do?" many of the square, tower-like masses; and the
exclaimed Van Noost. "You know mine is an houseleek might be seen dropping over the
active, bustling spirit, and if I am not to exercise edges of the lower roofs. Ten or twelve tall
my genius upon lead, I shall probably exercise elms, loaded with rooks' nests, at one corner of
it upon something else. Good faith, I must dab- the building, marked where the esplanade beble a little in my old trade, even if it be but in gan which ran before the principal facade; but
casting little leaden figures of soldiers and dairy- on the side next to Van Noost appeared a large




HENRY SMEATON.                                         63
farm-yard, surrounded by a low wall and thickly  and he walked away, without waiting for any
littered with straw, on which reposed a number further question.
of cows, promising a plentiful supply of milk,   " Ballimoree  Ballimore i!" mentally ejacubutter, and cheese. The early-rising and conse- lated Van Noost. "11What the deuse does he
quential cock was strutting about in his gaudy  mean by Ballimoree?"
livery; the white, black, and gray ladies of his   And when he had looked after the young man
seraglio were wandering in quest of fbod. Nu- for a minute or two, he turned his pony's head
merous were ducks in a pond at one corner, and  to see if he could discover the farm-house which
a troop of geese, waddling, and courtesying, and  had been mentioned.  It was by no means diffibending their heads, came forward to taste the cult to do so; for, as soon as he had passed the
morning air, and crop the green grass upon the rookery, it became visible, with a'lumber of
downs. Bet no human being was to be seen: small houses and cottages, in a little wild dell to
man was absent from  the picture; and Van the right.
Noost raised his eye from window to window, to    At the door of the farm-house he found a stout,
discover any signs of life within, but in vain.    elderly man, of a very fiank and open counte"This must be Keanton," lhe said to himnself. nance, and having his hands in his pockets, ac"It is just the sort of place; but they seem rath- cording to the usually prescribed' form of English
er late risers here for country people.  If they farmers.  Riding up straight toward him, Van
had been at the Ridotto last nigiht, or at the Wa- Noost considered, as he went, how he should adter theater, or at the Italians, they might well be dress him, and make his wishes known.
lagging in bed; bu~t here, where they have noth-   "The noble lord," he thought,' said I was to
ing to do but lie down and go to sleep when the ask either for Master Jennings or Master Thompsun sets, they might very well get up when he son; but then I was not told to say Ballimoree.
rises, methinks.  Hark!"                     I was to inform them that I came from the River
The sounds which had called his attention in- Head, and to bid them give me shelter, food, and
creased, and round the corner by the rookery protection. It was to Jennings I was to say that;
came a young peasant-lad in his broad hat and but perhaps the pass-word at Master Thompson's
his' yellow  frock, whistling gayly.  All Van may be Ballimoree.  I'll essay it;" and, riding
Noost's weariness and wandering were forgotten  tp to the fence before the farm-house, he hallooin the joyful sight; and, whipping on his pony, ed out,
te rode up to the lad, asking him if there was  -" Your name is Thompson, sir, I believe-Balnobody up in the house.                       limoree."
-" I can not tell," replied the youth, with a    " My name is Thompson, sir," answered the
strong Devonshire accent.  " Master Thompson farmer, " but not Ballimoree.  What is Ballimoat the farm is up."                           iee?"
As he spoke, he looked very earnestly at Van    " Upon my life I don't know," answered Van
Noost, and there was a sly, quiet, inquiring glance Noost, friankly, " but a young lad I met up near
of the eye, which did not at all harmonize with  the house said' Ballimoree' to me, and told me
his gay, thoughtless aspect the moment before, that it meant good-morning."
as he came whistling  along. It was not alone    "He was funning you, sir," replied the man.
shrewd, but suspicious; and Van Noost said to " He is a bit of an Exeter lad, is Dick Peerly,
nimself,                                      and they are all full of their jokes.  Pray what
" Ay, ay, these tenants are all well drilled not is your business with me?"
to endanger their master's interests by any in-   "I was to tell you, Mr. Thompson, that I come
discretion.  Now, I will answer for it, there fiom the River Head," replied Van Noost, laying
would be no slight difficulty in getting any particular emphasis on the last words; " and as I
straightforward answer froimi this good youth. am anxious for some quiet and repose, you or
I'll try."                                    Mr. Jennings are to give me shelter, protection,
"So the farmer's name is Master Thompson," and food for a time."
he said, aloud. "A very good name, too. Pray    The man's whole manner chlanged in a mo.
what is your name, my lad?"                  ment.
"What is yours?" said the young man, look-   "You shall be right welcome, sir," he said.
ing him point blank in the face.              "It will be better that you should speak with
"That is not the question," answered Van Master Jennings; but, in the mean time, pray
Noost. "I asked what yours is!"              come in and have some refreshment. The cows
" Then that is not the question either," replied  will be milked in a minute; but if you like ale
the lad; " but if you be the gentleman come and bacon better, we have as good as any in the
from Exeter, you ought to know my name."    land. Ballimoree! what could he mean by Bal"I have not been in Exeter," replied Van limoree?  Pray come in, sir —pray come in.
Noost; "and even if I had, I don't see how I Give.me your horse's bridle; I'll have him put
should know your name, when I never saw your up. A pretty pony,'pon my life; but he seems
fiace before. If you carried it written upon your to have had enough of it for once."
forehead like a certain old lady of Babylon, one    "Ay, poor beast, lie is as tired as his master,"
mi ght know something about it."/             returned Van Noost, walking toward the house.
"To be sure," replied the lad, "and so should " He never calculated upon such a ride, nor I
I know something  about yours. I am not fond either."
of answering questions, master; so, if you have   The farmer pointed to a room on the left side
come to speak to me from Exeter, you had better of the entrance of his house, led the pony round
speak out.  Ballimoree!"                     to the back, and returned to his guest after a nio" Ballimoree!" exclaimed Van Noost, with ment or two with a bouncing, rosy country maidsurprise.  "What in the name of fortune does servant, bringing in the materials for a hearty
Ballimoree mean?"                             breakfast; but that word "Ballimoree" seemed
"It means good morning to you, master," said to puzzle him as much as, or more than it had
the young man, with a kn.owing nod of the head; done Van Noost, and he continued niurulin g ii




64                              HENRY SMEATON.
to himself even while the woman was in the  It was now apparent that, the moment he reroom. As soon as she was gone, however, and sumed his real name and station, Smeaton
he had pressed his guest to take some food, he would be subject to annoyance and inconvenreturned to the subject openly, asking,     ience, if not worse, froml the zeal of the Dev"Pray, sir, what sort of a lad was this that onshire magistrates; and, after some thought,
said' Ballimoree' to you?  I saw nobody go up.he resolved to write to Lord Stair, explaining
that way but Dick Peerly."                   his position, and begging him to assist in re-'Oh, he was a lad of nineteen or twenty, with moving the difficulties with which he was surflaxen curly hair and eyes rather close together," rounded.
Van Noost replied.  " He came up at first whis-   "I am determined," he said to himself, "to
tling like a merry innocent sort of noodle, but take no part in the foolish struggles which seem
when he beganto  speakhe looked'cute enough." likely to take place in this land, and which I
"Ay, he is a dead hand at whistling," said the feel convinced can end in nothing but the de.
farmer. "'It must be Dick Peerly; and'cute struction of those who promote them. Unenough he certainly is. I don't half like him; doubtedly I look upon the Stuart race of kings
and, if it had not been to oblige my cousin Sam, as lawful sovereigns of the country, and did
I would not have had hinm on the -farm at all.
I would not have had bin on the farm at all.  wish that the late queen had lived long enough
I'll ask him what he mneans by Balhmioree."    to restore her brother quietly to the throne of
"Oh, I dare say it was only sauciness," oh- his ancestors.  But nations have rights as well
served Van Noost, and so the affair dropped for as monarchs, and it is somewhat more than
Shortly after, Master Jennings was sent for doubtful to me whether the great mass of the
from the great house, where, it would appear, he reasoning people of this country arenot strongacted as a sort of steward. He was a grave old ly opposed to the return of their ancient kings.
man in a brown suit, and was very courteous and I  will take no share in this busioess."
polite to Van Noost as soon as he was told the   Richard Newark himself had some questions
words which the other had been instructed to to ask, as well as the tale to tell; and he put
address to him. But he and Farmer Thompson them, as usual, somewhat abruptly.
made many inquiries after their young lord, and-   " WTrell, colonel," he said, after some converexpressed great pleasure to hear that he was in sation, "now tell us all about the priest's chamtheir neighborhood.                          her."
"I think he might very well return and take    "I am afraid I must not, my young friend,"
possession openly, sir," said Master Jennings, replied Smeaton.  ", That is another mnan's se"though things arle looking rather bad just now. cret, communicated to me for my own good,
Yet, from those who know, I have heard that he and I must not betray it."
is in no danger. However, that is not our affhir;   "Ah, you won't trust me," said Richard, in
and, of course, we shall not say we kI-now ally a sad tone. "I wonder why it is people will
thing of his being in the country. You had bet- not trust me. I can he as faithful and true as
ter come up with me to the great house, and we any one."
wvill soon get a bed ready for you,-in case you  Indeed, I would trust you willingly," replied
would like to lie down after your long ride. Smeaton, "with any thing that is merely my
Any thing we can do to make you comfortable, own; but this secret I ought not to divulge eiI am sure shall be done."                   ther to you or to this dear lady."
"I want nothing," replied the statuary, "but   "Well, then, I'll try you," said Richard.
some clay, a great caldron, and as much lead as," Are you, or are you not, the Earl of Eskdale'.d
I call get, and I will show you one or two funny   "I am," replied Smeaton, at once. "I tell
things."                                     you without the slightest hesitation, Richard,
" Any thing you want, sir, shall be got direct- but I beg you not to divulge the fact till I have
ly," said Master Jennings; " but the lead may taken measures to effect my safety."
be somewhat difficult, for I don't think there is   "I was sure of it," cried Richard, "I was
much of it down about here. I will show you quite sure of it. Poor colonels of horse don't
the way, if you please, sir."                have such beautiful swords to give away; and,
"Have with you, good Mr. Jennings," ex- besides, I suppose there is something in a lord
claimed Van Noost, with a theatrical air, as far as that makes him different from other men. None
the stiffness of his hind quarters would permit of i of you have two heads, I think, nor four arms,
his assuming one; and, after thanking his host of nor eight legs; but yet, lack-a-day, there must
the farm-house for his courteous hospitality, he be some difference, for I said to myself, soon
walked out towvard the mansion above.        after you came here,'That man is different
"Ballimoree!" said Farmer Thompson: " I from the rest of them."
wonder what the deuse he could mean by that.
1I'll find it out."                            Emroeline looked up in Smeaton's face with
a smile while her cousin spoke, as if she would
fain have said, "I thought so too."
CHAPTER XVI.                     She spoke not, however, antl Richard ran out
of the room in his wild way to see what all the
THE account given by Richard Newark to servants were "making of it," as he termed it.
Emmeline and Smeaton, after the latter had re- During his absence, which did not last many
turned, comprised nothing that the reader does minutes, words of mutual tenderness were of
not know; but he told his tale with great hu- course uttered by the lovers; but other matters
mor, and even some degree of wit, which called were also to be spoken of besides their young
a laugh from Smeaton, and made Emmeline affection, and Smeaton communicated to Emsmile, although the former found matter in it meline all that had transpired between himself
for much consideration, and the latter for much and old Mrs. Culpepper, expressing, at the same
alarm.                                       time his belief that she might be fully trusted




I-TENRY SMEATON.                                        65
The evening then passed quietly for more Smeaton, "' although I should rnot, of course, obthan an hour, at the end of which time the ject to the sale of the place if it could be effect-,rampling of horses and the voice of Sir John ed at a fair price.  Yet there are memories
Newark, were heard.  He did not come into the which cling about our old-ancestral homes, from
small saloon for several minutes after he had the influence of which we can not' well divest
entered the house, and, somewhat to Smeaton's our hearts.  I' knowr nothing of this Keanton,
surprise, neither' Emmeline nor Richard Newark though I was born there.  I recollect not one
went out to greet him. But they knew him and- stick or stone about it- have very rarely heard
his ways hetter:bian Smeaton did. The interval it spoken of, except for the purpose of giving mewas occupied in speaking a few words to Mrs. information.',which'might be useful to'-me in any
Culpepper, which seemed to be rather those of unexpected change of circumstances.  Never-'
inquiry than any thing else; but the replies he theless, Sir John, so strongly is man's weak:
received were apparently satisfactory, and he heart bound by the fine chain of association,
entered the saloon with a pleasant and half- that'to put-my hand to the deed which conveylaughing air. The whole Circumstances of the ed it to others would cost me a pang, severer,evening were discussed: he gave his own ver- perhaps, than any other, except that of seeing;
sion of what had occurred, both at Exeter and it wrested from myself and my mother without-'
at Aleton'; he inquired minutely into the events that compensation which might secure comfort'which had taken place at the Manor House dur- and happiness to her old age."
ing his absence; and he ended by saying,        "I fear that the latter may be the case ere'
"Well, colonel, this is a fortunate escape long," replied Sir John, shaking his head gravefrom  that which might have proved to be a ly.  "I From all I have heard this day, and all I
somewhat unpleasant affair; and the mistake have seen, I judge' that many months will not
these men have fallen into regarding the flight pass before we witness convulsions which will:
of the Earl of Eskdale, who has never fled from  be beneficial to the winni. ng party, but utterly
them at all, will put you quite at'your ease for ruinous to the great body of the English gentry.
rome time, and save you, I trust, froim further For my part, I intend immediately to settle my
annoyance."                                   whole estates absolutely on my son, in such a'
He glanced his, eye toward Emmeline and manner that he could not be deprived of them
Richard as he spoke, as if to indicate that it unless he were to' take a',part'Which his youth
might be better to enter into no more particu- renders impossible.  They shall, in short, be no
lars in their presence; and Smeaton very read- loner mine, but his, so doubtful- am I of the.
ily took the hint, for, to say truth, he had more' future.  As to Keanton,"' he continued, with an
confidence in Richard's kindness than in his easy and unconcerned air, "I have no doubt,
discretion.                                   that'many of the neighboring gentry would be
When the two younger members of the fami-  foulnd ready to pay a reasonable price for it. I
ly had retired for the night, Smeaton remained, myself should be most willing to-come forward}I
for a few minutes, to give Sir John an opportu- and offer you such a sum, but for the views
nity of explaining himself further; but Sir John I have expressed.  I have always a certain-r
Newark did not think-.it necessary to.say much amount of money in reserve; but that might be
more upon the events ~of that day, merely ob- needful'to me in case of any reverses, and it isserving, in,a careless-and somewhat1;l'ight tone, not sufficient to pay'a jeust price for such -an es"I hear your lady-wite has quite recovered: tate as Keanton.  NTvertheless, if at any timeI
[ suppose'she may soon be expected tojoin you." you or your lady-mother should wish by way-of''~ You are laboring:under a mistake, my dear m rtgage to raise a sum far any present pursir," replied. Smeaton; at once.  "'  am quite poses, commnand me, and you will'find me de-"wifeless."                                    lighted to testify my friendship for you by some,"Why, I; thought," exclaimed Sir John New- thing better than mere words."
ark, "that your wife was mentioned between'  Smeaton made some courteous reply of no'
us only the other day -" and he assumed, very- great value, and Sir John continued: " I speak,'
tolerably, an air of incredulous surprise.    of course, merely in case you do not sell; but,..
6I beg your parden, SirJohn," returned Sine- -as I have before. observed, there are many.
ton. " You asked after Lady Eskdale, and I re- wealthy country gentlemen around us here who"i
plied that she was. better; but the name of wife would be right glad to purchase, I am  sure;
was never mentioned between us.  I spoke, in- among the rest; Sir James Mount, an excellent'
deed, fully with, regard to my moth-er's illness; old man, and generally considered a person of
but she being the only Countess of Eskdale great ability.  Of his'genius I have my doubts,
living, I might naturally assume that your words but of his high honor and good intentions, none.
referred to her.  I am a, single man, I beg to  He was talking to me'this very morning both
assure you."                              -   of'yourself and Keanton. As soon as it came
"6 Well, my lord, a happy condition," remarki- out that the suspicions of the magistrates were
ed Sir John. "'-Heaven forbid that I should at- directed toward you, and that they supposed
tribute bigamy to you, or saddle youen even with you were dwelling in my house, he asked me
a single wife, when you,- have not. got one.  I privately if such were really the case.  Of
would advise you, however, as you have no wife, course I did not betray your secret even to him.
to get rid of Keanton, for troublous times are He then went on to speak of Keanton, and it
cotming, I can see very, clearly; and, although seemed to me that it was a possession he had
you have contrived to keep possession of the always coveted."
estate so long, I fear very. much you-would not   " He knew my father and my mother in early
be able to hold it longer,if there should be' any years,"'-replied Smeaton.  " I have often heard
thing like a disturbance in the country."     him  mentioned.  Indeed, I have seen him, I
"I T trust that will not be the case," said think, but amin not very sure."




566                             HENRY SMEATON.
"He is most anxious to see you," returned upon him. And yet this bachelorism of his is
Sir John;'i and, indeed, if you think fit to sell an unfortunate affair. If Emmeline were out
the place, I believe he would be found a ready of the way, it would all go well. That, howpurchaser.  I was sorry to disappoint the good ever, can not be; but I must make myself sure
old man, for he expressed so eager a desire to at home."
greet his old friend's son, that I could have   And, going to the hall door, he called one of
found it in my heart to bring him to my house the servants, and bade the man send the houseto-night, had it not been that I look upon an- keeper to him.
other man's secrets intrusted to me just as I
should upon his purse if left in my care-a thing
which I am bound to return to him untouched."
Now Sir John Newark was well aware'that                CHAPTER XVII.
good Sir James Mount had not in reality a stiver
at command, and that his passion for alteration   TIHE events which immediately succeeded to
and building had already compelled him to mort- those recorded in the last chapter I must pass
gage his estate. As Smeaton knew nothing of over somewhat rapidly, for there was nothing
these circumstances, however, the suggestion that would much interest the reader in detail.
would have excited no suspicion had it not been Smeaton's letter to the Earl of Stair was writaccompanied by profession of pure motives and ten and dispatched, and it may be sufficient to
honorable dealing, which he knew did not form  say that it never reached its destination.
the distinguishing characteristics of Sir John    Sir John Newark, on the pretense" of great
Newark's life.                               courtesy and attention, hardly lost sight of his
"I will think of this, Sir John," he said; young guest for a moment, except during the
"and as to Sir James Mount's knowledge that times wvhen he was giving Richard instruction
I am your guest, I really do not see, so much in the use of the sword.  Smeaton thus had no
as you seem to do, the great necessity for se- opportunity whatever of speaking in private with
crecy.  I have explained to you that I have, Emmeline; and the feelings of which the two
substantially, nothing to fear, except, perhaps, a were conscious, kept them more reserved when'
little inconvenience from zealous stupidity; but in the presence of others than they had been
I think, in a few days, I shall have removedsall before those feelings became known to them.
danger even of that, for it is my intention to- The restraint was very painful to both, and day
morrow to write to Lord Stair, begging him to by day it became more irksome, till, with the
exert his influence in the proper course for en- impatience natural to youth-impatience that
abling me to reside as long as I think fit in this can never bide its time-Smeaton felt inclined
country, upon the clear understanding that my to do any thing rash to put an end to so oppressresidence here shall in no degree prove detri- ire a state of things.  Richard, indeed, on the
mental to the dynasty which he serves. At all third day, afforded him some means of relief;
events, Sir John, pray do not let my sojourn for, when they were practicing in one of the old
with you induce you for one moment to exclude halls wvith the doors shut, the lad took advantany guests whom you might otherwise wish to age of a momentary pause for repose to say,
receive, for I can not at all consent that your   "Ay, colonel, you don't talk to me about it,
hospitality toward me should so embarrass you, hut I know very well what is going on in your
and only regret that it has already produced so thumper."
much disorder in your household. And now, W1 hat do you call my thumper, Richard?"'
with many thanks, good-night."               demanded Smeaton, with a smile.
Sir John shook him warmly by the hand, and   " Oh, iolks call it'heart,'" answered Richthey parted, Smeaton retiring to his chamber, ard, " though there is no meaning in that word,
to think, if the truth must be told, more of Em- and a great deal in' thumper;' but what I mean
meline than of aught else, and Sir John to con- is, that I know very well you are dreaming all
sider his plans further, under the aspect which this time about our dear little Emmeline. My
they had now assumed.                        father takes care that you shall not whisper
Smeaton's carelessness as' to discovery was sugar to her; so, if you have any thing to say,
aot altogether pleasant to the knight, who would you had better tell me, and I will say it for you,
willingly have seen his young guest more em- because I am sent out with her every day to
barrassed; and lie liked not at all the prospect walk, like Shock, the lap-dog.  I may as well
of difficulties being removed firom the course talk to her about you as any thing else, for she
eif the latter.                             is thinking about you all the time, and falling
s "I must deal with this epistle to Lord Stair," into such brown studies that if you ask her what
he said to himself:'It will never do to let o'clock it is, she looks up in your face and says,
Eskdale clear his feet of the bird-lihme altogeth-'Tuesday, I believe.'"
er. But then again, in the mean time, I can    "I wish to Heaven I could speak to her alone
work something, perhaps, out of the indiscre- for about half an hour,"' observed Smeaton.
tion of that foolish old man, Sir James Mount.   "Ay, you can not do that," returned Richard
It will be easy, as this tmy guest does not ab- Newark,," and I must not help you, for, if my
solutely object to see him, to get them into such father were once to find out that I did, there
relations that some of the follies of Sir James would be a southwesterly gale and an end of
may recoil upon the young earl.  If the old all; but if you will only tell me any thing you
knight snaps at the bait of Keanton, I can ad- want to say, I'll say it for you, word for word,
vance the money on mortgage of the two es- upon my honor."
tates; if he do not, lie may help to bring about   Smeaton had a great objection to confidants,
embarrassments which may make my young though, in the countries which he had most inbird eager to get rid of what can be but a clog habited, as well as in the plays and romances




HENRY SMEATONP.                                       67
of the day, they were almost indispensable ac- purchase it, and one knows not, in the state of
cessories to every love affair; but there was affairs here, whether it might not be better to
something in his love for Emmeline too pure, humor him."
too delicate, to suffer the idea of intrusting his   Next care a cordial invitation to Mount Plaoe,
thoughts toward her to any one. There was seconded by some such words as
no resource, however; and many a message to    "I trust you will not be under the least apher did he send by her cousin, cautiously word- prehension, sir, in doing me the honor-the honed indeed, but expressive in some degree of the or-the honor of returning my visit; for I am
feelings in his heart.                       very discreet-very  discreet-very  discreet.
On the same day that the above conversation  The place shall be kept quite solitary-solitary
occurred, a little after the hour of noon, a gay -solitary for the next three weeks-three
cavalcade appeared before the house. Sir John weeks, to wait your convenience. Your excelNewark affected surprise and some alarm at lent lady-mother-mother-mother wou(ld asfirst; but then, suddenly perceiving that it was sure you of my discretion; and in case you
Sir James Mount, he left his young guest to say should be desirous-desirous-desirous of takwhether he would be present during that worthy ing a little-a little peep at Keanton, you can
gentleman's visit or not.                   do so-do so-do so.in half an hour, with great
Smeaton consented to receive him without privacy. The road is quite lonely, through quiet
the slightest hesitation, and the moment Sir lanes-quiet lan&s. No Peeping Toms there;
James entered the room, he recognized a person all still and comfortable; not a village or a hamwhom  he had seen at the small court of the let on the way; and you can see what is going
exiled Stuarts in Lorraine, though but for a few  on-what is going on-what is going on without
minutes. The worthy magistrate, however, ad- any risk."
vanced at once toward him, and, taking him re-   Smeaton declared that his kind friends enterspectfully by the hand, congratulated him on his tained more apprehensions for his safety than
return to England, not, indeed, addressing him  he did himself, feeling that he had, in fact, noth-'by his real title, for Sir James piqued himself on ing to fear beyond a short temporary inconvenhis policy, but yet with marks of reverence ience.
which the old Tory courtier showed to nothing    "All danger even of that," he added, "will be
under the estate of a lord. His language, also, over in a few days, and I shall therefore have
was so circumambulatory and reiterative, that t he greatest pleasure in waiting upon Sir James
it might have puzzled a very keen spy, unac- Mount before my departure from Devonshire."
quainted with his peculiar style, to make out  1" Care and caution, noble sir-care and eauwhat on earth he meant; and, indeed, he rather tion-care and caution," said the worshipful genflattered himself that he spoke, on all occasions Itleman, " are always highly expedient under all
of difficulty, in such a way as to be utterly un- circumstances - circumstances - circumstanintelligible to ears not initiated.          ces.  WTe can never tell what may turn up to"I am truly delighted-delighted-delight- morrow-turn up to-morrow-turn up to-mored," he said, " to see you, sir, in what may row, and therefore it is better to take care what
be considered your native country-country-  we are about to-day."
country; and although, habit being second na-   "Very true, indeed," replied Smeaton, with
lure, which is sometimes better-better-better a smile.; and, with this aphorism fresh upon his
than first-for why, if second thoughts are best, lips, Sir James Mount took his leave, never
Should not nature-nature-nature be in the doubting that he had made a very favorable irasame predicament?-you may consider other pression.
lands-other lands-other lands to be more your   Emmeline had been in the room during the
indigenous-indigenous-indigenous soil, nev- above conversation, but had not received the
ertheless we may felicitate ourselves upon hav- slightest notice from Sir James Mount, who was
ing restored to our country a distinguished per- too much taken up with the important secret
wonage —personage-personage, who, like a bor- intrusted to him to think of any thing else for
rowed gem-borrowed gem, illuminated a for- the time. Sir John Newark, however, went out
eign crown-crown-crown."                     with his visitor to see him to his horse's back,
Smeaton, though somewhat surprised, replied according to the courtesies of those times, and
courteously that he was exceedingly glad to Smeaton immediately advanced toward his fair
see a gentleman whom he understood to be an companion with some laughing comment upon
old fiiend of his family, and the conversation the peculiarities of the old man's manners. Emwent on for about half an hour as easily as it Imeline, however, held up her finger, as if to call
could do with the sort of hurdle-race talking of his attention to what she had to say, and then
the worthy magistrate.  In the course of that whispered,
conversation, Sir John Newark took a small but   "I wish I could speak with you! Oh! I wish
not unimportant part, throwing in a few words I could speak with you! Good Mrs. Culpepper
here and there to guide Sir James Mount in the came to me for an hour this morning before I
direction which he wished him to take. By his rose.  She is a friend to me, not a spy upon me,
management, though that management was not as RIichard thinks, and I have much to tell you.
very apparent, not only was the subject of Kean- Hush! he is coming back!"
ton introduced, but Sir James was led to expa-   Smeaton drew a little further from her; but
tiate upon the advantages of that estate, its close yet Emmeline could not altogether banish the
proximityto his own, its charming sites forbuild- eagerness from her look, and the eye of Sir John
ing, and the great improvements which might be Newark rested on her fair face the instant he
effected if it had the advantage of a resident pro- entered the room. He took no notice, however,
prietor.  Smeaton thought, with a smile,    if he observed any thing, but only said, in a gay
"The worthy lnight seems really anxious to tone,




68                             HENRY S MEATON.
"Come, Emmeline, let us ride out this breezy into diffculty. He seemed, however, to ponder
day. Colonel Smeaton, will you accompany us?" on his good housekeeper's words; but his mind
",VWith all my heart!" replied the young no- soon reverted to the former subject of his
bleman; " but I must put on other apparel."  thoughts, and he said, with a sterner air,
"So must I," said Emmeline.                "I hope you have relaxed none of the care
"Well, then, to your toilet," cried Sir'John. which I enjoined upon you, Culpepper. People
"I will order the horses in the mean while. It occasionally get negligent of such charges in
needs a good gallop to shake off the load of the course of time; and, if I find that such is
worthy Sir James Mount's words, he piles them  the case, I must have fresher service for the
upon us so rapidly. Quick, Colonel Smeaton! same purpose. So beware."
The horses will not be long."                "I don't think you have cause to blame me,
The moment they were gone, Sir John New- Sir John," replied Mrs. Culpepper, in her usual
ark hurried toward that part of the house inhab- quiet tone. " I have performed exactly every
ited by the servants, and, ordering the horses as thing that I promised to perform. I never unhe passed, entered the room of the housekeeper. dertook to watch when you were in the house;
Mrs. Culpepper was busily engaged with an ac- but when you were absent, or when I am with
count-book; but she rose when her master en- her at any distance from your own sight, I will
tered, and laid down the pen.              undertake to say that there is not a step she
For an instant Sir John Newark gazed at her takes, and hardly a word she utters, that is unin silence with a look not altogether placable; known to me. If there is any thing between
but the old lady bore it with perfect calmness, her and this gentleman who is here, the fault is
knowing very well the man she had to deal with. your own, not mine; first in bringing him hither,' I have observed something I do not like," and secondly in not watching sufficiently what
said Sir John, after he had seen that the door was passing under your own eyes."
was completely closed; but there he paused,   "You are mistaken, woman," retorted Sir
and turned his eyesto the ground, as if medi- John, sharply. " I do watch with care that you
tating what he should say next.            little know. When did I ever neglect towatch "'
"Pray what may it be, sir?" asked the old    " During the four or five first days that he was
iady, after waiting a moment. " Nothing in my here," answered Mrs. Culpepper, putting a pickconduct, I hope."                          ling-pot on one of the shelves behind her, and,"No," said her master, "no. I think you not losing her composure in the slightest degree.
would take care; and yet there was a look of "The second or third day he was alone with
consciousness on Emmeline's face just now, her for an hour in the saloon while you were
when I returned to her and this young man, talking with Martin, the horse-couper, about
which has awakened a doubt."               some horses you wanted to buy-"
"Indeed!" said Mrs.:Culpepper.  "What   ",And other much more important things,"
could cause that?'Had they been talking long?" added Sir John, significantly.
"' Only for a moment," replied Sir John New-   "I know nothing about that," replied the
ark; " and I heard him laughing just as I left housekeeper.  " All I know is, that they were
the room.".                  there together; but I do not believe that any
" Then, depend upon it, there was nothing to harm is done as yet; for, from words and acbe afraid of," rejoined Mrs. Culpepper.,' People tions which I have heard and remarked, I judge
don't laugh when they are talking secrets. Do they have said little to each other. The conyou think he was laughing at any thing you had versation I speak of I contrived to break in upon
said or done? for then very likely the lady might three times, though I had no business to meddle
took conscious, thinking you might judge she with it, you being in the house. I wonder he
had taken part in what was offensive to you."  is not smitten, indeed, for she is as pretty a
It was happily turned; and, after a moment's creature as ever eye saw; but then I suppose
thought, her master answered,              it is that he has seen a great number of finer" It may be so. Not, indeed, that it was me dressed beauties in foreign lands where you say
he laughed at, but probably the old man, Sir  he has been, and, if he is poor himself, I supJames Mount."                              pose he will want money, which he is not likely
" The old fool!" muttered Mrs. Culpepper, i to get here. Indeed, he can not tell that there
between her teeth. "I would have him as little  ever was a chance of it. These foreign soldieras possible in my house, if I had one. He is captains are not the people to fall in love with
sure to make mischief if he meddles with any ladies without fortunes.  No, no,.that is not
one's affairs.".         likely."
A dark smile came upon Sir John Newark's I  She shook her head gravely as she spoke
Jatce; and he thought, though he did not say it, these words in a moralizing tone, and Sir John'' That is what I desire."                 smiled again as he felt his suspicions give way'rhere is no tool in a knave's hand so useful before the old woman's arguments.
sometimes as the innocent mischief-maker who    "There is much truth in what you say, my
is dangerous to honest people;.and although Sir i good lady," he observed; " but be pleased to
James Mount's inquisitiveness and indiscretion  remember that no caution can be too great. I
were usually annoying and sometimes embar- had my own reasons for bringing this gentleman
rassing to his more astute neighbor, yet he had  here; but I have been deceived in one particu-.often been rendered very serviceable to Sir John  lar, ay, and helped to deceive myself. They
Newark's plans and purposes. Sir John was told me he was married-at least, gave me to
very confident in his own abilities, in his knowl- understand so. Now, however, I find that he
edge of the world and of the man, and he did is not; and although I do not think he is of a
not in the least fear to employ him as a tool in mind nor in a condition to do so foolish a thing.any work where it was necessary to lead others as to wed a penniless girl, when he might do




HENRY SMEATON.                                        69
better, yet I will not have the slightest care neg- Stair, but none arrived. Rumors were thick and
lected to insure that he has no opportunity what- busy in the country of dangerous proceedings in
ever of filling her ear with lover's prattle.  I the north of England and in Scotland. In the
have told you Emmeline must marry Richard. immediate neighborhood of Ale-Manor, however,
It is necessary to me and to both of them."    the public mind seemed more quiet and tranquil.
"Very well, Sir John," answered the house- Some of the magistrates had relapsed into that
keeper, dryly.  "' I have no interest in the mat- careless indifference from which the intelligence
ter."                                        of great dangers had aroused them; those, of a
" I will give you an interest," said Sir John, firmer and more consistent character, were tranlaying his finger on Mrs. Culpepper's arm. quil from a sense of readiness and preparation
"I Now mark me: I promise you, upon my hon- fbr any event; and others, more keen, astute, and
or, that the very day which sees Richard mar- actie, were igorously carrying on the measure
ried to Emmeline, I will give you one hundred which they had previously resolved to take, but
guineas."                                    with as much quiet secrecy as decision.
"4 Ay, now you do give me an interest," an-   In the interior of Ale-Manor Hotse, the days
swered the housekeeper, with a brighter face;  passed  almost wit that incident. wereh  mme"but you will have a hard matter to bring it line and Smeaton saw that they were watched,
about, Sir Johni, Master Richard is so very young and put the greatest restraint upon their actions,
-two years younger than the Lady Emmeline words, and looks that was possible with a court-two years yooger thanthe LadyEmme eous and kindly demeanor to each other.
herself-and then you know, again, that he is   Mrs. d kindly de    d    about as usual; wother
really younger than his years. It is true, the   Mrs. Culpep.r glided about as usual; was
really younger than his years. It is true, thseen here and seen there when nobody expected
young lady likes him well enough to marry him, her; and by her quiet and demure manner, satisI dare say; and, if he were but to fall in love fled even Sir John Newark that she was obeying
with her, as I dare say he will by-and-by-for his orders implicitly.
if you keep them  always caged up together,   Richard Newark was the only one who enlivwhat can they do — she will like him better ened the scene with little agitations. From time
still. As to this gentleman here, I don't think to time, in his rash, wild way, and with his figthere is any thing in it. I must have seen it, I urative, but not very choice language, he would
must have known it. They, can not hoodwink touch so close on the well-concealed feelings of
me, though they might blind you."           the lovers as to alarm them both, and then, dart.
"How happens it your eyes are so much ing gayly away to some other theme, leave them
sharper than mine?" asked Sir John, with a scathless. He kept his father in some anxiety
sneer. "I should like to know your secret, if too, for a greater portion than ever of his careit is so."-                                 less, almost reckless spirit seemed to have en"How happens it!" echoed the housekeeper. tered into him. He contrived to tumble out of
"First, because I am a woman, and next, be- a boat into the water far out in the bay, and
cause you have a great stake in the matter. might have been drowned, as there was nobody
Men never see these things; apd, when suspi- in the skiff with him, had not swimming been
cions come across them, always fix upon the acquired so early, and practiced so continually,
wrong person; and then, when they have much that it was almost as natural to him as walking.
at stake, they are sure to be blind altogether, or He burst a fowling-piece, also, by putting in a
tosee crooked. I have not lived sixty years in double charge in a moment of forgetfulness.
the world for nothing, Sir John, and I know men But he escaped without injury, and only mournand women both well."                        ed over his shattered gun.
She shook her head oracularly as she spoke;   It is not to be supposed, however, that the reand although in self-confidence there is some- straint to which they were obliged to subnit
thing rather annoying to others, yet there is was otherwise than verypainful to Sreaton and
something very impressive too. If a person Emmeline. Theydid not seewvhereit was likepossessed of it have any talents, it is sure to ly to termisate. It was natural that the male
lover should bear this state of things with more
double them in the estimation of others, while          bear this state of things with mo
it may treble them  in his own. Thus, at all impatience than the lady; for women, even in
events, somiething is gained. Even a fool does very early life, have a sort of prescience that their
not suffier by that possession; for, if it does portionistoeidure withoutmnuring.  Smeanothing else, it serves to cover his folly from  toand was almost tempted to cast of all reserve,
and follow what he felt to be a rash and even a
the eyes of more modest'fools than himself. dangerous course.  None knowt those who
Sir John Newark knew Mrs. Culpepper to be   b          course. None know, but those who
Sir John N~aewark  knew Mrs. Culpepper to be have experienced it, bow unbearable it is to be
nearly as acute as she represented herself, and  ave experienced it, how  nearable it i to be
e took the rest for granted upon her own constantly in the presence of a beloved object
without the opportunity, even by a whispered
showing.                                     word or a glance oflovea to tell the feelings that
With renewed injunctions, then, to watch are busy ill the heart.
every thing that passed, not only during his ab-    How this might have ended, and whether he
sence, but when he was in the house, he left might ormight not have been hurried into aly
her, and the old lady took up her account-book rashness had this state continued much longer, I
again, murmuring to herself, "The knave! He can nlot say; for, although he had been well
thinks a hundred guineas will do every thing."  drilled by adversity, by difficulties, and by dank
gers, and was competent to deal as calmly as any
man with most of the ordinary things of life, yet
CHAPTER XVIII.                  he was impetuous by nature, and the sensations
which he now experienced were so new and
SEVERAL days passed, and the time elapsed strange to him that he could not bring them unwhich was requisite to bring an answer from  der any rule obtained from experience of the
London to Smaeaton's letter addressed to Lord past. That state, however, was not destined to




70                              HENRY SMEATON.
last long; for, on the fourth day after Sir James ton, "and T trust that she loves me; buit it is a
Mount's visit, as he sat in his room very early in  very different thing to promise me her hand at
the morning, enjoying the splendid rising of the  some future period, and to agree to fly Nwith me
sun, and indulging the thoughts with which Iov- to a iorein lancd at a very short notice. The
ors vivify the msornlig beams, he heard a gentle  motives, the objects, her ovwn state and condition
tap at his door. No sound had previously dis- here, the very necessity of her going, even if she
turbed the silence which had reigned throughout did not go to be my wmife, must all be explained
the house dmring the night; nO housemaid's pail to her, and I have no opportunity of explaining..
had been heard clattering; no ancient serving- I see her not for a single instant during the day
man of matutizial habits had unbarred windows  without witnesses; and though I pass up and
tacd opened doors; and without venturing to say  down the stair. more fiequeintly, perhaps, than
aloud" C'ome in," Sineaton rose to ascertain with  is prudent, for the purpose of catching one stray
his eyes who was his early visitor. He found  passing word, I have never met her.,"
good MIrs. Culpepper herself standing in the pas-    "That is because it is another stair-case," ob
sage without; but as soon as she saw that he was served the old woman. " You pass close by her
up and' dressed, she entered in silence with her every day; but there is nio door open on this side.
noiseless step, and closed the door behind her.   Let me see," she continued, pressing her hand
"'I have wanted to see you, sir, for some time,"  upon her eyes. " I think I can.manage it for
she said; " but Sir John Newark is all eyes, and  you; but you must be very discreet. You kslow,
T dare not let him perceive that I know any thing  I dare say, every corner of your sitting-room
atallofyou, forfear of spoiling every thing. But there beyond, and you must have remarked a
I thought that old Nanny might very well come  door, like a closet-door, always locked. It is a
to see her boy, even in his bed-room, and so I closet-a mere slip. It leads out into the pasgot myself up early. There are strange stories sage close by the state-room, behind whifch is the'
running about the country, sir. They say peo- priest's chamlber.  The priest's chamber is close
pie are actually in arms in the North. Oh, Har- to that of Emmeline, and she can come out of her
ry, have nothing to do with them, for this thing  own room into the same passage. To-night,
will never succeed, depend upon it. More thanl  when you come to bed, you shall find somewhere
one half' of the geintry, and most men of the mid- or another-let me see where I will put it-yes,
die station, are against it."                that will do-you will find, on the upper shelf
" I have not the slightest intention, my dear of that cupboard there in the corner, the key of
Nanny, to take any part in these rash move- the closet which leads to the passage. To-morments,' replied Sineaton.'" I am quite as well row morning early, before any one else is up,
aware of theiL hopelessness as you canl be."  rise and go through the closet to the state room.
"But I fear Sir John," said the old woman. You shall find Emmeline there-or she will come'I fear him very much. He is just the man to  very soon. But mind you do not linger long to
keep out of all perils himself, and to put other gether, and do not make any noise. Speaklowpeople in for the purpose of seeing what he can  tread softly-and on no account open the way into
get out of the spoil. I wish to Heaven you were  the priest's chamber, for that would be heard to
away, pleasant as it is to see you. I wish you  a certainty by him who sleeps below. You must
were in France again. Can you not go, and keep  get her to decide speedily, for the clouds as
yourself quiet there?"                      gatheerilng fast, and I would fain you were gone.'"
Smeaton shook his head with a faint and some-   "If I am not to stay with her long," replied
what melancholy smile.                       Smeaton, "it is very probable that I may not be
"I can not go at present, Nanny," he said; able to explain all at once."
"that is impossible. I have ties to this land    "Then you must get her to come back the
now, more hard to break than those which bind:  next morning," said the old housekeeper; "foar
me to any other."                            you must not stay long together —lalf an hour at
"Canl you not take her with you?" inquired  the utmost-even if you rise atfive. Remember,
the old woman, in a low tone. " Listen what I there are people up in the house always before
have devised for you. You love her. I know  six, and no one can tell where they may wander.
you love her. and she loves you. Take her with  This is a strange household, sir, where every
you; marry her under my lady's eye, and with  servant is a spy upon the other, and the master a
her sanction; keep perfectly quiet, whatever spy upon all. It needs skillful doings; but I so
takes place in Eng1rand; and, when all is still contrive that often, in reporting to him what I
again, demand to return and resume your rights, do, the other people do just what I desire. They
and I will so work here while you are gone that tell him that I am pryinghere and prying there
that dear child shall have her rights too, in spite  whenever he is absent, and am in all sorts of
of all the cunning of the cunninlgest man within  rooms and places, as if I was mistress of the
the four seas."                              house. That is just what he wants; and though,
"But ho  call it be managed?" asked Smea- now and then, when he catches me creeping
ton. "And will she go upon so sudden and un- about, and any one is present, he speaks sharply
expected a proposal?"                       as if he were angry-it is but a pretense, which
"Have you said nothing to her?" returned the  no one knows better how to make. I do tell him
housekeeper, with a look of surprise. " Have  almost every thing that happens, but that almost
you not told her all your heart? I thought-I  covers all I wish to hide. I do him no wrong,
fancied-I felt sure, on that day that you were  because he has no right in this house; and I al
so long alone together, that you must have spok- ways keep the means in my own hands of baffling
enx all that need be said. Why, besides the ride  him when I please. If he knew it, I dare say I
in the morning, you were wallring up and down  should soon be found down the deep draw-well
the terrace in the evening for more than two  in the garden; but he shall Ilot know it till I an,
ours, w-ith Dick sitting whistling uipon a stone  safe beyond his reach."
at a distance."                                " Then I may trust to find Emnleline there,'
"' She knows that I love her," replied Smea- said Smeaton, with a joyful heart.




H1ENRY SMEATON.
4" Yes, I think so," replied the housekeeper, in  duced a certain feeling of timidity, though not
a more doubtfnl tone than he liked.  " She will great, and she was up and dressed before Mrs.
never refuse to go, surely. I will persuade her  Culpepper presented herself on the following
somehow, and love will take part with le.  Oh, morning. Her timidity, however, had by this
yes, she will come, I am sure. But now I will time increased, and she besought the old lady to
go; and before to-morrow morning I must con- come with her and be present; but Mrs. Culpeptrive to have the locks well oiled and the key  per knew more of love and lover's feelings than
placed for you. Good-by, my dear boy.  Be  Emmeline, and was quite well aware that she
upon your guard against whatever Sir John pro-  would be one too many at their meeting.
poses, for you can not tell what scheme may be    "No, my dear child, no," she said.  "Young
at the bottom of any thing he says ordoes."    gentlemen, when they speak to young ladies
I must not pause to notice all the mingled feel-  whom they love, do not like to have old women
ings which occupied the heart of the young no- listening.  I will wait in the passage, however,
bleman after the old housekeeper had left him.  and give you notice when it is time to part; but
They were agitating enough; and though her  as to every thin else, tou had better be alone."
words were well calculated to encourage hope    In her heart perhaps Emrmeline agreed with
of the speedy fiffillment of his warmest desires,  the old housekeeper; at all events, she submityet they plunged him in thoughtful reveries dur-  ted readily, and with a faltering step and someing the day, which did not escape the keen eye  what agitated air, followed to the place of interof Sir John Newark. Smeaton saw, however,  view.  Smeaton was there before her, and he
tlsat his absent amood, and grave and thoughtful took care to close the door.
countenance, were remarked, and he turned sus-    I will nlot dwell upon what passed between
picion from the course he feared it might take  them. Many important things were proposed,
by expressing much surprise that he had receiv- discussed, and. settled; much was to be told, exed no answer from Lord Stair. Emmeline, too, plained, and listened to; yet nothing was setmarked the change in his demeanor, and was  tled, and very little discussed. Marvelous how
somewhat anxious, if the trutlh must be told; but the time ranl on in the words of love and the feelfor her anl explanation was coming very soon.    ing of happiness! They forgot the future in the
I wish that I could, but fear that I can not, con- present; and they were just approaching the
vey to the mind of the reader the feelings with  very object of their meeting, when the old housewhich she listened to the words of the old house- keeper quietly opened the door and told them it
keeper when Mrs. Cullpepper visited her that was time to part.  Then came the hurried and
night. I dread that I may suggest, even in the  whispered engagement to meet again on the folleast degree, an idea that she was unwomanly, lowing morning, with a pledge to each other to
foibrward, or bold, when I say that the thought of  act more wisely and providently, and use their
seeing Smeaton on the following morning in pri- time to better purposes.
vate imparted no other emotion than joy; yet so    Thus they parted; and Enmmeline, agitated
it was.  Emmeline's character, however, was  asnd confused with the inebriating taste of early
eninently feminine, in the finest, noblest signlifi- love, returned to her chamber to dream dreams
cation of that word. The idea of a clandestine  of happiness.  Her head had rested on his bointerview with her betrothed made her whole  som; his arms had clasped her to his healt; his
heart thrill; it agitated, alnost overpowered her; lips had been placed on hers. It was all for the
but it was all with joy. Her education had in- first time; and that, first time works an eventvolved none of the conventional restraints of  ftl change iln woman's heart.
women in her class of society: restraisned, tied    They met again upon the following day; and,
down she had been, touglh in a different way. though strongly tempted as they had been beShe knew not, she could not conceive, that any  fore, they were wise, and remembered that muck
thing was wroug, any thing that could be even  had to be determined.  Neither upon this con
consstrued into wrong, in thus meeting him she  versation wil I dwell any more than upon that
loved. Her spirit sprang to meet his, to tell him  which preceded. The reader can easily imagall she felt, to pour into his bosom the pent-up  ine what were the feelings of a young, innocent,
thoughts of the last week.  She could as much  inexperienced girl, when a proposal was placed
have fancied that a sky-lark could be blamed for before her to quit the dwellinlg in which she had
trillin g'his glad song in air over the nest of his beens brought up-to leave the protection to
feathered mate, as she could be by the good and  which she had been accustomed-and to go in
-wise for that which she was about to do. The  silence and in secrecy to a distant land with one
world is full of conventionalities, which have ever whom she loved dearly, but had not long known.
been accumulatiing since the creation; they are  She doubted him not; she trusted him entirely;
the fetters of the f:allen. Adam and Eve found  she felt sure that he would take no base advantthem out as soon as they had tasted the fruit of age of her confidence; she believed him fully
the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, and  when he told her that she should be to him as a
the green leaves which they twined to cover sister till she became a bride; but yet her heart
themr fbrmed the first sophistication.  But dear sank and her limbs trembled, and it was with
Emmeline was in somle sort like Eve before she  difficulty that her lips could be brought to titter
suffered herself to be beguiled by the serpent. the promise.
She had not tasted of that fruit.  She knew little    Smeaton took every pains to reassure and
of evil, and had not a heart to imagine it; and, comfort her. Perhaps the first mnight seem  a
as I have said, the idea, of meeting her lover, and  strange way, but yet it was a very effectual one.
enjoying one quiet hour of tranquil conversation  According to a custom which he had seen in othwith hirn, suggcested nothing but thloughts of joy. er lands, he bound her to himself, and himself to
Some vague words, issdeed, which the old  her, by a simple form of betrothal. With her
housekeeper dropped, before she left her, in re- hand in his, he pledged himself to her forever,
gard to the coming interview and the influence  and made her repeat the same promise toward.
it was likely to have upon all her future fate, pro- I hin; then they mutuallv called upon God to




l "ENRY'SME ATON.
ibless them as they kept that vow; and then he thing rare with him-and discoursed flunntiy.placed a small jeweled ring upon her finger-an  upon matters of literature and affairs of state;.ancient gem of his house-and, after leaving it not very profoundly, indeed, yet speciously and
there for a moment, and pressing a kiss upon the well. After the meal, he asked Smeaton when
hand that bore it,: e told her to fasten it round he would like to ride over to Mount Place, and:her neck with a ribbon, and keep it always in the young nobleman replied,
iher bosom.                                      "In a day or two.'"
Still, however, he fround her agitated, perhaps   Sir John seemed surprised and a little ineorti
I may say alarmed; but then he whispered a fied.
few words in her ear, and all irresolution was at   " I understood your lordship," he said, in a
an end.  Emmeline's bright eyes grew brighter cold tone, " that you would go to-day, when we
as they fixed upon his face with a look not fuller were talking of this matter yesterday' -and, judgof surprise tlhan of joy, and, clasping her hands ing that'it might be as well that Mount Place:together, she said,                           should be free of any unpleasant guests, I sent
"Then I go safely-rilghtly.  It is a duty. I intimation to Sir James this morning that such
no longer fear.'                              would be the case. True, I thould not have
"You shall have the paper to-morrow," said meddled.'Busy-bodies are always doing misSmeaton; "lbut, as soon as you have read it, it chief"
had better be destroyed. I have kept it con-   "It matters not," rejoined Smeaton, good-hucoealed where nobody could find it, even when moredly, for ihis heart was opened by its own
my baggage was searched in London; but now, happiness. "' I can ride over to-day as well as
in justice to you, my beloved, I must show it, to-morrov; and, as you have sent, I will do so."'that you may feel yourself justified in all that   " Pray do not put yourself to any inconvenyou do."                                      ience," said Sir John Newark,'with all his urbanAgain they were forced to part.'Little more ity restored.  " I only feared it might mortif-.remained to he settled, and that, they thought,  the good old man."
would easily be done. The hour, the manner,   "Nay, I will not do that," answered'his guest.
the means of flight were to be arranged-; but "I will set off immediately."
flight was determined, and they parted happily.   "Perhalps you had better wait an hour or two,"
When Enimeline was in the solitude of:her remarked Sir John, "in case our friend should,own chamber, however, and when all she had have any preparations to make.":promised, all she was about to perform, came    "Oh no," returned Sineaton, "I will take the
upon her mind like a dream, >she was moved morning-tide.  The less of ceremony on such.deeply. Dangers, diiculties, she thought of lit- occasions the better. Am I to have the pleasure
tie; but the strange newness of all that was be- of your company?"
fore her alarmed and agitated her. The very    Sir John Newaik shook'his head with a rueful
thought of leaving the wild, lonely scenes round countenance, saying,
Ale, leaving them perhaps forever, produced a   "I shall spend the next two or three hours
very melancholy impression on' her mind. There less agreeably. I have some persons coming to
was not a rock or hill, a towering clif, an in- me upon matters of dull business; but, if they
dentation of the coast-hardly a tree all around leave me in time, I will join you at Mount Place.
— that she did not know as a familiar friend. And now, my dear lord, let me revert to a suo-'They had been the companions of her youth and ject which has been mentioned between us beof her infancy:: she had held more communings fore. Doubtless Sir James Mount will speak to
with them  than with humnan'beings; she had you about the sale of Keanton. If so, you will
peopled them with her thoughts-; they had link- hear what he says, and decide accordingly. His
ed themselves to her heart by the strong ties of offer may tmeet your views, or it may not. Should:association:; they had been as brothers and sis- you decline in his case, anld yet wish to raise'ters to her in the solitude of her own medita- some money without parting with your property,
tions; and; in the absence of other objects of af- I have forty thousand pounds quite at your serv-'fection, she had clung to them as if they had ice upon mortgage, if you choose to take it. The
been living things. Love must be very power- estate, I believe, is fully equal to such a burden,
fll to break through all such bonds, and to make still leaving it your own."
the heart yield up, with no other portion of re-   They were alone on the terrace at this mogret than a passing melancholy, all that we have ment, and what might have come next I can not
-attached ourselves to for many years. Emme- say, for their conversation was interrupted by
line was going to leave them all, as she thought Richard Newark running up and inquiri ng wheth-to leave them all in a few days, and it was not er Smeaton was about to ride out, as he was
to be expected that she should do so without wild for a gallop.
some grief; but love had by this time the full   "You can not go with Colonel Smeaton tomastery, and she did not and would not repent day, Richard," replied his father, grav~ely. " He
of the promise she had given. Its fulfillment, is going -to Sir James Mount's,'where your comnhowever, was far more distant than she antici- pany may not be agreeable."
pated; and, before nightfall of that same day,   The lad gave a shy, sidelong  glance at his fathe relation of almost all things round her had ther, and then, instantly resuming his light, reckbeen changed.                                 less tone, answered,
"I'll ride with him part of the way, then.. _ ——.l.e~,.~~n        There can be no harm in that."
Sir John Newark frowned; but Richard purCHAPTER XIX.                    sued his point, and, catching Smieaton by the
arm, exclaimed,
SIR JoHN NEWARK was in a peculiarly gay and    " Come, let us go and see the horses rnado
lively mood when his noble guest descended to ready."
breakfast,  He ventured upon a jest or two-a    Smeaton followed him  to the stable; and,




HENRY SMEATON.                                        73
though he returred for a few minutes to the he should have no flrther occasion for his attendnouse to make some change in his dress, he saw  ance, rode on with his own man.
nis entertainer no more that day.             His old military habits led him to mark every
In less than twenty minutes, he and Richard thing around him, in traveling, with greater atNewark were on horseback, and, followed by the tention than men usually bestow on small objects,
young nobleman's own servant and another man, and his eyes were soon withdrawn firom the
were riding away in the direction of Mount Place. house and the scaffold-poles with which the two
They spurred on at a rapid rate, and every mil- wings were disfigured to fresh marks of horses'
ute or two Smeaton could see the boy's eyes hoofs deeply indented in the somewhat soft road.
turned to his face with a sort of inquiring look; These traces were very numerous, and it seemed
but he took no notice, leaving his young compan- as if a large cavalcade had recently passed up
ion: to explain himself if he thought fit.  toward the house. Without slackening his speed,
"Don't stay long at. Mount Place, colonel," the young nobleman looked to the right and left,
said Richard, after they had gone about half a in order to discover, if possible, whether this
mile. "Mount Place is a rat-trap."          cavalcade had been a disciplined body or not;
" I do not understand what you mean, Dick," but the marks of the horses' hoofs were so irregreplied Smeaton; "but I do not think I am like- ular, that the suspicion which had first crossed
ly to be caught."                           his mind soon vanished. He easily perceived
"What I mean is plain enough," pursued the that some of the beasts had been going at a can.
lad. " I have heard that in the year'92 a whole ter, others at a trot; some keeping the middle
party of gentlemen were taken at Mount Place, of the road, and somne running upon the green
and then again, later still, some more. The old turf under the trees.
man himself got off once, but the next time he   Riding on at a good pace, however, the young
was taken with the rest, and was eighteen months nobleman soon approached what he had conin prison. Either the lawyers found out that he ceived to be a lawn, which now turned out to be
was not a man, but a monkey, and did not hang a large grass court, or bowling-green, surrounded
him, or else they could prove nothing against by dwarf walls, with the road sweeping round
him; but they hanged one or two of the others, on either side to the terrace above, He could
or did something with them; so, if I were you, I perceive servants in gaudy liveries standing at
would not stay long at Mount Place, for fear of the principal door of the house, but there was no
being made to chew unlawful bacon."          appearance of horses; and, trotting on, he disSmeaton smiled, but at the same time demand- mounted and inquired for Sir James.
ed, in a grave tone,                           "He is within, sir, and expects you," replied
" Have you any particular cause for your warn- the worthy old blue-bottle whom he addressed;
ing, Richard?"                              and then, turning to Smeaton's servant, he added,
" No-no," replied the lad, hesitating a little; " Take the horses round to the court at the back."'only two messengers went off from Ale this   But Smeaton interfered promptly. "No, no,"
morning-one to Mount Place, and the other to he said; " walk them up and down here upon
Exeter. I have known harm happen after mes- the terrace. My stay can be but very short."
sengers went off, especially when they have gone   Thus saying, he turned and followed the servw
so early."                                   ant into the house, passed through a great hall,
Smeaton paused thoughtfully ere he replied.  and up a fine old oak stair-case. As he ascended,
"I will not stay long, he said at length; " it he heard many voices above; but, without hesiis but a visit of ceremony."                 tation, he went on. The moment after, the door
"Then nowv; I will take some other road," re- of a large room was thrown open, and he found
joined Richard Newark; "'but mind you are himself in the presence of eight or nine persons
home before dinner, or I shall think they have besides the master of the house.
kidnapped you."                                Smeaton was greatly annoyed at the unexpect"No fear of that," said his companion; " but, ed position in which he was placed; but his uras. your father evidently did not like your going banity did not forsake him, and with good-huat all, I think we had better, as you say, take mored cordiality he met the foolish old magisseparate paths."                            trate, who came forward and addressed hinm
" How goes it with you and Emmeline?" asked somewhat after the following fashion:
Richard, lowering his voice, and giving a gay   "Dear me, my noble friend-noble friendlook toward his companion. " Sad work, noble noble friend, I did not expect you so soon-not
gentleman! The poor doves in their separate so soon —not quite so soon; or I should have been
cages have been forced to silence their cooing. at the door to receive you-receive you —receive
Ah! they will be obliged to come to me, in the you. Let me introduce you'to Sir Harry Blake
end, to help them;" and, laughing lightly, he -Sir Harry, Colonel Smeaton — Lord Talboys,
turned his horse's head and galloped away.   Colonel Sineaton."  And so he went on round
Smeaton pursued his onward course, directed the whole room, repeating each name three or
from time to time by the servant of Sir John four times with vast volubility.
Newark who accompanied him, and at the end    Smeaton bowed round, and then, drawing himof little more than an hour came to a part of the self up somewhat stiffly to check any unpleasant
country where trim hedge-rows and well-culti- communications which he apprehended might be
vated fields showed the neighborhood of some made, commenced a conversation with Sir James
gentleman's seat. At length a long and beautiful Mount upon the weather and the beautiful scenavenue of tall elms was seen, with the road be- ery round his house. He could see looks of surtween the trees sloping gently upward, and prise and impatience upon the countenance of
terminating at what seemed a spacious lawn, several of those present; but he went on in the
with a handsome house raised upon a high ter- same strain, giving little opportunity to his host
race above.                                  for a change of topic. At length, however, a
"That is Mount Place, sir," said Sir John square-built, black-faced man, who was present,
Newark's servant; and Smeaton, telling him that cut across the conversation, saying, "I beg yourl
b                                   0'g       egyll




AI 41                           HENRY SMEATON.
pardon for interrupting you, Sir James, but it is little court of St. Germain's; and all that he had
high time that we should consider the more im- witnessed of the mean intrigues of that court, and
portant objects of our meeting. I suppose Col- the shameless ingratitude of its princes toward
onel Smeaton, or by whatever name we are to some of their best and most faithful servants, toknow him, will take part in our deliberations."  gether with the licentiousness, the weakness, the
Smeaton instantly caught'at the opportunity frivolity, and the baseness of the principal perafforded him. " Really, I have to apologize," he sons who surrounded them, if not of the princes
said, "for intruding at such a moment. I ex- themselves, had produced a feeling of disgust
pected to find you, my dear sir, quite alone; and, which, although it could not alter his view of the
had I known that any important business was to supposed justice of their cause, put an end to evbe transacted here to-day, I should not have pre- ery thing like zeal in their favor. He felt with
sented myself. I will now immediately with- Addison's friend, the poet Tickell, in the," Epis
draw, and trust to have the pleasure of seeing you tie to a Gentleman at Avignon:"
again before I leave England."
"But, my dear sir, you do not know —you do  4" From James and Rome I feel my heart decline,
do  otknw, cie Sr ams.   And fear, O Brunswick,'twill be wholly thine;
not know-you do not know," cried Sir James.    Yet still his share thy rival will contest,
" Our meeting was quite of a sudden —quite of a    And still the double claim divides my breast:
sudden —quite of a sudden. The intelligence     The fate of James with pitying eyes I view,
that General Foster is in arms for the king —for    And wish my homage were not Brunswick's due;
To James, my passions and my weakness guide,
the king —for the king, and the rumor that his    But reason sways meto the victor's side."
majesty-his majesty has actually landed —"
" This is serious news indeed, Sir James," in-   The progress of the human mind, and the deterrupted Smeaton, still drawing toward the velopment of more just notions of government
door; " but, as I have no information myself and of the rights of people as well as of princes,
upon these matters, and have no authority of any had been great during the twenty-five years to
kind, I can not afford you advice or assistance. which I have alluded.  Simeaton had mingled
My visit was merely one of compliment in return with many classes in many countries, had heard
for yours; and, as I have business at Keanton, I opinions and arguments which were never utterwill take my leave."                         ed in the courts of kings, anld it was impossible
With these words, and with a bow to the as- for him to feel in the cause of the house of Stuart
sembled gentlemen, who seemed a good deal dis- that same devoted attachment which had led his
concerted, he left the room and descended the father to submit to every loss without murmur
stairs, followed to his horse's side by Sir James ing, and to bear ill usage without complaint
Mount, pouring forth apologies and explanations, Nevertheless, he felt much pain at the thought
to which Smeaton turned a deaf ear. He con- of all the disastrous results which might accrue
tented himself, as his only reply, with asking the from the enterprise which had now commenced,
nearest way to Keanton; and, having received and his ride onward toward his mother's proper
information from one of the old servants of the ty was a melancholy one.
house (Sir James himself being too murch con-   We must leave him, however, for a little, to
fused by all that had occurred to answer him  inquire into what followed his somewhat abrupt
distinctly), he rode away, somewhat indignant at withdrawal from the house of Sir James Mount
the situation in which he had been placed. He That worthy magistrate —shrugging his shoal
judged, and judged rightly, that the persons ders, confused and irritated, but thoroughly con
whom he had seen at Mount Place had been vinced that every thing he had done or could do
gathered together in haste on the first intimation was perfectly just, proper, and discreet —return
of his coming, with the view of committing him  ed to his companions above, and found them in
to participation in the rash schehmes which were a state of great excitement. They all fell upon
then beginning to develop themselves; and he him at once, declaring that he had altogether
clearly saw that, notwithstanding the studious mnisled them.
manner in which the old magistrate had called   "Why, this man seems as cold a Whig," ex
him Colonel Smeaton, his real name and rank claimed one," as any Hanover rat that ever swam
had been communicated to every one present.   over the sea from Bremen."
But other and even more painful considerations   " You represented to me," said another, " that
than those which affected him personally now  he came over expressly to ascertain what could
pressed upon his attention. The intelligence be done for the good cause."
that a gallant but not very discreet officer was   " You invited me this morning to meet and
actually in arms in a desperate cause, and the consult with him," said a. third. " I have your
rumor that an unfortunate prince, who, up to this note in my pocket at this moment."
time, had been suffering solely for the errors of   " I doubt whether he is the Earl of Eskdale at.
his ancestors, had cast himself madly into the all," said a fourth. " One of that family would
difficulties and dangers of an ill-considered insur- not be so lukewarm."
rection against the existing government, grieved   Here Sir James Mount himself, who had hithhim deeply. By principle or by prejudice, as erto only replied by shrugs and grimaces, found
the reader may think fit to call it, he was attach- himself on more certain ground, and replied
ed to the exiled house of Stuart; his ancestors boldly,
had shed their blood and lost their property in   " Why, I know him, Sir Harry. I have seen
its defense; all the traditions of his family were him  myself at Nancy-at Nancy —at Nancy.
in favor of its cause; and perhaps no man might There is  not a doubt-there is not a doubthave felt more ready to unsheath the sword for there is not a doubt of who he is. As to his coldits re-establishment on the throne of England, ness, it may be all discretion-discretion. He
had not many things occurred within the last came expecting to see and consult with me alone;
five-and-twenty years to weaken in him that he- and as to my inviting you here, gentlemen-inreditary attachment which had brought ruin upon viting you here-inviting you here, I did it for
his father. His early life had been spent at the the best, and on good advice. Look here what




HENRY SMEATON.                                        75
Sir John Newark says;" and, drawing a note us of risings in different parts of the country.
from his pocket, he read as follows:         No one can deny our right so to meet, or even
say that it was not our duty to do so. Bring a
wrMY  tWOsHeefUL   woD  stXCoLtET  yfIEND, — t   light directly, Joseph," he continued, addressing
I write you these few words to tell you that the servant.   Or no opposition whatever to
our friend the colonel will be over with you this the servants " Offer nlo opposition whatever to
morningl, to speak upo the. important business whomsoever may be at the head of the soldiers.
unof  pon the important husiness aBut the liglht-the first thing is the light."
you wot of. He seems perfectly confident of his But the light-spoke, he first thing is the had received
As he spoke, he drew the note he had received
own safety, and to entertain no objection to meet- from Sir James Mount from his pocket, and threw
ing any one-in which I thinkhe is rash; hut I  it and another paper into the fire-place. All who
would have nobody at my house except discreet were present olowed his example; nd, as the
people, if I were ill your case. Keanton is so were present followed his example; and, as the
people, if I were in your case. Keanton is so
near you, that most likely he will go over there light did  e s soon as they expected, the
before he frilly decides upon what he will do. It pile was set on fire by so5me gunpowder and a
is a very valuable property, and, I should think, pistol-flint, and every scrap of proper was utterly
isou aht to produce property, ad, od su if sould." think, destroyed. This was not done a moment too
soon, for the sparks were still wandering about
"' What he meafi about Keanton —ahout Kean- in the tinder when the high sheriff of the counton-about Keanton, I can not divine," said Sir ty entered, accompanied by the elderly general
James.                                       officer in the brown suit who had played a quiet
" He means it as a blind," replied one of the but important part at the meeting of the magisothers; "and, in case his letter were to fall into trates in Exeter.
any other hands, he would vow that it all referred   "I am sorry to disturb you, gentlemen," said
to some matter of ordinary business. Ah! Sir the high sheriff "but you have met here this.John Newark, Sir John Newark! we all know  morning in somewhat unusual numbers for purhim well. He is not to be trusted."          poses which require explanation."
"Stay a minute," said Lord Talboys. " The   " Methinks, to a magistrate of your prudence
letter may bear a different interpretation.  Sir and experience," said Sir Harry Blake, "but litJohn distinctly says that the earl will decide tie explanation would be required, if, as I take
upon nothing till he has been to Keanton, there- it for granted, the sinister rumors which have
fore we could not expect him to open himself to reached us of armed risings in various parts of the
us now. Then, again, this matter as to the sale country have come to your ears also. But explaof Keanton may imply that he wishes first to see nation is very easily given. We met in these perwhat funds he shalt have at command in order ilous circumstances to devise means for preservto raise men. You say he is a very celebrated ing the peace of this district, and I think you
officer, Sir James?"                         will not deny, Mr. High Sheriff, that it was our
"Very distinguished - very distinguished -  duty to do so."
very distinguished indeed," replied the old gen-    I was not aware, Sir Harry," replied the gentleman.                                     tleman whom he addressed, with a quiet sneer,
" You had better burn the letter, at all events," "that your zeal for the peace of our lord the king
said the black-faced man, who was at once the was so warm."
shrewdest and most determined of the party.   "Warm enoubgh to have left a strong smell of
"Here, I will strike a light with a pistol-flint."  burned paper behind it," said the general, look"No, nlo, no," said Sir James Mount, " I may ing toward the fire-place. " Pray what may have
have to show it again-show it again. I expect been those papers just destroyed?"
several other friends; but he came so soon-he    "Some incendiary addresses," replied Sir
came so soon —he came so soon. Hark! I hear Harry, readily, with a laugh. "We thought the
some of them coming."                       flame that they have just made there might be
Almost as he spoke, one of the servants enter- less dangerous than ally other they could light
e1d the room abruptly, with a face in which the up in the country."
nose alone was rosy, and his aspect at once alarm-   "Ha!" said the old general. " Nevertheless,
ed the master of the house.                  Mr. High Sheriff, I must call upon you to do
" What is the matter?-what is the matter? your duty."
-what is the matter?" lie exclaimed.           The high sheriff looked round the group ab,
"Why, your worship, there is a body of foot sembled, and then said,
soldiers half way up the avenue," replied the   "I think I know every face here present; but
man, "1and some forty or fifty horses have just there is one gentleman whom we expected to
ridden up to the back. I am sure I don't know  have the pleasure of meeting, and who is not
how they got into the park."                among you. Has the Earl of Eskdale been here?
The confusion and disarray which now pre- or is he expected?"
vailed was extraordinary. Poor Sir James Mount   " No person of that name has been here," rewas at what is commonly called his wit's end. plied one of the gentlemen, boldly; and then,
Some were for running down and gaining their with a spice of malice, he added, " One Colonel
horses as fast as possible to escape; others were Smeaton was here a short time ago, but, not liking
for attempting to defend the house; and others our proceedings, he took his departure."
were actually at the door of the room to sneak    " Oh, Colonel Henry Smeaton," said the
away, when the voice of Sir Harry Blake was sheriff. "That will do."  At the same moment,
heard exclaiming,                           the general took a step toward the door.
"Stay! stay! Every one stay! There is no   "Then I suppose we may as well break up,"
danger whatever, if we act like brave and prm- said Sir Harry Blake; but the high sheriff waved
dent men. Should these soldiers come with any his hand, while his military companion left the
suspicion; we have only to say that we have met room.
as a body of magistrates and gentlemen to con-   "Pardon me, gentlemen," he said, " I mustcert means for the preservation of the peace of request the pleasure of the company of every
our jistrict, very sinister rnmors having reached one of you to Exeter. Informations have been




76                              HENRY SMEATON.
sworn, of which you sall' have copies. Here and gave very short answers to his questions.
are warrants against five of you, which it will "She could not tell where Mr. Thompson was,"
be my painful duty to see executed; and sum- she said. "She did not know  whether Mr.
monses have been issued against'the rest to come Jennings was at the house or not. Her master
in and surrender, which it will be well for them  might be home soon or he might not, just as it
to obey at once."                           happened.  He was very uncertain,'specially
As he spoke, the general put his head into the just about harvest-time."
room, saying,                                  "Well, my good girl," said Smeaton, " there
"I must away to Keanton. Mr. High Sheriff  are two things I think you must do for me. Give
and take a party of horse with me. I have got me a draught of milk, if you have got any, and
the information i wanted from the servants, and call somebody who can tell me more."
will overtake you on the road to Exeter."      He spoke with soldier-like frankness, and the
"Join us at Silvercross, general,' said the high  girl laughed, replying,
sheriff.  " I shall much need your counsel and    "Milk you shall have, sir, and welcome; and
assistance. We have four other friends to in- I'll call somebody else; but, whether they can
quire after, remember, so you had better come tell you more or not, I can not say."
on as soon as you have made sure of your man.   Leaving him in the passage where he stood,
Now, gentlemen, are you ready, and is it your she went away toward the back of the house,
intention to come peaceably?"               discussing with herself, in half-uttered sentences.
"Oh, certainly,'" replied Lord Talboys. " We the question of whom she should call.
met to preserve the peace.  You apparently    "Not Tom," she said, "for he would blurt
come to disturb it."                         out every thing in a minute, all about the fat
"It is all very good-very good-very good," man up at the agreat house, and all, I'll call
said Sir James Mount, who had now a little re- Dick Peerly. There is no getting any thing out
covered himself; "but I do not know what I of him-at least I never couldi"
have done to deserve this treatment, and I will   After getting a bowl of milk at the dairy, she
have reason for it-reason for it when I get to mounted upion a stone step let into the wall of
Exeter."                                    the yard, and screamed at the top of her voice
"You shall have.reason for it here, my dear to good Van Noost's first acquaintance at Keansir," replied the high sheriff "I think this is your ton. who was working in the field behind.
handwriting —-if not, it is an exceedingly good   "Here, Dick-Dick Peerly,1' she cried, "come
imitation; and in this letter, addressed to Sir hither.  Here is somebody wishes to speak to
William Wyndham, you tell him there is every thee, man."  Having thus vociferated, she carreason to believe that King James is actually ried the bowl to the stranger.
landed in Scotland. Now who King James is   Dick Peerly sauntered up to the house at her
you best know; but that is a question govern- bidding, whistling as usual; but, as soon as he
ment is determined to inquire into in conference saw the visitor, he put his hand up to his forehead
with yourself, and therefore I am afraid you must as a salutation with much greater signs of respect
take a journey to London. Now, gentlemen, I than he had shown to Van Noost.
will show you the way, and I trust that you   "Call you tell me, my man, where Farmer
will follow, without obliging mte to send up for Thompson is?" asked Smeaton.
you."                                          "No, that I can not, sir," replied the lad
Thus saying, he descended the stairs, and one "He may be gone to Ballimoree for aught I
after another of the party above, with dejected know."
looks and crushed expectations, walked down    "Ballimoree!" echoed Smeaton, gazing at him.
after him, passing between two files of soldiers " Where is that?"
in the hall. Few words were spoken by any   "Why, you fool, Dick, can not you give the
of them; but Sir Harry Blake whispered to Lord gentleman a reasonable answer?" exclaimed the
Talboys,                                     girl. "I It is all his nonsense, sir. There is no
"I would bet a guinea to a pinchbeck shoe- such place as Ballimoree."
buckle that Newark is at the bottom of this."  "I only meant to say he might be any where
in the world, sir, for aught I knew,'i replied the
young man, eyeing Smeaton very attentively.
" But here he comes up the road, if you want to
CHAPTER XX.                    see himl.'
Smeaton drank the milk, and then, leaving his
THROUsGH quiet hedge-rows, and calm  and horse with the servant, walked on to meet the
solitary lanes, Smeaton pursued his way toward good farmer, while the maid and the peasant-lad
Keanton. As he advanced, he thought he rec- looked after him down the road. The meeting
ognized the objects around him. It might be was too far off for them to hear any of the words
fancy, or it might, indeed, be memory; but he spoken; but in an instant they saw the farmer
had often heard the place described, and two uncover his head, and stand with his hat in his
well-executed views of the house and neighlbor- hand till Smeaton nmade him a sign to put it on
ing grounds always hung in his mother's cham- again. Then, without returning to the farmher; so that a clear, brawling brook, which cut house, they walked away toward the mansion,
across the road, and a group of old oaks upon a makinlg a sign to the servant to follow with the
knoll, seemed quite familiar to him, and showed horses.
him that he was approaching Keanton rapidly.   They reached the great iron gates and went
Before going to the family mansion, he thought in; the servant followed and disappeared also;
it better to call at the house of Farmer Thomrp- and the girl was turning to her work again, when
son, and inquire into the state of things in the suddenly a clattering sound was heard upon the
neighborhood.  He ifound nobody within, how- road Iear, and a small party of horse came down
ever, but the stout servant-maid, who looked at at fuill speed.
him apparently wvith some degree of suspicion,   The moment the lad Dick Peerly beheld them,




HENRY SMEATON.                                        77
he darted away to meet them, and laying his Van Noost himself, the presiding demon of the
hand on the neck of the charger mounted by an flame, bustled about, stripped to the waist, and
elderly maln in a plain brown suit, he uttered the thickly begrimed with smoke and dirt.
word " Ballimoree."                            For an instant he did not seem to perceive the
"Ay, Ballimoree, to be sure," replied the gen- approach of the young nobleman and his comeral, ordering his troop to halt. "Are you Dick panion, so busily was he engaged in looking
Peerly?"                                    into the great pot, and moving some substance
The spy, for such he was, nodded his head, in it with a long ladle which he held in his hand.
saying ill a low tone, "He's up there at the When he saw Smeaton, however, he rolled tohouse, or I am quite out. He came not ten min- ward him with a joyous laugh, exclaiming,
utes ago. But go carefully to work, sir, for there    "Here I am, my lord-here I am, at my old
are so many ins and outs in that old place, that trade, and in your lordship's service "
he'll get off if you make much noise."         At the same time, Farmer Thompson beck"Come with me and guide us," said the gen- oned up the steward and introduced him to his
oral. -" We will use all caution."           young master. A few kindly words passed from
The whole party then rode quietly up the the lips of Smeaton, and expressions of respect
road toward the mansion; but'their proceed- and attachment from those of Jennings; after
ings had not passed without notice. The serv- which Smeaton turned to Van Noost, saying,
ant-girl, startled and surprised by the sudden-'Well, my good fiiend, what are you about
iess of the lad's spring forward to meet the sol- now?"
diers, ran into the front room of the farm-house,   "Casting balls, my lord-casting balls for pinand watched them from the window.  What- nacles," replied Van Noost, turning back to his
ever shape her suspicions might take, she re- caldron. "There is not one left in the place.
solved at once that her master should not be What is a pinnacle without a ball, more than a
without help in need; and, casting her apron cannon without a shot?  Halloo! halloo! who
over her head, she ran out by the back way, are these gentlemen?"
from cottage to cottage, and from field to field,   His exclamation immediately led Smeaton to
saying a few words to every man and boy she turn in the direction which Van Noost's eyes
met. The effect of what she told was instan- had taken; and he beheld, at each of the three
taneous. All her hearers seemed enraged and doors which led into the court, a small party of
surprised. One got a thick stick, another a flail, dismounted troopers, every mall having his cockanother a scythe. One or two ran into the cot- ed pistol in his hand. At the head of one of
tages and brought forth old guns used for fright- these parties was the general officer, in his plain
ening the birds from the corn; and some eight- brown suit.
een or nineteen men, together with a number of   "Halt there!" said the old officer to the men;
women and boys, were soon directing their steps and he moved quietly, alone and unarmed, totoward Farmer Thompson's house, all mutter- ward the scene around the caldron.
ing threats against some one, who was probably   Without the slightest hesitation or embarrass.no other than treacherous Master Dick Peerly.  ment, Smeaton advanced a step or two to meet
In the mean time, Smeaton and the farmer him, knowing that he himself was the person
had, as we have seen, quietly pursued their way who must now speak and think for the rest.
to the mansion, and had opened the great door,   "May I ask," said he, civilly, "to what we
which was merely latched. A large old stone owe the pleasure of your company, sir?"
hall then presented itself; but it was vacant, as   " To a somewhat unpleasant cause," replied
were also the rooms to the right and left. Voices, the general, mildly. " One of the persons withtalking and laughing, however, were heard from  out is charged with a warrant for the apprehena distance; and as the surest means of discover- sion of Henry, Earl of Eskdale. I do not know
ing where Master Jennings, the steward, was, whether I have the honor of addressing that noFarmer Thompson led his young lord toward the bleman."
great kitchen, in which a stout, rosy dame was   "The same, sir," returned Smeaton. "I shall
bustling and scolding the maids. From her they of course submlit, although this is a very inconlearned that her husband Jennings was out in venient proceeding, which I was not led to extlhe little court with "the fat strange man, help- pect. The Earl of Stair assured rme that I should
ing him in his tom-fooleries," as she chose to ex- not be molested."
press it.                                      "I know not that he had any power to give
"They have spoiled my best ladle among such an assurance, my lord," remarked the old
them," she said, "that is all I know; and I think officer; " but the warrant runs iin the name of
Jennings is as great a fool as the other, for he the high sheriff of the county, and I have no
has let the two men be called off their work in choice but to see it executed, being directed to
the garden fbr his nonsensical lead-melting. But give him every aid and assistance. Nevertheif my lord chooses all this to go on, there is no, less, I doubt not that, if you could prove such
help for it, I suppose."                    assurance had been given to you, it might have
Smeaton smiled; and Farmer Thompson led had great influence; but-"
the way toward the back court, through empty    He paused, and Smeaton instantly rejoined,
passages and a number of open doors. In the lit-   "I can easily prove the tlct; sir. Among my
tie stone-paved inclosure which they soon reach- baggage at Ale-Manor I have. a. letter from his
ed, an animated scene presented itself. Slung lordship to General C-, which I was to deupon a tripod, such as that much in use among liver in case of obstruction."
our friends of the gipsy race, was an immense   "My name is General C-, my lord," said
large pot or caldron with a furious fire of brush- the old officer, "and. I shall be most happy to
wood beneath it. Two men in the garb of labor- receive his lordship's commands."
ers were supplying fresh fagots to the flame; and   " Then, if you will take the trouble of riding
the steward Jennings, a man up-ward of sixty with me to Ale," pursued Sineaton, " you shall
years of age, was standing by looking ol, while have the letter immediatels, lby which you will




B7               ~J-HENRY SMEATON.
see that not only is my presence in England well   "It does not much matter; for, under what
known to, and permitted by the government, ever name you go, we must have you in Exeter.,
but that my whole baggage and papers have my good friend."
passed under examination in London."           "Well, then, my name is Van Noost," said thi
"This is somewhat strange," observed the old statuary, with the boldness of despair. Then,
-officer, " for no knowledge of such facts have fancying he saw a better chance of obtaining crereached this county. Nevertheless, I fear, my dence for his story if he stated his profession, he
lord, it is my duty to take you to Exeter; and, added, " Van Noost, the statuary and founder of
indeed, I have not time to turn so far out of the leaden figures, decorator of gardens, &c., &c.
way as Ale."                                 I have had the honor of doing many a piece of'
" I think you are a little hard," said Smeaton. work for good Queen Anle; and I declare, so
"May I inquire whether I am apprehended on help me Heaven, I was doing nothing at all but
suspicion merely, or upon some positive charge, going to cast round balls for the angles, where
which might justify my being carried away-to  you may see the old ones have fallen off."
jail, as I suppose —not only without the baggage   " I am afraid the balls might have been used
necessary for my personal convenience, but with- for other purposes, good Master Van Noost,"
out the very means of showing that such a sus- said General C ——; "but I am very happy to
picion can have no just foundation 1?'"      have met with you, for you are wanted in Lou"I do not wish to deal harshly, my lord," re- don on a charge of holding seditious correspondjoined the other, taking out his watch; "and ence with his majesty's enemies."
perhaps, as it is not yet two o'clock, I may make   " Upon my word, sir," interrupted Jennings,
such arrangements as may tend to your conven- now speaking for the first time, "the poor man
ience. I must now put you in the hands of the was doing nothing but what he says. You do
officer who bears the warrant; but I shall tell not recollect me, I dare say; but my name is
him, at the same time, that if he feels it consist- Jennings, and I believe I am well known to event with his duty to take you round by Ale for ery body as a peaceful and quiet man, who nevthe purpose of obtaining what baggage and pa- er meddles with politics or any thing that does
pers you want, I have no objection. Your lord- not concern him. At all events, my lord knew
ship demanded whether you are apprehended nothing of the casting, for he has not arrived two
on suspicion. Such indeed is the case; but I minutes, and this is the first time he has been
am much afraid that what we have seen here this here since he was a boy."
day must form the basis of a very grave charge."   "Y ou had better follow your rule of not medAs he spoke, he pointed with his hand toward dling, on this occasion also," rejoined General.
the great caldron, by the side of which VanI C-. "You may say things that I would rathNoost was standing, an image of fat despair, and er not hear. I am not at all disposed to act harshshaking il every limb, notwithstanding the heat. ly, or put any one to the pain of imprisonment
Smeaton could not help laughing.          unnecessarily, although I am not sure that, inl the
"Pray, general,"' he said, " what do you think strict line of duty, I should not send every one
they are about?"                             here to Exeter jail. However, I shall content
" Casting bullets, beyond a doubt," replied the myself with this noble lord and this worthy statold officer. " We overheard the admission from uI ary, against whon charges exist, independent
that man's own lips as he came up. Hie talked altogether of the present suspicious transaction.
of cannon, indeed, but we see none about the That also will have to be investigated; and then.
place. However, the object is perfectly clear, Master Jennings, if you have any evidence to
and he must accompany your lordship to Exeter." give, it will be received. Now, Corporal Miles,
Smeaton laughed somewhat bitterly.         call iiin Captain Smallpiece."
" Prepossession induces strange mistakes," he   having said this, he crossed his arms upon his
said. " If you will ask the man what he was re- chest, and looked gravely clown upon the ground
ally about, he'will tell you; and, if you please, till the person he sent for appeared; and then,
I will tell you beforehand, so that you can com- pointing to Smeaton and the sculptor, he said,
pare the two accounts."                        "That gentleman's nanie is the Earl of Esk"I am not here to take examinations, my lord," dale, and the other is Master Van Noost. I give
returned the old officer. " Any explanations you them both into your custody, Captain Smallpiece,
have to give had better be reserved fobr another and you will have the goodness to conduct them
place. I heard some of the words I have alluded to Exeter."
to, and the men heard others: that is all we have    "I suppose I am to tie their armns " said the
to testify to; and I presume there is no doubt insolent soldier, interrupting  him.
of this being a caldron full of lead. At all events,  "'You are to show them no indignity whatevI will see."                                 er, sir," replied the general,'" but to remember
Thus saying, he walked up to the fire, and that, for your proper treatiment of them, as well
looked into the large pot, adding as he did so,   as for their safe custody, you will be held respons" The matter is very plain. This is boiling ible. His lordship has expressed a wish to have
lead for casting bullets."                   part of his baggage, and some papers necessary
"For casting no such thing,," exclaimed Vanl to his defense, from Ale-MAIanor, and I have no
Noost, in a voice affected both by fear and indig- objection to your riding round that way and pernation. " I have not got a bullet-mold in the mitting hini to obtainii what he wants. But you
world, and never cast a bullet in my life. The will, on no account, lose si giTt of him; and I thlink
lead was melted to cast balls for the pinnacles it will be better for you to seal tip the rest of hi;
and corners of the roof."                   lordship's baggage at Ale-Malnor, and to mark,
"A very good excuse," said the old officer, with your own hanld, all the papers which he may
dryly, staring at the grotesque figure of the stat- think fit to bring away. These are precautions,
nary.'Pray, sir, what may be your name?"   my lord, -w hich I am sorry to be obliged to take,
Van Noost hesitated to reply; and the old gen- but my duty requires theln."
eral added, with a smile,                      The young nobleman bowed stifflv; and CaD.




HENRY SMEATON.                                        79
tain Smallpiece demanded, in a less bullying tone armies not to have seen the same conduct even
than ordinary,                              in greater excess. HI-e appeared to enter into the
"Are you not going with us, then, general?"   character of the man at once; and, rapidly con"No," replied the old officer, "I must ride sidering his own peculiar position, made up his
after the high sheriff. Good-morning, my lord. mind to pay largely for ally concession which
I trust that you will be able to clear yourself of might enable him to see Emmeline even for a
all charges; and, in the mean time, I shall be moment before he was removed to Exeter, or
happy to receive my Lord of Stair's letter, for perhaps to London.
which I will give you an acknowledgment, and    "I presume," he said, as soon as the general
produce it upon the proper occasion."        was gone, "you will permit me to ride my own
Thus saying, he walked slowly out of the court, horse, which is waiting."
leaving Smeaton and Van Noost to the tender   "If you pay for his keep and dressing, my
mercies of Captain Smallpiece, who beckoned up lord," replied the captain.
his troopers to assist in the removal of the pris-'$ Oh,'yes, I understand all that," said the young
oners.                                      nobleman.  "I have served many years myself,
At that period of English history, and for the my good friend, and understand what is right and
greater part of that century, the constitution of proper on these occasions. What is done for my
the armies of England was very different from  own convenience must, of course, be done at my
any thing we have seen in our time. Abuses, own expense."
hardly credible to us, so rapid and complete have   Captain Srmallpiece grinned graciously, for he
been the reforms of late years, existed in every at once perceived that he should be spared any
branch of the service. When we hear of mere embarrassing explanations. However, he thought
boys being made colonels and general officers, it best to begin his exactions vigorously at once,
and receiving the pay and appointments due to for fear of any after resistance; and so, rubbing
active service, or when we read of valet-de-cham- his head, he observed, in a sort of meditative
bres, bullies, and more degraded persons still re- tone,
ceiving commissions in the army by the influence   "As to talking this round about by Ale,'pon
of debauched and unscrupulous patrons, we are my life, I do not know what to do. Zounds, my
inclined to think that the tale is a romance; but lord, it makes nine miles difference, and that,
such, alas! is not the fact. These things really upon a long march, is something. I don't believe
did take place; and the mess-table of an English we shall ever be able to reach Exeter to-night if
regiment presented a strange mixture, for which we do, and then I shall have to feed the men and
we have no parallel at present.              horses, and I doubt whether the magistrates will
Now Captain Smallpiece was neither of the allow the money. The general did not order me
best nor of the worst of the classes which con- to do it; he only said I mii l/t."
posed the British army. He was the son of a   "Which was as good as an order," added the
small hosier at Taunton; and having been found earl, who had heard him quietly to an end. "As
exceedingly difficult to manage or to instruct, to your expenses being allowed, whether the
given to swaggering, swearing, and drinlking, his magistrates do that or not, I shall defray them.
fither took a quieter brother to his bosom and his We call settle that, captain, at the first place
shop, and contented himself with obtaining for where we stop for any time; but, if we do not
his eldest son a commission in the army, through  go to Ale-Manor House, I shall have no means
the interest of a nobleman who owed him money, of defraying any thing, as, not expecting this adand did not choose to pay it.                venture, I have not a guinea in my purse."
Placed under a very strict disciplinarian upon    "Well, we must go, I suppose," grumbled the
first entering the service, Captain Smallpiece de- worthy officer.  "That is to say, if you think
cidedly improved. He lost some of his bad hab- what General C-  said was intended for an
its, or, at all events, he learned to control them; order."
acquired a certain military tone and manner; and,   "Oh, that it was, that it was," cried Van Noost,
as he was sharp and daring, though somewhat who was struggling, all begrimed as he was, into
negligent, he gained the reputation of a smart of- his smart coat and waistcoat.
ficer. He had been in battle, too-had not run   "I should take it as such, were I in your
away, and had received a wound in the service, place," observed Smeaton; "and I am a soldier,
so that he easily contrived to get from an infan- you must recollect, as well as yourself."
try into a cavalry regiment. Nevertheless, the   "Very well, then, come along, my lord," reold proverb in regard to the difficulty of making joined CaptaiL  Smalpiece, assigning two of his
a silk purse out of a sow's ear was often brought soldiers to guard each of the prisoners. " Stand
to the mind of his military companions, and to back, fellows! No private talk with people in
those over whom he had dominion he certainly custody"
did not appear in the most favorable light. At   This was addressed to Jennings and Farmer
the same time, he had certain notions with re- Thompson, who were pressing forward to take
gard to the perquisites and privileges of his sta- leave of their lord. The first bore it with much
tion which savored much more of the mercenary patience, and the second drew back and made
sworder of a fornler day, or of the thief-taker or no further attempt; but he had a hot and angry
jailer of his own times, than of the modern sol- brow, and muttered something to himself with
dier. He had no idea of sparing any one the regard to basting Captain Smallpiece heartily
least pain, or yielding to any one the least con- before he had done with him.
venience, without being paid for it; and he had   "Halloo, what is all this?" cried Captain Smalla happy art of making his requirements known, piece, when they entered the court before the
without demanding money in formal terms, which house, and saw'through the iron gates a great
might have subjected him to punishment.      number of peasantry, armed and unarmed, and
Stralnge as it may seem, by no one would his bearing a very threatening aspect. " Cock your
hints have been more easily understandable than pistols, my men, and mount your horses."
by Smeaton, for he had served too long in foreign   "Stay, stay a minute, my good friend," said




80                            HENRY SMEATONo
the young nobleman, not liking the appearance to his own rooms. He found that. Sir John
of things at all. " Thompson, Jennings, go and Newark had gone out about an hour before, and
speak with those men, and get them away. Let had taken Emmeline and Richard with him.
there be no violence. I beg. It may do me There was no resource but to procure what let.
harm, but no good; and I am not in the slightest ters, money, and apparel he required, and to acdanger."                                   company Captain Smallpiece on the road toward
"I won't have the king's troops insulted," ex- Exeter. The fine wild scenery round Ale look.
claimed Captain Smallpiece, in a loud tone.  ed more beautiful than ever, though the day was
" I trust there is not the least chance of it," not so promising as many which had preceded
said the young nobleman. "'Go forward, Thomp- it. The sky, indeed, was generally blue, and
son, and take them away into the hamlet'."  the air warmer than it had been in the month
The good farmer obeyed, but evidently unwill- of July; but ever and anon came heavy masses
ingly; anId as he approached the iron gate to of cloud, floating distinct, low, and heavy, and
open it, the lad, Dick Peerly, who was within looking like the flying island of Laputa to the
the court with the soldiers, sprang forward and eyes of Gulliver. From time to time too they
caught hold of his sleeve, saying something to had let fall, in passing, a few large drops of rain,
him which was not heard where Smueaton stood.
len and among the mistiness which hung about the
But the good farmer p-shed him away violent- southwest might be seen strange forms of hardly, exclaiming,                            ening vapors of a light reddish hue where they'Get thee back, hound! Thou shalt have caught the rays of the sun.
what thou deservest, if I catch thee in the place   Whe  n Smeaton descended from the room he
in five minustes.I have got other walk to do   When Smeaton descended from the room he
five minutes. I have got other work to do
-lust now."the                            had inhabited in order to remount, he found sevjGoing to the gates, he was seen speaki-ng to eral of the servants in the hall, with old Mrs.
Going to the gates, he was seen spealkin~ to
the people for a moment or two, evidently hay- Culpepper at their head. She seemed to wit.
ing some difficulty  to persutade them.    ness his captivity with a stoical sort of apathy,
At lehgth, however, he walked down the road, which he knew to be far from her nature, and
with the little crowd fillawing him, though some took no more notice of him than by dropping a
lingered a while lonrger, a1nd many turned to formal courtesy as he passed. He easily underlook at the departure of the soldiers when they stood her motives, and merely said,
had got about a hundred and fifty yards fiom the   "Be so good as to inform Sir John Newark,
gates. Smeaton's horse was then brought for- madam, that I trust to be back here in a few
ward by his own servant, and, as he mounted, days. Do not let him make himself at all unthe man asked,                             easy on my account, for, as he well knows, I
"Shall I come with you, sir?"           have given no offense to the existing govern"Do as you like," replied Smneaton. "I shall ment, and can therefore be in no danger."
not be long in captivity. Perhaps you had bet-   " I will tell him, sir," replied Mrs. Culpepper;
ter ride with us to Ale-Manor, at all events."    and the young nobleman mounted and rode on.
" Ah, you impudent varlet!" cried Captain   The pace at which Captain Smallpiece thought
Smallpiece, " you are the rascal who made such fit to proceed was, as I have hinted, the very
fools of us at Ale."                      slowest possible, and it was evident to Smea" Heaven help me, noble sir!" replied the man, ton that he did not intend to reach Exeter that
"I made no fool of you. That would have been night; but the clouds, which began to gather
trouble thrown away." At the same rmnoment thick and lurid in the sky some way before they
he loosed his lord's stirrup, and jumped out of reached the hamlet and church of Aleton, inthe reach of the captain's arm.            duced him to quicken his movements a little.
After some questions and some trouble, good Rain was beginning to fall when they passed
Van Noost was mounted upon his fat pony with the small public house; and the sergeant of the
a very rueful face, and, near the head of the troop, who seemed on very familiar terms with
troop, with a soldier on either side. he and the his commanding officer, ventured to hint that it
young nobleman rode out of thle gates. Smea- might be as well to stop there, and refresh the
ton's servant, Thomas, Higham, followed at the men and horses.
end of the file, a little indeed in the rear; and,   "No, no, Jack," replied the captain; *' we
before he left the village, he rode quickly down must get on a little further, till we come to
to the spot where Farmer Thompson was speak- Norton-Newchurch.  There we'll'halt at old
ing to some people, said a few words to him, and Mother Gandy's. She brews the best, and I
then cantered off after his master         owe her a turn."
Perhaps he regretted, before long, that he had
determined to proceed, for the menacing aspect'CHIAPTFER  XXI..             of the clouds was soon changed into active operations. Thunder, lightning, and torrents of
TIE life of man, like the life of society, goes rain pursued the party for the next three miles,
in epochs. There are periods at which fair for- which was the distance between Aleton and
tune or ill fortune seems to begin or end, and a Newchurch, and not a man but was drenched
long succession of bright or dark days follows, to the skin when the party dismounted at the
during which no folly seems capable of cloud- door of the inn-if in.n it could be properly calling the sunshine-no precaution sufficient to ed, being nothing more than a long, rambling
avert the storm.                          public house, of two low stories, looking like
The Earl of Eskdale was that day destined half a dozen cottages put together.
to disappointment when, after a long and tire-   As soon as he was under shelter,. Captain
some ride, fatiguing from the slowness at which Smallpiece drew forth his watch, and found that
the troop moved, he reached Ale-Manor, and he had contrived to make it six o'clock before
was admitted, strictly guarded, to the house and his arrival. This was just what he intended




:  ENiRY  SMEATON.                                 81
apparently, for he abruptly declared that, with doing harm to any one. Van Noost began to
wearied men and horses, it would be impossible brew another; but Smneaton told him he should
to reach Exeter that night. He then made ar- drink no more, and Captain Smallpiece said,
rangements for the accommodation of his sol-   " Nor I either."
diers, and demanded a private room for himself   The sculptor went on, however, and took a
and his prisoners, at the door of which he plant- ladlefull, saying,
ed the trooper whom he most disliked in the   " I am not afraid. My stomach is stout, and
party, to perform, in his dripping clothes, the my brain too."
wearisome office of sentry.                  "Well, another glass," said the captain, in a
" Now, my lord," he said, as soon as the door resigned tone; and to that other glass he addwas shut, "what will you please to treat the ed a second, a third, and a fourth, sometimes
men with? Gadzooks! I shall be glad enough making Van Noost drink with him, sometimes
to put something warm into my own stomach, stretching forth his hand to the bowl and helpand I dare say they will too, poor devils!"    ing himself almost unconsciously. But his head
Smrneaton smiled, and replied,          was a well-seasoned cask, upon which the fresh,"If you will call the landlady-Mother Gandy, liquor made little impression. He merely grew
as you name her-I will order refireshment for somewhat more loud and talkative, more domourselves. As to the men, you had better take ineering in his manner-and his tone.
these ten guineas to provide them with what   Then Van Noost thought that, if he could but
you judge necessary."                     get Smeaton's servant into the room and the
The captain had no scruple; and, when the sentry away from the door, they could soon
landlady appeared, the young nobleman gave an overpower the worthy captain himself, and make
ample order for good cheer for himself and his their escape from the window which was on the
companions, and the worthy officer ordered re- ground floor; but the young nobleman would
freshments for the men to the value of about a not take any hint. He did not want his servfourth part of what he had received.       ant, and would not send for him; and Captain
" Set a barrel of good strong ale abroach for Smallpiece continued with his long legs under
them, madam, on my account," said the young the table, and his eyes turned toward the door,
earl; and, with a low courtesy, the good wom- so as to see the sentry every time it opened.
an withdrew, while Smallpiece exclaimed, with Some of Van Noost's maneuvers, too, seemedi
a coarse laugh,                            to excite his suspicion; for when, on one occan.
"' D-n it, you must not make them drunk, sion, the statuary rose and went to the window,,
my lord."                                  he exclaimed,
"I have no such intention, sir," replied Smea-   "Come, come, sit down, fat gentleman.,
ton; "and if I had, they would get sober before XWhat are you marauding about for?"
morning."                                    " I only wanted to see if it rained still," re-.
In one respect, the young nobleman and Van plied Van Noost; " but it is quite a fine night,,
Noost were better off than their captors, for and the moon is coming out between the white
they had dry clothes at hand, of which they did streaks."
not neglect to avail themselves; and good Van   Captain Smallpiece d-d the moon, and askedi
Noost seemed to acquire fresh courage with a what. he had to do with her.
dry jerkin.  A good supper-for in those old   " Perhaps she might light you to Exeter, if'
times seven o'clock might be considered as a you like to ride," said the young nobleman,,
supper hour-completely restored him to con- gravely. " Is such your intention or not, Capfidence; and Captain Smallpiece, gazing on his tain Smallpiece? for I think I hear your men!
washed and rubicund face, and clean apparel, bringing out the horses."
and listening to his flat jokes, and his discourses  1" Not they!" cried the captain, without budge.
regarding all his leaden mythology on the Read- ing from his seat; " and if they do, they must:;
ing road, could hardly believe that he was the take them in again. I gave my orders; if they.
same man he had first seen at Keanton, and choose to mistake, it is their own fault."
pronounced him a jolly good fellow. This im-   Van Noost kept quite silent, for the sounds-;
pression was very greatly increased when Van which had reached Smeaton's ear reached his;
Noost undertook to manufacture the punch for also, and there certainly was a noise as of many,;
the whole party, and his brewing turned out to feet before the house. Then came a loud burst.
be the most delicious that had ever been tasted. of talking and laughing, and a-merry voice with..
Fertile in resources whenever his first pan. out tuned up some ribald song. A lull succeed6ios had subsided, the sculptor's brain was now  ed; then more loud talking; then, apparently,.
entirely occupied with the thought of finding angry words; and at last a loud and confusedi
means for the escape of himself and his com- din, as if twenty or thirty people were all shout-.
panion, never dreaming that Smeaton had no ing at once.
desire to escape at all. The first and simplest   "Some of those blackguards of mine have got}
scheme that suggested itself to his mind was to drunk, and are quarreling with the bumpkins,"'
make Captain Smallpiece drunk; and the wor. said Captain Smallpiece, in a growling tone.
thy officer's propensity toward the bottle was " Well, they must fight it out; but they had
written on his countenance in large letters. But better make haste, or'll be in. among them."
insuperable obstacles intervened: the punch be-   The din increased instead of diminishing., and:
ing made in the room, there was no deceiving at the same moment a, voice was; heard speakSmallpiece as to the proportions of the rum and ing to the sentry at the' door.
the water. Moreover, the worthy captain was   "What is the matter i" shoua-ted Captain
upon his guard against himself; and though he Smallpiece, without rising. But, almost as he
drank fast and hard at first, he soon began to spoke, there was the report of a pistol; the
hold his hand. One bowl was emptied without door was burst o)en; the sentry was thrown
F




82                             HENRY SMEATON.
headlong into the room; and a number of men his servant without even a word in answer to a
rushed in, with white shirts drawn over their question he addressed to one of them. Every
garments, and their faces blackened.       thing was conducted in profound silence; and
Starting on his feet with a tremendous oath, in a few minutes the young nobleman was over
Captain Smallpiece seized Van Noost by the the brow of the hill, and out of sight of the
collar, exclaiming,                        house. The servant rode on before, leaving
"This is thy doing, and I will blow thy brains his master to follow, and soon left the high Exout."  At the same time he pressed a large eter road on which the inn was situated for the
horse-pistol to the unhappy man's head, and the downs, which extended nearly to Mount Place
lock clicked as he cocked the weapon. The on the one side, and to Ale-Manor on the other.
fury in his face and the fierceness of his ges-   It may be necessary, before I proceed, to take
ture showed that he was prepared to execute some brief notice of the various thoughts which
his threat, and another moment would have sent had crossed Smeaton's mind during the last few
the poor sculptor to an immortality somewhat minutes, as his conduct was greatly affected
different firom that which his leaden figures were thereby. It must be recollected that in the
likely to procure for him. But a tremendous whole transaction he was taken entirely by surhlow from Smeaton's strong arm  saved Van prise. He was not, indeed, often found unpreNoost's life, and laid the doughty captain grov- pared for any event, but all which had occurred
cling on the ground. As he fell, the pistol went had passed so rapidly, that impulse might well
off, and the bullet struck the wall, while he act in the place of reason. Though not withshouted furiously, " Ah, my lord, you shall hang out a thorough conviction that, if he did not infor this!"                                terfere, another moment would terminate poor
What followed it is impossible to describe ac- Van Noost's life, it was upon impulse that he
curately, for the men from without, rushing in knocked down Captain Smallpiece, and he much
and throwing themselves both upon the officer regretted the necessity of so doing to save the
and the sentry, contrived in the short struggle poor statuary. The consequences of that act
which ensued to bind them, to overturn the ta- presented themselves to his mind the moment
ble, break the punch-bowl and glasses, and ex- after. He saw that it compromised him in a
tinguish the lights. In the midst of this scene, very serious manner, and that a little skillful
Smeaton found his hand grasped by some one, torturing of evidence by an experienced lawyer
and a voice said, ", Come with me, come with would connect the fact of his taking part in the
me, and you are safe."                     active struggle for his liberation with his having
He hesitated for an instant, while a multitude ordered the ale with which the soldiers besotted
of considerations passed through his mind, ren- themselves, and that, again, with the well-ordering it difficult to decide what to do. Anoth- ganized plan for his rescue, which he doubted
er man, however, caught him likewise by the not had been executed by his own tenantry. To;arm, and they hurried him on between them to- all this, moreover, would be joined the leadward the door.                              melting at Keanton, and the words which Van
"This way, this way, my lord," said a voice, Noost had spoken, and which General C —
which he thought he knew.                  and the soldiers had only partly heard.
All was darkness in the passage; and those   The whole of the above incidents would in-'
who guided him did not take him through the deed form a chain of evidence tending to the,room in which the soldiers had been regaling. one conclusion, that, notwithstanding his prom-'The door of the kitchen was open, however, and ise to Lord Stair, he had taken active measures
~the interior, as he passed, presented a somewhat to promote the insurrection against the govern-.strange sight. Two or three of the troopers ment. He knew well, too, that persons made
were lying on the floor, apparently dead drunk; prisoners in the first outbreak of a rebellion are
others were sitting upon benches or stools, with sure to receive little mercy, and sometimes littheir arms tied tightly behind them; some were tle justice. Party violence demands victims,
iin a sleepy state of drunkenness, which ren- and examples must be made to deter the wav-,dered them  nearly unconscious of what had ering by fear, so that both passion and policy
-happened; others were roaring forth a baccha- combine for their destruction. If he neglected,nalian song in spite of their bondage, or sitting, the means of escape, there was no prospect beIgloomy and stern, meditating over the way in fore him but long imprisonment or death on a,which they had suffered themselves to be sur- scaffold.,prised.                                      Then came another consideration; and I
Among the latter was the sergeant Miles, who must leave it to the reader to settle, as he may
scaught a glimpse of Smeaton, and exclaimed,  be old or young, phlegmatic or ardent, how much
" Ah, my lord, I know you."              this contributed to his decision. He thought of
Smeaton paused as if to reply; but the two Emmeline-of how these events might affect'men hurried him forward forcibly, and the next her; nay, more, hopes and expectations flashed
moment he was standing upon the road before through his mind of being able, were he finally
The inn.                                    to succeed in escaping, to execute the scheme
"Here is your horse, sir," said the voice of of carrying her away to another land, and unithis servant. s" All the things are in the saddle- ing her fate to his. At the same time, he cal-'bag behind. Let us be off as fast as possible: culated, with the confidence of youth, upon easithen the good folks will separate. Quick, my ly clearing himself of all criminal share in the
lord! I will show you the way."           transactions which had occurred, if time were
Smeaton mounted in silence among a num- but allowed for him to prove the facts, and for
ber of horses, and with eight or ten men flitting men's minds to become composed and tranquilrorNnd, but apparently taking not the least notice ized.
of him. They suffered him to ride away after   Such were the motives on which he acted.




HENRY SMIEATON.                                     83
i do not mean to say they were altogether just, I thought they took it wonderfully quiet, for they
for I am not drawing a perfect character. They only jeered them again, and there was a good
seemed sufficient to hini at the time, however, deal of laughing and noise. Then came in two
and his next thought was how best to take ad- more country lads, strong, likely fellows enough,
vantage of the circumstances in which he was and they too sat down and talked. A minute
placed. Meditating in silence, he suffered his or two after, some people on horseback came
servant to ride on for about a mile; but then up to the front of the house, and had the landthe latter dropped back, touching his hat and lady called out; and three of the soldiers went
saying,                                    out after her, and we could hear a great roar-'"That way leads to Aleton Church and Ale, ing and noise about the door; and one of the
my lord, and that to Keanton. Though I thought half-tipsy soldiers said, drowsily,'I dare say
you would like to go to Ale, I took a round to they are all smugglers from Ale.' This set
avoid the people; but your lordship can do as one of the countrymen to pick a quarrel with
you like. You are about half way between the him; and just when they were coming to blows,
two places, somewhat nearer to Keanton, per- in rushed a whole set of tall, hearty fellows,
haps; but I think Ale will be the safest."  with white shirts on, and their faces blackened.
1 "Why do you think so." demanded Smea- They pounced upon the soldiers like so Inany
ton.  "And what made you believe I should gosshawks, and, without much of a struggle,
prefer going to Ale?"                     tied them, one and all, as tight as if they were
"' Why, my lord," replied the man, in his going to Tyburn. There was some cracked
easy, nonchalant way, "at Ale you can have a crockery, indeed, and a stool or two upset; but
boat always ready to carry you off to the coast it was all done very gingerly, for I was not
of France for half a dozen guineas, and the val- away two minutes getting out the horses. and
ley is so narrow that you can get timely notice it was over before I came back."
if people come down to take you. Then, as to    "But what made you get out the horses'at
your second question, I have always remarked all." demanded Sineaton.
that gentlemen about your age like better to live   " Why, just as the black-faced fellows were
in houses where there are pretty young ladies, coming in, one of the countrymen whispered to
than in houses where there are nothing but me,'Get out your lord's horse in a minute, and
ugly old women. Moths will fly in the candle, give him to the man who is holding the others
my lord, and young gentlemen are very cour- at the door.' However, as I was saying, it was
aceous."                                  all done and over when I got back, the soldiers
Stneaton smiled; and the man was falling all tied, and as mute as mice; and one of the
back as if to let him lead the way, when his men said, in a feigned voice,'Where is your
master stopped him, saying,                lord? The old woman won't tell.'
"' Here, ride on beside me, Higham, and tell   "So I led them along up to the sentry, going
me how all this business has happened."    first myself. He spoke a word or two, and ask-," On my life, I don't know, my lord," replied ed what all the noise was about; and when I
the man. 1" I had no hand in it but just getting tried to get hold of him, he fired his pistol, and
out your horse and mine, and throwing the sad- in the struggle we both tumbled into the room.
dle-bags across them. All I did was, when they Your lordship knows all the rest."
were carrying you out of Keanton, to ride down   1" But were all these men from Keanton, do
and tell the stout farmer, who was so busy, that you think l" his master inquired.
he had better keep the people quiet for the time;   "I don't think it, my lord," replied Higham.
but that, if he set people to look out for us from  "The black-faced fellows, at least, looked much
the top of the hills, he might find means of help- more like Ale men, and they carried their hands
ing you out of the scrape before you got to Ex- inside out, like other marine animals. No, I
eter."                                     think they came from Ale; but it is clear
" I am grieved at this," said Smeaton, some- enough they were in league with the bumpkins;
what sternly. "You should not have done so and I saw the jolly old farmer outside of the
without orders. These poor people have now  door. That I could swear to."
seriously compromised themselves with the gov-   " Pray mention it to no one, then," said Smea
ernment for an object which I did not at all de- ton, " for I should be very sorry that he suffersire, and I myself am thereby placed in very un- ed for this rash enterprise."
pleasant circumstances. Do you think any of   "The men might be smugglers, after all, my
them were recognized by the soldiers!"    lord," observed the servant, "and might just
"Oh dear, no," replied the man. "I'll tell get a hint when they came up. They are alyou how it all happened, my lord. When I heard ways ready enough to take part in a riot, arid to
you had ordered the men a whole barrel of hum- thrash the soldiers. I can not say how it was,
ming ale, I naturally thought you intended to but I tell you all I know."
make them drunk. There were ten soldiers be-   The information thus received did not induce
sides the sentry. A barrel holds six-and-thirty Smeaton to take a better view of the aspect
gallons. Now that is three gallons and a half which the whole circumstances might present
a man. I say I could think nothing else, my when brought into a court of justice. Here was
lord, than that you meant to intoxicate the par- his own servant acting with the mob who had
ty, so I determined to help, and treated them  rescued him, attempting to seize and disarm the
all round to a glass of strong waters to begin sentry, and taking a prominent part in the whole
with. Just about nine o'clock, when the ale affair. Nor did he at all feel sure that, though
had worked, and the strong waters had helped acting with the best intentions, the man had
it, and the men were three parts tipsy, in came told him all. It seemed to him improbable that'three country fellows, and called for a pint his horse should be so speedily saddled without
apiece. The soldiers began jeering them, and some previous intimation of the attempt which




84                             EHENRY SMEATON.
was about to be made, but he thought it better myself so too. You had better come in here
not to question him any further, and pursued  where I am going. I am dead tired, I know,
his way in silence toward Aleton Church.     and I dare say you are too-those cursed sadThe round they had taken made the distance dle-bags have so fatigued me. But we shall be
fully six miles; but at length the building began quite safe here; and I have got half a loaf and
to appear upon the side of the hill, and the Ex- a long Oxford sausage with me."
eter road was perceived descending into the vil-   "Where do you intend to hide 1" asked Smea.
lage. The moon, though occasional clouds still ton.," It will be better for you to come on with
flitted over her, was shining with peculiar bright- me to Ale, whence we can easily get to France."
ness after the storm, and by her light he per-   " I would if I could, but I can not," replied
ceived a number of persons, both on horseback the poor man. " I have been so bumped, and
and on foot, taking their way in the same direc- thumped, and knocked about, that I have not
tion as himself. They were going along in so got a leg to stand upon. I am going down into
leisurely and unconcerned a manner, that he the crypt. There is an end of my old candle
could hardly fancy them the persons so lately left, just to keep away the ghosts, and I shall be
engaged in a daring and hazardous act, although quite safe there."
the white garments with which the greater   "But how will you get in I" asked Smeaton.
number of them were covered seemed to mark   Van Noost laughed.
them out as the same. Hie thought it better to   "Ah  my lord," he said, "I have a fondness
avoid them, however, on all accounts; and, for for keys, you know. I don't keep keys long in
that purpose, being higher up on the hillthan my hands without having a model of them. I
the church, he so directed his course as to bring have got a key for the door of the hiding-place
the building between himself and them. Before at Ale; for I thought, whatever your lordship
this was accomplished, however, he saw one might say, it might some day be of use to you,
figure separate from the rest in order to climb and I made one out of an old key at Keanton as;
the hill, and in the short, round form, he recog- soon as I got there."
nized, with great satisfaction, a strong resem-   Smeaton paused in thought for a minute, a".d
blance to good Van Noost.                   then said,," Those are some of the men, my lord," said   "Give me that key, Van Noost. I should li
the servant, "going back to Ale, you see. I to have it; and now, mark what I am about to
should not wonder if they were smugglers, say.  Yoea only know howe far you have corafter all."                                  mitted yourself with the government. I anm
Smeaton was very much puzzled. A suspi- going on to Ale, but not, in all probability, to the
cion had more than once crossed his mind, from  Manor House. I shall take up my abode in one
the words of young Richard Newark, from Sir of the cottages, if I can find a room. I shall
John's eagerness to induce him to go that day have a boat kept ready to convey me to France
to Mount Place, and from all which had occurred in case of need, and, if you think it better for
after, that his worthy host had led him into a yourself to quit this country, you can come and
trap. Yet who could have sent these people to join me at Ale before daylight to-morrow, rest
lrescue him except Sir John Newark   q 1ing here in the mean while. Some time will
1" If that is Van Noost, I will know," he said probably elapse before we are pursued, for the
to himself; and, turning again to the servant, soldiers will doubtless go on to Exeter in the
he asked, "Is not that very like the stout man first place."
who was made prisoner with me. I hope so,   " I'll not fail, my dear lord, I'll not fail," refor I was anxious about him."                plied Van Noost; "and yet, how can I go to
", Oh yes, my lord, that is he," replied the France? It will almost break my heart. My
man; " but there is no fear about him. He is statues! How can I leave all my statues. And
too fat for any harm to happen to him. He'll yet, as I may say, the parting has already taken
roll like one of those things called buoys at sea, place. But let me get the key. It is in the
which are tumbled about in all sorts of ways, saddle-bags by the little door. Would that I
but always get right end uppermost."         had never meddled with politics!"
~'"I must speak to him, however," said Smea-   As he spoke he turned back toward the church,
ton. 1" Here, hold the horse, and I will go up to accompanied by the young nobleman, who enhim on foot. If I ride after him, he will run."  deavored to learn fi'om him, without much suc"And burst himself," added Higham, taking cess, by whose orders the men fiom Ale had
his lord's horse.                            joined the rescue party. They had all been
Van Noost in the mean time had climbed the "monstrous silent," Van Noost said; but when
hill, approached thewall of the church-yard, and the earl added some further questions as to
entered the gates; but when Smeaton, follow- whether they had ever mentioned Sir John
ing with a quiclk step, approached them, he found Newark's name, the worthy sculptor exclaimed,
them  locked, to his great surprise, and Van somewhat vehemently,
Noost nowhere to be seen. Without hesitation,   " Ay, that they did, my lord-at least one of
he vaulted over the low wall, and then ventured them; and I think you had a great deal better
to call upon his stout friend's name. At first not go near Ale-Manor again. From what one
there was no reply; but upon his exclaiming of them said as two walked together, I made
again, "Van Noost, Van Noost, I want to speak out that none of all this bad business would have
with you," the head and shoulders of the stat- happened if it had not been for Sir John. They
nary were protruded from behind a buttress, and say he has played the same trick to others behe came f(irward as soon as he saw who it was fore you, and always peaches and plays booty exthat called.                                 cept in the matter of smuggling."
"I Ah, my dear lord," he said, "I am so glad   ", Then he did not order the rescue." asked
to see you at liberty, and glad enough to find Smeaton.




HEENRY SMEATON.                                       85
" Oh dear, no,' answered Van Noost.  " He upon him as an unwelcome guest; but when he
sent messengers to Exeter in the middle of last fiankly put the question whether they were
night, with letters to the high sheriff. So you  afraid to receive him, one of them replied with
may judge of the rest."                      a laugh, " Lord bless you, no, sir. All the sol(Give me the key, my good friend," said diers in Exeter should not take you out from
Smeaton, through whose brain were passing among the men of Ale. Unless they brought
many rapid considerations regarding his futlre  cannon against us, they could do nothing in this
conduct. ",Did you make acquaintance with  village. We would beat them  out with handthe parson of this place when you were here'!" spikes.  It is not that at all. You are right
";Ay, that I did, and rose high in his favor welcome to all that we can do for you; but
too," replied the sculptor.  "1 He is a good, fat, they say you are a lord, and you'll find the best
jolly priest as ever waddled."               house in the place but a poor hole for such a
"' And thinks of the things of this life more one as you."
than of the things of another, perhaps?" asked    "But, my good friend, I am a soldier," re-.
Smeaton.                                     plied Smeaton; " and when I tell you that I have
i" Ay, truly," responded the statuary.' "He slept for a month together upon the bare ground,
has more gods than one. A pipe of wine, a you will easily judge that one of your houses
purse of guineas, a sucking-pig, or a haunch of will be quite as good as a palace to me. All I
venison, are better than any rubric for him, I want is shelter and concealment for a little
wot."                                        time."
" I must see to this," said Smeaton, in a mus-   "That you shall have, sir," replied the other
ing tone; and, although the statuary could not man, who was somewhat older; " and as for condivine whether he alluded to the parson or the cealment, we have got plenty of places where
pig, the purse or the pipe of wine, he did not the devil himselfwould not find you. We someventure to ask any questions, but got the key times let the custom-house people come and
out of his saddle-bags.                      search, just for the fun of the thing, and yet,
Having given it to Smeaton, the latter bade somehow or another, we contrive to supply the
him adieu and rode away.                     whole country round with Bohea, which never
paid toll to king or queen either."
" Froml  what I saw to-night," said Smeaton,
"you must have horses among you also; and
CHAPTER XXIt.                   my two beasts are in some degree an embarrassment to me, unless I can stable them someI TvRusr the reader remembers well the de- where."
scription before given of the little village of   "You will have to stable them on the Downs,
fishermen's cottages at Ale, and of the way in sir," said the young man, " for there are no such
which the road, after separating into two, in things as stables in Ale. But stay a bit-I think
order to send off a branch to Ale-Manor I-Iouse, I can manage it. Farmer Tupper will take them
proceeded to the entrance of the village, and in, I dare say; he knows how to hold his tongue.
there dwindled into a narrow path for want of As to horses for ourselves, Lord bless you, when
room between the steep banks to reach the sea- we want them, which is not above once a month,
side in its original breadth.  Smeaton passed  we borrow them of our neighbors.  Manyagood
the turning of the road toward the Manor, though farmer, and gentleman too, finds his horses not
evidently with some reluctance, for he paused fit for much work on the day after the new moon.
an instant before he made up his mind, and then But then, what does he care? Every now and
rode on more slowly. Five hundred yards on- then he finds, a pound of tea for his wife, or a
ward brought him to the spot where it was nec- bundle of Flemish hosiery for himself, lying at
essary to dismount; but, before he had com- his door or on his window-sill, and he thinks'
pletely reached it, two men came out from under'himself well paid for his horses' night-work.
the shadow of the bank, and stood directly in Here, my man-Master lIighani-you get down
his way. The moonlight enabled him to see, and go with your master. I'll lead the horses
however, that they bore the ordinary garb of the across the down to Tupper's farm; but take off
fishermen of the place, which I need hardly tell the bags first.  Grayling, you had better take
the learned reader was very different from the the gentleman to your house, for you have more
fishermen's garb of the present day, and much room, and my wife had a baby yesterday mornmore marked and picturesque.  From  these ing, so there is a fine squalling.  Bless its little
men he apprehended no opposition, even if they heart! it has got a pipe like a boatswain's
were not of the very party which had liberated  whistle."
him, and he was soon saluted in a civil tone   Thus saying, he led away the horses, leaving
with the words                               his companion with the young nobleman and his'Good-night, sir, You know you can not servant, the latter of whom seemed, during his
ride down here. We thought it was some of stay at Ale-Manor, to have become very intithe soldiers."                               mate with all the good fishermen of the village.
Smeaton dismounted, and gave his horse to    Before walking on, however, Smeaton judged
his servant to hold; and, walking forward a lit- itbetterto take immediateprecautions for guardtle way with the two men, he explained to them  ing against surprise, and inquired whether a lad
his desire to obtain shelter in the village, and could not be hired to watch the road, and give
concealment from every body for a time.      early notice of the approach of any party of solAt first there seemed some hesitation in their diers.  The old fisherman, Grayling, laughed.
replies, and the young nobleman began to fancy    "Lord bless you, sir, you don't know us," he
that the danger in which he stood, and which said. "Don'tyou troubleyourselfat all about it.
might pursue him even there, made them look No soldier or any thing else comes within Lhree




HENRY S MEATON.
miles of us without our knowing it.'Tother    " There, there, don't be a fool," rejoined her
night, when they came to the Manor, we were husband.  "Madam  Culpepper will take care
all ready for them if they had come on. You we are none the worse for it, and we all of us
were ready for them too, it seems, though how  owe her more than that comes to."
you got out of their way we do not know. I'When they descended the stairs they found
had a great mind to give the fellows who came Smeaton playing with the children, who were
down to the bay looking for you a drop of salt in high glee; but his servant was no longer
water to drink for poking their noses into Ale, with him.
and some of our men could scarcely be prevent-   "I have sent Smy man up to the house," he
ed from doing it; but it would only have made said. " He can stay there without danger to
a noise, and so it was better let alone.  How- himself for to-night at least, and he may be of
ever, you can rest quite as safe here as if you service to rme."
were a hundred miles out at sea. They sha'n't   The old man seemed startled and not X'ell
catch you in Ale, I'll answer for it; so come pleased.
along, sir."                                   "You know best, sir," he said, rather gruffly 
In a few minutes more, Smeaton and his serv-    but —"
ant were introduced into the fisherman's cot-   "But what, my good fiiend?" interrogated
tage, the lower story of which, consisting of a Smeaton.  s You seem  not to like my having
room  on either side and a good wide passage done so."
between them, was encumbered with a variety    " Why, sir, if he tells Sir John that you are
of articles belonging to the man's craft or mys- down here, it may be a bad business," replied
tery, some of which were not of the most pleas- Grayling.  " Mayhap you do not know Sir John
ant odor. Salted fish, sails, nets, fishing-lines, as well as we do."
spars, oars, boat-hooks, barrels of tar, tallow    " I think I do," rejoined Smeaton, with a
candles, and a number of things which I can smile; " and, for that reason, I told the man not
not describe, were huddled together in the to say where I am, but merely to let them know
rooms and in the passage, exhaling a smell, I had been rescued and had ridden away. I
as I have said, more powerful than fragrant, have left him to tell his own tale; but I can
which was considerably assisted by a quantity trust him; and, depend upon it, Sir John will
of smoke issuing forth from a room on the left- know nothing of the matter."
hand side. There, at the cheek of the fire, as   "Well, well, that is all right," responded the
they termed it, sat the old man's old wife, with fisherman, his look brightening.  " If he sees
two or three young dolphins, her grand-children, Mrs. Culpepper first, she'll tell him what to do."
playing about as merrily as if it had been noon.   A sudden light broke upon Smeaton's mind
To her the fisherman introduced his guest, and " Pray, was it Mrs. Culpepper," he said, " who
whispered a word in her ear, which instantly directed you to come to my rescue."
made her clamber up a steep little stair-ecase,   The old man laughed.
which came down without guard or balustrade;   "You are quite under a mistake, sir," he said
not into the passage, but into the middle of the " None of us came to your rescue. WTe know
very room where she had been sitting. The nothing about it. Ask any man in the place,
floor above, I may mention, contained four and he'll tell you the same. There has not been
rooms, and was nearly double the size of the one of them a couple of hundred yards from the
floor below, which is only to be accounted for place to-night."
by the fact of the house being built against the   A sly smile contradicted his words; and
steep side of the hill, which left not more than  Smeaton, comprehending the truth, answered
eight-and-twenty feet of flat ground between its laughingly,
base and the river.,Nevertheless, Master Grayling, there is a
The good lady not returning immediately, the great streak of soot, or some black stuff, all the
fishermen himself went up after her, and found way down your cheek."
her, like all ladies when visited by an unexpect-     "The devil there is!" cried the man, start
ed guest, in a great and setting-to-rights bustle. ing up, and walking with the candle to a lit
"Pooh, pooh!" said the old man,:' don't make tie looking-glass that hung against the wall
such a piece of work, mother. He is quite a " Here, mother, give us a tuft of oakum;" and,
plain gentleman, and has been a soldier. He having got what he demanded, he rubbed his
must have the back room too, for there he'll be weather-beaten cheek hard, and then threw the
snuggest."                                   oakum into the fire.
"But suppose you want to get the tea out,   "It is a rule here, sir," he said, " never to
Jack!." said the old lady.  "Why, the bed is speak of any thing that we do beyond the crossjust over the hiding-hole."                 road; and it is a good rule too; so neither you
I "All the better," replied the man. "He may nor any one else will get any thing out of us,
have to hide there before we have done with ask what questions you will.  Sir John is a
him. It is not the first time, I think, mother, heen hand, and he tried it more than once at
that we have hid a man there, and so we must first, but he could make nothing of it, for we all
do now, if it is needful.  Here, we'll put the know that a mnan's greatest enemy is his own
chest for a seat at the foot of the bed. You tongue. You could not make that little child
bring the table out of t'other room. Then it there blab, I'll be bound. But I dare say you
will all look mighty comfortable. But we must know that Mrs. Culpepper has a brother and two
get him some supper before he goes to bed, and nephews living over at Keanton-good solid men
I'll broach that little keg I brought in last time." they are, who know how to hold their tongues
"I hope he'll pay for what he has," said the too; and that is all I shall say upon the subject.
old lady, ", for we can not afford to be giving So now, sir, if you like to have a glass of Geneva
away the things for nothing."                and some broiled fish, we'll have our supper."'




HENRY SMEATON.                                       83
Smeaton explained that he had supped al- mine before we go. The occasion will justify
ready; and the old man, lighting a fresh candle, the precipitancy."
conducted him up the stairs to his bed-room. I  After again pausing in thought for a minute
When they were in it and the door shut, he put or two, he approached the little window, opened
down the light and said,                   it, and looked out. Finding that the distance
" You won't be very comfortable here, sir, but from the sill to the ground was not above five
you'll be very safe; and I'll tell you how to or six feet, he quietly let himself down, and
manage. But, mind you, I'm going to put my- walked, though with much difficulty, owing to
self a bit in your power, so you must keep my the steepness of the hill, to the little path which
secret as well as I'll keep yours. That window  led up to the well. Opposite the well he paused,
there looks up the hill-but nobody can come and striding across, so as to rest his right foot
down that way-and from it you can see all the upon the opposite brim, he applied the key Van
way up the path by what they call the blind Noost had given him to that part of the chiselman's well. Then look here. Underneath that ing in the rough stone-work which he fancied
bed, three of the planks lift up altogether. They must conceal the key-hole. He had some diffi- play upon a pivot; so you have nothing to do but culty in finding it, however, but at length sucput your knife under, and lift them as I do now. ceeded. Van Noost was a clever artificer. The
There, you see, is the top of a ladder, going key turned even more easily than that from
down into our store-house, as we call it, though which it had been modeled; and Smeaton, satold Mother Grayling will call it my hiding-hole. isfied that he could command access to EmIf you get notice that any body is coming, you meline at any time he pleased, locked the
have nothing to do but to go down there, shut door again, and returned to his chamber at the
the trap after you, and push in the bolt. Light cottage. Then, exploring his saddle-bags, he
enough enters through the chinks for you to see brought forth from them  a little round case,
in the daytime; but don't take a candle in, and very generally used by notaries of that time,
mind you don't tumble over the bales and other which contained some sheets of writing-paper,
things."                                    pens, and an ink bottle, and seating himself at
"' Is it cut in the rock?" asked Smeaton.    the table, wrote a rapid letter to Lord Stair, ex"Oh, dear, no," replied the man. "You see plaining the circumstances in which he was
it is the corner made by this floor sticking out placed.
above the other. It looks just like the rest of
the house outside, and may be dug a bit down   " It is now more than a week, my lord," he
into the ground, for there are two steps up to said, "since I wrote to your lordship, requestget out below. But that was done before my ing you to use your influence with the governtime."                                      ment in order to obtain my formal recognition
"Then one can get out from below." asked as an English subject, and offering to comply
Smeaton.                                    with every proper form that may be required in
"'To be sure," answered the man. "How  such a case. I stated to you that I had inviocould we get the goods in else? You'll soon lately adhered to the promise I gave you not to
see the door on the inside, though nobody meddle in any shape with political matters, but
can see it on the out; and, should any people that, nevertheless, I understood measures had
come looking after you, and you want to get been taken for arresting me, notwithstanding
away to sea, that's the best way. You shall the assurances I had received from your lordalways find a boat ready, and men to jump into ship. Since I wrote the above letter, which, I
her too, and we'll take care that the way is clear fear, can never have reached you, I have every
for you. So now good-night, sir."           reason to believe that a scheme has been de"Stay a minute," said Smeaton. "I might vised for driving me into the hands of parties
have to go in great haste, and not be able to pay opposed to the existing government.
you, at the moment, either for your services or  "I was induced this morning by Sir John
my entertainment. I should like to do so now, Newark to go over to a house called Mount Place
therefore, and also for the hire of a boat to take to return the visit of its owner, and found a
me.to France."                              number of gentlemen with him, though I had
"No, no, sir. As to all that," returned the been led to believe he would be alone. As I
man, "you must speak to my old woman. She discovered at once that they were discussing
is ready enough to take money, so don't give questions of much political importance, I took
her too much of it; and for the boat, you can my leave and retired, not having been, in the
pay the men who take you. That is all fair. whole, two minutes in the house. I then rode
What Ihave to do is to see that they are ready, on to my mother's property of Keanton, where
if  don't go myself, which is likely. Good-night, I had previously sent the good man Van Noost,
sir. You'll see the old woman to-morrow, sure whom you know, in order to keep him out of
enough."                                    dancer. He was amusing himself, at the moThus saying, he went away and closed the ment of my arrival, in casting leaden globes to
door; and Smeaton, seating himself at the table, replace some others which had been blown or
gave himself up to thought.                knocked off the pinnacles of the house; but, beHe was not long in determining his course; fore I had been ten minutes at Keanton, the
and what the result of his reflections was may place was taken possession of by a party of solbe judged by some words which he spoke aloud, diers, and I and Van Noost were apprehended
as one is apt to do when hesitation gives place upon warrants previously issued, to which Gento reflection.                             eral C —, from a misapprehension of what the
", He is only to be fought with his own weap- poor statuary was doing, added a charge of castons," he said. "I owe it to her, to myself, ing bullets for the purposes of civil war. Given
and to others. Yet, if possible, she must be into custody of one Captain Smallpiece and a




88                               HENRY SMEATON.
party of horse, I and my fellow-prisoner were  their master and his affairs better, were calm and
taken to an inn, where the officer determined  silent, and asked no questions whatsoever. They
to remain for the night, although I expressed  had observed that Sir John Newarlk, though he
my desire to proceed to Exeter. The peasantry  had affected lmuch surprise at the news of his
had previously shown themselves inclined to re- guest's apprehension, had been in reality but litsist my apprehension; and here a large body  tie affected thereby; and when a rumor of his
of men found means to introduce themselves  escape had been carried to Sir John, a glance of
into the inn, and to overpower the troopers, who  angry disappointment had crossed the knight's
were mostly drunk.  In the affray, Captain  countenance, which did not escape notice. They
Smallpiece was in the act of shootingVan Noost, understood him pretty well, and read such slight
who had taken no part whatever in the strug- indications aright. We seldom reflect that we
gle, and, to save the poor man's life, I was are a constant object of study to our servants;
obliged to knock the officer down. Feeling that that we are, as it were, a model set up for them
such a chain of circumstances-some of which  to draw in their own minds, and that, walking
were evidently accidental, though Bsome were  round us in every position of life, they have full
brought about for the purpose of involving me  opportunity of completing the sketch.
in the rash schemes of others-swould form a    Led on by the butler, Higham was conducted
very dangerous kind of evidence against me  through the great stone hall to the room in which
very' the knight usually sat. He found hinm alone, for
and knowing the peril of being one of the first he had seat sothElmmelia e and his son, in
persons proceeded against in troublous times, I order to reflect upon his course more at leisure.
took advantage of the opportunity of making my  Something had gone wren0 in his plans, and they
escape, with the resolution of writing immedi- required to be rectified.  Flu had announced, on
ately to your lordship-a resolution which I now  the very fist intelligeice of the young earns capexecute. Every word of the statement here  ture, that he should ride in the early morning of
given is true, upon my honor as a gentleman and  the following day to Exeter, in order to see what
a soldier.  Since I have been here, I have held  could be done for him —in truth, to see what
no communication with any one on political af- could be done for himself in regard to Keanton.
fairs.  I have taken no part in any disturbances  In prison and in danger, Sir John thought Sineaor any schemes whatever; but the assurance  ton would not be very difficult to deal with; and
given me by your lordship, that I should not be  if he were, it would be easy to tighten his bonds
molested, has been grossly violated by the au- a little. Moreover, another object had been gainthorities here, as if it was their object and in- ed by his apprehension. The vague fears regardtention to drive me into the arms of the disaf- ing Emmeline, which had taken possession of the
fected. Nothing shall (lo so, if I can by any  knight's mind as soon as he discovered that his
means avoid it; and it is my intention immedi- guest was unmarried, had been increasing lately
ately to return to France. If I am prevented  with a sort of instinct, and he rejoiced to have
fromn doing so, however, by any active pursu- his guest removed.
ance of the sort of persecution to which I have    Though a bold man, as we have seen, Sir John
been subjected, and I find my earnest desire to  Newark was also a timid one. It seems a pararemain tranquil, and to take no part in any po. dox, yet it is true; and similar cases are not unlitical affairs whatever, thus frustrated, I must, frequent. He was bold in devising, bold even
of course, follow those measures which I judge  in executing, schemes for his own aggrandizerequisite for my own safety."                ment; but he was timid in fruition. He never
fancied himself safe. He was always taking preHIe added a few words more in regard to the  cautions. The only imagination he had was for
general object of his letter, took a copy of it, difficulties and dangers; and one bold scheme
and addressed it to the earl in London. After fobr the attainment of a particular object was conhaving done so, he retired to rest, and slept as  tinually succeeded by another for the purpose of
tranquilly for some hours as if the course of the  securing what had been obtained. It is strange,
preceding day had been calm and smooth.      but true, that most of the cruel acts and many of
the rash ones found on the page of history had.  their source in cowardice.
Smeaton's escape was therefore doubly clisaCHAPTER XXIII.          greeable to him; and when he heard the bell of
TFRE were lights in many of the windows the great court ring, and imagined that his noble
of Ale-Manor House when Thomas Higham ap- guest might have returned to seek shelter in his
proached by the back. way. The gates of the  house, he instantly set to work to hold a somegreat court behind, however, were bolted, and  what tumultuous counsel in his own breast as to
the blood-hound bayed loud and deep at the  how he should demean himself to attain his double
man's approach! but after he had rung the bell, object. The entrance of the servant instead of
and the animal had snuffed under the gates for the master, however, put a stop to these consida moment, his hoarse bark was silenced: he rec- erations, and he asked impatiently,
ognized a friend. Highain soon obtained admis-    "Well-well, where is your lord?"
sion, and found the household in much commo-   "Really, sir, I don't know," replied the man,
tion from the rumors which had reached Ale  who, having received but vague directions from
during the evening. Various was the aspect of the young earl, thought himself privileged to lie
the different servants whom he encountered as at liberty.  " I did not know that I should not
he was led to the presence of Sir John Newark. find him here; lbut they say he has not come; and
Those who'had been but a short time in the  he took the road toward Keanton, sure enough.
family were full of wonder and amazement at Perhaps I had better set out to seek him?"
all the events which rutnor had detailed and mag-   Sir John thought before he replied.
nified, alid did not scruple to show their surprise    "Then this rumor of his having been rescued
and curiosity. The elder servants, who knew  is true?" he said, at length.




HENiRY SMEATON.                                        89
Higham nodded, and added to that mute mode was not altogether unexpected. She shade him
of assent the words,                          a sign to shut the door, and then said abruptly,
"A great pack of country felloxvs did it. Most   " Have you any news from your master? And
of the soldiers were drunk, and were overpow- is he safe?"
ered in a minute. I had no hand ill it, however."    " Yes, ma'arm," replied the man. " He is quite
Sir John leaned his head upon his hand, and safe, and told me to tell you-"
mused.' fHush!" interrupted the old woman, putting
"Then you positively do not know where he her finger to her lips.  " Not now! Go and get
is?" he inquired.                            yourself some refreshment in the servants' hall.
" No, really, I can not say, Sir John," answer- There are not more than two or three up. Preed Higham.  " I dare say at Keanton, hiding tend to fall asleep in your chair. They will soon
among his tenants."                          leave you, and I will come when I am certain
" Not unlikely," said the knight.  "I think that all is quiet. Stay, I will order your supper.'"
you had better not go just at present. Wait here Then, approaching close to him, she asked, in a
to-niht, and get some refreshments.  To-nor- whisper, "Where is your lord?"
row, perhaps, your lord may send for you; and    "Here, in Ale village," returned Higham, in
if not, and you go to seek for him, you shall bear the same low tone; and, opening the door, the
him a message from me."                       old housekeeper passed out.
" Would it not be better for him to come here,   Crossing the end of the passage at the very
sir?" asked Higbham, ever willing to probe the moment, as if going toward his own bed-room,
minds of those with whom he was bronght in was Sir John Newark himself; and, raising her
contact. " I tilnk he would be safer in this out- voice, without a moment's hesitation, Mrs. Culof-the-way place than any where."             pepper said, in a somewhat sharp tone,
"On 011 no account-on no account," exclaimed    " Pray, Sir John, is this man to have supper at
the klight, caught in the trap laid for him.  " Of this time of night?"
course," hle added, after a moment's reflection,   " Certainly," replied her master.  " I-le has
"suspicion will be directed toward this house had a very fatiguing clay, and it is not his fault
fiom the fact of my intimacy with your lord. that he is late."
The place will be searched, probably more than    " Well, then, fellow, come with me," said the
once; and his own safety requires that he should housekeeper, walking away with him  to the
avoid the neighlorhood. His tenantry at Kean- servants' hall. There she ordered him  some
ton, probably, can conceal him for the time; and, supper in a cold and commanding tone, and left
as soon as pursuit has somewhat abated, it will him to enjoy it.
be well for him to get out of the country, if not   Higham played his part well. He ate and
out of thle kiingdom.  I,specak against my own drank, nodded, took another cup of ale, and tThen
wishes and my own views," he continued, seeing  seelned to fall fast asleep. The three servants
an expression on the man's face which he did lnot who were still up dropped off one by one, and
clearly understand.  "Nothing would'give me so left him, with a kitchen lamp oil the table, to
much pleasure as to see your master, and to offer follow when he thought fit to wake.  He rehim every assistance in my power; but to per- mained for half an hour loInger, however, undissuade hiim to come here would be leading him  turbecd, alnd had nearly fallen asleeD in reality,
to destruction.  If I knew where to find him, I when Mrs. Culpepper again appeared, and quiwould go and visit him. for I have noi personal etly closed the door behind her.
fears in the mattel, mly good friend, whatever   "Now, what says your lord?" she demanded,
you may think."                               speaking very low.
"Oh dear, no, sir," answered Higham, "I    " He bade me tell you, ma'am," replied the
don't think at all. I dare say: however, I shall servant, " that he is quite well and in safety, and
very soon hear where my lord is to be found, for begs you to let those know who may be anxious."
he told me, when last I saw him, to come to Ale-   The old housekeeper slowly nodded her head,
Manor, and whenever I hear I will let your wor- to show that she comprehended, and then said,
ship know."'                                    " What more?":" Do so —do so," said Sir John Newark; " and    " Why, only that he is here, in Ale, I was to
now go and get yourself some supper.  I dare say," answered the man, " at the house of a fish.
say you are hunugry after all this bad work."  erman named Grayling, and that he hopes, in
"As a fox-hunter," rejoined Higham, and turn- spite of all that has happened, to be able to cared toward the door; but Sir John thought he ry out what was proposed, with your good help."
might as well add a stroke or two to the picture   Again Mrs. Culpepper nodded her head, and
of danger lie had been drawing, and he called to nmerely asked, " Is that all?"
the man just as he was quitting the room.       " He told me to ask you, ma'am," said Hig"Tell my people, if any party slhould come to hlam, " if it would be safe for him to venture here,
search the house during the niight, not to open for he much wishes to speak with you and somethe doors till they have my orders."          body else, whose name he did not mention-per"I won't fail, sir," replied Higham; and then, haps he means Master Richard."
closing the door, he thridded his way through the    " Perfectly safe, if he could come in private,"
passages toward the servants' part of the house, replied Mrs. Culpepper, " but most dangerous if
saying to himself, " Now for the old housekeep- he were to be seen. Yet stay. He is quite seer. I wonder my lord trusts that sly old hunks. cure at Grayling's for two or three days. Now
But I must do as he has told mne. She mnust be mark what you must do. Rise early to-morlow,
playing double somewhere, that is clear enough; before daylight; go quietly down to him at the
but whether with my lord and the young lady, cottage, and tell hil what I say-he will underor with worshipful Sir John, I can not tell."    stand you. Tell hinm the means of coming in, ill
Quietly tapping at good Mrs. Culpepper's door, private, he shall have by you to-morrow night.
he went iii, and thei eagerness with which she I canl not get the key at present.  As soon as
looked toward him showed at once that his visit you have delivered thle message, come back here,




90                              HENRY SMEATON.
and mind you close and lock the doors behind    The man obeyed, with some surprise, but was
you just as you found them. Take care, like- more surprised still when he saw his master dewise, to make no noise."                     scend from the window as he had done on the
"If I am to go early in the morning," observed  preceding night. Being a great deal shorter, he
the man, " I had better stay where I am. I will had some difficulty, to say the truth, in following,
put the edge of the tankard under my head, and but with Smeaton's assistance, succeeded at
then my nodding will wake me from time to time." length, and reached the ground in safety.
"Don't put it too often to your lips," retorted    "Now go on before me," said the earl, "and
Mrs. Culpepper, gravely, " for your master's safe- if you meet any persons coming down this way,
ty andlhappiness depend on your carefulness just say something to them in a loud tone. Keep
now."'                                       straight on that path."
" Lord bless you, ma'am, I have been accus- " Oh, sir, I know it very well," returned the
tomed to these things," said Higham, " and could  man. " Many a time I have beeit down here
sit with a tankard of strong waters under my  since we came."
nose for a month without ever touching a drop, |   "Hush!" said Smeaton. "Go on, and keep
if there was any business to be done at the end  silence."
of it."                                        Doing as he was bid, with the darkness rapidly
"You will not lose your reward if you are  giving way to twilight, the mall walked up tofaithful," said the old woman; "and so, good- ward Ale-Manor, taking a quick, furtive glance
night."                                      behind him firom time to time to see whither his
As soon as she was gone, Higham murmured  master was going. Suddenly, however, when
to himself,                                  he turned round to look, the young nobleman
"She is on the right side, I do think. She had disappeared, and it is unnecessary to inform
must be a wonderful cunning old woman."      the reader which way he had bent his steps.
With this reflection, he folded his arms on the    The moment the stone door beyond the wall
table, laid his head upon them, and in a few min- closed, Smeaton found hilmself in utter darkutes was fast asleep.  Every time the house ness; but, feeling his way with his hands, he
clock struck, however, he looked up and count- reached the steps upward, and soon after began
ed, and at the hour of four shook off his drowsi- to gain air and light. Nobody came near him
ness, took a tolerable draught from the flagon, for somewhat more than a quarter of an hour,
and then crept quietly out of the servants' hall. and Smeaton's spirit grew impatient of the reHe had the choice of three doors by which to straint. The moments were passing quickly on
make his exit. That of the great hall, however, which so much depended, and yet no progress
had, to his knowledge, a very bad habit of creak- was made.
irg on its hinges. That which led-into the court   " The sun must have risen," he thought; "and
led also to the blood-hound; and, though he was perhaps Emmeline is already up. It is strange
not at all afraid of the animal's bite, he was afraid  I hear nothing of my old nurse! Perhaps that
of his bark. There was a little door, however, foolish fellow has forgotfen his errand, or missed
which led into a lesser court, formed expressly, his opportunity, or committed some other blunit would seem, for the entertainment of the men der. I must speak with her at once, if at all; and
and maid servants of the family, and by this con- we shall soon have the whole household up."
venient passage Higham took his way out, with    As he thus thought, impatience overcame all
little difficulty and no noise.              other considerations, and he approached the door
Nothing interrupted him on his way to the vil- which led into the state bed-room beyond. No
l]age, and there, by the lights he saw in several great difficulty presented itself in pushing back
of the cottages, he perceived that many of the in- the panel, and, making as little noise as he could,
mates were up, preparing for some of their law- he issued forth fiom the hiding-place. The room
ful or unlawful occupations. A light was in old  was vacant. After pausing a moment and listenGrayling's house also; and, looking through the ing for a step, he quietly opened the door and
window, which had no shutters, but plenty of went out into the passage. Nobody was there;
bars, he saw the old man, with a short pipe in but the door of Emmeline's room was close behis mouth, lighting the fire in the kitchen.  side him, and he thought he heard the sound of
Tapping at the window, Higham soon brought some one moving within. The temptation was
the fisherman to his door; and, with one accus- too great to be resisted, and he tapped gently at
tomed to somewhat perilous enterprises, very  the door. At first there was no reply: she did
little explanation was needful.              not hear the tap; but again a sound was audible
The young earl was soon wakened, and the within, like the quiet opening of a window, and
message delivered. That message threw Smea- he tapped once more.
ton into a fit of thought, which lasted, however,   The next instant he heard a light step near the
not long. Impulse, impulse! It is always get- door, and it opened. Surprise, which was the
ting the better of us till it is worn out and har first expression on Emmeline's beautiful face,
lost its spring, with years. It was very power- changed in a moment to joy; and, forgetting all
ful, I fear, in Smeaton's case, when, rising, aid  things in the untutored wildness of her delight,
dressing himself as rapidly as possible, he said to  she cast herself upon his bosom and wept. Smeathe man,                                     ton held her to his heart and kissed her tenderly,
" You must go back. Get speech of Mrs. Cul- drawing her in silence toward the state champepper as soon as possible, and tell her that she ber; but Emmeline whispered,
will find me in the priest's chamber. Say that   "No. Come in here. It will be safer. This
I am sure I can get back unobserved by passing is my own sitting-room. No one will come hiththrough the trees, and that, as speed is every  er;" and she led him into that large, airy chainm
thing, it will be better to form our plans quickly. ber in which she was first introduced to the sight
If she can not come this morning, I will be there  of the reader.
again at night. You must conle with me, how-   Impossible would it be to attempt -any detailever, in the first instance.. Now lock that door." ed account of the brief conversation which en



HIE NRY SMEATON.                                      91
sued-so much was to be told, so much to be as unruffled and staid as usual; but Sir John
spoken of, so many words of tenderness and af- Newark beckoned her out of the room, and then
faction to be uttered.  Emmeline poured forth said, iln a low tone,
her whole heart. She knew not, she could not   "I heard a noise as if the entrance to the
conceive, any motive, when once that heart was priest's room had been rolled backward and forgiven and its love acknowledged, for concealing  ward."
from him she loved any thing that passed within   "Yes, Sir John," replied the old lady. " By
it. She spoke of all she had suffered since the lyour own orders, I go frequently to see that it
moment when she heard of his arrest; of all opens and shuts easily. I always go early or
the grief, of all the anxiety, of all the sleepless lat; hut I tioughlt I healrdl the younlg,: lady miovthought. She spoke, too, of her joy to see him  ing in  er roomln, and I went to see what could
safe and free. But the voice of happiness is still have got her iup so early."
and low, and Smeaton had to read one half of her   Sir John Newvark did not speak f(or a minite,
sensations in her eyes.                     but looked at the houselkeeper quietly fronm nnAs but very little time could be spared, how- ler his eyebrowvs, and she saw at once that he
ever, he told her as speedily as possible all that doubted hler. She wvas too mluch accostomed,
he proposed. He explained that his purpose of however, to mneet and fruistlrate his suspicions to
returning at once to France was unialtered, if be at all alarmed, thouglh she felt somie degree of
she would still consent to go with him, bit apprehension, fromn various causes, when he said
thought it would be far better that she should at length,
give him her hand befoie they took their depart-  itI have not been in that priest's room for two
ure; adding, he had but little doubt that he or three years. I should like to look round it
could so arrange that the ceremony should be again."
duly and irrevocably performed.                " Very well, sir," replied Mrs. Culpepper;
She replied at once, without hesitation or re- addclig internally, " Pray God the dear boy be
luctance,                                    gone!"
"Whatever you tell me, Henry, I will do;   Sir John Newark moved into the state-room
and it will be much better that I should go as with a certain quickness of step which showed
your wife. I am yours altogether; and if occa- how little satisfied he was; but the old proverb,
sionally, since I promised to go with you, feel- " The nmore haste the worse speed," was veriings of doubt-perhaps, I might almost say, of fled in his case. He walked at once up to the
self-reproach-have come across me for so joy- head of the bed to move it back, but he had eifully colnsenting to quit the protector of my child- ther forgotten the trick, or he nismallaged it in
hood, those feelings have all passed. His con- his hurry, so that after olle or two efforts he was
duct toward you, his betrayal of you, would re- obliged to have recourse to Mrs. Culpepper, who,
mnove all scruples. All was explained to me last in order to avoid all suspicion, opened the ennight, and I never heard of darker baseness. To trance at once. Sir John Newark instantly stepme, too, he has behaved very ill, and to my par- ped in, gave a quick glance round the room, and
ents worse. What I looked upon as kiindness then adlvanced to the door leading to the passaand protection, have been, in reality, policy and gesbelow. Finding himself surroLunded by darkimprisonment; and I have every right to leave ness, however, he stopped at the end of the filrst
him who has no liht to detain me. Hark!"   two or three steps, and said, somewhat sharply,
Her exclamation was caused by a sound at i " Bring mnze a light."
the lock of thle door. The next instant the door   The old housekeeper retired to obey; anld, durwas opened, and Mrs. Culpepper appeased. She ir ln her absence, which was as short as possible,
shIowed no surprise, but muchI agitation; and, her master remained with his head bent and his
without closing the door, she beckoned to Smea- ear intently listening. When he had obtained
ton, saying, in a low tone,                  the light, he walked qulickly forward, followed
"This is madness, Henry. Indeed, my lord, by Mrs. Culpepper, and did not pause till he
you must fly this instalt. You can return at reached the stone, door which led out upon the
night; but do not come out of the priest's cham- hill-side. He put his hand upon the lock, but it
ber till I knock for you. Come, my lord, come. was fastened; and then, holding the candle to
Sir John is already moving in his room."    the little niche at the side, he looked inl. The
With one more embrace, Smeaton and Em- key was in its place, and he retired satisfied.
meline parted; and, holding up her finger to enjoin silence, Mrs. Culpepper led the young nobleman back to the priest's chamber, closing the         CHAPTER XXIV.
aperture behind him. She then returned at once
to Emmeline's apartment, and, having shut the   IT was nine o'clock before Sir John Newark
door, said,                                 entered the room where preparations had been
" Run into your bed-room, dear lady, and an- made for breakfast. He found his son Richard
swer me aloud through the door."            talking gayly to iEmmeline in the window, while
Emmeline did as she was asked, and then the she replied with a blright and smiling face. Alold lhousekeeper put several questions as to her though, co asidering his designs respecting Emnight's rest, and several matters of ordinary in- meline and his son, it might abe supposed that
terest, receivilanl somewhat wondering replies, such a sight was pleasant to him, yet that poison
But the old woman was politic; and she was er of all peace, suspicion, would not have it so.
still speaking, when Sir John Newark knocked Emmeline's excessive anxiety during the precedat the door, saying,                        ilg day, after tidings had been received of Smea" Who are you talking to, Emmeline?"      ton's capturae, had not escaped his notice, although
Mrs. Culpepper illstantly opened the door, and she had striven bard to conceal the emotions
replied,                                     which were busy in her bosom; and now she
" It is I, Sir John."                     seemed so bright and cheerfiul, that he said to
Her voice was as calm and quiet, her manner himself, " She must have had some intelligence."




HENRY SMEATON.
He resolved to watch her carefully; but, hap- green solitary hollows, which extend fifteen or
pily for Einmrleline, emotions as strong, though  sixteen miles along the coast.
very different from those of the day before, had    At the distance of about seven miles from Alestill possession of her. They were more joyful, Manor, however, they came to one of those holmore hopeful, but perhaps even more thrilling, lows, which assumed more the appearance of a
and several times during the meal she fell into  regular valley, with a bright and beautiful little
deep fits of thought.  Suspicion is always vacil- stream flowing down it toward the sea. Here
lating, and Sir John began to doubt whether he  they halted; Higham  received instructions to
had been right or not. His son contributed, too, ride on before, while the other two slowly folto remove the fancy which possessed him by say- lowed; and Sir John added,
inug, with one of his wild laughs, toward the mid-    "We will wait at the distance of about half a
dle of breakfast, "Iwas telling Emmy when you  mile -from Keanton.  Tell your lord that we are
came in, father, that we should have this colonel there, if he thinks it safe to come and speak with
lord back again here very soon. Great fish al- us. If not, bring us some tidings of him; but
ways lie on the same bank."                    enter the village very cautiously, lest the good
"I do not know, Dick," replied his father, people of Keanton should have fallen into the
gravely. " I think it is very improbable you will hands of the Philistines."
ever see him again. If he is wise, he will betake    Higham nodded his head and rode away. Sir
himself to France immediately; otherwise he  John Newark, vwho had been very silent during
may very well chance to leave his head on the  the first part of the journey, now entered into an
scaffold some morning."                        eager conversation with his son, which, as I must
Richard laughed, exclaiming, " Well, then, he  refer to it afterward, I need not notice more parhad a great deal better kick it before him across  ticularly here. Suffice it to say, that the father
tle sea. A precious foot-ball it would make."   spoke earnestly and apparently impressively, and
Emmeline gave a slight shudder, and Sir John  that the son, though at first he listened with eadropped the conversation till the meal was end- gerness and looks of surprise, and strove aftered, when he said, " The earl's servant is here, as ward to fix his wandering attention upon his tfaII dare say you know, Dick, but he has had no  tlher's words, soon resumed his usual manner,
news of his master, and fancies he must be at and laughed and talked gayly and wildly, flitting
Keanton."                                      round the subject rather than resting upon it.
"Oh, I know Iligham is here," answered the    After they had reached the spot which had
lad, "for I had a long talk with him just before  been fixed upon as their halting,-place, Sir John
you sent for him. He told me all about the res- and his young companion remained for about
cue. What fun it must have been to see those  three quarters of an hour in expectation, Richard
lubberly soldiers all tied, and lying heads and  getting off and on his horse, throwing pebbles
tails like herrings in a barrel! I wish I had been  into the stream, and showing many signs of imthere. I should have liked to help poor Smea- patience.  Sir John marked him with a slight
ton, and leather the jacket of that long captain. smile; andl at length Higham made his appearHigham says his master knocked him down just anlce again, trotting quietly and unconcernedly
as he did the Earl of Stair's great bully, and vows down toward them.
that the punch-bowls jumped up a foot off the    "He is not there, Sir John," said the man,
table with the shock of his fall."            riding up; " at least so all the people say; but
"Well, Dick," observed his father, " the serv- they are mighty stingy of their words this mornant talks of riding over by the tops of the Downs ing. However, one thing is certain —they have
to Keanton to see for his lord. Now, as you  heard nothing of the Exeter people; anid I make
know there is nothing I would so willingly do as out pretty surely that niy lord is not very far off,
assist this noble gentleman, you and I will ride  aind that they know it."
over with the man to within half a mile of Kean-    "Ahi, how do you make that out?" asked Sir
ton. Then, if he finds his master, we can estab- John Newark.
lish some communication with him, and perhaps    " Why, one man began talking about a stranger
assist him."                                   having come to Blacklands late last night; but
He paused a moment, and then turning to Em- his wife stopped his mouth in a minute; and
meline, he added, " I fear you can not go with  whenl I asked where Blacklands was, and what
us, my dear child. Maiden modesty forbids your it was, he gave a rambling sort of answer. But
running about the country to inquire for a young   I believe it must be some farm near at hand."
cavalier. I think, too, it mnight be as well for you'~ It is five miles off," replied Sir John, imme
to remain within during our absence.  There  diately; "a wild and solitary place, shut out
will be parties of soldiers, doubtless, scouring the  from the whole neighborhood, and a very likely
country in various directions, and they are nei- spot indeed for a fugitive to take refuge in. We
ther the most civil nor civilized."            had better ride over there. You are sure there
" I have no inclination to go out," replied Em- are no soldiers in the village?"
nmeline, simply. "I am tired with all the anxi-    "Not a man, sir," answered Ilighan; " and,
ety of yesterday."                            besides, they have got people on the top of the
Sir Johnl Newark, his son, and Smeaton's serv- hill to look out."
ant were soon on horseback, and, without any    "Well, then, we will take that way, as it is
other attendant, they set out, turning sharp to the  the shortest," said the knight. "Come, Richard."
left after quitting the gates of the Manor House,    "I think I shall go back," said Richard Newand winding round the edge of the woods till they  ark.  "I am tired of this work. I'll go back,
reached nearly the top of Ale Head. Thence  and have a gossip with Emmy."
pursuing their course across the Downs, with the    "Do not be rash, Dick," replied his father,
high cliffs beetling over the sea at the distance  holding up his finger, with a smile.  "Rememof about a quarter of a mile on their left, they  ber, slow degrees at first!  You do not scare
continued their course, altelmately rising and de- birds that you want to drive into a net."
scenlding up the brown hills and down into the |  The lad laughed, anrid saying, " Oh, I'll not be




HJEN,,RY  SM EATON.                                   93
rash," turned his horse's head and cantered qni- Ifather says to you, Richard," observed Emmeetly away. When he had gone about a couple line, "andc do every thing that he tells youof miles, however-, he fell into deep thought, which is right."
took his feet out of the stirrups, let the reins drop    The last words were uttered after a moment's
on the horse's neck, and for mnore than half ans pause, and in a lower tone.
hour proceeded at a walk. Then, as if suddenly    "Very true," replied Richard, half laughing.,
rousing himself, he whistled a bit of a light air, "What you say is always true, Emmy; but the
put his horse into a quick pace again, and rode worst of it is-I suppose the soft place in my
on to the Manor House.                      brain prevents it-my father and I can never
It was very usual with Richard to stand in tbe agree upon what is quite right.  The fact is,
stable-yard after a ride till he had seen saddle dear girl, I see one side, and he sees the other,
and bridle removed and the horse rubbed down; as the old story-book has it; and if one side is
but now he left his beast immediately in the black, and the other side is white, we can never
hands of the groom, and walked across the court agree in opinion. Do you know what he was
till he came to a place where a large Irish eagle telling me to-day?"
was chained to a heavy perch. The bird was   "No, indeed," answered Emmeline, "I can
fierce and untamable; but Richard approached not conceive."
it without fear, and took hold of the padlock on   "Why, he was telling me," said Richard, lookits leg. He had hardly done so when it struck ing down and speaking in an absent manner,
him with its bill more than once; but he pro- " he was telling me that he intended me to marry
ceeded boldly till he had unfastened the chain you, and you to marry me; that it must be; that
firom its leg, and given it a vehement push fiom  the fate and fortune of us both depended upon it."
the perch. The bird instantly took wing, and   Emmeline trembled violently; and as the
soared into the sky. Richard Newark laughed shoulder of Richard Newark rested against her
aloud, and, without looking after it, wiped some arm, he felt how much agitation his words prodrops of blood from his forehead, and walked duced. The moment after, Emmeline felt his
into the house. He pursued his way quietly hand laid gently upon hers, and she asked, in a
through the passages, looked into the lesser and low voice,
the greater saloon, and then, mounting the stairs,   " What did you say to hin, Richard?"
walked tip to the door of Emmeline's sitting-room.   "Nothing much to the purpose," replied RichThere he paused a moment; and then murmur- ard, " for he set all my thoughts rambling and
ing, " What a fool I am! but I knew that long galloping like huntsmen at the field-halloo. I
ago," he opened the door without knocking, and laughed and talked as if I had been very happy,
vent in. Emmeline was seated near the win- buEtIwasthinkling allthe tinme, Emmeline. First
dow, gazing down upon the woods below; but I thought (what I never thought of before) how
she tlurned instantly at her cousin's step, and very happy it wouldl be to marry you —and how
started tip, exclaiming,                     you might snake any thing you liked of me-and
"What is the matter, Richard?  What has what a changed being I should be if you were
happened? The blood is streaming down your my wife-and how dearly I shoulld love youface I                                       and how I do love you —and a great many other
"Nothing at all has happened, Emmy dear,7 foolish things. Nay, don't shake, dear Emmy!
replied Richard. " Only, as often occurs in this there is no fear with your own poor Dick."
world, a friend took me for an enemy, and peck-   "I am not afraid, Dick," responded, Emmeed my pate. Come here and sit down, and I line, pressing the hand he had laid upon hers,
will tell you all about it, though there is nothing  " for I know right well that, whatever faults your
worth hearing to tell. Sit down here, Emmy,;  head may have, your heart has none."
he continued, again wiping away the blood.   "That's a good girl," returned Richard New"There, put yourself in that chair, and I will sit ark. "Well, I thought a great deal more still.
on the' stool at your feet, as I used to do before After all these foolish things had had their gallop,
they sent me to school to see what part of my  I thought I would not marry you for the whole
brain was sound.                             world, or if all the kings and queens in the world
"But what have you been doing, Richard?" were to try to force us."
said Emmeline, seating herself as he desired her.   "IIndeei, Richard?" said Emmeline, with a
"Nothing but giving liberty to an eagle," re- faint smile. " You had good reasons, doubtless."
plied the boy, "and he pecked me while I was   "To be sure I had," replied the lad. "In the
unchaining his foot."                       first place, I know that I am not wortihy of you
"Oh, you should not have done that, Dickonl,; -that I am not fit for you. In the next place,' I
said his fair companion. " Your father will be know that you would not like it; that you love
angry."                                      another; and that, if you were driven to marry'Why so?" demanded the lad. "The bird me, you would always be thinking of him, and.
was mine. He was given to me, and I had a loving him, and not me. I should be your jailer,
right to do what I liked with him. Well, Em- and not your husband; and I should be wretched
my;? he continued, after a moment or two, we too, for I should be always flying after your
have heard nothing of Smeaton, and a dull ride thoughts, like a sparrow-hawk after a lark, to see
we have had of it; so I left my daddy to trot on if you were not thinking of your lover all the
his way, and came back."                    time. You know you love him, Elnmy. You
Emmeline was silent, for she did not wish to love him very well, very dearly, and I do not
speak upon the subject of her lover at all; but wonder at you."
Richard went on in a rambling sort of tone, saying,   The rosy color that spread over her face, and
"Ay, dlull enotgh it was; and while we were neck, and forehead would have been sufficient
waiting for Tom Highain's coming back, my fa- answer; but she said, in a low though distinct
thor had so-me serious conversation with me, as tone, "I do."
he calls it. I hate serious conversation, Emmy."   There was a pause of a moment or two, and,"But you should always attend to what your then Richard said,




94                             UIENfRY SMEATON.
"' What a fool i shoutld be, EmmeIine — a great- kindness il his whole conduct, that her heart
er fool than I am, and that is bad enough-if I smote her for not telling him all she knew andc
suffered my wits to be set wool-gathering by ally  all she intended. She remembered, however,
nonsense about ever marrying you, or putting i that the secrets in her heart were not altogether
Smeaton out of your head. But still, Emmy,"  her own-that she had only a divided right over
he continued, in a tender tone, "you will love  them; and, though it cost her some pain, she
me after a sort-as you always have-as a kind  was silent.
fiiend —as a sister."                          Richard went on talking with her even after
"Indeed I will, Richard," exclaimed Emme- he heard the sounds which accompanied his faline, earnestly, " and love you all the better for ther's return; and when he left her and went
your conduct this day. Now I know what you  down the stairs, although he was inclined to be
mean by setting the eagle free: you would fain  more thoughtful than perhaps he had ever felt ini
set Simeaton free of all difficulties, if you could."  his life, he assumed a gay and joyous look.
"No, dear Emmy," pursued Richard, "I did    "Well, Dick," said his father, when he met
not exactly mean that. Indeed, I do not clearly  him,." where have you been all this time 7"
know that I meant any thing; but as I rode    "I have been sitting with Emmeline ever since
homeward, and thought how happy you might I came back," replied the lad, "and we have
be if people left you to do just what you liked, been talking of all sorts of things. She is a dear
I wished to help you to do so-to make you  girl indeed."
quite free; and then, when I saw the poor eagle    " But what is the matter with your forehead?"
in the court, I thought how happy he would be  said his father.'" Did your horse fall?"
if he could soar away in the skies again at his   "Oh no," cried Richard, "it was that brute
own pleasure; and then the thought came across  of an eale. I was tired of seeing him sitting
ine of what my father would say if I unchained  moping on his perch, so I went to unchain him,
the bird's leg; and I answered myself that I had  and he pecked me on the head."
a right-that the bird was mine-that he had    " Why, you foolish boy, you have not set him
been given to me, and so had you, and therefore  free?" exclaimed Sir John.
I determined to set you both free. I do not   "Oh yes, I have," answered Richard, "and he
know how it was, but somehow there seemed a pecked me for my pains. But Emmeline did
likeness between your fate and his; though when  not peck me, whatever I said to her, so I care
he fluttered his wings, and struck at me as I un- not. No chance- of my being hen-pecked, fachained him, I said to myself, Emomeline will ther;" and, with a gay laugh, he turned away.
know better, and so she does."                 Sir John Newark was well pleased with what
" Indeed she does, Richard," replied Emme- he had done. " Women are strange beings," he
line; "and she will never mistake you for an  said. " Who knows but what this boy's wild,
enemy."                                      dashing, light-hearted thoughtlessness-so like
" But do you know, Emmeline," continued  his weak mother-may not be metal more ather cousin, "that I have a strange notion it tractive in the girl's eyes than soberer, sounder
would be better for us both to dissemble a lit- reason?  At all events, le will be a check and a
tie? for I fancy my father has some suspicion  guard upon her; and even supposing her fancy
about you and Snmeaton."                     has kindled into thoughts of love in the society
"I fear I am a bad dissembler," returned Em- of this young earl, it can only render something
meline, incautiously. " I can not but dread that for love to lean upon more needful to her when
Sir John sees I have been dissembling with him  he is away. I have seen such things. It will
lately."                                     do. I am glad I spoke to the boy, and told him
Richard, however, did not ask in what respect, my intentions."
but rambled on as usual.                        Sir John Newark thought he had more reason
"Oh, we all dissemble -more than we are  to congratulate himself still, when, a few hours
aware," he said. "Here, Inever thought to de- afterward, he received a peremptory summons
ceive my father in any thing; and yet, for some  to attend. the authorities at Exeter on the followreason-either from something in himself or in  ing day. He mused for a minute or two before
me-I never can tell him all I think. I never he returned an answer; but, in the end, he decan turn my heart inside out before him as I can  terminled to assume a bold tone, and calling for
with you. When I should most wish to say all, the messenger, he told himn to infoirm those who
ancl make him understand every thing that is go- sent him that he (Sir John) would come right
ing on inside of me, some devil, I think it is, willingly, provided he was assured before noon
comes and stops me, and makes me go rambling  that his house would be subject to no violence,
away with vague answers about nothing at all, and his family to no annoyance or insult, as on a
which he may take one way or another, just as former occasion.
he likes. But what I mean is, not that we should    " Hints are given in this letter," he said, " of
just exactly dissemble; for, as you love me well a suspicion that the Earl of Eskdale is harboring
and I love you well, it is not dissembling to seem  in this house or neighborhood.  Tell the high
to do so. I would only have you look happy  sheriff, who seems taking upon him the office of
when I am with you, and I'll try to make you so  lord lieutenant, that after the proofs of loyalty
too; for I'll talk to you of Smeaton, and we'll which I have lately given, no such suspicion
plan plans andd plot plots about him, and all sorts should be entertained; but before you go, and
of pleasant things."                         while your horse is feeding, I insist upon it that,
"There can be no harm in that, Richard," re- by search or cross-examination of the servants,
plied Emmeline, in a graver tone than her young  and by inquiry in the village, you ascertain
cousin had expected; for he was trying, though  whether there be any ground whatever for such
hardly knowing it, to win her mind away from  a doubt. Satisfy yourself fully, and then report
all heavy thoughts. But, to say sooth l Emme- accordingly, first to me, and then to those who
line was somewhat puzzled how to act toward  sent you. I shall set off at eleven to-morrow for
him. There was so much candor, so much frank  Aleton, and will thence go on to Exeter, if I am




HENRY SMEATON.                                          95
met ther-e by at filll and p:roper assurance that, themselves Jack Smith when they sought conwheen I retu.n, I shall not find my honse has been  cealment), " and he will be very glad to see you.
visited by a party of soldiers while I have been  He coull not think what had become of you. Is
allured( to a distance."                      this gentleman your fiiend?"
Tle man, who was a person of somewhat su-   Van Noost nodded his. head and entered the
perior station and intelligence, took advantage house, followed by Smeaton.  The maid shut
of the permission given to him, and made him- and bolted the door again, and then led them on
self, as he thought, perfectly certain that no olne, into the parson's little parlor, where they found
in Ale-Manor House at least, kinew where the that reverend personage enjoying himself accordEarl of Eskdlale was. The village, too, he visit- ing, to his evening wont.  There was one lighted; but there he got gruff and indifferent an- ed candle on the table; but the room, though
swers, and once or twice became somewhat small, was obscure, for a thick cloud of tobaccoafraid of pursuing his inquiries.  Perhaps these smoke floated in it.  On the hob of the vacant
fears tended to make him more easily satisfied grate lay the pipe from which that smoke had
than he otherwise would have been; but tlhe proceeded, and close at the parson's elbow was
conclusion he came to was, that the rough fisher- a tall bottle containing some sort of spirits, a plate
mnen knew nothing of the matter, and did not like and knife with a lemon, and a pot of' sugar. Beto be troubled with things that concerned them  tween him and the candle-stick, however, was
not.  Before he departed, he saw  Sir John  an open Greek book, in old and tattered bindNewark again, and told him the result of his in- ing; for Parson Thickett was an erudite man,
quiries. Sir John was very gracious, for the re- notwithstanding some little failings. In person
salt was as satisfactory to him as it could be to he was fatter than Van Noost, and of a very dif
any one.                                      ferent sort of fatness. His limbs were large, but
"No," he said to himself, "no.  He is at seemed almost disjointed, or at best held loosely
Blacklands, clear enough, tboughthey would not together by the lax integuments that covered
own it. Or else this man, whom they spoke of them. His stomach was large and prominent,
going toward Exmouth, may have been he."    betraying beneath his cossock-for he was genHe dismissed the messenger, however, with a erally in canonicals-a vast hemisphere of black.
fee, as was not uncustomary in those venal times, I-is face was somewhat coarse, it must be acand rested more tranquilly than he had done the knowledged.  He had a large ear and a large
night before, only wishinlg that he could hold lip, and, not contented with a large chin, he had
some communication with the young earl for a two of them. There was a good.deal of shrewdday or two, to fix his meditated grasp upon -ness, however, and a certain portion of fun about
Keanton.                                      his gray, watery eye, and his whole face lighted
up with jovial good hmnor as soon as he saw the
statuary.
"IHa, my worthy friend!" he cried, starting
CHAPTER XXV..                    up with greater agility than might have been expected, and grasping Van Noost's hand warmly,
IT was about nine o'clock at night when two " where have you been so lonl? I thoungt the
persons on foot approached the little hamlet of Philistines were upon you, by Jove.  What of
Aleton. One of them advanced a little before the brasses?  What of the monuments?  What
the other, as if to reconnoiter; but all was still of the inscriptions?  By Jove, I thought you had
and quiet in the place; and even the small pub- left your work half done, and it might have relic house, unused, in that remote district, to late mainecl long enough undone for me, for scrubbing
visitors, was closed. Light could be seen with- brass and marble is no partofmy calling. I love
in, indeed, through the chinks of the rude win- my flock well enough, but when once I've got
dow-shutters, and it is probable that the latch theml under ground I've dcone with them.  Ha!
of the door would have yielded to the hand of who is this gentleman?"
any belated traveler; but there was no other   "A fiiend of mine," replied Van Noost, " who
si gn of active life to be perceived without.  has come to talk to your reverence about a litThe two persons of whom I have spoken, how- tie business."
ever, passed by the door of the inn, and ap-   "He is welcome," cried the jolly parson.
proached a house-the only other dwelling " Sir, you are welcome.  We will talk of busiwhich deserved the name-a little further on ness presently. Now, we'llhave abowl of punch
the road to Exeter.  Stepping up to the door, and fresh pipes. Betty, Betty!"
the shorter of the two travelers knoclked with    Smeatoi tried to persuade him that he was in
his hand; but the application producing no re- haste and coulci not stay, but Parson Thickett
sponse from within, he was fain, though appar- would take no denial.
entry very unwilling to make a noise, to take    "I will have my way," lie cried, laughing,
hold of an iron wire which hung at the side of "1r will have my way, by Jove, for this time.
the door with a bunch of hammered irol at the You shall have your way the next timie, upon
end of it, and give a gentle pull. A tinkling my sacred word of honor."
sound was immediately heard, and then the    "Indeedl?" said Sineaton.
voice of a woman, saying aloud, to some one in    "Of a verity," returned the parson, "unless
an inner room, as she moved along the passage,  you ask me fol the tithe pig that was brought in
" I dare say it is nothing but old Drayton dead, this morning. That is a reservation."
and they have come to talk to you about the   The glasses and pipes were brought in, fresh
funeral."                                     hot water procured, and the brewing com
The next instant the door was opened, and menced; but, as soon as the door was shut,
Van Noost (for he was the sunmmoner) inquired  Smleaton thought he might as well begin upon
if Parson Thickett were at home.              the subject of his visit.
"Oh, dear, yes, Master Smith," replied the    "I will certainly hold the tithe pig reserved,"
servant (for people even in those days called he said, "for I trust to be able to increase your




96                              HENlRY SMEATON.
reverence's store of pigs instead of diminishing  Not at all," returned Smeaton, laughing.
them."                                       " It is perfectly right and proper. All that we
"Ay, indeed!" ejaculated the parson, squeez- require secrecy for is to prevent the intermeding a lemon hard between a pair of pincers. " I dling of persons who have no right to meddle."
think I know  what you are come about. I   "But Sir John Newark is her guardian,"sSaid
heard all the news this morning from the pack- the parson, drinking some of his punch.
man-how they are up in Northumberland, and    "Not so," replied the young lobleman. "HIe
how the king has been proclaimed in Scotland, is no more her guardian than you are."'
and all the rest of it. Well, well, I am no fight-   "You must have some guardian's consent,
ing man, but the king shall have my prayers; and  said Parson Thickett. " That I know, because
Smith, here, can tell you that I have well indoc- I've got the register of her birth in there-" and
trinated my congregation. There is not one of he pointed to a large box in one corner of the
them wvho does not say over his beer-or his room.
cider, if he comes from the other side of the hills,   " Indeed!" exclaimed Smeaton. " Will you' Here's to him over the water I" "-         have the kindness to give me a copy of it?  I
"Nay, my reverend tiiend, you are making a fancied that Sir John Newark kept the registers
mistake," replied Smeaton.  "My business is at Ale, and would not let you have them."
altogether personal. I want you to perform the    " Not he," replied his reverend companion.
marriage ceremony for myself and a young  "Afico for SirJohn Newark! The stingy hound
lady."                                       has not asked me to dinner for three years, and,
"That I will, my lad, that I will," exclaimed  moreover, tries to defraud me of my dues. He'll
the parson, joyously. " It is the function which  pay no tithes of mint and cummin, not he. So,
I perform most willingly, for there is always the last time I hlad my hand upon the registers,
something merry to be said at the beginning, and  I took theml away. He had had them then four
always something good to be eaten at the end." years, and that was four years too many. You
-" I fear there will not be in this instance," ob- shall have a copy. He'll not much like that;
served Smeaton, gravely, " for no wedding feast and, if I marry you, there will be an awful exwill be prepared."                           plosion."
"' Never mind, never mind!" retorted the par-   He finished his speech with a good draught of
son. "There is some fun in matrimony, at all punch; and Simeaton remarked,
events. I'll buckle you so fast that you shall   " I hope there is no' if' in the case, my good
neither of you get loose again in a hurry. Give  sir. You promised, if I would let you have your
me the names. I'll have the banns published  way, you would let me have mine."
next Sunday."                                  "So I did, so I did," cried the priest, with a
"But we do not intend to have any banns ei- jolly laugh; " but, upon my life, you must tell
ther," said Smeaton.                         me something more: first about her being un"Better and better!" cried Parson Thickett. der age. That is the devil, as you have not got
"You must have a license, and that is a fee in  any guardian's consent."
my pocket."                                      Nay," replied Smeaton. " There you are
"Then you are a surrogate?" said his compan- mistaken, my reverend friend. Have the goodion. "That smoothes one great difficulty.    ness to look at that."
"No, not exactly a surrogate," returned the    As he spoke, he put into the clergyman's hand
other, leaving off his punch-brewing, and grow- a sheet of paper, on which were written two or
ing somewhat interested in the conversation; three lines in a fine, bold style.
"I am a'peculiar:' that is to say, young gentle-   "Ha! what is here?" ejaculated the parson.
man, I have a peculiar jurisdiction ecclesiastical "Then this is her lawful guardian, is it?"
here, under the dean and chapter of Exeter. I   " I am ready to swear it," replied Smeaton;
can grant licenses, and prove wills, according to  "and our good friend here, whom you know,
the canon, being a bachelor of laws as well as a will testify —"
doctor of divinity, let me tell you. Now, thank    "Oh, I'll testify any thing you like," interGod for all good things!" he continued: " this is rupted Van Noost, drinking off his punch and
the first time I have had to exercise my pecul- holding out his glass. " There, parson, give me
iarity-to my own profit, at least."          some more, and don't let us have any further ohThe frame of mind which he was in seemed  jections, there's a worthy divine. You know
very favorable to Smeaton's object; but when  you will come to it in the end. We'll find means
the young nobleman, with some precaution, ex- to melt you."
plained to him fully what that object was, the    "But suppose I do not come to it," asked Doc
worthy parson looked somewhat aghast. The  tor Thickett, looking at Smeaton, "what will
name of Sir John Newark, indeed, was not men- you do then?"
tioned, but by some way he jumped at the con-   "I have simply one alternative," replied Smeaclusion that the lady referred to was Emmeline, ton, gravely. "If you refuse, I shall go back to
and Smeaton did not contradict him. He shook  Ale, and, authorized as you see by this paper,
his head gravely, rolled his fat thumbs round  take the. lady to France with me this very night, 
each other for a minute or two, and then shook as soon as the moon rises."
his head again. Van Noost, however, came to   "What, unmarried!" exclaimed the priest,
the rescue, judging rightly that the first impres- with an affected look of horror. " That can not
sion of fear would wear off under the influence of be-that can not be. I must marry you, by Jove,
the glass.                                   to prevent scandal."
"Come, parson," he said, "think of the punch    "Exactly," replied Smeaton, with a smile.
a little. It is getting cold."               " That is, in reality, my object. We can be mar"So it is, by Jove!" cried the parson, ladling  ried as soon as we reach Nancy; but I think, on
out the punch.  "Here, take a glass, sir.  It every account, it would be better that the cerewill keep up the spirits of both of us, for this is mony should be performed before we set out."
a bad business."                               "Oh, certainly, certainly," replied Doctor




HENRY SMEATON.                                       9
Thickett. "Let me look at that paper again. I   The rest of the arrangements were soon made,
want to see how the case stands."           It was agreed that on the following night, about
Pushing the punch away from him, he exam- the same hour, the worthy doctor should walk
ieed the paper accurately, and at length, lifting down to the village of Ale, and there put hinm
his eyes, said,                             self entirely at Smeaton's command. The regisn
"You are, then, the Earl of Eskdale?"    ter of Emmeline's birth was then produced and
"He is none other, upon my say-so," chimed copied; and, rewarding him well for his small
in Van Noost; "and as we can not cast many trouble. Smeaton took himself back to Ale with
men out of one mold as we can statues, I will an- Van Noost.
swer for it that there is not a copy of him extant."
The priestj however, was deeply cogitating                 --
the contents of the paper.
"This does not exactly say you are to marry            CHAPTER XXVI.
her," he observed at length; ";' but as it tells the
y    roung lady that, in perfect confidence of your   IMPORTANT business came thick and fast upon
r and 3tegrity, she is to do whatever you all the magistrates of the western counties of
direct, I suppose we must take the consent for England; for, though parties were very nearly
implied. Well, that is got over. Now, then, the balanced, and the prompt, vigorous, and judithing is, how to manage it. Idon't care a rush cious measures of the Whigs-somewhat unfor Sir John Newarkl, but I       think yore will find constitutional as perhaps they were at timeshim difficult to manage. How will you ever overawed the Tories or Jacobites, and kept
smuggle her out of the house, and up here to the down any open outbreak, yet positive informachurch, between the hours of eight and twelve?" tion was received, if not of a thoroughly-organ
"I am aflraid," replied Smeaton, "that the ized and widely-extended plot, at least of an irnchurch must not bethe place, and the hour some- mense number of smaller and detached conspirwhat different."                            acies, which only wanted time and opportunity
" But, my good lord, my good lord," said Par- to unite and co-operate. Exeter itself was but
son Thickett, " the canon-you forget the canon little tainted; but in nearly all other parts of
-canon one hundred and four. Why, I should Devonshire, in Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, and!
be punished; and you might be punished too, Gloucestershire, nightly meetings were held, atL
by the act affecting clandestine marriages."  which some of the most influential persons int
"Which take place every day, notwithstand- the county were present; and the very smalL.
Ulg," added Smeaton.                        body of troops quartered at Exeter were insuffi-.
"Ay, ay, by Hedge parsons, May-fair parsons, cient to perform the duties cast upon them inr~
and Fleet parsons, but not by a regular doctor of the neighboring portions of the country.
divinity. Why, I might be suspended for six   The arrival of Captain Smallpiece, and the ac —
months from the execution of my office; and I count which he gave-not a very accurate one,
am not sure that they would not touch the tem- -of the surprise of his party and the rescue ofe'
poralities. As for the office, deuse take it, I his prisoners, called forth a burst of anger and'
don't care much for that. I want a trip to Lon- disappointment fiom the more bustling anl ve —
don, and that would give me a holiday."     hement magistrates, and somewhat alarmedi
"Pray, how much might be the value in mon- even the more prudent. Nothing was talked of:
ey of your loss, if suspended?" asked Smeaton.  but sending a larger force to scour the country."Why, the matter of well-nigh fifty good and recapture the young Earl of Eskdale andpounds," replied the parson, "and that is a great his companion, and proclamations; were pro-.
rum to risk."                               posed, offering a great reward for his apprehen"It is," assented the young nobleman; " but sion. In time, however, the counsels of the
there is a way of insuring you against risk, my more prudent prevailed. They represented to,
reverend fiiend. Suppose that, the moment you their brethren that there was quite sufficient fort
have concluded the marriage ceremony, I put the troops to do in several other directions;
into your hand this little rouleau, containing one tha     they sent a large force down into tnA
hundred golden guineas of the late queen. You that if they sent a large fir  e down  into t
would be sure enough then. Moreover, the mar- comparatively wild and scantily-populated dish.
wouldbe sure eno'ghthen.   Moreover, the mar- trict round Ale and Keanton, nore importarntriage need not bepublished immediately in this trie   t round Al e and Keantn, more important
country; and, even if it were, I believe that none parts   of the county must be left open for thle
but the lady's lawful guardian could move in the movements of the disaffected, and many gentle
busin t the lady's lawful guardian could move in the men whom it was desirable to secure would'
business against you.
"That alters the affair very much," said Thick- have ample time to escape; while, if but a smal:
ett, with a very comic twinkle of his eye. " I force was sent, it would only provoke a collision
think it must be done."                     with the adverse peasantry, who would proba" Good," replied Smeaton. " I see we under- bly gather in great numbers on the first sign&:
stand each other. Perhaps you are not fully of determined hostility toward them. Captain
aware of all the privileges of your peculiar jus- Smallpiece had stated positively that the inns
diction; but, at all events, in a case like this, now  h ad been invaded by between forty and fifty
that the only real and substantial difficulty is re- men; and though eager to go and take vengemoved-that respecting the consent of the lady's ance, he was desirous  of having  an effectivo
guardian-you must swallow anyotherlittle tech- force with him, and therefore laid great stress
nical objections, which probably will never be upon the probability of the number of opponents.
taken notice of."                           being increased.
"Ah, my lord, you have a winning way with    General C-  made some allowance fmoyou," said Doctor Thickett; "but you have not exaggeration; but still he represented, to, thearunk a drop of your punch;" and, with a re- very zealous justices that it.would be much bet-.
signed sigh, he filled himself another glass to the ter to let the effervcscence ip that quarter sub.
brim                     - -side, andhby securing every suspected person of
X,




98                              HENRY SMEATON.
influence who could be easily and rapidly laid stranger was met with, just crossing the border
hold of, crush rebellion in the bud without any into Dorsetshire, by one of those sent to seek
bloodshed.                                   him. He was a stout fellow, and armed; and," Take my word for it," he said, " when these the courier bespoke him quietly. The stranger,
poor misguided fellows find there is no one to however, was very uncommunicative, and showlead or to support them, they will resume their ed himself desirous of getting rid of all compaordinary occupations, and then, if it be judged ny; b.ut the other pursued him closely, and
necessary, the leaders can be apprehended and never left him till he could obtain assistance for
punished. In the mean while, this young earl his apprehension. He was then immediately
will either come in and make submission, or seized and conveyed to Exeter, where, upon
will fly beyond seas again, and the latter-would being searched, a great number of letters were
be no bad thing. You must remember, gentle- found upon his person, many of them in hands
men, you have proceeded somewhat sharply well known in the county, and all of them bearagainst him, upon authority the value of which ing one peculiar address, namely, " To the Genyou know best; and although government con- eral commanding-in-chief for his Majesty."
sidered it necessary to make sure of all suspect- They were all broken open and read without
ed persons, and render them impotent for evil, ceremony; and the man himself was then subyet there is no desire on the part of his majesty jected to a long examination, which revealed a
or his minister either to cram the jails with great deal more, and gave point to all the amprisoners, or to treat as traitors those not actu- biguous expressions contained in the letters.
ally apprehended in arms."                    A change now took place in all the proceedThese last words, which were taken as a re- ings of the authorities at Exeter.  Persons
buke, created a good deal of ill feeling, and whose apprehension had been before a great obroused a pettish spirit of resistance. None of ject, were now left to escape, or to act as they
the magistrates judged fit to interfere with the pleased, and immediate measures were adopted
actual movements of the troops, but they insist- against individuals who had been hitherto neged upon issuing a proclamation, offering a re- lected or unsuspected. Troops were called in
ward for the apprehension of the Earl of Esk- from different quarters, and marched in the
dale, and some information which reached Ex- most opposite directions; and many of the good
eter duringthat evening madethem plume them- quidnuncs of the capital, when they heard of
selves mightily upon their sagacity. Four men these movements without understanding their
were sent out, two in one direction and two in causes, blamed severely the vacillating conduct
another, to paste up the proclamations on the of the people at Exeter, and prognosticated a
doors of dwelling-houses and farms; and, in general rising in the West.
their tour round the country, they obtained in-   For a dull chapter, this is long enough. The
telligence of a strange messenger having passed consequences of all these proceedings will be
across toward Exmouth, and of his having call- seen; and, in the mean time, we will go to mated at the farm of Blacklands, where he asked ters of more individual interest.'particularly if the Earl of Eskdale was at Kean-'ton, and then inquired the way to Ale-Manor,                    _
but without going along the road pointed out.
These tidings had scarcely been received in Ex-          CHAPTER XXVII.
-eter, when intelligence came from Exmouth of
the appearance of this strange messenger in the   IT blew a gale of wind right up the long val-'town, of hi:$ having held communication with ley between Ale harbor and Aleton. The night
"several disaffected persons, of his selling his was dark and cloudy. The sky, if not constantihorse, which was completely foundered by hard ly covered with black vapors, was so frequently;riding, and of his purchasing another, with which shrouded by them as only to allow the moment-'he rode away over the Downs toward Dorset- ary gleam of a star.  On, on, the clouds hurried
~shire.                                     confusedly over the firmament, like the thoughts
On hearing this, General C-  took a pinch of the human mind in a moment of sudden pertof snuff, coolly remarking,                 plexity.
" Then we shall probably soon hear more.   A stout man, well lined within and well cased
-He won't get to Colyford uncaught."         without, battled sturdily with the blast as he
Though he treated the matter lightly, to all walked down the valley. Many impediments;appearance, the old general did not regard the did he meet with: his cravat was nearly torn
journey of this messenger as at all unimportant. from his neck; his long black garments flutterThe persons and the places he visited proved ed like streamers in the wind; and more than
sufficiently the object of his coming; and by his once his three-cornered hat was blown off and
(arrest, it was reasonably supposed that much sent hurrying away along the road. At length,
information as to the feelings and intentions of after having caught it for the third time, with a.many persons might be obtained. The old offi- somewhat ungodly oath, he tied it tightly upon'cer was as quiet as ever, but very active. He his head with a pocket-handkerchief, and purknew and understood well that the apprehen- sued his way in greater security. He was often
sion of a single stranger, a mere bearer of let- half strangled, it is true; still he had not now,
ters and messages, was a very different and as before, to double the distance by the constant
much more simple affair than the arrest of a pursuit of his hat. Puffing and snorting, and
nobleman in the midst of a tenantry who bore venting many a malediction on those who had
a feudal, I might almost say, a clannish affection brought him such a journey on such a night, he
to his house. A number of couriers, armed, made his way forward, supported by the thought
but in a civil garb, went forth from Exeter that of a hundred guineas as the reward of all his
evening.  They were not unsuccessful. The toils. About a mile from Aleton, he passed a




HENRY SMEATON.                                    -99
man upon the road who seemed to know him, would find it a hard matter to get any one to go
for he said, " Good-night, Master Parson," and  off with you to-night, especially if there is to be
walked on; but at the entrance of the hamlet a lady in the boat."
he was encountered by our good friend Van' Then I suppose I shall have to come down
Noost, who whispered,                      to-morrow?" whispered Parson Thickett to the,s Is not this an unlucky night "        young nobleman, near whom he was sitting.
"Ay, by Jove!" answered Parson Thickett.   "4 No, no, my reverend friend," replied Smea-,I wonder what people are thinking of, to choose ton. " Your office can be performed in a hurt
such nights for being married on."         ricane as well as in:the calmest weather. and' "They must think less who go to sea on such  in a few minutes we will go to the place where
a night," said Van Noost. 1" I would not, for your assistance will be necessary. We must,
all the world. I would rather stay on shore and  however, have the cottage clear first, and obhave my head cut off."                     tain intelligence that all is safe."
The parson only laughed, and, walking on,   "Ay, ay," added the parson.,, Make sure
they were soon at Grayling's cottage-door, which  of that."
readily opened to admit them. The doctor was   After staying a few minutes, conversing with
easily consoled for his long walk on that stormy  his uncle, the younger Grayling went away with
night, for comforting appliances were within  the other man who had accompanied him, and
Grayling's cottage, and Smeaton took care that soon after the children were sent to their beds.
lie should be well supplied. The old fisherman  Smeaton looked anxiously at his watch, and
himself was in a somewhat grumbling and surly  theri, gazing out at the door, he said,
mood, and more than once went out, stayed a    " I think my servant is coming now."
few minutes, and returned. Poor Van Noost   But he was disappointed. A man arrived
sat by the fireside, with his eyes fixed upon the  who was a bearer of what, to Smeaton, was bad
flame, unable to cheer himself even by the strong  news. The new-comer was a stout peasant,
waters. From time to time he lifted his ear and  of a somewhat superior class, who looked round,
listened, as the leaden casements of the cottage  shook hands with old Grayling and his wife,
rattled and shook in the blast which came rush- whom he called uncle and aunt, and then, doffing up the stream; and though to the children  ing his hat, advanced to the young nobleman,
he was good-humored and kindly as ever, it was and presented him a letter.
evidently with a painful effort that the little  "' That, my lord, is from Farmer Thompson
statuary forced himself to notice them.    -my cousin," he said. " I undertook to bring
Smeaton, too, was grave and thoughtfuil. The it over, for we find that some of our people are
idea of exposing Emrmeline, in a night like that, not to be trusted."
to the fury of the stirred-up ocean in an open    Smeaton broke open the letter, and read the
boat, was one that he could not entertain. Had  contents with an anxious eye and a look of conhe been alone, with any purpose to accomplish, siderable emotion,
he would not have hesitated for a moment; but," What is all this?" he said, at length. "I
we often feel fears for others which we know  do not understand it."
not for ourselves; and, even if he could have    " Why, it is all true, my lord," replied the
sheltered her from the cold blast and the dash- young man, bending down his head, and speaking spray, he would not have risked a life so ing in a whisper.  " I saw it, and read it myprecious to him upon that tempestuous sea. self, posted upon the very walls of Keanton, setStill, the thought of delaying their: departure, ting a price upon your lordship's head, with the
even for a few hours, was very grievous to him. royal arms at the top, and' God save the King'
He knew right well how much may intervene  at the bottom. It made all the good men among
between the cup and the lip. He had a sort of us quite mad."
anxious dread about the morrow, and he hoped,,It is not that I am speaking of at all, my
and half persuaded himself, that the wind-would  good friend," returned Smeaton. " The proclago down as the night advanced.             mation here mentioned, perhaps, might be exToward ten o'clock, however, old Grayling  pected, though, I must say, such proceedings,
returned after a short absence, bringing his after the assurances I have received, are by no
nephew and another man with him.           means right and justifiable. But what I allude
";It is no use, my lord," said the younger to are these latter words," and, holding the
Grayling. " The ale is getting heavier every  paper to the light, he read:
minute; and it is so dirty in the wind's eye,,  "According to your lordship's orders, I have
that there is no chance of a lull before noon tosounded the tenantry, and find almost every
morrow. - As to getting off to-night, that you  man under forty ready to obey you in all things.
can not do. We might get a boat out of the  Some of them, however, have not arms. But
bay, indeed, but she would not live five minutes about twenty are fully prepared, and will be
off the head. I have seldom seen such a sea
ready to mount at a moment's notice as soon as
running as there is now on the Cobstone; for    dy to mount at a moment's notice as soon as
running as there is now on the Cobstone; for your lordship arrives. The rest can follow you
you see, my lord, the wind being southwestern  by one or two at a time, in a day or so, as soon
by someat on" interrupted him, saying,   as the arms come from Exmouth."
But Smeaton interrupted him, saying,
" I will take your opinion, my good friend.   He ceased reading, and looked in the young
There is no use in explaining; I should not man's face as if for explanation.
understand you if you did. For my own life I   "Well, my lord," said the other, " I don't unshould not care, but where others are concerned  derstand you."
Imust be more cautious."                     " Nor I this intelligence," added Smeaton.
"We don't care much for our own lives either, " I sent no orders to sound the tenantry or t 
my lord," said the fisherman;,  but I think you  levy men."




100                            HENRY SMEATON.
", Such orders certainly came, my lord," re-   "Pooh, pooh! what is the use of that?" explied the young man; "not by your own serv- claimed the doctor, laughing. " I know where
ant, but by another person who seemed to know  you are taking me, just as well as you do. I
all about you."                            would not have gone so quietly if I had thought
" This is some base fraud," said Smeaton, you were taking me into the lion's den except
musing. " However, my good friend, stop and by a back way. Why, the priest's chamber, and
refresh yourself for a little, while I write a let- the way in and out, has been a tradition at the
ter to your cousin. Tell him that I thank him  rectory ever since those puritanical times when
much for his zeal, but that nothing could be many an honest parson was forced to take reffurther from my thoughts than to authorize any uge from skull-cap and Geneva, broadsword
raising or arming of the tenantry. I hope, how- and bandolier. There used to be a key up at
ever, this has been done so cautiously, as not the church; but, by Jove! my predecessor was
to call the attention of the magistrates upon fool enough to give it to Sir John. How you
you."                                      got in I can not make out."
"We all met on horseback," said the young. Smeaton did not think it necessary to explain,
man, with a laugh and a shrug of his shoulders, but led the parson on, and found Van Noost at
"upon the green before the great gates, but I the well with the door open. Doctor Thickett
don't know that any one saw us."           was with some difficulty got across the water;
Smeaton thought gravely, and then replied,  and then, when the door was closed, a match
" If it be possible, I will ride over before day- was kindled and a lamp lighted.
break to-morrow. Stay, I will write."        "Now tread cautiously," said Smeaton, leadGoing hastily up to his room above, he wrote ing the way, with the light in his hand.
a few words in the same sense as those he had    When they entered the priest's room, how.
just uttered, and on descending, found the ever, it was still' vacant; and, ttusting to the
young man quite ready to depart.  Parson promises he had received, the young nobleman
Thickett, too, was becoming impatient to re- did not venture to proceed any further.
turn to his own dwelling, for it was now past   "This has been a chapel once, I think,'" oheleven o'clock, and with a long, bleak walk be- served Doctor Thickett, looking round the room.
fore him, he did not at all relish delay. Smea- ", Some notice of it is ih the books up at the
ton was evidently no less anxious, but still a church. There," added he, pointing to one of
quarter of an hour elapsed before the man Hig- the sides, " is where the communion-table must
ham appeared. At the end of that time, how- have stood."
ever, he entered the cottage with his gay, saucy   Smeaton held up his finger to enjoin silence,
look, expecting, probably, to find no one except and in a minute or two after a slight sound was
the old fisherman in the lower room; but, as heard at the extremity of the room adjoining
soon as he saw his lord, he said respectfully,   the next chamber. Cautiously, and as noise" They are all gone to bed, my lord, and I lessly as possible, the state bed in the other
dare say will soon be in a comfortable doze, for room was drawn back, and the door which it
Sir John and half the servants have ridden hard concealed was opened. All eyes were turned
to-day, and the rest have drank hard, which to that side, and there was certainly some emocomes to much the same thing."             tion, if not some anxiety, in the breast of each.,, Now, then, my reverend friend," said Smea- The light shone, however, upon the figure of
ton, rising, "we will go, if you please. Van the old housekeeper, who advanced quietly,
Noost, you must come with us. Higham, go holding Emmeline by the hand. The poor girl
on before to within a yard or two of the place trembled a good deal with agitation rather than
where the small path quits the carriage road to fear, and her face was very pale. But Smeaton
the house. There stop, and make sure that no advanced at once and took her hand, whispering
one comes that way without our having notice some low, tender words, which instantly called
by some means."                            her eyes to his face, and the warm glow into
"I understand," replied the:man. ",Wrangle, her check again.
quarrel, talk loud, whistle, shout, or something!   Mrs. Culpepper had stopped the moment they
l understand. I'll manage it, my lord."    were in the room; and now, looking anxiously
Thus saying, he walked out of the cottage, in her foster-son's face, she whispered, ", What
and Smeaton and the reverend doctor followed. an awful night it is, my lord! Every thing is
The young nobleman led his companion round ready; but-1"
between the two next cottages, desiring Van    "It is quite impossible," interrupted Smeaton,
Noost to go a little in advance; and then said,, to expose this dear girl on the sea in such a
in a low tone, " There is one question I wish to tempest; still, as this worthy clergyman has
ask you, Doctor Thickett, which is this: The come here to perform the ceremony, the marmarriage you are about to celebrate will be a riage had better take place to-night, and before
good and perfect marriage, notwithstanding to-morrow I trust the wind will have gone down.
some slight informalities-is it not so!"  What say you, dearest Emmeline?"
"Just, just," replied the parson. " They - "Oh, certainly," replied Emmeline.  "I shall
may suspend me, but they can not unmarry you.'feel more happy —more-more certain of what
They may punish you by the statute for a clan- I am doing, and what is right, to do, when I am
destine mnarriage, but they can not make the your;wife, than I do now..Besides, new diffi.
marriage of no effect. Marriage is like a good culties might spring up."
thrashing: when once inflicted, it can not be got   " You are right, dear young lady, you are
rid of."             t                     right," said Mrs. Culpepper. "Once wedded to
" And now, my good friend," pursued Smea- him, wherever he may find you, he has a right
ton, pausing, ", you must suffer me, I believe, to to claim you, and against whatever wrong is
tie a handkerchief over your eyes."        done you he has a right to protect you. B3e




HENRY SMEATON.                                      101
sides, he is bound to take care of himself for entrance into the room. Love and strong resoyour sake."                                 lution had given her power to conquer all agitaThe young nobleman smiled with a glad and tion till the words were spoken, the vow was
happy look at his beautiful bride, and then led uttered, and she was his forever. Then, howher on toward the spot where Doctor Thickett ever, the mingled emotions rushed back upon
and Van Noost were standing.                her, together with the overpowering feeling that
The stout priest would fain have said some- the great change was accomplished; that she
thing jocose, but Emmeline's timid look and was not her own, but his; that her fate was no
Smleaton's dignified bearing at the moment re- longer lonely; that she was one with him she
strained him, and he contennted himself with loved; and, had it not been for the arm which
asking, "This is all with your consent and full glided round her, she would have sunk to the
consideration, Mistress Emmeline'"         ground where she stood.
"Entirely," she replied, without raising her   The old housekeeper left them to watch in
eyes to the face of the clergyman, which she the passage, though she had little fear of any
knew right well, and did not much like.     interruption; and to Emmeline and her young,"Well, then, we have nothing to do but to husband it seemed but a moment, though an
begin," said Doctor Thickett; and, opening the hour had passed, when she again appeared, with
book, he read the service for the celebration of a face of some anxiety and alarm.
marriage from beginning to end, without sparing    "I hear horses' feet, my lord," she said.
them one word of it; and when he had finished, "Quick! You had better speed away. I know
he added, "i Well, that is done and tight. They not what it may be; but it is strange at this
can not untie that knot, let them tug as they hour of night. Some one will soon be up, for
will."                                      the sounds are on the road near the house.
" Thank God!" exclaimed Smeaton, pressing Quick, my lord, quick! Away!"
Emmeline's hand in his own.'"But we must   "Hark, hark!" cried Emmeline.  "There
each have some proof that this dear knot is are people speaking loud and angrily.  Oh,
tied, Doctor Thickett."                     Henry, go, go, for Heaven's sake!"
"~'Well, I will register it as soon as I get   A brief moment given to thought-one more
home," said the priest. 1" I could not bring the embrace-and Smeaton was gone. Emmeline
great lumbering book with me."              followed the old housekeeper, out of the room,
"Doubtless," assented the young earl; "but, and the secret entrance was closed as noiseif you please, we will each have a certificate lessly as possible. The fair girl, the bride, the
under your hand, and those of the witnesses wife, retired to her own solitary chamber, while
present, that the marriage has taken place. Van the lover and the husband took his way to his
Noost, you have an ink-horn with you, I think." place of refuge. When were they to meet
"Every thing ready, every thing ready," cried again? Who can ever say who asks himself
Van Noost. " Here is ink, and pen, and paper, that question when parting from another?
dnd-a table; so, now, doctor, write away."
" Ah, well. I came to read, not to write; but
I may as well do it," said the parson, sitting
down to the table, and beginning to scrawl in a         CHAPTER XXVIII.
large but crabbed hand. " There, my lord, that
is for you. There, my lady, that is for you.   SLE.EP was not destined that night to visit the
And now, this is my first fee and reward, by eyes of the young Earl of Eskdale  He made his
immemorial privilege," he added, pressing his way through Ithe passages to the stone door near
great lips upon Emmeline's cheek.           the well, opened it cautiously, and looked around.
She shrunk from him, unable to resist her Nobody was to be seen; and the sounds which
sensation of dislike; but he only laughed, and, hd alarmed them above had ceased. Closing
turning to Smeaton, received from him the full the door and locking it, he hastened back to the
reward which had been pronlised.            cottage of Grayling, seated himself with the old
"4 And.now," he said, aloud, "II had better man, who was still up by the fire, and inquired
whether he had heard any noise. But the sounds
take myself home. My part of the affair is over." whether  hed heard any noise. But the sounds
"Show him the way, Van Noost," said Smea- had   t reached the hamlet; a
ton.  " I will join you at Grayling's cottage very half an hour, the old man went out to seek intelshortly. "                                  ligence. When'he returned, he brought the servshortly."ant Thomas Highm,  with him, whose explanaThe statuary was prompt to obey, and led the ant, Thomas   aigman, with hil, whose explanation was so far satisfcetory that it showed Smeafat parson forth, taking Mrs. Culpepper's candle ton, or, at least, led him to believe, that no freshh
to light them.                              peril was to be apprehended for the time. The
Emmeline had  borne up well: she had re- higgh words which had been heard by the lover
plied clearly and distinctly when taking uponand his fair bride had passed between the servant
her the irrevocable vows which bound her to and a messenger from Exeter, and were provoed
the man she loved; but it must not be supposed by Higham himself, in order to give early intimashe had undergone no deep emotions. Every tion to his master that the household was likely
thrilling sensation had been felt; every wide-ex- soon to be disturbed.
tending association had presented itself; all the   "You see, my lord," he said, " the truth is,
hopes, all the anxieties, all the bright dreams, Sir John rode a great part of the way to Exeter
all the shadowy forebodings, all the realities, all this morning, having been summoned thither, J
the imaginings, which attend the pledging of a dare say, upon your affairs.  But he would not
young and innocent heart to the one loved and go the whole way, because he had required that.
trusted, had hurried through her bosom and her assurance should be given him on the road that
brain in those few brief minutes. Yet she had his house should not be taken possession of dur
borne up; she had seemed calm after her first ing his absence, and no messenger met him




1092                           IHENRY  SIIMEATON.
The fellow says he was detained, and could not the divine right of kings had at that period been
come on till to-night. I dare say he got drunk, rarely questioned; that where, as in the case of
and forgot all about it; but I picked a quarrel England, it had not only been questioned, but
with him in order to let you hear."          set aside, the new doctrine of the people's rights
"Then it was merely the messenger with whom  had only made way with one party, and that that
you were speaking?" said Smeaton. "Do you party had shown themselves so far doubtful of
know what reply he brought to Sir John?"   their own position as to choose for their sover"Oh yes!" answered Higham. "I got that eign a member of the same family whose head
out of him illn his passion. He said we were all they had repudiated. The men to whom Smeainsolent alike, Sir John and his servants (one of ton spoke had been bred up under his ancestors,
whom he took me to be), and that the magis- with the notion of this divine right inculcated
trates at Exeter would give no such assurances upon them firom infancy almost as a part of their
to any body till Sir John had explained his con- religion, and it is not, therefore, to be wondered
duct."                                      at that they marveled exceedingly to hear their
" Is he gone?" demanded his master.      young lord pronounce doctrines which to them
" Oh yes, my lord," replied Higham. "I kept seemed little less than treasonable. They could
hiding in the wood till I heard him trottin back comprehend his arlutments much better, howagain, and then I was just coming hither, when I ever, when he went on to explain to them that
met old Stockfish here."                    the chances of an insurrection even in the north
"Then I will ride over at once to Keanton," of Great Britain being successful were exceedsaid Smeaton, " if you can get me your horse out ingly small at that time, and that no chance whatof the stable."                              ever existed of a rising in the west of England
" Why, it is only the pack-horse, my lord," re- prospering for above a day. He showed them
plied HI-igham; "and though it is as strong as a that, from the information they themselves pos
lion, it is as slow as a bear."              sessed, it was clear that all the principal leaders
"It matters not," replied his master. "It of the Jacobite party in Devonshire and Somer
would take too long to get either of the others setshire had been secured by orders of the gov
from the farm. Bring it down to the end of the eminent, and that no force could be raised suffi
hamlet as speedily as possible, and then remain cient to resist the troops which were ready to
here till I come back, in order that they may act against the Pretender.
think you are riding it yourself."             "Yes, my lord," replied the farmer who had
The man sped away; the horse was soon before spoken; "but we might make our way
brought; and, about two in the morning, Smea  across the country to help our friends in the
ton was on his road toward Keanton. On his ar- North, and that I shall do, for one, now I have
rival, he found that, though most persons in the made up my mind."
little village were asleep, two or three of the   The man spoke in a dogged and determined
principal farmers were congregated at the house tone, and several others who were present, though
of Thompson, waiting for his arrival. He was they said little, seemed much inclined to follow
received with every sort of respect; but, never- his example. The time thus ran on for about an
theless, there was a somewhat gloomy and dis- hour in fruitless discussion, and then it became
satisfied look about the men, which gave him  necessary for the young nobleman to return to
some key to their feelings. They said that the his place of refuge. He could, therefore, only
message they had received in his name had so entreat those by whom he was surrounded to
completely misled them, that every preparation  pause and consider well before they acted upon
had been made for taking up arms, and without a resolution which might hurry them into danmuch secrecy or disguise.                    gers they had not yet fully calculated.
"If we stand hesitating, my lord," said one of   With this advice he left them; and, according
the men, boldly, " the people of Exeter, who to custom on such occasions, his conduct became
have had spies among us, won't fail to be down the subject of much comment after he was gone.
upon us when we least expect them, and then  Some blamed him as a waverer; some of the
we shall be marched away to prison. Nobody more rash affected to doubt his courage; and
doubted, my lord, that the order came from you, others marveled at what could possess him; when
for the only thing that surprised us was that you some one, in a jocular manner, alluded to the
had not given it long before. We are, every one pretty lady at Ale-Manor as the probable cause
of us, willing to shed our blood for our right king, of their lord's hesitation and reluctance. As
under the command of your lordship, whose good usual, when any likely solution of a difficult quesfather was ever ready to draw the sword in a just tion is suggested, e~very one seized on the idea
cause; but we should not like to spend the rest thus started; poor Emmeline was looked upon
of our lives in jail without striking a blow, right as a sort of Cleopatra, who kept their Marc An
or wrong."                                  tony in the toils of love; and the good farmers
Smeaton was a good deal mortified, for there set themselves seriously to consider whether
was but little time to give long explanations as no means existed of forcibly withdrawing their
to his motives, or to show the worthy men around young lord from this entanglement.
him how hopeless was the course they were in-   In the mean while, Smeaton rode back toward
clined to pursue. He told them, however, briefly Ale; but, as always happens when speed is rebut clearly, that he credited in no degree the as- quired, more than one impediment came in his
sertion, so frequently made by the Jacobite party, way.  It was still blowing hard, although the
-that the majolity of the people of England were gale was somewhat more moderate, and the
anxious for the return of the Stuarts. He had young nobleman's horse labored and panted up.convinced himself, he said, that such was not the the hills as if his lungs were unsound. This,
case; and he added, what seemed to surprise however, would only have produced a delay of
them very much, that he thought the people of about a quarter of an hour; but a much more se
any country had a right to some voice in the dis- rious obstacle soon presented itself. The beast
posal of the crown. It must be remembered that cast a shoe; no means of replacing it were nean




HENRY S1MEATON.                   I03
at hand, and it was impossible to proceed with sion of the house quietly enough, they knew bet.
any thing like speed.                       ter than to go into the village to make ally search.
Embarrassed and annoyed, the young noble- They would have been thrashed out soon enough.
man nevertheless pursued his way, though day All they wanted was Sir John, and him they
dawned and the sun rose when he was fully six have caught and put in a bag. But, nevertheless,
miles from the village of Ale. Two courses were I think it would be better for you to keep out
before him: either to ride on boldly and risk a of the way till the men have gone and have takmeeting with those whom he wished to avoid, en their prisoner with them, for there is a great
or to hide in some of the hollows of the hills till chance, if they found you, that they would bag
night fell, taking his chance of obtaining food you too  As soon as they are gone, you have got
from the shepherds or herdsmen who fed their the game in your own hands, for there will be
cattle on the Downs. But a feeling of reckless- nobody at Ale to stop your doing what you like;
ness had come over him, proceeding not alone and I can go and watchl from the top of Ale Head
from the conversation which had just passed, but to see when they pass up the road."
also from a perception of the manifold dangers   The words of Higham were like the voice of
of his position, and of the difficult situation in Hope, promising bright things which might or
which he was placed; and he had determined  might not be performed; but if a doubt previto go forward at all hazards, when he perceived ously existed in the mind of Smeaton as to whethsome one on foot apparently watching him from  er he should or should not go forward, it was at
the summit of one of the neighboring hills. As once removed. To try to make his way into
soon as the man got sight of Smeaton riding be- Ale, so long as the soldiery were at the Manor
low, he ran down toward him as fast as possible, House, would have been madness; and, conseand the young earl conjectured that there was an quently, choosing his course at once, he determintention of cutting himoffon the road towardAle. ined to retreat a little way into the hollows, and
"I can deal with one at least," he thought, and to send the man up to the high ground above
pushed on somewhat more rapidly, although his Ale Head, whence a considerable portion of the
horse now went very lamely.                  road the soldiers were obliged to travel was vis
But the person on the hill ran fast, and cut ible. He accordingly sought out a spot whence
him off at a turning in the path he was pursuing, he could keep his eye upon his servant, while
when, to Smeaton's surprise, he beheld the face Higham watched the road, and arranged with
and figure of his servant Higham, who, holding his master a sort of code of signals for the purpose
up his hand to prevent his further advance, be- of communicating what his observations discovw
sought him not to ride on, on any account.   ered from the height, without obliging the earl
"You can not get to the village, my lord, but to descend. But the mall had not been more
by passing round the Manor House, and it is in than ten minutes at the highest point of the coast
possession of the soldiers from Exeter.  They when, by stretching out his right arm in the
have taken Sir John out of his bed this morning, same direction as the road to Exeter, he indicaand intend to carry him away to Exeter a pris- ted that the guard and their prisoner had set out.
oner. He talks very high, but looks low; and   Waiting a few minutes to give time for their
so I thought I might as well run on to tell you, passing out of sight, the young nobleman moved
and keep myself out of harm's way."          his horse slowly forward, choosing the soft turf
"Sir John Newark!" exclaimed Smeaton, in to ride over as the best for his horse's unshod
utter amazement; for the character of the knilght feet; but, the moment he altered his position,
was in no degree a secret to him, notwithstand- Higham ran down again to meet him, and iniug all the pains taken to conceal his real views formed him that it would be better to wait a litand objects. "Are you sure, Higham, that I am  tie, for, though the greater number of the soldiers
not the real object of the search, and that Sir were out of sight, yet two were far in the rear
John is not arrested either from his having hid- of the rest, and might recall the others in a meden me in his house so long, or as a sort of secu- ment.
rity for my discovery?"                       "Sir John is determined to take it at his ease,"
"Lord bless you, no, my lord!" replied Hig- added the man, " for he has got his great coach
ham. "4 Sir John Newark is lagged for Sir John and six horses, with a servant on horseback at
Newark's own doings. Ile has played fast and each wheel. It looks, for all the world, like the
loose with every government for many a long lord mayor's coach, and goes as slow; but, at all
year, and has won a precious deal by the game- events, it will serve his purpose, and both make
at least so the people here say. He has made him  comfortable in the inside, and delay the
people in London fancy he is much more power- people who have him in custody."
ful in Devonshire than he is, and so, whenever   "Then do you think he meditates escape?"
he wanted any thing, he made a show of going asked the young earl.
over to the other party, and got what he required.   "That is as it may be, my lord," replied Hig.
Now, if he wanted Keanton, for instance, and ham. " If he hopes for any one to help him, he
thought that the Whigs were likely to win the is quite mistaken, for the fishermen would not
day, he would become very High Church indeed, stir a finger for him, and the peasantry do not
and pretend to be plotting with your lordship like him much better, as far as I can hear. He
just to be bribed to give it up and betray you. is a sorry fellow, and a proud one, and won't find
But such a man is caught out in the end. He many friends in the world; but perhaps he
can not carry on such a game without making thinks to get off by some trick; and then, if he
some mistake, and the magistrates here are des- does join the prince's army, he will have taken
perate sharp. I was in the house when the sol- the first strong resolutios he ever did in his life
diers came, and it oozed out among them that — but he won't do that. He will hold fast by
Sir John was charged upon some letter found on the ruling power in the end, depend upon it, for
a messenger in which he had gone a little too Sir John is his own sovereign, and nobody is so
far. As to seeking for your lordship, they never despotic with him as his owns interest."
asked for you at all; a.d though they got posses-   Smeaton mused a while, alid then moved slow



104                             HENRY SMEATON.
ly forward again, sending his servant a little in   Sineaton followed her with some anxiety, for
advance to see that the country was clear. No there was an ominous gloom upon her face which
obstacle, however, presented itself. The caval- he did not think the mere arrest of Sir John New.
cade was out of siaht; the grounds round Ale- ark was likely to produce.
Manor were perfectly solitary, and not even a   "You have heard what has happened?" she
herd or a laborer was to be seen. Dismountincg said, immediately the door was closed.
from  his horse where the road to the Manor   "That Sir John Newark has been made prisHouse turned into the wood, the young earl de- oner, and sent to Exeter," replied Smleaton.
scended on foot to the village, from which a sound    "To Lonldon-to London," returned Mrs. Culof loud talking came up the side of the hill. He pepper. "Ile will not even be examined at Exfound the greater part of the people of the place eter, they say, but be sent off to Newgate or the
-men, women, and even children-assembled  Towerat once. He has long been playing double
in one of the little gardens, which, fenced with with them, and now they have found upon a
large flat stones, lay here and there between the courier a letter of his to the Earl of Mat, which4
cottages. All seemed in a state of great excite- by the explanations of the messenger, they make. ment, but it was evidently not excitement of an out to be filll of treason. But that is not the
angry character, for some laughed, while others worst of it, Henry-that is not the worst of it.
talked loud, though in no very sad tone.     He has taken the Lady Emmeline with him,
As soon as Smeaton was seen advancing by whether she would or not. We knew not what
those on the outside of the little crowd, one stout to do-whether boldly to tell of her marriage, or
fellow waved his hat and cried " Hurrah!" and still to keep it secret. To say that she was marcongratulations poured thick upon him as he ad- ried to you would have been to make matters
vanced among them.                           worse; and now, I will own, I am at my wits'
"Ay, my lord, we were in a bit of a fright end."
about you," said old Grayling, grasping his hand    This was a terrible blow to Smeaton; one, in-.
unceremoniously in his great, broad, hard fist; deed, on which he had never calculated; and
" but not much either, for we sent out people to difficulties presented themselves in all ways. If
see that they did not-get hold of you."      he lingered in that part of the country till tidings
"Perhaps he does not know that the soldiers were obtained from London, he was sure to he
have been here, uncle," said the younger Gray- taken, and probably kept a prisoner at Exeter;
ling.                                        while, on the other hand, the intelligence he had
"No, not here, Dick, not here," said the stout received from the fishermen had shown him that
old man. " They dared'not put their noses in every road between Devonshire and the capital
here, if they had been five times their number. was strictly watched and guarded, so that it was'Up at the house they might do what they liked. next to impossible for hima to pass in that direo
That was no business of ours. But they are gone tion without discovery. Still, however, his miid
now, and have a long march to Exeter, so that was turned toward making the attempt at least,
all is safe for a day or two."               and the only consideration was how to do so in
"Then I suppose I can safely go up to the safety. He could devise no means; but good
house," said the young nobleman. " I wish to Mrs. Culpepper came to his aid with a plan which
hear the particulars of all this business."  seemed feasible.
"Ay, safe enough," replied the old man, with    "To try and get over the whole distance by
a meaning laugh; " safer, I fancy, than when you land," she said, "is hopeless; but the boatmen
lived there quite at your ease, my lord. A bad will easily take you round, and land you on some
friend is worse than a bad enemy."           quiet part of the coast near Abbotsbury ol0 Wey"But won't you have something to eat, sir?" mouth, whence you can easily get to London unhiquired Dame Grayling. "I'll get you some- der another name; and I don't know that Lonthing in a minute."                          don is not as good a hiding-place as any in thl
Smeaton, however, declined, and turned his land."
steps by the shortest path toward the house,   Smeaton'sinclinationsledhimthatway. Hopel,
thinking, with joy, it must be acknowledged, of too, unextinguishable Hope, was busy in his
the removal of many obstacles in his way by the breast, telling him that in the capital nlmch could
arrest of Sir John Newark. Bitterly was he des- be done which he would vainly attempt to do by
tined to be disappointed, as is often the case letter. He would see Lord Stair, he thought;
when we suffer our hopes to be elated without he would cast himself upon his honor, upon his
a fullknowledge of the circumstances. He found generosity. He would explain his own conduct,
every thing quiet and tranquil about the house, and recall to that nobleman the assurances he had
though he could hear some of the servants, as he given him not long before. Then, when freed
approached, talking together in the stable-court; fiom the perils which now surrounded him, he
and his eye ran over the windows, to see if Em- could, with safety to her and to himself, claim his
meline was at any of them. Nobody, however, beautiful bride, and set at defiance the arts of
was visible, and he lifted the great latch of the open enemies or pretended friends.
door to go in as usual; but the door was locked,   " I will set out at once," he said, after having
and he had to ring the bell and wait several miin- given a few minutes to thought.  "Yours is the
utes before he gained admission. The servant, best plan, my dear Nanny, and I will lose no
who appeared at length, was one of the younger time in executing it. I have at least one good
men; and, putting on a rueful aspect, with per- friend in London, who has the will and the pow.
haps a touch of hypocrisy, he was proceeding to er to see justice done me."
inform  the young nobleman of the sad event   "Pray take some refreshment before you go,"
which had occurred, when Mrs. Culpepper her- said the housekeeper, in the tone of old affection,
self glided into the hall, saying, with a low  "You have turned pale with all these bad new,
pourtesy,                                    and look harassed and grieved."
"If you will walk into the saloon, my lord, I   "Well indeed may I, Nanny," replied the
will tell you all about it."                 young lord, laying his hand kindly on her arm




HENRY SMEATON.                                      105
"Were there nothing else, surely the loss of my written two letters to Lord Stair, to neither of
dear Emmeline, within ten short hours after she which I have received an answer. He is a man
became mine, is enough both to grieve and agi- of honor and a gentleman, who will not deny his
tate me. But I need no refreshment, and shall plighted word, and I must go to London to claim
not be content till I am on my way."       its fulfillment."a
"Nay, but stay a little," said the old house-   "There are two reasons why you must not,"
keeper. "I can send down and order the boat said Richard, " and good ones too, whatever you
directly, while you take some food; and besides, may think. First, you can't; and, secondly, there
Richard, I am sure, will be glad to go with you would be no good in going if you could. Listen
as soon as he comes back."                 to me, listen to me. A ship of war is lying off
"Has he not gone with his father?" exclaimed the mouth of the bay, sent down, as I learn, to
8meaton, in great surprise.                 watch the coast and search every boat. That is
4" Oh no, my lord," replied the housekeeper, for the' can't.' Now for the' good of going.''he was not here at the t;ile. He has not been Lord Stair is not in London. He is in command
in the house since five o'clock this morning, when of the troops in Scotland; and, if you want him,
he rode away on one of his wild expeditions. We noble lord, you must go North."  Then opening
all thought he had gone to'seek you at Keanton." the door, he shouted, "Where is the Flying PostI
" I did not meet with him," said Smeaton; Where is the Flying Post that came yesterday'?
" but doubtless he will be glad to follow his fa- It was in this room last night."
ther; and, though his presence may be some em-   In answer to his call, a servant brought him
barrassment to me, yet, poor boy, it is well that one of the newspapers of the day, where, among
he should go with me."                      other brief and unconimented announcements,
"Better-tell him all, my lord," observed Mrs. appeared a paragraph, stating that the Earl of
Oulpepper.  " You may trust his word if he Stair had set out on the morning preceding to
promises secrecy; for, though a little twisted by take command of the troops in Scotland, and
one thiing or anothler, God gave him good wits at keep the rebels in check till a larger army could
the first, and a good heart too. Hark! that must be assembled to chastise them.
be his horse. Yes, he is calling for a groom. IHe   Smeaton looked at the date of the paper, which,
must have heaid what has happened, for that is as it had come by an express courier, was very
not his usual way of speaking. Stay! I will get recent.
you both some food and wine. He will want it   "If I set out at once," he said, "I may, by
as much as you."                            hard riding, catch him in Yorkshire or Northum
She had hardly left the room when Richard berland. It states hele that he will be in York
Newark entered: his manner of speech and bear- on Monday next —somewhat slow traveling in a
ing were wholly, almost miraculously changed, business of such importance; but doubtless he; as, with a heated face and eyes full of wild light, has re-enforcements with him. I will get my
he exclaimed,' Ah, you have heard the tidings, horses in, and ride off at once."
Eskdale! They have taken away my father,   "I will be one with you," added Richard New
which was what I always expected, and Emme- ark, "for I am traveling North too."
line too, which I did not expect; for she med-   "Will you not go to join your father?" asked
died with nothing, and he meddled with every the young earl, in much surprise.
thing. Now, what do you intend to do? I know    "Not I," replied the lad. " I could give him
what I intend to do, if the chain and collar will no help, and he would not have it if I could. My
let me."                                    father is quite sufficient for himself, noble lord" I propose," replied Smeaton, "to take boat at least he thinks so, and he never thanks any one
at once, land somewhere near Weymouth where fbr meddling with his affairs, though he meddles
we ale not known, and thence make our jour- with other people's often enough, whether they
ney to London under fictitious names. I take it thank him or not. But now let us get ready. I
for granted that you are anxious to follow your do not know whether these people lave carried
father; and if you like to accompany me, I shall off your baggage or not. Mine will be soon
be glad, although there is no need of your doing trussed. Heaven send me occasion to use the
so, for doubtless you would be permitted to pass sword you gave me! But you had better go to
unquestioned.. As for me, the plan I propose of- Keanton first, and take people enough to force
fers the only chance of my being able to reach the way, in case Hanover and Pulteney should
the capital except as a prisoner. But you lmust try to stop you. If you don't go there, your peo
decide at once, Richard."                   ple, I call tell you, will set out by themselves,
"What do you want in the capital?" asked and perhaps do more than you like or think of
Richard Newark. "What have you to do in that I was there half an hour after you this morning,
great ugly mixture of dirt, brick houses, and coal and how I missed you I do not know."
smoke?"                                      For a minute or two Smeaton did not reply,
"I have much business, and important busi- but remained in deep thought.
ness there," answered Smeaton. " Lord Stair   "So be it," he said at length. "Come down,
pledged his word to me that I should remain safe Richard, and join me at the end of the village as
and unquestioned in this country for a time, if I soon as you are ready. I must send for my hors.
meddled in no degree with politics. I have not es, and, in the mean time, will bid my servant
done so, and yet you know how I have been pack up the baggage which was left here."
treated."                                     "Be sure first that it has not been taken away,"'
Richard Newark laughed, and shook his head observed the lad.
with a thoughtful and abstracted air. " I mstust    I trust it it has not been," answered Smeaton,
not say what I would fain say," he remarked; " for my stock of money is running low, and there
"no, no, I must not. It is very odd that one's are some jewels and other things of value in
-fate is so often managed for one! You have those large trunks, which are worth money at
been played upon, Smeaton."                 all events."
"At all events," replied Smeaton, "I have   "Oh, the people at Keanton will furnish you




106                              HENRY SMEATON.
with money, I am sure," said Richard, "if you  local causes, far behind the rest of England in
will lead them where they like."               point of cultivation and numbers. Remote from
"That is what I an least inclined to do, I fear,"  the capital either of England or Scotland, and
returned Smneaton. " Therefore I will go up and  holding but very scanty communication with the
see, that I may be under obligations to no one."  rest of Europe, the power and authority of govHe found his baggage where he had left it, re- ermunent was less felt and acknowledged in
turned to the saloon, partook of some of the re- the great northern county than elsewhere; old
freshmlents which Mrs. Culpepper had provided, thoughts and habits cluag to the inhabitants with
and then hastened away to make his arrange- greater tenacity; news circulated less freely,
ments in the village. More than once during his and men were more under the influence of the
conversation with Richard Newark it had struck  great proprietors than perhaps in any other Enhim that a stranige transformation had come over  glish shire. The party of horse, therefore, which
the lad's manner. His toine was decided and  I have mentioned, and which was headed, as the
quick, and his look grave, perhaps sad, even  reader may suppose, by the young Earl of Eskwhen he laughed. But Snmeaton had too many  dale and Richard Newark, not only passed unthings to think of to comment at length, even in  questioned throu-gh a district where a great mahis own mind, on this alteration, and the impres- jority of the people were attached to the Stuart
sion was swept away as soon as made.          cause, but were.received in the small towns and
The hurry and confusion of a rapid departure  villages with much cordiality, as soon as it was
had many additions in Smeaton's case. What perceived that they were not soldiers of the
was to be done with good Van Noost was not house of Hanover. The Northumberland man
the least consideration. When notice of the ap- has a certain degree of Northern cautiousness
proacth of troops toward Ale-Manor had been first about him, but he is by no means without the
received in the village, the statuary instantly hid  merry English spirit, and a good portion of wit.
himself; no one knew where; but now he had  Few inquiries were made of the travelers as to
reappeared tipon the scene, and the young no- the end and object of their journey, but a sly andblelman could not bear the thought of leaving  jesting allusion was ofteni ventured to the cause
him behinld for the consequences of his own in- of the exiled king, and every information was
discretion. The appearance of a ship before Ale  given voluntarily regarding the insurrectionary
Harbor, which had thrown the whole village  movements in Scotland, and the general feeZ
into a state of commotion, prevented the possi- ings of the people of the county itself.
bility of Van Noon;t's escape by sea, and rendered    The report which had reached the West of
the necessity the greater of all suspected per- Forster and others being in arms in Northumbersons hastening their departure without delay. land proved to have been greatly premature, and
The fishermen anticipated that the ship's boats  Smeaton now found that nothing was certain as
would enter the harbor every moment, and they  to the proceedings of the malcontents and the
seemed to regard the landing of a number of sea- government except that warrants were out for
inen with much greater apprehension than an at- the arrest of the Earl of Derwentwater, and
tack by a party of soldiers. They showed no  Forster of Bamborough, member for the county,
inclination to abandon their fiiends, however, together with several other persons of less note,
but, at the same time, eagerly assisted inl all and that the earl and his companion, with sevpreparations which were necessary to put them  eral of their friends, were closely concealed.
beyond the reach of this new danger.            The situation of the young Earl of Eskdal1
The horses were brought to the village with  was peculiar, but his being placed in it had been
great rapidity; the baggage was packed and  brought about by circumstances which affected
loaded without delay; and as Van Noost's fat many at that period, and led them unwillingly
pony was lost to his affectionate master forever, to actions which they did not at first contema stout farmer's nag was procured for him, on  plate, and into a position which they had anxwhose broad back the little round man was  iously striven to avoid. A hundred instances of
placed like a plum-pudding on atrencher. Still, noblemen and gentlemen could be cited, who
the man who had been set to watch oIm the beach  were led on, little by little, from a mere abstract
of the bay and at the top of Ale Head brought feeling of loyalty and attachment toward the exno intelligence of any movement onl board the  iled house of Stuart, to a complete and someship to create alarm, and all was quiet when the  times furious enthusiasm in their cause, to an
party of. fugitives, consisting of Smeaton and  active part in insurrection, and to their own utRichard Newark, with Van Noost and two serv- ter destruction. Such was not altogether the
ants, rode away toward Keanton, where they ar- case with Smeaton; but it must be acknlowledarived without interruption. There, for a time, I  ed that, before le reached Northumberland, his
must leave them, to take up their history at anl feelings and views were very greatly altered.
after period.                                 The zeal and eagerness of all those by whom he
was surrounded of course had their effect.
Few men —perhaps no young man-can prevent himself from being altogether infected by
CI-IAPTER XXIX.                  the enthusiasm of others, especially if no antidote be at hand; and certain it is that the young
CONSIDE.RING the period of the year, which  mnobleman was inclined to look more favorably
was only the end of September, the day was cold  upon the conduCt of the exiled princes, to make
and wintery, when a party, consisting of some  more allowance for their faults, anld to regard
sixteen horse, took their way through one of the  their cause more hopefully than he had been
remote districts of Northumberland.  The sky  when we first saw him in London. Moreover
was covered with a film of gray cloud, and the  the treatment which he had received in Devon.
wind, keen and chilling, as if loaded with hail or shire, the evident determination of the local aunsnow, swept over the bleak hills and moors.    thorities, if not of the governlment, to molest and
Northumberland was at that time, from many  persecute him, notwithstanding the strong assur




HENRY SMEATON.                                      107
nnces he had received from Lord Stair, and the into thousands on the Jacobite side, and every
contemptuous silence with which, as it appeared, small advantage was reported as a great victory,
that nobleman had treated his letters, irritated while the numbers of the opposite party were
him greatly against the house of Hanover. It diminished in proportion, and the great abilities
was certain, he thought, that one at least of those of those who commanded them overlooked or
letters must have reached the hands for which unknown.
both were intended, although the second, per-   Smeaton himself received these rumors for -no
haps, might not have arrived in London before more than they were worth, and, perhaps, did
the earl had taken his departure from the capi- not yield them even sufficient credit. Mar had,
tal. Why had he neglected to reply?  Was he it is true, taken possession of Perth; his forces
inclined to violate his plighted word, or to con- had certainly greatly increased; and the Master
nive at its violation by others?  Or had he suf- of Sinclair, one of his officers, had seized a small
fered his mind to be warped by false reports? store of arms at Burnt Island. The forces of the
and if he had, was he justified in so doing before governmient, too, at Stirling, were quite i.ladestronger proof was adduced than any which quate, in point of numbers, to cope with a reguSmeaton imagined could have been furnished lar army, commanded by a mall of skill and exby his enemies?                               perience; but Mar was totally deficient in both
"I have kept my word to the letter," said the these points, and his army consisted of a mere
young nobleman to himself; "butI can not bear mob of brave men, with little discipline and
this much longer. If they will drive me into in- small cohesion among them. True was it, also,
surrection, it is not myfault. Bat I willyet make that General Whetham, who remained in comone more effort for an explanation, and if that mand at Stirling till the middle of September
fails, I and they must abide the consequence."  had shown but little ability to encounter the
A sigh followed the conclusion of this train of grave and dangerous circumstances in which he
thought, for a moment's reflection showed him, was placed; but on the side of the Jacobites, all
notwithstanding some new-lighted hopes, where the advantages of number, zeal, and fiery courthe evil consequences of the course along which age were more than counterbalanced by the inhe was being hurried were most likely to fall. capacity of the commander and the insuhbordinaIt is true, he had not committed himself in any tion of the troops, while, on the part of the govdegree either with Richard Newark or with the ernment, numerous bodies of disciplined soldiers,
farmers and stout yeomen who had accompanied and officers of decision, experience, and courage,
or followed him from Keanton. Although he were hurrying to the scene of action, and preparsuffered them to join his party-for he could ing to crush the insurrection, which had been
hardly refuse to do so after they had placed already suffered to proceed too far.
themselves in a dangerous situation on his ac-   Vainly did Srneaton ask for tidings of the Earl
count-he told them from the first that he had of Stair, till, on the day which I have mention.pledged himself to the Earl of Stair to take no ed, a farmer told him, somewhat sullenly, that
part in any of the political movements that were two regiments of dragoons belonging to the Earl
going on, if suffered to remain quietly in England of Stair had passed the border that morning, and
or a short period.                          that there was an ill-looking fellow at their head,
"I have kept my part of the compact," re- with a number of lackeys in the rear, whom he
peated he, " and I have been treated ill; but, be- doubted not was the earl himself and his servfore I actually violate it, I must learn from the ants. This news seemed sufficient; and, withearl what is the meaning of the conduct pursued out delay, he hurried on till nightfall, gaining intoward me. Perhaps all may be explained on formation of the march of these troops as he proboth sides; and if so, I will keep my word to ceeded, till, on the best opinion he could form,
the letter, leaving you, my good friends, to fol- he judged that they could not be much more
low what course you think fit."             than one march in advance. The place where
Some of the men received the announcement he was obliged to halt could hardly be called a
rather sullenly, but others smiled with light-heart- hamlet, but rather a group of small farm houses
ed shrewdness, thinking that their young lord's gathered together in a rich valley among the
scruples would soon be overcome when once hills. No inn, no place of public entertainment
he found himself in the focus of the insurrection.  whatever, was to be found; but the good farmers
During the last day's march, many a wild and of the place not only willingly took in the travelexaggerated report had reached the little party ers in separate parties, but seemed almost to exof the progress of the insurgent force under the pect some such visitation. Nods and hints were
Earl of Mar, and of risings in various other parts not wanting to signify that the cause of their
of England.  Mar's army was swelled to the guest's movements was known; and the worthy
number of thirty thousand men, according to Northumbrian, at whose house Smeaton and
these rumors; he had been joined by all the Richard Newark were lodged, with their two
principal noblemen in Scotland; the Highland servants, whispered in the ear of the young noclans were universally flocking to him; the Low- bleman that it would be better for him to keep
landers were rising in every direction; the town quiet where he was the whole of the next day,
of Perth had been taken by a coup-de-main; and as Lord Stair's dragoons were at Wooler, and
a large magazine of arms and ammunition on the there was some talk of their halting there to re
coast of Fife was said to have fallen into the hands fresh before they proceeded North.
of the insurgents. King James himself was re-   The news was less unsatisfactory to the young
ported to have landed on the western coast with earl than the farmer imagined; and his first act
an auxiliary army, commanded by the gallant was to write a letter to Lord Stair, and to direct
Duke of Berwick; and the forces of the house  his servant to tak e it early on tle following mornof Hanover were stated to be a mere handlftl, ing. He then returned to the room where he
collected in Stirling, and surrounded on every had left Richard Newark, and informed him of
side by the legiorns of King James. In *short, what he had clone.
tens were magnified into hundreds, and hundreds   The lad laughed.




108                             HENRY SMEATON.
"Then, most likely, we shall all soon be in in the choice of their rulers. To this principle
the hands of the Philistines," he said. "Your he sacrificed all his earthly possessions, and
noddle, Eskdale, is doubtless much better than  would have sacrificed life itself.  Neglect, ill
mine, but I don't think mine would have con- treatment, duplicity on the part of the princes
cocted a scheme for giving this good lord an op- whom he served, made no difference in his opinportunity of sending back a party to pick us up, ions. He lived and died in them; and, during
just as if we were something he had dropped on  all my early life, I heard of none other. Ten
the road. Twenty Tories, and an earl at their years ago I should have thought exactly the
head, would make a good cast of the net for ally  same as my father, though I felt more than he
Hanover fisherman."                          did the wrongs that were done him, and the in"I have not been so imprudent as you think, solent indifference with which he was treated..
Richard," rejoined his friend. "I can be care- Although I despised our rightful sovereign as a
ful for my friends as well as for myself. I have  man, I should have been ready to shed my blood.not mentioned to Lord Stair that there is any one  for him as a king. Since that time I have rninwith me, and have told him that I shall follow  gled much with the world, have been out of the
the messenger ten miles on the road to-morrow, atmosphere of such prejudices, have learned to.to meet the man on his return, and that, if he as- think and reason for myself, and have come to
sures me that I shall be safe to come and go, I the conclusion that, as lkings rule for the benefit
would present myself at his head-quarters, in or- of the people, the people have a voice in their
der that our conduct may be mutually explain- selection; that, in fact, kings have no rights but
ed. I will send you intimation by the messen- what they derive from their subjects. Now, if
ger if-I do not return to join you myself."  I could convince myself that the majority of the
" And what am I to do?" asked Richard New- people of England did really desire King James
ark, with a somewhat gloomy and desponding  for their sovereign, or even that parties were
look.  I-"Here I am, like a boat turned off to sea  equally divided for and against him, I should not
without sail, or oar, or compass."           hesitate to draw my sword in his cause; for my
"If you would take my advice, Richard," re- prejudices are still strong, though they are weakplied his friend, "it would be exactly what I ened. But I am not convinced that such is the
have given you more than once before, namely, case, and all I have seen hitherto tends to an opto make the best of your way to London, and join  posite conclusion. This is one view of the case;
your father. That advice I give to you because  but there is another, which is even still more
I think the course of your duty is clear, and be- powerful with me. I pledged myself' to Lord
cause I believe yolr single arm would be of very  Stair that I would meddle in no way in this
little service to the cause you are so anxious to  struggle for three months."
serve, although I have not thoaght it fit or right  But he has not kept his word with you,"
to dissuade these good men of Iheanton, who are  cried Richard, vehemently. " You can not be
with us, firom following the course they have  bound by a compact which he has broken."
chosen for themselves. But the case is very dif-   "It is that which I am anxious to ascertain,"
ferent with you. You are young and inexperi- replied his fi-iend, " and that I will ascertain toenced, and may hereafter bitterly regret the step  morrow.  If I find lie has really violated his
you are now taking. They are older, know and  word with me, or suffered it to be violated by
see the consequences of all they are doing, and  others, of course I shall hold myself entitled to
are only acting in consonance with principles act as I please. But I can hardly suppose that
long entertained. Were I to follow my own in- this is the case, for I have always believed that
clinations-my habitual prejudices, as I may call his character as a man of honor is above suspithem-I should undoubtedly lead them on the  cion, and I would not, for life itself, by any rash
way they are going; but still I should give you  act of mine, justify him in saying that I took adthe same advice as I give now."              vantage of the unauthorized conduct of those
"Then why do you not follow your own in- Western magistrates to violate myplighted word."
clinations?" asked Richard, sharply. "d I won't   Richard Newark fell into a fit of thought; bnt
believe that you are a man to hesitate at doing  he never long retained any very somber impresany thing merely because you think it is danger- sions, and after the pause of a moment or two he
ous. All these men suppose it is because you  broke into a laugh, inquiring,
have no great hope of success that you will not   " Do you not think that our dear Emmeline
join the king's army."                       may have something to do with your great dis" They do me wrong," said Smeaton.   I put cretion?"
before them what I thought a just view of the    "Nothing," replied Smeaton, thoughtfully,
probabilities, because I would not have them act " nothing.  I trust and hope, though I do not
blindly; but I have used no other means of dis- scruple at once to say, Richard, that for her sake
suasion. You ask me why I do not follow my  I would do any thing that did not affect my hon.
own inclination," he continued, thoughtfully, or. Nay, more-"
" and I do not know that I shall be able to make    He paused for an answer, for he was strongly
you comprehend the reason."                 tempted to tell his young companion how indis"Try, try," said Richard Newark.  " My  solubly his own fate and that of Emmeline were
skull is thick, I know, but if you tap at the right now bound together, but he hesitated on the very
place you will get in."                     point of uttering the words. Richard was so
"It is a very painful situation, Richard," said  wild, so rash-there might occur so many events
Smeaton, "when a man's reason, in points of such  to render the safe keeping of that secret importimportance as those which are now agitated in  ant, and there seemned so many chances of his let
England, takes part against ihe prejudices in  ting it escape him in one of his thoughtless moods,
which he has been brought up. My father was that a momlent's reflection decided the earl to be
happier. He nlever entertained( a doubt that silent on the subject, at least for the time.
kings possess their power by divine appointment,   "Well, what more 7" cried Richard, impa
or inimained that the people had justly any voice  tiently.




HENRY SMEATON.                                      109
"I have tried the question with myself times seem the most natural in his circumstances.
a dozen," replied the earl, "and though I need He entered into no vain speculations as to the
not tell you I love her dearly, I do not believe reply he should receive from the Earl of Stair,
that that love has been suffered to interfere at all He suffered not his mind to rest upon the state
in the decision I have come to."            of parties in the country, or upon the probabiliW' ell, well," said Richard Newark, shruggilng ties of the success or failure of the insurrection,
his shoulders, " when we march into London and He did not even dwell for a moment upon the
proclaim King James, you shall have her, and I various rumors of the day before, nor try to free
will give away the bride. A pretty father I shall himself, by reason, from any of those impresmake! I suppose I must hire a white beard for sions-not exactly new, but revived-which had
the occasion. You act as you like; and I must  been produced in him by the zeal and enthusitake my chance, as you will not lead me to draw  asm  of all those by whom he had been lately
the sword which you have taught me to use. I     surrounded. His tho ughts were ofEmmelin,
will take our kings side, and stay by it. Iami  surrounded. His thoughts were of Emmeline,.
will take our king's side, and stay by it. I am.
sick of seeing people wavering  between two association, ad calle     d p  h er image almost a
parties-my father from policy, nd y   f    association, had called up her image almost as
ruparties —my father frI om policy, and yo ffend you, strongly, as distinctly, as if her beautiful face
scruples.  There, I don't mean to offend you, and fair form had been before his eyes. Tihe
noble friend. I doubt not you are quite right,   fair form had    e   en b efore his eyes.  The
and that your head was made for something bet-b n heath, the rounded hills, the gleams of
ter than being run against a wall, which was evi- sunshine, the floating clouds, the free elastic air,
dently Nature's intention when she furnished me all brought back to memory the morning of his
with this noddle of mile; but you will own that, ride to the old church at Aleton, and Emmeline
having seen all I have seen, I may well say,.' No was the principal object in all that remembrance
time-serving for me.' I have heard people tell painted.
that my father has got together a great estate by His thoughts and feelings, however, were his
inow running with one palty and now with an- own, and peculiar. I do not believe that there
other; it is but right that his son should break it are any two moments in a man's life in which
to pieces again by sticking tight to one, be it for- he is exactly the same being, however well the
tunate or unlucky. And now I shall go to bed. general harmony of the character may be mainDon't you dream of Emmeline, or you'll go over tained.  Years make a difference; months,
to Lord Stair to a certainty."               days, events, circumstances, experience.  The
Thus saying, he rose and left the room, and changes may be very sudden, or they may be
gmeaton remained some time longer in thought. so gradual as to be imperceptible at the time
they are taking place; yet, fix any lengthened
- period, and we find them marked and distinct
in the mind as well as in the body. There is
CHAPTER XXX.                   as much difference between the sensations of
forty and of twenty as between the face or form
Tei  morning was bright and beautiful; the of the man and of the boy. Whether for better
fiouds of the preceding day, although they had or for worse, we change them. They are things
not passed off entirely, had broken into detach- of the day, which pass from us and return no
ed masses, soft, white, and buoyant, but low  more.
down, moving slowly across the blue sky, and   Smeaton's love for Emmeline was intense,
leaving large intervals for the rays of the sun powerful, enthusiastic, but it was the love of
t9 stream through, and paint the brown moors a man, not of a boy. Ten years'before, his'i all the magic coloring of autumn. A faint thoughts would have been very different when
aerial mist was seen softening the distant parts turned toward her; more agitating, perhaps, but
of the landscape as Smeaton rode slowly over not so deep and strong. He dwelt, as a lover
the~solitary hills, which lay tumbled about in might dwell, on the beautiful memory of her
large rounded masses, marking the frontier line look, the symmetry of her person, the music of
of England and Scotland. The alternation of her voice, the wild, untutored graces of het
shadow and of gleam brought forth as varied mind, the heart-breathing spirit which pervaded
and as beautiful colors as those which paint the every thing she said and did; and the longing
dolphin at his death. The free, pure air, the to hold her to his bosom again came upon him
rich, changing prospect, the wide expanse of very strongly. He thought, too, with pain, of
view, all seemed to breathe hope, if not happi- what must be her sensations, what her distress
ness; and that strange, mysterious sensation, of mind, to be torn from him and carried away
that elevated and expansive feeling, to which I against her will, at the very moment when their
can give no name, but which takes possession happiness seemed almost secure; but it was not
of the heart when first we leave the busy haunts with that impulsive rashness which, a few years
of men to plunge into a wide solitude, came before, might have led him to fly to her in spite
strongly upon the young earl as he strained his of obstacles, and without taking means to resight along the distant hills and valleys. Not move any of the difficulties which beset their
a soul was to be seen, not a living creature but path. He was old enough to struggle with his
a large bird of prey floating slowly in- vast cir- impulses, and generally to overcome them when
cles over his head. It was the early morning. he felt them to be rash.
His servant had gone forward about half an   Thus, in mingled meditation, he rode on, with
hour before; the road which they had both to sweet and pleasant images presented by memre
follow had been clearly pointed out; and Smea- ory, and painful reflections checkering the too
ton expected a ride of some twelve or thirteen bright vision.
miles before he could meet the messenger on   Hehad not gone more than eight miles when
his return.  He gave himself up to thought, but he saw a man rapidly approaching him, down
not to that train of thought which perhaps might the slope of the opposite hill. He could hardly




110                            HENRY SMEATON.
believe that his servant had returned so soon; farmer jogged on conversing with the servant
yet the figure was so much the same-a dimin- Higham. They took their way through a more
utive man on a tall horse-that, though some cultivated part of the country than that which
distance intervened, he recognized him. They Smeaton had passed in the morning, but soon
met at the bottom of the valley, and Smeaton turned toward the hills again, and the farmer
asked eagerly,                             pointed out a-piece of ground on the right, say" Well, what news 1 Have you brought me ing,
a letter?"                                     That is Plainfield, my lord."
",I have brought your own back again, my   Smeaton, however, was busy with his own
lord," replied Higham, holding it out to his mas- thoughts, and made no inquiry, not knowing
ter as he rode up, "1 and no other answer could any thing which should make Plainfield remarkI get."                                    able.*  A few minutes afterward they began to
"No answer!" echoed Smeaton, taking the ascend a somewhat steep hill, riding over the
letter and seeing that it had been opened. green turf, and as they wound round it to lessen
" What did he say, or cause to be said to you " the sharpness of the ascent, the young nobleman'" Oh, he said very little," replied the man, caught sight of a small party of horse gathered
"and caused nothing to be said at all, for he together at the distance of about a mile. "There
seemed quite capable of speaking for himself, are our friends, I think," he said.
and that pretty sharply. He broke open the let-   "Ay, my lord, I dare say they are," replied
ter, read it through from beginning to end, and the farmer.
then thrust it into my hand, saying,' You had   The words seemed insignificant enough, but
better ride back again.' I asked if he would not they were spoken in a significant tone, and the
send an answer by me, or if he would send one servant, Tom Higham, gave a low laugh.
afterward. But he said no answer was needed,   A rise in the ground in another moment hid
and called out,' Take it back to him who sent the party they had seen, and spurring quickly
you. That is the only answer.' "           on, Smeaton Soon came to the top of the height,
Smeaton's cheek burned, and his heart beat whence a view of the country could be comangrily.                                   manded for several miles. The prospect was
" This is insult," he muttered. " This is in- very picturesque. The brown hill-side descendsult as well as injury. Some day I may call ed somewhat abruptly toward the more even
him to account for it."                    country below, and was channeled by a sort of
"I must say for him, my lord," added the glenor ravine, throughwhichleapedandtumbled
man, " that it was not a lucky moment to fall a small mountain stream, fringed here and there
upon, for he was at the head of the men drawn with low trees and shrubs, but ever and anon
up on the little green, and just ready to march." glancing out under the eye, and catching the' That is no excuse," said Smeaton. " The sunlight on its foam and spray.
same number of words, the same amount of   Half way between the top of the hill and the
ureath, the same space of time, would have con- head of this ravine was gathered together a
veyed an honorable as a dishonorable reply. He party of men on horseback; not more than, if
might have said that he would write when he so many as, very freqfrently assembled on the
was at leisure, that lie would see me if I would most innocent occasions. In ordinary times,
fillow him, and that I might do so in safety. It one would naturally have supposed that the litwould have cost no more time."  Then, turning tle meeting consisted of a hunting party, or perround his horse, with his heart -all on fire, he haps two or three dozen of gentlemen assemasked himself, " Shall I stoop to be a beggar for bled to run their greyhounds. Besides those in
simple justice 3 No, no. The case is very this centralsituation, two or three small groups
clear. They have made up their mind to drive of horsemen were seen coming up from below
every one they doubt into insurrection. They at different degrees of speed, according to the
say,'Those who are not for us are against us.' steepness of the ascent; but still the whole
They have chosen their part with regard to me, number together might very well have formed
it is time that I should choose mine with regard a sporting party, only no dogs were to be seen.
to them."                                  In the midst of the principal group, Smeaton's
He had ridden slowly as he went, but he re- eye instantly picked out Richard Newark, who
turned at a gallop, though the rapid motion did was mounted on a tall and remarkable white
not tend to calm his feelings. The farm-house horse, and, riding quickly down toward him, he
where he had slept was vacant of its guests. was soon by his side. The Keanton farmers,
Richard Newark, his servant, and all the Kean- who were there assembled, greeted the apton men were gone; but they had left word proach of their young lord with a sort of half
that, if Smieaton returned and sought them, he cheer, and one of them exclaimed aloud, "i God
would find them at a place called the Waterfalls. bless your lordship! I thought you would not
The earl ordered the baggage-horse to be pre- abandon us in timle of need."
pared directly, and in the mean time applied to   ", What news from Lord Stair " asked Richthe farmer for directions on the way after his ard, in a whisper.
party.                                       "' None," replied Smeaton, bitterly. "He sent
", I'll guide you, sir," replied the man. "There back my letter, opened, but vithout reply."
is something going on that I have an itching to   "Then I must have been mistaken," said
have a hand in, and I think I'll pay some of the Richard Newark., I thought that other hands
Newcastle keel-men for throwing me into the must liave been stirring your pottage for you,
Tyne in one of their brute frolics."       noble friend. Now the case is clear enough.
Smeaton gladly accepted his guidance, and in Old Hanover won't have you for the giving."
about half an hour they set out, the earl riding   * It was the place where the Earl of Derwentwater first
a little in advance and alone, while the stout openly took part in the ineurrection.




HENRY SMIEATON.                                     111
", I never intended to give myself to him," re- knew not, the multitude of counterbalancing
plied Sineaton. "i Nothing should ever induce disadvantages under which the insurrectionary
me to draw my sword agairnst a prince who has leaders lay, Smeaton naturally was led to look
been pushed from the succession to the throne with a much more hopeful eye on the cause lie
on a false and ridiculous pretense. But if they had now determined to espouse.
wiil force me to draw the sword in his favor, I   His new acquaintance mentioned one imcan not help it: they must be gratified. Who portant fact, namely, that the Duke of Argyle
are all these?"  And as he spoke, he ran his had taken command of the troops at Stirling.
eye over the rest of the persons present, who, "But," added he, "with all his skill, he will
gathered together in various knots, were regard- have no easy task to prevent defeat, and probing him with inquiring looks.               ably surrender."  He was not mistaken; for,
"Oh, you shall soon know them," returned had Mar possessed ordinary military knowledg  e
Richard.  "Common cause makes quick ac- and experience, there can be little doubt that
quaintarce. General Forster, here is my friend, the gallant nobleman opposed to him would have
the Earl of Eskdale-Lord Derwentwater, the been forced to retreat, if retreat had been posEarl of Eskdale-Lord Widrington, the Earl of sible; but neither Derwentwater nor Lord EskEskdale."                                   dale were at all personally aware that Mar was
" By my faith, we have more lords than sol- not a soldier, and the inconceivable folly of
diers," said the latter nobleman, with a laugh, appointing a man totally destitute of military
" and more stout hearts and strong arms than science to command an ill-disciplined army,
weapons of war. It is to be hoped that supplies in circumstances of the greatest delicacy and
will flow in upon us somewhat rapidly."     danger, did not once enter their imaginations.
" Come, come, my lord," said Forster, i" you Nevertheless, the well-known skill, courage, and
ought not to be the first to cry out, seeing that determination of Argyle, and the strong resoluyou have brought us the fewest men and the tion he had shown in taking command in person
scantiest supply."                          of the small force at Stirling, led Smeaton to
"Why, Ionlyheard ofthebusiness last night," suspect that he either knew of circumstances
replied Lord Widrington, 1" and thought that this or calculated upon events of which the Jacobite
was but a preliminary meeting. Doubtless we party in England were not at all aware.
shall have men enough, and weapons enough   It was too late now, however, he thought, to
too, when once it is known we are in arms."   hesitate, even if his decision had depended upon
" Doubtless, doubtless," said the Earl of Der- the probabilities of success; and he joined the
wentwater, a young and handsome man with a rest of the party in a hasty consultation, in
peculiarly prepossessing expression of counte- which, from his want of all knowledge of the
nance.  "I am glad to see your lordship here," country round, he could give very little advice,
he continued, addressing Smeaton.,' Your except in regard to military matters, where he
family have suffered much in the cause we all possessed more experience than any one presadvocate; and I hope, by the success of our en- ent. Glad to have among them an officer of
terprise, you will recover what it lost-a suc- some skill, the noblemen and gentlemen prescess which, from the news we have just re- ent proceeded to an inspection of their little
ceived, seems to be beyond doubt."          force, amounting inall, at this time, to only sixty
"Indeed!" said Smeaton.  "May I ask what or seventy horse. Arms theyliterally had none,
news that is 3"                             except the ordinary riding swords used at that
Derwentwater replied by detailing, in some- period in England (which were of little, if any
what glowing language, and with a slight color- use in the field), and here and there a brace of
ing from his own enthusiasm, all the first par- pistols at the saddle-bow.  It was evidently an
tial successes of the insurgents in Scotland. insurrection hurried forward without thought or
The greater part of the intelligence was merely. preparation.
confirmatory of the rumors which had reached   Every man, however, knew of some place
Smeaton during the preceding day, that the Earl where people would come in, in numbers great,
of Mar had taken Perth, that arms and ammuni- to the standard of King James; but Smeaton
tion had been seized at Burnt Island, that the pointed out that the most pressing necessity
army of King James III. was daily increasing was to arm those who were already collected.
in numbers, that money was flowing in rapidly, The first blow, he said, should be struck at any
and that, while the troops of the house of Han- place where their local knowledge showed them
over were in a very critical position at Stirling, that a store of the necessary weapons was to
Mar was preparing to force the passage of the be procured; hut no one knew where any such
Forth, and that the Western clans were menac- supply existed except at Newcastle, which they
ing the rear of King George's army. It was were manifestly too feeble to attack. It was
added that a great number of towns'and dis- judged, therefore, needful to recruit their numtricts of much importance had openly declared bers even before they sought for arms; and
for the house of Stuart, and that King James those who were best acquainted with the district
had been proclaimed at Aberdeen, at Dunkeld, proposed that they should proceed to Rothbury
at Castle Gordon, at Brechin, at Montrose, at and Warkworth, as the line in which recruits
Dundee, and at Inverness, while the whole of were most likely to come in.
Galloway and Dumfrieshire was stated to be   Smeaton had nothing to object; and, forming
flaming in insurrection,                    into something like regular array, they rode
Broad, general facts, without the small cir- from the place of meeting after a discussion
cumstances which modify them, and, sometimes which, though hurried and desultory, occupied
affect their whole bearings, are very apt to pro- several hours. The Northumbrian noblemen
duce the most erroneous conclusions; and as and gentlemen were full of hope and enthusiLord Derwentwater stated not, and probably asm; but the young earl who had so unwillingly




112                           HENRY SMEATON.
joined them viewed the matter with less san- which, when successful, often change altogethter
guine anticipations, and, fiom the expressions the fortunes of such movements as these. Wre
of his new companions, derived no very favor- must have more men before we can do any
able idea of their capability of conducting a thing."
great enterprise to a successful conclusion.  " Ay, but where are we to get them, my good
lord?" asked Lord Widrington. " That is the
question which puzzles us all."
"Thus," replied Smeaton, boldly. "We have
CHAPTER XXXI.                 certain intelligence that Lord Kenmure, the
Earl of Nithsdale, and other noblemen and genWHAT need I tell of the first proceedings of tlemen, are in arms just across the border, to
the small body of gentlemen whom we have the number, we are assured, of four or five hundseen set out on the path of insurrection? How  red men. They have already undertaken sevthey marched to Rothbury, and thence to her- eral movements of importance, and, when joinmit-lovingWarkworth; howtheyreceived small ed by our small force, will be able to effect much
re-enforcements as they went along, and pro- more. The object of our own boly, and of that
claimed King James the Third wherever they under the noblemen I have mentioned, should
came; and how at Morpeth their numbers were be to unite as soon as possible, which can easily
increased to three hundred horse-are all facts be done, either by our withdrawing at once from
well known to every body. Neither need I Northumberland and joining Kenmure, or by
pause to describe the disappointment and appre- that nobleman advancing to our support and enhension occasioned by the scantiness of the abling us to undertake some enterprise of imnumbers which came in on each day's march, portance. Much can be done either in the north
nor dwell upon the anxious consultations which of England or in the south of Scotland by eight
took place night after nighlt, when they still hundred men, which can not even be thought
found themselves unprepared for any enterprise of by three hundred; and my own opinion is,
of importance.                            that we should march at daybreak to-morrow to
All hope of successfully attacking Newcastle effect our junction with ViscountKenmure, and,
soon passed away, and only one event occurred by giving force and vigor to the insurrection in
to brighten the dark prospect before them, name- the Lowlands, occupy the troops of the house
ly, the capture of Holy Island by one of their of Hanover, and enable the Earl of Mar to profit
number, Lancelot Errington, a gentleman of an- fully by his advantageous position and the numcient family long resident near Hexham. The her of his forces."
very next tidings received, however, were to   This proposal, like every other proposal in a
the effect that the small fort had been re-taken meeting where there is no real subordination,
by the troops from Berwick, and that Errington called forth a long and rambling discussion, and
was wounded and a prisoner.               a great variety of opinions. Every one saw the
This was a bitter disappointment, for the least wisdom of joining the two streams of insurrecsuccess in such perilous enterprises raises hope tion in one, but none agreed as to the mode in
high, and often paves the way for other advant- which it was to be effected. National prejuages. They flattered themselves that they only dices and antipathies, engendered by long borwanted some happy exploit to rouse the neigh- der warfare, were by no means extinct; and
boring gentry in their favor; to encourage the although some few saw the prudence of Smeatimid and confirm the wavering. But the dis- ton's suggestion of withdrawing from Northum.
aster which followed this first gleam extinguish- berland, and confining their operations for the
ed all such vain hopes, and the principal lead- time to the south of Scotland, others declared
ers met, the evening after the intelligence was that many of their followers would abandon the
received, to consult as to what was to be done. cause if such a retreat were attempted; and
They were bold and high-hearted men, though one gentleman boldly announced his belief that,
few of them brought skill, experience, or wis- in that case, they should not take fifty men across
dom to the cause, and not one of them would the border with them. This opinion prevailed,
listen to the course which, probably, some in- and it was determined to negotiate with Lord
ward conviction told each of them was the only Kenmure for the advance of his forces into En
path of safety, namely, dispersing their follow- gland.
ers, abandoning the enterprise, and making their   The next question was, who was to be the
submission. Yet what was to be done? All negotiator. No one present was personally aetheir expectations of a general rising were at an quainted with the Scottish nobleman; and, to
end; they had no infantry, nor weapons where- say truth, few liked to undertake a task in which
with to arm infantry; troops were reported to they might very naturally expect to meet with
be marching toward them from various quarters, a repulse, for every one felt it to be but little
and all they had to oppose to them was only likely that Kenmure lwould cross the bordei
three hundred horse!                     with his men, without some better inducements
Many a plan was proposed-many a course than they had in their power to hold out. At
suggested-at their sad conference, till at length length, after a number of excuses had been
Smeaton, who had sat silent and thoughtful, given by various gentlemen in the room for not
with his head resting on his hand, looked up, undertaking the task, the Earl of Eskdale vot
saying,                                   unteered to be the person.
"It seems to me, my lords and gentlemen,   "I will endeavor," he said, "' if you intrust
that there is but one thing to be done. With me with the commission, to induce Lord Kensuch scanty means as we can command, no mure to join you, and will, of course, refrain
great purpose can be effected. WVe can not from pointing out to him, whatever may be my
even undertake one of those trifling enterprises own opinion, that it would be wiser for you to




HENRY SMEATON.                                       113
join him.  However, I can not use any argu-   The whole town, when he entered it, was proments in opposition if he should urge the latter foundly still, and the inhabitants plunged in
course, but it will be better for General Forster sleep. Not a solitary light was to be seen in
to write to hiln by my hands, employing all those any window, and the young nobleman had no
arguments which have been conclusive in his means of knowing whether he might not rouse
own mind."                                   a lion instead of a lamb if he attempted to wake
Forster, however, was very un willing to write, any of the good citizens from their slumbers.
and only in the end consented to give such cre- In these circumstances, he resolved to push fordentials to the young earl as would show that ward. notwithstanding the weariness of his
he was authorized to treat by the whole party. horse, and trust for hospitality to the first small
Even these he would have postponed till the hamlet or cottage he could meet with. He
following morning, alleging various motives for reckoned without his host, however, for at that
delay; but Smeaton interrupted him somewhat time the country between Kelso and Hawick
impatiently, saying,                         was much less thickly peopled than at present,
"There is no time to be lost, sir. The dis- and after going some two miles further, he was
tance is considerable, if the forces of Lord Ken- fain to turn the horses into a green meadow at
mure are at Moffat, as we have been informed. the bottom of a valley, and seek shelter for himWe are more than thirty miles from Wooler; self and his servant beneath a loose stone wall.
and, whether I take the road by Coldstream or   The autumnal wind was blowing bleak and
direct to Kelso, nearly two days must be con- cold, but the beasts were better off than the
sumed in my journey alone. Then will come men, for they soon found provender sufficient
the negotiation, which may be more tedious than in the meadow, while their riders were left withwe imagine, as well as the march of the troops out food. Tom Higham groaned in the spirit
hither. I shall therefore most decidedly set out as he sat, wrapped up in his cloak, shivering
to-night; and if I might advise, you would, at behind the wall, and Smeaton could hear himn.
all events, retire upon Rothbury, which is so far more than once muttering to himself,
on the way to meet our friends from the North.,' I am a mighty great fool-that is as clear;.
If there is any delay, you may all be cut to as moonshine."
pibeces before they arrive to your support."   Perhaps the young nobleman thought the
" Oh, we shall retire to Rothbury, of course," same of himself; but he bore his situation more,
said Lord Derwentwater; "and the credentials patiently, and, shrouding himself from the cut —
an soon be prepared, without much trouble to ting blast as well as he could, tried to obtain,.
any one. If you are willing to set out so speed- some sleep, as he had often done in other lands.
ily, it must not be any act of ours that delays under similar circumstances.
you."' It was in such lonely and darksome hours,,
"' In half an hour I shall be ready," replied when the mind was the most depressed and ac-.
Smeaton, rising, " and in the mean time I trust tion impossible, that the thought of Enmmeline.
that the paper will be drawn up."           frequently presented itself to Smeaton. The.
It was a full hour, however, before he set out, remembrance was like an angel visit; for, al-.
and then, notwithstanding the entreaties of Van though many a melancholy and many an anx-.
Noost to be allowed to accompany him, the ious train of ideas was awakened by the recolyoung earl departed only attended by his serv- lection df her and of her fate, yet there was,
ant.                                        something in the images then called up which.
The light was already failing rapidly, and be- left his mind calmed and even cheered. I be-.
fore many minutes had passed night fell over lieve it is a quality of high, pure love to strengthhis road. A little more than three hours brought en and to elevate, however adverse may be the.
him to Wooler, with tired horses and a some- circumstances.  The images which now arose,
what anxious mind, for he felt all the import- in his mind effectuallybanished sleep; and when,
ance of the mission he had undertaken, and the the gray daylight at length began. to appear in.
movement of troops in the neighborhood of Ber- the east, he was still waking, thougl his servant:
wick rendered it not at all improbable that he had been long buried in deep slumber. Smeamight be stopped upon the way.  He found the ton rose at once, and, rousing the man, told himrn
little town of Wooler quiet and soldierless, how- to catch the horses, and replace the saddles and;
ever, and, as the hour was not late, he had no bridles.
difficulty in procuring refreshment at the little   "Ay," cried Tom Higham, "we had bettex:.
inn for himself, his servant, and his horses.    do that before any one comes and catches us;:
Anxious to cross the border, beyond which for the beasts have had a good feed at Sawney's,
the general feelings of the country people ren- expense, and a canny Scot is not a man to let,
dered the roads more safe to persons engaged us off scot free if he catches us."
in the Jacobite cause, he only gave himself an    "He shall not need," replied Smeaton, taking:
hour and a halfs rest, and then set out again, out his purse and putting down a couple of shiltaking the direct road to Kelso, which, though lings on the top of the stone wall. " I trust he
at that time steep and rugged enough, had great will find them; but, if' not, my conscience is:
alv;antages over that by Coldstream, both in free."
point of distance and of security, for he had   The horses gave them some trouble, for they
learned at Wooler that a small party of horse were not at all willing to leave their comforta-.
had occupied the latter town during the morn- ble pasture for the hard, stony road; and just
ing. He was forced to proceed somewhat slow- when the young nobleman had got his own beast
ly, indeed, for his horses had been in exercise by the forelock, he heard the voice of his marn
already during the early part of the day, and the calling for help in lamentable accents. Turning
wearisome twenty miles to Kelso occupied sev- round, he beheld good Master Higham  in the
oral hours.                                  grasp of a very tall, stout man, in an ordinary
HIrstfavrytlsotmni  nodnr




114                            HENRY SMEATON.
farming dress, and, leading his horse up, he in- self. Then, indeed, he spoke more freely, but
quired what was the matter.                 with a certain degree of caution still, as if not
"I can not understand what he means," cried yet quite convinced that the English traveler
Tom Higham; 1" but I know that he talks some- was not trying to worm the secret of his politithing'about spearing me, or my spearing at him, cal propensities out of him. He cared not for
though devil a spear there is among us."    one king or the other, he said-no, not a bodle.
Smeaton, however, more conversant, from his He was a peaceable man, and they might fight
family connections, with the language of the it out among them; but as for the Viscount
country, wras soon made to comprehend that the Kenmure and 1 "his handfu' of men," he had
farmer, having seen two horses in his field from  heard tell, but he would not warrant it, for he
the window of his house, which lay hard by, knew nothing of his own knowledge, that he was
though the darkness had previously concealed not at Moffat at all, but at the town of Hawick.
it, had come down in high wrath to repel an in-   At the same time, as far as slight indications
trusion which, to say truth, wYas somewhat com- went, he seemed not to be ill disposed to the
mon at that time and in that part of the country. cause of the house of Stuart. He took partic"My good friend," replied the young noble- ular pains to direct Smeaton right onthe road
man, ", we took refuge here in the night, neither to Hawick, and insisted upon feeding both the
very well knowing the way nor wh;ere to find horses with something more solid than the grass
shelter, and I certainly did not intend to go away which they had cropped during the night. Gradwithout paying for the grass which the horses nally, too, he relaxed a little in regard to intelhave taken."                               ligence, and informed the young nobleman that
"No that likely," replied the man, doggedly. there was no force capable of opposing the march
"If ye wanted shelter, why did na ye joost tirl of the Jacobite forces within many miles. He
at the pin up by, or gie a halloo under the win- added that he had heard at Kelso market that
dow?"                                     Kenmure had given the good folks of Dumfries a
"'Because T did not know there was a window  fright some days before, but that, findingr the citinear,"' replied Smeaton, with a smile.  "As to zens better prepared than he had expected, he
my intention of paying you, you can satisfy your- had retreated to Langholm and thence to Hawick.
self; for, before I went to help my servant in As to the number of Kenmure's forces, he either
catching the horses, I put a couple of shillings could not or would not give any information 
down on the top of the wall, which I thought but it was, at all events, satisfactory to the
must be sufficient for the grass they had eaten." young nobleman to find that his journey was
The cautious farmer let go his hold of Hig- greatly shortened; and, after having partaken
ham's neck; but, before he expressed himself of the worthy man's good cheer, he remounted
satisfied or otherwise, walked straight to the and set out upon his way.
wall and took up the money, which he speedily   A ride of a few hours brought him to Hawick;:found. His countenance brightened at once; but he found that Kenmure had not thought fit
land the young earl said to himself, with a some- to take up his quarters in the town itself, but
"what cynical smile, "I wish my poor father's had occupied a village at a few miles' distance,
countrymen would not give so much cause for where his cavalry was less likely to be embar-the imputation of greediness which their South- rassed in case of attack. Thither, then, the
-ern neighbors are so ready to throw upon them." young nobleman pursued his journey, guided by
He was mistaken, however, in the present in- a country lad on foot, for the directions he re-stance; for, as soon as he approached, the good ceived were far too elaborate and confused to'farmer held out the money to him, saying, be easily comprehended.'"t Here, tak' the siller. It was no for that I was   In consequence of various delays, he did not
-a bit cankered wi' the wee body;" and he went come in sight of the village till toward three
"on to explain that it was the fact of the horses o'clock, and then but very few symptoms of any'being put into the field without his leave which thing like a numerous body of men were to be;had roused his ire. " There's na that man leev- perceived. A sentry, if so he could be called,
ing," he continued, "wha can say I ever grudged with a broadsword at his side and a pistol in
-him a bit for himself or his beastie; but ye his hand, was seen at the end of the long street;might hae found a better beild up by, if ye had of straggling, irregular houses which constitu-:just trotted on a bit."                   ted the village, and here and there a person in
Nothing would serve him now, but he must the garb of a gentleman, booted and spurred,'give the two travelers some breakfast at what but with no other arms than his sword, was obfhe called," his wee thack housie," which proved served loitering about the doors. No precau-:a very comfortable farm dwelling.         tion was taken on his entering the village, the
As information was one of the earl's greatest sentry merely directing him, when he asked
wants,;he readily accepted the invitation, much for the Lord Kenmure, to the minister's house'to the joy and satisfaction of Tom Higham, who near the kirk; and, wending his way through
-soon contrived to catch his horse and follow his heaps of filth and cabbage stalks, which occu-;master and the farmer as they walked away out pied a certain space'before every house, and
of the field and up the road. It was not easy rendered the road well-nigh impassable for any
to induce the latter to speak upon any danger- vehicle on wheels, he at length reached the enous subject. The moment that politics, or the trance of the manse, before which stood a simstate of the parties then existing was mention- ilar figure to that which kept sentry at the comed, he curled himself like a hedge-hog, to use mencement of the village. The approach of a
Tom -Higham's expression, and it was not till couple of horsemen had caused a little commohe had discovered that his less weary guest was tion in the place, and two or three heads were
going to Moffat for the purpose of seeing the thrust from the windows as Smeaton rode up;
Viscount Kenniure t'hat he at all unfolded him- but he was admitted to the room in whichl the




HENRY STMEATON.                                      115
viscount sat without any delay, and presented They found Tomn Highamrn anmusing himself with
to him the brief note he bore from Mr. Forster. Italking nonsense in a strong London jargon to
A long deliberation ensued, in the course of some Scotch lads assemlbled round the door, who
which many questions were asked by the Scot- hardly understood what he said, and wvhose own
tish nobleman. Srneaton told him  the exact language was well-iigih incomprehensible to him.
truth ipr regard to the numbers and position of His master beckoned him to follow with the
the little insurgent force in Northumberland, horses, and was led to the very outskirts of the
adding that they had heard that the Lord Ken- village, where a small cottage appeared, in no
imure's troop amounted to five hundred men.   very good state of preservation, and quite sepI ewish it did," replied the viscount, with a Iaated from the rest of the hamlet, beisg situated
somewhat cold laugh.  "' I think, if that had in the midst of its own garden or kail-yard.
been the case, my lord, you would have had to   "This is the only place I call assign to your
come on to Dumfries.  No, no.  I will deal lordship," said Calderwood, as they approached,
honestly by you, as you have dealt by me. If " and I fear you must share it with another gen.
tleman Whojoined us this afternoon fi'om France.
you are a handful, we are less.  te  do not tema  whojoinedsthis afteoo foFrae
number more thanf onwe half the force you say There is room, however, for two, and I must disGeneral Forster has with him."               pose of the servants elsewhere."
" Then the more need of your immediate        I am in no way nice, quarter-master,' replied Smeaton. " I have been too much accusnion, observed the young earl    tomed to a life in arms to mind sleeping under'~ Ay, but it would have been better for him  toat wall, should it be iecessary."
to come to me than for me to go to him," re-   "Ah, my lord, I am glad to it be ecessary.
sponded K~enmure. 44 Something might havre" Ah, my lord, I am glad to hear it," repliecl
sponded  Kenmure.   "Somehing  might have Calderwood.  "We are sadly in want of a few
been done here; but I gather from what you men of experience among us."
say, my noble friend, that little is to be done on   The ordinary reflection passed through Smeathe other side of the border, and every step I ton's mind, that the more men ae wantin  in
take in that direction draws me further from my experieince themselves, the less are they inclinled
T-esosrces and from  all chance of support, of to profit by the experience of others; but he forw-hich we have good hope from the North."    bore reply, and Calderwood opened the door.,,It is too late now, I fear, cy lord," said No passage, no internal door, shut the single
Slneaton, " to consider such objections.  Per- roomr in the lower part of the house from the exhaps the course you mention might have been ternal air; and on enterilng, Smeaton found himwisest.  Here are two small parties, engaged self at once in a large apartment, tesnanted by
in the same cause, but separate from each other, four persons. One was in the garb of a servant;
with considerable bodies of the, enemy's troops two others seemed to be the master of the tenehovering round them. If you continue in this ment and his wife, a sandy-haired manl and a
state of isolation, at fifty or sixty miles' distance, black-haired woman of about forty years of age,
you are liable at any moment to be cut up in and these three were bustling about, apparently
detail, without the power of aiding each other, preparing for the evening meal. The fourth perand probably before your succor from the North son was seated before a blazing fire on the north
can arrive. Allow me to urge that it would he side of the cottage. lie was tall, stout, and apvery much better for you to march without de- parenztly wvell dressed; but the last gleam of day
lay to join the gentlemen in Northumberlarsd. being on the point of extinction, no candles
You will then have a force of about five hundred lighted, and a considerable quanitity of smoke in
men united, with which you can show a firm  the room, not much could be discerned of his
face to the enemy, even if you can not under- figure by the flickering flame of the fire.
take any great enterprise; and should it be   Mr. Calderwood spoke a few words to hilm
judged necessary, after consultation with Gen- explaining the necessity under which Lord Keneral Forster, you can fall back upon your re- inure lay of quartering another gentleman in the
sources here, and make good any well-chosen same tenement. The straoer i nmediately rose,
position till you are re-enforced."          with some polite expression of pleasure, and,
Well, well," replied Lord Kenmure, " I must  while the good woman of the house lighted a
consult with my friends here before we can de- solitary candle, advanced to meet the iew comer.
cide; but, in the mean time, I must care for   The presece of thestanger was digified ard
your accommodation during the niglht. We have easy, his figure fine, and his face, if' not altogethcrammed the manse as full as it can hold al- er handsome or pleasing, striking and remarkaready, and I fear you will have hut poor accom- ble.  He had much the air of a military man,
reaodation. Some one be g     utod enough to call and his profession or his propensities seemed inQuodatier-. Some one be grood" enough to call dicated by a deep and somewhat recent scar
Quarter-master Calderwood."
This was accordingly done; and, after a short   The moment he saw Smeupton, his  fabrow.ce flused
consultation between that personage and Lord either with pleasure or some other emotion; and
Kenmure, the young earl was placed in his    yothe w   pleman, after gazing at h im   for a
the young nobleman, after gazing at him for a
hands, to be conducted to the only quarters moment, as if partly recognlizig Ilim and partly
which could be assigned to him, and left the doubting his own eyes, held out his hand, saying,
manse somewhat doubtful as to the result of   "This is an unexpected pleasure."
the consultation which was about to commence.   The stranger took his offered hand and shook
it hard, but with a peculiar look, not the most
cordial. Putting his face close to Smeaton's ear,
CHAPTER XXXII                   he said,
" Call me Somerville-my lamne is Somerville
DARKN ESS was rapidly descending when the here."
Earl of Eskdale, guided by Quarter-master Cal-   Smeaton quietly inclined his heard, saying,
der-wood, entered the little street of the hamlet.   "I believed you were in very distant lands,




I16                              HENRY SMEATON.
Mr. So-merville.  When did you return to Eu- world; and, h.earing that stirring tlnes wer~
rope?"                                        coming in this quarter, I thought I mighlt as well
"Three or four months ago," replied his coin- return and stake a trifle-such as life and fortune
panion.  " I have been wandering about in -upoln the game that is to be played, in the hope
France since. Now, my good woman, will my of recovering, somehow or another, a portion of
supper never be ready?  Come, bestir yourself, what I and mine have lost."
and add something to it for this gentleman, who' Did you see youl uncle and aunt when you
is doubtless as hungry as I am."               were in France?" asked Smeaton, fixing his eyes
There was evidently a feeling of restraint upon st6adily upon him.
him as he spoke, which he endeavored in vain   "No," replied the other, in a careless tone.
to cover by an affectation of ease and careless- " The good lord, my uncle, is somewhat worse
ness; and the moment he had addressed this ad- than senile, having fallen into a decrepitude of.juration to the woman of the house, be fell into temper as well as of mind and body. Ite has
a fit of thought, without at all attending to her turned himself into a corn-merchant, too, which
grumbling reply.                              does not suit my notions of propriety; and as he
Stneaton was also thougltfil, but he did not never appreciatej  my high qualities and good
lose his ease and calmness; and, by a few good- points, I did not think it worth while to trouble
humored words, soon induced their hostess to him with my presence."
hurry herself somevwhat more than she had been    "I know you never agreed," remarked Smeadoing previously.                              ton; "'and, of course, it is not for me to say
I might give a long detail of all the little events which was in the right-"
which took place during the next hour, and re    " Meaning that I was in the wrong," said thte
late how Smeaton's servanit, and the servant of other, with a laugh.
the gentleman calling himself Somerville, were    But Smeaton continued as if he had not been
provided with quarters elsewhere; how a bare- interrupted, saying,
legged damsel, with all the beauty of youth and    "You do not do him justice when you talk of
health, a clear complexion, and large black eyes, senility.  His mind is as clear and strong as ever,
came in to borrow a pot, and was not suffered and his bodily frame but little shaken by the
to depart without many gallant compliments and passing of years.  I have had every opportunity
a half-resisted kiss fiorn Mr. Somerville; and ofjudgirn, having passed some weeks with hinmhow two pretty children, with very scanty cloth- self and Lady Newark before I came to England."
ing, from  a neighboring cottage, stood leaning    " Ab! is he so strong ii virtue and in muscles? "
upon each other, and watched the strange gen- exclaimed the other, with a bitter laugh. "Heavtlemen who had come, while they enjoyed the en receive him to the place of saints, and that
mieal prepared for them. But I must pass over all right speedily!"..
such minute facts, andcl bring- the reader at once    " Nay, nay," said Sleaton, " I am sure, Newto the moment when, after having concluded ark, that wish is more upon your lips than in
their supper, Snleaton and his companion were your heart."
alone togetlher, the host and hostess havinig re-   " It is not, by -," cried the other, with a
tired to their early rest, leaving the two gentle- fierce oath.  " I should then be Lord Newark,
men with a large jug of whisky on the table and at all events; and as to ever getting back the
a kettle of hot water onl the fire.           lands as well as the lordship, that would be as
More than once during the earlier part of the the stars willed it, and they have always been
mneal Somerville ihal given a momentary glance kinder to me than he."
at lis companion's face fronm under his heavy    " I do not think you ever judged him fairly,"
eyebrows, but withdrawn i-t as soon as he per- said Smeaton, gravely.   "H Ie was certainly very
ceisved that Smeaton's eyes were directed toward  kind to you in carly life, ald strained his small
him. He meditated much and often too; and, means to afford you a high education along with
as I have said, there was an usneasy air about his two poor sons; but —
him which surprised his comrade for the time,   " But I was what old women call wild, you
for, when he lhad known him slightly some years would say," cried the other, who seemed to have
before, he was anmous for that easy, daring igmpli- a great hlabit of interrupting.  "Well, I was wili,
dence which was imuch affected in all countries and scoffed a little at the doctrines and notions
by the class called men of wit and pleasure.  of elderly gentlevwomen of both sexes, liking
When they were left alone together, however, much better the doctrines of younger ladies, anid
Smeatosn at once changed the tone of conversa- occasionally quarreled with gentlemen and soltion, sayinlg,                                diers who entertained heretical notions as to my
"Well, now we ale withoult witnesses, we rigllt and liberties in certain cases. But what of
may speak of morie inlteresting matters, Newarlk. that?  I wais none the worse for that.  No, no,
When did you returni fiom South America?  I Eskdale. The head and front of my offense was
heard with great surprise, when I was at Nancy, his own wseakness, folly, or treachery, in.sufferthat you h ad determined to turn merchant, and sin  his daughter to remain in the hands of the
had taken some  eomn-de-g7erre."              knave Johll Newarl."
"Ay, a imerchant adventze er," retorted the   "How  could lie help it?" asked Smeaton.
other, laying grleat stress upon the last word. "His life was not worthi a11 hour's purchase if he
"But it was inore ill the latter than the former ventured into Englanld, and there was no one in
character that I went, rny good lord. I have this island on whom  he could rely to take her
been back, as I told you, about three months, from the sort of imprisonment t in which she was
after havylu, gilded my purse with a few ducats kept, and replace her under her fhther's care.
in the New Woild, let the Dons' blood when Doubt not, he would willingly have doine it, had
they were in daniger of calenture from too much it been possible."
lieat, aend basked in the sweet smiles of the olive-   "Why did he not rely onl me?" retorted the
brown dames of Peru and Mexico.  I got tired other, vehemently. "I would have released her,
of that, as of every thling  else in this wearisome and brought her safely to France. I offered to




HENRY SMEATON.                                         117
do it-I had every thing prepared; but he would  ther's ought to lave been cut lo1ng ago; so there
not hear of it."                              was no need of any threat."
He muttered something to himself which Smea-    " I used no threat indeed, Newark," said t*e
ton did not clearly hear, and then went on  earl; "blut, knowing you are of a quick and imaloud:                                        petuous temper, merely suggested considerations
"He made me appear like a vain boaster in  which I thought would enable you.to control it.'
the eyes of a dozen people. I told sweet John    "Ay, rilht good," returned the other; "1but
Newark that I would take away the gill from  there is no fear.  I am not quarrelsome nowahim, and cut his throat in the house where he  days, Heaven knows, or there is many a man I
has ensconced himself so snugly. I will do it, might quarrel with, without seeking out a boy for
too, before I have done with hilm."            the purpose. But what, in this rout and disper"You must get him out of the Tower first,"  sion, has become of fair Elmneline herself?
replied Smeaton, "'fobr he is safely lodged there  Have you brought he:r too with you into Norby this time."                                thumberland?"
"Ha!" exclaimed the other, laughing aloud.    "No indeed," replied the young earl.  "'Slr
"A bagged fox! But come, now," he continued, John has taken her to London with him."
in a gayer tone, " what report do you make of    " Dalnation!" muttered the other.  " Why,"
that fair west countrie, which I hear you have  he added, after an effort to conitrol himself, "!it'
been visiting lately?  Was Sir John flourishing  he had left her behind at Ale, nothing would
when you were there?  Anld what adventures  have been so easy as to get her off to France.sm
did you meet with?"                             " But he did not so leave her," replierl Snmea"Sir John was quite well, and apparently pros- ton, calmly.  " And now, Newarkk, I will go and
perous," replied Smeaton; "'that is to say, till lie down in the room they showed me, for I have
the very day I came away, on the morning of ridden hard and far, and passed last night under
which he was apprehended, and sent, I iimagine, a stone wall.  I must be up early, too, in the
to the Tower. As to adventures, I met with  morning, for these noble lords here must come to
few, and those not much worth relating."       a speedy decision, and that decision illstbe conHe paused for a moment, asking himself if he  mluicated at once to General Forster."
should say more; but the other again went on,    "Well, I shall stay here and make some way
inquiring6,                                    in the fla.ons " said the other.'' Though this
"What of the lady-what of the fair lady, stuff, vhics is just the same as they call usquesweet Mistress Emmeline? Is she as beautiful bagh in Ireland, is little better thal molten fire,
as I hear?"                                    yet I feel my blood wants warming in this ac"She is very beautiful and very amiable," re- cursed cold country."
plied Smneaton.                                  " Your blood was always hot enough," observ"And the son-Sir John Newark's son?" de- ed Smeaton, moving toward the end of the stars.,
manded the other. " They say his father intends  " and that spiriti is too strong for me; so goodto marry him to Emmeline, in the hope of secur- night, Newarkl;" and he retired to rest.
ing his title to the estates under all circumnstan-    The other remained for two hours or nlore, till
ces, and obtaining the title of Baron Newark, the candle had nearly burned into the socket.
whatever party is inl power.  Did you hear any  During that time, however, he drank little, but
thing of all this?"                           was absorbed in deep meditation, checkered up"Nothing," replied  Smneaton, thoughtfully.  palently by many various feelings, for now he
" From the character of thle man, indeed," he  laughed, and now he looked stern and fierce.
continued, "such a schemle is not unlikely, but I    " He did not recognize me," lie muttered,
do not think there could be any idea of carrying  " that is clear-no, not even by the mark he put
it immediately into execution. Richard Newark  upon my forehead. He shall pay that debt, but
is a mere boy, some yeals younger than Emme- not just now. I call wait; and the interest will
line herself. When first I saw him in London, accumulate.  We may make something of this,"
he was rude, wild, alnd strange; but he has won- he again muttered, after a long pause, "we may
derfirlly improved, both in intellect atld manners, make something of this. Let me see. John in
in the troublous scenes we have gone through; prison on a charge of high treason; Williarn marand though he will ever be eccentric and very  ries the heiress; and then-what then?  Why,
different from other persons, yet there are high  services to the house of Hanover; one slight whirl
and good qualities in him which make me love  of the weather-cock, and all is safe, especially -if
and esteem him much."                          one could bring some intelligence with one. A
"Is he with his father in Lonldon?" asked the  Newark on the side of Hanover! That seems a
other, rquietly.                               strange figure of speech. One starts at it. Why
" No," replied Sineaton. " He came with me  should I care for whom I draw my sword? What
into Northumberlan d to join the Northumbrian  have the Stuarts done for me?  Ah! ha! ha!
gentlemen. now in arms; and if Lord Kenmure  Doubtless there will be plenty to keep me in
agrees to the proposal which I have brought him  countenance."
this evenings for a union of the two forces, you    Thus saying, he rose, and retired also to rest.
will see him in a day or two.  In that case," he    Before daybreak on the following morning the
continued, gravely, almost sternly, "I must re- young earl was up and dressed, and the sky was
quest you to treat him with all kindness, remem- still gray when a messenger from Lord Kenlnmure
bering that his father's faults are not his, and that reached him, requesting his presence at that nohe is under my protection."                    bleman's head-quarters.  He found every thing
The other laughed, though the hint galled him  in bristle and activity, and he could see at once
a little.. that a resolution was taken.
"Oh, certainly," he replied. "Your high and    " We have just comne to a sudden determinamighty protection, Lord Eskdale, will not be  tion, my lord," said Kenmure, when Smeitoii enneeded against me. I am not going to quarrel tered. " We find that Brigadier Macintosh, inwithl a boy, nor to cut his throat because his fa- stead of advancing at once, after passing the Frith




113                               HENRY SM3IEATON.
of Forth, has marched toward Edinburgh.  He  Scotch wind has blown away his hearing.  Esl~writes word, however, that he will join us short- dale, I say, there is a large packet come for you
ry with his infantry, if we call maintain ourselves  -fom Ale, addressed to you iln Madame Culpepfor a few days ill the South, and gather together  per's own peculiar cipher. I had a thousand
a body of cavahlry. We have, therefore, resolved  minhds to break it open, for I longed for news,
to advance as far as Rothbury to effect our june- and I am sure there mnust be somle for me. But
tioln with General Forster.  It will then be nec- a seal-I don't like fingering a seal. Strange
essary to retire across the border, and take meas- that a little bit of red resin, under the effect of
ures for keeping ulp our communication with  our prejudices, should be stronger than an iron
Macintosh. We shall consequently he your comn- box i"
panions instead of your followers on the march."    Sineaton shook him warmly by the hand, and,
In an hour from that time the troop was mount- requesting his companion of the march to follow,
ed and on its way: but when in full array, its  entered the house with his young friend, who
numbers and its equipment were inferior even to  asked, in a low voice,
the you1ng ecal's expectations.                  " Who have you got there?  His face does not
please ine."
" It is, nevertheless, the face of a relation of
yours," replied Smeaton.  1" I will introduce
CHAPTER XXXIII.                   him to you as soon as we are alone; but let me
see this packet.  It may contain news of inrIT was on the evening of the brightest day  portance."
which had  shone for the last fortnight when the    At the top of the first flight of steps were two
Earl of Eskdale, accompanied by Mr. William  good rooms, one of which, on the right hand,
Newark, under the name of Somerville, and fol- was retained for the use of the young nobleman,
lowed by their two servants, rode into the small and here he foucnd the packet which had been
town of Rothbury. They foulnd the place all mentioned. Breaking it open at once, he pergay and busy, the news of the advance of Lord  ceived that it contained two letters for himself
Kenmure having reached it some hours before,  and two for Richard Newark. Giving the latter
anid spread joy and expectation among the dis- instantly to his young friend, he invited Somerheartened gentlemen of Northumberland.  Half  ville to seat himself before he opened the letters
a dozen times, in riding through the little street, which bore his own address, although one of
the young nobleman was stopped to inquire how  them, in a small, delicate hand —more like that
far distant was the Scottish force, and his reply  of a lady in the present day than onle of those
of" 1 half a day's march" seemed to give univers- times-seemed too precious to be long delayed.
al satisfiaction.                              As soon as he had shown this piece of attention
One of the readiest to accost him was Van  to his guest, he retreated into the window, and
Noost, who, after having received his answer to  eagerly broke the seal of the letter addressed as
thle first question, rai oil by the side of the earl's  I have mlentioned. Ie was not deceived. Emhorse, telling him, with great pride and satisfac- meline's name was at the bottom  of the lihes
tion, that he had taken upon himself the duty of' that were written upon the page; and with a
engiIneer and armorer —-that he had repaired and  beating heart he read words which might well
polished innumlerable gluns and pistols, and cast have come from a more experienced imind, or a
some thousands of bullets for the service of the  less tender and affectionate heart. Yet love and
forces.                                        tenderness were evident throughout, as the con"Your lordship's quarters are quite ready for tents may show.
you, too," he cried.  " I have taken care of that.
All the Keanton men are lodged together in    "MY aELovED HusBAND,-I snatch a moment
those two white houses; and in the one on this  and an opportunity to write to you, knowing
side is a capital apartment for you, next to the  what you must feel, but not knowing what you
quarters of Master Richard. By-the-way," he  are doing. Anxious as I am to hear -where you
continsued, " a boy has arrived from Ale-Manor are, and all that you can tell me of your prowith a large packet for you, which should have  ceedinlgs, I fonsdly believe that you are more
come to hand six days ago; but the poor lad has anxious still to hear of your Emmeline.. I am in
had to hunt us all over the country; and it is  London, in a small lodging near the Tower, at
wonderful how lie has escaped the enemy, for number thirty-two ill Tower Street, sul'rounded
he has been in the very heart of General Car- by the servants of my cousin, Sir John Newarrk,
penter's dragoons at Newcastle, and brought us and, as he beliew es, cut off froln all comemunica —
intlelligence of all his doings."             tion with other persons by their means. Among
A few steps more took them  to the house  them, however, is one placed there by her who
which Van Noost had pointed out, anld Richard  has befiiended us at Ale-Manor, and who has
Newark caime down to the door to mueet his noble  found means to assure me that he is devoted
friend.  He greeted him with every mark of  alone to my service. He will contrive to conjoy and satisfaction, but glanced his eye froni vey this to Devonshire.  The time allowed me is
time to time toward Smeaton's companion with  but short.
a look of inIquiry and distrust.  He rambled on,   " And now, what shall I say to you, my dear
indeed, in his usual way, saying, as the earl dis- husband?  I need not speak of love and gratimounted and gave directions regarding the horses  tude. I need mnot tell you how my whole heart
ansd the servants,                            is devoted to you. I need not -say how earnest" Well, Eskdale, so you have brought us the  ly I wish it were possible for you to come yourScots. Now there is hope of doing something, self, and either claim me as your own in the face
for all this marching and counternmarchiing is poor of all the world, or take me home in secret to
stuff, and I have felt like one out of a flock of  spend my life with you itn quiet retirement and
sheep, driven  hither and thither by the shiep- content. But I must beseech you onilno account
herd's dog. The man does not hear me. The  to venture near this city, unless you can do so i.




HENRY SMEATON.                                       119
perfect safety; to sacrifice for Emmeline no se- before your arrival, you will easily gain intellicurity, to run  no risk, and, above all, not to let ~ence of where I am, along the road. Follow
affection for her-that eagerness to see her which quick, and delay not, as you value the love of
I am sure you feel-nor the indignation which               "Your afltctionate father,
you must experience at the conduct you have                            JOHN NEWARK.'
met with, induce you to take any part in the
struggle for the crown of these realms which    The second letter was more in detail, and in
your own calm  and ever just judgment does not not so mild a tone. It told the young gentleman
warrant. I am sure you will not; and yet I that his father was detained a prisoner in the
write these'words because I feel that it will be Tower, that his cousin Emmeline was lodging in
a comfort to you to know that Emmeline has no the neighborhood, desiring an opportunity of
selfish wish to be gratified at your expense. Con- serving her uncle and guardian, aind that she result your own honor, consult your own dignity. quirecl protection and assistance in her desolate
Think of her; love her forever, but do not let and solitary course. Sir John then went on to
one thought of her, one feeling for her, influence say, clearly with a view of conveying his comyou in circumstances where duty and honor are plete submission and attachment to the governconcerned, knowing that your honor is far dear- ment, that he had heard, with great pain, a ruer to her than her own happiness or her own life. mor that his son had taken part with those who
"Olh, how I long to see you! How I long to were attempting to subvert the existing governtell you, dear Henry, all I have suffered, all I ment, and establish the sway of the Pretender;
have thought, all I have felt-to pour out my and he went on to command him, on his duty to
whole soul and heart to him who has alone seen his father, to separate himself firom all such rash
and known them. But let not my longing have and disloyal persons, and immediately make the
the least weight with you. Act as if I had never best of his way to London, taking up his abode
existed, or as if you had never known me; but in the house which had been engacged for his
let the memory of your Emmeline be as the cousin Emmeline.
miniature-portrait of one well loved, ever near-   Richazd Newark concluded the reading of his
est to your heart, and think, whenever you think letters with one of his wild laughs, and then turnof her, that she is blessing you, and praying for ed his look to Smeaton, who was still standing ill
you, and beseeching Heaven to guide, preserve, the window, with his eyes fixed upon the lines
and prosper you in whatever course your own he had received from Emmeline.
wisdom and God's grace shall lead you.         " Well, noble earl," said the lad, " what news
"I know not how to end my letter. The have you?"
words seem so strange that I have to write; and   Smeaton beckoned him up, and, with a sudden
yet I am-I feel-I know I am-                 determination, put Emmeline's letter in his-hand.
" Your affectionate and dutiful wife,     Richard Newark started at the first words, and
"EaMMELINE ESKDALE.."   his cheek became somewhat pale. For the moSmeaton, with all his warm and strong enthu- ment he wvent no frvther, but laid his finger on
siasm, was  ot a man of that soft an    i    the line, "My beloved husband."  He said nothalasre, was not a man of that soft and melt~nging, but his look was a question, and Sieaton.
character which tender feelings, and what was ing, but his look  as a question and Seato
then called " sentiment," easily moved to tears. answered, "Eve  so, Richard."  At the same
In those days, and fbr nearly a century afterward, time he slightly raised his finger and looked toward the other side of the room, where  Somerthere was what I may call a lachrymose school, ward the other side of the room,  here Soewhich wvas weeping onl evey occasion where ville, or William Newark, was seated, fondling
ally thing touching presented itself or could be the hilt of his sword, and observing every thin.
found. Hewsntofh                             while he affected to observe nothing.  Richard
found. HIe was not of this school, and hardly  caught Smeaton's hand in his own, and wrung it
knew of its existence; yet the words of his dear's hand i his, ad                    it
and beautiful Emmeline brought the moisture  hard, saying, in a low voice,
into his eyes, and he turned to the window that   "I am sorry I have dragged you into this thing.
no one might mark what he considered a weak- Yon  should have gone after her. You can go
even now."
ness.
The other letter contained merely a few lines   "Impossible, Richard," replied Smeaton, in
from Mrs. Culpepper, but they were not of much the same low tone; "but you can, and you must
significance, merely informing him that Sir John My station, my age, my lame, my family, all forbid me to quit this cause when I. have once eilNewark was lodged in the Tower to await trial,   me to quit thi caue once enuthat the accompanying epistle had come fom  barked in it. Such is not the case with you.
the Lacdy Emmeline, together with the letters Emmeline requires protection, assistance, and
addressed to Mr. Richard Newark, and that she support. To you I  trust her in the fullest and
herself, Mrs. Culpepper, was most anxious to mlost implicit confidence; and I beseech you to
hear of his proceedings, pointing out at the same fly to her, and to give her that aid which I can
time the boy who brought the letters'as one not-I must not-attempt to afford."
whose wit and conduct justified the fullest con-   " No, no," cried Richard, aloud, bvith a laugh
fideuce.                                     "no, no!"  And then suddenly breaking off, he
In the mean while, Richard Newark had open- exclaimed, "But you promised to introduce me
ed the two letters addressed to himself, which to a relation, noble earl. Confer the favor, I bewere both in his father's hand, and had been seech you. I am poor in such things. I have
but one father and a cousin in my purse, and I
written evidently under the idea that they might
be opened and read before they were forwarded.     am ava icios of more wealth."
The first was dated Exeter, and contained but hiSmeaton piut away his letters, a     bd introduced
a few lines, which were to the following effect:   s young companion to William Newark, begging Richard to get hold of their quarter-master
" MY DEAR SON,-I beseech you, as soon as and find good quarters for their visitor.
you receive these, to set out and join me without   Richard suffered his cousin to shake him by
any delay. Should I be removed from Exeter the hand, but eyed him still like a shy, fiery horse,




120               ~Er~R'rHENRY STMEATON.
tgla.:cing asIkance at the approach of an unskillful me wild and foolish; but I can always watch and
rider.  The other, however, was all ease and self: make something of it —and I will watch now."
possession, rejoiced exceedingly, as he said, to   The concluding words were said with peculiar
see his young cousin, spoke with expressions of emplasis; and the moment he had uttered them,
regret of Sir John's confinement in the Tower, he turned away and plunged into a little crowd
and cursed the chance which deprived the cause which had gathered round the last comers.
of so strong an  arm and so skillful a head.    It was night when the two cousins sat down
He then began to talk of his quarters, and Rich- to their supper together, which William Newark
ard led him away to seek them with an air which had takesn care to make as good and plentiful as
he seemed to think very satisfactory, but which the circumstances would permit. He had even
Smeaton, who knew the lad better, judged to be contrived-Heaven knows how-to get two or
any thing but an indication of amicable feelings three flagons of tolerable wine; but he did not
toward his new-found friend. The young noble- show, at first, any inclination to drink deep, and
man's thoughts, however, were  soon engrossed began the conversation with topics very different
in other matters, fors Emmeline's letter re-awak- fiom those which chiefly occupied his thoughts.
ened many a pleasant, many a painful train of   " Our numbers are swelling," he said, as soon
reflections, and he gave himself up to memories as the servants had put the food upon the table
for more than half an hour before he turned his and retired. " That was a large troop which
steps toward the quarters of' General Forster.    came in this morning; and I saw a whole crowd
of foot mounting the white cockade."
i-'""'"'a!                "Oh yes," replied Richard Newark. "The
CHAPTER XXXIV.                   horse were a goodly body: thieves, sheep-stealers, smugglers, cattle-lifters, all well to do in the
1T is wonderfiul how rapidly Somerville, as he world, and expert in their professions. Take
called himself, gained to all appearance upon the care of your purse, cousin of mine, if you have
good opinion of his young cousin. They became got one, for transfer is easy among gentlemen of
quite intimate. Richard found out for him avery that class. As for the infantry, poor men, they
comfortable room, sat and talked gayly with him  only come in for disappointment. It is wonderfor more than an hour, and then left him with a ful how much more zeal than discretion there is
promise to come and sup with him  tdte-&-tdte in infantry. If soldiers were only things to be
that night, that they might talk over matters of fired at and not to fire again, we should have had
family interest.                             one of the best-equipped armies of' infantry in
Quarters had not been procured for William  the world by this time. Thousands have come
Newark too soon, for hardly an hour had passed in with a sweet petition for arms, and, though
ere a troop of some seventy men entered the they have been daily sent away with the assurtown, headed by a person named Douglas, whlom  ance that we have no arms to give them, they
good old Mr. Robert Patten terms a genltleman, still march in, offering their services."
but who, nevertheless, followed the ancient and    " I should think arms would be easily procured
honorable occupation of horse-stealing upon the from your western side of the country," observed
border. In the bustle and confuision which at- Somerville.  "You are so near the coast of
tended the congregation of a body of between France, and have such excellent places for landthree and four hundred men, most of them call- ing thein."
lug themselves gentlemen, in the small town of   "Ale Bay, for instance," added Richard, with
Rothbury, little further communication took place a sha'p look, and then a laugh. "Ay; but the
between Richard Newark alnd the Earl of Esk- worst of it is, Cousin Bill, that the people at Ale
dale. They met once, and Smeaton thought fit are always watching for something or another,
to give his young friend a hint in regard to the and he would be a cunning man who could land
character of his cousin.                     without being caught.  My father knows that, or
"He was always wild, rash, and intemperate," he would not have lived there so long."
he said, "yet with a great deal of shrewdness,   "Ay, he can not choose where he lives now,
which deprived him of one excuse for the com- poor fellow," responded William Newark; " but
mission of follies. He can not be said to have I should think he would be somewhat uneasy at
committed any friom mere thoughtlessness; and leaving our fair cousin Emily there. Take somle
I do not think that your father feels at all well wine, Richard."
disposed toward him."                          " Emmeline, Emmeline," cried Richard, pour"Doubtless," replied Richard, "nor do I. I ing out for himself some wine, "not Emily; how
don't like that cut upon his forehead. It is an ignorant you are! But he is not at all uneasy
ugly gash, resembling the one you gave the fel- about leaving her there, becautse he has taken her
low at the back of Ale Head, when they were with him."  And he laughed q.lite like a fool.
carrying away Eninmy. It is quite as well to   "Taken her to the Tower!" exclaimed his
mark a friend that wve may knov him agai     coun.. "I did not know they w-ould receive a
don't think your handwritigng   on that fellow's prisoner's family with him."
head can be mistaken."                         "Nor I either," replied Richard; "bbut they
"You let in light upons me," said Smeaton, have not received her: she lives near with the
gravely; "and, if your suspicion is correct, I servants and people; and my father took her to
think him amore than ever to be avoided."    keep her out of harm's way. I have often heard
" To be watched, noble firiend, to be watched," him say that, if he had any thing he wished to
returned Richard, with a laugh. " I am the best keep secret and snug, London was the place for
watchman  in tlhe world.  I recollect waiting the purpose. Now Emmeline is just in that case,
three hours without moving hand or foot-I don't and therefore you see he acts upon prinlciple.
think I winiked an eye-watching with my cross- Oh, he has a head, has he not? The Hanover
bow for a hare, till Miss Puss came out, hopping, people won't get it off so easily as they imagine,
on her hind legs, with her ears up and her whisk- i for he knows how to take care of it as well as
ors wagging; and I hit my mark. People call how to use it."




tENRY  SMEXTON.                                       121
"Ay, doubtless," said the other.  " And so the ou t your hands for the king's troops to come and
lady lives near the Tower, does she?"        tie them.  There will be disgrace, and ruin, and
"Ill good sooth," answered Richard, in some- punishment. If there was a chance-if their
what of a mocking tone.  "But what matters own folly in appointing incapable country genthat to you, cousin of mine?  It is a long way tlemen to command in military operations did
from this place to London. If you had a tele- not deprive the cause of all likelihood-if we
scope, you could not see her."                were going to fight like men instead of being
"That would depend upon its strength," re. trapped like sparrows, which will certainly be
plied William Newarlk, "although, as I know not the end of it, I would let no danger daunt me:
rightly where she lives, I could not well point it. but as it is, Dick, I fairly tell you I shall march
In what street does she dwell?  I know London for London. You may do as you like."
thoroughly."                                    His cousin's words were evidently not palatalie spoke in an easy, indifferent tone, judging ble to Richard Newark, who sat, gloomy and sithat the lad would readily betray the place of lent for a minute or two, with his eyes bellt upon
Emmeline's abode, and maeling no allowance the table, saying nothing till his cousin exclaimwhatever for that shrewdness which is often join- ed, with a laugh, " Come, tlake sone wine, Dick;
ed to great simplicity.                       it will cheer you."
"Oh, Heaveni knows," replied Dick.  "It is   " No," replied Richard, and pushed the i;.  a
in some street, and the street has got a name, but from him. At length he went on, settis,'ii s
what that name is has passed from nmy noddle teeth hard, "Well, I will go. I canl do them
these six hours; and the letters, as in duty bound, little good, and call be of more service to tnrueI put into the fire."                         hearted folks there than here. I will go, cousin' Ha! you have had letters, have you?" ex- of mine. When do you set out?"
claimed his cousin. " Who were they from, and    " Early to-morrow," replied William Newark.
what news did they give you?"                 "I don't think it needful to tell Kenmure or
1."They were fiom  father," replied Richard, Forster that, having been accustomed to serve
" and gave me no news whatever, but merely under generals, I do not like to be commanded
commanded me to leave off soldiering, and go to by bumpkins. I can write all those sweet things
London directly."                             afterward."
William Newark praised and meditated for a   "I must tell Eskdale, however," said Richard
moment or two, while Richard watched lhis con- Newark. "I can notleave him without explanatenance keenly and searchingly, but with no more tion."
appearance of interest than if he had been mark-   " Take my advice, and do not say a word,"
ing the progress of a shadow on the wall. He answered his cousin.  " He will only try to persaw a variation in the expression of his cousin's suade you to remain by arguments you should
face; and, in truth, a total change had come over not listen to."
his plans.  But Richard said nothing, quietly   "Not he," cried Richard Newark, with a scoff.
leaving the other to develop his own purposes.   "All his arguments go the other way. He has
"Do you know, Richard," said William  New- never ceased teasing me to go to London after
ark, at length, " I think your father is very much my fathler, and to take care of Emmeline, and
in the right in ordering you to join him in Lon- all that. However, I'll consider of it."
don, both on youn account and his own?  Your   " Indeed!" exclaimed William Newark, in evistaying here in arms mignht damage him  very dent surprise at what he heard of the young
much, and even bring his head to the bloclk.."   earl's conduct; and then he bit his lips to pre"Indeed!" ejaculated Richard. " What! cut vent himself smiling while he thought, "What a
off the father's head for the son's fault?  That is set of fools these people are! Surely one good
reversing the line of succession, I think, and is head would be a match for a thousand of them."
neither heraldry nor justice."                  Conceit is always an adjunet to cunning, and' It sometimes happens, however," answered indeed is that adjunct which most frequently
his cousin; "and the people will natulrally say renders fruitless the dexterity of its companion.
that you would never have joined the insurrec- William Newark was mistaken in his calculation, being so young, if your father had not pre- tions of Richard Newark's character; and though
pared you to do so. Therefore, if you love your every now and then he felt some misgivings from
father and would save his life, you had better do certain sharp turns of expression used by his
as he bids you: I might say, indeed, if you love young relation, he could not divest his mind of
yourself, and would save your own life, you the idea that Richard was a mere pliable and
would do so."                                 eccentric boy, whom he could soon find means
"I don't much care about my life," replied  to twist into any shape he pleased.  "I will use
Dick, " but I have some small notion of honor." him as a tool," he thought, "to work my own
"There is no honor to be got here," replied purposes; but I must make haste.  While his
the other. "I am a mal of homlor too, and would  shrewd father remains in the Tower, the stage
cut any man's throat who said I was not; but I is clear for me to play what part I please. Once
intend to' ave these people, and that very speed- -let hlim get out, and I may meet with more than
ily.' rtween you and me, Dick, there is nei- my match."
ther honor, profit, nor safety to be had here.   Richard Newark would drink no more wine,
This insurrection will not succeed. Here are and soon after rose to return to his own quartwo generals with mighty armies of three or four ters.  He promised his cousin, however, to be
hundred men, and neither the Englishman nor ready to ride with him early on the following
the Scotchman has the slightest knowledge of morning, with the full resolution of keeping his
military matters. Kenmure and Forster are two word. When he got beyond the door, however,
quiet country gentlemen, who never saw a shot- he laughed aloud and muttered, " Egad! what a
ted cannlon fired in their lives. They will get fine thing it is to be called a fool! Men are alall who follow them  into some horrid scrape, ways showing you their plans whein they think
where you will be able to do nothing but hold you can not make any use of the klnowledge




122                              HENRY SMEATON.
Master William, you want watching, and you clear, the account of an eye-witness who shared
shall have it. I will be your shadow till I see in all the perils of the time, but contrived in the
you safe beyond the seas again. Ha, ha! The end, by a timely recantation and abundant tesfool thinks to get hold of Emmeline, not know- timony against his companions, to slip his own
ing she is another man's wife already.  He shall neck out of the halter into which he aided to
find himself mistlaken."                      place theirs.
With these thoughts h'e walked slowly to his   Up to the time indicated in the last chapter,
own quarters, debating with himself whether he General Forster, as lie was somewhat ludi
slOUld tell Slneatson of his intentions.  It was crously called, and the gentlemen who accommore in accordance with his character to set out panied him, had entertained sanguine hopes of
without communicating with any one; but still being able, after their junction with Lord Kenhis heart was kindii  and affectionate, and when mure, to surprise the important town of Newhe reflected upon the pleasure it would give to castle-upon-Tyne, but, before the evening of
Emineline  to receive a letter fri-om her husband, the eighteenth of October ended, all such exhe soon made up his mind, He found the young
he soo  midetly ip hismiisd   Herfound the young  pectations were dispelled by the intelligence
earl sea-ted quietly in his room, and alone, and tat General Capenter, a man of great experithat General Carpenter, a man of great experi-a lach conlveersation took place between thlem  ence and decision, had thrown himself into Newid,  dieed not dwell uponhis fiie   ll hi ote Richard, castle with one regiment of foot and three regiindeed, did not tell his firiend nll his motives for
the step he was about to take. He did not even  ments of dragoons.  This was a frce which
mention that William  Newark was to be the they had no means of opposing successfully, and
companlion of his journey. He had no skill ill great anxiety was felt for the junction of the
explanations, and very often found it difficult to Scotch troops.  That junction was effectel on
explain the motives of his actions to himself, the morning of the nineteenth, in an open piece
rarely if ever attempting it to others; and in this of heathy ground, broken by theremains of what
instance he would have been obliged to enter was once an extensive wood, and known as
into long details from which he shrank.       othblry Forest.
For his part, the earl felt a sensation of relief   With no slight eagerness, the two forces exand thankfnilness, not easy to be described, when  amined each other as they approached; and if
he heard Richard's resolution. To see the kind- the gentlemen of Northumberland felt some dishearted lad placed beyond the perils attending appointment at the scantiness of Kenmure's
upon a desperate enterprise and a hopeless cause numbers, the Scotch gentlemen experienced
would have afforded in itself much matter for re- perhaps more at seeing their English friends so
joicing; but to know that Emmeline, in the dif- ill provided with horses and arms.  Lord Kenficulties and discolmforts which surrouncldedl her, mure's little force, consisting of four squadrons
woulc  have the support and assistance of one of horse, certainly displayed much more the apso affectionate, true, and honest, took a great pearance of a royal army on a miniature scale
part of the heavy load fron his heart.  The con- than the irregular body of the Northumbrivetsation naturally turned to his marriage with ans.  Armed with good stout broadswords, and
Emrnmeline, in regard to which Richard evidently mounted on strong, sinewy horses, they adentertained some curiosity; and Smeaton suc- vanced with trumpets sounding and colors discinctly detailed to him the whole facts, sparing played; and surrounded by a chosen body of
the name of his father as much as possible.  He gentlemen was borne what they called the
then applied himself to write to Emmeline in standard of King James, formed of blue silk
such a manner as to prevent the possibility of ally richly embroidered with the arms of Scotland
evil result if the letter should fall into the hands on one side and the thistle on the other, while
of others, anld, having done so, he committed it long streamers of white ribbon hung from the
to the charge of his young conmpanicin, and bade corners, likewise embroidered in gold with the
him  good-night, iever doubting that he should words, "For our wronged king and oppressed
see him on the following morning.             country."  " For our lives and liberties."
Thle fatigues which Smeaton had undergone    The whole force, when united, made at this
during the four preceding days made him ex-period a body of about six hundred men; and
ceed his usual period of rest by a few minutes;  a  hasty council being called, it was determined
but, on rising, he found, to his surprise, that immediately to march toward Wooler as pre-'Richard had been gone more than an hour.     paratory to a retreat into Scotland, which had
now become inevitable. It was much to be
feared, indeed, that General Carpenter would
not suffer them to effect this object; but, hapCHAPTER XXXV.                     pily for them, the intelligence that Brigadier
Macintosh, with a large body of Highlanders,
MANY men were in the Jacobite army, both had crossed the Frith of Forth, and was in full
in the South and-in the North, who, judging of march for the South, had reached that distinthe future by the present, and by the appoint- guished officer and Lord Keninure Z' -iltane-.ment of the most incompetent persons to offices ously, and, unable to obtain exact infor.- tion
of high command, clearly foresaw that a catas- as to Mackintosh's strength or line of march,
trophe of a dark and terrible kind must await Carpenter judged it inexpedient to leave so imthe insurrection.  That catastrophe,. however, portant a place as Newcastle without other deas far as the little body collected in the South  fense than the somewhat doubtful loyalty of the
was concerned, was now approaching with great inhabitants.  From Wooler'the insurgent force
rapidity.                                     marched straight toward Kelso, seizing arms
I shall not trust to my own pen for the details wherever they could find them, and also apof all that occurred during the next few days, propriating to themselves any public money they
but will merely abridge, and render a little more could lay hands on.




HENRY SMEATON.                                      123
About the middle of the day, however, they vocated a sudden and rapid incursion into Enall halted on a wild moor a few miles from the gland, declaring their conviction that multitudes
town, having received information that it was would rise and join them as they passed through
occupied by Sir William Bennet of Grubbet with Lancashire, while Carpenter, with his wearied
a considerable force-that the streets were bar- and harassed forces, would be unable to follow,
ricaded, and several pieces of cannon placed in or might easily be defeated if he did. Every
position.  It was soon discovered, however, officer of any experience opposed this insane
that Sir William  Bennet, who was only sup- suggestion; but, nevertheless, it prevailed, and
ported by a body of militia, had taken fright at each day brought over fresh converts to that
their approach and left the town, leaving some opinion from among the thoughtless and inexstore of arms and ammunition behind him. In- perienced.
telligence was also brought that Mackintosh and   It would seem that no decision had been arhis Highlanders were advancing rapidly from  rived at when they marched for Jedburgh on
Dunse; and it was accordingly determined to Thursday, the twenty-seventh of October, and
march to Kelso at once, both in order to join hesitation and some symptoms of panic were
their friends, and to possess themselves of the very evident on the way. Twice or thrice an
arms which Bennet had left behind him.       alarm of the enemy being upon them created
The Scotch cavalry passed through the town great confusion, ending in merriment when they
without halting, in order to meet their Highland discovered that parties of their own troops wsere
fiiends at Ednam Bridge; but the Northum- the cause of all their apprehensions. At Jedbrian gentlemen remained in Kelso, which had burgh a halt of two days took place, and he're
been appointed as the general place of rendez- the fatal resolution of entering Engla-nd xvwas
vous.  The expectation of finding any great adopted. An unexpected difficulty, however,
store of the munitions of war were disappointed, arose. The Highlanders-at the suggestion, it
ffor nothing appeared except some small pieces is supposed, of the Earl of Wintoun, who wase
of cannon taken from Hume Castle, a trifling highly popular with them-piled their arms, and
quantity of gunpowder, and a number of good, refused positively to march out of their own
serviceable broadswords, which had been con- country.
cealed in the church, and which proved a great   After long discussions, they were persuaded
relief to the half-armed Northumbrian troops. to proceed as far as Hawick, when indecision
A short time after, Macintosh and the Highland- again appeared in the councils of the leaders.
ers entered the town, with their bagpipes play- The opinion of the wiser party had gained
ing, and the sturdy old veteran who commanded strength by the resolute opposition of the Highthem marching at their head. The forces now  landers, and so far prevailed that a considerable
assembled consisted of some fifteen hundred party of horse was detached toward Dumfries,
infantry and six hundred cavalry; and many a with the promise of being followed by the whole
good citizen of Kelso, who had not yet dared to of the army. Hardly had this body departed,
avow his attachment to the house of Stuart, now  however, when another change of resolution
shouted loudly for King James, adding thereunto took place. The English gentlemen received,
much outcry against the obnoxious measures or pretended to have received, dispatches from
of the house of Hanover.                     Lancashire, assuring them of the support of
" No malt tax! no Union! no salt tax!" was twenty thousand men, and an immediate march
vociferated by several hundred voices; but the into England was determined.  Messengers
worthy citizens confined themselves to words, were sent to recall the party which had been
keeping cautiously clear of any overt acts.  detached to Ecclesfechan; but the great diffiThe following day, being Sunday, was spent culty still remained with the Highlanders, who
in religious observance; and on the Monday, once more positively refused to cross the borthe whole troops being drawn up in the market- der. Persuasions, entreaties, and even bribes,
place, King James III. was proclaimed with as it is said, were urged upon both leaders and
great solemnity, and a lengthy manifesto read, men, and proved so far successful that a consufficient to tire the patience of the best dis- siderable body at length agreed to march. More
posed. Not content with dealing more in words than five hundred, however, adhered to their
than actions, the insurgent force continued idle first resolution, and, separating into small parin Kelso till the Thursday following, wasting ties, abandoned the army and took their way
the three most precious days which were grant- homeward by the West. The other diminished
ed to them in the whole course of the insurrec- bcfdy of the insurgents marched on toward Cartion. The troops of General Carpenter were lisle by Langholm and Longtown, gaining here
fatigued and discouraged; his numbers were and there a few volunteers, and hearing rumors
inferior to their own; the whole south of Scot- of parties of the enemy's cavalry hovering about
land was open to them; and every inducement them in different directions. Money, which was
combined with opportunity to lead them in an much wanted, was gained at several places by
active and energetic course.                the confiscation of the public revenues; but the
But division was in their councils. One pro- people in general looked upon the progress df
posed that they should cross the Tweed and the Jacobites with indifference, and no signs for
boldly attack Carpenter's force before it had re- some time appeared of any general movement
covered from long and frequent marches; an- in favor of the Stuart cause.
other strongly urged to march to the westward    After crossing the border, Forster assume-d
in order to join the western clans, and with the command of the whole army in virtue of a
their aid attack Dumfries and Glasgow, threat- commission from the Earl of Mar; and wisely
ening the flank and rear of the Duke of Argyle's judging that Carlisle, though but poorly garriarmy, while Mar attacked him in the frout. The soned, was too strong for his small force, he
English gentlemen, on the contrary, stronly ad- marched to Brampton, and thence advanced to.




124                            fHENRY SMEATON.
ward Penrith, where a bloodless triumph await- ures for its defense, and even proposed to blow
ed him over a body of men collected to oppose up the bridge. The fears, however, and perhis march. The Lord Lonsdale, strongly at- haps the disaffection of the majorityofthe inhabtached to the cause of the house of Hanover, itants, frustrated all their designs, and, marchand, though still very young, a man of courage ing into the town, the insurgents possessed
and decision, had collected a considerable body themselves not only of money, arms, and amof the horse-militia of Westmoreland and Lan- munition, but also of six pieces of cannon, which
cashire, and added to it the posse comitalus of they found in a ship belonging to so peaceable
the shire. He was strenuously aided by the a personage as a Quaker.
Bishop of Carlisle; and the numbers collected   These cannon were speedily mounted upon
at a little distance to the northward of Penrith wheels; and during the stay of the insurgent
amounted to no less than fourteen thousand force, which was from the seventh to the ninth
men.                                        of November, small parties of gentlemen conThis undisciplined mob was drawn up on a tinually came in, unhappily for themselves, and
small moor across which the insurgent army  joined in an enterprise which was now fast
was likely to pass, with some woody lanes and tending to a disastrous conclusion. It must be
broken ground at a little distance in the front. said, however, that they aided greatly to hurry
Intelligence of their proceedings had reached the catastrophe. During the whole of the long
the insurgent leaders, but they resolutely march- march from Jedburgh to Lancaster, the leaders
ed on, prepared and eager for battle. The High- of the insurrection, as may well be supposed,
landers, it would seem, were the first who issu- had been anxious to obtain information of the
ed from the lanes; but they did so in good or- movements of the enemy's troops. General
Ider, and immediately extended themselves in Carpenter's small corps was that which they
battle array. The cavalry followed; but the principally dreaded, and we are assured that
very sight of any thing like a disciplined army Forster spared neither money nor exertion to
was sufficient to overthrow all confidence in the gain intelligence. It was known that Carpenter
posse comitatus; the spirit of flight seized on had immediately pursued the insurgent force as
them all; arms were thrown away in haste; soon as he learned their line of march, but he
and the whole country was speedily covered was reported to be at a considerable distance in
with the flying multitude. Lord Lonsdale, left their rear; and a certain Mr. Paul, another Jacwith a few of his own servants, was forced to obite clergyman, who had doffed the cassock to
take refuge in Appleby Castle; and the Bishop assume military costume, brought positive inof Carlisle was hotly pursued on his road to telligence into Lancaster that General CarpenRose Castle by a worthy belligerent clergyman, ter was at Barnard's Castle in Durham, with
who had formerly been a curate in his diocese. men and horses sorely fatigued. The other
The flight and utter dispersion of the enemy Lancashire gentlemen, who came in from time
gave great encouragement to the insurgents, to time, assured Forster and his companions
and the spoils of the field supplied them with that no body of King George's troops could apmany articles of which they stood in great need. proach within forty miles without their receivArms, horses, and powder were taken in con- ing intelligence of it; and, in an evil hour, it
siderable quantities; and they entered Penrith  was determined to waste more time in Lancasthe same day in good order, and flushed with ter merely as a resting-place, even after the plan
success. They were very civilly received in the had been decided upon for advancing into a distown, and further stores, as well as a consider- trict where a great accession of force was to be
able sum of money, were obtained. After re- expected.
fieshing themselves for a day at Penrith, the   That plan was generally as follows, viz., to
insurgents moved on to Appleby, without re- march direct upon Manchester, where the cause
yeiving any of the re-enforcements which they of the house of Stuart had numerous partisans,
expected. On the contrary, indeed, it would to seize upon Warrington Bridge, and to extend
seem that many desertions took place, for no their operations to Liverpool, of which they
great confidence was entertained by the men in hoped easily to make themselves masters. Ortheir commanders, and little obedience shown ders were even given, it is said, for advancing
except in moments of urgent danger.         at once; but the acquisition of cannon and the
From Appleby to Kendal, and thence to Kirby rumors from the country rendered them someLonsdale, they marched on unopposed; but nei- what apathetic, so that from Monday the 7th till
ther from Westmoreland nor Cumberland did Wednesday the 9th of November they remained
they receive any of the re-enforcements they refreshing themselves in Lancaster, while the
expected till on their march from the latter place forces of their adversaries were drawing closer
toward Lancaster.  Here, however, they were and closer around them. The seventh proved
joined by a number of the Roman Catholic gen- a very wet and stormy day; but the march totry, and were further encouraged by the news ward Preston was begun early in the morning,
from Lancashire, which represented the whole and it would seem that some misgivings began to
county as ready to rise and join them. Man- be entertained regarding the intelligence which
chester, then comparatively an insignificant lit- had been received from the country. Rumors
tle town, but somewhat famous for the unruly spread through the small force that large bodies
disposition of its inhabitants, declared for King of King George's troops were being collected
James with very little reserve, and began to to oppose their advance; and the necessity of
raise and arm bodies of men for his service. taking up a position which would enable all their
Lancaster, however, had well-nigh proved a friends in the midland and western counties to
stumbling-block in their way; for Colonel Char- join them was felt, but too late.
tres, and some other officers attached to the   The roads were bad, and rendered nearly. imhouse of Hanover, were anxious to take meas- passable by torrents of rain; the infantry strug



HENRY SMEATON.                                         125
gled on, fatigued and somewhat disheartened;    "I don't doubt it, my lord," replied V an Noost,
and even the cavalry found it difficult to ad- chuckling a little at the idea, notwithstanding.
vance in any thing like order.  Accordingly, at " You are a great man, and I am a very insigIifithe small town of Garstang, it was determined  cant one; yet I should not mind working against
that the foot soldiers should halt for the night, your lordship for a wager as to who should cast
while the cavalry pushed on for Preston, and the best Diana."
dislodged a small body of dragoons quartered in' Let her alone, man, let her alone," said Lord
that place.  The dragoons did not pause to be Wintoun, with a laugh.  "Keep to Venus; you
attacked, but marched out at the approach of nmay beat me there. I should beat you at Dianas,
the insurgents, who rejoiced as for a victory, for I.should cast them in cold iron suited to such
and took up their quarters in the town.  On the a hard-hearted goddess. Lead is the fitter stuff
following day, Thursday, the 10th of November, to make Venus of, for we all know that she was
the whole of General Forster's force was re- every now and then in the elting moo.  Why,
united in Preston, and the usual ceremonies of man, if these fellows, who call themselves generproclaiming King James III. and praying for him  als, and have no more knowledge of war than my
by name in the church took place.            lnag, would but give me a leathern apron and a
At Preston another delay occurred.  No in- sledte-hammer, I could do them  more selvice
telligence of the enemy's proximity was receivthan they'll ever let me do them at the head of
telligence of the onery's proximity was receiv- a regiment  In th
ed; and, instead of marching upon Manchester a regiment. In the one case, I could make them
on the Friday morning, as had been first determ- pikes to arm the common people; but in the othined, a halt was resolved upon until Saturday. er, I have the command of a regiment, as it is
called, which is to obey every body but me."
jDuringo the whole of Friday, the  insurgents en-   Van Noost's curiosity was excited, but not by
joyed themselvesin Preston with a feeling of the most iiportant part of Lord Wintoun's repl.
the utmost security, and it was not till the troops   "Why, my lord," he said, "how came your
were under arms on Saturday that any intima- lordship to learn such a trade as mlaking piletion was received of the rapid advance of Gen- heads?"
eral Wills upon Preston.                        "It came by nature and a little observation,"'
replied the earl. " You see, dearly beloved Van
Noost, I thought it just as well at one time to
-travel, and I had a strong inclination to see more
CHAPTER XXXVI.  of the world than the lords and ladies in it, which,
after all, are like a sheaf of arrows all cut to one
IT was during the evening of the 9th of Novem- length and tricked out in the same manner; so I
her, on which the cavalry of the insurgent army put by my dignity for the time being, dressed
marched into Preston, that a party consisting of' myself up as a blacksmith's boy, got a place with
three mounted men followed the course of one one of the dingy craft, and engaged to blow the
of the small deep lanes, of which there are sev- bellows."
eral in that part of the country. The cavalry    Van Noost burst into a loud laugh, observing,
was proceeding in the same direction by a wider   "You soon got tired of that, my lord, I dare
road to the right; and one of the horsemen of say?"
whom I have spoken lost no opportunity of get-   "Not I," rejoined Lord Wintoun. "I blew
ting upon any elevated spot, in order either to bellows and hammered iron for two whole years;
descry their course of march, or to study the feat- ate pumpkin soup, drank sour wine, and cooked
ures of the country. Wherever the banks of the my own omelette for a treat on Sundays."
lane sloped down and showed a way to higher   Van Noost laughed again, thinking he would
ground, wherever a gate gave exit to the right or rather not have partaken his lordship's fare; but
left, that horseman passed through and gazed  Lord Wintoun went on, saying,
about him. The two others were less watchful,   "Nay, more, I took many a buffet from  the
and seemed contented enough with the shelter blacksmith's daughter with a patience which
of the lane. One of them was tall anld not very might have lessoned Job; and one time his wife
well made, riding his horse in a slovenly and would have basted me with a broom, but I took
slouching manner; the other fat and short, not up a red-hot horse-shoe and threatened to set fire
the most graceful cavalier in the world, but one to her petticoats, though they were too short in
who showed a very discreet adherence to the all conscience to suffer much curtailment decentsaddle.                                       ly. The good woman laughed like a merry soul
The rain poured down in torrents; the mud as she was, and laid down the broom while I
was up to the horses' fetlocks; and a cold, cut- quenched the horse-shoe."
ting wind blew the half-congealed drops into the    "Perhaps the daughter was the attraction,"
travelers' necks and ears, notwithstanding an am- said Van Noost, slyly.  "Did she give nothing but
ple garniture of cloaks, with collars raised high  buffbts, my noble lord?"
and fastened tight before. It was as miserable    " Faith, nothing to me," replied Lord Wintoun;
an evening for a journey as cou9i. well be con- "and as to attractions, those which she had were
ceived; nevertheless, the latter of the two who more vast in extent than peculiar in power. She
remained in the lane contrived to keep his com- was well-nigh as big as her father; and, though
panion in a merry humor, eliciting frequent peals she had two great black eyes, they were not much
of laughter from him, partly at the matter of his better than one, for they drew to a point so close
anecdotes, partly at the manner of the narrator.  toward her nose that it was like a cross fire from
"Ay," he observed, with a stiong Scotch ac- the angles of e forltress; and if she saw any thing
cent, "ay, Mr. Van Noost, you are doubtless a at a distance, I am sure it must have been reversvery clever man in your way, and pretty gods ed. Then her mouth-heaven and earth, her
and goddesses, shepherds and shepherdesses, you mouth! The very memory is painful. When it
can make out of cold lead, as you tell me. But was sh ut, even, it looked like whatwe Scotchmen
I can do more than that."                     call a slit in a haggis; and when it was open, it




Pf126                          IHENRY SMEATON.
looked like the entrance of the bottomless pit.   "Faith, Van Noost, I think he is right," reIt could never have been borne, had not the nose plied Smeaton, with a smile; adding, in a halfcounterbalanced it."                         joking manner, " The difference is very great
Again Van Noost laughed heartily, exclaiming, between you and us, Van Noost. You see, as
" The love! The joy! What happiness your you are fnlly as broad as both of us, you run a
lordship must have had in her dainty society!"  double risk of musket bullets. Besides, if we
"Good faith, I have fared worse than I did should be taken, great men can find friends to
there," said Lord Wintoun, " and, I fear me, shall pray for them. Now who would pray fobr you, I
fare worse still. A man without a head is of no know not, but your cook and your garden shepuse to himself or any one else, Master Van Noost; herdesses. Seriously, however, with all the zeal
and I doubt that I shall long have one upon my in the world, I don't think you can do much good
shoulders. Howd.oes yours feel?  Isitshaky? " here to the cause, and none to yourself; and, if
"Not very easy, my good lord," replied Van you would take my advice, you would ride away,
Noost, in a dolorous tone.  " At times a certain surrender yourself to some magistrate, submit to
sick qualm comes over my stomach, as if I had penance for your sins, and save your body from
eaten half-cooked pork. But does your lordship Carpenter's carving-knives or your neck from a
really think the case so bad?"              hempen cravat. Our honor keeps us here; but
" As bad as it can be," answered Lord Win- you have not much honor to gain by staying with
toun.  " Take my word for it, Van, your fat will us, and, in the circumstances, cal lose little by
soon be as cold and hard as one of your own lead- leaving us. I give you my word that, had I not
en figures, unless you contrive to be politic."    been burdened with an earl's title, I would have
" But what would you have me do?" inquired left the force the moment that the mad determthe poor statuary.' I think things seem going ination of marching into England was taken. I
well enough for my part."                    am not bound to serve under lunatics; but it
"Poor man!" ejaculated Lord Wintoun. "You would give too severe a shock to the cause for
have eyes, doubtless, for the heads of your stat- two noblemen suddenly to abandon it."
ues, but none, it seems, for your own. However,   " That is what brought me back to Langton,"
here comes your pet, Lord Eskdale. Ask him. said Lord Wintoun; "for I had fully determined
What do you think he is galloping about the to go, rather than be led to slaughter like a sheep,
country for, up on the top of this knoll, and over. and that without even the object of my fleece or
that hill, and through the other gate, or leaping my flesh. But I asked myself how many would
his weary horse over a fence like a cat through follow my example if I went, and that thought
awindow? You don'tknow?  I'll tell you, then. brought me back."
He is looking out to see if he can perceive, through   The idea of being led to slaughter like a sheep
all this rain, the enemy's troops, which he knows did not seem at all palatable to poor Van Noost,
will be upon us before three days are over. He and he continued silent and dismal during the
is not to be fooled, like your Forster and Ken- remainder of the way. Smeaton took up his
snure, with the fancy that we shall be allowed to quarters with several other gentlemen, forming
march throulgh the land at our leisure. Well, a part of the little force which they called the genEskdale, do you see them?"                  tlemen volunteers who had no separate com-' It is hardly possible to see at all," replied mand, and who served under no particular leadthe young earl; " but I see nothing except our er. Some supper was hastily prepared, and all
own men on the right, and the church of Pres- the usual resources of soldiers employed for whilton, I suppose, a few miles off."            ing away anxious thought and making the pres"What do you think Carpenter is doing?" ent pass cheerfully. The claret-flagon-for, both
asked Lord Wintoun.                          at Lancaster and Preston, good wvine was found
"In truth, I do not know," returned Smeaton; -circulated freely among the higher classes of
"probably marching after us till he knonws he the insurgents, while the fiery aid of brandy, eihas us in a net, ready to fall upon us the moment ther plain, diluted, or made into punch, kept up
it is advisable. We shall make a good fight of the spirits of the rest.
it, though, I doubt not, for most of these gentle-   Of his favorite beverage, punch, Van Noost,
men have strong hearts, if not strong heads."    who sat at the same long table as the Earl of
"Ay, the garret story is very empty," said Eskdale, drank so much that the young nobleLord Wintoun. " Do tell this good poor man, man felt some apprehension lest his salutary terEskdale, why you have refutsed all command in ror should pass away, and he should abandon his
our great army."                             purpose of quitting the insurgent army and mak"Simply because I would not have any re- ing his submission; but toward the close of the
sponsibility," returned Smeaton, "in an enter- evening Van Noost came up to him and whisprise which is destined to end in misfortune and pered,
disgrace. There is no officer of experience whom    " I shall depart early to-morrow, my good lord,
I would not have served under, in whatever ca- and go as straight to London as they will let me.
pacity he chose to assign me; but Mr. Forster, Has your lordship any thing to write that I cama
though a very good country gentleman, I dare take charge of?"
say, is no soldier; and it requires fully as much   Smeaton was inclined to seize the opportunity
skill and experience, my noble ftiend, to com- eagerly; but a moment's reflection showed him
mand an army as to cut out a wooden spoon. that, by giving his humble friend even a single
Any one who may attempt either without some letter, he might endanger the good man's safety
practice will cut his fingers and spoil his work." if he should fall into the hands of the enemy. He
" Then, my good lord, why do you not leave therefore called him aside, and charged him with
them?" interrogated Van Noost, with a very un- a few words to Emmeline. They were sad as
pleasant choking sensation about the throat. well as few, for his own expectations were all
"Here is this noble Earl of Wintoun trying hard dark and gloomy, and he did not wish to raise
to persuade me that it would be better for- me to up hopes which he felt certain would be disapruin.'                                       pointed. He said little more to Van Noost, and




HETNRY SlMEATON.                                     127
that was by way of warniug. He urged him    "It is not a very long operation," observed
strongly to give himself up voluntarily to any Sneaton, with a faint smile, continuing his dressmagistrate, if he found the least difficulty in make- ing. " God's grace can give repentance at any
ing his escape through the country; to submit time, and render it effectual. A short prayer,
unconditionally, but at the same time to avoid my good friend, and a strong resolution to do
making ally statements which could either be- better for the future, is what I would advise you
tray the condition of those with whom he had to make, and then come and fight like a man on
been in companionship, or deprive. them of any the side you have espoused."
advantages in the present or the future,       " A, bhut, my lord, I have wronged you too.'"
He then retired to his chamber, saying he was said Higham, "and that is one of the things I
fatigued, and would seek rest; but the rest he would repent of and atone for."
took, though he might find bodily repose, was   "Well, well," responded Smeaton, "I have
not that of the mind. He slept not at all for the no time now to hear confession of sins. I must
next three hours, but remained seated motion- go and see what is the truth of all this you tell
less, near the window, in deep thought.     me. As for the rest, I freely forgive you, mny
good man, for any little offense, known or unknown by me, which you may have committed
against me. It is very unlikely that both you
CHAPTER XXXVII.                  and I should come alive out of this day's work,
if matters are going as you say; and, whichever
AT an early hour in the morning of Saturday, is taken, let us part in charity. I forgive you
the 11th of November, a good deal of bustle and with all my heart, -ligham, for any fault in your
commotion filled the streets of Preston. Private duty to me."
gentlemen and military officers were seen run-   " Ah, my lord!" cried Higham, with a rueful
ning hither and thither, and all who had cornm- look, "if you knew all —"
mand of regiments or squadrons, as their little   He did not conclude his sentence, however,
bodies of men were called, received a summons for at that moment, without any application for
to attend a council at General Forster's quarters admittance, Van Noost burst into the young noat the Miter Inn. The Earl of Eskdale was not bleman's room, and Smneaton, anxious for the
one of these, however. He had refused all com- good man's safety, made a sign to the servant to
mand, notwithstanding pressing importunities;  leave them together alone.
for his military skill had been seen and appreci-   " Have you heard the news, my lord, have
ated, even by those who would not follow his you heard the news?" cried Van Noost, in a
advice in the time of action. Nor was he, to say state of great excitement, but without any signs
the truth, even up at the hour when this bustle of fear. " General Wills will be here in a few
began; for, as I have shown in the preceding hours, they say."
chapter, he had been watchful and sleepless dur-   "So I have heard," rejoined Smeaton; *" but,
ing the greater part of the night, and when he my good friend, I did hope that you were far
did at length lie down to rest, fatigue brought on away before this time."
a deep and lasting slumber, from which all the   "I am very glad I was not," said Van Noost,
noises of the awakenin-g town were hardly suffi- rubbing his hands, "for I have a plan- such a
cient to rouse him. He had, it is true, many bitter plan!-for the defense of the place, if your lordand painful thoughts to deal with in his waking  ship will but propose it to Genelal Forster. It
hours, but those thoughts had little to do with the can not fail. It is sure to succeed."
conduct of the expedition in which he was en-   Smeaton had not always the best opinion of
aged; and over him, as over a great many oth- Van Noost's plans; but the man spoke very earners who had joined the ill-starred enterprise, had estly, and the young nobleman replied with a
come a sort of hopeless indifference, which left smile, "Well Van Noost, tell me what it is, and
him little care of what might be the next move in if it seem to me feasible, I will propose it to those
the game of folly and madness then being played. in command."
About half past seven, however, his servant   " It is this, my noble lord," replied Van Noost;
Higham entered the room where lhe slept with a " and it must succeed. General Wills is advancwhite and anxious countenance. Smeaton was ing from the side of Wigan with an. overwhelmup and partly dressed; and, looking quietly in ing force. In two hours, they tell me, he will
the mall's face, he said,                    be in the town. If we ruil away and leave it
" Well, Higham, give me my sword. I sup- empty, he will pursue us with his cavalry withpose the Hanover troops are upon us, by your out a minute's delay, so that we shall all be cut
chop-fallen look?"                         to pieces before we can make our escape. Now
" Ah, my lord, God forgive us our sins!" ex- what I should propose is this: to make an ap.
claimed the man. " It will come to fighting this pearance as if the town were defended, even
time, for they say that General Wills, with tenll after we are all gone; for, by seizing the bridge
thousand men, is marching upon Preston, and over the Ribble, we calln delay them for a while."
can already be seen from the top of the wind- " That bridge will, of course, be maintained
mill."                                       at any cost," remarked Smeaton; "but if Gen" I suppose you do not object to the fighting, eral Wills is marching fiomn Wigan, we shall not
Higham?" said his lord.  " You have always be able to pass that way without fighting.".
been foremost in brave words, my good friend,   "No, my good lord, no," replied Van Noost.
and I shall certainly expect that you now act up " I do not propose to escape that way. Of course
to them."                                   it will take some time to reconnoiter the bridge;
"I will do my best, my lord-I will do my but let the men retreat from it into the town,
best," replied the servant; " but I had rather not and follow the main body, which, in the mean
be killed just now, if 1 could help it. I have time, must be marching down Fishergate Street
done a great many wrong things, I am afraid, to the meadows. I have examined all the ground
and I should much like tine to repent."      well. There are two good fords for horsesor foot




128                             HENRY S-MEATON.
across the Ribble. Then the road to Lancaster perceived any thing but the same looks which
is open before us, and we shall have a town he had remarked in the men of inferior station.
which we can defend, or a port from which we There was an appearance of discouragement, of
can sail."                                   doubt, in some instances of apprehension, which
" I doubt much if you will find that road open was very painful to witness; and the only one
now, Van Noost," replied the earl, " though un- who seemed perfectly at his ease was the Earl
doubtedly the possession of those fords is a great of Wintoun, who now took no part in the counobject; but I do not yet see how you will make cils of General Forster. The silence among such
General Wills imagine tile town is defended after a multitude of persons was very remarkable;
we have left it."                            few spoke at all, and those who did speak raised
" Give me but two hours," replied Van Noost, not their voice above a whisper. The Earl of
"and I will dress you up men of straw so like Wintoun himself sat on an old mahogany stool,
Highlanders that you would swear you saw their playing with his sword, which he held between
bare knees."                                 his knees, and humming   a Scotch air with the
Smeaton began to laugh.                    most perfect appearance of indifference.
"Indeed, my good lord," continued Van   "Well, Eskdale," he said, as the other apNoost, somewhat warmly, " the plan is a good proached him, "have you heard the news? The
one. I could make fifty or sixty of these men, elector's people are marching firom Wigan to atand dispose them in beautiful groups at the ends tack us, they say."
of the streets. The general would never think    "Then we shall have what might have been
of making his attack upon a town apparently  expected long before," replied Smeaton, in a
defended without long preparations and skillful cheerfil tone: "some good, hard blows; and
dispositions. In the mean time we should be God defend the right!"
getting to Lancaster."                         "Amen!" ejaculated the earl.  "I wonder
"' No, no, Van Noost," replied Smeaton. "As what they intend to do. They are a long time
stuffed men call not fire muskets, General Wills in deliberation. But, after all, that may well be;
would not long be deceived. Your idea regard- for, while men of science would see that only one
ing the defense of Ribble Bridge, and your sug- thing is to be done, our good friend Forster has
gestion to seize the two fords, are both very good, the whole world of imagination to go through
and I will mention them to General Forster as before he can fix upon a plan. Doubtless it will
coming from you; but spare me the straw High- be something very extraordinary when he does
landers. And now, my good friend, let me urge draw the lot by chance."
you most strongly to take your departure from    " Nay, nay, I dare say we shall do very well,"
this place. Indeed, I was in hopes you were replied the young nobleman. "Forsteris a brave
gone long ago. Depend upon it, Van Noost, all man; and I strongly suspect that unconquerable
who remain here are destined either to die in resolution is what will be more serviceable here.
Preston or to be made prisoners. Had we a than any thing. Of course, ordinary precautions
man of experience and military skill to command will be taken; and it seems to me that much
us, we might fight successfully, or we might re- generalship will not be required."
treat successfully; but as it is, there is no hope    "The men will fight to the death," said a
of either. You are not a fighting man, Van Noost; young gentleman of the house of Athol, who was
you can gain no glory here; and, if you will take standing near.  " If we had but heads among us,
my advice, you will not delay a moment, but ride we have plenty of hearts."  And then, with a
out of the town as long as the way is clear. And knitted brow, and a sharp glance of his eye round
now farewell, my good friend. I can stay no the chamber, he added, sternly, " But we will
longer, for I must go to ascertain what is the ex- have no trifling —no cowardice."
act truth of the reports which have reached me. "   " Of that I imagine there is little chance," reAs he spoke he shook his companion kindly plied Smeaton, coolly. " But here, I think, are
by the hand, and poor Van Noost, with droop- the officers coming down, Captain Murray."
ing head and tears in his eyes, walked down   A noise was heard of many feet upon the
with him to the door of the house.           stairs, and the next moment Forster himself
The young nobleman took his way along the looked into the room, and, when he saw Lord
street toward the Miter Inn, observing the faces Wintoun and the young Earl of Eskdale, he adof all the persons he met. The streets were very vanced toward them, followed by several others.
full, for the news of General Wills's approach  His look was cheerful and assured, and his manhad spread rapidly; and Highland clansmen and lier composed and courteous.
night-riding borderers, Lancashire Roman Cath-   "We have much needed your advice, my
olics, and Northumbrian gentlemen, were all lords," he said, " and I truly wish you would
hurrying out to gain further intelligence of the sometimes join our councils. You have doubtenemy, or to ascertain the plans of their own less heard the rumor that General Wills is adleaders. Those whom  Smeaton actually met vancing from Wigan. I can hardly believe the
were generally of the inferior class-the com- fact, and am now going out with a small party to
mon men, as they were called-and he remarked ascertain if it be so or not. If it be, I trust we
an expression of dogged resolution in their coun- shall give a good account of this general."
tenances, from which he argued well. I mean   "Doubtless," replied Smeaton, calmly. " Is it
to say, he inferred that their resistance would be fair to ask if you have determined upon any plan
obstinate and vigorous, if not successful, so that of resistance?"
perhaps good terms might be made, even if a   "Not fully," replied Forster; "and I shall be
victory could not be won  On entering the Mi- glad of any suggestion from your experience, my
ter Inn, however, he found a number of gentle- lord."
men in the passage, and many more in a front   "I doubt not, sir," replied Smeaton, "that you
room on the ground floor, who were waiting to will take all requisite precautions, such as securhear the result of deliberations which were go- ing the fords over the Ribble, and taking possesng on in an upper chamber. Among these he  sion of Ribble Bridge, which, when I examined




HENRY SMEATON.                                        329
it, seemed to me very capable of being converted  ing aloud for his servant, ordered him to bring
rapidly into a strong point of defense."     round his horse at once.
"Ay, indeed!" said Forster. " nDoes not it lie    "I wish, my lord," said Higham, in a very subsomewhat distant from the town for that pur-' dued tone, "you would let me speak with you
pose I"                                       for a few minutes. I have a good deal to say."
"Assuredly," replied the young nobleman, "if   "By-and -by, Higham, by-and-by," replied
you are determined upon making your defense Smeaton. " At present I am in haste, for I would
in the town; but the high ground about it, the fain see into this matter with my own eyes."
number of hedges and lanes in the neighborhood,   The man seemed about to speak again; bhut
and many other advantages, afford an excellent his lord made an impatient gesture with his hand,
position behind the bridge for a small army fur- and, as soon as the horse was brought up, mountnished with cannon, and principally consisting of ed and rode away. As he went through the narinfantry opposed to a larger force, strong in cav- row streets and lanes which then led out into the
airy alone. At all events, there can be no harm  country, he heard more than one unpleasant obin seizing the bridge at once, for it could be well servation from the groups which were collected
defended for several hours by a mere handful of every where. 
men."                                           " There noes another," said one man.
"True -that is very true," replied Forster;   "I wonder any one stays who can get away,"'
"and it shall be done immediately.  Colonel said a second.
Farquharson of Invercauld. may I ask you to un-   "Ay, ay, these high Tory gentry take care of
dertake this task, and seize upon Ribble-Bridge themselves," observed a third.
with one or two companies of foot?"             But no one attempted to stop the younlag nobleThe gallant soldierwhom he addressed, with man's progress, and to all idle comments he was
hardly a word of reply, left the room to obey the very indifferent.  Beyond the immediate neighorder he had received; and Forster, after having borhood of the town he found the country nearly
mused a moment, said, in a loud tone,         deserted; the distance to Ribble Bridge. in which
" To delay the enermy's advance for a few hours direction he -first turned his steps, was somewhat
is as good as a victory; for, beyond all doubt, longer than he expected; but, fiom the summit
the greater part of the elector's troops will come of a little elevation upon the right, he perceived
over to the army of their real sovereign unless the small body of Highlanders marching toward
they are led into battle immediately before they the spot which he had advised Forster to occupy;
have time for consideration."                 and, still gazing round, a cloud of dust, rising, at
This was evidently said for effect; and it is the distance of several miles, in the direction of
wonderful at what delusive hopes men will catch  Wigan of Lane, seemed to show him that the
in desperate situations. The expectation spread  advance of General Wills's arnmy was something
of great desertion from King George's troops as more serious and substantial than mere rumor.
soon a.s the two forces should be, in presence; A minute or two after, a single horseman, dressand, after pausing for a minute or two more, ed entirely in black, was seen gallopintg along the
Forster proceeded to the door of the inn, where road in the direction of the bridge over the Ribhis horses were already waiting for him. He ble. Smeaton spurred forward toward him, intook but very few men with him; and, from  stantly recognizing Mr. Patten, and saluted him
among all the gentlemen present, his strange  with the inquiry of" What news?"
choice of a companion fell upon Robert Patten.   "Oh, they are coming, they are coming," rethe clergyman, who, in the military spirit which  plied the clergyman, with a bold and assuredl
had seized upon him, acted the part of aid-de- face, " and I am just aoing to tell Lieutenant-colcamp throughout that eventfulday. The assem- onel Farquharson to withdraw his men filr'om the
bly at the Miter did not altogether break up on bridge and retire into the town."
his departure, but to the silence which had per-   "In Heaven's name, upon what motive?" devaded the lower part of the house succeeded a manded Smeaton. "I-Ias General Forster formed
confused and buzzing clamor of many voices, in any plan or not r"
the midst of which Smeaton and the Earl of Win-   "Oh, he has formed a very excellent plan."
toun quietly walked away together.            replied the clergyman, with a conceited air. "It
" We seem to be in. a very active but not very can not be put ill execution, however, for the ford
industrious state," said Lord Wintoun to his com- above is not to be found. The general, my lord,
panion, in a quiet, sarcastic tone. " What do you had determined to pass the river and get into the
intend to do, Eskdale?"                      rear of the enemy, or, at all events, attack them
"  shall order my horse and ride out of the on the flank. But as this has now become imtown, to see the state of things with my own  possible, he wishes Colonel Farquharson to reeyes," replied the young earl. "Not very indus- tire, and to confine the whole defense to the
trious indeed! Why, the people are all saunter- town."
ing about, as if we were waiting for the opening    Smeaton looked at him with an expression of
of a fair, and not of a battle."              scorn and surprise, and then, without any further
"A sheep has its throat cut," said Lord Win- notice, turned his horse sharply, and rode toward
toun, " whether it struggles and kicks or not; so the banks of the river.
perhaps it is best to undergo the operation quietly. You are not going to leave us, I suppose,
Eskdale?"
"No, my good lord, no," replied Smeaton.
"I will be back in Preston before a shot is fired;       CHAPTER XXXVIII.
but I must say, King James has treated us rather
hardly in placing us under the command of so    SMEATON struck the banks of the stream some
incapable a man."                             little distance above the bridge, and with a keen
Thus saying, he turned up the little street and rapid e3e traced the whole distance within
which led to the inn where he lodged, and, call- the range of sight.  He instantly marked a spot
I




1i3                             HENRY SMEATON.
where there weas a gentle uindulation of the  aided by cannon and sheltered by the hedges
ground, and where the river spread out wide. and high banks, might have won a victory even
6' There must be one ford," he thought; but, against a superior force of regular troops. He
not satisfied without positive proof, he rode sighed as he turned away to ride after the withquickly on till he reached the place, and pushed drawing party. When he reached its head, he
his horse through the water and back again. bowed to the commander, with whom he had a
Then turning round, he was tracing the stream  slight acquaintance, saying,
toward the bridge, when he perceived Van     So you have-been withdrawn from  the
Noost mounted on a tall horse, and pursuing a bridge, Colonel Farquharson 1"
course at an acute angle with his own, as if     Even so, my good lord; and now for the
tending toward Preston. The statuary rode on rat-trap," replied Farquharson, with a light, inat a rapid rate, and his short, broad frame was different laugh, adding, the moment after,  We
agitated terribly by the quick pace of his rough- shall bite our catcher's fingers, however, I dare
trotting horse. The legs flew out; the shoul- say, and that is some satisfaction."
ders heaved at every stretch; and the bent back    "But a poor one,"' rejoined Smeaton. ",
and head leaning far over the saddle-bow show- would rather have flown at their throats by the
ed how he labored in the effort.  The voice of side of the Ribble."
Smeaton, raised loud to call his attention, made    So saying, he rode on.
him give a sudden start in the saddle which had    All was bustle and aetivity when he entered
nearly overset his equilibrium-for he was no Preston; the scene was completely changed
very skillful cavalier; but, as soon as he per- from the morning; the excitement of preparaceived what it was, he pulled hard at the right tion, the prospect of speedy battle, the very ocrein, and rushed across the little piece of open cupation of mind and body, had restored spirit;
ground toward his noble friend.              and energy every where except among the su"They are corming, my lord, they are com- perior officers, who, conscious by this time of
ing!" he cried, in a voice full of excitement, their general's incapacity, entertained no very
evidently not of the most pleasant kind.  "I sanguine expectation of the result.  Some, sulhave seen their advance guard myself. It is len and gloomy, watched all that was taking
impossible to pass them, and I don't know what place, giving a few directions, burt sharing little
to do. I must back to Preston, I suppose, even in the toil;* others remained in the inns and prithough they catch me and cut my head off;, leav- vate houses in melancholy despondency; but
ing my body like a collar of brawn."'    others,, among whom was the young Earl of
", Come here with me," cried Smeaton. G' I Derwenatwater, labored cheerfully and zealously
will show you a way;" and, without waiting I in. the construction of the barricades, which were
for a reply, he rode on to the ford he had dis- already in, rapid progress. Their example cheercovered, and pointed to it with his hand. " Over ed and their looks inspirited the men, and Smeathere, Van Noost," he said. I6 Take the left- ton was soon in the midst of them, laboring
hand road, and then make a circuit, keeping to with the best.
the westward, till-"                           But little time was allowed for the construe-,, But, my lord, my lord," interrupted Van tion of the defenses, and that little was only obNoost, " they say General Carpenter is'at Clith- tained in cowsequence of General WXills being
eroe, or very near it."                      unable to conceive it possible that Forster had, If you keep well to the west," remarked abandoned so important a point as the bridge
Smeaton, " you will come to Garstang and Lan- over the Ribble. He hesitated in attempting to,
caster; but speed on, my good friend. No time pass it; he caused the whole ground in the
is to be lost."                              neighborhood to be carefully reconnoitered, fully, I shall never find it," replied Van Noost, believing that the hedges would be found lined
with a ruefill shake of the head. " Can, not you with musketry, and his march was thus retardcome, my lord, and show. me the way I."      ed nearly an hour. At length, however, the first
The young earl smiled at the little kindly men of his small army were seen from the tall
cunning of his poor friend, buit shook his head, house of Sir Henry Haughton, but by that time,
saying,                                      all was prepared to receive them. Fomur main
", No, no, Van Noost, I must back to Preston. barricadbes had been erected, with a number of
Remember my message to my dear lady, and smaller ones in different streets; the windows
tell her,. if she sees me no more, that I loved of the houses on each side, together with the
her with my whole heart to my last hour. lanes and inclosu.res, had been garnished with.
Away, away, my good friend! No more words." infantry as far as the smallness- of the force
Seeing the good man pass safely through the would permit, and every thing showed the deford, he once more turned his horse toward the termination of making a resolute defense.  But
bridge. When he reached it, he found that, ac- the leaders of the imnsurrection had, strangely
cording to the orders which had been sent, Far- enough, determined to defend only what may be
quharson and his Highlanders had abandoned, called the heart of the town, so that the barri —
its defense. He could just catch a sight of the cades had notbeen pushed to the entrance of
tartans winding up the narrow lane; but he any one of the streets, and several narrow lanes
paused for a moment to gaze at the bridge be- gave the enemy an opportunity of penetrating
fore he rode after them. It was long, narrow, some way, at least, into the place completely
flanked with stout stone walls, and every foot unmolested.
of the ground on the Preston side was defensi-   Smeaton found thebarricades nearly halfcomble. The young nobleman felt that a great mis- pleted when he re-enteredi the town. Followtake had been committed; that there was the ing the example of the Earl of Derwentwater,
place to fight, and that upon such a spot a small he cast off his coat and labored with the best tco
and irregular army like that of the insurgents, complete the defense which was being construct



HENRY SMEATON.                                      131
ed in the main street, a little below the church. I the narrow lanes which led out into the fields
He could not refrain, however, while pausing near the entrance of the high road to Wigan.
for a moment to take rest, fiorom expressing his   In the mean time Brigadier Macintosh had
surprise to old Brigadier Macintosh, who stood remained watching the operation with his arms
near, that the barricade had not been placed at crossed on his chest; but the moment he saw
the extreme end of the street, toward Wigan.  the men enter the mouth of the lane, he dis"If the enemy push forward," he said, " with patched a messenger after them to order them
any thing like vigor, a third of the town will be instantly back. They returned unwillingly, with
in their hands in five minutes."            Hunter at their head; but those in the houses
"My good lord," replied the old officer, some- were suffered to remain, and did good service
what sullenly, "even if you were right-which throughout the day.
I think you are not-it is too late to mend the   At some period during the morning, and bematter now. To defend the extreme ends of fore the attack actually commenced, Captain Inthe streets, where there are so many narrow  nes, with a body of about fifty Highlanders, was
lanes and avenues, would require three times thrown into the tall house belonging to Sir Henthe force of foot I have at command."       ry Haughton which the young Earl of Eskdale
"This barricade, at all events," observed had pointed out; but they were recalled almost
Smeaton, "might have been placed near the immediately, and the house left to its fate. In
corner of that other street, a hundred yards be- the confusion and hurry of that fatal day, it was
low-I mean just near the sign of the Ram, not known who gave the order for their advance
there. It would then command both the ap- or that for their recall.
proaches, and the flank could no more be turned    The cannon of which the insurgents had posthere than here. If the enemy get possession sessed themselves was divided among the difof that tall house, they will gall us sorely."    ferent barricades  but the difficulty was to find
Ah!" retorted the old officer, "young men gunners, for only one man in the whole army
are always wiser than their elders;" and, turn- even pretended ever to have fired a cannon in
ing away, he walked to the other end of the bar- his life, and he, by the time the guns were plantricade.                                     ed, had imbibed a sufficient quantity of brandy
"Let him alone Eskdale." said Lord Der- to render the accuracy of his aim rather doubtwentwater. "He is as obstinate as an old pig, fiul. A small powder-magazine was established
and gets perverse and sullen in proportion to near the center of the town, and a lame man,
difficulties and dangers."                 I incapable of any great exertion on foot, but zeal-," I will let him alone, my good lord," replied ous, active, and determined, was appointed to
the young nobleman, " but I think it a duty to carry supplies on horseback to the several barmyself and to all to do what I can to remedy ricades.
the mistake which has been committed. You   As soon as all the arrangements were comkeep the men to their work, and I will be back pleted, and the foot soldiers stationed behind
in a minute or two. That great cart, if it could the hasty works which had been constructed,
be brought down, turned over, and filled with the gentlemen volunteers, as they were called,
stones and earth, would make a very good de- retired to the church-yard, with their horses at
fense at the corner there."                 hand, ready to sally out upon the enemy when"What are you going to do?" asked Lord ever a favorable occasion occurred. General
Derwentwater, seeing Smeaton resume his coat Forster established his head-quarters at the
and turn away.                              Miter Inn, with his horses at the door, ready to
" I am going to seek for Captain Hunter," re- carry him wherever his presence might be needplied Smeaton.   d "He is a man of activity, re- ed; and it is now admitted on all hands that he
source, and shrewdness, and will, I doubt not, showed no lack of courage or activity during the
lend me a few of his marksmen, if he can spare day.
them, to occupy those houses down below, so as   When all was ready, a sort of solemn pause
both to keep them for ourselves, and to gall the succeeded to the bustle; the noise and confusion
enemy in their advance up the street. Where died away in the town; and the occasional subdo you think I shall find him "             dued-talking of people in knots, with, from time," He is up with Miller and Douglas on the to time, a loud-spoken word of command, or a
Liverpool road," answered Lord Derwentwater. call from one officer to another at a distance,
" Add my request to your own: the idea is a were the only sounds that arose in the streets
very good one."  And, while Smeaton remount- of Preston. From the fields and lanes beyond,
ed his horse and hurried away, the other noble- however, came the beat of the drum and the
man continued to animate the men, not only by blast of the trumpet, nearer, nearer, nearer yet;
his own personal exertions, but by distributing first in one spot, then from two or three differamong them all the money he had about him.   ent points around, showing that the forces of
In ten minutes Smeaton returned with a body King George. had reached the outskirts of the
of some fifty men and Captain Hunter, the bord- city, and were spreading themselves round it
erer, whose moss-trooping propensities and ex- preparatory to a general attack. In silent and
perience had rendered him a very serviceable awful expectation, the insurgents awaited the
man of action in any great emergency. Pass- appearance of the heads of the enemy's columns.
ing the barricade without speaking to any one, Sternly and steadfastly they gazed over the barthey hurried on down the street till they reached ricades, and no sign of fear or wavering was
the first turning out of it, where, dividing into visible; yet it was a terrible situation, to be
two bodies, the one dispersed through the neigh- thus waiting inactive for the commencement of
boring houses on either hand, taking post at the a struggle which all well knew was for life or
windows, while the other body, consisting of death.
about twenty men, advanced some way down   At length, some boys, and a woman with a




~Z32                           1HENRY SMEATON.
child in her arms, came running up into the main the insurgents of tohe barricade.  At length,
street out of the lane in which Smeaton had however, the young officer was seen to fall; but
posted the party o.f Hunter's troop, afterward  he rose again immediately, and continued to
withdrawn, and fled at full speed toward Macin- give his orders, pointing here.and there with
tosh's barricade. They were suffered to pass, his sword, while one of the men tied a handkerand entered, exclaiming breathlessly,       chief round his leg.
" They are coming up.the lane, they are cornm-   "A charge of cavalry," observed Smeaton to
ing up the lane!"                          Lord Kenmure, "would drive them out of the
No body of soldiers appeared, however, for town."
several minutes, and neither drum nor fife was'" Well, try it gentlemen, try it," said General
heard. At length, however, a young officer, in Forster, who had just ridden up, and was speakhis full uniform and with his sword drawn, en- ing to Lord Derwentwater.  "Mount your
tered the street from the head of the lane, paused horses and follow me. We will get the brigacalmly in the midst, and gazed up and down. In dier to open a way for us."
an instant the word was given at the barricade,   Every one was in the saddle in a moment,
the muskets were leveled, and the shot poured and moved in good order down the street, while
down the street. But there the young officer Forster rode on before; and the fire of the king'~s
still stood, now examining the barricade, now  troops passing over the barricade, struck down
raising his eyes to the houses on either side, one or two of the volunteers and several of their
amid the rattle of musketry and the whizzing of horses. As they approached the barricade, no
balls, as calmly as if he had been in a drawing- movement was made to let them pass out; and
room.                                        Forster was seen speaking vehemently to Brig-; "Upon my life, that is a gallant fellow," said adier Macintosh, who, with a dogged look of
Smeaton to the Earl of Carnwath, who was defiance, turned sullenly away just as Smeaton
standing near.,"I wonder who he is."        arrived upon the ground. What had passed be"4 That is Lord Forester," replied the other fore, none of the other gentlemen heard; but
nobleman.  "I know him well by sight. He is Forster now exclaimed, in a loud and angry
lieutenant colonel of Preston's regiment, the old tone, "Very well, sir, very well. Please God,
Cameronians.  I did not know they would be if we are successful, and your master and mine
brought against us. If he does not mind, he ever obtains his rights, I will bring you to a
will be shot down, poor fellow."             court-martial for your conduct."
As he spoke, however, the young officer re-   Then turning to the noblemen and gentlemen
tired into the lane, but it was only to return at who had come up on horseback, he said, " Brigthe head of his regiment, and to charge up the adier Macintosh objects to our making this sally,
street. A small body of dragoons appeared at my lords. We had better, therefore, retire again
the same time to support the infantry; but a to the church-yard, as there is no need of our
tremendous fire was opened upon the whole exposing ourselves here when we can not be
force, both from the barricade and the houses of service. My Lord Derwentwater, I will ride
around, which instantly checked'their advance; up to one of the other barricades, and see if
a number of the Cameronians and several of the there is nothing to be done there, for I feel that
dragoons were seen to fall; and, drawing up his this inactivity must be painful to a body of zealmen across the street, Lord Forester restored ous and brave men, all burning for his majesty's
order, which had been lost for a moment or two, service."
directing the men to keep up a sharp fire upon   Thus saying, he rode away, and the other
the barricade, while detached.parties from the gentlemen retired slowly up the street, with the
rear and flanks stormed some of the houses, and bullets still flying among them, conversing, even
took possession of the mansion of Sir Henry in a laughing tone, upon what had taken place,
Haughton, which had so imprudently been left and the conduct of those with whom they were
undefended.                                  engaged.
Though the troops 6f the government made      I hope Macintosh will not let them gain the
no progress up the street, they still remained barricade," said Lord Derwentwater, looking
firm in face of the barricade, and the drunken toward Snceaton as the most experienced among
gunner was ordered to point and fire the cannon them.
upon them. He adjusted both guns before he    "No fear at present, my lord," rejoined the
fired either; but, from haste, stupidity, or drunk- young earl.  " He has stout men enough with
enness, the elevation of the first he discharged him to keep out any force they can bring against
was so high that the ball, passing far over the him without cannon. He is a dogged, resolute
heads of the soldiers, struck the chimney of a fellow too, and his honor is now staked upon
low house at the side of the street, and brought the result, as he refuses counsel and assistance.
it thunderingsdown upon the heads of some of Do you know where Colonel Oxburgh is, my
Honywood's dragoons behind. The other gun lord! I'have not seen him all day?"
was more accurately adjusted, and the ball went   "In an ale-house, at his prayers," replied
straight through the attacking force, killing and Lord Derwentwater, with a laugh.  " So I am
wounding severalmen in its passage. All haste told, at least. When I saw him this morning,
was made to reload the two cannons, and, in he was telling his beads with great devotion.
the mean time, a continual sharp fire was kept And my good Lord Widrington, too, is absent
up on the Cameronians from the barricade and from among us; but he has the gout, you know."
the houses round. Nevertheless, Lord Fores-   Just as'he spoke, a foot soldier ran up,ssaying,
ter maintained his ground; Haughton's house "They want more powder, my lord, at the barwas filled with musketeers; several other ricade. Have you any in the church-yard."
houses were taken after a severe struggle; and  I "Not a spoonful," replied Lord Derwentwaa constant fire was kept up fr'om th ifrolt ulpon ter, turning in at the gates of the cemetery,




I-tENh R  Si EBA'.T  ON.                           133
while the bullets whistled thicker and more, it seems you leave had' cown below; but we
fiercely up the street, as if the troops below had have beaten the Hanover people back for the
been re-enforced, and a gentleman of the name present, and, with a little aid, can maintain our
of Ferguson was struck from his horse, with his ground till nightfall, which is not far off, I see.
leg shattered in a fearful manner.          You are welcome to share in our work. If you
" I will ride up and send some down directly," will take a musket, there lies one in the hands
said Smeaton, galloping on.                 of poor Jock Murray, who had just killed a stout
The firing still increased; and the street, Londoner with it before he was shot down himrising with a considerable slope, exposed any self. I hope it will be as fortunate in your
one passing along it near the top more than hands."
even at the barricade.  But the young earl   "I hope so," replied Smeaton, laughing, and
passed unscathed, and, reaching a narrow little springing to the ground.-'"Mr. Patten, if you
court where the powder was piled up in bags; send up men, send up my servant with them to
he found the lame man, waiting on horseback hold my horse."
xwith a considerable load behind him, ready to set   The pugnacious clergyman promised not to
out in whatever direction he might be wanted. forget; and in a few minutes Higham  came
"1 They are in great need of powder, my good running up, long before the appearance of the
friend," said Smeaton, "c at the brigadier's bar- expected succor. The attack upon the barriricade; but pause a moment till the fire slack- cade had been in the mean time renewed, and
ens a little."                              a furious fire was kept up by both parties. Lord
The man, however, put his horse in motion; Charles Murray was mounted on a pile of stones,
and one of his companions, who stood near, ex- giving his orders as coolly as if out of all dan-,claimed, ", You will be killed, Rob, to a certainty, ger, and the Earl of Eskdale, at a part of the
if you attempt to carry it up to the barricade barricade which had by some means been denow."                                      stroyed, was supplying by his own skill and ex-,, I know that," replied the other, calmly. perienece the inefficiency of the only gunner who
"That I can not avoid; but, as they want it, had been found to serve the two cannon which
although I can not carry it quite up to them, I had been allotted to this position.
will carry it as far as I can;" and, so saying,   The servant ran up with a boldness and ache rode on.                                 tivity which a little surprised his lord'; and
Sineaton turned out of the little court, and when he received orders to look after the horse,
looked after him down the street. He saw him  which had been left in charge of a Highland solpass the church-yard, and get nearer and nearer dier, he contented himself with tying the beast
to the barricade; but, while he was still at about to a hook on a neighboring barn, and then, mountfifty yards' distance, he beheld the poor fellow  ing the barricade close to where his master
fall forward on the horse's neck, clutching con- stood, discharged a musket at the advancing
vulsively at the mane. In another instant he enemy.
would have fallen from the saddle, but, before   " What have you done with the horse, Higlhe did so, a ball struck the horse also, and both ham?" asked Smeaton, somewhat sharply. "I
went down together. Some men ran out of one ordered you to take care of him."
of the neighboring houses and took the poor   "He is quite safe, my lord," replied the man,
frllow up, while the powder was carried forward " and out of reach of the fire. I do beseech
to the barricade by others on foot.         you, let me have a shot or two at these men.
But Smeaton's attention was now drawn an- They killed my father when I was but a child
other way by sounds which came from a differ- -shot him at the back of his own cottage door."
ent part of the town. A loud shout like a cheer,   " None of these before you, Higham," said
mingled with the report of musketry and artil- the earl; " these seem all mere lads. But do
lery, showed that the battle was raging fiercely as you please, if the horse be safe. Only come
there also; and, turning his horse, he rode down from the top of the barricade. You can
quickly in the direction whence the sounds pro- fire as effectually from behind it."
ceeded, to see if any thing was wanted or could  "' Oh, my good lord, if you would but let me
be done. Guided by the ear, he made his way speak a few words with you!" said the man, in
diown a long, narrow lane, which led out into an earnest tone.'"When we have beat them
the fields, and soon came in sight of another back, pray let me speak with you!"
barricade, at which Lord Charles Murray, a son   ", Well, so be it," replied his master, struck
of the Duke of Athol, commanded. This young by the man's eagerness.  1 "But come down at
nobleman had seen some service as a cornet of once, my good fellow. Come down, I say!"
horse in the reign of Queen Anne; but he had   Almost as he spoke, Higham turned to obey L
thrown up his commission at the commence- but he either missed his footing, or some of the
ment of the insurrection, and now appeared at heterogeneous material of the barricade gave
the head of a body of his clan, dressed in the way under his feet, for he suddenly fell headHighland garb, and covered with smoke and long down behind the defense.
blood. The firing had ceased for the time; but   The young-earl had not time to ascertain if
a good many dead and wounded men lay both he were hurt or not, for, led on by their gallant
before and behind the barricade; and the young officers with a loud cheer, the party of assailofficer was leaning on his sword, speaking to ants rushed forward to the charge, determined,
Patten, the clergyman, who was beside him on apparently, to storm the barricade. A well-dihorseback.                                  rected and sustained fire from the Highlanders,
I Ah, my good lord," said the young nobleman, and from both pieces of cannon, however, checkas soon as he perceived the Earl of Eskdale,"  I ed them before they were within a hundred yards
am sending Patten here for some aid from the of the defense, and they were once more driven,-hurch-yard. We have had a sharp affair, as back in confusion.




134                             HENRY SMEATON.
A few minutes after, a party of fifty gentle-    As Smeaton walked back to the upper part
men volunteers came up to support the weary  of the town, Preston presented a strange and
defenders of the barricade, and when Smeaton  gloomy scene. The firing at the other barriturned to look for his servant, the poor fellow  cades had ceased; but still, from time to time,
was nowhere to be seen.                      a single shot or a whole volley was heard from
Avery short space of time was allowed for in- the houses near Macintosh's barrier, where eiquiry or repose. The troops of the government ther party had lodged itself; and there, it must
were speedily rallied, and again brought for- be remarked, the struggle continued throughout
ward; but the effect bf the re-enforcement, both  the night. The shops and dwellings were all
upon the energy of the defenders and the heav- closed along the streets; the inhabitants kept
iness of the fire, was soon perceptible to the  carefully within doors; and few people were
officers of the attacking body. Their men were  met, except here and there a soldier hastening
repulsed more rapidly than before, and fled in  from one point to another, a wounded man plodgreater confusion from the hail of shot that was  ding painfillly to seek for relief, or a dead or
poured upon them. Night was approaching: it dying man borne along by three or four others.
was evident that the barricade could not be car- From different parts on the outskirts of the town
tied by the force then before it; and slowly and  rose up a lurid glare, which lightened the vareluctantly the commander of the assailants  cant streets, showing that one party or the other
withdrew his force, just as the sky was grow- had fired some of the houses in the suburbs, and
ing dark. An angle of the road concealed, in  the distant drum and trumpet-call from without
a great degree, their movements, and some men  mingled wildly with the sound of the bagpipe
were sent out over the barricade to ascertain  which was heard from two of the barricades.
whether the attack was actually abandoned.   The only groups of any size were collected
But even after they returned, announcing that round the doors of different public houses, which
the government troops were in full retreat, a were kept open for the entertainment of the
hurried and desultory conversation was carried  men, and at these Smeaton received full conon among the officers and gentlemen within the  firmation of the fact that the troops of the govbarricade in regard to the events of the day.    ernment had, as he supposed, been repulsed at
Lord Charles Murray was almost ignorant of  all points. A feeling of triumph animated all
what had taken place at the other points of de- with whom he spoke, in which he was far from
fense; but the gratifying news was brought in  sharing; but it is not impossible that, had the
that the enemy had been repulsed at all points, commanders been capable of taking advantage
except in front of Brigadier Macintosh's barri- of the spirit of the hour, a different result might
cade, where they still maintained possession of  have attended the defense of Preston.
some houses, and kept up a severe fire on all who    Nowhere, however, could Smeaton hear of
attempted to pass. There were many words, his servant; and, after a long and fruitless
and even some laughter rejoicing on the bloody  search, he retired to his quarters, and threw
spot where they stood, but little of what could  himself down to rest after his fatigues.
be called either conversation or counsel. Yet
some ventured to suggest one thing as advisable to be done, and some another; and Lord
Charles Murray, without expressing an opinion,           CHAPTER XXXIX.
gave some directions for guarding the defense.
Taking Smeaton's arm, he turned away, saying,   THE morning of Sunday the 13th dawned dull
";y my soul, I must have some food and  and heavily. The flames of the burning houses
drink, Eskdale. I have been fighting here since had been extinguished without doing much damtwo o'clock, and though the men have had bran- age, although, had there been any wind, it is
dy and beer enough, I have tasted nothing."    probable that Preston would have been reduced
Smeaton walked away with him, unfastening  to a heap of ashes. The firing from the houses
his horse, and leading him as he went. As soon  continued at intervals, and once or twice parties
as they were out of ear-shot of the' rest, his of King George's troops appeared in the streets,
gallant companion asked, in a low voice,    but instantly retreated under a sharp fire, by
"And  what do you think had better be done  which several of the soldiers and officers were
in(~l~ this affair i q~:a'ltt~d   youthik ad  ettkilled or wounded. A small number of prisonGive the men three hours' rest, and then ei- ers, too, were made by the insurgents, and among
"Give the men three hours' rest, and then e                                         n
ther retreat upon Lancaster, through the mead- the common men, high spirit and resolution were
ty or etat tack General Wills in his camp," re- displayed, though the officers shared little in their
wsplied the oung ear.   He is evidently but little anticipations of success. It is true, the latter had
plied the young earl. "He is evidently but little  better means of judging,  for the first prisoner
of a commander, and I think we might have an  that were made on that morning brougft them
easy victory before lie is re-enforced, or effect intellirence that forces were pouingin upon
a quiet retreat to a more defensible place, for Preston                   and that General
the town is not one half invested."          Preston from different quarters, and that General
the town is not one half invested"       Carpenter, with three regiments of cavalry, had
"' Vwe must abide the commands. of our elders passed the night at the small town of Clitheroe,
and betters, I suppose," replied Lord Charles, about twelve miles distant. The next who came
"though it is certain that, if Wills is a bad gen- in informed them that General Carpenter was
eral, Forster is a worse. However, here I stop  within sight; and, a few minutes after, some of'
to feed.like a tired horse, if I can. Will you  their own men, from the higher buildings of the
come in and supl"                            town, discovered his force advancing at a quick
&"Thank you, no," replied the young earl, "I trot.
mlnust go to look for my servant, who, I fear, is   The soldiery were eager for action, and rturwounded, poor fellow!"                      mured loudly at the inactivity of their comnmatndThus saying, he and Lord Charles parted.    ers. But no movement of any kind was made.




HENRY SMEATON.                                      135
Forster, Lord Widrington, Colonel Oxburgh, and The young nobleman then proceeded to ask some
some others, continued illn close consultation at further questions regarding the man's state, but
the Miter; and Smeaton, after having obtained the worthy doctor's impatience could be restrainall the information he could from the. gentlemen ed no longer. and, leaning down his head, he
who thronged the lower story of that inn, walked whispered in Smeatonrs ear,
away by himself, and, entering the church, mount-   " I beseech you, my noble lord-, let me go. I[
ed as high as he could in the tower, to observe have made up iny mind that we can not do any
the motions of the enemy without. Two or three service here, now that Carpenter and his bullies
gentlemen were there before him; and they have arrived; and, as I reconnoitered the ground
pointed out the newly-arrived regiments of cav- pretty strictly yesterday, I know that I can get
alry, which were drawn up in fine order on the out by Fishergate Street, across the meadows
right of General Wills's army. Smeatoa said and the ford, and away. If you will take my
nothing except "'-They have no cannon, I see," advice, you will do the same.'
and continued to gaze from the tower with very   Smeaton shook his head, saying with a smile,
little satisfaction at the sight presented. Two   " Make haste, docter, make haste! Carpenter
officers, followed by a small party of dragoons, is altering all the posts, and in five minutes he
were seen to ride away at a slow pace from the will be in those same meadows, across which
main body of the army, and to direct their course lies your way.?'
completely round the town, sometimes exposed   Thus saying, he let go the bridle, and Doctor
to view as they crossed the open fields and mead- Alcock trotted off..   may add that he was just
ows, sometimes hidden by the trees and hedge- in time, for he and two or three others contrived
rows. From time to time they stopped, and to get out of the town and across the ford under
more than once a trooper was suddenly detached the very eyes of General Carpentel, who probafrom the escort, and galloped away to one of the bly did not think it worth while to d6etach any
regiments which were in positiori. Immediately I of his escort in pursuit.
a small body would advance, and, riding quietly   Smeaton, in the mean time, with a quick step,
on, station themselves opposite to one or other took his way toward the other end of the town,
of the many entrances to the town.           in order to visit the poor wounded man; but to
To the experienced eye of Smeaton, the pro- reach the place, he had to pass the door of the
ceedings which were taking place were very Miter Inn, and he soon saw symptoms of confa-'clear. / He saw that a mind of greater intelligence sion and turbulence which caused him to pause
than that of General Wills was now brought to for a moment, The common soldiers were by
act against the insurgents in. Preston; that Gen- this time all stationed once more at the barrieral Carpenter was changing all his predecessor's cades, and a good number of the gentlemen vol..
arrangements, and that, in a very short time, the unteers were collected in the church-yard; but
town would be completely invested, and all some thirty or forty gentlemen, not of the highchance of escape cut off. The thought of aban- est rank, were either standing round the door or
loning the cause individually had never crossed crowding the passage of the inn. All were talkhis mind. HIe had taken part in the insurrection ing together eagerly; some were gesticulating
most unwillingly, but, having done so, he Con- vehemently; and one young man, of the name
sidered himself entirely identified with it. Nevw of Murray (not Lord Charles Murray), between
ertheless, he could not see without a sigh the whom and Smeaton a certain degree of intimacy
chance of the whole army effecting a retreat pass had sprung up, as soon as he perceived the latI
away. But despair begets indifference, and from  ter, ruan up to him and caught him by the arm,
the moment he beheld the movements of General saying in a low, but stern and eager voice,
Carpenter, he felt that all was lost. He hummed    "My lord, I pray you come with nie for five
a gay French air as he descended the narrow  minutes. These men within are betraying uso
stair-case from the tower, and though his face was they are for giving us up into the hands of the
thoughtful, it bore no trace of despondency.  enemy-the enemy we conquered yesterday at
Some gentlemen were gathering round the | every point. Come with me, I beseech you.
great gate of the church-yard, and about to take You are a man of rank,:and also of experienceup their old position within its walls, but the a soldier-a brave man. They must listen to you."
young earl turned toward the little door on the "  They have listened to me very little," returnleft, near which was passing at the moment, oni ed Smeaton, "otherwise we should not have
horseback, a merry Northumbrian physician, been in our present situation. But go on; I will
named Alcock or Walker (for he had an alias), follow you."
who had acted as principal surgeon to the army    Murray, whose eyes were flashing fire, and
during the preceding day.  Anxious to obtain whose whole face was working with excitement,
some intelligence of his servant, Smeaton hurried instantly darted back to the crowd, pushing hig
after him andlaid his hand upon the bridle. The way fiercely through it and along the passage.
doctor seemed somewhat in haste; but, as soonl  Smeaton followed with a calm, grave air, more
as the young nobleman mentioned the subject of to learn what was taking place than with any
his anxiety, he replied.,                    hope of his voice being attended to. His young
"Oh yes, my lord, yes, the poor devil is shot acquaintance reached the stairs, and mounted,
in the stomach, and, if he have not the strength  taking three steps at a time, till he reached the
of an ostrich, he will not easily digest his yester- door of a room, at which stood a man with a,day's supper. By-the-way, I recollect he was  draswn sword in his hand.,exccedingly anxious to see you, but I did not i  "You can not pass, sir," said the man. " The
know where you were.'"                       officers are at council."
The doctor seemed very desirous to move for- I  "We must be of their council too," responded
ward,. but Smneaton still detained him, asking Murray; and, without hesitation, he threw open
where poor Higham was to be found, and learn- the door and entered, followed by Smeaton, the
ed that the man had been carried into a private sentinel making no effort to oppose them.
house near the barricade where he had fallen.   The scene withinwas alreadyturbulentenoug h.




[3,                              HENRY SMEATON.
icr the whole party, consisting of some ten or risk less by it than we should; and I do not think
twelve, were talking together loudly and vehe- any man would be safe who would propose such
meutly.  Colonel Oxburgh, Lord Widrington, a a thing to them.":
Jesuit named Pierce, Sir James Anderton, and    "Nobody proposes to surrender, my lord, exone or two others, were standing round General cept upon favorable terms," retorted Forster,
Forster, with a small table between them and sharply; "and, if those could be obtained, I supanother party, who seemed arguing some question pose nobody would be fool enough to refuse them.
with them very fiercely.                       However, permit me to say that the advice which
"Sir," said Forster, with a flushed face, in an- you have withheld from us during the whole camswer to something which had just been said, " you paign is not now desired."
are insulting.  I place before you the plain,     My advice was freely offered in the beginstraightforward facts of the case. There is no ning," returned Smeaton, coolly, "but was treatchance for us whatever, except in taking advant- ed, as all reasonable advice has been treated,
age of the successes of yesterday to obtain a fa- with contempt, and was therefore never volunvorable capitulation."                        teered again till my own honor and life were
"Capitulation! Who talks ofcapitulation?" ex- concerned. I now not only give my advice, but
claimed young Murray, pushing forward quickly. protest, in the face of these gentlemen, against
" I do, sir," replied Forster: "I, the general surrender upon any terms but those which shall
of this army, by the commission of King James. secure our honor; and, having said thus much, I
We are completely surrounded, outnumbered, wish you good-morning."
and our store of powder is failing fast. I have   "Depend upon it, my lord," said Forster, in a
not spared my person. I have not shrunk from  milder tone, " if we do treat for surrender at all,
the fire of the enemy; but I can see and judge which is not yet determined, it shall be only on
of what is necessary as well as any rash boy in such terms as shall be satisfactory to all."
England! and I say, the only chance of our not   Every one knows what it is to begin to parley
being slaughtered to a man is to endeavor to make with an enemy superior in force to ourselves, and
terms."                                       it would be tedious, even to the few readers who
"What, with fifteen hundred gallant men, who may be unacquainted with the events of that fatal
would cut their way through a rock of stone rather day, to enter into details of all that occurred durthan surrender!" exclaimed Murray, violently. ing the next four-and-twenty hours.  Confusion,
" I will tell you what, General Forster, the sol- hurry, discontent, dismay, pervaded the whole
diers-the brave common soldiers-will not hear, town. Rumors spread of the intention to surrenof surrender. There are some gentlemen and d ler, and the troops were more than once ready
noblemenl among us, too, who are men of heart, to fall upon their officers and put them to the
and will not permit this. Here stands the Earl sword, but were kept quiet by means of gross
of Eskdale, a man of great experience, and as and shameful falsehoods. They were told that
unprejudiced as any one. His voice, I am sure, General Wills had sent in to offer honorable terms,
is not for surrender."                        promising that the lives and liberties of all would
-Certainly not," replied Smeaton; "forIwould be guaranteed, and were assured that the coming
rather die with my sword in my hand, face to face and going of Colonel Oxburgh, and several of the
with the enemy, than lay my head down on a royal officers, between the camp and the town,
block on Tower Hill, and I believe that is the solely had reference to minute points in the capitonly choice."                                 ulation. In the mean while, however, the mes"My lord, you are in no command here," said sages which went out commenced with bold and
Forster. "I am the general in command of these somewhat excessive demands, but gradually firmtroops, by the king's authority; and, so long as I ness and courage oozed away. General Carpenter
live, no one else shall command them."        and General Wills sternly refused all terms, and
"' I do not in the least seek to do so," rejoined only promised that, if the insurgent force surrenSmeaton.  " I only give an opinion."          dered at discretion, it should not at once be put
Before he could conclude the sentence, how- to the sword.  "No other terms," they said,
ever, Captain Murray interrupted, exclaiming, in " would be granted to rebels with arms in their
a loud voice,                                 hands."  One small coilcession,. however, was
" This shall annul a traitor's commission which  made, namely, that a Cessation of arms should be
he is unworthy to hold!" and, drawing a pistol granted till seven the next morning, in order to
out of his belt, he leveled it at Forster's head, allow time to persuade the common soldiers to
and pulled the trigger. Some one,* however, submit; but hostages were exacted to insure that
struck up the muzzle just as he was in the act of no further defenses were thrown up in the town,
firing, and the ball lodged in the wainscot, about and that no persons should be permitted to escape.
two feet above the mark.                        A iight of intense anxiety, discussion, persuaA scene of indescribable confusion ensued, in sion, turbulence, and confusion succeeded; but,
the midst of which the vehement young officer before the appointed hour, despair had taken poswas arrested and removed from the room. It session of almost all hearts, though there is some
was not for several minutes that any thing like doubt as to whether the Highland troops were
tranquillity was restored, and then Smeaton turn- not deceived to the very last, and induced to beed toward General Forster, saying,            lieve that they laid down their arms upon favor"6 I regret this event exceedingly, General Fors- able conditions.  Before seven o'clock, the noise
ter, but I trust that'the young man's intemperance and confusion had subsided into sullen amnd (lisand crimimnal conduct will not divert your atten- contented submission; the Highlanders were
tion from the truth of what he said.  My belief drawn up in the market-place; the noblemen
is, that you will find it impossible to persuade the and gentlemen who had joined in the insurreccommon soldiers to surrender, though they would  tion remained  at their various quarters;  and,
with drums beating and trumpets soullding, Gen* Mr. Patten declares that he was the man who saved erals Carpenter and Wills entered m1`o town at
Forster's life, but this is somewhat doubtful  the head of their troops, friom the.Manchester




HENRY SMEATON.                                        137
road on tile one side and the Lancaster road on servant of mine, who was severely wounded on
the other.                                    Saturday at Lord Charles Murray's barricade."
It was a moment of some anxiety, for there    " I will see to his comfort myself," said the ofwas no certainty, even to the last minute, wheth- ficer; and then, putting down his name and the
or the troops of the insurrection would not make house where he was to be found, he added, "' I
use of their arms in one last desperate effort in will see to this directly.  I fear I must put a sen.
the market-place. But they had no conlfidence tinel at your door, my lord, till you are otherwise
in their officers, no plan arranged among them- disposed of; but he will have directions to conselves; and, surrounded by a large body of caval- sult your convenience as far as possible."
ry and infantry, any attempt at resistance would    Thus saying, he withdrew, and Smeaton was
have brought on a massacre rather than a fight. left alone in his room, a prisoner.
They laid down their arms, therefore, at the word
of commaud, and were marched off by companies to the church, where they were kept pent               CHAPTER XL.
up for many days under a strict guard. Some
of the royal officers were then sent to receive the   I MUST now  turn to different scenes and to
arms of the officers and gentlemen volunteers, people whom I have long left, in order not to
who were put under arrest in various inns and break the chain of events immediately affecting
private houses, and thus ended an insurrection  the young Earl. of Eskdale.
which. had begun rashly, and been carried on    In one of the narrow streets leading away from
without skill or even ordinary discretion.    Tower Hill, there is a house rather better than
In the transactions which preceded the sur- the others, but still small and inconvenient. Cenrender, Smeaton had taken no part except that turies ago, that street was the resort of many a
which I have nmentioned. From the Miter he gay and: gallant attender upon the court, and,
had proceeded to the house where his servalt, even at the time I speak of, was inhabited by a
Thomas Higham, lay, and found the poor fellow  respectable though poor class of the population.
in a weak and apparently sinking state. The It was the place where captains of ships trading
surgeon, who was with him at the time, alid who between London and foreigln ports usually founa
had just extracted the ball, would not suffer any lodging during their stay on shore.  The house
conversation, but expressed some hope of his re- I have mentioned was the best of these lodgingcovery if he were kept quite quiet; and Sinea- houses, and, through the kindness of the governton, leaving a small sum of money with him to or of the Tower-who was an easy, kind-hearted
provide any comforts he might req uire, departed man, as all his conduct to his prisoners showedwith a promise to visit him again if possible.    it had been hired for the family of Sir John NewWhen, about half past eight o'clock, one of the ark immediately upon his arrival in custody of the
royal officers entered the young nobleman's quar- messengers from Exeter.  Let it be remarked,
ters, he found him calmly writing letters, with the whole house had been hired; and the good
his sword and pistols on the table before him. woman to whom it belonged, who had not had the
He treated his prisoner with perfect courtesy; good luck before to let the whole of her apartreceived his arms, and handed them to an or- ments at once, went joyfiully into a garret at a
derly behind; and then, pointing to the letters, neighbor's to make way for Emmeline and the
said, "I fear these can not be permitted to pass, servants.
my lord, without being submitted to the gener-   How the fair young Countess of Eskdale had
als in command."                              passed her time in that small, dingy house; how
"I[ do not expect it," replied Smeaton; "but sad had beetn her thoughts as, day by day, she
I think they will find nothing to object to. One received news from the North, and heard of her
is to my mother, which I should much wish for- husband's part in the insurrection; how, at the
warded to her as soon as possible, if she be still end of about six weeks, she was joined by old
living. The other is to the Earl of Stair; and I Mistress Culpepper, and how, with marvelous
should wish you to place it in the hands of Gen- fortitude and staength of mind, the good old serveral Carpenter, who will perceive that it refers ant supported the young lady in the sore trial
to matters which have been already in discussion which she underwent, I must not stop here to
between us, and in regard to which I think I detail.
have been hardly treated.  I know not, indeed,   Emmeline sat alone in a little room on the
that it call have any influence on my ultimate grou.sd floor, with small and narrow windows,
fate, and that fate I trust I am prepared to meet parted by mullions and transoms, and affording
m~ a man of courage and a man of honor; but I but little light.  She had paid her daily visit to
write it as a fill explanation of my whole con- Sir John Newark in the Tower, and had returned
duct, that no stain may be upon my character, from a very unsatisfactory interview. The poand that it may be apparent that I have not in litical prisoners, made at various times during
the slightest degree, or in any way, forfeited my the insurrections of 1715 and 1716, were treated,
given word. I trust that the Earl of Stair will be as all the world knows, with a degree of lenity
able to explain his conduct as satisfactorily. I -not to say laxity-during the time of their imdo not accuse him, but there has been a fatal mis- prisonmnent, which contrasted strangely with the
take somewhere."                              unrelenting severity shown to many of them in
The officer took the letters and promised to the end; and men waiting for trial, and destined
give them into the hands of General Carpenter, to a bloody death, were suffered to enjoy the soadding, in a kindly tone,                     ciety of their friends almost without restriction" If there is any thing I can do for your con- nay, more, were suffered to revel, to gamble, to
venience, my lord, consistent with my duty, you drink within the dark walls which were only to
have merely to command me."                   be succeeded by the walls of the tomb, and to'" Nothing that I know of," replied Smeaton, employ any means they might think fit, innocent
" except, indeed, if you would exert your influ- or vicious, to while away the time and banish the
ence to have kind treatment shown to a poor grim thoughts of approaching doom.




138                             HENRY SMEATON.
All these facilities were given to Sir John New- upon Lancaster, and of the arming of Manches.
ark, and, indeed, nothing was wanting to his ter in their favor: Mrs. Culpepper shook her
comfort except liberty; but yet the imprison- head with a sigh. She had seen insurrection and
ment weighed upon him, and rendered him ir- civil war before, and her expectations were all
ritable and suspicious. To be deprived of all sad.
power of scheming-to be obliged to sit idle   On the morning of which I speak, a rumor
when he fancied that great opportunities for play- reached her of the fatal events of Preston; and,
ing the game in which he was well practiced after Emmeline's visit to Sir John Newark, on
were constantly occurring-to find the govern- which occasion Mrs. Culpepper accompanied her,
ment maintain a cold and ominous silence in re- the old lady went out into the town to see if she
turn for all the advances which he made, and to could obtain further intelligence. Emmeline sat
know that they had proofs against him of very alone then in that small, gloomy room, and her
dangerous intrigues, though not, perhaps, of high thoughts were very dark and sorrowful. She
treason itself, all tended to depress and to annoy reasoned with herself, as was her wont, upon
him more than the mere loss of his personal free- human life, and the strange turns of fate. She
dom.                                        asked herself what was the ruler of this world,
During the last week he had, for the first time and what was his decree? Were the good, and
of his life, showed himself irascible and harsh the wise, and the kind-hearted fated to sorrow
toward Emmeline. He insisted that whenever and misfortune; the cunning, the remorseless,
she stirred out of the house, even to the gates of the unfeeling, to prosperity, and triumph, and
the Tower, she should be attended by two of success?  Was hope only given for disappointhis men-servants; and she discovered that one ment?  Was imagination but the heightening
or the other of these men was sent for daily, and curse to make all the bitterness of earth more bitexamined strictly by his master as to where she ter? Were the susceptibilities of every thing
had been, whom she had spoken with, and what that is beautiful and excellent in life only given
she had done-in fact, that she was watched in to sharpen the sting of adversity, and make the
London as she had been at Ale-Manor. It is not, edge of sorrow cut more deeply?  She could
perhaps, wonderful that she felt more annoyed hardly believe it; and yet, when she turned her
now than she had ever before felt at this espion- eye to history, or even pondered what her own
nage, for, until the arrival of the old housekeep- small experience taught her, she could hardly
er, it was carried on so strictly that she could doubt that such was the case; and the only moral
hardly obtain any information regarding those she could derive from the consideration was, that
events in the North, on the turn of which de- "the reward of the good is not here."
pended her whole happiness for life.          Yet that is an oppressive and chilling convicThe good woman's appearance at the house, tion to the ardent heart of youth. It is a hard
which was sudden and unexpected, was a great discouragement at the commencement of life's
comfort to the poor girl. She no longer sat and weary way. It requires an amount of faith and
wept by herself, or, with her eyes fixed upon the hope as its antidote which few of the young posembers of the fire. gave herself up to thoughts sess. It is one of the bars of the sieve through
which passed in rapid succession, like dark and which the wheat is sifted from the chaff. Emterrible shadows of approaching misfortunes. meline might and did turn her thoughts to God
Good Mrs. Culpepper sat with her now the great- and to another world. She might and did feel
er part of each day, obtained information of her, that there was the rewarder and the reward;
talked of him she loved; and there was consola- but yet her heart felt very sad to see the blight
tion in the very companionship, though the house- upon all the flowers of earth, and to fear that
keeper was in no way cheerful, for her own an- none would ever be matured into fruit.
ticipations regarding Sineaton were gloomy and   While she was thus pondering sadly, she saw
sinister. She did not suffer them to find voice, a man pass up the street whose figure had someindeed, yet her whole manner and words were thing in it familiar to her eyes. In an instant
tinged with sadness. Even that which afforded after he repassed, and looked up toward the
poor Emmeline the greatest delight, gave her no house. She instantly remembered his face. It
comfort.                                    was connected in her mind with a scene and a
About three weeks before the period of which moment never to be fbrgotten. It was connected
I speak, a letter had reached the lady, delivered indissolubly with the memory of him she loved;
by an unknown hand, but bearing the signature and, by a sudden impulse, she sprang forward
of her husband. It was the letter which Smea- and opened the window.
ton had written to her at Rothbury, and com-   "He must have seen my husband," she thought.
mitted to the charge of Richard Newark. As her "He must bear me some tidings, some message
cousin's name was not mentioned, however, and -a letter, perhaps."
he had never himself appeared, Emmeline knew    Van Noost (for he it was) stopped the moment
not who had brought it, and she pored over it he heard the window open, looked up and down
day after day as the only comfort of her solitary the street, which was vacant at the moment, and
life; but the confirmation which that letter gave then approached.
of the rumor that Smeaton was actually engaged   "Lady, lady," he said, " I wish to speak with
with the insurgents in the North only excited you. I bear you a message from one you know
darker apprehensions for his fate in the mind of and love."
his old nurse. It was in vain that tidings arrived,   "Speak it now-speak it quickly," said Emb
which produced some consternation in the minds meline, clasping her hands together in her eagerof the good Londoners, by showing that the reb- ness.
els were making a bold and, apparently, success-   "Ay, lady, it is a sad message and a sad tale,"
ful irruption into England: it was in vain that rejoined the good statuary, with tears rising in
she heard of their advance toward Carlisle, or of his eyes, " and you will hear it soon enough."
the dispersion of the great body of militia in   "Speak, sir, speak!" cried Emmeline. "Wthat
Penrith Moor, of the insurgents having seized did my lord say?"




HENRY SMEATON.                                       139
""He said, dear lady," answered Van Noost, stood in great awe of the stately presence of the
" that he feared there was little hope of himself housekeeper. " He is among the prisoners, if by
and the others escaping from the position in'my lord' you mean the Earl of Eskdale. But,
which they had placed themselves, much against I beseech you, look to the lady within, for a meshis wishes and advice. He besought you, how- sage I have just borne her has, I fear, well-nigh
ever, to take comfort, whatever might happen to broke her heart."
him, and to place your trust in God. He would   " Or the rash telling it," said Mrs. Culpepper,
not write, he said, for fear of his letter falling somewhat sternly; but she added the next mointo other hands; for I myselF escaped with dif- ment, " You did not intend it, I dare say. Come
ficulty; but he bade me assure you that, what- in with me;" and she knocked sharply at the
ever occurred, he loved you with his whole heart door. It was opened by one of the men, who
till his last hour."                        seemed somewhat surprised to see her accompa"Then where is he? What has become of nied by a stlanger. But no one in the household
him?" asked Emmeline. "Tell me-tell me."  ventured to question the proceedings of Mrs. Cul"' I left him at Preston, madam," replied Van pepper; and, telling Van Noost to follow, she enNoost, "but surrounded by the king's forces, and tered the room on the right hand. They found
ready every moment to be overwhelmed by Emmeline lying where she had fallen, with her
numbers. He insisted upon my leaving the army cheek as pale as the lily, and her eyelids closed.
and making my peace with the government; but It was long before she could be brought to herhe himself remained, though fully aware of all self; but the old housekeeper sent away the servthe danger."                                ants, told Van Noost to wait without and she
"At Preston!" said Emmeline, thoughtfully. would speak with him, and then whispered com-'How long is it since you left him?"        fort in the poor gill's ear.
"This is the ninth morning," replied Van   "All will go well, dear lady," she said. "All
Noost. "I reached London three days ago, and will go well, sweet Emmeline. He is a prisoner,
gave myself up to government..I looked honest, but he is still living, and there are a thousand
I suppose, or else they could not do without my chances in his favor. They may try him, but not
statues any longer; for, after keeping me in pris- condemn him. They may condemn him, and yet
on two days, and examining me strictly, they let pardon him. They may be obdurate, yet he
me go back to my own house upon the sole con- may escape. He shall escape, too, if there be
dition of showing myself to a messenger twice in wit in woman's head, such as men say. Take
every four-and-twenty hours."                heart, take heart; every thing is to be gained, so
"Nine days!" exclaimed Emmeline. i" That long as his life is safe."
is a long time. Has no news arrived from Pres-   It is wonderful how readily an old proverb
ton since?"                                springs before all other expressions in moments
Van Noost looked down upon the ground, and of haste or grief.
his good rosy countenance turned white with!  "Oh yes, while there is life there is hope," reemotion.                                    sponded Emmeline, sobbing. "It was the joy
"You have some tidings," said EEmmeline, in of finding he was living, when Van Noost's first
a low tone. " Tell me what they are, I beseech words had made me believe him dead, that overyou, sir. I can bear them, whatever they be. came me. But where is Van Noost?  Let him
Speak quickly, or my heart will break."     tell me more;" and she looked toward the win"Alas, lady!" ejaculated Van Noost.      dow wistfully.
"FHe is dead," said Emmeline, in a tone won-   "The man is in the hall," replied Mrs. Culpepderfully calm. "He has been killed in the bat- per. "I will call him in."
tie!"                                        She accordingly summoned Van Noost, and or" No, no  Not so, indeed," replied Van Noost. dered one of the servants who was still with him
"' He is a prisoner, lady, but not dead. All the in the hall to go below and mind his work in a
rest are prisoners too."                    tone that admitted no reply. Van Noost was
Before he ended, Emmeline's ear was deaf to then questioned eagerly, and told the whole tale
his words. Fancy had so fully possessed her, of his escape and the circumstances in which he
only the moment before, with the idea of her hus- had left the Earl of Eskdale. Thle good man was
band's death, that when she heard he was still g9ing on to disburden himself of all the news
living, though a captive, the change from despair which he had gathered in London of the surrento hope was too sudden; her heart beat for a der of the insurgent army at Preston; but Mrs.
moment violently, then became still as if in death, Culpepper cut him short, saying, " What is your
and she sank upon the floor.                nimne, good sir, and where do you live?"
Poor Van Noost was shocked and terrified; he   "My name is Van Noost," replied the statuary.
thought he had killed her, and he would fain "It is a well-known name. I am the fhmous
have made his way through the window to give artist in lead; and I live on the Reading Road,
her help; but just at that moment the tall and nearly opposite the end of Constitution Hill."
stately form of Mrs. Culpepper appeared coming   A grim smile came upon Mrs. Culpepper's face,
up the street, and, as soon as she saw him look- and she said, "Very well. Perhaps we may
ing in at the window, she hurried her pace, ask- want you. I doubt not you are willing to serve
ing him sharply,                            this young nobleman who so befriended you in
"What are you doing here, sir, staring in at getting you out of Preston."
the window of this house? Are you a thief, who   " I would serve him with my life's blood," rewould faiIl break in and steal?  Ah," she con- plied Van Noost; "but, gadzooks! I must take
tinued, as he turned more fully toward her, "I care not to burn my fingers in the business again."
think I have seen your face before. Yes, I rec-   "You are more likely to burn your fingers with
ollect you now. What are your tidings? Where your lead than with any business we shall give
did you leave my lord? Is he among the pris-  you," observed Mrs. Culpepper, dryly; " but, for
oners?"                                    the present, good-by, sir; and if you get any news
"He is, madam," replied Van Noost, who or hints worth hearing, pray let us have them.




140                            HENRY SMEATONo
But be discreet; ask for me-Culpepper, the table, with a pile of shag tobacco in an open box,
housekeeper; and, if I be not within, wait till I and several other articles, the pec.uliar property
come."                                      of the young tenant.
"By my life, an imperious dame," said Van   But if to find Richard Newark, the son of the
Noost to himself as he retired; and the house- wealthy and somewhat ostentatious Sir John,
keeper, after remaining, for a moment or two in in so lowly a dwelling, excited the wonder of
silent thought, turned to Emmeline, saying,  the statuary, what was his surprise at the ap" Comfort yourself, dear lady. I will away to pearance of the young man himself! The gay
Sir John, and carry himn the intelligence I have apparel which Richard, with youthful vanity,
got, which probably has not yet reached the had ever affected, was partly cast aside, and he
Tower. I must contrive to get rid of some of stood before Van Noost in the garb of a seaman,
these men who are here, for they will hamper with large breeches tied with enormous bunches
our movements; and I think, in this Preston bus- of ribbon at the knees, gray stockings, and half
iness, I can find an excuse for sending one at a foot of clean shirt shown at his waist. The
least, if not more, down to Ale. He has not for- upper man displayed the marks of a rather su.gotten the bait of Keanton yet, and will rise at it perior station. The long-waisted, broad-flapped
as Ireadily as ever."                       coat, with a small silver lace, seemed to indicate
an aspirant to future command, and, at the same
time, gave him the appearance of a man five or
six years older than he really was; while the
CHAPTER XLI.                   waistcoat of embroidered silk, and the laced
cravat, showed the remnant of still higher preSLOWLY, and for him very soberly, with his tensions.
eyes bent upon the ground, and his thoughts  ", Will Van Noost sit down and take a pipe?'"
heavier than his own statues, Van Noost took said Richard Newark.  1 "We will soon have a
his way across the little street toward a turning glass of grog and a good gossip. Ay, do not
which led away to the westward some small stare till your eyes leap into the tobacco-box.
distance higher up. He had not passed the Here I am, a sailor for the nonce; and, on my
doors of three houses, however, when suddenly life and soul, I have a great mind to remain one
a voice called him by name, and, turning round, till my dying day. Why, man, I never knew
he saw the outline of a man's figure standing what freedom was before. Here I can go where
some way down a narrow entrance passage, and I like, do what I like, say any thing I please, to
beckoning to him with his hand.             man, woman, or child, and no one takes offense
" Van Noost," said the voice again, " come or calls me a fool for my pains.'Tis but a mad
hither. I want you. Come hither, man of flesh trick of the sailor-lad, do what I will; and I
and lead. There is no danger to your carcass. have learned more man's knowledge in this garb,
A dagger would lose itself before it found your during the month I have been in London, than
ribs. Don't you know me, man?"              I should have learned during ten years at Ale."
I' I can't see your face," replied Van Noost,   "Pray God, Master Richard, you have not." but, odds wounds! your voice is very like that learned more than is good for you!" ejaculated
of Master Richard Newark, who left us at Roth- Van Noost. "I had an apprentice from the counbury."                                      try who was quite spoiled with three months'
A' Come in, come!" cried the other.,' Do not residence in London."
stand chattering there like a pie on an elm-tree,   "But I am no apprentice, noble lead-boiler,"
calling all the other birds to wonder what the retorted Richard.  "What makes you think
fool is prating of. If you know my tongue, that there is any thing spoilable in me? I am not a
is enough. Sound is as good as sight, and some- haunch of venison, nor a new-caught trout, a
times better. Come in, I say, thou man of molt- cream tart, nor a jelly, to grow moldy on a moist
en images."                                 day, or stink in the nose when the wind is southWithout further question, Van Noost entered erly. What makes you think I may, can, might,
the door-way, although with some degree of could, should, or ought to be spoiled?"
trepidation, for the poor man had been sadly    "Why, because I find you here, sir, masquershaken by all that he had lately undergone, fat ading in a low  house," replied Van Noost,
being no case-hardening of the nerves, as many ", while your beautiful cousin is pining in soliof us must very well know. No sooner was he tude in a house hard by, your father a prisoner
within the door, however, than Richard Newark in the Tower, and your best friend in bonds at
threw it sharply to, caught him by the arm, and Preston."
drew- him along toward a small room on the   Richard Newark was instantly serious, and
left, where the stronger light showed the stat- he leaned his head on his hand for a moment in
unary that he had not been mistaken.  The deep thought.
small chamber was a fair specimen of an ordi-   "You are wise," he said at length; "very
nary lodging house of the day-dingy with ages wise, as this world's wisdom goes. So all men
of uncleaned walls and unwhitened ceilings. wouldjudgeme, seeing only what you see. But
Wooden chairs of an indescribable brown; a you are mistaken, nymph-maker. As to my fatable of the same hue and material; a corner- ther, his life is saved, if it ever was in danger,
cupboard garnished with broken cups and sau- which I do not think. The son's virtue in abancers-a piece of sealing-wax-a tallow candle doning rebels has been taken for an equipoise
in a brass candlestick, and a bottle with two or to the father's guilt in encouraging them underthree glasses; a looking-glass of the breadth hand. That I have made sure of. Deserters
of one's hand; an old cracked punch-bowl, and and recreants are prime favorites now at court,
two apostle spoons, made up the furniture. To and as I was one of the first, I was abundantly
these were added a pair of tobacco pipes on the well received."




HENRY SMEATON.                                    141
He paused, with a bitter and sarcastic expres-   Richard Newark leaned his head upon his
sion of countenance, and then went on,    hand and mused.
" As to Emmeline, do not think, Master Lead-  4" Lord Stair is in Paris," he said, at length,
melter, that I forget her. What am I here for? " and I can not-I must not-quit this spot.'What am I in this garb for? Is it not to watch Besides, how do we know that Smeaton is living
over her in secret, and turn the danger from her even now   They have shot some forty of their
when it may come? Do I not know every step prisoners at Preston."
she talkes through the streets? Do I not know    " Those were only officers who had served in
when she goes out and when she returns. Do King George's forces," replied Van Noost, " and,
I not see every one who approaches her door!  being found in rebellion, were tried by a courtPoor Smeaton!" lie continued, in a sadder tone; martial and executed on the spot; but the noble
" what help can be given to him, Heaven knows! lord was not among them. I have seen the list
I do not. I wonder if it be true that he is one this very day. He is among those whom they
of the prisoners at Preston. Methinks he is not are marching up to London."
a man to be taken in the same sweep of the net  ", Well, we shall see, we shall see," said
with less fishes."                        Richard. "We shallhave time, atleast. Time
" Ay, sir, but he would not leave the less fish is every thing in this world, as the grasshopper
in the net and break through it himself, as he says; and, if I dared stir from this place, permight have done," replied Van Noost.      haps I might do something; but I must see
";-And as you did," said Richard Newark; Smeaton first.  They keep them  somewhat
and then, after a moment's silence, he added, loosely in their prisons, and I shall get in, I dare
"4And so did I. Pshaw! man, do not look red say."
in the gills about it! We are the wise men,   "But what keeps you here, sir?" asked Van
and Smeaton the fool; but there are wiser men Noost. " You surely can not be tied down to
even than ourselves. For instance: the man this one little street."
who not only turns his back upon his friends,   "Very nearly," replied the young gentleman.
but sells them; the man who makes a merit of " I am seldom absent for many minutes till that
his treason, and bargains for something better house opposite is shut up at night. Did you
than forgiveness. Do you understand me?"   ever see a cat sitting before a mouse-hole, Van
" Faith, but darkly, Master Richard;" answer- Noost, hour after hour, looking half asleep, yet
ed Van Noost.  "If you know any such, you ready to spring the moment the little brown
know more than I do."                      gentleman with the long tail pops out, and
"I know one at least," replied Richard; and nothing showing her impatience but by the
then, in his usual rambling way, he returned to convulsions of the tip of her tail?  Vell, I am
the subject of his friend, saying, " Poor Smea- just the cat, watching for I know what will folton! his has been a hard fate, to be lured into low, though I know not when. My scoundrel'
the fatal trap-cheated into the net at the very mouse is winding about in his secret holes and
moment of his happiness. He has had foul play, crannies, and thinking I know nothing of his
Van Noost."                               doings. But let us talk of other things. I will
"Ay, he complained much of Lord Stair," ohb- think of all this, and you come and see me every
served Van Noost. 1" That man did not behave day. There, drink some brandy and smoke your
well to him."                             pipe-or will you have wine? We will get wine
" Lord Stair!" cried Richard Newark, with a in a minute. Here, William-John! My two
laugh. " There were others who behaved worse hounds, where are you!"
than Lord Stair. Indeed, I know not that Lord   To Van Noost's surprise, two men, or rather
Stair behaved ill at all-but others did. Lord lads, for neither of them certainly was two-andStair did not intercept his letters; Lord Stair twenty, appeared in answer to the young gendid not lure him to meetings of conspirators tleman's summons, dressed both alike, yet not
upon false pretenses; Lord Stair did not give exactly in livery, though they evidently acted
information secretly against him, pretending to the part of Richard Newark's servants. One
be his friend-but others did. Lord Stair did was sent one. way for meat, and another for
not take every means to drive him into rebell- wine; and, changing his place, the young genion, in order to get his estate-but others tleman seated himself behind a blind near the
did."  window, whence he could see down the little
",Who-who?" asked Van Noost, eagerly.  street in which the house stood. When the
"My father," answered Richard Newark; men had returned and set down the things which
and adead silence followed for several minutes. had been ordered, with plates, glasses, and
At length Van Noost said, in a low, quiet tone, knives, Richard moved his place again, saying
"I think, Master Richard, if all this can be to the elder of the two,
proved, the government would deal with the I   Mind the watch, for I shall be busy for are
Earl of Eskdale's case favorably."         hour or so."
"' And who is to prove it'l" exclaimed Rich-       A bird shall not fly past without our seeing
ard, vehemently. "d Am I to go and denounce  him," replied the man, and left the room with
my own father to the government? Am I to  his companion.
expose all these turnings and windings of his   At all times and in all circumstances, Van
to grave officials in flowing wigs?"      Noost was well pleased to eat and drink. Care,
"No; but you might tell Lord Stair himself," fear, or anxiety never took away his appetite,
replied Van Noost. ", You might show him how  and he did ample justice to the viands set bethis noble lord has been wronged; and, if he: fore him.
really have any regard for him, and be the man i A rambling, desultory conversation followed,
that people say he is, he will intercede for him  but Richard Newark would not suffer it to fall
with the king."                             back into the channels through which it had




142                            HENRY SMEATON.
been previously flowing. He talked of all that ard, wildly. " They are going to meet the prishad occurred during the insurrection, of his own oners coming in, and so am I!"
escapade to the North, and of what he had seen   This announcement was not altogether palaand done while traveling about with the Nor- table to the good statuary, who felt certain that.
thumbrian gentlemen; and, though his conver- he should be recognized by some of the prisoners,
sation and his manners were now more like his and be placed in an awkward position. It was
former self, yet Van Noost could not help being not, indeed, that he feared his acquaintance with
much struck with the great change which had those who had joined in the insurrection would
come over him within the last few months. in any degree endanger his personal safetyThat short period of busy existence-the com- and, to do him justice., he would have risked that
panionship of men, and the association with su- under any circumstances-but as it was, he had
perior minds-had effected a remarkable trans- made a clean breast of it to the secretary of
formation; but the manliness of manner and state, and obtained even more than he could
decision of thought which he had gained could expect, amounting, in fact, to a conditional paronly be attributed to the habit and necessity of don. The thought, however, of having fled from
acting for himself, and the development, under Preston; of not remaining with Roman courage
such necessity, of a character naturally decided, (which he always had an ambition of displaying,
sharp, and fearless, though rather distorted and if his constitution would but have let him) to fall
out of shape.                               with a falling cause; and of having sneaked
The time passed pleasantly enough, and on away in much haste and trepidation at the aphis departure Van Noost promised to return. proach of real danger, made him feel very awkHe did not fail to keep his word, but went back ward when he thought of encountering his formore than once, gaining in some degree upon mer companions in rebellion. He explained his
Richard Newark's confidence at each visit, and feelings to Richard Newark as well as he could,
consulting with him upon what was to be done hinting, at the same time, that the young gentlein the case of the Earl of Eskdale.         man himself was in a similar situation.
The result of these consultations we shall see   But Richard only laughed aloud, saying,
hereafter; but one thing Van Noost could not "Well, get out of the way, then, when we
comprehend in his companion, namely, the ob- come near them. Pop into an inn, or hide your
stinacy with which he refrained from going to shame-faced noddle in some barn or shed. As
see his fair cousin, and from even letting her for me, I shall go up and speak to any one I
know that he was in her immediate neighbor- know. I am not the least ashamed of any thing
hood. The good statuary tried many circuitous I have done, and I will cut that man's throat who
ways of arriving at his motives; and when at says I have cause to be."
length he asked him distinctly, Richard replied,   They rode on as far as Highgate, leaving the
with one of his wild laughs,                crowd behind them as they went; and, a little
-' Ay, you could not understand, Van Noost; beyond that place, they saw a cloud of dust upon
and, to say truth, I myself do not understand. the road before them, which seemed to announce
I have seen birds caught by perching on lime the approach of the prisoners. There was a
twigs. Things have been put into my head small public house near, in which Van Noost
which I wish had never come into it. Besides, took refuge as speedily as possible. Richard
I am better where I am. I can do more, devise Newark dismounted also, but he remained on
more, prevent more, when I am working un- the outside of the house, with his arms folded
seen. No, no, it would never do; but I'll tell on his chest. Half an hour elapsed, however,
you what, good friend, I must have a little lib- before the procession which they expected aperty and some fresh air. I must arrange, and peared, for the dust which they had seen was
trust to my two boys for a day now and then. raised merely by a large party of horse grenaI am getting ill in this close hole, and my brain diers and foot guards, sent out to meet the unbegins to spin and whirl round as it used to do fortunate prisoners from Preston and escort
at school. Can you not contrive to hire us a them into London.
couple of horses 1 for mine I sold when I came   After calling for something for the good of the
to London. We will have a ride, Van Noost-  house, Van Noost placed himself at the window
we will have a ride on the north road."     of the little sanded parlor with a number of othVan Noost readily consented; and it was er persons, while the road before him was occuagreed that the next day, at the hour of noon, pied by a small crowd from Highgate and the
he should be with a pair of horses in Smithfield, neighboring villages. At length the advance of
where Richard Newark was to join him.       a large body of men along the road was descried,
The young gentleman was on the spot before and on they came at a slow pace, while a loyal
him, and there was an eagerness and excite- shout of "Long live King George, and down
ment in his look which the statuary did not un- with the Pretender!" burst from  the crowd
derstand. Springing on the horse's back, Rich- without.
ard Newark set off at a pace much too fast to   Poor Van Noost's heart felt very big; and
be agreeable to his companion.  They soon when he saw the whole indignity to which his
cleared the suburbs of London, however, passing poor friends had been subjected, it was too
a great number of people on the road, some on much for him. Noblemen and gentlemen of
horseback and some on foot, who were all tend- high and distinguished character, men of honor,
ing the same way, though at a more sober pace. and refinement, and unblemished reputation,
" I wonder what these people are all pouring were being marched into London with their
out of London for," said Van Noost, as they rode arms pinioned with ropes, each of their horses
along. "There must be some sport going for- led by one of the foot guards, often by a mere
ward."                                      common halter, while a large party of cavalry
(Ha! ha! don't you know!" exclaimed Rich- preceded and followed, but did not flank them,




HENRY SMEATON.                                    143
as if for the express purpose of exposing them  floors, with none of the comforts or convenienfully to the gaze of the multitude. Van Noost ces of life, and the next they would dine with
caught a momentary glance of many whom he the officers of their escort, faring sumptuously
knew, and especially of the Earl of Eskdale; on all that the place could afford. At one time
but he saw little of what passed after, except the sick and the feeble were provided with coachthat Richard Newark ran forward, laid his hand es to carry them, with nothing but a trooper at
upon Smeaton's knee, and spoke to him eagerly, the window, and then, at Barnet, they were pinwalking by the side of his horse till one of the ioned on their horses, and led into London like
soldiers put him rudely back.             condemned felons. Thus, too, after their arrivThe poor statuary's eyes filled with tears; al at the place of their destination, they were
and, retiring from the window, he made place allowed to live in luxury, and, alas! in many
for those who were struggling to get forward.  cases in licentiousness, while all the time the
terrible catastrophe was being prepared with
stern, relentless determination.
In many instances the prisoners themselves,
CHAPTER XLII.                 at least those of thoughtful and high-toned character, were obliged to entreat their jailers to
THE Tower, the Marshalsea, Newgate, and exclude the mixed multitude which flocked in
other London jails, were filled to overflowing. to see them, and even then they were often
Prison regulations, which were few, and those greatly annoyed, for the virtue of the turnkeys
not very strict, were all but entirely neglected; was not stout enough to resist the bribes which
and scenes of revelry and merriment, the most were frequently given for admission to the cells.
discordant with the place and all its situations, The greater number, indeed, were well pleased
occurred in the cells of the captives. It was with the attentions they received, and laughed,
not alone that the Tory or High-Church party, joked, and drank with the strangers who prewaking from the apathy in which they had in- sented themselves; but it must be said that a
dulged as long as activity could have been serv- general impression prevailed among them that
iceable'to the cause, now contributed large the facts of their having surrendered at discresums of money to make the fate of the captives tion, and of their being spared for the time,
as comfortable as a captive's fate can be; it would secure them from the penalties of treawas not alone that the numerous friends and son. Many were even ignorant of the terms on
relations of the prisoners flocked to give them  which the surrender had been made, and thorconsolation and support of every kind, but a rev- oughly believed that a promise of pardon had
olution took place in that strange fickle thing, been given; and others felt quite confident that
public opinion, and many of those who, had not the exertions of influential friends would gain
their rank and station stood in the way, would for them the lenity of a merciful sovereign.
have gone out with the hooting mob to witness   But George the First was not merciful. Perthe entrance of the rebel prisoners into London, haps it would be too much to accuse him of a
now began to regard themn as martyrs and laud disposition naturally cruel; but his heart was
them as heroes. Crowds hurried to see them  as hard as that of any man who ever lived, and
and to testify their sympathy. No one who his conduct to the young Countess of Nithsdale
could find or frame even a specious pretext for would prove the truth, even if it were not witadmission was excluded; all hours and seasons nessed by many another act.
were forgotten, and the gates of Newgate were   Among those who took the least cheering
often thrown open in the midst of the night to view of his situation was Henry Earl of Eskdale,
adroit a visitor, a servant, or a friend. The who flattered himself with no vain expectations.
jailers declared that they, were worn to death On entering the chamber assigned to him in the
with the continual turning of the keys; yet they Tower, he looked round it as his last abode bedid their work very willingly, from no great fore he went to the scaffold; and, although the
feeling of compassion, perhaps, but for the gold- small sum of money he had remaining was sufen rewards which were sure to follow.     ficient to procure him comforts for the time, he
In the Tower, where the noblemen who had counted it over with care, and assigned a cerjoined in the insurrection were confined, a tain portion for each day's wants, calculating,
greater degree of decency certainly prevailed; as well as he was able, the time likely to elapse
but even here very great laxity existed, and before his death.
from ten o'clock in the morning till the same   The morning after his arrival, a number of
hour at night the doors were opened to almost persons were admitted to see him; and at length
any one who required admittance. In fact, the he was glad to give the turnkey a guinea, as an
conduct of the authorities, from the day of the inducement to exclude every one but those who
surrender at Preston till the termination of the could declare they were his personal friends.
whole tragedy, is perfectly unaccountable, so   " I have much need of thought and reflection,
capricious and strange were the alternations of my good sir," he said; 1" but, if I am to be troublenity and severity. During the march to Lon- led with strangers all-day long, however kindly
don, it often happened that on one day the pris- their visits may be meant, I shall have no time
oners of note would be confined in separate to prepare to defend my life, or to meet my death
chambers, and not permitted to see or speak as becomes me."
with any one, while on the very next they were   " If your lordship will give a list of those you
allowed to wander about any towns they passed wish to see," replied the man, " I will keep out
through, each under the charge of a soldier, vis- all others."
iting their friends, or purchasing whatever arti-   Smeaton wrote down the names of the few'
cles they required in the shops. One day they whom he thought likely to visit him, but he had
would be compelled to sleep upon damp stone some difficulty when he came to the dearest




144                              HENRNY SMEATONname of all. It was too sacred a name to be to me. If she can come safely, she knows what
lightly spoken of; and therefore, to meet all joy it will give me. If she can not, that joy
cases, he wrote down broadly, " Any one of the would be dearly purchased by peril to her. So
name of Newark, any one of the name of Esk- tell her, Van Noost. Go, my dear friend, go,
dale;" and then thinking of poor Van Noost, he and let her have my answer quickly."
added his name to the paper, saying, as he gave,, I will, my good lord, I will," replied the
it to the man,                              statuary, fumbling in the wide pocket of his
" If any one should urge strongly that he is coat; " but there is another matter I had wella personal friend, let him send in his name, and nigh forgot too. Here is something I promised
I will tell you whether to admit him or not."  to deliver to your lordship."
The man had not even closed the door, how-   And, as he spoke, he produced a little packet
ever, when Van Noost presented himself, and -in shape very much like a school-boy's ruler,
his agitation on seeing his noble friend in cap- wrapped up in paper, and sealed at both ends
tivity had something in it both touching and gro- -which he laid upon the table.
tesque. He wept like a child; but the pathetic   "What is this, Van Noost'!" said the young
was greatly lessened by his attempts to conceal nobleman, taking it up and surprised at its
his emotion and speak through his tears. Smea- weight. " This is money, my good friend. I
ton treated him with great kindness, congratu- can not accept of this."
lated him upon his escape and his freedom, and,, Indeed, my lord, you must," responded Van
listened patiently to his account of all he had Noost, "' or make a great many people very unundergone since they met. But he then turned happy. It is your share of a purse made up
the conversation to matters of deeper interest among the loyal and true hearts of London for
to himself by inquiring if his visitor had seen the support of all Preston prisoners, and for
Emmeline as he promised.                    their aid in their imprisonment, their defense,
Van Noost almost started from his chair, ex- or-" and he sunk his voice in a whispers-" or
claiming,                                   their escape. You have no more than your fair
Good gracious! I had nearly fbrgotten. I share; and I doubt not that, in a few days, a
saw her this very morning, my lord; and she very much larger sum -may be raised, of which
charged me with a message to say that she your portion will be brought to you also, either
would be here this evening as soon as it grew  by me or by somebody else."
dark, if you would permit it; and, indeed, who   " Their escape!" said Smeaton, thoughtfuily.
would not permit it? It seemed as if she thought " Think you that escape is possible, Van Noost?"
the time between this and night would never   "Nothing more possible, my lord," replied
come to an end. I believe she would have run the statuary. " Why, never was such a scene
here at once, if the old lady, Madame Culpepper, known as there is now in the prisons. Money
had not dissuaded her."                     is abundant-all order is gone. The jailers
Smeaton did not reply immediately, for many think they do quite enough if they only lock the
contending feelings were busy in his bosom. doors. They vie with each other in being cor-'To hold her once again to his heart; to tell her rupt; and, if we could but raise a few thousand
how he had thought of her since they parted; pounds to bribe the scoundrels, and we manto learn from her own lips her views, her wishes, aged the thing properly, your lordship might
her feelings; to consult with and to counsel walk out of these gates in open day, without
her, were all motives which prompted him to officer, turnkey, or warder seeing you. Such is
say " Yes" without a moment's hesitation. But the strange effect of a pair of gold spectacles."
he feared risk, and embarrassment, and perhaps   "Would I could feel so certain," returned
even misfortune, to her whom he loved better Smeaton.  " The few thousand pounds you
than himself. He knew not that she was ac- speak of could soon be raised. A word in my
customed to come daily to the Tower; that her dear mother's ear would speecily procure it, if
person was known to the warders and many of she be still living; and, if not, I could procure
the officers of the prison; and that she was al- it myself."
ways accompanied by sufficient rien to protect   "Think you so, my lord, think you so." said
her, as far as they were permitted to go.t He the statuary.  " Would you but trust me so
thought of Emmeline only as the simple, inex- much as to write down merely the words,' Beperienced girl of the Manor House in Devon- lieve what the bearer shall tell you on my acshire, timid even in her innocent boldness, ut- count,' sign your name, and address it to the
terly unlearned in the world and the world's dowager countess? I see they allow you paper,
ways. He knew not that she, as well as Rich- pens, and ink."
ard, had been schooled in sorrow, and that her   "' With all my heart, Van Noost," replied
mind had put forth new powers, and her heart Smeaton. ", I am quite sure you would rather
gained firmness since they parted.          injure yourself than me."
Can he be blamed, however, if he yielded, in   And he wrote down on a sheet of paper the
some degree, to his own wishes?  He fancied words which had been required.
that he considered all things fairly for her good,   When he had sanded the paper and was handas well as for his own happiness; but perhaps ing it to Van Noost, a sound of bolts being drawn
he was not altogether unbiased when he said,  was heard at the door. The statuary hurriedly
" Tell her, Van Noost, that I ardently long to concealed what he had received, and the next
see her, but yet I would not have her come, moment Richard Newark came in. He adespecially at night, unless she can do so in per- vanced toward the earl with a frank, bright look,
feet safety, and in secrecy also; for, till we have and shook him warmly by the hand. Then turnwell considered the next step, I do not wish our ing to Van Noost, he said,
marriage to be made public; and I must have   " Ha! idol maker! are you here?  Get you
no spot rest upon her name, even for her love gone-get you gone to Emmeline, and stay with




HENRY SMEATON.                                     145
her till I come. The deargouvernante has gone  while he wrote down the heads of what he had
forth questing like a spaniel dog upon a pheas- heard, and then, looking at the letters, he said,
ant, from a hint I gave her last night. Do not   " May I take these with me to copy. You
leave her for a minute; and, if the man refuses shall have them to-morrow, for you may need
you admittance, pull his nose boldly, and walk  them. Strange that a piece of paper should
in. He is an arrant coward; so you may ven- sometimes be the best armor for a man's neck!"
ture safely."                                " Take them, take them," replied Smeaton.
"I will-I will, sir," replied Van Noost. "He  "Theyare but unauthenticated copies, and could
shall not stop me on such an errand."      not be given in evidence, if Lord Stair has not
" If there be two of them," continued Richard, received them. Yet I can hardly believe that
" knock down one. That will be enough for Higham would play me such a trick."
the other."                ".Where did you hire him?" asked Richard.
Van Noost hurriedly took up his hat and left   "He was recommended to me by the man in
the room, and Richard Newark, taking Smea- whose house I lodged," replied the young earl:
ton's hand in his, said, in a quieter tone than  4" a good, honest fellow, who had been a servant
usual,                                     to the Earl of Oxford."
"Come, Eskdale, sit down and talk to me. I   "Put about you by the Jacobites," replied
must try and keep my poor whirling brain steady  Richard, with a laugh, " to keep you steady in
for a minute or two, while you tell me all and  the cause, and commit you to it if you wavered.
every thing with regard to your transactions The man must be found, and made to tell the
with Lord Stair. There is your only chance of truth."
safety. If you can show that you were driven    "I fear you will have to seek him in the
into the insurrection against your own inclina- grave," said Smeaton, " for he was sorely
tion by the conduct of others, as I know you  wounded at Preston, where he fought as boldly
were, a skillful lawyer tells me that you will as a lion."
certainly be pardoned.  Now listen to what I   " Never mind," replied Richard. " Some of
know, then fill up the gaps, give me some proofs, these letters must have reached Lord Stair, I
and I will follow the scent as keenly as my think; and, if I get at him, I will jump upon his.
blood-hound Bellmouth. You sent a letter long back, and never take my spurs from his side tille
before the outbreak to Lord Stair. That letter we have passed the winning-post. Good-by,,
never reached him. It was stopped by my fa- Eskdale, good-by. Your trial will not come on.i
ther. You went over to Mount Place, led to for a month, they say, and you won't see me for.
believe that you would see nobody but one old a fortnight, perhaps; but I'll be working all the,
fool, and you found twenty or thirty, young and time. Tell Emmeline to mind well every steg,
old, assembled, on a hint from my father, to  she takes, for the villain scoundrel, William!
meet you and trap you into treason. The Exe- Newark, alias Somerville, has made his peace.
ter people sent down dragoons, who sought you  with the court, pretends that he is the mostat Mount Place, and thence tracked you to Kean- loyal subject of King George, has betrayed alEl
ton, for they had secret information from Ale- that he knew of Kenmure's and Forster's se —
Manor."                                    crets, and is watching with all his eyes to pounce,
" But what could be your father's motive?" upon Emmeline. He can not rightly make out'
asked Smeaton.                             where she is, for I have puzzled him about it.
"' Keanton for the first; to get you out of the But he thinks that if he could but get her into,
way of Emmeline for the second," answered  his hands, Ale-Manor-which is hers, you know
Richard. " But never mind motives; let us -would be his, and he would be a great man in'
deal with facts. You afterward, in the North, his generation. Once more, good-by, Eskdale;:
sent your servant with a letter to Lord Stair, on  and if you hear that I am drowned, shot, stabbed,
receiving intelligence that he was on before us or otherwise disposed of, do not forget me. Sayat Wooler. Now, Eskdale, I doubt that letter to yourself,' I was kind to the boy, and he lovedt
ever having been seen by him. Nay, I am quite me well.'"
sure it was not."                            Thus speaking, he hurried to the door, ancd
"Higham assured me," said the young earl, hallooed to the turnkey to let him out.
" that it was put into his hand, that he opened it,
read it, and returned it with contempt. What
can make you think that he never saw it i"
"Because Lord Stair was, on that very day             CHAPTER XIII.
and hour, more than seven hundred miles from
Wooler as the crow flies," replied Richard.   I WILL rot dwell upon the first interview be —
"His regiment was there, true enough, but h  tween Emmeline and her husband; I will nowas in Paris. A man can not be in two places
s dwell upon many that took place, for many did'
at once, noble friend. But come, do not pause  take place between the time of his arrival as
and wonder. This is all I know. Fill up, fill a prisoner in London and the clay of his trial..
up! Let me hear the whole, and I will try if There are sanctities in the deep emotions of the.
my wits are not worth something, in spite of all heart, the violation of which nothing but a holy
folks may say against them."               cause can justify. I have no right to eat, the
Sm-eaton did as he was bidden; and, sitting  shew-bread on the altar of their love. I have 1ko
down at the table with his young companion, he right, be they real or be they ideal characters,
gave him a clear and complete narrative of ev- to intrude into the secrets of their hearts, and
ary thing that had occurred after his arrival at place the thrilling nerves beneath a'microscope
Ale-Manor, and showed him the copies he had for the public eye. Suffice it to say that they
taken of his letters to Lord Stair. More than  met often. daily, sometimes twice a day,.by the
once Richard asked him to stop for a moment, skillful management of her who had been. the
K




146 zHENRY SMEATON.
young earl's nurse, and that no annoyance or in- did not feel himself guilty, and Ihe would not
convenience happened to the young Countess of plead guilty. It was a dishonoring  word —a
Eskdale during nearly a month, although some word that he would not have attached to any
circumstances of suspicion-a number of strange part of his conduct by his own act, and he resomen hovering abh0ut the house, and the appear- lutely adhered to his former plea. He gave no
ance of others dlogging them ill their walk to the unnecessary trouble, indeed; he admiitted all the
Tower —caused some apprehension in the mind facts as they stood charged against him; bhut he
of the old housekeeper, and induced her to re- contended that his acts were loyal and not treadouble her precautions.                      sonable; and it was only as an admission that he
Emmeline had seen her cousin more than once. stated he had been willing to submit quietly to
Kind, affectionate, seIfldevoted, he showed him- the existing state of things. To this, he added
self during their short and scanty interviews, but a detail of the transactions between himself and
those interviews were not very many. Sudden- the Earl of Stair.
ly he disappeared, telling his fair cousil that he   His defense was frequently interrupted, fbr
was about to visit Paris, but without mention-ing the English law often decrees that the evidence
the business on which he went; for, although he which would clearly exculpate any man from all
was very sanguine in all things, he loved her too moral blame shall not be received in his justifiwell to give her hopes which might be disap- cation. But he persevered inl his course; and
pointed, or to shackle her exertions in other di- the very men who condemned him felt for him,
rections by expectations from the uncertain proj- and hardly believed their own words when they
ects he had in view. She knew that he went pronounced him, guilty.
for the purposes of her husband's defense, and   It is a strange thing, that law of treason, which
she thanked him with her whole heart; but this affixes the most odious moral censure upon acts
was all she knew; and when he was gone, she heroically mistaken and sometimes sublimely
felt anxious and eager for tidings which did not just; which compels men, by rigid rules and
come.                                        the admission of fhlse premises, to pronounce that
Thus passed thle days of a long imprisonment; to be guilt which they know to be virtue; which
but several steps had been gained, notwithstand- places the same stain upon the lowest and most
in.. The extreme laxity of those who had charge selfish crimes, and upon - the most elevated and
of the prisoners had become apparent, and Smea- patriotic deeds. A great fault exists somewhere:
ton had established a certain sort of friendship it is true, order and respect for law must be mainwith his jailers; but the principal fact was that tained; the will of the majority must rule; it
they showed themselves accessible to bribes, so may be, even, that, for general security, men
lthat the puobability of escape was reasoaably add- must be punished for bold attacks upon existing
ed to the probability of acquittal or of pardon. institutions; but let us not be called upon to deNevertheless, with hope for their guide, they flat- inounce as guilt that which is mistake, or enthutered themselves that the delay in bringing the siasm, or virtue.
prisoners to trial arose from the intention of spar-   The dark scene was over; the verdict was
ing them; but they experienced a bitter disap- given, the sentence pronounced, the blade of the
pointment in the end, when Smeaton and the rest ax turnIed toward the prisoner; and one more of
were impeached of lhigh treason by the House the gallant and the true was carried back from
of Coummons, and their trial came on with unusu- the bar to the Tower, to aswait the fate of a traitor.
at rapidity.                                   In the anticipation of that moment, Smeaton
As is well known, the greater part of the in- lhad often felt how terrible it would be. He had
surgent noblemen pleaded guilty. But Smeaton doubted his own courage, his own fortitude; he
would not join in this plea. He acknowledged had nerved his mind to resist all the impulses of
ftle whole share he had borne inl the rebellion; his mortal nature,lest he should meanly and fainthe entered into minute details of all that had oc- heartedly supplicate for life, as others had done.
ourred; he showed, as well as he had the means He recollected that there were many endearing
of showing, that he was actually driven to join ties around him; that youth, and love, and hope,
the insurgents; but he could bring no proof of and high health, and all the bright amenities of
the fact. Richard was still absent, although he being, attached him to the world in which he
had promised to return in a fortnight, and noth- was; that it was full of deliAht and enjoyment
ing had been heard of him when the trial took to one so constituted mentalXy and bodily; and
place. Smeaton's mere unsupported word had that the thought of parting with it in its hour of
little weight with the peers; but, while most of greatest excellence might well shake his resolathe others were, upon their own plea, condemned tion and undermine his firmness.  But when
at once, a space of time was taken to consider and each peer had pronounced his judgment, and
to allow for the collection of evidence before his when the frightful and barbarous sentence was
-tial.                                       passed, it was marvelous, even to his own mind,
The lawyers labored hard to induce him to how calmly he bore himself, how firm and comwithdraw his plea of not guilty, and cast himself posed he felt. It seemed for the moment as if
upon the royal mercy; but, although his mind, the tremulous, vibrating, anxious chord between
till the insurrection had actually begun, had been hope and fear was snapped, and that his feet
in that doubtfidl and undecided state which is were firmly fixed upon the rock of fate. Take
most painful to men of a determined and resolute away hope, and there is no such thing as fear.
character, yet, once having joined in it, either   During a short space of time all hope was over
the prejudices of early education resumed their in his bosom. But, in the mean while, others
sway, or the enthusiasm of his companions in- were preparing hope for him, and to two sepafected his own mind, and he could not bring him- rate scenes we must turn, where busy love was
self to believe that there was guilt in supporting eagerly exerting itself, in different ways and withby arms the sovereign whom all his family had out concert, to avert the blow from his head. I
served, and whose claim to the throne of England know not which to depict first, for they both octhey had never on any occasion renounced. He curred on the same day and very nearly at the




HENRY SiMEATON.                                      147
sanme hour; but perhaps I had better choose the George just as he had crossed an ante-room and
one which, from presenting few if any characters was about to enter a large drawing-room beyond,
already brought under notice, may have the least round which were grouped a great number eo'
interest for the reader.                    brilliant-looking people il a blaze of light. He
Into a gorgeous room of a palace, containing a ventured to stop the sovereign in his advance,
number of distinguished persons-some marked saying something to him in a very low tone in
out to the eye by the splendor of their apparel, the Latin language, for many of the first nobility
some by their beauty or their grace-entered a of England at that period did not speak French
middle-aged man, small in stature, insignificant or German, and the first George's stock of Enin appearance, and w ith his somewhat large head glish was not very copious.
rendered more ridiculously conspicuous by a huge   " Who is he-who is he?" asked the monarch,
Ranillies wig. He was dressed in tea-colored also speaking Latin, though not in its greatest
velvet, with his sword by his side and his hat on, purity. " What does he want at this hlor?"
and the door by which he entered was thrown   " He bears dispatches from Lord Stair, sire,"
open for him by one of the high noblemen of the the nobleman answered who had spoken to him,
court, while another, bearing a light in either "and is charged to deliver them  immediately
hand, walked backward into the room before into your majesty's own hands. He is the young
him. He was avery mean-looking person; cold, gentleman whom your majesty declared to be
unlovable in aspect, looking like a small dancing- more praiseworthy, on account of his speedy renmster in a holiday suit; but yet he was a king. pentance and atonement, than others who had
At one side of the room, supporting herself by snever joined the rebellion."
the back of a chair, stood a tall and queenly womn-   I-e spoke still in a low tonie; but the monarch
an of some sixty years of age. Her natural hair, replied, aloud, "Admit him-admit him. He is
as white as snow, appeared slightly from beneath a strange boy, but whatever comes from my Lord
the weeds of widowhood; and her striking and Stair is worthy of immediate attention."
beautiful face-beautiful even in sorrow-was   "The dispatches were to be delivered in pripale and worin with long and heavy sickness. vate, sire," observed the other; "but the bearer
The moment the king entered, she advanced to- was detained for want of horses on the Dover
ward him with a step firm and dignified; but she road. Shall I-"
sank upon her knees as she came near, and stretch-   "So be it, so be it," replied the king.  C" lose
out her handls toward him, holding what appeared the doors again. Make every body quit the room
to be a petition.                            but you and Walpole, my lord, and then bring
"Who are you, madam, who are you?" asked the young man in."'the king, in French.                          The personage to whom he spoke proceeded
"I aln the unhappy Countess of Eskdale, sire," to fulfill his commands, and William Newark, lin
replied the lady, in the same language. " I do obedience to those commands, quitted the room
beseech you, hear me, and receive.my petition with a scowling brow, which was not bri-htened
for my poor son. Spare him, gracious monarch by the passing of Richard Newark in the -very
-spare him, and I pledge-"                   door-way. He did not venture to say any thing,
She was not permitted to finish the sentence. however, aind the lad advanced with a small packThe cold-hearted king drew back at her first et in his hand straight toward the king, without
words, and, with a sort of frightened and repuls- any other salutation than merely a low bow.
ive look, turned toward a different door frorm that   "Bend your knee, bend your knee," said the
by which he had entered. But the lady caught elderly nobleman, in a whisper; and the lad,
him by the skirt of his coat, pleading with all the after a moment's hesitation, did as he was diearnestness of maternal love for her son's life, rected.
while he' rudely endeavored to shake himself   "I am glad to see you again, young gentlefree, walking with a quick step toward the other man," said Kinl  George.  " You have been to
side of the room, and literally dragging her after Paris, I suppose."  And, at the samle time lihe
him as she still kept her hold, endeavoring to took the packet and broke it open. It contained
force the petition upon him.                 two sheets; but. before he proceeded to examlA gentleman with a cut upon his brow, who iine either of them, the monarch added a question.
had entered with the monarch, now whispered "Do you know," he asked, "why Lord Stair
in his ear in French,                        happened to address me personally instead of the
"Be firm, sire! be firm! Shall I remove her?" secretary l"
The monarch made an eager motion of assent,   "Because the matter was for your majesty's
and thle other, casting his arms round Lady Esk- own ear," replied Richard Newark, somewhat
dale, tore her away. The paper which she held abruptly.  " We do not give an apple to one boy
in her hand dropped to the ground; and, instantly to hand it to another, for fear he should eat it
rising to her full height as the monarch passed himself."
the door. she turned a look of dignified anger on   The king laughed good-humoredly, alnd prohim who had interposed to prevent the receptioni ceeded to read the first sheet, which, beginniing
of ner petition, and exclaimed aloud, in English, at the bottom of the first page, and ending at the
"Oh, William Newark, William Newark! Ever top of the fourth page, did not seem to conltain
ready, like the viper, to sting the hand that has much matter. Whatever that matter was, it seemfostered you, and to aid in all that is hard and ed to give the king great satisfaction.  " That is
selfish!"                                    good-that is very good," he said. "He is an
" Poor lady!" said the gentleman thus address- invaluable man. We shall know how to honor
ed, with a look of contemptuous pity; and he fol- him. All is safe in that quarter." He then turned
lowed the king. But there was another who to the other sheet, and his face instantly changed.
followed also —a grave-looking man of the mid-   " Ha!" he said, with a curling lip and an irrndle age, with a calm and placid countenance, and table eye. " More about this Lord Eskdale! He
a blue ribbon across his breast. With a quick joined the rebels wittingly, adhered to them till
but easy step, lie hurried on and overtook King the last moment, was taken with artns ii his




148                            EHENRY SMEATON.
hands, and he must die. I have signed the war- king, concluding that he had passed on into the
rant."                                       drawing-room, had thronged thither by another
"Then kill me firstssir," rejoined Richard New- way. But a full hour elapsed before the monark, bluffly, "' for I fi/st helped to engage him in  arch joined his guests.
the rebellion; and, had it not been for his ad-   Now let us turn to the other scene which I
vice, I should never have quitted it. He went have mentioned, in which strong affection was
against his own will, as your majesty will see if busily engaged for Smeaton's deliverance, but in
youl read; and, if he dies, it will be as a bird  a different manner. Let us break into the midthat is caught in a trap because he was deceived  dile of it, however, for what is to follow will exby the baits set for him. Your majesty can not plain what is past.
understand till you read, any more than I can see    " No, no, dearest lady," said old Mrs. Culpepthrough that wall; for there is a great deal be- per, in a low but eager tone, " it must not be.
yond your sight or mine, unless a door be opened  The boat is prepared, the ship ready to sail the
ftr each of us to look through."             moment his foot is on board. You must go with
The king gazed at him for a moment in utter him, and all will be safe."
surprise, as if completely astouilded by the lad's    " Then who is to stay and personate him in
impudence; but gradually a sense of the justice  the prison?" asked Emmeline. " Indeed it must
of what he had heard seemed to overpower the  be as I have said. Although you have bribed the
alight sense of anger, and, without answering a people to shut their eyes, yet I do not believe
syllable, he turned his eyes to the paper, and pro- they dare venture to let three people pass out
ceedled to read it to the very end. When he had  when only two have passed in. In this I will
done so, the expression of his countenance was have my way, indeed. I fear nothing. I do not
again greatly changed: a hesitating and embar- believe there is any man so cruel as to punish a
rassed look came upon his face. He put his fin- wife for saving her husband's life. I will wrap
ger under his large wig, rubbed his temple, and  myself in his roquelalure, and sit brooding over
pulled up one of his stockings, which had some- the fire. My heart may beat, but no one will
what slipped down the leg, and most likely tick- see it. My eyes may overflow, but I will cover
led his shin; then turning to another gentleman  them with my hands. The first plan was the
present, he said, " Come with me, Mr. Walpole  best-far the best; and it is my bounden duty,
-come with me, my lord. I will go to my cab- as well as my earnest wish, to risk any thing to
inlet for a moment."                         myself for his sake. Oh, Heaven! what happiThus saying, he took two steps toward the  ness will it be hereafter, even if they should slut
door by which he had entered, but then turned  me in a prison and never let me see his face
a sharp glance upon Richard Newark, who was again, to think that I have saved him!"
standing by with a vacant air, looking down at   " It is the same plan still, dear lady," replied
the hilt of his sword. It was the same sword  Mrs. Culpepper, with her usual calm and quiet
which Smeaton had given to him.              manner; "but you must not, call not execute it
The monarch's look was certainly not very  in the way you propose. Consider your height,
placable at first, but something seemed to touch  the difference between your tiny figure and his.
the risible organs in his brain or heart —wher- They would be blind indeed to mistake you;
ever they may lie; and we all know that in those  and we can not expect them to be so blind as
organs a great deal of the milk of human kind- that. I am shorter than he is, but still I am very
cess is secreted. He'laughed, low but gayly, tall, and the difference will not easily be seen.
and said,                                    They will not mark very exactly, especially if he
"' Get away, sir, get away. Lord Stair has put his handkerchief to his face, and seeni to weep.
tlrusted his letters to a somewhat indiscreet mes- My clothes will nearly fit him, too, and-"
sBenacer."                                      "And,will you-will you stay in his place?"
" The best in the world could not have done  asked Emmeline, gaziong in her face with a look
better, your majesty," replied Richard Newark, of wonder and gratitude. "What will you say
boldly, "for he has delivered them safely into  wlen they find you there? You have no such
the best hands in the realm."                excuse as I have."
If he meant it, nothing could have been more    "I will say, lady," replied the woman, earndexterous than his reply. It was a compliment, estly, "that he drew the milk from this breast
slightly veiled under a rudeness. But I very  as an infaint; that he was to me as a child when
much doubt whether he did mean it. However, God had taken niy own; that he was my nursKing George smiled most graciously, saying,    ling, my beloved, my only one, when I had lost
"Go, sir, go. We shall not forget you."    all else on earth who loved me or whom I could
Richard Newark bowed and retired, while the  love. Then, if they choose to shorten miy days
king again took a step or two toward the door.  or make me pass them in a prison, it is but little
Before he passed out of the room, however, they can take away and little they can inflict.
the king turned to a gentleman with a florid  It must be so indeed, lady; and now we are only
countenance, saying,                         losing time. They will not let us pass in or out
"We shall not meet that woman again, I hope, after eleven. It is now past nine, and it will
for I have not quite made up my mind. Keep  take soinme time to disguise him as we wish.
that man, Sir William Newark, fiom me. I do  Haste, then, to get on your hood. I am quite
not; like him as I did."                     ready. With this sacque abovee my other clothes,
So saying, and suffering Mr. Walpole and one  and a large French capole, every. thing is ready
of his attendants to precede him, he followed  to hide his face and figure."
slowly anid thoughtfully out of the room.      Emmeline looked down thoughtfi:ully, but she
The adjoining chamiber was by this time va- said nothing, for her heart was too full to speak,.ant; the unhappy Lady Eskdale had left it the  and inl a few minutes they set out upon their admonouent after she had received so violent a re- venture, followed by two men-servants, whom
buff; and the courtiers who had been present the old housekeeper had already prepared for
when she sought to force her petition upon the  the task in hand.




HENRY SMEATON.                                        149
The moment they were gone, however, one of               CHAPTER XLIV.
Sir John Newark's men, who had lived at Ale for
several years, and who had been accustomed to    AT the hour of half past tell, two persons isact as one of his spies upon all that took place ill sued forth from the room in the Tower in wnich
the house, crept silently out and pursued them  the young Earl of' Eskdale had been long conwith a stealthy step down the little street.  He fined. Both were  dressed in female apparel;
saw them cross Tower Hill, and obtain admis- both were apparently much affected; and it apsion at the gates; and then turning to the right, peared very natural that they should be so, as
he approached a house in a neighboring street, the following morning was appointed for the
hurrying his walk as much as he could without bloody spectacle of an execution on Tower Hill.
converting it into a run. At the moment he I The limbs of the younger and shorter lady tremreached the door, one of the ordinary hackney  bled so much that they could hardly bear her
coaches of the day drew up, and a gentleman in up; but the other, though apparently weeping
somewhat brilliant attire descended with a slowt and holding a handkerchief to her eyes, seemed
step. T'he man waited till he had paid the fare, much more firm, and contrived to support the
mid then plucked him by the sleeve, whispering  wavering steps of her companion as they passed
something in his ear. The gloomy and discon- out into the passage.
tented face of the other instantly cleared up, and    The jailer who opened the door to give them
he exclaimed, with a mocking laugh, " Ha, ha! exit from the room looked in and saw a tall figThen they have put themselves in the trap. I ure, wrapped in a red cloak laced with gold,
will away to the Tower. You stay and watch  seated by the fire, with the head leaning on the
at the gates. But no-better let them be caught hand. "All is right," he cried, speaking to anin the very act, just when they fancy themselves other man at the top of the stairs hard by. "P' ass
secure. It will be more meritorious to bring them. out!"
him back after he has actually escaped than to I -Iastening onward through the passages and
prevent him from doing so. You are sure-quite  courts of the Tower, as fast as the ag'itation of the
sure? It would never do to take an old raven fair girl would permit, they came without obinstead of a young hawk."                     struction to the outer gate, where the two men"I am quite sure," replied the man, "for I servants were waitiig in. the little gate-house.
overheard it all as I listened at the hole I have The turnkey who accompanied them seemed to
made' in the wall.  This morning I could not be a kind-hearted man for one in such an office,
make out which of the two it is who is to play and, while the wicket was being opened, he said,
his part, but just now I heard, and I am quite " Don't take it so much to heart, lady. Perhaps
certain. The old woman was his nurse, it seems, he may be pardoned, after all."
and is ready to sacrifice her life for him."    One of the tall warders who stood near gave
"Well, well, go to the gates and watch," re- him a grim, contemptuous look, and uttered a
joined William Newark.  " Give instant ilforlll- short, cruel laugh; but the two visitors, without
ation if they come forth. I will go and get a reply, passed unopposed through the wicket, and
messenger. There is one lives hard by."       stood upon Tower Hill. The men-servants folThe servant did as the other bade him; but I lowed, and the gate was closed.
he had not reumained many minutes near the gates   Still keeping profoundly silent, they all walked.
of the Tower when some quick steps approach- on with great speed, nlot toward the little street
ed, and he trained round toward the new comners. in which Emmeline had lived, but toward the
" Ha, ha, crld Truepenny!" said Richard New- I end of another street. When they were half way
ark, taking the man's arm in a firm grasp, " what i across the open space, the taller of the two bent
are you on the watch for here?"'             down, saying in a whisper, " Bear up, bear 1p,
" Nothing, Master Richard," answered the dear Emmeline.  We are well-nigh safe inow."
man. " I am only just taking the air."          But hardly were the words uttered when two
"You won't let your intentions take the air, at or three men came quickly across, and one of
all events," retorted Richard Newark. " I know  them caught hold of the apparently elder womyou, serviceable knave! This is the fellow," he an's arm, exclaiming, with a mocking laugh,
continued, turning to the two young men who " You are a tall lady, upon my soul, to walk upon
accompanied him, " this is tile fellow who in- Tower Hill of a niight! Gadzooks, we must see
bformed of the smuggled tea."                 more of your ladyship!"'" Then I will baste him to a stock fish," cried    Another man —who subsequently turned out
one of the youths, brandishing his cudgel.    to be a messenger sent in pursuit —at the same
" No, no," interrupted Richard, with a laugh. moment seized the young earl (for I need hardly' Wait till you get him back at Ale, and then tar say it was he) with a hard, strong grasp, exand feather him. Hasten off, Argus, or we will claiming, " Henry, Earl of Eskdale, I charge you,
leave you no eyes to see out of."             in tle.king's name, to make lno resistance."
The man had no hesitation in obeying; and,   With a faint, despairing cry, Emmeline sank
as soon as the young gentleman had relaxed his to the ground, while they dragged Sineaton away
grasp, ran across the open space as fast as his from her side. The two servants, running sip,
legs would carry him.                         demanded, " Who are you who dare to stop
Richard Newark then turfied toward the gates these ladies?" and angry words began to pass;
again; but, taking three steps in advanice, paused, but Smeatons interposed, saying, " It is in vaini, it
and, after a moment's thought, with his hand is in vain. Look to your lady, my good men.
pressed upon his brow, quietly glided away to a Convey her home safely.  God bless you, nmy
little distance, followed by the two lads.    Emmeline!"
"What is the matter, what is the matter here?"
cried Richard Newark, suddenly appearing with
two or three more, while the man who had first
seized upon Smeaton left him in the hands of the
messenger, and raised Emmeline from the ground.




150                              HENRY SMEATON.'Ah, Master Dick!" le exclaimed, "have you   Then turning to one of the warders, he said, in
a finger in this pretty pie?  Better put yourself a sharp tone,
out of harm's way, young man, as fast as possi-   "Shut the wicket, I say, and lock it.  Let no
ble."                                          one pass in or out till I return.  Keep that man
" How dare you touch that lady, scoundrel?" safe too," he continued, pointing to- the messendemanded Richard, in a voice furious with pas- ger, " and be perfectly silent with him. Let no
sion, as he recognized the person of William  one exchange a word with him, as you value the
Newark.  " Take that for your pains!" and, king's favor. My Lord of Eskdale, will you do
holding the scabbard of his sword with his left me the honor of accompanying me back to your
hand, he struck his cousin a furious blow with chamber?  I wish to speak a few words with
the right.                                     you. Let go his arm, sir, this instant!"
William Newark started forward and drew his   The messenger instantly relaxed his graso;
sword; Richard's was not long in the sheath; and Smeaton, not less astonished than his captor,
but the servants interposed, and parted them for'ollowed the lieutenant in silence back to the
the time, though not till words had been spoken room where he had been confined.  They found
— some in loud anger, some in the low tones of the door open, but within stood the turnkey,
intense hate-which bore their fruit soon after. looking glooly enough, with his arms crossed
The last four of those words were uttered in a upon his chest, and old Mrs. Culpepper, with the
whisper.                                      young lord's roquelaure now cast off, seated in
" At seven, and alone," said Richard, in his her usual attire before the fire. The moment
cousin's ear.                                 she heard steps, however, she started up, and,
The other nodded his head, and turned sullen- gazing at Smneaton, clasped her hands together
lty away, while Richard aided to raise the un- in silence with a look of unutterable anguish.
happy girl, whose last hope had been extinguish-   " Remove her to my lodging,", said the lieued by her husband's recapture, and carried her, tenant, speaking to' the tumnkey, "and keep her
still insensible, to her dwelling.            there under your guard till I come."
In the mean time the messenger and two of   The young earl, however, started forward and
his men conducted thbir prisoner back to the took her by the hand.
gates of the Tower with feelings in the bosom    "Thanks, excellent woman!" he exclaimed,
of Sineaton too dark, too painful for description. "a thousand thanks! I pray God, as one of my
To his own fate his mind had long been made last prayers, that he may defend you and my
up, and the extinction of a brief hope of escape I Emrmeline, and shield you from all the ill conseadded little to the load he had to bear; but the quences of this night."
thought of what might befall Emmeline in con-   Before she could reply-for her voice was
sequence of her effort to save him, and of the clhoked with sobs-she was removed from the
certain consequences to the devoted woman who room, and the lieutenant, carefully closing tlhe
had placed her liberty and even her life in peril door, said, with a faint and rueful smile,
for him, was too heavy to be borne with any    "That dress does not become you, my lord.
thing like calmness.                          Let me beg you to throw it off, for I hardly know
Arrived at the gates of the Tower, they found whether I anm speaking to the Earl of Eskdlale or
the wicket, to their surprise, open, and a gool  an old womanl."
deal of confusion under the arch-way of the gate-   "That is easily done," replied Sineaton, casthouse. Some twelve or fourteen men were col- ing off the loose garment called a sacqze, which
lected;  a buzz of tongues was going on1, and was, for three quarters of a century, a favorite
some loud anid angry words were being spoken. habiliment of the ladies of France and England.
The lieutenant governor himself, in a silk dress- " Now, sir, I am your prisoner again.  I beseech
ing-gown, was present, with a man beside him  you to leave me, for the last few hours of' my life,
holding    a lantern; and just as the messenger to the thoughts which befit the occasion, and, if
passed the wicket, still holding the prisoner fast it be possible, to conceal the events which have
by the arm, they heard that officer exclaim,  taken place, so as to shield that excellent creat"Shut the gate-shut the gate! Every one ire and all others from the consequences."
keep silence! If you can be discreet, no harm    "This is a very awkward affair, my lord," obmay come of this.  If not, some of your necks served the lieutenant, thoughtfully; "and, upon
lmlay pay for it. Hea! who have we here?"    my life, I do not well know wvhat is to be done.
"An escaped prisoner, Mr. Lieutenant," an- Will your lordship answer me this one question'
swered the messenger, who was willing to take on your honor? Were any of the jailers-I do
all possible credit to himself.  "-I am  sharp not wish you to specify the individual —were any
enough; and I got information of this fine plot." of the jailers accessory to your escape?"
The lieutenant governor stared at him coldly,   " Not in the least, to the best of my knowledge
with no great appearance of satisfaction in his and belief," replied Lord Eshdale. "They have
counteliance.                                 had firom me the ordinary gratuities and nothing
" Pray, Mr. Messenger," he said, after a mo- more; nor am I aware of their having connived
ment's thought, "had you any warrant for what in the least.  They were deceived, as you youryou have done?"                              self, perhaps, might have been, by the disguise."
The mnan looked aghast at the question, but   "I thank your lordship for that assurance,"
replied, in a somewhat insolent tone,         said the lieutenant, " for it sets my mind greatly
" I needed no warrant to apprehend a convict- at ease; but yet I hardly know how to act."
ed traitor whom you have suffered one way or   " Methinks if you were simply to report that I
another to slip out of the Tower."            had endeavored to escape, and had been preventThe lieutenant still gazed at him with a frown- ed, that would be all that your duty requires."
ir.g brow and teeth tight shut, and then said,  " I do not know that," replied the lieutenant.
"You may have to prove, Mr. Messenger, that " It is true, I never yet heard of a pardon being
you possess such a justification of your conduct. revoked; but certain it is, that an attempt tu
I tell you, you have not."                    break prison —"




HENRY SMEATON.                                        151
"A pardon!" exclaimed Smeaton, with his has already shown himself inore merciful toward
heart beating more vehemently than it would  me than I could have expected."
have done at the sight of the block and ax.
"What do you mean, sir?"                       He had hardly concluded when the lieutenant
"I mean, my lord, exactly what I say," replied  returned; and, in a few minutes, the young nothe lieutenant governor. "Just at the time when blemlan was left once more alone, to wait with
your lordship must have been preparing to effect painful anxiety for the result.
your escape,. the secretary of state's messenger   But, in the mean while, we must follow the
brought me a letter, authorizing me to announce lieutenant to the palace. The secretary of state
to you his majesty's free pardon, and to say that, was called out to speak with him; and, after a
though it will not pass the seal till to-morrow, brief conference, returned to the court. Anhour
you may consider yourself from this moment at passed, and a few minutes more, while the lieuliberty. How the events of this night may be tenant remained in an ante-room, waiting the
construed, and what I ought to do in these cir- king's pleasure. At length the sound of many
curmstances, I really can not tell. As a man of people passing out was heard, with the roll of
honor, my lord, what ought I to do?"         carriages; and a page entering, bade the officer
In a state of terrible agitation, Smeaton walked follow him to the king's closet.  Unable to speak
twice up and down the room, and then, turning either French or Latin, he could simply lay the
to the lieutenant, he said,                   Earl of Eskdale's letter before the king, and trust
"No consideration, sir, shall make me ask you to the secretary to translate it accurately, and
to neglect your imperative duty. You must in- give any further explanation. When the monform the king, however terrible the state of sus- arch had heard the whole, however, he laughed
pense must be to me, and however perilous may good-humoredly, saying,
be the result.  I could wish it, indeed, done    "Escape!  Of course he did try to escape.
immediately; but at this hour of the night-"    What could a gentleman in his situation do bet-' My lord, you are, indeed, a noble man," re- ter?  No, no: our sign-manual is to the pardon.
plied the lieutenant, " and I do not think you It only wants the seal, and we will not revoklm
will lose by your conduct. I had retired to bed, it. We could not revoke a pardon, gentlemen.
somewhat unwell, before the imessenger arrived. Severity may be reconsidered —mercy never.
He insisted upon my being awakened, and some Besides, it is clear, from the evidence of Lord
delay consequently occurred, otherwise the par- Stair, and from that of Colonel Churchill, who
don would have been announced to you before took Thomas Higham's dying deposition, that this
you made this attempt.  When I came to your young nobleman had no will to the work they
room ivith the information, as I was commanded, put him upon; that he was at heart our own, notI found you gone. But I will tell you what I withstanding the prejudices of his fmily; and
will do.  His majesty is still up, for there is a that the machinations of this Sir John Newark
court to-night; and I will immediately set out and others abused a somewhat rash and hasty
and lay before him or the secretary of state the disposition.  Something must be done with that
facts as they are. Stay! Perhaps it may be bet- same knight. I fear we can not touch him for
ter for you to write to the king yourself, and I treason, but as to seditious practices, there must
will be your messenger. It is absolutely need- be some law which will affect him."
ful this step should be taken at once. You have    "I am not sure, sire," replied Mr. Staanhope,
writing materials here. Pray'write as briefly as one of the secretaries of state, " that this gentlepossible, while I put myself in a different dress man's acts do not amount to treason.  His letter
to present myself at the palace.'             to the Earl of Mar is undoubtedly treasonable."
Thus saying, he left him; and Simeaton pro-   " Well, well, see to it, see to it," said the king.
oeeded, with a rapid hand, to write'as follows:  " As to this young lord, let the pardon pass. He
may be set free at once."
"SIrE,-Your majesty's gracious clemency has   " His majesty says lie will not revoke the parbeen this moment aniounced to me; and I beg don, Mr. Lieutenant," said the secretary.  " You
to lay humbly the expression of my gratitude be- may set Lord Eskdale at liberty. But I think it
fore you. I know not any thing but your own  would be better if he were to pass some time in
merciful consideration which canl have induced  France."
you to spare ine, though I assure you, on my hon-   The lieutenant of the Tower bowed and withor, that the facts which I stated without proof at drew.  Much to his satisfaction, few questions
my trial, regarding the causes which, if I may  had been asked; and, returning to the Tower as
use the term, had driven me or misled me to take fast as a pair of slow horses would draw him, hle
arms, were strictly true.  Let me also assure you entered once more that abode of gloom and sorthat henceforth, neither directly nor indirectly, row. He found the messenger who had seized
will I ever be found opposing your title to a Smeaton on Tower Hill still in the gate-house,
crown which I am now thoroughly convinced and ordered his liberation, saying,
you hold by the will of a great majority of the    "You have somewhat exceeded your duty, sir,
people, if you still condescend to extend your but it was in ignorance. I find that the Earl of
mercy toward me. But, at the same time, I feel Eskdale's pardon was already signed. I have lno
it light you should be informed that, at the very orders with regard to you, so you may go free;
moment your gracious pardon was notified at the but you had better be cautious."
Tower, I was engaged, without the participation   He then proceeded straight to the room of his
of any one within these walls, in an attempt to former prisoner, bearing him the joyful tidings
effect my escape from prison, fully believing that that his pardon was confirmed.
in its success lay my only chance for life. That   " As to this old lady," he said, " who chose to
attempt was frustrated; and I will not even en- personate a young gentleman, nothing whatever
deavor to persuade the royal officers of the Tow- has been said with regard to her, and therefore I
or to conceal the facts from you, but willingly  suppose I must take upon myself the responsibilleave my life at the disposition of a monarch who ity of letting her go, having no warrant to detain




152                              HENRY SMEATON.
her. With regard to yourself, my lord, you can on his back, with his sword still clutched in his
either remain here for the night, or depart if you grasp, an old scar on his brow, and a swordplease.  But I must not fail to inform you that wound right through his chest. Life had eviMr. Secretary Stanhope hinted it might be better dently been extinct for some time; and Smeafor you to pass some time quietly in France. Will ton, who knew him well, bestowed little thought
you pass out to-night or to-morrow?"         upon him.
To-night, assuredly," replied the young earl.   Near the spot where he lay, which was one
"I would fain bear the comfortable tidings my- pool of gore, the ground was again -dabbled with
self to those whose hearts are now full of mourn- blood, and, tracking the drops which marked the
ing, and first to that good old woman who has frosty grass for nearly three hundred yards, they
risked so much for me."                       came to a place where, under some tall trees,
"Come with me, then," said the lieutenant.   and with his back leaning against one of them,
In about half an hour, Smeaton, holding his sat Richard Newark, near a stile which he had
good old nurse by the hand, passed free through apparently attempted, in vain, to reach.  His
the gates of the Tower, with one of the govern- face was ashy pale, and his hand rested languidm's servants carrying  his little stock of baggage ly against the tree; but he still held a handkerafter them.                                   chief, sopped in blood, to his right side, as if to
They took their way straight toward the street stanch the bleeding of a severe wound. He
in which Emmeline's abode had been -fixed; and, could not speak, nor even lift his head at first;
though it was now nearly three o'clock in the but SmeatonI, while one of the men ran off for a
morning, lights were still to be seen through the surgeon and some restoratives, unbuttoned his
caevices of the shutters.  It was with no slight waistcoat, aLnd with remarkable skill soon conanxiety that Srneaton waited for the opening of trived to stop the current which was draining
the door, and it seemed long before it was un- away his life. He recovered a little in a few
fastened. At length, however, one of the men minutes; and after the arrival of the surgeon,
who had accompanied the Lady Emnmeline that who immediately gave him some of the essences
night to the Tower appeared with a light, and then in vogue, looked up, with a light smile, in
uttered an exclamlation of joyful surprise when he his friend's face, saying, " Ha, ha, Eskdale! I
saw the faces of those who had just knocked.    have paid our friend all debts; but that which
"H'tsh!" said Sineaton, in a low voice.  "How  vexed the scoundrel most was that li he should be
is your lady?"                               killed by the hand of a boy, as he called me.
"Oh, nay lord, she will be well enough now," How he did curse when he was dying! Well,
replied the man.                              you may set up for a fencing-master when all
"Hark!" said Richard Newark, from the little other trades fail, though he did whip me his
parlor. "Hark! Emmeline, look up. Itoldyou point over the arm, because I did not turn my
so. There is hope —there is comfort still;" and, wrist quick enough, as you taught me."
as he spoke, he threw open the door.             The surgeon insisted upon his keeping silence;
Emmeline had been sitting with her fair face, and a door, taken off the hinges, being obtained,
-leluged in tears, covered by her hands, but at he was placed upon it and carried away to the
her young cousin's words she looked up, started nearest house where lodging could be procured.
forward, and in an instant was in her husband's There the wound he had received was more fiully
ar-ms.                                        examined, and proved to be, in reality, of no very
I need not pause upon all the explanations that daingerous character, except from the great loss
were given. I need not tell the joy that was of blood it had occasioned. Before evening lte
felt; anld, indeed, as to the further events of that was better and stronger, and the sight of EmmneIlight, it is only necessary to say that, after hear- line and her husband by his bedside seemed to
ing but a very small portion of Smeaton's story, revive and cheer him greatly. But as the tidings
Richard Newark left the lovers to their own hap- of another factal duel in, Mary-le-Bone fields bepiness.                                       gan to spread, inquiries and investigations were
On the followiing morning, about eight o'clock, set on foot which, it was evident, could not long
a note, written in a crabbed, boy-like hand, was be baffled. The fact of the duel having takenl
given to the Earl of Eskdale, who opened it place without seconds or witnesses rendered the
-hastily and read these words:                youth's situation rather perilous, and a long consultation took place that night between the Earl
"NoBLE FaREND, — I am going to try, this morn-                       b
ing, whether you are a good fencing-mraster, and
fencn                Oi the following dmoning early, a ship in the
whether the blacle you gave me is worth hand-   On tlhe following molinig  early, a ship in the
hetrg. Should I riot job you and dear Emy by  Thames, bound for Dunkirk, received somne five
lig.  Should I not oin yo u will h   dear Emmy  by or six persons on board, and set sail immediateeight o'clock, you will hear something of me in ly.  Among them  was Richard Newark, who
Mary-le-Bone fields.  God bless you both for a lT, Ar
Mary —Bone fields.  God bless you both for a was carried into the vessel on a mattress. There
paiofloving turtles. If you do't see hi  again, was also the young and beautiful Countess of
think, from time to time, of    Poon DIicK."                                             o
Eskdale, somewhat pale and anxious of' look,
Emmeline had not yet risen; and Smeaton, who sat upon the deck as they dropped down
calling some of the servants hastily together, set the river, with her hand restinlg on that of a tall,
onut with terrible feelings of apprehension for the dignified lady, advanced in life and habited in
spot which the note had indicated, and which, I deep mourning.  The rest of the party consisted
may remark, was notorious at the time for the of Smeaton, two men-servants, the good old womnumber of duels which it witnessed.  Calling an who had played such a conspicuous part in
some people, who were better acquainted with the events which have been narrated, and a maidthe locality than themselves, to their aid, they servant.
searched the fields, which then extended where    There carld be no doubt that the government
now stands Baker Street and the adjacent masses at that time connived at the escape of many perof houses, for some time without success; but at sons flrom the rigor of the law, and certain it is 
length they came upon the body of a man lying that the vessel I have mentioned was suffered to




HENRY SMEATON.                                       153
set sail without any obstruction. The passage  rived here this morning, after we have not met
was smooth and easy, and the whole party land- for so long a time! Do you know, Emmeline,"
ed safely on the shores of France.          he continued, turning to his wife. " that this is
the anniversary of the day on which I first set
eyes on that dear face."
I" Do you think I can ever forget it, Henry?"
CHAPTER XLV.                   she answered.  " It is the first of my days of
brightness. It is like a sweet song remembered
THE darker scenes of the early part of the  in a happy dream."
reign of George I.. had passed away, and though    " And how can I ever thank you, my deai
there were troubles and contentions in many  lord,"' continued her husband, addressing her
parts of Europe, and conspiracies and designs  father, " for giving me that commission to seek
against the existing government in England, and regain for you your daughter, which has
general tranquillity reigned in this island, and  ended in bestowing such happiness on myself 3"
prosperity and happiness were following fast    " There are two things, my dear Harry, for
upon the steps of peace.                    which many sage friends have blamed me," reBut I must lead the reader away from En- plied Lord Newark, " which I can never regret,
gland to a small village in France, some eight or and of the wisdom of which even those who
nine miles from the capital-a sufficient distance  blamed me are now convinced: the one, my
to retain all its rustic quietness, and yet near having trusted a young man, whom I knew to
enough to allow the intelligence of the great be the soul of real honor, with so delicate a
world to penetrate before it had grown very  task; the other, my having set at naught all
stale. At the distance of half a mile from this ideas of imaginary dignity, and, as a merchant,
village was placed a small French chateau, having secured to my family that competence
built in a little trim park on a rising ground. which I had lost by doing my duty as a soldier.
The chateau had nothing remarkable about it: I am proud of both these acts; and both have
it was just like all other chateaus at the same  ended in happiness. Had my poor boys but lived
period; a congregation of oddly-shaped masses  to see this day, there would be little in the past
of building, with several little round towers, hav- even to bring one cloud of melancholy over my
ing conical slated roofs, like candles with extin- setting sun."
guishers on their tops. It had a sunny and pleas-   Richard Newark looked up in his face as he
ant aspect, however, and an avenue of fine old  spoke, and asked,
walnut-trees ran up to it from the high road.  "Would you never regret, my good lord and
In a small room in this chateau, very quietly  cousin, having lost in the cause of a bad prince
furnished, sat a group of people, with some of those fair lands in Devonshire, to which I am
whom the reader is already acquainted, enjoy- sure, if you feel like me, you must cling even ia
ing a pleasant dessert of wild strawberries and  memory."
lightBurgundywine. Perfect contentment was    "Not a whit, Dick," replied the old nobleman.
upon all their countenances, and harmony in all " The favors of Fortune, or, as some would call
their hearts. One young man, indeed, was pale  them better, the gifts of God, are loans, my dear
and grave, though serene in aspect.          boy, to be resumed when it is His pleasure;
But I must begin with those of whom the  and-"
reader as yet knows little. They consisted of   4" Then I have borrowed them long enough,"
two elderly people and one young lady. The  interrupted Richard Newark, in his abrupt way
first was a fine, dignified man, somewhat beyond  " and it is high time they should be restored."
the middle age, with hair very gray, but with    "No, no, Dick," said Lord Newark.  " They
eyes still bright and keen. The second was a  are yours since your father's death. I have
lady younger, but not by many years; and  naught to do-with them, and could not enjoy
though they were both advanced in life, as I them even if you gave them up."
have said, they continued to call each other by    "They are not mine at all," replied the young
the names of early affection.                man, " never have been mine, never have been
Passing from one part of the chain of life to  my father's."
another very distant, we must notice that bright-    " But the forfeiture- the forfeiture," exlooking curly-headed boy, little more than two  claimed Lord Newark.  "s If they are not yours,
years old, seated on the knee of that very beau- whose are they."
tiful girl whom he calls " mother," in the good   "' Emmeline's," replied her cousin.  "The
old Saxon tongue. It is Emmeline's boy; and  forfeiture extended not to her. They were setI need not say who is that gentleman by her tled by deed upon your dear lady and her chilside. An old lady close by, now a little bowed  dren, male and female, two years before the forwith age, is the Dowager Countess of Eskdale. feiture. You lost them by drawing the sword
But who are the two whom I have mentioned  against King William. She lost them, and your
as rather beyond middle life 3 Emmeline calls  sons lost them, by accompanying you in the war
them " father, mother;" and looks at them with and in your flight. You four are specially named
love none the less because she was so long be- in the act of attainder; and the lands fell to her
reaved of their fostering care. The pale young  at once as the next heir. The cunning lawman in a military dress, with signs of mourning, yers, I believe, outwitted themselves by maktoo, in his apparel, is Richard Newark; and that ing the black and white parchment so particufat, round, rosy-pippin personage-Heaven! lar; but the original act, always preserved by
what a crowd of leaden figures rush upon the  my father, was found by Van Noost when he
imagination as one looks at him!            went down to patch up an old monument in Ale" It is strange, Dick," said Lord Eskdale, ton church, by putting a leaden hand on a stone
"that you and good Van Noost should have ar- figure. I was always sure there was something




-54                            E-IENRY  SMEATON.
of the kind, or my father would not have kept my little room up two flights c' stairs. when I
such a sharp watch upon Emmy. He was not come to see you; and old Mrs. Culpepper, when
a man to keep pet birds in a cage for the sole she is housekeeper again, must not make the
purpose of feeding them and hearing them sing. maids throw what she used to call my rubbish
God rest his soul! he did it all for me, and so into the fire."
I must say no more."                          Emmeline held out her hand to him kindly;
Lord Eskdale. looked to Emnmeline with a and her husband assured him that he should be
thoughtful inquiring glance, and she read his as fiee as air in any house of his.
meaning in an instant.                        "I have already made free with this house,
" I will not take them, Dick," she said. " I at all events," replied Richard Newark, " for I
can not, will not take them from you. Am I have asked Colonel Churchill to come down
not right, Henry? "                         here to-morrow.  He wants much to see you
" But you must, sweet lady," replied Richard. again, Eskdale; and, I can tell you, you owe
"With what is left I have enough, and more him something more than a dinner and a bottle
than enough, so that you do not make me pay of wine."
back all that has been unjustly taken. The    IHe was exceedingly courteous to me when
lands were conveyed to my father by gift of the I was a prisoner," said the young earl, "and I
crown, saving the appearance of any nearer heir shall be very happy to see him."
not named in the act of forfeiture. The lands  i" Ay, but you owe him more than that," anare yours, therefore, and ever have been yours. swered Richard Newark.
I will have nothing to do with them. I tell you,   " Let me tell him, let me tell him," cried Van
dear cousin, I have enough, and far more than Noost, who had sat marvelously silent after the
enough, for a single man."                  allusion to the leaden hand upon the stone figure.
" But you may marry, Richard," said Emme- " Let me tell him; for I first ferreted out the
line.  " You are very young to make vows of facts, and got Colonel Churchill to write them
celibacy."                                  down for my Lord Stair. After he had received
"Never, never, Emmy," he said; "I will your surrender at Preston, my noble lord, tm
not transmit to others an infirmity;" and he laid went to visit that rascal, Tom Higham, on his
his finger significantly upon his forehead.  death-bed, and from his own lips heard that the
A moment of grave silence succeeded; and fellow had deceived you; that, bribed to lead
then, looking at her father, Emrmeline said,    you on into the rebellion, he had given your letW, ~Tould that I could give them back to you, ter into the hands of the colonel of Lord Stair's
my father!"                                regiment, who tore it open, read it, and sent it
", There is nothing to prevent you, Emmy," back, bidding him tell you that Lord Stair was
said Richard Newark.  "' Lord Stair tells me in Paris, and that, if you would send a messenthat your father can hop over the sea and perch ger to him, doubtless every thing would be exupon Ale at once, if he will but promise to live plained, as that noble lord had never failed in
peaceably under the government that exists. his word, not one syllable of which the rascal
In a word, the attainder can be reversed in a told you."
moment upon such a promise. His not having   " Heaven forgive him!" said Smeaton. "4He
joined in the last affair, where we all burned did much harm."
our fingers more or less, has won him high fa-   The conversation proceeded in the same tone.
vor." But enough of it has been given for all the purLord Newark bent down his head upon his poses of this book. Were I to paint another
hand, and fell into deep thought.           scene, it would be that of Christmas eve at Ale" But come, let us talk of other things," said Manor House, where, round the wide fire-place
Richard Newark, after pausing for an instant. of the great hall, might be seen the faces of the
1"Business is dull work, and that is settled. same persons as were seated round the table
There is only one thing you must promise me, of that small chateau.
Eskdale and Emmeline.  When you are Lord   But the story is long enough, and the readand Lady of Ale-Manor, you must let me have er's fancy must supply the rest.
THE  END.




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON;
OR,
LAUREL WATE iR.
B Y'G. P, R  JA'MES, ESQ,,
AUTHOR OF
"THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES," "THE CONVICT," "MARGARET GRAHAM," "RUSSELL," "'BEAUCHAIMP,"
"THE CASTLE OF EHRENSTEIN," "HEIDELBERG," ETC.
HARPER'& BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS,
82 CLIFF STREET, NEW YORK.
1 848.








PREFACE.
THoUGH I am not, in general, fond of prefaces, yet a few words of explanation must necessarily be prefixed to this work, in order to guard against any
misconception. The name which'it has received will naturally lead the
mind of the reader to conclude that the tale is founded upon the too-celebrated tragedy of "Lawford Hall," and such is certainly, in some degree,
the case; but it must not be supposed that I have attempted to give any thing
like a history of that lamentable transaction, or have even adhered closely
to the facts. On the contrary, I have, in the course of the work, done every
thing I could to mark that such was not my intention, upon the following
considerations, and in the circumstances I am about to state. I had long
known the general facts connected with the death of Sir Theodosius Boughton, and had dwelt upon them with much interest; but the minute details
were more difficult to be obtained, and I was prepossessed with an idea,
very generally entertained, that Captain Donellan, who was executed for
the murder of the young baronet, was his guardian as well as his brotherin-law. In such circumstances, the relative position of the two parties
seemed to me to open a fine field for the displav of strong and dangerous
passions, and no bad opportunity of drawing instructive lessons from their
results. The work was about one third finished when, after considerable
difficulty, I obtained a copy of the trial of Captain Donellan, as reported
from Gurney's short-hand notes, and an impression of a very painful nature
was produced upon my mind. I became convinced that Captain Donellan
had been convicted upon insufficient evidence. I do not by any means intend to imply that I felt at all confident of his innocence; but merely' that
there was not sufficient proof to justify his conviction. Some doubts I had,
indeed, previously entertained from traditions preserved at Rugby and its
neighborhood; but when I read the evidence of the famous John Hunter,
those doubts were changed into a strong and abiding impression that Donellan was condemned without fair legal proof.
It must be remarked that the father of Sir Theodosius, when by no means
an old man, died as suddenly as his son; and although the evidence of John
Hunter was given very cautiously, yet, in the following portion of his examination, he states a clear and decided opinion, which ought to have great-,
ly damaged the case for the prosecution in the minds of the jury. I may
premise that it had been attempted to prove, first, that the body of the young
baronet displayed evident traces of poison; and, secondly, that the symptoms
which immediately preceded his death could proceed from nothing but the
effects of one particular poison, called laurel water. John Hunter was then
asked, after hearing the whole details exactly as the other medical witnesses
had heard them, what inference-he would draw from the appearances presented by the corpse. HIe answered, "The whole appearances upon the,
dissection explain nothing but putrefaction;" and again, in reply to the
question, "Are those appearances you have heard described, such,'.in your
judgment, as are the results of putrefaction in dead subjects?" he said, "Entirely."
The examination then proceeds thus:
COUNSEL. " Are the symptoms that appeared after the medicine was given,
such as necessarily conclude that the person had taken poison?"




ii                          PREFACE.
HUNTER. "Certainly not."
COUNSEL. "If an apoplexy had come on, would not the symptoms have
been nearly or somewhat similar?"
HUNTER.  "Very much the same.:
The last reply in his examination in chief is also very important. The
counsel observed, " Then, in your judgment, upon the appearances the gentlemen have described, no inference can be drawn from thence that Sir
Theodosius Boughton died of poison?"
He answered, "Certainly not. It does not- give the'least suspicion."
Now the judge, in: summing up, remarks thus upon the evidence of John
H-unter,such as I have stated it to have been: "I can hardly say what his
opinion is, for he does not seem to have formed any opinion at: all' upon the,
matter."
It: appears to me, on the contrary, that he had formed the most   deided
opinion that no inference of poison was to be drawn either from the symp-,
toms that preceded: death, or the appearance of the body after death, both.
main points in the case for the prosecution. Add to this, that no distillation
of laurel leaves was traced to Captain Donellan; that it was never shown;
that: he had ever possessed a laurel leaf; that he was never proved to have
had access to the room in which- the bottle stood, the contents, of which
were- supposed to- be' poison, and you reduce the case to this, that Sir Theodosius Boughton died very suddenly, after having indulged for a.considerable period in great excesses, and being at the time somewhat in bad health;
and that the conduct of Captain Donellan after his death was extraordinary
and somewhat suspicious.
It is to be remarked, however, that all the most suspicious circumstances
rested upon the evidence of Lady Boughton, the mother of the, dead man,
who with her own hands gave him the liquid, as a medicine, which was
afterward supposed to have been the poison, and whom Donellan indirectly
charged with having poisoned her son. The suspicious circumstance of his
having rinsed out the bottle even before the young man was dead, was
stated by Lady Boughton to have taken place at a time when two maids
must have been in the room, as she mentions the occupationi of " one of the
maids;" but one was dead at the, time of the trial, and the other was not
even asked if she had remarked the fact, or seen Captain Donellan do any:~thing with the bottles. It is, moreover, worthy of notice that Lady Boughton
contradicted herself, as to whether Sir Theodosius spoke to her after taking
the medicine; that she varied in her testimony before the coroner and at the
trial, adding some circumstances on the latter occasion; and that, from the
testimony of the coachman, it would appear that she had very soon endeavored to cast suspicion upon Donellan, which would account for some of the
efforts made by him to prove his innocence before he was directly accused.
The counsel for prisoners charged with felony not being permitted in
those'days to address the jury in behalf of their client, none of these points
were brought prominently forward at the trial, for the judge, in this case,
certainly did not act as counsel for the prisoner. Doubtless, had he been
permitted, Mr, Newnham, who cross-examined the witnesses on behalf of
Donellan, with very great skill and acumen, would have called lattention to
the various facts I have mentioned, and would also have pointed out, that if
the conduct of Captain Donellan, upon the death of Sir Theodosius Boughton, was extraordinary, so was that of Lady Boughton, who, while her son
was yet living, though terribly convulsed, does not seem to have made the
slightest effort to restore him. She sent a servant on horseback, it is true,
for a medical man, but in that Captain Donellan joined, giving up his own
horse for the purpose, as the swiftest. But she seems to have applied no




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON;
ORn,
LAUREL WATER
CHAPTER I.                   called Donovan, "and so I would not disturb.you." 
THERE was an old man sitting in an arm-   "Disturb me!" echoed the other; "there is
chair-a very old man, and a very ugly one. sometimes more disturbance in solemn silence
It is. an exceedingly unpleasant thing to be old than in loud-tongued loquacity.  I could fall
and ugly, but as the one is brought about by asleep, perhaps, while you were talking, but I
time, and'the other by fate, there is no use're- can not while you are sitting before my eyes,
sisting, and still less use being cross about it. like a great dark specter, or rather like the
The remark is not impertinent, whatever the. stone-hewn Memnon, emitting no sounds exreader may think, for the old gentleman I have cept about the break of morning."
been speaking of had been cross all his life be-   "My dear Sir Walter," answered the other,
cause he was ugly, and was still more cross in a most placable tone, though the sarcasm
now because lie was old. He had labored hard couched in his companion's speech was not lost.at one period to cure the former defect by all upon himn, "I can talk as glibly as most people
the appliances which art can provide, and he when it is required; but your evening rest
had labored still harder, at a later period, to hide seemed of more importance to me than my idle
the traces of the latter state by somewhat sim- conversation. I was reading matters of no
ilar means. But within the last three years he great interest, I can assure you-only the dehad given up the attempt as hopeless, for inex- tails of that little disgusting affair of the Countorable Time, creeping on with that stealthy pace ess of Champarty, who has poisoned her huswhich, sometimes so slow and sometimes so band, and half a dozen other people."
fast, catches us all at last, had got his claws so    " Al!" cried the old man, " let me hear about
tight upon him, that he could only move from  that.  So she' poisoned her husband, did she?
his bed to his chair, and from his chair to his That's just like them all. All the mischief that
bed, and then he thought it of no use to employ takes place in the world is sure to begin with
mar6chal powder any more, or to lace up stays a woman; I never knew it otherwise in all my
which would no longer support his shattered life. If a man games, it is for the sake of a
frame. He became a sloven where he had been woman; if a man robs, it is for a woman; if a
a beau, and there he sat in his arm-chair, with man murders, it is for a woman; if a man behis eyes bleared, his mouth fallen in, his knees, trays his friend, cheats the revenue, defrauds. supported on a stool, nearly up to his chin, and his neighbor, or ruins his estate, it is all for the
his legs swathed in flannel.                sake of a woman; and the worst of it is, men
There was a little table on his right hand, think it an excuse for every thing they do, as
with a parchment upon it, by the side of which if woman, woman, woman, was the end and
stood an inkstand; and on the opposite side of aim of man's existence."
the fire sat a man of about five-and-thirty years   "Well, thank God!" said Donovan, "I have
of age, gentlemanly in appearance, rather good- no such end and aim. I can-live within my
looking than otherwise, tall and stout, and plain- means, however small they may be; I covet no
ly dressed, although his garments.had a sort of man's wealth, however great it may be; I have
military cut about them. His feet were stretch- not a debt in the world, thank Heaven! nor
ed out toward the fire-not too near the toes know a woman that I care two straws about."
of the old gentleman, for he would not for the    " And do you mean really to say," demanded
world have ventured a shoe within the limits the old gentleman, "that you live upon your
of their territory-and he was skimming light- pay, and thirty.pounds a year, Captain Donoly over one of those little sheets of intelligence van, and that you have not a debt in the world i?"
which were called newspapers in that day. And there was a certain sort of roguish twinkle
From time to time, indeed, his eyes stole over in his bleared eyes that might not altogether
the top of the paper toward the old man's face have satisfied Captain Donovan, had he been
with a peculiar, inquiring, furtive expression, looking at him at that moment; but while the
which was not very prepossessing.           baronet had been speaking, Donovan's eyes had
" Can't you say something, Donovan?" said been fixed upon the fire, which was flickering
the old man, at length, in'a querulous tone: and flashing rather in its decline, and he kept
" I am surely dull enough without your sitting them there till Sir Walter had done.
there and making me duller. by reading the   The moment, however, the other had finishnewspaper all the while."                   ed, he replied, boldly, " True, I can assure you,
"I was in hopes, Sir Walfer, you were going Sir Walter. I was early brought up, by my
to take a nap," replied the person whom he dear mother, your niece, to know how much I




4                    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
had to depend upon, and to limit my expenses    "Show him in-show him in," said the baraccordingly. You may ask, when you like, any  onet. "Away with you, Tomn, or he'll.t[ink
man in the regiment, and you will find that Tom  you have been persuading rie."
Donovan does not owe a penny in the world."    With a bland smile, Captain Donovan with-," Why should I ask i" demanded the old man, drew, passed through a different door from that
cynically; for he knew right well what was the  by which Mr. Mullins was about to enter, and
latent meaning of his worthy cousin's protes- then paused. for a moment in the ill-lighted
tations; but the next moment he added, with  passage, saying to himself, "He is mightily
a suppressed chuckle, "Well, Tom, well, the  good-humored this evening. I wonder what
man who can so well manage a little is worthy  the deuse is the meaning of it; yet it did not
of managing much, and some day or another seem affected either. Iowevel, I will have a
you may have the opportunity of doing so. chat with Mullins before he goes, and see what
That I promise you, upon my honor."          I can get out of him. HI-e's an odd beast, but
Perhaps Captain Thomas Donovan had ar- manner often tells as much as words."
rived at the exact point which he wished to ar-   In file mean time, Sir Walter Broughton sat
rive at, but he exclaimed warmly-not exactly  in his chair withl a degree of nervous irritabilnolo episcopari, but what was pronounced with  ity upon him, which made him shuffle his legs
as much sincerity-" Nay, nay, my dear Sir about upon the stool till the attorney entered;
Walter, I know you are generous and liberal, and, as soon as he heard his step, he exclaimbut you must not quite overwhelm me. You  ed, without turning round his head, for he knew
know there is your grandson Theodore, alT that he could not see over the chair, "You have
though he is a silly, wild boy, wayward and  *been exceedingly long in coming down, Mr. Mul-'somewhat weak, and not easily instructed, lins. You might have been here three hours
yet-"                                        ago."
"Never you mind, Donovan, never you mind,"'"If I had nobody else's business to attend to
said the old baronet. "He shall be taker care  but yours," answered Mr. Mullins, snappishly;
of-he shall have as much as is right and prop- and then advanced to the table, producing a
er; but, whatever you may say, this will shall person and a look the most opposite in the
be-signed to-night, if that fellow Mullins comes, world to that of Captain Donovan. I-He wasa
as he ought to have done three hours ago. This  tall, thin man, of about fifty years of age, with
shall be signed to-night; for I feel I am failing, a long, aquiline nose, exceedingly white hair
Tom-I am failing very fast," and he laid his  (where his head could boast of any), eyebrows
hand upon the parchment by his side.         as black as jet, and large, fine dark eyes.
"Oh, don't say such a thing, my dear Sir There was every characteristic of decision
Walter," answered Captain Donovan. "There's  about the mouth and jaw, and the broad, expansno need of such haste. I trust I may drink  ive forehead spoke no lack of intellect to guide
your health these ten years yet. Why, you are  his determinations aright.
much better and stronger to-day.",  "Good evening, Sir Walter," he said, as if
" It shall be signed to-night, Tom,". repeated  what had passed before had been but a prologue
the old man; " ay, that it shall. I'll take care  to their conversation. "What do you want with
of the boy, never you fear. He's a sad scape- me that you sent for me in such a hurry I"
grace, and weak, very weak, but he shall have    "I want to sign this," said Sir Walter, pointenough, and it shall come back strictly, too. ing to the parchment.  "It may do very well,
Hie sha'n't have the power to squander it-no, but I want a little codicil."
that he sha'n't.  Whatever I leave him shall   "If you only wanted to sign it," said the lawbe tied up-tied up as tight as my fist;" and  yer, "you were a fool for bringing me down
he clinched his thick and gouty fingers fast, as here. You could have signed it just as well
if he had got a purse within them.           without me; and as to the codicil, I think you
As he spoke. a large bell rang in the house, are a greater fool still. WVhen a man has made
echoing through many a solitary and long-dis- up his mind what to. do with his property, he
used suite of apartments, and giving notice that should not go fiddling and altering. But it is
some unwonted visitor was at the gates, for the age of fiddling; there is nothing left as it
Sir Walter Broifghton had of late seen very  is once settled, and we never leave any thing
little company, and it was seldom that any oth- alone when it is well."
er persons visited the house but his relation,   It is strange what an influence force of charCaptaif Donovan, or the village doctor; and  acter will have over the great mass of mankind,
both preferred, from some peculiar idiosyncra- and especially over the capricious.  Nobody on
sy, the back door to the front.              earth but Mr. Mullins could have said what had
"That's Mullins," said the baronet; "that's just been uttered to Sir Walter Broughton withMullins, I am sure. Nobody else rings the front out producing a ringing of the bell and an order
bell. He's an impudent fellow, Mullins. Now  to the servants to turn the speaker out. But
run away, Tom: you must not be a witness, with Mr. Mullins Sir Walter was as calm and
you know. Go and talk to the boy, and see if  patient as a lamb; for, although in their interyou can do something with him. We must try  views he would occasionally indulge his acerand mend him. Why, he shot half a score of  bity for the first two. or three minutes, yet the
fowls the other day with a bow and arrow. He  strong spirit of the lawyer always cowed him
laughed when I told him I would disinherit him."  before they had exchanged half a dozen sen.
Captain Donovan shook his head, as if the  tences.
case were quite hopeless; and a servant in    "You are cross, Mullins, you are cross," said
rich livery, with a powdered head and black silk  the baronet; " I have mad'e you get up from.
stockings, opened the door, saying, "Mr. Mul- your dinner. You are a great gastronome, I
lins, sir, is in the library."               know. What was it I made you lose, Mullins.




LAUREL WATER                                       5
a mayennoise a la soubise, or a pigeon en crapan- man, with a look of bitter nmalice, " not a pendine? But come now, be reasonable, and you  ny shall he ever have. I remember him, I reshall have as delicious a petit souper with Don- member him, and what he said of me one day."
ovan as my man Jerome Augier can produce,    "Oh! ay, ay, I forgot," answered the lawand you know he's a cordon bleu."           yer, with a bitter smile. "HIe called you a,"Donovan!" repeated Mullins; "have you  vain old fool, I remember, when you were gogot him in the house again.  Then he has ing to marry Miss Birch. Well, you know, Sir
made you altdr the will, that's clear enough. Walter, I have no great love or respect for him,
How old men will be such fools as to let a par- seeing that he grossly insulted my nephew,
eel of interested, mercenary toad-eaters get when Reginald entered the same regiment as a
about them toward the close of their life, I can  mere cornet, and the boy was forced to sell out
not conceive. However, my business is to draw  immediately."
thlecodicil, if you want it. What am Ito write?"    " What for-what for'"- demanded Sir Waland, drawing the parchment toward him, he  ter; "why should he sell out because he was
threw the several skins of which it was com- insulted?"
posed one after the other over his thumb, and    "Because Sir Charles was captain of his
seemed to examine the clauses rapidly, mur- troop, and Reginald thought- fit to call him out,
muring, " Devil take him! he might have been  which he could not do till he had left the regicontented with what he's got here. The Bal- ment."
linasloe estate and two farms in Dorsetshire, be-   Sir Walter Broughton chuckled, rubbed his
sides the funded property —why, it makes atleast hands, then coughed violently, and laughed
one half of the whole. You showed him the  again, and when all this cachinnation was over,
will, I suppose, and he was not contented."    he demanded, in a quiet tone, "What's your
"You are pleased to be very sarcastic, Mr. nephew's name, Mullinst.
Mullins, but you are quite wrong," was the bar-   "Reginald," answered the solicitor; "Regionet's reply, as he saw that he had got a little  nald Lisle. What has that to do with the nmatadvantage over the lawyer, and plucked up spir- ter."
it accordingly. "I did not show him the will,   "Put him in as heir of entail," said the barand the codicil I have to propose is intended to  onet; *" put him in, the entail;" and again he
revoke all those bequests. I shall leave the  laughed, and coughed, and laughed.  "So he
whole, with the exception of a few legacies to  called out our friend? put him in the entail.
the servants, and two hun'dred a year for Tom, He'll do better than the plow-boy, Mullins;"
charged upon the Irish property, to my grand- and, after a moment or two more thought, he
son Theodore. The estates must be strictly  added, "I wish he had shot him!"
tied up, with remainder to Donovan if the boy    " He did," replied Mr. Mullins; "for, though
should die without children; for I won't have  only seventeen, the boy had a stout heart and
my money squandered away after my death, a steady hand, and he wounded him in the hip,
and estates which have been so long in the farm- but nt mortally. He limps a little, however,
ily brought. to the hammer. Tie it up tightly, I still, I believe, though it is nine months ago."
say.".                      "Put him in the entail, then," once more reThat's of verylittle use," answered the law- peated the baronet, who seemed quite pleased
yer. ", If Donovan is.to have it in remainder, with the idea, " and set about it quick, Mullins.
he'll squander it as soon or sooner than the  Let there be no delay.".
other..You can't keep stuff of this kind from'Why, it will nearly need a new will," regetting musty, Sir Walter, do what you will. joined the solicitor; and, once more taking up
Somebody will come to spend it at last; and, the parchment, he looked over it more accurateunless you put two or three dozen into the en- ly than before.  " No, these first four sheets
tail, the worms will scarcely have made their will do," he said, "and another will be enough
way into your coffin before the auctioneer will for the rest. Where can one get a skin of
be knocking down your estate."               parchihent, I wonder?"
"But Donovan tells me he is no spendthrift,"    "Paper will do, paper will do quite well,"
said the baronet,'looking slyly up in the law- said the old man; "why trouble yourself about
yer's face., "He lives upon his pay, and thirty  parclhment?"
pounds a year."                                i Well, well, we will see," said Mr. Mullins" Pooh, pooh!" answered Mr. Mullins; "you  " I shall sleep here, of course, Sir Walter, and
know better; baronet; he was' trying to cheat will set up for an hour or two to doit. But I'll
you."                                       tell you what, I won't have that damp cold room
" For which very reason," replied Sir Walter, in which you put me last time."
"I am determined to make the change.  I will  "'Mr. Donovan's there," said the baronet,
leave him the boy's guardian, however, and  with one of his chuckles; "Donovan's there.
trustee, for then he will take care of the prop- Bless you, Mullins, he does not care where he
erty on his own account; and, to prevent him  sleeps, provided he is near me, dear young
spending it himself, I'll have another in the en- man!" and his ugly features assumed quite a
tail. Who shall it be, I wonder?"            diabolical look of triumph at having fathomed.
"Your plow-boy," said Mullins, with a cyn- the character of his relation. " But get on with
ical smile. "I suppose any one will do."    it as fast as you can; IFlong to have it signed.
~'.Ye-es," replied the old man,. drawling out Can't you go into the library and get it ready
the word doubtfully; "ye-es, but not the plow- at once?"
boy. I must have a gentleman."                 The lawyer said ie would do as much as he
" What do you say to Sir Charles Chevenix.  could, but that it would take some hours. Sir
He Is as nearly related to you as Donovan."    Walter, however, said he would set up till it
"No, no. the scoundrel," answered the old  was done; and, as a bribe to make haste, ho




;6                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
added, " Ring the bell, and I will tell Jerome to him might he a memento. I-He looked at the
get the little supper ready for you when it is absolute, the tangible, the direct, and suffered
complete. But mind, not a word to Tom nor not his mind to stray, even for an instant, to
to Theodore either, if you meet with them. any thing collateral or remote.
The boy keeps out of my way, because I was   On enfering the library, lie found it tenanted
angry with him yesterday morning. Not a word by two persons, different in age, appearance,
to either of them;" and, promising obedience to and character. The one, Captain Donovan,
the injunction Mr. Mullins withdrew.       needs no further description; the other, young
Theodore Broughton, the grandson of the old
baronet, requires but little. He was a goodlooking boy of thirteen or fourteen years of
CHAPTER II.                  age, well made and gentlemanly in appearance,
with a pleasing face and good features, but a
IT is a curious thing to mark, among all the somewhat weak and restless expression. The
varieties in nature, and all the infinite combina- boy was seated at one end of the room with
tions which are continually taking place, the some ten or twelve volumes of old-fashioned
different effects that external objects produce romances piled up round about him, which he
upon the minds of different men. To many a was devouring eagerly, but changing often. At
one, brought up even in the hardening practice the other end of the room sat Captain Donovan,
of -the law, a visit to an old man on the very with his feet on a chair, and a large book in his
verge of the grave-feeble, decrepit, decayed, hand, apparently enriched with plates, which
and yet with many of the worst passions and he was studying intently, but yet, from time to
weaknesses of our human nature escorting him, time, raising his eyes and giving a grave glance
as it were, to the tomb-and then a walk toward the boy, his fellow-tenant of the library.
through a somewhat long and gloomy passage, The door by which Mr. Mullins entered was albut dimly lighted, with a row of pointed, arched most directly behind Captain Donovan's chair,
windows on one side, and some stone tracery and he was, to say the truth, not a little surand curious grotesque figures on the other, to a prised to see that the object of that gentleman's
library filled with old books-those tombstones study was a large work upon Botany.
of the mind-would have suggested some grave   " Nothing has so many caprices as idleness,"
and even melancholy reflections. But Mr. Mul- 4thought Mr. Mullins. "If I I had found him readlins was a man of the world, who very seldom  ing Mrs. Behn's novels, or Mrs. Centlivre's
gave himself the trouble to moralize, and whose plays, it wouldn't have surprised me. Botany
calls upon imagination were very few. lie -what has he to'do with Botany?"
dealt with all things out of his own family sharp-   "Ah! Mullins," said Captain Donovan, turnly, acutely, decisively; bringing to bear upon ing round, " is that you? I turned out of the
them the powers of a strong intellect; acting little dining-room to let you have your confab
among them with vigorous character and firm  with Sir ~Walter in private. Has he settled all
purpose; and judging of men very justly both his affairs?"
by natural tact and long experience. He had   "He has arranged them all," replied Mr. Mula high sense of honor, and was by no means a lins, very well comprehending that the light and
cold-hearted or an unfeeling man; but intellect easy tone in which Captain Donovan spoke was
was always predominant. He was, in fact, not natural. "I have a paper to draw up, and
judging every thing he saw, as he went through then all will be done."
life, as if his bosom were a court, and he were the   "Well, it is no great matter to me," said
presiding magistrate. I do not mean to say that Captain Donovan, in a low tone, modulated to
his decisions were always accurate-whose are?  avoid the ears of the boy. "iI have no great
-but they were always well weighed, though wishes for wealth, and still less expectations
the constant habit of judging rendered his de- of it."
cisions very rapid. IIe walked through that   "That's-lucky," said Mr. Mullins, dryly.
long passage, then, with no other feelings in the   Donovan gave a start that was almost too
world than that he had just seen a disagreeable perceptible. "W What do you mean?" he said.
old man, whom he had known from his own    "Gh! I only mean," replied Mr. Mullins,
boyhood, and understood from his own man- 1"that it is always lucky to have no expectahood, that the old man intended to make a tions, for I have always remarked that those
whimsical, but not altogether an unjust will, who have the least are the nearest success."
and had commissioned him to put it into proper   "Indeed!" said Captain Donovan, looking
form, and that he should find pen and ink and up with a smile. "He said something, it is
paper in a large, old-fashioned, gloomy room  true, just as I was quitting the room to-night,
called the library, where there were some ten about my one day having the command of large
or fifteen thousand very big books, the greater property, but I did not believe any thing of it."
part of which were not worth reading. He   There was a spice of that sort of generous
gave not one moment's thought to the lament- malice at the bottom of Mr. Mullins's heart
able spectacle of vanity, malice, revenge, and which honest men feel when witnessing the
hatred carried to the brink of the grave; he playing of a roguish game, and seeing the wiles
looked not at the curious chiseling of the Goth- of the trickster defeated; and, shaking his head
ic windows on the one hand, nor to the grin- gravely, he replied, " You might have believed
ning faces, and long, straight, stony limbs on the him implicitly, captain. Sir Walter is not a
other; he thought not of the world of labor, man to say such a thing without meaning it;
research, imagination, genius, industry, hope, but, upon my life, I must sit down and finish
expectation, disappointment, and distress of the paper, for the old gentleman says he will
which each of those books in the room before remain up till it is done, and it will take two




LAUREL WATER.                                       7
good hours at least. Ah! Master Theodore,   "I have sat up so long," he said, "that I
how do you do." he continued, as if he had  must have a bit of something before I go to
not seen the boy before; and he held out his bed, and a glass of wine. There's no use talkhand toward him in a kindly manner. Then, ing of it, Mullins. My old doctor, Starvington,
observing the eyes of Captain Donovan fixed  says I should not taste any thing but bread or
upon him, he added, with a sigh —perfectly  a cup of gruel after five o'clock, but I get quite
natural, whatever the reader may think-and  exhausted, and so to-night-"
in a low voice, "Ah! poor fellow!"           "You shall have a bit of the salmy," said
"He dislikes me, that Mullins," said Dono-' Mullins, laughing.
van to himself. "I'll turn him off when I come    "Ay, and a glass of that excellent Verzenay
into the property.'Well, I'll leave you, Mul- which you pronounced one day, Mullins, to be
lins," he continued, aloud.  "Theodore, my  something between nectar and Champagne."
dear fellow, you had better come with me;"    Mr. Mullins did not at all object to the Verand the boy, after having timidly shaken hands zenay, and when Captain Donovan was called
with the lawyer, followed his cousin out of the  in, the will having been previously sealed up in
room.                                       a clean sheet of paper, and docketed by the barFor about an hour and three quarters, Mr. onet as i" my last will and testament," with his
Mullins continued to labor at what to him was signature added, the worthy captain, radiant
an unusual task, that of copying with his own  in face, and full of quiet, inoffensive spirits,
hand, upon a large sheet of paper, the words  joined in the delicate little meal with a good
which had been previously written upon the  zest; and then gave his arm to his uncle, as
parchment. He was a solicitor in London of the old gentleman slowly moved toward his
large practice, and consequently, upon all ordi- bed-chamber.
nary occasions, had plenty of clerks about him    Sir Walter had not done amiss, considering
to do the drudgery; and although at present the state of his health and the opinion of his
there were several alterations to make as he physicians. He had dabbled with one or two
went on, yet that did not relieve the dullness little trifles very pleasantly, and the glass of
of the task so much as to prevent him from  Verzenay had deviated into five. But if he had
getting a little cross about it. As he was a done well, Mr. Mullins did better, for he revery good lawyer, however, his crossness only  mained at the table while Captain Donovan
seemed to make him the more scrupulously ac- was absent, and amused the time as best he
curate; and Sir Walter having told him to tie might with the things before him. When the
the property up tightly, most tightly did he tie captain returned, it was with the spirit of conit up.                                      viviality upon him. He was very gay; and as
In the end, he paused for a minuteor two in  he sipped his first glass at the tete-a-tete, he
thought.  "I  don't half like putting Reginald's  said, "'Well, he's a capital old fellow, after all."
name in," he said, 1" and yet I have no business    "I am glad you think so," said Mr. Mullins.
to keep it out. It's the old man's own doing,   "I do indeed," rejoined Donovan, on whom
and as there's very little chance of his ever the wine had some effect, at least insomuch as
coming in for this good thing, here goes;-" and  opening-the lips and untying the tongue. "He's
he wrote down the words which entailed the  a capital old fellow; here's to him 1"
property upon his nephew, failing the issue,   " Health and long life to him!" said Mr.
lawfully begotten, of Theodore Broughton and  Mullins, rather maliciously; but Donovan was
Thomas Donovan. This done, he re-perused  a brave and determined man, and he swallowthe will carefully, and seeing nothing therein  ed the toast without hesitation.  Indeed, it
that could be taken hold of by the most critical seemed as if he was inclined to make. a night
special pleader, lie walked away with the pa- of it, and to carry his potations to the full exper to the small dining-room where he had left tent of sobriety; but Mr. Mullins was rigid,
Sir Walter.                                 though not abstemious. He drank a certain
The baronet was dozing in the same po- quantity of wine every day, but no more. He
sition, and Captain Donovan, who had talked  had- drunk none that day, having abandoned his
him to sleep, was sitting-gazing at him with  dinner to attend Sir Walter's summons, and,
the newspaper on his knee, with his mind full consequently, he took glass after glass till the
of acres, roods, and perches, together with  number was complete, and then refused to taste
sundry considerations of three and five per another drop" in spite of all persuasion. Morecents. Without the slightest ceremony, Mr. over, when he had rested himself for a' little
Mullins woke' the baronet, who, after a min- after this exercise, he rose, took a candle from
ate or two of that confusion of head which in  the side-board, and retired to rest.
old people often follows a short sleep, resum-   How long Captain Donovan pursued the ened his faculties as briskly as ever, and then  gagement of the table, Mr. Mullins did not
with a sly smile, and a nod of the head, sent know. As for himself, being a simple man in
Captain Donovan once more out of the room, his habits, he produced from one pocket a nightbidding him send in two or three of the infe- cap, a razor, and a tooth-brush, and from the
rior servants. In their presence, with specta- other a clean shirt, which he spread out upon
cles on nose,. and every now and then asking  the back of a chair. He then took off his wig,
a question of the' lawyer, he read over the will, put on his night-cap, cleaned his teeth, and reand then, with a shaking hand, signed it, call- tired to bed.
ing upon those present to witness his act and    A first sleep is certainly a very pleasant thing
deed. -He did it all with a gay and a jocular when a man has no great cares to fill his mind
air, seeming right well pleased that it was ac- with the thoughts of this world, and no great
complished; and when- all was concluded, he imagination. to trouble him ivith the dreams of
bade one of the witnesses tell Lloyd to serve  any other.  Comfortably, quietly, and well did
the supper there




8'" SIR. THEODORE. BROUGHTON; OR,
Mr. Mullins sleep for some two hours. Not a  ed, therefore, naturally and unaffectedly, with
vision crossed the wide, (lull plain of slumber. more of the reality and less of the semblance
He was not even sufficiently awake to feel he  than others.  Mr. Mullins, it is true, did not
was asleep; but suddenly something startled  affect to mourn: he was grave, indeed; for,
him, and sitting bolt upright in bed, he listened. though not a very impressible man, yet there is
A bell rang furiously, and then came a sound  something in death, especially in the death of
of hurrying feet, then a tap at a door not very  one with whom we have long been on habits of
far distant, and voices speaking, and then more  intimacy, which had its effect even upon him.._
hurrying to and fro, and then Mr. Mullins, get- I-Ie shook it off soon, however; for, though in
ting up, sought for various portions of his habil- reality a good-tempered man, yet the Jbest naiments, indued, as maiden authors would call tured of us feel; I believe, a little silent, secret
it, his breeches, scrambled -into his coat with- satisfaction when we see the wily and the artout his waistcoat, tied a towel round his neck  ful taken in their own net. Now, the thought
because he could not find his cravat, and, un- of reading the will in the presence offCaptain
locking his door, looked out. There was a light Donovan was a very great comfort to the soliand a man moving along at the other end of the  itor.
corridor, and Mr. Mullins exclaimed, "Lloyd!   The day at length came for that operation.
Lloyd! what's the matter."                 A good number of the distant relations of Sir
" Ah, Mr. Mullins, Sir Walter is very ill," said  Walter Broughton were assembled to hear the
the butler.  "' His gentleman and the captain  last disposition the deceased had made of his
are with him, and Grub the helper is gone for property; and in the old library where the will,Dr. Starvington. You had better go in and see  had been drawn up, the party was received by
him, sir, though I don't think he is much in the  Captain Donovan with an air of master of the
way to make a will."                         house, while the young baronet, who seemed
"That is made, thank God!" said Mullins; either to expect very little, to care very little,
and then he muttered in a low tone, "I may as or to understand very little, sat at a table in the
well be in at the death;" and walked away to  window, with his head leaning on his hand,
the baronet's room.                          speaking to nobody. When all had assembled
The attorney found Sir Waiter Broughton  who were expected, Mr. Mullins produced the
lying in his bed, and, as some might have  will, the servants were called in, for such was
thought, in a very sound and heavy sleep. But the custom in those days, and the seals were,
yet there was a something-not to be described  broken.
-that was not natural.  He snored very loud,   In a loud, clear, dry manner, Mr. Mullins prohut there was a sort of gasp withal, and Mr. ceeded, but every now and then, with a maliMullins did not at all deceive himself; especially  cious twinkle of the eyes, he looked over the
when he found that Sir Walter had woke ill, top of the paper at the worthy captain's face,
rung his bell twice violently, and after he had  as he sat just opposite to him, expecting, bebeen joined by both Captain D)novan and the  yond all doubt, some outbreak of wrath, for he
valet, had fallen into that heavy slumber.   knew the man's expectations and his disap"' He'll not wake again," said Mr. Mullins to  pointment.
Captain Donovan, in a loud whisper. "How    The first glance of his eye, however, had
lucky the will was signed."                  been a warning to the object of his attention.
"Very lucky indeed," said Chptain Donovan, It produced doubt, confusion, anxiety for a moin a lower tone.,' I hope.the doctor won't be ment; but then Donovan exerted'the whole
long."                                       powers of his mind, and they were not small,
"Very little use of his coming," rejoined  to subdue the passions within him, so far, at
Mullins.                                     least, as to deprive them of all external expres"Better have him — better have him," an- sion.
swered Donovan, with a significant nod; and    The will was read out, conveying the whole
then added, in the lowest possible whisper, property of the deceased, real and personal, to
"The w\ill is all right, I suppose, Mullins?"  his grandson, entailing the estates strictly in' Oh, quite right!" answered Mr. Mullins, the course I have previously stated; appointwith great internal satisfaction.           ing Mr. Mullins and Captain Donovan executors
As he spoke, the baronet lifted his hand, of the will, and naming the latter as guardian
which was lying on the bed-clothes, let it fall of the young heir. Much to Mr. Mullins's suragain, opened his eyes, and shut them.       prise, not a muscle of Captain Donovan's face
"He is gone," said Mullins: and so it was.  moved, though his cheek was somewhat paler
The aspect of mourning spread over the  than usual; and when the more distant relahouse. Captain Donovan was very grave and  tives gathered round the young baronet to wish
sad. The servants all looked deplorable: the  him joy of the large fortune he inherited, the
French cook alone maintained his constitutional captain was one of the first to offer his conand national cheerfulness, and laughed over his gratulations.
stew-pans while preparing dinner the next day
for Mr. Mullins, Captain Donovan, and young
Sir TheodoreBroughton. But among them all,
perhaps the only one who felt any thing like real          CHAPTER III.
sorrow was the boy whom we have seen reading romances in the library.  His grandfather,   TI-IERE was a little blue bell growing at the
it'is true, had been cross and wayward with  edge of the road, by the side of a wild common,
him, exacting, and at times severe; but at other and a lad of about nineteen years of age, who
times he had been kind, and he was the only  was walking slowly along with the bridle of a
one who ever had been kind. The boy mourn- horse over his arm, stopped to gather it. Few




LAUREL WATER.                                       9
young men of nineteen ever think of stopping process of being drawn. Perhaps there might
to gather blue bells-at least vegetable ones. be a little vanity in all this, and it is certain
They are past that stage; they. have the dawn that he never imagined the horse was being
of passion in them, the seed of their first ambi- sketched, and not himself; but when he at
tions, the aspiration after things. permitted and length got up to go away, the stranger raised
things forbidden. Ay, after both, for in nine his voice, saying, "If you would have the
hundred and ninety-nine cases out of a then- goodness to wait one moment, you would
sand, when the eyes of the youth of nineteen greatly oblige me.  I want a horse for my
have been opened to the grand panorama of life, foreground."
his bosom is one mass of aspirations, chaotic,   The animal, however, had moved a good
vague, undefined, but still containing the germs deal, and it was necessary to'put him right
of all the desires that animate and pervade the again. This led to a few words passing berest of his existence.  He is burning to possess tween the two young men; and when the
and to enjoy; and where is the youth who sketch had been finished, looked at, and adnowaday would stop to pluck a blue bell, with. mired, they walked on together over the coinall'the.mighty world of untasted enjoyment mon, talking in a strain almost friendly.
open before him?                             Perhaps it is no wonder that they did so, for
But that youth was peculiarly situated, and two reasons.  In the first place, young Sir
of a peculiar mind. His habits of thought, both Theodore Broughton had hardly an acquaintfrom natural character —I am a believer in nat- ance in the world, and the young sketcher was
ural character-and from education, were dif- firank and easy in his manners, as well as perferent from those of most men, and he was still fectly gentlemanly and unpresuming. No one
at that period of progress when the fresh heart could doubt that he had mixed in good society
can admire and enjoy the humblest flower that -that he had been habituated to it, in fact, all
blossoms in the fields. His horse, though now  his life. Every thing was done with ease, and
following so calmly behind him, was covered it seemed as if he could not comprehend that
with foam and sweat, and seemed quite ex- there was such a thing as a feeling of awkhausted with hard riding. But the youth was wardness; but yet, what is strange, with his
cool and quiet in demeanor, as if there had been total want of morbid susceptibility, his converno struggle and no exertion; and, as I have sation was full of fancy; occasionally, perhaps,
said, he walked on with a calm, deliberate, a little too wild and volatile, but with a depth
meditative step, looking thoughtfully upon the of thought pouring through the whole, like the
ground, till his eye- fell upon the flower, and deeper tones of a fine instrument, and harmothen he stooped to gather it. But suddenly he nizing well with some of the characteristic
drew his hand back, saying aloud," Nay, bloom  traits of Theodore Broughton's mind.
on; why should I condemn you to wittier be-   " It must be a great pleasure to draw as you
fore your time. It will come soon enough;" do," said the latter, as they walked on togethand, sitting down upon the little bank where er. " Pray, may I ask, is it your profession?"
the flower grew, he leaned his head upon his   "Not exactly," replied the stranger. " There
hand, and meditated deeply. He had no pas- is, indeed, a great pleasure in being able to
sion for the flower. Happy had it been for him  draw, even imperfectly as I do, hnd that pleashad he so acted when passion moved him.'ure has a thousand branches, each bearing
As lie was there sitting, a young man, some fruit. Often, when I sit alone, I turn back to
five or six years older, with a portfolio under the sketches I made some years ago, and as I
his arm, plainly dressed, and with eyes cast look at them, not only the scene rises again
over the prospect around at every step he took, before me with all the soft, aerial perspective
crossed the common toward him, and when at of memory, but the persons I have seen there:
about sixty yards' distance, seated himself on in, the faces that smiled upon me, the voices
a little piece of bank, and deliberately set to that made my heart glad, come back as if time
work to sketch the youth and his horse. Hors- were annihilated, the fiat of fate revoked, and
es, like cows, have a consciousness of having the grave gave up its dead. Then, again, if I
their portraits painted, and, less vain than man, wish to aid imagination in framing one of the
are not pleased with the commemoration. Dear gay day-dreams that we all indulge in, with the
reader, if you ever attempted to sketch a cow, pencil or the brush, I can sit down and paint
you will know that, though her back be turned  the scene of happiness I fancy, people it with
toward you, she will find out what you are beings that I love to look upon, and, better
about in a moment, and rise and walk away. than all, can feel sure that they will'neither
The horse, tired as he was, began to fret and deceive nor betray, nor malign nor destroy;,
fidget within one minute after the stranger that they are all truth-the truth of'imaginacommenced bis sketch, and as he tugged at the tion, which, I aui often inclined to think, is the
bridle over his master's arm, he naturally at-,only truth we find on earth."
tracted the youth's attention to the artist.   His young companion thought for a moment
There is such a thing as being bold to dangers, or two. He had no great habit of expressing
and timid to the merest trifles. The young his feelings and ideas; and whether he posman, who had ridden that fierce and fiery horse sessed the power or not, he was timid even in
straight across a difficult and dangerous coun- trying' to use it.  At length he answered,
try, priding himself in subduing his spirit and  " These seem to nie more the pleasures of astiring out his vigorous strength, felt timid at sociation than those of the act itself. I meant
the sight of a stranger sketching him. He felt to say, I can not help thinking that it'must bo
a desire to go up and ask to see the portrait, very delightful to be able to sit down and draw
and yet he could not summon courage to do it; any beautiful thing we see."
neither did he like to sit still and undergo the    "Oh, I understand," said the stranger; "' to




"10                  SIR THEOI)ORE BROUGHTON; OR,
analyze the beauty that charms us, to see and young gentleman of your figure, I can not con-'
mark its elements, and admire and wonder at ceive how it has happened."
the means by which the Almnighty, out of a few    "That is easily explained," said the young
tints, and a few lines, and a few gradations man, almost sadly: "my guardian does not
and contrasts of light and shade, has produced  choose it.  He says it will be soon enough
such marvelous loveliness and effects so m ag- some time hence; that it is a vicious, corrupt
nificent;- and then' to think of how infinitely place."
beneficent it was-to ordain such harmony be-  "4Who is your guardian!" was the abrupt
tween the soul of man and the wide creation, question of his companion; adding, the moment
that every sight touches us with some different after, as if to soften the apparent rudeness,
emotion, as if the whole were some grand in- I "He must be a very strange man!"
strument of music raising a hymn of praise   "'Why so?" demanded Sir Theodore.
utnto the sky."                               The other paused for an instant, and then
Theodore Broughton turned round and gaz- replied with a smile, " I will tell you why I
ed at him with some surprise.  He had never thinlk so, as you ask. Here he sets you upon a
heard such words before; but they were a les- fiery devil of a chestnut horse, as likely to break
son to him: they taught him that from things your neck and his own back as possible, when
plain, and of no apparent depth, were to be there can he no possible need of your ever
extracted thoughts and'feelings high and pro- mounting such an animal again, or'of your befound. It gave him the first knowledge that ing obliged to break the spirit of such animals
there is a spirit in all things to be evoked by at the risk of your life, unless you be destined,
the earnest and the strong, and compelled to which I don't suppose, for a riding-master or a
bring forth treasures from the rock. Happy horse-breaker; and yet he will, not let you go
had it been for him had he learned the lesson  to London, when the risks to your mind are
better; but as it was, it had its effect.   small in comparison, if he has given you a good
The stranger remarked his sudden  look education', and when they only imply lessons
round, and the silence that followed, and he in life which you must one day receive. That
said, laughing, " You think I am an enthusiast; was what made me say he must be a strange
but it is not so. I only seek to derive the greait- man, and ask his name."
east amount of pleasure from all things; and I   "His name," answered the young man, "is
know that if we look only at the surface, we Donovan-Captain Donovan."
lose the most precious of the gifts of Heaven.   A very grave, -almost stern look came over
The gold lips down deep in the mine; the dia- his companion's countenance as that name was
mond veils its well of light till -it is cut; and pronounced, and he was silent for several mothe mind of man, if it would discover the rich- ments, but at length he replied, " You are Sir
ness or the brightness of any thing throughout Theodore Broughton, then I"
the universe, must dig deep and labor hard.   "The same," replied the young man. " Do
But this lesson I was taught by an insect. I you know Captain Donovan "
was one day watching and admiring a quantity    "I have seen him," said the stranger.  "I
of wild flowers on a bank, when I saw a bee have seen him, and may say that I have his
flying from blossom to blossom, pausing a mo- acquaintance.  I think he is absent from Enment upon each, diving down into.the cup or gland now, is he not?"
into the bell, and flying onward with its load;   "Yes," answered Sir Theodore. "HIe spends
and I said to myself, all flowers have their hon- several months each year abroad. But, now
ey, but he must search who would find it."    that you know my name, perhaps there will b-e
The young baronet broke away from  the  no impropriety in my asking yours."
subject somewhat abruptly, asking, "Do you    The stranger smiled good-humtoredly, and
stay long in this part of the country." and his then replied, half laughing,'   Certainly no imcompanion replied, "No, not long. I have propriety, and yet, for particular reasons of my
been a great wanderer, hurrying from place to own, I will consider for a time before I give it
place; and, as soon as I get the least tired of to you. W- ill you come down to the little inn
any spot, I willingly quit it. Now, perhaps, 1 in the village, called the Hen and Chickens,
shall have to be more steady, both to one pur- and dine with me to-day, and then I will tell
suit and to one position, for my wanderings you more. I think I need not add," he continhave not hitherto been altogether voluntary; ned, with a somewhat proud look, "that I am
and when I go back to town, which will be in a gentleman by birth, education, and habits;
a few days, I suppose it will be to stay for and I do not thinlk, from what you have seen of
some months."                               me, that you will suppose I am one of those
"I should like to see London very much," men about town, of whose corrupting commusaid the young man, thoughtfully.  "Are you nication your guardian is so much afraid."
usually a resident there'"                   " Oh! I will come, with all my heart," re"I shall be for some time," answered the plied the young man, cheerfully.   My tutor is
other, a slight shade coming over his face, away, so that I am quite my own master. What
which might or might not be from imagining shall be the hour?"
that an invitation would be expected.  "'But   " At four o'clock," replied the other, "I shall
have you never seen London." he added, expect you. -Good-by for the present;" and,
good-humoredly. " Oh! you should see it by while Sir Theodore put his foot in the- stirrup
all means. How strange that there should be to mount his horse, the other turned along a
any one on this side of the Atlantic who has path to the right. The next moment, however,
never seen the capital of the whole world! Ie, heard the young baronet's voice exclaiming,
Had you been one of my good friends, the Mo- "By what name shall I ask for you?"
hawks, I might have understood it; but, for a   "Oh! the captain-they call me the captain,




LAUREL WATER.                                       11
nd know me by no other name," was the re- whiteness, a cap that vied with the apron, and
ply, and the two parted, I may say, mutually  a face that looked like a last year's rosy apple,
pleased with each other.                    tolerably well preserved, out of one's great
grandmother's linen press. To her the young
stranger first applied himself; but the good
landlady, who had all an innkeeper's sagacity
CHAPTER IV.                   about her, having discovered one, at least, of
her guest's favorite pursuits, and perceived that
WHILEr, Theodore Broughton pursued his way  he was a little proud of his drawings, began
to the hall, the gentleman with whom he had  upon him at once, without suffering himl to ormade a casual acquaintance returned, with a  der the dinner that he meditated, saying, "Ah,
quick, elastic pace, to the little village, which, captain, you have been out sketching again. I
it must be remarked, was an old-fashioned  dare say you have made some beautiful pictures
eountry village, such as was seen in England  of our poor place. Pray, let me loolk at them."
threescore years ago.  Sadly, sadly are chang-  Presently, presently, my good dame," said
ed the villages of once-merry England. There  the stran er.  "s Just let me tallk to you for ono'are paintings enough of them remaining to show  minute, and you shall see the drawings afterus what they were, and I will not pause to de- ward. I have something for you to do; and
scribe this one, for the contrast between whAt you won't have much time to spare. I expect
it was and what it is might be somewhat mel-  a gentlenan to dine withi me here to-day, and
ancholy.                                    you must have as nice a little dinner for us as
Pastthe church, which-with its church-yard, you can get, about four o'clock."
and its elms, and its iron railings, and its grave-    " Oh, dear, yes! captain," said the landlady.
stones. and its monuments of old and high fam-  "1Bless you, I am quite ready. I knew quito
ilies, now long passed away-formed one side  well you would ask him to dinner. It's not
of an irregular green of perhaps a couple of more than half an hour since he left the door,
acres in extent, the young stranger walked on, and a comical-looking gentleman he is."
with his sketch-book under his arm, among    "WVho, in Heaven's name, do you mean, Mrs.
several merry groups of children, nlot in their  Gillespie " asked her guest.  " You surely do
holiday attire, but clothed comfortably and de- not call Sir Theodore Broughton a comicalcently, and having that ruddy hue of health, and  looking gentleman 1"
that jocund sprightliness of aspect, which, firom  "Ha, ha, ha!" cried the landlady, holding
our rarely seeing any of them now, leads us to  her well-lined sides.  " Well, that is good, capbelieve that the pictures of those times, either tain!  Sir Theodore Broughton! Oh, dear!
with pencil or with pen, savor of romance. Gay- no. I mean the tall, thin-sided gentleman, with
ly and cheerfully the young gentleman went on, a nose like a crow's beak, and two small eyes,
patted one curly urchin on the head, pinched  and a patch of hair on his chin. He was askanother's cheek, said a kind word to a third; ing after you this morning, and all about you,
and with courtesies and nods, and sometimes  and where you had gone, and then he said'he'd
a blush, and sometimes a smile, and sometimes  talke a stroll, and call back in the afternoon.' "
a shy look of fuin, was greeted by almost all, as    A look of some mortification came into the
if they knew him and liked him, and felt that yonng gentleman's face, and he. muttered,
he was a friend rather than a stranger in the  "That is unfortunate. The very last man I
place; yet he had not been there above four or should like this youth to meet, for he is the last
five days in the whole course of his life.   whom he would comprehend.  How was he
At the further endof the green, where, grad- dressed, AMrs. Gillespie?"
ually narrowing itself, it was degraded into a    " Oh! very funnily indeed," answered Mrs.
road-a good broad road, however, with a roQw  Gillespie. 4   He had got on a long, blue-waistof green trees and a foot-path on each side-  ed frock, with a silver lace, and silver firognels
stood the little inn of the Hen and Chickens, on the pockets, and an embroidered waistcoat
with a not ill-painted sign of the tender-plumed  that was not half long enough to cover his stomparent and her young brood.  Whether the  ach, and below'that a pair of buckskins and
earth had arisen around the house-for it might jack-hoots, just as inuch too large as the waistbe an axiom, in natural philosophy as well as  coat was too short.  But the oddest thing of all
ethics that dirt has a tendency to rise, although  was, he had two great holes in his ears, and then
contrary to generally received opinions-or  he wore his hair in a club as thick as my arm."
whether the original founder of the house was    " It might have been worse," said the young
a man of a lowly mind, certain it is that you  gentleman, dryly; " it might have been worse."
approach the nest of the I-Hen and Chickens by    " Worse! Lord have mercy, captain!" extwo steps down from the footpath. There was  claimed Mrs. Glllespie, as if the assertion far
nothing cheerless, damp-looking, or unwhole- surpassed her faith.   W that, worse than such
some,however, about this sunken story. The  funny clothes as that "
windows were not large, it is true, and the panes    " When I first saw him," replied her guest,
were very small, for few windows were large, "he had no clothes on at all."
and all panes were small in England at that   "Oh dear, sir! fy for shame!" cried Mrs.
time.  But still the sun contrived to shine  Gillespie.  "You don't mean to say he was,mcheerfully in, the floors were as clean as a new- naked, sir 3"
mangled table-cloth, and the sand in the pas-    " Indeed I do," replied the young gentleman,
sage was as yellow as gold. The landlady, too  "unless you callhaving a bunch of feathers in
(for landlord it had none), was, to use the terms his head being dressed, or think two human
of those days, " as, clean and as neat as a car- bones in those holes in his ears articles of wear.
rot new-scraped," with an apron of snowy  lung apparel."




12                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
" Goodness gracious!" cried the good dame, world," though neither altogether frivolously
holding up her hands. "Why, the man must be nor uninstructively.
stark staring mad. I thought so, I do declare."   Mrs. Gillespie and Mrs. Gillespie's cook had
"No, no," cried the young gentleman, who done. their best to send up to one of the favorwas very much amused at-the astonishment of ite guests of the house as nice a little dinner
his hostess, but did not wish to injure the rep- as the place would afford, and very successfil
ntation of his friend's brains; " he is not and had been their labors. The wine, too, was
was not mad, but he was among the savages, good, and, let a man be as intellectually constiMrs. Gillespie."                             tuted as he may, the spirits will rise, the heart
"Ah, that mae beh then," said the good wornm- will feel lightened, under the influence of the
an; "' and a very ugly savage he'd make; but good things of this life, so long as matter is
I hope you won't have him here, captain, with united to mind, and health cements the union.
any of his savage tricks. I should be afraid of Sir Theodore Broughton soon shook off his
his eating the little children."             grave and thoughtful air, talked and laughed
"No fear of that, my good lady," was the  joyously with his'companion, and listened with
answer; "' he is as kind-hearted a man as ever keen zest to many a tale, and many an aneclived; and, moreover, if he comes before Sir dote of London life with which the other enTheodore and I have done dinner, you must riched his conversation. It must not be denied
keep him down here, and make much of him, that his host watched him, marked the effect
Mrs. Gillespie. Tell him I am engaged with a his words produced, saw the changes of coungentleman up stairs; give him plenty of good tenahnce which betrayed an eager spirit within
punch, and a nice dinner, and he will tell you when pleasures and pastimes were described,,
of all sorts of strange things that he has seen in and in the end he said to himself, "Perhaps,
foreign countries. That gentleman once saved after all, the guardian is right. Without some
my life."                                   very safe companion, all that is good and noble
With this hint, and a significant nod, he turn- in this youth might be lost among the fascinaed away toward his own room, saying to himself, tions of the metropolis."
with a somewhat rueful smile, "And he has   In the mean time, the question of his name
often made me pay for it by his oddities since. had been quite forgotten. In the charms of his
Upon my life! I must take the Ravenous Crow  society, Sir Theodore cared little what his name
back to Canada, or the Sandwich Isles, or Some- was, and, with a facility too frequent and too
where."                                     fatal, bent his thoughts to those of the corn"The Ravenous Crow!" exclaimed Mrs. Gil- panion of the hour, remembering nothing of his
lespie, who was following him unperceived, and former ideas and feelings.  The chameleon
overheard the last words; "Lord have mercy, mind, which takes its color from that which is
sir, do you call him a ravenous crow!"      next to it, unlike the skin of the animal, is a
"-No, no, no," cried the young gentleman, peril, not a protection.  Something, indeed,
laughing. "That was his namel among, the might be allowed the the fact that this was the.
Cherokee Indians; they generally take them- first society deserving of the name which the?
selves, and bestow upon their friends, the names young man had ever known.  His guardianof birds, and beasts, and other objects in Na- often absent-was, when with him, grave and
ture. His real name is Major Brandrum, a very stern, indulging him, it is true, in many dangallant, honorable, excellent person, as you'll gerous'sports- and over-fatiguing exercises,
find when you chat with him a little."       but repelling all confidence, and treating him
"Well, sir, I will do anything to please you," as a mere boy. His tutor we shall see more
replied Mrs. Gillespie, " for I am sure you have of hereafter, and it will then be apparent that
always behaved very genteel in my house; but he was not fitted to be a friend or companion.
you are sure he is not carnivorous'"        All the rest of those admitted to him were perHer young guest quieted her in regard to the sons upon business, a few masters of different
propensities which he very well understood she sciences and arts, the parson of the parish —an
was inclined to attribute to his friend by the old-fashioned parson, more frequently in the
term carnivorous; and, to his great relief, two  hunting-saddle than the pulpit-and servants.
hours passed away, and four o'clock caine, with- What a relief! what an enjoyment, when the
out the appearance of Major Brandrum.       imprisoned thoughts have long been shut up
Sih Theodore Broughton was punctual to his within the close cell of our own bosom, and
time, and entered the little sitting-room of the every one who approaches seems but a jailer to
traveler with that sort of depressed expression  force them back if they try to escape, to meet
in his young face which is so painful to see in with a kindred spirit which gives them leave to
a countenance where time has left no wrinkles, wander, and encourages them to come forth,
and the only furrows are those of care. He even if it be for buft one short hour.!  No wonhad been thinking, ever since they parted, of der the young man gave way to it.
the words of the stranger. They had opened   In the midst of the most pleasant conversato him new sources of thought-new questions tion which Sir Theodore Breughton had ever
to ask his own heart and his own spirit, and he enjoyed, he was suddenly startled by sounds
longed, as the other had pointed out, to inter- very different from those which he and his comrogate the vast universe, and gain replies which pafion were uttering.  First came a loud
would raise up mightier questions still. He "whoop," which seemed to shake the floor
came preparret to follow the same strain of con- under' their feet, and then something which
versation; but, for some reason, the mood of seemed intended for music; but the words of
his companion was changed; he would no lon- the song, whatever they were, though several
ger rest upon deep things, but spoke lightly and articulate sounds rose up through the thin comrngayly of what men are accustomed to call " the partments, were quite unintelligible to Sir The



LAUREL WATER.'                                     13
odore Broughton. His companion at first lookl Reginald Lisle, calmly, but yet with a very
ed a little annoyed, but then smiled; and, upon meaning tone; " comment on the conduct of Sir
the principle of taking the bull by the horns, Theodore Broughton, if you please. That you
he said, "That is a friend and fellow-soldier may be entitled to do; but do not comment
of mine, Sir Theodore-a most eccentric per- upon mine without thinking twice of what you
sonage, but a highly worthy one in many re- are going to say, for you seem somewhat heated
spects, -notwithstanding a few faults both. real just now; and, though I am not, I may not bear
and apparent. He once saved my life in Can- any unpleasant observations calmly."
ada, and, as often happens with men of warm    Captain Donovan bit his lip, and paused for
hearts, he seems to think that act has bound an instant ere he replied. He answered, howhim by a duty to look for occasions to serve me ever, at length, in a cold and somewhat sarever since."                                castic tone, "Do not suppose, sir, that I was
"But why is he not dining with us?" asked going to say any thing which could excite your
the young baronet; "it would have given me pugnacious propensities.  You have had a good
great pleasure to have met such a person."    deal' more fighting lately, of one kind and an"He only called to inquire for me this -morn- other, than I have had, or ever shall have again.
ing," replied fhe other; "and, moreover, you For this young gentleman's sake, I have turned
would hardly have understood him in one short. my sword into a plowshare, and have no paripterview, and might, perhaps, have felt a good' ticular inclination to bend it to another form
deal of surprise and little pleasure in the society again. The observation I was about to make
and conversation of one who requires to be well was simply this,'that on your part' you will
known to be esteemed.'But hark! I think he greatly oblige me if you will not attempt to
is coming up the stairs."                   thwart my views with regard to this young genAs he spoke, the tramp of a heavy foot was tlernan's education; for, although you are menheard, which, from the sounds, might well be tioned by some extraordinary accident in Sir
incased in such boots as Mrs. Gillespie had de- Walter Broughton's will, yet you are not apscribed; but when the door opened, a very dif- pointed his guardian."
ferent personage appeared from him whom Sir  "' I am well aware of that fact, sir," answered
Theodore's entertainer expected to see: no Reginald Lisle, " and shall certainly not attempt
other, in short, than Captain Donovan himself. to interfere with his education.  But do not let'A considerable change had taken place in that us dispute, Captain Donovan," he continued,
gentleman since last I presented him to the good-humoredly.  "May I beg you to sit down
reader. The mortification which he had expe- and take some dinner, as you seem from your.,
rienced in regard to Sir Walter Broughton's will, appearance to have ridden far and hard."
though deprived of all external expression,,.had   Captain Donovan seemed to hesitate for a
not been without effect internally.  He had be- moment, and then, with a mollified look, seated
come somewhat morose and stern in demeanor himself, saying, "Well, I have ridden far; for,
in all things where his young ward was con- as soon as 1 heard that Dr. Gamble had thought
cerned. He could be as gay, as dashing, and as fit to go away and leave you alone, I set off to
light as ever in general society, but the very see what was the cause of such conduct."
sight of Sir Theodore Broughton seemed to ex-   His words were addressed to Theodore, alcite a sullen and a bad feeling, to which he gave though the invitation had come from Captain.
way a little too much, perhaps, considering that Lisle. The latter, however, rang the bell, and
he wished to establish a hold upon the young ordered a plate and knife and fork for Captain
man's mind.'His dress, also, was more rich Donovan; but, though he remained, partook of
and costly than it had formerly been, and-  the good cheer, and drank more than one glass
whiether from the accessories of costume, or of wine, his manner was still cold and stiff, and
from any of those accidental causes which oc- he seerried dissatisfied and ill at ease. There'
casionally work changes in the human frame, was a sort of absent, meditative air abdut him;
independent of those wrought by the great de- and from time to time he fixed his eyes upon
stroyer Time-he looked altogether a younger Reginald Lisle,' as if that gentleman in some
man than at the period of his relation's death. degree formed one of the elements of his calOn the present occasion, his brow, which was culations.  "W We see very little of you in Longenerally clouded when he was in that part of don, Captain Donovan," said the entertainer at
the country, was knit into a heavier frown'than length, " though, to say truth, I can hardly know
ever, and his eyes fixed instantly upon the whether you are much there or not, for I hav-e
young baronet, who seemed to cower beneath been so frequently absent. I wonder you do
its influence.                              not bring Sir Theodore to London, to let him
" Well, Theodore." he said, "this is a strange see a little of the capital."
vagary. I did not know, sir, you. were in the   A heavy frown gathered upon Captain Donohabit of dining out during my absence. Who van's brows, and the young baronet seemed
is your entertainer? Oh! Captain Lisle!" he actually frightened at the probable effect which
continued, after he had gazed upon Sir Theo- this hint might have upon his guardian. But,
dore's companion for an instant. " Sir, I am  whatever was the reply which sprang to the
your most obedient humble servant. I did not worthy officer's lips, it was interrupted by a
know you at first. I feel particularly obliged renewal of the sounds from below, which now
by your kind attention to Sir Theodore Brough- seemed coming up the stairs:
ton; but you will pardon me for saying that I,, Joliette, ma Joliette,
think it would be more prudent of him, when I         Qu'elle est belle en chemisette!
am absent, to confine himself to acquaintances       Je mlonterai ma charette,
of my selecting; and, on your part —"                 Irai oir a Joliette."
"Stop for a moment, Captain Donovan," said Such were the doggerel lines which, to a tune




14                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
then common among the habitans of Canada, return, I set off with twenty warriors of the
were sung by a rich, full, but somewhat over- tribe, and followed the marauders like a slotloud voice, upon the stairs of the little inn, the -hound. Not a twig they had broken, not a blade
moment after Reginald Lisle's, suggestion had  of grass their footstep had bent, but was markpassed his lips. Nobody could express wonder, ed as we went, and we discovered by the trail
or make any inquiry, before the strange figure that there were full fifty men of them. Howwhich Mrs. Gillespie had very accurately de- ever, we watched our opportunity, fell upon
scribed entered the room, and-in an attitude  them unawares, and after a desperate conflict,
half theatrical, half military, with one leg ad- in which I slew and scalped three of their most
vanced, and his hand, the palm turned outward, famous warriors-the Centipede, the Old Buzraised to his forehead-gazed round the corn- zard, and the Grizzly Bear-we recovered our
pany.                                       maize and our squaws, and marched off iri
" Ah, Reginald, my boy!" le exclaimed, triumph. We well knew that the Mohawks
"found you at last. That charming old woman  would soon retaliate, and so we sent far and
below, together with a capon and a bowl of wide to all the families of the tribe, and all our
punch, engaged me in deep conversation; nor allies; but every thing kept still for seven days,
did she admit that you were in the house, till when one morning, as I was lying in wait for a
I heard your well-known voice raised somewhat moose in a cedar swamp, I saw an old gentlehigh just now. I always know a voice, sir," he man painted like a Cherokee go creeping along
continued, looking round to Captain Donovan; through some sugar nrraples above.  I knew
" the slightest tone of it is sufficient for me. what he was about the moment I beheld him;
Whether he be roaring through a speaking- but I was blind to him, and a minute or two
trumpet, or whispering soft nonsense in a lady's after he came creeping down till we stood face
ear, I know my man in a moment,,if ever I to face. Then he said'I-Ium!' and I answered
heard his tongue before:"' Hum!' So then, after five minutes more, we
"Pray, is - this gentleman a friend of yours, sat down together, resting our elbows on our
Captain Lisle?" asked Donovan, with a slight knees, and he said to me,' Brother, I am the
degree of sarcastic'bitterness in his tone.  Wappiti with the long horns, a fiiend of the
"Yes," replied Reginald, who had been lean- Great Bison.' I knew he was lying all the
ing back in his chair a little mortified and a lit- time, and that he was the Rattlesnake. So- I
tle amused, "yes, this is my friend, Captain  replied to himi,' Brother, I am the Bald Eagle.
Donovan; and a very good friend too. Let me %What does the Wappiti with the long horns
-introduce hinm to you. Major Brandrum-Cap- want with the Bald Eagle?' Upon that he told
tain Donovan; Sir Theodore Broughton-Major me that he heard we had broken the stick with.Brandrum;"  and, shaking the major warmlly the Mohawks about sixty basketfuls of maize,
by the hand, he placed a chair for him at the  and that if I would lead him to the wigwam,
table.                                      and give him three baskets, the Wappiti with
"Ah, Captain Donovan!" said the worthy  the long horns and all his people would come
gentleman, taking his seat, and stretching his down to fight with us against the Mohawks.
enormously long legs under the table till he Then I said,'Brother, I can give no maize,
kicked Theodore's shins on the other side; for the Bald Eagle has devoured it all. HI- has
t" that's not the name I am the best known by no maize to give.' To which he replied,'TlThn,
since the year seventy-two, nor the name I am  brother, thou art no Bald Eagle, but a Ravmost proud of either."-                     enous Crow;' and thereupon he sprang upon
"' Have you got an alias then, sir?" asked  his feet, brandished his tomahawk, and set up
Captain Donovan, dryly. The major nodded  the war-hoop.  But I was upon my legs as
his head, and Donovan proceeded: "~ May I ask  soon as he was, and to it we set, whirling round,what it ps?"                               like the foaming'of a waterfall, springing at
"Assuredly," replied Major Brandrum. "In  each other like panthers, aiming here and aimthis barbarous and corrupt country-not the  ing there; and all the time he kept shouting
less barbarous for being corrupt, nor- the less his wa;-hoop, till I cried,'Is not the R'atftlecorrupt for being barbarous-I am called, as my  snake kiown by his rattle i' and scarcely were
friend Lisle has stated, Major Brandrum, but the words out of my mouth, when down came
among the more civilized nations in North ten or twelve men of his tribe, and I was overAmerica I am known by the name of the Rav- powered and tied in a minute. I shall never
enous Crow."                                forget the time when they got me to the wig"No doubt justly," said Captain Donovan.  wam, and were about to put me to the torture.
"Of that you can tell nothing," said the ma- The dry brush-wood was all piled round about
jor, " till you hear how I came by the appella- me in the shape of a crow's nest, and they betion. You will then see that it is both signifi- gan singing a song of how they had caught the
cant and glorious; not the less glorious be- Ravenous Crow, and were going to pluck his
cause it is significant, nor the less significant feathers out. I answered by singing my warbecause it is glorious. You must-know that song and'laughing them to scorn; but still
when I,was in command of a party of my tribe, what, they were about was not pleasant,, and a
the Cherokee Indians, we had gathered togeth- glad sound it was to me to hear the war-hoop
er some sixty baskets of maize. In whose fields suddenly in all the woods round about, and see
it grew, far be it from me to say; but it was my own people-all beautifully painted —come
o.urs by right of war; when one day, while we rushing through the trees just at the nick of
were upon a hunting expedition, a party of Mo- time. I was soon a free man again with a tomhawks fell upon our wigwam, and cariried off ahawk in my hand, and I taught them that day
our maize and three young squaws, one of that the Ravenous Crow could peck."
whom was my own especial property. On my    He had spoken hitherto in rather an exag



LAUREL WATER.                                    15
gerated and pompous tone, but now he dropped ed, and guardian and ward took their departure,
his voice, and in an ordinary manner added, leaving Reginald Lisle in a brown study, and," They had burned off the calf of my left leg, the Ravenous Crow humming " Joliette."
but that mattered little; I did just as well without."
The reader must not suppose that this long
story had proceeded uninterrupted, for Regi-            CHAPTER V.
nald Lisle had filled his' comrade's glass more
than once with wine, and Captain Donovan    "WaHY, what's the matter, Reginald?" exhad sometimes asked a question in a peculiarly claimed his friend Major Brandrum, when, after
courteous tone. When the tale was finished, finishing his song, he perceived that his young
he assured Major Brandrum that he fully con- companion still continued in meditation. " You
curred in the appropriateness of his appellation  are as deep in thought as a white bear in winof the Ravenous Crow; and then, turning to ter time."
Captain Lisle, he said, " You were speaking of   "I'm puzzled, Crow," replied Reginald Lisle,
my going to London, and taking my young ward  "very much puzzled, and scarcely know how
with me. Do you not think it is somewhat to explain myself even to you."
early for him to make acquaintance with the    "That is strange," answered the major; "but
great metropolis."                       come, tell me what's the matter. I'll follow
He spoke in so altered a tone that Reginald the trail, depend upon it, let it be ever so inremarked it with surprise, and even suspicion; tricate. Is it the young man that puzzles you
for he could not conceive that there was any or the old one? for with them is the mystery,
thing in the entrance or conversation of the I see."
Ravenous Crow that could have so greatly    "It is the old one," answere' Reginald: "I
modified Captain Donovan's feelings; but, be- do not know what to make of him. A moment
fore he could reply, Major Brandrum answered, before you entered, I was fully convinced that
" Too early! Not a bit. It can never be too ear- nothing could be so disagreeable, to him as an
ly for a young man to be made acquainted with intimate acquaintance between Sir Theodore
life. Life is a curious and exciting thing, Cap- Broughton and myself, and that if any thing on
tain Donovan; not the less curious because it is earth could render that acquaintance more to
exciting, nor the less exciting because it is cu- be avoided in his opinion, it would be to know
rious. A man should gain a knowledge of it that I was intimate with such-a wild, harumbetimes. Then he sows his wild oats at a pe- scarum fellow as yourself.  He was as sulky
riod when they are not likely to produce too as a bear with a sore head at Sir Theodore's
large a harvest.  WThy, I started in the world having accepted my invitation to dinner, and
at fourteen, with ten pounds in my pocket, was decidedly averse to his having even a sight
three shirts; and two pairs of breeches, and I of the capital, speaking like a Puritan on the
have never regretted it. Oh, take the young subject, though every one knows he isiquite the
gentleman to London, by all means. Here's reverse of a Puritan in his morals; and yet, the
Reginald will soon make him acquainted with  moment you enter with your wild ways and
all the pretty sqaws-ladies, I mean —Heaven  wild stories, he changes all at once, invites us
bless'em! and I will show him every hole and to dinner, half yields in regard to London, and
corner in the old city; from the lowest. blind al- is as civil as he possibly can be."
ley at the back of the Tower, to Whitehall and   "I suppose," replied Major Brandrum, laughSt. James's; though, to say truth, I dare say it ing, "he thought you were too good and too
is greatly changed, for I did not see a tile of it prudent, Reginald, and when he saw your friend,
for ten years, from the time I sailed away in the he was convinced that he had mistaken you."
Little Mary of Boston, till about two months   "Upon my word, it looks something like it,"
ago, when I walked along in my blanket and replied Captain Lisle; "and yet, what good it
feathers, with alJ the women of Wapping fol- can'do him, I can nr6t imagine."
lowing me, after my return from Canada."' Well, let us reconnoiter the ground a little
"That must have been somewhat annoying," more before we come to any coiclusion," an-.
said Captain Donovan, laughing; " could you. swered the major; "and, in the first place, tell
not contrive to get a coat and a pair of breech- me what is the connection between you and
es on board the vessel!"                  this young baronet. I never heard of him be"'No, sir, no," replied Major Brandrum. " I fore."
Was resolved to make my triumphal entrance    "No connection whatever, that I know of,"
as the Ravenous Crow; and when the excel- answered Reginald Lisle, "except my having
lent brandy-faced ladies of the metropolis kept' fought his cousin, Sir Charles Chevenix, and
asking me impertinent questions as to the having been put into the entail ofthe estate, for
warmth of my naked legs, I replied to them in that very cause, I believe, by his grandfather,
Cherokee, at which they set up a shout, just Sir Walter Broughton. At least, so my worthy
like a war-hoop.  Oh, let him come to Lon- uncle Mullins always said."
don, by all means. We'll show him a little of   "Upon my life!" cried the major, " that's an
life."                                     exceedingly philosophical plan. I wish it would
"Well, we shall see, we shall see," replied  get into vogue. I have more than once been
Captain Donovan, good-humoredly. " I sup- tempted to shoot my own cousins, but I suppose
pose,' gentlemen, you are not going to leave that would not do as well. No man would put
this neighborhood just yet, and I trust that we me into an entail for doing that."
shall have the pleasure of seeing you at dinner   "I am afraid not," answered Lisle; "nor
to-morrow at the hall." Thus saying, he rose: would it be any great satisfaction if they did.
the invitation was accepted, the hour arrang- Here, in this instance, there is just as much




.16                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
chance of my ever succeeding to the property higgle-de-piggledy, each man concealing wh'at
as of your doing so."                        he is, follow the Indian plan and -suspect every
"7Why so-why so i" said his friend; "the body."
lad might die without children."               Reginald Lisle gazed at him- for a moment,
"Heaven forbid!" cried Lisle; "he seems and then burst into a fit of laughter.  " That is
as amiable and fine a fellow as ever lived, if good!" he exclaimed, at length; " that is exthey do not break his spirit by a bad education. cellent, my friend the Crow! you who suspect
But, even if he were to die, there's still' Dono- nobody, except when you have got a blanket on
van himself to come in."                    and a belt of wampum. Was it not only the
"Oh ho!" cried the Ravenous Crow.  "So other day when I was in London, that you ache is the next heir, is he, and the guardian too? cepted two bills of exchange for a man whom
What, the lamb left under the kind protection I believe to be a great rascal, and I told you-'"
of the wolf! Come, come, Lisle, you give me   "There, there, don't talk of that," exclaimed
a new insight into the matter. Master Dono- Major Brandrum; "that's a sore subject just
van may have his own views as to selecting now, Regy. You know, of course, that the vilthe acquaintances of his ward. It might be no lain didn't furnish the money as he promised.
bad thing for him if I were to seduce the young It's that which brings me down here just now.
man to go and join my friends the Cherokees, IT found there was a writ out, and didn't know
or undertake any other mad-headed expedition, where to go to, so I came down here, knowing
which may suit very well with                that I should find fun with you, if I found noth-' A soldier who lives on his pay,        ing else."
And spends half a crown out of sixpence a day,'  Captain Lisle's face became very grave.
but would never suit a young wealthy baronet, "Upon my life, Brandrum," he replied, " I have
unless his guardian was heir to his property."  nothing else to give you. Why, this is a mat..
"I wish you would not put such things in my ter of four or five hundred pounds, and I have
head, Brandrum," said Lisle.  "Do you know  not got as much at my command in. the world."
any harm of this man Donovan? If not, why    "There, don't talk of that," cried Major
should you think so?"                      Brandrum.  "Do you think I would take it if
"Because he is not Reginald Lisle," replied you had, ladl No, no: I'll keep out of the
the major, "nor, for that matter, Jack Bran- Fleet as long as I can, but when the time
drum either. I declare I wouldn't hurt a-hair comes, I must go. It doesn't much matter
of the head of a boy like that for all the estates where my old bones lie; but I'll give the bailin England, bating fair and open warfare, where iffs and their bums a run before they catch me,
a man may be called upon to scalp his enemy There, don't let us talk any more of it; it will
as a matter of course. But I'll tell you what, be bad enough to think of the day I am taken,
Reginald, we must look' after this matter, my but till then I'll not think of it at all."
dear boy. It will become you, being the heir-   Nor could his young friend get hin to speak
presumptive as men call it, to see that the sue- upon the subject any more.  With that light
cession to the crotown is not endangered. If I and happy hunmor which, like a cork, floats overknow you right, you'll be quite, as willing to look the waves of circumstances that overwhelm
after this lad for a year or two as if he were heavier and more solid things, he seemed rathyour own brother. Now., let you and I set er raised than depressed by the difficulties of
about it, and the devil a Donovan of them all his situation, and gayly and cheerfully chatted
will be a match for us."                    of every thing else, although Reginald Lisle re" I can not endure suspicion, Brandrum," an- mained grave and thoughtful, and ended the
swered the young officer; " we have really no evening by saying, " I must talk to my uncle
cause for it on the present occasion. I almost about this, Brandrum," evidently showing that
feel ashamed of the thoughts that have come the position in which his friend had placed himinto my head; but yet it is very strange, Bran- self had remained in his thoughts through their
drum, that one so affectedly careful of the mor- whole conversation.
als and character of his ward, should be so   On the following day, at the usual hour of
careless in regard to his life. The first thing I dinner in those times, Reginald Lisle and Masaw this morning, when I was sketching'upon jor Brandrum  presented themselves in the
the common, was this young man riding a brute large drawing-room at the hall, and were rewhich the best horseman in Europe might have ceived with the greatest marks of kindness by
found trouble to sit.  It was rearing, and plung- Captain Donovan.  His brow no longer wore
ing, and hogging its back, so that, although I a frown, his manner was no longer cold andam no very timid horseman, as you know-"   distant; and not only to Caiptain Lisle, but to
"You'd ride the devil red hot," interrupted  Sir Theodore Broughton also, he seemed a toBrandrum.                                   tally different man. The young baronet listen"I would not have mounted that beast for ed in silent surprise while he laughed and jokany thing less than to save another man's life, ed with Major Brandrum, and talked cheerfully
or to obey orders," continued Reginald.     with Captatn Lisle; and, in the end, after the
"Pooh, pooh!" answered the Ravenous Crow. bottle had circulated very freely, and the ma"Never talk to me of not being fond of suspi- jor had shown that he was competent and willcion. Where the devil should a man feel sus- ing to drink any given quantity-of wine, Cappicion except in this world 1 It is the only tain Donovan turned gayly to his ward, saying,
place where it is likely to be useful. After the " Well, Theodore, what do you say to a trip to
two sets of people are separated at the day of,, London? Would you like it 1"
judgment, we shall all understand each other,   The young baronet did not affect to deny
and there will be no use of suspicion any more; that it would be very agreeable to him; and
but as long as we are all here, mingled together Captain Donovan seemed to fall into a fit of




LAUREL WATER.                                       17
thought, at the end of which he said, " I can er, that he and his companions should take the
not go myself for some time'; but I. feel quite stage-coach at Ludlow; but ultimately it was
sure I could trust your inexperience of London determined that as both Major Brandrum and
to;the guidance of Captain Lisle, whose own Reginald Lisle had come thither on horseback,
character and reputation are the strongest of the whole party~should return toward town in
gZuarantees."                              the same manner; and, if they found the jourFrom  particular circumstances connected ney tedious, should have recourse to, postwith his own situation, Reginald colored a lit- chaises after they had proceeded a certain way
tie at this speech, and perhaps the more so be- on the road. An early hour was appointed for,cause he saw Donovan's eye fixed upon him. starting the next morning, and the party sepaItean not be doubted that the captain perceiv- rated in great good-humor with each other.
ed the deepening tint, but it see"i:  to make As they were going down the steps, however,
no difference as to his views, for,he added im- Captain Donovan followed the two guests, exmediately, " What say you, Lisl6:.-will you un- claiming, " Major Brandrum, allow me to speak
dertake the task of showing our young friend with you for a moment;" and, while the major,heresthe lions of London for a day or two, till paused at this summons, Reginald walked
I can come up and join you!"               slowly on into the park.
"I shall be most happy,"' replied Captain    "Thank you, my dear captain, thank you;
Lisle; "and am only sorry that I can not in- I never borrow money. It is alwayjs unpleasvite him to my house-not having one," he add- ant to borrow, and often inconvenient to pay k
ed, with a laugh, " to invite him to.. lodge at and not the less inconvenient because it is unan inn, as you are probably-aware."         pleasant, nor the less unpleasant because it is, No, indeed," replied Captain Donovan; "I inconvenient."
thought your mother was in town."             Such were the words which, spoken in Ma-No, I am sorry to say she is not," replied jor Brandrum's voice, reached the ears of RegLisle; "she went to live at a short distance i nald as he walked on. A moment or two aftfrom London while- I was absent in America, er he was joined by his friend, the Ravenous
and I am too poor to keep a house myself."    Crow, who said, laughing, " Hang the fellow!
"Oh, that will make no difference!" cried he wanted to lend me money. He is a quick'Captain Donovan; " I could not have thought guesser, that fellow. He seems to have found
of burdening your mother's house with an un- out what my important business was in a
invited guest, even had she been in town; but minute."
Theodore can easily take up his abode at a ho-   "Why did you not take it?" demanded Regtel, with his servant, if you will be with him as inald.  "I dare say he could affiord to lend it:much as possible."                         you very well."
"With pleasure-with pleasure!" replied."Because, my dear Lisle," replied Bran-.Reginald Lisle, his face brightening.  " When- drum, laying his hand good-humoredly upon
do you propose he should come "             his arm, "there are two sets of men whom
"? Oh, whenever you go yourself," replied you should never ask to lend you money-men
Donovan. "When a thingAis once decided, you believe to be great rogues, and men you
-the sooner it is done the better: to-morrow, if believe to be your most intimate firiends."'you like."                                   "I can understand why the first should be
" Oh, I am verywilling," answered Reginald. proscribed, but not the latter, my dear Crow,",W*' Will you come, Brandrum'"              replied Lisle.
"' Part of the way," replied the Ravenous  1"For the best reason in the world," answerCrow, nodding his head significantly.  " I have ed Brandrum; "because they can not refuse
business which will detain me some distance you. It is, in fact, forcing a loan, which no
from London for a short time; but I'll go part man of honor or spirit would do. I'll seek
of the way with you."                       some Jew or another, and borrow the money,
Captain Donovan's face grew  somewhat and perhaps some time I may force the scouncloudy: whether he thought that the society drel who got me into the scrape to get me out'of the eccentric major was absolutely neces- again."
~sary to the well-being of his ward in London    Lisle *hook his head, with many doubts as
or not, I can not divine; but he asked, in a to the probability of such a thing, and they
very insinuating tone, " Is this a busihiess that walked onward to the inn to prepare for their.can not he put off, my dear major?"       journey of the following day..'"I wish it could," said Major Brandrum,   In the mean while, Captain Donovan had
with a sly smile; "but it is an important and been conversing with his young ward, and
troublesome affair, and not the less trouble- giving him a good number of hints as to his
some because it is important, nor'the less ir- conduct. He had resumed, in a considerable
portant because it is troublesome."         degree, his somewhat stern and grave demean"' Well, it can not be helped," answered Cap- or, perhaps imagining that if thrown off all at
tain Donovan; "and the only thing that now  once the change would appear too strange and
remains is to settle our plans."            striking. His counsels were all very seemly
A discussion then ensued, with which it may and very proper; and, were they all written
be unnecessary to trouble my readers, as it down here, it would be very difficult, even upon
pfincipally referred to modes of conveyance strict examination, to find fault with them;
long disused, even before the flaming engine but yet the tone was not altogether what can
and the clattering rail whirled travelers through be called, moral. He told his ward particularly
Europe at the rate of forty miles an hour. At to avoid gambling, represented it as a horrible,one time it was p'loposed that the young baro- vice, which might lead to the most disastrous
mnet should go in the coach and four; at anoth- consequences; but he seemed to think that it
B




18                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
was the only one against which any very se- not do it early, they will do it late, as you have
rious warning was required.' In other respects, done."
his counsels were rather of the Chesterfield   "Ah, very true, captain, very true," replied
character; and he hinted very strongly that it the man, with somewhat of a nasal twang;
would be necessary for Sir Theodore, in all  "the earlier they begin, the more time they
other things, to do as other young men of his will have for repentance. We can never tell
rank and station did; though he cautioned at what time grace may come. I believe, if
him, in rather a light tone, against excess of my dear respected parents had not, been so
any kind. In a word, he said his tutor would strict with me when I was young, it might
soon join him, and he himself would follow in have gone better with me now."
a few days. In the mean time, he placed the   "Perhaps,so," replied Captain Donovan;
sum of six hundred pounds in his hands, that A" but, for various reasons, I shall send you to
he might be enabled to make a figure in society, London with:him, as I have said, and you will
as he said; and, having concluded his advice, remember'th:i you are to be useful to him in
bade him good-night.                      any way that he may require; but, at the same
The worthy captain's proceedings, however, time, you will inform me, from time to timer
had not yet altogether come to a conclusion, either here or when I join you there, of every
and the step which was next to be taken seem- thing that has taken place, even to the most
ed to require more attention than all the rest; minute particular; for, in case he gets into any
for, seated by the table, with his head leaning of the little scrapes or errors of youth, it will
on his hand, he gave it undivided attention for be, of course, my task to get him out of them
several minutes, speaking to himself as he did again as easily as possible."
so, and commenting upon the characters of the   "I see, sir," answered Zachary Hargrave,
various individuals whom he named. " Gerald with a low bow.
won't do," he said to himself. "- It was all very   " That he will get into some of these adveno
well here, and he has done his work well, as tures I do not pretend to doubt," continued
far as it goes; but we want another sort of tool Captain Donovan. " It is natural to youth, and
to work with now. The fellow is too rigid. he must, in some degree, buy his experience,
Then Martin's such a fool, and so indiscreet. like other young men. You will easily underDebauched enough, in all conscience, I believe. stand, therefore, that any thing you may tell
No, he would not do; he could not keep coun- me of him will not make me angry, so you
sel for an hour, and would startle the lad at the need have no apprehension on the subject of
first outset. Brown might do, but he's such a any little escapades of his; only you must be
bear. Ay, Zachary Hargrave is the man. His perfectly frank and straightforward with me.
sanctimonious face and canting expressions, If you are not, I shall discharge you; if you
and his loose life, will do very well. As the are, you may reckon upon my favor and prolad rides, too, he'll want somebody to take care tection through life. Now go away and preof his horses;" and rising, he rang the bell, pare: there's a five-pound note for you."
and directed the servant who appeared to send   The man expressed his gratitude, bowed low,
Zachary Hargrave to him.                  and withdrew, murmuring, when he reached
"Well, Master Zachary," he said, as soon as the bick of the door, "What does he mean by
the man appeared, "more of the old tricks, I escapades." and then, after thinking deeply
find."                                    upon the subject, and traversing the whole of
"Ah, sir," replied the groom, a long-faced, thp long passage that led to the servant's hall,
flat-haired, stout-made man of about forty, "' we he muttered again, "Yes, he must mean that.'
are all poor sinful creatures. The flesh will
rebel against the spirit."
"I know it well," answered Captain Donovan, dryly; "but yours is peculiarly rebellious,        CHAPTER VI.
Master Zachary, and therefore I think the best
thing I can do for you is to send you out of the   TmERE are few counties in England whkich
way."                                     contain more beautiful spots than the county
The man, who was not ordinarily fond of of Warwick; few that are more thoroughly Enlooking people in the face, raised his eyes to glish in scenery; few that possess so much of
Captain Donovan's countenance, as if to gath- those landscape features which, without offerer accurately what he meant, and then replied, ing to the eye any thing peculiarly grand or
in a quiet tone, "6 Ah, yes, sir, change of scene striking, satisfy without tiring' the mind. It
is a pleasant thing."                     was in the county of Warwick, then, that, about
"And change of pretty faces too, I suppose six o'clock in the evening of a fine spring day,
you think," said Captain Donovan; " but, in a three gentlemen on horseback might be seen
word, I intend to send you to London with Sir riding along, with two servants behind them,
Theodore to-morrow morning early."        one of whom led a strong, heavy horse, quite
" Indeed, sir!" exclaimed the man, with un- sufficiently loaded with portmanteau's and sadfeigned surprise in his tone; and then dropping die-bags.
his voice, he added, "It's a sad, wicked place,   The era of traveling on horseback was rapLondon."                                  idly passing away. People had become fond
"True," replied Captain Donovan; "but of post-chaises; and, to say sooth, I know few
young people must get accustomed to these pleasanter modes of traveling when one has'
things sooner or later, Zachary, and Sir Theo- but a single trunk and no companion. There
dore is old enough now to see a little of the is a free and easy rattling independence about
world. People must sow their wild oats, Zach- " the old yellow," as I believe it is technically
ary, at some time of their life, and if they do called, which has something very delightful in




LAUREL WATER.'                                 19
it  The stage-coach has its fixed destination; able because it was distressing-Reginald Lisle,
on the rail you are bound in fetters of iron; if who was mounted upon a stronger and more
you travel in your own neat post-chariot, you enduring horse than either of his two companhave a world of cares upon your head-almost ions, though one less fair to look upon than
as many as if you had a wife and. a small fami- that of Sir Theodore Broughton, volunteered
ly of young children with you; but in the corn- to ride on at a quick pace, and see if he could
fortable old careless post-chaise, you may cast get a view of Dunchurch, all parties beginning.
away every heavy thought of where you are strongly to suspedt that they had lost their way.
going, what you are doing, what the roads are " If I can fee nothing of it at the end of a mile,'
like Which you.pass over, what the horses are he continued, "I will return, and then we had
that draw you. You can not hurt or offend it. better all go back to the Black Dog, near Strat.
It will go through every thing and over every ton-upon-Dunsmoor. It's a villainous-looking
thing, and any where you please; and if some- hole enough, but we can put up there for the
times it lies quietly down upon its side, you night, and that's better than roaming about in
have nothing to do but to get out and help the the dark, seeking what we very likely shall not
post-boy to put it right again, and on you go as find."
friendly as before..                          The rest agreed willingly, for the horse of
i But this is a digression, and yet it is pardon- the young baronet was dead beat, and that of
able. It is like taking leave of an old friend Major Brandrum was exceedingly willing to go
for the last time. The old post-chaise will soon at a walk. Lisle accordingI' jdforward with
be defunct, and we shall never see it more.    the shades of evening dg ily  gathering
To return, however: the era of traveling on round, although the whole wi;   sky was
horseback was rapidly passing away, like all still yellow with the light of Got m ng  orb.
other mundane things; but yet it was not act. At the distance of about a quar'teriof a mile
ually gone, and a man who came with his saddle- fi om his companions, the road, after surmountbags behind him, if he had the aspect and man- ing a little rise, dipped down between some deep
ners of a gentleman, would still be received at green trees, mingled with the yellower foliage
the inn door with almost as much deference as of the late-leaved oak.  There was a dense
-if he came in a carriage and four.'         mass of wood on either side, and on the right a
The inn door, however, seemed somewhat deep pool of water, so completely shaded by
far distant to our travelers; for at the little vil- the boughs above that it was only distinguished
lage of Ryton they had inquired how far it was in the obscurity by a single line of light where
to Dunchurch, and had been told, as is very a water-hen dived down at his approach. On
usual in Warwickshire, that the distance was beyond, however, through a vista opening befive miles, when, in reality, it was nearly sev- tween the trees, the broad yellow road, slightly
en. The evening, however, was beautiful; and descending, might be seen in perspective, termas they skirted Dunsmoor, the scenery had all inating with a deep purple line of distant counthat picturesque'beauty which is derived less try, and the golden edge of the sky above.
from the forms than the coloring. The face   Cutting sharp upon the bright light were two
of the country is now terribly changed; for, female figures, linked arm in arm, and apparentalthough much has been done for man's con- ly walking slowly on. They were so far in advenience, every act that tends to smooth the vance, and the light beyond them was so strong,
ways of life takes away from some of its en- that it was impossible to judge of their cosjoyments, even while it adds to its ease. Al- tume, but yet there was something-indeed,
though Braunston Hill, with its steep descent, there is something, and ever will be-in the
no longer makes the traveler fancy his neck in air an'd carriage of a lady, which left no doubt
jeopardy, and though half the valley has been in the mind of Reginald Lisle as to the rank in
filled up to form a causeway for the high road/, life of the persons before him.
the beautiful view which used to extend from    " I think I may venture to ask them our way,
the brow of the steep-as the country lay be- and whereabouts we are," he said to himself;
neatl the eye in long lines of purple and gold, "but I must not ride too fast, or they may imat dawning or at sunset-is now lost to the agine I am a highwayman."
wayfarer, and he jogs on unconscious of, half   Now highwaymen were common in those
the beauty that is near. At the time I speak days.
of, however, the road from  Birmingham  led    Hardly had the thought passed through his
straight through some of the most picturesque mind, when two-objects struck him. One was
parts of the county, and Dunsmoor Heath well some fifty or sixty yards of park paling appeardeserved its name. The sandy road upon which ing through the trees on the left; the other
the three horsemen were riding now dipped the figure. of a horseman drawing out from
down beneath deep banks, now rose up upon a among the trees on the right. Reginald Lisle
level with the heath-and, as no space had was generally rapid in his combinations, somebeen spared where ground was of very little times rather too rapid in his deductions.; 
value-it was here and there only marked out am near some gentleman's park," he thought;:
by its different coloring, and by the tracks of "those are the two ladies of the house; that
wheels, or by a solitary mile-stone.       is a servant riding back from an errand."
After commenting more than once upon the   For some short time he persisted in this:
deceit which had been put upon them with re- view; for the horseman rode on at no very
gard to the distance, the tired state of their quick pace after the ladies, nor did they seem
horses, and their own hunger and thirst, which to hurry their pace at all. In a moment after,
Major Brandrum pronounced to he'intolerable however, Reginald Lisle put his hand down to
and distressing-not the less distressing be- his saddle-bow, and into a holster that hung
cause it was intolerable, nor the less intoler- there, the cause of which proceeding was, that




20                  SIR THEODORE BRO TITTON; O)R,
be perceived the horseman do something very   "He is gone! dearest mn6ther, he is gone!"
much of the same kind. The next moment thle cried the younger lady, running up to her, aind
man passed the two ladies, wheeled his beast laying her hand upon her arm.
right before them, and evidently brought them  "But he nmay come back again, Mary,"' tried
to a halt. At the same time a sound, not ex- the other. " How can we tell that he may not
actly a scream, for it was not loud enough, but return V"
rather an exclamation of surprise and fear,   "Oh no!" said Reginald Lisle, approaching,
reached the ear of Reginald Lisle, and his " there is no fear of that. And if he did, he
spurs were in the horse's sides in a moment. would only return to be taken, for I have two
-On' the beast went like lightning. The pistol friends not half a mile behind,with a couple of
was out of the holster, and throwing down the servants. I wish they were here: he should
rein, the young gentleman crammed downr the not -escape so easily. But he has killed my
ramrod tight, to make sure that the ball had poor horse, so that I can neither follow him  nor
not slipped during a long day's ride. By this ride on my way."
time,,although it was a soft and sandy road,   " I am extremely grieved to hear you have
the sound of his horse's feet was heard by the met such loss in our service, sir," replied the
two ladies, one of whom was evidently bestow- elder lady, " and thank you a thousand times.
ing her purse upon the gentleman before her. If you are in haste, however, and vexed at be.
The horsernan, whose face was turned that ing delayed, as I judge by your face, we can easway, must have become conscious some mo- ily send'you forward.'rhere are plenty of
ments before that he was not the only mounted very good horses in the stable, and I need not
man upon the road; but, to say truth, he seem- say they are quite at your disposal."
ed to trouble himself very little about it, and  Many tlhanks, madam," replied Camtair
made no movement whatever indicative of an Lisle.' I can not help grieving for my poor
intention of abandoning his object.        beast, for he has carried me through more than
The lady with the purse, in her haste and one bloody day without ever getting a wound.
terror, dropped it at the very moment when To say the truth, however, I fear I must deReginald was within about thirty yards of her, dine your offer, for hlie has so crushed my knee
while her companion, who was younger and in falling that I do not think I could bear the
slighter in form, turned round, and with a sort saddle."
of joyful cry, ran toward the new-comer, as if   Regret and sympathy were expressed by both
certain at once that he brought deliverance.   the ladies when they heard this announcemlent;'
"Be so good as to pick it up and give it to and-while Reginald limped forward, and took
me, ma'am," exclaimed the deep voice of the up the hat which his ball had knocked off the
mnan who had stopped them-; and then, instant- highwayman's head, in thle hope that it might
l turning the mouth of his pistol toward Regi- lead to his conviction-a hurried consultation
nbald Lisle, he exclaimed, 4 Hold back, my man, seemed to go on between h-lis two fair companor I'll shoot you as sure as you live!"   ions, the daughter seeming to urge something
The reply of the young officer was a pistol- upon the mother, ire regard to which the elder
— hioe and the man's hat flew off his head and lady hesitated.
*bllbd along the road.                       i But, my dear Mary, we are alone in the
4 devilish neat shot!" cried the latter, house," she said, " and we do net know this*snatching from-the lady's hand the purse which gentleman at all; I am afraid your father will
ishe- ad picked up. " Keep off! keep off!" and, think it strange."
h's ie saw the young gentleman still spurring   " Not he, indeed, mamma," replied the oth"d`-, hefi red, not at him, but at the horse, and er; " would he not do so -directly himselfl
ithie poor beast, struck in the chest, instantly Well, then, ask Doctor Haviland to come up,
went down, crushing his rider's leg and thigh if you hesitate only because we are alorine. He.ibneath himb. A'dying effort' the animal made is evidently a gentleman, and it would be cruel
tb rise; fedd ithe young officer from his weight, to let him go on when he is suffering so much.'and, rigar'dleis of the pain he suffered, Lisle I am sure papa would rnot like it at all."
started on his feet, snatched his second pistol   This last argument seemed successful; for,' fr6in te!holster, auld ran forward. But, at the when Reginald turned back slowly with the
same moment, with a graceful bow and a wave hat in his hand, the eIder lady, in courteous'of the'and,'thebighwayman wheeled his horse terms, begged that he would accompany them
agai'n  saying, "'Good morning, ladies, with to the house, and send for the surgeon fromn
ifany thankst" arndcantered lightly across the Dunchurch. Reginald Lisle noW hesitated, aliheath'.-'                              though he felt that he was hardly fit to pursue
" Ohs.! sir, I hope iyou are not- hurt,"' cried his journey; anrid, to tell the truth, perhaps he
thie ldy wihlo was nearest to Reginald. " He might have persisted in trying to go on, had
had killed your pooriors e, I am afraid."  not the younger lady said, with her deep blue
" 4 4He has, indeed "; said Reginald, gazing on eyes fixed earnestly upon him, and a very per-;the atimal as it lay, with its feet beating the suasive smile upon her lips,' Indeed, sir, you:'ir faintly and cohivulsively; " he has, indeed!" must not think of proceeding without some ad-;and he pireseA hiS lips together with a look of vice; and, as my mother will be frightened all:;much grief. -Theni turning round abruptly, he the way home, you can not, in courtesy, refuse
Y-continuedl,  I hope the scoundrel-has not fright- to escort us."
s ened you muci. That laily-your another, I   If Lisle could have resisted the words, he, suppose-seenis very greatly agitated;" and so certainly could not resist the manner in which
-zshe was, indeed, for shie Was4 now supporting they were uttered, and the only difficulty that
vherself by -a tree, With ofie hand'clasped over remained was, how to inform his two friends
ier eyes.                                  of what had occurred, and whither he had gone.




LAURJEL WATER.                                   21
That,b;owever, was removedthemoment after,  both, if their gallant comipalion had not come
wWeIhe. was,consulting with.his fair compan. up to their-rescue.
lensclas! to;what was to'be done, for spurring    Although Reginald did his best to b6e cheerslow.y along upon a jaded horse came Master ful, it cannot be denied that he suffered great'
Zachary Hargravo, bringing intelligence that pain at every step he took; and'at length, a'fter'
Sir: Theodore's chestnut had come down in,de- having passed through the gates, and walked'
seending the hill, and broken both its knees. some way through a very beautiful and appar":The major therefore thinks, captain," contin- ently extensive park, he stopped, just as they,
ued the servant, "that it will be better to go  got a view of an old Elizabethan mansion at
back to the Black Dog, at Stratton. If you will the distance of about a quarter of a mile, sayreturn, we can get a chaise there, or at Ryton, ing, in a tone from which he could not banish
and go on-to-morrow."                       the expression of suffering, "I am afraid I can
"Look there!" said Lisle, in return, point- not. go any further. You can meet with no
ing to his dead horse.  " Tell them I have had  danger between this and the house, and I must,
a little affair with a highwayman here, and he  at all events, rest a little here, as I find it imhas shot my poor bay. If they will go back to  possible to proceed."
Stra'tton, however, I will join them to-night or   Taken up with her own terrors, the elder
to-morrow morning-"                         lady had not perceived the pain which he en"It' he is able," added the young lady, who  dured, nor his efforts to master it; but neither
saw that Reginald's face was very pale. "The  one nor the other had escaped the eye of the
horse fell upon him and hurt him, and we must daughter.  "' I saw how he was suffering," she
send to Dunchurch for a surgeon."           said, in a tone of deep feeling; "but here-is a
"Very well, miss, I will say so," replied  nice mossy bank: if you will sit here for a few
Hargrave; and, turning his bridle, he rode  minutes, we will send up a carriage for you
back, while Reginald, putting the pistol in his  before it is quite dark."
breast, accompanied the ladies at a very slow    No other plan could be proposed, and with a
and limping pace along the same sandy road. faint smile at his own weakness, Reginald seatThe younger, with' the light and happy cour- ed himself while the two ladies went on. It
age of youth, seemed to have forgotten all fear, was nearly half an hour, and quite dark, before
and talked even gayly of their adventure; but the sound of carriage wheels met his ears,; for
her mother, holding fast by her arm, seemed  servants are not always as charitably active as
by no means so easily reassured, spoke but their masters, and the younglady's injunctions
little, and continued to gaze from time to time  to make haste were not attended to with all
over the heath, as if she expected every mo- the precision that she could have desired. At
mient to see the figure of the highwayman come  length, however, the carriage appeared, with a
cantering back again.                       servant walking by the side, seeking for the
"Thank God!" she cried, at length,'we  spot where Reginald had been left; and in five
are at: the park gates! It is really terrible this minutes from that time he was stretched upon
state of society, that one can not walk half a  a sofa in a large and handsome drawing-room,
mile from one's own. house without being ex- with the two ladies by his side, making eager
posed to robbery!"                         inquiries as to how he felt after his removal.
" Well, dearest mother,";said the young lady,   Every thing looked cheerful around him; the
"'as far as we are concerned, it might have  room was well lighted; there was a cheerful
been worse; for I am sure you'will admit that fire blazing in the wide, open grate; the furninobody could be more civil than he was, al- ture was rich and costly, and there was as
though he did take your purse; and, indeed, I beautiful a face as ever was seen, hanging over
belie've there was very little in it."      him with that sweet look of interest which is
"Tihere were seven guineas," replied the  the greatest of all consolers. Reginald Lisle
lady; " but that I should care nothing about. thought that the compensation was fully equal
It is the terror in which he put me that I mind. to the pain, and almost hoped that the surgeon's
You know, my dear Mary, I shall not recover opinion might pin him to that sofa for many a
it for many weeks. Civil! I am sure I thought day to come.'The arrival of the man of healhe was as brutal as he could be, frightful crea- ing was not long delayed; for the servant sent
ture!"                                     for him rode fast to Dunchurch, and he him"No, no, he was very handsome," cried the  self rode faster,, for a patient at the great house
young lady; and laughing, "he made a thou- was not an every-day occurrence, and well
sand apologies for the trouble he gave in oblig- worthy of a gallop. His first injunctions, howing you to hand out your purse. If one always ever,' were by no means agreeable to Reginald
met with such polite people, it would rather be  Lisle; for they implied that he was to be ima pleasure to be robbed than otherwise."    mediately rem'noved to bed, and' there, as he
She spoke gayly and playfully, evidently with  was well aware, according to the ways of so-'
the intention of effacing from her mother's  ciety, the beautiful face would be seenno more.
mind the impression left by terror; but the at- However, he had no choice but to siubmit,"and
tempt was not successful; and although Reg- for half an hour or more he was kept under the
inald, understanding her object, endeavored, as torture- of examination, fomentation, and all
far as he could, to treat the matter lightly also, the other ations with which skillful surgeons
the elder lady remained in a state of nervous  make the process of cure as miserable as posagitation all the way, declaring that she had  sible.  The man of art had hardly taken his
never heard any of the civil speeches of the  leave, promising an early visit on the following
highwayman; that she thought him the most day, when a heavy military tread was heard
frighlitll man she had ever seen, and that she along the corridor, and the next moment the
was.iqctite sure, he would have murdered them  tall, gaunt tigure and hawk-like face of his




SIR THEODORE BROUGIHTON; OR,
friend thee Ravenous Crow appeared at Regi- ny. At Harrowgate, at Bath, at the Hot Well'
mald's bedside.  "Well,.my lad," he exclaim-.at Clifton, and at one or two other watering:
ed,," so you have got into a very curious and  places, each suite of bed-rooms might have a
uncomfortable mess; not the less curious be- sitting-room attached, for there persons came
cause it is uncomfortable, nor the less uncom- for a specifie purpose, which implied a probable
fortable because it is curious."             residence of some time; but in the country inn
"Certainly not, Brandrum,", replied Regi- -the small country inn-a traveler might stop
Dald Lisle; and, after having given him a more for a night; a family might stop for a night; a
circumstantial account of all that had taken  bagman might stop for -two or three nights;
place, he explained to him how impossible it and inthe former or the latter case-as men
was for him to move, perhaps for more than  in those days had not such a shuddering horone day to come: a conviction which had fore- ror of the proximity of strangers as they have
ed itself upon him, in despite of an eager and at present-the one public room was sufficient
enthusiastic temperament, and ~ spirit not eas- -for all the purposes of the road. If there were
ily cowed.                                  two gentlemen with straight-cut coats and long
1" Well, then, we will wait for a day or two," pig-tails, talking of the price of leather, or the
said the good major. "The young spoiled  worth of calico, or tlie call for broad-cloth-at
child of fortune will not be at all the woroe for one corner, there might )be two gentlemen in
a short drilling of a poor inn; and, for my own buckskin, talking of policy, or horse-racing, or
part, as London may be a little too hot to hold agriculture at the other, without interrupting
nme just now, I shall do quite well in the coun- each other in the least.  Sometimes, indeed,
try. I shall not go in to pay my compliments an observation at one table or in one group,
to the gay party below, for I came off in dusty madel in an over-loud tone, would produce a
garments as soon as I had housed Sir Theo- cross-fire from the other; and such events
dore."                                      were known as bottles,'or decanters, or pewThus saying, he took his eIave, and left Reg- ter pots flying across the intervening space, as
inald to seek such repose as aching bones hostile messages to an opposite, pai'ty; and
would grant.                                swords would be drawn, and scuffles ensue,
till the landlord and the constable interfered,
and the landlord's wife, with shrill voice and
excited countenance, scolded all round, with
CUAPTER VII                    lungs peculiar to the fair part of the Licensed
Victualers' Company.
LET the reader transport himself to the   But these things were of rare occurrence,
Black Dog. What an extraordinary verb that and a man might say, "'I will take mine ease
verb to transport is. It is a verb passive in at my inn" with less chance of disappointment
most of its senses, and yet it implies the ex- than in almost any other human aspiration.
cess of human joy and the extreme of human There was a certain sort of code of politeness,
suffering.  "I am transported"-it may be a, too, which regulated, in a great degree, the ingreat lie or a simple truth-means that a man tercourse of these places of public resort. It
is carried out of himself; that his spirit is was supposed that a civil speech would proborne away from its natural, placid home of duce a civil reply; that there was a certain
even, every-day life, to a state of joy indescri- sort of free-masonry about the place, which
bable.'He was transported," means that the  made all men, to a certain degree, brothers
man himself was carried firom his native land, while they remained therein, without implying
his kinsmen, his friends, the domestic hearth, the slightest intimacy, or even acquaintance,
the ties of dear affection, the long-accustomed  from the moment that the foot passed 9::the
objects of attachment, the scenes and things outer side of the threshold, unless both;Jarties,
which had grown into his soul and mingled by mutual signs and indications, gave notice
with his spirit, to a new world of pain and that they wished for closer'and more permaPunishment, and worse than death-to degra- nent communication.
dation here, to long days of anguish, and la-   This premised, it will be hardly necessary
bor, and privation-to the chain-gang and the to say that the small inn called the Black
oppressor's rod-to the contagion of example, Dog, at Stratton-upon-Dunsmoor-I believe
to the corrupting influence of an atmosphere the sign has descended to the present dayof vice, to crimnes unheard of, and to moral contained- but one room which deserved the
death, where every feeling and principle of ac- name of a sitting-room, and that was open to
tion, and thought, and habit, and sight, and  all comers. If a family arrived and stayed the
sound, is all putrefaction, and horror, and de- night, and wished to be very exclusive, they
cay. It is a strange thing, the English lan- were under the necessity of converting a bedguage, and stranger still to find that in almost room into a dining-room or drawing-room; but
every tongue under the sun, the terms which that was a case which very rarely occurred.
imply the highest, imply also the lowest; the   In that one sitting-room —it was upon the
words which signify perfect happiness, signify ground floor, with the windows looking out
also extreme misery.                        upon the high road, not overdlarge,. and someLet the reader transport himself to the Black what low' in the roof-sat Sir Theodore
Dog, and remember that an inn-a small coun- Broughton and Major Brandrum, partaking of
try inn-in the years 1775-6-7, was a very a very comfortable supper, which greatly redifferent place' from an inn in 1845-6-7. In freshed the young baronet, who-though capageneral, in these small country inns, at the ble of violent, but not long-continued exertion
period of which I speak, there was one public -had been somewhat tired, as well as his
room appropriatod to the reception of compa- horse, by riding the whole day long. - The: ma




LAUREL WATER.                                     23
jor had visited the bar before they had sat they were of the very last device, and exceeddown to supper, and had, with nice discrimina- ingly brilliant. The ruffles at his wrists were
tion, tasted the more ordinary wines, which, *of the finest and most beautiful lace, and his
as was then not unfrequent, the landlord drew  hand, which was small and delicate, was ornafrom the barrel for the benefit of his customers. mented with several very handsome rings. His
Now, to ask for claret in such an inn as that, countenance was frank and pleasing, though
in our own degenerate times, would be some- the under jaw was perhaps too large and massy;
thing worse than vain. You might insult the  and his figure, though indicating great strength,
landlord, and get vinegar and water for your was light and graceful. His whole bearing and
pains, but no, claret; but the case was very  appearance, in short, was that of a very distindifferent in those days, and the pure juice of  guished personage; and there was that slightthe Bordeaux grape was as frequently to be  est possible touch of superciliousness in the
found in a small road-side inn of England, as curl of his lip, which is often to be fobund in the
on the banks of the Garonne or the Dordogne. lowest mental rank of the worldly great.
The Madeira did not please the major; the    With a slow and deliberate step, the newport was somewhat worse; but at the claret comer took his way to the fire-place, glancing:he raised his eyebrows with the air of a con- his eye for a moment at the two preoccupants
noisseur, and ordered a magnum, informing  of the room, and then leaning his elbows on
Sir Theodore, in a whisper, that it was the  the mantel-piece, and falling into a fit of medirmost delicate and high-flavored wine he had  tation. The moment after, he rang the bellever drunk; not the less delicate because it for bells were common, even in England, at
was high-flavored, nor the less high-flavored  that time, though I can remember the day when
because it was delicate.                   they were unknown in many parts of Germany,
The young baronet was much of the same  except in church steeples-and when the landopinion, although his own cellar — thanks to  lord appeared, he asked if his supper was ready.
Captain Donovan's taste and discrimination-    "In a minute, colonel —in a minute," replied
contained some of the choicest vintages of the host; "it isn't quite your hour yet."
Guyenne; and there they sat, with the remains   "Past, by five minutes," said the stranger,
of the supper before them, slowly sipping their taking out a very handsome watch, with the
wine, the bouquet of which perfumed the whole  numerous appendages which it was at that time
room. Sir Theodore, who, during the greater customary to attach to the little curious con-.part of his life-as is too often the case with  trivance by which man marks the passing of
happy youth under the rule of severe age —had  the hours he misuses; "' past by five minutes,"
lived in a state of awe, and who had been suf- he repeated, after he had examined the dial
fered to indulgebut little (which, perhaps, would  "You know I like to be punctual, Harrison."
be better for all men) in that consoling juice of    "I know you do, colonel," replied the other.
the grape, which was undoubtedly given for the  "Our clock must be behind."
*comfort and support of declining years, grew    "A bad habit for the clock," replied the
cheerful and familiar under the influence of the  stranger, dryly. " Correct it, Master Harrison,
claret. He conversed with his military friend, or some day it will be brought to a stand."
a6t without considerable powers of mind and    " It will only share the fate, then, of many a
stores of knowledge, but evidently rather anx- good neighbor of mine," replied the landlord,
ious to gain from him some acquaintance with  laughing. " Have you heard, colonel, that Lady
the wide world, in which, and in its wildest and  Chevenix and the young lady have been stopmost remote scenes, his companion had been so  ped, just under their own park paling, and robbusy an actor, than to display his own ifforma- bed of their watch, and money, and all sorts
lion, limited to the stores of classic lore. Major of things."
Brandrum was inexhaustible; and,were this an    "Good Heaven!" exclaimed the stranger,
episodical work, I might relate three or four "this is too bad! Upon my life, if the gentle-,very curious tales and anecdotes which he told  men in London do not look after these things,
during the evening, before the little party of  it will be unsafe to travel without an escort.
two, which at first tenanted the chamber, was When did this happen."
increased by the pYesence of a third. As it is -   Oh, three or four hours ago," answered the
my object, however, to tell one tale, and not landlord; "those gentlemen brought the news,
many, I must leave the account of his adven- for a friend of theirs came up just as the high-,tures in North America, South America, the  wayman was taking the ladies' purses, and got
Falkland Islands, the Low Countries, Bengal, his horse shot for his pains, and himself very,Spain, and Germany, for another opportunity, much hurt."
and merely say that as he was closing one of    "Hurt!" exclaimed the colonel, again. "Did
his narratives, the door of the room opened, and  the villain shoot him!".gave admission to a very well-dressed and good-    "Not exactly," replied Major Brandrum,
looking man, of from thirty to five-and-thirty  chiming in, this conversation having gone on in
years of age. He was habited with great taste  a loud tone, "but he shot his horse, and the
and neatness, and seemed to have a respect for horse fell, as horses will do when they are shot,
the company he was about to join; for his and, in falling, rolled upon our young friend,
dress-in which men were more particular at which was both painful and detrimental; and:that time than at present-was perfectly well not the lets detrimental because it was painful,
fitted for any evening party in Lonidon, perhaps nor the less painful because it was detrimental."
more so than for a country'inn. He wore a    "A-'  very just distinction," said the stranger,
~claret-colored coat, with cut steel buttons, silk  sententiously; "for it sometimes occurs that
breeches, and white silk stockings; and, al- things which are painful to us are rather bone$though the buckles in his shoes were small, ficial than detrimental."




t24' SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OILR,
":':T-rue, O king'!"' replied Major Brandrum.     A wager we can not decide upon the;spot,''hia this case, however, it was the reverse, and said Colonel Lutwich, who had by this time finour lyoung friend is suffering severely."   ished a considerable portion of claret likewise,o
"*I regret it deeply," said the stranger, ap- "otherwise I should be very happy. We thal
preaching the table, and presenting his snuff- have to send to North America, or to some me.iox to Major Brandrum, who immediately took seum of curiosities, for the tomahawk."
a pinch, and began to discuss the various kinds   "Ah!       a good workman never fails for wantandqualities of snuffs. Thence he deviated to of tools," said the major; "we'll soon fiRdn
tobacco; described the cultivation oftheweed in what will do as well. There must be a hatch
almost every country under the sun, and the dif- et in the house. Come, stake down, colonel;:
ferences between the leaf produced in different and, at the same time, he rang the bell sharply.
climates; and displayed an extent of informa-   "Mr. Harrison," he said, as soon as the landtion, not only upon that topic, but upon a hund- lord appeared, " will you have the kindness tored collateral subjects, which equally surprised bring me a pair of slippers and a hatchet."
Sir Theodore Broughton and the stranger.      Mr. Harrison stared. " I am going to perform
"You seem to have been a very great tray- for the amusement of the company," proceeded
eler, sir," observed the last comer.        Major Brandrum, in explanation, "in what may
-" I have had the honor of serving wherever be called my native character of the Ravenous
the British arms have been carried during the Crow. It will all be in good humor, and therelast five-and-twenty years," replied Major Bran- fore, if you have any women in the house, who
drum, "and in some other countries besides. would like to see the true Cherokee mode of
I have been in Canada, North America, South defense against a European soldier, they may
America, the West Indies, the East Indies, the come and share in the entertainment. Now,
Falkland Islands, Germany, Hungary, and Tran- colonel, stake down."
sylvania, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, France, and   "Ah! with all my heart," answered the oththe Low Countries, to say nothing of Norway, er, drawing an exceedingly delicate purse from:
Sweden, Denmark, and Russia, with a short stay his pocket, of blue silk, embroidered with gold,
in Egypt and Nubia, and flying visits to Borneo, from which he produced a guinea, and laid it on.Sumatra, and Madagascar."                  the table, coloring a good deal as he did so uni" May I ask, my dear sir," said the stranger, der Major Brandrum's eye.
with the slightest possible smile, " if I have the   In the mean time the landlord had quitted
honor ofspeaking to Captain Cook, LordAnson, the room to obey the orders he had received..or Captain Dampier!"                       Strange things were enacted in those days in
" No, sir," answered Major Brandrum, laugh- the inns and taverns of England, and Mr. HarIng, and not at all offended by the jest. " I am  rison went upon the excellent rule of supplying
called the Ravenous Crow, much at your serv- evey thing that his house could produce to
ice. May I ask your name in return."       those who demanded it, and could pay for iQt
" My name is Colonel Lutwich," replied the and asking no:questions as to the employment
stranger; and thus commenced a conversation thereof. He accordingly returned in a minute,which lasted for some hours, and in which jest or two with a pair of slippers, into which:the
and merriment soon predominated over the major's feet, being unbooted, were speedily fin.
stiffer and more formal courtesies of early ac- troduced, and a hatchet, which that gallant offi.
quaintance. The colonel's supper was placed cer first poised in his hand, declaring that the
upon a table near that of the two.other gentle- handle was rather heavy, and then whirled
men, and during his meal he continued amusing round his head in a manner that startled, fright-.
himself with a strain of fine raillery, directed ened, afnd delighted a small bevyofwomen,who,,
against our worthy friend, Major Brandrum, hut on Mr. Harrison's notification, had crowded: to
in which he did not altogether get the better, the door.
for the major had all his wits about him, and   "Come in, ladies, come in," cried Major:was occasionally rather fond of that moderate Brandrum; "I will scalp nobody, I promise.
approximation to the very vulgar kind of fun you; and, although this tool is not so manage atermed a hoax, which has been termed mystifi- ble as a real tomahawk, it will do, I've no doubt.
cation. To say.the truth, too, fromn particular You will excuse my taking off my coat and
circumstances, he was less scrupulous, perhaps, waistcoat, for the air is somewhat sultry;" and,.
with the colonel than he might have been-with divesting himself of his upper garments, with
other men, and he was soon in full tilt among the hatchet in his hand, he stood.forth in.thehis friends the Cherokees, relating exploits both midst, tall, lean, and sinewy, and certainly mostof himself and others, which, though in the main portentously ugly and somewhat frightful; for,
perfectly true, sounded incredible from the man- he had contrived, by running his fingers through
ner in wehich he told them.                it, to make the long, narrow stripe of grizzled
" Very formidable weapons, I have no doubt, black hair upon the top of his skull to stand up:
those tomahawks," said the colonel; "but I like the crest of some strange bird. " Now,
should think a pass or two with a good small- colonel," he said, "place yourself where you
sword would soon settle the affair with the most please, and we will begin the monomachia."
dexterous Mohawk of them all."                With easy grace, and a light, confident smilae
"'Not all, colonel," replied Major Brandrum. his adversary took his position at tile other
"I would undertake row, old as I am, to dis- end of the room, drew his sword, and placed
arm you in five minutes, though I have no doubt himself in the attitude of attack. It was evyou are a perfect master of fence. What'will ident, from the very first movements, tihat he
you bet and stake down. Will you say a guin- was a master of his weapon;;but while thea'n:! There is one now, the best miniature pie- landlady and her maidens exclaimed, "Why.
ture of King George that I am acquainted with." surely, they are not going to fight really?: aad




LAUREL., WATER.                                     25
Sir Theodore Broughton ventured to remon-    "Oh, yes!" answered.the: R.aveou. Crorw,
strate, in a low tone, against sulch d(angerous  "I can always find my friends when I want
pastime, Major Brandrum  coolly placed his  them," and, at the same time, he nodded h':,s
watch upon the table,.saying, " Five minutes,.,head significantly.
you know, colonel.  Now,begin.  Mark the   CFolonel Lutwich seated himself at:his tabe;
watch, Sir Theodore."                        and fell into a fit of thought, and in a few mimThus dared, Colonel Lutwich advanced cau- utes after, Sir Theodore Broughton, who;had,
tiously upon his adversary, made a feint and  taken, to say the truth, more exercise, wine,
then a lunge, but his blade was instantly met and excitement than was altogether good for
by the hatchet, and parried successfully. A  him, rose and retired to rest. Major Brandruma
little mortified and a little puzzled, for he did  remained to finish what claret was left in the.
not apparently wish to hurt his opponent, the  magnum, and for a few minutes a dead silence
younger gentleman lunged again, and then  prevailed between him and his late opponent.
again, but still the hatchet met him; till at "Come, come, colonel," he said at length, "-I
length, both becoming more eager, their move- am sure you are too gallant a man to bear ill
ments grew rapid; the hatchet and the swor.d  will. Let us drink a cheerful toast together."
flashed about in every direction; and, spinning    "With all my heart!" cried the other, exround upon his heel like a dancer in the ballet, tending his hand frankly; " I was not thinking
while his weapon whirled round and round him, of our late bout at all, major. I was only trydazzling the eyes that attempted to follow it, ing to recollect where you and I could have,
the Ravenous Crow seemed not alone animated  met befbre."
with the spirit of the Cherokee, but actually to    The Ravenous Crow bent forward his head
have eyes in the back of his headl; for wher- till his beak almost touched his, companion's
ever the lunges, now become fierce and rapid, temple, and then whispered a word or two in
seemed likely to strike him, there the invariable  his ear. The colonel started, turned a little
hatchet met them, and turned them aside.     pale, and gazed at Major Brandrum steadfastly.
The landlord laughed, the women screamed,   "Upon honor!'" he said, in a very peculiar
and Sir Theodore Broughton sat in wonder and  tone.
terror, till at length, with a fiend-like whoop,   "Upon honor!" replied the major; " althoughb
the Indian sprang upon his adversary, seized  perhaps, I might be justifie,d in saying no; but
his right hand, and both rolled over upon the  come, let us have our toast..Here's success to
floor together; but the sword was in Majors all ways of life, and the honester the better."
Brandrum's grasp, and with another yell:that   "With all my heart!" said Colonel.Lutwich,
shook the whole house, he waved the hatchet draining his glass; "but what'brings you so.
over his opponent's head.                    far from London, Major Brandrum?  I should
"The worthy major, however, cast off his In- have thought you were looking out for fresh
dian character more -rapidly than might have  service."
been expected, perhaps, relaxed his fell gripe    "Why, my dear fellow," answered the maof the colonel, and, retiring to-the other side jor, "you see I am in rather an awkward poof the room, laid the sword, and the  hatchet sition. There's a man who was half drowned
upon the table, and resumed his coat, his waist- with me once, half burned with me once, of the
coat, and his ordinary air.                  name of Wilkinson-as great a rogue as ever:Thedefeated swordsman rose from the ground  lived, ten times as bad as a fellow who takes ta
eonfounded and ashamed. The colorwas very  purse on the highway. He got me to put my
highb in his cheek, and it- was evident that a  name to a couple of bills for him, swearing and
good deal of heat and anger followed his de- vowing that though he had cheated half Europe
feat; but his adversary, the moment he was  before, he would never cheat an old friend and
dressed or redressed, advanced toward him with  fellow-sufferer, but would have the money
a.frank and good-humored air, and' presented  ready to a moment. I lent him  a hundred
him  his sword, saying,,"Upon my life, col- guineas into the bargain, which he was to pay
ouel, I never met a better fencer. I thought at the same time, but he has done neither- the
you would have pinked me several times, though  one nor the other, which is dishonorable and
I'never yet saw a sword that could compete  unfriendly; and not the less dishonorable be.
-with a Cherokee tomahawk, rightly played. cause it is unfriendly, nor the less unfriendly
The French are very skillful at their weapons, because it is dishonorable. So there are now,
but the Quest rapier of them all is no match for two writs out against me, information of which
a tomahawk. It is scarcely fair to take your inspired me with a desire to travel. They shall
stake, for I knew that the game was unequal, be backed by all the sheriffs in England and
and you did not."                            Wales before they are served upon Ine; and,
~'"Oh, no! it is yours, it is yours, fairly  in the mean time, I may catch Master Wilkinenough," cried the other gentleman, recovering  son, and take part payment With a tough ashhis good humor immediately; "I had no idea  stick."
that a hatchet was such a manageable weapon.   "He is a great villain," answered the colonel;
I think I must take some lessons."           "for, to my certain knowledge, if the debt:i
6' I will give you some, with all my heart,"  not a very heavy one, he can pay it. I knowr
replied Major Brandrum; "and, as you are  the fellow well: he won two thousand pounds
twice as young and as active as I am, you will of Joe Benson the other day., When do you
soon excel me far. I will come and call upon  go I"
you some day with a real tomahawk, and show    The question was rather abruptly put, and
you how to use it."   --                     Major Brandrum found it not easy to answer.
"Do you know where to find me I" askod the  " Why, I don't exactly know," he replied.
colonel, in a civil tone.                    "My poor friend Lisle is: a good deal hurt, atg 




26                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
when he will be able to go on I don't know. I each look as the page of a student's book,
Certainly sha'n't go on without him. When a  which, when rightly translated, was replete of
man's knee is crushed by a horse falling, you  poetry.
know, colonel, there is no certainty of how far   The reader unlearned in untutored naturethe mischief may go."                        the reader who has.been bound in the conven" Why, what Lisle is that." asked the other; tional habits of a rigid society, will ask, "What!
4' not the Lisle who distinguished himself so  after one brief interview!" or perhaps he may
much at Bunker's Hill!"                      fancy that Reginald Lisle's was one of those
The major nodded his head, and Colonel Lut-  very volcanic hearts which are always in an
wich continued in a tone of much sympathy, eruption..' I am very sorry for that, indeed; but which.   No such thing. He had never loved before,
way do you go, major, when you do go?"       for his short life had been a very active one;
"Oh! straight on," answered Major Bran- but its course had been so shaped by circumdrum,' by Daventry and Stony-Stratford, and  stances that love had never lain in its way.
either there or at Dunstable I shall leavle them, He had met many beautiful girls, it is true, and
for it might not be quite safe to get much nearer many very amiable girls, doubtless; but his
the great Maelstrom-which is a whirlpool or was a peculiar mind, which sought something
vortex in the sea, off the coast of Norway, more than mere beauty or mere gentleness, and
colonel, as perhaps you know, and the best he had never found, or fancied he had found it.
image of London I ever saw."                   Take a sphere, reader, and try to put it in a
" Well, I shall go on before you," said Col- hollow cube containing the same Mneasure, or
ponel Lutwich, thoughtfully; "and, perhaps, even something more. You can not do it, do
may be coming back again about the time you  what you will. In short, it does not fit. No
are on the road. If so, we shall have some  other shape will do but a hollow sphere, and
further talk about your affairs."           thus it is with human sympathies, more espe"Take care what you are about, colonel,"  cially when they have place in a firm and steadreplied the Ravenous Crow, laughing; "re- fast heart.
member there are highwaymen about."            I have said that Reginald Lisle thought of
"Oh! I am not afraid," replied Colonel Lut- those sweet eyes all night-and from time to
wich.  " I have got my horses down here, but time throughout the night he certainly did so.
I think I shall post. Let us have another mag- Nor is it at all improbable that the very nature
ium, major."                                 of his thoughts, helped greatly to keep him
"A bottle will do," replied Major Brandrum; waking, and to make him think at all. But
and, after discussing that quantity, they shook  still, it must be admitted that pain had somehands with a good deal of warmth, and each re- thing to do with his watchfulness.  For four
tired to bed.                                or five hours, all the applications of the surgeon
seemed to have produced no effect, at least in
mitigating the aching of his knee; and whenever weariness made him drop off into sleep, a
CHAPTER VIII.                  new pang woke him again. At length, however, the painr diminished, and just as the first'WE are a cold nation —there can be no  gray streaks were in the sky,. slumber more
doubt of the fact.  In general, it takes a great calm  and quiet than any he had yet known
deal to warm us, and then the fire is not very  during the night fell upon him. It lasted not
hot. We even wonder at the fiercer passions  long, indeed; but when he woke again, the
of more ardent-nations, and we have to remem- broad daylight stole into the room through the
ber that the scene was Italy or Egypt, ere the  curtain chinks, and Reginald Lisle, forgetting
burning words of Juliet, or the rapt self-aban- the surgeon's injunctions, and saying, "I feel
donment of Antony, cease to excite surprise. quite, well-I will get up," rose from his bed,
Except in Shakspeare, who could conceive all and proceeded to dress himself as well as he
things, and once in Herrick, there is hardly a  could, deprived as he was of all the usual ap.
piece of passionate love-poetry in the language. pliances but mere soap and water.
-Nevertheless, there are exceptions; and    It would have been difficult, however, to spoil
sometimnes it happens that the eager love at his appearance, for there was the gentleman in
first sight which made Juliet exclaim,       every feature and every line; and though some" Go ask his namre. If he be married,  what pale at the end of his hasty toilet, *his
My grave is like to be my wedding bed,"  face was still one that woman's eyes might
is found even in English men and women. look upon well pleased.
Perhaps, too, as the hardest and the coldest   Perhaps Lisle felt, as he was dressing, that'fuel, when once lighted, burns with the most he was doing an imprudent thing, and that it
-durable and warmest fire-the hearts that are  would have been better to follow counsel and
least easily kindled by passion retain it longest lie still; nevertheless, he went on dressing himand brightest when it is aroused. It is a curi- self to the end, although he, experienced much
-ous fact, too-but no less a fact-that the warm, pain in doing so; and I am afraid the beautiful
eager, impetuouslove I have described is seldom  eyes had somewhat to do with his obstinacy.
without return, if it be: excited by one with a  When he was dressed, he sat down for a mofree heart. It may startle, surprise, alarm  ment or two to rest, but soon started up again,
even, at first; but, like a torrent, it carries all and opening his room door, went out. A voybefore it when the first resistance is vanquished. age of discovery in a strange house is not alReginald Lisle thought all night of the deep  ways an uninteresting enterprise: there is so'blue eyes, and their jetty fringes, and the bright' much of the character of the owner in the dwellface full of soul and heart; and he remembered  ing, that one might almost learn the natural his



'LAUREL WATER.                                     27:tory ofthe inhabitants by the various objects name of love never mentioned, but with the lawhich a house displays.                     tent passion warming the ground, like the subReginald found himself at once in a long and terraneous fire near the crater of a volcano.
large corridor terminating in a stair-case, and   The reader has already had a specimen of
lighted by a window at each end. On the wide Reginald Lisle's conversation, so that it would
landing at the head of the stairs were two rich be unnecessary and indiscreet to repeat all that
china vases, of the size, and probably of the was said at present; for, though there was a,shape, of the oil-jars of Ali Baba's friend, the great difference in the subjects and ip the words
robber; and from thence proceeded an odor from that which he had held with Sir Theodore
common in-the houses of our grandmothers, Broughton, yet there was the same general
and proceeding from what, I believe, was called character. It was, in short, full of imagina-o
pot pourri: not a very savory name, but yet the tion, but imagination always directed aright,
odor was extremely fragrant. The walls of the ruled and guided by a fine mind, and high prinlanding-p]ace were hung with small pictures, ciples of thought as well as action.
some of them exceedingly good, and these the   There is many a man who will think a wrong
young officer paused to examine with an artist's thing, but will not do it. He only is happy who
eye. On a large ebony pedestal, too, there was does neither the one nor the other. Thoughts
a marble bust, very beautifully chiseled, and are the mind's deeds, and if mind be immortal,
pure as snow. It was that of a gentleman of these are recorded for immortality.
five or six-and-thirty years of age, and the fea-   I have said that his conversation on the prestures seemed familiar to the eye of Reginald ent occasion was, in several respects, very difLisle; but the sculptor-whether in good taste ferent from that which he had first held with
or not, let those judge who are competent-had Sir Theodore Broughton; but such was the
chosen to dress an English gentleman of the case naturally enough. His present companlast century in the garb of an old Roman, and ion was a young and beautiful girl. The age
consequently the likeness, if not lost, was with- as well as the sex made a difference: not that
out any accessory help.                     she was older than the young baronet in years,
Descending the stairs,'Reginald came to a for such, perhaps, was not the case, but she
hall decorated with Frore pictures, not so good was older in mind-in feelings. All women are
as those above, and a great number of little ob- older than their male cotemporaries. Her injects of curiosity and art. He thought he knew  tellect was more expanded,. more free, more
the drawing-room door by a large and handsome active; perhaps it was naturally of a firmer
japan cabinet which stood near it; and he.ac- character than the youth's; and she now fol-cordingly applied his hand to the lock and went lowed Reginald on all the paths where he chose
in. Fortune favored him. The sun was not to lead her with a free, light step, and a face
shining directly on the windows, but its light sometimes grave, sometimes smiling, but alpoured free over the grassy lawn beyond, and ways intelligent and always pleased. Somethere, at the open casement, stood the same times, too, when she had nearly lost'him in one
light: and graceful form which had occupied so of his wild flights, and he came back within
much of his thoughts within the last eight hours, sight again, d timid, mantling blush of pleasure
with the right arm resting upon the side of the would spread over her bright face, and make it
window, and supporting the whole figure, one look a thousand-fold more lovely than ever.
small foot crossed lightly over the other, and Her heart was free, her spirit unsoiled by the
the head bent slightly to the side. The grace world; and when, at the end of three quarters
of the whole was perfect, and Reginald paused of an hour, her mother opened the drawingfor a single instant to gaze, while she seemed room door, she thought the minutes she had
lost in meditation.                         passed there the very pleasantest she had ever
Two steps more, and the sound of his foot- spent in life. That was going a great way,
fall caught her ear, making her start and sud- reader; but it is true, she went quite-as far as
denly look round. An expression varying from  that, and she was not wrong.
surprise to pleasure, and then to grave appre-   The elder lady reproached her daugher very
hension, came over her face; but that which gently for not having made breakfast, and reReginald Lisle most marked, and which pleased proved her guest for not having obeyed orders.
him most, was the warm blush which fluttered The young lady colored, and excused hbrself
ever her cheek when she first saw him.      as best she might, and Reginald repeated his
Could she have been thinking of himS. It assurance that he was much better; but the
was a question he did not ask himself-for he lady of the house still shook her head gravely,
was not vain-but-which the reader, perhaps, and led the way to the breakfast-table with a
may ask, and which, if he do, I will not take moral reflection upon the restless impatience
upon myself: to answer. Certain it is that her of young men.
demeanor corresponded with the changes of her   She was no great talker; a somewhat timid
looks; for she first paused as if in doubt how  and retiring person, with strong feelings and
to act, then stretched out her hand to him, and strong affections hidden under a good deal of
then began to scold him kindly for rising. It reserve; but there was something so winning
was exceedingly imprudent, she said, and very in-Reginald's manner, so buoyant, so irresistible
wrong; but he assured her that he was much (I must use a word I hate) in his conversation,
better, and that it would -do him no harm.,    that even she was carried away by it, and enThen began a conversation which could only joyed his society nearly as much as her danughtake place between two:people, one of whom, tar. Nearly-not quite, reader, for there was.-at the least, intended to fall in love with the a difference of four-and-twenty years between
other —wild, wandering, dreamy, roaming from  them.
tfe- smallest things to  the greatest, with the. Before breakfast was over the surgeon was




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
an.u rced, and. his air of consternation on'per- The name of.Sir Theodore Bro0ughton, howv:.
eeiving his patient seated at table made Regi- er, brought up a look of-sirprise in;the faerif
nald -smile. He suffered himself-to be carried the elder lady, and she. exclaimed, a"Sir Theo-.ioff, however, and for nearly half an hour mother dore is forbidden, I supploe, to visit us; but, at
and daughter waited to hear the report. At the all events, this intelligence gives us an asurend of that time the surgeon returned alone.   ance of the station andcharacter of our guest"
Well, where is your patient, and how is   "He can not be: that horrid Captain Donovran,
he?:" asked the elder lady; while her daughter I am sure," answered the younger lady.
sat silent, with some degree of apprehension at   "Oh, no, my dear child!" replied her mother;
his non-appearance.                          "Captain Donovan is twenty years older, and
4"He is in bed, yourladyship," was the reply, a very different man in appearance.  I have'" andvery much worse for having risen. There seen him. As to this young gentleman- I am
is a considerable degree of inflammation about quite satisfied. He is all that one would wish
the knee, which must absolutely be brought in manners and behavior, and he must be a maa
down. He must have on twelve leeches, and of honor and respectability, or Captain Donothen, if he will but keep perfectly quiet, he may, van would never admit him into Sir Theodore's
perhaps, proceed on his journey the day after society. To do the man but justice, he is only
to-morrow.  If he had obeyed my directions, too strict and severe as to his ward's companhe would have saved himself a whole day's con- ions."
finement; and I must request your ladyship, to    "Oh, I will find out the young gentleman's
enforce obedience at present, otherwise I will name, my lady, depend upon it," answered the
not be answerable for the consequences. The surgeon. " I know how to pump it out of him
inflammation might affect the cartilages, and without seeming to do so."
leave him with a stiff joint for life, or even re-   "I beg you will not, on any account," replied
quire amputation."                          the elder lady, in a somewhat cold tone; "w@
"Good Heaven, how horrible!" cried the shall doubtless have his own name firomb-his own
younger lady. 1' If he comes down again, I will lips before he goes; and, in the mean time,:
drive him back myself."                     think pumping at all, as you call it, sir, is quite
"Pray do," replied the surgeon; and then, unnecessary, and would be improper."
turning to her mother, he inquired, "Does your   Not well pleased with the rebuke, the worthy
ladyship know who the young gentleman is! surgeon took his leave, and proceeded to visit
He seems a person of distinction."           his patient, whom he found decidedly better
" Ishould certainly judge so," replied the mis- and, notwithstanding the warning he had:.retress of the house; ",and, I must say, he is one ceived, he went on, for his own satisfaction, t
of the' most agreeable young men I ever met angle for the young gentleman's name, resolYwith; but I have no idea of his name. Accord- ing that the lady of the house should not heavr
ing to the old rules of hospitality, we have nev- the advantage of any information he might oher asked his name."                          tain.' I fished a little for it," rejoined thesurgeon,   "I am happy I shall be able to'give your
"hbut was not successful ~ and I thought your friends at the inn so good an acpournt," he sald.
ladyship must know. But I will find out-I "I think you may get down stairs to- morrw
will find out. I hear there are two gentlemen evening, and may travel, in a chaise, a day or
-friends of his-waiting for him at the Black two after. I dare say Sir Theodore andi the
Dog, with a number of horses and servants. I major are very anxious about you."
will just drop in upon them as I go back, give   "Oh, no, my dear sir," replied Reginald;   Sir
them a report of the case, and, then I can in- Theodore is too young to attribute much imaquire his name."                            portance to such accidents, and Major Brandrua
Neither of the ladies said" Pray do," but they has seen too many severe injuries produce no
did not tell him not; and the surgeon cantered  bad results to feel any alarm regarding this."
away upon his errand.                          "Pray, can I give them any message for yo.q
He was disappointed, however, for he found sir?" inquired the man of healing again.  I:I
at the inn that Reginald's two companiohs had pass by thte door, and -shall just look in upea
ridden out to see some sight at ten or twelve them."
miles' distance, and all he learned was that one i None, I thank you," replied Captain Lisle,
was called Major Brandrum, and the other Sir "unless it were that I should be obliged to
Theodore Broughton. That was something, Brandrum if he would send over my small black
however; and at night he rode back to pay his portmanteau which was upon the brown horse.
evening visit with that degree of increased im- I am very much in want of my razors and othportance which attaches to the possession of in- er dressing things."
formation. His first visit was, of course, to the    "But whose portmanteau am I to say, my
two ladies, and to them he immediately com- dear sir?" asked the surgeon, with a peculiar
municated the fact that their guest must cer- air. "You must remember that, though I betainly be a gentleman of consequence, inasmuch- long to a learned profession, I am among the
as he was traveling with Major Brandrum and ignorant as to your name —and so is Lady CheSir Theodore Broughton.                     venix, I find."
The first name did not at all possess the la-   "Lady Chevenix!" said Reginald Lisle, in a
dies with an opinion that his conclusion was thoughtful tone: " is the lady I bad the pleasrua
correct; for in those days commissions in the of assisting Lady Chevenix."
army were given away with very little discrim-   "Yes, sir, the wife of Colonel Sir Charles
ination, and the fact of being a major, or even Chevenix," replied the:surgeon. "A charlring4
a colonel, did not at all prove that the. individ- person she is, and so is$ ir' harles too; o!e
ual was not a valet-de-chambre, or an infant. of the gayest, most light-heaarted, friendliy ge



LAUREL WATEL                                       29
0e6imen I ever knew. He is, nhfortunately, ab- that you are one-to do any thing that you could
Mnt just now. But, as I was saying, Lady  bitterly regret.' 
thevenix is as ignorant of your name as your    " Oh yes," answered Reginald.  "Once, in
hitmble servant."              -            my mere youth, I did what I have regretted
Reginald started asi if from a fit of profound  ever since, and now more than ever. I will not
t'4hought. " I will have the honor of'informing  speak of it more at present, however, for my
her myself to-morrow," he replied.  "In the  secret will be all explained to-morrow before I
heail time, I will write a note to Major Bran- leave you."
drum,  if you will be good enough to present' it.   " And do you really go to-morrow 1" inquired
C0tuld you give me those writing materials "   Miss Chevenix. "Oh, are you fit!"
The surgeon did as he was asked, and Regi-    "Fit or not fit, I must go if it be possible,"
bald Lisle, sitting up in bed, wrote the following  replied Reginald Lisle,, "I must not stay Ionfew lines:                                  ger in this house."
Mv DEAR CROUW,-ThiS will be gi~ve~n you by   ~"Why? why 3" demanded his beautiful comffhe surgeon who is attendirn~g me —a talkative panion, with her deep blue eyes raised eagerly
fielow, full of curiosity, who is anxious to know  to his face.   If traveling is likely to 
emy name.'Do not give it to him, and prevent yot, why should you not stay?"
Sir Theodore from so doing. You may guess    Reginald Lisle took her hand for a single in#ome of my reasons when I tell you I have jst stant, saying, " Thank you, thank you for your!iscovered that I am in the house of Sir Charles  kind interest; but it would be far more danger-'
Chevenix. I shall certainly rejoin you the day ous to my peace to stay, than to my health to
after to-morrow.  In the mean time, send me  go."
over, by some of the people of the inn, the    The warm blood came up into her face, then
small black  portmanteau  which was upon the  fled from it again, and left it pale as a moonbrown horse. Yours ever,                 -  light night. Reginald saw that he was under.' RGINALD LISLE."   stood, and there was a struggle in his breast as
to whether he should say more; but resolution
This written, he sealed and addressed his let- triumphed, and while Mary Chevenix turned
ter, and gave it into the hands of the surgeon, and walked with an uncertain step to the winwho retired, fully satisfied that, though frustra- dow, he remained silently gazing on the ground.
ted at present, he should obtain the information  After she had reached the window, however,'he desired before the night was over.       and had seemed to gaze out for an instant, she
Reginald Lisle, as soon as he was alone, suddenly turned, and with glowing cheek said,
plunged into thought again, and meditated bit- in a low tone, "I wish you would stay. I am
erly                                         sure you are net fit to travel. I see no cause
why you should go; and my father, who will
be home in three days, will be most happy to
thank you for the service you rendered my
CHAPTER IX.                   mother and myself."
"He will only think I have stayed too long
IT wanted about twenty minutes to the din- already," replied Reginald; " and so, perhaps,
ner hour on the following day when Reginald  will you, and regret even your kind words and
Lisle. appeared in' the drawing-room. It was feelings toward me.",still untenanted, and he gazed round with a very    " No," she answered, firmly;, " no, never!
sad and pensive air, marking the different oh- There seems to be some secret; bult I shall
jects which it contained with the degree of in- never regret that I have been grateftl, or that
terest that we feel in even small and insignifi- I have felt-"  Shle paused, hesitating; for
cant things which have connected themselves  something rose up in her bosom to:tell her that
with any of the strong emotions of the heart. she hardly knew, as yet, what were the feelle was only left about five minutes alone, how- ifigs she was about to speak of; and befo>resie
ever, ere Mary Chevenix appeared, and greeted  could finish the sentence, Lady Chevenix enhim with a joyful congratulation upon his recov- tered the room.
ery. But Reginald answered in so grave a    She had greatly warmed.toward her yourng
tone that she could not help remarking it, and  guest. The very habit of thinking about a per-said, "You are suffering still, I am afraid, and son familiarizes us to him. We become in'tiI am foolishly taking it for granted that you are'mate with him in thought; and Lady Chevenix
quite well, because old Doctor Haviland allows  had been thinking a great deal about Reginald
you to come down."                          Lisle.  She had been somewhat uneasy as to
" Oh no, I am much better," replied Regi- what might be her husband's opinion of her
aild; "and if I am suffering, it is not from the  conduct in asking him to the house; but upon
late accident, Miss Chevenix."             that subject her mind had been relieved, not
"Then you are suffering," she said; "I was half an hour before, by a letter from-Sir Charles.
Sure of it; for yesterday, when the surgeon  She had also thought of his gallant' interposition
gave so grave an account of you, you were  in the rencounter with the highwayman, and of
quite cheerful, and now you seem quite sad."  the injury he had sustained thereby, and the
" There are sufferings of the mind as well as suffering he had undergone since, and of the
-of the body," answered the young officer, " and  loss of his horse, and of his'graceful manners
I know none greater than unavailing regret for and pleasant conversation. In short, by the
any act that we have ourselves (lone."      time she entered that drawing-room, she was
She gazed at him for a moment with a look  quite friends with him in her own mind. She
of surprise and inquiry, and then replied,' I now congratulated him kindly-upon his recordo not clearly understand you. I can not think  ery, and her attention was so far engaged by




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
her,:ownn words and his reply, that she did not my departure, having ordered a chaise over
observe his grave and somewhat embarrassed  from Stratton. Before I go, I will trouble you
manner, nor her daughter's glowing cheek, with a word or two about myself, for I have
which, as cheeks will do, had become more reason to believe that you do not yet know who
crimson than ever, just because she made an I am, or any thing about me."
effort to banish all trace of emotion.       s Not even your name,' replied the lady,
At dinner, however, Lady Chevenix remark- with a smile; " but, though very much of a
ed that her guest's demeanor was very differ- recluse; I have not the curiosity of one, though
ont; that it had lost its light elasticity; that good Doctor Haviland has, I can assure you.'
his conversation, though still striking and full   "So I perceived," answered Reginrald, "' and
of fancy, always sought grave subjects; that I would not gratify it. To-morrow, however,
the images were all sad. He described several I will tell you all about myself; and, though
beautiful and strange scenes which he had be- the tale in the abstract may have nothing very
held in the different parts of the world where amusing in it, yet you may and will feel a per..
lie had served, but his descriptions now were  sonal interest in it of some kind."
like the landscapes of some painters, very true    " Oh, I certainly shall, in the history of one
to nature, very powerful even, but one felt a who came so gallantly to our rescue," replied
want of sunshine. She, too, like her daughter, the lady. " It is, indeed, somewhat tyrannical
imagined he must be suffering, and questioned  of you, to keep us in suspense till to-morrow;
him upon it; nor need I tell the reader that his and I dare say Mary will lose -her sleep all
answer was very different to her.         night in trying to divine the mystery. As you
I never knew in my life a man answer moth- have so arranged it, however, it must be, for
or and daughter in the same way. He made an  we have already sat up somewhat late. Goodeffort for cheerfulness, however, and so far night, then, for the present."
succeeded as to cause Lady Chevenix to smile   Lady Chevenix prophesied rightly as to her
more than once, and sometimes even to laugh. daughter's sleepless night, and Mary Chevenix
Mary tried to be gay, and happy too; but still, was up and down very early on the ensuing
beneath all ran a train of thought of which Regi- morning. The words of Reginald Lisle were
nald Lisle was the theme, and, perhaps, had he still sounding in her ears; his looks still were
artfully contrived a scheme to win a heart, he before her eyes, and she tried hard to read the
could not have fallen upon a better one than  book thus opened to her. She had thought
that of his changeful demeanor. The first step but little of love before that night, and she
in love is to interest, and that he contrived to dared hardly think of it then; but the heart
do most completely. But as the Eleusinian  still prompted the mind, and the mind asked
mysteries were not more secret than are the strange questions. It was vain foi her to tellfeelings of a lady's heart when she is first in herself that it was all nonsense; that what he
love-often even to herself-I must not go on, had said was nothing more than a few words
lest I profane the temple. And a very beautiful of overstrained gallantry; that he would soon
temple it was; for that pure, warm, kind, forget her, and she him. She could not persnowy bosom was a fit place for a noble spirit suade herself of the fact. She felt sure, in
to raise its prayers to heaven.            short, that he loved her, and not very sure
Under the influence of her eyes, the effort by that it was unpleasant to her to be so beloved.
which Reginald had at first sought to shake off That there was some mystery, and that it was
his gloom was gradually relaxed, and he be- a sad one-one, perhaps, which would render
came naturally cheerful. He felt it impossible it difficult, if not impossible, for him to pursue
to be long sad in her company, perhaps; or, his suit —she clearly perceived, and with the
what is still more likely, she engrossed his eager, anxious yearning of a young heart, she
thoughts so much that they would not rest upon strove, as I have said, to imagine what it could
any other thing-no, not even upon separation. be that threw such gloom over a lover's hopes.
The hour of retiring came sooner than Regi-   Perhaps he might be poor, she thought, and
nald had expected. He had not, asyet, named  know that she was wealthy; perhaps lowly
to Lady Chevenix his approaching departure; born; but then his appearance and his manand as they all three stood together about to ners, and some of his words, contradicted the
part for the night, an anxious and grave ex- supposition. Besides, he had spoken of some
pression in Mary's eyes first brought the sub- act committed in very early youth which had
ject back to his mind. His manner instantly  ctst regret upon his after life, and especially!
changed; and, taking the elder lady's hand as upon his acquaintance with her. With a start,
she extended it to him when bidding him good- she asked herself, Could he be already married i
night, he  said, in a tone of much feeling, " I and the feeling that passed through her heart
have many thanks to offer you, Lady Chevenix, like a pang, first taught how far that heart had
for all your kind care and hospitality."  yielded. The next moment, however, she cast
"No, indeed," she answered, "it is we who away. the idea with indignation. "No, no!"
have to thank you; and I know not how to she said; " either all his words and looks belie
compensate for the injury you have sustained  him, or such is not the case; and all other difin our service, and the fine creature you have ficulties may be removed."
lost."                                      Ah, Mary Chevenix, Mary Chevenix! I am
"Nay, nay," replied Reginald, "that is more afraid the matter was very nearly settled with
than compensated, my dear madam; but I that little heart of yours. ".He will soon be
will, not detain you now to say more than to down," she thought, after she had gazed out
assure you that I feel deeply grateful. To- up a vista in the trees for a few minutes, " and
morrow, I shall still trespass upon your hos- I must not let him find me meditating in this
pitality at breakfast, and soon after I must take way."




LAUREL WATER.                                      3s
Alas! what a hard world it is that mrkes him of the courage which he had summoned
woman strive ever to veil some of the dearest up. "My father," he continued, "was of a
emotions of the heart! If there were no rob- very good family, being the third son of a peer,
bers, what would be the use of locks and keys? His portion, too, was good for a peer's;younbut as there are plunderers, who spoil the weak  ger son, and he early entered the army and
and the confiding of all sorts of treasures, it is -served with some distinction. Having found it
but too needful to hide the wealth that we are  necessary to cane a man of high rank, and not
not able to defend.                          being on the best terms with his elder brother,
Mary sat down to a table and took up some  who might have given him protection,* he was
work, but it was soon laid down again, and her prosecuted for an assault, and saved from sebeautiful eyes fixed sightless upon air. She rious consequences by the skill and zeal of the
had better have remained at the window, for lawyer he employed. He became intimate
the next instant a shadow darkened the case- with him, and finally married his daughter,
ment near her, and, turning her head, she saw  who brought him a moderate fortune. He died
Reginald Lisle looking in. The next window  on the field some ten or twelve years ago, leavserved the purpose of a door upon the lawn, ing two children, myself and my sister. My
and in a moment he was by her side. She was inheritance was not very large, but it was sufblushing a good deal, for she had been detected, ficient; and at the age of seventeen, or a little
she felt, in a deep reverie; and there was so  before, indeed, I entered the army in a dragoon
much agitation in her manner, that Reginald  regiment. I had not, perhaps, misspent the
Lisle was agitated too. In haste, or passion, years of youth, for I had acquired much which
or agitation, people do not well know what those with whom I was now called upon to
they are doing. It is a truism of the utmost associate were without. But that fact was in
platitude, but yet we very seldom take it into  some degree unfortunate, for it taught me to
consideration in judging of the conduct of oth- look down upon the understanding of my comers.' Now, Heaven knows what Reginald Lisle  panions, while; they looked down upon me for
or Mary Chevenix said or did-I do not, and I want of knowledge of the world, and acquired
much doubt whether they did themselves-but the habit of calling me'the book-worm.' I
they were near an hour together quite alone; was irritated by their conduct; but, while it
and when Lady CheVenix was heard speaking  kept within certain limits, I contrived to masto one of the servants on the stairs, her daugh- ter my anger, and to conceal it; till one day,
ter escaped out of the drawing-rooni by a side  the person for whom in the whole corps I felt
door. Reginald, with more agitation than he  inclined to entertain the most friendly feeling
liked, stood his ground. The lady was delayed  -a frank, gay, high-spirited man, and my susome minutes, however, before she appeared, perior officer-rallied me perhaps a little too
and though her young guest was very pale  severely at the mess table. I retorted petuwhen she entered, that was the only remaining  lantly, I am sure. He had drunk wine enough
trace of emotion.                           to heat, but not to intoxicate him, and he an-,' I suppose Mary is making breakfast," said  swered, I think, rashly. In short, words were
Lady Chevenix, after the first salutation; "let spoken which are difficult to bear, and in an
us come and see."  But breakfast was un- evil hour I threw up my commission and called
made; and when the young lady did appear, out my superior officer. I had no sooner taken
she was again gently reproved for her neglect. the irretrievable step than I regretted, but reLucky, perhaps, it was so, for the variation of grets were in vain.  We met, and I am sorry
her cheek had then an apparent cause. But it to say I wounded him severely. He behaved
mattered little, for Lady Chevenix was one of  to me with the utmost generosity; but, at the
those women who can not conceive it possible  time when his life was despaired of, by the adto fall in love in three days.              vice of my friends I embarked for America,
The breakfast was put all in order, the but- entered an infantry regiment, and have risen
ler had left the room, and there seemed no  by degrees in the service, without discredit.
earthly reason why every body should not be  The unfortunate affair, however, with which
cheerful and conversible; but all were silent, my career commenced, has always left bitter
abstracted, thoughtful.  Every one tried to  sorrow  behind. I need not tell you, Lady
talk, indeed, just at the moment when nobody  Chevenix," he continued, rising, "how much
else was in a case to help them; and as con- that regret is increased now, when I inform
versation is an undertaking which can not be you that I am Reginald Lisle."
carried ton by private enterprise, it very soon    Lady Chevenix turned very pale, and started'fell to the ground.                        up from her chair, exclaiming, " Sir, sir, this
At; length, when Reginald had more than  is-"
three quarters finished his breakfast, he heard    She did not finish the sentence, and Reginald
the sound of wheels rolling up to the other side  turned one imploring look to the face of Mary
of the house, and a moment after a footman  Chevenix.  At first the blood fled from her
came in to inform him that the chaise was there. cheek too; but the next instant it returned,'Very well," he said, in an exceedingly  and a smile-faint, indeed, but certainly a smile
grave tone; "put in my portmanteau, if you  -met Reginald Lisle's sight.
please: I will come in a few minutes. I prom-   He could not account for it; but it seemed
ised, Lady Chevenix," he continued, as the  to his eyes the smile.of reviving hope; and,
man closed the door, "to tell you my short turning to Lady Chevenix, he took up the senstory, and I secure you against its being a long  tence which she had left unfinished, saying,
one by beginning when the chaise is at the
door.."  He dared not give a glance to Mary,    Protection against the power of the law may seena
or" he  dared gstrange to our cars, but there were cases Ia those daye
for he feared that even one look might deprive where such shelter was ould.




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,'This is-wwhat, my dear madam? You can beautiful girl," and in two minutes more, was
not suppose that,' had I kn'own who you were, in the chase rolling away toward- Strattoft.
I would have ever intruded myself into a house
where each member of the family must renember that I once raised my hand against a husband's or a father's life. I only became aware               CHAPTER X.
of the facts the night before last, and instantly
resolved to relieve you of my presence as soon. Ix former times there was an inn at Dun —
as it was possible to do so. Nevertheless, I stable: I- hope none of my readers recollect it,
must, ere I depart, call, to your recollection  for their sake and my own, because. it was
that Sir Charles Chevenix himself declared  seventy-two years ago, and I am going to depublicly that I had conducted myself as a man scribe it. The reader may say that perhaps
of honor and a gentleman, and was pleased to it lasted long, after that, so that men of modtake upon himself even a greater share of the erate years may remember it without shame.
fault than was his due."                      If he will wait a little, I will show him that
"He does you justice still, Captain Lisle," could not be.
said Mary, warmly; "and I am sure, were he   However, in former times there was an inn
here, he would be the first to hold out his hand, at Dunstable, such as good old English inns freand thank you for the assistance vou lately ren- quently were.  Now Dunstable, in those days,
dered us, and for all you have suffered from so stood on the high road to Holyhead and Birdoing."                                       mingham.  It has removed since by rail-road;
"Be silent, Mary," said Lady Chevenix; but, such being the case at the time I speak of,
"you do not understand these matters.  Your and the little town, which thien did not contain
father speaks, as becomes his character, of an above eleven hundred inhabitants, being at the
adversary who did nothing dishonorable or act- -distance of a good day's iide from London, on
ually wrong toward h.m; but he does not and  the way to the above-named places, it required,
can not forget that Captain Lisle'is an adver- as the reader may imagine-at a tire when
sary, nor I that he shed my husband's blood. many people traveled on horseback, and others
I thank you sincerely, sir, for the assistance in cartrages drawn by their own horses-a good
you rendered to my daughter and myself:  It large inn to receive those who chose to stop
was given as a gallant gentleman, such as we there on their first day's journey out of, or
all know you to be; but you yourself will feel their'last day's journey into,. London. A good
that I could wish it had been rendered by an- large inn it had too, as well as three smaller
other hand, and probably you could yourselfde- ones, which swept up the crumbs that were left
-sire that it had been affirded to other persons." by their more voracious neighbor.
"'Far from  it, madam," replied Reginald,   In those smaller inns put up peddlers, and
raising his head high with a look of bitter mor- stray carriers, and men with pack-horses; but
tification; " if any thing could add to~the pleas- the regular wagons, with their tilt and team,
ure of being of service to two ladies, it would went to the great inn. a part of'which Was pebe the fact that they are the wife and daugh- culiarly appropriated to their conveniences.  It,
ter of Sir Charles Chevenix. It gives me an was a large building, in the form of a parallelhonorable opportunity -of assuring him that I ograni, built round a large court-yard, and haybitterly regret, and have ever bitterly regret- ing two wide, arched entrances on the main
ted, the results of my boyish impetuosi-ty, and road, one exactly similar on the little road that
that I am well aware I merited more blame, in crossed the highway, and two passages through.
the affair than he was pleased to assign to me. the back part of the building into a' garden,
Pray, let that assurance be conveyed to him; which supplied the cook with cabbages for her
and now, with many thanks for the hospitality  beef broth, a favorite dish with the drivers of(:
I have received,, I take my leave."           and passengers by, the wagons.
Lady Chevenix made him a formal inclina-   The front of the inn was gloomy-looking
tion of the head; but her daughter exclaimed, enough; the windows were exceedingly small,
"' Oh, mother, this is unkind! Do not let him  according to our present notions, and the archgo thinking us so ungrateful."               ways enormously large.  Over one was a paint" Ungrateful!" replied the elder lady, in a ing representing something"very like a deformsharp tone; "for raising his hand against your ed black cow with golden horns: that was the
father's life, and bringing him to the jaws of wagon entrance which lay beneath the picture.
death!" and, passing her daughter, she quitted  Over the'other arch, or, rather, projecting from
the room. Mary tarried fora moment, and held the top of it into the street, was a carved image
out her hand to Reginald Lisle.: "Farewell," of the animal which the painting was really inshe said, "farewell.  Do not carry away the tended to depict; but so much greater was the
belief that either my father or myself feel thus. skill of the sculptor than that of the painter,
It is her love for him that makes my mother so that no one could have any difficulty in discovunjust; and, although I do not love him less ering that the image was meant for a black
than she does, it is from himself I have learned  bull.  Lest any one should mistake, however,
to judge of your conduct more fairly. I am  on a large board, in gigantic letters, was writ
sure you will hear from him soon. Let that ten, along the front of the house, "The Black
console you till —"                          Bull-Matthew Spinner," with a list of all sorts
"Mary! Mary!" cried the voice of Lady of things which Matthew Spinner could and
Chevenix from the next room; " I want you, would supply, upon a consideration. The house
my dear."                                    was of four stories in height. The windows
Reginald Lisle pressed his lips upon her hand, were not exactly above each other, but, either
murmuring, "Thank you, thank you, dear, for convenience or kn whim, those on the




LAUREL WATER.                                     33
frst floor had been placed, over the piers of the  which he has been running after so eagerly.
ground floor, and those on the second floor over Oh, rail-road, rail-road! you have got even into
the piers of the first, and so on. Thus, if it romances, and one must hurry on at forty-five
had not been for those two great gaping arch- miles an hour. No, I will not. I will stop for
ways, the front of the house would have Iooked  a night at Vantini's-or at the Black Bu1ll at
just like a great chess-board.              Dunstable, which.will do quite as well, and be
So much for the external face; but now-al-  cheaper.
though the description is somewhat long already    I hope the reader has remarked every particu— I must say a word of the internal, or court- jar of the description which has been lately givyard face of the building. It also showed four en. If so, let him look into the inn yard, in thestories, but not by the windows, for it was only  fine spring evening, with the, yellow light of the
on the upper and the lower story of all that any  sinking sun streaming into it, and making the
thing of the-kind was visible. Between were  whole, from the garret windows to the old, illtwo long wooden galleries, running all round, painted wooden pillars-nay, even the stray
supported by stout squat pillars, and defended  straws on the pavement-look cheerful. He
by a balustrade.                            will see that, at one and the same moment,
I can not say that the court was very clean  each arch-way is pouring into that court-yard a
or very well paved; for, although the boots and  stream of living creatures. One gave admisthe hostler seemed to be eternally sweeping it sion to three gentlemen, two servants, and six
out with everlasting birch brooms, nevertheless' horses. The other afforded entrance to a wag-.
it was continually covered with wet straw; oner on foot, and six horses, drawing after them
which, perhaps, may be accounted for by the a long, heavy, clumsy, broad-wheeled wagon,'
fact that, besides the chaise horses, the wagon  covered with a new tilt, inscribed, in large lethorses, and the riding horses, which were con- ters, with the owner's name and the vehicle's
stantly going in and out, a whole herd of pigs starting-place and destination.
had, from time immemorial, possessed a right   The mounted gentlemen were received by
of road through it.                         mine host, Matthew Spinner, the head waiter,
On the left-hand side, as you entered from' andthe head hostler, with assistants. The wagthe street, was the portion of the yard appro- on had its own particular attendants; but the
priated to the wagons, and that flanking part first-named party were encountered with bowof the building which overlooked them as they  ings and scrapings, and the wagoner at least,,
stood ranged in order below was very judicious- if not the wagon, with shakings of hands. The
ly assigned to the wagoners, and the guests golden calf has ever been the idol of the best
whom they brought to the Black Bull under repute: Baal, and Dagon, and Ashtaroth, and
their tilt, which, in those days, were not few; other gentlemen and ladies of stone, and brass,
for people who had not much important busi- and wood, and ivory, have had their vogue; but
mess to transact, and but little money in their the golden calf is the only perennial deity, and
pocket, could be content to travel at the rate  even Mammon's simular will bend the knees of
of two miles and a half an hour. Now they  men to worship, though the real demon be very'
grumble at twenty. The corps delogis, or prin- far from present. Horses and servants, fine
cipal fagade, was occupied by a large dining- coats, and the mere appearance of wealth, with
hall on-the ground floor, where an ordinary was half the world, are the great claims to reverserved at one and at three o'clock; the host's ence; and no wonder, then, that the aristocraown private apartments, including all kinds.f cy of the Black Bull, the priests and senators
offices and a small hall for private parties; va- of the temple,of mercenary hospitality, were
rious sitting-rooms, and one or two bed-rooms busy in doing honor to gentlemen who came
for, "the, quality" on the first floor; and the  well attended.
same over that again-only here were more   In the mean while, the democracy of the inn,
bed-rooms and fewer sitting-rooms; while on  consisting of a hostler of inferior grade, a horsethe fourth story were rooms forservants. The  keeper, a boy, and two fat, greasy girls, were
whole right-hand building was devoted to bed- busy about the wagon. The end of the tiit was
rooms, generally assigned to single travelers, thrown back, and two or three words from the
except, indeed, the ground floor, which disposed  wagoner instantly brought forth a wooden chair,
itself into kitchens, pantries, larders, sculleries, which was placed at the end of the vehicle fur-wash-houses, and an inconceivable number of thest from thie horses.
unnamed and unnamable holes and corners.      "Now, ma'am," said the driver, "step on this"Upon my life! here is a whole, page devoted  here.. It will help you down easy. I hope the'to a description of a very common, old-fash- gentleman is none the worse."
ooned country inn!"                          "He says he is better," replied a very sweet
"Was there ever such a tiresome fellow in  female voice fiom within;: and, tlie moment
tlhe world."                               after, a young girl, with bended head and some"That is the worst of JA.iEs's books: he is what doubtful steps, picked her way to the en'i
so fond of long descriptions."              of the wagon, and, with the wagoner's assist"I always skip the descriptions in your books, ance, descended, putting first one foot and thenr
papa."                                      the other upon the -chair, and then springing
"I always skip the love."'      lightly upon the stones, as if the very first breath, Very well, dear reader; very well, dear crit-'ofthe fresh air revived her. There was no room
ie; very well, dear children. Whoever skips for any great display of grace; but yet she wag
any thing, omits that which was not written  very graceful. She seemed hardly sixteen years
without an object, loses an emotion or a fact, of age, and there was a child-like way about her,, and will, in the end, perhaps, be obliged to turn  which made her appear younger than she really
tack, because he does not find out the story  was; and yet there was womanly thought in
C




34.                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
her, fair face, mingling with that youthful look    "Certainly," replied Reginald, without the
somewhat strangely. I am not fond of any ex- slightest hesitation, taking out his purse.
aggeration-not even of an exaggerated simile. "I will pay you on the seventeenth of next
Many I could find-half a dozen at least-to il- month," said the major, taking the money, and.
lustrate that mingling of expression. But so it hurrying out of the room. Reginald Lisle would
was, just as I have plainly said, a grave, thought- not follow, though he murmured to himself,
ful cast upon a very young and happy face. The "Some good deed to be done, I am sure; perlook became almost sad as she turned again to- haps that poor fellow we saw get out of the
ward the wagon, after she had alighted, and wagon."
held out her hand to some one within, saying,   The next moment the door opened, and Zach" Here, my dear father. It seems a very nice ary Hargrave, Sir Theodore's servant, entered,
inn."                                       with his demure look. "'Please you, sir," he
With a slow and feeble step, and a frame said, addressing his young master, "I wish you
bent and emaciated by illness, a man of the would just come to the stable and look at Romiddle age approached the end ofthe vehicle, land's back. The saddle has galled him a bhit."
and, with the aid of the wagoner and the girl   "How is the horse I bought at Stratton-upontogether, with some stray assistance from the Dunsmoor, Hargrave 1" asked Reginald Lisle.
hostler, descended and looked about him with a     Oh, he is quite well and fresh, captain," anwearied and anxious look. He then spoke a swered the man; "he's an impudent beast."
few words to one of the chamber-maids, and re-   Lisle did not seem to notice this imputation
tired from sight, leaning on his daughter's arm. upon his horse's modesty, but turned, musing,'In the mean while, the three gentlemen had to the window, and Sir Theodore followed the
dismounted much more rapidly from their hors- man out of the room.
es, though one of them seemed a little lame;   "Why did you call Captain Lisle's horse an
and, though the landlord, with obtrusive civility, impudent beast, Zachary i" asked the young
repeated, more than once,' "This way, gentle- baronet, as they walked along.
men," the eyes of all three were turned to the    "Because they say,' As impudent as a highlittle scene which was taking place at the fur- wayman's horse,' Sir Theodore," replied the
ther side of the yard. Sir Theodore Broughton man, with a grin; "and I'vea great notion that
gazed somewhat eagerly at the'young girl; and this here horse has been upon the road in more,
it was evident to Reginald Lisle that he was in ways than one."
one of those dreams which seize upon the young   i" Pooh! nonsense!" cried the young baronet;
fancy when a fair face crosses our path, and, " it was Colonel Lutwich's horse."
disappearing before we have had any time for   " No matter for that," answered Zachary, dryobservations, -seems lovelier than any that we ly; " howsomdever, it's a fine piece of flesh and
ever beheld, often remaining so impressed upon blood, that it is, but I can show you a Liner, 1
memory for long years.                      think, Sir Theodore."
Reginald himself gazed with very different'" Indeed!" exclaimed his master; "1 I should
feelings, and with a higher, a brighter interest. like to see it."
His imagination was not less rapid and eager,   "This way, then, sir," said Hargrave; and,
but it was less selfish in its course; and the instead of leading the young baronet to the stadaughter's manner toward her father, the bles at the back, he kept to the left, passed round
stretched forth hand, the anxious, thoughtful behind the wagon which had last come in, and
look at his face, and a something of high breed- entered that wing of the house. First came a
ing in the air of both, conjured up a story in door, which was open, and a passage, at the
his fancy, which was only not a romance be- mouth of which three or four men were talking
cause it was too near the truth. Major Bran- together, among whom was the wagoner, and
drum seemed,,or was, the most moved of the then, on the right, was a swing door, which
whole party. He looked steadfastly at the pair Hargrave pushed open, ushering Sir Theodorea
for a moment, and then his lips moved, mutter- into a large, dingy room, furnished with two oring sounds which were only distinct to himself; three tables, several wooden benches, and four
but the next instant, with a cloudy brow and or five chairs of the same material. There
thoughtful look, he turned upon his heel, say- was some fire in the grate, and a large tea-keting," Come, Lisle-come, Sir Theodore," and tie hissing upon the embers.
followed the landlord toward the part of the   Only three persons tenanted the room. The
building containing the dining halls, with his one nearest the door by which the young genspurs jingling over the pavement of the court tleman entered was the beautiful girl whom he
even more than was their wont.              had watched descending from the wagon. She-.
"The ordinary is over, gentlemen, I am sor- was busily making tea at a table some distance
ry to say," quoth the landlord; " have you din- from the fire; and now that her cloak and hat
ed! or will you please to order (:,:v dinner?" were thrown off, with her slight, budding figure
As he spoke, he took a new survey of his guests, displayed by neat and well made, though very'
and more especially of Major Brandrum, whose.plain apparel, she looked, to the eyes of Sir
strange costume seemed to strike him a good Theodore Broughton, far more beautiful and
Seal. But the major was absorbed in thought, graceful than ever. Near the fire, and seated
and Reginald Lisle took upon him to order din- on a chair at one side of the chimney, was her
ner, while Sir Theodore walked to the window  father, with his pale andemaciatedcountenance,
and beat time upon his boot with his riding w'.p.  lighted up with a bright and cheerful look, while
Lisle, lend me ten guineas," said the major, just opposite to him sat.Major Brandrum, his
approaching his young friend as soun'as'the body inclined to an angle of forty-five, in order
landlord was out of the room, ald speaking in to talk low to the other taveler, and his long
a low voice. "'                       legs, in their heavy riding boots, stretched out




LAUREL WATER.                                      35
till they passed his companion's feet on the op-   Sir Theodore wished him to speak, but yet
posite side.                               he was silent; and at length the young baronet' Kate, my dear, come hither," said the sick asked, in a sharp tone, "Well, where is this
man, raising his voice, which was peculiarly marvelous horse that you were to show me?"
sweet in tone. " This is Major Brandrum, an    "Why, bless you, Sir Theodore!" replied the
old fellow-officer of mine, who remembers me man, " it was no horse at all, but the girl we'well at the taking of Quebec, he says."   have just seen. I said I'd show you the finest
The girl put down the cup, and, advancing piece of flesh and blood I ever saw, and so she
toward Major Brandrum, held out her hand to is, upon my honor! I can see how it is, sir;'
him frankly, saying, "I am very happy, sir, my you think that the captain would be angry, and
father has met with a friend. He needs one." make a great piece of work, but he knows better.
"Have I not you, my child?" asked her fa- He's been a young man himself, and knows,
ther, "and have I not God? a friend on earth, God help us! that we are all poor frail creaand, I trust, a friend in heaven. It is enough tures, who must be tried in the fire, as it were.
for any man; but still I am most grateful for He has'often said, for I've heard him, that
finding another, when: I imagined that all I had young men must prove every thing. That is
were confined to those."                   the reason why he let you ride such wild horsNone of those who were now speaking es even from a boy; and now he sees that you
seemed to notice Sir Theodore in the least, are growing a man, he has sent-you out to Lunthough the young lady had given him a casual nun without going with you, just to let you
glance as he entered. They were occupied with have your swing. He told me himself that I
their own feelings, and those feelings were too was not to try and stop any of your little escaprofound to let the idle thoughts go wandering pades, as he called it, which I take to mean
at the first call of the eye. After pausing an such affairs as those that are happening to
instant, the young baronet was drawing back young gentlemen every day."
toward thb same door by which he had entered,   " Did he say that?" asked the young baronbut Zachary Hargrave led him to another at et, musing; and, after the man had reiterated
the opposite side of the room, which opened his assurances more than once, without seeminto the cross-road. When the door had swung ing to receive much attention, Sir Theodore
to behind them, the man said, in a low tone, said, suddenly, " Come hither, Zachary-come
"It was better to come away: it would not do hither into the stable;" and, going in, he looknow."                                       ed through every stall to see there was nobody
"What would not do?" demanded Sir Theo- to overhear. Even then, he and the man spoke
dore, in a tone of surprise.                in a whisper, though occasionally a louder word
"Oh, nothing particular, sir," replied the was heard.
man; "'I only thought you might like to have   But I have no wish to listen to the lesson of
a talk with the young lady alone,, for she is one iniquity. Suffice it that never was a better inof the prettiest girls I- ever set eyes on, to my structor known; and though the words of hypthinking."                                  ocritical cant which mingled in his discourse
" Talk to her alone!" exclaimed Sir Theo- at first disgusted, Sir Theodore soon found that
dore; "why, what should I say to her "      they'might be useful in the deceit which he,
"Why, Lord bless you, sir, you'd say plenty like all men plunging into vtce, was glad to put
of things to her soon enough, I dare say," re- upon himself.
plied Hargrave; "and I do not think there   Let us return to purer things. Major Branwould be any great difficulty in the matter, for drum sat with the invalid and his daughter for
the wagoner says they are as poor as Job. It more than half an hour, and the poor officer's
is not to be expected that you should do differ- heart opened to the frank old soldier. But
ent from other young gentlemen just at pres- Brandrum was a good tactician too, and he was
ent. If it be a sin, nobody can expect grace resolved to make himself master of all the dewithout sin, otherwise grace is unprofitable, fenses before he opened his fire upon the place.
which can't be, sir; and I do not know many He talked of scenes which were familiar to them
young gentlemen of your years who would let both, and events in which they had both had a
such a prize as that escape."               share; and he told his own story briefly as enAccursed be they who plant the first seeds couragement, and listened to that of his comof evil in.the hot-bed of the youthful mind! panion at large. He even took a cup of tea
When Sir Theodore Broughton first gazed upon from Kate, because she offered it, although he
that, beautiful young giil, no taint of coarser had not dined; and putting his arm familiarly
passion sullied his thoughts. She was to him, through hers, as'she stood beside him, he said,
as I have said before, as a fair vision, and he " And so you have been his companion and his
never even dreamed of the possibility of wrong- consolation in all  these troubles,' my. dear T
ing her; but the voice of the tempter once.That's a good girl. Never you leave himr; for
heard-the corrupting influence of example the thought of what you have done for your fabrought to act upon his mind-thenceforth his ther will be the -best comfort to you when you
thoughts hung round the idea placed before are older, perhaps, and sicker than he is."
them-fluttering away-returning- hovering   " It is so now," answered the girl, simply,
about it and above it-now scared and timid-  and with a smile.
now bolder and bolder, urged on by passion and   "Well, well," continued Brandrum; "and
the boiling blood of youth.                 so, my good friend, you have been badly treated
The tempter was still with him, and they walk- by the powers that be. Because you were sick,
ed on slowly toward the stables; but the man and not wounded, they would not allow you
well understood his trade, and he left what he any pension, and now order you to join when
had said to work a while, before he added more. you have neither strength nor money? That




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
seems hard of them; and stingy; and not the  guineas, of which you are to be a good houseless stingy because it is hard, nor the less hard  wife. Remember- that your father's health is
because it is stingy; but I'll tell you how it is: the first thing, and you are not to let him want
these fellows are very shrewd, and they wish  comforts, but to take him safe and sound to
to keep up a good feeling in the service."  Ireland, and then write me word how he is.
" "That is what they say," replied the sick  There's a good girl-you understand me, my
man; "but I do not see how their conduct dear, I see."
tends to that. Here I became sick in the serv-    "Oh yes, I understand you quite well," reice and for the service. During my short leave  plied Kate, with the tears in her eyes; but her
I have spent a fortune upon doctors, and-"   father interfered, saying, " Indeed, major, I
"' Oh, it is not that at all," said Major Bran- can not. I never borrowed money of any one
drum; "you see it is a rule, my dear friend, sin my life, and it would be burdensome to me
that every officer should help another. Now, to think I was in debt."
if government were to do every thing, we should    "That is insulting," said Major Brandrum;
always look to government to do every thing, " do you not think, my friend, that it must be
and we should grow as hard-hearted as a rock, equally burdensome to me to be in debt I Now,
instead of having our purses and our means al- if you refuse to take that, you leave me so."
most in common, as it ought to be with all old   "' How can that be I" exclaimed the sick officomrades. I recollect quite well, when I was cer; " you owe me nothing."
wounded in the shoulder and had a pike-hole in    "I owe every thing to the manly spirit and
my hip, under Lord George. Sackville, in Ger- kind feeling of the service to which I belong,"
many, they-were obliged to leave me behind; replied Major Brandrum, gravely.  1" I owe it a
and my baggage having been taken, I had not thousand acts of kindness of this and many
a sixpence nor a clean shirt, and was likely to  other kinds; and I am under a bond to pay this
die of dirt and starvation; but just as I was debt to any comrade I meet in sickness, sorgiving up spirit, old Honeywood came into the  row, or distress. Now, sir, refuse me, if you
village with his dragoons-you recollect the  have the heart to do me such great wrong."
old' Chopping-block,' as we called him, I dare    " Well, I will not, I will not," cried the othsay?."                                er, wringing his hand hard; and Kate turned
"Very well,. very well," said the sick officer, away her head and sobbed.
with a sigh; " a braver officer or a better-heart-   Major Brandrum seized the moment to rise
ed man never lived."                        and retire; but, before he did so, he took the
"Never!" repeated  Brandrum, warmly; beautiful girl by the arm, saying, " Pooh, pooh!
"but, as I was saying, as soon as I saw him in  my dear child, do not be silly. Your father will
the market-place, I went up to him, and told  be a general yet, never fear; and only rememhim how I was left; and he swore at me very  her, if ever you want help or protection, your
hard, as was his custom, and cried out,I We  friend the Ravenous Crow is ready to give it
can't give you a horse, for we have got none  to the utmost of his power."
to spare; nor a dinner, for we have not enough    "The what I' exclaimed Kate, looking at
-for ourselves; but there is something that will him through her tears, in some surprise.
get you both;' and he thrust a large roll of rix-   " Oh! that's an old story," said Major Brandollars into my hand, which I paid him back  drum; " I'll tell you how I got that name some
again as soon as I could, and that was seven  other time. I shall see you in the morning beyears after."                               fore you go.  Hark you, Malcolm!" and he,"It was very kind of him," said the sick  turned back, saying in a whisper to the invalid,
man, feebly and sadly.                      " I have seen my young friend, Sir Theodore's
"Pooh! not a bit," answered Major Bran- servant, Zachary Hargrave, p:t his head in twice
drum; " I'd have done the same for him; but during the last five minutes. He's a great blacknow let us talk of other things. So you are  guard, that fellow, and a hypocrite. Have an
going to Holyhead, are you?  I can tell you  eye upon him;" and, with this caution, he left
what, you milst not travel in the wagon. It is the room and returned to Reginald Lisle.
both slow and rumbling; and not the less rumbling because it is slow, nor the less slow because it is rumbling. All very well for a lift
on a march, but not for a sickish man going to             CHAPTER XI.
join."
The officer shook his head. "I have no    R4eINALD LISLE was leaning his head upon
other means," he said.                      his hand in thought, and he had remained in
"But I tell you, you shall not," cried Major thought ever since his friend-had left him. Such
Brandrum, looking fierce; "I'll be --- if  had not been his custom; but Reginald Lisle
you shall," and he added an unnecessary oath.  was very much changed. He had always been
"There's a diligence goes down the greater' a thinker, but he had been a rapid thinker, and
part of the way, and you and your darling Kate'not a meditative one. Now it is always pashere shall go in that, and you shall post the rest, sion of some kind which makes a meditative
or my name is not Jack Brandrum. There-  thinker.
no more about it," he continued, pulling out his   The reader will instantly deny the proposipurse.  " I'm the senior officer, and I take the  tion, and vow that he has seen a dozen or more
eommand.  Kate, attention!  Ground your meditative thinkers, whose greatest error was
tea-cnp, and hold out your hand —as pretty a having no passion-no, not even an object.
little hand as ever I saw, except that of my dear But that is a mistake; they were dreamers, not
departed squaw, who was called the Sugar Ma- meditative thinkers. There is another marked
ple;'but it was blackish. Look, here are twelve  distinction, too, to be kept in mind: meditative




LAUREL WATER.
thinkers are very different from  calculating  herself to her parent with that absorbing atthinkers. The lat,ar have seldom any passion. tention which concentrates all the feelings upon
Reginald, however, had become very medi- one object. It will-be bad enopgh at any time
tative. He was not dreamy, but he was really  and in any place for her to lose him; but what
very thoughtful. He gave both memory and  will it be to lose him perhaps on this very jourjudgment way as well as imagination.  He  ney, or even after he has joined a regiment
thought of Mary Chlevenix, and of the position  where he is unknown? Then, she is very beau,
in which Fate and his own words had placed  tiful, very poor, and quite defenseless."
him in regard to her; and when Love looked    " But surely she has some friends," said Regto Hope and to Reason, and asked, in the mar- inald, becoming much interested.
iner's tongue, " What cheer?" the reply of the    "They did not appear, to support her father
first was faint and low, and the second said  in his career, to comfort him in his sickness,.
aloud, "Breakers ahead!"                   or to help him in his need," was the sad reply.
Such was his frame of mind, and such the  " What they have not done for the father, will
subject of his thoughts, when Major Brandrumn  they do for the child? Even if they do, will it
rejoined him, with his heart running over with  not be too late, when she is left alone amid
satisfaction.  The table had been laid without strangers, and perhaps profligates l"
Reginald knowing it, and supper, or dinner —   The door opened while he was speaking, and
be it called whichever any one will-was near-' the young baronet entered. His cheek turned
ly ready; but Sir Theodore had not yet ap- somewhat red as lie heard the last few words
peared, and, to say the truth, the young officer that Major Brandrum uttered  but, sitting down
had not much noticed his absence.           without speaking, ke began playing with the
"Well, my dear Crow," he said, raising his knives and forks.
eyes, with an effort to look not absent, "what   "If I can help in any way, you know you cam.
have you been about 1".  command me," replied Reginald, warmly.
"Nothing of much importance, Lisle," re-   "I know it, my dear fellow-I know it well,".
plied the major.  " I fell in with an old brother answered his friend; "'but you are far too
officer, who fancies he is beginning one jour- young, and I not quite old enough, to act as.
ney, when lie is far on upon another, I fear. the protector of a girl of sixteen or seventeens
But it was somei satisfaction to be able to give  without calling forth insinuations, unfounded
him a little comfort, poor fellow!"         but injurious; and not the less injurious be-,
"Which you did not fail to do," said Regi- cause they are unfounded, nor the less unfoundnald, "I am sure."                          ed because they are injurious. However, I will
"To be sure," answered Major Brandrum. think about it till to-morrow, and then we can
"I am still anxious about the poor girl, howev- talk it over. If your dear good mother would
er;" and so he truly was, for Major Brandrum, countenance and protect her, indeed we might
otherwise Jack Brandrum, otherwise the Ray- do something."
enous Crow, was almost always anxious about   "I was just about to say," answered Regisomebody, though never about himself.  He nald Lisle-but at that moment the landlord,
had a tender,' affectionate, benevolent heart, appeared carrying the first dish, which he set
which was full of very refined sensibilities. All down with all care and gravity, and then turn,
this, pray recollect, dear reader, without the  ing to the gentlemen present before he took the
slightest touch of sentimentality.  He could  cover off, said, "May I inquire if one of you
feel with the young, he could feel with the old, gentlemen is Major Brandrum."
he could feel with the poor, he could feel with    "I am, sir," replied the major; "what are
the sick, and though he was always ready to your commands with me "
relieve, to comfort, to console, where he saw    "' There is a person in the court wishes to
real need, or pain, or sorrow, yet he never tried  speak with you, sir," answered the host; and
to make miseries to grieve over, either in oth- the officer, putting down his head to Lisle's
ers or himself. He was at times a little asham- ear —the latter having already taken his seat
ed of his sympathies; and in early days, being'-said, in a whisper, "I suspect I shall not sup
of a very gay, cheerful, dashing disposition, had  with you to-night. This is a bailiff, depend
endeavored to cover over kind actions and kind  upon it. What sort of a person is he, my good
feelings with a rattling, thoughtless manner; friend i" he continued, aloud.
but two or three people detected him, and his     " Why, an odd-looking sort of man, sir,"'ancue was now to persuade himself and others swered the other; "he looks like a beggarthat what lie did was only done because it was man with a patch over his eye."
right and proper, and what every man ought to   "' Is there only one i" asked Lisle.
do, and most men would do.                   s" Only one, sir," said the landlord.
"Iam still anxious about the poor girl, how-   " Send him  in, then, send him  in," cried
ever," said Major Brandrum; and Reginald  the major; adding, in a low tone, "we can
Lisle asked " why"-not in an indifferent man- deal with one; and, moreover, it is after sunncer, but in a tone which his friend well under- down."
stood to imply a desire of hearing the circum-   Mine host; upon the injunction he had restances which caused his anxiety.           ceived, opened the small dining-room  door"It will be bad enough, you see, Lisle," re- beckoning to some one without, and immeplied the major, "' to lose' her father, whenever diately, with a slow step and limping gait, a
it happens. It is always a blow; but, under or- very poor-looking object entered.
dinary circumstances, men feel that it is in the    He was dressed in a large, dirty brown coat,
course of nature, and religion, philosophy, and  worn to the threads, various parts of which
time dry the eyes which torn affections have showed the marks where the lace, which had
moistened; but this girl, I can see, has devoted once decorated it, had been picked off.  The




38                   SIR THEODORE: BROUGHTON;. OR,
hat which he doffed as he came in was dented  added, in a whisper, " Take care of your money:
in every part, so as to leave no trace of its you have counted it before the landlord and the
original shape;. and the wig which was under- waiter, and it is a prize which might tempt some
neath, of the peculiar- cut called scratch, had  one to your bed-room door. I bad better send
probably been picked out of some gutter into  the bailiffs to you: they are both in the house
wh:ich it had been cast, when judged'by a third  at this moment, following you down to Waror fourth wearer to be incapable of further serv- wickshire. Pay them in the gold, major, and
ice. It was much too large foi his head also, keep the notes. They are easily carried, and
but the danger of -its falling off was remedied  not worth any one's risk to take. Good-by,
by a large black ribbon nearly worn to shreds, sir," he continued, aloud: "I hope you'll rewhich, passing over the apex of the-head in a member the porter."
diagonal line, bound the patch mentioned by    Major Brandrum  took -a crown out of his
the landlord over his eye..              purse-it was well-nigh the last it contained"My name is Brandrum, sir," said the major, and gave it to the other, who, with an awkward
after this unprepossessing personage had made  bow to the rest of the company, quitted the
sundry bows; " what do you want with me?"  room, thanking his honor a thousand times.
"Why, sir, I have got something for you,"    Major Brandrum then apologized to his two
replied the man, "and a message from your friends for keeping their meal so long waiting;
friend Colonel Lutwich, if you will just step a and, sitting down to table with them, prepared
little aside."                               to enjoy himself as was his wont.  He had
The major eyed him very intently for a mo- more business, however, to transact before he
ment, and then, with a smile, walked toward  could satisfy himself with the " cates divine,"
the further side of the room, at which stood an- or quaff the foaming bowl.
other table. The visitor hobbled after, and they    "Upon my life! here are roast fowls and
were soon in eager conversation, which, how- ham once more," cried Reginald Lisle.  "We
ever, was for some time carried on in so low a have had them at every inn where we have
tone that nothing transpired.  At length, how- stopped."
- ever, Brandrum exclaimed aloud, "What, the    " Those two dishes are patent in England,". whole! the hundred guineas too!"  -      replied the major; "they are just as much a
"Every penny," answered the man; " with  staple commodity as roast beef. I remember
such scurvy fellows as that, depend upon it, a being seated at dirlner, two years ago, beside a
neat pistol Wvell crammed is more efficacious in  Frenchman; and when, after grace, which was
making them pay their debts of honor than a very long, the covers were removed and the
dozen writs of ca. sa. He had the impudence  contents of the dishes displayed, I saw my
to say, that if you had won it at hazard he  neighbor's face work lamentably, and he murwould have paid, but because you had only lent mured to himself,' but loud enough for half a
one part, and become bound for the other, he  dozen people to hear,'Begar! dere be cock
would not; and so, then, the colonel took to the -and bacon once again!'. Sir Theodore, shall I
ultima ratio with him. He knew his man too  send you a wing?"
well to hesitate; and here is the money; but   The young baronet, laughing, had just anyou must give me a receipt in the specified form. swered in the affirmative, when two very susHere it is drawn up."                       picious-looking men entered the room; and, to
"With' all my heart," cried Brandrum, rub- the waiter's demand of what they wanted, and
bing his hands joyfully. " Here, landlord, pen  intimation that they had made a mistake, one
and ink."  of them replied, " We knows what we are want"Directly, sir-directly," said mine host, who  ing: no mistake in life. That's the gentleman,
was skilled in reading prosperity on men's faces, Bob."
and was always deferential in proportion. The    "Pray, who are you, and what do you want "'
writing materials were soon produced, and a demanded Major Brandrum, in a stern tone,
paper placed before the worthy major, which, very well understanding the nature of the inafter. reading carefully over, he signed with a truders' calling.
flourish, saying, "There!  Give my best com-   "I am an officer of the sheriff of Middlesex,"
pliments and thanks to Colonel Lutwich, who  replied the man, boldly, touching the shoulder
is, I suppose, your master, though his livery is of the Ravenous Crow with his finger; " and I
somewhat out of the common run."            arrest you, John Brandrum, at the suit of Simon
" Oh, sir, that is policy," replied the man, pro- Cox and Hezekiah Skeingelt. You must come
ducing a small bag and a little paper parcel not along with me, major."
much bigger than a letter; " having such a sum    "Show me the writ," said Major Brandrum,
as this about me, it was better to look as if I coolly.
had nothing, for fear of highwaymen, you know;   "Oh! here it is," replied the officer, produeso I put off the clothes I usually wear."      ing a slip of parchment, which Major Braudrum
"You did wisely," replied Major Brandrum, examined very carefully. " It's of no use' mataking the bag, and counting a considerable jor: you must-either come or pay."
number of guineas which it contained, and then    "Now, if I served you as you deserve," rerunning over the bank-notes with his finger and  plied the officer, bending his brows upon the
thumb. "Fivehundred andthirty-two guineas,  man sternly, "I'should take you by the neck
good tale," he cried; s" well, I never knew such  and back, and throw you out of the window,
a rascal pay such a sumn before-when he could while my friends did the same by your follower.
help it.".      In the first place, you know that you are execu"Ay, but he could not," replied the man, ting this writ at an illegal hour; and, in the next
pocketing the receipt; and then, gutting his place, that it is not backed by the sheriff of Bedlipl close to the ear of the Ravenous: Crow he'fordshire."




LAUREL WATER.                                     39
The bailiff winked his eye to his companion,   "That lad is going wrong," he said; "we
remarking, in a-loud aside, "They told us he shall have to look after him: Donovan has
was a new'un; but he's up to snuff, Bob. I beg placed a scoundrel with him, if ever I saw
Tour pardon, sir," he continued, in a more- civil one; and the result will be-perhaps what he
tone; "but the truth is, one Colonel Lutwich  expects."
sent us word that you had got the money from    "Going wrong!" exclaimed Reginald, startMr. Wilkinson as drew the bills, and we had ing. "In Heaven's name! what makes you
nothing to do but ask for it."              think so 1 Surely you must mistake: his very
"Then why did you not ask for it civilly." timidity and shyness must have kept him from
demanded Major Brandrumn.  "I have a very  all temptation up to the present time at least.
great mind not to pay you one farthing, and to It will be lost but too soon, doubtless; but it
drub you for half an hour: first, because, as you  will prove a safeguard at present, I do hope."
know quite well, these Cox and Skeingelt are    " Those shy and timid lads, who seem frighttwo. Jew usurers, who never gave half the ened at the very first step in our evil world,"
nmoney to the wretched vagabond who drew the replied Major Brandrum, "always make the
bills; and, next, because I hate all bailiffs and greatest start when the first step is taken; atid
men who live by the miseries of their fellow- as to his wanting temptation, he will never
creatures."'                                want that while Master Hargrave is with him.
T "Lord bless you, major! you'll get'accus- The scoundrel brought the lad into the room
tomed to us in time," replied the man; "that is where my poor friend Malcolm was sitting with
to say, if you go on accepting bills for other me and his daughter, and I remarked how the
people that you can't pay yourself."        boy's eyes kindled at her beauty while we were
The look of anger passed away from Major dismounting. Twice after that the groom's'Brandrum's face in a moment, and he hung his ugly face'was thrust in; but if I find he is
head with an expression of shame and mortifi- prompting his young master to insult her, I will
cation.  "You are quite right," he said, at break every bone in his body."
length, "you are quite right; and I acted not  "' He shall not insult her, if I can prevent it,"
only foolishly, but wrongly. I will never do it said Reginald Lisle, rising. " She is very beauagain."                                     tiful; and I too remarked how much young
-" Ay, sir, that's what many a boy says when  Broughton's admiration was excited. But he
he is being whipped," replied the bailiff. --   is under my Charge, and I will interfere'to pre"True again," replied the Ravenous Crow. vent him from doing any thing disgraceful to'"You are a philosopher, my good friend; but himself or injurious to her. I will go and see.
let us have as little of your company, as pos- You stay where you are, my dear Crow. You
sible. Draw out a receipt, and I will pay you are too much excited: you would peck his eyes
the money."                                 out."  And, thus saying, he left the room.
The rest of the affair was soon settled, and
at length the worthy major was permitted to 
go on in peace with his supper.                                        I
" Pray, Major Brandrum," inquired Sir The-             C              I
adore Broughton, in his usual timid and diffi-     SIR, you insult me," said a very sweet
dent' tone, when the meal was nearly done, voice, as Reginald Lisle, after seeking through
"' who is Colonel Lutwich that the man men- several places, was walking along one of the
tioned?"          J                         many intricate passages of the inn; "let me
"The same whom we saw at Stratton-upon- pass, I insist, or I will soon bring those who
Dunsmore," replied the major, dryly, going on will punish you. Your conduct is base and
with his meal.                              ungenerous-you think me unprotected and
" But who is he. of what family 1" persisted  friendless; and I am sure that man, has directthe young baronet.                          ed me wrong on purpose."
" Oh! there is a large family of them," an-   " Nay, I do not insult you," said the tongue
swered the major. " I really do not know how  of Sir Theodore Broughton; " surely, it is no
to describe this gentleman more particularly. insult to tell you how lovely I think you, and
I saw him once in a very crowded assembly in to-"
London, where he played for very high stakes,   " Yes, sir, it is an insult from a mere stranand won the gamne. I never saw him afterward  ger," answered the girl's voice; "and I insist
till we met at Stratton; but there, after you upon your letting me pass.'?
were gone to bed, we chatted over our last   Reginald Lisle hurried forward in the darkmnebtimg, and I happened to tell him of this man  ness, which was but faintly softened by a light'Wilkinson's roguery. It seems that he gener- in a cross passage which shed somen  stray
ously found means to force the fellow to pay beams upon the opposite wall. But Catharine
me, not only the amounst of the bills, but a Malcolm's voice was raised very loud, and just
hundred pounds I had lent him likewise, for when the young officer reached the end of the
which I am very much obliged to the good col- cross passage, which was a very long one, some
onel. - That is all I know of him."         other ear seemed to have caught the sound, for
Perhaps the young baronet might have asked  a door was suddenly opened between the spot
further questions; but at that moment the man  which Reginald had reached and that where
JHargrave put his head into the room, saying, the young baronet stood, and a good-looking
in a quick tone, "I want. to speak a word to  and fashionably-dressed man issued forth, exyou, Sir Theodore, if you please;" and, spring- claiming, "What is the matter? Why, my
ing up from the table, the youth left his two young friend, Sir Theodore, what is all this!
companions.                                 Fy, fy! Let the young lady pass. This is'not
Major Brandrum gazed at Reginald Lisle, a bar-maid to hear vows in an inn passage..and shook his head gravely.




40                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
Madam, this is a mistake —the gentleman is   The girl gazed at him for a moment with: anvery young and romantic. Come in here with air of surprise and sauciness which had -well.
me, Sir Theodore; you will have the whole inn nigh made him laugh; but she was overawed,
upon you. Sir, there is some one coming al- and with a look of flippant submission, she
ready;" and, without ceremony, he took the said, "Very well! Come along. This way,
young baronet's arm, and hurried him into the madam."
room from which he had himself just. issued   "Good-night," said Reginald, in a kindly
forth, so suddenly, that the latter did not see tone;' tell your good father when he rises that
the advancing figure of Reginald Lisle.     Captain Lisle anal Major Brandrum will bothL
The door was instantly shut, but the young come to see him before you start to-morrow."
oicer continued his course up the passage,   The tears,rose in Kate Malcolm's eyes again,
drawing to the side to allow Catharine Malcolm  and though she murmured " Good-night, sir,,"
to pass. With a trembling step the poor girl it was all she could utter.
came forward, with the light she carried shin-   As she retired with the chamber-maid, Regiing upon her beautiful countenance, and show- nald found his way down to the bar'of the inn,
ing how pale she had become with agitation. and, on second thoughts, judging it better to
She looked somewhat wildly round her, too, as say nothing of what had occurred, merely asked,
if not well knowing where she was; and judg- in an ordinary tone, who was in number twentying from the words he had overheard, as well three.
as her look, that she had been directed wrong,   " Colonel Lutwich, sir-the Hon. Colonel
Reginald bowed gravely, saying, "You have Lutwich," replied the landlord, consequen-'ost your way: will you allow me to show you? tially; "we have a great deal of fashionable
Nay," he added, as she drew somewhat back, company in the house to-night. John-Williarm
with a look of alarm, "you are quite safe with -Thomas —Peter-Harry,"- he continued, at
me, Miss Malcolm. I am the firiend and fellow- the top of his voice, screaming to' half a dozen
soldier of your father's friend, Major Brandrum, different waiters and getting none of them, and
and I will lead you to your parent's room at then putting his mouth to the end of a long
once. I inquired where it is just noW."    tube, which ran up to the story above, he shouted
"My father is in bed, and I trust asleep, sir," something which sounded like the gurgling in
replied the poor girl. "I stayed with him till the long neck of a wine bottle when it is turned
he was drowsy, and then went back to the hall upside down, and the liquid contained has some
for something I had left there. As I returned, difficulty in getting out. -
a man I met on the stairs told me I was going   Reginald Lisle walked slowly away, and found
wrong, and directed me here-one passage is Major Brandrum finishing his wine, without a
so like another-I really do not know-"     certain quantity of which-in default of active."Well, I will ~how you," said Reginald; exertion-he had great difficulty in believing
"but just let me look'at the number on this that any day was actually ended.
door;" and, advancing a step, he'gazed up, re-   "What news, Lisle "   the major asked, as
peating "Twenty-three."  "Now, Miss Mal- the other entered. "Have you found the lad?
colm, I will attend you. The best planwill be How was he demeaning himself?"
to ring for the chamber-maid. There is a bell,  "Not very well," replied the young officer,
in that next passage. She will go with you " but yet not so badly as perhaps he might have
wherever you like. I know you have met with done. Nevertheless, I fear for the future. Let'some annoyance just now, and was coming to him alone, however, my dear Brandrum; I will
your assistance. The young offender shall not give him a sort. of lecture when he returns."
go unreproved; but, as he is a mere boy, you,  "But where is he i" demanded the major.
must forget it."                            "What is he doing now?'"
" It was very wrong," replied Kate Malcolm,   " He is in your friend Colonel Lutwich's
coloring; "I did nothing to deserve such treat- room," replied Lisle.  "That gentleman came
ment, I-am sure."..  upon him in the midst of his impertinence to
" I am quite certain you did not," replied the the poor girl, and really behaved very well,
young officer; "but here is the bell;" and he representing to him the impropriety of his conrang it sharply.                            duct, and dragging him into his room, to put a
The girl who appeared in answer to this stop to what was likelyto become a very painsummons was a saucy English chamber-maid, ful and disgraceful scene."
and when Reginald informed her that the young    "The stupid young fool!" exclaimed Branlady had lost her wa'y, and directed her to ac- drum. " But it is all that knave Hargrave's
company Miss Malcolm to her room, which was doing; and, please Heaven, I will beat him to
- next that of her father's, and numbered a hund- a jelly before I part with himn. Lutwich is a
red and three, she tossed her head, replying, fine fellow, with all his faulks, and, I am sure,
that was not her floor: she had nothing to do would not see an innocent girl ill treated.,"
with the wagon folks.                         "It is very strange," said Reginald, musing:
"You will be so good as to do as I direct " I feel certain I -have seen his face somewhere
you, whether it is your floor or not," replied before."
Reginald Lisle, sternly; " this young lady, whose   "That is very possible, my dear lad," replied
father is a fellow-officer of mine, has been al- Major Brandruin, dryly; " but, if you will take
ready misdirected and insulted by some per-'my advice, Lisle, you will not ask him where..-sons in this house, and I am  now going to He is a man of good family, good education, and
complaim to your masteroftheir'conduct. Take many good feelings, as he has shown in my
care that I have not to add yours to my report. case; but he has his oddities, of which the less;
See this young lady safely to her room, and do said the better."
not leave her till she is there."             A look of sudden intelligence broke over




LAUREL WATER.                                    41
Reginald's face.'"I Understand itall now," he  instantly. followed a sound like that' Which is
exclaimed: "it is the same countenance, I do often heard at watering-places, produced by
believe; and yet there seems a differenc5b too, the repeated application of a cudgel to the tough,
so that I certainly could not swear to him."    hairy skin and hollow sides of an unfortunate
"I hope you never will, Lisle," said the ma- donkey. The report of these echoing blows
jor, gravely; " a wig makes a great difference, was mingled with cries and almost screams and
and Lutwich has many, as you might see when  shouts for mercy, which soon brought a' dozen
he brought the money here this evening."  people and a dozen lights into the court-yard;
"Good Heaven! was that the same man l" and Reginald, looking over the wooden balusexclaimed Reginald; "then it would certainly  trade, beheld his friend holding Master Zachary
be as difficult to swear to him as to bind Pro- Hargrave by the collar with a tight grasp, and
teus. But be assured, on your account, I never' laying on repeated blows of his horsewhip upon
would, even if I could."                  his legs, shoulders, and back, with a force and
"The first time I ever saw him," said Bran- vigor which had well-nigh flayed the unfortunate
drum, "he was, as I told this silly youth, play- patient. Seeing people hurrying up to intering for a great stake-for neither more nor fere, the major ceased for a moment-without
less, in short, than his life. It was at the Old letting go his hold, however-and, turning a
Bailey; but he got off, for he cross-examined  fierce glance round, demanded,'; Does any one
the principal witness against him himself; and  want the same?"
though the man was very much inclined to    No one seemed inclined to demand the priev
swear to his person, he asked him, in a stern  ilege; and then, swinging his victim round so
tone, whether the highwayman had not a very  as nearly to throttle him, the major raised his
black beard.' So he had,' exclaimed the per- foot and applied it to Hargrave with a force and
son who had been robbed;'I did not think of unction which sent him through the crowd althat:' upon which the lawyer for the prosecu- most to the other side of the court. Then
tion turned crossly round to Lutwich, saying, stooping down, Brandrum raised his candlestick'How came you to know that.' Because the  from the ground, and in a calm and somewhat
same man tried to rob me at the very same  jocular'Voice-for he was well satisfied with
spot,' replied Lutwich,'only I would not let what he had done —addressed the mistress of
him. He had a black beard, as you have, the hoqse, saying, "Will you allow me to light
Counselor Barrett; and, in fact, was very like my wick at yours, madam, for candles will go
you indeed. I could almost fancy you were  out when people are engaged in interesting oethe same man.'  This set the whole court cupations."
laughing, and the jury acquitted the prisoner   Every one gazed at the other while the
without leaving the box.  This little scene worthy officer obtained a light, but no one yendid not lose him, his place'in society; and, tured to say a word; and bowing round with
though he frequents a great number of gay and  mock courtesy, much amused at the consternadangerous places, and associates with a good  tion upon all faces, Major Brandrum walked
number of fashionable blackguards, he has quietly away and sought his bed-room.
never lost his reputation of a gentleman and a
man of honor; wherever his means may come
from."
"Perhaps he is not bhe best companion for             CHAPTER XIII.
Sir Theodore," replied Lisle; but the major   " PRAY be seated, Sir Theodore,"'said Colinstantly replied, "There might be worse-  onel Lutwich, when he had drawn the young
there might be worse;" and the conversation  baronet into his room and shut the door. "We
taking another turn, Reginald raised the gall must let the gentlemen and ladies, whom your
of his gallant friend by detailing minutely all somewhat too warm admiration of a very pret-.
that had occurred between the young baronet ty girl may have collected in the passage, satand Catharine Malcolm, as far as he knew it isfy their curiosity, and go back to their supper
himself.                                   and their beds, before the provider of this treat
An hour passed by without the return of Sir for their appetite for the marvelous makes his
Theodore; and, at the end of that time, Regi- appearance again."
nald Lisle rose, saying, "I will to bed, Bran-   He spoke somewhat sarcastically;,and, perdrum, for I am tired, and my knee is somewhat haps, no better tone could be taken to impresspainful."                                  an inexperienced and shy lad with a sense of
"So will I," rejoined the major, taking up his the impropriety of his conduct.
heavy riding-whip; and, having procured lights,   Pray let it be remarked, I say only, the imthey issued forth.                         propriety; for Colonel Lutwich did not pretend
Reginald Lisle mounted the stairs first, while  to go further. He might feel, and probably he
his friend paused for a moment to gaze out into  did feel, for his after conversation was a proof
the court of the inn, where the moonlight was thereof, that there was much beyond mere imr
sleeping quietly; and the younger officer had  propriety to be censured in the young baronet's
reached the middle of the long, open gallery  late behavior; but there are men who systemwhich led to his bed-room, when he heard the  atically act wrong themselves, and yet are so
voice of, the Ravenous Crow exclaiming, in vi- conscious and internally ashamed of their own
olent tones, "Why did you tread upon my toe, misdeeds, that they do not venture boldly to
asir"                                      condemn the misdeeds of others, though tke
"I did not intend it, major," said another faults and follies they see are not exactly in the
voice.,               course which they follow themselves. These
"You did, sir! you intend every thing that are persons in whom the moral sense is notis bad: I'll teach you to behave better;" and yet either quite depraved by habit or naatgury




~4.    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
obtuse, for in both those cases the vices that   "That matters not," said Sir Theodore,
-we do not cherish are the objects of our cen- growing bolder as he went on; " sometimes a
sure or our ridicule.                      few hours are as much as a life-time. I have
Sir Theodore Broughton cast himself down  never seen-I am sure I never shall see, any
into a chair overwhelmed with confusion and  thing half so lovely; and were I master of my
mortification. He knew not what to reply, or own fortune, I would give one"half —nay, the
which way to look. His pride, his vanity, his whole, to call her mine."
desires were all disappointed or wounded. His    "Nay, that is a very serious affair," replied
first step in the career of passion and vicious the other. "Do you mean to say that you
indulgence had ended in, rebuke and ridicule; would marry her?"
and, for the time, he cursed Hargrave, and him-   The young baronet paused and hesitated;
self, and all concerned.                    and Lutwich resumed more seriously, but in a
Colonel Lutwich saw how bitterly he was sort of contemplative, disquisitional manner,
mortified, and, being in reality.a very good-na- which took all appearance of rebuke from his'tured man, was sorry for him, and hastened to  observations.  " It is, indeed, a very serious
his relief.                                  affair to think of marrying a girl one has only
" Cbme, come, Sir Theodore," he said, " do known a few hours. It is not only fortune and
not let this affect you so much. In all proba- comfort that we stake upon our die, but often
bility the young lady is not aware of who you  the happiness, the success, even the honor and
are, and will think little more about it: Few  conduct of a whole life. Marriage blends with
women are very seriously averse to be the ob- our being the being of anether, which mingles
ject of admiration, though it may hurry the ad- a certain dissimilar stream with the whole curmirer into somewhat rash actions. I do not, rent of our existence, modifying not only our
indeed, know the. circumstances of the case, fortunes and our fate, but our thoughts, our'but-I think you must have made a great mistake  feelings, our character. The person we wed
in the character of the person you addressed, may seem to possess no influence over us, may
and it is very necessary to learn to discrimin- obtain no power of controlling our actions, or
ate. Doubtless you have no'great experience  directing our course in any thing; but still,
in these affairs, and-"                      whether leading or opposing, going with, us or
"None, none!" replied the young baronet, against us, there will be constantly-recurring
encouraged by his tone. "Doubtless I have effects produced upon our minds-and our deeds
been very wrong; but it is'all that fool Har- by that inseparable union with another, which
grave-my servant's doing. I never saw so  will affect us in all our mortal life-nay, perbeautiful a creature in my life; and he told me haps in eternity."
-Why do you laugh' "                           He paused long between the former'and the' Not at you, my young friend," replied his latter words, and the last were uttered with an
companion, "but because'a servant-a low- effort, as if in despite of himself. The next
minded, vulgar fellow like that, is not fit in any  moment he resumed in a less serious tone,
way to give you counsel or information. You  "' Doubtless you did not think of marriage, my
must learn, as I was saying, to discriminate  young friend; and now let us consider for one
for yourself. This young lady is very beauti- instant what you were about. In this world
ful-very beautiful indeed, That was evident, there are many women who, loose and vicious
even at the casual glance I obtained of her;  by habit, are  ready to sell, give, grant, favor
but still that casual glance was enough to show  and encouragement to all who seek them:
any man of the world that she is not accessi- there are some, too, who by temperament,
ble to the sort of means you seemed td be em- vanity, idleness, want of character or principloying. There are some forts which can not ple, though not actually fallen, are only waitbe carried by storm, Sir Theodore, against ing upon inclination, opportunity, or temptawhich nothing will succeed but long and inces- tion. But. there are others-and, if I judge
sant siege, and not even then without bringing'rightly, this girl is one —who in putrity of heart
up the heavy artillery of matrimony. Even  and feeling, though not without affections,
that will not always carry the place; and that which become passions when strongly excited,
man makes' the greatest mistake in the world  devote themselves to high and holy duties in
who thinks that with the heart of all, women, the strength of innocence and truth. I can
rank, station, wealth, even accomplishments, feel that it is so," he added, sadly, "though I
must be successful. Women have their fan- am not, never have been, one of them. I will
cies as well as men, and the most captivating  not blame the man who, in the hot blood of
youth of the whole world will often meet with  youth, sports with the wanton or the libertine,
a bitter mortification if he thinks that his suit provided he debases not his own mind to the
will prove equally acceptable to all."      level of theirs. I have no right to blame him,
"But do you think I have offended her be- alas! I will not even venture to censure the
yond forgiveness?" asked the young baronet, man who meets passion with passion, and rolls
in so dolorous a tone as to make his cornpan- the falling pebble down the bank. These things
ion laugh again.                            are wrong, all very wrong; but it is not for me
"No, no," said Lutwich;  "as a first princi- to condemn. But what must that man think
pie, no woman is offended at being loved-so  of himself, who for an idle fancy, or a'shortfar from it, that nine out of ten will forgive lived passion, would deliberately seek to sully
any errors that proceed from'that love; and  a pure heart, to withdraw from a course of noyou seem somewhat deep in the mire, my dear ble innocence and high devotion a being whose
baronet, considering that you have only known  corporeal beauty is but an image, a type, a sign
the young lady —at least so I imagine —a few  of the beautiful spirit within?- No, no, Sir"
shours,"                                     Theodore; as Shakspeare. says,' We have.




LAUREL WATER.                                    43
willing dames enough.' We maybe sinful, we tie of our landlord's Burgundy, of which, bymay be foolish to make them our companions, the-way, he has some of the best in England,
or to give them even an idle hour. A man may and then to bed, and sleep, and forgetfulness."
be tempted of the evil spirit, who is ever too   From  a small but very handsome writingnear us all, to fall into wrong and wickedness desk Lutwich took out a quire of perfumed pahimself, unwilling slave to his own passions; per, and. wrote down a few lines, which he
but to tempt others who are pure and innocent handed to his young companion, who, on his
is the first'great attribute of the evil spirit part, put them  in his pocket without further
himself."                                 thought. The'bell was then rung, and the landHe paused, but Sir Theodore remained silent, lord himself appeared, with a look of the most
with his head leaning on his hands, and his deferential respect.
eyes averted; and Lutwich gazed on him with   " Bring a bottle of Burgundy, Master Spin.
a keen and contemplative look, as if revolving ner," said Colonel Lutwich; "a bottle of that
several things in his mind, and striving to draw  same wine which Lord St. Jermyn and I had
conclusions from them. The fine, delicate fea- here last Saturday twelvemonth."
tures of the young baronet, his look of extreme   " Lord, colonel, how well your honor recol..
youth, and expression of almost melancholy lects things!" said the landlord, fawning.
thoughtfulness, joined with no indications, ei-   "I shall recollect the taste of the wine, too,
ther to the physiognomist or the phrenologist, Master Spinner," replied the other; "so, be
of strength and firmness of character, might, sure that it is the same; and, do, you hear!
perhaps, have some share in the conclusion at uncork it below, and see that it be not ropy."
which he seemed to arrive. " Come, Sir The-  1" Certainly, sir, certainly," replied the landodore, to speak the truth," he said, " did not lord; and in five or ten minutes the wine was
some one, to use our London slang, put you up brought, and proved worthy of its reputation.
to this  I. I am sure your own heart would not However, whether it was that Sir Theodore had
lead you to such a step."                  drunk more than ordinary at supper, or that his
It is a natural impulse of feeble mrinds, eas- brain was in an excitable state from all that had
ily led by stronger ones, to throw the blame of lately passed, his eyes soon began to assume a
all miscarriages upon others.. Sir Theodore vacant and unsteady look, and his utterance to
Broughton, although he had alluded slightly to become less clear, though more voluble.,Still,
the participation of his servant: Hargrave in however, he continued to sip slowly, glass after
the fault he had committed, had not told the glass, though, to do Colonel Lutwich no more'
whole; but, since his conduct had been placed than justice,4he did not press the bottle upon
in so unfavorable a light by a man of the world, him, notwithstanding the custom of the times.
and evidently a man of pleasure, indignation at Those were days of deep drinking,' when no
having been misled, and disappointed too, had man was considered worthy of society who did:been gradually rising up in his breast, and he not occasionally, if not frequently, make him-''epliedt aloud, " Yes, you are right. It was that self unfit for it. But still the young baronet's
scoundrel of mine, Zachary Hargrave. He saw  companion was unwilling to lead him to expose
how much I was struck with her, and led me himself more on the same night than he had
to suppose that she might very easily be won. done already. By the time the bottle was finHe would fain have had me believe, too," con- ished, the elasticity had strangely gone out of
tinued the young baronet, following the com- Sir Theodore's knees, and he at length rose,
mon course of endeavoring to create a preju- saying," I must go, colonel, and hunt out Lisle
dice against the person he accused, " he would and the major. They won't know what has
fain have had me believe, too, that you were a become of me  but, as he spoke, the sort of oscommon highwayman, Colonel Lutwich."      cillating motion of his body indicated sufficientHis companion smiled' sarcastically. "If he ly that he was in no very proper condition for
had said an uncommon one, he might have been hunting out any one.
more correct," Lutwich replied. "I certainly   "You had better go to bed, Sir Theodore,"
do travel the highways a good deal, as much replied his companion; but, knowing well that
as, or more than any other gentleman in my there is not so. great an offense to a drunken
position of life. I could almost say with the man as to perceive his condition, he added,
great Earl of Peterborough, that J have seen "you and Lisle might quarrel; for, though you
more kings and more postillions than any man do not seem to be aware of it, he was the perin Europe. But this is all trash and nonsense, son who was hurrying to the young lady's reaSir Theodore. The man must be a fool, as cue just now."
well as knave, to try to make you believe such   "I do not care," replied the young man; " he
idle stuff. I am glad, however, to hear that it has no right to meddle with me, and I'll go and
is such a low blackguard on whom the blame tell him so."
of misleading you lies. I felt sure that neither   "No, no, let him sleep over it," said the other,
Major Brandrum nor Captain Lisle would have " and you do the same. Come, I will showyou
any share in such things. This man is not a the way, for I dare say you do not know wherefit counselor for you, my young friend. Lisle about you are. I am acquainted with all the
may be too high-flown in his notions-at least turnings and windings of the place from times
so I have heard-and Brandrum is too old to of old;" and, having ascertained the number of'be a fit companion for youth; but all I can say the young'baronet's roonr, and obtained a light,
is,' if my advice and assistance can at any time he good-humoredly conducted him thither, and
be of service to you, you may command it. Be- persuaded him to go to bed at once.
fore we part, I will give you an address where   This-accomplished, Lutwich returned to his
you will always find or hear of me. I will write own chamber, and sat down to meditate. "A
it4dvwn now, and after that we will have a bot- pretty fellow I am," he thought, " to lecture,




44                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON'; OR,
others upon their conduct! But still, if he   "Now march on, Master Zachary Hargrave?,
knew all, he might well think his behavior bad he said, in a stern tone.' There-place yours
enough, when I condemn it. And Master Har- self there; and neither stir hand nor foot, as
grave, too, I must settle accounts with him. you value your life!" At the same time, he
Where can he have seen me. He must be si- displayed the very elegant little pistol which he
lenced one way or another;" and, putting his had taken from his pocket a few minutes before,
hand in his pocket, he drew out a very beauti- and coolly seated himself in such a position as
fully-fashioned pistol, mounted with silver, ex- to command both the door and the bell.
amined the priming, and thrust the ramrod   "Now answer ale a few questions, Master
down once or twice into the barrel.       Hargrave," he continued, in a contemptuous
"Now for Master Hargrave," he said aloud, tone; "I find you have done two things, of
after about half an hour's further meditation, which you must give me some account. In the
and rang the bell.                       first place, you have been leading your young
"Send-up a man named Hargrave to me, Sir master into mischief. What made you fix upon
Theodore Broughton's servant," were his words the young lady he was speaking to an hour or
to the waiter who appeared.               two ago in the passage, as the object of the
" Why, your honor, he is hardly in a condi- honorable attentions you suggested 3"
tion to come yet," replied the waiter. " He   "Lord, sir! I did not know that you had any
has had as good a horsewhipping as e'er I see thing to do with her," replied the man.
a fellow in my life, and so he is just now un-   " No evasion!" rejoined Lutwich, frowning.
stomaching himself to the people in the wag-  " What made you fix upon her, I say?"
on-room, over a glass of brandy punch, upon   "Because she was very poor, I heard, and
free grace and predestination."           her father was too sick to meddle," he replied.
"Then he's just in the fit state of mind.   "Scoundrel!" said Lutwich; "who set you
Send him up," said Colonel Lutwich. " Who on to such tricks P"
horsewhipped him?"                          "No one, sir-not exactly," replied IHar" Why, one Major Brandrum, they say, sir," grave, with his knees shaking; "the captainanswered the other; " but I hope you will not that is, Captain Donovan, did say he did not
say I told you."                          care about Sir Theodore having a few essa"Shall I say the house-bell will not ring when pades, and so I thought that was a hint toany one pulls the handle i" demanded Lutwich. to-"'A See that the man comes up directly, for I am    "To pander," added Lutwich, finishing the
going to bed."                            sentence for him; "well, perhaps it was. I
Ten minutes elapsed-nay, perhaps a quarter shall remember. Now for the second question.
of an hour-for it required some persuasion to I find that you were wise enough to tell Sir
induce Zachary Hargrave to trust himself with- Theodore that I was merely a highwayman.
in reach of any thing like an arm accustomed tp Now what induced you to venture on such an.
wield a horsewhip; but the waiter assured him  assertion? Out with it, for depend upon it you
that the colonel was all honey and water, and do not quit this room alive till you have spokthat Sir Theodore had just left him, so that en."
there was nothing to fear; and, in the end, the   "No, sir, no; I did not say so, indeed,"
worthy head groom, or groom and valet, as he whimpered the man; "I only said the horse
now termed himself, was coaxed into mounting your servant sold to Captain Lisle was an imthe stairs, and entering No. 23, after knocking pudent beast, and when my master asked me
respectfully. After having been told to come why I called him so, I said, because it was a
in, he presented himself in the glare of two wax proverb- as impudent' as a highwayman'&
candles, but took care to keep the means of horse.'"
egress close behind him, standing with his hat   Colonel Lutwich laughed aloud; but the inin one hand, while he smoothed down the short stant after, his fine and almost delicate features
fiat hair on the top of his head with the other. assumed a look which no one who saw them in
Without speaking a word, Colonel Lutwich their milder expression could have conceived
eyed him from head to foot with a thoughtful them capable of putting on. Indeed, it was a
look which is peculiarly unpleasant and dis- peculiarity often noticed in that remarkable
courteous in the eyes of small and rascally men. man, that his fade, though the lines were all
In the first place, they feel, from the very man- soft, and almost feminine, could, according to
ner of the glance, that they are looked upon his will, display every kind of different expresmerely as things-a very disagreeable mode or sion, and, indeed, undergo so complete a change,,state of objectiveness; and, in the next place, that, without even an alteration of dress, lie
they are always more or less afraid of having could deceive any one not well acquainted with
something or other discovered under suclh a him as to his identity. On the present occascrutiny.                                 sion, after that gay and almost joyous laugh,
"So your name is Hargrave 1" said Lutwich, the broad, clear brow became suddenly fiurrow.
neither very warmly nor very coldly, but with ed by deep wrinkles; a perpendicular line, in
the most indifferent tone in the world; "and which one could have laid a finger, appeared,you are Sir Theodore Broughton's servant! between the eyebrows, which were drawn down
Look here! I have something I wish you to see." together, and depressed over the eyes; the nosThe man took a couple of steps forward to- trils expanded wide; the corners of the mouth
ward the table, not perceiving what it was the were drawn down; the muscles of the cheeks
gentleman had in his hand, when, with a rapid seemed to stand out, as if working under strong
movement, Lutwich placed himself between passion; and the countenance, so lately all rahim and the door, which had been left partly diant and soft, was changed to that of a menaopen, closed it, and turned the key.      cing demon.




LAUREL WATER.                                      45
"Mark me, Zachary Hargrave!" he said, in  So, after having let the drops roll down her fair
a low, stern tone, speaking through his brilliant cheeks for a few moments, to clear away the
white teeth, "you see this pistol. In it there  sense of indignity, and sorrow, and hopelesss a single ball. I will keep that ball for you; ness from the brain, she rose, wiped her eyes,
and if ever, in the whole course of your life, you  went through the simple task of her nightly toilventure to breathe such a word as that which  et, and, only partly undressing, lest her father
you uttered to your master-be it to man, womr- should call, and tying up the money which Maan, or child —within twenty-four hours after, jor Brandrum had so kindly bestowed in a corthat bullet shall lie in the middle of your brains. ner of, her handkerchief, she lay down to rest.
(You understand me. You may know me, or She would not let her mind dwell upon miseryou may not; but those who do know me are  ies, and slept.
sufficiently aware that no one ever offended me    In the mean time, the chamber-maid went
and lived. You are warned-Begone!"        tripping along the passage, and pushed open a
The man, who, like all of his kind, was an  door which communicated with the other parts
infipite coward, made his way to the door with  of the house. As she did so, she met the head
knees knocking together, and so great was his waiter, with a decanter half emptied in one
terror, that for nearly a minute he could not hand, and a candle in the other, and they stopcontrive to turn the key the right way in the  ped in that snug corner to talk. I will not
lock.                                       trouble myself or the reader with their converAs soon as he was gone, Lutwich laid the  sation. Suffice it that it was sufficient to show'
pistol on the table, and, casting himself back in  that a very intimate friendship existed between
his chair, gave way to thought. Once more the  the two parties, for the waiter liberally offered
expression of his countenance changed; the  the decanter to the lips of the fair, declaring it
fierce and vengeful look passed away; a cloud  of the very best vintage in the cellar; and she,
of deep-may I say tender-melancholy spread  after having quaffed an inconvenient draught,
over his face. At the end of about half.an hour snuffed the waiter's candle for him with the
he retired to bed, and, notwithstanding all that scissors which hung by her side, and threw the
had passed, slept profoundly for some hours.   charred wick upon the ground. A step and a
At length he seemed oppressed in his slum- loud call from the landlord's own voice caused
ber —turned, and tossed, and breathed with  them  to part suddenly, and the swing door
difficulty; then murmured a few words, "Why, banged to after Betty, while John took another.Hal, you have dropped the candle into the way down.
chest. Don't you see the flame? the smoke —    I will pause behind that door, however, for
the smoke!" and, suddenly starting up, he a moment; and, as no one passed it for many
gazed round him, exclaiming,  "By Heaven, it hours after, I shall not be disturbed while
is no dream! The room is full of smoke! watching a small spot upon the floor, just on the'Some one has set the inn on fire!"        left hand, within six inches of the skirtingboard. It was just where the sides of two of
the planks ought to have met; but the house
was old, and they had shrunk away from each
CHAPTER XIV.                   other, leaving a crevice between of half a finger's breadth in width. At first, after the cham-' T:HERE, that's your room, miss," said the  ber-maid and waiter had separated and depart-,
chamber-maid, pointing to a door on the second  ed, nothing at all was to be seen, though a light
story of the wing of the hotel appropriated to  from the court-yard found its way through the
inferior travelers; "I am sure you need not windows-a faint, feeble, lantern light indeed
have missed it, for it is as plain as a pike-staff, it was, for gas was not dreamed of. Steam,
just next to the old gentleman's."          too, was in its infancy; and nobody was aware
"I should not have lnissed it," answered  that one day we should gain the brightest light
Kate Malcolm, "; if a person I met below had  and the swiftest motion from the vapdrs which
not misled me by telling me I had taken the  were blown up our chimneys or hissed out of
wrong stairs."                              our tea-kettles.
"Pooh, pooh!" said the chamber-maid, with    Presently the feeble ray gleamed up upon
a saucy air; "young ladies should not be so  something, curling gracefully and slowly upeasily misled;" and away she whisked.      ward from that spot, like the spirit of the AraKate Malcolm entered the poor chamber as- bian tale out of his copper vessel. It seemed
signed to her, which had no advantage on earth, too small in volume, indeed, ever to grow into
either in' furniture or situation, except that it a giant; but it did so, nevertheless, before it
possessed a door at the side, and that door com- was done. For the time, it was only a pale,
municated with her'father's room. She ap- bluish, spiral column, writhing itself up into the
proached it, and listened. All was still within; rays that camne through the windows, and only
and then she sat down by the little oaken ta- growing visible when it reached their light.
ble, and wept.' The grief, smothered all the  Then it sank away again, and was not seen for
day from her father's eyes, because they were  some minutes; and then rose somewhat thicktoo kind; from the world's, because they were  er, while a faint smell of charred wood was pertoo cold, broke forth in the solitude of her own  ceptible near the spot.
chamber, anti her evening hymn was'tears.     Nobody took any notice, however, for the
But she was weary as well as sorrowful; she odor penetrated no further, and the light, curlhad gone through much labor and fatigue dur- ing smoke was not perceived. Every body was
log tthe day-fatigue of mind as well as body-  very busy, too, till every body went to bed, and
and she knew that the same was to recom- then chance conducted them all the other way.'
mnenee very early on the day that followed. The' wagoners and their parties had' all igone t




46                    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
rest before the people appointed to attend upon cry was taken up by fresh voices, men and
them took their road to their several dormito- women, in every state of dress and undress,
rieshby the court-yard and the stable; the guests appeared in the court-yard, without any one
from the better part of the house had no busi- knowing how-nay, not even themselves. All
ness in that passage, and their servants found the prdnks of terror and confusion of mind were
their-way to their rooms by the open galleries. played which such scenes usually display. Some
Before one o'clock, all was quiet in the inn. were overpowered with fear, and did nothing;
At half past two, a stage-coach stopped on its some were more actively terrified, and did all
Toad to London, and the coachman, guard, and the most absurd things in the world. A waiter
passengers supped there. A solitary, sleepy- was seen throwing pump water at the windows
headed youth was usually left by the kitchen out of a slop-basin; a woman-servant was runfire, to attend upon the passing guests on their ning'back into the flames to fetch her garters;
arrival; and at about a quarter past two, the the landlord sat himself down on the shafts of
horse-keeper woke him, on his way to open the a wagon, saying,' Well, there goes every thing
great gates. 7The youth walked along a pas- I have in the world;" and the landlady ordered
sage which led just under the, swing door I Eave the bar-maid to throw the best china out of the
mentioned, and, as he went out to' the hall, window, to save it from being cracked with the
where the coach supper was laid, he left an heat..
outer door open behind him, through which the    There were two or three, however, who did
night wind swept cold. There was, by this time, not lose their presence of mind at all, and seva good deal of smoke in the upper passage; but eral more who retained-sufficient of that very
it is wonderful how it increased after that door'useful commodity to do what the others told
was opened. Nevertheless, not a speck of fire them.  Among the first were a middle-aged
was visible; and the coach arrived, the passen- man, of very distinguished appearance and a
gers supped, the fresh horses were put to, and somewhat jovial countenance, -Colonel Luton it went, leaving the weary hostler and sleepy wich, Major Brandrum, and Reginald Lisle.
waiter to seek their mews, without remarking The first at once ordered the great gates to be
either smell or smoke.                      opened, and the court to be cleared of the
Half an hour elapsed, which brought the night women; and he himself led a middle-aged lady,
to half past three, and then a faint, red, ill-de- and a younger one who had come down with
fined glow might be seen upon the flooring, in him, into the street, but returned immediately. 
extent not much bigger than a man's hand, and At the moment of his reappearance, Lutwich
the smoke became thick, the smell overpower- was bringing forth from the stables, aided by
ing toward the end of that passage. But there two or three men, a long ladder; and Major
was no one sleeping in the rooms adjacent, and Brandrum was exclaiming, "They will be too
the wind blew the other way toward the swing late!'"
door, underneath which, however, the smoth-   No sooner were the words spoken, than,
ering vapor was now creeping fast. The red darting through a little knot of stupefied servpatch extended slowly-more slowly and qui- ants, the major rushed up to a door on the left,
etly than can be conceived; and about four and disappeared. The open gallery on that side
o'clock, a faint, glimmering flash rose through of the house was on fire at both ends; but the
the dense cloud, and passed away; but the mo- instant after, Brandrum was'seen at the angle,
ment after a red line began to creep along the hurrying forward. He paused one instant as
skirting-board, at first very slowly, then more the fire met him. ~ It needed a heartbf steel,
quickly, but was stopped by the frame-work of but he had one. Without setting foot on the
a door leading to an empty room. It crept burning beams, he sprang across, and darted
round the molding, spotting it with patches of down a passage near that in which the fire had
fire; and a crackling sound was heard. An- first begun. At the same moment Reginald
other blaze then broke through the smoke, and, caught hold of the ladder which Colonel Lutlike one of the sudden illuminations which sue- wich was bringing forward, and aided to raise
ceed a display of artificial fire-works, the whole it.  They seemed to understand each other
wainscot, and part of the floor, displayed lines without a word, for not one was spoken; but
of flame. A roaring sound might now be heard; they joined their efforts to rear it and place it
but every one was sound asleep, and the prog- against the gallery; and while the end was still
ress of the fire in the passage was more tardy vibrating, Lisle was upon it, and halfway up.
than might have been supposed. The smoke    " Gallantly: done!" cried the middle-aged
seemed to choke it; for there was a door at gentleman I have mentioned; "but there may
either end, and the supply of air was not suffi- be more to be saved than one. Some of you
cient to hurry it on rapidly. At length, hQw- men come with me! Stevens, follow quick!
ever, the swing door was burned completely Let us ascertain, as far as possible, that all the
through, about half past four; and then the ad- rooms are clear before the fire reaches the main
vance of the conflagration was rapid indeed.   body of the building."
Three minutes after, a door was suddenly    "Yes, Sir Charles, I'm coming!" cried a man
thrown open, and Colonel Lutwich rushed out, in livery breeches, but without any coat.
shouting loudly, " Fire! Fire!" while/he made   But at that moment a sight was seen which
his way to a large bell-rope which he had seen made his master and himself both pause. Mahanging at the head of the stairs. The next jor Brandrum appeared at the'end of the pasinstant the alarum was sounded loud and rap- sage, bearing a young girl in his arms, only half
idly, and, careless of his own safety, Lutwich clad, and hurried toward the ladder. Reginald
hurried along, knocking violently at different was nearly at the top, and with a spring he
doors, and still shouting "Fire!"          reached it, and leaped over into the gallery./
First one appeared, and then another; the The major paused for an instant to say some



LAUREL WATER.                                      47 
thing; but his young comrade exclaimed, time, the middle-aged gentleman whom I have
"Down, down, Brandrum! I will see to him,"  mentioned mounted the stairs, and searched:
and instantly disappeared.                  through every room he could find, often venMajor Brandrum strode on, reached the top  turing further into the fire than was safe or pru,of the ladder in safety, and descended cau-: dent. The servant to whom he had spoken in
tiously, holding the girl in his long arms as one the court, and several other men, accompanied
would hold an infant. It was somewhat peril- him, and after insuring, as far as possible, that
ous, that descent, for he could not relax his no living being was left in any of the rooms, he
hold of the gentle burden he bore to steady his and the rest applied themselves to save some
steps with his hand;. and the people below  of the property that was most easily carried.
-watched him with breathless anxiety. But the    As may be supposed, the scene was one of
habit of every kind of exercise gave him great terrible confusion: many people had rushed in
advantages; and as he' came near the bottom, from the town; all the hangers-on of the inn,
Lutwich and another approached on either side who were not stupefied by personal fear, busied
to support him.                            themselves either with saving or appropriating;
"All safe, all safe!" said the old officer, with  a fire-engine and manifold buckets were pr6a smile of conscious skill and power; and, tak- cured at length; and though the flames could
ing the last three or four rounds more rapidly, not be stopped, their progress was delayed.
he reached the court, and set down his fair With the greatest possible difficulty, a number
burden on her feet.                         of valuable horses were forced out of the staKate Malcolm's eyes had been closed; but bles at the moment the fire reached that part
now she opened them, and gazed with a terri- of the building. A pile of trunks, portmanteaus,
fied and bewildered look around. One glance  and saddle-bags was raised up in the middle of
was given to the burning building, and then her the road, and a man stationed, with a pistol iv,
eyes ran over every face in the court. The  his hand, to guard them from the o.ver-fondness
next instant she put her hands to her head with  of those who might be partial to their neighan expression almost of distraction on her face, bors'- goods and chattels.  The landlord was
and exclaiming, "' My father! my father!" rush- roused to-some exertion, and the landlady made
edtowardtheladder. Lutwich,however, caught aware that porcelain will break when thrown
her arm ere she could ascend, and stopped her, out of a window; and, in the end, a.good deal
exclaiming, " Captain Lisle has gone for him! of propertywas collected and placed in safety.
Stay, I will go too. Major, take care of her:   Much was lost; much was stolen, much was,
do not let her follow!"  Thus saying, he be- consumed indeed; and still the obstinate elegan the ascent, and soon reached the gallery.   ment ran from room to room, and passage to
"'Oh, let me go!" cried the girl; " he Will passage, on both sides of the spot where it first
come with me —perhaps they will not find him."  broke out. The gallery on the left soon fell;
"Yes, yes they will," replied Major Bran- the large wooden columns caught fire; and'drum, detaining her kindly. "Lisle krnows it though, as I have before shown, the court was
is the next room to yours. There, there, don't very wide and extensive, the heat and smoke
you see they are bringing him in their arms?  within its area became intolerable. The fireNow be calm, my dear child; turn away your engine, badly constructed and worked by ignohead while they descend." -                 rant men, was of very little service, and it was
But Kate could not refrain; and, though mo- soon evident that nothing could be hoped beyond
tionless as a statue, she continued, with eager the preservation of the adjacent buildings. To
eyes and parted lips, to gaze, while-Lutwich  that object all attention was at length turned;
supporting the feet and Reginald the shoulders and though some other houses suffered a little,
of her father-they bore him to the'top of the  yet'the conflagration may be said to have been
ladder; then, one above and the other below, confined to that in which it first broke out.
carried him safely down.                      Gradually every one had been driven out of
Springing forward, Kate cast her arms round- the court, and at a little distance many small
the sick man's neck, and wept. Captain *al-' knots of'men and women appeared watching
colm turned a faint glance upon her, and mur- the progress of the flames which they despaired
mnured, with.a voice broken by gasps for breath, of suppressing. The red light glared through
"s Thank God! she is safe! Oh, my child! a  the windows; a dense cloud of smoke rose
dying father's blessing be upon you!"      high into the air; the clouds above were tinged
" Come, cheer up, Malcolm, cheer up!" cried  with the reflection of the fire, which burned in
Major,Brandrum; "all will go well. Let us the court as in a vast furnace; and gradually
carry him to some place of shelter," he added, the lambent flames burst forth from the casein a whisper, to Reginald; "he is going, poor ments, catching the frames, and licking the
fellow! In Heaven's name, where is Sir Theo- thick walls.  At length the roof of the main
dore.l See for him-see for him. I will at- building fell in with a tremendous crash. It
tend to Malcolm."                           seemed for an instant to deaden the conflagra" He is safe," said Colonel Lutwich.'I saw  tion, and nothing was seen but a thick mass of
him cross the end of the gallery just now, and  heavy smoke; the moment after the fire rereach the top of the stone stairs. His black- gained its ascendency, and a tall column of
guard, Hargrave, was with him."            flame rose like a burning steeple into the sky.
Placing the sick officer on one of the shut- The large board before the house, with its long
ters of the hall, Major Brandrum, Lisle, Lut- inscription, caught the fire, and was soon in a
wich, and one of the men, carried him across blaze; and the iron crane on which swung the
to the house of an apothecary on the opposite  great sign became red hot. The wood-work
side of the street, where a number of the wom- below took light, and the broad sheet of painted
en had already taken refuge; and, in the mean  canvas, bearing the black bull as large as life




48                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; O.R,
on both sides, crackled, shriveled, burst into a I ever knew-for he was benevolent -in small
flame, and fell thundering into the road, scat- things as well as great-could never hear of
tering a group of urchins who had collected  an execution. or a prize-fight, which is still
somewhat too near.                           worse, without going to see it. Yet he would
" There goes the black bully," cried one boy  admit the horror and the cruelty of the thing,
aloud, with all the delight that young and un- and, like a wise man, never attempted to acchastised human nature takes in mischief of  count for his own conduct on such occasions,
any kind..                                  merely saying that he acted upon an impulse
"There goes the black bill, indeed!" said  which hecould not resist.
the melancholy landlord, in a very different   The middle-aged gentleman whom  I have
tone; 1"andthere will never be another Black  mentioned was not fond of big bonfires of any
Bull here as long as Dunstable is Dunstable."  kind; and as soon as he had done what he
Whether his vaticination was wrong or right, could to'render service, he turned his back gladI leave the reader who has traveled that way  ly on a spectacle that was painful to him, and
to decide; and'I only need add, that if there  entered the shop, which consisted of two sephas been another inn of the same name in  arate rooms. In the first he found no one; for
Dunstable since, or if there be one there now, some of those who had sought refuge there had
it certainly is not the same Black Bull which  been taken up stairs, and some had gone to
I have: described in the tenth chapter of this other places of shelter. In the back shop, howtrue history; for, ere the light of morning had  ever, which was called the surgery, he heard
shone for more than one hour upon the sad  voices, and as the glass-door was ajar, he pushthough busy scene presented by the streets of ed it open and went in.
the little town, nothing remained of that build-   The pale morning light was streaming in
ing but a part of the four external walls, with  from a window at the back, upon a group of
the blackened and vacant windows gaping like  eight persons disposed close together in the
the mouths of dead men upon a field of battle. midst of the little chamber. A chair stood in
It was for this reason, and inasmuch as noth- the center, supporting the emaciated form of
aing in. this book is written without a reason, poor Captain Malcolm, with his face as pale as
that I averred no one could remember the.marble, and his head leaning back upon the
Black Bull inn which I was describing, unless arm of an elderly woman of the middle class.
he had lived, and memory had lived with him, At his feet kneeled his daughter, with her eyes
some seventy-two years; and now I will turn  fixed earnestly, immovably upon his counteto show what were the'consequences of the nance, her head bent forward in her eagerness,
events of that night to the various characters, and her hands upon his knees. On one side of
for whom,,I trust, I have created some degree the poor officer stood Major Brandium, holding
of interest.                                his hand; and on the other was the apothecary, supporting his shoulders with one arm,
while he applied a bottle of hartshorn to his
nostrils. By the side of Kate was Reginald
CHAPTER XV.                   Lisle, with his hand stretched out toward her
shoulder, as if about to draw her gently away;
I DAVE mentioned a middle-aged gentleman, and on the other was Lutwich, gazing down at
of distinguished appearance, who busied him- her with that expression of tender pity which
self in searching for any persons who might his changeful countenance. could sometimes ashave been left in the many bed-rooms of the  sume; and behind the apothecary stood his asinn, in that state of slumber which was likely  sistant, With a glass in his hand, the contents
to precede one still more profound, unless some  of which he stisred diligently from time to time.
means were taken to rouse them. He did     "It's of no use," said the master of the house,
much, also, to rescue a considerable part, at turning his head toward the man: "you can't
least, ofthe travelers' baggage from the flames, put it down. He could not swallow it."
and by his wise precautions prevented more    Kate gave him a look of terror and inquiry.
plunder than actually took place. When that " Ah, my poor young lady," he said, with some
was done,-however, and he saw that the efforts feeling, "' it is what we must all come to —you
of the people were directed aright to stop the had better take her away up stairs. My wife
progress of the fire toward other houses, he is there with the ladies."
quietly turned upon his heel and approached    "Oh no, no, no!" cried Kate, starting up,
the shop of the apothecary, to whose house he and' casting herself upon her father's bosom.
had previously conveyed two ladies, one of his "Not while there is life! not while there is
own age and the other younger.              life!" and she burst into a violent passion of
There be people who enjoy the sight of big tears.
bonfires, whoever may suffer by them-who    Her sudden movement seemed to rouse' the
find pleasure in that sort of excitement which  dying man from the cold lethargic doze into
is found in any grand or unusual act of de- which he had'fallen. He opened his eyes, and
struction, just as some are fond of seeing a fel- there'was light in them: they fixed upon her
low-creature hanged, or as I myself am fond  for a moment with a look of intense love, then
of watching a thunder-storm. I blame them  wandered round'to Major Brandrum. He pressnot, for in them, probably, the sense of the sub- ed his old comrade's hand with the feeble,
lime is superior to that of the benevolent. 1  clammy fingers of the dying, and the good old
suppose that is the only method of accounting  officer put his left upon the poor girl's head,
for such tastes; and yet, what can be account- saying, in a loud tone, as if he thought the ear
ed for in that most unaccountable being — man'  he addressed must have become dull, "HenceOne of the most truly benevolent persons that forth, Malcolm, she is my child."




LAUREL WATER.                                      49
The words were hardly uttered when the    Hardly had they passed the threshold, when
poor father swayed for a moment on his chair, a servant came in from the street, exclaiming,
and then,- without a sigh, his head fell forward  " Sir Charles, your honor had better come and'
on his daughter's neck. He was a corpse.-   see. to the things, for every body is insisting
Lutwich turned round to one who had enter- upon helping themselves to their own; and the
ed the room the moment after the gentleman constable says they can not lie there, for the
I have mentioned, and said, in a whisper, lay- coach from town will be down in a minute or
ing his hand upon the arm of Sir Theodore two..They've smashed one of the windows of.
Broughton,' Look there! You would have the carriage, too, in getting it out of the yard.
wronged her!"                              I am sure it was Mildew, the coachman's fault,
His-face was very stern; but the eyes of the for he was in such a fright he did not know
young baronet were fixed -upon the weeping what he was doing. But the pokemantles is
child and the dead father, and he saw nothing the things just now; for I shouldn't wonder
else.                                       an' half of them were gone before you can get
Reginald Lisle stooped down, and gently, there."
tenderly, raised poor Kate Malcolm; and she,:   This elegant oration was powerfully secondunconscious of what she did, suffered him to. ed by a loud and authoritative voice exclaiming
support her in hisarms, and, turning her head, in the road, apparently with much ire, " Sir
pressed her streaming eyes and forehead on his Charles this, and Sir Charles that, and Sir Theshoulder.                                   odore the other! I don't care a button for Sir
" Stay a moment," said the gentleman who Anything Anybody. I say thethings sha'n't be'had entered just before Sir Theodore, address- there. It's bad enough to have a house burned
ing Major Brandrum, who was advancing to- down in the place, not to say the road. blocked
ward the child he had just adopted; "I will up with lumber."
bring Lady Chevenix to comfort her. Let this   Sir Charles Chevenix instantly issued forth,
poor girl be with her for a short time. She followed by all the rest of the party; and-as
shall be safely restored to you shiortly."  so frequently happens on this earth' a scene
",Wo'uld to God she were wit'h her altogeth- of wordly business and scramble succeeded
er!" said Major Brandrum, in his frank way. quick upon the dark footsteps of death and sor-'" To be solely under the care of an old soldier, row. Each man sought his own amid the pile
without a shred of a petticoat among any of of infinitely varied articles which had been colhis kith or kin, is both dangerous and disagree- lected in the road, at a little distance from the
able; and not the less disagreeable because it inn, and Master Zachary Hargrave was wellis dangerous, nor the less dangerous because nigh engaged in personal conflict with a smartit is disagreeable.                         looking groom, who acknowledged the sway of
But, almost before this speech had commenc- Colonel Lutwich, in regard to a trunk-mail,
ed, Sir Charles Chevenix had turned away. which, after all, turned out to be the property
He paused an instant, indeed, by Reginald Lisle, of Sir Charles Chevenix.
holding out his hand frankly, and saying, " Cap-   The latter gentleman, casting off all thought
tain Lisle, I am glad to see you, and to see you, of the darker things just past, looked on, amusas ever, acting the part of a fine English soldier. ed at the scene of confusion that was going
I must find you out in London; for, gadsooks! on, pointed out from time to time some article
I shall not have time to thank you half enough of his own, exclaiming, in a jocular tone, " That
now for some late passages. I will bring a lady saddle-bag is mine, if any gentleman has a mind
who'knows how to be kind to the orphan, and to it. When you have carried off that portwe will do our best to console her."        manteau, my good friend, will you tell me where
Thus saying, he quitted the room, and return- you put it, for I shall want a pair of breeches
ed in a few moments with Lady Chevenix, who out of it to-night? You will find the razors in
gazed round inquiringly, turned a little pale as that case, excellent sir; they were made exher eyes fell upon the dead body of poor Cap- pressly for my stiff beard, by Webb. Look at
tain Malcolm, passed Reginald with a cold bow  that man, Lisle; would you not swear that
of recognition, and then, with her face assum- roquelaure was his own by his affection for it?
ing a more kindly and beaming expression, ad- Sir, Iwill thank you for my cloak; I find it
vanced to the chair in which Kate was now  cold after the cooking I have had in that great'
seated.                                     oven. In the name of Heaven, Mildew, get
4, Come with. me, my poor child!" she said, the horses to the coach, if they be in life, for
in a low and gentle tone. "You are among if I do not make haste away, some one will
friends, who, though new ones, will prove good steal myself."
ones. This is the hand of God, my child, and    " Please your honor, Sir Charles, I have neiyou must bow before it."                    ther coat nor hat," answered the man.
" His hand has pressed me sore," murmured." Then drive in your waistcoat and wig," reKate;," but His will be done!" and, rising slow- plied his master. " Now, Lisle, where shall I
ly, she took a step toward the door-paused-  find you in London? We will deliver your pretgazed round at the figure of her parent, as he ty little sorrowful friend safely there, when Lady
sat with the head now raised and leaning against Chevenix has comforted her a little; but, by
one of the wings of the arm-chair; and then a my honor! she shall pass a day or two with us
shudder passed over her. The next moment, at my old friend Jarvis's, where we are now
however, she walked rapidly toward him, knelt, going; and as he has as kind a heart as ever
and pressed her lips on his cold hand. She beat in an old bachelor's bosom, I should not
murmured a few words too, but nobody heard wonder if he fell in love with her, and tried to
their import; and then, rising, she followed cut you out."
Lady Chevenix out of the room.                "You are mistaken entirely, Sir Charles,"
D




50                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
replied Lisle, who was not at all willing to ac- osity might not be a good excuse- for asking.
quire the reputation of a lover of Kate Mal-. I trust that esteem and respect' may prove a
colm's. "' I have no feeling toward the young  better apology."
lady but those of compassion for undeserved    "None is necessary, Sir Charles," replied
sorrow."                                    the old officer, in the same tone; "in war we
" Pooh, pooh!" replied the baronet; "no mis- hold it only a fair battle when the parties are
take at all. But where shall we bring her 1 tolerably equal. I have apoadvantage over you.
Nay, the'best way is, come and fetch her. All the world knoAs ewho and what Sir Charles
You will find us in Grosvenor Square. Who  Chevenix is, and I know you to be Sir Charles
is that young fellow lookingso black?" he con- Chevenix. It is but fair that you should be
tinued, in a familiar whisper; but, before Reg- aware of who I am, though perhaps you may
inald could explain that it was Sir Theodore  be little the wiser when I tell you that I am
Broughton, Major Brandrum joined in the con- called, in one hemisphere,'The Ravenous
versation, saying, " Sir Charles Chevenix, you  Crow,' and in the other-"
are a rattle..So am I; but we always, or at   "Major Brandrum," cried the baronet; "that
least often, jump at conclusions which are is title to respect enough."
wrong. Miss Malcolm falls to my lot to protect
as a father, so soon as she quits the care of.
Lady Chevenix. I am an old comrade of her
dead parent's, have promised him to be.a sec-             CHAPTER XVI.
ond father to her, and God willing, will be sa
I will have the honor of waiting upon you in    A VERY celebr'ted author, who.lived near
Grosvenor Square as soon as I have ascertain- the times of which I write, has given the foled where I can place the dear child in honor lowing warning to his reader, which is a hint
and security."                              required every day by readers in the present
Sir Charles took his hand and shook it wari- age as well as in his. "First, then," says Henry
ly, saying, " I shall be delighted to see you, and Fielding, Esq., in the tenth book of his most
Lisle too. I was only joking, as you may sup- celebrated work, " we warn thee not too hastily
pose. It is a sad subject to joke upon, indeed;' to condemn any of the incidents in this our
but the habit is bad and inveterate. When this *history as unimportant and foreign to our main
lad here hit me-in the hip, I made the surgeon  design, because thou dost not immediately conlaugh who was probing the wound by asking ceive in what manner such incident may con-him if I should ever be able to dance the minuet dUce to that design." He then goes on to speak
de la cour again. Well, I shall expect you;' of his own work in terms of commendation,
and, in the mean time, rest satisfied that Lady  and of the critics in terms of disparagement,
Chevenix, who is- the best of women, will do which no human being who has not the courage
all for your young prot6g6e that motherly kind- of an old Roman, or the fortitude of a martyr,
ness can do. I will not ask you up to the room  would venture to do in Anno Domini 1848.
where the ladies are, for, upon my life! I be- I-leaven have mercy upon the poor man who
lieve my wife has got no stays, and my daugh- would even'dream  of such a thing!  Not a
ter got no stockings."                      baker's cur with a tin kettle tied to his tail
" Who does this pack belong to?" cried a would be so hooted, pelted, kicked, beaten, and
voice near. " Captain Malcolm, 19th regiment. pursued as he would be.
Where is Captain Malcolm."                    The Hebrew sage declared there was nothing
"In heaven," answered Major Brandrum, new under the sun; but since his days, and
gravely; " but whatever part of his property is even since the days'of the English sage whom
found belongs to his daughter, at present under I have mentioned, a new thing has arisen, and
the charge of Sir Charles Chevenix."        that a mighty and ever-increasing power.
"'Bring it in here, Stevens," cried the baron-   The daily and weekly press, the mightiest
et; " and do help that fool Mildew, and the' engine for good or evil that ever was invented
greater fool Thomas, to put the horses to. We by the prolific brain of man, possesses-neither
shall never reach our journey's end before din- unreasonably nor unjustly do I mean to sayner-time. Good-by for the present, gentlemen  an amount of power'which any individual might
both.  I trust our next merry meeting may as well attempt to contend with as an infant
not have so warm  a commencement, and, pray to stop a locomotive with a straw. A power,
Heaven'! not such a sad conclusion as this has I say, has risen up —an absolute power-over
had."                                       which there -is no control, but in which there
He was turning away toward the house of is no unity: a pure democracy of mind, the
the apothecary, when, suddenly appearing to only counteracting influence is within itself, ]or
have forgotten something, he came back- it'has all the vices and the virtues of a democranearly run over on the way by two splendid  cy. Let those who have elected themselves to
horses brought up by Lutwich's servant-and  authority, alone-let them write their articles,
said, addressing Major Brandrum, in a highly silly or wise, as senators and deputies make
courteous and graceful tone, "There is one their speeches, foolish or profound, as the case'thing escaped my memory, sir. When I see a may be, and you have at least a chance that
gentleman, especially when he belongs to the the variety of opinions will elicit truth'and
same profession as myself, whose conduct and award justice ini the end-unless some presidemeanor does honor to his heart, his head, his (lent puts his veto against it. But if you attack
-position, and our common nature, I am always the institution, refuse the judgment, impugn the
anxious to write his name on my remembrance, motives, or deny the authority, you commit
to be kept among the few precious recollections high treason at once, and will be executed acof a life. Of yours I am still ignorant.  Curi- cordingly.  All will be against you, for you




LAUREL WATER.                                    51
assail that which it is the interest of all to up- after the toils and dangers they had encounhold.                                      tered, they proposed to enjoy themselves onI will therefore abstain from following Field- their way back to London. In fact, the bailiff
ing any further. I will not, with him, call the  and his man, who had served a writ upon
critics reptiles, for there are some who soar as Major Brandrum the night before, and received
well as some who creep; but, pursuing the  payment of their claim in full, were in a very
even tenor of my way, will only humbly and  comfortable frame of mind, and laughed more
with bated breath' beseech the reader, and es- than once at the folly of that officer in satisfypecially the critic, to believe that there is an  ing their demands.
object in every page Iv write, that there is a   Merrily went they through Markyate-street,
link of connection between one incident and  and at Redburn they stopped to bait both the
another, and that, if he has not perceived it horses'and themselves. They took a cheerful
when he gets to the end of the book, he had glass; they gave the post-boy another; they rebetter turn back again, for he may depend upon  mained even longer than he thought necessary;
it he has skipped it.                      and it was two o'clock when they crossed the
Now skipping, which is undoubtedly a mortal little River Colne, on their way to St. Alban's.
sin in a reader, is not only a mere venial one  At the latter place they were doomed to change
in a writer, but often a commendable virtue; horses, and they doomed themselves to dine;
for wherefore, on any occasion, should I detain  but the landlord made them wait long, preparthe reader or myself, more especially at pres- ing for such reverend guests; and they proent, to tell who went on horseback, who went longed the meal and the bottle till he was in
on foot, who rolled with one pair and a post- hopes, of keeping them through the night.
chaise, who traveled with four horses in a coach,   The sheriff's officer, however, at length obwho took the stage, or who were taken by the  served that it was growing dark, and spoke of
wagon! Suffice it that-though the road before  a chaise on; but the host, who was in the room,
the inn which had been burned down could not commended some exceedingly choice old port,
be said to be clear of idlers and spectators such as was to be found nowhere but at the
during the whole of the day-all who had been  Woolpack at St. Alban's, and his soft seducaccidental tenants of the building on the night tions proved overpowering to men who had
of the conflagration, were gone on their several drunk quite enough already. A bottle was-orroads before twelve o'clock. The landlord and  dered, and the landlord invited to take a glass
landlady were left alone to bewail the destruc- himself; but though, to do him bare justice, he
tion of their property, and waiters, chamber- very considerately prevented them from drinkma'ids, ostlers, and all the race of boots to grieve ing more than half the bottle between them, by
that Othello's occupation and their own were drinking the other half himself, yet the quantum
gone.                                     left for each,was quite sufficient to unsettle
Among others, two veryjovial persons jogged  any little' brains they had left.
on together toward London in a yellow post-   A consciousness of there being such a thing
chaise, with a pair of horses from the defunct as to-morrow, however, made the bailiff insist
Bull. The post-boy drove slowly, for he was upon his bill and a chaise; and at length, he
both mournful and meditative.  He thought and his, substitute,'who was, moreover, his
over the snug stable at Dunstable, of the snug  cousin, entered the crazy vehicle, each displaylittle room over the skable, and the three-cor- ing his character and condition in his own
nered bit of broken looking-glass at which he peculiar way, the principal singing a ribald
and Jim used to shave by turns; and when he song, of which the words were very indistinct,
remembered that he should never see them  and the inferior falling asleep in his corner,, and'
more, the next bump upon the posting saddle  snoring most potently.
produced a sigh of unusual depth and magni-   Everyreader is supposed to know every thing
tude. Though the horses had all been saved, in the world except the tale lie is perusing, which
that was a poor compensation for a pair of he ought to be unacquainted with, otherwise
leather breeches which had been curled up into  there would be very little use of reading it;
a cinder by the fire;' for the horses were his but perhaps he may have forgotten that a wellmaster's,.the leather breeches were his own. known hill, called Ridge Hill, lying between
Then he revolved in his sagacious head the  Colney Bridge and South Mims, a little to the
chances as to whether Mr. Spinner would set northwest of Barnet, was once a hill indeed.
up again and keep on the posting business; and  It has of late years been pared, and scooped,
if he did not, how he himself was to earn' his and avoided, till it hardly deserves the name
daily bread.                               of a hill, and still less of ridge;. but then-that
In the mean time, not to proceed further with  is to say, at the time I write of —from the bridge
his slow meditations, in which his horses over the small River Colne to the top of the
seemed to sympathize, let us turn to the two  ridge, wa-s a long and steep ascent, which took
gentlemen within the chaise, who cared little  away the breath of many a well-winded horse,
about going quick, for they were in that happy  and which had a terrible effect upon the two
frame of mind which made their journey a sorry jades-that were drawing chaise, bailiffs,
pleasant expedition. They had attained their and wine up the hill., On either side of this
object when there was every chance of failure.'ascent were scattered woods, with an open
They had escaped cudgeling when there was space guarded by park paling here and there,
the greatest probability of their being made and one or two narrow roads leading to the
acquainted with crab-tree.  Their expenses seats of lords and commoners, thickly sprinkled
were to be paid; they were to have a hand- over that part of the country. In short, it was
some bonus if they recovered, as they had re- rather a cut-throat looking hill.covered, an unjust and usurious debt; and,   Moreover, had the bailiff and his follower not




52                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
been blind with wine, they would have seen  a shot. Your purse first," and he suddenly
that the post-boy who drove had a face not turned the' light of a dark lantern full into the
commended by physiognomists.  I have called  carriage.
him  a post-boy, out of compliment to an old    With trembling hands the bailiff drew a dirty
dictionary I have, which defines the word pos- leathern purse from his pocket, containing some
tillion, "one who rides the first coach-horse  five or six guineas, and gave it to this unpleasof four;" but boy he was not, in the usual ac- ant custos of the road. But the -next instant
ceptation of the word, being three years on the  he heard the lock of the pistol click, and the
century side of fifty. He had gone through the  same voice said, " That won't do! In a word,
world hitherto with an uncommonly low fore- will you deliver or not. Hand out that bagbehead, a wide mouth, a swivel eye, as it is some- tween youcand the other fellow. Hell and fury!
times termed, and a crooked nose, sqmewhat If you keep me one minute longer, I will blow
oblique in its direction. How it happened, no  your brains out!" and, stretching his arm into
one could tell; but he was particularly ob- the carriage, he pressed the muzzle of the pisnoxious to highwaymen, for he had himself  tol to the unhappy bailiff's head, sending a cold
recorded seven different occasions on which  shudder over his whole frame. The bag was
he had been stopped, four on which he had been  instantly drawn from the side of the sleeping
fired at, and-one on which a bullet had passed  imnan, who merely grunted in swinish unconthrough his hat; so that, from a curious asso- sciousness of ll that was taking place, and,
ciation of ideas, his friends and companions being delivered into the hands of the-highwaycalled-him Hangingwood Billy.               man, was instantly examined by him with a
Notwithstanding all these' seven adventures  very careful scrutiny. "When he had' satisfied
on the highway, he was destined to go through  himself that the contents were of gold, he gave
-an eighth. Hardly had he commenced the as- a low laugh, saying, " That will do, Master Bailcent, coming over the bridge at a quick trot to  iff; and, as you may want to know what is the
give the horses the advantage of an impetus, exact hour at which you delivered this little
when a mounted cavalier passed him at an easy  sum into my custody, I will spare your watch.
canter, saying " Good-night" as he went by.   I have not time to give you a formal receipt;
Bill spurred his horses a little faster, and  but I dare say we shall meet again some night,
then, of necessity, relaxed his pace. The bail- and if I find you have been too exact in your
iff was still singing, his cousin was still snoring. description, I will then afford you a discharge
Slowly the panting horses pulled up the hill, in full which will settle all accounts between
and when they reached the first little turn. Bill us. Hark you, post-boy! keep a quiet tongue
pulled up, dismounted, and put a large stone  in your head, for I am apt to deal roughly with
under the hind wheel.                       talkative persons, and my ears reach to St. Al"Go on, boy!" cried'the bailiff, letting down  ban's. Now drive on, and no chattering at
the window.'                  Barnet."
" Bless your honor, the horses must get wind,"    Thus saying, he forced his horse back; the
replied Billy; and there he pertinaciously stood  man who held the reins withdrew; and Hangfor at least five minutes. At the end of that ingwood Billy, striking his spurs into his beartime, however, he slowly swung himself up  er's sides, while he laid his whip smartly over
into the saddle again, and laid his whip quickly  the shoulder of the other horse, produced someover the off horse's neck. The chaise and its thing like a trot, while the bailiff punched the
contents were dragged at the same heavy pace  sides of his unfortunate kindred follower, and
some four or five hundred yards further, just abused him as violently as if he had stolen the
up to a spot where a small road ran in between  money.
plantations to the right, and another to the left-;   It is wonderful how courage returns in the
and as the ground was there somewhat more  absence of danger. Notwithstanding the warnlevel, the post-boy either did, or affected to  ing he had received and the' terror he had uncommence driving faster. But that' very next dergone, the bailiff had not,.been rattled along
instant the dreaded word " Stop!" sounded  more than half a mile on the road ere he reboth in his ears and that of the unhappy bailiff, solved immediately to raise the country in purand a man on foot, with a pistol in. his hand, suit of the man who had robbed him, and more
seized the heads of the horses, while another on  than once he put out his head, ordering the
horseback rode up to the window of the chaise. post-boy to make more haste, and swearing at
He seemed an exceedingly broad-made man, him in a very heathenish manner for his tardiin a large, white horseman's coat, and was ness. Barnet was still some miles off, howmounted on a powerful black horse.           ever, and a full hour passed ere the chaise drew
"Sorry to interrupt you, gentlemen  and  up'at the door of the house corresponding with
radies," he said, in a deep bass voice; " but you  the. Woolpack at St. Alban's.
see there are highwaymen on the road between    "Horses on, your honor!?" asked the postBarnet and St. Alban's, so you had better hand  boy, in the coolest possible tone; but the bailover to me your money, watches, rings, and  iff replied, "No: d-n you, open the door;"
trinkets for protection."                   and, descending, he soon engaged the atten"I declare I have nothing to lose," cried  tion of landlord, landlady, waiter, ostler, and
the bailiff, restored to a great portion of his chamber-maid to a full and particular account
sobriety by fright; "I am  a poor sheriff's of thee rape of the linbn bag, ending with a deofficer, who have been hunting for a fellow  mand for the address of the nearest magistrate.
down at Dunstable, who has given us the slip    " Why, Mr. Mansell is a magistrate," replied
completely."'         the host, contemplatively; "but then, you see,
" Come, come! quick's the word, Master sir, he is away in the North; and the nearest
Bailiff," replied the man; "hand over, or take  is Sir Harry Jarvis,; but he lives two miles off,
on the Hertford road."




LAUREL WATER.                                      53
" Never mind, I will go to him directly,"  which 1 usually travel, in tha thorrible fire at
cried the bailiff; and out he rushed, intending  Dunstable. As I was telling you, Sir Harry,"
to spring into the chaise again, and proceed at he continued, turning to the justice, "' the man
once upon his errand. By this time, however, who caught my horse's head was a tall, rawthe chaise was standing abandoned in the court- boned fellow on foot; but I was preparing to
yard, with the horses out, and the bailiff's fol- knock him down with the butt end of my whip
lower, with a bundle in his hand, was balancing  and ride over him, when another scoundrel,
himself disconsolately upon his unsteady heels  mounted, rode up, and, presenting his pistol,at the inn door. Another chaise had to be or- ordered me, in the usual form, to stand and
dered, the post-boy of the last had to be paid, deliver. The latter was a very stout, broadwhich was ef'ected out of the pocket of the fol- built, powerful man, in a white horseman's
lower,'and twenty minutes elapsed ere the in- coat —"
jured officer was upon his way to the house of    " That's he! that's he to a tee!" cried the
the justice. The cousin was left behind to  bailiff; "with a black beard."
await his return; and, running along more    "I did not remark his beard," answered Collightly than in the preceding vehicle, our friend  onel Lutwich, "for it was very dark; but the
soon passed the gates of wvat seemed a hand- general appearance of the man I saw quite well.
some park, and rolled up to the door of a large, As one had got hold of my horse's head, and
old-fashioned house, before which two horses  the other had a pistol to my breast, while I had
were standing, with a groom in livery holding  no arms but my whip, and my servant's courthem.                                       age was not much to be trusted, I made no
To his inquiry for the magistrate, the servant resistance, but delivered over my watch and
who opened the door replied that Sir Harry had  money. There was not much in my purse, incompany with him, and, moreover, was engaged  deed, and the scoundrel seemed dissatisfi'ed;
with a gentleman upon business.             but just then the sound of carriage wheels com"I am upon business too," answered the  ing up the hill seemed to scare him, and he let
bailiff, " and very important business. I come  me go."
to your master as a magistrate, and I must see    " Scare him! devil a bit!' cried the bailiff;
him. I have been robbed, sir, and nearly mur- " he only let you go that he might rob me more
dered."-                                     quietly. Now, sir, let me make my charge;"
"' John, tell Sir Harry," said the first over his and he proceeded to relate all that had occurshoulder to a second servant who stood behind; red to him on the hill with less exaggeration
and, after waiting a minute or two, the sher- than might have been expected, for he well
iff's officer was conducted to a small, well-fur- knew, from his professional habits, the neces-'
nished room, where, at a table near the fire, sity of accurate description where any person
sat an elderly gentleman, very well dressed and  was an object of pursuit.
powdered. But by his side, with his hat in his   "And now, gentlemen both, wit do you exhand, and his riding-whip lying on the table, ap- pect me to do 1" asked Sir Harry Jarvis, after
peared no other than Colonel Lutwich.       taking a few notes; a question which seemed
somewhat to puzzle both the applicants, for
they remained silent for a moment or two, and
at length the bailiff replied, " Why, raise the
CHAPTER XVII.                  hue and cry, and try to catch him."
" What, at eight miles' distance!" exclaimed
"'WELL, sir," said Sir Harry Jarvls, some- the magistrate; "no, no, my good friend, that
what impatient-less, perhaps, with the man's  would be a very ridiculous proceeding. I am
silent stare at his companion than with his gen- not fond of being made a laughing-stock. I will
eral appearance, which was of a kind and char- grant a warrant, if you like; but as to sending
acter which the worthy justice did not altogeth- people at this time of night to catch a man who
er like —" well, sir, what is your important.busi-  robbed you, nearly two hours ago, at Ridge
ness with me?"                             Hill, and is now probably supping at Hertford
" Why, please your worship, I have been  or in London, that is out of the question."
robbed," replied the bailiff, "upon the king's    "For my part,"- said Colonel Lutwich, "I
highway-robbed of all the money I received  would not propose such a thing; but I thought
only last night, in satisfaction of a writ ca. sa., it my duty, Sir Harry, to give notice to the nearwith costs and expenses."                   est magistrate, in order that the road where I
"Well, my good friend, you are not the only  was stopped may be strictly watched; for, as
one who has been robbed," answered the bar- we are all aware, highwaymen have their faonet; "this gentleman is in the same plight, vorite haunts, and no robbery comes single. I
and has come to complain, perhaps, of the same  must now ride on to London, though my horses
person."                                    are very tired; for, in the first place, I have
"Lord a' mercy, colonel! have they robbed  not a stiver of my own left in my pocket to pay
you." cried the officer, with very peculiar em- an inn bill, and, in the next place, I am anxphasis; "well, I'll tell you how they served  ious to see a young lady for whose sorrows I
me."                                        entertain the most sincere sympathy, and a
"As your case can not be more pressing than  part of whose property I became accidentally
my own, my good sir," said Colonel Lutwich, possessed of in searching formy own during
in a somewhat foppish tone, "I will beg to  the fire at Dunstable."
proceed with mine (having precedence, at all   " Stay one moment, colonel,, stay one moevents, in point of time), first informing you  ment," said Sir Harry Jarvis, as Lutwich rose;
that they should not have robbed me, had I not "I will speak further with you in a moment.
previously been deprived of the weapons with  Now, my goad sir,;do you wish for a warrant.




54                   SIR jTHEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
If so, we must have a more formal informa- most altogether, waiting for the pleasure of
tion."                                      your friend the Marquis of Granby, Sir Charles,'Oh, warrants be,hanged!" replied the bail- and had only got as far as Dunstable on my.
iff, rudely; "I can get a warrant in London.  way to Wales, when I am driven back to re:,and them as knows how to execute it, which I plenish my wardrobe by this fire.".
dare say they don't down here. The hue and    "I should think the tailors will not complain
cry is the only thing, but that I am not to get, so loudly," replied Sir Charles Chevenix, lookit seems."                                  ing with a smile at the rich dress which Colonel
"Not by my authority," answered the jus- Lutwich did not abstain from  soiling on the
tice, gravely, " and therefore, if you have no road.  "I now remember, colonel, having had
further business, you'can retire. Now, colo- the pleasure of seeing you once at Lord Grannel, let me hear a little more of this business by's house."
at Dunstable."  Of the latter part of this reply Colonel LutThe bailiff took his departure, twisting his wich took no notice. The recognition was
hat, round and round in his hand, and mut- enough for his purpose-for he, as well as othtering to himself, " Colonel! my eye!" and, in er men, had a purpose-and he wisely let it
the mean time, the gentleman on whom  he rest; but, remarking the smile, and the glance
bestowed such contemptuous comments pro- at the gold lace upon his frock, he answered,
ceeded with the tale of Kate Malcolm's be- with a laugh, "My poverty, and not my will,
reavement, which he related in a gracefill and consents, Sir Charles. This is the suit I wore
touching manner, and then added, " In search- last night, and I had time to save little else.
ing through the rooms, I found, accidentally, a These ladies were, I see, more fortunate. I
handkerchief belonging to this poor young la- trust Miss Chevenix was not much alarmed,
dy, with twelve guineas wrapped in one corner though such an event may well shake a stout
of it, and a letter by which I discovered who heart."
was the owner. I could not discover where    "I was less frightened than I could have supshe was, after I had lost sight of her at the posed possible," replied Mary Chevenix.  "I
apothecary's, till- she had set out for London fe-ar, however, that it was not courage, for I was
with the family of Lady Chevenix; and I now  so taken by surprise that I was hardly aware of'
wish to overtake them and restore her proper- all that had occurred till I was out of the house
ty, as I do not know whether they make any and safe. It would have been unnecessary to
stay in the metropolis."                    be afraid then."
"I can save you a journey to-night, colonel,"   "Perfectly," answered Lutwich; "but I will
replied Sir Harry Jarvis, " and shall be delight- hardly lay claim to so much courage as that.
ed if you will be my guest till to-morrow. The I am not very easily frightened in general; but
poor girl is even now a tenant of my dwelling, on this occasion, what between the suddenness
as well as Clhtrles Chevenix, who is here with of the thing, and the danger, and the thought
his family. If you will follow me to the with- of so many human beings likely to perish in a
drawing-room, I will introduce you to the whole moment, I lost my presence of mind for the
party. Miss Malcolm, indeed, is in a little room  first few minutes, ran out and rang the great
up stairs,.as her severe loss makes society pain- bell quite undressed,. and only returned to my
ful to her at present, but we trust to win her own room  to gather together some clothing,
forth soon; and, in the mean time, I doubt not when the cold air had at once restored my
she will see you, in order to receive her prop- senses and taught me that I needed covering."
erty."                                        " We have all to thank you much for ringing
Colonel Lutwich made some excuses in re- that bell so promptly," replied Sir Chalrles; "for,
gard to joining the larger party in the drawing-'had it not been for that, these ladies would have
room, pointing to the dusty state of his appar- had to go forth and brave the night air much in
el; but the old gentleman pressed his point, the same costume as that in which you first enand, without any great resistance, his visitor countered it. As it was, colonel, I had timely
suffered himself to be persuaded, stating, how- warning, and stood at the door watching the
ever, that he must nevertheless go on to Lon- prigress of the fire, while Lady Chevenix and
don that night, as soon as he had executed his Mary learned for the first time what it was to
task to Miss Malcolm.                       dress in a hurry."
With an easy, self-confident, but graceful air,   "I am sure, my dear Charles, I am never
he followed the baronet across the hall to a very long," replied Lady Chevenix; "and you,
very large and handsome room, in which Sir would not be well pleased, on ordinary occaCharles Chevenix wa's seated with his family, sions, to see me, come down as I did this
and was there introduced to them separately. morning."'Lady Chevenix received him courteously, and   1" What, with a cotton petticoat over a silk
Sir Charles, who recognized him as one of the gown." exclaimed her gay husband, " and the
party at Dunstable, shook hands with him frank- pockets outside, as I well remember my poor
ly; but Mary Chevenix turned very pale, and mother. It is an ancient, respectable, and
gazed at him with a look of wonder and in- housewife-like dress, my dear, and only wantquiry. It was to her, however, he principally ed a large bunch of keys to be complete. Howaddressed his conversation, taking a seat by her ever, your maid took care of the keys, and the
side with the most unembarrassed air, and talk- trunks too, or you would be rather bare of aping over the incidents of the fire.         parel even now. Doubtless she had an eye to
"It, is strangely unfortunate," he said, after future perquisites; but still we owe that wench
some observations, while Sir Harry Jarvis went a guinea or two for saving two or three hundto inform Miss Malcolm of his errand; " I have red, and she shall have them. I never saw a
been detained in London for the last month, al- cooler person in-an emergency: eveenwhen the




LAUREL WATER.                                     55
flame was'walking up the bed-posts, and we  siderate if I had sent you the few articles of
were all out on the staircase, she cried,' La! yours which I have in my possession by one of
my lady, you have left the essence bottle on your friends here, instead of asking an interview
the toilet table,' and was running back to fetch  to deliver them myself; but, believe me, I did
it-but here comes Jarvis. Well, Sir Harry, not at all wish to intrude upon you, nor would
bow is our pretty little orphan?"          have done so without a reason."
"She will be happy to see you, colonel," said    He paused for an instant after uttering these
Sir Harry, pausing at the door, " but you must words in a low and kindly tone, and Kate respeak to her very tenderly of her poor father, plied, "I did not know you had any thing of
for the very name brings the tears again, and  mine, sir. Sir Harry Jarvis merely said you
they have already flowed long and bitterly."    desired to speak with me on business."
" I will be cautious, and brief also," replied    " Hardly business," answered Lutwich: "in
Lutwich, in a tone of much feeling; -" I could  the midst of a scene which I am unwilling to
not be blind to that devoted love, Sir Harry, recall to your memory, I found, in one of the
which, centering all in one object, leaves the  rooms through which I searched, this handkerrest of the world like earth without a sun when  chief, and the sum which is tied up in it. Both
that object is taken from us. I have felt such  belong to you, I think."
things myself, and know how they affect us."  "They do," answered Kate, " and I am much
" Then you too were an orphan," said the old obliged to you for restoring them, sir."
man, gazing on him with fresh interest.       "Not at all," he replied: "pray see that the
"Left with my mother alone in adverse cir- amount is correct. Had that been all I found,
cumstances," replied Colonel Lutwich, "she, Miss Malcolm," he continued, when she had
after twenty years, became to me, what I had  counted the money, and bowed her head in tobeen to her in infancy-the only one. Her hap- ken that it was all there, "it would have hardpiness was my whole thought, sir; to please ly formed an excuse for asking to see you perher my sole endeavor; and, with all my faults, sonally, nor should I have known to whom it
which have been many; with all my cares, belonged; but I also perceived this letter adwhich have been not a few, I had this satisfac- dressed to you, and thought it might be as well
tion, to make her latter days pass peacefully, to place it in your own hands. I need not tell
and to lay her head in the grave with her bless- you that, as I am a man of honor, I have not
ing upon mine."                             looked at one word beyond the mere address."
There was an elevation in his look and tone    Kate took it with a faint smile, replying, "I
while he thus spoke which swept away pre- feel quite sure of that, Colonel Lutwich;  but
possession, and made the mere man of fashion, it would have mattered little if you had. There,
pleasure, and display assume a higher character take and read it now," she continued, from a
in the eyes of Sir Charles Chevenix and his feeling that he might think there was some
wife. But Lutwich did not pause to mark the  mystery, and connect it with the conduct of
impression he had created, and, moving toward  Sir Theodore Broughton toward her. " It has
the door, followed Sir Harry Jarvis up the large  afforded me one of the sad lessons I have had
old oaken stairs to a small room on the first floor, to learn very early, sir."
communicating apparently with a bed-room on    Lutwich took the letter, which bore a Yorkthe left.                                   shire postmark, and paused a moment, hesitatKate Malcolm was seated at a small table, ing whether he should or should n.ot read it;
with wax lights and several books upon it, in a but curiosity and much interest triumphed, and
plain dress very similar to that which she had  he opened it and ran his eyQ over a few lines
worn on her arrival at the inn at Dunstable. written inf a large hand-writing.  "I can make
It was somewhat better in quality, perhaps, for nothing of it, Miss Malcolm,-" he said, at length:
it was one which, reserved for extraordinary  "it seems a very formal and somewhat cold
occasions, had been packed up in the portman- epistle."
teau of her father, and saved from the fire, as   " Cold indeed," said Kate, casting down her
we have seen, by having been left in the wag- eyes in sad meditation; "cold indeed. That
on. Her face was sad, but calm, and her beau- gentleman, Mr. Eaton, is my first cousin-my
ty not the less striking under the expression of poor mother's nephew. Many. is the time, in
deep sorrow than it had been under that of the days when we were prosperous and he was
strong devotion. A faint blush came into her poor, that he has dined at my father's table; but
cheek as Colonel Lutwich entered, and she rec- when he became rich and we poor-"
ognized in'him the person who had first inter-   She paused, and seemed to struggle with risposed to deliver her from the importunities of  ing tears; and Lutwich kindly took her hand,
Sir Theodore Broughton.  But she'received  saying, " Do not distress yourself with-explanahim with more lady-like grace and self-posses- tions. I understand it all. It is one of the
sion than might have been expected from one  common things of this world. Nay, I do, indeed.
so young, and looked up to Sir Harry Jarvis He became cold and distant, or perhaps censowith a look almost of affection as be introduced  rious; blamed him'he had fed upon, or sought
her visitor; for there is something in genuine  subject of dispute, and broke off the connection,
kindness of heart which wins confidence al- as the world calls it."
nmost at once. But the old baronet merely said,   Kate bowed her head upon her hands and
" I shall leave you with Miss Malcolm, colonel, wept; but then, raising it again with a slight
and hope you will give me the opportunity, as touch of pride, she said, "But this is foolish
you come down, to press you to stay the night," and unworthy of me. The fact is, when, in
and then retiring, he closed the dloor.     dire distress, my beloved father was about to
" Perhaps, Miss Malcolm," said Lutwich, tak- set out to join his regiment-ill,. poor, and ining. a seat, "it might have seemed more con- deed dying —as a last resource,..when all else




56                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
failed, I'secretly wrote to this gentleman. He exclaimed her mother': "I thought him  exis nearly of the same age as my mother, and in ceedingly good-looking till-"
my infancy had often had me on his knees, and     Oh no, no!" answered Mary, whose cheek
called me his darling Kate-his little pet. I had grown a good deal redder than before; " I
asked nothing, but told him our fate and our meant the man who robbed us under the park
prospects.  That is the answer. I dared not paling;"
show it to my father, for he knew not that I had    " Good Heaven! you do not mean to say that
written; and now I grieve that I wrote at all." this is the same " cried her mother, turning
"That I would not do," replied Lutwich: pale.
"you did, in this as in all else, a duty to your   Her husband and Sir Harry Jarvis both laughparent. That is in itself a satisfaction; and ed, and Mary hastened to exclaim, "Oh no!
he who should grieve and feel shame is the So like, indeed, that at first I almost thought it
man who could write this letter;" and Lutwich  was he; but that was a fair man, and Colonel
struck it with the back of his hand. " He may Lutwich is dark. The other had light hairyet live to repent it, Miss Malcolm; for, in the almost sandy, it appeared, and blue eyes, I
strange turns of Fate, there are things more think; but this gentleman's hair is clearly black,
improbable than that he should sue and you and his eyes very dark."
should reject."                               " In pity, my dear Mary, do not let him knowt
" Oh no, I would not," exclaimed Kate. "He that you think him like a highwayman," exshould never find that I forgot he was my moth- claimed Sir Charles', still laughing.
er's nephew. But that is out of all probability.   "Or that you think him very handsome eiHe is now wealthy, and will be more so, I he- ther, my dear young lady," said Sir Harry Jarlieve, for he is related to some people of great vis: " that, in my mind, might be the more
riches, of whom he is the heir. I have never dangerous of the two."
seen any of them, but I have heard so, and be-   " I think I have heard he is a very good offilieve it."                                  cer," continued Sir Charles, while Mary color" Eaton!" said Lutwich, in a thoughtful tone; ed again.  " I know I saw him once at Lord
"Eaton! Well, I will inquire; but he sure, Granby's. He is a fop, that is evident; but I
Miss Malcolm, no good to himself will spring have known a man who took exceeding great'
of wealth so used. The vulgar have a proverb care of his person out of battle, expose it more
that evil conies of riches badly acquired, but I fearlessly than any one under fire."
think that tenfold evil must follow riches badly   Thle conversation had exhausted itself upon
employed. There is a curse upon them."      Colonel Lutwich, and taken another turn beKate did not reply, though his whole demean- fore he returned  but when he did make his
or and conversation pleased her; but Lutwich appearance again, Lady Chevenix gazed at him
seemed somewhat unwilling to end their con- somewhat steadfastly, and then looked to her
ference; and, after having paused a moment, daughter, saying something with a smile, and'
he spoke of Major Brandrumn, and extolled him  in a low tone.
highly to ears that were willing listeners. Next   " Very like, nevertheless, my dear mamma,"
he mentioned Reginald Lisle; and, as he did replied Mary, with no great caution, for the obso, his eye fixed upon the fair girl's cheek, but ject of her mother's observation was apparentnot the slightest change of color betrayed emo- ly busy conversing with Sir Harry Jarvis; but
tion.. That seemed to please him; and rising Colonel Lutwich had remarked Lady Chevenix
at length, he said, " And now, dear Miss Mal- gaze at hin, and caught her daughter's reply;
colm, I will takes my leave; but let me hope and with that sort of well-bred self-possession
that as Fate has brought us into many strange which carries many a man through a great
and some trying circumstances together, I may number of impudent things, he asked, with, a
claim the privilege of a friend, and say, that if smile, "Very like whom, Miss Chevenix?"
ever I can serve you in any way, you will not   Mary's cheek'burned at her own imprufind me as you have found this man. Although  dence; obut her father came to her aid, saying,
there seems, indeed, but small chance of such  " Oh, only a person she saw  once, and only
being the case, yet it may happen, and then try once."
me. Farewell."                                "Nay, but I must know," cried Lutwich,
He turned again to look at her as he closed laughing, and casting himself into the vacant
the door, and paused thoughtfully on the stairs chair by Mary's side. "I have a particular
ere he descended.                           reason for wishing to hear, which I will tell
In the mrneanl while, his manner and appear- you presently."
ance had been discussed in the room below, as   "Your reason first, Colonel TLutwich," repliusually happens upon such occasions. We all ed Miss Chevenix.  " I will explain my foolish
leave our characters behind us as well as Tea- remark afterward."
zle, and if they are not brought upon the car-   " My reaskn is a very'strong one," answered
pet by those whom we have just  uitted, it is the gentleman; "there is some one, in this
only when we are so well known that there is good world and this good country, very like
nothing new to be said.                     me. I never met any one who seemed so, to
"I think he is exceedingly handsome, and myself; but they-tell me the resemblance is
very distinguished in air and mnanner," said perfect in every thing but the hair and comLady Chevenix.                              plexion. Indeed, so strong is it, that it once
" I am glad to hear it, dear mamma," replied nearly cost me my life, and my reputation too.
Mary, with an arch smile, " for he is the very I have hunted him through half England, and
image of one whom I thought very handsome, some day or another I will find him."
and you pronounced hideous."                  " Then, perhaps," said Lady Chevenix, "Ma"You do not mean Captain Lisle, Mary!" ry's fancy is not so far wrong as I imagined,




LAUREL WATER.                                      57
colonel. Some days ago she and I were stop- within half a mile of the gate which opened
ped and robbed by a highwayman under our into the little inclosure round the house, when
own park palings, and she said that his fea- a loud halloo was heard behind them, and then
tures were exactly like yours, though the com- the quick galloping of many horses' feet. Lutplexion was different."                     wich only spurred the faster, as the reader may
"The same man, upon my life!" cried Col- suppose; and, quitting the road, which ran
onel Lutwich, gravely. " So he is performing along with a tall hedgerow on one side, he canhis old feats again. This must be stopped, tered over the heath which flanked it on the
upon my honor! Pray, does he ape my dress other, reached the paling of his own gardens,
too, Miss Chevenix?"                       and, without waiting to ring bells or raise latch"Oh no," answered Mary; " he is much less es, leaped his horse over, and was followed in
carefully habited.  He had on a loose horse- the same manner by his servant Hal.
man's coat, and large boots over his knees."
"To conceal his figure," said Lutwich;' it
has oeen my fate twice to be stopped, and once,
probably, by. this very person. My vanity, I             CHAPTER XVIII.
suppose, prevented me from seeing the slightest resemblance; but yet, a good fellow who   SIR THEODORE BROdGHTON was sad, shy, and
was tobbed an hour or two after swore that his silent. He was evidently ashamed of himself;
friend and myself were identical, till I asked  but Reginald Lisle let it work. Forced by cirhim in regard to the beard and complexion, and cumstances into active life at an early period,
then his evidence broke down, and he was oblig- it is not wonderful that the young officer had
ed to admit that there was a great difference. acquired a considerable knowledge of humar
However, I must now take my leave, Sir Har- nature, both general and individual. No man,
ry; and if any of these collectors of highway- but one who shuts his eyes, or is morally or
rates meet me on my road to London, I must physically blind, can do otherwise, if he mintell them that some of their comrades have gles much with fellow-men. Peers and membeen beforehand with' them, for they did not bers of Parliament, of course, know nothing of
leave me a crown at Ridge Hill. It was lucky human nature. There are exceptions, but they
that I had Miss Malcolm's money apart."      are rare; for as there are smoked glasses for
" Will you allow me to replen'ish your purse looking at the sun, by the aid of wh.ich the gloin case of need! " asked Sir Hlarry Jarvis; but rious orb of (lay is transformed into a small,
his visitor declined with thanks, saying that he hazy, yellow disk, very like a new farthing, so
should want nothing till he reached London, as are there parliamentary spectacles for looking
he had fed his horses at St. Alban's, and with'at human nature, through which a rigid extera graceful adieu to all, he withdrew.       nal form is seen, but no more like what the
There was a smile upon his countenance as real thing is than a new farthing is to the great
he mounted his horse; and, followed by his light-bearer; otherwise we should have had
servant, he rode at a q~uick canter through the  different laws for our poor, our criminal, our
park, passed the gates, and then along the Bar- industrious, our idle, and our convict population
net road till they reached the first turning to long ago.
the right. Then, however, the servant rode   However, Reginald Lisle had, from the age
up to him, saying familiarly, but not disrespect- of sixteen, gone through the world, or at least
fully, " Hang it, sir, you were so long, I thought a great part' of it, with his eyes open and his
they had found you out."                    senses alive, and he had seen man on many
"Pooh, pooh!" said Lutwich, "I always sides. He was not a lawyer, and therefore he
know what I am doing, Hal. The scoundrel had not seen only the basest side; he was not
bailiff came in while I was there, to lodge an in- a physician, and therefore he had seen more
formation against a great broad-made man in a than the weakest side; he was not a clergywhite horseman's coat; but I had been before man, and therefore had seen men on others thant
him, and done the same. Our descriptions tal- the most selfish side. I could go through a
lied exactly; and if Sir Harry had raised the great many more sides, for itis my opinion that
hue and cry, as he wanted, why, I would have human nature is an octagon; but perhaps these
joined the rest, and led them half over the are enough; and although Reginald knew that
country in pursuit of myself —ha, ha, ha! Now  the curious thing we are speaking of has many
let us get to the cottage and take some rest, faces, he knew that underneath them all there'
for we must both be at my lodgings in London was one particular substance, which required
early to-morrow.'"                          dealing with in a particular way.  He was
As the reader well knows, in that part of aware, therefore, that if, when a man's own
Hertfordshire there are many very wild and heart reproaches him, any one attempts to take
heathy spots, of no very great extent indeed, part with heart too openly against self, vanity
but having a more solitary and unpeopled look, -the devil take it for a troublesome commodifrom being surrounded by a number of gentle- ty-is sure to come in aid of self, and vanquish
men's parks and plantations, which, of course, both the counselor within the bosom and the
render the population thin. In the midst of counselor without.'
the most unfrequented and lonely part of the   As he saw, then, that Sir Theodore was
country between Barnet and'St. Alban's, but a ashamed of himself, he took care not to say a
good deal to the west of the high road, lay a word in regard to what had passed at the inn;
pretty small'cottage, sheltered by many tall and Major Brandrum, upon somewhat different
trees, and reached only by a cross road, along grounds, did not allude to it either. He felt
which' Colonel Lutwich and his servant now  very much inclined to horsewhip the young barpursued their way with great speed. They were onet, and yet his better sense told him that it




58                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
would be unwise, and not altogether benevolent youth. It is only in maturer years, when we
to do so; and therefore he spoke to him as lit- view the perils before us as they really are, that
tle as possible, lest Sir Theodore should say the heart sinks at the chances of-the winning
something which might give inclination an ad- game which Fate is playing against us. Thus
vantage over reason.                       he' remained grave after his elder companion
As they rode along, too, he perceived, what had resumed all his cheerfulness; for strong,
Lisle had perceived long before, that their young feelings, even of joy, are always thoughtfiul, and
companion was ill at ease in himself; that his his bosom was full of emotions to which that of
heart smote him; that he was sorry for what Brandrum was a stranger.
he had done; and he was not one'to be severe   Sir Theodore Broughton marked the serious
upon repentance, or to crush by harshness, as aspect of the young officer, and with that sort
is so frequently the case, the first, ingenuous of sensitiveness which the consciousness of'
sense of wrong.                            having done wrong not unfrequently produces
Lisle was grave, the old officer was grave, in a fresh mind, looked upon Reginald's demeanthe young baronet was grave, for the' first ten or as a tacit reproach to himself. He drew,
miles of the ride; but even the passions are therefore, more toward Major Brandrurn than
lessons which teach us while we feel them: to his other companion; and, in the course of
lessons of good or of evil they may be, but they their ride to St. Alban's, hid contrived to get
instruct the heart of that which is within itself; the elder, but lighter-hearted man between him
they prepare us for after things; they make us and Lisle.
men.                                         Now, in those days, the distance between
Sir Theodore Broughton, during that night's Dunstable and St. Alban's was somewhat more
turbulent emotion, had taken a great stride on'than fourteen miles by the high road. The parthe road to manhood.                       ty whom we are now following had not set out
Gradually the gravity of the two elder gen- till nearly noon, and they rode slowly, for their
tlemen relaxed, and they talked over all the horses had traveled a long distance the day beevents which had lately passed (with the excep- fore, and had been not a little disturbed during'
tion of one group) freely and discursively. The the preceding night. Thus it was about three
fire, and the scenes it had presented, were men- o'clock when they reached the small town; and
tioned; and sometimes they even laughed at as those were days when men dined early, they
the whimsicalities which fear had produced; paused there -for that purpose, but not. at the
but still the general tone was not cheerful, for Woolpack. WVhile their meal was preparing,
both felt that the event itself was a sad and se- they sauntered, naturally, to the abbey'; and as
rious one, which plunged many in distress and Reginald Lisle viewed it with an artist's eye,
difficulties, and was shadowy, not light.  he lingered about the precincts, pointing out
Reginald, also, had other thoughts and feel- beauties to his two companions, and commentings in his bosom, which, if they were'more ing with his peculiar discursive sort of fancies,
hopeful than those which he had entertained extracting thoughts and histories from the deduring the last few days, were still too intense, caying stones, and carrying the mind of his
too deep-seated for gayety. His meeting with hearers now back to ages long past, now forSir Charles Chevenix, the frank and even kind ward to generations yet unborn; and, in the
recognition which had passed between them, diorama of his imagination, now clouding the
the invitation to the house of her he loved, all scene with dark shadows, now bringing every
was joyful and, fruitful of bright expectation; excellence out in bright light.
but he had only caught one brief glance of Mary   "You are a strange, fanciful fellow, Lisle,"
herself, and there was disappointment. Even said his firiend, the Ravenous Crow; "l but your
in the brighter part, too, there was matter for dreams are very pleasant ones."
tmuch meditation-ay, and on subjects which   Sir Theodore thought them delightful too, and
Reginald was unwilling to look steadfastly in was almnost inclined to forgive Reginald for centhe face. He was not accustomed to fly from  suring him in his heart-an offense not easily
such considerations, for he was mrorally a bold- forgiven in general. But the landlord of the
man; but perhaps he had'never before seen inn was exceedingly angry that they stayed so
dangers and difficulties threatening where his long at the abbey, for he looked upon the goose
feelings were so deeply engaged: and thus he' which he had prepared for them as much more
was weak, and would fain have tqrned away worthy of their attention (till it was roasted too
his eyes. Still, however, like a thunder cloud much) than all the abbeys in the world.
in harvest, the shadow of a storm spread over   At length, however, they returned, and the
the scene, while he turned away his eyes from  first course of their dinner was over, whenthe tempestuous horizon; and he could not but after some little bustle without, such as that
feel that the air was growing dark even while which in most inns announces the arrival of
he looked at the golden promise of the field. new guests-the door of the ordinary dining
With but a very moderate fortune, with no high hall, in which they were taking their food, was
rank or distinction to support him, he had as- thrown briskly open, and a personage entered
pired to the love and the hand of one, the heir- whose name has been mentioned before in this
ess of great wealth, and the representative of book, but whom, for many reasons, I have rean old and widely-connected family. Her fa- frained fi-om  bringing into the more active
ther might be kind and generous, but her moth- scenes till the present moment. He was a
er was evidently full of prejudices against him, middle-aged man, dressed in black, with a large
and he had naught to trust to hut the love of a cravat tied somnewhat tightly round his neck,
heart, the sentiments of which lie might fancy, and the ends fringed with lace, hanging down,but he could not know. He was young, how- upon his coat. He could not be called'corpuever; and hope is the constant companion of lent, but the period when the human frame be



LAUREL WATER.                                      59
gins to spread laterally had clearly 6ommenced; had watched the nistory of his mind-for minds
and if an abhorrence of the good things of this have histories-that Sir Theodore Broughton
life had at all retarded the growth of fat, his was an older man than when he set out upon
countenance belied him. He was tall, and had that journey.
certainly, at one time, been good looking, as   The stout, dashing gentleman in black, howfar as mere features were concerned; but the ever, as soon as all his directions were given,
expression could never have been prepossess- sauntered up the room, making his boots creak
ing, and now it was quite the reverse.  There importantly, till he came within sight of Sir
was a great deal of moisture swimming between Theodore's profile, while the youth kept looking
the eyelids, one of which dropped occasionally steadily before-him, taking not the slightest nohalf over the eye, giving involuntarily a curious tice of any thing, with the eye at least, but the
meaning look to his face, in good keeping with viands on his plate. As soon as the stranger
the general expression. His mouth was large saw him, he exclaimed, in a tone of much wonand sensual, but yet there was a merry turn der, " Good Heavens! Sir Theodore, you here?
about the corners, which seemed to speak it as Why, I expected to overtake you in London.
well fitted for jest as eating; and the protuber- Do you not know me?"
ant chin, rounded and somewhat turned up, had    "Oh. yes," answered the young man, laconica bold and impudent air, as if conscious that ally, "I know you, doctor. I knew you ten minthere was a spirit within ready to defend what- utes ago, by your tongue."
ever the lips uttered. The worst feature, thow-   "Nay, I have not been ten minutes in the
ever, of the whole, was the forehead, which, room," replied the other, with some confusion
though broad, was " villainous low."  I may as of manner.
well mention the foot and leg, though on the    "'I beg your pardon, doctor," said the baronpresent occasion they were concealed by large et; " three minutes describing the chicken and
riding-boots, but upon all ordinary occasions the mushroom sauce; four minutes ordering the
former might be seen covered with an exceed- salmon and lamenting the want of lobsters; two
ingly neat shoe, displaying its small size and minutes given to the anchovies and onion, with
fine proportions to the best advantage, while i the ten drops of vinegar, and the rest spent
black silk stocking set off the ankle, surmount- upon the Port and the Madeira."
ed by an exuberance of stout and symmetrical   The gentleman whom he called doctor lookcalf shaking underneath at every well-planted ed utterly confounded, and Reginald Lisle and
step the owner took.                        Major Brandrum  gave each other a meaning
Not knowing whom he was about to meet glance. It is probable that, had the expression
with, this worthy personage entered thd public upon eachuof their faces been interpreted into
room of the inn with a gay, dashing, reckless the vernacular, it would have been the same
sort of air, and, taking no notice of the party in all, and might have beenj rendered, "He is
assembled at the further end of the' room, kept getting on!"  Nor is it unlikely that such was
his head turned toward the landlord, who was the impression which Sir Theodore intended to
following obsequiously, continuing to give di- produce, at least upon the mind of the new comrections which he had commenced at the door. er, for from that moment he had chosen his
" And, harkee, mine host," he said, " after that, part. Whether he would have had firmness to
a broiled chicken and mushroom sauce: mind, carry it through in the face of opposition, is anI say a chicken-not the old cock I just now  other question; but he was not put to the
saw upon the dunghill —a chicken, young and proof; for, after a very brief period of constertender as Hero just after she had first seen Le- nation, the other accommodated himself to the
ander: do you understand me n    The cut of circumstances with wonderful facility.
salmon, not boiled till it is as dry as your or my   " It is very necessary, my dear sir," he said,
grandmother, but just till the red has changed laughing, "to be quite precise in one's directo pink all through, and the flakes acknowledge tions on such important subjects, especially at
the cream between.'Tis a pity you have no an inn. I have, within the-last ten days, eaten
lobster; but let the cook beat up the flesh of enough smoked mutton chops, tough beef
two anchovies in the sauce, eschewing the steaks, and under-done veal cutlets to choke
bones and scales, then add ten drops of vin- an elephant, or give an ostrich the nightmare.
egar, and as much onion as would lie upon a But pray, introduce me to your friends."
sixpence. As to the wine, it must be Madeira;   " Captain:Lisle, Doctor Gamble," said Sir
and I shall not object to an apricot tart, wound Theodore,,  the gentleman who was my tutor.
up with old Cheshire and a bottle of, Port; not Major Brandruin, Doctor Gamble," and there
black strap, but real, genuine, crusted old Port, Sir Theodore paused, hardly looking at one
of the best vintage in your cellar. See to it, for whom, not many weeks before, he had felt
mine host, see to it; and, in the mean time, let great awe.
me have the Advertiser to doze over and pre-   The worthy doctor, however, made himself
serve my appetite."'                        quite at his ease, drew a seat to the table, enThe back of Sir Theodore Broughton was tered into conversation with the two officers,
turned toward the new comer, but at the first rattled on upon a thousand different subjects,
sound of his voice he turned somewhat white, and played the complete man of the world.
and then red; and then he knitted his brows, The major talked to him more.than Reginald;
and an expression of somewhat dogged resolu- for the old soldier, accustomed for thirty years
tion came upon his young face, while he turned to camps and armies, was-notwithstanding
an attentive ear to the eloquent words of the his high sense of honor, and very scrupulous
guest.  At length a smile, almost sarcastic, delicacy upon subjects of much importance-a
came upon his lip, and those changes might far less keen observer than his young comhave shown any'one who knew him well, and panion of small traits; and though Reginald




60                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
thought the doctor's conversation not very ed- sought you'out at some of those gay places;
ifying, especially for young ears, his friend for, being only an LL.D., and not a D.D., my
took it all as a matter of course.-'      cloth would not have stood in the way."
Doctor Gamble's dinner was brought in just    A smile came upon Sir Theodore's lips,
as that of the other gentlemen was concluding, somewhat cynical for one so young, indeed,
and Reginald rose, saying, " I will go and look but yet well satisfied. He understood Doctor
to the horses." The major accompanied him  Gamble from that hour, and Doctor Gamble
to the bar to make sure of a good bottle of hire; and he felt that an explanation was over
wine, and Sir Theodore was left alone with his which left nothing more to be said. He then
tutor.  A momentary hesitation seemed to detailed to his companion all that had passed
possess him, for he sat for one instant silent, to detain them on their journey, keeping other
looking at the table-cloth; but then, setting-his matters for a more private conference; and
fine white teeth together, he rose, walked to the tutor was in the act of inquiring how he
the table at which Gamble was devouring some liked his two companions, when Major Branfish, and drew a chair right opposite to him.   drum returned.
" We must have a word or two, doctor," he   To him and Reginald Lise, when he appear.
said, leaning across and speaking low.     ed, the doctor communicated his intention of
" A dozen or more, my dear young friend," riding on with his young pupil and themselves,
answered Gamble; "what do you wish to adding, "So let me know when you will be
say."                                     prepared to start, and I will gobble my chicken
"Simply what is necessary to insure that we and swallow my Pdrt accordingly."
begin.as we are to go on, and go on easily,"'" I have a bottle to finish too, doctor," rereplied Sir Theodore' the case is this, Doc- plied Major Brandrum, " and so we can drink
tor Gamble: I have been for some little time glass -for glass; but order your horse to be got
my own master, and I intend to continue so. ready in the mean time, as we have done, for
Now, if you are come with the intention of day is already down, and we shall have to start
assuming the same authority over me which by starlight."
you exercised at Ashton Hall, you will be dis-   "Oh, never mind," replied the worthy docappointed. No, no, hear me out. I have seen tor. "What road do you take? By Barnet,
already enough of the world, and heard enough eh. I will take you a shorter, by a couple of
of your conversation just now to understand miles at least. I know every inch of every
things better than I did. Your manner is much road within twenty miles of London; and it
changed, doctor." I                        will save you full two miles, as I have said, to
"' And so is yours, Sir Theodore," replied go by Edgeware. Hilly-hilly it is, to be sure;
the tutor, in the most unabashed manner in but so is the other road-worse than this, inthe world; "the. only plan left for us is to ac- deed; and two miles gained are two miles
commodate our ways to each other."         gained, which is something when one has rid" I am afraid you must accommodate yours den far. Come, Theodore, join me in my botto mine," said the young baronet.          tie. That Madeira has gone wonderfully fast."'
"Exactly so," answered Doctor Gamble;   The young baronet, however, wisely declin"' tempora metantur ct nos mutamur.'  But make ed; and Major Brandrum, dispatching his wine
your mind easy. I came with no such views with great celerity, kept the powers of the:
and purposes as you suppose, but simply to good tutor at the full.stretch till the last glass
act as your humble friend and adviser in any was drained. Shortly before this happy entercourse you may think fit to pursue, to give you prise was achieved, a waiter announced that
all the information that my somewhat exten- the horses were ready, and then came the pay~sive knowledge of the world can supply, and ing of bills and the adjustment of reckonings;
render you every assistance that zeal, a good but the mind of good Doctor Gamble seemed a
deal of habitual skill, and some experience can little hazy. It would seem either that the Port
afford. I had a long chat with your guardian had been stronger than he had anticipated, or
before I came away from Ashton Hall, and we that the doses had been too rapidly repeated,
perfectly understand each other.  You are or, which is perhaps more probable, that where
launched in life as a man; and on my part, he had last watered his horse he had wined
though still retaining my functions in name, himself; for it is impossible to conceive that
the pedagogue is to be laid aside."        merely two bottles of wine, mitigated and al"'And where is Donovan himself?" asked loyed by a good dinner, could have the least
Sir Theodore.  " If he comes to London after effect in those days upon a well-seasoned head
me, he may find it difficult to deal with me as like his. He was not drunk, by any means;
he did before, for I am determined-"       but it was with some difficulty he made out his
He paused, while the landlord brought in the bill. He talked a good deal over it; and when
next dish with his own hands; and Doctor he came to mount, he held one foot in the stirGamble took up the conversation as soon as rup till the other was tired, and talked a good
the host was gone, saying, "The captain is deal again, praised the landlord's wine, comabout to go back to the Continent for a month mended his fish, declared the broiled chicken
or two; but be under no uneasiness. He has was excellent; for he was exceedingly goodmade up his mind, like a wise man, to the humored, and by no means censorious under
changes that must come, and to part with au- this first faint influence of the liquor; and
thority as nonchalantly as I do. But how hap- Heaven knows how long he might have gon.e
pen you to be here at St. Alban's?  I thought on, had he not suddenly perceived that the
you had been in London four or five days, and whole of his party had ridden away before him.
expected to find you at the theater, the mas-   Now I can not, for the life of me, tell whethquerade, or the tavern. I should certainly have er the reader is well and thoroughly acquaint



LAUREL WATER.                                    61
ed with the road from St. Alban's to London    They followed, but not exactly like sheep;
or not; but if he recollects accurately every  for Reginald Lisle said, as he wheeled his
step of the way, he will remember that about horse, "Why, this must bring us back into the
the same spot-or not very far from it-where  Barnet road. It seems very muddy and cut
the highway by Barnet and the other way by up, too."
Edgeware divide, or used to divide, there is a   f' It is a short cut," replied Doctor Gamble;
third road leading to Watford, Rickmansworth, and, with a suppressed chuckle, he added, menAmersham, and the denuse knows where be- tally, "Heaven knows whither."
sides. It was not two hundred yards on the   After riding for somewhat more than a mile,
St. Alban's side of the separation of the roads they came to a place where the short cut dividthat Doctor Gamble overtook the three gentle- ed into two; and as the left-hand path would
men and their servants, and he immediately  too evidently have led them either back to St.
took upon himself the office of pilot. To say  Alban's or away to Barnet, Gamble boldly took
truth, both Reginald Lisle and Major Brandrum  the right at once, which soon entangled them
had been so' much absent from their native in such a labyrinth of lanes and hedges, that
land, that their topography might well.be at the poor doctor began to fancy they would nevfault; and as for Sir Theodore Broughton, he er get out of them. For one mortal hour,
had no topography at all. They therefore gave however, with Spartan fortitude, did he conthemselves up, like most other men, to the tinue to ride on, without giving the slightest
guidance of one who assumed knowledge. indication of the pangs of doubt which conThere was no lack of finger-posts, it is true; sumed him internally, till at length Major Branbut the night, as we have shown, had fallen, drum exclaimed, " Why, doctor, I think your
and that night was dark, so that whatever in- short cut is a very long one. It seems to me
dications the finger-posts might have given, that we have been going round and round for
nobody could make them out.               the last half hour. Are you sure you are
Is it surprising, then, that in ten minutes right "
they were riding along at an easy pace upon    "Why, I begin to doubt," replied the doctor,
the road to Watfordl  They were six bold in a grave tone. " I do not see the Seven
men and stout, and therefore they had no fears Magpies."
of robbers and highwaymen, the great terror   "Nor I either," answered Brandrum, dryly.
of travelers in those days. Thus their con-   "I think I must have mistaken the four-versation was cheerful and entertaining; for teenth turning," continued Doctor Gamble.
Doctor Gamble had a good deal of learning, a   "Come, come, this will not do," said the
great deal of knowledge of the world, and two  major. " We must try the Indian way, Lisle.
-if not more-bottles of wine under his waist- You've got a repeater: we will set a star, and
coat. It is true, the first effervescence of the ride straight on. London must be very nearly
balmy juice-that hazy fume which somewhat southeast. You keepthe time. I'll fix the
obscures the perceptions-soon wore off, leav- star, and we'll calculate its progress westward
ing nothing behind but a little bright hilarity. between us."
The learning and the knowledge of the'world    But the plan of the Ravenous Crow did not
remained, however; and he made himself so  succeed well in England; for, after riding
agreeable, that even Reginald Lisle, though  straight forward for twenty minutes, they
holding still the same opinion of the man  found they had got into a cul de sac, and had
which he had first foimed, unbent in manner, nothing to do but turn back and choose another
and listened and converised, amused.       road. This was accordingly done; but horses
In this sort they rode on, and passed a toll- and men were by this time heartily tired, and it
gate at the distance of about four miles from  was agreed on all hands that the best plan to
St. Alban's; and,'as Doctor Gamble had' a follow would be to ask their way at the very
shrewd memory for toll-gates, inasmuch as he first house they could find, and then rest for the
made it a point of avoiding them, the sight of night at the nearest tolerable inn. A house,
one here, where he did not at all recollect one, however, was nearly as difficult to be found as
gave him the first suspicion that he was not the right road. There was many a tall hedgequite in the right road. He was not fond of row, and here and there a pond, with some
confessing himself. wrong either; and as his ghastly weeping willows bending over it, like
companions jogged along by his side in the ut- stone women upon tomb-stones; but houses
most confidence, talking of any thing else in seemed a scarce commodity, and Reginald Lisle
the world but the road, he had no encourage- had just struck his repeater, and told his comment to make an avowal. He looked about panions that it was ten o'clock, when they
him anxiously and in silence, then, for some issued forth from the lanes upon a small heath
time, thinking that he must soon come to the or common, and heard on their right the sound
few houses which then constituted Colney- of horses' feet at a quick trot. A shout was
street; but he was disappointed, and at the instantly raised to call the attention of the
end of about a mile and a half he saw a solita- traveler to their distressed situation, and the
ry public house. He was now quite sure that whole party set off at full gallop to overtake
he had made a mistake; but he was a man of him, as he was evidently riding in an-opposite
enterprise and resources, and he thought, ", We' direction. An instant after, they saw, first the
can not have golfar from the road by Edgeware. figure of one mounted man, and then that of
The first turning to the left must bring us into another, cross the common, like two dark shadit."'                                     ows, and canter away toward a group of large
The first turning to the left soon presented  trees standing alone. To follow was the genitself, and Doctor Gamble, in a confident tone, eral impulse; but in two minutes both figures
exclaimed, "This way, gentlemen,' if you disappeared beneath the trees; and, riding
please."




62                    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
more slowly, the pursuers came to a very neat here before now, some of them great men, and
and well-kept paling, evidently inclosing a gen- several of them big men; and if your rooms be
tleman's grounds. As they had left the road, not very large, and not exceedingly well furthey had to ride round some way before they  nished, you have slept in a barrack before now.
could find a gate; but at length they were suc- Barnet! why, you have been coming away
cessful,'and saw with pleasure close to it a  from it for the last mile, if you are the people
small lodge or gardener's cottage, with a light who chased me across the common, and whom
burning within.                              I took for highwaymen. Your servants must
A stout pullat the bell soon brought an old  sleep over the stables, however."
man to the gate, who told them, in answer to    By this time they had reached the door of the
their inquiries, that they were five miles from  house, and the next moment they were in a very
Barnet, and that it was the nearest place at. handsome saloon, fitted up with books, and a
which they could procure accommodation.      thousand little objects of virtu. A large fire
As they were turning away with no slight dis- was blazing in the grate; comfortable armappointment, it struck Reginald that he might chairs were all around; and, begging them to
as well inquire the name of the owner of this  make themselves at home, Colonel Lutwichleft
solitary dwelling.                           them-to give some orders, he said, for the
" Colonel Lutwich, sir," replied the gardener; accommodation of their servants and horses.
and immediately a joyful exclamation broke  Two very tidy maid-servants in mob caps, and
from, two or three ofthe party.             a respectable-looking footman, were set to
"Pray tell Colonel Lutwich —" said Major work to get ready beds and supper; and then
Brandrum.                                   going out to the door, the master of the house
" He is not at home, sir," replied the man; put one of the two servants under the charge
"he has not been here for'ten days or more.". of his groom Hal. As Zachary Hargrave was
" I wish you would go, and see," rejoined  about to follow, however, Lutwich said, "Stay
Reginald; "we saw two persons on horseback, a moment, my good fellow; I have Something
very like him and his servant, cross the corn- to say to you."
mon a minute ago, and go to the opposite side    Hargrave turned as white as a sheet; but
of the house."                              the colonel let the other servant wend slowly
"Well, he may have come in t'other way,"  away to the stable, with Hal and several of the
replied the gardener, with a shrewd look; "I  horses, before he uttered a word more. Then
can go and see."                            approaching close to Hargrave, he asked, " Do'
"Tell him that here are Captain Lisle, Sir you know, my good friend, that I could hang
Theodore Broughton, the Ravenous Crow, and  you to-morrow?"
Doctor Gamble, dying at his gate for want of a    "What for." cried the man, with a start.
night's lodging," said the major, in a gay tone;    "For stealing a pearl necklace with a diaand with this collection of names to deliver as mond clasp, belonging to Lady Chevenix, during
best he might, the gardener stumped away down  the'fire," said Lutwich, fixing his eye steadily
a short avenue overhung with broad chestnuts. upon him. "I can prove it whenever I please;
The party of travelers remained gazing over but I have the secret under my own command;
the gate, which had been kept carefully shut by  and if you do exactly as I direct you, you are
the old man during the whole of the ab6ve- safe. Now put off that hang-dog look! Take.written interesting dialogue, and they could see  the rest of the horses to the stable, and then
his lantern move down about a hundred yards, come in and get some supper. Your life dewhen the faint light began to display something  pends altogether uqpi'our own conduct."
like a white building, with various darkwindows    Thus'saying, he shut the door, and returned
and doors. " A' moment after, the lantern dis- to his unexoected'guests.
appeared, and they had to wait some three or
four minutes in expectation, after which a door
was suddenly thrown open in front of the
house, a blaze of light broke'forth, and the             CHAPTER XIX.
voice of Lutwich was heard in a.gay tone giving them a sort of hunter's halloo: At a quick    I MUST have a bit more of Fielding; for the
pace, he came up the avenue without hat or faults he complains of in the readers of his day
boots, and welcomed them  cordially. Some  are even more to be observed at the present
excuses were made for visiting him so late and  time; and I have remarked, on a thousand ocin so numerous a body; but he only laughed, casions, in reading criticisms upon the works
saying, " Come in, come in. You shall have  of others, that- the nice discrimination of the
bachelor's fare and a good bottle, a blazing fire  delicate shades of character which he requires
and a hearty welcome."                      is entirely lost sight of, while nothing but broad
"I fear," said Reginald Lisle, as they ap- and strong-marked distinctions are even noproached the house, and he saw how small was ticed. Perhaps this is less a "fault than a taste.
the promise of accommodation, " that we shall Therle are many who prefer Ribiera to Murillo,
put you to much inconvenience, colonel. Nor Salvator to Claude, Sebastian dlel Piombo to
is it indeed necessary. If you will afford us  Correggio; but certain it is that broad lights and
and our horses some rest and refreshment, and'shades, exaggeration of outline and strong conthen direct us to Barnet, the major and I, at trast of coloring, are what is more remarked
least, can ride on."                         and sought after iii the present day-in the
" Pooh, pooh, Captain Lisle," said Lutwich, world of letters at least-than accuracy of de-," you shall not stir to-night. You do not know  lineation and delicacy of handling.
how many I can accommodate even in this   "Another caution we would give thee," says
small place. Why, I have ledged twelve friends  Fielding, " is, that thou dost not find out too




LAUREL WATER.                                      63
near a resemblance between certain characters  facts, notwithstanding a strenuous effort to do
here introduced; as, for instance, between the  so before he retired to bed, yet he obtained so
landlady who appears in the seventh book and  much intelligence of scattered incidents that
her in the ninth. Thou art to know, friend, that he was able, by shrewdly combining them, to
there are certain characteristics in which most form a net, in which he doubted not he should
individuals of every profession and occupation  be able to catch the truth in conversation with
agree. To be able to preserve these character- the young baronet himself.
istics, and, at the same time, to diversify their   Let us pass over all the other events of that
operations, is one talent of a good writer. night, for there were none of great importance.
Again, to mark the nice distinction between  On all ordinary occasions, men go to bed and
two persons actuated by the same vice or folly, to sleep in the same manner. Heads were
is another; and as this last talent is found in  placed upon pillows, the drowsy god came
very few writers, so is the true discernment of sooner or later to all, and the whole of Colonel
it found in very few readers, though I believe  Lutwich's house might have well been ridden
the observation of this forms a very principal through by Queen Mab before one o'clock.
pleasure in those who are capable of the dis-   It so happened that the bed-room assigned to
covery."                                    Sir Theodore Broughton was next to that of
Now; in the present work under my hands, I Colonel Lutwich himself, and that in his cotwish to guard the reader against the supposi- tage the partitions were thin. The young gention that the character of Doctor Gamble and  tleman retired to rest first, for his host had
that of Zachary Hargrave are too nearly alike  household mattbrs to attend to.
to be admitted into the same book. They    In a small room on the ground floor, which
were, in reality, widely apart; for in the natural had no window apparent on the outside of the
history of the scoundrel, a's great a variety will house, though somehow or another light found
be found as in the feline, the accipitrine, the  its way in-perhaps through a very thin marpsittacine, or any other genus of animals. Har- ble slab with an inscription upoin it-and which
grave was a cold-blooded reptile, a snake who  had no door apparent within, although Colonel
crept quietly on through thq grass, while Doctor Lutwich contrived to effect an entrance-perGamble had much more of the insect in him. haps by sliding away the back of a large, oldHe fluttered as well as stung. Loose in morals, fashioned commode, which presented nothing
needy of means, expensive in habits, daring in  but stands' for fowling-pieces and fishing-rods
character, careless of consequences, loving ad- to the eye-in this room, the master of the
venture, he was ready to be to any one both an  house spent full half an hour counting money
example and a guide in any course they might and putting away sundry curious pieces of aplike to follow-except that of virtue. Habit parel, among which, be it remarked, was a
had'rendered him very indifferent of appear- large, white horseman's coat, so thickly padded
ances, but necessity had taught him, after he  in every part that it stood alone. When all
had been engaged as the tutor of Sir Theodore  this was done, and lie had spoken a few words
Broughton, to comply with the rigid injunctions to his groom Hal, the, colonel also retired to
of his guardian, and assume the severe and  his bed-chamber, passed three quarters of an
domineering pedagogue. He had escaped from  hour in care of his person, and then went to
time to time, indeed, as we have seen, to enjoy  bed. While he was undressing, and after he
himself in pursuits better suited to his tastes, had lain down, he could hear Sir Theodore tossotherwise he could not have sustained the  ing upon what seemed a very restless couch, and
character he was required to adopt; but it was Lutwich said to himself, " He is thinking of Kate
an infinite delight and relief to him when Cap- Malc6lm. I do not wonder at it."
tamin Donovan announced, on his return from    It would seem, however, that he himself was
his last truant expedition, that it was high time  thinking of her too, for a moment or two after
to give Sir Theodore the reins, and let him see  he murmured, " He shall never have her, by
the world and taste its pleasures.          --!" and Lutwich lay awake for more than
Donovan used guarded language, it is true; an hour, as well as Sir. Theodore Broughton.
he was not so open with him'eeVen as:with    What is that strange fascination which is
Hargrave; but lie was well aware that Doctor about some women, and which captivates, in a
Gamble would understand him more readily; moment, men of the most opposite characters,
and thus the worthy tutor set out to join his unless their bosoms be armored with a- prepupil in London with much of the feeling of a  vious passion, or shielded by a cold buckler of
schoolboy just emancipated from his task, wild  egotism! I have seen the old and the young
with permission to play at liberty, and ready  alike charmed, the hackneyed man of the world,
for any mischief that might offer. He was a  the purse-proud man of wealth, the haughty
little surprised, indeed, at the change he found  man of ancient race, the mere unpracticed boy.
in Sir Theodore himself; nor had he been al- It could not be mere beauty, for there were
together pleased at first, for he had calculated  others, perhaps fairer, there; nor wit, for she
upon retaining great influence over the mind  was quiet and reserved; nor art, for she was
of the young baronet.  But he soon saw that all simplicity. Was it not that simplicity, that
his power must be established upon a very dif- easy, unaffected, quiet grace-the grace of all
ferent basis from their former relations of mas- the graces, unconscious simplicity! Perhaps
tei'and scholar; and, as the reader has seen, this was the case with Catharine Malcolm;
he changed his plan-of operations with admi-' but certain it is, there were'two within those
rable facility.  He required further informa- walls who loved her.
tion, however, to guide him-explanations as   At length Lutwich slept, and the first thing
to what had already taken plac.e; and, although  which woke him was a voice in the adjoining
he could not extract from Hargrave the whole room. He heard not what it said, for some




64                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
how he was often up late at night, and accus- fellow like that," said Doctor Gamble;,, but
tomed to sleep long in the morning; but he was let me hear all about it, and I will undertake to
sufficiently roused to hear and mark the reply set it all to rights.".
which was given in the voice of"Sir Theodore.   The young baronet had some difficulty in
"' Well enough, doctor," said the youth; *" I telling his own story; but, when once it was
do not sleep as well altogether as I used."  commenced, a long detail followed of all that
"I dare say not," answered Doctor Gamble, had occurred, and to this Sir Theodore added
in a meaning tone.                         an account of the feelings which he attributed," Why should I not!" asked the young baro-. to Reginald Lisle and Major Brandrum, from
net; and the- moment after, he added, "what their demeanor toward him during the precemakes you look so shrewd 3"                ding day.
" Because I can easily conceive many of the   " A couple of prigs!" exclaimed Doctor Gamsights and scenes of the great world have given ble, with a laugh;'" we must get rid of them
you thoughts fit to banish sleep," replied the as soon as possible. As if a young man like
tutor; "this earth is full of emotions for the yourself might not fall in love with a pretty
young-alas! that the time for enjoying them  girl, and say a civil word or two in a passage,
should pass so soon-for instance, love, my without calling down their high indignation'
young friend. That is a strong spell to charm  The man's scheme was a clumsy one, certain-.away slumber."                           ly, and we would have managed the mattei
Sir Theodore was silent; for, though he had very differently had I been with you.  We
half made up his mind to tell his old tutor all, would have befriended the father, and all that;
and seek aid at his hands-to do he knew not but now we must think of what is to be done."
what-yet he still hesitated, and Doctor Gam-   "We shall have no opportunity of doing
ble went on: "Come, come, my young friend, much now," replied Sir Theodore, in a deremember the convention entered into between sponding tone; "she is under the care of Lady
us. Speak out to a friend anxious to serve Chevenix, who has taken her to the house of a
you, and the next book we read together shall Sir Harry Jarvis, not far from Barnet, Hargrave
-be Ovid's Art of Love."                   tells me. She is then to be given over to this
Sir Theodore laughed, but replied, " Who Major Brandrum, wlho has adopted her, and to
Should I fall in love with, doctor, in five or six be placed with Lisle's mother, if she will redays? "                                    ceive her. That I heard myself:"
" What think you of the pretty girl at the   "Ho, ho!" said Doctor Gamble, thoughtfulBlack Bull at Dunstable 3" said the tutor.'    ly; "this seems a golden fleece indeed, when
There was a dead silence for a moment after there are so many dragons watching it!"
Doctor Gamble had given this home-thrust,   " She is very beautiful," replied Sir Theoand then the young baronet was heard to ask, dore.
in almost a stern tone, " How much has that   " Then we must lull the dragons, my young
scoundrel Hargrave told you? I insist upon Jason," answered his tutor.
knowing."                 "                     But how?" exclaimed his companion, im"Nay, he has not betrayed much to me," re- patiently. "What is to be donel I donot see." -
plied' the tutor, laying strong emphasis upon   "Carry her off," said his excellent and virthe last two words; "he merely told me you tuous tutor; and then all was silent again for
had been much smitten with a young lady a minute or two.
whom you saw at Dunstable, and whose father   At length Sir Theodore answered in a tone
died theie in consequence of the fire. That is of doubt and hesitation, " Would not that only
all he said; but, seeing that you were evident- tend to offend her still more deeply than I have
ly thoughtful and uneasy, and understanding done already!"
such signs right well, I resolved to speak to   "' Pooh, pooh!" said Doctor Gamble, "womyou on the subjeet first, lest you should feel en are never offended with a little ardent love.
any hesitation in seeking my counsel.and as- It will give you, at all events, time and opporsistance. But, while we are on the subject, let tunity, and I think the little god will teach you
me warn you at once against putting confidence how to make use of them to win your way into
in that man Hargrave. First, he is unfit to ad- her good graces. But, moreover, we may so
vise you in such circumstances; and, next, he contrive it as to turn an action that you think
will betray you to another whom you might not will offend her, into an occasion of gaining her
like to know all your secrets."            esteem and gratitude —a great step xwith every
" Unfit to advise me, indeed!" said Sir Theo- young girl. You shall not appear in the affair
dore; " and betray me he would, doubtless, for at all-nor I either, for that matter-or, rathit seems he has done so already."          er, you shall appear only as a deliverer, and I
" Pooh, pooh! do not speak in so sad a will be your humble squire-the Sancho Panza
tone," said Doctor Gamble, gayly; "you seem  of the knight-errant. We can then very well
to regard this little affair as the most serious keep her under our respectable protection for
thing in life. There, now, do not look angry. two or three days, till we give her up to her
I dare say you are very much in love-all the friends; and, in the mean time, if you can not
better. We will find out the young lady, and find persuasions to'induce her to stay altogethsee what can be done."                    er, it will be your own fault. Oh, give a young
*"I do not see that any thing can," replied man solitary converse with a girl who thinks
S$ir Theodore, cheered a good deal by the doe- she is indebted to him for three whole days,
tor's tone; "by that rascal's advice, I offended and if he do not make her do all he pleases, his
her greatly."                             love or his eloquence must be very cold."
"You would have done better to trust your   " The scoundrel!" muttered Lutwich to himown unaided judgment than that of a low-bred self.




LAUREL WATER.                                          65
"6We shall be obliged to employ Hargrave  man.  The latter she described as a very terin part of the affair," continued Doctor Gam- rible, rude, furious-looking personage, when he
ble; " but we must have others to help.  So  was, in fact, quite the reverse;:but the gentlenow, as you look more cheerful, get up, and let man who came to their aid she spoke of as a
us to London, where there are plenty of men  very handsome and distinguished person, gracewho will do any thing in life for a guinea and  ful and polished in his manners, and entertaina bottle of wine.  Leave all the arrangements ing in tlis conversation.
to me. You shall know nothiing of they, thlough    " Mary thought, and I thought," continued
we can talk of some of the minor facts, that I Lady Chevenix, " that as he had lost his fine
may be well aware of all that is needfiul. Where horse, and had been severely hurt in our servdoes this Sir Harry Jarvis live?  What is -tle  ice, we could not do less than receive him as a
name of his place? I must go and reconnoiter I guest, and see that his injuries were well atthe roads."                                    tended to "
"' They shall he well reconnoitered for you,"    " To be sure, to be sure!" cried Sir Charles,
murmured Lutwich, sufficiently loud to call tie  warmly; "I should, not easily have forgiven
admirable tutor's attention, though lie could  you if you had not, my dear."
not-distinguish the words.'Well, Charles, I am  exceedingly glad you
"Whlo sleeps in there?" he asked.          (do approve," replied his wife, " tor when we
"I do not know," replied Sir Theodore; "  i made the discovery, which we did afterward, I
could hear him, whoever he is, moving about was vexed at myself for having asked him at
very long last night."                         all."
"Let us speak low," said the tutor.  It was    "A  discovery!"  exclaimed  Sir Charles.
too late, Doctor Gamble.  Your plot was ini "Why, who the deuse was he-a merchant's
possession of another, not likely to lose the clew. clerk, or a traveler for a manufacturer?"
"Oh dear, no," answered the lady; "no oth— -d,.~                ler than Captain Lisle, your old enemy, who
wounded you so severely seven years ago; and
CHAPTER XX.                      I must say I was highly surprised and mortified
to find that we had received any service from
I MUST now return to a period somewhat an- such a person."
tecedent, in order to unite the two broken endls I      Pooh, pooh!" cried:Sir Charles Chevenix;
of the history of the Chevenix fanlily, and to  " Lisle is an excellent fellow-one of the ornagive some account of what hadl taken place in  ments of the service-gallant and chivalrous,
the interval which occurred between the rmo- polished, humane, and generous., His name is
mnent when Reginald Iisle left Mary and her in the maouth of every one who has been in
mother near Dunsmore, and that of their reap- these Canadian and American affairs.  Then,
pearance at the Black Bull at Dunstable.        as to the matter between him and me, I have
Mary CheVenix had been very bold in antici- told you, my clear, a dozen tinmes, that he was
pation,  She had resolved to tell her father all very little in fault.  I ran him too hard, in my
and every thing about Reginald Lisle, except a foilish, jesting way, when a great number of
few looks and tones which she knew she could  others were all at him.  He was a little impetnot describe.  She might tell him very well, uous, perhaps, but I was a great deal more in
she thought, every thing that Reginald had  the wrong than he was."
done and said-how  he had come to rescue    "But tie owns he was in fault," said Lady
them-how  he had suffered from  so doing- Chevenix.
how charming was his conversation, how win-    "The more generous' he!" exclaimed Sir
ning his manner.  She had never had a con- Charles.
cealment from  her father in her life.  Sir   Dear Mary's little heart beat joyfully, as the
Charles's gay frankness, and his kind tender-  reader may suppose.
ness for her, had made her share every thought    "I hope," continued her father, "'you did not
with him, from the earliest days when she ran  treat himn with any coldness after you made this
up to prattle at his knee, till the hour when he  notable dliscovery, Louisa?".last departed for London on business; and she    Mary looked down upon the carpet somewhat
thought she should not be the least afraid if he  paine(l for her mother; hut Lady Cihevenix ancould see every thing her heart c(ontained.    swered, " VWe did not know  any thing of the
In short, Mary Clievenix had been very hold  fitct till within a few minutes of his departure,
in anticipation.  Performance,. however, wa s f(iarles, so there was very little timie to show
quite another thing.  When her maid hiru(J}thlt  co)ldness or any thing else; but I will not deily
her wdrd that her father had sludtdenly  arivel  that I could not f'el, or appeal to feel, toward'
two days before he was expected, Mary hegan, -a ltmain who ta(t nearly killed my husbandtl, as I
to feel somewhat nervous; anlI when she rwe,!i,`l,:itildl have (i()ne toward one who hadl riot so
down and fo)und Lady Chevenrix in failt I;,r  Aet edl. "
giving her own version of their history, itf ry,    Lou| (tisa  Louisa!" criei her ltshbant  with a
of course, could say little.  Si e resl e   "      it,  l r Ie k. -s "ill yott never g  rit    of stich
wait for an oppo ittilty.  ft xt as a hi.tl il. l jci,"iies! IUjitt mv ii1.!i" ile atil.ed, int a low
Nobodly waits fitr ani olpt[Otilrity xxilhicolt f'(::(;-   ll! tor.o hliin'l; et, "lt) a -ietarlti Olnleti iets i
ing that what they are going tjot,:ci: el s t il I;'ting i.o itr ii tI i-t lt!e is no gettit,,- t ii, (tet
some favor.it, es                                           liy   it' it. J tif ci:liC it'ss.
I have said Lady Clievenix' galiv-e " e.l'n  $n,:, -i-y (iteart  it>ir,,   i: I ld.er lil I 5avive (iftteni
version;" hut I must not (1o that cxc elle:i, iatly -i,i',, hl hitave tiatiet'  a yottnr ofiicer. or,  s(
injustice, for she didl not (do s) by ir.lsittiil    a           (iti            at.lie,    r is o   iS
Lisle, though she certainly did by the hirghtway:   ite;,and with Serious'detrict   enot to himslf lad'
E




66                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
rendered you so importrnt a service, with any with cigars in their mouths, would not London
want of kindness and good feeling, simply be- be very delightfiul indeed 1 Depend upon it,
cause, when he was a mere boy, he behaved like dear reader, love-or, rather, the society of him
a brave fellow and a man of honor against your or her we love-does all this, and more too.
husband, you could not have mortified me more.   Lady Chevenix was quite as willing to go as
I must find out Lisle in London, and try to make her daughter. She was rather tired'of elms
up for this by some means."                 and oaks, highwaymen, and flannel petticoats
Lady Chevenix looked very much vexed, but, for laborer's babies. She had a great regard for
of course, did hot feel any more warmly to- old Sir Harry Jarvis too, and therefore she willward Reginald Lisle because her husband blam- ingly acceded to her husband's plan, which is
ed her conduct; and Mary, who knew  her somewhat rare in domestic economy. It was
mother well-she could not help knowing her- agreed that their own four fat horses should
felt perfectly well aware of.the impression draw them to London; and the male servants
which would be produced, and that it would were carefully selected, with due attention to,
require months to obliterate it. She was very weight, while the maids, as if they had been
glad, therefore, to change the subject, and talk first-class travelers on a rail-road, were allowed'
to her father of any thing else on earth than to carry what weight they liked.
the topic she would have been well pleased to   The only adventure, as the reader knows,
speak of in other circumstances.            which the party met with on their road.to BarMoreover, she was afraid Sir Charles might net, was one sufficient to serve them for a long,
ask her for a more detailed and impartial ac- time; but Mary Chevenix was not quite concount of what had taken place with Reginald tented with the fire, for, although it had brought
Lisle after he had informed them of his name, Reginald Lisle within'sight, it had not brought
than, for her mother's sake, she was willing to him within speech. She saw him, however, out
give. Sir Charles was, it is true, the most easy of the apothecary's window talking to her fatherr
man to manage in the world, when any one knew  and she remarked them shake hands with each
how, and his character was the most easily un- other, which was a great comfort, although she
derstood; but there are some people who'al- would have given the world to hear what'they
ways, in every thing they have to do, set out said. But no information was afforded her till
with prepossessions, and Lady Chevenix was they reached the house of Sir Harry Jarvis, and
one of them. Thus she had contrived to live Mary had enough occupation for her time and
with a husband, whom she loved almost to idol- her thoughts in consoling poor Kate Malcolm.
atry, for nearly twenty years, without under- by the way.
standing him in the least, and constantly giving   With his usual kindness and liberality, Sir'
him pain when she thought she must be giving Charles had given orders, before he left Dunhim pleasure.                               stable, for the funeral of the poor girl's father.
Mary had very'little of what the French call and it only need be said that nothing was left
ruse about her; but on this occasion she cer- undone by any of Kate's new friends which'
tainly did strive to turn the conversation, by could- tentd to soothe her under undeserved misasking, with a greater appearance of curiosity fortune. Lady Chevenix, with allher little faults,.
than she really felt, what it could be that had was a really kind-hearted person, and Mary and
brought her father back before the time he had her father, as the reader well knows, were ready
fixed.                                      to do any thing which a human being could do,' Not:because I have' concluded my business, to comfort the sad-hearted.
my' dear little girl," replied Sir Charles, " but,'  As soon as the brief visit of Colonel Lutwich
strange to say, because I have not. I find that was over, Mary left the party in the drawingit will take a fortnight more, love; and as, (lur- room and went up to poor Kate. We all know
ing the next three or four days, nothing was to what an open-hearted thing girlhood is, and thebe done, I first ran down to see Jarvis at Barnet, two were very soon upon the footing of sisters;
told him I should bring you all to cheer him-for but during the whole of this time it must'be
a day or two on your way to town, and then remarked, that the opportunity which Mary had
came on to fetch you."                      promised herself of telling her father about'i " 0h, that is delightful!" cried Mary. "When Reginald Lisle had, like every desired opportuare we to go, papal"                        nity, been always delayed, and the evening'
" As soon as possible," replied Sir Charles; passed by without its presenting itself.
"to-morrow, if you can all get ready."        There, that part of my history is brought up
Why did Mary think it so delightful!s In to the same period with the rest; but, as we
what little secret train of emotions or ideas was are already at Sir Harry Javis's house, we may
the pleasure found of visiting a place which she as well forward the characters it contained anhad never particularly liked 1 Was it that Reg- other short stage upon the road of life.
inald Lisle was going on to London, and that   The morning of the' succeeding day broke'
her father had threatened to find him out there? fair and bright, and Mary Chevenix was up and
Well, if it was, there was no great harm in dressedbetimes. It was her habit; but yet that
it. If one could knock down half the houses, day she was'awake earlier than usual. There
and clear away the coal smoke, and lay' out one is something in a new house or a new bed which
half of the area with trees, and walks. and shrub- certainly gives one —especially in youth-an inberies, and beautiful lawns, and make all the clination to get up early and look about one.
people honest and good, and get a peep of the She went down to the drawing-room then, gaze
sky, and stop boys, women, and men from cry- ing for a minute, as she went, out of the stair'
ing old clothes, and mackerel, and muffins, and window into the park, and admiring a fine buck,
chairs to mend, and put a total end to the sec-' who, with head erect, was snuffing the morning
olnd edition of the Evening Courier, and to men air, unconscious of the fate of venison. What



LAUREL WATER.                                      67
ever~ she expected to find in the drawing-room, she did not answer, or that he felt her hand'
she found her father with his hat on, just going tremble on his arm, or what, I know not; but,
out of a door which led to the lawns; and call- after taking two or three steps, further, he turning to him, she put her handkerchief over her ed his head and looked at her. She was as
head, as ladies will do, and went out with him. pale as a corpse; and, in much alarm, her faMary thought this would be an excellent oppor- ther exclaimed, "What is the matter, my dear
-lunity to talk to him about Reginald Lisle; but, Mary? you look very ill."
as she thought, her heart beat a great deal too    "I do not feel quite well," answered 1Mary,
fast to permit her to talk of any thing.    in a low voice; "a sudden faintness has come
Sir Charles soon settled the subject of con- upon me; perhaps I had better go back."
versation, however, for he began to speak of   Supporting her tenderly, Sir Charles led her
Reginald himself. "Iam afraid,my dear Mary,"  to the house, but without uttering another word
he said, "that your mamma was not very kind upon the subject of which they had been speakto him."                                    ing; and, before they reached the door, the col"Oh yes, indeed she was," replied Mary, or was returning into his daughter's cheek.
"till she found out his name, and as that was   "I will'go and lie down again till breakfast,"
only five minutes before he went, she had not said Mary, in a more cheerful tone.; I shall
time' t undo all she had done; and besides," soon be better. Do not tell mamma, or she
she added,. in a half-laughing tone, but with a  will be frightened, and it is nothing indeed."
blush upon her cheek, " I was very kind to him    She left Sir Charles Chevenix to a deep fit
throughout, for I liked him very much indeed, of hought.  "I must see to this," he murmurand I was sure you would wish me to be so."  ed, " I must see to this.  Lisle is not a man to
"Assuredly," replied Sir Charles; " but nev- sport with woman's heart, I should think. But
ertheless, my dear girl, we must find some I must inquire further, and take some resolumeans of showing our gratitude tohim, and com- tion upon this matter."
pensating him for the loss he sustained in ren-   In the mean time, Mary sought her own room,
dering you and your mamma a service."        and found relief in a violent burst of tears.
Mary thought she knew a way that would do They were almost the first she had ever shed,
very well, but she dared not say so, and her fa- for her life hitherto had been a sunny day'withther went on. " I have asked him to our house out a cloud. The tears-were wiped away, howl
in town, to deliver our fair little friend, Miss ever, almost as soon as they came. " No, no,"'
Malcolm, into his safe custody."'            she' said, "my father must he mistaken; Rleg".Into his!" exclaimed Mary, with her cheek inald is not such a being.  I could not be misgrowing suddenly pale; " what has he to do taken in his words. Oh no, no: nor would he
with her."                                  try to deceive me-he could have no object;
" Oh  ho! Mistress  Curiosity,"  said  Sir nor if he had, would he, whose every thought
Charles, laughing, "I am not going to let you was honor, so basely treat a heart that trusted
into the secret."                            him! No, no, my father is mistaken. If he' But Kate told me last night," said Mary did take her in his arms, it was but compassion
Chevenix, " that a Major Brandrum had nobly prompted it. I will speak to this poor girl: she
and kindly promised her poor father to adopt is simplicity and candor itself,, and I slil see
her."                                       in a moment what are herlfeelings towaild him,
"Ay, till she marries, you know, Mary," re- and his toward her."
plied her father; "and, in the mean time, she   With this resolution. Mary set to workl to reis to live with Lisle's mother: so, you see, it is move the traces of the tears from her eyes, and
all comfortably arranged; but I dare say her bathed them till they looked as bright and beaumarriage will be soon."                     tifiul as ever.  She then went to the room which
"Not with Captain Lisle, I should think," said  had beeni assigned' to Kate Malcolm; but by
Mary, almost bitterly.                       that time she had quitted it, and when Mary
"Why not, my dear  why not " asked her turned away to seek her below, she met Lady
gay father; "she is an exceedingly pretty girl, Chevenix, and her opportunity was lost.
and he a Very handsome young man."
" Simply because she tells me she never saw
him more than twice in her life," answered
M rr7.                         ~j-pji3 tCHii, XXI.
"Oh, but yotii ];iio6v; Mary a gieat dJal of
mnischief can be done in a short time,0 said Sir   MXAN'S virtule,.llenor, and honesty-are often, I
Charles, maliciously   " All I know is, that, the am afraid., but yvety frail commodities; and when
night before the fire; I sa w them standing in they travel, Fate kindly- packs them  up in a
one of the passages talking together very con- crate of circumstances which very frequently
fidentially; and the first person who took her keeps theim from cracking. Sometimes, howin his arms after her poor father's death was ever, that most dangerous sort of animal, a
our young friend Lisle.  She seemed to find serviceable friend, cuts open the crate, and lets
those arms her natural resting-place too, for his themn'all tumble out and dash themselves to
bosom was soon wet with her tears."          p pieces.
Sir Charles spoke partly in jest, but partly-   Such was the case with Sir Theodore I3oughwith'a'belief in what he said. He knew neot ton. Had he been let alone'till his newly-exhow cold he made his poor daughter's her.rt cited passion for Kate MIalcolm  had subsided,
feel by his light words.; lie knew not that he the obstacles in his way, the demeanor and exwas sowing the seeds of that fell poisonous ample of Lisle and Major Brandrum, and some
weed, suspicion, in a bosom that had never felt | feeling of right -a natural feeling-for it had
it before.  Whether it was that he wondered neither been implanted;nor cultivated, might,




68.:   ~          SIR THEODORE, BROUGIITON; OR,
and probably would, have acted as the osiers  but Mary, on her return, hurried the act of
and withes of the crate, and prevented  his  dressing, and then once more sought heryoung
crockery kind of virtue from getting damaged;  friendl; bat Kate was neither in the room where
but then comes Doctor Gamble to relieve him  she usually sat during tihe first period of her
from all difficulty or opposition, and passion has  mourning, nor in her bed-rooom, and Mary Clievits own way altogether.                              e.nix rang and inquired for her.  The butler, in
In this chapter, however, neither Sir Theo-  reply to hier questions, informed her that Miss
dore himself nor Doctor Gamble are destined  Malcolm  had gone out about two hours before
to appear, and thie reader may therefbre marvel in a post-chaise, which had come for her fron
that. thliey should be mentioned at all.  Never~ London.
~theless, there was a reason  for very often the    "'here  was a servant with  it, miadam, in
things th-iat appear have much less to (o with  livery, xvho brought her a note," added! the man,
the results prcdueed, than unseen causes which  "and she dressedl atd went away directly.,
are acting powerfully all the time.                    Mariy xas soihn.at   surpriseid, and a little
The day xwhich had just begun at the end of  noitaed,  she  klewHv n Wt wy;  but she did what
the last chapter, went on to its close without was perihaps tile best thing she could do: she
enabling Mary to obtain even five minutes' pri  went to hier moter's dressing-room, and told
vate conversation wvith Kaite Malcolm.        hese  her what had ocur r ed.
things Will happen in the very simplest man-           Lady  Clnevenix  waVs dressing  for dinner.
ier, and I coultl state a  ldozen diftlerent obsta-   Jias she not come back'" sihe inquired, wxit.h
eles wixi.h presented tliemselves, only that it out the sliIghtest  expression of wouider.  "She
is not worth while,  for they were all utterly in- will return with Sir Ii arry,  Mary.  She came
significant, though sufficient fibr their purpo'se.   and told rne that she Iad been sent foi' to LonOn thile foillowing day, the moirnring passed in  dona  and I conclude that it was hlie who sent,
the same mranner'hut toward noon when her  as shlie said he thad gone most kindly to inqluire
father had gone to the stables, and Sir Harry  into some afltitis of her poor father's at his
was busy, and Lady Chevenix was vriiting  let- agnt's   in tow.ii He certainly is one of the'ters, Mary walked up quietly to the little bou- 1)best and kiniest old  ien in- the  x-orld."
doir whvere ier fair young friend sat —ota bcane,        Tis a nisxxe  satisfied  Mary  Chevenix for
it was not called a boudoir in those days  and  two noinutes anid a half, but no more; fior. while
seated herself beside her.  But Mary had some-  descenditnt  tile stairs, after having souglht tier
thing ti conceal as wxell as to discover  tlhe  gfloves in her 1own room, she met Sir IHarry
state of her own healt, while slihe inquired into  Jarvis just a!i,ted firom his horse, and appar-'that of her companion's-and, of course,  shlie  ently in a greait hurry to dress.
did not go directly to the point.  Woman's lo;         " Biut teti nioutes, bright one," he said,', but
is like the timid hare; though to a proverb it ten ninutes to wvash, antd powder, and change
may return always to the place whence it set dlusty garitents foir clean ones; but J'ivill do
out, it turns and doubles often by the way.  She  it, andi neiiheri spoil fislh nor keep soup waiting."
went on fir some five minutes, then, preparing         "But wvhere is Kate Malcolm 1" askedl Mary;
for those questions which were to be decisive. "h xliae  you n   blroughit her l)ack with you, Sir
but in the midst of one of hier circuits the dior
opened, and Sir Harry Jarvis, entered with' arni   3ehe,:A: baLronet   looked astonished.  "Where
open letter in his hand.  lie paused o0n se:i,,' ii iKate Atalcolon    " he said;'is she not here 1'
Mary, but then immediately, with thle air pecui- i,     i:hra rad in'e butler,  who was standing  near,
jar ito him, mingling  courtliness with  kirti.~':.;',  i:.ht Imn, a,:oste tog ete r, wliat had occurred0
Ie advanced, and taking the hand of Miss  i'', (. e i.         "'venix stated what hier nioth- 
coim, whom  he had not yet seen that(y,  r a  si  i; her   A!! was now surprise and,asked after her health, anrid sat down besic her iir.tyir    aido, xwi'tiout iniding eitlher fish or
with the Iohk of one who intended to stay a  s'upe,  ir, Hiarry  stayed to ask a dozen queslong time.                                          ii(:s, witx It no e  anxiety than seemetl  natural,
Mary, not judging that he had any piarti-A:, il tin his sh't  acquaintanCe with Kate.
business, resolved to stay him out, let his i"st'   l tink thei ri    s a note lying on the table
be l)ng as it wouldt  but, ten mniinutes:.i'i,'  he  imitite iro:rn,'" said lMary'  "but I hadl bet
servant came to tell her that her fatr'im   i i  -r got and ini,,ire ifi mamma knowxsany  thing
her company in a drive, and her resoutii,:,.'.    (::    e, c. i a   ale wrellt [o coisiult her about going."..fo.r e't..~a  it.                                 I'., C(eve.,',: htiwever,  had  told all she
She Ilat  now to get ready, x!ic,   s:t-;,;:,::,::: aisa;   ne  ast  nisied as any one
in a very thoightful inood, took s e,:e  },,t'   i  d not goie to join:, ~.      ~~ r:~ r-_.i-:~ 2':.~-,,,i..Kall thad  not gone tojoiu
ge thaiti uisual t and as sli" desto:tl:-.'''i:   it::a-. ie wt  i   ier
after tdretssing, she hartd Sir I:y  J:.i. ":.':   Sy U           riting," soaid thtat haderinig tis horise'and'igroon  to ci'  -:  ad been isui  ione.d
Inet i    oat n"' i..:, Vo  by!i:arry ate l    it oni
I an'  oing to:    r:,: -::':;, I         dn, she hid i  nt 0: l'.alnpird it his ~rieiti d';i''i.: I                 ~'   i,_,\1 tIi  e
eany:oalllanIs'   i.,                                      } I. t  t:-          no i t I)i, I tii.  a, t
]]lt Mkary ~ilel n..':,.  1;: 3li~  1'"::'.":ul —.s htsy   (,.)tga
net rel'itrt ii''i;ll nt hi~:i e.:f t I   i''1'"         1 thelpi) o r it;g'?
nI  er Jftilter;r,''-.
N.he'ntit e ity ix..to itit'i to i,',::sc <;:''-,' +!..:.;.'N -::.,i:: soilie she spotke, as if to
jinjtilt:i e.C u''e'iet i::a:~':. i.i edox' stairs  int it tihat
Tv miterihabjcnt Ieai —y   t1   i. I    entered the dressingm-room




LAUREL WATER.                                        69
~in much agitation.'There is something, very  me on two of the coach horses.  We shall
wrong here!" he exclaimed, holding out an  learn at the lodge which way the chaise'turned,
open note to his wife; "this poor girl has been  and doubtless track it for a considerable disdecoyed away from  our protection, when I tance, at least. If it (lid go to London, we will
pledlged my honor to give her over safely, in  set the Bow-street officers on the trick,:and
a few days, to him who is to supply the place  I will ride straight to the Hummums, where,
of a father to her. Read that, Louisa.  Sir I'find, my good friend Major Brandrum  is
Harry says he knows nothing of it; and it to put up.  His long experience of Indian warseems to me evidently a trick."              fare. must have taught him to follow a trail
Ladly Chevenix tookl the letter, and read the better than any of us, and, I will answer for it,
few words which it contained, as ifollows:  his whole heart and soul will be in the pursuit."'
"' Miss Malcolm is requested to accompany    "Oh, stay and take some dinner, Charles,"'
the bearer immed-iately to London in the chaise cried Lady Chevenix; ", and do promise me
which he will bring, as her signature is wanted  that, if you overtake the man, you will do nothdirectly to her father's papers.  Sh'e can be ing violent."
easily hack at Barnet by the usual dinner-hour   " I will not leave a whole bone in his body,"
of the family."                               answered her husband, hotly. "Dinner, Louisa!
It Wvas dated from  Lincoln's Inn, but the  Do you think I would stay to-eat dinner when
hand-writing M;as unknown to every one; and very likely this poor girl is in the hands of a
a scene of bustle and confusion ensued which  villain."
banished all thndoghts of dinner.  As soon as    "I will go with you, Chevenix," said Sir
Lady Chevenix could go down, a consultation  Harry, ringing the bell.
was held in the library, and the servants who    His friend endeavored to dissuade him, sayhad seen the bearer of the note and the chaise  ing, "No, no; you stay and amuse the ladies4
were strictly examined, but without being able Jarvis. You are not so deeply interested in this
to afflbrd any satisfactory information.  The  matter."
man was quite a stranger, the old butler said,     I am more interested than you know," reand seemed to know nothing of his errand; for, plied the old baronet; and, turning to the seras soon as he had delivered the letter, he sat vant who entered, he ordered a fresh horse for
himself down on the steps, and remained whis- himself, and another for Sir Charles.
fling till the young lady appeared.  IHe was in   In about twenty minutes the two gentlemen
a brown anti red livery, with worsted lace, and set out, followed by four servants, and as both,
had a cockade in his hat; but, that was all that notwithstanding the age of the one, were stout
could be discovered.                          riders, they were soon at the lodge of the park.
" Perhaps it may be no trick after all," said  There they received the first information of the
-Lady Chevenix, anxious to soothe her husband. way the chaise had taken, the woman who
"Miss Malcolm may have many friends and re- opened the gate informing them that, though
Rations in London of whom we know nothing, it came from, the Barnet side, it had gone on
and it is not at all improbable that some one of the road to Hertford.
themn should require her presence and write to    "Stay," said Sir Charles, as they received
her."                                         these tidings; " it will be betterto send my
" Quite out of the question, my dear lady," man Stevens to Barnet to make inquiries at all
replied Sir Harry Jarvis, who seemed even the inns; most likely they watered the horses
more excited than Sir Charles.  " A curious there. Did you remark any name on the chaise,
circumstance, which I can not pause now. to my good lady?"'
explain, led her this morning to give me an ac-   " No, I did not think to do that, sir," replied
count of her family; and I will take upon me the woman; "but it was a yellow chaise, any
to say that she has no friend in London who  how."
Would so write. Besides; who could know that   "They are all yellow!" said Sir Charles,
she was here?"                               with a sigh; " that is the devil; one can not
That question threw Sir Charles Chevenix  distinguish them by head-mark;" and, calling
into a fit of meditation. The only persons to up his servant, he gave him directions in regard
whom he had mentioned whither he was going, to the inquiries he was to make, and bade himn
when heplaced Kate under the care of hiswife, afterward ride on to London and seek him at
were Major Brandrum  and Reginald Lisle; the Hummums.
and, for an instant, a doubt of the latter crossed    This done, the Hertford road was pursued to
his mind.  It was banished the next moment, the first toll-gate; but there they learned from
however, not only by the remembrance of the keeper that no such vehicle had passed
Reginald's high and honorable character, but within the time he named.
by the recollection that Kate was to be put   " Then they must have taken the by-road to
under the protection of his own mother, and the left," said Sir Harry Jarvis, " for the other
therefore lhe could have no possible object in on the right only leads to my neighbor General
luring her away from the house of Sir Harry  Hinds's."
Jarvis. The next instant his mind turned to    Back, therefore, they turned, and pursued a
Lutwich; and, in a low voice, he asked Sir Har- narrow lane till they came to some cottages,
ry what he thought on that point. Nothing, where they again got intelligence of the object
however, but conjecture was to be had, although  of their pursuit, and thus traced it on to the
the old baronet did not at all seem to imagine highway to St. Alban's. At the junction of the
that his friiend's suspicion was directed aright. two roads there was.a sinall public house, the
At length, Sir Charles, starting:aup, exclaim- landlord of which puzzled them sorely by replyed, " We are wasting time.  Lend me a good ing to their inquiries, "1 Yes, yes, sir, it camo
horse, Jarvis. I will take two of my men with  along here, sure enough; but, just at the cor



70                    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
ner there, two men on horseback, who had  but he kneeir, likewise, that some of his secrets
been hanging about all'the day, met it and  were very dangerous ones, and he eschewed
turned it t'other way. I could hear one on'emr them, being a man of extreme caution, a quality
say to the fellow on the box,' You sha'n't pass which he had obtained many years before as a
here,' and so round they went toward Lunnun; marker at a billiard-table.
but I don't think they got far that way either,  UWhat passed between Colonel Lutwich and
for I saw two others-just such as were stand- Zachary Hargrave I do not know; but their
ing here-waiting a mile further up, as I went conference lasted some ten minutes, and thera
by about an hour afore."                    the latter came forth and left the cottage.  No
" What other road is there between this and sooner was he gone, than, tearing a sheet of
the place where you saw them 1" demanded  paper in scraps, Lutwich wrote a Christian and
Sir Charles; but his friend replied instead of surname upon each, and then, just beneath,
the landlord, " Nothing but a cross country road  inscribed the cabalistic words,' Barrow Hill,
toward Watford."                            noon."  Having done this, and seen that the
"There, sir, you can see where the chaise  writing was dry, he went forth to the little ride.
turned," said the master of the ale-house, "for before, the cottage door, and, advancing to the
she made a mighty great scrape upon the  side of his servant's horse, he placed the note in
road."                                      his hands, saying, "That to Sir Harry Jarvis:
"That may be some guide,'" said Sir Harry; deliver, and come away. But give these as
"let us track the wheels from that point till you go: they are all in order. Then join me
we get further information."                at Swivel End as fast as possible."
This was accordingly done, and the chaise    The man made no reply but a nod, and rode
was thus distinctly traced to the corner of the  off.
by-road toward Watford, and for some way    " Have a nice little supper ready at nine,"
along it. But night began to fall; there were  said Lut\wich, speaking to the old servant as
no cottages near to afford information; and at he returned into the house; "and see that
length Sir Charles and his companions were  every thing is in order, Joseph."
left completely at fault, among the narrow lanes    "For how many, colonel." asked the man.
which had puzzled Doctor Gamble and our oth-    "Oh, not many," replied his master, looker friends two nights before.                ing a little puzzled; "one or two. See if Hal!
saddled the bay for me before he went. If.not,
tell the boy to do it. And, stay! put these into
the holsters."
CHAPTER XXI.                      "Ah, colonel!" said the old man, shaking
his head ruefilly as he took a beautiful pair of
COLONEL LUTWICH was writing a note in the  pistols which his master handed him, "Ah,
saloon where he had received his guests so  colonel!" and he heaved a deep sigh.
hospitably, and had just sealed it and written    "Pooh, pooh! you old fool," said Lutwich,
the address, when the stiff old man-servant, "there is nothing going on to-night.  You
who walked about the house with a very dig- think yourself mighty wise, and faney all kinds
nified air, came in and stood' before his master, of foolish things; but you know nothing.about
like a captive Hebrew before one of the kings  it."
of the Medes and Persians. The guests had    "Thank Heaven for that!" said the old
departed at an early hour on the preceding day,; man. " I'm only sorry, colonel, to see you out
and Lutwich, notwithstanding all his schemes about such matters, and with such things as
of going to his lodgings in London, had re- these."
mained at his cottage in a somewhat troubled    "About what matters, Master Joseph?" reand restless state. Several letters had he sent plied his master, sternly; but then, relaxing
off in different directions the evening before, his frown, he added, in a good-humored tone,
and now, as I have just said, he seemed about "those things you seem so.much afraid of are
to dispatch another.                         only destined to deliver an excellent and amia"What is it." he asked, as he finished the  ble young lady from the hands of a villain.
address, looking up to the old man's face.   Now, old man, are you satisfied!"
"Hal is mounted, sir," replied the butler,    "Yes, sir, for to-night," replied Joseph; "I
for so I suppose we must term him, " and the  wish they mayanever be worse employed;" and
servant who was with the gentleman the other he withdrew.
night has just ridden in-Hargrave, I think they    When he was gone, Iutwich sat down, leaned
call him."                                   his head upon his hand, and meditated deeply
"Send him in, send him in," exclaimed Lut- for a moment or two. There are sometimes a
wich, eagerly.  "Tell Hal to wait, but keep in  few jilain words, spoken even by a person for
the saddle."                                whom we have little respect, which strike home
With slow and ceremonious, step, the grave  to the heart more closely than the most powerdomestic went out, and soon ushered Zachary  ful oratory. Ibelieve, indeed, that, under some
Hargrave into his master's presence. iHe then  circumstances, the less respect we have for
retired,,closing the door behind him. More- the speaker, the more is the force of the reover-and I mention it as one of the most' monstrance,.  When we place ourselves ia
curious exceptions to a general rule-he did  such a position that a man for whom we have
not linger near the door, nor put his ear down, no reverence feels himself elevated to the subut walked away, as if he had no curiosity'  periority of admonition, the warning derives
whatsoever. It was not, indeed, that he did  point from the fact.
not suspect Colonel Lutwich of having secrets,   At lengih Lutwich started up, hurried out to
for he knew he had many —perhaps too many; the stables, examined his horse's girths, leaped




LAUREL WATER.                                     71'lightly into the saddle, and galloped away. Ten common-place way in which Lady Chevenix
minutes after, he might be seen, ewith his beast had heard what she said, made her think the
reined in, upon the top of a little mound-like doubt silly, and she banished it.:hill, which, I am inclined to believe, was origin-   When the chaise passed the lodge gate, had
ally the rude monument of the savage dead, she been acquainted with the country in the
-from the name of "the Barrow Hill," which it neighborhood, she would have seen ati once
still retained. He was no longer alone, how- that she was not going toward London; but
ever, for two well-mounted men were there she knew nothing of the way; and the vehicle'before him. Another followed, cantering gayly went on upon a good broad road for some disup three or four minutes after, and another and tance, till suddenly the man upon the drivinganother at short intervals, so that one might seat called out, "Boy, to the left!" and the
have imagined that it was "the meet" of a horses were turned down a narrow lane. Kate
hunting party. Lutwich spoke little to any one, thought it strange that the driver should rebut what he (id say seemed to receive respect- quire to be told the road; but still she did.not
ful attention; not that there was any very take much notice, and at the end of about a
solemn reverence in the aspect of his compan- quarter of an hour they issued out into the wide
ions, for they laughed and talked when he was highway again.
addressirg them; but when he did, it was "Yes,   Suddenly a loud voice shouted out, "You
sir"-,," Certainly, colonel" —" I understand can't pass here!" and with a sharp whirl the
quite well, sir."                          chaise wheeled round in the opposite direction.
At length the party, including Lutwich him- Kate now put down the front window, and inself and his servant, amounted to no less than quired what was the matter in a tone of some
ten; and then, in a few brief sentences, he dis- alarm; but that was soon quieted; for, turntributed to them their several postssand duties. ing round and touching his hat, the man said,
" You, Wilcox, ride forward alone on the Hert- " They've got the road up there, ma'am, laying
ford road, within sight of the toll-bar.  I do down new water pipes, so we must go round
not think they will attempt to go straight on; by the lanes-that's all."
if they do, stop them. Tell Tom, the turn-   On they went again'for about two miles
pike man, to let them pass at his peril. Mind, more; and then, suddenly, Kate saw two men
the man has brown and red livery for his dis- on horseback draw out from the side of the
guise. If they go down the lane-when you road, and plant themselves directly in the way..are quite sure of them —come round by Barnet The post-boy looked back to,the servant, and
on to the high road, and join our friends there. the latter pointed sharply with his thumb to
You, Captain Swan, with Browne, go on St. the right, when the chaise was turned at once
Alban's way-about a hundred yards beyond up a narrow by-road, and Kate began to feel a
The Skittles will do. They must come out of good deal of alarm. What could she do? she
the lane there, if Wilcox turns them  at the asked herself; how should she act? but there
toll. Just say,'You can't pass here.' He will was no reply at hand, and she sat still while
understand you in a minute.  But you must the vehicle rolled on.
know him, I think. He is the man they call   "If I see a house or cottage," she- thought,.Ben Plowshare, who was kicked out of the " I will stop the chaise and make inquir", or.ch6colate house."                         apply to the first person ofgentlemanly appear" Oh, I know him, colonel," replied Captain ance we meet.".Swan, "and he knows me.'He won't try to   Just as this resolution was taken, she pergo on when I tell him to go back."          ceived a gentleman on horseback, with a ser"Then you, Martin, Jones, and Dick, keep vant behind him, riding apparently through the.together a mile on this side of Barnet, and stop fields, at the,distance of two or three hundred
them there. The other three must watch the yards, on a line parallel to the course of the
eorner of Mim's Lane, and the little road by chaise. She could not, indeed, see distinctly,
the church, and the turning by the Three Horse on account of the hedge, whether he was in
Shoes. Divide them among-you as you like, another road or on the meadow; but a mo —
but,' mind! do not let them break through. ment or -two after his horse rose to a gate, and
Sooner send a bullet into the fellow's head; he went gracefully over, followed by the serand remember, the object is to turn them at vant. The next instant he disappeared, and
every corner till they are driven up toward the no cottage came in sight, while still the chaise
cottage.  I do not mind if they have a long rolled on, and turned and returned, in what
round of it-all the better, indeed. I and Hal seemed to poor Kate a very strange and somewill be near most of you some time in the after- what alarming fashion.: She fancied, too, that
noon. Now away! Who'll le over that fence she saw signals passing between the post-boy
~first 1" and, cantering down, he took the hedge and the servant. She had no watch to tell the
and ditch with grace and ease.             hour; but a shade came over the sky, and it
In less than a minute after, there wqre not seemed so long since she had quitted the house
three of the horsemen any where together. But of Sir Harry Jarvis, that she felt sure, if they
it may be as well to leave them now to their had directed their course toward London, they.own arrangements, and to follow the chaise must have reached at last the suburbs.
which carried poor Kate Malcolm away from    At length, terror overcoming timidity, she.the house of Sir Harry Jarvis. She had obeyed let down the front glass again, and asked the
-the summons she received without much hesi- man if he was sure they were going right.'tation-not'exactly without a doubt crossing   "Oh yes, ma'am," he replied,' quite right,.her mind, for she thought it somewhat strange only they are so mending the high road, they
that the note she had received gave no indica- have torn it all-to pieces. That makes it a lit-'tion: whatsoever of the writer's name; but the tle round, but it is all right."




72                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
She was less easily satisfied now, however,   " Keep the horses still, sit!" exclaimed LutOfor slie felt sure that she perCeived a meaning  wich, fiercely,'air I w'ill ftid means to make
grin upon the fellow's lips as he half turned  them and ynot quiet;" but at that moment, as
his face toward her, and she looked to the right the groom relaxed his hold of the bridle for an
and left to see, if there was any one near to instant, tihe post-hoy drove his spurs into his
whom  she could apply. Again, but this time  bearer's sides, the animal sprang forward, strikon the right, she saw a gentleman on horse.- ing the servant's horse with the pole, and the
back and a servant, and though they were still chaise went rattling d~own the road at fill gallop.
at a distance, she felt sure that they were the    "Shall I go after him and give. him  a shot,
same.  The sight puzzled her; and th(ough her colonel?" cried Hal; but Lutwich answered,
simple heart was not suspicious, yet she thought " No, no.  Let him go. We must find other
it strange that the two should thus apparently  means of getting the lady safely home.  Take
follow the chaise.  While sIle paused to con- my arm, dear Miss Malcolm,". he continued
sider, again the figures disappeared, and the -"you have been alarmed. I am afraid. Be under
carriage took another sudden tuirn.' At the no fear now.  Look upon me, fbr the moment,
distance of about half a mile, the trees and as a brother; and be assured that all a brothhedge on the left ceased, and an open conmmon er's affection and tegard can do for you shall
presented itself on that side. It was now evi- be done, till you are again placed with those
dently growing (lark, and Kate felt extremely  who have a better title to protect you."
terrified.  At a distance there was a clump of "~ Oh, I am so much obliged to yon, sir," she
tall trees, with smoke rising up from  among  said; "I (lo not know where those people were
themr, but no sign of the city, nor, indeed, of taking me, or what was their object; but I am
any other habitation; and yet tile post-boy  now sure that tl-ey have deceived me, for they
spurred on hard, coming nearer to the clump could not be going toward London."'.
of trees, but apparently intending to turn in on    "Quite in an opposite direction," answered
the left. Suddenly, however, through the dark- Lutwich;' but we will have explanations lereening twilight, the horseman and his servant after.  In the mean time, you shall rest at lmy
again appeared, and Kate's doubts of them, for house, which you see there, till we can find
a moment, returned in full force. They were means of sending you back."
instantly changed to the most opposite feel-    "Can not I walk back?" asked Kate, eaings, however; for the man on the box, lean- gerly.
ing forward, exclaimed with an oath, " There    "Impossible, dear young lady; the distance
are those fellows again, d- me! Turn sharp  is far greater than you think," replied Lutwich.
away across the common, and back into the  "No, no.  Come in and rest, and take some
Barnet road."                                 refrieshment.  We will then talk over what is, The poor girl's resolution was instantly tak. to be'done. Believe me, you are with a man
en; and, putting out hler head,, she called loud- of honor, who would not, for life, say or do any
ly to the gentleman on' horseback, while the thing that could give you pain.  Come, dear
driver turned his horses as he had been direct- Miss Malcolm I" and, drawing her arm through
ed, and floggedt them almost into a gallop.   his own, he gave his horse to the servant, and
The man's manceuver was in vain: the beau- led her across the common toward the cottage.
tiful hunter which the gentleman she had seen    His words and his manner were all caleuwas riding, stretched out fiercely, cleared the lated to disarm  apprehension.  I-e was kind
ground in a moment, was wheeled in front of and even tenlder, but without the least appearthe chaise; and a voice of thunder cried  "Stop, ance of gallantry; and though once or twice,
or you are a dead man!" and at the same mo- as they went, the subject of Kate's adventure
ment Kate saw a pistol drawn from the horse- was referred to, he neither asked nor gave exman's holsters.                               planations, touching upon the topic with a deThe post-boy reined back the horses so sud- gree of reserve which excited some curiosity.
denly as almost to overturn the chaise in the    Kate told him, indeed, how she had been inditch, and wellnigh throw  himself out of the veigled away from the house of Sir Harry Jarsaddle, and the worthy gentleman on the box  vis, and asked,' " What could be their motive!'
jumped down, leaped the hedge on the other   "A  bad one, my dear young lady," replied
side of the road, and ran away.               Lutwich, dryly; "we will talk more about it' Stand at the horses' heads," said Kate's presently, for there are some things to be condeliverer, speaking to his groom; and at the sidered which perhaps may puzzle you a little.
same time dismounting, he came round to the  Suffice it, I have been watching the chaise for
side of the carriage and opened the door, adding some time, as I said just now, anxious to see
sternly to the driver, " Keep your horses still, if any of the principal actors in the affair would
sir!"                                       appear, but fully resolved to prevent your being
But the horses, probably rather under the taken much further."
secret application of the spur than, from  any    "Then didl you know I was in it "' asked
great restiveness after so long a drive, contin- Kate, in surprise.
ued to rear and plunge, and the gentleman,, Lutwich turned toward her, and she could
holding out his hand to the poor girl within, -see a faint smile upon his lip.  " I guessed it,"
said, in a kindly tone, " You had better get out he answered, "from some informlation which
for a roment. I iave been watching this chaise? \reached me this morning; but let us just now
for more than half an hour. I think you will talk of other things.  I will very soon give you
be safer out."                                every information you can wish. You are safe,
Kate Malcolm eagerly took his hand, and and that is enough for the present."
sprang out, saying,',Oh, thank you, Colonel   In about a quarter- of an hour they reached
L'ltwich, a thousand times: I do not know  the gate of the cottage gardens, the groom  folwnertv they were taking me."




LAUREL  WATER..                                      73
lowing with the horses close behind.  The old  not go without sending to Barnet for a chaise,: gardener opened the gates; and, leading hi   ithcmut waiting forits coming, and then travelfair companion down the avenue, Lutzwich rang  ing at midnight all the way, back again. I-lad
the bell at the door, which was opened by the  I my own carriage here, I would immediately
butler, whose face exhibited a little surprise to  put it at your disposal; but I have only saddle
see a young and very beautiful girl upon his  horses, and not even a lady's saddle, should
master's arm.                                 you be inclined to act the dame of romance."
"' Lights!" said Lutwich, leading the way    "Well. I will write, then," said Kate, with a
into his saloon.  "'Now sit down, dear Miss  faint smile; "I see no other course."
Malcolm, and rest for a little," he continued,   "There is none, indeed," replied Lutwich;
conducting her to a seat near the fire; and then, "hut, to make your mind easy as to what your
while the old servant, after having lighte'd the  friends may think, I will, at the same time, distapers on the table, closed the door and retired, patch a note to Sir Charles Clievenix, expressthe master of the house leaned thoughltfilly flr ing roy regret that, having no carriage here, 1:
a moment on the back of a chair, his handsome  can not send you backiat once. This will acfigure falling naturally into an attitude of great count for all, and I will answer for it, Lady
grace. Then taking out his watch, he sail, Clhevenix wvill blame neither you nor me for the
"It is past seven, my dear Miss Malcolm.  Be- course wve are pursuing."
fore we could get a chaise-from Barnet, and    "Thank you a thousand times for all your
you could reiach Sir HI-arry Jarvis's, it would he kindness, and f6r all the trouble you are taking,."
about one o'clock in the morning, and Barnet replied Kate.
is the nearest place where we can get post-   The two notes were written at once; and,
horses.  I see no course to be pursued but'for ringing the jell, Colonel Lutwich gave them to
you to write a note at once to Lady Chevenix, old Joseph, saying,  I,et the boy mount the
telling her briefly what has occurred, in order fieshest horse. and carry these over at once to
to relieve the mind of your friends. I will send Jarworth Park.  Tell him, should the family be
it over by a servant, and they then can either up, to wait and see if there be any answer.
come to-night or to-morrow morning for you, Then, when you have given these orders, reas they judge best; but I trust you will tell turn here yourself. I must endeavor to make
them, also, that I will do all that I can in my  you as comfortable as possible, my dear Miss
humble dwelling to put you at your ease and  Malcolm," he continued, as the old man reiniake you comfortable."                      tired; "but I am, afraid you will find my cotKate Malcolm gazed in his face anxiously. tage bl)t a poor place."
The circumstances we-re new and strange to    Kate shook her head sorrowfully, saying, " I
her;  She had struggled with poverty-borne  have been accustomed to far poorer of late
deep sorrow-fulfilled many a difficult duty well years, as you may divine."
and unhesitatingly; but the thought of remain-    "I trust those fortunes are changed," said
ing alone in the house of a man nearlya stranger her companion.  "Would it were my lot —_
to her, and that man a young, gay man of the  The conclusion of the sentence seemed.to hang
world, alarmed her-not, indeed, from  any  suspended on his lips for a moment, and then
dread of what might be his conduct, for his he abruptly turned away, and moved some of
whole demeanor from the time they had first the books from one side "of the table to the
met-his tone, his look, as well as his words-  other5
had won upon her confidence wonderfully. She    Iin a moment after, the old servant came in.
thought-nay, she felt sure that she could trust again, and his master said, " Tell the maids to
herself with him  in any circumstances with  prepare the room  in which Major Brandrum
perfect safety; and perhaps, of all the men she  slept the other night for Miss Malcolm.  Let
had evbr seen, he was the one in whom she  them move the little bed in from the closet, and
would have felt most inclined to trust; but her tell your wife, Joseph, that I should be obliged
mind had been somewhat strictly tutored in  to her to sleep there for to-night, as I dare say
very early days to proprieties, and she shrank  this lady will be well pleased to have a cormfrom the very thought of what might be con- pan>on in a strange house."
strued into wrong.                              Kate bent down her head.  She felt very
"I know not what I ought to do," she said, grateful, and her heart swelled to express her
at length.                                    sense of his delicacy and kindness, but she
"Do as I advise you," he answered, gravely; could not find words to do so.  "And now,
and then added, in almost a reproachful tone, Joseph, let us have tea in the next room,"
"Miss Malcolm, do you doubt me!"             continued Lutwich; adding, when the man was
"Oh no!" exclaimed Kate, holding out her gone, "His wife is a very respectable old lady
hand to him frankly. "I am obliged to you, -indeed, a superior person-and she has done
Colonel Lutwich, for so many acts of kindness. much to,make him  better than he once was.
I could not doubt you if I were willing —and, We are all molded more or less, my dear young
indeed, I am not.  I only fear they may thiilk  lady, by those whom Fate assigns us for our
it strange that I do not go back directly instead  yoke-fellow in life. Many a man has been sayof writing. But I do not think you would ad- ed from perdition by the calm, gradual influence
vise me to do what mnay even seem improper."  of a good and amiable wife.", Not on any account, upon my honor," re-    A short silence succeeded, and indeed Colplied Lutwich, warmly, taking her hand and  oonel Lutwich seemed very thoughtful that evenreleaqing it againimmediately.  "But consider, ing; but at length Kate raised her eyes and
my fair young friend, it is very easy for me to  said, with a slight glow upon her cheek, " You
send a letter by a nan on horseback, who will promised that you would give me some explaspeedily reach Jarworth Park; but that you. can  nation of all this strange affair, in regarid to:




'74                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
which. though I have been made a principal was silent, however, ahd Lutwich a moment or
actor therein against my will, I am more igno- two after returned in some degree to the sub-,rant, it would seem, than any one."       ject on which they had been previously con"And now,"'! said Lutwich, with a laugh, " I versing.
am half sorry that I made the promise, for I   "Do you know, fair lady," he said, in a gayer
find it somewhat difficult to perform, without tone, "you and I have to consider what our
risking consequences which I know would be conduct must be when Sir Harry Jarvis or your
painful to you. Have you no idea whatsoever other friends come or send for you.?-nay, do
how and why this has occurred?"            not look astonished or alarmed. This I must' None, I can assure you," replied Kate, explain to you, for we shall have to come to
looking him full in the face with an ingenuous some resolution."
blush. " I can not even imagine why any one   Kate's heart beat again- very fast, for she
should treat me in such a manner."         knew not what was comling next, and her feelLutvich sat down near her, and gazed at her ings were already such toward her companion
almost sadly'for a moment, but then withdrew  as to render even that doubt very agitating.
his eyes and said, "I believe you, from my heart.   " The case is this," continued Lutwich.
You do not know how beautiful you are, my "1 The trick which has been played upon youe
dear Miss Malcolm; nor perhaps, even if you may, and indeed must be, considered as insultdid, would you be able to imagine the baseness ing by those who have you under their protecto which that beauty may subject you."     tion. Sir Charles Chevenix is, I have always
Kate Malcolm's face was now crimson; and heard, as generous and.noble-minded a man as
her companion proceeded rapidly, laying his any in the world; but he is hot and hasty, and
hand gently upon hers and withdrawing it again I think would undoubtedly resent this business
immediately. " But why should we talk of in a manner likely to lead to very serious consuch things? why should I alarm a young and sequences if he should be made acquainted
confiding heart with even a knowledge of all'with the name of the person who attempted to
the evil that is in the world? Go on, go on in lure you away from his ca.re."
-your innocence and truth; and trust to them for   "Oh, then, do not tell him, if you know,"
defense in yourself, or for friends to defend you. cried Kate Malcolm.
Suffice it, that when first I ever beheld you, I   "I do know certainly," replied Lutwich;
found you, as you must but too well remember, " but there is also another view of the case, my
insulted by a mere boy, who I thought knew  dear young lady, which you, in your simplicity
no better. That may give you some indica- and innocence, do not think of. If I do not tell
tion of the causes of an event which has been Sir Charles the whole facts, he may, and proba mystery to you.  Accidental circumstances ably will, suspect that I have had some share
brought to my knowledge that a deceit was in the business."
likely to be practiced upon you; and I not only   "Oh, he will never think of such a thing,"
cautioned Sir Harry Jarvis, anonymously, to be cried Kate; "you could have no nmotive."
careful of you, but gave him reasons for so   But Lutwich shook his head. " You are
being. Not satisfied, I took means to gain fur- mistaken in your conclusion," he replied. "Sir
ther information,.and then watched to serve Charles will easily divine that to have you thus
you.. Luckily, I did not watch in vain-But -for one day in my house, I would do any thing
here is tea; let us go into the other room, and short of a breach of honor; and, besides," he
think no more of these things at present."  continued, rapidly glanqing away again from
Kate Malcolm rose thoughtfully to accom- the, avowal of his feelings, " besides, he will
pany him, but paused ere she reached the door, hear that I watched the chaise for several miles.
saying, " How can I ever thank you sufficient- He will think it strange that I did not stop the
ly'!"                                     post-boy, and force him to drive you back. He
"More than sufficiently," he answered, "by will not understand that, in the hurry of the
never mentioning the subject again."       moment and by an instant's hesitation-"  He
When in the dining-room, where the service paused very gravely, and then added, "Ay, by
had been. laid, Lutwich led her to the end of an instant's hesitation, I let the opportunity
the table, and gazed at her, while she made tea, escape of doing that which was right. I blame
with a look of admiration that he could not myself —will he not blanre me still more!"
restrain. Busy with her occupation, to which    "Oh, do not blame yourself," cried Kate,
she had been accustomed, she did not observe warmly; " it was not your fault."
the expression sf his face for some time; but   "Yes it was," answered Lutwich, almost
at length, raising her eyes, read there a history bitterly;- and, drawing his chair somewhat
which made her heart beat quick. Lutwich nearer, he added, in a low voice, " I hesitated
instantly withdrew his glance, and attempted  between the pleasure of liaving you here-of
to explain'the eagerness with which he had seeing you, and being with you tbr one.whole
been gazing by saying, " You are the first lady, day, and taking you back in'the chaise at once.
my dear Miss Malcolm, who has ever made tea It was but an instant; but that instant, and the
for me in this house, and it looks strange-but eagerness of the scoundrel driver to escape,
very pleasant."                           mnade it too late to act right. — Now I have conKate was not deceived, however; but even fessed my fault. I repent it-I grieve for it.
the attempt to conceal his feelings, under the Only'say that you forgive me, and I will utter
circumstances in which she was placed, tended not one other word upon this subject till I-can
to win gratitude still more, and something like do so boldly and openly. Tell me, do you fora tear of admiration and thankfulness for such give me." and he held out his hand toward her
conduct swam for an instant in her eyes, and with a look of sorrowful doubt.
then- seemed to be- absorbed in their light. She   "Oh yes," replied Kate, giving him her hand;
"but what is to be done V'



LAUREL WA:TER.'.                                - 7., I know not," replied Lutwich; " but such He lured her from her thoughtfulness,' too, al-:are the consequences of even hesitating to do though with a strange, new sensation, almost
right. I am not one," he added, with a melan-  approaching fear, Kate felt that she was loved,
choly smile, " to moralize too deeply upon such and, perhaps, that she could love in return..
subjects. I tiave done many a thing inf life She was no way versed in such sensations. it
very, very wrong; but I could have wished my is true, and she was eager to question her own,every action-ay, even my every thought to- heart; but she was sure that her gratitude was
ward you. to have been free from the least very, very strong, or that there was something
shade of selfishness; and now I have placed warmer still within her bosom.
myself in a position where I risk the chance
of incurring suspicion unjustly, or of bringing
about serious mischief if I place the responsibility upon the real culprit.".                         CHAPTER XXIII.
Kate had been t hinkingdeeply while he spoke;
but when the sound of his voice ceased, she look-   WE are informed, in one of the truest histoed up with a smile, as if her mind had come to ries which has ever beeR produced since the
some satisfactory conclusion, and she said, deluge-I know not very accurately what went
"Tell him-tell Sir Charles Chevenix. I have before-that when Beder, king of Persia, had.always found it best to be frank and straightfor-. been carried, in the form of a white bird with
ward. I never concealed any thing I did in my a red bill and feet, by the waiting-maid of Gilife, except that letter to Mr. Eaton, which I auhara, princess of Samandal, to a beautiful
showed you. I knew that my poor father's pride plain in a well-frequented -island, he was for
would make him prevent me from sending it, if some time at a loss how to get his daily bread;
I told him, and when the cold answer came but, having no other resource, and being likely
there was no use of speaking; but I have al- to die of hunger, he was obliged "to live upon
ways regretted even that. Tell Sir Charles, such nourishmentas birds ofhiskind were wont
then; but you may make it a condition that he to have."  Such was exactly the case with Sir
takes no vengeance for what I believe, as you Theodore Broughton. He had worked himself,do, he will look upon as a personal insult to him- lp, as lads of his age are accustomed to do
self. He has been very, very kind to me, and when they have a strong inmagination and not
so has his dear daughter-ay, and Lady Cheve- very strong judgment, to a belief that he could
nix too, though more cold and stately."      not live without Kate Malcolm; but, finding
"You are right," said Colonel Lutwich;  " I that some timQ would be necessary for the comwill tell Sir Charles; and I have a good excuse pletion of Doctor Gamble's arrangements, he
for binding him to refrain from all chastisement was forced to content himself with expectation,
in this person's case, although, had I met him  which is exactly such, nourishment as " birds
to-night, I had resolved to horsewhip him upon of his kind are wont to have."  Gamble, it is
-the spot. That would have done him goodl."  true, did his best to gratify him as soon as pos"'Then you are quite sure you know who it sible-; and, indeed, in a piece of somewhat rois." asked Kate.                           mantic intrigue, the doctor was quite in his el",Oh yes! Sir Theodore Broughton, beyond ement.  He ran hither, he ran thither, from
all doubt," replied Lutwich.                Bow-street to the Dog and Duck; he conversed
" Who is he "'! demanded Kate Malcolm, with with rogues and vagabonds of various classes
alook of some surprise; "did I ever see him l" and various grades; he inquired for old ac" Certainly," answered her companion; "the quaintances, and made new; and, though some
same whom I found insulting you in the passage of those old acquaintances had been raised
of the inn at Dunstable.  I heard the whole higher than their wishes ever reached,: by an
scheme sketched out through the thin partition unpleasant process, which kept them- in susof a room very near that in which' you will sleep pense to the end of life, and others had gone to
to-night, and received further information this visit foreign countries in the least expensive
-morning. So now that is off my mind. I will manner, and though his very critical taste was
-tell Sir Charles; and now we will think of oth- not easily satisfied as to the perfections of new
oer things."                                 professors in the art he was about to practice,
"What can make him persecute- me so?" he at length found two or three to his mind, to
said Kate, in a meditative tone.            whom, after long consultations, he intrusted
Lutwich smiled. "All men are beasts of the execution of the scheme he had conceived.
prey," he replied; "but there is this distinction    Sir Theodore Broughton was, in truth, very
between them, dear Miss Malcolm. Some, of much astonished, not only at the activity of his'a bolder and stronger nature, attack those who respected tutor in his new capacity, but in the
are prepared to resist and to prey upop them in thorough knowledge which he seemed to posreturn, and scorn to assail the weak and unre- sess of all the means and appliances for arrivsisting. The lion does not pursue the hare. ing at any ends, however flagitious, in a great
Others, however, chase the unprotected and de- capital like London; and the young baronet befenseless; and, though they be pitiful beasts, came convinced that all the severity and.bursts
depend upon it they are very dangerous to those of pomposity which had been displayed by Docwho have no power of resistance."           tor Gamble as his preceptor in the early part
His mind seemed to rise as from under a load of his engagement, had been merely a robe put
now that his resolution was taken, and he spoke on for the time to cover the real character becheerfully, though thoughtfully, oi'many things low. Nevertheless, he had an internal conduring the next two or three hours, without, sciousness that such a man as the tutor now
however, even approaching again the'subjeet appeared might be very useful to him, and he.of his heart's feelings toward her beside him. listened eagerly to all the varied reports which




i7-;"6               $SIR THEODORE BROTiO         GHTON; OR,. were biought in of the failure of this part of the it might be. It was not alone that he saw prof-:,:.negotiation, and the success of another; hut at it, and pleasure, and power in aiding the pas..
-length Ben Plowstiare  was found, whose wit sions of his pupil, and entangling him in diffiwas notorious, though the greatest exercise of culties from which he could not extricate himthat quality which lie had practiced was to keep self without his assistance, but there was in his
his own neck out ot'a halter, a feat which much, very constitution a love of, and desire for, admore honest men than he was have not always venture andt intrigue, quite separate from his
succeeded in effecting. His stipulations were  interested views.  He had enjoyed few opporsomewhat hard, but they were complied with; tunities of indulging this propensity since he
and, in return, lie undertook to find two assist- had held his appointrment of preceptor to the
ants, one of whom was to personate a post-boy young baronet, although, whenever Captain
and drive a hired carriage, while the other was Donovan was absent for any length of time,
to ride' off to inform Doctor Gamble and his pu- Doctor Camble lad taken care that his skill in
pil of the success of the scheme, as soon as such affairs should riot get rusty; anti now ihe
poor Kate Malcolrn was once beyond the gates was like a fish which, after having lain in an
of Sir Harry Jarvis's park. These arrangce- angler's basket for sonie minutes, suddenly finds
ments occupied the whole of the first day after itself, by the upsetting of its wicker prison, rethe arrival of the young baronet in London; stored to its own free elenment again.
and the chief remaining difficulty at its close   Very different were the feelings of Sir Theoseemed to be, how to separate decently from  dore Broughton.  He went on, it is true.  He
Major Brandruinm and Reginald,isle, with whom  resolved that he would'not pause or hesitate.
Sir Theodore had taken up his residence at the  lHe felt mo"re manly in the very undertaking;
Old Hummums.                                  and that sensation would have gratified his timI"Leave it to me," said Doctor Gamble, as he id vanity and hurried him forward, even had
sat for a few moments in Sir Theodore's room,  there not been passion in his heart. But yet
previous to the whole party setting out to see his bosom was nut free from remrrorse, nor his
Garrick; and choosing his moment in the the- mind from apprehension.  He was agitated, he
ater when the business of the stage was sus- was nervous, he was by no meanS confident.
pended, hIe saw, or affected to see, an old ac- He asked, himself, "What if Kate should dis-.
quaintance on the opposite side of the house, cover that, instead of being really her delivercrossed over, was seen speaking to a distin- er, he was, in faect, her persecutor, and that the
guished-looking man almost alone in a box op- whole scheme, which he was to appear as frusposite, and then returning, called Sir Theodore trating, was of his own devising?  What would
away from his two companions, saying-aloud, she think of him?  How should he act if she'Lord Milson tells me lie is an old friend of reproachied him with it?   What would be the'your grandfather's,,and particularly wishes me shame of' exposure'"
to bring you over and introduce you to him."    Be it remarked, he never paused upon the
Sir Theodore rose and followed, and Reginald idea of the vengeance which Sir Charles ChevLisle and his friend saw all the ceremonies of enix and Major Brandrum  were likely to take
introduction take place, and the young baronet for an insult offered to the poor girl under their
assume a seat by the old nobleman.  After re- protection.  The youth was only mentally, not
maining a few minutes, Doctor Gamble retired  corporeally timid'; and in answer to these quesinto the adjoining box, and Sir Theodore re- tions to his own heart, his reply was, " If she
mained till the play was concluded.           does discover all, I can but cast. myself at her
" Not very courteous to leave his party," said  feet, and tell her that it was love which drove:0Major Brandrum, as they were preparing to de- me to madness."
part; " but he's a mere boy, and it is that sens-   Then, again, the easy, jaunty, confident air
ual sycophant's doing."                       (of Doctor Gamble, and his constant assurances
"I have a strong notion," said Reginald, that every thing was going right, that the
"that he is something worse than you call him. scheme could not fail, kept tip his spirits, and
I believe that man Gamble to be a base scoun- taught him to crush his fears as they arose.
drel, who will eld by completely corrupting the    Now, although I have called this work an
youth's mind."'        old-fashioned romance, do not let the reader
The words were hardly out of his lips when  say that the events are improbabie-altogether
they were rejoined by the two of whom they  unlikely; but let him be assured, on the contrahad been speaking, and Sir Theodore said at ry, that such a scheme was actually conceived
once, " I must put off my trip to Ranelagh, Lisle, and executed not many years ago, that the facts
for I have accepted an invitation to spend a few  are given as nearly as possible with accuracy,
days in the country."                         and that nothing hut the names are changed.
The color came into his cheek as he spoke, Perhaps the most difficult period of English hisand Reginald evidently remarked it, which made tory is that in which the scene of the present
it turn deeper still.  Nothing more was said, work is laid. It is so near our own days that
however; and on the following morning, by we naturally fancy that the customs and mangray daylight, Sir Theodore and his tutor left ners must have been very much like our own
the Hummurms.                                 -they have not become traditionally different
The busy, cheerful satisfaction of Doctor -and yet in no country has there been so great
Gamble was quite edifying. He evidently look- and extraordinary a change as in this, within
ed upon himself as a'good man doing a henev- the same space of time.  Where are the banded
olent action; he was delighted,'he was quite highwaymen, the conniving justices, the art-,happy, for no boy naturally delights in a piece and-part constables, the mock parsons, the Fleet.
of mischief more than Doctor Gamble delighted. marriages, the capital punishments remitted at
in an enterprise, of whatever kind and character the solicitation of peers, the hired bullies?'Yet




LAUREL-:WATER'.                                         77we know that all these things existed, though  ble; and, running down to the stahle-yard,
they have passed away with swords, queues, where their horses were already saddled, folhair-powder, and laced coats.                    lowed by Sir Theodore with a face pale from
At that time all these things not only existed  agitation, lie mounted and set out.
in reality, bult were daily described in hooks,    "Now  remember, my dear young friend,"
spoken of in journals, and represented upon the  said the tutor, 1"you are to look full into the
stage, so that acts which would seem, if' pro- chaise, and when you see your fair Dorinda,
posed to any young man of the present times, pull off your hat, stop the post-boy, and speak
so rash and dangerous as to savor of niadness, to her in a common-place way, aslkin  if she is
did not appear to the eyes of Sir Thleodore  returning to Dunstable.  She will of course say
Brougliton as' any thing very extraordinary;'No, she is going to London;' and then- you
and what he felt was only that timid hesitation, mnust tell her she is deceived, and we will unand fear of discovery and shame, which affects dertake to see hier right, and punish the wicked
naturally every young and not wholly corrupted 1 men who have misled her-ha, ha, a, ha! Do you
mind in the execution of any evil de-vice.       understand."
He showed no want of resolution, however;   In such conversation they rode on at a quick
and Doctor Gamble, though he saw that l-his pu- rate, till three, four, five rmiles of the Barnet
pil was somewhat nervous and agitated, did not roadl were passed, anll  they begair to entertain
at all see how much.  He tried to encourage  serious alarml. BIaret itself at length was seen,
him  by all means in his power, indeed, and  arid Doctor Gamble, with a look of consideraknowing that active  exertion was the best ble astonishmnent an(l consternation, exclaimed,
means of banishing such sensations, lie at once  "Let us ride to the inn and make inquiries."
led the young haronet on the road to St. Alban's,  But there, no information was to be obtained
leaving Zachary Hargravg  with dlirections to except that the carriage they inquired,for had
watch the gates of Sir Harry Jarvis's house been gone more tlan two hours, and they set
near Barnet.  When a favorable opportunity. out to retread their steps just as a servant on
for carrying out their scheme against poor Kate  horseback rode into tile yard, inquiring about
was presented by the.ifaily with, whoml  she the very same vehicle.
was staying going out, Htargrave was ordered 
to ride at once to Ben Plowshare, at Barnet, and
inform him of the fact.
Doctor Gamble calculated most things: very                  CIIAPTER XXIV.
nicely:  He said,;' Of course the yioung  lady
will not go out herself till her mourning is ready    REGINALDn  LusrE, after having  passed  the
and hler father's funeral' over; but that will be morning of that (lay, the events of wlhich have
no reason for the rest staying at home."  But occupied the last two or three chapters, at his
lie did not calculate one point, which was, that mother's cottage, rejoined his' friend, Major;a.man of the character of Hargrave might not Brandruim, at their inn, anti set out in the aftlike half confidencte, and be somewhat displeas- ernoon for llanelagh.  The conduct of their
ed to see a person who  li he had always believ- young companion, Sir Theodore, did not alto-.ed his young master hated very energetically, gether pass without notice between them, and
auddenly supplant him in the agreeable task of Iteginald at once expressed an opinion that the,misleading Sir Theodore at his outset in life. pretended invitation to the country was merely
It is true, Hargrave had other and very cogent an excuse for separating hinlself froln persons,motives for paying a visit to Colonel Lutwich, whose presence might be a restraint..and gisving hinmt information of all that was go-    " I can easily see," he said,'I that this tutor,:ingon;,but still, spite hada good deal to do with  whose conduct in leaving the youth.entirely
it.                                              altone during his guardian's absence was suffiThe next task of the tutor was to seek some  ciently reproachable to justify his dismissal, has
Iplace to which poor Kate Malcolm  might be been retained for some object or anothe?, which
carried; but there is' no use of inflicting the  it is not worth while to inquire inlto; and he is
details upon the reader.  Suffice it, that after evidlently not at all well pleased that any one'
a good deal of difficulty, a cottage not far from  shoull te at hand to give counsels opposed to
St. Alhan's was fotind, with a good lady for its what I am afraid his. own will te.":owner, who was willing, upon certain consider-    " My dear Lisle," replied, the other, "if he
*ations, to be very discreet; and this being ac- were among our fiiendls the Indiins, Master
complished, and the resolution ofDoctor Gam- Gamble would soon acqlire the niame of the
ble and Sir Theodore hlaving   been strengthlen-; Slimy Snake' I happeiled,  acitlentall!y, to
etl by dinner and wine, they waited witli some  overltear yesterday a part of Ihis conversation
ilmpatience for the alppearaince of theii tllesserl-  with his pupil, and froIn tiat mornmnent  f c(learly
ger.  Ile was so late that even Doctor Gamlble saw thalt, if lie were t o r,ii.iain  wieti  Sir'l'lheo
began to fancy sot-retlirg  na-st  hiave g"o!t'  dore, our (oc iet: ~v- ldl sJeru    iie LIatl mt t litte.
wrong, or, at tthe  est, tllat a part.ol thl scheme Donovan i.  se; l'l, l.t i   s  v Ie ar; anI(,
woultl  be frustrated bly enveioppilg its execution w!tatever be!ijs  ml' s, ih ii q we t'king i!  at, youtht's.in  darkn ess.                                 mi. o rat dest nttii n..y tlla  ito
At legllthl, however. Bep, Plo)wsharl's friend more. atim. tile'a- Ic, 9't s t31telteil  as us-I
entered the room where thley were sittitnrg, lit  al  and, if yl'.lt vi ilt'.m v,~v advie, oitlU will
and dlisty with hardl riding,  alid exclaimedl, do the siame.  H.av':e,, r:Ip T!.u e!  I  shall hatve' Tihey are o'ff, gentlemen. Motunt clirectly, and enough  to (ro  iti',al,b?,atitoiit oltl0 Iir 1)itr
you will iieet itlem  about three miles befuire M aleolini.     I n   evr'1Jo;: t 1e R1vIc,,os (.\row'bhay re ach ihe town."                          would have to talke astui it,i'.t ty Iittle liil  un1"6That is just the thing," cried Doctor Gam- dier his wing;   ht, a alJ everits lie IImust.ot11




78'                  SIR THEODORE lBROUGHITON; OR,
trive to provide for her, and fight for her too,   The two gentlemen hurried down, and the
if there should be occasion."                cause of Sir Charles Chevenix's coming was
" I trust there will be,no occasion for any soon explained.  "I went at once to the Humthing of the latter kind," replied Lisle; "I have mums," he said, "and there being informed
spoken to my dear mother to-day about her, you -had come hither, I hastened after, while
and she will receive her, and treat her as a my friend Sir Harry Jarvis remained to catch'
child of her own. There she till be quite safe, you if you returned; for Ranelagh, unlike a ratwhatever happens to you. or me, Brandrum. trap, has as many ways out as it has in. BeMy sister Lucy laughed at me about the mat- sides, we sent a servant to Barnet to inquire
ter, and would fain make out that my mother at all the inns as to where the chaise came
will soon have a legal title to call the poor girl from, and gave him directions to follow us to
by the name of daughter. There was no con- your inn."
vincing her; so I must take you to dine at the   Reginald's face turned red with irdignation,
cottage to-morrow, to give her a truer account and his brow gathered into a heavy frownof the business."                           " Thia is too bad," he cried; " I will horsewhip.
"Perhaps Lucy may be right,'" answered the scoundrel as long as I can stand over him."'
Brandrum, with a laugh.                        " We must find him first," replied Sir Charles:
"No, my dear Crow, no!" answered Regi- Chevenix, who had watched the young officer's
nald, warmly.                               countenance very attentively, and drawn his
~ "But why notl" asked Major'Brandrum. "I own conclusions.  " Let us return to the Hum- 
think she is as beautiful a little creature as ever mums, and consult. This is too public a place.
I beheld."                                  What say you, major?"
" Doubtless," answered Captain Lisle; " but   " With all my heart," answered Major Branif you ask why not, I will tell you in a word, drum, much more coolly;," we will soon find
Brandrum-my whole heart and affections are our young friend; bnt, by Lisle's leave, I claim
engaged to another."                        the horsewhipping business to my own share,
Major Brandrum meditated thoughtfully for by right of seniority both in years and servitude;
a few moments, and then said, in a grave tone, and also of my guardianship of poor Kate. I
"Miss Chevenix! Lisle, Lisle! Iam afraid you must not scalp him, I am afraid, living in this
are cutting out unhappiness for yourself. She cold, phlegmatic country, otherwise it would be,
is an heiress of great wealth, and her family -a satisfaction; but I may skin him alive, which
are proud. You, have yourself some six hund- is the next best thing. There, boy, call a.
red a year, I believe, and your mother and sis- hackney coach."  And, as soon as one of those
ter, between them, about the same.'What will rumbling vehicles was procured, the three got
Sir Charles say."                          in, and gave orders to drive with all speed to,
"Nay, I know not," answered Lisle; "in- Covent Garden.
deed, I believe it' is a piece of madness; but I   "And now, gentlemen, can you give me any
never yet heard that love was governable by clew to where the young lady is?" asked Sir
reason. Sir Charles himself is'not haughty in Charles, as' soon as they were seated; "for,
the least; but Lady Chevenix is proud, as you between you and me, I look upon the insult to
say-I can see that clearly.  However, my fam- be personal to myself, and I shall certainly
ily is as good, or better, than their own; and treat it accordingly."
in regard to fortune, though I'never till now    "Oh no, Sir Charles," said Lisle, " leave that
cared aboaut it, or calculated upon future con- part of the matter to us. You have a familytingencies, yet one day I may be wealthy. My we have none, either of us. I can form no nouncle Mullins is very rich, and without a child. tion where he has taken her, but doubtless we
I am his nearest, ahd, indeed, his only male re- shall soon discover, and will take the necessary
latioh, and I have ever been a great favorite steps to bring back poor Miss Malcolm, and:
with him. VWere lie a, father, he could not be punish the offender."
more kind and affectionate, in his blunt way."    " Then you kno'w, or at least suspect, who,;,VTell, well," said Brandrum, with a sigh, is the culprit," said Sir Charles Chevenix,.in a" you may have many years to wait, and yet tone partly of inquiry and partly of affirmation..
succeed at last."                             Reginald Lisle was silent, but Major Bran-..Here dropped the conversation, and shortly drum answered, " Yes, Sir Charles, we suspect,
after the two officers reached that place which with that degree of suspicion which amounts
was then the resort of all the fashionable com- very nearly to conviction. But as doubts arepany of London. It has been too often describ- unpleasant and dangerous things —not the less 
ed for any account of its tinsel splendors to be dangerous because they are unpleasant, nor the,
needed here, and therefore I will pass over all less unpleasant because they are dangerouqsmaller events, merely remarking that Regi- we will soon find means to change them into
nald Lisle and his companion met with a num- certainties.  Let us hear what your servantber of acquaintances, talked with them'gayly has to Say, and then leave Lisle and me to find'
in turn, drank tea according to the prescribed out the rest. We have been'accustomed to.mode of the place, and were thinking of return- follow trail, and you need not have any fear'ing home, when one of the waiters, who knew  lest we should miss our mark."
themn, approached, and handed a card to the   " We will talk of all that by-and-by, major,"
elder officer, saying, "That gentleman, sir, is replied Sir Charles, Chevenix, not at'all diswaiting at the foot of the stairs to speak with posed to leave a matter altogether in other
you. He is in a riding dress, and can not come hands which he looked upon as affecting hisup."                                        own honor and character; and the coach rolled
"Sir Charles Chevenix-!" exclaimed Bran- on in silence toward the Hummums.
drum: "what can he want at this hour. Come,   From time to time-as they passed one of
Lisle, let us go and see."




LAUREL WATER.                                     79
those dim and dingy globes of ill-cleaned glass, gentleman, "as keeping pepper away from a
with a few drops of oil at the bottom, and a fiery spirit goes. But still, it will be a satisdull wick burning in the center, with which the faction to Sir Charles and myself if immediate
streets of London were then illuminated, and means are taken to set free our fair young
which have been long forgotten by all but those friend, for I can hardly suppose that she is at
whose dwelling-place of memory is in the past liberty; and I take a deep-a very deep inter-Sir Charles gave a glance to the face of Reg- est in her."
inald Lisle. It was stern and anxious, and   " She is certainly not at liberty, or she would
again the baronet drew his own conclusions. be in your house, Sir Harry," replied Major
At length the Hummums, as the inn was called, Brandrum; "for I do not scruple to assert,
was reached, and, alighting in haste, the three judging from her devoted conduct to her poor
gentlemen ascended to the room  of Major father, that she would judge it both improper
tBrandrum, where they found Sir Harry Jarvis, and unpleasant to absent herself from the prowaiting with some anxiety, and Sir Charles tection of Lady Chevenix, and not the less unChevenix's servant, Stevens, standing before pleasant because it was improper, nor the less
him, hat in hand.                          improper because it was unpleasant."
Brief introduction sufficed, and, as soon as   "I will go and make instant inquiries into
that ceremony was over, Sir Charles exclaimed, the matter," said Reginald Lisle - and, without
eagerly, "Well, Stevens, what news. Have more ado, he, quitted the room and sought out
your discovered- any thing 1  Is there not a the stables where'the horses of Sir.Theodore
mare's-nest in all Barnet to give us some occur Broughton had been put up. There, by dexpation, at least?"                        terous interrogatory, and the influence of that:
" Not that I know of, Sir Charles," replied facile opener of the hearts of grooms, hostlers,
the man, dryly; "and I have been able to find and stable-boys —money, he speedily obtained
out little. I went to one inn and another, till sufficient information to lead him aright in purat length I rode into the yard of the Swan; suit of the young baronet; but, not contented
and just as I was going in, I saw two gentle- with this, he questioned the waiters and servmen a' horseback ride out; and when I asked ants of the hotel till he had elicited that a wellfor the chaise, the hostler could tell me little known and suspicious character, of the name
enough about it. He said, your honor, that of Benjamin Lee, otherwise Ben Plowshare,
there had been a hired carriage-a yellow one had been with Doctor Gamble and Sir Theo-standing there for an hour or two, with a dore Broughton several times during the preservant in red and brown livery; but the post- ceding day.
boy:was a stranger, not at all known on the   With this clew, he returned immediately to
road-, who would neither talk nor drink. The his friends above; but, acting upon the plan he
hostler said, however, winking his eye, that the had laid down for himself, he did not commutwo gentlemen who had just gone off had been nicate the intelligence he had received. He
inquiring after the same, and he had told them  found Sir Charles Chevenix, indeed, in'eager
just what he told me, which was little enough." discussion with Major Brandrum in regard to
"What like were the two men " demanded the necessity of perfectly open dealing in a
Reginald, abruptly.                        matter where the honor and reputation of sev"Why one, sir, was fattish," answered the eral parties were concerned; but the worthy'
servant; "not to say very fat, either, but an officer had at once conceived his young friend's
elderly gentleman in black, some forty-five views, and defended stoutly the position he had
years old or so.":             been left to maintain.'
"Hang the fellow!" cried Sir Charles'; " does   "It is all very true, Sir Charles," he said,
he call forty-five elderly 3"              just as Lisle was entering the room; "you are
6 Beg pardon, your honor; no offense, I naturally anxious to have a matter of this kind'
hope; but he was past the -middle age, I mean," in your own hands, but equally natural that
rejoined Stevens. " However, he was dressed Lisle and I should desire to keep it in ours; and
in black, and t'other was quite a young gentle- as you have retired fromn active service and we
man like-not over nineteen or twenty, I should have not, we take the liberty of holding our
say. I've seed him before, too, I think; and I've own right to act, notwithstanding your being
a notion it was at that there fire at Dunstable." our superior officer. He and I must settle our
"' Exactly so," replied Reginald Lisle, looking share of the affair as we can; but that will be
toward Major Brandrum.                     easily managed, for he is always reasonable,
"Then you know him 3" said Sir Charles though sometimes a little hot, and is quite ready
Chevenix, once more. " Now, my dear Lisle, to fight or let it alone, according as circumstanbe so good as to favor me with his name."  ces may require. Indeed, I have seldom seenfReginald took his hand with a frank but a man so indifferent as to which he does, which.
meaning smile. " No, Sir Charles," he said, i" I I believe to be more consonant with the charwill not. Lady Chevenix shall not have it to acter of a true soldier than the most impetuous
say that I have brought you into two affairs of daring.'the same kind. You must leave this affair to  4" He is ready enough to fight, that I can anme and Major Brandrum. We have a knowl- swer for," replied Sir Charles; "perhaps a
edge of the culprit, and the means, I doubt not, little too ready, Lisle," he continued, turning
of finding him speedily. It is more our business his head; 1 "but now, Jarvis, what do you say.
a great deal than yours, for this young lady is Ought not these gentlemen to let me know who
the adopted daughter of my friend, and was it is they suspect?"
going to take up her abode under my mother's   Sir Harry Jarvis, however, took the side of
roof. Am I not right, Sir Harry Jarvi's "  Major Brandrum and Reginald Lisle, who cut
"So far right, my dear sir," replied the old the matter short by 6xclaiming, almost in a




80';                      SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
-gay tone, "Boot and saddle, major [  oot and    "Well, well, but are you quite sure Miss
saddle!  I have ordered the saddles to be put Malcoln is found, and safe!" asked his master,
on, you have naught to do but to put on the  impatiently.
boots.  I must run and do the same, for I anm        "Oh yes, your worship," replied tie man,
resolved I will not sleep till T have ascertained  " for Colonel Lutwich's groom said so-I heard
that poor Miss Malcolm  is in safety.  Your him  with my own ears-and  how, when she
pardon for leaving you, gentlemen."                called foir help out of the chaise, the colonel
"But whither wend you!" demanded'Sir had galloped up, and threatened to blow  the
Charles Chevenix;  "that, at least, may be post boy's brains out if he did not stop.  I dare
communicated."                                    say she is at the park by this time."
"Toward St. Alban's," answered Reginald T. his dare say, as many another dare say
Lisle: "rest quiet, Sir Charles;  we will soon  has done, gave a new turn to all proceedings,
tind your fair prot6o6ge."                        and one which, probably, they would not have'"If toward St. Alban's," said tlhe baronet, taken, had the parties concerned been aware
6 we may as well ride with you; for ae imust that it was plit firtll without just cause.
be back to Barnet, or mIy fair lady will expect    " Well, Major Brandoluam and Captain Lisle,'"
to have me brought home with a x outnd il my  said. Sir -larry Jarvis, in his courteous tone,
hip, Mr. Iisle."                                   "your minds are now, I trust, relieved, as mine
My dear Sit Charles;" said Reginald, talc- is; and that, after hearing all the particulars,
ing his hand, " (lo not, I beseeclh you, mention  you will be atble to sleep quietly upon such hard:that painful subject to me any more.  Believe  beds as Jarworth Park can afford.  So, if you
me, it has ever been to me a matter of shaume  please, we will all on to Barnet, without furand remorse since the ill-fated hour il which  ther question."
I raised mny hand against you.  Tlhat you have    The proposal was agreed to readily, and in
-long since forgiven mite, I am sure.  I wishl that about three quiarters of an [hour moore Reginald
both you and I could foirget it: for my own  Lisle was seated at a well-covered supper-tapart, I can not forgive myself."                  ble by the side of Mary Chevenix.
"Pooh, pooh! there is nothing to, forgive,"
replied Sir Charles;'"I rallyou too hard; you
were a little too hot; and, after having been
both a little wrong, Nwe had not sense enotugh                   CHAPTER XXV.
to.get righlt again, and friends did their best to
make bad worse.  Now, away with you, Lisle;    Sonrt hours, I have said, went by in Colonel
get ready for your ride; and, in,the nmean while, Lut.wich's cottage, passed in pleasant converSir HIarry and I will have somrething to eat and  sation between hinm  and Kate Malcolm.  He
a bottle of wine."                                avoided all subjects that woull agitate hler; he
The town -was passed throulgh at a some- controlled his feelings; he guarded his looks;
what slow pace, for ttie streets of London were lhe put a watch upon) his tongue; he saitl and
in those days not what they  are ttow, dear (lid nothing, which to any but a very keen and
reader.  Large, slippoey paving stones carpet- practiced observer of human nature would have
ed every path, and a torse's knees acSid his rid- shown that there were warm  and  powerful
er's head ran a great chance of being broken, emotions raised up in his breast by the pres.
if any thing lilke rapidity of progre.;-sion was at- ence of that fair young creature.  A very practempted.  As sooc, however, as the onen road  ticed observer, indeed, might have seen that
to Islington wats reacied, each grent!sman ap- the suppressed fire gave a glow antd warmth to
plied the spur, anti on   they  ient at  a quick  every word he uttered; that the vigor of powtrot.  Little c;,-ve-rsat.on t(ok plac.  except a erfull sensations was commrnunicatedl to his Ianfew low-spitken  wordts bettweetn, Reginaldi Lisle guage anid hlis tone, however indifferent might
and Major Brandrunl; andc tle whitle party thad  be the subjects on which he spoke.
just reiached F in cley Con-enon, wlich was then    His conversation was, indeedl, very different
a comrnron indeed. when' mana  was seen co(t- fiom that of Reginald Iisle.  He had not the
ing on tiorsebaclk tI 11uTb;giih t-he mist; for, th1ough. younger gentlemanl's eloquence or fancy, but
there wals a paIe mon-  in tie sky, the night every sentence was terse and powerfitl, and
was sormewhlat        - f.; -)o!it0 (l'mi(llle in uirn- almost fiery, and on the riind of one so young
bers to fear alt lac, - teyv -uere ritling on r, whlen as Kate Malcolm the whole had great effect.
a voice xclaim.'- c 7    H fairrv!  lre it a note   I orce   i f character is one of the master secrets
fromn T.,aIy CI -::.  d arother- br  ir of all rule  andl K;ate felt that shie was beside
$Charles f 0irt  SSotm.  1 ()-f>.:; -,, u,,ric."one whose resolute nlatture and strong dlecision
"ii i}1:.'e:' " F'.Piti; 4.:V:'.stotne,  afirded-lhiiigh t widiely ditferent front her u'ow
to rea(l ti"cm."' -. );': (-i'-. 1'passive powers-a potent spell that slIe could
Ytou'l..,'-I,: -                    1::     ilp, ip ot resist.  His varying ciotuntenance, the in'then,"'(it,!:~:.";!J5 -r:<:'. -;         i-  ntimerahle  sir dles of expression  th.-t flitted
1th1e n-; cv:.-.:::.'i,: [,          -':* ~-.  o  ver l, frtl -ot  et tender aindl gentle loik oft af-'iS!i:::i':''!rC' <':"';  "::,:* );'.:,';   C',;i'.:'}tS,   Feeti,)- t e c-)tno tn t-n  w ith    which    h'si)t)ole  (of  the
dar~),i3 z t -  5.,>.-, —................anxiety and (listres  she hals  stifiered, to thi,,,-,s..r- stern alltnry firw wn lis fIce asLttrned w\ hen cornry t.ij,:;-:;',;:'.' I'}o':i'i i',', y(iun,   mentint  on ith( h  wriig-t(lers, esxciletl -adltiras "'i iis *i;i;. -';.i': 3..: _ird  -!;;. r l:s15'- tiu;, alnm-st wo(indler.  Shie  thad rot believed,
-      n -,n -  thlat any c clnltenallc'cotlld soi clhangeh; andi sthe
e: II.-(e j i t:-,'.. >_:' -;; i;'joi;d.tn lie (cinipared it in her yoi),itg frlntcy t.l a teaitifutl
gcave iie,e    -.   tler; cu i   l ontlry sti-pt lt cyl muds iand sutlshine   lsmoh,
to the I iii ii.::.'.' [ did  et fnid you  again, hlie would be tihe light nran of the wotrld,
lthere, to rett —: c&!??




LAUREL WATER.                                     81
Arnd  speak gayly and SPortingly of pleasures, was a relief to her. There are times when
and pastimes, and enjoyments, with a dash of emotions, however sweet, become painful in
harmless satire indeed, but still merry and not their intensity.
bitter. that mood, however, lasted neverlong,   Though the minutes glided quickly for those
for the stronger emotions were too much for over whose heads they there passed, yet the
it; and it was generally followed by a melan- supper was really slow. They lingered over
choly train of thought, during which the ex- the meal, which was light and graceful, and
pression of his countenance was so sad, and old Joseph thought them very tardy indeed.
his words so touching, that all her own sor- He remained in the room all the time; and it
rows during the last six years seemed raised is a somewhat tedious process, no doubt, to
up by the plaintive music of his voice, and she stand behind a chair in silence, while others
had well-nigh wept.                        eat and talk. I am not sure, however, that
The time seemed to fly very fast, for, ere she the presence of another was not, on the whole,
imagined-more than an hour had passed, the agreeable to Lutwich as well as to Kate. The
clock on the sideboard, during a silent pause, one dreaded his own impulses. He feared that
struck ten, and Lutwich rose and rang for he should go beyond the line he had fixed for
supper.                                    himself-that he should say more than in Kate's
"I do not need any, indeed," said Kate- unprotected situation in his house he thought
and truly too; for she had fed upon his words would be right and delicate toward her. The
for the last two hours.                     other feared her own emotions, and that, if
It will do you (good," replied Lutwich, with much more were said, they would be too strong
a. smile; " and besides, dear lady, let me tell for her, and she should weep.
you, that except that cup of tea from your fair   At length, before the table was cleared, there
hands just now, I have not tasted food or drink came a' tap at the door, and a woman's voice
to-day."                                    said, "Hal has returned, Mr. Joseph, and brought
"And all on my account," cried Kate, feel- this note for the young lady."
ing really much distressed. "I am shocked   It was instantly placed upon a salver and
that such should have been the case.  You handed to Kate, who opened it with some anxnust, I amn sure, feel quite exhausted."    iety; but, before she did so, she raised her eyes
"Oh dear, no," answered Lutwich, gayly. "I timidly to her companion's face as he sat opcould go on for many an hour yet. A soldier's posite. It was very radiant, for he augured
life requires him to care little about any food that no one would carry her thence that night;
but that of the mind, which I have surely had that she was with him, at all events, till the
abundantly to-night. But the truth is, I think next morning.  It was very strange  He
some refreshment is very necessary for you; knew that she would soon leave him to take
and though tea may be very well, rousing the rest; and yet there was something in the
faculties and quickening the mind, yet it gives thought that the same roof would cover them,
no strength to the muscles, and supplies not to which was very pleasant to him. He had nevthis mortal frame the materials wafted in the er felt such sensations toward any one before.
wear and tear of life. Stimulating the mental He was a man of the world, gay, bad, reckless,
powers, it rather tends to overtask the body, full of manifold experiences; and she, simple
and sometimes makes the mind's slave work as a child, pure, devoted, unread in the dark
himself to death. Besides, I love a supper-ta- page of universal history-human nature. Was
ble. It is the only meal beyond which there is it the very contrast of her character with his
a lapse of peace. Breakfast is a farewell to own that formed the charm which he felt might,
repose; dinner an interruption to business; if long exercised, transmute his character into
but supper has fruition for its memory,' and re- hers 1
pose for its hope. Yes. yes, we will have sup-   These things are very strange,: but yet they
per, dear-Miss Malcolm; then sit for a while, are in nature.
with the sleepy world, of darkness before us,   Kate read the note. It was kinder, warmer
till my servant returns from your friend's house. than she had expected. It spoke with full conThen you shall to your pillow, and in peaceful fidence of Colonel Lutwich, and explained that
slumber forget all the strange sensations which the writer, Lady Chevenix, could not send over
I see you feel at finding yourself here the guest the carriage that night for her young friend, as
of Henry Lutwich, and spending a long even- both Sir Charles and Sir Harry had set out in
ing in rambling chat with him alone."       search of her, and she, Lady Chevenix, did not
"They are strange sensations," said Kate, know how to act in their absence. She never
simply.                                     knew how to act.  There are many people
"Doubtless, doubtless," said her companion; who never do; and they may be sure that there
"and I will tell you what, my sweet friend; is something wrong at the bottom of their inthe years will come when you will look back decision. Is"it that their vanity is so afraid of
to this night as to a curious and even interest.. censure, they will not act right for fear of being
ing dream-an episode of life, not without its blamed for acting wrong?  I am afraid it is.
emotions at the time, or its clinging memories At least there is much more of vanity than true'beyond; and I do trust that it will be a binding diffidence in it. It is not of acting wrong they
ti'e to attach me to your remembrance; and feair, but of being found fault with; and that
when you think of me, with all my faults, and such is the case is proved by the fact that,
perhaps hear others comment on them harsh- when on rare occasions they do act, it is ally, you may be able to say,' He had none for ways under the influence of. some one passion
me-'"                                       or another.
Here the old butler entered, and Lutwich   However, Lady Chevenix went on to express
~s topped abruptly; nor was Kate sorry.-  It her thanks, and those of her husband by fore"F




82:                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
stalment, for the kindness which Colonel Lut- things he had never seen before. He took his
wich had shown their prot6g6e; and she add- heart and cast it to -remorse, to gnaw a's it
ed an assurance that she' felt Kate.would be would; and there he sat in deep and bitter
as safe and as comfortable under his roof as at meditation.
Jarworth Park.                               At length, springing up, he said aloud, "t
Kate Malcolm gave him the note across the will change-I will be a new man: for what
table, for it was evidently intended for his eye; vanities have I sacrificed peace! It may not'
and as she did so, she smiled sweetly, afford- yet be too late;" and he retired to rest.
ing him a pleasant pooviction that she herself   He slept not the later the next morning on
did not regret being compelled to remain with account of the hour at which he sought his bed,
him for some time longer. To speak the truth, for the morning was still rosy with its first
the smile merely arose from a relieved mind. light when he rose. Kate was longer; and as
Her conduct was not disapproved; no blame time went by, he grew uneasy, lest people should
had attached to her; and the course before her come to snatch her from him before he had
was decided.                               passed some moments more with her alone. He
When Lutwich had read the notle, she rose, thought that every body must be as anxious to
saying, "Now I think I will go to bed, for, to have her near as himself. He could not conceive
say truth, I am somewhat tired."           that Sir Charles Chevenix would sleep till nearHe would not try to detain her; but he ask- ly eight, and that Lady Chevenix would pass art
ed, somewhat eagerly, if she usually rose ear- hour at her toilet, and that breakfast would ocly, and, having found that it was her invariable cupy nearly another, when'Kate Malcolm was
custom, seemed- well satisfied.  Joseph was absent and had to be brought back. But so it,
sent for his wife to show Miss Malcolm to her was; six-seven o'clock struck: nobody had
bed-room,'and Lutwich took his young com- arrived. There was a light foot on the stairs.
panion's hand to bid her good-night. He held It paused between the two doors, as if she had
it for some time, having always some little thing forgotten which was the right one; and then
more to say; and three several times the part- she entered, looking more beautiful than ever
ing words were repeated between them.       in his eyes, not alone from'the freshness of reKate lay down then to rest; but sleep was pose, but from a sort of conscious spirit in her
very coy, and did not visit her pillow very soon. eyes-a look of soul-of love, perhaps.  He
It was not the agitation she had suffered from  met her as she advanced, and took her hand,
the trick which had been played her that kept and inquired tenderly after her rest, and led
her waking; it was no curious inquiry into the her to a seat, and placed himself beside her, and
circumstances: she thought of Lutwich, and gazed at her as if he would fain engrave every
if not of Lutwich alone, the only'other image line of 1er features deep on memory, so that
which had a share in her reveries was that of they might never-even for an instant-be efher dead father. She thought of what he would faced or obscured.
have felt, of how he. would have rejoiced to   She was agitated, and he saw it;  but so was
know-for she knew it —that she had won the he; and he could hardly find words to speak
love not only of a man of fortune and station, what he desired to say: yes, he-bold, rash,
who could support, protect, defend her, but resolute as he was-felt agitation in speaking
whom she herself felt she could love in return. to a young, timid, inexperienced girl.  He conLoye is ever confiding; but Kate Malcolm was quered it, however; and in a gentle tone, that'
very young and very simple in mind. She had he might not frighten her, he said, "Sir Charles
met misfortunes; she had seen somewhat of Chevenix w:1i soon be here to take you away
the world's ingratitude; but she knew little of from me. My little dream of happiness is wellany other of all the many traits which strip off nigh over."
the gilding wherewith the foul things of socie-   "He will not be here very soon," replied
ty are covered. She had learned, mayhap, that, Kate, in a very low voice; "he is not generalaccording to the old adage, " all is not gold ly an early riser."
that glitters," but she had not learned how very  "'He will'be here too soon, whenever he
little of all that glitters is gold.        comes,"' said Lutwich; "' and I must not waste
In one point, indeed, she was right; Lutwich our precious moments. I would not speak last.
did love-ay, with the sort of love which she night lest, I should agitate-perhaps alarm you;
could have desired. The sight of her at her but now-now, when I am so soon to lose you,
dying father's feet-what he had seen-what it is no longer wrong. I must speak all that is
be had heard-what he had taken part in, re- in my heart. You are soon going from megarding herself, had roused in him all that was say, Kate, is it to be forever! Will you not
noble and generous in his nature; and there return some day to be the light of my dwelling,
was much. It had done even more: it had the mistress of my house, the wife of one who
made him regret most bitterly'.:;1'; at was evil,  loves you as he never thought to love any huall that was rash, all that was criminal in his man being. But stay! do not answer me yet.
conduct and character; and, alas! there was There is much to be atoned for, much to be
much of that also.                         remedied. With your love, if I can gain itAfter she had left him, he sat for more than if I do possess it," and he drew a little closer
an hour with his head resting on his handn in to her side as he marked the varying color in
deep thought. He was reviewing life; he was her cheek and the diamond dew gathering becriticizing the past with a severe eye; he was tween her long-fringed eyes-"- with your love
making resolutions for the future. A ray of for my guide, my support, my reward, I can acinnocence, and purity, and love had streamed complish all-any thing. I can conquer amy
in upon him, like a. beam of summer sunshine own self; I can wipe out my past acts; I can
into a dark room; and it gave him light to see renew life, and have to thank you for self-re



LAUREL WATER.                                       83
spect, for honor, and for virtue, as well as hap- ful cottage, and all the necessaries of life —nay,
piness. Before I ask you to give me this dear many of its superfluities; and if the lot be not
hand, before I desire you to trust your peace to  very brilliant I offer you, still I think Kate will
me, you shall have proofs that I am altogether not repine."
changed, and that I have already begun the    ".Oh no," she answered; "I have felt before
work which love for you shall finish-only tell now, that with one we love, even the stings of
me, Kate, that I may hope for love in return."  poverty can be cheerfully borne; but compeShe answered him not —she could not an- tence-bare competence is happiness, so there
swer. The words were spoken which she had  be affection and content. But will you never
almost dreaded to hear, and they were very, regret, Lutwich?"
very sweet-but overpowering too. She lean-    "Call me Henry," he said.  " No, I will neved her forehead on her hands, with the small, er regret aught but the past; and my first step
delicate fingers covering her eyes; but the  shall be, dear Kate, to go at once to London,
tears dropped through and'fell upon her lap. and sell off all the superfluities there-horses,
The next moment she stretched forth one hand  carriages, rich furniture, every thing; to pay off
and grasped the arm of the sofa, as if for sup- all I owe, discharge a host of servants-who have
port.                                        eaten me up, and reduce my whole expenditure
Lutwich drew her gently toward him; she  to the most humble scale."
resisted not, but her head fell gently on his   "Then you have two establishments," she
shoulder. Her face was very pale. She had  said, with a look of some surprise.
fainted. Laying her softly on the sofa, he ran,    I have, indeed," he answered, smiling;
out for water. He would not call the servants, " and not long since I had three-one at Newfor he fearedlong interruption; and some time  market likewise. That I gave up some six
passed ere he could find what he wanted and  months ago. Why, this cottage, dear girl, I
return. When he re-entered the room, Kate  once thought but a poor shed, fit only to shelter
had raised herself a little on her arm, and she  me and a fiiend or two for a night. Now it
murmured, " Do not call any one: I am better shall be a home, for it is hallowed to me. You
-I shall be well soon: this is very foolish."   have slept under its roof, you have brightened
He approached her gently, and gave her some  it with your presence: here our vows of love
water to drink, kneeling by her side; and then  have been plighted; here the first real joys have
he bathed her temples, and then he kissedher been experienced that I have known for years;
hand.  " I was thinking," she said, at length, henceforth it is for me a palace built up of hopes,
with a faint smile, "' how happy my poor father and decorated with memories."
weuld have been if lie could lhave seen this    Oh, how the sweet girl's heart beat at his
hour. It was too much for me."               words; how the dark and fearful period lately
I"Then can you-do you-will you love me?"  passed threw out-like a black back-groundsaid Lutwich, eagerly.                       the brilliant present, and the soft, glowing fuKate left her hand in his, and her cheek glow- ture. And he led her on, too, to pledge herself
ed again; but she was silent. He gazed at her deeply, deeply, deeply to him, in the full confistill eagerly, and said, "Oh, speak!"       dence of youthful love. Breakfast came, and
" Do you not see I" she murmured, at length, was a meal of joy; an hour more passed byturning away her head; but Lutwich's lips a waking dream of happiness; and then a gratfound hers, and sealed there the promises they  ing sound of distant wheels came with the soft
had made.                                    air through the open windows, and a bell rang
"Forbear-oh, forbear!" she said: "remeem- at the garden gate.
ber how I am situated, and act generously, kind-    "It is Sir Charles," cried Kate, starting up.
ly, as you did last night. Oh, believe me, that " Oh, let me run to my room, Henry, to cornmsuch conduct as that is the way to win every  pose myself for a moment.  Wrhat shall I say
thought and feeling of a pure and honest heart."  to him I Shall I tell him?"
"' Nay, nay, one kiss is but a ratification of our   " As you please, love," answered Lutwich 
pledge," replied Lutwich; "but I will not dis-  "perhaps better not at present.  I will tell him
tress you, dear -girl. I will ask-I will take no  soon myself  Nevertheless, I lay you under'more. Look up, dear Kate, and listen to me, no restraint toward him. Should need be, tell
for I have yet much to say."                 him; but choose some moment when he is
And much did he say, during a conversation  alone."
of more than an hour, before breakfast was    She had hardly left him when the wheels
ready.  In general terms, he acknowledged  rolled up to the door; but Lutwich was by that
again and again many faults, though he,enter- time grave and firm enough. He was parting
ed into no details.  He told her, too, what was with Kate Malcolm; the episode in his strange
true, that he was of a high and honorable fami- life was at an end; and the cloud seemed fallly;'that he had won some distinction in arms; ing ovei him again. HIe took one turn in the
that he had set out in life with more than conm- room, and his brow was heavy with gloom when
petence; but that expensive habits, gay asso- Sir Charles Chevenix entered.
ciates, and a careless disposition, had greatly    "Ah, Lutwich," cried the gay baronet, shakimpaired his original fortune.               ing him by the hand, "a thousand thanks for
"I have been hard pressed," he said, "and  your care of Lady Chevenix's sweet little prodriven to many things to keep up the  same  t6g6e. I am sure you have done your best to
style of living, the same show, the same vain  make her happy and at her ease, though doubtprofusion; but I have now higher objects and  less the poor bird was a little fluttered to find
better motives~ for a line of conduct the com- herself caged here alone with such a falcon as
plele reverse. Enough will be left, my Kate, yourself."
of the wreck, I do believe, to leave us our peace-  S "She was a good deal agitated and alarnmed,




'84                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
indeed," replied Lutwich, gravely;, nor did   "A birchrod for him,"cried Sir Charles Chevshe know well how to' act-whether to trust enix;- "but let me hear all about it. How did
herself here for a night, or to send for a chaise you find it out!"
to Barnet, as I have not my carriage or carriage   Lutwich informed him succinctly of the facts,
horses here. I took upon myself to give her as they have already been stated, only speaking
my advice; and, as she followed it, I was bound, generally and in vague terms of the steps he
you know, Sir Charles, to make it prove the had taken after overhearing the conversation
best. I have done what I could to put her mind between Doctor Gamble and his pupil. "I deat rest; and, though falcon enough to strike a termined," he said, "to have them well watchheron now and then, I trust I am too noble a ed, and it was lucky, as it turned out, that I did
bird to check at a dove."                   so, my good friend. At the same time, howev"6 But let me hear the particulars of all this er, I gave Sir Harry Jarvis an intimation that
affair, Lutwich," said Sir Charles.    "Who he had better take care of Miss Malcolm, in a
planned the rape of the Sabines-how you hip- letter Which I wrote to him concerning some
pened to come so fortunately to the rescue, &c., particulars of her family with which he-was un&c., &c. My two good friends, Major Bran- acquainted."
drum and Reginald Lisle, have set out early this   "And which letter, unfortunately, carried
morning for St. Alban's, fancying they have got him straight to town," said Sir Charles; "he
a clew to the whole, and intent upon punishing did not understand your hint, Lutwich, but told
the culprit; but it would be amusing if they me he was going to inquire about some Mr. Eawere all mistaken, and that I should find him  ton, who is related to her, one way or another.
out and horsewhip him before them, for you As for Gamble, I'll kick him wherever I meet
must know they were marvelously stingy of him-I'm under no bonds as to him-and if he
their secret, and would tell me nothing."  -   asks me why, I'll tell him, for not whipping a
"  For fear of your taking out of their hands prurient schoolboy enough to teach him that
&hat which they were resolved to do them- the daughter of a gallant officer is not to be inselves," said Lutwich, with a laugh. "And sulted."
now, do you know, Sir Charles, I have a great  "' That will be hardly a fair reading of our
mind to deal with you after their fashion.. You compact," said Lutwich; " but here comes Miss
are reputed somewhat hot; I have no mind, by Malcolm herself; and, thouglh I can not flatter
any indiscretion of mine, to make Lady Cheve- myself she will give any favorable account of
nix a widow, and therefore, methinks, the best her host's abilities to make her comfortable, yet
way would be for me to hold my tongue too, I trust she will allow he had every wish to do
and leave Major Brandrum to settle the affair so."
as his wit and experience shall suggest."     Sir Charles Chevenix met her with frank and
"6 Pooh, pooh!" cried Sir Charles, " that is all fatherly kindness, remarked laughingly upon the
nonsense. I will be as calm as a judge, upon traces of tears on her eyelids, which he ascribmy word! But do you really know who it is? ed to agitation and anxiety about her situation,
Can you tell, if you would l"               and, thanking Lutwich again for the care and
" Undoubtedly," replied his companion; -"I kindness he had shown her, prepared to depart.
can and will tell you all about it, provided you Kate Malcolm gave her lover her hand. Her
-promise me, upon your honor, to wreak no heart was almost too full for words; but she
vengeance whatsoever, except mere scorn, contrived to murmur some expressions of deep
upon the person whom I am going to mention. gratitude, and, without reply, he led her to the
He is less in fault than another, though he is, side of the carriage, with his face very sad.
of course, responsible,. Will you promise" "'.. By-the-way, I had forgot," said Sir Charles,
"6 It's bitter," said the baronet. "Come, come, just as he was about to follow her into the veLutwich, be frank, and speak out."          hicle. "Jarvis told me to ask if you could dine
"I will be perfectly frank', upon that one con- with him to-morrow or the next day, Lutwich l
dition,".answered Lutwich.                  To-day he is going to London again."
"Upon my life, I think my dear wife, must   " To-morrow, with pleasure," replied Colonel
have sent off carrier pigeons to you all!" ex- Lutwich.  "ThisI morning I have business of
claimed Sir Charles. " I will tell her, when I importance in town myself;" and the hour being
get back, that she has contrived to turn three settled, Sir Charles got into the carriage. As
gallant officers into as manytender-hearted old they drove homeward, he listened both with
women, who are afraid of a young boy like me surprise and pleasure to some scattered details
getting himself into a scrape if they give him  of the delicate kindness which his young comtoo much tether. Well, Lutwich, I promise, if panion had met with at the hands of her delivit may be no better. Curiosity wins the day. erer during the preceding evening.
Who is the man'"                             "He is as fine, gallant, honorable fellow," said
"' Sir Theodore Broughton," replied Lutwich, the baronet, when she had done; "a little Wvild,
still gravely.                             my fair young friend, and lives a stage or two
"What, that whey-faced boyl'" exclaimed beyond' his means, they say; but true metal at
Sir Charles; " that mere lad whom I saw staring bottom, and one who would not injure or offend
gloomily at us, while Lisle and I were talking an innocent and unprotected girl for the world,
together by the pyramid of portmantles at Dun- I do believe."
stable?"
"No other," said Lutwich; "and, moreover,
it was at Dunstable, Sir Charles, that he thought       CHAPTER XXVI
fit-urged on by one of the two evil genii who
have been placed about him for his guidance-    CAPTAIN DONO*AN was seated in an inn at
to insult Miss Malcolm with very unmistakable Dover waiting for the sailing of the ship or
civilities."




LAUREL WATER.                                      85
packet-boat which was to convey him to the, There, there, never mind what you could
quaint old town of Calais. The relations be- do or what you could not do," exclaimed Captween England and France were at that time tain Donovan, sharply; "on with your tale,
in what is called a very ticklish state, and the man."
traveler had encountered some difficulty in ob-   "Well, the scheme failed," continued Doctor
taining a passport, which had prevented his de- Gamble; "' the girl cried out when she found
parture from the shores of England on the pre- they were not taking her to London; a fellow
ceding day. He was somewhat impatient, in- was going by on horseback, and stopped the
deed, to set out, for Captain Donovan had his chaise; and somehow your two good friends,
own particular pleasures and amusements on Messieurs. Brandrum and Lisle, instantly fixed
the other side of the Channel, and he had been upon Sir Theodore and your humble servant as
deprived of them for a longer period than usu- the parties concerned in' the abduction,' as they
al; but still, his thoughts were at that moment called it. They tracked us down to St. Alban's
turned to other things; and so intent was his with the fierceness and shrewdness of two
mind upon them, too, that he heard not how the bloodhounds, and, while we were quietly breakwind whistled and the sea roared.           fasting in the coffee-room with another gentle"He's in good hands," said Donovan, men- man or two, in they came, horsewhip is hand.
tally, "he's in good hands. Master Gamble Two or three words to Sir Theodore, and an
knows his part, and he will play it out. If he evasive answer on his part, was all that passed,
does not reach one-and-twenty, I have no one and they set to. The major horsewhipped him,
to account to but myself. It is getting devilish and the captain horsewhipped me; and,'pon
near, however, and some progress must be my life! I have not had such another flogging
made. I will give them three months, and then since I got from under old Burgess's rod."
see what is to be done."                      ",, Well, well, what followed." demanded DonHe paused, and, rising, walked to the window  ovan; 6did Sir Theodore call him out? Haws
which looked out upon the port, murmuring, "I they fought!"
wonder when this cursed boat will sail. It is   "It might all have been avoided," replied
blowing very hard. Why, who the deuse is DoctorGamble; "but, unfortunately, therewas
that passing {" he continued, as a figure hurried a wild Irish fellow in the room who instantly
rapidly across the window. "' Gamble, upon my took upon him to act. as Sir Theodore's friend,
life! The lad must be dead. He would not doing things in the most gingerly manner, as if
leave him, I am sure;" and, throwing up the cold iron and hair triggers were mere matters
Sash, he called out, "Gamble-Doctor Gam- of etiquette. He offered to do the same for me,
ble!"                                      but I begged to decline his friendship-d —n him
The worthy doctor turned and looked at him, -and finding that the meeting is to take place
exclaiming, "Oh, captain, I am glad to see you, to-morrow, at the back of Montague House, I
sir;, I was looking for you, but could get no in- hurried down here to find you, knowing by your
formation as to where you had put up."     last letter that you must be crossing about this'"Come in, come in," cried Donovan; and, time."
While Gamble walked round to the door, which    "And so I must," replied Captain Donovan,
was -on the other side of the house, a look'of sternly, putting his hands behind his back;  "I
savage triumph came over Donovan's face. "4 It have business of importance to transact which
must be so," he -said, in a low voice, " it must san not be delayed. The young fool must brew
be so! Some accident, or perhaps a duel."    as' he has baked: he has made his bed, let him
The'next minute Doctor Gamble entered, lie upon it. I shall be off in half an hour."
looked round the room to see that there was   " But, my dear sir!" exclaimed Doctor Game
no one in it except his pupil's guardian, and ble, whose interests it did not at all suit that
then advancing to Captain Donovan, said, with Sir Theodore Broughton should be removed
a grave and respectful look, "I have something from his superintendence by a pistol-ball or a
serious to tell you sir, which will require you lunge of a small sword. But just as he spoke
to put off your voyage."                   the door opened, and a rough-looking man ap"Oh, that is easily done, Gamble," replied proached, touching his hat to Captain Donovan,
Captain Donovan; "what is it? Has any-thing without taking it off.
happened to Sir Theodore!"                    "Please, sir," said the intruder, " Captain
I am sorry to say there has," answered the Butler sent me up to say there's no chance of
doctor; " a very serious affair, indeed."  the boat getting out to-day. The wind's dead
" Well, well, out with it! Don't keep me in against her, and blowing a gale."
suspense," cried Donovan; "what has hap-   "' There! there!" cried Doctor Gamble; "1 now
pened."                                    you have no excuse."
"Why, you must know, captain," replied the   "I seek no excuse, sir," cried Donovan, turntutor, " that he thought fit to fall in love with a ing on him fiercely; "6 take care what you say."
young girl, the daughter of a Captain Malcolm    "But, my dear sir-my dear captain, you re-who is dead, by-the-way-but that does not ally must interfere," said the tutor. "You do
matter, for she is under the guardianship of that not consider he is but nineteen."
fre-eating devil, with whom you sent him to   "Lisle shot Sir Charles Chevenix when he
-town, Major Brandrum, or Major Ravenous was younger," answered Donovan, gloomily;
Crow. Sir Theodore, as she was somewhat "if the young inan will get himself into such
coy, made up a little scheme'for carrying her scrapes, he must abide the consequences."
off. I could not thwart him in his proceedings,   " Well, then, I will stop it myself," said Gainyou know, captain-and, indeed, you told me ble, in a determined tone. "The lad does not'not — lest the young horse should kick over the want to fight unless he is driven to it, and I will'traces,' as you justly apprehended."       stop it."




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON;' OR,
"What will you do I" asked Captain Dono- all was still; and when they reached the road
van, in a sharp tone.                       (which at that time ran at the back of what is
"I will go back directly," replied the tutor, now Portman Square), and looked over the
who saw he had got an advantage, "and give hedge into the neighboring field, they saw a
information at Bow-street, telling the magistrate group of three persons, consisting of Major
that I have done all I can to persuade you to Brandrum, Reginald Lisle, and a gentleman in
interfere; but that, being a military man, you black, while coming over the stile appeared Sir
will not, although you are his relation, guardian, Theodore Broughton and another young man
and next heir to his property."             seven or eight years older.
"Sir!" exclaimed Donovan, in a voice of   "There they are," cried Doctor Gamble;
thunder; and then he stood glaring at him for "now let us be quick. Pull up, boy! pull up!"
a full minute, with the look of a tiger ready to   Donovan had by this time taken his resoluspring. But Doctor Gamble had' gone too far tion, and merely saying sternly, "Leave the
to recede, and, after a'brief pause, he asked, whole to me, sir,'" he sprang out of the chaise,
"' Shall I, in so speaking, say any thing but the while Doctor Gamble followed at a consideratruth?"                                     ble distance, having certain reminiscences of
"Truth!" said Donovan, with a bitter sneer Reginald Lisle's handiwork,.which rendered too
curling his lip; "what do you care for truth "  near an approach to that gentleman unpleasant.
and, turning away, he walked moodily to the In one minute, Captain Donovan was over the
window again.                               hedge and close to the would-be combatants;
The tutor paused for a few moments, and and to have seen him at that moment, one would
then taking up his hat, which he had lain down have supposed that no one could be more eager
upon the table, he said, 1 "Well, captain, as you to prevent his ward from suffering the consewill not go, I must'."                      quences of his ill conduct,
"' Stay, stay," said the other, in a milder tone,   "What is this, gentlenien l"? he exclaimed,
but still one of much vexation; "this is the in a loud and stern tone; "what is this, sir."
greatest  annoyance in the world. I promised and he bent his brows upon Sir Theodore with
to be at Amiens yesterday, but could not get a frow n which had often made the youth shrink
my passport signed; and now I shall be kept into himself in terror. Nor was it without eftill the day after to-morrow."              feet even now; for, although Sir Theodore had
" Oh, never mind, never mind," said Doctor been able at once to assume a new character
Gamble, with a sly leer; " she will wait ~ for with a man whom he despised like Doctor Gamyou."                                       ble, there was a sort of dark enthralling spell
Donovan laughed somewhat affectedly, say- connected with his very earliest memories of
ing, "You are a fool, Gamble; but, if I must the man now before him, which he could not
go, I must. Only remember, this is the last time shake off; and for a minute after Donovan's
I will interfere in such a business. I maychance sudden and unexpected'appearance, the young
to get myself shot instead of him for meddling baronet stood silent, with his eyes turned'to the
in such affairs, and I have a good deal to do in ground.
the world yet.".               His Irish companion, however, undertook to
I' I don't doubt it," answered Gamble, dryly; answer for him, saying, with a strong Irish acb' but now, as you have taken your resolution, cent, "The matter, sir, is a very simple one.
let us set out at once."-                   Those gentlemen just coming near thought fit
Captain Donovan, however, contrived to cre- to horsewhip both our young friend here and a
ate a great number of delays. Had the packet- person I understand to be his tutor-that perboat been about to sail at the hour which had son there behind-which, indeed, any gentlebeen stated, he certainly would have been too man has a right to do to another, if he considers
late-if he really required so much time to pack himself aggrieved.  Our young friend here.up his portmanteau.  Then he must needs dine thought fit, in return,. to call his assailant to acbefore he went, trying to reconcile Doctor Gam- count in the usual way, which any gentleman
ble to his procrastination bh the delicacy of the has a right to do also."
viands he ordered. The time for starting, how-   "If he have arrived at the years of discreever, at length arrived; and, though Captain tion," said Donovan, sternly.
Donovan would not afford four horses, away    "That has nothing to do with the matter,"
went he and the tutor at a very tolerable rate; said the other, who could not comprehend that
but as they were in a hack post-chaise, which the person newly arrived had any'authority in
had to be changed at every stage, there were the affair. "Now, you look very much like a
numerous opportunities of wasting time, which gentleman, sir, so I will just beg you either to
Donovan took advantage of. At other moments withdraw, or stand quiet and not meddle."
lie lay back dozing in the chaise; or, putting out   Captain Donovan laughed. " Very good," he
his head, told the post-boy not to break their said; " and see this boy, my ward, shot before
necks by rattling down hill; or, meditating over my face. Sir, you are very much mistaken;
the perfections and qualities of Doctor Gamble, and if you do not very speedily take your case
wi2shed that he were not quite so much in his away, and be off, you will be in the hands of
re.  the officers of Bow-street in five minutes. No
The morning was gray when they reached blustering, sir, if you please. We know how' w;ndon  but Gamble, who understood the game to deal with gentlemen of your warlike propen-;.;iy too well, called to the post-boy, without sities; and, I can tell-you, you have not too
asking any permission, to drive straight to the much time to spare. Now, Major Brandrum,
back of Montague House, as fast as he could what apology do you demand of Sir Theodore
go; and away they went. As they came near, Broughton.  He'shall make it immediately, for
Donovan listened for the crack of a pistol; but I am informed of what has occurred, and see
that it is due."




LAUREL WATER.                                       87, I will make none," murmured the young  not at all like; but, whatever it was that ferman, in a low but determined voice.           mented in his mind at the moment, it brought
Major Brandrum, however, saved all conten- forth nothing; and, leaving his ward still under
tion on the subject by his reply. " I have no  the guidance of his ill-chosen tutor, he quitted
apology to require, Captain Donovan," he said; them, and took his way back at once toward
" Sir Theodore Broughton thought fit to behave  the sea-coast.
to a young lady, whom I have adopted as my    When Donovan was seated in the chaise and
child, in a manner both rascally and ungentle- rolling away from London, he ground his teeth
man-like, and not the less ungentleman-like be- bitterly, murmuring, i" Ay, Master Gamble, your
cause it was rascally, nor the less rascally be- day will come. In the mean timne, your vices
cause it was ungentleman-like.  Seeingt hat he  and licentiousness will do my work for me,
is a mere lad-though he thinks himself a man  while you think you are doing your own."
-I punished him as a lad, and horsewhipped
him soundly. I never, however, refuse to fight,.
when any body asks me; and, therefore, I came
here by his appointment, though the morning-is            CHAPTER XXV[I..windy, and the hour somewhat early."
6'It might have been better to treat him as    ABoN HASSAN wished to be caliph for only'a boy to the end, major," replied Donovan. one day, and I sincerely wish that I could be a
6 However, you are a soldier, and a gentleman'woman for only one day. Let it be understood,
of honor, and I, being in the same service, must I would not for the world be one for any longer
mnake allowance for professional prejudices.  I space, as I look upon it that woman, like every
mnay trust, however, to your good feeling, I am  other weak thing, is hardly used by man. If I
-sure, to promise me that you will not give him  could have my wish, I might, perhaps, be able
another meeting while I am absent from En- afterward to give the reader some account of
gland, as business of importance calls me to  the fetelings of Mary Chevenix, as Reginald
IFrance."'                                   Lisle sat beside her at supper, where we left
4i really can not tell, sir," replied Brandrum; him at the end of the twenty-third chapter. As
4' it entirely depends upon his own conduct. In  a man, however, it is impossible to do so acreference to this affair, I certainly shall not curately. The general facts, indeed, I can
meet him again, for once is enough, in all con- state; but all those minute shades of emotion,
science; but if he still thinks fit to behave ill those fine, soft lines of feeling, which display
to any one under imy protection, I shall most -the principal diffierence between the mind of
likely treat him as I did before, and then things  woman and that of man, I must pass over in si-,must take their course according to circumstan- lence. One must be, or have been, a woman,
ces.  Come, Lisle, I think we have had enough  to know them, and, perhaps, something more
-of this, and we are likely to get blown away in  than a Woman, to tell them.
this wind.".'When Reginald first entered the room, where
Thus saying, he walked away, followed by  she. and Lady Chevenix had been sitting up for
Reginald Lisle and the' gentleman in black. the return of her father and Sir Harry Jarvis,
They reached a hackney coach which was wait- her sensations were strangely mingled. The
ing for them in the other road, and when they  joy and surprise of seeing him; and her uncer-'were seated, Lisle, who bore a greatly puzzled  tainty as to what character he had come in, and
look, said, in a low tone, "6This is curious,  what was his motive for coining, together with
Crow."                                       some apprehensions as to what might be her
6 ery!" said Major Brandrur, dryly; "and  mother's conduct and demeanor toward him,
then added, "we have been doing the fellow  were enough to agitate her greatly; but through
injustice in our hearts. His conduct is certain- all other emotions stole one small thread of
ly strange; but it is evident that he can enter- doubt, which, however thin and filmy, checkertain no sinister designs such as I had fancied."  ed and dimmed the golden web of love and hope
In the mean time, Captain — Donovan was most sadly.
somewhat at a loss how to deal with Sir Theo-   When she gave him her hand, it trembled,
dore Broughton, whose Irish friend having a  and her cheek varied through every hue of the
much greater antipathy to incarceration than  rose, from nearly white to crimson. But when
to a pistof bullet, had disappeared somewhat she looked up in his face, the expression with
rapidly from the scene of action after the offi- which he regarded her, the deep and intense
cers of Bow-street had been mentioned. To  love in his eyes, made her hand tremble still
remonstrate with the youth was absolutely nec- more, but rnade her heart flutter also with reessary, but to treat him altogether as a-boy was  newed trust, Had any one spoken for an hour,
not possible, and would not have been expedi- with the tongue of eloquence itself, upon the
ent, according to Donovan's'views, even if it theme of Reginald Lisle's constancy, and truth,
had been. He therefore determined-to cut his than the effect of that one look.
sermi on very short, on the pretense of anxiety  and affection, the result would have been less
to get back to Dover at once; and in a few    Let us pass over all explanations and minor
Tshort sentences, severe enough, though mingled  particulars —how Lady Chevenix' told all that
with a sarcastic jest here and there, he pointed  had occurred, and said she had not known how
out all that a common-place view of dissipation  to act, and how she and Mary had had a very
and dueling could suggest-very well knowing  anxious dinner, and how she was sure her husthat common-places never have the slightest band and Sir Harry would be half tired, half
effect in the way of warning or dissuasion. He  famished to death, and how she had taken the
looked three times at Doctor Gamble with an  liberty of ordering the cook to exercise his best
expression of countenance which the tutor did  skill on the supper, and how it would be on the




~887                SIR THEODORE -BROUGHTON; OR,
table directly, now that they were returned. Sir Harry Jarvis, addressing Major Brandrum.
Nor should I wish to detain the reader to de- and Lisle. " I shall be absent to-morrow myscribe how Reginald Lisle and Major Brandrum  self; but Chevenix and her ladyship, and my
washed their hands, and:. brushed the dirt off fait young friend here, will entertain you., Oa
their persons, and consulted together for a min- the following day, if you will do me the honor
ute or two before supper. It was all very right of staying, I will endeavor to induce Colonel
at the time; but we have nothing to do with  Lutwich to meet you at dinner."
it. Let us seat Reginiald once more beside. her   Both Major Brandrum  and Reginald Lisle
he loved, and tell what was Lady Chevenix's  promised to take Jarworth Park on their return
demeanor toward him, for that was a point in from St. Alban's; and the major charged one
regard to which he and Mary too were not a of Sir Harry's servants with a note to London,
little anxious.                             requiring somewhat more suitable habiliments
She was civil enough i that is, perhaps, the for a dinner-table than those in which they had
only way to describe her conduct; but what a ridden thither.
different thing that is from being cordial. She   On the following morning, early, they set out
failed in no rule of politeness; she was not even  for St. Alban's, and with a part of what was
cold and distant. Her husband's presence and done there the reader is already acquainted.
his known wishes shielded Reginald from that After the scene in the coffee-room of one inn,
negative kind of repulsion, for Lady Chevenix  they returned exceedingly calmly to the other,
was a really good woman, and wished to please the major laughing heartily at the contortions
her husband very much; but still she was not of Doctor Gamble under the lash of Reginald
cordial. She could not forget that Lisle had  Lisle, which he had not failed to remark even,
fought a duel with Sir Charles, and wounded  while inflicting a similar but more moderate
him severely. She did not forget it; indeed, dose of the same medicine upon Sir Theodore
she did not try; and Reginald felt it. Nor was Broughton.   -
it without effect upon his own demeanor. He    " I wonder, my' boy," he said, "how that felsaid to himself, " It is evident that Lady Chev- low would bear a slow fire, with splinters of
enix is not well disposed toward me. I must resinous pine stuck into the calves of his fat
contrive to win her esteem, to teach her to for- legs.  Heavens! what a shout the Slippery
get that unfortunate affair, before I venture to  Snake, and Bald Eagle, and all the rest of the
press my suit, or even to show my love openly. tribe would have'set up, to see him writhing
Although she is all submission to her husband, so under such a puny thing as a horsewhip,
yet I know right well how much a mother's They would have danced themselves mad with
opinion must influence a father in such circum- delight."
stances; how the private ear of affection will   Reginald was somewhat graver; and, whenr
listen even to arguments unreasonable; how  they had reached their inn, and ordered their
the whispered word will damage-the reitera- breakfast, he called for a newspaper, and one.
ted objection will have weight. She sees not of the meager, yellow things, so denominated
that I love her daughter-they none of them see in that day, was b'rought him by the waiter,
it but Mary herself, and I must not let them see over which he cast his eyes, somewhat indifit till I have won upon their regard as well as ferently at first. After a while, however, a sudhers.".                              den eagerness seemed to seize him: his eye
I know not whether the resolution was wise was fixed intently on the page; and, after reador foolish; but one effect it had, which was un- ing a few lines more, he exclaimed, "Here is
fortunate. It put a restraint upon his manner intelligence indeed, Crow! The enemy have
toward Mary herself; it made it far less warm, landed on the west coast, and plundered a vik
far less tender than love might well have been, lage. It is not well ascertained whether it was
even under the restrictions of society. Mary a party of Frenchmen, or the crew of the Amerthought his conduct strange; the thin thread  ican squadron, which had been hanging about
of doubt appeared again, running throughout upon the coast. But the news is certain."
the web of hope, and she was very silent during    " A chance of active employment, Lisle,"' rethe rest of the meal.                       plied the major. " Well, I have nothing to do
At length, the party rose to retire to rest, but provide for this girl, fight this boy, and thea
and Major Brandrum significantly informed Sir. I am ready. To say truth, I am tired of inacHarry Jarvis that he and his young companion  tivity, and should have to do some exceedingly
should most probably ride on to St. Alban's be- extravagant thing very soon, just to relieve.fore breakfast, on business of importance.  the monotony of existence. Well, here comes
" I have half a mind to go with you, major," breakfast; and, as soon as that is over, let us
said Sir Charles Chevenix; but his wife in- march. Perhaps Sir Harry may bring back a
stantly interposed, saying, 1 "You forget, my dear budget of news from London to-night."
Charles, you will have to go over to Colonel   But neither Lisle nor his friend were destined
Lutwich's for Miss Malcolm, as Sir -Iarry has to stay long at Jarworth Park. They rode thithr.
just told you he must be all day in London."   er rapidly, for Reginald was not without hopes
Sir Charles Chevenix thought that his wife of` gaining Mary's ear for a few dear private
could fulfill that task as well as himself; but moments; but the first words of Sir Harry's
he knew her habits, both of mind and body; he butler were, " Your servant, sir, has come dow~r
knew that there would be a hundred objections with your things from London, wishing to see
to overcome, which he did not choose to war you directly, and Major Brandrum too."
with; and, therefore, he merely replied, " I had    " What does he want." asked Lisle, with the
forgot,."                                   impatience of apprehended disappointment.
"I trust; gentlemen, you will make Jarworth    " He has got a letter for you, sir, from'the
your half-way house on the way back," said  commander-in-chief," replied the butler, "aad




LAUREL WATER.                                     89
one for the major too. I will call him up di-   "He was, indeed," answered Kate Malcolm;:
rectly: he is in the servants' hall."       "he insulted me grossly there; but Captainr
Without quitting the vestibule, Reginald re- Lisle came up, and-"
ceived the letter where he stood. It was a   But the remembrance of that night oppressed
mere formal epistle, requiring him to put all oth- her; and while her cheek turned crimson, her
er:things aside, and report himself at head- eyes were suffused with tears, and she stopped.
quarters without any delay. There was also a   How strange a thing is jealousy! that most
vague hint that his services might be wanted bitter preconception of the mind, which blinds
immediately in the field, for official brevity had the most clear-sighted, hardens the most just! 
got then reached its climax; but still the' epis- There was not a person on all the earth better
tle was dry and impenetrable enough. The let- fitted by nature to comprehend and sympathize
ter to Major Brandrum was precisely the same, with the emotions which produced so much agwritten by the same clerk, in the same' hand, itation in Kate Malcolm than Mary Chevenix,
and the same words, and signed by the same and yet now she attributed all to a wrong cause.
officer.                                   The blush'and the tears were close coupled
"We must take wing at once, Regy," said with the name of Reginald Lisle; and shethe Ravenous Crow; " the service bears no de- thought they must be given to him. The readlay, and the order is peremptory."         er may ask, Why. and there is but one answer,.
"We must see if Lady Chevenix and Sir "Because she loved him herself."
Charles are within, in order to make our ex-   Still she was resolved to be further satisfied.
cuses," said Reginald. The major smiled; but She fancied herself very reasonable indeed.
the butler, who had been standing by, put an She said she would not judge without full
end to Captain Lisle's hope, even of one more proofs; she resolved that she would not let
glimpse, by saying, "Sir Charles has not re- jealousy have the least dominion. Nevertheturned yet, sir, and her ladyship is out walking less, she was very grave and silent during dinwith Miss Chevenix."                        ner; and when the ladies had'retired from the
"'Well, then, we must trust you to bear our table, she took advantage of her mother's abapology, my good friend," said Major Bran- sence for a few minutes to put her own quesdrum. "Pray inform  Sir Harry how deeply tionsto Kate. Nor did she do so quite sincerewe regret not being able to stay to dinner- ly. No, reader, Mary did not act sincerely toand here, show himn that letter; he will see by ward her young companion: no woman stung
that what it is that hurries us away so fast." by jealousy ever does-perhaps no woman, in
Thus saying, he passed out and remounted his love. However, it was the first time in her life,,
horse, while Reginald only remained to give and it was the last likewise; for she foundsaftthe necessary orders to his servant for follow- erward that, had she been but as frank on this..
ing with his baggage.                       occasion as on others, she would have saved
When Mary Chevenix returned, about half herself much misery. As soon as Lady Chevan hour after her lover had departed, she had enix was' gone, Mary went and'sat down' bethe disappointment of finding that he had been side Kate upon a sofa, and putting her hand: on
there, and gone again; and a bitter disappoint- hers, she said, " And so, Kate, this young offiment it was, for she had been dreaming a dream  cer came very opportunely to your assistance'i"
of spending half an hour with him before din- She would not mention Reginald's name,'for
ner, at some time, and in some spot, where they fear her face should betray her own secrets:could speak all they felt, and where he, she while she was seeking those of another.
hoped, might explain all that seemed strange.   A glow instantly came up in Kate Malcelmr's
The letter was shown to her, however. She face, for she, on her part had been thinking of
saw that Lisle had no choice but to obey; and Colonel Lutwich for th% last half hour, and
as she was not in the least of a captious na- Mary's eyes were searching her countenanceture, she did not even fancy that he could have eagerly. "Very opportunely indeed," she anfound an -excuse if he had been very much in swered; " I should not have known what to do
love.                                       had he not come up, for I did not know my:way,
Her father returned shortly after with Kate or any thing."
Malcolm; and perhaps Lady Chevenix received   "And he was very kind to you V" askedMary.
the fair truant more warmly than her daughter   " He was, indeed," replied Kate.
did, for there was still that little dark thread of   " A little in love, too, with that fair, glowing.
doubt which Mary could not remove, do what face, I've a notion?" said Mary.
she would.                                    Kate blushed still, but made no answer; and
" I will try before I sleep to tear it out, even Mary went on. "Nay, tell me, Kate-tell a
if I tear my own heart too," she thought; and friend who can counsel, and perhaps help you.
she listened to all Kate told her mother of the Did he not say he loved you "
kindness and delicacy with which Colonel Lut-   "Oh, do not ask me any more questions!"
wich had treated her, with much interest, even exclaimed Kate Malcolm; but her face made
under her quiet demeanor. The three ladies confession, and Mary's heart sank low-very
were alone together,'for Sir Charles went at low. She could not speak for a moment, though
once to write letters; and Lady Chevenix ques- she longed to go on-to have the admission, in
tioned Kate closely as to the person who had words; and just as she was framing another
practiced so base a stratagem  upon her, and question, and struggling with herself for voice,
his object. Even before two women, the sub- Lady Chevenix returned.
ject embarrassed the poor girl;' but her cate-   The impression, however, was made, the
chist wrung Sir Theodore Broughton's name fears confirmed. They seemed to her no!onfrom her, and then exclaimed, "Why, surely ger doubts, but realities; and Mary, pleading
some one told me he was in the inn at Dunsta- headache, but too -truly, retired early, not toble on the night of the fire."              rest, but to weep.




SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
On the io\\to\  ing mornifig she was up, and    "Nay, the fortune I care very little about,'.-dressed, and out, before any one else in the answered Mary Chevenix; "but for the best
house was stirring. She felt that she needed father and the best mother I am not ungrateful.
-the free air: rooms were too close and narrow  That, indeed, is a blessing;" and she ended
for the feelings which struggled in her bosom. with a sigh.
She wished to catechize her own heart,; to ask    Sir Charles Chevenix saw she was unhappy.
herself if she was the person to blame; if, with  He loved her dearly, too; and yet he resolved
foolish weakness or idle vanity, she-had mis- to make her more unhappy before he had done,
taken mere common compliment, and, perhaps, for he thought it would be salutary. Almost
a somewhat too warm and winning manner, for all fathers are rough physicians, even in their
the words of love and the looks of affection. love; but it were wise, when about to give a
But her heart absolved her. There could be wholesome bitter to a child, to be sure that
no mistake. All she had to blame herself for they have got hold of the right bottle.  Sir
was for listening too eagerly to one who was Charles had got the wrong, and he proceeded
*so little known to her. Yet she strove not to to administer to his daughter more of the same,admit that either: he had seemed so frank, so poison which she had lately been tasting. He
true, so high principled; and, equally unwilling spoke of Kate Malcolm, and expressed sympato blame him-strange as itA may seem-she thy with the disappointment she must have felt
threw the fault upon the shoulders of his whole on the preceding day at " Captain Lisle being
sex.  " They are all deceitful," she said; " they obliged to be absent."  He then went on to say,
are all fickle.  I have heard a thousand instan- "I thought of asking her to stay with us for,ces of it. I must tear 6ut this love from my a week or two in Grosvenor Square; but as
heart. Willingly, I will never see him more. Lisle is likely to be busy, if all this.sharp work
What is it makes me feel unkind and angry to- is to go on, it would be better, p6rhaps, to take
ward poor Kate? It is not her fault, dear girl, her to his mother's at once. There they will.and I will not suffer my heart to be embittered. have more opportunities of being together; for,.1 will forget him-not think of him. He can of course, he must often go to see Mrs. Lisle,
be nothing more to me. Let her be happy with and can kill two birds with one stone. What
him; but I must not see it. I can not'see! do you say, Mary?"
Well, well."                                   "I think so, certainly, in such circumstanAs she thus pondered, and while she was try- ces," replied his daughter, in a wavering voice,
ing to nerve her mind for the course before her, for her heart felt as if some giant were squeezBsbhe was walking up and down an avenue of old ing it in a cold hand.  "I shall be sorry to part
trees; and how long she had been there Heav- with her; but, of course, she will be more hap-en knows-for in such internal strife time flies py there."
fast-when she saw her father coming toward    Sir Charles was a little puzzled; for, though
-her. Mary had not been weeping: all her tears her manner was somewhat agitated, her words
had been spent upon her pillow; otherwise she were calm. As she bore it well, however, he
might have tried to avofd him. There is, how- thought he might go on; and he proceeded to
ever, a sort of recklessness in despair, which, tell her how angry and indignant Reginald Lisle
perhaps, might have led her to go on, even had had appeared when first informed that Kate had
she.,known that her father would see her suffer- been inveigled away. He dwelt upon all that.ing, and divine its cause. She hardly cared now  he had observed; and as he was, in truth, conwho' knew it, except Kate Malcolm. That she vinced himself, he had no difficulty in convincould not have borne.                        cing her. He tortured her terribly, however;
Sir Charles advanced toward her in his gay, and Mary saw and felt that he was saying
good-humored manner, holding out his arms to more, far more than he otherwise would have
elasp her for his morning's embrace; and, when done, because he thought it for her good. At
held to his-, bosom, Mary felt, perhaps for the length, she could bear it no more; and, sudfirst time foilly, what a blessed thing is a par- denly stopping, she looked up in her father's
ent's love.                                  face with those beautiful appealing eyes, and
"You look pale, my girl," he said; " have said, "Say no more, papa, say no more: I am
you not slept well l  Have all our adventures quite satisfied. If I have indulged foolish fanbeen too much for you 1 Fy, fy! I thought you cies, they are gone forever;" and, turning away
were brimful of chivalry and romance, Mary; from him, she ran back to the house.
az? let me tell you that many of our knights-   "Poor child!"- said Sir Charles to himself,
errant in petticoats would give their ears -for "I am afraid it has gone deeper than I thought;"
such luck as you have had. To be robbed and and he continued to walk up and down for some
escape murder, to be burned out and escape time.
singeing, to lose a little friend and find her   The party at breakfast was grave, but Mary
-again all safe, is not the chance of every one, showed herself peculiarly kind and gentle toMistress Mary."                             ward Kate Malcolm; and Sir HarryJarvis, too,
"' I have not much luck of any kind," answer- bestowed upon the poor orphan girl more attened his daughter; "and in truth, dear papa, I tion than he would, perhaps, have shown to
should not covet luck of that sort. I would rath- lordly guests. He often gazed at her, too, with
er not be robbed, or burned out, or lose a friend a look of tender interest, as if soanning every
at all."                                    line ofher face, when her eyes were turned
"You ungrateful little toad!" cried Sir away from him. At dinner they were joined by
Charles, laughing.  "No luck at all, did she Colonel Lutwich, and Sir Harry took an opporsay?  WVhat! with the best mother and the tunity of saying to him, before Kate came down
nest father in the country, and the largest for- with Lady Chevenix, "You will find your fair
tune to boot, at least within fifty miles of Duns- guest of the other night, colonel, even somemorel"




LAUREL VWATER.                                    91
~what more sad than before. To-morrow is the   Both Sir Charles and Lady Chevenix showed'day appointed for her father's funeral;' and, themselves very kind, the latter warming greatly
though we have not told her-not thinking it to her young proteg6e on the eve of her departnecessary for her to be present-and have per- ure. Sir Charles took care of her purse, al(suaded her, both yesterday and to-day, to come though she would fain have refused.  Lady
-down to dinner, yet she must feel that it is Chevenix had before provided for her dress.
coming near."                              Mary was' sad and grave, though she strove
Kite was sad, and even Lutwich's presence hard to be kind too; and when Kate bade her
could not banish her gloom; for Lady Chevenix good-by'in the drawing-room, she kissed her
had accidentally let out the secret, which Sir tenderly, held her at a little distance from her
Charles had wished to keep concealed till the to gaze at her, and then hung a little diamond
dark ceremony was over. Lutwich, however, cross round her neck, saying, "Wear that for
knew well how to feel for her,. and his whole'my sake, Kate; and think of me when you are'manner and demeanor spoke his sympathy. married."
His tone might be tender, but it was always   Kate did not comprehend her; and as soon
grave throughout the evening; and he made as she was gone, Mary ran up to her own room
not the slightest effort to force upon her one to weep.  Hardly half an hour had elapsed
cheerful thought, for he knew that it would jar when there was a loud knock at the door, and
with her feelings. Rate did not love him less ih about three minutes Mary's maid came to say
when he went away.                         that Captain Lisle was below. "He asked for
The next day passed with her in mourning,. Sir Charles and my lady, ma'arn, and then for
Sir Charles and Sir Harry Jarvis posted early you," said the girl.
in the morning to Dunstable, and returned late.   The name had made Mary Chevenix turn
at night, for the day following had been ap- -very red, and then very pale. " Tell him," she
pointed for the Chevenix family to proceed to said, after a moment's terrible pause, " tell him
London.. They did not set out early, however, I am-that I can not come down, as I am very
and Colonel Lutwich was at the carriage door busy at present;" and such,-word for word,
when they departed. He was able to gain a was the message which Reginald Lisle received.
few moments with Kate while some arrangements were made, and Sir Harry Jarvis handed   ~.
in Lady Chevenix;' but the old baronet returned for his fair young guest; and, as he led her        CHAPTER XXVIII.
along with somewhat formal courtesy, he said,
in a low voice, but full of feeling, "My dear   THins work has very little to do with history
young lady, I should much like to disappoint -so little, indeed, that I do not half like to ingood Major Brandrum, and keep you all to my- trude even the smallest bit of history into it.
self here as a daughter; but I fear I can not Nevertheless, two facts must be recalled to the
nmake out a title to so fair a property. How- mind of the learned reader; for, unless he does
ever, pray remember, should you at any time happen to remember them, he will be somewhat
want assistance, support, counsel, you are to puzzled with regard to certain incidents record-.
apply to none but me, and you will find a father ed in these pages. Shortly after the outbreak
in me."                                     of the American war of inde'pendence-a multiAnother step brought them to the carriage tude still living can recall those times-a numdoor, and Sir Harry shook hands with her and ber of privateers belonging to the revolted col:
bade her farewell.  The maids followed, the onies hovered about the:British Channel and
servants mounted their horses; and Colonel the neighboring coasts, carrying off many of our
Lutwich, with a very thoughtful air, was turn- merchant ships, daring our smaller vessels of
ing toward his own steed, when the voice of the war to action, and even, in one or two inold baronet stopped him.                   stances, making descents upon the coast, when',Colonel-Colonel Lutwich!" said Sir Har- they learned that no great force was ready to
"y,  whither away so fast. Can you not spare repel them, plundering villages, hamlets, and
half an hour for a solitary old man?"     farm-houses, after a somewhat piratical fashion.
" I have a journey before me, Sir Harry," re- Rumor, at the time, swelled these occurrences
plied Lutwich, "nevertheless, I must not re- -in themselves of no' great magnitude-into
fuce to stay at your bidding."            events of vast importance; terror and confusion, Where:-are  yos u going " asked his com- spread among the sober citizens, and bustle and
panion.;.':.                              activity prevailed in the public offices.  An
o" Int.:: Yorkshire,"'replied Lutwich,- signifi- event, which was hardly known or talked about
cantly? ".I am not' satisfied."           within.twenty miles of where it had occurred,
"N:11, well,:then ILwill not stop you," said was magnified in London into an invasion; and
Sir" Hary Jarvis;   " let me see you when you those, even, who obtained the most exact aceomeback.-: I seldom dine from home."'  counts in their official capacity, shared the'panic
Luiich promised, and rode away; and be- of the multitude, and increased it by superfluous
fore ni't` he w9a fifty miles on his way to York. preparations for meeting dangers which did not
In thmean time', Sir Charles Chevenix and exist.  One of the most formidable dresses
his p ay, reached Go-:  enor Square in safety, which Rumor assumed was afforded to'the
and t ~?rest of the eveir was passed in calm  vagrant goddess by the fact of the French emrepos i  On the:followin   orning Sir Charles bassador having quitted London, and the English
and  Idy Chevenix  droi  ut to convey Kate embassador having been recalled from Paris,
Malc4:  to the cottage..  Mrs. Lisle, having while a secret treaty-as was well known, like
previ''notified th it~intention to Major all other secrets, almost from the beginningBrandru'  note which received no answer. had beeii entered into between the absolute




92                 iSIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
monarch of France and the ruling powers of the fettering your ankles, and I have nothingtto
new republic.  It was reported, and believed stay me but age, and-thank God'! not the
for some time, even in high.places, that the rheumatism."
French and Americans combined had landed on   " I have neither love nor hope," answered
the western coast of England, when, in truth, Reginald, in a very gloomy tone; "those are
the origin of the whole story was the plunder among things departed, major-at least the aoe
of a farm-house by the well-known leader Paul which gave brightness to the other is gone, and
Jones, -famous. in song and tale. Troops were the love can be borne as heavily or as li:htly
instantly marched from various quarte'rs to the in another land as here."
part of the country supposed to be threatened   lBrandrum looked at him with grave surprise;
or assailed; the militia was called out; and all but he would make no effort to wring his cofiofficers of skill and experience were, like Major dence from him, well knowing it would come
Brandrum and Reginald Lisle, commanded to as soon as it was no longer painful for him to
hold themselves in readiness to afford their speak upon the subject at all; and, after havservices in repelling the enemy from our shores. ing walked on through the streets for some
Another fact-which has been taken too little way, Lisle proposed that they should dine,
notice of in history, though it affects one of the leave word at their inn where they were to be
most important points in that of any nation- found, and go down to spend the evening with
the history of opinion-rendered it the more his mother.
imperative upon the government to call to their   "Poor Miss Malcolm is there, of course, as
aid every military man willing to serve, and able your note from Sir Charles Chevenix intimato serve well. The American war was,through- ted," he continued; "and as you and I, my
out the country, one of the most unpopular that dear Crow, may be winging our way to distant
ever was undertaken. Whatever faults were lands ere long, I should wish to make her as
imputable to the Americans themselves —and much at home with my mother and sister as
there were not a few, even among their great- possible."
est men —there could be no doubt that England   The plan thus proposed was speedily exehad greater still toward them. A sense of the outed, and one entire peaceful night was spent
injustice, as well as the inexpediency of the by the two soldiers at Mrs. Lisle's cottage. It
war, was general, and in many cases so strong, afforded no incident that would bear even thy
that a very great number of distinguished offi- slightest detail, and therefore let it pass. The
cers resigned their commissions rather than man of whom the world says nothing, is likely
take part. in hostilities which they conceived to have the happiest life; and so with those
iniquitous. They might be wrong, and perhaps portions of time in which the author has noththey were in many points of view; but still, ing to chronicle. Alas! that it should be so;
such was the fact; and, be it observed, that that the great efforts, the noble impulses, the
was a fact which never could occur in any generous actions, if not absolutely referable,.i
country butEngland. These resignations great- the catalogue of human cares and sufferings,
ly embarrassed the government, and made min- to the same category.as the pitiful strifes, the
isters only the more anxious to secure the im- degrading vices, and the destroying crimes,;
mediate services of experienced soldiers who seldom, very seldom meet with any rewardexformed a different jhudgment of military duty.  cept the radiant glow from the inner heart,
Such were Major Brandrum  and Reginald which can have no expression, and which adLisle. Reginald, though he had his feelings as mits of no description.
a citizen as well as a soldier, though he might   Early on' the morrow, Major Brandrum and
disapprove ofthe war and condemn the meas- Captain Lisle were summoned to the presence
-ares which had produced it, would have as soon of the commander-in-chief, and each received
thought of, flying from a field of battle as of re- a mission,, which, if not strictly of a military
fusing to serve the crown on any motive of pri- description, might at any moment assume that
vate judgment.  The major, who was much character, according to the progress of events.
more the soldier than the citizen, never thought In two.hours after, the one was on his way to
upon the subject at all, and only disliked fight- Dublin, the other traveling down into Corning the " Provincials," as he called them, be- wall; but both received a promise of promotion
cause they spoke the same language as the En- and active employment upon their return, if
glish. "One hardly knows one from the other," the business intrusted to them was conducted
he said, " which makes it inconvenient as well to the satisfaction of government.. —
as unnatural, and not the less unnatural be-   With their proceedings during theiri:'absenec
cause it is inconvenient, nor the less incon- -which lasted nineteen days -I will have
venient because it is unnatural."           nothing to do, as they do not come: within the
The morning of the frustrated duel passed scope of this work.  Suffice it to say,`that
over; and in the afternoon, the major and his Lisle found little, Major::.Brandrum much, to
young comrade presented' themselves to the employ him, and that for theipeace of t!ie foi
commander-in-chief for the second time since rmer-for that relief from corroding.thought
they had received his summons. They were which active occupation afford-it woulhave
very graciously received with nod and smile, been better for Reginald if they had,%angaed
and dismissed with a hint that they would hear places. Nor will I dwell —upon' his ftiughts
from him that day or the next.              either, for the readerill  ell conceivvwhat;
Lisle seemed a good deal disappointed, and they were, while lo  ing upon the cold:~fusal
as they walked home together. through the busy of Mary Chevenix  tsee hion as an intniation
streets, his companion remarked, "Ah, Lisle, that his hopes must  d.  Hope, inde, witk
you long to be at the old work as well as I, say as persevering but  o     e bengpant.re tlaa
what you will, though you have love and hope the famous naphtha of lt eeilf::  il not be




LAUREL WATER.                                     93
extinguished; and a small light rose up in his changed, indeed; the young baronet had asheart upon reflection. "P Perhaps," he said,. "I sumed the tone and air of manhood; but still
have been too hasty; perhaps some unavoida- there was something in the good doctor's heart
ble accident prevented her from coming down which led him to judge that the native weakto see, me. At all events, I will make another ness had not been eradicated entirely; and,
effort. I will call upon Sir Charles-if it be indeed, the youth's behavior during the short
his commands, or those of Lady Chevenix, interval of Captain Donovan's presence proved
which place a barrier between Mary and me, I that there was something he was prepared to
shall at least be able to. learn the fact; and if reverence and obey.
she, loves me, I may win her still."         "If I am to be dismissed," thought Doctor
With such thoughts he lay down to rest, and Gamble, " I may as well carry matters with a
in his dreams Mary's beautiful eyes gazed on high hand" Perhaps that may put affairs right
him, full of smiles, and her dear voice bade again, and I am  no worse; but I must be
him trust. But when, on the very morning tender, too-affectionate, d-d affectionate. I
after his return, he called in Grosvenor Square, will let him begin; I'll not say another word.,
he found that the whole family had left London That will make him feel awkward at the outset,
eight days before.                         an-then I will look for an advantage."
I heard a young lady once recommend a   But Sir Theodore Broughton did not seem
friend just about to be married always to have to feel at all awkward about the matter; and,
in her house a bag for "odds and ends."  I as soon as Doctor Gamble and he were once
have made such a sort of bag of this chapter, more quietly introduced into his sitting-room
which I beg the reader to look upon as purely at the Turk's Head, he gazed gloomily at the
interpblated, and to be skipped or not, as he tutor for a moment, and then said, " Very
pleases.  It might have seemed kinder, in- pretty this, sir."
deed, to insert the notice to that effect at the   " Very pretty indeed, Sir Theodore," and
beginning instead of at the end;. but it is a swered Doctor Gamble, with perfect coolness:
matter of principle with me to discourage all "I never saw a very ugly -affair more nicely
skipping: first, because the reader can never settled. Of all the many very difficult transunderstand the story rightly if he does skip; actions I have had to deal with in life, I shall
secondly, because he may omit something that always look back to this as the most delicately
would do him good mentally or corporeally; managed."
and, thirdly, because it is a bad compliment to. -"Let me tell you, Doctor Gamble," exclaimthe writer. And, besides, what author can ed Sir Theodore, in a loud and angry toneever tell, at the beginning of a chapter, what   "Pooh, pooh!" cried the tutor almost con.-that chapter will produce before it comes to an temptuously; "you are heated, young gentleend.                                      man. Wait till you are cdol, and you will find
_.reason to thank me most gratefully. Do you
think, sir," he continued, with great volubility,
CHAPTER XXIX.                  "that I was going to see you shot before my
face by one of the most notorious marksmen in
I HxvE left Sir Theodore Broughton so long, Europe, who would knock any button off your
that it is absolutely necessary to return to him, coat at the first shot? Had he chosen small.
even if it be for a very short time. Such a swords instead of pistols, I might not have inyoung man is not fit to be trusted in the midst terfered, inasmuch as you might be somewhat
of a city like London, even though he have a equally matched. You are a good swordsman,
tutor of the learning, experience, and prudence and what you wanted in practice you might
of Doctor Gamble by his side. I must, there- make up in activity."
fore, go back to look after him, from the mo-   Sir Theodore thought not, for he recollected
ment that he left the fields at the back, of a certain scene between Major Brandrum and
Montague House. For a time, Sir Theodore Colonel Lutwich, at Stratton-upon-Dunsmore,
Broughton was very sullen and discontented: which showed no want of activity upon the
in the hackney coach, which conveyed them  part of the former. Doctor Gamble went on,
back to a well-known inn in London called the however, without giving him. tine to comment.
Turk's Head, Doctor Gamble endeavored in "' To have you to fight him with pistols would
vain to engage him in agreeable conversation. have been to consent- to your murder. I had
He got no answer from him but a monosylla- only one of two courses to pursue: to give inble, and that a rude one, uttered in a -rude tone. formation at Bow-street, and have you all ap-?Doctor Gamble then retired into himself, and prehended and'conveyed to prison, or to fetch
asked of the counselor within what was to be your guardian with all speed, by which your
done next. Captain Donovan was evidently honor would remain intact, and your person be
greatly offended and annoyed; Sir Theodore saved incarceration. You may think it a very
seemed no less so; and the possible - nay, fine thing to be killed for the sake of a pretty
probable-result of their joint dissatisfaction girl, but I know it is a much finer thing to live
was by no means a pleasant subject of contem- for half a dozen. Why should you go out of
plation to the worthy tutor. How it was to be the world, at not much more than nineteen,
avoided became the great question, and he re- like a drowned kitten, when you have every
volved that point in his mind very seriously for sort of enjoyment that the world-a very pleasthe rest of the. way. He had often seen self- ant world it is, too-can afford you, only waitconfidence and a somewhat domineering air ing to be tasted? It might suit you very well,
succeed with men of no great force of charac- Sir Theodore, to have a bullet sent through
ter, and he had always seen it succeed with your young, hot brains, or into your warm, pasSr Theodore himself  Circumstances had sionate heart, but it would not suit me at all."




94,                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
",,Who brought me so'near it?" asked Sir will lay the whole matter before you fairly and
Theodore, sternly; for, though the words of his clearly. Then you shall say, go on, or stop;
tutor. had not been without effect in raising up and whether what we do attempt fails or not, I
very unpleasant considerations, which had been will not be blamed."
smothered in the heat of passion and under a   " You will expect to be praised if it succeeds,
false sense of honor, yet his angry disappoint- I dare say," replied the young baronet, with a
ment at all that had taken place was in but a laugh; "but go on; that is agreed. What step
small degree softened.                     can we take now l"
"Not I," answered Gamble, boldly; "the    "I would first ascertain' how we have been
devil and ill luck brought you so near it. The frustrated," replied the doctor; "we must know
best-laid scheme may fail, Sir Theodore. as what engines are at work against us, before we
ours did. I had nothing to do with its failure. can determine how to meet them."
It was accident or treachery upon some other   " Oh, that is plain enough," replied Sir Theopart than mine. I did my best to please you dore, impatiently: "Major Erandrum and Capand to assist you in your object; and, had not tain Lisle are the engines-and strong enough
a very extraordinary chance intervened, the engines to encounter, too," he added, bitterly.
girl would most likely now be sitting be ide    "I think you are mistaken, my young friend,"
you at St. Alban's, with her hand in yours. We answered Gamble. " I saw the man, Ben Plowmust try what we can do to recover from our share, for'a minute before I went out of town,
failure, but it is not grateful of you to reproach and a word or two which he let fall makes me
me when I have both labored and suffered in think that neither Lisle nor Brandrum had any
your cause."                              thing to do with snatching your pretty little
He presented a pleasant picture to the young pigeon out of the net. We shall learn more
man's mind, which he calculated it would seize from him when we can talk with him."
upon at once-for he was a great calculator:  "' The vagabond was here yesterday," replied
nor was he deceived in this instance; for Sir Sir Theodore, "wanting money; but I was
Theodore Broughton, though by no means a busy with Fitzgerald, and told him to apply —to
peculiar character, had, amid much weakness, you."
certain points-I will not say of strength, but   "He will soon find us out again, depend upon
of stiffness. In many things he was pertina- it," answered the doctor; and now, having
cious to a degree beyond obstinacy. This dis- brought the business to this point, and contrivposition had shown itself in very capricious ed to efface all traces of anger from his pupil's
fashions from  his infancy, sometimes in the mind, Gamble turned to another very frequent
books he would read, sometimes in the amuse- topic of thought, which, indeed, he never enments he would seek; and even Captain Don-'tirely forgot, and added, "But now, Sir Theoovan, although he never knew beforehand in dore, I must crave some breakfast. I have not
what his ward's pertinacity would display itself, touched meat or drink for fifteen hours."
had been fain to yield when the first symptoms   " Poor Doctor Gamble," cried Sir Theodore,
appeared, for he soon learned that to oppose or sarc~astically, " I wonder he is living after such
thwart only rendered him more determined. I a fast. You would not do for a popish priest,
do not know that I have used- the right word, doctor, I suspect."
for perhaps determination had nothing to do  "'I do not know," replied the tutor. "I fanwith it. No operation of the.mind seemed to cy I fast and pray as much as most of them;
take place: it was a sort of instinct of the flesh and as for celibacy, search all the parish regto seek more earnestly, to pursue more eagerly, isters through England, and I will defy you to
that whish he had set his mind upon, as soon find the name of Stephen Gamble coupled with
as impediments presented themselves.      that of any thing in woman's shape.".Doctor Gamble was aware of all this, and he   Thus saying, he rang the bell and ordered
was quite sure that, instead of being discour- breakfast, of a kind to make ample amends for
aged by the failure of his evil schemes, the his long abstinence.
young man would only go on more vehemently,   The meal was barely over, and Gamble was
and that every thing which presented to him  lolling in his chair, according to an invariable
an image of success would be pleasant to him,' custom of his, to chew the cud, as it were, for
and soften the asperity of disappointment and a quarter of an hour after every operation of
disgrace.                                 the jaws, when the personage of whom they
There were two points in the doctor's reply had been lately speaking made his appearance,
which Sir Theodore seized upon: the one, to and was soon in familiar chat with the baronet
feast his imagination, without comment; the and his tutor. He was a keen, vivacious felother, to consult upon at once. The idea of low, always cheerful, though laughing little,
sitting beside Kate Malcolm, with her hand in with a sharp, hawk-like bill, and a roving, unhis, only stayed him for a moment, however, satisfied eye. As if he had, been an honest
and then he remarked, in a more placable tone tradesman, he began the conversation, after the
than he had hitherto used, "' You say we must first salutations, by asking for the settlement
try what we can do to recover from our fail- of his little account.
ure. Something we must do, certainly; but   "Why, you rascal," answered Gamble, who
what it is I do not see.  Can your wit help knew well how to deal with him, " you did not
now, doctor!"                            succeed, you know. You had enough in hand
Gamble was inclined to be a little coy. "I to pay you well. If you had not spoiled the,
will try, upon certain conditions; Sir Theodore," job, you would have had more." 
he said: " I will not any more take the respon-   "Not my fault,'pon honor, gentlemen," ansibility upon myself. I will do every thing I swered Ben, with perfect composure. "I told
can to serve you, my young friend, but'first I you all about it, doctor, and you imust see-" 




LAUREL WATER.                                    9 
" Stop, stop, Master Ben," replied Doctor er it bq on the outside of a horse, or the'inside
Gamble, "you did not tell me all about it: I of a shay, but he contrives to get information
was in too great a hurry to stay. -So you must of it somehow."
tell us now, and if we find you really could not   " But what for?" exclaimed Sir Theodore;
help.it, of course Sir Theodore will consider "he must have some motive."
your services."                             Ben Plowshare nowlaughed aloud. "Well,"
"Well, sir, you see the case was this," re- he exclaimed, "I thought every body knew who,
plied Ben, " though I can't make a long story Colonel Lutwich is."
of it, for I was never good at a long story in   "I do. I have the pleasure of his acquaintmy life; and I recollect once when an old beak ance," answered the young baronet, somewhat
said, "Give an account of yourself; sir,' I had haughtily.
nothing to say but,' Please your worship, I;" Well, if it's'a pleasure, that's more than
can't.' However, I got the young lady safely many can say," answered- the other; " but I'll
out of the park, and down the lane,. and into tell you as much of it as I dare, sir. Who's in
the road; but just at the corner by the Skittles that room there?"
-I dare say you know the Skittles, doctor: it   " No one," answered Gamble. " Go on, and
is a noted house-I saw two men a' horseback. don't be afraid."
There had been one on' the Hertford road, just   " You must know, then, sir," continued Ben,
by the bar-but as soon as they saw me, they lowering his voice, "the colonel is, or was, a
drew out, and one of them said,'You can't real colonel; and he was rich, too, ard his repass here!' so I wheeled, round and-"    lations high people; but he was very extrava-' Did you know either of the two men, that'gant, and used to play high, though they say he
you, turned so fast l" asked Doctor Gamble. did not care much about it; and he used to bet
" I should have thought you and your friend high too; and one night, about three years
upon the horse might have forced your way ago, he lost more than he had in his pocketagainst only two."                        people do say more than he had in his house;
" Did I know them 1"' said Ben, with a laugh; and the fellow he lost it to jeered him about it,
"'to be sure, I knew them fast enough. One and pretended to be afraid of not getting his
was Captain Swan, and t'other was Dick Bro- money. So Lutwich said,'Wait here for one
mer; and if we'd tried to go on, they'd have hour, and you shall have it;' and, sure enough,
shot us like cattle. So, as I was saying, I he brought it; but that night the store-keeper
wheeled round and took to the lanes; but, of Portsmouth yard was robbed of a thousand
whichever way I turned, there were folks to pounds hard cash upon Wimbledon. Since
head us,, and I soon saw it was a regular thing, then there have been plenty of stories, and they
and that they must have nosed the job, for all say he quite weighs his weight. I dare not say.
along, here and there —sometimes to the right,'much more, for he's,a terrible hand when he's
sometimes to the left-I saw Lutwich himself- angry; but all I know is, whether he does such
that is, the colonel-and his lad Hal. Over tricks or not, nobody has ever been able to
hedges and ditches they went, as if it were prove it against him, though he was once tried
nothing. He's a capital rider, to be sure; and for his life, and has never been employed in the
then, when at last I thought we had cut away army since. He' is so desperate'cute. I've
fiom him clean, up he comes again, and the heard say, however, that there is one could
young woman puts her head out and holloas, hang him if he liked, and I believe it."
and he's afore the pole in a minute, and that   "Who is that?" demanded Gamble, quickly.
there pistol in his hand that's not like to miss."   "Why, Hangingwood Billy, the swivel-eyed
The start which Sir Theodore Broughton post-boy, who's been so long at the Woolpack
gave at the name of Lutwich had'not stopped at St. Alban's," said Ben; " he knows more of
the narrator, though he remarked it; but when his ways than any one."
he came to this part of his tale, he looked in   Sir Theodore Broughton rose, and walked
the young baronet's face with one eye half up and doWvn the room for a minute, in thought.
closed, and added, "You know the colonel, I Doctor Gamble eyed him attentively, and thenr
should reckon, sir; and if you do, you know  went and spoke to him is a whisper'. "Yes,
he's one not to be meddled with more than a yes, if it can be managed," replied the young
bulldog."                                 baronet, with his face lighting up with not the
"He must not meddle with me much more," most pleasant fire.
said Sir Theodore; and he was going on to   " Here, Ben, there are two guineas for you,"'
give further vent to his anger, when Gamble said the doctor; "and now, if you can bring
interposed, saying, " Stay, stay; how can he Hangingwood Billy here to speak with us forhave got scent of this. You say you are sure an hour, we will give five pounds to share beit was a regular plan of his to stop you, wher- tween you."
ever you turned."                          The man nodded his head, pouched the mon" Quite sure," replied Ben, in a most decided ey, and then, after a very few pithy inquiriestone.                                     as tb convenient hours, &c., left the room.
"How could he find it out! " said Gamble,
musing; "some one must have betrayed us."  ~V
" Lord bless you, sir!" cried the serviceable
scoundrel, with a- look of contemptuous pity,         CHAPTER XXX.
" you don't half know your man, that's clear.
Why, there's nothing takes place from Charing   THE cottage was a very pretty one. England
Cross to the pump at Aldgate that he does not has always been famous for pretty cottages;
know of before it is done. Not a gentleman indeed, it is the'only country in the world
can go out of town in a moonlight night, wheth- which' has such a thing, except, perhaps, Switz



96                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,'erland and some parts of the Tyrol. The astic by nature, she had a great deal of that
French chaumigre is as different from an Erl- firm  and quick decision of character which
glish cottage as a French woman is from an characterized her brother, and which had givEnglish woman. An Italian capanna does not en him so much power over old Sir Walter
give you the least idea of the thing, nor a cas- Broughton, whom no one had ever been able
-arellina either, nor any of the inas nor ellas. to -manage but himself. Though plain and
The Spanish casilla, casita, or casica, are all as simple in her words, there was a great deal of
far off, and the German hiitte is as bad. A pret- imagination and rich fancy in her conversation,
ty cottage is only to be found in England.   and the images by which she would illustrate
There is no doubt of it: we are naturally a her meaning seemed only the more striking
democratic people in our tastes.  Our kings from the simple language in which they were
have palaces built for them, and then they build conveyed. She had long been in very delicate
cottages for themselves.  However, the cot- health, however, and the feebleness ofthebody
tage of Mrs. Lisle was a very pretty cottage was, in her case, a shackle upon her fancy.
indeed, in that peculiar style which covers a   She was now looking extremely grave, pervery convenient house, intended for the resi-. haps I might say sad; and, indeed, she had
dence of the wealthy and the luxurious, with some cause, for her son' and Major Brandrum
the thatch of the peasant. The rooms were were just at the close of a parting visit, before'
not very large and not very lofty, neither were they once more sailed for the Far West. Only
they very small nor very low; and they were on the preceding day they had received their
all beautifully proportioned, and exceedingly promotion and orders; but those orders were
neatly furnished.; In fact, externally and in- peremptory to proceed to the St. Lawrence by
ternally, it had every thing for comfort and a ship just about to sail, and the chaise was
nothing for ostentation; though Reginald, in now expected at the door every moment.
moments of temporary repose, had taken care   For the last ten minutes, Major-or, as he
~to do, externally at least, a great deal for orna- should now be called, Colonel-Brandrum had
ment, and had done it with a painter's eye. been talking eagerly to his adopted child; and
But I will not pause upon the pretty little lawn then, turning to Mrs. Lisle, he said, " To your
in front, separated from the smooth green fields charge, my dear lady, I leave her; and I know
beyond by a hawhaw; nor speak of the groups she will be well and happy with you; but, at
of old elms upon that lawn, so arranged, by the same time, as life is uncertain, and I may
lopping a branch here and there, as to frame a never see these shores again, I have been tellview of the hills; nor rest in the little veran- ing her that she will find in my agent's hands,
da, with its rich climbing plants, keeping the whose address I have given her, all that is
eyes from the glare without excluding the sun- necessary to entitle her, in case I am  shot,
shine; but, on the contrary, I will proceed at bayoneted, or scalped, to all the fragments
-once to the group within, consisting of five per- which the service of my country and a reckless.sons: three of them are already known to the disposition have left me. Had I known I
reader, and therefore I will only deal with two. should ever have a daughter, Kate, I might
That-elderly lady in the widow's cap shall be have been more careful."
the first: she has worn those weeds ever since   "But not less generous, colonel," replied
a gallant husband's death, now fourteen or fif- Mrs. Lisle.  "Can you take away its smnell
teen years ago. The hair, indeed, is not all from the rose, or its luster from the diamond l
concealed; but, gray nearly to silver, without But leave her with me in all security.  Poorpowder, it is plainly braided upon the forehead. dove! she has found a cot at last, and under
She seems fifty-three or four; but she is in my wing she will be safe as long as God spares'
reality less, not more than forty-eight; but me."
cares and sorrows, strongly felt, have made   "We will be sisters, Colonel Brandrum,"
years for her.  She is tall-taller for a woman said Louisa Lisle, in a low voice.
than her son for a man, and probably was once   Kate was troubled about something. Either
very graceful, for her form is still fine; and, gratitude for the kindness she received, or pain
though her, movemen'ts are somewhat slow, yet at seeing her kind protector about to leave her
there is a dignity in them, such as young gra- so soon, or some other emotion, made her turn
ces, when they die, sometimes bequeath to age. pale and red by turns; and at length, rising as
Her brow is ever grave, but gentle, and the if with a great effort, she said, addressing
smile that comes upon her lip, even in her hap- Major Brandrum, "' May I speak with you in
piest moments, is faint, though very sweet. the other room for a moment' I have someSuch is the Honorable Mrs. Lisle.           thing I wish to say."
The pale girl of two or three-and-twenty,   But, even as she spoke, the grating sound of
seated at a little distance from Mrs. Lisle, with carriage wheels was heard, and a chaise, well
Kate Malcolm between them, is her daughter; loaded, with two servants on horseback'bebut-oh! what a contrast between that slight, hind, passed along the little drive before the
delicate creature and her brother! He, browned windows, and drew up at the door.
and hardened by years of campaigning, power-   " Good faith! my dear girl, if you have any
ful, though graceful in form, and upright,, though thing to tell, you must write it," replied Major
not stiff; she, light, slender, beading like a Brandrum, pointing to the vehicle: "I would
lower, and colorless as a snow-drop.        rather risk scalping than miss the vessel, and
As nothing more than a glimpse of Mrs. Lisle the fellow is now somewhat late. Farewell,
will evier be given to the reader, I may as well Mrs. Lisle. Louisa, little darling, fareyou well."
say a few words of her character here, there   "Colonel Lutwich, madam," said a servant,
being no opportunity of displaying it in her ac- throwing open the door, and Kate's cheek intions. Though gentle and kind, and enthusi- stantly glowed warmly.




LAUREL WATER.                                      97'i' Who 1" asked Mrs. Lisle.              upon as dark presentiments. Lisie goes to gain
"Lutwich," answered MajorBrandrum:'"an  glory and honor as he has done before, and
-exceedingly good fellow, to whom Kate is un- doubt not that Heaven in its goodness will send
der great obligations."                     him back to your arms safe, happy, and pros"Oh! I know-I have heard," said Mrs. perous. But I will not intrude upon you long."
Lisle. "I wish, however, it had been at an-   "Nay," said Mrs. Lisle,; I must not let' you
other time. A stranger's presence, at a mo- think me inhospitable. We shall soon have
meat like this, is like frost chilling the last tea, and, as Reginald's friend, it will give me.
flowers of autumn."                        siAcere pleasure if you will stay and partake of
The words were hardly uttered ere Lutwich  it; indeed, it will be better forgpe —better for
was in the room. His first look, his first words, us all, for your society will keep us from gloomy:
were for Kate Malcolm; but then he turned to  thoughts.  When there are black clouds overLisle and Brandrum.                        head, we naturally think there will be a storm."'
"I have. heard of your good fortune," he said,   "Which the wind often wafts far away,"
slhaking them warmly by the hand. (' Are you  said Lutwich; and for a few minutes more he
away at once? Well, God speed you! Per- continued to converse cheerfully, but not gayly,
haps, Brandrum, it may not be long ere I fol- with the elder lady, who was evidently pleased
low. I have good hopes."                    with his conversation and demeanor. Kate
"Indeed!" exclaimed Brandrum; "then I and Louisa Lisle soon joined in; and in pleas-do Wish you joy."                          ant, easy talk, if they did not forget the pain
" Yes, indeed," said Lutwich; " I have seen  they had just experienced, the most poignant
the commander-in-chief, besought pardon for sting was lost.
past offenses, promised order and obedience    Tea was brought, evening began to fall, and
for the future; sold off my stud, my house in  yet Colonel Lutwich's questions had not been
town, my wines, my carriages, as the first mark  propounded. At length, however, Mrs. Lisle,
of sincerity; and henceforth I am a different reminded him of them, and he asked, with a
-man."  /                                   smile, " Are you ready for a cross-examination,
"That is good news indeed," answered  dear Miss Malcolm'"
Brandrum, grasping his hand.  "1 Take my ad-   "If it be not a very severe one," answered
vice, Lutwich: get on foreign service at once. Kate, timidly.
It will break through bad acquaintances.","You may stay it when you please," said,
"I have good hope of doing so," replied  her lover; "first, then, I think you told me that
Lutwich; " and, as I said, I may come'out and  you had a relation in Yorkshire of the name of
join you soon. But," he added, as his eyes Eaton."
turned to Kate's face again, and he saw that   Kate bowed her head, and he went on. "Is
the color had left her cheek, " I must not come his name Charles or William'Eaton i"
alone; my good friend. I must have some one    "William," she answered.
to take care of me, and to keep me in the right   "It is very strange!" said Lutwich, in a
path."                                      thoughtful tone; "did you not say he was your
"Now, colonel," said Reginald Lisle, who  mother's nephew 1"
had_ been standing with his mother's hand in    v Yes," replied Kate, in some surprise; "he
his, "'we must go indeed."                  was her sister's son. But what is it that is
Another minute, the parting embrace was strange?"
given, the farewell spoken, and the two officers    " That he should deny the relationship," rewere gone. Louisa went to the window, and  plied Lutwich; "he must be a gross liar." 
watched the carriage roll away with strea ming    Kate's cheek was glowing very warmly,
eyes. The dew was in Kate's also, and one  " Stay, stay," she said, "I have his letter: I
tear trickled down Mrs. Lisle's cheek.      look at it often to see the contrast between his
Colonel Lutwich felt a little embarrassed; cold selfishness and the noble generosity of
but his impulses were graceful always; and, others: I will bring it this moment. He signs
approaching the lady of the house, he said, " I himself my cousin;" and, rising, she ran hastily
really beg pardon, madam, for intruding upon  to her room, and returned in a few minutes with
you at this moment; and I would not protract the letter.
my visit now, but that I have a few questions to    "There," she said, putting it into Colonel'ask Miss Malcolm, which I must not defer, as I Lutwich's hands.
dine to-morrow with one to whom her answers    He read it through with a frowning brow,
will be of much interest. But I can speak with  and then said, "I wish I had had it with me...
her in another room, if my presence is oppress- This man had the impudenee to deny, in the
ive to you, as I am sure it must be."       most distinct manner, thathe ever had an aunt
"No, no, Colonel Lutwich," answered Mrs. of the name of Malcolm."
Lisle, holding out her hand to him; "a mother   For an instant Kate seemed confounded;
must feel in parting with her son for the last but then a look of sudden intelligence spread
time;' but do not suppose I would keep my  over her face, succeeded by an expression of,
-young falcon to the nest when nature teaches  scorn.  "He has not lied with you," she said,
him to soar. I am a soldier's widow, my dear "but only equivocated. I now rememberf my
-sir, and know what are a soldier's duties."  mother never took the name of Malcolm. She' And appreciate what may be a soldier's re- was dead before the small property was left to
nown," said Lutwich, sitting, down beside her; my father, upon condition of taking that name,
"'and believe me, my dear madam, all affection- which, in the end, by the lawsuit it entailed,
ate hearts, when they part with those they love; proved his complete ruin.,'My mother always
feel those sad pictures of what may be, rise  bore the name of Marsham, which was my)
before them, which they are inclined to look  father's at the time of their marriage; but that];
G 




98                   SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,.
can not excuse Mr. Eaton, for he must have he seemed as if he were about to start forward
known as well as I do whom you meant."      and knock the man down; but Kate sprang to
" It is all right," said Lutwich, with a look his side, and caught his arm, exclaiming, "1 Oh t.
of grave joy, "it is all right: Marsham was what is it-what is the matter, Henry?"
your mother's name first."                    " Why, the matter is. ma'am, that we have a
"No," said Kate; "her unmarried name warrant against the colonel for robbery on the
was Carr. Marsham was my father's name king's highway," said the first officer;;' but, as'before he took that of Malcolm.".  he is quite a gentleman, and seems likely to
"Carr-that is right too," exclaimed Lut- come without giving any trouble, I'm not inwich; and then he fell into thought, and fixed clinable to put the darbies on him, or the'cuffs
his eyes vacantly upon a spot in the carpet.   either, till I'm told."
" But now tell me," said Kate, after giving   Kate put her hand to her head, and then burst.
him time enough to meditate —for there is no into a violent flood of tears.
view from which a man likes so little to be re-   "This must surely be some mistake!" cried
called as that which presents itself when his Mrs. Lisle, greatly agitated. "'ColonelLutwich,
eyes are upon his own thoughts —" but now  explain to the men who you are!"
tell me what has made you ask me all these    "It is of no use, my dear madam," said Lutquestions.  Is it merely because Mr. Eaton wich. i'They know who I amquite well. This.
disowned his poor cousin."                  charge has been brought once before."
" No, no, dear Kate," said Lutwich, forget-   " No, not just the same, colonel," replied the
ting the presence of others; "I had a strong officer: " this is for stopping Ned Warwick, the
motive. I will not tell you now, but you may sheriff's officer, and his bum; t'other was for
hearhereafter-perhaps to-morrow. You shall robbing Mr. Sheepshanks, the broker. You're!
hear, at all events, from me, if not from an- over weight now, colonel, I am afeerd. But,'
other. I know not," he continued, rising and come, you had better jog at once. The womentaking her hand, while he gazed into her eyes, will blubber a bit, you know."
" I know not whether what I am doing-what   " Go on, sir," said Lutwich;  "I come with
I have been doing-what I shall do-may not you;" and he seemed about to follow; but Kate
be directly opposed to my own interests; but caught his hand, exclaiming, " Oh, Henry, where
I have not forgotten a lesson you gave me one are they going to take you'! Write to me-tell
night in regard to candor and frankness, and I me all. It must be false-say it is false."
will act up to it-to the very letter, my dear   Lutwich bent his head, and kissed her cheek';
instructress. I think another has a first right to but the only. words he uttered were, "I will
the information I have obtained; but yours is write, dear Kate-I will write to-morrow;" and.
the next, and you shall have it. I must now, he hurried out of the room with the two officers.
however, leave you, for it is growing late,   Louisa took Kate's hand, and led her back to.
and-"                                       the sofa; but the poor girl was utterly over"Good Heaven! there is a man looking in whelmed and bewildered with grief. She felt:
at the window," cried Louisa Lisle.         now, for the first time, how deeply' she could
Lutwich instantly turned his eyes in.the di- love, and how love could triumph over every
section of the casement, and clearly saw a fig- other sensation. She longed to follow Lutwich,
ure retreating through the darkness without. to share his prison, to soothe, to comfort him;
"' You had better ring and order the shutters to to assure him that she believed not a word of
be closed," he said; " I will stay till it is done." the accusation brought against him; that she
Mrs. Lisle, who had been gazing toward the was sure it was false; that it could not be
-window too, put out her hand to ring the bell; true; that he who could act so nobly, so generbut, before she  had pulled the rope, another ously by her, could be guilty of no crime. But,
bell was heard, and then a considerable noise strength of body and of mind had failed her for
in the little vestibule. The next instant the the moment, and she sat, with the tears running
door burst open, and two men entered *A room. rapidly down her cheeks, and her lips murmurLutwich turned deadly pale.                 ing, "It is impossible-! it is impossible!"
The first who appeared was a powerful fellow    Mrs. Lisle, too,was greatly agitated and shockof about five foot eleven, well dressed, as a man ed; and she remained silent, with her hands
of the middle station. The second was short- pressed upon her eyes. But at length she made
er, and amazingly broad over the shoulders; an effort; and, sitting down by her young guest,
but it was the first who spoke, and that in a she said, in a gentle and kindly tone, "Be comcivil though somewhat stern tone. " Sorry to forted; Kate; I, too, think it impossible-quite
trouble you just now, colonel," he said, " but impossible, that the friend of my son should be
we want you."                               guilty of any crime.'Compose yourself, my
Lutwich bowed his head significantly, calm  love. Let us wait till to-morrow, and hear what
and composed, though very grave, and with a comes of this. It is, perhaps, a charge to ex:
face still pale. " I will come with you at once," tort money."
he said. " Good-by, Mrs. Lisle, Kate-"' But while she was proceeding thus, and while.
But, while he was speaking, the second man, Kate was still weeping bitterly, Louisa Lisle apwho had been diving with his hand into' his proachedher mother's side, saying softly, "You,
large pockets, produced a pair of thick, shining too, mamma, be calm. You are too much agiiron rings, screwed together in the midst, and tated. Your face is pale-your lips are blue.
said aloud, "' I suppose you'll have the'cuffs on You know what Doctor Grant said: you will
him, Master Williams!"                     make yourself ill. Let me bring you some of
" Good Heaven!" cried Mrs. Lisle, " they are the drops."
-handcuffs!"                                  But Mrs. Lisle waved her hand; and Kate inLutwich's face turned now as red as fire, and etantly lifted her head, and wiped her eyes, say.




LAUREL WATER.                                      99
ing, while she gazed in her kind hostess's face, I complete development as old age follows man"'I willweep no more; I willbe calm. Forgive hood. The walls of Babylon, the towers of
me, dear Mrs. Lisle.  I was selfish in my sor- Nineveh, the monuments of Rome, the temples
row; I will be quite calm."                  and the citadels of Greece, arewitnesses against
She might be so externally; and, indeed, to a as; and neither freedom, nor arts, nor arms,
certain degree, she was so during the rest of the nor energies, can save us friom the fate of' all
short summer evening; but no one could tell earthly things. The follies or wisdom of prinhow fearfully she was agitated within.       ces and people-the faults or the excellence of
The afternoon came to an end, and Mrs. Lisle statesmen and legislators, may retard or hasten,
rose early to retire to rest.  Kate and Louisa by a century or two, the period of the fall; but
followed her closely. When she had reach'ed nations shall die as individuals, and the land
the top of the steps, something seemed sud- they inhabited become their tomb.
denly to strike her;. and, turning to Louisa, she   When such is the case with England, there
said, quickly, and in an eager manner, " Louisa, may,.perhaps, be for future generations more
my love, I for-"                            important and more interesting fragments left
But the sentence remained unconcluded, and than.have been bequeathed to posterity by any
will do so forever. As she spoke, Mrs. Lisle fell other nation.  France will leave little or nothback, and was caught, partly by her daughter, ing but a history of blood or tyranny, the shocks
partly by Kate Malcolm.                      of alternate anarchy and servitude.
Louisa called aloud for help; the man-serv-   Nevertheless, in many of her social relations,
ant, who was in the vestibule below, ran up, how poor and pitiful will England appear! how
and, with his assistance, Mrs. Lisle was carried narrow, how material will the notions of her
into her own room, and laid upon her'bed.    people seem! hew little expansion of soul and
" Run-run for Doctor Slater!" cried Louisa feeling will be found among the records of her
Lisle; " quick as lightning, Groves."       society! Her great and her good men maltreatKate brought water, and sprinkled the cold ed' or neglected; powers of mind and nobility
face.  There was a slight movement of the of heart considered the lowest of claims upon
muscles round the lips, and then all was still. public estimation or gratitude; the recompense
The maids were summoned, and various reme- of merit dependent upon party spirit, and the
dies tried, till the surgeon came; but none were road to success only open to material exertion.
the least effectual in breaking that heavy sleep. The s'plendid exceptions to the general tone of
WVhen he did come, he tried none, but put his the whole nation will only prove more painfully
hand upon the wrist, watched the face for a mo- the general rule.
ment, and then took Louisa's hand, saying, sol-   One point in the history of the people which
emnly, " She is at peace!"                  will probably excite great attention hereafter,
is the enormous and extraordinary advance in
civilization, if not in elevation,,made in the society of England during the last fifty or sixty
CHAPTER XXXI.                   years. The wonderful progress during that period-to a part of which, at least, we have ourWHEN the United States of America have ac- selves been witnesses-is without parallel in
complished the great destiny that is before them  the history of nations; and if we take up a book
-when civilization and prosperity in its train of the times immediately antecedent-whether'
have emigrated completely to the West-when  it be the private diary of an individual, or his
the seeds of inevitable decay, which are plant- collected letters, or one of those works which',
ed in the foundation of all states and empires, though the narrative be fictitious, profess td
have spread, like the lichen and the moss, over paint the manners of the day-we shall be more
all that we are proud of in this land, and when startled by the contrast between our days and
the citizens of the greatest republic, or the sub- those, than between the present and some cenjects of the greatest empire (as the case may turies ago.
then be) that the world ever saw, cross the At-   Among the abominations which have been
lantic to view, as travelers, the half-desolate swept away, a mass of the most foul and loathcountry from which their fathers sprang, how  some existed in our prisons, the miseries of
many objects of interest and inquiry will pre- which, and some of the crimes of those under
sent themselves to their eyes!              whose rule they were, have been exposed by
I see some readers smile, and'others laugh, the immortal Howard.  But.the vices practiced
and both in proud scorn. They will find a thou- within those gloomy walls, the revelry, the de,
sand reasons why,the vain anticipation of per- bauchery, the iniquity which reigned side by
manent power and pre-eminence should not be side with famine, pestilence, and death, can only
disappointed in the English people, though it be gleaned by scattered anecdotes, or by the
has been so with every other nation. They glimpses given of those mansions of sin and dewill say, "We are GChristians, free, orderly, in- spair, by those who had known and escaped
genious, energetic: there are a thousand quali- from their baneful atmosphere.
ties in us, a thousand accidents in our condi-   Let the reader picture to himself one ward
tion, a thousand opportunities in our position, crammed to suffocation with wretches dying
which none of the fallen nations have ever pos- of a fever so pestilential, that when a few of
sessed."'                                   them, just Atble to stand in the dock, have been
True: but the march of events is sure, the brought into court for trial, the disease has
law of nature invariable; there is nothing which spread to every one around-judge, jurors, of..
it does not affect, nothing which can do more ficers, spectators-and in the next ward, the
than delay its progress for a few short years. ringing shouts of wild and drunken revelry, or
Decay is in every thing, and as certainly follows the more secret orgies of a darker licentious



100                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
ness. Then let him look at the miserable man dation," but the prisonor took him up sharply,
committed for some unprofitable crime, without saying, "There, there! do not make yourself
money to fee a mercenary jailer, or tQ procure uneasy, my good sir. I know your customs, and
necessary food, pining and wasting upon bread have plenty of means to agree with them all.
and water, and then turn his eyes to the wealthy I am richer, perhaps, than evef I have been, and
prisoner lodged in the governor's house, treated shall, as before, require the best of every thing.
with allreverence, living on delicacies, and free- There," he continued, taking out his purse,
ly tippling his Champagne. Or take them alto-  " there are five guineas for my garnish, as you
gether, meeting in promiscuous groups, men callit. Now, show me my room-I would rathand-women, boys and young girls, the harden- er have two, if possible, for I do not like to sit
ed felon, the repentant novice, the man to whom  where I sleep."
the load of crime has become easy by habit, and   "Certainly, colonel, certainly," replied the
the bewildered innocent overwhelmed by a false!;jailer, with his mind relieved. "You can have'
accusation. No limit but a jailer's caprice was two. One we will make into a sitting-room for
placed upon the persons admitted to see 4the you to-morrow.  It has a bed in it just now, but
prisoners. Rules and regulations might exist, that will soon be taken out. This way, sir. I
but were totally neglected. Every thing for suppose you will like to have a servant, too.
which they might please to pay toll was admit- there's a nice room for him at the lodge."
ted, whether the strong stimulant to drive away   "Yes," said Lutwich, thoughtfully, " I will
thought in drunkenness, or the means of effect- send for one to-morrow;" and he followed the
ing an escape, or those of perverting the course head jailer, with a turnkey at his heels, to the
of justice. The turnkeys themselves were in apartments destined for him.
league with the " Old Bailey witnesses," and   "These two, colonel, with the room at the
many a successfill defense has been made up, lodge for your man, will be ten guineas a week,
for a criminal who could afford to pay, between you know," said the head Cerberus, after Lutthe jailer who had him in charge and the " man wich had stood in the midst, gazing round for a
with the straw in his shoe," who saved him from  minute or'two.
the gallows by direct perjury.               "Very well," replied the prisoner, paying the
Such things have passed away; but such money in advance, as usual in such cases; and
things have been, and they existed in full force then again he fell into thought.
at the time when Colonel Lutwich was carried   " Can I do any thing further to serve you,
as a prisoner to one of the many jails which colonel!" inquired the head jailer.
then existed in or near London. It was dark,   "Yes," answered Lutwich, abruptly: " pen,
as I have said, when he was apprehended, and ink, and paper; some supper, and your best
as the distance was considerable, it was nearly wine."
twelve o'clock before he had passed the gloomy   "Can I send for your dressing things?" was
gates where he was to await examination and the next question; but the prisoner waved his
trial; but the governor of the prison was him- hand impatiently, saying, "No, no; it is too
self up, and the sounds of laughter and singing far: I have sold off my house and goods in
announced that some of the prisoners werexlike- London, my good friend, realizing thereby, what
-wise awake.                               with horses and plate, near seven thousand
With profound respect and attention, the pounds."    a:governor received so distinguished a captive,   He paused, for an idea passed through his.and lighted him into his own parlor with a can- mind of tempting the man's fidelity in order to.dle, which he had brought out when the great effect his escape; but the jailer answered him
bell rang.                                 with a smile, " What, sir, I suppose you intend-'
" How do you do, colonel!" he said; "I hope ed to quit the road, and take another line! Ay,
your honor is quite well. I't is two years since that's the reason they nabbed you, They nevI have had the pleasure of seeing you-you will, er let a gentleman do that. They give him his
of course, like a room to yourself!  We have swing as long as he keeps to business. It's the
got one quite ready for you."              only trade from which a man can never retire."
"Did you expect me!" asked Lutwich, gazing   "Too true!" said Lutwich, with a sigh; " and
in his face.                               yet, Tnethinks, every vice is the same.'Tis like
"Oh dear, yes, sir," replied the governor; climbing a precipice, my good friend. The road
"we have been expecting you all the morning." up may be accomplished with that fiery pleasure
"'Then I think the officers might have been which ever accompanies danger surmounted, if
civil enough," said Lutwich, "to execute their we look not down below us in the ascent; but
warrant more privately. I have been at my the moment we try to turn back, we break our
own house, and in that neighborhood, all the necks. Is this God's ordinance, or man's I"
afternoon-I shall, of course, like to have a   "The devil's, sir, I should' think," replied his
room to myself, sir; but I require nothing ex- companion, " for he gains by it."
traordinary or extravagant."                 "And the jailer," added Lutwich, with a bitThe jailer's face fell a little, for in those days ter laugh. ", Well, well, let me have the things
the custody of an extravagant prisoner was a I asked for, and good-night."
privilege of some value, and he began to think   " Good-night, sir," said the jailer, and withthat Lutwich must have exhausted his means. drew, securing the door behind him.
It was not an unreasonable supposition either;   Lutwich was left alone; and oh! what lanfor in days of "trading justices," it was rarely guage can describe the emotions which then
a culprit found his way to the gallows till the took possession of him-the anguish of heart
greater part of his funds had been expended in and spirit! None but his own. After gazing
purchasing immunity. He murmured some- full ten minutes on the floor,'as he stood like
thing then about " persons paying for accommo- marble in the midst of the small room, he re



LAUREL WATER.                                     101
peaterl one word several times with a groan, — my own Kate. Well may I call you so; for,"Blighted, blighted, blighted!" he said, "all your spirit had infused into mine a new life,
blighted!"                                 your love had become the star to guide me to
They were hopes, expectations, purposes, he right and honor, the hope of your approbation
spoke of; the dreams of love and tenderness, had become the beacon which was leading me
and reformation, and honor, and self-respect, onward to all that was good and high. A cloud
and even domestic peace-all blighted, blighted! has come over it fobr a time, a mist has obscurThere seemed nothing else but blight over the ed it; you only can make the light blaze up
whole-world for him; and that which rendered again.  Come to me, then, for a few short minthe common agony of disappointed hope, and utes, if you still can love me. Give me counlove frustrated, and despair confirmed, doubly sel, give me hope, give me strength. I have
agonizing, was the thought that he had worked some tidings also to give you; but that is noththe ruin of his own futurity; that in the wild, ing to the purpose: I can write'them hereafter,
insane fury of Inany mingled passions, he had if affection, if charity, if the memory of all you
cut down the fruit-bearing tree of life; uproot- have bestowed upon him does not induce you
ed, harrowed over, and sown with salt the field to accede to this request-perhaps the last-of
of earth's expectations, and left nothing for the        "Yours till death,
heart to long for but the peace of death-the                       "HENRY LUTWICH."
slumber of the grave.
Such were the first dark, fearful thoughts                      O
which crowded upon him as he stood there                 CHAPTER XXXII.
alone.  They lasted even while the jailer
brought in his supper and the wine, the mate-   THE reader has perceived thIat somewhat
rials for writing, wax-lights, and all that could more than a fortnight had passed since the day
render a prison luxurious-even while the man on which Major Brandrum and Reginald Lisle
spoke to him, and he answered; for there is a had met Sir Theodore Broughton and his friend
mechanical part of man, which goes through its Frederic Fitzgerald, Esquire-better known by
functions while the will is far away.        the name of "Fighting Freddy Fitzgerald"Then, when the heavy door was finally lock- and had been interrupted in their hostile pured and bolted for the night, he sat himself down poses by the opportune arrival of Doctor Gamand pondered. At first all was blank darkness ble and Captain Donovan. The history of one
-a night without a star; but gradually a pale, of the antagonist parties is' sufficiently known,
faint gleam, the dawn of Hope's renewed day, but that of the other has ceased since we left
began to rise into a doubtful twilight.      him with Doctor Gamble at his inn, after an in"Will she love me still?" he asked himself. teresting conversation with that admirable per"I have heard of woman's deep devotion unto son, Ben Plowshare. It is therefore absolutedeath, despising shame, insult, scorn; enduring ly necessary to take up again the thread of Sir
even while it condemns, and clinging to the crim- Theodore's personal story, although I shall
inal even while it abhors the crime. If ever sketch it but lightly, from various considerathere was a being who could so love, methinks tions.
she is the one. I will write to her. I will try   In the first place, let me say that he found
her. If her love still conquers, there is yet the fiiendship of Mr. Fitzgerald somewhat more
something to live for, something to struggle for. difficult to get rid of than to acquire. In a case
It is very strange, when I had no such feelings of emergency, such as the affair between himin my breast-when the light pleasures of the self and Major Brandrum, Sir Theodore natuworld, the follies, the vanities, the vices of this rally clung to the person who first offered him
earth engrossed, though with empty levity,'ev- assistance; but, at the same time, he was clearery thought, I never judged life unworthy of an sighted enough to see that his new-found friend
effort, I was prepared to strive and combat to was rather more ready with pistol or smallthe last; and now, when higher objects have sword than even the evil customs of a society
been placed before my view, and nobler purpo- such as ours-mingling, in strange compound,
ses animated me, I feel cast down at the first barbarism and civilization-required.  All that
check, dispirited and despairing while there is Fitzgerald seemed to desire or aim at in the
many a chance yet left. I will write to her; I whole business, was that Sir Theodore should
will seek some object in living-ay, or perhaps shoot Major Brandrum, or Major Brandrum
some consolation in death."                 should shoot Sir Theodore; and, apparently,
He seated himself at the table; he took the he did not much care which consummation was
paper and the pen; but innumerable difficulties arrived at.  Do not let the reader suppose,
presented themselves at the outset. He tried however, that he had any personal feeling in
to think over what he would say, but he got im- the matter, for such was not the case. He was
patient with thought; and murmuring, "Let actuated by a pure, disinterested love of bloodthe heart speak," he wrote:                 shed, and acted quite philanthropically upon a
"In the midst of anguish (I had almost said thorough conviction that it is best, in the abdespair), I turn to my only remaining hope for stract, for mankind, that when two human beone gleam of comfort.  By letter I can explain  ings quarrel, one of them should be shot or run
nothing, account for nothing; and yet, how  through the body. We have not quite got rid
dare I venture to ask you to visit me in a pris- of this sort of philosophy yet; but it certainly
on  What.excuse can I frame for such a re- is not as popular as it was.
quest, except the impossibility of going forth to   However, as he could not have his fill of
see you?  There are heavy walls around me, fighting or seeing fought, he thought he might
bars-upon my windows, locks and bolts upon quite as well have his fill of those good things
the door. Yet Ihave much to say to you, Kate which usually graced the table of the young




10N)                SIR THEODORE BROUGHITON; OR,
baronet, and the very same day he presented more; and although the somewhat sullen and
himself, a few minutes before the usual dinner reserved character of his mind made his sponhour, to talk over the occurrences of the morn- taneous communications, even with Doctor
ing. As the table-cloth was already laid, Sir Gamble, somewhat niggardly, yet more than
Theodore, notwithstanding a grimace on the once the feelings fermenting within found voice
part of Doctor Gamble, thought he could not in a few brief sentences soon interrupted, which
do less than ask his volunteer second to dinner; served the good tutor as a foundation for lonand Mr. Fitzgerald  was soon seated at the well- ger replies, and as a means of drawing forth
served board. Doctor Gamble he treated with more of the secret feelings of his pupil's heart.
undisguised contempt, as one of the uncornbat-   As they were on their way to Vauxhall-aftive portion of the community; but to Sir The- er an interval of silence, during which Sir Theodore he showed great respect, both from the odore seemed to be busy in looking at the buildpugnacious qualities he had exhibited, and from  ings and lights that they passed-he broke forth
a sense of the excellence of soup, fish, poultry, abruptly, showing what was really the matter
and other bounties of nature. After having of his thoughts.
taken a sufficient portion of wine, too, and when    "I can, not help thinking, doctor," he said,
Doctor Gamble had quitted~ the room for a few  "that fellow  Lutwich must have overheard
minutes, his regard for Sir Theodore rose to what we were talking about that morning in
such a pitch of enthusiasm, that he offered his my room. There was somebody sleeping just
best services once more to find out Major Bran- next door, and the partition must have been
drum, and give him cogent reasons for grati- thin, for I heard whoever it was moving about
fying Sir Theodore by another meeting, under- after I was in bed."
taking to manage the whole matter in such a   "It is very likely," replied Gamble; "I'can
delicate and skillful way as to. avoid all chafice not conceive how he could find out any other
of a second interruption. He seemed, indeed, way, for we let Hargrave know so little that
to believe that Sir Theodore must necessarily he could not betray you. But what do you inlook upon this as the greatest possible favor, tend to do when you have talked to this postand the young gentleman was somewhat em- boy!, If he peaches of Lutwich, it will be no
lbarrassed as to how he should make him com- good to you. Unless-"
prehend that his taste for such morning exer-   "I'll hang him i I can," replied the other,
~ises was less than his own. Perhaps the very gloomily.  "What business had he to meddle
attempt which he made to do so might have with my affairs. If I can not hang him for
forfeited Mr. Fitzgerald's friendship, had not the that, I'll hang him for something else, if I can."
table and the wine rendered it very adhesive.    "Perhaps he is in love with the girl himself,"
The young baronet, however, felt somewhat said Doctor Gamble, looking at Sir Theodore
anxious to get rid of him, and not a little an- by the light of a globe lamp, which was shining
inoyed at the protracted absence of Gamble, into the carriage.
which left him to the tender mercies of this   The young baronet gave a sudden start as
gentleman. At length the doctor reappeared, if something pained him; but he remained siand a minute or two after a waiter entered and lent for several minutes, till at length Doctor
informed Mr. Fitzgerald that somebody wished Gamble continued, "I am  almost inclined to
to speak with him. With a look of some alarm, think, Sir Theodore, that it would be better for
he went out, taking hat and cane with him; you to give the whole thing up. You may find
but he did not appear again, and only sent his more difficulties in the way than you or I see.
compliments to Sir Theodsre, with an intima- This girl is well protected, and-"
tion he would call upon him another day.      An impatient exclamation from the young
" Rather droll!" sdid Sir Theodore; "what baronet stopped him, and Sir Theodore replied,
can be the meaning of this, doctor!"       "I tell you, difficulties shall not prevent me. I
"' Only a friendly hint from a Bow-street of- believe what you say is true-lie is in love with
ficer," replied Gamble, dryly; " the -man is a her. I remember how he took her part at Dunpest, and must be got rid of, my young friend. stable-I never thought of it, before; and she
Life is a. pleasant thing, depend upon it; and is in love with him, perhaps."
it was made for other occupations than fighting.   He paused for a moment or two in gloomy
Come, let us away to Vauxhall; you will find silence, and then asked, " What did you mean
better amusement there than my Master Fitz- by saying' unless' just now, and then stopping
gerald would provide for you."              short."
Sir Theodore Broughton, to say the truth,   "Why, I only meant that I did not see, after
was not at all sorry to be' disembarrassed of all, what good your having any thing to do with
the presence of his dearly beloved second, al- this post-boy-this Hangingwood Billy, can do,
though he did not much like the manner in unless you could, some way or another, make'vhich it had been effected. Nevertheless, the it serviceable to your soft suit and pursuit of
memory of being very heartily horsewhipped  pretty Kate Malcolm."
rankled much more in his mind than in that of   "Perhaps I may," replied Sir Theodore,
worthy Doctor Gamble.  Perhaps it might be "perhaps I may; but, at all events, doctor, -I
that he was less accustomed to the operation; can make it turn to the punishment of the
but, as not unfrequently happens, a great por- scoundrel Lutwich himself."
tion of his resentment was transferred from his   "He will never know that it was you who
immediate castigator to the person whom he punished him," said Gamble; and he was going
supposed to have suggested the castigation, or, on to add something more, when the young
at all events, to hirm who had been, to all ap- btmronet interrupted him by exclaiming. " Yes,
pearance, the proximatecause thereof. Major lihe shall, by -    "
Brandrum he hated much, but Colonel Lutwich   "What I was going to say," continued the




LAUREL WATER.                                     103
tutor, "is only this, my dear young friend~ If heated, feverish, irritable, but too tired and enyou can turn any. information you can gain to feebled to rise with the elasticity of youth, and
advantage in-winning the lady, why well; but.the eagerness for fresh enjoyment which he
if not, I would not meddle with the poor devil. had experienced so short a time before? He
It will do you no good to hang him."        was sick of himself, disgusted with his own acts,
" You are mighty forgiving," said the young seeming degraded and contemptible in his own
man, with a sneer; "but perhaps I may turn  eyes. So much, at least, of the knowledge of
it to advantage."                           right and wrong remained; and had there been
"I do not think it," said Doctor Gamble; any one near hinr whom he could have respect"she may have a liking for the man; but it is ed, to give counsel and warning, perhaps a
not very probable that she would become your change to better things might have been efmistress to save-his life. If it were marriage fected.
you offered her, the case might be different. I I say perhaps, for I will own that it was very
Few women care much whom they marry, so doubtfill.
they marry'some one able to keep them well."'   There ywere no resolutions, founded upon any
"Then I will marry her," replied Sir Theo- right principle, for the wise or the good to
dore, sharply.                              strengthen.  He determined, indeed, to change
That was a consummation which Doctor Gam- his course to a certain degree; but the motive
ble had not expected, and did not at all desire. was all selfish. He resolved to be more modTo be a tutor to a married man was not alto- crate, but simply because he felt that excesses
gether the office that would suit him, even if it weakened and injured him. He never thought'had been by any means usual; and during the of abstaining, he never accused himself of vice,
remainder of the drive to Vauxhall, he revolv-. or dreamed of penitence or proposed reformaed in his mind the various points of his own tion; and far, very far from his mind was that
situation, and that of Sir Theodore, which bore forgetfulness of his purposes which Doctor
upon the question at issue. He judged his pu- Gamble attributed tq him. In the midst of all
pil's character very accurately, and knew that to the wild scenes of profligacy into which he had
oppose him was but to strengthen his resolution, plunged, he had often wondered why the St.
and to lose his own influence. On the other Alban's post-boy had never appeared, and'had
band, to aid and abet ascheme which might bring revolved in his meditations many a scheme for
about a marriage with Kate Malcolm would in- seeking his objects without confiding in his
stantly produce his dismissal by Captain Dono- worthless tutor. But in all his plans the asvan. To pursue the baser purposeswithwhich  sistance of Gamble seemed needful. He did
he and his pupil had set out toward her, he was not even know where to find the man Ben
mow convinced would be fruitless, protected as Plowshare without his aid. In this difficulty,
she was by many persons of power, character, he applied to one not less base than the other;
and knowledge of the world; for it must be but -Iargrave had turned somewhat sullen and
recollected that, at this time, Kate was still restive, and it was with considerable trouble
under the care of Lady Chevenix, and that that Sir Theodore got him to speak at all.
both Major Brandrum and Captain Lisle were    "Why, sir, I do not like to be blamed when
still in Great Britain.                      I do my best to please you," said the man,
]Doctor Gamble was much embarrassed; and  1" and as Doctor Gamble has taken all your afthe only plan he could devise was, to lead Sir fairs into'his hands, I would rather you asked
Theodore away from this passion by plunging him any thing you want to know. Heaven forhim as deeply as possible, not only into the bid that I should be accused of trying to misgayeties, but also into the debaucheries of the lead you! We are all weak, sinful creatures,
metropolis.  " He is young," thought Gamble, and apt to fall when we work by our own light.
" inexperienced, full of passions, and there are Perhaps I was very wrong in what I did, wishplenty of nymphs to be found who, with a little ing to please an earthly rather than a heavenly
teaching, will tie him to their apron-strings for master; but if I was wrong, Doctor. Gamble
a month or two."                             was worse; and I don't think he served you a
I must not trace his meditations further, nor bit better either."
even attempt to paint what followed during the   His hypocrisy was now even more disgustnext week.  Suffice it to say, that Sir Theo- ing to Sir Theodore than,Gamble's barefaced
dore Broughton was initiated very rapidly into.licentiousness, and he was about to dismiss'
the various mysteries of dissipation with which him from his presence sharply, when Hargrave
London then, as now, abounded; and that, by threw in a word or two which changed the asexcesses and late hours, the florid hue of health pect of affairs. " Of course you know where
disappeared from his countenance, while weari- the young lady is, sir?' he said, after a moness and feebleness took possession of his ment's pause. Sir Theodore instantly caught
limbs. Doctor Gamble himself became some- at his words, saying, "No; where is she 1"
what alarmed at the proficiency which his pu-   The man made new difficulties, and affected
pil had attained in vice; but he consoled him- to be half afraid to tell his secret; but at length
self with the fallacious belief that his " boy's Sir Theedore extracted from him an account
passion," as the tutor called it, for Kate Mal-'of his having met with old Joseph, Colonel
colmhn had altogether died away.            Lutwich's servant, and learned from him that
For a moment I must pause to look into the Miss Malcolm was now at the house of Capmind of the' young man himself, for what was tain's Lisle's mother. He saw his master's
passing there is not without its interest. What, eyes kindle as he spoke, and with a degree of
then, were the feelings of Sir Theodore Brough. malicious satisfaction, he added, " She is to reton, when, at the end of about eight days, he main there, I hear, sir, till she is married to
lay for more than half an hour after waking, Colonel Lutwich."




104                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
It cost the young baronet a'great effort to  other some color remained in: her cheek, it' had.
hide the emotion he felt; -but he did so, even  faided till it was but like the faint blush in the
fromr the keen eyes of the hypocrite before him; inside of one of those small Indian: shells. Both
and in further conversation he elicited that Cap- were silent; and the fine line of the features
tain Lisle and Major Brandrum were both ab- took that slight but all-changingalteration which,
sent from London, and that Lutwich himself  by the least possible variation of the forms, can
had gone down into Yorkshire some days before. convert at once the expression of joy into that
The tumult of wild wishes,,and vague plans, of sorrow or despair.
which succeeded in the mind of Sir Theodore    "Oh no, no!" cried Louisa, at length; "do
when the man had left the room, is indescriba- not, do not say it; she is not, she can not be
ble; but, after more than half an hour spent in gone; she is but fainting."
troubled thought, he came to the unpalatable    The surgeon shook his head sorrowfully, and
conclusion that he could do nothing without the  then gently tried to lead the poor girl from the
assistance of his tutor.                     room; but with eager vehemence she rushed
" I must speak with him," he thought; "but back, cast her arms round her. mother's body,
I must teach him that I will have my own way, and wept profusely. The cheek against which
and that, if he tries now to rule me by cunning, her own rested was already as cold as marble 
as he once ruled me by force, he will find him- no breath waved her light hair; and Louisa
self mistaken, and have cause to rue it."    Lisle felt that the surgeon's words were but too
To his surprise, however, he found Gamble  true, and that she was motherless.
all compliance and frankness. " I have wished    "You had better lead her away," said the suryou, my dear Sir Theodore," said the tutor, " to- geon, speaking in a low tone to Kate; " it seems
get over this passion; but, if' that is not to be to have taken her completely by surprise. I
done, we can not help it. There is only one  wonder Mrs. Lisle did not in some degree preostipulation; I must make, namely, I will have  pare her for such an event."
nothing to do with a real marriage. At. your    "Was it to be expected, then?" asked Kate,
age, such a thing is most inexpedient; it would  wiping the tears from her own eyes,
suibject me to the high indignation of your guard-    "Assuredly," replied the surgeon; "she has
ian, you would repent it yourself before twelve  had disease of the heart for some years, and
months were passed, and would reproach: me  was well aware that she should die suddenly,
for aiding you. In any thing else, you have  if much excited or distressed at any time."
lothing to do but to command me."              "And to-night she was both," said Kate, with.
He had taken care to lay great stress upon  a sigh.  " My sad fate strikes all who are kind
the word "real," and his pupil did not fail to  to me."
remark it, and ask an explanation. That ex-   "Induce her to come away," said the surplanation was soon given; and when Doctor geon. But Kate could not make the effort;
Gamble saw a smile, a little cynical, indeed, but she remembered what she herself had felt; she
still expressive of satisfaction, come upon the  knew that such tears are the heart's best rehearer's face, he rose gayly from his chair, add- lief. An old servant of the family, however,
ing, " And now, Sir Theodore, let us order the  advanced to her young lady's side, and taking
horses and take a ride to St. Alban's. Country  her arm, whispered, " Come, Miss Louisa,.
air and new pursuits will do you good, for, to  come! You will have to send after your brothsay truth, I think you have, as the sailors say, er, and there is no time to be lost."
carried a little too much sail for one so young.   It was a happy thought. Louisa Lisle startI have not opposed you, because I think there  ed up from the bed, pushed back the hair from
is a great deal of true philosophy in the practice  her face, and said, somewhat wildly, " So I
of the confectioners, who, when they have a must-so I must. Oh, Kate!" and she cast.
new apprentice, suffer him' to eat as much of  herself upon her young friend's bosom.
their confectionery as ever he pleases, quite    Gently leading, and partly supporting her,
certain that a surfeit is the best lesson of mod- Kate Malcolm drew her from the chamber of
oration."                                    death, and into a room on the other side of the:
Sir Theodore was not well pleased at all with  landing-place, the surgeon and the old servant
the' illustration; but he made no reply, and the  following.
horses were ordered.                           The man of healing would fain have had her
take some restorative, but she answered, " No,.
no, I shall be better soon, Mr. Slater.  Oh,
Kate! I can not write -to him; write a few lines
CHAPTER XXXIII.                  for me to Reginald, and send it off to Bristol.
They may still be caught.  Oh, dear Kate, I
FEw scenes upon the stage, and only one can feel for you more truly now. Will you
group in marble-I mean the famous one of the  write?"
Niobe-could give, or have given, so beautiful   "Certainly," replied'Miss Malcolm. But the
a picture of deep grief as that presented by  surgeon interposed, saying, " Perhaps I had
the two lovely girls whom Mrs. Lisle had left better do it; and to your uncle too. He is in
so suddenly, when the surgeon pronounced the  Warwickshire, I think."
words, 1" She is at peace!"  Louisa drew back    "Yes," replied Louisa, bending her head;
suddenly, and gazed in his face, confounded  "but first to Reginald. He is just about to
with terror, while Kate drew closer to her be- sail, for America."
reaved friend, and clasped her arm with her   " I will not lose a moment," said the surgeon.
beautiful fingers, as if she feared that the or- And, having procured pen, ink, and paper, he
phan would fall. The one, always pale, was wrote a few lines rapidly, and dispatched themn
now white as alabaster; and though with the  at once by Mrs. Lisle's man-servant, giving




LAUfREL WATER.                                    1o05'hirm money to pay hig'  spefi'ses. His' labor' dark,; trible future,  iirrying on likea' thun-'rass l10t,i hwever; for, half an hour'before the der-cloud, big vith' tempest' and destruction.;erva-ntr'eacdhedthe prt,'the shipcarryin gaaw ay'She felt that it Was enough to turn her brain,:Reginald, Lisle and Major Brandrum had' got if she remained thinking over it; and yet there
under weigh.                               was a strange, awful fascination in the serpent
Perhaps it was better for Kate Malcolm that eyes of Fate, which made it impossible to'with-.
her young companion's grief continued long draw from the contemplation, which glued her
unsubdued, for the anguish of her own mind, thoughts to that one subject; and for full twoi
if not relieved, was in a degree suspended for hours she remained there, with her head restthe time by the task of consoling and support- ing on her hand, and her eyes, sightless to presing; and there were many painful hours com- ent objects, fixed upon one spot, while the mind
ing rapidly forward out of the dim treasury of saw nothing but the dark shadow of the future.
the future. All that night she sat by Louisa's   At' length a servant entered the room, and
bedside, and sleep visited the eyelids of nei- started at seeing her; for the girl had thought
ther. In the morning, however, Reginald's sis- that she was still in the chamber of Louisa
ter became somewhat more calm; and her little Lisle.
strength being exhausted, she slept.         "La, miss!" she said, "I did not know you
Kate stole away to her own room, and, sit- were here.'Had you not better have somebreakting down, gavelway to the thoughts which had fast 1"
been banished. They were multitudinous as   "If you please, Bessy," replied Kate. " Your
the waves of the sea, and dark and stormy too. young lady is still asleep, I hope. She was soOh! what questions were there not ready for when I left her a few minutes ago."
her fancy at every turn! Oh! what doubts,   A few minutes! It was two hours.
and fears, and vague, misty horrors rose up be-   She descended to the drawing-room shortly
fore her! It were endless to detail them; but after, and there every thing put her in mind of
ever and anon her lips murmured, and the low  Mrs. Lisle, for whom, in the short space of theirwords they uttered were as an echo to some acquaintance, she had conceived a great reverwhich Lutwich had once addressed to her.    ence and affection; but these thoughts brought
"' He had no faults toward me," she said; "he no relief, not even that of change. It was sorhad no faults toward me!" and, with the true row added to sorrow, and Kate sat down and
love of woman, she seemed to cling to him the wept. The housemaid placed the breakfast
more ardently when-she thought of him, lonely, things before her, and, seeing her in tears, tried.
desolate, despairing, criminal-ay, even crimin- to comfort her; but how worse than idld were
al, for still.she thought, " he had no faults to- the words of consolation. They sounded even,
ward me;" and it seemed to her that the want harsh to her; for could she have been comfortof conscious innocence must be to him the sum- ed, she would have hated herself. Louisa's
mit of all misfortune-the crowning misery of bell rang, and it was a good excuse for Kate to
all-that which required more than all else con- run up and leave the breakfast nearly untasted;
solation and support. She never dreamed of and when, after sitting for an hour with her
erecting herself into his judge, of condemning young friend, she came down again, a letter
him, of punishing him beyond all the punish- was put into her hand.
ments of the law, by snatching from him her   She paused and gazed at the address for two
love, in addition to all of which the law would or three minutes before she opened it. Oh! howdeprive hihn.                               different is the fresh confidence of youth from
-Yet she was as. pure and as innocent herself the cold and chilly apprehension of experience.
as human being can be, as high-principled, as Sorrow after sorrow plants dread in the mind,
virtuous; but there was nothing harsh in her till the world is a garden of fears. Kate was
virtue. Had she felt, had she wished, had she very young to know sueh things, but she had
done any thing that was wrong, none would  had many lessons in the bitter tasks of life, and
have judged more severely; but it was in her even the sight of a strange handwriting made
own case only that she felt a right to judge and her heart sink. What fresh sorrows might lie,
to condemn. The character may be rare, but beneath 1 At length she broke the seal, and
it does exist; it may be foolish, but there is read the sad words which Lutwich had written
much Christianity in it. She would have acted  from his prison. She did not ask herself what
thus, felt thus, to any one, how much more to she should do, for she resolved at once to go.
one whom she loved!                        But at the same time, she judged that it would
It may be thought that she would naturally be only right to tell Louisa all. She had no
have felt inclined to repel the very idea of his one to consult with, no one to communicate
criminality with scorn and indignation if she with, but her; and although she had been acloved him so well, and sometimes she was in- customed much'to act for herself, and even for
elined to do so; but yet he had let fall words her father too, yet this was a new case, and she
When they were together at his cottage which shrank from all the first steps. To Louisa she
might well apply to his present situation; and must speak, she thought; but still the task was:
she had seen how deadly pale he had turned  not easy for her. She did not like to obtrude
when the officers appeared. I must not say that other thoughts upon one so completely overthis created suspicion; for that is not the right whelmed with her own grief; and then she had
name for the feeling which took possession of to tell her love and her promises to an ear which
her: it created a dread-a terrible dread, indeed, she fancied quite unprepared to hear them.
that he might be guilty, that he might be prov-   Poor Kate hesitated, and delayed for some
ed so, that he might be made to suffer the pun- time, read and re-read the letter often, felt eaishment of guilt; and oh! how her heart sank ger to set out, and yet dreaded the undertakat the thought of all that was to follow-of the ing; and thus the day wore away toward ev.en



106                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
ing before she could make up her mind to say   Kate bent her blushing face on her friend's
what she intended to her friend. At length, shoulder, and remained silent and anxious while
accusing herself of weakness, she went up to Louisa read the letter. The first words Louisa.Louisa's room, and, much to her relief, found spoke were a great relief to her. "You will
her greatly calmed. She had a letter before go, of course," she said: "such an appeal as;
her, and she had been weeping; but her eyes that you must not reject."
were now dry, and she looked up almost bright-   "I will go, certainly, dear Louisa," replied
ly as Kate entered.                          Kate. "' I must not deny that affection leads
"This is from my dear mother," she said. me; but, even if it did not, I think duty would.
"It seems, Kate, like a message from her in I told you once how he had come to my rescue
heaven. Mrs. Jones found it in the drawer, and at a moment' when I was reasonably alarmed
brought it to me. Oh! dear Kate, mamma was by the shameful conduct of some bad men,
quite prepared for what has happened, and whose motives I do not even now clearly comwrote this three or four months ago, to comfort prehend; but I did not, and hardly can, tell all
me when she should be gone. Read that part." the delicate and kind attention he showed me,
Kate took it, and read the few concluding how his whole thoughts seemed directed to-relines to which Louisa pointed.              lieve me from that embarrassment which being
"Give not way, then, to sorrow, my dear forced to remain for a whole night in his house,
child," were the words, " for the only pang of without a friend near me, might well produce.
death to me is parting from you and your dear Whatever may be his faults to others, Louisa,
brother; but when I consider how short a he has had none to me; and I should thinkmytime we shall be separated, and how happy will self selfish, and base, and cruel, if I refused
be our reunion, even that grief is greatly miti- him' comfort in his distress."
gated. I am weak enough to feel much satis-'. Oh! yes, go-go by all means," said Loufaction in knowing that when death comes, it isa Lisle; *" but take the housekeeper with you,
will be without any corporeal suffering, for I Kate. She can wait in the coach while you go
will own that I have always dreaded too much in. It will be better to have some one with
thedbodily anguish of long sickness; and I know, you."
-my dear child, that it will be a comfort to you    "I do not know how to explain my errand
to feel that I have passed from life without pain. to her," replied Kate, thoughtfully; "it is a'The shock for you will, I fear, be great, and I strange situation, mine, Louisa. I am not afraid
have considered much whether it were not bet- to go alone; but how should I be able to tell a
ter ta prepare your mind for it, by telling you stranger all that leads me thither?"
of the probable end of my earthly being. I trust   "I will explain," said Louisa Lisle; "ring
I act wisely in abstaining; and I do so, because the bell, my dear sister, and then go and get
the period being altogether uncertain, I might ready. I will tell the good old lady all that is
only be inflicting upon you months and even needful for her to know."
years of hourly dread and intense anxiety, when. About -half an hour pass'ed, and then Kate
you can do nothing to stay the time of separa- Malcolm set out for the prison in the only contion. Farewell, then, my beloved child; grieve veyance which could be procured in the neighnot for me more than nature compels you to borhood, a common post-chaise.  She was acgrieve. Your mother has shown her love for companied, as Louisa had proposed, by Mrs.
you in the precepts she has given you; and Jones, the housekeeper, a good, sensible, matyou, I am quite sure, will show your love for ter-of-fact kind of woman, who was benevoher by keeping them in mind. Fortitude, be- lently inclined to comfort her young companion,
nevolence, truth,'are all needful in this world, as far as her qualities would allow her to do
*and all tend to that whither I am going. Fare- so; but there are times when trite motives of
well, then, till we meet again in heaven."  consolation jar sadly with the spirit; and Kate's
The tears rose again in'Kate Malcoln's eyes; mind was so full of anxieties, that even the'but she felt that such a'letter must be a com- words of hope sounded importunate.
fort indeed, and when she compared it with the   "Don't be so sad, Miss Kate," said Mrs.
one she had herself received, she felt that Lou- Jones; " I dare say the gentleman will soon
-isa's affliction might well be lighter than her get out. Many a man is accused of things he
-own.                                        never did; and tllen he is sure to get right
That gave her courage to speak; and after when he proves his innocence."
a few words on the subject of the dead, she   What would not Kate have given to be sure
-said, " It grieves me much, dear Louisa, to be that Lutwich could prove his innocence! "I
obliged to leave you this -evening for a few  trust it is so, Mrs. Jones," she answered; "but
hours; but I have a sad duty to perform-I I have heard of many an innocent person being
-know not how to explain it, or, rather, how to conidemned."
begin the explanation. But read that letter;   "Oh! pooh, pooh!" said the housekeeper;
it will save me, perhaps, some words painful " not when they have good friends, and plenty
to speak;" and, with a flushed cheek, she placed of money to pay the lawyers. Many a poor
-the note she had received before her friend.   fellow,I dare say, without a friend or a.guinea,
Ere she looked at it, Louisa raised her eyes is hanged for what he never did, and the more
-earnestly to Kate's face, and said, in a low, innocent and simple he is, the more likely to
sweet voice, " Perhaps I can spare you more, be condemned, for he is not shrewd enough.to
my dear sister. I saw last night that your fate find out all the roguery. But when a man has
was a very sad one. I was sure, from the first, wit, and money, and high relations, like this
that I could not be mistaken, and when that gentleman, he is sure to do very well."
terrible scene occurred, I had no longer a   Kate fell into thought again without reply,
-doubt.".              and after a weary drive of more than an hour,




LAUREL WATER.                                     107
the chaise stopped before the gates of the pris- bery, house-breaking, picking pockets, and the
on. Kate looked up at the windowless brick  higher branches of swindling, were professions
walls, and how her heart sank beneath their which deserved encouragement and counte-'frowning aspect! There were two or three  nance.  Petty larceny and such sorts of error
people passing, a drunken-looking man among  were looked upon as apprenticeship.
the rest, with an apron before him, and a two-   As to the office itself, it had just emerged
foot rule in his hand, and they all stopped to  from the humble state of " the justice's parsee if a prisoner was about to be' brought out lor;" but it wvas now furnished with a bar, as
of the chaise; but when the post-boy put down  one of the gentlemen on the bench had, not
the step, and Kate alighted, the half-tipsy work- long before, had his head broken by a refractoman curled up his nose, saying aloud, "Only  ry felon, with whom he had often smoked his'
some pad's dolly come to see her pal," and  pipe, and who took a different view of their relwalked away.'                        ative situations from the magistrate himself
The poor girl's cheek turned as red as a rose; A hint, too, had been given from a high power,
but Mrs. Jones, who had heard what passed, that it would be better for those in authority
followed her, whispering, " Never mind him, not to be, like the princes of Israel,.partakers
ma'am; he's a low fellow, and drunk, more- with thieves; but still a great deal of the old
over. I'll go up the steps and inquire."    leaven was left, and every day's sitting preThe porter looked hard at both the old lady  sented a scene which would have very much
and Kate Malcolm, and something in the air shocked our present notions of the administraand manner of the latter, as. she stood on the  tion of justice.
steps in deep mourning, made him civil enough.   It was to the bar of one of these police-offi-'The colonel will be sorry, ma'am, you had  ces, then, that Colonel Lutwich was brought,
the trouble," he said; " but, you see, you'll not at about three o'clock of the day on which Kate
be able to see him to-day, for he's been sent went to visit him in prison. The magistrate
for to the justice's for examination, and no one  before whom he appeared did not like him, for
can tell how long he may be, for I hear it's a  Lutwich had never descended from his original
queer case."'              station to seek the connivance of justice or of"I will come again to-morrow, then," said  fieer, either by bribery or familiarity; but the
Kate, with a disappointed heart.  "Will you  justice had great reverence for him, for, though
tell him that Miss Malcolm, to whom he wrote, strongly suspected, he had set all the arts of
came as he wished a"                         Bow-street at defiance. He was glad, then, to
"Just put down the name'on that there bit have so distinguished a personage under his
of paper," replied the porter; and, walking into  thumb; but, at the same time, inclined to treat
his dingy den, Kate did as he asked.         him with all sort of ceremonious respect, and
He then gave her a hint to make her next even with apparent indulgence, while he relaxvisit somewhat earlier; and with a spirit more  ed his grasp of him in no degree, and enjoyed
depressed than she had ever felt it, even in the  in anticipation the satisfaction of frustrating all
midst tof all the sorrows with which she had  his wiles, and sending him for trial with a case
struggled, Kate re-entered the chaise, and or- which would insure condemnation.
dered the driver to return whence he came.   The court was crowded, not alone with the
The distance back did not seem long; for deep  usual attendants upon such scenes, but with
and intense thought had taken such complete  several persons of a better class; and when
possession of Kate Malcolm, that she started  Colonel Lutwich was brought forward between.when the driver stopped, unable to believe that two officers, a number of heads were thrust out
the tedious way, as' it had seemed an hour or to look at him. The prisoner ran his eye over
Iwo before, had dwindled into so small a space. the crowd of spectators with a firm, haughty
air; but suddenly his glance was arrested, and
fixed upon one spot, and a strange change came
over his expressive face.  So marked was the
CHAPTER XXXIV.                   alteration, that the persons standing near the
place where his eyes rested turned round and
IN the days I write of, a London police-office  looked at the group near them. There was
was a very different utensil from that which it nothing remarkable in it  a young gentleman,
is now. It, itself, and every thing in it, were  fashionably dressed, looking forward into the
-different.  The justice was quite a different court; a stout. jolly-looking, middle-aged man
animal, the officers or constables were quite  in black, speaking in a low tone to a squinting
different, the clerk was different, the manner man, habited like a post-boy, behind him, and
of conducting the business, the manner of bring- the said post-boy, were all of which that group..ing it there, the very inkstand, were all differ- consisted. And yet the prisoner's eyes had
ent. Law had very. little to do with the busi- lightened as if some sudden intelligence had'
ness, and justice sometimes still less. One of been conveyed to him from that part of the
the best magistrates who ever sat there was  court; or as if, with rapid combination, he had
by nature and trade a saddler.  Officers, as  discovered, from something he saw there, facts
well as justices, were chosen for their wit and  which had before been dark and mysterious.
shrewdness more than for their learning or   The blood mounted up into the cheek of Sir
honesty. There was no preventive force, but Theodore Broughton as the firm, steady gaze
an excellent detective one; and as the com- of Lutwich rested upon him, and the next momission of crimes was the remote, while the  ment a sarcastic sumile curled the prisoner's lip,
capture of criminals was the proximate cause'and he turned toward the magistrate. That
o.f emolument'to all concerned,.it very naturally  smile stung the young baronet more than the
happened that in the eyes of the police, rob- lash,of a horsewhip would have done.




1~08                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
" I am sorry to see you here, Coldonel Lut- down what he said; but I repeat that the statew'ich," said the magistrate, resolved to make  ment was made in my presence, I sitting face
himn feel all that was painful in his situation to  to face with him."
the utmost, " and, of course, I feel that any    "How happens this, sir 1.' asked the magischarge brought against a gentleman of your sta- trate, sharply frowning at the bailiff; for he
tion and respectability must be received with  evidently thought a good case was about to
caution; but, at the same time, where there is break down.
information upon oath of a felony being com-   The man paused in dull silence for a minute,
mitted by any man, whatever be his rank, a  or two, and then answered, " I remember quite
warrant must issue against him."            well going to Sir Harry Jarvis, and seeing him
"Undoubtedly, sir," replied the prisoner, there, but I didn't recollect him at the minute."
"you could do no less than you have done, if    "More marvelous still!" exclaimed Lutwich,
such information has been tendered to you. At with a scoff; " that you then did not recollect
the same time, I am glad to find that you allow  me a few minutes after, and now recollect me
the improbability of the story, as I shall soon, several weeks after. That you did not recogI doubt not, be able to show you that it is more  nize me when I had had no time to change my
than improbable."                           dress, and recognize me now when my dress is
The magistrate did not like the reply; but, quite different from what it was that night."
after humming for a moment, he called upon    " Very extraordinary indeed!" said the magEdward Warwick, one of the officers of the  istrate; "what have yoe got to answer to this,.
sheriff of Middlesex, to come forward and make  witness."
his deposition.                               The man was silent; and, after having waitThe man, then, in a somewhat rambling and  ed a minute, Lutwich addressed the bench:
unconnected manner, stated the facts connected  "Sir, I think you must see," he said, "that I
with the robbery, which must be fresh in the  am justified in saying this man is perjured;
recollection of the reader,, and ended by swear- and the evidence of Sir Harry Jarvis will prove
ing that, to the best of his knowledge and be- it. But there is something more: I am inclined
lief, it had been committed by the prisoner at to believe that there is something like a conspirthe bar.                                    acy here, and before I quit this.place I trust you
When he had done, Colonel Lutwich fixed  will give me an opportunity of sifting that mathis eyes sternly upon him for a moment,-and  ter to the'bottom."
was about to speak, when a lawyer who was    " You are at liberty to ask the witness any
in the court stopped him, whispering, "Hadyou  questions you think fit," replied the justice'.
not better reserve your defense, colonel?'"  "ell, then, Mr. Warwick," said the pris"'No," said Lutwich, sternly, "I have noth- oner, "will you have the goodness to say
ing to fear. Now answer me, Edward War- whether you do or do not recognize me by rmy
wick. Do you'speak from my personal appear- face, figure, or appearance, as the man who
ance P"                                     robbed you?"
"Why, I mean to say, I think it was you,"    "No, not by that there," replied the bailiff,
answered the man, doggedly.                 getting confused; "but I have reason to think' Sir, that will not do," replied Lttwich. it was you."
"-You shall give me a straightfobrward answer   "What reason?" demanded Lutwich, veliebefore you go, depend upon it. I ask you-  mently.
and remember, you are upon your oath-I ask    " Why, a gentleman came and told me he
you if I bear any resemblance whatever to the  had got a man who would swear to you," reman who robbed you?"                       plied the bailiff.' Why, as to resemblance," said the bailiff,   "Oh ho!" said Lutwich; "now we' are com"people look so different at different times, ing to the truth. What gentleman?"
that I can't say,"                            "I don't know," said the man, looking round
" Then you mean to say that it is not' by any  the court; " he was here just now."
personal resemblance you identify me," rejoined    "I know he was," answered.the prisoner;
Lu'twich.                                   "and he slipped away at my last two questions.
"Yes, there may be a likeness," replied'the  Do you know his name?";mJan.                                      I" No, I don't," said the bailiff.'Do you mean to say you recognize me, as    "Another question, if you please," rejoined
I stand here." demanded Lutwich, sternly.    Lutwich; "did he show' you the man he had'
" Yes, I do," answered the officer.       got?" and he laid strong emphasis upon the
"Then, sir, you are perjured," replied Lut-'words. "Did lie show you this man he had'got
wich, with a look of contempt.              who would swear to me i"
"Nay, nay, colonel!" exclaimed the magis-    "Yes," replied the bailiff; " and he said he
trate, in a bland tone, "that is going a little  would."
beyond the bounds allowable even to gentlemen    "So you got up your evidence together," said
in your unpleasant situation."              Lutwich.  " Now, your worship, I think I have
"Not, sir, when they can prove what they  shown sufficiently what sort of'a case this is. I
say," replied the prisoner: "this man-you  will only further state that I once had the good
will hardly believe it, for it is almost incredi- fortune of frustrating a most infamous scheme
ble-this man, in my presence, gave informa- concocted by a gentleman who was but now in
tion of this very robbery to my excellent friend  court, and who takes his revenge by suborning
Sir Harry Jarvis, and then solemnly declared  evidence against tne. I must contend that you
that he had never seen the highwayman before, have nothing to proceed upon."
describing him as a person as unlike myself as   "But there is' the man who can swear to,
possible. It luckily happens that Sir Hariy took  you!" exclaimed the bailiff.




LAF:REL WATER.,                                  109
V'Where." demanded Lutwich,.gazing round. don't mind letting you know, colonel, because
"Williamn Havant'!' exclaimed an' officer; it may help you, and I should like to spoil this
but no William Havant appeared.           job for him. He's going to blow the wvhol'" We have certainly something in the form- thing, how you put off your two: coats and the
of a deposition," said the judge, " from a post- padding in Ridge Hill copse, and how you used.
boy of St. Alban's. It shall be read over to you, to rub your chin over with indigo, and put on a.:if you like."                             black wig, and where,you stowed away the ian" If I have the opportunity of cross-examining tern and all. It will all come out this time; dehinmt," replied Lutwich, "it may be of some pend upon it."
avail; otherwise, I think, of none. Let him be   Lutwich's heart sank; but still he continued
produced; and I shall be able to show, I doubt the conversation, hoping to gain more informanot, that the same nefarious means have been tion. "D id he tell you nothing about the bribused with him as with this perjurer. If he is ery " he inquired.
not produced, I must contend that there is no   "No, no, he kept that snug enough," replied.
pretense whatever for detaining me,' and the the officer; " but it was that young fellow, I am
warrant must be discharged."              sure, that Sir Theodore, who, they say, has a
"Too fast, colonel, too fast," said the magis- grudge against you. But I'll find it out, close
trate, with a quiet smile. "Seek for William  as he is."
Havant, constable."           I' If you do," answered Lutwich, "and will
"He was here a minute ago, your worship," enable me to prove it on my trial, you and your
replied a man, "but somebody called him out friend here shall have fifty pounds a piece the
on business."                              very day you bring me the full information;
"Then all I can do is to remand you for fur- and, in the event of my being acquitted, you.
*ther examination, colonel," observed the jus- shall each have a hundred pounds a piece to
tice.                                      make up for losses."
"This is very hard!" said Lutwich, bitterly.   " Well, that's devilish handsome," said the
"I have a notion it might be harder," replied man; "you seem to be flush of cash, colonel l'"
the magistrate.  "Prisoner remanded to this   "I have at this moment plenty," replied the
day week."                                 prisoner, anxious to get every Insiglh into his
The prisoner was accordingly removed from  situation that he could. " The truth is, I have
the bar, and, accompanied by two constables, lately sold all my property, intending to lead a
was placed in a hackney coach, to be conveyed quieter life, and upon that score I did you good
back to prison. As he was mounting the step, fellows some injustice; for I thought you were
he perceived the post-boy, Hangingwood Bill, resolved I should not be quiet, and had taken
pushing his way back into the court through me on that account, although I had resolved
the little crowd that surrounded the door, and beforehiand to make you each a handsome preshe was inclined to pause and demand that the ent, which would have put things square, as you
investigation.should proceed, feeling that he call it. Indeed, I should have done so before
had gained an advantage which might be lost now, only I was out of town till the night beby delay. The officers hurried him in, howev- fore last."
er, and the coachman was ordered to drive on.   "No, we had nothing to do with it," replied
"Beg your pardon, colonel," said the chief the officer; "it was all that fellow's doing.
constable, as soon as the limbering vehicle was You shall have the information, sure enough;
on its way, " but it's better for you to let it stop and all we can do to help you we will; but I
where it is. You've got a week to come and am afraid, now you've been had up, you'll not
go upon."                                  get off, do what we may. The old beak is
"In which they may make up their story bet- against you. He has been looking after you a
ter than they have it now," replied Lutwich, long while,'cause you've been high with him,
gloomily.                                  and he won't stand that. He's got a deal of
"No, no, sir," replied the other, who was a information about you in his little book, and it
stout, jolly-looking man; "that won't do. It's will all come out this time. I don't see well,
all for your advantage, I can tell you, if you what you can do, unless-"
work it well. I don't mean to say, that your   "Unless what " asked Lutwich, eagerly.
defense wasn't a good one. It was capital;   "Unless you would just compromise the afand, if it oomes to a trial, I dare say you'll be fair with Billy, and get him out of the way beable to get out a few more facts to prove that fore next Wednesday," replied the officer; " he
Bill has been bribed. Indeed, there is no man- has taken one bribe to'peach; depend upon it,
ner of doubt he has, for you are not a man to he'll take t'other to hold his tongue. But mind,
refuse him his fair snack, and so make him turn don't pay all till after the trial, for he's not to
viperous. But you might say what you liked be trusted. He shall swing in six months, for
now, the old gentleman in the wig is determin- all that."
ed to commit you; and so a week gained is   "Do you think you can manage it for me l"
somewhat. As for Master Hangingwood Bill, asked the prisoner, after thinking heavily for
he shall swing himself within six months for some minutes.
this here very job. He has no business to come    "No, that won't do," said the officer; *" 
meddling with our affairs. He thought to patch  might be caught; and he'd be very shy with me
it up by telling me all about it; but that won't too. You must get some one he doesn't know,
do. If we suffered interlopers, we should never colonel; the lawyer, or some one, who will of-.
do no business."                           fer him a good round sum, half down, half after
"Ay, and what did he tell you." asked Lut- the trial. Send to him at night, for he's the
wrih.                                      greater part of the day kept quite close under' "Why, all about it," said the officer.' "I the eyes of that barrownight, and t'other chap,




110'. SIR  THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
the tutor.  A pretty tutor! why, Ionce had him  their acts, who would not stand in the dock 
in custody for violence to a woman; but he And may it not be so hereafter?  May not the
compromised it, or he would never have been  thief be asked, What was it made you neglect
tutor to nobody."                          the safeguard planted in your breast by Heaven I
"But where is this scoundrelly informer to  and may he not answer, WTant, ignorance, evil
be found?" asked Lutwich; "he must have  associates, injustice, oppression'! And may not
left St. Alban's."  the rich neglecter of all duties be so questioned
"Oh, ay, he's lodged quite genteel," said the  likewise, and find nothing to reply but Pleasure,
officer; "'he has a second floor in Swallow- ambition, avarice?  Then, with Omniscience
street, No. 103, with a woman who sells hosiery. for a judge, how will the more guilty tremble?
Her husband was once one of our people;'but   No, no, conscience is drowned in pleasant
he's grown corpulent, and left off business; but sounds even more easily than in.the cries of
he looks after Bill sharp enough; so you had  want.  It needs silence, solittlde, the lull of
better send about eight o'clock, when he comes passions, and the death of hopes,'to let that
to our club; for if you don't get Hangingwood  still small voice'reach the heart's ear, and
Bill out of the way, you're done, take my word  awaken repentance and reformation.
for it, colonel."                             Lutwich had sat in silence and in solitude,
With this pleasant announcement the con- and the lamp of hope burned very dim-so dim
versation closed, and soon after Lutwich was that it had no glare to dazzle the eye.  He
once more consigned to the gloomy walls, thought with cold heart and clear mind of his
whence he had emerged only for examination.  situation and his prospects.  He looked forward, he looked backward. All was dark except a small, bright spot just left behind; but
lie felt no power, he entertained no expectation
CHAPTER XXXV.,                of being able to turn back and stand on that
bright oasis again. Oh, how he regretted the
THI prisoner sat alone. Darkness and gloom  past! Oh, what would he not have given to
were upon him. Conscience had been busily  have recalled that sad, that fatal hour, when,
at work-tonscience, which had been silent for in a spirit of mad frolic more than deliberate
years.'The whirl and the confusion of the busy  crime, he had first tasted a cup from which he
world, the sound of gay tongues, and music, and  had never afterward been able to abstain, so
laughter, and revelry, the light joke, the gay  strong had been its charm for his wild and adscoff, the claims of business, pleasure, neces- venturous spirit. But the hour was beyond resity, even of the light virtues, easily attended to  call; its deeds were done, its seed sown; and
by a kind and liberal heart, the loud call of pas- the harvest was to be reaped-its bitter harsion, enterprise, excitement, make such a hub-, vest!
bub round the ears of the mind in the whirl-   The future, what did it present?  Despair..
pool of society, that the small still voice within us He pondered the words of the man who had
is unheard, though it speak never so plainly.    accompanied him from the office to the prison.
Who can attend to its counsels or its re- He knew him to be a keen judge of such cases,
proaches in the midst of life's turmoil? or'who  and he read his opinion of his own well and
will?                                      clearly. Moreover, he was conscious that he
Does your keen manufacturer, greedy of was open to the sword of justice upon so, many
wealth, grinding the bones and sinews of his points, that once it was raised to strike it could
fellow-men in the hot mill-do'es he attend to  not fail to slay. And what was the faint, faint
it, while the steam-engine roars and hisses, and  hope which had been held out to him?.Was it
sounds at every heavy stroke "wealth! wealth! real or illusory?   To bribe a felon without
wealth! wealth!"                         honor, faith, or honesty, to conceal crimes
Does the care-worn lawyer in the crowded  which he had already denounced, to fly from his
court or the dull chambers, amid the babble of country, or to hide himself for months, and that.
technical terms, the rigmarole of forms, or even  too, when there was an eager enemy urging
when poring over the rustling parchment? Do  him. on. Was he likely to consent?  Was he
not the crabbed letters, traced with such care  likely to keep his word if he promised?  Was,by the engrossing clerk, find tongues to drown  it not much more probable that he would use
that small still voice?                    the very proposal only to wring a further reDoes yonder landlord, with the poor of his do- ward from those who had already taught himn
main consigned to the squalid dens and farm- to betray?
ishing pittance of the Union House, lest they    Yet it was the only hope. He thought of
should eat up his rents, while he rolls in his car- Kate Malcolm, and he clung to it.  "If she
riage from the sumptuous dinner to the noisy  shrinks from me," he thought, " I will abandon
Commons-does he hear the voice? or do the  all, and bear my fate; but if she still clings to
rattle of infinite wheels and gay jokes, or the  me,'I will make that one effort."
buzz of dull speeches, drown it?  Does the    Then came the terrible question, "Will shemerchant upon'Change?  Does the man of shrink from me?" But a voice in his heart inpleasure? Doesthecburtier?  Doesthestates-. stantly answered "No!"  He had divined her
man?  Or do they not all find the thunder of nature, and he said No boldly. "She has cometheir several callings outroar the quiet monitor once," he thought, "and she will come again.
within.                   But how shall I deal with her when she does
Oh, were the guilt of men but weighed by come?  Can I-dare I tell her truth?  Can Itheir opportunities, were the heaviness or light- dare I tell her falsehood 1 No, no! That last
ness of those things which silence the voice of I will not do, at all events!"
conscience within them but judged as well as   The heavy key' turned in the lock, the bolts




LAUREL WATER.                                  111
above and below were withdrawn, and the turn- unprepared.  This charge is brought, against
key said, " A lady, sir, wants to see you."  me by a base conspiracy, and out of pure reLutwich started forward, and took Kate's venge-"
hand in his. Hers-was as cold as marble; for   "Then surely you can frustrate it," exclaimthe very passages of a prison were enough to ed his beautiful companion, with a look of joy.
chill her to the heart. She gazed anxiously in " I have heard high praises of the English law;
his face, and saw how two short days had I have heard it called the perfection of human
changed it. Her eye ran over his limbs, and a wisdom; surely, if it even approach to justice,
sensation of relief spread through her bosom. it will not suffer an innocent man to fall before
There were no fetters. He had been remand- such means."
ed. not committed; and the jailer had not   "Alas, Kate! I said not I was innocent,' rethought it necessary to put that indignity upon plied the prisoner, turning away his head. "All
him.                                       I said-all I do say is, that this charge would
" Oh, Kate, this is kind-this is very kind," never have been brought had I not rescued you
he said; " it is almost more than I dared hope from the hands of that young scoundrel Broughfor;" and he drew her gently to a: chair, and ton. He has me in a trap. He has, I fear, myseated himself beside her.                life in his power."
"Why, Henry," she said, "why should you   Kate put her hands before her eyes, and.
doubt I would come.  After the words you trembled very much; and Lutwich continued,
have spoken and I have spoken, there is nothing somewhat more collectedly, for {the worst was
that I ought not to do for you. But let me now told: " He has got a man ready to swear
pause a moment to recover, for the sights and a crime against me. I may struggle; I may
sounds without there have made my heart beat turn; I may even prove that the basest means
sadly. How long will they let me stay 1"  have been employed to bring that man's evi"As long as you please, dear girl," replied dence against me; but the evidence itself I canthe prisoner; " but I will not let you stay long. not rebut. The more I think of it, the more I
This is no place for you, my Kate; and, though see it will be impossible.'Scoundrel as he is,
you bring sunshine with you to the poor cap- his oath will be taken; and I know of no means
tive's cell, yet he must not be selfish in your of shaking his testimony."
case, love."                                  Oh, what is to be done i" cried Kate, r'ais"I am sure you will not," she answered; ing her tearful eyes toward heaven; "oh, what
and then she added, with a sweet, sorrowful is to be done."
-smile, "you have had no faults to me, Henry."   "The only thing I can do," said Lutwich,.
Lutwich pressed her for one moment to his " is to endeavor by any means, were it by the
heart, and the unwonted tears rose in his eyes. sacrifice of all I have on earth, to bribe that
"And you remember those words," he said; man to absent himself both from the next ex"yes, Kate, yes, you have remembered them, amination and from the trial. Could that-be
and repeated them to yourself, and asked if he done, I should be secure."
whom you love oan have had grievous faults to   "Where is he to be found!" cried Kate,
others "                                  eagerly: " I will go to him —I will send to him.
" Perhaps I have," she answered, simply; Tell me-tell me, Henry, where he lives, and'
"' and yet it was foolish to do so, for it could what is his name 1"
make no difference to me. Besides, you told   Lutwich told her, on the first impulse; but
me long ago that you had many faults; but as immediately after he said, " But,' Kate, you
they were not to me, I have'naught to do with -must not go yourself. It is not a place to
them: and now tell me, Henry, what, can be which you must venture. Six days must pass
done for you? The sight of this cheerful room  before the next examination, and there will be
gives me better hopes.  It is hardly like a plenty of time to deal with him. I must find
prison."                                  some lawyer or some friend who will undertake
Lutwich silently raised his hand, and pointed to negotiate with him-though it is not every
to the barred windows, and Kate dropped her one' who will mix in such a'business.',You
eyes toward the ground, and fell into bitter must not, nor, indeed, could you, properly."
thought.                                    Kate sat thoughtfully for a moment or two:
" But tell me," she said at length, " what can without reply; but at length she asked, "Have
be done for you!"                        you the means, Henry?  I have but little, yet
" But little, I fear, dear girl," he replied, sad- all I have is yours."
ly; " very, very little." He paused with a sigh,   " It is not needful, dearest girl," replied the
and then added, " I know, my Kate, you will prisoner. " I have more than seven thousand
not ask me any questions which might be pain- pounds in my banker's hands. Surely a thouful for me to answer; but I must give you, of sand now and a thousand after the trial will be
my own free will, some explanation. Yet I enough to make that low and drunken villain
hardly know how to do it without implying a do any thing on earth. Oh, that seven thoufalsehood, or relating all."              sand pounds! how I looked to it,- my dear Kate,.
"Then do not do it at all," replied Kate, lay- as the means of happy independence with her
ing her small, fair hand on his; "only tell me I love; and now it must go to purchase immnuwhat I can do for you."                   nity for my offenses-even if it can do that."
"Nay, my Kate-my dear confiding girl,"   "And if it can not," said Kate, catching
answered Lutwich, "do not be so kind to me. fresh apprehension from his words and tone,
Your love is, indeed, a blessing undeserved; "what is to be done then 3"
but oh, Kate! it makes my present situation   Lutwich shook his head sadly.  "There
almost more terrible.  But I mnust tell you a must be a parting," he said: "a parting more
part, at least, lest you should be taken too sadly painful than that of soul and body. I may and




112                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
will make.a great effort, for you have rendered    "Then come to-morrow, dear girl," said
-life dear and valuable to me, Kate; but I fear Lutwich.
the effort will be in vain.' I caon prove the pros-   "I had better go with this letter to Jarworth!
ecutor to be perjured; I can prove the charge Park to-morrow," replied Kate, "and it may
to be brought forward for revenge; I can be late ere I return. If, then- there should be
throw doubt upon the facts by many a point of any thing of importance to tell you, I will colme
time and circumstance; but there is no use of to-morrow; but if not, the next day about this
hiding it from my own eyes or from yours- hour."
that man has me in his power! I can show    "Yet stay a little longer, Kate," said the
that within half an hour of the time the offense prisoner. "' Oh, dear girl, you can not tell how
was committed, I was in the house of Sir Harry long and dreary are the hours within these
Jarvis; that I was there talking with him-  walls, with nothing to fill them but torturing
talking with you; but a stout horse would carry thoughts of danger'and disgrace, and wild,
a bold rider thither in the time; and he knows whirling schemes to meet the one and to avert
too much not-to be able to meet me at every the other. Your coming is like the morning
turn. But, speaking of Sir Harry Jarvis, Kate beam, which steals through the window, wan-you must.go to him, my love; you must take ders over the floor for a short hour, and then is
him a letter from me. I wrote it last night. lost. But I can not say to it as to you, Oh!
See him yourself, dear girl; give it into his stay a little longer."
own hands, and hear what he says. Tell him,   Kate sat down again,'for she had risen-;
too, that I fear I must require his evidence on but, ere she had been seated more than a minWednesday next, to prove what took place at ute, the turnkey opened the door, saying, "Mr.
his house on the night I saw you there, and Keating, the solicitor, colonel, is in the lodge,
brought you the letter you had left at Dun- asking to see you."
stable. He will come, I am sure. Sir Charles   "Let him come in," said the prisoner. With
Chevenix's evidence, too, might be needful, but one embrace Kate and he parted, and she bewhether it will be given or not, I doubt."  took herself to the chaise, turning from one
",Oh, he will give it," cried Kate, "I am  scene of gloomy sadness to another..uite sure. He is as generous and kind as man
can be; and I will write about it myself. I
have a right to do so, as this has fallen upon
you, Henry; in consequence of the protection            CHAPTER XXXVI.
you afforded me. Sir Charles, knowing the
facts, will see the motive of that base young   SINCE last we placed Mr. Mullins before the
man, and will, I am sure, do all that he can to reader, time, business, some anxiety, and much
frustrate him."                             grief had greatly altered hima. Mr. Mullins had
"Perhaps so," said Lutwich, thoughtfully; been a very prosperous man; but prosperity:.'yet I have my doubts. Still you can write, is not happiness, nor the principal ingredient
my Kate: to that there can be no objection; in it. Mr. Mullins, between seven and eight,and I am very sure it will be a pleasure to you years before, had known the enjoyment of a
to feel that you are laboring for your poor calm domestic home: he had seen a son and a
prisoner."                                  daughter growing up by his fireside; and a wife,
" It will, indeed," said Kate; "and you must of whom he was very fond-though her insilet me, Henry, labor in all I can, for it is the pidity somewhat worried him-always ready
only relief I now can have. There is much to to receive him with a smile when he came home
make me sad, even besides that which is here. weary with thought. The son had been drownI have not told you yet what has happened ed in bathing; the daughter had died of smallsince you were taken away that fatal night."  pox; the mother had left the world with a
"No!" exclaimed Lutwich. " What?- No broken heart; and Mr. Mullins, then one of the
more misfortunes, I hope."                 wealthiest solicitors in London, had retired into
"A: very sad one," answered Kate. "From  the country to live alone with his memories.
nmy childhood, an evil fate has seemed to pur-   His nephew, Reginald LisIe, had been very
sue all who took interest in me. Poor' Mrs. kind to his dead boy, though a good deal older
Lisle! who was so kind and good to me, was and Louisa had been a sister to his daughter.
taken hence that very night. She fell back sud- Mr. Mullins had been very fond of them both,,denly, and died in a moment, as we were all even when his children lived, but after they had
going up stairs gloomily to our beds."      departed he grew fonder of them still; for the
"Good Heaven!" cried Lutwich; "that is remembrance of his own loved ones clung
sad indeed; and now you are left alone, with- round them, and they became to him as childout protection or a home."                 dren: not that he would ever suffer himself to
"Oh no," answered Kate; "Louisa and I love them as much as he had loved others, for
will live. together for the present; and as for it is wonderfiul how the gentle tenderness of
the rest, I have been'so much accustomed-so youth twines itself round the sturdy and firm
much more than other girls of my age, I should heart of strong-minded men in the moments of
say-to act for myself, and even for others, sweet relaxation and idleness. He had felttoo
that I do not feel it strange, as some might do. much when the ties snapped ever to seek willAnt now tell me, Henry, when shall I see you ingly such ties again.
again.  Louisa's uncle is expected to-night,   He had loved his sister, too, very much; had
and I would fain be with her when he comes; thought her a fool at one time, indeed, for marfor, though he is very kind and good, she says, rying the son of a noble house, and had auguryet he is quick and blunt, so that she is some- ed evil from the connection; but the result had
what afraid of him; and there are many sad justified her choice; and her conduct in every
things for her to go through."




LAUREL WATER.                                     113
circumstance of life had. won even her broth- re ctions which might be painful, and no way
er's reverence, though he was not much given beneficial for Louisa to hear,
to reverence any thing.                       While he was absent, a letter came for him
But to return: he was very much changed marked 1" immediate," and on his return at the
since the night of Sir Walter Broughton's end of about half an hour, it was given to him
death. At that period he had been as upright at once. He tore it open hastily, and read the
as an unstrung bow, and his eyebrows had been contents with an eye of some anxiety appar —
very black, his face displaying a good deal of ently, for the shaggy eyebrow fell heavily over
healthy color. Now, he stooped not a little; it, and the lid was high raised. In the end he
kis eyebrows, long and shaggy as they had al- bit his lip, crushed the letter in his hand, and
ways been, were as white as snow, hischeeks rang the bell sharply.
almost as colorless; but the same quick, al-   "Get me a carriage of some kind," he said;
most stern air of decision was apparent in all " a post-chaise' -a post-chaise is best. Louisa,
he did, and the same activity in his move- my dear, I must run away from yoi for a while.
ments.                                     I will call on Mr. Slater as I go, and ask him
When Kate Malcolm returned from the pris- to do all for you that I can not stay to do.
on, she found the old solicitor seated by the Miss Malcolm, you will be with her, and be
side of Louisa Lisle, with the poor girl's hand kind to her, I am sure.  Business-business
in his; and Mr. Mullins raised his large, dark, calls me to a distance-very sudden and unexbrilliant eyes, and fixed them upon Kate's face pected business."
as she entered, with a calm, steadfast, contem-   " I am afraid, painful business too, sir," replative glance, which abashed her. -       plied Kate.
The next moment, however, as if satisfied    "Ay, not pleasant," said Mr. Mullins; "it
with what he saw, he rose with a bland, grave may be better, though, than it seems. I must
smile, and took her hand. " So this is Kate go and lock my portmanteau;" and he hurried
Malcolm," he said; "my dear, I am very glad from the room.
to see you. That old rascal Brandrum wrote   A cold presentiment of further sorrow fell
to me about you; and Reginald wrote to me; upon Kate's heart, she knew not well: why; for
and Louisa has been telling me about you; we.often. gather indications from small signs
and my poor sister who lies in there —having which we take in the mass, without discriminleft her cares behind, and taken her affections ating; and it might be that while Mr. Mullins
with her, I do believe —wrote to me also. was speaking, evidently more agitated than he
Louisa, show that you have mind and Chris- wished to appear, she had: seen his eye once or
tianity, my dear girl, and weep not thus to hear twice take a furtive glance to Louisa, and then
your another named. You must hear it fre-. to herself.
quently; begin betimes, and remember that   In a' few minutes he came down again. The
her life has sanctified her death for us all; so chaise was announced, his baggage put in, and
that while we are sad for the parting, we may he hurried to the door. The two girls heard
rejoice that she has found peace, and gone be- him say to the driver, " To Craig's Court, Chafore us, whither we must all soon follow. A  ring Cross."
few short years-perhaps a few short months   "Why, that is where Reginald's agent lives,"
-and you will have to place me within the fti- said Louisa, without any appearance of appreneral wood, and lay me in the dusty grave. hension.
Then you yourself must follow; and the bright-       Perhaps he is going there first, to give some
est and most glorious now upon the earth will directions," replied Kate; but she felt a dread
tread quickly on ~your steps unto the grave. of she knew not what.
Believe me, Loo, when each one stands beside   In the mean time, Mr. Mullins was carried
that small portal of the world to come, and rapidly to Charing Cross, thrown back in the
looks back to the day when he placed the loved corner of the chaise, with his head bent forwithin it, the intervening time is shortened to ward, his hand up to his mouth, and his feet
a span, and he wonders how he could grieve -crossed. He' stirred not in the slightest deat so brief a separation.  It is six years on gree till the chaise stopped, so deeply was he
Midsummer-day since I buried my poor boy. I buried in thought. As soon as the door was
thought that life would be a long weary waste open, he ran quickly down the court,.stopped
till I rejoined him; and now'tis but as yester- at an office, the door of which was closed-for
day. Six years more will be the same, and we by this time it was growing late-and rang the
shall be together.  I would not pain you, my bell.
dear child; but you must learn to endure what   A clerk opened it. " Is Mr. G- at home?-"
reason should lighten, and what time will cer- demanded the solicitor.
tainly remove. And now to matters: of world-   "Yes, sir; he thought you might come, and
ly business."                               stayed an hour longer than usual," replied the
With those I need not trouble the reader: clerk; "pray walk in."
they were not very complicated, nor very in-   Mullins hurried forward without a pause,
teresting. To Louisa, her uncle was kind, and, in the inner office, found a stout'man lookthough somewhat, perhaps, too bluff and plain- ing over some papers. " This is terrible news,
spoken for the tenderness of grief. To Kate Mr. G-," said the old man at once;,"is it
he was more gentle, and hardly less kind;, but, quite sure?"
had he been otherwise, she would not have felt   " I am afraid so,' answered the agent: " but
his roughness as Louisa did, for she had been too true. We have no details, but the fact
more accustomed to the hard hand of the would seem indubitable. There is the letter
world. The matters of business were all soon we received."
settled  and the solicitor went out to give di-   Mr. Mullins read it twice. "MisfortuneH




114                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
upon misfortune!" he said. "Why, when I out all remaining hope. There is none left,
saw you this morning you had not received and I have only time, before the mail departs,
this news, and yet the post had arrived."  to write these few lines. I must have one
"It came by express froim Swansea," said night's'rest; but to-morrow early I cross the
Mr. G ——.  " I have sent into the city, but country to Plymouth, and thence go straight to
nothing further is known there.  The letters London. In the mean time, for Heaven's sake,
received are all to the same effect —mere prepare poor Louisa gently for the terrible titranscripts. We shall not hear any thing fur- dings, and believe me,
ther till Saturday, I suppose, when the Russell       " My dear Miss Malcolm,
is expected at Plymouth."                                   Yours affectionately," &c.
"I must hear more before that," said Mr.
Mullins, who was much agitated. "I will go
down myself at once. In the mean time, do not
let any rumor of this reach poor Louisa's ears:        CHAPTER XXXVIII.
While there is a- hope, it would be cruel to agitate her, shaken as she is, with fears which   How the events of a single day affect not
may prove groundless.  I will call here as I re- only the whole life of one individual, but the
turn; and, till then, send no news to the cot- fate of many! and upon what a small circumtage unless it be good news. Good-by, for the stance will the whole turn! In the day which
present; and Heaven grant these tidings.nay succeeded the departure of Mr. Mullins for the
be exaggerated."                            west of England lay the key-stone of Kate MalThus saying, he hurried out of the office, re- colm's fate, and of that of almost every body
entered the chaise, gave the man directions who had become so strangely connected with
where todrive, and proceeded on his way to- her since the evening when, not knowing any
ward the west coast without pause. He nei- of them, she had entered the yard of the Black
ther stopped to eat nor to sleep, and when at Bull at Dunstable.  I must, therefore, with
length he reached Barnstaple, he was com- somewhat more' care than usual, relate her
pletely exhausted. There he swallowed a gob- proceeding during'those twelve hours.
let full of wine, and eating a biscuit as he   Her first, task was to write to Mary Chevewent, set out in a small gig down the Taw and nix, and she found it a more difficult one than
along the sea-coast.  He stopped at many a she had anticipated. She had not remembered,
hut in Barnstaple Bay, and earnest was his when she undertook to do so, that she must
conversation with the sea-faring people whom  necessarily display the love which existed belihemet; but sadder and more sad became the tween.Lutwich and herself. Not that she
expression of the old man's face as he went; would have shrunk from the task, even if she
and at length, when he ordered the driver to had remembered that fact; but when she sat
turn back, he sat with his eyes bent down in down to fulfill her promise, it embarrassed her.
the vehicle, never uttering a word till he reach- She thought over the words she was to use
ed the door of the White Lion.              more than she was accustomed to think of any
When he had entered the room prepared for act which she had determined to perform, and
him, he said, "Bring me pen, ink, and paper;" believed right. She weighed the expressions
and while the waiter retired to get what he had hesitatingly; but soon she started at her own
demanded, the old solicitor walked slowly up feelings, and asked, "Am I going to be insinand down the room, with deep grief written in cere-untrue 1 No, no! I will write what natevery strong line of his face.              urally comes from  the heart, let Mary think
"That he should die just as such an unex- what she will."
pected piece of good fortune befell him!" he   She did so; and when she read the letter
said. "God's will be done! God's will be over as a whole, found it far better than if she
done!"                                     had used any art. It was sincere, straightforWhen the paper was brought, he sat down, ward, to the point.  Her own feelings were
but paused ere he began to write.           not much touched upon, and though, perhaps,
"Do you take dinner, sir?" said the waiter. in a certain degree displayed, were far less so
"Yes."                                   than if she had made an effort to conceal them.
"Will you please to order?"               There was but one expression which spoke
"Any thing, any thing," said Mr. Mullins, them plainly. After referring to the situation
and he wrote —                              of Lutwich, she added, "You may imagine,' MY DEAR YONG LADY, - I sit'down to Mary, that I am most wretched."
write what will shock your kind heart to read  ~ The letter was folded and sent; and after
but you have a firmer mind and more experi- their sad breakfast, for it had grown a gloomy
ence than our poor Louisa; and, therefore, I and sorrowful meal to those poor mournful
must ask you to break to her news that will girls, she explained to Louisa Lisle that she
dreadfully -affect her. The ship London, of must go to Jarworth Park to see Sir Harry
Bristol, in which my poor nephew, Reginald, Jarvis upon business.  "Then take the carembarked for America-a finer, more noble, riage, dear Kate,'!, said Louisa Lisle, "instead
more honorable young man never lived-was of going in a post-chaise, which you will have
run down during the night of Tuesday last by to change. There is a carriage in the coachthe Russell, 80 gun ship.*  She sank instantly, house, though we have not had horses for some
and every soul, I am assured, perished. I have years; but it will be more convenient, and look
labored all this day with no result but to blot more respectable than a hired vehicle. The
servant, too, can go with you."
This event happened on the 28th of December, 1778.   The latter offer Kate would not accept; but
The reader will perceive that a little liberty has been taken   The latter offer Kate would not accept
with the date.                             the carriage she took, with horses from a nieigh



LAUREL WATER.                                    115
boring inn, and thus set out for the house of further end of the vestibule, as if waiting for
Sir Harry Jarvis.  She felt pleasure at the  a reply to the message he had delivered; so
thought of seeing him again-not exactly hope, that Kate hoped it had been sent in to Sir
for she knew not what he could do-but still Harry himself. In a minute or two after, howshe felt glad to go, for the good old man had  ever, a man, looking like a gentleman's valet,
been so kind and courteous, and even affec- came down part of the way, and said, sometionate, toward hei, that she was sure she  what rudely, "No: it is impossible that any
should have sympathy, and thought that she  body can be admitted to Sir Harry in his presmight obtain advice, if not assistance.     ent state. You're to tell the lady that."
The carriage rolled on; the road seemed    The old butler approached the side of the
long; and, given up to her own thoughts, Kate's carriage again, as if to repeat the reply; but
heart fell lower and lower. The country look- Kate stopped him, saying, "I heard-I heard
ed bleak and bare. There was nothing to lead  the message."
away the mind; heavy meditation  settled   I "It is not my master's, M'iss Malcolm," he
down upon her, and every dark or painful word  said. " He would never have sent you such a
that Lutwich had spoken came back to memo- message as that."
ry.  He had seen no hope but that one of re-   "Is he sensible?" asked- Kate, in a low
moving the testimony of William Havant, and  voice.
he had seemed puzzled how to accomplish that.   " Oh dear, yes-quite," answered the servHours were flying fast, Kate thought; it might ant.  " He did wander a good deal some days
take long to-negotiate such an affair.  Should  ago, but he's quite sensible now. I am sure
she remain idle, without making some effort he will be sorry that he has not seen you."
for his service? It could do no harm to see,,  I will come again," said Kate., I have a
the man; and she might, at all events, discov- letter to deliver to him, which I was told to
er how he stood affected. Lutwich had only give into his own hand.",
feared for her: for herself she had no fear.   "They will not let you see him, miss, if they
Oh, if she could save him'! Oh, if she could  can help it," said the butler, almost in a whisaid to save him! Would not life itself be a per. " If you will give me the letter, I will
light sacrifice for that  But there was no  give it into my master's own hand, upon my
danger. The place in which the man lived  word. You can trust me, indeed, ma'am."
was not one of. those nests of vice and crime    "I am sure of that," replied Kate; "but
of w:hich London was so full. If not the most they can have no greater objection to my seefashionable part of the town, it was close to  ing him than any one else, as soon -as he is
it; and there could not be the slightest risk, able."
while there might be a great advantage.       "I do not know that, ma'm,'" said the other,
She dwelt upon these thoughts all the way; shaking his head.  " Master was speaking of
she pondered, she meditated, and every mo- you the other night; and I do not think it was
ment she became more and more confirmed in  very pleasant to those who heard it."
her resolution of seeking out this William Ha-    "I do not know what to do," said Kate,
vant. At length the carriage passed through  thoughtfully; "but perhaps it would be best
the gates of Jarworth Park, and rolled up to  to give you the letter, for I know it is of great
the house. The postillion rang the bell, and a importance.  But you must promise roe you
somewhat long pause ensued; but, in the end, will, give it only to Sir Harry himself, when he
the old butler, whom she knew well, opened  is well enough to read it."
the doors, and approached the side of the, That I will, upon my word!" replied the
chaise.                                     butler; "and when nobody else is by, too.
" Oh! Miss Malcolm, I:am glad to see you, But I did not mean to say you had better not
ma'am," said tlie old man, in a kindly tone; come, Miss Malcolm. I am  afraid they will
and, ere she could ask if his master was at not let you see him; but it would be as well
home, he went on, saying, I' Poor Sir Harry is to try.' Only let me have the letter, in case of
very bad, miss: he's no better to-day."     the worst."
"Is he ill?" exclaimed Kate, with a look of    "Well, there it is," replied Kate, with some
surprise and grief which touched the attached  hesitation still remaining; and the man, taking
dependant.                                 it quietly, slipped it into his pocket, looking'Very ill, miss, indeed," said the man. round to see if he were observed. She then
"Dear me! have you not heard of it 1 He has reiterated her injunctions, and he his promise;
been ill for the last week with a bad fever, and the carriage drove away toward London
which he caught, they think, from some va- again.
grants who were brought before him."          More and more depressed was poor Kate
"Oh! I should so much like to see him," Malcolm's heart. Here was another evil chance
said Kate, looking pained and bewildered.  for him she loved. The evidence of a man of
"His cousin, ma'am, is with him," said the such high character she had calculated much
butler, with a look over his'shoulder: " he is a upon, for she had taken it for granted that his
very strict, hard gentleman. But I can go up, evidence must be favorable; and now it was
and ask if you can see Sir Harry."          clearly impossible that he could give it. Lut"Do-do," said Kate; "but not if it will be wich would be without the whole advantage of
injurious to him. I do not wish it, if it can his testimony, at a time when, by his own achurt him."                                  knowledgment, all that could be obtained would
The old man went away, leaving the door be hardly enough to save him. It seemed to
open behind him; and Kate could hear some poor Kate as if Fate decreed that every thing
talking at the top of the first flight of stairs. should be thrown into the scale against him;
Then the butler came down, and stood at the and as she thought of this new misfortune, the




116                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTONi OR,
bitter tears ran cown her cheeks. The car- panions. In the window she perceivedthe variage was at this moment upon the edge of rious little articles of sale with which many a
Finchley Common, and there was a very sharp poor woman ekes out her scanty means of liveand abrupt descent at that time in the road, lihood, and over the door was written the name
with a small water-course across it, not kept of Rebecca Havant. Satisfied that she was
in the best possible order, for the sun of Mac- right, she entered the open door; but it can not
Adam had not yet dawned. The post-boy was be said that she was much prepossessed in fadriving quick, for Kate had told him to make vor of the respectability of the place, or its
haste, in order to report to the prisoner before mistress, by the appearance of either. The
she went home the result of her visit to Jar- little shop was dirty, -and redolent of disaworth Park; and in descending the little dip in greeable odors; and the woman, who appeared
the ground-it was not more that fifty yards- behind the counter, was a thin, slatternly perhe took the gutter or water-course at a right son, with a sharp, aquiline nose, very red at
angle, and as hard as he could go. Kate felt a the point, and flanked by two keen black eyes,
sharp concussion, and then saw the horses somewhat bleared. Aboy was sitting near her,
thrown upon their haunches, and the man al- upon a high stool, moping sulkily over a greasy
most pitched out of the saddle. The next in-. slate; and a girl, somewhat younger, who could
stant he pulled up and dismounted, looked un- not have been often washed since her birth,
der the vehicle, and, approaching the window, was pu'lling her mother's apron, and seemed
said, " Please, ma'am, the axle's broken."  petitioning for something.
"'Good Heaven! what am I to do!" cried   "Well, ma'am, what's for you?" said the
Kate. " Where can we get it mended?" and woman, in an impatient tone, not taking any
she looked in the man's face, utterly bewildered. notice of the child.." Why, it will be a long job," said the post-' An accident has happened to the carriage
boy; "and there's never a blacksmith nearer in which I am traveling," replied Kate, "' and
>than a mile and a half; but you see, ma'am, the post-boy, who did not like to leave the
we can't go on as it is, for it's a-dragging with horses, told me that one of your children, Mrs.
both ends."                              lHavant, would run down and order the black-' Where can I find the blacksmith?" asked smith to go and set it to rights."
Kate, anxiously. "Tell me the way, and I will   "Lord! my children has plenty to do withbring him."                               out running after blacksmiths," replied the
" Why, the way's not very straight, nohow," woman, rudely.
said the driver. "I'd go myself, but, you see,    " I did not intend that they should go without
I shouldn't like to leave you with the horses, payment,"' answerd Kate. "I'll give that little
ma'am. But I'll tell you what: if you like to man a shilling if he will.send the blacksmith
walk on about three quarters of a mile upon down to the carriage he will find nearly a mile
this here high road, you'll come to Mother on the way to Barnet."
Havant's-a little bit of a house, with lollipops   " Ah, that alters the case," said the woman.
and things in the window-and she'll send her " Bill, jump down this minute and run for Tom
girl down, for a sixpence, and tell Tom the Smith-the lady says she will give you a shilblacksmith to come down here directly. We ling."
must contrive to get it spliced up somehow, for   "I sha'n't go," answered the boy, sullenly:
there's no use trying to weld it here. Then A" you'd only take the shilling from me if she did
we can go on gently into town."           give it."
"What did you say was the woman's name?"   The woman instantly boxed his ears, but that
asked Kate..                   seemed not likely to have any more effect than
"Mrs. Havant, ma'am," replied the post-boy. words, till she promised him  that he should
1" It's a little red brick house, just on the right- have sixpence out of the shilling for himself.
hand of the road, all by itself. You can't miss Nor would he go even then till he had made her
it. There's lollipops, and hard-bake, and all give him a peg-top as earnest, with which lie
that there, in the window."               walked away, his mother wisely refusing him
Kate got out, and walked on, musing and a string till he came back again, lest he should
repeating to herself the name "Mrs. Havant-  stop to spin his top by the way..
Mrs. Havant: it may be a common name about   When he was gone, after some hesitation,
here. It is curious, too: I may as well make Kate ventured to say; putting down the promsome inquiries."                          ised shilling on the counter, "Is your son's
The common looked lonely enough, and name William?"
bleak, even under the full sunshine. There   "Yes, ma'am," answered the woman,.in a
was not a tree to be seen; not a living crea- much civiller tone; "and a troublesome, obture but a stone-chat flitting from furze-bush stinate little devil he is."
to furze-bush, and from sandy bank to bank,   "It is curious," said Kate; "I am looking
with incessant motion, like a troubled spirit. for a person of the name of William HavantKate felt very sad and very solitary in that I believe he's in London, though."
wide, arid heath. She was not alarmed, in-   "It's my brother-in-law, I dare say," replied
deed, but there was something in the wild, des- the woman; "he was post-bpy at the Woololate aspect of the place, between which and pack, at St. Alban's."
her own fate fancy drew sad parallels. She   "The same," replied Kate.
walked on quickly, however; and at length, by   "Lord'a mercy! what can a young lady like
the side of the road, saw a small, narrow red you want with he " exclaimed Mrs. Rebecca
house standing perfectly alone, but the long, Havant.
flat, unfinished sides of which seemed to show    "Perhaps something that may turn to his adthat the builder had intended to give it com- vantage," answered Kate; " do you think you




LAUREL WATER.                                   117
could convey a message to him privately, with- a very hearty and blasphemous imprecation
out the people who have got him in London upon the heads of those whom he designatedknowing it."                              by the comprehensive pronoun " they."
"Why, Uncle Bill's up stairs," cried the little   "Are you sure he did not come to offer you
girl,', a drinking his gin and water."    some better inducement than threats?" asked
It was now her turn to have her ears boxed; Kate, growing a little bolder as she went on.
but that could not remedy the indiscretion   "I don't know what you call inducements,"
which her mother seemed to think she had said the other; "he talked a bit of something
committed, and, therefore, the good lady turn- in hand, if I bolted for a month or two; but he
ed again to Kate, saying, with a certain degree wouldn't say how much, so I couldn't use it
of menace in her tone, ", I hope you wants to one way or t'otber; and he said, plain enough,
do him no harm, ma'am; for you see-"       that he'd hang me if I didn't bolt-though. it's
Kate smiled: " What harm could I do him." not in his skin to do that; but that's threatenshe said. "I am not very strong, my good ing, I think, notwithstanding."
lady; and all I want is to speak a few words   "Well, I do not seek to threaten at all," rewith him, and tell him something that may be plied Kate, hesitating how much she should
very serviceable to him, if he manages rightly." offer; " but, on the contrary, I think I can
The woman still looked doubtful; but at promise you a very large sum if you will go
length, as if she had made up her mind, she out of England for four or five months.",
said, with a laugh, "Well, I suppose we could   " What's the figure 3" said the man, abruptly.
manage you, if you did;" and, turning round,   Kate gazed in his face for a moment, and
she passed through a swing door, and Kate then answered, "Why, a thousand pounds:
could hear her step ascending the stairs. There half the money when you set out, and half as
was something unpleasant and threatening in soon as the trial is over."
the woman's words and manner, which in a de-   She saw, with joy indescribable, that the man
gree alarmed her; for a moment she thought was as if thunderstruck at-the magnitude of the
of quitting the shop and hastening back to the sum; but the demon of cupidity is never sated.
chaise. But the next instant she nerved her He recovered himself immediately, and scratchheart with the thought that she was serving ing his gray head, replied, "That won't quite
Lutwich, and with a particle of that supersti- do: I must have the whole of that there when
tion which is kneaded more or less into the I start, or curse me if I don't hang him. I'll
clay of every one, she dwelt with fanciful hopes tell you what, miss-you go and talk to the
upon the extraordinary fact of her having so colonel about it, and I'll come and see you.
unexpectedly fallen upon the very man she had When you have found out what he really can
made up her mind to seek. A long consulta- give, and have got the money all ready, I'll come
tion seemed to be going on up stairs, for she and see you quietly. We'll settle it all at once,
heard a murmur of voices, protracted through and I'll be off before any one can say Jack Robnearly a quarter of an hour; but at length the inson-you may see me start, if you like'-but
woman came down again and said, " You just mind, I'll have a cool thousand down, or I don't
step in here, ma'amn; he'll come down directly. stir a step."
I can't ask you up stairs, for the place ain't   "Well, so be it, then," answered Kate, requite tidy;" and she led the way into a little pressing the joy that rose up in her breast.
dirty back parlor, separated from the shop by a "Come to me to-morrow night just after dark.
glass door.                                I shall see Colonel Lutwich previously."
Here Kate remained alone for two or three   "Ay, but where am I to come?" asked Hangminutes, the woman having betaken herself to ingwood Bill. "I always like to do business
the shop again; and at the end of that time a with the ladies. One gets on at a gallop."
hehvy clamping boot was heard descending.   " If you will give me some paper and a pen,
The next instant the short, spare figure, the I will put down the address," replied the poor
-low forehead, wide mouth, inturned eye, and girl, trembling with agitation. The man grintwisted, hook-nose of Hangingwood Billy was ned as he marked the emotions she suffered,
before her.                                and, going into the shop, returned with the
The man, though not drunk, had evidently stump of a pen full of ink, and a scrap of ruled
been drinking a good deal, and his first words paper. Kate wrote the address as clearly as
were, "1 Well, ma'arn, what do you want with possible, and put it into the post-boy's hands,
me. 3"                                    saying, " You will not fail to come to-morrow,
"Is your name William  Havant! " asked immediately after sunset."
Kate, with a heart not quite devoid of fear, for   How hard a lesson it is for a young heart to
the aspect of the scoundrel frightened her.    learn that it must never show its eagerness,
"Ay, ay; William Havant, or Hangingwood whatever be the prize it aims at, however high
Bill-it's all the same," replied the post-boy.   and ennobling, just, wise, or generous be the
"I think, then,", said- Kate, with a voice motives. We livein aseaof selfishness, where
trembling with varied emotions, " you were one every one is ready to devour the other, and the
of the witnesses against Colonel Lutwich on poor bleak, wheii it rises to a gilded fly upon
Wednesday last."                          the surface of the stream, is not so sure to' be
"Oh ho! that's the go, is it!" replied the snapped up by the ravenous pike, as the inexpescoundrel; "and what if I was 3 I'm not a go- rienced to be made a pirey to the greedy the
ing to be frightened (out of telling the truth by no moment he displays the weakness of eagerness.
one. I'm sure I wish people would let me alone.   "I'll try," said the mnan, in an indifferent
I had a man last night a threatening on me, tohe; "it makes no difference to me. I shall
and that's the reason they sent me down here, be well paid for what I am doing any way, and
to keep me out of the way;" and he bestowed so I am in no hurry to drive a bargain. Be



118.. CSIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
sides, one has always somewhat in hand when    "They'll send some of their,'own people,"
one maltes a deal. I think, ma'am, you ought said Bill, shaking his head.
to give me something to drink your health, if I'' What does that matter, you idiot!" asked
promise to come."                          the virago. "I shall know just'as well that
Kate gave him a guinea, and then hurried you've got the money from them if they send
out of the shop, and down the road, to the side as if you do; and in five hours after you shall
of the carriage, glad to escape fromn people who be out, if they stick you fast in the stone pitch
excited both disgust and fear.             er. Then down to the young lady's place as
"I say, Becky," said the post-boy, as soon fast as you can go, get the money there, and
as she was gone, " I'm like to make a good be off. If they won't give the money, the pitithing of this job. I've had a fifty-pound note, ful scamps, take hers at all events. She's a
and a promise of fifty more, for'peaching of nice young woman; and it'll be some pleasure
the colonel, and I shall now get a cool thou- to save the colonel. He's quite a gentleman,
sand for getting out of the way."          and as fine a man as ever I saw. How-he used
"I heard it all," answered the woman; "but to go galloping past here sometimes, on his
I tell you what, Bill, yqu'te a fool if you don't black horse, so tight and straight, as if they
make it well-nigh double. You.may see sure were all of a piece! He'd make a handsome
enough there's something under all this, and corpus; but I should like him to be shot, or
you've got the cards in your'own hands."'  break his neck, or something of that kind, and,"Why, what would you have me do?" asked not hanged by the neck like a.dog."
Hangingwood Bill; "you're a keen hand, I   "Well, I'll try your trick, Becky," said Hangknow, Becky, though you haven't played your ingwood Billy; " it won't stop my getting t'othown cards very well neither."              er, so it can do me no harm."
"The luck's been against me," said the wom-r  "Not a snuff," answered Mrs. Havant; and
an; "I saved your brother from swinging-  so the conversation terminated for the time.
you know that, Bill-and he drank himself to During the course of the afternoon, sundry fresh
death in a year.'However, if you promise me hints were given by the lady to her companion
just a fifty out of all you get, I'll tell you how  as new lights broke upon her; but as they did
you may make as much again, or perhaps more." not at all affect the course of this history, we
The bargain was struck, and, retreating with may as well draw the curtain upon two persons
her amiable brother-in-law into the back parlor, whose sickening characters would never have
Mrs. Havant placed her hands on her knees, been introduced here but that they were nec-,
and looked at him impressively: "Now, Bill," essary to this tale.
she said, "if you will take my advice, you'll do
just this; but mind, you must do it exactly, or
there is no use of doing any thing.' As soon
as it's dark, you'll trot back to.those two young    CHAPTER XXXIX.
fellows you told me of in London."
"They're not both young," said the post-   "THE spirit of the power of the air!"  What
boy, interrupting her; "one's an old un, and an idea that name gives of the all-prevailing
up to any thing."                          influence of the mighty Principle of Evil! If
"That makes no difference," replied the we look, too, at- the effects of that influence
woman; "folks wouldn't give a fifty-pound which are visible to our own eyes, which are
note for nuthing-nor for the amusement of felt in our own hearts, how strange and mar-hanging a man-and they're not surgeons, so velous they are! Did you ever sit, reader,
they don't want to dissect him. There's more calmly thinking of things pure, perhaps, and elin it, I tell you, than you think. So just you evating, and find suddenly something foreign
trot back to them, and tell them that you can't and deteriorating stealing among your thoughts,
just do what they want, because a young lady something ludicrous mingling with the most
has offered you a thousand pounds down-if you high, something earthly with the most holy 7
don't. You can be very civil, you know, and Few of those who have the power and the haball that; but stick fast, and show them that it of scanning the secrets of their own bosoms,
even if they keep you by might and main, you'll have not had to detect and war against such
spoil the evidence by the way of giving it. impulses.
They'll pretend not to believe a word about it,   But look at that young man, seated at the
and talk high, I dare say; but you can say, it table, still covered with the remains of a late
don't matter to you which you get the money dinner-a very late dinner for that periodof-that, as for the young lady, you never with his cheek resting on'his hand, and the
clapped eyes on her before-that's true, you eyes turned toward the vacant fire-place; look
know —and then you can tell them her name. at the fine, high brow, the delicate features,
Take my word for it, they'll know all about the clear eye, the thoughtful, almost melanher, and will see it's all true in a minute. Then choly expression. Whatis he meditating now.
they'll promise you what you want, be you   It can not surely be evil.
sure."                                       Perhaps not; he may be even now tasting
"Then I shall lose t'other," said Bill, with the drops of bitterness that spring up from the
a certain degree of contempt upon his face; fountain of passions indulged.'There may have
"sha'n't get both that way, Becky."'   come upon him that consciousness of there
"You're a fool," answered the lady; u"stick being better, brighter, happier things than he'out for one half down, and if they're afeard on has ever sought and found, which is sent at
you, offer to let them shut you up anyhow:as longer and longer intervals, like an angel vissoon as you have got it; but say you must just' it, to every one who goes on in a career of
send to me for the things you've left here-"   wrong. The aspirations may be now for high



LAUREL WATER.                                     119
er objects, for more ennobling pursuits, for    "No, thank you, sir," replied Hangingwood
things of the spirit and the mind,' rather than  Bill,' "I never drink wine;" and he looked
the animal and the flesh.                   over his shoulder to see'if the door was shut.
But see, there is a slight sneering smile    "What has brought you back again." asked
comes upon the lip, naturally somewhat scorn- Sir Theodore, sternly. " I gave you five guinful!  What is the secret movement of the  eas to go down to your sister's at Finchley
heart which brings that expression to the face? Heath, and you promised neither to return, nor
Does he congratulate himself upon success to let any one know where you were, till after
and triumph over an adversary. Does he ask  Wednesday. I hope you are not trying to make
himself if he shall be stopped and turned back  a fool of me?"
at the very gates of fruition, by the dull scru-    Hangingwood Bill looked very shrewd, but
pies which dotards have instilled and fools are  he; replied with all outward respect and deferled by?                                     ence, i" No, sir, no. It's just because I do not
And see, another change of countenance! want to make a fool of you that I haive coma
He sets his teeth hard together,' the compress- up. I kept my promise, too, about not telling
ed lips are protruded, the broad brow gathers  any one where I was; but, bless you, sir, some
into a frown. The idea of failing, of being  one found out."
frustrated, of submitting to be baffled, laughed    "By an accident done on purpose, I supat, scorned, despised, must have presented it- pose," said Doctor Gamble. " Was it the sant
self; and he turns a glance toward the face of man, Master Bill. What did he-offer?"
the other man who sits on the opposite side of   i" It wasn't no man at all," replied the postthe table, with two decanters at his elbow, and  boy; " and as for the accident, if you had left
his head nodding to his chest.  Oh, what a look  me at my old trade I might have, had some
of loathing contempt comes upon the young  hand in it; but as I wasn't a driving, I hadn't
man's face as he gazes at that man-at once  The accident was the breaking of the carriage
the tempter and the tool.                   axle-tree right through the middle."
"Doctor! doctor-!" exclaimed Sir Theodore    "But who was it!" exclaimed Sir Theodore,
Broughton.                                  impatiently.
"My dear sir," said Doctor Gamble, start-  i" Rat me, if I've a mind to. tell!" said Mr.
ing, "I was oblivious. What is it!"        Havant, knitting his brows; " I sha'n't, either,
"We were to settle our final plans," said  unless I'm treated more civiller. I needn't go
the young man; "it is late, and there you sit a begging if I give you back all I had o' ye."
sleeping after your food like a pig in a sty."  "Let me talk to him, Sir Theodore," said
"What is to settle! " said Doctor' Gamble. Gamble; "you don't understand him. He's a
"I thought it was arranged that we were to  very honest fellow, and has come to give us
suspend all proceedings till after the next ex- information that may be useful. Who was it
amination and committal. Then we may do  came to see you, Billl"
something."                                   "A young lady, sir," answered the man, in
"I should like to see her," said Sir Theodore, a more placable tone; "and, my eye! what a
musing.  " But you think we can not fail now, pretty young lady too. She was dressed all in
doctor?"                                    black, she was; but that did not stop her being
1"I think not," replied the doctor, stretching  wonderful handsome. Such teeth! just like
himself. "Lu!twich out of the way would be  so many little pearls. So, when the smash
one step to success. These other two men  happened, she came into my sister-in-law's
-gone is another great one already gained; and  place to rest, and send for a blacksmith; and
if the hint I got of old Mrs. Lisle being dead is she soon found out the name, and that I was
true, I think we have pretty well the game Ain  there; and she said she should like to speak to
our own hands. Patience, perseverance, and  me, for she had just been going to find me out
smooth dealing on your part, my dear Sir The- in Swallow-street. Well, when I came down,
odore; ambition, vanity, and even a small por- she took me into the back parlor, and talked to
tion-of womanly weakness on hers, and you  me about it, but quite different from the t'other
have the honors and the odd trick. A fair and  one!"
candid offer of your heart and hand will do    1 "What did she say 2" asked Gamble.
wonders; a private marriage, on account of    "Why, that's the very thing," replied Bill.
your not being of age, will but be reasonable; "She was uncommon sad and low, poor thing,
and neither yoil nor I can help it if the priest about the colonel, to be sure; and -then she
have not yet taken deacon's orders, and the  told me I should have a thousand pounds down
license be signed by the wrong man, through  in golden guineas, to-morrow night, and somemistake."                                   What more after the trial, if I would but take
Sir Theodore smiled, and fell into a reverie  myself off."
again; but a moment or two after, Master Har-   Sir Theodore looked at Gamble, and Gamble
grave entered, saying, "Please, Sir Theodore, at Sir Theodore, and neither of them bore the
there's the man Bill Havant come back.- He best satisfied air in the world. But the tutor
wishes to speak with you."                  replied, after a moment's thought, "A thousand
"'  "What does he want now?" exclaimed the pounds! Pooh, pooh! that's a joke."
young baronet, starting up fiercely. " He prom-   " Very well, sir. It's like to be a good joke
ised, upon his honor, to stay there till Wednes- for me," replied the man, coolly.
day."                                         " Why, I tell you, she has not got a thousand
" His honor!" said Doctor Gamble, laughing. pounds to give," cried Gamble.
"Show  him in, Zachary. Now, Master Ha-    "Some one has," said Hangingwood Bill.
vant, what do you want 1 Take a glass of  "I don't much care who gives it, so as I get it.
wine, man, to clear your throat."           But you seem to know the young lady, sir."




120                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
",No I don't," answered the tutor; "-but I    Gamble thought gravely. HR  did not like the
know that none of Lutwich's people have got affair in which he had plungedl. The passions
any thing like that."                      of his young companion had proved more vehe"Oh, I'm not sure of that, sir," answered  ment and headstrong than he had imagined them
the man; " the colonel himself is not badly off. to be, and he felt that they were beyond his
Howsoever, what I want to know is, am I to  control.
take the money and bolt'"                    "I will go and tell him he shall have the monGamble put on a severe and determined air, ey," said the young baronet, seeing that his tuand replied, "I think you had better, if you  tor did not answer.
can. I tell you what, Master Bill, I believe   "s Stop, stop, stop!" cried Gamble; "let me
the whole story is a make up. I don't believe  think' for one moment. Now tell me, Sir Thethere is such a young lady. It's all improbable odore, *hich do you seek-the girl, or Luttogether."                                 wich's life?  You can not havre both.",i'TelI, I can prove there is such a young    "Can you ask the question?' replied the
lady," replied Hangingwood Bill, remembering  young man. "I have made that scoundrel
the instructions of his sister-in-law, " for she smart already —perhaps not enough; but let
wrote down her name and address for me to  him go. But I swear by Heaven, nothing shall
go and see her, and have the money just after ever make me give up the pursuit of that scorn.
dark to-morrow. There it is;" and he pro- ful girl till she is mine."
duced the paper,- and showed it to Doctor   "Well, then," rejoined Gamble, "'let me deal
Gamble.                                    with this man, and you shall both have your'Well, good evening, gentlemen," he said, way, and save your money. Do you promise
after the tutor had looked at it, and Sir Theo- not to interfere?"
dore too had read it over Gamble's shoulder.   " Yes, if you promise me not to fail me," re" I'm a going. I certainly would like better to  plied Sir Theodore.
stay in this here country than to go over the    "If I do, kick me out of that door the next
water, and live upon frogs'and all that for a minute," replied Gamble; " now let us go back.
while; but no man can say I'm wrong to make Don't take any notice of what I say, however
my fortune where I can."                   odd;" and, opening the door, he went in again,
"To be sure not," replied Gamble, with a with a contemptuous'shrug of the shoulders,
cold and scornful air. "; Go and do it."  saying, as if in continuation, " Well, if you will
But Sir Theodore, less shrewd than his tutor, be such a fool, you must!"
interposed very mal a propos. "Stay, stay,"    Throwing himself into an arm-chair, with a
he cried; and the man, whose countenance  dissatisfied look, while Sir Theodore resumed
had fallen a good deal under some vague appre- his seat, the tutor gazed for a moment or two
hension, which the coolness of Doctor Gamble at the post-boy with the corners of his mouth
had suggested, turned round again with a more turned down, and at length said, " So you Would
confident air.                             have us believe she has promised you a thou" My dear Sir Theodore, do not suffer your- sand pounds?"
self to be imposed upon," said Gamble, aloud,   "Y' es!" replied the man, boldly, " she did,
that his words might reach Mr. Havant's ears; too."
" you know that this girl has no such means at   "I don't think you'd ever get one third of
her disposal, and I know that Lutwich has none it," answered Gamble; "but, now, not to beat
either. The man is either trying to cheat you about the bush, Master Havant, tell me, at one
himself, or she is cheating him."          word, what you will engage to stay for, and'Well, let me speak to you in the next room  give your evidence properly and truly. We.
for a moment," said Sir Theodore; and, turn- don't ask you to tell any lies, or do any thing
ing his head as he walked toward the door, he that's wrong, remember.  We are all on the
added, "Stay here till I come back."      side of the law. They want you to compound
" You have' spoiled all," said Doctor Gamble, a felony, For what sum will you bind yourself
with a gesture of impatience: " I would have to do what I say?"
called him back when it was needful, but you    " For a thousand pounds," replied the man;
nmust not think of acceding to such terms. It "your money is as good to me as theirs, and
is all nonsense about a thousand'pounds. De- then I should be obliged to bolt."
pend up0o it, he is offered nothing like it, and    "That's all nonsense," said. Doctor Gamble;
you must beat him down."                   and he affected to labor hard to beat the man
"But if he won't be beat down," said the down. But Hangingwood Bill would give way
young man. " I believe the man's story is true. but little, for he clearly saw that he had got Sir
You heard yourself that Lutwich had got a Theodore's weakness on his side, and the sum
very large sum for his plate and horses, and of was at length fixed at eight hundred pounds.
course he would pay any thing to save his life.'0 Now," said Gamble, "there is one thing
What is to be done, I say, if it turns out really  more to be settled, Master Havant.  WVe must
true?"'                                 have no more of these tricks, or you may be
" Why, you must give it- up, I suppose," said  coming to make us bid up every day., We will
Gamble; " it would be paying rather too much  have it down in black and white, if you please.
for a toy; and, besides, where are you to get You can write, I suppose?"
the money?  Donovan gave you enough to    "I can write my name," replied the man.
last you for half a year. It is nearly all gone   "Well, that'will do,"' said Gamble; " I will
already."  draw up the agreement, and you shall sign it."
"' I can easily get it from the Jews," said Sir   "I won't sign nothing till I've got the monTheodore, "I and I will not be balked now, doe- ey," said Bill.
tor. I will not, by -   i" and he swore a ye-   "Then you'll get no money at all," said Gamhemeant oath.                              ble, resolutely.




LAUREL WATER.                                    121
"6What is it you want me to sign?" asked of that. The colonel, as you call him, is quite
the other, after a moment's thought.       up to the mark, and if you did not bring him to
"Nothing but a propnise to stay and give Tyburn, some one else would."
your evidence truly and sincerely, if Sir Theo-   "That's true enough, I'should think," replied
dore here pays you eight hundred pounds," re- Mr. Havant, thoughtfully; "there is no use
plied Gamble; "and, from the moment you waiting and letting some one else get the rehave received the money, to remain constantly ward."
under the eye of one of his servants till your   " As for that, there is no reward offered, exevidence is given."                       cept what we intend to give," replied Doctor
The man hesitated a little, and then said, Gamble; " and if there was, you should be too
"I'm not a going to put myself in custody like old a bird not to know that no one ever gets it
that till I've got the money."            but the officers. However, you'll make your
" I do not want you to," replied Gamble; money of the thing. It is not every one has
"iut the case is this: we have not, of course, such a sweep as fhis. You can read writing,
got the money in the house; all the banks are I suppose: I don't want to take you in at all,
shut, and we must get it to-morrow. You were so. you had better look over what I've put down.
not to see Miss Malcolm till after dusk to-mor- There it is."
row. Now, if you come here at three o'clock,   The man took the paper and held it near the
the money will be all ready, and a servant too, to candle to see, but he was a long time in maklook afteryou; but you must sign the promise to- ing out the true meaning of the worthy tutor's
night, pr we might have you coming and telling scrawl; for, though the hand was a large one,
us some one had offered you fifteen hundred."  and not very indistinct, he had no great experiThe consummation was so very likely that ence in the deciphering of manuscripts, and evHangingwood Bill could not help smiling; but ery now and then he stopped to ask, "What's
still he hesitated a moment, for he was half that word?",or, "What's this?"
afraid that the strict watch to which he was to   At length, however, the task was complete,
be subjected might prevent the execution of the and he said, "Very well; I'll sign it: give us
double game which his fair sister-in-law had a pen."
suggested. It seemed very like a trap, in short-;    Stop! stop!" said Gamble: " we must have
into which he could not avoid plunging without a witness!" and Zachary Hargrave was called
displaying the whole of his purposes. Under into the room. In his presence the man affixed
these circumstances, he resolved, like a bold his name in a wild, hilly kind of hand, and the
man, to take his chance, recovering courage as groom added his as a witness.
he remembered that there were many ways of   "And now —where am I to go now?" asked
blinding a spy, and escaping from any human Havant, with a stupid look.
supervision, when not fortified by tall walls with." Wherever you like," replied Gamble. "To
spikes at the top.                         the devil, if you please; only come back to-;Well," he said, after some consideration, morrow at three to get the money, and put
"I'll agree; let us have the paper."       yourself under watch and ward. There, take
But Doctor Gamble seemed inclined to dally him away, Hargrave, and give him a dram."
more than himself, and he consequently only   "A fine way of saving the money," said Sir
became eager to conclude a bargain which ren- Theodore, gloomily; "but never mind. I have
dered the possession of eight hundred pounds sworn, and I will not regret one step that is
certain-at least he thought so.            needful, be it what it may."
"Well, what like was this young lady, my    "The money will be saved, nevertheless,"
good fiiend." asked the tutor, when the man's replied Gamble. " W-ere I not sure of that, I
assent had been signified, and the four or five would not go one step further, for Heaven only
first words of the agreement proposed had been knows what would be Donovan's rage if he
written.                                  fbund you had been intermeddling with Jews
The scoundrel, who was by no means insens- and usurers."
ible to beauty, went over his former descrip-   " But you have promised it to him in that pation, and added a few more commendations of per," exclaimed Sir Theodore.
form and feature.                           1"Not a whit," exclaimed the tutor. "All
"' Did she seem very anxious to save the gal- the promises are on his side. He undertakes
lant colonelS " asked Doctor Gamble, with a to stay and give evidence, and to put himself
sneering laugh.                            into our custody entirely-if you pay him the
"Ay, that she was," replied the man; " she'd money. Now, I do not intend you should; but
give all she had in the world to get me out of we must be careful about the refusal, or -he
the way, I'll answer for it."              will go and give evidence against Lutwich out
"Indeed!" said the tutor, rather enjoying the of pure spite, if he dreams for one moment we
torture to which he saw he was putting Sir want him to abstain. I shall quietly tell him I
Theodore Broughton; "then I suppose she is have seen the lady, and that his story is all
very much in love with him?"              nonsense. Then I'll offer him five pounds to
"I don't know," replied Hangingwood Bill. stay, and make some one else give him ten or
"But I do know that she shook like a willow in twenty to go."
the wind when she was talking to me, and turn-   "I do not understand your plan at all," reed red and white, and white and red, by turns. plied thesyoung baronet.
I thought she'd have gone down in a faint one   "All the better," answered Gamble. " It is
time."                                    the more likely to succeed. This depends upon
"Ha!" said Doctor Gamble, writing on; myself alone; and I will carry it through, or
" poor thing! It is a pity she should set her my name is not Gamble. But now I'll to bed,
heart upon a highwayman. We must cure her for I must be up and doing early."




122                aSIR, THEODORE -BROUGHTON; OR,
CHAPTER XL.                   thither hurriedly, she found a stout man dIressed
in rusty black,with a pair of gray worsted stockKATE MATCOLM passed the evening after her ings meeting the breeches at the knee.  He
return from Barnet partly by the side of Louisa, w're a large pair of spectacles, too, and a bushy,
partly in her own room, schooling her heart. well-powdered wig. He was a coarse-looking
She looked back upon days not very long gone, man, Kate'thought, and not pleasant of aspect,
and upon sorrows, anxieties, and even anguish  but such as might well be employed about the
of mind suffiered therein, and she remembered police courts and at the Old Bailey.
that she had borne afflictions very differently    "Mr. Brown, I believe," she said, as he stood
then. She asked herself where was the spirit and gazed at her through his spectacles.
of calm endurance which had then animated   1"Yes," he replied, "my name is Brown,
and supported her; where that firm, quiet, un- ma'am. Have I the honor of speaking to Miss
murmuring devotion, with which she had borne Malcolm? I expected to see an elder person."
poverty and adversity, and soothed and upheld   "My name is Malcolm," answered Kate;
her dying father. She had felt, she had griev-   pray be seated."
ed as much as human creature can feel and   The visitor took a chair, hummed once or
grieve, but still her courage and her tranquilli- twice, drew a bundle of papers from his pocket
ty had never forsaken her; she had believed tied with red tape, and then said, "I have come
that it was her appointed lot, and she had to you, ma'am, upon a very unpleasant, nay,
bowed resigned to the will of God. Now, how- painful piece of bUsiness-and quite in an unever, she had given way to agitation, terror, professional manner, to see if I can not make
restless anxiety; her whole thoughts and mind some arrangement which may save the life of
had been in continual movement.; her heart poor Colonel Lutwich, in whom I know you
-and her brain had labored, aching with intensi- take a deep interest, and for whom I imagine
ty of exertion. A new element had mingled you would willingly do all that lies in your
with her feelings. She loved, and with love power."
caine all love's strange and quick emotions.   Kate felt a sad tremor creeping over her;
But hers was not an ordinary character. With but she resisted her emotions, and quietly claspall her gentle tenderness, there were strong  ing her hands together without knowing that
powers of intellect; and when she resolutely she did so, replied, " I would, indeed, sir —any
said to her own spirit, "This must be conquer- thing —any thing."
ed," it was conquered. Not the love, but the; That is right," said Mr. Brown, with an apemotion. She prepared herself to act calmly, proving nod; "will-you allow me to ask you a
whatever she might be called upon to do;. to question or two? You yesterday saw a man
suffer calmly, whatever she might be fated to of the name of William Havant, I think."
suffer. She reproached herself for the agita-   "I did," answered Kate, becoming more and
tion which she had allowed to master her while more agitated; "but I was not aware that he
dealing with'the base man whom she had met would mention the fact."
at Finchley, and she resolved to be upon her   " He related all the facts immediately," reguard against herself more even than against plied the other; " you offered him a thousand
others.                                     pounds, I think, my dear young lady, if he
With these determinations she slept, and on would abscond and withhold the fatal evidence
the following morning woke early to put them  against poor Colonel Lutwich."
in,execution. Poor girl! she had much need   Kate bowed her head, saying, in a voice hardof resolution.                             ly articulate, " Yes, sir."
Hardly was Kate down when a note was put   " I)o you know you acted a very imprudent
into her hands. It was addressed in a stiff, part," said Browni, gravely; "by what you did,
lawyer-like hand, which she did not know, and, you neither more nor less than rendered youron opening it, she found the following words:  self guilty of a breach of. the law, made your"Mr. Thomas Brown, attorney-at-law, pre- self an accessory to the crime after the fact,
sents his respectful compliments to Miss Cath- and placed yourself within the statutes regardarine Malcolm, and begs to solicit an interview  ing the compounding of felonies."
of a few minutes in the course of the morning,   Kate trembled violently, not, indeed, so much
having some matters of much importance to from personal fear-although she felt acutely
communicate regarding the situation of Lieu- how terrible the situation in which, according
tenant-colonel Lutwich. Mr. Brown will not to his statement, she had placed herself might
give Miss Malcolm the trouble of calling at his become-as from apprehension that the very
office, but willwaitupon hertoward ten o'clock."  steps which she had taken might be disadvanThe letter was dated from one of the inns of tageous to Lutwich himself.
court, and Kate immediately gave orders.that   The man before her did not altogether rightif a gentleman of the name of Brown called ly understand the sensations which his words
upon her, he was to be admitted. She felt her had produced; but he saw that she was greatheart beat a little as fancy tried to discover ly agitated, and after a moment's pause, he
what new turn in the strange path of Fate was said, "Do not be alarmed. The man to whom
before her; but she instantly-with strong res- you spoke is an infamous scoundrel, and of
olution-2repressed the thoughts that would ag- course he came and betrayed you at once.
itate her, and prepared to go through whatever Luckily, however, it was to one who has the
might be to be suffered calmly.             most friendly feelings toward you, and measPunctually as the clock struck ten, it was ures were immediately taken to shield you from
announced to her, then sitting with Louisa, that the consequences of this indiscretion, which,
Mr. Brown was in the dining-room, whither she doubtless, arose from a kind motive."
had directed him to be shown, and, proceeding    "It was committed, sir," replied Kate, with




LAUREL WATER.                                   123
a very pale cheek, "'i only with the view to save he pleases. Mind, I will prove all this to you
a gentleman who once laid me under a very before I have done. I assert nothing I can not
great obligation:"                         prove. Now, I am sorry to say, this young
" You are, indeed, the only person who could gentleman is not moved by any abstract love
save him," replied the other; "'but you did not of justice in his determined pursuit of your
take the right means."                     friend; nor must you suppose, either, that it is
" I could save him!" exclaimed Kate, eager- by revenge, even when I tell you that Lutwich
ly; "I could save him! How? Oh, tell me has been an obstacle, in the way of his love.
how!".                                 You know-all women know-what an over"You would not do it, if I did," replied her powering passion love is; what sacrifices it
companion, coldly.                        will induce people. to make, what acts it will
"You are wrong, sir," replied Kate, almost hurry them on to commit. The gentleman I
indignantly; " there is hardly any thing on speak of is mad with that passion, and resolvearth that I would not do to save him from  ed, let it cost what it will, to sweep every obthe dreadful fate that seems before him.".    stacle away that impedes its gratification. He
"Ay! hardly," said the man, with a short has no hatred to Lutwich, no enmity toward
laugh; "but this is one of the hardlies, my- him, except as one, and that the principal, obdear young lady."                         stacle to his success. Let his success be as"Well, then, sir, I will say nothing," replied sured, and from that moment Lutwich is saved;
Kate; "nothing but tell a falsehood or commit this man, Havant, is sent out of England, and,
a crime. I beseech you, inform me what it is." once acquitted, the prisoner never can be tried
"' There is no use of it, my dear young lady," again foe the offense."..replied the visitor;  "I should only distress   Kate had sat for some time with her hands
you and pain myself.  I am not new to the covering her eyes, but now she started up with
views of womankind upon such subjects, and her cheek burning and her eyes bright. "Cease!
although, as I have said, you could save Col- cease, sir!" she cried, "and do not insult me
onel Lutwich from all risk and danger if you further. I told you I would do any thing. but
would, yet the sacrifice is too great for any commit a crime to serve him, ay, were it to lay
woman to make."                            down my own life for his. But if you suppose' It can not be too great for me," said Kate, that I would become the mistress of Sir Theoeagerly, with her eyes fixed imploringly upon dore Broughton to save my own' life, or that
his face: " once more I beseech you to tell me. of any one else, you are mistaken. I beg you
what it is."            to leave me! What have I done to make this
" Well, I will do so, if you wish it," said the man think thus of me?"
other, 1 "but it is first necessary that you should   "I knew it," said her companion, "I knew
know Colonel Lutwich's situation exactly. A  it. I did not wish to say any thing on this
highway robbery - was committed on a night point, but you forced me. Let us drop the subwhich you must well remember, for the colonel ject; but yet, before I do so, I must correct
visited you the same evening, I find, at the one error into which you have fallen. I neihouse of Sir Harry Jarvis. Now, the only ev- ther supposed, nor proposed, that you should
idence before the magistrates at present is that become the mistress of Sir Theodore. Indeed,
of the person robbed, who swore last Wednes- he would not have ventured to charge me with
day that Colonel Lutwich was the man. His any such commission. What he proposed was
evidence unconfirmed, however, is not worth a -what he has always sought-to make you
rush, for he had before given a totally different his wife. His heart has been yours long. He
description of the highwayman, and that in offers you his hand, his name, and his fortune.
Lutwich's own presence, which can be proved.'He seeks nothing else, he never has sought
But then this man William Havant, alias Hang- any thing else, but your hand. Do not mistake
ingwood Billy, who drove the chaise that was him or me. He wished me to put his proposal
stopped, is ready not only to swear that the plainly before you, and to leave not only his
man who stopped it was Colonel Lutwich, but own happiness,' but Colonel Lutwich's life or
to give such explanations as to his change of death, at your disposal. His fate is in your
dress and appearance in order to disguise him- hands: you give him life and liberty, or conself, as will at once account for the other man's demn him to death. But I told Sir Thleodore
first mistake, and prove the crime beyond all how it would be. I know that ladies may have
doubt against the prisoner. His fate, as you a great regard- for a man, and think they love
ought to know, is irrevocably sealed if that him very much, but not be able to sacrifice their
man appears against him."                 passion even to save him from death and disHe paused, and Kate exclaimed, sorrowful- grace. Let us speak no, more upon the subject.
ly, "How can I prevent him from appearing? I see how it is-I had better go," and- he rose,
You blamed me a moment ago for having en- put the papers in his pocket, and moved toward
deavored to do so."                       the door.
"True," replied Mr. Brown, "because you   "Stay, stay, stay!" cried Kate, wildly; and,
did it imprudently, and by means that could falling back into her seat, she burst into a pasnot succeed. But hear me out. There are sion of tears. "Oh, this is terrible! oh, this
secrets in all things, my dear young lady. A  is cruel " she murmured, under the first imgentleman of rank, station, and fortune -has re- pulse of contending emotions. " Can this man
solved to bring Lutwich to justice. This man, expect to win a woman's love by such nmeans."
Havant, has placed himself entirely and totally and she sobbed so loudly that her companion
at his disposal. He can put him in the witness- seemed to fear the sound would call some one
box to-morrow, or keep him away from it till to her aid, and tried to calm and console her.
the trial is over, and Lutwich acquitted, just as   "My dear young lady, be tranquil, be com.




124                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
posed," he said, in a tender tone, but gazing at   Kate starfed, gazed at him wildly for an inher beautiful face and form, as she writhed un- stant, and then, resuming a cold, calm air, she
der the mental agony she suffered, with a look said, " I see there is no other hope. I will not
that would have made her blood run cold, had say, sir, what I think of the conduct which has
her suffering given her power to observe it. been pursued toward me, for my resolution is
"N6 one forces you to any line of conduct. taken. I will save him  at any cost. Yet I
You are the mistress of your own actions. must not and will not deceive Sir Theodore
Think calmly, think reasonably of your situa- Broughton. I have loved-I do love Colonel
tion, and do not agitate yourself thus without Lutwich. Were I to say otherwise, I should
cause. It is true," he continued, seeing her tell a falsehood. You may tell Sir Theodore
tears flow with less emotion, "it is true, your that if this cold, unwilling form is all he asks,
situation is a very painful one. You have to I am ready to give it, as the price of the life he
decide upon the life or death, to condemn or has aimed at but too well. Nay, more, I will
to acquit a man whom, perhaps, you love-to  strive to do my duty to him as his wife, and to
whom, perhaps, you have promised your hand; forget the past. More I can not say. But I
and if you would save him from a death of must have security, sir, that Colonel Lutwich
horror and disgrace, you must give that hand is safe; for the man who would act thus, would
to another.  It is a dreadful choice, indeed, commit any other act to gratify his passions.
for a young creature of ardent affections; but I neither can nor will marry him till the prisyet you have to consider that it may be looked oner is acquitted."
upon in some sort as a boon, that, by this sac-   "That will be easily arranged, my dear
rifice of yourself, you have an opportunity of young lady," replied the other; "you do ingiving him life. If you refuse to make the deed make a noble and a generous sacrifice.
sacrifice, he is lost to you by death; you can This is real love. However, you must pardon
never be his, he can never be yours. You me if I act as a lawyer, and take securities
may rescue him from destruction by what we also. It might happen-though I am sure it
must consider the gift of a widowed hand."    would not happen with you-that by persua"To his murderer!" replied Kate, bitterly. sions and representations of friends, a young
"Let me think, sir. Let me think in silence lady so situated, when she saw her end acfor a moment. My decision will soon be made, complished and her lover acquitted, might reand when made it will be irrevocable;" and, fuse to ratify the contract."
once more pressing her hands upon her burn-   "Be under no fear, sir," replied Kate, with
ing brow and eyes, she remained for several a slightly scornful look; " I am not accustomed
minutes without uttering a word. It is impos- to. violate,my word; and I promise by all I'
sible to describe the anguish of that moment. hold sacred, so help me God, if, by Sir TheoTo say that the thoughts which crossed her dore's means, and the removal' of this base
brain-the feelings that passed through her wretch from England, Colonel Lutwich is acheart-seemed like brands of fire,, scorching quitted, I will become the wife of him  who
and withering as they went, were but a poor sent you, whenever he chooses to demand my
expression of her sufferings.  There was a hand."
terrible struggle, too-a struggle for calmness,   "Then, of course, you will not object to give
for a mastery over herself and her own emo- that pledge in writing," said Mr. Brown; "I
tions-a struggle for the full use of her own in- must satisfy Sir Theodore by something more
tellect, that she might see the whole, and act than my bare assurance; and, indeed, it were
upon the united dictates of reason and affec- better, otherwise he may be tempted -to keep
tion, and yet the tumult of agitating passions the man in England till the trial, and then some
almost drowned the voice of the mind.       fatal accident might happen, by which William
At length she conquered; and, taking away Havant would be compelled to come forward
her hands from her face, she said, abruptly, and give evidence."
and in that tone of command which despair will   "What I have said that I will write," replied
sometimes assume, "You, said you had proofs Kate; " but no more, sir."
that this man is entirely at the command of   "I must also require' that you do not see
Sir Theodore Broughton-that Colonel Lut-' Colonel. Lutwich during his imprisonment,"
wich's life or death, in short, are at his dispo- said, the other; " people in his situation alsal. Show me the proofs."                   ways entertain hopes that are only dispelled
" Read that paper, madam," said Mr. Brown, by a court of justice and the black cap."
choosing one from the bundle in his hand: "it   Kate hesitated, but her spirit was weary and
must satisfy you on that score, I think."    worn out, and she thought it was little worth
Kate took it —gazed at it-wiped away the while to struggle now.  The man who was
tears that obscured her sight-gazed at it with her saw his advantage; and, as those who
again, and read the' promise given by the man are much accustomed to deal with people of
Havant, and signed with his name, to place less cunning know well how, he gained step by
himself corripletely in the power of Sir Theo- step, she promised to consent that the marriage
dore Broughton. It seemed all too clear-too  should be private, if Sir Theodore required it,
certain. There was no hope, no chance of re- in consideration of his being under age; and,
moving the man's evidence without the con- indeed, there was nothing short of falsehood or
sent of her persecutor. She shuddered as she evil which she would not have promised at that
read. Then, relapsing into thought again, she moment to save Lutwich from the fate that
pressed one hand upon her heart, still holding menaced him. The terrible engagement which
the paper in the other, till her meditation was she had entered into seemed to leave every
broken by her companion gently taking the, other point in' her fate quite in insignificance,
document from her.                          and her whole heart was filled with the indif



LAUREL WATER.                                      125
ference of despair. She demanded, however, Charles Chevenix were assembled to partake
and steadily adhered to that demand, before of the bright first' meal of tle day. The whole
she fixed her name to the paper which her vis- air was tuneful with the songs of birds, and
itor drew out, that he should sign a solemn perfumed with the breath of flowers;' and the
pledge that Wiliam Havant should be sent at herds of deer moving across the picture before
once'out of England.  Mr. Brown hesitated the windows, the busy rooks cawing and flutterstrangely, however, and  thereby suggested ing in the distant rookery, a tall peacock sweepdoubts which confirhned her resolution.      ing the dewy grass with his gemmed train, and
He then affected anger, putting up the pa- the squirrels running across the green, and then
pers as if to go, and Kate, terrified, but yet de- swarming up the pines, gave a gay and pleasant
termined, called him back, saying, " Stay, sir; aspect to the whole. But Sir Charles himself
I will myself write the promise you require, in- was anxious for his daughter, and Lady Chevserting in it the conditions I think fit. If it enix was very uneasy at Mary's changed looks,
then suit you, well'; if not, I can not help it, and grave, nay, melancholy mood. The objects
for I will not at once put my own fate and the that had pleased her, pleased her no more; the
life of Colonel Lutwich in the hands of a man studies she had delighted in, wearied instead
who has shown how basely he can use'an ac- of amusing; the book and the pencil werecidental advantage."                        thrown by; and the very wing of Fancy seemed
Sitting down at the table, on which were pen heavy and oppressed, unless, indeed, it soared.
and ink, she wrote for a few minutes with a when she stood silently gazing forth from the
firm hand, then paused an instant, dated it, and window; but if it did, it must have been with a
affixed her name. "There," she said, "read melancholy flight.
it. If it will do, well; if not, tear it and leave' She was now seated opposite her father, tastme."                                        ing but little of that which was before her, and
" It will do quite well, madam," replied her striving to talk cheerfullly, but often losing hercompanion.  "The man shall be sent out of self in thought. Sir Charles saw the effort, and
the country before to-morrow night. I only was pained, so that it was a relief to him when.
hesitated because I could not affix Sir Theo- a servant brought in the letters.
dore's name to the paper, or any other, indeed,   "There, that is for you, Mary," he said.
except my own, for that would be forgery, and "What hands women are nowlearning to write,
poor Thomas Brown, attorney-at-law, has no as tall, and stiff, and straight as a regiment of
power. I may rely then, I think, completely grenadiers.  When I was young, the o's and
upon your keeping this promise, if, in conse- the a's were as fat as aldermen, and the l's and
quence of this witness's absence, Colonel Lut- b's as crooked as a, dog's tail."
wich is liberated or acquitted."              Thus saying, he threw the letter across the
"' I have pledged myself as solemnly as words table to his daughter, gave another to Lady
Oan do it," replied Kate, " and have called God Chevenix, and proceeded to open- one which
to witness. I can say no more;" and she rose was addressed to himself. It was merely some
from her seat, as'if to show that their inter- formal notification, and soon read; and when
view was at an end.                         hehad done, he raised his eyes again to Mary's
Her visitor then withdrew, passed through face. They remained fixed upon her for some
the little, vestibule, and entered a hackney- time, while she continued to read with a straincoach which was waiting for him.' Back ing eye and changing color; and Sir Charles
again," he said, as the coachman closed the sawthat there was something moved her greatdoor; and, as soon As the vehicle drove on, he ly in the contents of the letter, but he took no
laughed gayly, and threw the wig and the spec- notice.
tacles into the opposite seat, displaying the   " Sir Harry is somewhat better, Charles,"
merry, dissolute face of Doctor Gamble.     said Lady Chevenix; and, as she spoke, she
In the mean time, Louisa Lisle sat anxiously remarked how steadily her husband was gazing
waiting-for Ka'te Malcolm's return.  She heard at Mary, and her eyes followed his. " What is
the door of the house shut, and the coach drive the matter, my dear child?" cried Lady Chevaway, but Kate did not appear; and, after enix at once; " something pains or agitates
waiting five or ten minutes more,. she timidly youi."
approached the dining-room and went in. Kate    "Both, my dear mother, both," replied Mary;
Malcolm was lying insensible on the floor, and " but let me read it out. It is a sad letter, insome time elapsed before she could be restored deed."
to consciousness.                             Mary read on, and when she had done, she
gave the letter to her, father, and wiped some
tears from-her eyes.
"Who is it from?" asked Lady Chevenix,
CHAPTER XLI.                   while Sir Charles read the letter almost as eagerly as his daughter.
FOR a time we must leave Kate Malcolm and   "From poor Kate Malcolm," replied Mary,
the sad events which surrounded her, and turn with her hand trembling as it lay lightly on the
to another scene not quite so gloomy as those table. "pMrs. Lisle is dead!  She died sudin which she was placed, yet far from gay. It denly-in a moment; and, I am sorry to say,
is true, the aspect of every thing around was Colonel Lutwich is in prison upon some terrible
&aheerful. The morning light was shining upon charge affecting his life."
the green leaves and through the old trees of' Great was Lady Chevenix's astonishment, for
Dunsmore Park; and it found its way, temper- Colonel Lutwich had been an especial favorite
ed, into the breakfast-room, where, with all the of hers; and when Sir Charles had done, she
pleasant accessories of wealth, the family of Sir also asked to see the letter.




126                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,," I must go to London directly,' said Sir its object. What has passed between you and
Charles, as he gave it to her.  "1 If the facts be Lisle, Mary i"
as Kate states them, my evidence will be most   "I can not recall his words, my dear father,
important to poor Lutwich. He could not have or my own," replied Mary; "'I have often tried
committed this crime at the time stated, for he to do so since, in vain; but I will own, I was
was at Jarvis's within half an hour after, and it convinced, from all he said, that he loved me,
would take an hour to ride the distance by any and would seek my hand."
road I know;" and he rose and rang the bell   " And you loved him, ann told him so?" said
sharply.                                    Sir Charles.
" Pray let me go with you, papa," said Mary,   Mary's cheek burned a good deal; but she
raising her beautiful eyes to his face; "I may replied frankly, "I did love him-I do love him;
be of some use, at least as far as consolation and I let him see that it was so, though, pergoes, to poor Kate, for Mrs. Lisle's death must haps, I might not exactly say the words."
have made a terrible change. Pray let me go."     You should have told me all this, Mary,"
"'With all my heart, my love,". replied Sir said her father, gravely.
Charles; " will you come too, mamma?"        "I thought he would do so," answered Mary,
But Lady Chevenix was not fond of sudden simply.
movements. She had so many things to do at   "Ay, and we prevented him," said Sir Charles;
home; it would take such a time to pack up 1" well, well, we are qlways making mistakes in
her clothes; her maid was not prepared: in life, and then mending what we have broken."
short, there were a'hundred objections; and it   "Perhaps, too, mamma's conduct alarmed
was decided that Sir, Charles and Mary should him," rejoined Mary, in a low tone; "she was
go together, while she remained at the Park. certainly very cold to him when she discovered
A servant was dispatched instantly to Stratt6n  who he was. Indeed, her feelings frightened
for post-horses, and after some common-place me, and make me fearful still. I do not think
comments upon Kate's letter, Lady Chevenix she would ever consent, even if he were to
left the room. Mary was about to follow; but wish it now.:'
her father called her back, and walked into the   "Pooh, pooh!" said Sir Charles, " your dear
bay window. When, with a still varying cheek, mother will not oppose my wishes and yours
she came near him, Sir Charles threw his arm  too. As to Lisle himself;, I must find some
round her, saying, " Did you observe nothing in means of coming to an explanation with him."
that letter, my dear Mary, besides what we have..  "But he is out of England," said Mary, sadspoken of?"                                 ly; "did you not see, Kate mentions that he
Mary was silent, and her father went on, say- has gone abroad-sad, I dare say, and thinking
ing, " Come, my dear child, let us have perfect' me very capricious."
confidence in each other. Your little friend,   Sir Charles had not seen or remarked the
here, Kate, is evidently in love with Lutwich-  part of Kate's letter she spoke of, and it was
I should think, engaged to him: I judge by the re-read. "'Well, I must write to him," he said,
tone of her letter rather than the words she when he had done; but Mary exclaimed, "Oh,
makes use of. If so, Mary, I have done injustice no! Do not, dear papa. He will think it very
to Reginald Lisle. Have you not done so too, strange, and suppose, perhaps, that I —"
my love ".                                    "Mary, Mary!" said Sir Charles, "take my
Mary wept; and leaned her forehead against word for it, my dear girl, perfect frankness in
her father's bosom. He pressed her kindly to matters of love is ever the best, the noblest,
his heart; and that tender movement gave her and the surest way. I will say nothing that
strength to say, " I am bewildered; but I judged can compromise your delicacy, depend upon it;
principally by what you told me, my dear father. but I will tell him that you have now informed
Now, I do not know what-to think."          me of all that had passed between you, and
"We have both been mistaken, dear Mary," that I-filled with a prepossession of his being
said Sir Charles; "but this may be amended. engaged to Kate Malcolm —had given you the
Be assured, my love, your happiness shall ever same mistaken impression I had received.
be your father's first object; but I thought I That explained, he will see the motives on
was best consulting it when I told you what I which we acted; and the rest must come from
believed to be the truth. I did not, indeed, himself, my child. But I will not hold the
know that this had gone so deeply as I have worth of my Mary so cheap as to suppose that
lately seen, with pain, it has gone; but of that, any man on earth with a free heart could posmore as we drive along, my dear; now run sess her, and not strive to do so."
away and get ready."                          Thus ended their conversation for the time;
With all possible dispatch, Sir Charles Chev- and four horses and well-paid post-boys brought
enix and his daughter set out, Mary with a the father and daughter rapidly to London. It
heart much lightened, but still sorely agitated was near midnight, however, when the carbetween hope and fear, and her father thought- riage stopped at the house of Sir Charles Chevfull and, for him, very grave.              enix, and, as his arrival was unexpected, the
The first two miles passed nearly in silence;  clock had struck two before Mary's head restbut at length Sir Charles laid his hand upon his ed on' her pillow. She was very much tired,
daughter's, and said, "NowV tell me all, my dear but she was still agitated. She thought of how
Mary. Shut not up your feelings in your own unkind her conduct must have appeared to
heart like a dormouse in a cage, but let me have Reginald Lisle; she thought of how sad his
a peep at them too, my child.  You know, I heart must have been, if she might judge from
think, that my love for you is not of that selfish her own, when he left the shores of England;
kind which seeks the gratification either of pas- and tears and bitter meditations occupied many
sion or prejudice rather than the happiness of of the hours of darkness. She was up before




-LAUREL WATER                                     127
her father, however, and waited for his appear-   "I think I might tell you," replied Louisa,
ance with anxiety, for Mary was not quite sat- "for I know she loves you very much; bhut yet
isfied yet. There was a shade of doubt still I am so ignorant of these things, 1I might do
upon her mind; she feared that she might be harm. I may at least say this, that poor Kate
deluding herself with false hopes of Reginald's was yesterday called upon to make a most terunchanged affections; and the smallest parti- rible sacrifice of all her dearest feelings, to
cle of uncertainty is a heavy load to the heart save from destruction the man she loves. She
of love. When Sir Charles did come down, he will herself tell you more, however, I dare say.
was somewhat tardy at breakfast, and, Mary She spoke of rising, so I am sure she will see
thought, very grave; but when he had done, it you; but I persuaded her to' rest till dinnerwas arranged that he should proceed to see time, for she is certainly very ill."
Lutwich, and take whatever steps might be   "If you will step up, madam," said old Mris.
necessary in order to be present at-the next Jones, appearing at the door, "Miss Malcolm
examination before the magistrates, while will see you;" and, in another minute, Mary
Mary,'with a fresh pair of post-horses, set out was by Kate's bedside. The poor girl was as
to visit Kate Malcolm.                      pale as death; all her warm color gone, except
Mary's heart beat a good deal, poor girl, as when for a moment a slight'flush crossed her
the carriage rolled on, and her thoughts were cheek, and passed away again.
very busy with the interview that was about to   Mary kissed her tenderly, and her heart, as
take place; but when she stopped before Mrs. she did so, reproached her for the feelings with
Lisle's cottage, and, looking out, beheld the whic.h she had parted from her. "Dear Kate!"
closed *windows, she reproached herself with she said, "I am really much grieved to find'selfishness for having forgotten that she was you so ill. But do not give way, Kate. Papa
approaching the house of mourning.  When and I set out as soon as your letter arrivedthe bell was rung and the servant appeared, he we were not more than an hour in the hbuse
said, in answer to her inquiries, that Miss Mal- after it came-and he speaks with good hope;
colmin was illin bed. "She has been veryunwell, for he says that it is impossible this charge.ma'am," he said, " since yesterday morning."  against Colonel Lutwich can be true, as there
"I think if she is well enough to receive any was not time for him to reach Jarworth Park,
one, she will admit me," said Mary, "and I if he had been guilty. You know that there is
much wish to see her. Pray send up word some one very like him."
that Miss Chevenix is below."                 Kate smiled faintly, saying, "You are very
"Will you step into the drawing-room for a kind, dear Mary, and so is Sir Charles also;
moment,rma'am, and I will see?" said the man; but, alas! you do not know all. Colonel Lutand Mary followed him instinctively.        wich is safe, I trust, but my peace is at an end
When the man opened the door of the room  forever."
for her to enter, he paused suddenly, as if he   She did not weep, but closed her eyes, arnd
saw something there he had not expected; but remained for some moments in bitter thought.
Mary was already on the threshold, and she   Mary gazed upon her sorrowfully and asked
beheld seated at a table, with her head resting herself, " flow can I soothe and console her? 
on her hand, a young girl, pale, slight, and No way without knowing the whole; and how
shadowy, but bearing in her features a suffi- can I learn that?  Perhaps by making my'own
cient resemblance to Reginald Lisle to show at confession first, and trying to atone for my unonce that she was his sister.               kind feelings toward her when we parted."
Mary gave way to the feelings of her heart;   "Kate," she continued aloud, "look at me,
and, while the servant was beginning an ex- dear Kate. I have come to tell you a tale of
cuse for showing hier to that ro6m, on the plea my own weakness and folly, and to ask your
that he did not know Miss Lisle was down, she pardon for coldness and unkindness which you
advanced at once toward her, andi taking her did not merit. I am sure you will give it me;
hand kindly, kissed her pale cheek.         and I think, as a proof that you do fdrgive'me,,,You do not know me," said Mary, "h but I you will open your heart to me in return."
think your brother must have mentioned me. -  " I forgive you, Mary!" exclaimed Kate, turnI am Mary Chevenix.":                ing round and gazing at her.'" I have nothing
The least thing agitated Loor Louisa's shak- to forgive, unless kindness and generosity be
en nerves, and she trembled without answer- an offense."
ing. "I did not intend to intrude upon you,   "Listen to me, then, dear Kate," replied
dear Miss Lisle," continued Mary, i but, hav- Mary Chevenix, " and you will soon see what
ing come up to town to see our poor friend, you have to forgive. I have been jealous of
Kate Malcolm, I am unwilling to go away with- you, Kate —foolishly, blindly jealous, and have
out doing so, though the servant says she is ill. made myself wretched by my own fault. I
Shall I leave you?"                        have wished I had never seen you-oh, I can
", "Oh no, no, stay!" said Louisa; "I know  not tell you what I have felt toward you. But
all about you now; but the sight of a stranger listen, and I will try to explain all;" and, with
frightened me. Send up, and let Miss Malcolm  a burning cheek, Mary poured forth'her little
know that Miss Chevenix is here," she contin- history, concealing nothing, but, as if in expiaued, speaking to the servant; and then turn- tion of the feelings with which she reproaching to Mary again, she added, "Kate is indeed ed herself, aggravating rather than diminishing
very ill. I never saw such a change as has any faults attributable to herself.
taken place in her since yesterday."'. "I have but one excuse to offer," said Mary,
"But what is the matter?" asked Mary, in the end, "'and that is, dear Kate, that some
seating herself by Louisa's side. "Has any.of your own words helped to deceive me, and
fresh misfortune happened y"  your own looks still more. Do you remember




128                  SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
a conversation we had on the evening of that the first Kate opened immediately. The effect
day when you returned with my father to Jar- produced upon her may be imagined by the
worth Park, and when I'spoke to you about reader wh'en he knows that it was the letter of
Reginald's coming to your assistance at Dun- Mr. Mullins which then met her eye, with Mary
stable?"                                    Chevenix sitting beside her. For an instant
"No," said Kate, "it was Lady Chevenix she felt stunned; but, the next moment, the
spoke to me about that."                    habitual devotion of years lent her strength.
"Yes, but I spoke to you afterward, when She had so often been called upon at once to
mamma had left the room," replied Mary, " and endure and to support, that it was nothing new.
asked you if he had not fallen a little in love She folded the letter carefully and placed it bewith you?"                                 neath her pillow, gazing sadly at Mary with
"Not Captain Lisle!" exclaimed Kate, ea- tearful eyes, and then thought, "; No! her father
gerly; "you never mentioned his name."      must break it to her. My task is with Louisa
Mary put her hand to her brow and thought. -the bereaved indeed."
"I remember I did not," she said; "but it   She had not voice to speaks; and the other
was of him I spoke."                        letter lay upon the bed unopened, with the ad"I thought you meant Colonel Lutwich," dress uppermost, till Mary pointed to it, saying,
said Kate, gazing at her.                   " That is surely my father's hand."  Kate took
"Fool that I have been!" cried Mary; "oh, it up and opened it mechanically.  She read it
far more foolish than I thought; and, if I am  twice, the first time unable to fix her attention
miserable, it is my own fault."             so far as even to gather the meaning;- but at
" Oh, do not think so," replied'Kate; "I length, with' a feeling of relief, she saw that it
trust you will be very, very happy, dear Mary; afforded an excuse for terminating an interview
and you must try to be so, for you have every which, burdened as she was with the terrible
thing to brighten hope. I have no hope; and tidings of Reginald Lisle's fate, she feared to
yet I will endeavor to be contented as far as protract. The note was very brief, and in the
possible, for that is a duty, and to brood over following terms:
disappointments is a sin."                    "DEAR Miss MALcoLM,- ill you do me the
" But why no hope?" asked Mary; and, with favor, as soon as Iyou receive tis, to put yourkind and gentle persuasions, she won from poor favor,   a s        you receive tis, to put yourKate Malcolm some detail of the facts with self into a      post-chaise, and meet me at the
which the reader has already been made ac- therouse of Sir Harry  arvisl Yor presence
quainted. Kate did not, indeed, tell all dis-      i absolutely needful; and I shall wait
tinctly; first, because it was too painful to your coming, for I have news of imnportance for
pause long upon; and, secondly, because she you, and not a moment is to be lost. If Mary
thought it better to conceal the actual motives is with you when this arrives, tell her to go
which had been held out to induce her to prom- home, and not wait dinner or sit up for me, as
ise her hand to a man she abhorred. What I do not know when I shall be able to quit Jarworth. Lose no time, my dear Kate, for you
she did tell she-told truly; and she did not even worth. Lose no time, my dear Kate, for you
hide from Mary that she was concealing some- may be assured that, without necessity, you
thing; but when she spoke of the transaction would not be thus hurried by,
with Doctor Gamble, whom she represented,               "Your affectionate friend,
as she believed him to be, as a lawyer of the                    CHARLES CHEVENIX."
name of Brown, she merely said that he had   "I must rise directly, Mary," said Kate, givproved to her most distinctly that the only ing her Sir Charles's note to read; hut Mary
means of saving Lutwitch firom an ignominious proposed a plan which Kate had not thought of,
death was to give in writing the pledge he dic- yet could not well decline.  "Our carriage is
tated. She wept a little, but not much, and at the door with post-horses," she said-; " dress'then added, "I was thus obliged, dear Mary, to yourself at once, Kate, and come with me. You
choose between leaving him to hi~ terrible fate, can set me down in Grosvenor Square, and
and being separated from him by his death, or then go on."
to sacrifice the remaining years of my life to a   "I must speak with poor Louisa first," said
fate, comparedwith which my own death would Kate; " I may detain you some time; I have
be a blessing. And yet I felt that there was no a bitter task to perform toward her."
choice either; that I was bound by every prin-   "No new misfortune?" said Mary.
ciple to one course-that, if I really loved him,'' Yes, indeed," replied Kate; but Mary had
there was no alternative."                  no clew to guide her fears to the truth; and
"Oh, noble, dear, generous girl!" exclaimed Kate rose and dressed herself almost in silence,
Mary. "All I hope, Kate, is, that they have for her thoughts were very busy and her frame
not deceived you, and led you to make such a was weak.
sacrifice of yourself without an absolute neces-   When her toilet was complete, she left Mary
sity."                                     for a few minutes, and sent for the old house", Oh no!" replied Kate Malcolm; " of that I keeper, Mrs. Jones, into another room. Their
am certain. Some words which Lutwich him- conversation was very earnest; but the good
self let drop accidentally, showed me that this woman dissuaded her strongly from even hintman had him entirely in his power; but it is ing the facts to' Louisa till after Mrs. Lisle's
only an aggravation of my misery to think that fiuneral.  "Pray do niot, miss," she said, with
I am doomed to be the wife of one who could tears in her eyes; "it would kill my poor young
act so basely as lie has done.  Come in!" she lady. If Mr. Mullins is angry, I will take all
added, hearing a knock at. her room door; and the'blame, for I know her better than he does."
a maid-servant entered with two letters.  One   It was difficult for Kate to decide. She saw
bore a distant post-mark, the other none; and that, notwithstanding Mr. Mullins's assurance




LAUREL WATER.                                     129
that there was no hope left, he still entertain-   "I believe so, sir," replied the servant; "but
ed some, however faint and doubtful; and she I have not been permitted to see or attend upon
knew what a terrible thing long-protracted ap- hinm for several days."
prehension- is. How was she, then, she asked    "He is awake, sir," said the footman; " for,
herself, to prepare Louisa's mind for what might as I passed the door this minute, I heard him
be&the fatal truth, without inflicting upon her speaking.'?
anguish more severe than even the truth it-   "Then I will see him," said Sir Charles;
self would produce? She paused, therefore, and, turning toward Kate, he added, in a low
some time, in doubt; and at length, calculating voice, "there is something wrong: here."
that the poor girl's uncle could not travel to   At that moment the valet advanced, saying,
Plymouth, and thence to London, and arrive without any mark of want of respect, "I am'bdfore the following night, she resolved to de- sorry, sir, you can not see: Sir Harry Jarvis, as
e'r all reference to the subject till after her re- I was directed to say that no one could be adturn from Jarworth Park, which plan would, mitted to him in his present state except the
at~;least, afford time for deliberation.  Announc- medical men."
ing this-determination to the housekeeper, she   "Indeed!" replied Sir Charles, looking at.
puoceeded to inform Louisa of her sudden call him from head to foot;  " and, pray, who may
-to the house ofSir Harry Jarvis; and, promis- you be? Your face is new to me."
ing to return as early as possible, she set out   "I am Mr. Eaton's servant, sir," replied the
with Mary Chevenix.                         man: "Mr. Eaton is Sir Harry's cousin."
Mary's mind was lightened by all that had   "Oh, I know  him!" replied Sir Charlespassed "between her and Kate; hope dawned Chevenix; "but now, my good fellow, have
again in her heart; and though she sympathiz- the kindness to get out of my way, for it is my'
ed sincerely with her fair companion, yet the intention to see Sir Harry Jarvis, my oldestbrighter coloring which had coine over her own and dearest friend, whether you, or' Mr. Eaton,
prospects communicated itself to the view she or any one else in the world says' Nay.'"
took of Kate's situation. Hoping for herself,   "I can not permit it, sir," said the man, still
she hoped for Kate too-that Lutwich would be standing before him; "my orders are dissaved; that something might be done to annul tinct."'the'fatal promise which had been given; that   "Are they?" said Sir Charles, slipping Kate's
she might yet see Kate as happy as she deserved arm out of his own, and advancing upon' the
to be. She had no grounds for such hopes, it valet. " Now, sir, my orders to you are dis-'
is true; but yet, when her own fate seemed to tinct. Out of the way this instant!"
be suddenly cleared of its darkest clouds, she   The man remained firm, however; there was
could not but dream that it might be so also a step and a voice heard upon the landing-place'ith that of Kate Malcolm. Her cheerfilness, above; and with one blow Sir Charles knocked
quiet as it was, was painful to Kate; and more the valet backward upon the large mat at the
than once she said to herself, " Oh, if Mary did foot of the stairs.
but know the terrible secret of that letter! But   At the same moment a thin, gentleman-like
it will be told her only too soon."         man, with an exceedingly keen, sharp-looking
The journey to Jarworth Park seemed longer face, came down with a quick step, exclaiming,
than ever; but at length it was accomplished, " What is all this?  Sir Charles Chevenix! I
and as the carriage drove up to the house, Kate am astonished, sir!"
saw a post-chaise just pulling up at the door.' And so am I, Mr. Eaton," replied the bar.
A gentleman sprang out and rang the bell; and onet, " most exceedingly astonished that any
then, turning round, Sir Charles Chevenix ap- one with your authority should attempt to preproached the side of his own carriage in which vent my entrance into the house of my oldest
she was, and said, "I have seen Lutwich, my and dearest friend. I have, however, removed
dear. He told me to say he had received your the impediment, and shall now go and see. him:
note, but did not quite understand it."     come, Kate, my dear."'" Iam not surprised, Sir Charles," said Kate;   "I must beg to say you can not, Sir Charles,"
"' I fear it was hardly intelligible."      replied Mr. Eaton, who hald cast one glance to'
i" Of that, more hereafter," said Sir Charles, the face of Kate Malcolm, which was quite'
jn his usual rapid way; "now alight, my dear, sufficient, however, to make him turn first very
and come with me.  The servant is at the door, pale and then very red; 1" Sir Harry is sleep-~
see.",    ing, and must not be woke on any account.
Perfect tranquillity, the physicians assure me,
is absolutely necessary to his recovery. You
CHAPTER XLII.                  can not, and you shall not disturb him."
" Shall not, sir!" exclaimed Sir Charles, with
DRXAWING - Kate's arm through his own, Sir his eyes flashing: " think yourself lucky I do
Charles Chevenix walked up to the door of Sir not throw you out of that door upon the drive."
Harry Jarvis's house, at which by this time was   "Sir, you shall be brought to account for
standing his old: butler, with another of his this conduct!" cried Mr. Eaton, bristling up
servants, while in the vestibule beyond appear- and looking very fierce.
ed the same valet-looking man whom Kate had    "Whenever you please, Mr. Eaton," replied.
seen when last she was at Jarworth Park.    Sir Charles; "in an hour or two hence, if you
6'Oh, Sir Charles, I am exceedingly glad to like. In the mean while, you will have the
see you," said the butler; " my poor master is goodness to move out of my way. Sir Harry
very ill still."                            Jarvis is awake-of that I already have infor-'" Is he awake i" demanded Sir Charl6s Chey- mation."
eiiix.'                  "But, sir, you are not aware-=" said the
I




130                  SIR THEODOPRE BROUIGHTON; OR,
other, still keeping his place upon the last step  me, and( that tile face of an old companioa
of the stairs.                                could do you no harmn: s.o I forced my way
"I am aware of more than you imagine, Mr. up, in spite of all sorts of rentonstrances."
Eaton," replied tile baronet.  "Now, sir, I'I an delilghted, Chevenix," said Sirt Harry
should he very sorry to use your nose as a Jarvis, in a glad tone; - this is very kind of
handle for leading you out of tile house, bilt I you, indeed.  It will d(l me more good Ithan all
shall be compelled to do so if you detain me the medicines in the world.  The ioolish doctor
one instant longer."                          wrote to Eaton when I was first attacked, and
"'Well, sir, well," cried the other; 1"you he has come up, and bores me to death."
are responsible for the consequences to Sir   Kate, as she stood near the door, could see
Harry Jarvis, and shall be answerable to me Sir Charles Chevenix stmile gayly as lie sat,
for your language and ungentlemanly conduet. down by the bedside.  "Well, Jarvis, youl do
I am not disposed to increase the uproar you  not seem so ill, after all," he said, leaninrg over
have already made in this house by opposing the bed; "let us have a little more light, my
your madl and cruel proceedings further;" and  good woman.  I want to see my old friend's
he moved out of thle way with a sullen air.    face somewhat better.  You can bear a little
~ Come, Kate," said Sir Charles, turning  more ligtlt, I dare say."
round; but as Kate, with a trembling anti agi-   "Oh yes! the light ldoes not hurt me," said'.
tated frame, was following, the old butler step- the old baronet; " but (do not lean over me or
ped forward, antd taking the letter she had given  toucnh me, Cihevenlix.  They say the fever is
him oult of his pocket, he said, "I have been  very infectious.  I thave been seriously ill; but
prevented, nia'am; by that gentleman, from (le-  I am  somewhat better now, nmy (lear boy,
livering this to Sit' Harry, andl received warn- though weak as an inhfant-weaker thanlt yot
ing fromi him —which I do not choose to take were as an infint, for I recollect, whein I Ilad
-even for taking it from.you, lhaving been you in my arms at your christening, you kicked
watchled when you gave it."                   so that I could hardly hold you;" and the old
"Yott are an impudent scoundrel!" exclaim- man laughedl.
ed Mr. Eaton, velhemently; btlt, without taking    " Well, you look better than I expected,"
any fortlher notice of that gentleman, Sir Cliarles said his friend,. as some more light was admitsaidl, " Bring thle letter withm you, my dear.  It ted;   you'll (to very well now, antd we'll soona
may he needfill.  You follow us to thle door of get your strength ttp."
yotur msoster's room, mrny good fellow, and see    " Seventy-three! seventy-three! my dear
that we are not interrupted."                  boy," said Sir HIarry; "no getting over that
Oh, I have no intention of interrupting you, disease, Charles," replied Sir Harry, but not at
sir," said Mr. Eaton; "at least not at present. all sadly.
l'hat yotlng wonman, however, nay find her pro-   "'vWon't you take a seat, mniss " said the
ceeldings checked when she'least expects it."   nurse, putting a chair for Kate.
Kate's spirit rose.  Shie remermbered lier   " Who is that'!" exclaimed the sick man
father an(l that matn's condluct toward him; " Ihave you got any one with you I Is it Mary l.'
and, loo(kitg himn full in thle face, she said,   " No, not Mary," replied Sir Chllarles. " )ut', For shlame, sir! for shamle!"            one who is nearer and should be dearer to you,
A reply seemled struggling to his lips, but he my dear fr'iend, than Mary.  It is Kate;" and.
turnes] upon lhis lieel suddenly, and, beckoning he beckoned her fiorward.
to his valet, walked into the library.           " Keel) away! keep away.!" cried Sir HIarry,'"A sharp engagement, nmy dear Kate," said  as soon as she approached within hlis sight;.
Sir Charles, in a low tone, as he led her up  " the fever is very infectious.  Chlevenix, you
the stairs; "but a complete victory, I trust. are mad."
The field is clear of the enemy, at all events."    "I am not at all afraid of it," said Kate, ad-tl
",I really do not understand it at all," said  vaticing quietly and gracefillly.
Kate.                                            "But I lam for you, my dear young lady,"'
"You will understand more presently," re- said Sir Harry; "butt what is it you mean,
plied her gallant friend; "at present we must Charles   Nearer and dearer to me! A hint
lose no timte, for we can not depend ppon the of the same kind was given to me before; but
account of Sir- Harry's health;" andt he quietly  I made inquiiries, and-"
approached a mahogany door at the end of the    "They were frustrated by a prearranged
wide corridor in which they now were.' Keep  plan," replied Sir Charles Chevenix.  " I neia little bIehind me, Kate. but cotne in," hesaid; ther wishl to hurt any one, nor to prejudge any
and then, turning the handle of the lock very questions which 1 trust you will soon have an
gently, lie opened the door.                  opportunity of investigating for yourself  But,
Thle curtains of tic- room were p-artly drawn, in the mean time, I assure you-and you will
and the windows were open to iadmit the air. take my word-, I know-that this is Kate MalThere was sufficient light to display every colmn, the only child of your favorite niece, whothinig in the room, which presented the ordi- married, while you were in India, Ensign Marnary aspect of a sick-chamber, with a large, sham, of the Twenty-third.  He afterward took
massive, tour-post bed at the further side, from  the name of Malcolmn, by permission of the
wlhich a nurse was jutst withdrawing with a tea-  crown, the warrant for which I have seen tliis
Cup in iler hand.                             day at the Herald's College."
"Some one came in-who is that 7" said a   " But the regisfter of lher burial as L.ucy Marfeeble voice from thle bed; and, whlile the wornm- sharm was shown to me," said Sir Harry; "shbe
an stared, Sir Charles advancedl witht a qluick never took the nahtne of Malcolmn."
sLep, saying, " It is I, Jarvis-  our old friend' No,,' replied Sir Chllarles, " hult hler husband
Clhevenix.  I tlhought you would be glad to see and her daughter did.  Thle warrant autihor



LAUREL WATER.                                         131
Izes Frederic Marsham and his daulghter Cath-  ridle over to Barnet as fast as he can go, and
arine, by his marriagre with Lucy Carr, deceas-  hring me, in a post-chaise, Mr. Groves, the ated, to take and assume tile nanhe and armis of  torney.'I'ell him thlat I wish to make a new
Malconlm, an(l it is tdated fiburteen years aro,,  will, foir I find I have l)een imposed upon, Dixon.
when this dear child was barely five years old."  Let himl bring his clerk with himt for a witness.
If' that be any proof." said Kate, in a low,  I thought I heard the doctor's carriage —who
quiet tone-though she was much. agitated, as  was it!"
the reader may suppose —" I have here Mlr. Ea-    " It was.Mr. Eaton, your worship," said the
ton's letter, in which he calls me' cousin.' "    butler, withl  a bro(ad grin.  " Mr. Eaton and his
1'he proof is there," said Sir Harry, raising  valet, that Sir Charles knocked (lown because
his thin, pale hand, and( pointing to her face;  lie would not let him see you. They knew the
"dI saw it from the first tiour I b)eheld her: but game was up as soon as he did see von,,and so
what a villain this man must he! He always  they totok themselves off-Mr. Hicks with a
led me to believe thlat my poor Lucy had died  precious )black eve."
without a child, a few years after her marriage,    i' Chevenix, Chevenix!" said Sir Harry,
antl that Marshaln was dead too. But now, my  "you are always too hasty.  Did not Mr. Eadear Kate, go away into another roorm; yotu ton leave a letter or message for me, Dixon P"
hlave been here too long already.  Mrs. Vard,    " He only said, sit, that lie woruld not remain
give her some of that stuffWilliam Eaton uses  in a house where he had been so insulted," reto prevent infection."                          plied the butler, " and that he would write to, I ihave no fear, indeed," said Kate; "and  your honor.";
do frrgive me, my dear uncle, if I prove diso-     Well, well, send tile groom, Dixon, as I
bedient to your first commanls. I am resolved  have said," answered his master.  "I  shall, of
tor stay and help this g(ood lady to nurse you till course. be willing to hear reason; but I do not
you are quite wvell.  I ant accustomed to nurs-  see, I confess, Ihow hiis conduct and his wvoids
irJg —illeed I aml; and Mr. Eaton, I am sure;  (can be explained othlerwise thIan as a gross im-.will no1t have the heart to prevent nme."      poIsition.  And now, my dear niece, you go
"lie will not have the poywer," said Sir Har-  with Dixon arind get some refreshment.  You
ry. witll a bitter smile, which sat strangely  look very- pale, my love-much paler than when
yponlf his mild and gentle features:'lie has itr-  you were here belire.  This is my grand -niece,
Posedl uponl  me, and tried to Wrong you; but  Dixon; look ullpn her as your future mistress."
that is past, anti lihe shall  now quit my house.    " Shets wonderfil like poor Miss Lucy, Sir
-Well, stay. my child, stay, sitece you desire it.  Harry." saidl the t)1(1 hutler; "  t holghtso firom
I trust God will not take y-)u firom rne now."   the first, and told Mrs. Williams so.  Lord!'Shall I go and turn ilim out?" asked Sir how well I renernember Miss Lucy, wheti I was
Charles Chevenix.                               under-footmnan at your fatllher's, and what a'No n, no, Charles," said the old man; " the  pretty girl shie Nwas, and what a nice young lady
physician and apothecary will soon he here.  too-every )one loved her."
lind they shall carry niy mssage.  They will    "T''his is her chil(1," said Sir Harry, wiping
l)e glad of it; for lithe good dJoctor was very an-  away a tear forom  his eyes.  " Now go, my
gry at his preventintg me from hiaving the quan-  love, go with him.  I want to speak with Chevtity of wine ordered when tile complaint was at enlix, and get Imitt to make; merlmorandum  or
the worst.  He pretendled he thoughit it woull  two for me.  I have not been able t1it6 do any
heat me —and it saved my life.  There is the  thlin  siince thata mian has been in the hlouse."
doctor's carriage, I believe."                    6- I mnay cone hack again soon." asked Kate.
lIe was silefnt, arlfd the whole party listened;    The invalidl made a rrovement of assent with.hut the carriage wheels seemedl to roll away  a bland smile, and she left him.
from, rather than to the house, and a rnoment.    When she and the butler were in the corriafter the sick man said, " T wish you would see  dor, the old marl seemred quite overlpoweredh by
for my oll butler Dixon, Charles.  I am afraidl Itis feielings.  He took her hallnd, and kissed it;
lie must be ill; he has not been near me for  but words f/ailed him, and only muttering, i" God
three or four days."                            bless you, God bless you!" lie hurried down thW'
"Mr. Eaton would not let him in,lyour wor-  stairs and disappeared.  Kate founld her way
ship," said the nurse. " He declared his shloes  alone to the drawing-room, where more than
made such a creaking, it disturl)ed you."       one little incident of the past flashed back upon
"I rather think he was more afraid of the  memory with one of those strange pangs which
creaking of a certain letter in his pocket," said  dart across the breast, as if' an arrow were shot.
Sir Charles, rising; "' for Kate was here three  into it, when things gone present themiselves
or four days ago, it seems, aind gave Dixon a  in painful contrast with the present. It may he
letter for you, from poor Lutwich, who hunted  asked if she had been happier %when there be.
out all the facts. However, Dixon is now keep- fore, a niere dependent upon the bounty of
3ig guiard at the door."                        strangers, witholt one being upon earth on
The old servant was called in, and approach-  whom she seemed to have any real claim, than
ed -the side of hlis master's bed with tears in his. nw, the near relation of a kind and excellent
eyes.  "i am very glad indeedl, Sir Harry, to  man of great wealth, who acknowledged her
see your honor so much better," said the man,  with pride and pleasure?  All her fate seemed
alter gazing a moment in his face. "You look  totally changed. indeed, except in this one' esquite a different tant."                        sential point of happiness, that strange chlame-.'I aIn Inluch better, my good old friend," re-  leon gift varving  under every circumstance of
plie(d the haronlet;  hbut, as one c;an never tell human life, different i,, different men, different
h'lat may happen from tnmonieit. to moltent, be  in the same nman at different periods, fixed and
o good, Dixon, as to tell Jo:in, ihe groomn, to  firm often in tlte midst of earthquake mutabilI
~ 




132                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR.,
ities, and yet changing, fading, vanishing, lost, the entail, which, failing his issue, convey~s
under external alterations, which would seem  them to you as the representative of his eldest
to superficial eyes as mere dust and emptiness sister; and to all his large personal property,
-the harmony of the heart, which one note out in virtue of his will just signed. It is so simof tune will turn to discord.                ple that there can be no dispute; for ten lines,
Kate sat down, and wept with a long, pain- and a codicil referring to a few legacies, have
ful, despairing flood of tears.              done it all."
There were, however, certain principles in   "But he is betters" asked Kate, eagerly
her heart which, however much she might be looking to a grave man, whom she supposed to
moved at times, always soon reasserted their be the physician.  " He will recover-oh! he.sway. There were things which she consider- will recover, will he not?!"
ed dutiesi; and yet she was not one of those   "I trust so, madam," replied the physician.
cold slaves of formal precepts who act by rule, "With very careful nursing, I see every prob.
~neglecting all the tenderer emotions, and the ability of his doing so."
bright, real charities of life, in order to guide    "Leave her to nurse him," said Sir Charles
their conduct by a rigid measure. In truth, Chevenix, " and he will soon be well enough.'?
she extended far her notion of duties, taking   After a few words more with the physician
in many things that the duty-mongers would and the lawyer, Sir Charles Chevenix was left
judge superfluous. Kindness, gentleness, meek- alone with Kate, who charged him with her
ness, patience, forgiveness, forgetfulness of in- letter to Louisa, and then proceeded to tell him
juries, candor, frankness, love for her fellow- the intelligence conveyed to lher by Mr. Mulcreatures, efforts to make them happy, absti- lins. Much to her relief, she found that Sir
nence from all that could pain unnecessarily, Charles was not altogether unprepared for
or wound by a light word, she looked upon as such tidings.
duties, full as much as truth and honor, justice   "I saw a rumor of the kind," he said, "' in
and probity. We are very apt to select our the morning paper, before I left the house toduties in this world, and that, too, with a par- day; but I would not tell Mary, my dear Kate,
tial eye. Kate looked to her Savior's words nor will I, unless at your particular desire, say
for those she was to practice, and tried at least any thing on the subject to. Miss Lisle. Misto perform all which his words inculcated or fortunes never come too late, my dear girl;
irmplied,                                   and when one must slay hope, it is better to do
After she had given way to her tears for a it at one blow than by slow torture.  I was
few minutes, she suddenly wiped them away. myself killed twice while I was in active serv"I must write to Louisa. I can not, I ought ice, and Lady Chevenix has since assured me
not to quit my uncle till he is somewhat better; that nothing could exceed the suffering she unbut perhaps I can see her to-morrow for a few  derwent during long alternations of hope and
hours. I must tell Sir Charles Chevenix, too, fear. Poor Lisle may yet be living, although
of poor Captain Lisle's unhappy fate, and beg it is certain that the London was run down g
him to break it to Mary-perhaps' to Louisa few nights ago by the Russell, and that a great
also. Lutwich, too, I must write to; he did number of persons perished.  Let us have acnot understand that incoherent note I sent. curate information before we say any thing,
But I had better not tell him all till the trial is and let us also trust that others will not carry
over, lest he should'do some rash thing in de- the news to poor Miss Lisle till it is fully conspair. God give me strength to go through all firmed."
this!" and, seeking for writing materials, she   Kate could not but own that her opinion cocommenced her task at once, and was still so incided with his, and Sir Charles went on in a
employed when the old butler and another kindly tone to speak of her own appearance,,servant brought her in some refreshment.   and to urge her to take care of herself. SheKate felt a loathing of the food set before had no heart to enter into any explanations,
her, however; and though she forced down a nor, indeed, to make any promises, for shefelt
mouthful, and took some wine when the-. en that health of body cbuld hardly be expected
were gone, she could do no more, and recom- when peace of mind was gone. She would fain
menced the writing of her letters. As she have asked questions regarding Lutwich too;
went.on, she heard more than one carriage but her voice failed her, and she was glad to
drive up to the house; but no one disturbed fly from  subjects which produced so many
her; and when she had concluded, she rang to emotions, by proposing to return to the chlt;,iinquire if she could return to the room of her ber of Sir Harry Jarvis.
uncle.                                        I must now confine Imyself to a brief sumlie has got the two doctors and the lawyer mary of the events affecting poor Kate: Malwith him, ma'am," said the butler; and Kate colm, which took place during the next fortwas obliged to rest satisfied. At length, how- night or three weeks; for, as the reader may
ever, just when the change had taken place in perceive, the work is waning to its close, and'the landscape which announces that day is this inexorable volume is nearly' at an end.
merging into evening, she heard steps ap- For the two next days, Kate tended her sick
proaching, and Sir Charles Chevenix, with relation with the utmost care and tenderness,
three other gentlemen, entered the room. Her passing the greater part of every day, and a
kind' friend took her paternally in his arms, part of every night, by his bedside. The weaand kissed her.                    - -       ied nurse thus had more opportunities of re" I wish you joy, my dear Kate," he said; pose, and, when the period of her watch came,
4~'you are now, beyond all doubt and cavil, the of fcourse performed her duties better.
heiress of my good friend Sir Harry; to the   In these circumstances, Sir Harry Jarvis
principal part of his landed estates in virtue of rallied rapidly, and on the third day of Kate's




. LAUREL WATER.                                     133
attendance the physician declared that all dan-   "Is it a bad kind, do you think, sir "' inquir_ger of a relapse had passed away. He even ed the nurse.:sat up for some hours in bed, and declared that   "I should think it may prove a much more
his rapid progress was entirely attributable to severe case than his," answered the physician,
his dear Kate; and, in truth, the joy of finding "1 from the sharp and sudden rigors I observed.
her might have something to do with it. The Upon second thoughts, I had better send annlorning of that third day, however, was a very other attendant, while you remain with Sir
anxious one for poor Kate Malcolm; for the Harry; for I should not wonder if violent desecond examination of Colonel Lutwich had lirium were to come on to-night, and he must
taken place on the preceding evening, and she not know that you are wanted. Go and see if
bad not heard the result. About twelve, a brief she is in bed, and I will come and speak with
note arrived from Sir Charles Chevenix, telling her."
her that he would be at Jarworth in the aft-   As he prognosticated, before eleven o'clock
ernoon, and informing her that, although the that night Kate Malcolm's consciousness of
principal witness was still absent, and the bulk'all around her was at an end, and she was ravof evidence was given in favor of the prisoner, ing in that frightful delirium which attends the
the magistrate had determined to commit him  worst class of typhus fever. Wild and horrible
-for trial.                                 fancies presented themselves to her mind, and'This, perhaps, is quite as well for Lutwich," all that was painful in her situation was consaid Sir Charles, in conclusion, 1"for no jury stantly present, aggravated by the imaginings
can convict upon such evidence, and, once ac- of a disturbed intellect.  She strove to rise;
quitted, he can never be troubled on the'sub- she raved of Lutwich and Sir Theodore Broughject again."                                ton; she theought she beheld the one at the
The last words were certainly someconso- place of execution, and the other standing'by
lation to poor Kate; but, nevertheless, the de- her bedside.  Gradually, however, with depression of her spirits seemed rather increas- creasing powers, the violence of her demeanor
ing than diminishing throughout the whole of abated; low, incoherent mutterings succeeded;
that morning. Her head ached violently, too; her long, delicate fingers picked at unseen oba terrible, overpowering languor spread over all jects on the bed-clothes; and, at the end of
her frame.  Slowly and with difficulty she nine days, she fell into a state in which the
dragged herself from place to place; and as flare of life hovered so faintly over the expire
she was sitting by the bedside of Sir Harry, ing lamp, that it was hardly possible to say
while the physician was speaking to him, a fit whether she lived or not.
of shuddering seized her which she could not   The physician himself had sat up with her
restrain. The eye of the medical man was' during the whole of that night.  It'was the
upon her at the moment; and, after having ninth; and the two nurses, as well as Sir Har.
said all he had to say to his patient, he camet ry Jarvis-now well, though weak, and aware
round and felt her pulse.                   of her situation-stood round her bed. The
His face was very grave while he did so; doctor's hand was on the pulse, expecting, in
but in the end, he said, in a quiet tone, "6 If truth, to find the faint, fluttering, hardly-peryou will take my advice, my dear young lady, ceptible thread cease to vibrate altogether.
you will go to bed. You have fatigued your- Suddenly, however, he felt a more distinct
self too much, and got a little cold. Sir Har- stroke, and then another.  "Go afid get me
ry can quite well spare you, for to-morrow I some brandy, Mrs. Ward," he said; "C here is a
shall let him rise f6r a few hours, and by time- slight reaction, which must be encouraged:
ly care you may save yourself from a very bad make haste!"
coldt."                                       The woman ran away with all speed, and
"Perhaps it would be as well," replied Kate, brought what was required.  A teaspoonful'who felt the impossibility of sitting up any lon- was poured between the dry and parched lips,
ger, "if my dear uncle can really spare me."   and an involuntary movement of the throat to
Sir Harry took alarm immediately, and sent swallow was seen; another spoonfiul, and anher to her room at once, asking the pliysician other, were given; and then the physician put
earnestly if he thought she was seriously ill. his hand upon the pulse again. Now, for the
But the man of healing was also a very prudent first time, lie looked at Sir Harry Jarvis with a
mran, and he replied according to' the usual smile.  "There is an improvement," he said;
form, 1"No, I trust not-only a little cold." "slight, but decided."
But when he quitted his patient's room, he   The old man made no reply, but, seating himcalled the nurse out, and with a very serious self, continued to gaze upon her unconscious
air inquired whether she felt herself able to go face for more than half an hour. "Does she
-through the attendance upon another case. Sig- not breathe more regularly'" he asked, at
nificant looks passed between the doctor and length, in a low voice.
the nurse; but the latter replied,'" I dare say I   "I think so," replied the physician, "and
can, sir. Do you think she has caught it?",wi&hh a fuller inspiration."
"Beyond a doubt," answered the physician;   "I think she is asleep," said the nurse; " you
"she was apparently depressed and agitated need not be afraid of waking her, for she got
when first she saw him, poor thing! and though si deaf yesterday evening I could hardly make'she seems to have had no fear; yet she has now  her hear."
the fever upon her. Remember, however, Mrs.   "Indeed!" said the physician, with a well-'Ward, not a word to Sir Harry!  If he in- satisfied look. "Now mix some of the brandy
quires, say that it is a severe cold; tell him she with equal parts of water."
is beter —any thing rather than let him know    Another quarter of an hour went by; the'for.sme days how ill she is."              physician felt the pulse frequently, and once or




134                    SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
twice put his ear down to listen to the respira- There were some voyagers setting out with oy
tion.  At length lie went round to thle other to nicet friends. and relatives, and love long
side of the bed, and laid his hand ilpon Sir Ilar- parted from.; and(l some:inStinct with hope of:ry's arm, saying, "Now, my (lear sir, yon hadl  brighter fortunes in) a distant land; anti soml
better retire to'rest.  A favorable change has moved with yearnings for. change; and some
certainly taken place; and I will relnain to  with high ambitions and aspirations for wealth,
watch her, and adlinister tile remedies myself, distinction, or renown.  But, except the watclh
till noon, wlien I have an engagesment."       upon the deck, almost all 1had1 retired to the hamIs she safe?" asked the old nman, fixing his. mock or the close sniall hertt,, to dream  tlat
eyes upon himn.                                they were in the midst of happy meet ings over
"I hope and trust she is," said the doctor; the wide sea, )r tlat.they were still in their
"'safety, however, is only' God's giving.  W\e own homes, or that they were reaping glory,
will do our best under his will.  Every symp-l or winning wealth,,or tasting some one or other
tom, however, shows a tendency to irrprove- of the sweet anid thitter fruits of life.
ment; an(l with care, I am very confident of    A few, however, of the passengers still paced
the result."                                    the dteck, mostly kc-epingr silence, as if in fever" Then see me before you go," said Sir Hiar. ence of the silnlin stillness round, and among
ry; and lie retired to give thanks and to take  the rest were two lwhlo had joined tile vessel
some repose.                                    just (on the eve of her sailing, who walled up, How is she now?" asked the old man, en- andl down vithl a steatly step. as if (ot ltnaccltstering  Kate's room at a little after eleven.,    tomed to the plank ipon tile sea.  But it there
6 Sleeping as calmly as an infatnt," replied  was deep darkness in the air, tllere was a more
the pllhysician; "the breathing, -egular and( oppressive night in thle heart of Reginald Iisle-;
calm; the pulse, slow and fuller: come and  f(or the star of hope halod gone out for him. and
see.  If we lose her now, it muust be our own  when lhe set his foot upon the ship's leek. lie
fault; but it has been the narrowest race be- felt as if lie had bidden adien to happiness fortween life and death I almost ever saw."        ever-as if lie went with all the ties lof humana
Life won it, however.                        affection broken, a lonely struggler with Fatro,
to firhlt the figlht with titter indifference to all
~=~-;~-~  ====things but iois country's honor, perlalps to win,
CHAPTER XLIII.                    perhaps to lose, perhaps to live, perhaps to die,
hut witllout one personal feeling oningling in
THskii was a ship sailing over thle dark sea. the motives.
Slowly it passed on through the waves, for the    Sometimes a few words passed between himwind from the northwest, tlhough not absolute- and his companion, hut tihey hoth soon fill int(o
ly contrary, favored  its progress but little. thoughlt again; sometimes  Re inald' would
There were no stormy billows around it, though  pause, and, leaning over the bulwark, gaze
the large, heavy swell of the Atlantic where it down upon the turbulent waters rushing by,
meets the waters of St. George's Channel heav- while hlis friend prolonged his steady course toed it up and down as if it had been a feather ward  the  stern, wrapped, like  htimself, in
on the bosom  of the waters.  Yet it was a thought, but lighter far in the tone of his medigoodly bark of many hundred tons burden, near-: tations; sometimes Brandrum would stop and
ly new from the ship-builder's hands, and lad- speak to him, and then, receiving a short reply,
en with a precious freight of human life.  She  would walk o0l again.
was not a royal vessel, but nevertheless armed   "  I wonder if the great Moose is living yet."'and manned as a ship of war; and with every  said the old officer, pausing for a moment in
sail set to catch the light breeze, she plowed  6one of his walks.
her way onward toward the Par West.               " Dead, most likely," was the reply; and on
The moon was still far below the horizon, he went.
for she rose very late, and there was a heavy:      Scalped, in all probability," Brandrum remass of low  cloud overhead; the feathery  joined, at his next turn.
fringe of that dark veil, sometimes descending    "I dare say he is," said Reginald;  and t.he9
in mist till it swept the sea beneath, made the colonel pursued hlis way.
lamp over the comp2ss glare like a hazy mete-:.   " I wish I had been born an Indian," said the
or. Yet, if the heaven (lenied its stars, the- colonel, a minnte or two after.
ocean seemed to have its lights; for ever and!   "You do quite as well without," replied Reganon, as the waves broke upon tile vessel's  inalol Lisle; "it were better to wislh one hlad
sides, flashes of fire, as they seemed, would  never been horn at all."
spangle the foamy tide, and suddenly disappear.    "Pooh, ptoh    my dear bovy," said his friend,
But still all was black, and solemn, and silent stopping; " all comes right i(0 the entld."
around; and there was somnethinr strange, anti    "By death," said the young oman.
dream-like, and unreal in finding one's self    "Halloo! steersman! you  lellow  at lho
borne thus stilly onward in the m1idst of tlhat wheel!" shouted Brandlrunm, tloe next moment,
inscruta.hle dalikness, over that wide and gloomy  in a voice that wxould have drowned a temlpest,
swell of waters.  The rush, and thle ripple, and'- what t he (levil is t lat upon our weal her-btowl
-'1e faint whisper of the wind amid the rigging    A mate who was upon watch caught a rope,
were the only sounds; and the sights were but and julnrped upon one of the bulwarks; bhit at'the phosphorescent sparkle of the waves, the  the same instant a bell was heard ringing, loud
glare of tlie lamp, and. a phantom-like form  and shlarp, at a little distance, and through the
walking here anti there upon the deck.          darkness of tlte imisty nlight, sweeping d(ow-l
Many were the emotions of which that shlip Irigllt upon them,. appeared, dim and gigantic,
had been the scene within the last few hours. like somle enortlous specter, the bows and bow



LAUREL WATER.                                         135,sprit of a large ship, towering high above the  that she might probally bring-to (as indeed she
deck of the ill-fated London.                   ditld), in order to pick up any of tile crew of the
L.oudl cries, cormrmands, shouts, oaths, were  London who miglht be floating albout.  But the
learel, and various things were done, or at- mist was still upon the sea, and the speed with
tempted, which would be tedious and useless  which the Russell was going before a fair wind
to rdescribe.  Toi vain-it was all in vain, or only  could not be stopped for some minutes.  Kegserved to render the disaster more fatal.      inald could see nothing of her.  He knew, howDriving on, tle mornster of the deep, becomr ever, by tile small'way the London had made
ing each second mnore distinct, came forward  throughll the water, and by the objects he had
against the weatller side of thle barque, which  seen just before sunset, that lie could not )e far
was now hrolught rigrht athwart bler.  The bow, fromn the mouth of the Bristol C(hannel, and lihe
sprit passed over the bulwarks-tore through  trusted that sorrme of the many vessels conshrouds and rigginlggrazed thie matin-m;st. tinually leaving or returning to the port might'Tihen came a violent concussion,  which threw  co;me within hail after dayilight.  Lwckily, the
lte stoutest mnen off tlleir feet, accomrpanied by  year was'iow so far advanced that night was
a loud, crashinlg soundl of breakirg timbers, and  not -of long  duration, and his sufferings were
ihen, hfeelingr to one Side, the deck was covered  less than they might have been, had the acciwithl water.                                   (lent occurre(l in the cold season of winter.  In
Th'lle  oise, the tumult, in both vessels w';as about an h!our, or a little more, the mist cleared
beyond descriptiong.  Ropes, btlovs, hen-coops, away, and( th!e stars shone out clear andl bright
were thrown from  the man-of-wxar as on she over head.  In another hour they grew paler,
drove in her merciless  course, cruishing the  andt a fai;nt gray liglht spread over the sky, shownierhant vessel ilown into the  waves.        inT Reginald wtlere tile east lay.  That was',iisle  Iisle! are you safe'" cried the  something gainerd-; but ihe now found that he
voice of Colonel Brandrum,   as lie was pulled  was drifting  to the southwest.  At lentrth the
up by a rope thrown from the larger vessel.    soin rose —,h, how  calmly and beautilhlly!
Lisle did not answer: lie looked round —a and he could perceive to the eastward a low
feeling  of despair was uipon him.'I' ere xwere grayish line against the burning sky.  It might
hundreds perishing to whom life was precious: he cloud, it might be land.  IHe looked around
why shoulil ihe struggle, to whom existence was to see if he had any companions in  filisfortune
a burdenl    He saw a half-clothed fitgure run- near.  There was a barrel floating not far off,
ning tlp from the cabin: it was the last thing  another hen-coop, and several pieces of timber,
lie beheld distinctly; the water dashed over heaving up and down upon the bosomn  of the
~him, lie was swept from his feet, and the next swell, but no living thing.  An oar, which had
moment felt hiniself sucked down as if' in the  heen swept out of one of the ship's boats, then
vortex of a wJlirlpool.  The ill-fated London  dlrifted by, and lhe contrived to catch it, arid
had gone to the hottotn, with all its freight of fasten his handkerchief to the end of it is a
hopes and fears, desires and aspirations.       sort of flag of distress.  He raised it up; but
The instinct of self-preservation, however. is he was exhausted and dispirited; the oar was
most strong.. For a few secondls the heavy  heavy, and he was forced to let' the endl fall
waves rolled over Reginald Lisle's headl; but again, and support itself upon the water., About
then lie rose, and instantly, without knowing or three quarters of an hour passed by without his
willing it, struck out with strength and skill. seeing any thing more, except some sea-birds
lie was an expert and practiced swimmer, and rapidly skimilming  along, close to thewaves, and
the impulse was not to be resisted.  Ere he then the swell heaved him up as on the ridge
had swam  half a dozen yards, and before he of a rounded hill.
had fully recoveredl thought, Ehi  hand struck    "A ship! a ship!" and now, with better
against something hard.  It was a hen-coop. hope, he raised his signal as high as he could.
and lie clutched it tight.  It rolled round with'I'The ship sailed straight upon her course,
his weight; bhut he held fast, and soon found coming nearer, it is true, for her path over the
means to make it serviceable. lJlntying his cra- waters led her across that along which he was
vat, he conitrived to bind himself to it in such  slowly borne, but at the distance of full half a
a manner as to keep his head and shoulders  mile.  He could see no change whatever, and
above water, without spending his strength in  he did-feel disappointment; but yet I must not
any fulrther exertion than was necessary to pre- ascribe to him feelings which lie did not experivent the c)op fi'orm  being rolled over by the ence, in order to give deeper interest to my
waves.  But the sea, as I have said, was riot narrative.  Reginald had not yet learned to
rough, and such s!nall objects as the man and value life so fully as to make the alternation ef
the f'rail wood-work that supportetl him were  hope and fear very powerful.  He watched the
raiseld upon the bosom of the long swell, hardly  vessel, indeed, as he rose and fell upon the
feeling it.                                    swell, with some degree of eagerness, but there
Reginald had now time for thought, anti het- are few men in his situation would have felt less.
ter feelings thad regained their influence.  The    Still there was a sensation of joy when lie'reembrance of duties came hack, the voice of saw a stdden chantge of her course, anid became
Faith and Hope was heardt in the midst off the  convinced, from various indications, familiar to
waters.  1' If  perish, it shall be by God's will, his eyes from  having frequently voyaged far,
not my own ftlitt," lie said.  "iThank Heaven, that he was seen and she was bringing-to.
]3randrum is safe!   I saiw him  hauled up the    In five or ten minutes more lie was on the
ship's side."                                   deck of a brig-of-war.; hut the language spoken
His next thoughts turned to the'chances of all around him was French.  IHe was well acdeliverance; and, first, he looked out fbr the customed to the tongue, however, and spoke it
v',essel which had caused the disaster, thinking  almaost as well as a native; for, during a long




.136                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHITON; OR,
residence in Canada, it had been the tongue    "Such a report might well get abroad, Capwhich he had principally been called upon to tain Donovan," replied Lisle, soinewhat coldly
use. Every thing that kindness and courtesy  "for I was several hours in the water, supcould do to comfort and restore him was done, ported by a hen-coop, and was at last picked
for the French were at that period the most up by a French vessel, in which I was obliged
polished people upon earth. A fierce revolu- to remain for several days. May I ask who
tion had not yet swept away, with a dark mass thought it worth while to give you intelligence
of evils, the courtesies and amenities of life. of the assumed fate of so insignificant a person
Many were the questions asked him, indeed, as myselfl"
and much was the talking round him; but,   Donovan colored a little, but replied, "It was
though his dress bespoke him a British officer, Hargrave, a servant in attendance upon Sir
and actual, though not yet declared, hostilities Theodore Broughton;" and seeing Reginald
were taking place between France and En- turn, as if to pursue his walk up and down the
gland, yet he was treated With the utmost suav- deck, Donovan, for some reason or another,
ity and politeness.  Dry clothes were found for walked on at his side.
him, food and wine were freely given, and the   It is difficult to escape from a fellow-passeni
commander of the brig promised to put him on ger on board a packet-boat without palpable
shore at the first French port, whence he could rudeness, and, although Lisle did not like the
procure a passage for his own country. He man, and would have been well content to be
was as good as his word, too; and, after a so- rid of his company, he was forced to endure it.
journ of three very pleasant days on board the   Donovan, for his part, mused for several
brig, Lisle was landed at Calais, and the next minutes; and then, seeming to have settled
day, without any of those lets and hinderances the, plan of his speech-for speeches, even in
which would occur in the present time to a per- common conversation, have often plans, as. the
son so circumstanced, he obtained a passage in reader learned in the heart may know-hlie said,
a packet-boat to Dover.                     somewhat abruptly, "Do you know, Major
A voyage across the Channel in those days Lisle, there is more that may in sorme degree
was not what it is now; neither had steam- be interesting to you in that letter than the
boats bridged the waves, nor had they egged on mere news of your own death 1"
sailing vessels to go at tolerable speed out of   " That is a subject in which I take very little
pure emulation.  Very often twelve mortal interest," replied Lisle, with a faint smile.
hours were consumed in going from the French  " What more, Captain Donovan 1"
to the English port, and sometimes nineteen,   "I am  here, informed;" replied the other,
as the writer has known to his cost. On the raising the letter, which he still held in his
present occasion the wind was fair but light, hand, "that it is one of the goodly schemes of
the day fine, the sea smooth; and Reginald  my young and troublesome ward, Sir Theodore
Lisle-tell it not to the lovers of pure romance, Broughton, to marry a young lady named Miss
or those who are fond of what is called, in ithe Catharine Malcolm, in whom, I believe, you do
present day, "powerful writing" - Reginald feel a great interest."
Lisle did feel, and did acknowledge to himself,   " Decidedly," replied Reginald; " but I shoutld
that it was much more comfortable to stand strongly suspect, Captain Donovan, that it is
upon a dry, secure deck in the free sunshine, not, by any means, one of her schemes to marthan to cling to a frail collection of planks and ry him. Make your mind easy upon that score..laths immersed in the wild waters, even though No such ill-assorted match is at all likely to
his'heart was still heavy, and his thoughts sad mar your views for your ward. I dot not bewith a bitter disappointment of the brightest of lieve, if he had the wealth of the Indies, Miss
all early hopes.                            Malcolm wopld condescend to marry Sir TheoHe was pacing the small space of deck, on dore Broughton, after having been insulted by
which were but few of the few passengers, and him as she has been."
perhaps he might be thinking of Mary Cheve-   "I am happy to hear you say so," replied
nix-perhaps he might ask himself if she had Donovan, in an altered tone; " it may save me
heard the rumor, which he doubted not had from some embarrassment, as I have business
spread, of his death-perhaps he might long to which calls me to another part of the country 
know if she had shed a tear or two over his and yet I should have thought it a duty to go
supposed fate, and had regretted what he could immediately to London, to stop such rash pronot but call the caprice she had displayed-  ceedings. I may, I suppose, depend upon your
when suddenly a man of gentlemanly appear- view of the case."
ance was seen coming up the companion lad-   "You may depend upon what I say being
der, and the next moment Captain Donovan my view of the case," anlswered Lisle; "and.
stood before him, gazing round with a look of more, my dear sir, you may depend upon itindifference. His eye passed over Reginald; that Colonel Brandrum —who must be now in
but, for a moment, either from absence of mind London, as he wfas taken into the vessel which
or some other cause, he did not seem to rec- ran us down-will oppose such a union as you
ognize him. The next instant, however, he have mentioned to the utmost of his power,
gazed fixedly at,him, and exclaimed, with a for, however light and careless hie tnay have
start,';Good Heaven! Major Lisle;! Do my seemed to you, le is one who values lhonor and!
eyes deceive me! Not two (lays have passed integrity above all wealth or station.  He htas,since I received this letter, telling me that you a right, also, to oppose, as he promised the
had been lost in the unfortunate London;" and young lady's father, on his deatll-bed, to be A
h.e produced from his pocket a soiled and ill- parent to his orphan child."
folded epistle, addressed in a very cramp and    "You are somewhat severe upon my youong
vulgar hand.                                 ward," said Captain Donovan; "but, havilig,




LAUREL WVATER.:137
these assurances, I shall not make myself un- if you desire to hear, and to ask forgiveness,
easy;" and, indeed, %uring the rest of the jour- too, for having given pain where I.coul least
ney lle seemed greatly relieved. But Captain have wished it. Though your trust in me,
Donovan was not a man to trust to any guar- Reginald, may be shaken from what has passed,
antees but his own observation.            I have now learned that I ought not to have
Befobre the boat reached the port of Dover, withdrawn my trust from you.
he had disappeared below the deck again, and    "But I am writing stiffly, coldly. Such are:
Lisle certainly did not look for him to hid him  not my feelings, indeed; and I will only furadieu. As the young officer was passing up to ther say, if it will give you pleasure, c6me toi
the hotel, however, something caused him to us to-night —not till after eight o'clock, for I
turn back his head, and he beheld his late trav- am  setting out immediately to break to dear
eling companion, with a pretty-looking French Louisa the tidings which we have somewhat
woman on his arm. He turned his head away abruptly, but yet kindly, received from Lord
instantly, and pursued his course.          Granby, and to tell her that the tears we haveDover was one of those places which, at the shed together were causeless. I have still
time I speak of, possessed a stage-coach tray- confidence enough in your generosity and youreling to and from London, and, as the money love to say,       Yours,
which was in Reginald's purse when the ship                        "MARY CHEVENIX."'
went down was not great in amount, he preferred the cheaper conveyance to the more
comfortable and solitary one. The coach set
out, on its return to the capital, about five            CHAPTER XLIV.
o'clock, and, accomplishing -the journey. in
eighteen hours, reached London at eleven on   A ST.ATE sometimes succeeds to typhus fever,,
the following day. Nothing occurred on the during which, for a few days, the convalescent
road worthy of commemoration, unless it were is plunged in utter forgetfulness of all that wentthat, while changing horses at Dartford, a post- before, with the exception of some scattered
chaise passed the vehicle on its way to town, facts, generally referable to the period of inand R1eginald, who had got out to relieve him- fancy. I knew a young man who, having beenr
self from his cramped position in the coach, saw  seized with the malady at one of the universiclearly that, notwithstanding all he had said, ties not long before the time appointed for his.
Captain Donovan was on his way to the great examination for academical honors, found, whena
city.                                       sense and consciousness returned, that he had
In London, Lisle's first visit was to the totally forgotten every word of Latin and Greek;
Horse Guards, where he was detained some and, in a still more extraordinary instance, a
time. His next was to his agent's; not to lady, born in India, and brought up till she was.
transact business, for to relieve the anxieties six years old by a Hindoo nurse, during an atof the dear who doubted, and to wipe away the tack of fever when she was twenty-seven, fortears of those who grieved, was his first care got entirely the English language, and for sevafter duty. But he knew that it must be done eral days could speak nothing but IIindostanee,.
cautiously, and therefore he wished to engage of which she had previously forgotten the very
Mr. —, in the first place, to go down and sound. Truly, we are fearfully and wonderfulstate to his mother and sister that some of the ly made!
passengers in the London had been picked up   Sudh was, happily, the case with poor Kate
at sea. The tidings that now met his ears Malcolm.  She remembered nothing during the
were a cold, cold welcome back to his native first ten days after the disease had passed its
land; and, by the feelings which he experi- crisis of the events which had immediately
enced himself, he learned, in part at least, preceded. She knew the persons around-her,.
what would have been the grief of his poor and spoke perfectly rationally of every subject
mother had she lived to hear the report of his brought before her; but not one particular fact.
death.                                      regarding her own situation presented itself toSad and heavily he took his way to the inn her mind during that period. In the mean time,
at which he had informed the secretary of the she recovered rapidly her bodily health and
commander-in-chief he should take up his strength.  The dim  and painfully-distressed
abode, and was somewhat surprised when the eye recovered its light and luster; the dry,.
waiter, to whom he was known, said, "Very  parched lip once more became red, and full,
glad to see you safe, sir. There is a letter for and soft; and a faint, rosy hue began to' spread
you in the bar."                            itself over the pale cheek. The warm sum",Some note, sent after I had set out," mer air breathing in at the ever-open windows
thought Reginald; and, taking it indifferently, seermed to bring healing upon its wings: she
he told the man to show him to a room. For'was permitted to rise, to walk about the room,
a minute or two he did not open it: it looked and to go into that adjoining. Sir Harry Jarvis.
like an invitation to a dinner or a ball; hut at was with her all day long; and the joy and aflength he broke the seal, and saw a few words, fection in the old man's face, as well as hiswhich seemed written to change the whole cur- cheerful conversation, aided not a little the efrent of his feelings. They were as follows:   forts of youth and a good constitution to cast
"I am bold, perhaps, to write to you at all, off all the remains of illness. SirCharles Chevbut it is with my father's permission.'I have enix came to see her, too, several times; butasked him what I ought to say, and he tells me he had wisely taken the instructions' of the
to say what I feel. I feel, then, that I have physician, and he followed them, by refraining
been wrong, but more deceived by circumstan- from every thing which could produce agitain,
cee than wrong; and I am ready to explain all, even of a joyful kind.




138                  STR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
At length the poor girl was permitted to drive and Kate's eyes fell again, and she sank into a
out with her u ncle, and then to walk for an hour profound reverie.
in the park; but, to the surprise of Sir Harry,   She seemed so calm, however, that Mary
her spirits fell as her health rose: for memory, thought she might venture to go on. "Culonel
with all its panes, returned; and (lark, and hard, Lutwich," she said, 1" gave my fatherthis letter
and clear to the eye of imacination appeared I for you, Mary, but the doctors would not allow.her sadl, ftiture fate, like the hurning  mountain  it to be delivered till to-day.  IRead it, dear
of the Eastern tales, at which were performed  Kate, if you like; I will sit here in the window
the human sacrifices to the God of Fire. rising  till you have done."
before the eyes of the intended victims as the    Kate broke the seal and read. The letter
annual ship bore them toward it. With clearer was a long one, and' it made the tears fall fast
remernhrance came also the longing to know  upon the paper; hut still she was otherwise
the fate of Lutwich.  She did not, indeed, im- calm, and Mary did not interrupt her by a word.
agine that the day of his trial could yet he come;,When she had done, she sat for some moebut she wished to inquire-to learn wllat others ments with the letter on her knee, and then
judged of the probable result.  Shle dared not turning to her friend(, she inquired, "'Where is.
ask, however; she feared even to pronounce  Lntwich now, Mary l I must write to hini, for
his name; and though she often resolved to) still it is clear he has either not received or not
make some effort to obtain information, yet the und(erstood mny last letter. Yet, I gave it to
powerfiul dletermination whlich, hand in hand  your father for him, Mary. I did not, indeed,
with affectionate gentleness, had dwelt in her ventllre to write the facts exactly, for fear the
heart while in health, had been enfeebled by ill- people of the prison should take it, and then
ness, and was not yet restored.               find means to fiorce the attendance of that man
i At length, one (lay, Mary; who had been to  at the trial; but yet I thought lie would cornsee her twice without ever mentioning any  prehend."
subject that coul(d recall the past, led the way'What makes you think lie did not, lea..
herself toward the topic uppermost in Kate's Kate!" asked Mary, approaching hler, an(i sitthoughts.                                    ting down by tiher side; "the letter was certain" I have a whole budget of news to give you, ly delivered
dear Kate," she said, ", but I am ordered only' He says here," rejoined  Kate. "that,
to dole it out to you by degrees, and we have through the generous kindness of the come
matter for several days' conversation.  Louisa mander-in-chief, he is permitted to serve in
would have come to see you with me, but she America; that he will be absent fior two years,
has been very ill, poor girl.  The false report and that during that time he will endeavor to
of Reginald's death, added to the grief she suf- prove that he is not unworthy of my love-"
fered before, quite overpowered her."           Kate paused, for tears drowned her voice;' "The false report," said Kate, speaking to but, after a moment or two, she added,'"Alas!
herself;  "thank God for that! arid Major dear Mary, he must have understood that, ero
Brandrum too, Mary, is he safe?  They were those two years are over, I must never even
in the same ship."                            think of him with love-must think of him at
"He was one of the nine who were saved," all as little as possible."
replied Mary: ", all but those who were on the    "He heard from my father your situation in
deck perished; but poor Colonel Brandrum's every respect, Kate." replied Mary, laying her
thigh was broken by the falling of a spar, as the hand upon that of her fair companion; i hbut, at
sailors call it, just as they were getting him  the same time, I knoxw tie was told that your
into the Russell.  He is doing well, however, fiiends would never consent to your keeping a
but can not move, or he would have been to promise so obtained, and which every one must
see you long ago."                            consider perfectly ihvalid."
"I must go to see him," replied Kate, thought-,  It is registered there, Mary," said Kate,
fully;,but now tell me, dear Mary-between pointing to the sky;  "I dare not break it.",you and Captain Lisle, is all explained?"      " But it was obtained by the most infamous
"' Yes, yes," replied her friend, with a blush means," urged Mary; " it was drawn from you
and a  nuile, "' all is explained, and he has quite  by compulsion and by a base conspiracy."
forgiven me; but I will not talk of my own self-   ", It was a compact, (lear Mary," replied Kate,',ish happiness, Kate.  I have other tidings for in a low, quiet voice,; "they have fulfilled their
you, which I know will be joyfill to you also, if part-Lutwichl is saved in consequence of it; I
yop are strong enough to bear them."          must not refuse to fulfill mine, when I called
"Oh yes," replied Kate, " any thing joyful God to witness my pledge.  I believe it was alwill do me good, Mary, and give me strength most wrong to tell you any thing about it; but
for that which will be more difficult to bear."   still, /Mary, I must be true, whatever I be: I
"Well, then, Colonel Lutwic.h is acquitted," dare not falsify my word."
replied Mary, fixing her eyes eagerly on her' Mary Chevenix was deeply grieved; litt slhe
young companion, in some doubt as to the ef- was a poor causist, and, though she still urged
fect of these tidings;- but Kate only clasped her several arguments aoainst her poor friend's
hands together, and with tearful eyes murmur- vow, they failed to convince.  Kate was neared, "Thank God(! thank God! Then the sac- ly silent, indeed, but it was evident that she
rifice has not been unfruitful."              was unshaken to the end of the r conference.
The next moment she looked up timidly,   During the; whole of that after afternoo:n Sir
and asked, ", Can you tell me, Mary, whether Harry Jarvis xwas peculiarly grave and thoughtthat man —that William  Havant-appeared  ful, anil on te fiollowing rrorning he annomunced
against him?"                                 to Kate that he must go to London for somao
"No, he did not," replied Mary Cheveniix; hoturs upon business. Kate saw  him  depart




LAUREL WATER.                                       1
With a feelinc alm,)st of dread; she knew not   Doctor Gamble chose hais part at once, ame
why, indeed, but still she felt unwilling to be obeyed, althougll he would lhave given all he
left alone.  She passed part of the morning in possessed to escape the eye of the guardian
reading, and part in writing, and then wander- rather than assist the ward: but by this time
ed out into the park, walking on slowly under the dominance of the more vehement character
the shade of the old trees. It was tan extens- was fully established over the more cunning.
ive piece of ground, and she had gone nearly  Raising Kate in their arms, they bore her tohalf a mile, wlien she turned suddenly, seeing  ward the house, which they had nearly reached
two strangers apparently watching her. Taking before Captain Donovan came up.
her way back toward the house, she hurried    That gentleman uttered not a word, but folher pace, hearing footsteps behind her; but she lowed them in silence, with a frown upon his
went so rapidly that she. was within sight of brow, and a sort of sarcastic smile upon his lip.
the windows and the drive when those wh!  Neither did Sir Theodore show that he saw
were following overtook her. She was a good him except by the firm shutting of the teeth todeal alarmed; but feeling that, if necessary, she gether, with a look of determination which was
could make- hlier voice he heard, she paused to not without its meaning.  Determination with
let the others pass, which they did, and then  a strong and permanent motive, however, is a
instantly turned.  Kate, as they did so, saw be- much more powerful thing than that founded
fore her a face which she could not easily for- upon a caprice or any transitory passion. And
get, and with a shudder recognized Sir Theo-. here let me remark, that all passions should be
"dore Broughtlon.                             classified exactly like verbs-transitive, pas"* Miss Malcolm," he said, biting his lip at the sive, and neuter, and the passive are the most
sight of feelings but too evident, " I have long dangerous and the most permanent.
been seeking an opportunity of speaking with    They bore Kate Malcolm to the door of the
you."                                         house, then, and Captain Donovan rang the bell;
Kate hesitated for an instant, and then re- but still, though they were necessarily detained
plied,'" It would not have been denied you, sir, a moment there, no one spoke. Doctor Gainif you had applied at the house of my grand- ble, indeed, did not at all like the dead silence
uncle, Sir Harry Jarvis."                     of his two companions; but it overawed him,
*I1 am aware of your newly-discovered re- and he did not venture to open his lips, notlationship," replied the young man, sternly; withstanding a constitutional tendency to lo"but that can make no difference in your prom- quacity. At length the butler and another servises to me, Miss Malcolm."                    ant appeared, and all was bustle, anxiety, and
Kate was silent, and lie went on: "4Do you consternation at the sight of Miss Malcolm
denyyour promise? Here it is in your own fainting.  She was carried at once into the
hand-writing.  I have fulfilled my part, and I library, however, and the footman was sent in
claim the fulfillment of yours"              haste for the housekeeper, as Sir Harry's reI do not deny it," said Kate, with a falter- turn was expected.every moment, and Dixon
ing tongue; and then giving a glance to Doctor declared that he would not, for the world, have
Gamble, she added,  I think I have been some- his master come back, and find his young lady
what deceived, however. Did not that person  so unwell.
come to me in disguise, representing himself as   His precautions were vain, however; the
a lawyer!"                                    old lady had just entered the room, and was, That has nothing to do with the question," giving her directions, and applying her apsaid Sir-Theodore, sharply; "your promise was proved restoratives, when wheels were heard
given upon certain conditions: you called God rolling up without.
to witness you would fiulfill it, if those condi-   The same dull silence had been maintained
tions were accomplished.  They are accom- by the three gentlemen who had carried or acplished to the letter, and I require you to re- companied Miss Malcolm  into the house, and
deem your word."                             to the housekeeper's inquiry of where they had." I beg you to let me pass, sir," said Kate, found her, and how it had happened, Sir Theofaintly, alarmed by his vehemence.  "I am ill dore had replied nothing.  The next moment,
P-I have been very ill: let ale pass to the. house; however, Captain Donovan looked at him sternyou can speak with me there. You shall not ly, saying, H" Now, Sir Theodore, I think you
be denied, I promise you."                   and I, and this gentleman, had better retire."
" I will have an answer. first," replied Sir   But neither his stern look, nor his words had
Theodore, vehemently; " you can say, Yes' or any effect upon the young baronet.  Sir Theo6No' there to a plain question.  Will you fulfill dore had got a step further in his progress. He
your word?"                                 was resolved to resist, and he merely replied,
"I will," said Kate, in a tone of despair; " Not yet, sir.1"
"'but let me pass, I beg. There is some one   The next moment Sir Harry Jarvis and Sir
corning. and I am not in a fit state-"       Charles Cheveniix entered the room, and, of
Sir Theodore and Doctor Gamble instantly course, were not a little alarmed and astonished
turned their eyes in the direction in which Kate at what they behell.'t'heir first care was, of
wvas looking, and both turned somewhat pale.  course, directed to Kate, who was beginning to
"Donovan, by -!" exclaimed the worthy  revive, and who, in a few minutes, was able to
tutor.  "I'll be off; d-n it, she's fainted, upon sit up. None of the party present when. he
my life!"                                   came in, except Kate and his own servants,'  Stay, sir!" exclaimed Sir Theodore. in a was known to Sir Harry Jarvis, and when satisvoice of thunder., I don't care if it be Dono- fled that his grand-niece was not seriously invan or the devil. Help me to carry her into disposed, he looked round with an inquiring
the house."                                   glance.




140                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
Sir Charles Chevenix, however, who was recollect," answered Sir Theodore, with a con-.slightly acquainted with one of the gentlemen, fused manner; "yes, I do now remember," he
and thought he recollected the face of another, continued; " she did not deny the, promise, and
began the explanation, saying, " Captain Dono- then said that she would fulfill it." 
van, Sir Harry Jarvis, This, if I mistake not,    "The devil she did!" exclaimed Sir Charles
is Sir Theodore Broughton "                 Chevenix; " and then I suppose she fainted, to
"The same, sir," said Sir Theodore, boldly.  show how pleasant she thought you."
" Andthis, sir," said Captain Donovan, with    Sir Theodore Broughton turned as red as fire,
a sarcastic stile, " is Doctor Gamble —as serv- and replied, "Pleasant or unpleasant, sir, she
iceable a knave as any in Europe."          expressed her willingness to fulfill her plighted
"For which excellent reason," replied Gain- word, and nobody has a right to prevent her."
ble, now goaded to retaliate, "you selected    "I beg your pardon, Theodore," said Caphim as the tutor of your ward."             tain Donovan, A" I have that right, and shall ex"Gentlemen," said Sir Harry Jarvis, "these  ercise it. You are my ward, sir, and although,.are harsh words. Kate, my dear, remain here  on the representation of several persons that I
-lie upon the sofa-do not rise yet. These  was keeping you too strictly, I have suffered
gentlemen and I will go into another room;" you to go for a month or two with the bridle. on
and, telling the housekeeper to remnain with her, your neck, to see if you were able to guide yourhe opened the door with ceremonious courtesy, self, depend upon it my arm is strong enough
and requested the rest of the party to follow him. to use that bridle, now that I find you are unAs they were entering the dining-room, Sit' fit for such liberty; and I tell you plainly that
Charles Chevenix whispered a word or two in  I will not consent to such a marriage.":
the old baron's ear, who replied, " That is clear;     Such a marriage!" said Harry Jarvis, turnI inderstand it all."                        ing toward him; "may I inquire, sir, what you
"'And now, gentlemen," said Sir Harry, could object to in a marriage with my niece's." pray be seated, for I have a few inquiries to  child, if I condescended to agree to her giving
make. I understand from my butler that Miss her hand to this young man? Methinks one
Malcolm, my niece, was brought in, fainting, of my family, and the heiress of my property,
by yourselves. Permit me to ask how this might find a somewhat higher match, if she
happened'?"                                  chose, than Sir Theodore Broughton."
I know nothing of the circumstances, sir,"    "I beg your pardon, Sir Harry Jarvis," reanswered Captain Donovan; "but, having  plied Donovan, who had turned singularly pale;
(heard of some rumors of proceedings I did not "I did not at all mean to utter a word that
approve of, I followed Sir Theodore and Doctor could be offensive to you, or the young lady
Gamble hither. When first I caught sight of  either. I merely wish to convey to my ward
them, they were talking to the young lady in  the information that, as long as my guardianthe park; but before I came up she had fainted, ship continues, he can contract rsch engageand they were carrying her t6ward your man- mnents with no one, and that I certainly shall
sion."                  7                    not consent to his marriage till he is of age.
"' I trust, young gentleman," said the master. Then lie must do as he pleases."
of-the house, fixing his eyes sternly upon Sir   "And then I will as certainly marry her as I
Theodore,, that you gave no occasion for emo- stand here!' exclaimed Sir Theodore Broughtions calculated to produce such a result.  I tonr, calling down awful curses on his head if
have heard, sir, of some proceedings on former he did not fulfill his word.  " If she have not a
occasions, which lead me to suspect that you  mind to be considered forever perjured and
have yet to learn what is due from a gentleman  faithless, she will keep her engagement," he.and a man of honor to a lady."              continued.  "I shall preserve that written
Sir Theodore was evidently a good deal em- promise carefully, you may all depend upon it,
-barrassed; but, after a moment's pause, he re- and the very day I am of age I will demand:its
-plied, in a bold and decided tone, i" Sir Harry  fulfillment. That day is not so far off, Captain
Jarvis, I shall not go back to the past, whatever Donovan."
you may think fit to do. On the present occa-   "I know it is not," replied Donovan, looking
sion, I have only done what I have a right to do, at him with a very strange expression; ~ till
and that, I trust, not in'a discourteous manner. then, you will obey me, if you please."
I came hither to see Miss Malcolm, and, meet-      A word or two more, Sir Theodore," said
ing her in your park, I reminded her of a prom- the old baronet; "I shall also object to,my
ise made by her some time ago to give me her niece marrying till she is of age. You will
hand. I have that promise in writing, and have  mark me, I neither give my approval, nor, ina right to require its fulfillment. I think mny  deed, express any opinion in regard to this
station and my fortune entitle me to aspire to  promise which you say she has made you; but
her, and that my demanding the accomplish- between this time and the period I have menment of a solemn pledge to which she called  tioned, I will talk with her fully on the subjcct,
God to witness can not be considered either, an  and determine my own conduct by her replies."
insult or an injury."                           If you doubt that she gave me the promise,
"You do her and me much honor, sir," re- and called God to witness that she would filfill
plied Sir Harry, calmly; "first, I will remark  it, ask herself," exclaimed Sir Theodore; "anid
in passing, that Miss Malcohn is not of age to  I must request you, Sir Harry Jarvis, in faircontract such engagements without my con- ness to her and to me, to tell her at onmqe that,
-sent, being her nearest relative and natural as soon as I am of age, whatever impediments
guardian; and next, sir, I will /request you to- be now thrown in my way, I will demand its
inform me what she replied to this application."  fulfillment." -
"Oh, she said several things I do not well   " I will," said the old baronet.




LAUREL WATER.                                     141' And pray add, on my part," said Captain    "The two or three centuries make' all the
Donovan,' that I shall oppose its fulfillment as difference," replied Sir Harry Jarvis.
long as I have any authority, and that I protest   "There is one thing to be said, however,
against any idle words of this young gentleman  which you have not considered, my good
being considered as an engagement."        friend," rejoined his friend, " and that is, that
" I will," replied Sir Harry, again, in a dry if it had not been for Lutwich, you would never
tone; and, rising from his chair, he stood with have had your pretty Kate to give or to refuse
his hands behind his back, as if to intimate that to any one, for he ferreted out all the facts;
the conference was finished.                and had it not been for his generous protection
The three gentlemen who, uninvited, had of her from the.infamous, pursuit of this very
found their way into the old baronet's house, young- man who now seeks to marry her, the
seemed' to hesitate for an instant in regard to charge would never have been brought againsttaking the hint; and, in fact, two at least of the him which has near cost him his life, and made
party were unwillinr to walk out, either indi- him so distasteful to you. In considering his
vidually or collectively, with the third. Cap- claims, you should never forget these two."
tain Donovan, however, was the most cool, and,   "Nor will I,". replied Sir Harry; "but I
after a momentary pause, he said, " Now, Sir much doubt, Chevenix, that IKate will ever be
Theodore, I think we mnay as well depart."   The brought to violate her word, however rashly
young baronet turned from him, bowed to Sir engaged, however shamefully wrung from her."
Harry Jarvis, and walked to the door; Sir Harry    "So thinks'Mary," said Sir Charles; "but
rang tile bell, and all three were ushered forth. time and proper representations, together with
"' You surely do not mean, Jarvis," said Sir the soft pleadings of love for another, would, I
Charles Chevenix, " to let that dear, excellent amsure, make her view the case differently."
girl fulfill so rash a promise, and one so scan-   "I do not think it," replied Sir Harry; "but"
dalously obtained, to a man whose whole con- now let us go and see her."
duct and demeanor'proves that lie is unworthy
of her."'
"4 My dear'Charles," replied his old friend,
A"I shall certainly oppose her so doing by every          CHIAPTER XLV.
argument I can use, when the time comes for
him to demand the fulfillment of her word, but,.  SIR THEODnOE BROUGHTON, Captain DonoE1
at the same time, I will not control her. There van, and Doctor Gamble walked along the road
are some people who would be rendered more which led through Jarworth Park from' the'
unhappy by being forced to commit what they house to the lodge. The scenery was very
consider a wrong action, than by any personal beautifil, as some of the park sceppnery in green
suifering they could endure, and I believe my Hertfordshire is. The trees were old and fine,
dear Kate is one of them. Then, on the other and so disposed along the road as to give every
hand, as I told you the day before yesterday, moment a new prospect, breaking in through.
this unfortunate attachmrent which has arisen some dell, or over some savanna narrowing tobetween her and Lutwich is one of the most ward its close; and the light of the afternoon
painful things to me that ever could have oc- sun, now somewhat more than half Way'in its
curred."                                    descent from the meridian, cast long, blue shadi' I would a thousand-fold rather see her ows over the turf, and purpled the lines of dis.
marry Lutwich than that young scoundrel;" ex- tant country seen above the tree tops in the
claimed Sir Charles, warmly; " independent of lower parts of the park.
his unprincipled conduct, his sullen, dogged    Not one of the three men saw that they were
character would make an angel miserable, while surrounded by beautiful landscapes. It is' one
Lutwich, with all his faults, is a gallant, bold, of the sad qualities of evil passions in'thi heart
open-hearted man, who never did a mean thing, to shut out from manh's faculties the-impression
though he may have done criminal things. I of all those bright things in which: a God of
would rather give her to him a great deal than  mercy created him to delight. Captain Donothe other."                                  van, calm, cold, and stern, was bulsy with
"Sowould I," said his friend; "but I would thoughts dark and terrible enough. ~ Sir Theerather give her to neither; and I think that, by dore, with many an angry feeling in his breast,
leaving her to suppose, for a time at least, that was trying to nerve his mind to resistance, but-,
shemis really bound to this Sir Theodore Brough- with that combination of willfulness and weakton, I may wean her heart of its attachment to ness which I have tried to depict, felt his courthe other."                                 age unequal to his will, and his firmness giving
Sir'Charles shook his head, and the old bar- way before the gloomy quietness of his guardionet proceeded: " Not that I dislike, or ever did an's demeanor. Doctor Gamble was preparing
dislike, Lutwich; far from  it, I conceived a replies, and, with that sort of impudent indifvery great regard for him, Chevenix; but still,'ference which formed part of his high philosofrom the inquiries we have both made, there is phy, was making up his mind to what could
very little doubt that he has not been suspected not be avoided, and resolving to have his reor accused wrongfully."                     venge in repartee for any blame that might fall
"Granted! granted!" replied Sir Charles upon him. He saw, too, that Sir Theodore was
Chevenix; "his is a Cumberland family, and dispirited, and perhaps to relieve him a little,
he has got a touch of the old blood about him. or perhaps merely to vent an overflow of imCarry him two or three centuries back, and put a pertinence, he said, when they had gone some
spear in his hand, and you have a border knight. five or six hundred yards in silence, "A very
He is not a bit worse than his ancestors, I am  pretty place this, captain, and a capital house.
sure."                                      A good cook, too, I dare say. There was'a




142                  SIR THEODORE BRPOUGITON; OR,
mighty savory smell.  I think the old gentle- tain," replied Gamble, with the most peffr..t
man mnight have asked us to dinner."          assurance;'" nothing more did I ever propose
",Be silent, sir!" replied Captain Donovan, or devise either; anid that would have suited
without turning his head; "he does wisely to  you, and him, and me quite vwellx I think.
ask neither fools nor blackguards to his table."  When he found that shie was under such care
Doctor Gamble was silenced for the tine;  and guardianshipa that a sham Inarriage was not
and they walked on to the lodge without an- to te dlone, it was lie himself determined upon
other word.                                   a real one, against all my arguments and perThere was a carriage standingnearthe gates, suasions.  I went down to Barnet with him
and, when the driver saw Captain Donovan, he  three or four days ago, quite as if I were going
touched his hat and opened the door., Be so  to put may neck into a halter instead of himself.
good as to get in, Sir Theodore," said Captain  But what is your objection to the young lady I
Donovan.                                      She will he immensely rich-is of very good.  My own chaise is-"                        family; and, I will answer for it, all the world
Gone back to Barnet," added his guardian, will say it was a very suitable match, and if
suddenly; 4' I discharged it."                they lay the arrangement of it at my door, will
Sir Theodore got in, Donovan followed, and  give me credit fbr more savoirjaire than is my
Doctor Gamble paused for a moment, as if not due."
quite sure whether to enter or not.             There were two or three little touches in the
"' Come in, sir," said the stern voice of the  tutor's speech which Captain Donevan did not
officer; "we shall want you;" and the tutor like. He felt a sort of indefinite dread of his
mounted the steps also. The driver shut the  tool; but, at the same time, he was fully redoor, and, at a nod from Donovan, drove on  solved that, he should be separated from  his
without further directions.                   young ward, and lie replied. in an indifferent,The determination shown in all these prep- tone, "All that may be very trie, Doctor Gamaarations, the coolness with which all his pur- ble; and the world may praise you, anal!ilame
poses and plans had been prearranged, and the  me, if it pleases.  You should be aware by this
still, dull silence which he maintained, over- time, I think, that I amn very indifferent as to
powered fobr the time the last efforts of the  other people's opinions of ilny cond(itct.  One
spirit of resistance in his ward's heart.  Tile  thing, however, nobody can deny, that it was
carriage rolled on during that long twelve miles your. duty not to have countenance(l such a
without a single word being spoken, and stopped  transaction without commumlicatina with me,
at length at the hotel where Sir Theodore and  and receiving my sanction; therefiore your suhis tutor had resided in London.  At the top  perintendence of Sir Theodore is at an end.
of the stairs, near the door of the young bar- There is a somewhat long account to settle beonet's sitting-room, they found Zachary Har- tween us, as I fiurnishied you with a large sum
grave and the other servant. both equipped for of money. You will lie goodil enough to render
a journey.                                    a statement olf its disburselmelit to my lawyers,
6"Are all the things packed up, Hargrave?"  where you hlave had business befire nrow.
asked Captain Donovan.  -                       "I will troublle you, on my part, for my half-' Alk but Doctor Gamble's, sir," answered  year's salary, captain," said the tutor, unblushthe man, with a grin; "I did not like to med- ingly; " and I will put down the items of acdie with them."                               count with my usual punctuality.  As to the
i "Quite right," said Captain Donovan: " order large sumn of money you mention, it is all gone,
the horses, and let me have the bill;" and, with the exception of seven pounds three and
walking into the sitting-room, he said,-" Sir sixpence.  I liave voucllers for all my dis)burseTheodore, I intend that you shall go with me  ments.  It has not gone in fuinttis; but, as the
into Warwickshire.  If you have any prepara-  base and perpendicular of a triangle are always
tions to make, you had better, perhaps, do so, more in sum than the hypotheneuse. so do two
as we set out in a quarter of an hour."       persons expend more than one person, espeThe young man glared at him, but after a  cially in sceing a little of life, as you aptly and
momentary struggle with himself, made no re- expressively termed it."
ply, and left the room.                         Captain Donovan gazed at him with a strong
"And now, Doctor Gamble," continued Don- inclination to knock him  down; but, feeling
ovan, "a few words, and only a few words, with  that to do so might be dangerous, he merely reyou."                                         plied, ", You have let him see too much of money
"Quite at your service, captain," replied the  as well as life, I am afraid, sir. However, give
tutor, in the easiest possible tone.  -       me pen anti ink, and you shall have a draft for
"Well, then, sir, you must be quite, aware  the sum you claim. The account of your exthat, after what has happened," said Donovan, penses must be given in,.as I have said. for I
"'you can -be permitted to reemain no longer shall have to account hereafter; but pray rewith Sir Theodore Broughton."                 member that the investigation of the account
For oheying your directions, I suppose, sir," may be strict or otherwise, according to ciranswered Gamble, with a sarcastic smile; 4you  cumstances."
told me to let him see a little of life, and I have    The pen antl ink. were given, the draft drawn,
let him see a little."                        and a significant look interchanged- between
"A  little too much, sir," replied Captain  Captain Donovan and the tutor before Sir TheDonovan; "but, whatever I said on that score, odore Brouglhton returned.  There were then
I did not tell you that I wished a boy not twenty  some bills to lie paid, andl a few other affairs to
to marry.  Now, sir, can you deny that you  he settled; and at length, witht a ceremonious
proposed and devised this marriage?"         air, Donovan begged hIis ward to proceed to the.
"~A sham marriage —a sham marriage, cap- carriage.




-r- -r  fLAUR EL WATER.                                    143
Sir Theodore felt bitterly what it is to act utmost the dullness of a country life. Roani
under compulsion, and perhaps resolved to take where you will within twenty or thirty mtiles
his revenge some day; hut, in the mean time, of the house; bring what guests home you may
his detestation of his guardian revived a feel- think fit, and endeavor to enjoy yourself and
ing, if not of regard, at least of companionship recover your health by prudence and mod(eratoward his tutor; and, going tip to him, he tion. I neither wish to act the partof a tyrant,
shook hands with him, saying, in a low voice, nor even to let the necessary authority wliich
"Write to me, doctor.  I suppose I am not a I must exercise be visible to the eyes of others
state prisoner, and mlay read my own letters. in a manner painful toyourself. The task, howLook after Kate, and let me hear all about her, ever, of preventing it from ever becoming so,
especially if there be any talk of her marriage. rests principally with you. I will take care to
At present, perhaps I had better submit; but interfere a's little as possible; bhut when I doit wants but a slight motive more to make me even by a very slight hint-be assured that it
break my bonds. Where shall I write to you?" is upon fill consideration, and with a determi"Good faith! my dear Theodore, that is a nation nttt to be changed. Then yield with a
difficult question," replied Gamble;  "I am like good grace, and no one will ever see that I inMilton's Adam,'The world is all before me terfere at all.  Even that restraint will soon
where to choose.' Well, address Post-office, be over, and it is as well that the intervening
Charing Cross.  That is as good as any other. time should pass pleasantly to us both."
I trust, Captain Donovan, that in seekiing for a   This was much better than Sir Theodore
new appointment, I shall not want your recori- Broughton had expected, and he soon began to
nendation!"                                 try the extent of his liberty.  To the sports of
"On any application. I will not fail to do jus- the country, in which he had always indulged
lice to your merits," replied Donovan, with one with excess, he added many of the vices and
of his faint sarcastic smiles.  "Goodl morning. evil habits which lie had acquired in London,
Doctor Gaimble;" and he descended with his and that in a manner which could not fail to
pupil,to the carriage.                        reach his guardian's ears. Captain Donovan
No delay was made upon the road. Dono- took no notice.  Sir Theodore would be absent
van traveled all night, and the next day Sir from home all night —it called for neither inTheodore Broughton found himself at his oll quiry nor remark.  I-le brought home loose
ancestral hall.  How dull and gloomy every  and riotous companions-Captain Donovan exthing looked! How ldiffrent from that which  prc(ssed no dissatisfaction, but retired from table
it appeared before! Very few words hadl passed  at his own hour, and left the rest of the party
between him and his guardian on the journey, to follow their course.
and the young gentleman fancied that the same    Indeed,, the habits of that gentleman seemed
cold, sullen demeanor was to last; that Donou   a good deal changedl. Ha was often, it is true,
van, lispleased with all that had occurred in atbsent from  the house for several days; iut
London, was resolve(l to resume the somewhat when he was there, he slowed himself studityrannical sort of sway which had been exer- ous, thoughtful, frequently locked tip in his own
ciaed over himn  before. Buit he was mistaken. room for many horurs. reading curious ol0( books,.
The dinner was serveil at the usual hour; the and making various chemical experiments.
wine circulated in mioderation; conversation, Thus passed nearly a year, and summer had
broken, but not altiogether grave, succeeded;  returnied again, when the events took place
and at length, after filling his own glass andl which shall be recorded in the following chappushing over the decanter to his ward, Captain  ter, premising merely that Donovan had been
Donovan said. "Now, Sir Theodore, to Iprevent absent during a whole week, and that during
all misunderstanding, I think it better to state three days of that time Sir Theodore had also
at once the manner in which I expect that we been unseen in his own house, though he had
are to live during the time that you continue neitherservants nor baggage with him.  When.
under my guardianship.  As you may see, I he returned, he looked ill and harassed, and
am not satisfied with what has taken place in sent for the apothecary fromn the neighboringr
Londoni, and I am consequently resolved that town. Some medicine was brought for him the.you shall stay here under my own eyd till you same evening, but he did not take it; and,
are of age. You have injtured your health, done after inquiring if any thing had heen seen or
no good to your reputation, and may, in some heard of Captain Donovan, he drank somewhat
degree, have corrupted your mind; but, I trust, more wine than was perhaps wise, and retired.
not much. These results I in some degree an- to bed.
ticipated; but foolish and impertinent people
thought fit to comment upon my conduct in
keeping you in the country, anti not being willing to adhere obstinately to my own opinions,             CHAPTER XLVI.
I permitted you to make a trial, which has ended
as I expected.  I do not pretend, however, to   IN a small room, hot to suffocation, although.
treat you as a' boy, after youi have been acting the windows were all open, was seated Captain
as a.man; and I shall neither watch your ac- Donovan, with an elderly man, curiously dresstions in small things, nor attempt to restrain  ed, considerin' that it was the middle of the
them therein. I shall only interfere in matters (lay, for lie had on an oult, worn. and very dirty
of real importance, but then I expect my au- dressing-rown, v;ith his unpowdered gray hair
thority to be respected.  You are fiond of shoot- tied with a greasy black ribbon behind, slippers
ing, -hunting, fishing. The seasons for those on his feet. and the gray stockings which covamlusements rapidly succeedl each other, and I ered his legs slipping (lown in large wrinkles
hav0 no wish to prevent your enlivening to the firom under the unbuttoned knees of his drab




144'               SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
breeches. His eyes were keen and sharp, but Jarworth Park to renew his applicationfor t-he
there was a somewhat wild look of abstraction  hand of Miss Malcolm. Sir Harry Jarvis is'
in;their glance which was hardly sane. The  very desirous of having an interview with Cap.
room contained little furniture beyond book- tain Donovan upon this subject, as Sir Theoshelves, furnaces, stills, retorts and crucibles; dore now states that he is within two months
and while Donovan poured over the pages of  of being of age; and Miss Malcolm, notwithan old book, the other, who seemed the master standing every argument of her friends, and,of the house, busied himself with what was her own strong disinclination to the alliance,
going on in three of the small furnaces.    seems to feel herself bound by the promise she.,
",You'll kill yourself, Amos, if you go on this so rashly made. Sir Harry Jarvis would proway," said Donovan, looking up. "I.can not pose to wait upon Captain Donovan, but the
think what a man of your competent fortune  state of his health does not permit him to travel.",can want, stewing yourself to death in this way,   Donovan held the paper in his hand motionunless it be to arrive at the happy cbnsumma- less for a moment or two, and then walked-'tioh of putting yourself out of the world."  once or twice up and down the room.
i' No, no," answered the other with a laugh;   "He will have it," he said, at length; "he:
- if I desired to do that, I would use the laurel will have it;" and, tearing the letter to pieces,d
water we were talking of some time ago. It is he threw it under the grate.
the speediest, quietest, most comfortable sort   A woman-servant entered to light the fire,
of death in the world; and then people would  saying,,,I have not kept it in, sir, while you -
not have an opportunity of thrusting a stake  were gone, for it has been so hot."
through me either, for it leaves no mark.   "The room feels chilly to me," replied DonoHave you found what you want? If you do  van; "'you had better light it. I will go and
not find it under the essences, look for the word  walk up and down in the sunshine till it is done.
rosemary in the index. Perhaps people may  I have somewhat overheated myself with hard
call itrosemary water; then you will come upon  riding;" and he went out.
it just after the laurel water. I'll get it for you."   Instead of geing into the sunshine, however,
" I've got it-I've got it," said Donovan, turn- he betook himself to the shadiest part of the
ing over some pages hastily. "I wish you  gardens, and walked slowly up and down, a
would lend me this book, Amos."            walk bordered with shrubs of the cherry-laurel.
"'To be sure," replied the other, "though  From time to time he picked a leaf and put it
you're but a dabbler in science, Donovan. Put in his pocket, looked carefully around, and reit in your pocket; but send it back, mind;" and  sumed his walk. At length he turned back to
he applied himself to his furnaces again.  the house again, and, re-entering the little room
i, Well, I must go," said Captain Donovan: which he had appropriated to the purposes of a
"  can not stay in this infernal hot place any  study, locked the door behind him. He then
longer."                                   took down from a shelf by the side of the fire a
The other laughed, and they parted.      little portable still, put tihe laurel leaves into it,
Donovan proceeded to the inn of the little  added some water, and placed it securely over
town where this scene took place, mounted his the flame. When this was completed, a fit of
horse, and rode away. He went very quick; indescribable agitation seized him. He trembut he did not use any great caution in riding, bled violently, sat down in a chair, placed his
for his mind seemed very busy with some strong  hands before his eyes, and opened his waistpreoccupying thoughts, and his horse twice  coat, as if for air. After a time lie became
stumbled, and nearly fell. Two or three times, somewhat calmer. " No need of using it when
too, as he rode along, he murmured, " In two  it is made," lie said: " there can be no harm in
mionths-ay, in two months."                maki-ng it;" and, rising, he went out, locking
~IHethus journeyed on for more than five-and- the door behind him, and leaving the still over
twenty miles, and at length reached the house. the fire.
of Sir Theodore Broughton about three o'clock    As he was crossing the great hall toward the
in the afternoon. After giving his horse to a  drawing-room, Sir Theodore came in; and,
servant, he inquired if the young baronet was going up to him at once, DI)onovan shook hands
atliome.                                    with him, saying, "The servants tell me you
"iHe is out just now, sir," replied the man; have not been well; and you do not look it at
" but'he came home yesterday, looking very  all. Really, my dear Theodore, you must take'
ill, we all thought."                      care, or you will seriously injure a constitution
"Indeed!" said Donovan; "not seriously  naturally strong."
ill, I hope?"                            i Pooh, pooh!" said the young baronet, " I
"Oh no,' sir; he is looking better to-day," shall soon be better."
replied the man; " but desperate cross."     "Have you taken the medicine the doctor', Let me have'a fire lighted in my little room,"  sent 1" asked Captain Donovan.
said Donovan; and thither he retired. There    "No; I could not get it down, it was so
were two letters lying on the table, and Captain  nauseous," replied the young man; "but he
Donovan took one up, read it with an indiffer- has sent me something better to:day; and I will
ent air, and threw it down. The other, though  take it to-nmorrow."
much shorter, seemed of more importance, for   "Upon your word?" asked Donovan, with a
it made his eye gaze eagerly, and his lips smile.
quiver. The few words it contained were to    " Upon my word, I will," answered Sir Theothe following effect:                      dore, laughing.' "My stomach is out of order,
"i Sir larry Jarvis presents his compliments that is all; but I will take it. Indeed, I have
to Captain Donovan, and begs to inform him  put it on my dressing-room mnantel-piece oa.
that Sir Theodore Broughton has been again at purpose2'




LAUREL WVATER.                                  145
But little more passed at that time. Sir rose with the stimulus. His guardian remonTheodore went his own way, and Captain Don- strated, in no very domineering tone, saying
ovan returned to his room; but there the agita- that he had better abstain, for a few days at
tion he had, before suffered seemed to seize  least, till he was in better health; but the servhim again. Once he took the still off the fire, ants were in the room, and Sir Theodore, aland then he put it back again, and then walked  ready bold on his approaching emancipation,
up and down fobr nearly half an hour. At length  answered sharply, "I shall drink as much as I
he examined the receiver, into which some- think proper, sir."
what more than a wine-glassful'of liquid had    "Very well-kill yourself, if you like," said
come ovdr.                                Donovan, and shortly after dinner left him, and
"' Where shall I put it?" he asked himself. went to walk in the garden. He was no longer'"I wish I had a vial."     -             agitated, but a dull and somber gloom seemed
Then, after pouring the liquid into a tumbler, to hang over him. His eyes were bent upon
he quietly walked out of the room, looked into  the ground, his hands clasped together behind
the library, where Sir Theodore was lying on a his back, and from time to time his lips moved,
sofa apparently asleep, and mounted the stairs. as if he were internally discussing some dark
When Captain Donovan returned to his study  question. "Either he or I," he said, and; then
with the same noiseless step, he found the door walked on again; then paused and murmured,
ajar, and Zachary Hargrave.standing by the ta- "If I could get rid of that bond-Ay, but how
ble with the tumbler in his hand.         can that be done!" and again he resumed his
Donovan snatched it from him instantly, ex- perambulations.
claiming, vehemently, " You have not been   It was nearly dark when he returned, to the
drinking that l It might-good-Heaven! it house, and his first question was in regard to
might-"                                   Sir Theodore.
"No, no, sir," replied the man, " I have not   "He is out with the coachman and Brompdrank any. I thought it was dirty water, and  ton, sir, fishing," replied the footman, who was
was going to carry it away."              in the hall.
"Never touch any thing in my room," said   "What, at this time of the evening!" exDonovan, gravely; "you do not know what claimed Donovan; and then added, after a
maight be the consequences. WMhat do you  pause, "He will kill himself, that is clear. He
want'"'                             is greatly changed. His death would not sur", Why, I wanted to speak with you about.prise me any day."
Sir Theodore, sir," replied Hargrave.        He then went into the drawing-room and orDonovan pointed to the door. The man shut dered coffee, and there he sat till the young
it, and proceeded to say, "He was dreadful an- baronet's return, which did not take place till
gry with me this morning, sir, though, Heaven  past nine.  The servants heard some high
be praised! he had no cause. I have only  words passing between guardian and ward;
humbly endeavored to open his mind to grace  and shortly after Sir Theodore went to his bedin regard to little-"                     room, and ringing, ordered a tumbler of mulled
"Well, well, never mind what you have wine to be brought him. He was evidently
done," cried Donovan, impatiently;,"tell me not in the most placable humor;' and when
what he said to you."                     Hargrave took him up what he had demanded,
"Why, sir, he said all manner of things," he asked him why the devil he ever came into
replied the man: "he abused me for a full his sight.
hour, accused me of betraying him to you, and    "Did I not tell you this morning," exclaimed
told me that,'as soon as he was of age, he the young gentlemen, " that you are a spy and
would not only kick me out of the house, but an informer, a liar, and I dare say a thief into
punish me for all those little failings off into  the bargain l Get out of the room this instant!"
which the weakness of the flesh betrays every    The man looked at him doggedly, and walked
man."                                     away muttering.
"Upon my life, he is likely to do it, too," an-   "No insolence, sir, or I will kick you down
swered Donovan. "Had I the means, Har- the stairs!" exclaimed Sir Theodore, vehegrave, I would protect you as long as I lived; mently; and then, as Hargrave left the room,
and I will do what I can for you, whatever hap- he added to himself, " By Heaven! when I am
pens; for what Sir Theodore imputes to you as of age, I will teach these scoundrels a different
a fault to him, was no more than a duty. When  story."
did he say all this l?"                     Captain Donovan remained in the drawing46Why, a few hours ago, sir, when I took  room for more than an hour after his ward had'the medicine up to his dressing-room," replied  left it, walking up and down incessantly. He
the man.'   then went to the door of his study; but he
", Well, leave me now, Hargrave," answered  seemed to fear that room, and, turning back
Donovan: " it is near dinner-time. I will think  upon his steps,'seated himself before a window
what I can do for you. If I were master here, not yet closed, and gazed out toward the starry
you should have a different prospect."    sky. They have voices, those bright stars, and
The man withdrew; but, for some reason or speak to the human heart, if we will but seek
another, he remained close to the door, with  counsel of them-voices more sweet, more
his head bent down, and his eye very near the powerful, more true, than those which astrolokey-hole.                                  gers of old ascribed to them..The power and
Shortly after, Captain Donovan joined Sir presence of divinity is spoken' by them, if not
Theodore Broughton,' and at dinner appeared  to crush, to overawe man's passions; and deaf
calm and sedate, as usual. Again the young  must be the ear that will not hear.
man drank a great deal of wine, and his spirits   Donovan gazed, and, whatever was in his




146.               SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
thoughts,, the fit of agitation seized him again. moved across to the fire-place, where stood the
" What am I to do?" he murmured, as he stood bottle of medicine which had been sent that day
in the midst of that large old room; "what am  for Sir Theodore Broughton.  The man was
I to do?"' and then lie walked up and down, with cautious, however, and he examined the bottle:
his hand playing nervously with the seals of his well. It was labeled in the same'manner as
watch. At length he stopped suddenly and that which he held in his hand, "The draught
said, "No, no, no!" and, turning sharply away,' for Sir Theodore Broughton. To be taken be~he lighted a candle, and walked straight to the fore breakfast."  But the color was very differ.
little room where he had passed so much of the ent; and, drawing out the cork; he poured some
aftemroon.                                of the medicine into the other bottle, till he had
When there, he took down a vial from the filled it tip.  Then substituting the one for the
shelf, which had not been there when Hargrave other, he was going away; but, rememberingthat
left him alone in the room. The tumbler on there had been two bottles there in the morning,
the table was empty, and the liquid it had con- he rubbed his head, and approaching a drawer
tained was new in the vial. He held it up to in the dressing-table, he drew it out, saying to
the lightj uncorked and- smelled it, and then re- himself, "He used to have a number here."
placed it on the shelf. Then emptying the still   What he sought was easily found; and,
of the laurel leaves, he cast them upon the fire, placing another vial by the side of the first,: he
and watched them till they, were consumed. crept quietly out of the room again. His next
He next; from a basket in the corner of the voyage was to the kitchen once more, where
room, half filled the still with quicklime. That he emptied and washed the bottle he had taken
done, he turned to'the door-paused-looked at away, filled it with-clear water, and placed it in
the vial; and then murmuring once more, "No, Captain Donovon's study.
no!" hurried away and went to bed.          " Now," said Zachary Hargrave, as he threadThe house became silent- and still in about ed the manifold windings in the old house back
half an hour; but at the end of a quarter more, to his garret, " nobody can say I've poisoned
the door of the little study opened, and a figure him. If he takes it, it is his doing, not mine;
entered, bearing a- candle.' It was not that of and we're quit -of him —the nasty young verDonovan. With a still, quiet step, moving on min!"
his stocking' stoles, it was Hargrave -who en-   With such comfortable reflections, he lay
tered.                 down and slept quite quietly. Nor let the read"4Ay," he said, "the bottle is there!  He er marvel; for none of us ever commit awrong
hasn't done it. He'd like, I'm sure, but he's act without seeking, if not finding, some such
afraid. I wonder if the stuff he poured in is evasion of the charge of conscience.
poison, after all! I'll soon see;" and, -taking   On the following morning, Captain Donovan
the bottle down, he carried it to the kitchen. was down;early, and ordered his horse, saying
There was a large fire in the grate, before he should ride out for an hour before breakfast.
which, stretched at her ease, lay a large cat, A minute or two after, he heard Sir Theodore's
which rose as the man came near,' and rubbed bell ring; and he asked one of the servants if
herself against his legs. After looking about he had seen the young baronet.
in various places,'he found a jug with some ": "Not yet, sir," replied the man. "I hope he
milk in it, and, pouring a portion into a saucer, will be better this morning."
added about a teaspoonful of the liquid from the   "I do not think he is well at all," replied Cap-'
bottie, and set the mixture down before the cat. tain Donovan. "' Do you remark how his color
She began to lap it eagerly, but stopped.  is changed 2 It would not surprise me at all if' Ay, it's poison, sure enough," said Har- he did not recover."
grave to himself; "they say cats won't take   In the mean while, the under-footman had
poison, though dogs will, sure enough."    gone up the stairs to the young baronet's room,
The next moment, however, the animal re- and Captain Donovan walked leisurely toward
turned to her drink, and had lapped up nearly the stable-yard to mount there. He had got
the whole, when suddenly she drew back, stag- one foot in the stirrup when'the man, who had
gered once or twice, as if she were drunk, and gone out, came running up, exclaiming,' For
then the hind quarters dropped apparently para- Heaven's sake, stop, sir! Sir Theodore is very
lyzed. An instant after she fell over upon her ill!"
side, and after two or three convulsive move-   "What is the matter!" demanded Donovan,
ments expired.                             pausing instantly.  "What'ails him I"
"Ay,: pussy, you've had enough, I think,"   " I don't know, sir," replied the man: " he's
said the man, with a grin; " and hang me if he all gasping, and heaving, and foaming at the
sha'n't have the rest. Stay! I must wash out mouth."
the saucer first; and he applied himself to put   "An epileptic fit, I -suppose," said' Captain
every thing in the same order as that in which Donovan, turning toward the house. "You,
he had found it.                          Thomas, mount the horse, and gallop off for the
MHe then walked quietly up stairs. At the doctor;" and, without further pause, he returntop of the second flight, the first door was that ed and ran up stairs.
of Sir Theodore Broughton's dressing-room,   There were two women-servants in the young
and it stood ajar.." That is a piece of luck!" baronet's roomn, called by the footmanz in his'first
said the scoundrel to himself.            alarm, and they exclaimed as Donovan entered,'Nevertheless, as he pushed it open, itecreak- " Oh, sir! the stuff Thomas gave him out of the
ed upon its hinges; and he started, prepared to bottle has killed him."
run down stairs.  All was silent, however;   Donovan ran hastily to the side of the bed,,and, after waiting a moment or two to listen, but there was now nothing but a corpse before
he entered the room. Treading on tiptoe, he him. The eyelids moved a little, and there was




LAUREL WATER.                                    147
a convulsive movement of the chest, but the his broken leg, which incapacitated him for actspirit had departed.                       ive service, he would dress himself as the Rav"Let me see the bottle," cried Donovan; enous Crow, and dance the war-dance in honor
and, taking it from the maid's hand, he instant- of Reginald's marriage. Lady Chevenix, now
ly recognized the smell of laurel water. A cold, quite charmed with her son-in-law, was all urchilly, death-like feeling seized him. All his banity and kindness; and though she did not
calmness and firmness forsook him in a mo- comprehend Colonel Brandrum's character in
ment. How could it'have been given to him? the least, declared he was highly entertaining.
Who could have given it? Could he himself Louisa, even pale, fragile Louisa, felt her genhave done it in his sleep? A thousand such tie heart expand with joy at her brother's hapmad questions suggested themselves to his piness; and Kate and Mary looked into each
mind in a moment. Conscious of what he had other's eyes, and whenever a sad thought remeditated, terror took possession of him entire- turned, strove hard to banish it.
ly. All presence of mind was lost; he snatch-   No excess was committed at the old baronet's
ed both bottles from the maid, who had taken table; and the gentlemen joined the ladies in
them up again, hurried with them to the basin, the drawing-room as soon as Brandrum and Sir
tasted the contents of one, and washed them  Charles had finished their allotted portion of
both out with his own hands. Then running claret. The fragrant coffee had been served,
down to his study, without giving any directions  and Mary had been just besought to sing, when
to the women, he locked the door,, and took IDixon, the old butler, entered with two papers
down. the vial from the spot where it stood. in his hand, which he presented to Sir Harry,
At first his face looked joyful as he gazed at it; saying, ", Jenkins, the Barnet- coachman, sir,
but the next instant he opened it, and tasted brought these down from  London for your
the contents. It was pure water; and, setting honor. There's great news in town, he says,
it down, he clasped his hands with a look of be- and he thought you would like to see the Gawildered despair.                           zette."
Sir Harry took the papers and called for his:    spectacles, and when he had got them, he applied himself to the " Extraordinary Gazette,"
CHAPTER XLVII.                  handing the newspaper which accompanied it
to Colonel Brandrum, with the remark, " It is
TH EE was sunshine of many kinds at Jar- very droll, my dear colonel, that the appetite
worth Park; for the bright beams of summer for this world's news increases when we are
which poured in at the windows of the cheerful going out of it."
drawing-room  were not more warm or gay   "True; Sir Harry, true," replied the colonel;
than the hearts of most of those assembled " you and I have little else to amuse us: those
there. It is true, there were some clouds in boys and girls find plenty;" and he applied himthe heaven, and also some cares in the bosoms self to his paper.
of two or three, much darker than the soft   Sir Harry, sitting under a luster, read on for
vapors which passed upon the breeze; but some minutes gravely, but with a look of satisthose who had cause for sadness tried to throw  faction; but then he suddenly stopped, and
it off for the time, in order to grace the welcome raised his eyes toward Kate, when,' almost at
of'dear friends, who came on a joyful journey the same moment, Colonel Brandrum -did the
with nothing but smiles.                   same. The latter, however, was much more
Mary Chevenix and Reginald Lisle-whose accustomed to vent his thoughts aloud than. the
paternal uncle had died on the day after his old baronet, and sometimes added an unnecesmother's' death, leaving'him both wealth and sary expletive. On this occasion he did both,
rank —had passed a short time in London after saying, 4', By, that's curiou,. I cbuld have
their marriage, and now came down to the house sworn it of him."
of the kind-hearted Sir Harry Jarvis, in order to    "Hush!" said Sir Harry. " I suppose, my
meet -Mary's father and mother. The good old dear sir, our news is the same."
baronet, ever thoughtful of what would give   He spoke in a low voice, and Brandrum askpleasure to others, had sent his carriage to Lon- ed,  "What is it?"
don for Colonel Brandrum. Louisa Lisle came   "1 The taking of Charleston by Sir Harry Clinwith her brother and her sister-in-law; and ton," said the old man, aloud, seeing, that all
thus a large party, each worthy and amiable in eyes were turned upon him; but, at the same
their several ways, was assembled under one time, he pointed with his finger to. a passage in
roof.                                      the Gazette.
Sir Harry Ja'rvis himself, though now some-'  Brandrumn limped up to his chair and looked
what feeble, was all smiles and gladness, and over him, when he saw, at the spot where the
as active as his infirmities would permit in baronet's finger rested, the following words in
caring for the comfort of his guests. Kate the dispatch: " I can not forbear expressing my
was, for the time, not merely externally cheer- high sense of the distinguished conduct of Lieuful, for she was one who knew not seeming. tenant-colonel Lutwich in all the operations.
The effort went deeper than the lips or the which preceded and accompanied this event,
brow, and she forced her heart to throw away both in leading and encouraging the men, and
its -dark memories and darker anticipations, and maintaining order and discipline under very tryshare in the joy of her fiiends.           ing circumstances. Though wounded in the
The dinner passed very merrily; Sir Charles arm and in the knee, he refused to retire from
Chevenix was full of jest and gay good-humor. his command, and rendered me the most effiColonel Brandrumn told many an anecdote of In- cient and gallant assistance at every period of
dianwwarfare, and vowed that, if it were not for the operations."




148                 SIR THEODORE BROUGHTON; OR,
" That's worth a general's commission," said  "' To dedicate the rest of my life to you, my.Brandrum; "but that is not my news, Sir Har- dear uncle," replied Kate, gazing at him with
ry. It is well-nigh as good, though very horri- deep affection in her face.
ble. There, you take that-it is more in your   " No, no-not quite so," said Sir Harry, with
way, and give me this, which is more in mine; a smnile; "you were formed for a happier fate,
only the news of the fighting will make me long my love."
to be in the midst of it."                   Kate shook her head somewhat sadly, and
Mary's song had been stopped by all this; the old man went on to say, " Some one who
and now there was a general exclamation of may be worthy of your love may win it, and
"Pray, let us hear. Do not keep all the good claim you of me."
news to yourselves."                         She gazed upon the ground with tears in her
" Charleston is taken by Sir Harry Clinton," eyes, and her lips murmured slowly,, No-no."
repeated Sir Harry, looking at the newspaper   "Well, let us talk of brighter things," conwhich Brandrum had put into his hands at the tinned Sir Harry, anxious to give her every or
same time; "i Charleston is-Good Heaven! I any source of happiness. "I have some news
had not heard of his death!"               of a far more pleasant and unmixed character
" Nor I either," said the colonel.       for you, my love. In Sir Henry Clinton's last
"Whose death " asked Lady Chevenix.       dispatch regarding the campaign in America,
"Sir Theodore Broughton's," replied Colonel the name of our friend Colonel Lutwich is menBrandrum; and Kate fell at once on the floor, tioned with the very highest encomiums, not
as if he had shot her.                     only of his gallantry and military skill, but of,
Of course, rauch confusion followed; and his whole conduct. I have lived many years,
during the,intervals of the attempts to recall my child, and never yet, that I remember, have
poor Kate to herself, both ladies and gentlemen seen higher praise given to any soldier by his
cried out upon the old officer for his indiscretion. commanding officer."
He bore it with great meekness and fortitude,   It was the first time he had ever mentioned
however.                                   the name of Lutwich in her hearing since she
"Well, my dears," he said to Mary and had dwelt under his -roof, and she gazed in his
Louisa,.'I might have told her worse news face with an inquiring look. Sir Harry playfor herself,;though one can not help regretting ed for a moment with his seals, and lifting his
that a young fool like that should be cut off in eyes, he said, "Now, tell me, Kate, are you
the midst of a career of folly and wickedness, really resolved never to marry "
without time to review his life, and make atone-   Kate laid her hand upon his, and answered,
ment as far as possible. After all, I believe my "Never; if it is to take me from you; and never,
way of telling her was best: it was once for all. never, without your consent."
But she is coming to herself again. You En-   The old man threw his arms round her, and
glish girls are dear creatures, but you are very kissed her tenderly. "My own Kate!" he said:
weak and movable. If I had told one of the  "(npw tell me, in your own dear, frank way, do
charming squaws such a piece of news, she you love Lutwich."
would have got up and given the war-hoop."    Kate kept her face upon his shoulder, and reKate recovered speedily, and Mary and Louisa plied, in a low voice,'" I have loved him well
led her away to her own room. Sir Harry could enough to sacrifice for him more than life-a
not be content without following; and, with all whole life's happiness: I love him still well
his own kindness of heart and gentleness of enough to do the same, were it needful; but
manner, he soothed her tenderly and affection- not to disobey you, or do aught, I trust, that is
ately.                                      wrong."
The emotions in the poor girl's bosom were    "My consent shall never be refused to your
very mixed, but they found relief in tears; and happiness, my love," replied Sir Harry, pressafter Mary and Louisa were gone, she replied ing her to his heart.  "I We will think, my dear,
to her old relation's expressions of anxiety, "I that Lutwich, during his earlier years, was
shall be better soon, my dear uncle. I can not mad; that the delirium of youth's high blood
but feel that this is a relief, and yet I am half was in many of his acts: we will trust that he
angry at myself for feeling it so. It is, indeed, is now himself again; and if he still proves
terrible to think of this young man's death, and himself so, he shall not want his reward, if I
to know that he was but little prepared for it; can give it."
but I do hope and trust that his rash pursuit-I   " He never had any faults toward me!" remight well call it persecution-of myself, has plied Kate; " and when others persecuted, he
had no share in bringing about this fatal result." nobly protected me. Oh! my dear uncle, I can
"No, my dear child, no," replied Sir Harry, never forget that night I passed in his cottage:
in a very sad tone;,, I fear that there is a hor- the kindness, the gentlemanly courtesy, the rerible history to be yet fully developed. All we spectful tenderness, the consideration for every
know at present is, that a suspicion of poison feeling which he displayed. Let others call hint
exists, and that his guardian, Captain Donovan, what they will, to me he was ever generoushas been apprehended."                     noble-kind."
He saw that Kate was very painfully affect-   "Enough, enough, my Kate," said the old
ed, and he paused; but then added, ", Without baronet; "you have said enough to decide my
at all rejoicing-at this unhappy man's death, my conduct. Now, Kate, wipe away those tea's,
dear girl, we may reasonably thank God for re- and rejoin us soon."
lieving you from so dark and sad an engagement, without one step on your part, which
even your too scrupulous heart might feel un-   I know not whether the reader will or will
worthy of you. You are now free, my Kate."  not wish to hear more of the personages of this:




LAUREL WATER.                                    149
tale. But lest he should, and be disappointed   Colonel Brandrum lived to tell his stories of
if he do not, I will add a few words.      Indian warfare long, and Sir Harry Jarvis saw
Sir Harry Jarvis was busy writing all the fol- extreme old age; for, in both their cases, high
lowing morning; and his letter, which was a hearts and pure had an embalming influence,
long one, went to America. About nine months which long preserved even the frail mortal body
after, Kate stood in that bright drawing-room  from the power of Time.
with Lutwich's arms around her; nor did any   There is one other to be spoken of, and,
consequence of his past life ever appear to alas! that the tale should close so sadly!
trouble their repose. She had changed, not his   Captain Donovan, conscious of intended guilt,
nature, but his conduct: her love had led him  was betrayed into such doubtful conduct after
in the only road to true happiness; and he tried the death of his ward, that suspicion was soon
to make the present as happy to her, as she had directed toward himself. He was tried by a
rendered filturity to him.'               judge who summed up-harshly against him,
Surely no one will ask if Reginald Lisle and convicted upon evidence that would not in out
Mary Chevenix were happy too.              days be held conclusive, and executed for a
Louisa made one of the most charming old crime he had meditated, but did not commit,
maids that ever was seen; and if she had not protesting his innocence to the last.
spoiled a whole host of nephews and nieces,   I am not fond of dwelling upon painful scenes.
she would have been without a fault.       Of his fate I have said enough, and the tale is
Doctor Gamble died inre the Fleet Prison.  done.
THE END.




Lnrpcrj New cntalogune.
A NEW DESCRIPTIVE' CATALOGUE OF HARPER & BROTHERS' PUBLICATIONS has recently been
prepared, and may be obtained on application to the Publishers personally, or by letter, post-paid.
The attention of gentlemen, in town or country, designing to form Libraries or enrich their
literary collections, is respectfully invited to this Catalogue, which will be found to comprise a
large proportion of the standard and most esteemed works in English Literature-corIPREHEeNDiOG ABOUT TWO THOUSAND VOLUMES-which are offered in most instances at less than one half
the cost of similar productions in England.
To Librarians and others connected with Colleges, Schools, etc., who may not have access to
a reliable guide in forming the true estimate of literary productions, it is believed the present
Catalogue will prove especially valuable as a manual of reference.
To prevent disappointment, it is suggested that, whenever books can not be obtained through
any bookseller or local agent,. applications with remittance should be addressed direct to the
Publishers, which will be promptly attended to.
82 Cliff Street, New York.




THE
LAST OF THE FAItRIES;
a 6bristma~ Hale.
BY  G. P. R, JAMES, ESQ,,
AUTHOR OF
"THEI CONVICT," "MARGARET GRAHAM," "RUSSELL," "THE CASTLE OF EIIRENSTEIN'
"BEAUCHAMP," "HEIDELBERG," ETC., ETC.
HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISH'ERS,
82 CLIFF STREET, NEW YORK.
1848.








THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
CHAPTER  I.               a pleasant scene to look upon, and these
were merry sounds to hear.
THERE was an old house near Wor-   About ten of the clock, a horseman,
cester on the very highest part of the followed by two or three others, spurred
hill, which is not very high after all. It up firom the bank of the Severn, towards
was not a gentleman's house, nor a farm- that house upon the hill. He came gaily
house, nor a cottage. Heaven knows along at a good quick canter, and his
what it had been in former years. It horse was a fine one, and well capariwas nothing at all in A. D. 1651, but a soned. His bearing, too, was firm and
moderate sized brick building, lined with soldier-like: but when one saw his face
old wainscot, with broken windows and nearer, although he could not have
iatchless doors, and one portion of it a counted more than five or six and thirty
great deal taller than the other.    years, there seemed to be traces of
There were eyes in the upper room  many cares and anxieties upon his counof the tallest part of the old house; and tenance, as well, perhaps, as a certain
to them was exposed an exceedingly degree of constitutional melancholy, not
beautiful scene, such as is rarely beheld, to say gloom. It was a very grave face
except in the vale of the Severn. Wor- -very grave, indeed, yet high and nocester, with its walls, and gates, and ble in expression, with a tall straight
churches, and sunny fields, and pleasant forehead, somewhat broader, perhaps, at
places round; and the wide valley stud- the top of the temples than over the
ded with little knolls, and monticules brow.
covered with turf still green, and plumed   Some servants came round from the
with feathery trees. It was a pleasant back of the house as he approached, and
and a cheerful sight,-a sort of fairy ran to hold his horse and his stirrup.
scene; and indeed the rings left by the He sprang lightly to the ground, and
feet of the Good People, in their merry walked into the house, saying, " Take
moonlight dances, attested their frequent the basket from Matthews there behind
revels in the meadows and under the me, and bring it up. Take care that
trees.                               you don't break the wine bottles, for
But there were other objects besides there is but little to be had at Worcesthose which nature's hand had formed ter. The Puritans have drank it all up
that gave additional cheerfulness to the in a very godly manner;" and mounting
scene. On both banks of the Severn, the old stairs as he spoke, he ran rather
the eyes gazing from that high window  than walked up to the higher chamber.
could discern colours flaunting in the There was an embrace for each of the
light wind, banners tossed about, and two persons it contained-a lady of
plumes, and gay dresses, and glittering seven or eight and twenty years of age,
arms; so that in that part of the land- still in her full loveliness, and a little
scape, as a cloud or two passed over the girl of nine or ten, exceedingly beautiful,
sun, the effect was like that of rapid and very like her mother. Their faces
light and shade sweeping across a gar- were full of affection towards him who
den of flowers. And merry notes were came; but yet there could not be a
there too: the fife, and the drum, and greater contrast than between the exthe clarion, rising  up from below, soft- pression of his countenance and theirs.
ened and entendered by the air and the Cheerful hope and glad expectation was
distance. The bells of the cathedral upon the face of the girl and her mothchimed cheerfully, and altogether it was er, and melancholy thought upon his.




4                    THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
"Here is some breakfast for you, Lil- Cromwell is in sight-HIark! you can
la, dear," he said, "and for my little hear his trumpets!"
Kate too. I was resolved to come up    The gentleman he addressed instantfior half an hour, and take it with you, ly started to the window and looked out,
for Heaven knows where our next meal while his young visitor, with a slight afmay be."                             fectation of manhood, patted the little
"Will there be a battle to-day, fa- girl upon the head, saying, "Ah! my
ther." said the little girl; "and will darling Kate, drinking wine at ten in
the King win l  Oh! yes, I am sure the the morning. That's to make you a fit
King will win."                      wife for a dashing cavalier. I hope
" I trust he will," replied the soldier, your ladyship is well this morning. You
"if there is a battle, my Kate; but of will soon see some warm work down
that I begin to doubt, for the Round- below; but I trust before night we shall
heads have a long march before them, have one-half of the Roundheads in the
and cannot get here very early."     Severn, and the rest in the gaol."
"' Then we had better come back into   A slight cloud came over the lady's
the town," said the lady, looking to face, and she was answering, with a
her husband inquiringly, while two of sigh, "I trust so," when her husband
the servants laid a napkin in one of the turned round from the window, saying,
broad, open window-seats, for table " I must to horse, dear ones. Rememthere was none. "I should not like ber, you must ride to Pershore, as
Cromwell's people to cut us off."    soon as you have seen them upon the
"No, my Lilla," answered her bus- ground. Come, Denzil, we must away."
band, you must not come into the town    "Do you see them, Charles,-do you
again. There is much confusion there; see them 2" asked the lady, clinging to
and as soon as the enemy appear, you his arm.
had better retire with the servants to   "Not their whole force," replied her
Pershore, where you will have speedy husband, " those trees there hide them;
tidings of what follows. If we have to but I caught a glance of steel caps
stand a siege, or repel an assault, it through the brake; and if you listen
would be a pain and a burden to me to for a moment you will hear. There!
have all I love pent up within those old there!"
and crumbling walls."                  The distant sounds of a trumpet rose
There was a look of remonstrance upon the air; and with one brief emcame upon the lady's face, but her hus- brace he tore himself away, ran down
band interrupted her with a smile, say- the stairs, followed by his young friend,
ing, "Come-to breakfast! to break- mounted his horse, and galloped back
fast! for I must soon get back. What, to Worcester.
not a chair to sit down upon!  Well,   The lady's eyes were full of tears
we must make the best of our campaign- when she gazed forth from the window,
ing;" and standing by the side of the first marking the course of her husband
window-seat, he proceeded to distribute towards the town, and then turning an
the homely breakfast he had brought up anxious look over the distant wooded
from Worcester; ate a small portion, landscape, where the forces of the Parbut not much, himself; and gazed with liament were advancing towards the
a look of thoughtful delight upon his in- fatal field of Worcester. In a few minnocent child, as she seemed to partake utes she beheld a dark moving massof the meal with double zest, from the with catches of light here and there
rude and hasty way in which it was upon breast-plate or steel cap-come
served.                              forth from behind one clump of trees
Perhaps five minutes had elapsed and disappear again behind a little
while they were thus employed, when a wood.  Another, and  another body
quick light foot was heard coming up passed, foot and horse in very equal
the stairs, and a lad some seventeen or numbers; but regiment after regiment,
eighteen years of age, richly dressed and troop after troop, till the lady's heart
accoutred, with his long dark hair flow- sunk at the conviction of the great suing down over his laced collar to his periority oftheir numbers; and her eyes
shoulders, entered the room  in haste, turned to the royal army below.
exclaiming, " Lord Eustace!-My lord!   A good deal of bustle was then ob



THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                         5
servable; and, by the aid of fancy, she seen through the clouds of sulphurous
thought she could discover her husband, vapour, the flashes of the musketry, the
and the King, and Leslie, and Middle- gleam of waving swords, and the slow
ton, and Hamilton, and Derby.        movements of some bands of pikemen
Long and anxious was her watch, till were caught indistinctly from time to
passing in and out, now seen, now lost time; but all that the lady and her child
as before, the army of the Common- could gather as to the result of these
wealth, growing more and more distinct movements was, that the Parliamentary
in all its parts as it advanced, swept on army was pressing down steadily and
-halted for a moment —marched for- strongly upon Worcester, and that the
ward again, and assumed its position as waves of battle rolled nearer and nearer
if for battle, taking possession of the to the town.
slope of the very hill on which she stood,   It was a sight that made her heart
and interposing between herself and the sink, and her eye ran along the course
town.                               of the river, towards a spot where she
Her heart sank a little, and she gazed knew that a large body of the Royalist
down upon her child; but then a look cavalry had been posted. She saw them
of high resolution came into her face, there all firm and in array upon the opand putting her arm round the fair del- posite bank, but a little further on she
icate form  of the little girl, she said, saw-what they could not see, on ac"' We will see it out, Kate; wewill see count of a thick copse and a wooded
it out."                             hill, which screened the operations of
"11Oh! yes, mother, let us see it out," the enemy-two regiments of Parliaanswered the child; " do not let us run mentary horse galloping rapidly towards
away while my father is fighting."   a ford, where the stream took a sharp
"Never," answered the lady; and turn. She clasped her hands together,
there they stood, while the servants and pressed them tight. What would
gathered themselves together at another she have given at that moment for wings
window, and gazed forth likewise.   to fly and bear her friends intelligence
All seemed tranquil for about half-an- of the manceuvre she had detected and
hour. An occasional horseman galloped understood right well. But it was all
along the line, trumpets sounded from in vain. The enemy reached the ford,
time to time, a slight movement took dashed in, gained the meadows on the
place amongst the infantry, some strag- other side, re-formed, and taking ground
glers were seen moving about upon the a little to the left, became suddenly aprear of the Parliamentary army, and a parent to the King's cavalry.
stout heavy man, with ten or twelve   An instant movement was observable
other horsemen following him, moved amongst thelatter; two gentlemen drew
slowly for a little distance up the hill. out a little way from the rest, gazed at
Then halting, he gazed over the plain, the squadrons which had so suddenly
and over the town, for a moment or appeared, and rode to the opposite extwo, spoke a few words to one of those tremes of their own line.  A  slight
near him, and instantly a horseman change of disposition immediately foldashed away, taking his course towards lowed. The right of the Royalists was
the left. A large body of cavalry de- somewhat extended, theleft was brought
tached itself at once, and rode along the a little forward at a slow pace, and then
bank of the river; a fire of musketry there came a temporary pause. The
began from the centre of the line, and a sound of trumpets was heard the mocloud of smoke spread over the scene. ment after; and both parties dashed forIt interrupted the sight sadly, but the ward against each other with furious
lady saw several large squadrons of speed. They met in full career, while
horse put into a charge, and they whirl- a fierce and wild hurrah rose up into
ed down like a bolt from a cross-bow the air and reached the lady's ears as
against the Royalist troops on the near- she gazed upon the struggling mass,
est side of the river.              now all mingled and confused.  Her
From that moment all was confusion, hands pressed tighter and tighter toto eyes unaccustomed to seek out and gether as she saw masterless horses
jadge the events of a field of battle. break away from the line and gallop
Large bodies of men riding fast, were across the plain, and knew that some




6                    THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
one, as loved and dear to others as he
whom she loved best was to herself, had
fallen beneath the chargers' feet in the   IT was night-dark night.  There
midst of that fierce conflict.       were stars out but no moon, and across
"They give way, mother, they give many parts of the sky long lines of dull
way," cried the little girl, touching the grey clouds were drawn, hiding the
lady's arm, "the Roundheads are routed twinklers of the heavens. The clocks
-See, they fly, they fly!"          of Worcester had struck nine, and the
It was true.  The temporary success dull vibration of the great bell was
of Middleton and the Duke of Hamilton sounding, as if with pulses, through the
for an instant promised to change the heavy feverish air. The scene around
fate of the day.  Cromwell's cavalry the city lay wrapt up in shadows, while
did give way, the Royalists pursued the fugitives sped far away from the
fiercely and drove them back fighting, field of their defeat, and the pursuers
almost to the very ford. But at that with hot spur hurried after. The dead
moment a small group was seen to sep- in their last rest lay in the meadows
arate itself from the rear of the King's round —three thousand as gallant gensoldiers, and the lady could distinguish tlemen as ever drew  a sword.  The
two or three troopers supporting a gen- wounded untended shared the couch of
tleman upon his horse. " That looks the dead, and lost part of their own
like the Duke," she murmured; "No, sufferings in the sense of their royal
it must be Middleton."               master's disaster. Here and there was
Another group detached itself, but a light upon the field, sometimes seen
these were on foot-dismounted soldiers wandering about, sometimes stationary;
bearing a dead or wounded man in their and the low  creaking of rude cartarms.  Then the uncertain tide of bat- wheels could be heard seeking for the
tle turned. The Parliamentary forces less dangerously wounded, or for those
rallied, charged again, the Royalists prisoners who had not yet been taken
were beaten back over the ground they into the town of Worcester.
had just traversed, broken, scattered,   Near a low wood, broken and irregand flying hither and thither in parties ular in its external form, stood two or
of ten and twelve.                   three Parliamentary musketeers, with a
The lady clasped the child's hand in group of some seven or eight prisoners,
her own-tight, very tight; and the lit- disarmed and tied. A torch was stuck
tle girl wept.  They turned their eyes into a hole in the ground, casting its red
to the part of the field immediately be- unwholesome glare around, over the
low them. A terrible change had come rough-stern features of Cromwell's solover the scene.  The Royalist forces diers, and the sad countenances of the
were not to be discovered-unless, in- captives, and the green branches of the
deed, the fragments might be distin- trees, and the turf dabbled with blood,
guished in those small bodies of horse and the corpses of five or six gallant
that were seen galloping away over the companions fallen; for the spot was one
distant fields. The troops of the Par- where a fierce and last effort at resistliament were at the gates of Worcester. ance had been made.
"Pardon, my lady, but it is time for   The armed soldiers were standing,
you to go," said an old servant, ap- resting on their guns; the captives were
proaching from the other window; "the generally seated, though some who had
day is lost.  You had better betake received wounds were stretched out
yourself to Pershore, as my lord di- upon the grass. Few of them  spoke,
rected. The horses are all ready."    but one man, a Scotchman, in the garb
The lady raised her eyes to heaven of a Royalist foot-soldier, who was upon
for an instant, and  seemed to ask his feet, nearest to the musketeers, seemstrength from above. " No," she said, ed anxious to ascertain the fate reserved
at length, " we will hide in the wood, for them. He had put several questioin
Isaac. I will not quit this ground till I without receiving an answer; but, at
know his fate. Come, Kate, we may length, one of the men, seemingly irrihelp your dear father yet. God give us tated by his pertinacity, replied in a
courage and success!"               loud harsh tone, " If you want to know
what is to become of you, Scot, I will




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                           7
tell you, though methinks you would   The soldier gazed at her for an inlearn soon enough: you are to be sold stant, as the light of the torch, somefor slaves into the plantations."    what softened by the distance, fell upon
The poor Scotchman hung his head, her fair countenance and her rich dress;
and sat down dejected by his fellows. and he shook his head with a look not
At the same moment a heavy cart came altogether unfeeling, replying, " Ah,
grating along towards them, and one of poor child! your father is not here;
the soldiers said, "Come, get up, get we have none of your gay gallants
up; here is your conveyance."         amongst us; your ruffling cavaliers and
The cart had not yet indeed become dashing lords have all been taken into
visible, but the next instant the faint the town; we have got none but the
outline thereof was descried wending poor foot-soldiers, who have been led
slowly forward, and there seemed two like sheep to the slaughter by those
or three people with it. The soldiers, as who should know better."
they looked forward, thought they per-   "But I am sure he is here, living or
ceived a woman's garments, and in about dead," said the little girl in reply;
a minute after, they saw a child also.   one of our servants saw him here just
That sight was seen by another like- after the battle, and he told me where
wise, and it told to a heart oppressed to find him; pray let me look for him
with grief and despair, the sweet con- by the light of the torch;" and she
soling tale of love and devotion true to clasped her fair small hands togeththe last. He raised himself a little from  er with the gesture of earnest entreathe grass, and the light of the torch fell ty.
more strongly than before upon his fine   " I am here, my child, I am here, my
form and noble countenance.  The ex- Kate," cried a voice; for, although it
pression was still the same, and any was ruin to all his plans, the captive
close observer could not have doubted could resist no longer; and the child
that there was a man of noble lineage, darted  forward  unopposed, for the
and of gentle breeding, although his soldiers had not the heart to restrain
gay and plumed hat was cast away, and her under the impulse of filial affection.
the coat that he now wore was that of a   The poor captive tried to rise from
common foot-soldier.                 the ground to press her to his heart as
Slowly the cart rolled on, but when it she sprang towards him; but his hands
came nigh, though the child still ap- were tied, and before he could effect
peared, young, and fair, and graceful, that purpose, the child had cast herself
the woman's form was no longer seen. upon his bosom with one arm round his
It seemed to have dissolved into thin neck, covering his face with kisses.
air, or as if the darkness had swallowed   The stern soldiers looked on much
it up, even as she came forward. So moved; but the captive was surprised
suddenly and completely did it disap- to find that while with her left arm she
pear, that one of the soldiers took two clung closely to him, the right sought
or three steps forward to meet the cart, out the bonds upon his hands, and somebending his eyes fixedly upon the ob- thing cold, like steel, glided down his
scurity before  him;  and  when  he wrist.  The next instant the cord was
reached the little group walking to- severed, and his hands were free; and
gether at the horse's head, he de- the child's mouth pressed close to his
manded, sharply, "Was there not a ear, whispered, low but clear," There's
woman with you?"                    a horse at the corner of the wood.
"No," replied the carter, " there has Mount, father, and away!"
been no woman here, unless you call   His brain seemed to turn giddy for
this babe a woman."                  a moment, and the pulsations of his
" And what does she want here." de- heart to stop. But the child unclasped
manded the stern voice of the soldier; her arm from his neck, and whispered
"this is no place for children, or women once more, " Away!"
either."                               It was the only chance for safety.
"I am seeking my father, sir," said The concealment he had hoped for was
the sweet low voice of the little girl. no longer possible.  The bloody axe.
"I am  sure you will help me to find which had struck so many of his noble
my father."'                         friends was the only fate before him;




$8'31ITHE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
and, springing suddenly on his feet, he I end appearance, to a good-looking coundarted away into the gloom.          try youth of two or three and twenty
As his tall figure disappeared, how- years of age, as they stood together
ever, the stern soldiers, with a fierce upon the green sward beneath an old
cry of indignation, raised their muskets castle wall.
to their shoulders, and fired in the di-   Many a strong fortified house had
rection he had taken. A shrill scream  been besieged and ruined by the canburst from the darkness, at the very non of one or the other of the contendsame instant that the sound of a horse's ing parties in the great civil war, but
hoofs at the full gallop reached the spot the dilapidation of this building dated
where they stood.                    from a period long anterior, and the ivy
"He is down, he is down!" cried had grown thickly over even the fragsome of the men, rushing forward, ments which had fallen from the walls,
while two of their comrades remained marking that centuries had passed. Yet
with the prisoners. But they found no these walls were very thick and strong,
one, though they searched diligently and one could not suppose, to look upon
around; and still the quick beating of them, that the hand of time alone had
the horse's hoofs was heard, growing broken them as they now appeared. It
fainter and fainter in the distance. was'evident, in short, that some of man's
When they returned to the spot where desolating devices had overthrown the
the captives were, they found the child ly- place of strength before its time-when,
ing prone upon the ground, pale as mon- I know not-perhaps during the conumental marble; nor did she recover tentions of York and Lancaster; but
fiom the swoon into which she had fall- however, there it stood, a ruin.  The
en, till the prisoners had been all placed most perfect part of the building was
in the cart, and the party were about to the old gateway, with its two tall machiproceed upon their way. The soldiers colated towers, and guard-room over the
threatened and reproached; but they arch; but yet, guard-room and towers
had not the heart to hurt her; and one were both unroofed, and the wind whisof them, who was a father himself, took tled through the empty window-filamesher by the hand, and led her into Wor- the voice of desolation calling to the dead.
cester. He said he must take her be-   From  either side of this gateway
fore the Lord General, but she besought stretched forth walls, with other towand prayed him to let her seek shelter ers, surrounding perhaps an acre and a
in the house of an old servant, and when half of ground; and the court within
he left her at the door, he said to him- showed  many a fragment of feudal
self, " If I should be ever in such a case, times in the crumbling masonry of the
may my child do as she has done."    late keep, and the broken tracery of
the chapel windows. A  seedling ash
"How the hours fleet away!  Be tree had planted itself here and there
they dull and heavy-footed, overbur- amongst the ruins, and three tall elms
dened with sorrow-be they winged in a group stretched their wide branchwith joy and mirth —be they even-paced es over the well in the castle court.
and tranquil in the path of life, still they That well had once been covered by
go, they go; and when they are gone an arch of richly wrought stone-work;
they diminish into a mere speck. Nine but some forty years before the period
years have passed away and it seems of which I speak, the mortar having
but a span; and yet if I come to think, fallen out and some of the stones dropmy hair, which is now white, was then ped into the water, which was the finest,
just turning grey, and my eyes, that are the clearest, and the best in the whole
dim now, were as clear as an eagle's. neighbourhood, the inhabitants of the
But come out of the way, lad, come out adjacent village, who loved the well
of the way. There's a stranger riding with a degree of almost superstitious
down the hill, and I have not liked the affection, cleared away the ruined fragsight of a stranger for many a long year." ments from around it, and left it nearly
Such were the words of an old man, as nature had formed it, with no coverdressed in a black coat, with a broad- ing but the branches of the three elms
ended handkerchief round his neck, and of which I have spoken.
bearing a respectable and even rever-   The castle well was in fact a spring




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                          8
of very beautiful water which, issued as ever the eye fell upon; and, whether
bountifully from the turf in the castle- in sunshine or in shade, under the blue
court. Old hands long gone had dug a sky or the cloud, there was something
little reservoir for the waters of this of homely peace and tranquillity about
spring about three feet deep, and of it which had a tendency to soothe the
the same width, with a length of about mind of the beholder, and call up imfour feet-it might be five, but I never ages of a calmer and happier kind than
measured it. The sides of this reser- the heart was ordinarily conversant with
voir were lined with flat stones, to pre- in those days of strife and faction.
vent the earth from falling in; and a   The village had fared well, too, in
semi-circular piece cut out of the slab many respects. At some distance from
at the west side, suffered the superfluous any of the channels through which the
water to flow away into a little conduit tide of war had flowed, few of those
underneath the castle wall, and so over pertinacious heart-burnings had been
the side of the hill down to the stream  engendered in it which had sprung up
in the valley. From  the distance of in most parts of England, from  the
more than a mile, people would come struggle of parties in the civil war. The
to fill the pitcher at this well; and, in- old clergyman of the place, it is true,
deed, so limpid was the water, that had been dispossessed; and a Presbyalthough at most times the smooth sur- terian minister occupied his place; but
face reflected the leaves and branches good Doctor Aldover was a very meek,
of the trees above, yet through these peaceful, timid man, and he had made
transparent coloured images one could no struggle to retain what the powers
see the little pebbles at the bottom as that were thought fit to take away from
distinctly as if no medium but thin air him, having been scared almost out of
had been interposed: indeed, it only his senses by being apprehended as a
seemed to render them brighter, as if malignant, while on a visit to a neighencasing them in polished crystal. All boring town, and examined by a party
around, the turf was short and thick; of Parliamentary Commissioners.  He
and the elms and the well they shaded promised them on that occasion, with all
were so placed as to be clearly seen the sincerity of terror, to conform as
through the archway of the great gates, much as in him lay to their good will
by any one who was standing on the and pleasure, and, consequently, resigncastle-green in front.              ed his benefice, without a word, at the
I have been obliged to dwell upon very first summons.  He had studied
these facts particularly; for the reader medicine early, as a means of benefitmust remark and remember them  as ting his parishioners; and now, as was
necessary to the due understanding of frequently the case with dispossessed
this tale. It may be also as well to clergymen in their days, he studied the
point out that the castle stood alone, on healing art more deeply, for the purpose
what may be called the step of a hill, of maintaining himself. He acquired
occupying a position about half way up skill and reputation, too, and, at the
the ascent, which was long but not steep. time I speak of, was the only physician
This step was a flat piece of some twenty or surgeon in the place. It can not be
or thirty acres; and upon it, at the dis- said that, though he bore his fate so
tance of three or four hundred yards meekly, he looked at his Presbyterian
from the old castle, were built several rival at first with any great affection:
neat cottages.  Below them again, on but it so happened that the minister,
both sides of the road, which, after though somewhat starch and caustic in
crossing the castle-green in its descent, his manner, was a good nman and a kind,
wound gently down to the bottom of the at heart; and when he discovered all
valley, appeared the village, following the high qualities of his predecessor, he
all the sinuosities of the path, and so felt half inclined to be sorry that he had
closely embowered in trees, that from  been the means of depriving him of his
the old gates nothing could be perceived cure. He made sundry attempts to win
but a roof or a chimney here and there, the friendship of good old Dr. Aldover,
and the tower of the church rising up which, though shyly viewed at first, were
from below.                          rendered successful in the end by various
It' was as pretty a rural scene, indeed, accidental circumstances which tended




10                    THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
to bling them together; and now they tion, and free grace. He met with no
would not unfrequently sit in the parlour opposition and very little dissent from
of the one or the other, drinking a mod- his doctrines, and he did not at all want
erate glass of good ale, and conversing to be disturbed in the exercise of funclearnedly of this or of that, sometimes tions which worked so easily by Bapwith much simple shrewdness, when the tists, Anabaptists, Independents, or Fifth
topic was one with which their studies Monarchy men.
had rendered them familiar, and some-   Doctor Aldover had still greater obhtimes very nonsensically when they ven- jections to any interruptions of the quitured upon ground of which they had etude of the place; and he it was, to say
no experience.                       the truth, who, standing before the casSuch was the state of the' village on tle gate, with a youth, the son of one of
the day I speak of.                   his patients, was struck with so much
I know not whether the poet intend- terror at the sight of a stranger, and hured it as the most perfect picture of hu- ried away so precipitately towards his
man felicity when he described a man own house in the village.
as " the world forgetting, by the world   In the mean time, the horseman whom
forgot," but certainly, dear reader, such he had perceived coming down the hill,
is to many men, and to all men under descended slowly; and it would appear
certain circumstances, a very blissful that his quiet pace was the effect, more
mode or condition of life. We all know  of curiosity in regard to the country,
that in this great world that we inhabit, than of apprehension for his horse's
there are a great number of jealousies, knees, for he stopped altogether more
fears, animosities, hatreds, strifes, confu- than once, and seemed to gaze over the
sions, riots, massacres, crimes-that men surrounding scene. He took no notice
in the world pick each other's pockets whatsoever of the two who turned away
of their purses, their snuff-boxes, their at his approach; and, at length, he
handkerchiefs, their reputation, their reached the step in the hill which I have
honour, their peace; and we all know, described, and drew in his rein before
moreover, that there are certain times-  the castle gates. Whether it was the
stormy times in the world, party times- beauty of the scene that attracted him,
when the winds of faction blow high, or some personal interest in the spot, I
and the clouds of rancour gather over cannot tell; but, after looking round
the state, and men see in the fanciful him  for a moment, he dismounted,
vapours, strange images of patriotism  threw the heavy stirrups across the sadand freedom, and devotion and renown, dle, and leading his horse under the
which after all turn out shapes formed shadow of the old walls at the northern
of mist, that change with every puff of angle, where the grass was luxuriant
prevailing gale; we all know, I say, but somewhat rank, he left him to fbed,
that there are such times, and that then as if there was a perfect understanding
the devil is exceedingly busy in stirring between man and beast, as to their pilup the confused caldron of human pas- grimage together through this world.
sions and bringing hatred, malice, and Then, coming round to the western side
all uncharitableness to the surface.  himself, on which the declining sun was
Surely, at such epochs as these, a man beginning to shine, he seated himself in
mnay well wish to live, " the world for- the shadow of the arch-way, crossed his
getting, by the world forgot."  But it is arms upon his chest, and fell into a fit
not very often that he can find such a of meditation.
state in its completeness as might have   Now, whether meditation always ends
been done at the time I speak of, in the in a conviction of its own inutility, and
village that I have mentioned.  The men, before it has gone on long, come
Presbyterian minister was at the height to the conclusion of one of the best of
of his ambition.  There was nothing our mocking-bird poets, that
more for him to have or to desire. He ",Thinking is nothing but a waste of thought,
had dispossessed an Episcopalian of his And nought is everything, and everything is.church and benefice, he had sat himself  nought
down amongst a knot of his co-religion- or whether there be something of a reists, to whom he could hold forth con- tro-active mesmerism in the very operatinually upon predestination, and elec- tion of thinking, which sends the thinker




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                          11
asleep, as potently as the communica- tie well, and gazing apparently towards
tion of his thoughts sometimes sends the setting sun. She was clothed altoothers; certain it is that reveries, espe- gether in white, and though the shadow
cially after a long ride, are very apt —at' of the trees fell over her, yet there was
least it is so with myself-to end in a at that moment a sort of airy lustre upon
nap. The traveller, if one might judge. her face and person, which spread, as it
by his dress, which was very dusty, had seemed, through the atmosphere round
come that day somewhat more than a her, catching even upon the rugged
good morning's march; and his medi- trunks of the elms and the leaves imtations, after having continued profound- mediately over her head, very much after
ly for about five minutes, concluded in the fashion of the glory round the figthe abandonment of all meditations. ures of saints in pictures of the second
His eyes closed, his head leaned back or third epoch of art. She' was slight
against the angle of the masonry, and and small of stature; but it seemed to
his hat pressed off, formed an indiffer- the dazzled and surprised eyes of the
ent pillow, while his dark brown hair traveller, that never-in mortal form had
escaping from beneath, refuted without he beheld so much symmetry and grace.
words the famous tract upon " The un- He could hardly believe that he was
loveliness of Lovelocks."             awake; and yet everything was clear
In short, he was a very handsome and palpable around him: the old casyoung man, of some seven or eight and tle and its grey walls, and the green
twenty; and the bright glossy curls of ivy, the yard, the chapel, the castlehis long abundant hair, suited his face green, the horse which had borne him
much better than the short crop of the so far. But still he almost fancied that
parliamentary  soldier, or the  sleek he was sleeping, for the being before
straight cut hair of the puritanical him, dressed in a fashion different from
preacher.                             that of the day, looked so much like the
He slept there undisturbed for nearly creature of some brilliant dream, that
half an hour; and whether he dreamed he could hardly imagine it reality. He
at all, or did not dream, whether his took a step or two towards her; and
slumbers were sweet and balmy, or was convinced that he was waking, by
troubled and restless, none knew so well seeing the reflection of the same figure
as his horse; for the animal, after hav- in the limpid waters of the well near
ing cropped the grass for about a quar- which she stood.  The next instant,
ter of an hour, came quietly up to his another sense was called upon to bear
master, and looked at him with a pen- testimony to the truth of what his eyes
sive seriousness, very edifying to behold, avouched, for a sweet and musical voice,
as if he were reasoning upon the quali- though somewhat melancholy in tone:
ty of sleep, or wondering what the mis- withal, pronounced three  times the
chief his master could be about. At word "Back!" But as he still advanced,
the end of the time I have mentioned, the figure retreated step by step before
however, the horse gave a sudden start, him, seeming to become thinner, less
and a stamp with his foot; and the trav- substantial, more shadowy; first losing
eller springing on his feet, found the its peculiar radiance, then becoming
sun upon the very verge of the hori- dimmer in outline, and then being but
zon, pouring a rich stream  of purple faintly seen, as it entered the dark shadlight straight through the great gates ows cast by the old chapel, still keeping,
and over the green turf of the castle- however, its face towards him.
yard.                                   He was one not easily daunted, and
As was very natural with a horse, he exclaimed aloud, "Lady! lady 
after having been ridden throughout a grant me one word of direction, for I
dusty day, the beast's nose was extended am not sure of my way."  At the same
straight towards the well in the castle- moment he sprang across the old well;
yard; and the young gentleman, turn- bending down his eyes for a single ining his eyes in that direction likewise, stant to make sure of his leap. When
beheld, with a strange peculiar feeling he raised them  again, the figure was
which he could not account for, a female gone, and he stood gazing upon the
form  of exquisite beauty and grace chapel like one bewildered.
standing on the opposite side of the lit-  In passing from  the castle to the




12.-                 THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
higher part of the village, there was a side of the table, seated on a settle, was
little lane between two trimmed hedge- the Presbyterian minister-a thin, worn,
rows, with gardens on either side, filled ascetic-looking personage, of fifty-six or
not only with fruit-bearing trees, but fifty-seven years ofage, whose somewhat
with several broad oaks and long-armed hard features and fallen cheeks gave an
beeches, and here a poplar towering up expression of sourness and implacability
and looking, in the shadowy evening, by to his countenance, except at those mono means unlike a cypress. The edge ments when an accidental smile played
on the left ended in a neat paling, de- upon his lips, serving as a better interfending from the encroachment of dogs preter to his heart.
and urchins a small strip of flower-gar-   The good clerical doctor dismissed
den lying between the lane and a mod- the youth with an assurance that his
erate-sized house. As soon as you had father would do very well if he would
passed the house, you found yourself take the medicines ordered him. "You
upon a good wide piece of broken turf, see to it yourself, John Brownlow," he
flanking the sandy main road, and orna- said, " for I have a great notion, my
mented with a row of elms; and the eye man, that more of the potions go under
could range down the highway between the bed than into the mouth, and I'll call
houses and gardens and groups of trees upon him again to-morrow. I shall find
and broad patches of waste green, dot- out-depend upon it."
ted with sundry geese gobbling the short   " Then you don't think he's bewitchgrass, into the more populous part of ed, sir l" said the young man, with a sly
the village, till, taking a gentle turn, its smile.
further course was lost, just when the   " Bewitched l befiddled!" exclaimed
church came in sight, with the wall of Doctor Aldover; "no such thing-it's
the church-yard extending to the edge all nonsense —get away with you."
of the road.                          The young man retired at his bidding;
The house on the left of the lane —I but the Rev. Gideon Samson shook his
mean the house with the little strip of head with a grave and doubtful expresflower-garden-was both neat and pic- sion of countenance, observing, " I hope,
turesque-a combination not frequently my good and learned friend, your obserfound. The lower story-whether upon vation just now does not extend to imply
the consideration that land was dear and a disbelief in the actual existence of
sky was cheap-had been so constructed witches or in the apparition of the spirits
as to occupy considerably less space of the dead."
than the upper story, which projected   " Nay, heaven forbid, reverend sir,"
on every side nearly a foot and a half replied Doctor Aldover. " That witches
beyond the sub-structure, resting on have existed we know from the Book of
massive beams, which were supported books; and that spirits have appeared
by the walls beneath. The roof was and do appear is rendered positively
thatched, but in the most perfect order certain by direct testimony which cannot
and repair, and the walls were nicely be gainsayed; but whether these be
whitewashed, although  an  immense mere astral spirits, or really and truly
quantity of superfluous timber, forming the disembodied soul of a departed pera sort of curious pattern upon the front son, sometimes puzzles me sorely to deand sides, was still distinctly visible, termine."
giving the whole building the appear-   "Astral spirits!" exclaimed Mr. Gidance of being covered with a damask eon Samson. "That is a mere fantastic
table-cloth.                        absurdity, Doctor Aldover, a mode of
Here lived good Doctor Aldover; explaining away facts which both Scripand towards the hour of sunset on the ture, common sense, and evidence reday I have mentioned, he was sitting, as quire us to believe. I suppose your
was not at all uncommon in those times, sceptical coxcombs would have it that
before his own door, with a table by his this fairy of the castle is an astral spirit
side, and a jug of ale upon it.    forsooth; but I will ever maintain that
Close to him, hat in hand, and ready it is purely and simply the reappearance
to depart, was the youth with whom we on this earth of a person long dead perhave seen him speaking upon the green mitted, for some inscrutable purpose, to
before the old castle; but upon the other revisit scenes once familiar. I suppose,




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                          13
doctor, you do not think fit to disbelieve    This reply  seemed  somewhat to
in this apparition, at least, when it has soothe the worthy Presbyterian, who,
been seen by so many."                as has been before explained, was not
"Heaven forbid that I should disbe- by nature a harsh or unkind  man,
lieve in the fairy," answered Doctor A1- though, as is always the case with sects
dover meekly. "- Have I not seen her claiming the utmost extent of free judgmyself, which is better than all argu- ment, he was somewhat intolerantof the
ment, my reverend friend."           opinions of others. His second reply,
" I don't know that," answered Mr. however, though couched in rather more
Samson, who was in a disputatious courteous terms than the first, was but
mood; *" there are some modes of argu- little more satisfactory to the stranger;
merit, Doctor Aldover, which are more for it only went to show him that there
convincing than even the evidence of our was but small chance of his obtaining
own senses."                          any accommodation in a place where,
A sly smile came upon the worthy for some reason or another, he was dedoctor's face, but the conversation was termined to remain.
cut short by the appearance of a third   His face displayed the mortification
personage on the scene; no other, in which he felt very clearly, and just as he
fact, than the young stranger, who had was turning away with an expression of
passed a portion of the evening in sleep- thanks for what little information he had
ing under the castle walls. He walked obtained, good Doctor Aldover, who
forward slowly and gravely in the twi- had been gazing at him with some inlight, leading his horse by the bridle, as terest, but without speaking, came to
if, either weary with a long ride, or his relief, saying, "My dwelling is a
busy with deep meditations; and, as he very humble one, sir, but if you can
approached the spot where Doctor Al- content yourself with that, such accomdover and his companion were sitting, modation as it can afford is very much
he raised his eyes and looked at them  at your service for the night."
steadily, and then, with a graceful salu-   The young man's countenance brighttation, addressed the worthy physician, ened instantly; and after some faint
inquiring if he could direct him to an apologies for the trouble, et cetera, he
iinn, or any place where he could obtain agreed to take up his abode with the
accommodation for his beast and him- doctor, saying, " all that I require, kind
self during the night.                sir, is a hard bed, a crust of bread, and
" There are few inns or taverns in a glass of water."
this neighbourhood, I thank God," said   "Oh! we can do better for you than
Mr. Gideon Samson, taking the words that," replied the worthy old man; " we
out of Dr. Aldover's mouth. "W Ve have can give you-"
not here much to do with lewd travellers,   The doctor did not conclude the senand no habitual revellers of our own; tence as he had intended, for he stood
those are evils we are free from at least." in some awe of his Presbyterian friend,
The answer was certainly not civil, and the catalogue of good things which
but yet the young stranger only heard he was about to' enumerate being susit with a smile. " There may be other pended on his lips, " We can give you,"
travellers, my good sir," he said, "be- he said, " a cup of as good ale as any in
sides those whom you designate by so the country, and a frugal supper-it
harsh a name, and I trust I am one of may be of bread and cheese, or perhaps
them. There are travellers for business a rasher; and though my beds are not
as well as for pleasure; and they needs of down, yet they are soft enough to
must find some place of public enter- sleep  upon, especially  for a weary
tainment if they have no friends in the man."
part of the country where they may be.   The invitation thus given and reSuch is my case at present, and I shall ceived seemed the signal for worthy
think it somewhat hard, if with a weary Mr. Gideon Samson's departure; and
beast and tired limbs of my own, I am  to say the truth, his going did not apforced to journey many miles onward, pear at all unpleasant to Doctor Aldobecause some people might make evil ver, whose face brightened at his deuses of an inn, were such a thing toler- parture. He let him be out of earshot,
ated in the village."                I however, before he made any comment,




14                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
talked to the stranger about stabling his in sugar, or that rum was an evil spirit;
horse, talked to himself as to what room  except when he got too strong for a
he should lodge him in, and then, call- man. We will have a bowl of punch, I
ing loudly for a personage named declare, but with all moderation, for it
Joshua, declared repeatedly that he is many a year since I took a ladle-full
was very happy indeed to have the with a-a friend."
opportunity of showing his young guest   By what free-masonry it was- that he
some attention.                      discovered the stranger to be of the
The stranger received his civilities same party to which he himself had
calmly and gravely, waited with his formerly belonged- whether by the
bridle in his hand till Joshua appeared long locks of curling hair, or by the
in a gardener's habit, and then, resign- cavalierish cut of his vest, or by the tie
ing the charge of his steed to him, of his cravat-I cannot say, but certain
walked with his host into the house, it is, that good Doctor Aldover felt a
and entered a little parlour, to which moral conviction that his guest had a
one descended by a single step. When great deal more of the Cavalier than
the door was closed, however, he too the Roundhead in him; and yet it was
began to smile; and, taking the doctor's a sort of timid, half-frightened assurhand as he welcomed him courteously, ance, which required some sort of conhe said, "I rather imagine, my kind firmation from  his own lips.  Such,
friend, that your hospitality is shown to however, the stranger did not vouchsafe
one not altogether unknown to you, al- to give, but merely replied in a somethough you have forgotten him. Time what thoughtful tone, " Punch is no bad
has chlanged you much too, but I can mixture, my reverend friend, when both
not be mistaken in thinking that I am  compounded and drank with due disright in calling you fMr. Aldover."  cretion;" and taking this admission as
" To be sure, to be sure," answered confirmation of the judgment he had
that clerical physician. "I will never formed, the worthy doctor hurried out
deny my name; but in good sooth, to procure the ingredients for the frayoung gentleman, yours I cannot tell; grant bowl, while the stranger looked
and yet your face comes back upon my after him  for a moment with a slight
memory like a dream.  I wish you smile, and then leaned his brow upon
would say where I have seen it."     his hands, and closed his eyes with the
"It matters not, my dear sir," replied air of a man exhausted by fatigue either
the young gentleman. "You saw it of mind or body.  The short sleep
last in terrible times, which it were which he had obtained under the castle
safest both for you and me not to speak walls was all that his eyes had known
of."                                 for two whole days and nights, and he
Doctor Aldover looked all round the certainly still felt drowsy. He strugroom with a timid glance, as if he ex- gled against it, however, for he was by
pected to see protruding from the wain- no means a sleepy-headed hero, and
scot the secret ears which walls are re- when he felt himself inclined to nod he
puted to have; and lihe murmured in a looked up and gazed round the chamlow voice, " Very true, very true; it is ber, trying to find some object sufficient
better not to talk of such things. They ly interesting to the eyes to keep them
are a severe  and suspicious people from closing. The aspect of the whole
here, with very rank and hasty people place, however, was not very enlivenamongst them. Lord love you! my ing. It was a tolerable sized low-roof
dear sir, a tavern is an abomination in ed room, panelled with dark oak, and
their eyes; and because the boys and having on one side of it a range of pongirls used to dance at the inn-door, they derous book-cases of the same matecalled it a tabernacle for the devil, dis- rial, filled principally with large folios.
possessed the landlord, and shut up the There is a certain degree of sleepiness
house. I am very glad to see you, even in the very aspect of a great numnevertheless, and we will have —we will her of big books. They weigh upon
have a'bowl of punch. There can be the imagination, and make the very
no harm in that surely. I never could mind feel drowsy by anticipation; so
discover that there was any sin in a that side of the room would not do.
lemon, or the bitterness of malignancy He then looked to the other, but he was




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                         15
almost worse off there.  Each panel went down before him, he trampled upon
was surrounded by a wreath of carved them as he went on in the furious charge
flowers, each having been, to all appear- -nothing could resist him, nothing stood
ance, cut out of the very piece of wood against him; onward, onward he was
that formed the panel to which they hurried, as if some supernatural power
were attached.  They were by no gave him strength and command to smite
means badly executed, but yet there down every thing before him. The pike,
was a certain degree of stiffness about and the sword, and the musketoon, and
them, a drowsy immobility, which fell the flaming mouth of the artillery, had
oppressively upon the spirits; one would no fears for him; victory was upon his
have given the world for a breath of air arm and triumph upon his brow, and he
to stir them. It was worse still with thought but of success and conquest.
the different carved heads with which But yet he saw his fellows fall around
the  room  was thickly  ornamented. him; the fiery shot told amongst their
They all looked not alone as if they ranks, the keen sabre hewed them down,
were going to sleep, but as if they were they became thinner and more thin, till
sound asleep already.  A  grim  lion at length he was left alone in the midst
seemed to nod at him here; a sleepy- of the fight, still conquering wherever
looking cherub hung over another cor- he came, still seeing nothing stand bener, as if its eyes, according to the boys' fore him.  Onward, onward, through
phrase, were drawing straws; and the the hostile ranks he dashed, leaving a
devil himself, who was perched up in wide space cleft like a pathway through
the centre of the cornice with a fiddle in the heart of battalions bristling with
his hand, was the very picture of Mor- arms. Onward, onward, from the front
pheus.                               to the very rear, past their artillery,
As the stranger gazed the objects be- through their tents, till not even a stragcame indistinct; and leaning his head gler appeared before him.  Then he
upon his hand, he gave himself up to strove to draw in his rein that he might
the influence, rousing himself only twice, turn again to the fight, but it was in vain
and at length bowed his head to his he did so. The horse's jaws seemed of
fate, and adding his other hand to sup- iron; and, impelled by a power no huport his brow likewise, enjoyed a sew man strength could overcome or guide,
moments of perfect oblivion.         forward he went at the same headlong
Oh! where do its waters flow. In pace, through the standing corn, over
what happy land, where the past is for- the fallow field, across the brown moor,
gotten, and the future all unknown. and the high hill down into the valley,
Thirst for what he may in life, man through the marsh and the deep stream.
will often desire no other beverage so The forest impeded him iot, the very
much as for a few drops from that dark rocks seemed to give way before him;
stream,                              his breath was as free in rushing up the'The goddess dipped her mortal son in Styx,  mountain as in galloping across the
A mortal mother would on Lethe fix."  plain; and miles, and miles, and miles,
Sleep, however, is not always obliv- were left behind, as if the beast had
ion; and although, as I have said, the the wings of thought or hoofs of the
young wanderer enjoyed for a few mo- lightning.
ments that blissful immunity from rack-   The day seemed to go down, thuning thought, it lasted no longer. The der-clouds gathered upon the evening
vision came to renew the past, to paint sky; the night came on; but still, in the
the future. He was in the saddle again, impervious darkness, forward rushed
but not as he had lately ridden. There the steed as fresh as the morning, as
were plumes in his hat, and steel upon unweary as the ever-wandering sun.
his breast, and weapons upon his side. The rider felt exhausted, fatigued; his
He heard the clang of the trumpet, and limbs ached and lost their strength; he
the word of command, and the clash of felt he could not sit his beast much
swords, and the rattle of the musketry, longer, when, in the faint grey light of
and the roar of the cannon. His horse the morning, he saw a wood and an old
seemed to bound beneath him, his hand abbey with its ruined arches and broken
to glasp the reins, his arm to wave the tracery, and there seemed thin and airy
bright and trenchant blade. Trhe enemy figures on the walls and at the windows




16                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
beckoning him with shadowy hands, as palatable. He permitted her to set them
if inviting him to enter.  The reins down upon the table, and make all those
dropped from his hand, his head turned little arrangements upon which maidgiddy, and he fell upon the green sward, servants are so fond of spending more
at the foot of the trees, saying to himself, time than enough, without uttering a
"IHere shall I die;" but suddenly a sweet word in reply to the worthy doctor's obvoice, the voice of a young girl, cried, servation; but when that was done, and
"Denzil, Denzil, rise up and listen!"  the room once more clear, he laid his
And, starting from his slumber, the hand upon his host's arm, saying, " My
wanderer found himself still sitting in dear sir, I was not talking to myself, and:Doctor Aldover's library. The twilight there is something that must be explainhad faded away into night; but yet it ed here. I was called by my name not
was not dark, for the moon had risen two minutes ago; I answered, and reand was looking in at the window. He ceived a reply in return. All this in a
could see every object around him as place where I know no one-am known
plainly as if it were day, but yet he to no one that I know of!  Had it been
could not perceive whence that voice a man's voice, I might have understood
came. "It was in a dream," he thought; it in part at least; but it was a woman's
but the moment after he heard it again tongue, and the whole is incomprehenrepeating, " Denzil, Denzil, wake up and sible."
listen."                               " Pooh! pooh!" said Doctor Aldover,
"Am I still dreaming." he thought; "you have been dreaming, my good sir."
and, to assure himself that such was not   "Dreaming I have been, certainly,"
the case, he rose from his seat, exclaim- replied the stranger; "but this took
ing, " Who is it that speaks. Where place when I had awakened from my
are you'"                           dream."
" Near to you, yet far from you," re-   " A change in the vision, that is all,"
plied the voice; "where you can not answered the worthy clerical physician,
come to me yet, though in time you must who did not seem to like the subject alcome."                              together; "it could be nothing else.
" What would you, then 3" cried the When I looked at you half an hour
young man; " what would you with, me agu, your hands were moving upon your
now 3"                              face as if your thoughts were very busy,
"Come to the church at midnight," though sound asleep.-Come, let us to
said the voice, " and you shall hear."   supper, my good friend. Here we have
"Why not now?" demanded the got, I think, a young fowl boiled with
young man; "why not here 3"          barley, and a leaf or two of taragon to
" Come alone to the church at mid- give it good digestion, and there are
night," repeated the voice, " and wait some slices of bacon boiled to give a
in the nave till you are called."   relish to our punch; sit you down, my
"Who bids me do so?" demanded good sir-nay, take an arm-chair."
the traveller.                         The stranger did according to the
But before any answer could be given, bidding of his entertainer, and Doctor
the door of the library opened, and good Aldover helped him liberally to the dish
Doctor Aldover himself appeared with before him; but the young man's appea light in his hand.                tite seemed to fail, for ere he had eaten
"Why you are talking to yourself, more than two or three mouthfuls, he
my young friend," he said. "Yet, after laid down his knife and fell into a deep
so quiet a sleep as you have had for the fit of thought.
last half hour, I should have thought you    "Mr. Aldover," he said, after this
might have chosen some other collocu- had continued for a minute or two, *' I
tor."                               cannot rest satisfied with this mystery.
The young gentleman put his hand to I assure you I was awake, broad awake,
his brow and remained silent for a mo- and I received an injunction from the
ment or two, while a neat maid-servant voice that spoke to me, to go down to'
brought into the room a large bowl of the church at midnight."
punch, together with several plates and   "Indeed!" exclaimed Doctor Aldodishes loaded, if one might judge by the ver with a look of some surprise; "do
odour, with contents by no means un- you intend to go 3"




TIHE LA ST Or' TAE.FAMIIES.                   27
6 I must leave some further insight with or to follow her?" asked the stran-'into the case before I determine, replied ger.
the guest; " and as this occurrence has   " Oh yes!" answered Doctor Aldover;
taken place in your house, I cannot help "one young fellow half drunk vowed he
thinking you can give me an explanation would have a dance with the fairy, and
if you will."                       went up to the castle for that purpose.
"Have you seen any one since your The fairy seemed not inclined to disaparrival whom you know l" asked Doc- point him, for according to his story, he
tor Aldover; "I mean before you reach- saw her by the well within three mined my garden gate; for it seems you do utes after he was there, and followed
know me."                            her across the great court, and suddenly
"'No one," replied his visitor; "I met he received a buffet from  an unseen
no one of any kind, except indeed one hand which laid him at full length upon
personage who puzzled me much, a lady the grass."
in the castle-yard standing just on the   The stranger: smiled.  "Somewhat
opposite side of the well. When I more substantial than fairy favours ususought to speak with her, she retreated ally are," he answered.
before me, and in the end seemed to   "Ay! I see you are an unbeliever,"
vanish away-at least, I could discover replied Doctor Aldover. " I, however,
no farther trace of her."            believe what I have seen, though you
"The fairy of the castle well," said apparently doubt your own eyes, for
Doctor Aldover, in a low voice and in you admit that they were witnesses of
a very peculiar tone. " What was the this sight."
hour'."                               "Nay, I doubt not," answered the
"' Just as the sun was setting," replied young gentleman; "I only think it very
the young man.                       strange. I see no sufficient reason to
"Ay, ay! just the exact hour! It is suppose either that there are not many
very strange how rashly some people intermediate grades of beings between
judge. Now I hold this to be merely God and man, or that some of these bean astral spirit, but good Mr. Gideon ings may not become visible to us even
Samson and many of the inhabitants of on the earth. At the same time, my
this village maintain stoutly that it is dear sir, I entertain no dread of them;
the spirit of some one dead permitted to for although every man has many sins
return for the purpose, doubtless, of to atone for, yet the atonement which
frightening their friends and relations." has been made is all-sufficient if we
The guest leaned his head upon his have but faith therein."
hand and thought, while Doctor Aldover   "Wisely and reasonably spoken," reproceeded to discuss very learnedly the plied Doctor Aldover. " I feel the same.
difference between astral spirits andl I acknowledge and entertain no apprewhat he termed Hammethim, or the hensions whatever; but the people of
spirits of the dead, and when his worthy the place have very different feelings, so
entertainer paused for a moment he en- much so, that you find it very difficult to
quired, " Pray, when did this spirit or persuade any of them to visit the church
fairy first appear l"                or the castle either after night-fall."
"It is some years ago now," answer-   "I am determined to do the former,"
Ced Doctor Aldover, "in the worst times replied the doctor's guest, "and must
of a bad age. VWhen first the thing was use your interest with the sexton to get
talked of, we thought it but the melan- the keys, which I suppose as rector you
ocholic superstitions of the old women of can command at any time."
the place, for it was good Dame Debo-   " Alas! my young friend, I am rector
rah Higgins who first saw the appari- no more," replied the doctor; " I was
tion a~ she went to draw water at the dispossessed just after the battle of Worwell, just as the sun was setting, and cester. Nevertheless, I can get you the
left her pitcher there and came away in keys easily, for they are in the hands of
-a great fright. But several have seen one who is under some obligations to
the fairy, as they call her, sinrce, and me, and I will walk down with you to
all their doubts have vanished in the his house, though it be somewhat far
place."                              off, and I am not fond of the evening
-   Has any effort been made to speak air. Let us finish our bowl first, how



THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
ever, for you will need all the courage belonged aped some of the usages of
that a stout heart and a good strong cup gentility-and separated by a thick parcan supply, to walk amidst those old tition that which to him was drawingaisles and ghostly-looking monuments at room, dining-room, and library, from the
midnight.  There are strange stories offices, although round the latter there
about that church, and true onaes I be- ran a sort of' trellised portico, which we,
lieve."                              in the present day, should call verandah.
"Pray, let me hear some of them,"  In this parlour, on the same night
said his guest; but Doctor Aldover said, during which, for the first time in
"' No, no, I never repeat them, though eight or nine years, Doctor Aldover conmy good successor in the ministry is not sumed a bowl of punch with a guest,
a little fond of spreading them abroad, were seated two persons of very differtill there is scarcely a child in the village ent age and appearance. We will takethat does not go to bed with his knees the one in the arm-chair first. He was
shaking, or a girl that will open her a man of some sixty-eight years of age,
eyes for a moment after her candle is but looking a good deal more-heavy,
out. Here, let me fill your glass."    stout, and venerable, but with a dull
The young man took his full share of sort of look, as if intellect, though not
the stout beverage very readily, and the altogether gone, were a little drowsy.
doctor remarked, not without some sat- His face was reddish about the nose
sfaction, that he looked grave and and on the cheeks, but rather' pale in
thoughtful during the rest of the time the intervening spaces; and his black
they remained in the house.'Whether eye, though not so sparking as it once had
he really entertained any apprehensions been, had a good deal of sharp cunning
or not, however, he steadily maintained in it, perhaps natural, perhaps acquired
his resolution, and in half an hour set by long dealing with the world, that
out with his worthy host in search of the great whetstone of the faculties.
keys of the church.                    On the broad capacious hearth, ale
There was a nice little cottage in the though it was summer time-that is to
green lane that turned off fiom the high- say, the later summer when evenings
road, about a hundred yards before you get somewhat cold-were two or three
cametothe castlegreen. Thelaneplough- lighted logs of wood, and over them the
ed the side of the hill as with a deep furrow old man bent in his arm-chair with his"
and descended rapidly, passed the cot- hands outspread, as if the warm flame
tage itself and a farm-house on the other cheered the icy blood of age.
band, and then took a considerable circuit   Before I go farther, however, as I have
to reach the bank of the stream and the talked of a parlour and an arm-chair, and
lower end of the village, which it accom- a verandah, let me first explain what
plished by four or five little paths stretch- sort of room, what sort of ohair, what
ing out like the fingers of an open hand. sort of verandah it is that I mean. Well
This lane avoided all the turnings and then, dearly beloved reader, the parlour
windings which were taken by the high- was floored with brick; it was low in
road, for instead of circling round any the ceiling; and a great number of
obstruction which might come in its way beams, protruding far beyond the rest
in the shape of a rise or fall in the ground, of the plasterer's work overhead, afit went straight over them all. The little forded convenient positions for driving
cottage I have spoken of was about half- in a nail or a screw to support a numway between the castle and the stream, ber of small articles and some large
a neat, tidy, though lowly building, con- ones, such as hams, sides of bacon, a
taining within itself more accommoda- powder-flask, a pouch or two of shot,
tion than the externals promised; and besides several of these things for which
though it was somewhat lonely, yet in we acquire an affectionate regard in
the clear summer days it had a pleasant passing from youth to age-things which
view both of the church and the castle, are as if they were friends to us, from
and a part of the village, and in the our long familiarity with them.  The
winter a better view still, because the arm-chair, indeed, derived its name fiom
leaves were then off the trees. In the having two wooden arms, one on either
front towards the lane was a very neat side; but if examined closely, it was
parlour —for the personage to whom it found to he nothing more than a settle




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                        19
wlth appendages. The verandah was retire to rest. The domestic labors of
a sort of little rustic portico with a trel- John Brownlow being thus concluded,
lis-work of rough branches, which in he took down his tall, plain, steeplethe summer evenings afforded shade to crowned hat from  a peg on which it
the old man when he thought fit to sit out hung; and, approaching a door which
and drink his glass of ale in the free air. opened from the side of the room withThe other tenant of the room, stand- in a few feet of the fire-place, said, in a
ing behind the first, with a yard or two low voice, "Alice, Alice, I am going
between them, and phial and a cup in out for a while.'
his hand, was no other than the young   No answer was returned, and, after
man we have twice seen with Doctor waiting for a moment, the young man
Aldover, a good-looking, stout, well- quietly mounted the stairs and tapped
formed peasant youth of about six or at a door above. Still all was silent,
seven and twenty years of age, with nut- and murmuring, "How provoking! she
brown curly hair, a good deal of hardy has gone out!" he returned, and seated
color, a bright clear eye, and a look of himself in the parlour, and leaned his
shrewd and merry intelligence.  IHe head upon his hand.
was in the present instance in the act of   "Heaven knows when she will be
persuading his father to take the medi- back now," he said, in a murmur-to himcine ordered for him by Doctor Aldo- self; "and Jane will be gone to bed
ver; but the old man resisted stoutly.  before I can get out. Then, all to-mor"No, John, no," he said; " I'll take row I shall have no time. Where can
no more of it. What's the use, John? she be gone to now, I wonder; she knew
I'm bewitched, boy; there's not a doubt I was anxious to go."
of it; and I am sure old Martha Unwin   He continued in this sort of vein to
did it, because I took her chamber converse with himself, evidently not very
clock for rent."                     well satisfied with the absence of the' Pooh, pooh, father," answered the person he called Alice, till, at the end
son, "'you are not bewitched at all: of about half an hour, some one knockDoctor Aldover says so, and he is both ed hard at the door, and John Browna divine and a physician, so he must low exclaimed, sharply, "Come in."
know. As to Martha, she is a very   Before the words were spoken, howgood old woman, and would not hurt any ever, Doctor Aldover and his young
one for the whole world. She thought companion were in the room; and t'he
you bewitched for being so hard upon former at once began upon the business
her, but she never bewitched you."   which brought him, saying, "I want the
"' Then how came I to bring two tin keys of the church, John. Has your
Lacks off my stomach 2" asked the old father gone to bed?"
man, as if that argument were conclu-   " Yes, sir," answered the young man,
sive; "you saw it yourself."         with a respectful air, " he has been in
" Because you put half a dozen of bed this half hour or more; but if he
them between your teeth, when you were up, I don't think he has got the
were mending the old coffer," answered keys himself, for Alice always keeps
his son; "' I saw that, too, myself; and them now, and she's out, I don't know
if six went in, only four came out of your where."
mouth. Come, father, take the medi-   "Wherever she is, she is in the right
cine; it will make you quite well the place," said Doctor Aldover, " and she
good doctor says."                  won't be long, I dare say; so we will
Itrequired much persuasion, however, wait till she comes back, John."
before the medic:ne,vas taken, and it   " I was waiting for her, too, sir," said
had certainly not been down three min- the young man; " for Betty, the girl, has
utes when old JRoger Brownlow, as he gone to see her father at Crofton, and 1:
was called in the village, remarked, in a did n't like to go out and leave my old
dcsconteerted tone,s "I'm no better, John." father in the house alone for fear any.,"If ~, Ju go to bed, father, you soon thing should happen, though I wanted
will b', replied his son; and at the end to go out for a while very mtuch too;
of an argument of five or ten minutes but if you are going to stop, doctor, till
moe'; the old gentleman was persuaded Alice comes back, there will be no need
to tollow this piece of good advice and of my remaining."




20                   THEI LAST OF Ti-t' -FAIR-IES
" Ah! Jape Unwin, Jane Unwin!" possible portion of the black, dark hair,
said Doctor Aldover. "I know where hide or diminish the beauty of the face
you are going, just as well as if you told beneath.  The young stranger, at least,
me, John; and you are two silly young thought it the fairest face he had ever
people, for your father will never con- seen, and while Doctor Aldover advansent. I am quite sure of that. Well, ced and took her hand, saying, " Ah,
go along with you; it's no use trying Alice! my dear child, your cousin told
to make youth wise. Nature makes us us you were out, and we have been
fools, experience whips us into scholars, waiting your return.  I thought you
and then death takes us just as we are could not be playing truant at this hour
getting the last lesson by heart. Go of night."
along with you, go along with you. I   "I have but this moment come back,
will stay till Alice comes."         sir," answered Alice Brownlow, 1" and,
The young man was not slow in tak- thinking I heard some one speaking, I
inlg advantage of the permission he came down to see who it was, or if my
thus received, and without further cere- uncle wanted anything."
mony or excuses, he put on his hat again   "He is gone to bed," said Doctor
and walked out of the door which had Aldover, "so John tells me; but what
given admission to his two visitors.  we want, my dear child, are the keys
" He's a good lad," said Doctor Al- of the church, which are in your fair
dover, as soon as he was gone; "-he's a possession, I find. This gentleman is
good lad as any in the parish, but his going to see if he can find a ghost or a
father is a nasty old curmudgeon, whose fairy."
whole soul has been devoted to scraping   "He must go up to the castle for the
money together all his life. The young fairy," said the beautiful girl, turning
man is in love too, like a fool, with a her eyes upon the young stranger, who
pretty little penniless thing whom his then, for the first time, perceived that
father will never consent to his marry- those eyes were deep blue; and, to say
ing; so the poor boy is in a perilous the truth, he gazed into them so earnestway, as old Shakspere calls it. I know  ly, that the colour came a good deal into
not what will come of it, I am sure, and her cheek as she proceeded; "but I do
sometimes think it almost a sin to pro- not think he would find any fairy there
loug the old man's life, for it is a plague either. I have never seen one, at least."
to himself and no good to any one. It   "Ah! you are a little sceptic," said
is not my business, indeed, and God will Doctor Aldover.  "Do not let your
take him when he thinks fit."        friend, Gideon Samson, hear you, or
There was a slight rustle as the old he will put you to penance for your ingentleman spoke, and turning sharply credulity."
round, as did also his young companion,   The girl laughed, as if she did not
they saw, coming down the stairs, the much fear such a result, but merely refoot of which was visible through the plying, "I will go and fetch the keys
door which John Browntow had left directly," she ran away up the stairs
open, the form of a young girl of seven- again, leaving one at least of the party
teen or eighteen years of age, which in wonder and admiration.
well deserved their attention, and that   "She is marvellously beautiful," he
of the reader also. It had all the light- said, as soon as he thought she was out
-ness of youth, and those graces which, of earshot.'given by nature to a very early period   "And not less beautiful than good,"
of life, are but too frequently obliterated said Doctor Aldovar; "but there is a
in the poorer classes of society by the very cold heart unylr  that bright face
labours and the toils to which poverty is -at least so say the youths of the viiexposed. In Alice Brownlow, however, lage, I know not with what truth. She
-not one of those graces had been effaced, may be cold to love, but she is not cold
and the perfect symmetry of every limb to charity, that I can vouch for; for she
-was only the more displayed by every goes about healing the wounds he. uncle
movement that she made. Not even makes, and tley ale a good many. That
the prim and unbecoming dress of the old man was once the sexton here, ndd
day could in the least conceal it, nor the he has somehow  contrived to amrss
plaitn mob-cap, showing the smallest sufficient wealth to make himself mastei




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                          21
of half the cottages in the village; but suspicions he might conceive. I must
here she comes again with her foot of even trust you, I suppose."
light. So here are. the keys, my dear;   " Trust is always best," said the fair
but you must tell us which is which, for girl beside him; "I have found it so,
there seems a score of them."         and it will be so to the end. My cousin
Alice Brownlow smiled; "I will go John will not be home for an hour or
with you and show you, sir," she said, more, but if the gentleman will then
"if you like."                        come down, I will show him the way
"He is not going now," answered the to the church and open the doors for
good doctor, "but at an hour when even him.  The way back he must find himyou, Alice, would be afraid to go."   self, I fear, for I cannot stay, and he
"Oh, no!" replied the girl, " I have can put the keys in the shed by the
no fears at any time."'               door."
"What, at midnight?" asked  the   "Farewell, then, for the present,"
stranger.                             said Doctor Aldover; and thus the con"Oh yes! or at any time," she an- versation ended, with the exception of a
swered. "I do not know why people few words of very little interest to the
should be more afraid at midnight than reader, though of more to the young
any other hour, if they have good con- stranger.
sciences."                               " Has your uncle let the two rooms
"Then if you will, you shall be my above?" asked the good physician.
guide," said the young gentleman some-   " Not yet," replied Alice.
what eagerly;  but Doctor Aldover   "Nor ever will," said  Doctor A1looked a little grave, saying, "It is dover; "he asks too much for them,
hardly fit, I think. What will your my dear."
uncle say, Alice 2"                     The young stranger thought that he
" Nothing," replied the girl, looking should very much like to make the
up with afrank smile inDoctorAldover's worthy doctor's words prove false. It
face. " He leaves me to do as I please was a rash, bold fancy that he took to
in all things, and he knows I do not use hire those two rooms, and he revolved
my liberty amiss. Do you think I do, the subject in his mind all the way
kind Doctor Aldover?"                back, not forgetting, however, to re"' Heaven forbid!" exclaimed the old mark every turning of the road, that
man; "but this gentleman is nearly a he might find his way to the cottage
stranger to me, Alice. I beg your par- again at the appointed time.
don, sir," he continued, turning to the
stranger, "but I look upon this dear   The moon's short-lived reign was
girl almost as my own child."         over, and the night was dark.  There
" She is perfectly safe with me," re- were many stars indeed in the zenith
plied the stranger, warmly; "I trust twinkling bright and clear, but round
the day will never come when the the horizon on every side there were
very thought of injuring or insulting heavy mists, not exactly amounting to
one like her could even enter into my clouds, but which shut out all the lesser
mind.".                              lights of' heaven.  There were many
" I am quite certain of it," said Alice trees over the road too, so that it was
Brownlow; "I never met with insult only now  and then'that Orion or the
from any one yet, and I do not think Bear could be seen; and the stranger.
this gentleman would be the first.    and Alice Brownlow walked on almost
"Not for aught on earth," he an- in darkness.  The whole world was
swered; "but as your kind friend here silent around, except when  from  a
is still afraid, I see, though it may be a great distance the baying of a dog was
trespass on his time, why should he not heard through the clear stillness of the
come with us'"                       night.  There was a strong odour in
" That must not be, I am afraid," re- the air too, as if'the flowers were giving
plied Doctor Aldover. "My good friend out their perfume more liberally to the
Gideon is somewhat jealous, and were cool night air than to the warm  and
lihe to hear that I, his dispossessed pre- eager day; but yet there was a kind
decessor, were visiting the church at of faint sensation crept over the frame
niidnight, there is no knowing what under  the  overpowering  sweetness




22                    THE LAST OF THE FAIRIE.$
which  seemed  to breathe firom  the thoughts seemed to oppress himi.  He
flowers and shrubs,-a languor tend- asked himself if he were going to turn
ing to fanciful imaginingrs, to which the coward amd be afitaid; and, certainly, a
absence of all sight anid sound ccn- degree   of awe, such as he had never
tributed also.                         feli t  befre, crept over him, and he felt: The stranger felt it gain upon him; cold and chilled. JIe thought conversathe stories he had heard told and well tion might deissipate such sensations, and
authenticated came back to his mind; brealkinglthe long silence, he said, "'You.
a.nd many a curious question suggested are sceptical about ghosts and spirits, I
itself as he walled on. To say that he find.  Do you not believe in the existwas superstitious would ii()t be correct, ence of such beings at all?"
for in regard to beings beyond or above   "Certaihly I do," replied the girl,
the earth, he believed rather less than with her sweet plaintive voice; "it is a
more than the great majority of people belief I cherish and am fond of. I not
in his day; but yet he could not help only know that they exist, but I know
feeling that, in reasoning analogically, that they appear; but that is very differthere was every cause for believing, first, ent firom fbarinog them."
that the interval between the All-creat-   "Then have you ever seen one i."
ing Spirit and the first of corporeal asked the stranger.
creatures was not an unfilled gap-that   " Nay," she said, "I did not come to
the upper world, if I' may so term it, tell you ghost stories.  You will see
was tenanted, like the inferior world in enough,. perhaps, to-night to convince
which we dwell, by innumerable class- you, if you doubt or misbelieve; for
es, infinite gradations of spiritual beings; niany of the hard and incredulous have
mnd he then asked himself, ".Is it to be learned,in the very church-yard to which
supposed that an impassablebarisplaced we are going, to know that there are
against all communion between the pure- other things worthy of men's thoughts
ly spiritual and the next link in the great besides the mere seeking after gain, the
chain of creation?"                   strife of ambition, or the empty toys
Reason instantly answered, "eNo;" with which grown children amuse the
and, whether he looked to the evidence busy infancy of this life."
of Scripture, or history, or the testimony    "You are a strange being," said the.
of living men, he found an infinity of strangel, " and seem  to have busied
recorded facts to bear out the conclusion yourself with things very difl'erent from
that communications of various kinds those which usually occupy girls of your
could and did take place, between the agte and stat.io.la  "
fiee spirit, detached fiom  all earthly    " I have," she aiswered.': Left an
bonds, and the immortal essence prison- orphan at a very early age, my own
ed in the clay.  He thought of all the thoughts have been my companions, and
bold and daring carelessness with which some old books, which, if they were
hlie regarded such subjects at ordinary more read, might render men and wotimes, and again he asked himself, if it men wiser than they are.  But yonder
was not the daily round of business, the is the church-yard. Pray, remember, sir,
turmoil, and. hurry of the strife of life, that those who are good have nought to
the worldliness of our whole existence, fear from either worse or better spirits.
that withdrew us from a sense, a con- A  free conscience  and a bold heart
sciousness, a conviction that we were need dread nothing on this earth or beever in the presence of multitudes of yond it."
fellow-spirits unseen, unknown, but who    She spoke in a low and solemn tone,
might, if we were less absorbed in the and certainly her words did serve to
dull things of earth, manifest themselves cheer, though they seemed intended to
to us in some mode, to warn, to eacour- encourage.  The stranger looked forage, or to uphold.           ward on the path which they were folBusied with these thoughts, lie almost lowingi; but the darlkness was too proforgot his fair companion for some time, found for himni to see any thing but the
as she walked on beside him, in her grey rounded forms of some large old trees,
dress, and with a black silk scarf shroud- with the dark tower of the church rising
ing her head, shadowy almost as his above them.  In another minute he
imaginations.  At length, however, his stood  beneath the waooden  shedded




THE LAST OF THiZ FAIRIES. 
polrtco of the church-yard, where, in the step retreating in the deep silence of
service of the Church of England, the the night, and then all was still again;
clergyman first meets the corpse; and and he stood before the open door of the
he could see the low crumbling wall church alone. lie felt a hesitation-he
that surrounded the cemetery stretching asked himself if it were not folly to go
away far on either side.              on at a summons so strangely given;
"It seemns very extensive," he said, but something impelled him  forward,
in a low voice.                       and he stretched out his hand to push
h"It had need," replied his guide, the door farther back.  At that very
d; for there are many dead lie here: the instant there was a loud clang that
great and the humble side by side, the made him start, as with a slow, swinggood and the bad, the oppressor and ing, wave-like sound the great clock
the oppressed, the young and the old; began to strike the hour of midnight,
the dust mingling with the dust through lie  felt ashamed of his sensations,'far-back centuries; the spirits to their ashamed of having started; and with a
several tasks as God shall appoint determined step he entered.
them.".                              All was dark within, and he had to
As she spoke she unlocked the outer feel his way. The first thing his hand
gate, and led the way on as if so famil- touched was one of the small narrow
iar with the place that she could not pillars of a cluster-column, feeling cold
miss her way; but her companion as and death-like; and then came an iron
ihe followed stumbled more than once railing round a grave.  That guided
over the little mounds of earth cast up him  on some way; but then putting'upon the breasts of the dead.  They forth his right arm, he suddenly laid his
passed through the tall old trees which hand upon the icy fingers of a statue,
nearly encircled the church-yard, and and the first impulse was to draw back'then the young stranger could see dark as if he had touched a corpse. The
-masses of the building itself through the stillness was overpowering, too;  it
=dim  faint air.  It was a large and seemed more profound, more deathheavy pile, with many a projecting but- like than without.  In the free air,'tress, and many a tall narrow window, there had been a light rustle amongst
while high up in air rose the large the trees; the very sigh of the nightsquare tower, solemn and mysterious in wind had taken away from the solemniits look.                             ty of the silence. IIelre, everything was
"What is that?" asked the traveller hushed and mournfully quiet, not a:as they came near; " there seems a breath of air moved through the gloomy
light there-a faint small light."     aisles, and there was a chilly sensation
" Nothing but a glow-worm  on a in the place, a close clinging coldness,
grave," replied the girl; " the image of that depressed the heart and filled the'fame after death;" and she walked imagination with gloomy images. The
-quietly on till she stood beneath the low  grave and the worm, and the icy chill
projecting porch. It was evident that of death, and the everlasting silence,
the place and the hour had their im- and  the slow  corruption, presented
pression with her-if not of fear, still of themselves involuntarily to the mind,
awe; and with hasty hand she sought and he wondered if the disembodied'the key of the church in the large bunch spirit could be permitted to see, and
she carried, and applied it to the key- trace day by day the awful changes of
hole in the heavy door.              that corporeal frame in the powers and
Before she turned it she asked al- beauty of which it perhaps once glorimost in a whisper, "Is your heart still fled itself.  His thoughts were very
strong."                              dark, and his heart heavy, as he reached
"Yes," replied her companion; and the spot as the transept by which he'she opened the door.                 entered joined the nave. He turned to
" Take care how you go," said the the right and to the left, endeavouring'girl, 6"for the chancel is full of tombs; to see the objects around, but at first:and remember to shut the doors after nothing was perceptible but the tall
you and lock them. I must now leave windows on either side, looking at him
ou."'                                like dim strange-shaped eyes, as the less
For a moment lhe heard her light intense darkness without them  gave




24                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
some relief from the black obscurity of good deal, but he had no time to quesall the rest. The next moment, how- tion with himself, for the voice repeated
ever, somethling, white, of. the size and from the other end of the church, "Denin the form of a hunman figure, seemed zil, Denzil, follow, follow!" and with a
to gleam upon him at the farther end of strong resolution, and a quick step, he
the nave; as he gazed towards it he hurried on, guided by the voice.  The
could see it more distinctly. It moved church had been stripped of many of
not, but remained without any apparent its monuments, the rich screen had been
change in one spot; and clasping the torn down between the choir and the
fingers of his left hand round the sheath nave, the seats of sculptured oak had
of his sword, he took a step or two to- lighted the fires of the Puritans, and all
wards it. The figure was now more was fiee and open firom one end to the
defined, apparently that of a woman, other. But just beyond the northern
habited in a long white robe; but still wing of the transept, Denzil could see
it was perfectly motionless; and the the spot from which the light seemed to
young stranger said in a low voice, "I issue, still faint but stronger there than
am here! what do you want with me?" anywhere else; and as he approached,
There was no answer, and with a it appeared to him  to rise from the
hasty determination, advancing straight ground. A step or two farther showed
towards the object he beheld, he found him a large flat stone, like the covering
that it was a figure of white marble of a vault raised high, and the gleam
upon a low sepulchral monument.     coming up from beneath; and when he
"Can I have been the sport of my reached the edge of the aperture, he
own fancy?" the young man asked him- could perceive the first steps of a stone
self; "can I have been still dreaming stair-case, descending apparently into
as the good old man said when I thought the vaults or the crypt of the church,
I heard this voice calling me?  no, no; He hesitated for an instant as to whether
thatis impossible!" and turning towards he should descend, but the voice again
the other end of the church, he repeated called him by name, and repeated "' Folaloud, "I am here! who is it sent for low, follow!"
me "" "I will," murmured the stranger to
There was a momentary silence, and himself, " whatever bethe consequence;"
then came a low, sweet, beautiful strain and with a feeling of awe, for I will not
of music, solemn and sad, but exquis- venture to call it fear, he leaped down
itely touching; and the yotng traveller to the top, or landing-place, of the small
stood listening in silent delight. But stair-case, and began the descent. "I.
yet there was something unearthly about shall soon see whence this light comes,"
it too. Now it seemed far off, now it he said; but he was mistaken, for ho
swelled nearer to the ear, now rose into found the faint rays still gleaming up,
the high treble, now sunk muttering casting a long shadow behind him as he
down in the bass. Suddenly it ceased, went down. Near the top the steps
and the same sweet tongue which had seemed new and fresh, at least compared
spoken to him  before said, "Denzil, with those below; for although they were
Denzil, follow, follow!"            somewhat stained and green as if no foot
"Where?" asked the stranger.     had trod them for many years, yet they
"To the grave," said the voice.   were sharp-cut and firmly set in the' To mine 2" demanded the young mortar. After the first ten or twelve,
man.                                however, they became rough, broken
" To the grave of one who loved you and irregular, slippery with cold damp,
in boyhood," replied the voice again. and with many a foul insect crawling" Denzil, Denzil, follow, follow!"  over them. A large toad, bloated and
"I will," he replied;' show me the swollen, crept slowly across almost unway."                               der the wanderer's feet, eyeing him in
The moment he spoke a faint light the unaccustomed light, with his large
gleamed through the church, and he brilliant eyes, as if wondering what he
could see dimly around him the gloomy did there; and numerous bats hanging
aisles, and the tallcolumns, and the nu- together in clusters from the mildewed
merous tombs, with the sculptured me- walls, took flight at his approach, and
rmorials of the dead. His heart beat a skimmed away upon their filmy wings.




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                         25,
The descent was long, at least fifty groan and a scream. The light was besteps, turning upon a common centre, fbre him still, and he could no v see a
led him  down, as if towards the very small pale bluish white flame moving
heart of the earth, and still the light re- onward at a distance, but could distinceded before him, seeming as f:ar off at guish no hand that bore it.
the bottom as the beginning of the de-   "Follow, Denzil, follow!" said a voice
scent, till at length a small round arched which came sweetly, almost in a whisdoor appeared at the foot of the stair- per, along the passage, and the next incase, and he saw the faint rays, gleam- stant there was a sound like the baying
ing as befbre amidst innumerable low  of a large dog, while another voice expillars and intersecting lines of mason- claimed, "Down, fiend, down!"
ry. At the same moment the voice said   Silently the young man drew his sword
again, "F ollow, Denzil, follow!" but to out of the sheath, and paused for an inobey was somewhat difficult, for the stant, but immediately the voice he had
ground was obstructed, not only by first heard said, "Fear not, Denzil, folloose scattered stones and fragments of low! nothing living has ever cowed you;
falling masonry, but by the rolled up fear not the dead."
bones of the dead. Skulls with their   "I fear not," answered the young.
grinning white teeth, and wide staring, man, aloud; but yet, if the truth must
eyeless sockets, lay upon the path, and be told, he felt cold and chill, and his
more than once he felt the bones of heart beat quicker than was its wont.
beings like himself cranch and crumble Onward, onward, he went for nearly a.
under his tread as he marched along. quarter of a mile, the light still precedIt made his blood run cold to think that ing him, casting a bright glare upon the..
his steps were upon the ruined relics of yellow brown damp that hung about the,
mortal men, and he strove to see where walls, and the drops of moisture that
he set his foot, but the light receding every here and there percolated through
fast, left him in a sort of semi-darkness, the stones of the vault overhead. At
while a hooting owl flapped past him on length the passage seemed to open out,
its downy wings, and stirred the damp- and he caught a faint sight of what
smelling air around.                 seemed a large octagonal chamber with
Smothering his repugnance, lie strode something that looked at first viewlike an
on hastily, perplexed and bewildered by altar in the midst, and the moment after
the numerous arches and the low col- the light was suddenly extinguished, and
umns that supported them, and unable he stood in total darkness.
to perceive in what precise direction the   "Twentystepsfarther," said the voice,
light was carried, while a low murmur- "then ask what questions you will, and
ing sound, as if of a multitude of voices they shall be answered."
talking at a distance, met his ear, and a   With his sword still in his hand, the
cool fresh air came and waved about young man strode on till nineteen steps
the curls around his brow.           were measured, and as he took the
"This is indeed strange," he thought, twentieth the blade of his weapon struck
"I know not whether I am dreaming or against some hard substance, and pro-,
awake. What can be the object of duced aringing sound around him.
bringing me hither! Yet it is vain to   " Why have I been brought hither.'
think of retreating now," and on he he said aloud.
went till suddenly he came to what   " To receive advice which may lead:
seemed the cold face of a rock, roughly you to fortune," answered a deep stern
hewn and fashioned, into what the old voice.
architects called rustic-work, with a small   " I must know the giver of the advice
narrow archway through which the light before I take it," said the young man;
still streamed, though it was partly ob- "yet let me hear it."
structed by a heavy stone door, left half   "It is written down," replied theopen.  The young stranger pushed it same tongue which had before spoken.
back, using all his strength, but it rolled " Those who give it, know what you
easily on the pivot which supported it, know not, see what you see not, underand striking against the masonry which stand what you do not understand. They
lined the passage beyond, produced a are with you, but not of you; they have 
hollow sound and a sharp clang like a guided you, and will guide you, they




sI HE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
have watchled over you from  youth to tomb of her who guarded your youth,
manhood; they would fain see that and was a mother to you whbt  your
manihood great and good, but your fate mother was laid in the grave. Then
must be of your own shaping, they can take up the paper, begone, and obey."
but help."                             The young man knelt by the tomb,
"' Where shall I find this writing?" catching sight of one name inscribed
asked the young man.                 upon it as he did so, and bending his
"Will you obey the words that you head, with the tears streaming from his
Shall find written." demanded the voice. eyes, upon the cold gray stone, he pray"That will depend upon what they ed for an instant as fervently as he had
are." was the answer. "4I will do nought ever prayed in life. Then, rising, he
against my country, or the cause which stretched out his hand and took the paI have always served."               per, and the moment he had done so all
"If you would free your country from  was darkness.
a yoke more burdensome than that of   Denzil Norman stood bewildered for
the bloodiest tyrant that ever ruled, if a moment or two beside the tomb, with
you would render triumphant the great his thoughts all troubled and his heart
cause in which you have fought and beating fast.
bled-if you would raise yourself high   " Stretch forth your hand," said the
in honour, and merit gratitude and re- deeper voice of the two which he had
nown, you will follow the advice given, heard, and without reply he obeyed.
unquestioning and unhesitating."     The moment he did so, his fingers were
" If I understand you right," answer- clasped tight in the grasp of another
ed the young man, "I will do so; but hand; but it was not a hand of flesh and
tell me who and what you are; I would blood. The hardest-working artisan in
fain see you face to face."          all the world never had a hand like
"'.Him  you cannot see," said the that-cold as that of the dead, and hard
sweeter voice which he had first heard. and stiff as adamant. He would ha-ve
"Denzil Norman, ask not what is not withdrawn his fingers from those that
permitted."                          clutched them, but he could not; and
"JBut you, you," said the young man the voice said, " Follow, follow!"
eagerly; "you, I think, I have already   On he went, as the cold hand guided,
seen; show yourself now."            slowly and silently; for though the
"So be it," replied the voice, and in- young gentleman spoke twice, he restantly a light shone through the old ceived no answer.  The way seemed
place, again displaying the octagon stone interminable in the darkness and the
chamber, with its vaulted roof, and silence, and there was an oppressive
niches as if for statues, all around. Ex- feeling in the air which showed him
actly in the centre was a plain stone that lie was still in the vault. At length,
tomb with an inscription on the slab of however, a gust of filesh night wind
free-stone on the top, and over it were came upon the young man's cheek, and
scattered a profusion of fresh flowers, in the moment after he perceived a low
the midst of which lay a small roll of' door open before him, with the faint
paper. One object, however, attracted external light just marking it out in the
the whole of the young man's attention. darkness. IHe turned quickly in the
One of the large niches, some five or hope of seeing who was his guide, but
six feet from the ground, seemed open at the same moment the hand relaxed
like a Gothic arch, and filled with light, its grasp, and the voice said, "' Forin the midst of which stood the same ward!"
beautiful figure he had beheld by the   Three steps more brought him upon
castle well, clothed as before entirely in the green grass of the church-yard, and
white from head to foot, with long rich the instant he had passed through the
curls of glossy, light brown hair, falling archway the door banged to with a
over'her neck, and breast, and shoulders. loud clang, which made the whole of
He paused in deep silence and amaze- the old building echo with the sound.
ment, and then, stretching out his hands   At day-break Denzil Norman sat in
towards the figure, he was about to his room at Doctor Aldover's alone with
speak, when' the sweet voice said, the dove-coloured light of dawn stream"Pray for an instant by the side of the ing in through the window, and falli




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                        27
upon a table before him, on which was Doctor Aldover himself, no longer unstretched a scroll covered with charac- der the exhilarating influence of a good
ters written in very black ink. The pa- glass of punch, had been exceedingly
per was yellow as if with age, and part of shy of the subject. Not so Alice Brownthe writing, at least, was in a tongue or low, however, for she not only spoke
a cypher which the eyes that looked freely of his expedition, but questioned
upon it were unacquainted with. A  him as to what he had seen, in a tone
few lines at the top and at the bottom  so light and gay as to form a strange
of the page were in the ordinary En- contrast with her demeanour on the preglish hand and language, though there ceding night.
was something cramped and stiff in the   Denzil Norman found it somewhat
formation of the letters, which gave difficult to parry her quick inquiries,
them a strange and antique look.  The and only succeeded in doing so by asyoung gentleman gazed on the paper suming the same tone himself. A little
with a thoughtful air, and repeated in a gallantry certainly mingled in his manlow voice, "Stay here a week, and then ner too, whether he would or not; for
journey as a messenger to the north! he thought her even more beautiful by
-Well, it matters not where I stay or daylight than he had done on the preor whither I go. In all places there ceding evening, and the sparkling grace
are dangers; in all places there is a of her whole manner, in this more
Providence. I will obey these strange cheerful mood, seemed to render her
commands; but where can I find lodg- only the more engaging. "I think,"
ing in this place without an inn?  I he said, "that I shall call you the fairy
cannot trespass longer on the hospitality of the cottage, as we have got a fairy
of this good old man."               of the castle on the hill above."
He then remembered the conversa-   "I wish I were a fairy," said the girl
tion between Doctor Aldover and Alice with a sigh; "I could do many things
Browniow, just before they parted, re- then, that I cannot do now."
garding the rooms her uncle had to let,   As may be supposed, Denzil Norand his resolution was soon taken. Ere man did not let slip the occasion of inmid-day he was installed the tenant of quiring how she would exercise her
Roger Brownlow's lodgings; and the fairy powers if she possessed them; and
old man acknowledged, with the sim- she answered, "In healing wounds, in
plicity which not unfrequently accom- making the good and the wise happy,
panies a single passion, especially that when an adverse fortune dooms them
of avarice, that he did not know which too frequently in this life to sorrow and
had done him most good-the having disappointment."
let his rooms, or Doctor Aldover's last   "Nay," replied the young man, "that,
dose.                                according to the old legends, is more
Alice, who was present, smiled gaily, the function of one of the nine orders
and the good doctor laughed, saying, of angels than of an inferior being like
"' The money, Roger; the money! that a fairy. But have you no one in paris your disease and medicine too. But ticular you would benefit."
come, Roger, the young gentleman has   "Oh, to be sure!" replied Alice
given you two gold twenty-shilling Brownlow, with a gay smile; "every
pieces, out of which you owe him ten; one has somebody whom they would
go and get him a couple of fresh Olivers wish to serve."
out of your coffer, or you may forget   "And who would be this favoured one
that he has not had his change."     with you 1" asked Denzil Norman, not
"I'll go, I'll go," answered the old quite well satisfied with the reply. "It
man; " but just let me have a word is perhaps a bold question to ask a fair
with you, doctor, before you go;" and lady like yourself."
away he walked, taking Doctor Aldo-   The girl laughed.  "How curious
ver with him. Left alone with his fair men are!" she said. " The lions -are
guide of the night before, Denzil Nor- the painters, and they have represented
man took the opportunity of thanking women as all curiosity, while in truth it
her; 1'or he had remarked that not only is man's peculiar vice; but you shall
no word of his visit to the church in old not be disappointed, noble sir. Some
Roger Brownlow's presence, but that day I will show you the person I would




28                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
wish to benefit, but it must be after Ion- guest that his horse should be well
ger acquaintance."                   cared for at his stable, and that his sadThe young gentleman, as may be dle-bags should be sent down immedisupposed, pressed hard for speedier ately.
knowledge, although, to say the truth,   The rest of the day passed very pleashe had  many doubts whether that antly to Denzil Norman; for although
knowledge would be pleasing7 to. him; he wandered forth for a short time, yet,
for since the day when Adam ate of the as had been previously arranged, he refruit of the forbidden tree, down to this turned to take a homely meal with the
present time, an insatiable thirst has family of his host, and sat long, to say
been upon the mortal lip for knowledge, sooth, in the parlour of the cottage, conIknowledge, knowledge-not only of versing with the fair Alice; while the
good but of evil; it is knowledge that old man nodded in his chair hard by,
we want, whether it be a curse or a and left his lodger and his niece to
blessing, and the devil has ever, as amuse themselves as best they might.
then, an excuse ready for our seek- Denzil found that that conversation was
ing it.                              not without its peril; but there are some
" I would fain know," said the young men fond of standing on the brink of a
man to himself, "whether her heart is precipice, and though he felt a little,
given to any one, and to whom. I feel giddy, yet he would not withdraw. It
she might be a dangerous companion in might be asked, what they talked oft
this secluded place, and if I find her but to be answered by another question,
love has been won, I shall be sufficient- what did they not talk of? for, although
ly armed against the peril. It is strange he was evidently a high-bred cavalier,
that I, who have moved amid the bright- and she a country girl, she led him to a
est and the fairest, in courts and cities thousand themes, and through a thousand
throughout one half of Europe, should courses of thought, which her mind
never see one who seemed to me so fair seemed to tread with ease when his had
and bright as the cottage girl; but it is almost lost its way. Sometimes it seemnonsense thinkingofsuchthings —Denzil ed to him like the course of a butterfly,
Norman in love with the niece of Roger sporting from flower to flower, and restBrownlow!  That is out of the ques- ing but a moment on each; sometimes
tion. I would give a great deal to see like some brilliant dance, through which,
her lover, and I will, please Heaven-  the feet of imagination played sparklingsome mere boor, I dare say;" and he ly, seeming all wild and uncontrolled,
continued to press her on the subject, and yet with a form and plan in every
till she answered, in the same gay tone movement.
in which  she had  hitherto  spoken,   At length, however, she started up,
" Well, well, sir, you shall be satisfied saying, " I must away, I have an errand.
if you will take a walk forth with me to perform;" and passing through the
this evening-quietly and secretly, re- door which has been mentioned, on the
member, inasmuch as my good uncle left of the fire-place, she ascended the
must not know anything of the matter; stairs, as it seemed, to her own apart
for'thereby hangs a tale.'"         ment. A moment or two after, howevThe answer was not pleasant to him. er, while Denzil was looking at the old
He almost wished that he had refrained. man, who was just rousing himself from
Ie fancied he caught a fluttering blush his slumber, he saw a wimple and hood
noon her cheek-that he detected a pass the window of the cottage; and
slight embarrassment in her manner, taking his hat, he issued forth and lookgay and cheerful as it was; and yet he ed for the fair wearer. She was nowas determined to carry the inquiry to where to be seen, however; but that
the end, for, let sceptics say what they was not at all wonderful, for the maniwill, uncertainty is the most painful: fold lanes and alleys, and their thick
state of life.                       hedge-rows, rendered it very easy to
"Give me some sign, then," he said; lose sight of any object of pursuit. For
but before he could finish, or Alice some time he wandered about in the
could reply, Doctor Aldover returned hope of discovering which way she had
with old Roger Brownlow, and soon taken; and then giving up the chase,
after took his leave, promising his late bent his steps towards the castle, the




'TtHE LAST OF TIHE FAIRIES.:grey towers of which he could perceive which he had come in late, inquired
rising high over the trees.          wlhat way the stranger had directed his
"I I will think no more of this fair steps in his walk.
young creature," he said to himself; "I   ""By a small road to the eastward,
have thought of her too much already;" which leads under the castle-walls," reand with a habit which he had acquired plied Denzil Norman.
in perilous times, and many painful cir-   " Then you must have met the solcunistances, he strove to force his mind diers, I suppose," replied John Brownaway from the thoughts that would en- low. "I passed them on that road about
gross it, and fix them upon those calm  an hour ago."
external objects of nature's handy-work,   Denzil gazed at him steadily for an
from which it is difficult even for the instant, and then replied in a calmn tone,
perverse heart of man to extract any- " No, I met no soldiers. What troops
thing that is evil or dangerous. " How  are they, pray I"
beautiful the scene is!" he continued, in   "They are Lambert's men," answerthought; "if I can find my way to the ed the other; "marching towards the'top of yon little hill, I shall get the best north, they told me."
view of the castle, I fancy;" and follow-   " Then they do not remain here," said
ing a path which seemed to lead thither, Denzil Norman, with the same unconhe was brought round under the old cerned manner.
towers, at the distance of about a quar-   "No," replied John Brownlow, "they
ter of a mile. The way was steep, and must go five miles farther before night;
walking quickly, as all men do who but we are to have a company quarter-,strive to fly from thought, he paused ed upon us in a few days, I am told."
after a while to take breath, and looked As he spoke, he fixed his eyes upon his
up to the ivy-covered walls. As he did father's lodger; and when he had drank
so, he suddenly beheld a form appear off his horn of beer, he rose, saying,
upon the battlements of the highest "Have you seen our garden, sir. It is
tower. It was the same he had seen very pretty;" and he took a step or two
the evening before at the well; the same towards the door of the kitchen, through
that he had seen in the vaults. The which was the only exit to the back of
white garments, the flowing hair, the the house. Denzil Norman followed,
light and airy form, which to the eye of saying he should like to walk through
-fancy seemed almost transparent, were the garden with him; but as soon as
there, with the full light of the sun, not they had issued forth, and walked some
yet declined four hours, shining full little way amidst the quaint flower-beds
upon them; and with a rapid, fearless which surrounded the apple trees, John
step, she passed along upon the very Brownlow stopped, and said, in a low
edge of the crumbling walls, and amidst voice, " I think, sir, you had better keep
the tottering pinnacles, till she reached yourself to the house till these men are
the top of a small watch-turret, overhang- gone on."::ing the path which he was ascending,   "What makes you think I have any
and there pausing, as if suspended in cause to fear them." asked Denzil Northe air, with a grave and warning ges- man.
ture she waved him back.               "Your hair, your French boots, and
The young man paused and hesitated; your gilt hilted sword," answered Joha
and three times she repeated the sign, Brownlow. "I know not what may be
then suddenly disappeared from  his done in London, but here we do not see
sight, as if she had sunk at once through such things often; and, depend upon it,
the tower. Denzil Norman gazed down some of the officers would inquire who
upon the ground for a moment or two, you are, and what brought you here.
then turned upon his steps, and found You, of course, know best your own bushis way back to the cottage.         iness, but I have given you my advice
He found the old man with his son honestly."
beside him; and John Brownlow, who   "And I will take it," answered Denseemed to have been informed of all that zil Norman. "But how shall I know
had taken place during his absence in when they are gone I"
the morning, eyed the stranger not un-   "I will let you know," replied the
civilly; and while finishing the meal to other. "Y6 ou had better say nothing to




30                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
-my father, but just sit in your own room, will favour me again with her presence
and pretend to be busy writing."     when I have got a companion with nme
fairer than herself.:"
The evening sun was just setting upon   Alice turned and gazed at him for a
Landleigh Castle and village, when Den- moment with a grave look. " Do not
zil Norman once more walked up the speak lightly," she replied, " of fairy fa21hill with Alice Brownlow by his side. vours, nor ever pretend to doubt wherTheir way lay through the shady lanes, ever you do not; I will go with you to
atlvaarit which the level sunbeams glan- the castle, if.you please, with all my
ced, tinged with a rosy hue; as the sun heart, but it will be of little use, for we
sunk down to rest, and as they caught here know right well that the fairy never
upon her beautiful figure and sweet face, appears but once in the day to any one."
they seemed to the eyes of her compan-   "Indeed!" replied Denzil, "she is
ion to draw forth strange graces and very regular in her habits, then; I
new charms, and his contemplation end- thought fairies were more capricious.
ed with a sigh. It might be fancy, but Nevertheless, I should like to look
he could not help thinking that there through the castle with you, for fair
was something strange about her alto- scenes are ever fairer when we see them
gether —a power, a captivating influ- with one who can appreciate their beauence, which no one seemed able to re- ty."
sist. He had seen her that evening with   Alice looked in his face with a faint
her uncle and her cousin, and they seem- smile. "It is the return of thought for
ed to feel the spell as much as he did. thought," she said, "which brings forth
The old man was tame in herpresence, the treasures of the mind and the heart.
strove to conceal before her even the ill What would the light be without the
qualities he was vain of, and yielded to shade l and even an inferior mind may
her lightest word like a child. The often, by the contrasts it affords, give
young man, though frank and straight- greater brightness to the rays of a highforward, still sprang to do her slightest er one. We have little of such interbidding as if her commands were his change of' thought here," she added with
law; but yet, there was a something in a sigh; "but here we are at the castle
his whole manner to herb, and in hers to walls, and we can go in by this small
him, which swept away at once the sus- gate as well as by the greater one."
picion which had crossed the mind of   They went in, and passing through
Denzil Norman that her cousin might what seemed to have been a narrow
be her lover.                        outer court, soon found themselves in
She had been very gay and cheerful the larger open space with the old casthroughout the day, but now, when they tie well before them.  The sun was
were alone together in those green lanes, shining straight through the arci. upon
the graver spirit had fallen over her the crystal water and the green trees
again; and he found deep and strong above it, but no fairy form was there,
thoughts, powerful often from their very and Alice stood by the side of the well,
simplicity, mingling in every answer and gazed up thoughtfully at the old
which she made him, though from time towers. " Here reigned the bright and
to time a touch of sparkling lightness noble in the days long gone," she said;
would cross the whole, like the sun- " and all have passed away. Their very
beams darting through the shade as they memories are like a faint echo amongst
passed along. He strove to keep pace the hills of words spoken once aloud,
with the variations of her mood, and as and repeated farther and farther distant
she had heard of the arrival and halt for till they became indistinct.  Thus peran hour of the soldiers in the village, ishes man and his memories! I[ wonDenzil told her, in gay and jesting strain, der how many kings and warriors, now
of his pursuit of her fair self some hours forgotten, once thought that they should
before, and the cause which had indu- live for ever in the minds of men."
ced him  to turn back. "I must' be   "All things pass away, and all things
strangely favoured by this fairy," he are renewed, fair Alice," answered Densaid; " and as we seem passing near the zil Norman. " We have-at least I have
castle, I should like to turn in at the -seen all our institutions swept to the
gate for a moment, and see whether she wind, kings'proscribed and slain, princes




THEI3  LST (L. O TE  FARIE S.                   31
banished, lords done away, parliamentas   "She would  not have taken a penny
reduced to a mere name, laws used to for the world, Alice," replied the girl,
destroy laws, and injustice of every kind looking up from her work, and plying
perpetrated in the name of justice. Yet her fingers still.   Should the poor be
froln all this, as when the earth is plough- hard upon the poor."
ed with'the deep share, and harrowed   " Heaven forbid," said Alice Brownwith the rough harrow, will, i doubt low; "but you seem very busy here,
not, spring up the same institutions as Jane. Who is it for."
those which went before."             "Partly for us, partly for them," an" No, not the same," she answered; swered the girl; "but you see, Alice,
"things very much resembling past we have got the clock again. We found
things, but not the same. I'11 tell you the money in the window on Tuesday
how the course of the world seems to morning last. Granny would scarcely
me to go," she continued, laying her use it, for she said it was fairy gold, and
hand familiarly on his arm. " A simple it might turn to leaves or straws when
figure is always the best and the clear- old Roger Brownlow had got it."
est. Did you ever tend a garden. If   " He would not take anything that.
you did, you will know that each flow- was not full weight and tale," answered
er and each tree, if you take the'eed Alice; " be you sure of that, Jane. It
thereof and sow it, will produce things is a good fairy, not a bad one; and if sheof the same kind, but not exactly the ever brings me anything, I shall have
same. Gather the seed of a tulip or a no fears about it."
poppy, and put it in the ground; you   Some further conversation passed,
will have tulips and. poppies spring up and then Alice and her companion took
the next year, but varied from those their way homeward. "Youhave seen,"
which went' before. Thus, methinks, she said, looking up in Denzil's face
with worldly institutions; even when with a smile of some meaning, "those
they perish they leave seed, but that for whose sake I wish I was a fairy."
seed never reproduces the same. Come,   " They seem kind, good people," said
let us not stand speculating here. We Denzil Norman, a little confused with
are amongst dead things-I have living the memory of his own doubts.
ones to show you;" and turning to the   " The old woman tends the sick poor,"
great gate she passed out; then took said Alice, in a slow and feeling tone,
her way to the outskirts of the village, "when they have no one to tend them;
and followed by Denzil Norman enter- and the girl works cheerfilly from dawn
ed a cottage, the door of which stood till night to support her grandmother
open. Within they found a woman in and herself. She will one day become
extreme old age, yet hale and healthy John Brownlow's wife; but that day is
for her time of life, and by her side, afar, and I could wish to be a fairy, to
busily spinning, as fast as her fingers abridge the longhours of expectationfor
could go, as beautiful a country g.irl as them. Now, do yo-u understand,me 3"
ever mortal eyes fell upon.           "I do, at length, entirely," answered
" Ah, Dame Unwin!" said Alice, "I Denzil Norman, warmly; "but such a
am glad to see you back; I hope poor heart as yours may not be easy to un 
Bridget is better."                 derstand at once."
"She is better than any of us, my
dear," replied the old woman, "for she   It was still dark, although there %;avt
is in heaven. The good doctor did all a faint grey streak upon the edge of the
that man could to save her, for her poor eastern sky, and Denzil Norman's head,
husband's sake, and I did what little I was on the pillow, dreaming of Alic.
could do, but it was of no avail, poor Brownlow. He had been at Landleigh
thing. God had called her to himself, six days, and more than once he ha&
and she went. The minister has taken dreamed of her, both  sleeping and
two of the babes home to his house, waking, and each time the vision had
and the doctor put the other one out to become brighter. Suddenlyj however,
nurse, so the poor man's cares are light- the dream.was dispelled, and the sleep
ened."                              broken. There was some one knock" I fear he could not repay you, gran- ing at the door, and starting up, he exny," said Alice,                    claimed, "Come in!"




THE LAST OF THE F'AIRIES.
The next moment John Brownlow  but I shall never forget the hours I have
entered, with a light in his hand. "Up passed here."
and away, sir, as fast as possible," he   "Stay not to speak of such things,"
said. " A company of- Lambert's troops answered Alice; "every moment is
are in the place, and they were reading precious for flight."
last night, where the officers are quar-   "I must stay to give you three corntered, a proclamation, ordering the ap- missions," replied the young gentleman:
orehension of several persons, amongst "first, give that gold Carolus to your
whom  was named one stated to be uncle. I promised him something for
passing  under the name of Denzil attendance. Is it enough."
Norman."                               " Too much," answered Alice.
"'Passing under my  own  name,   "Next, there are five for good Dame
then," said the young gentleman, with Unwin," he continued, rapidly; " I am
a smile.                             poor, or I would send her more. Will
"But not all your names, sir," re- you give them to her for me 2"
plied the young man, "or else they are   "I will," answered the beautiful girl,
mistaken; for some one mentioned your with an anxious look; "what is the
being in the village, and they are to be third. speak quickly."
here at day-break to take you out of   Denzil Norman still held her hand in
your bed."                           his, and his fingers clasped more warm"Well, leave me then, good John," ly round it, while he gazed in her beaureplied Denzil, " and I will rise and go. tiful face with a look of strong affection.
I have been in worse perils than this "The last is," he said, "love me, as I
before now, and shall be in worse still will you, till we meet again."
before they make me lose heart. It is   Alice made no reply, but a warm
hard to be hunted thus like a hare be- glow, like that of the rising sun, sprung
ifore the hounds,: but still we must abide over her cheek and brow.
our fate. Run up to Doctor Aldover's,   "VWill you do that, too?" asked Denif you would serve me, and have my zil, in a low and agitated voice.
horse ready."                          "It were soon promised," replied
" -That is cared for," answered John Alice; "for in a week you will forget.Brownlow; "-the horse is at the end of the cottage girl."
our garden. I will go out in the front   "Never," he replied eagerly; "never
and watch till you are ready. Alice is while I have life. Perhaps there has
below."                              been a struggle, Alice, between preju-,Denzil Norman rose in haste and dice and love; but the struggle is over
fdressed himself; placed all his small for ever, and if I escape —if I live, I
portion of worldly goods in his saddle- will return to ask this dear hand. Oh!
bags, and was about to descend, when, give me hope to cheer me by the way."
rby the growing light, he saw a paper   " Go, go," said Alice, turning away
lying on the window seat.  He could her face; "every moment brings you
not remember having left any there; into danger."
and, on taking it up and looking at it   Before he could answer, John Brown-:closely, he perceived that it was in the' low hurried into the cottage and locked
same hand-writing as that which had the door behind him. "This way! this:been given him in the vaults. He had way!" he cried; "they are coming,aiP tin:,e to examine it further, but hasti- down the hill. Quick, quick!" and he'ly concealing it,in a pocket between his caught Denzil's arm and drew him to-,vest and his shirt, he threw the saddle- wards the door, which led through the:bags over his arm, and went down to kitchen to the garden behind. Alice,;the room below.                     as if by an impulse she could not resist,
The cottage windows were still started forward and laid her hand on
-closed; but Alice Brownlow was stand- that of the young fugitive. Denzil cast.ing beside a table, on which was a light, his arms round her, and pressed his lips'with a grave and thoughtful face. She upon her cheek. "Be true!" she whisidid not move when he entered; but pered; "and you shall find me true."
Denzil advanced towards her at once,   The next instant he was in the garan.d took her hand, saying, "Alice, I den, and he could distinctly hear the;must away, axd that with all speed; measured tramp of marching men; The




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                         33
grolnd  sloped down on That side of the diers sent aga-inest;o have declared for
house towards the river and t;le valley, the Parliamernt, that::he troops in Lonand the thick apple-trees afforded a don have done the same, that Lawson
complete screen from the road to almost and the fleet will abandon the fanatics,
all the little paths which had been form- and that Desborough's force is safe; but
ed in the garden. Through these John above all, let him know  that Fairfax
Brownlow led his companion with a holds York, and that he may trust in
quick step, till they reached a hedge him. Stir not from Corbridge till you
with a little gate in it, within fifty yards see him."
of the stream.                         " These  are  strange  directions,"
To the gate was fastened Denzil thought Denzil Norman; "but yet I
Norman's horse; the saddle-bags were will follow them, although I doubt the
soon fastened to the saddle: and putting accuracy of the tidings. Who can this
his foot in the stirrup, the young gentle- short dark man be."
man held out his hand to his compan-   His reverie was interrupted by the
ion, saying, " Farewell, John, with many, distant blast of a trumpet, and springmany thanks. We shall meet again, I ing on his horse again, he was soon once
trust, in happier days, when I can thank more upon his way northward, nor stopyou better."                         ped till he had put the distance of forty
"' God bless you, my lord," replied miles between himself and Landleigh.
John Brownlow.  "Hark! there is Still the journey before him was long;
some one running down the hill —Away, difficulties and obstacles interposed:
away! Over the turf, that they may not now he found himself in the neighbourhear you."                           hood of some of Lambert's forces, andl
Denzil was in the saddle in a mo- was obliged to take a circuit of several
ment; his horse was fresh and full of miles; now his horse cast a shoe, and
fire; and bounding forward over the no blacksmith was found to replace it;
turf by the river side, he soon bore his now he was impeded by finding no boat
rider beyond pursuit.                at a ferry; and thus eight days elapsed
For two hours Denzil Norman rode before he reached the fair banks of the
on without drawing a rein; but often Tyne.
directing his course to the top of any   It was late in the evening when, after
high hill he came near, in order to ex- descending the river for some fifteen or
amine the country he had passed, and sixteen miles, he inquired for the village
ascertain if any one followed. He could of Corbridge, and was told that it lay
see no signs of pursuit, however, and at about a mile before him. Slackening
length he halted in a meadow by a little his pace, then, that he might enter the
stream, to let his horse drink and crop a place with the appearance of a mere
mouthful of the green grass. His first traveller journeying leisurely on his way,
thoughts were of Alice; but there were he reached the inn door just as the sun
others that came soon and pressed for, was setting, and carefully attended to his
attention. "I will to the north," he said horse before he entered the room of
to himself, "but now for this other pa- general reception. He found it entireper;" and drawing it forth he examined ly vacant, and a host without much cusit more minutely than he had been able tom anxious to show all attention to an
to do before. It was all legible enough, unexpected guest.  The best of every.
and he read the following directions, thing was soon placed before him, and
evidently intended for himself, although his meal was just finished, when he
the paper bore neither address nor su- heard the sound of horses before the
perscription.                       door. Some time elapsed without any
"d Go with all speed towards Newcas- one appearing, and expectation began
tle,"' so ran the writing; "but avoid to fade away, when he heard a voice
Lambert's posts. In the village of Cor- without giving some orders, apparently
bridge, stable your horse at the inn call- to a servant. The next instant the door
ed the Hart. You will meet there a opened, and a stranger entered, who
short, stout, dark man, whom you shall eyed him for a moment and then sat
ask if his name be Gideon. If he reply, down at a distance. Denzil Norman'Yea,' then tell him that Portsmouth examined him well. He was somewhat
holds out against the army, that the sol- above the middle age, a stout man, and
C




~490                 THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
a dark one, but he could hardly be call-   "I have," replied Denzil Norman.
ed short, although he was not so tall as somewhat drily, for he was not altothe young cavalier himself. The ex- gethber pleased at the tone of authority
pression of his countenance was some- which the other assumed. " Here it
what grave and stern; but after the first is;" andl he laid it down upon the table
look, he took no notice of his compan- before him without taking the trouble of
ion in the room until the landlord had rising to deliver it.  The other mazi
served him a frugal supper, and a black smiled, rose from his seat, crossed the
jug full of some drink. As the latter room, and took the paper, examined the
was put upon the table, the stranger cypher by the light, and seemed to read
asked a question in a low voice; and it over attentively;, his brow grew inwhen the room was again cleared, he stantly dark, however, and he demanded
turned his head towards Denzil Nor- sternly, " Do you know the contents of
man, and said, with a less surly expres- this paper, young man?"
sion of face, " The landlord tells me, sir,   "The part which is written in Enyou come from the side of Carlisle. Is glish I do know," answered Denzil Northere anything stirring in those parts?" man. "Of the rest I comprehend not
"He is mistaken, sir," answered one word."
Denzil Norman, "I have not been near   "Happy for you, you do not," said
Carlisle; my journey has been from the the other; "happy for you that your
southward."                          want of reverence makes me believe
"Ay, indeed," said the stranger, and that it is so, for, were it otherwise, I
he proceeded with his supper.        would have hanged you on the tree.be"Perhaps, if you belong to this part fore the door. Nevertheless, you shall
of the country," said Denzil, after a be taken care of; and as you would vashort pause, "you can inform me, sir, lue your life, take care how you use your
where I can find a person who calls tongue with thosepcople in whose hands
himself Gideon."                     I place you. iHo! without there! bring
"There might be more difficult things up a guard."
than that," said the stranger.         " Yes, my Lord General," answered
"Is your own name Gideon!" de- a voice; and the next moment several
rnanded the young gentleman.         soldiers appeared at the door.
" Yea," replied the other. "You have.  As may easily be conceived, the feelnews for me it seems."               ings of Denzil Norman were of no very' I have," replied iDenzil; and he pro- pleasant kind; but there was about the
ceeded to repeat to him precisely the cavaliers of that period an assumption
information which had been contained of indifference to the evils of life which
in the paper. As he did so, he watched was not of the best school of philosophy,
his companion's countenance; and, al- but which affected even those of higher
though he could see that the intelligence toned mind and character. "I should
he conveyed was not without effect, yet remonstrate, sir," he said, "upon being
the indications were too slight for him'subjected to inconvenience for having
to judge whether that effect was pleas- very civilly borne you a message, the
urable or otherwise.                 import of which I did not understand,
"' When did you set out?" demanded if remonstrance were likely to be of
the stranger, after the detail was con- any avail; but having lived long in a
eluded; and, on being informed, he re- country where neither law nor reason
plied, " Methinks the fairies must have are very available, I think it best to hold
given you this information even before my tongue."
the events happened."                  " You do wisely," replied the other,
6" They did," replied Denzil Norman. drily; and then added, addressing the
t'At least I know no other source whence officer of the guard, " Remove him."
the intelligence came."                "Shall we search his person or ex" Indeed l" said the other. " You are amine his papers, my Lord General I~
a good messenger to bring tidings with- demanded the officer.
out knowing whence they come  But   "You will do at your peril any thing
methinks you should have some paper more than the strict letter of my coma
for me, young gentleman; have you it mands," answered the other,' which are,
about you'"  to remove him, and keep him under




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                        36
arrest, with all due civility, till I make no examination took place of his small
further inquiries.  Send Mr. Clarges baggage, which was always carefully
hither."                            placed in the same room with' himself:
1" One question before I go, sir," said and had it not been for the guard at his
Denzil Norman. "May I ask at whose door, and the occasional changes which
command I am to be subjected to im- occurred in his treatment, he should
prisonment, for amongst all the Lord have thought that Monk-had entirely
Generals whom we have lately heard forgotten him. At length, on a wintry
of, I am unacquainted with the name of and inclement evening, the army apGeneral Gideon?"                   proached York, and the well-remem"He was a famous man, too, in his bered cathedral appearing in the grey
day," replied the other, with a faint light, showed Denzil Norman that he
smile, "and a great general; but my was coming near a city where he was
name is Monk."                      known to many, and threw him  into
"Oh! very well," replied Denzil, meditation in regard to the chances
with a mind a good deal relieved, and of effecting his escape by their aid and
without farther comment or resistance assistance.
he followed the officer of the guard out   A little reflection, however, induced
of the room.                        him  to refrain from  attempting  it.
The life of Denzil Norman for some There was something he could not
time was a very unpleasant one, for it help thinking very peculiar in Monk's
was a life of uncertainty and of confine- conduct towartds him.  Perhaps, inment.  The general prevalent belief deed, he was influenced in this view
that Monk was favourable to the royal of the case by the treatment he had
cause of course had its effect in reliev- lately received; for, since the army
ing his mind from any serious apprehen- reached Durham, his fare and his
sions for his personal safety; but yet to quarters had been very superior to
be in the midst of scenes where the those which he had met with before.
great game of policy was playing with- However that might be, he was inout knowing any of the moves, and dined to imagine that the general was
without the power to take any part, un- not so harshly disposed towards him as
certain of his own fate, or the fate of his demeanour at first might have inhis country and friends, was at once duced him to' believe; and in the end
painful and exciting. Rumours he could he asked himself, "I wonder what
not but hear, movements he could not effect perfect frankness will have upon
but see; but the truth of the one, and this man I"
the causes of the other, he could not in, The opportunity of trying was soon
any degree divine.  He was treated afforded to him, for as he was riding
with general civility, and gradually had with a trooper by his side, Monk himmore liberty allowed him than at first; self passed by on horseback, gave him
but still he was obliged to consider him- what seemed to be a casual glance, and
self as a prisoner, and seemed more the rode on to the head of the army. In
sport of caprice than the object of just about ten minutes, however, a young
precaution. At one time he was per- officer appeared, and informed  the
mitted to go out for an hour or two on prisoner that he would be permitted
parole; at another was strictly confined to choose his own lodging in the town,
in whatever place the army might be. upon the condition that he presented
Sometimes he fared well in his prison, himself every morning at the general's
sometimes had little more allowed him  quarters.
than mere bread and water.            "Give my humble duty to the Lord
From the small town where he had General," replied Denzil, "and tell
been captured, he was removed to Ber- him that, for particular reasons, I canwick, then to Edinburgh, then to Cold- not avail myself of his permission till I
stream, and then advanced with the have spoken with him for a moment."
army into England in the midst of a   "Ride on with me, then," said the
severe winter. But that which struck young officer; "but you must be quick,
him  as most unaccountable was, that for he is going forward into the town."
not the slightest inquiry was made with   Monk was soon overtaken, however,
regard to his name, station, or quality; for he had stopped to converse with




36                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
some of his principal officers, and the   "I was perfectly i noraIt of the conmessage of his prisoner was delivered tents," replied Denzil, " not being learnto him as soon as a pause took place. ed in Arabic, or whatever tongue they
He looked at Denzil for a moment, were written in."
from  under his bent and somewhat   "You knew who sent them  at all
shaggy eyebrows, and then beckoning events," replied General Monk; "6 and
him up, as he rode on, he asked him  that was sufficient."
abruptly, "What is the meaning of   "Not so," answered Denzil Northis. Is your money expended i"     man; "I was as ignorant of one as the
" Not so, sir," answered Denzil; other."
"but you cautioned me to be careful   "Strange enough!" replied Monk.
of what I said and did, making me "But to the point: I will give you, as
imagine that you would rather I should I have said, all reasonable freedom upon
have no communication, public or pri- conditions, which are, first, that you acvate, with any of my friends.  I have company me soberly and quietly to
now to tell you that I have more than London, presenting yourself at my
one acquaintance in York and its neigh- quarters every morning; secondly, that
bourhood, with whom I shall most likely you mention to no one who or what
be brought into communication if I am you are; and thirdly, that you make no
at liberty in the city."            attempt whatsoever in favour of persons
Monk mused, "It were well to avoid who may be your friends without comit," he said at last.  "Who do you municating with me."
know at York?"                       Denzil marked with very strong emo"I know the Lord Fairfax," replied tions the last phrase in Monk's address.
Denzil, "and several others in  the In difficult times, and circumstances
town."'                              most perilous to himself, he had learned," I will consider," answered Monk. from very small indications to guess at,
" Retire for the present:" and without if not divine, men's feelings and intenanother word he rode on, leaving his tions, and with a heart greatly relieved,
prisoner in custody of the trooper. he replied," I accept all the terms, my
That night he was lodged at the quar- Lord General, and you shall find that I
ters of the general, and remained two adhere to thetn punctually. Perhaps,
days a close prisoner. He was sitting when you find that I do so, you may
at an early hour on the third morning, grant me permission to absent myself
feeling some mortification at the result for a short time, as I am anxious, on
of his frankness-for though, according many personal accounts, to visit once
to the old copy-line, c" virtue is its own more the place from which I brought
reward," yet we are seldom inclined to those letters you have mentioned."be satisfied with that sort of recompense   "All irq good time, all in good time,'
-when the door opened, and, with his answered Monk; " but now, remember,
slow step and sedate carriage, Monk should yoti have occasion to speak with
himself entered the room and sat down. me, or any information to give, affecting
"You are discreet, young gentle- the good of the state, say it not rashly,
man," he said, " and honest-rare qual- even should I seem alone; for there be
ities in the world.  I can trust you, men full of doubts and jealousies, who
which is what I can say to few men."  have not even scrupled, in this very town
He paused for a moment or two, and of York, to bore a hole through my
Denzil asked himself what this pream- chamber-door in order to gain a hearing
ble was to lead to. The stop was so of my private conversation. I warn
long, however, that he had almost come one who will take a warning, I think;
to the conclusion that Monk had deliv- and I will beg you to remember, young
ered himself of all he had to say, when man, that there is a certain name, which
that officer resumed, "Under these cir- it is an offence to mention in the ears of
cumstances, and upon the assurance of many people in this land with whom I
Lord Fairfax, I have resolved to give am at present compelled to deal, and
you all personal freedom, notwithstand- therefore it must never be uttered being your boldness in bringing me letters tween you and me."
containin, matter little short of high   "May I know, Lord General," said
treason."                           Denzil, "6 how I am to contrive to obtain




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                        37
private audience of you, should it be quently cheated by their own rogueries,
needful "                           and Colonel Okey doubtless believed
"M' erely say, when you come to me," himself a fanatic in religion, and a rereplied Monk, " that it is your wish to publican in policy.
speak with me in private, and I will find    But a truce to description. We have
the means. Be ready at my call, how- to do with a few of the man's actions, the
ever, whenever I may want you;" and springs of which will be easily under.,hus saying, he left the room.      stood by those who have at all studied
The thoughts of Denzil Norman, the times. After marshalling his men
when Monk was gone, were of Alice and glancing his eyes round the villagers
Brownlow, and they were sweet.      with a look which, when it rested upon
the female part of the assembly, betokenIt was a bright morning in the month ed no very unearthly feelings, he haof May, 1660, and the light and shade rangued his men with the common-place
were skipping over the fair village of cant of the wilder and more enthusiastic
Landleigh, bringing out a thousand dif- sectaries, who then struggled to retain
ferent beauties in their passage, when that power and predominance which
the sound of drum  and trumpet was they had for many years enjoyed and
heard upon the castle green, and a small misused in the land, wresting texts of
body of horse rode in and formed in line Scripture from their original meaning,
nearly opposite to the great gates. The and applying them in the most forced
smallest event has it:uLrnour, and it is and extraordinary manner to the events
therefore no wonder that a full hour at of the times. With all the rest he minleast before the entrance of the soldiers, gled a confusion of commands and directhe tidings of their approach had reach- tions, which none but those accustomed
ed Landleigh.  Thus, although those to such strange oratory could at all comwere times of doubt and suspicion, and prehend, and from which the villagers,
the sober citizens and peasantry, even habituated to the homely, but intelligible
when fanatically inclined themselves, preaching of Mr. Gideon Samson, could
looked upon the military hypocrites of only make out that General Lambert
the day with much awe and trepidation, was in arms for the repose and dominaa number of the inhabitants of Land- tion of the saints, and that the soldiers
leigh, amongst whom was many a stout were exhorted to denounce every one
young peasant and buxom country girl, wherever they met with him, who could
were assembled on the castle green to even be suspected of favouring the masee the arrival of the soldiers. The man lignant proceedings of Papists, Prelaat their head was no very favourable tists, and Presbyterians. He ended by
specimen of the class to which he be- a call upon the inhabitants of the place,
longed, either internally or externally, under the most fearful denunciations of
Though not absolutely ugly, his counte- wrath, to give up without delay all pernance was anything but prepossessing; sons who might harbour or conceal themand, though tall, and in reality strong, selves in the village from the wrath of
there was a' shambling, ungainly look God and man; and then, dismissing his
about his limbs which gave one no great troopers to their quarters, rode slowly
idea of his corporeal vignour. His char- into the village himself, followed by one
cater was one not unfrequently met with or two of his officers, after having comin every age, but which was peculiarly manded a muster of the troop at the same
developed by the times of which I speak. place, at the hour of five in the evening.
Excitable, sensual, and worldly, he had He took his way straight down the high
cunning enough to discover that his pas- road, going at a slow pace, and examinsions could be best served, and his inter- ing the different houses as he went with
ests advanced by an assumption of zeal the eye of one seeking a comfortable
for the predominant tenets of the day. lodging, but it would seem that he had
He had pursued this course cunningly previously received some information
for many years, and there are few minds concerning the characters and opinions
so incapable of enthusiasm, as not to ob- of the inhabitants, for he at length fixed
tain by long habit a tincture of the views upon by no means the best house in the
they affect. As a man is sometimes de- place, but one inhabited by a man after
ceived by his own lies, so are men fre- his own heart-the grocer, or, as we




8           ~      -a~-~THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
should call him, the chandler of the vil- stood gazing in the officer's face, strongly
lage, whose notions of predestination, tempted to knock him down on the spot,
saintly freedom, sufficiency of grace, and yet dreading the consequences to all
other dogmas were held in high detesta- whom he loved.
tion by Mr. Gideon Samson, whose own   With a swaggering and supercilious
doctrines were uniformly pronounced  air, often assumed to cover confusion,
cold, comfortless, and carnal by the more Colonel Okey turned to the door and
elnthusiastic MVr.Culpepeper. After feed- quitted the cottage without saying a.ng liberally, and drinking somewhat word; and in an hour or so after, he
deep, considering the early hour in the was once more pouring forth the rapid
morning, Colonel Okey held a long pri- strain of hypocrisy and cant, with which'rate conference with his worthy host, at he was wont to delight the ears of his
the end of which he walked out into the fanatical soldiers.
village, and visited several of the houses   The following morning the troops
and cottages, amongst which was that of marched out of the village, and the inRoger Brownlow, where he remained habitants rejoiced in the thoughts of havTor some time in private conference with ing got rid of their unwelcome guests;
the ci-devant sexton. It might seem, in- but John Brownlow remembered the
deed, that the subject matter of their hint that Colonel Okey had given of
conversation was of no great moment, his intentions to return, and with a defor when they issued forth from the room  gree of vigour, determination, and good
formerly tenanted by Denzil Norman, sense which his fellow villagers had not
John Brownlow, who was below, heard expected of him, he took the first steps
with consternation his worthy father as- towards preparing the people of Larrdsuring Colonel Okey that he had been leigh for resisting, in case of need, the
bewitched by the old hag, under which aggressions of the insolent soldiery.
denomination the young man naturally Presbyterians and Churchmen for once
concluded was meant poor old Martha united together to make common cause
Unwin.                               against those who were enemies of both,
4 "Well, Master Brownlow," said the and, with the exception of Mr. CulpepColonel, " I will visit and interrogate er and a few of his particular associates,
her this very day, and on my return will all the inhabitants of the place prepared.
roceed in her, case and all others to put themselves, determined to resist to the
own the kingdom of Satan, and estab- last. But, alas! profession of resistance
lish the reign of the Saints upon earth." in peaceable men are not much to be
Thus saying, the worthy Colonel quit- depended on,. and when, two nights aftted the cottage, and a somewhat sharp er, a corporal's guard entered the village
dispute took place between father and bringing intelligence that the Colonel
son, in regard to the reputation of Dame and his men would be there early on the
Unwin. But the Colonel's last words following morning, the scene of consterImplied a hint not lost to the ears of John nation that ensued amongst those who
Brownlow, who, as soon as the angry dis- had been so bold but a few hours before
cussion was over with his father, hurried was both ludicrous and lamentable. Ruaway into the cottage of the poor old mours crept among them, whether spread
woman, to warn her of the officer's by the soldiery or not I cannot tell, that
friendly intentions towards her. As he the Lord General Lambert was in the
approached the house, he thought he immediate neighbourhood with a large
heard the voice of his fair Jane raised force; that he had defeated the troops
in higher and less gentle tones than usu- of the new Parliament, and proclaimed
al; and, lifting the latch, he pushed the a pure and perfect Republic, the whole
door sharply open. It struck with a vi- affairs of whichi were to be carried on by
olent clatter upon the steel back-piece a committee of twelve saints. The peoof Colonel Okey, who was holding both ple of Landleigh, it would appear, were
Jane's hands tight in his own, and ad- in a very ungodly state, for they seemed
dressing words to her pure ear, which to dread nothing so much as this saintly
made the blood boil in the veins of her domination. Some were actually pre-'lover. The hypocrite let go his hold paring to run away, but a mere hint fiom
and started back, and, placing himself a single soldier was quite sufficient to
by Jane Unwin's side, John Brownlow  make the most forward of them skulk




THE LAST OF THE F'ARIES.                        39:
bac k to their houses; and early the next of trumpet against sundry mralignant enmorning, the report was spread through emies of the state and commonwealth of
the village that both good Doctor Aldo- England, amongst whom the principal
ver and Mr. Gideon Samson had been person was Charles Brook, Lord Eusapprehended in their beds without war- tace, reported to be harbourin  in or near
rant.                               the village of Landleigh. But the paBy the grey daylight, John Brownlow rade of the troops passed over, and the
was at the door of good Dame Unwin's soldiers returned to their quarters. Nothcottage, and he was not kept long wait- ing was extracted from Mr. Gideon Saming, as it was opened for him. A hur- son but fiery abuse of Anabaptists, and
tied consultation ensued as to what was fanatics, and.Fifth-monarchy men, or
best to be done, and at length it was de- from Doctor Aldover but meekness and
termined that Jane and the good dame submission.  Dame Unwin and her
should take refuge in a part of the ruins grand-daughter were not found; and at
of the castle, where John Brownlow as- the name of Lord Eustace, the villasured them that they might lie concealed gers shook their heads, and murmured
till the soldiers departed. "I will come that it would be long ere his enemiesto you at sun-set, dear Jane," he said, found that good, kind lord, for he had
G" and bring you provisions, and all that died at Worcester fight. The day, in
I can think of to make you comfortable." short, went by with less results of any
Jane seemed to entertain no appre- kind than had been expected; and all
hensions; but the old lady, all witch as seemed quiet in the village when the sun
she was, entertained a great dread of touched the edge of the horizon.
the fairy, and it was not without much   At that moment John Brownlow was
persuasion that she was induced to go standing under the arch of the castle
forth with her grand-daughter to make gateway, loaded with many things to
abode near the spirit's well. Their little make the two poor fugitives as comfortjourney was not without trepidation, for able as might be; and after taking a cauJane fancied she saw a soldier in every tious look round, he entered the tower
bush they passed in the lane leading to on the left, and began ascending the dithe castle green; and by the time they lapidated stairs.
reached the end of it all three became   Hardly had he disappeared, when siconvinced that they heard steps follow- lently and quietly four men came forth
ing. Quickening their pace to a run, from a part of the ruin on the right of
however, they passed the open space in the gate, showing the faces of Colonel
safety, darted through the old portal, and Okey himself andl three of his soldiers;
were led by John Brownlow up a nar- and the commander whispered, "After
rew and tottering stair to a small cham- him, quick and noiselessly. You will
ber in one of the gate towers.      find them all together if you go quietly.'
"No one would ever think of seeking   The soldiers hurried on, and were lost
for you here," he said; "and as I go to sight under the low arched door of
down, I will take away one of the stone the stairs, while Colonel Okey himself
steps that are loose, so as to make it remained under the gateway. In less
seem more difficult than it is to get up. than a minute he caught the sound of
Don't be frightened, good Dame Mar- loud voices speaking above, and an untha, for the fairy is a kind fairy, and one pleasant smile came upon his face.
soldier is worse than any that ever dane- Then  descending  steps were heard
ed upon the green."                 through the loop-holes, and in a few moe
The good lady, however, made him  ments more poor John Brownlow, with
repeat over and over again his promise old Dame Unwin and Jane, appeared
to rejoin them at sun-set, and to sit up und> —r the guard of the soldiers.
with them till the cock crowed in the   "here, bring them here[1" exclaimed
dawn.                                the officer, taking a few steps into the
There had been a parade of the troops great court. "Let me look at their
on the castle-green, and an examination faces. Here's a pretty one at least;;"
of Mr. Gideon Samson and Doctor Al- and he put his hand under Jane Unwin's
dover before Colonel Okey; and there chin.
had been a search for old Dame Unwin   It was more than John Brownlow
and Jane, and a proclamation with sound could bear, and he was starting forward




40                    THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.'ith his fist c)enched, wben a voice ex- wall of which were still to be seen the
claimed, "Forbear!" in a tone sweet fragments of a stone stair-case, which
and musical, but loud and penetrating; formerly led up to the higher apartments
and all eyes turned towards the spot of the keep. She reached the foot of the
whence the sound seemed to proceed. tower, and then bzgan to ascend by the
There, standing as before, on the other broken steps, only supported on one side
side of the well, appeared the same by the old wall into which they were
beautiful figure, clothed in white, with built.
the sort of lustrous light upon her face   "Forbear, Colonel, forbear!" shouted
and garments which Denzil Norman had one of the soldiers. " Do not sacrifice
seen when first he visited Landleigh.   the life of one of the saints in pursuit of
"Forbear!" repeated the figure; "bad a shadow."
man, forbear!"                          But the officer hurried recklessly on,.
Every one was silent for an instant; and began to mount with a slower steps.
but then, with an exclamation strangely when suddenly a black arm was thrust
mingling  blasphemy with fanaticism, through one of the loop-holes, and at a
Colonel Okey darted forward towards single blow hurled the fanatic down into
the well.                             the court below; while at the same mo"It is the fairy! it is the fairy!" cried ment the female figure disappeared, vanJane Unwin.                           ishing apparently into the body of the
" Were it Beelzebub, I would bring tower.
him into captivity," said Colonel Okey;   " I knew it, I knew it," cried one of
but the fairy receded before him, and, ere the soldiers.  "It was written in the Book
he could run round the well, had reach- that he should be so slain, even by the
ed the same gloomy archway through powers of darkness;" and at the same
which she had disappeared when follow- moment he sprang forward toward the
ed by Denzil Norman.                  spot where the unhappy man had fallen,
"Keep them fast till I return," shout- The two others were following, when
ed the officer, turning his head to speak they were reminded of their charge of
to the soldiers, and the next instant dis- the prisoners by a somewhat untimely
appearing in the gloom.               movement of Dame Unwin towards the
-"Verily, he is rash to trust himself gate; and, unceremoniously drawing
with spiritual enemies," said one of the their swords, they commanded the unsoldiers, gazing at the walls and towers willing captives to march on before them
opposite.  "Mayhap she will lure him  to the spot where their unsanctified comto some perilous place, and there seek to mander lay. To the surprise of all, howdestroy him."                         ever, on approaching, they found Colonel
His words seemed to be verified the Okey endeavouring to raise himself upon
monment they were spoken; for hardly his arm. His escape might indeed have
were they uttered when, in the clear been considered miraculous in afall from
evening twilight, the beautiful figure, in such a height, had it not been that some
its floating white garments, was seen thick and tangled bramble-bushes had
walking with, a step of light along the gathered round the foot of the tower, and
ver:y edge of the crumbling battlements, had received him on his descent friom
when the loose stones seemed hardly fit- above as on a soft, though somewhat
ted t, support the very softest tread; thorny, bed. Sorely bruised, indeed, he,
and the next instant the head of Colonel was, and stunned, and confused with the
Okey protruded from a small door-way fall; but the evil spirit was by no means
in a tower, looking upon that part of the driven out of him, and his first exclamacurtain along which her course lay. The tion was an order to look well to the prisfigure paused a moment, as if poised in oners. He remained some time upon
air; and a clear short laugh was heard, the ground unable to rise; but when,
followed by the words, 66 ome on, come with the assistance of one of his troopers.,
on;" and instantly Colonel Okey sprang he succeeded in getting on his feet, he
forward, several of the stones giving way poured forth long and bitter complaints
under his feet, and rolling into the court in regard to the misfortune which had
below. At the same time the figure he befallen him, savouring very little of
was pursuing resumed its rapid course saintly resignation. Indeed, the exprestowards a round tower, in the western sions that lhe used were neither more




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                           41'
nor less than imprecations in another Mr. Culpeper as a place of meeting for
form, and probably comforted him  as himself and his fellows.'A table was
much as a volley of oaths would have stretched across the upper end of the
solaced a habitual swearer. With these room, beyond which was placed an armcomplaints over his bruised body, he chair. A soldier, with an ink-horn and
mingled orders for removing the three some paper, sat at one end of the table;
prisoners to the house where he had and Colonel Okey himself, with his head
taken up his abode, and guarding them  bound up and his arm in a sling, was
strictly till he should be well enough to seated in the chair of state. At a little
deal with them as he thought fit. This distance from the table stood old Martha
done, he limped away, grumbling every Unwin and her daughter, both as pale as
step he took; and was fain to call for death. Several of the villagers, more
the assistance of Doctor Aldover to especially of the Culpeper faction, were
soothe his hurts as best he might.    between them and the door; and behind
Surely there is no faith to be found on all were a number of troopers, mostly
earth. We trust not, we hope not, as we with grave faces and arms crossed on the
should trust and hope were we really and breast.
thoroughly convinced that there is an   The room, indeed, had somewhat the
over-ruling Providence, a just Judge, a aspect of a court of justice; and old
future state.  We look to this world Roger Brownlow, who stood before the
alone.  If we trust, it is in our own table speaking, seemed acting the part
strength; if we calculate, it is upon of a witness.  The sight of his father int
worldly chances; if we despair, it is be- such a capacity was no great consolation
cause this life is our all.           to the young prisoner; nor were the first
The heart of John Brownlow burned words he heard at all calculated to rewithin him as he sat during the livelong lieve his anxiety.
night in a small garret-room, with a sol-   "That is quite sufficient," said Colonel
dier at the door, separated from his com- Okey, as he entered, apparently addresspanions, and every moment fancying her ing his father. "She shall have a full
be loved exposed to insult, and perhaps trial by water.  Take her away, Hezeto injury, from a brutal and licentious kiah Strong-i'-the arm, and worthy Goodhypocrite.  It was in vain that he tried fight-the-faith Perkins.  Conduct her
to console himself; it was in vain that quietly to the river side at the deepest
he looked around for help or hope. He part, and cast her in, taking care that she
trusted not, he thought not of trusting reach not the land on the same side, but
where trust only is sure; and he pass- that if the fiend help her, she pass clearly
ed the whole hours of darkness in the over. If she succeed in doing so, we will
fever fits of cold despair and fiery indig- give her over to the fire; for no witch
nation. He saw the day break at length must be suffered to dwell in our Israel."
without having closed an eye; and the   The old woman uttered not a word;
soft light of the early morning was per- for, to say the truth, her senses were
haps more painful to him than the shad- quite benumbed by terror at the prosows of the night.  He heard people pect of a fate-to the disgrace of the
moving about, he heard voices speaking, land be it spoken-not at all uncommon
he thought he could distinguish the tones in England  at that period.  Jane, howof his dear Jane; and he would have ever, cast herself upon her knees iefore
given all that he possessed on earth for the brutal tyrant who threatened her
some intelligence of her fate. ]For imany aged relation with the dreadful alternahours, however, he was kept in the bit- tive of perishing by water or by fire, and
terness of suspense. No one came near poured forth wild entreaties for mercy,
him, no one spoke to him, except when mingled with appeals to the villagers
once he tried to open the door, and the present to give some testimony of the
voice of the sentinal without bade him  acts of kinduess and Christian charity
keep quiet under the threat of the stra- which had so often been performed by
pado. Atlength, however, the door was her now brutally condemned.
thrown back, and he was hurried with a   Okey gazed at her with a fiend-like
good deal of rude brutality into a large smile, and then beckoned to her to come
room-a sort of hall, indeed, it might be round to the same side on which he was
called, which had beena built by worthy sitting; but at that moment John Brown



42                  THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
low's indignation mastered all prudence, What causes that tumult at the door,
and starting forward through the crowd, and who is it thou halest along so sturdhe caught Jane's arm, exclaiming, " Go ily?"
not near him, Jane. He is a base, lewd    " Verily he is a captain whom we
hypocrite, and you know it. Go not have, taken, worthy colonel," replied the
near him, my love. He dare not do corporal, to whom he addressed himself,
what he has threatened."             speaking in a harsh, ruda voice.' I was
"t Ha, ha! young viper's spawn!" ex- hastening up with my men to relieve the
claimed Okey. ";Dare not! Do you guard at the gates of the castle, and I
think that we have girded up our loins hurried my steps when I was upon the
and ridden forth with our swords upon green, for methought I heard the voices
our thigh for nothing. You shall soon of many men speaking loud and tumultlearn what the saints of the Lord dare uously; but, lo! the sentinel was walkwhen the spirit moves them. Have you ing calmly at his post, and he heard not
not aided to harbour and conceal that the sounds that were revealed to my
malignant traitor Charles Brooke, called ears, when suddenly I beheld this youth
of men Lord Eustace? Have you not wallring slowly towards the castle, and
comforted him  and abetted him  after I saw in him all the signs of the man of
proclamation made, and contrary to the Belial. Behold his love-locks and his
laws of this land of England?  Have boots of French calf-skin, and his swordyou not received rents for him, and of' knot of blue and white, and his G-dferings from dark-minded and perverse d-mme hat, with a band of ostrich
men, who were once his tenants, but feather; and, meditating with myself, I
who now owe nothing to any one but said,' Woe be to the land when such
the Commonwealth of England, and things walk abroad in open day,' and
those to whom it shall give a portion in therewith  I apprehended  him,  and
the marrow and fatness of the land? brought him hither. Stand forth, thou
Dare not to deny it, for thine own father man of Belial, and give an account of
is a witness against thee, and against thyself."  And he pulled roughly the
himself also, if we choose to be extreme arm of a man, the principal part of whose
with him; but, considering that he has face and figure was concealed by the
given us a knowledge of these things, crowd which filled the lower part of the
and how we may bring the most guilty room.
to justice, we will spare the old adder,  "6 I will stand forth, if you will make
seeing that the poison is squeezed out way," replied a voice; " for, to tell you
of its fangs; but we will tread upon the the truth, my good friend, you have (mly
head of the young adder, lest it bite the brought me where I was coming." And
heel of the saints. In less than one hour at the same time, putting the soldier
shall the malignant Charles Brooke be- somewhat roughly aside, Denzil Norcome the captive of our bow and spear; man advanced into the little open space
for we have surrounded his hiding-place before the table, and took his place by
with godly men, who will take care not the side of young John Brownlow.
tolet him forth. In the mean time, how-   "Who art thou, bold boy?" demandever, we will smite his comforters and ed Colonel Okey, gazing upon the young
adherents hip and thigh; and thou and gentleman with some surprise, and not
the prelatic malignant Aldover, who altogether without apprehension, as he
consorted with thee in thy evil deeds, marked the calmn and almost contemptushall die within ten minutes from this ous smile with which the young cavalier
time, even upon the green before the looked at him. "Take off thy hat.
castle gates. Here, Obadiah Jason, take Knowest thou in whose presence thou
the young man away, and bring the old standest'?"
man out of the prison where thou hast   "Oh sir! I am sorry to see you here,"
imprisoned him; and see that they be said John Brownlow, with his fingers
both shot upon the green within ten clasping tighter upon those of Jane,
minutes, for which thou shalt have our whose hand he held, and, unlike the
warrant, according to the powers grant- generality of men, really feeling distressed us by our commission under the seal ed to see a new companion destined to
of the Committee of Safety. What is it, share in his misfortunes; but Denzil
Joshua Scroggs, thou man of valour? Norman, without noticing, replied to




THE LAST OF THE FAlRIES.                         43,Colonel Okey, "6 I know well in whose ers of the seventh troop of Lilburn'a
presence I stand, but, nevertheless, I regiment, by the same power and aushall keep my hat upon my head, as I thority I command you to lay down your
have no reverence for any one I see be- arms, and every man to betake himself
fore me. You asked my name, sir. It peacefully to the house where he is
is Denzil Norman."                   quartered, to await the decision of the
"Ha! ha! hast thou found me, mine commissioners in your case, giving you,
enemy?" said -Okey; "but now shalt at the same time, to know that the comnthou know what it is to be in the hands missions of Generals Fleetwood and
of those who will not spare. Art thou, Lambert have been revoked by the
I ask thee, that Denzil Norman, Lord council of state, and that, six days ago,:unt, who slew my nephew, my sis- the latter, who resisted the authority ofter's son, when thou wert but a boy at Parliament and G.he Council, was enWorcester'9                         countered near Daventry by Colonels
"I am," replied the young cavalier, Streater, Ingoldsby, and myself, his men
without the slightest sign of emotion; routed, and himself taken prisoner, to be'but what of that, Master Okey?  It dealt with according to law. See that
was hand to hand in fair fight, a man of you obey! To you, villagers-if you
thirty against a lad of eighteen.  -Ie move a hand or utter a word, Colonel
died fighting against his king; I lived Okey, I blow your brains out on the
to fight for my king another day."    spot-I have more joyful tidings to an.
"' That thou shalt never do," answer- nounce. Your King is restored, bringed Okey;' for thou hast seen the last ing with him pardon and oblivion for all
sun thou ever shalt see. Take him.4ffences, toleration for all religions, and
away, Obadiah Jason, and do him  to peace and happiness to his subjects.
death with the rest."                 Neither have any fear of these misguid"Nay, nay," answered Denzil Nor- ed men who have quartered themselves
man; 6not quite so fast, Master Okey. amongst you; for know that the castle
A word or two more before we part."  and the church are by this time in the
s" Take him away!" shouted Okey, by hands of my regiment, and that the reno means well pleased at the young no- port of this pistol will fill this room in
bleman's bold  bearing  and tranquil one minute with faithful subjects of his
smile. "I know what he counts upon majesty.  Long live King Charles!"
— the nest of traitors and scorpions in   "Hark!" cried a voice from behind,
London, and the false and deceitful "there is a drum."
Monk; but he shall find himself deceiv-   As is usual in such cases, a momented, for were it the last day I had to live, ary hesitation had come over those perthis hour shall he die. Take him away, sons who an instant before had felt the
I say!"                             greatest confidence in their own pow"' Nay, then," answered Denzil Nor- er and strength, when they perceived
man, putting his hand into his breast, that the chances were turning against'" if you be so imperative, Master Okey, them. It was not, indeed, that they were
I must take another course," and draw- utterly dismayed, but their minds hung
ing forth a pistol, he levelled it across in the balance, as it were, as to what
the table at Okey's head, adding rapid- course they should pursue, and the least
ly, " the man that lays a hand upon me weight thrown into either of the scales
signs your death-warrant. Bid them  was certain to decide between the most
hold ba.ck!"                        opposite courses. The sound of that
" Hold back, hold back!" cried Okey, drum had wellnigh given the preponderhis face turning pale; " hear what the ance to the more timid policy, but there
young man has to say."               was more than one stout heart amongst
"It will be soon said, Master Okey," Okey's troopers, and the stoutest of
answered Denzil. " Listen, all men. them all, because the most fanatical, was
In virtue of a commission under the that of the corporal, Joshua Scroggso
hand and seal of General Monk, com-n " What!" he exclaimed, starting formander-in-chief of all the land forces of ward, while the rest stood round with
England, I hereby apprehend you, John looks of moody hesitation, "' do our hearts
OOkey, for high treason, and I command wax faint because the battle rages strong
you instantly to surrender. You, troop- against us   Shall we be deprived of the




44                     THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
captives of our bow and spear because the those retributive accidents which we so
Amolites triumph in the hill country. often see occur, hit old Roger Brown.
Did not Barak, the son of Abinoam, low on the temple, and laid him concoming out of Kadesh-Naphthali, go up vulsed and prostrate on the ground.
against the hosts of Jabin, King of Ca-   No further resistance was offered; the
naan, with few people, and did he not troops, who might now be called Royalprevail against him even by the side of ists, poured into the room, and although
the river Kishon; and shall we be afraid the scene of confusion, of which I will
because the castle and the steeple-house not attempt to give the details, continued
are in the hands of the Philistines. No, for about a quarter of an hour longer, all
verily, this young man shalt die as thou was at length quieted, and Colonel Okey
hast said, and the other young man, and: and his companions removed from the
the old man with him, because they have room, leaving Denzil Norman with some
brought the abominable things into our of his officers and one or two of the vilIsrael, even a king and a king's crown, lagers. Amongst the latter was John
which the land had spued forth."     Brownlow, who, notwithstanding his
"Beware, Colonel Okey, beware!" own deliverance firom peril and immecried Denzil Norman.                diate death, felt too keenly for all joy,' Hark! they are in the streets before not alone the sad fate which had befallthe house," cried a young man fiom the en his father, but the treacherous course
window, looking out.                which that father had pursued.
"Call them up," shouted the young   "Be comforted, my good friend," said
cavalier; and, instantly letting go Jane the young nobleman, after he had given'Unwin's hand, John Brownlow started orders to remove the body to the old
towards the window.                 man's cottage. "This was an accident
One of the troopers, however, threw which but shortened his days by a very
himself in the way, and knocked him brief space, and, perhaps, it is better to
down with the hilt of his sword, when terminate life with one brief pang sudat once the confusion became general. denly over, than to endure prolonged
Some voices shouted, "Long live King suffering, or the wearisome exhaustion
Charles," some " Down with the men of of gradual decay."
Belial;" the crowd in the room swayed   John Brownlow was a simple and not
hither and thither as several strove to very well educated peasant. He affectpush forward, and not a few to escape; ed, to be nothing more; but there is
and, in the midst of the confusion, Joshua something in plain good sense superior
Scroggs threw himself upon the young to all education and to all talent, and he
Lord Blount, and endeavoured to pinion replied, "I think, my lord, that everyhis arms; but Denzil was as strong and thing must depend upon preparation; 
more active, and turning the pistol from  and it is with grief I ask myself,' Was
Okey towards the head of his assailant, he prepared 9'"
he fired, and the man fell back, knock-   Lord Blount felt rebuked, but it was
ing down with his ponderous weight one done without the slightest assumption,
of the soldiers who was hurrying up to and he replied at once, 5" That is too
his assistance. A loud rushing tramp true.  Nevertheless, my good fiiend,
was heard from the door as of a multi- let us not, even in our thoughts, limit
tude of feet hurrying up the stairs, and God's mercy; but go home now, and
the next moment a number of steel caps tell your fair cousin that I shall be at
and grim faces appeared pouring in, and your house soon. I have many things
the voice of Denzil Norman shouted to deal with, but I will not be long ere
aloud," Arrest every man found in arms, I visit you."
and let the rest go. Quietly, quietly;   John Brownlow smiled faintly. "You
we have had too much strife already."  will not find Alice there," he said;'* but' Take that, at least, for thy part," cri- I will tell you more, my lord, when I
ed one of Okey's troopers, levelling a car- see you. She, too, has had duties to pe'bine towards him. A villager, however, form, and has performed them well; but,
who stood near, struck the man a blow if I miight advise you, your lordship
on the arm at the very moment he was would look to the safety of Lord Euspulling the trigger, and the shot, passing tace, he was your old friend, I underby Denzil Norman's head, with one of stand, and  if these men have dared such




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                        4
things here, w},at may thley not have at- ory.  r l: if from the fantain rose up
tempted there."                     drops ol bitterness, yet there was one
"My old friend!" replied the young sweet and balmy stream mingled with
cavalier. "He was more than a father the less refreshing waters, and seemed
to me; but I fear not for him. They to enrich and beautify the garden of the
had-no power to injure him. Now leave future. It sprang from the memories of
me, John. We will soon meet again."  the place in which he then was. In a
humble cottage, with nothing to decoAn hour had passed, and while min- rate, to enrich, or to beautify, there apute after minute of that time crept by, peared to remembrance a form and a
not less than a third part of the time had face never to be forgotten. His ear still
been spent by Denzil Norman Lord seemed to hear the musical tones heard
Blount in deep meditation, with his hands many months before, his heart to thrill,
covering his eyes, as he sat in the chair his imagination to take fire, with the high
80 lately occupied by Colonel Okey. thoughts presented to him by a simple
His orders had been given, his arrange- peasant girl. There was no hesitation,
ments made, soldier after soldier had there was no doubt, as to his own conquitted the room, and no one remained duct. He had learned a deep, a stern,
on that floor of the house but the guard a wholesome lesson in adversity, and he
at the door. He was left all alone in had not learned it in vain. Worth is betthe hall, where one of those little trage- ter than wealth, goodness greater than nodies had taken place which, though en- bility, excellence brighter than distinction.
acted in a smaller space than the greater And, after that long pause of thought, he
dramas performed on the wide stage of rose, and putting on his hat again, for he
the world, often afford a deeper and had removed it, as if to cool his heated
more concentrated interest. The hall brow while the furnace of thought workwas large, as I have said, and looked ed within, he went to the door, and delarger in its vacancy. Benches and set- manded, " Has the King been proclaimties had been removed, and naught re- ed in the village."
mained upon the flo,.)r but the dark-red    "No, my lord," replied the man;
stains of blood wheori the soldier and "you gave no orders."
Roger Brownlow had fallen.             "Quick, order up my horse," replied
Twenty minutes may seem a long pe- the young nobleman, " and order the
ric4 for meditation, but who can tell how  trumpeters to mount. Shame on me
maly were the different images which that I neglected it for a minute!"
presented themselves to his mind during    Then descending to the door, where
that time, how wide was the range of a number of the soldiers were waiting
thought, how discursive and how erratic for his pleasure, he gave various orders
was the course that it pursued.  In for marching off the prisoners who had
those twenty minutes the present and been taken in the town, and for commuthe past were revolved, and the future nicating intelligence of all that had ocarine in for its share of consideration; curred both to Colonel Ingoldsby and
but memory, perhaps, was the most busy, to the Commander-in-Chief. He then
and the eight or nine years last pastpre- mounted his horse, and with a small
sented a thousand objects to arrest the party of troops following, and three
mind. It was only wonderful that so trumpeters preceding  him, he rode
much was crowded into so small a space. through the village, proclaiming the
Where did his thoughts wander?  To King at every open space. His last
Worcester field, the flight, the pursuit, halt was before the castle, where the
the first battle he had ever seen, with its whole of the regiment which had acfiery strife, and its thrilling interest, the companied him, drawn up in battle ardisastrous defeat, the breathless gallop ray, occupied the right-hand side of the
for life and liberty, the long concealment, green, while the villagers, in a considerthe passage to another land, the life of able number, stood with every sign of
privation, adventure, and care, and all rejoicing beneath the castle walls. A
that had succeeded, seemed like a dream: loud shout greeted his approach, and, in
painful, confused, irregular, yet full of answer to the proclamation, a hundred
dark and powerful emotions, and things voices shouted, " God save the King!"which could never be blotted from mem- a sound which had not been heard in




46                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
Landleigh for many a year before. The court, and gazed around him for a mcyoung lord looked around over the faces ment or two with an air in some degree
of the country people, but he saw few melancholy.
that he recognised; for neither Alice   Some of the villagers, before they deBrownlow, nor her cousin, nor Jane, parted, peeped in through the archway,
nor good Dame Unwin were present. to see what the young commander was
In the front, indeed, was the thin, spare about; but one by one they dropped
person of Mr. Gideon Samson, and spur- away, some of them saying to each othring his fiery horse up to him, the young er as they went, 6' He is waiting to see
nobleman shook him kindly by the hand, the fairy, I will warrant.",expressing regret that he had suffered   In the meantime, Denzil Norman took
imprisonment by the fanatics; adding, out his watch, and communed with himhowever, "As it was for conscience self in a low murmur. "'I should like
sake, my dear sir, you will not, I am to see," he said, with a slight smile, persure, regret it."                   haps at his own credulity, "I should like
Mr. Sarmson was about to reply, in to see whether this sight will appear
perhaps a sourer strain than usual, when again. It wants but half an hour to sungood Doctor Aldover stood forward, and set. I will wait and watch, and go down
with tears in his eyes greeted his former to the cottage after night-fall. It is growguest. "Ah! my dear young lord," he ing very sultry, methinks," and passing
said, "I remember you now right well. through the arch again, he looked forth
How could I be so stupid as to forget over the sky.  To the southward and
you; though, lack a day, you are much eastward heavy clouds were rising up,
changed-but so, indeed, am I. I trust, and advancing with great rapidity, alhowever, that you will be my guest though, as he stood there beneath the
again, and take up your quarters with ruined walls, not a breath of air fanned
me while you stay."                 his cheek; and walking round to the
Denzil Norman was answering kind- further side of the building, he gazed out
ly, and bending from his horse, with over the scene below, seeing the dark
Doctor Aldover's hand in his, to speak shadow of the clouds sweeping up over
a few words more privately to his old the sunshiny lands, while a long black
friend, when an officer rode up, saying, fringe, stretching fiom the edge of the' aWe have examined every nook and cloud to the very ground, told that the
cranny, my lord, but we can find noth- rain was descending in torrents not far
ing."                               off. A dull flash passed before his eyes
" That is strange," answered the young aa he gazed, and turning back towards
nobleman. "My information is positive, the gates of the castle, he placed him.
but I shall probably receive further in- self under the heavy arch, and gazed totelligence soon. Let the matter pass wards the well. The sunshine which,
for the present, and be with me at eight streaming through the portal, stretched
to-night. In the meanwhile, dismiss the out across the green grass of the court,
troops to their quarters, but see that growing longer and longer as the sun
good order be strictly preserved, and declined, had just reached the margin
that the prisoners be well treated."  of the well, and the deep clouds, stretchAs he spoke, Denzil Norman dis- ing far over the sky, seemed to gather
mounted from  his horse, and passing the whole light under their gloomy canalong the line, addressed a few words to opy; the rays, from the warm yellow,
the soldiers, brief but kind and energet- first assumed a violet colour, and then a
ic, and when he had done, and seeing rosied red, so that some fragments of
them begin to file off, he turned again to- glass in the old window frames seemed
wards the villagers, looking apparently actually to send forth flames. More than
for Doctor Aldover. The worthy phy- one flash had succeeded the first which
sician, however, had disappeared, and Denzil Norman had seen, and one loud
telling the peasantry that if they would roll of the thunder had been heard, when
meet him there on the following day at suddenly a broad blue glow spread over
twelve, he would treat them to as much the sky, and a thin line of zigzag light
beef and ale as they could lay into their darted rapidly down before his eyes, and
skins in honour of the King's restoration, struck a pinnacle of the old keep which
Denzil walked slowly into the castle towered up on the right-hand side. IN




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.                       -V7
an instant a large mass of the stone-work   She took a step back as she spoke,
was cast down, joining the crashing and, as she did so, another vivid flash of
noise of its fall with the deafening roar lightning blazed through the castle court.
of the thunder. Denzil Norman press- He could see the livid fire play around
ed his hands over his eyes, for the bright- the form before him, and, at the same
ness of the flash seemed almost to have moment, a loud crash was heard mina
deprived him of sight. When he open- gling with the thunder, and one of the
ed them again, and looked towards the large elms, shivered by the lightning, fell
well, the same figure he had seen before in a slanting direction across the well,
was standing there, but now a portion brushing the garments of the young cavof the white garments was cast over the alier even as he started away.
head, and the face was entirely veiled.   "It must have fallen upon her," he
The young gentleman sprang forward, exclaimed, and, advancing rapidly, he
but while he was yet some fifteen or looked round in every direction, but the
twenty paces from the well, the figure, figure was no longer to be seen, and the
which had been perfectly motionless next instant the sun went down, the dark
before, raised one arm with a warning clouds stretched over the sky, and all
motion, and a voice said, "Hold! no was darkness.
farther!"                             Through the thick shower of rain, with
"Tell me, then, extraordinary being, drenched garments and a somewhat dis.
what you are!" exclaimed Denzil Nor- appointed heart, Denzil Norman took
man, pausing in his advance.         his way back from the cottage of John
" That matters not to you," she said. Brownlowtoward the house of good Doc"Inquire not of things that concern you tor Aldover. He had found no one at the
not, but listen to words that may benefit cottage but the servant girl, and an old
you. You have followed counsel, and woman appointed to watch the body of
you have prospered. Follow it now, the dead man. Neither could he obtain
and you shall have better than prosperi- any information regarding Alice at all
ty-peace! All things shall undergo a satisfactory to himself. The girl said
change in this land. The old have pass- she had not been at home for three days,
ed away; the new are coming. You and that she did not know where she
-stand upon the limits of two great epochs, was, but that was all the young nobleman
with an impassable gulf between them. could extract from her; and let those
Men shall try to bring back that which who are younger than I am imagine the
has gone by, and they shall fail. Strife disappointment which such tidings gave
and bloodshed will follow, and corrup- to one who, for months, had been dwelltion and wickedness shall reign; but do ing in the thought of seeing her whom he
you mix in none of these things. Flee loved, and calling her his own. The
the court and the cities, and live amongst warm reception of good Doctor Aldover
your own people on your own lands.  cheered him, it is true, and he was still
Be a brother to some, a father to others, more cheered by the worthy man's asa friend to all, and suffer not yourself to surance that Alice Brownlow would soon
be tempted into places where kings re- be back again, and that she had only left
sort; for in this day of all days it is dan- the place in fear of the Roundhead solgerous, if not wicked. Hold yourself diery-a term which the Doctor did not
aloof from every faction and every par- scruple to apply in the present instance,
ty, and let the gay and the light scoff if although he would rather have eaten his
they will, the sober and the steadfast will hand than have used it to the soldiers of
love and approve. This I am command- the Commonwealth a month before. As
ed to tell'you: will you obey as you be- soon as he had given this intelligence,
fore obeyed? If you do, you shall be however, Doctor Aldover thought fit to
rewarded."                          put on a grave look, and add, " I am not
"6 Most assuredly I will," replied Den- sure, my good lord, that I ought not to
zil Norman; " for, in truth, such was my send word to Alice that she had better
determination ere you spoke. Now one remain away, for I do not half like a noword more-'"                        ble lord taking such particular interest in
"Enough!" said the figure, waving a cottage girl."
its hand; " enough! You shall find him  6" If you do, I shall not easily forgpve
you seek before his night be over."    you," answered Denzil Norman; l"but;




48                   THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES..be under no fear, my good doctor. I   "You will know the touch of it riaht
can act as a man of honour to a woman as well," said Lord Eustace, stretcning his
well as to a man. I will now send for my right arm from beneath the cloak, and
luggage, and change my dress, for I am grasping Denzil's hand.
somewhat travel-stained and very wet."   The young nobleman started.back, ex"You will find all your luggage in claiming, "Good heaven! VWhat is this.
your room, my lord," replied Doctor Al- It is cold as iron!"
dover. "I took the liberty of telling   "Because it is iron," answered Lord
your people that you should quarter no- Eustace. "On the bitterest day of all
where else while you were here. I will my life, Denzil, wounded in this right
light you up, and when you have done arm, and a prisoner on the field of battle,
we will have another bowl of punch to- my escape was purchased at the dearest
gether, and drink the King's health with price that ever was paid for human safea worthy friend of mine who is anxious ty-at a price which I call honour to
to be well acquainted with you."    witness I would not willingly have paid
"What! Mr. Gideon Samson?" said for a thousand years of the brightest exthe young nobleman.                 istence that ever was given to mortal
"No, no," replied the doctor; " one 1man. Untended for manydays, the ganof a very different kidney; but this is the grene seized upon my wounded hand,
way;" and he led him up the low open and I lost it under the surgeon's knife.
stair-case to the room he had tenanted Thanks to this good old man, whom you
before. Some time elapsed before Den- must remember well as my chaplain
zii came down again, for, to say the truth, when you were a boy, this contrivance
he passed several minutes in meditation. was procured for me, on a model brought
At length, however, he descended, and from far, serving me well-nigh as well as
found his way easily enough to the door the hand I had lost; for by the moveof the good doctor's library, guided part- ment of my arm, I can clasp and extend
ly by memory, partly by the sound of the fingers as you see, aye, wield a sword
voices speaking. On opening the door, or strike a stout blow, should it be needhe beheld two persons seated by the ful. I have struck one, too, and not long
small, square table in the window. Doc- since."
tor Aldover was one, the other was a   "Yes, I have heard of it," replied Den
noble-looking man in black, with a point- zil. "' Had it not been for that, I might
ed beard, which, as well as his hair, was have come somewhat too late."
nearly white; and yet, tojudge both from    "And for a dose of Thebiac tincture,"
form and face, he was by no means far added Doctor Aldover. "' I had better
advanced in life. He had a long rapier intelligence than Master Okey thought
by his side, and his black cloak had not for; and when he sent for me, after I
been cast off. The moment the young had been kept many hours in prison in
nobleman entered, he rose and gazed sore trepidation of mind and discomfort
upon him steadfastly, while Denzil's eyes of body, I made bold to give him that
were busy with his features also. The which I knew would render the snake
next instant, however, Lord Blount start- innocuous for eight or ten hours at least;
ed forward with extended hand, exclaim- but now, by the leave of both your lord.
ing, "Oh, my dear lord! this is indeed a ships, I will retire and prepare a bet-.joyful meeting. Where have you con- ter potion than that which I gave the
cealed yourself so long "           routed colonel  good punch, I mean.
"Welcome, welcome; Denzil," said Perhaps, too, you may have matters well
Lord Eustace; "'welcome, my dear boy. to be talked over in private."
Well have you done your devoir as a   Thus saying, he withdrew; and a long,
loyal subject, a good soldier, and an hon- a sad, and interesting conversation took
est man. What more need 1 for all the place between the elder and younger
care that I bestowed upon your youth?" nobleman, in which Denzil for the first
and at the same moment he tookDenzil's time learned the events which had taken
hand with his own left.             place on Worcester field an hour or two
The young man looked somewhat sur- after night-fall; how a wife and a daughprised. "Nay, my good lord," he said; ter had devoted themselves to save a
"gi;ve me your right hand surely, if you husband and father; and how the shot
love me as of old."                 which had been intended for the eseap



IT FS- A'.T _M TT.I JS.
ead captive, had struck her whose life j be united to you, whom we had eduicawas far dearer to him than his own, as ted with so much care.  The dear girl
has been shadowed out in the first chap- will soon be in my arms againr. I find,
ter of this history.                  that her education has been in no de"For ninie years,' continued Lord gree neglected; and as Cromwell, with
Eustace, "I have mourned as few men a generosity but little to be expected,
ever mourned. In secrecy and by night saved my lands from confiscation for her
I caused the body of my departed saint sake, saying that he would not spoil the;to be brought hither to my old castle of orphan, nasmuch  as he believed me to
Landleigh, where the reverend friend be dead, the wealth, which was abundwho has just left us performed the last *ant in other -days, has only increased.
office for the dead in the vaults beneath Beautiful she is. Denzil, beautiful shie
the castle. Every morning have I pray- must be; and with a right good will, a
ed beside her tomb, every evening have f ther's blessing, and a dowry which
I wept over her, and strewed the cold might suit a princess, I will give her to,stone with flowers. I have lived the life you as soon as we reach London. But
of a hermit within those old walls, con- you look grave, good youth. What is the
~cealed and aided by a few kind friends matter't Does not the match suit you'U.
and faithful dependents, who befriended   Denzil Norman paused for a moment
me in my adversity as I had befiiended ere he replied, and he felt his situation
them in my prosperity.  The most skil- painful. For the man before him he felt,
ful and the most kind, because by nature as well he might, a son's affection. Lord
the most timid, was good Doctor Aldo- Eustace had been to him a father when
ver; and an idle story which the villa- his own father was no more.  Lady Eusgers got up of the castle being haunted tace had been more than a mother to him.
by a fairy, contributed much to my long For the sweet child, who, with such forconcealment."                         titude and presence of mind, had saved
1 "Nay, my good lord," replied Denzil; her father from imprisonment and death,
"it was no idle story got up by villa- I he had felt in early years a brother's af-'gers. The fairy I have seen with my fection. But yet there was something
-own eyes, and a right beautiful fairy she stronger still than all this: there was
is. On the very same night when I saw love, the pure, high, first love of a warmn
your lordship in the vaults beneath the and enthusiastic heart. That would have
castle, I beheld that fairy, and you must been enough; but there was something
have beheld her too."                 more. There was honour-that feeling,
He spoke with a smile, but Lord Eus- that principle, that prejudice, call it what
tace answered gravely, " I saw no fairy, you will, which had been early implantDenzil. You must have been dreaming." ed in his heart by the man who now
"Not so, upon my life," replied Den- spoke to him, which had been cherishzil Norman. "I was called thither to ed through life, and worshipped almost
that interview by the fairy's voice; I saw with idolatry. He had spoken words to
her with my own eyes that night; I have i Alice Brownlow that could never be an-seen her twice since, ay, this very night, said, that he could not, that he would not,
not much more than an hour ago. But, wish unsaid. What was to him the prejperhaps, my dear lord, the fairy was of udices of the world, what the consider~esh and blood. Had I not known that ations of wealth, of rank, of station,'in
your dear daughter was in London, kept comparison with honour and love! He
under the tutelage of Cromwell, I should knew that the light and gay might laugh;
have thought it was her whom h:beheld." I he knew that the Proud and the selfish
Lord Eastace smiled with an incred- might scorn and blame: but he was not
ulous shake of the head. " Well, Den-! the creature of othner men's opinions,
-g-il,"'he said, "young men and young and he hesitae-ed not a moment. He
women are hard to disabuse of their er- paused, indeed, but it was with no hesi-.rors; but as you have mentioned my tation. It wa-s merely to consider how
dainghter's name, let me speak at once lhe might tell his tale so as not to pain or'Ibefore Aldover's return, on a subject offend the hearer.
near to my heart. You are well aware,   "What is the matter, Denzil?" deI doubt not, that it was the dearest wish manded Lord Eustace, after waiting
Of my beloved Lilla that our Kate should some moments for tan answer; and his.
I).




569                   P1~~-~]THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.
brow was grave and almost stern as he will act as a lover," answered L rro
-put the question.                     Eustace. "May your love }oGng co>a"1 will tell you in few words, my dear tinue; for in it only can you find happs
lord," replied  the young  nobleman; ness under such circumstances~  EBut,
"d and you shall judge, and will judge, as good faith, I should like to see your paryou always do, nobly and rightly.  It agon of perfection. You say that she
was my fate somne time ago to meet in lives in this village; I must surely know
this very village, in a humble station of her.  What is her name'1"
life, without fortune,  without family,   The colour somewhat mounted in thi
without anything to recommend her but young lord's cheek as he replied, " Alice
the loveliness of her person, and the high Brownlow," but Lord Eustace shook
qualities of her mind, the only woman his head. "I know no such person," he
for whom I ever felt love. In a moment said; *" I never heard the name. There
of danger and difficulty, when I little was old Roger Brownlow, a tenant of
thought to see the bright days that we mine, who has since proved traitor to
now see, when I little thought to meet his lord, I find; and John Brownlow, his
you or any of my old friends again, I told son, as good a youth as ever lived, who
her of my love and won a promise from  has served me well; but the old mamn
her.  Yet I will own, had I known all had no daughter."
that I now know-had I been a prophet   "He had a niece, though," answeredi
to foresee the events which have taken Denzil,
place, I would have done the same."      "I never heard of her," replied Lord
"Have you considered  well, young  E:ustace.  "I must ask good Doctor
~man," said Lord Eustace, with a very Aldover about her; for I must see her,
grave brow, " that which you are about? in good Gfith, Denzil; and if she proves
Have you bethought you of all that must as you have reported her, you shall have
follow?  Remember that the beauty my blessing on your marriage as a famust fade, and all those chearms and ther's.  Abh! here comes the good doc.
graces which captivate the eye will pass tor himself.  Tell me, my old and vaLaway; that passion itself may die in its ued friend, wvo is this Alice Brownlow
own flame, and the more solid realities that my young friend Denzil ravesf
of the world may acquire wveight even about?"
with a romantic spirit, as the hurry of   "She is all that is beautiful, bright..
the young blood is calmed by years, and and excellent," replied Doctor Aldover;
thought: takes place of passion. Have " and is in my house a't this very mo
you thought what it will be to see the ment."
cold civility shown by your peers to the   "  hatp, you too enthuseastic  " criedo.
young Lord Blount's peasant wife?  to Lord Eustace. " Pray, let me have the
hear it told how you had been caught by fair lady's com-pany, qmay dear ~riendo
a pretty face? to bear all those petty Nay, I will go and fetch her myseTlf
slights and halfconcealed  contempts Where shall I find her I"
which follow surely in society upon an   "Nay, nay, I will bring her," answerill-assorted union'"                  ed Doctor Aldover; and going fobh
6My lord, I have thoughlt of all this again, he returned a moment after, lead..
and more," replied Denzil. "' I have ing Alice by the hand.  She was dressput more questions to ny own heart ed as she had been when she went with.
than you can or wvill put; and I have Denzil to the church, with wimple and
answered, that beautiful as she is, were hood, almost like a nun; and, with a
it mere beauty, I should never have heart beating warmly, he sprang up to
spoken to her the words I have spoken; meet her so soon as that beautiful form.
but even had I done so for beauty alone, appeared; but, without even looking
yet I would keep rny word. I owe that towards hirm, Alice drew her hand from
to her and to myself: In doing so, how- that of Doctor Aldover, and advanced
ever, I have no fears, no hesitation ei- with a quick anrd eager step towards
ther for myself or her; for the mind is Lord Eustace.
as lovely as the person, and the heart as   The old nobleman threw  wide his
beautiful as either. You smile, my dear arms, and, casting hers around his neck,
lord."                                she leaned her head upon his bosom, an"Because you speak as a lover, and sobbed aloud.




THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES.'- 6'Nay, Kate, -nay," cried Lord Eus- the details, but nevertheless I contented{
tace;' nay, my sweet Kate, be not so myself with what I had got-an- e6xceeZ
moved, What though this ungrateful ingly good plan in all circurnstances,
boy here refuses your hand, all for the dlear reader, but for which on this ocealove of one Alice Brownlow, we shall sion I had my particular reasons. Ir
find you a better husband than him, no the first place, I could not at all doub,
fear.  Come, look up, my Kate. Well that, under the circumstances in which
I know joy will have tears as well as they married, Denzil Norman and the
sorrow, and we have shed many of the Lady Catharine Brooke, otherwise Alice
former together, so the latter must have Brownlow, were as happy as any two
way. Keep back, Lord Blount; you people can be in this place of pilgrim-.have refused her, you know.  Lo! you age. I was satisfied, therefore, in regard
repent, do you? Well, take her, then, to them, and wished them joy as heartily
and forget Alice Brownlow in the arms as good Doctor Aldover did, I do not
of Catharine Brooke."                 doubt, after giving them the nuptial ben"Never," answered Denzil, throwing ediction when he was restored to his old.
his arms around her; "rnever, my good cure at Landleieh,  which I find by the
lord. My first love, and my last. Call parish register was in July of the year
her what name you will-add titles, 1660.  As to John Brownlow, who, by
rank, distinction, fortune, every thing the way, was Alice's foster-brother, I[
that men hold dear-you cannot make have not the slightest doubt in the world
me love her better than I loved mly cot- that he married Jane Unwin, and made
tage girl."                           her a very'excellent husband.  It is not
"' Thanks, Denzil, thanks for that," a thing to be doubted at all; and I find
cried Alice, for so we must still call her, in the records of the house of Fauconas he ever did. "' But will you love me berg the following curious passage:
as well, Denzil, as Catharine Brooke,   "Alice Brownlow, long educated by
for look, I am very much changed," and my Lady Mary as the Lady Catharine
she threw back the hood fr'om her head. Brooke, she having been found in a house
Somewhat to his surprise, he then be- at Worcester after the battle at that
held that the dark, black braided hair place, and passed by lier mother Janet
was gone, and in its place the bright for the daughter of Lord Eustace, was
glossy tresses of a warm, light brown, this daydismissed from her home with
Which he remembered hangirig over the many presents, she having grown greatly
fair brow of the child. He only drew'  in my lady's favour by reason of her genher closer to his breast. "Ay," he said, tleness and docility. Item, a silver salte
"' as Alice Brownlow, as Catharine cellar was given to her by my lord as a
Brooke. and moreover, as-"           gift."
But she put her fair hand upon his  In regard to Mr. Gideon Samson, it
lips, saying, " Hush, hush! not a word might have made my mind uneasy, havof that;" and she turned a timid glance ing no precise information concerning
to good Doctor Aldover, whose eyes him, but that I find many of the Presbywere too fill of joyful tears to notice terian clergy fled from  England inntao
one half of what passed.             Scotland, to avoid the plague and Epsacopacy; and as Sir Walter Scott, in orne
of his true histories, records the life and
actions of a worthy gentleman of the
same name as our respected friend, I
have no doubt that he left posterity to
DEARLY- BELOVED reader, you have carry on his virtues to other generations.
heard an old story as it was told by an The only persons of importance to be
old man upon an old Christmas nigt. provided for, therefore, were the old.
For some reason of his own-you know  castle and the fasiry. As to the old cas.,
old men are very whimsical-he did not tle, its ruins were shown with pride with.
choose to go any fa.rther, and it was in my remembrance, by the antiquaries
quite in vain questioning him. Perhaps of Landleigbh, who pointed out to the ceu=
i;he truth was he knew nothing more, for rious a subterranean communication belhe was a man of scrupulous veracity, as tween the building and the church, toB! arm   I would have been glad to hear gether with some stone doors in the re




52                        THEI  LAST  OF THE FAIRIES.
maining towers of the old f)rtal ice, fittin    g memory is still cherished,  owever, by
so nicely into the masonry as no)t to   ti ele older and tthe younger inlhabitants of
distinguishable to any  )but a l)telalet d  tihe  pllace.  The iboys andl girls look
eye.  The tluilding, has lately Ibeen very  talrolgh tle oll archway with timid ex
much dilapidated  by a greediness foir  pectation as they pss. on the su-mmer.
stones which has come upon the popula- evenillgs; and I oTice gave great ofrince
tion since numerous factories lhave been  to an old (lally by hinting a suspicion that
established by the banks of the stream;  the famous fairy of Landleigh'well was
and some of the wags of the place have  no other than the beautiful daughter of
remarked  that the  castle  is the best Bro, ke, Lord Eustace.
quarry in the neighbourhood.                    Onthis important p)oint I must leave
Either fiom  this desecration  of her  all readers to judge fr themselves; but,
dwelling-place, or some other cause of  at all events, this was the last of the faidisgust, the fairy has not appeared for ries, and the only one that ever appetared
many, many years by the side of Land- after William  Churne  of Stafforxlshire
leigh well, though its waters remain clear  was (dead, and " Wittie Bishop Corbet"
and limpid,- and the setting sun shines  took his "Farewell" of the Good Peoupon it every evening as before.  Her  ple.
TIHE  END
arper'o?Cucw  ndataloque.
J4 sv  DPVsCRIt-rtv  CaATAnosTE oF HAR E.R & BRIoTHERs' PURLtCATIO.XS is now realdy for dis
-ilutfion, and may be obtained gratuitously on apphlcation to the Publishers ersosnally, or thy let-.
ter, post-paid.
The attention of gentlemen. in town or cofntry. designinng o fcorm Libraries or enrih tlheir [itTera' collections. is respecttfilly invited to this Catalogue. whlict  will be foiuidl tw conmprise a larnge
proportion of the standard and rost esteemled works It English l.iterature co. mvr>:,:Msr:t.oa
ABnou  T'WO THoUr,ST,) voL.UMEss-which are oftered in most instances at less titan one haltf the
~cost of similar productirons in England.
To Librarians and others connected wvnbt Colleoges, Schools, etc. who raa y not bave  access
to a reliable guidej in forming the true estim!ate of literary productions, it is believed the preeant
Catalogue will prove especially valuable as a mranual of reference.
To prevent (disappointment.l it is sul<restedt that, whenever books can not 1be obtained thrugll
erzy books;eller or or cal agrent. app)llicatlols witt remittance shoutld be addressed drect to thse Publ
Uiisers whick wim tbe promptly attended t.
82 (tliff Strcet PNcw Yuri




OR,
THE MAGIC OF COUNT CAGLIOSTRO.
t benudtian    alet.
TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF
RDuER DE BEAUVOIR,
BY
P. F, CHRISTIN AND EUGENE LIES.
NEW-YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS,
No. 82 CLIFF-STREET.
1845.








SAFIA.
INTRODUCTION.                   rounding dwellings. Daily he might be seen at
the Florian coffee-house, a painted paper fan
WHILE residing at Venice, during the- sum- in his hand, swallowing inordinate quantities of
mer of 1832, with the worthy Counsellor. Honor, ice-cream, and in the evening enjoying himrius Claas, he would often speak to me of the -self at the Benedetto theatre in his private
strange- ideas that arose in his mind upon meet- stall, of which he kept the key.
ing a certain- man called. Mariano: Calvi,:then-   One evening that La Pisaroni.had sung the
living. at the. hotel designated; by -the euphonical part of Arsace, which Calvi had applauded most
title of " The British Queen," situate:near the: extravagantly, upon leaving the theatre he was
bridge of; Fuseri, directly opposite his house.   seized with an apoplectic fit.. The counsellor
The counsellor had frequently observed this happenedto be at his side, and-received his; last
man enjoying himself, al fresco,. at his window, -dying words, which were,- "Take this key,
clad in a long, loose flannel gown, apparently  signor, and should I die, as you hope for salvawatching the eddies of the canal, or.gazing on tion, deliver it to no one save my nephew;
vacancy, and thought-Calvi's the most singular mark me-to him alone."  These were the last
countenance he had ever beheld.              expressions of the unfortunate man, who was
At first- sight; it was difficult to comprehend  carried home, and: expired that night.
who this Mariano Calvi could be: a compound    Vainly did the counsellor make inquiries in
-of baboon, abb6, and: spy; his disposition nat- everyquarterof-thecityinsearchofthat nephew.
rurally lively, eccentric, and multiform.  At Neither from friends nor from the police could
4imes he would leave his hotel, his costume in: he gain the slightest information- relative to the'perfect keeping,. his boots well polished,. coat Italian's: habits of life, save that he had paid his
well made and brushed; a fashionable English hotel expenses  regularly, had. several chests ill
frill, black dress-coat, and the gray hat latterly  his  apartment carefully padlocked, and fre-:adopted by men of ton. On other occasions he quently:mailed letters for Florence, which, with
would stalk forth, enveloped in the ample folds- its accustomed paternal solicitude, the Austrian
of an Italian cloak, a cigarillo in his mouth, a.government considered itself bound to open;
coral hand, with small gold chain, by way of but that despotic inquisition gained nothing. for
breastpin, in his scarf, humming a cavatina of its pains, for the letters were invariably-found
Bellini. What most tormented. the-counsellor to be blank.
was, that this  Calvi was constantly standing,   Whether or not Mariano Calvi used sympa~statue-like, at his window;. so that he could:thetic ink had not been ascertained. He-was
neither undergo the process of having his hair rather regarded as- a madman, desirous of taxdi'essed in that antiquated style to which the- ing some-worthy Florentine with useless post,
worthy Dutchman had religiously adhered, nor age.
smoke his rosew.ood pipe; nor even spit into the   All these letters were addressed to some
canal, without encountering the scrutinizing  doge of the republic-some superscribed,,. Al
glance of M-ariano Cnlvi.                   serenissimo principe Moncenigo;" so.me to " Al-At night, especially, the Italian's eyes,: his- vise;" others to "Renier," from  whence the
head half hidden beneath an enormous fur cap, madness of Mariano was generally, and not- unsuch as we see in the portrait of Ruggieri or reasonably inferred, inasmuch. Z,s these illustrid
Laensberg, would flash fire. The figure of Ma- ous personages, renowned in t'ne history of -he
riano Calvi, leaning over the brink of tlie canal, Venitian Republic, had loner slept that sleep
was calculated to imbue the spectator with the from which no mortal can r wake unless by the
idea that he was labouring under some singular. fiat of God, or by the resu.scitating.spell f the
hlallucination of the brain; he would seem as if ipoet's. imagination.
absorbed in thought, and holding. mysterious   Honorius Claas, likre. a true counsellor and
converse with the green and sleepy waters be- Dutch diplomatist, as. -i truth he,was,-kept this
neath.- For hours and hours he would thus key as religiously as- though it had been that of.
commune with them, listening eagerly to the a chamberlain; it. was, indeed, a charming li.songs of the barcaroli, as they sought their tie key, elaborat.ely chased in the style of the
nightly dormitories, to the murmur of the wind  age of Louis X.ii  Eight months had elapsed,
rushing through the space betweeni those pil- and no persor.  had appeared to lay.claim to it;
Jars whereon once waved the Venitian stand-. the official seal -remained affixed:to the doors
ard, now replaced by the Austrian flag, else of his apa' Aments, and, thanks to the superstiwatching the track of some swiftly-gliding gon- tious ter- or of the hotel-kleeper, might have Tedola, or listening to the faint notes of a distant mained  there  orever ut  one evening a
piano,'whose touch served to while away the  CIaas   there forever; hut one evening, at
tedious'hours of some lonely but lovely signora. ease                he            in
If he raised his eyes aloft, it was only to gaze he       up        on suddenlythe matter contained i a despatch
at the stars, with an indescribable air of ab- e. had just received, upon suddenly raising his
straction and dreaminess in his attitude, or to    yes, he perceived a -vivid light issuing fromL
notice to which side inclined the blossoms of   between the blinds of the apartment of Calvi.
the flowers covering the flat roofs of the s  r    Simultaneously a shadow  was perceptible,
r- moving up and'-dow'n, as if intently searching




4                                    SSA FIA.
for some object on the floor; then, all at once, inexplicable vertigo seized me; and when, next
the blinds of one window were thrown open, morning, my Hungarian valet brought my breakand the counsellor clearly distinguished a young  fast, he found me paler than the old papers beman, apparently about thirty years old, trying  fore me, near which my lamp was still burning.
the locks of several chests in the room with a  Juliani followed close behind him.
bunch of keys. At length, glancing at and    "'I fear,' said he, waving in his hand the
seizing a small casket from amid the confused  handsomest flower he had been able to find at
mass of furniture and effects, he tried in vain  the Sclavonian quay,'that the follies of my
the same manceuvre; none of the keys would  uncle have caused you to pass a bad night;
fit.                                         not but what lie had opportunities of becoming
"Demonio!" exclaimed the young man.       acquainted with sundry mysteries of the arHonorius then perceived him pull the bell- chives of Venice, but, then, he had the mania
rope violently.  The landlord answered the  of writing the History of the Venitian Republic
summons; but, from the gestures of the par-  in two volumes quarto.'
ties, it was apparent that he could give no sat-   i" But who was that Prince of Albania!' I
isfactory information.                       then inquired of Mariano's nephew.'
The counsellor, who was enjoying the fresh-    "' Stefano Zannowick, who assumed the title
ness of the evening breeze, in summer undress,  of Prince of. Albania,' he answered,' was my
at his window, beckoned to him, holding up the  uncle's protector, and died towards the end of:
key left in his care by Calvi. Instantly the  the summer of 1786. He was born the 17th of
young man rushed from the room, and, quickly  February, 1752, at the town of Pastrovichio, on
descending the staircase, entered his gondola. the borders of Turkish Albania, near MonteneThey had no sooner met than the young stran- gro. In 1760 his father opened a small retail
ger exclaimed, "My name is Juliani, nephew  store in dne of the obscure streets of Venice
of Mariano Calvi; since chance has so befriend- for the sale of various trifling articles, and esed me, Signor Counsellor, allow me to share  pecially of confectionery, suitable to. the taste
with you."                                   of the children of the neighbourhood.  His talThen, placing the casket upon the counsel-  ent for play soon procured him a more brilliant!or's table, he opened it with the key which  position; but the paternal government of VenHonorius had given to him, and displayed to my  ice thought fit to put. an end to his successful
friend two separate compartments. The first career by banishing him  from  the republic.'
enclosed some bank notes tied round with pink  He left the state, but invested his profits in
tape; these Juliani appropriated to himself, as' landed property in his native country, and behis share of the spoil; the contents of the oth- came even owner of the town of Pastrovichio;
er, division were an infinite number of small he caused his sons, Primislas and Stefano, to
cards covered with notes, and each adorned  be educated at the University of Padua, and to
with an elegant and delicately-sketched pen  that choice, undoubtedly, Stefano'was indebted
and ink likeness of a doge of Venice. On the  for his knowledge of literature.
outside of the case containing these annota-    "' My'uncle then resided at Padua, and had
tipns were inscribed these words, written with  the honour of being selected as Stefano's tutor.
a pen: "For the Prince of Albania."         In spite of my uncle's advice, he soon gave proof
"Who that prince was," continued Honorins, that he inherited his father's talent, and by its
" I confess I was then unable to guess; but, as exercise drew down upon himself a similar corSignor Juliani had tendered to me such a wind- rection from  the government. In 1773, at a
fall, I thought I might accept his offer without time when Stefano Zannowick, after adventurpangs of conscience. Juliani was a good-look- ously roving through France, England, and Holing young man; he had gained possession of land, was preparing to.:play the part of Peter
his uncle's fortune, which, from what he rela- III. in the Mbntenegro, and to take advantage
ted to me, he richly deserved. As for myself, of his popularity in the country, my uncle, by his
I inherited the notes of a singular being, who  request, prepared for him several important pahad employed himself in writing the secret his- pers relative to the histoly of Venice; he was
tory of Venice.  Was my share destined to  then on terms of friendship with.the keeper of
prove equal to that of Juliani? But that little  the archives4 Orio Contini, a man of shrewd
concerned him, as he was making his arrange- abilities, who wrote of passing events with the
ments to marry the Signora O****a, a' rather utmost reserve. From him my uncle learned
handsome Florentine; so, after smroking a pipe, the secret of that mysterious ink that he used
he bade me good-night, and left mne.'.      afterward in his correspondence with several
"I must confess that I was anxious to peruse  persons of distinction, and latterly with me;
these papers.  The handwriting was close, for Mariano Calvi had'acquired so strong, a
Hwarshly defined, and portraying marks of insan- habit of using it, that he considered it indispenity in' the writer; but each one of these notes  sable even in communications of the most simbore a character of mysterious authenticity, ple and ordinary nature. The various letters
seemingly penned under momentary inspira- which he mailed at Venice, bearing the supertion, and bearing semblance of the daily mem- scription of doges, were not the less a sign of
oranda of a spy; there were passages sufficient madness in my worthy uncle, for they were all
to make one's hair stand on end-executions, intended for one identical individual, myself..mnurders, imprisonments, drownings beyond all The mystery he observed, Signor Counsellor,
conception; in few words, it was the history  was occasioned by a dark adventure, the secret
of Venice graven with the burin of its execu- of which he alone possessed, and related to me
tioner-a list of'crime so horrible, frightful, and  with terror.'
yet fantastical, that each comma, stop, or mark    "' What was that adventure.'
assumed, in my eyes, the colour of blood: an    "' It must be comprised in the notes in your




SAFPIA.                                       5
possession, and you will find it either under the  prized and cherished; therefore I leave it with
title of Alessandro or Safia, I forget which.'    you. As for myself, my worthy uncle has be"' True enough,' I remarked,' that mysteri-  queathed me gold: to me far preferable to all
ous story concerns a doge, and one whose name  fairy tales, or wondrous stories, even those penis new to me. It is extraordinary.'          ned by Tieck or Hoffman.'"
"'Remember,' continued the young man,.  It was the Counsellor Honorius Claas, there-'that Mariano Calvi has written only of the  fore, who arranged the story that'follows; and
last three doges of the, republic; the pseudo- it is to vindicate its authenticity that we have
name of Alessandro, therefore, designates one  thought it best to lay these explanations before
of them. As to the history ofVenice, as we  the public. We are gratified that, instead of
see it printed in books, he had certain fixed and  presenting it under the somewhat equivocal
determined ideas, which, although not lacking  patronage of the Prince of Albania, we are enweight, were clearly considered preposterous  abled to give it under that of our readers.
by those who did not consider isolated' facts as
sufficient authority.
"' When visiting together the hall of the Ducal Palace, where hang the portraits of the                 CHAPTER I.
doges, he would often say to me, " Juliani, all
those personages you behold here with the
corna on their heads, the brocade robe covering    THIS day, the 29th of June, was at Venice, as'their shoulders, and the wedding ring of the  throughout Christendom, the holyday consecraAdriatic Sea upon their fingers, died not the  ted in honour of the Keeper of Heaven -in hon-' death ascribed to them in history. The true  our of Saint Peter, who possessed, in the City of
history of Venice is all that has not been written  the Doges, the principal church in the quarter
about it-the'sealed book, not the open one;"  Del Castillo-not to mention the Cathedral of
and thereupon he one day related to me the  Saint Peter at Rome, where the saint enjoys
story of a certain doge whom he called Ales- more extensive lodgings.
sandro. That' curious portion of the memoirs    The tower clock situate at one of the angles
he was to leave was written for the instruction  of the Piazza fronting the sea-built after the
of the'Prince of Albania, who had left him at design of Carlo Rinaldi from Reggio-had just
Venice when going to spend the winter at struck 7 A.M.; the populace of Venice were
Groningen. When the French invasion swept on the alert, and the bells of the various churchaway, at one breath, our shadow of the shadow  es were gladdening the air with their merry
of a government, and the abdication adopted on  chimes.
the 12th of May, 1797, surrendering Venice as   In the grand square already were the numera conquered territory, the Prince of Albania  ous showmen anxiously assembling their cushad already, twelve years previously, opened his tomers to the sound of their ivory whistles,
veins in the prisons of Amsterdam, under rath- their attendants at intervals beating the drum;
er curious circumstances. Being arrested for pedlers, displaying their wares of every descripdebt, he held out threats to his creditors that tion, citron, ribands, and whatever was likely to
he would kill himself if too harshly prosecuted. attract the attention of the crowd around, with
The regency of Amsterdam, in consequence, their baskets, were passing and repassing the.caused him to be stripped, and had him clad in  bridges; the Turks and Armenians vended their
entirely new garments, in order to be assured  perfumes; the gondoliers, in their holyday atthat he could secrete upon his person neither tire, sat indolently smoking upon the wide imarpoison nor murderous weapon. In spite of all ble'steps of the palaces leading to the waterthese precautions, he was found dead in his bed, side, waiting the call of any stranger.
bathed in blood, with an incision in his right   All was bustle and excitement: shopkeepers
arin, his head thrust under his pillow.      opened wide their doors, the coffee-houses dis" Convicted of having practised fraud at Am- played all their attractions, each house seemed
sterdam upon their high mightinesses, and upon'ready for the reception of guests; while the vaother individuals, the unfortunate Zannowick  riegated awnings of the palaces were stretchwas wholly without information from abroad. ed forth to shade their inmates from the peneHis body was drawn upon the hurdle at Am- trating rays of the sun, and lovely young girls
sterdam. Upon hearing this intelligence, my  of the district of Piacetta came to draw water
uncle became almost crazy.  He had always from the well in the ducal palace-yard.
reckoned upon the protection of his pupil, whom    As the clock struck seven, a lady issued from
he persisted in loving with all his vices. The  the water-gate of the palace, richly habited, and
notes collected by my uncle might'compromise  wearing a white mask attached to her threemany families. Give me your word, Signor cornered hat —for the Venitian ladies then wore
Counsellor, that, should you make use of these  a small hat with the bahuta, a sort of black
terials,. the names of the principal actors mantle, trimmed with lace, and descending to
ifi this singular drama, however transparent the hips, leaving the arm exposed from the elthe veil thrown over their identity, shall not bow downward. They also wore a sort of petbe divulged. Although there no longer exist ticoat of yellow or white, spreading out after
doges, and we live under the merciful dispensa- the fashion of an ecclesiastical robe, and scarcetion of the Austrian government, there still re- ly discovering the extremity of their small feet,
main some descendants of that family, whose  encased in a tiny slipper. They carried in their
chief my uncle has designated under the name  hands either a white or black mask, in order to
of Alessandro. This history will probably be preserve their complexion from the heat of the
more highly appreciated in Germany. where all sun, and wore powder, as in the days of Mathat appertains to magic, or the wonderful, is dame Du Bany.




6                                    SAFIA.
It was in the costume so often reproduced days; but, insensibly, her thoughts reverted to
by I1 Tiepolo and Canaletti, and of which the spiritual ideas, doubtlessly influenced by the soengravings of Peter Longhus have preserved lemnity of the scene. She soon prayed ferventthe general idea, that the signora of whom we ly-apparently wholly abstracted from worldly
have spoken issued that very morning from the ideas-until the proper moment arrived for tawater-gate of her palace, to the steps descend- king up the collection. A credulous and bigoting from which her gondola was attached.    ed Italian, she had long placed her sole'devoA negro boy bore her train, a duenna carried tion in Saint Peter, from innate conviction of his
her missal and ample purse upon a. cushion: power; indeed, the protection of that holy saint
the gondola was steered towards the patriarch- had never failed her.
al church of Saint Peter.                     The marchioness farther imagined that, as
The Signora Grimani was wedded to one of Saint Peter held the keys of Paradise, it was to
the most noble patricians of Venice. Her age him she should apply for hope of admission;
was forty - but she was still handsome; yet, she whose pious life seemed to shame the reckhad it been necessary to establish her reputa- less and profligate career of her'husband, and
tion for virtue by test of the ballot-box, in sen- who was cited in Venice as a woman who had
atorial parlance, she might have found herself renounced the errors of vanity and the world.
blackballed. However, she was selected upon " Is not'Saint'Peter," she would say to herself,
this day to repair to the church,of Saint Peter, "the, celestial guardian of Paradise? the sun
in order to take up the collection.          of the popes?:the king of:the Apostles? Is he
She was what is now called a well-preserved not greater than SaintMark?" The signora's'fawoman of a certain age. Her severe and pru- ther bore the name of the sainted Peter; this
dish looks, her rouge carefully and artistically was an additional incentive to veneration, renlaid on, her haughty lip, and her large and pier- dering her's doubly enthusiastic. Finally, there
cing jet-black eyes, rendered her, no less than hung in the private apartment of the marchionher age, an object of respect and terror to the ess a magnificent copy of the painting representyounger portion of the nobility of Venice, while ing Saint John the Evangelist, with Saint Peter
those of riper years, and more experienced, gave and Saint Paul, the original of which, by Paul
credit to the Marchioness Apollonia as possess-'Veronese, might'be seen in the church.
ing incontestable ttaces of former beauty. Her   When the marchioness left her seat, the
prudishness and dread of her husband's ire alone clanging halberds of the Swiss ringing upon the
kept them aloof.                             pavement, the loud swell of the organ, caused
The fact was, that the marchioness had be- all the ladies assembled, Whether Venitians or
come religious; this might serve as an excuse foreigners, to rise, in order to catch a glimpse
for no longer loving her husband, a man past of the lady alms-gatherer: all habited in holyfifty, brutal, dissolute, and ambitious withal, day attire -their heads adorned with flowers
who continued to indulge to excess in all those on either side-standing upon tiptoe, and wearvices with which, at this period, Venice so lux- ing'the high-heeled shoe then in fashion: a fashuriantly abounded. He seldom  inhabited his ion which the subtle policy of husbands had
palace, preferring that he owned at Padua on alone contrived to introduce within the preteira firma; left the marchioness to her devo- cincts of the Adriatic city.,The female attendtions, and gave himself up entirely to his pleas- ant of the marchioness handed to her her purse,
ures; and yet it was asserted in Venice that and, followed by her.little negro boy, she made
the Marquis Grimani was jealous.            her way to the bench of the magnates and senThe gondola stopped at the square of San ators, to whom she first applied.
Pietro del Castello. This ancient edifice, which,   The shower of sequins dropped into the sigfrom the first centuries of the Republic, had nora's purse was truly marvellous. She bowed
been regarded as the Cathedral of Venice, might to each patrician, and even to each mere citimetaphorically be said to exhibit upon that day zen,. with an air so charming, and so blended
with pride, to the assembled spectators, its fine with grace, that it excited envy among the feportico, in the style of Palladio. Beggars were male' spectators.  The collection being over,
sitting upon the steps, and the leathern cur- she returned to her seat; and, to conceal the
tains, at the very threshold of the door of en- pride her triumph had created in her breast,
trance, discovered to the eye of' the beholder'had recourse to her missal. In opening it, she
the perfumed vapour of the incense from the probably reflected that the procurator Grimani,
censers, gracefully curling upward, and spread- her- worthless' husband, was not present, and
ing among the Corinthian columns and above was about offering up prayers to Saint Peter for
the pulpit of the Holy Apostle, brought from  his conversion, when, among the-leaves, a small
the city of Antioch.                        but charming note on vellum, with an embossed
When the Marchioness Apollonia Grimani border of miniature flowers, similar to those
entered the church, the patriarch, with his can- used to frame the pious orisons of saints, and
ons, issued from the sacristy. The church was two doves-resembling those fed by Saint Mark
crowded with priests, choristers, and novices. in the' court-yard of the Ducal Palace, and for
Three mace-bearers opened a passage through which Venice displayed so particular and exthe throng, and conducted the lady alms-gath- clusive a regard —cooing over a cross, and two
erer to her seat near the great chapel.     hearts consuming with the celestial fire of
The marchioness folded her fan, opened her charity. The note was traced in golden charmissal, and first casting her eyes downward, acters, and read as follows:
then raised them, and took a survey of the as-'Signora —Your prayers, equally as your
sernbled multitude.                         collection, have deservedly earned for you the
A murmur of approbation was audible around, favour of Heaven, where it is registered that for'which possibly recalled to mind her youthful three years you have abjured your former er



SAF IA..                                      7
rTors, and'that you differ from-most'women of upon the floor; her tongue became parched,
Venice by the prudence and reserve of your and she crossed herself.
conduct. As a mark of the divine and ineffa-   " So holy a guest, madam,'.-'she exclaimed,
ble goodness (the knowledge of which must be upon ~recovering herself; "where can we find,held sacred by you, and imparted to no profane a:restaurateur sufficiently skilful to prepare supear), permission has been granted to the first per for your apostle   Guaspolo, our cook, is
and best beloved apostle, upon his own request, the most talkative man in Venice; besides, he
to descend upon earth and sup with you to- is a spy of the marquis, and will'be determined
night.:He desires that'there may be no wit- to ascertain."
ness of this sacred interview, and from his lips,  You are right; we should either have some.you shall hear What:never before was'uttered discreet man, or else one wholly ignorant."
to'mortal. -'I conceive-your idea:Athat young Arme( -Signed),;PE'TiR, Apostle,' and patronof the nian who has just left the Iservice of the reverChurch of San Pietro del Castelo.   end Father Pasquali, and'who used to'make
Pairadise, June 29."                     such exquisite ice-creamis.'He'has beenoa week'The signora's surprise was so great that it out of' employ, and is unacquainted with your'nearly betrayed her; -she'cast a' hesitating husband. We can tell him to'make all the arglance around, but saw no persons, save a few  rangements in the lower rooms,;and can a'fter-,devout old women, wholly absorbed in the pass- ward'have him  reconducted, in a gondola,
ing solemnities. The patriarch was officiating, through the water-gate of the palace. As for
and the ceremony merely lacked the presence our cook, Guaspol, there are to-day entertainof the doge.                                 ments enough in the Place of Saint Mairk to keep
In the fulness of pride and joy, themarchion- him' amused; let him have his own way, and'ess read over two or three times the holy epis- you may remain tranquil. He will surely meet
tle, which seemed to her fragrant with seraphic some barcaroli of his acquaintance, and spend
oedour. Her first thought:was to confide all to the night with them drinking.".some worthy canon, but the celestial missive so    "But the plate! You know, Morenita, that
expressly recommended implicit secrecy, that, the marquis, through spite, has only left us
upon leaving the church, she imposed upon her- three covers and a few dishes, enough, as he
iself'the obligation of mentioning the circum- said, to suit the necessities of pious women
stance to no one; sheeven appeared to converse wrapped up in their devotions, maliciously add-.upon indifferent subjects with her female at- ing, that the Lord's Supper, by Paul Veronese,
tendant and her black page.'With its gold and silver ornaments, savoured
When the prow of her gondola touched the'strongly of the pharisee.  -How can I receive.marble stepsleading to Grimani's palace, "Mo- Saint Peter with a table so meanly'appointed i"
renita," said she to her waiting woman, "'it has   "'Is there not in Venice a district called'been very warm to-day; follow me to my apart- the Ghetto, inhabited by the Jews.  Leave all
ment and unlace me."                        -to:me, madam: I know a certain goldsmith
Morenita obeyed the summons. Upon enter- there-"
ing the chamber, the most conspicuous object   " What! Place Israelitish plate before an
was a large and elaborately-carved bedstead, apostle? Never!"'with wrought'pillars, surmounted by plumes of   "'Be composed, madam, the plate is ducal —'Vairiegated feathers: the portrait of'the noble senatorial and most Christian.  VeniCe, in
Marquis Gtimani faced the' sacred'painting be- these degenerate days, glitters with the:show
ifore mentioned.                             of"wealth; but that show is a cloak to poverty,
" What is the'matter, madam l."  asked; Mo- andmahy  a time has'the marquis himself —"
Tenita,'seeing her mistress affected to tears.   " The thought is excellent: we might then,
" Does -the prayer you -are reading recall to -at least, present a decent appearance. There
mind any excusable error'of your youth, to one is one of my caskets:of jewels.'Take it, and.so adored as you have beenT"                pledge it with the Jew."
" Silence, Morenita; remind me not'6ofaught   " Still, madam, you forget the bill of fare.":terrestrial. Let the'Countiess d'Azola: enjoy    " You are right *: but first, is there not cap-the infantile:glitter of conquests and worldly ital wine in the cellar! Summon Honorio, the:pleasures.'My regards are fixed uipon Heaven, butler."
and you shall' see one of the most illustrious of   "'Him, madam!  Why, Honorio received
its representatives come down this night.'"  rders from your beloved husband to meet him
Morenita looked'mechanically towards the this morning at Padua. He is,by this time, on
ceiling; it represented Venus and Adoniis sur- his'way thither."
wounded by a group of Cupids, in' the' stle of o " I have often heard Grimani say that there
Albano.  The paiiting suffiCienitly  portrayed is excellent Cyprus wine to be had at the:the ancient: Olympus,:at the shrine of whose Aquila coffee-house. He often-perhaps too
frailest goddess, according to the scandalous often —enjoys himself there in the accursed
chironiclesIof Venicej the signora had too often company of Trevisani, Monsenigo, and other
w'Worshipped.                               dissolute lords of his acquaintance. We will. You can read," resumed the:Marchionesssend for six bottles of Cyprus, three of MonteGrimani; "well, my dear, peruse this letter.":fiascone, some Rosolio, and a few flasks of
"This lettetr,madam," answered Morenita; Maraschino."
", probably the petition of some handsome lover,   "Well, but for the supper i":or a snare of'Signor Grimani! he is so suspi-   "As regards the supper, we may desire the
dious."'.        Armenian to serve before the King of Apostles
I"Read, I say."                           an'excellent soup, a poulet and riz, a dozen of
Morenita took tile -paper;' her knees sunk ortolans, and a larded capon. with Constantia




8'                   SAFIA.
sauce.  Think you that will suffice, More- I appear under the bright rays of the chandelier
nita?"                                     lighted for this occasion.' For the appetite of a saint I scarcely know,   He was attired in the long and flowing Juthey fare so well in Paradise; besides, con-  daical robe with which painters represent the
sider the distance from our gate to thit of  Prince of Apostles; a thick beard hung down,
which Saint Peter keeps the key is a thousand  partly over his breast; and from  his girdle
times longer than from here to Morano."      were suspended the keys of the celestial king"True, Morenita. You will, then, see the  dom. His deportment was solemn, but temgoldsmith and the Armenian. Beseech the lat- pered with a certain air of mild benignity; his
ter to make his sauces palatable to the most hands were fair, and upon his forefinger hefastidious taste."                           wore a ring similar to that of his apostolical
"I have told you that he comes from a can- and Roman holiness the pope. He laid aside
on's house. For a few ducats he will surpass  his staff, and smiled affectionately upon his
himself."                                    hostess.
" Begone, then, and lose no time. Ah! what   The marchioness, imitating the example of
think you? were it not well, in order to keep  her attendant, threw herself at the feet of Saint
the matter more secret, that from this moment Peter, and fervently kissed the hem of his garwe barricade each door and shut the blinds of ment.
each window! Light betrays, by its reflection    "Are you sure that you are quite alone,.
upon the canal. Tell the street porter that I daughter?" asked the apostle, surveying the
feel fatigued, and have retired for the night. apartment with a scrutinizing look.
Leave the land-gate ajar; I have a surmise    Morenita locked all the doors, advanced a.
that the holy apostle may come that way. It fauteuil, covered with satin fringed with gold,
is said, however, that saints sometimes tumble  for Saint Peter, and, upon a sign from the mardown the chimney, or fall through the ceiling."  chioness, retired as the saint took his seat at
"Are you sure, madam, that no one will'the sumptuously furnished table.
harm him? peregrinating the streets of Venice'Thereon was displayed the richest gold and
at night is so unsafe and dangerous."       silver plate of the richest goldsmith in the Ghet —
"I have no fear of that. Did not Saint Peter to, and the most savory repast ever offered to
cut off the ears of Malthus?"              the epicurean palate of the most fastidious fa"You remind me, there is a great painting  ther confessor.
so representing him near the Fondaco of the    Saint Peter acknowledged that he had never'~
Turks. What shall I ask from the blessed. witnessed the like since the miraculous draught
saint " continued Morenita, putting on her veil which whilom destroyed his fishing nets.
and her out-door finery.                       "You are indulgent, holy saint," said the.
At this moment a soft voice, essaying one of marchioness; "this modest supper was prethe songs of the gondoliers so common among  pared by a young Armenian, who, thrice de —
the Venitians, was heard nearing the palace. voutly crossed himself previously to commen —
Morenita peeped from the window, and recog- cing his operations. He is a discreet youngnised the young Armenian.                    man, and perfectly to be relied upon, for whichl
"There goes our cuisinier, madam, sent to  reason Morenita selected him in preference to
us by Providence. I'll away and give him his a certain Guaspolo, who would surely have belesson, then hie to the goldsmith Isaac, at the  trayed our interview to my husband."
Ghetto, to borrow his handsomest plate."       " A husband unworthy of so virtuous a wom —
Morenita went off, leaving to the marchion- an! I know it," answered the apostle, carving:'
ess herself the care of laying the table of the  a fowl. " Your charity is in such good repute
apostle, which, with charming gallantry, she  above, that it has become proverbial there. My
prepared in the state bedchamber, the handsom- daughter, you are not the woman ever to leave
est apartment in the palace.                the altar without flame, or the temple without.
attendance. Even this morning the collection
you took up, and are to send to the parish-"
CHAPTER II                      "Alas! holy apostle," answered the Marchion —
ess Apollonia Grimani, with a sigh, "the colTHE: SUPPER..         lection produced little in comparison with the
AT the appointed hour, and as the marchion- wants of the patriarchal church. I intend to
ess, by a refinement of politeness towards her add a few sequins myself to complete the slim
apostolic guest, was reading his fifteenth epistle  required; for to-morrow morning the purse is
to the Corinthians, a slight noise was heard at to be claimed. It is the duty of the Primiciera
the land-gate of the palace, and Morenita en- Daniel to do this."
tered, with awe depicted upon her pallid coun-    "The Primiciero Daniel i" resumed the aps —
tenance, preceding a grave personage, whose  tie.  " Are you sure that he will fulfil his office.
features the' obscurity had prevented her dis- as becomes a pious ecclesiastic?"
cerning.." Nothing can induce me to suspect the, pri —
Following the instructions of her mistress, miciero," said the marchioness.  " However,
Morenita had introduced this venerable guest more is known in heaven than on earth, and
in the dark, and caused him to grope his way  possibly the Signor Daniel-"
through the antechamber, offering in excuse    Saint Peter drew from his pocket a set of tab-.
the secrecy his note had exacted from her mis- lets, and appeared to peruse attentively certain:
tress. But when she threw  open the door memoranda.  "The Priiniciero Daniel," reof the bedchamber, wherein the marchioness  sumed the apostle, sipping from a tolerably large
stodd, she had but time to fall prostrate at the  goblet filled with Cyprus wine, " has as bad a.
feet of the sainted apostle, so radiant did he name above as the Canon Zobeni."




SAFIA.                                        9
"Zobeni." exclaimed the marchioness, " Zo- tice I infinitely disapprove; but at Venice jusbeni, my confessor!"                        tice is so corrupt."
"I am sorry he is, my dear lamb; but Zobe-    "Since it is impossible to conceal anything
ni does not suit you. He sends me daily to  from you, great saint," answered the marchionParadise fair penitents -whom, conscientious- ess, with her hand upon a drawer, " it is true,.
i~, I am compelled to leave to shiver and freeze  my husband carries on a scandalous traffic ir
outside the gate. Sad chaff the list of good  these permits; I have mastered his secrets,
deeds upon which they ground their claims to  and know the receptacles wherein he keeps his
admission. Not one of them would part with  private papers. From one day to another the
a necklace, or other ornament, towards repair- senate may gain information by spies, and he
ing the broken thumb or heel of my mutilated  be led into difficulty."
statue.  Charity, my daughter, charity is the    "The very contingency you must avoid,
balm that unlocks the gates of heaven: open  daughter, trust me; purge your house of all
your door, and'the door shall be opened to you. fraud; the Marquis Grimani might some day
You have done so, of which I make minute."    have to pay dearly for such artifices.. Besides,
Saint Peter took up his tablet, and inscribed  he is careless in dispensing those permits; and
thereon some notes.                          if the arragador Cesare Morini, his mortal ene"What are you doing?"                     my, or Casanova de Seigngalt, a rake banished
"Nothing! You shall know hereafter."      from Venice, should chance to gain informa" But yet-"                               tion —"
" Daughter, beware of the curiosity of Eve.   At the name of Casanova, the marchioness
Suffice it to you to know that the day you dis- turned pale; however, she merely answered,.
miss'Zobeni and the Primiciero Daniel, I will with trembling lips,
myself bear you to the steps of the throne of    " Then Casanova did not die at Corfu."
the angels. There are men who destroy the    "Nothing is less proved," replied the apossouls of others while blasting their own: de- tie, observing the agitation of the marchioness -
scendunt in infernunm viventes."             "he is a cunning rogue, who daily sends to
The apostle was discussing his fourth orto- Satan the prettiest sinners about the Adriatic.
lan, and had broached a flask of Maraschino.    Besides, he still has friends at Venice-friends
"Alas!" he resumed, "must I confess, my  who will never forgive the council for banishdear daughter, that this morning I found my  ing him, well as he deserved it. The faithful'
chapel meanly endowed, while that of Saint worshipper at my altar, in whose behalf I now
Justinian, where his ashes repose, was much  apply to you, is, on the contrary, unjustly accumore munificently supplied. Why this l I can- sed; a permit would save him during his brief'
not divine, for he is far from equalling Saint sojourn in Venice; without it, madam, his life
John, or even Saint Andrew, my brother, and  is in danger."
yet a few ducats-"                             " His life!" exclaimed the marchioness, witl"
"You are right," exclaimed the marchioness, much excitement; " his life! Ah! great saint,
suddenly enlightened; "but, great saint, since  take these permits; you may carry them all,I have the inestimable honour of entertaining  away; may they redeem all my errors!"
you, there is no farther need of any intermedi-   "'Well said, my daughter, well said!" continate hand to convey this alms. Yourself can  ued the apostle, as he gathered the blank signaake charge of the purse containing the collec- tures which the marchioness handed him  "but.
tion. I will add a few of. my bracelets, and you  this," continued he, as he pocketed the purse,.
can give the whole into the hands of the patri- "will prove no less agreeable an offering.
arch himself towards the expenses of worship."  Now, in my turn, I wish to reward your zeal; "On condition, my daughter, that I give you  by a gift that is worth all terrestrial gifts; you
a receipt; business must be transacted with  have opened your door to me; mine shall not
regularity."                                 be closed against you."
The marchioness opened a magnificent cask-'   The apostle then tearing from his tablet theet inlaid with mother-of-pearl and marqueterie, leaf whereon. he'had written a few lines, preand took from it a parchment, which she hand- sented it to the Signora Grimani.
ed to the apostle.'             Here is a permit," added he, " that secures
"Here is a receipt in due form," said Saint to you. all the joys of heaven. With this pa-.
Peter. i' I would not use a leaf from my own  per —"
tablets in order to leave strong proof that I have    Saint Peter did not conclude; for at that mo-.
descended upon earth. Previous to my return  ment Morenita rushed into the room; and she
to heaven, I shall also call on the patriarch, had hardly entered and bolted the door, when
with whom I shall have an explanation.  For three violent knocks were struck upon it.
the present, I have a slight favour to'request   " Who can come at such an hour " cried the.
from you, madam."                            marchioness, pale with terror.
"Name it, great saint," answered she, cour-   "I know not, madam," answered Morenita;
tesying.                                     " he is a tall, bald man, with a robe like that of
5 One of my followers, a man of deeply reli- this gentleman.  He says-he pretends that he
gious feeling, but relentlessly persecuted by the  wishesto speak with you."
Secret Council of Venice, has just.returned to    "His name." asked Saint Peter.
this city to collect an inheritance. You are the    "Faith! Mr. Saint, he did not see fit to tell
wife of the Procurator Grimani, and he is likely  me; but hear him knock, louder still! AVhy,
to become inquisitor.  Could you not obtain  he will break dowvn the door!"
from him for my prote6g  a permit to reside in    Saint Peter arranged his dress, and, going in..
this city. It is said that he is in the habit of person to the door, asked firmly,
signing such documents for small sums; a prac-    "Who knocks I"
B




-IO                                  SSA-FIA.
"SaintPaul!" answered a voice; "open the Saint Paul; "and how did you learn?  Be
door!"                                     that as it may, you will have to give me satis" Saint Paul!" said the marchioness, with faction for such a proceeding; I am not a man
an indescribable expression of joy.  ":What! to bear it!"
Saint Paul too! Am I, then, to be hoboured    Cagliostro looked at himrn maliciously, and,
to-night with the visit of the whole'college of taking his hand as he would that of a pupil,
-apostles."'"Signor Casanova," said he, " you were get"Do not open, marchioness, do' not'open!" ting into a scrape; for the procurator returns
cried Saint Peter, trying to keep her from the from Padua this night; he received information
door.                                       from his cook Guaspolo; but'for his return I
But at this moment the door received such a should not have interirupted your'.tete-a-t6te."'vigorous push, that Morenita, dreading the con-   " In that Case, my dear master, I owe you an:sequences of the noise, sprang-towards it, open- apology; but who -told.:you I was'to sup with
-ed, and Saint'Paul was in sight.           the signora " 
Saint Paul-wore the Israelitish costume;   "The:Armenian who prepared'the supper,
-he -held under his arm a book with silver clasps; and'who'sometimes comes'in to prepare'for me
— wore large sandals on his feet —his eyes flash- furnaces of another description. Yes, those I
ed fire.                                     use for chemistry, my dear fellow!'Have you
"Apostle, unworthy of the'name," cried'he, not employed him  on sundry errands'since
w' ho permitted you to come here, and mingle his dismissal from the prebendary Pasquale's
terrestrial interests with the sublime.truths house? You had stationed' him,'had'you not,
which we defend? Sent by our common Prince opposite Grimani's palace, with instructions to
and Master, I notify to you the deicree'from  keep good watch?"'
above. Follow me!"                             True! and-I' sear I'll break his bones if I
"You'!"grumbled Saint Peter.  "You! my chance to meet him."
inferior! -Ball!"                              " Why so? because he gave me information
"I expected'that, after thrice denying Christ, of a fortunate adventure?  Is it not one for me:you would deny me also, guilty apostle.! but I to have the honour of renewing acquaintance'have taken my measures, and these gentlemen, with a person of such merit as yourself? Were,my supporters, will show you the effect'of the we not friends in Germany? and have you forvictorious grace'that compels you to submit."  gotten that, at Berlin, I had the honour of winUpon a.gesture of Saint Paul, three men, ning from'you sundry small sums "'masked, appeared upon the threshold.  Saint   "Three thousand florins, I think.  I owe
Paul bade them do their duty with due respect them to you still; I do not hesitate to acknowlfor the holy character of the saint they had. to edge the debt. But, then, you play with such
arrest. They gagged him, and bound his hands. luck!"
The marchioness fell, fainting, into an arm-   "I do not deny that.  Now I have made up
chair, and Morenita hastened to follow her ex- my mind to lose to-night, and'to you. Your
ample; mean while the holy posse entered a pockets are well furnished; I heard the ring of
large gondola with their,prisoner, and the'bar- gold as you were carried into the gondola. You.~aroli rowed speedilyaway.                  shall play against my bank, here in my house.
I reside at Venice, under the name of Count; —~i~ —- -':Lippone; and the only way to win confidence
is to appear to lose; then you excite compasCHAPTER III.                   sion even to admiration; therefore, you must
punish my purse'severely. The three cavaliers
THE  TWO APOSTLES;        
you have seen, and who arrested you so polite-'TsE gondola had just passed the angle of ly at the signora's celestial supper, will decoy'Grimani's palace, lighted on her'course by the some dupes for us this night, and I will take
bright moon of an Italian sky, when it stopped care afterward to make up for my losses."
~before a dwelling of rather modest appearance,   "So you reside in Venice, Count: Cagliostroburied among a labyrinth of small'streets, in the I beg pardon, Count Lippone?"
vicinity of the Reggio canal, near the Church    "I have been here a week; and you?".ofSaint Job. The three cavaliers politely:hand-   "I arrived the day before'yesterday, and I'ed Saint Peter from the gondola, and introdu- confess that I came here with fear. I lodge in
ced him through the'grated door of a dimly- a small room near the Ponte del'Paradiso. The
lighted vestibule, upon which several doors last doge, through the importunity of others,
opened. Saint Paul ordered his' brother apos- banished me. I have been abroad three years,
tle to follow him into his room, and motioned and were it not for the:fortune I hope to inherit
the cavaliers to leave them alone. When they from my old aunt,' the Countess d'Agnati —-I'both found themselves in a large apartment, need it sadly, my dear fellow, for nowadays
whose only furniture consisteid of a variety of there is not even the smallest German count to
instruments of alchemy, furnaces, and cruci- pluck."
bles, Saint Paul jerked off the beard of his pris-   "Shameful! that we should meet so ill-fa-oner, and flinging away his own,            voured by fortune.' You say you are banished
"A thousand pardons," said he, "Signor Ca- from Venice?  Give me your hand; I have
sanova!"                                   just been banished from France."
"Cagliostro!" cried the false Saint Peter,   "Indeed!"
retreating.                                    "Yes, for mere trifling matters too tedious
They gazed at each other in mute astonish- to narrate.  I always had a bad opinion of that.ment, until Casanova first broke silence.   country. It swarms with philosophers, who
6' What miserable jest is this!"' said he to I will soon know  as much as ourselves; and




SAFIA.                                       1I
nobles, whose ingratitude and avarice are dis- ders me to quit France, dreading my washes,
couraging to true genius. And may I confide my cosmetics, my magic! WVhy I might either
to you, whom I regard as a pupil, from the pe- have -killed him with a glass of aqua tofana, or
riod when a certain female slave, some fifteen have restored his youth, as I listed.":years since, caused me the loss of a-fortune, I   " Truly, I had nearly forgotten, count, your:hardly think myself longer fit for anything 1"    boundless reputation as a restorer of youth!
"You jest; remember your late trick upon You ought to impart the benefit of your knowl-.me."                                       edge to.the:Marchioness Grimani, who seems
"That was the only means of renewing our to have grown terribly old.'By-the-by, I have:acquaintance. Diamond cut diamond. If we with me certain permits of residence, which, in
~only understood each other-"               case of misfortune, may prove of service to
"I intend we shall. You once gave me some you. We will share equally.as brothers; and
lessons. If I couild now return the compli- -nowletius part.  Since yesterday I have made
lment-"'a discovery in the district of the Ghetto'."
"You are ingenious, Signor; Casanova."      " What " asked Cagliostro,'hastily, as he
" What is better still, I have that'which'will threw off his long apostle's gown, under which..save us from the. hands of the Venitian police." he wore an. elegant dress-coat, trimmed' with
" What do you mean?"                     the'firiest embroidery.  " Is it an"old. Jewish
"We are both in search of fortune here in fusurer, able to support us here'for some time
Venice, against wind and tide. You'ever curi- respectably, or a treasure buried in the cellars
ious to try experiments in magic, and allUmeth- of those sons of Israel, who keep their'houses:ods of imposing upon the strong or weak mind; -as closely shut up as their purses'?'
-: eternally'seeking money and women.'We    "You have hit the mark, count; it isa treasare like two summer clouds, swiftly passing: I ure; one a thousand times more:precious to me
represent Pleasure, you Intrigue."           than Saint Mark's own treasury-a young and
" It is, then, our interest to enter into part- beautiful girl, who dwells near the -Church of
anership, dear Casanova. What do I seek at Saint'Jeremiah."
Venice! I hardly know; mean while, I try to   "Her name?"
force fortune in my favour; and in that I only'   "That, indeed, I know. not as yet. It was
follow the example of the first personages of nightfall as I caught a glimpse of her through
the republic.  I must, this night, bring you in the gratings of her window; I fancied I saw
~contact with an excellent dupe I have discov- that angel whom Raphael represents illumining
ered-a French marquis who used to'visit me with radiance the dark dungeon of the saint
formerly in Paris, and who, not having the same whose beard I wore just now. If you like, we
reasons as I for changing his name, has retain- will take a stroll, to-morrow morning, in that
ed his own; from this circumstance I recogni- direction, and, as you are no longer as inflamsed him the other evening at the Casino. The mable as I am, I reckon on your assistance tomadcap has come to Venice, as most Parisians wards the accomplishment of that great work.
would go to Saint Cloud or the Porcherons: But have you not yourself some fair Venitian
without being able to boast of much learning, that you think of?"
he knows what all the world is doing, is fond of   ",Perhaps," stammered Cagliostro, emptying
women, enterprising, and perfectly unsuspi- a bottle of essence' on his hands, and ringing
— ~"ious.  I plucked his feathers in Paris, and for one of his servants.
-shall spit the bird in Venice.  He eulogizes   A footman appeared, and informed the Count
without reserve the house of the Count Lippone, Lippone that his company had arrived.
and'every night rolls under the tables of'the   "You will soon behold that august assemAquila coffee-house.  But be not alarmed about bly," said the count to Casanova.  "Under
him; he is one of your little French lordlings, what name shall I present you to my players?"
who can bear any quantity of wine, and play as   " Why, marquis, under my own, to be sure,
people play only in Paris."                  if you had rather.  Have I not, as well as your"I should be delighted to know him. His self, a talisman of safety."'name —"                                       " Yes. but trust me; use it only in case of
"The Marquis Eusebe de Saluces, a man of absolute necessity. The doge Alessandro is not
qnmOble birth, and moving  in the best society. like other doges; and, although he is only about
You would never guess who is the uncle of this thirty-five years old-"'noble gambler."''The dolgeAlessandro thirty-five! Parbleu!
"Some lord of the court of Versailles, whose I am  sure he will be anxious to become acinheritance he squanders."                   quainted with the most undoubted rake in all
"Not at all. His uncle is Monsieur de Sar- Venice! Devil take prudence! -If I chance to
tines."                                      meet him to-morrow in Venice, I would tell
" Vho is so poXwerful, and so feared?"   him boldly my name."
"Alas! yes, 3my dear friend, that same M. de   "Yes, and get shut up under the Leads, or:Sartines who found fault with my magic, my exiled to Bohemia; land your Jewess -your
secrets at faro, and, above all, the mysterious idol-who must equal, I should think, in your
hotel which T kept open day and night in the eyes, that Theresa Irmer, a comedian's daugh-.Marais. While Louis XV., a Iking who did ter, who once turned your senses-would you
some good, whatever the world may say to the'thus freely give her up."
contrary, gave the Count of Saint Germains an  i" Call me Doctor Celsus or Paracelsus, as
apartment at Chambord, with one hundred thou- you like;'only lend me some clothes, for I have
sand francs, that he might have ample means nothing about me save Saint Peter's tunic."
to prepare the dyes that were to secure superi-   Cagliostro touched a spring behind the tapority for French cloths, the present minister or- estry.; the door closed on his friend, who pres.




12                                  SAFIA.
entlyreappeared, dressed quite splendidly.  Ca-   "No more than I do," answered Casanova,
sanova had with him the product of the collec- laughing; " then, by both abstaining a few days
tion; he lined therewith the pockets of his vest, from going to see the signora-"
intending to make it yield well at the bank   They were still conversing when the grayfounded by himself and Cagliostro.          light of dawn peeped through the windows of
The Count de Lippone's play-room was near the apartment.  Cagliostro and Casanova partat hand; Casanova and Cagliostro repaired ed, after mutual vows of friendship, existing:
thither soon after, and found there a numerous less in their hearts than upon their lips.
assemblage. Parties soon gathered and formed
faro tables; several ladies prepared to stake a
ducat at a time. Rather high sums were lost                CHAPTER IV.
in this place; but the Count Lippone, among
others, appeared so ill-treated by fortune, that,          AN INQUISITOR.
on going out, every one offered hinm his purse.    THE same morning, and as the grated doors of
When Cagliostro and his friend were alone,  the Ghetto creaked slowly on their hinges, three
"All goes well," said Casanova; "you suit young patricians, followed by a servant bearing
me; and now I shall tell you a secret; you several bags of money, issued from  a house,
hardly deserve it, however, after so cruelly in- forming the angle of the small square where
terrupting my apostolic supper. I was on the stands the Church of Saint Jeremiah.
scent of an important discovery at Signora   In front of this church, which separates the
Grimani's —"                                district of the Jews fiom the Christian part of
"Speak-speak quickly," answered Caglios- the city, some lean-faced Israelites passed and
tro, trying the power of his fascinating glance repassed, wearing the red hat which had taken
upon the Venitian.                          place of the patch of yellow linen worn by their
"This is it. I came here in search of a ancestors, as a distinctive sign, upon their
treasure —"                                 breasts: children were repairing to the syna" You have told me that; the daughter of a gogue, and. water-carriers forced, with their unJew, is it not, who lives near the Church of melodious rattles, the notice of their customers.
Saint Jeremiah?"                            The house whence the young lords issued be" That is an affair of the heart-a whim-a longed to the Jew Ottale, one of the richest
true-love fancy. But, first of all, I must take money-lenders of the republic. It looked upon
care of the substantial."                    a narrow canal, whose green waters no bark:
"Well spoken."                            then disturbed; the neighbourhood of the spot
"Be it known to you, then, that there exists wY-ore a stern, mistrustful aspect.  A bridge
at Venice-though, unfortunately, I don't know  of few steps ended near the house, every winthe spot-a treasure that might enrich us both, dow of which was closed with enormous padand put us on a par with the first players of the locks.
Rialto."                       "' Battista," said one of the young men to khist
" I know it."                             servant, " carry this to the Trevisani Palace..'Who told you?"                          We need a good breakfast to raise our spirits
"The old procurator, Morosini-six years afterthenight's fatigue. Tell the keeper of the
ago-under the most solemn pledge of secrecy. Aquila coffeie-house to get it ready: we shall
But I know, at the same time, the nature and follow quickly after you."
origin of that treasure."                      "Two thousand ducats lost to that French' I know also. It cost the doge dearly. You marquis introduced to me last night at Count
know the name of that doge "                Lippone's. Do you know that that is some"Yes," answered Cagliostro; and he whis- thing?" muttered the most elegant of the youngpered in Casanova's ear a name which the lat- patricians, whose name was Moncenigo, as he,
ter knew well.  " But how can we tell where sat down on the stone bench beneath the house
the republic of Venice caused that gold to be they had just left.
buried?  Yes, by what means?" continued    " True enough," answered Trevisani, glanCagliostro, apparently musing.              cing sideways at his servant, who had just
"' That is precisely the point," answered Casa- started towards his palace; " but I lost three
nova, " I hoped to discover; the private libra- thousand ducats to that German called Doctor
ry of Signor Grimani is famous in Venice; it is Paracelsus.  Devil take me if I have not seen
said to contain an infinite number of sacred that face before somewhere: a rogue who can
documents, stolen by him from the yecords under say nothing but meinz herr, and does not seem to
the reign of the last doge. One of us must —"  know one word of Italian.  But you, Ranuzzi,
"Rest assured, I will take care of that. Only, who were not at play last night, how is it that
after-this night's adventure at Signora Grima- you come to borrow firom our Jews of Venice?'"
ni's, it were prudent to wait a few days, were    "I will tell you at breakfast; I must prepare
it not."                                    for a journey; yes, this night I leave Venice."
" The manuscript must be in Arabic, and I   "Is it to go back to Padua, my terra firma.
do not understand that language. The procu- noble'  Padua, where you like so much to rerator Morosini, exiled from Venice, must have side? It is said you keep, in a seraglio there,
told you in France-"                        several handsome slaves fiom India; of course
" He told me that the Venitian Inquisition at there is some favourite sultana among the numthat time had in its employ, as secretary, a man ber; confess it, you rogue!"
acquainted with that language; so that, suppo-   " Come," said Ranuzzi, affecting to appear
sing the book should fall into the hands of a gay, "your jests are ill-timed.  I go; that is
profane person, or be subtracted fromn the rec- enough; believe me, I do not leave Venice
ords, it would be a useless treasure. Did Sig- without a tear."
nor Grimani know that language?"




S AFIA.                                      13
-  Hold on! we will not let you go. What the  to cast cannons at the arsenal; launch vessels
devil! Ranuzzi, you love pleasure; do you for- filled with armed seamen-oh! that was suitget that you are engaged, and must. come to- able for the heroic times; but now what is renight to the ball of the fair Countess d'Azola? quired to perpetuate those high names. To
To-morrow, at break of day, you may leave for frequent. masquerades and coffee-houses; to
Constantinople or the Indies; but this night draw the sword under a street lamp in behalf
you belong to us."                           of some low courtesan; to gamble all they pos"I bet that Ranuzzi does not relish the air sess, and often what they do not. Such is the
-of Venice at this moment," said Trevisani, re- exemplary life of the Venitian gentlemen."'garding him fixedly; "for, with those old stat-    The personage to whom the countess's bitter
utes, just revised by the Inquisition of State, do  criticism was addressed cast a look upon his,you know, Ranuzzi, that, by merely importing  wig, as though he had found himself attacked
your yellow women from India, you expose the  in his inmost trenches, and, looking at the
Venitian patriciate to the shame of having, countess with his scrutinizing glance, said,
some day, the blood of slaves mingled in their    " Thus, madam, your criticism spares no one,
veins? The Inquisition does not trifle on that not even the doge "
point."                                        "Is not Alessandro present at all your parties
"Bah!" resumed Moncenigo, seeing that Ra- -all your feast's.".nuzzi turned pale; "the power of the Inquisi-    "True, madam; but he appears also first at
~tion is every day declining; its hands are not the council and at business: he is found under
yet upon you; mean while let us go and open a  the double livery of pleasure and work, at the:few bottles of Cyprus; that Battista is a fellow  same time the model of the young and idle of
to breakfast before us, and I feel my stomach  the Broglio, and of the old counsellors of the
as empty as my purse was this morning."      Seignory. When I gave my vote for him at
The three patricians took the road towards the ballot of the Great Council, I deemned, as
the Aquila, without minding the various sounds  my colleagues did, that I was electing a doge
that were already rife in that district. The  who loved nothing but luxury and indolence,
house of the Jew Ottale was still closed, when  desirous, at the most, of having carried before
a gondola stopped near the bridge, whence a him  the silver trumpets, the gold chair, the
veiled lady issued, with a cavalier who held her. cushions, and the spurs-those symbols of his
prayer-book, and who gallantly handed it to her dignity-a doge, in short, such as we required
as she stepped from the gondola.             in Venice!"
"Countess,", said he, "your bark, faith! is'.' You found yourselves quite disappointed,"
as light as the wind, soft as a swan's neck. resumed the countess, maliciously; "did you
Here is Saint Jeremiah's Church;* you will not?"
have time to pray for our sins; for, look! it is    "Thanks to him, madam, our offices are be-:scarcly eight o'clock, and more than an hour coming sinecures.  Alessandro knows everywill elapse before the bishop comes to give his  thing in the state, men and things; walls and
blessing to the young couple so earnestly pro- consciences are made of crystal for his penetected by the doge and yourself. Scarcely had  trating eye; he outspies the spies whom we
I arrived from Padua, and before even entering  set upon his track,; and it'is often in the midst
my house, I found at home an order from the  of some gay supper that he laughingly corrects
iog-'g, bidding me offer you my hand to church  our errors of the preceding day, or,.in anticipaduring his absence; state affairs, I suppose, tion, our blunders of the next.".countess —"                                   " Such he is, indeed!"
"That is an admirable excuse, with which    " Besides, he possesses the love of the peoyou patricians habitually cover your tender av- ple: he has'made himself one of them by the
ocations! Confess, Grimani, that state affairs interest he takes in their welfare: one day the.answer your purpose marvellously well! You  first man in Venice, under the golden brocade
are never engaged in business except when you  canopy; the next a simple workman, handling'wish to deceive us.'For instance, might we  the file and the plane in the arsenal's work-'not often translate an extra session of the sen- shops. Oh! he is a strange doge, impenetrable
ate by an amorous cruise on the Canalazzo?. to all, even an inquisitor of state."
-and a'full council by a masquerade at Fusina.    "It is so said."'
I know some high-born ladies who are disre-    " You alone, madam, however, hold the key
spectful enough to laugh when their noble hus- of that heart, locked to all others. The doge
bands affect to use pompously, in their pres- loves you! The only subject of conversation.ence, the words election, college, quarantia; in Venice is the love with which the beautiful:each lady knows, then, that the nest day her Countess d'Azola has inspired the sovereign of
husband's senatorial gown will smell of Cyprus the republic; and, therefore, the homages of
wine-that his wig will be awry, and his ruf- your adorer glide past you like the Waves of the
fled wristbands soiled; too lucky even if the  sea by the sides of your gondola-".severe magistrate does not return from the Du-    " Grimani," resumed the countess, fixing on'cal Palace disguised as a Turk or a Scara- the procurator the glance with which an Italian
munlch."'                                    woman might eye a soothsayer she was con"You entertain, madam,  a rather bad opin- suiting, "do you think that the doge loves'ion of the patrician order."                me 2"
"' Between us, Grimani, you entertain no bet-    " Who doubts it, madam?" rejoined Grimani,
ter. To plant the standard of Saint Mark on the  warmly. 1" What charm do you lack for pleasing
walls of Constantinople, like old Dandolo; to  himn? he, what power for fulfilling all your
beat the infidels at sea and on land, like Moro- wishes?  You are as submissive to him as the
sidi; to humble Genoa; to construct basilics; Adriatic Sea to her spouse; and therefore I.




14                                   SAFIA.
must tell you my mind. It is believed in Ven- them to you.  Comne with me, and yoii shait see
ice that you will be dogaressa. The doge Ales- with your own eyes."'
sandro will give to you the ring with which he   The procurator hastened to follow Guaspolo;
weds the sea!"                              but, as he turned the corner of this piazzetta, he:Silence, Grimani!" exclaimed the Countess, was met by two ushers in red gowns from the
with a strange expression of melancholy and Ducal Palace, who handed him a sealed packterror.' "Think not that I am ambitious of a age; Grimani's'hand trembled as he opened it,
title whose lustre makes its danger-a title but a ray of gratification soon illumined his salwhich, while it ensured me the possession of low brow, furrowed with previous wrinkles; he
Alessandro's heart, might subject him  to a even drew from' his pocket a few ducats, which
yoke. I am happy, Grimani, very happy; Ales- he saw fit to give the two ushers.
sandro is young, handsome; he is a doge. I   "Let us hurry on, Guaspolo," said he to his
am the only woman in Venice he has been cook; "for the affiancing will soon take place
pleased to distinguish; I ask nothing of him  at the church, and.I must, you know, again meet.
save his love. It is true, my love is not like the Countess d'Azola at Saint Jeremiah's."
the love of those degenerate Venitian ladies   A quarter of an hour had elapsed since the
who surround me," continued the countess,'procurator had taken one of the streets that led
raising her head proudly.  " The feeling I bear to his palace, when three patricians, issuing from
Alessandro is jealous, anxious, mistrustful. the Aquila coffee-house, came back to the,
That' feeling, I know it, is the penalty of my er- square. Their very countenances attested suf —
ror and of my weakness; therefore I go, some- ficiently the copious meal they had just indulgtimes, and pray to God to protect me against its ed in; their purple faces, the mirth of their retransports, and'to give' me back, alas! that marks, their laughter and sallies gave sufficient
peace which I have lost!"'evidence that' they had just left the _Aquila,
Thus speaking, the countess had already lift- where they might, at this moment, have aned the tapestry leading to the church.  Stand- swered as a sign instead of the Bacchus that
ing on the marble steps of the temple, she seem- adorned it.
ed dne of those fair goddesses under whose fea-   "Ha! ha!" said Trevisani, " what a capital:
tu'res'Veronese so often personified Venice, his adventure!"
city. Her figure, closely fitted by a long black    "Excellent trick!" joined Moncenigo.
satin bodice, gave indication of that soft, un-   "Our friend Grimani himself will surely laugh
dulating motion common to Asiatic women who about it. What an honour, gentlemen-Saint
are ever reclining; her skin, slightly tinged with Peter and Saint Paul for his guests!"
amber hue, the lustre of her large blue eyes,   "Silence, gentlemen; their goes the. maralmond-shaped, her hair, black as jet, and the chioness with her beloved husband;  They are
classic cast of her profile, caused the beholder coming by yonder canal. Grimani has probably
to dream softly of the daughters of Greece; her felt desirous of showing himself: he must be
hands were fair and delicate as Leda's, her in high spirits!"
nails just touched with henna, that carmine dye   The procurator then crossed the square: he
sold at Venice by the Armenians of the port; was escorting his wife to the Church of Saint
her foot was finely shaped, and quite at ease in Jeremiah.
a tiny slipper; for the fashion of wearing high-   " Faith, Ranuzzi, you ought to hire that little
heeled shoes, she thought, should be abolished. Armenian; he has cooked for a saint: what bet"I shall await patiently the coming of his ter can you ask 1"
highness to his tribune," said she to Grimani   "Speak lower, Moncenigo; here comes the.
as she left him; "you, my dear procurator, do procurator back!"
not forget that you have accepted an invitation    "Faith, let us congratulate him; I can't hold.
for my supper to-night."                    in."
" Nor that I am permitted to kiss the fair   "That's it; let us ask him about Saint Pehand that penned it!"                      ter."
Grifmani imprinted a respectful kiss upon the    " And Saint Paul too; they are the talk of the
fair hand of the countess, and his eyes follow- whole neighbourhood.  The duenna could not.
ed her to the tribune of the doge, which she en- keep the secret."
tered.  The countess quickly closed its gra-   "All hail to the noble Marquis Grimani,"'
tings, unwillingly, doubtless, to expose herself continued they, affecting so serious a compoto the curiosity of the inhabitants.of the neigh- sure that it discomposed the procurator. "How -
bourhood before the doge's arrival.         fares his excellency to-day?"
It was not the intention of the procurator   " Rather poorly: I spent the night travelling.
Grimani to enter Saint Jeremiah's previous to Yes, letters from the doge recalled me to Yenthe hour of the betrothal; he stood, therefore, ice."
in the square looking towards the Gindeua; he   " And on your return from Padua you hardly
saw coming towards him a man dressed in liv- anticipated that supper."
cry, who hurried his steps as soon as he perceiv-   "What supper?" asked Grimani, affecting
ed him.                                     surprise.
"What news, Guaspolo?"                     " Why, to speak the truth, the supper-which
"Alas! excellency, bad news. I had left -the supper that-you must be sanctified from
this very night to meet you in Padua and tell top to toe this morning. How is the signora?
you what was taking place."                indeed, she has good reason to be returning
" What took place "                       thanks at church."
"Your house, or, rather, your palace, excel-   "A letter for Signor Grimani," here interlency, was last night the scene of singular oc- rupted a sbirro, dressed in black, who brought a
currences. But this is not the place to relate large portfolio to the procurator.




SAFIA.                                       15
" Well," said the procurator, smiling.     a letter of yours even, in which you recommendi
"How now, Grimani, do you know such peo-. her to keep the matter secret! She gave it to
ple?" asked Moncenigo, after the sbirro had. me. But rest easy; although: you are an inwithdrawn; "Saint Peter will not forgive you." quisitor, I shall remain your friend."
"Nor Saint Paul either; they are police. offi-   "Give me proof, then," answered Grimani,.
cers."                                       "by helping me to discover the authors of the
"You'think so?" rejoined Grimani, in a freez- scandal.that took place last night at my.house.."
ing tone; "the notes they bring.me may be use-   "How can you call it a scandal, so honouraful. This, for instance: read the. address."    ble a visit'.'
Moncenigo took the letter.                   "Yes, indeed!. they broke my door, bor"'To Signor Grimani, inquisitor.'  What! rowed.plate and eatables in my name.; in short;
are you an inquisitor?"                     Moncenigo —shall I say it. to. you-they pur"It would seem so," an'swered Grimani, cold- loined my wife's, gold. This. morning. she, was
ly; "that gives me the opportunity of knowing  unable to give either her collection or thethat you played. biribi the other night with two purse that contained it."
Sweedish barons, Signor Moncenigo."           " They,might.have been out of.chapge,, like
"True enough, and I happened to win."     myself. Why, you see, there are no:Jews in
"Well, but you used marked cards in your Paradise-," 
play."  Just then, a.hubbub. in the Israelitish district,
"Sir!"                                   occasioned by the arrival of a somewhat ludi,
"You were wrong,. however, in forgetting  crouspersonage, interruptedtheinquisitor's con —
them at the house of the courtesan Lucrezia:  versation, and his. eyes,. like. those.. of the Ipathat's all!"                               trician's, were soon turnedtowards,,a stranger
"Who dares to accuse me?"                who was coming across.-the bridge with: a bookl
"Here is the complaint; read it yourself.'   in his hand.
"I render thanks to the. senate, who have   The new comers appearance was;surely one
appointed you inquisitor," rejoined Moncenigo, to claim notice,:.for his dress was entirely difwith a hypocritical effusion; "we shall have ferent from that of the. young.Venitian l.ords.
some one now to protect us! You know;" added He wore the dress-coat of a. marquis, cut after
he, in a whisper, " that I promised you  a guodthe last fashiona of the el-deboeuf. He was a
share in the will of Count Orio, my uncle?"'   French gentleman in all the Italian meaning of
"I have sundry pipes of Malmsey and Span- the word; that is, he affected those wild, reckish wine buried in a safe place; I wish.you to less airs which. were then fashionable only! at
taste them," said Trevisani, embracing the. new  Versailles, and which contrasted with the rathinquisitor.                                 er German.levity.of the signoryof Venice. His
"Trevisani, the keeper of the Aquila coffee- blue dress-coat was embroidered with humming
house insists on levying on your palace. He birds and parrots, who were nibbling cherries.
claims that you owe him."                   even into his pockets. His fingers were cov-:
" Ungrateful wretch! he himself owes me-  ered with marcasite rings; and the tie.of his irhis reputation! But say, dear Grimani, who reproachably white cravat shamed the linen
are these sbhirri, with their cloaks, that I see bands of the-procurator Grimani. He might be:
yet lurking around the church?"            about thirty-eight..i I have some. one to arrest this very day.   "That's the man," whispered Moncenigo to.
Ah for you, Ranuzzi, if I may venture to give the inquisitor; "think of the three thousand
you a piece of advice," said Grimani, stepping ducats I. lost at Count Lippone's.. It is not at.
up to one of the young men who surrounded all unlikely that cursed marquis might. have,
him, "do not stay to-night for the ball of the used marked cards!"
Countess d'Azola. You must foresee your-   "; We shall see," answered Grimani to the
self what danger threatens you."            young patrician; "let me only converse a few:
"Come, now, Grimani, you wouldn't be hard minutes with him while. I wait for the Countess:
on. the poor fellow," said Moncenigo, showing d'Azola's coming from church. I must have a.
him how pale his words had made Ranuzzi's victim; and by Saint Mark! this one shall pay
brow; "don't you know he has a love affair for Saint Peter and Saint Paul."
here upon his mind-a certain lady, who lives,   Moncenigo took the arm of Ranuzzi, who ap-.
I-think, at the angle of the Rialto   And, then, peared to be musing; and, giving the French.
is it his fault if that celestial supper of Saint marquis a last look, exclaimed,
Peter.and Saint Paul —"                       "What a funny figure! what.a queer mask,.
Grimanis lips quivered with rage; but Mon-: though carnival.is past!"
cenigo went on:                               Trevisani, still tottering on his legs, followed.
" Since it is urgent that you should this day them; and all three promised the inquisitor to.
arrest somebody, why don't you rather arrest seek him as soon as the. church service should
a certain French marquis, who won. three thou- be concluded..
sand-ducats last night from me at faro?  He
played against me at Count Lippone's; and last
night I had not taken; I must confess, my measures, as I have this day."                                 CHAPTER V.
And Moncenigo drew from his vest a pack of
THE CICER~ONE.
miarked cards.
"Will you hide that packS?' said Grimani,   UPON reaching the foot of the bridge, the
" or I'll have you arrested."               French marquis looked around with an, air of
"No! you won't; haven't you and I used abstraction; his eyes then reverted to the book
them frequently at play at Lucrezia's 1 I have he was perusing. It was a traveller's guide;:




3i~~~~6 ~SA FIA.
i:the very one, perhaps, which John Baptist Al- caused me to take a glance at the persons who
b;rizzi fancied to write in his day, to enable for- had just passed me. The lady, who sat on the
eigners the more easily to find whatever rare- front cushions, was just then giving some orand curious objects Venice contained; the mar- der to the barcarole.  I thought I recognised
quis was still perusing it with particular atten-  her voice, for, according to the customrn of your.tion, when he perceived Grimani seated upon a  country, a veil concealed her face. As I have
stone bench close by the dwelling of the Jew  come to Venice merely as a handsome man,;Ottale.                                     whose aim is gallantry, I should like to have
"'There are inVenice honest ciceroni, whose  some conversation with the lady.  Come, give
officious ministry it is to pilot strangers to the  me your advice: and be not afraid of getting:threefold object of their search: inspecting  me into a scrape, for I am just arrived from
monuminents, -gambling, and flirtation.  What France, a mirror of bravery from head to foot."
denotes their calling is, that they are usually to    "Suppose the lady has a husband?"
be found sitting alone on benches in the pub-    " A fig for husbands! I look upon them as a
lic squares, awaiting the arrival of some for- set of importunate creditors. The lady has won
signer sufficiently well furnished with cash.' my heart, my dear fellow, and I am on the lookGood! there is my man," continued the mar- out for a chance to shine before her."
quis, after reading this passage; "a man seat-    The ridiculous excitement with which the
ed on that bench, alone, and apparently wait- marquis spoke, his questions, and his ignorance
ing-he must be one of them."  Then replacing  of the manners of Venice, would have been
-the book:in his pocket, the marquis, with much  enough to ease the mind of a less suspicious,courtesy, approached Grimani.               man than the inquisitor; but he was bent on
"What would he with me?" said the inquis- sifting the matter; and, besides, as we have
itor to himself, eyeing the new comer.       said, he was seeking an opportunity for re"Hem! hem!" began the marquis, coughing: venge.
4'cool morning, sir.  Nonsense! what am  I    "You are rather hasty," said Grimani to the:talking about?. The thermometer is at thirty;  marquis; " but I like your spirit. Since you inI am always imagining myself at the Tuileries, sist upon it, I can tell you where you can meet
or at Cours-la-Reine'!"                      the lady."
" I presumeyou are looking after one of your    "Speak! speak! I entreat," answered the marservants, sir''"                            quis, again offering his purse; " I won last night
" I left both my servants near the bridge op- at Count Lippone's-the first time for a weekposite when I alighted from my cab-I mean  and half of this gold is yours. Where can I see
gondola-wonderful conveyances those gon- the object of my passion?".dolas, my dear sir; the government should    "In this square."
make a pond of the Place Vendome,'if merely    "W rhat! in fiont of this church? What am
to afford the nobility the chance of displaying  I to do when she appears?"
themselves as navigators."                     "Can you ask me that?"
"Do you really think so?                I  " To be sure."
" I will not gainsay it. I was bound to see    "That is your affair. You assert yourself to
Venice. Faith! it is as brilliant as the Rue  be a brave man; act as such, marquis; approach
Saint Honor6, especially the Place of Saint the lady, and raise her veil."
Mark. I have: not spared myself-my gondola    "Her veil! I declare," said the marquis,is nearly foundered.  As to this suburb, there  casting a wondering look at the man he still
is a stern, frowning, Bastille-like look about it. persisted in considering as his guide and ciceHas it a name?"                              rone, " that were bold-excessively bold."
"It is called the Ghetto."                   The marquis turned a pirouette, then turning
"' Here she lives, then, no doubt," said the  to Grimani, with a dubious look, said,
marquis, making a note upon tablets:  "Tell   "Do you think she will be offended?'I
me, my dear fellow," continued he, offering a    "Boldness never offends a woman. At Paris
purse to Grimani, who indignantly retreated; it might compromise you, but at Venice it aids
"' did a lady land here but half an' hour since, your desire."
accompanied by a cavalier?"                   "Take my purse."
"The ladies of Venice are always attended    "Like our great physicians, or celebrated,
by a cavalier," answered Grimani, with indif- lawyers, I receive no pay until after the event,
ference.                                     and then only if successful," said Grimani. "' I
"Yes, I know, some even have two! The  have him," continued he to himself, withdrawcavalierwasdressed nearlyasyourself; hecar-  ing; "now I'll give the sbirri their cue. A
ried the lady's missal, and she wore a. black  formal arrest on the first day of my term of office
veil."                                       will prevent my enemies here from talking of
"Can he mean my wife?" thought Grimani, my last night's adventure. Iam at your orders,
eyeing the marquis with terror; " I must draw  excellenza," he added, aloud. " I shall be back
him out. Give me, at least, some particulars,"  immediately.  Permit me to go and meet a
said Grimani, "and I shall be happy-"       young bridegroom whom I am to accompany
" A most accommodating gentleman!" mut- this day to church —a mere sculptor.-who is to
tered the marquis. " The affair is very simple. marry the daughter of Ottale the Jew."'
Enjoying an excursion the other day upon the    Grimani withdrew, and the marquis remaingrand canal, I ventured to peep from out my  ed, delighted at meeting so honest a man.
gondola, which was run against by another, and   i" Books of travels," said the latter, as the innearly upset. Some of our gondoliers are very  quisitor retired, " are all false; they pretend that
awkward indeed. This accident which hap- these men are venal. There goes a cicerone
pened to my carriage —gondola I would say —  who puts their falsehoods to the blush. ~How




SA FIA.                                         17,delightful is the litfe of Venice. That i am n ow    "You are mad!" answered thie yolung woikin a Sair way is very clear.".   iman, still knovking at the Jew's (!oor.
T''le marquis was still pondering with delight' ta' tio you insult me? woluld you provoke
upon the happy adventure he now felW; certain  me 1 still insitst upoti entering this hunse'I" (xof achieving, when he heard one of the windows claimed the marquis, raising his voice, so as to
-frouting ul.on the canal open; he looked tip: a be heard by tlhe masked cavalier inside.'" You
fair young girl stood leaning over her balcony, leave me tofTghtit a duel without a second because
and gazing at the water.                      I am  a foreigner.  Well, let me tell you, un" A lovely girl," thought the marquis; " what fortunate youJig man," continued he, at the
a sweet, innocent countenance foir a Jewess. If highest piLch2 of his voice, " it was in behalf of.all at the Ghetto resemble her!"            your mistress that I engaged in this quarrelThe young' girl seemed to be listening anx- you are indebted to me for silencing the imper-.iously to the clock of Saint Jeremiah, which was tinent ran who pretended that she received a
striking eight.                               lover into her house."
"This beauty is evidently waiting for some    "Thank you, my fine geitleman," answered.one," soliloquized thle marquis.  " How sadly Taddeo; "but we of the people attend to our
she shook her head. There! she has gone back own matters."
into her room.  Bah! she is a reserved, timid    "Good i" satd the marquis to himself, looking
creature; she will not suit me."              towards the canal; "G I have given my masked
A'slight cough friom the balcony presently at- friend time to escape; his bark is already at a
tracted his attention.  The young girl, partly'distance; if he is a man, he will do the same for..dressed in whlite satin, was again gazing along tme some day."
the canal.                                       Just at the close of this farce, which the mar" Odds my life! I think she calls me. No!'quis had extemporized for his own gratification,
I am wrong," continued the marquis, carefully  partly inspired by the fumes of the Cyprus wine
advancing on tiptoe upon the bridge; "it was lhe had drunk in the morning, Ziana appeared at
sonie one else.  A pretty affair: a masked cav- the threshold of Ottale's house, led by her fa-alier, with his gondola, stop at the water-gate ther, a venerable old man, famed in Venrice for,of the house! What is he about!  Faith! he. his honesty and his exemplary life, who was
takes froim his pocket a key, yet seems to hesi- still at this time the keeper of the mint at the
tate beftre entering.  No! he is only pulling off Zecca.; "Taddeo," she said, as she came near,his ring; a large ring, and of a moist unusual the young man, " what means this noise.".shape. The door is closed, he has entered; the    " It was not my fault," answered the bride-young girl also has just closed that window.:I groom; " this stranger would not let me enmust remember this series of manmuvres, as ter."
characteristic of the manners of the people!"  " That person 1." replied Ziana, looking toThe scene upon which thx marquis thus com- wards the marquis; "' I cannot conceive why."
mented had passed rapidly before his eyes,   Grimani ledl the way, and she followed, towhen, turning round, he found himself in pres- wards the church. As she crossed the threshold
ence of Grimani.  Grimani was followed by a with'laddleo, her betrothed, she dropped her
rather good-looking young man, who wore a veil, and blushed; for, amid the crowd whom
bridal bouquet in his workman's vest. Jrlhe lat- curiosity gatherel around the door, she had enA.er'cast a hurried look around, and, going to- countered the bokl, steady glance of a person
wards the door,                               unknown to her: this stranger was Casanova,
" If, as your lordship thinks," said he, ad- who kept his eyes riveted on her like a snake'dressing Grimani, " my betrothed Ziana has not trying to fascinate his prey.
yet come down, I shall knock at her door; the    "She is truly the pearl of the Ghetto," said'clock,has struck eight."                      he to a man who seemed to be waiting like
" Well," thought the mar.quis, " here is the himself ira the square.  " Ltoxk at her, count;
bridegroorn  following close upon the other.  In  was i wrong 1",all decency, that mriasked cavalier, a lover, no   "' And there goes the Queen of Venice," redoubt, must have tinie to escape. The husband  plied Cagli(stro, pointing to the Countess d'Azohas come earlier than expected.  What is your la, who was hurrying out of tile church, sup.
name, my dear fellow?" asked the marquis of ported by Griniani's arm.'the young man, who was resolutely knocking at   The countess was pale, agitated; she longe(,,the Jew's door.                              doubtless, to be fairly out of the crowd; for, ad"Taddeo, sir, the sculptor.  To-morrow I dressing the inquisitor, "Grimani," she said,i
shall be quite at your service; but to-day I am  1" the (eremony is nearly over, and he has not
to be affianced at church.  Farewell!  I must yet come."
"eek my bride, to take her thither."            "Who do you mean, madam 1"
"One single word, young mnan.  I have an    ", The doge; could you not guess, from my
aflair of honour on my hands.  Are you willing excitement?"
to act as my second 1 Now, even now."           "H6ow ceuld I know."?
"You may inquire of any one about the   66 Grimani, what can he be doing at this
arsenal whether Taddeo ever refused to give hour? tlwhere can he be!  Speak!  This is a.assistance."                                 month in which masks are allowed to be worn
"Give me proof!" ejaculated  the marquis, in Venice.  Did he go out with a mask.  Your
pretending to be violently excited; - this is the police ought to know."
spot where I expect to meet my adversary. I   The features oif'the countess wore, the ext:swear, I'll go no farther to fight than yonder pressiorn of anxiety, fear, and jealousy; her
alley.  Conme, follow mle; it will take but a bos(on heaved; she seemed ready to weep or
Mnoment."'faint; she was'ov ercome.'fO




18                                    SAFIA.
"Have I not informed you that this was coun-   " Search the gentleman farther," said the incil day at the palace, madam? His serene high- quisitor to his people.  "Let us see-what is
ness has a thousand things to attend to, what 1this? letters bound with rose-coloured riband.
with the preparations necessary for the sailing  What says this?"
of the fleet, and our difficulties with Barbary."  Grimani opened one of them, and read:,"I must see him, Grimani; I must speak 
with him. I shall go to the palace.  Where hundred crowns I need, and forget forever,
hundred crowns I need, and forget forever,
are my servants-my gondola!"'Yours,         OLYMPIA,
While Grimani was acting  in conformity'Of the Italian Theatre.' "
with the imperious commands of the countess,
and giving the necessary orders, the marquis    "What a strong smell of jonquils here!" re —
stood rubbing his hands.  i "Well," said he to marked Moncenigo, as, with his friends, he drewhimself,' here is a good beginning; that honest near the scene of the arrest. " Why, it is that
man yonder has kept his word Iwith me;" and, odd personage we met this morning-our last
seizing the moment when the countess, in order night's friend, the marquis: poor fellow! he has
to conceal her features from the gaze of the im- got into a serious scrape."
portunate throng, had lowered her veil, "Mad-   "Countess!" said Grimani, with a solemn
am," said he, with much emphasis, " deign to tone, " decide yourself upon this man's fate.
raise your veil."                             This letter," lie continued, addressing the pris" Admirably well," whispered Grimani, en- oner, "is addressed to the Marquis Eusebe de
couraging himn with a hypocritical smile; "cap- Saluces."
ital! go on!"                               "i That is myself," answered he, throwing" You mistake, sir," disdainfully objected the himself into a theatrical attitude.
countess, drawing back.                         "The Marquis de Saluces," murmured th&'No, indeed, divine creature! I do not mis- countess, with surprise, " at Venice! Heaven!"'take. Once more, lift your veil'!"  And before And approaching the marquis, who was at least
the countess had time to enter her gondola he as much astonished as herself, " To-night," said
boldly took the liberty of raising it.        she, i' at nine o'clock, come to the palace of the
"' What insolence! Signor Inquisitor, have Countess d'Azola, who wishes to see you in
this man arrested."                           private.  Silence i"
This injunction so well suited Grimani's wish-   The countess added a few words in a whises, that he hastened to obey it; addressing then  per to Grimani, who escorted her back to the'
one of his sbirri, " Seize him," said be; "he is church, where the young couple had remained..
a criminal; but before taking him to prison, let It was evident that, while the inquisitor obeyed
his correspondence be searched; obey the in- the Countess d'Azola, he had made up his mind
quisitor."                                    to recapture the marquis at the earliest oppor"The inquisitor!" echoed the unfortunate tunity.  Without waiting to see the end of the
marquis; " into whose hands have I fallen "'  ceremony, the marquis, who considered himWhile the sbirri were executing Grimani's or- self lucky in escaping so easily, fled as fast as
ders, the crowd had left the church; and the his gondola could carry him.
bold attempt of the marquis was the ~theme of
general remark.
"He is a foreigner!" shouted the seafaring
men; " he has dared offer insult to the countess!          CHAPTER VI.
Away with him to the canal!"                                THE INTERVIEW.
The excitement increased; the marquis had
drawn his sword, but was soon disarmed by the    THE palace which the fair Countess d'Azola
sbiirrir                                     inhabited formed the angle of tile Procuratie;
"To the canal with him!" yelled the multi- it was one of the largest, handsomest, and most
tude. Meanwhile the poor marquis had been splendid palaces of Venice.
searched. The first object produced was a   From  one of the numerous windows the'
purse full of ducats; this purse in nowise re- countess could, at a glance, discover the piazsembled such as commonly carried; it was one zetta, the ducal church, and the magnificent
of that kind used to gather alms: Grimani im- prospect of the sea; she could enjoy the sight.
mediately identified it as the one his wife had of the Fresco* on the Murano Canal, and the
lost.                                         many entertainments in the Place of Saint Mark,
"I was not deceived," thought Grimani; "I which the first ladies in Venice witnessed from
have at last caught the man; but his examina- boxes erected along the sides of the square.
tion must not take place so publicly."          Whether the king of the butchers, arrayed in
-"My purse! that is my purse!" exclaimed the fantastic magnificence, went through the cereMarchioness Grimani, who at that moment mony of decapitating the bull with an ancient
came from the church. " Signor Inquisitor, I spadone; whether some agile nicolotto was to
recommend you to punish severely so bold a perform the perilous feat of descending a rope
thief."1                                     stretched from the top of the Campanello to the
" Who the deuse could have thrust that in ducal galley placed between its two columns;
my pocketS" muttered the marquis; " perhaps or whether fireworks were to be displayed at
last night, at Count Lippone's."              midday at the risk of burning the lion's wings,
i"Poor marquis," whispered  Casanova to or even singing the beard of Saint Theodorus,.
Cagliostro; " he will suffer for us, that is clear. the main balcony of the palacegof the countess
1He is in for it."                           was sure to be as -crowded as any of the platA look of intelligence passed between the forms around the place. Thither would the
worthy confederates.                                      * A promenade In Venice.




SAFIA.                                       19
fairest ladies of Venice repair, masked and at- Imagnificent palace.  Two seats, I perceive,
tired in white, in their gondolas declked with  have been placed., Well, I shall wait."
wreaths of roses, to clap their little hands in    The marquis had not time even to sit, for the
token of applause at the wonted performances, countess came in dressed magnificently, as for
so that, on such occasions, the palace of the mis- a ball.
tress of the doge presented the appearance of a    In spite of the paleness of her countenance,
vast garland of flowers.                     her beauty was dazzling; a very slight quantity
Beneath the vestibule, severe and somewhat of powder served only to soften the jetty hue
heavy in style, might be seen antique statues  of her hair and eyebrows. Her skin resembled
of the palmiest days of sculpture, basso relievos that peculiar whiteness of the cameo.
of animals, paintings of Salviati and Baptista    "Why are you thus in full dress 1" asked the
Franco, surrounded by grotesque ornaments and  marquis, with astonishment. " For a tfte-a-tete,
foliage. The most sumptuous carpets covered  was there any need —"
the marble steps of the staircase; its balusters    On any other occasion the countess would
glittering with gilded fret-work, and enormous have punished such conceit with a cold and dischandeliers hung from  the various cornpart- dainful silence; but she seemed determined to
ments of the ceiling.                       indulge the marquis; for, glancing at him, she
The interior of the palace displayed the ut- merely replied,
most magnificence; there was a profusion of    " Iperceive, with pleasure, that you also have
velvet hangings embroidered in silver, with  taken unusual pains with your dress; and,:inmany-coloured fringes, and tables, mirrors, and  deed, after this morning's adventure,. it was urother furniture, in the most expensive style. gent that you should no more rove about Venice
The bedroom of the countess alone-was deem- in undress costume."
ed a prodigy; it was decked with the rarest   "Do not mention it; it was a lucky escape."
stuffs of the East; a bead of pearls wound    "Could you not have named yourself soonaround its cornice. There hung from the ceil- er? But, then, what madness it was to raise my
ing a chandelier of painted crystal, which, at the  veil!"
celebrated works of Murano, had been made to    "I was in error. But there remains another
represent Venice surrounded by a group of cu- veil I desire to raise; and I suppose that this
pids, nymphs, and tritons, some with their night's interview-Doubtless you had some moconches, others with.baskets and scarfs. Daily, tive for making this appointment?"
in this fairy abode of voluptuousness, the choi-   "My motive," she. said, regarding him with
cest perfumes exhaled their fragrant odours; ev- a look of peculiar anxiety,'. was to secure the
erything displayed that exquisite delicacy which  safe keeping of a secret."
the magic spell of wealth alone can produce    "Ofwhat secret," answered the marquis, in a
When wielded by woman in the pride of happi- trifling tone, "am I depositary? A state secret.
ness and prosperity.. In the midst of this El- I neither am nor wish to be a diplomatist."
dorado, where every country of the globe was    "But you are generous, marquis;: yes, fully
represented by its rarest productions, the count- as generous as brave. Have you not already
ess led a life of tranquil felicity; and, as if to  given me proof?  The Countess d'Azola must
exclude all ideas save those of peace and hap- not be the subject of this interview. I wish to
piness, the Ducal Palace spread forth its large  -I must speak of a certain Safia-"
wings to intercept the view of the Bridge of    "Safia, madam. Well, if you desire it, let
Sighs, and its graceful range of slight columns, us speak of her," interrupted the marquis, with
to mask the Giant's Staircase, where Faliero  an air of assurance that wounded the countess
fell.                                        deeply.
The marquis took especial care to be punctu-    " You still remember her l" she asked, in a
al to his appointment.  Saint Mark's clock was voice of anguish.
striking nine as he entered the palace. With    "Most assuredly.! I have excellent reasons.
the habits and train of thought of a true French  It is true that Safia, whom that pretty Greek
nobleman of the day, whose only experience of name so well became, was not then mistress of
women had been acquired in the easy routine  a sumptuous palace opposite to the residence
of gallantry at Versailles, he naturally consid- of the doge; and when she had the imprudence
ered himself a happy man; for the handsomest to write those fatal letters, those models of paswoman in Venice had given him a rendezvous; sion, which I had to dare the devil himself to
consequently, he had spared neither time nor recover. Certainly at that time I should have
pains about his dress; not a jewel or ornament travelled from one end of the world to the other
was omitted.                                to please the young, the beautiful Safia. She
Being admitted through a private door, where  subjected me, you know, to a somewhat more
a Greek girl, a slave of the countess, awaited  dangerous task. For her it was that I, the Marhim, he followed her through a suite of richly- quis de Saluces, was compelled to draw my
illuminated apartments; at the end of a gallery  sword against that sorcerer, that Cagliostro!"
his guide stopped, lifted a tapestry, and intro-   "You fought in my behalf, I know," answerduced the marquis into that rich apartment we  ed the countess, with much emotion.  "The
have described as the bedchamber of the count- Count Cagliostro was forced by you to give up
ess.                                        those fatal letters."
This room communicated, through wide fold-    " Yes, but I came near giving up the ghost 
ing doors, with a drawing-room of considerable  You do not know that Cagliostro was a pracsize; the only sound audible proceeded from a  tised swordsman; lie wounded me, and I was
richly ornamented clock on the mantle. Here  for two months confined to my bed; and all in
the marquis threw off his cloak.             order to have the honour of returning love-let"Faith," said he, looking around, "a most ters written by you to other people!"




20                                     $AFIA',I will not gainsay it."                   only krnlew that my husband has  oeii beeih di
"If, at least, I had met you in Germany, as ped by worthless and intriguing persons.  His
your letter intitmated would be my reward —- passion for gambling often endangers his for)ut no!  I have vainly travelled the world  tune.  I am  acquainted neither with the man
Wer in search of you. i have been in Eug- nor the woman with whom you are to go; but;and, in Sweden; wherever. in short. I hoped  Heaven protect you, Safia! and may you never:o hear fiom, or of you.  You never a(ldressed  repent h'avingr obtained your freedom.'
me even a word of thanks! Is that your way    "I attributed these words to the regret she
t' treating people who are wounded for your naturally felt at losing me: I was under the intake?"                                      fluence of feelings till then unknown to me.  It
The marquis drew  himself back, and fixed seemed to me that I breathed then for the first
ipon the countess a look of profound self-satis- time, that purer breezes fanned rny cheeks; I
action. I-le had preferred a charge against her, longed for the hour of our departure.  I remernund awaite.d her answer.  The, countess under- ber well that I spent that whole night on deck: I.tood that the moment had come requiring all deemed it an age. Hardly had our vessel reached
ier strength, and she spoke thus in a low tone, Venice, ere already Heaven seemed to have tais if making a painful avowal:                ken pity on en. I was free! The Count Tekeli
" You are right, marquis; hut I pray you lis- had assigned no reason for the sudden transfer,
eon to me: my error consists in thanking you or, rather, emancipation, which I realized, as yet,
it Venice only for a kindness rendered by you but as a dream.  From our anchorage I could
it Paris.  Do bhut hear rnme: you know but -:    the maritime city, Venice, whose outline,
)ortion of my story; the remainder might jutsti- uprisi:-g before me, wooed by the sea-breeze,
y me in your eyes."                          reminded nme of the wide expanse of ocean, with' "lMadame, I am all attention," answered the whose waves my tears had so often mingled.
rnarquis, listening as if much flattered by such Venice! at the soundl my heart thrilled as if it. confidence.                                Iad been my home; for of my own native city
The countess proceeded:                     I could think only as of a harsh parent who had
"In: close connexion with the name of Cagli- sold me to slavery! I wished to tread her pave-;stro, just pronounced by you, stands that of ments, visit her quays, manufactories, and con-;afia. my own. You can hardly help remember- template the august and venerable old man, the
ng the count's wonderful dwelling in France: then doge! But such happiness was denied me.
lie abode of magic, sudden darkness, soft, lights, I saw the marble city only in the dim shadows'lixirs. of life, apparitions, and wonders of all of night.  I was compelled to wait on board the
inds; thither, at stated hours, repaired, osten- return of the marchioness.  He alone who has
ibly to cultivate the hidden sciences, a numhber been chained, bartered, and sold at noonday, as
f lords, foreigners, a worrld of idle people  I had been in a bazar at Adrianopolis, could re-.rawn by the attraction of artificial darkness, alize the sense of'joy thit swelled my bosom at
).stly experiments of chemistry, and sleights the sight of yonder liho, spreading fbrth his
f hand tllat passed for miracles.  I soon made  wings as a -ymbol of redemption and freedom.
ne of the captivating troop of those he called  I knelt on the frigate's deck that night, and
is doves.  In a short time I became one of the poured forth thanksgivings to I-Heaven; I com.nieens of those mysterious suppers, where it muned with God, as a happy daughter with a
ras believed spirits attended.  It is fifteen  chlerished father; I thanked and worshipped
ears since; I was but a mere child, biut already  him for the secret dispensation of his bountifuli
mndsome; at least I was told so.  I'had just Providence.  I had just sat down-I rdeemmber
rrived from Adrianopotlis, where Count Tekeli it well-and was listening to the stories which.
Id purchase(d me.  Wfhen we landed at Ven- our pilots were relating among themselves con.:
le, a woman came to demand me; she showed  oerning that familiar spirit of the lagunes, the',letter to the count, who instantly delivered  Oreo, when I saw a six-oared barge stemming'
e uip to her. I was ignorant of her name, but the moon-lit waves.  At the prow stood a man,.:e seemed as generous as she was handsome. wrapped in a large cloak embroidered with
heard it rumoured around me that she was a gold: he, like myself, was gazing at the splenenoese marclhioness."                       did scene around; but I renlember, also, that
"' We leave to-morrow for France, Safia,' he laughed several times, and there was someAd sh!ie embracing me;' would you decline  thing in the sound so harsh and fiend-like, that
hic Wji- mie t' that land of fieedom?'     I thought for a mornent I had heard the Oreo's
"'   Do i  t  hi:ot belotng  to you, madam?' I an- laugh.  When lie boarded our vessel, I saw,ered;'aied h'ave I not just been told by  hini turn around and offer his arm to a woman
)unt Tekeli ilt he had yielded to you all his whom I re(.ognised as the marchioness. T'he
rht in his slave P'                         man went forward, and spoke a few words to
"' Trust yourself wi'th me,' she replied;' I the servants of Count Tekeli, who had himself
i going to France %iwth my husband. To- given them his orders previous to landing.  The
)rrow, by daybreak, we suhall reach Fusina.'  individual with the cloak came towards me, and
"I kissed her hands; I feit overpowered with  spoke a few words in Italian, using the Sicilian
7 and happiness gt the sudden prospect of lib- dialect-that of Palerno.  A few moments suf-;y set before me. The Countess Tekeli, how- ficed me to gather what few effects the generer, did not sh!are nry exultation: she had al- osity of thle countess had bestowed upon me;
mys proved herself a kindl and indutilgent mis- and free, at last, I bade farewell to the vessel
ss, anrl shod tears when, on the following  I lhad enteredl as a slave.  When we arrived at
y, I was abomut to leave her.               Fusina, I was infihrmed that the name of tho
e, Po(r Safia!' ShE, said, as soon as we vRere imarchioness Was Serafina —-",te tog.gether,'I do not know this woman; I    " Serafina Feliciani!'A interrupted the iar



S     I IA.                                    I
quis, whose countenance reflected the livid pal- generous hearts? I felt raised in my own estilor which the mention of that name had called  mation by learning that there was. In these
on the lips of the countess.                interviews I opened my soul before hin; I con.
" Serafina Feliciani," she resumed, still shud- cealed none of my sensations; he was my
dering, "was the name of that woman whom  teacher, and yet I, his pupil, would often shud.
Cagliostro had taken from some obscure ridotlo  der and trerhble in his presence. Was I tc
in Venice; a fit person to seduce and develop  expect happiness or misery from him. what
vice while speaking of virtue.  Paris was the  price was he to exact in return for his kindscene on which they had determined to act. ness? had I a right to call in question his pow.
They were both well qualified to meet success ers as a guardian over me? When we reach.
there, and such was my destiny that I was fated  ed Paris my bosom could'scarcely contain the
to accompany them thither with a heart over- crowd of varied feelings with which it throbbed
flowing with happiness and hope.            tumultuously.
"During the whole journey, Serafina Felici-   "On entering the hotel of the count, I found
ani showed herself so well disposed towards myself treated as the Marchioness Feliciani's
me that I could scarcely suspect that her friend- own daughter. It was a solitary mansion, hid
ship was the result of a deliberate plan of vil- in the silent solitude of' a distant suburb; at
lany; she and her husband loaded me with ca- first it looked to me as gloomy as a dungeon.
resses and attentions.  Remember, I was a  I thought of my little room on board the ship'
young girl just escaped from a long and tedious there, at least, I could look through the small
bondage, accustomed to be treated as an object cabin windows, and smile as the waves dash.
of traffic by any one who might choose to ad- ed against the sides of the vessel, scattering
dress me; in my younger days, bending beneath  around the sparkling spray.  Such thought~
the lash of a pirate; afterward having to bear made me so sad that I shed tears, which the
the haughty and arrogant temper of that dread- marchioness perceiving, would say,
ed Count Tekeli, whom the grand signor had    "' Cheer up, my child: but a few days, and
just invested with the principalities of Vidino, this gloomy habitation will be enlivened by the
Carausibes,  and Lugos, to indemnify him  for richest entertainments; a thousand lights wil
the loss of his Hungarian estates.  The Count- give brightness to the gilded ceilings. Weel
ess Tekeli, it is true, had ordered me to be treat- no more, but preserve your beauty.; to-morrou
ed witht more delicacy than my companions in  we are to receive a few friends of the count
misfortune; but she herself, who has since giv- noblemen, courtiers. You may, at first, wonde
en such proofs of courage by her defence of  at their manners; but I will watch over you
Mongatz, trembled before the count, and might Safia, as a mother. To-morrow, then, you mus'
be considered as his slave. Therefore she who  dress in that Ionian costume given to you b`
called herself the Marchioness Feliciani appear- the Countess Tekeli!'
ed to me an angel of clemency and kIindness;    " At the first words of the marchioness I feI
she described Paris as the city of wonders; an unaccountable shudder of vague fear: there
once in France, I was to see the land of ro-  was something unusually authoritative in he'
mance and pleasure; there beauty alon'e had  tone; but the thought of wearing a dress I hai
sway; and she often repeated to me that I was received friom my dear benefactress thrilled mi
beautiful. Duling the whole journey I remain- with childish joy.
ed under the influence of delirious dreams and    " Such, then, was my costume when, upoi
supernatural fancies; sometimes I fell asleep  the following day, I made my appearance ii
upon her shoulder dreaming of courts, noble- the drawing-room of the, marchioness. led b;
men, and princes. At such times a glow of  Count Cagliostro himself, who constantly rivet
conscious pride would alight on my brow, and  ed upon me his embarrassing glance.  I wa
I awoke with a fevered pulse from:.Visions of  surrounded, flattered by every one; their lad
palaces whose splendor had no parallel even in  guage was unknown to me, a poor stranger:'
the Arabian tales.                           could not, therefore, understand their arden
"At other times my mind would wander with  proffers of worship; but I guessed that the,
ingenuous delight in the contemplation of an- thought me handsome. I listened-and I wa
othei and different prospect of happiness; then, lost!
under the eyes of the count, I was admitted to   "' In short, marquis, ignorant as I was o
mysteries that I was not allowed, as yet, to un- everything. and even of the dangers, I followe
derstand; I stood in a temple resplendent with  but too well the lessons of Serafina Felician
lights, where incense and varied perfumes burn- and became unwittingly her accomplice-"
ed in golden censers; where, upon a throne of    " Her accomplice I"
rubies and sapphires, sat he whose worlds had    "Yes, indeed. Cagliostro was scarcely eve
conjured up these wonders to my imagination. a week without dictating to us himself som
The Count Cagliostro had an expressive phys- of those letters which he compelled us to sigr
iognomy; there was something electrifying in  I-e would fold them  and leave the addres
his voice, his glance, his breath. He spoke of  blank, reserving to himself to direct them a
dwellings I had never beheld; of palaces, the  terward, either to some marquis, some rich ir
residence of heavenly spirits; their attendants, tendant, or some foreign prince, whom he thu
young girls, who possessed that purity, that vir-  allured in the evening to his splendid cavenl
ginity of heart which were mine, since I had  Those letters enabled him to set a price upe
never known love, and no passions had ever our dishonour. He would either trust to tI
enehained my heart, so early and rudely school- somniferous properties of his wines to surrei
ed by adversity, save an eager curiosity that der his helpless and slumbering victims, or coll
made me listen with avidity to his words. fine us to a narrow cell, where he wouhl con
There was, then, a land of liberal minds and  and bid  us choose between the most sevei




22                                   SAFIA.
poverty or a fortune too easy to acquire.  -low- ters.  Could I but destroy those traces of my
ever, my eyes were soon opened. In the little past life, my future prospects were happy inroom, or, rather, prison I occupied, my eyes deed. An honourable marriage would have sewould sometimes meet,a sword-knot, a ring, a cured Alessandro's love. But I could not dream
cloak, or some other article forgotten, that told of going without him —of leaving him here to
me my shame.  i One night the whole truth his suspicions! Then it was that I rememflashed upon me! I fell upon my knees and Ibered you-shall I acknowledge it, marquis, beimplored Heaven to save me. The same even- fore I met Alessandro, I had often thought of
ing, at Cagliostro's table, when I sat down, as you as of a deliverer-one who could underusual, to be gazed at by all the guests, a Veni- stand what pride I still preserved in my detian nobleman seated himself opposite to me. based condition. I knew that you had access
His first glance threw me into strange confu- to Cagliostro's house. I did not hesitate to apsion. I trembled without knowing the cause. peal to your courage; marquis, you know the
When he approached me, I could scarcely stand" rest!"
up: his words were the reverse of the language    "Yes,' countess," answered he, slowly, and
of those other lords, whose shameless remarks casting upon Safia a look of bitter irony, "I
had so often caused rne to blush; -they were know the rest, and I thank you for the candour
respectful, and uttered in those sweet sounds of your confession. You love a prince. I do
whose music seems the organ of the melodious not object to that, although I myself still hold to
inspiration of Italian climes.  His kindness, mere nobility.  He has delivered you from
his generosity, restored to me my self-respect. Cagliostro's claws, fair dove; he has made you
In short, he taught me to hate myself-to love queen-the fairy queen of Venice; that was
and to fly with him, far from the odious domina- nobly and generously done on his part! But,
uion of my tyrant, Cagliostro. He was about then, inasmuch as the trade of bravo exists
departing for Italy; thither I accompanied him. here, it is not right that a cavalier of my figure
Our journey was a period of enchanting happi- should exercise it for nothing."
ness  it ended at Rome where we resided a   "What mean you?" asked the countess, with
year."                                      visible alarm.
"But Cagliostro?"                         "'That I may have in my possession," an"He, irritated at the loss of one by whose swered the marquis, with assumed indifference,
dishonour lie had hoped to secure his fortune, "the second part of a book of love, the first of
followed us to Rome to claim me. He begged which alone you have received. These let-threatened-but without success. One day, ters," he added, producing his pocket-book.
as I was coming out of the Church of Santa    "What of them?"
Maria Maggiore, leaning on the arm of my de-   "Are such as I had reserved to secure my
liverer, Cagliostro took advantage of a sudden share of the bargain, and to protect myself in
*rush of the crowd to approach him, and, with a case you failed to meet your engagements.
sarcastic glance, whispered a word in his ear. Business is business, you know."
What that' word was, I did not know; but, to    "Do you mean to abuse that: advantage?"
my astonishment, my liberator turned deadly    " Confess that many others would, in my
pale; nor did he draw his sword to chastise place."
such insolence. Since that day, we have never   "But you will not," answered the countess.
seen Cagliostro."                           rising.
"What followed?"                           "You owe me for two items  a wound-:and
"We soon returned to Venice. He to whom  my discretion.  Come,: beautiful Safia, a little
I had devoted my whole being, had been pro- gratitude!"
moted to an unexpected dignity. Hewas elect-   "Those letters, marquis; those letters!"
ed doge!"                                    "To-morrow, madam, they will be returned
"The doge!" murmured the marquis, with to you, but on one condition only: that you acprofound astonishment.                      company me, in a masked party, to Fusina."
" In order to blot out all reminiscences of my    " So long a journey!" exclaimed the count-,past life, together With that name of Safia, un- ess, slyly approaching the marquis;."how can
der which no one save yourself knows me at you think of it?  Dear marquis, your pocketVenice, the doge Alessandro had caused me to book is out of fashion; this one will; suit you.be named Countess d'Azola by the pope. I better."
found here all the enjoyments of wealth, a   With a rapid gesture the countess exchanged
palace, a crowd of servants, a whole nation at her tablets against those of the' marquis, and
my feet. But yet, a sadness came over me. snatching the package of letters, she held them
Alessandro's temper was changed. At times with one hand over the flame of a chandelier,
I surprised him deeply musing; at other times while with the other she rang the bell.
he was irritable. Cagliostro's name was often
on his lips. He knew that, while in Paris, I'had written those fatal letters which the count
had gathered and kept so carefully. Vainly did            CHAPTER VII.
I-urge that the change in my name had made                    A DOOE.
them harmless.'Your handwriting!' would
he object, with terrible impressiveness.  He   A YOUNG girl answered the summons.  "Do
shuddered at the name of Safia as at that of you want me, signora?" she asked, with a
Cagliostro. His reproaches overpowered me. charming look of ingenuousness. "I was tired
I-Iad I lost his love? I often asked myself. A  of waiting, and came here with my father.
prey to doubt and anguish, I wished for wings Taddeo is to meet us here."
to fly to Paris and take possession of those let-   She was dressed in the full costume of a no



SAFIA.                                       23
~;izza'; a bouquet of silver flowers was coquet- neath a rich Venitian mirror, a jasper-handled
tishly placed in a girdle of the same material. poniard, and concealed it in her bosom.
The ladies of the Celestia employ their leisure    "I repeat to you, madam," answered Grimahours in working these bouquets with wonder- ni, "his serene highness is in no danger. I
ful freshness and delicacy for nuptial occasions; merely give you notice that, for a few hours,
long pearl ear-rings, crescent-shaped, hung down  this palace, prepared for a fete, must be used
to her shoulders, and she wore around her arm  as a hall of council. The district of the arsenal
a coral bracelet clasped by a green stone, on  is in motion; the man pursued by the miltiwhich was engraven, in triangular letters, a tude, who took refuge here,'is an emissary from
sentence from the Koran.                    the Barbary powers; he who just saved him
"Deuse take the girl!" grumbled the mar- from impending death was the doge —"
quis, still astounded by the abrupt victory of the    The noise of many voices now overpowered
countess. "But," added he to himself, "this Grimani's: it proceeded from a crowd of sigis the young bride I saw this morning at the nors and noblemen, who had come to the palGhetto."                                    ace upon the first intelligence of the tumult.
"Look, sir, what a beautiful bracelet the  Some came in carriages, others in gondolas,,countess has just presented to me; I intended  others on foot; some with, and some without
to preserve it for my bridal day, but I could  masks.
scarcely have patience enough to wait so long.   The countess sprang forward towards the
IOn coming to the palace, I looked at it more vast and extensive gallery, whose doors'she'than twenty times."                         had ordered to be thrown open; it was already
~While thus speaking, Ziana showed to the  crowded. In the midst of that eager throng of
marquis the bracelet she had received from the noblemen an old man, bent by age, approached
countess, laughing at the same time, a-nd ca- Ziana; this was the Jew Ottale, her father,
pering like a young fawn.                    who had long exercised the office of keeper of
"Where is Taddeo." asked the countess.   the mint of the republic.  He embraced his
" Do not mention him; he has been all day: daughter, and pointed to her Taddeo, who was,strangely out of temper-; he, who is usually so  endeavouring to force a passage through the
good and kind to me, takes every occasion to  crowd gathered in the vestibule.
quarrel with me; and a little while ago, eveni-"    At this moment one of the doors leading to
"Well, what occurred then?" asked the mar- the gallery opened, and: gave entrance to sev-,quis, probably recollecting the.singular sight he eral Venitian noblemen, in the midst of whom
had witnessed in the morning.                was the doge Alessandro, followed by a per"Why, he left mne a little while ago, saying  sonage who wore the costume of Tunis. A
-that there were certain events passing at Ven- Persian poniard glittered in his girdle; his turice which required his presence; that he was ban lacked the usual regularity of its folds; his.on.e of the people, and that their interests were  silver-wrought slippers were soiled; he was
in danger; and thereupon he left me to join a deadly pale, and trembled with fear as the inset of Nicolotti and Castellani hurrying towards creasing yells from the mob outside reached his'the arsenal. However, I think it was only a ears; he looked more like a detected spy'than
-pretext for witnessing their gaime of the mo- the delegate of the deys who ruled the three
rerea."                                     regencies.
"What means this noise! " interrupted the    The tumult was still raging without; but,
marquis, looking out from the balcony.  "s Be- like the storm, it had intervals of violence' and
hold! a man with a turban upon his head, es- calm.
corted by Algerines, and apparently striving to    "Ambassador, you are under my protection,",escape; the multitude seem  to rise against said the doge, "but you are also in presence
him; they gain upon him; there is no discern- of the nobility':of Venice. They listen-speak!"
ing his features; he comes this way;  knocks    These words were pronounced with that firm-'at the palace-gate."                       ness which indicated a man who needed not the
The countess and Ziana had watched the  adventitious aid of the ducal dignity to:exact'scene thus described by the marquis. Indeed, respect and'obedience.' The person thus' ad-:;the riot without increased each moment in in- dressed seized the prince's robe with -both
tensity; one of the illuminated scaffoldings hands, and begged him-to-excuse him.
~near the palace-gate had just been torn down.    " You have saved my life,"'said he, "and
At this moment, also, several patricians, in  now might as'well bid-me die: as to-give me':the utmost disorder, entered the apartments  such an order.'If I concealed myself:at Yenprepared for the fate of the countless.   -ice until discovered by -some of the multitude;
"' What signifies this " asked she of Grima- if I have landed here at night,. and, clandestineni, who was one of the first who entered.: ly, it was because I was the bearer of such prd-"Does any danger threaten' his serene high- posals to your highness and the' senate,' from
ness."                                     the three regencies, that my mission must
"None whatever for the present, countess;- needs be enveloped in niystery.:I am:not
~for I have taken upon myself to order the doors aware'who has betrayed my incognito, since
of your palace to be bolted; the doge has this the costume I wear is common to many:inhabmoment come in; lhe follows me; I hear his witants of'Venice; but, surely, this is not a fit
footsteps."                                 place or time-"
"Lead me instantly to him, Grirnani!" cried    "This is a time of popular: commotion,:sir
-the countess.  "I have no fear; my place is  speak! speak!" resumed the doge,  "I  am
at the side of the doge'; and if any'one should  waiting, and yonder multitude also."
Aare —"                                        The assembly was now as silent as it had
With a rapid gesture'she seized, from be- been tumultuous shortly before. The delegate




24                                    S AF IA.
from Tunis seemed to collec t himself, and talk  the resemnblance between his fictues and those
courage; then, presenting a letter to the doge. ofAlessandro, the Doge ofVe nice. Every linea-." Read, your highness! I fear that my ment of his beautiful countenance bespoke a
voice-"                                      brave and noble heart. Ile was a rare inistanec
The doge seized the paper; it bore the triple of devoted patriotisrn, ardent love for the glory
seal of Tripoli, Tunis, and Algiers; it was a of his country, and deep and keen resentment
letter signed by the deys of the three regen- of her injuries.  He was not the patrician whoIties, and contained for the senate proposals of would stop in the street to gaze at shows or
conciliation and treaty. They.asked a suspen- listen to an itinerant musician; pure blood
sion of all hostilities against the powers of Bar- flowed in his veins; he had still faith in his
bary; but in such terms as more implied supe- country; he entertained for Venice the attachriority than submission on their part. They mnent of a pilot for his vessel. With lamenrequired that the vessels the doge was prepa- table infatuation, he had placed his love upoaring to chastise these piratical sovereignties that rotten, worn-out, decrepit city! Undershoula be disarmed; and, without denying that mined by the vice and debauchery of her patrithey had captured by surprise, and against ev- cians, ruined by their indolence and weakness,
ery law, several islands and castles belonging the city of the doges was already stricken toe
to the republic, they assumed that, in the pres- the heart.  The Angel of Destruction had
ent penury of the Venitian finances, peace wrenched from Saint Theodore his lance, to:
ought to be deemed preferable, by the latter strike a death-blow at the lion sleeping at his
power, to an expensive war. When the doge feet. Within those walls that once re-echoed
had imparted aloud, to the assembled nobility, the victorious cannon of Macalo and Lepanto,
the contents of this missive,                lived a people enslaved by recklessness and
"You were right, sir," he resumed, with a disgrace, and a corrupt, irreligious nobility. All
disdainful look at the delegate,' to wear arms was matter of bargain and sale, fiom the sena —
while bearing such despatches.  You might torial offices to the innocence of the virgin.
well need the poniard you carry, to defend Corruption had hurled glory from her throne;
yourself against the populace of Venice, if you solns mocked the white hair of their fathers;
Should'ead such propositions to them. The nobles speculated upon their rank by marrying
reception they have already greeted you with  the daughters of Jews. Day and night, bending
may have given you to understand how they over the gaming tables at the Casino, young
relish the thought of coming to terms with reb- patricians dissipated the gold yet left them, exels and pirates. You need take no farther hibiting symptoms of premature old age, andt
trouble in the matter. You propose peace; turning with disgust from the frescoes of the
we answer, war i"                            Ducal Palace representing the victories of their
"War! war!" exclaimed some of the patri- ancestors. But one wave was wanting to in —
cians.                                       gulf fair Venice; the vessel of state had lost.
" Is it to be thought of!" mrnrmured others; her rudtder, and her hull was shattered.
"the treasury is empty! the Jews themselves   Meanwhile, the delegate of Tunis had been
have no money left!"                        conducted to the college by an imposing escort;
"' War! war!" yelled the multitude outside, the doge had secured his retreat, and the fete
who had invaded the piazzetta.               of the countess, somewhat disturbed, as it
"You hear!" said the doge, fixing his pene- well might be by such an event, had insensibly
trating glance upon the undecided assembly. and partially resumed its splendour.  Lively
"The sight of our ancient standard, so long conversations had divided the assembled paridle, now waving over our fleet, has recalled to ties into several distinct groups. In one, comthe memory of the children of Venice her for- posed of young lords in full dress, and wearing.
mer power-her former victories. Money, you swords, the marquis soon recognised Monceni —
say, is wanting; but are you not yourselves in- go, a libertine, gambler, and profligate, who bore
debted to the state? Thank Heaven, the Adri- one of the most illustrious names of the Veniatic has pearls enough left on her robe to scat- tian republic; farther off, Trevisani' brow exter over every ocean in the universe! Venice hibited marks of idleness, effrontery, and dis-.
shall buckle on her armour? Venice shall be order.  Here was a Dandolo speaking of war,.
avenged  I swear!"                         and ranting like a Caesar, fear and egotism be —
And, leaning over the balcony, the doge. fol- trayed upon his countenance.
lowed by all the procuratori, the sages of the    "Is the doge mad," said' one, " to war against
council, and the noblemen of the republic, was the three regencies? War, indeed, when we,.
the first to utter, within the hearing of the people the first in the republic, have not enough left
of Venice, that war-cry they seemed so eagerly to settle our differences at play at the Ridotto,.
to require. In three days the fleet was to sail and our creditors refuse to trust us longer."
for the coast of Africa.                       "Has thle Republic of Venice inherited the
Presently, by order from one of the Council estate and fortune of the Grand Mogul?" added
of Ten, the crowd dispersed; a few distant another.
cries alone were heard in the direction of the   "Possibly his serene highness possesses-the
arsenal.                                    secret of making gold!"'Separated from the doge by a crowd of patri-   " Or else his private fortune may suffice for
cians, Ottale had beheld the scene with visible the expense of tile expedition!"
anxiety. Vainly he sought to speak with the   " After all, faith," said Moncenigo, admiring:
doge. Taddeo, with no less impatience, rivet- hlimself in one of thie large mirrors, " we are
ed his glance upon Alessandro.               not to start with the expedition: that may do
He, alone who has beheld at Rome the mag- for the seafaring men and the rabble bf Venice.
niflcent portirait of 0Cesar Borgia can appreciate  However, it would not be amies to show our



SAP I A.                                      25
selves arrayed in purple re,)es, and in gondolas you not my protdg' d  the artist whose works I
without gilded hoops, for that day. Upon my most admire'i  But yesterday I stopped to g aze
honour, I mean to order a dress expressly for at your sculpture on the Bucenltaur.  Trust me,
theoocasion; but such a dress!"             war is not a profession to suit you."
"6 And we," answered Trevisani and Ranuz-   "Again, I beseech your highness, do not opzi, "intend to turn out our entire households pose the determination of one who, however
in new' suits.  I mean that my livery shall do obscure he may be, still reveres and loves you!
me credit, and on that day my cook shall wear The atmosphere of this city oppresses me; its
a turban."                                    pavements scorch my feet! Close not against
In the midst of these degenerate sons of me alone the path you have just opened."
Venice, Alessandro's countenance glowed with   L' eave your betrothed, your wife."
a proud sense of superiority.  He knew well   "Your highness," resumed Taddeo,;" may
that he could not rely upon them.  They in- Heaven, whose blessing this morning consewardly blamed him for that exercise of power crated our union, bear witness to the purity of
which had thus abruptly awakened them from  my love. Yes, I cherish Ziana, and for that
their lethargy and indolence; they avoided his very reason I wish to become worthy of her.
glance. Was the play at the Ridotto, which  She may perhaps bestow  more'tenderness,
was to have taken place a few days hence, to more happiness on the soldier who has fought
be adjourned'1 Would Venice have no more for his prince than the mere workman of the
fAtes to satisfy her patricians' love of pleasure 1 arsenal, whose chisel has not the attraction of
Such were the questions that preoccupied the a sword.  Besides, the Bohemian gipsy whom
minds of the Sybarite noblemen, who would I have just consulted at the Largo del Castello:
have felt wounded by the fold of a rose-leaf has told me that my vocation was for higher atupon their couch. Venice, for them, consisted tainments than ornamenting galleys: a foe toh
of the Place of Saint Mark and the Ridotto, open combat, an African standard to bear b:,ck with
at night for such senators as could yet bor- me in triumph! Oh! let me, let me go fronm)
Tow.                                         -Venice, since I ever had more faith in glory
The astonishment of some men of a serious than in love!"
tuni, who claimed to have a thorough knowl-   The inexpressible sadness of Taddeo, the feedge of the resources of Venice, at least equal- verish emotion with which he spoke, had for a
led the wonder of these thoughtless young moment clouded the brow of the doge. The
men.                                          sight of the Jew and his daughter soon cleared
The ambassadors of the several powers, who it, however; and.pointing to Ziana, whom the
had heard the speech of the doge, remained countess at this moment was embracing, with a
thunderstrnck.  They were aware of the naval smile,
preparations; they had seen the arsenal crowd-   "Look, Taddeeo," said he, "how  beautiful
ed with workmen, provisions, and implements she is!"
of war; but they all presumed that this display    "Beautiful, indeed," answered the young
would end in vain show; they knew that gold man, with a sigh; " beautiful as the Esther of
was wanting, and that the Lion of Saint Mark Paul Veronese."
was sculptured in brass.                        " Do not tremble thus, Ziana," said the doge,.
Yet the doge had pledged his royal word; he approaching her.  " The events that have just
appeared calm, confident.                     taken place have not made me lose sight of theA young man approached Alessandro, and ancient customs of our republic.  It is usual,.
begged the favour of a few momlents' inter- you know, for the doge to make a present to.
view.                                         the novizza.  You have been surnamed the
He was a simple child of Venice, one of the Rose of the Ghetto.  May this remind you of
people, a mechanic —Taddeo, the sculptor at your title."
the arsenal-Taddeo, the betrothed of Ziana.     And the doge, with winning affability, presented the beautiful girl with a diamond rose.
Ziana blushed, and could not help thinking how
superior the doge's present was to the bracelet
CHAPTER VIII.                   she had received from the countess.
Alessandro stood contemplating her for a few
THE BRACELET                   seconds in silence, as if the sight of this young
TADDEO was pale, agitated: the. throng had girl had put every other feeling of his bosom at
just separated him from Ziana and her father. rest.  He seemed to take singular pleasure in
He knelt before the doge.                     gazing at this angel, whose beauty, radiant with
"What do you wish from me, Taddeo 1" said innocence, contrasted so strongly with the hideAlessandro, raising him.  " Do you seek any ous vice around him.
favour from my hands 1  Speak, it is granted."   Thus the star that glitters alone, pearl-like
"Yes, prince," answered the young man, in amid the dreary clouds, attracts the sailor's eye.
a low tone; "I ask to sail with the fleet."   The hunter will stop to gaze at the snow-like
"Have you well considered your request, wings of the dove.  Ziana was beautiful, and
Taddeleo?  At such a time  betrothed but this
rmorning 1" I                                   * Note of the translators.-The Bacontaur was a large
My betrothed can wait-"                    vessel richly carved and gilt, and used on occasions of cere"My sc.,ptor betrot hed se  xnrds with l~re mony. The etynlolcgy of the word is not known; somie deThe sculptor spoke these words with trem- rive it from thie aug'eotative particle Ba and Celtaur, tes
bling lips; lie seemed a prey to the miost vie- latter word being the name of a celeblatod vessel in ancient
lent emotions; some internal struggle was tmes.  hers rocogniso it as the name of the vessel of
wrinin   ver souloas, which was called Bis Taurus; while many insist
wringing his very soul.                       that it is only Ia corruption of ducentorum, that is to uay, V.
" You are mad," continued Alesandro. 4 Are vessel with 200 orsmaen.-Daru, Iistoire de Vendce.




'26                                 SAFIA.
the personal advantages of the doge had raised play in Paris, and while I was risking some
him many envious and bitter rivals among the rather heavy sums at the bank of a certain
nobility of Venice.                        Cagliostro-"
"Do you not think, Grimani, that our doge  "Cagliostro.   we have received some notes
looks somewhat amorously at his handsome relative to that individual."
prot6ge yonder?" said Moncenigo, touching the   "Very likely.; in that case, you would oblige.arm of the inquisitor.                     me much by communicating them to me. I
"Yes; and that French marquis we came so have lost in the house of that Cagliostro more
near drowning this morning makes good use of than 37,000 francs in one night. They played
his time with the countess."               infernally high there. I was excusable, there-m
"True, Grimani; but who is yonder impor- fore, for trying to redeem my losses at Count
tunate valet who seems to be seeking to draw  Lippone's."
your attention."                              "I advise you to calculate no longer upon
" That man," resumed the inquisitor, looking that resource, for this night we shall close his
in the direction indicated by Moncenigo, "is-  gambling-house."
Pray, Moncenigo, leave me for a moment. I   " I am glad to know that," murmured a mask,
will explain all presently."               who stood fanning himself behind them.
The valet, who was carrying a tray of sor-   This individual soon afterward went to a
bets and other refreshments, whispered to Gri- table covered with viands' and fruit, surrounded:mani. Within a few steps from the latter, the by several'guests of the countess; and, leaning:doge himself placed his hand upon the shoulder upon his elbow with affected indifference, lis-,of a young nobleman, and said,            tened to their conversation.
"One word of advice, Signor Ranuzzi. You   "      You may believe me or not, as you like,::have enemies. It would be prudent in you to gentlemen," said a cavalier;'-but that poor
escape through the crowd —believe me."     Casanova will never get possession of his aunt's
"Many thanks, your highness; but I have estate."
promised to dance a Franfoise with the Signora   " Why?" asked another.
Sabina, and with your permission-"           "Because he is in Holland this very hour.
While Ranuzzi offered his hand to the lady,   "You know him'." asked the mask.
Grimani stood perusing a letter the valet had   "I flatter myself I do."
slipped into his hand.                       "Are you not the Chevalier de Talvis!"
"Well, you are one of ours," said he to the   "I am."
n.man. " Beppo. let one of the faithful be in at-   "He- who was in'Hungary last year, am,
tendance-enough! This is a serious affair: swindled the prime bishop of Presburgh.?":an arrest in the midst of a ball!"          " Sir!"
i" It is absolutely necessary, signor," answer-   " I have a piece of advice to give you: it is
ed Beppo, mysteriously. " He intends to leave not at all unlikely that:Casanova may return
Venice at daybreak."                       from Holland purposely to break your neck;
Grimani and the man carrying the salver ex- so do not meddle quite so much with his afchanged a few words. Dancing had begun in fairs! You were wounded once by:Casanova
the gallery of the countess; iced wines were in beware of the next thrust."
request. The Marquis de Saluces:noticed with   And as a: group of: promenaders passed by,
surprise Grimani writing upon his knee, then the mask glided among them, and soon:joined.
folding a paper, which he handed to the valet.  the pink domino, who stood silently,-and in pen"" Some billet-doux, I suppose?" lisped the sive mood, waiting for him under one: of the
marquis, with irony, as he bowed to the inquis- paintings in the gallery.
~itor. "We became acquainted, my dear sir,;in   "Deat count," said he,'you are still the
a rather eccentric manner this morning."  - same.  While I:-flutter. like: a butterfly anmong
Grimanilcoldly returned the salute of the mar- the guests you make; your-observations. I rush:.:quis.                                   headlong into all the pleasures of Venitian life,'"I:Umnderstand you,"' added the'marquis. while you stand -meditating upon the age and
"'You suspect me on account of:that purse decline of a republic, which not all your elixers
found in one of my pockets; but some one must and secret preparations' combined can restore
have excha:nged it last night for miine at'Count to youth. Your nodding Chinese figures-your
Lippone's.'                                speaking automata-have'more skill than those
" Silence, marquis," said a mrask, wearing a senators,' whose titles:' of nobility are passports
three-cornered hat and a' pink domino of rather for stupidity.,You: seem absent;'you do,not
handsome appearance. "'iDo not: mention the answer.";niames of any whom you met at'Count Lip-  -Indeed,: Cagliostro'was at the moment scrupone's, else."                            tinizing the Countess-d'Azola.
The individual with the pink domino' was   As'the alligator watches every motion of the
lost in the crowd after showing' the.:marquis. -victim'for whose blood:he thirsts, the count had
the' blade of a stiletto.       "          that -night followed with his'eyes every move"You are acquainted with Count Lippone?" ment, every gesture of the beautiful Safia. Not
resumed the inquisitor.                    that he recognised the former slave of his'in"Yes; or, rather, no,'; stammered,the mar- fernal harem; not that the Marquis de Saluces
quis; " he is-that is, they pretend that he is-  had been indiscreet, nor that, after fifteen years
I have heard-"                             of fruitless search, Cagliostro could have sus"Who is he. what do they pretend 1 what pected that at a ball in Venice, in his sight,
have you heard 1 I insist upon knowing. Where within his reach, stood the precious jewel-the,did you become acquainted with that count?"  loadstar of his vile ambition!
" I will tell you all: since my misfortunes at   He beheld in the Countess d'Azola merely a




SAFIA.                                       97
ibeautiful ~Venitian lady; a woman in all the. suffocated alive  under the Wells he is frozen
pride of splendour and gracefulness; the deli- to death; true antipodes of punishment."
-cate whiteness of her skin, the lustre of her    "What a waste of blessings! In France, we
eyes, the choice perfumes her dress exhaled-  have only the Bastille!",all had acted upon his mind, and caused his    "The Orfano Canal is quite different, and
lascivious imiagination to revel in exciting rem- deserves attention," resumed Moncenigo, sipiniscences of that voluptuous flock of lovely  ping a sorbet: "a gentleman, like you or my-;young damsels-his doves, as he dalled them, self, for instance-a gentleman of good familyamong whom Safia was the youngest and the  is sent to take an airing in a gondola for his
fairest.                                    health.  The gondola is a charming affair; but
What might have become of his fugitive fair it opens beneath, and-"
one 1 Where was his Safia now 1                   "You take a bath!' I understand. Very inWhile Casanova tried, by the variety of in- gepious,'pon my word!"
~ trigues which his mask facilitated, to console    "Then there is a variety of other ways: poihimself for the temporary absence of Ziana — soned oranges, sweetmeats, or sorbets. Frewho had repaired to an adjoining room with her quently a gentleman disappears from Venice:
father-Cagliostro still gazed upon. the count- he is seized in his bed, at table, in the senate,
ess. Suddenly -a rumour spread among the  or at a ball; a quarter of an hour afterward his
dancers that an arrest had just taken place by  family goes into mourning. No more.".order of the Council of Ten.                  " Well, then," thought the marquis, " I will
" Poor Ranuzzi," said Moneenigo to a sena- beware of mentioning what I know to any one;'tor; "he has disappeared. What did I tell you.  women, after all, may find means of revenge as
At the very moment he was leading his partner well as doges."
to the floor-"                                 The countess, who had been absent a mo"How so'I"                                ment to give orders, re-entered the ball-room,
"A person in a domino beckoned himl to the, more handsome and dazzling than ever; she
door. He was hurried into a gondola, which  leaned on the arm of Ziana, who, followed by
steered towards the prisons: that is all."   Taddeo and her father, proceeded to the ban"May I ask," inquired the French marquis, queting-hall.  The doors had just been thrown
advancing on tiptoe,"' why this gentleman has  open by order of the doge.
been thus unceremoniously disposed of "         In the centre of a table glittering with plate
" Signor Marquis," answered  Moncenigo, and crystal was a vase, magnificently chased
"' look around; you see nothing but joy, luxury, by the chisel of Taddeo.  The doge was pointnoise: this is one view of Venitian life. Re- ing it out to the admiration of the senators
verse the medal, and you find the best-regula- around him, when the mask with the pink
ted police in the universe. Your Monsieur de  domino approached Ziana, and asked, in He-'Sartines could do no better."               brew, permission to examine the bracelet she
"Truly, my worthy uncle might, well envy  wore. After a brief inspection, the stranger'the celerity and neatness of that proceeding,"  seemed startled, and begged the young girl to
thought the marquis.  "Now, if he knesw what tell him by whom it had been given to her.
I do concerning one of the principal ladies'in    "By the countess, sir, my protectress," anVenice, the countess-but myt happiness de- swered: Ziana, joining her father, with a vague'pends on my* discretion; and, besides, Safia, presentiment of fear; for the mask was wholly
from what I have just witnessed, mrlight find a  a stranger to her.
way of silencing me: forever. On'due'onsid-    This scene had passed unnoticed,:and the
eration, I will say nothing; for Safia is almost stranger, approaching the countess at a moment.a doge's wife."                             when the banqueting-hall was. thronged,: said,
"Signor Marquis," said Moncenigo, pressing    "One question, countess: are -you certaia
the hand of Saluces most cordially, " we are at you never lived in France."
war with Barbary, but not with France; the    "France, sir!" answered the countess, with
Ridotto is to open in three days; you will see  singular confusion. "Who areyou, sir3"
whether we are wealthy; you will play, I hope;'No matter; I am what I wish to be."'and if fortune favour you as she did at Count   At the sound of that voice she shuddered;
Lippone's-",                               but, distrusting her half-awakened recollections,
" Against whom it is proposed to proceed, as  she answered, with doubtful confidence,
I was informed just now by the: inquisitor Gri-    "No,'sir, I never resided in France."
vmani."              -                         " Safia," resumed the stranger, withdrawing,
"I shall not be sorry for that," resumed Mon-  "you ought to take more caire of. the presents'cenigo;  "for, after all, no one knows:where  of the Count Cagliostro.  That bracelet was
that soi disant count comes from. Venioe is  one.".deluged with marquises and counts of the Holy    He had disappeared;'the countess remained
Empire! At all events, there is no lack of' in a state of stupor:unequal to the attempt of
prisons here, equally for the count as for that preventing his escape: her trembling lips refupoor Ranuzzi who -has just' been; taken'away  sed utterance.
In that line we are truly prodigal."           "What ails you, countess 3" asked' the mar"Indeed!"                                quis, coming rapidly towards her, as he noticed
"Yes. First, we have the Leads," said Mon- her pale cheek.
cenigo, counting on his fingers;'"you know,   " Nothing, Marquis de Saluces-the heat,
Trevisani, those Leads wherein Casanova was probably. Lead me to that window: the air
locked up, and from which he found means of will restore me.'
escaping. Under the Leads the prisoner is half    The marquis led her to the! balcony.




SAFIA.
CHAPTER  IX.                    Venitian  ar-cry.  In snLort, everything in thii
remote quarter of Venice, from  the sight of
ZI[ANA.     yonder BuOentaur, whose high decks lay rotting
"    NWRaRE can the doge be i" asked the count-. in stately gloom, and whose sculptures he had
ei3s, looking anxiously around.                been employed by the dogs in restoring, to the
"I think that I saw his highness, in company  sound of the bell that recalled or dismissed the
with the Jew Ottale, take the direction of the  workmen, teemed with memories of for1mec
Zecca."                                       greatness and victory.
"'The mint of Venice."   resumed the count-   Hle would often sit on one of the batteries
egs, casting a dispirited look on the canal.  that look towards the sea, motionless as a fishSafia relained under the influence of the ter-  erman- of the lagunes, indulging in thoughts
rible words of the unknown: she could not as- which he dared to confide only to the waves
sume strength enough to relate this meeting to  and the clouds-thoughts whose depth Ziana
the marquis.  The ball still continued, although  herself had never fathomed, far as she might
many of the dancers had already departed; but read into her lover's dreams of fiture greatness.
the more eager and reckless devotees of pleas-  Taddeo well understood that Venice was wasture deemed themselves in honour bound to pro- ing, in debauchery and voluptuousness, the last
long the festivity.  Lost to all sense of their  hectic energies of her political agony, whose
country's fame, they cared but little for the an- close was marked for no distant period, and
nouncement of war, the arming of troops, the  might be witnessed by the young generation to
equipment of fleets.                          which he belonged.
An orchestra, concealed behind long silken  1"And yet," he would say, communing with
curtains, had just concluded a symphony, when  himself, " there are Still those, among the sons
the countess, leaning on the arm of the niar- of Venice, who cherish her fame. The patriquis, advanced towards thle table spread for the  cians have outlived their time; now shall our
midnight repast.                              reign begin! Are we not the trusty sentinels
At this table, although at some distance from  of our city? and shall we permit her to lose her
the titled guests, sat Taddeo  beside Ziana;  rank among nations?  Let our noblemen throng
his hand timidly held that of his betrothed, around those tables piled with gold, and hide
and he eyed suspiciously those Venitian noble-  their shame beneath the mask which the law
men, whom he had hated from childhood. IIis  commands gamnblers to wear-let foreigners
hatred for them  was that of the slave for his  enjoy the -sad privilege of ruining themselves
master, mingled with unforgiving contempt.  at faro-tables kept by senators! well may they
By birth one of the people, Taddeo cherished  convert night into day, for they could not bear
so exclusive and jealous a love for his class, the sunlight! let them destroy their constituthat, excepting the doge, he would never bow  tions in debauchery and criminal pleasures!
to a partrician in the street.  He had heard so  We must lift up our heads, since our noblemen.
many and such tragical stories of the signoria  plunge theirs into the excesses of shame and
of Venice, of their secret executions, their degradation.  We must upraise the standard
snares, their perfidiousness, that, yielding to a  of Foscarini, which they trample in the dust.
vague instinct of superstitious fear, he kept stu- Yes, their soft hands could never handle the
diously aloof from the great; his profession fa- cannon upon the ship's deck to scatter death
voured that disposition, inasmuch as it confined  among the pirates; they are fit only to h.,;!. thiiu
his residence to the arsenal, one of the rerno- banker's cards at the Ridotto; let their idle
test localities of Venice; his studio for sculp-  sloth sink into the slumber preceding death 
ture was situated within that naval fortress, Noblemen of Venice, be it your privilege to sink
which, as is well known, extends three miles  in inglorious repose-ours to live indeed; to,
in circumference. Among. the special and sep-  breathe the inspiriting element of strife; to
arate population of this district, its foundry-  wade in blood over the turbaned dead spurned
men, sail-makers, wheelwrights, and seafaring  by the conqueror's foot! ours the national emmen, he passed his life, toiling daily on iron  blem —the angry lion at our galley's prow!
and brass.  It was his pride to know that no  The day will come, lordly masters, when nostranger could be admitted within its precincts  thing shall remain of the people of Venice saveo
wearing a sword, unless a prince, or one on  the people!  The hour is fast approaching
whom the doge himself had conferred nobility. when, the batteries of Venice being silenced,
Taddeo looked upon the arsenal as tthe haughty  the republic lost to all sense of honour, the nabulwark of Venice.  Often, as he crossed the  tion without chiefs, we shall arise in our might
marble bridge that leads to the celebrated land- - we, the obscure sons of this ancient and
gate, erected in 1475, by Geroninmo Campagna, mournful city-at the head of the Sclavonirn.
under the doge Pascal Maliipiero, he felt his  and Albanian reginents, in the service of Saint
heart beat more freely, as if relieved from the  Mark, and, in our turn, dictate to the senate V
noxious atmosphere of the city: at such times, Then rest, descendants of Pietro Gionani and
he preferred the songs of the workmen in the  Alvise Moncenigo! rest still! consume, in dairope-walks of the Tana to the miraculous en- ly excesses, the worthless remnants of your extertainments of the Place of Saint Mark. The  istence! We are at the helm, noble signors!
front arch of the land-gate of the arsenal pre-  we will try desperate measures in your behalf
seated to his eye the winged lion, that symbol  Your Council of Ten-so powerful, so mournof Venitian daring; the galleries were decked  ful, -so dreadful-may give ivay, solme day, to
with Turkish trophies in memory of Venitian  democratic rtule.  Yonder Lion of Saint MD.ark,
victories; and the docks presented a warlike  your Corinthian trophies, yonder Golden Boolk
array of vessels and galleys that, to awake  itself, which a conqueror would cast into the
fromt their repose, awaited only the suell of the  flames while he declared you unfit for liberty —



SAFIA.                                       9
an these'e will preserve and save, evehin  b -  hence the fleet sails; drink to the safety orf the
half of our oppressors! Such noble and gener- republic!"'ous revenge may confound your unrderstand-   " After which we shall imprint a kiss upon
Sugs, and be deemed an error by posterity; but your lips all around," added Trevisani, under
so magnanimous a feeling is the love bf coun- the influence of the wine he had drilnk.
try, that it casts the veil of oblivion over private   The unknown held his glass; he had risen
wrongs. Fear not, senators and patricians, nor from his seat, and several of the guests also..shake with causeless dread! we will ohly-   "' This goblet," he continued, " will hereafter
forget you!"                               be so precious to me, that I will have it set in
While his mind thus wandered in such flighty jewels."
visions, Taddee felt his heart expand within   "Are you serious, your excellency l" said
him; his large blue eye, as he surveyed the Ziana, fearfully drawing back; "what! from
moving assemblage, glowed with such pure, your glass."
though melancholy light, that the star nightly    "Ziana," negligently answered the unknown,.casting its network of silver beams over the " a patrician's glass is an honour to the lips of'lagunes, the crystal polished by tile artist's skil- a Jewess; we wish an augury, be you our
Xful hand, or even the choicest diamonds of priestess; we desire omens of victory; drink,:Saint Mark's treasury, could scarcely emulate then, to the defeat of our foes!"
its steady, bright, and placid lustre. Absorbed   "Wretch!" cried Taddeo, grinding his teeth
in the contemplation of that anxious, ardent with rage. But ere he had time to snatch the
dream, which, in imagination, carried him into glass from Ziana, a stronger arm had thrown it
another world, the creation of his fancy, he had in fragments to the Iloor, and a deep voice thus
wellnigh forgotten Ziana, who filled his imagi- spoke,
nation, by night and day, with soft dreams of   "Wo to the abandoned wretch who would
happiness, and now sat beside him.          pollute the lips of innocence! Are there not
The refusal of his request by the doge had mistresses enough for you in Venice without
*mnch grieved him; yet he could but regard it desecrating this hall with your profligate ad-:as a mark of peculiar friendship; indeed, on vances. must intoxication andl insolence revel
mnore than one occasion, Alessandro had be- where but a few hours past an ambassador
stowed upon him proofs of paternal benevo- goaded our national pride with humiliating pro*lence. Often, while employed in renovating posals?"
the carved ornaments of that immense vessel,'The doge!" exclaimed Taddeo and Ziana
-the Bucentaur, he had heard praise uttered, in the same breath, regarding the speaker.
-and, looking around, recognised the doge. The    "Who is the man," continued the doge, "dare
friendship of the prince of the republic for Ot- treat Ziana as a courtesan, and Ottale's daughtale was also notorious.  The Jew was the ter as a submissive mistress —slave to his ca-,keeper of the mint of Venice; every one held price. Signor Inquisitor, I would know  the
~him in high esteem for his integrity and skill. names of the noblemen who have lost all self-'The more inconsiderate among the young no- respect. Tear off his mask."'blemen of Venice reproached him for keeping    Grimani obeyed, and the unknown, after a
his daughter, the young and beautifiul Ziana, in slight resistance, was compelled to exhibit his
close confinement at home, like a choice pearl face to the assembled crowd.   He appeared,.;'itbin a casket, and could not forgive his cans- about forty; his features had that characteristic
ing her to embrace the Catholic religion. They beauty so peculiar to the Italian; and his glance,
conceived his policy in this to have in view the cold as that of the basilisk, boldly surveyed the
-means of raising his posterity to the rank of no- by-standers.
bility; for, in those days, as we have stated,   "Casanova!" exclaimed several young rou6s,
everything in Venice might be effected by bar- who recognised in him a friend and companion
gain and sale.                               of their pleasures.
"Jews in the council! what think you of   It was, indeed, Casanova, the hero of frivothat!" said Moncenigo to Trevisani.        lous amours, miraculous escapes, the day-dream'" That it will make them  more liberal in of many a romantic signora, the terror of uncles
loans; but who is that green domino regarding and guardians; Casanova the duellist, or the
the Jew's daughter so fixedly."            languid minstrel, as circumstance required; as
" I know riot. There is nothing unusual in ready with his sword as with a jest, and, sooth
his disguise, but its mysterious wearer has real- to say, as reckless of infamy as skilful to esly a very fair hand, and upon his finger a mag- cape from prison.  He was the man, and so
nificent diamond ring."                     long had he been absent that any other would'I'he silent personage alluded to seemed ga- have been forgotten; but Venice could not fiorzing. upon Ziana with rapture; seated near the get Casanova.
Marchioness Grimani, whose jewels resembled'Was not Casanova the favourite son of that
Saint Peter's own reliquary, he appeared ironi- corrupt city?  He was no longer young; his
cally engaged in instituting disrespectful cornm- cheeks were rouged, his language grossly lasparisons between her faded beauty and the civious; an image, in short, of cynical licen-::bloorning countenance of Ziana, towards whom  tiousness, he stood there the faithful representhis lorgnette was so continually directed, that ative of his parent city.
Taddeo, in a fit of jealousy, was about inducing   Thus returning to his beloved Adriatic, lhe
-the fair Jewess to withdraw. But, noticing the had hoped to reign there sovereign, a master
-motion, the domino, rising, glass in hand, said, and model; he had expected to act as the rnon-," Not so fast, my handsome child. We have itor of those he called his pupils, and who were
not yet spoken to you. There is luck,'tis said, the maost vicious among the nobility. To ride
in a betrothal day; now, Ziana, three days with a mistress at the Lido, or stemn at night




30                                    SAFIA.
the waters of the Brenta, give concerts to cour- one of the noblest patricians in Venice, had beenrs,
tesans, hold fraudulent banks in suspicious pala- transferred from the ball-room to a prison.
ces, scatter gold in return for infamous pleas-   The doge had retired, accompanied by sev-.
ures, and immortalize himself by notorious  eral senators, after ordering that one of the
love affairs, and conspicuous deeds of eventful gondolas of the palace should be in waiting to
treachery; such was the brilliant part he had  convey the young couple home. A smile of
intended to play, and he longed to signalize his inexpressible sadness passed over his features
return to his beloved country by some dazzling  as he bade farewell to the Rose of the Ghetto,
adventure that might at once restore him to  as if he had parted with the object of his fond-.
rank as the leader of Venitian fashion.      est and purest joys, of his most anxious dreams,
He had selected the Jew's daughter as his his most earnest cares.
intended victim; her angelic beauty had acted    The countess had not yet recovered from the
upon him as the sight of some sweet fresh-blown  varied sensations of the evening.  In a state
flower, upon the senses of a fastidious bota- of stupor, she awaited, with increasing anx- 
nist.                                        iety, the return of a trusty slave, to whom she
He had left the city under the reign of Ales- had given a private order at the departure of
sandro's immediate predecessor; he found in  the individual with the pink domino.
the new doge a severity to his mind unaccount-   After Ziana and Taddeo had left, the doge
able. Of what, after all, had he been guilty?  approached the countess, and conversed with
his boldness had been in keeping with the gay-'her in a low voice. The lights of the ball-room.
eties of the occasion; his proposal to a Jewess had been gradually extinguished; Safia's guests
was rather a condescension on the part of a had dispersed; the clock of the Ducal Palace
patrician; in fact, the doge's anger had over- struck twelve.  The marquis, leaning over the:
turned all his ideas.                        quay, could count, like so many floating stars,
He. had taken off his.mask before Grimani the retreating gondolas, whose lanterns alone
had had time to tear it from his face, and aswe.illumined the dark waves of the canal. Large
have said, all had thronged eagerly around him,. massesof clouds had gathered over the sky,.
curiosity mastering, their. fears at the eventful furrowed at intervals by lurid streaks of lightmoment.  Trevisani and Moncenigo greeted  ning:; the atmosphere was heavy, the darkness
him with looks of intelligence, and Signora Gri-. intense, and a few waves broke with  ominous
mani had hid her face behind her fan at the re- sound against the marble steps of the palace.
moval of Casanova's fatal mask.                "I must leave you, Safia," whispered the
"' We were not aware -of your being in Ven- doge; "this.night is not mine: I am expected
ice, sir," said the doge, severely; "the inquis-  at the council.  On my return, let me learn
itor will probably ascertain by whose. permis- that you are at rest; that is all I ask. Your
sion."                                       hand is feverish: the fatigue of the ball, I pre"With this, your highness," replied Casano- sume; and then, so many incidents have hapva, negligently.  And he exhibited to Grimani pened within a few hours!"
the passport signed by himself, which. the.offi-    "You seemed much moved, Alessandro,
cious lady of the inquisitor had, the night be- when you broke that glass?"
fore, bestowed upon Saint Peter.               Without answering, the doge imprinted so
" I suppose," whispered he to the, astounded. soft and pure a kiss on her brow, that Safia.
and enraged inquisitor, " that you will not ar- blushed for her doubts. Besides, her mind was
rest one so sumptuously entertained last night too uneasy to heed. anything save the sinister
by the signora, your wife. I have wit enough, sound of that voice, whose words, cold and
you may well,suppose, to publish a most par- sharp as steel, had been breathed in her earticular and interesting account of that transac- that evening.
lion. Be wise enough to be silent upon.the    Leaning on Alessandro's shoulder, she acsubject, or —"                               companied him to the door of the gallery. Her,
Grimani could scarcely realize to himself that. eyes followed him under the dark arches of the
he was not dreaming. He had found, indeed, procuratie, where several' nobles stood waiting'
one of his nocturnal guests, but he wanted the  for him; then, rapidly retracing her steps, she
other. He resumed:                           approached the marquis, who, already wrapped
"Bravo! Signor Casanova; you have lost in his dark cloak, was preparing to take his
nothing by travelling, I perceive. You have  leave of her.
returned younger and more alert than ever.   "Marquis," said she, "I need your assistYou shall enjoy your liberty, but under securi- ance: remain!"
ties. Tell me only the name of your accomplice!"..
The abruptness of the question caused hesitation on the part of the guilty apostle. He                CHAPTER X.
cast a rapid glance around him, and, having ascertained that the mask in the pink domino was
no longer in the room,                         WHILE listening to these words, the marquis
"Faith," said he, "Signor Inquisitor, your. could scarcely trust the report of his senses.
question is difficult to answer; however, dis-'"Remain!" repeated Safia, authoritatively;
guise would be of no avail.  It was that rogue  "you must! Would you refuse to accompany
Ranuzzi; I do not see him here, or else. he me."
himself-"                                      She seized hold of a japanned case, and drew
Grimani frowned like a man who finds him- from it a poniard, which she placed in her girself grossly imposed upon. Indeed, no one dle.
knew better than he for what. crime Ranuzzi,    * Venitian dial.e t, signifying "house accursed."




SAFIA.                                       31
"Accompany you, madam!  Where, and    "Coward! In that case, find me a gondola.
wherefore?" asked the marquis, scanning her The Count Lippone is my friend; I have been
pallid countenance.                         several times his guest; I played at his house
"Where, I cannot say; but I expect a mes- the other night, and from him, countess, I exsenger who will probably inform me.  The pect to receive information concerning our un —
cause I will tell you now. A mask addressed  known."
me at the ball. I do not know him; but he    "The Count Lippone 3" answered the count
knows me. He called me, as yourself, by a ess; "the name is not familiar to me; some
name which no one save the doge, Alessandro, stranger, I presume."
knows in Venice. That mask was the fiend!"   "In truth, countess, I am  as ignorant as" Did you cause him to be followed?"    yourself who he may be; he is an ugly, stoop" Yes, by A'zael, my Moorish slave; but the ing old man, who stammers the most horrible
mask had gained some distance in advance. Dutch, and keeps a faro-bank: that is all I
Yet, whether my messenger has succeeded in have seen of him. What I know besides is,
tracing him or not, I must see-ay, speak to that there is neither an Italian nor a stranger
him this night!"                          of note residing in Venice of whom I have not
"But consider, countess, leaving the palace heard him speak in full detail. Between ourat such an hour, what will the doge surmise?" selves, I think he belongs to the police. Odds
"One of my attendants will leave the note I my life! if I had my uncle's estafie?rs here, how
am now writing upon Alessandro's table. He quickly I could get the information you desire!
will not return to the palace before two o'clock; Yet, this being the hour of the count's faro, I
this note will inform him that I retired in better am going to ask him for it."
health. Alessandro has too much to think of;   "But is there no danger.  I know, marquis,
he will suspect nothing."                  that you are brave; yet, at Venice, bravery
The countess folded the note she had just avails little against a stiletto."
written, and rung for one of her women, to   "I have taken my measures," answered the
whom she intrusted it.                      marquis —" yes, since my arrest this mor'ning,.' Has Azael returned "                    and," he added, in a whisper, "the flattering
".He is here, madam; I see him approach- appointment you gave me for this night."
ing."                                         While speaking, the marquis produced front.
Azael entered, jaded and wet. He had been either pocket of his vest a beautiful pistol,.
unable to gather any positive information con- wrought in damask.
cerning the man with the pink domino. He   Meanwhile the storm raged, rain fell in tor-,
bad come up with'him near the Rialto, seen rents, and mournful gusts of wind awoke the
him disappear through a narrow street, where echoes of each vestibule. The marquis, scarcethere was a fight among the rabble, so that, ly suspecting the countess would persevere ir
impeded by the conflict, he had lost all trace of her insane resolution of following him, was. prethe unknown.                                paring to leave with Azael alone, when Safia
" So," said the countess, "there is no hope! seized her veil, and motioned him to be silent
no one in Venice who could tell us —"       with a determined gesture.
" Wait a moment," interrupted the marquis,   In a short  time Azael had unfastened a gonas if struck with a sudden idea; "on the. con- dola, that danced on the bounding waves of the
trary, there may be one in Venice who may.be canal.
able to point out to us the retreat of the un-   "Truly," muttered the marquis, "people are
known. Said you not, Azael, that the mask right in saying that, when once women enter-.
passed over the bridge of the Rialto "      tain an idea-what beautiful weather to be nay"Yes, excellency," answered Azael; "he igating the canals! What a delightful excurwalked so fast that I could scarcely follow  sion we shall have!"
him."                                         A dazzling flash of lightning illumined the
"Azael, does not the Rialto lead to the Ca cushions of the gondola whereupon Safia had
Maldetta."                                 just seated herself, and was succeeded by im —
"It does, excellency; that is for those who penetrable darkness.  The barcarole turned
fancy going there by land. A storm was brew- into the first ccalle that offered itself, frightened,
ing, and the individual, perhaps, preferred trust- probably, by the increasing agitation of the
ing to his feet than risk the danger of a gondo- waves in the Grand Canal. He avoided the
bridge of the Rialto, and the quarter of Saint
"Do you know the C6 Maldetta, Azael'"   Paul; and, with infinite precautions, reached
"Excellency, who in Venice does, not! at last-adjacent to the Church of Saint Job-a
There are stories told of that house sufficiently palace more dark and mournful in aspect than
horrible to make your blood curdle."        any other on the Reggio Canal. A faint light'Have you ever seen the Count Lippone, its glimmered from  one solitary window of this
new tenant 3"                               edifice, whose dark marble front was made visi"No, excellency."                         ble at intervals by lurid streaks of lightning.
"I know him well, madam," resumed the The marquis pointed to the window, and said,
marquis, addressing the countess, who hung   "That light shows that my dear friend, the
breathlessly on every word he uttered. Then, count, is at home; but I wonder there are no
turning to the slave,                       gondolas about the palace. His usual company
"Azael," said he, " you shall follow me."    of gamesters have, I presume, come by land."'Thanks, excellency, craving your pardon,   "La ci Maldetta!" murmured the countI had rather stand all night between the col- ess; " I have heard the senator Andrea Galumns of Saint Theodore and the Lion, exposed vagna say several times that it was intended to
to the rain about to fall-"                 raze that palace. Many people persist in be



SAFIA.
lieving that sorcery is practise there in this en- upon the cax'pets of the intermediate apartlightened age. Do you.think, marquis, that mrnets, and the party intruded upon seemed
upn)l seo vague an indication as a pink domi- suddenly surprised and unprepared, for he hastno —"                                        ened to resume a mask that lay upon a chair
"Leave that to me; I may meet your man near a pink domino. Prompt and skilful as his
among the crowd of players. Permit me only motion was, nevertheless the marquis had time.
to give you this advice: now that you have ac- to recognise his features.
companied me to Count Lippone's, return to   "Cagliostro!" exclaimed he, retreating.
your palace, dear countess; for, from what I   "Cagliostro! much at your service, Marquis
have seen of the temper of your doge. I prom- de Saluces," answered the mask, affecting
ise to call on you in the morning early, or will great coolness. " What do you wish? speak i"
send you a message.  Leave all to me."         "Revenge for the dastardly sword-thrust I
"' Marquis," resumed the countess, with en- received from you, and punishment for your vilergy, " you can see whether my spirit equals lany! That is all I have to say, Count Caglithat of their Italian ladies. That man who is ostro!"
in Venice; that man whom  I do not.even   Thb marquis drew from his vest his pistols,
know, but who might speak to the Doge of Ven- took aim at the count's breast, and fired. The
ice; that man, marquis, must not be alive to- balls fell harmless upon the ground; a halfmorrow; do you understand! else I, Safia, suppressed, scornful laugh escaped the count.
shall be the laughter of the nobility."      He then stamped his foot upon the boards
" Who is he, countess! an agent of Cagli- whereon the marquis was standing, who sudostro' but Cagliostro is- at Venice! A French denly disappeared through the sliding floor.
nobleman'! no, for he would have come to me
4irst and embraced me, even in the open Place of
Saint Mark. At all events, my arm is at your
service; of this I think I have given you proof.           CHAPTER XI.
I have still on my mind the thrust that devilish                  DO
Cagliostro gave me, and should not be sorry to |             THE DOes.
Teciprocate upon one of the count's friends."   A qaARTER of an hour had elapsed, which the
"' Look, marquis, how like an ignis fatuus anguish of expectation had made appear an age
that light wavers through the apartments; one to the countess, when she heard hier name utwould think it was the perturbed spirit of some tered by one of the servants from the (lark and
lord of that palace."                       tomb-like palace.  At first she hesitated, but,
"Since you are so mindful, madam, await soon taking courage, she followed her unknown
ne here. Azael, I hope, is armed."          guide: grasping with one hand the poniard she
Azael pointed to the ataghan he wore in his wore, and with the other adjusting the folds of
belt.                                        her veil over her mask, drenched with rain, she,"Well!" said the marquis. "Now, barca- was led by the count's valet through several
role, fasten your gondola to this ring, for the cold, unfurnished, and deserted apartments,
waves rush tempestuously."                   which seemed as if long untenanted.
Indeed, the storm now raged with the utmost   " Whither do you lead me 1" asked she of the
violence; the rain streamed down the window- negro, who, clad in a blue tunic, carried a horn,panes of the gondola; the barcarole crossed lantern before her.'himself. Two valets, wearing the livery of   "To the apartment of Count Lippone," an.
Count Lippone, appeared upon the vestibule, swered the negro.
sheltering, as well as they could with boards,   Encouraged by the answer, she overcame her
the burnished gold upon the palace-gate.    fears, and, almost without dread, beheld a door
"The Count Lippone?" inquired the mar- leading from the gallery open, and give egress
quis.                                       to a man, who advanced towards her. Sud"His excellency has just returned! who are denly her limbs refused her support; for she r:eyou,"                                       ognised in this man he who was the terror:o'f' There is my name, scoundrels!" answered her dreams-her inmost thoughts-the Q'odit
the marquis, tossing his purse to them.      Cagliostro.
One of the valets picked it up, and, after duly   At a sign from the count, the negro openedl a
poising its weight, motioned the marquis to en- silver dressing-case, and, handing to Cagliostro
ter, saying,                                a small vial, withdrew, carefully closing behind
"Our master is about to retire; we will let him the damask hangings screening the entrance.,him know."                                  The countess had swooned; the negro had car"You need not; the count already knows."  ried her to a spacious couch; no sound was
"Yet, your excellency-"                   audible in this immense apartment, save the
" I know very well that he desires this inter- splashing of the rain against the windows.
view as much as I do; enough!"             Cagliostro was himself pale; frightened, perConquering their doubts by the mere force of haps, spite of his usual precautions, by the sudhis assurance, he ascended rapidly the double- den assault of the marquis, or, rather, trembling
balustered staircase, traversed the play-gallery, in presence of Satia, half dead with terror, like
and, throwing open the door of an apartment a sacrilegious robber before the altar.
wherein a lamp was still hurning, found himself   Truly, Safia, extended upon that couch, was
in the presence of a man who, clad in a flowing admirably beautiful. Her hair, damped by the
xrobe-de-charnbre, was then passing before a storm, fell in disordered ringlets over her brow;
large Venitian mirror. This personage turned her bosom heaved: her bare arms hung lifeless.
round precipitately at the interruption. The She resembled a statue of Niobe in the calo of
footsteps of thle marquis had fallen noiseles  grief and despair, Her eyes sought heaven, but




SAFIA.                                       33
a,resistless power seemed to bow her down to power; her Eden was destroyed, and she had.
the earth.                                   once more fallen into the power of the fiend.
Cagliostro gazed upon her as the high-priest   "You here!" exclaimed she, with a sigh;
of a sensual worship would gaze upon his vie- "from what accursed ocean do you rise in
tim, the master on his slave, the evil angel on Venice?"
one he would woo to his fiendish embrace.   "Is it thus you greet me, Safia? I might,'There are temperaments thus gifted with a fatal however, have expected your bitter, unjust up-'power. All the offspring of Satan are not con- braidings.  It was not me you sought here, but
fined to their eternal prison. Some range the the Marquis de Saluces."
earth with fire in their eyes, and astounding    "It was the marquis, my protector, I sought,"
power in their glance. The eye of Cagliostro replied, she, rising from the couch; " what have
then glowed with lurid, magnetic flashes; a you done with him?"
silent but strong influence was binding the in-  "' The marquis is safe," answered Cagliostro,
sensible slumberer. As the daring tempter ap- ironically; " he will not intrude upon our interpeared to the first woman, so stood Cagliostro, view. Let me speak of you, Safia; yourself,
the lover of the Greek slave, the mistress of the my dove. Thanks to chance, I may yet deem
3doge.                                      myself your master; thanks to the stormy night,
However, so suddenly had the occurrence I may still be Cagliostro!"
which brought her within his power taken    " Cagliostro!" resumed she, with a bitter
place, perhaps again to baffle his ambitious smile, that betrayed her secret fear. "'Yes, you
dreams, that he was not wholly free from that are Cagliostro! Who else could compel with
incredulous wonder with which a French noble- one word a lady to seek this mansion, there to
man of the period might have looked upon Rug- wring her mind with anguish, and destroy her:guri's magic mirror. He was astounded, almost every hope of happiness."
frightened. But a few moments ago his Safia   "Heaven forbid, madam!" answered the
was the admired hostess of the Venitian patri- count, with a penetrating glance, " that I should
cians, the fairy queen of the glittering ball-room, change the course of your new destiny. Are
dazzling in beauty, worshipped by a numerous you not, mistress of the doge?  Have not our
train of followers; while, fiomnthe Ducal Palace relative positions been inverted, Safia   Fifto the lowly huts of the gondoliers at Murano, teen years since you were my subject-my
all invoked blessings upon her. This was the favourite-bebfore your noble Italian lover had
woman whom Cagliostro now held in his power, invaded the sacred precincts of my abode, as the
whom he was at liberty to claim as his slave. thief who would rob me of my treasure."
The count hesitated a moment; mysterious   "Speak not thus of him who opposed to your
shadows passed confusedly before his sight, re- infamous claims the claims of high and noble
viving reminiscences of those noble and fasci- birth!"
nating beauties of the French court who had    "Birth!-nobility! mere words, Safia. You
fallen a prey to his jealous avarice, to his un- were mine, and he dared to rob me of my most
quenchable thirst for gold.                 highly valued prize!"
"I have read," said he to himself, " that for-   "Rob you! you, Cagliostro, the robber!
mrerly, at Nuremberg, the executioner caused What right, noble count, did you possess over
his. victim to be masked before striking the fatal my person or liberty'?" answered Safia, with
blow! I grant that this was almost acowardly haughty and energetic gesture. " When my
compromise with his courage, but at least he foot touched the soil of France, did I not at
had no shadowy, threatening visitations to dread once acquire freedom 1 We are no. longer at
for the future. He performed the duty of his Adrianopolis, but in Venice!"
office, whether upon veil or mask, that was all;   Cagliostro's laugh was so peculiar in expresand I, the accursed paria of all countries-I, who sion, that the blood of the countess froze in-her
ever considered this-woman as my talisman, my veins.
loadstar —I must now claim her as a fuigitive   " Venice!" exclaimed he, "Venice! how sinslave, and revenge upon her the wreck of all my ple you must be to trust to the protection of
hope of the fortune I once nearly grasped and Venice!"
lost-lost through her! The die is cast; I am    "Yet I reign here! I am a sovereign! I
doomed to be her judge!"                   may this very day have you thrown into a dunBefore proceeding to her trial, or awaking her geon."
from that lethargic, deathlike sleep, he once   "You can do nothing, Safia, against him who
amore halted before Safia; and, while the insidi- can compass everything," resumed the count,
ous influence of his mind hovered shadow-like with a look of pity.'' It is your turn to submit
over the cold and silent slumberer, he Shudder- and implore, Safia; mine to command. I reed at the sight of her bloodless lips and. pale peat, you belong to me!"
cheeks as she lay before him, livid and mute as   "Rather belong to Satan! with whom thou
marble.                                     must dwell ere long!" answered she, raising
"You sleep, Safia  "' asked he, in a winning her stiletto. "Insult me again, and see whether
tone.                                       I am or not a Venitian!"
The countess opened her eyes, and, through    "Greek or Venitian," said he, parrying her
their tearful lashes, cast on him a pleading look poniard, " matters but little. Within this palof heavenly softness. Thus looks the bird at ace strange things have occurred-unknown
the hunter who holds its bloodstained feathers; and frightful crimes. One mere look at these
thus the deer, with her dying tears, almost walls alone makes thee afraid-"
moves to compassion the savage conqueror who   "Of disgrace alone. If thou wouldst fill to
makes sport of her agony. Safia acknowledged the brim the measure of thy crimes, murder me 
that this man possessed a terrible, infernal I am preDared "
E




34                                    SSAFIA.
So beautiful and imposing looked Safia as she    "I repeat that I am willing to shed my blood, 
spoke, that Cagliostro, in turn, became pale.    and give up my life fobr my deliverer," exclaim-'I would save thee," said he.              ed Safia, with a burst of passionate anguish;"Save mre."                              "i.but you, who would propose me to-follow you.
"Yes, Safia; but thou must first obey my  fly, Cagliostro! oh, fly!"
commands."                                     " Fly! and why." asked he. " Is not Venice
"Wihat would my former master bid me do." your residence, Safia 1 I cannot leave it withresumed she, ironically, and glancing at him as out you. In your turn, countess, examine your
if she would penetrate the very soul of the Jew, own heart; ask yourself what you would be toBalsaino, under his assumed character of count. morrow if' the only object of your love, your
"The easiest thing in the world; follow me, dreams, that Alessandro, whose life you protect
Safia."                                      with so much zeal, were taken away from you,
"' Follow you, noble count?  I, the mistress without possibility of discovering his traces:
of the doge-wife if I list! Yes, I shall follow  when neither breeze nor sea would ever waft
thee," continued she, folding her arms across you the sound of his voice. The day your
her breast; " but it will be upon the day when  mother, clasping you to her bosom, vainly rethe executioner shall lay his hands upon thee; sisted the avaricious cupidity of a slave-driver;
the day when I shall be able to say to all Ven- the hour when your beautiful locks first fell unice,' Look at yonder villain, yonder cowardly  der the shears of a Moorish owner-when the
suborner passing: he is Balsamo of Palermo, garb of slavery was first upon you-that day,
Count Lippone ofVenice,CagliostroofFrance."'  that hour, had less bitterness than the dreadful.The count trembled with rage, but constrain- moment when I became aware of your flight,
ed his emotion; and casting upon her that Safia! You weremylife, myidol,mytreasure;
glance, of whose power he was well aware,    another possesses you; another, who now curses' Fifteen years!" muttered  he; "fifteen  me, and has taught you to curse me. And when
years!"                                     chance, or the fiend, has brought me once again
" Yes, fifteen years of peace! happiness far in presence of that man, when I may still, after
removed from  thy polluted home!  Fifteen  a lapse of fifteen years, contend with my rival
years! during which I have striven to redeem  for your person, you would bid me quit Venice,.
the errors of my former life," continued she, and yield you up to him! No, Safia! I can
" while thou wast pursuing thy criminal career. hate as well as love. Safia, I hate him! but,
Begone! I am beyond thy power now, although  alas! I love you!"
thou wouldst still intimidate me! Hast thou    While speaking he had thrown himself at her'
neither pity nor remorse. Thou, an Italian, feet. There was in his whole demeanour a
dost thou not fear death 1 What wrong have I cruel and fatal influence. There was something
done thee?  Answer me. What fault of mine  almost supernatural in his glance, an unaccountwouldst-thou pretend to punish?"            able spellin the very terror he inspired. Alarm"Your fault and his," answered he. "He ed by the despotic control which that absolute
first engaged in a struggle against me, which  and mysterious tyrant seemed to be regaining
can end but with my life."                   over her, Safia was alarmed; she rushed to" He is powerful, Cagliostro; noble. I love  wards the window.
him!"                                         The storm had ceased, but the night was still
"The very acknowledgment I awaited," re- dark.  She drew aside the curtains.  She could
sumed the count, his clear, penetrating eye fixed  not see beyond the gloomy marble of the large
upon Safia. "Thou hast now pronounced a palaces along the Reggio Canal; but she deem-.
double sentence-aye, double!-for I will be re- ed she heard the sound of footsteps coming tovenged on both."                             wards the little Place of Saint Job.
"Begin with me, then, Cagliostro; I listen;   The clock of the neighbouring church now
fear not to unfold thy plans of revenge."    struck two. The countess turned round; she
"-Again, I say, if thou wilt leave that man  saw Cagliostro kneeling before her, still prayingand follow me, I will carry away with me the  and. imploring. She repulsed him with disgust.
weapon I have in my possession, and which    "So," resumed he, rising, "the magician has
would cause a surer death than the poniard. lost his spell; the master his power?  Then,.
As for him, no harm shall be done him."      Safia, the executioner remains!"
Safia shuddered, so much assurance and con-   The countess shuddered.  She knew  his
viction did every word of the count evince. malice and his skill, and she anticipated being
Should she now try what effect her prayers the victim of some of his well-laid snares. Shemight have upon a man she had just:loaded with  mechanically grasped the handle of her stiletto.
contumely?  Was her last hope to rest upon    "Safia," resumed the count, in a sinister tone,.
his pity?  The coolness of Cagliostro amazed  "i do you refuse to follow me?"
and frightened her.                            "I do!" said she.  "Now  I must away.
On the other hand, her aspect had caused all Was it not two that struck T"
the chords of hatred and passion to vibrate in    " It was," murmured Cagliostro; "and this,.
Cagliostro's breast.  He considered her flight Safia, is the hour of taking counsel of what -is
from him a horrible treason. Finding her so  about to happen.  Come, put on thy mask;
beautiful, he could not console himself for his come hither and look!"
loss.                                          Cagliostro opened the window of the apart" Safia," said he, " vou are a rebellious angel. ment; the countess approached it with tremYou dare to brave me, when I have braved  bling footsteps.
Heavenr! Yet, remember, I have brought low
higher fortunes, ruined more powerful enemies.               -
My revenge is my secret."




SAFIA.                                       35
CHAPTER XII.                  night-Ranuzzi, who was now to suffer within
that church a death so horrible, that it could
THE BLANK PAPER.               only have been invented by the genius of a VeTHE square in front of the circular steps of nitian tormentor or a Spanish inquisitor.
the Church of Saint Job was suddenly illumi-   The only vestiges of that mode of death now,
ned; the light of torches streamed over the  in existence are a few stones that once formed
pavement.                                   the covering of a well. There are still indicaA man, wrapped in a black cloak, surround- tions of it at the old Palace of the Inquisition
ed by eight soldiers, advanced leaning upon a at Seville. It consisted in the agony we will
monk, whose face was veiled with crape, and  now describe, and whose details Safia had often
who bore a long crucifix. He was followed by heard with a shudder of horror.
a woman and a young girl, perhaps fifteen or   The sufferer was led to the pozzo (well), lined
sixteen. Both were bound. A few familiars inside with long iron hooks; he was then stripof the Council of Ten, and several spies in pay  ped, and hurled to the bottom of the horrible
of the State Inquisition, closed the procession.  abyss. The victim, by his own weight, was thus
Night and its silence spread a horrible calm  borne from one hook to the other to the very
over this scene. No sound was heard save the  bottom of the well. The covering was then reshuffling of sandals over the pavement. The placed, and sealed with three seals of the Inculprit, his wife, and daughter entered the  quisition, and none save the familiars of the
church.                                     council had a right to raise it.
This man, who appeared scarcely over thirty,   The doors of the church were closed; the
preserved in his features those noble lines de- three victims had entered.
noting the patrician class, and which habits of    "Ranuzzi! Ranuzzi!" exclaimed the countdissipation and indolence had not yet effaced. ess, with convulsive despair. "What crime has
His complexion was of that peculiar paleness he, then, committed." continued she, interroindicative of a life of dissolute leisure passed  gating Cagliostro, who, silent and impassible,
within a palace, and abroad only at night. He had witnessed this scene.
wore no mask; his brow was uncovered; de-  c" A crime which the law of Venice punishes
spair had settled upon it. He was doomed to  with death."
die, but cast several glances behind upon his    " But the female foreigner and the young girl
wife and child.                             who followed him?"
She was truly a beautiful woman; her com-   "They will both perish likewise. Both beplexion had that dark hue, the pride of the Hin- longed to Ranuzzi; the one was his wife, the
du females. Her jet-black hair waved in glos- other his daughter! Do you now understand,
sy curls over her shoulders; her lips-were pur- Safia, why I urged you to fly. It was because
pie, like coral when altered by exposure. The the same fate may be yours to-morrow; yours,
breeze played with the long sleeves of striped  Countess d'Azola, and also that of the doge,
silk which fell over the bracelets and gold cir- your lover. Yes! Pride, the sovereign master
clets covering her arms. Safia shuddered as here, has dictated this law, inscribed among the
she recognised the indelible mark of a slave. statutes of the State Inquisition:
Her lustreless eyes constantly rested on her    "'A noble of Venice who has commerce with
daughter, whose tears were enough to pierce a a slave alters the blood of Venice. He and his
mother's heart. The daughter wore an amulet accomplice, and his children, shall die the death
attached to her dress.                       of the slave in the pozzo of the Church of Saint
The door of the church was suddenly thrown  Job.' "
wide open; and the light from  the interior,';How!" exclaimed the countess, shaking
strongly relieved by the darkness of the portico, off her stupor, "'this is but an infamous murstreamed in yellow, uncertain rays over the  der! Let me go forth! I will inform  the
whole group, producing one of those effects of  doge!"
chiard oscuro which Rembrandt introduces with    " Inform the doge, and obtain from his clerinsuch happy skill in his paintings. At this ino- ency the pardon of these three victims! Safia,
ment, also, the culprit, by a sudden impulse, you forget that your Alessandro is powerless.
turned round at the threshold, and embraced his The Doge of Venice! he is the ghost of Venwife and child.                             ice-the puppet of the multitude-the scorn of
It was an eloquent, a sublime sight to wit- the nobility-a slave in a brocade robe; and
ness that frantic, heart-rending farewell! He  although he may not, by a decree, save yonder
wept as one who felt he must die in youth, in  victims, he may, in his turn, be dragged, some
happiness, in the midst of all the enjoyments day, to this very square; may turn around, as
of life. But, as if suddenly ashamed of his Ranuzzi did a short time ago, and find behind
tears, he mastered his courage, and raised his him a woman bathed with tears-his slave Sabrow. As he did so, the countess recognised  fia, his fair Greek girl, condemned to the same
him; she grasped the balcony, and exclaimed,  death!"
"Ranuzzi!"                                 " But I am not a slave! I!" exclaimed SaThe cry she uttered sounded like the voice  fia, trembling with rage.
of agony; Safia seemed as if she felt herself    "Thouliest! Safia, thou art a slave! Thou
dying.                                      wast sold to me by the magnificent Count TeIt was, indeed, the patrician Ranuzzi, whose keli, fifteen years ago, after a game at cards at
graceful figure every one in the rooms of the Venice! I had noticed thee, my fair Greek
countess had admired a few hours before-Ra- girl, inhaling the sea breeze on the deck of thy
nuzzi, with his hair still perfumed as for the vessel; I had admired, in secret, that beauty
ball from whose dazzling splendour he had so which no one save the count was aware of in
suddenly passed to the mournful darkness of Venice; soon as I saw thee, I guessed how




36                                  SA FIA.
nseful thou mightst become, and I doomed    "I have only to hold it near this light, and
thee, sweet dove, to my eagle's nest!"    thou wilt see letters flash like fire upon it."
"To thy vulture's nest! thy hell! Again I   While thus speaking, Cagliostro had seized
repeat, I am free now, miserable villain!"  a taper from the table. Safia uttered a half"Look at this paper!" said Cagliostro, pro- smothered sigh.
ducing a paper, carefully folded, from his pock-   "What paper is that, and what the conet-book. "It is now white and'pure as thy  tents?" asked she, shuddering with fear, and
own brow, fair Safia; but, beware! I am the  gasping with anguish.
very fiend, when forced to become so."        " Thy sentence! Look!"
"I brave thy sorcery and thy falsehood!"    He held the paper near the light, and the
resumed the countess, glancing at the paper countess could see, one by one, letters appear,
Cagliostro held. " No more shalt thou intimi- forming lines. When the heat had rendered
date me with thy tricks, nor govern me by fear. the whole visible, Cagliostro pointed to the sigI arn free, I say! Room  for -thy mistress, nature at the foot of the infernal instrument;
slave i Let me go forth!"                 it bore the name of Tekeli, the former master
Safia advanced to the door, but was unable  of Safia.
to find its lock; and, as she turned around in    " What means this 1" inquired she, her voice
despair, Cagliostro again burst into that harsh  trembling with fear.'..ughter, whose tones resembled the guttural   "It means, Safia, that, since thou wouldst
screech of the night-owl.                  have it so, thy sentence is now written, in let"For the last time, Safia, wilt thou follow  ters that nothing can efface. Yes, this instrume l" said he, still holding the mysterious pa- nlent is the deed of sale of the Greek slave Saper. "Wilt thou save thy Alessandro, or die fia, signed, fifteen years ago, by Count; Tekeli,
with him l"                                at Venice. I might consign you to the fate of
"I say to thy face that I despise thee, sover- the wife of Ranuzzi, but I prefer taking you
eign conjurer of the dead! imperfect sorcerer, again into my service. Say but one word, and
who boasted thyself the rival and the contempo- I will abandon my just revenge!"'ary of God!"                                "Villain!', exclaimed she, endeavouring to
"Safia!" he said, stamping his foot.    snatch the paper from him; but failing in the
" Yes, threaten me, because I am at thy mer- attempt, and irritated almost to madness, she
cy alone, now that thou hast disposed of the  spat in his face.
marquis, my protector! Dost thou forget that   " Safia, you have fulfilled your destiny! you
I need but utter a cry, and the executioners of  are mine!" cried the count, in the short, abRanuzzi will come in and cast thee into yonder rupt tones of rage. "Upon your knees, countcanal l But, rather, thou hast guessed that I ess, obey me!"
had come here without the knowledge of Ales-   His iron arms had nearly grasped her, when
sandro, and that I am compelled.to be silent! suddenly the sound of footsteps was heard at,
Miserable outcast from every land! now a refu- the door of the remote apartment; the count's
gee at Venice! But, Cagliostro, since, as thou  negro came in, and hurriedly uttered these brief
hast just seen with thy own eyes," continued  words:
she, pointing to the square where Ranuzzi had    "The palace is surrounded, dear master; lihe
just passed, "if Venice is so barbarously severe  is there —he comes."
to her own nobility-if she invents for the slave    "Who comes?"
a death complicated by a thousand tortures-    "The inquisitor."
what will she do with thee, a vile spy! a ghost-   " Grimani."
ly impostor, over whose back many a noble of    "Yes, master, and we have but one way left;,Vienna and Paris has broken his.cane 1 Why, the subterranean passage that leads beyond the
she will send him back to the police of France, Church of Saint Job. Your valets are all capmuzzled like one of the bears of the Place of tured. I will not leave you."
Saint Mark, an iron collar around his neck, and    "You see that woman," resumed the count,
led, with a rope, by my servants! Thou turn- opening one of the panels of the apartment;
est pale, noble count! such is the fate that I"carry her this way; follow me!"
awaits thee! that sight will console me for the    But at this instant one of the window panes
one thou hast made me witness here; the doge  was dashed in pieces, a hand'protruded and
and I will witness thy departure from the Du- pressed the iron latch on the inside; a man
cal balcony!"                             leaped into the room; it was Azael, followed
"Safia!"                                by two barcarolie; they seized the half-fainting
"Thou tremblest, I see! thou beginnest to  countess in their strong arms, while Cagliostro
believe in a woman's revenge. Mine will not and his negro vanished, unobserved, through the
fail me through lack of courage; thou wilt leave  leather panel which, falling back in its place,
this city only branded on the forehead by her marked their flight.
who hates and despises thee! of her who would
follow thee, as thou wouldst have her, only to
denounce and betray thee to thy judges!"
"Safia, thou bravest me, but know, in thy             CHAPTER XIII.
turn, that thou art lost! Look at this paper!"
"What paper! Thou mayest begin to write                 THE RETURN.
thy confessions on it; it seems to wait for   ONCE more in her gondola, gliding with. fearthem; it is yet unsoiled."                 ful rapidity over the waters, the countess soon
" Safia, say only thou wilt obey me, and I will revived under the care of Azael and the cooling
tear this fatal paper! IDost thou still refuse'l" night breeze, and inwardly congratulated her"What then!"                            self upon her escape from thie spies of the coun



SAFIA.                                        37
cil, who had followed Grimani to the Ci Mal- ure.  Often had the countess wandered with
detta.                                       delight through the windings of the Jewish
This nightly attack upon the palace of Count quarter to visit the old man's dwelling. Ziana
Lippone had raised the whole neighbourhood; was her favourite; and never had a jealous
the valets had to offer resistance; the report of thought visited the heart of Safia when the
pistols had awakened all the inhabitants of the  doge spoke of the Rose of the Ghetto.
vicinity of Saint Job. In the midst of the tu-    There was, even in the humble condition of
mult, Azael had had presence of mind enough  the Jewess, something that caused Safia's pride
to replace the velvet mask of the countess  to exult as she instituted the obvious compariwhich he had picked up from the floor; Safia, son: she, also, had known grief in spite of
therefore, hoped to enter her palace without her youth and beauty, and she, also, had experienced
absence being suspected.                    from Alessandro the same protection and the
In the agitation produced by this scene, the  same goodness.
fair Greek thought less of the Marquis de Sa-    "He dreams of Ottale," murmured she; "Otlutes thari of Cagliostro; she soon reached the  tale is his friend, his adviser; he has doubtless
Palace d'Azola, which had been bestowed upon  been with him, and fancies himself still conher by the munificence of the doge. Upon en- versing with him."
tering the mansion where Alessandro some-   The doge stirred slightly.
times sought rest from his fatigue upon'the    "I Ihave often been reminded," said the countbreaking up of the nocturnal council, at the  ess to herself, still gazing on the slumberer,
angle of the Place of Saint Mark, she trembled  " of what was related to me by the old senator
like a guilty creature; yet she was apprized by  Gandone, one of the most dreaded of the Venia confidential servant that the doge was asleep; tian inquisitors.  IIe said that he most trusted
it was an hour even since he had returned.   to the sleep of the accused to reveal their guilt.
With light step she glided through those halls  That of my beloved Alessandro could reveal
and galleries, still fragrant with the perfumes  nothing but love! for, if he has caused my
of a fete, pressed the spring of a secret door, misfortunes;he has also been the source of the
and found herself in an apartment lighted by the  sweetest and most thrilling joys of my life.
flickering flame of a lamp near a bed.       How often, in this room, his head pillowed upon
Many a time within this room had the lover my heart, I have heard him speak of that other
forgotten the cares of the prince; the countess, mistress of his soul, whom I hate, because she
therefore, had caused it to be decorated in sim- deprives me of much of his love —my only rival.
ilar style to that which the Count Tekeli, her in his heart-Venice! But rest; dream of her
former master, once occupied. The walls were  even at my side, Alessandro! I will not so far
hung with Persian tapestry; Turkish arms dis- forget thine honour as a prince, as to attempt
posed as trophies, vases filled with perfumes, to quench that fire which burns and consumes
Oriental agate, and flower baskets containing  thee! I still hope that there may be days of
the most choice and rare exotics completed the  joy and happiness yet in store for us, although
furniture of this apartment, whose general char-  Satan has brought back to Venice that foe who
acter seemed but little in keeping with the ap- threatens my ruin! My trust is still more in
pearance of him who lay stretched upon a bed  Heaven than my lover."
of carved ivory.                               Safia had knelt before a painting of the ByFor in this boudoir, decorated with woman's  zantine school that hung in one corner of the
delicate taste, Alessandro, by the manly beauty  room, representing Christ. She took it down
of his features, nearly resembled a severe pa- with tremulous hand, fearing to be surprised by
trician, under the effect of an elixir, in the apart- Alessandro. Then drawing aside the sliding
ment of some titled courtesan.  He had thrown  board on which the divine features were porhimself dressed upon the bed, and Safia's noise- trayed, she uncovered a piece of sandal-wood,
less footsteps could not awake him to conscious- to which a lock of black hair was fastened.
ness. He appeared to be struggling against a  Safia gazed several moments on that lock, and
heavy, painful sleep; at times he uttered inar- kissed it several times with tears in her eyes.
ticulate sounds.                             She sobbed, and stood contemplating that lock
"Ottale, Ottale!" was the first name Safia  of hair as if it had been some pious relic.
could distinguish. She had long known the Jew    " Poveretta!" murmured she, "it was well
Ottale as a man of unblemished character, and  that thou didst not live. Thy mother has now
as one who, in the long exercise of his office of  to contend with grief and anguish. If thou art
keeper of the Mint, with which he had been in- an angel, as I doubt not thou art, oh! thou so
vested by Alessandro, had borne himself beyond  often cradled on my bosom, pray for me, whom
"the reach of suspicion. Yet hewas not free from  so many perils environ! Each hair appears to
the contempt and prejudice which still existed  me like a ray from the holy crown of the blessin Venice against his nation, although offices ed Virgin! Farewell! farewell, angel-Povehad then become merchandise, and the nobles retta!"
of Venice the traders who dispensed them. It   The countess replaced the painting, and sus.
was therefore but seldom  he left the house  pended it in its former place. She looked a
where he dwelt, amid the dark, ruinous, winding  silent image of discouragement and inexpressistreets of the Ghetto; he went abroad only upon  ble grief.  She bent again, motionless and cold,
great national festivals, the banquets of the  over the bed of the doge, and was enabled t1
doge, public entertainments, and promenades, hear these words, uttered in a slow, pantli!,
and then only with repugnance, and to please  breath:
Ziana his daughter, whom he loved as a father    "Gold! yes, gold! where are we to find it -
loves the only joy of his home; he trembled at Gold, Ottale! gold!"
the thought of ever parting from her, his treas-   The doge raised his hands with convulsive




38                                  S AFI A.'terror, aS in app.el to siome unknown power, ing over her balcony, could see the gondola
whose aid he invoked. Then his arms fell as vigorously propelled along the Grand Canal.'
if in discouragement, cold drops glistened on    She heaved a deep sigh, cast a look in a mirhis brow, his lips were closed, he appeared  ror, and, alarmed at her paleness, rung for one
inanimate.                                 of hei attendants. No rest visited the unfor"She!" exclaimed he suddenly; "ever, ever tunate woman's couch that night; the incishe!"                                     dents that had succeeded each other during-the
Safia examined Alessandro's face; it was ra- former part of the night were reproduced in
diant now. All the joys of hope illumined his gloomy colours to her imagination. Now, a terbeautiful features. A soft, superhuman thought rible voice whispered threats in her ear: it
seemed to have reanimated that brow, so pale was the voice of Cagliostro. At other times
and sad a short time since. His lips parted  she heard deep moanings, that seemed to arise
with a smile, and in their slight motion Safia from the grave; then the thought of Ranuzzi,
deemed she read her own name.              his wife, and child. Finally, a shadow, dim and
"He dreams of me," thought she.          pale as a ghost, seemed bending over her
Suddenly she drew back with a convulsive  couch; and as she scanned the features of that
instinct, as if she had felt the cold touch of waving shade, a smile passed over them that
steel.                                     went to her heart like a poniard; and she recog"Ziana! Ziana!" whispered Alessandro.    nised a confused likeness of Ziana, the Jewess
"Ziana the Jewess!" repeated the countess, who had usurped her share of Alessandro's agiwith lustreless eyes and parched lips.     tated dreams! At last, worn out by these hor" Zlana! Ziana-oh! Heaven-why must we rible visions, she fell into a heavy, death-like
still-" continued the doge.                sleep.
Safia listened breathlessly to these half-ut-_
tered exclamations, and trembled with fear at
the expected revelation of a horrible secret.           CHAPTER XIV.
At this moment of solemn uncertainty, the
clock upon the mantle struck with so loud and              THE POLIC
sharp a sound that Alessandro was startled.   IN a small room of an inn situated on the
At the same time a slight noise was heard at Rialto, two individuals were conversing togeththe door, a gleam of light flashed through the  er the afternoon of the ensuing day.
keyhole, and before the countess could utter a    One was rather reclining upon than seated
sound, the door was thrown open, and a man  in a large arm-chair wheeled close to the winappeared, wrapped in a cloak, a large hat cov- dow, overlooking the Rialto. His feet rested
ering his face, and a lantern in his hand. He upon an ottoman; -and, from the deep potations
withdrew a step at the sight of Safia, standing, he occasionally indulged from a decanter placed
statue-like, by the bed where Alessandro lay.   on a little table within his reach, containing
The doge had raised himself, and cast won- steeped lemonade, he seemed determined to
dering glances from the man with the lantern  adhere strictly to a wholesome, though unto the countess.                           pleasant diet. His companion wore a black
"Taddeo!" cried he, as the man discovered  bahuta and a three-cornered hat.
his features.                                The latter had gravely rested his chin upon
"' Myself, your highness.  Pray excuse so his gold-headed cane, and appeared somewhat
late an intrusion. I come from Ottale, who, bored with his sick friend's company, when,
owing to his age and the importance of the oc- suddenly, the patient, striking a blow on the tacasion, would not trust himself at night to the ble with his fist that made the teaspoon fly
dangerous streets of Venice. Although you  upon the floor, cried out in a terrible passion,
left him a short time ago at the Zecca, he wish-   "It shall not be said that I will not write all
es. to speak with you. You may trust, Ithink, this to my uncle, M. de Sartines."
to the guide he sends you."                  "Write whatever you please, Signor MarThe young man then threw open his cloak to  quis; but it is not my fault if you have taken
show that he was armed.                    upon yourself the care of the police of this city.
" I followyou presently," answered Alessan- Venice is not Paris; and you are not yet an indro. "One word only, Safia; how is it that quisitor, I believe!"
you are still up at so late an hour!"       " Go to the devil! you can discover nothing
" I had not retired," answered she. " I stood — not even the cunning rogues who personated
watching you while you slept."             the apostles at a supper at your house. How,
Safia was dreadfully pale.               then, can you hope to ensnare an impostor of
"Alessandro," resumed she, on seeing that Cagliostro's ability. You have allowed him to
the doge kept silence, "can you grant me a escape! Bravo! You will have trouble for
few moment's conversation".      "        your pains."
"I must follow that young; man instantly,   "But first," answered Grimani, assuming an.
Safia."                                    air of dignity, and evidently vexed at the allu"Could you not postpone that interview till sion of the marquis' to the famous supper at
to-morrow''                               which his wife had been honoured by the pres" Impossible; for to-morrow depends on that ence of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, "we have
interview."                                been only two days searching for the count! i 
" Will you leave me, then "              have given my nlan eight days; and if, within
"I leave you, soon to return."           that time, he is not captured,' dead or alive, I
Hurriedly withdrawing, the doge followed his will give them to the care of Master Grande,
guide from the room and down the staircase. who will quickly despatch this business."
By the faint light of breaking day, Safia, lean-' All that will not hasten my recovery   I




S AFI A.                                     39,must have fallen thirty feet at least. I corn-    "Why "
pliment you, I confess, upon your traps; al-. -No matter; pull that bell-rope!"
though, in conscience, I cannot upon your po-    "Willingly; but I begin to think-"
lice."                                         "That I am jesting.  Come, I hear Master'You need not, sir; you have not yet had  Olivario, your host, coming up; interrogate
-the opportunity of testing its activity."   him yourself; ask whether, last night, you did
"Indeed, but I have; I was arrested the very  not return here, after the ball at the Countess
day I arrived."                              d'Azola's.  A charming ball, faith; pity that
" I called to apologize for that."        stupid ambassador from Tunis-"
"Apologies! will they heal my broken back.' "I here last night?"
-Come, give me your word as an honest man,    " Certainly; you returned, masked, to your
that, before leaving this room, I shall. see Cag- hotel, and went up the stairs to your room."
liostro hanged."                               " This is cool; I never returned to my room
"My men have hunted throughout Venice, till I was carried into it this morning.".andfrom his description-"                     " Only ask Olivario there, your host. Oliva"What description. He has twenty. Now  rio, my friend," continued the impassible Italyou may imagine that he is disguised as an Ar- iaii, "what did the marquis say to thee last
menian monk, when, in the. garb of a noble, he  night on returning home?"
stands in a box at the opera. Another day you    " Faith! nothing, sir," answered Olivario,
station your men all around the Garden of Saint who at this moment entered politely, -cap in
Birsias-the favourite walking-lounge of Veni- hand; "the signor took his key; then, suptian gentlemen and their lady-loves-while. he  porting himself by the balusters of the stairwill be promenading, masked, the Prato delle  case, sought his own room, where he remained
Valle, or sipping his coffee in company with  till morning. In passing me, the signor had
one of your spies. His description, forsooth! drawn his hat over his eyes with the air of adeCagliostro may transform himself into a devil spairing gamester; I dared not speak to him."'
~or a woman, to escape from.you. He may be    "You confounded rascal! dare you speak
-at present at the Convent of Murano in the  thus to my face?" interrupted the marquis,
shape of a nun. Trust me, Signor Inquisitor, throwing himselfinto a pugilistic attitude before
you are no better off than I am, save that you  poor Oli.vario.
have not turned such a somerset as I did at the    "He speaks truth!" coolly observed Grimani.
house of that accursed Piedmontese, Sicilian,    "I am robbed!" suddenly exclaimed the mar-.or Jew. Heaven confound him!"               quis, rushing to his bureau.  " Luckily,"' added
With a visible expression of pain, the mar-  he, so as not to be heard by Grimani, "I secuquis felt of his bruises'; then with.the tip of his red my pocket-book when going to the countfinger applied to the part a certain liniment, ess's."
which one Doctor Fiaramosca-whom he had    A short investigation convinced the Marquis
sent for in the'morning —had prescribed, prom- Eusebe de Saluces of the hiatus' of Louis a'nd
ising, at the same time, that he should be well ducats in his escritoir, which, with true Pa-in a week.                                  risian thoughtlessness and unlimited faith in
"A week!" repeated he, impatiently, resting  the probity of Venitian inn-keepers, he had left
-on Grimani his twinkling gray eyes, flashing  unlocked. His rings and diamond buttons were
anger; " a week! when I was upon the eve of gone; his trunk alone had been respected, in
winning one of the handsomest women in Yen-  all probability owing to the two enormous p'ad-:ice!"                                     locks which secured its contents.
"Who might that be l" inquired Grimani, in-    "Robbed!" exclaimed the marquis, passionsinuatingly.                                 ately. "Robbed! by the holy rod!' Signor Gri"Faith'! not your wife," replied the mar- mani, tell me who is the offender?"'quis, peevishly, "rest assured; not that the    " Softly, my dear marquis," answered the inSignora Grimani might not have many a sena- quisitor, with vexatious coolness; "' do not get
tor at her feet; those who know her affirm that enraged; inquire of Olivario. Was it not the
she is accomplished; but, then, since that mys- Signor himself who called last night for his gold
-terious supper given to apostles, unknown to all and rings?" 
Venice-"                                       "I'1 take my oath it was either he or his'Grimani bit his lips; the marquis had twice  counterfeit in flesh and blood," answered the
-sexed him; his turn had now come.           host; "I even remember that he waved his
"The marquis," said he, "imagines that the  hand —a la Frantaise —thus! to my wife, as the
police of Venice is inefficient. I might, per- signor always does when he tbels himself en
haps, satisfy him that he is wrong. While,' verve."
last night, he was parading about the city with. "May Satan confound thee!" exclaimed the
a masked lady, and I, at the head of my men, marquis, seizing hold of mine host's cravat, as'was entering the'Ca Maldetta to seize the fic- though he wohld have strangled him; "you
titious Count Lippone, there took place here, in  have allowed a mean, disreputable thief to in"this room, a rather funny occurrence."      vade the sacred precincts of my apartment!"
"What was it."'              "In-capa-ble!" gasped Olivario, who,'but
"I scarcely know whether I ought to inform  for Grimani's intercession, had been choked;
you; the police here is so inefficient!"   ". my house is safe as a church."
"1 admit that it deserves all praise."       "Nevertheless, I must find out and secure
"No, indeed; it never knows anything."    the thief," muttered the marquis, with clinch*.  But still, I beseech you-"             ed teeth.
"You insist upon it.  then let the blame rest   "You shall, marquis, you shall," said Olivaaon yourself! But, first,'would you be so kind, rio; "the inquisitor will surely take extra..arquis, as to ring the bell i"




40                                   SAFIA.
trouble in your behalf; but abate your.anger; a certain Marquis de Saluces, a vain, silly indeit will only make you worse; I have about me vidual, who imagined that, upon his arrival
a cordial, better, I think, than all your physi- here, every woman would throw herself into his
cian's prescriptions; I mean this pretty little arms, and who, mean while, provides the female
billet, which, to judge from the perfumed paper, portion of the community with gloves, oranges,
must be from a lady of rank. An old female and ear-rings from all the shops in the city.
slave handed it to me, about noon, at the mar- Be it known to that finical and self-sufficient
ket, to deliver to you., Thinking you were re- gentleman that, in order to succeed here, he
posing, I did not come up."                 must be the CaneIetti of painting, the CasanoS' ay rather, rascal, you dreaded the sound va of gallantry. -While giving this piece of
threshing you knew your impudence deserved. advice, I would also beg him- to keep his esNo doubt you are in connivance with the thief?" critoir. at the house of Master Olivario, lock —
"Ah! Signor Marquis, stealing is, in the ab.- ed. If ever I have luck-at biribi, I will return
stract, decidedly wrong; but to be content with him his money at any Ridotto, whenever I may
once in the crime, I call mean!"           chance to meet him.  Meanwhile, please in —
" Give me your letter; a dozen of the same form him that there will be deep play, a few days
description I receive daily; I will read this hence, at the Casino of Venice, and that we
with the rest."                             dare him to stake against our bank. Farewell.'
"Signor, your dinner is on the table; does   "So you perceive, marquis," continued Grithe Signor Grimani dine with you 1"         mani, " that your suspicions were unfounded.
"I have more important business to attend You have only favoured with a loan a gentlemanp,
to; art thou mad, Olivario? must I not hunt up who happened to be hard-up, and who will repay
the thief who has robbed the marquis?  Let you at any time. As to the sarcastic expres-o
me consider!" continued Grimani to himself. sions contained in the foregoing missive, they
" Arrest Cagliostro! secure the thief who has only show that you are already making a con —
robbed the marquis. Decidedly, I must confine spicuous figure in Venice, that people here are.
myself to the capture of Cagliostro."       jealous of you, and would be glad to hear of your'
" Confine yourself?  What mean you, Signor death."
Grimani l Is that doing justice?  Give orders   "Death! faith, Signor Grimani, I was nearto your sbirri, and take my deposition."    dying in earnest in your palace of the Ca Mal"Such trifling accidents will happen in the detta! I never was so astonished in my life as:
best-governed countries."                   when, after firing both my pistols at Signor,
"True; but you have a fashion here of wear- Cagliostro, I found myself in a cave, on a level
ing masks-a mode of civilization altogether in with the Canal. Finally, I shouted so long and
advance of the age; disguised beneath that so loudly through the skylight, like the judge,.
piece of taffeta covering your faces, you rob in Racine's comedy, from his cellar, that, at
and murder with impunity."                 last, your shirri heard me; and, to crown all,.
"'You, at least, have no reason to complain;' upon my return I find that I have been plun-g
I obtained the earliest information of your loss; dered."'and, since you absolutely insist upon it, here is   "Look in that glass," said the inquisitor,
a letter that will convince you that he who has whose mock gravity completely deceived the
borrowed your property is a gentleman as con- marquis; "look, and tell me whether you ought,
versant with the French language as yourself, to confine yourself to, your room with such a.>
and who, besides, has some pretensions' to del- countenance?  Your complexion is charming.
icacy and refinement of manners."           By-the-by, that billet-doux which Olivario hand"Explain!" said the marquis.            ed to you-I would not be indiscreet, yet I
From a number of papers, Grimani produced  would wager that your fair one-Come, now, I
one neatly folded, directed to himself; he read read in your eyes that you have some appoint-.
it aloud- to the marquis; it was as follows:    ment this evening."
"'While the doge launches his fleet to wage    "I! who can scarcely move?"
war against the Moorish pirates, we fancy,   "So much the better; you will seem a hero,
Signor., Grimani, that the seignory of Venice of gallantry. But tell me, had you not two.
should not remain inactive; consequently, we servants?"
shall, as heretofore, indulge ourselves in.the    "Two scoundrels, you mean, called facchini,
pleasures of.our beloved city: we shall war here or at Naples, I forget which. It was
against husbands, inquisitors, Jewish bankers, frightful to see them  drink, and they wore a
instead of the distant foes of the republic. Give most absurd omelet-coloured livery. I dismissnotice, then, Signor Grimani, to all foreigners ed them on my return. Do you intend me a,
now in Venice, that, unless they make their ap- servant!"
pearance, in grand style and fashion, at the Casi-   " No; but I would not have any accidents be-.
no, to give us a fair opportunity of visiting their fall you on your excursion to-night to visit your
purses, we shall find ourselves compelled to lady-love. I will select two men-"
levy private contributions upon them."'       i" That were a' good method of discovering
"A most perspicuous document," resumed the residence of my dulcinea; but I will spare
the marquis, " and in no wise ambiguous."   you that trouble. I go alone," resumed he, af" No one denies it," said Grimani; "but here ter perusing the note of Olivario; "for in that
is one still more explicit. It came to hand palace, I presume, I shall be safer than in the
this morning, and the notice yesterday; there Ci Maldetta."
is no time lost, you see, in this country:   Fearful of being intrusive, Grimani left the
"'Signor Grimani-I must inform you that, marquis, dressing and perfuming himself while
pursuant to previous notice, one of our brother- waiting for the hair-dresser. The latter soo_.:
hood has made a trifling levy upon the purse of arrived, and flourishing his implements,




SAFIA.                                       41
"Great news, marquis," said he.  "War de-   "True," murmured Cagliostro, "it is the
declared, and the fleet about to sail."     most potent of elixirs; one drop would make
"I knew that yesterday, fool."            you ten years younger."
"In that case, signor, I have other news for   " Ten years younger!" exclaimed Signora
you: Casanova de Seingalt has returned to Grimani; "that were admirable indeed; it is
Venice."                                    just ten years, dear Doctor Phoenix, since I
"I am aware of that; what next l"         became acquainted with: Casanova in Ven"Nothing; only it is lucky for you, Signor ice."
Marquis, that you are unmarried, else that wily   " Casanova." answered the doctor; " who is
serpent, Casanova, would be likely to get up a he? some frequenter of gambling-houses, some
family revival of the Temptation of Eve for young nobleman seeking unenviable notoriety
your special benefit."                      at the Casino, and whose education you have
"Know you aught of one Cagliostro "       undertaken, I dare say, dear countess," contin"Nothing, signor."                        ued Cagliostro, with a hypocritical smile.:
" Seek me a conveyance."                    " Alas! dear doctor, that Casanova, who, it
"Your orders, signor, shall be obeyed."   seerns, is not known to you-and Heaven grant
Soon afterward the marquis, forgetting, or, he never may be-is no novice. - It is ten years
rather, mastering his sufferings, was on his since he touched my fond heart, ten years since
way to the Palace d'Azola, where the countess he abandoned me. he scarcely recognised me
expected him.                               last night at the house of that impertinent
Countess d'Azola, where all the nobility of
Venice had assembled to conciliate the favour
CHAPTER  XV                    of the doge; so lost to good manners, so eager
after novelty are the patricians of Venice, young
T H E BL A CK BO K.              and old. I do not deny," added the signora,
THAT same evening, returning, as usual, from  " that the Countess d'Azola is very handsome;
service, a venerable lady, not yet, we trust, for- she lives luxuriously in the vortex of pleasure
gotten by our readers, the Signora Grimani, or- and flattery; but what woman would not apdered her duenna Morenitatto attract, as much pear handsome residing in a rich palace on the
as possible, the attention of her servants, and Grand Canal, basking in the sunshine of Venice,
all other spies of her husband, to another quar- enjoying the smiles of its doge. On the conter, while she improved the absence of the in- trary, one leading, as I do, the life of a hermit,
quisitor, whose presence was necessary at an with a suspicious, jealous, cruel husband like
extra session of the great council, by prepa- Signor Grimani-"
ring, as well as she could, for the reception of   The inquisitor's wife checked herself, and
a mysterious personage who had requested her cast a glance at her looking-glass; she had
to grant him an interview.                  formerly been handsome, and, though warned
The Signora Grimani was, as may be seen, by increasing years and the neglect of her fordestined for adventures since the apostolical mer lovers, still persisted in believing herself so;
supper. She had, however, grown suspicious, the doctor quickly perceived how much her reand nothing short of the marvellous and uni- grets might suit his views.
versal fame of her expected guest would have   " The Countess d'Azola," said he, " is cerinduced her to receive him at her house. He tainly one of the most fashionable beauties in
was known as Doctor Phcenix.                Venice; but you have it in your power to be as
Eight struck as this remarkable person was beautiful."
ushered, with the utmost precaution, into that   "How? "
same apartment which had witnessed the un-   "By swallowing a few drops from this vial.
toward catastrophe of the apostolical supper I must, however, ask one question: have you
before related.                             either daughter or niece 3"
He was a fine old man, with trembling head,   " I have a daughter, beautiful as Allori paintstooping gait, and hands of aristocratic white- ed his Judith; but, doctor, a daughter is an inness. His frill and lace ruffles were unexception- vidious date, suggesting ill-natured surmises as
able, his wig two thousand years old at least, his to her mother's age, and making her appear
coat cut in the most antique fashion, and its) older. Mine is confined in a convent at Padua."
trimmings most venerably obsolete. A band of   "This water, madam, would in a few motaffeta covered his left eye; his thick-soled ments render you as young, to all appearance,
shoes were unadorned with buckles; but he as your daughter."
wore a large diamond on his forefinger, and the   "You jest?" 
insignia of the order of Malta and Saint John of   "Not so. I have travelled in France, EngJerusalem upon his breast.                  land, and Holland. In all those countries my
"I am what I am!" said he, seating himself specific produced marvellous effects.  There
in a large fauteuil; "' my dear child, what do was a certain margravine of Anspach, who, afyou desire from me 3"                       ter swallowing a few drops, found herself so
The Signora Grimani started at the sound of young, that a family council was held the same
his voice, as though it were familiar to her; but, evening to take into consideration the propriety
mastering the impression, answered,         of dressing'her in baby linen, and putting her
"I desire that we have agreed upon."      out to nurse."
"You have no repugnance, then, to the wa-   "Dear doctor, can it be possible 3"
ter 3"                                        "True, every word.  That Casanova still
"Certainly not; is it not from the Fountain holds sway over your mind; he is not yet so
of Youth. the treasure of beauty in her spring? much sought after in Venice as to prevent vour
to use the most amiable doctor's own words,"  resuming your rights over him."
F




t42                                   S:A F I A.
"Ah, no! I met him at; the Garden. of the    "What sum, doctor, can cancel, my obligaZuecca, and he pretended not to know me. tion to you?"
The wretch! when I have exhausted a fortune    "You do not speak seriously, I hope, madto support his extravagance, and. he still.wears  am," said the doctor, with an air of offended
my rings -upon his fingers."                 dignity.  "Do you take me for a common phy"Insufferably insolent, certainly," answered  sician 1 Thank Heaven, I do not traffic in such
Doctor Phoenix,  "But, madam, you have Jink  matters.' Have that liquid analyzed, if it so
and paper before you; let us conspire to con- please you; it defies chemistry. A few words:found the perjured Casanova."               only pronounced over it. But, hark! my or"Willingly," answered the signora; "but ders. have been executed already. I hear your
what shall I write?"                        lover's. footsteps; allow me to take refuge for
"Anything you think of-that:you. love him  a moment in your library."
— have met him at the promenade.; deem it   "But, dear doctor, really. I scarcely know
strange. he. did -not recognise and address you."  how to explain," stammered the signora, with
"That is no more than truth," said, she: embarrassment.
~6' what else?"               "Rest assured, madam, I am not a man.to
"Say that you have an account to: settle with  pry into your husband's secret archives; the
him —wishto see him-that he mustcome. As only book I read is that of nature,; and obto the address, I cannot infqrm you, as.I. am  serve," added he, leading her to a large Veni~wholly unacquainted with. that Casanova. But tian glass, "is it not the sweetest one can see. 
such is the power of myart, that he will:receive  Surely you represent, this evening, nature's'your epistle before leaving Ithe gaming-table: loveliest work."
he will: come."                               It might be confidence in the doctor's magic
"Come, say you? and I shall see him, and  preparation, or her own innate vanity; but Sig-.be:able to. say —" inquired Signora Griman., nora Grimani fancied herself so charming, the
with an anxious glance at: her- looking-glass.   roses.of her complexion so bloqmong, and the
" He shall come," replied the doctor, with an  youthful elasticity of her gait so alluring, that,
-air of conviction. that put at rest the doubts the  without farther hesitation, she locked Doctor
signora could entertain; "but to obtain' that Phoenix in. her husband's library, and hastened
result, I repeat,.you must write."         to open the other door to give entrance to a
The Signora Grimani sat down before an in- cavalier.
laid rose-wood writing-desk; meanwhile, Doc-   He was a fine Venitian.noble, in every sense of
tor Phoenix employed his time in taking an: ac  the word; his dress, his rings were in a style far
curate survey of the furniture of the apartment. superior to those of Doctor Phoenix; he was: still
During the pious entertainment he received  young, and formed to please.  There was a refrom the Signora Grimani in his apostolical  sistless attraction in his looks and gesture.
character, Casanova had noticed a door lead- Had the poor Marquis de Saluces.been there,
ing to the inquisitor's library. Beyond, mys- he might have recognised those rings.. Signora
teriously concealed from profane gaze.by a large  Grimani could scarcely conceive how he could.tapestry, probably slumbered, in the mist of ob- possibly have receivedher letter so soon; but
scurity, the secrets of many families. Doctor her. amazeneant was boundless when the newPhcenix, with-the concurrence of his friend, had  comer, after surveying her a few seconds, e;xresolved to improve the discovery, inasmuch as claimed,
he hoped to find. in that library means to:guide    "Signorita!".him to the treasure both were seeking.        "Whom, think you., you; address,. Signor. Ca"Have you written?" inquired he.         sanova," inquired she; "do you not recognise
"I have," answered she, presenting him  a me?"
letter whose seal bore he.r motto, "Amor e zelo."   ",Signorita, a thousand pardons; you should
"Very well," replied the doctor.  "Now alb  be daughter of Signora Grimani, whom I had
low me to put it into the despatch post."    once the honour of knowing. Your mother — ":He then cast the letter into a sort of brazier    " My daughter," murmured the countess, half'burning in the apartment; and, seeing that she  distracted with wonder; "he takes me:for my
was about to ask an explanation,             daughter! well,.I declare, Signor Casanova, no
"'That is my way,".said he.  "Astaroth,'the  more jesting.  I am-the Marchioness Grimani;
spirit of fire, is at my orders.; and within a she in whose behalf you once fought a duel that
quarter of an hour your perfidious lover —"  became so celebrated.  I love you still, unThe Signora Grimani looked at him with the  grateful man; do you ever think of me?"
awe with which all Italian women behold a sup-   " Think! Apollonia;. have never ceased
posed sorcerer.  The doctor drew  from.his thinking of you, believe me; but findingyou so
pocket a small vial, ornamented with pink rib- young-so beautiful-"
ands, and handed it to.his patient, after swal- "t Really!" said she, with a gesture of wonlowing a portion of its contents.           dering ecstasy unhoped for; "  am I so young,
"What I do," he resumed, " is from particu- so handsome? Are you not deceiving me? do
lar regard for you -forb if I tasted my elixir for you still think me worthy of a lover like youiall who apply to me, I should soon be a child  self?"
again."'You might have judged, signora, merely
The signora, at one draught, swallowed the  by my mistake, that you have lost no charm.
contents, encouraged in this marvellous experi- Time, the destroyer of all, even of'the ocean
ment by the fascinating glance of the doctor, foundations of Venice —Time, that saps pala-,as well as by her desire of, again captivating  ces, and -has already slightly furrowed my brow,
her beloved Casanova. After drinking'the. pre-  has respected you. I understand now why your
eious beverage, she:exclaimed,               daughter persists in residing at Padua; her




SAFIA.                                       43
complexion would look pale compared with    "Unfortunately though," resumed he, "the
yours. I swear, that of all the beauty of Ven- page is gone. The one next before indicated
ice, yours is the noblest, softest, most delicate. the chapter where mention was made of the
Although the other day the Countess d'Azola  buried treasure which was to have enriched us.
was pointed out towme-"                     and which, even yesterday, we. still hoped to
"The countess!" interrupted Signora Grima- discover! Grimani himself has probably torn
ni, dryly; "'the countess! you think her hand- out the page. Here is the book, my dear felsome; have you fallen in love with her?"   low; do. as you will with it!"
"Had I not seen you, signora, that might   And, with a dismayed look, he left the-book
Shave been possible; but this evening-"     with Casanova. Had Grimani or Cagliostro,,This evening.! tell me who informed you? torn out that leaf?
Do you know Doctor Phoenix?"
" No; some physician."
" A- wonderful man, indeed," exclaimed the
CHAPTER: XVI.
Old lady, with enthusiasm  "-I will introduce            CAP R XVI.
you to. him."                                         THE.MAN WITH THE RING.
"Excuse-me; I am not ill, but might become    DUIRING this same evening, in the apartment
so at the bare sight of him. However, I re- of the fair Safia, the Marquis Eusebe de Saluces
ceived information that you desiredto see me; urged his suit to the beautiful countess, by preI was then at the play at the Countess d'Ag- senting the list of his services with the eagernati's; but I came —"                       ness of an anxious office-seeker bent upon ob"Who told you that I sought you l."       taining what has long been denied.
"An ill-shapen dwarf-a mandragora. He    "Let us recapitulate!" he said, while the
escorted me to your door, then:vanished through  countess seemed scarcely to endure the importuthe wall. Heaven forgive me! he left behind  nate loquacity of her Parisian gallant: "Prime,
a smell of:sulphur that little suited the gallant- -a wound received, in your behalf, from Cagliosry of his message. If I were at all supersti- tro, sixteen years ago; in damp weather it
tious, this were enough to make me believe in  pains me still. Next, firing a brace of pistols
supernatural agencies."                      at the aforesaid Cagliostro. Last night, add to
The Signora Grimani stood wonderstruck. this, my fall into a trap-worthy of the. opera of
There was in the sincere tone of Casanova, the  Proserpina."
seriousness of his gesture, and even the admi-   "Poor marquis! you say truly," answered
ration he seemed to entertain of her youth and the countess, smiling; "you have bad luck in
beauty, enough to assail her reason more strong- whatever you undertake in my behalf; therely than the fumes of Cyprus wine. She looked  fore, trust me, we had better let the matter
proudly at-her former lover; she deemed it un- rest."
necessary to sermonize him, since she was yet   "How can you speak so, when, for your
young: enough to sin; she listened imprudent- sake, I would dare everything, undertake everyly to Casanova, and was still listening when  thing?  Would I leave you exposed to the inten o'clock struck. The inquisitor was to re- fernal malice of Cagliostro, who still lurks in
turn from the council before twelve; Morenita Venice, after frustrating Grimani's search?. He
entered to say to her mistress that she thought may,; anyday, under the mask, speak to the. doge.
she had recognised her master's lantern at the  He may tell him-"
next turning.                                 " You are in error, marquis; Count Caglios"Farewell," said the signora, "till to-mor- tro is now lost forever. Read this letter from
row! I will send you notice of time and place. M. de Sartines, your uncle."
Follow Morenita; she will conduct you out by    " My uncle!" exclaimed the marquis, amazed.
the land-gate."                               "Himself; the, letter was directed to the
-:In her exultation,.the signora had wellnigh  care of the avogador Andrea Gradenigo, who
forgotten Doctor Phoenix; she opened the door left it with me this morning for you."
of the library, and, presenting Casanova:to him,   "But how is it" i nquired the marquis, after
who, of course, did not recognise him, said,:perusing it.
":Dear doctor, I leave you, or, rather, I   "Nothing more simple," interrupted the
trust you to this gentleman, who will lead and  countess.  "You have been three months travprotect you to your hotel: Signor Casanova de elling all over Italy, without ever writing to
Seingalt!"                                 your family. M. de Sartines, your uncle, being
The doctor bowed, and the signora's. gallant anxious concerning you, has taken the opporreturned the civility.  Morenita was at her tunity of an express bearer of important de-.post. She effected their escape through the  spatches. One of these was a formal demand
land-gate, while the inquisitor's gondola bore to the police of Venice for the arrest of Caglihim homeward by the canal.                  ostro. He will be banished or imprisoned, if
The two actors in this farce soon found  no worse fate befall him. I was mad, I perthemselves on the Place of Saint John. Casa- ceive, to feel alarmed; the Inquisition is now
nova then hastened to ask Cagliostro whether aware of his character.  His description has
he had found the object of his search.      been given at Fusine and Padua; those two,, Certainly!" stammered Doctor Phoenix, gates of Venice are closed against him. I may
with some embarrassment; "here is the book!" breathe!'!
The book was bound in black morocco, clo-   The countess fell back on the sofa, affecting
sed by two silver clasps. Cagliostro handed it  a;tranquillitythat was far from her heart. The
to his friend; then showing him  that there  marquis was too well accustomed to fathom at
was a page torn out in the middle of the manu- one glance the conscience of a woman not to
script,                                     perceive that she was ill at ease.




44                                    SAFIA.
"Countess," resumed he, " I really hope that   "Not until I have recorded there a conquest
the accursed magician will no more interfere over yourself, fair Safia. Will you still refuse.
with either of us;- but are you certain the doge me, cruel fair one."
knows nothing of last night's expedition? For   "Cease your jesting, sir. I say again to you:
my part, I tremble lest Grimani's spies-"    that I am not one to add my name to your am"Alessandro has this moment left me," an- ateur's collection.."
swered she.  "No report, no suspicion, no   "As to your name, countess, you may decloud is there to disturb our happiness. Thank pend upon me, I will only use initials. I know
Heaven, Cagliostro has not spoken; and as for full well that you are not free, that your rank,
yourself, marquis, the elevation of your feeling your exalted station-"
and your friendship for me warrant your si-   "Again, marquis," interrupted Safia, offendlence."                                      ed, "I love the doge; I thought I had already
"My friendship, Safia?  How much more told you so."
lively, more profound the sentiment I feel to-   "So you have, most clearly; I am aware of
wards you! have not my eyes revealed "       it. ThZ Prince of Venice is in the prime of
" They reveal a very gallant disposition, mar- youth, he has rank, beauty-in short, number.
quis, I will not deny; but, after withstanding less advantages over me; but do you imagine,
their fire so long in Paris, I would advise you perchance, that he is as tender, as devoted to
to let them rest here on worthier objects.".    you; as impervious to seduction, as he was
"What worthier, fairer, more divine object when iirst he looked upon you at Cagliostro's
could they find than yourself, Safia, though table?"
you so haughtily disdain their worship? Since   This commonplace remark, which rou6s nevI arrived at Venice, in vain have I striven to er fail to employ, either as an experimental
anticipate your least desires; so severe you trial to measure their distance, or as a reserve
continue, that I feel inclined to go and turn master-stroke in case of absolute necessity,
monk at the Armenians' convent! Really, now  startled the countess. She looked back to the
I am in earnest. If things go on at this rate, time when she had first known Alessandro, and
the only thing I have to ask of you is to be pres- shuddered at measuring the years that had
ent on the day of my taking orders."        elapsed since; for the first time, perhaps, doubt
" You forget, marquis, that I am determined found place in her mind. This impression was
to preserve you for the world! The Marquis strengthened by the remembrance of the halfEusebe de Saluces a monk! What would your articulated expressions she had surprised duuncle say of the nobility of Venice for depri- ring the doge's sleep; her voice at first failed
ving fashion of one of her most distinguished her, but she soon resumed-, with an effort:
and brilliant votaries! "" To suspect Alessandro, marquis, were like
" That may be in Paris, perhaps; but here-" suspecting the pure gold inlaid- in Saint Mark's
"Surely you have had no lack of adven- cross: he is all mine, as I am all his. But let
tures."                                      us drop that subject," said she, checking her" You call them adventures' Think how  self, and struggling against the anxious feeling
near I came' being food for the fishes of the that was gnawing at her heart. " Let us speak
Adriatic Sea!'Pon my honour, your police is of yourself, dear marquis; come, read me the
a strange affair, as I said this morning to the detail of your first day's experience at Venice:
noble Signor Grimani. Your palaces are'all just imagine that I am M. de Sartines, your
admirably contrived, all provided with two en- uncle. I listen."
trances: one on the water, the other on land.   "The first page," replied the marquis, openGood that! while one person comet in another ing his tablets with an indifferent air, " presents
goes out; every one is suited, and'there are nothing very interesting, as far as I remember.
no disagreeable rencounters. The women are Before the moment I so imprudently accosted
masked, their husbands and their lovers also; one of the handsomest wonien of Venice-yournot only on particular occasions, but at all self, countess-I stood observing, opposite Saint
times, by special order of the most serene re- Jeremiah, a series of gallant manceuvres, that
public; your arrangement is much superior, in may be all the fashion here, but which I thought
point of convenience at least, to ours."     best to note down, if only to satisfy my friends' Do you really think so?"               at -Paris (who imagine they have done all be" Certainly;- and, therefore, since M. de Sar- cause they own a petite maison) of the immense
tines, my uncle, has had the goodness to con- advantages of your system  of land-gate and
cern himself about me, I intend to give a down- water-gate, which I eulogized a short time
right proof of gratitude to that affectionate rel- since."
ative-that unswerving magistrate-who, out." Let us hear it, marquis. What does it coiaof mere principle, has constantly declined pay- sist of?"
ing my debts. I purchased, under the Procu-   "It consists," continued the marquis, barely
ratie Nuove, a delightful little memorandum- glancing at his notes, "or, rather, it consistedbook, wherein I record, day by day, my adven- for I saw it all with my own eyes-of a cavalier
tures. When it is sufficiently scribbled over, I of good appearance, who, with a mask over his
will send it to him: he will be able' to under- face, visited a little girl of the quarter of the
stand the life of Venice, and his nephew's into Jews."
the bargain. That's an idea —"                "A little girl of the quarter of the Jews?"
"A most moral idea, and one that I highly   " Precisely; and, now I think of it," continapprove," answered the countess; "your uncle ned the marquis, still assuming his air of unwill be delighted, I have no doubt. You begin concern, "that little girl-she might be fouryour journal by a trait of courage that will teen or'fifteen —was young and blooming as
make him exult in you. May I not peruse-"  your protegee, the little Ziana,"




SAFIA.                                       45
1"Proceed.'                               she spoke a healthy glow again suffused her
"The said masked cavalier then entered at cheeks.  "I sat up waiting for my father the
the water-gate of the house, which was situa- greater part of last night.  He was, he said, at
ted-so is Ziana's, I believe-opposite a wing the Zecca with the doge."
of the Church of Saint Jeremiah."             "Listen to me, Ziana! At the eve of part"Saint Jeremiah " "                       ing from me, perhaps forever," said the count-;Exactly. You call that place, I think, the ess, with marked interest, "' have you nothing
Ghetto."                                    to confide to me?"
"True."                        -"Nothing that I know of, madam," answered
"Said cavalier wore upon tue second finger the maiden, with signs of embarrassment.
of his right hand a large gold ring, like that   "Well, Ziana, I have something to ask from
worn by the doge-"                          you. You may speak before this gentleman;
"The doge, you say!l Come now," inter- he feels great interest in you. Does not a
rupted the countess, with a forced laugh, "you masked cavalier occasionally visit your father's
wish to make me jealous with your story."   dwelling?'
"You give me criedit for more wit than I pos-   "A cavalier, madam?" exclaimed Ziana, with
sess; but since you seem to doubt the accura- evident confusion.
Cy of my narrative, why not leave it to your   "Yes, a cavalier?  Answer me. Do you
young proteg6e herself?  I have just seen her hesitate 1"
under your vestibule with her betrothed, Tad-   "Why, madam, I have never yet spoken of
deo. I noticed at the samre time some Turk or this to any one. Oh! but to you," added Ziana,
other, with a black beard, who sold Venice lace feelingly, "my benefactress, I may tell all. Yes,
and beads, while a female slave sang Canzonetle madam, a masked cavalier does sometimes'by his side. Would you please send for the come to my father's house."
fair Jewess?  To-morrow, you know, is to  de-   "At night."
cide her fate and Taddeo's. To-morrow, ac-   "At night. At first his visits were at discording to the Venitian custom, the husband tant intervals, but for the last month he has
will have a right either to take his wife with come every evening. He has a key that opens
him from the city, or take up his residence here the water-gate; he enters softly, and never
with her."                                  fails, upon entering, to present me with a bou"Why would you suppose, marquis, that the quet. He then speaks a few words to me, and
young sculptor of the arsenal should leave Ven-~ afterward, with tremulous emotion, takes me
ice?  Why suppose that he would take Ziana by the hand, and leads me, without raising his
from it?"                                  mask, to my room. There —
"; You are perfectlyright,"replied the marquis,   "Well!"
with an assumed air of indolent carelessness in   "He locks me in alone."
his manner; "it is his own business. After all,   "No'great harm as yet!" said the countess;
that cavalier-the' man with the ring, as I told with a smile, to the marquis.
you' before-may have become tired of going   "Wait the result, countess. Fair child, prothere. Whether at Venice or Paris, change is ceed."
necessary in love, or else it settles into the mo-   "After retiring, I hear him in conversation
notony of passion! Faith! I must keep watch with my father, but can never distinguish their,to-morrow at the Ghetto to see if that cava- words. My father's laboratory, you may perlier-the girl deserves it, though. Fourteen-  haps know, madam, is situated in a remote part
soft, lustrous eyes. When I saw the doge give of the house. I know nothing'of that room,
her that kiss the other night, I really regretted which for years has been closed to all except,not being a prince!"                      my father and that cavalier. I have no idea
The martyrdom of the countess might have what transactions take place between them
endured much longer, for every word of the there; but sometimes, on awaking, a strange
marquis went to her heart. As she was about smell of smoke and furnaces has pervaded the
to request him to escort her down the steps, house. I know nothing farther."
where the wild notes of fantastic music were   "A most singular story!" resumed the countstill audible, Ziana herself appeared at the door. ess.,Her liquid eyes beamed with ingenuous delight.   "The more singular, madam, that it agrees
She held a chaplet of alabaster beads, separated pretty well with what I was telling you," inat intervals by gilt beads, which, upon entering, sisted the marquis, still bent upon his object.
she exhibited to the countess.      "         Recollect and call to mind whether the doge
"That Turkish merchant yonder gave it to does not leave you thus every night."
me," she exclaimed. addressing Safia, "because   "True!" murmured Safia; "he leaves mle
I was handsome, he said. Taddeo was an- each evening at the same hour."
gry; but I told him it was for the countess,   "Ah! I am an observer!  But, then, the
whence the cause of my intrusion."          doge may have a taste for alchemy. Does not
She presented the chaplet to the countess. the Jew's laboratory contain crucibles and alemShe was dressed in white, as the day before. bics 1"'
Her face, however, was somewhat pale, and    "I have often caught a glimpse of such inshe looked fatigued; a sleepless night seemed struments through the fissures of the door," said
to have left traces of unusual exertion upon Ziana.
cheeks that were wont to wear the bloom of   "The doge an alchemist!" thought the count-the peach blossom.                         ess. "What folly! No; some other motive-"
"How pale you are to-day," remarked the    "You appear to be musing," resumed the
countess.                                   marquis.  "Why, countess, I see no grounds
"True, madam," answered Ziana; and as. for anxiety on your part. The doge may be in




46                                    SAFIA.
search of the philosopher's stone. Did not even    " You are suffering; you do not take proper
that accursed Cagliostro employ me under him  care of yourself. Remember that the day after
in pursuit of that great object? But," resumed to-morrow I wish you to look well and handhe, closely scrutinizing the features of the count- some, Safia. On that day our fleet is to sail
ess, "we forget this beautiful child. She must under the blessing of the Patriarch of Venice.
be sent back to her intended, who is probably As, on the day when the Bucentaur sets sail, I
waiting for her. She appears to be much agi- shall be standing upon deck, you shall appear
tated by her narrative. With your permission, by my side, your hair adorned with sapphires,
I will escort her."                         clad in the richest silks of the East, an object
"Do not give yourself the trouble," answered of worship and of jealous admiration. On that
Safia, ringing the bell; "one of my servants day you must be dazzling —nay, eclipse yourself,
will accompany her. I want Taddeo," whis- Safia, that all may exclaim, There is the queen.
pered she to Ziana, as she kissed her; " I will You are almost consort of a doge, Safia!"
send word to him."                            "Almost! If you loved me I should soon be
"Taddeo, madam?"                          so indeed; but vain have been my supplica-' Fear nothing, he will soon be with you."  tions; you refuse to make our union legitimate
The countess then gave an order to:Azael, -that would be too great a sacrifice for you;
who came in, pressed again the hands of the you will some day break the bond that unites
fair Jewess, and pointing from the balcony to a us because it exposes hne to malice and envy."
gondola waiting for her, intrusted her to the   "Speak not thus, Safia; are we not secretly
care of a female servant.  The shadows of married?  Did we not, in church at Rome, exnight were fast closing in, like silent waves un- change the sacred vow which no church here
der the numerous bridges of the Adriatic city.  would have allowed? It is not in my power to
"This, then," said the countess to herself, solemnize our marriage openly. Nay, -the stat"is his reason for leaving me, such the motive utes of the Venitian Inquisition make my duty
of his continual absence, of the cruel solitude imperious, never to give you the title of wife.
to which he condemns me, and which so.deep- The arrest of Ranuzzi at your ball-"
ly wounds me.  I am  determined to unrav-   " Ranuzzi!" exclaimed the countess, affectel the secret. Marquis," continued she, aloud, ing surprise;' the patrician Ranuzzi?"
" my eyes feel heavy.; farewell. To-morrow,   "Two innocent beings, his wife and his child,
if you are so disposed, we may together watch shared his doom; think you, Safia, such an ex-.
the Jew's house from the canal.  I will send ample of severity-"
Azael for you."                                "You are right, Alessandro: I must to the" I am ever at your orders, countess; even world seem only your mistress; the only angel
now. I wish to convince you that, for your who might have pleaded for me is no more;
sake, I would brave any danger. Dispose of my daughter is in heaven. It pleased Heaven
me, I beseech you."                         to take her from us, Alessandro!"
" The doge!" exclaimed the countess, look-   Safia covered her face with both hands.
ing out of the window, " the doge! fly! Azael   "You weep!" said thedoge, whose livid palwill lead you to your hotel; you will find him  lor revealed his secret anguish, ":you weep,
below."; Safia; am I, then,,no longer anything to you?"
The marquis kissed the fair hand of the count-.   "No," answered she, with a look of despondess and withdrew; a footstep was heard in the. ing grief; " no longer, since you enjoy a cruel
gallery; the doge entered, and found himself pleasure in leaving me alone, since you forsake
alone with Safia.                           me without even giving me a reason.."
"What:could I give, Safia, that would not
_.b      -prove repulsive? That public business which
absorbs all. my attention would cause wrinkles
CHAPTER XVII.                  upon your fair -brow, make you prematurely old,
Safia, as myself! What do yourequire? Does'* "NOT yet retired, Safia." said Alessandro, not your palace abound with costly furniture 3
softly, taking her hand; " strange," continued are. not your jewels and lace the richest and'
he; "you tremble."                          rarest in the world? your servants clad in the
"Waiting for you, Alessandro; I felt anx- most splendid liveries I Have. I  not, in short,
ious."                                      made you the wealthiest woman in Venice?
"Anxious. why? Did not your reception last Be content with so much happiness."
night gratify your utmost wishes? did not all   "Can I be happy, Alessandro, when you are
your guests admire the splendour of your table, absent from my side? I was happy once, when,
the richness of your apartments, glittering with in the earliest period of our union, our hearts
superb dresses? Do you fear that Vienice has ever beat against each other, when you even
already forgotten the magnificence of that en- neglected business for my sake, and that I had.
tertainment?"                               but to look into your eyes to read that love
"It was suddenly interrupted, Alessandro; which was the pride of my life.  You were
you left it first to go to the palace; and again, then only the young senator, Alessandro; you
during the evening, a messenger summoned you are a doge now!"
to the Zecca."                                " What would you have me do?"
"Yes; the arrival of that ambassador- I'"Remain with me, my Alessandro," said she,
scarcely had time, Safia, to admire your dress! half smiling through her tears. " Dear prince,
I regret, for it was truly splendid. But you seat yourself here, by my side. Yes, the day
must be exhausted; are you not going to rest3" after to-morrow, I promise you I shall, look
" Not to-night; I scarcely know what I feel; well; but let me look on you, my Alessandro!
mny head swims.                            It seems an age since I have seen you."




SAFIA.                                       47
" I found you last night by my bed, Safia;,- to me your love; I might, perhaps, make up myhowbhappened it you were not yet at rest?";mind to it; but if you render me the laughing"I have already told you. When you leave' stock of Venice, wo to you —wo to you, Alesme, I cannot sleep. You will stay now, will sandro!"
you not." continued she, throwing her arms   The doge kept his eye fixed on the clock.
around his neck.                            The convict, watching in his cell the progress of
"Impossible," answered he, with an effort ithe hand that will soon point to his last hour;
that Safia could not understand.            the lover, impatiently waiting the appointed
"Why impossible "                         time for a tender meeting; the young soldier,
"To-morrow-yes, to-morrow," murmured longing for the signal of attack: all these never
Alessandro.                                 felt their souls leap with such varied and tu"To-morrow; ever to-morrow! Why am I multuous feelings as now assailed the doge.
not like that ring now, for ever inseparable He approached the countess, and, dashing off a
from you?"                                 furtive tear,
Had Alessandro seen the fiery glance she then    "Safia," said he, "let me; go where I am excast:upon his ring, he would have shuddered.   pected to-night. I must go."
"You never part from that rings" inquired   These words were pronounced in a tone of
she, closely examining it.                 inexpressible softness and resignation. Ales"The'ducal ring may never leave the doge's sandro's features then beamed with so pure
finger."                                   land noble an expression; his voice was so calm,
"The work is beautiful, especially that set- that any one would have placed trust in him.
ting made to open; let me examine it."'But Safia, accustomed to overcome all resist"Wherefore l'"                            ance, could not account for his perseverance:
"Because it might contain a woman's hair, she suspected his motives, and therefore refused
for instance."                              to yield.
"Are you mad?" said the doge. "I see, you. "The night is mine," answered she, " as well
only wish to detain me; let me go," continued as yours, Alessandro. I will follow you."
he, glancing at the clock.                    "Follow me, Safia, to the council!"
"What if I do, Alessandro? whither."      "Yes, I will; I must follow you. Let me be
"To the council that sits to-night, for the denied admittance where you are going; let
purpose of preparing instructions for the admi- me be repulsed, trampled upon-what is it to
ral of the fleet."                          youl Alessandro, your life belongs to me. I
" There is no session to-night, I know; the must, I will know it."
avogador, Gradenigo, told me so himself"      "What madness! No, you must never know"He was in error."                       that life which is my secret, as it must, as it
"Whither can you go at such an hour?" in- shall ever be," answered the doge, bitterly.
quired Safia, in a freezing tone; "to some ga- "You are right, mine is a double nature."
ming-house l"."A double nature, and a double love," an"'Count-ess!" exclaimed the doge, with dig- swered she, ironically.
nity.                                   "    "A double nature, with a heart and lips that
"If you do not gamble, it must be love that have nothing of duplicity. Attempt no longercalls you out so dark a night; secret, deep to fathom the fathomless. You deem  me a
love. Do you not sometimes visit the Ghetto, gambler l Pity me; I am a gambler. Yes, as
Alessandro?"                               you say, I repair to those ridotti of Venice, where
The doge turned as pale as the countess her- all must go masked-to hide their shame, doubtself: cold drops stood upon his brow; still he less-I go thither at night. I deceive you. I
answered,                                  love, say you. Go, then, take your mask, and;
"I sometimes go there to visit the keeper of visit every house in Venice; discover my misthe Mint of Venice: the Hebrew exchange bro- tress, if you can! Ah! women, women!" conker, Ottale."                               tinued he, with a scornful, mocking laugh
"Very well," said she, resolutely locking the "unless you stand ever at their sides, they
door of the apartment; "you shall not go out think you a deceiver. Unless you kneel forever
to-night, Alessandro."                      before them to worship, they deem you infa"Let me go, Safia; I must go out."       mous! You might suspect me, Safia, if, like
"You shall not, I say. It is no more a help- the other patricians of Venice, I spent my life
less, injured woman who pleads; it is a mis- in raising or lowering, according to the sun or
tress who commands. You shall remain. You shade, the gilded hoops of a gondola over the
must!"                                     brow of a mistress! They traverse the lagunes
"Madam!"                                 to the sound of soft music; my element is the
"If you attempt to go, I kill myself! from  high sea, the raging storm, the sombre night!
this balcony, overlooking the great canal. Take They are the careless passengers; I am at the
but'one step towards that door-"            helm! Arise, Safia. Again I sayit, I must go;" Safia!"                               the hour is striking."
"I shall not have loved in vain a man whose   " Twelve! oh yes,' twelve!" cried the count-,
cold, gloomy nature resembles those suits of ar-. ess, highly excited.
mour in the Ducal HIall, silent and chilling as the   She was kneeling before Alessandro, but she,
tomb! I will fathom that soul which none can arose on hearing the sound of the clock.
penetrate; that enigma of Venice, which fifteen   " She is waiting for you, Alessandro! mind.
years I have vainly striven to solve, the doge- you do not keep her waiting."
the doge Alessandro!"                        "Safia! let me go."
"Countess!"                               The countess had placed herself, pale and
"Look you! it were better to acknowledge motionless, against the door.




48                                   SAFIA.
"Again, Alessandro, I repeat, you shall not was burning; she had drawn the curtain over:go," she murmured, in a voice trembling with this niche, which was habitually kept veiled,'anger.                                     from delicacy for the Jew.
"I say to you, Safia, that there is a person   The room where sat the fair girl was very
waiting for me. I must go."                 spacious; adjoining it, on the left, was Ottale's
The doge, by a rapid movement, disengaged laboratory. The apartments were separated by
himself from her arms.                      a leaden casement framing of small pieces of
Safia, whose limbs hardly supported her, dark glass, through which rich vases, and sevslowly proceeded to her balcony; so dark was eral articles of plate, could be perceived.
the night, so chill the breeze, that she closed   This laboratory had a low door, over which
the window, shuddering.                     hung a large drapery; there was, at this mo" Gone!" she exclaimed - " gone!  Oh Inent, no light in that apartment. A little to
Heaven! am I becoming insane " Then press- the right was another door, somewhat similar
ing her hand to her forehead, "Ah! I remem- to the latter; it opened upon a large corridor
Iber now, there was some one I asked to wait which led to Ziana's chamber.
for me."                                       The apartment where Ziana now watched
She proceeded towards the gallery, and cried, was dark and smoky, the exact background
"Taddeo, Taddeo!"                        Refnbrandt would have chosen for the portrait
"Here, madam," answered Taddeo, who of an alchemist. A large pillar -stood in the,seemed delighted to be called out at last.  middle of the floor. In a nook of this pillar
"Taddeo, go into that room; you will find was placed Ziana's Madonna; for, as we have
there a cloak and a sword."                 said, the Jew's daughter was a Catholic. An
" I' obey, madam."                        old clock fixed to the wall, a few leather chairs,
He soon re-entered the room, wrapped in a and a large oaken arm-chair placed before Otlarge cloak, under which a sword glittered.    tale's desk, completed the furniture. The floor
The countess had precipitately thrown her was covered' with warm  mattings, the walls
bahuta over her shoulders, her veil over her bare and dark. An enormous bunch of keys
hair; she took her mask, and descended the hung by the window, and, in a wire cage, a,
steps.                                      pigeon-whom  Ziana held sacred, as if he had
"Whither are we going, madam? asked the been one of Saint Mark's own doves-slept,
young man.                                  sheltered from the light by an old brocade cov"Follow me; you will soon know."          ering.
Then motioning him forward, the countess   " The business of the seignory probabla dewas soon lost, in the darkness of the murky tains my father at the Zecca," thought the benight,.amid the labyrinth' of narrow  streets trothed of Taddeo: "he returns not —he may
which environ the Ducal Palace.    -        not return till dawn! Poor father! what a life
of labour and' grief!  Those Venitian nobles
regard a Jeiv as they would a slave. How often.
have I seen him return worn, faint, exhausted!
CHAPTER XVIII.                 They treat him like a servant; yet what a noble,.
elevated nature is his! His least desire is to
AT THE GHETTO.
me a sacred order, and when lie presented TadTHE quarter of the Ghetto, whither we now  deo to me-"
lead our readers, was, as we have stated, that   The maiden paused from her work for a mocontaining the Hebrew synagogues and schools. ment, and appeared musing.
These establishments were, at that time, only'  "Will our mysterious friend," continued she
seven in number; and their varied chimes had to herself, in a low voice, trembling with secret
just struck one o'clock, as Ziana, anxious at the' emotion:; "will he come to-night   l he scarcely
protracted absence of Ottale, ventured,. in spite ever comes save at night. Shall I see him enofthe'wind and rain, t6 open the window that ter, as usual, the beloved unknown? not so,
overlooked the canal. The silence of night since myfatherknowshim. Yes,hewill come;
had succeeded to the busy hum of the city du- in darker nights than this he has found our
ring the day; the clouds were spreading the humble dwelling, despite the lightning and the
shroud of darkness over the waters; the Church wave. When aught delays him, I know not
of Saint Jeremiah only looked a darker mass of why, but I always shutdder.  At' night the
shadows. The maiden, leaning forward, lis- streets and canals are infested with drunken
tened intently for the arrival of her father; but sailors and Sclavonian banditti. Should he run
no sound of oars upon the canal broke the still- any danger to-night-I1oly Madonna! for him,
ness; no lights from  the prows of gondolas at least, I can pray to you without veiling your
were in sight.                              dear image! he'is a Christlian, like myself."
The air was bleak and chill; the wind blew    Then trimming the dim lamp, the beautiful
in fitful gusts from'the direction of the Ma- creature knelt before the Virgin's image; lovelamocco. The rain fell in torrents, and the ly as an angel form she looked, amid the dim
buzzing of insects, attracted to her light as to- shadows of the half-lighted room.  She prayed
wards a shelter, compelled the fair Jewess to long and ferventiy. At last she arose.
close the casement.'                      "Yes," said she " let us wait; he will come!Ziana seated herself, with a look of disap- The day on which the patriarch blessed me as
pointment, at her little table, and resumed her the betrothed of Taddeo, at Saint Jeremiah's, he
work. It was a veil-her bridal veil-she was made it a point to call and embrace me before
embroidering. She had piously deposited her the pious ceremony. He loves Ottale; he loves
bouquet of silver flowers at the feet of a lit- me also; and yet, such a love  "
tle sculptured Madonna, before which a lamp   Ziana fell in!o another fit of soft revery,




SAF IA.                                      49
-then suddenly she heard the sound of foot- they were compelled to appear before a procusteps.                                      rator. insensibly Venice called them forward,
"Can it be he?" thought she.             flattered them. Although some outward signs
The door opened, and the maiden recognised  distinguish them  from the Armenians on the
hIer father.                                quays, yet by them are treaties made and broThe Jew was pale and care-worn; his limbs ken; to them the younger nobles apply for as-,could scarce support him. He threw aside his sistance; for them new leaves have been adddrenched cloak.                             ed to the Golden Book. W\e need no longer
Ziana had had time to draw the curtain over complain of national degradation. We reign,
the Madonna's image, unseen by her father.    we command. The hour of retribution has
"How tired you seem," said she, taking from  corme. The coffers of the Germans, the Turks,
him his scarlet hat; "why did you not come in  the Dalmatians, and the Greeks being exhaustyour gondola?'                             ed, we have been applied to since yesterday.
"My dear child," answered Ottale, seating  We have been implored to save the honour of
himself before her, and fondly kissing her hand, Venice!"
on which he nearly dropped a tear; " the reason    " You will not hesitate, father; I trust you
is, that the seignory of Venice have no respect will not hesitate," exclaimed Ziana. " You
for the age and sufferings of their servants. I will forget your injuries-your resentment. I
was obliged, to-night, to call at every house in know as well as yourself what bitter cup has
the Ghetto to ascertain the means of my breth- been often forced to your lips; but, as yourself,
ren, to solicit or threaten, according to the or- I love instead of hating Venice. I cannot but
ders I had received. To-morrow, you know, remember that I am betrothed to one of her
Venice sends forth an expedition. To-morrow  sons."
the fleet, whose equipment had been interrupt-   "Taddeo has not been here to-night." ined, will sail from the port with streaming col- quired the old man, striving to forget the se-ours and Saint Mark's lion, blessed by the patri- rious subject that occupied his thoughts. "Yet
arch. To-morrow, ay, to-morrow!" murmured  he was, the other night, at the Zecca with his
athe Jew. " But, Ziana, the hour of God's ven- serene highness."
geance has come; no fleet will sail to-morrow."    " Taddeo had not mentioned it to me,.proba"' What mean you!"                       bly owing to your orders; the Countess d'Azo" That it is time Venice should bear the pen- Ia gave him some commands to-night, and he
alty due to her errors. Venice, my child, has remained at her house."
filled the measure of crime and profligacy; and    " The countess!" murmured the Jew; "what
now, as a punishment, she is poor and forsa- need could she have of him!"
ken. There was a day when the inhabitants of   The storm  had now increased in violence.
the superb city alone had monopolized the com- Ziana thought she heard the sound of oars bernerce of the Levant and the East Indies; their neath the window; she looked out, but the
vessels brought from Aleppo and Alexandria darkness was impenetrable.
those rare articles conveyed by the Red Sea    " Ziana," resumed Ottale, "to-morrow the
into Syria and Egypt; and, exclusive masters bells will toll their joyful peals; the duties of
of all European ports, commanded their own  my office command my attendance at the cereprices. Soon, however, they lost all, save the  mony, which is still more magnificent than that
trade of Constantinople and Germany. Hence  of the Buceqtaur. You have often heard that
those Turks and Daimatians, whom you see  the pilot who steers that floating palace to sea
listlessly lying on the quays; hence that old  shudders at a cloud; judge, then, Ziana, what
palace on the great canal was built for those  must be my feelings when I think of the doge,
idle Levantine merchants who are still in daily  who to-morrow will be the pilot of Venice!
relations with Asia. The Germans, also, have, when I see him taking his solemn and public
you know, their royal residence near the bridge  oath as admiral, that the fleet may. sail from
of the Rialto. They have special statutes and the port! This stormy night has chilled my
privileges. Giorgione and Titian have painted  blood. Did no one call  Has no letter been
irescoes on the outside of their palace; and the left for me?"
gilt leather hangings of their stores have been    "None, father, to my knowledge; yet I did
decorated by the brush of Paul Veronese. see some person lurking about the house."
These are the chosen-the favourites of the re-   "A spy of the seignory-a sbirro, undoubtedpublic! The revenues of their counters furnish  ly! Come, speak without reserve. They ima-the prince and officers of Venice with their an- gine I have buried treasures here-that I am
nual salaries; her senators with the silks and  wealthy.  Alas! my child, you are my only
~velvets they wear; and the bank of the Giro, wealth," resumed the Jew, pressing Ziana to
with the means of preserving its credit invio- his bosom; " but who was it you saw?"
late. And yet, what are they, Ziana, compared    "A Jew, father, like yourself. He wore the
with the Jews of Venice. These, without any  robe and the scarlet hat prescribed to the inhabacknowledged counting-houses of their own, itants of the Ghetto; I stood at the window
deal with every counting-house in Europe; near the land-gate; he approached it to-night
without having any special privileges, they re- about dusk, and spoke to me in Hebrew."
ceive mysteriously at their houses, the lords    "What said he?"
and masters of this great republic. At first,   " That he had known you during a voyage to
they lurked in poverty and obscurity upon the  Palermo; that he had partaken of your hospiisland formerly called Longa Spina, which from  tality. His name-let me see-Gruss!"
them took its. name of Gindeua. The former   "David Gruss!" murmured the old man.
decrees did not allow them to reside more than  "He in Venice! True, he is of my religiona fortnight at a time at Venice; each week  a strange man!"'continued he, musing.
G




50                                  SAFIA.
"He added,' Tell your father that I will soon sing mournfully-" my mother-is she in heavLcall again; to-night, perhaps.'"           en or on earth? No answer. Alas'! you are:.
"To-night?"                             ever silent to that question."
"He then left me, and disappeared in a neigh-   "Ziana," resumed Ottale, with a painful efbouring alley. He appeared about your age; fort, "the husband I give you is an honest, loy-.
his gait was slow; his beard long as amonk's." al man; you know it. Brilliant vices could
"David Gruss!" exclaimed the old man, ap- nevei characterize one to whom I intrust the.
proaching his table, strewed with books. He care of your happiness."
took up one, and read eagerly. No sound could    "I am ready to follow Taddeo wherever he
be heard save the pattering of the rain against may lead me," answered the maiden, with a:
the windows and the howling of the wind.    sigh, fixing on Ottale a glance of heavenly
"Are your books in order, father 3" inquired sweetness; "but the thought of never seeing;
the maiden; " you know I am sometimes your you save at rare intervals-of bidding farewell
clerk when your sight fails you."           to Venice forever-that, father, saddens my;
"Dear child, I am not consulting my loan- heart!"
books; they are, truly, records of shame! the    "Dear child!'
first names of the republic reduced to borrow!   "Father," said Ziana, " this is the hour at.
the descendants of noble ancestors giving their which that friend, unknown to me, usually
signatures for gold! Among thoseidle nobles comes; since he appears to feel interested in.
who mortgage the' future for present vicious mie, since he knows that I am soon to leave:
indulgence, or to gratify the whim of a mistress, you, why does he delay coming to-night 3"
and who crave my assistance, there is one, Zi-   "That cavalier, Ziana, indeed merits the.
ana-but one  who looks, as I do, with sorrow  feeling of gratitude he has inspired in you. Hew
upon the misfortunes of this land. He, Ziana, will come to-night. Some one knocks, I think."
is a last heroic remnant of patrician virtue.   A slight knock was heard at the hall door on
The day when Venice shall fall, never to rise the right. The sound of the waves splashing-.
again, he will ascend to heaven like the soul under the weight of a gondola was heard; the
separated from the body. The soul of Venice, old man opened the door; he appeared surpriZiana, is the doge."                        sed at the sight of the person who entered..
"I have not forgotten, father, that the doge Ziana, with no less astonishment, first gazed
once saved your life."                      upon the new comer, then placed a chair for"'You were very young then," answered the him.
old man, with a sigh.  "Famine had raised the   The unexpected visiter wore a black robe
populace of Venice against the Jews. Your fa- and peruke; an inkstand in his girdle. The
ther was forced from his bed in this very house, dress indicated a' notary.
beaten, dragged to the place of execution, and    " Be seated, sir, if you please," said the Jew;
hanged like a malefactor. There seemed no "I will presently be with you."
opportunity of escape. Through the darkness   Then, taking his daughter by the hand, Otaround me I saw nothing but weapons, torches, tale whispered,
and men who yelled for vengeance. One man    "An affair of importance, Ziana, obliges'me
forced a passage through the furious multitude, to speak a few words in private with that man."
drew his poniard, and deliberately cut the rope    "I never before saw him in our house, faasunder. A thousand arms were raised against ther!" 
him, a thousand, voices yelled;. but he ex-   "Leave us, I pray, for a short time."  -
claimed,'Justice for all! I am the Doge of   Ziana obeyed, and taking her embroidery,-..
Venice, elected this night by the council.' I seated.herself at the extremity of the room,.
fell breathless at his feet, Ziana, embraced his suspiciously glancing at intervals towards the.
knees with sobs of joy! Oh! why may I not notary.
shed my blood for him who saved me?"         ". Pardon me, sir," whispered Ottale, as soon.
"You know, father, that in all the prayers I as Ziana was out of hearing.'' I regret that
address to Heaven the name of the doge is ever my involuntary absence-I know that you ha ve
remembered."                                called already once to-day."
"Kiss me, daughter! the will of Heaven is   "Pursuant to your orders. I deemed thermpenetrable; hut let us change the subject," business important; and therefore-'
continued the old man, striving to disguise his   "I will not trespass on your time. Yqojurrepemotion; " let us speak of you, my daughter-  utation warrants your fidelity."
of your future happiness."                    "What do you wish of me'"
"Can I, dear father, be happy separated from    "To take charge of some papers," answered
you!"                                       the Jew, opening a casket, which he presented.
"So speak all maidens at your age, Ziana; to the notary.  "Those papers are important,
blut one day suffices to change all their resolu- and I desire to deposite them with you. I am
tions."                                     old; I may die very soon. These papers are not
"Alas! I am not like the maidens of Venice mine. They were deposited with me. Let it.
-I who, in the solitude of this dwelling, have suffice you to know that the prospects of sevnever had the opportunity of pouring into a eral persons-their lives, perhaps-depend on,
mother or a sister's bosom the effusions of my the secret which those papers contain. The'
soul. All my feelings have centred in your- late proclamation of war, and the sailing of the
self; for never have your lips told who was my fleet, oblige me to give them to you without de —
mother!"                                   lay. They will be safer in the hands of'a no —
"Let us speak of the future, Ziana; the past tary than here. Take them. I need not rec —
is no longer ours."                         ommend the utmost secrecy."
" My mother!" continued the maiden, mu-   "Depend upon me," answered t~he notary, taking the papers.




SAFIA.                                       51
"At Venice, you know," continued the old   " Mine also, father. At night, when locked
man, "we live in continual dread of spies and in my chamber, before the door of which he
informers. At Venice treachery abides every- passes in departing from the house, I still listen
where, as well under the magisterial gown as to the echo of his footsteps."
the garb of livery."." Will you, then, think of him  sometimes
"To whom, when the time comes, must these when you no more can see him?"
documents be rendered?"                       "See him no more?  Is he about leaving?
"To the person whose name is written upon Perhaps he has already left? Oh! father, conthe envelope."                              ceal not the truth from me."
"Very well. Have you no farther instruc-   A tear glistened in the maiden's eye; she
tions to give?"                            was earnest in her inquiries; but Ottale doubt"None."                                  less preferred not to explain himself.
"Then depend upon me," resumed the nota-   "Yes, father," resumed Ziana; " I will ever
ry, retiring.                               think of that friend, who has shown himself so
devoted to you, so kind, so tender, so generous
to me! His thoughts, though melancholy; are
so elevated! The impenetrable mystery under
CHAPTER XIX.
which he shrouds himself, the care with which
"I SHALL now rest more tranquilly," mur- he'withholds from me his name, the mask which
mured Ottale, as the notary withdrew. "Such ever disguises his features, and yet has somea trust, and under such circumstances-But it times betrayed a tear-oh! I love him with
is late. Will he not be able to come to-night 1" love mingled with respect, like the love I bear
Turning suddenly round, he saw Ziana, her to you."
eyes fixed on the inner door, half opened, and    "Well you may, daughter. He is our provithrough which was visible the corridor leading dence. You know that when he is present,
to the maiden's apartment.                   blessings from above enter with him into ouir
"What were your thoughts?I' he asked, with dwelling."
a kind, though scrutinous glance.              "Yet to-morrow I depart, perhaps forever,
"Father, since you question me, I must say with my husband, without even being acquaintthat my eyes are irresistibly attracted to that ed with the name or features of that man! I
door, and to the secret passage that opens upon tremble for'him, unconscious what danger
the canal, and through which our friend is ad- threatens him, or Whether the soil he treads is
mitted-that entrance, unknown even to Tad- that of friendly asylum or proscription. Vendeo."                                       ice! Venice! how terrible are thy mysteries!"
" Yes, through that entrance once the nobles   Ziana had scarcely finished this sentence, to
of Venice brought to my predecessors and to which the Jew listened with a sad look of asmyself," added the old man, with a sigh, "their sent, when a slight noise was heard at the halfplate, that it might be melted for the wants of opened door; the door which admitted the mask
the republic. Now play and dissipation have every night.
so impoverished them that they have forgotten   Really, at the sight of that man, wrapped in
the route. What a singular house this is, Zi- a large black domino, silent and mournful as
ana! It would seem that under each reign, un- the grave, any woman, save Ziana, would have
der every doge, these cracking walls were des- shuddered. There flashed such fire from his
tined to witness mysterious scenes, the secret eyes through his mask, there was something in
of which has never been violated. Before me his whole appearance that betrayed such deep,
Daniel Vimfen was keeper of the mint, and here settled melancholy, that he might have claimed
held his obscure counting-room.  His prede- attention. from the most thoughtless. Was he
cessor was Sebastian Gonzales, a Portuguese an angel or. a fiend?  Did he repair to this house
Jew. I found numerous names inscribed on to tempt its beauteous Eve, or did he descend
yonder pillar. These bolts and gratings make to Ottale's dark retreat, a messenger of goodthe house resemble a state-prison; and yet we ness and superior intelligence? All Ziana knew
have no more gold towatch over. We must was that, in his presence, she trembled and was
ourselves borrow, in order to loan to the nobles! thoughtful; the empire he exercised over her
A few gold vases, some plate chased by Ben- was unaccountable.
venuto Cellini, the Florentine-naught else.   As he entered, he slowly approached Ziana;
The treasury of Saint Mark still has the two he held a bouquet of flowers and presented it to
crowns of the kingdoms of Candia and Cyprus, the maiden, on whose forehead he imprinted a
several agate, emerald, and rock crystal vases, kiss.
sapphires, gold armour enriched with pearls,   "These flowers," said he, in a slow and paingrenate seals, and the autograph Gospel of' St. ful tone, "are the last you will receive from
Mark. One Candi Stemati once found passage your friend, Ziana; for you are about to quit
through the wall of the adjoining church into Venice, and I remain."
the treasury, and robbed it; but who, Ziana,   He sighed as he spoke, and rested his hands
would venture here, into the Jew's cavern? on Ottale's chair, as if he felt faint.
What step save that of our friend is ever heard    "You remain?" said she, mournfully.  "Do
to tread these floors?  For no one save my you remain here forever?"
liberator, would I consent to watch when sleep  "'Forever!"
weighs heavily upon mny eyelids, to sit, old and    "Has Venice, then, such charms for our
infirm as I am, listening to the slightest sound friend, that he may not leave it even for a short
from the canal, joyful or terrified, according as time?"
his visit is early or late.  I feel it, alas! Ziana,   " Venice, child, so dear to patrician idleness,
my life rests with him!"                   weighs as heavily upon my head as a prison's




52                                   S AFIA.
roof; and yet I love that prison as others love ment, and softly withdrew the key from the
their freedom.  My life and death belong to door of the passage. The storm had ceased,
Venice; to her I must account for the air I the silence of night was undisturbed; no sound
breathe; I live at her feet like a slave under was audible save the ticking of the pendulum
the eyes of her spies. Having nothing of my of the old clock.
own, not even the deep secrecy of my thoughts,   "Ottale,"' said the doge, taking off his mask,
I ever dread, Ziana, lest informers might pene- "what news."
trate the double mask which 1 wear over my   "Bad, your highness. The Jews, who numYace and my soul, and lest Venice should some ber, as you know, some three thousand here,
day punish me for the ardent wishes I form for speak of raising the populace."
her happiness."                               " Do they forget, Ottale, that if to-day I sup"You are much to be pitied."              plicate, to-morrow I may punish?"
"Such is my fate."                          "They know it, your highness; but you also
"Perhaps it may change."                 know that their loans to the state have never
"Never."                                  been refunded. The Jews are bold and insidi"Ah, sir! permit me, before I leave this city, ous; they trust in the antipathy which the noto throw myself at the feet of the doge. If you bles feel for war. I have visited them at their
are proscribed, he alone may absolve you; he synagogues, in their offices; they know full
is powerful and kind; my father has some in- well that the Zecca has no more wealth, that the.
fluence with him."                          Bank of the Giro, the Venetian Exchange, will
" Fond child! you know not that the doge is vainly claim from the republic the moneys denothing in Venice. Faliero and Foscari, alas! posited with the prince."
are sad examples of the fact."                " Those moneys have paid for the first prep" Well, then, the Countess d'Azola, my pro- arations of the fleet; I intended to return it from
tectress."                                  my private funds."
"Hush! as well might you cast a denuncia-   "Not only do the Jews claim payment of the
tion against me into the marble lion's mouth as sums they have loaned, but they claim it before
invoke the aid of the countess."            any moneys are disbursed for an expedition
" You make me shudder," said the maiden, which they suppose may last long. You know
with impassioned anguish.                   that several, taking advantage of the distress of
" Ottale," said the mask, sorrowfully ap- Venice, have found means of, being ennobled,
proaching the Jew, " Ziana and her bridegroom  and of having their names inscribed in the Goldmust go to Ferrara without delay."          en Book."
"What, do you insist upon my very exile?"   "' A most infamous traffic; I know it."
said Ziana to the unknown.                    "To-morrow, the wealthiest among them
"' She is no longer safe, even in your house," have,'agreed to wait, in a body, upon the senwhispered the mask in Ottale's ear.         ate, and to reveal the state of the treasury."
" They shall leave to-morrow," answered the    "What will they say."
Jew.                                          "They will say, your highness, that the
"How dejected you look, my child," said the treasury of Saint Mark has already been pawnmask, taking the hand of Ziana.             ed or coined by you, without the knowledge
"I am ready to go," answered she, with emo- even of its keeper, the procurator of Saint
tion, " since you wish it."                 Mark's Church; they will say, what is known
"I wish it, Ziana. Ah! if you could but but to you and myself," said Ottale, lowering
know what suffering.the parting causes me —  his tone, " that false jewels have been substihow hard it will be for me, after your departure, tuted for the true ones; they will show this in
to struggle alone through the night of my ex- the face of the sun, before the ambassadors of
istence, no more cheered by the soft star to- all powers, gratified on that day to witness the
wards which I nightly proceeded."           humiliations of Venice."
"' Your words comfort me! at least, I' shall   "Then wo to them, Ottale! for I will arm
bear with me the hope that our friend will not my patricians against them, and bind, hands
forget me."                                 and feet, those who  dare to glory in our
"Forget you! never, never!"             shame."
"Grant me one prayer."                      "The patricians will turn in their favour, for
"' What is it?"                         they are all against you. They need the Jews;
"; Will you consent."                    and those insolvent noblemen are oftener at the
"Were it my life, child, I would grant it Ghetto than at church."
freely."                                      " But the people-the army "
"For my sake alone, then, allow me to see    "The sailors have declared that they will
you once unmasked."                         not sail upon this expedition unless their wages' "Hold, Ziana; should this mask be removed are paid. The nobles will lock themselves up
a head must follow."                       within their palaces; the workmen of the navy"Keep, then, your mask."                 yard will rise in arms by daybreak; and the
"PRetire, Ziana; I have to converse to-night ambassador from Tunis, in spite of the haughty
with your father concerning an affair of impor- words you made use of to him the other night,
tance."                                     has raised his head, and now receives the vis"Till to-morrow, then. I could not go, and I its of senators. A deputation from the sages
should lose all my courage if I had not seen of the council has been addressed to him this
you."                                       very day, begging him to come to terms."
"Yes, yes; farewell until to-morrow!" said    "Terms with pirates! Such humiliation in
the rrmask, smothering his convulsive sobs.  the presence of ambassadors from all parts of
a lstily ed Ziana to the door of her apart- I the world! Have, then, those degraded corn



SAFIA.                                       53
pounds of vice and meanness forgotten the                CHAPTER XX.
rupture of treaties, the seizure of our mnerchandise, the insults offmered to our flag, the shame-        THE MAGICIAN.
ful tributes imposed upon Venice?"           " D.ID Gruss!" exclaimed the Jew, looking
"Highness, the day has come: Venice will, at the new-comer.
must die."                                    The doge then beheld a man apparently sixty
" Venice shall not die while I live! Venice, years of age; his dress sufficiently denoted the
Ottale, needs a war; to rouse her from her class to which he belonged: he wore the dislethargy, we must have another Lepante."   tinctive patch of yellow linen over his Israelitish
"Are you a god, to save Venice? Have not robe, the red hat, and long beard. A pair of
cities, like men, their fate recorded above! piercing gray eyes, sunk deep in their orbits, imYou are doubtless great, sincere, generous; parted to his physiognomy a strange expression
but can you save those who desire perdition, of cunning and subtlety; his person was bent,
give glory to those who seek shame!"      like that of a usurer who stoops all day over his
"So, then, there is no more hope; no gold counter; his leather sandals were soiled and
in the treasury, no resource left. To-morrow  worn.
the cannon of the forts shall thunder-tormor-   "David Gruss!" repeated Ottale, fixing upon
row the whole city shall hasten to the ports! him a glance of mingled fear, interest, and asDay of wo and shame!  It were enough to tonishment.
make me envy the fate of Foscari, who died   "Yes, David Gruss, your former friend," anwhile listening to the sound of the bells that swered the new visiter.  " I come to see you
tolled for his deposition; it were enough to first, and then this gentleman," said he, pointmake me ask that a stone, cast by the hand of ing to the doge, who had had time to resume
a woman, might crush me to earth, like Tie- his mask prior to his entrance.
polo!"                                       i "What is there in common between us?" in"You are no alchemist, signor. You may quired Alessandro, in a tone of mingled conwed the sea by casting your ring into it-; you tempt and suspicion.
may wield that shadow of a sceptre still allow-   "Many things, Signor Mask."
ed you in Venice; but you cannot make plenty    "Speak, then, I listen: time is precious."
replace misery, nor cause the coffers of the   "It is; and I mean to use it so as to escape
state to be replenished when, alas! they are the reproach of wasting it. You have visited
exhausted."                                 my co-religionist here for the purpose of finding
"Ottale," i'esumed the doge, "have you, money, have you not?" he continued, fixing the
then, knocked at the door of every Jew in Ven- doge with his piercing, deceitful eye.
ice."                                        "True; what next'!"
" I know them'all; I know their ability, and   " Next, signor, you are about to return as you
I know also what they dare."                came, without your errand. Distressing, is it
"' But you do not know that I might to-night not?"
set fire to the Ghetto; the gates are closed al-   "Abominably so for a gamester, as I am,"
ready. Fire would rid me of that vile herd said the doge, endeavouring to lead the inquirer
whom former doges had banished far from Ven- upon a false track.
ice, and with whom  they never even conde-   "The game you, play is a dangerous one."
scended to speak, in dread of contamrination."  " I think it is."
" Highness," rejoined Ottale, with composed   " Doubtless; you play that of a prince."
grief, "you forget that I am a Jew, and that I   "Do you know me!"
have left the Ghetto of Rome for the Ghetto of   " You visit the Casino and the ridotti of VenVenice."                                   ice, I am certain."
"Yes," answered the doge; "you remind   "Well "
me of a tie so dear that I could never wish to   " What would you give an honest man who
offend you. I honour aifd esteem you. You could enable you to find gold?"
received from me a trust, and you have guard-   "My word; and that were worth the gold."
ed it faithfully. Ottale, dear Otta.le, I wear a   "No doubt; but would you swear never to
double character: one, scrupulously jealous of reveal his secret!"
the honour of his country, severe to himself,  "' I swear. Proceed."
and walking as if in the sight of the Eternal   " Well, signor, I can give you gold.'
Judge-that is the doge; the other, miserable   "You are an alchemist?" said Alessan(lro,
and anxious,.ever suffering from wounds which doubtfully.
your'eye alone discovers-that latter is the   "Wrong, your excellency; alchemists are
lover of Safia."                            madmen. I know you are hard to persuade,
" Oh! you remind me of it.  To-night I but I will give you convincing proof. Ottale,
dreamed of Ranuzzi."                        do you remember Palermo 3"
On' hearing that fatal name the doge shud-   "I remember David Gruss, a man who had
dered. It seemed as if the spirit of death, in more skill than all the physicians in the world;
its terrible implacability, had already laid its a man who, finding me dangerously ill, came to
hand upon him.                              my aid when not only the most esteemed physiHe stood erect, motionless, scarcely breath- cians, but the very quacks had given me over.
ing, when three knocks were heard at the land- He sat by my pillow, locked up the house,.and,
gate of the dwelling. Ottale, with a shudder, without ever leaving me, acted as my physician.
arose and hastened to unfasten the door.   In each crisis of pain he fixed on me a wondrous glance; his brow paled; he would slowly
extend his hand over me, and I soon fell into a
heavy, unaccountable sleep: his mere approach




54                                   S AFIA.
dispelled all pain; and when his eyes fixed   "Master, I beseech you-"
upon mine-as yours do at this moment, David   "Obey! Where is the gold? Answer!"
Gruss-I felt, even in my sleep, that my lips   "There, master, beneath that wall," resumoved unbidden, as if I were about to speak."  med Ottale, pointing to the pillar against which
"These are facts to confound and perplex. the doge was leaning.  "It is the fourth square
the imagination of men," murmured Alessan- beyond the pillar; but-"
dro. "Did that physician cure you."          "Silence! Sleep! I will it! Sleep, Ottale,
"I He saved me from certain death," resumed sleep!"
Ottale: " that wondrous sleep alone has survi-   David Gruss then, placing both hands on the
ved my illness. It terrifies me sometimes when bald forehead of the Jew, soon absorbed him in
it absorbs my senses. Ziana is alone aware of the dim heaviness of that slumber so reserathis."                     I                bling death. After a few spasmodic palpita" What mysterious influence belongs, then, tions, the old man soon sunk into deep repose.
to that man?" asked the doge, immersed in   "To think," murmured David Gruss, conthought, and as if attempting to fathom: the templating.the slumberer, "that this soul is now
depth of a new order of things suddenly reveal- beyond the control of its conscience-its Creaed to his mind.                             tor! that my will is now the soul of that mass
" Inquire of himself," answered Ottale; " that of clay! All around is silent! no gondola dis'man is now in your presence; he is David turbs the calm of the sleepy waves!.the heavGruss."  ens are veiled in dark clouds! Come, noble
David Gruss nodded assent.               signor," said he to the doge, "' assist me, and
" What, sir, do you mean to accomplish here wo befall any intruder!"
by the aid of that power whose secret is your   David Gruss drew a poniard, till then conown l"                                      cealed beneath his robe. Alessandro did the
The Jew drew near the doge, and whispered. like from beneath his cahuta.
As he spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Ottale,   4 The fourth square beyond the pillar said
who, evidently under some resistless power, Ottale. Well, here is the spot! let us make
had sunk upon his chair; David Gruss soon ap- haste!"
proached the old man, and passed his hand over   The doge: listened like a man bewildered.
him; from his eyes, constantly bent upon Ot-   "You do not doff your mask, excellency.
tale, were emitted bright magnetic sparks that Whys"
glowed like the flashes of the diamond; their   No answer was returned.
liquid- absorbing flame startled even the doge,   "Have no false shame. I know you!"
who leaned against the pillar with half-sup-   " You?"
pressed breath, as a man who expects to wit-   "Certainly! I saw you pass, this morning,
ness some scene that he cannot completely re- the quay of Maria Rosa. You purchased some
alize.                                      pomegranate flowers at a flower-stand."
" Are you ready!" inquired Gruss.         " Perchance you are a spy in the employ of
"Yes, master, I am," answered the old man, the Ten."
in a feeble voice.                            "You, wrong me; I am  but a poor Jew.
" To obey me, Ottale "                   You love gold, so do I. There is deposited
" To obey you," reiterated he, letting fall his here a treasure; we will share it. I have your
arms.                                      word-enough! the Doge Alessandro would
" Ottale," resumed David Gruss, "you are not deal falsely."
the state broker of the public Mint, and keeper   "Well," said Alessandro, resolutely tearing
also?"                                     off his mask, " note my features, David Gruss,
"I am."                                   and imprint them  well upon your memory.
" Ottale, is there no deposite of money at the Upon the -first word-the first sign or indication
Zecca "                                     of treachery that escapes you, I will deal with
" None."                                  you as with a prevaricating Jew. You shall be
" But here!"                            led through the city by the executioner, and ex"Here!'" utteredOttale, in a trembling voice. pire beneath his lash between the pillars of
An icy shudder seemed to thrill through his Saint Mark and Saint Theodore."
aged limbs, big drops of perspiration burst upon   " Thanks, your highness! you will have no
his brow.                                   occasion to treat Venice to so pleasurable a
"Here?" reiterated David Gruss.         scene. I will be silent as yourself; our com" Master, master!" stammered the old man. mon interest compels us. By Heaven! I stand
" I may not-I pray you, do not-cause me not as much in need of sequins as yourself; for I
to-"                                        play under mask; and, at the casinoes of Padua
He appeared struggling convulsively against and Venice, I am accounted a patrician, thanks
the will of David Gruss.                   to that mask allowed to players.  The other
" Ottale, I pray, and if necessary, I command day I won five hundred sequins in four deals;
you, tell me whether this house contains a de- but subsequently I lost ten thousand in partposite of money, a treasure; do you under- nership with a friend. Therefore I want gold
stand?"                                   as much as you; although it is not true, as you
" A deposite 1 yes."                     would wish me to suppose, that you play at the
"' In silver! in gold!"                 Ridotti."
"Gold; but," resumed the old man, rising,   "For what purpose, then, think you', I need
" that deposite, that gold is-"            this gold 3"
" Iknow what you know. Silence! where   "For a noble, elevated purpose, altogether
is the gold-the deposite 3'" said David Gruss, worthy of your high spirit," rejoined the Jew,
forcing him back to his seat.             I with a smile. the irony of which escaped Ales



SAFIA.                                      55
-sandro unnoticed.  " You wish the fleet to sail   "Venice! it is for thee!" murmured the
to-morrow, with its streaming pennons, and the  doge, bending from the window illumined by
patriarch at the head. Upon the decks of that the first dawn of day. "'Come, let us go, I will
Iteet the power and pride of Venice will throng, follow."  David Gruss had replaced the stone,.and you, prince, firom the Bucentaur, will bid  and recovered it with its mat, after lifting from
the Adriatic, your spouse, spread her submis- it the two coffers. Then, from the window that.sive waters for the passage of your high-spirit- looked on the canal, he hailed the gondoliers.
~ed battalions; you, with the admiral, will ac- They threw up a rope; the Jew skilfully let the.company them, all the vessels steering towards two coffers slide down to the bark. Meanwhile
Tunis; and you will leave them  but at the  the doge kept his eyes riveted on the aged
Lido point. When you ascended the throne, slumberer, with an air of religious dread.,everything revealed to you the decay of the re-   "Yes! now rest in peace, poor old man; and
public; the public mind is in a state of ferment- awake to-morrow unconscious of what has been,a4tion, and rife for sedition; Bergamna, Brescia, done to-night. Oh! for thy blissful ignorance..Salo, and Cremona, are in intelligence with Mi- Hasten," said he, " day will soon dawn -upon
lano. Your game, your highness, is to punish, Venice. Venice, my fair, my well-beloved city,
~crush, conquer. Mine is that of a wretch pant- awake now without fear; thou art saved! One
ing with the thirst of gold-pressed by avari- more day of splendour for thee!",cious employers; for, at the Casino, I am the    Alessandro and his companion then directed
representative of a large number of patricians!:their steps to the gate leading to the canal, when'To our task, then, my master, and let us pursue  suddenly a young man, wrapped in a black cloak,.our object! The Jew is asleep-he will never entered abruptly through the door of' the passpeak! Unfasten your lamp, and let us exam- sage upon which Ziana's apartment opened. A
ine the spot indicated by Ottale!"         female followed him, covered with one of those
Alessandro obeyed mechanically.  He felt as veils called, in Venice, zindaletta. The doge
if addressed by some fiend; he knelt beside  and David Gruss had barely time to extinguish
IDavid Gruss, and proceeded to lift the flag.    the light and hide themselves behind the pillar.
This part of the room was covered by a large    "Taddeo, what room is this?" inquired the;mat, which they drew aside. Alessandro chan- countess..ced to break his poniard. David Gruss then    "The counting-room of Ottale," said Taddeo,:sneered, and shrugged his shoulders, saying, in  groping his way in the dark..a half-contemptuous tone,                    "Where is Ziana's apartment?"
"After all, your highness, this is not your   "It opens upon the passage, madam; the'habitual trade. Come, take that crowbar near Jew and his daughter doubtlessly have both'the laboratory, and lift this flag; it is as heavy  retired.",as a tomb-stone."                            "But there is a gondola moored beneath the
The flag-stone soon yielded to their joint ef- Jew's window, at that little door that seems to
-forts. They perceived two large iron coffers, communicate with his dwelling; a flat, uncov-:sealed with the threefold seals of the Inquisi- ered gondola, like those of the Albanians. He
~tion, the patriarch, and the doge. Rust had  is here.",covered the locks, and there was no key.     "Madam, the key has been taken from ZiaDavid Gruss then produced a glass vial of  na's door.":middling size, containing a reddish fluid. He    "Taddeo, you must either open or burst that
rubbed it over the locks, and, with a screw, door.":forced out the nails. Then seizing the crow-    "Let us fly, signor; let us fly!" whispered
-bar, he applied it, with Herculean strength, to  David Gruss to Alessandro.,one of the coffers, whose lid he succeeded in    "I cannot mistake, it is the voice of the
forcing open. A heap of ducats, as bright as if countess; what can cause her visit hither "just coined at the Zecca, struck their view.   "Taddeo," said Safia, "burst open that door;.David Gruss plunged his arms among them like  there is a man concealed there, the lover of thy:a diver.                                   betrothed!"
The doge, despite all his efforts, had not yet  "The lover of Ziana! can you think so, mad-:succeeded in opening his coffer. David Gruss am? Infamy!" The young man seized a stool,soon overcame its resistance, and both uttered  and struck vigorously against the door..a cry of admiration at the sight of a quantity    "Who knocks " cried Ziana, in a trembling,of gold far superior in value to the contents of voice.
ithe other coffer.                            At this instant the sound of oars was heard
"Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. I upon the water. David Gruss and the doge,give you the best share, your excellency; I shall had fled through the open window.
have enough with this to hold the bank the day    "Escaped!" exclaimed the countess, with
after to-morrow, and to satisfy my partners' de- frantic rage," escaped! see yonder bark that
{ mands. Now listen: I caused four Armenians  glides away."
1to row beneath this window one of those flat   "Escaped!" reiterated Taddeo.'boats on which wares are transported to Fusi-     I will be revenged!" exclaimed Safia, with
na. With the aid of a rope, we may let these  a suppressed sigh as she picked from the floor;coffers slide down; I will take you to the point something against which she had stumbled in,of Fusina, opposite which the fleet is to pass the dark. It was a poniard with an agate han=to-morrow; there dwells the Jew Sperone, a  die. "Yes, I will be revenged; follow me; day
man, I think, entirely devoted to you; you may  is breaking, we can easily find a gondola." And
leave the coffer with him. I will then carry  forcing Taddeo before her, she rapidly descendyou in the boat to the first marble steps where- ed the steps that led to the gate opening upon,on you choose to alight, and then we part."    the canal.




56                                   SAFIA.
CHAPTER XXI.                   sun; the skiffs of the povejotes and fishermen.
of Saint Nicholas stemmed in every direction
the waves of the great canal. The spectator
THE following day was on.e of great excite- could at one glance behold the magnificent. 
ment inVenice. The throng of spectators was gilded barks of the ambassadors, the painted
incredible.                                 cloths of the Muranese, and the virgins adornv
A vast procession of barks, shallops, and ing their prows, decked with flowers and rib —
gondolas covered the waters of the port, situa- ands.
ted opposite the lesser Place of Saint Mark.   These various barks passed in majestic arrayThose who have admired the paintings of along the grand canal, escorted by a number of
Canaletti, of Tiepolo, or the engravings of Pe- vessels of war, with streaming banners and
trus Longhi, representing the ceremonies of the pennons, awaiting but the admiral's signal tc,
day of the Accession, or of the Bucentaur, can fire the salute.
alone conceive an idea of the spectacle we shall   The Furta of Saint Mark gave the first saendeavour to describe.                      lute, which was responded to by the. galiots and
First, the ushers, called commandadori, open- all the other vessels.
ed the march upon the quay of the Sclavonians.   The Patriarch of Venice stood-on the deck of
Eight of them bbre a like number of banners, the main galley, accompanied.hy the canons of
two white, two red, two blue, and two purple. Castello and those of his own: court; he was
They were followed by the rest of the comrnman- decked with the patriarchal robles and mitre, as
dadori, the last six bearing each a large silver for the ceremony of the Bacentaur.  He blesstrumpet similar to those formerly used upon ed the sea, kisssed the cross,. and withdrew.
the vessels of the republic.                   The fleet was ordered to await the return' of'
Next followed six fifers in red uniform, and the doge near Saint Nicholas of the Lido.::
the squires of the doge, the latter being attend-   Upon a bench, over which -was spread a cl1othL
ed by his seneschal on the right, and the capi- of velvet, gemmed' with' pearls, a' man, dressed.
tan grande on the left.                     in the French style, seated beside a masked~
The clerk of the private chapel of his high- lady, looked on the funcion with eager curiosity.
hness came next, alone, preceding the master of The sides of the gondola were richly carved.
ceremonies of the Church of Saint Mark, at- and gilded; its panels were filled with resplen —
tended by six canons in golden vestments. dent mirrors; the upholstery, silk and silver.
These were followed by two officers, called   "Really, countess, there is nothing so ele —
Gastaldi ducali, and four secretaries of the sen- ga'nt, and so charming and soft as your con —
ate, behind whom followed the doge's own sec- veyance. Compare with this our hack-carriaretary, bearing a silver'candelabra, with extin- ges and sedans of the Place Royale; they are,
guished tapers.                             vulgar in the lowest degree. The duchesses
After these, most conspicuous were the two of our court would envy you so delightful a
chancellors of his serene highness, the grand mode of reclining."
chancellor, and then the doge, escorted by all   Safia made no answer to the Marquis de Sathe foreign ambassadors. Near the doge were luces; her attention was absorbed upon the
two squires, bearing the chair and the cushion galley of the Proveditor-general' of the Sea,
of gold cloth. A third followed, holding over whereon the doge exhibited himself to the gaze
the prince the golden fringed umbrella.     of the astounded multitude. Never, perhaps,
One noble and one patrician closed the pri- had Alessandro looked more noble, or more~
vate escort of Alessandro, who wore the state worthy of admiration, than on that day; never'
sword in its velvet scabbard.               had the radiant sovereignty of his mien beanm.One of the magistrates qf the Proprio, ac- ed with loftier beauty.
companied by the senior counsellor, headed the   In spite of the unconquerable disorder of her'
second division of the procession.          mind, the pangs of jealousy, the countess couldl
This consisted of counsellors in full dress, not but acknowledge the infinite fascination
the president of the Criminal Quarantia, those which the doge exercised over every pulsation of
of the other quarantias, the avogadores, the her heart; she remembered him, seated under
president of the Council of Ten, the censors of the gilded awnings of the Bucentaur, the day
the Broglio, the patrons of the arsenal, the con- when he threw his ducal ring into the sea, a
sulta, the pregadio, or senate, and the procura- young and handsome senator, still astonished at.
tors of Saint Mark, two by two.             his sudden elevation, and at the clamorous greet-.
This noble procession, in gala robes, descend- ings -of a whole nation. And now, as she gazed
ed in most admirable order the Giant's Stair- at his severe features, whose harsh, imperial
case, and embarked upon their respective gon- beauty contrasted with the effeminate looks of
dolas and galiots, decked With flags and ban- other Venetian noblemen, it seemed as if the
ners; a few armed barks were their escort. galley that bore Alessandro was the pedestal of
The oarsmen wore livery, consisting of the Al- some heroic statue.
banian cap, with gold tassels, heavily-embroi-   "And yet," said the countess to herself, " but:
dered vest and jacket. A small number of per- a night since le deceived me-falsely deceived
sons, who composed the more immediate es- me-and for that Jewess! That poniard I
cort of the doge, hastened to the bridge, forty found, whose sheath I discovered in his room,.
feet in length, which had been erected for the was his. It was rumoured yesterday that theoccasion, leading from the quay to the galley of populace would rebel, as the sea-foam that lashes
the proveditor or naval admiral, who stood on the rocks of Fusina. Alas I my heart alone redeck, surrounded by his officers, in full uniform. bels! To have loved so fondly, and be deceived.!:
Each gondola, with its golden ornaments, and Yes, I loved him; I love him still. With one
freight of magnificent costumes, glittered in the word I might have revenge, and recall' him, re



SAFIA.                                       57
pentant, at my feet. No! I must know from his Ghetto and my promises in the company of the.
mistress herself what all-powerful charm she Chevalier de la Plumardiere."
possesses, that she dare rival her sovereign!   "'I beg your pardon,' he remarked, as he
I have ordered Azael to bid her come; she will poured out for me a fifteenth glass of Malmsey;
come."'I do not treat you to anything very exquisite
Safia, with Asiatic indolence, had reclined but I fancy we shall be able to offer you somebeneath the shade of the parasol held over her thing quite superior to-morrow at the play at.
by her negro; the rich carpets of the gondola the Casino.'
dipped into the waves; the oarsmen already    "'There is to be play, then.' I inquired.
began to feel fatigued; the distant city appear-   ";'Play and masks yet for a fortnight. After"
ed but a confused mass of roofs and steeples, that time, Venice again sinks into darkness and&
when the Marquis de Saluces abruptly inter- obscurity; then, if you like, we will start for
rupted the course of her meditations by request- Vienna.'
ing her to tell him what had been the motive    "' Shall you play to-morrow.'   t
of her being, at three o'clock in the morning,   ".' Certainly; and if you like, you shall be one
upon the canal of Saint Jeremiah.           of our bankers. Vie have secured high names.
"You appeared, madam, so strangely agita- already: Moncenigo, Croce, several Poles, and.
ted, and the cavalier in the black cloak escort- a few Swedes, who roll in gold.'
ing you evinced so little of the expansive in   "' Bravo!' replied I;' I will trust you with.
his disposition, that I was compelled to adjourn my funds.'
all inquiries until this morning.  Countess,   "'Nobody can deal like me, as you will.
such adventures happen but to myself. I had see!'
left you with a promise of watching for your in-   "I was delighted with my new friend, and'
terest; for, on due reflection, I am little else regretted parting with him.  It was near daythan your spy. A barcarole on the Piazzetta break, and on the Piazzetta I met the same
was'ridiculous enough to ask me eight sequins gondolier whose prices were so extravagant.
for a night gondola.' Go to the devil,' said I After vainly waiting to procure a passenger,
to him.;' for such a price I might sup with a his bad luck had made him quite tractable. He
nymph of the opera at Paris.' Thereupon I approached me, cap in hand, and asked if I still
was walking backward and forward, sad and wished to use his gondola.
thoughtful, under the arcades of the Procura-   " The sight of this man at once cleared my
tias, when a mask, rather elegantly attired in a head from the fumes of our revel; I remem-.
pink cahuta, threw his arms around my neck, bered my promise, and, throwing myself headwith a vigorous hug, exclaiming,             long into his gondola, I bade him cruise along,
"' Parbleu! I am delighted to see you, dear the Jews' quarter, the Ghetto.
marquis.'                                      "'Your honour is aware,' he exclaimed,,
"' Whom have.I the honour of addressing?'' that the Ghetto is an accursed spot, where.
inquired I, with most justifiable suspicious- the fiend of the lagunes, whom we call Orco,
ness.                                       delights in laying his snares.  Sometimes he.
"' One of the best friends of your uncle, M. assumes the appearance of a beautiful darkde Sartines, lmy dear Saluces; but fear not, I eyed girl, and, seating himself in that shape
come not to this city of pleasures to teaze you upon the' marble steps of some landing, he inwith advice and moral lectures. No, dear mar- veigles you into the accursed cave of some sonr
quis, I know your disposition too well; you are of Israel, who then compels you to sign a usuthe hero of fates, play, and suppers! You have rious bond to him. Again, assuming the form
no idea how lonely your absence has left us! of a cavalier drowning, that devilish Orco
The opera, without your presence, is a bore; drowns his rescuer.  One day, an uncle of
the theatre has become positively insufferable mine-a brave Nicolotte he was-passing, at
since you are no more to be seen seated at the three in the morning, through the Ghetto, sawside of the stage, upon the bane des marquis, both a beggar who, with his staff, attempted to stop.,
hands in your vest pockets, or leaning like a up the street. My uncle at first thought him a.
Cyrus by the orchestra.'                    thief or a drunken man, but was soon unde-.
"'You are very polite,' said I;'but may I ceived by a strong smell of brimstone, that
request your name?'                         almost knocked him down.  "S Wretch!" cried:;' Certainly, my dear fellow: I am the Chev- the man, " were you not one of those who witalier de la Plumardiere.  No scholar, true, but nessed the execution of the Jew, Roboam Ber,
well versed in almost everything. I have one who rode hind foremost through the city upon
of those faces which women love, and hus- an ass? Robhoam Ber was my friend, and he
bands abhor; besides, so very lucky at play! left a legacy for you: here it is."  My uncle.
But-come, let us sup. They have not the worst then felt blows rain thick and heavy on his
Sillery in the world at the Aquila! here is the shoulders; and all at once the beggar took the
bill of fare; order yourself, and I shall ap- shape of the wandering, Jew, and followed him.
prove.'                                     to the limits of the Ghetto, where he left him
" I was astonished at the singular manner of half dead.'
this person. I noticed he had a beautiful, most   " These stories of my. gondolier were little
aristocratic hand. You had dismissed mie so calculated to cheer me. Yielding to that heavy,
cruelly, fair countess, that the bacchanalian con- peaceful sleep which Cyprus wine habitually insolations offered me by my new friend could duces, I sunk upon the cushions of the bark,
not have come more opportunely. I yielded to when suddenly I heard cries, and soon after I
the allurements of his proposal; his conversa- perceived a white shadow-a woman.
tion I found most agreeable, the supper unex-   "' The Orco!' cried my gondolier.
ceptionable, and, sooth to say, I forgot the   "I examined the object of his superstitious.
H




':158                ~               SAFIA.
-:fear for some time: it was a.woman veiled, es- the deck of the vessel; -he motioned the' two
corted by a cavalier in a black cloak. You  bearers of silver trumpets to sound a blast.
know the rest. I recognised you by your voice,   "Good! Moncenigo, a decree. The herald
and ordered my barcarole to row near to you. unfolds a parchment received from the doge."
Your companion remained silent while you    The herald read the decree, as follows 
pressed my gondolier to take the direction of    "The Jews of Venice have dared attempt
Fusina, towards which an open bark was ma- sedition. The most guilty of them are known
king then all speed. Who it was you could be to us. Justice will be dealt upon them this
following thus I know not; but my fool of a day. The Republic of Venice has resolved to,gondolier, fully satisfied that you were the  punish their insolence as she has that of the,Orco, refused to row in that direction. Will powers of Barbary.  The Criminal Quarantia
you now explain to me the mystery of that ad- met this morning, and sentenced two thousand
venture?"                                  Jews to banishment; and now, victory and fame
"How can I explain shadows that' escape to the winged lion of Saint Mark. The fleet is,even myself  What your gondolier related of weighing anchor, but has received orders to adthe' Ghetto is not altogether unlikely:  unac- mit all voluntee s."
countable things happen there, and hencefor-   A large number of sailors and workmen reward I shall no longer require your services to  sponded to this appeal, While a shallop manned;discover them."                             by forty oarsmen approached to carry back the
"Meaning to say, I presume, that you are doge. The cries of joy and applause of the as-.on the track of some infidelity? After all, sembled multitude recalled a ray of pride and
princes are no better than other men; the gal- happiness to: the brow of Alessandro.  As he
lantries of Louis XV. may have spread their passed the vessel of the volunteers, he started
contagion as far as Venice.  Nevertheless, I suddenly. Ayoung man was clinging to the rig-.maintain that it is here difficult to discern the  ging, whom the captain seemed disposed to
truth! so many masks, intrigues, canals! a drive away, probably because he wore neither
man loses his way,'pon honour. The doge has the sailor's vest nor uniform..a handsome person:, observe only how the la-   " For pity's sake, admit me," cried he, " or I
dies' of the seignory regard him."          will let myself fall into the sea."
Several shallops with gilded panels, and    He was lifted in, and dashed away a tear as
filled with patrician ladies, were cruising light- he reached the deck. The doge made a motion,
ly around the ducal galley.  The procession  but the vessel was already far behind, and carwas nearing Fusina, where the squadron was ried with her Taddeo..in sight, skimming the blue waves of the Adriatic. It was an imposing sight to see those
decks thronged with soldiers; waving the stand-.ards conquered from the Turks. -The work-                CHAPTER XXII.
men of the docks, called squeri, all wore the
red and yellow jacket; the cannon of the forts           PLAY AT VENICE.
thundered over the sea, and the bells of the    ON the night of that day, and after a sumptu-,city tolled responsive.  The doge, wearing  ous repast given by the doge to the ambassaupon his head the domo, spoke and waved his  dors, the seignory, and nobles who had attended
hand encouragingly to each officer and work- the ceremony, an immense multitude thronged
man of the Tana. Venice rose in the distance, the avenues of the Casino, which was to open at'with her cloud-capped towers, her magic pal- twelve...aces, and balconies thronged with spectators.  The exterior was brilliantly illuminated. The
By express order of the doge, it had been' Sclavonian detachment were on guard at the
published throughout the city, during the morn- door, and kept back the Nicolottes and the Casing, that wages would be paid in advance. Yet, tellans who were striving to sell refreshments
although the prince seemed perfectly composed, around..strange rumours were already circulating.     In a hall hung exclusively with leather of'It seems the doge intends to pay all from  Cordova, and every entrance of which was clo-his private funds," said Moncenigo to Trevisani, sed with brocade curtains, was the orchestra,
with a skeptic tone.                        in a sort of gallery, suspended at one end, to
"Remark how his' eyes are riveted upon the which two circular staircases of fine Carrara'house of the Jew Sperone. Can it be possible  marble led, the balusters terminating in four
such a wretch has deceived the doge? Notice  magnificently carved lions; bearing between
how haughty an air the ambassadors assume; their paws' the Book and the sword.
they doubt us, and would be as astonished as    Two'hundred stands for torches, and as many:ourselves at such a result."               chandeliers of stained glass of Murano, shed an
"Silence, Trevisani! See those Greek slaves  immense stream of light over this apartment,;bearing a large iron coffer upon deck! The'showing, with finer effect, several paintings of.patriarch opens the lid. Heaven forgive me! Tiepolo that hung over the doors.
His hand now distributes a harvest of sequins    Before reaching this hall, denominated the
among the soldiers and sailors."            play-room, there were three galleries less splen" You speak truth. How they rush upon the  didly decorated, but in which several' negroes
gold!"                                     were arranging salvers with fruit, refreshments,
In all this the Jews will be robbed, you will and viands, while other servants, and several
see.  For my part, I should not complain: handsome female store-keepers of the Rialto,
fit would be une way to put me even with  attracted the attention of customers to their
them."                                      stands filled with glass ware, enamel chains,
A herald wearing the ducal livery ascended  flowers, ribands, and embroidered lace.




SAFIA.                                       59
Numerous tables were disposed around the superannuated sailors, who were waiting, like'hall, at one of which each noble who intended herself, the hour at which the workmen came
to keep a private bank was to sit close to the out.
wall, surrounded with lights and packs of cards,   But Taddeo, the sculptor- of the arsenal, did
a bag of gold pieces, and one of silver ducats, not come-  he was nowhere to be seen.  Ziready to stand against all comers, whether ana was weeping, when she met a Bohemian
umasked or Venetian gentlemen. Besides these, woman.
directly beneath the orchestra was an immense   The grief of the Jew's daughter contrasted
table covered with cloth, around which chairs with the hideous joy of the frightful old beggar,
were placed, and whereon lay several packs of who, leaning over the parapet of a neighbouring
cards, tied with riband, as customary at faro.   bridge, thus spoke to one of her cronies, at the
Faro and bassette were then the only games same time showing two bright gold sequins that
in vogue. The French had lately introduced glittered in the sunlight.
faro en revanche for the introduction of bassette   "Poor fellow! he gave me this for telling
into France, under Louis XIV., by the Marquis him the truth; I do not know his name, but he..Justiniani, ambassador from Venice.        sometimes visited me at Santa Maria Maggifre.
As we have said betfore, the players were He was a singular young man, who never smi-:masked; but before entering they were com- led, even when luck favoured him at -cards.:pelled to deliver checks to door-keepers wear-'I have no faith in my star,' he would say.
ing perukes.                                Well, this morning he came to me, with a cloak
Behind a grating similar to that in a broker's and sword.' Take these,' said he,' sell them,:.office, the keeper of the Mint was to sit, who and here are two gold sequins besides; I want
Malone had the key.                          no more money: I am betrayed,'deceived by a
The dial of the clock pointed to half past elev- Jewess of the Ghetto! All I want is to know
en when Ottale, accompanied by his daughter, whether I shall ever return to Venice; for, you
"made his way through the crowd pressing see. I enlist: I am to sail to-day in the fleet
around the doors of the Casino, in order to re- bound for Tunis.';pair to his habitual post.                    " I looked at him sadly," continued the BoThe' old man had been unable to witness the hemian, " for we sorcerers guess at all; I had
ldeparture of the fleet, owing, first, to the painful imagined what he most wished, so I answered,
torpor that he had felt during a part of the day,' I know not your fair one's name; but I see,and subsequently to a note received from the her meeting you a month hence at the Sclavo*doge, in which Alessandro, while intimating nians' quay!  You will then forgive, and no
the resolution passed by the council in the more upbraid; for you will then return as pow-morning relative to those of his. creed, assured erful and proud'as is now the doge himself!'
him, at the same time, that he was safe both in   "Thereupon, my darling, the young man.person and office. The evident protection he went off like an arrow; he is now, no doubt,
had always granted to the old man was, as well on board the fleet."
as his firiendship, a guarantee for his security.    Upon hearing those words, Ziana uttered a
However surprised at receiving such a nis- fearful cry, and rushing towards the port, had,sive, he was still more so when Ziana related. barely time to see the far horizon dotted with
to him what strange sounds she had heard du- the vessels of the fleet which carried off her
ring the night: hurried steps and confused voi- betrothed.,ces in the lower room. Taddeo had been there,   "Why did you bring me hither, father 7" she
"threatening to break open the door; and when, asked, a's Ottale led her through the splendid
with justifiable terror, she called aloud to her rooms of the Casino, where as yet only domesfather, she had received no answer. At last, tics were to be seen arranging the tables..halfdead with fear, but finding, in her anguish, "How  beautiful everything looks here! but.a supernatural courage, she had succeeded in how sad I am! I feel as one in a dream. On
forcing open her door. She had then reached my return from the seashore I had not strength
h.er father only to find him in a profound sleep, enough left to call upon the Countess d'Azola,.and yet the window on the canal was open.    who had sent for me. What can she have to
She pressed Ottale with anxious inquiries; say to me 1 Here comes the Signor Inquisitor,:.but he knew nothing, had heard nothing. All he may inform us."
-was in order in the laboratory; the plate deposi-   Grimani, his mask in hand, was indeed then'ted there, the tools, the scales of exchange; entering the play-room, and giving some orders.nothing was missing. There was nothing to to the'overseers.  He wore the bahuta and
induce a belief that David Gruss had introduced peruke.
himself into the house with felonious intent.   The inquisitor seemed astonished at the pale-Besides, the note from the doge set all fears at ness of the Jew's daughter.  He had just left
rest on that score.                          the banquet of the doge, and as soon as he perAfter vainly interrogating the neighbours, un- ceived Ziana, said,
able to obtain any clew to satisfy her painful   "The countess wishes to speak with you,.uncertainty, she had determined, as a last ex- signorita: follow me. You, Ottale, are aware
-tremity, to apply to Taddeo himself, were he the doge intends. to honour the play with his
<even toupbraid and reproach.               presence; his serene highness has bidden me
The poor girl proceeded towards the arse- assure you of his continued favour. I take this
nal; but, besides the inevitable confusion of' opportunity to ask you to lend me two hundred
that day, the admiral had given orders that no pistoles."
one should be admitted; she was then compel-   "Signor Inquisitor," answered Ottale, hesiled to'wait outside clinging to its grated enclo- tating..sure, in the midst of a crowd of women and   "Well, well, I will pay you. I am partner




60                                    SAFIA.
in the bank of Signor Arnolfo, who has just ar- throng of masks, who only stopped at the door,
rived from  Florence.  l-He is said to be im- to deliver their cross-marked checks. Amid
mensely wealthy.  I will lead Ziana to the that crowd, all dressed alike, there were some
countess, and be back with her immediately."  gentil donne, with their muffs, their black velvet
Ottale followed with his eyes the maiden, masks, arms and shoulders bare.  Some of
who had but to cross the square to reach the these held their ear-rings for fear of being robpalace, so short was its distance from the Ca- bed; others played with their fans on account
sino.                                        of the excessive heat. Meanwhile the heralds
"I had perhaps better have left her at of the Casino announced, with loud voices, that
home," thought he; " but this show will raise the play had begun.
her spirits. Really, the dear child occupies my   When the crowd had disposed themselves
mind more than my own danger; and yet, with around the table, the marquis was enabled tot
their edicts against the Jews, how  did the see several valets hurriedly carrying coffers.
doge manage to obtain such subsidies?" con- bearing the name of Signor Arnolfo.  They
tinued he to him'self, as he returned to his were followed by more bearers, who protected:
stand.  "I will see him during this f6te; and the coffers until the arrival of that player, whose
although his rank forbids him  to wear the place was retained for him at the faro-table.
mask, he will, I hope, find means to speak with   At this moment, also, the Chevalier de la Plume!",'mardisre was surrounded by several gentlemen,
As Ottale disappeared, two masks came in, some masked, others not. Among these were
both wearing dominoes and three-cornered hats. Moncenigo, Trevisani, and other nobles.  All.
" Parbleu! my dear Chevalier de la Plumar- seemed to be acquainted with the Chevalier de
diere, I am very much obliged to you for pro- la Plumardibre, and to treat him with great fa —
curing me admittance in advance to the scene miliarity.
of our future exploits.  We are partners: for-   " So we are in time, all of us, gentlemen, even.
tune must smile upon us."                   with the clock! The circumstance of war in
"Fortune is fickle," answered the chevalier; the morning; evening, play. The Marquis de
but if she treats you as well as the Countess Saluces holds our bank, does he not, dear chevd'Azola, my dear marquis-"                  alier 3"
"Hush, chevalier! Do you forget that we   "I have that honour, gentlemen, and will hold
are no more at Paris, and that here walls have it against all comers. But pray, what are we
ears?  True, the countess bestows upon me waiting for now 3"
most indulgent glances.  What would you l   "The arrival of one Signor Arnolfo. Some
Good looks and smartness such as mine have think that name disguises Teodoro Cornaro,.
their effect."                               banished by the former doge for his excessive
"You are a charming man," said the mask, debts.  You know, Trevisani, that Teodoroin a jeering tone, which the marquis didtnot Cornaro, to whom you are still indebted."
perceive. "By-the-by, we have to play against   Moncenigo had scarcely concluded when a
a gamester of eminent fame, one Arnolfo, of domino, habited like the rest, and masked with
whom nobody had ever heard until, all at once, a wide piece of pasteboard that concealed even
he secured enormous bets by correspondence the lower part of the face, arrived, somewhat inwith our strongest bankers."                toxicated, and fanning himself with a. handker" I hold him a dead man if he wins our funds. chief, at the spot where the! valets guarded the
I have most extraordinary luck whenever I play coffers. He whispered to them, and quietly sat
abroad; yet, were I to play again at Paris, down. His wig was so redolent of Cyprus-peragainst, that rascal, Cagliostro —-how easily that fumed powder, his wristbands were so long, his.
fellow plucked me- "                        sword-knots so eccentric and unfashionable,
"Have you heard nothing of himl It has that he looked as if just emerged from some obbeen stated he was at Venice, with one Casa- scure Venetian province, whither he had retired
nova."'                                     to economize.
"Yes, a libertine! a rou6! I do not know    " Permit us, signor," said Trevisani, aphim, but I am sure you think with me. The preaching the unknown, "to salute in your per —
police here have caged them, but will not ac- son one of the most celebrated of all players."
knowledge it."                                 "The most magnificent," added Moncenigo.
" Ah! you think that the police —"          "The most rare," chimed in the Chevalier de?
" Certainly; I filed my complaint with Messer la Plumardidre.
Grimani.  By-the-by, chevalier, shall we not   " The most dangerous," interposed the mar —take off our masks? I am half smothered with quis, glancing at the enormous quantities of sethis piece of pasteboard, and that domino, which quins that were piled in pyramids before theyou adorn with the name of bahuta!"        mask.
"You may do as you like, mairquis. As to    The new comer, without answering, waited
myself, I intend to preserve this incognito: an until his opponents had seated themselves, and
affair of some celebrity, a duel in which I was then said,
unfortunately involved in Padua-"             " The game is made!"
"Indeed! With whom?"                        At this solemn moment the hangings cover —
"A Milanese officer, morbleu! who spoke ill ing the two doors facing each other at either
of France. Some day I will tell you all partic- extremity of the hall were drawn aside; one
ulars; but just now we had better retain our gave passage to the doge, escorted by the seignplaces; the rush will soon begin."          ory; the other to the Countess d'Azola, leanTwelve had, indeed, just struck, and the mar- ing on the arm of Grimani.
quis had to take refuge prudently against the
wall to avoid the tumultuous; entrance of a




SAFIA.                                        61
CHAPTER XXIII.                  him. You know his kindness.  I hope he does
not intimidate you when he addresses you!"
THE iMONEY OF TEHE OGRETTO.           "I will, father, I will; but instead of being,'THE countess was pale; she glanced at the to-night, among the multitude of the Casino, I
splendour of the Casino; then, with several no- had rather —I confess it-be with the venerable
ble ladies in her suite, took her seat upon a vel- ladies at the convent of the Celestia, praying
vet settee near the principal table.        for Taddeo."
It seemed as though some violent, passionate   Ziana tame out, her mind agitated by tumulscene had exhausted Safia's strength. She had, tuous thoughts: the play was then at its height,
indeed, had an interview with the Jew's daugh- but yet, as customary even in the ridotti of
ter; but, too irritated to listen to her, too jeal- Venice, silence reigned profound.
ous to believe her, she had vainly used prayers' Standing near the faro-table, Alessandro ob-:and threats without obtaining from Ziana any served the players with visible indifference,
other confession than that of a mystery which when, all at once, the mask with the coffers exshe herself could not unravel.               cited his curiosity.
Then, from a protectress she became a rival.   So rapidly did gold and silver accumulate under:She disgracefully expelled Ziana from her pres- his hands, that it seemed as if he had a familiar;ence; and the poor girl was at this moment devil in his service, and that he was in partnerhiding her tears, in her father's bosom, who him- ship with some invisible power.  Owing to the
self, trembling with rage and indignation,,strove strict rule of silence, not a word had passed beto console her.                             tween him and the Marquis de Saluces, who
"What do you say-expelled you!" contin- dealt, or the different nobles who played.
ued he, pressing the maiden's hands within his   " D-n the domino!" muttered the marquis
own. "' She, the Countess d'Azola! Oh Heav- between his teeth. "Do you know, Chevalier
en! if I were at liberty to speak, to say to her-  de la Plumardiere, that I begin to think I have:But what is your crime? of what does she ac- a sorcerer to deal with."
cuse you?"                                     " Marquis de Saluces," answered the cheva" She charges me, father, with having my- lier, " I am a seafaring man, accustomed to all
self excited Taddeo's jealousy, in order that he sorts of weather; let Fortune be propitious or
might leave; when I desired nothing so much adverse, I contemplate with equal indifference:as to render him happy!"                  the calm or the tempest: do likewise."
"' What next i"                             "Parbleu! chevalier, it is easy for you to say
" She pretends that the mysterious cavalier so; but when one has, like myself, six thouwho visited us, and who is known to you, at sand sequins at stake-"
least, was-oh, father! I blush to repeat it.   "lIndeed. marquis, the coffers of that singular
She said he was my lover!"                 gamester seem alway's open, and always full.
Ziana covered her face with her hands, and It seems as if some fairy power were engaged
wept so abundantly, that the poor Jew, himself' in emptying its contents upon our table only to
moved to tears, promised to speak with the fill it again with our spoils. I have seen many
doge.                                       players in Venice, but this one surpasses them
"Venice!" resumed he, "Venice! accursed, all; who can he be!"
ungrateful city! How, my Ziana, can one be-   The unknown mask, indeed, was playing like
lieve in innocence here, when vice triumphs a man on whom  the ambassadors of all the
impudently in sight of all-when it has become powers had had their eyes fixed: he said, " Va.do,
a crime to give hospitality to a friend 3 Be com- knave loses, ten wins," as coolly as an agent
forted, however, I will see the doge —speak with playing for a principal. True it was, that by
him. He will restore to you the protection of his side several coffers were open, and while
the Countess d'Azola. Meanwhile forget her the croupiers raked the gold across the table,
harsh words. She thought well of Taddeo, and he carefully placed the remnant of his casket
on his leaving so abruptly-"                on the cloth.
" Good father, you are my only refuge! Yes,   "What sum  does this stand for on the
Heaven is my witness that I am not guilty; that queen!" inquired the marquis, laying his hand
the feeling my heart entertained for our friend- on the player's casket.
ly visiter was that of compassion. If he still   " Twenty thousand ducats."
abides in Venice, let him bear witness for me.   "Twenty thousand ducats!" exclaimed the
Taddeo, Taddeo!" continued the maiden, " will players, agitated and astounded.
he ever return "                               ". Twenty thousand, gentilemen," rejoined the
lThus speaking, Ziana leaned her sweet face player, pursuing his victorious course of doub-upon the old man's shoulder.  The Jew had ling on his losses.
closed the door of his counting-roomn in order to    "Signor Mask," said the doge to him, drawbe more at liberty, when several voices were ing him aside-before the croupier called the,heard at the grating.                       game-"one who plays as you do must be
" Jew, exchange these orders for me."     either Teodoro Cornaro, banished sonme time
"Jew, here is a bill for a hundred ducats."   ago on account of his debts, or a certain man,
"Jew, I am the Marquis Malatesta."        named, I believe, David Gruss."
" And I, the Procurator Steno."             The doge awaited with visible emotion and
Ottale, without opening, passed his withered growing anxiety the answer of the mysterious
hand under the gratings, and exchanged the domino.
bills that were presented to him.               "Neither, your highness," he answered, ta"Ziana," resumed lie, " time presses; I fear king his leave, and coolly resuming his seat.
I may not be able to speak to-night to his high-   Whetherithe unknown gamester's voice was
ness the doge. Go to him, and excuse me with smothered by his mask, or whether he purpose



62                                   SAFIA.
ly disguised it, the doge did not recognlse him    At this moment Alessandro was approached:
as his acquaintance of the preceding night.  at the same time by two different persons: the,
"Some young fool from Padua," said he to  countess, but masked, and Ziana, who was-,
himself,'.' hurrying to his ruin, or some insolvent timidly drawing over her shoulders the folds of
noble, I suppose.  Why the state Mint would  a thick zendaletto, or veil.
scarcely satisfy his cupidity: he is playing for   The maiden withdrew at the sight of thehis house or his mistress; he plays without haughty lady before her.
sign, without-word, without accomplice; that is   Saiia took the arm of Alessandro; she was
his secret! Have I not also a secret that weighs pale as marble.
on me with tyrannical influence? Did nat I    " Two words only."
last night accomplish the deed of a thief, of a    " The countess!" murmured the doge to himruffian? I robbed the Jew during his sleep, to  self.
bestow on Venice his deep-buried treasure:    He had forgotten her, as a prince may wellt
that treasure has been blessed by the patriarch, forget when state affairs have more claims on
and distributed among my soldiers. Who was his time than love -when, before becoming
its owner I do not know; but Venice had an  slave to a woman, he governs a state threaten-,
insult to avenge, Venice had to arm herself;  ed with danger.  Her authoritative air, howgold was denied her, and I took it. But, once  ever-that air which a mistress never loses —
more, who is yonder strange being?" continued  sufficiently appealed to his memory.  With
Alessandro, self-communing, and fixing his eye  somewhat of awe in his manner, he replied,
upon the mysterious gamester.  " Come, then,   "Two words, then, so be it; but I give you.
my idle senators, play; play against that man. warning your confidence must be short."
I, the doge, the prince, played for the honour   "Would you make me your own confidenof Venice, and won! Yesternight still Saint ces."
Mark's lion might not unfold his wings; and    "Not at present, for I am in haste."
this morning he soared afar to avenge the mis-   The doge observed Ziana, who stood timidly
fortunes, the contumely of his city. He soared  aloof, like a slave fearing to intrude upon her'
in the strength of his victorious youth, angry as master.
of yore in the days of Carmagnola! Play on,   " Your highness," resumed the masked lady,.
play still, my patricians, play! for it was but a wrapping herself more closely in her large baday since the treasury of Venice was empty; huta, "it is hardly past midnight; there is yet
play, for had it not been for that unknown  time for you to traverse the canals, as you did,
mask, who plays aloof from all, I could not last night about the same hour."
have buckled her armour upon Venice."          "What mean you?"
"Vado!" cried the marquis; "knave loses,   "Darkness is deep and discreet; the gondoten wins!"                                  lier safe; the spurred prow of the bark leaves"Ever playing," continued the doge; "what no track over the waters, even when speeding
shame! They play, and their stakes are idle- to Fusina."
ness, pleasure, luxury, creditors, all that is igno-    "Madam —"
minious! How much more, more exalted was;   "The houses of the Jews at the Ghetto are
my stake last night; but Heaven! how much  like tombs, whence no secrets arise."
more fearful! I staked Venice and her fame    " Really, madam, I do not know what you.
against a Jew  called David Gruss!  David  mean," said the doge, soon conquering an inGruss! who is David Gruss?" resumed the  voluntary shudder.
doge, still fixing his eyes upon the faro-table.,   "Won!" cried together the marquis, Trevi —
"Some vain, contemptible usurer, some one of sani, and Moncenigo, in a tone of exulting:
those Ghetto leeches; a man delighted to loan  hope.
to a doge!"                                   ",VWhy, surely," resumed the countess, "it.
1 "We have lost!" cried Moncenigo, in a tone  was you I met the other night at the house of
of despair.                                  the Jew Ottale."
" We are cleaned out!" added the Chevalier    " It is herself; I was not deceived!" murde la Plumardiere.                          imured the doge.
"Dead to all eternity!" joined Trevisani.  ";True, the mask preserved the secret of
"; Bravo! bravo! keep on, my dear Cornaro,"  your highness; but then you dropped this pon- -
said several patricians to the mask, whom they  iard there?"
believed to be Cornaro. The new Creesus of    The countess drew forth, before her aston- 
the Casino remained immoveable; he had but a  ished listener, a poniard adorned with turquoissign to make, and directly a docile valet brought es and Oriental pearls, which she had herself
him a coffer filled with sequins.            given to the doge, and.whose blade had beenThe play had now really reached that solemn  broken in the efforts he had made to reach.the 
crisis which puts the most unyielding temper buried treasure.
to the severest test, when the mask, approach-    "You suppose, then, it was I?" resumed he,.
ing the doge, said,                          striving to speak with an assurance which his
"Your highness does not play?"            conscience belied.
"Never."                                     "No, it was not you," continued the relent-.:
The mask returned to his seat. There had  less Safia, "whom the Jew's daughter, yournow settled around the table one of those mo- paramour, aided in escaping furtively by the
ments of deep, convulsive silence which play  canal!"
alone can produce; for the marquis and his as-    "Saw you naught else?"
sociates were staking large sums against the    "An open window! a tented gondola rowed,
unknown gamester.                            rapidly towards Fusina!"
"The game is made!" again cried the voice    "Speak lower!"
of the croupier.




SAFIA.                                      63'
" I saw also a locked door, that of Ziana's ble were consulting together, and meditating aapartment-"                                last and decisive attempt to rally fortune, the-'
"Silence!"'                            mask with the three-cornered hat, he of the da"And I was escorted in my nocturnal expe- ring and hazardous game, abruptly rose from the
dition by a young man, the betrothed of your table and approached Safia:
paramour. He, maddened with despair, enlist-   "Countess," said he, i" you love the doge, and,
ed this morning."                          he loves you no more."
"Enough, madam! What is your pleasure   "Who are you, sir "
with me?'  "A gamester, well aware of the privileges of
"That this very moment that girl, who dares the mask. I come to give you safe advice. You:
to brave me even here, be expelled the Casino are in danger of death, unless this night you.,
of Venice."                                abandon his highness."
"You are mad!"                            " Explain."
"There she is. I see her waiting for you,   "I will be brief, but perspicuous. You were,
and covered with her zendoletto. Obey! Ales- last night where he was, at the house of Ottale,
sandro," added she, "farther disguise between at the Ghetto."
us is useless; let this end. I am your slave,   "Who am I now addressing?"
or your mistress, my lord; I am Safia! Look   "One who knows everybody, and whom no.
at me: we may here, at this Casino, speak to one here knows; one who takes compassion
each other face to face. Well, listen: drive upon the doge, and is aware that the mad lovethat woman from the Casino, from Venice-  which now leads him astray must prove fatal."'
exile her wherever you choose: to Padua, Vi-   "Explain."
cenza, anywhere! but let her go, I beseech   "Explain first to yourself the flight ofhis gon —
you! have pity on yourself, or on me!"   dola; his obstinate silence when last night you
"Safia," resumed Alessandro, bitterly, "you entered the Jew's house with Taddeo. Ziana's.
know me not, since you accuse me!"        door was closed; he had taken the key. Ev"I do accuse you; I charge you with decep- ery night he repaired thither. Every night he
tion. Last night, at the Jew's house, you fled betrayed you with another."
at my approach! Your life is wrapped in mys-   "True!"
tery; your life would defy the glance of inquis-   "But what is also true, madam, is, that, with
itor or spy, as I have told you; but, Alessan- heedless restlessness, he incurred the greatest.
dro, I will be revenged.  Go, Alessandro, go perils. He went," continued the mask, lowerand speak with your mistress; here will I ing his voice, "he went to a house-he visited.
await your decision. If she goes, I remain; if people-"
she remain, our intercourse is ended."       In an almost inaudible whisper, he made Sa —
Safia at this moment looked so jealous and fia the confidant of a horrible, frightful secret,.
commanding; her muscles, rigid with revengeful which called a livid pallor on the features of theresolve, had imparted to her countenance so im- countess.  Scarcely breathing, she listened.
perious an air of authority, that the doge made Each word uttered by the mask sounded as,
no answer.  The consciousness of his inno- dreadfully, as lugubriously as an informationr
cence, and the uncertain nature of the informa- drawn from the marble mouth of the lion of the
tion obtained by the countess, made him heed- Ducal Palace.
less of her threats. Besides, he wished to ful-   "Thanks!" said she, "thanks! You givefil another appointment, that with Ziana, then arms to my revenge. Whoever you may be,
surrounded by Moncenigo, Casanova, and Gri- friend or spy, return to your seat. I know
mani. Casanova, disguised as La Plumardiere, enough."
despite the golden chain that bound him to the' The mask regained his seat at the faro-table.
inquisitor's aged dame, felt himself irresisti- As we have said before, a decisive coup was,
bly attracted towards the Jew's daughter, and preparing. It might be the last. The attenscarcely heeded the play, although himself a tion of the players was intense; bets were~
constant loser.                            enormous; stakes were tripled.."
"You look sad, my beauteous child," said he   "Will you not bring us luck?" said Casanova
to the betrothed of Taddeo.                to the Jew's daughter. " Yet I think the hand
Ziana made no answer. She watched an op- of a fair young maiden may wring from Fortune
portunity of addressing the doge as soon as he many favours. Come, now that the doge has
should be disengaged from the importunity of spoken to you, your pretty face is radiant with
the domino. The poor girl shuddered with ter- happiness and hope! Ziana, you are like a rain —
ror when she recognised the countess.      bow among these clouds. This unknown gen" Expelled! expelled by her from her house!" tleman will surely lend you a purse of sequins..
said she to herself; bitterly. " Of what have I He is liberal and generous, of course, since he;
been guilty?"                              wins. Accept, then, the offer of that wealthy'
Mechanically she turned towards the play. wrestler of the Casino, and play."
The varied incidents that had lately changed   "Signor Mask, you are in error," answered:
the tenor of her life filled her mind. She thought the Jew's daughter. " I am not happy enough
of her intended husband's abrupt departure; of myself to-night to bring you luck."
the mysterious friend who visited her father at   "Then play for your secret thought," resumed
night.                                     the dauntless rou6. "Play, fair one, for the
Suddenly a soft, familiar voice startled her fortunes of him you love! Take these ducats."
by whispering in her ear words of sad and melt-   Ziana now found herself an object of general
ing tenderness. She turned around, and rec- notice to the crowd. She felt a proud and pure
ognised the doge.                          inspiration. While the nobles around were riskMeanwhile, and as the players at the faro-ta- ing their gold for unworthy objects,, the artless




64                                    SAFIA.,
-girl threw on the table a few gold pieces of the    These words were addressed to a file of sol-'unknown; but it was for him who was far away  diers, who entered with fixed bayonets. They
— to ascertain his fate-to know if he should  struggled a while with the players, who tried to
ever return.  She played for Taddeo.         recover possession oftheir gold. Severalmasks
Had angels been hovering over that hell of drew  their swords.  The tumult was at its'Venice, watching whether in the guilty throng  height. The tables were upset, gold rolled on
there was not one sweet and fair vision, they  the floor. Shortly after, the throng rushed
would have smiled on the Rose of the Ghetto, down the stairs with loud cries, after having redecked in the freshness of gracefiul youth, and  pulsed the guard.
standing, with a gamester's purse in her hand,   "'Pon my honour," said the marquis, coolly
in the midst of all those masked libertines. surveying the various groups, "this will make'With her beauty, her ingenuous air, and timid- a charming chapter in my book of travels."
ity she resembled a fair girl suddenly enslaved,   "Justice! justice! your highness," cried sev-:a Grecian captive amid a group of corsairs.  eral nobles, who had gathered around the doge.
The Marquis de Saluces cut the cards with    " Signors, justice will be done,'" answered
chill silence; no sound was to be heard save  Alessandro.
the rustling of silk dresses and dominoes. The
doge had disappeared. He wished to speak 
with Ottale, and had proceeded to his countingroom. The countess observed the game, cold                CHAPTER XXIV.
and motionless.' Vado!" cried the marquis, cutting for the             A FIRST MASTER.
aast time.                                     ON returning to her palace, leaning upon the
Heaps of gold streamed like water over the  arm of the marquis, Safia felt alarmed at her-tables; each player's breath was suspended; self.
the masks pressed closely together in the ut-   "I have revenged myself," she said; "but
anost anxiety. Suddenly a moment of solemn  upon information from an unknown. Who was
expectation ensued; hands covered with rings he? I know not; yet the means which he oftrembled convulsively; awful suspense was as fered were so easy that I cheerfully employed
clearly legible through the masks as on uncov- them. Alessandro deceived me; yet until this.ered countenances; then the Marquis de Salu- hour he had given me -no cause for suspicion:
sces arose, and exclaimed,                   I trusted as I loved him. Was the Jewess
"' Gentlemen, the bank is broken!"        guilty? I was told so; and Ottale's evidence is
Then followed a unanimous concert of excla- overwhelming.  No doubt remains; the doge,
mations, outcries, and murmurs. Those who  in his nightly visits at the house of the keeper
had lost vented their rage in imprecations, while  of the Mint, was in secret intelligence with his
the winners hastened to gather their gold in an- daughter. What pallor spread over his features
ticipation of the croupier's rakes; when the  when Grimaniseized Ziana.  She and her fathcountess, seeing the doge returning, exclaimed, er are now cast into a dungeon."
"Gentlemen, hold! The republic has been:   "You will confess, countess, that you de-,basely deceived to-night. The gold which has nounced their guilt at the proper moment.  But
been staked here to-night, that gold now heaped  for you, Safia, I had been ruined.  Really, the
-,on these tables, is counterfeit!"         unknown mask who so cleverly fleeced us all,
"Counterfeit!" reiterated the crowd.      was one of Satan's own progeny. Amid the
"Let every one resume his seat," uttered  confusion he made his escape, and doubtless:Grimani.  "Masks off! obey the Inquisition! by this time-Do you know, countess, that your
Guard the doors. Let no one enter nor go out. Casino is really a cut-throat place 3 We play
-Call the broker Ottale to test this coin. If such  against masked faces."
a deed has been committed, its author shall be    "Ziana! Ziana!" resumed the countess, lost
discovered, and incur the penalty of the law. in deep revery; "you saw her, marquis. Yes-'Here is the broker; his highness the doge will terday she wsas a sweet, ingenuous creature,
interrogate him."                            whom I delighted to protect; an angel, with
Deep silence prevailed.  Ottale, led by one chaste brow, and pure and innocent look, a child
of the officers of the~seignory, then appeared. whom every mother would have been proud to
He took several of the coins, and bent them on  claim as a daughter: to-day, an evil influence
the card-table.                              from the realms of darkness, a personification
"Well'!" exclaimed the'players.           of guile, deceit, robbery, with pencilled eye"Well, noble masters. all these coins are  brows! After that, trust to seraphic smiles,
counterfeit."                                the mask of ingenuousness, the veil which
"Counterfeit!" echoed the crowd.         beauty wears till purchased by gold! The be —
"Who gave these?" inquired Grimani. "Do  trothed upon the eve of her wedding, daughter
you know, madam3" continued he, addressing  of a Jew brought up as a nun! Fathom her
the countess.                               heart-how  soon you reach the mire! Ap"That woman," said she, pointing to Ziana. proach the lily, and you will find it black with
"I!" exclaimed the Jew's daughter.       contamination.  A gaming-house was a fitting
"Yourself. Who gave you that gold?"      spot for the wreck of such virtue. The doge,
Ziana vainly searched the crowd of dominoes. too, was in that den! the grave, the superb AlAll, alas! were alike. The player with the cof- essandro, whom I had ever loved, and would
fers had escaped; he was nowhere to be found. have loved forever. Alessandro has become
"In the name of the Inquisition of State," the slave of a vile receiver of stolen goodss!
resumed Grimani, " arrest that woman.  Seize  Can that be? yes; men are so formed. Let
the gold on these tables."                   woman be loving as I was ever, blindly trust



'S A FIA.                                     65:ing as I am still, young and fair as but yester- invaluable; for when alone with me he somse
day he called me, and yet she will find some  times weeps: on such rare occasions I shed
day, in spite of her virtue, in spite of her blind  tears also. Why does he weep  -I know not.
confidence, in spite of her devotion to an in- He speaks of his country, of Venice, of things
grate, that hatredand jealousy will bring treach-  in which I scarcely feel an interest. Whatever
ery to her door. You may laugh- at my com- the cause, I saw that he was slowly decaying;.plaints, marquis, but I am justifiable: laugh at wherefore I had determined to know; and now,
ny revenge; it is holy.".                by Heaven, I do know! Nobles must have
"No, madam, I think not of laughing," an- their plebeian, their secret loves. Never had I
swered the marquis; " provoked as it may have  heard him address even the lady of a sage of the
been, your vengeance is severe. Because the  council, and yet this Jewess —",doge takes Ottale under his protection, his    " Countess," interrupted the marquis, "I
lhouse becomes the abode of crime, his daugh- have known at Paris a courtesan from Rome,
ter guilty, and himself her accomplice! Who  called Anna Flora, who boasted that she had
xRevealed- this to you?' who sullied your hadds  boundless influence over the minds of tihe great,
with all this shame and contumely?  Ottale  merely from the fact of her being the daughter
yields his gray hairs to the executioner equally  of an obscure inn-keeper of Parma.  There is
as Ziana. I laugh no more, countess, though  an attraction towards inferiority that *drags.a Frenchman-a French noble-I laugh no  down elevated natures with irresistible force:
more; I tremble for the accused and for the  superior men entertain reallybut one ambitin —
doge."                                       that of living in quiet."
"The doge 1"                                  "A Jewess!" murmured the countess; "a
"Listen, countess: the republic has this day  girl upon whom  I lad showered favours and,eaused the banishment of many Jews; Ottale, benefits. I remember how he gazed on herf the
t;he severe and honest Ottale, was excepted. day of her betrothal. It is all over, marquis; I
By whom 1 the doge. You are not ignorant have lost all courage. He should be here; he:that the Venetian patricians bear with difficulty  is not. Where can he be. doubtless with
the sway of Alessandro: they cry out for vyen- her."
-geance to-night; to-morrow they will inculpate    "Countess, I have pointed out to you the
him.  He was the friend of the man whose  only remaining path of safety; you will not
daughter staked her coin at the Casino; whence  charge me with striving to deprive you of the
came it 3 I know not; but the keeper of the  love of the doge. There was a man who had
Mint of Venice must know and reveal. By  scarcely landed in Venice ere you trembled at:Grimani's triumphant air, I fancied I discovered  finding yourself in his power. Cagliostro might
that the inquisitor held the clew to the mystery. have ruined you. Who knows hut the doge,
As he verified the coffers and coin, he started. warned by his advice, intimidated by his
Now, then, why should not the doge be tried as  threats-"
ovwell as Ottale I Why should not the hatred of   "Marquis," resumed the countess, " Gagli-the nobles reach unto the friend of the Jew    ostro is no longer in Venice; he has found
Trust me, countess, you are no longer in safety  means of escaping. It has not been in the
here; Venice is not like Paris: justice is here  power of the  doge to seb or question him.
t:oo often done in the dark. You were the pro- Thank Heaven, that man no longer sways nay
tectress of Ziana, the mistress of the doge;  destiny, or his!"
you will be called upon to reveal the secrets of   "A letter for the signora," said Azael, enteryour proteg6e. Fly, then, fly! I see around  ing the apartment, and presenting upon a sil*you but informers and snares. Fly! for to- ver tray a note given him by a Sclavonian.
morrow you may cross the Bridge of Sighs; to-    With contracted eyebrows the countess open-;morrow you may share the gloom of Ziana's  ed the missive, which she supposed contained tidungeon."                                    dings from Alessandro. Suddenly a cold moist"You frighten me, marquis.  Fly! with  ure suffased her hand and: brow: she looked
whom. The dogel   You might as well tear as if the last star had fallen from the heaven.out a leaf from the tree as expatriate Alessan-  of her hopes.  Handing the note to the mardro. Yes, I feel it but too well; he loves me  quis, she folded hler arms with the determinaJnext only to Venice; be could not live in ban — tion of anguish. Its hastily-traced characters
ishment. Strange is his life: by day, at the  ran thus:,co~uncil, le is the stern senator of former times,   "The doge is lost, fair Safia; come to me.,devoted to his country as to a jealous deity; I heard of the scandalous incident at the playwhile night finds hiim wandering through the  table, the perfidiousness of your lover, and your
dark streets, a reckless adventurer, who seeks  shame. Alessandro betrayed you. I can put
pleasure as others seek rest. Fatal, unaccount- you in possession of correct and( positive particable genius! never have I been able to grasp  ulars.  My gondola awaits you at the landing
his hidden thought. Heretofbre, marquis, I had  of the Bridge of Sighs; I did not wish to stop
thought, indeed, that glory was his only pas-  near your palace.  A carriage is in readiness at.sion. I compared him to a stern religionist, Fusina to convey us to Milan. It is no longer
prematurely old, but still beautiful, standing in  your master. but your slave who awaits-you."
some dark cathedral's aisle, and listening to the    The letter was unsigned, but the countess
voice of God through the impressive Sal of the  knew the writing; the marquis could also guess
solemn organ. Alessandro has those occasional from whom it came.
bursts of generous passion which women love    On readinr, that note. Safia understood that a
so well; sudden flashes lighten his pale cheek  last snare had been spread fi)r her by Cagliostro,
and brow; his heart swells with.noble ambi-  whose bolldness and unprinliipled skill she dreadt.ion and aspiring cnoerg.  His tears are to te  ed.  She knew better than any one eke the asAt~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




669                                  SAFIA.
tute mind of her former master, and feared she   "What a night, Safia! what a night for our
was lost beyond hope.                       departure! See, everything invites us, the pro"He will speak, he will say that, while at pitious waves and the sombre palace, yonder
Pa1ris, I was still less than the (laughter of that palace, where the doge is now meditating the
Jew; he will crush me, make me the laughing- means of saving his beloved; for he loved her,
stock- of Venice.  Contemptible wretch! At Safia, he loved her. I met him myself under
one word, marquis, I could have him seized, the roof of the Jew, my banker."
thrown into a dungeon!"                      Much elated as he uttered this.ironical senYes,'indeed," answered Saluces, "with a tence, Cagliostro placed his hand upon a coffer
police so delightfilly organized as yours! I of considerable size, in which the lucky player
have lost all faith in it since my mishap. On was transporting hlis wealth. For, in return
the contrary, you must answer Cagliostro that for the counterfeit coin, he had received pure
you will go; send him word to wait, and leave virgin gold, with which le had filled his pockets,
the. rest to rme."                          and which, after his flight, he' transferred to a
"What do you intend "                     box purchased by him at the Sclavonian quay.
"That is my secret."                         "You are agitated-trembling. You do not
"But still-"                              answer, countess't Do you fancy I do not ap"Trust to me; merely write a word desiriag preciate the treasure I am  carrying away?
him to wait. Aspetta!"                      Compose yourself, fair Safia. Count Cagliostro
"I am willing," said the countess; ~' but af- is a diflhrent aidorer fi'om your doge and your
terward —"                                  marquis. Are you ill  Here is an excellent
"Afterward," continued the marquis, "you bottle of smelling salt. I had it from Madame
will send this (hle then folded the note) to Count d'lUrs6, one of my initiated at Paris.
Cagliostro by your usual trusty messenger,   "Paris!" continued Cagliostro; "we shall
Azael. His eyes are sharp as those of a Greek,. both, then, behold it once more. This time,
and a few minutes will suffice him to take aoc- however, without my wifb.  She did not uncurate observation of the count's gondola. Do derstand apparitions, so I dropped her. You,
you see these weapons?" resumed the marquis, on the contrary, will produce a sensation at the
producing a stiletto and a brace of loaded pis- court of France.  With your beauty, grace, and
tols;  "with these a woman in a gondola is accomplishments you will be the pearl of the
safe."                                      city, the magnet of attraction."
Azael soon returned; he had critically scan-   The countess bowed her head. She made
ned the count's gondola. The two barcaroli frequent applications of the smelling-bottle Cagwere known to him; the passenger was in a liostro had given her, yet cast many and watchsuperb dress, concealed by a black bahuta, an ful glances at the tswo gondoliers as they rowed
enormous wig, and a three-cornered hat. The towards Fusina.
night was serene, and the crystal bosom of the    "You regret you  beloved city! You, perlagunes shone like a mirror.                haps, shed tears of farewell.  But, Safia, what
A quarter of an hour later, a woman, wrap- is the mournful palace of the Countess d'Azola,
p'd in a long brown mantle, issued from the comnpared with the fairy- abode that awaits you?
Palace dAzola, masked; she was' escorted by Your life at Venice was one of continual fear
Azael, whogave her his hand to aid her in en- and anxiety. You feared me; you feared the
tering the gondola.' doge. At Paris a crowd of brilliant noblemen.
will stand trembling before you-the king him-.
self. A king, countess: a King of Fiance is., CHAPTER. XXVS'.       -       surely more than the Doge of Venice! Once
at Paris, you shall occupy by'yourself alone a
FROM VENICE TO FUSINA.            part of the large mansion I inhabit. Therie you,
NEVER had a more lovely night spread its will live, under whatever name you please to
star-spangled canopy over the flight of a loving adopt, a life of happiness, of joy, and rapturous.
couple. Venice, now far behind, looked like a pleasure! Paris now lives under the sway ald,vessel framed in stone, at anchor in the dis- will of Madame Dubarry.  You shall eclipse'
tance.                                      her. Paris is infested with philosophers. You
The gondola ploughed' its silver furrow  shall muzzle the tigers! Painting and poetry
through the phosphorescent waves of the Adri- will lay tribute at your feet; and when Venice
atic, the barcaroli chanted,-the breeze sighed is mentioned before you, you will exclaim,
faintly around the Lido, the illumined stores of   "'.Venice! What is Venice  Yes,' you will
the Place. of Saint Mark sent forth across the'add,'I remember a province laved by the wawaves long streaks of lurid flame. Venice, with ters, a city, a miracle of nature, with her sevher thousand liglits, seemed to the enraptured enty-two islands, bound together by eight hunbeholder a fairy city, bound to earth by wreaths dled bridges. It is rather a singular than a
of glittering diamonds and emeralds. Caglios- handsome city, a mass of marble and porphyry,
tro himself, as he looked back, sighed like one where splenetic nobles dwell.  I remember
leaving his home'. He was conquered by the leaving that city one lovely, star-lit night. That
matchless magic of that unparalleled sight, that'night, I also remember, my lover had deceived
fete given in honour of the sea, for which the me, and a young girl had been arrested at the
waves had decked themselves with glittering play-table for passing counterfeit money.'"
lights.                                       While thus speaking, Cagliostro  listened
Echoes of music still came from the ancient whether, through the silk of her mantle he
City of the Doges, the taverns remained open, could not detect by the loud beatings of her
the arrest at the Casino had as yet caused only heart, the thousand wounds his words were invague and uncertain rumours.                flicting. Her sudden and unexpected decision; 




SAFIA.                                        67
her obstinate silence, interrupted only by pas- I should advise him to make an:end of it —a man
sionate sighs, threw his mind into a maze of  of doubtful courage, a fool, a fop, a-"
tumultuous thoughts. Before Safia his reason    The count would have continued, but at this
weas confounded, as if supernatural agency had  moment they reached Fusina: the custom-house
been necessary to explain her presence.      officer hailed with iris speaking trumpet for a
-" It was well I took advantage of her first inm- night gondola.
pulse," thought he; "to-morrow might have    The overseer calme out, and Asked the count'been too late."                             his destination.
Still finding her obstinately silent, he resu-    "Milan."
med, with counterfeit humility,                "Who accornpanies you."
" You think me, perhaps, madam, a jailer, a    "My wife."
wretch who would make traflic of your person.    "W ithout passports 7"
Dispel such thoughts. Thank Heaven, I am    "Here is mine."
rich; and that wealth," added he, pointing to    Cagliostro then produced from his pocket-book
the coffer, "I lay at your feet. Again I say, a passport carefully folded, and scrupulously corI am but the most humble of your adorers. Per- rect in all particulars.  It was no other tban
ish the thought of my ever again becoming your that which Casanova had so skilfully stolen
master! I have found you again, beautiful and  from the unfortunate marquis, and sold to Cagnoble. Now I am your squire, your servant; liostro the same evening.
command me, and I obey."                       At sight of this passport the officer frowned
He then glanced upon the countess with his and read it twice through.
flaming eyes, resorting to his habitual power   "Arrest that man and the female with hin,"
of snake-like fascination, and not without effect, said he to one of his attendaut sbirri.
it would seem; for although the countess still   Cagliostro attempted to resist; he drew his
persevered in her silence, when he took her ss word, but was quickly disarmed, and deprived
hand, she did not withdraw it.               of all means of doing harm. The lady made no
Unhoped-for as was this happiness, Caglios- difficulty, but laughed long and loud.
tro secretly solved the enigma. He had heard    "The Marquis de Saluces! the marquis " exat play the sound of her jealous, haughty voice; claimed Cagliostro, as his rmystifier doffed the
he had seen her approach, with quivering lips, mantle and the mask that concealed his person.
the faro-table.  Had he not himself -dictated    "Myself, my dear friend; I am delighted to
what she should say! Was not he the cause  have eloped once in my life as a female. I was
of Ziana's arrest. When Grimani had extend- never run away with before! Have' the kinded his staff over Ziana, to signify that she was ness to return me my passport."
a prisoner, Alessandro had uttered a half-sup-    " Who, then, denounced me 3" said the count
pressed cry, which had fbund an echo in Safia's to the custom-house officer.
heart.  She could no longer doubt Alessandro's  L"One of your friends, Signor Count. You
inconstancy, and the thought was death. Cag- aee, -we are never betrayed save by friends."
liostro took infernal delight in spreading before   "A friend 3"
her the whole in detail, and he used all the arts   "You are acquainted, I presume, with Signyof a vile informer to persuade his silent listener. or Casanova de Seingalt 1"
"' Two o'clock!" exclaimed he, taking out his    "Certainly."
watch. "The night is dark; it will be difficult   "Did he not give you the passport of the
for the custom-house officers at Fusina to know  Marquis de Saluces 3"
me under this disguise!"                     -" For six hundred sequins," murmured CagThen, casting off his bahuta and his wig, and  liostro, aside, " if he calls that giving."
concealing them under the cushions, he exhibit-    4 "Well, Signor Count, the Signor Casanova de
- d:himself to his companion apparelled in the  Seingalt, your intimate friend, had given us nolatest style of Versailles, a costume which the  tice at the same time, that from day to day you
Marquis de Saluces alone in Venice could have  might be expected to attempt leaving Venice
produced. He no longer wore the enormous  with a false passport. Therefore, signor, aswe
wig he had worn  at the Casino; his hair arti- cannot bear the thought of losing you, we have
ficially powdered, his coat impregnated with per- provided you with a delightful retreat, neither
fume, his breast glittering with ribands, he look- the Casino nor the Place of Saint Mark, but the
ed a true seigneur from the court -of France.    Leads-you understand."
" I thought I could not do better, madam, to    "The Leads! for me! what means this illplease you, than to assume the dress and ap- timed jest 3"
pearance of the Marquis de Saluces, your cave-   "We iever jest, signor, when Messer Grilier serviente. If it amuse you, I will imitate  mani gives us orders to execute. Reserve your
his lisp, and dance French courantes!  Poor thanks for him when he visits you in the mornmarquis!" continued Cagliostro, laughing heart- ing: it is he, this time, who provides you with
ily, "how desolate will he be to-morrow when  lodging."
he learns your departure! The fellow has an    Cagliostro stamped with rage, while Saluces
Amadis turn, and it would not be astonishing if laughed immoderately.
he drowned himself.'pon honour!"             "My dear friend," said the marquis, "you for" Hem! hem!" uttered the countess, cough- get your money-that money, you know, with
mag, and taking from Cagliostro's box a jujube.  which I was to make such a figure at Paris!"
"You cough violently-the night air-allow    "What! then the count has been lucky at
me to close this window."                    play to-night," said the officer: "let us see."
I was saying," resumed the count, shutting    Upon an order from him, three sbirri, guided
the window of the gondola, "' that it will surely  by the marquis himself, entered the gondola.
be the death of the marquis. For my part, I They found there a coffer full of shining geld




68                                     SAFIA.
piees, half sequins and half ducats; the whole    "Yes; ten years ago, under the former doge.
was placed aside to be sent to Messer Grande But the arrangements have since been altered,
the inquisitor, by the same bark that was. to and I doubt-"
convey Cagliostro back to the Leads of Venice.   "Will Signor Casanova de Seingalt allow me
While passing beneath that dreadful portal by a simple question?"
torch-light, Cagliostro more than once tried to   "Certainly. Why, we are here merely for
escape from his watchful keepers. But the most the purpose of asking and answering questions.
severe one was the marquis himself, in his fe- Nothing else to do, save drinking or cards."
male headdress, who appeared overjoyed, at last,'! Very well. W~hat would he think of a man
at securing the count. As he crossed the thresh- who should denounce his bosom friend!"
old of the room which was destined to be his   "His bosom friend."
prison, a sarcastic peal of laughter re-echoed    "Ay."
from the vaulted roof of the Ducal Palace, under   "I should think the bosom friend must have
which this room was situated; at the same deserved it."
time a man, wrapped in a bahuta, as if recently    "In what way?"
risen from the faro-table, appeared before him,   "By not assisting those who assisted him."'
and, with ironical politeness, did the honours of   " Did I not assist you under the wig and the
the place to the new guest.                  costume of Doctor Phoenix? and Signora Gri"Casanova!" exclaimed Cagliostro; "well mani-"
played!."                                      "True; hut did I not cause you to find a
"We are locked in together," answered Cas- most valuable book, one that was surely worth
anova; "thie night will be long; let U$s talk, more than your powders and your philosopher's
de.oSr count."                               stone?"
"I showed you that there was a cruel gap in
that book; the most interesting leaf for us had
been torn out."
AP   By whom?"
UNDER TvIE LEADS.                " By Signorl Grimnani, doubtless."
" YEs, talk," answered Cagliostro, striving to    "Nothing can rid me of the idea —since here
disguise his rage; "talk."                   we speak openly-that you sold it to some one;
The count seated himself upon a worn strawv to that Signor Arnolfo, for instance."
chair. They eyed each other suspiciously.      "Suppose it were true?"
Casanova and the count were both in full ball   "You would have played a handsome trick:
dress under their dominoes; a lamp suspended  he will be arrested, and confess the whole
from  the iron ring in the centre of the -vault truth.  If that affair had been in my hands, we
above, made their tinselled dresses glitter.  should not be where we are.;'
They looked like two itinerant country quacks   " Why, Casanova, I have not been seen at,settling the bill for their first night's perform- the Signora Grimani's palace.  I entered it in a
ance.                                        disguise when in search of that book; but the
The room offered to the eye nothing but a inquisitor's wife knows you."
tiresome monotony of roofs. The ceiling, in-  "'Well."
clined like that of an attic, was composed of   "Well! she will denounce you. You have
sheets of lead. The heat wias intense and suf- it in your power to make amends for your confocating; no sea-breeze reached it.  Four duct towards me; write to Signora Grimani,
signors of the night had just visited the prison, and ask her to release us from this place. It is
and as they went out drew the bolts upon them. true-I will confess it-I ought to have shared
"This more resembles an oven than a dun- with you the price of the book; but I was at
geon," said Cagliostro, wiping his brow with a Padua, and durst not come back. That Arno]fine linen handkerchief.  "What procures me fo cannot recognise me; I am not afraid of
the, pleasure, my dear friend, of meeting you being confronted with him;. but I have worse
here 1."                                     affairs on my hands: I am persecuted by the
"Faith, my dear friend, I was about to ask hatred of the countess; the Marquis de Saluces
you the same question.  A husband's, an inquis- is the mortal enemy of both of us.  Obtain, I
itor's revenge, perhaps, together with that dev- say, from Signora Grimani-"
ilish coin which I handed, most unsuspectingly,   "Charming speech! Do you imagine that
I assure you, to that little girl. That Signor women have power to release captives from the
Arnolfo, who gave it me, was a great rascal."  Leads of Venice t"
6'. Of course, I did not play that night, be-   "Why not? The signora is enough of a heoau se. I had no money to play with; but at the roine to visit you here with her duenna; we
mere name of Arnolfo I started, as I remember- will take their dresses, and let them remain in
ed a certain Florentine by birth, though Greek our stead.  Grimani will hush up the affair;
Fy profession, who bore that name at Rome."  he will not assemble the Council of the Tea
"You might perhaps give information con- against his wife."
cirning him?"                                 "Grimani watches her, and us too. We com"For what purpose, since he found means to menced our life at Venice with an apostolical
escape before the finale?  Nevertheless, the supper; we shall end it with a foretaste ot'f hell.
olice of Venice must be very ineflicient."   I don't know whether you are aware of it, but
" Not so nmuch so since we are in its clutch- this leaden vault is anytihing but cool."
as. But who donouncied you?"                  Casanova now industriously plied a fan which
"I ktow not; but what I do know is, that I he produced from under his bahulta.
do not intend lo remain here long.  Did you   "Nothing to he done, to be attempted!" renot once sc'-: c.      -:'< "sumed he. "Bars like the Lion's Column!




SAFIA.                                       69
walls as thick as the deike of Murano! It has   "On whose protection may we now depend?
beena my misfortune to become acquainted with Who will vindicate innocence? The Doge of
you, Signor Count; you play too deep a game Venice? But he is only a mask of power and
for me!"                                    authority.  Taddeo. But he has gone to seek
He paused then, as to listen to the.silence of death afar. What infernal genius has wrought
his cage. Through a grated loop the eye could the ruin of both of us, my Ziana I"
gaze at the starry dome above, that shone in   After a pause he resumed, with cold cormpall the splendour of a most lovely night. Casa- sure,
nova carelessly began pacing the floor back and    "As for myself, the sacrifice of my life is acforth. As for Cagliostro, he was dispirited, and comlplished.  That life belonged to this dear
sat with his brow between his hands.        child; her joys were my joys, and her smile
i' Hush!" said he, interrupping Casanova in my smile. The education I gave her was sehis walk; "there are some persons beneath. vere, but necessarily so. I was bound to watch
List! two voices in conversation."          over so young a heart, so charming a beauty!
Casanova kneeled on the floor, and, bringing My love was jealous, anxious as a father's love.
his ear close to it, heard a sweet, clear maid- No, she shall not die. I shall, I must acquit
en's voice singing, in a melancholy tone, the my debt towards her!  Rest in peace, then, my
following stanza:                           noble, sweet girl; Ottale watches over thee!"
I" Our Lady with the comb of gold,        The old man sat down on a stool, and while
Holy Madonna, sainted queen!         Ziana slept, he recalled slowly from memory
Whose arms, all deck'd with flowrets, hold  every circumstance of his life.  That self-exThe boy-god smiling and serene;
Bright Star! whose soft beams lead    amination brought back a tranquil sereneness
The vessel o'er the main,           to his brow. He had fathomed his soul, and
Safe from the wars our sailors speed  had found there neither treachery nor hatred.
Home, home again! "                  The life of Ottale had been a peaceful field over
The voice was now silent, and a deep sigh was which no storms had yet passed. He could reheard. Another voice soon interrupted the si- member no one bad action for which he would
-lence, and in aged, hoarse tones, repeated a He- have to blush. Thus the souls of the just, like
brew prayer.                                 the earth, exhale towards the evening rare and
"Ottale!" murmured Cagliostro.            heavenly perfumes; thus the urn of the heart
"Ziana!" joined Casanova.                gushes towards God, and makes the angels
The Jew and his daughter were indeed lock- weep for joy. Ottale was the representative
d in the Ducal Palace, whose mournful privi- of virtues long erased from the book of Venice,
loge it was to have a certain class of prisoners exact and scrupulous probity.
ronfined beneath its roof of lead. The presi-   "Star of the lowly, immutable, and sacred:dent of the criminal Quarantia had just introdu- rule," resumed he, "thou hast guided me to
cod them into -a narrow apartment situated di- this day! The corruption of the patricians has
Tectlybeneath that occupied byour worthy pair. made mae a better man. I have been ennobled
Ziana, on her entrance, found there another by contact with their daily degradation.  God
prisoner, one of Saint Mark's pigeons, which the alone has seen me; He alone may judge. I
jailer doubtless had brought up for a pastime. trust to his providence.  After all, this poor,
She asked. the privilege of keeping it. The artless child has the protection of the doge.
bird alighted familiarly upon her shoulder.  This is the hour at which he proceeded, maskOttale's stupor at his sudden arrest was in- ed, towards my dwelling, to visit me —he! the
describable; he thought himself in a dream; prince, the true Signor of the Night. Strange
he looked at Ziana; then, as if overpowered city! unfortunate prince! I feel my heart bleed
by the certainty of his misfortune, lie burst into with all the wounds inflicted upon his."
bitter and indignant tears.                    After a dark and painful contemplation of his
"To be arrested like a thief! After sixty prospects, the Jew, soon yielding to the oppressyears of virtue and probity, to be doomed to in- ive heat of the room, reclined his head on the
famy at Venice! To be accused of a crime foot of Ziana's bed, and fell into that calm sleep
hat I do not even understand."               which was never given to a guilty being. RaThe old man sank despairingly on the wretch- phael, in his painting at the Vatican of Saint
ed bed of his cell, which, however, he shortly Peter in his prison, would have take: delight
after yielded to Ziana, who soon fell into a deep in observing the flickering lights and shades
aid calm sleep. She had found hung on the which the dim lamp threw over that worn, open
wall of the prison an image of our Lady with the brow. Ottale slept, while Casanova was still
Gdlden Comb, which had suggested her humble awake.
tprayer.                                       Casanova, the unprincipled libertine-CasaOttale contemplated the slumbering girl; she nova, the rake, thought at that moment of anyresembled a fair statue. Her transparent com- thing but sleep: he thought of Ziana's captivea
plexion discovered the blue tracery of the veins ting beauty.
of her temples and neck; her lips were pale as   His fired blood rushed violently to his brain;
those of a closing lily. She wore the ordinary he pictured to himself the lovely girl; separated
dress of Venetian maidens, a white veil, and high by a few boards only from his own cell, tearful,
shoes laced with gold. Her hands were locked forsaken; lost by his fault, since it was he who
over her breast, which heaved at intervals with Ihad induced her to play! Casanova could not
a sigh, and where the jailer's dove had nestled.  repress his feelings at the sight of that image.
She looked one of those maidens idealized by He saw her, mournful and pensive, at the small
Greuse. The old man was ternmSd to kneel by window of her cell, faintly inhaling some dying
her side, and pray to the'God to whom she had breeze from the I,ido, and shrinking with dread
prayed.                                      if some one of the keepers chanced to lay hli




by70)                                 S AFIA.
hand on her shoulder.  He accused himself was about to reply, When the door opened and
with the most odious perfidy for being the au- gave passage to the inquisitor Grimani.
thor of that lovely being's ruin, for causing the   The inquisitor was in full costume, as if just
Rose of the Ghetto to wither under that roof coming out from a ball; such, indeed, was the
of misery.                                  case, for he still held in his hand a bouquet proThen, suddenly, his imagination made him  sented by Casanova to the Signora Grimani, his
fancy he was-in her presence. In his delicious wife.
dreams, he spoke to Ziana the soft language of'Faith, gentlemen, I am very sorry to inter1ove, which no one could ever speak to woman rupt so sweet an intimacy; you were probably
like Casanova. The door of his prison had engaged in administering mutual consolations to
vanished before him; hushed were the voices each other. Men of such cultivated understandof death and lugubrious broodings.  He was ings could not fail to do so. But the council
afar with the Jew's daughter, in some vine-can- requires your immediate separation. M. Casaopied arbour of a Venetian garden; the inspirit- nova de Seingalt, your marvellous agility is
ing nectar foamed in her goblet; her hair hung well known: you already escaped once from
in loose waves, and wooed the breeze. She was the Leads; we must now give you lodgings
no longer the timid Ziana, but the captivating under the wells!"
queen of pleasure, with alluring smiles and   As Casanova was about to remonstrate,
glances.                                       "Excuse me, sir," pursued the inquisitor, "'4 i
Dreams, frantic dreams! dreams that brought is only.for one night. By to-morrow your case
madness to his brain and agony to his heart. shall be attended to. As for you," resumed
Casanova, in that prison, was suffering all the Grimani, turning round to Cagliostro, "yours is
tortures of love: he, the resistless Casanova, a capital case, my good friend. The gold pieces
who had ever trifled with love. It is by a heav- found in your bark at Fusina are exactly like
onlly retribution that those hearts, long sated those gathered on the play-table at the Casiwith easy pleasure, sometirnes kindle at last no: you will have to answer this before the
into a blaze of passion. The wretch did not Three."
even struggle against the agony of his feelings,   The two friends being once separated, the
but suffered in silence.                    jailer introduced a man of middle size, bearing
"True," murmured he, "this is the same the usual dress of the notaries of Venice, and
window through which, ten years ago, I accom- who appeared to be as much amazed as fright
plished my escape with amazing boldness; but ened.
then I only sighed for liberty; to-day I should    "Do you know this person?" inquired GAribe miserable if I conquered it again. That Jew- mani of Cagliostro.
ess is beautiful. I love her! With her I must   "Not at all; but, judging from the inky smell
escape hence."                              of his robe, his crooked fingers, and his fac
Then overcoming all obstacles, he saw the more dry than an antiquary's parchment, he
walls of his prison open a passage for him; he must be a notary. Really, Messer Grimani, Ji
was with Ziana at Malta, at Smyrna, at Con- am astonished that you should mix gentlemen
stantinople! Such were the powers of seduc- with such people."
tion of that matchless suborner, that to deceive   The new prisoner did not see fit to answer
and -conquer had ever been for him but the the count's disdainful remark.  He sat down
work of an hour; so easily had the cooped vul- quietly at one extremity of the room, like a
ture always succeeded in bursting the iron fet- man long accustomed to respect the decrees of
ters of his cage, that one day, one night per- law. Grimani withdrew, taking his leave with
laps, would suffice now, and his mind already an ironical smile; he closed the door, and plagrasped the fearful distance that separated him  eed three sentries before it, an unusual extrarfrom his object.                            agance of precaution in this place.
Cagliostro contrasted strangely with himi.   The two captives for a moment kept an iby
He seemed to consider the walls of his prison silence, as two persons unknown to and Asu-as a profane violation of his inborn rights and picious of each other.
power; he could: not forgive Venice for aven-   The notary soon drew a package from hi
ging France by confining him under the Leads. pocket; it was a parcel of papers carefully foWHis countenance alone sufficiently indicated ed and sealed.
that he no more considered Casanova as- a   Then, by the light of a little taper, which hei
friend: his lips had opened only to ask the lat- lighted from the lamp of the prison, he read the
ter to hand him the Treatise on Consolation, by following superscription: "' To be given, after
Boece, at which request the inconrrigible Vene- my death, to the Countess d'Azola."
tian laughed till he cried.                j   "What means this?" thought the notary, as
"For what purpose, my dear fellow'" he an- he examined the seal. "No crest on that wax:
swered. 1" Since you boast of conjuring up the it is not from a noble. It is a deposite-no more.
dead, why do you not call forth Seneca, Char- WVhat induced me to go to that nocturnal man-on, and a multitude of philosophers besides l trap in the Ghetto l Thanks to that visit of
They would mnake a handsome appearance to- mine, I am arrested to give evidence as to what
morrow about noon, the thermometer at thirty- took place in his house at night?! I am not
seven in these apartments which the bounty of curious, and yet I should like to know. After
the Grand Council has provided for us! Be- all, those Jews have always meddled with
lieve me, you had better think of inventing some all conspiracies: they have poisoned, severa-k
pleasant and cooling acid beverage-sorme sor- times, the wells of Venice, and were in correbet that were worthy of the Aquila, for in- spondence last year with Milan, and this paper
stance."                                   meay perhaps —"
Safials mastelr the count Doctior Phicenix,....You s'ee  to be mrusicg, Sir Notartd' ob



SAFIA.                                      71
served Cagliostro, in an insidious tone; "have id gesture, Cagliostro tore away the seal of the
you, like myself, been made a victim to that envelope.
Signor Arnolfo, who has dared to circulate such    "It is in Hebrew characters," said he, scarcepeculiar coin in Venice? I will not conceal ly able to conceal his emotion.
from you the fact that I have something of a   "I do not know that language; but does the
dislike for men of' your profession; but I feel countess?"
prepossessed by your physiognomy. You are   "Perhaps," proceeded Cagliostro, perusing
not guilty, I am certain."                 again, with increased surprise, the writing which
The notary attentively examined the count, he held. "However that may be," he added,
and the survey inspired him with confidence in with a demoniacal smile, " we are saved now;
Cagliostro, who, as we have said, could assume we are both free; this paper has saved us: one
any mask.                                  head shall fall, but it will be neither yours inr
4Sir," replied he, "I acknowledge that I find mine.":myself in a strange perplexity. The night be-   "What do you mean 1"
fore that of the play, I called at the house of the   "I will tell you to-morrow."
Jew on his own request. He then intrusted
me with a deposite, of wvhich this is the address.
I am not acquainted with the countess, but her:name is well known in Venice."                         CHAPTER xxvII.
"What woman do you refer to"                      TE PARTNT O TE D.
"Read yourself. The Countess d'Azola.'"
" Sfia!" murmured the count, starting with   MuANWnILE. Alessandro, rather pursued than,astonishment, " Safia! What can, there be in surrounded by all the patricians and nobles who
commron between her and the Jew<'"          were present at the play, had repaired from the
" I am well aware what danger there is," Casino to the Ducal Palace, after engaging, as
continued the notary, "in a breach of trust. has been said, his royal word that the author of
hIeaven forbid that I should ever think of pry- that crime would soon be punished.
ing into the secrecy of this one; but the Jew is   But where was he to meet that accursed Jew
under arrest; this package might compromise named David Gruss  What cavern, what sub-me. What do you think of it?"             terranean retreat was his refuge 1 Alessandro
"I think it is absolutely necessary to become even doubted his presence at the play; the man
acquainted with its contents; not fobr yourself, he had addressed there spoke without the least
asir, who appear to be beyond reach of charge or Hebrew accent, and none of the gamesters at
suspicion, but for the countess. It may com- the Casino knew David G-russ.
promise her-establish, perhaps, her complicity   On the other hand, the imprisonment of the
i.n his guilt! Beware, sir; there are a thou- keeper of the Mint and his daughter overwhelm-:sand ways at Venice of ruining those whose ed Alessandro with grief. Safia's jealousy had
ruin has been resolved upon!"             done all-that jealousy had caused an awful dis"But can I break a seal?"                covery. It was owing to her that over the
"The seal, it would seem, is without any Jew's head and Ziana was now suspended the
crest: it is mere red wax; and if you will per- executioner's axe.
(mit me to examine  "                         A prey to such thoughts, the doge had return"Who are you, sir."                     ed to his apartment in a state of alarm and anx" A friend of the Countess d'Azola, one of iety which allowed him no rest.'the players denounced by her; but her charge   Five now struck from the clock of his apartwas against masked persons, and she would ment, a bare, unfurnished room, on which two
not have accused me had she seen my features. doors opened, one at its farther end, the other
How much did the Jew Ottale give you, sir, opposite its only window. Both these doors were
for keeping these papers!"                covered with hangings of worn and tattered bro"A bag of ducats, which I have not even cade; for Alessandro, under the ducal corno and
counted," answered the notary, assuming the purple, led the life of an austere senator of forIngenuous blush of conscious virtue.        mner days; nothing betrayed the splendour and
"Rare instance of disinterestedness! But I the ostentation of the patrician order. A bed,,
repeat it, you place yourself in danger. The In- covered with a purple canopy, a few leather
quisition will insist on knowing what package chairs, and a crucifix suspended to the wall,
was placed in your charge, and there can be no composed the only ornaments of this room.
harm in ascertaining what it contains. A count   As he entered, the doge threw his mask and
of Harberg was poisoned by opening a paper; bahuta over a chair, and pushed open the wina noble lady, Maria Cattaneo, suffered the same dow; day was already breaking.
fate, to say nothing of the Duchess of Chateau-   "Five! how calm and cold everything looks
roux, who is supposed, in France, to have met around! Who are those early pedestrians irt
a sinmilar death. Only recapitulate the circum- the street. A few masks going home. They
stances of this case. On the eve of the banish- converse doubtless of the events of this night,
ment of the Jews, on the night before the pro- that fatal night, which opened so well, but now
mulgation of the edict of the doge, one of that looks like a dark stain on my life! i By this
nation gives you papers addressed to the count- time, the sails of my fleet woo the winds of the
ess.  Believe me, under the circumstances, open sea, my sailors can look over the vessels'
there is no breach of trust; it is a mere measure sides at waves which are not the Adriatic waves.
of safety. If you dread to open the package A glorious night to them, but bitter and sinister
yourself, let me have it, and were it even to to me. All my hopes wrecked by a woman!
poison me, I tear it open!"'         Will that woman dare again to appear before
Before the notary had time to oppose his rap- the doge I She has rlined the only man I ven



72                                    SAFIA.
crated, the only child whose smile still bound    " No one, save the man whom you admitted,.
me to life. Did she know that David Gruss  in my presence, that very night."
did she induce himn to work my ruin  What    "What man do you mean." asked the Jew,
am I to think, what to fear? My soul refuses  tremulously.
to think or fear save for Ziana's pale and soft   " David Gruss."
features!  I see my guard enter prison: Ziana    "You say true; that man has been wvithin
and Ottale will soon be here. I must see, I my house."
must interrogate the Jew, and reveal to him    " Do you remember seeing him go out?"
the mysteries of that night. All-powuerful, all-'"I remember the habitual fixedness of his;
merciful God," added the doge, kneeling before  glance, then a heavy, all-absorbing slumber;.
the image of Christ, "help me, inspire me: you  after that, nothing."
alone know Alessandro!"                       " Interrogate carefully your memory."
"But do I hear aright 1 Yes, they are cries    " My memory, highness, presents a sad scene
of a tumultuous crowd. What signifies this " after I awoke; Ziana was in tears; Ziana said
continued he, going to the balcony; "a stone  that Taddeo had knocked repeatedly at the door,
strikes the angle of this wall; the multitude  of her room about daybreak.  If that man, inr
throngs around the Ducal Palace. Ah! what- concert with Taddeo, had penetrated my laboraever happens, they will see what man I am."  tory to coin false pieces at the effigy of Saint
Alessandro took down an old Castilian sword  Mark -But, highness, besides that Taddeo is
from the wall, where it hung close by a bunch  almost my son, and that his honesty and up —
of withered flowers, suspended with a riband. right life have won my esteem, what interest.
Near the pommel of that blade was engraved  could he have had in aiding David Gruss in such.
the famous Castilian motto:                  an infernal work 1 He is now on the high seas,.' No me sanues sin razon,       to combat, and die, perhaps, for Venice.' And,.
No me embaires sin honor*.    then, these pieces are old; they were struck:
"'No,  I shall not unsheath thee without rea- under the pedestal Mano Rinio of Padua, by
son, thou sacred sword, the gift of a duke of the Venetian Dominico Camelo. Witness thisAlba. Ottale, Ziana, I will protect you, or die sequin."
in the attempt."                               Ottale then produced one of the sequins he
Quivering with rage and impatience, like a had taken from the play-table at the Casino;
wounded lion, he proceeded to the door, where  it bore the appearance of the most masterly
repeated knocks were heard.                  imitation. So skilful was the counterfeit, that:
"Ziana!" exclaimed he, seeing the Jew's Ottale alone, owing to his special knowledge as:
daughter pale and almost beside herself.     keeper of the Mint, could have discerned the
Her limbs trembled with emotion, and the  fraud.
doge was obliged to support her.               "I am the more astonished," he resumed,.
The maiden was accompanied by an officer "that imnmediately after the execution of the>
of the household of the prince, followed himself pedestal of Padua, Mano Rinio, denounced by
by an old man with torn garments, uplifted  a Greek of Torcello to the Inquisition  of Venhands, and blood-stained brow.               ice, this coin was buried within the city, in.
" Ottale! merciful Heaven! Ottale wounded! some safe spot, which I never knew, and of
What has happened?"                          which the procurator Grimani, now  messer
"Highness," answered the Jew, calmly,'at grande, alone may perhaps be aware."
the moment when, by your orders, this officer   "How! did you not know that in your own.
came to seek us in our prison, the-Jews still house, under that pillar-"
remaining at Venice, those of the Ghetto and    "What would you say?"
of the surrounding islands attempted, most irl-   "That it is time to inform you, Ottale, of theprudently, to rescue me. Instead of being in- crime of David Gruss. Know, then, that thetroduced by the secret passage, I was led, by  other night, taking advantage of your sleep, to.
the express order of Messer Grandew Grimani, make you the unwilling instrument of his own
through the courtyard."                      will, that man dared to make me his accomplice
"What happened then."                    by sharing with me moneys buried in the same.
"A collision then took place between the room where he had forced you to sleep. I havel
Jews and the populace; a stone wounded me  every reason to think that David Gruss is a hidon the head. But," proceeded Ottale, "think  den foe, yours or mine, I scarcely know whioh_.
no longer of myself, think of this dear child. But his aim was to ruin us, and he has suce
Our moments are numbered: you wished to in- ceeded but too well."
terrogate me; I am ready."                     "Your words, highness, confound my rea —
"To interrogate you, Ottale!" answered the  son. Who can that man be, and what interdoge, bitterly.  "I wish to save you first. Dis- est-"
pel your fears; I swear that no harm will be-   " I know not; hut again, leave to me the)
fall you while you are near me. with this dear care of justifying you. One thing is certaingirl."                                      David Gruss became possessed of that secret;
"Highness," resumed the Jew, "I have no during your sleep he forced your thoughts toneed, I presume, of any defence in your eyes; wards that place of concealment: you are lost,
bat it is not enough of life, you rmust also save and I must save you."
my honour."                                    "Highness, I will remain.  You speak of
"That is uppermost in my thoughts, Ottale: saving; will your patricians allow itt?  The
you are right. Truth must plunge, to tie bot- patricians of Venice, they our masters as to,.
tom of that gulf of mystery, and unmask guilLt"   probity and justice! because the gold on their"Except yourself, signor, no one at Vernice," play-tables chances to be counterfeit, the Jews,said Ottale, with some hesitation, "ever enter- of Venice must bear the penalt! Have the;:
ed, at nmght, my laboratory."




SAFIA.                                       73'
Jews exacting mistresses, palaces, and tables    "Oh! then I should have the right to call'
that drain the revenues of whole provinces. you my protector, to account for that strange
Are they seen to sell at auction their paternal guardianship. What can there be in common
roofs 1 to play and spend their nights in dissi- between us,. that the Jew's daughter should repation.  No, gold in their hands is a river ceive so exalted a guest! What in common
whose source the nobles alone exhaust: the between the doge and Ottale, that Ottale, the
Jews are the slaves of Venice; their masters, scrupulous money dealer, should nightly open
as to crimes, are the patricians!"         his doors to him?  Oh! who will tell me why
"Ottale, we have but a moment to save Zi- it was that when you had been a single day
ana and yourself from the perils. that threaten  without coming, I wished to die, and that now
you. This devoted servant," said the doge, I love you, and wish to live'l"
pointing to the officer, who kept himself aloof,   "Listen, Ziana," answered the doge, resu"will soon tell you what you are to do: you are ming his composure with a painful effort. " If
here under my protection, but the minutes are  ever human lips, heretofore inviolably closed,.
numbered. I have caused the palace guard to  were ready to break the silence, mine -are at
be doubled; the vestibule and the gratings of this moment.'But if you in your soul feel any
the marble staircase are closed. There resides compassion for me, beware of making any farat Venice, in the Island of Saint Angelo, a mute ther inquiries. There lies between us a secret
from  Abyssinia, whose *pardon I procured a of death. Beware of guessing it, Ziana; and
year ago. He resides with the monks of the if ever a suspicion of the truth should flash uponl
Orossof Judea; he is in relation with Smyrniot your mind, dispel it, and pray God, child, to:
vessels; he is devoted to me; he will lead you, make doubly obscure that night which envelwith Ziana, on board of a Greek vessel. This ops our chaste and mysterious friendship."
paper will be handed to him by this officer. The    " Proceed, oh! proceed! Your voice soundsrest is for myself to attend to. Be cheerful, so sweet to poor Ziana."
then, Ottale; you are in the presence of your   "You know not how much I love you. Unprince, and in that of your God."           der that mask, which was my only safety, I have.
"Highness," exclaimed Ziana, in a tearful run many a danger, escaped many a snare. Oftvoice, "if you -may not save us both, save, at en, mid snow or rain, I arose; I took my cloak
least, my old father; save my protector, save  to go to you, to see you, if but for a moment,
Ottale! Besides, I alone have, asyet, been ac- and bring back with me the flowers you had(
used."                                      worn in your hair!  Look. They are here, pi —
"I will save you both," exclaimed the doge, ning like yourself."'
with unutterable anguish, and striving to speak    Alessandro, opening a casket, showed Ziana:
with that confidence which he lacked; * "I will a few withered, blighted flowers.
discover the true culprit, wherever he maylurk."    The maiden looked sadly at the doge without
" Highness, you whose goodness is so exalt- yet understanding the nature of the connexiort.ed," continued the maiden, fixing on the prince that existed between them. There were in his
a glance which embarrassed him, "you know  beautiful physiognomy marks of strong emotionr
all the mysteries of Venice. Before I leave you, that invincibly attracted her towards him. Alesyou may discover to me a mystery that has been  sandro had, in a few moments, gained over Zi —
the torment of my life."                    ana an influence which neither Ottale, nor even"Who told you, Ziana, that I knew your se- Taddeo, had ever possessed. She looked upon
eret".                                      him with a sort of religious terror akin to that
4You do know it!"                        feeling with which she had seen oftentimes
"I "                                      those lugubrious processions passing through
"'Certainly! That masked cavalier who, in  the city. Never had Love or Glory circled a
the darkest nights, visited my father; that man  fairer brow than his with their wreaths; and yet
whose words were ever of protection and de- that princely brow was contracted by grief, and
fence, whom I loved: as the guardian angel of tears now fell from his eyes.
our house-"                                   "It is evident," murmured the maiden, " that
"Well'"  there are two men in him, one that encourages,
" Signor, that mask, that cavalier was your- and one that awes me. Life may cease to-morelf."                                       row for me, but even in that dread moment
"You are beside yourself, child," resumed  will the remembrance of that friend be alive: in
the doge, calmly.                           my heart. Ottale stands looking upon us in4 "Seek no longer to deceive me, prince.' To  mute sympathy. Poor father! venerable pamake that mystery impenetrable to nly eyes, it rent! how often I have discouraged his kindt
was not enough of a mask; you should have  heart! When that cavalier was to come, I
deprived my mind of that intelligent anxiety  often remained for whole hours without speakwhich interrogated the gestures and features of ing to him, without seeing him, sadly watching
all. I should not have felt, when, in that horrid  from our little window that part of the canal
night, the inquisitor Grimani laid his hand upon  where the bark was to appear. Heaven! what
mie, and when I dared, with the courage of fear, means all this?"
to seize the hem of your ducal robe-I should    Overcome by that desperate self-examinaaot have felt your heart beat with much more  tion, and startled by the sudden gush of comthan compassion as you so kindly bade me rise. passion, sympathy, and tender sadness that she
In short, you should have kept your voice, your felt within her heart, Ziana burst into a flood of
eyes, your soul, under perfect control, to con- tears, while the Jew remained speechless, mooeal that secret from me."                 tionless, and as if thunder-struck, in the pres"What if it were so." inquired the doge, with  ence of the prince.
evident alarm.                                "Weep not thus, Ziana," resumed the dogo,
1<'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,.




74                                   SAFIA.
himself dashing away a tear,' weep no more. of your sacri-fice," murmured Ziana, while her
You will yet live happy."                  hands were pressed between those of the prince.
"Happy 1 How may I be. Oh, my protee- "Yes, I will go; I will leave. I will do whattor! my friend! I feel that I shall always lack ever you command, but let me call you my-"
a sheltering bosom, a voice to tell me,' Ziana,   "Never! not even here," said he, laying his
you shall know all.""                      hand upon her lips; "the walls of this palace
The doge east an imploring look of mingled have ears and tongues. Go, poor child! I
misery and resignation towards the sacred sign guess your meaning from the beams of joy in
of Redemption to man, and murmured,        your eye: to-morrow you shall be free, and
"Oh, Saviour! you also have suffered! Zi- then, perhaps, will you remember me in your
ana," continued he, struggling not to betray his prayers."
emotiohs, " you must leave me: leave me until   " Oh! now, now!" answered she, kissing his
to-morrow, and then you shall be free. You hands. "Now I can wait!"
shall go from Venice-go with OtTale!"       1" Ottale," said the doge, " their excellencies
"Then, signor,Y' said the maiden, clasping the state inquisitors have requested me to wait
her hands with grief, " you will not allow me for them here; they must not meet you in this
even to carry with me a secret whose knowl- room with Ziana. Fly! both of you."
edge is of more importance to me than even   "The inquisitors!" murmured the Jew;
liberty. I am not, then, to know by what link " would they dare to interrogate their prince?"
of his mysterious chain God has bound you to   " Ottale, whatever may be my fate, I promise
the existence of a wretched being like myself, soon to meet you here. Watch over her," he
nor by what inscrutable decree of His provi- added, in a whisper; " if any important reveladence my life is in the hands of the Countess tion reaches me as to David Gruss, I will iwed'Azola? Oh! how shall I express what I now  form you of it."
feel l Look at that old man, who weeps now    The doge, fixing a last sad glance upon Ziana,
like you and myself; he is one I have ever drew aside the hangings of one of the doors,
-loved, and who has ever taught me to love you! and bade the officers take back the prisoners.
Well; when I count the beatings of my heart   A moment after, the three inquisitors entered
"between you and him, it is towards you that it his room.
leaps, towards you that it aspires. Everything
-tells me, oh Heaven! that, while I belong to
you both, one of you is but the depositary, while     CHAPTER XXVIII.
the other is the master. I was startled on the
BARGAIN.
day of my betrothal by that thought: how is it
that I am a Christian? At night, before Ottale,   THrE three inquisitors entered in silence-;
I hide myself to pray; before you I can pray, they bowed to the doge, and seated themselves
and still look upon you! Oh God!" cried then on stools, which were presented by a sbirro ia
the maiden, falling prostrate before the crucifix, a red jacket, who attended them.
" since he I love is silent still, and will not   "Speak, signors, speak; the Doge of Venice:speak, reveal yourself the truth!"       is ready to hear you. Have you any petition.
Ziana, in that passionate invocation, seemed to present?"
to have concentrated all the powers of her soul;   "Is it necessary to remind his highness,
breathless, broken-hearted, she seemed to ex- then," said Grimani, "that the Inquisition of
pect that by some miraculous dispensation the Venice never petition, but command?"
sacred image would open its lips, and let its   "And that its judgments are without appeal,"
words fall like dew upon her brow. The doge added a second personage, in whom the doge
looked upon her with anguish and consterna- recognised Moncenigo..tion; but, like the wrestler, Alessandro had    "We are here to proceed, by all means, to the
long nerved himself for that heart-rending con- discovery of the truth," joined the third, who
test: he merely took the Jew's hand, sadly presented to Alessandro the no less familiar
pointing to Ziana on her knees; then turning features of Trevisani.
towards her,                                 "I know better than any one the power of
"Yes," said he; "yes, child, ask from Heasv- the State Inquisition," calmly answered the
en what is Fortitude, that virtue which has long doge, as he bent on his judges a look of dignwinged its flight back to the skies; it may be fied courage. " The tribunal of the Three may
that a secret voice will then whisper to you even, at will, decree that the head of their
that there are sufferings above the strength of prince shall fall. Now, what is your wish?"
man, that there are victims who suffer in silence,   "To call upon your highness for a strict and
and do not smite their breasts; souls doomed to severe account of the protection with which
live apart from their dearest joy-their treas- you favoured the Jew Ottale and his daughter.ure, their all!"                         Ziana. Your benevolence towards them wore
While' he spoke thus, in a voice oppressed the appearance of injustice and guilt.  1The
with sobs, the doge gazed lovingly upon Ziana: house of the Jew contained a deposite of counthat flame, which heavenly love kindled in the terfeit coin; a book was stolen from Signor
eyes of Joseph as he extended his paternal Grimani's. library which indicated the quarter,
hands over the fair head of Jesus, now glowed and even the he-use where the republic had
with electric warmth in the eyes of Alessandro. seen fit, two hundred years ago, to cause those
The doge, with mingled delight and anguish, proscribed coins to be buried. You often repressed.the maiden So his heart; a silent pause paired at night to the house of Ottale; did you
then took place, which their sighs alone inter- never meet any one there? Do you know the
rupted.                                    author of the crime. If such be the ease, do-" Oh! my glanwc now probes the whole depth notrnce him."




SAFIA.'" A man ny the name of David Gruss is the    "Dare you establish any comparison betweesr
only person I ever met at that house."!      us?"
"As yet the Inquisition has been unable to    "Why not 1 There are two men whom tHe
discover his trace. The Countess d'Azola is law of Venice claims: the one staked the gold
ignorant even of the name of that man, although  of Venice at play, the other staked Venice hers
she was the first to enlighten our justice —"    self!"
" Enlighten your justice!" interrupted the    "Wretch!"
doge, with bitter irony; " say, rather, that she    "Yes, doge, I confess it: I am David Gruss;
denounced the purest and holiest virtue."   but are you not yourself the senator Alessandro,
" It does not belong to us to investigate the  who married a slave!"
motives that may have induced the countess to    "What next?"
bring so precise a charge. We ask you wheth-    " Next, signor? Here is the deed of sale of
er the Jew ever spoke to you of a treasure  the Countess d'Azola! Two heads fall with
buried in his house 3"                      mine! If I suffer the fate of the counterfeiter,
" Never. I am certain even that he was ig- Dominico Camela, you shall suffer the fate of
norant of its existence."                   the noble Ranuzzi!"
"It becomes our duty to inform you of an in-   "Do you hope to intimidate me. What to
cident of which you are ignorant. One Count me is the countess? what Safia, the dastardly
Cagliostro has been seized at Fusina, bearing  informer?  Safia, your worthy pupil, has filled
with him a considerable number of gold pieces the measure-she has called the sword of jusresembling those found at the Casino. That tice down upon an innocent head. Do you likeadventurer asks to see you; lie pretends that wise! Denounce me with her, and let one
he has important revelations to make. As we  torture unite in death those whom hell alone
respect in you the supreme majesty of the chief could have united!"
of the republic, we consent that you shall your-   " Very well, highness; but there is another
self interrogate him, trusting to your highness  person whom the fate of Ranuzzi must reach.
for the care of our honour and our privileges; Together with these papers, which prove the
remember only that this is to be a decisive in- sale of Safia, I have also this instrument, writterview.  That man sent for us to his prison, ten in Hebrew by Ottale, and delivered by him,
and uttered these most positive words:  I know  in safe keeping, to the notary Bernardi. Read:
the culprit, but to the doge alone will I reveal there the name of her whom the instrument
his name.'"                                 concerns, and whom it will deliver to the ex-.
" Cagliostro!" murmured the doge, stupified. cutioner."
" Oh! I am accursed. Is Satan, then, at Ven-   "Oh! wo, weo upon me!" said the doge, afice? What can he have to say to me 3" added  ter reading. "Are you, then, the fiend 3"
he, in an inaudible voice.                    " I am Cagliostro, the same Cagliostro whom
"Highness," resumed Grimani, " should Ot- you spuined at Paris, and who now makes you
tale or his daughter be named by that man-if tremble at Venice! Highness, you took from
he designates to you either these or any other me a woman who was completely under my
persons as the authors of that crime, you swear power; you have annihilated that power. I
on this cross to inform us of it."          have now demonstrated to you that one charge
"  swear!" said the doge.                uttered by you before the tribunal against me
"e Introduce the prisoner of room No. 2, under would ruin you, and cause two heads to fall bethe Leads," said Grimani to the sbirro who  sides your own. Now make your own choice.
waited outside the door.  " We give you one  Whichever way you turn, you are lost! The
hour; only one hour, highness, mark!"      same fate awaits the doge or the husband of
The inquisitors withdrew then one by one, Safia; therefore set me free, and I will anniand the doge was alone. A personage in a  hilate these papers, which compromise, besides',oa3k was introduced by a sbirro of the Inquisi- yourself, two persons dear to you. I will thes
tion. Alessandro bolted the door, and raised  spurn Venice and leave it; or, if you prefer
the cover of his lamp as if to lose nothing of the  that the robber of the Ghetto should suffer
features of the singular man who had requested  mark, signor, I will inform against the doge."
this interview.                               "Are you not frightened at your own impu"' Cagliostro!" cried the doge, surveying the  deuce, wretched impostor 3 Do you forget that
count.'You are at Venice, then, and, scarce- you are in my power."
ly at Venice, you are imprisoned, sir."       " It is yourself, signor, who are in my power,
A cold, fearful smile glided over the lips of  To end at Paris, or end at Venice, is all the
the count. Alessandro shuddered; it was long  samre to me; at least, here I shall have the satsince he had seen that dreaded tyrant of Saftin, isfaction of knowing that three deaths will foland now he stood before him, calm, collected, low mine. After suffering what I have, that
almost threatening.                         vengeance is no more than due!,,
" You wish to speak with me," resumed A1-   The satanic expression of the count's feAessandro; "be brief."                       tures, his tranquil coolness, but most of all,
" I am at your orders, highness," answered' those fatal proofs which he held, united to strike
Cagliostro, in a voice that caused Alessandro  terror into the soul of Alessandro. He fixed
to turn pale; he had recognised David Gruss.  Cagliostro with a look like that which Don Juan'"Then," said he, "you have no mercy: ever bends on the commander's statue; then pressing
implacable and treacherous, you have attempt- his heart with his hand, as if to repress its loaud
ed to betray me, and now you come to ima- beatings,
plore —"                                      "Rest assured," said hie, "I will name a,-.sA  criminal never implores his accom- other."
phlice."66 "Whom "?




76                                    S A F IA.
"That is my secret."                       "1 Mark, I intrust you with what I hold dear"Will you swear!"                         est in the world. Orsato, you were sentenced
"Upon those papers you hold, upon that to the ordinary and extraordinary question, when:
Christ who some day will judge us both!"    I saved you. You still wear the bracelet I gave
"I have your word, signor; here is the deed  you for attending me in that riot at Ferrara."
of sale of Count Tekeli, and here the writing of   The mute showed a bracelet which he wore
Ottale."                                     around his wrist.
"Atlast!" murmuredthedoge, seizing the pa-   " Be ready, then; I hear Andrea,"' said the
pers, which he burned in the flamee of his lamp. doge, listening.
Then, seeing Cagliostro still in his presence,   The officer was indeed returning wvith the
he said,                                     Jew and his daughter.  Ziana wept no more 
" In a few minutes I will call in the inquis- her beautiful eyes then beamed with the smile
itors. Concealed in this closet, you may hear of hope.,
every word I shall utter. Farewell; leave me.    "All is lost," whispered the doge, in Ottale's:
A door communicates from them with the gal- ear; " a man, a foe, has gained possession of
lery."                                       the instrument you had imprudently intrusted
He pushed the count into the cabinet, and  with the notary Bernardi. Bernardi was a sethen remained for a few minutes on the thresh- cret spy of the Inquisition; of this you were
old, erect, motionless, and pale, as if just awa- not aware. Now listen: Orsato will lead you
king from some horrid dream.                 both to a place of safety; I will remain to speak
I owed to myself, to my God, that dark but with the inquisitors.  Ottale, you have followpure sacrifice! She need now fear no longer, ed me long enough in my sad and heavy existshe, the sole object of my thoughts, of my life, ence to know whether I loved you. Ziana's
till this day! I will now write to the'Three, happiness I intrust with you. You are free."
promise them entire satisfaction, and ask for a    "Free!" exclaimed the Jew.  "But who,
last, a short interview. Ziana, Ziana, I shall then, was guilty? I must know."
have saved you; yes, the man from Saint An-    "The Inquisition of Venice has its secrets;.
gelo must be in readiness; let us see."      but it has its powers also, and those, you know,
The doge rang, and one of his officers ap- are absolute, tyrannical. Ottale, you are free,
peared, the same who had led Ziana and her but you are no longer safe in Venice. Follow,
father to the prison. A few minutes sufficed  then, this man, and be sure that before the
Alessandro to write to the inquisitors, who wait- Three I will clear you of all suspicion."
ed in the great council hall: an usher was in-   The doge now shuddered as, glancing at the
tnlsted with the letter, and while he went on  clock, he marked how few were the moments
his errand the doge asked of the officer,    he might still call his own. His features pre"Well, Andrea, what news?"                 sented a singular expression of mingled sad —
"Prince, the mute of the Island of Saint An- ness, elevation, and regret. While pressing
gelo, to whom I bore your letter, is here. Ac- Ziana's hand, he dropped upon it a scaldingj
cording to your orders, he has arranged all for tear. His strength deserted him.
the passage of the Jew and his daughter on a    "Free! but free without you!" repeated the
Smyrniot vessel. HIe undertakes to see them  maiden, bending an anguished look of despair
on board."                                   upon the doge.
i Well; but time presses. Andrea, lead hith-   "Free without me, Ziana," said he, printing
er the prisoners again, and tell the mute to come  a last kiss on her angelic brow. His lips felt
to me instantly."                            cold, as if death had been there already.
"He is there, signor; with his caftan, his    Ottale, quivering with emotion, fell at the feet
poniard, and his black countenance, he looks of Lhe doge.
like a true corsair. I was told that he prayed    "Let the girl go first," said he. " I will overall the way with his beads. His gondola is at take her, signor; but I have the right of being
the corner of the Bridge of Sighs."          present at the secret tribunal.  I will —I must."
"I know his worth in time of need. Intro-   " Ottale," said the doge, " you must obey me.
dtice him, then speed to the Leads; here is the  Look, the hour has struck." The rustling of
key of my apartment; return quickly with Ottale  their robes announced the passage of the inand Ziana."                                  quisitors through the gallery.
The officer sped on his errand, after motion-   Alessandro quickly motioned away the Abys —
jig the mute to the doge's apartment.        sinian, who bore the fainting maiden to his gon —
The Abyssinian came in, bowing to the floor. doia.
He was still a young man; his complexion    " One part of the sacrifice has been consumwas dark, his stature tall; he wore a striped vest mated," said the doge, looking at the door
with hanging sleeves, the turban and a sailor's through which Ziana had disappeared; "the
caftan, then lowered over his face. - In his belt other part now remains!"
was a sharp Venetian blade, with the Lion of    Turning around, the doge perceived Ottale.
Saint Mark engraved on it, and in his right hand    " For the first time," said the Jew, "I dislee held the copper medal which all Abyssinians obey your highness. I will remain. The ves —
were obliged to produce in order to obtain ad- sel will not sail yet under an hour."
mittance to the palace.
"It is you, Orsato?" said the doge.  "You
received my note                                                     XXIX.
The mute handed to the prince his letter.
"You know the dangerous mission on which          THE TRIBUNAL OF THE THREE.
I would employ you 1?"                        IWHEN the inquisitors entered, they found' the
The mute smiled, and pointed to his poniard. doge calm and dignified. He had hurriedly pla



SAFIA.                                       77,ced his brocade robe upon his shoulders, his du- tired with loaning forever to patricians sums
cal corno upon his head.                     which they were compelled themselves to re"The better to show my deference to the  fund, had seen the gold of Venice melt away
-choice of the Ten, it is meet, signors, that I through their hands.  Thereupon, that man
should forget none of the exigencies which cere- called at night on the Jew Ottale, and there, unmony imposes upon my rank as prince. It is seen, unheard by the Jew, he exhumed that
in ducal robes that I must answer you. I am  gold, that buried, concealed treasure."
ready."                                        "Counterfeit coin," interrupted  Grimani,
" Before all, we must bid that Jew withdraw. with contemptuous irony.
]His presence is contrary to the statutes of the    "The Jews of Venice were satisfied with it
State Inquisition."                          on the day of the sailing of the fleet; and the
"This man is innocent, signors, I attest," re- Lion of Saint Mark, free from the fetters of
sumed the doge, warmly.                      usury, opened his wings upon the Adriatic."
"Meanwhile he remains our prisoner."         "His name! his name!" inquired altogether
"But you will respect his aged head when  Trevisani, Moncenigo, and Grimani.
you learn who is really guilty."               "Hold! I have not said all yet. Surely there
"The Jew's life will be spared, we swear it,"  is no one among you who would have consumed
-answered the Three, after a short conference in  his nights and days indefatigably at work. You
whispers.:' He will be led to the hall of delib- would not have condescended to become the
erations, and, according to what we shall now  first labourers of Venice, nor dared that awful
-hear, dismissed with his liberty."          attempt to save a degraded country shorn of
"'Highness," said the Jew, extending his  her wreath of glory; you, the living representarms towards the doge.                       atives of the vices that undermine Italy; you,
Alessandro encouraged the old man with a  the three incarnate symbols of our fallen Ven-?benevolent smile, while two familiars of the In- ice! You, Moncenigo, who are Play! you,
quisition led him  out; then, turning to his  Trevisani, who are Drunkenness! and you,
judges,                                      Grimani, Lust!"
"It is a patrician," said he, "who has corn-   "This is too much," said the three inquisimitted this deed, signors."                  tors, rising; " you insult the senate!"
"A patrician! You iknow him l" inquired    "Doge," resumed Grimani, "who is the cul-G rimani.                                    prit."' I know him."                               " The culprit? I!"
"On your head, then, doge, I adjure you to    "You!" exclaimed they, terrified.:name him."                                     "I-I, your doge!  Now punish me! now
" Yes, I will name him; I will unmask him. erase my name from the Golden Book; cause
Yes, the mere mention of his name will make  the executioner to deface my coat of arms.
you all turn pale on your seats."            You are right," continued he, with increased
"Speak."                                  irony, " I should die, since I failed to save you!"
"Listen, then, you who claim to be his judg-    The voice of the doge now sounded like a
es. Venice was ruined, lost beyond hope, cank- funeral toll; his brow was erect and proud, and
ered by vice, a prey to usury, which tore away, ihe three inquisitors themselves trembled in the
piecemeal, the last spoils of that dying city, presence of this strange culprit.
once the pride and the love of Italy. We were    "You know all," resumed he: "I have aoall humbled. Our old palaces and our old names  cused myself: it was my duty; but spare the
presented nothing but crumbling ruins. Our Jew: he is innocent!  Grimani," resumed the
mercenary defenders mutinied for want of pay. doge, softly, " you must set the old man free;'The people cried famine in the public squares. he awaits."
NTo resource, no energy, no shame was left in    Grimani arose, and, after exchanging a sign
the discouraged, sinking, humbled nationri. Hope  of intelligence with his colleagues, proceeded
itself had fled from among us. An ambassador towards the window of the apartment that look-what do I say 1 —a pirate had come purposely  ed upon the courtyard of the palace.
from Tunis to ascertain the state of our means.     "We. have sworn it," said he. "Highness,
A son of Venice, heir of an illustrious house, the blood of the Jew shall not be shed."
one who felt the insults inflicted upon his native    Then calling in a sbirro, he spoke to him in
eity as if they had been outrages offered to his  a low tone..own mother, meditated, meanwhile, the means    "In a few minutes," resumed he, "you will
of sustaining yet for a time, in the sight of Eu- see the Jew crossing that portico; he will be
rope, the rotten frame of a sovereign state -now  brought forth from his prison.".at the eve of crumbling into dust. I-e wished    Grimani had scarcely done speaking when
to save his country from misery, fromr contume- the doge saw the Jew coming out. preceded by
ly. Gold was wanted in order to wing for its  a man who was covered with a black veil.
victorious flight our fleet, distined to drive be-    Ottale wore a similar veil; he raised it a mefore it a herd of slaves, to destroy the posses- ment, to cast a farewell glance towards the
sions of the powers of Barbary, and return home  window of the doge.
with one more victory to be inscribed on the re-    "Hold, signors!" cried Alessandro.  "No,
publican banners.  For lack of gold that'fleet that must not be!"
itself was captive in our port. That man first   "Excuse, highness; the Jew must bear the
called upon the nobles of Venice. His tnessen- penalty of the prince.  Venice must have a
gers were sent back with disdainful answers. victim: Ottale will be led through thle city,
He implored Heaven, and Heaven was deaf to  then taken to the Lazaretto. where lie will be
his prayers. The counters of the Jews were  employed during  his whole life in subteranean
~exhansted, and those avaricious money dealers, | latbour. Ilis age anid his reputation fbr honesty




78                                    SAFIA.
wSill shelter him from the fury of the popu- snatching a few papers that lay scattered on a
iace."                -                      table. "Look, Gri-lani! lhere is your estate of
"Sacrilegious blasphemers! lying, impious  Boveredo redeemed fiom  the Jew  Samluel!
judges! exhaust upon me your tortures; but i-lre, Trevisani-here, Moneenigo, behold the
doom not that old man to the endless night of  secret of the indulgence of your creditors!"
such a dungeon, I charge you!" exclaimed the    "It is even so!" oxclaimed the judges, loo'kdoge, rushing from the window towards the  ing at each other with stupor.
door.                                            I have, then, rent one corner of tlhe veil
But Moncenigo and Trevisani held him back, which concealed my life from every eye; now,
while Grimani, his arms folded over his breast, do you comprehend me. I, the doge, dwelt in
ooked upon the contest with impassible eye.;  this wretched room; I slept on that bed, whieh,' Doge," said he, slowly advancing towards  is harder than a soldier's couch.  While you
Alessandro, " your life is forfeited to the Three. dissipated your nights in pleasures, I spent mine
What are your last requests!"               in labour; and oftentimes has the sun, when
"I have but one," answered the doge, with  he rose over Venice, found us face to face, you
awful calmness."                             worn' out by play and voluptuousness, me by
"What is it l"                             unrelenting application.  Like your divine Re"That the people —imy people-may be al- deemer," continued he, pointing to the image
lowed to approach my scaffold, that my dying  on the wall, "I have often felt as if nailed to a.
look may rest on Venice: that is all."       cross, with bleeding hands and feet, and sorGrimani opened the door; he called in two  row:stricken heart; I prayed then the Father'familiars of the Three, who stood in waiting in  of all to take from me the chalice of suffTerthe gallery. The inquisitors, after a short con- ing! He has heard me at last: I shall soon be
vcrsation aside, transmitted their orders.  Af- free!"
ter the sbirri had gone out,                   The doge was now silent; a tear moistened
"Listen, highness, to the decision of the  his eyes, upturned tow-ards the heavenly sign
tribunal," resumed Grimani, advancing towards  of suffering and affliction; but he was resigned
the doge. " Tile punishment of the doge shall to his sacrifice. Meanwhile, the masons were
be kept secret, like his crime. WThile the peo- at work, walling up the outside of the window;
ple feast their eyes upon the Jew Ottale, desig- vague and indefinite rumrnours were heard in
nated as the only culprit, the heralds of the  the Hall dello Scudo, near the doge's apartpalace shall proclaim, throughout the city, the  ment, where the government usually give nosudden death of the doge. Venice shall be clad  tice of the death of the prince by raising a
in mourning; prayers shall be offered for the  sable banner; the bells tolled throughout the
rest of your soul in all the churches'of the re- city.
public; the patriarch shall pronounce your fu-    "I tremble, Mtoncenigo," said Trevisani to
neral oration; your obsequies shall be attended  his colleague.
with the usual pomp to the basilic of Saint   "I am panic-struck, Trevisani; I thought I
Mark; your bier shall be borne from the Ducal saw blood issue from  the wounds of yonder
Palace to the Church of Saint John.and Paul; Christ."
the Great Council shall meet to appoint your    "Come, signors, let us away," said Grimani,
successor."                                  yielding, in spite of himself, to his emotions
" I have heard," said the doge, with dignified  "we have accomplished a duty!
composure.  "And now, what mode of death    The three inquisitors then withdrew, mucht
do you assign to me? Is it water, steel, or agitated.  The voice of a herald was heard
poison?"                                    from  without; the sounds of hammers were
"Prince, you shall leave this room no more. already audible at the exterior; daylight had'Every issue shall be walled up."            insensibly passed away.
" I understand you. Famine is a silent exe-   An usher appeared, bowed to the prince, and
eutioner!"                                  placed a lamp on his table.
"If there is ally one in Venice who loves
you enough to call on you here, he may come;              i
but he goes out no more!"' Doge," whispered Moncenigo, approaching               CHAPTER XXX.
Alessandro with hypocritical marks of respect,
" we preserve the honour of your name."
"Doge," added Grimani, in the same tone,    " NImaT!" murmured the doge, looking at the'we have not forgotten that the culprit was lamp, whose wick smoked in the gloomy solionce our friend."                           tude of his roomrn;  "night! dreadful, eternal
"Trevisani, Moncenigo," resumed the doge, night! such is their decree! To die in this
with bitter, but dignified irony, "if you have no  tomb, while the sun shines yonder under so,
loftier virtues, you have yet gratitude.  How  pure a sky! To die here, while there, beneath
deeply thankful I am to you! Yet, if you con- my feet, Venice. weeps over the empty bier of
sult your memory-if you search the past, you  her doge.
will remember that often a mysterious protect-    1 I was quite young still," resumed he, seator paid your debts, redeemed your hypotheca- ing himself near the table where stood the lamp,
ted estates, supplied, like an indulgent father, " when passed before me the statue of the man
the wants of your extravagance. I was that whose successor I was destined to be. This
unknown friend!"'    body, according to the usual rites, had been.
" You!" exclaimed the three patricians, with  borne without pomp to his ancestral sepulture;
amazement.                                  the bells of the city tolled responsive to that of
4" Do you still doubt it l." resumed the doge, Saint Mark',s, to inform the people of the death




SAFIA.                                      79
of their prince. He was a noble old man, an from my sight; for if, through the darkness in
aged remnant of the now degenerate blood of which I am about to leap, I could see one of
the Dandolos. The statue, whose waxen face your soft stars gleaming, Venice, I should have
bore his likeness, was laid, I remember it well, no longer any strength to die!
on a high scaffolding arrayed in the ducal robes;   "To you my last thought, my own city," addhe wore, as I do, the gold brocade gown, the er- ed the doge, retreating from the window, "and'main mantle, and over his head the corno. His to you, young maiden, whom I have saved frond
spurs were inverted; I saw him thus in the hall death, for whom I bear the whole of this burden
of the Auditor Nuovo, guarded by twenty nobles of sorrow, rather than let you share it with me
in scarlet robes. The commanders of the ves- Ziana, be happy, and compensate me for the
sels of the fleet then came to seek him, followed forgetfulness of Venice, your twin sister in my
by all the confraternities, and forty electors in love!
deep mourning. The waxen statue was then    "But I am not deceived; a slight sound, the
borne under a canopy-I remember it well-pre- sound of steps is heard in the gallery.. The
ceded by the scutcheon of the republic, covered door of it is not yet walled up, and affords a
with a sable gauze. The relations of the doge slight passage. A woman's voice! what wome
followed the statue; his funeral took place at an can be coming here, to her gravel"
Saint John and Paul. On the eve of that fatal   The doge leaned forward; he dimly saw
day I arrived at Venice with Safia-Safia, who through the darkness a white veil, a woman's
has caused my ruin! I was elected soon after; dress.
but for a month that waxen statue was before   " What a thought! heaven! Ziana; yes, Zimy eyes! Bitter derision! But the Doge of ana alone. Have I not succeeded in saving
Venice was really dead, and I still live in all my her! You, madam!" exclaimed the doge, sudstrength! Is it a dream ofhelli  Hasmy heart denly recognising her who entered the room;
ceased to beat within mry breast. Am I no "you here!"
longer the doge, no longer Alessandro 3'      "Myself!" answered the countess, drawing
Instinctively he drew near to the window. her veil aside.
The herald's voice was then heard in the court-   " Safia! Ah! God is just! you know not
yard of the palace, crying,                where you come!"
" The doge is dead! pray for his soul! the   "I care not to know; I have a secret to tell
doge is dead!"                            you, therefore I have come!"
Alessandro listened again through the gloomy   "Look at this window, it is walled in," andarkness. The drums and the silver trumpets, swered the doge, drawing aside the curtain;
that are used at the ceremony of the Bucentaur, " that door will be so before long; you go hence
now mingled with the deep-toned bells.     no more."
"It is a lie! no, the doge is not dead!" ex-   "Doge, the guilty alone need fear the touch
claimed he, opening his window, and, with a of the executioner's axe. I am not guilty; I
half-suppressed cry of rage, he smote his hands may go forth."
against the masonry that left now only a small   "Insane woman! you have not seen the
blue patch of sky to be seen. " It is a lie! no, snare! I have also a secret to impart;.a soft
the doge is not dead! give him way, and through and consoling thought, which I have kept for
this window he will fall mutilated in the midst you, as the last sacrament is reserved for the
of your hypocritical pageantry of mourning."   dying."
"Vain efforts!" resumed he, tearing his bleed-   "What would you impart 13" inquired she, fixring hands from the window; " my voice and ing a look of terror on the face of Alessandro,
my arms are alike powerless against those that looked still more pale by the light of the
stones! Oh!  to think that I did not smite lamp which he now held himself.
those infamous judges in the face! But what 3.  "Safia! you were once a mother!" continwhat man am I to be angry now. Has not ued he, with a glance that seemed to explore
my whole life been one struggle with sorrowS her inmost heart.
Can I no longer bear the decrees of Heaven 1   " Al! strike not the most painful string of
Shall my iron will now bend at the sight of my soul," answered she.
death! Do I shed tears 1" resumed he, draw-   " Fifteen years ago, at Rome, I entered one
ing his hand across his eyes; "I weep-weep night your room, and informed you that our only
like a woman! Come, this is unworthy of me." child had died in its cradle."
He took a few strides, and stopped before the   "Hush! I pray you, hush! Do you forget
window. A single spot of blue still hung over the tears I shed3  You did not weep; and I
the prison; upon that the glance of the doge myself was then too young fully to realize my.
now rested with watchful eagerness.. The si- loss."
lence was deep, deep as the grave; thfie steps   " Well, Safia, I deceived you then!"
of the captive alone were to be heard, Ales-   "Deceived me3"
sandro still fixing his eyes on that corner through    "Your daughter lives!"
which he could still behold the last flickering   " She lives!" cried the countess, highly exrays from above.                           cited, then retreating suddenly with terror;
" Farewell!" cried he, " farewell,: Venice, for    she lives!" said she.." Oh! do not deceive
whom I lay down my life! farewell, my dear- me again."
ly loved city, my pride, the cherished object of   " So near God, one would not speak false."
my thoughts, of that dream from which I now    " My daughter alive.!" said Safia, drawing
awake to die! You who now weep over my nearer to the doge. " Where hage you kept her
bier to forget even my name to-morrow.! Un- concealed, Alessandro. say," continued she,
grateful Venice, I love you! let me still behold wringing her hands with anguish. "Make me.
a little of your blue sky-or, rather, let it vanish not pay for that secret with an age of torture v




80                                    SAFIA.
No; although you have despised my love, be- I remember.  That word made me wish to puritrayed me, and given me every cause for hating  fy you from  the name of Safia; that word
you, I ever recognised in you, Alessandro, a no- caused me to take from you your child; that
ble and great nature; surely you would not tri- word is to-day the signal of the death of us
Sle with a mother's love; you will tell me where  both!"
you have concealed my daughter; for again I    "What a look!" murmured the countess,
say, I may leave this living tomb! Must I go  seeing the burning fire that glowed then from
froml Venice, traverse the whole world, I am  the eye of the doge.
ready."                                          "Do you know what your magician said to
"You have time enough to hear me."          me, Safia? with what proof, the night after that
4' Speak, I beseech you; I will curse you no  interview, he accompanied that dreadful wordT
longer.  If you knew  how  much I shall love  He showed me the deed of sale of a slave, purIhat child-your child!  I shall be so proud of  chased when very young by him, and he whishier, so loving to her! Surely you had your pered the name of Safia, the name which you
reasons for inflicting upon me so great a sor-  bore."
sow. You feared to see that pure, cherished    "True, true!" said she, hiding her face with
being exposed daily to the corruption of Venice. both hands.
You took my treasure away to hide it in some    " lermember now the arrest of Ranuzzi in:solitary spot, far distant from the palaces and  your own palace; he was executed at Saint Job
the scandals of this city-far from the example  that same night, together with a foreign woman
-of her mother —under some calin, humble roof, and her daughter.  Your own fate, and the fate:such a roof as you wouild have deliglted yourself of your daughter, were written down by that
to dwell under, had not your couttry required the  example.  Do you understand now how that
sacrifice of your rest.  That is what you have  rival, that Cagliostro, who threatened me at.done, is it not?  But had you, instead of de-  Rome, has revenged himself at Venice?  But
ceiving me thus, infixrmed me of your plans, a moment ago he was here, holding in one hand
Alessandro, I should have approved them; I the deed of sale from Tekeli, your former masshould have felt as vou did-that a rrother's  ter, and another instrument, still more impor-:stainless name is a dalighter's fairest ornament."  tant, that proved the birth of our daughter, her
4" Speak you true?!" inquired the doge, with  true name, her titles, that she might claim them:emotion.                                     thereafter, should better days dawn upon her
"Yes; I should have kissed and wept over  and ourselves."
-the cradle of rtiy daughter, and covered my eyes    "He was here 1" inquired thie countess, with
-with my hands, that I might not know whither wandering eyes and livid brow.
you had carried her."                            "  Here, before me, Safia; he arose before me
I" Do you not deceive me, Safia!"          like a snake.  Know that Cagliostro was David, "Look at me!"                            Gruss, who had sworn your ruin and mine;
"You weep!"                                Cagliostro, whom the justice of man has never
"Yes, I weep because you never knew me; yet been able to reach, dared, in this spot, to'because, relying on the past, which was beyond  tempt the justice of God. He swore that, un-'my control, you have never taken into account less I consented to take his own crime upon
my repentance, rrmy faithfulness, my love for myself, he would produce before the state inyou —you, who have so cruelly betrayed me!"   quisitors those overwhelming proofs by which
" Sfia!"                                   three heads were to fall. Could. I hesitate?  I
"Yes, I weep for your harshness, your piti-  thought of my daughter, whose innocence would
less silence, your cowardly courage in tramp-. not save her.  I accused myself alone; alone I
ling me under your feet, in causing my poor took upon myself the burden of the crime, and its
heart to bleed, through all the wounds you had  disgrace.  But, at least, my daughter is saved;
yourself inflicted.  You did not understand that yes, owing to my forethought-"
a rmothter's love is a flame that purifies whatever    "Thanks! thanks!" murmured the countess,
tit touches: you have looked upon me only as a  wildly sobbing with joy; " thanks!"
slave, purchased, or, rather, stolen by you, car-    "She is now  far from  Venice.  A  safetried away like a precious toy to please the eyes  guide-"
of your people.  Alessandro! you loved me not;    " From Venice, did you say!" inquired Safia,
you judged me at Paris to be the fairest, and  suddenly turning pale and agitated.
lyou dragged mle away through France and Ita-    "Yes; I made her escape. from the palace in,y. You gave me palaces, titles; you made of a gondola.  She is to sail in a Greek vessel for
mne a gaudy show, like your Bucentaur; but at Adrianopolis.",this supreme instant, when, for what crime I    " Her name, I implore you!  Her name?"
know not, you await the last blow of human  repeated the countess, wringing her arms with
justice, doubtless yolu will tell me where yoti impatience.
have concealed mr  datlghter.  If you refuse, I    "You understand now*, Safia, that under senwill start to-night. and search every spot of the  tence of the law, which menaced your child
earth, and ask fir rmy Safia-my Safia; whom  and yourself, 1 could not, I might not tell you-"
they have stolen front me."                     "Proceed!"' Ymor danuhter noI longer bears that name."    "That supposed rival, that Ziana-"
"Thlat1 na01ie (ttu had alreadyv taken from ute;   "Ziana!"
youn exchaneed it for a title tile day when we   1" Is your daughter and mine."
left Rome, after that Iorrid scene."           " Ah'!" exclaimed the countess, with a deepThie (lay when Caaliostro whispered into  drawn sigh, and leaning for support on the table
mine ear, at Santa Maria vlMaggiore, that word  where stood the lamp.  Sobs came from her
which made nm  tremilte and turn pale, you I breast-her heart was broken.




SAFIA.                                       81
"You know now my secret," resumed Ales- sense of voluptuousness stolc upon the senses
sandro; "may the one you have to impart-"  of Alessandro with absorbing, urging influence.
"Ah! let me go forth!" exclaimed the count- He was overpowered; he saw, amid a choir of
ess, as if just awaking from a horrid dream; angels such as Murillo alone ever painted, a vir"' let me go, Alessandro!"                 gin, stainless soul, with tiny wings, that, flutRushing to the door, she rapidly drew aside tering, brushed his lips and brow, a radiant soul,
the curtain; and then, horror-struck, fell back animated with breath divine - Ziana, his Ziwith a terrible shriek, at the sight of the wall ana, shedding fragrant dews upon him! No lonwhich had now closed the opening.           ger a captive within the gloomy prison walls, he
" Walled-walled in!" she cried, as she fell soared amid clouds gilded by a sweet April sun.
fainting on her knees.                      No longer he wore the ducal cormeo, but the white
"I had told you," said the doge, calmly.  wreath of the sons of heaven. No longer he
"But,"'' she cried, raising herself with the en- saw judges coming towards him, but Doria,
ergy of' despair, " you know not yet what I had Faliero, Zepo, Carmagnola welcoming him with
to impart, Alessandro!"                    a triumphant apotheosis. For a time the joy" I listen."                              ous vision dwelt within his mind; he listened to
"My fatal jealousy has ruined us all!" con- those friendly voices conjured up by that sovtinued she, raving.                          ereign fairy; but insensibly the vision faded
"'I tell you that I have saved your daughter." away, and the doge found himself alone with
"And I tell you that I have killed her!"  that woman who lay at his feet in frantic dis"Wretch!" cried the doge, casting her from  order, with her hair streaming loose adown his
him. "No, no! it is only madness. Say it feet. Safia had thrown back her brow, as pale
again."                                      as the veil she wore; she implored him as.a
"Yes, killed her!  Since that horrid night at convict would implore the executioner.
the Casino, I had been a prey to jealousy. I   "Away!" cried he, abruptly turning towards
watched: I saw the mute Orsato come in, then her.
go out, with a veiled female. I spoke to Gri-   "Yet, my Alessandro," answered she, with
mani, and the bark, instead of going towards melting grief, " I came here determined not to
the open sea, took the direction of the Orfano leave you again! This tomb is mine as well
Canal!"                                     as yours, for those men have obeyed me, they
"Ah! my deep curse upon thee!" said the have walled it in!"
doge, retreating from her.                     Seizing the lamp, she pointed again to the inShe had fallen at his feet, exhausted by the superable barrier.
horrid confession; her eye seemed to follow    "Mercy!" cried she, "mercy!"
her victim, still struggling with the waves of   " Have you had. mercy on Ziana, say l"
the canal as they rushed into the opening gon- " Ah! my heart bursts! my daughter! my
dola.                                        daughter!"
" It is she-I see her!" murmured she, in   The miserable woman, seized with a sudden
frantic delirium;." she struggles, she calls you! sensation of cold, approached the bed, and wrapshe curses me as you have cursed me! Oh! ped her shoulders within its curtains with a
God, God! I am mad. I hear a dim sound of spasmodic, convulsive laugh.
groans and plaintive sobs amid the deadly wa-   "Dead! Ziana, my daughter! Venice, niy
ters, and just above them I see an angel's head; city! farewell," murmured the doge, leaning
the'liead of Ziana!"                       upon the bed. Then drawing his ducal ring
Her voice, which scarcely articulated these from his finger, he raised it to his lips.
words, broken by terror, soon became audible   "Alessandro," said the countess, creeping on
only as the rattle that precedes death.     her knees towards:him, " speak to me, speak!
Alessandro gazed on her motionless, as one one word, if but to curse me!"
who has done with the joys and sorrows of the    " You asked me the other day what was conearth. His brow was moist with a chilly per- tained within the setting of my ring.   Look,
spiration, his heavy brocade robe weighed upon Safia!"
him like the leaden cloak which Dante assigns   He threw her his ring. The bells of the palto the damned.                              ace were now heard dimly tolling.
" Strike!" resumed the countess; "let me   "It is empty," said she, after opening the
suffer no longer!  Strike, I say, Alessandro. ring.  "What have you done!"
Ziana, my daughter, I go to meet thee."       Alessandro uttered a faint cry; he raised
"Blaspheme not, madam," answered he, with himself, ghastly, dreadful to behold. Safia rea voice of stern command; " blaspheme not, treated, shuddering.
-Safia, my daughter has gone to heaven! Dead!   "Cagliostro," murmured the doge, faintly,
dead! Heaven! the bitter cup is full!"   "I thank thee; that poison is thy most precious
Now the fibres of his soul were rent as those secret."
of an instrument when strung too tightly. That   "Poison! and none, none left for me! to
man, who forgot the gloom of his own fate, who die slowly here -with hunger!" repeated the
had so generously accused himself under the countess, still holding the ring.
threatening echoesof this room, that man, who   The voice of the herald was now heard in
died to save his daughter, now wept because the courtyard of the palace, proclaiming,
he had failed to save her whom he had so dear-   " The doge is dead! pray for his soul! the
ly loved. He looked towards death, that horrid doge is dead!"
death, which drew near to him, with longing,   "You say true," murmured Alessandro, droptender eagerness. Vainly did Safia kiss his ping his head upon the bed; " the doge is dead!"
hands and feet; he saw her not, he saw only
Ziana.  A boundless, ethereal, indescribable
L




SAFIA.
CO.NCLUSION.                 ing the old man to his heart. "It is we, the
sons of Venice, who have returned, loaded with
THREE months later, by a beautiful night,  spoils and banners, from  Barbary.  Look at
while waves and skies rivalled Beach other in those flags, those trophies; see the name of the
freshness, beauty, and splendour, a young man doge embroidered in the midst of these warlike
of bronzed complexion and black, flowing hair pennons."
leaned with his elbow on the stern of a bark   "The doge is dead!" murmured the old
impelled by three oarsmnen.  He looked behind man; "' the doge is dead! Pray for his soul!
towards a number of fine vessels in the dis- The doge is dead!"
tance, decked with a thousand banners, and   He smiled the smile of madness, and drew
leaving their silvery tracks on the blue carpet  the Moor's attention to the flag which Taddeo
of the deep, while the sailors sang the national  bore.
hymn composed in honour of Marc Antonio Co-  "4Wo to us!" cried the young man, drawing
lonna, on the occasion of the battle of Lepante. his hand across his brow.' And Ziana! ZiaThe architecture of Venice, with its Oriental na! where is she?  Speak! We may not enroofs and domes bathed in the hazy light of the ter the city until to-morrow; but, even if I
moon, uprose then to the eyes of the young man have to swim from here to the Ghetto, I will be
like a fairy city long seen in his dreams. He the first to carry her the news of a victory."
seemed, however, familiar with it; for, as he   The old man held in his hand a soiled, raglanded at the Lazaretto, his first care was to ged riband made of silver threads  He sang a
give some orders to several slaves who stood verse of the ballad of the Paludes, beating the:
at the point of that island formerly called Santa time with this riband.
Maria of Nazareth.                                    "Dark or fair,
Since the deadly plague that afflicted Venice        To his lair
in 1576, a rigid station near this island was ex- The Oreo takes the o all, to dwell
In his cave,
acted for all vessels coming from Tunis, even'Neath the wave,
those bearing the flag of the republic. The      Where the last laguna breasts the swell!"
young man, who wore the sailor's caftan, leap-   "Damnation!" resumed the young man-~;.
ed ashore opposite the pavilion, beyond which "there is nothing to hope from him; but you,it was not permitted to cross, and which faced his guide!"
the celebrated gallows erected by the prior   The Moor whispered for some time in Tadwithin this fortress to punish any infractions of deo's ear. While he spoke, the counlenance
the public orders.                           of the young man expressed at once stupor and
" Let this flag be hoisted instead of that!'" anxiety. Suddenly, he dropped his head upon
cried he, with a firm voice, and pointing to a his breast, and wept abundantly.
banner embroidered with gold, upon which ap-   "Sentenced by the Three!  Impossible to
peared the name of Alessandro and his family free him," resumed lie; "that is impossible!
arms.                                        But Ziana 1"
"Who are you, to give orders here?" in-   "Excellency, it is not known what became
quired a voice that seemed to come from a of the poor girl. The Leads and the Wells are'
tomb rather than from a human breast.       tombs that keep well their dead."
" A Venetian like yourself! Taddeo, the for-   The young man was silent; but a week later
mer sculptor at the Arsenal, now appointed an the following incidents took place within the
officer by the naval commander-in-chief."    Ducal Palace.
"Taddeo!" repeated the voice, with a low       *    *    *             * *    *    *
and mournful accent.                          That part of the Cortile which the young offiThe officer then saw a man of some sixty cer, wrapped in a cloak, was now crossing, was
years, with shackles around his hands and feet, robed in shadowy darkness, when, under those
whom a Moor of equal age was leading over porticoes, closed at that hour, and guarded on
the open space in front of the Lazaretto.   the outside by the sentries of the palace, he
"Taddeo!" murmured the old man, drawing met a human form stretched at the foot of the
bis hand across his forehead; "yes, in my bet- staircase that leads to the ducal gallery.  This,
ter days-formerly-I knew some one by that phantom uttered a faint scream at the sight of
name."                                      the uniform and countenance of Taddeo.
The moon now fell upon the prisoner's fea-   "There! this way! go up!" murmured he,
tures. Taddeo started back. He had recog- taking hold of the officer's belt.
nised Ottale.                                  The latter then distinguished in his strange"My father! my good father!  Heavens! interlocutor an old man, whose scanty hair,
you here?  You bound in fetterse. What wet with perspiration, clung to his brow; his.
means this? And Ziana-Ziana, my beloved?" nails were bleeding; his face was bruised as if
The old man glanced at the Moor who usu- he had been engaged in some long and toilsome
ally led him, and murmured between his teeth, labour. He held in his hand one of those iron
" That man is insane!".                bars which the water-carriers of Venice use to,
" I am not insane," resumed Taddeo. " Rec- carry their pails to the copper wells of Saint
ognise me, my father! I precede in Venice a Mark.
victorious fleet.  But you, you here?  Oh, I   "There!" resumed le; "there, I say. I.
I will set you free! I have that right. It is have seen-hush!"
one of the privileges of the first sailor who   He held his finger on his lips, with a dreadlands after a victory."                     ful, mysterious, andl sinister look.
Now the guns of the fleet spoke in thunder,   "They are there-both there!" restlmed he
and were answered from the forts of Venice.   "I have seen. them-her and him. She has.
"Do you hear, padre?" cried Taddeo, press- I her white veil on, and he his mantle. I re



SAFIA.                                       83
placed the stone. Never fear; they will not man was livid and purple; his countenance had.
find it out."                                that muscular contraction indicative of a violent
In spite of the active searches of Taddeo, he death. The female held between her fingers a
had been unable to discover any trace of the ring of uncommon size, on which were engraunfortunate Ziana. He had searched the quays, ven the arms of the doge.
the canals, all in vain. A resistless sadness   In mute despair, Taddeo contemplated that
consumed himn; an imperious desire of'discov- sepulchre and its two inmnates, when he heard
ering.                                      a half-suppressed scream; it was uttered by
"Ottale!" cried he, recognising the Jew.    the Jew, as he threw himself upon the alreadyIt was he indeed.                         decaying hand of Alessandro.
"Gracious Heaven!" thought Taddeo, "have    " To the Lazaretto!" said he, after replacing
I met, then, with what I sought. All power- both the stones, and casting his iron bar into
ful God, lead me towards Ziana!"           the courtyard. "To the Lazaretto! At last I
This thought shot so rapidly athwart his have escaped from it, but I must die there."
mind, that he blindly fi)llowed Ottale.  Dark    He had recovered a lucid interval of reawas the vaulted passage, and both glided like son, but lost it again as soon as his hands
shadows over the pavement.  When  they and feet were manacled, in spite of Taddeo's
reached the spot where formerly was the apart- supplications. Two of the keepers had discovment of Alessandro, the Jew stopped, with a ered his escape, and recaptured him in the dushudder, before a wall of newly-laid masonry. cal courtyard. Ottale expired the same day on
He then drew the iron bar from beneath his which Cagliostro died in his prison at Fort
cloak, and introducing it within one of the fis- Saint Angelo.
sures, he loosened first one stone, then two.   There is yet to be seen at Venice, near the,
He now interrupted his toil to breathe.      main gate of the Ghetto, a dark house, with
Taddeo's soul now hung with devouring anx- doors always closed, where a glass-ware meriety on every one of his motions. With a lov- chant has opened a shop. On the first story
er's inconsistency, he expected to see Ziana there is a little window, that still preserves the,
herself issue from amid those crumbling stones. leaden sash and trellis-work of the olden times.
" Is it a crime that I am about to witness!" The spider weaves his web in its corners, for
murmured he.' I know not; but I tremble the window opens no more: it has been nailed
here like a sacrilegious thief before his holy down  This was Ziana's window. The house
booty.  Come, Ottale, proceed."              worthy of Joyant's pencil is sad as a lamento.
The two stones having yielded, there was At evening, where Ziana once leaned out, earoom for one person only to pass. Ottale went gerly listening to the slightest noise upon the
in first, and then drew the young man in after canal, the police of Venice now allow a shamehim.                                        less courtesan to appear with flowers in her —
The Venetian navy officer then saw a sight hair and a paper fan in her hand. This woman
as singular as fearful. Two corpses, disfigured allures thither sailors and foreigners.
by the mephitic atmosphere of that room, clung    Fitting conclusion for that singular govern —
yet to each other as in a last embrace. The ment. A record of vice and corruption.
THE END.








CUN.
GENERAL CIRCULATION.
BY CHARLES DICKENS.
NEW -YORK:
PUBLISHED BY HARPER & BROTHERS, 82 CLIFF-ST.
1 84 2.








I DJ [i) i C ATE
11'I) S E FRI E N DS OF M INE
IN AMERICA
VWI' I O,
M,    A', ELCOME I MUST EVERP GRATEFULLY AND
PROUDLY REMEMBER,
LEFT  MY  JUDGMENT
AND  IWH O,
LOVING THEIR COUNTRY, CAN BEAR TEIl TRUTHP
WHEN IT IS TOLD GOOD-HUMOUREDLY,
AND IN A KIND SPIRIT.




CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
GOING AWAY.
CHAPTER II.
THE- PASSAGE OUT.
CHAPTER III.
BOSTON.
CHAPTER IV.
AN AMERICAN RAIIROAD. LOWEL AND ITS FACTORY SYSTEM.
CHAPTER V.
WrO~CESTER.  THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.  HARTFORD. NEW-IAYEN. N.EW-HAVEN TO
NEW-YORK.
CHAPTER VI.
NEW-YORK.
CHAPTER VII.
PHILADELPHIA, AND ITS SOLITARY PRISON.
CHAPTER V1II.
WASHINGTON. THE LEGISLATURE-AND THE PRESIDENT'S HOUSE.
CHAPTER IX.
A NIGHT STEAMER ON TIHE POTOMAC RIVER. A. VIRGINIA ROAD, AND A BLACK DRIVER.
RICHMOND. BALTMLIOKE. THE I-ARRISBURGH MAIL, AND A GLIMPSE OF THE CITY.
A CANAL BOAT.
CH APTER X.
SOME FARTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CANAL BOAT, ITS DOMESTIC ECONOMYI, AND ITS PASSENGERS. JOURNEY TO PITTSBURG ACROSS TIlE ALLEGHANY MIOUNTAINS. PITTSBURG.
CHAPTER XI.
FROM PITTSBURG TO CINCINNATI IN A VWESTERN STEAMBOAT. CINCINNATI.
CHAPTER XII.
FEa.OM CINCINNATI TO LOUISVILLE IN ANOTHER STEAMBOAT: AND FROM LOUISVILLE TO ST.
LOUIS IN ANOTHER. ST. LOUlS.
CHAPTER XIII.
A JAUNT TO THE LOOKING-GLASS PRAIRIE AND BACK.
CHAPTER XIV.
RETURN TO CINCINNATI.  A STAGE-COACH'RIDE FROMI THAT CITY TO COLUMBUS, AND
THENCE TO SANDUSKY. So, BY LAKE ERIE, TO THE FALLS OF NIAGARA.
CHAPTER XVI.
YN CANADA; TORONTO; KINGSTON; MONTREAL; QUEBEC; ST. JOHNS. IN THE UNITED
STATES AGAIN; LEBANON; THE SHAKER VILLAGE; AND WVEST POINT.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PASSAGE HOME.
CHAPTER XVII.
SLAVERY.
CHAPTEiR XVIII.
CONCLUDING REM.ARKSo




N OTE S ON AMERICA.
CHAPTER I.                   ern splendour, and filled (but not conveniently
*GOING AWAY.               so) with groups of ladies and gentlemen, in the
very highest state of enjoyment and vivacity.
I SHALL never forget the one fourth serious Before descending into the bowels of the ship,
and three fourths comical astonishment with we had passed from the deck into a long, narrow
which, on the morning of the third of January, apartment, not unlike a gigantic hearse with
eighteen hundred and forty-two, I opened the windows in the sides; having at the upper end a
door of, and put my head into, a " stateroom" on melancholy stove, at which three or four chilly
board the Britannia steam-packet, twelve hun- stewards were warming their hands, while ron
dred tons per register, bound for Halifhx and either side, extending down its whole dreary
Boston, and carrying her majesty's mails.  length, was a long, long table, over each of
That this stateroom had been specially enga- which a rack, fixed to the low roof, and stuck
ged for " Charles Dickens, Esquire, and Lady," full of drinking-glasses and cruet-stands, hinted
was rendered sufficiently clear, even to my scar- dismally at rolling seas and heavy weather. I
ed intellect, by a very small manuscript an- had not, at that time, seen the ideal presentment
nouncing the fact, which was pinned on a very of this chamber, which has since gratified me so
flat quilt, covering a very thin mattress, spread much, but I observed that one of our friends who
like a surgical plaster on a most inaccessible had made the arrangements for our voyage, turnshelf. But that this was the stateroom concern- ed pale on entering, retreated on the friend being which, Charles Dickens, Esquire, and Lady, hind him, smote his forehead involuntarily, and
had held daily and nightly conferences for at said, below his breath, " Impossible! it cannot
least four months preceding: that this could by be!" or words to that effect. He recovered himany possibility be that small snug chamber of self, however, by a great effort, and after a prethe imagination, which Charles Dickens, Es- paratory cough or two, cried, with a ghastly
quire, with the spirit of prophecy strong upon smile, which is still before me, looking at the
him, had always foretold would contain, at least, same time round the walls, " Ha! the breakfastone little sofa, and which his lady, with a modest room, steward-eh I" We all foresaw what the
yet most magnificent sense of its limited dimen- answer must be; we knew the agony he.suffersions, had, from the first, opined would not hold ed. He had often spoken of the saloon; had tamore than two enormous portmanteaus in some ken in and lived upon the pictorial idea; had
odd corner out of sight (portmanteaus which' usually given us to understand, at home, that to
could now no more be got in at the door, not to form a just conception of it, it would be necessasay stowed away, than a giraffe could be per- ry to multiply the size and furniture of an ordisuaded or forced into a flower-pot): that this ut- nary drawing-room by seven, and then fall short
terly impracticable, thoroughly hopeless, and of the reality. When the man in reply avowed
profoundly preposterous box, had the remotest the truth; the blunt, remorseless, naked truth;
reference to, or connexion with, those chaste and " This is the saloon, sir," he actually reeled bepretty, not to say gorgeous little bowers, sketched neath +he blow.
by a masterly hand, in the highly varnished lith-   In persons who were so soon to part, and in-.
ographic plan hanging up in the agent's count- terpose between their else daily communication
ing-house in the city of London: that this room  the formidable barrier of many thousand miles
of state, in short, could be anything but a pleas- of stormy space, and who were, for that reason,
ant fiction and cheerful jest of the captain's, in- anxious to cast no other cloud, not even the passvented and put in practice for the better relish: ing shadow of a moment's disappointment or
and enjoyment of the real stateroom presently to discomfiture, upon the short interval of happy
be disclosed: these were truths which I really companionship that yet remained to them-in
could not, for the moment, bring my mind at all persons so situated, the natural transition from
to bear upon or comprehend. And I sat down these first surprises was obviously into peals of
upon a kind of horsehair slab, or perch, of which hearty laughter; and I can report that I, for one,
there were two within; and looked, without any being still seated upon the slab or perch before
expression of countenance whatever, at some mentioned, roared outright until the vessel rang
friends who had come on board with us, and who again. Thus, in less than two minutes after
were crushing their faces into all manner of coming upon it for the first time, we all by comshapes by endeavouring to squeeze them through mon consent agreed, that this stateroom was the
the small doorway.                        pleasantest and most facetious and capital conWe had experienced a pretty smart shock be- trivance possible; and that, to have had it one
fore coming below, which, but that we were the inch larger, would have been quite a disagreeamost sanguine people living, might have pre- ble and deplorable state of things. And with
pared us for the worst. The imaginative artist this, and with showing how, by very nearly co-.
to whom I have already made allusion, has de- sing the door, and twining in and out like serpicted, in the same great work, a chamber of al- pents, and by counting the little washing slab as
most interminable perspective, furnished, as Mr. standing-room, we could manage to insinuate
Robins would say, in a style of more than East- four people into it, all at one time; and entreat-.




6                           NOTES ON AMERICA.
ing each other to observe how very airy it was   The state-room had grown pretty fast; but by
(in dock), and how there was a beautiful port- this time it had expanded into something quite
hole which could be kept open all day (weather bulky, and almost boasted a bay-window to view
permitting), and how there was quite a large the sea from. So we went upon the (leck again
bull's-eyejust over the looking-glass which would  in high spirits; and there, everything was in
render shaving a perfectly easy and delightful such a state of bustle and active preparation, that
process (when the ship didn't roll too much); the blood quickened its pace, and whirled th rough
we arrived, at last, at the unanimous conclusion  one's veins on that clear, frosty morning with illJhat it was rather spacious than otherwise; voluntary mirthfulness. For every gallant ship
though I do verily believe that, deducting the was riding slowly up and down, and every little
two berths, one above the other, than which no- boat was plashing noisily in the water; and
thing smaller for sleeping in was ever made ex- knots of people stood upon the wharf; gazing
cept coffins, it was no bigger than one of those with a kind of.' dread delight", on the far-allmed
hackney cabriolets which have the door behind, fast American steamer; and one party of' men
and shoot their fares out, like sacks of coals, were "taking in the milk," or, in other words,
upon the pavement.                           getting the cow on board; and another were fillHaving settled this point to the perfect satis- ing the icehouses to the very throat with fresh
faction of all parties, concerned and unconcern- provisions; with butchers' meat and garden-stuitF
ed, we sat down round the: fire in the ladies' cab- pale sucking-pigs, calves' heads in scores, beetf
in, just to try the effect. It was rather dark, cer- veal, and pork, and poultry out of all proportion;
tainly, but somebody said, "of course it would and others were -coiling ropes, and busy with
be light at sea," a proposition to which we all oakum yarns; and others were lowering heavy
assented; echoing "oftcourse, ofcourse;" though packages into the hold; and the purser's head
it would be exceedingly difficult to say why we was barely visible as it loomed in a state of exthought so. I remember, too, when we had dis- quisite perplexity from the midst of a vast pile
covered and exhausted another topic of consola- of passengers' luggage; and there seemed to be
tion in the circumstance of this ladies' cabin ad- nothing going on anywhere, or uppermost in the
joining our stateroom, and the consequently im- mind of anybody, bhut preparation for this mighty
mense feasibility of sitting there at all times and voyage. This, with the bright, cold sun, tile
seasons, and had fallen into a momentary silence, bracing air, the crisply-curled water, the thin,
leaning our faces on our hands and looking at white crust of morning ice upon the decks, which
the fire, one of our party said, with the solemn crackled with a sharp and cheerful sound be-'
air of a man who had made a discovery, " What neath the lightest tread, was irresistible. And
a relish mulled claret will have down here!" when, again upon the shore, we turned and saw
which appeared to strike us all so forcibly, as from the vessel's mast her name signalled in
though there were something spicy and high- flags of joyous colours, and, fluttering by their
flavoured in cabins, which essentially improved side, the beautiful American banner with its stars
that composition, and rendered it quite incapable and stripes, the' long three thousand miles and
of perfection anywhere else.                 more, and, longer still, the six whole months of'
There was a stewardess, too, actively engaged absence, so dwindled and faded, that the ship had'in producing clean sheets and tablecloths from  gone out and come home again, and it was broad
the very entrails of the sofas, and from unex- spring already in the Coburg Dock at Liverpool.
pected lockers, of such artful mechanism, that it   I had not inquired among my medical acqua inmade one's head ache to see them opened one tance whether turtle, and cold punch, with
after another, and rendered it quite a distracting hock, Champagne, and claret, and all the slight
circumstance to follow her proceedings, and to et cetera usually included in an unlimited ortder
find that every nook and corner and individual for a good dinner-especially when it is lett to
piece of furniture was something else besides the liberal construction of my faultless friend,
what it pretended to be, and was a mere trap and Mr. Radley, of the Adelphi Hotel-are peculiar-'deception, and place of secret stowage, whose ly calculated to suffer a sea-change; or whether
ostensible purpose was its least useful one.  a plain mutton-chop, and a glass or two of slierQod bless that stewardess for her piously fraud- ry, would be less likely of conversion into forualent account of January voyages! God bless eign and disconcerting material. My own opin-'her for her clear recollection of the companion ion is, that whether one is discreet or indiscreet'passage of last year, when nobody was ill, and in these particulars, on the eve of a sea-voyage,
everybody danced from morning to night, and it is a matter of little consequence; and that, to use
was a "run" of twelve days, and a piece of the a common phrase, " it comes to very much the
purest frolic, delight, and jollity! All happiness same thing in the end."  Be this as it may, I
he with her for her bright face and pleasant know that the dinner of that day was undeniably
Scotch tongue, which had sounds of old Home perfect; that it comprehended all these items,
in it for my fellow-traveller; and for her predic- and a great many more; and that we all did
tions of fair winds and fine weather (all wrong, ample justice to it. And I know too, that, bating
or I shouldn't be half so fond of her); and for the a certain tacit avoidance of any allusion to toten thousand small fragments of genuine woman- morrow, such as may be supposed to preva i bely tact, by which, without piecing them elabo- tween delicate-minded turnkeys, and a sensitive
Irately together, and patching them up into shape, prisoner who is to be hanged next morning, we
and form, and case, and pointed application, she got on very well, and, all things considered, were
nevertheless did plainly show that all young merry enough.
mothers on one side of the Atlantic were near   When the morning —the morning-came, and
and close at hand to their little children left upon- we met at breakfast, it was curious to see how
the other; and that what seemed to the uninitia- eager all were to prevent a moment's pause in
ted a serious journey, was, to those who were the conversation, and how astoundingly gay
in the secret, a mere frolic, to be sung about and everybody was: the forced spirits of each menrwhistled at! Light be her heart, and gay her ber of the little party having as much likeness
merry eyes, for years!                       to his natural mirth, as hothouse pease at five




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                        7,guineas the quart resemble in flavour the growth  bly in wrong cabins, and creating a most horriof the dews, and air, and rain of' Heaven. But ble confusion by having to turn out again; madas one o'clock, the hour for going aboard, drew  ly bent upon opening locked doors, and on tbrcing
near, this volubility dwindled away by little and  a passage into all kinds of out-of-the-way places,
little, despite the most persevering effobrts to the  where there is no thoroughfare; sending wild
contrary, until at last, the matter being now  stewards, with elfin hair, to and fro upon the
quite desperate, we threw Off all disguise; open- breezy decks on unintelligible errands, impossily speculated upon where we should be this time ble of execution; and, in short, creating the most
to-morrow, this time next day, and so forth; and extraordinary and bewildering tumult. In thie
intrusted a vast number of messages to those midst of all this, the lazy gentleman, who seems
who intended returning to town that night, which  to have no luggage of any kind-not so much as
were to be delivered at home and elsewhere  a friend, even-lounges up and down the hurriwithout fail, within the very shortest possible  cane-deck, coolly puffing a cigar; and, as this
space of time after the arrival of the railway  unconcerned demeanour again exalts him in the
train at Euston Square. And commissions and  opinion of those who have leisure to observe his
remembrances do so crowd upon one at such a proceedings, every time he looks up at the masts,
time, that we were still busied with this employ- or down at the decks, or over the side, they look
ment when we found ourselves fused, as it were, there too, as wondering whether he sees anyinto a dense conglomeration of passengers, and thing wrong anywhere, and hoping that, in case
passengers' friends, and passengers' luggage, all he should, he will have the goodness to menjurnbled together on the deck of a small steam- tion it.
boat, and panting and snorting off to the packet,   What have we here' The captain's boat!
which had worked out of dock yesterday after- and yonder the captain himself. Now, by all
noon, and was now lying at her moorings in the our hopes and wishes, the very man he ought to
river.                                        be! A well-made, tight-built, dapper little felAnd there she is! all eyes are turned to where  low, with a ruddy face, which is a letter of invishe lies, dimly discernible through the gathering  tation to shake him by both hands at once; and
fog of the early winter alternoon; every finger with a clear blue honest eye, that it does one
is pointed in the same direction; and murmurs good to see one's sparkling image in. "Ring
of interest and admiration, as, "I-low beautiful the bell!"  "Ding, cing, ding!" the very bell is
she looks!" "I-low trim she is!" are heard on  in a hurry. " Now for the shore; who's for the
every side. Even the lazy gentleman, with his shore."  These gentlemen, I am sorry to say."
hat on one side and his hands in his pockets, They are away, and never said good-by. Ah!
who has dispensed so much consolation by in- now they wave it from the little boat. " Goodquiring with a yawn of another gentleman  by! Good-by!" Three cheers from them: three
whether he is "going across," as if it were a more from us; three more from them; and they
ferry-even.he condescends to look -that way and  are gone.
nod his head, as who should say, "1No mistake    To and fro, to and fro, to and fro again a
about that;" and not even the sage Lord Bur- hundred times!  This waiting for the latest
leigh, in his nod, included half so much as this mailbags is worse than all. If we could have
lazy gentleman of might, who has made the pas- gone off in the midst of that last burst, we should
sage (as everybody on board has found out al- have started triumphantly; but to lie here, two
ready, it's impossible to say how) thirteen times hours and more, in the damp fog, neither staywithout a single accident!  There is another ing at home nor going abroad, is letting one
passenger very much wrapped up, who has been  gradually down into the very depth of dulness
frowned down by the rest, and morally trampled  and low spirits. A speck in the mist at last!
upon and crushed, for presuming to inquire, That's something. It is the boat we wait for! 
with a timid interest, how long it is since the That's more to the purpose. The captain appoor President went down.  He -is standing  pears on the paddle-box with his speaking-trumclose to the lazy gentleman, and says, with a pet; the officers take their stations; all hands
faint smile, that he believes she is a very strong  are on the alert; the flagging hopes of the pasship; to which the lazy gentleman, looking first sengers revive; the cooks pause in their savoury
in his questioner's eye and then very hard in  wrork, and look out with faces full of interest.
the wind's, answers unexpectedly and ominous- The boat comes alongside; the bags are dragged
ly that she need be. Upon this, the lazy gentle- in anyhow, and flung down for the moment anymnan instantly falls very low in the popular esti- where. Three cheers more; and as the first one
-mation, and the passengers, with looks of defi- rings upon our. ears, the vessel throbs like a'anee, whisper to each other that he is an ass and  strong giant that has just received the breath of
an impostor, and clearly don't know anything at life; the two great wheels turn fiercely round
all about it.                                 for the first time; and the noble ship, with wind
But we are made fast alongside the packet, and tide astern, breaks proudly through the lashwhose huge red funnel is smoking bravely, giv- ed and foaming water.
ing rich promise of serious intentions. Packing-cases, portmanteaus, carpet-bags, and boxes,
are already passed'from hand to hand, and hauled on board with breathless rapidity. The offi-             CHAPTER II.,cers, smartly dressed, are at the gangway, handing the passengers up the side, and hurrying theE PSSGE OUT.
men. In five minutes' time the little steamer is   W'E all dined together that day; and a rather
utterly deserted, and the packet is beset and over- formidable party we were: no fewer than eighty~run by its late freight, who instantly pervade the six strong. The vessel being pretty deep in the
-whole ship, and are to be met with by the dozen  water, with all her coals on board and so many
in every nook and corner; swarming down be- passengers, and the weather being calm and quiet,
*ow with their own baggage, and stumbling over there was but little motion; so that before the
other people's; disposing themselves comforta- dinner was half over, even those passengers who




8                           PNOTES ON AMERICA.
were most distrustful of themselves plucked up I crept below at midnight. It was not exactly'
amazingly; and those who in the morning had comfortable belhw. It was decidedly close; ancd
returned to the universal question, " Are you a it was impossible to be unconscious of the pres-.
good sailor?" a very decided negative, now either ence of that extraordinary compound of strange
parried the inquiry with the evasive reply, "Oh! smells, which is to be fbund nowhere but on
I suppose I'm no worse than anybody else;" or, board ship, and which is such a subtle perfume
reckless of all moral obligations, answered bold- that it seems to enter at every pore of the skin,
y, "Yes:" and with some irritation too, as andwhisperof the hold. Twopassengers' wives
though they would add, "I should like to know  (one of them my own) lay already in silent agowhat you see in me, sir, particularly, to justify nies on the sofa; and one lad's maid (my lady's)
suspicion!"                                  was a mere bundle on the foor, execrating her
Notwithstanding this high tone of courage and destiny, and pounding her curl-papers among the
confidence, I could not but observe that very few  stray boxes. Everything sloped the wrong wayremained long over their wine; and that every- which in itself was an aggravation scarcely to
body had an unusual love of the open air; be borne. I had left the door open, a moment
and that the favourite and most coveted seats before, in the bosom of a gentle declivity, and,
were invariably those nearest to the door. The when I turned to shut it, it was on the summit
tea-table, too, was by no means as well attended of a lofty eminence. Now every plank and timas the dinner-table; and there was less whist- ber creaked, as if the ship were made of wickerplaying than might have been expected. Still, work; and now crackled, like an enormous firewith the exception of one lady, who had retired of the driest possible twigs. There was nothing
with some precipitation at dinner-time, immedi- for it but bed; so I went to bed
ately after being assisted to the finest cut of a   It was pretty much the same for the next two
very yellow boiled leg of mutton with very green days, with a tolerably fair wind and dry weather.
capers, there were no invalids as yet; and walk- I read in bed (but to this hour I don't know what),
ing, and smoking, and drinking of brandy-and- a good deal; and reeled on deck a little; drank
water (but always in the open air) went on with cold brandy-and-water with an unspeakable disunabated spirit, until eleven o'clock or there- gust, and ate hard biscuit perseveringly: not ill,
abouts, when " turning in" —no sailor of seven but going to be.
hours' experience talks of going to bed-became   It is the third morning. I am awakened out
the order of the night. The perpetual tramp of of my sleep by a dismal shriek from my wife,
boot-heels on the decks gave place to a heavy who demands to know whether there's any dansilence, and the whole human freight was stow- ger. I rouse myself, and look out of bed. The
ed away below, excepting a very few stragglers, water-jug is plunging and leaping like a lively
like myself, who were probably, like me, afraid dolphin; all the smaller articles are afloat, exto go there.                                 cept my shoes, which'are stranded on a carpetTo one unaccustomed to such scenes, this is a bag, high and dry, like a couple of coal-barges.
very striking time on shipboard. Afterward, Suddenly I see them spring into the air, and beand when its novelty had long worn off, it never hold the looking-glass, which is nailed to the
ceased to have a peculiar interest and charm for wall, sticking fast upon the ceiling. At the same
me. The gloom through which the great black time the door entirely disappears, and a new one
mass holds its direct and certain course- the is opened in the floor. Then I begin to comprerushing water, plainly heard, but dimly seen; hend that the state-room is standing on its head.
the broad, white, glistening track, that follows in   Before it is possible to make any arrangement
the vessel's wake; the men on the look-out for- at all compatible with this novel state of things,
ward, who would be scarcely visible against the the ship rights. Before one can say " Thank
dark sky but for their blotting out some score of Heaven!" she wrongs again. Before one can
glistening stars; the helmsman at the wheel, with cry she is wrong, she seems to have started forthe illuminated  card before him,-shining, a speck ward, and to be a creature actively running of itsof light amid the darkness, like something sen- own accord, with broken knees and failing legsi
tient and of Divine intelligence; the melancholy through every variety of hole and pitfall, andc.
sighing of the wind through block, and rope, and stumbling constantly. Before one can so much
chain; the gleaming forth of light from every as wonder, she takes a high leap into the airo.
crevice, nook, and tiny piece of glass about the Before she has well done that, she takes a deep.
decks, as though the ship were filled with fire in dive into the water. Before she has gained the
hiding, ready to burst through any outlet, wild surface, she throws a summerset. The instant
with its resistless power of death and ruin. At she is on her legs, she rushes backward. Andi:
first, too, and even when the hour, and all the so she goes on staggering,- heaving, wrestling,
objects it exalts, have come to be  familiar, it is leaping, diving, jumping, pitching, throbbing
difficult, alone and thoughtful, to hold them to rolling, and rocking: and going through a
their proper shapes and forms. They change these movements, sometimes by turns, and somewith the wandering fancy; assume the semblance times -all together: until one feels disposed to
of things left far away; put on the well-remem- roar for mercy.
bered aspect of favourite places dearly loved;    A  steward passes.  "Steward 1"  "Sir?"
and even people them with shadows. Streets, " What is the matter? what do you call this'?"
houses, rooms-figures so like their usual occu- "Rather a heavy sea on, sir, and a head wind."
pants, that they have startled me by their reality,   A head wind! Imagine a human face upon
which far exceeded, as it seemed to me, all power the vessel's prow, with fifteen thousand Sampof mine to conjure up the absent-have, many  sons in one bent upon driving her back, and hitand many a time, at such an hour, grown sud- ting her exactly between the eves whenever she.
denly out of objects with whose real look, and attempts to advance an inch. Imagine the ship.
use, and purpose I was as well acquainted as herself, with every pulse and artery of her huge
with my own two hands.                      body swollen and bursting under this maltreatMy own two hands, and feet likewise, being ment, sworn to go on or die. Imagine the wind,,
very cold, however, on this particular occasion, howling, the sea roaring, the rain beating: all i,




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                         9
furious array against her. Picture the sky both zon seemed drunk, and was flying wildly about
dark and wild, and the clouds, in fearful sympa- in all directions. Even in that incapable state,
thy with the waves, making another ocean in the however, I recognised the lazy gentleman standair. Add to all this the clattering on deck and ing before me, nautically clad in a suit of shaggy
down below; the tread of hurried feet; the loud, blue, with an oilskin hat; but I was too imbehoarse shouts of seamen; the gurgling in and cile, although I knew it to be he, to separate
out of water through the scuppers; with, every him from his dress, and tried to call him, I renow and then, the striking of aheavy sea upon member, Pilot. After another interval of total
the planks above, with the deep, dead, heavy unconsciousness, I found he had gone, and remsound of thunder heard within a vault - and ognised another figure in its place. It seemed:
there is the head-wind of that January morning. to wave and fluctuate before me as though I
I say nothing of what may be called the do- saw it reflected in an unsteady looking-glass;
mestic noises of the ship: such as the breaking but I knew it for the captain; and such was the
of glass and crockery, the tumbling down of cheerful influence of his face, that I tried to
stewards, the gambols, overhead, of loose casks smile; -yes, even then I tried to smile. I saw
and truant dozens of bottled porter, and the very by his gestures that he addressed me; but it
remarkable and far from  exhilarating sounds was a long time before I could make out that
raised in their various state-rooms by the sev- he remonstrated against my standing up to my
enty passengers who were too ill to get up to knees in water-as I was; of course I don'
breakiast. I say nothing of them; for, although know why. I tried to thank him, but couldn't.
I lay listening to this concert for three or four I could only point to my boots —or wherever IX
days, I don't think I heard it for more than a supposed my boots to be-and say, in a plainquarter of a minute, at the expiration of which tive voice, " Cork soles;" at the same time enterm I lay down again excessively sea-sick.  deavouring, I am told, to sit down in the pool.
Not sea-sick, be it understood, in the ordinary  Finding that I was quite insensible, and for the
acceptation of the term-I wish I had been —but time a maniac, he humanely conducted me bein a form which I have never seen or heard de-' low.
scribed, though I have no doubt it is very eoln-   There I remained until I got better; suffermon. I lay there, all the day long, quite coolly ing, whenever I was recommended to eat anyand contentedly; with no sense of weariness, thing, an amount of anguish only second to that
with no desire to get up, or get better, or take which is said to be endured by the apparently
the air; with no curiosity, or care, or regret, of drowned in the process of restoration to life.
any sort or degree, saving that I think I can re- One gentleman on board had a letter of intromeniber, in this universal indifference, having a duction to me from a mutual friend in London.
kind of lazy joy-of fiendish delight, if anything He sent it below with his card on the morning
so lethargic can be dignified with the title-in  of the head-wind; and I was long troubled with
the fact of my wife being too ill to talk to me.. the idea that he might be up and well, and a
If I may be allowed to illustrate my state of hundred times a day expecting me to call upon
mind by such an example, I should say that I him in the saloon. I imagined him one of those
was exactly in the condition of the elder Mr. cast-iron images-I will not call them menWillet after the incursion of the rioters into his who ask, with red faces and lusty voices, what
bar at Chigwell. Nothing would have surprised  sea-sickness means, and whether it really is as
me. If, in the momentary illumination of any bad as it is represented to be. This was very
ray of intelligence that may have come upon me torturing indeed; and I don't think I ever felt
in the way of thoughts of home, a goblin post- such perfect gratification and gratitude of heart
man, with a scarlet coat and bell, had come into as I did when I heard from the ship's doctor
that little kennel before me, broad awake in that he had been obliged to put a large mustard
broad day, and, apologizing for being damp poultice on this very gentleman's stomach. I
through walking in the sea, had handed me a date my recovery from the receipt of that intelletter, directed to myself in familiar characters, ligence.
I am certain I should not have felt one atom of   It was materially assisted though, I have noastonishment: I should have been perfectly sat- doubt, by a heavy gale of wind, which came
isfied. If Neptune himself had walked in, with slowly up at sunset, when we were about ten
a toasted shark on his trident, I should have days out, and raged with gradually increasing
looked upon the event as one of the very com- fury until morning, saving that it lulled for an,
monest every-day occurrences.               hour a little before midnight. There was someOnce-once-I found myselfon deck. I don't thing in the unnatural repose of that hour, and
know how I got there, or what possessed me to in the after-gathering of the storm, so incongo there, but there I was; and completely dress- ceivably awful and tremendous, that its bursted too, with a huge peacoat on, and a pair of ing into full violence was almost a relief.
boots such as no weak man in his senses could    The labouring of the ship in the troubled sea
ever have got into. I found myself standing, on this night I shall never forget.  " Will it
when a gleaim of consciousness came upon me, ever be worse than this." was a question I had
holdingt on to something; I don't know what. often heard asked, when everything was sliding.
I think it was the boatswain; or it may have and bumping about, and when it certainly did
been the pump; or possibly the cow. I can't seem difficult to comprehend the possibility of
say how long I had been there; whether a day anything afloat being more disturbed without
or a minute. I recollect trying to think about toppling over and going down. But what the
something (about anything in the whole wide agitation of a steam-vessel is, on a bad winter's
world, I was not particular) without the small- night in the wild Atlantic, it is impossible for
est effect. I could not even make out which the most vivid imagination to conceive. To say
was the sea, and which the sky; for the hori-| that she is flung down on her side in the waves.




10                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
with her masts dipping into them, and that, joke, and getting up, by any process short of fallsprnging tip again, she rolls over on tile other ing out, an impossibility, I say nothing.  But
side, until a heavy sea strikes her with the noise anything like the utter dreariness and desolation
of a hundred great guns and hurls her back-  that met my eyes when 1, literally, "tumbled up"
that she stops, and staggers, and shivers, as on deck at noon, I never saw. Ocean and sky
though stunned, and then, with a violent throb- were all of one dull, heavy, uniform, lead colour.
bing at her heart, darts onward like a monster There was no extent of prospect even over the
goaded into madness, to he beaten down, and dreary waste that lay around us, for the sea ran
battered, and crushed, and leaped on by the an- high, and the horizon encompassed us like a
gry sea-that thunder, lightning, hail, and rain, large black hoop. Viewed from the air, or some
tall bluff on shore, it would have been imposing
and wind, are all in fierce contention for the a nd stupendous no dould have been from the wet
and stupendous no doubt; but seen from the wet
mastery-that every plank has its groan, every  and rolling decks,it only impressed one giddily
nail its shriek, and every drop of water in the and painfully. In the gale of last night the gid
and painfully. In the gale of last night the lifbgrehat ocean its howling voice-id nothing. a'10 hi-boat had been crushed by one blow of the sea like
ay that all ie last degree, is nothappalling and ords- a walnut-shell; and there it hung dangling in the
rible in the last degree, is nothing.  Words air: a mere fagot of crazy boards. The plankcannot express it; thoughts cannot convey it. ing of the paddle-boxes had been torn sheer away.
Only a dream can call it up again in all its fury, The wheels were exposed and bare; and they
rage, and passion.                           whirled and dashed their spray about the decks
And yet, in the very midst of these terrors, I at random. Chimney, white with crusted salt;
-was placed in a situation so exquisitely ridicu- topmasts struck; storm-sails set; rigging all
bous, that even then I had as strong a sense of knotted, tangled, wet, and drooping: a gloomier
its absurdity as I have now, and could no more picture it would be hard to look upon.
help laughing than I can at any other comical   I was now comfortably established by courtesy
incident happening under circumstances the in the ladies' cabin, where, besides ourselves,
most favourable to its enjoyment.  About mid- there were only four other passengers. First,
night we shipped a sea, which forced its way the little Scotch lady before-mentioned, on her,through the skylights, burst open the doors way to join her husband at New-York, who had
above, and camne raging and roaring down into settled there three years before. Secondly and
the ladies' cabin, to the unspeakable consterina- thirdly, an honest young Yorkshireman, connecttion of my wife and a little Scotch lady-who. ed with some American house; domiciled in
by the way, had previously sent a imessage to that samle city, and carrying thither his beautiful
he captain by the stewardess, requesting him young wife, to whom he had been married but a
the captain by the stewardess, requesting    o    ht,
wtith her compliments, to have a steel conductor fortnight, and who was the fairest specimen of a
mmediately attached to the top of every mast, comely English country girl I have ever seen.
immediately attached to      the to p  of every mast, Fourthly, fifthly, and lastly, another couple:
and to the chimney, in order that the ship might  newly married too, ifoone might judge from the
inot be struck by lightning. They, and the hand- endearments they fiequently interchange fr of
maid befoire mentioned, being in such ecstacies  whom I know no more than that they were rather
of fear that I scarcely knew what to do with  a mysterious, run-away kind of couple; that the
them, I naturally bethought myself of some re- lady had great personal attractions also; and that.storative or comfortable cordial; and nothing the gentleman carried more guns with him than
better occurring to me at the moment than hot Robinson Crusoe, wore a shooting- coat, and had
brandy-and-water, I procured  a tumbler-full two great dogs on board. On farther considerawithout delay. It being impossible to stand or tion, I remember that he tried hot roast pig and
sit without holding on, they were all heaped to- bottled ale as a cure for sea-sickness; and that
gether in one corner of a long sofa —a fixture'he took these remedies (usually in bed) day after,extending entirely across the cabin-where they day, with astonishing perseverance. I may add,
clung to each other in momentary expectation  for the information of the curious, that they deof being drowned. When I approached this cidedly failed.
place with my specific, and was about to admin-   The weather continuing obstinately and almost
ister it, with many consolatory expressions, to unprecedently bad, we usually straggled into this
the nearest sufferer, what was my dismay to cabin, more or less faint and miserable, about
see them all roll slowly down to the other end! an hour before noon, and lay down on the sofas:And when I staggered to that end, and held out to recover; during which interval, the captain
-the glass once more, how immensely baffled would look in to communicate the state of the
were my good intentions by the ship giving an- wind, the moral certainty of its changing to-mor-,other lurch, and their all rolling back again! I row (the weather is always going to improve tosuppose I dodged them up and down this sofa morrow, at sea), the vessel's rate of sailing, and
so forth. Observations there were none to telI
for at least a quarter of an hour without reach- so forth. Observations there were none to tell
ing them once; and by the time I did catch us of, for there was no sun to take them by. But
-them, the brandy-and-water was diminished, by a description of one day will serve for all the
rest. Here it is.
constant spilling, to a tea-spoonful. To co-e 
The captain being gone, we compose ourselves
plete the group, it is necessary to recognise in
lete the group, it is ecessary   rcognise i  to read, if the place be light enough; and if not,
Ithis disconcerted dodger a very pale individual, we doze and tal alternately.  At one, a bell,who had shaved his beard and brushed his hair
rings, and the stewardess comes down with a
~ ast at Liverpool, and whose only articles of steaming dish ofbaked potatoes, and another of
dress (linen not included) were a pair of dread- roasted apples; and plates of pi,'s face,cold ham,
naught trousers, a blue jacket, formerly admired  salt beef; or perhaps a smoking mess of rare hot
-upon the Thames at Richmond, no stockings, collops. We fall to upon these dainties; eat as
and one slipper.                            much as we can (we have great appetites now);
Of the outrageous antics performed by that and are as long as possible about it. If the fire
fhip next morning; which made bed a practical will burn (it wi/ sometimes) we are pretty cheer



NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     11
ful. If it won't, we all remark to each other that line of objects (whose vicinity had been ahnit's very cold, rub our hands, cover ourselves nounced very early in the disaster by a loud cry
with coats and cloaks, and lie down again to of "Breakers a-head ") and much backing of
doze, talk, and read (provided as aforesaid) until paddles, and heaving of the lead into a constantdinner-time. At five, another bell rings, and the ly decreasing depth of water, we dropped anchor
stewardess reappears with another dish of pota- in a strange, outlandish-looking nook which no-.toes-boiled, this time-and store of hot meat of body on board could recognise, although there
various kinds: not forgetting the roast pig, to be- was land all about us, and so close that we could
taken medicinally. We sit down at table again plainly see the waving branches of the trees.
(rather more cheerfully than before); prolong   It was strange enough, in the silence of midthe meal with a rather mouldy dessert of apples, night, and the dead stillness that seemed to be
grapes, and oranges; and drink our wine and created by the sudden and unexpected stoppage
brandy-and-water. The bottles and glasses are of the engine, which had been clanking and blaststill upon the table, and the oranges, and so forth, ing in our ears incessantly for so many days, to
are rolling about according to their fancy and watch the look of blank astonishment expressed
the ship's way, when the doctor comes down, by in every face: beginning with the officers, traspecial nightly invitation, to join our evening cing it through all the passengers, and descendrubber: immediately on whose arrival we make ing to the very stokers and Iurnace-men, who
a party at whist, and as it is a rough night and emerged from below, one by one, and clustered
the cards will not lie on the cloth, we put the together in a smoky group about the hatchway
tricks in our pockets as we take them. At whist of the engine-room, comparing notes in whispers.
we remain with exemplary gravity (deducting a After throwing up a few rockets and firing sigshort time for tea and toast) until eleven o'clock, nal-guns in the hopes of being hailed from the,or thereabout; when the captain comes down land, or at least of seeing a light —-but without
again, in a sou'-wester hat tied under his chin, any other sight or sound presenting itself —it
and a pilot-coat: making the ground wet where was determined to send a boat on shore. It was
he stands. By this time the card-playing is over, amusing to observe how very kind some of the
and the bottles and glasses are again upon the passengers were, in volunteering to go ashore in
table; and after an hour's pleasant conversation this same boat: for the general good, of course:
about the ship, the passengers, and things in not by any means because they thought the ship
general, the captain (who never goes to bed, and in an unsafe position, or contemplated the possiIs never out of humour) turns up his coat collar bility of her heeling over in case the tide were
for the deck again; shakes hands all around; and running out  Nor was it less amusing to remark
goes laughing out into the weather as merrily as how desperately unpopular the poor pilot became
to a birthday party.                       in one short minute. He had had his passage
As to daily news, there is no dearth of that out from Liverpool, and during the whole voycommodity. This passenger is reported to have age had been quite a notorious character, as a
lost fourteen pounds at Vingt-et-un in the saloon teller of anecdotes and cracker of jokes. Yet
yesterday, and that passenger drinks his bottle here were the very men who had laughed the
of Champagne every day, and how he does it (be- loudest at his jests, now flourishing their fists in
ing only a clerk), nobody knows. The head en- his face, loading him with imprecations, and degineer has distinctly said that there never was fying him to his teeth as a villain!
such times —meaning weather-and four good   The boat soon shoved off with a lantern and
hands are ill, and have given in, dead beat. Sev- sundry blue lights on board; and in less than an
eral berths are full of water, and all the cabins are hour returned; the officer in command bringing
leaky. The ship's cook, secretly swigging dam- with him a tolerably tall young tree, which he
aged whiskey, has been found drunk; and has had plucked up by the roots, to satisfy certain
been played upon by the fire-engine until quite distrustful passengerswhose minds misgave them
sober. All the stewards have fallen down stairs that they were to be imposed upon and shipat various dinner-times, and go about with plas- wrecked, and who would on no other terms beters in various places.'The baker is ill, and so lieve that he had been ashore, or had done anyis the pastry-cook. A new man, horribly indis- thing but fraudulently row a little way into the
posed, has been required to fill the place of the mist, especially to deceive them, and compass
latter officer; and has been propped and jammed their deaths. Our captain had foreseen from the
up with empty casks in a little house upon deck, first that we must be in a place called the Eastern
and commanded to roll out pie-crust, which he Passage; and so we were. It was about the last
protests; (being highly bilious) it is death to him  place in the world in which we had any business
to look at. News! A. dozen murders on shore or reason to be, but a sudden fog, and some error
would lack the interest of these slight incidents on the pilot's part, were the cause. We were
at sea.                                    surrounded by banks and rocks, and shoals of all
Divided between our rubber and such topics kinds, but had happily drifted, it seemed, upon
as these, we were running (as we thought) into the only safe speck that was to be found thereHalifax Harbour, on the fifteenth night, with lit- about. Eased by this report, and by the assutle wind and a bright moon-indeed we had made rance that the tide was past the ebb, we turned in
the Light at its outer entrance, and put the pilot at three o'clock in the morning.
in charge-when suddenly the ship struck upon a   I was dressing about half past nine next day,
bank of mud. An immediate rush on deck took when the noise above hurried me on deck. When
place of course; the sides were crowded in an I had left it over night, it was dark, foggy, and
instant; and for a few minutes we were in as damp, and there were bleak hills all round us.
lively a state of confusion as the greatest lover Now, we were gliding down a smooth, broad
of disorder would desire to see. The passengers, stream, at the rate of eleven miles an hour: our
and guns, and water-casks, and other heavy mat- colours flying gayly; our crew rigged out in their
ters, being all huddled together aft, however, to smartest clothes; our officers in uniform again;
lighten her in the head, she was soon got off; and the sun shining as on a brilliant April day in
after some driving on towards an uncomfortable England; the land stretched out on either side,




12                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
streaked withlight patches of snow; white wood- next afternoon, that is to say, on Saturday, the
en houses; people at their doors; telegraphs twenty-second of January, an American pilotworking; flags hoisted; wharfs appearing; ships; boat came alongside, and soon. afterward; the
quays crowded with people; distant noises; Britannia steam-packet, from Liverpool, eighshouts; men and boys running down steep places teen days out, was telegraphed at Boston.
towards the pier: all more bright and gay and    The indescribable interest with which I strainfresh to our unused eyes than words can paint ed my eyes, as the first patches of American soil
them. We came to a wharf, paved with uplifted  peeped like molehills from the green sea, and
faces; got alongside, and were made fast, after  bollowed them, as they swelled, by slow and alsome shouting and straining of cables; darted, a most imperceptible degrees, into a continuous
score of us, along the gangway, almost as soon  line of coast, can hardly be exaggerated. A
-as it was thrust out to meet us, and before it had  sharp, keen wind, blew dead against us; a hard
reached the ship, and leaped upon the firm glad  frost prevailed on shore; and the cold was most
earth again!                                  severe; yet the air was so intensely clear, and
I suppose this Halifax would have appeared an  dry, and bright, that the temperature was not
Elysium, though it had been a curiosity of ugly  only endurable, but delicious.
dullness. But I carried away with me a most   How I remained on deck staring about me
pleasant impression of the town and its inhabi- until we came alongside the dock, and how,
tants, and have preservedit to thishour. Nor was though I had had as many eyes as Argus, I
it without regret that I came home, without hay- should have had them all wide open, and all eming found an opportunity of returning thither, and' ployed on new objects, are topics which I will
once more shaking hands with the friends I made not prolong this chapter to discuss. Neither will
that day.                                    I more than hint at my foreigner-like mistake in
It happened to be the opening of the Legislative  supposing that a party of most active persons,
Council and General Assembly, at which cere- who scrambled on board at the peril of their
monial the forms observed on the commence- lives as we approached the wharf; were newsmnent of a new session of Parliament in England  men, answering to that industrious class at
were so closely'copied, and so gravely presented  home; whereas, despite the leathern wallets of
on a small scale, that it was like looking at West- news slung about the necks of some, and the
minster through the wrong end of a telescope. broad sheets in the hands of all, they were ediThe governor, as her majesty's representative, tors, who boarded ships in person (as one gentledelivered what may be called the speech from  man in a worsted comforter informed me), " bethe throne. He said what he had to say man- cause they liked the excitement of it."  Suffice
fully and well. The military band outside the  it in this place to say, that one of these invaders,
building struck up " God save the Queen" with  with a ready courtesy for which I thank him here
great vigour before his excellency had quite  most gratefully, went on before to order rooms
finished; the people shouted; the in's rubbed  at the hotel; and that when I followed, as Isoon
their hands; the out's shook their heads; the  did, I found myself rolling through the long pasgovernment party said there never was such a  sages with an involuntary imitation of the gait
good speech; the opposition declared there never of Mi. T. P. Cooke, in a new nautical melowas such a bad one; the speaker and members drama.
of the House of Assembly withdrew from the bar   "Dinner, if you please," said I to the waiter.
to say a great deal among themselves and do a    "When I" said the waiter.
little; and, in short, everything went on, and    "As quick as possible," said I.
promised to go on, just as it does at home upon    "Right away 2" said the waiter.
the like occasions.                            After a moment's hesitation, I answered,
Thetown is built on the side of a hill, the  "No," at hazard.
highest point being commanded by a strong    "Not right away." cried the waiter, with an
fortress, not yet quite finished. Several streets  amount of surprise that made me start.
of good breadth and appearance extend from its    I looked at him doubtfully, and returned, " No,7
summit to the water-side, and are intersected by  I would rather have it in this private room. I
cross streets running parallel with the river. The  like it very much."
houses are chiefly of wood. Themarket is abun-   At this, I really thought the waiter must have
dantly supplied; and provisions are exceedingly  gone out of his mind; as I believe he would have
cheap. The weather being unusually mild at done, but for the interposition of another man,
that time for the season of the year, there was no  who whispered in his ear, "Directly."
sleighing; but there were plenty of those vehicles    "Well! and that's a fact!" said the waiter,
in yards and by-places, and some of them, from  looking helplessly at me: " Right away."
the gorgeous quality of their decorations, might   I saw now that " Right away" and " Directhave "gone on" without alteration as triumphal ly" were one and the same thing. So I reversed
cars in a melo-drama at Astley's. The day was my previous answer, and sat down to dinner in
uncommonly fine; the air bracing and healthful; ten minutes afterward; and a capital dinner it
the whole aspect of the town cheerful, thriving, was.
and industrious.                         a     The hotel (a very excellent one), is called the
We lay there seven hours to deliver and ex- Tremont House. It has more galleries, colon.change the mails. At length, having collected  nades, piazzas and passages, than I can rememall our bags and all our passengers (including  ber. or the reaJer would believe; and is some tritwo or three choice spirits, who, having indulged  fie smaller than Bedford Square.
too freely in oysters and Champagne, were found
lying insensible on their backs in unfrequented
streets), the engines were again put in motion,
and we stood off for Boston.                          CHAPTER    THE THIRD.
Encountering squally weather again in the
Bay of Fundy, we tumbled and rolled about as                   BOSTON.
usual all that night and all next day. On the   IN all the public establishments of America
L




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                         13
the utmost courtesy prevails. Most of our de- doorway or behind some pillar close at hand.
partments are susceptible of considerable im- As to Harlequin and Columbine, I discoveredi
provement in this respect, but the Custom-house, immediately that they lodged (they are always
above all others, would do well to take example looking after lodgings in a pantomime) at a very
fron the United States, and render itself' some- small clock-maker's, one story high, near the
what less odious and offensive to foreigners. hotel; which, in addition to various symbols
The servile rapacity of the French officials is and devices, almost covering the whole front,
sutlficiently contemptible, but there is a surly, had a great dial hanging out-to be jumped
boorish incivility about our men, alike disgust- through, of course.
ing to all persons who fall into their hands, and    The suburbs are, if possible, even more undiscreditable to the nation that keeps such ill. substantial-looking than the city.  The white
conditioned curs snarling about its gates.    wooden houses (so white that it makes one
When I landed in America, I could not help wink to look at them), with their green jalousie
being strongly impressed with the contrast their blinds, are so sprinkled and dropped about in all
Custom-house presented, and the attention, po- directions, without seening to have any root at
liteness, and good humour with which its offi- all in the ground, and the small churches and.
cers discharged their duty.                   chapels are so prim, and bright, and highly varAs we did not land at Boston, in consequence nished, that I almost believed the whole affair,
of some detention at the wharf; until after dark, could be taken up piecemeal like a child's toy,
I received  lly first impressions of the city in and crammed into a little box.
walking down to the Custom-house on the nmorn-   The city is a beautiful one, and cannot fail, I.
ing after out arrival, which was Sunday.  I am  should imagine, to impress all strangers very
afraid to say, by-the-way, how many offers of favourably.  The private dwelling-houses are,
pews and seats in church for that morning were for the most part, large and elegant, the shops
made to us, by formal note of invitation, before extremely good, and the public buildings handwe had half-finished our first dinner in America, some. The State House is built upon the sum —
but, if I may be allowed to make a moderate mit of a hill, which rises gradually at first, and.
guess, without going into nicer calculation, I afterward by a steep ascent, almost from the
should say that, at least, as many sittings were  water's edge. In front is a green enclosure,
proffered us as would have accommodated a called the Common. The site is beautiful, and
score or two of grown-up families. The num- from the tp there is a charming panoramic.
ber of creeds and ltrms of religion to which the' view of the whole town and neighbourhood. In,
pleasure of our company was requested was in addition to a variety of commodious offices, it
very fair proportion                          contains two handsome chambers: in one the
Not being able, in.he absence of any change House of Representatives of the State hold their
of clothes, to go to church that day, we were meetings, in the other, the Senate.  Such procompelled to decline these kindnesses one and ceedings as I saw here were conducted with
all; and I was relucta,.tly obliged to forego the perfect gravity and decorum, and were certainly
delight of hearing Dr. Channing, who happened calculated to inspire attention and respect.
to preach that morninsr for the first time in a    There is no doubt that much of,the intellec,very long interval.  I iu-iention. the name of this tual refinement and superiority of Boston is
distinguished and accomplished man (with whom  referable to the quiet influence of the University
I soon afterward had the pleasure of becoming  of Cambridge, which is within three or four
personally acquainted), that I may have the miles of the city. The resident professors at
gratification of recording my humble tribute of that university are gentlemen of learning and
admiration and respect for his high abilities and  varied attainments, and are, without one excepcharacter, and for the bold philanthropy with  tion that I can call to mind, men who would
which he has ever opposed himself to that most shed a grace upon, and do honour to, any socihideous blot and foul disgrace-Slavery.       ety in the civilized world.  Many of the resiTo return to Boston. When I got into the dent gentry in Boston and its neighbourhood,.
streets upon this Sunday morning, the air was and I think I am not mistaken in adding a large
so clear, the houses were so bright and gay, the majority of those who are attached to the liberal
signboards were painted in such gaudy colours, professions there, have been educated at this
the gilded letters were so very golden, the bricks same school.  Whatever the defects of Ameriwere so very red, the stone was so very white, can universities may be, they disseminate no
the blinds and area railings were so very green, prejudices; rear no bigots; dig up the buried
the knobs and plates upon the street-doors so ashes of no old superstitions; never interpose
marvellously bright and twinkling, and all so between the people and their improvement; exslight and unsubstantial in appearance, that ev- elude no man because of his religious opinions;
ery thoroughfare in the city looked exactly like above all, in their whole course of study and ina scene in a pantomime.  It rarely happens in struction, recognise a world, and a broad one
the business streets that a tradesman, if I may too, lying beyond the college walls.
venture to call anybody a tradesman, where   It was a source of inexpressible pleasure to
everybody is a merchant, resides above his me to observe the almost imperceptible, but not
store, so that many occupations are carried on less certain effect wrought by this institution
in one house, and the whole front is covered among the small community of Boston, and to
with boards and inscriptions. As I walked along, note at every turn the humanizing tastes and
I kept glancing up at these boards, confidently  desires it has engendered; the affectionate
expecting to see a few of them change into friendships to which it has given rise; the
something; and I never turned a corner sud- amount of vanity and prejudice it has dispelled.
denly without looking out for the clown and pan- The golden calf they worship at Boston is a
taloon, who, I had no doubt, were hiding in a pigmy compared with the giant effigies set up in




14                           NOTES ON AMERICA.
other parts of that vast counting-house which  the real and personal estate is divided between
lies beyond the Atlantic; and the almighty doi- half a dozen charities; and that the dead and
lar sinks into something comparatively insignifi- gone testator has, in pure spite, helped to do a
cant amid a whole Pantheon of better gods.    great deal of good, at the cost of an immense
Above all, I sincerely believe that the public amount of evil passion and misery.
institutions and charities of this capital of Mas-   The Perkins Institution and Massachusetts
sachusetts are as nearly perfect as the most Asylum for the Blind, at Boston, is superintendconsiderate wisdom, benevolence, and humanity  ed by a body of trustees, who make an annual
can make them. I never in my life was more  report to the corporation. The indigent blind
affected by the contemplation of happiness, un- of that state are admitted gratuitously. Those
der circurnstances of privation and bereavement, from the adjoining state of Connecticut, or from
than in my visits to these establishments.   the states of Maine, Vermont, or New-HampIt is a great and pleasant feature of all such  shire, are admitted by a warrant fi-om the state
institutions in America, that they are either to which they respectively belong; or, f~iling
supported by the state or assisted by the state, that, must find security among their friends for
or (in the event of their not needing its helping the payment of about twenty pounds English,
hand) that they act in concert with it, and are for their first year's board and instruction, and
emphatically the people's. I cannot but think, ten for the second.  "After the first year," say
with a view to the principle and its tendency to the trustees, " an account current will be opened
elevate or depress the character of the industri-. with each pupil: he will be charged with the
ous classes, that a public charity is immeasura- actual cost of his board, which will not exceed
bly better than a private foundation, no matter two dollars per week," a trifle more than eight
how munificently the latter may be endowed  shillings English; "and he will be credited with
In our own- country, where it has not, until the amount paid for him by the state, or by his
within these later days, been a very popular friends; also with his earnings over and above
fashion with governments to display any extra- the cost of the stock which he uses; so that all
ordinary regard fbr the great mass of the people, his ear nings over one dollar per week, will he his
or to recognise their existence as improvable own. By the third year it will be known whethcreatures, private charities, unexampled in the er his earnings will more than pay the actual cost
history of the earth, have arisen, to do an incal- of his hoard; if they should, he will have it at his
culable amount of good among the destitute and  option to remain and receive his earnings, or
afflicted. But the government of the country, not. 1 hose who prove unable to earn their own
having neither act nor part in them, is not in li'elihbr,,d will not be retained, as it is not dethe receipt of any portion of the gratitude they  sirable to convert the establishment into an
inspire; and, offering very little shelter or re- alinsh(, lse, or to retain any but working-bees in
lief beyond that which is to be found in the the hi' e. Those who, by physical or mental
workhouse and the jail, has coine, not unnatu- in,beci ty, are disqualified for work, are thereby
rally, to he looked upon by the poor rather as a disqlia tled from being members of an industristern master, quick to correct and punish, than o( s co munity; and they can be better provided
a kind protector, merciful and vigilant in their fi r in e tablishments fitted foir the infirm."
hour of need.                                   I we-it to see this place one very fine winter
The maxim that out of evil cometh good, is n orning; an Italian sky above, and the air so
strongly illustrated by these establishments at. cliar and bright on every side, that even my
home, as the records of the Prerogative Office ees, v hich are none of the best, could follow
in Doctors' Commons can abundantly prove. tl e min ite lines and scraps of tracery in distant
Some immensely rich old gentleman or lady, h,,ildings.  Like most other public institutions
surrounded by needy relatives, makes, upon a it Ametica of the same class, it stands a mile
low average, a will a week. The old gentle- o! two without the town, in a cheerful, healthy
man or lady, never very remarkable, in the best spot, and is an airy, spacious, handsome edifice.
of times, for good temper, is full of aches and  It is built upon a height commanding the harpains from head to foot; full of fancies and ca- bour. When I paused for a moment at the door,
prices; fiull of spleen. distrust, suspicion, and  andt marked how fresh and free the whole scene
dislike. To cancel old wills and invent new  was, what sparkling bubbles glanced upon the
ones, is, at last, the sole business of such a tes- waves, and welled up every moment to the surtator's existence; and relations and friends face, as th(ough the world below, like that above,
(some of whom have been bred up distinctly to  were radiant with the bright day, and gushing
inherit a large share of the property, and have over in its fulness of light; when I gazed from
been, from  their cradles, specially disqualified  sail to sail away upon a ship at sea, a tiny speck
from devoting themselves to any useful pursuit of shining white, the only cloud upon the still,
on that account), are so often and so unexpect- deep, distant blue-and, turning, saw  a blind
edly and summarily cut off. and reinstated, and  boy with his sightless face addressed that way,
cut off again, that the whole family, down to the as though he too had some sense within him of
remotest cousin, is kept in a perpetual fever. the glorious distance. I felt a kind of sorrow
At length it becomes plain that the old lady or that the place should be so very light, and a
gentleman has not long to live; and the plainer strange wish that, for his sake, it were darker.
this becomes, the more clearly the old lady or It was but momentary of course, and a mere
gentleman perceives that everybodly is in a con- fancy, but I felt it keenly for all that.
spiracy against their poor old dying relative;   The children were at their daily tasks in difwherefore the old lady or gentleman makes an- ferent rooms, except a few who were already
other last will-positively the last this time-l dismissed, and were at play.  Here, as in riany
conceals the same in a china teapot, and expires institutions, no uniform is worn; and I was very
next day. Then it turns out that the whole of glad of it, for two reasons.  First, because I




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                        I:
am sure that nothing but senseless custom and another room  before a girl, blind, deaf, and
x:ant of thought would reconcile us to the liveries dumb; destitute of smell, and nearly so of taste;
and badges we are so fond ofat home. Secondly, before a fair young creature with every human
because the absence of these things presents faculty, and hope, and power of goodness and
eacch ciild to the visiter in his or her own proper affection, enclosed within her delicate frame;
character, with its individuality unimpaired; not and but one outward sense, the sense of touch.
lost in a dull, ugly mono onous repetition of the There she was before me, built up, as it were,
same unmeaning garb, which is really an ima- in a marble cell, impervious to any ray of light
poitant consideration. The wisdom of encour- or particle of sound, with her poor white hand
aging a little harmless pride in personal appear- peeping through a chink in the wall, beckoning
anice even among the blind, or the whimsical to some good man for help, that an immortal
absurdity of considering charity and leather soul might be awakened.
b. eeches inseparable companions, as we do, re-   Long before I looked upon her the help had!
quires no comment.                            come. Her face was radiant with intelligence
Good order, cleanliness, and comfort, perva- and pleasure.  Her hair, braided by her ownr
ded every corner of the building. The various hands, was bound about a head whose intellectclasses, who were gathered round their teach- ual capacity and development were beautifully
ers, answered the questions put to them with expressed in its graceful outline and its broad,
readiness and intelligence, and in a spirit of open brow; her dress, arranged by herself,- was
-cheerful contest for precedence which pleased  a pattern of neatness and simplicity; the work
me very much. Those who were at play were she had knitted lay beside her; her writinggleesome and noisy as other children. More book was on the desk she leaned upon. Frona
spiritual and affictionate friendships appeared  the mournful ruin of such bereavement there had
to exist among them than would be found anmong slowly risen up this gentle, tender, guileless,
other young persons suffering under no depriva- grateful-hearted being.
tion; but this I expected, and was prepared to    Like other inmfates of that house, she had a
find. It is a part of the great scheme ofl' Heav- green riband bound round her eyelids.  A doll
en's merciful consideration for the afflicted.  she had dressed lay near her upon the ground.
In a portion of the building set apart fobr that I took it up, and saw that she had made a green
purpose, are workshops for blind persons whose fillet such as she wore herself, and fastened it
education is finished, and who have acquired a about its mimic eyes.
traile, but who cannot pursue it in an ordinary    She was seated in a little inclosure, made by
manuftctory because of their deprivation.  Sev- school-desks and forms, writing her dayly joureral people were work at here, making brushes, nal. But soon finishing this pursuit, she enmattresses, and so forth; and the cheerfulness, gaged in an animated communication with a
industry, and good order discernible in every  teacher who sat beside her. This was a favourother part of the building, extended to this de- ite mistress with the poor pupil.  If she could
partment also.                                see the face of her fair instructress, she would
On the ringing of a bell, the pupils all repair- not love her less, I am sure.
ed, without any guide or leader, to a spacious   I have extracted a few disjqinted fragments
music-hall, where they took their seats in an or- of her history, from an account, written by that
chestra erected for that purpose, and listened, one man who has made her what she is. It is
with manifest delight, to a voluntary on the or- a very beautiful and touching narrative; and I
gan played by one of themselves.  At its con- wish I could present it entire.
elusion, the performer, a boy of nineteen or   Her name is Laura Bridgman.  "She was
twenty, gave place to a girl, and to her accom- born in Hanover, New-Hampshire, on the twenpaniment they all sang a hymn, and afterward  ty-first of December, 1829. She is described as
a sort of chorus. It was very sad to look upon having been a very sprightly and pretty infant,
and hear them, happy though their condition un- with bright blue eyes.  She was, however, so
questionably was; and I saw that one blind girl puny and feeble until she was a year and a half
who (being for the time deprived of the use of old, that her parents hardly hoped to rear her.
her lrmbs, by illness), sat close beside me with  She was subject to severe fits, which seemed
her face towards them, wept silently while she to rack her frame almost beyond her power of
listened.                                     endurance; and life was held by the feeblest
It is strange to watch the faces of the blind, tenure: but when a year and a half old, she
and see how free they are from all concealment seemed to rally; the dangerous symrptoms subof what is passing in their thoughts; observing  sided; and at twenty months old, she was perwhicl, a tlian with eyes may blush to contern- fectly well."
plate the mask he wears.  Allowing for one    "Then her mental powers, hither stinted in,
shade of anxious expression which is never ab- their growth, rapidly developed themselves; and
sent from their countenances, and the like of during the four months of health which she en~
which we may readily detect in our own faces joyed, she appears (making due allowance for a
if we try to feel oursway in the dark, every idea, fond mother's account) to have displayed a con~
as it rises within them, is expressed with the siderable degree of intelligence."
lightning's speed and nature's truth.  If the    "But suddenly she sickened again; her discompany at a rout or drawing-room  at court ease raged with great violence during five weeksa.
could only for one time be as unconscious of the when her eyes and ears were inflamed, suppueyes upon them as blind men and'women are, rated, and their contents were discharged. But
what secrets would come out, and what a though sight and hearing were gone for ever,,
worker of hypocrisy this sight, the loss of which the poor child's sufferings were not ended. The
we so much pity, would appear to be!         fever raged during seven weeks; fior five months:
The thought occurred to me as I sat down in she was kept in bed in a darkened room; it was




:1: NOTES ON AMERICA.
a year before she could walk unsupported, and    "The first experiments were made by taking'two years before she could sit up all day. It articles in common use, such as knives, forks,
was now observed that her sense of smell was spoons, keys, &c., and pasting upon them labels
almost entirely destroyed; and, consequently, with their names printed in raised letters. These
that her taste was much blunted."            she felt very carefully, and soon, of course, dis"It was not until four years of age that the  tinguished that the crooked lines s p o on, differpoor child's bodily health seemed restored, and  ed as much from the crooked lines key, as the
she was able to enter upon her apprenticeship  spoon differed from the key in form.
of life and the world."                          Then small detached labels, with the same
"But what a situation was hers! The dark- words printed upon them, were put into her
ness and the silence of the tomb were around  hands; and she soon observed that they were
her: no mother's smile called forth her answer- similar to the ones pasted on the articles. She
ing smile, no father's voice taught her to imitate  showed her perception of this similarity by layhis sounds  they, brothers and sisters, were but ing the label key upon the key, and the label
forms of matter which resisted her touch, but s p oon upon the spoon. She was encouraged
which differed not from  the furniture of the  here by the natural sign of approbation, patting
house, save in warmth, and in the power of lo- on the head.
comation; and not even in these respects from  "The same process was then repeated with
the dog and the cat.                         all the articles which she could handle; and she
"But the immortal spirit which had been im- very, easily learned to place the proper labels
planted within her could not die, nor be maimed  upon them. It was evident, however, that the
nor mutilated; and, though most of its avenues only intellectual exercise, was that of imitation
of communication with the world were cut off, and memory.  She recollected that the label
it began to manifest itself through the others. be o k was placed upon a book, and she repeated
As soon as she could walk, she began to explore the process first from imitation, next from memothe room, and then the house; she became fa- ry, with only the motive of love of approbation,
miliar with the form, density, and weight, and  but apparently without the intellectual percepheat, of every article she could lay her hands tion of any relation between the things.,
upon. She followed-her mother, and felt her   "After a while, instead of labels, the individhands and arms, as she was occupied about the ual letters were given to her on detached bits
house; and her disposition to imitate, led her of paper: they were arranged side by side so as
to repeat everything herself. She even learned  to spell b o o k, k e y, &c.; then they were mixed
to sew a little, and to knit."               up in a heap, and a sign was made for her to ar
The reader will scarcely need to be told, how- range them herself, so as to express the words
ever, that the opportunities of communicating  b o o k, k e y, &c.; and she did so.
with her, were very, very limited; and that the    "Hitherto, the process had been mechanical,
moral effects of her wretched state soon began  and the success about as great as teaching a
to appear. Those who cannot be enlightened  very knowing dog a variety of tricks. The poor
by reason, can only be controlled by force; and  child had sat in mute amazement, and patiently
this, coupled with her great privations, must imitated everything her teacher did; but now
soon have reduced her to a worse condition than  the truth began to flash upon her: her intellect
that of the beasts that perish, but for timely and  began to work: she perceived that here was a
unhoped-for aid.                             way by which she could herself make up a sign
"At this time, I was so fortunate as to hear of anything that was in her own mind, and show
of the child, and immediately hastened to Han- it to another mind; and at once her countenance
over to see her. I found her with a well-formed  lighted up with a human expression: it was no
figure; a strongly-marked, nervous-sanguine  longer a dog, or parrot: it was an immortal
temperament; a large and beautiful shaped head, spirit, eagerly seizing upon a new link of union
and the whole system in healthy action. The  with other spirits! I could almost fix upon the
parents were easily induced to consent to her moment when this truth dawned upon her mind,
coming to Boston, and on the 4th of October, and spread its light to her countenance; I saw
1837, they brought her to the Institution.  that the great obstacle was overcome; and that
" For a while, she was much bewildered; and  henceforward nothing but patient and perseverafter waiting about two weeks, until she became ing, but plain and straightforward efforts were
acquainted with her new locality, and somewhat to be used.
familiar with the inmates, the attempt was made    "The result thus far, is quickly related, and
to give her knowledge of arbitrary signs, by  easily conceived; but not so was the process;
which she could interchange thoughts with  for many weeks of apparently unprofitable laothers.                                      bour were passed before it was effected.
"There was one of two ways to be adopted:   "When it was said above, that a sign was
either to go on to build up a language of signs made, it was intended to say, that the action
on the basis of the natural language which she  was performed by her teacher, she feeling his
had already commenced herself, or to teach her his hands, and then imitating the motion.
the purely arbitrary language in common use:   "The next step was to procure a set of metal
that is, to give her a sign for every individual types, with the different letters of the alphabet
thing, or to give her a knowledge of letters by  cast upon their ends; also a board, in which
combination of which, she might express her were square holes, into which holes she could
idea of the existence, and the mode and condi- set the types; so that the letters on their ends
tion of existence of any thing.  The former could alone be felt above the surface.
would have been easy, but very ineffectual; the    "Then, on any article being handed to her,
latter seemed very difficult, hut, if accomplished, for instance, a pencil, or a watch, she would severy effectual. I determined'therefore to try the  lect the component letters, and arrange them on
latter.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     17'her board, and read them with apparent pleas- gue: if she spell a word wrong with the fingers:are.                                         of her right hand, she instantly strikes it with her
" She was exercised for several weeks in this left, as her teacher does, in sign of disapprobaway, until her vocabulary became extensive; tion; if right, then she pats herself upon the.and then the important step was taken of teach- head, and looks pleased. She sometimes puring her how to represent the different letters by posely spells a word wrong with the left hand,
the position of her fingers, instead of the cur- looks roguish and laughs, and then with the right
brous apparatus of the board and types.  She hand strikes the left, as if to correct it.
accomplished this speedily and easily, for her   "'During the year she has attained great dexintellect had begun to work in aid of her teacher, terity in the use of the manual alphabet of the.and her progress was rapid.                  deaf mutes; and she spells out the words and
"This was the period, about three months af- sentences which she knows, so fast and so deftter she had commenced, that the first report of ly, that only those accustomed to this language
her case was made, in which it is stated that can follow with the eye the rapid motions of her
" she has just learned the manual alphabet, as fingers.,used by the deaf mutes, and it is a subject of    "' But wonderful as is the rapidity with which,delight and wonder to see how rapidly, correctly, she writes her thoughts upon the air, still more
and eagerly, she goes on with her labours. Her so is the ease and accuracy with which she reads
teacher gives her a new object, for instance, a the words thus written by another; grasping
pencil, first lets her examine it, and get an idea their hands in hers, and following every moveof its use, then teaches her how to spell it by ment of their fingers, as letter after letter conmaking the signs for the letters with her own veys their meaning to her mind. It is in this:
-fingers: the child grasps her hand, and feels her way that she converses with her blind play-,fingers, as the different letters are formed; she mates, and nothing can more forcibly show the
turns her head a little on one side, like a person  power of mind in forcing matter to its purpose,
listening closely; her lips are apart; she seems than a meeting between them. For if great talscarcely to breathe; and her countenance, at ent and skill are necessary for two pantomimes
first anxious, gradually changes to a smile, as to paint their thoughts and feelings by the move-:she comprehends a lesson.  Site then holds up ments of the body, and the expression of the
her tiny fingers, and spells the word in the man- countenance, how much greater the difficulty.ual alphabet; next, she takes her types and ar- when darkness shrouds them both, and the one
ranges her letters; and last, to make sure that can hear no sound!
she is right, she takes the whole of the types   "'When Laura is walking through a passagecomposing the word, and places them upon or way, with her hands spread before her, she
in contact with the pencil, or whatever the ob- knows instantly every one she meets, and passject may be.'                                 es them with a sign of recognition: but if it be
" The whole of the succeeding year was pass- a girl of her own age, and especially if it be one.,ed in gratifying her eager inquiries for the names of her favourites, there is instantly a bright smile
of every object which she could possibly handle; of recognition, and a twining of arms, a grasping
in exercising her in the use of the manual alpha- of hands, and a swift telegraphing upon the tiny
bet; in extending in every possible way her fingers; whose rapid evolution convey the
knowledge of the physical relations of things; thoughts and feelings from the outposts of one
and in proper care of her health.             mind to those of the other. There are ques"At the end of the year a report of her case  tions and answers, exchanges of joy or sorrow,
was made, from which the following is an ex- there are kissings and partings, just as between
tract.                                       little children with all their senses.'
"' It has been ascertained beyond the possi-   "During this year, and six months after she
bility of doubt, that she cannot see a ray of light, had left home, her mother came to visit her, and,annot hear the least sound, and never exercises the scene of their meeting was an interesting one.
her sense of smell, if she have any. Thus her   "The mother stood some time, gazing with
mind dwells in darkness and stillness, as pro- overflowing eyes upon her unfortunate child,.found as that of a closed tomb at midnight. Of who, all unconscious of her presence, was play-.
beautiful sights, and sweet sounds, and pleasant ing about the room. Presently Laura ran against
-odours, she has no conception: nevertheless, her, and at once began feeling her hands, exshe seems as happy and playful as a bird or a amining her dress, and trying to find out if she
lamb; and the enployment of her intellectual knew her; but not succeeding in this, she turnfaculties, or the acquirement of a new idea, gives ed away as fi-om a stranger, and the poor womher a vivid pleasure, which is plainly marked in  an could not conceal the pang she felt at finding
her expressive features.  She never seems to that her beloved child (lid not know her.
repine, but has all the buoyancy and gayety of'She then gave Laura a string of beads which
childhood.  She is fond of fun and frolic, and she used to wear at home, which were recogniwhen playing with the rest of the children, her sed by the child at once, who, with much joy,
Ehrill laugh sounds loudest of the group.    put them around her neck, and sought me eager"'When left alone, she seems very happy if ly to say she understood the string was from
she have her knitting or sewing, and will busy  her home.
herself for hours: if shie have no occupation, she    "The mother'now tried to caress her, but
evidently amusesherselfby imaginary dialogues, poor Laura repelled her, preferring to be with
or by recalling past impressions; she counts her acquaintances.
with her fingers, or spells out names of things   "Another article from home was now given
which she has recently learned, in the manual her, and she began to look much interested
alphabet of the deaf mutes.  In this lonely self- she exarnined the stranger much closer, and
communion she seems to reason, reflect, and ar-.gave me to understand that she knew she came
C




18-                            NOTES ON AMERICA.
from Hanover: she even endured her caresses, she respects; but this must not be carried t.o
hut would leave her with indifftrence at the far, or she becomines jealous.  She wants to have
slightest signal. The distress of the mother her share, which, if not the lion's, is the greater
was now painful to behold; for, although she pailr; and if she does not get it, she says,' HIMy
had feared that she should not be recognised, Mother will love me.'
the l)ainftll reality of being treated with cold in-   "' Her tendency to imitation is so strong, that
difference by a darling child, was too much for it leads her to actions which must be entirely
woman's nature to bear.                       incomprehensible to her,, and which can give
" After a while, on the mother taking hold of her no other pleasure than the gratification of
her again, a vague idea seemed to flit across an internal faculty. She has been known to sit
Laura's mind, that this could not be a stranger; for half an hour, holding a book before her sightshe therefore felt her hands very eagerly, while less eyes, and moving her lips, as she has ob'her countenance assumed an expression of in- served seeing people do when reading.
tense interest; sha became very pale, and then    She one day pretended that her doll was sick,,
suddenly red; hope seemed struggling with and went through all the motions of tending it
doubt and anxiety, and never were contending  and giving it medicine; she then put it carefully
emotions more strongly painted upon the human  to bed, and placed a bottle of hot water to its
face; at this moment of painful uncertainty, the feet, laughing all the time most heartily. When
mother drew her close to her side, and kissed  I came home she insisted upon my going to sea,
her fondly, when at once the truth flashed upon  it and feel its pulse; and when I told her to put
the child, and all mistrust and anxiety disappear- a blister on its hback, she seemed to enjoy it
ed from her face, as with an expression of ex- amazingly, and almost screamed with delight.
ceeding joy she eagerly nestled to the bosom of   "Her social feelings and her affections are
her parent, and yielded herself to her fond em- very strong; and when she is sitting at work._
braces.                                       or at her studies, by the side of one of her little' "After this, the beads were all unheeded; the firiends, she will break off from her task every
playthings which were offered to her were ut  few moments to hug and kiss them with an
terly disregarded: her playmates, for whom but earnestness and warmth that is touching to bea moment before she gladly left the stranger, hold.
now vainly strove to pill her fi-om her mother;   "' When left alone, she occupies and apparentand though she yielded her usual instantaneous ly amuses herself, and seems quite contented;:
obedience to my signal to follow me, it was evi- and so strong seems to be the natural tendency
dently with painful reluctance.  She clung close of thought to put on the garb of language, that
to me, as if bewildered and fearful; and when, she often soliloquizes in the finger laaguag-e, slow
after a moment, I took her to her mother, she and tedious as it is.  But it is only when alone
sprang to her arms, and clung to her with eager that she is quiet: for if she become sensible of
joy.                                          the presence of any one near her, she is restless
" The subsequent parting between  them, until she can sit close beside them, hold their
showed alike the affection, the intelligence, and  hand, and converse with them by signs.
the resolution of the child.                    "In her intellectual character it is pleasing to
"L Laura accompanied her mother to the door, observe an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and
clinging close to her all the way, until they ar- a quick perception of the relations of things. In
rived at the threshold, where she paused, and  her moral character it is beautiful to behold her
felt around, to ascertain who was near her  continual gladness, her keen enjoyment of exPerceiving the matron, of whom she is very  istence, her expansive love, her unhesitating
fond, she grasped her with one hand, holding on confidence, her sympathy with suffering, her conconvulsively to her mother with the other; and  scientiousness, truthfulness, and hopefulness."
thus she stood for a moment: then she dropped    Such are a few fragments from the simrnplle hut
her mother's hand; put her handkerchief to her most interesting and instructive history of Laura
eyes; and turning round, clung sobbing to the  Bridgman. The name of her great benefactor,matron; while her mother departed, with emo- and friend, who writes it, is Dr. Howe.  There
tions as deep as those of her child.          are not many persons, [ hope and believe, who,.
Ji~*    *    *    *    *+    * ~Eafter reading these passages, can ever hear that
" It has been remarked in former reports, that name with indifference.
she can distinguish different degrees of intellect   A farther account has been published by Dr.
in others, and that she soon regarded almost Howe, since the report from which I have just
with contempt, a newcomer, when, after a few  quoted.  It describes her rapid mental growth
days, she discovered her weakness of mind. and improvement during twelve months more,
This unamiable part of her character has been  and brings her little history down to the end of
more strongly developed during the past year.  last year.  It is very remarkable, that, as we
"She chooses for her friends and companions dream in words, and carry on imaginary conthose children who are intelligent, and can talk  versations, in which we speak both for ourselves
best with her; and she evidently dislikes to be and for the shadows who appear to us in those
with those who are deficient in intellect, unless, visions of the night, so she, having no words,
indeed, she can make them serve her purposes, uses her finger alphabet in her sleep. And it
which she is evidently inclined to do.  She has been ascertained that when her slumber is
takes advantage of them, and makes them wait broken, and is much disturbed by dreams, she
upon her, in a manner that she knows she could  expresses her thoughts in an irregular and connot exact of others; and in various ways she fused manner on her fingers, just as we should
shows her Saxon blood.                       murmnur and mutter them indistinctly in the like
"' She is fond of having other children noticed circumstances.
and caressed by the teachers, and those whom    I turned over the leaves of her diary, and found




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       19
it written in a fair legible square hand, and ex- he could feel or smell in his new location. For
pressed in terms which were quite intelligible instance, treading upon the register of a furnace,
without any explanation.  On my saying that I he instantly stooped down and began to feel it,
should like to) see her write again, the teacher, and soon discovered the way in which the upper
who sat beside her, bade her, in their language, plate moved upon the lower one; but this was
sign her namne upon a slip of paper twice or thrice. not enough ibr him: so, lying down upon his
Inl doing so, I observed that she kept the left hand  face, he applied his tongue first to one, then to
always touching and following up the right, in the other, and seemed to discover that they were
which, of course, she held the pen. No line was of different kinds of metal.
indicated by any contrivance; but she wrote    " His signs were expressive; and the strictly
straight and freely,                          natural language, laughing, crying, sighing, kissShe had. until now, been quite unconscious of ing, embracing, &c., was perfect.
the presence of visiters; but, having her hand    Some of the analogical signs which (guided
placed in that ofthe gentleman who accompanied  by his faculty of imitation) he had contrt'Ped
me, she immediately expressed his name upon  were comprehensible-such as the waving mno0
her teacher's palm. Indeed her sense of touch tion of his hand for the motion of a boat, the
is now so exquisite, that, having been acquaint- circular one for a wheel, &c.
ed with a person once, she can recognise him or   " The first object was to break up the use of
her after almost any interval. This gentleman  these signs, and to substitute for them the use
had been in her company, I believe, but very  of purely arbitrary ones.
seldom, and certainly had not seen her for many    "Profiting by the experience I had gained in
months. My hand she rejected at once, as she  the other cases, I omitted several steps of the
does that of any man who is a stranger to her; process before employed, and commenced at once
but she retained my wife's with evident pleasure, with the finger language. Taking, therefore,
kissed her, and examined her dress with a girl's several articles having short names, such as key,
curiosity and interest.                       cup, mug, &c., and with Laura for an auxiliary,
She was merry and cheerful, and showed much  I sat down, and, taking his hand, placed it upon
innocent playfulness in her intercourse with her one of them, and then, with his own, made the
teacher.  Her delight on recognising a favourite letters k e y. He felt my hands eagerly with
playfellow and companion —herself a blind girl both of his; and, on my repeating the process,
-who silently, and with an equal enjoyment of' he evidently tried to imitate the motions of my
the coming surprise, took a seat beside her, was fingers. In a few minutes he contrived to feel
beautiful to witness. It elicited from her at first, the motions of my fingers with one hand  and,
as other slight circumstances did twice or thrice holding out the other, he tried to imitate them,
during cmy visit, an uncouth noise, which was laughing most heartily when  he succeedaed.
rather painful to hear; but, on her teacher touch- Laura was by, interested even to agitation; and
ing her lips, she immediately desisted, and em- the two presented a singular sight: her face was
braced her laughingly and atffectionately.    flushed and anxious, and her fingers twined in
I had previously been into another chamber, among ours so closely as to follow every motion,
where a number of blind boys were swinging but so lightly as not to embarrass them; while
and climbuing, and engaged in various sports. Oliver stood attentive, his head a little aside,
They all clainoured, as we entered, to the as- his face turned up, his left hand grasping mine,
sistant master, who accompanied us, " Look at and his right held out. At every motion of my
me, Mr. Hart! Please, Mr. Hart, look at me!" fingers his countenance betokened keen attenevincing, I thought, even in this, an anxiety pe- tion; there was an expression of anxiety as he
culiar to their condition, that their little feats of' tried to imitate the motions; then a smile came
agility should be seen. Among them was a small stealing out as he thought he could do so, and
laughing fellow, who stood aloof, entertaining  spread into a joyous laugh the moment he suchimlself with a gymnastic exercise for bringing  ceeded, and felt me pat his head and Laura clap
the arms and chest into play, which he enjoyed  him heartily upon the back, and jump up and
mightily, especially when, in thrusting out his down in her joy.
right arm, he brought it into contact with anoth-   "He learned more than half a dozen letters
er boy. Like Laura Bridgmran, this youngchild  in half an hour, and seemed delighted with his
was deaf, and dumb, and blind.                success, at least in gaining approbation.  His
Dr. Howe's account of this pupil's first in- attention then began to flag, and I commenced
struction is so very striking, and so intimately  playing with him. It was evident that in all this
connected with Laura herself, that I cannot re- hlie had merely been imitating the motions of my
frain from a short extract  I may premise that fingers, and placing his hand upon the key, cup,
the poor boy's name is Oliver Caswell; that he &c., as part of the process, without any percepis thirteen years of age; and that he was in full tion of the relation between the sign and the
possession of all his faculties until three years object.
an(i four nionths old. He was then attacked by    " When he was tired with play I took him
scarlet fever-in 1our weeks became deaf; in a back to the table, and he was quite ready to befew weeks more, blind; in six months, dumb. gin again his process. of imitation.  He soon
He showed his anxious sense of this last depri- learnted to make the letters for key, pen, pin;
vation by often feeling the lips of other persons an(t, by having the object repeatedly placed in
when they were talking, and then putting his his hand, he at last perceived the relation I
hiand l upon his own, as if to assure himself that wished to establish between them. This was
he had tllem in the right position.           evident, because, when I would make the letters
1 His thirst for knowledge," says Dr Howe, p i 71, or p e n, or c up, he would select the ar"proclaimed itself as soon as he entered the tice.
house, by his eager examination of everything    " The perception of this relation was not ac



20                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
companied by that radiant flash of intelligence, charitable institutions are clustered, together.
and that glow of joy, which marked the delight- One of these, is the State Hospital for the inr
ful moment when Laura first perceived it.  I same; admirably conducted on those ellightenthen placed all the articles on the table, and, ed principles of conciliation  and kindness,
going away a little distance with the children, which twenty years ago would have been
placed Oliver's fingers in the position to spell worse than heretical, and which have been
key, on which Laura went and brought the ar- acted upon with so much success in our own
ticle.  The little fellow seemed to be much  pauper asylum at Hanwell. "Evince a desire
amused by this, and looked very attentive and  to show  some confidence, and repose some
smiling. I then caused him to make the letters trust, even in mad people," said the resident
b r e a d, and in an instant Laura went and brought physician, as we walked along the galleries, his
him a piece. He smelled it, put it to-his lips, patients flocking round us unrestrained   Of
cocked up his head with a most knowing look, those who deny or doubt the wisdom of this
seemed to reflect a moment, and then laughed  maxim after witnessing its effects, if there be
outright, as much as to say,' Aha! I understand  such people still alive, I can only say that I hope
Dow how somethiing may be made out of this.'  I may never be summoned as a juryman on a
"It was now clear that he had the capacity  Commission of Lunacy whereof they are the
and inclination to learn, that he was a proper subjects; for I should certainly find them out
subject for instruction, and needed only persever- of their senses, on such evidence alone.
ing attention. I therefore put him in the hands   Each ward in this institution is shaped like a
of an intelligent teacher, nothing doubting of his long gallery or hall, with the dormitories of the
rapid progress."                             patients opening from it on either hand. Here
Well may this gentleman call that a delight- they work, read, play at skittles, and other
ful moment in which some distant promise of games; and when the weather does not admit
her present state first gleamed upon tile darken- of their taking, exercise out of doors, pass the
ed mind of Laura Bridgman. Throughout his day together. In one of these rooms, seated,
life the recollection of that; moment will be to  calmly, and quite as a matter of course, among
him a source of pure, unfading happiness; nor a throng of madwomen, black and white, were
will it shine least brightly on the evening of his the physician's wife and another lady, with a
days of Noble Usefulness.                    couple of children. These ladies were graceful
The affection that exists between these two  and handsome; and it was not difficult to per-the master and the pupil-is as far removed  ceive at a glance that even their presence there,
from all ordinary care and regard, as the cir-  had a highly beneficial influence on the patients
cuinstances in which it has its growth, are who were grouped about them.
apart from  the common occurrences of life.   Leaning her head against the chimney-piece,
He is occupied now, in devising means of im- with a great assumption of dignity and refineparting to her, higher knowledge; and of con- ment of manner, sat an elderly female, in as
veying to her some adequate idea of the Great many scraps of finery as Madge Wildfire herCreator of that universe in which, dark and si- self. Her head in particular was so strewn
lent and scentless though it be to her, she has with scraps of gauze, and cotton, and bits of pasuch deep delight and glad enjoyment.        per, and had so many queer odds and ends
Ye who have eyes and see not, and have ears stuck all about it, that it looked like a bird'sand hear not; ye who are as the hypocrites of nest. She was radiant with imaginary jewels;
sad countenances, and disfigure your faces that wore a rich pair of undoubted gold spectacles;
ye may seem unto men to fast; learn healthy  and gracefully dropped upon her lap, as we apcheerfulness, and mild contentment, from the  proached, a very old greasy newspaper, in
deaf, and dumb, and blind! Self-elected saints  which I dare say she had been reading an acwith gloomy brows, this sightless, earless, count of her own presentation at some foreign
voiceless child may teach you lessons you will court.
do well to follow. Let that poor hand of hers lie    I have been thus particular in describing her,
gently on your hearts; for there may be some- because she will serve to exemplify the physithing in its healing touch akin to that of the Great cian's manner of acquiring and retaining the
Master whose precepts you misconstrue, whose confidence of his patients.
lessons you pervert, of whose charity and sym-   "This," he said aloud, taking me by the
pathy with all the world, not one among you in hand, and advancing to the fantastic figure with
his daily practice knows as much as many of great politeness —not raising her suspicions by
the worst among those fallen sinners, to whom  the slightest look or whisper, or any kind of
vou. are liberal in nothing but the preachment aside, to me: "This is the lady hostess of this
of perdition!                              mansion, sir. It belongs to her. Nobody else has
As I rose to quit the room, a pretty little  anything whatever to do with it. It is a large
c, ild of one of the attendaltfs came running in  estahlihrmrent, as you see, and requires a great
to greet its father. For the moment, a chilld number of attendants.  She lives, you observe,
withl eyes, among the sightless crowd, impress- in the very first style. She is kind enough to
edl ie alhm)st as painfully as the blinid boy in receive my visits, and to permit my wife and
the porcth had done, two hours ago. Ah! how  family to reside here; for which, it is hardly
muchl brighter anid more deeply blue, glowing  necessary to say, we are much indebted to her.
and rich thtlough it had hieenl before, was the She is exceedingly courteous, you perceive,"
scene without, contrasting with tile darkness of on this hint she bowed, condescendingly, "' ant
so many youthfull lives within!            will permit me to have the pleasure of introducing you: a gentleinan fiom England, ma'amn:
At So[tIH BOSTON, as it is called, in a situa- newly arrived t'rom Englanr d, after a very terr.
tionl excellently adapted for tile purpose, several pestuous passage: Mr. Dickens-the lady of
the house i"




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     21
We exchanged the most dignified salutations   It is obvious that one great feature in this
with profound gravity and respect, and so went system, is the inculcation and encouragement,
on. The rest of the madwomen seemed to un- even among such unhappy persons, of a decent
derstand the joke perfectly (not only in this self-respect.  Something of the same spirit percase, but in all the others, except their own), vades all the institutions at South Boston.
and to be highly amused by it. The nature of   There is the House of Industry. In that
their several kinds of insanity was made known branch of it which is devoted to the reception
to me in the same way, and we left each of of old or otherwise helpless paupers, these
them in high good humour. Not only is a thor- words are painted on the walls: " WORTHY OF
ough confidence established, by these means, NOTICE.  SELF-GOVERNMENT, QUIETUDE, AND
between physician and patient, in respect of the PEACE, ARE BLESSINGS."  It is not assumed and
nature and extent of their hallucinations, but it taken for granted that being there they must be
is easy to understand that opportunities are af- evil-disposed and wicked people, before whose
forded for seizing any moment of reason, to vicious eyes it is necessary to flourish threats
startle them by placing their own delusion be- and harsh restraints.  They are' met at the
fore them in its most incongruous and ridicu- very threshold with this mild appeal. All withlous light.                                 in-doors is very plain and simple, as it ought to
Every patient in this asylum sits down to be, but arranged with a view to peace and corndinner every day with a knife and fork; and in fort. It costs no more than any other plan of
the midst of them sits the gentleman, whose arrangement, but it bespeaks an amount of conmanner of dealing with his charges, I have just sideration for those who are reduced to seek a
described.  At every meal, moral influence shelter there, which puts them at once upon
alone restrains the more violent among them  their gratitude and good behaviour. Instead of
from cutting the throats of the rest; but the ef- being parcelled out in great long, rambling
feet of that influence is reduced to an absolute wards, where a certain amount of weazen life
certainty, and is found, even as a means of re- may mope, and pine, and shiver, all day long,
straint, to say nothing of it as a means of cure, the building is divided into separate rooms, each
a hundred times more efficacious than all the with its share of light and air. In these the
strait-waistcoats, fetters, and handcuffs, that better kind of paupers live. They have a moignorance, prejudice, and cruelty have manufac- tive for exertion and becoming pride, in the detured since the creation of the world.      sire to make these little chambers comfortable
In the labour department, every patient is as and decent. I do not remember one but it was
freely trusted with the tools of his trade as if clean and neat, and had its plant or two upon
he were a sane man. In the garden, and on the the window-sill, or row of crockery upon the
farm, they work with spades rakes, and hoes. shelf, or small display of coloured prints upon
For amusement, they walk, run, fish, paint, the white-washed wall, or, perhaps, its wooden
read, and ride out to take the air in carriages clock behind the door.
provided for the purpose. They have among   The orphans and young children are in an adthemselves a sewing society to make clothes joining building; separate from this, but a part
for the poor, which holds meetings, passes res- of the same institution.  Some are such little
olutions, never comes to fisty cuffs or bowie- creatures that the stairs are of lilliputian measknives as sane assemblies have been known to urement, fitted to their tiny strides. The same
do elsewhere; and conducts all its proceedings consideration for their years and weakness is
with the greatest decorum. The irritability, expressed in their very seats, which are perfect
which would otherwise be expended on their curiosities, and look like articles of furnituIe for
own flesh, clothes, and furniture, is dissipated a pauper doll's-house. I can imagine the glee
in these pursuits. They are cheerful, tranquil, of our Poor Law Commissioners at the notion of
and healthy.                                these seats having arms and backs; but small
Once a week, they have a ball, in which the spines being of older date than their occupation
doctor and his family, with all the nurses and of the Board-room at Somerset House, I thought
attendants, take an active part. Dances and even this provision very merciful and kind.
marches are performed alternately, to the enlivening strains of a piano; and now and then    Here again I was greatly pleased with the insome gentleman or lady (whose proficiency has scriptions on the wall, which were scraps of
been previously ascertained) obliges the corn- plain morality, easily remembered and underpany with a song: nor does it ever degenerate, stood: such as "Love one another."' "God
at a tender crisis, into a screech or howl; remembers the smallest creature in his creawherein, I must confess, I should have thought tion:" and straightforward advice of that na,
the danger lay. At an early hour they all meet ture. The books and tasks of these smallest
together for these festive purposes; at eight of scholars were adapted, in the same judicious
o'clock refreshments are served; and at nine manner, to their childish powers. When we
they separate.                              had examined these lessons, four morsels of
Immense politeness and good-breeding are girls (of whom one was blind) sang a little song
observed throughout. They all take their tone about the merry month of May, which I thought
firom the doctor; and he moves a very Chester- (being extremely dismal) would have suited an
field among the company. Like other assem- English November better.  That done, we
blies, these entertainments afford a fruitful topic went to see their sleeping-rooms on the floor
of conversation among the ladies for some days; above, in which the arrangements were no less
and the gentlemen are so anxious to shine on excellent and gentle than those we had seen
these occasions, that they have been sometimes below. And after observing that the teachers
found " practising their steps" in private, to cut were of a class and character well suited to the
a more distinguished figure in the dance.   spirit of the place, I took leave of the infants




22                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
with a lighter heart than ever I have taken er. This is the improved system of prison disleave of pauper infants yet.                cipline which we have imported into England,
Connected with the House of Industry there and which has been in successful operation
is also a Hospital, which was in the best order, among us for some years past.
and had, I am glad to say, many beds unoccu-   America, as a new, and not over-populated
pied. It had one fault, however, which is cornm- country, has, in all her prisons, the one great
mon to all American interiors: the presence of advantage, of being enabled to find usefil and
the eternal, accursed, suffocating, red-hot de- profitable work for the inmates; whereas, with
mon of a stove, whose breath would blight the us, the prejudice against prison labour is natpurest air under Heaven.                    urally very strong, and almost insurmountable,
There are two establishments for boys in this when honest men, who have not offended
same neighbourhood. One is called the Boyls- against the laws, are frequently doomed to seek
ton school, and is an asylum for neglected and employment in vain.  Even in the United
indigent boys who have committed no crime, States, the principle of bringing convict labour
but who, in the ordinary course of-things, would and free labour into a competition which must
very soon be purged of that distinction if they obviously be to the disadvantage of the latter,
were not taken from the hungry streets and has already found many opponents, whose numsent here. The other is a House of Reforma- hber is not likely to diminish with access of
tion for Juvenile Offenders. They are both un- years.
der the same roof, but the two classes of boys   For this very reason though, our best prisons
never come in contact.                      would seem at the first glance to be better conThe Boylston boys, as may be readily suppo- ducted than those of America. The treadmill
sed, have very much the advantage of the oth- is accompanied with liitle or no noise; five
ers in point of personal appearance. They were hundred men may pick oakum in the same room
in their school-room when I came upon them, without a sonnd; and both kinds of labour adand answered correctly, without book, such mit of such keen and vigilant superintendence
questions as where was England; how far was as will render even a word of personal commrnuit; what was its population; its capital city; nication among the prisoners almost impossible.
its form of government, and so forth. They  On the other hand, the noise of the loom, the
sang a song, too, about a farmer sowing his forge, the carpenter's hammer, or the stone-maseed: with'corresponding action at such parts son's saw, greatly favour those opportunities of
as "'tis thus he sows," " he turns him round," intercourse-hurried and brief no doubt, but op"1 he claps his hands:" which gave it greater portunities still-which these several kinds of
interest for them, and accustomed them to act work, by rendering it necessary for men to be
together in an orderly manner. They appeared employed very near to each other, and often
exceedingly well taught, and not better taught side by side, without any barrier or partition bethan fed; for a more chubby-looking, full-waist- tween them, in their very nature present. A
coated set of boys I never saw.             visiter, too, requires to reason and reflect a little,
The juvenile offenders had not such pleasant before the sight of a number of men engaged in
faces by a great deal, and in this establishment ordinary labour, such as he is accustomed to
there were many boys of colour. I saw them  out of doors, will impress him half as strongly
first at their work (basket-making, and the man- as the contemplation of the same persons in the
ufacture of palm-leaf hats), afterward in their same place and garb would, if they were occuschool, where they sang a chorus in praise of pied in some task, marked and degraded everyLiberty: an odd, and, one would think, rather where as belonging only to felons in jails. In
aggravating theme for prisoners. The boys are an American state prison or house of correction
divided into four classes, each denoted by a nu- I found it difficult at first to persuade myself
meral, worn on a badge upon the arm. On the that I was really in a jail: a place of ignominarrival of a new comer, he is put into the fourth ious punishment and endurance. And to this
or lowest class, and left, by good behaviour, to hour I very much question whether the humane
work his way up into the first. The design and boast that it is not like one, has its root in the
object of this institution are to reclaim the youth- true wisdom or philosophy of the matter.
ful criminal by firm but kind and judicious treat-   I hope I may not be misunderstood on this
ment; to make his prison a place of purification subject, for it is one in which I take a strong
and improvement, not of demoralization and and deep interest. I incline as little to the sickcorruption; to impress upon him that there is ly feeling which makes every canting lie or
but one path, and that one sober industry, which maudlin speech of a notorious criminal a subject
can ever lead him to happiness; to teach him  of newspaper report and general sympathy, as I
how it may be trodden, if his footsteps have do to those good old customs of the good old
never yet been led that way; and to lure him  times which made England, even so recently as
back to it if they have strayed: in a word, to in the reign of the third King George, in respect
snatch him from destruction, and restore him  of her criminal code and her prison regulations,
to society a penitent and useful member. The one of the most bloody-minded and barbarous
importance of such an establishment, in every countries on the earth. If I thought it would
point of view, and with reference to every con- do any good to the rising generation, I would
sideration of humanity and social policy, re- cheerfully give my consent to the disintermrnent
quires no comment.                          of the bones of any genteel highwaynman (thle
One other establishment closes the catalogue. more genteel, the more cheerfully), and to their
It is the House of Correction for the State, in exposure, piecemeal, on any sign-post, gate, or
which silence is strictly maintained, but where gibbet, that might be deemed a good elevation
the prisoners have the comfort and mental re- tor the purpose. My reason is as well coevilnlief of seeing each other, and of working togeth- ced that these gentry were utterly worthless




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                         23
and debauched villains, as it is that the laws on the opposite side; and all in one great apartand jails hardened them in their evil courses, or ment. Unless this watch be corrupted or sleepthat. their wonderful escapes were effected by  ing on his post, it is impossible for a man to esthe prison-turnkeys, who, in those admirable  cape: for even in the event of his forcing the
days, had always been felons themselves, and  iron door of his cell without noise (which is exwere, to the last, their bosom-friends and pot- ceedingly improbable), the moment he appears
companions.  At the same time I know, as all outside, and steps into that one of the five galmen do or should, that the subject of Prison  leries on which it is situated, he must be plainDiscipline is one of the highest importance to  ly and fully visible to the officer below.  Each
any community, and that in her sweeping reform  of these cells holds a small truckle-bed, in which
and bright example to other countries on this one prisoner sleeps; never more.  It is small,
-head, America has shown great wisdom, great of course; and the door being not solid, but
benevolence, and exalted policy.  In contrast- grated, and without blind or curtain, the prisoning her system with that which we have mod- er within is at all times exposed to the obser-,elled upon it, I merely seek, to show that, with  vation and inspection of any guard who may
all its drawbacks, ours has some advantages of pass along that tier at any hour dr minute of the,its own.>                                      night.  Every day the prisoners receive their
The House of Correction, which has led to  dinner, singly, through a trap in the kitchen,these remarks, is not walled, like other prisons, wall; and each man carries his to his sleeping;but is palisaded round about with tall, rough  cell to eat it, where he is locked up, alone, for.:stakes, something after the manner of an enclo- that purpose, one hour.  The whole of this ar-,sure for keeping elephants in, as we see it rep- rangement struck me as being admirable; and
resented in Eastern prints and pictures. The  I hope that the next new prison we erect in.prisoners wear a particoloured dress; and those England may be built on this plan.
who are sentenced to hard labour, work at nail-   I was given to understand that in this prison
making or stone-cutting.  When I was there, no swords or firearms, or even cudgels, are
the latter class of labourers were employed upon  kept; nor is it probable that, so long as its presthe stone for a new custom-house in course of 9nt excellent management continues, any weap-...erection at Boston. They appeared to shape it on, offensive or defensive, will ever be required
skilfully and with expedition, though there were  within its bounds.
very few among them (if any) who had not ac-    Such are the Institutions at South Boston!
qulred the art within the prison gates.         In all of them, the unfortunate or degenerate
The women, all in one large room, were em- citizens of the State are carefully instructed in
ployed in making light clothing, for New-Orleans their duties both to God and man; are surroundand the Southern States.  They did their work  ed by all reasonable means of comfort and hapin silence, like the men, and, like them, were piness that their condition will admit of; are
-overlooked by the person contracting for their appealed to, as members of the great human
ilabour, or by some agent of his appointment. family, however afflicted, indigent, or fallen;
-In addition to this, they are every moment liable are ruled by the strong Heart, and not by the
to be visited by the prison officers appointed for strong (though immeasurably weaker) Hand.
that purpose.                                   I have described them at some length: first,
The arrangements for cooking, washing of because their worth demanded it; and second-:clothes, and so forth, are much upon the plan of ly, because I mean to take them for a model,:.those I have seen at home.  Their mode of' be- and to content myself with saying of others we
-stowing the prisoners at night (which is of gen- may come to, whose design and purpose are the
-eral adoption) differs from  ours, and is both  same, that in this or that respect they practical-:simple and effective.  In the centre of a lofty  ly fail, or differ.. area, lighted by windows in the four walls, are    I wish by this account of them, imperfect in
five tiers of cells, one above the other; each  its execution, but in its just intention honest, I;tier having before it a light iron gallery, attain- could hope to convey to my readers one hunable by stairs of the same construction and ma- dredth part of the gratification, the sights I have
terial: excepting the lower one, which is on the  described, afforded me.,ground. Behind these, back to back with them
and facing the opposite wall, are five correspond-    To an Englishman, accustomed to the paracing rows of cells, accessible by similar means: phernalia of Westminster Hall, an American
so that supposing the prisoners locked up in their Court of Law is as odd a sight as, I suppose, an
cells, an officer stationed on the ground, with  English Court of Law would be to an American.'his back to the wall, has half their number un- Except in the Supreme Court at Washington
der his eye at once; the remaining half being  (where the judges wear a plain black robe), there
equally under the observation of another officer is no such thing as a wig or gown connected
with the administration of justice. The gentle* Apart from profit made by the useful labour of prisoners, men of the bar being barristers and attorneys.which we can never hope to realize to any great-extent, and too (for there is no division of those functions
which it is perhaps not expedient for us to try to gain, there as in England), are no more removed from their
are two prisons in London, in all respects equal, and in
some decidedly superior, to any I saw or have ever heard clients than attorneys in our Court for the Relief.or read of in America. One is the Tothill Fields Bridewell, of Insolvent Debtors are, from theirs. The jury
conducted by Lieutenant A. F. Tracey, R.N.; the other the are quite at home, and make themselves as
Middlesex House of Correction, superintended by Mr. Ches- comfortable as circumstances willpermit. The
t.erton. This gentleman also holds an appointment in the.
Public Service. Both are enlightened and superior men: witness is so little elevated above, or put aloof
and it would be as difficult to find persons better qualified from, the crowd -in the court, that a stranger
for the functions they discharge with firmness, zeal, intelli- entering during a pause in the proceedings would
gence, and humanity, as it would be to exceed the perfect    g a pause in the proceedings would
order and arrangement of the institutions they govern,    find it difficult to pick him out from the rest



~24            ~1~ NOTES ON AMERICA.
And if it chanced to be a criminal trial, his eyes, in our courts of law. Still, I cannot help doubt-,
in nine cases out of ten, would wander to the  ing whether America, in her desire to shake oft"
dock in search of the prisoner, in vain; for that the absurdities and abuses of the old system,.
gentleman would most likely be lounging among  may not have gone too far into the opposite
the most distinguished ornaments of the legal extreme; and, whether it is not desirable, esprofession, whispering suggestions in his coun- pecially in the small community of a city like
sel's ear, or making a toothpick out of an old this, where each man knows the other, to surquill with his penknife.                     round the administration of justice with some
I could not but notice these differences, when  artificial barriers against the "Hail fellow, well
I visited the courts at Boston. I was much sur- met" deportment of everyday life. All the aid:
prised at first, too, to observe that the counsel it canrl have in the very high character and ability
who interrogated the witness under examination  of the Bench, not only here but elsewhere, it
at the time, did so sitting. But seeing that he has, and well deserves to, have; but it may
was also occupied in writing down the answers, need something more: not to impress theand remembering that he was alone and had no  thoughtful and the well-informed, but the ig" junior," I quickly consoled myself with the re- norant and heedless; a class which includes
ifection that law was not quite so expensive an  some prisoners and many witnesses. These'
-article here, as at home; and that the absence institutions were established, no doubt, uponr
of sundry formalities which we regard as indis- the principle, that those who- had so large a.
pensable, had doubtless a very favourable influ- share in making the laws would certainly reence upon the bill of costs.                 spect them. But experience has proved this
-In every court, ample and commodious pro- hope to be fallacious; for no men know better
vision is made for the accommodation of the  than the Judges of America, that ion the occacitizens. This is the case all through America. sion of any great popular excitement, the law
In every public institution, the right of the peo- is powerless, and cannot, for the time, assert
ple to attend, and to have an interest in the pro- its own supremacy.
ceedings, is most fully and distinctly recognised.   The tone of society, in Boston, is one of perThere are no grim door-keepers to dole out their feet politeness, courtesy, and good breeding.
tardy civility by the sixpenny-worth; nor is The ladies are unquestionably very beautiful-.
there, I sincerely believe, any insolence of of- in face: but there I am  compelled to stop..
fice of any kind. Nothing national is exhibited  Their education is much as with us; neither
for money; and no public officer is a showman. better nor worse. I had heard some very marWe have begun of late years to imitate this vellous stories in this respect; but not believgood example. I hope we shall continue to do ing them, was not disappointed.  Blue ladies
so; and that in the fulness of time, even deans there are, ina Boston; but like philosophers of
and chapters may be converted.              that colour and sex in most other latitudes,
In the civil court, an action was trying, for they rather desire to be thought superior than;
damages sustained in some accident upon a  to be so.  Evangelical ladies there are, likerailway. The witness had been examined, and  wise, whose attachment to the forms of religion,
counsel was addressing the jury. The learned  and horror oftheatrical entertainments, are most
gentleman (like a few of his. English brethren) exemplary. Ladies who have a passion for atwas desperately long-winded, and had a re- tending lectures are to bie found among all classmarkable capacity of saying the same thing  es and all conditions. In the kind of provincial.
over and over again. His great theme was life which prevails in cities such as this, the"Warren the engine driver," whom he pressed  Pulpit has great influence. The peculiar pro:
into the service of every sentence he uttered. vince of the Pulpit in New England (always exI listened to him for about a quarter of an hour; cepting the Unitarian ministry) would appear toand, coming out of court at the expiration of be the denouncement of all innocent and rational.
that time, without the faintest ray of enlighten- amusements.  The church, the chapel, and thement as to the merits of the case, felt as if I lecture-rooir, are the only means of excitement
were at home again.                         excepted; and to the church, the chapel, and.
In the prisoners' cell, waiting to be examined  the lecture-room, the ladies resort in crowds.
by the magistrate on a charge of theft, was a    Wherever religion is resorted to, as a strong.
boy. This lad, instead of being committed to  drink, and as an escape from the dull, monota common Jail, would be sent to the Asylum at onous round of home, those of its ministers,
South Boston, and there. taught a trade; and in  who pepper the highest will be the surest tothe course of time, he would be bound appren- please.  They who strew  the Eternal Path
tice to some respectable master. Thus, his de- with the greatest amount of brimstone, and
tection in this offence, instead of being the pre- who most ruthlessly tread down the flowers
lude to a life of infamy and a miserable death, and leaves that grow by the way-side, will bewould lead, there was a reasonable hope, to his voted the most righteous; and they who enbeing reclaimed from \vice, and becoming a large with the  greatest pertinacity on the difliworthy member of society.                   culty of getting into heaven, will be considered,
1 am by no means a wholesale admirer of our by all true believers, -certain of going there:
legal solemnities, many of which impress mne as though it would be hard to say by what process
being exceedingly ludicrous. Strange as it may  of reasoning this conclusion is arrived at. It is:
seem, too, there is undoubtedly a degree of pro- so at home, and it is so abroad. With regard
tection in the wig and gown-a dismissal of to the other means of excitement, the Lecture,
individual responsibility in dressing for the  it lias at least tile merit of being always new.
part-which encourages that insolent bearing  One lecture treads so quickly on the heels of
and language, and that gross perversion of the another, that none are remembered; and the'
office of a pleader for The Truth, so frequent course of this month may be safely repeateo&.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      25
next, with its charm of novelty unbroken, and' its effect. Sometimes, when much excited with
its interest unabated.                       his subject, he had an odd way-conmpounded of
The fruits of the earth have their growth in John Bunyan and Balfour of Burley-of taking
corruption.  Out of the rottenness of these  his great quarto Bible under his arm and pacing
things, there has sprung up, in Boston, a sect up down the pulpit With it; looking steadily
of philosophers known as Transcendentalists. down, meantime, into the midst of the congreOn inquiring what this appellation might be gation. Thus, when he applied his text to the
supposed to signify, I was given to understand  first assemblage of his hearers, and pictured the
that whatever was unintelligible would be cer- wonder of the churdh at their presumption in
tainly transcendental. Not deriving much com- forming a congregation among themselves, he
fort from this elucidation, I pursued the inquiry stopped short with his Bible under his arm in the
still farther, and found that the Transcendental- manner I have described, and pursued his disists are followers of my friend, Mr. Carlyle, or, course after this manner:
I should rather say, of a follower of his, Mr.   "Who are'these-who are they-who are
Ralph Waldo Emerson. This gentleman has these fellows? where do they come from? where
written a volume of Essays, in which, among are they going to 1  Come from! What's the
much that is dreamy and fanciful (if he will answer!" leaning out of the pulpit, and pointpardon me for saying so), there is much more ing downward with his right hand: "From bethat is-true and manly, honest and bold. Trans- low!" starting back again, and looking at the
cendentalism has its occasional vagaries (what sailors before him: "From below, my brethren.
school has not?) but it has good healthful quali- From under the hatches of sin, battened down
ties in spite of them; not least among the num- above you by the evil one. That's where you
her a hearty disgust of cant, and an aptitude to came from!" a walk up and down the pulpit:
detect her in all the million varieties of her "and where are you going"-stopping abruptly,
everlasting wardrobe.' And therefore if I were "where are you going   Aloft!" —very soft;
a Bostonian, I think I would be a Transcendent- ly, and pointing upward: "Aloft!"-louder:
alist.                                       "aloft!"-louder still: " That's where you are
The only preacher I heard in Boston was Mr. going-with a fair wind-all taut and trim,
Taylor, who addresses himself peculiarly to sea- steering direct for Heaven in its glory, where
men, and who was once a mariner himself. I there are no storns or foul weather, and where
found his chapel down among the shipping, in the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary
one of the narrow, old, water-side streets, with are at rest." —Another walk: -"That's wherea gay blue flag waving freely from its roof. In you're going to, my friends.  I'hat's it. That's
the gallery opposite to the pulpit were a little the place. That's the, port. That's the haven.
choir of male and female singers, a violoncello, It's a blesued harbour-still water there, in all
and a violin. The preacher already sat in the changes of the winds and tides; no driving
pulpit, which was raised on pillars, and orna- ashore upon the rocks, or slipping your cables
tmented behind himr with painted drapery of a and running out to sea, there: Peace-peacelively and somewhat theatrical appearance. He peace-all peace!"-Another walk, and patting
looked a weather-beaten, hard-featuredr man, of the Bible under his left arm: ~' What! These
about six or eight and fifty; with deep lines fellows are coming from the wilderness, are
graven as it were into his face, dlark hair, and a they. Yes. From the dreary, blighted wilderstern, keen eye. Yet the general character of ness of Iniquity, whose only crop is Death,
his countenance was pleasant and agreeable.   But do they lean upon anything-do they lean
The service commenced with a'hymn, to upon nothing, these poor seamen. " - Three
which succeeded an extemporary prayer. It raps upon the Bible: "Oh yes. Yes. They
had( the fault of frequent repetition, incidental to lean upon the arm  of their Beloved"-three
all such prayers; but it was plain and compre- more raps:  "upon the arm of their Beloved" —hensive in its doctrines, and breathed a tone of three more, and a walk: "Pilot, guiding-star,
general sympathy and charity, which is not so and compass, all in one, to all hands-here it
commonly a characteristic of this form of ad- is"-three more: "" Iere it is. They can do their
dress to the Deity as it might be. That done, seamen's duty manfully, and be easy in their
he opened his discourse, taking for his text a minds in the utmost peril and danger, with this"
passage from the Songs of Solomon, laid upon -two more: "They can come, even these
the desk before the commencement of the ser- poor fellows can come, from  the wilderness
vice by some unknown member of the con- leaning on the arm of their Beloved, and go uip
gregation: " Who is this coming up from the -up-up!"-raising his hand higher and highwilderness, leaning on the arm of her beloved!" er at every repetition of the word, so that he
He handled this text in all kinds of ways, and stood with it at last stretched above his head,
twisted it into all manner of shapes; but al- regarding them in a strange, rapt manner, and
ways ingeniously, and with a rude eloquence, pressing the book triumphantly to his breast;
well-adapted to the comprehension of his hearers. until he gradually subsided into some other porIndeed, if I be not mistaken, he studied their tion of his discourse.
syrnJpatlhies and understandings much more than    I have cited this rather as an instance of the
the display of his own powers. His imagery preacher's eccentricities than his merits, though,
was all drawn from the sea, and frorm the inci- taken in connexion with his look and manner,
dents of a seamen's life; and was often re- and the character of his audience, even this
markahly good. He spoke to them of " that glo- was striking. It is possible, however, that my
rious moan, Lord Nelson," and of Collingwood; favourable impression of him may have beent
and drew nothing in, as,the saying is, by the greatly influenced and strengthened, firstly, by
head and shoulders, but brought: it to bear upon his impressing upon his hearers:that the -true
his purpose naturally, and with a sharp mind to observance of religion was not inconsistent
D




to                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
with a cheerful deportment and an exact dis- French bedstead or to the window. It had one
charge of the duties of their station, which, in- unusual luxury, however, in the shape of a
deed, it scrupulously required of them; and see- wardrobe of painted wood, something smaller
ondly, by his cautioning them not to set up any  than an English watchbox: or, if this comparmonopoly in Paradise and its mercies. I never ison be insufficient to convey a just idea of its
heard these two points so wisely touched (if, in- dimensions, they may be estimated from the
deed, I have ever heard them touched at all), by  fact of my having lived for fourteen days and
any preacher of that kind before..nights in the firm belief that it was a showerHaving passed the time I spent in Boston in  bath.                   Q
making myself acquainted with these things, in
settling the course I should take in my future
travels, and mixing constantly with its society,
SI am not aware that I have any occasion to               CHAPTER IV.
prolong this chapter. Such of its social customs as I have not mentioned, however, may be
TORY SYSTEM.
told in a very few words.
The usual dinner-hour is two o'clock. A din-   BEFORE leaving Boston, I devoted one day to
ner party takes place at five; and at an evening  an excursion to Lowell. I assign a separate
party, they seldom sup later than eleven; so  chapter to this visit; not because I am about
that it goes hard but one get home, even from a to describe it at any great length, but because I
rout, by midnight. I never could find out any  remember it as a thing by itself, and am desirous
difference between a party at Boston and a par- that my readers should do the same.
ty in London, saving that at the former place    I made acquaintance with an American railall assemblies are held at more rational hours; road, on this occasion, for the first time.  As
that the conversation may possibly be a little  these works are pretty much alike all through
louder and more cheerful; that a guest is usually  the States, their general characteristics are eaexpected to ascend to the very top of the house sily described.
to take his cloak off; that he is certain to see    There are no first and second class carriages
at every dinner an unusual amount of poultry  as with us; but there is a gentlemen's car and
on the table; and at every supper, at least two  a ladies' car; the main distinction between
mighty bowls of hot stewed oysters, in any one  which is that in the first, everybody smokes;
of which a half grown Duke of Clarence might and in the second, nobody does. As a black
be smothered easily.                         man never travels with a white one, there is
There are two theatres in Boston, of good size  also a negro car; which is a great blundering
and construction, but sadly in want of patron-  clumsy chest, such as Gulliver put to sea in,
age. The few ladies who resort to them sit, as  from the kingdom of Brobdignag. There is a
of right, in the front rows of the boxes.    great deal of jolting, a great deal of noise, a great
There is no smoking-room in any hotel, and  deal of wall, not much window, a locomotive
there was none consequently in ours; but the  engine, a shriek, and a bell.
bar is a large room with a stone floor, and there    The cars are like shabby omnibusses, but
people stand and smoke, and lounge about, all larger; holding thirty, forty, fifty, people. The
the evening: dropping in and out as the humour seats, instead of stretching from end to end, are
takes them. There, too, the stranger is initia- placed crosswise.  Each seat holds two perted inot the mysteries of Gin-sling, Cocktail, San- sons. There is a long row of them on each side
garee, Mint Julep, Sherry-cobbler, Timber Doo- of the caravan, a narrow passage up the middle,
dle, and other rare drinks. The house is full of and a door at both ends.  In the centre of the
boarders, both married and single, many of whom  carriage there is usually a stove, fed with charsleep upon the premises, and contract by the  coal or anthracite coal; which is for the most
week for their board and lodging: the charge  part red-hot. It is insufferably close; and you
for which diminishes as they go nearer the sky  see the hot air fluttering between yourself and
to roost. A public table is laid in a very hand- any other object you may happen to look at, like
some hall for breakfast, and for dinner, and for the ghost of smoke.
supper. The party sitting down together to these   In the ladies' car, there are a great many genmeals will vary in number from one to two hun- tlemen who have ladies with them. There are
dred: sometimes more. The advent of each of also a great many ladies who have nobody with
these epochs in the day is proclaimed by an aw- them; for any lady may travel alone, from one
ful gong, which shakes the very window frames end of the United States to the other, and be ceras it reverberates through the house, and horri- tain of the most courteous and considerate treatbly disturbs nervous foreigners. There is an  ment everywhere. The conductor or checkordinary for ladies, and an ordinary for gentle- taker, or guard, or whatever he may be, wears
mnen.                                        no uniform. He walks up and down the car,
In our private room the cloth could not, for and in and out of it, as his fancy dictates; leans
any earthly consideration, have been laid for against the door with his hands in his pockets
dinner without a huge glass dish of cranberries and stares at you, if you chance to be a stranin the middle of the table; and breakfast would  ger; or enters into conversation with the pashave been no breakfast unless the principal dish  sengers about him. A great many newspapers
were a deformed beefsteak with a great flat bone  are pulled out, and a few of them  are read.
in the centre, swimming in hot butter, and sprink- Everybody talks to you, or to anybody else who
led with the very blackest of all possible pepper. hits his fancy. If you are an Englishman, he
Our bedroom was spacious and airy, but (like ev- expects that that railroad is pretty much like
ery bedroom on this,ide of the Atlantic) very  an English railroad. If you say " No," he says
bare of furniture, having no curtains to the "Yes!" (interrogatively,) and asks in what re



NOTES ON AMERICA.                                    27
spect they differ. You enumerate the heads of across the turnpike road, where there is no gate,
difference, one by one, and he says "Yes?"' no policeman, no signal: nothing but a rough
(still interrogatively) to each. Then he guesses wooden arch, on which is painted "WHEN THE
that you don't travel faster in England; and on BELL RINGS, LOOK OUT FOR THE LOCOMOTIVE."
your replying that you do, says " Yes 1" again On it whirls headlong, dives through the woods
(still interrogatively), and, it is quite evident, again, emerges in the light, clatters over frail
don't believe it. After along pause he remarks, arches, rumbles upon the heavy ground, shoots
partly to you, and partly to the knob on the top beneath a wooden bridge which intercepts the
-of his stick, that " Yankees are reckoned to be light for a second like a wink, suddenly awakens
considerable of a go-ahead people too;" upon all the slumbering echoes in the main street of
which you say s" Yes," and then he says " Yes " a large town, and dashes on hap-hazard, pellagain (affirmatively this time); and upon your mell, neck or nothing, down the middle of the
looking out of window, tells you that behind road. There-with mechanics working at their
that hill, and some three miles from the next trades, and people leaning from their doors and
station, there is a clever town in a smart lo-ca- windows, and boys flying kites and playing martion, where he expects you have con-cluded to bles, and men smoking, and- women talking, and
stop. Your answer in the negative naturally children crawling, and pigs burrowing, and unleads to more questions in reference to your in- accustomed horses plunging and rearing,.close
tended route (always pronounced rout); and to the very rails-there-on, on, on-tears the
wherever you are going, you invariably learn mad dragon of an engine with its train of cars;
that you can't get there without immense diffi- scattering in all directions a shower of burning
culty and danger, and that all the great sights sparks from its wood fire; screeching, hissing,
are somewhere else.                        yelling, panting: until at last the thirsty monIf a lady take a fancy to any male passenger's ster stops beneath a covered way to drink, the
seat, the gentleman who accompanies her gives people cluster round, and you have time to
him notice of the fact, and he immediately va- breathe again.
cates it with great politeness. Politics are   I was met at the station at Lowell by a genmuch discussed, so are banks, so is cotton. tleman intimately connected with the manageQuiet people avoid the question of the Presi- ment of the factories there; and gladly putting
dency, for there will be a new election in three myself under his guidance, drove off at once to
years and a half, and party feeling runs very that quarter of the town in which the works,
high: the great constitutional feature of this the object of my visit, were situated. Although
institution being, that directly the acrimony of only just of age-for if my recollection serve
the last election is over, the acrimony of the me, it has been a manufacturing town barely
next one begins; which is an unspeakable com- one-and-twenty years-Lowell is a large, popufort to all strong politicians and true lovers of lous, thriving place. Those indications of its
their country: that is to say, to ninety-ninemen youth which first attract the eye, give it a
and boys out of every ninety-nine and a quarter. quaintness and oddity of character which, to a
Except when a branch road joins the main visiter from the old country, is amusing enough.
one, there is seldom more than one track of It was a very dirty winter's day, and nothing in
rails; so that the road is very narrow, and the the whole town looked old to me, except the
view, wherethere is adeep cutting, byno means mud, which in some parts was almost kneeextensive. When there is not, the character of deep, and might have been deposited there on
tihe scenery is always the same. Mile after the subsiding of the waters after the Deluge.
mile of stunted trees: some hewn down by the In one place, there was a new wooden church,
axe, some blown down by the wind, some half which, having no steeple, and being yet unpaintfallen and resting on their neighbours, many ed, looked like an enormous packing-case withmere logs half hidden in the swamp, others out any direction upon it. In another there
mouldered awayto spongy chips. The very soil was a large hotel, whose walls and colonnades
of the earth is made up of minute fragments were so crisp, and thin, and slight, that it had
such as these; each pool of stagnant water has exactly the appearance of being built with cards.
its crust of vegetable rottenness; on every side I was careful not to draw my breath as we passthere are the boughs, and trunks, and stumps of ed, and trembled when I saw a workman come
trees, in every possible stage of decay, decom- out upon the roof, lest with one thoughtless
position, and neglect. Now you emerge for a stamp of his foot he should crush the structure
few brief minutes on an open country, glittering beneath him, and bring it rattling down. The
with some bright lake or pool, broad as many an very river that moves the machinery in the
English river, but so small here that it scarcely mills (for they are all worked by water power),,
has a name; now catch hasty glimpses of a dis- seems to acquire a new character from the fresh
tant town, with its clean white houses and their buildings of bright red brick and painted wood
cool piazzas, its prim New-England church and among which it takes its course; and to be as
schoolhouse; when whir-r-r-r! almost before light-headed, thoughtless, and brisk a young
you have seen them, comes the same dark river, in its murmurings and tumblings, as one
screen: the stunted trees, the stumps, the logs, would desire to see.  One would swear that
the stagnant water-all so like the last that you every " Bakery," " Grocery," and " Bookbindseenm to have been transported back again by ery," and other kind of store, toolt its shutters
11magic.                                  down for the first time, and started in business
The train calls at stations in the woods, yesterday.  The golden pestles and mortars
where the wild impossibility of anybody having fixed as signs upon the sdn-blind frames outside
the smallest reason to get out, is only to be the druggist's, appear to have been just turned
equalled by the apparently desperate hopeles,3- out of the United States' Mint; and when I
ness of' there being anybody to get in. It rushes saw a baby of some week or ten days old in a




28                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
woman's arms at a street corner, I found my- factories that day, I cannot recall or separate
self unconsciously wondering where it came  one young face that gave me a painf.il impresfrom: never supposing for an instant that it sion; not one young girl whom, assuming it to
could have been born irL such a young town as be matter of necessity that she should gain her
that.                                        daily bread by the labour of her hands, I would
There are several factories in Lowell, each  have removed from those works if I had had the
of which belongs to what we should term  a power.
Company of Proprietors, but what they call in    They reside at various boarding-houses near
America a corporation. I went over several of at hand. The owners of the mills are particuthese; such as a woollen factory, a carpet fac- larly careful to allow no persons to enter upon
tory, and a cotton factory: examined them in  the possession of these houses, whose characevery part; and saw them  in their ordinary  ters have not undergone the most searching and
working aspect, with no preparation of any kind, thorough inquiry. Any complaint that is made
or departure from their ordinary every-day pro- against them by the boarders or by anybody else,
ceedings. I may add that I am well acquainted  is fully investigated; and if good ground of
with our manufacturing towns in England, and  complaint be shown to exist against them, they
have visited many mills in Manchester and else- are removed, and their occupation is handed
where in the same manner.                    over to some. more deserving person. There
I happened to arrive at the first factory just are a few children employed in these factories,
as-the dinner-hour was over, and the girls were  but not many. The laws of the state forbid
returning to their work; indeed, the stairs of their working more than nine months in the
the mill were thronged with them as I ascend- year, and require that they be educated during
ed. They were all well-dressed, but not to my  the other three.  For this purpose there are
thinking above their condition: for I like to see schools in Lowell; and there are churches and,
the humbler classes of society careful of their chapels of various persuasions, in which the
dress and appearance, and even, if they please, young women may observe that form of worship
decorated with such little trinkets as come with- in which they have been educated.
in the compass of their means. Supposing it   At some distance from the factories, and on
confined within reasonable limits, I would al- the highest and pleasantest ground ill the neighways encourage this kind of pride, as a worthy  bourhood, stands their hospital, or boardingelement of self-respect, in any person I employ- house for the sick: it is the best house in those
ed; and should no more be deterred from doing  parts, and was built by an eminent merchant
so, because some wretched female referred her for his own residence. Like that institution a;
fall to a love of dress, than I would allow my  Boston which I have before described, it is not
construction of the real intent and meaning of parcelled out into wards, but is divided into conthe Sabbath to be influenced by any warning to  venient chambers, each of which has all the
the well-disposed, founded on his backslidings  comforts of a very comfortable home.  The
on that particular day, which might emanate  principal medical attendant -resides under the
from the rather doubtful authority of a murderer same roof; and were the patients members of
in Newgate.                                  his own family, they could not be better care I
These girls, as I have said, were all well for, or attended with greater gentleness and
dressed: and that phrase necessarily includes consideration. The weekly charge in this esextreme cleanliness. They had serviceable bon- tablishment for each patient is three dollars, or
nets, good warm cloaks, and shawls; and were  twelve shillings English; but no girl employed
not above clogs and pattens. Moreover, there  by any of the corporations is ever excluded for
were places in the mill in which they could de- want of the means of payment. That they do
posite these things without injury; and there  not very often want the means, may be gatherwere conveniences for washing. They were  ed from the fact, that in July, 1841, no fewer
healthy in appearance, many of them remarka- than nine hundred and seventy-eight of these
bly so, and had the manners and deportment of girls were depositors in the Lowell Savings
young women: not of degraded brutes of bur- Bank: the amount of whose joint savings was
den. If I had seen in one of those mills (but I estimated at one hundred thousand dollars, or
did not, though I looked for something of this twenty thousand English pounds.
kind with a sharp eye), the most lisping, min-   I am now going to state three facts, which
cing, affected, and ridiculous young creature  will startle a large class of readers on this side
that my imagination could suggest, I should  of the Atlantic, very much.
have thought of the careless, moping, slatternly,   Firstly, there is a joint-stock piano in a great
degraded, dull reverse (I have seen that), and  many of the boarding-houses.  Secondly, near.
should have been still well pleased to look upon  ly all these young ladies subscribe to circulaher.                                        ting libraries. Thirdly. they have got up among
The rooms in which they worked were as themselves a periodical called THE LOWELL OFwell ordered as themselves. In the windows FERING, " A repository of original articles, \writof some there were green plants, which were ten exclusively by females actively employe d in
trained to shade the glass; in all, there was as the mills," which is duly printed, published,
much fresh air, cleanliness, and comfort as the  and sold; and whereof I brought away fromn
nature of the occupation would possibly admit Lowell four hundred good solid pages, which I
of. Out of so large a number of females, many  have read from beginning to end.
of whom were only then just verging upon wornm-   The large class of readers, startled by these
anhood, it may be reasonably supposed that' facts, will exclaim, with one voice, "HI-ow very
some were delicate and fragile in appearance: preposterous!"  On my deferentially inquiring;
no doubt there were. But I solemnly declare, why, they will answer, "These things are
that from all the crowd I saw in the different above their station."  In reply to that objection, I would beg to ask what their station is.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      29
It is their station to work. And they do have carefully abstained from drawing a cornwork.  They labour in these mills, upon an av- parison between these factories and those of
erage, twelve hours a day, which is unquestion- our own land. Many of the circumstances
ably work, and pretty tight work too. Perhaps whose strong influence has been at work for
-it is above their station to indulge in such years in our manufacturing towns have not:amusements, on any terms. Are we quite sure arisen here; and there is no manufacturing
that we in England have not formed our ideas population in Lowell, so to speak: for these,of the "station" of working people, from accus- girls (often the daughters of small farmers)
toming ourselves to the contemplation of that come from other states, remain a few years in
class as they are, and not as they might be'I I the mills, and then go home for good.
think that if we examine our own feelings, we    The contrast would be a strong one, for it
shall find that the pianos, and'the circulating- would be between the Good and Evil, the living
libraries, and even the Lowell Offering, startle light and deepest shadow. I abstain from it,
us by their novelty, and not by their bearing because I deem it just to do so. But I only the
upon any abstract question of right or wrong.  more earnestly adjure all those whose eyes may
For myself, I know no station in which, the rest on these pages, to pause and reflect upon
occupation of to-day cheerfully done and the the difference between this town aud those
occupation of to-morrow cheerfully looked to, great haunts of desperate misery: to call to
any one of these pursuits is not most humaniz- mind, if they can in the midst of party strife and
ing and laudable. I know no station which is squabble, the efforts that must be made to purge
rendered more endurable to the person in it, or them of their suffering and danger: and last,
more safe to the person out of it, by having ig- and foremost, to remember how the precious
norance for its associate. I know no station Time is rushing by.
which has a right to monopolize the means of   I returned at night by the same railroad and
mutual instruction, improvement, and rational in the same kind of car. One of the passengers
entertainment; or which has ever continued being exceedingly anxious to expound at great
to be a station very long, after seeking to do so. length to my companion (not to me, of course)
Of'the merits of the Lowell Offering as a the true principles on which books of travel in
literary production, I will only observe, putting America should be written by Englishmen, I
entirely out of sight the fact of the articles hav- feigned to f1ll asleep. But glancing all the way
ing been written by these girls after the ardu- out at window from the corners of my eyes, I
ous labours of the day, that it will compare ad- found abundance of entertainment for the rest
vantageously with a great many English Annu- of the ride in watching the effects of the wood
als.  It is pleasant to find that many of its fire, which had been invisible in the morning,
Tales are of the Mills and of those who work in but were now brought out in full relief by the
them; that they inculcate habits of self-denial darkness: for we were travelling in a whirland contentment, and teach good doctrines of wind of bright sparks, which showered about us
enlarged benevolence.,A strong feeling for the like a storm of fiery snow.
beauties of nature, as displayed in the solitudes
the writers have left at home, breathes through
its pages like wholesome village air; and                  CHAPTER V.
though a circulating library is a favourable
school for the study of such topics, it has very WORCESTER.-THE CONNECTICUT RIVER.-HART.
scanty allusion to fine clothes, fine marriages,  FORD —HEW-HAVEN.-T  NEW-YORK.
fine houses, or fine life. Some persons might'LEAVING Boston on the afternoon of Saturday,
object to the papers being signed occasionally the fifth of February, we proceeded by another
with rather fine names, but this is an American railroad to Worcester: a pretty New-England
fashion. One of the provinces of the state le- town, where we had arranged to remain under
gislature of Massachusetts is to alter ugly the hospitable roof of the governor of the state
names into pretty ones, as the children im- until Monday morning.
prove upon the tastes of their parents. These   These towns and cities of New-England (many.changes costing little or nothing, scores of Mary of which would be villages in Old England), are
Annes are solemnly converted into Bevelinas as favourable specimens of rural America, as
every session.                              their people are of rural Americans. The wellIt is said that on the occasion of a visit from trimmed lawns and green meadows of home are
General Jackson or General Harrison to this not there; and the grass, compared with our ortown (I forget which, but it is not to the pur- namental plots and pastures, is rank, and rough,
sose), he walked through three miles and a half and wild: but delicate slopes of land, gentlyof these young ladies, all dressed out with par- swelling hills, wooded valleys, and slender
asols and silk stockings. But as   a  not streams abound. Every little colony of houses
has its church and school-house peeping from
aware that any worse consequence ensued, than  among the white roo  and shady trees; every
a sudden'looking-up of all the parasols and house is the white rof th    e white; ev ery Venesilk stockings in the market; and perhaps the tian blind the greenest of the green; every fine
bankruptcy of some speculative New-Englander day's sky the bluest of the blue. A sharp, dry
who bought them all up at one price, in expect- wind and a slight frost had so hardened the roads
ation of a demand that never came; I set no when we alighted at Worcester, that their flrgreat store by the circumstance.            rowed tracks were like ridges of granite. There
In this brief account of Lowell, and inade- was the usual aspect of newness on every object,
quate expression of the gratification it yielded of course. All the buildings looked as if they
me, and cannot fail to afford to any foreigner to had been built and painted that morning, and
whom the condition of such people at home is could be taken down on Monday with very little
a subject of interest and anxious speculation, I trouble. In the keen evening air, every sharp




so                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
outline looked a hundred times sharper than   It rained all day as I once thought it never di
ever. The clean, cardboard colonnades had no rain anywhere but in the Highlands of Scotland.
more perspective than a Chinese bridge on a The river was full of floating blocks of ice,
teacup, and appeared equally well calculated for which were constantly crunching and cracking
use. The razor-like edges of the detached cot- under us; and the depth of water., in the course
tages seemed to cut the very wind as it whistled  we took to avoid the larger masses, carried down
against them, and to send it smarting on its way  the middle of the river by the current, did not
with a shriller cry than before. Those slightly- exceed a few inches. Nevertheless, we moved
built wooden dwellings, behind which the sun was onward dexterously; and, being- well wrappl ed
setting with a brilliant lustre, could be so looked  up, bade defiance to the weather, and enjoyed
through and through, -that the idea of any inhab- the journey. The Connecticut River is a fine
itant being able to hide himself from the public  stream; and the banks in summer-time, are, I
gaze, or to have any secrets from the public eye, have no doubt, beautiful: at all events, I was
was not entertainable for a moment. Even where told so by a young lady in the cabin; and she
ablazing fire shone through the uncurtained win- should be a judge of beauty, if the possession
dows of some distant house, it had the air of be- of a quality include the appreciation of it, for a
ing newly-lighted, and of lacking warmth; and  more beautiful creature I never looked upon.
instead of awakening thoughts of a snug chamber   After two hours and a half of this odd travel
bright with faces that first saw the light round  ling (including a stoppage at a small town. where
that same hearth, and ruddy with warm hang- we were saluted by a gun considerably bigger
ings, it came upon one suggestive with the smell than our own chimney), we reached Hartford,
of new mortar and damp walls.                and straightway repaired to an extremely comSo I thought, at least, that evening. Next fortable hotel: except, as usual, in the article of
morning, when the sun was shining brightly, and  bedrooms, which, in almost every place we vise
the clear church bells were ringing, and sedate ited, were very conducive to early rising.
people in their best clothes enlivened the path-   WVe tarried here four days. The town is beauway near at hand, and dotted the distant thread  tifully situated in a basin of green hills; the soil
of road, there was a pleasant Sabbath peaceful- is rich, well-wooded, and carefully improved.
ness on everything, which it was good to feel. It is the seat of the local legislature of ConnectiIt would have been better for an old church; bet- cut, which sage body enacted in bygone times, the
ter still for some old graves; but as it was, a renowned code of "Blue Laws," in virtue wherewholesome repose and tranquillity pervaded the of, among other enlightened provisions, any citscene, which, after the restless ocean and the izen who could be proved to have kissed his
hurried city, had a doubly grateful influence on  wife on Sunday, was punishable, I believe, with
the spirits.                                 the stocks. Too much of the old Puritan spirit
WVe went on next morning, still by railroad, exists in these parts to the present hour; but its
to Springfield. From  that place to Hartford, influence has not tended, that I know. to make
whither we were bound, is a distance of only  the people less hard in their bargains, or more
five-and-twenty miles, but at that time of the equal in their dealings. As I never heard of its
year the roads were so bad that the journey  working that effect anywhere else, I infer that it
would probably have occupied ten or twelve never will here. Indeed, I am accustomed, with
hours. Fortunately, however, the winter having  reference to great professions and severe faces, to
beeii unusually mild, the Connecticut River was  judge of the goods of the other world pretty
" open," or, in other words, not frozen. The cap- much as I judge of the goods of this; and whentain of a small steamboat was going to make his ever I see a dealer in such commodities with too
first trip for the season that day (the second Feb- great a display of them in his window, I doubt
ruary trip, I believe, within the memory of man), the quality of the article within.
and only waited for us to go on board. Accord-   In Hartford stands the famous oak in which
ingly, we went on board, with as little delay as the charter of King Charles was hidden. It is
might be. He was as good as his word, and  now enclosed in a gentleman's garden. In the
started directly.                            State House is the charter itself. I found the
It certainly was not called a small steamboat courts of law here just the same as at Boston;
without reason. I omitted to ask the question, the public institutions almost as good, The Inbut I should think it must have been of about sane Asylum is admirably conducted, and so is
half a pony power. Mr. Paap, the celebrated  the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb.
dwarf, might have lived and died happily in the    I very much questioned within myself, as I
cabin, which was fitted with common sash-win- walked through the Insane Asylum, whether I
dows like an ordinary dwelling-house. These  should have known the attendants from the pawindows had bright red curtains, too, hung on  tients, but for the few words which passed beslack strings across the lower panes; so that it tween the former and the doctor, in reference to
looked like the parlour of a lilliputian public- the persons under their charge. Of course I
house, which had got afloat in a flood, or some limit this remark merely to their looks; for the
other water accident, and was drifting nobody  conversation of the mad people was mad enough.
knew where. But even in this chamber therewas   There was one little prim old lady, of very
arocking-chair. It would be impossible to get on  smiling and good-humoured appearance, who
anywhere in America without a rockingehair.   came sidling up to me from the end of a long
I am afraid to tell how many feet short this passage, and with a courtesy of inexpressible
vessel was, or how many feet narrow: to apply  condescension, propounded this unaccountable
the words length and width to such measure- inquiry:
ment would be a contradiction in terms. But I   "Does Pontefract still flourish, Sir, upon the
may state that we all kept the middle of the  soil of England."
deck, lest the boat should unexpectedly tip over;   "He does, Ma'am," I rejoined,
and that the machinery, by some surprising pro-   "When you last saw him, Sir, he-was-"
cess of condensation, worked between it and the    " Vell, Ma'am," said I, " extremely well. IHe
keel: the whole forming a warm sandwich, about begged me to present his compliments. I never
three teet thick.                           saw him looking better."




NOTES ON AMERICA.
At this the old lady was very much delighted. "I Yes."
After glancing at me for a moment, as if' to be    "On what subject?  Autographs?"
quite sure that I was serious in my respectful   "No. She hears voices in the air."
air, she sidleld back some paces; sidled forward    "WVell i" thought I, "' t would be well if we
again; inde a sudden skip (at which I precipi- couln snht up a few fE'lse prophets of these later
tately retreated a step or two), and said:    times, who have professed to do the same; and 1
I am aln antedituvian, Sir."               should like to try the experiment on a Mormon,
I ihougilt the best thing to say was, that I had  ist or two to begin with."
suspected as much from the first. Therefore I   In this place there is the best jail for untried
said so.                                      offenders in the world. There is also a very,
" It is an extremely proud and pleasant thing, well-ordered state prison, arranged upon the same
Sir, to be an antediluvian," said toe old lady.    plan as that at Bostqn, except that here, there is
"I should think it was, Ma'am," I rejoined.   always a sentry on the wall with a loaded gun,
The old clady kissed her hand, gave another It contained at that time about two hundred prisskip, smirked and sidled down the gallery in a oners. A spot was shown me in the sleeping
most extraordinary manner, and ambled grace- ward, where a watchman was murdered some
fully into her own bed-chamber.              years since in the dead of night, in a desperate
In another part of the building there was a attempt to escape, made by a prisoner who had
male patient in bed; very much flushed and broken from  his cell.  A  woman, too, was
heated.                                       pointed out to me, who, for the murder of her
"Well!" said he, starting up, and pulling off  husband, had been a close prisoner for sixteen
his night-cap: " It's all settled at last. I have years.
arranged it with queen Victoria."               "Do you think," I asked of my conductor,
"Arranged what " asked the Doctor.          "that after so very long an imprisonment, she
"Why, that business," parssing his hand weari- has any thought or hope of ever regaining her
ly across his forehead, " about the siege of New-. liberty."
York."                                          "Oh dear, yes," he answered. "To be sure
"Oh!" said I, like a man suddenly enlighten- she has."
ed. For he looked at me for an answer.          "She has no chance of obtaining it, I sup.
"Yes. Every house without a signal will be -pose."
fired upon by the British troops. No harm will   " Well, I don't know:" which, by-the-by, is a
he done to the others. No harm at all. Those national answer. "Her friends mistrust her."
that want to be safe must hoist flags. That's all   " What have tey to do with it 2'" I naturally
t;ey'li have to do. They must hoist flags."   inquired.            (
Elven while he was speaking, he seemed, I   "Well, they won't petition."
thought, to have some faint idea that his talk was   "But if they did tney couldn't get her out, I
incoherent. Directly he had said these words, he suppose?"
lay down again; gave a kind of groan, and cov-   Well, not the first time, perhaps, nor yet the
ered his hot head with the blankets.          second, but tiring and wearying for a few years
These was another: a young lman, whose mad- might do it."
ness was love and music. Aftte playing on the    " Does that ever do it."
accordion a march he had composed, lie was    "Why yes, that'll do it -:netimes. Political
very anxious that I should walk into his cham- friends'll do it sometimes. It's pretty often done,
her, which I immediately did.                 one way or another."
By way of being very knowing, and humour-   1 shall always entertain a very pleasant and
ing him to the top of his bent, I went to the grateful recollection of Hartfobrd. It is a lovely
winsdow, which commanded a beautiful pros- place, and I had many friends there, whom I can,
pect, and remarked, with an address upon which never remember with indifference. We left it
I greatly plumned myself:                     with no little regret on the evening of' Friday
"W Vhat a delicious country you have about the Ilth, and travelled that night by railroad to
these lodgings of yours."                     New Haven. Upon the way, the guard and I
" Poh!" said he, moving his fingers carelessly  were formally introduced to each other (as we
over the notes of his instrument: " Well enozughb usually were on such occasions), and exchanged
fo' schl. an iestittitio  as this!"          a variety of small-talk. We reached New HaI don't think I was ever so taken aback in all ven' at about eight o'clock, after a journey of
my life.                                     three hours, and put up for the night at the best
" I come here just for a whim," he said, coolly. inn.
"That's all."                                   New Haven, known also as the City of Elms,
"Oh! that's all 1" said I.             all  is a fine town. Many of its streets (as its aliea
"Yes.  That's all.  The Doctor's a smart sufficiently imports) are planted with rows of
man.  tIe quite enters into it. It's a joke of' grand old elm-trees; and the same natural ornamine. I like it for, a time. You needn't men- ments surround Yale College, an establishmneat
tion it, but I think I shall go out next Tues- of considerable eminence and reputation. The
day!"                                        various departments of this Institution are erectI assured him that 1 would consider our inter- ed in a kind of park or colmmon in the middle
view perfectly confidential; and rejoined the of the town, where they are dimly visible among
Doctor. As we were passing through a gallery  the shadowingtrees. The effect is very like that
on our way out, a well-dressed lady, of quiet and of an old cathedral yard in England; and when
composed manners, came up, and proffering a their branches are in full leaf, must be extremely
slip of paper and a pen, begged that I would  picturesque.  Even in the winter time, theses
oblige her with an autograph. I complied, and groups of well-grown trees, clustering among
we parted.                                   the busy streets and houses of a thriving city,
" I think I remember having had a few inter- have a very quaint appearance: seeming to bring
views like that with ladies out of doors. I hope about a kind o(if compromise between town and
she is not mad!"                            country; as if each had met the other half way;




~32                       fNOTES ON AMERICA.
and shakenhands upon it; which is at once novel whose waters sparkled in the now cloudless sunand pleasant.                               shine like Nature's eyes turned up to Heaven.
After a night's rest, we rose early, and in good Then there lay stretched out before us, to the
time went down to the wharf, and on board the right, confused heaps of buildings, with here and
packet New-York,for New-York. This was the there a spire or steeple, looking down upon the
first American steamboat of any size that I had herd below; and here and there, again, a cloud
seen; and certainly to an English eye it was in- of lazy smoke; and in the foreground a forest of'
finitely less like a steamboat than a huge float- ships' masts, cheery with flapping sails and waving bath. I could hardly persuade myself, indeed, ing flags.  Crossing from among them to the
but that the bathing establishment off Westmin- opposite shore, were steam ferry-boats laden with
ster Bridge, which I had left a baby, had suddenly people, coaches, horses, wagons, baskets, boxes:
grown to an enormous size; run away from  crossing and recrossing by other ferry-boats: all
home; and set up in foreign parts as a steamer. travelling to and fro: and never idle. Stately
Being in America too, which our vagabonds do among these restless Insects, were two or three
so particularly favour, it seemed the more prob- large ships, moving with slow majestic pace, as
able.                                        creatures of a prouder kind, disdainful of their
The great difference in appearance between puny journeys, and making for the broad sea.
these packets and ours, is, that there is so much Beyond, were shining heights, and islands in the
of them out of the water: the main-deck being glancing river, and a distance scarcely less blue
enclosed on all sides, and filled with casks and and bright than the sky it seemed to meet. The
goods, like any second or third floor in a stack city's hum and buzz, the clinking of capstains,
of warehouses; and the promenade or hurricane- the ringing of bells, the barking of dogs, the clatdeck being a-top of that again. A part of the tering of' wheels, tingled in the listening ear. All
machinery is always above this deck: where the of which life and stir, coming across the stirring
connecting-rod, in a strong and lofty frame, is seen water, caught new life and animation from its
working away like an iron top-sawyer. There is free companionship; and, sympathizing with its
seldom any mast or tackle: nothing aloft but two buoyant spirits, glistening as it seemed in sport
tall black chimneys. The man at the helm is upon its surface, and hemmed the vessel round,
shut up in a little house in the fore part of the and plashed the water high about her sides, and,
boat (the wheel being connected with the rudder floating her gallantly into the dock, flew off again
by iron chains, working the whole length of the to welcome other comers, and speed before them
deck); and the passengers, unless the weather to the busy Port.
be very fine indeed, usually congregate below.
Directly you have left the wharf, all the life, and
stir, and bustle of a packet cease. You wonder
for a long time how she goes on, for there seems
to be nobody in charge of her; and when another              NEW-YORK.
of these dull machines comes splashing by, you
feel quite indignant with it, as a sudden cum-   THE beautiful metropolis of America is by no
brous, ungraceful, unshiplike leviathan: quite means so clean a city as Boston, but many of its
forgetting that the vessel you are on board of, is streets have the same charactesistics; except
its very counterpart.                       that the houses are not quite so fresh-coloured,
There is always a clerk's office on the lower the sign-boards are not quite so gaudy, the gilded
deck, where you pay your fare; a ladies' cabin; letters not quite so golden, the bricks not quite
baggage and stowage rooms; engineer's room; so red, the stone not quite so white, the blinds and
and in short a great variety of perplexities which area railings not quite so green, the knobs and
render the discovery of the gentleman's cabin, a plates upon the street doors, not quite so bright
matter of some difficulty. It often occupies the and twinkling. There are many by-streets, alwhole length of the boat (as it did in this case), most as neutral in clean colours, and positive in
and has three or four tiers of berths on each side. dirty ones, as by-streets in London; and there
When I first descended into the cabin of the New- is one quarter, commonly called the Five Points,
York, it looked, in my unaccustomed eyes, about which, in respect of filth and wretchedness, may
as long as the Burlington Arcade.           be safely backed against Seven Dials, or any
The Sound which has to be crossed on this other part of famed St. Giles's.
passage, is not always a very safe or pleasant   The great promenade and thoroughfare, as
navigation, and has been the scene of some un- most people know, is Broadway; a wide and
fortunate accidents. It was a wet morning, arid bustling street, which, from the Battery Gardens
very misty, and we soon lost sight of land. The to its opposite termination in a country road, may
day was calm, however, and brightened towards be flour miles long. Shall we sit down in an
noon. After exhausting (with good help from a upper floor of the Carlton House Hotel (situated
friend) the larder, and the stock of bottled beer, I in the best part of this main artery of New-York),
lay down to sleep: being very much tired with and when we are tired of looking down upon the
the fatigues of yesterday. But I awoke from my life below, sally forth arm-in-arm, and mingle
nap in time to hurry up, and see Hell Gate, the with the stream?
Hog's Back, the Frying Pan, and other notori-   Warm weather! The sun strikes upon our
ous localities, attractive to all readers of famous heads at this open window, as though its rays
Diedrich Knickerbocker's History. We were were concentrated through a burning-glass; but
now in.a narrow channel, with sloping banks on the day is in its zenith, and the season an unusual
either side, besprinkled with pleasant villas, and one. Was there ever such a sunny street as this
made refreshing to the sight by turf and trees. Broadway?  The pavement stones are polished
Soon we shot in quick succession, past a light- with the tread of feet until they shine again; the
house; a madhouse (how the lunatics flung up red bricks of the houses might be yet in the dry,
their caps, and roared in sympathy with the head- hot kilns; and the roofs of those omnibuses look
long engine and the driving tide)! a jail; and as though, if water were poured on them, they
other buildings; and.so emerged into a noble bay, would hiss and smoke, and smell like halfi




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      3$
quenched fires.  No stint om omnibuses here! I back: and God help her and them, and every
Half a dozen have gone by within as many simplelheart, and all who turn to the Jerusalem
minutes. Plenty of hackney cabs and coaches of their younger days, and have an altar-fire upon
too; gigs, phaetons, large-wheeled tilburies, and the cold hearth of their fathers.
private carriages-rather of a clumnsy make, and   This narrow thoroughfare, baking and blister.
not very different fiom the public vehicles, but ing in the sun, is Wall-street: the Stock Exbuilt for the heavy roads beyond the city pave- change and Lombard-street of New-York. Many
ment.  Negro coachmen and white; in straw  a rapid fortune has been made in this street, and
-hats, black hats, white hats, glazed caps, fur caps; many a no less rapid ruin. Some of these very
in coats o' drab, black, brown, green, blue, nanm  merchants whom you see hangingaboutherenow,
keen, striped jean and linen; and there, in that have locked up Money in their strong-boxes, like
fone instance (look while it passes, or it will be the milan in the Arabian Nights, and opening them
too late), in suits of livery. Some southern re-;gain, have found but whithered leaves. Below,
publican that, who puts his blacks in uniform, here by the water side, where the bowsprits of
and swells with Sultan pomp and power. Yon- ships stretch across the footway, and'almost
der, where that phaeton with the well-clipped pair thrust themselves into the windows, lie the noble
of grays has stopped-standing at theirheads now  American vessels which have made their Packet
— is a Yorkshire groom, who has not been very  Service the finest in the world.  They have
>long in these parts, and looks sorrowfully round brought hither the foreigners who abound in all;for a companion pair of top-boots, which he may the streets: not perhaps, that there are more here
traverse the city half a year without meeting. than in other commercial cities; but elsewhere,
Heaven save the ladies, how they dress! We they have particular haunts, and you must find
have seen more colours in these ten minutes, them out; here, they pervade the town.
than we should have seen elsewhere, in as many    We must cross Broadway again; gaining
days. What various parasols! what rainbow  some refreshment from the heat, in the sight of
silks and satins! what pinking of thin stockings, the great blocks of' clean ice which are being.and pinching of thin shoes, and fluttering of rib- carried into shops and bar-rooms; and the pineands and silk tassels, and display of rich cloaks apples and water-melons profusely displayed for
with gaudy hoods and linings I The young gen- sale. Fine streets of spacious houses here, you
tlemen are fond, you see, of turning down their see!-Wall Street has furnished and dismantled
shirt-collars and cultivating their whiskers, espe- many of them very often-and here a deep green
dially under the chin; but they cannot approach leafy square. Be sure that is a hospitable house
the ladies in their dress or bearing, being, to say with inmates to be affectionately remembered
the truth, humanity of quite another sort. Byrons always, where they have the open door and,of the desk and counter, pass on, and let us see pretty show of plants within, and where the child
vhat kind of men those are behind ye: those two with laughing eyes is peeping out of window at
labourers in holyday clothes, of whom one carries the little dog below. You wonder what may be
in his hand a crumpled scrap of paper from which the use of this tall flagstaff in the by street,
he tries to spell out a hard name, while the other with something like Liberty's head-dress on its
looks about for it, on all' the doors and win- top: so do I. But there is a passion for tall flagdows.                                        staffs hereabout, and you may see its twin brothIrishmen both! You might know them, if they er in five minutes, if you have a mind.
-were masked, by their long-tailed blue coats and   Again cross Broadway, and so-passing froma
bright buttons, and theirdrab trousers, which they the many-coloured crowd and glittering shopswear like men well used to working dresses, who into another long main street, the Bowery. A
are easy in no others. It would be hard to keep railroad yonder, see, where two stout horses trot
your'model republics going, without the country- along, drawing a score or two of people and a
Linen and countrywomen of those two labourers. great wooden ark, with ease. The stores are
For who else would dig, and delve, and drudge, poorer here; the passengers less gay. Clothes
and dodomestic work, and make canals and roads, ready-made, and meat ready-cooked, are to be
and execute great linesofInternal Improvement  bought in these parts; and the lively whirl of
Irishmen both, and sorely puzzled too, to find out carriages is exchanged for the deep rumble of
whatthey seek. Let us go down, and help them, carts and wagons. These signs which are so>
6for the love of home, and that spirit of liberty  plentiful, in shape like river buoys, or small balwhich admits of honest service to honest men, loons, hoisted by cords to poles, and dangling
land honest work for honest bread, no matter what there, announce, as you may see by looking up,
it be.' OSTvERS IN EVEnY STYLE."  They tempt the
That's well! WVe have got at the right address hungry most at night, for then dull candles glimat last, though it is written in strange characters mering inside, illuminate these dainty words,
truly, and might have been scrawled with the and make the mouths of idlers water, as they
blunt handle of the spade the writer betters knows read and linger.
the use of, than a pen. Their way lies yonder,   What is this dismal-fronted pile of bastard
but what business tales them there. They carry  Egyptian, like an enchanter's palace in a melo
savings: tohoard up? NTo. They are brothers, drama!-a famous prison, called The Tombs.
those men. One crossed the sea alone, and wolr- Shall we go in?
ingvery hard for one half year, and living harder,   So. A  long narrow  lofty building, stovesaved funds enough to bring the other out. That heated as usual, with four galleries, one above.done, they worked together, side by side, content- the other, going round it, and communicating
edly sharing hard labour and hard living for an- by stairs. Between the two sides of each galother term, and then their sisters came, and then lery, and in its centre, a bridge, for the greater
another brother, and, lastly, their old mother. convenience of crossing.  On each of these
And what now? Why, the poor old crone is bridges sits a manll: dozing or reading, or talking
restless in a strange land, and yearns to lay her to an idle companion. On each tier, are two
bones, she says, among herpeople in the oldgrave- opposite rows of small iron doors. They look
yard at home: a.d so they go to pay her passage like furnace doors, but are cold and black, as




34                           NOTES ON AMERICA.
though the fires within had all gone out. Some I his father; and is detained here for safe-keeping;
two or three are open, and womnen, with droop- until the trail: that's all.
ing heads bent dowvn, are talking to the inmates.   But it is a dreadlil place for the child to pass'The whole is ligielcd by a skylight, but it is fast the long days and nights in. This is rather hard
closed: a.nc froml the roof there dalngle, limp and  treatmeilt for a young witness, is it not?-Whhat
drooping, two useless windsails.              says our conductorl'
A man with keys appears, to show us round.      Well, it ain't a very rowdy life, and that's a
A good-looking fellow, and, in his way, civil and  fact i"
obiiging.                                       Again he clinks his metal castanet, and lead.s
"-Are those black doors the cells 3"        us leisurely away. I have a question to ask him
" Yes."    -                                as wue go.
"Are they all full 3"                         "Pray, why do they call this place The
" Well, they're pretty nigh fiull, and that's a Tombs?"
fact, and no two ways about it."                " Well, it's the cant name."
"Tiose at the bottom are unwholesome, sure-   "I know it is. Why!";vy'."                                          "Some suicides happened here, when it was
" "Why, we do only put coloured people in'em. first built. I expect it come about fromu that."
That's the truth."                              "I saw just now, that that man's clothes were
" Wlhen do the prisoners take exercise 3"   scattered about the floor of his cell. Don't youw
"Well, they do without it pretty nuch."     oblige the prisoners to be orderly, and put such
"Do they never walk in the yard."          things away 3"' Considerable seldom."                       " Where should they put'em 3"
"Sometimes, I suppose -".               "Not on the ground surely. What do you say
"Well, it's rare they do. They keep pretty  to hanging them up "
bright without it."                             He stops, and looks round to emphasize his
"But suppose a man were here for a twelve- answer:
month. I know this is only a prison for crimi-   "Why, I say that's just it. When they had
nals who are charged with grave offences, while hooks they would hang themselves, so they're
they are awaiting their trial, or are under re- taken out ofevery cell, and there's only the marks
mand, but the law here, affords criminals many left where they used to be!"
means of delay. What with motions for new    The prison-yard in which he pauses now, has
trial, and in arrest of judgment, and what not, a been the scene of terrible performances. Into this
prisoner might be here for twelve months, I take narrow, grave-like place. men are brought out to
it, might he not 3"                           die. The wretched creature stands beneath the
"Well, I guess he might."                   gibbet on the ground; the rope about his neck;
" Do you mean to say that in all that time he and when i.e sign is given, a weight at its other
woukl never come out at that little iron door, for end comes running down, and swings him up.into.
exercise?"                                   the air-a corpse.
" I-Te might walk some, perhaps-not much."    The law requires that there be present at this
"Will I oll open one of the doors 3"        dismal spectacle, the judge, the jury, and citizens
"All. if yon like."                         to the amount of twenty-five. From the commnuThe fastenings jar and rattle, and one of the nity it is hidden. To the dissolute and bad, the
doors turns slowly on its hinges. Let us look thing remains a frightful mystery. Between the
in. A smnall bare cell, into which the light en- criminal and them, the prison-wall is interposed
ters through a high chink in the wall. There is as a thick gloomy veil. It is the curtain to his
a rude means of washing, a table, and a bed- bed of death, his winding-sheet, and grave.
stead: Upon the latter, sits a man of sixty; From him it shuts out life, and all the motives to
readinog. He looks up for a moment; gives an unrepenting hardihood in that last hour, which
impatient dogged shake; and fixes his eyes upon  its mere sight and presence is often all-sufficient
his book agaimr  As we withdraw  our heads, to sustain.  There are no bold eyes to maike hlin
the door closes on him, and is fastened as before. bold; no ruffians to uphold a ruffian's name
This man has murdered his wife. and will prob- before. All beyond the pitiless stone wall, is
ably be hanged.                               unknown space.' How long has he been here 3"                Let us go forth again into the cheerful streets,
" A month."                                   Once more in Broadway! Here are the same
N"W'hen will he be tried 3"                ladies in bright colours, walking to and fro, inp
"Next term."                               pairs and singly; yonder the very same light
"When is that"                              blue parasol whibh passed and repassed the hotel
"Next month."                              windlow twenty times while we were sitting
"in England, if a man be under sentence of there. WVe are going to cross here. Take care
death, even, he has air and exercise at certain of the pigs. Two portly sows are trotting up
penio:s of the day."                          behind this carriage, and a select" party of half
"Possihle 3"                               a-dozen gentlemen-hogs have just now  turned
W'ith what stupendous and untranslatable  the corner.
coolness he says this, and how loungingly he   Here is a solitary swine, lounging homeward;
leads on to the women's side: making, as he bvhimself.   e has only one ear; having parted:
goes, a kind of iron castanet of the key and the with the other to vagrant-dogs in the course of
stair -r.oil!                                 his city rambles. But he gets on very we L
Eac  cell door on this side has a square aper- without it; and leads a roving, gentlemanly,
tare in it. Some (,f the women peep anxiously  vagahond kind of life, somewhat answering to,.thronig- h it at the sound of footsteps; others shrink  that of our club-men at home. He leaves his
awayrO  in shame.-For what offence can that lodgings every morning at a certain hour, throws
toriiel child, of ten or twelve years old, be shut himself upon the town, gets through his day in
utp h.ele?  Oh! that boy. He is the son of the some manner quite satisfactory to himself, and
prisoner we saw just now; is a witness against regularly appears at the door of his own house




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                           35
again at night, like the mysterious master of Gil Conjurors, Orchestrinas, or even Barrel-organs l
Bias. lie is a di'ee-and-easy, careless, iidififrent NIo, not one. Yes, 1 lemember one. One barrelkind of pig, iiavilg a very large acquaintance' organ and a dancing monkey-sportive by naanonllg oner pigs of the same character, whom  tlule, but fst fiacding in to a dull, lumpish monkey,
he ratler knows by sight than conversation,' as of thle Utilitarian school. Beyond that, notiling
he selltom troubles himself to stop and exchiange  lively; no, not so much as a white mouse in a
civilities, but goes grunting down the kennel, twirling cage.
turning up the news and snLmall-talk of the city,   Are there no amusements.     Yes.  There is a
inl the shape of cabbage-stalks and ofial, alid  lecture-room across the way, from  which that
bearing no tails but his own: which is -a very  glare of light proceeds, and there may be evening
short one, fir iis old enemies, the dogs, have been  service for the ladies thrice a week, or oftener.
at that too, and have left him hardly enough to  For the young gentlemen, there is the countingswear by. He is in every respect a republican  house, the store, the bar-room: the latter, as you
pig, gopig wherever he pleases, and mingling  may see through these windows, pretty iull.
witll le best society, on an equal, if not superior Hark! to the clicking sound of hammers breakfooting, for every one makes way when he  ing lumps of ice, and to'the cool gurgling of the
appears. anld the haughtiest give him the wall iif pounded bits, as, in the process of mixing, they
he prefer it. He is a great philosopher, and  are poured fiom  glass to glass! No amuseseldom moved, unless by the dogs before men- ments 1  What are these suckers of cigars and
tioned.  Sometimes, indeed, you may see his swallowers of strong drinks, whose  hats and legs
slnmall eye twinkling on a slaughtered friend, we see in every possible variety of twist, doing,
whose carcase garnishes a butcher's door-post, but amusing themselves.  What are the fifty
but he grunts out, " Such is life: all flesh is pork!" newspapers, which those precocious urchins- are
buries his nlose in the mire again, and waddles  bawling down the street, and which are kept filed
down the gutter: comforting himiself with the  within, what are they but amusements' INot
reflection that there is one snout the less to anti- vapid waterish amusements, but good strong
cipate stray cabbage.stalks, at any rate.        stuff; dealing in round abuse and blackguard
They are the city scavengers, these pigs. Ugly  names; pulling off the roofs of private houses,
brutes they are; having, for the most part, as the Halting Devil did in Spain; pimping and
scanty, brown backs, like the lids of old horse- Ipandering for all degrees of vicious taste, and
hair trunks: spotted with unwholesome black  gorging with coined lies the most voracious
blotches.  They have long, gaunt legs, too, and  maw; imputing to every man in public life the
suchl peaked shouts, that if one of them could be coarsest and the vilest motives; scaring away
persuaded to sit for his profile, nobody would  firom the stabbed and prostrate body-politic, every
recognise it ftr a pig's likelless. They are never Samaritani of clear conscience and good deeds;
_tteiided upon, or led, or driven, or caught, but and setting on, with yell and whistle and the
tre thrown upon their own resources in eaily lile, clapping of foul hands, the vilest vermin and
mail become preternaturally knowing in conse-  worst birds of prey.-No amusements!,uence.  iEvery pig knows where lie lives, umuch    Let us go on again; and passing this wilder-,etter than anybody could tell hinm. - At this ness of a hotel with stores about its base, like
sour, just as evening is closing in, you will see  some continental theatre, or the London Opera
ilieir roarning towards bed by scores, eating  House shorn of its colonnade, plunge into the;beir way to the last.  Occasionally, some youth  Five Points.  But it is needful, first, that we
amrong  themn who has over-eaten hiniself, or has take as our escort these two heads of the police,
been much worried by dogs, trots shrinkingly  whom you would know fir sharp and well-trainhomeward, like a prodigal son: but this is a rare  ed oificers if you inet them in the Great Desert.
ease: perfect self-possession and selflrelinmce, So true it is, that certain pursuits, wherever carand immovable composure, being their lor:emost ried on, will stamp men with the same character.
attributes.                                      these two nmight have been begotten, born, and
The streets and shops are lighted now; and  bred, in Bow Street.
as the eye travels down the long thoroughfilre,   NWe have seen no beggars in the streets by
dotted with bright jets of' gas, it is reminded of night or clay; but ofotherlinid of-strollers, plenOxford Street or Piccadilly.  Here aid -there, a  ty.  Poverty, wretchedness, and vice, are rife
flight of broad stone cellar-steps appears, anil a enotugh where we are going;now.
painted lamp directs you to the Bowling Saloon,    This is the place: these narrow  ways, dior Ten-Pin alley: Ten-Pins being a gamie of verging to the right and left, and reeking everymingled chance and skill, invented when the  wherewith di-t and filth.  Such lives as are led
legislature passed an act tbrbidding Nine-Pins. here, hear the same fruits here as elsewhere.
At other downward flights of steps, are other'I'he coarse and bloated faces at the doors, have'amps, marking the wherea-bout of oyster-eel- cranterparts at home, and all the wide world
tars-pleasant retreats, say I: not only by reason  over.  Debauchery has made the very houses
If their wonderful cookery of oysters, pretty nigh  prematurely old.  See how the rotten beams are
as large as cheese-plates (or for thy dear sake, tumnfling clown, and how the patched and broheartiest of Greek Professors!) but because of all ken windows seem  to scowl dimly, like eyes
kinds of eaters of fish, or flesh, or fowl, in these that have been hurt in drunken frays.  Many
latitudes, the swallower of oystcrs alone are rot of those pigs live hiere.  Do they ever wonder
gregarious; but subduing themselves, as it were, why their masters walk uprightm in lieu of going
to the nature of what they work in, and copying. on all flours? and why they talk instead of gruntthe coyness of the thing [hey eat, do sit apart itn ing?
cut tainetd boxes, and consort by twos, not by two    So far, nearly every house is a low tavern;
hundreds.                                       and on the bar-rootli walls, are coloured prints
But how quiet the streets are! Are there no' of Washington, and OAneen Victoria of England,
itinerant bands; no wind or stringed instru- atnd the American Eagle.  Among the pigeonments?  No, not one.  By day, are there no  holes that hold the bottles, are pieces of platePunches, Fantoccinis, Dancing-dogs, Jugglers, glass and coloured paper, for there is, in some




NOTES ON AMERICA.
sort, a taste fbr decoration, even here. And as nothing else to show: hideous tenements which
seamen frequent these haunts, there are mari- take their name from robbery and murder: all
time pictures by the dozen: of partings between  that is loathsome, drooping, and decayed is
sailors and their lady-loves, por raits of Will- here.
ainm, of the ballad, and his Black-Eyed Su-   Our leader has his hand upon the latch of
san; of Will Watch, the Bold Smuggler; of "Almack's," and calls to us from the bottonm of
Paul Jones the Pirate, and the like: on which  the steps; tbr the assembly-room of the Fivethe painted eyes of Queen Victoria, and of' Point fashionables is approached by a descent.
Washington to boot, rest in as strange compan- Shall we go in?  It is but a moment.
ionship, as on most of the scenes that are enact-   Heyday! the landlady of Almack's thrives!
ed in their wondering presence.               A buxom  fat mulatto woman, with sparkling
What place is this, to which the squalid street eyes, whose head is daintily ornamented with a
conducts us! A kind of square of leprous hou- handkerchief of many colours. Nor is the landses, some of which are attainable only by crazy  lord much behind her in his finery, being attired
wooden stairs without. What lies beyond this in a smart blue'jacket, like a ship's steward,
tottering flight of steps, that creak beneath our with a thick gold ring upon his little finger, and
tread'? a miserable room, lighted by one dim  round his neck a gleaming golden watch-guard.
candle, and destitute of all comfort, save that How glad he is to see us! What will we please
which may be hidden in a wretched bed. Be- to call for?  Adance? It shall be done directly,
side it, sits a man: his elbows on his knees: his sir: " a regular break-down."
forehead hidden in his hands. " What ails that   The corpulent black fiddler, and his friend
man!" asks the foremost officer.  "Fever,"  who plays the tambourine, stamp upon the boardhe sullenly replies, without looking up. Con- ing of the small raised orchestra in which they
ceive the fancies of a fevered brain, in such a sit, and play a- lively measure. Five or six
place as this!                                couple come upon the floor, marshalled by a liveAscend these pitch-dark stairs, heedful of a ly young negro, who is the wit of the assembly,
false footing on the trembling boards, and grope and  the greatest dancer known.  He never
your way with me into this wolfish den, where leaves off making queer faces, and is the delight
neither ray of light nor breath of air, appears to of all the rest, who grin fiom ear to ear incescome. A negro lad, startled from his sleep by santly. Among the dancers are two young muthe officer's voice-he knows it well-but coin- latto girls, with large, black, drooping eyes, and
jorted by his assurance that he has not come on head-gear after the fashion of the hostess, who
business, officiously bestirs himself to light a are as shy or feign to be, as though they never
candle. The match flickers for a moment, and danced before, and so look down before the visishows great mounds of dusky rags upon the ters, that their partners can see nothing but the
ground; then dies away and leaves a denser long fiinged lashes.
darkness than before, if there can be degrees in    But the dance commences. Every gentleman
such extremes.  He stumbles down'the stairs sets as long as he likes to the opposite lady, and
and presently comes back, shading a flaring ta- the opposite -lady to him, and all are solong about
per with his' hand. Then the mounds of rags it that the sport begins to languish, when sudare seen to be astir, and rise slowly up, and the denly the lively hero dashes in to the rescue.
floor is covered with heaps of' negro women, Instantly the fiddler grins, and goes at it tooth
waking from their sleep: their white teeth chat- and nail; there is new energy in the tambourine;
tering, and their bright eyes glistening and  new laughter in the dancers; new smiles in the
winking on all sides with surprise and fear, like landlady; new confidence in the landlord; new
the countless repetition of one astonished Afri- brightness in the very candles. Single shtffle,
can face in some strange mirror.              double shuffle, cut and cross-cut: snapping his
Mount up these other stairs with no less cau- fingers, rolling his eyes, turning in his knees,
tion (there are traps and pitfalls here, for those presenting the backs of his legs in front, spinning
who are not so well escorted as ourselves) into about on his toes and heels like nothing but the
the housetop: where the bare beams and rafters man's fingers on the tambourine; dancing with
meet over-head, and calm  night looks down  two left legs, two right legs, two wooden legs,
through the crevices in the roof: Open the door two wire legs, two spring legs-all sorts of legs
of one of these cramped hutches full of sleeping and no legs-what is this to him?  And in what
negroes.  Pah!  They have a charcoal fire walk of life, or dance of life, does man ever get
within; there is a smell of singeing clothes, or such stimulating applause as thunders about him,
flesh, so close they gather round the brazier; when, having danced his partner off her feet,
and vapours issue tbrth that blind antd suffocate. and himself too, he finishes by leaping gloriously
From every corner, as you glance about vou in on the bar-counter, and calling for something to
these dark retreats, some figure crawls half a-  drink, with the chuckle of a million of counterkened, as if the judgment-hour were near at feit Jim Crows, in one inimitable sound!
hand, and every obscene grave were giving up   The air, even in these distempered parts, is
its dead. Where dogs would howl to lie, wom- fresh after the stifling atmosphere of the houses;
en, and men, and boys slink off to sleep, for- and now, as we emerge into a broader street, it
cing the dislodged rats to move away in quest blows upon us with a purer breath, and the stars
of better lodgings.                          look bright again. Here are The Tombs once
here too are lanes and alleys, paved with  more. The city watch-house is a part of the
mud knee-deep: underground chambers, where  l ailding.  It follows naturally on the sights
they dance and game; the walls bedecked with  we have just left. Let us see that, and then to
rou;h designs of ships, and fbrts, and flags, and  bed.
Americar Eagles out of number: ruined holl-  VWhat! do you thrust your common offenders
ses, open to the streets, whence through wide against the police discipline of the town, into
gaps in the walls, other ruins loom  upon the such holes as these? Do men and women,
eye, as though the world of vice and misery had  against whom no crime is proved, lie here all




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       $r
naight in perfect darkness, surrounded by the strengthened her in her resolution, it would cernoisome vapours which encircle that flagging tainly have been the insupportable monotony of
lamp you light us with, and breathing this filthy such an existence.
and offensive stench! Why, such indecent and   The terrible crowd with which these halls
disgusting dungeons as these cells, would bring and galleries were filled, so shocked me, that I
disgrace upon the most despotic empire in the abridged my stay within the shortest limits, and
world! Look at them, man-you, who see them  declined to see that portion of the building in
every night, and keep the keys. Do you see which the refractory and violent were under
what they are! Do you know how drains are closer restraint. I have no doubt that the genmade below the streets, and wherein these hu- tleman who presided over this establishment at
man sewers differ, except in being always stag- the time I write of, was competent to manage it,
nant?                                       and had done all in his power to promote its useWell, he don't know. He has had five-and- fulness: but will it be believed that the miserable
twenty young women locked up in this very cell:strife of Party feeling is carried even into this
at one time, and you'd hardly realize what hand- sad refuge of afflicted and degraded humanity?
some faces there were among'em.            Will it be believed that the eyes which are to
In God's name! shut the door upon-the wretch- watch over and control the wanderings of
ed creature who is in it now, and put its screen minds on which the most dreadful visitation to
before a place, quite unsurpassed in all the vice, which our nature is exposed has fallen, must
neglect, and devilry, of the worst old town in wear the glasses of some wretched side in PoliEurope.                                     -tics. Will it be believed that the governor of
Are people really left all night, untried, in such a house as this, is appointed, and deposed,
those black sties'?-Every night. The watch is and changed perpetually, as Parties fluctuate
set at seven in the evening. The magistrate and vary, and as their despicable weathercocks
opens his court at five in the morning. That is are blown this way or that?  A hundred times
the earliest hour at which the first prisoner can in every week, some new most paltry exhibition
be released; and if an officer appear against him, of that narrow-minded and injurious Party Spirit,
he is not taken out till nine o'clock or ten.-But which is the Simoom of America, sickening and
if any one among them die in the interval, as blighting everything of wholesome life within its
one man did, not long ago?  Then he is half reach, was forced upon my notice; but I never
eaten by the rats in an hour's time; as that man turned my back upon it with feelings of such
was; and there an end.                       deep disgust and measureless contempt, as when
What is this intolerable tolling of -great bells, I crossed the threshold of this mad-house on
and crashing of wheels, and shouting in the dis- Long Island.
tance? A fire. And what that deep red light   At a short distance from this building is an.
in the opposite direction? Another fire. - And other called the Alms House, that is to say, the
what these charred and blackened walls we stand workhouse of New-York. This is a large Instibefore 1 A dwelling where a fire has been. It tution atl: lodging, I believe, when I was there
was more than hinted, in an official report, not nearly a tihousand poor. It was badly ventilalong ago, that some of these conflagrations were ted, -and badly lighted; was not too clean; and
not wholly accidental, and that speculation and impressed me, on the whole, very uncomfortably.
enterprise found a field of exertion, even in But it must be remembered that New-York, as
flames: but be this as it may, there was a fire a great emporium of commerce, and as a place.
last night, there are two to-night, and you may of general resort, not only from all parts of the
lay an even wager there will be at least one, to- States, but from most parts of the world, has
morrow. So, carrying that with us forour com- always a large pauper population to provide for;
fort, let us say, Good night, and climb up stairs and labours, therefore, under peculiar difficulties
to bed.                                     in this respect. Nor must it be forgotten that.New-York is a large town, and that in all large
One day, during my stay in New-York, I paid towns a vast amount of good and evil is intera visit to the different public institutions on Long mixed and jumbled up together:
Island. One of them is a Lunatic Asylum.   In the same neighbourhood is the Long Island
The building is handsome; and is remarkable Farm, where young orphans are nursed and bred.
for a spacious and elegant staircase. The whole I did not see it, but I believe it is well conducted;
structure is not yet finished, but it is already one and I can the more easily credit it, from know6
of considerable size and extent, and is capable of ing how mindful they usually are, in America,
accommodatin~ a very large number of patients. of that beautiful passage in the Litany which reI cannot say that I derived much comfort from  members all sick persons and young children.
the inspection of this charity. The different   I was taken to these Institutions by water, in
wards might have been cleaner and better or- a boat belonging to the Long Island Jail, and
dered; I saw nothing of that salutary system  rowed by a crew of prisoners, who were dressed
which had impressed me so favourably else- in a striped uniform of black and buff, in which
where; and everything had a lounging, listless, they looked. lilre faded tigers. They took me by
madhouse air, which was very painful. The the same conveyance, to the jail itself.
moping idiot, cowering down with long dishev-   It is an old prison, and quite a pioneer estabelled hair; the gibbering maniac, with his hide- lishment, on the plan I have already described.
vu laugh and pointed finger; the vacant eye, I was glad to hear this, for it is unquestionably
the fierce wild face, the gloomy picking of the a very indifferent one. The most is made; howhands and lips, and munching of the nails: there ever, of the means it possesses, and it is as wel
thev were all, without disguise, in naked ugli- regulated as such a place can be.
iess and horror. In the dining-room, a bare,   The women work in covered sheds, erecled for
u1ll, dreary place, with nothing for the eye to that purpose. If I remember right, there are no
rest on but the empty walls, a woman was shops for the men, but be that as it may, the
I cked up alone. She was bent, they told me, greater part of them labour in certain stoneon committing suicide. If anything could have quarries near at hand. The day being very wet




38                        -NOTES ON AMERICA.
indeed, this labour uras suspended, and the pris- ly and exquisitely picturesque. The climate,
oners were in their cells. Imagine these cells, as I have already intimated, is somewhat of the
some two or three hundred in number, and in  warmnest. What it would be, without the sea
every one a man, locked up: this one at the door breezes which come from its beautiful bay in the
for air, with his hands thrust through the: grate; evening time, I will not throw myself or my
this one in bed (in the middle of the day, remem- readers into a fever by inquiring.
ber) and this one flung down in a heap upon the    The tone of the best society in this city, is
ground, with his head against the bars like a wild  like that of Boston; here and there it maybe,
beast. Make the rain pour down, outside, in  with a greater infusion of the mercantile spirit,
torrents. Put the everlasting stove in-the midst: but generally polished and refined, and always'lot, and suffocating, and vaporous, as a witch's most hospitable. The houses and tables are elcaldron. Add a collection of gentle odours, egant; the hours later and more rakish; and
such as would arise from a thousand mildewed there is perhaps, a greater spirit of contention int
umbrellas wet through, and a thousand buck- reference to appearances, and the display of
baskets full of half-washed linen; and there is wealth and costly living. The ladies are singa
the prison as it was that day.              larly beautiful.
The prison for the state at Sing Sing, is, on the   -Before I left New-York I made arrangements
other hand, a model jail. That, and Mount for securing a passage home in the George
Auburn, are the largest and best examples of the Washington packet-ship, which was advertises'
silent system.                              to sail in June: that being the month in whic}
In another part of the city, is the Refuge for I had determined, if prevented by no accident ii
the Destitute: an institution whose object is to the course of my ramblings, to leave America.
reclaim  youthful offenders, male and female,   I never thought that going back to England
black and white, without distinction; to teach  returning to all who are dear to me, and to pur
them useful trades, apprentice them to respecta- suits that have insensibly grown to be a part of
ble masters, and make them worthy members of my nature, 1 could have felt so much sorrow as
society. Its design, it will be seen, is similar to  I endured, when I parted at last, on board this
that at Boston; and it is a no less meritorious' ship, with the friends who had accompanied me
and admirable establishment. A suspicion cross- from this city. I never thought the name of any
ed my mind during my inspection of this noble place, so far away and so lately known, could
charity, whether the superintendent had quite ever associate itself in my mind with the crowd
sufficient knowledge of the world and wordly  of affectionate remembrances that now clustei
characters; and whether he did not commit a about it. There are those in this city who would
great mistake in treating ome young girls, who  brighten to me, the darkest winter-day that evel
were to all intent and purposes, by their years glimmered and went out in Lapland; and before
and their past lives, women, as though they were whose presence even Home grew dim,when they
little children; which certainly had a ludicrous and I exchanged that painful word which mineffect in my eyes, and, or I am much mistaken, gles with our every thought and deed; which
in theirs also.  As the institution, however, is haunts our cradle-heads in infancy, and closes
always under the vigilant examination of a body  up the vista of our lives in age.
of gentlemen of great intelligence and experience, it cannot fail to' be well-conducted; and
whether I am right or wrong in this slight particular, is unimportant to its deserts and character, which'it would be too difficult to estimate
tPHILADELPHIA) AND ITS SOLITARY PRISON.
too highly.
In addition to these establishment, there are,   THE journey from New-York to Philadelphia
in New-York, excellent hospitals and schools, is made by railroad and two ferries; and usually
iterary institutions and libraries; an admirable  occupies between five and six hours. It was a fine
fire department (as indeed it should be, having  evening when we were passengers in the train:
constant practice), and charities of every sort and, watching the bright sunset from a little winand kind. In the suburbs there is a spacious dow near the door by -which we sat, my attention
cemetery; unfinished yet, but every day impro- was attracted to a remarkable appearance is'suving. The saddest tomb I saw there was " The  ing from the windows of the gentlemen's car imStrangers' Grave. Dedicated to the different ho- mediately in front of us, which I supposed for some
tels, in this city."                         time was occasioned by a number of industrious
There are three theatres. Two of them, the persons inside ripping open feather-beds, and givPark and the Bowery, are large, elegant, and  ing the feathers to the wind. At length it occurhandsome buildings, and are, I grieve to write' red to me that they were only spitting, which was
it, generally deserted. The third, the Olympic, indeed the case, though how any number of pasis a tiny show-box for vaudevilles and bur- sengers which it was possible for that car to con-.esques. It is singularly well-conducted by Mr. tain could have maintained such a playful and
Mitchell, a comic actor of great quiet humour incestsant shower of expectoration, I am still at
and originality, who is well remembered and es- a loss to understand, notwithstanding the experiteemed by London playgoers. 1 am happy to ence in all salivatory phenomena which I afterreport of this deserving gentleman, that his ward acquired.
benches are usually well'filled, and that his the-   I made acquaintance on this journey with a
atre rings with merriment every night. I had  mild and modest young Quaker, who opened the
almost forgotten a small summer theatre, called  discourse by informing me, in a grave whisper,
Niblo's, with gardens and open air amusements that his grandfather was the inventor of coldattached; but'I believe it is not exempt from the drawn castor oil. I mention this circumstance
general depression under which Theatrical Prop- here, thinking it probable that this is the first ocerty, or what is humorously called by that name, casion on which the valuable medicine in ques-'nfortunately labours.                      tion was ever used as a conversational aperient.
The country round New-York, is surpassing-   We reached the city late that night. Looking




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       39,'at of my chamber window, before going to bed, But the bequest is involved in legal disputes, and
I saw, on the opposite side of the way, a hand- pending them the work has stopped-; so that, like
eome building of white marble, which had a many other great undertakings in America, even
mournful, ghostlike aspect, dreary to behold. I this is rather going to be done one of these days
attributed this to the sombre influence of the night, than doing now.
and on rising in the morning, looked out again,   In the outskirts stands a great prison, called
expecting to see its steps and portico thronged the Eastern Penitentiary: conducted on a plan
with groups of people passing in and out. The peculiar to the state of Pennsylvania. The sysdoor was still tight shut, however; the same cold, tem here is rigid, strict, and hopeless solitary concheerless air prevailed; and the buildidg looked finement. I believe it, in its effects, to be cruel
as if the marble statue of Don Guzman could and wrong.
alone have any business to transact within its   In its intention, I am well convinced that it is
gloomy walls. I hastened to inquire its name kind, humane, and meant for reformation; but I
and purpose, and then my surprise vanished. It am persuaded that those who devised this system
was the tomb of many fortunes, the great cata- of prison discipline, and those benevolent gentlecomb of investment, the United States Bank.    men who carry it into execution, do not know
The stoppage of this bank, with-a-ll its-ruinous what it is that they are doing. I believe that
-consequences, had cast (as I was told on every very few men are capable of estimating the imside) a gloom on Philadelphia, under the depress- mense amount of torture and agony which this
ing effect of which it yet laboured. It certainly dreadful punishment, prolonged for years, inflicts
did seem rather dull and out of spirits.     upon the sufferers; and, in guessing at it myself,
It is a handsome city, but distractingly regular. and in reasoning from what I have seen written
After walking about it for an hour or two, I felt upon their faces, and what to my certain knowlthat I would have given the world for a crooked edge they feel within, I am only the more constreet. The collar of my coat appeared to stiff- vinced that there is a depth of terrible endurance
-en, and the brim of my hat to expand, beneath in it which none but the sufferers themselves can
its Quakerly influence. My hair shrunk into a fathom, and which no man has a right to inflict. sleek, short crop, my hands folded themselves upon his fellow-creature. I hold this slow and
upon my breast of their own calm accord, and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain,
thoughts of talking lodgings in Mark Lane, over to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the. against the Market-place, and of making a large body: and because its ghastly signs and tokens.fortune by speculations in corn, came over me are not so palpable to the eye and sense of touch
involuhmtarily.                              as scars upon the flesh; because its wounds are
Philadelphia is most bountifully provided with not upon the surface, and it extorts few cries that
fresh water, which is showered and jerked about, human ears can hear; therefore I the more deand turned on, and poured off, everywhere. The nounce it, as a secret punishment which slumberWaterworks, which are on a height near the city, ing humanity is not roused up to stay. I hesitaare no less ornamental than useful, being taste- ted once, debating with myself, whether, if I had
fully laid out as a public garden, and kept in the the power of saying " Yes" or " No," I would albest and neatest order. The river is dammed at low it to be tried in certain cases, where the terms
this point, and forced by its own power into cer- of imprisonment were short; but now I solemnly
tain high tanks or reservoirs, whence the whole declare, that with no rewards or honours could I
city, to top stories of the houses, is supplied at walk a happy man beneath the open sky by day,.
a very trifling expense.                    or lie me down upon my bed at night, with the
There are various public institutions. Among consciousness that one human creature, for any
-:them a most excellent hospital —a Quaker es- length of time, no matter what, lay suffering this
tablishment, but not sectarian in the great bene- unknown punishment in his silent cell, and I the
fits it confers; a quiet, quaint old library, named cause, or 1 consenting to it in the least degree.
- after Franklin; a handsome exchange and post-' I was accompanied to this prison by two genoffice, and so forth. In connexion with the Q.ua- tlemen officially connected with its management,
ker hospital, there is a picture by West, which is and passed the day in going from cell to cell, and
exhibited for the benefit of the funds of the'insti- talking with the inmates. Every facility was aftution. The subject is our Saviour healing the forded me that the utmost courtesy could suggest.
-sick, and it is, perhaps, as favourable a speci- Nothing was concealed or hidden from my view,
men of the master as can be seen anywhere. and every piece of information that I sought was
Whether this be high or low praise depends upon openly and frankly given. The perfect order of
the reader's taste.                         the building cannot be praised too highly, and of
In the same room there is a very characteris- the excellent motives of all who are immediately
tic and lifelike portrait by Mr. Sully, a distin- concerned in the'administration of the system,
-.guished American artist.                  there can be no kind of question.
My stay in Philadelphia was very short, but   Between the'body of the prison and the outer
-what I saw of its society I greatly liked. Treat- wall there is a spacious garden. Entering it by
-ing of its general characteristics, I should be dis- a wicket in the massive gate, we pursued the path
posed to say that it is more provincial than Bos- before us to its other termination, and passed into
ton or New-York, and that there is afloat in the a large chamber, from which seven long passages
fair city an assumption of taste and criticism, radiate. On either side of each is a long, long.savouring rather of those genteel discussions row of lbw cell-doors, with a certain number over,upon the same themes, in connexion with Shaks- every one. Above, a gallery of cells like those
peare and the musical glasses, of.which we read below, except that they have no narrow yard at-n the Vicar of Wakefield. Near the city is a tached (as those on the ground tier have), and
moust splendid unfinished marble structure for the are somewhat smaller. The possession of two
Girard College, founded by a deceased gentle- oftbese is supposed to compensate for the absence
gnan of that name and of enormous wealth, which, of so much air and exercise as can be had in the
if completed accordcing to the original design, will dull strip attached to each, of the others in an
ve perhaps the richest edifice of modern times. hour's time every day; and therefore every pris



@4                           NOTES ON AME]RICA.
oner in this upper story has two cells adjoining  of broken glass beside it "would play music -
and communicating  with each other.          before long."  He had extracted some coloursStanding at the central point, and looking down  fiiom the yarn with which he worked, and painted
these dreary passages, the dull repose and quiet a few poor figures on the wall. One, of a ftenale,
that prevails, is awful. Occasionally, there is a over the door, he called " The Lady of the Lake."'
drowsy sound from some lone weaver's shuttle,   He smiled as I looked at these contrivances to
or shoemaker's last, but it is stifled by the thick  while away the time; but when -I looked from.
walls and heavy dungeon-door, and only serves them to him, I saw that his lip trembled, and could
to make the general stillness more profound. have counted the beating of his heart. I forget;
Over the head and face of every prisoner who  how it came about, but some allusion was made
comes into this melancholy house, a black hood to his having a wife. He shook his head at the
is drawn; and in this dark shroud, an emblem  word, turned aside, and covered his face withof the curtain dropped between him and the liv- his hands.
ing world, he is led to the cell finom which he   "But you are resigned now!" said one of the
never again comes forth, until his whole term of gentlemen after a short pause, during which he
imprisonment has expired. He never hears of had resuLmed his formed manner. He answered:
wife or children; home or friends; the life or with a sigh that seemed quite reckless in its
death of any single creature. He sees the prison- hopelessness, " Oh yes, oh yes! I aml resigned
officers, but with that exception he never looks to it."  "And are a better man, you think!"
upon a human countenance, or hears a human  "Well, I hope so: I'm sure I hope I may be."
voice. He is a man buried alive; to be dug out "And time goes pretty quickly'"'"Time is
in the slow round of years; and in the mean  very long, gentlemen, within these four walls!"'
time dead to everything but torturing anxieties  HIe gazed about him —Heaven only knows
and horrible despair'                        how wearily!-as he said these words; and in
His name, and crime, and term of suffering,  the act of doing so, fell into a strange stare as if
are unknown, even to the officer who delivers him  he had forgotten something.   A moment afterhis daily food. There is a number over his cell- ward he sighed heavily, put on his spectacles,
door, and in a book of which the governor of the and went about his work again.
prison has one copy, and the moral instructor   In another cell, there was-a German, sentenced
another: this is the index to his history. Beyond to five years' imprisonment for larceny, two of,
these pages the prison has no record of his exist- which had just expired. WVith colours procured
ence: and though he live to be in the same cell in the same manner, he had painted every inch.
ten weary years, he has no means of knowing, of the walls and ceiling quite beautifully. He
down to the very last hour, in what part of the had laid out the few feet of ground, behind, with
building it is situated; what kind of men there exquisite neatness, and had made a little bed in
are about him; whether in the long winter nights the centre, that looked, by-the-by, like a grave.
there are living people near, or he is in some  The taste and ingenuity he had displayed in
lonely corner of the great jail, with walls, and everything were most extraordinary; and yet a
passages, and iron doors between him and the more rejected, heart-broken, wretched creature,
nearest sharer in its solitary horrors.      it would be difficult to imagine. I never saw
Every cell has double doors: the outer one of such a picture of forlorn affliction and distress of
sturdy oak, the other of grated iron, wherein there mind. My heart bled for him; and when the
is a trap through which his food is handed. He tears ran down his cheeks, and he tookl one of
has a Bible, and a slate and pencil, and, under the visiters aside, to ask, with his trembling'
certain restrictions, has sometimes other books, hands nervously clutching at his coat to detain.
provided for the purpose, and pen and ink and him, whether there was no hope of his dismat,
paper. His razor, plate, and can, and basin, hang  sentence being commuted, the spectacle was
upon the wall, or shine upon the little shelf. really too painful to witness. I never saw or
Fresh water is laid on in every cell, and he can heard of any kind of misery that impressed me
draw it at his pleasure. During the day, his bed- more than the wretchedness of this man.
stead turns up against the wall, and leaves more   In a third cell, was a tall, strong black, a burgspace for him to work in.  His loom or bench, lar, working at his proper trade of making screws
or wheel is there, and there he labours, sleeps and the like. His time was nearly out. He was
and wakes, and counts the seasons as they change, not only a vel3r dexterous thief; but was notoriand grows old.                               ous for his boldness and hardihood, and for the
The first man I saw, was seated at his loom, at number of his previous convictions. He enterwork. He had been there six years, and was to tained us with a long account of his achieveremain, I think, three more. He had been con- nients, which he narrated with such infinite relvicted as a receiver of stolen goods, but even after ish, that he actually seemed to lick his lips as hethis long imprisonment, denied his guilt, and said told us racy anecdotes of stolen plate, and of old
he had been hardly dealt by. It was his second ladies whom he had watched as they sat at winoffence.                                     dows in silver spectacles (he had plainly had an
He stopped his work when we went in, took off eye to their metal even from the other side of the
his spectacles, and answered freely to everything street), and had afterward robbed. This fellow,
that was said to him, but always with a strange upon the slightest encouragement, would have
kind of pause first, and in a low, thoughtful voice. mingled with his professional recollections the
He wore a paper hat of his own malking, and was most detestable cant; but I am very much mispleased to have it noticed and commended. He  taken if he could ha-ve surpassed the unmitigatedt
had very ingeniously manufactured a sort of hypocrisy with which he declared that he blessDutch clock from some disregarded odds and.ed the day on which he came into that prison,
ends; and his vinegar-bottle served for the pen- and that he never would commit another robbery
dulum. Seeing me interested in this contrivance, as long as he lived.
he looked up at it with a good deal of pride, and    There was one man who was allowed, as anl
said that he had been thinking of improving it, indulgence, to keep rabbits. His room having:
and that he honed the hammer and a little piece rather a close smell in consequence, they called




NOT-ES ON AMERICA.                                   41
to him at the door to come out into the passage. tent and quiet; had come to be resigned, she
IHe complied, of course, and stood shading:his I said (and I believe her), and had a mind at
haggard face in the unwonted sunlight of the peace. "In a word, you are happy here 2" said
great window, looking as wan and unearthly as one of my companions. She struggled-she did
if he had been summoned from the grave. He struggle very hard-to answer, Yes; but raising
had a white rabbit in his breast; and when the her eyes, and meeting that glimpse of freedom
little creature, getting down upon the ground, overhead, she burst into tears, and said, " She,
stole back into the cell, and he, being dismissed, tried to be; she uttered no complaint; but it was
crept timidly after it, I thought it would have natural that she should sometimes long to go out
been very hard to say in what respect the man of that one cell; she'could not help that:" she
was the nobler animal of the two.          sobbed, poor thing!
There was an English thief, who had been   I went from cell to cell that day; and every
there but a few days out of seven years; a villan- face I saw, or word I heard, or incident I noted,
ous, low-browed, thin-lipped fellow, with a white is present to my mind in all its painfulness.
face, who had, as yet, no relish for visiters, and But let me pass them by, for one, more pleasant,
who, but for the additional penalty, would'have glance of a prison on the same plan which I aftergladly stabbed me with his shoemaker's knife.- ward saw at Pittsburgh.
There was another German who had entered the   When I had gone over that; in the same manjail but yesterday, and who started from his bed ner, I asked the governor if he had any persorn.
when we looked in, and pleaded, in his broken in his charge who was shortly going out. He
English, very hard for work. There-was a poet, had one, he said, whose time was up next day;
who, after doing two days' work in every four- but he had only been a prisoner two years.
and-twenty hours, one for himself and one for the   Two years! I looked back through two years
prison, wrote verses about ships (he was by in my own life-out of jail, prosperous, happy,
trade a mariner), and " the-maddening wine-cup," surrounded by blessings, comforts, and good forand his friends at home. There were very many tune-and thought how wide a gap it was, and
of them. Some reddened at the sight of visiters, how long those two years passed in solitary capand some turned very pale. Some two or three tivity would have been. I have the face of this
had prisoner nurses with them, for they were man, who was going to be released next day, bevery sick; and one, a fat old negro, whose leg fore me now. It is almost more memorable in
had been taken off within the jail, had for his at- its happiness than the other faces in their misery.
tendant a classical scholar and an accomplished How easy and how natural it was for him to say'
surgeon, himself a prisoner likewise. Sitting that the system was a good one; and that the
upon the stairs, engaged in some slight work, time went "pretty quick-considering;" and that
was a pretty coloured boy. " Is there no refuge when a man once felt he had offended the law,
for young criminals in Philadelphia, then'" said and must satisfy it, " he got along, somehow:"'
I. "Yes, but only for white children." Noble and so forth!
aristocracy in crime!                        " What did he call you back to say to you, in'There was a sailor who had been there upward that strange flutter! " I asked of my conductor,
of eleven years, and who in a few months' time when he had locked the door and joined me in
would be free. Eleven years of solitary confine- the passage.
iment!                                       "Oh! That he was afraid the soles of his.
"I am very glad to hear your time is nearly boots were not fit for walking, as they were a
out." What does he say. Nothing.  Why good deal worn when he came in; and that he
does he stare at his hands, and pick the flesh would thank me very much to have them mendupon his fingers, and raise his eyes for an instant, ed, ready."
every now and then, to those bare walls which   Those boots had been taken off his feet, and,
have seen his head turn gray. It is a way he put away with the rest of his clothes, two years;
has sometimes.                             before!
Does he never look men in the face, and does   I took that opportunity of inquiring how they
he always pluck at those hands of his, as though conducted themselves immediately before going
he were bent on parting skin and bone. It is out; adding, that I presumed they trembled very
his humour: nothing more.                  much.
It is his humour too, to say that he does not look   "Well, it's not so much a trembling," was the'
forward to going out; that he is not glad the time answer —" though they do quiver-as a complete'
is drawing near; that he did look forward to it derangement of the nervous system. They can't
once, but that was very long ago; that he has sign their names to the book; sometimes can't
lost all care for everything. It is his humour even hold the pen; look about'em without apto be a helpless, crushed, and broken man. And pearing to know why, or where they are; and
Heaven be his witness that he has his humour sometimes get up and sit down again twenty
thoroughly gratified!                    times in a minute. This is when they're in the
There were three young women in adjoining office, where they are taken with the hood on, as
cells, all convicted at the same time of a con- they were brought in. When they get outside
spiracy to rob their prosecutor. In the silence the gate, they stop, and look first one way and
and solitude of their lives they had grown'to be then the other, not knowing which to take.
quite beautiful. Their looks were very sad, and Sometimes they stagger as if they were drunk,
might have moved the sternest visiter to tears, and sometimes are forced to lean against the
but not to that kind of sorrow which the conten- fence, they're so bad; but they clear off in course'
plation of the men awakens. One was a young of time."
girl, not twenty, as I recollect, whose snow-white   As I walked among these solitary cells, and
rooom was hung with the work of some former looked at the faces of the men within them, X1
prisoner, and upon whose downcast face the sun tried to picture to myself the thoughts and feelin all its splendour shone down through the high ings natural to their condition. I imagined the
chink in the wall, where one narrow strip of hood just taken off, and the scene of their capbright blue sky was visible, She was very peni- tivity disclosed to them in all its dismalmonotony.
F'




42                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
At first, the man is stunned. His confinement it. Now, it is every night the lurking-place of a
is a hideous vision, and his old life a reality. ghost; a shadow; a silent something, horrible
He thrbws himself upon his bed, and lies there to see, but whether bird, or beast, or muffled huabandoned to despair. By degrees the insup- man shape, he cannot tell.
portable solitude and barrenness of the place   When he is in his cell by day, he fears the litrouses him from this stupor, and when the trap tie yard without. When he is in the yard, he
in his grated door is opened, he humbly begs and dreads to re-enter the cell. When night tomes,
prays for work. "Give me some work to do, or there stands the phantom in the corner. If' he
I shall go raving mad!"                     have the courage to stand in its place, and drive
He has it; and by fits and starts applies him- it out (he had once, being desperate); it broods
self to labour; but every now and then there upon his bed. In the twilight, and always at
comes upon him a burning sense of the years the same hour, a voice calls to him by name;
that must be wasted in that stone coffin, and an as the darkness thickens his Loom begins to
agony so piercing in the recollection of those live; and even that, his comfort, is a hideous
who are hidden from his view and knowledge, figure, watching him till daybreak.
that he starts from his seat, and striding up and   Again, by slow degrees, these horrible fancies
down the narrow room with both hands clasped depart from him one by one; returning someon his uplifted head, hears spirits tempting him  times, unexpectedly, but at longer intervals, and
to beat his brains out on the wall.          in less alarming shapes. He has talked upon
- Again he falls upon his bed, and lies there, religious matters with the gentleman who visits
moaning.  Suddenly he starts up, wondering him, and has read his Bible, and has written a
whether any other man is near; whether there prayer upon his slate, and hung it up, as a kind
is another cell like that on either side of him; of protection, and an assurance of Heavenly
and listens keenly.                          companionship. He dreams now, sometimes,
There is no sound, but other prisoners maybe of his children or his wife, but is sure that they
xear for all that. He remembers to have heard are dead or have deserted him.  He is easily
once, when he little thought of coming here him- moved to tears; is gentle, submissive, and broself, that the cells were so constructed that the ken-spirited. Occasionally, the old agony comes
prisoners could not hear each other, though the back: a very little thing will revive it; even a
officers could hear them. WShere is the nearest falmiliar sound, or the scent of' summer flowers
man- upon the right or on the left 2 or is there in the air; but it does not last long, now; for the
one in both directions. Where is he sitting now  world without, has come to be the vision, and
-with his face to the light? or is he walking to this solitary life, the sad reality.
and fro?  How is he dressed?  Has he been   If his term of imprisonment be short-I mean
here long?  Is he much worn away! Is he comparatively, for short it cannot be-the last
very white and spectre-like. Does tle think of half year is almost worse than all; fbr then he
his neighbour too?                          thinks the prison will take fire and he be burned
Scarcely venturing to breathe, and. listening in the ruins, or that he is doomed to die within
while he thinks, he conjures up a figure with its the walls, or that he will be detained on some
back towards him, and imagines it moving about false charge and sentenced for another term: or
in this next cell. He has no idea of the face, but that something, no matter what, must happen to
he is certain of the dark form of a stooping man. prevent his going at large. And this is natural
In the cell upon the other side he puts another and impossible to be reasoned against, because,
figure, whose face is hidden from  him  also. after his long separation from human life,. and
Day after day, and often when he wakes up in his great sufiering, any event will appear to him
the middle of the night, he thinks of these two more probable in the contemplation, than the berzen until he is almost distracted. He never ing restored to liberty and his fellow-creatures.
changes them. There they are always as he   If his period of confinement have been very
first imagined them-an old man on the right, a long, the prospect of release bewilders and conyounger man upon the left-whose hidden fea- fuses him. His broken heart may flutter for a
tures torture him to death, and have a mystery moment, when he thinks of the world outside,
that makes him tremble.                      and what it might have been to him in all those
The weary days pass on with solemn pace, lonely years, but that is all. The cell-door has
lrke mourners at a funeral; and slowly he be- been closed too long on all its hopes and cares.
gins to feel that the white walls of the cell have Better to have hanged him in the beginning than
something dreadful in them: that their colour is bring him to this pass, and send him forth to
horrible; that their smooth surface chills his mingle with his kind, who are his kind no more.
blood: that there is one hateful corner which tor-   On the haggard.face of every man among
rnents him. Every morning when he wakes, he these prisoners, the same expression sat.  I
hides his head beneath the coverlet, and shudders know not what to liken it to. It had something
to see the ghastly ceiling looking down upon him. of that strained attention which we see upon the
The blessed light of day itself peeps in, an ugly faces of the blind and deaf, mingled with a kind
phantom face, through the unchangeable crevice of horror, as though they had all been secretly
which is his prison window.                  terrified. In every little chamber that I entered,
By slow but sure degrees, the terrors of that and at every grate throughl which I looked, I
hateful corner swell until they beset him at all seemed to see the same appalling countenance.
times; invade his rest, make his dreams hideous, It lives in my memory with the fascination of a
and his nights dreadful. At first, he took a remarkable picture. Parade before my eyes a
strange dislike to it: feeling as though it gave' hundred men, with one among them newly rebirth in his brain to something of corresponding leased from this solitary suffering, and I would
shape, which ought not to be there, and. racked point him out.
his head with pains. Then he began to fear it,   The faces of the women, as I have said, it huthen to dream of it, and of men whispering its manizes and refines. Whether this be, because
name and- pointing to it. Then he could not of their better nature, which is elicited in solibear to look at it, nor yet to turn his back upon tude, or because of their being gentler creatures,




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     43
of greater patience and longer suffering, I do not and distinct objections of a most deplorable naknow; but so it is. That the punishment is ture, which have arisen here; and call to mind,
nevertheless, to my thinking, fully as cruel and moreover, that the choice is not between this
as wrong in their case as in that of the men, I system and a bad or ill-considered one, but beneed scarcely add.                          tween it and another which has worked well,
My firm conviction is that, independent of the and is, in its whole design and practice, excelmental anguish it occasions-an anguish so lent; there is surely more than sufficient reason
acute and so tremendous, that all imagination  for abandoning a mode of punishment attended
of it must fall far short of the reality-it wears by so little hope or proniise, and fraught beyond
the mind into a morbid state, which renders it dispute with such a host of evils.
unfit for the rough contact and busy action of the   As a relief to its contemplation, I will close
world. It is my fixed opinion that those who this chapter with a curious story, arising out of
nave undergone this punishment, MUST pass into the same theme, which was related to me, on the
society again morally unhealthy and diseased. occasion of this visit, by some of the gentlemen
There are many instances on record, of men who concerned.
have chosen, or have been condemned, to lives   At one of the periodical meetings of the inof perfect solitude, but I scarcely remember one, spectors of this prison, a working man of Philaeven among sages of strong and vigorous intel- delphia presented himself before the Board, and
lect, where its effect has not become apparent, in earnestly requested to be placed in solitary consome disordered train of thought, or some gloomy finement. On being asked what motive could
hallucination. What monstrous phantoms, bred possibly prompt him to make this strange deof despondency and doubt, and born and reared mand, he answered that he had an irresistible
in solitude, have stalked upon the earth, ma- propensity to get drunk; that he was constantly
king creation ugly, and darkening the face of indulging it, to his great misery and ruin; that
Heaven!                                    he had no power of resistance; that he wished
Suicides are rare among these prisoners; are to be put beyond the reach of temptation; and
almost, indeed, unknown. But no argument in that he could think of no better way than this.
favour of the system can reasonably be deduced It. was pointed out to him, in reply, that the
from this circumstance, although it is very often prison was for criminals who had been tried and
urged. All men who have made diseases of the sentenced by the law, and could not be made
mind their study, know perfectly well that such available for any such fanciful purposes; he
extreme depression and despair as will change was exhorted to abstain from intoxicating drinks,
the whole character, and beat down all its pow- as he surely might if he would; and received
ers of elasticity and self-resistance, may be at other very good advice, with which he retired,
work within a man, and yet stop' short of self-de- exceedingly dissatisfied with, the result of his apstruction. This is a common case.          plication.
That it makes the senses dull, and by degrees  HIe came again, and again, and again, and.fmpairs the bodily faculties, I am quite sure. I was so very earnest and importunate, that at
remarked to those who were with me in this last they took counsel together, and said, "He
very establishment at Philadelphia, that the will certainly qualify himself fbr admission, if
crimninals who had been there long were deaf. we reject him any more. Let us shut him up.
They who were in the habit of seeing these men He will soon be glad to go away, and then we
constantly were perfectly amazed at the idea, shall get rid of him." So they made him sign a
which they regarded as groundless and fanciful. statement which would prevent his ever sustainAnd yet, the very first prisoner to whom they ap- ing an action for false imprisonment, to the efpealed —one of their own selection-confirmed feet that his incarceration was voluntary, and
my impression (which was unknown to him) of his own seeking; they requested him to take
instantly, and said, with a genuine air it was notice that the officer in attendance had orders
impossible to doubt, that he couldn't think how  to release him at any hour of the day or night
it happened, but he was growing very dull of when he might knock upon his door for that
hearing.                                   purpose; but desired him to understand that,
That it is a singularly unequal punishment, once going out, he would not be admitted any
and affects the worst man least, there is no more. These conditions agreed upon, and he
doubt. In its superior efficacy as a means of still remaining in the same mind, he was conreformation, compared with that other code of ducted to the prison, and shut up in one of the
regulations which allows the prisoners to work cells.
in company without communicating together, I   In this cell, the man who had not the firmness
have not the smallest faith. All the instances to leave a glass of liquor standing untasted on a
of reformation that were mentioned to me were table before him-in this cell, in solitary confineof a kind that might have been-and I have no ment, and working every day at his trade of
doubt whatever, in my own mind, would have shoemaking, this man remained nearly two years.
been-a-qually well brought about by the Silent His health beginning to fail at the expiration of
System. With regard to such men as the negro that time, the surgeon recommended that he
burglar and the English thief, even the most en- should work occasionally in the garden; and as
thusiastic have scarcely any hope of their con- he liked the notion very much, he went about
version.                                   this new occupation with great cheerfulness.
It seems to me that the objection that nothing   He was digging here, one summer day, very
wholesome or good has ever had its growth in industriously, when the wicket in the outer gate
-,ich unnatural solitude, and that even a dog or chanced to be left open; showing, beyond, the
ally of the more intelligent among beasts would well-remembered dusty road and sunburnt fields.
pine, and mope, and rust away beneath its infln- The way was as free to him as to any man livence, would be in itself a sufficient argument ing, but he no sooner raised his head and caught
against this system. But when we recollect, in  sight of it, all shining in the light, than, with
addition, how very cruel and severe it is, and the involuntary instinct of a prisoner, he cast
that a solitary life is always liable to peculiar away his spade. scamnered off as fast as his




44                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
legs would carry him, and never once looked  other, to chew. In less than a quarter of an'ack.                                        hour's time, these hopeful youths had shed about
them on the clean boards, a copious shower of
yellow rain: clearing, by that means, a kind of
magic circle, within whose limits no intruders
dared to come, and which they never failed to
QWASHKINGTON. -- THE LEGISTLATHURE. - AND  THE  refresh and refresh before a spot was dry. This
PRESIDENT S  HOUSE.             being before breakfast, rather disposed me, I confess, to nausea; but looking attentively at one
WE left Philadelphia by steamboat at six  of the expectoraters, I plainly saw that he was
o'clock one very cold morning, and turned our young in chewing, and felt inwardly uneasy,
faces towards Washington.                    himself. A glow of delight came over me at
In the course of this day's journey, as on sub- this discovery; and as I marked his face turn
sequent occasions, we encountered some Eng- paler and paler, and saw -the ball of tobacco in
lishmen (small farmers, perhaps, or country pub- his left cheek, quiver with his suppressed agony,,
licaris at home) who were settled -in America, while yet he spat, and chewed, and spat again,
and were travelling on their own affairs. Of all in emulation of his older friend, I could have
grades and kinds of men that jostle one in the fallen on his neck and implored him to go on for
public conveyances of the States, these are often  hours.
the most intolerable and the most insufferable   We all sat down to a comfortable breakfast in
companions. United to every disagreeable char- the cabin below, where there was no more hurry
acteristic that the worst kind of American tray- or confusion than at such a meal in England, and
ellers possess, these countrymen of ours display  where there was certainly greater politeness exan amount of insolent conceit and cool assump- hibited than at most of our stage-coach banquets.
tion of superiority quite monstrous to behold. At about nine o'clock we arrived at the railroad
In the coarse familiarity of their approach, and  station, and went on by the cars. At-noon we
the effrontery of' their inquisitiveness (which  turned out again, to cross a wide river in another
they are in great haste to assert, as if they pant-  steamboat; landed at a continuation of the railed to revenge themselves upon the decent old re- road on the opposite shore, and went on by other
straints of home), they surpass any native spe- cars; in which, in the course of the next hour or
cimens that came within my range of observa- so, we crossed, by wooden bridges, each a mile
tion; and I often grew so patriotic when I saw  in length, two creeks, called respecttvely Great
and heard them, that I would cheerfully have  and little Gunpowder. The water in both was
submitted to a reasonable fine, if I could have  blackened with flights of canvass-backed ducks,
given any other country in the whole world the which are most delicious eating, and abound
honour of claiming them for its children.    hereabout at that season of the year.
As Washington may be called the headquar-   These bridges are of wood, have no parapet
ters of tobacco-tinctured saliva, the time is come  and are only just wide enough for the passage o{
when I must confess, without any disguise, that the trains; which, in the event of the smallest
the prevalence of those two odious practices of accident, would inevitably be plunged into the
chewing and expectorating began about this time river. They are startling contrivances, and are
to be anything but agreeable, and soon became most agreeable when passed.
most offensive and sickening. In all the public    We stopped to dine at Baltimore, and being
places of America this filthy custom is recog- now in Maryland, were waited on, for the first
nised. In the courts of law, the judge has his time, by slaves. The sensation of exacting any
spittoon, the crier his, the witness his, and the service from human creatures who are bought
prisoner his: while the jurymen and spectators and sold, and being, for the time, a party as it
are provided for, as so many men who, in the were to their condition, is not an enviable one.
course of nature, must desire to spit incessantly. The institution exists, perhaps, in its least repulIn the hospitals, the students of medicine are re- sive and most mitigated form in such a town as
quested, by notices upon the wall, to eject their this; but it is slavery; and though I was, witha.
tobacco juice into the boxes provided for that respect to it, an innocent man, its presence filled
purpose, and not to discolour the stairs. In pub- me with a sense of shame and self-reproach.
ic buildings visiters are implored, through the   After dinner, we went (town to the railroad
same agency, to squirt the essence of their quids, again, and took our seats in the cars for Washor "plugs," as I have heard them called by gen- ingtqn. Being rather early, those men and boys
tlemen learned in this kind of sweetmeat, into  who Happened to have nothing particular to do,
the national spittoons, and not about the bases and were curious in foreigners, came (according
of the marble colunms. But in some parts this to custom) round the carriage in which I sat; let
custom is inseparably mixed up with every meal down all the windows; thrust in their heads and
and morning call, and with all the transactions  shoulders; hooked themselves on conveniently,
of social life. The stranger, who follows in the by their elbows; and fell to comparing notes
track I took myself, will find it in its full bloom  on the subject of my personal appearance, with
and glory, luxuriant in all its alarming reckless- as much indifference as if I were a stuffed figure.
ness, at Washington. And let him not persuade  I never gained so much uncompromising inforhimself (as I once did, to my shame) that pre- mation with reference to my own nose and eyes,
vious tourists have exaggerated its extent. The  the various impressions wrought by my mouth
thing itself is an exaggerationof nastiness, which  and chin on different minds, and how my head
cannot be outdone.                          looks when it is viewed from behind, as on these
On board this steamboat, there were two  occasions. Some gentlemen were only satisfied
young gentlemen, with shirt-collars reversed as by exercising their sense of touch; and the boys
-usual, and armed with very big walking sticks; (who are surprisingly precocious in America)
who planted two seats in the middle of the deck, were seldom satisfied, even by that, but would
at a distance of some four paces apart; took out return to the charge over and over again. Many
their tobacco-boxes, and sat down opposite each  a budding president has walled into my room




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                         45
wiPth his cap on his head and his hands in his building, that looks like a church, with a flag.
pockets, and stared at me for two whole hours: staff as long as itself sticking out of a steeple
occasionally refreshing himself with-a tweak at something larger than a tea-chest. Under the
his nose, or a draught from the water-jug; or by window, is a small stand of coaches, whose slavewalking to the windows and inviting other boys drivers,are sunning themselves on the steps of
in the street below, to come up and do likewise: our door, and talking idly together. The three
crying, "here he is!" "come on!" "bring all most obtrusive houses near at hand, are the
your brothers!" with other hospitable entreaties three meanest. On one-a shop, which never
of that nature.                               has anything in the window, and never has the
We reached Washington at about half past six door open-is painted in large characters, " Tim
that evening, and had upon the way a beautiful CITY LUNCH."  At another, which looks like
view of the Capitol, which is a fine building of the backway to somewhere else, but is an inde-the Corinthian order, and placed upon a noble pendent building in itself, oysters are procurable
and commanding eminence. Arrived at the hotel, in every style. At the third, which is a very,
I saw no more of the place that night; being very little tailor's shop, pants are fixed to order:
very tired, and glad to get to bed.           or, in other words, pantaloons are made to measBreakfast over next morning, I walk about the ure. And that is our street in Washington.
streets for an hour or two, and, coming home,   It is sometimes called the City of Magnificent
throw up the window in the front and back, and Distances, but it might with greater propriety be
look out. Here is Washington, fresh in my termed the City of Magnificent Intentions; for it
mind and under my eye.                        is only on taking a bird's-eye view of it from the
Take the- worst parts of the city road and Pen- top of the Capitol, that one can at- all compretonville, preserving all their oddities, but espe- hend the vast designs of its projector, an aspiring
cially the small shops and dwellings, occupied Frenchman.  Spacious avenues, that begin in
there (but not in Washington) by furniture bro- nothing, and lead nowhere; streets, mile-long,
kers, keepers of poor eating-houses, and fanciers that only want houses, roads, and inhabitants;
of birds. Burn the whole down; build it up public buildings that need but a public to be
again in wood and plaster; widen it a little: complete; and ornaments of great thoroughfares,
throw  in part of St. John's wood; put green which only lack great thoroughfares to ornablinds outside all the private houses, with a red ment, are its leading features. One might fancy
curtain and a white one in every window; plough  the season over, and most of the houses gone out
up all the roads; plant a great deal of coarse of town forever with their masters. To the adturf in every place where it ought not to be; mirers of cities it is a Barmecide Feast; a pleaserect three handsome buildings in stone and mar- ant field for the imagination to rove in; a monuble, anywhere, but the more entirely out of every- Rent raised to a deceased object, with not even
body's way the better' call one the Post Office, a legible inscription to record its departed greatone the Patent Office, and one the Treasury; ness.
make it scorching hot in the morning, and freez-   Such as it is, it is likely to remain. It was
ing cold in the afternoon, with an occasional tor- originally chosen for the seat of Government, as
nado of wind and dust; leave a brick-field with- a means of averting the conflicting jealousies
out the bricks, in all central places where a and interests of the different States; and very
street may naturally be expected: and that is probably, too, as being remnote from mobs: a
Washington.                                   consideration not to be slighted, even in AmeriThe hotel in which we live, is a long row of ca. It has no trade or commerce of its own:
small houses fronting on the street, and opening having little or no population beyond the Presiat the back upon a common yard, in which hangs dent and his establishment;, the members of the
a great triangle. Whenever a servant is wanted, legislature who reside there during the session;
somebody beats on this triangle from one stroke the Government clerks and officers employed in
up to seven, according to the number of the house the various departments; the keepers of the hoin which his presence is required: and as all the tels and boarding-houses; and the tradesmen
servants are always being wanted, and none of who supply their tables. It is very unhealthy.
them ever come, this enlivening engine is in full Few people would live in Washington, I take
performance the whole day through. Clothes are it, who were not obliged to reside there; and the
drying in the same yard; female slaves, with tides of emigration and speculation, those rapid
cotton handkerchiefs twisted round their heads, and regardless currents, are little likely to flow at
are running to and fro on the hotel business; any time towards such dull and sluggish water.
black waiters cross and recross with dishes in'The principal -features of the Capitol are, of
their hands; two great dogs are playing upon a course, the two Houses of Assembly. But there
mound of loose bricks in the centre of the little is, besides, in the centre of the building, a fine
square; a pig is turning up his stomach to the rotunda, ninety-six feet in diameter, and ninetysun, and grunting "that's comfortable!" and six high, whose circular wall is divided into
neither the men, nor the women, nor the dogs, nor compartments, ornamented by historical picthe pig, nor any created creature, takes the tures. Four of these have for their subjects
smallest notice of the triangle, which is tingling prominent events in the revolutionary struggle.
madly all the time.                           They were painted by Colonel Trumbull, himI walk to the front window, and look across self a member of Washington's staff at the time
the road upon a long, straggling row of houses, of their occurrence; from which circumstance
one story high, terminating, nearly opposite, but they derive a peculiar interest of their own. In
a little to the left, in a melancholy piece of waste this same hall Mr. Greenough's large statue of
ground with frowzy grass, which looks like a Washington has been lately placed.  It has
small piece of country that has taken to drinking, great merits of course, but it struck me as being
and has quite lost itself. Standing anyhow and rather strained and violent for its subject.  I
all wrong, upon this open space, like something could wish, however, to have seen it in a better
meteoric that has fallen down from the moon, light than it ever can be viewed in, where it
is an odd, lop-sided, one-eyed kind of wooden stands.




46                          NOTES  ON  AMERICA.
There is a very pleasant and commodious li, Liberty and Freedom, and so-asserting the chaste.
brary in the Capitol; and, from a balcony in dignity of those twin goddesses, in all their disfront, the bird's-eye view, of which I have just cussions, as to exalt at once the Eternal Princispoken, may be had, together with a beautiful ples to which their names are given, and their
prospect of' the adjacent country. In one of the own character, and the character of their counornamnented portions of the building, there is a trymen, in the admiring eyes of the whole world I
figure of Justice; whereunto the Guide Book   It was but a week, since an aged, gray-haired
says, " the artist first contemplated giving more man, a lasting honour to the land that gave him
of nudity, but he was warned that the public birth,'who has done good service to his country,
sentiment in this country would not admit of it, as his forefathers did, and who will be rememberand in his caution he has gone, perhaps, into the ed scores upon scores of years after the worms
opposite extreme."  Poor Justice t she has been bred in its corruption, are but so many grains of
made to wear much stranger garments in Ameri- dust-it was but a week, since this old man had
ca than those she pines in, in the Capitol. Let stood for days upon his trial before this very
us hope that she has changed her dress-maker body, charged with having dared to assert the
since they were fashioned, and that the public infamy of that traffic, which has, for its accursed
sentiment of the country did not cut out the merchandize, men, and women, and their unborn
clothes she hides her lovely figure in, just now. children. Yes. And publicly exhibited in the
The House of Representatives is a beautiful same city all the while; gilded, framed and
and spacious hall, of semi-circular shape, sup- glazed; hung up for general admiration; shown
ported by handsome pillars.  One part of the to strangers, not with shame, but pride; its fhce
gallery is appropriated to the- ladies, and there not turned towards the wall, itself not taken down
they sit in front rows, and come in, and go out, and burned; is the Unanimous Declaration of
as at a play or concert. The chair is canopied, the The Thirteen United States of America,
and raised considerably above the floor of the which solemnly declares that All Men are creHouse; and every member has an easy chair ated Equal; and are endowed by their Creator
and a writing-desk to himself; which is de- with the Inalienable Rights of Life, Liberty, and
nounced by some people out of doors as a most the Pursuit of Happiness!
unfortunate and injudicious arrangement, tend-   It was not a month, since this same'body had
ing to long sitting and prosaic speeches. It is sat calmly by, and heard a man, one of theman elegant chamber to look at, but a singularly selves, with, oaths, which beggars in their drink
bad one for all purposes of hearing. The Senate, reject, threaten to cut another's throat from ear
which is smaller, is free from this objection, and to ear. There he sat, among them; not crushed.is exceedingly well adapted to the uses for which by the general feeling of the assembly, but as
it is designed. The sittings, I need hardly add, good a man as any.
take place in the day; and the parliamentary   There was but a week to come, and another
forms are modelled on those of the old country.  of that body, for doing his duty to those who sent
I was sometimes asked, in my progress through him there; for claiming in a Republic the Liberother places, whether I had not been very much ty and Freedom of expressing their sentiments,
impressed by the heads of the lawmakers at and making known their prayer; would be tried,
Washington; meaning not their chiefs and lead- found guilty, and have strong censure passed
ers, but literally their individual and personal upon him by the rest. His was a grave offence
heads, whereon their hair grew, and whereby indeed; for years before, he had risen up and
the phrenological character of each legislator said, "A gang of male and female slaves for
was expressed: and I almost as often struck my sale, warranted to breed like cattle, linked to
questioner dumb with indignant consternationr each other by iron fetters, are passing now along
by answering " No, that I didn't remember be- the open street beneath the windows of your
ing at all overcome."  As I must, at whatever Temple of Equality!  Look!"'But there are
hazard, repeat the avowal here, I will follow it many kinds of hunters engaged in the Pursuit of
up by relating my impressions on this subject in Happiness, and they go variously armed. It is
as few words as possible.                    the Inalienable Right of some among them, to
In the first place-it may be from some imnper- take the field after their Happiness, equipped
feet development of my organ of veneration-I with cat and cartwhip, stocks, and iron collar,
do not remember having ever fainted away, or and to shout their view halloa! (always in praise
having even been moved to tears of joyful pride, of Liberty), to the music of clanking chains and
at sight of any legislative body. I have borne bloody stripes.
the House of Commons like a man, and have   Where sat the many legislators of coarse.yielded to no weakness, but slumber, in the threats; of words and blows such as coal-heavHouse of Lords. I have seen elections for bor- ers deal upon each other, when they forgot their
ough and county, and have never been impelled breeding?  On every side. Every session had
(no matter which party won) to damage my hat its anecdotes of that kind, and the actors were all
by throwing it up into the air in triumph, or to there.
crack my voice by shouting forth any reference   Did I recognise in this assembly, a body of
to our Glorious Constitution, to the noble purity men, who applying themselves in a new world to
of our independent voters, or the unimpeachable correct some of the falsehoods and vices of the
integrity of our independent members. Having old, purified the avenues to Public Life, paved
withstood such strong attacks upon my fortitude, the dirty ways to Place and Power, debated and
it is possible that I may be of a cold and insensi- made laws for the Common Good, and had no
ble temperament, amounting to iciness, in such party but their Country 
matters; and therefore my impressions of' the   I saw in them, the wheels that move the meanlive pillars of the Capitol at Washington must est perversion of virtuous Political Machinery
be.received with such grains of allowance as that the worst tools ever wrought. Despicable
this fi'ee confession may seem to demand.   trickery at elections;'under-handed tamperings
Did I see in this public body, an assemblage with public officers; cowardly attacks upon opof men, bound together in the sacred names of ponents, with scurrilous newspapers for shieldis




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       47
and hired pens for daggers; shameful truckling    The Senate is a dignified and decorous body,
to mercenary knaves uvnose claim to be consider- and its proceedings are conducted with much
ed, is, that every day and week they sow new  gravity and order. Both houses are handsomely
crops of ruin with their venal types, which are carpeted; but the state to.which these carpets are
the dragon's teeth of yore, in everything but reduced by the universal disregard of the spittoon
sharpness; aidings and abettings of every bad with which every honouurable member is accomninclination in the popular mind, and artful sup- tmodated, and the extraordinary improvements on
pressions of all its good influences: such things the pattern which are squirted and dabbled upon
as these, and in a word, Dishonest Faction in its -it in every direction, do not admit of being demost depraved and most unblushing form, stared scribed. I will merely observe, that' I strongly
out from every corner of the crowded hall.  recommend all strangers not to look at the floor;
Did I see among them, the intelligence and re- and if they happen to drop anything, though it
finemnent: the true, honest, patriotic heart' of be their purse, not to pick it up:with an'ungloved
America. Here and there, were drops of its hand on any account.
blood and life, but they scarcely coloured the   It -is somewhat remarkable, too, at first, to say
stream of desperate adventurers which sets that the least, to see so many honourable members
way for profit and for pay. It is the game of with swelled faces; and it is scarcely -less rethese men, and oftheir profligate organs, to make markable to discover that this appearance is
the strife of politics so fierce and brutal, and so caused by the quantity of tobacco they contrive
-destructive of'all self-respect in worthy men, that to stow within the hollow of the cheek. It is
sensitive and delicate-minded persons shall be strange enough too, to see an honourable gentlekept aloof; and they, and such as they, be left to man leaning back in his tilted chair with his legs
battle out their selfish views, unchecked. And on the desk before him, shaping a convenient
thus this lowest of all scrambling fights goes on, "plug" with his penlknife, and when it is quite
and they who in other countries would, from  ready for use, shooting the old one from  his
their intelligence and station, most aspire to mouth, as from a pop-gun, and clapping the new
make laws, do here recoil the farthest from that one in its place.
degradation.                                   I was surprised to observe that even steady
That there are, among the representatives of old chewers of great experience, are not always
the people in both houses, and among all parties, good marksmen, which has rather inclined me
some men of high character and great abilities, I to doubt that general proficiency with the rifle,
need not say. The foremost among these politi- of which we have heard so much in England.
cians who are known in Europe, have been al- Several gentlemen called upon me Who, in the
ready described, and I see no reason to depart course of conversation, frequently missed the
from the rule I have laid down for my guidance, spittoon at five paces; and one (but he was cerof abstaining from all mention of individuals. It tainly short-sighted) mistook the closed sash for
will be sufficient to add, that to the most favour- the open window, at three.  On another occaable accounts that have been written of them, I sion, when I dined out, and was sitting with two
more than fully and most heartily subscribe; and ladies and some gentlenen round a fire before
that personal intercourse and free communica- dinner, one of the company fell short of the firetion have bred within me, not the result predicted place six distinct times. I am disposed to think,
in the very doubtful proverb, but increased ad- however, that this was occasioned by his not
miration and respect. They are striking men to aiming at that object; as there was a white marlook at, hard to deceive, prompt to act, lions in ble hearth before the fender, which was more conenergy, Crichtons in varied accomplishments, venient, and may have suited his purpose better.
Indians in fire of eye and gesture, Americans in   The Patent Office at Washington, furnishes
strong and generous impulse; and they as well an extraordinary example of American enterrepresent the honour and wisdom of their coun- prise and ingenuity; for the immense number of
try at home, as the distinguished gentleman who models it contains, are the accumulated invenis now its minister at the British Court sustains tions of only five years: the whole of the previous
its highest character abroad.               collection having been destroyed by fire. The
I visited both houses nearly every day, during elegant structure in which they are arranged, is
my stay in Washington. On my initiatory visit one of design rather than execution, for there is
to the House of Representatives, they divided but one side erected out of four, though the works
against a decision of the chair; but the chair are stopped.  The Post Office is a very comnwon. The second time I went, the member who pact, and very beautiful building. In one of the
was speaking, being interrupted by a laugh, mim- departments, among a collection of rare and cuicked it, as one child would in quarrelling with riouns articles, are deposited the presents which
another, and added, " that he would make hon- have been made firom time to time to the Ameriourable gentlemen opposite, sing out a little more can ambassadors at foreign courts by the various
on the other side of their mouths presently."  But potentates 6o whom they were the accredited
interruptions are rare; the speaker being usually  agents of the Republic: gifts which by the lanw
heard in silence. There are more quarrels than they are not permitted to retain. I conflss tha.
with us, and more threatenings than gentlemen I looked upon this as a very painful exhibition.
are accustomed to exchange in any civilized so- and one by no means flattering to the national
ciety of which we have record; but farmyard standard of honesty and honour.  That carn
imitations- have not as yet been imported from  scarcely be a high state of moral feeling which
the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The imagines a gentleman of repute and station, like-.
feature in oratory which appears to be the most ly to be corrupted, in the discharge of his duty;
practised, and most relished, is the constant rep- by the present of a snuff-box, or a richly-mountetition of the same idea or shadow of an idea in ed sword, or an Eastern shawl: and surely the
fresh words; and the inquiry out of doors is not, Nation who reposes confidence in her appointed
"WVhat. did he say I" but, "How long did he servants, is likely to be better served, than she
speak?" These, however, are but enlargements who makes them the subject of such very mean
of a principle which prevails elsewhere.    and paltry suspicions.




48                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
At George Town. in the suburbs, there is a dent on what he had to say, and wouldn't bate
Jesuit College; delightfully situated, and, so far him a grain. Another, a Kentucky farmer, six
as I had an opportunity of seeing, well managed. feet six in height, with his hat on, and his hands
Many persons who are not members of the Rom- under his coat-tails, who leaned against the wall
ish Church, avail themselves, I believe, of these and kicked the floor with his heel, as though he
institutions, and of the advantageous opportuni- had Time's head under his shoe, and were liter-.
ties they afford for the education of their children. ally " killing" him. A third, an oval-faced, bilThe heights in -this neighbourhood, above the ious-looking man, with sleek black hair cropped
Potomac River, are very picturesque;              and  whiskers and beard shaved down to
free, I should conceive, from some of the insalu- blue dots, who sucked the head of a thick stick,
brities of W~ashington. The air, at that eleva- and from tima to time took it out of his mouth,
tion, was quite cool and refreshing, when in the to see. how it was getting on. A fourth did no.city it was burning hot.                     thing but whistle. A fifth did nothing but spit.
The President's mansion is more like an And indeed all these gentlemen were so very
English club-house, both within and without, -persevering and energetic in this latter particuthan any other kind of establishment with which lar, and bestowed their favours so abundantly
can compare it. The ornamental ground about upon the carpet, that I take it for granted the
it has been laid out in garden walks; they are Presidential housemaids have high wages, or,
pretty, and agreeable to the eye; though they to speak more genteelly, an ample amount of
have that uncomfortable air of having been made "compensation:" which is the American word
yesterday, which is far from favourable to the for salary, in the case of all public servants.
display of such beauties.                      We had not waited in this room many minutes,
My first visit to this house was on the morning before the black messenger returned, and conafter my arrival, when I was carried thither by ducted us into another of smaller dimensions,
an official gentleman, who was so kind as to where, at a business-like table covered with pa-,charge himself with my presentation to the Pres- pers, sat the President himself. He looked someident.                                      what worn and anxious, and well he might:
We entered a large hall, and having twice or being at war with everybody-but the expresthrice rung a bell which nobody answered, walk- sion of his face was mild and pleasant, and his
ed without farther ceremony through the rooms manner was remarkably unaffected, gentlemanon the ground floor, as divers other gentlemen ly, and agreeable. I thought that in his whole
(mostly with their hats on, and their hands in carriage and demeanour, he became his station
their pockets) were doing very leisurely. Some singularly well.
of these had ladies with them, to whom' they   Being advised that the sensible etiquette of the
were showing the premises; others were lounging -republican court, admitted of a traveller, like myon the chairs and sofas; others, in a perfect state self, declining, without any impropriety, an inof exhaustion from listlessness, were yawning vitation to dinner, which did not reach me until
drearily. The greater portion of this assemblage I had concluded my arrangements for leaving
were rather asserting their supremacy than doing Washington some days before that to which it
anything else, as they had no particular business referred, I only returned to this house once. It
-there, that anybody knew of. A few were close- was on the occasion of one of those general asly eying the movables, as if to. make sure that semblies which are held on certain nights between
the President (who was far from popular) had the hours of nine and twelve o'clock, and are callnot made away with any of the furniture, or sold: ed, rather oddly, Levees.
the fixtures for his private benefit.          I went, with my wife, at about ten. There
After glancing at these loungers; who were was a pretty dense crowd of carriages and people
scattered over a pretty drawing-room, opening in the court-yard, and so far as I could make out,
upon a terrace which commanded a beautiful there were no very clearregulations for the taking
prospect of the river and the adjacent country; up or setting dorwn of company. There were
-and who were sauntering, too, about a larger certainly no policemen to soothe startled horses,
state room called the Eastern Dra-wing-room; either by sawing at their bridles or flourishing
we went up stairs into another chamber, where truncheons in their eyes; and I am ready to
were certain visitors, waiting for audiences. At make oath that no inoffensive persons were
sight of my conductor, a black in plain clothes knocked violently on the head. or poked acutely
and yellow slippers who was gliding noiselessly in their backs or stomachs; or brought to a
about, and whispering messages in the ears of stand-still by any such gentle means, and then
the more impatient, made a sign of recognition, taken into custody for not moving on. But there
and glided off to announce him.             was no confusion or disorder.  Our carriage
We had previously looked into another chain- reached the porch in its turn, without ally blusber fitted all round with a great bare wooden tering, swearing, shouting, backing, or other disdesk or counter, whereon lay files of tewspapers, turbance; and we dismounted with as much
to which sundry gentlemen were referring. But ease and comfort as though we had been escorted
there were no such means of beguiling the time by the whole Metropolitan Force from A to Z
in this apartment, which was as unpromising inclusive.
and tiresome as any waiting room in one of our   The suite of rooms on the ground-floor were
public establishments, or any physician's dining- lighted up; and a military band was playing in
room during his hours of consultation at home.  the hall. In the smaller drawing-room, the centre
There were some fifteen or twenty persons in of a circle of company, were the President and
the room. One, a tall, wiry, muscular old man, his daughter-in-law, who acted as the lady of the
from the west; sunburnt and swarthy; with a mansion: and a very interesting, graceful, and
brown-white hat on his knees, and a giant um- accomplished lady too.  One gentleman who
brella resting between his legs; who sat bolt up- stood among this group, appeared to take upon
right in his chair, frowning steadily at the carpet, himself the functions of a master of the ceremoand twitching the hard lines about his mouth, as nies. I saw no other officers or attendants, and
if he had made up his mind to "fix" the Piesi- none were.needed..




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      49'The great drawing-room, which I have already logue if I could; but of which it will be suffiimentioned, and the other chambers on the ground- cient to remark that blowings-up in steamboats
foor, were crowded to excess. The company and breakings down in coaches were among the
was not, in our sense of the term, select, tbr it least. But, having a western route sketched out
comprehended persons of very many grades and for me by the best and kindest authority to which
classes; nor was there any great display of costly I could have resorted, and putting no great faith
-attire: indeed. some of the costumes may have in these discouragements, I soon determined on.bLeen, fbr aught I know, grotesque enough. But my plan of action.
-the decorum and propriety of behaviour which    This was to travel south, only to Richmond
prevailed, were unbroken by any rude or disa- in Virginia; and then to turn, and shape our
greeable incident; and every man, even among course for the Far West; whither I beseech the
the miscellaneous crowd in the hall who were reader's company.
admitted without any orders or tickets to look
on, appeared to feel that he was a part of the
Institution, and was responsible for its preserving a becoming character, and appeared to the              CHAPTER IX.
best advantage.
That these visiters, too, whatever their station, A NIGHT-STEAMER ON THE POTOMAC RIVER.-were not without some refinement of taste and   VIRGINIA ROAD, AND A BLACK DRIVER.-RICHappreciation of intellectual gifts, and gratitude to   MOND.-BALTIMORE.-THE HARRISBURGH MAILS
those men who, by the peaceful exercise of great   AND A GLIMPSE OF THE CITY.-A CANAL-BOAT.
abilities, shed new charms and associations upon  WVE were to proceed in the first instance by
-the homes of their countrymen, and elevate their steamboat: and as it is usual to sleep on board,
character in other lands, was most earnestly in consequence of the starting hour being four
-testified by their reception of Washington Irving, o'clock in the morning, we went down to where
my dear frieud, who had recently been appointed she lay, at that very uncomfortable time for such
-Minister at the court of Spain, and who was expeditions when slippers are most valuable,
among them that night, in his new character, for and a familiar bed, in the perspective of an hour
the first and last time before going abroad. I and a familiar ed, n the perspective of an hour
sincerelyb believe that in all the madness of or two, looks uncommonly pleasant.
sincerely believe that in all the madness of   It is ten o'clock at night: say half past ten;
American politics, few public men would have                  a               The steambeen so earnestly, devotedly, and affectionately moonliht,warm,  and dull enough.  hesteam.caressed, as this most charming writer; and I er (not unlike a child's Noah's ark in form, with
have seldom respected a public assembly more, the machinery on the top of the roof) is riding
than I did this eager throng, when I saw them  lazily up and down, and bumping clumsily.urning with one mind from noisy orators and against the wooden pier, as the ripple of the
officers of state, and flocking with a generous river trifles with its unwieldy carcase. The
-offiers of state, and floclring with a g~nero harf is some distance from the city. There.and honest impulse round the man of quiet pur- i   s some distance from the city. There
suits; proud in his promotion as reflecting back is nobody down here; and one or two dull lamps'pon their' country; and grateful to him with upon the steamer's decks are the only signs of,their whole hearts for the store of graceful fan- life remaining, when our coach has driven away
cies he had poured out among them.. Long As soon as our footsteps are heard upon the
may he dispense such treasures with unsparing planks, a fat negress, particularly favoured, by
hand; and long may they remember him  as Nature in respect of bustle, emerges from some
worthily! X                                  dark stairs, and marshals my wife towards the
ladies' cabin, to which retreat she goes, followThe term we had assigned for the duration of ed by a mighty bale of cloaks and great coats.
*our stay in Washington, was now at an end, and I valiantly resolve not to go to bed at all, but to
we were to begin to travel; for the railroad dis- walk up and down the pier till morning.
tances we had traversed yet, in journeying among   I begin my promenade-thinking of all kinds
these older towns, are on that great continent of distant things and persons, and of nothing
looked upon as nothing.                      near-and pace up and down for half an hour.
I hadat first intended going South-to Charles- Then I go on board again; and getting into the'ton. But when I came to consider the length light of one of the lamps, look at my watch, and:of time which this journey would occupy, and think it must have stopped; and wonder what
the premature heat of the season, which even at has become of the faithful secretary whom I
Washington had beeu often very trying; and brought along with me from Boston. He is
weighed moreover, in my own mind, the pain of supping with our late landlord (a field-marshal,
living in the constant contemplation of slavery, at least, no doubt) in honour of our departure,
against the more than doubtful chances of my and may be two homs longer. I walk again,
ever seeing it, in the time I had to spare, stripped but it gets duller and duller: the, moon goes
of the disguises in which it would certainly-be down: next June seems farther off in the dark,
dressed, and so adding any item to the host of and the echoes of my footsteps make me nervacts already heaped together on the subect;  I and the echoes of my footsteps make me nervfacts already heaped together on the subject; I   It ha turned cold too; and walking up
began to listen to old whisperings which had often  ous. It has turned cold too; and walking up'been present to me at home in England, when I and down without anycompanion in such lonelittle thought of ever being here; and to dream  ly circumnstances, is but poor amusement.  So
again of cities growing up, like palaces in fairy I break my stanch resolution, and think it may
tales, among the wilds and forests of the west.  be, perhaps, as well to go to bed.
The advice I received in most quarters when I go on board again; open the door of the
I began to yield to my desire of travelling to- gentleman's cabin, and walk in. Somehow or
wards that point of the compass was, according other-from its being so quiet I suppose-[ have
to custom, sufficiently cheerless; my companion taken it into my head that there is nobody
being threatened with more perils, dangers, and there. To my horror and amazemnent it is full
discomforts, than I can remember or would Cata- of sleepers in every stage, shape, attitude, and
G




NOTES ON AMERICA.
variety of slumber: in the berths, on the chairs, are frightened, and impatient to start; the black
on the floors, on the tables, and particularly  drivers are chattering to them  like so many
round the stove, my detested enemy.  I take  monkeys; and the white ones whooping like so
another step forward, andl slip upon the shining  many drovers.; for the main thing to be done in
face of a black steward, who lies rolled in a  all kinds of hostering here, is to make as much
blanket on the floor.  He jumps up, grins, halt noise as possible.'The coaches are something
in pain and half in hospitality; whispers my  like the French coaches, but not nearly so good.
own name in my ear; arid groping among the  In lieu of springs, they are hung on bands of
sleepers, leads me to my berth.  Standing be- the strongest leather. There is verylittlechoice
side it, I count these slumbering passengers, or difference between them; and they may be
and get past forty. There is no use in going  likened to the car portion of the swings at an
fartlher, so I begin to undress.  As the chairs  English fair, roofed, put upon axle-trees and
are all occupied, and there is nothing else to put wheels, and curtained with painted canvass.
my clothes on, I deposite them upon the ground: They are covered with mud from the roof to the
not without soiling my hands, for it is in the  wheel-tire, and have never been cleaned since
same condition as the carpets in the Capitol, they were first built.
and from the same cause.  Having but partial-   The tickets we have received on board the
ly undressed, I clamber on my shelf, and hold  steamboat are marked No. 1, so we belong to
the curtain open for a few minutes while I look  coach No. 1. I throw my coat on the box, and
round on all my fellow-travellers again.  That hoist my wife and her maid into the inside. It
done, I let it fall on them, and on thfie world: has only one step, and that being about a yard
turn round, and go to sleep.                  from  the ground, is usually approached by a
I wake, of course, when we get under weigh, chair: when there is no chair, ladies trust in
for there is a good deal of noise. The day is Providence.  The coach holds nine inside, havthen just breaking. Everybody wakes at the  ing a seat across from door to door, where we
same time.  Some are self-possessed directly, in England put our legs: so that there is oniy
and some are much perplexed to make out one feat more difficult in the performance than
where they are until they have rubbed their getting in, and that is, getting out again. There
eyes, and, leaning on one elbow,, look about is only one outside passenger, and he sits upon
them. Some yawn, some groan, nearly all spit, the box. As I am that one, I climb up; and
and a few get up. I am among the risers: for while they are strapping the luggage on the roof,
it is easy to feel, without going into the fiesh  and heaping it into a kind of tray behind, have
air, that the atmosphere in the cabin is vile in  a good opportunity of looking at the driver.
the last degree. I huddle on my clothes, go    He is a negro-very black indeed.  He is
down into the fore-cabin, get shaved by the bar- dressed in a coarse pepper-and-salt suit excesber, and wash myself. The washing and dress- sively patched and darned (particularly at the
ing apparatus for the passengers generally, con- knees); gray stockings, enormous unblacked
sists of two jack towels, three small wooden  high-low shoes, and very short trousers.  He
basins, a keg of water and a ladle to serve it has two odd gloves: one of parti-coloured
out with, six square inches of looking-glass, two  worsted, and one of leather.  He has a very
ditto ditto of yellow soap, a comb and brush for short whip, broken in the middle and bandaged
the Lhead, and nothing for the teeth.  Every- tip with string. And yet lie wears a low-crownbody uses the comb and brush except myself. ed, broad-brimmed, black hat: faintly shadowEverybody stares to see me using my own; and  ing forth a kind of insane imitation of an Engtwo or three gentlemen are strongly disposed to  lish coachman!  But somebody in authority
banter me'on mly prejudices, but don't.  When  cries "Go ahead!" as I am  making these obI have made my toilet, I go upon the hurricane- servations.  The mail takes the lead in a four~
deck, anid set in for two hours of hard walking  horse wagon, and all the coaches follow in proup and down. The sun is rising brilliantly; we  cession, headed by No. 1.
are passing Mount Vernon, where Washington    By-thle-way, whenever an Englishman would
lies buried; the river is wide and rapid; and  cry "All right!" an American cries "Go ahead!'"
its banks are beautifll. All the glory and splen- which is somewhat expressive of the national
dour of the day are coming on, and growing  character of the two countries.
brighter every minute.                          The first half mile of the road is over bridges
At eight o'clock, we breakfast in the cabin  made of loose planks laid across two parallel
where I passed the night, but the windows and  poles, which tilt up as the wheels roll over
do(.'s are all thrown open, and now it is fiesh  them, and IN the river.  The river has a clayey
enough.  There is no hurry or greediness appa- bottom, and is fill of holes, so that half a horse
rent in the despatch of the meal.  It is longer is constantly disappearing unexpectedly, and
than a travelling breakfast with us; more or- can't be found again for some time.
denly, and more polite,                         But we get past even this, and come to the
Soon after nine o'cilock we come to Potomac  road itself, which is a series of alternate swamps
Creek, where we are to land: and then comes and gravel-pits.  A tremendous place is close
the oddest part of the journey. Seven stage- before us, the black driver rolls his eyes, screws
coaches are preparing to carry us on.  Some of his mouth up very round, and looks straight bethem are ready, some of them  are not ready. tween the two leaders, as if he were saying to
Sonme of the drivers are blacks, some whites. himself, "WVre have done this often before, but
There are Mour horses to eace coach, and all the  now I think we shall have a crash."  He takes
horses, harnessed or unharnessed, are there. a rein in each hand, jerks and pulls at both, and
The passengers are getting out of the steam- dances on the splashboard with both feet (keeptoat, an(d into the coaaeches; the luggage is being  ing his seat, of course) like the lamented Dutranliiefrrcd in noisy wheelbarrows, the horses  crow on two of his fiery coursers. We come to




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                          51
the spot, sink down in the mire nearly to the  until we are reduced to the very last extremity.
coachl windows, tilt on one side at an angle of and are in the midst of difficulties, extrication
forty-five degrees, and stick there.  The insides  fiom which appears to be all but impossible.
screvam dismally; the coach stops; the horses    And so we do the ten miles or thereabout in
fimunder; all the other six coaches stop; and  two hours and a half; breaking no bones, though
thleir tour-and-twenty horses flounder likewise, bruising a great many; and, in short, getting
but merely lbr company, and in sympathy with  througth the distance "like a fiddle."
ours'lThen the following circumstances occur:    This singular kind of coaching terminates at
1BLACK DrIVER (to the horses). " Hi!"       Fredericksburgh, whence there is a railway to
Nothing happens.  Insides scream again.      Richmond.  The tract of country through which
BLACK   DRIVER (to the horses). "Ho!"    mn  it takes its course was once productive; but the
Horses plunge, and splash the black driver.   soil has been exhausted by the system of emGENTrLENIAN INSIDE (looking out). " Why, what ploying a great amount of slave labour in forcing
on airth-"                                     crops without strengthening the land, and it is
Gentleman receives a variety of splashes, and  now little better than a sandy desert overgrown
draws his head in again, without finishing his with trees.  Dreary and uninteresting as its asquestion or waiting for an answer.             pect is, I was glad to the heart to find anything
BlACK DRIVER (still to the horses). "Jiddy! on which one of the curses of this horrible inJiddy!"                                       stitution has fallen, and had greater pleasure in
Horses pull violently, drag the coach out of contemplating the withered ground than the
the hole, and draw it up a bank, so steep that richest and most thriving cultivation in thie
the black driver's legs fly up into the air, and lie same place could possibly have afforded me.
goes back among the luggage on the roof. But   In this district, as in all others where slavery
he ilmmlediately recovers hlilself, and cries (still sits brooding (I have frequently heard this adto the horses),                r               Iitted, even by those who are its warmest
"Pill!"                                     advocates), there is an air of ruin and decay
No effect.  On the contrary, the coach be- abroad which is inseparable from the system.
gins to roll back upon No. 2, which rolls back  T'rie barns and outhouses are mouldering away;
upon No 3, which rolls back upon No. 4, and so  the sheds are patched, and half roofless; the log
on, until No. 7 is heard to curse and swear, cabins(built in Virginia with external chimneys
nearly a quarter of a mlile behind.             made of clay or wood) are squalid in the last
Bl.Acs DRIVER (louder than before). "Pill!"  degree.  There is no look of decent confort
Horses Iiake another struggle to get up the  anywhere.  The miserable stations by the railbatik, aotd again the coach rolls backward.     way side; the great wild woodyards, whence
BLACfc DRIVER (louder than before). " Pe-e-e  the engine is supplied with fuel; the negro chilill!"                                          dren rolling on the ground before the cabin
Horses make a desperate struggle.            doors, with dogs and pigs; the biped beasts of
BtLa, K DRIVER (recovering spirits). " Hi, Jid- burden slinking past; gloom and dejection are
dy, Jid ly, Pill!"                             upon them all.
Hor:.es mnake another effort.                   In the negro-car belonging to the train in
iLA:K DRlIVER (wih great vigour). "Ally  which we made this journey were a mother and
oo! Hli. Jiddy, Jlddy.  Pill. Ally Loo!"     her children, who had just been purchased, the
Ho) ses alimost do it.                       husband and father being left behind with their
BL,cK DRIVER (with his eyes starting out of old owner.  The children cried the whole way,
his head). "Lee, den.  Lee, dere.  Hi.  Jiddy, andl the mother was misery's picture.  The
Jiddy   Pill. Ally Loo.  Lee-e-e-e-e!"         chlalmpion of Life, Liberty, and the' Pursuit of
They run up the bank, and go down again on  Happiness, who had bought themn, rode in the
the other side at a fearful pace.  It is impossi- satle train, and every timhe we stopped got
ble to stop theml, and at the bottom there is a down to see that they were safe.  TI'he black in
deep hollow  ftll of water.  The coach rolls Sinbad's Travels, with oine eye in the middle of
fiightfully. The insides screarm. The mud and  his forehead, which shoue like a burning coal,
water fly about us. The black driver dances  was nature's aristocrat compared with this
like a miadmllan.  Suddenly we are all right by  white gentlemran.
some extraordinary means, and stop to breathe.   It was between six and seven o'clock in the
A black friend of the black driver is sitting on  evening when we drove to the hotel, in fiont of
a fence.'The black driver recognises himi by  which, and on the top of the broad flight of steps
~twirling his head round and routld like a harle- leadiilg to the door, two or three citizens were
quin, rolling his eyes, shrugging his shoulders, balancing  themselves on  rocking-chairs, and
and grinning from ear to ear.  He stops short, smoking cigars.  We found it a very large and
turns to nle, and says,                        elegant establishment, and were as well enter" We sitall get you through, sa, like a fiddle, tained as travellers need desire to be.'The cliand hope a please you whein we get you through, mrate teitig a thirsty one, there was never, at
sa. Old'oomlan at home, sir;" chuckling very  any hour of the day, a scarcity of loungers in
much.  " Outside gentleman, sa, he often re- the spacious bar, or a cessation of tihe tuixing of
mlember old'oonian at home, sa," grinning again. cool liquiors; but they were a timerrier people
"Ay, ay, we'll take care of the old woman. here, and had mnusical instrumnents playinig to
Don't be afraid."                             tlheut o' g igts, which it was a treat to hear again.
Th'fe black driver grins again, but there is an-    The next day, atid tile next, we rode anid
other hole, and, beyond that, another bank close  walke(h about the town, which is delightfuilly
before us. So hlie stolps short; ci-es (to the  situated on eight hills overhanging Jamies lRiver,
horses again)'Easy. Easy, leit. Ease. Stleady. a.-parkhlig stireati, studded here andl there with
Eli. Jdtiiy. Pill. Ally. Loo." butnever'"Lee!"  bright isianids, or brawling over broken rocks.




52                           NOTES ON AMERICA.
Although it was yet but the middle of March,'open piazza, where, in what they call the hot
the weather in this southern temperature was weather-whatever that may be-they sling
extremely warml; the peach-trees and magno- hammocks, and drink and doze luxuriously.  I
lias were in fill bloom, and the trees were green. do not know how their cool refections may taste
In a low ground among the hills is a valley  within the hammocks, but, having experience, 1[
known as "Bloody Run," from a terrible con- can report that, out of them, the mounds of ices
flict with the Indians which once occurred there. and the bowls of mint-julep and sherry-cobbler
It is a good place for such a struggle, and, like they make in these latitudes, are refreshments
every other spot I saw associated with any le- never to be thought of afterward in summler, by
gend of that wild people now so rapidly flading  those who would preserve contented minds.
from the earth, interested rie very much.        There are two bridges across the river: one
The city is the seat of the local parliament belongs to the railroad, and the other, which is a
of Virginia; and in its shady legislative halls very crazy affair, is the private property of some
some orators were drowsily holding fobrth to the old lady in the neighbourhood, who levies tolls
hot noonday.  By dint of constant repetition, upon the town's people.  Crossing this bridge,
however, these constitutional sights had; very  on my way back, I saw a notice painted on the
little more interest for me than so many parochi- gate, cautioning all persons to drive slowly, unal vestries; and I was glad to exchange this one der a penalty, if the offender were a white man,
for a lounge in a well-arranged public library of of five dollars; if a negro, fifteen stripes.
some ten thousand volumes, and a visit to a to-   The same decay and.gloom that overhang the
bacco manutactory, where the workmen were way by which it is approached, hover above the
all slaves.                                   town of Richmond.  There are pretty villas and
I saw in this place the whole process of pick- cheerfill houses in its streets, and Nature smiles
ing, rolling, pressing, drying, packing in casks, upon the country round; but jostling its handand branding. All the tobacco thus dealt with  some residences, like slavery itself going hand
was in course of manufacture for chewing; and  in hand with many lofty virtues, are deplorable
one would have supposed there was enough in  tenements, fences unrepaired, walls crumbling
that.one storehouse to have filled even the com- into ruinous heaps.  Hinting gloomily at things
prehensive jaws of America.  In this form, the below the surface, these and many other tokens
weed looks like the oilcake on which we fatten  of the same description force themselves upon
cattle, and, even witfiout reference to its conse- the notice, and are remembered with depressing
quences, is sufficiently uninviting.          influence, when livelier features are forgotten.
Many of the workmen appeared to be strong    To those who are happily unaccustomed to
men, and it-is hardly necessary to add that they  them, the countenances in the streets and lawere. all labouring quietly then.  After two  bouring-places, too, are shocking.  All men who
o'clock in the day, they are allowed to sing, a know that there are laws against instructing
certain number at a time.  The hour striking  slaves, of which the pains and penalties greatly
while I was there, some twenty sang a hymn in  exceed in amount the fines imposed on those
parts, and sang it by no means ill; pursuing  who maim and torture them, must be prepared
their work meanwhile.  A bell rang as I was to find their faces very low in the scale of intelabout to leave, and they all poured Iirth into a lectual expression.  But the darkness-not of
building on the opposite side of the street to skin, but imind-which meets the stranger's eye
dinner.  I said several times that I should like at every turn; the brutalizing and blotting out of
to see them  at their meal; but as thle gentle- all the fairer characters traced by Nature's
man to whom I mentioned this desire appeared  hand; immeasurably outdo his worst belief.'to he suddenly taken rather deaf, I did not pur- That travelled creation of tile great satirist's
sue the request.  Of their appearance I shall brain, who, fresh from  living among horses,
have something to say presently.              peered from a high casement down upon his
On the following day, I visited a plantation or own kind with trembling horror, was scarcely
farm, of about twelve hundred acres, on the op- more repelled and daunted by the sight, than
posite bank of the river.  Here again, although those who look upon some of these faces for the
I went down  with the owner of the estate to first time must surely be.
"the quarter," as that part of it in which the    I left the last of them behind me in the perslaves live is called, I was not invited to enter son of a wretched drudge, who, after running to
into any of their tluts. All I saw of them was that and fro,all day till midnight, and moping in his
they were crazy, wretched cabins, near to which  stealthy winks of sleep upon the stairs htegroups of' half:naked children basked in the sun, tween whiles, was washing the dark passages at
or wallowed on the dusty ground. But I believe four o'clock in the morning; andl -went upon
that this geritlemnan is a considerate and excel- my way with a grateful heart that I was not
lent master, who inherited his fifty slaves, and  doomed to live where slavery was, and had
is neither a buyer nor a seller of human stock; never had my senses blunted to its wrongs and
and I am sure, from  my own observation and  horrors in a slave-rocked cradle.
conviction, that he is a kind-hearted, worthy    It had been my intention to proceed by James
man.                                          River and Chesapeake Bay to Balirnore; but
The planter's house was an airy rustic dwell- one of the steamboats being absent fiom her
ing, that brought Defoe's description of such  station through some accident, and the means
places strongly to my recollection. The day  of conveyance consequently rendered uncertain,
was very warin, but the blinids being all closed, we returned to Washington by the way we had
and the win(lows and dloors set wide open, a come (there were two constables on board the
shadly coollless rustled through the rooms, which steamboat, in pursuit of runaway slaves), anld,
was exquisitely refreshing after the glare and  halting there again for one Iigllt, went on to Bal
lieat without.  Bebore the windows was an timore next atternoon.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      53
The most comfortable of all the hotels of that, by dint of long thinking about it, it had hewhich I had any experience in the United States, come a monomania with him, and had acquired
and they were not a few, is Barnum's in that a fascination which he found it impossible to
city: where the English traveller will find cur- resist: swelling from an Earthly Copper Gallon
tains to his bed, for the first and probably the -into an Ethereal Golden Vat.
last time, in America; and where he will be    After remaining here a couple of days I bound
likely to have enough water for washing him- myself to a rigid adherence to the plan i had
self; which is not at all a common case."    laid down so recently, and resclved to set forThis capital of the state of Maryland is a  ward on our western journey without any more
bustling, busy town, with a great deal of traffic  delay. Accordingly, having reduced the Ilgof various kinds, and in particular of water cornm- gage within the smallest possible compass (by
mneree. That portion of the town which it most sending back to New-York, to be afterward forfavours is none of the cleanest, it is true; but warded to us in Canada, so much of it as was not
the upper part is of a very different character, absolutely wanted); and having procured the
and has many agreeable streets and public necessary credentials to banking-houses on the
buildings. The Washington Monument, which  way;- and having, moreover, looked for two
is a handsome pillar with a statue on its sum- evenings at the setting sun, with as well-defined
mit; the Medical College; and the Battle Mon- an idea of the country before us as if we had
ument in memory of an engagement with the *been going to travel to the very centre of that
British at North Point; are the most conspicu- planet; we left Baltimore by another railway at
ous among them.                              half past eight in the morning, and reached the
There is a very good prison in this city, and  town of York, some sixty miles off, by the early
the state Penitentiary is also among its institvu- dinner-time of the hotel, which was the starttions. In this latter establishment there were ing-place of the four-horse coach wherein we
two curious cases.                           were to proceed to Harrisburgh.
One,- was that of a young man who had been    This conveyance, the box of which I was fortried for the murder of his father. The evidence  tunate enough to secure, had come down to
was entirely circumstantial, and was very con- meet us at the railroad station, and was as
ficting and doubtful; nor was it possible to as- muddy and cumbersome as usual.  As more
sign any motive which could have tempted him  passengers were waiting for us at the inn door, 
to the commission of so tremendous a crime. the coachman observed under his breath, in the
He had been tried twice; and on the second  usual self-communicative voice, looking tile
occasion the jury felt so much hesitation in con- while at his mouldy harness as if it were to
victing him, that they found a verdict of man- that he- was addressing himself,
slaughter, or murder in the second degree;    "I expect we shall want the big coach."
which it could not possibly be, as there had, be-   I could not help wondering within myself
yond all doubt, been no quarrel or provocation,  what the size of this big coach might be, atld
and if he were guilty at all, he was unquestion- how many persons it might be designed to Iloll,
ably guilty of murder in its broadest and worst for the vehicle which was too small for our pursignification.                               pose was something larger than two English
The remarkable feature in the case was, that heavy night coaches. My speculations were
if the unfortunate deceased were not really mur- speedily set at rest, however, for as soon as we
dered by this own son of his, he must have  had dined there came rumbling up the street,
been murdered by his own brother. The evi- shaking its sides like a corpulent giant, a kind
dence lay, in a most remarkable manner, be- of barge on wheels. After much blunderilg
tween those two. On all the suspicious points, and backing, it stopped at the door, rolling heathe dead man's brother was the witness; all the vily from side to side when its other motion had
explanations for the prisoner (some of them ex- ceased, as if it had taken cold in its damp statremely plausible) went, by construction and  ble, and between that and the having been
inference, to implicate him as plotting to fix the  required in its dropsical old age to move at any
guilt upon his nephew. It must have been one  faster pace than a walk, were distressed by
of them: and the jury had to decide between. shortness of wind.
two sets of suspicions, almost equally unnatural,   "If here ain't the Harrisburgh mail at last,
unaccountable, and strange.                 and dreadful bright and smart to look at too,"
The other case, was that of a man who once cried an elderly gentleman, in some excitement,
went to a certain distiller's and stole a copper " darn my mother!"
measure containing a quantity of liquor. He    I don't know what the sensation of being
was pursued and taken with the property in his darned may be, or whether a man's motherI has
possession, and was sentenced to two years' imr- a keener relish or disrelish of the process than
prisonment. On coming out of the jail, at the  anybody else; but if the endurance of this nIysexpiration of that term, he went back to the  terious ceremony by the old lady in (tuest.ion
same distiller's, and stole the same copper had depended on the accuracy of' her so,'s
measure containing the same quantity of liquor. vision in respect to the abstract brightneoss;1,1m
There was not the slightest reason to sup- smartness of the Harrisburgh mail, shle wolil,
pose that the man wished to return to pris- certainly have undergone its infliction. 1.,\W
on: indeed, everything, but the commission of ever, they packed twelve people inside, aortl i.,
the offence, made directly against that assumnp- luggage (including such tritles as a large ri}l,
tion.  There are only two ways of account- ing-horse and a good sized dining-tablh) beo-ut
ing, for this extraordinary proceeding.  One at last made fast upon the roof, we started  il'
is, that, alter undergoing so much for this cop- in great state.
per measure, he conceived he had established    At the door of another hotel there was all
a sort of claim  and right to it. The other other passenger to be taken up.




54                             NOTES ON AMERICA.
"Any room, sir?" cries the new passenger ets. He was, I presume, a relative or friend
to the coachman.                             of the coachman's, as he lay a-top of the lug"Well, there's room  enough," replies the  gage with his face towards the rain; and, excoachman, without getting down, or even look- cept when a changs of position brought his
ing at him.                                  shoes in contact with my hat, he appeared to he
"There an't no room  at all, sir," bawls a  asleep. At last, on some occasion of our stopgentleman inside. Which another gentleman  ping, this thing slowly upreared itself to tile
(also inside) confirms, by predicting that the at- height of three feet six, and, fixing its eyes on
tempt to introduce any more passengers "' won't me, observed, in piping accents, with a conmplafit nohow."                                  cent yawn half quenched in an obliging air of
The new passenger, without any expression  friendly patronage, " Well now, stranger, I
of anxiety, looks into the coach, and then looks guess you find this a'most like an English arterup at the coachman: " Now, how do you mean  noon, hey?"
to fix it." says he, after a pause, "for I must go."    The scenery, which had been tame enough at
The coachman employs himself in twisting  first, was, for the last ten or twelve miles, beauthe lash of the whip into a knot, and takes no  tiful.  Our road wound through the pleasant
more notice of the question, clearly signify- valley of the Susquehanna; the river, dotted
ing that it is anybody's business but his, and  with innumerable green islands, lay upon our
that the passengers would do -well to fix it right; and on the left, a steep ascent, craggy
among themselves.  In this state of things, with broken rock, and dark with pine trees.
matters seem to be approximating to a fix of The mist, wreathing itself into a hundred fananother kind, when another inside passenger in  tastic shapes, moved solemnly upon the water;
a corner, who is nearly suffocated, cries faintly, and the gloom of evening gave to all an air of
"I'll get out."                           mystery and silence which greatly enhanced its
This is no matter of relief or self-congratula- natural interest.
tion to the driver, for his immovable philosophy    We crossed this- river by a wooden bridge,
is perfectly undisturbed by anything that hap- roofed and covered in on all sides, and nearly
pens in the coach. Of all things in the world, a mile in length. It was profoundly dark; perthe coach would seem to be the very last upon  plexed, with great beams, crossing anti recrosshis mind.  The exchange is made, however, ing it at every possible angle; and through the
and then the passenger who has given up his broad chinks and crevices in the floor, the rapid
seat makes a third upon the box, seating hirn- river gleamed, far down below, like a legion of
self in what he calls the middle; that is, with  eyes. We had no lamps; and as the horses
half his person on my legs and the other half  stumbled and floundered through this place, toon the driver's.                             wards the distant speck of dying light, it seemed
" Go ahead, cap'en," cries the colonel, who  interminable. I really could not at first perdirects.                                     suade myself, as we rumbled heavily on, filling
" G6 lang!" cries the cap'en to his company, the bridge with the hollow noises, and I held
the horses, and away we go.                  down my head to save it from the rafters above
We took up at a rural bar-room, after we had  but that I was in a painful dream; for I have
gone a few miles, an intoxicated gentleman, often dreamed of toiling through such places,
who climbed upon the roof among the luggage, and as often argued, even at the time, " this canand, subsequently slipping off without hurting  not be reality."
himself, was seen.in the distant perspective    At length, however, we emerged upon tht
reeling back to the grogshop where we had  streets of Harrisburgh, whose feeble lights, re
found him. We also parted with more of our flected dismally from the wet ground, did nol
freight at different times, so that, when we came  shine'out upon a very cheerful city. We were
to change horses, I was again alone outside.    soon established in a snug hotel, which, though
The coachmen always change with the hor- smaller and far less splendid than many we put
ses, and are usually as dirty as the coach. The  up at, is raised above them all in my rememfirst was dressed like a very shabby English  brance, by having for its landlord the most oblibaker; the second like a Russian peasant, for ging, considerate, and gentlemanly person I ever
he wore a loose purple camlet robe with a fur had to deal with.
collar, tied round his waist with a party-colour-   As we were not to proceed upon our journey
ed worsted sash; gray trousers, light blue until the afternoon, I walked out, after breakfast
gloves, and a cap of bearskin. It had by this the next morning, to look about me; and was
time come on to rain very heavily, and there was duly shown a model prison on the solitary sysa cold damp mist besides, which penetrated to  tem, just erected, and as yet without an inlnate;
the skin. I was very glad to take advantage of the trunk of an ald tree to which Harris, the first
a stoppage and get down to stretch my legs, settler here (afterward buried under it) was tied
shake the water off my greatcoat, and swallow  by hostile Indians, with his funeral pile about
the usual anti-temperance recipe for keeping  him, when he was saved by the timely appearout the cold.                                ance of a friendly party on the opposite shore
When I mounted to my seat again, I observed  of the river; the local legislature (for there was
a new parcel lying on the coach roof, which I another of those bodies here, again, in full detook to be a rather large fiddle in a brown bag. bate); and the other curiosities of the town.
In the course of a few miles, however, I dis-   I was very much interested in looking ovel a
covered that it had a glazed cap at one end and  number of treaties made from time to timne withl
a pair of muddy shoes at the other; and farther the poor Indians, signed by the different chiefs
observation demonstrated it to be a small boy  at the period of their ratification, and preserved
in a snuff-coloured coat, with his arms quite pin- in the office of the Secretary to the  otnmmonioled to his sides by deep forcing into his pock- wealth. These signatures. traced of course by




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                 55
their own hands, are rough drawings of the of the railway train, for whose final contribution
creatures or weapons they were called after. to our stock of passengers, our departure was
Thus, the Great Turtle makes a crooked pen- alone deferred. It brought a great many boxes,
and-ink outline of a great turtle; the Buftllo which were bumped and tossed upon the roof,
sketches a buffalo; the War Hatchet sets a almost as painfully as if they had been deposited
Yough image of that weapon for his mark. So on one's own head, without the intervention of
with the Arrow, the Fish, the Scalp, the Big Ca- a porter's knot; and several damp gentlemen,
noe, and all of them.                      whose clothes, on their drawing round the stove,
1 could not but think-as I looked at these began to steam again. No doubt it would have
feeble and tremulous productions of hands which been a thought more comfortable if the driving,could draw the longest arrow to the head in a rain, which now poured down more. soakingly
stout elkhorn bow, or split a head or feather with than ever, had admitted of a window being opena rifle-ball-of Crabbe's musings over the Parish ed, or if our number had been something less
Register, and the irregular scratches made with than thirty; but there was scarcely time to
-a pen, by men who would plough a lengthy fur- think as much, when a train of three horses
row straight from end to end. Nor could I help was attached to the tow-rope, the boy upon the'bestowing many sorrowful thoughts upon the leader smacked his whip, the rudder creaked'Simple warriors whose hands and hearts were and groaned complainingly, and we had begun
-set there, in all truth and honesty; and who only our journey.
learnt in the course of time from white men how
to break their faith, and quibble out of forms and,bonds. I wondered, too, how many times the               CHAPTER X..credulous Big Turtle, or trusting Little Hatchet, SOME FARTHER ACCOUNT OF THE CANAL-BOAT, ITS,had put his mark to treaties which were falsely   DOMESTIC ECONOMY, AND ITS PASSENGERS.Tead to him; and had signed away, he knew   JOURNEY TO PITTSBURG ACROSS THE ALLEGHANY
not what, until it went and cast him loose upon   MOUNTAINS.-PITTSBURG.
the new possessors of the land, a savage indeed.   As it continued to rain most perseveringly,
Our host announced, before our early dinner, we all remained below: the damp gentlemen:that some members of the legislative body pro- round the stove. gradually becoming mildewed,posed to do us the honour of calling. He had by the action of the fire; and the dry gentle-'kindly yielded up to us his wife's own little par- men lying at full length upon the seats, or,lour, and when I begged that he would show  slumbering uneasily with their faces on the
them in, I saw him look with painful apprehen- tables, or walking up and down the cabin,
sion at its pretty carpet; though, being other- which it was barely possible for a man of the
wise occupied at the time, the cause of his un- middle height to do, without making bald places.easiness did not occur to me.              on his head by scraping it against the roof. At
It certainly would have been more pleasant to about six o'clock, all the small tables were put
all parties concerned, and would not, I think, together to form one long table, and everybody;have compromised their independence in any sat down to tea, coffee, bread, butter, salmon,
material degree, if some of these gentlemen had shad, liver, steak, potatoes, pickles, ham, chops,
not only yielded to the prejudice in favour of black puddings, and sausages.
spittoons, but had abandoned themselves, forthe   " Will you try," said my opposite neighbour,
moment, even to the conventional absurdity of handing me a dish of potatoes, broken up in
pocket-handkerchiefs.                      milk and butter, "will you try some of these
It still continued to rain heavily, and when we fixings?"
went down to the Canal Boat (for that was the   There are few words which perform such vaimode of conveyance by which we were to pro- rious duties as this word "fix."  It is the Ca-ceed) after dinner, the weather was as unprom-  leb Quotem of the American vocabulary. You
ising and obstinately wet as one would desire to' call upon a gentleman in a country town, and.see. Nor was the sight of this canal boat, in his help informs you that he is "'fixing himwhich we were to spend three or four days, by self" just now, but will be down directly: by
any means a cheerful one; as it involved some which you are to understand that he is drcssIaeasy speculations concerning the disposal of ing. You inquire, on board a steamboat, of a felthe passengers at night, and opened a wide field low-passenger, whether breakfast will be ready
of inquiry touching the other domestic arrange- soon, and he tells you he should think so, for
r:ments of the establishment, which was suffi- when he was last below, they were "fixing the
lciently disconcerting.                    tables:" in other words, laying the cloth. You
However, there it was-a barge with a little beg a porter to collect your luggage, and he en-,nouse in it, viewed from the outside; and a car- treats you not to be uneasy, for he'll "fix it pres-:avan at a fair, viewed from within: the gentle- ently:" and if you complain of indisposition,
men being accommodated, as the spectators use- you are advised to have recourse to Doctor so
ally are, in one of those locomotive museums of and so, who will " fix you" in no time.
penny wonders; and the ladies being partitioned   One night, I ordered a bottle of mulled wine
off by a red curtain, after the manner of the at a hotel where I was staying, and waited a
dwarf's and giants in the same establishments, long time for it; at length it was put upon the
whose private lives are passed in rather close table with an apology from the landlord that he.exclusiveness.                            feared it wasn't " fixed properly." And I recolWe sat here, looking silently at the row of lect once, at a stage-coach dinner, overhearing
little tables, which extended down both sides of a very stern gentleman demand of a waiter
the cabin, and listened to the rain as it dripped who presented him with a plate of underdone.and pattered on the boat, and plashed with a roast beef, "whether he called that, fixing God,idismal merriment in the water, until the arrival I A'mighty's vittles'"




ti                        NOTES ON AMERICA.
There is no doubt that the meal, at. which groping among the shelves in search of nnntuthe invitation was tendered to me which has hers corresponding with those they had drawn.
cscasioned this digression, was disposed of As soon as any gentleman found his number,.
somewhat ravenously; and that the gentlemen he took possession of it by immediately undressthrust fho9 broad-bladed knives and the two- ing himself and crawling into bed. The rapidipronged forks farther down their throats-than I ty with which an agitated gambler subsided
ever saw the same weapons go before, except into a snoring slumberer, was one of the most.
in-the hands of a skilful juggler: but no man singular effects I have ever witnessed. As to
sat down until the ladies were seated; or omit- the ladies, they were already abed, behind the
ted any little act of politeness which could con- red curtain, which was carefully drawn and
tribute to their comfort. Nor did I ever once, pinned up the centre; though as every cough,
on any occasion, anywhere, during my rambles or sneeze, or whisper, behind this curtain,:was:
in America, see a woman exposed to the slight- perfectly audible before it, we had still a lively
est act of rudeness, incivility, or even inatten- consciousness of their society.
tion.                                        The politeness of the person in authority had:
By the time the meal was over, the rain, secured to me a shelf in a nook near this red:
which seemed to have worn itself out by com- curtain, in some degree removed from the great
ing down so fast, was nearly over too; and it body of sleepers: to which place I retired, witlbecame feasible to go on deck: which was a many acknowledgments to him for his attentiono
great relief, notwithstanding its being a very I found it, onafter measurement, just the width
small deck, and being rendered still sdmaller by of an ordinary sheet of Bath post-letter paper 
the luggage which was heaped together in the and I was at first in some uncertainty as to the
middle under a tarpaulin covering; leaving, on best means of getting into it. But the shelf
either side, a path so narrow, that it became a being a bottom one, I finally determined on lyscience to walkl to and fro without tumbling ing upon the floor, rolling gently in, stopping:
overboard into the canal. It was somewhat immediately I touched the mattress, and re,
embarrassing at first, too, to have to duck nim- maining for the night with that side uppermost,
bly, every five minutes, whenever the man at whatever it might be. Luckily, I came uporthe helm  cried "Bridge!" and sometimes, my back at exactly the right moment. I was
when the cry was " Low Bridge;" to lie down much alarmed on looking upward, to see, by
nearly flat. But custom  familiarizes one to the shape of his half yard of sacking (which his
anything, and there were so many bridges that weight had bent into an exceedingly tight bag),
it took a very short time to get used to this.   that there was a very heavy gentleman aboveAs night came on, and we drew in sight of me, whom the slender cords seemed quite inthe first range of hills, which are the outposts capable of holding; and I could not help reflectof the Alleghany Mountains, the scenery, which ing upon the grief of my wife and family in the
had been uninteresting hitherto, became more event of his coming down in the night. But as
bold and striking. The wet ground reeked and I could not have got up again without a severesmoked, after the heavy fall of rain; and the bodily struggle, which might have alarmed the*
croaking of the frogs (whose noise in these ladies, and as I had nowhere to go to, even if I
parts is almost incredible) sounded a-s though a had, I shut my eyes upon the danger and remillion of fairy teams with bells were travelling mained there.
through the air, and keeping pace with us.   One of two remarkable circumstances is inThe night was cloudy yet, but moonlight too: disputably a fact, with reference to that class
and when we crossed the Susquehanna river-  of society who travel in these boats. Either
over which there is an extraordinary wooden they carry their restlessness to such a pitch.
bridge with two galleries, one above the other, that they never sleep at all, or they expectorate
so that even there, two boat teamls meeting, in dreams, which would be a remarkable minmay pass without confusion-it was wild and gling of the real and ideal. All night long, and
grand.                                     every night, on this canal, there was a perfect
I have mentioned my having been in some storm and tempest of spitting; and once myuncertainty and doubt, at first, relative to the coat, being in the very centre of a hurricane
sleeping arrangements on board this boat. I sustained by five gentlemen (which moved verb
remained in the same vague state of mind until tically, strictly carrying out Reid's Theory of
ten o'clock or thereabout, when, going below, I the Law of Storms), I was fain the next mornfound suspended on either side of the cabin, ing to lap it on the deck, and rub it down with..
three long tiers of hanging book-shelves, de- fair water before it was in a condition to beo
signed apparently for volumes of the small oc- worn again.
tavo size. Looking with greater attention at   Between five and six o'clock in the morning.
these contrivances (wondering to find such we got up, and some of us went on deck, to
literary preparations in such a place), I descried give them an opportunity of taking the shelves
on each shelf a sort of microscopic sheet and down; while others, the morning being very
blanket; then I began dimly to comprehend cold, crowded-round the rusty stove, cherishing
that the passengers were the library, and that the newly-kindled fire, and filling the grate witht
they were to be arranged, edgewise, on these those voluntary contributions of which they had
shelves, till morning.                     been so lilleral all night. The washing accomI was assisted to this conclusion by seeing modations were primitive. There was a tin
some of them gathered round the master of the ladle chained to the deck, with which every
boat, at one of the tables, drawing lots with all gentleman who thought it necessary to cleanse
the anxieties and passions of gamesters depict- himself (some were superior to this weakness),
ed in their countenances; while others, with fished the dirty water out of the canal, and-.
small pieces of cardboard in their hands, were poured it into a tin basin, secured in like mails




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     57
ner. There was also a jack-towel. And, hang- might have the satisfaction of passing his hand
ing up before a little looking-glass in the bar, up the back, and rubbing it the wrong way.
in the immediate vicinity of the bread and   We had another odd specimen on board, of a
cheese and biscuits, were a public comb and different kind.  This was a thin-faced, spare
hair-brush.                                 figured man of middle age and stature, dressed
At eight o'clock, the shelves being taken in a dusty drabbish-coloured suit, such as I
down and put away, and the tables joined to- never saw before. He was perfectly quiet du
gether, everybody sat down:to the tea, coffee, ring the first part of the journey: indeed I don't
bread, butter, salmon, shad, liver, steak, pota- remember having so much as seen him until he
toes, pickles, ham, chops, black-puddings, sau- was brought out by circumstances, as great mek
sages, all over again. Some were fond of comrn- often are. The conjunction of events which
pounding this variety, and having it all on their made -him famous, happened, briefly, thus.
plates at once. As each gentleman got'through   The canal extends to the foot of the mounthis own personal amount of tea, coffee, bread, ain, and there, of course, it stops: the passenbutter, salmon, shad, liver, steak, potatoes, gers being conveyed across it by land carriage,
pickles, ham, chops, black-puddings, and sau- and taken on afterward by another canal-boat,
sages, he rose up and walked off. When every- the counterpart of the first, which awaits them
body had done with everything, the fragments on the other side. There are two canal lines
were cleared away; and one of the waiters ap- of passage-boat; one is called The Express, and
pearing anew in the character of a barber, one (a cheaper one) The Pioneer. The Pioneer
shlaved such. of the company as desired to be gets first to the mountain, and waits for The
shaved; while the remainder looked on, or Express people to come up: both sets of pasyawned over their newspapers. Dinner was sengers being conveyed across it at the same
breakfast again, without the tea and coffee; time. We were the Express company: but
and supper and breakfast were identical.    when we had crossed the mountain, and had
There was a man on board this boat, with a;come to the second boat, the proprietors took it
light fresh-coloured face, and a pepper-and-salt into their heads to draught all the Pioneers into
suit of clothes, who was' the most inquisitive it likewise, so that we were five-and-forty at
fellow that can possibly be imagined. He never least, and the accession of passengers was not
spoke otherwise than interrogatively. He was at all of that kind which improved the prospect
an imbodied inquiry. Sitting down or standing of sleeping at night. Our people grumbled at
up, still or moving, walking the deck or taking this, as people do in such cases: but suffered
his meals, there he was, with a great note of the boat to be towed off with the whole freight
interrogation in each eye, two in his cocked aboard nevertheless: and away we went down
ears, two more in his turned-up nose and chin, the canal  At home, I should have protested
at least half a dozen more about the corners of lustily, but being a foreigner here, I held my
his mouth, and the largest one of all in his hair, peace. Not so this passenger. He cleft a path
which was brushed pertly off his forehead in a among the people on deck (we were nearly all
flaxen clump. Every button in his clothes said on deck), and without addressing anybody
"Eh. What's that? Did you speak? Say that whomsoever, soliloquized as follows:
again, will you 1" He was always wide awake,   "This may suit you, this may, but it don't
like the enchanted bride who drove her husband suit me. This may be all very well with Downr
frantic; always restless; always thirsting for Easters and men of Boston raising, but it won't
answers; perpetually seeking and never find- suit my figure no how; and no two ways about
ing. There never was such a curious man.   that: and so I tell you. Now! I'm from the
I wore a fur great-coat at that time, and be- brown forests of the Mississippi, I am, and when
bfore we were well clear of the wharf, he ques- the sun shines on me, it does shine —a little.
tioned me concerning it; and its price, and where It don't glimmer where I live, the sun don't.
I bought it, and when, and what fur it was, and No. I'm  a brown forester, I am. I ain't a
what it weighed, and what it cost. Then he Johnny Cake.  There are no smooth skins
took notice of my watch, and asked what that where I live., We're rough men there. Rather.
cost, and whether it was a French watch, and If Down Easters and men of Boston raising like
where I got it, and how I got it, and whether I this, I'm glad of it, but I'm none of that raising
bought it or had it given me, and how it went, nor of that breed. No. This company wants
and where the keyhole was, and when I wound a little fixing, it does. I'm the wrong sort of
it, every night or every morning, and whether I man for'em, I am. They won't like me, they
ever forgot to wind it at all, and if I did, what won't. This is piling of it up, a little too mountthen l Where had I been to last, and where ainous, this is."  At the end of every one of
was I going next, and where was I going after these short sentences he turned upon his heel,
that, and had I seen the President, and what did and walked the other way: checking himself
he say, and what did I say, and what did he say abruptly when he had finished another short
when I had said that.  Eh 1 Lor now! do tell! sentence, and turning back again.
Finding that nothing would satisfy him, I   It is impossible for me to say what terrific
evaded his questions after the first score or two, meaning was hidden in the words of this brown
and in particular pleaded ignorance respecting forester, but I know that the other passengers.
the name of the fur whereof the coat was made. looked on in a sort of admiring horror, and that
I am unable to say whether this was the reason, presently the boat was put back to the wharf,.
but that coat fascinated him ever afterward; and as many of the Pioneers as could be coaxed
he usually kept close behind me as I walked, or bullied into going away, were got rid of:
and moved as I moved, that he might look at it   When we started again, some rof the boldest
the better: and he frequently dived into narrow  spirits on board, made bold to say to the obviplaces after me at the risk of his life, that he ous occasion of this improvement in our proaU,




NOTES ON AMERICA.
pects, "Much obliged to you, sir:" whereunto  tached log-cabins and frame-houses, full of inthe brown forester (waving his hand, and still terest for strangers from an old country; cabins
walking up and down as before), replied, "No  with simple ovens outside, made of clay; and
you an't.  You're none o' my raising.  You  lodgings for the pigs, nearly as good as many
may act for yourselves, you may.  I have pinted  of the human quarters; broken windows, patch
out tileway. Down Easters and Johnny Cakes ed with worn-out hats, old clothes, old boards,
can followiftheyplease.  Ian't aJohnny Cake, fragments of blankets, and paper; and home
I an't. I am from the brown forests of the Mis- made dressers standing in the open air without
sissippi, I am" —and so on, as before. He was the door, whereon was ranged the household
unanimously voted one of the tables for his bed  store, not hard to count, of earthen jars and
at night-there is a great contest for the tables pots. The eye was pained to see the stumps of
-in consideration of his public services: and great trees thickly strewn in every field of
he had the warmest corner by the stove through- wheat, and seldom to lose the eternal swamp
out the rest of the journey. But I never could  and dull morass, with hundreds of rotten trunks
find out that he did anything except sit there: and twisted branches steeped in its unwholenor did I hear him speak again until, in the  some water. It was quite sad and oppressive,,nidst of the bustle and turmoil of getting the  to come upon great tracts where settlers had
luggage ashore in the dark at Pittsburg, I stum- been burning down the trees, and where their
bled over him as he sat smoking a cigar on the  wounded bodies lay about, like those of murdercabin steps, and heard him muttering to himself, ed creatures, while here and there some charwith a short laugh of defiance, " I an't a Johnny  red and blackened giant reared aloft two withCake, Ian't.  I'm from the brown forests of the  ered arms, and seemed to call down curses on
Mississippi, I am, darnme!"  I am inclined to  his foes. Sometimes, at night, the way wound
argue from this, that he had never left off saying  through some lonely gorge, like a mountain
so; but I could not make affidavit of that part pass in Scotland, shining and coldly glittering
of the story, if required to do so by my Queen  in the light of the moon, and so closed in by
and Country.                                 high steep hills all around, that there seemed
As we have not reached Pittsburg yet, how- to be no egress save through the narrow path
ever, in the order of our narrative, I may go on  by which we had come, until one ragged hillto remark that breakfast was perhaps the least side seemed to open, and, shutting out the
desirable meal of the day, as in addition to the  moonlight as we passed into its gloomy throat,,Many savoury odours arising from the eatables wrapped our new couse in shade and darkness.
already mentioned, there were whiffs of gin,   We had left Harrisburgh on Friday.  On
whiskey, brandy, and rum, from the little bar Sunday morning we arrived at the foot of the
kurd by, and a decided seasoning of stale tobac- mountain, which is crossed by railroad. There
co. Many of the gentlemen passengers were  are ten inclined planes; five ascending, and
far friom particular ini respect of their linen, five descending; the carriages are dragged up
which was in some cases as yellow as the little  the former, and let slowly down the latter, by
rivulets that had trickled from the corners of means of stationary engines; the comparativetheir mouths in chewing, and dried there. Nor ly level spaces between, being traversed, somewas the atmosphere quite fiee from  zephyr times by horse, and sometimes by engine powwhisperings of the thirty beds which had just er, as the case demands. Occasionally the rails
*-een cleared away, and of which we were far- are laid upon the extreme verge of a giddy prether and more pressingly reminded by the occa- cipice; and looking from the carriage window,
sional appearance on the table-cloth of a kind of the traveller gazes sheer down, without a stone
iGame, not mentioned in the Bill of Fare.    or scrap of fence between, into the mountain
And yet, despite these oddities-and even they  depths below. The journey is very cheerfully
had, for me at least, a humour of their own-   made, however; only two carriages travelling
there was much in this mode of travelling which  together; and while proper precautions are
I heartily enjoyed at the time, and look back  taken, is not to be dreaded for its dangers.
upon with great pleasure. Even the running    It was very pretty travelling thus, at a rapid:up, bare-necked, at five o'clock in the morning, pace along the heights of the mountain in a
from the tainted cabin to the dirty deck: scoop- keen wind, to look down into a valley full of
ing up the icy water, plunging one's head into  light and softness: catching glimpses, through
it, and drawing it out, all fresh and glowing  the tree-tops, of scattered cabins; children runwith the cold: was a good thing. The fast, ning to the doors; dogs bursting out to bark,
brisk walk upon the towing-path, between that whom we could see without hearing; terrified
time and breakfast. when every vein and artery  pigs scampering homeward; families sitting
seemed to tingle with health: the exquisite  out in their rude gardens; cows gazing upward
beauty of the opening day, when light came  with a stupid indifference; men in their shirtgleaming off from everything; the lazy motion  sleeves looking on at their unfinished houses,
of the boat, when one lay idly on the deck, look- planning out to-morrow's work; and we riding
ing through, rather than at, the deep blue sky; onward, high above them, like a whirlwind. It
the gliding on, at night, so noiselessly, past was amusing, too, when we had dined, and ratfrowning hills, sullen with dark trees, and some- tled down a steep pass, having no other moving
times angry in one red burning spot high up, power than the weight of the carriages themwhere unseen men lay crouching round a fire: selves, to see the engine released, long after us,
the shining out of the bright stars, undisturbed  come buzzing down alone, like a great insect,
-:by noise of wheels or steam, or any other sound  its back of green and gold so shining in the sun,
than the liquid rippling of the water as the boat that if it had spread a pair of wings and soared
went on: all these were pure delights.       away, no one would have had occasion, as I
Then, there were new settlements and de- fancied, for the least surprise. But it stopped




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     59
short of us in a very business-like manner when  the wharf-side, which, looked down upon from
we reached the canal; and, before we left the  the rising ground that forms the landing-place,
wharf, went panting up this hill again, with the  and backed by the lofty bank on the opposite side
passengers who had waited our arrival for the  of the river, appeared no larger than so many
means of traversing the road by which we had  floating models. She had some forty passengers
come.                                       on board, exclusive of the poorer pessons on the
On the Monday evening, furnace fires and  lower deck; and in half an hour, or less, proclanking hammers on the banks of the canal, ceeded on her way.
warned us that we approached the termination    We had, for ourselves, a tiny state-room with
of this part of our journey. After going through two berths in it, opening out of the ladies' cabin.
another dreamy place-a long aqueduct across There was, undoubtedly, something satisfactory
the Alleghany River, which was stranger than  in this "location," inasmuch as it was in the
the bridge at Harrisburgh, being a vast low stern, and we had been a great manytimes very
wooden chamber full of water —we. emerged  gravely recommended to keep as far aft as posupon that ugly confusion of backs of buildings  ible, "because the steamboats an  generally blew
and crazy galleries and stairs, which always up forward."  Norwasthisanunnecessary auabuts on water, whether it be river, sea, canal, tion, as the occurrence and circumstances of
more than one such fatality during our stay sufor ditchtsurg is like Birmingha  in Enlandficiently testified. Apart from this source of selfPittsburg it s   plike Birmingham  in England; congratulation, it was an unspeakable relief to
at least its townspeople say so. Setting aside have any place, no matter how confined, where
the streets, the shops, the houses, wagons, fac- one could be alone; and as the row of ittle
tories, public buildings, and population, perhaps chambers of which this was one, had each a
it may be. It certainly has a great quantity of second glass-door besides that in the ladies' cabin,
smoke hanging about it, and is famous for its which opened on a narrow gallery outside the
iron-works. Besides the prison to which I vessel, where the otherpassengers seldom came,
have already referred, this town contains a and where one could sit in peace and gaze upon
pretty arsenal and other institutions. It is very  the shifting prospect, we took possession of our
beautifully situated on the Alleghany River, over new quarters with much pleasure.
which there are two bridges; and the villas of   If the native packets I have already described
the wealthier citizens sprinkled about the high  be unlike anything we are in the habit of seeing
grounds in the neighourhood, are pretty enough. on water, these western vessels are still more
We lodged at a most excellent hotel, and were foreign to all the ideas we are accustomed to enadmirably served. -As usual, it was full of tertain of boats. I hardly know what to liken
boarders, was very large, and had a broad col- them to, or how to describe them.
ennade to every story of the house.           In the first place, they have no mast, cordage,
We tarried here three days. Our next point tackle, rigging, or other such boat-like gear; nor
was Cincinnati: and as this was a steamboat have they anything in their shape at all calculajourney, and western steamboats usually blow  ted to remind one of a boat's head, stern, sides,
up one or two a week in the season, it was ad- or keel. Except that they are in the water, and
visable to collect opinions in reference to the display a couple of paddle-boxes, they might be
comparative safety of the vessels bound that intended, for anything that appears to the conway, then lying in the river. One called The  trary, to perform some unknown service, high
Messenger was the best recommended. She  and dry,upon amountain top. Thereisnovishad been advertised to start positively, every  ible deck, even: nothing but a long, black, ugly
day for a fortnight or so, and had not gone yet, roof covered with burnt-out feathery sparks;
nor did her captain seem to have any very fixed above which, toap er two iron chimneys, and a
intention on the subject. But this is the cus- hoarse escape-valve, and a glass steelage-house.
tom: for if the law were to bind down a free.Then, in order as the eye descends towards the
and independent citizen to keep his word with water are the sides, and doors, and windows of
the state-rooms, jumbled as oddly together as
the public, what would become of the liberty of the state-roo umbled as oddly together as
the subject? Besides, it is in the wayof trade  though they formed a small street, built by the.he subject? Besideseitisinthewayoftd..'.varying tastes of adozen men: the whole is supAnd if passengers be decoyed in the way of ported on beams and pillars resting on a dirty
trade, and people be inconvenienced in the way  barge, but a few inches above the water's edge:
of trade, what man, who is a sharp tradesman  and in the narrow space between this upper struchimself, shall say "We must put a stop to  ture and this barge's deck, are the furnace fires
this!"                                     and machinery, open at the sides to every wind
Impressed by the deep solemnity of the pub- that blows, and every storm of rain it drives along
lic announcement, I (being then ignorant of its path.
these usages) was for hurrying on board in a   Passing one of these boats at night, and seeing
breathless state, immediately; but receiving  the great body of fire, exposed as I have just deprivate and confidential information that the scribed, that rages and roars beneath the frail pile
boat would certainly not start until Friday, of painted wood: the machinery, not warded off
April the first, we made ourselves very com- or guarded in any way,.but doing its work in the
fortable in the mean while, and went on board midst of the crowd of idlers and emigrants and
at noon that day.                           children, who throng the lower deck; underthe
management, too, of. reckless men, whose acquaintance with its mysteries may have been of
CHAPTER XI.                    six months' standing: one feels directly that the
wonder is, not that there should be so many fatal
FJROMT PITTSBURG TO CINCINNATI IN bA WE~7STERN jaccidents, but that any journey should be safely
STEAMBOAT. CINCINNATI.            made.
THE Messenger was one among a crowd of   Within, there is one long narrow cabin, the
high-pressure steamboats, clustered together by  whole length of the. boat; from which the state



G6                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
rooms open, on both sides. A small portion of dark whiskers, who sits beyond her, only last
it at the stern, is partitioned off for the ladies; month. They are going to settle in the very
and the bar is at the opposite extreme. There is Far West, where he has lived four years, but
a long table down the centre, and at either end a where she has never been. They were both.
stove. The washing apparatus is forward, on overturned in a stage-coach the other day (a bad
the deck. It is a little better than on board the omen anywhere else, where overturns are not so
canal-boat, butnotmuch. In all modes oftravel- common), and his head, which bears the marks
ling, the American customs, with reference to of a recent wound, is bound up still. She was
the means of personal cleanliness and wholesome hurt too, at the same time, and lay insensible for
ablution, are extremely negligent andfilthy; and some days; bright as her eyes are, now.
I strongly incline to the belief that a considerable   Farther down still, sits a man who is going
amount of illness is referable to this cause.  some miles beyond their place of destination, to
We are to be on board the Messenger three- "improve" a newly discovered copper mine.
days: arriving at Cincinnati (barring accidents) He carries the village-that is to be-with him:
on Monday morning. There are three meals a a few frame cottages, and an apparatus for
day.  Breakfast at seven, dinner at half-past smelting the copper. -He carries its people too.
twelve, supper about six. At each, there are a They are partly American and partly Irish, and
great many small dishes and plates upon the table, herd together on the lower deck; where they
with very little in them; so that although there amused themselves last evening till the night
is every appearance of a mighty " spread," there was pretty far advanced, by alternately firing off
is seldom really more than a joint: except for pistols and singing hymns.
those who fancy slices of beet-root, shreds of   They, and the very few who have been left at
dried beef, complicated entanglements of yellow  table twenty minutes, rise, and go away. We
pickle; maize, Indian corn, apple-sauce, and do so too; and passing through our little statepumpkin.                                     room, resume our seats in the quiet gallery withSome people fancy all these little dainties to- out.
gether (and sweet preserves besides), by way of   A fine broad river always, but in some parts
relish to their roast pig. They are generally those much wider than in others: and then there is
dyspectic ladies and gentlemen who eat unheard usually a green island, covered with trees, diof quantities of hot corn bread (almost as good viding it into two streams. Occasionally, we
for the digestion as a kneaded pin-cushion,) for stop for a few minutes, maybe to take in wood,
breakfast, and for supper. Those who do not maybe for passengers, at some small town or
observe this custom, and who help themselves, village (I ought to say city, every place is a city
several times instead, usually suck their knives here); but the banks are for the most part deep
and forks meditatively, until they have decided solitudes, overgrown with trees, which, hereawhat to take next: then pull them out of their about, are already in leaf and very green. For.
mouths; put them in the dish; help themselves; miles, and miles, and miles, these solitudes are
and fall to work again. At dinner, there is no- unbroken by any sign of human life or trace of
thing to drink upon the table, but great jugs full human footstep; nor is anything seen to move
of cold water. Nobody says anything, at any about them but the blue jay, whose colour is so
meal, to anybody. All the passengers are very bright, and yet so delicate, that it looks like a
dismal, and seem  to have tremendous secrets flying flower. At lengthened intervals a log
weighing on their minds. There is no conversa- cabin, with its little space of cleared land about
tion, no laughter, no cheerfulness, no sociality, it, nestles under a rising ground, and sends its
except in spitting; and that is done in silent fel- thread of blue smoke curling up into the sky.
lowship round the stone, when the meal is over. It stands in the corner of the poor field of wheat,
Everyman sitsdown, dulland languid; swallows which is full of great unsightly stumps, like
his fare as if breakfasts, dinners, and suppers, earthy butchers'-blocks. Sometimes the ground
were necessities of nature never to be coupled isonly just now cleared: the felled trees lying
with recreation or enjoyment; and having bolted yet upon the soil: and the log-house only this
his food in a gloomy silence, bolts himself, in the morning. begun. As we pass this clearing, the
same state. But for these animal observances, settler leans upon his axe or hammer, and looks
you might suppose the whole male portion of the wistfully at the people from the world. The
company to be the melancholy ghosts of depart- children creep out of the temporary hut, which
ed book-keepers, who had fallen dead at the desk; is like a.gipsy tent upon the ground, and clap
such is their weary air of business and calcula- their hands and shout.  The dog only glances
tion. Undertakers on duty would be sprightly round at us; and then looks up into his master's
beside them; and a collation of funeral-bakel face again, as if he were rendered uneasy by any
meats, in comparison with these meals, would suspension of the common business, and had nobe a sparkling festivity.                    thing more to do with pleasurers. And still
The people are all alike, too. There is no di- there is the same, eternal foreground. The river
versity of character. They travel about on the has washed away its banks, and stately trees
same errands, say and do the same things in ex- have fallen down into the stream. Some have
act]v the same manner, and follow in the same been there so long, that they are mere dry grisdull cheerless round. All down the long table, lv skeletons. Some have just toppled over, and
there is scarcelya man who is in anythingdiffer- having earth yet about their roots, are bathing
ent from his neighbour. It is quite a relief to their green heads in the river, and putting forth
have, sitting opposite, that little girl of fifteen new shoots and branches. Some are almost
with the loquacious chin: who, to do her justice, sliding down, as you look at them. And some.
ants tup to it, and fully identifies nature's hand- were drowned so long ago, that their bleached
writing, for of all the small chatterboxes that arms start out from the middle of the current,,
ever invaded the repose of a drowsy ladies' cabin, and seem to try to grasp the boat, and drag it
she is the first and foremost. The beautiful girl, under water.
whio sits a little-beyond her-farther down the   Through such a scene as this, the unwieldy
table there-married the young man with the machine takes its hoarse sullen way: venting,




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       61
at every revolution of the paddles, a loud high- was never heard, and where the jungled ground
pressure blast; enough, one would think, to was never trodden by a human foot.
waken up the host of Indians who lie buried in    Midnight and sleep blot out these scenes and
a great mound yonder: so old, that mighty oaks thoughts: and when the morning shines again,
and other forest trees have struck their roots into it gilds the house-tops of a lively city, bebfore
its earth; and so high, that it is a hill, even whose broad paved wharf the boat is moored;
among the hills that Nature planted round it. with other boats, and flags, and moving wheels,
The very river, as though it shared one's feel- and hum of men around it; as though there
ings of compassion for the extinct tribes who were not a solitary or silent rood of ground
lived so pleasantly here, in their blessed igno- within the compass of a thousand miles.
rance of white existence, hundreds of years ago,   Cincinnati is a beautiful city; cheerful, thristeals out of its way to ripple near this mound: ving, and animated.  I have not often seen a
and there are few places where the Ohio sparkles place that commends itself so favourably and
more brightly than in in Big Grave Creek.   pleasantly to a stranger at the first glance as this
All this I see, as I sit in the little stern-gallery, does: with its clean houses of red and white, its
mentioned just now. Evening slowly steals well-paved roads, and ibotways of bright tile.
upon the landscape, and changes it before me, Nor does it become less prepossessing on a
when we stop to set some emigrants ashore.    closer acquaintance. The streets are broad and
Five men, as many women, and a little girl. airy, the shops extremely good, the private resiAll their worldly goods are a bag, a large chest, dences remarkable for their elegance and neatand an old chair: one, old, high-backed, rush- ness. There is something ofinventionand fancy
bottomed chair: a solitary settler in itself. They in the varying styles of these latter erections,
are rowed ashore in the boat, while the.vesssl which, after the dull company of the steamboat,
stands a little off awaiting its return, the water is perfectly delightful, as conveying an assurance
being shallow. They are landed at the foot of that there are such qualities still in existence.
a high bank, on the summit of which are a few' The disposition to ornament these pretty villas
log cabins, attainable only by a long winding and render them attractive, leads to the culture
path. It is growing dusk; but the sun is very of trees and flowers, and the laying out of wellred, and shines in the water and on some of the kept gardens, the sight of which, to those who
tree-tops, like fire.                        walk along the streets, is:inexpressibly refreshThe men get out of the boat first; help out ing and agreeable. I was quite charmed with
the women; take out the bag, the chest, the the appearance of the town, and its adjoining
chair; bid the rowers "good by;" and shove suburb of Mount Auburn; from which the city,
the boat off for them. At the first plash of the lying in an amphitheatre of hills, forms apicture
oars in the water, the oldest woman of the party of remarkable beauty, and is seen to great advansits down in the old chair, close to the water's tage.
edge, without speaking a word. None of the   There happened to be a great Temperance
others sit down, though the chest is large enough Convention held here on the day after our arrival;
for many seats. They all stand where they and as the order of march brought the proceslanded, as if stricken into stone; and look after sion under the windows of the hotel in which we
the boat. So they remain, quite still and silent: lodged, when they started in the morning, I had
the old woman and her old chair in the centre; a good opportunity of seeing it. It comprised
the bag and chest upon the shore, without any- several thousand men; the members of various
body heeding them: all eyes fixed upon the boat. " Washington Auxiliary Temperance SocieIt comes alongside, is made fast, the men jump ties;" and was -marshalled bvy officers on horseon board, the engine is put in motion, and we go back, who cantered briskly up and down the line,
hoarsely on again. There they stand yet, with- with scarves and ribands. of bright colours flutout the motion of a hand. I can see them, tering-outbehind them gayly. There were bands
through my glass, when, in the distance and in- of music, too, and banners out of number; and
creasing darkness, they are mere specks to the it was a fresh, holyday-looking concourse altoeye: lingering there still: the old woman in the gether.
old chair, and all the rest about her: not stirring   I was particularly pleased to see the Irishmen,
in the least degree. And thus I slowly lose them. who formed a distinct society among themThe night is dark, and we proceed within the selves, and mustered very strong with their green
shadow of the wooded bank, which makes it scarves; carrying their national Harp and their
darker. After gliding past the sombre maze of Portrait of Father Mathew, high above the
boughs for a long time, we come upon an open people's heads. They looked as jolly and goodspace where the tall trees are burning. The humoured as ever; and, working the hardest for
shape of every branch and -twig is expressed in their living and doing any kind of sturdy labour
a deep red glow, and as the light wind stirs and that came in their way, were the most independruffles it, they seem to vegetate in fire. It is ent fellows there, I thought.
such a sight as we read of in legends of enchant-   The banners were very well painted and
ed forests: saving that it is sad to see these no- flaunted down the street famously. There was
ble works wasting away so awfully, alone; and the smiting of the rock, and the gushing forth of
to think how many years must come and go be- the waters; and therewas a temperate man with
fore the magic that created them wilT rear their " considerable of a hatchet" (as the standardlike upon this ground again. But the time will bearer would probably have said), aiming a
come: and when, in their changed ashes, the deadly blow at a serpent which was apparently
growth of centuries unborn has struck its roots, about to spring upon him from the top of a barrrel
the restless men of distant ages will repair to of spirits. But the chief feature of this part of
these again unpeopled'solitudes; and their fel- the show was a huge allegorical device, borne
lows, in cities far away, that slumber now, per- among the ship-carpenters, on one side whereof
haps, beneath the rolling sea, will read, in lan- the steamboat Alcohol was represented bursting
guage strange to any ears in being now but very her boiler and exploding with a great crash,
old to them, of primeval forests where the axe while upon the other, the good ship Temperance




62                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
sailed away with a fair wind, to the heart's            CHAPTER XII.
content of the captain, crew, and passengers.
Alfter going round the town, the procession FROM CINCINNATI TO LOUISVILLE IN ANOTHES
repaired to a certain appointed place, where, as   WESTERN STEAMBOAT; AND FROM LOUISVILLE
the printed programme set forth, it would be   TO ST. LOUIS IN ANOTHER. ST. LOUIS.
received by the children of the different free-   LEAVING Cincinnati at eleven o'clock in the
schools, " singing Temperance Songs."  I'Was forenoon, we embarked for Louisville in the Pike
prevented fiom getting there, in time to hear steamboat, which, carrying the mails, was a
these Little Warblers, or to report upon this packet of a much better class than that in which
novel kind of vocal entertainment: novel, at we had come from Pittsburg. As this passage
least, to me: but I found, in a large open space, does not occupy more than twelve or thirteen
each society gathered round its own banners, hours, we arranged to go ashore that night: not
and listening in silent attention to its own orator. coveting the distinction of sleeping iri a stateThe speeches, judging from the little I could room, when it was possible to sleep anywhere
hear of them, were certainly adapted to the occa- else.
sion, as having that degree of relationship to   There chanced to be on board this boat, in
cold water which wet blankets may claim: but addition to the usual dreary crowd of passengers,
the main thing was the conduct and appearance one Pitchlynn, a chief of the Choctaw tribe of
of the audience throughout the day; and that Indians, who sent in his card to me, and with
was admirable and full of promise.         whom I had the pleasure of a long conversation.
Cincinnati is honourably famous for its free-   He spoke English perfectly well, though he
schools, of which it has so many that no per- had not begun to learn the language, he told me,
son's child among its population can, by possi- until he was a young man grown. He had read
bility, want the means of education, which are many books; and Scott's poetry appeared to have
extended, upon an average, to four thousand left a strong impression on his mind; especially
pupils, annually. I was only present in one of the opening of The Lady of the Lake, and the
these establishments during the hours of instruc- great battle scene in Marmion, in which, no
tion. In the boys' department, Which was full doubt from the congeniality of the subjects to his
of little urchins (varying in their ages, I should own pursuits and tastes, he had great interest and
say, from six years old to ten or twelve), the mas- delight. He appeared to understand correctly,
ter offered to institute an extemporary examina- all he had read; and whatever fiction had enlisttion of the pupils in algebra; a proposal, which, ed his sympathy in its belief, had done so keenly
as I was by no means confident of my ability to and earnestly, I might almost say fiercely. He
detect mistakes in that science, I declined with was dressed in our ordinary every-day costume,
some alarm. In the girls' school, reading was which hung about his fine figure loosely, and
proposed, and as I felt tolerably equal to that art, with indifferent grace. On my telling him that
1 expressed my willingness to hear a class.-  I -regretted not to see him in his own attire, he
Books were distributed accordingly, and some threw up his right arm, for a moment, as though
half dozen girls relieved each other in reading he were brandishing some heavy weapon, and
paragraphs from English History. But it was a answered, as he let it fall again, that his race
dry compilation, infinitely above their powers; were losing many things besides their dress, and
and when they had blundered through three or would soon be seen upon the earth no more; but
four dreary passages concerning the Treaty of he wore it at home, he added proudly.
Amiens, and other thrilling topics of the same   He told me that he had been away from his
nature (obviously without comprehending ten home, west of the Mississippi, seventeen months:v
words), I expressed myself quite satisfied. It is and was now returning. He had been chiefly at
very possible that they only mounted to this ex- Washington on some negotiations pending bealted stave in the Ladder of Learning, for the tween his Tribe and the Government; which
astonishment of a visiter; and that at other times were not settledyet (he said in a melancholy way),
they keep upon its lower rounds; but I should and he feared never would be;: for what could a
have been much better pleased and satisfied if I few poor Indians do, against such well-skilled
had heard them exercised in simpler lessons, men of business as the whites?  He had no love
which they understood.                     for Washington; tired of towns and cities very
As in every other place I visited, the Judges soon.; and longed for the Forest and the Prairie.
here were gentlemen of high character and at-   I asked him what he thought of Congress? He
tainmnents. I was in one of the courts for a few  answered, with a smile, that it wanted dignity, in
minutes, and found it like those to which I have an Indian's eyes.
already referred. A nuisance cause was trying;   He would very much like, he said, to see Eng-.
there were not many spectators; and the wit- land before he died; and spoke with much innesses, counsel, and jury, formed a sort of family terest about the great things to be seen there.
circle, sufficiently jocose and snug.      When I told him of that chamber in the British
The society with which I mingled, was intel- Museum wherein are preserved household meligent, courteous and agreeable. The inhabit- morials of a race that ceased to be, thousands of
ants of Cincinnati are proud of their city, as one years ago, he was very attentive, and it was not
of the most interesting in America: and with hard to see that he had a reference in his.mind to
reason: for beautiful and thriving as it is now, the gradual fading away of his own people.
and containing, as it does, a population of fifty   This led us to speak of Mr. Catlin's gallery,
thousand souls, but two-and-fifty years have which he praised highly: observing that his own
passedl away si.ce the ground on which it stands portrait was among the collection, and that all
(boAght at that time for a few dollars) was a the likenesses were "elegant."  Mr. Cooper, he
wild wood, and its citizens were hut a handful. said, had painted the Red Man well; and so
of dwellers in scattered lo.ghuts upon the river's would I, he knew, if I would go home with him
shore.                                     and hunt buffaloes, which he was quite anxious
I should do. When I told him that supposing I
went, I should not be very likely to damage the




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      63
buffaloes much, he took it as a great joke and perfectly alive with pigs of all ages, lying about
laughed heartily.                            in every direction, fast asleep; or grunting along
He was a remarkably handsome man: some in quest of hidden dainties. I had always a
years past fobrty I should judge; with long black sneaking kindness for these odd animals, and
hair, an aquiline nose, broad cheek bones, a sun- found a constant source of amusement, when a.ll
burnt complexion, and a very bright, keen, dark, others failed, in watching their proceedings. As
and piercing eye. There were but twenty thou- we were riding along this morning, I observed a
sand of the Choctaws left, he said, and their little incident between two youthful pigs, which
number was decreasing every day. A few of his was so very human as to be inexpressibly comical
brother chiefs had been obliged to become civil- and grotesque at the time, though I dare say, in
ized, and to make themselves acquainted with telling, it is same enough.
what the whites knew, for it was their only chance   One young gentleman (a very delicate porker
of existence. But they were not many; and the with several straws sticking about his nose, berest were as they always had been. He dwelt tokening recent investigations in a dunghill) was
on this: and said several times that unless they walking deliberately on, profoundly thinking,
tried to assimilate themselves to their conquerors, when suddenly his brother, who was lying in a
they must be swept away before the strides of miry hole, unseen by him, rose up imnmediately
civilized society.                           before his startled eyes, ghostly with damp mud.
When we shook hands at parting, I told him  Never was pig's whole mass of blood so turned.
he must come to England, as lie longed to see the He started back at least three feet, gazed for a
land so much; that I should hope to see him  moment, and then shot off as hard as he could
there, one day; and that I could promise him he go: his excessively little tail vibrating with speed
would be well received and kindly treated. He and terror like a distraced pendulum. But bewas evidently pleased by this assurance, though fore he had gone very far, he began to reason
he rejoined with a good-humoured smile and an  with himself as to the nature of this frightful aparch shake of his head, that the English used to pearance; and as he reasoned, he relaxed his
be very fond of the Red Man when they wanted speed by gradual degrees; until at last he stopped,
their help, but had not cared much for them  and faced about. There was his brother, with
since.                                       the mud upon him, glazing in the sun, yet staHe took his leave; as stately and complete a ring out of the'very same hole, perfectly amazed
gentleman of Nature's making, as ever I beheld; at his proceedings! He was no sooner assured
and moved among the people in the boat, another of this; and he assured himself so carefully that
kind of being. He sent me a lithographed por- one may allnost say he shaded his eyes with his
trait of himself soon afterward; very like, though hand to see the better; than he came back at a
scarcely handsome enough; which I have care- round trot, pounced upon him, and summarily
fully preserved in memory of our brief acquaint- took off a piece of' his tail, as a caution to him
ance.                                       to be careful what he was about for the future,
There was nothing very interesting in the and never to play tricks with his family any more.
scenery of this day's journey, which brought us,   We found the steamboat in the canal, waiting
at midnight, to Louisville. We slept at the Galt fobr the slow process of getting through the lock
House; a splendid hotel; and were as handsome- and went on board, where we shortly afterward
ly lodged as though we had been in Paris, rather had a new kind of visiter in the person of a certhan hundreds of miles beyond the Alleghanies. tain Kentucky giant, whose name is Porter, and
The city presenting no objects of sufficient who is of the moderate height of seven feet eight
interest to detain us on our way, we resolved to inches in his stockings.
proceed next day by another steamboat, the Ful-   There never was a race of people who so
ton, and to join it, about noon, at a suburb called  completely gave the lie to history as these giPortland, where it would be delayed some time ants, or whom all the chroniclers have so cruelly
in passing through a canal.                 libelled. Instead of roaring and ravaging about
The interval, after breakfast, we devoted to the world, constantly catering for their cannibal
riding through the town, which is regular and larders, and perpetually going to market in an
cheerthl: the streets being laid out at right angles, unlawful manner, they are the meekest people
and planted with young trees. The buildings in any man's acquaintance: rather inclining to
are smoky and blackened, from the use of bitu- milk and vegetable diet, and bearing anything
minous coal, but an Englishman is well used to for a quiet life. So decidedly are amiability anr
that appearance, and indisposed to quarrel with mildness their characteristics, that I confess I
it. There did not appear to be much business look upon that youth who distinguished himself
stirring; and some unfinished buildings and im- by the slaughter of these inoffensive persons,
provements seemed to intimate that the city had as a false-hearted brigand, who, pretending to,
been over-built in the ardour of " going ahead," philanthropic motives, was secretly influenced
and was suffering under the reaction consequent only by the wealth stored up within their castles;
upon such feverish forcing of its powers.   and the hope of plunder. And I lean the morei
On our way to Portland, we passed a " Magis- to this opinion from finding that even the histo.trate's office," which amused me, as looking far rian of those exploits, with all his partiality for
more like a dame school than any police estab- his hero, is fain to admit that the slaughtered
lishment; for this awful Institution was nothing monsters in question were of a very innocent
but a little lazy, good-for-nothing front parlour, and simple turn; extremely guileless and ready
open to the street; wherein two or three figures of belief; lending a credulious ear to the most
(I presume the magistrate and his myrmidons) improbable tales; suffering themselves to be eawere basking in the sunshine, the very effigies sily entrapped into pits; and even (as in the:
of languor and repose. It was a perfect picture Welsh giant), with an excess of the hospitable
of- Justice retired from business for want of cus- politeness of a landlord, ripping themselves openr
tomers, her sword and scales sold off; napping rather than hint at the possiblity of their guests;
comfortably with her legs upon. the table.  being versed in the vagabond arts of sleight-of-.
Here, as elsewhere in these parts, the road was hand and hocus-pocus.




8t                           NOTES ON AMERICA.
The Kentucky giant was but another illustra- nial, jovial, frank, social, or hearty, never, sure,
tion of the truth of this position. He had a was brought together elsewhere since the world
weakness in the region of the knees, and a trust- began.
fulness in his long face, which appealed even to   Nor was the scenery, as we approached the
ive feetnine forencouragementandsupport. He  junction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, at
was only twenty-five years old, he said, and had all inspiriting in its influence. The trees were
grown recently, for it had been found necessary stunted in their growth; the banks were low and
to make an addition to the legs of his inexpres- flat; the settlements and log cabins fewer in
sibles. At fifteen he was a short boy, and in number; their inhabitants more wan and wretchthose days his English father and his Irish moth- ed than any we had encountered yet. No songs
er had rather snubbed him, as being too small of of birds were in the air, no pleasant scents, no
stature to sustain the credit of the family. He moving lights and shadows from swift passing
added that his health had not been good, though clouds. Hour after hour, the changeless glare
it was better now; but short people are not want- of the hot, unwinking sky, shone upon the same
ing who whisper that he drinks too hard.     monotonous objects. Hour after hour, the river
I understand he drives a hackney-coach, rolled along, as wearily and slowly as the time
though how he does it, unless he stands on the itself.
footboard behind, and lies along the roof upon   At length, on the morning of the third day, we
his chest, with his chin in the box, it would be arrived at a spot so much more desolate than any
difficult to comprehend. He brought his gun we had yet beheld, that the forlornest places we
with him, as a curiosity. Christened "The Lit- had passed, were, in comparison with it, full of
tle Rifle," and displayed outside a shop-window, interest. At the junction of the two rivers, on
It would make the fortune of any retail business ground so flat, and low, and marshy, that at cerin Holborn. When he had shown himself, and tain seasons of the year it is inundated to the
talked a little while, he withdrew with this pock- house-tops, lies a breeding-place of fever, ague,
et instrument, and went bobbing down the cabin, and death; vaunted in England as.a mine of goldamong men of six feet high and upward, like a en hope, and speculated in, on the faith of monlighthouse walking among lampposts.         strous representations, to many people's ruin.
Within a few minutes afterward we were out A dismal swamp, on which the half-built housof the canal and in the Ohio River again.    es rot away: cleared here and there for the space
The arrangements of the boat were like those of a tew yards, and teeming then with rank, unof the Messenger, and the passengers were of the wholesome vegetation, in whose baleful shade
same order of people. We fed at the same times, the wretched wanderers who are tempted hither,
on the same kind of viands, in the same dull droop, and die, and lay their bones; the hateful
manner, and with the same observances. The Mississippi circling and eddying before it, and
company appeared to be oppressed by the same turning off upon its southern course, a slimy montremendous concealments, and had as little ca- ster hideous to behold; a hotbed of disease, an
pacity of enjoyment or light-heartedness. I nev- ugly sepulchre, a grave uncheered by any gleam
er in my life did see such listless, heavy dulness of promise: a place without one single quality
as brooded over these meals: the very recollec- in earth, or air, or water, to commend it: such
tion of it weighs me down, and makes me for is this dismal Cairo.
the moment wretched. Reading and writing on   But what words shall describe the Mississipmy knee, in our little cabin, I really dreaded the pi, great father of rivers, who (praise be to
coming of the hour that summoned us to table; Heaven) has no young children like him! An
and was as glad to escape from it again, as if' it enormous ditch, sometimes two or three miles
had been a penance or a punishment. Healthy wide, running liquid mud six miles an hour; its
cheerfulness and good spirits forming: a part of strong and frothy current choked and obstructed
the banquet, I could soak my crusts in the fount- everywhere by huge logs and whole -forest trees;
ain with Le Sage's strolling player, and revel in now twining themselves together in great rafts,
their glad enjoyment: but sitting down with so from the interstices of which a sedgy, lazy foam
many fellow-animals to ward off thirst and hun- works up, to float upon the water's top; now rollger as a business; to empty, each creature, his ing past like monstrous bodies, their tangled roots
Yahoo's trough as quickly as he can, and then showing like matted hair; now glancing singly
slink sullenly away; to have these social sacra- by like giant leeches, and now wxithinground and
ments stripped of everything but the mere greedy round in the vortex of some small whirlpool like
satisfaction of the natural cravings, goes so wounded snakes.  The banks low, the -trees
against the grain with me, that I seriously be- dwarfish, the marshes swarming with frogs, the
lieve the recollection of these funeral feasts will wretched cabins, few and far apart, their inbe a waking nightmare to me all my life.     mates hollow-cheeked and pale, the weather very
There was some relief in this boat, too, which hot, moschetoes penetrating into every crack
there had not been in the other, for the captain  and crevice of the boat, mud and slime on eve(a blunt, good-natured fellow) had his handsome rything: nothing pleasant in its aspect but the
wife with him, who was disposed to be lively and harmless lightning which flickers every night
agreeable, as were a few other lady-passengers upon the dark horizon.
who had their seats about us at the same end   For two days we toiled up this foul stream,
of the table. But nothing could have made head striking constantly against the floating timber,
against the depressing influence of the general or stopping to avoid those more dangerous obhod. There was a magnetism of dulness in tacles, the snags, or sawyers, which are the hidthem which would have beaten down the most den trunks of trees that have their roots below
facetious companion that the earth ever knew. the tide. When the nights are very dark, the
A jest would, have been a crime, and a smile look-out, stationed in the head of the boat, knows
wrould have faded into a grinning horror. Such by the ripple of the water if any great impedideadly, leaden people; such systematic, plod- ment be near at hand, and rings a bell beside
ding, weary, insupportable heaviness; such a him, which is the signal for the engine to be
mass of indigestion in respect of all that was ge- stopped; but always in the night this bell has




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       65
work to do, and after every ring there comes a our destination, it became clearly-necessary to
b2low, which renders it no easy matter to remain put this baby to bed. But she got over it with
in bed.                                      the same good-humour; tied a handkerchief
The decline of day here was very gorgeous; round her head; and came out into the little galtinging the firmament deeply with red and gold, lery with the rest. Then, such an oracle as she
up to the very keystone of the arch above us. became in reference to the localities! and such..As the sun went down behind thie hank, the facetiousness as was displayed by the married
slightest blades of grass upon it seemed to be- ladies! and such sympathy as was shown by ihe,come as distinctly visible as the arteries in the single ones! and such peals of laughter as the
skeleton of a leaf; and when, as it slowly sank, little wonlan herself (who would just as soon
the red aend golden bars upon the water grew  have cried) greeted every jest with! 
dimmer and dimmer yet, as if they were sink-   At last, there were the lights of St. Louis, and
ing, too; and all the glowing colours of depart- here was the wharf, and those were the steps:
ing day paled inch by inch before the sombre and the little woman, covering her face with her
-night; the scene became a thousand times more hands, and laughing (or seeming to laugh) more
Jonesome and more dreary than before, and all than ever, ran into her own' cabin, and shut herits influences darkened with the sky.        self up. I have no doubht that in the- charming
We drank the muddy waterof this riverwhile  inconsistency of such excitement, she stopped
we were upon it. It is considered wholesome by: her ears, lest she should hear " Him" asking for
the natives, and is something more opaque than her: but I did not see her do it.
Cruel. I have seen water like it at the filter-   Then, a great crowd of people rushed on
shops, but nowhere else.                     board, though the boat was not yet made fast,
On the fourth night after leaving Louisville, but wras wandering about among the other boats
we reached St. Louis, and here I witnessed the to find a landing-place: and everybody looked
conclusion of an incident, trifling enough in-it- for the husband: and nobody saw him: when
-self, but very pleasant to see, which had inter- in the midst of all-Heaven knows how she
ested me during the whole journey.-          ever got there-there was the little woman clingThere was a little woman on board, with a ing with both arms tight round the neck of a fine
little baby, and both little woman and little:child good-looking, sturdy young fellow! and, in a
were cheerful, good-looking, ibright-eyed, and moment afterward, there she was again, actualfair to see. The little woman had been passing ly clapping her little hands for joy, as she drag-.a long time with her sick mother in New-York, ged him throug-h the small door of her small caband had left her home in St. Louis, in that condi- in, to look at the baby as he lay asleep!
-ion in which ladies who truly love their lords
desire to be. The baby was born in ier moth-   WVe went to a large hotel, called the Planter's
er's house; and she had not seen her husband House: built like an English hospital, with long
(to whom she was now returning) for twelve phssages and bare walls, and sky-lights above
months, having left him a month or two after the room-doors for the free circulation of air.
their marriage.                              There were a great many boarders in it; and as
Well, to be sure there never was a little wom- many -lights sparkled and glistened from the winan so full of hope, and tenderness, and love, and dows down into the street below, when we drove,anxiety, as this little woman was: and all day up, as if it had been illuminated on some occa-.long she wondered whether " He" would be at sion of rejoicing. It is an excellent house, and;the wharf; and whether " He" had got her let- the proprietors have most bountiful notions of
ter; and whether, if she sent the baby ashore by providing the creature comforts. Dining alone
somebody else, " He" would know it, meeting with my wife in our own room one day, I count-it in the street: which, seeing that he had never ed fourteen dishes on the table at once.
*set eyes upon it in his life, was not very likely   In the old French portion of the town, the
in the abstract, but was probable enough to the thoroughfares are narrow and crooked, and someyoung mother. She wras such an artless little of the houses are very quaint and picturesque:
creature; and was in such a sunny, beaming, being built of wood, with tumble-down galleries'hopeful state; and let out all this matter clinging before the windows, approachable by stairs, or
close about her healrt, so freely; that all the oth- ratherladders, from the street. There are queer
or lady passengers entered into the spirit of it as little barbers' shops and drinking-houses too, in
much as she; and the captain (who heard all this quarter; and abundance of crazy old teneabout it fiom his wife), was wondrous sly, I ments with blinking casements, such as may be
promise you: inquiring, every time we met at  seen in Flanders. Some of these ancient habitatable, as in forgetfulness, whether she expected tions, with high garret gable-windows perking
anybody to meet her at St. Louis, and whether into the roofs, have a kind of French shrug about
she would want to go ashore the nightwe reach- them; and being lop-sided with age, appear to
ed it (but he supposed she wouldn't), and cutting hold their heads askew, besides, as if they were
many other dry jokes of that nature. There was grimacing in astonishment at the American Irnone little weazen, dried-apple-faced old woman, provements.
who took occasion to doubt the constancy of hus-   It is hardly necessary to say, that these consist
bands in such circumstances of bereavemnent; of wharfs and warehouses, and new buildings in
and there was another lady (with a lap-dog) old all directions; and of a great many vast plans
enough to moralize on the lightness of human which are still " progressing."  Already, howeve.ltections, and yet not so old that she could help er, some very good houses, broad streets, and
nursing the baby now and then, or laughingwith  marble-fronted shops, have gone so far ahead as
the rest, when the little woman called it by its to be in a state of completion; and the town bids
father's name, and asked it all manner of fantas- fair in a few years to improve considerably:
tic questions concerning him in the joy of her though it is not likely ever to vie, in point of eleheart.                                       gance or beauty, with Cincinnati.
It was something of a blow to the little wom-   The Roman Catholic religion, introduced here
an, that when we were within twenty miles of by the early French settlers, prevails exteusiveI~~~~~~~~~




86                          INOTES ON AMERICA.
ly. Among the public institutions are a Jesuit aspect with which five o'clock in the morning is,
college; a convent for " the Ladies of the Sa- familiar elsewhere, I deemed it as well to go to
cred Heart;" and a large chapel attached to the  bed again, and went accordingly.
college, which was in course of erection at the    I awoke again at seven o'clock, and by that
time of my visit, and was intended to be conse- time the party had assembled, and were gathercrated on the second of December in the present ed round, one light carriage, with a very stout
year. The architect of this building is one of axletree; one something on wheels like an amthe reverend fathers of the school, and the works ateur carrier's cart; one double phaeton of great
proceed under his sole direction. The organ  antiquity and unearthly construction; one gig
will be sent from Belgium.                    with a great hole in its back and a broken head;
In addition to these establishments, there is a  and one rider on horseback who was to go on
Roman Catholic cathedral, dedicated to Saint before. I got into the first coach with three comFrancis Xavier; and an hospital, founded by the  panions; the rest bestowed themselves in the
munificence of a deceased resident, who was a  other vehicles; two large baskets were made fast
member of that church. It also sends mission- to the lightest; two large stone jars in wicker caaries from hence among the Indian tribes.      ses, technically known as demi-johns, were conThe Unitarian church is represented in this signed to the " least rowdy" of the party for safe
remote place, as in most other parts of America, keeping; and the procession moved off to the
by a gentleman of great worth and excellence. ferry-boat, in which it was to cross the river
The poor have good reason to remember and  bodily, men, horses, carriages, and all, as the
bless it; for it bef'riends them, and aids the cause  manner in these parts is.
of rational education, without any sectarian, or   We got over the river in due course, and mus,
selfish views. It is liberal in all its actions; of tered again before a little wooden box on wheels,
kind construction; and of wide benevolence.,   hove down, all-aslant, in a morass, with " MERThere are three free-schools already erected, CHANT TAILORx" painted in very large letters over
and in full operation in this city. A fourth is the door. Having settled the order of proceedbuilding, and will soon be opened.            ing, and the road to be taken, we started off once
No man ever admits the unhealthiness of the more, and began to make our way through an
place he dwells in (unless he is going away from  ill-favoured Black Hollow, called, less expressit), and I shall therefore, I have no doubt, be at ively, the American Bottom.
issue with the inhabitants of Saint Louis, in    The previous day had been-not to say hot,
questioning the perfect salubrity of its climate, for the term is weak and lukewarm in its power
and in hinting that I think it must rather dispose  of conveying an idea of the temperature. The
to fever in the summer and autumnal seasons. town had been on fire; in a blaze. But at night
Just adding, that it is very hot, lies among great it had come on to rain in torrents, and all night
rivers and has vast tracts of undrained swampy  long it had rained without cessation. We had
land around it, I leave the reader to form his a pair of very strong horses, but travelled at the
own opinion.                                  rate of little more than a couple of miles an hour,
As I had a great desire to see a Prairie before  through one unbroken slough of black mud and
turning back from the farthest point of my wan- water. It had no variety but in depth. Now it
derings; and, as some gentlemen of the town  was only half over the wheels, now it hid the
had, in their hospitable consideration, an equal axletree, and now the coach sank down in it aldesire to gratify me; a day was fixed before my  most to the windows. The air resounded in all dideparture, fbr an expedition to the Looking- rections with the loud chirping of the frogs, who
Glass Prairie, which is within thirty miles of the  with the pigs (a coarse, ugly breed, as unwholetown. Deeming it possible that my readers may  some looking as though they were the spontanenot object to know what kind of thing such a  ous growth of the country), had the whole scene
gipsy party may be at that distance from home, to themselves. Here and there we passed a logand among what sort of objects it moves, I will hut; but the wretched cabins were wide apart
describe the jaunt in another chapter.        and thinly scattered, for, though the soil is very
rich in this place, few people can exist in such a
deadly atmosphere. On either side of the track,
if it deserved the name, was the thick "bush;'"
CHAPTER XIII.                    and everywhere was stagnant, slimy, rotten, fib.
thy water.
A JAUNT TO THE LOOKING-GLASS PRAIRIE AND BACK. thy water.
As it is the custom in these parts to give a
I MAY premise that the word Prairie is vari- horse a gallon or so of cold water whenever he is;
ously pronounced paraaer, p'arearer, and paroarer. in a foam with heat, we halted for that purpose,
The latter mode of pronunciation is perhaps the  at a log-inn in the wood, far removed from any
most in favour.                               other residence..It consisted of' one room, bareWe were fourteen in all, and all young men: roofed and bare-walled, of course, with a loft
indeed it is a singular though very natural fea- above. The ministering priest was a swarthy
ture in the society of these distant settlements, young savage, in a shirt of cotton print like bedthat it is mainly composed of adventurous per- furniture, and a pair of ragged trousers. There
sons in the prime of life, and has very few gray  were a couple of young boys, too, nearly naked,
heads among it. There were no ladies: the trip  lying idly by the well; and they, and he, and lhe
being a fatiguing one; and we were to start at traveller at the inn, turned out to look at us.
five o'clock in the morning, punctually.        The traveller was an old man with a gray,
I was called at four, that I might be certain of grizzly beard two inches long, a shaggy mustache
keeping nobody waiting; and having got some  of the same hue, and enormous eyebrows, which
*bread and milk for breakfast, threw up the win- almost obscured his lazy, semi-drunken glance,
dow and looked down into the street, expecting to  as he stood regarding us with folded arms, pois
see the whole party busily astir, and g cat piep- ing himself alternately upon his toes and heels.
arations going on below. But as everything was  On being addressed by one of the party, he drew
very quiet, and the street presented that hopeless nearer, and said, rubbing his chin (which scraped




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      67
under his horny hand like fresh gravel beneath   It was a bare, unfurnished, comfortless room,
a nailed shoe), that he was from Delaware, and with an unframed portrait hanging up at the
had lately bought a farm "down there," pointing head of the bed; a likeness, I take it, of' the docunto one of the marshes where the stunted trees tor, for the forehead was fully displayed, and
were thickest. He was "going," he added, to great stress was laid by the artist upon its phrenSt. Louis, to fetch his family, whom he had left ological developments. The bed itself was coybehind; but he seemed in no great hurry to bring ered with an old patchwork counterpane. The
on these encumbrances, fbr when we moved room was destitute of carpet or of curtain. There
tway, he loitered back into the cabin, and was was a dalp fireplace without any stove, full of
plainly bent on stopping there so long as his mon- wood-ashes; a chair, and a very small table;
ey lasted. He was a great politician; of course, and on the last-named piece of furniture was disand explained his opinions at some length to one played, in grand array, the doctor's library, conof our company; but I only remember that he sisting of some half a dozen greasy old books.
concluded with two sentiments, one of which   Now it certainly looked about the last apartwas, Somebody forever! and the other, Blast ev- ment on the whole earth out of which any man
erybody else! which is by no means a bad ab- would be likely to get anything to do him good.
stract of the general creed in these matters.  But the door, as I have said, stood coaxingly
When the horses were swollen out to about open, and plainly said, in conjunction with the
twice their natural dimensions (there seems to chair, the portrait, the table, and the books,
be an idea here that this kind of inflation im- " Walk in, gentlemen, walk in! Don't be ill,
proves their going), we went forward again, gentlemen, when you may be well in no time.
through mud and mire, and damp, and festering Doctor Crocus is here, gentlemen, the celebrated
heat, and brake and bush, attended always bythe Doctor Crocus! Doctor Crocus has come all
music of the frogs and pigs, until nearly noon, this wayto cure you, gentlemen. If you haven't
when we halted at a place called Belleville.  heard of Doctor Crocus, it's your fault, gentleBelleville was a small collection of wooden men, who live a little way out of the world here,
houses, huddled together in the very heart of the not Doctor Crocus's. Walk in, gentlemen, walk
bush and swamp. Many of them had singular- in!"
ly bright doors of read and yellow; for the place   In the passage below, when I went down stairs
had been lately visited by a travelling painter, again, was Doctor Crocus himself. A crowd
" who got along," as I was told, " by eating his had flocked in from the Court-house, and a voice
way."  The criminal court was sitting, and was from  among them  called out to the landlord,
at that moment trying some criminals for horse- "I Colonel! introduce Doctor Crocus."
stealing, with whom it would most likely go   "Mr. Dickens," says the colonel, "Doctor
hard; for live-stock of all kinds being necessari- Crocus."
ly very much exposed in the woods, is held by   Upon which Doctor Crocus, who is a tall,
the community in rather higher value than hu- fine-looking Scotchman, but rather fierce and
man life; and for this reason juries generally warlike in appearance for a professor of the
make a point of finding all -men indicted for cat- peaceful art of healing, bursts out of the' contie-stealing guilty, whether or no.         course with his right arm extended, and his chest
The horses belonging to the bar, the judge, thrown out as far as it will possibly come, and
and witnesses, were tied to temporary racks set says,
up roughly in the road, by which is to be under-   " Your countryman, sir!"
stood a forest path, nearly knee-deep in mud and   Whereupon Doctor Crocus and I shake hands;
slime.                                      and Doctor Crocus looks as if I didn't by any
There was a hotel in this place which, like means realize his expectations, which, in a linen
all hotels in America, had its large dining-room  blouse, and a great straw hat with a green ribfor the public table. It was an odd, shambling, and, and no gloves, and my face and nose prolow-roofed outhouse,;half cowshed and halfkitch- fusely ornamented with the stings of moscheen, with a coarse brown canvass table-cloth, and toes and the bites of bugs, it is very likely I did
tin sconces stuck against the walls, to hold can- not.     /
dies at supper-time. The horseman had gone   "Long in these parts, sir?" says I.
forward to have coffee and some eatables prepa-   "Three or four months, sir," says the doctor.
red, and theythis were by time nearly ready. He   "Do you think of soon returning to the old
had ordered " wheat-bread and chicken fixings," country, sir." says I.
in preference to " corn-bread and common do-   Doctor Crocus makes no verbal answer, but
Lngs." The latter kind of refection includes only gives me an imploring look, which says so plainpork andbacon. The former comprehends broil- ly "Will you ask me that again, a little louder,
ed ham, sausages, veal-cutlets, steaks, and such  if you please!" that I repeat the question.
other viands of that nature as may be supposed,   "Think of soon returning to the old country,
by a tolerably wide poetical construction, to " fix" sir!" repeats the doctor.
a chicken comfortably in the digestive organs of   " To the old country, sir," I rejoin.
any lady or gentleman.                        Doctor Crocus looks round upon the crowd to
On one of the door-posts at this inn was a tin observe the effect he produces, rubs his hands,
plate, whereon was inscribed in characters of and says in a very loud voice,
gold "Doctor Crocus;" and on a sheet of paper,   "Not yet a while, sir, not yet. You won't
pasted up by the side of this plate, was a written catch me at that just yet, sir. I am a little too
announcement that Dr. Crocus would that even- fond of freedom for that, sir. Ha, ha! It's not
ing deliver a lecture on Phrenology for the ben- so easy for a ma'n to tear himself fiom a free
efit of the Belleville public, at a charge, for ad- country such as this is, sir. Ha, ha! No, no! 
mission, of so much a head.                 Ha, ha! None of that till one's obliged to do it,
Straying up stairs, during the preparation of sir. No, no!"
the chicken fixings, I happened to pass the doc-   As Doctor Crocus says these latter words, he
tor's chamber; and as the door stood wide open, shakes his head kn(owingly, and laughs again.
and the room was empty, I made bold to peep in. Many of the by-standers shake their heads in con



68                           X\S~NOTES ON AMERICA.
cert with the doctor, and laugh too, and look at would have suffered by no comparison with any
each other as much as to say, " A pretty bright village ale-house, of a homely kind, in England.
and first-rate sort of chap is Crocus 1" and unless   Rising at five o'clock next morning, I took a
I am very much mistaken, a good many people walk about the village; none of the houses were
went to the lecture that night who never thought strolling about to-day, but it was early for them
about phrenology, or about Doctor Crocus either, yet, perhaps * and then amused myself by loungin all their lives before.                   ing in a kind of farm-yard behind the tavern, of
Fromn Belleville, we went on through.the same which the leading features were, a strange jumble
desolate kind of waste, and constantly attended, of rough sheds for stables; a rude colonnade, built
without the interval of a moment, by the same as a cool place of summer resort; a deep well;
music, until, at three o'clock in the afternoon, we a great earthen mound for keeping vegetables
halted once more at a village called Lebanon to in, in winter time; and a pigeon-house, whose
inflate the horses again, and give them  some little apertures looked, as they do- in all pigeoncorn besides, of which they stood much in need. houses, very much too small for the admission
Pending this ceremony, I walked into the village, of the plump and swelling-breasted birds who
where I met a full-sized dwelling-house coming were strutting about it, though they tried to get
down-hill at a round trot, drawn by a score or in ever so hard. That interest exhausted, I took
more of oxen.                                a survey of the inn's two parlours, which were
The public-house was so very clean and good decorated with coloured prints of Washington
a one, that the managers of the jaunt resolved to and President Madison, and of a white-faced
return to it, and put up there for the night, if pos- young lady (much speckled by the flies), who
sible. This course decided on, and the horses held up her gold neck-chain for the admiration
being well refreshed, we again pushed forward, of the spectator, and informed all admiring comrnand came upon the prairie at sunset.  t      ers that she was " Just Seventeen;" although I
It would be difficult to say why or how    should have thought her older. In the best room
though it was possibly from having heard and were two oil portraits of the kit-cat size, repreread so much about it-but the effect on me was senting the landlord and his infant son; both
disappointment. Looking towards the setting looking as bold as lions, and staring out of the
-sun, there lay, stretched out before my view, a canvass with an intensity that would have been
vast expanse of level ground, unbroken, save by cheap at any price. They were painted, I think,
one thin line of trees, which scarcely amounted by the artist who had touched up the Belleville
to a scratch upon the great blank, until it met the doors with red and gold; for I seemed to recogglowing sky, wherein it seemed to dip, mingling nise his style immediately.
with its rich colours, and mellowing in its distant   After breakfast, we started to return by a difblue. There it lay, a tranquil sea or lake with- ferent way from that which we had taken yesterout water, if such a simile be admissible, with day, and coming up at ten o'clock with an
the day going down upon it; a few birds wheel- encampment of German emigrants carrying their
nag here and there: and solitude and silence goods in carts, who had made a rousing fire
reigning paramount around. But the grass was which they were just quitting, stopped there to
rnot yet high; there were bare black patches on refresh. And very pleasant the fire was; for,
the ground; and the few wild flowers that the eye hot though it had been yesterday, it was quite
could see, were poor and scanty. Great as the cold to-day, and the wind blew keenly. Loompicture was, its very flatness and extent, which ing in the distance, as we rode along, was anleft nothing to the imagination, tamed it down  other of the ancient Indian burial-places, called
and cramped its interest. I felt little of that sense The Monks' Mound; in memory of a body of
of freedom  and exhilaration which a Scottish fanatics of the order of La Trappe, who founded
heath inspires, or even our English downs awa- a desolate convent there, many years ago, when
ken. It was lonely and wild, but oppressive in there were no settlers within a thousand miles,
its barren monotony. I felt that in traversing and were all swept off by the pernicious climate;
the prairies I could never abandon myself to the in which lamentable fatality, few rational people
scene, forgetful of all else, as I should do instinct- will suppose, perhaps, that society experienced
ively, were the heather underneath my feet, or an any very severe deprivation.
iron-bound coast beyond; but should often glance   The track of to-day had the same features as
towards the distant and frequently-receding line the track of yesterday. There were the swamp,
of the horizon, and wished it gained and passed. the bush, the perpetual chorus of frogs, the rank
It is not a scene to be forgotten, but it is scarce- unseemly growth, the unwholesome steaming
ly one, 1 think (at all events, as I saw it), to re- earth. Here and there, and frequently too, we
nemberwith much pleasure, or to covet the look- encountered a, solitary brolren-down wagon, full
fug-finagain, in after life.                 of some new settler's goods. It was a pitiful:We encamped near a solitary log-house, for sight to see one of these vehicles deep in the
the sake of its water, and dined upon the plain. mire; the axle-tree broken; a wheel lying idly
The baskets contained roast fowls, buffalo's by its side; the man gone miles away, to look
tongue (an exquisite dainty, by-the-way), ham, for assistance; the woman. seated among their
bread, cheese, and butter; biscuits, Champagne, wandering household gods with a baby at her
sherry; lemons and sugar for punch; and abund- breast, a picture of forlorn, dejected patience; the
ance of rough ice. The meal was delicious, and team of oxen crouching down mournfully in the
the entertainers were the soul of kindness and mud, and breathing forth such clouds of vapour
good humour. I have often recalled that cheer- from Their mouths and nostrils, that all the damp
ful party to my pleasant recollection since, and mist and fog around seemed to have come direct
shall not easily forget, in junketings nearer home from them.
writh friends of older date, my boon companions   In due time we. mustered once again before
on the prairie.                              the merchant tailor's, and having done so, crossed
Returning to Lebanon that night, we lay at over to the city in the ferry-boat; passing, on the
the little inn at which we had halted in the after- way, a spot called Bloody Island, the duelling
noon. In point of cleanliness and comfort it ground of St. Louis, and so designated in honoux




NOTES ON  AMERICA.                                  69
of the last fatal combat fought there, which was   His wife was a domesticated, kind-hearted old[
with pistols, breast to breast. Both combatants soul, who had come with him " from the queeA
fell dead upon the ground; and possibly some city of the world," which, it seemed, was Philarational people may think of them, as of the delphia; but had no love for this Western coun.
gloomy madmen on the Monks' Mound, that try, and indeed had little reason to bear it any:
they were no great loss to the community.  having seen her children, one by one, die here o0
fever in the full prime and beauty of their youth.
Her heart was sore, she said, to think of them;
CHAPTER XIV.                  and to talk on this theme, even to strangers, in
that blighted place, so far from her old home,
B'ETURN TO CINCINNATI. A STAGE-cOACH 0nDE eased it somewhat, and became a melancholy
FROM THAT CITY TO COLUMBUS, AND THENCE pleasure.
TO SANDUSKY. SO, BY LAKE  ERIE, TO TH.    The boat appearing towards evening, we bade
FALLS OF NIAGARA,                       -adieu to the poor old lady and her vagrant
As I had a desire to travel through the interior spouse, and making for the nearest landing-place,
of the state of Ohio, and to " strike the lakes," as were soon on board The Messenger again, in
the phrase is, at a small town called Sandusky, our old cabin, and steaming down the Mhissisto which that route would conduct us on our way sippi.
to Niagara, we had to return from St. Louis by   If the coming up this river, slowly making
the way we had come, and to retrace our former head against the stream, be an irksome journeys
track as far as Cincinnati.               the shooting down  it with the turbid current is
The day on which we were to take leave of almost worse; for then the boat, proceeding at
St. Louis being very fine; and the steamboat, the rate of twelve or fifteen miles an hour, has
which was to have started I don't know how  to force its passage through a, labyrinth of floatearly in the morning, postponing, for the third or ing logs, which, in the dark, it is often impossi.
fourth time, her departure until the afternoon; ble to see before-hand or avoid. All that night,
we rode forward to an old French village on the the bell was never silent for five minutes at a
river, calledproperly Carondelet, and nicknamed time; and after every ring the vessel reeled
Vide Poche, and arranged that the packet should again, sometimes beneath a single blow, somecall for us there.                         times beneath a dozen dealt in quick succession,
The place consisted of, a few poor cottages, the lightest of which seemed more than enough
and two or three public-houses; the state of to beat in her frail keel, as though it had been
whose larders certainly seemed to justify the pie-crust. Looking down upon the filthy river
second designation of the village, for there was after dark, it seemed-to be alive with monsters,
nothing to eat in any of them. At length, how- as these black masses rolled upon the surface, or
ever, by going back some half mile or so, we came starting up again, head first, when the
found a solitary house where ham and coffee boat, in ploughing her way among a shoal of
were procurable; and there we tarried to await such obstructions, drove a few among them for
the advent of' the boat, which would come in. the moment under water. Sometimes, the engine
sight from the green before the door, a long way stopped during a long interval, and then before
off.                                      her and behind, and gathering close about her on
It was a neat, unpretending village tavern, all sides, were so many of these ill-favoured oband we took our repast in a quaint little room  stacles that she was fairly hemmed in; the centre
with a bed in it, decorated with some old oil of a floating island; and was constrained to
paintings, which in their time had probably done pause until they -parted somewhere, as dark
duty in a Catholic chapel or monastery. The clouds will do before the wind, and opened by
fare was very good, and servedwith great clean- deuees a channel out.
liness. The house was kept by a characteristic   In good time next morning, however, we came
old couple, with whom we had a long talk, and again in sight of the detestable morass called
who were perhaps a very good sample of that Cairo; and stopping there to take in wood, lay
kind of people in the West.               alongside a barge, whose starting timbers scarceThe landlord was a dry, tough, hard-faced old ly held together. It was moored to the bank, and
fellow (not so very old either, for he was but just on its side was painted, "Coffee House;" that
xmrned sixty, I should think), who had been out being, I suppose, the floating paradise to which
with the militia in the last war with England, the people fly for shelter when they lose their
and had seen all kinds of service-except a bat- houses for a month or two beneath the hideous
tle; and he had been very near seeing that, he waters of the Mississippi. But looking southadded; very near. He had all his life been rest- ward from this point, we had the satisfaction of
less and locomotive, with an irresistible desire seeing that intolerable river dragging its slimy
of change; and was still the son of his old self; length and ugly freight abruptly off towards New
for if he had nothing to keep him at home, he Orleans; and passing a yellow line which stretchsaid (slightly jerking his hat and his thumb to- ed across the current, were again upon the clear
wards the window of the room in which the old Ohio, never, I trust, to see the Mississippi more,
lady sat,, as we stood talking in front of the saving in troubled dreams and nightmares. Leavhouse) he would cleanup his musket, and be off ing it for the company of its sparkling neighto Texas to-morrow morning. He was one of bour, was like the transition from pain to ease
the very many descendants of Cain proper to or the awakening from a horrible vision to cheerthis continent, who seemed destined from their fiul realities.
birth to serve as pioneers in the great human   We arrived at Louisville on-the fourth night,
army; who gladly go on from year to yearex- and gladly availed ourselves of its excellent
tending its outposst, and leaving home after hotel. Next day, we went on in the Ben Frankhome behind them; and die at last, utterly re- lin, a beautiful mail steamboat, and reached Cingardless of their graves being left thousands of cinnati shortly after midnight. Being by this
miles behind, by the wandering generation who time nearly tired of sleeping upon shelves, we
succeed.                                  had remained awake, to go ashore straightway;




70                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
and groping a passage across the dark decks of  you sit beside him on the box, and if you speak
other boats, and among labyrinths of engine- to him, he answers (if at all) in monosyllables.
machinery and leaking casks of molasses, we  He points out nothing on the road, and seldom
reached the streets, knocked up the porter at the  looks at anything; being, to all appearance,
hotel where we had stayed before, and were, to  thoroughly Weary of it, and of existence generalour great joy, safely hous'ed soon afterward.  ly. As to doing the honours of his coach, his
We rested but one day at Cincinnati, and then  business, as I have said, is with the horses. The
resumled our journey to Sandusky. As it cornm- coach follows because it is attached to them and
prised two varieties of stage-coach travelling, goes on wheels, not because you are in it. Somewhich, with those I have already glanced at, cor- times, towards the end of a long stage, he suddenprehend the main characteristics of this mode of ly -breaks out into a discordant fragment of an
transit in America, I will take the reader as our election song, but his face never sings along with
fellow-passenger, and pledge myself to perform  him; it is only his voice, and not often that.
the distance with all possible despatch.       He always chews and, always spits, and never
Our place of destinatibn in the first instance is encumbers himself with a pocket-handkerchief.
Columbus. It is distant about a hundred and  The consequences to the box passenger, especialtwenty miles from. Cincinnati, but there is a ly when the wind blows towards him, are not
macadamized road (rare blessing ) the whole  agreeable.
way, and the rate of travelling upon it is six    Whenever the coach stops, and you can hear
miles an hour.                               the voices of the inside passengers; or whenever
We start at eight o'clock in the morning, in a any by-stander addresses them, or any one among
great mail-coach, whose huge cheeks are so very  them, or they address each other, you will hear
ruddy and plethoric, that it appears to be troubled  one phrase repeated over and over, and over
with a tendency of blood to the head. Dropsical again, to the most extraordinary extent. It is an
it certainly is, for it will hold a dozen passengers ordinary and unpromising phrase enough, being
inside. But, wonderful to add, it is very clean  neither more nor less than " Yes, sir;" but it is
and bright, being nearly new, and rattles through  adapted to every variety of circumstance, and
the streets of Cincinnati gayly.            fills up every pause in the conversation. ThusOur way lies through a beautiful country,   The time is one o'clock at noon. The scene,
richly cultivated, and luxuriant in its promise of a place where we are to stay to dine, on this
an abundant harvest. Sometimes we pass a field  journey. The coach drives up to the door of an
where the strong bristling stalks of Indian corn  inn. The day is warm, and there are several
look like a crop of walking-sticks, and sometimes idlers lingering about the tavern, and waiting for
an enclosure where the green wheat is springing  the public dinner. Among them, is a stout genup among a labyrinth of stumps; the primitive  tleman in a brown hat, swinging himself to and
worm-fence is universal, and an ugly thing it is; fro ii a rocking-chair on the pavement.
but the farms are neatly kept, and, save for these    As the coach stops, a gentleman in a straw hat
differences, one might be travelling just now in  looks out of the window.
Kent.                                          STRAW HAT (To the stout gentleman in the
We often stop to water at a roadside inn, which  rocking-chair). I reckon that's Judge Jefferson,
is always dull and silent. The coachman dis- a'nt it l              /
mounts and fills his bucket, and holds it to the   BROWN HAT (Still swinging, speaking very
horses' heads. There is scarcely ever any one slowly, and without any emotion whatever).
to help him; there are seldom  any loungers Yes, sir.
standing round, and never any stable-company    STnAW HAT. Warm weather, Judge.
with jokes to crack. Sometimes, when we have    BROWN HAT. Yes, sir.
changed our team, there is a difficulty in starting    STRAw HAT. There was a snap of cold last
again, arising out of the prevalent mode of break- week.
ing a young horse; which is to catch him, har-   BROWN HAT. Yes, sir.
aess him against his will, and put him in a stage-   STRAW HAT. Yes, sir.
coach without farther notice; but we get on   A pause. They look at each other very sernsomehow or other, after a great many kicks and ously.
a violent struggle, and jog on as before again.  STRAW  HAT. I calculate yyou'll have got
Occasionally, when we stop to change, some through that case of the corporation judge, by
two or three half-drunken loafers will come loit- this time, now t
ering out with their hands in their pockets, or   BROWN HAT. Yes, sir.
will be seen kicking their heels in rocking-chairs,   STrAW HAT. Hlow did the verdict go, sir?
or lounging on the window-sill, or sitting on a    BROWN H-AT. For the defendant, sir.
Tail within the colonnade; they have not often    STRAW HAT (Interrogatively). Yes, sir?
anything to say though, either to us or to each    BROWN HAT (Affirmatively). Yes, sir.
other, but sit there, idly staring at the coach and    BOTH (Musingly, as each gazes: down the
horses.  The landlord of the inn is usually  street). Yes, sir.
among them, and seems, of all the party, to be   Another pause.  They look at each other
the least connected with the business of the house. again, still more seriously than before.
Indeed he is with reference to the tavern, what   BRowN I-HAT. This coach is rather behind its
the driver is in relation to the coach and passen- time to.day, I guess.
gers; whatever happens in his sphere of action,   STRAW HAT (Doubtingly). Yes, sir.
he is quite indifferent, and pe:fectly easy in his   BROWN HIAT (Looking at his watch).' Yes,
mind.                                        sir; nigh upon two hours.
The frequent change of coachmen works no    STRAW HAT (Raising his eyebrows in very
change or variety in the coachman's character. great surprise). Yes, sir.
He is always dirty, sullen, and taciturn. If he    BROWN HAT (Decisively, as he puts up his
be capable of smartness of any kind, moral or watch). Yes, sir.
physical, he has a faculty of concealing it which    ALL TRHE OTHER INSIDE PASSENGERS (among
Is truly marvellous. He never speaks to you as themselves).., Yes, sir.
L                                                                      -




NOTE S  ON  A!N MER1-IC A.                            71
COACHMAN (in a very surly tone). No it a'nt. statistically on all subjects, from poetry downSTRAW  Har (to the coachman). Wtell, I don't ward; and who always speaks in the same key,
-know, sir.  We were a pretty tall time coming with exactly the same emphasis, and with very
-.that last fifteen mile. That's a fact.     grave deliberation. He came outside just now,
The coachman making no reply, and plainly and told me how that the uncle of a certain
declining to enter into any controversy on a sub- young lady who had been spirited away and
ject so far removed from his sympathies and married by a certain captain, lived in these
feelings, another passenger says " Yes, sir;" and parts; and how this uncle was so valiant and
the gentleman in the straw hat, in acknowledg- ferocious, that he shouldn't wonder if he were to
ment of his courtesy, says " Yes, sir" to him, in follow the said captain to England, " and shoot:T.eturn.  The straw hat then inquires of the him down in the street, wherever he found him;"
brown hat, whether that coach in which he (the in the feasibility of which strong measure I, bestraw hat) then sits, is not a new one. To which ing for the moment rather prone to contradiction,
the brown hat again makes answer, " Yes, sir,"  from feeling half asleep and very tired, declined
STRAW  HAT.  I thought so.  Pretty loud to acquiesce: assuring him that if the uncle did
smell of varnish, sir?                     resort to it, or gratified any other little whim of
BROWN HAT. Yes, sir.                     the like nature, he would find himself one mornmALL THE OTHER INSIDE PASSENGERS. Yes, ing prematurely throttled at the Old Bailey; and
sir.                                        that he would do well to make his will before he
BRowN HAT (to the company in general). went, as he would certainly want it before he had
Yes, sir.                                   been in Britain very long.
The conversational powers of the company   On we go, all night, and by-and-by the day
having been by this time pretty heavily taxed, begins to break, and presently the first cheerful
straw hat opens the door and gets out, and all rays of the warm sun come slanting on us brightthe rest alight also. WTe dine soon afterward ly. It sheds its light upon a miserable waste of
with the boarders in the house, and have nothing sodden grass, and dull trees, and squalid huts,
to drink but tea and coffee. As they are both whose aspect is forlorn and grievous in the last
very bad, and the water is worse, I ask for bran- degree.  A  very desert in the wood, whose: dy; but it is a Temperance Hotel, and spirits growth of green is dank and noxious, like that
are not to be had for love or money. This pre- upon the top of standing water; where poisonpcsterous forcing of unpleasant drinks down the ous fungus grows in the rare footprint on the
reluctant throats of travellers is not at all uncom- oozy ground, and sprouts like witches' coral from
mon in America, but I never discovered that the crevices in the cabin wall and floor; it is a
-the scruples of such wincing landlords induced hideous thing to lie upon the very threshold
them to preserve any unusually nice balance be- of a city.  But it was purchased years ago,
tween the quality of their fare and their scale of and as the owner cannot be discovered, the State
charges: on the contrary, I rather suspected has been unable to reclaim it. So there it rethem of diminishing the one and exalting the mains, in the midst of cultivation and improveother, by way of recompense for the loss:of their ment, like ground accursed, and made obscene
profit on the sale of spirituous liquors. After and rank by some great crime.
all, perhaps, the plainest course for persons of   We reached Columbus shortly before seven
such tender consciences would be, a total absti- o'clock, and stayed there, to refresh, that day:nence from tavern-keeping.                 and night: having excellent apartmnents in a
Dinner over, we get into another vehicle very large unfinished hotel called the Neill,which is ready at the door (for the coach has House, which were richly fitted with the polish-,been changed in the interval), and resume our ed wood of the black walnut, and opened on a
-journey, which continues through the same kind handsome portico and stone verandah, like rooms
of country until evening, when we come to the in some Italian mansion.  The town is clean,
-town where we are to stop for tea and supper; and pretty, and, of course, is t"going to be"
and having delivered the mail-bags at the post- much larger. It is the seat of the State Legi-.
office, ride through the usual wide street, lined ture of Ohio, and lays claim, in consequence, to
with the usual stores and houses (the drapers some consideration and importance.
always having hung up at their door, by way of   There being no stage-coach next day, upon
-sign, a piece of bright red cloth), to the hotel the road we wished to take, I hired " an extra,"
- where this meal is prepared. There being many at a reasonable charge, to carry us to Tiffin; a:boarders here, we sit down, a very large party, small town from whence there is a railroad to.and a very melancholy one as usual. But there Sandusky. This extra was an ordinary fouris a buxom hostess at the head of the table, and horse stage-coach, such as I have described,
opposite, a simple Welsh schoolmaster with his changing horses and drivers, as the stage-coach
-wife and child, who came here, on a speculation would, but was exclusively our own for the
of greater promise than performance, to teach journey. To ensure our having horses at the:the classics: and they are sufficient subjects of proper stations, and being incommoded by no
interest until the meal is over, and another coach strangers, the proprietors sent an agent on the
is ready. In it we go on once more, lighted by box, who was to accompany us the whole way
a bright moon, until midnight; when we stop to through; and thus attended, and bearing with
change the coach again, and remain for half an us, besides, a hamper full of savoury cold meats,
hour or so in a miserable room, with a blurred and fruit, and wine, we started off again, in
lithograph of Washington over the smoky fire- high spirits, at half past six o'clock next mornplace, and a mighty jug of cold water on the ing, very much delighted to be by ourselves, and
table; to which refreshment the moody passen- disposed to enjoy even the roughest journey.
gers do so apply themselves, that they would   It was well for us that we were in this huseem to be, one and all, keen patients of Doctor mour, for the road we went over that day, was
Sangrado. Among them is a very little boy, certainly enough to have shaken tempers that
who chews tobacco like a very big one; and a were not resolutely at Set Fair, down to some
droning gentleman, who talks arithmetically and inches below Stormnny. At one time we were a




72~                SNOCTES ON AMERICA.:lung together in a heap at the bottom of the now a student poring on a book; now a crouchcoach, and at another we were crushing our ing negro; now a horse, a dog, a cannon, an,.
heads against the roof. Now, -one side was arned man; a hunch-back throwing off his cloak
down deep in the mire, and we were holding on and stepping forth into the light. They were
to the other. Now, the coach was lying on the often as entertaining to me as so many glasses
tails of the two wheelers; and now it was rear- in a magic lantern, and never took their shapes
ing up in the air, in a frantic state, with all four at my bidding, but seemed to force themselves
horses standing on the top of an insurmountable upon me, whether I would or no; and strange
eminence, looking coolly back at it, as though to say, I sometimes recognised in. them, counterthey would say "Unharness us. It can't be parts of figures once familiar to me in pictures
done." The drivers on these roads, who cer- attached to childish books, forgotten long ago.
tainly get over the ground in a manner which is  It soon became too dark, however, even for
quite miraculous, so twist and turn the team  this amusement, and the trees were so close toabout in forcing a passage, corkscrew fashion, gether that the dry branches rattled against the
through the bogs and swamps, that it was quite coach on either side, and obliged us all, to keep
a common circumstance on looking out of the our heads within.  It lightened, too, for three:
window, to see the coachman Nwith the ends of a whole hours; each flash being very bright, and
pair of reins in his hands, apparently driving blue, and long; and as the vivid streaks came
nothing, or playing at horses, and the leaders darting in among the crowded branches, and the:
staring at one unexpectedly from the back of the thunder rolled gloomily above the tree tops, one
coach, as if they had some idea of getting up could scarcely help thinking that there were betbehind. A great portion of.the- way was over ter neighbourhoods at such a time than thick'what is called a corduroy road, which is made woods afforded.
by throwing trunks of trees into a marsh, and   At length, between ten and eleven o'clock at
leaving them to settle there. The very slightest night, a few feeble lights appeared in the disof the jolts with which the ponderous carriage tance, and Upper Sandusky, an Indian village,
fell from log to log, was enough, it seemed, to where we were to stay till morning, lay before
have dislocated all the bones in the human body. us.
It would be impossible to experience a similar   They were gone to bed at the log inn, which
set of sensations, in any other circumstances, was the only house of entertainment in the place,
unless perhaps in attempting to go up to the top but soon answered to our knocking, and got some
of Saint Paul's in an omnibus. Never, never tea for us in a sort of kitchen or common room,
once, that day, was the coach in any position, tapestried with old newspapers, pasted against
attitude, or kind of motion to which we are ac- the wall. The bed-chamber to which my wife
customed in coaches. Never did it make the and I were shown, was a large, low, ghostly
smallest approach to one's experience of the room; with a quantity of withered branches on
proceedings of any sort of vehicle that goes on the hearth, and two doors without any fastening,
wheels.                                    opposite to each other, both opening on the black
Still, it was a fine day, and the temperature night and wild country, and so contrived, tha
was delicious, and though we had left Summer one of them always blew the other open: a novelbehind us'in the west, and were fast leaving ty in domestic architecture which I do not reSpring, we were moving towards Niagara, and member to have seen before, and which I was
home. We alighted in a pleasant wood towards somewhat disconcerted to have forced on my atthe middle of the day, dined on a fallen tree, and tention after getting into bed, as I had a conleaving our best fragments with a cottager, and siderable sum in gold for our travelling expenses,
our worst with the pigs (who swarm in.this part in my dressing-case. Some of the luggage, howof the country like grains of sand on the sea- ever, piled against the panels, soon settled this
shore,~ to the great comfort of our commissariat difficulty, and my sleep would have been very:
in Canada), we went forward again gayly.   much affected that night, I believe, though it had
As night caine on, the track grew narrower failed to do so.
and narrower, until at last it so lost itself among   My Boston friend climbed up to bed somethe trees, that the driver seemed to find his way where in'the roof, where another guest was alby instinct., We had the comfort of knowing, at ready snoring hugely. Bmut being bitten beyond
least, that there was no danger of his falling his power of endurance, he turned out again, and,
asleep, for every now and then a wheel would fled for shelter to the coach, which was airing
strike against an unseen stump with such a jerk, itself in front of the house. This was not a very
that he' was fain to hold on pretty tight and pret- politic step, as it turned out; for the pigs scentty quick, to keep himself upon the box. Nor ing him, and looking upon the coach as a kind
was there any reason to dread the least danger of pie with some manner of meat inside, gruntedr
from furious driving; inasmuch as over that round it so hideously, that he was afraid to comebroken ground the horses had enough to do to out again, and lay there shivering till morning.
walk; as to shying, there was no room for that; Nor was it possible to warm him when he did
and a herd of wild elephants could not have rnn come out, by means of a glass of brandy; for in
away'in, such a wood, with such a coach at Indian villages, the legislature, with a very good
their heels. So we stumbled along, quite satis- and wise intention, forbids the sale of spirits by
lied.                                      tavern keepers.  The precaution, however, is
These stumps of trees are a curious feature in quite inefficacious, for the Indians never fail to
American travelling.  The varying illusions procure liquor of a worse kind, at a dearer price,
they present to the unaccustomed eye as it grows from travelling pedlers.
dark, are quite astonishing in their number and   It is a settlement of the Wyoming Indians who 
reality. Now, there is a Grecian urn erected in inhabit this place. Among the company at breakthe centre of a lonely field;' now there is a' worm- fast was a mild old gentleman, who had been for
an weeping at a tomb; now a very common- many years employed by the United States Govplace, old gentleman in a white waistcoat, with a ernment in conducting negotiations with the Ins.thumb thrust into each arm-hole of his coat; dians, and who had just concluded a treaty with,.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                     "a
these people, by which they bound themselves, It was enough for us, that whatever we wishedin consideration of a certain annual sum, to re- done was done with great civility and readiness,
move next year to some land provided for them, and a desire to oblige, not only here, but everywest of the Mississippi, and a little way beyond where else; and that all our wants were, in genSt. Louis., Hie gave me a moving account of eral, zealously anticipated.
their strong attachment to the familiar scenes of  -re were taking an early dinner at this house,
their infancy, and, in particular of their burial- on the day after our arrival,'which was Sunday,
places of their kindred; and of their great re- when a steamboat came in sight, and presently
Iluctance to leave them. Ie had witnessed many touched at the wharf. As she proved to be on
such removals, and always with pain, though he her way to Buffalo, we hurried on board with all:
knew that they departed for their own good. speed, and soon left Sandusky far behind us.
The question whether this tribe should go or   She was'a large vessel of five hundred tons,
stay had been discussed among them a day or and handsomely fitted up, though with hightwo before, in a hut erected for the purpose, the pressure engines; which always conveyed that
logs of which still lay upon the ground before kind of feeling to me, which I should be likely
the inn. When the speaking was done, the ayes to experience, I think, if I had lodgings on theand noes were ranged on opposite sides, and first floor of a powder-mill. She was ladenwith
every male adult voted in his turn. The mo- flour, some casks of which commodity were
ment the result was kinown, the minority (a large stored upon the deck. The captain coming up
one) cheerfully yielded to the rest, and withdrew  to have a little conversation, and to introduce a.
all kind of opposition.                    friend, seated himself astride of one of these barWe met some of these poor Indians after- rels, like a Bacchus of private life-; and pulling
ward, riding on shaggy ponies. They were so a great clasp-knife out of his pocket. began to-.
like gipsies, that if I could have seen any of " whittle" it as he talked, by paring thin slices
them in England, I should have concluded, as a off the edges. ABnd he whittled with such i.ndusmatter of course, that they belonged to that wan- try and hearty good will, that but for his being
dering and restless people.                 called away very soon, it must have disappeared
Leaving this town directly after breakfast, we bodily, anlt[ left nothing in its place but grist and:
pushed forward again, over a rather worse road shavings.
than yesterday, if possible, and arrived about   After calling at one or two flat places, with low
noon at Tiflin, where we parted with the extra. dams stretching out into the lake, whereon were
At two o'clock we took the railroad; the travel- stumpy lighthouses, like windmills without sails,.
ling on which was very slow, its construction the whole looking like a Dutch vignette, we camebeing indifferent, and the ground wet and marshy; at midnight to Cleveland, where we lay all night,.
and arrived at' Sandusky in time to dine that and until nine o'clock next morning.
evening. VWe put up at a comfortable little hotel   I entertained quite a curiosity in reference to.
on the brink of Lake Erie, lay there that night, this place, from having seen at Sandusky a speanld had no choice but to wait there next day,  cimen of its literature in the shape of a news.until a steamboat bound for Buffalo appeared. paper, which was very strong indeed upon the
The town, which was sluggish and uninteresting subject of Lord Ashburton's recent arrival at
enough, was something like the back of an Eng- Washington, to adjust the points in dispute be-.lish watering-place, out of the season.   tween the United States Government and GreatOur host, who was very attentive and anxious Britain; informing its readers that as Americato make us comfortable, was a handsome middle- had "whipped" England in her infancy, and
aged man, who had come to this town from New  whipped her again in her youth, so it was clearEngland, in which part of the country he was ly necessary that she must whip her once again
lraised." When I say that he constantly walk- in her maturity; and pledging its credit to all
ed in and out of the room with his hat on; and true Americans, that if Mr. Webster did his.
stopped to converse in the same free-and-easy duty in the approaching negotiations, and sent
state; and lay down on our sofa, and pulled his the English lord home again in double quick
newspaper out of his pocket, and read it at his time, they should, within two years, "sing.'
ease; I merely mention these traits as character- Yankee Doodle in Hyde Park, and Hail Co 0..
istic of the country: not at all as being matter of lumbia in the scarlet courts of Westminster!'"
complaint, or as having been disagreeable to me. I found it a pretty town, and had the satisfaction.
I should undoubtedly be offended by such pro- of beholding the outside of the office of the jourceedings at home, because there they are not the nal from which I have just quoted. I did not
custom, and where they are not, they would be enjoy the delight of seeing the wit who inditedimpertinences; but in America, the only desire the paragraphs in question, but I have no doubt:
of a good-natured fellow of this kind, is to treat he is a prodigious man in his way, and held in.
his guests hospitably and well; and I have no high repute by a select circle.
more right, and I can truly say no more disposi-   There was a gentleman on board, to whom, asi
tion, to measure his conduct} by our English rule I unintentionally learned through the thin partiand standard, than I had o),aarrel with him for tion which divided our state-room from.the cabin.
not being of the exact stat-it d which would quali- in which he and his wife conversed together, I.
fy him for admission into the queen's grenadier was unwittingly the occasion of very great onguards. As little inclination had I to find fault easiness. I don't know why or wherefore, but I:
with a funny old lady who was an upper domes- appeared to run in his mind perpetually, and to.,
tic in this establishment, and who, when she dissatisfy him very much. First of all I heard
came to wait upon us at any meal, sat herself him say: and the most ludicrous part of the busidown comfortably In the most convenient chair, ness was, that he said it in my very ear, and
and producing a large pin to pick her teeth with, could not have communicated more directly with,
remained performing that ceremony, and stead- me, if he had leaned upon my shoulder, and.
fastly regarding us meanwhile with much gravi- whispered me: " Boz is on board still,. my dear."';
ty and composure (now and then pressing us to After a considerable pause, he added, complaineat a little more), until it was time to clear away. ingly, " Boz keeps himself very close';" which.
K




74,                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
was true enough, for I was not very well, and crossed the river again; for I knew there were
was lying down with a book.  I thought he people on the other shore, and in such a place it
had done with me after this, but I was deceived; is natural to shun strange company. To wander
i-or a long interval having elapsed, during which to and fro all day, and see the cataracts from all
I imagine him to have been turning restlessly  points of view; to stand upon the edge of the
from side to side, and trying to go to sleep; lie Great Horse Shoe Fall, marking the hurried
[roke out again with, "I suppose that Boz will water gathering strength as it approached the
Le writing a book by-and-by, and putting all our verge, yet seeming, too, to pause before it shot
names in it!" at which imaginary consequence into the gulf below; to gaze from the river's level
ot being on board a boat with Boz, he groaned, up to the torrent as it came streaming down; to
and became silent.                           climb the neighbouring heights and watch it
We called at the town of Erie, at eight o'clock through the trees, and see the wreathing water in
that night, and lay there an hour. Between five the rapids hurrying on to take its fearful plunge;
and six next morning, we arrived at Buffalo, to linger in the shadow of the solemn rocks three
where we breakfasted; and being too near the miles below; watching the river as, stirred by no
Great Falls to wait patiently anywhere else, we visible cause, it heaved and eddied and awoke
set off by the train, the same morning at nine the echoes, being troubled yet, far down beneath
o'clock, to Niagara.                         the surface, by its giant leap; to have Niagara
It was a miserable day; chilly and raw; a before me, lighted by the sun and by the moon,
damp mist falling; and the trees in that northern red in the day's decline, and gray as evening
region quite bare and wintry.  Whenever the slowly fell upon it; to look upon it every day,
train halted, I'listened for the roar; and was con- and wake up in the night and hear its ceaseless
stantly straining my eyes in the direction where voice: this was enough.
I knew the Falls must be, from seeing the river   I think in every quiet season now, still do those
rolling on towards them; every moment expect- waters roll and leap, and roar and tumble, all
ing to behold the spray. Within a few minutes day long; still are the rainbows spanning them,
of our stopping, not before, I saw two great white a hundred feet below. Still, when the sun is on
clouds rising up slowly and majestically ftrom  them, do they shine and glow like molten gold.
the depths of the earth.  That was all.  At Still, when the day is gloomy, do they fall like
length we alighted: and then for the first time, snow, or seem to crumble away like the front of
I heard the inighty rush of water, and felt the a great chalk cliff, or roll adown the rock like
ground tremble underneath my feet.           dense white smoke. But always does the mighty
The bank is very steep, and was slippery with stream appear to die as it comes down, and alrain, and half-melted ice. 1 hardly know how  ways from the unfathomable grave arises that
I got down, but I was soon at the bottom, and tremendous ghost of spray and mist which is
ciimbing, with two English officers who were never laid: which has haunted this place with
crossing and had joined me, over some broken the same dread solemnity since Darkness broodrocks, deafened by the noise, half-blinded by the ed on the deep, and that first flood before the
spray, and wet to the skin. We were at the foot Deluge -Light-came rushing on Creation at
of' the American Fall. I could see an immense the word of G-od.
torrent of water tearing headlong down  fiom
some great height, but had no idea of' shape, or
situation, or anything but vague immensity.                CHAPTER XV.
When we were seated in the little ferry-boat,
and were crossing the swollen river immediately  IN CANADA; TORONTO; KINGSTON  MONTREAL;
before both cataracts, I began to feel what it was:   QUEBEC; ST JOHN S. IN THE UNITED STATES
but I was, in a manner stunned, and unable to   AGAIN; LERANON; THE SHAIER VILLAGE; ANTP
comprehend the vastness of the scene. It was   WEST POINT.
anot until,I came on Table Rock, and looked-    I WISH to abstain from insinuating any com-:Great Heaven, on what a fall of bright-green parison, or drawing any parallel whatever, be.water!-that it came upon me in its full might tween the social features of the United States
and majesty.                                 and those of the British Possessions in Canada.
Then, when I felt how near to my Creator I For this reason, I shall confine myself to a very
was standing, the first effect, and the enduring  brief account of our journeyings in the latter terone-instant and lasting-of the tremendous ritory.
spectacle, was Peace. Peace of Mind: Tran-   But before I leave Niagara, I must advert to
quillty: calm recollections of the Dead: Great one disgusting circumstance which can hardly
Thoughts of Eternal Rest and Happiness: no- lhave escaped thte observation of any decent travthing of Gloom or Terror. Niagara was at once eller who has visited the Falls.
stamped upon my heart, an Image of Beauty; to    On Table  ock, there is a cottage belonging
remain there, changeless and indelible, until its  n Tabluide, where i s a cottage plae  are
to a Guide, where little relics of the place are
pulses cease to beat, forevrer.         1-fsold, and where visiters register their names in
Oh, how the strife and trouble of our daily life  and where isiters reister their names in
receded from my view, and lessened in the dis-  book kept for the pupose.  On the wall of the
tance, during the ten memorable days we passed  room in which a great many of these volumes
aon that Enchanted Ground! What voices spoke are preserved, the following request is posted
-from out the thundering water; what lces, faclded i Visitors will please not copy nor extract the
from the earth, looked out upon nie from its Lemarks and poetical effsions from the regisgleaming depths; what Heavenly promise glis- ters and albums kept here."
tened in those angels' tears, the drops of many    But for this intimation, I should have let them
hues, that showered around, and twined them- lie upon the tables on which they were strewn
selves about the gorgeous arches which the with careful negligence, like books in a drawingchanging rainbows made!                     room: being quite satisfied with the stupendous
I never stirred in all that time fromr the Cana- silliness of certain stanzas with an anti-climax
Zian side, whither I had gone at first. I never at the end of each, which were frambd and




NOTES ON` AMERICA.                                    75
h-ung up on the wall. Curious, however, after town is sheltered; and, seen from this point, is
reading this announcement, to see what kind of extremely beautiful and picturesque.  On the
morsels were so carefully preserved, I turned a most conspicuous of these heights stood a monfew leaves, and found them scrawled all over ument erected by the provincial legislature in
with the vilest and the filthiest ribaldry that memory of General Brock, who was slain in aever human hogs delighted in.              battle with the Amercan forces, after having
It is humiliating enough to know that there won the victory. Some vagabond, supposed to
are among men, brutes so obscene and worth- be a fellow of the name of Lett, who is now, or
less, that they can delight in laying their miser- who lately was in prison as a felon, blew up
able profanations upon the very steps of Nature's this monument two years ago, and it is now a
greatest altar. But that these should be hoard- melancholy ruin, with a long fragment of iron
ed up for the delight of their fellow swine, and railing hanging dejectedly from  its top, and
kept in a public place where any eyes may see waving to and fro like a wild ivy branch or brothem, is a disgrace to the English language in ken vine stem. It is of much higher importance
which they are written (though I hope fow of than it may seem that this statue should be rethese entries have been made by Englishmen), paired at the public cost, as it ought to have
and a reproach to the English side, on which been long ago. Firstly, because it is beneath
they are preserved.                        the dignity of England to allow a memorial
The quarters of our soldiers at Niagara are raised in honour of one of her defenders to refinely and airily situated. Some of them are main in this condition on the very spot where.
large detached houses on the plain above the he died.  Secondly, because the sight'of it in
Falls, which were originally designed for hotels, its present state, and the recollection of the un-,
and in the evening time, when the women and punished outrage which brought it to this pass,
children were leaning over the balconies watch- is not very likely to soothe down border feelings
ilg the men as they played at ball and other among English subjects here, or compose their.
games upon the grass before the door, they of- border quarrels and dislikes.
ten presented a little picture of cheerfulness and   I was standing on the wharf at this place,
animation which made it quite a pleasure to watching the passengers embarking in a steampass that way.                              boat, which preceded that whose coming we
At any garrisoned point where the line of de- awaited, and participating in the anxiety with
marcation between one country and another is which a sergeant's wife was collecting her few
so very narrow as at Niagara, desertion from  goods together-keeping one distracted eye hard
the ranks can scarcely fail to be of fiequent cc-  upon the porters, who were hurrying them on
aurrence; and it may be reasonably supposed board, and the othe;r on a hoopless washing-tub,
that; when the soldiers entertain the wildest for which, as being the most utterly worthless
and maddest hopes of the fortune and inde- of all her movables, she seemed to entertain
pendence that await them on the other side, the particular affection-when three or four soldiers
impulse to play traitor, which such a place sug- with a recruit came up, and went on board.
gests to dishonest minds, is not weakened. But   The recruit was a likely young fellow enough,
it very rarely happens that the men who do de- strongly built and well made, but by no means
sert are happy and contented afterward; and sober; indeed he had all the air of a man who
_many instances have been known in which they had been more or less drunk for some days. He
have confessed their grievous disappointment, carried a small bundle over his shoulder, slung
and their earnest desire to return to their old at the end of a walking-stick, and had a short
service, if they could but tbe assured of pardon, pipe in his mouth. He was as dusty and dirty
or of lenient treatment. Many of their com- as recruits usually are, and his shoes betokened
rades, notwithstanding, do the like from time to that he had travelled on foot some distance; but
time; and instances of loss of life, in the effort he was in a very jocose state, and shook hands
to cross the river with this object, are far from  with this soldier, and clapped that one on the
being uncommon. Several men were drowned back, and talked and laughed continually, like a
in the attempt to swim across not long ago; roaring idle dog as he was.
and one, who had the madness to trust himself   The soldiers rather laughed at this blade than
upon a table as a raft, was swept down to the with him; seeming to say, as they stood straightwhirlpool, where his mangled body eddied round cuning their canes in their hands, and looking
and round some days.                       cooly at him over their glazed stocks, " Go on,
I am inclined to think that the noise of the my boy, while you may! you'll know better byFalls is very much exaggerated; and this will and-by;" when suddenly the novice, who had
appear the more probable when the depth of the been backing towards the gangway in his noisy
great basin, in which the water is received, is merriment, fell overboard before their eyes, and
taken into account.  At no time during our splashed heavily down into the river between
stay here was the wind at all high or boisterous, the vessel and the dock.
but we never heard them three miles off, even at   I never saw such a good thing as the change'
the very quiet time of sunset, though we often that came over these soldiers in an instant. Altried.                                     most before the man was down, their profesQueenston, at which place the steamboats sional manner, their stiffness and constraint,
start for Toronto (or, I should rather say, at were gone, and they were filled with the most
which place they call, for their wharf is at Lew- violent energy. In less time than is required to
iston, on the opposite shore), is situated in a tell it, they had him out again, feet first, with
delicious valley, through which the Niagara the tails of his coatflapping over his eyes, everyriver, in colour a very deep green, pursues its thing about him hanging the wrong way, and
course. It is approached by a road that takes its the water streaming off at every thread in his
winding way among the heights by which the threadbare dress. But the moment they set




76B                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
him upright, and found that he was none the ernor general, to which I have just adverted. Otworse, they were soldiers again, looking over all the colours in the rainbow, there is but one
their glazed stocks more composedly than ever. which could be so employed; I need not say that
The half-sobered recruit glanced round for a flag was orange.
moment, as if his first impulse were to express   The time of leaving Toronto for Kingston, issome gratitude for his preservation; but seeing noon. By 8 o'clock next morning the traveller
them with this air of total unconcern, and having is at the end of his journey, which is performed
his wet pipe presented to him, with an oath, by by steamboat upon Lake Ontario, calling at Port
the soldier who had been by far the most anx- Hope and Coburg, the latter a cheerful thriving
ious of the party, he stuck it in his mouth, thrust little town. Vast quantities of flour form the
his hands into his moist pockets, and without chief item in the freight of these vessels.  We
even shaking the water off his clothes, walked had no fewer than one thousand and eighty baron board whistling; not to say as if nothing had rels on board between Coburg and Kingston.
happened, but as if he had meant to do it, and it   The latter place, which is now the seat of
had been a perfect success.                  government in Canada, is a very poor town,
Our steamboat came up directly this had left rendered still poorer in the appearance of its
the whrrf, and soon bore us to the mouth of the market-place by the ravages of a recent fire,
Niagara, where the-stars and stripes of America Indeed, it may be said of Kingston, that one half
fluttter on one side, and the Union Jack of Eng- of it appears to be burned down, and the other
land on the other; and so narrow is the space half not to be built up  The Government House
between them that the sentinels in either fort is neither elegant nor commodious, yet it is alcan often hear the watchword of the other most the only house of any importance in the
country given. Thence we emerged on Lake neighbourhood.
Ontario, an inland sea, and by half past 6 o'clock   There is an admirable jail here, well and
were at Toronto.                             wisely governed, and excellently regulated in,
The country round this town being very flat, every respect. The men were employed as.
is bare of scenic interest; but the town itself is shoemakers, ropemakers, blacksmiths, tailors,
full of life and motion, bustle, bussiness, and im- carpenters, and stonecutters, and in building a
provernent. The streets are well paved, and new prison, which was pretty far advanced tolighted with gas; the houses are large and good; wards completion. Tho female prisoners were
the shops excellent. Many of them have a dis- occupied in needlework. Among them was a
play of goods in their windows, such as uiay be beautiful girl of twenty, who had been there
seen-in thriving county towns in England; and  nearly three years. She acted as bearer of sethere are some which would do no discredit to cret despatches for the self-styled Patriots on
the metropolis itself. There is a good stone Navy Island, during the Canadian insurrection,
prison here; and there are, besides, a handsome sometimes dressing as a girl, and carrying them
church, a court-house, public offices, many com- in her stays-sometimes attiring herself as a
modious private residences, and a government boy, and secreting them in the lining of her hat.
observatory for noting and recording the mag- In the latter character she always rode as a boy
netic variations. In the College of Upper Can- would, which was nothing to her, for she could
uda, which is one of the public establishments govern any horse that any man could ride, and
of the city, a sound education in every depart- could drive four-in-hand with the best whip in
ment of polite learning can be had, at a very those parts. Setting forth on one of her patrimoderate expense, the annual charge for the in- otic missions, she appropriated to herself the
struction of each pupil not exceeding nine pounds first horse she could lay her hands on; and this
sterling. It has pretty good endowments in the offence had brought her where I saw her.  She
way of land, and is a valuable and useful insti- had quite a lovely face, though, as the reader
tution.                                      may suppose from this sketch of her history,
The first stone of a new college had been laid there was a lurking devil in her bright eye,
but a few days before, by the Governor General. which looked out pretty sharply from between
It will be a handsome, spacious edifice, ap- her prison bars.
proached by a long avenue, which-is already    There is a bomb-proof' fort here of great
planted and made available as a public walk. strength, which occupies a bold position, and is
The town is well adapted for wholesome exer- capable, doubtless, of doing good service; though
cise at all seasons, for the footways in the thor- the town is much too close upon the frontier to
oughfares which lie beyond the principal street, be long held, I should imagine, for its present
are planked like floors, and kept in very good purpose in troubled times. There is also a small
and clean repair.                           navy-yard, where a couple of government steamIt is matter of deep regret that political differ- boats were building, and getting on vigorously.
ences should have run high in this place, and   We left Kingston for Montreal on the tenth of
led to most discreditable and disgraceful results. May, at half past nine in the morning and proIt is not long since guns were discharged from  ceeded in a steamboat down the St. Lawrence
a window in this town at the successful candi- River. The beauty of this noble stream at aldates in an election, and the coachman of one most any point, but especially in the commenceof them was actually shot in the body, though  ment of this journey, when it winds its way
not dangerously wounded.  But one man was among the thousand islands, can hardly be imkilled on the same occasion; and from the very agined, The number and constant succession
window whence he received his death, the very of these islands, all green and richly woodedflag which shielded his murderer (not only in the their fluctuating sizes, some so large that for
commission o' his crime, but from  its conse- half an hour together one among them will apluences),' w. hisplayed again on the occasion pear as the opposite bank of the river, and some
of the    a,.,remony performed by the gov- iso small that they are mere dimples on its broad




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      77
bosom; their infinite-variety of shapes, and the remarkable for their beauty, solidity, and exnumberless combinations of beautiful forms tent.
which the trees growing on them present, all   There is a very large Catholic cathedral here,
form a picture fraught with uncommon interest recently erected, with two tall spires, of which
and pleasure..one is yet unfinished.  In thie open space in
In the afternoon we shot down some rapids, front of this edifice stands a solitary, grim-lookwhere the river boiled and bubbled strangely, ing, square brick tower, which has a quaint and
and where the fo.rce and headlong violence of remarkable appearance, and which the wiseacres
the current were tremendous. At seven o'clock of, the, place have consequently determined to
we reached Dickenson's Landing, whence trav- pull down immediately. The Government H-louse
ellers proceed for two or three hours by stage- is very superior to that at Kingston, and the
coach, the navigation of the river being render- town is full of life and bustle. In one of the
ed so dangerous and difficult in the interval, by suburbs is a plank road-not footpath-five or
rapids, that steamboats do not make the passage. six miles long, and a famous road it is too. All
The number and length of those portages, over the rides in the vicinity were made doubly inwhich the roads are bad and the travelling slow, teresting by the bursting  out of spring, which is
render the way between the towns of Montreal here so rapid, that it is but a day's leap from
and Kingston somewhat tedious.              barren winter to the blooming youth of summer.
Our course lay over a wide, unenclosed tract   The steamboats to Quebec perform the jourof country at a little distance from the river side, ney in the night: that is to say, they leave Monwhence the bright warning lights on the danger- treal at six in the evening, and arrive in Quebec
ous parts of the St. Lawrence shone vividly, at six next morning. WVe made this excursion
The night was dark and raw, and the way dreary during our stay in Montreal (which exceeded a
enough.  It was nearly ten o'clock when We fortnight), and were charmed by its interest and
reached the wharf where the next steamboat beauty.
lay, and went on board and to bed.             The impression made upon the visiter by this
She lay there all night, and started as soon as Gibraltar of America-its giddy heights-its citit was day. The morning was ushered in by a adel suspended, as it were, in the air —its picviolent thunder-storm, and was very wet, but turesque steep streets and frowning gateways,
gradually improved and brightened up. Going and the splendid views which burst upon the
on deck after breakfast, I was amazed to see, eye at every turn-is at onceunique and lasting.
floating down with the stream, a most gigantic It is a place not to be forgotten or mixed up in
raft, with some thirty or forty wooden houses the mind with other places, or altered fobr a moupon it, and at least as many flag masts, so that ment in the crowd of scenes a traveller can reit looked like a nautical street.  I saw many of call. Apart from the realities of this most picthese rafts afterward, but never one so large. turesque city, there are associations clustering
All the timber, or " lumber," as it is called in about it which wotild make a desert rich in inAmerica, which is brought down the St. Law — terest. The dangerous precipice along whose
rence, is floated down in this manner. rWhen rocky front Wolfe and his brave companions
the raft reaches its destination it is broken up, climbed to glory; the Plains of Abraham, where
the materials are sold, and the boatmen return he received his mortal wound; the fortress, so
for more.                                    chivalrously defended by Montcalm; and his solAt eight we landed again, and travelled by a dier's grave, dug for him while yet alive, by the
stage-coach for four hours, through a pleasant bursting of a shell, are not the least among them,
and well-cultivated country, perfectly French in or among the gallant incidents of history. That
every respect: in the appearance of the cottages, is a noble monument too, and worthy of two
the air, language, and dress of the peasantry-  great nations, which perpetuates the memory of
the sign-boards on the shops and taverns, and both brave generals, and on which their names
the Virgin's shrines and crosses by the wayside. are jointly wyritten.
Nearly every common labourer and boy, though    The city is rich in public institutions and in
he had no shoes to his feet, wore round his waist Catholic churches and charities; but it is maina sash of some bright colour, generally red; and ly in the prospect from the site of the Old Govthe women who were working in the fields and ernment House, and from the Citadel, that its
gardens, and doing all kinds of husbandry, wore, surprising beauty lies. The exquisite expanse
one and all, great flat straw hats with most ca-  of country, rich in field and forest, mountainpacious brims. There were Catholic priests and height and water, whiph lies stretched out besisters of charity in the village streets, and im- fore the view, with miles of Canadian villages,
ages of the:Saviour at the corners of cross roads glancing in long whites treaks, like veins, along
and in other public places.                 the landscape; the motley crowd of gables, roofs,
At noon we went on board another steamboat, and chimney tops in the old hilly:town immediand reached the village of Lachine, nine miles ately at hand; the beautiful St. Lawrence sparkfrom Montreal, by three o'clock. There we left ling and flashing in the sunlight; and the tiny
the river, and went on by land.             ships below tye rock from which you gaze, whose
Montreal is pleasantly situated on the margin distant riggiug looks like spiders' webs against
of the St. Lawrence, and is backell by some bold the light, while casks and barrels on their decks
heights, about which there are charming rides dwindle into toys, and busy mariners bocome so
and drives.  The streets are generally nar- many puppets: all this, framed by a sunken winrow and irregular, as in most French towns dow in the fortress and looked at from the shadof any age; but in the more modern parts owed room within, forms one of the brightest
of the city they are wide and airy. They dis- and most enchanting pictures that the eye can
play a great variety of very good shops, and both rest upon.
in the town and suburbs there are many excel-   In the spring of the year vast numbers of emi
lent private dwellings. The granite quays are grants who have newly arrived from England o0




78                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
from Ireland, pass between Quebec and Mon- honour of my kind come glowing on my heart,
treal, on their way to the back woods and new  and wished to God there had been many Athesettlements of Canada. If it be an entertaining ists in the better part of human nature there, to
lounge (as I very often found it) to talke a morn- read with me this simple lesson in the book of
ing stroll upon the quay at Montreal, and see Life.
them grouped in hundreds on the public wharfs,
about their chests and boxes, it is matter of' deep   We left Montreal for New York again, on the
interest to be their fellow-passenger on one of thirtieth of May; crossing to La Prairie, on the
these steamboats, and, mingling with the con- opposite shore of the St. Lawrence, in a steamcourse, see and hear them unobserved.        boat; we then took the railroad to St. John's,
The vessel in which we returned from Quebec which is on the brink of Lake Champlain.  Our
to Montreal was crowded with them, and at night last greeting in Canada was fromn the English
they spread their beds between decks (those who officers in the pleasant barracks at that place (a
had beds, at least,) and slept so close and thick class of gentlemen who had made every hour of
about our cabin door, that the passage to and our visit memorable by- their hospitality and
fro was quite blocked up. They were nearly all friendship); and with "Rule Britannia " soundEnglish-from Gloucestershire the greater part, ing in our ears, soon left it far behind.
and had had a long winter passage out; but it   But Canada has held, and always will retain a
was wonderful to see how clean the children foremost place in my remembrance. Few Enghad been kept, and how untiring in their love lishmen are prepared to find it what it is. Adand self-denial all the poor parents were.   vancing quietly; old differences settling down,
Cant as we may, and as we shall-to the end and being fast forgotten; public feeling and
of all things, it is very much harder for the poor private enterprise alike in a sound and wholeto be virtuous than it is for the rich; and the some state; nothing of flush or fever in its sysgood that is in them shines the brighter for it. tem, but health and vigour throbbing in its steady
In many a noble mansion lives a man, the best pulse: it is full of hope and promise. To meof husbands and of fathers, whose private worth who had been accustomed to think of it as
in both capacities is justly lauded to the skies. something left behind in the strides of advancing
But'bring. him here, upon this crowded deck. society, as something neglected and forgotterr,
Strip from his fair young wife her silken dress slumbering and wasting in its sleep —the demand
and jewels, unbind her braided hair, stamp early for labour and the rates of wages; the busy
wrinkles on her brow, pinch her pale cheek with quays of Montreal; the vessels taking in their
care and much privation, array her faded form  cargoes, and discharging them; the amount of
in coarsely patched attire, let there be nothing shipping in the different ports; the commerce,
but his love to set her forth or deck her out, and roads, and public works, all made to last; the
you shall put it to the proof indeed.  So change respectability and character of the public jourhis station in the world that he shall see in those nals; and the amount of rational comfort and
young things who climb about his knee not rec- happiness which honest industry Miay earn;
ords of his wealth and name, but little wrest- were very great surprises. The steamboats on
lers with him for his daily bread, so many poach- the lakes, in their conveniences, cleanliness, and
ers on his scanty meal, so many units to divide safety; in the gentlemanly character and bearhis every sum of comfort, and farther to reduce, ing of their captains: and in the politeness and
its small amount. In lieu of the endearments perfect comfort of their social regulations; are
of childhood in its sweetest aspect, heap upon unsurpassed even by the famous Scotch vessels,
him all its pains and wants, its sicknesses and deservedly so much esteemed at home.  The
ills, its fretfulness, caprice, and querulous en- inns are usually bad; because the custom  of
durance; let its prattle be not of engaging in- boarding at hotels is not so general here as in
fant fancies. but of cold, and thirst, and hunger; the States, and the British officers, who form
and if his fatherly affection outlive all this, and a large portion of the society of every town,
he be patient; watchful, tender, careful of his live chiefly at the regimental messes; but in
children's lives and mindful always of their joys every other respect, the traveller in Canada will
and sorrows-then send him back to parliament, find as good provision for his comfort as in any
and pulpit, and to quarter sessions, and when he place I know.
hears fine talk of the depravity of those who live   There is one American boat-the vessel which
from hand to mouth, and labour hard to do it, carried us on Lake Champlain, from St. John's
let him speak up, as one who knows, and tell to Whitehall-which I praise very highly, but no
those holders forth that they, by parallel with more than it deserves, when I say that it is susuch a class, should be high angels in their daily perior even to that in which we went from
lives, and lay but humble siege to Heaven at last. Queenston to Toronto, or to that in which we
Which of us shall say what he would be, if travelled from the latter place to Kingston, or I
such realities, with small relief or change all have no doubt I may add, to any other in the
through his days, were his! Looking round world. This steamboat, which is called the
upon these people; far from home, houseless, Burlington, is a perfectly exquisite achievement
indigent, wandering, weary with travel and hard of neatness, elegance, and order. The decks are
living; and seeing how patiently they nursed drawing-rooms; the cabins are boudoirs, choiceand tended their young children; how they con,  ly furnished and adorned with prints, pictures,
suited ever their wants first, then half supplied and musical instruments; every nook and corner
their own; what gentle ministers of hope and in the vessel is a perfect curiosity of graceful
faith the women were; how the men profited by comfort and beautiful contrivance.  Captain
their example; and how very, very seldom evema Sherman, her commander, to whose ingenuity
a moment's petulance or harsh complaint broke and excellent taste these results are solely attribout among them; I felt a stronger love and utable, has bravely and worthily distingulshed




NOTE S ON AMERICA.                                     79
himself on more than one trying occasion; not   Between nine and ten o'clock at night we arleast among them, in having the moral courage rived at Lebhanon: which is renowned for its
to carry British troops, at a time (during the warm baths. and for a great hotel, well adapted,
Canadian rebellion) when no other conveyance  I have no doubt, to the gregarious taste of those
was open to them. He and his vessel are held seekers after health or ieasure who repairhere,
in universal respect, both by his own country- but inexpressibly comfortlessto me. We were
men and ours; and no man ever enjoyed the shown into an immense apartment, lighted by
popular esteem, who, in his sphere of action, two dim candles, called the drawing-room, from
won and wore it better than this gentleman.    which there was a descent by a flight of steps
By means'of this floating palace we were soon to another vast desert called the dining-room:
in the United States again, and called that even- our hed-chambers were among certain long rows
ing at Burlington; a pretty town, where we lay of little whitewashed cells, which opened from
an hour or so. We reached Whitehall, where either side of a dreary passage; and were so
we were to disembark, at six next morning; and like rooms in a prison that I half expected to be
might have done so earlier, but that these steam- locked up when I went to bed, and listened inboats.lie by for some hours in the night, in con- voluntarily for the turning of the key on the outsequence of the lake becoming very narrow at side. There need be baths somewhere in the
that part of the journey, and difficult of naviga- neighbourhood, for the other washing arrangetion in the dark. Its width is so contracted'at ments were on as limited a scale as f ever saw.,
one point, indeed, that they are obliged to warp even in America: indeed, these bed-rooms were
round by means of a rope.                    so very bare of even such common luxuries as
After breakfasting at Whitehall, we took the chairs, that I should say they were not provldedL
stage-coach for Albany: a large and busy towvn, with enough of anything, but that I bethink mywhere we arrived between five and six o'clock self of our having been most bountifully bitter
that afternoon, after a very hot day's journey, all night.
for we were now in the height of summer again.'The house is very pleasantly situated, howAt seven we started for New-York on board a ever, and we ha(l a good breakfast. That done,
great North  River steamboat, which was so we went to visit our place of destination, which
crowded with passengers that the upper declk was some two miles off, and the way to which
was like the box lobby of a theatre between the was soon indicated by a finger-post, whereon
pieces, and the lower one like Tottenham Court was painted " To the Shaker Village."
Road on a Saturday night. But we slept soundly,   As we rode along we passed a party of Shanotwithstanding, and soon after five o'clock next kers, who were at work upon the road; who
morning, reached New-York.                   wore the broadest of all broad-brimmed hats;
Tarrying here only that day and night to re- and were in all visible respects such very woodcruit after our late fatigues, we started off once en men, that I felt about as much sympathy fcr
more upon our last journey in America. We them, and as much interest in them, as if they
had yet five days to spare before embarking for had been so many figure-heads of ships. PresEngland, and I had a great desire to see "the ently we came to the beginning of the village,
Shaker Village," which is peopled by a reli- and alighting at the door of the house where the
gious sect from whom it takes its name.      Shaker manufactures are sold, and which is the
To this end we went up the North River head-quarters of the elders, requested permisagain, as far as the town of I-Hudson, and there sion to see the Shaker worship.
hired an extra to carry us to Lebanon, thirty   Pending the conveyance of this request to
miles distant: and of course another and a dif- some person. in authority, we walked into a grim
ferent Lebanon from that village where I slept room, where several grim hats were hanging on
on the night of the prairie trip.            grim pegs, and the time was grimly told by a
The country through which the road mean- grim clock, which uttered evey tick with a kind
dered was rich and beautiful; the weather very of struggle, as if it broke the grim silence refine; and for many miles the Caatskill Mount- luctantly, and under protest.  Ranred against
ains, where Rip Van Winkle and the ghastly the wall were six or eight stiff, high-backed
Dutchmen played at ninepins one memorable chairs, and they partook so strongly of the gene
gusty afternoon, towered in the blue distance eral grimness, that one would much rather have
like stately clouds. At one point, as we as- sat on the floor than incurred the smallest obcended a steep hill, athwart whose base a rail- ligation to any of them.
road, yet constructing, took its course, we came   Presently there stalked into this apartment a
upon an Irish colony. With means at hand of grim old Shaker, with eyes as hard, and dulL.
building decent cabins, it was wonderftul to see and cold, as the great round metal buttons on:
how clumsy, rough, and wretched, its hovels his coat and waistcoat: a sort of calm goblin.
were. The best were poor protection from the Being informed of our desire, he produced a
weather; the worst let in the wind and rain newspaper wherin the body of elders, whereof
through wide breaches in the roofs of sodden he was a member, had advertised but a few
grass, and in the walls of mud; some had nei- days before, that in consequence of certain unther door nor window; some had nearly fallen seemly interruptions which their worship had
down, and were imperfectly propped up by received from strangers, their chapel was closed
stakes and poles, all were ruinous and filthy. to the public for the space of one year.
Hideously ugly old women and very buxom    As nothing was to be urged in opposition to
young ones, pigs, dogs, men, children, babies, this reasonable arrangement, we requested leave
pots, kettles, dunghills, vile refuse, rank straw, to make some trifling purchases of Shlake?
and standing water, all wallowing together in goods, which was grimly conceded.  We ac~
an inseparable heap, composed the furniture of cordingly repaired to a store in the same house.
every dark and dirty hut.                   and on the opposite side of the passage, where




NOTES ON AMERICA.
the stock was presided over by something alive and cannot possess much strength of resolution
in a russet case, which the elder said was a in this or any other respect, I can assert from
woman; and which I suppose was a woman, my own observation of the extreme juvenility
though I should not have suspected it.       of certain youthful Shakers whom  I saw  at
On the opposite side of the road was their work among the party on the road.
place of worship: a cool, clean edifice of wood,   They are said to be good drivers of bargains,
with large windows and green blinds: like a but to be honest and just in their transactions,
spacious summer-house. As there was no get- and even in horse-dealing to resist those thievting into this place, and nothing was to be done, ish tendencies which would seem, for some unbut walk up and down, and look at it and the  discovered reason, to be almost inseparable
other buildings in the village (which were chiefly  from that branch of traffic. In all matters they
of wood, painted a dark red like English barns, hold their own course quietly, live, in their
and composed of many stories like English fac- gloomy, silent commonwealth, and show little
tories), I have nothing to communicate to the  desire to interfere with other people.
reader, beyond the scanty results I gleaned the    This is well enough, but nevertheless I canawhile our purchases were making. These peo- not, I confess, incline towards the Shakers;
ple are called Shakers from their peculiar form  view them with much favour, or extend towards
of adoration, which consists of a dance, perform- them any very lenient construction. I so abed by the men and women of all ages, who ar- hor, and from my soul detest that bad spirit, no
a'ange themselves for that purpose in opposite matter by what class or sect it may be enterparties: the men first divesting themselves of tained, which would strip life of its healthful
their hats and coats, which they gravely hang  graces, rob youth of its innocent pleasures,
against the wall before they begin; and tying  pluck from maturity and age their pleasant ora riband round their shirt sleeves, as though  naments, and make existence but a narrovw path
they were going to be bled. They accompany  towards the grave: that odious spirit which, if
themselves with a droning, humming noise, and  it could have had full scope and sway upon the
-dance until they are quite exhausted, alternately  earth, must have blasted and made barrenr the
advancing and retiring in a preposterous sort of imaginations of the greatest men, and left them,
trot. The effect is said to be unspeakably ab- in their power of raising up enduring images besurd: and if I may judge from a print of this fore their fellow creatures yet unborn, no better
ceremony which I have in my possession, and  than the beasts: that, in these very broad-brimwhich I am informed by those who have visited  med hats and very sombre coats-in stifflneckthe chapel, is perfectly accurate, it must be in- ed, solemn-visaged piety, in short, no matter:initely grotesque                           what its garb, whether it have cropped hair as
They are governed by a woman, and her rule  in a Shaker village, or long nails as in a Hinis understood to be absolute, though she has doo temple-I recognise the worst among the
the assistance of a council of elders. She lives, enemies of I-Ieaven and Earth, who turn the
it is said, in strict seclusion, in certain rooms water at the marriage feasts of this poor world
above the chapel, and is never shown to pro- not into wine, but gall. And if there must be
-fane eyes. If she at all resembled the lady who  people vowed to crush the harmless fancies and
presided over the store, it is a great charity to  the love of innocent delights and gayeties, which
keep her as close as possible, and I cannot too  are a part of human nature: as much a part of
strongly express my perfect concurrence in this it as any other love or hope that is our combenevolent proceeding.                      imon portion: let them, for me, stand openly reAll the possessions and revenues of the set- vealed among the ribald and licentious; the
tlement are thrown into a common stock, which  very idiots know that they are not on the Ireis managed by the elders. As they have made  mortal road, and will despise them, and avoid
converts among people who were well to do in  them readily.
the world, and are frugal and thrifty, it is under-   Leaving the Shaker village with a hearty disstood that this fiund prospers: the more espe- like of the old Shakers, and a hearty pity for the
cially as they have made large purchases of land. young ones: tempered by the strong probability
Nor is this at Lebanon the only Shaker settle- of their running away as they grow older and
ment: there are, I think, at least, three others. wiser, which they not unco-mmonly do: we reThey are good farmers, and all theil produce  turned to Lebanon, and so to Hudson, by the
is eagerly purchased and highly esteemed. way we had come upon the previous day.
"'Shaker seeds,' " Shaker herbs," and" Shaker There, we took steamboat down the North
distilled waters," are commonly announced fior River towards New-York, but stopped, some
sale in the shops of towns and cities. They  four hours' journey short of it, at West Point,
are good breeders of cattle, and are kind and  where we remained that night, and all next
merciful to the brute creation. Consequently, day, and next night too.
iShaker beasts seldom fail to find a ready market.   In this beautithl place: the fairest among the
They eat and drink together, after the Spar- fair and lovely Highlands of the North River:
tan model, at a great public table. There is no slhut in by deep green heights and ruined forts,
union of the sexes; and every Shaker, male and  andt looking down upon the distant town of
fcreale, is devoted to a life of celibacy.  Ru- Newburgh, along a glittering path of sunlit waimour has been busy upon this theme, but here ter, with here and there a shiff, whose white
again I must refer to the lady of the store, and  sail often bends on some new tack as sudden
say, that if many of the sister Shakers resemble  flaws of wind come down upon her friom the guilher, I treat all such slander as bearing on its lies in the hills: hemmed in, besides, all round
-face the strongest marks of wild improbability. with memories of WVashington, and events of
But that they take as proselytes, persons so  the revolutionary war: is the Military School
7oung that they cannot know their own minds, of America.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                      81'
It could not stand on more appropriate ground, distance riding at anchor: her tall masts pointand any ground more beautiful can hardly be. ing up in graceful lines against the sky, and ev-'The course of education is severe, but well- ery rope and spar expressed in delicate and
devised, and manly. Through June, July, and thread-like outline: gallant, too, when we, beAugust, the young men encamp upon the spa- ing all aboard, the anchor came up to the sturdy
cious plain whereon the college stands; and all chorus " Cheerily, men, oh cheerily!" and she
tile year their military exercises are performed followed proudly in the towing steamboat's'there daily. The term of study at this institu- wake: but bravest and most gallant of all, when
tion, which the State requires from all cadets, the tow-rope being cast adrift, the canvass flutis four years; but whether it be from the rigid. tered from her masts, and, spreading her white
nature of the discipline, or the national impa- wings, she soared away upon her free and solitience of restraint, or both causes combined, tary course.
not more than half the number who begin their   In the after-cabin we were only fifteen pas-studies here, ever remain to finish them.   sengers in all, and the greater part were from
The number of cadets being about equal to  Canada, where some of us had known each othlthat of the members of Congress, one is sent er. The night was rough and squally, so were
here from  every Congressional district: its the next two days, but they flew  by quickly,:member influencing the selection.  Commis- and we were soon as cheerful and as snug a.
sions in the service are distributed on the party, with an honest, manly-hearted captain at
-same principle. The dwellings of the various our head, as ever came to the resolution of beprofessors are beautifully situated; and there ing mutually agreeable, on land or water.
is a most excellent hotel for strangers, though    We breakfasted at eight, lunched at twelve,
it has the two drawbacks of being a total ab- dined at three, and took our tea at half past
stinence house (wines and spirits being forbid- seven. We had abundance of amusements, and
den to the students), and of serving the public dinner was not the least among them: firstly,
-meals at rather uncomfortable hours: to wit, for its own sake; secondly, because of its exbreakfast at seven, dinner at one, and supper at traordinary length: its duration, inclusive of all
sunset.                                      the long pauses between the courses, being selThe beauty and freshness of this calm retreat, dom less than two hours and a half; which was
in the very dawn and greenness of summer-it a subject of never-failing entertainment. By
was then the beginning of June-were exquisite way of beguiling the tediousness of these banindeed. Leaving it upon the sixth, andreturn- quets, a select association was formed at the
ing to New-York, to embark for England on the lower end of the table, below the mast, to whose
succeeding day, I was glad to think that among distinguished president modesty forbids me to
the last memorable beauties which had glided make any farther allusion, which, being a very
past us, and softened in the bright perspective, hilarious and jovial institution, was (prejudice
were those whose pictures, traced by no com- apart) in high favour with the rest of the common hand, are fresh in most men's minds: not munity, and particularly with a black steward,,easily to grow old, or fade beneath the dust of who lived for three weeks in a broad grin at
Time: The Caatskill Mountains, Sleepy Hol- the marvellous humour of these incorporated'low, and the Tappaan Zee.                   worthies.,Then we had chess for those who played it,
whist, cribbage, books, backgammon, and shovel-board. In all weathers, fair or foul, calm or
windy, we were every one on deck, walking up
TIlE PASSAGE HOME.              and down in pairs, lying in- the boats, leaning
over the side, or chatting in a lazy group toI NEVER had so much interest before, and very gether. We had no lack of music, for one playlikely I shall never have so much interest again, ed the accordion, another the violin, and anothin the state of the wind, as on the long-looked- er'(who usually began at six o'clock A.M.) the
for morning of Tuesday, the seventh of June. key-bugle; the combined effect of which instru-Some nautical authority had told me a day or ments, when they all played different tunes, in
two previous, " anything with west in it, will different parts of the ship, at the same time,
do;" so when I darted out of bed at daylight, and within hearing of each other, as they someand throwing up the window, was saluted by a times did (everybody being intensely satisfied
lively breeze from the northwest which had with his own performance), was sublimely hidsprung up in the night, it came upon me so eous.
freshly, rustling with so many happy associa-   When all these means of entertainment failtions, that I conceived upon the spot a special ed, a sail would heave in sight; looming, pera'egard for all airs blowing from that quarter of haps, the very spirit of a ship, in the misty disthe compass, which I shall cherish, I dare say, tance, or passing us so close that through our
-until my own wind has breathed its last frail glasses we could see the people on her decks,
puff, and withdrawn itself forever from the mor- and easily make out her name, and whither she
tal calendar.                               was bound. For hours together we could watch
The pilot had not been slow to take advan- the dolphins and porpoises as they rolled, and
tage of this favourable weather, and the ship leaped, and dived around the vessel; or those
which yesterday had lain in such a crowded small creatures ever on the wing, the Mother
dock that she might have retired from trade Carey's chickens, which had borne us company
for good and all, for any chance she seemed to from New-York Bay, and for a whole fortnight'
have of going to sea, was now full sixteen miles fluttered about the vessel's stern. For some
away. A gallant sight she was, when we, fast days we had a dead calm, or very light winds,
gaining on her in a steamboat, saw her in the during which the crew amused themselves with
L




82               ~         I~ NOTES  ON AMERICA.
fishing, and hooked an unlucky dolphin, who ex- I that he too wes obliged to affect despondency;
pired in all his rainbow colours, on the deck: for very peace and quietude.
an event of such importance in our barren cal-   These were additions to the list of entertainendar, that afterward we dated from the dol- ing incidents, but there was still another source,
phin, and made the day on which he died an of' interest. We carried in the steerage nearly
era.                                       a hundred passengers; a little world of poverBesides all this, when we were five or six ty; and as we calne to know individuals among.
days out, there began to be much talk of ice- them by sight, from looking down upon the (leck
bergs, of which wandering islands an unusual where they took the air in the daytime, and
number had been seen by vessels that had come cooked their food, and very otten ate it too, we
into New-York a day or two before we left that became curious to know their histories, and.
port, and of whose dangerous neighbourhood  with what expectations they had gone out to
we were warned by the sudden coldness of the America, and on what errands they were going
weather, and the sinking of the mercury in the home, and what their circumstances were. The,
barometer. While these tokens lasted, a dou- information we got on these heads from the carble look-out was kept, and many dismal tales penter, who had charge of these people, was
were whispered, after dark, of ships that had often of the strangest kind. Some of them had
struck upon the ice and gone down in the night; been in America but three days, some but thr~e
but the wind obliging us to hold a southward months, and some had gone out in the last voycourse, we saw none of them, and the weather age of that very ship in which they were now
soon grew bright and warm again.           returning home. Others had sold their clothes.
The observation every day at noon, and the to raise the passage-money, and had hardly rags;
subsequent working of the vessel's course, was, to cover them; others had no food, and lived,
as may be supposed, a feature in our lives of upon the charity of the rest; and one man, it
paramount importance; nor were there want- was discovered nearly at the end of the voyage,,
ing (as there never are) sagacious doubters of not before-for he kept his secret close, and did
the captain's calculations, who, so soon as his not court compassion-had had no sustenance
back was turned, would, in the absence of com- whatever but the bones and scraps of fat he
passes, measure the chart with bits of string. took from the plates used in the after-cabin dinand ends of pocket-handkerchiefs, and points of ner when they were put out to be washed.
snuffers, and clearly prove him to be wrong by   The whole system of shipping and conveying
an odd thousand miles or so. It was very ed- these unfortunate persons is one that stands in
ifying to see these unbelievers shake their heads need of thorough revision. If any class deserve
and frown, and hear them hold forth strongly to be protected and assisted by the government,.
upon navigation: not that they knew anything it is that class who are banished from their naabout it, but that they always mistrusted the tive land in search of the bare means of subsistcaptain in calm weather, or when the wind was ence. All that could be done for these poor
adverse. Indeed, the mercury itself is not so people by the great compassion and humanity
variable as this class of passengers, whom you  of the captain and officers was done, but theywill see, when the ship is going nobly through require much more. The law is bound, at least
the water, quite pale with admiration, swearing upon the English side, to see that too many of
that the captain beats all captains ever known, them are not put on board one ship; and that
and even hinting at subscriptions for a piece of their accommodations are decent; not demorplate: and who, next morning, when the breeze alizing and profligate. It is bound, too, in comhas lulled, and all the sails hang useless in the mon humanity, to declare that no man shall be
idle air, shake their despondent heads again, taken on board without his stock of provisions.
and say, with screwed-up lips, they hope that being previously inspected by some proper officaptain is a sailor, but they shrewdly doubt him; cer, and pronounced moderately sufficient for
that they do.                              his support upon the voyage. It is bound to.
It even became an occupation in the calm to provide, or to require that there be provided a
wonder when the wind would spring up in the medical attendant; whereas in these ships therefavourable quarter, where, it was clearly shown are none, though sickness of adults and deaths
by all the rules and precedents, it ought to have of children on the passage are matters of the
sprung up long ago. The first mate, who whis- very commonest occurrence. Above all, it is,
tled for it zealously, was much respected for his the duty of any government, be it monarchy orperseverance, and was regarded even by the republic, to interpose and put an end to that
unbelievers as a first-rate sailor. Many gloomy system by which a firm of tra(lers in emigrants
looks would he cast upward through the cabin purchase of the owners the whole'tween-decks
skylights at the flapping sails while dinner was of a ship, and send on board as many wretched
in progress; and some, growing bold in rueful- people as they can lay hold of, on any terms
ness, predicted that we should land about the they can get, without the smallest reference to
middle of July. There are always on board the conveniences of the steerage, the number of
ship, a Sanguine One, and a Despondent One. berths, the slightest separation of the sexes, or
The latter character carried it hollow at this pe- anything but their own immediate profit. Nor
riod of the voyage, and triumphed over the is even this the worst of the vicious system;
Sanguine One at every meal, by inquiring where for certain crimping agents of these houses, who
he supposed the Great Western (which left have a per centage on all the passengers they
New-York a week after us) was now; and inveigle, are constantly travelling about those
where he supposed the "Cunard" steam-packet districts where poverty and discontent are rife,
was now; and what he thought of sailing ves- and tempting the credulous into more misery
sels as compared with steamships nJwz; and so by holding out monstrous inducements to emi
beset his life with pestilent attacks of that kind, gration which never can be realized.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       83
The history of every family we had on board  bless it, showing, in the mist of early morning,
was pretty much the same. After hoarding up, like a cloud; the brightest and most welcolln
and borrowing, and begging, and selling every- cloud, to us, that ever hid the face of Heaven's
thing to pay the passage, they had gone out to fallen sister-Home.
New-York, expecting to find its streets paved   Dim speck as it was in the wide prospect, it
with gold, and had found them paved with very made the sunrise a more cheerful sight, and gave
hard and very real stones. Enterprise was dull; to it that sort of human interest which it seems
labourers were not wanted; jobs of work were to want at sea. There, as elsewhere, the reto be got, but the payment was not. They were turn of day is inseparable from some sense of
coming back, even poorer than they went. One renewed hope and gladness; but the light shiof them was carrying an open letter from a young ning on the weary waste of water, and showing
English artisan, who had been in New-York a it in all its vast extent of loneliness, presents a
fortnight, to a friend near Manchester, whom he solemn spectacle, which even night, veiling it in
strongly urged to follow him. One of the offi- darkness and uncertainty, does not surpass.
cers brought it to me as a curiosity. " This is The rising of the moon is more in keeping with.
the country, Jem," said the writer.  "I like the solitary ocean; and has an air of melanchoAmerica. There is no despotism here; that's ly grandeur, which, in its soft and gentle influthe great thing. Employment of all sorts is go- ence, seems to comfort while it saddens. I recing a-begging, and wages are capital.  You ollect when I was a very young child having a
have only to choose a trade, Jem, and ne it. I fancy that the reflection of the moon in water
haven't made a choice of one yet, but I shall was a path to Heaven, trodden by the spirits of
soon. At present I haven't quite made up my mind good people on their way to God: and this old
whether to be a carpenter-or a tailor."     feeling often came over me again when I watchThere was yet another kind of passenger, and ed it on a tranquil night at sea.
but one more, who, in the calm and the light   The wind was very light on this same Monwinds, was a constant theme of conversation day morning, but it was still in the right quarand observation among us. This was an Eng- ter, and so, by slow degrees, we left Cape Clear
lish sailor, a smart, thorough-built English man- behind, and sailed along, within sight of the
of-war's-man from his hat to his shoes, who was coast of Ireland. And how merry we all were,
serving in the American navy, and, having got and how loyal to the George Washington, and
leave of absence, was on his way home to see how full of mutual congratulations, and how
his friends. When he presented himself to take venturesome in predicting the exact hour at
and pay for his passage, it had been suggested  which we should arrive at Liverpool, may be
to him that.. being an able seaman, he might as easily imagined and readily understood.  Also,
well work it and save the money; but this piece how  heartily we drank the captain's health
of advice he very indignantly rejected, saying, that day at dinner; and how restless we be"' He'd be damned but for once he'd go aboard came about packing up; and how two or three
ship as a gentleman."  Accordingly, they took of the most sanguine spirits rejected the idea of
nis money, but he no sooner came aboard than going to bed at all that night as something it was
he stowed his kit in the forecastle, arranged to not worth while to do so near the shore, but
mess with the crew, and the very first time the went nevertheless, and slept soundly; and how
hands were turned up went aloft like a cat, be- to be so near our journey's end was like a pleas;
fore anybody. And all through the passage ant dream, from u hich one feared to wake.
there he was, first at the bra(ces, outermost on   The friendly breeze freshened again next day,
the yards, perpetually lending a hand every- and on we went once more before it gallantly:
where, but always with a sober dignity in his descrying now acid then an English ship going
manner, and a sober grin on his face, which homeward undei shortened sail, while we, with
plainly said, " I do it as a gentleman. For my every inch of canvass crowded on, dashed gayly
own pleasure, mind you!"                   past, and left her far behind. Towards evening,
At length, and at last, the promised wind the weather turned hazy, with a drizzling rain;
came up in right good earnest, and away we and soon became so thick, that we sailed, as it
went before it, with every stitch of canvass set, were, in a cloud. Still we swept onward like a
slashing through the water hobly. There was phantom ship, and many an eager eye glanced
a grandeur in the motion of the splendid ship, up to where the look-out on the mast kept watch
as, overshadowed by her mass of sails, site rode for Holyhead.
at a furious pace upon the waves, which filled   At length his long-expected cry was heard,
one with an indescribable sense of pride and and at the same moment there shone out from
exultation. As she plunged into a foaming val- the haze and mist ahead a gleaming light, which
ley, how I loved to see the green waves, bor- presently was gone, and soon returned, and soon
dered deep with white, come ruslhing on astern, was gone again. Whenever it came back, the
to buoy her upward at their pleasure, and curl eyes of all on board brightened, and sparkled
about her as she stooped again, but always own like itself: and there we all stood, watching
her for their haughty mistress still! On, on we this revolving light upon the rock at Holyheadl.
flew, with changing lights upon the water, being and praising it for its brightness and its friendly
now in the blessed region of fleecy skies; a warning, and lauding it, in short, above all other
bright sun lighting us by day, and a bright  signal lights that ever were displayed, until it
moon by night; the vane pointing directly once more glimmered faintly in the distance fair
homeward, alike the truthful index to the fa- behind us.
vouring wind and to our cheerful hearts; until   Then it was time to fire a gun for a pilot;
at sunrise, one fair Monday morning-the twen- and almost before its smoke had cleared away,
ty-sevemth of June, I shall not easily forget the a little boat with a light at her masthead caime
day-there lay before us old Cape Clear, God bearing down upon us, through the darkness,




84                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
swiftly. And presently, our sails being backed,   The third, and not the least numerous or influ.
she ran alongside; and the hoarse pilot, wrapped  ential, is composed of all that delicate gentility
and muffled in peacoats and shawls to the very  which cannot bear a superior, and cannot brook
bridge of his weather ploughed-up nose, stood  an equal: of that class whose Republicanism
bodily among us on the deck. And I think if means, "I will not tolerate a man above me;
that pilot had wanted to borrow fifty pounds for and of those below, none must approach too
an indefinite period on no security, we should near;" whose pride, in a land where voluntary
have  engaged to lend it to rhim  among us bhle- servitude is shunned as a disgrace, must be minhave engaged to lend it to him among us be-                        and whose inalienable
fore his boat had dropped astern, or (which is istered to by slaves;
rights can only have their growth in negro
the same thing) before every scrap of news              only have their growth in negro
in the paper he brrought with him had become   It has been sometimes urged that in the una
~the ommn roprtofallonboadIt has been sometimes urged that, in the unathe commuon property of all on board.        vailing efforts which have been made to advance
We turned in pretty late that night, and turn- the cause of Human Freedom in the republic of
ed out pretty soon next morning. By six o'clock America (strange cause for history to treat of!),
we clustered on the deck, prepared to go ashore; sufficient regard has not been had to the existence
and looked upon the spires, and roofs, and of the first class of persons; andithas been consmoke of Liverpool. By eight we all sat down tended that they are hardly used; in being conin one of its hotels, to eat and drink together for founded with the second. This is, no doubt, the
the last time. And by nine we had shaken case; noble instances of pecuniary and personal
hands all round, and broken up our social com- sacrifice have already had their growth among
pany forever.                                them; and it is much to be regretted that the
The country, by the railroad, seemed, as we gulf between them and the advocates of emancirattled through it, like a luxuriant garden. The pation should have been widened and deepened
beauty of the fields (so small they looked!), the by any means: the rather, as there are, beyond
hedge-rows, and the trees; the pretty cottages, dispute, among these slave-owners, many kind
the beds of flowers, the old churchyards, the an- masters who are tender in the exercise of their
tique houses, and every well-known object: the unnatural power. Still it is to be feared that
exquisite delights of that one journey, crowding this injustice is inseparable from the state of
in the short compass of a summer's day the joy things with which humanity and truth are called
of many years, and winding up with Home and upon to deal. Slavery is not a whit the more
all that makes it dear: no tongue can tell, or pen endurable because some hearts are to be found
of mine describe.                            which can partially resist its hardening influences; nor can the indignant tide of honest wrath
stand still, because in its onward course it overwhelms a few who are comparatively innocent,
CHAPTER  XVII.                   among a host of guilty.
SLAVERY.                     The ground most commonly taken by these
better men among the advocates of slavery, is
THE upholders of slavery in America-of the this: "It is a bad system; and for myself I
atrocities of which system, I shall not write one would willingly get rid of it, if I could; most
word for which I have not ample proof and war- willingly. But it is not so bad, as you in Engrant —may be divided into three great classes.   land take it to be. You are deceived by the repThe first, are those more moderate and ration- resentations of the emancipationists. The greatal owners of human cattle, who have come into  er part of my slaves are much attached to me.
the possession of them as so many coins in their You will say that I do not allow them to be setrading capital, but who admit the frightful na- verely treated; but I will put it to you whether
ture of the Institution in the abstract, and per- you believe that it can be a general practice to
ceive the dangers to society with which it is treat them inhumanly, when it would impair
fraught, dangers which, however distant they  their value, and would be obviously against the
imay be, or howsoever tardy in their coming on, interests of their masters."
are as certain to fall upon its guilty head, as is   Is it the interest of any man to steal, to game,
the Day of Judgment.                        to waste his health and mental faculties by
The second, consists of all those owners, drunkenness, to lie, forswear himself, indulge
breeders, users, buyers, and sellers of slaves, hatred, seek desperate revenge, or do murder'
who will, until the bloody chapter has a bloody No. All these are roads to ruin. And why,
end, own, breed, use, buy, and sell them at all then, do men tread them.  Because such inclihazards; who doggedly deny the horrors of the nations are among the vicious qualities of mansystem, in the teeth of such a mass of evi- kind. Blot out, ye friends of slavery, from the
dence as never was brought to bear on any other catalogue of human passions, brutal lust, cruelsubject, and to which the experience of every ty, and the abuse of irresponsible power (of all
day contributes its immense amount; who would earthly temptations the most difficult to be resistat this or any other moment, gladly involve ed), and when ye have done so, and not before,
America in a war, civil or foreign, provided that we will inquire whether it be the interest of a
it had, for its sole end and object the assertion of master to lash and maim the slaves, over whose
heir right to perpetuate slavery, and to whip, lives and limbs he has an absolute control.
and work, and torture. slaves, unquestioned by   But again: this class, together with that last
any human authority, and unassailed by any hu- one I have named, the miserable aristocracy
iman power; who, when they speak of Freedom, spawned of a false republic, lift up their voices
mean the Freedom to oppress their kind, and to and exclaim, " Public opinion is all sufficient to
be savage, merciless, and cruel; and of whom  prevent such cruelty as you denounce."  Public
every man on his own ground, in republican  opinion!  Why, public opinion in the slave
America, is a more exacting, and a sterner and  States is slavery, is it not?  Public opinion in
less responsible despot, than the Caliph Haroun  the slave States has delivered the slaves over to
al Raschid in his angry robe of scarlet.    the gentle mercies of theil lnasters. Public opin.




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       85
ion has made the laws, and denied them legisla- bought his liberty, is thrown into jail on no pro.
tive protection. Public opinion has knotted the cess, for no crime, and on no pretence of crime,
lash, heated the branding-iron, loaded the rifle, and is sold to pay the jail fees. This seems in.
and shielded the murderer.  Public opinion credible, even of America, but it is the law.
threatens the abolitionist with death, if he yven-   Public opinion is deferred in such cases as the
ture to the South; and drags him with a rope following, which is headed in the newspapers
about his middle, in a broad unblushing noon,
through the first city in the East. Public opin-         "Interesting Law Case.
ion has, within a few years, burned a slave alive.   "An interesting case is now on trial in the
at a slow fire in the city of St. Louis; and pub- Supreme Court, arising out of the following
lie opinion has to this day maintained upon the facts: a gentleman residing in Maryland had albench that estimable judge who charged the jury, lowed an aged pair of his slaves substantial
impanelled there to try his murderers, that their though not legal freedom  for several years.
most horrid deed was an act of public opinion, While thus living a daughter was born to them,
and being so, must not be punished by the laws who grew up in the same liberty until she marthe public sentiment had made. Public opinion ried a free negro, and went with him to reside in
hailed this doctrine with a howl of wild applause, Pennsylvania. They had several children, and
and set theprisoners free, to walk the city, men lived unmolested until the original owner died,
of mark, and influence, and station, as they had when his heir attempted to regain them; but the
been before.                                 magistrate before whom they were brought, dePublic opinion I what class of men have an cided that he had no jurisdiction in the case.
immense preponderance over the rest of the comn- The owner seized the woman and children in the
munity, in their power of representing public nigd, and carried thean to Maryland."
opinion in the legislature' The slave owners.
T:hey send from their twelve States, one hundred   "Cash fobr negroes," "cash for negroes," "cash
members, while the fourteen free States, with a for negroes," is the heading of advertisements
free population nearly double, return but a hun- in great capitals down the long columns of the
dred and forty-two. Before whom do the presi- crowded journals.  Woodcuts of a runaway
dential candidates bow down the most humbly, negro with manacled hands, crouching beneath
on whom do they fawn the most fondly, and for a bluff pursuer in top boots, who, having caught
whose tastes do they cater the most assiduously him, grasps him by the throat, agreeably diversiin their servile protestations'   The slave own- fy the pleasant text. The leading article sroers always.                                  tests against " that abominable and hellish aocPublic opinion! hear the public opinion of trine of abolition, which is repugnant alike to
the free South, as expressed by its own mem- every law of God and Nature."  The delicate
bers in the House of Representatives at Wash- mamma, who smiles her acquiescence in this
ington. "I have a great respect for the chair," sprightly writing as she reads the paper in her
quoth North Carolina, "I have a great respect cool piazza, quiets her youngest child who clings
for the chair as an officer of the house, and a about her skirts, by promising the boy " a whip
great respect for him personally; nothing but to beat the little niggers with."-But the negroes,
that respect prevents me fiom rushing to the ta- little and big, are protected by public opinion.
ble and tearing that petition which has just been   Let us try this public opinion by another test,
presented for the abolition of slavery in the Dis- which is important in three points of view: first,
trict of Columbia, to pieces."  " I warn the as showing how desperately timid of the public
abolitionists," says South Carolina, "ignorant, opinion slave owners are, in their delicate deinfuriated barbarians as they are, that if chance scriptions of fugitive slaves in widely-circulashall throw any of them into our hands, he may ted newspapers; secondly, as showing how perexpect a felon's death."  " Let an abolitionist fectly contented the slaves are, and how very
come within the borders of South Carolina," seldom they run away; thirdly, as exhibiting
cries a third, mild Carolina's colleague, "and if their entire freedom from scar, or blemish, or
we can catch him we will try him, and notwith- any mark of cruel infliction, as their pictures
standing the interference of all the governments are drawn, not by lying abolitionists, but by
on earth, including the federal government, we their own truthful masters.
will HANG him."                               The following are a few specimens of the adPublic opinion has made this law: it has de- vertisements in the public papers.  It is only
clared that in Washington, in that city which four years since the oldest among them appeartakes its name from the father of American lib- ed, and others of the same nature continue to be
erty, any justice of the peace may bind with fet- published every day in shoals.
ters any negro passing down the street andithrust   "Ran away negress Caroline.  Had on a
him into jail; no offence on the black man's collar with one prong turned down."
part is necessary. The justice says, "I choose   " Ran away, a black woman, Betsy. Had an
to think this man a runaway;" and locks him  iron bar on her right leg.'?
up. Public opinion impowers the man of law    "Ran away, the negro Manuel, much marked
when this is done to advertise the negro in the with irons."
newspapers, warning his owner to come and   "Ran away, the negress Fanny. Had on an
claim him, or he will be sold to pay the jail fees. iron band about her neck."
But supposing he is a free black, and has no   " Ran away, a negro boy about twelve years
owner, it may naturally be presumed that he is old. Had round his neck a chain dog-collar
set at liberty. Noo; HE IS SOLD TO RECOMPENSE  with' De Lampert' engraved on it."
HIS JAILER.  This has been done again, and   " Ran away, the negro Hown. Has a ring
again, and again. He has no means of proving of tron on his left foot.  Also Grise, his wife,
his freedom; has no adviser, messenger, or as- having a ring and chain on the left leg."
sistance of any sort or kind; no investigation    "Ran away, a negro boy, named James. Said
into his case is made, or inquiry instituted. He, boy was ironed when he left me."
a free man, who may have served for years, and   "Committed to jail, a man who calls his name




86                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
John. He has a clog of iron on his right foot Has a scar on one side of her cheek, by a cut.
which will weigh four or five pounds,"      Some scars on her back,"
" Detained at the police jail, the negro wench    " PRan away, the mulatto wench Mary. Has
Myra. Has several marks of LASHING, and has a cuti on the left arm, a scar on the lea shoulder,
Irons on her feet."                         and two upper teeth missing."
"Ran away, a negro woman and two chil-   I should say, perhaps, in explanation of this
dren; a few days before she went off I burned latter piece of description, that among the other
her with a hot iron on the left side of her face. blessings which public opinion secures to the
I tried to make the letter M."              negroes, is the common practice of violently
"Ran away, a negro man named Henry; his punching out their teeth. To make them wear
left eye out, some scars from a dirk on and un- iron collars by day and night, and to worry them
der his left arm, and much scarred with the with dogs, are practices almost too ordinary to
whip."                                      deserve mention.
-" One hundred dollars reward, for a negro fel-   "Ran away, my man Fountain. Has holes
low, Pompey, 40 years old. He is branded on in his ears, a scar on the right side of his forethe left jaw."                              head, has been shot in the hind parts of his legs,
"Committed to jail, a negro man. Has no and is marked on the back with the whip."
toes on the left foot."                       " Two hundred and fifty dollars reward for my
"Ran away, a negro woman named Rachel. negro man Jim. He is much marked with shot
Has lost all her toes except the large one."  in his right thigh. The shot entered on the out"Ran away, Sam. He was shot a short time side, half way between the. hip and knee joints."
since through the hand, and has several shots in   " Brougllt to jail, John. Left ear cropped."
his left arm and side."                       "Taken up, a negro man. Is very, much
"Ran away, my negro man Dennis. Said ne- scarred about the face and body, and has the left,
gro has been shot in the left arm between the ear bit off."
shoulder and elbow, which has paralyzed the left   "Ran away, a black girl, named Mary. Has
hand."                                      a scar on her cheek, and the end of one of her
"Ran away, my negro man named Simon. toes cutoff."
He has been shot badly in his back and right   "Ran away, my mulatto woman, Judy. She
arm."                                       has had her right arm broken."
" Ran away, a negro named Arthur. Has a   "Ran away, my negro man, Levi. His left
considerable scar across his breast and each arm, hand has been burned, and I think the end of his
made by a knife; loves to talk much of the good- forefinger is off."
ness of God."                                 " Ran away, a negro man, NAM ED WASaINo"  Twenty-five dollars reward for my man TON. Has lost a part of his middle finger, and
Isaac. He has a scar on his forehead, caused the end of his little finger."
by a blow; and one on his back, made by a shot   "Twenty-five dollars reward for my man Joln.
from a pistol."                             The tip of his nose is bit off."
" Ran away, negro girl called Mary. Has a   "Twenty-five dollars reward for the negro
small scar over her eye, a good many teeth miss- slave, Sally. WTalks as though crippled in the
ing, the letter A is branded on her cheek and back."
forehead."                                    "Ran away, Joe Dennis. Has a small notch
"Ran away, negro Ben. Has a scar on his in one of his ears."
right hand; his thunb and forefinger being inju-   " Ran away, negro boy, Jack. Has a small
red by being shot last fall. A part of the bone crop out of his left ear."
came out. He has also one or two large scars   "Ran away, a negro man, named Ivory. Has
on his back and'hips."                      a small piece cut out of the top of each ear."
" Detained at the jail, a mulatto, named Tom.   While upon the subject of ears, I may observe
Has a scar on the right cheek, and appears to that a distinguished abolitionist in New-York
have been burned with powder on the face."  once received a negro's ear, which had been cut
" Ran away, a negro man named Ned. Three off close to the head, in a general post letter. It
of. his fingers are drawn into the palmn of his was forwarded by the free and independent genhand by a cut. Has a scar on the back of his tleman who had caused it to be amputated, with
neck. nearly half round, done by a knife."  a polite request that he would place the specimen
"  Was committed to jail, a negro man. Says in his " collection."
his name is Josiah.  His back very much   Icouldenlargethis cataloguewithbroken arms
scarred'by the whip; and branded on tLie thigh and broken legs, and gashed flesh, and missing
and hips in three or four places thus (J M). The teeth, and lacerated backs, and bites of dogs, and
rim of his right ear has been bit or cut off."    brands of red-hot irons innumerable; but as my
"Fifty dollars reward, for my fellow Edward. readers will be sufficiently sickened and repelled
He has a scar on the.corner of his mouth, two already, I will turn to another branch of the subcuts on and under his arm, and thie letter E on ject.
his arm."                                     These advertisements, of which a similar col"Ran away, negro boy Ellie. Has a scar on lection might be made for every year, and month,
One of his arns from the bite of a dog."    and week, and day; and which are coolly read in
" Ran away, fiom  the plantation of James families as things of course, and as a part of the
Surgette, the following negroes: Randal, has one current news and small-talk; will serve to show
ear cropped; Bob, has lost one eye; Kentucky.  how very much the slaves profit by public opinTom, has one. jaw broken."                 ion, and how tender it is in their behalf. But it
"Ran away, Anthony.  One of his ears cut may be worth while to inquire how the slave
off, and his left hand cut with an axe."  -  owners, and the class of society, to which great
" Fifty dollars reward for the nogro Jim Blake. numbers of themn belong, defer to public opinion
Has a piece.cut out of each ear, and' the middle in their conduct, not to their slaves, but to each
finger of the left hand cut off to the second joint." other: how they are accustomed to restrain their
"Ran away, a negro woman named Maria. passions; what their bearing is among them



NOTES ON AMER-ICA.                                      87. selves; whether they are fierce or gentle; whether           "M uIrder.
-their social customs be brutal, sanguinary, and    "By a letter in a St. Louis paper of the 14th,:violent, or bear the impress of civilization and we notice a terrible outrage at Burlington, Iowa.:refinement.                                 A Mr. Bridgman having had a difficulty with a
That we may have no partial evidence from  citizen of the place, Mr. Ross; a brother-in-law
abolitionists in this. inquiry, either, I will once  of the latter provided himself with one of Colt's
more turn to their own newspapers, and I will revolving pistols, met Mr. B. in the street, and
Xconfine myself, this time, to a selection from  discharged the contents offive of the barrels at hi;
paragraphs which appeared from day to day, each shot taling eftkct. Mr. B., though horribly
-during my visit to America, and which refer to  wounded, and dying, returned the fire, and killed
occurrences happening while I was there. The  Ross on the spot."
italics in these extracts, as in the foregoing, are
my own.                                             " Terrible Death of Robert Potter.
These cases did not all occur, it will be seen,   "From'the' Caddo Gazette' of the 12th inst.,
in territory actually belonging to legalized Slave  we learn the frightful. death of Colonel Robert
States, though most, and those the very worst Potter.... He was beset in his- house by an eneamong them did, as their counterparts constantly  my, named Rose. He sprang from his couch,
do;but the position of the scenes of action in  seized his gun, and, in his night clothes, rushed
reference to places immediately at hand, where  from the house. For about two hundred yards
slavery is the law; and the strong resemblance  his speed seemed to defy his pursuers; but, getbetween that class of outrages and the rest; lead  ting entangled in a thicket, he was captured.
to the just presumption that the character of the  Rose told him that he intended to act a generous
parties concerned wvas formed in slave districts, part, and give him a chance for his life. He:and brutalized by slave customs.            then told Potter he might run, and he should
Horrible Tragedy.              not be interrupted till he reached a certain dis.
tance. Potter started at the word of command,
"By a slip from The SouXthlpot Telegraph,'Wis- and before a gun was fired he had reached the:consin, we learn that the Hon. Charles C. P. lake. His first impulse was to jump in the
Arndt, Member of the Council for Brown county, water and dive for it, which he did. Rose was
was shot dead on the floor of the Council chamber, close behind him, and formed his men on the
by James R. Vinyard, Member from  Grant bank ready to shoot him as he rose. In a few.county. The afair grew out of a nomination  seconds he came up to breathe; and scarce had
for Sheriff of Grant county. Mr. E. S. Baker his head reached the surface of the water when
was nominated and supported by Mr. Arndt. it was completely riddled with the shot of their
This nomination was opposed by Vinyard, who  guns, and he sunk, to rise no more!"
wanted the appointment to vest in his own brother.
In the course of debate, the deceased made some
statements which Vinyard pronounced false, and    "We understand that a severe rencounter ca  off'made use of violent and insulting language, deal- a few days since in the Seneca Nation, between
ing largely in personalities, to which Mr. A. made Mr. Loose, the sub-agent of the mixed band of
no reply. After the adjournment, Mr. A. step- the Senecas, Quapaw, and Shawnees, and Mr.
ped up to Vinyard, and requested him to retract, James Gillespie, of the mercantile firm of Thomwhich he refused to do, repeating the offensive  as G. Allison and Co., of Maysville, Bento
words. Mr. Arndt then made a blow at Vinyard,County Ark, in which the latter was slain with
who stepped backr a pace, drew a pistol, and shot a bowie-knife. Some difculty had for some.him dead.'       7           )          time existed between the parties. It is said that
" The issue appears to hae been provoked on  Major Gillespie brought on the attack with a
the part of Vinyard, who was determined at all cane. A severe conflict ensued during which'hazards to defeat the appointment of Baker, and  two pistols were fired by Gillespie and one by
who, himself defeated, turned his ire and revenge  Loose. Loose then stabbed Gillespie with one
upon the unfortunate Arndt."                 of those never, falling weapons a bowie-knife.
The death of Major G. is much regretted, as he
"TIre JWisc osin Tragedy.          was a liberal-minded and energetic man. Since
the above was in type, we have learned that
"Public indignation runs high in the territory  Major Allison has stated to some of our citizens
"of Wisconsin, in relation to the murder of C. C. in town that Mr. Loose gave the first blow. We
P. Arndt, in the Legislative Hall of the Terri- forbear to give any particulars, as the matter wil
"tory.  Meetings have been held in different be the subject of judicial investigatioW."
counties of Wisconsin, denouncing the practice
of secretly bearing arms in the Legislative chambers
of the country. We have seen the account of the    "The steamer Thames, just from Missouri
expulsion of James R. Vinyard, the perpetrator River, brought us a handbill, offering a reward
of the bloody deed, and are amazed to hear, that, of 500 dollars for the person who assassinated
after this expulsion by those who saw Vinyard  Lilburn W. Baggs, late Governor of this State,
kill Mr. Arndt in the presence of his aged father, at Independence, on the night of the 6th inst.
who was on a visit to see his son, little dreaming  Governor Baggs, it is stated in a written memothat he was to witness his murder, Judge' Dunn  randum, was not dead, but mortally wounded.
has discharged Vinycr'd on bail. The Miners'   "Since the above was written we received a
Free Press speaks in terms of merited rebuke at note from the clerk of the Thames, giving the
the outrage upon the feelings of the people of' following particulars. Gov. Baggs was shot by
Wisconsin. Vinyard was within arm's length  some villain on Friday, 6th inst., in the evening,'of Mr. Arndt, when he took such deadly aim at while sitting in a room in his own house in Inhim, that he never spoke. Vinyard might at dependence. His son, a boy, hearing a report,
pleasure, being so near, have only wounded him, ran into the room, and found the governor sit-'but he chose to kill him."'                 ting in his chair, with his jaw fallen down, and




Ss                          NOTES ON AMERICA.
his head leaning back; on discovering the in-           " Personal Encounter.
jury done his father, he gave the alarm. Foot   "An encounter took place in Sparta, a few
tracks were found in the garden below the win- days since, between the barkeeper of a hotel,.
dow, and a pistol picked up supposed to have and a man named Bury. It appears that Bury
been overloaded, and thrown from the hand of had become somewhat noisy, and that the barthe scoundrel who fired it. Three buck shots, keeper, determined to preserve order, hLad threatened t9
of a heavy load, took effect; one going through sloot Bury, whereupon Bury drew a pistol anti
his mouth, one into the brain, and another prob- shot the barkeeper down. He was not dead at
ably in or near the brain: all going into the the last accounts, but slight hopes were enterback part of the neck and head. The governor tained of his recovery."
was still alive on the morning of the 7th; but no
hopes for his recovery by his friends, and but                 "'Duel.
slight hopes from his physicians.              " The clerk of the steamboat Tribune informs
"A man was suspected, and the sheriff most us that another duel was fought on Tuesday last,
probably has possession of him by this time.    by Mr. Robbins, a bank officer in Vicksburg~,
"The pistol was one of a pair stolen some and Mr. Fall, the editor of the Vicksbug Sentidays previous from a baker in Independence, nel. According to the arrangement, the parties
and the legal authorities have the description of had six pistols each, which, after the word
the other."'Fire!' they were to disch/arge as fast as they pleased.
Fall fired two pistols without effect. Mr. Rob"Rencounter.                bins' first shot took effect in Fall's thigh, who,
"An unfortunate affair took place on Friday fell, and was unable to continue the combat."
evening in Chatres Street, in which one of our         " AfIay in Clarke County.
most respectable citizens received a dangerous
wound, from a poignard in the abdomen. From    "An unfortunate affray occurred in Clarkethe Bee (New Orleans) of yesterday, we learn County (Mo.) near Waterloo, on Tuesday thethe following particulars. It appears that an 19th ult., which originated in settling the partarticle was published in the French side of the nership concerns of Messrs. M'Kane and M'ANI
papar on Monday last, containing some stric- lister, who had been engaged in the business of
tures on the Artillery Battalion for firing their distilling, and resulted in the death of the latter,
guns on Sunday morning, in answer to those who was shot down by Mr. M'Kane, because
from the Ontario and Woodbury, and thereby of his atterpting to take possession of sevea
much alarm was caused to the families of those barrels of whiskey, the property of M'Kane,
persons who were out all night preserving the which had been knocked off to M'Allister at a
peace of the city. Major C. Gally, Command- sheriff's rale at one  dollar per barrel.  M'Kane
er of the battalion resenting this, called at the immediately fled, and at the latest dates had loe
office and demanded the author's name; that been taken.
of M. P. Arpin was given to him, who was ab- " This tnfortlnate afrcay caused considerable
sent at the time. Some angry words then pass- excitement in the neighbourhood, as both the'
ed with one of the proprietors, and a challenge parties were men with large families depending
followed; the friends ofboth parties tried to ar- upon them and stood well in the community."
range the affair, but failed to do so. On Friday    I will quote but one more paragraph, which,.
evening, about seven o'clock, Major Gally met by reason of its monstrous absurdity, may be a
Mr. P. Arpin in Chatres Street, and accosted relief to these atrocious deeds.
him.'Are you Mr. Arpin'                                 "Affair of nour.' Yes, sir.'
"'Then I have to tell you that you are a      "We have just heard the particulars of a meet —
-'" (applying an appropriate epithet.)    ing which took place on Six Mile Island, on'I  shall remind you of your words, sir.'  Tuesday, between two young bloods of our city.:
"'But I have said I would break my cane on Samuel Thurston, agedfifteen, and William Hine,
your shoulders.'                             aged thirteen years. They were attended by
"' I I know it, but I have not yet received the  ounggentlemanof the same age. The weapons
blow.'                                       used on the occasion, were a couple of Dickson's
" At these words, Major Gally, having a cane best rifles; the distance, thirty yards.  They took
in his hands, struck Mr. Arpin across the face, one fire, without any damage being sustained
and the latter drew a' poignard from his pocket by either party, except the ball of Thurston's
and stabbed Mcajor Gally in the abdomen.     gun passing through the crown of Hine's hat.
"Fears are entertained that the wound will Throagh the intercession of the Board of Honour,
be mortal.  We ulnderstand that 1Mr. Arpin7 has the challenge was withdrawn, and the difference'
given security for his appearance at the Criminal amicably adjusted."
Court to answer the charge."                  If the reader will picture to himself the kind",
of Board of Honour which amicably adjusted the
Aff Aray in JMississi. pdifference between these two little boys, who in
any other part of the world would have been ami"On the 27th ult., in an affray near Carthage, cably adjusted on two porters' backs and soundly
Leake county, Mississippi, between James Cot- flogged with birchen rods, he will be possessed,tingham and John Wilburn, the latter was shot no doubt, with as strong a sense of its ludicrous
by the former, and so horribly wounded, that character, as that which sets me laughing whenthere was no hope of his recovery. On the 2d ever its image rises up before me.
instant, there was an affray at Carthage between    Now, I appeal to every human mind, imbued,
A. C. Sharkey and George Goff, in which the with the commonest of common sense, and the
latter was shot, and thought mortally wounded. commonest of common humanity; to all dispas-.
Sharkey delivered himself up to the authorities, sionate, reasoning creatures, of any shade of opin-:hut changed his mind and escaped!"        ion; and ask, with these revolting evidences of




NOTES  ON  AMERI CA.                                  x 89
the state of society which exists in and about the eyes, and in respect of which our national charl
slave districts of America before them, can they acter is changing fast, let the plain Truth be
have a doubt of the real condition of the slave, or spoken, and let us not, like dastards, beat about
can they for a moment make a compromise be- the bush by hinting at the Spaniard and the fierce
tween the institution or any of its flagrant fearful Italian.  When knives are drawn by Englishfeatures, and their own just consciences? Will men in conflict, let it be said and known: "We
they say of any tale of cruelty and horror, how- owe this change to Republican Slavery. These
ever aggravated in degree, that it is improbable, are the weapons of Freedom. With sharp points
when they can turn to the public prints, and, and edges such as these, Liberty in America
running, read such signs as these, laid before doth hew and hack her slaves; or, failing that
them by the men who rule the slaves: in their pursuit, her sons devote them to a better use,
own acts and under their own hands. and turn them on each other."
Do we not know that the worst deformity and
ugliness of slavery are at once the cause and the
eflbct of the reckless license taken by these free-      CHAPTER XVIII.
born outlaws?  Do we not know that the man
who has been born and bred among its wrongs;            CONCLUDING REMARKS.
who has seen in his childhood husbands obliged   THIRE are many passages in this book, where
at the word of command toflog their wives; wom- I have been at some pains to resist the temptaen indecently compelled to hold up their own tion of troubling my readers with my own de.
garments that men might lay the heavier stripes ductions and conclusions; preferring that they
upon their legs, driven and harried by brutal should judge forthemselves, from suchpremises
overseers in their time of travail, and becoming as I have laid before them. My only object in
mothers on the field of toil, under the very lash the outset, was, to carry them with me faithfulitself; who has read in youth, and seen his virgin ly wheresoever I went, and that task I have dissisters read, descriptions'of runaway men and
women, and their disfigured persons, which could    But I may be par doned, if on such a theme as
not be published elsewhere, of so much stock    But I may be pardoned if on such a theople as
upon a farm, or at a show of beasts-do we not the general character of the American people}
know that that man, whenever his wrath is kin- and the general charal character of their social system,
dled up, will be a brutal savage? Do we not as presented to a stranger's eyes, I,desire to exknow that as he is a coward in his domestic lile, press my own opinions in a few words, before I
stalking among his shrining men and women bring the volume to a close.
slaves armed with his heavy whip, so he will be    They are, by nature, frank, brave, cordial
a coward out of doors, and carrying cowards' hospitable, and affectionate. Cultivation and
-weapons hidden in his breast, will shoot men refinement seem but to enhance their warmth of
down and stab them when he quarrels 1 And if heart and ardent enthusiasm; and it is the posour reason did not teach us this and much be- session of these latter qualities in a most reyond; if wewere suchidiots as to close our eyes markable degree, which renders an educated
to that fine mode of training which rears up such American one of the most endearing and most
men; should we not know that they who among generous of friends. I never was so won upon,
theirequals stab and pistol in the legislative hall, as by this class; never yielded up my full conand in the counting-house, and on the market- fidence and esteem so readily and pleasuarbly,
place, and in all the elsewhere peaceful pursuits as to them; never can make again, in'half a
of life, must be to their dependants, even though year, so many friends forawhom I seem to enterthey were free servants, so many merciless and tain the regard of half a life.
unrelenting tyrants?                           These qualities are natural, I implicitly beWhat! shall we declaim against the ignorant lieve, to the whole people. That they are, howpeasantry of Ireland, and mince the matter when ever, sadly sapped and blighted in their growth
these American taskmasters are in question? among the mass; and that there are influences
Shallwe cry shame on the brutality of those who at workl which endanger them still more, and
ham-string cattle: and spare the lights of Free- give but little present promise of their healthy
dom upon earth who notch the ears of men and restoration; is a truth that ought to be told.
women, cut pleasant posies in the shrinking flesh,   It is an essential part of every national characlearn to write with pens of red-hot iron on the ter to pique itself mightily upon its faults, and
human face, rack their poetic fancies for liveries to deduce tokens of its virtue or its wisdom from
of mutilation which their slaves shall wear for their very exaggeration.  One great blemish liv
life and carry to the grave, break living limbs the popular mind ofAimerica, and the prolifi
as did the soldiery who mocked and slew the the popular mind of America, and the prolific
aviour ofs did the oldiery o mocked and set defenceless te parent of an innumerable brood of evils, is UniSaviour of the world, and set defenceless creatu  fw whimper over le-versal Distrust.  Yet, the American citizen
tures for targets! Shall we whimper over le- plumes himself upon this spirit, even when he is
gends of the tortures practised on each other by sufficiently dispassion this spirit, even whe ruin i
the pagan Indians, and smile upon the cruelties  sufficiently dispassionate to perceive the ruin sp i t
of Christian men! Shall we, so long as these works; and will often adduce it, in spite of his
things last, exult above the scattered remnants own reason, as an instance of the great sagacity
of that stately race, and triumph in the white en- and acuteness of the people, and their superior
joyment of their broad possessions?  Rather, shrewdness and independence.
for me, restore the forest and the Indian village;   "You carry," says the stranger, " this jeaI-,
in lieu of stars and stripes, let some poor feather ousy and distrust into every transaction of pubflutter in the breeze; replace the streets and lie life.  By repelling worthy men from your
squares by wigwams; and though the death- legislative assemblies, it has bred up a class of
song of a hundred haughty warriors fill the air, candidates for the suffirage, who, in their every
itwill be music to the shriek of one unhappy slave. act, disgrace your Institutions and your people's
On one theme, which is commonly before our choice. It has rendered you so fickle, and wa




-90           ~0',NOTES ON AMERICA.
given to change, that your inconstancy has garded the Americans as a trading people.
passed into a proverb, for you no sooner set up The love of trade is assigned as a reason for
an idol firmly, than you are sure to pull it down that comfortless custom, so very prevalent
and dash it into fragments; and this, because in country towns, of married persons living in
directly you reward a benefactor, or a public hotels, having no fireside of their own, and selservant, you distrust him, merely because he is dom meeting from early morning until late at
rewarded; and immediately apply yourselves to night, but at the hasty public meals. The love
find: out, either that you have been too bountiful of trade is a reason why the literature of Anrerin your acknowledgements, or he remiss in his ica is to remain forever unprotected: " For
deserts. Any man who attains a high place we are a trading people, and don't care for poeamong you, from the President downward, may try," though we do, by-the-way, profess to be
date his downfall from that moment; for any very proud of our poets; while healthful amuseprinted lie that any notorious villain pens, al- ments, cheerful means of recreation, and wholethough it militate directly against the character some fancies, must fade before the stern utiliand conduct of a life, appeals at once to your tarian joys of trade.
distrust, and is believed. You will strain at a   These three characteristics are strongly pregnat in the way of trustfulness and confidence, sented at every turn full in the stranger's view.
however fairly won and well deserved; but you But the foul growth of America has a-more tanwill swallow a whole caravan of camels, if'they gled root than this, and it strikes its fibres deep
be laden -with: unworthy doubts and mean sus- in its licentious Press.
picions. Is this well, think you, or likely to ele-   Schools may be erected east, west, north,
vate the character of the governors or the gov- and south; pupils be taught, and masters rearerned among you?"                          ed, by scores upon scores of thousands; colThe answer is invariably the same: " There's leges may thrive, clhurches may be crammed,
-freedom of opinion here, you know   Every temperance may be diffused, and advancing
mnan thinks for himself, and we are not to be knowledge in all other forms walk through the,easily overreached.  That's how  our people land with giant strides; but, while the newscome to be suspicious."                     paper press of America is in, or near, its presAnother prominent feature is the love of ent abject state, high moral improvement in
"'smart" depling, which gilds over many a that country is hopeless. Year by year it must
swindle and gross breach of trust; many a de- and will go back; year by year the tone of pubfalcation, public and private; and enables many lic feeling must sink lower down; year by year
a knave to hold his head up with the best, who the Congress and the Senate must become of
well deserves a halter-though it has not been less account before all decent men; and, year
without its retributive operation, for this smart- by year, the memory of the Great Fathers of
ness has done more in a few years to impair the Revolution must be outraged mlore and more
the public credit, and to cripple the public re- in the bad life of their degenerate child.
sources, than dull honesty, however rash, could   Among the herd of journals which are pubhave efiected in a century. The merits of a lished in the States, there are some, the reader
broken speculation, or a bankruptcy, or of a scarcely need be told, of character and credit.
successful scoundrel, are not guaged by its or From  personal intercourse with accomplished
his observance of the golden rule, " Do as you gentlemen connected with publications of this
would' be done by," but are considered with ref- class I have derived both pleasure and profit.
erence to their smartness. I recollect, on both But the name of these is Few, and of the others
occasions of our passing that ill-fated Cairo on Legion; and the influence of the good is powthe Mississippi, remarking on the bad effects erless to counteract the mortal poison of the bad.
such gross deceits must have when they explo-   Among the gentry of America; among the
ded, in generating a want of confidence abroad,  well-informed and moderate; in the learned
and discouraging foreign investment. but I was professions; at the bar and on the bench, there
given to understand that this was a very smart is, as there can be, but one opinion in referscheme by which a deal of money had been ence to the vicious character of these infamnade; and that its smartest feature was, that mous journals. It is sometimes contended-I:they forgot these things abroad in a very short will not say strangely, for it is natural to seek
time, and speculated again as freely as ever. excuses for such a disgrace-that their influThe following dialogue I have held a hundred ence is not so great as a visiter would suppose.
times:' "Is it not a very disgraceful circum- I must be pardoned for saying that there is no
stance that such a man as So-and-so should be warrant for this plea, and that every fact and
acquiring a large property by the most infamous circumstance tends directly to the opposite conand odious means, and, notwithstanding all the elusion.
crimes of which he has been guilty, should be   ViWhen any man, of any grade of desert in intolerated and abetted by your citizens? He is tellect or character, can climb to any public disa public nuisance, is he not?" "Yes, sir," "A  tinction, no matter what, in America, without
convicted liar?"  " Yes, sir."  "He has been first grovelling down upon the earth, and bendkicked, and cuffed, and caned?"' "Yes, sir." ing the knee before this monster of depravity;
"' And he is utterly dishonourable, debased, and when any private excellence is safe from its atprofligate!"  "Yes, sir."  "In the name of tacks, and when any social confidence is left unwonder, then, what is his merit."  "Well, sir, broken by it, or any tie of social decency and:he is a smart man."                         honour is held in the least regard; when any
In like manner, all kinds of deficient and im- man in that Free Country has freedom of opinpolitic usages are referred to the national love -ion, and presumes to think for himself, and;,f tradee; though, oddly enough, it would be a speak for himself, without humble reference to a,wveighty charge against a foreigner, that he re- censorship which, for its rampant ignorance and




NOTES ON AMERICA.                                       91
base dishonesty, he utterly loathes and despises ny, perceived the tendency towards this mistake,
in his heart; when those who most acutely feel even in his time; and did his utmost to corits infamy and the reproach it casts upon the rect it.
nation, and who most denounce it to each other,   I cannot hold with other writers on these subdare to set their heels upon and crush it openly, jects that the prevalence of various forms of
in the sight of all men; then, I will believe that dissent in America, is in any way attributable
its influence is lessening, and men are returning  to the non-existence there, of an established
to their manly senses. But while that Press has church: indeed, I think the temper of the peoits evil eye in every house, and its black hand in ple, if it admitted of such an Institution being
everp appointment in the state, from a: president founded among them, would lead them: to deto a postman; while, with ribald slander for its sert it, as a matter of course, merely because it
only stock in trade, it is the standard literature  was established. But, supposing it to exist, I
of an enormous class, who must find their read- doubt its probable efficacy in summoning the
ing in a newspaper, or they will not read at all; wandering sheep to one great fold, simply beso long must its odium be upon the country's  cause of the immense amount of dissent which
head, and so long must: the evil it works, be prevails at home: and because I do not find in
plainly visible in the Republic.             America any one form of religion with which
To those who are accustomed to the leading we in Europe, or even in England, are unac-o
English Journals, or to the -respectable journals quainted. Dissenters resort thither in great
of the Continent of Europe; to those who are numbers, as other people do, simply because it
accustomed to anything else in print and paper; is a land of resort: and great settlements of
it would be impossible, without an amount of ex- them are founded, because ground can be purtract for which I have neither space nor inclina- chased, and towns and villages reared, where
tion, to convey an adequate idea of this frightful there were none of the human creation before.
engine in America. But if any man desire con- But even the Shakers emigrated from England:
firmation of my statement on this head, let him  our country is not unknown to Mr. Joseph
repair to any place in this city of London where  Smith, the opostle of Mormonism, or to his
scattered numbers of these publications are to: benighted disciples: I have heheld religious
be found; and there let him form his own opin- scenes myself in some of our populous towns
ion.*                                        which can hardly he surpassed by an American
It would be well, there can be no doubt, for camp-meeting; and I am not aware that any
the American people as a whole, if they loved instance of superstitious imposture on the one
the Real less, and the Ideal somewhat more. It hand, and superstitious credulity on the other,
would be well, if there were greater encourage- has had its origin in the United States, which;
ment to lightness of heart and gayety, and a we cannot more than parallel by the precedents
wider cultivation of what is beautiful, without of Mrs. Southcote, Mary Tofts, the rabbit-breedbeing eminently and directly useful. But then, er, or even Mr. Thom of Canterbury: which
I think the general remonstrance, " we are a latter case arose, some time after the dark ages
new country," which is so often advanced as an  had passed away.
excuse for defects which are quite unjustifiable,   The Republican Institutions of America unas being, of right, only the slow growth of an  doubtedly lead the people to assert their selfold one, may be very reasonably urged; and I respect and their equality; but a traveller is
yet hope to hear of there being some other na- bound to bear those Institutions in his mind,
tional amusement in the United States, besides and not hastily to resent the near approach of
newspaper politics.                          a class of strangers, who, at home, would keep
They certainly are not a humorous people, and  aloof. This characteristic, when it was tinc.
their temperament always impressed mre as being tureed with no foolish pride, and stopped short
of a dull and gloomy character. In shrewdness of no honest service, never offended me: and I
of remark, and a certain cast-iron quaintness, the very seldom, if ever, experienced its rude or unYankees, or people of New-England, unquestion- becoming display. Once or twice it was comiably take the lead; as they do in most other ev- cally developed, as in the following case: but;
idences of intelligence. But in travelling about, this was an amusing incident, and not the rule
out of the large cities; as I have remarked in nor near it.
former parts of this volume; I was quite op-   I wanted a pair of boots at a certain town, for
pressed by the prevailing seriousness and melan- I had none to travel in, but those with the memcholy air af business: which was so general and orable cork soles, which were much too hot for
unvarying, that at every new town I came to, I the fiery decks of a steamboat. I therefore sent
seemed to meet the very same people whom I a message to an artist in boots, importing, with
had left behind me, at the last. Such defects as my compliments, that I should be happy to see
are perceptibly in the national manners, seem, to him, if he would do me the F.;ie lavour to
me, to be referable, in a great degree, to this call. He very kindly returned for answer that
cause: which has generated a dull, sullen per- he would " look round" at six o'clock that evensistence in coarse usages, and rejected the gra- ing.
ces of life as undeserving of attention. There    I was lying on the sofa, with a book and a
is no doubt that Washington, who was always wineglass, at about that time, when the door
most scrupulous and exact on points of ceremo- opened, and a gentleman in a stiff cravat, with-' Or, let him refer to an able, and perfectly truthful rti- in a year or two on either side of thirty, enterle, in The Foreign Quarterly Review, published in the pres- ed, in his hat and gloves; walked up to the
ent month of October; to which my attention has been looking-glass; arranged his hair; took off his
attracted, since these sheets have been passing through the gloves; slowly produced a measure from the
press. I-e will find some specimens there, by no means re- uttermost depths of his coat-pocket; and remarkable to any manwvho has been in A merica, but suffi-   
caently striking to one wh.o has not.        quested me, in a languid tone, to " unfix" my




92                         NOTES ON AMERICA.
straps. I complied, but looked with some cu- are thousands of millions of acres of land yet
riosity at his hat, which was still upon his head. unsettled and uncleared, and on every rood.of
It might have been that, or it might have been which, vegetable decomposition is annually tathe heat-but he took it off. Then he sat him- king place; where there are so many great rivself down on a chair opposite to me; rested an ers, and such opposite varieties of climate 
arm on each knee; and, leaning forward very there cannot fail to be a great amount of sickmuch, took from the ground, by a great effort, ness at certain seasons. But I may venture to,
the specimen of metropolitan workmanship say, after conversing with many members of the
which I had just pulled off-whistling, pleas- medical profession in America, that I am not
antly, as he did so. lie turned it over and singular in the opinion that much of the disease
over; surveyed it with a contempt no language which does prevail, might be avoided, if a few
can express; and inquired if I wished him to common precautions were observed. Greater
fix me a boot like that?  I courteously replied, means of personal cleanliness are indispensable
that provided the boots were large enough, I to this end; the custom of hastily swallowing
would leave the rest to him; that if convenient large quantities of animal food, three times a
and practicable, I should not object to their day, and rushing back to sedentary pursuits afbearing some resemblance to the model then ter each meal, must be changed; the gentler
before him; but that I would be entirely guided sex must go more wisely clad, and take more
by, and would beg to leave the whole subject to healthy exercise; and in the latter clause, the
his judgment and discretion. "You an't par- males must be included also. Above all, in pubtickler about this scoop in the heel, I suppose lic institutions, and throughout the whole of evthen1" says he: "we don't foller that, here." ery town and city, the system of ventilation,
Irepeated my last observation. He looked at and drainage, and removal of impurities, rehimself in the glass again; went closer to it to quires to be thoroughly revised. There is no
dash a grain or two of dust out of the corner local legislature in America which may not study
of his eye; and settled his cravat.  All this Mr. Chadwick's excellent Report upon the Santime, my leg and foot were in the air. " Near- itary condition of our Labouring Classes, with
ly ready, sir V" I inquired. " Well, pretty nigh," immense advantage.
be said; "keep steady."  I kept as steady as I
could, both in foot and face; and having by this
time got the dust out, and found his pencil-case,   I LTavE now arrived at the close of this book.
he measured me, and made the necessary notes. I have little reason to believe, from certain
When he had finished, he fell into his old atti- warnings I. have had since I returned to Engtude, and taking up the boot again, mused for land, that it will be tenderly or favourably resome time. "; And this," he said, at last, " is ceived by the American people; and as I have
an English boot, is it. This is a London boot, written the truth in relation to the mass of thosech l"  "That, sir," I replied, "is a London who form their judgment and express their
boot."  le mused over it again, after the man- opinions, it will be seen that I have no desire to
ner of Hamlet with Yorickl's scull; nodded his court, by any adventitious means, the popular
head, as who should say " I pity the institutions applause.
that led to the production of this boot!" rose;   It is enough for me to know, that what I have
put up his pencil, notes, and paper-glancing at set down in these pages, cannot cost me a sinhimself in the glass, all the time-put on his gle friend on the other side of the Atlantic,.
-hat, drew on his gloves very slowly, and finally who is, in anything, deserving of the name.
walked out. When he had been gone about a For the rest, I put my trust implicitly in the
minute, the door reopened, and his hat and his spirit in which they have been conceived and
head reappeared. He looked round the room, penned, and I can bide my time.
and at the boot again, which was still lying on   I have made no reference to my reception,
the floor; appeared thoughtful for a minute; nor have I suffered it to influence me in what I
and then said, " Well, good arternoon." "Good have written; for, in either case, I should have
afternoon, sir," said I; and that was the end of offered but a sorry acknowledgment, compared
the interview.                             with that I bear within my breast, towards
There is but one other head on which I wish those partial readers of my former books across
to offer a remark: and that has reference to the the water, who met me with an open hand, and
public health. In so vast a country, where there not with one that closed upon an iron muzzle.




lV10'HE 1X
A N D
STEP-MOTHER.
IN  TWELVE CHAPTERS.
FROM3 DICKENS' HOUSEHOLD WORDS.
Tilabelp 1 Tia:
T. B. PETERSON, NO. 102 CHESTNUT STREET.








CHAPTER I.
1 child when his father first saw this Helen
"WELL, after all, I suppose it is not very  Macdonald."
much to be wondered at! Your disconsolate   Sir Edward Irwin, the subject of the forewidowers are always the first to take com- going tete-a-tete, was a baronet descended
fort. Poor dear Ann! not dead two years  from a respectable family, and possessed of
till September, and Edward married again. very considerable estates in the north of EngThe doctors ought to be ashamed of them- land. He had married, early in life, a lady
selves, putting it into one's head that he of a sweet and amiable temper, and eschewwas going into a decline.  I am  sure I ing fashionable gaities, had found his hapcouldn't rest day or night for thinking of piness in domestic enjoyment, and in literary
him."                                     and scientific pursuits. The premature death
" I congratulate you on the relief this of his wife startled him from the even tenor
news must be to you, Fanny. Thomson  of his life. It was the first sorrow that had
says your brother is looking better than he befallen him, and he was overwhelmed by it.
ever did in his life; and he tells me his IHis wife had been so constantly his comwife is a decided beauty."                panion; she had met all his requirements
"I cannot help thinking that he might with a sympathy so ready and so intelligent;
have given us warning of his intentions ear- that he felt as though the dearer half of his
lier. It looks so awkward to know nothing soul was taken away, and as if it were impos.
of one's own brother's affairs. I talked so sible for the other half to linger behind.
much about his grief that I shall get finely  The caresses and necessities of his son, a
laughed at when he comes home with a young child of some three years old, were powerless
wife."                                    to rouse him. He was unhappy in having
"You must endure with your usual pa- nothing to force him from his sorrow. His
tience, Fanny. I do not think he has used ample means, his obsequious retainers, his
us particularly well; but it seems she was anxious friends-all ministered to it. Toil,
furious for him, and when a beauty of eigh- the hard but sweet necessity of the sorrowing
teen falls violently in love with a man of six- multitude, brought no aid to him: he nursed
and-thirty, it must be allowed that it is suffi- his woe, and fed -it till his bodily strength
cient to turn his head."                  gave way. Friends interfered; doctors were
"0, you men always attach so much im- consulted; his affection for his child was apportance to youth. For my part, I should pealed to; and he submitted passively to be
have thought Edward would have had too sent to Italy, that change of scene and
much sense to be caught by a miss in her change of climate might be tried. He went
teens; besides what can such a girl know  without hope-without desire of recovery.
about the management of children."        Italy or England-what mattered it to him?
"I suppose she cannot know very much at The world was one graveyard, with one
present; but that comes by instinct. I do barren mound of earth, by which his heart
not think she is likely to make the worse sat and wept. So he said, and so he.thought.
stepmother because she is young; and Frank    lie took his child with him; for, though
is such a pretty child that the danger will in his saddened mood the sight of the pretty
be of her spoiling him."                  boy only served to whet his sorrow, he clnng
"0, it will be well enough till she has to him as all that remained of her he had
children of her own.  Poor little Frank's lost! and watched over him with a nervous
good looks will not do him much service solicitude grievous to behold. The contrast
then; and you may take my word for it, between the healthy child and the sorrowWilton, that it was a bad day for the poor stricken father could hardly fail to strike the




4                         MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
most careless observer; it very quickly awak- union except such imaginary difficulties as
ened the attention of Mrs. and Miss Mac- the restless fancy of Helen created. Ier
donald, who happened to occupy an adjoin- mother, who in many respects resembled
ing palazzo in Florence, whither Sir Edward  her daughter, was still in the meridian of
had betaken himself by the direction of his her beauty, and was not ill-pleased to be rephysicians. The simple story of his bereave- lieved of a child whom she could not govern,
ment roused the interest of both ladies-an  and who had become a rival, and to have
interest which, in the younger, quickly as- her creditably established as the wife of one
sumed the character of passion.            of the oldest baronets in England. Sir EdYoung, beautiful and undisciplined, Helen  ward, on his side, had no near relations but
MIacdonald revelled in wild notions of an  his sister, and he had been so little in the
all-consuming and imperious love. Her ar- habit of consulting her, that it was only on
dent temperament had been exaggerated by the eve of his marriage that he wrote to her.
the loose morality of the unprincipled South, And the same letter which announced to her
and she easily accepted the handsome stran- his complete recovery and approaching marger as the incarnation of an ideal, which  riage, informed her of his intention of bringalready at eighteen she had despaired of ing his wife immediately to England.
meeting. Sir Edward's sunken eye and wan
cheeks, his tall, worn person, and his rare
and sorrowful smile, moved her, as the perfection of health and manly vigor might
have failed to move her. What was not the                CHAPTER II.
love worth which could set such a mark on
the bereaved one?  She sympathised with,   IN spite of the dissatisfaction which Mrs.
she admired his sorrow; and to soften it, to Wilton Brook had expressed at her brother's
pour balm into the wound which he loved to  marriage, she was by no means deficient in
keep open, became the ambition-the object anxiety to see her new sister-in-law, and she
of her life.                               appreciated her brother's position too highly
Occasion is rarely wanting to those who  not to be anxious to ingratiate herself with a
heartily seek it. In the present instance the wife who she felt would exercise a strong inchild naturally opened the way to the father. fluence over him. She accordingly dressed
The little boy's heart was easily won by the her pretty person- in the most approved
smiles and caresses of the beautiful stranger, fashion, and prepared her lips for smiles
who spoke to him  in the langquage of his and compliments, as she drove to visit the
mother, and folded him in her arms almost bride at Mivart's Hotel.
as tenderly. The name of IIelen Macdonald   If her prejudice had been stronger than it
was constantly on his lips, until it became was, it must have yielded to the grace and
familiar and grateful to his father's ears. beauty of the stranger.  Mrs. Brook, too,
Courtesy required that Sir Edward should  could not but be struck by the improvement
rouse himself to show some sense of the kind- in her brother's appearance, and she was
ness lavished on his child. The first step  grateful to her who had effected it; for,
taken, the rest followed naturally. Secure  though a worldly woman, she was not defiin his grief, Sir Edward submitted to the  cient in natural affection. Sir Edward was
attentions of his neighbour. Her profound  her only brother, the head of her family, and
admiration, her sympathy unuttered, but she almost forgot poor Ann when she gazed
spoken in every look, in every gesture, were on his renovated form, and saw the tender
a flattery which he accepted without suspi- pride with which he watched the movements
cion.  The meeting with her became the and listened to the words of his young wife.
event of the day, until the sweet pale image    The appearance of the child awoke the
of his lost love passed from his mind like train of old recollections in the mind of his
breath from the face of a mirror, and the aunt, and when she had admired his growth,
living, passionate Helen, reigned supreme. and caressed his fair long hair, she could not
One bitter struggle he endured-one sicken- refrain from whispering to his father:
ing attempt to return to his past state of   " Iow like poor Ann!"
feeling; but the flesh overcame the spirit,   Lady Irwin caught the whisper; her lip
and with a sigh, half of sorrow at his insta- quivered, and the colour deepened on her
bility, half of relief, he yielded himself to the  cheek; she drew the child closer within the
intoxicating rapture of his new passion.   circle of her arm, and said softly-" I think
Helen was so very beautiful; so tender, him so like Edward."
yet withal so jealous, so imperious, that she    " So he is," returned Mrs. Brook. " He is
kindled for a time his more placid temper like Edward about the nose and mouth; but
into a semblance of her own. She was his he has his mother's eyes."
tyrant and his slave; but in all her moods,   It did not please Lady Irwin that the
so full of witchery, that she left him no time  child's eyes were so large and tender.
for backward thought, but filled him heart   " They are very beautiful," she said, with
and soul with her own image.               an anxious, half fearful look at her husband;
No obstacles stood in the way of their but there was no sorrowful recollection in his




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                  5
countenance-nothing but present love and  of her sister-in-law's feelings towards her
happiness.                                little nephew; certainly she did not seem
"You can form no idea, Fanny, of what a displeased that it was not accepted, and took
mother Frank has in this dear little sister I her leave, enraptured with the bride, and
have brought you. I cannot understand it, perfectly reconciled to her brother.
such a child as she is. Well might the poet
say
tAO.erTiXVOV ~X rfmV oivOYtEiOV',VOF.'y*
"What! you haven't cured him yet of his              CHAPTER III.
abominable habit of quoting what nobody
can understand, Ielen?"                     A FEw weeks saw Sir Edward Irwin and
" Oh no i"  I don't wish to do it, either. his lady established for the winter in their
You will laugh at us, I dare say, when I tell handsome country mansion. When the pleayou that he is to give me regular lessons sant task of showing his estates to his wife
when we get home. I know a little Latin  was over, and the excitement of returning in
already, but not enough to be of any use. joy to the home which he had left in sorrow
We have arranged our occupations for the and weakness, had subsided, Sir Edward rewinter.  Edward's wife ought not to be a sumed his old, but long interrupted pursuits;
smatterer, you know."                     and his wife, true to her intention, entered
" But I hope you are not going to let him  on a course of study which should enable her
bury you and himself down at Swallowfield. to share them. Nor did her energies flag
It was bad enough before, but to hide you in  after a few weeks of strenuous exertion; her
the country would be a crying scandal in- mind, vigorous and inquiring, demanded a
deed."                                    pursuit which called its powers into action,
" O, we have not the smallest intention of and her proud spirit rose with the difficulties
doing anything of the kind-have we, Ed- which presented themselves. Her husband
ward?  Do not alarm  yourself, dear Mrs. smiled at her eagerness, and was delighted
Brook, I am quite as fond of society as you  at her intelligence; so that the hours he
can desire."                              spent in assisting her in the severe studies
" Well, that's some comfort. I only hope she undertook, were the pleasantest of his
and trust that you do not intend to lay day.
yourself out for a literary lady; that will do   And Lady Irwin was happy. IIer husband
some twenty years hence; at present it would  had no thought beyond her, the boy throve
be a positive sacrifice.  I am not sorry that and loved her; but yet her happiness was
you are only passing through town now; it not perfect. Mere passion never brings hapwould not have done to take off the gloss of piness; it is of the earth, earthy, and bears
your debut by appearing at the end of the the elements of corruption in itself. The love
season."                                 that does not come from Heaven, that does
" O no! that would be an improvidence in- not look to Heaven for its perfection, cannot
deed," returned Helen, laughing. "I haven't raise, cannot purify the heart-it is a restless
tired Edward out yet, and we intend to live wind that stirs the troubled soul, and will
demurely and properly this winter, that I not let it be at peace-it is unquiet and
may come out span new with country cheeks ingenious as self-torture.  So it was with
next spring. We are going home to-morrow. Helen Irwin; between her and her happiness
It sounds so strange to talk of going home to a came a shadow, the phantom of one who had
place one has never seen, but I almost seem  ceased to be.
to know it, I have made Edward tell me so   The picture of the first Lady Irwin hung
much about it, from the lime avenue by the in the drawing-room, and she would sit and
river's side, to the old oak cabinet in his gaze at it until the canvass seemed to glow,
study. I shall soon know the ways of the  and the sweet thoughtful face to live, smiling
house, and then I hope you will come and down upon her in secure triumph. She torsee us."                                 tured herself by imagining the tenderness
" That's a very civil speech of yours, my with which those large gray eyes had hung
dear," said Mrs. Brook, in high good humor; upon her husband, the loving words which
"and you may trust to my discretion not to  those lips had uttered. If at any time his
break in upon you too soon. But what do eyes dwelt on the picture, or if he involunyou say to leaving me the boy for the pre- tarily compared the features of his son with
sent?  I will take great care of him, and my  it, she could hardly control her impatience;
girls will be nice playmates for him."    and she would break from the boy in the
This invitation was declined with thanks, midst of his caresses, if the resemblance he
but with a haste which showed that neither bore to his mother happened to strike her.
Sir Edward nor his wife were inclined to    So time passed till a little girl was born to
forego the pleasure each derived from  the  her, and the disquiet of her soul was hushed
presence of the child. Perhaps Mrs. Brook  for awhile; the infant stole the trouble fiom
had given the invitation to test the real state  its mother's heart, and wakened in her bosom
strange yearnings for something better and
$ The love of children is a woman's instinct.




6 o                      MIOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
purer than she had yet known. The great passed, for, in the depth of her desolation,
mystery of that new life, made so dear by  she could look to One, who had promised to
suffering, and still so dependent upon her, bear her sorrow, in the light of whose prestirred her to meditation on the greatmystery  sence she might hope to be re-united to her
of our being-the weakness incidental to her darling.
condition —while it humbled her pride, soft-   The world, as it is called, occupied a due
ened her heart to receive with meekness the  share of Lady Irwin's time and attention:
only doctrine that can explain it. But in a her tastes inclined her to magnificence, her
few months the frail infant sickened and died. beauty and her talents to display, while her
No tear Fwetted the mother's cheek, she  husband's fortune justified her in assuming a
endured in silence the affliction to which she leading position in society. No parties were
would not submit, impiously arraigning the more brilliant, no dinners better appointed
I-Iand that sent it, and the vague conception  than hers. Science, literature, and art were
of religious truth which she had begun to  duly honored at her house, her husband was
entertain vanished, and darkness closed in  an accomplished conversationalist, and she
upon her soul.                             herself possessed the rarer virtue of being an
She had her child buried in a quiet corner excellent listener.  Thus her house was the
of the churchyard, away from  the vault resort of men of the highest intellectual atwhere Lady Irwin lay, and thither she would tainments in town, and when at Swallowwander at lonely hours, and sit on the little  field she was rarely without visitors whose
mound with dry eyes and an angry heart. names were known and honoured.
The harebells that grew spontaneously about,   But though Lady Irwin had many admirers
it she plucked and bore away, but she hung  she had no friends; she asked no sympathy,
no garlands on the stone, and planted no  and had none to give-none, at least, for the
flowers over the place of her infant's rest.    sorrows and joys of daily life-she was selfH-Ierstudies, which she had ratherneglected  contained. In a man such a character is hard
during the little one's life, she now resumed  and sad-how much  harder, how  much
with increased ardor, seeking distraction for sadder, in a woman, whose vocation it is to
her aching heart in mental exercise. Her temper the stern realities of life, who, to be
husband, aware that all was not as it should  strong, must have some touch of weakness,
be, though far from apprehending the true  who, if by too easy credulity, she opened the
nature of the grief of which she never spoke, way to sin and death, should also point the
willingly lent her his aid, hoping that the  road to life by faith perfected in the sense of
pursuits which yielded him such satisfaction  her infirmity.
would act with medicinal virtue upon her.   Aware of the violence of her passions, and
IIer mind thus acquired strength, but her falsely believing that unsubdued vigor of
heart did not keep pace with its progress; natural instinct was a proof of greatness of
the circle of her affections narrowed, no in- character, there was nothing of which Lady
terchange of friendly sympathies with her Irwin stood in such dread as the compassion
equals drew her from herself, no tender acts of people of ataner temperament. She,thereof personal charity to the poor about her fore, learnt, not indeed to govern her feelsofteled her sorrow. She became cold and  ings, but to repress all outward manifestastately, and proud of her secret grief, unpro- tion of them, and to hide the tumult of her
faned by common pity, and unlike that of bosom  under a cold and stately bearing.any other.                                 She became silent and inclined to solitude,
A young woman in the village, who had  or to the dangerous intimacy of Agnese, a
been married shortly after Lady Irwin's ar- waiting-woman who had followed her from
rival at Swallowfield, lost her baby soon af- Italy, and to whom more than to any other
ter the death of Helen's daughter.  She was creature she was in the habit of unveiling
a simple creature, and the affliction lay sore  her emotions.
upon her, for her husband was often rough,   It seems to be an imperative law of our
sometimes unkind to her, and being from a nature that the heart should unburthen itself
distant part of the country, she had few  to some one. When he whom we trust is
friends in the village.  Many a summer indeed a friend, faithful in counsel and strong
evening did she spend in the churchyard, and  in  comfort, obedience to his law  is the
many a tasteful garland of wild flowers did  sweetest solace of our earthly pilgrimage, but
she weave to dress her baby's grave.  More  when we hide the ugly portions of our chathan once Lady Irwin passed her in the  racter from those who love us, and expose
gloaming, but her heart never softened with  them  only to those of whose judgment we
a feeling of kindred sorrow; she rather de- stand in no awe, who, our inferiors in intelspised the grief which could find relief in  lect and station, pander to our passions and
such childish demonstrations, and the poor foster our evil tendencies, there is no perwoman —with the one thing that loved her verted blessing which may be turned to more
laid in the dust, with clothes barely sufficient deadly account.
to cover her, and a cold hearth at home —wasr  Agnese Pistorella was the natural daughter
richer and happier than the beautiful lady  of a Venetian nobleman, who had been assas
whose costly robes brushed  hlr as she  sinated by her motler in a fit of jealous des




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                  7
pair. IHaving accomplished her crime, the  sin, and how the last evil was the fruit of
murderess was overwhelmed with remorse, the first-neither for herself nor for the poor
and, far from attempting to make her escape, orphan did she read this lesson.
herself sent to summon the officers of justice,   Through Helen's courtship, Agnes had
and lay with her loosened hair falling like a watched with jealous care, for the smallest
pall over her victim till they arrived. IHer sign of faithlessness in Sir Edward, resolved
youth, her beauty, and the violence of her if need were, to prove her devotion to her
passions, drew much attention to her case, mistress by sacrificing herself to avenge her;
but she was executed-submitting to her but the need did not arise. tIe had loved
fate with the constancy of one who knew it before-dearly loved, it was said; but she
to be the natural consequence of her deed, and Helen were both persuaded that true
the compensation due to the Manes of her passion was now, for the first time, awaklover. The child she left was completely  ened in his bosom. When they were marabandoned by its father's friends, and be- ried, and Sir Edward gradually relapsed into
came dependent on its maternal grandmo- his old habits, the ascendancy which his wife
ther-a woman of infamous character. Tak- exercised over him left no room for jealousy,
ing advantage of the interest excited by her however much she might fret at the evenness
daughter, this woman made a loathsome  and placidity of his temper.
traffic by exhibiting her child; but curiosity    How mutually injurious these two women
soon died away-the sooner, as the grand- were, may easily be conjectured. Neither
mother thought, that the girl inherited the  acted as a corrective to the other; but each
swarthy countenance and beetling brows of strengthened and confirmed the other's evil
her father. Nursed early and often with the tendencies.
terrible story of her parents, and tutored to
assume a look of melancholy, Agnese gradually acquired that low cunning with which
Nature arms the oppressed, passing from
infancy to womanhood subject to the capri-   LITTLEra rank Irwin would have been sadly
ces of the abandoned old woman, who even  starved for affection and sympathy, if he had
in her dotage meditated crime.            been entirely dependent for both on his stepA deep-lying love for her mother was the  mother; for, though at times she oppressed
poetry of Agnese's life; whatever was sweet him with her caresses, and indulged him even
or soft in her memories gathered around the beyond what was wholesome for him, she
image of the beautiful, sumptuously-appa- grew so capricious in her treatment of him,
relied woman dwelling in luxurious chan- after the death of her infant, that his natubers, who had fondled and caressed her; of rally sweet and trustful temper must have
those sunny, far-off times she had a vague  been injured. But when they were in the
recollection, but well did she remember the country, which was generallyfor nine months
last time her mother's arms were folded about in the year, Frank found a playfellow and
her —well did she remember the bare dun- friend in the little daughter of the clergyman,
geon walls, the darkness, the bloodshot eyes, a blue-eyed child, something less than a year
the pale, haggard cheeks, and the long, lin- his junior.
gering kiss of the white tremulous lips.    The rectory was not a quarter of a mile
On her grandmother's death she was for- from the gates of Sir Edward's park; and
ced to seek the means of living, and accident Mr. Birkby, the rector, was a distant relative
placed her in the family of Mrs. Macdonald, of the Irwin's; so the intimacy of the chil-where she filled one of the lowest grades in  dren was quite natural; and whenever his
the household. Here her haughty silence, mamma was busy-whenever Agnese was
while it made her unpopular among the ser- cross-whenever, in short, anything happenvants, but excited the interest of Helen, who, ed to disquiet him at home-away ran little
in the loneliness of spirit engendered by the Frank, to forget his trouble in the company
absence of confidence between herself and  of Kitty Birkby; and many a sunny afterher mother, readily turned her thoughts to noon did they sit together, under the large
the outcast, and made it her earnest request apple-tree in the orchard, or in the shadow
that the girl might be given to her as her of the old cedar, making daisy garlands, and
special attendant —a request which her mo- mlingling their hearts in innocent prattle.
ther, ever careless of her true interests,   Frank was a great hero to Kitty. Frank
and blameably lax where her discipline went to London and to all kinds of places
should have been the strictest, never thought with long names, which he knew quite well,
of denying her. The kindness thus unex- and could repeat as easily as she could repectedly shown to her, Agnese repaid with  peat the names of the field and hedge flow-?lind devotion. To Helen, in the dark twi- ers. Frank went to the theatres, where he
light of a winter night, she told the story of saw all sorts of wonderful things, which he
her parents, lingering with fond minuteness described to her with indefatigable patience.
over all the details with which her memory  There was not a marvellous feat of harlequin
was stored. It was a story Helen well loved that she was not familiar with * and she even
to hear; she never pointed out the heinous dreamt of the fairy-in pink, with silver




8                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
wings —who always came down in a chariot, and having spent the prime of her life in the
drawn by peacocks, just in time to save the dreary state called, in derision, single blesprince and princess from the deep-laid plots sedness, she knew no more of the rearing and
of the cruel ogre with green hair, a bulbous training of children than a day-labourer,
nose, and a cavernous mouth, who had an- accustomed to no sort of horticulture but
nounced it to be his intention to dine off the the sowing of turnips, might be supposed to
prince, and promote the little trembling prin- know of the rearing of delicate exotics.
cess to the honour of Mrs. Ogress. 0, with    Kitty, nevertheless, had a most charming
what eloquence did he describe, to the round- little countenance, which changed from
eyed, eager auditress, the final scene of the smiles to tears with the rapidity of an April
drama, when the fairy, having made the day. She was a great favourite with Sir
prince and princess happy, and consigned Edward Irwin, who liked to take her on his
their wicked aunts and uncles to well-mer- knee, and to play with her soft curls; but
ited punishment, ascended out of mortal ken, she never pleased Lady Irwin-perhaps beseated on a many-coloured cloud, which cause the sight of her wakened the memo.
seemed heavily charged with electricity — ries of her own lost little girl-perhaps from
a mode of travelling highly unpleasant to any the increasing jealousy of her disposition,
one but a fairy, but which, of course, afforded which nothing seemed too small, nothing too
her unalloyed delight, as she took care to innocent, to excite. She wondered what Sir
communicate to the prince and princess that Edward and Frank could see to interest
they must expect nothing further from her; them in a little creature neither remarkable
it being her intention to retire into private for beauty, nor distinguished for intelligence;
life among the stars, where she (very ration- and Kitty, for her part, had an instinctive
ally, as the world goes,) did not wish to be dread of Lady Irwin; she was almost comdisturbed.                                pletely silent in her presence, and approachBy the time he had related the story six  ed her only with effort and unwillingness.
or seven times to Kitty, Frank became so   But if her instinct led her to avoid Lady
enamoured of it, that he conceived the bold Irwin, it operated yet more strongly in the
idea of acting it; he was to be the prince, case of Agnese. The child absolutely tremKitty the princess, and Sara, her nurse, a par- bled if Agnese touched her; and once, when
ticularly solid young woman, the fairy; the she insisted on kissing her, she was almost
other dramatis personm might be imagined.  convulsed with terror. Agnese, as may be
Kitty took very kindly to being the prin- imagined, was not slow to repay dislike with
cess; she stuck a flower in herhair; sat her- dislike. She chose to believe, that, being
self down on a bank and pretended it was the child of an ecclesiastic, Kitty was peculia throne; but when Frank tried to induce  arly under the ban of heaven; for, though desher to personate the agony of the princess titute of anything like true religion, she clung
when her lover was torn away from her by with pertinacity to the superstitions which
the savage ogre, here represented by a crab- she had been taught in childhood, and espebed old tree, he was almost discomfited. Very  cially delighted to believe that the marriage
much urged, Kitty rushed fiercely up to the of a priest was a sacrilegious thing, and that,
tree, and beating its knotty stem with her therefore, little Kitty was nothing but a forechubby hands, cried, "Naughty ogre, take doomed child of Satan.
away my prince!"  It was in vain that
Frank explained the truculent nature of the
ogre, and the timid character of the princess.
This, however, was nothing in comparison to            CHAPTER V
the trouble he had with Sara, who was always deeply engaged in reading a dilapidated    FRANK was just nine years old, and in the
copy of the Old English Baron, in devouring  middle of the veritable history of Pyvramus
sour apples, or darning stockings, when she and Thisbe, which he read with Mr. Birkby
was required to make her graceful descent and duly performed with Kitty, when Lady
upon earth.                               Irwin again became a mother, the mother of
But there were other things which Frank  a son of singular promise and beauty. IIer
delighted to impart to Kitty: the grand mys- heart swelled with joyful pride, but it seemtery of hic, hoec, hoc, in which he was at an  ed as if happiness for her was never to be
early age indoctrinated; yet Kitty was no  without alloy.  A conversation which she
prodigy; at five years old she hardly knew  overheard between the nurse and Agnese
her letters; and if any one had told her that completely damped her pleasure, and awakthe earth was like an orange, flattened at the  ened discontented thoughts in her bosom.
poles, she would have opened her blue eyes   They were speaking of the child, admiring
in most profound astonishment. Like Frank, his beauty, and commenting on the joy of
she had lost her mother in her infancy, and  his parents.
was in great measure dependent on a maid-   "Ah!" cried the old nurse, " Sir Edward's
en sister of her father, who resided with him, well pleased enough now; but, Lord love
and who loved her dearly. But Miss Selina ye, if you'd seen the fuss there was when
Birkby was now in the winter of her days, Master Frank was born-he worn't nothing




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                   9
to compare to this here lamb, but then he  Arnold. His departure caused Kitty great
was the heir-Lord, the ringing of bells and  sorrow, but it made little interruption in her
the driving up of'carriages! I made nigh  visits to the hall; for Edward, as the boy
twenty pound at the christening-and all was named from  his father, was growing
the village was invited to dine; there was an  fast, and became daily more imperious in his
ox roasted whole-and as to the ale, it was  demands upon her time. It was not in the
quite a sin to see it flowing about everywhere  nature of things, that Lady Irwin should not
like water."                               feel some touch of tenderness to the sweet
Nothing could exceed the tenderness of child to whom  she owed so much; perhaps
Sir Edward; he could not have shown  she regretted that she could not love her,
more joy at the birth of his eldest son; the  and strove by the lavish profusion of her
inquiries were numerous, the christening  gifts to atone for the want of real affection.
splendid; but the old nurse's words rankled  In one respect only did the little girl and
in Lady Irwin's heart.  She still loved  the woman sympathise.  Lady Irwin posFrank, but she could not at all times bear sessed a musical genius of a high order; her
to see him caress his half-brother, though, knowledge of the art was profound, and the
if he showed the least indifference, she tor- harp or piano under her hand produced
tured herself by thinking how much the thrilling or stirring harmonies, the transchild's fate depended on his affection. As cript of her state of feeling; she was a poet
soon as the baby began to take notice, he of sound, and the pulsations of her passionshowed a very decided affection for Frank; ate temperament thus found immediate and
there was only one person whom  he pre- ample expression.
ferred, and that person was Kitty Birkby.    Now, Kitty Birkby early evinced great
With all her passionate affection, Lady  taste for music; her voice was peculiarly
Irwin wanted the art to accommodate her- clear and sweet; she owed much to the
self to the weaknesses of a little child; she careful instruction of Lady Irwin, who was
could not talk the fond nonsense which the  pleased to have a pupil so docile and so apt
ordinary mother makes the vehicle of her in her favorite science. In other respects,
tenderness, and by which she wakes the  Kitty's education was not systematised; her
dimples in her infant's cheek.  Kitty, on  aunt taught her needlework and what she
the other hand, was distinguished by an  knew of French; while her father instructed
extraordinary power of sympathy; she seem- her in arithmetic, and formed her taste in
ed to- know intuitively what was wanted of literature. His eyes failing him  he was
her, and with happy and unconscious grace  often glad to use her younger sight, and
to meet the requirement.  She loved all thus she learned to read with expression
children, so it was very natural that she  and without fatigue, while she imbibed a
could feel especial delight in the beautiful fund of general knowledge, which lay in her
child who crowed and clapped his little mind like seed destined to bring forth a rich
hands at her appearance.                   harvest in future years.  And thus her
In spite of her dissatisfaction that her son  childhood passed in ever-recurring works of
was not his father's heir, Lady Irwin was tenderness and love.  She was so gentle
made much happier by his birth: the boy  and so modest that it was only by her abwas all her own-he had her fitful eyes, her sence that her friends knew how much they
square brow, the shape of his mouth was needed her.
like hers, with a shadow of his father's
smile; and before long it became evident
that he inherited her temper. IIe was wilful
and impatient, he never let his mother fret
herself for want of excitement; it was never
possible to tell in what mood the young auto-   " MOTrER," cried Edward Irwin, now a fine
crat might choose to show himself; he was boy of fourteen, "why does every one think so
like a mountain-girdled lake, now laughing  much more of Frank than of me?"
to the summer sun, now lashing its crested    " He is the heir, and is just come of age,
billows into fury. Kitty Birkby was the and when the heir comes of age there is alonly person whose influence with him never ways great rejoicing."
failed: his mother might waste her strength    " It must be a fine thing to be the heir!"
in the attempt to storm  him  down; she exclaimed Edward, after a pause, fixing his
never gained her point; he would scream  eyes thoughtfully on his mother's face.
till she was terrified for his health, but he    "Why do you think so?" inquired she.
would not yield; yet Kitty, without vio-   "Why?   What a question!  Why, the
lence, by some subtle charm  in her touch  world is before you, to be sure; you can do
or in her voice, brought back the smiles in  exactly what you please, and everybody thinks
five minutes, and won him obedience.       you a fine fellow."
For two years longer Frank Irwin pursued    "It is better to make a fortune than barely
his studies at home, under the direction of to inherit one."
Mr. Birkby; he was then sent to Rugby, at   " O yes, of course; but that takes such a
the time under the wise government of Dr. time. Just fancy, mother, how splendid it




10                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
must be for Frank. Every one says how hand- to my fancy a little longer. I wish you hadn't
some he is, and every one admires his clever- pulled me up with such a jerk.  I declare I
ness and his riding, and everything he does. felt the Arab under me, and the air fanning
Now I'm every bit as handsome and as clever my cheek, and you and all your court ladies
for my age, and father says Frank couldn't looking down from your balcony. It was too
have ridden Mlad Tom  before he went to bad to bring me down such a thump into this
Rugby; yet nobody takes the trouble to find seedy old room, with nothing out of doors
out my perfections."                        but that wet blanket of a sky. I don't be"Would you rather have been your father's lieve it ever intends to leave off raining till
heir than my son?"  As Lady Irwin asked  all the branches are washed off the trees.the boy the question, her cheek flushed, and  Why, if there isn't Kitty   Only think,
her brow, to which a slight flown had become mother, of her coming all through this rain.
habitual, darkened.                         See how daintily she holds up her dress, and
~' Why, no, mother, I don't mean that. I'd  what little pools of water her pretty pattering
rather have my own stately mother, for all feet leave every step she takes. She's worth
her fierce looks and angry words, than the  imy cloud palace, Arab pony and all! There's
pretty pale lady in the picture; but suppose a smile, now, would make sunshine anywhere.
there had teen no Lady Irwin before you, 0 mother, stir the fire and make it blaze,
I'm sure you're wife enough for one man any  while I run down and help her off with her
day."                                      cloak."
"' I should never have known your father if   Away he ran, leaving his mother sunk in
he hadn't come to Florence when he was in  gloomy meditation. The impatience he had
sorrow for the loss of Frank's mother."'   expressed, and forgotten as soon as expressed,
"Which proves, I suppose, that it didn't awakened the discontent in her own heart,
please the Fates that I should be an eldest and roused the old bitterness and jealousy
son. I always thought them  a stupid set of that slumbered in her bosom. She was essenspinsters. Don't you know any ricketty old tially an ambitious woman; her very love
Earl or Duke who might be coaxed into  partook of the passion by which the angels
adopting me?"                             fell; and the beauty and promise of her son,
" Do not talk so foolishly, Edward," re- while it increased  the idolatrous affection
turned his mother, with displeasure, "learn  which she  bore him, aggravated  her disto have some respect for those to whom you  content at the inferior position to which he
owe your being; learn to have some regard  was destined. But the fire smouldered in her
for the talents with which you are endowed, own bosom, and even Agnese knew not into
and the legitimate exercise of which cannot how  fierce as blaze a little breath might
fail to make you known and distinguished."  kindle it.
"In spite of all that," pursued the boy    When Edward returned, bringing in Cathe.
recklessly, "I believe, mother, you would like rine Birkby, despoiled of her wet garments,
to see me in Frank's shoes.  Only think, this and glowing with exercise, the cloud had pass.
grand old house, the woods, the lands, all ed from Lady Irwin's countenance, if not from
mine. But there, don't bring down the thun- her spirit, and she welcomed her young visiter
der clouds! I'm sure, if the old Parcse have  with courtesy, even with kindness.
ill-used me in condemning me to be a hewer   "And now, mother," said Edward, when he
of wood and a drawer of water, they are ten  had established the guest in a warm corner of
times more to blame for making you anything  a sofa, and supplied her with a footstool and
but an empress.  If they had only done you  all imaginable comforts; "and now, mother,
justice now, I could have accommodated  would you like to know what has brought
myself so nicely to the character of a royal my princess out this fine November morning?
duke."                                     It's a good story, and I'll tell Frank as sure as
"' Doubtless, you foolish boy," said his mo- fate."
ther, caressing his full darklcurls.          "Suppose you begin by telling me," said
"But only fancy, mother, you sweeping  his mother, smiling.
along in velvet and diamonds, issuing your.   "You tell her, Kitty. Doesn't she look a
commands to your generals and counsellors; nice tutor, now?  Just look at her; she wants
ordering one man to lose his head, making a nothing but a pair of spectacles and a stout
governor of a province of another; and me cane."
riding about on a cream-colored Arabian pony,   " The boy's distracted," said Lady Irwin.
at the head of an army, going to chastise some'I He is so delighted that you are come to
rebellious barbarians."'                    break the dull tfte-at-tte with his prosy old
"'Silly boy I" cried Lady Irwin, "what a mother, Kate, that he can't speak an intellishock you will feel when you descend from  gible word."
your Pegasus, and know  yourself nothing    "Well then, mother-neither prosy nor old,
but plain Edward Irwin, with not a sou to  much younger than Kitty, I'll be boundhelp you but what your father or brother may would you believe it? the abominable creature
choose togive you."                        has come out through this weather to bring
"Considering the state of the case, mother, me my Arnold's Exercise book."
I think you might have let me give the reins    "She is a great deal too good to you, sir;




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                   11
and we must get Mr. Birklby to be more strict tented now.  And your brother loves you so
with you, if you continue so careless."     dearly. I cannot think how you can find it in
"But only think of her malignity, mother, your heart to envy him."
when I had forgotten the stupid book so    "I do though, Kitty. I envy him his forcleverly,, and persuaded myself that it would tune and his rank; but that is not what I envy
be cruel to send Brade and the ragged old him  most. I envy him  because everybody
pony for it, she must come through the cold  loves him. Why, even you love him more than
and wet for no other purpose than to make you love me."
me ashamed of myself.  There's only one    " Don't you know what good reason I have
thing to be said for her; she never did Arnold  to love him?" returned Kitty, firmly, but with
herself; and so she doesn't know what a tre- some little embarrassment. "I have often told
mendous bore he is."                        you what a friend he has been to me all my
"Now I have brought the book, I hope you life lone."
intend to do the exercise," said Kitty, smiling.   "Yes, I know that you don't love him be-' Well, that depends.  You must fold the  cause he is rich and will be called Sir Francis.
paper and mend the pens, and look out the 0, I wish he had been cross and ugly, for then
words in the index. But no, let's go and have you could not have loved him."
a game at billiards. I'll hunt up Frank, and    " 0, dear Edward, think how wrong it is to
mother will come."                          be vexed that your brother is loved."
"' No, no," said Kitty.  "I'll play no bil-   "Well, it's not exactly that. I don't want
liards till you've done your exercise. "    people not to like Frank, for I know he's a:" Well, we can play without you, you know." splendid fellow; but I do wish somebody would
"6 You will have to play by yourself then," love me better than him or anybody or anysaid his mother. " You'll find no one here to thing else in the whole world."
play with you, if you are rude to Kitty."     "You know  your mother does; and for'"Rude to Kitty!" repeated the boy, the her sake you should try to be contented and
color flushing  to his cheek. "Rude to Kitty, happy."
whom  I love better than anything in the    "Well, I am very happy, if the days were
whole world?  I don't know what you meant not so confoundedly long and everything so
mother."                                    stupid. Do you know, I did something this
" He only wanted to show me that I was not morning. I am sure you will say it was very
quite so important as I thought myself," said  wrong-I felt it was wrong myself. I didn't
Kate, apologetically. "Come, Edward, let us mean to do it, but somehow I couldn't stop.
go into the school-room; the exercise won't I told mother I wished I was Frank.  She did
take half an hour, and there will be plenty of look so vexed-there came a strange fierceness
time for billiards afterwards.             into her face. Don't you think she is very
The boy obeyed, but his cheek still glowed. handsome, Kitty?"
He got together what was necessary for his   "Yes, especially when she smiles."
work in silence, and wrote quickly and atten-'No, when she frowns: it's my treasure
tively for some time; then suddenly flinging  of a Kate that looks lovely when she smiles.
down his pen, he threw himself on the floor, Mother looks magnificent when she's fierce.
and hiding his face on Catherine's knees, burst I feel a sort of creeping of the flesh and burn.
into tears.                                 ing at the heart when she looks like that. Is
"Hush, Edward, is this right-is this Chris- it wrong to like to see her so?"
tiaw?" remonstrated Kitty.                    "It must be wrong," replied Kitty, gravely.
" Rude to you, my own dearest Kitty?"  " She cannot look so unless she feels unhappy;
sobbed the boy. "If I was, I didn't mean it. besides, I do not think it reverent in you to
Of course you know  we can't play without speculate on your mother's looks, and to put
you-at least, I can't; and I'm  sure Frank  your own interpretation on a passing expreswouldn't. 0, you don't know how dull and  sion."
stupid the house is when you are not here.   " Do not look so sorry, Kate-I can't bear
Father sits in his study, making discoveries to see you. I know I am  very wicked, but
about meteoric phenomena or something or you must not hate me. I try to pray, indeed
other; and Frank thinks he's doing a great I do, and I will yet more. Is it not strange,"
deal with Plato, though I believe half the time he added presently, in a lower tone-" is it not
he does nothing but smoke and dream; and  very strange that I never like to make you look
mother and I talk ourselves into a horrible  sorry; but when I vex mother the blood leaps
dislike of everything. O  Kitty, I hate my- in my veins, and I feel as if I couldn't stop, it
self so sometimes, and you would hate me  makes me feel so near to her. Look at my
too, if you knew what wicked thoughts come  forehead: don't you see I am getting a frown
into my head."                             like mother's?  I frown so at night sometimes
"Wicked thoughts come to all of us, Ed- that it wakes me out of my sleep. I dream of
ward; and you know there is only one mode  nothing but battles and fighting.  Dear Kitty,
of driving them away."                     tell me, do you really think I could ever go
"If 1 were only Frank, now," said the  to Heaven?"
bov, "' I should be quite happy."            {" Remember who gave His precious life a
"Oh no, you would not, if you are discon- ransom forsinners,Edward! Remember Him




12                       MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
who loves you, and who is touched with a feel-   "But she doesn't know what she's refusing for your infirmities."               ing," returned Edward, impetuously —"how
"Sometimes," said the'boy, looking out of should she?  She has never been out of this
the window, and speaking in a soft, dreamy  stupid little village in her life; and you can't
tone-" sometimes all that is written in the think what trouble father and I had to get
Testament seems so true, that I feel strong for mother to ask her. She's horribly cross now,
anything; but then, all in a moment, away it and says she knew she wouln't come, though
goes, and the old bad thoughts come back. I how she could tell that I can't think. Why
suppose, Kitty, it is the Devil taking away the won't you come, Kitty dear?" he continued,
Word out of my heart."                    changing at once from  anger to entreaty.
Thus, in the dark November day, they talk- "You don't know what a splendid place Loned together.                              don is. Mother goes everywhere, and every
one comes to our house; and I'll work so hard
-I'll do my lessons every morning before I
go out.. Do come, that's a dear!"
"I should like it very much," said Catherine making an attempt to conceal the sad"MY dear Kitty, we must think of getting  ness with which she spoke. " I should like
you some new clothes to go to London with. to see what we have so often talked of, and to
Of course, you will like to buy the principal hear the clever and famous men whom you
things there; but you must have a new gown know, but I do not think it would be right for
to go in. Morley has a lovely dove-colored  me to go."
silk, which I'm sure would just become you,   " But why, Kitty, why?  We won't do anyand he only wants three-and ninepence a thing wrong.  You can go to church three
yard for it. It's rather a short length, but he times on a Sunday, if you like; and there's
said if I'd take it he'd allow me something." a church close to us where they have service
"I am not going to London, my dear aunt," every day. Then there are lots of beggars,
replied Catherine, in a low voice.       ten times more  miserable than any you
"Not going to London I" exclaimed Miss can find at Swallowfield, who come and ask
Birkby, looking over her spectacles in amaze- you for money without you're having the
ment. "Why, Lady Irwin has been here trouble of hunting them up. Isn't she tireherself, and your papa and I accepted the some, Miss Birkby?  She thinks it such a
invitation."                              clencher to say she does not think it would be
"I told Lady Irwin I was not going. I did  right. There's no good to be got out of her
not know she would ask me till just now. after that; and the beauty of it is, she does not
Edward talked of it, but she never mentioned  condescend to tell us why she does not think
it before."                              it would be right-O, Kitty! you can't think
"But why you won't go I can't understand," what a rage Frank is in. IHe turned as white
pursued Miss Birkby. "You may never have as a sheet, and got up from  the table where
such another opportunity in your life. You  we were all sitting at lunch. He didn't say a
would see everything and be in the first so- word; but I wouldn't be in your shoes for
ciety without any trouble or fatigue.  I'm  something I"
sure Lady Irwin won't be pleased. I can't   "It does seem a pity, doesn't it, Kittyv?" put
understand it. Why, when I was your age, in her aunt. "I'm sure your papa and I could
I used to go wherever any one asked me. I manage very well. I could get Jane Thorpe
hope you are not thinking about leaving  to read to him; she reads particularly well for
your papa and me, because, you know, we a person in her condition, and he would soon
could manage perfectly well by ourselves, and get accustomed to her."
of course we can't expect to keep you always."   "Oh, Miss Birkby, it's of no use," cried
"I think you and papa would be lonely if I Edward, sorrowfully. He had been studying
went," returned Catherine, slowly; "but that Catherine's half-averted face. "She  don't
is not the only reason-that is not the princi- wish to come, and, of course, we cannot wish
pal reason. I don't think it would be well for to compel her, however sorry we may be."
me to go, and I hope you and papa will let   Kitty sighed heavily, but said nothing.
me stay at home."                           "If you'd only give a reason," pursued
" Of course, dear, we are only too glad to Edward, after a pause, and in a softer tone.
have you. I'm sure I don't know what we "If you would only say why you don't wish to
should do without you for three months: I am  come."
only sorry about Lady Irwin."              " That I cannot do, Edward; but will you
"Well, now, this is too bad," cried Edward  not put faith in me?  Will you not believe
Irwin, brushing into the room, his face-flushed me when I sav that it is not for want of love
and his eyes bright with tears of vexation. to you that I have refused,-that I should
"Only think, Miss Birkby-only imagine-  have enjoyed it more than I can tell? Will
mother says Kitty won't go."             you not believe this on my simple word, and
"-She has just been telling me so, my dear, trust and love me still?  You do not know
and I am quite as much surprised as you how sad it will make me when you are away,
can be."                                 to think that you are judging hardly of me."




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                   13
The boy was silent-his face worked with  disappointment to me. I am not going to
various emotions.  At length, it grew clear distress you by an inquiry into the motives of
and firm. He took Kitty's hand, and, pressing  your refusal. You act upon them so deciit firmly between his own, exclaimed,      dedly that you must be satisfied with them.
"It is hard, but I'll do it. I'll do it for you, I only wish to say that I am aware from your
Kitty. I'll believe what you say; I won't think  conduct on this occasion, and from the manner
hardly of you myself; and I won't let any one of your behaviour to me since my return
else think hardly of you. You never deceived  from Germany, that I have been so unhappy
me; you have always been dearer and kinder as to incur your displeasure. I have in vain
than any sister could have been, I am sure; examined myself to discover the reason, you
so, if you say it's not for want of love, I will have given me no clue, though I daily feel how
believe you, and love you all the same; but strong tha:t displeasure must be which has so
you won't mind writing to me?"             completely changed our mutual relations and
Catherine assured hini that she looked for- destroyed a friendship so close, so old.  You
ward to his letters as a great source of amuse- must not imagine that I am so preposterously
ment during his absence; and the boy at last conceited as to suppose that your refusal to go
departed, much comforted, and firmly resolved  to London was entirely occasioned by your
to maintain the virtue of Kitty's incomprehen- unwillingness to be distressed by my presence.
sible determination against all assailants.  If that were the only obstacle, you need no
But another and a harder struggle yet longer hesitate, for I have to-day asked and
awaited her-a struggle she gladly would have obtained my father's permission to make an
avoided, had it been possible. The intimate  extensive tour in America; I hope even to exfriendship which had subsisted from infancy  tend my travels as far as the Rocky Mounbetween herself and Frank Irwin gave him a tains."
right to some further explanation of the    He had spoken in a hard, dull tone, never
motives of her conduct-a right-which, what- once looking at his companion, but nervously
ever the difficulty in which she might be switching his riding-cane to and fro, and
placed by the assertion of it, she felt no incli- following its motion with his eyes.  Each
nation to question.:                        sentence struck harder and harder on poor
To avoid, or at least postpone, her meeting  Catherine's heart, and when the last abrupt
with Frank, she took occasion to pay a visit announcement was made, she was compelled
to her old nurse, who, with her husband, to stop, for her faltering limbs refused to
occupied a small farm, at some distance from  support her, a deadly pallor overspread her
Swallowfield. She did not leave Mrs. Price's countenance, and her lips quivered with the
dwelling till past five, and the early spring  vain attempt to articulate a sound.
day was waning fast, as she sadly bent her   Terrified out of his anger, Frank hastened
steps homeward.  The soft and humid air to support her, and gazed  with stupefied
was fragrant from banks of violets and prim- amazement on an emotion such as he had
roses, and the distant moon hung in the ether. never before witnessed, while his heart smote
It was an evening for tender thoughts, and as him for the selfishness of his reproaches.
Catherine pursued her way, her mind wan-   " O, Kitty," cried Frank, passionately, " fordered back to the old days of her childhood, get what I have said. Of course, I know, dear,
and to the countless pleasant hours which she you can't help it; I was a fool to hope it; but
and Frank had spent together.               you know, Kitty, every one in this world is
When a turn in the road brought her face selfish but you."
to face with him of whom she was thinking,   "You shall know the whole truth," said
she beheld him without surprise, though the Kitty, who, in her anxiety to master her
tide of blood setting tumultuously to  her emotion, hardly understood the import of his
heart deprived her for the moment of speech or words. " I have never trusted you and remotion.                                    pented of it, and, hard as it is, I will. trust
"I came to meet you, Kitty," said Frank  you now."
Irwin, "your aunt told me where you were' No, Kitty; I will know nothing; you shall
gone —she asked me to come-I hope you are  put no force upon yourself, dear. I know that
not displeased."                           I am in every respect unworthy your regard.
"Oh, no I" said Catherine, trembling yet I can well understand what a distasteful commore, and only daring to deprecate his anger panion I must be to a gentle and accomplished
by a look of supplication; for there was a woman like you."
restraint and haughtiness in his tone and    "Frank, how can you talk so strangely? you
manner which were quite new to her. He  know the inequality is all on my side. Listen
turned to walk with her, and they had pro- to me a few moments, and I will try to tell
ceeded some way before he again addressed  you my reasons, that you may not think me
her. At length he said,                    altogether  capricious and  unworthy  your
"I want to say a few words to you Cathe-  friendship. You see my father has spent his
rine."  He spoke slowly and with manifest life in such retirement that he thinks and
effort. " I need not tell you that your refusal cares little about what is said or done in the
to accompany my mother to London was a world. He is accustomed to see you, and he
sad disappointment, yes, and an unexpected  loves you dearly. My aunt knows, perhaps,




14                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
something more about such things; but, I cannot pretend to be satisfied with being less
dare say, if either of them thought about it at than all to you. Time may possibly modify
all, they would consider that I was quite your my feelings, and I may grow accustomed to
equal."                                    the thought that I am nothing to you; but we
"Well," said Frank, earnestly, though not cannot become children again, and the meimpatiently.                                mory of those joyous days only makes the sor"You see their affection for me would blind  row of today the heavier."
them  to the truth."  Kitty spoke with in-   "Do not say so!" said Kitty, in a tremulous
creasing effort, but still with a certain energy. tone, "we may be as brother and sister to
"I tried to speak to Lady Irwin, and to ask  each other."
her help; but I could not. I do not think it   "Brother and sister I" he replied, almost
is right to speak to you, Frank; but you will fiercely. " Do not deceive yourself, as you
helu me, as you always have done, all your cannot deceive me, by that miserable delusion!
life; and for the sake of our old, old friend- Brother and sister!  Brother and sister we
ship. I cannot lose your friendship."      never have been, and never can be. I love you,
"Come what may, that will never be, Kitty. cruel as you are. You know that I
Kitty," said Frank earnestly.              love you,-not with the temperate affection
"Thank you for that comfort. And now  born of habit and of instinct, which knits
you understand my motives."                together those of kindred blood; but I love
"Forgive me, dear, I do not understand  you with that passion, which, if you do not
them in the least. You talk about the world, know, you have at least read of  You were
and about your father being blinded by his the dream of my boyhood, the hope of my
affection for you; but I honestly confess my- youth. All that sisters are or may be to
self unable to make out the sequence of ideas, others, you are a thousand times to me. I do
or to see what bearing your observations have  not importune you to do impossibilities. I
on your refusal to go to London with my mo- love you too dearly to seek to influence you
ther."                                     by appeals to your compassion. Yes, and I
"Don't you see that, if I were to go, I value myself too much for that; but do not
should be, almost of necessity, a great deal in  mock me by comparing that which is life of
your company, and people might think-or, my life to a feeling, however pure and sacred,
to speak the simple truth, it might not be which may, without difficulty, be divided
well'for me."                              among half-a-dozen.  Some day, Kitty, you
"0! why did you not tell me that before? may know what it is. God grant that when
Of course, it was hard for you to say it. I you love you may never know the bitterness
was a blockhead not to think of it myself. of having your passion unrequited 1".But I am going away now, you know, Kitty, so    "There are many, many, worthier your
far, to another hemisphere; you will'go now? affection than I."
No one can make observations, no one can    " If there are, I don't care for them. I love
misinterpret you now!"                    you. I have loved you from the hour when I
"I will go if you wish it," she replied, in a first steadied your infant steps in your father's
very low, heart-broken voice.              orchard. I never called you sister. I never
"There is something still which you hide felt the love of a brother towards you. The
from me,"' said Frank, looking steadily at her; love 1 then bore you was a faint foreshadow"and it is something which makes you un- ing of that which now possesses me. I, prehappy. Even if I go to America, you do not sumptuously, made sure of my happiness.
wish to go to London."                     Till this winter, I never questioned that you
"' How can I wish to go if you are not there?"'returned my love, absurd as it may appear to
returned Catherine, almost angrily; " would you. Never. till this winter-never, fully till
not everything I saw remind me of you and of to-day-did i contemplate the possibility of
your kindness long ago?"                  this agony."
"And yet you deny me the pleasure of   "If I were but nearer to you in any one
being there with you?  I have heard that thing," faltered Kitty.
women are riddles; and I've been puzzled    "What then?" said Frank, impatiently;
sometimes to understand my mother; but it's "it would not bring your heart nearer to me.
new to me to find you incomprehensible and  I should love you like a lover, and you would
inconsistent."                             look upon me as a brother."
"Only let me stay at home," said Kitty,   " How little you know!" exclaimed Kate.
entreatingly; "don't ask me to go to London  " Do you think I have had no struggles? Do
-don't show any interest about me; and, you think I have shed no tears?  Do you
when you come back, you will find me once  think it is Ieasy to me to lose one turn of
more your old friend and playfellow."      your countenance- one tone of your voice I
" No, Kate; do not let us deceive ourselves. 0, you must not think that all, or even the
That can' never be again. The happy time heaviest of the pain is on your side. You will
when we were all in all to each other is gone; have much to comfort you —much to drive
and the cold friendship you offer me is but a me from  your thoughts. I shall have only
sorry substitute for the love you once bore me. the memory of the past, and prayer, to help
As for me, I cannot cease to love you; but I me."




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                15
C"You are, more and more inexplicable, tion on his children; and he hardly looked
Kitty. If I could trust the seeming sense of up on Frank's entrance, merely showing his
your words, I should almost hope that you consciousness of his presence, and his satisindeed love me, even as I would be loved. faction thereat by a commonplace question
Yet you make the confession in a voice so sad, about -the weather. Having replied to this,
and with a look so hopeless, that I dare not and taken a seat on the opposite side of the
rejoice at it. What barrier is there between fire, Frank began to cast about in his mind
us?  What unknown hindrance which turns how to introduce the great subject which enthis, which should be the sweetest moment of grossed his thoughts. He did not doubt that
our lives, into sorrow and bitterness?"  his father would hear him with indulgence
"You  knowl  Oh, why compel me to andinterest; but it was with considerable diffirepeat what you know so well? I am a simple culty that he at length stammered out a recountry girl, without protection, without ac- quest that he would give him his serious atten.
complishments. You have talents and rank tion for a few minutes.
which fit you to form an alliance with any of   "What, again, Frank I" said Sir Edward,
the noblest families of the land; and such an laying down his book, with a look of amazealliance Sir Edward and Lady Irwin natu- ment. "You seem very impatient. Not that
rally expect you to form."                I blame you. I think travel does a young
"And is this the only hindrance, Kitty?" man good, provided he travels with a pur.
" Yes.  Even for your sake I would not pose, and not merely for the sake of wasting
creep into your family by stealth; or enter it time and money. I was speaking to your
only on suffrance.  I will not deserve the re- mother about your plan just now. She thinks
proaches of those to whom I owe gratitude and I ought to have taken time to consider it
affection."                               before I consented to your undertaking a
"By Heaven, Kitty, you wrong my father journey so long and perilous; but, as I proved
and mother if you think that they would to her, it's nothing to the Argonautic expe.
value rank or fortune in comparison with dition. Notwithstanding the danger of the
such a true and pure heart —such a cultivated adventure, I confess I am  not sorry you
mind-as yours I Besides, if they were blind have fixed on the Rocky Mountains as your
to your merit, do you think they set no value Ultima Thule; for I shall be glad to have
on my happiness-that they have no regard some geological specimens from  them; and
to my wishes? Put such unworthy thoughts an authentic account of Mormanism-one of
away from you!  My mother may sometimes the most remarkable phenomena of the age.
seem capricious-she may be uncertain in The accounts we have must be, to a certain
trifles, but her own affections are too stron   extent, partial. Now, you will take a clear
to allow her to endanger the happiness of bot  head and young eyes with you. All I would
our lives for a prejudice. I am sure both she warn you against is too strong a leaning to
and my father will welcome with delight a the old-world prejudices, with which our good
prospect so full of reasonable happiness for friend, Birkby, has taken such pains to fortify
both of us."                             you."
But Catherine could not think so. In the   "I have just parted from Kitty, sir," said
midst of her tremulous joy her heart remained Frank, breaking in at last, with desperate reheavy with foreboding. She felt that Lady solution.
Irwin would disapprove of their union, and a   "Why didn't you bring her up here?  The
prescience of sorrow weighed upon her spirit. little puss, I don't wonder she's ashamed to
Frank, though not entirely free from the show her face. Your mother is by no means
same instinctive apprehension, could not re- pleased, I can tell you. She never was very
strain his delight at the acknowledgment he fond of poor Kitty. Very strange, though I
had drawn from her, he overwhelmed her with don't know-perhaps it's natural, after all.
endearing words, demanded explanations of a I dare say Portia would have thought Imogen
thousand trifles which had pained him, as evi- rather milk-and-waterish.  I really begin to
dences of indifference, and learned, with rap- apprehend that my little friend is putting on
ture, that they were so many tokens of con- her womanhood. Kitty, the sweetest piece
scious love. Then he had arguments-unan- of Nature's handiwork that ever gladdened
swerable arguments-to prove the absurdity human heart,-it is too bad for her to be
of her apprehension of Lady Irwin's disap- having her whimsies and caprices."'
proval, till Catherine, though unconvinced,   Here was a good opening for Frank. These
was soothed into a sympathy in his delight; warm expressions of tenderness and affection
and when they parted at her father's gate. it loosened the powers of speech. He defended
would have been hard to tell which was the Catherine from the charge of caprice. He
happier of the two.                       then, with  more difficulty, explained  the
motive which had led her to refuse Lady
CHAPTER VIII.                Irwin's invitation, and concluded with an
earnest avowal of his own passion, and an
Sir Edward was reading when his son en- entreaty that his father would aid him with
tered the dining-room. He was not a man  his countenance.
who habitually wasted much of his conversa- 1  "So I am to remain in my present benighted




16                       MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
ignorance of the real estate of the Mormon  hospitality, and under the guise of innocence
colony," said Sir Edward, when his son at had successfully carried out her wily designs
length ended; "and I shall not be able to  upon the heir. She determined to meet craft
enrich my collection with specimens from the  with craft, and, by using her great influence
Rocky Mountains I Do you think that Kitty  with her husband, to retard the union of the
could be persuaded to make it her bridal tour? lovers, and, while seeming to be only anxious
But seriously, Master Frank, this is a grave for their welfare, to counteract, and finally to
matter. You and Kitty are over young to be subvert their designs.
running your heads into the yoke matrimonial.   The youth of the lovers naturally formed
Kitty is a wife for an emperor; and you'll be the burden of her objections; she touched
a lucky fellow if you get her. Still, you know  slightly on Catherine's want of fortune, and
it is a matter to be carefully considered for inferior rank; she urged the curtailment of
both your sakes."                           Sir Edward's expenses which would become
"Certainly, sir, if you will only give us your necessary if two families were to be supported
countenance, we shall be willing to wait."  on an income, handsome indeed, but every six.
" Oh, yes! I dare say I As willing as the pence of which was annually spent; she dwelt
hoar frost when the sun is shining. I wasn't on the injury it would be to Edward, if he were
many months older than you when I married  deprived of the advantages of such an educa.
your mother. I was very happy'bonae sub  tion as his brother had enjoyed,-advantages
Cynarve regno.' Kitty is not unlike her in  more necessary to him, since his position
many things. But I'll tell you what, Frank, must depend on his own exertions.  She
we must talk to Lady Irwin; she does not like frankly acknowledged she could not compre.
to have things done without her. I wish Kitty bhend Frank's attachment, and insinuated a
hadn't had her pretty fit of prudery just now. doubt of its continuance, urging how often
Helen does not like to have her invitations re- the pretty face and sweet temper, which
fused, especially when she fancies she is con- were sufficient for the youth, palled upon
ferring a favor in giving them."           the matured taste of the man. To this Sir
When the matter was broached to Lady  Edward replied, that it was not probable that
Irwin, she listened with mingled astonish- an attachment founded  on such  intimate
ment and indignation. Her countenance suf- knowledge, and so fortified by esteem, would
ficiently expressed her displeasure, though  be of a transitory character; he said that for
she controlled her utterance, and replied, his part he was- quite satisfied with little Kitty
only in a few cold words of disapprobation, for a daughter-in-law, but he acknowledged
to her husband's kindly representations of that he had not contemplated the necessity of
the wishes of the lovers. Strange as it may a separate establishment, and ended by exseem, she had never contemplated the proba- pressing his belief that the ycung people were
bility of Frank's marriage, or only as a pos- in no hurry, and would make no difficulty of
sible distant evil, to be prevented when it waiting a year or two.
arose. That he would form  an attachment   When Frank'found that Catherine's appreto Catherine Birkby had never once occurred  hensions were, in a measure at least, realised,
to her. Indeed, she held Kitty's beauty and  and that Lady Irwin seemed determined to
accomplishments in very low  esteem, and  retard, if not openly to oppose their union, the
hardly thought of her except as a useful antagonism of his nature was roused, and he
playfellow for Edward-an agreeable domestic could not altogether control his impatience in
animal, whom it was convenient to have about replying to her representations. He rejected
the house. To discover in this soft-voiced with indignation the idea that his feelings
tender girl the enemy whom she should most might change; he thought the house was large
sedulously have guarded against, was a bitter enough for him  and Kitty, but if his father
aggravation of her annoyance.              and mother thought otherwise, his father had
Turn the subject which way she would, she interest to get him some appointment which
could discover no reasonable hope of averting would enable him to take the burden of his
the evil; Sir Edward had already given a own maintenance, and that of his wife, upon
quasi consent; she knew that, though gene- himself; he had no idea of an immediate marrally complaisant, he was occasionally capable  riage, but he could see no reason to justify
of firmness; that his affection for his eldest him in submitting Catherine to the anxieties
son was strong, his sense of justice strict, and  of an engagement of uncertain duration.
that he had always regarded Kitty herself   In Catherine herself Lady Irwin found the
with peculiar tenderness. But none of these most pliant listener, she was so prepared for
considerations shook' her resolution to pre- anger in the dreaded Lady of the Manor,
vent the marriage, cost what it might; on  in the event of her passion becoming known,
the contrary, the difficulties that lay in her that when she assailed her with arguments,
way rather strengthened her determination, persuasion and entreaties, coupled even with
and sharpened her ingenuity.               caresses, she yielded only too readily, and
The sympathetic indignation of Agnese, to grateful for permission to love, assented to any
whom  she disclosed the subject of her un- terms, thinking delay scarcely an evil in the
easiness during her evening toilette, confirmed  greatness of her unhoped-for happiness.
her in the idea that Catherine had abused her   They were betrothed, and it was an acknow



MOTHER AND  STEPMtOTHER.                                  17
ledged fact in the neighborhood, that Miss   "MIother, that'll never be! You don't know
Birkby was engaged to Mr. Irwin.  One or of what true stuff Kitty's heart is made; if I
two sour spinsters and intriguing mammas ever want a home, and she has one, never fear
were highly indignant, and by the community  that she'll grudge me a share of hers. Besides,
at large, it was regarded as a very natural and have I not hands, arms and wits; can't I hire
very desirable arrangement.                 myself out for so much a day to be shot at, or
Mr. Birkby, when asked for his consent, get a handsome income for wearing a fine
gave it heartily, telling Frank, with tears of coat, and a sword at some foreign court, and
pleasure, that he was glad to show the love he  writing lying letters about nothing?  Frank
bore him, by giving into his keeping his dear- and Mir. Birkby, both say I've capital abilities,
est earthly treasure; he was a little displeased  ariand I'm sure if I take after you, I must be a
at Lady Irwin's desire for the postponement long-headed fellow with a first-rate genius for
of the marriage, for his affection took alarm  politics. Only think now, mother, would it
at the idea that his child's excellence was not not be more gratifying to be pointed out as
duly appreciated, but a iew  words from  the mother of the eminent diplomatist, Mr.
Catherine tranquillised his doubts, and he  Edward Irwin, in time Sir Edward, and soon
could not be long angry at what gave him  my lord viscount, or what not, than to look
longer possession of her who was so dear, so  handsome in your black velvet and diamonds
necessary to him.                           as the maternal relative of Sir Francis?"
As to Miss Birkby, the intelligence threw    " it is because I long to see you crowned
her into  a flutter of delight.  She  had  with self-won honors, that I am  impatient
a happy kntack of never seeing what was of this preposterous scheme of your brother's.
going on before her eyes, of course she knew  Hampered with him, his wife, and perhaps a
that Kitty and Frank liked each other very  host of children-women who bring their husmuch, but as to anything more than friend- bands no fortune, always have large families
ship, the idea had never suggested itself to -how is your father to give you the necessary
her. She wished them  happy with all her start?  How is he to put you properly forward
heart, and could see no reason why they  in the world?  On the next ten years the
should not be happy, since they had always fortunes of your life must depend."
been dear good children, both of them.' Ten years! thlen Frank and Kitty are to
And so the matter rested. Lady Irwin, wait ten years?  Come, mother, that's too
satisfied with having averted the evil for the  bad-why  she'll be quite elderly  by that
present, revolved her plans at her leisure, and  time; just think, you are only five and-thirty
was content to bide her time. She was not, now, and you've been married these sixteen
however, permitted to enjoy much repose, for years.  Depend upon it, I shall never get on
she was harassed by the mute solicitations of the  better for Kitty's fretting  herself to
Frank's anxious looks, and by the open re- fiddle-strings.  No, no, mother, it won't do;
monstrances of her own son.                 there's no romance in a bride over twenty.
Edward heard the news at first with dis- If I were Frank, I'd carry her off in a chaise
pleasure, and was inclined to feel himself ag- and four, and bring her home a married wife
grieved because Catherine loved any one better -I declare it would be splendid-I'd be posthan himself; but when the first emotions of tilion, and I don't think you'd have much
dissatisfaction were over, he entered with  chance of overtaking us, unless you swept
spirit into the interests of the lovers, and, after us in a whirlwind."
having espoused their cause, he supported it   The idea of an elopement, and the exciting
with a warmth characteristic of his tempera- adventures by which it could not fail to be
ment, and which increased with opposition. -  accompanied, was so agreeable to Edward,
Proud of the victory he had gained over him- that, though it had occurred to him as a jest,
self, and irritated by a suspicion that his he did not fail to suggest it seriously to his
mother was actuated by love to him, he was brother.
never weary of urging his brother's claims, till   "You may look as grave as you please,
his galli. g solicitations goaded her to mad- Frank," he said, impatiently; "I tell you my
ness, and confirmed her in her resolution.  father would be delighted to have it settled" Inconsiderate and thankless boy!" she the dear old fellow is as fond of Kitty as she
exclaimed one day, thrown off her guard by  deserves-you'd be gmne just a couple of days,
his importunity; " blind to your own interest, and I'd undertake to draw mother off while
as you are careless of the affections of your you begged pardon, he'd forgive you almost
mother."                                    before you could ask him. Mother is splendid
"My interest 1" retorted Edward, " how  for holidays, but you know we sadly want a
can it affect my interest; except that it must little household deity to nurse us when we are
be my interest to see Frank and Kitty happy."  ill, and put us in good-humor when we are
"' And yourself a beggar, and your mother a cross. Mother couldn't say anything when it
pensioner on the bounty of a country parson's was done, or if she did, it wouldn't so much
daughter I Foolish child, how will it be with  matter."
you when you are but an inmate on sufferance    "She would never forgive us, Edward,"
in the house beneath whose roof you were returned Frank, with a grave smile;  "and we
born?"                                     sh'uld feel that we had given her reason for
2




18                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
her displeasure. Kitty's heart would break  anxious looks, and of the importunity of her
under the weight of such a resentment as my  own son. Frank would be employed, intemother can feel, and all my love and yours rested and amused, his passion, the fruit of
would not support her under it. It is hard, effervescent youth, might cool down, he
but we must be patient."                    would see other women of a very different
" Then I'll tell you what it is, Frank, you'll stamp from the modest country girl to whom
have plenty of exercise for. your patience; he was betrothed, women with glorious eyes,
you may wait and wait till you are both old  every glance of which must make a man's
and cross. Mother will not give her consent; blood leap in his veins, and who would not
she'll mock you with vain hope, like that disdain to flatter and court the handsome and
scoundrel Pygmalion and his poor sister Dido  accomplished heir to an English baronetcy,
in Virgril. She has made up her mind-she  women skilled with specious talk to sap the
says you are too young now, she'll find reasons groundwork of principle, and to beguile
just as good to keep you asunder till she can  their victim into a slough of treacherous desay you are too old, and ought to be thinking  light, after which the simple Kitty would
of the other world."                        have entirely lost her power to charm him.
"Kitty would never consent," said Frank, Failing this, there was ambition, there were
not unimpressed by the boy's representations. a thousand allurements to bling out the evil
The thought was not new to him, the shadow  of his nature and render him  unfit or unof such a fear had been darkening on his willing to fulfil his engagement.  At all
mind for some time.                        events, it was delay-at all events, it was
" Don't ask her!" cried  Edward, with  separation; it would be strange, she thought,
animation; "of course, I know  as well as if in a year or eighteen months some occasion
you that she won't, if she can help it; but you  of mistrust did not arise, which she could
know she loves you with all her heart-you  foster into lasting estrangemlent.
know that though she tries to be gay, and    The idea of travel was not without attracdeceives her poor old aunt and her father, tions to Frank.  The irritation excited by
who is always dreaming about some old Greek  his passion, and by the obstacles thrown in
lovers instead of minding his own dear little  his way had given him a distaste for his old
girl; you know that when she thinks no one  studies, the vapid life of the fashionable
sees her the tears come welling up into her world in London was wearisome to him,
eyes, and she is grown so thin that I could  bodily activity would,' he thought, counteract
almost span her waist, which used to be of a his nervous restlessness of mind and allay
proper natural size. Ido not doubt that she the feverish excitement under which he
would protest and be very miserable, but you  labored.  True, he mlust part from  Kitty,
are her natural guardian now, and it is your but he hoped that his mother might soften
business to take care of her health. Now, if to her when he was away. and that when he
you carry her off, and marry her against her returned she would be his own for ever.
will, she can't blame any one but you and me, Now, the dark shadow of his stepmother
and I don't think she can be long angry with  seemed to come between them, even when
either of us."                             they were alone, so powerfully was each imFrank smiled and loved his brother very  pressed by the consciousness of her unavowdearly for his vehemence. And when he de- ed purpose, though even to each other. they
tailed to Catherine his proposal in all its ex- hardly ventured to breathe the fear, lest, by
travagant wildness, there was a touch of sad- uttering it, they should give it substance.
ness in the smile with which he related it, and    For one long happy week before he went
in that with which she listened-a sadness abroad, Frank staid alone at Swallowfield
perhaps inseparable from  love so deep as -for one week of glorious sunshine his feet
theirs, yet showing that a foreboding of evil brushed the dew from the grass as he came
was in the heart of each.                  across the field to the Parsonage —for one
week of soft summer weather the leaves of
the old elm outside the garden-gate whispered over his nightly farewell, and then he
(CHf:1APTER IXe-.    went, witlh smiles on his lips, though with
tears in his eyes, to be away until another
SiR  EnARDn, observing  that his son's  spring and surnnmmer were past, and until the
habits had become unsettled, and that his leaves of that other surmmer were yellow with
old pursuits now seented to have lost their decay.
interest for him, became anxious that he    Catherine composed herself to wait, and
should employ the time which was to inter- devoted herself with increased earnestness to
vene before his marriage in acquiring a more her various occupations.  But though she
extensive acquaintance with foreign coun- conscientiously employed her time and intries, and thus complete his education before dulged in no vain repinings, she could not
sinking down into the even tenor of a coun- restrain a feeling of' joy when a day was
try gentleman's life. Lady Irwin eagerly  past, at the thought that the term of their
caught at and seconded the proposal; she  separation was by so much shortened. Her
was weary of the mute appeals of Frank's  prayers seemed always to bring her near to




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                  1:9
him, and she had his letters, long, frequent, Edward grows up I shall do my'best to
and inexpressibly delightful for the evidence  avoid such a catastrophe."
they bore of a heart turning ever truly to    "Edward will make a handsome fellow,
her. Once in the winter there was an inter- Heleno He will make many a heart ache.
val of sad anxiety-a long three weeks, and  Hie will beat Frank out-and out-he has so
no letter; then, at last, a short note, written  much more of the devil in him. I am hearfrom a sick bed, but in good spirits, and in  tily glad my girls have a dozen years the
the near hope of approaching restoration to  start of him."
health.                                      "Edward's good looks will not avail him
Sir Edward and Lady Irwin remained in  much. A younger son has little chance of
town until the end of the summer, and  distinguishing himself in this age of gain
when they did return their attention was and calculation."
occupied by a succession of visitors. Edward    Mrs. Brook replied by extolling Edward's
was gone to Rugby, so Catherine was left talents and  acquirements.  Lady Irwin,
with little interruption to the enjoyment of pleased to hear his praises even from  one
her own thoughts, and to her ordinary occu- whose judgment she despised, incited her to
pations.                                   further commendation by affecting to speak
" You don't mean to say, Helen, that that slightingly of him. Mis. Brook was essenquiet little thing is Frank's fianc6ee?" said  tially a worldly-wise woman, though of a
Mrs. Wilton Brook, Sir Edward's fashion- low order of mind, and debased by perpetual
able sister, now a well-preserved matron, striving after petty ends. She wtts not withwho, with two full-blown daughters, was on  out a certain acuteness, which enabled her
a visit to her brother. "W hat a sacrifice! A  to discover the assailable points of those
man of his expectations, such a handsome fel- characters, the dignity and strength of which
low, too; why he might have married any one."  she could not appreciate. She was an adroit
" lie is going to marry according to his and unscrupulous flatterer; and Lady Irwin,
choice," replied Lady Irwin, drily.        because she saw through and despised her,
"Oh l that's well enough for an old man  thought she could listen uninjured to her
with a broken constitution, a country curate, well-bred toadyism.  She never perceived
or something of that sort-but in Frank's  how lowering to the moral feelings, interposition, with such opportunities, it is inex- course with persons of Mrs. Wilton Brook's
cusable. Really, a man owes something to  class must always be-how  it helped to
his family.  No one cares less for money  maintain in her an extraordinary opinion of
than I do, but rank, fashion, beauty, or her own endowments, and kept her in suicisomething, surely, he should require."     dal ignorance of her true moral state.
" Your brother and your nephews consider    Catherine, meanwhile, grew  daily more
Catherine Birkby beautiful, I believe?"   and more conscious of the dislike with which
" Beautiful! What? A girl who has no  Lady Irwin regarded her, and she conseidea of setting herself off-no air-no man- quently became more silent and depressed in
rer!  Her eyes are certainly not bad, if she  that lady's presence.  It was a great relief
oad the least idea how to use them; and, I when Edward came home from school, full
dare say, something might be made of her of his new experience, overflowing with anechair, it looks soft, and it certainly is a pretty  dotes of masters and companions, lavish of
color, just the brun-dor'e which was all the caresses to his mother, and imperiously affecrage last year. Clementina has it almost- tionate to Kitty. The jealousy which had at
her's is a trifle too light, but, when properly one time characterised his love to her had
brushed and oiled, it has very much the  now quite passed away; she was no longer
shade, I assure you.  Really, Ilelen, you  the principal object of his thoughts, and he
should give the poor child a hint or two-it began to have a perception, that charming
is high time something should be done to  as she was, she might be more desirable as a
civilise her."                             sister than as a wife. And now Frank was
"I confess I cannot avoid feeling some  away Kitty could alvays listen to his stories;
regret that Frank did not look about him a she was never too much engaged to walk or
little before he tied himself down," said  ride with him; she was a better listener
Lady Irwin. " Catherine Birkby is just the  than ever, and soon knew  the distinctive
sort of barley-sugar sweetheart that a boy  characters of Brown, Sinclair, and Tomlins,
fancies himself in love with. I would have Edward's particular friends, and could talk
saved him if I could; but he must buy his  about them  as if she were familiarly acexperience, like the rest of us."          quainted with them herself; while the argu"His father ought not to have given his ments she employed to mollify his indignaconsent. I wonder you did not stopr it be- tion against " that bully" HIouseman, and'
fore it came to a declaration, Helen."     to qualify his contempt for "'Uncle" Bob" How could I apprehend the danger? She bins, the pawnbroker's son, only gave addihad been backwards and f)rwards at the  tional gusto to the conversation by supplyhouse ever since I married. I never dreamt ing the spice of a little contradiction.
of anything more than brotherly regard.   Catherine's altered looks had struck EdHowever, it is no affair of mine: when ward on his first arrival, and it was not long




20                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTIER.
before he discovered that her spirits had lost tell you, mother, I can see the trouble in her
much of their elasticity, and that in his mo- eyes; and take my word for it, three nights
ther's company she was always depressed  out of the seven her pillow is not dry when she
and nervous. With un:usual self-command, goes to sleep."
he kept his thoughts to himself, and carried    " What an extraordinary infatuation it is
on his observations in silence for several days, that you labour under,about such a matter of
when he had ascertained that a coldness and  fact person as Kitty. If she does look pale
distance in his mother's manner aggravated, sometimes, it can be no wonder when Mir.
if it did not cause this suffering, he resolved  Birkiby keeps her so many hours reading to
at once to appeal to her better nature, and  him. You should appeal to him, not to me.
to plead with her for worthier treatment of Catherine's feelings are never likely to injure
his brother's affianced wife. Accordingly, he her health."
entered her dressing-room. one morning, and    "Oh, my dear mother, if you did but know
flinging himself on the rug at her feet, laid  her I"- cried Edward, rising on his knees in
his head in her lap-an old childish habit of his eagerness, and looking with earnest enhis, which she loved-and stroking her hand, treaty into his mother's face-" if you would
caressingly, said,                          but open your heart to her! It would make
-" What a charming Christmas party we you so much happier."
have, mother? I wish Frank were here."'' My happiness is beyond her reach, either
" Frank is much better where he is,' re. to diminish or increase," replied Lady'Irwin,
plied Lady Irwin.                          haughtily. It cuther to the heart to hear her
" Of course, it's very nice to be at Rome; boy pleadinlgfor the tender girl whom she hated.
and if Kitty were with him, I don't suppose    "Only look at her, mother, pursued Edhe would be in any hurry to get back. But ward, undaunted by her coldness. " Where
as it is  "'                               did you ever see a sweeter smile?  And as
"Don't distress yourself Edward; Frank's to her hands and feet, they are fifty times
love will never break his slumbers, or spoil smaller and prettier than C]ementina's, that
his appetite.  Catherine did not give him  Aunt Fanny is always making  such a fuss
much trouble, you know."                   about. Then, for a companion,-who is al.
"No, I don't know what you mean by  ways sweet-tempered, always at leisure, like
that, mother. If Kitty loved Ihim with all Kitty?  I'm  sure you have reason to thank
her heart, as it was just and natural she her, mother; I don't know what I should have
should, would you have had her tell a lie, been, if she hadn't taken so much trouble with
and say she didn't care for him?"         me. I never heard any one teach a fellow
"I do not blame her. I say nothing.-  his duty to his neighbour, as Kitty does; and
Your brother's honor's engagffed.  I only say  it's all the better because she does not seem
that he does not appear to suffer much from  to be teaching at all. Oh, mother! you do
home-sickness."                             not know what you do when you shut her
"I don't think you can tell that, unless from your heart,  She would be a dear daughyou were to see the letters he writes to Kitty. ter to you."
Of course he doesn't let out his feelings to    "I had a daughter once," returned Lady
you, or my father; but if he is so happy in  Irwin, bitterly, " who might have been what
Rome, which I don't believe, you can hardly  it seems my son will never be."
say the same of her. 0 mother, I do so wish    "Do not be angry, mother. I love you-you
you would take pity on her, and comfcrt her know I love you dearly; but, as Kitty says,
with a few kind words. She will have quite love opens and does not narrow the heart."
lost her pretty looks before Frank comes back "    " That is just the sort of speech I should' You are very much mistaken, Edward, if have expected her to make-just the idea I
you think that Catherine's happiness depends should suppose her to entertain.  Those who
at all on me; and as to her fretting, I do not are incapable of profound passion generally
believe she has sufficient depth of feeling to  seek to hide the shallowness of their feelings
fret for more than half a day about anything  by high sounding theories of catholic affection.
or any one. Agnese tells me, that on the    "I wanted to persuade you, mother —I
very day of Frank's departure she went and  wanted to entreat you; but it seems I only
-took tea with that stupid paralytic old-woman  make you stronger in your own opinion. I
who lives at Hopwood."                      am going down to have my lesson, now; per" Is that the only bit of scandal Agnese haps I may not be home to dinner."
has been able to pick up?  She'd be much    Lady Irwin said nothing. Edward lingered
better employed in putting bows into your at the door, probably in expectation of a concaps, instead'of poking her ugly face into all cilinatory word or look; then, with a heavy
the poor people's cottages, and prying into  heart, he turned on his heel, and went his way.
the affairs of her betters.  What comfort
Kitty could have found in going to see that
cross old woman, I can't pretend to say.-                CHAPTER  X.
Poor child, what a sorrowful heart she must   IN spite of his resolution to keep hts unhave had coming all down Hopwood Lane in  easiness to himself, Edward was too much irthe gloaming, with no Frank to meet her! I ritated by the ill success of his interferences




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                       21
to conceal from  Catherine all his disquiet; by the climate, and perhaps by anxiety.  He
and he told her enough to add weight to her was consequently labouring under severe deformer conviction, and to increase the burden  pression of spirits.  His fears had already
of her sorrow.  Loving her the better from   been excited by a coldness and constraint in
the consciousness of the effort he had made  the letters he received from  his mother, and
to defend her, and dreading his mother's dis- by the plaintiff tenderness which struggled
pleasure, he remained at the Parsonage until through the assumed cheerfulness of Cathelate in the evening; and having spent a few  rine's.  He had promised his father to travel.
minutes in the drawing-room, where Lady Ir- Ile was to visit Greece and parts of Asia, perwin's mtanner gave him little encouragemnent haps to penetrate even to the land of joy and
to remain, he went off to his own room.-  desolation —the glorious and wasted Palestine.
There he wrote the following letter to his bro-  He had been as yet only three quarters of a
ther, which he carried to the post next morn- year absent, and this was his second illness.ing himself:                                   It was evident that the climate of Italy did not
came home last Tues  agree with him.  The image of her he loved
week. I dare say you know thatome It Tuesdo y  pining for him, and crushed by the dislike of
week. I dare say  you know  that I didn't do so.'..
badly at the examination after all. I brought   s stepmother, rose vvidly before him. He
home a prize which pleased mother and delighted  saw her paler and thinner, watching with teardear old Birkby. Father did not say much, but he  ful eyes the embers as they fell, and thinking
looked as if he liked it, and made me bring it out of him  so far away, with a heart growing
to show Lord Allason when he called. I found all daily fainter, and wearying for the comfort of
well athome: going on much as usual; father deep  his cheering voice.  He read those parts of
in some stratum or other at the bottom of' the Dead
Se-I shouldn't  much  oder if e were of o  his brother's letter, which related to her, again
Sea-I shouldn't much wonder if' he were off to
Palestine next week. I wish to Heaven he would,  nd again.  To be so clear to the eyes of the
and take mother with him! A pilgrimage would  boy, it must be bad indeed.  He himself, too,
do her a tremendous deal of good just now. Iwish  was lonely and sorrowful.  The sweet comwith all my heart you and Kitty were marriedl!-  munion of thought and feeling to which he
What is the reason it would puzzle a nmuch wiser  had become habituated, was checked, and the
head than mine to discover; but of this I'm  sure; deepest emotions of his soul lay, unexpressed,
she-soother, I miean-has taken a positive dislike  a heavy burden on his spirit.  One bold stroke,
to Kitty. The worst of it is that Kitty knows it; and she was is own for ever.  Ile knew his
and you may believe that she looks none the better
for it. Of course, it's bad enoulgh for her to have  father's indulgence, and that his mother's inyou so long away, and if any one sees her look sa d, fluence, though great, was not unlimited.
she puts it upon that; but mother has more to do    The yearning to England once indulged, bewith it. Aunt Fanny is here with Clem and Alda., ll cane irresistible.   Arguments readily preflounces and finery as usual. If it wasn't for fa- sented themselvesnot only excusing, but
ther, no one would take any notice of dear Kitty, justifing, the apprent disobediece; and the
but he's as true as steel, and mother dares not say justifying, the apparent disobedience; and the
a word against her to him. I'm sure he has a no- next morning saw him  already on his return.
tion that there's something wrong, forhe pets Kitty  Once st'arted, his impatience knew no bounds.
like a child-much more than he pets me, which  No railway, no steamboat, was sufficiently exdoes not please mother. If you had only taken my  peditious for him; almost before an answer
advice, all the trouble would have been over by  could have been received to his brother's letter,
this time; you may take my word for it, that if you  he arrived in person at his father's door.
don't do something yourself, and before long, moo-   Amr zement  was therst eotion produced
ther will find some means to break it off yet. You
have no idea what a timid, nervous creature Kitty  by his unlooked-for appearance-amazement,
is become in her presence.                     quickly succeeded by pleasurable sensations
I dare say you find it extremely jolly at Rome; in the breast of his father, by angry consterit must be nice to have lots of money and nothing  nation in that of Lady Irwin, while Edward
to do. I suppose I'm not likely to have mnuch ex- could hardly restrain his admiration and satispericnce of either of these pleasures. Father asked  fction  at a pomptitude so much in  armony
me, the other day, if I should like to be a parson. with his wishes.
I suppose he was in joke; I took it so, for I only
made a wry face. Fancy mother sitting demurely    The tumult of feeling with which he beto hear her son deal out divinity! Don't forget held his son, travel-worn and haggard from
dear Kitty, and when you write don't say a word  recent illness, prevented Sir Edward from
of what I have told you. Mother always likes to  remarking  the uncontrollable emotion  of
read my letters, and it Won't do to make heranogry. L  Ii
Do you get any skating? The ice is four inches  Lady     n.  But Frank, whose  perception
thick on the pond. Tonlins, a first-rate fellow,    sharpened by anety, red her   spowhno works in my room, is coming down next week,  ken anger. H lis quivering lips hardly touchif the frost only holds on, we shall have glorious  ed the cheek shie mechanically presented to
fun. Good night, old fellow, PI'T so sleepy I can  him; and she felt that if not before, now, at
hardly see. I wish you'd send me something about least, he knew the purpose lying in her heart.
some of the temples-the ruins, I mean. Finch  As by nutual consent, they shrunk from
dotes on ruins.
Your affectionate brother,           each other's gaze; for each felt the need of
EDWARD IRWIN.   concealment.  But Lady Irwin was stung
almost to madness by the unrestrained joy
aWhen this letter reached Frank he was re- with which his brother's return was welcovering from an attack of fever, brought on  comed by the child for whose aggrandisement




22                        MOTHER AND STEPMIOTHER.
she was prepared to jeopardise soul and    " Itis love for the Cure's daughter has
body.  made him mad," said Agnese.
"Helen, you look pale, love," said Sir Ed-   "Yes; and not him alone. She has won
ward, when the first excitement was over, my husband firom me. My very child she
and he had leisure to think of his wife. would not leave to me."
" This mad freak of Frank's has startled the    " Ie knows not what he does. She has
blood from your cheeks. No wonder, either, won him with her false smiles, and he is en-the silly fellow to come back without a tangled in her meshes; but fear not, Masingle word of warning.  Bringing such  donna; we fare not yet overcome."
haggard  looks, too. Your mother was grow-   "The joy of life is gone," returned Lady
ing anxious about you, Frank, and had just Irwin, with fierce depression, " it were wvell
persuaded me that it would be pleasant to  for me to die."
go and have a look at the old places again,   "; Be not troubled, Madonna, or let your
when you must needs come blundering back. purpose be shaken by the pride of this selfI am heartily glad to see you, nevertheless; willed boy. Rouse your great heart. Let
and- Kate, I've a shrewd guess, will not be  it never be said that you have been wronged
sorry. She is not quite so rosy as she was, with impunity."
poor little girl, but your absence has told    "Do not tempt me, Agnese. Leave the
more on yourself than on her."             dark thoughts in my soul, and do not make
"She'll be all right, now," exclaimed Ed- them  more familiar by clothing them  in
ward, unable to keep silence longer.  " I'll words. I am sick and weary. I am alonebe up betinles in the morning, and run over my very child arrays himself with my eneand give her a hint.  She is not a colossus  mies."
of strength; and there's no telling what   " O! he knows not the interests at stake 
might happen if she saw you all at once arind  he is still a child. No blood of mine flows
unexpectedly.  She  might take you for a in his veins; yet for your sake, Madonna,
pallidaimago, instead of a true flesh and  and for the memory of the long days and:blood lover."                             nights when he lay cradled in my arms, I
" I have not heard Catherine complain of would count life little to serve him V"
illness," said Lady Irwin, "you should not   "Senseless as you are!" cried Lady-Irfrighten your brother without reason, Ed- win, with an impatience not unlike that of
ward."                                     an untamed horse excited beyond endurance
"Yes, yes; Kitty will be well enough  by the application of the spur, "do you talk
-now," said Sir Edward, "never fear, Frank. of what you would do, you who have never
-Love tortures, but he seldom  kills, if the  borne a child-who have only rocked to rest
poor victims only continue of one mind."    the child of others?  Is he not mine-mine
I acknowledge that I was drawn home, in mind and body?  The hair that clusters
in great measure, by anxiety for Catherine,"  on his brow he had from me; and in which
said Frank, cheered by his father's cordial of the tame Irwins would you see the flash
kindness.  " Not that I doubted your indul- of such an eye as his?  He is the one thing
gence to one so very dear to me, or that I  on earth that is mine; and do you think
should have ventured to return without your there is anythiug I would not do for his
permission if I had been in health to use my  sake?  But were he nothing, I have still
time either profitably or agreeably."      sufficient motives.  They have treated me.'" Well, we should have liked a little notice, with scorn —almost with open defiance. They
if it were only to have the opportunity of have turned from me the affections of niy
welcoming you with proper honor; but who  husband! But if I must be miserable, they
has a greater right to be here than you?  I at least shall not rejoice."
-thought a little travelling would be of use to    "There the signora spoke worthily of heryou. Besides, I had a fancy to test the  self," cried Agnese, her dark eyes flashing;
quality of your love, which your mother " but strong deeds are the language that she
thought might possibly have no more stuff must learn to use to her enemies. The blood
in it than first attachments often have. But of the south is hot as its sun; that of the
since it was strong enough to render Italy, north cold as its winter streams."
with all its charms of climate and associa-    "Agnese," replied Lady Irwin, rising and
tion, distasteful, we are quite satisfied, are fixing a look upon her that made.her quail,
we not, Helen?"                           so stern-so cruel-it was, " there is blood
"I assert no authority over Frank," said  flowing in my veins hot and impetuous as in
Lady Irwin, " however my interest in his those of the fiercest barbarian of the south.
welfare may have induced me to offer him   There are tales told of the clansmen of my
unpalatable advice."                       house which would make even your Italian
"So the young signor is returned," said  heart stand still. The snows of ten thousand
Agnese, as she combed her lady's hair, winters will never cool the blood of the fiery
"withut warning, and unexpected l"         Celt. The days of strongf deeds are past,
"He knows that he can insult me with  an'd this puny generation drags the chain its
il'mpunity," returned Lady IrWin, "and that fathers burst. Nevertheless, fear not. I am
my influence over his father is gone."     no unworthy daughter of the Macdonalds."




MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.                                   23
" Iave they heard from him at the Hall,
then?" said Kate, bewildered.
"Yes, truly, have they. In a most subIT was  a bright morning; the sky was stantial manner has he forced on their ascloudless, and the genial west wind sweep- tounded minds the fact that he has a good
ing over the grass, crisped with hoar frost, stout will of his own, and that he has no idea
seemed to antedate the return of spring. In  of being sent out of the way that people may'
some sheltered nooks which Catherine well worry his little biide out of her pretty looks.
knew, the violets were already in blossom, I'll tell you what, Kitty, Frank has a great
and she was returning from an early ramble, deal more spirit than I ever gave him credit
with a smnall bunch of these precious flowers, for.  You ought to be proud of him. He
when Edwtard came bounding along to meet has done the very thing I should have done
her: now followed, now  preceded by his myself!"
favorite hound, who had caught the joyous-    "But what has he done?" cried Catherine,
ness of his master's spirit, and emulated his impatiently.
activity.                                     " 0, you're coming up at last, are you, like
" Good news, Kitty!" he cried, as soon as a shy bottle of ale when it is held to the fire?
she camie within earshot. " Good news, little'  Know, 0 sweet Kitty, that your future lord
sister; what will you give me for my news?"  has shown himself a fine fellow, and won't
"Have you got your pony?" asked Kate  be hoodwinked by my revered and incomprein reply.                                  hensible mamma, and that I came off this
"lPony!" retorted  Edward, scornfully. morning to impart to you the intelligence,
"Don't I tell you it's great news-news for that he came home last night, to the confuyou, my darling!" and lie flung his arms sion of his enemies, the delight of his affecabout her and kissed her.                  tionate father, of his devoted brother, and of
There was a fluttering motion at Kitty's  his blushing bride. But I say, dear, what's
heart; the color left her cheeks, and she the matter?  Kitty, I say, dear Kitty, don't
looked at him trembling.                   be a little fool, please, dear!"
"Well, why don't you guess? Why don't   The abrupt announcement of the return of
you laugh, or cry, or do something, Kitty? her lover-a joy so sudden, so unlooked for,
You couldn't look worse if I had said the  was indeed too much for Catherine's strength,
news was bad. Come, haven't you a bit of enfeebled as she was by long separation, and
Pandora's curiosity?  Must I take my glori- by the wearing sickness of hope deferred;
ous news home again, because you won't she would have fallen had not the boy caught
give the least touch to the lid?"         her in his arms. IIe bore her with difficulty
"I know you are going to see Frank,"  to the bank at the side of the road, and was
said Kitty, tremulously.  "Lady Irwin told  running to seek assistance, when his brother,
mie about it yesterday morning."           whose impatience had become uncontrollable,
" No, that's not it. Guess again?  But and who had wandered thus far in search of
there, I won't torture you, dear.  Strange, his betrothed, came up.  A  little water,
isn't it, Kate, that a man of taste like Frank, brought, from a neighboring rivulet in Edshouldn't like Italy?"                    ward's cap, and dashed on Catherine's face,
"If' that's your news Edward, I had a aided in reviving her: the sight of her lover
shrewd guess of it before."                bending over her with a look of earnest soli" Why, of course you had, when he began  citude did more. Hle folded her in his arms,
at the top of the sheet with, 0 1 how am I to  and all the troubled past seemed to vanish
exist another day without you! and ended at like a dream, or only to be remembered to
the bottom of the fourth side with-I feel con- intensify the happiness of re-union.
vinced I must expire if I don't see you to-   There was a long silence. Tears falling
morrow-all four sides written close and  like genial rain, and a joy so solemn, that
crossed, and all to the same tune."        they held their breath as they stood locked
" You are a saucy boy, Edward, and want hand in hand beneath the arch of the spring
to provoke me to show you Frank's letters. heavens.
You know  well enough he never crosses    When the first rapture of their meeting was
them, and that there is often room  for a  over, Catherine's anxious eyes detected marks
great deal more when he finishes."         of uncontrollable suffering in her lover's
"With'Yours till death, eternally, and for countenance. His eyes, which looked larger
ever.'  Well, i'm sure I don't know what a and brighter than they were wont to look,
love-letter is like, and I don't suppose I ever were circled with black rings, his hands
shall. I dare say Frank's letters are just what were parched, and the bronzed hue of his
they should be, or that you think them  so-  complexion told of fatigue and exposure
which is quite as good; but I call tell you, rather than of health.
you are not likely to have any more of them  The imprudence with which he had acted
just at present, so you'd better make the  was too evident. The marsh fever was still
most of what you have. I'll bet you Mad hanging about him when he set out on his
Tom to your father's old cob, that he won't hasty journey. The excitement produced by
write to you for a month to come."         Edward's letter, which confirmed his worst




24                        MOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
fears, had rendered him for the time superior rashness with which he had communicated
and insensible to his bodily infirmity.  A  his suspicions to his brother.  Catherine,
troubled night,hardly visited byrare snatches pale and tremulous, crept from the Parsonof sleep, at last brought the morning, when  age to the Hall, seeking for tidings she dare
he was once again to see her, made so much  not ask for; her still woe-begone countenance
dearer by absence and by sorrow, borne for and eager tearless eyes, were not the least
his sake.  The cold water with which he  grievous sight in all those grievous days.
bathed his burning temples stilled their Sir Edwardmeeting her, lost the recollection
throbbing for awhile; the fresh air, and the  of his own sorrow, and wept for the poor
near hope of seeing his beloved, deadened  child who had no tears for herself.
the aching of his limbs and the fever in his    Strange and strong was the conflict of Lady
throat; but now that the first joy of meeting  Irwin's feelings. The moment when the dear
was over, that he had held her in his arms, wish of her heart would be gratified seemed
and felt her still all his own, he was obliged  to have arrived; the life which stood between
to succumb to the lassitude that oppressed  her son and the inheritance was fluttering on
him, and to acknowledge the too evident the verge of eternity.  Agnese did not fail to
fact that he was not well.                 offer congratulations, and with dark pupils
tie returned home in the hope that a few  distending to suggest that a slight mistake
hours' rest might restore him; but Nature is in the giving of a potion might make that
a stern avenger, and exacts a heavy fine for certain which was already probable.  Lady
over-taxed or abused powers. The excitement Irwin rejected the suggestion with indignaand disquietude in which he had lived for the  tion, and devoted herself with energy to the
last eighteen months had gradually under- care of the sufferer; she shrunk from the presmrlined his vigorous constitution.  The unex- ence of her confidante, and if by chance
pressed displeasureofhis stepmotherweighed  they met, she hurried by her as if she had
upon his heart with a foreboding which de- been some venomous creature: above all, she
fled all his efforts to shake it oif; and filled sedulously guarded the approach to the sick
him with vague and paralyzing alarm. Dur- man's chamber, gave him medicines herself,
ing the first few months of his residence  andadministeringnothingwithoutpreviously
abroad the variety of interests which crowded  subjecting it to a careful examination.
upon him had distracted his attention; Ca-   She seemed insensible to fatigue.  HIour
therine's letters, full of hopeful tenderness, after hour, day after day, she went to and
quieted his anxiety on her account; while fro in the sick room, with pale, set features,
Lady Irwin herself, relieved by his absence, like one acting under strong excitem ent, or
wrote with cordiality, almost with affection. afraid to break a spell.  She hardly spoke,
But when the novelty of foreign life began  either in answer to the grateful thanks of
to wear off, when Lady Irwin had returned  her husband, or to the passionate caresses of
to Swallowfield, and, irritated by Catherine's her ton; but one day, when Catherine crept
frequent presence, and by the affection with  to her, and kissed her hand in token of the
which Sir Edward treated her, either ceased  gratitude she could not speak, Lady Irwin
to write to the traveller, or wrote only letters stopped as she was traversing the corridor,
so hard and dry, that the effort they had cost and bending her head, pressed her lips on
was too palpable to be mistaken; when Ca- the brow of the trembling girl.
therine's depression became evident in spite   "Poor child," she said, "go and pray, and
of her attempted cheerfulness; Frank's buoy- see if that will comfort thee."
ancy of spirit gave way, and he began to   It was at the time when the fever was at
succumb to the effects of the climate, which, its height; the Doctors, of whom  two had
trying as it is to many English constitutions, been fetched from London, had almost given
did not suit him, and neglected such precau- up hope. The patient's strength seemed extions as might, perhaps, have preserved him  hausted; he lay motionless, almost lifeless;
in health and inured him to it.            his nervous hands were wan and passive, or
So, now the fever, which had been checked, convulsed by feeble twitterings; the wavy
flew to the head; the overtaxed brain ceased  hair, which used to fall in such comely masto discharge its healthy office; his ravings ses about his face, was all gone; his manly
were wild and incessant; his heart troubles beauty withered like the leaves in autumn.
mixing themselves up incongruously with    Who can tell what were Lady Irwin's
scenes of foreign adventure; he called often  thoughts as she sat through these long nights
and piteously on the name of his beloved, and days by the wreck of him whom she had
who seemed to his distempered fancy to be taught herself by slow degrees to regard as
in fearful danger; with wild supplication or the enemy of her son?  Who can tell how
stormy menace he sought to protect her from  much of her old tenderness to the fair moa powerful but unnamed enemy. The whole therless boy returned; how the helplessness
household was filled with consternation. Sir of the suffering man recalled the weakness
Edward stood gazing on his fiery vacant eyes and dependence of the child; how the feverwith an anguish too big for tears.  Poor parched lips awakened memoxries ofthesweet
Edward ran vainly to and fro, overwhelming  firm lips that had so often pressed hers, and
himself with reproaches for the heedless the joyous love of the child's close embracer




MOTHER AND STEPMIOTHER.                                    25
Prostrate-helpless-there was nothing  an- woman, it might have been. But Satan little
tagonistic there. Helen Irwin was of a temper loves to quit a tenement in which he has been
too lofty to war with the powerless.         welcomed and cherished; and evil acts are the
After a long time there came a dawn of legitimate offspring of evil thoughts.
hope. The youthful constitution, the careful
tending, the earnest prayers, prevailed, and
Death released his prey. Deep thankful- ess
and silent joy succeeded to despair in Cathe-.             CHAPTE  XT.
rine's heart.  Sir Edward came out of his
study and walked again among  his trees;   IT w.s some two months since the favorable
Edward scampered over hill and dale, to tame  turn had taken place, and Frank had begun
the spirit of his horse, wanton with too long  to amend,  when,, coming  home  from  his
idleness.  The crisis was past; Frank would  usual evening stroll to the Parsonage, he met
reover —slowly, tediously-but he would  re- his fuather, smoking  his cigar, under the limlecov;-r.                                      trees, by the river-side.
With the danger, Lady Irwin's care ceased.   "' Well, my boy," said Sir E.dward, " you
No sooner did he open his eyes upon her, don't look very brilliant yet. A month or so
animated  by intelligence; no  sooner did  in Devonshire would set you up nicely."
health-bringing sleep return to him than she    " Indeed, sir, I am perfectly well,' returned
withdrew from  his chamber, leaving him  to  his son in alarm.  " The evening is unusually
the attendance of the hired nurses, and only  warm, and we walked a little too far. I hope
paying occasional visits to his room, which  you are not thinking of sending me away
became shorter and rarer as he progressed in  again so soon?"
his recovery.  His convalescence was tedious    "Why, to tell you the truth, I've been
and  wearisome, with  many lets and hin- hatching a little plan that i don't think you'll
drancem, much lassitude and frequent suffer- object to. You know there is a small estate
ing; but whatever aid, art or scieiice could'in Devonshire, which belonged to your mother.
afford to alleviate the one or remove the  The house is not much more than a cottage,
other was used unsparingly, and the light of bnt it is very pretty arid compact.  Captain
lo e gladdened him.  Catherine seemed to  Martyn, who has rented it for these fifteen
have lost all recollection of her own worn  years, has been for some time  in failing
health and spirits in the necessity fbr en- health; and I have this evening received
couraging and strengthening him:. F:ll of intimation of his death.  As I supposed progratitude for the great mercy vouchsafed to  bable, his widow  does not wish to continue
her in his preservation, her joy manifested  my tenant; and it has occurred to me that if
itself in a sweet and innocent gaiety-a cheer-  the house were brightened up a little-it's very
ful lovingfress of spirit, that shed sunshine  pretty, and the scenery about it splendid-it
over the life of her betrothed, and helped  might not be so bad for you and Kitty, just for
him more than anything else to the recovery  a year or two, till my shoes are ready ftr you.
of his strength. Her gratitude to Lady Irwin  This would make everything smooth.  Not
was so warm that it overcame the dread she  that I want to send you away. my dear fellow.
hadl been accustomed to feel in her presence; God knows, the house will be dull enough
and thouirh Lady Irwin was still cold and  without you both I"
stately in her manner towards her, Catherine   0' We cannot expect you to make such a sanrihad won something upon her regard.  She  flee for us, sir," said iFrank, his cheek glowing
could no longer look upon her as a being with- with surprise and pleasure.
out passion; the feeling she had shown was    "O, as to that, the less we say of that the
unmistakable, and just of the kiid which Lady  better. The property was your mother's; so
Irwin could appreciate,  Loud lamentations  it is a matter of mere justice.  My idea is,
or stormy grief she would have despised; but that if I allow you three hundred-a-year, you
she sympathised with the  stony agony of  may mnnage to live quietly down there. The
her countenance and her voiceless despair. estate itself is not unproductive, and might be
She could no longer think her impassive or improved if any one were resident upon it
commonplace. She might hate, but she could  who would undertake to study agriculture as a
niot now despise her.                        science.  So much is doing in that way now,
Her nind  at  that  period  was in  a  that extraordinary obstinacy  and stupidity
struggling, cornbaiting, fluctuating condition. may soon cease to be regarded as necessary
Agnese revenged her late slight by almost  qualifications for a farmer."
unbroken  silence, which  Lady Irwin, too    This scheme had been maturing for some
roud  to make  concessions, repaid  with  time in Sir Edward's mind. The anxiety he
haughty  contempt.  Sir Edward, charmed  had  endured during his son's illness, and
out of all suspicion by the extraordinary de- during his rather slow recovery, had detervotion of her attendance on his son, had re- mined him to expedite a marriage which he
turned to something like a lover's tenderness. saw to be indispensable to his happiness.  It
It seemed almost as if the evil thought which  had' been his purpose to communicate his
had long nestled in the depths of her heart project to his wife, and to obtain her concur.
might be crushed-perhaps, but for the Italian  rence before mentioning it to his son; but




26                        1M1OTHIER AND STEPMOTHER
coming unexpectedly on Frank just when he  care of himself; and Kitty has no extravahad received intelligence of the removal of gant notions, I suppose they can stay with
the only obstacle that stood in his way, he us when they come to town."
had yielded to the impulse of the moment,   Lady Irwin made no reply. Her husband,
and had spoken to him  of a plan which  oppressed by the ominous silence, drew his
he knew would give him  extreme pleasure, chair closer tp the hearth, a d stirred the
and which, he hoped, would accelerate his fire, with an attempt to seem  unconcerned.
recovery.                                   There was something irresistibly overwhelmWhen they had discussed the subject for a ing in Lady Irwin's silence, and in the conlittle while, Sir Edward went in search of his tinned but irregular movement of her pencil.
wife, while Frank retired to his chamber. After some minutes, she gathered her drawLady Irwin sat by the fire, drawing.  She  ing materials together, and was leaving the
drew  finely, and she loved the art.  Sir room, when Sir Edward, taking her by the
Edward  stood over her for a while, and  hand, looked up into her face with an attempt
admired the design, pointing out at the satne  at a smile, saving,
time some defects in the execution; then,' Come, sit down, Helen, and let us talk it
turning to the fie, he stood some time in  over."
silerce, and, taking up a book, seemed lost in    "There call be no need to talk over what
the perusal of it, till at last he suddenly said, you have already arranged," she returned,
not without a slight tremor in his voice,   coldly disengaging her hand; and without
" By the way, Helen, did I tell you Martyn  another word, or a backward look, she left the
was dead?"                                 room.
Lady Irwin answered in the negative; but  "' Here's a pretty storm," muttered Sir Edshe did not feel.ufficient interest in the intel- ward.  "If Helen did but know  how like
ligence to interrupt her occupation.        Tisiphone she looks in that angry mood of
"Yes, poor fellow i he is gone at last," con- her's, she would not be angry so often. Who
tinned Sir Edward. " It is surprising that could have anticipated such a reception of a
he lasted so long, considering the rough usage  plan which sets everything to rights?  0,
the French gave him  in the last war. Hie  woman, woman, incomprehensible, irrational,
must have been nearly eighty. He was a bit contradictory!"
of true British oak, tough to the last chip.   So saying, or rather so thinking, he turned
Of course, Mrs. Martyn does not stay at for consolation to his book, and contrived to
Elington. Her nephew writes me word that lose, for a while, the sense of domestic disquiet
she wishes to give it up at once, which is in the brilliant and witty pleading of one of
fortunate, for I could not well have turned  his favorite essayists.
her out."                                     Not so, Lady Irwin. The burningindigna" Do you think you are likely to get a higher tion which she had violently repressed, burst
rent for the place, then?"                 out in fiery words as soon as she reached her' O, no! the rent Martyn paid was well chamber, and stood face to face with Ag'uese
enough.  I have been thinking it would do for busied there with duties of her office.
Frank and Kitty.  To be sure, the house is    " Urge what you will now, Agnes-, you
smrall and I dare say will want something  shall not find me flagging.  I was a fool to
done to it; but it is a snug little place, and spurn your advice before; but his weakness
Devonshire will probably smuit Frank, now that mrlade mne childish. Now, all that is past, and
terrible fever has made him  delicate. You  you need not fear me; I am despised, and
know it is, in a manner, his native air. His counted as nothing by my husband and by the
mother was born and brought up there."      boy I saved from the jaws of death. They
Lady Irwin -bent lower over her drawing. hold their consultations; they determine what
Sir Edward continued speaking, fast, but with  they will do; and, when it is done, they bid
a sense of growing uneasiness.               me receive with joy the intelligence that my
"I know that you nre as anxious as I am  child is counted as nothing in his father's
to promote his happiness; and it is very for- sight, and that we are to be robbed of a third
tunate that we are able to gratify him with- of our income.  0 1 had I but harkened to
out trenching  materially on our incomne. For the voice that bade me listen to you, when
mly own part, I acknowledge that at first I did  he lay senseless and powerless-when disease
not feel the necessity of a second establish- had done the work ready to my hand, and
ment. But I dare say you were right, and I only to leave undone was needful.  Now, he
am sure you will share my satisfaction in an  is strong again in mind and body, and the
arrangement which meets all the requirements strength he has regained, through my help, he
of the case."                               uses to insult and injure me!  lie must
"They cannotlive there withoutan income,"  needs enter on the estate at once, HIe must
said Lady Irwin, after a long pause.        sow enmity between me and my husband.
"As to that, I should wish to consult you; When was it before, since the day when he
for you know so much better than I do what first called me wife, that Sir Edward decided
would be necessary. I do not think they will out even the smallest of his affairs without
require more than two hundred and fifty, or me?  Now he consults, he decides, he porthree hundred at first; fur Frank must take. tions out his income; and, when it is done,




MOTIER AND STEPMOTHER.                                     27
he tells me thus and thus it is to be. Devise  I couldn't determine whether it should be in
what you will —fear no flinching in me now."   Sapphics or A]ceics, and owing to the con" Noble Madonna,'" cried Agunese, with a  fuo Iion of miy mindr half the stanza was in one
look of triumph, "now you are yourselfagain,  aind half' ill the otheri so down I fell to
all will be well; the daugh.er of' the Cur  Englisih, plain, wholesome English, as father
shall never queen it here; anld Edward shall calls it  which i, after all, the most Christian
inherit the lands of his father."            laniuge of' the three. 1 shall have a couple of
" We must be careful what we d, Agrnese;  hours' llard lilttitng with the Mliluse, by and
we  must be subtle and  secret.  Sir Ed- by, and i'll biing her coy ladyship to terms,
ward has given to his son, to this Framik, who, depend uponll it. If vou could but help me to a
but fir me, might be lying in the vault rhymtie, now and ihtn-but, of' course, that is
be ide his mother, the house ii Devonshire, not to be expected.  Mother is tremendously
because it was his mrother's, and he is quite  graind to-day.  I can't get a word out of her,
sure that I must approve of so equitable an  or I'd have pressed her into the service.  she
arrangement.  The  poor  simpleton,  Ann. is glorious at fiiiding rhymes.  She has got a
Irwini, left the house to her husband, think- splendid gown for to-rmorrow, and a bonnet
ing, I suppose, that no second love would  my aunt would give her ears fur "
banish her pale image from  his heart, and    "I wish I could show her how grateful I
that he could soar to no higher passion. This am for all her goodness to us," said Catherine.
house is to be rendered back to her son, that   " I don't think you need feel oppressed by
he may live there with his wife; and that the weight of the obligation," replied Edward,
they may enjoy their Paradise, three hurt- gaily; "though 1 must say mother has behaved
dred  pounds a-year is to  be takei  firom  splendidly about Elington; and one must not
our income.  Listen,  Agnese, T will urge  mind her being a little cross sometimes.  But
lmy husband to send his soun to Elington; he  come, Kitty I If' I go and fetch the horses,
shall alter and furnish to his taste.  I will you'll have one more ride with me, won't
have liberal means placed at his disposal; you, before you join the formidable corps of
the garden and the pleasure-grounds shall be  nmatronis.  Just onle last ride?"
re-arranged to his farcy; and he shall dream     Catherine not unwillingly consented, for
of the happiness he is never to know, as he  she loved the boy dearly; and, in the near
wanders through the newly-adorned roomins,  approach of anl event so important, she felt
and lingers under the trees.  He shall return  herself unable to exercise her habitual control
to fetch his bride-she shall twine the orange- over her thoughts.  It was a day in early
flowers ini her hair-the wedding guests shall autumn.  The foliage had lost nlothing of its
assemble-but the ringers who were to ring  surmmer fullness, though it was colored here
out the wedding peal shall toll for a death."    and  there with the  beautiful shades that
" Will you not destroy the girl with her herald its decay.  Roses clustered round the
lover?" inquired Agnese, eagerly.           cottage doors, and the air was fiagrant with
"No, I hate her too much; she has won  clematis, while the stately autumn  flowers
from me the hearts of all [ love; but for her nodded qu-enly greetings to each other, and
smiles and soft voice I nmight have lived happy  the ripe fruits basked in the sunshine.  The
and innocent.  She loves him, Agllese; he  fresh wind, the blue sky, the rich landscape,
is as dear to her as the light of heaven.  8he  combined to raise the spirits of the riders.
shall live to pine for hinm in hopeless sorrow."  Never had  Ed.ward  looked  so handsome;
4' We must be wise andl secret,"  said  never had the play of his mind been so graceAgnese.  "The  crime  shall be mine, the ful.  Cattherine Could not help gazing with
vengeance yours."                            admiration oni his dark animated countenance,
"Never fear, Agnese.  The veng-eance I end on the supple grace of his movemrents.
will take shall be sudden and certain as the    "I will be with you before breakfast toswoop of the eagle. But, enough, we have  morrow, KLitty," he gaily cried as he rode
time to spare; to deceive them  into security  away, leading the pony she had been riding,
must be our present labor."                  "as soon as ever Frank is off my hands I And
never fear but -i'11 finish the Epithalamiunm,
if I invoke all the Nine, at once, to my aid. "
She lingered to look after him as he rode
CH`APTER XIII.                  down the hlue, on his glossy chestnut hunter,
singing joyously, and with many a bright
"KEITTY," cried Edward, bursting into the  backward look and glad larewell.
drawing-room, at the Parsonage, where
Catherine sat with an open book before her,
but thoughts wandering far away,  Kitty,
my dear sister, what am  I to do?  Here I
have been puzzling my brain for the last ten               CHAPTER XIV.
days to compose an Epithalamium for you and    THE autumn day had long since closed.
Frank!  I tried Greek first, but you know  Lurid clouds shut in the horizon; and the
I've only read the Prometheus, and Iambics  full harvest moon waded through majestic
don't come easy. I tried Latin next, but clouds-now walled in dense imasses-now in




28                       TMOTHER AND STEPMOTHER.
fragments of grotesque shape.  Lavdy Trwin  with surprise.  "Why not?   What should
stood on the baleonJy on which her dressing- you fear?"
room opened.  The heavy shade of the trees;    "When he is dead!" said Agnese, in a low
the stillness, broken fitfully by the inoanings  voice.
of the rising wind, and the jagged cloudsi   "What harm  can the poor clay do you,
were in grand harmony with her spirit.  The simpleton?"  cried  Lady  Irwin, scornfully.
weight at her heart seemled a little lightened  "What! the daughter of Beatrice Pisterella!"
as she contemplated, in the deepening night,    Agnese hung her head and was silent.
this tempest hatching in apparent calm, and    " He willonly look like one in a deep sleepready to burst.                             like one in a deep leaden sleep. We have only
The door of the chamber opened, but so lulled him  to sleep-to the sweet dreamrless
softly, that it was only by the current of air sleep that knows no waking.  His individual
produced that Lady Irwin was aware of it. essence —that  in  him  which groaned and
Aguese entered the roomn, her olive cheek pale, suffered-will be resumed into the great allanld her thin lips compressed.               pervading soul.  He is but rocked to sleep a
Lady Irwin stepped slowly from  the bal- little before his time, to be reproduced in some
cony, her eyes fixed in eager inquiry on her other form of' being. It is she Mho will suffer;
attendant.                                  the pain and the woe will be all hers.  But
" It is done," said the'talian, speaking with  hark! I hear fSir Edward's door open.  He
difficulty from  her parched throat.  Then, will be amazed to find me still dressed. Quick,
after a pause, she added, more quickly, "it Agnese.  Give me my dressing-gown, and let
was quite easy. The glass was on the table  down mny hair."
where Etlton had placed it, with the Seltzer    As she hastened the operations of her waitwater. It was all ats usual. The night is hot; ing-woman, whose hands, cold and clammy
he will certainly drink."                    with excitement, were little apt to render her
"If he should discover it," said Lady Irwin. service, the clock s ruck eleven.
I" placed the powder in the glass as you      H e cannot be long now," said Ladylrwin,
bade me. It is impalpable,-if there is only  assisting her maid to unfasten the loiig coils
enough."                                     of her hair.  " If you are afraid to go alone,
6 "What I gave you would destroy half a  wait for me, and, when Sir Edward is asleep,
dozen lives. but what, if he should not drink?"  I will come to your room, and we will go
"I do not fear that.  lie will be weary. together.  How awkward you are to-night,
And lest that cold drink should be insufficient Agnese.  Coimb my hair carefully instead of
to tempt him, I got some claret, and placed it tearing it. Do you forget we are to have a
hard by. The Cur6 has no great choice of weddiing to-morrow?"
wines. He will not fail to drink."             At this moment Sir Edward came through
"'Is he not yet come horne?  Htie lingers to- the dressing-room.  He paused to say a few
night. I wish it were over. This suspense is words to his wife, and to make some inquiries
unendurable. J. id you hear nothing then?"'  as to the arrangements for the morrow."Only the sighing of the wind through the  Lady Irwin's face reflected in the mirror,
trees.  I'here will be wild work amlong them  shaded though it was by the profuse masses of
tonis!;ht.  Wild work within and wild work  her hair, struck him  by its extreme pallor,
without:  stout young  branches rent and  made the more remarkable by the feverish
snapped, like a tulip by the hand of a child."  brilliancy of her eyes. He lingered to observe
"Be silent, Agenese," cried Lady Irwin, her, and, tenderly chiding her negligence of
fiercely; "the sound of your voice makes me her health, closed the window.
mad! Be silent, and let me listen."            It seemed to Lady Irwin and to Agense
In obedience to her command Agnese was that he would never go.  In vain she resilent.  The agony of expectation became turned short answers.  He was evidently
every moment more intense. Yet there was disturded  about her.  He would  not go,
no touch of remorse-no timely repentance. but began to talk of other things. Aware of
Every nerve was stimulated to the highest the extreme danger of awakening his suspi.
pitch of sensibility. Sounds, in general scarcely  cions, she did her best to stimulate an inte est
audible, seemed so loud and importunate, as to  she did not feel. But when she became aware
be almost unendurable.  Every pulsation of i that some one was umoving in the room above,
the great clock on the staircase, the fluttering  which was Frank's, her excitement became
of a moth against the window, the whizzing of uncontrollable. At length, shaking her hair
a bat's wing- in its tortuous flight, were all so over her fkce, so as almost to conceal her
matny sources of agony.                     features, she said, with a desperate attempt at
"The glass must be changed, and the wine  playfulness,
taken away," said Lady Irwin, at last, unable    "Come, Edward, I shall quarrel with you,
longer to endure the silence. "Have you  if you do not go quickly.  Here I have kept
thought of that, Aguese?  They will betray  poor Agnese ftlr half-an-hour over my hair.
us." 1Remember, we must be up betimes in the
"I shall not dare to go in," cried Agnese, morning."
shrinking with terrror.                        As she spoke there was a slight tumult over.
" Not dare to go in!" repeated Lady Irwin, head, and a sound as of something falling.




MOTHIER AND STEPMOTIER.                                 29
" Frank is noisy," said Sir Edward, with a and his son, who strove in vain to restrain her,
smile. " I suppose he doesn't feel particularly  and wondered at her strange and terrible
sleepy. I didn't know he was come home." words, she rushed to the chamber where the
And so saying, he took up his candle and  awful punishment of her crime awaited her.
went into the bedroom.                      Little wonder that the sight which there blast.
When lhe was gone, Lady Irwin closed the  ed her vision overthrew her reason; for there
door, and turned her face towards Agnese. he lay, the gallant boy just on the verge ot
The two guilty creatures looked at each other manhood, not half an hour ago so full of' joy
in speechless but eager inquiry. They listened  and promise, dead on a couch  beside the
breathlessly, but there was nothing more to  opened window, the stormy wind blowing his
break the stillness above. The great clock  long hair wildly to and fro.
ticked, the wind wailed among the trees, and    On the table stood the glass, and by it lay
the rain came in heavy drops, splashing on the the copy of verses which had been the occaterrace and ploughing up the earth. With  sion of his visit to his brother's room.  He
these sounds, mingled the peaceful movements had gone to rest early, as his mother thought,
of Sir Edward as he prepared for repose. The  but he had set his heart on finishing his poemt
lightning flashed across the windows in fierce and having succeeded beyond his expectation,
succession, disclosing the ruffled landscape had taken it to read to his brother: entering
and the pale eager faces of the wicked women. his room by a study common to the two. The
All at once there was a noise of opening  wine which was to ensure the destruction of his
and shuttingf doors; a quick step mounted  brother had tempted the boy, weary with exthe stairs; it passed Lady Irwin's door, and  citement, and he had drunk.
ascended to the room above,  The women    Consternation and dismay spread through
looked at each other in an agony of expecta- the house and village.  The facts of the case
tion; who can imagine the inexpressible terror were too notorious to be concealed.  Lady
of that moment 1                            Irwin's reason was destroyed by the frightful
Who was it that came so swiftly?-who  catastrophe; and she now bemoaned her child
had fallen a few minutes before? Thesteps in -now demanded vengeance on his murderess.
the chamber above went rapidly to and fro.-   Agnese, overwhelmed by her reproaches, atThen there was a momentary pause-a great tempted neither escape nor defence.  With a
cry of surprise or terror-hasty movements-  curious self-devotion, she found some solace in
the flinging open ef a window-the violent her misery by arrogating to herself the guilt
ringing of a bell-the heavy step of one which she shared with her mistress; and in
carrying a burden; then a hasty running  her shamneful death felt a glow of triumph in
down stairs, and a pause at Sir Edward's door. the thought that she suffered for the only being
" For God's sake, get un, sir 1" cried Frank's she loved.
voice, in a whisper, a whisper terribly audible    Sir Edward, overwhelmed by the loss of
to Lady Irwin. "Don't alarm  my mother: his child, and by the crime of his wife,
Edward is ill."                             humbled himself at the foot of the cross,
" Where?  What is the matter?" cried Sir and in the depth of his misery learned to
Edward, starting up in alarm.               prize the light which, if he had not despised,
"I don't know-he seems to have fainted. he had disregarded. The marriage between
He is in my room. I'll go -"                Frank and Catherine was solemnized by his
But here he was interrupted by a shriek so  desire, when a year had passed; and they
loud, so terrible, that it seemed like the rend- retired to Devonshire, where, in works of
ing asunder of soul and body, and Lady I rwin  active benevolence, and in a fervent but humrushed in with fierce desperate eyes, demand- ble spirit, they endeavored to live by the preing the truth.                              cepts of the great Mlaster, whose kingdom is
Wildly raving, and followed by Sir Edward  yet to come.
TIE END.




Z"' Copies of thiL Work will be sent to any one, by Mail, free of Postage, on receipt of Rtmittances.,
gb1E6|                                                                                 -T5'd                 g 0
BY CHARLES J, PETERSON 
Complete  in one large  volume, neatly  bound in  cloth, for One  Dollar and Twenty-Five
Cents; or another edition, in two volumes, paper cover, for One Dollar.
T. B. PETERSON, NO. 102 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, takes pleasure in presenting to the public what he
believes to be the best historical novel ever written in America. It is not only a true tale of the time that " tried men's
souls," not only a faithful picture of the manners of'76, but one of the most thrilling, powerful and absorbing stories ever
penned. This is the opinion of the best and most impartial editors and critics. In proof of this he quotes the following notices.
OPINI1ONS OF THEl PRESS.
" In the skilful management of plot and vividness of de-  sons and a spectator of scenes of actual occurrence. It is on
scription, Mr. Peterson has never had a superior in American  all hands pronounced the ablest original novel published for
literature. The description of the shipwreck and the rescue  many years, and justly places its author at the very head of
of the heroine, are strikingly fine. So are the whole series  the popular romance writers of the clay in this country. Thlis
of chapters, beginning with her abduction and terminating  is saying a good deal, but we think the public, on the perusal
with the death-shot so opportunely fired by'Uncle Law-  of the story, will agree with us that our comnmendation is not
rence.' The death-bed of Aylesford is a powerful picture.  exaggerated."-Philcadelphia PPublic Ledge?.
The Sunday at the Sweetwater church, in a different line, is    "The heroine is one of those rare characters, sometimes
equally good. The delineation of -the heroine, as one of our  met with in the practical world, who combine all the womanly
cotemporaries has said, shows that Mr. Peterson succeeds  virtues, to be found in the highest degrees of life, with that
where Cooper failed-that is, in the life-like portraiture of fe-  moral courage and bravery so often brought forth in the trymale character. Kate seems a real personage-such a brave,  ing times wlich preceded the independesce of the country.
high-spirited, generous, warm-hearted, frank, womanly rea-  The' Uncle Lawrence' of the author is a most charming speture as she is, it is impossible not to admire her." —lorth  cimen of the yeomanry  of the olden time.' Kate Aylefelr(l'
American and Uf S. Gazette.                               is a book well worthy to be read by all lovers of light ret:d"Very far superior to the much bepuffed popular literature  ing. With the ladies it must become very popular."-P/hitaof the present day. It is equal, although conceived in a dif- delphia Daily.News.
ferent style,'to the historical tales of Sir Walter Scott, and it    "This is one of the very few historical roraances of the age
possesses that great perfection in a novel, of which Gold-        lay claim to success. The stoly has been carefully
smith's'SVicar of Wakefield,' and Bulwer's'Caxtons,' and  planned, and in like manner developed. The style is simple,' My Novel,' are examples, viz., that there is not a page, per-  ustrained, natural and pleasing. Mr. Peterson deserves all
haps not a line, that can be erased without detracting from   praise for his manly contempt of the trasmlsceedentalisns and
the beauty of the work.  nMr. Peterson has very nearly  smilkl-and-waterisms of the timtes, and for his daring to be so
reached the utmost perfectionof prose fiction." —Newo Yor   natural.'-lneterdon (A7 J.7) Gazette.
Dispatch.
Dispatch.                                "This work is the best historical novel ever written in this
" Mr. Peterson, it is well known, has extraordinary powers  country."-Chlristiatn Observer.
of description, enabling him to place a scene before the mind                                spec
almost as if it were upon canvas. Besides this, he under-     In literary merit generally, ut especially in elegant u
stands thoroughly the art of making a great variety of ac- of language, and delineation of emnale character, it exceeds
tors and influences converge upon a single point, until, like  either the Spy, Water Witch, or any of the Leather Stocking
the focus of a burning lens, the interest of the action be- Stories"-Philadelphia Sale.
comes intense, aluost intolerable. The scenes connected wi th    " Sure of an enduring popularity."-Baltimore Sun.
the escape of Kate Aylesford from the hut of the brigands,   41 ss"Mr. Peterson is fast gaining on the laurels of Irving."may be mentioned in illustreation. They would compare fa- New York Dutclhman.
vorably with the famous castle siege of Ivanhoe, the most
concentrated in its action and plot of all of Scott's novels,     Kate Aylesford is worth a hscatomb of Ruth IIalls.'Mr. Peterson, furthermore, eschevs the discursive, ambula-  Baltimo-e Asgso.
tory style of narrative, now so fashionable in works of fiction,   "The scenes are portrayed in a powerful manner, and the
and, like some of the earlier novelists, urges forward inces- whole story invested with thrilling interest."-Balt Dispatch.
santly the action of the plot. From the shipwreck of Kate  "g Abounding with adventures of the most exciting charin the opening scene, to the death of the blood-hound, and of  acter."-sosron  ises.
his more inhuman master, the monster Alrison, there is literally no let up. The action moes forward as steadily and    " The heroine is a trump of a girl."-Boston Post.
remorselessly, as the ill-fated bark once drawn within the    "The most interesting and elegantly written novel of the
rapids of Niagara. The story is entirely objective in its char- day."-Jersey Blute.
acter, full of overt acts and incidents and hair-breadth es-     A story of thrilling interet.?'-Pittsbs —g Commercial.
capes, and actual struggles for life and limb, instead of a mere
fight of contending passions. It is a story of the outwavd,    "Those who read it can have the satisfaction of kenowing
rather than of the inward, in human life. It deals, not with  that while they are deeply interested, the attraction is not
the internal workings of the soul, but with the actual reali- only harumless but healthy."-Gospel Bannser.
ties of the external world-a fearful shipwreck, with whose    "Free from the sickly sentimentalism so common to works
horrors our Jersey coast is but too familiar-a fire in the  of this kind."-FTrse Aene-ican.
pines, whose frightful ravages once seen can never be dis-   A wor of geie v
charged from the memory-stirring scenes of battle and
bloodshed between the'continentals' and'red-coats'-all    "If you wish to read a thrilling story, absorbingly intergiving us the' very form and pressure of the time-that  esting, and at the same -time in no degree overstrained or untried men's souls.' "'-American Courier.                  natural, get Kate Aylesford. It reminds us of the best of
Cooper's novels, and it is free from faults which they abound
" One of the great beauties of the story is, the characters 
are never unnatural nor the incidents improbable. Yet we  in."-Piedmont (Va.) Whg.
know no American novelist who has a stronger power of    "Can be read with propriety, even by the most fastidious,
holding his reader enchained by the stirring and life-like in-  being of a strictly moral character."-Crystal Palace.
cidents of the narrative, or who can individualize his char-    "The heroine is a noble creature." —Reading Gazette.
acters more distinctly. The latter are real persons. acting  The most fasciating novel of modern time"          Gaz.
naturally and properly. Every scene is painted vividly and
graphically, and the reader seems moving among living per-    "This novel is a brilliant one."-Philadeplhia Dispatch.
Price for the complete work, in two volumes in paper cover, One Dollar only; or another edition, handsomely bound in
one volume, cloth, gilt, is published for One Dollar and Twenty-Five Cents.
Copies of either edition of the work will be sent to any person, to any part of the United States, free of postage, on their
remitting the price of the edition they may wish, to the publisher, in a letter.
Address, post-paid,                                          T.  B. PETERJ".4To. 102 CIhestnut Street, PVhladelphia. c
Sk,                                                SP-,,Qfwm                                                                                                               C.S1"




T'TI   NKENST'E~!N;
E M(IjDERN PI)PMET EUS.
BY MRS. MARY W. SHELLEY,
WIFE OF PERCY BYSSHUE SHELLEY, THE POETbi
Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay,
To mould me man? Did I solicit thee
From darkness to promote me?
PARAtDISE LosTr
NEW-YORK:'PUBLISHED BY  H. G. DAGGERS,
No. 30 ANN.STREET.
1845.








T'O
WVILLIAM GODWIN,
AUTHOR.T   O"I C'POLITiCAL'JU8TJCE," "CALEB IWVLLIAMB,"<' &tt
THIESE - VOLliUM.ES
ARE REAMPEC'?FUiUL LY IsCURTBED B i'
THE AUTHOR:',








PREFACE TO THE PRESENT AMERICAN EDITION.
"Frankenstein," by Mrs. Mary W. Shelley, wife of the illustrious
poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and daughter of William Godwin, author of
"Caleb Williams," excited a wide and deep sensation on its appearance
in England. In this country it was reprinted by Carey, Lea and Blanchard in the year 1833, and was as much read and admired, as the ex.
orbitant price then asked for the most poorly printed novel permitted.
It has been long a scarce book, and is now not obtainable by purchase in
the United States. The frequent inquiries for it, addressed to the present publisher, induced him to put it to press-and this he has done, not
without a good deal of preliminary trouble in finding a perfect copy.
The following is the preface to the first edition:
"THE event on which this fiction is founded, has been supposed, by Dr.
Darwin; and some of the physiological writers of Germany, as not of impossible occurrence. I shall not be supposed as recording the remotest
degree of serious faith to such an imagination; yet, in assuming it as the
basis of a work of fancy, I have not considered myself as merely weaving a series of supernatural terrors. The event on which the interest of
the story depends is exempt from the disadvantages of a mere tale of
spectres or enchantment. It was recommended by the novelty of the
situations which it developes; and, however impossible as a physical fact,
affords a point of view to the imagination for the delineating of hnman
passions more comprehensive and commanding than any which the ordinary relations of existing events can yield.
I have thus endeavored to preserve the truth of the elementary principles of human nature, while I have not scrupled to innovate upon their
combinations. The "'Iliad,' the tragic poetry of Greece-Shakspeare,
in the " Tempest" and "' Midsummer Night's Dream "'-and most espe.
cially Milton, in "Paradise Lost," conform to this rule; and the most




VLI                          PREFACE.
humble novelist, who seeks to confer or receive amusement from  his labors, may, without presumption, apply to prose fiction a license, or rather
a rule, from the adoption of which so many exquisite combinations of hu.
man feeling have resulted in the highest specimens of poetry.
The circumstance on which my story rests was suggested in casual
conversation.  It was commenced, partly as a source of amusement, and
partly as an expedient for exercising any untried resources of mind.
Other motives were mingled with these, as the work proceeded.  I am
by no meanu indifferent to the manner in which whatever moral tendencies exist in the sentiments or characters it contains shall affect the reader; yet my chief concern in this respect has been limited to the avoiding
the enervating effects of the novels of the present day, and to the exhibition of the amiableness of domestic affection, and the excellence of universal virtue.  The opinions which naturally spring from the character
and situation of the hero are by no means to be conceived as existing always in my own conviction; nor is any inference justly to be drawn from
the fbllowing paces as prejudicing any philosophical doctrine of whatever kind.
It is a subject also of additional interest to the author, that this story
was begun in the majestic region where the scene is principally laid, and
in society which cannot cease to be regretted.  I passed the summer of
1816 in the environs of Geneva.  The. season was cold and rainy, and
in the evenings we crowded around a blazing wood fiie, and occasionally
amused ourselves with some German stories of ghosts, which happened
to fall into our hands.  These tales excited in us a playful desire bf imitation.  Two other friends (a tale from the pen of one of whom would bo
far more acceptable to the public than anything I can: ever hope to produce) and myself agreed to write each a story, founded on some supernatural occurrence.
The weather, however, suddenly became serene; and my two friends
left me on a journey among the Alps, and lost, in the magnificent scenes
which they present, all memory of their ghostly visiol-s.  The following
tale is the only one which has been completed."
The fbllowing is the preface to the last London edition, publisled in
Ritchie's Library of Standard Novels.'It is as intensely interesting as
the Work' itself.
"The Publishers of the Standard Novels, in selecting' Frankenstein'
for one of their series, expressed a wish that I should furnish them with
some account of the origin of the story.  I am the more willina to comply
because I shall thus givre a general answer to the question so very frequently asked me'-" How I, then a young girl, came to think of, and to
dilate upon so very hideous an idea?"'  It is true tlat I am very averse




PREFACE                                vii
to bringing myself forward in print  but as my account will only appear
as an appendage to a former production, and as it will be confiiled to such
topics as have connection with my authorship alone, I can scarcely accuse
myself of a personal intrusion.
It is not singular, that, as the daughter of two persops of distinguishled
literary celebrity, I should very early ain life have thouglht of writing.
As a child, I scribbled;  and mv favorite pastime, during the oiurs given
me for recreation, was' to write stories."'  Still I had a dearer pleasure
thlln this, which was the formation of castles in the air-thle indulging in
waking dreams-tile following  up trains of thought, -which had for th eir
subject the formation of a succession of imaginary incidents.  MAy dreaims
were at once more faitastic and a.greeable tl'iln my writings. In the latter I was a close imitator-rather doing as othe'rs had done ttan putting
down the suggestions of mv  own mind.  XWhat I wrote was intended at
least for one other eyre —my  childhood's companion and friend-but my
dreams were all' my own  I accounted for them  to nobody  they were
my refuge when annoyed —my dearest pleasure when free.
I lived principally in the country as a girl, and passed a considerablhie time in Scotland.   I made occasional visits to the more picturesque
parts; but nmy habitual residence was on the blank and dreary northern
shores of the Tay, near Dundee.  Blank and dreary, on retrospection, I
call themn; the  T were not so to me th1en.'They were the eyry of freedom, and the pleasanit region wlhere unheeded I could commune with the
creatures of my fancy.  I wrote then —-but in a most common-place style.
It was beneath the trees o:f the grounds belonging to our houUse, or on the
bleak sides of the woodless  ountains nlear, that my true compositions, the
airy flights of my inlagination, were born and fostered..  I did not make
mnyself, the he roine of my tales.  L ife appeared to rme too common-place
an affair as regarded muyself.  I could not figure to myself that romantic
woes or wonderful events would ever be my lot; but I was not confined to
my own identity; and I could people the hon-rs with creationcs fafr more interesting to me at that age, than my own sensations.'
After this, my life became busier, and reality stood in place of' fiction.
My husband, however, was filrom  the first very anxious that I should
prove myself worthy of mry paretntage, and enlrol muyself on the page of
fame. He was for ever inciting romie to ob)tain literary reputation, which,
even on my own part, I cared fbr'then, t!holgh  since I have become infinitelv indifferent to it.  At this tinme he desired that I7 should write, not
so much with the idea that I could produce an3y thing worthy  of notice,
but that lie might himself jludlge hovw fair T lossessed tile promise of better
things hereafter.  Still I did nothing.  Travelling, and the cares of a
family, occupied my time; and study, in the way of reading, or improving my ideas in communication with his far more cultivated. mind, \\vas
all of literary employment that engaged my attention.




REFACFE
In the summer of 1816, we visited Switzerland, and became the neighbors of Lord Byron. At first we spent our pleasant hours on the lake,
or wandering on its shores; and Lord Byron, who was writing his third
canto of Childe Harold, was the only one among us who put his thoughts
upon paper. These, as he brought them successively to us, clothed in
all the light and harmony of poetry, seemed to stamp as divine the glories
of heaven, and earth, whose influences we'partook with him.
But it proved a wet, ungenial summer, and incessant rain often confined us for days to the house. Some volumes of ghost stories, translated
from the German and French, fell into our hands.  There was the History of the Inconstant Lover, who, when he thought to clasp the bride to
whom he had pledged his vows, found himself in the arms of the pale
ghost of her whom he had deserted. There was the tale of the sinful
founder of his race, whose miserable doom. it was to bestow the kiss of
death on all the younger sons of his ill-fated house, just when they
reached the age of promise.  His gigantic, shadowy form, clothed like
the ghost in Hamlet, in complete armor, but with the beaver up, was seen
atmidnight by the moon's fitful beams, to advance slowly along the
gloomy avenue. The shape was lost beneath the shadow of the castle
walls: but soon a gate swung back, a step was heard, the door of the
chamber opened, and he advanced to the couch of the blooming youths,
cradled in healthy sleep. Eternal sorrow sat upon his face as he bent
down and kissed the forehead of the boys, who from thatl hour withered
like flowers snapped upon the stalk.' I have hot seen these stories since
then; but their incidents are as fresh'in my mind as if I had read them
yesterday.
"We will each write a ghost-story," said Lord Byron; and his' proposition was acceded to. There Rvere four of us. The noble author
began a tale, a fragment of which he printed at the end of his poem of
Mazeppa. Shelley, more apt to embody ideas and sentiments in the radiance of brilliant imagery, and in the music of the most melodious verse
that adorns our language, than to invent the machinery of a story, commenced one founded on the experiences of his early life. Poor Polidori
had some terrible idea about a;skull-headed lady, who wAs so punished
for peeping through a key-hole-what to see I forget —something very
shocking and wrong, of course: but when she was reduced to a worse
condition than the renowned Tom of Coventry, he did not know what to
do with her, and was obliged to despatch her to the tomb of the Capulets,
the only place for which she was fitted. The illustrious poets, also annoyed by the platitude of prose, speedily relinquished their uncongenial
task.
I busied myself to think of a story-a story to rival those which had
excited us to this task. One which would speak to the mysterious fears
of our nature, and awaking thrilling horror-one to make the reader




PREFACE.                           ix
dread to look round, to curdle the blood, and quicken the beatings of the
heart. If I did not accomplish these things, my ghost story would be
unworthy of its name. I thought and pondered-vainly. I felt that
blank incapability of invention which is the greatest misery of authorship, when dull Nothing replies to our anxious invocations. Have you
thought of a story? I was asked each morning, and each morning I was
forced to reply with a mortifying negative.
Everything must have a beginning, to speak in Sanchean phrase; and
that beginning must be linked to something that went before. The Hindoos give the elephant a world to support it, but they make an elephant
to stand upon a tortoise. Invention, it must be humbly admitted, does
not exist in creating out of void, but out of chaos; the materials must, in
the first place, be afforded: it can give form to dark, shapeless substances,
but cannot bring into being the substance itself. In all matters of discovery and invention, even of those that ~appertain to the imagination, we
are continually reminded of the story of Columbus and his egg. Invention consists in the capacity of seizing on the capabilities of a subject,
and in the power of moulding and fashioning ideas suggested to it.
Many and long were the conversations between Lord Byron and Shelley, to which I was a devout, but nearly silent listener. During one of
these, various philosophical doctrines were discussed, and among others,
the nature of the principle of life, and whether there was any probability
of its ever being discovered and communicated. They talked of the experiments of Dr. Darwin. (I speak not of what the Doctor really did,
or said he did, but, as more to my purpose, of what was then spoken of
as having been done by him,) who preserved a piece of vermicelli in a
glass cage, till by some extraordinary means it began to move with vol.
untary motion. Not thus, after all, would life be given. Perhaps a
corpse would be re-animated; galvanism had given token of such things;
perhaps the component parts of a creature might be manufactured,
brought together, and endued with vital warmth.
Night waned upon this talk, and even the witching hour had gone by,
before we retired to rest. When I had placed my head on my pillow, I
did not sleep, nor could I be said to think. My imagination, unbidden,
possessed and guided me, gifting the successive images that arose in my
mind with a vividness far beyond the usual bound of reverie. I sawwith shut eyes, but acute mental vision-I saw the pale student of un.
hallowed arts kneeling beside the thing he had put together. I saw the
hideous phantasm of a man stretched out, and then, on the working of
some powerful engine, show signs of life, and stir with an uneasy, half
vital motion. Frightful must it be; for supremely frightful would be the
effect of any human endeavor to mock the stupendous mechanism of the
Creator of the world.  His success would terrify the artist; he would
rush away from his odious handywork, horror-stricken. He would hope




PREFACE.'
that, left to itself the slight spark of life which he had communicated,
would fade; that this thing which had received such imperfect animation,
would subside into dead matter; and he might sleep in the belief that the
silence of the grave would quench for ever the transient existence of the
hideous corps which he had looked upon as the cradle of life. He sleeps:
but he is awakened; lhe opens his eyes  behold the horrid thing stands
at his bedside, opening his curtains, and looking on him with yellow,
watery, but speculative eyes.
I opened mine in terror.  The idea so possessed my mind, that a thirill
of fear ran through me and I1 wished to exchange the ghastly image of
my fancy for the realities around. I see them still; the very room, the
dark parquet, the closed shutters, with the moonlight struggling thiough,
and the sense I had that the glassy lake and white high Alps were be,
yond. I could not so easily get rid of my hideous phantom; still it
haunted me. I must try to think of something else. I recurred to my
ghost story. my tiresome, unlucky ghost story! 0t if I could only
contrive one which would frighten my reader as I myself had been fright.
ened that night t
Swift as light, and as cheering, was the idea that broke in upon me.
(.I have found it!  What terrified me will terrify others; and I need
only describe the spectre which had haunted my midnight pillow." On
the morrow I announced that I had thought of a story.  I began that day
with the words, It uwas on a dreary night in November, making only a
transcript of the grim terrors of my waking dream.
At first I thought but of a few pages-of a short tale; but Shelley
urged me to develope the idea at greater length. I certainly did not owe
the suggestion of one incident, nor scarcely of one train of feeling, to
my husband, and yet, but for his incitement, it would never have taken
the form in which it was presented to the world.  From'this declaration
I must except the preface.  As far as I can recollect, it was entirely.
written by him.,: And now, once again, I bid my hideous progeny go forth and prosper.
t have an affection for it, fobr it was the offspring of happy days, when
death and grief were but words, which found no true echo in my li'eart.
Its several pages speak of many a walk, many a drive, and many a conversation, when I was not alone; and my companion was one who, in
this world, I shall never see more.  But this is for myself; my readers
have nothing to do with these associations.




PRtANKENST EIN;
THE MODERN PROM E  E U S.
LETTER 1.                  visible; its broad disk just skirtino the
hlorizon, and diffusi.ng a perpetual splenTo MRS. SAVILLE, ENCLAN~D.
TOi\R L, Ehdol.  Tere-for with your leave,  e my sis -
St. Petersburg, Dee. ilth, 17.-  ter, I NOwil put some trust in preceding
You will rejoice to hear that no disaster navigators.-there snow and frost are bans
has accompanied the commencement of ished; and, sailing over a calm  sea, we
an enterprise which you have regarded  may be wafted to a land surpassing in
with such evil forebodings. I arrived here  wonders and in beauty every region hithl
yesterday; and my first task is to assure  erto discovered on the habitable globe.
my dear sister of my welfare, and' increas- its productions and features may be withing confidence in the success of my un- out example, as the phenomena of the
dertaking.                               heavenly bodies undoubtedly are; in those
I am already far north of London; and  undiscovered solitudes.  Wihat may not
as I walk in the streets of Petersburg, I be expected in a country of eternal light?
feel a cold northern breeze play upon my  I may there discover the wondrous power'cheeks, which braces my nerves, and fills which attracts the needle; and may regiume with delight. Do you understand this late a thousand celestial observations, that
feeling? This breeze, which has travelled  require only this voyage to render their
from the regions towards which I am ad- seeming eccentricities consistent for ever.
vancing, gives me a foretaste of those icy  I shall satiate my ardent curiosity with
climes. Inspirited by this wind of pro- the sight of a part of the world never bemise, my day dreams become more fervent fore visited, and may tread a land never
and vivid. I try in vain to be persuaded  before imprinted  by  the foot of tman.
that the pole is the seat of frost and deso- These are my enticements, and they are
lation; it ever presents itself to my imag- sufficient to conquer all fear of danger or
irntion as the region of beauty and de- death, and to induce me to commence this
light. There, Margaret, the sun is forever laborious voyage with the joy a child feels




12                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
when he embarks in a little boat, with his   Six years have passed since I resolved
holiday mates, on an expedition of discov- on my present undertaking. I can, even
ery up his native river.  But, supposing  now, remember the hour from  which I
all these conjectures to be false, you can- dedicated myself to this great enterprise. I
not contest the inestimable benefit which  commenced by inuring my body to hardI shall confer on all mankind to the last ship. I accompanied the whale-fishers on
generation, by discovering a passage near several expeditions to the North Sea; I
the pole to those countries, to reach which  voluntarily endured cold, famine, thirst,
at present so many months are requisite; and want of sleep; I often worked harder
or by ascertaining the secret of the mag- than the common sailors during the day,
net, which, if at all possible, can only be and devoted my nights to the study of
effected by an undertaking such as mine.  mathematics, the theory of medicine, and
These reflections have dispelled the ag- those branches of physical science from
itation with which I began' my letter, and which a naval adventurer might derive the
I feel my heart glow with an enthusiasm  greatest practical advantage.  Twice I
which elevates me to Heaven; for nothing  actually hired myself as an undermate in
contributes so much to tranquillize the a Greenland whaler, and acquitted myself
mind as a steady purpose-a point on to admiration. I must own I felt a little
which the soul may fix its intellectual eye. proud, when my  captain offvered me the
This expedition has been  the favorite second dignity in the vessel,and entreated
dream  of my early years. I have read  me to remain with the greatest earnestwith ardor the accounts of the various ness; sb valuable did he consider my servoyages which have been made in the vices.
prospect of arriving at the North Pacific    And now, dear Margaret, do I not deOcean through the seas which surround serve to accomplish some great purpose 
the pole. You may remember, that a his- My life might have been passed in ease
tory of all the voyages made for purposes and luxury; but I preferred glory to every
of discovery composed the whole of our enticement that wealth placed in my path.
good uncle Thomas's library. My educa- Oh, that some encouraging voice would
tion was neglected, yet I was passionately answer in the affirmative! My courage
fond of reading.  These volumes were my and my resolution is firm; but my hopes
study day and night, and my familiarity fluctuate, and my spirits are often dewith them increased that regret which I pressed. I am about to proceed on a long
had felt, as a child, on learning that my and difficult voyage; the emergencies of
father's dying injunction had forbidden my which will demand all my fortitude: I am
uncle to allow me to embark in a sea- required not only to raise the spirits of
faring life.                            others, but sometimes to sustain my own,
Z. These -visions faded when I perused, for when theirs are failing.
the first time, those poets whose effusions   This is the most favorable period for
entranced my soul, and lifted it to Heaven. travelling in Russia.  They fly quickly
I also became a poet, and for one year over the snow in their sledges; the molived in a Paradise of my own creation; I tion is pleasant; and, in my opinion, far
imagined that I also might obtain a niche more agreeable than that of an English
in the temple where the names of Homer stage-coach.  The cold is not excessive,
and Shakspeare are consecrated.  You  if you are wrapt in furs, a dress which I
are well acquainted with my failure, and have already adopted; for there is a great
how heavily I bore the disappointment. difference between walking the deck and
But just at that time I inherited the for- remaining seated motionless for hours,
tune of my cousin, and my thoughts were when no exercise prevents the blood from
turned into the channel of their earlier actually freezing in your veins. I have
bent. l                                 no ambition to lose my life on the post



THE MODERN PROMETHEtUS.                             13
road between.St. Petersburg and Arch- no one near me, gentle yet courageous,
angel.                                  possessed of a cultivated as well as of a
I shall depart for the latter town in a capacious mind, whose tastes are like, my
fortnight or three weeks; and my inten- own, to approve or amend my plans.
tion is to hire a ship there, which can ea- How would such a friend repair the faults
sily be done by paying the insurance for of your poor brother! I am too ardent in
the owner, and to engage as many sailors execution, and too impatient of difficulties.
as I think necessary among those who are But it is a still greater evil to me that I
accustomed to the whale-fishing.  I do am self-educated: for the first fourteen
not intend to sail until the month of June: years of my life I ran wild on a common,
and when shall I return?  Ah, dear sis- and read nothing but our uncle Thomas's
ter, how can I answer this question? If I books of voyages. At that age I became
succeed, many, many months, perhaps acquainted with the celebrated poets of
years, will pass before you and I may our own country; but it was only when
meet.  if I fail, you will see me again it had ceased to be in my power to derive
soon, or never.                        its most important benefits from such a
Farewell, my dear, excellent Margaret. conviction, that I perceived the necessity
Heaven shower down blessings on you, of becoming acquainted with more lanand save me, that I may again and again guages than that of my native country.
testify my gratitude for all your love and Now I am twenty-eight, and am in reality
kindness.                               more illiterate than many school-boys of
Your affectionate brother,   fifteen. It is true that I have thought
R. WALTON.   more, and that my day dreams are more
extended and magnificent; but they want
LETTER IL.                (as the painters call it) keeping; and I
TO MWS. SAVILLE.,:ENGLAND.      greatly need a friend who would have
ARCHANGEL, 28th March, 17.   sense enough not to despise me as romanHow slowly the tiAme passes here, en-  tic, and affection enough for me to endeacompassed as I am by frost and snow; vor to regulate my mind.
yet a second step is taken towards my en-'Well, these are useless complaints; I
terprise. I have hired a vessel, and am  shall certainly find no friend on the wide
occupied in collecting my sailors; those ocean, nor even here in Archang-el, among
whom I have already engaged appear to be merchants and seamen. Yet some feelmen on whom I can depend, and are cer- ings, unrallied to the dross of human natainly possessed of dauntless conrage.  ture, beat even in these rugged bosoms.
But I have one want which I have nev- My lieutenant, for instance, is a mal of
er yet been able to satisfy; and the ab- wonderful courage and enterprise; he is
sence of the object of which I now feel as madly desirous of glory. He is an Ena most severe evil. I have no friend, glishman, and in the midst of national and
Margaret: when I am glowing with the professional prejudices, unsoftened by culenthusiasm of success, there will be none tivation, retains some of the noblest ento participate my joy; if I am assailed by dowments of humanity.  I.first became
disappointment, no one will endeavor to acquainted with him on board a whale yvessustain me in dejection. I shall commit sel: findingt that he. was unemployed in
my thoughts to paper, it is true; but that this city, I easily engaged him to assist in
is a poor medium for the communication my enterprise.
of feeling. I desire the company of a man   The master is a person of an excellent
who could sympathize with me; whose disposition, and is remarkable in the ship
eyes would reply to mine.  You may for his gentleness, and the mildness of his
deem me romantic, my dear sister, but I discipline. He is, indeed, of so amiable a
bitterly feel the want of a friend.,I hlave nature that he will not hunt (a favorite, and




14                          tRANKENST FN;3 OR0
almost the only amusement here,) because on the near prospect of my undertaking.
he cannot endure to spill blood. HI-e is, It is impossible to communicate to you a
moreover, heroically  generous.;Some  conception of the trembling sensation, half
years ago he loved a young Russian lady, fearful, with which I am preparing to deof moderate fortune; and having amassed  part. I am going' to unexplored regions,
a considerable sum in prize-money, the  to " the land of mist and snow;" but I
father of the girl consented to the match. shall kill no albatross, therefore do not be
He saw his mistress once more before the alarmed for my safety.
destined ceremony; but she'was bathed    Shall I meet you again, after having
in tears, and, throwing herself at his feet, traversed immense seas, and returned by
entreated him to spare her, confessing at the most southern cape of Africa or Amethe same time that she loved another, but rica?  I dare not expect such success,
that he was poor, and that her faither would yet I cannot bear to look on the reverse of
never consent to the union. My generous the picture. Continue to write to me by
friend re-assured the suppliant, and on be- every opportunity: I may receive your
ing informed of the name of her lover, in- letters (though the chance is very doubtstantly abandoned his pursuit. He had  ful) on some occasions when I need them
already bought a farm with his money, on  m'ost to support my spirits.  I love you
which he had designed to pass the re- very tenderly. Remember me with afficmainder of his life; but he bestowed the  tion, should you never hear from  me
whole on his rival, together with the re- again.
mains of his prize-money, to purchase       Your affectionate brother,
stock, and then himself solicited the young I              ROBERT WALTON.
woman's father to consent to her marriage
with her lover. But the old man decidedly refused, thinking himself bound in honor to my friend; who, when lie found the       TO itRS. SAVILLE, ENGCLAND.
father inexorable, quitted his country, nor                      JULY 7th, 7-.
returned until he heard that his former   Mr  DEAR SISTER: I write you a few
mistress was married according to her in- lines in haste, to say that I am safe, and
clinations.  " What a noble fellow!" you  well advanced on my voyage. This letter
will exclaim. He is so; but then he has will reach England by a merchant-man
passed all his life on board a vessel, and now on its homeward voyage from Arch.
has scarcely an idea beyond the rope and  angel; more fortunate than I, who may
the shroud.                             not see my native land, perhaps, for many
But do not suppose that, because I com- years. I am, however, in good spirits:
plain a little, or because I can conceive a, my men are bold, and apparently firm of
consolation for my toils which I may never purpose; nor do the floating sheets of ice
know, that I am wavering in my resolu- that continually pass us, indicating the
tions.  Those are as fixed as fate; and  dangers of the region toward which we
my voyage is now only delayed until the  are advancing, appear to dismay them.
weather shall permit my embarkation. We have already reached a very high latThe winter has been dreadfully severe; itude; but it is the height of summer, and
but the spring promises well, and it is although not so warm  as England, the
considered as a remarkably early season; southern gales, which blow us speedily
so that, perhaps, I may sail sooner than f toward those shores which I so ardently
expected. I shall do nothing rashly; you  desire to attain, breathe a degree of renoknow me sufficiently to confide in my pru- vating warmth which I had not -expected.
dence and considerateness whenever the    No incident;s have hitherto befallen us,
safety of others is committed to my care.  that would make a figure in a letter, One
I cannot describei to you my.sensations or two stiU  galess and the breaking of a




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                              15
mast, are accidentswhich experiencednav- hundred miles from any land; but this
igators scarcely remember to record; and apparition seemed to denote that it was
I shall be well content, if nothing worse not, in reality, so distant as we had suiphappens to us during our voyage.        posed. Shut in, however, by ice, it was
Adieu, my dear Margaret, Be assured impossible to follow his track, which we
that, for my own sake, as well as yours, I had observed with the greatest attention.
will rashly encounter danger. I will be   About two hours after this occurrence,
cool, persevering, and prudent.        we heard the ground sea; and before
Rememberme toall myEnglish friends.  night the ice broke, and freed our ship.
Most affectionately yours,      I We, however, lay to until the morning,
R. W.   fearing to encounter in the dark those large
i loose masses which float about aftei the:  LETTER  IVY.            tbreaking tip of the ice. I profited of this
time to rest for a few hours.
TO BIRS. SAVIL,E: ENGLAND.        In the morning, however, as soon as it
August Sth, 17-.  was light, I went upon deck, and found
So strange an accident has happened all the sailors busy on one side of the ves.
to us, that I cannot forbear recording it, sel, apparently talking to some one in the
although it is very probable that you will 1 sea. It was, in fact, a sledge, like that
see me before these papers can come into  we had seen before, which had drifted toyour possession.                        wards us in the night, on a large fragment
Last Monday (July 31st,) we were near- of ice. Only one dog remained alive;
ly surrounded by ice, which closed in the ibut there was a human being within it,
ship on all sides, scarcely leaving her the I whom the sailors were persuading to enter
sea-room in which she floated. Our situ- the vessel. He was not, as the other traation was somewhat dangerous, especially  veller seemed to be, a savage inhabitant
as we were compassed round by avery iof some undiscovered island, but an Eurothick fog. We accordingly lay to, hoping i pean. When I appeared on deck, the masthat some change would take place in the ter said, "Here is our captain, and he will
atmosphere and weather.                not allow you to perish on the open sea."
About two o'clock the mist cleared    On perceiving me, the stranger addressaway, and we beheld, stretched out in ed me in English, although with a foreign
every direction, vast and irregular plains accent.  "Before I come on board your
of ice, which seemed to have no end. vessel," said he, " will you have the kind-,Some of my comrades groaned, and my ness to inform me whither you are bound?"
own mind began to grow watchful with    You may conceive my astonishment on
anxious thoughts, when a strange sight hearing suchi a question addressed to me
suddenly, attracted our attention, and di- from a man on the brink of destruction,
verted our solicitude from our own situa- and to whom I should have supposed that
tion. We perceived a low carriage, fixed my vessel would have been a resource
on a sledge and drawn by dogs, pass on which he would not have exchanged foi
towards the north, at the distance of half the most precious wealth the earth can
a mile: a being which had the shape of a afford. I replied, however, that we were
man, buit apparently of gigantic stature, on a voyage of discovery towards the
sat in the sledge, and guided the dogs. northern pole.
We watched the rapid progress of the   Upon hearing this he appeared satisfied,
traveller with our telescopes, until he was and consented to come on board. Good
iost among among the distant inequalities God! Margaret, if you had seen the man
of the ice.                            who thus capitulated for his safety, your
This appearance excited our unqualified surprise would have been boundless, His
Wonder. We were- as we believed, many limbs were nearly frozen, and his body




16                         1FRANKENSTEIN; Ot,
dreadfully emaciated by fatigue and suffer- the day before we picked you up, we saw
ing. I never saw a man in so wretched a some dogs drawing a sledge, with a man
condition. We attempted to carry him into in it, across the ice."
the cabin, but as soon as he had quitted   This aroused the stranger's attention;
the fresh air, he fainted. We accordingly and he asked a multitude of questions
brought him back to the deck, and restored concerning the route which the demon,
him  to animation by rubbing him with as he called him, had pursued. Soon after,
brandy, and forcing him to swallow a small when he was alone with me, he said, "6 I
quantity. As soon as he showed signs of have, doubtless, excited your curiosity, as
life, we wrapped him up in blankets, and well as that of these good people; but you
placed him near the chimney of the kitch- are too considerate to make inquiries."
en-stove. By slow degrees he recovered,   "Certainly; it would indeed be very
and ate a little soup, which restored him  impertinent and inhuman in me to trouble
wonderfully.                         you with any inquisitiveness of mine."
Two days passed in this manner before   " And yet you rescued me from a strange
he was able to speak; and I often feared and perilous situation; you have benevothat his sufferings had deprived him of his lently restored me t6 life."
understanding. When he had in some   Soon after this he inquired, if I thought
measure recovered, I removed him to my that the breaking up of the ice had de.
own cabin, and attended on him as much stroyed the other sledge? I replied, that
as my duty would permit. I never saw a I could not answer with any degree of
more interesting creature: his eyes have certainty; for the ice had not broken until
generally an expression of wildness, and near midnight, and the traveller might
even madness; but there are moments have arrived at a place of safety before that
when, if any one performs an act of kind- time; but of this I could not judge.
ness towards him, or does him any the   From  this time the stranger seemed
most trifling service, his whole counte- very eager to be upon deck, to watch for
nance is lighted up, as it were, with a the sledge which had before appeared;
beam of benevolence and sweetness that I but I have persuaded him to remain in the
never saw equalled. But he is generally cabin, for he is far too weak to sustain the
melancholy and despairing; and some- rawness of the atmosphere. And I have
times he gnashes his teeth, as if impa- promised that some one should watch for
tient of the weigh of woes that oppress him; and give him instant notice if any
him.,                           new object should appear in sight.
When my guest was a little recovered,   Such is my journal of what relates to
I had great trouble to keep off the men, this strange occurrence up to the present
who wished to ask him a thousand ques- day. The stranger has gradually improved
tions; but I' would not allow him to be in health, but is very silent, and appears
tormented by their idle curiosity, in a state uneasy when any one except myself enters
of body and mind whose restoration evi- his cabin. Yet his manners are so condently depended upon entire repose. Once, ciliating and gentle, that the sailors are
however, the lieutenant asked, Why he all interested in him, although they have
had come so far upon the ice in so strange have very little communication with him.
a vehicle?                           For my own'part, I begin to love him as a
His countenance instantly assumed an brother; and his constant and deep grief
aspect of the deepest gloom; and he re- fills me with sympathy and compassion.
plied, "To seek one who fled from me."  He must have been a noble creature in his
"And did the mkn whom you pursued better days, being; even now in wreck so
travel in the same fashion?'"        attractive and amiable.
"Yes."                                I said in one of my letters, my dear
" Then I fancy we have seen him; for, Margaret, that I should find no'friend on




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                                17
the wide ocean; yet I have found a man be wiser and more experienced than mywho, before his spirit had been broken by self, to confirm and support me; nor have
misery, I should have been happy to have I believed it impossible to find a true
possessed as the brother of my heart.   friend.
I shall continue my journal concerning    "I agree with you," replied the stranthe stranger at intervals, should I have ger, "6in believing that friendship is not
any fresh incidents to record.          only a desirable, but a possible acquisition.
I once had a friend, the most noble of huAugust 13th, 17-.  man creatures, and am entitled, therefore,
My affection for my guest increases to judge respecting friendship.  You have
every day. He excites at once my admi- hope, and the world before you, and have
ration and my pity to an astonishing de- no cause for despair. But I-I have lost
gree. How can I see so noble a creature everything, and cannot begin life anew."
destroyed by misery, without feeling the    As he said this, his countenance became
most poignant grief?  He is so gentle, expressive of a calm settled grief, which
yet so wise; his mind is so cultivated; and touched me to the heart.  But he was siwhen he speaks, although his words are lent, and presently retired.to his cabin.
culled with the choicest art, yet they flow    Even broken in spirit as he is, no one
with rapidity and unparalleled eloquence. can feel more deeply than he does the
He is now  much recovered from  his beauties of nature.  The starry sky, the
illness, and is continually on deck, appa- sea, and every sight afforded by these
rently watching for the sledge that pre- wonderful regions, seem still to have the
ceded his own. Yet, although unhappy, power of elevating his soul from  earth..
he is not so utterly occupied by his own Such a man has a double existence: he
misery, but that he interests himself deep- may suffer misery, and be overwhelmed
ly in the employments of others.  -le has by disappointments; yet when he has reasked me many questions concerning my tired into himself, he will be like a celesdesign; and I have related my little his- tial spirit, that has a halo around him,
tory frankly to him. He appeared pleased within whose circle no grief or folly venwith the confidence, and suggested, seve- tures.
ral alterations in my plan, which I shall   Will you laugh at the enthusiasm I exfind exceedingly useful. There is no pe- press concerning this divine wanderer?
dantry in his manner;'but all he does ap- If you do, you must certainly have lost
pears to spring solely from the interest he that simplicity which was once your charinstinctively takes in the welfare of those acteristic charm. Yet, if you will, smile
who surround him. He is often overcome at the warmth of my expressions, while I
by gloom, and then he sits by himself, and find every day new causes for repeating
tries to overcome all that is sullen or un- themr
social in his humor. These paroxysms                            August 19th, 17-.
pass from him like a cloud from before the    Yesterday the stranger said to me, " You
sun, though his dejection never leaves him. may easily perceive, Captain Walton, that
I have endeavored to win his confidence; I have suffered great and unparalleled misand I trust that I have succeeded.  One fortunes. I had determined, once, that the
day I mentioned to him the desire I had memory of these evils should die with me;
always felt of finding a friend who might bmt you have won me to alter my detersympathize with me, and direct me by his mination.  You seek for knowledge and
counsel. I said I did not belong to that wisdom, as I once did; and I ardently hope
class of men who are offended by advice. that the gratification of your wishes may
I am  self-educated, and perhaps I hardly not be a serpent to sting you, as mine has
rely sufficiently upon my own powers. I been to me. I do not know that the relawish therefore that my companion should tion of my misfortunes will be useful to




!$                  ~         t~FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
you, yet, if you are inclined,_listen to Imy  nearly fulfilled.  I wait for but one event,
tale.  I believe that the strange incidents and then I shall repose in peace. I underconnected with it will afford a view of na- stand your feeling," continued he, perceivture, which may enlarge your faculties ing that I wished to interrupt him; "but
and understanding.  You wvill hear of youl are mistaken, my friend, if thus you
powers and occurrences, such as you have will allow me to name you; nothing can
been accustomed.to thinklimpossible; but alter my destiny.  Listen to my history,
I do not doubt that my tale conveys in its and you will perceive how irrevocably itseries internal evidence of the truth of the is determined."
events of which it is composed."           IHe then told me, that he would comYou may easily conceive that I was mence his narrative the next day, when I
much gratified by the offered communica- should be at leisure.  This promise drew
tion; yet I could not endure that he should from me the warmest thanks.  I have rerenew his grief by a recital of his misfor- solved every night to record, as nearly as
tunes.  I felt the greatest eagerness to possible in his own words, what he has
hear the promised narrative, partly from  related during the day. If I should be
curiosity, and partly from  a strong desire engaged. I will at leastn make notes. This
to ameliorate his fate, if it were in my manuscript will doubtless afford you the
power. I expressed these feelings in my greatest pleasure: but to me, who know
answer.                                  him, and who hear it from his own lips,
"I thank you," he replied, "for your with what interest and sympathy shall I
sympathy, but it is useless; my fate is read it at some future day!




oR,
TrHFj  MOD ERN PROMIETPHEUS.
CH-IAPTER T.               and unbending disposition, and could not:I at by birth a Genevese; and my fam- bear to live in poverty and oblivion in the
ily is one of the most distinguished of that same country where lie had formerly been
republic. lMyancestors had been for many  distinguished for his iank  and mag'nifiyears counsellors and syndics' and my  cence. HIaving paid his debts, therefore,
father had filled several public situations in the most honorable manner, he retreated
with honor and reputation. lie was re- with his daughter to the town of Lucerne,
spected by all who knew him, for his in- where he lived unknown and in wvretchedtegrity and indefatigable attention to public ness. My father loved Beaufort with the
business. He passed his younger dayts truest friendship, and was deeply grieved'
perpetually occupied by the affairs of his by his retreat in these unfortunate circurmcountry; and it was not until the decline  stances. He grieved also for the loss of
of life that he thought of marrying, and his society, and resolved to seek him out
bestowing on the state sons who might and endeavor to persuade him to begin the
carry his virtules and his name down to  world again through his credit and assistposterity.                              ance.
As the circumstances of his marriage    Beaufort had taken effectual measures
illustrate'his character, I cannot refrain to conceal himself; and it was ten months
from relating them. One of his most in- before my father discovered his abode.
timate friends was a merchant who, from  Overjoyed at this discovery, he hastened
a flourishing state, fell, through numerous to the house, which was situated in a mean
imischances, into poverty.  This man, street, near the Reuss. But when he enwhose haine m7was Beai fort, was of a proid tered, misery and despair alone welcomned




20                          FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
him. Beaufort had saved but a'very small I continue my narrative. I must record an
sum of money from the wreck of his for- incident which took place when I was four
tunes; but'it was sufficient to provide him  years of age.
with sustenance for some months, and in   My father had a sister, whom he tenthe mean time he hoped to procure some derly loved, and who had married early in
respectable employment in a merchant's life an Italian geftleman. Soon after her
house. The interval was consequently marriage, she had accompanied her husspent in inaction. His grief only became band into his native country, and for some
more deep and rankling, wheni he had lei- years my father had very little communisure for reflection; and at length it took cation with her. About the time I menso fast hold of his mind, that at the end of tioned she died; and a few months afterthree months he lay on a bed of sickness, wards he received a letter from her husincapable of any exertion.            band, acquainting him with his intention
His daughter attended him  with the of marrying an Italian lady, and requesting
greatest tenderness; but she saw with my father to take charge of the infant
despair that their little fund was rapidly Elizabeth, the only child of his deceased
decreasing, and that there was no other sister. "It is my wish," he said, "that
prospect of support. But Caroline Beau- you should consider her as your own
fort possessed a mind of an uncommon daughter, and educate her thus. -Her
mould; and her courage rose to support mother's fortune is secured to her, the
her in her adversity. She procured plain documents of which I will commit to your
work; she plaited straw; and by various keeping. Reflect upon this proposition;
means contrived to earn a pittance scarce- and decide whether you would prefer eduly sufficient to support life.         cating your niece yourself, to her being
Several months passed in this manner. brought up by a stepmother."
Her father grew worse; her time was more  -My father did not hesitate, and immedientirely occupied in attending him; her ately went to Italy', that he might accommeans of subsistence decreased; and in pany the little Elizabeth to her future
the tenth month her father died in her home. I have often heard my mother say,
arms, leaving her an orphan and a beggar. that she was at that time the most beautiThis last blow overcame her; and she was ful child she had ever seen, and showed
kneeling by Beaufort's coffin, when my fa- signs even then, of a gentle and affectionther entered the chamber. He came like a ate disposition, These indications, and a
protecting spirit to the poor girl, who com- desire to bind as closely as possible the ties
mitted herself to his, care, and after the of domestic love, determined my mother to
interment of his friend he conducted her consider Elizabeth as my future wife; a
to Geneva, and placed her under the pro- design which she never found reason to
tection of a relation. Two years after this repent.
event, Caroline became his wife.        From this time Elizabeth Lavenza beWhen my father became a husband and came my playfellow, and, as we grew olda parent, he found his time so occupied by er, my friend. She was docile and good
the duties of his new situation, that he tempered, yet gay and playful as a summer
relinquished many of his public employ- insect. Although she was lively and animents, and devoted himself to the educa- mated, her feelings were strong and deep,
tion of his children. Of these I was the and her disposition uncommonly affectioneldest, and the destined successor, to all ate. No one could better enjoy liberty, yet
his labors and utility. No creature could no one could submit with more grace than
have more tender parents than mine. My she did to constraint and caprice. Her imimprovement and health were their con- agination was luxuriant, yet her capability
stant care, especially as I remained for of application was great. Her person was
several years their only child. But before the image of her mind; her hazel eyes,




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                            21
although as lively as a bird's, possessed an prosecution of them. It was by this methattractive softness. Her figure was light od, and not by emulation, that we were
and airy; and though capable of enduring urged to application. Elizabeth was not
great fatigue, she appeared the most fragile incited to apply herself to drawing, that
creature in the world.  While I admired her companions might not outstrip, her;
her understanding and fancy, I loved to but through the desire of pleasing her aunt
tend on her, as I should on a favorite ani- by the representation of some favorite
mal; and I never saw so much grace both scene done by her own hand. We learnof person and mind united to so little pre- ed Latin and English, that we might read
tension.                              the writings of those languages; and so
I Every one adored Elizabeth.  If the far from study being made odious to us by
servants had any request to make, it was punishment, we loved application, and our
always through her intercession.  We amusements have been the labors of other
were strangers to any species of disunion children. Perhaps we did not read so
or dispute; for, although there was a many books, or learn languages so quickgreat dissimilitude in our characters, ly, as those who are disciplined according
there was a harmony in that very dissimil- to the ordinary methods; but what we
itude. I was more calm and philosophical learned was impressed the more deeply on
than my companion; yet my temper was our memories.
not so yielding.  My application was of  In this description of our domestic cirlonger endurance; but it was not so se- cle I include Henry Clerval, for he was
vere while it endured. I delighted in in- almost constantly with us. He went to
vestigating facts relative to the actual school with me, and generally passed the
world; she busied herself in following the afternoon at our house; for being an only
a.rial creations of the poets. The world child, and destitute of companions at home,
was to me a secret which I desired to dis- his father was well pleased that he should
cover; to her it was a vacancy which she find associates at our house; and we were
sought to people with imaginations of her never completely happy when Clerval was
own.                          -       absent.
My brothers were considerably younger   I feel pleasure in dwelling on the recolthan myself, but I had a friend in one of lections of childhood, before misfortune
my school-fellows, who compensated for had tainted my mind, and changed its
this deficiency. Henry Clerval was the bright visions of extensive usefulness into
son of a merchant of Geneva, hn intimate gloomy and narrow reflections upon self.
friend of my father. He was a boy of sin- But, in drawing the picture of my early
gular talent and fancy. I remember, when days, I must not omit to record those events
he was nine years old, he wrote a fairy which led, by insensible steps, to my after
tale, which was the delight and amaze- tale of misery: for when I would account
ment of all his companions. His favorite to myself for the birth of that passion,
study consisted in books of chivalry and ro- which afterwards ruled my destiny, I find
mance; and when very young, I can re- it arose, like a mountain river, from ignoble
member, that we used to act plays compo- and almost forgotten sources; but, swellsed by him out of these favorite books, the ing as it proceeded, it became the torrent
principal characters of which were Orlan- which, in its course, has swept away all
do, Robin Hood, Amadis, and St. George.  my hopes and joys.
No youth could have passed more hap-   Natural Philosophy is the genius that
pily than mine. My parents were indul- has regulated my fate; I desire, therefore,
gent, and my companions amiable. Our in this narration, to state those facts which
studies were never forced; and by some led to my predilection for that science.
means we always had an end placed in When I was thirteen years of age, we all
view, which excited us to ardor in the went on a party of pleasure to the baths




near Thonoli: tile  ilnclemency ol' the coeries to Elizabeth, therefore, under a
weather obliged us to reinain a day confin- promise of strict secrecy; but she did not
to tile inn. In this house I chanced to find interest herself in the subject, and I was
a volume of tlhe works of "Cornelius Agrip- left by her to pursue my studies alone.
pa.  I opened it with apathy  the theory   It may appear very strange that a disciwhich' he attempts to derionstrate, and the pile of Albertus Magnus, Sioulcld arise in
wonderful facts which he relates, soon the eighteentl  century; but our faiily
cianged this feelilg into enthusiasm.  A  was not scientifical, and I had not attended
nlew light seemed to dawn upon my mind; any of the lectures given at the public
and, bounding witli joy, I communicated schools of, Geneva.  My dreams were
my discovery to my fa.ther. I cannot help therefore undisturbed by reality; and I enrelmarlking here the many opportunities in- tered with the greatest diligence into the
strutters possess of directing the attention search:for the philosopher's stone and the
of their pupils to useful knowledge, which elixir of Iife. But the latter obtained niy
thliey utterly neglect.  AiMy father looked most undivided attention: wealth was an
carelessly at the title page of my book, and inferior object; but what glory would atsaid, "Al! Cornelius Agrippa i My dear tend the discovery, if I could banish disViCtor, do not waste your time upon this; ease from the  luman iframe, and render
it is sad trash!"                       man invulnerable to any but a violent
If, instead of this remark, my Iather had death.
talken the pains to explain to me, that the   Nor were these my only visions.  T'he
principles of Agrippa had been entirely ex- raising of ghosts or devils was a promise
ploded, anld that a modern system of science liberally accorded by my favorite authors,
Iadbeen introduced.whichlpossessednmuch the flfilment of which I mnost eagerly,reater powers than the ancient, because sought; and if my incantations were alte p owers of the latter were chimerical waynsu  v ccessful, I attributed the filure
while those pf the former were real anlld rather to my own inexperience aid  ispractical; -under such circumstanes,  I take, thIin to a vwant of skill or fidelity in
should certainly have tllrown Ag'rippa aside, my instructors.
alnid, with 1my imagination warnmed as it I  The natural phenomena that take place
was, should probably have applied mself to every day before our eyes did not escape
thel  more rational theory of cliemistry my exanination.   Distillation,  and the
which has resulted fromn modern discover-  wonderful effects of steam, processes of
ics. It is even possible,.llat the train of which my favorite authors were utterly
my ideas would never have received the ignorant, excited my astonishment; but
fatal impulse that led to iny ruin. But the my utmost wonder was engaged by some
cursory glance my father had taken of my experiments on an air-pump, which I saw
volume by no means assured me that he  elmployed by a gentleman  whom  we were
was acquainted withl its contents; and I in the habit of visiting.
continiued to read with the greatest avidity.   The ignorance of the early phlilosophers
When I returned home, my first care on tlhese and several other points served
was to procure the whole works of this all- to decrease their credit with mle   but I
thor, and afterwards of Paracelsus and Al- could not entirely throw them aside, before
bertus Magnus.  I read aid studied the some other system  should occupy their
wild fancies of these writers with delight; place in my mind,
they appeared to me treasures known to    When I was about fifteen years old, we
few beside myself; and although I often had retired  to our house near Belrive,
wished to communicate these secret stores i when we witnessed a most violent and terof knowledge to my father, yet his indefi- rible thunder-storm.  It advanced from
mite censure of my favorite Agrippa al- i behind the mountains of Jura; and the
wayswrithheldE nme.}lJ'disclosed my dis- thunder burst at onlce with friightful loid




THE.tMODiERtN P'ROMETHEUS.                           28
iless from various duarters of the heavens. branches of study appertaining to tnat sci
I remnlained, while the storm lasted, watch- ence.  I was busily employed in learning
ing its progress ^With curiosiiy and deligit. languages; Latin was already familiar to
As I stood at the door, on a sudd n 1 be- me, and I began to read some of the easiheld a stream of fire issue from an old and  est Greek authors without the help Of a
beautiful oak, which stood abouit twenty  lexicon. I also perfectly uinderstood Engyards -from our house; and so soon as the lish and German.  This is the list of my
dazzling light vanished the oak had disap- accomplishments at the age of seventeen;
peared, and nothing remainedl but a blasted  and you may conceive that my hours were
stump.  WXhen we visited it the next fully employed in acquiring and maitaiilimorning, we found the tree shattered in a ing aL knowledge of this various literature.
singulai manarer.  It was not splintered    Ainother task also devolved upon  me,
by the shock, but entirely reduced to thin  when I became the instructor of mny br'oribands of wood.  I never beheldl any  thers. Ernest was six years younger' thlan
tlhing so utterly destroyed.              myself, and was my principal pupil. He
The catastrophe of this tree excited my  hiad been afflicted with ill health -from his
extrenie astonishment; and I eagerly in- infancy,  through  which Elizabeth and I
quiredl of my fathler the nature and origin had been his constant nurses: his disposiof thliunder and lightning'.  He replied  tion was gentle, but he was incapable of
"Electricity;" describing at the same time  any severe  application.  William, the
thle various effects oft tliat power. He con- youngest of our family was yet an infant,
structe:d a small electrical machine, and! and the most beautiful little fellow in the
exhibited a few  experiments; he made  world; his lively  blue  eyes, dinmpled
itso a kite, with at wire and spring, wlhci  I chleeks, and endearing nmanners, inispired
drew downl that fluid fiom the clouds.    the teiiderest afibction.
T'his last stroke completed the over-   Stich was our domnestic  circle, from
throw of Cornelius Agrippa, Albertus Mag- s  hich care and pain seemed -forever ban-,iUS, and Paracelsus, Wiho had so longe ished. AMy fathier directed our studies, and
reigned the lords of ry imagination. But my lmother partook of our enjoymentts.
by some. fatality I did not feel inclined to  Neilther of us possessed the slightest precommence the study of tany modern sys- eminence over the other; the voice of
teln; and this disinclination w;hs iflul- cornmmad was never heard among us; but
ellced by the followi1ng circumstance.   in.mutal affection engaged us all to conmply
My father expressed a wVisl  that I with anid obey the slightest desire of each
should attend ci course o' lectures upon  other.
natural philosophy, to which I cheerfully......
consented.  Some accident prevented my                C:IyAPTER  II.
attending these lecturies until the course    WaiN i had attained the age of sevenwas nearly finished.  The lecture being.  teen, my parents resolved that I should
therefore one of the last, was entirely in- becomie a student at the university of Incomprehensible to me. The professor dis- golstadt.   I had hithrto  attended  tile
coursed with the greatest fluency Of po- schools of Geneva; but my fatler thouglt
tassilmn and boron, of sullpates and oxyds, it necessary, for the completion of my edterms to which I could affix no idea; and  ucation, that I should be made acquainted
I becalne disgusted with the science of with other custoums than those of my nanatural philosophy, although I still read  tive country.  My departure was therePliny and Buiffon with delight, authors, in  fore fixed at an early date; but before the
mny estimation, of nlearly equal interest day resolved upon could arrive, the first
and utility.                             misfyrtune of my life occurred-an omen,
Mly occupations at lhis age were princi- as it were, of my future misery.
pally the mathematics, and most of the    Elizabet h lad caugiht tlie scarrlet fcre&;




24                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
but her illness was not severe, and she which all have felt, and must feel?  The
quickly recovered. During her confine-  time at length arrives, when grief is rather
ment, many arguments had been urged to an indulgence than a necessity; and the
persuade my mother, to refrain from  at- smile that plays upon the lips, although it
tending upon her. She had, at first, yield- may be deemed a sacrilege, is not banished.
ed to our entreaties; but when she heard  My mother was dead, but we had still duthat her favorite was recovering, she could ties which we ought to perform; we must
no longer debar herself from her society, continue our course with the rest, and learn
and entered her chamber long before the  to think ourselves fortunate, while one redanger of infection was past. The con- mains whom the spoiler has not seized.
sequences of this imprudence were fatal.   My journey to Ingolstadt, which had
On the third day my mother sickened; her been deferred by these events, was now
fever was very malignant, and the looks again determined upon. I obtained from
of her attendants prognosticated the worst my father a respite of some weeks. This
event. On her death-bed the fortitude  period  was spent sadly; my  mother's
and benignity of this admirable woman  death, and my speedy departure, depressed
did not desert her.  She joined the hands our spirits; but Elizabeth endeavored to
of Elizabeth and niyself: "My children," renew  the spirit of cheerfulness in our
she said, "my firmest hopes of future hap- little society. Since the death of her aunt,
piness were placed on the prospect of your her mind had acquired new firmness and
union. This expectation will now be the  vigor.  She determined to lulfil her duties
consolation of your father. Elizabeth, my  with the greatest exactness; and she felt
love, you must supply mly place to your that the most imperious duty, of rendering
younger cousins.  Alas! I regret that I her uncle and cousins happy, had devolved
am taken from you; and, happy and be- upon her. She consoled me, amused her
loved as I have been, is it not hard to quit uncle, instructed my brothers; and I never
you all? But these are not thoughts be- beheld her so enchanting as at this time,
fitting me; I will endeavor to resign my- when she was continually endeavoring to
self cheerfully to death, and will indulge contribute to the happiness of others, ena hope of meeting you in another world."  tirely forgetful of herself.
She died calmly; and her countenance    The day of my departure at length arexpressed affection even in death. I need  rived. I had taken leave of all my friends
not describe the feelings of those whose excepting Clerva], who had spent the last
dearest ties are rent by that most irrepar- evening with us. IIe bitterly lamented
able evil, the void that presents itself to that he was unable to accompany me: but
the soul, and the despair that is exhibited  his father could not be persuaded to part
on the countenance. It is so long before with him, intending that he should become
the mind can persuade itself that she, a partner with him in business, in comr
whom we saw every day, and whose very  pliance with his favorite theory, that learns
existence appeared a part of our own, can  ing was superfluous in the commerce of
have departed for ever-that the bright- ordinary life. Henry had a refined mind;
ness of a beloved eye can have been ex- he had no desire to be idle, and was well
tinguished, and the sound of a voice so. fa- pleased to become his father's partner, but
miliar, and dear to the ear, can be hushed  he believed that a man might be a very
never -more to be heard. These are the  good trader, and yet possess a cultivated
reflections of the first days; but when the  understanding.
lapse of time proves ithe reality of the    We sat late, listening to his complaints,
evil, then the actual bitterness of grief and making  many little arrangements for
commences. Yet from whom has not that the future. The next morning early I de.
rude hand rent away some dear connec- parted. Tears gushed from  the eyes of
tion; and why should I describe a sorrow  Elizabeth; they proceeded partly from




THE MODERN PROMETEEUS                              25
sorrow at "'my departure, rand partly be-    [ repliedlin the affirmative.  "Every
cause she reflected that the same journey  minute,"  continued M. Krempe with
was to have taken place three months be- warmth, "every instant that you have
fore, when a mother's blessing would have wasted on those books is utterly and enaccompanied me.                        tirely lost.  You have burdened your
I threw myself into the chaise that was memory with. exploded systems, and useto convey me away, and indulged in the less names. Good God! in what desert
most melancholy reflections. I, who  had land have you lived, where no one was
ever been surrounded by amiable compan- kind enough to inform you that these fanions, continually engaged in endeavoring cies, which you have so greedily imbibed,
to bestow mutual pleasure, I was now  are a thousand years old, and as musty as
alone. In the university, whither I was they are ancient? I little expected in
going, I must form my own friends, and this enlightened and scientific age to find
be my own protector. My life had hith- a disciple of Albertus Magnus and Paraerto been remarkably secluded and domes- celsus. My dear Sir, you must begin
tic; and this had given me invincible re- your studies entirely anew."
pugnance to new countenances. I loved    So saying, he stept aside, and wrote
my brothers, Elizabeth, and Clerval; these down a list of several books treating of
were " old familiar faces;" but I believed natural philosophy, which he desired me
myself totally unfitted for the company of, to procure, and dismissed me, after menstrangers. Such were my reflections as I tioning that in the beginning of the folcommenced my journey; but as I pro- lowing week he intended to commence a
ceeded, my spirits and hopes rose. I ar- course of lectures upon natural philosophy.
dently desired the acquisition of knowl- in its general relations, and that M. Waldedge. I had often, when at home, thought man, a fellow-professor, would lecture
it hard to remain during my youth cooped  upon chemistry the alternate days that he
up in one place, and had longed to enter missed.
the world, and take my station among    I returned home, not disappointed, for I
other human beings.  Now  my desires had long considered those authors useless
were complied with,' and it would, indeed, whom the professor had so strongly repro-,
have been folly to repent.             bated; but I did not feel much inclined to
I had sufficient leisure for these and  study the books which I procured at his
many other reflections during my journey  recommendation. M. Krempe was a little
to Ingolstadt, which was long and fa- squat man, with a gruff voice and repultiguing. At length the high white steeple sive countenance; the teacher, therefore,
of the town met my eyes. I alighted, and  did not prepossess me in favor of his doc;was conducted to my solitary apartment to trine. Besides, I had a contempt for the
spend the evening as I pleased.       uses of modern natural philosophy.  It
The next morning I delivered my let- was very different, when the masters of
ters of introduction, and paid a visit to the science sought immortality and powsome of the principal professors, and er; such views, although  futile, were
among others to M. Krempe, professor of grand: but now the scene was changed.
natural philosophy. He'received me with  The ambition of the inquirer seemed to
politeness, and asked me several ques- limit itself to the annihilation of those
tions concerning my progress in the differ- visions on which my interest in science
ent branches of science appertaining to was chiefly founded. I wa. required to
natural philosophy.  I mentioned, it is exchange chimeras of boundless grandeur
true, with fear and trembling, the only au- for realities of little worth.
thors I had ever read upon those subjects.   Such were my reflections during the
The professor stared: "Have you," he first two or three days spent almost in solsaid, "really spent your time in studying  itude.  But as the ensuing week comsuch nonsense ":




s  RANKER NSTEIN; OR,
inefced, J thotugiht of the inibrmation  fessor and his lecture, and paid him a visit
which M. Krempe had given me concerih- the same evening.  His marnners in priirig the lectures.  And although I could  vate were even more mlild and attractive
not consent to go and hear that little con- l  than in public; for there was a certain
ceited fellow  deliver sentences out of a dignity in his imien duriing  his lecture,
pulpit, I recollected what he had said of which in his ovnl hoIse was replaced by
517. Waldman, whom I had never seen, as the greatest affability and kindness. He
he, had hitherto been out of town.        heard wvitih attention my little narration
Partly fronom  curiosity -and partly from  concernilg my studies, and smiled at the
idleness, I went into the lecturing room, names of Cornelius Aggri`ppa, and Parawhich M. Waldman entered' shortly after. celsus, but without the contempt that M.
Tihis professor was very unlike his col- Krempe had exhibited.  He said, thtt
league.  He appeared about fifty years of " these were men to whose indefatigable
age, but with an aspect expressive of the   eal modern philosophers were indebted for
greatest benevolence; a few gray hairs most of te   undt of tsh fbundations of their knowlcovered his temples, but those at the back  edge.  They had left us an easier task, to
of his head were nearly black.  His per- Igive new names, and arrange in connected
sonl was short, hut remarkably erect; and  classifications, the facts which they in a
his voice the sqweetest I had ever heard. great degree had been tlie instruments of
He began his lecture by a recapitulation  bringingo to liglht. The labors of men of
of the history of chemistry and.~ the vari- genius,  however  erroneously  directed,
ous improvements nvade by dif:erent xnrme   scarcely ever fail ini ultimately turnino to
of learning, pronouncing with fervor tlie tI;e solid advantage of mankind."  I list
names of the most dis!tinguished discover- en.ed to his statemen t, which was delivered
ers. He then took a cursory view of the   ithout anlly presumption' or affectation;
prestnt state of the science, and explained  anid then added, that his lecture had remany of its elementary terms. After hav- moved  my  prejudices  against rmodern
ing made a few preparatory experiments, chemists; and I, at the same time, rehe concluded with a panegyric upon mod- quested his advice concerning the bhooks I
ern chemistry, the terms of which I sllall ought to procure.
never forget:                              "I am happy," said M. aaldmnan, "to
" The ancient teachers of this science," have gained a disciple; and if your applisaid he, "'promnised impossibilities, and  cation equals your ability, I have no doubt
performed nothing.  The modern masters of your success. Chemistry is that branch
promise very'little; they know that metals of natural philosophy in which the greatcannot be transmuted, and that the elixir est improvements have been made, and
of life is a chimnera. But these plhiloso- may be made; it is on that account that I
phers, whose hands seem  only made to  have made it my peculiar study; but at
dabble in dirt, and their eyes to pore over the same time I have not neglected other
the microscope or crucible, have indeed; branches of science.  A man would make
performed miracles.  They penetrate into  but a very sorry chemist, if he attended to
the recesses of nature, and show how she  that department of human  knowledge
works in her hiding places. They ascendc  alone.  If your wish is to become really a
into the heavens; they have discovered how  man of science, and not a petty experatlie blood circulates, and the nature of the  mentalist, I shoulld advise you to apply to
air we'breathe.  They have acquired new  every' branch of natural philosophy, incluand almost unlimited powers; they can. ding mathematics."
command the thunders of the  heaven,   He then took mle into his laboratory, andt
mimic the earthquake, anld even mock the explained to me the uses of his various.
invisible world with its own shadows."    machines; instructing me as to what I
[i: I departed highly pleased with the pro-s ought to procure, and promising me the




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               2
use of his own, when I should have ad- my progress.  Two years passed in this
vanced far enough in the science not to manner, during which I paid no visit to
derange their mechanism.  HFe also gave Geneva, bute was engaged, heart and soul,
me the list of books which I had request- in the pursuit of some discoveries, which
ed:; and I took my leave.               I hoped to make. None but those who
Thus ended a day memorable to me; it have' experienced them  can conceive of
decided my future destiny.              the enticements of Science.  In other
studies you go as far as others have gone
before you, and there is nothing more to
CHAPTER  know; but in a scientific pursuit there is
FRom  this day natural philosophy, and continual food for discovery and wonder.
particularly chemistry, in the most com- A  mind of moderate capacity, which
prehensive sense of the term, became closely pursues one study, must infallibly
nearly my sole occupation. I read with  arrive at great proficiency in that study; and
ardor those works, so full of genius and I who continually sought the attainment of
discrimination, which modern  inquirers one object of pursuit, and was solely wrapt
have written on these subjects. I attended  up in this, improved so rapidly, that, at the
the lectures, and cultivated the acquaint- end of two years, I made some discoveries
ance, of the men of science of the uni- in the improvement of some chemical inversity; and. I found even in M. Krempe struments, which procured me great esa great deal of sound sense and real in- teem  and admiration at the university.
formation, combined, it- is true, with a re- W5~hen I arrived at this point, and had bepulsive physiognomy and manners, but not come as well acquainted with the theory
on that account the less valuable. in M. and practice of natural philosophy as deWaldman I found a true friend. His gen- pended on the lessons of any of the protleness was never tinged by dogmatism;  fessors at Ingolstadt, my residence there
and his instructions were given with an being no longer conducive to my improveair of frankness and good nature, that ment, I thought of returning to my friends
banished every idea of pedantry. It was and my native town, when an incident
perhaps, the amiLble character of this man happened that protracted my stay.
that inclined me more to that branch of   One of the phenomena which had penatural philosophy which he professed, culiarly attracted my attention was the
than an intrinsic love for the science it- structure of the human frame, and, inself.  But this state of mind had place deed, any animal enduedwithlife. Whence
only in the first steps towards knowledge: I often asked myself, did the principle of
the more fully I entered into the science, life proceed? It was a bold question, and
the snore exclusively I pursued it for its one which has ever been considered as a
own sake.  That application, which at mystery; yet with how many things are
first had been a matter of duty and resolu- we upon the brink of becoming acquainted,
tion, now became so ardent and eager that if cowardice or carelessness did not rethe stars often appeared in the light of strain our inquiries. I revolved these cirmorning while I was yet engaged in' my cumstances in  ry mind, and determined
laboratory.                             thenceforth to apply myself more particuAs I applied so closely, it may be easily larly to those branches of natural philoso,
conceived that I improved rapidly. My phy which relate to physiology.  Unless I
ardor was indeed the astonishment of the had been animated by an almost supernatstudents; and my proficiency, that of the ural enthusiasm, my application to this
masters. ~ Professor Krempe often asked study would have been irksome, and alme, with a sly smile, how  Cornelius most intolerable. To examine the causes
Agrippa went on? while Ml. Waldman  of life, we must first have recourse to
expressed the most heartfelt exultation in death. I became acquainted with the sci



28                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
ence of anatomy; but this was not suffi- much time spent in painful labor, to arcient; I must also observe the natural de- rive at once at the summit of my desireM
cay and corruption of the human body. In  was the most gratifying consummation of
my education my father had taken the  my toils. But this discovery was so great
greatest precautions that my mind should  and overwhelmilng, that all the steps by
be impressed with no supernatural horrors. which I had been progressively led to it
I do not ever remember to iave trembled  were obliterated, and I beheld only the reat a tale of superstition, or to have feared  sult.  What had been the study and dethe apparition of a spirit. Darkness had  sire of the wisest men since the creation
no effect upon my I:kncy: and a church- of the world, was now within my grasp.
yard was to me merely the receptacle of Not that, like a magic scene, it all opened
bodies deprived of life, which, from being  upon me at once: the information I had
the seat of beauty and strength, had be- obtained was of a nature rather to direct
come food for the worm. Now I was led  my endeavors so soon as 1': should point
to examine the cause and progress of this them  towards the object of my search,
decay, and forced to spend days and nights than to exhibit that object already accomin vaults and charnel-houses.  My atten- plished. I was like the Arabian who had
tion was fixed upon every object the most been buried with the dead, and found a
insupportable to the delicacy of the hu- passage to life aided only by one glimmerman feelings.  I saw how the fine form of ing, and seemingly ineffectual, light.
man was degraded and wasted; I beheld    I see by your eagerness, and the wonder
the corruption of death succeed to the and hope which your eyes express, my
blooming cheek of life; I saw how the friend, that you expect to be informed of
worm  inherited the wonders of the eye  the secret with which I am acquainted;
and brain.   I paused, exam.ining  and that cannot be; listen patiently until the
analysing all the minutite of causation, as end of my story, and you will easily perexemplified in the change fronm life to  ceive why I am  reserved upon that subdeath, and death to life, until from the ject. I will not lead you on unguarded
midst of this darkness a sudden light and ardent as I then was, to your destruce
broke in upon me-a light sc) brilliant and  tion and infallible misery. Learn from me,~
wondrous, yet so simple, that while I be- if not by my precepts, at least by my excame dizzy with the immensity of pros- ample, how dangerous is the acquirement
pect which it illustrated, I was surprized  of knowledge, and how much happier that
that among so many men of genius, who  man is who believes his native town to be
had directed their inquiries towards the the world, than he who aspires to become
same science, that I alone should be re- greater than his nature will allow.
served to discover so astonishing a secret.   When I found so astonishing a power
Remember, I am  not recording the  placed within my hands, I hesitated a long
vision. of a madman.  T'he sun does not time concerning the manner in which I
more certainly shine in the heavens, than  should employ it. Although I possessed
that which I now affirm  is true.  Some  the capacity of bestowing animation, yet
miracle might have produced it, yet the  to prepare a frame for the reception of it,
stages of discovery were distinct and prob- with all its intricacies of fibres, muscles,
able. After days and nights of incredible  and veins, still remained a work of inconlabor and fatigue, I succeeded in discov- ceivable difficulty and labor. I doubtedat
ering the cause of generation and life; first whether I should attempt the creation
nay, more, I became myself capable of of a being like myself or one of simpler
bestowing animation upon lifeless matter. organization; but my imagination was too
The astonishment which I had at first much exalted by my first success to perexperienced on this discovery soon gave  mit me to doubt of'my ability to give life
place to delight and rapture.  After so to an animal as complex and wonderful as




THIE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                              29
man.  The materials at present within my  was the hope to which I had dedicated
command hardly appeared adequate to so myself; and the moon gazed on my midarduous an undertaking; but I doubted not night labors, while, with unrelaxed and
that I should ultimately succeed. I pre- breathless eagerness, I pursued nature to
pared myself for a multitude of reverses;. her hiding-places.  Who shall conceive
my operations might be incessantly baf- the horrors of my secrettoil, as I dabbled
fled, and at last my work be imperfect: among the unhallowed damps of the grave,
yet, when I considered the improvement or tortured the living animal to animate
which every day takes place in science and  the lifeless clay? My limbs now tremble,
mechanics, I was encouraged to hope my  and-my eyes swim with the remembrance;
present attempts would at least lay the  but then a resistless, and almost frantic imfoundations of future success. Nor could  pulse, urged me forward; I seemed to have
I consider the magnitude and complexity  lost all soul or sensation but for this one
of my plan as any argument of its im- pursuit. It was indeed but a passing
practicability.  It was with these feelings trance, that only made me feel with rethat I began the creation of a humnan be- newed acuteness so soon as, the unnatuing.  As the minuteness of the parts ral stimulus ceasing to operate, I had reformed a great hindrance to my speed, 1 turned to my old habits. I collected bones
resolved, contrary to my first intention, to  from charnel houses; and disturbed, with
make the being of a. gigantic stature; that profane fingers, the tremendous secrets of
is to say, about eight feet in height, and  the human frame. In a solitary chamber,
proportionably large. After having formed  or rather cell, at the top of the house, and
this determination, and having spent some  separated from all the other apartments
months in successfully collecting and ar- by a gallery and staircase, I kept my workranging my materials, I begoan.          shop of filthy creation; my eyeballs were
No one can conceive the variety of starting firom their sockets in attending to
feelings:which bore me onwards, like a  the details of my employment. The dishurricane, in the first enthusiasm of suc- secting-room and the slaughter-house furcess. Life and death appeared to me ideal nished many of my materials; and often
bounds, which I should first break through, did my human nature turn with loathing
and pour a torrent of light into our, dark  from my occupation, while, still urged on
world. A new species would bless me as by an eagerness which perpetually inits creator and source; many happy and  creased, I brought my work near to a conexcellent natures would owe their being  clusion.
to me. No father could claim the grati-    The summer months passed while I was
tude of his child so completely as I should  thus engaged, heart and soul, in one purdeservetheirs. Pursuing these reflections, suit. It was a most beautifiul season;
I thought, that if I could bestow animation  never did the fields bestow a mole  plentiuponl lifeless matter, I might in process of ful harvest, or the vines yield a more luxutime (although I now found it impossible) riant vintage: but my eyes were insensirenew life where death had apparently de- ble to the charms of nature. And the same
voted the body to corruption.           feelings which made me neglect the scenes
These thoughts supported my spirits, around me caused me also to forget those
while I pursued my undertaking with un- friends who were so many miles absent,
remitting ardor.  My cheek had grown  and whom  I had not seen for so long a
pale with study, and my person had be- time. I knew my silence disquieted them;
come emaciated with confinement. Some- and I well remembered the words of my
times, on the very brink of certainty, I father: "' I know that while you are pleased
failed; yet still I clung to the hope which  with yourself, you will remember us with
the next day or the next hour might real- affection, and we shall hear regularly from
ize. One secret which I alone possessed  you. You must pardon me, if I regard any




A0..NKENSTTEN; 011,
interruption in your correspondence as a work drew near to a close; and now every
proof that your other duties are equally day showed me more plainly how well I
neglected."                             had succeeded. But my enthusiasm was
I knew well therefore what would be checked by my anxiety, and I appeared ramy father's feelings; but I could not tear ther like one doomed by slavery to toil in
my thoughts from my employment, loath- the mines, or any  other unwholesome
some in itself, but which had taken an ir- trade, than an artist occupied by his favorresistible hold of my imagination. I wish- ite employment, Every night I was oped, as it were, to procrastinate all that re- pressed by a slow fever, and I became nerlated to my feelings of affection until the vous to a most painful degree  a disease
great object, which swallowed up every that I dreaded the more because I had
habit of my nature, should be completed.  hitherto enjoyed most excellent health, and
I then thought that my father would be had always boasted of the firmness of my
unjust if he ascribed my neglect to vice, or nerves. But I believed that exercise and
faultiness on my part; but I am now con- amusement would sobn drive away such
vinced that he was justified in conceiving symptoms; and I promised myself both of
that I should not be altogether free from  these, when my creation should be comblame. A human being in perfection ought plete.
always to preserve a calm and peaceful
mind, and never to allow  passion or a             CHAPTER IV.
transitory desire to disturb his tranquillity.  Ir Was on a dreary night of November,
I do not think that the pursuit of know- that I beheld the accomplishment of my
ledge is an exception to this rule. If the toils. With  anxietythat almost amountstudy to which you apply yourself has a ed to agony, I collected the instruments of
tendency to weaken your affections, and life around me, that I might infuse a spark
to destroy your taste for those simple of being into the lifeless thing that lay at
pleasures in which no alloy cal possibly my feet. It was already one in the mornmix, then that study is certainly unlawful, ing; the rain pattered dismally against the
that is to say, not befitting the human panes, and my candle was nearly burnt
mind. if this rule were always observed; out, when, by the glimmer of the half-exif no man allowed any pursuit whatsoever tinguished light,!J saw the dull yellow eye
to interfere with the tranquillity of his do- of the creature open; it breathed hard,
mestic affections, Greece had not been er- and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs.
slaved; Ctesar would have spared his   How can I describe my emotions at this
country; America would have been dis- catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch
covered more gradually; and the empires whom, with such infinite pains and care, 1
of Mexico and Peru had not been des- had endeavored to form? His limbs were
stroyed.                                in proportion, and I had selected his feaBut I forget that I am moralizing in the tures as beautiful. Beautiful! Great God!
most interesting part of my tale; and your His yellow skin scarcely covered the work
looks remind me to proceed.            of muscles and arteries beneath; his hair
My father made no reproach in his let- was of a lustrous black, and flowing; his
ters; and only took notice of my silence teeth of a pearly whiteness; but these luxby inquiring into my occupations more uriances only formed a more horrid conparticularly than before. Winter, Spring, trast with his watery eyes, that seemed
and Summer, passed during my labors; ahlnost of the same color as the dun white
but I did not'watch the blossom or the ex- sockets in which they were set, his shrivpanding leaves-sights which before a!- eled complexion, and straight black lips.
ways yielded me supreme delight, so deep-   The different accidents of life are not
ly was I engrossed in my occupation. The so changeable as the feelings of human
leaves of that year had withered before my nature~ I had worked hard for' nearly two




THE MOMODERN PROM ETRELT                               31
years, for the cole purpose of infusing life ]  Oh! no mortal could support the hqrror
into an inanimate body.  For this I had l of that countenance.  A mummy again
deprived myself of rest and health. I had endued with animation could not be so
desired it with an ardor that far exceeded l hideous as that wretch. I had gazed on
moderation; but now that I had finished, him while unfinishted; he was. Igly then;
the beauty of the dream  vanished, and,"but when those imqscles anad joints were
breathless'horror and disgust filled my rendered -capable of motion, it becamne a
heart. Unable to endure the aspect of the  thing such as even Dante could not have
being I had created, I rushed out of thei conceived.
room, and continued a long' time travers-   I passed the night wretchedly.  Someing, my bed-chamber, niabie to -compose times my pulse beat so quickly and!hardmy mind to sleep.  At length lassitude ly, that I felt the palpitation of every arsucceeded to the tumult I had before en- tery; at others, I nearly sank to the gronund
dured; and I threw myself on' the bed in through langor and extreme weakness.
my clQthes, endeavoring to seek a few Io- Mingled with this horror, I felt the bittorments of forgetfulness.  But it was in ness of disappointment: dreams that had
vain: I slept indeed, but I was distlurbed been my food and pleasant rest for so long
by the wildest dreams.  I thought I saw  a space, were now become a hell tq me;'Elizabeth, in the bloori of health, w-alking and the change was so rapid, the overthrow
in. the streets of Ingolstadt.  Delighted so complete 
and surprised, I embraced her; but as I   Morning, dismal and wet, at length
imprinted the first kiss on her lips, they dawned, and discovered to my sleepless
became livid with the hue of death; her and aching eyes the church of Ingolstadt,
features appeared to change, and I thought its white steeple and clock, which indicated
that I held the corpse of my dead mother tlle sixth hour.  The porter opened tlhe
in my arms; a shroud enveloped her form, gates of the court, which had that nigght;
and I saw the graxve.worms crawling in  beeu  ny asylum, aid I issued into the
the folds of the fannel. I started from my streets, pacing them  with qluick steps, as
sleep with horror; a cold dew covered my' if I sought to avoid the wretch whom I
forehead, my teeth chattered, and every feared every turning of the street would
limb became convulsed; when, by the dim  present to my view. I did not; dare return
and yellow light of the moon, as it forced to the apartment [which I inhabited, but
its way through the window-shutters, I,be- felt impelled to hurry on, although wetted
held the wretch-the miserable monster by the rain, which poured from a black and
whom I had created. HIe held up the cur- comfortless sky.
tain of the bed; and his eyes, if eyes they    I tcontinued walkillg in this manner for
may be called, were fixed on me. His jaws some time, endeavoring, by bodily exeropened, and he muttered some inarticulate cise, to ease the load that weighed upon
soumnds, while a grin wrinkled his cheels. my mind. I traversed the streets, without
H-  e might have spoken, but I did not any clear concption of where I was, or
hear; one hand was stretched out, seem- what I was doing.  My heart palpitated
ingly to detain mne, but I escaped, and in the sickness of'fear: and r hurried on
rushed down stairs.  I tool refuage in the with! irregular steps, not daring to look
court-yard belonging to the house which I about me:
inhabited; where I remained during the         Like one who, on a lonely road,
rest of the night, walking up aInd down in       Doth walk in fear and dread,
the greatest agitation, listening attentively,  Antd, traving once htirsc rouea, valkd; "'
And turns no more his head;
catching and fearing each solud as if it       Because he knows a -frightful fiend
were to announce the approach of the de-         Dotlh close behind him tread.*
moniacal! corse to which I had  so miserably
given life.!'* Coleridle's "Ancient.Mariner." ti




32                      -FRANKENSTEIN; OR.
Continuing thus, I came at length oppo- a little upon their account myself. But,
site to the inn at which the various dili- my dear Frankenstein," continued he, stopgences and carriages usually stopped. ping short, and gazing full in my face, "1
Here I paused, I knew not why; but I did not before remark how very ill you
remained some minutes with my eyes fixed appear; so thin and pale; you look as if
on a coach that was coming towards me you had been watching for several nights."
from the other end of the street. As it   "You have guessed right; I have lately
drew nearer, I observed that it was the been so deeply engaged in one occupation,
Swiss diligence: it stopped just where I that I have not allowed myself sufficient
was standing; and, on the door being  rest, as you see: but I hope, I sincerely
opened, I perceived Henry Clerval, who, hope, that all these employments are now
on seeing me, instantly sprung out. "My at an end, and that I am at length free."
dear Frankenstein," exclaimed he, " how    I trembled excessively; I could not englad I am to see you! how fortunate that dure to thin)k of, and far less to allude to
you should be here at the very moment of the occurrences of the preceding night. I
my alighting!"                        walked with a quick pace, and we soon
Nothing could equal my delight on see- arrived at my college. I then reflected,
ing Clerval; his presence brought back to and the thought made me shiver, that the
my thoughts my father, Elizabeth, and all creature whom I had left in my apartment
those scenes of home so dear to my recol- might still be there, alive, and walking
lection. I grasped his hand, and in a mo- about. I dreaded to behold this monster;
ment forgot my horror and misfortune; I but 1 feared still more that henry should
felt suddenly, and for the first time during see him. Entreating him therefore to remany months, calm and serene joy. I wel- main a few minutes at the bottom of the
comed my friend, therefore, in the most stairs, I darted up towards my own room.
cordial manner, and we walked towards My hand was already on the lock of the
my college. Clerval continued talking for door before I recollected myself. I then
some time about our mutual' friends, and paused; and a cold shivering came over
his own good fortune in being permitted  me. I threw the door forcibly open, as
to come to Ingolstadt. " You may easily children are accustomed to do when they
believe," said he, "how great was the dif- expect a spectre to stand in waiting for
ficulty to persuade my father that it was them on the other side; but nothing apnot absolutely necessary for a merchant peared. I stepped fearfully in: the apartnot to understand anything except book- ment was empty; and my bed-room was
keeping; and, indeed, I believe I left him  also freed from its hideous guest. I could
incredulous to the last, for his constant hardly believe that so great a good-fortune
answer to my unwearied entreaties was the could have befallen me; but when I besame as that of the Dutch schoolmaster in came assured that my enemy had indeed
the Vicar of Wakefield:' I have ten thou- fled, I clapped my hands for joy, and ran
sand florins a year without Greek, I eat down to Clerval.
heartily without Greek.' But his affection   We ascended into my room, and the
for me at length overcame his dislike of servant presently brought breakfast; but
learning, and he has permitted me to un- I was unable to contain myself. It was
dertake a voyage of discovery to the land not joy only that possessed me; I felt my
of knowledge."                        flesh tingle with excess of sensitiveness,
" It gives me the greatest delight to see and my pulse beat rapidly. I was unable
you; but tell me how you left my father, to remain for a single instant in the same
brothers, and Elizabeth."             place; I jumped over the chairs, clapped
"Very well, and very happy, only a lit- my hands and laughed aloud. Clerval at
tle uneasy that they hear from you so sel- first attributed my unusual spirits to joy on
4om. By-the-bye, I mean to lecture you his arrival; but when he observed me




THE MIODERN PROMETHEUS.                              33
more attentively, he saw a wildness in my friend, I recovered. I remember the first
eyes for which he could not account; and time I became capable of observing outmy loud, unrestrained, heartless laughter, ward objects with any kind of pleasure, I
frightened and astonished him.          perceived that the fallen leaves had disap"My dear Victor," cried he, "what, for peared, and that the young buds were
God's sake, is the matter? Do not laugh  shooting forth from the trees that shaded.
in that manner. How ill you are! What my window. It was a divine spring; and
is the cause of all this?"             the season contributed greatly to my con"Do not ask me," cried I, putting my valescence. I felt also sentiments of joy
hands before my eyes, for I thought I saw  and affection revive in my bosom; my
the dreaded spectre glide into the room; gloom disappeared, and in a short time I
"he can tell. Oh, save me! save me!" became as cheerful as before I was attackI imagined that the monster seized me; I ed by the fatal passion.
struggled furiously, and fell down in a fit.   "'Dearest Clerva]," exclaimed 1, "how
Poor Clerval! what must have been his kind, how very good you are to me. This
feelings?  A meeting, which he antici- whole winter, instead of being spent in
pated with such joy, so strangely turned  study, as you promised yourself, has been
to bitterness.  But I was not the witness consumed in my sick room. How shall I
of his grief; for I was lifeless, and did not ever repay you?  I feel the greatest rerecover my senses for a long, long time.   morse for the disappointment of which I
This was the commencement of a ner- have been the occasion; but you will lorvous fever, which confined me for several give me."
months. During all that time Henry was   " You will repay me entirely, if you do
my only nurse. I afterwards learned that, not discompose yourself, but get well as
knowing my father's advanced age, and fast as you can; and since you appear in
unfitness for so long a journey, and how  such good spirits, I may speak to you on
wretched my sickness would make Eliza- one stject, may I not?"
beth, he spared them  this grief by con-   I trembled.  One subject! what could
cealing the extent of my disorder.  He it be?  Could he allude to an object on
knew tlat I could not have a more kind  whom I dared not even think?
and attentive nurse than himself; and,; "Compose yourself," said Clerval, who
firm in the hope he felt of my recovery, he observed my change of color, "I will not
did not doubt that, instead of doing harm, mention it, if it agitates you; but your
he-performed the kindest action that he father and cousin would be very happy if
could towards them.                     they received a letter from  you in your
But I was in reality very ill; and surely  own handvwriting.  They hardly know
nothing but the unbounded and unremit- how ill you have been, and are uneasy at
ting attentions of my friend could have re- your long silence."'
stored me to life. The form of the mon-   "Is that'all? my dear Henry.  How
ster on whom I had bestowed existence  could you!suppose that my first thought
was for ever before my eyes, and I raved  would not fly towards those dear, dear
incessantly concerning him.  Doubtless friends, whom I love, and who are so demy words surprised Henry; he at first serving of my love."
believed them to be the wanderings of my    "If this is your present temper, my
disturbed imagination; but the pertinacity  friend, you will perhaps be glad to see a
with which I continually recurred to the letter that has been lying here some days
same subject persuaded him that my dis- for you: it is from your cousin, I believe."
order indeed owed its origin to some uncommon and terrible event.
By very slow degrees, and with frequent
relapses, that alarmed and grieved my




34                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR0
CHAPTER V.:  fitted for such an occupation, it is certainCERVAL then put the following letter ly more creditable to cultivate the earth
into my hands.                          for the sustenance of man, than to be the
confidant, and sometimes the accomplice,
of his vices; which is the profession of a
I' "M   DEAR COUSIN: I cannot describe lawyer. I said, that the employments of
to you the uneasiness we have all felt a prosperous farmer, if they were not a
concerning your health. We cannot help  more honorable, they were at least a hapimagining that your friend Clerval con- pier species of occupation than that of a
ceals the extent of your disorder: for it is judge, whose misfortune it was always to
now several months since we have seen  meddle with the dark side of human nayour handwriting; and all this time you  ture. My uncle smiled, and said, that I
have been obliged to dictate your letters ought to be an advocate myself, which put
to Henry.  Surely, Victor, you must have an end to the conversation on that subbeen exceedingly ill; and fhis makes us ject.
all very wretched, as much so nearly as   "And now I must tell you a little story
after the death of your dear mother. My that will please and perhaps amuse you.
uncle was almost persuaded that you were Do you not remember Justine Moritz? 
indeed dangerously ill, and could hardly be, Probably you do not; I will relate her hisrestrained from undertaking a journey to tory, therefore, in a few words. Madame
Ingolstadt. Clerval always writes that Moritz, her mother, was a widow with four
you are getting better; I eagerly hope children, of whom  Justine was the third.
that you will confirm this intelligence soon  This girl had always been the favorite of
in your own hand-writing; for indeed, in- her father; but, through a strange perverdeed, Victor, we are all very miserable on sity, her mother could not endure her, and,
this account. Relieve us from this fear, after the death of M. Moritz, treated her
and we shall be the happiest creattres in  very ill. My aunt observed this; and,
the world. Your father's health is now so when Justine was twelve years of age,
vigorous, that he appears ten years young- prevailed on her mother to allow her to
er since last winter. Ernest also is so live at her house, The republican instimuch improved, that you would hardly  tutions of our country have produced simknow him: he is now nearly sixteen, and  pler and happier manners than  those
has lost that sickly appearance which he which prevail in the great monarchies that
had some years ago: he is grown quite surround it. Hence there is less distincrobust and active.                      tion between the several classes of its in" so My uncle and I conversed a long time habitants; and the lowec orders being neilast night about what profession Ernest ther so poor nor so despised, their manners
should follow. His constant illness when  are more refined and moral. A servant in
young has deprived him of the habits of Geneva does not mean the same thing as
application; and now that he enjoys good a servant in France or England. Justine,
health, be is continually in the open air, thus received in our family, learned the
climbing the hills, or rowing on the lake. duties of servant; a condition which, in
I therefore proposed that he should be a our fortunate country, does not include
farmer; which you know, cousin, is a fa- the idea of ignorance, and a sacrifice of the
vorite scheme of mine. A farmer's is a dignity of a human being.
very healthy happy life; and the least   " After what I have said, I dare sayyou
hurtful, or rather the most beneficial pro- well remember the heroine of my little
fession of any. My uncle had an idea of tale: for Justine was a great favorite of
his being educated as an advocate, that yours; and I recollect you once remarked,
through his interest he might become a that if you were in an ill humor, one
judge. But beside that he is not at all glance from Justine could dissipate it, for




THE MJODERN PROMETHEUS                               5
the same reason that Ariosto gives con- brothers and sister. Perpetual fretting at
cerning  the beauty  of Angelica-she length threw Madame Moritz into a delopked so franl-hoearted and happy. Mvty cline, which at first increased her irritaaunt conceived a great attaciment for her, bility, but she is now at peace for ever.
by which she was induced to give her an She died on the first approach of cold weaeducation superior to that which she had ther, at the beginning of this last winter.
at first intendedl. This benefit was fully Justine has returned to us- and I assure
repaid; Justine was the most grateful lit- you I love her tenderly.  She is very
tie creature in the world: I do not mean clever and gentle, and extlemely pretty;
that she made any professions, I never as I mentioned before, her mien and her
heard one pass her lips; but you could expresions continually remind me of my
see by her eyes that she almost adored her dear aunt.
protectress. Although her disposition was     must  y also a ew   ors to yu,!I must say also a few words to you,
gay, and in many respects inconsiderate,
my dear cousin, of little darling William.
yet she paid the greatest attention to eve- ish you could see him; he is very tal
I wish you could see him; he is very tall
ry gesture of my aunt. She thoughtl her
of his age, with sweet laughing blue eyes,
tle model of all excellence, and endea-, n               C
dark eye-lashes, and curling hair. When
vored to imitate her phraseology and man- h
Zt      bhe smiles, two little dimples appear on
ners, so that even now she often reminds each cheek, which are rosy with health.
each clheek, whiich are rosy w~ith' health.
me of her.
He has already had one or two little wives,
When my dearest aunt died, every
"W~hen   ray deaet  aunt die, every   u but Louisa Biron is his favorite, a pretty
one was too much occupied in their own            of five
little girll of five years of age.
grief to notice poor Justine, who had at-                    
tended her during her illness with the   "Now, dear Victor, I dare say you wish
most anxious affection. Poor Justine was to be indulged in a little gossip concerning
very ill; but other trials were reserved for the good people of Geneva.  The pretty
her.                                   1Miss Mansfield has already received the
" One by one, her brothers and sister congratulatory visits on her approaching
died; and her mother, with the exception marriage with a young Englishman,.Tohn
of her neglected daughter, was left child- MelIbourne, Esq.  -er ugly sister, Manon,
less. The conscience of the woman was married M. Duvillard, the rich banker, last
troubled; s1he bPean to think that the autumn. Your favorite schoolfellow, Louis
deats of her favorites was a  ment Manoir, has suffered several misfortunes
deaths of her favorites was a judgment
rom   ea    to chastise her partialitysince the departure of Clerval firom Geneva.
fionm.-eaven to chastise her partality'.
But he has already recovered his spirits,
She was a Roman Catholic; and I believe
e  conssor  confirmd  the idea    i   and is reported to be on the point of marher confessor confirmed the idea which
she had conceived. Accordingly, a few  rying a very lively pretty French woman,
months after your departure forIngolstadt, Madame Tavernier.  She is a widow, and
Justine was called home by her repentant much older than Manoir; but she is very
much admired, and a favorite with everymother.   Poor girl! she wept when she.
quitted our house: she was much altered
since the death of my aunt; grief had   "I have written myself into good spirits,
given softness and a winning mildness to dear cousin; yet I cannot conclude without
her manners, which had before been re- again anxiously inquiring concerning your
markable for vivacity. Nor was her resi- health.  Dear Victor, if you are not very
dence at her mother's house of a nature ill, write yourself, and make your father
to restore her gayety. The poor woman and all of us happy; or-I cannot bear to
was very vascillating in her repentance, think of the other side of the question; my
She sometimes begged Justine to forgive tears already flow.  Adieu, my dearest
her unkindness, but much oftener accused cousin.        ELI A~eTH LAvENZa
her of having caused the deaths of her  "Geeva, Mars! 18th, 17 —,"




36                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,' Dear, dear Elizabeth!" I exclaimed my secret from me; and although I loved
when I had read her letter; "I will write him with a mixture of affection and reveinstantly, and relieve them from the anx- rence that knew no bounds, yet I could
iety they must feel."  I wrote, and this never persuade myself to confide to him
exertion greatly fatigued me; but my con- that event which was so often present to
valescence had commenced, and proceeded my recollection, but which I feared the
regularly. In another fortnight I was able detail to another would only impress more
to leave my chamber.                  deeply.
One of my first duties on my recovery   Mr. Krempe was not equally docile; and
was to introduce Clerval to the several in my condition at that time, of almost inprofessors of the university. In doing this, supportable sensitiveness, his harsh blunt
I underwent a kind of rough usage, ill be- encomiums gave me even more pain than
fitting the wounds that my mind had sus- the benevolent approbation of M. Waldtained. Ever since the fatal night, the man. "D-n the fellow!" cried he; " why,
end of my labors, and the beginning of my M. Cierval, I assure you he has outstript
misfortunes, I had conceived a violent an- us all. Aye, aye, stare if you please;' but
tipathy even to the name of natural philo- it is nevertheless true. A youngster who,
sophy. When I was otherwise quite re- but a few years ago, believed Cornelius
stored to health, the sight of a chemical Agrippa as firmly as the gospel, has now
instrument would renew all the agony of set himself at the head of the university;
my nervous symptoms. Henry saw this, and if he is not soon pulled down, we shall
and had removed all my apparatus from  all be out of countenance. Aye, aye,"
my view. He had also changed my apart- continued he, observing my face expressive
ment; for he perceived that I had acquired of suffering, "M. Frankenstein is modest;
a dislike for the room which had previously an excellent quality in a young man.
been my laboratory., But- these cares of Young men should be diffident of themClerval were made of no avail when I selves, you know, M. Clerval; I was myvisited the professors. M. Waldman in- self when young: but that wears out in a
flicted torture when he praised, with kind- very short time."
ness and warmth, the astonishing progress   M. Krempe had now  commenced an
I had made in the sciences. He soon per- eulogy on himself, which happily turned
ceived that I disliked the subject; but not the conversation from a subject that was
guessing the real cause, he attributed my so annoying to me.
feelings to modesty, and changed the sub-   Clerval was no natural philosopher.
ject from my improvement to the science His imagination was too vivid for the miitself, with a desire, as I evidently saw, of nutiae of science. Languages were his
drawing me out. What could I do? He principal study; and he sought, by acquimeant to please and he tormented me. I ring their elements, to open a field for selffelt as if he had placed carefully, one by instruction on his return to Geneva. Perone, in my view those instruments which sian, Arabic, and Hebrew gained his attenwere to be afterwards used in putting me tion, after he had made himself perfectly
to a slow and cruel death. I writhed under master of Greek and Latin. For my own
his words, yet dared not exhibit the pain I part, idleness had ever been irksome to
felt. Clerval, whose eyes and feelings me; and now that I wished to fly from
were always quick in discerning the sen- reflection, and hated my former studies, I
sations of others, declined the subject, al- felt great relief in being the fellow-pupil
leging in excuse his total ignorance; and with my friend, and found not only instructhe conversation took a more general turn. tion but consolation in the works of the
I thanked my friend from my heart, but I Orientalists. Their melancholy is soothdid not speak. I saw plainly that he was ing, and their joy elevating, to a degree I
surprised, but he never attempted to draw  never experienced in studying the authors




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                             37
of any other country. When you read pursuit had cramped and narrowed me,
their writings, life appears to consist in a until your gentleness and affection warmed
warm sun and a garden of roses-in the and opened my senses; I became the same
smiles and frowns of a fair enemy, and the happy creature who, a few years ago, lovfire that consumes your own heart. How  ing and beloved by all, had no sorrow or
clifferent from the manly and heroical po- care. When happy, inanimate nature had
etry of Greece and Rome.               the power of bestowing on me the most
Summer passed away in these occupa- j delightful sensations. A serene sky and
tions, and my return to Geneva was fixed verdant fields filled me with ecstacy. The
for the latter end of autumn; but being  present season was indeed divine; the
delayed by several accidents, winter and flowers of spring bloomed in the hedges,
snow arrived, the roads were deemed im- while those of summer were already in
passable, and my journey was retarded bud: I was undisturbed by thoughts which
until the ensuing spring. I felt this delay during the preceding year had pressed
very severely; for I longed to see my na- upon me, notwithstanding my endeavors to
tive town, and my beloved friends. My throw them off, with an invincible burden.
return had only been delayed so long from    Henry rejoiced in my gayety, and sinan unwillingness to leave Clerval in a cerely sympathized in my feelings: he
strange place before he had become ac- exerted himself to amuse me, while he
quainted with any of its inhabitants. The expressed the sensations that filled his soul.
winter, however, was spent cheerfully; Trhe resources of his mind on this occaand although the spring was uncommonly sion were truly astonishing: his conversalate, when it came, its beauty compensated tion was full of imagination, and very
for its dilatoriness.                  often, in imitation of the Persian and AraThe month of May had already corn- bic writers, he invented tales of wonderful
menced, and I expected the letter daily fancy and passion. At other times he rewhich was to fix the date of my. departure, peated my favorite poems, or drew me out
when Henry proposed a pedestrian tour into arguments, which he supported with
through the environs of ingoldstadt, that great ingenuity.
I might bid a personal farewell to the   We returned to our college on a Sunday
country I had so long inhabited. I acceded afternoon: the peasants were dancing, and
with pleasure to this proposition: I was every one we met appeared gay and happy.
fond of exercise, and Clerval had always My own spirits were high, and I bounded
been my favorite companion in the rambles along with feelings of unbridled joy and
of this nature that I had taken among the hilarity.
scenes in my native country.
We passed a fortnight in these peram-           CHAPTER V1.
bu~lations: my health and spiritss had long~   ON my return, I found the following letbeen restored, and they gained additional ter from my ather:
strength from the salubrious air I breathed,
the natural incidents of our progress, and     "' To V. FRANKENSTEIN.
the conversation of my friend. Study had   "MY DEAR VICTOR: You have probably
before secluded me from the intercourse  waited impatiently for a letter to fix the
of my fellow-creatures, and rendered me date of your return to us; and I was at
unsocial; but Clerval called forth the bet- first tempted to write only a few lines,
ter feelings of my heart; he again taught merely mentioning the day on which I
me to love the aspect of nature, and the should expect you. Butthat would be a
cheerful faces of children.  Excellent cruel kindness, and I dare not do it. But
friend! how sincerely did you love me, what would be your surprise, my son,
and endeavor to elevate my mind, until it when you expected a happy and gay welwas on a level with your own. A selfish come, to behold, on the contrary, tears and




8318$3t~A~s9~.~o~Mn FRANKTENSTEIN; OIR,
wretchedness! And!how, Victor, can I I attempted to prevent her; but she persistrelate your misfortune?  Absence cannot ed, and entering- the room; where it lay,
have rendered you callous to our joys and  hastily examined the neck of the victim,
griefs; and how shall I inflict pain on an  and clasping her hlands, exclaimed,' O
absent child? I wish to prepare you for God! I have murdered my darling infant!'
the woeful news, but I know  it is impos-    "She fainted, and was restored with
sible; even now your eye skims over the  extreme difficulty. Whelp she again lived,
page, to seek the words which are to con- it was only to weep and sigh. She told
vey to you the horrible tidings.         me, that that same evening William  had
" William  is dead! that sweet child, teased her to let him  wear a very valuawhose smiles delighted and warmed my  ble miniature that she posssessed of your
heart, who was so gentle yet so gay! mother. The picture is gone, and was
Victor, he is murdered!                doubtless the temptation which urged the
"I will not attempt to console you;but murderer to the deed. We have no trace
I will simply relate the circumstances of of him at present, although our exertions
the transaction.                        to discover him are unremitted; but they
"Last Thursday, (May 7th,) I, my  will not restore my beloved William.
niece, and your two brothers, went to walk C Come, dearest Victor; you alone canl
in Plainpalais. The evening was warm  console Elizabeth.  She weeps continuand serene, and we prolonged our walk  ally, and accuses herself unjustly as the
farther than usual.  It was already dusk  cause of his death; her words pierce my
before we thought of returning; and then  heart. We are all unhappy; but will not
we discovered that William  and Ernest, that be an additional motive for you, my
who had gone on before, were not to be  son, to return and be our comforter? Yolur
found. We accordingly rested on a seat dear mother!  Alas. Victor! I now say,
until they should return.  Presently Er- thank God she did not live to witness the
nest came, and inquired if we had seen  cruel, miserable death of her youngestr
his brother:  he said that they had been  darling!
playing together, that William  had ran   nL Come, Victor; not brooding thought4s?
away to hide hlimself, and that he vainly  of vengeance against the assassin, but
sought for him, and afterwards waited for with feelings of peace and gentleness, that
him a long time, but that he did not return. will heal instead of festering the wounds
c' This account rather alarmed us, and of our minds.  Enter the house of mournwe continued to search for him until night ing, my friend, but with kindness and a-ffell, when Elizabeth conjectured that he fection for those who love you, and not
might have returned to the house. He  with hatred for your enemies.
was not there.  We returned again with   66Your affectionate and afflicted father,
torches; for I could not rest when I                 ALPHONSE FRANKENSTEIN.
thought that my sweet boy had lost him-   "        aGeneva, ay 1th,' 1-.',
self, and was exposed to all the damps and
dews of night: Elizabeth also suflered ex-    Clerval, who had watched my countetreme anguish.  About five in the morn-  nance as I read this letter, was surprised
lng I discovered my lovely boy, whom the  to observe the despair that succeeded to
night before I had seen blooming and ac- the joy I at first expressed on receiving
tive in health, stretched on the grass livid  news firom my friends. I threw the letter
and motionless: the print of the murder- on the table, and covered my face with
er's finger was on his neck.            my hands.
"He was conveyed home, and the an-   "1 y dear Frankenstein,"  exclaimed
guish that was visible on my countenance  Henry, when lie perceived nme weep with
betrayed the secret to Elizabeth. She was bitterness, (are you always to be unhappy?
very earnest to see the corpse. At first I My dear friend, what has happened?"




THE M OEnE PROMETHEUS                               39. I motioned to hima to take up the letter, enly scene restored me, and I continued
while I walked up and down the room in my journey towards Geneva.
the extremest agitation. Tears also gushed    The road ran by the side of the lake,
from the eyes of Clerval, as he read the  which became narrower as I approached
account of my misfortune.               my native town. I discovered more dis"I can offer you no consolation, my t'cindtly the black sides of Jura, and the
friend," said he; " your disaster is irrepa- bright summit of Mount 131anc; I wept
rable.  What do you intend to do?"     like a child: " Dear mountains! my own
6 To go instantly to Genexa: come with beautiful lake! how do you welcome your
me, Henry, to order the horses."        wanderer?  Your summits are clear; the
During our walk, Clerval endeavored sky and lake are blue and placid  Is this
to raise my spirits.  H-e did not do this by to prognosticate peace, or to mock at rmy
common topics of consolation.  Those unhappiness 3"
maxims of the Stoics, that death was no   I fear, my friend, that I shlall render myevil, and that the mind of man ought to self tedious by dwelling on these prelimibe superior to despair on the eternal ab- nary circumstances; but they were days
sence of a beloved object, ought not to be (of comparative happiness, and I think of
urged. Even Cato wept over the dead them  with pleasure.  My country, my
body of his brother."                   beloved country! who but a native can
Clerval spoke thus as we'hurried tell the delight I took in again beholding
through the streets; the words impressed thy streams, thy mountains, and, more
themselves on my mind, and I remembered than all, thy lovely lake.
them afterwards in my solitude. But now,   Yet, as I drew nearer home, grief and
as soon as the horses arrived, I hurried into fear again overcame  me.  Night also
a cabriole, and bade farewell to my friend. closed around; and when I could hardlv
My journey was very melancholy. At see the dark mountains, I:felt still more
first I wished tohurry on, for I longed to gloomily. The picture appeared a vast
console and sympathize with my loved and dim scene of evil, and I foresaw ohand sorrowingl friends; But when I drew  scurely that I was destined to become the
near my native town, I slackened my pro- most wretched of human beings. Alas!
gress. I could hardly sustain the multi- I prophesied truly, and failed only in one
tude of feelings that crowded into my single circumstance, that in allthe misery
mind. I passed through scenes familiar I imagined and dreaded, I did not conceive
to my youth, but which I had not seen for the hundrethl part of the alnguish that I
nearly six years. How altered everything was destined to endure.
might be during that time 3 One sudden   It was comnpletely dark when.1 arrived
and desolating change had taken place; in the environs of Geneva; the gates of
but a thousand little circumstances might the town were already shut; and I was
have by degrees worked other alterations, obliged to pass the night at Secheron, a
which, although  they were doiie more village half a league to the east of the
tranquilly, might not be the less decisive,. city. The sky was serene; and, as I was
Fear overcame me; I dared not advance, unable to rest, I. resolved to visit the spot
dreading a thousand nameless evils that where my poor William had been murdered.
made me tremble, although I was unable As I could not pass through the town I was
to define them.                        obliged to cross the lake in a boat to arI remained two days at Lausanne, in rive at Plainpalais.  During this short
this painful state of mind. I contempla- voyage I saw the lightnings playing on the
ted the lake: the waters were placid; all summit of Mount Blanc in the most beauaround was calm, and the snowy moun- tiful figures. The storm  appeared to apt
tains, " the palaces of nature," were not proach rapidly; and, on landing, I ascendchanged. By degrees the calm and heav- ed a low hill, that i might observe its pro



40                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
gress. It advanced; the heavens were doubt it. The mere presence of the idea
clouded, and I soon felt the rain coming was an irresistible proof of the fact. I
slowly in large drops, but its violence thought of pursuing the devil; but it
quickly increased.                    would have been in vain, for another flash
I quitted my seat and walked on, al- discovered him to me hanging among the
though the darkness and storm increased rocks of the nearly perpendicular ascent
every minute, and the thunder burst with a of Mount Sadlve, a hill that bounds Plainterrific crash over my head. It was ech- palais on the south. He soon reached the
oed from Sal ve, the Juras, and the Alps summit and disappeared.
of Savoy; vivid flashes of lightning daz-   I remained motionless. The thunder
zled my eyes, illuminating the lake, mak- ceased; but the rain still continued, and
ing it appear like a vast sheet of fire; then the scene was enveloped in impenetrable
for an instant everything seemed of a darkness.  I revolved in my mind the
pitchy darkness, until the eye recovered it- events which I had until now sought to
self from the preceding flash. The storm, forget; the whole train of my progress toas is often the case in Switzerland, ap- wards the creation; the appearance of the
peared at oncein various parts of the heav- work of my own hands alive at my bedens. The most violent storm hung exact- side; its departure. Two years had now
ly north of the town, over that part of the elapsed since the night on which he first
lake which lies between the promontory received life; and was this his first crime?
of Belrive and the village of Copet. An- Alas, I had turned loose into the world a
other storm  enlightened Jura with faint depraved wretch, whose delight wasin carflashes; and another darkened and some- nage and misery; had he not murdered
times disclosed the Mole, a peaked moun- my brother?
tain to the east of the lake.            No one can conceive the anguish I sufWhile I watched the storm, so beautiful fered during the remainder of the night,
yet terrific, I wandered on with a hasty which I spent cold and wet in the open
step. This noble war in the sky elevated air. But I did not feel the inconvenience
my spirits; I clasped my hands and ex- of the weather; my imagination was busy
claimed aloud, " William, dear angel! this in scenes of evil and despair. I consideris thy funeral, this thy dirge i"  As I said ed the being whom I had cast among manthese words, I perceived a figure which kind,and endowed with the will and power
stole from behind a a clump of trees near to effect purposes of horror, such as the
me: I stood fixed, gazing intently: I deed which he had now done, nearly in
could not be mistaken. A flash of light- the light of my own vampire, my own spirit
ning illuminated the object, and discovered let loose from the grave, and forced to deits shape plainly to me; its gigantic stat- stroy all that was dear to me.
ure, and the deformity of itsaspect, more   Day dawned, and I directed my steps
hideous than belongs to humanity, instant- towards the town. The gates were open,
ly informed me that it was the wretch, the and I hastened to my father's house. My
filthy daemon to whom I had given life. first thought was to discover what I knew
What did he there? Could he be (I shud- of the murderer, and cause instant purdered at the conception) the murderer of suit to be made. But I paused when I
my brother? No sooner did that idea reflected on the story that I had to tell. A
cross my imagination than I became con- being whom I myself had formed, and envinced of its truth; my teeth chattered, dued with life, had met me at midnight
and I was forced to lean against a tree for among the precipices of an inaccessible
support. The figure passed me quickly, mountain. I remembered also the nervous
and I lost it in the gloom. Nothing in hu- fever with which I had had been seized
man shape could have destroyed that fair just at the time that I dated my creation,
child. He was the murderer! I could not and which would give an air of delirium




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                                41
to a tale otherwise so improbable. I well solutely miserable tile moment I enter my
knew that if any other had communicated  father's house after so long an absence.
such a relation to me, I should have look- But, tell, me, how does my father support
ed upon it as the ravings of insanity. Be- his misfortunes? and how is my poor Elizsides the strange nature of the animal abeth?"
would elude all pur'.lsuit, even if I were so    " She indeed requires consolation; she
far credited as to persuade mny relatives to  accused herself of having cauised the death
commence it. Besides, of what use would  of my brother, and tliat made her very
be pursuit?  Who could arrest a creature  wretched.  But since the murderer has
capable of scaling the overhanging  sides been discovered- -"
of Mont Saleve?  These reflections deter-    "The murderer discovered! Good God!
mined me, and I resolved to remain silent. how can that be? who could attempt to
It was about five in the mo1-rning when  pursue hi-? It is impossible; one might
I entered my father's house.  I told the  as well attempt to overtake the winds, or
servants not to disturb the family, and  confine a mountain stream with a straw."
went into the library to attend their usual   "I do nut know what you mean; hut
hour of rising.                          we were all very unhappy when she was
Six years had elapsed, passed as a dream  discovered. No one would believe it at
but for for one indellible trace, and I stood
in t a a efirst, and even now Elizabeth will not be
in the same place where 1 had last embra- convinced  notwithstanding  all the eviced my father, before my departure for   ce.  Indeed whotw ouldcredit that JusIngoldstadt.'Beloved and respected paeIngoldstadt. sBloved and trespeted  pa- g tine Moritz, who was so amiable, and fond
rent! Hte still remained to me. I gazed
of all the family, could all at once become
on the picture of my mother, which stood
so extremely wicked?"
over the mantlepiece.  It was an historical subject, painted at my father's desire,
she the accused?  But it is wrongfully;
and represented Caroline Beaufort in an  she the accused   But it is wrongfullv
agony of despair kneeling by the coffin of evey one            no one believes it,
her dead father. Her garb was rustic, and  surely, Ernest?"
her cheek pale; but there was an air of   "No one did at first; but several cirdignity and beauty, that hardly permitted  cumstances came out, that have almost
the sentiment of pity.  Below this picture  forced conviction upon us; and her own
was a miniature of William, and my tears behavior has been so confused as to add to
flowed when I looked upon it. While I the evidence of facts a weight, that, I fear,
was thus engagedl Ernest entered ~ he had  leaves no hope for doubt.  But she will
heard me arrive, and hastened to welcome be tried to-day, and you will then hear
me. He expressed a sorrowful delight to  all."
see me. W' elcomne, my dearest Vi, tor,"    He related that the morning upon which
said he. "Ah! I wish you had come the murder of poor William  had been disthree months ago, and then you would  covered, Justine had been taken ill, and
have found us all joyous and delighted. confined to her bed; and, after several
But we are now unhappy, and I am afraid  days, one of the servants happeningto extears instead of smiles will be your wel- amine the apparel she had worn on the
come. Our father looks, so sorrowful: this night of the murder, had discovered in her
dreadful event seems to have revived in pocket the picture of my mother, which
his mind his grief at the death of Mamma. had been judged to be the temptation of
Poor Elizabeth also is quite inconsolable." the murderer.   The  servant instantly
Ernest began to weep as he said these  showed it to one of the others, who, withwords.'                               out saying a word to any of the family,
" Do not," said I, "6 welcome me thus; went'to' a magistrate, and, upor. their detry to be more calm, that I may not be ab- position, Justine was apprehended.  On




42                          FRANKE:INSTEIN; OR,
being charged with the fact, the poor girl of a rich dark auburn, her comlplexion fair,
confirmed the suspicion in a great meas- and her figure slight and graceful. She
ure by her extreme confusion of manner.   welcomed me with the greatest affection.
This was a strange tale, but it did not " Your arrival, my dear cousin,"' said she,
shake my faith; and I replied earnestly, "fills me with hope. You perhaps will
"You are all mistaken; I know the mur- find some means to justify my poor guiltderer. Justine, poor good Justine, is in- less Justine.  Alas! who is safe, if she
nocent."                                 be convicted of crime?  I rely on her inAt that instant my father entered. I saw  nocence as certainly as I do upon miy own.
unhappiness deeply impressed on his coun- Our misfortune is doubly hard to us; we
tenance, but he endeavored to welcome have not only lost that lovely darling boy,
me cheerfully; and after we had exchang- but this poor girl, whom I sincerely love,
ed our mournful greeting, would have in- is to be torn away even by a worse -fate.
troduced some other topic than that of our If she is condemned, I never shall know
disaster, had not Ernest exclaimed, "Good joy more. But she will not, I am sure she
God, Papa! Victor says that he knows will not; and then I shall be happy again,
who was the murderer of poor William."  even after the sad death of my little Wil"We do also, unfortunately," relied my liam.
father; "for indeed I had rather have    "She is innocent, my Elizabeth," said
been forever ignorant than have discovered I, "and that shall be proved; fear nothing,
so much depravity and ingratitude in one  but let your spirits be cheered by the asI valued so highly."                     surance of her acquittal."
"My dear father, you are mistaken;    "How kind you are! every one else be.
Justine is innocent."                   lieves in her guilt, and that made me
"If she is, God forbid that she should  wretched; for I knew that it was impos-:suffer as guilty. She is to be tried to-day, sible: and to see every one else prejudiced
and I hope, I sincerely hope that she will in so deadly a manner, rendered me hopebe acquitted."                          less and despairing."  She wept.
This speech calmed me.  I was firmly    " Sweet niece," said my father, "' dry
convinced in my own mind that Justine, your tears. If she is, as you believe, innoand indeed every human being, was guilt- cent, rely on the justice of our judges, and
less of this murder. I had no fear, there- the activity with which I shall prevent the
fore, that any circumstantial evidence  slightest shadow of partiality."
could be brought forward strong enough
to convict her; and, in this assurance, I
calmed myself, expecting the trial with             CIAPTER  VI.
eagerness, but without prognosticating an    W:E passed a few sad hours, until eleven
evil result.                             o'clock, when the trial was to commence.
We were soon joined by Elizabeth. Time  My father and the rest of the family being
had made great alterations in her form  obliged to attend as witnesses, I accomsince I last beheld her.  Six years before panied them  to the court. During the
she had been a pretty, good-humored girl, whole of this wretched mockery of juswhom every one loved and caressed. She tice, I suffered living torture.  It was to
was now a woman in stature and expres- be decided, whether the result of my curi-.
sion of countenance, which was uncom- osity and lawless devices would cause the
monly lovely.  An open and capacious death of two of my fellow-beings': one a
forehead gave indications of a good under- smiling babe, full of joy and innocence:
standing, joined to great frankness of dis- the other far more dreadfully murdered,
position. Her eyes were hazle, and ex- with every aggravation of infamy that
pressive of mildness, now through- recent could make the murder memorable in horaffliction allied to sadness.  Her hair was ror. Justine al.so was a girl of merit, and




THE MODERN PRONETHEUS.                               43
possessed qualities which promised to xen- child, and demanded earnestly, if anything
der her -life happy: now all was to be oblit- had been heard concerning him. When
erated in an ignominious grave; and I the shown the body, she fell into violent hyscause!  A thousand times rather would I terics, and kept her bed for several days.
have confessed myself guilty of the crime The picture was then produced, which the
ascribed to Justine; but I was absent servant had found inher pocket; and when
when it was committed, and such a decla- Elizabeth, in a faltering voice, proved that
ration would have been considered as the it was the same which, an hour before the
ravings of a madman, and would not have child had been missed, she had placed
exculpated her who suffered through me. round his neck, a iurmur of horror and
The appearance of Justine was calm. indignation filled the court.
She was dressed in mourning; and her   Justine was called on for her defence.
countenance, always  engaging, was ren- As the trial had proceeded, her countendered, by the solemnity of her feelings, ance had altered.  Surprise, sorrow, and
exquisitely beautiful. Yet she appeared misery, were strongly expressed. Someconfident in innocence, and did not trem- times she struggled with. her tears; but
ble, although gazed on and execrated by when she was desired to plead, she colthousands; for all the kindness which her lected her powers, and spoke in an audible
beauty might otherwise have excited, was although variable voice:
obliterated in the minds of the spectators   " God knows," she said,'how entirely
by the imagination of the enormity she I am innocent. But I do not pretend that
was supposed to have committed.  She my protestations should acquit me: I rest
was tranquil, yet her tranquillity was evi- my innocence on a plain and simple exdently constrained: and as her confusion planation of the facts which have been adhad before been adduced as a proof of her duced against me; and I hope the characguilt, she worked up her mind to an ap- ter I have always borne will incline my
pearance of courage. When she entered judges to a. favorable interpretation, where
the court, she threw her eyes round it, and any circumstance appears doubtful or susquickly discovered where we were seated. picious."
A tear seemed to dim her eye when she    She then related that, by the permission
saw us; but she quickly recovered her- of Elizabeth, she had passed the evening
self, and a look of sorrowful affection' of the night on which the murder had been
seemed to attest her utter guildesness.    committed, at the house of an aunt at
The trial began; and after the advocate  Chene, a village situated at about a league
against her had stated the charge, several from Geneva. On her return, at about nine
witnesses were called. Several strange o'clock, she met a man, who asked her if
facts combined against her. which might she had seen anything of the child who
have staggered any one who had not such was lost. She was alarmed by this acproof of her innocence as I had.  She had count, and passed several hours in looking
been out the whole of the night on which for him, when the gates of Geneva were
the murder had been committed, and to- shut, and she was forced to remain several
wards morning had been perceived by a hours of the night in a barn belonging to
market-woman not far from the spot where a cottage, being unwilling to call up the
the body of the murdered child had been inhabitants, to whom.she was well known.
found. The woman asked her what she Unable to rest or sleep, she quitted her
did there; but she looked very strangly, asylum  early, that she might endeavor to
and only returned a confused and unintel- find my brother. If she had gone near the
ligible answer. She returned to the house spot where his body lay, it was without
about eight o'clock; and when one in- her knowledge. That she had been bequired where she had passed the night, she wildered when questioned by the marketreplied, that she had been looking for the woman, was not snuprising, since she had




44                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
passed a sleepless night, and the fate of time for five, and at another for nearlytwo
poor William was yet uncertain. Con- years. During all that period she appeared
cerning the picture she could give no ac- to me the most amiable and benevolent of
count.                                human creatures. She nursed Madame
"6 I know," continued the unhappy vic- Frankenstein, my aunt, in her last illness
tim, " how heavily and fatally this one cir- with the greatest affection, and care; and
cumstance weighs against me, but I have afterwards attended her own mother during
no power of explaining it; and when I a tedious illness, in a manner that excited
have expressed my utter ignorance, I am  the admiration of all who knew her. After
only left to conjecture concerning the pro- which she again lived in my uncle's house,
babilities by which it might have been where she was beloved by all the family.
placed in my pocket. But here, also I am  She was warmly attached to the child who
checked. I believe that I have no enemy is now dead, and acted towards him like a
on earth, and none surely would have been most affectionate mother. For my orwn
so wicked as to destroy me wantonly. Did part, I do not hesitate to say, that, notthe murderer place it there? I know of no withstanding all the evidence produced
opportunity afforded him for so doing; or against her, I believe and rely on her perif I had, why should he have stolen the fee:t innocence. She had no temptation
jewel, to part with it so soon?      for such an action: as to the bauble on
" I commit my cause to the justice of which the chief proof rests, if she had
my judges, yet I see no room for hope. I earnestly desired it, I should have willingbeg permission to have a few witnesses ex- ly given it to her; so much do I esteem
amined concerningo my character; and if and value her."
their testimony shall not overweigh my   Excellent Elizabeth! A. murmur of apsupposed guilt, I must be condemned, al- probation was heard; but it was excited
though I would pledge my salvation on by her generous interference, and not in
my innocence."                        favor of poor Justine, on whom the public
Several witnesses were called, who had indignation was turned with renewed vioknown her for many years, and they spoke lence, charging her with the blackest in.
well of her; but fear, and hatred of the glatitude. She herself wept as Elizabeth
crime of which they supposed her guilty, spoke, but she did not answer. My own
rendered them timorous, and unwilling to agitation and anguish was extreme during
come forward. Elizabeth saw even this the whole trial. I believed in her innolast resource, her excellent dispositions  cence; I knew it. Could the daemon, who
and irreproachable conduct, about to fail had (I did not for a minute doubt,) murthe accused, when, although violently agi- dered my brother, also in his hellish sport
tated, she desired permission to address have betrayed the innocent to death and
the court.                            ignominy. I could not sustain the horror
"'I am," said she, "' the cousin of the of my situation; and when I perceived
unhappy child who was murdered, or ra- that the popular voice, and the countether his sister, for I was educated by and nances of the judoes, had already conhave lived with his parents ever since and demned my unhappy victim, I rushed out
even long before his death. It may there- of the court in agony. The tortures of
fore be judged indecent in me to come for- the accused did not equal mine; she was
ward on this occasion; but when I see a sustained by innocence, and the fangs of
fellow-creature about to perish through remorse tore my bosom, and would not
the cowardice of her pretended frienfds, I forego their hold.
wish to be allowed to speak, that I may   I passed a night of unmingled wretchsay what I know of her character. I am  edness. In the morning  I went to the
well acquainted with the accused. I have court; my lips and throat were parched.
lived in, the same house with her, at one I dared not ask the fatal question; but I




THE MODERN PROMETHEUJS.                              45
was known, and the officer guessed the herself at the feet of Elizabeth, weeping
cause of my visit. The ballots had been bitterly.  My cousin wept also.
thrown; they were all black, and Justine   " Oh, Justine!" said she, " why did you
was condemned.                          rob me of my last consolation. I relied
I cannot pretend to describe what I then on your innocence; and although I was
felt. I had before experienced sensations then very wretched, I was not so miseraof horror; and I have endeavored to be- ble as I am now."
stow upon them adequate expressions, but   " And do you also believe that I am so
words cannot convey an idea of the heart- very, very wicked? Do you als6 join with
sickening despair that I then endured. my enemies to crush me?"  Her voice
The person to whom I addressed myself was suffocated with sobs.
added, that Justine had already confessed   " Rise, my poor girl," said Elizabeth,
her guilt. "c That evidence," he observed, " why do you kneel, if you are innocent?
"was hardly required in so glaring a case, I am not one of your enemies; I believed
but I am glad of it; and, indeed, none of you guiltless, notwithstanding every eviour judges like to condemn a criminal upon dence, until I heard that you had yourself
circumstantial evidence, be it ever so de- declared your guilt. That report, you say,
cisive."                               is false; and be assured, deartiJustine,
When I returned home, Elizabeth ea- that nothing can shake my confidence in
gerly demanded the result.              you for a moment, but your own confess
"My cousin," replied I, "it is decided sion."
as you may have expected; all judges had   " I did confess; but I confessed a lie. I
rather that ten innocent should suffer, than confessed, that I might obtain absolution;
that one guilty should escape. But she but now that falsehood lies heavier at my
has confessed."                         heart than all my other sins. The God of
This was a dire blow to poor Elizabeth, Heaven forgive me! Ever since I was
who had relied with firmness upon Jus- condemned, my confessor has besieged
tine's innocence. "Alas!" said she, " how  me; he threatened and menaced, until I
shall I ever again believe in human be- almost began to think that I was the monnevolence l Justine, whom I loved ~and ster that lie said I was. lIe threatened
esteemed as my sister, how could she put excommunication and hell-fire in my last
on those smiles of innocence only to be- moments, if I continued obdurate. Dear
tray; her mild eyes seemed incapable of lady, I had none to support me; all looked
any severity or ill-humor,- and yet she has on me as a wretch doomed to ignominy
committed a murder."                   and perdition.  What could I do?  In an
Soon after we heard that the poor vic- evil hour I subscribed to a lie; and now
tim had expressed a wish to see my cou- only am I truly miserable."'
sin. My father wished her not to go; but   She paused, weeping, and then continsaid, that he left it to her own judgment nued —"I thought with horror, my sweet
and feelings to decide.                lady, that you should believe your Justine,
"Yes," said Elizabeth, "I will go, al- whom vour blessed aunt had so highly
though she is guilty; and you, Victor, honored, and whom you loved, was acreashall accompany me: I cannot go, alone." ture capable of a crime which none but the
The idea of this visit was torture to me, devil himself could have perpetrated. Dear
yet I could not refuse.                William! dearest blessed child! I soon
WVe entered the gloomy prison-chamber, shall see you again in heaven, where we
and beheld Justine sitting on some straw  shall all be happy; and that consoles me,
at the further end; her hands were man- going as I am to suffer ignominy and
acled, and her head rested on her knees. death."
She rose on seeing us enter; and when   "Oh Justine! forgive me for having for
we were left alone with her,'she threw  one moment distrusted you. Why did you




46                          FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
confess'? But do not mourn, my dear girl; ground them together, uttering a groan
I will everywhere proclaim your innocence, that came friom my inmost soul. Justine
and force belief. Yet you must die; you, started.  When she saw who it was, she
my playfellow, my companion, my more approached me, and said, "Dear sir, you
than sister. I never can survive so horri- are very kind to visit me; you, I hope, do
ble a rmisfortune."                      not believe that I am guilty."
"Dear, sweet Elizabeth, do not weep.   I could not answer.':No, Justine,"
You ought to raise me with thoughts of a said Elizabeth's' he is more convinced of
better life, and elevate me from the petty your innocence than I was; for even when
cares of this world of injustice and strife. he heard that you had confessed, he did
Do you not, excellent friend, drive me to not credit it."
despair."                                  "I truly thank him. In these last moo-'"  will try to comfort you; but this, I ments I feel the sincerest gratitude tofear, is an evil too deep and poignant to wards those who think of me with kindadmit of consolation, for there is no hope. ness. flow sweet is the affection of others
Yet Heaven bless thee, my dearest Jus- to such a wretch as I am! It removes
tine, with resignation, and a confidence more than half my misfortune; and I feel
elevated beyond this world.  Oh! how I as if I could die in peace, now that my
hate its shows and mockeries! when one innocence is acknowledged by you, dear
creature is murdered, another is immedi- lady, and your cousin."
ately deprived of life in a slow torturing   Thus the poor sufferer tried to comfort
manner; then the executioners, their hands others and herself. She indeed gained the
yet reeking with the blood of innocence, resignation she desired. But I, the true
believe that they have done a great deed. murderer, felt the never dying worm alive
They call this retlribuZion. Hateful name! in smy bosomn, which allowed of no hope or
WVhen  that word is pronounced, I know  consolation.  Eiizabeth also wept, and was
greater and more horrid punishments are unhappy  but her's also was the misery
going to be inflicted.,than the gloomiest of innocence, which like a cloud that passtyrant has ever invented to satiate his ut- es over the fair moon, for a while hides,
most revenge. Yet this is not consolation but cannot tarnish its brightness.  Anfor you, my Justine, unless indeed that guish and despair had penetrated into the
you may glory in escaping from so miser- core of my heart; I bore a hell within me,
able a den. Alas! i  would I were in peace which nothing could extinguish.  We
with mny aunt and my lovely William, es- stayed several hours with  Justine; and it
caped from  a world which is hateful to was with great difficulty that Elizabeth
me, and the visages of men which I ab- could tear herself'away. "I wish," cried
hor."                                   she, " that I were to die with you; I can-.Iustine smiled languidly.  " This, dear not live in this world of misery."'
lady, is despair, and not resignation.  I   Justine assumed an air of cheerfulness,
must not learn the lesson that you would while she with difficulty repressed her bitteach me. Talk of something else, sonie- ter tears. She embraced Elizabeth, and
thing that will bring peace, and not ini- said, in a voice of half-suppressed emotion,
crease of misery."                      "Farewell, sweet lady, dearest Elizabeth,
During the conversation I had retired to nmy beloved and only friend; may Ieaven
a corner of the prison-room, where I could in its bounty bless and preserve you; may
conceal the horrid anguish that possessed this be the last misfortune that you wiL
me! Despair! who dared talk of that? ever suffer. Live, and be happy, and make
The poor victim, who on the morrow was others so."
to pass the dreary boundary between life   As we returned, Elizabeth said, "c You
and death, felt not as I did, such deep and know  not, my dear Victor, how much I
bitter agony. I gnashed my teeth, and am relieved, now that I trust in the inno



THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                                47
cence of this unfortunate girl. I never was  my only  consolation-deep, dark,
could again have known peace, if I had death-like solitude.
been deceived in my reliance on her. For   My father observed with pain the' alterthe moment that I did believe her guilty, I ation perceptible in my disposition and
felt an anguish that I could not have long habits, and endeavored to reason with me
sustained.  Now my heart is lightened. on the folly of giving way to immoderate
The innocent suffers; blut she whom I grief. "Do you think, Victor," said he,
thought amiable and good has' not betrayed  "that I do not suffer also?  No one could
the trust 1 reposed in her, and I am con- love a child more than I loved your brosoled."                                 ther;" (tears came into his eyes as he
Amiable  cousin! such  were  your spoke;) "6 but is it not a duty to the surthoughts, mild rand gentle as your own  vivors, that we should refrain from augdear eyes and voice. But I —  was a menting their unhappiness by an appearwretch, and none ever conceived of the ance of immoderate grief?  It is also a
misery that I then endured.              duty owed to yourself; for excessive sorAnW                      row prevents improvement or enjoyment,
or even the discharge of daily usefulness,
withoutl which no man is fit for society."
NOTHIRNG is more painful to the human    This advice, although good, was totally
mind, than, after the feelings have been inapplicable to tmy case; I should have
worked up by a quick succession of events, been the first to hide my grief, and console
the dead calmness of inaction and certainty my friends, if remorse had not mingled its
which follows, and deprives the soul both bitterness with my other sensations. Now
of hope and fear.  Justine died; she I could only answer my father with a look
rested; and I was alive. The blood flowed of despair, and endeavor to hide myself'
freely in tmy veins, but a weight of despair Ifrom his view.
and remorse pressed on my heart, which    About this time we retired to our house
nothing could remove.  Sleep fled from  at Belrive. This change was particularly
my eyes; I wandered like an evil spirit, agreeable to me.  The shutting of the
for I had committed deeds of mischief be- gates regularly at tell o'clock, and the imyond description horrible, and more, much possibility of remaining on the lake after
more, (I persuaded myself) was yet behind. that hour, had rendered our residence
Yet my heart overflowed with kindness, within the walls of Geneva very irksome
and the love of virtue. I had begun life to me. i was now free. Often, after the
with benevolent intentions, and thirsted  rest of the -family had retired for the night,
for the moment when I should put them  I took the boat, and, passed many hours
in practice, and make myself useful to lly upon the water.  Sometimes, with my
fellow-beings. Now all was blasted; in- sails set, I. was carried by the wind, and
stead of that serenity of conscience, which  sometimes, after rowing into the middle of
allowed me to look back upon the past the lake, I left the boat to pursue its own
with self-satisfaction, and from thence to course, and gave way to my own miserable
gather promise of new  hopes, I was reflections.  I was often tempted, when
seized by remorse and the sense of guilt, all was at peace around me, and I the only
which hurried me away to a hell of in- unquiet thing that wandered restless in a
tense tortures, such as lno language can scene so beautiful and heavenly, if I exdescribe.                               cept some bat, or the frogs, whose harsh
This state of mind preyed upon nmy and interrupted croaking was heard only
health, which had entirely recovered from  when I approached the shore-often,I say,
the first shock it had sustained. I shunned I was tempted to plunge into the silent
the face of man; all sound of joy and lake, that the waters might close over me
complacency was torture to me; solitude and my calamities for ever. But I was




48                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
restrained, when I thought of the heroic versed on the inconstancy of fortune, and
and suffering Elizabeth, whom I tenderly the instability of human life.
loved, and whose existence was bound up   "When I reflect, my dear cousin," said
in mine. I thought also of my father, and she, "on the miserable death of Justine
surviving brother: should I by my base Moritz, I no longer see the world and its
desertion leave them exposed and unpro- works as they before appeared to me. Betected to the malice of the fiend whom I fore, I looked upon the accounts of vice
let loose among them?'              and injustiCe, that I read in books or heard
At these moments I wept bitterly, and from  others, as tales of ancient days, or'
wished that peace would revisit my mind im ginary evils; at least they were reonlv that I might afford them  consolation mote, and more familiar to reason than to
and happiness. But that could not be. the imagination: but now miseryhas come
Remorse extinguished every hope. I had home, and men appear to me as monsters
been the author of unalterable evils; and thirsting for each other's blood. Yet I am
I lived in daily fear, lest the monster whom  certainly unjust.  Every body believed
I had created should perpetuate some new  that poor girl to be guilty; and if she
wickedness. I had an obscure feeling that could have committed the crime for which
all was not over; and that he would still she suffered, assuredly she would have
commit some signal crime, which by its been the most depraved of human creaenormity should almost efface the recol- tures.  For. the sake of a few jewels to
lection of the past. There was always have mnurdered the son of her benefactor
scope for fear, so long  as anything I and friend, a child whom she had nursed
loved remained behind. My abhorrence Ifrom its birth, and appeared to love as if it
of this fiend cannot be conceived. When had been her own! I could not consent
I thought of him, I gnashed my teeth, my to the death of any human' being; but
eyes became inflamed, and I ardently certainly I should have thought such a
wished to extinguish that life which I had creature unfit to remain in the society of
so thoughtlessly bestowed. When I re- men.  Yet she was innocent; you are of
flected on his crimes and malice, my hatred the same opinion, and that confirms me.
and revenge burst all bounds of modera- Alas! Victor, when falsehood can look so
tion. I would have made a pilgrinmage to like the truth, who can assure themselves
the highest peak of the Andes, could I, of certain happiness? I feel as if I were
when there, have precipitated him to their walking on the edge of a precipice, tobase. I wished to see him aoain, that I wards which thousands are crowding, and
might wreak the utmost extent of anger endeavoring to plunge me into the abyss.
on his head, and avenge the deaths of Wil- William  andl Justine were assassinated,
liam and Justine.                       and the inurderer escapes; he walks about
Our house was the house of mourning. the world free, and perhaps respected
My father's health was deeply shaken by But even if' I were condemned to suffer on
the horror of recent events.  Elizabeth the scaftbld for the same crimes, I would
was sad and desponding'; she no longer not change places with such a wretch."
took delight in her ordinary occupations;   I listened to this discourse with the exall pleasure seemed to h-el sacrilege to- tremest agony. I, not in deed, but in effect,
wards the dead; eternal woe and tears she  was the true murderer. Elizabeth read
then thought was the just tribute she my anguish in my countenance, and kindshould pay to innocence so blasted and lytaking my hand said, "My dearest cousdestroyed. - She was no longer that happy in, you must calm yourself.  These events
creature, who in earlier youth wandered have affected me, God knows how deeply;
with me on the banks of the lake, and but I am not so wretched as you are.
talked with ecstacy of our future prospects. There is an expression of despair, and
She had become grave,'and often con  sometimes of revenge in your countenance,




THE MODERN PROMiETHEUS.                             49
that mnakes me tremble. Be calm, my  higher, the valley assumed a more magnidear Victor; I would sacrifice my life to ficent and astonishing character. Ruined
your peace.  We surely shall be happy: castles hanging on the precipices of piny
quiet in our native country, and not ming- mountains; the impetuous Arve, and cotling in the world, what can disturb our tages every here, and there peeping forth
tranqui lity?from  among the trees, formed a scene of
She shed tears as she said this, distrust-  singular beautv. But it was augmented
ing the very solace that she gave; but at and rendered sublime by the mighty Alps
the same time she smiled, that she might whose white and shining pyramids and
whose white and shining pyramids and
chase away the fiend that lurked in my  does owered  aove all, as beloning to
1  domes towered above all, as belonging to
heart. My father, who saw in the unhap- another earth, the habitations of another
piness that was painted in my face only race of beings.
an exaggeration of that sorrow which I   We passed the bridge f Pelissier, where
might naturally feel, thought an anmusethe ravine, which the river forms, opened
ment suited to my taste would be the
before us, and we began to ascend the
best means of restoring me to my wonted
mountain that overhangs it. Soon after
serenity. It was from this cause that he
we entered the valley of Chamomunix. This
had removed to the couniry, arind, induced
valley is more wonderful and sublime, but
by the same motive, he now proposed that         more wonderful ad sublime, 
wve~ shoucld all nmake an excursiion to the not so beautiful and picturesque as that of
valley of the CShamoninirx.  I hlad been  Servox, through which we had just passed.
there before, but Elizabeth and Ernest The high and snowy mountains  ere its
never had; and both had often expressed  imm
more ruined castles and fertile fields. hnan earnest desire to see the scenery of the more ruined castles and fertile fields.  nplace, which had been described to them
heard the rumbling thunder of the falling
as so wonderfuil and sublime. Accordingavalanche, and marked the smoke of its
ly we departed from Geneva on this tour      nche, and marked te smoke of its
about the middle of theimonth of August, passage.
magnificent Mont Blanc, raised itself from
nearly two months after the death of Justine.                                   the surrounding aiguilles, and its tremenThe weather was uncommonly fine; dos dome overlooked the valley.
and if mine had been a sorrow to be chased       this journey, I sometimes joined
away by any fleeting circumstance, this Elizabeth, and exerted myself to point out
excursion would certainly have had the to her the various beauties of the scene.
effect intended by my-father. As it was, I often suffered my mule to lag behind, and
I was somewhat interested in the scene; indulged in the misery of reflection. At
it sometimes lulled, although it could nbt other times I spurred on the animal before
extinguish mray grief. During the first day my companios, that  might forget them,
we traveled in a carriage.  n the morn- the world, and, more than all, myself.
ilug we had seen tlhe mountains at a dis- When at a distance, I alighted, and threw
tance, towards which we gradually advan- myself on the grass, weighed down by horced. We perceived that the valley through ror and dispair. At eight in the evening
which we wound, and which was formed  I arrived at Chamounix. My father and
by the river Arve, whose course we fol- Elizabeth were very much fatigued; Ernlowed, closed in upon us by degrees; and est, who accompanied us, was delighted,
when the sun had set, we beheld immense and in high spirits: the only circumstance
mountains and precipices overhanging us that detracted from his pleasure was the
on every side, and heard the sound of the south wind, and the rain it seemed to proriver raging among rocks, and the dashing  mise for the next day.
of waterfalls around.                     We retired early to our apartments, but
The next day we pursued our journey not to sleep; at least I did not. I remainupon mules; and as we ascended still ed many hours at the window, watching




50                            FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
the pallid lightning that played above Mo-it to go alone, for I was well acquainted with
Blanc, and listening to the rushing of the  the path, and the presence of another
Arve, which ran below my window.         would destroy the solemn grandeur of the
scene.
The ascent is precipitous, but the path
CHAPTER  JX.' is cut into continual and short windings,
TEE next day, contrary to the prognos- which enable you to surmount the perpentications of our guide, was fiae, although  dicularity of the mountain. It is a scene
clouded., We visited the source of the Ar- terrifically desolate.  In a thousand spots
veiron, and rode about the valley until the traces of the winter avalanche may be
evenin'.  These sublime and magnificent perceived, Where trees lie broken  and
scenes afforded me the greatest consola- strewed on the ground; some entirely detion that I was capable of receiving. They  stroved, others bent, leaning upon the jutelevated me from all littleness of leeling; ting rocks of the mountain, or transversely
and although they did not remove my grief, upon other trees.  The pathas you ascend
they subdued and tranquilized it. In some higher, is intersected by ravines of snow,
degree, also, they divertied my mind from  down which stones contia'nally roll from
the thoughts over w-hich it had brooded  above; one of them is particularly dangerior'the la st mon th.  I r      eturned in the ous, as the slightest sound, such as even
evening', litiguled, but less unhappy, and  speakling in a loud voice, produces a conconversed with my family with more cheer- cussion of air sufficient to draw destrucfulness than htad been my custom for some  tion upon the head of the speaker. The
time.  My father was pleased, and Eliza- pines are not tall -or luxuriant, but they
beth overjoyed.  "iV My dear cousin," said  are sombre, and add an air of severity to
she, "" you see what happiness you diffuse the scene.  I looked on the valley beneath;
when  you are happy; do not relapse  vast mists were rising from  the rivders
again!"                                  which ran through it, and curling in thick
The followino' mornintg' the rain poured  wreaths around the oposite mountains
whose summits  were hid in the uniform
down in torrents, and' thick mists hid the 
sumllits of the mountainls.  The rain deo- clouds, while rain poured from  the dark
pressed ime; my old feeling's recurred, and  sky, and aded to the melancloly imprecsion I received friom the objects around
I was miserable. I knew how disappoint- sion I received  rom   the objects around
ed my father would be at this sudden
change-, aand I wished to avoid him until I bilities superior to those apparent in the
change anl 1 wjsIed to avo-d hini until I,,                     1brute; it only remlcers them.nore necessahad recovered myself so far as to be ena- brute  it only renders them more onfine d
bled to conceal those feelings that over-    bgs.   f our   pulses were cofind
powered me.  1 knew that they would re- to hunger, thirst, and desire, we might be
nearly free; but now we are moved by
main that day at te inn.; and as I had        y         t
ever inlured myself to rain, moisture, and  every wind that blows, and'a chance word
or scene that that word maRy convey to us.
cold, I resolved to go alone to the summit
of Montanvert.  Irememberedtheff  "iWe rest; a dream has power to poison sleep.
of Montanver t.......    I renzember ed tnhe effbet.   AVe rise; one atlald'ring thought pollutes the day.
that the view of the tremendous and ever-   we ilel, conceive. or reason; laugh, or weep,
moving glacier had produced upon my          Einbrace fond woe, or cast our cares zway;
mind when I first saw  it. It had then   It is the same: for, be itjoy or sorrow,
mind when I first saw  it.  It irad then
IThe path of its departure still is free.
filled me with a sublinme ecstacy that gave   ars,,'s yesterday may ne'er be like.his morrow;
wings to the soul, and allowed it to soar    Nought mayendure but nutability."
from the obscure'world to light and joy.    It was nearly noon when I arrived at
The sight of the awful and majestic in na- the top of the ascent.  For some time I
ture had indeed always the - effect of sol- sat upon the rock that overlooks the sea of
emluizillg my mind, and causing me to for- i ce. A mist covered both that and the surget the passing' cares of life. I determined  rounding mountains.  Presently a breeze




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               51
dissipated the cloud, and I descended upon approach me? and do you not fear the
the glacier. The surface is very uneven, fierce vengeance of my arm wreaked on
rising like the waves of a troubled sea, de- your miserable head  Begone, vile insect!
scending low, and interspersed by rifts that or rather stay, that I may trample you to
sink deep. The field of ice is almost a dust! and, oh, that I could, with the exleague in width, but I spent nearly two  tinction of your miserable existence, rehours in crossing it. The bpposite moun- store those victims whom  you have so
tain is a bare perpendicular rock. From  diabolically murdered!"
the side where I now stood Mountanvert   "I expected this reception," said the
was exactly opposite, at the distance of a demon.." All men hate the wretched;
league; and above it rose Mont Blanc, in  how then'must I be hated, who am mniseawful majesty. I remained in a recess of rable beyond all living things! Yet you,
the rock, gazing on this wonderful and my creator, detest and spurn me, thy creastupendous scene. The sea, or rather the ture, to whom thou art bound by ties only
vast river of ice, wound among its depen- dissoluble by the annihilation of one of us.
dent mountains, whose aerial summits You purpose to kill me. How dare you
hulg over its recesses. Their icy and sport thus with life? Do your duty towards
glittering peaks shone in the sunlight over me, and I will do mine towards you and
the clouds. My heart, which was before the rest of mankind.  If you will comply
sorrowful, now  swelled with something  with my conditions, I will leave them and
like joy; I exclaimed —' Wandering spir- you at peace; but if you refuse, I will glut
its, if ye indeed wander, and do not rest in the maw of death, until it be satisfied with
your narrow beds, allow me this faint hap- the blood of your remaining friends."
piness, or take me as your companion,   "Abhorred monster! fiend that thou art!
away from the joys of life."            the tortures of hell are too mild a yenAs I said this, I suddenly beheld the  geance for thy crimes. Wretched devil!
figure of a man, at some distance, advanc- you reproach me with your creation; come
ing towards me with superhuman speed. on then, that I may extinguish the spark
He bounded over the crevices of the ice, which I so negligently bestowed."
among which I had walked with caution;   My rage was without bounds; I sprang
his stature also, as he approached, seemed  on him, impelled by all the feelings which
to exceed that of man.                  can arm  one being against the existence
I was troubled: a mist came over my  of another.
eyes, and I felt a faintness seize me; but   He easily eluded me, and said:
I was quickly restored by the cold gale of   " Be calm! I entreat you to hear me,
the mountains. I perceived, as the shape before you give vent to your hatred on my
came nearer, (sight tremendous and ab- devoted head. Have I not suffered enough,
horred!) that it was the wretch whom I that you seek to increase my misery?
had created. I trembled with rage and  Life, although it may only be an accumuhorror, resolving to wait his approach, and  lation of anguish, is dear to me, and I will
then close with him in mortal combat. He  defend it.' Remember, thou hast made
approached; his countenance bespoke bit- me more powerful than thyself; my height
ter anguish, combined with disdain and  is superior to thine; my joints more supple.
malignity, while its unearthly ugliness But I will not be tempted to set myself in
rendered it alhnost too horrible for human  opposition to thee. I am thy creature, and
eyes. But I scarcely observed this; anger I will be even mild and docile to my natand hatred had at first deprived me of ut- ural lord and king, if thou wilt also perterance, and I recovered only to overwhelm  form thy part, the which thou owest me.
him with words expressive of furious de- Oh, Frankenstein, be not equitable to every
testation and contempt.                 other, and trample upon me alone, to whom
"Devil!" I exclaimed, "do you dare thy justice, and even thy clemency and




52                           FRANKENSTEIN; OR0
affection, is most due. Remember, that I me of murder; and yet you would, with a
am thy creature: I ought to be thy Adam; satisfied conscience, destroy your own
but I am rather the fallen angel, whom  creature. Oh, praise the eternal justice
thou drivest from  joy for no misdeed. of man!  Yet I ask you not to spare me:
Everywhere I see bliss, from which I alone listen to me; and then, if you can, and if
am irrevocably excluded. I was benevo- you will, destroy the work of your hands."
lent and good; misery made me a field.   "Why do you call to my remembrance
Make me happy, and I shall again be vir- circumstances of which I shudder to reflect
tuous."                                 that I have been the miserable origin and
" Begone! I will not hear you. There  author? Cursed be the day, abhorred devil,
can be no community between you and  in which you first saw light! Cursed (alme; we are enemies. Begone, or let us though I curse myself) be the hands that
try our strength in a figlht, in which one formed you! You have made me wretched
must fall."                             beyond expression. Youl have left me no
"How can I move thee?  Willno en- power to consider whether I am just to
treaties cause thee to turn a favorable eye you, or nol:. Begone! relieve me from
upon thy creature, who implores thy good- the sight of your detested form."
ness and compassion? Believe me, Frank-   "Thus I relieve thee, my creator," he
enstein: I was benevolent; my soul glowed  said, and placed his hated hand before my
with love and humanity: but am I not eyes, which I flung from me with violence;
alone, miserably alone? You, my creator, "thus i take from  thee a sight which you
abhor me; what hope can I gather from your sabhor.  Still thou canst listen to me, and
fellow-creatures; who owe ine nothing? grant me thy compassion.  By the virtues
They spurn and hate me. The desert that I once possessed, I demand this from
mountains and dreary glaciers are my re- you. Hear iy tyalae; it is long and strange,
fuge. I have wandered here many days; and the tbmpeeature of this place is not
the caves of ice, which I only do not fear, fitting to your fine sensations; come to
are a dwelling to me, and the only one the hut upon the mountain.  The sun is
which man does not grudge. These bleak  yet high in the heavens; before it descends
skies I hail, for they are kinder to me than  to hide itself behind yon snowy precipices,
your fellow-beings. If the multitude of and illuminate another world, you will
mankind knew of my existence, they would have heard my story, and can deciee. On
do as you do, and arm themselves for my you it rests, whether I quit for ever the
destruction. Shall I not then hate. them  neighborhood of man, and lead a harmless
who abhor me? I will keep no terms with  life, or become a scourge to your fellowmy enemies. I am miserable, and they  creatures, and the author of your own
shall share my wretchedness. Yet it is speedy ruin."
in your power to recompense me, and de-   As he said this, he led the way across
liver them from an evil which it only re- the ice: I followed. My heart was full,
mains for you to make so great, that not and I did not answer him; but, as I proonly you and your family, but thousands ceed, I weighed the varioUs arguments that
of others, shall be swallowed up in the he had used, and determined at least to
whirlwinds of its rage.  Let your com-.listen to his tale. I was partly urged by
passion be moved, and do not disdain me. curiosity, and compassion confirmed my
Listen to my tale: when you have heard ri esolution.  I had hitherto supposed hilm
that, abandon or commiserate me, as you to be the murderer of my brother, and I
shall judge that I deserve.  But hear me. eagerly sought a confirmation or denial of
The guilty are allowed, by human laws, this opinion. For the first time, also, I
bloody as they may be, to speak in their felt what the duties of a creator towards
own defence, before they are condemned. his creature were, and that I ought to renListen to me, Frankenstein. You accuse der him happy before I complained of his




THE MODERN  PROMETHEUST                             53
wickedness.?FThese- motives urged me to Before IJhad'quitted your apartment, on.a
comply with his demand. We crossed the sensation of cold, I had covered myself
ice, therefore, and ascended the opposite with some clothes-; but these were insufrock. The air was cold, and the rain again ficient to secure me from  the dews of
began to descend: we entered the hut, the night.  I was a poor, helpless, miserable
fiend with. an air of exultation, I with a wretch; I knew and could distinguish noheavy heart, and depressed spirits. But thing; butt, feeling pain invade me on all
I consented to listen; and, seating myself sides, I sat down arid wept.
by the fire which my odious companion    " Soon a gentle light stole over the
had lighted, he, thus began his tale.   heavens, and gave me a sensation of pleasure. I started up, and beheld a radiant
form rise from among the trees. I gazed
CHAPTER X.                  with a kind of wonder. It moved slowly,
"IT is with considerable difficulty that but it enlightened my path; and I again
I remember the original era of my being:'  went out in search of berries. I was still
all the events of that period appear con0. cold, when under one of the trees I found a
fused and indistinct.  A strange multipli- huge cloak, with which I covered myself,
city of sensations seized'~me, and I saw, and sat down upon the ground. No disfelt, heard, and smelt, at the same time; tinct ideas occupied my mind; all was
and it was, indeed, a long time before I confused. I felt light, and hunger, and
learned to distinguish between the opera- thirst, and darkness; innumerable sounds
tions of my various senses. By degrees, rung in my ears, and on all sides various
I remember, a stronger light pressed upon scents saluted me: the only object that I
my nerves, so that I was obliged to shut could distinguish was the bright moon,
my eyes.  Darkness then came over me, and I'fixed my eyes on that with pleasure.
and troubled me; but hardly had I felt   "Several changes of day and night
this, when, by opening my eyes, as I now  passed, and the orb of night had greatly
suppose, the- light poured in upon me lessened, when I began to distinguish my
again. I walked, and,' I believe, descend- sensations from each other. I gradually
ed; -but I presently found a great altera- saw plainly the clear stream that supplied
tion in my sensations. Before, dark and  me with drink, and the trees that shaded
opaque bodies had surrounded me, imperv- me with their foliage. I was delighted
ious to my touch or sight; but I now  when [ first discovered that a pleasant
found that I could wander on at liberty, sound, which often saluted my ears, prowith no obstacles which I could not either ceeded from the throats of the little wingsurmount or avoid. The light became ed animals who had often intercepted the
more and more oppressive to me; and, the light from  my eyes. I began also to obheat wearying me as I walked, I sought serve, with greater accuracy, the forms
a place where I could receive shade. This that surrounded me, and to perceive the
was the forest near Ingolstadt; and here boundaries of the radiant roof of light which
I lay by the side of a brook resting fri'om  canopied me. Sometimes I tried to imitate
my fatigue, mntil I felt tormented by bun-  the pleasant; songs of the birds, but was
gel and thirst. This roused me from  my unable. Sometimes I wished to express
nearly dormant state, and I ate some ber- my sensations in my own mode, but the
ries which I found hanging  on the trees,  uncouth and inarticulate sounds which
or lying on the ground.  I slaked myv broke from  me frightened me into silence
thirst at the brook; and then lying down, again.
was overcome by sleep.                     "The moon had disappeared from the
" It was dark when I awoke; I felt cold night, and again, with a lessened form,
also, and half-frightened as it were -in- showed itself, while I still remained in the
stinctively, finding myself so desolate. forest. IMy sensations had, by this time,




54                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
become distinct, and my mind received ev- therefore, to dress my food in the same
ery day additional ideas. My eyes became  manner, placing it on the live embers. I
accustomed to the light, and to perceive found that the berries were spoiled by this
objects in their right forms; I distinguish- operation, and the nuts and roots much
ed the insect from the herb, and, by de- improved.
grees, one herb from  another. I found    "Food, however, became scarce; and I
that the sparrow uttered none but harsh  often spent the whole day searching in
notes, while those of the blackbird and vain for a few acorns to assuage the pangs
thrush were sweet and enticing.         of hunger. When I found this, I resolved
"One day, when I was oppressed by to quit.the place that I had hitherto inhabcold, I found a fire which had been left by ited, to seek for one where the few wants
some wandering beggars, and was over- I experienced would be more easily satiscome with delight at the warmth I experi- fled. In this emigration, I exceedingly laenced from it. In my joy I thrust my mented the loss of the fire which I had
hand into the live embers, but quickly  obtained through accident, and knew not
drew it out again with a cry of pain. How  how  to re-produce it.  I gave several
strange, I thought, that the same cause hours to the serious consideration of this
should produce such opposite effects! I difficulty; but 1 was obliged to relinquish
examined the materials of the fire, and to all attempts to supply it; and, wrapping
my joy found it to be composed of wood. myself up in my cloak, I struck across the
I quickly collected some branches; but wood towards the setting sun. I passed
they were wet, and would not burn. I was three days in these rambles, and at length
pained at this, and sat still watching the discovered the open country. A great fall
operation of the fire. The wet wood which of snow had taken place the night before,
i had placed near the heat dried, and itself and the fields were of one uniform white;
became inflamed. I reflected on this; and, the appearance was disconsolate, and I
by touching the various branches, I dis. found my feet chilled by the cold damp
covered the cause, and busied myself in substance that covered the ground.
collecting a great quantity of wood, that   "It was about seven in the morning,
I might dry it, and have a plentiful supply and I longed to obtain food and shelter; at
of fire. When night came on, and brought length I perceived a small hut, on a rising
sleep with it, I was in the greatest fear ground, which had doubtless been built for
lest my fire should be extinguished. I the convenience of some shepherd. This
covered it carefully with dry wood and was a new sight to me; and I examined
leaves, and placed wet branches upon it; the structure with great curiosity. Findand then, spreading my cloak, I lay on the ing the door open, 1 entered. An old man
ground, and sunk into sleep.            sat in it, near a fire, over which he was
" It was morning when I awoke, and my preparing his breakfast. H-e turned on
first care was to visit the fire. I uncover- hearing a noise; and, perceiving  me,
ed it, and a gentle breeze quickly fanned  shrieked loudly, and, quitting the hut, ran
it into a flame. I observed this also, and across the fields with a speed of which his
contrived a fan of branches, which roused debilitated form hardly appeared capable.
the embers when they were nearly extin- His appearance, different from any I had
guished.  When night came again, I ever before seen, and his flight, somewhat
found, with pleasure, that the fire gave surprised me. But I was enchanted by
light as well as heat; and that the discov- the appearance of the hut: here the snow
ery of this element was useful to me in and rain could not penetrate; the ground
my food; for I found some of the offals was dry; and it presented to me then as
that the travellers had left had been roast- exquisite and divine a retreat as Pandeemoed, and tasted much more savory than the nium appeared to the daemons of hell after
berries I gathered from the trees. I tried, their sufferings in the lake of fire.  I




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.
greedily devoured the remnants of the  situated against the back of thle cottage,
shepherd's breakfast, which consisted of and surrounded on the sides which were
bread, cheese, milk, and wine; the latter, exposed by a pig-stye and a clear pool of
however, I did not like.  Overcome by fa- water.  One part was open,. and by that I
tigue, I lay down among some straw, and  had crept in; but now I covered every
fell asleep.                              crevice by which I might be perceived with
"" It was noon when I awoke; and, al- stones and wood, yet in such a manner
lured by the warmth of the sun, which  that I migoht move them on occasion to
shone brightly on the white ground, I de- pass out: all the light I enjoyed came
termined to re-commence my travels; and, through the stye, and that was sufficient
depositing the'remains of the peasant's for me.
breakfast in a, wallet I found, 1 proceeded    "Having tl-lhus arranged my dwelling,
across the fields for several hours, until at and carpeted it with clean straw, I retired;
sunset I arrived at a, village. How mirac-  for I saw the figure of a man at a distance,
ulous did this appear! the huts, the neater and I remembered too well my treatment
cottages, and stately houses, engaged my the night before, to trust myself in his
admiration by turns.  The vegetables in  power. I had first, however, provided for
the gardens, the milk and cheese that I my sustenance for that day, by a loaf of
saw placed at the windows of some of tlle coarse -bread, which I purloined, and a cup
cottages, allured my appetite.  One of the with which I could drink, more convenbest of these I entered; but I had hardly iently than from my hand, of the pure wa...
placed my foot within the door, before the ter which flowed by my retreat. The floor
children shrieked, and one of the women was a little raised, so that it was kept perfainted.  The whole village was roused; feetly dry, and by its vicinity to the chini.
rome fled, some attacked me, until, griev- ney of the cottage it was tolerably warm.
iously bruised by stornes, and many other   "Being thus provided, I resolved to rekinds of missile weapons, I escaped to the side in this hovel, until something should
open country, and fearfully took refuge in occur which might alter my deterlnminaa low hovel, quite bare, and making a tion.  It was indeed a paradise, compared
wretched appearance after the palaces I to the bleak forest, mny former residence,
had beheld in the village.  This hovel, the rain-dropping  branches, and  dank
however, joined a cottage of a neat and  earth.  I ate my breakfast with pleasure,
pleasant appearance; but, after my late and was about to remove a planki to prodearly-bought experience, I dared  not cure myself a little water, when I heard a
enter it. My place of refuge was con- step, and, looking through a small clink,
structed of wood, but so low, that. I could I beheld a young creature, with a pail on
with difficulty sit upright in it. No wood, her head, passing before my hovel. The
however, was placed on the earth, which girl was young and of' gentle demeanor,
-formed the floor, but; it was dry; and al. nnlike what I have since found cottagers
though the wind enteled it by innumnera- and farm-servants to be.  Yet she was
ble chinks, I found it an agreeable asylum  meanly dressed, a coarse blue petticoat
from the snow and rain,                  and a linen jacket being her only garb;
"Here then I retreated, and lay'down, her fair hair was plaiied, but not adorned;
happy to have found a shelter, however she looked patient, yet sad.  I lost sight
miserable, from the inclemency of the sei'- of her; and in about a quarter of an hour
son, and still more from the barbarity of she returned, bearing the pail, which was
man.'                              now partly filled with inlk. As she walk"As soon as morning dawned, I crept ed alongo, seemingly incornmoded by the
from my kennel, that' I rnight view the ad- burden, a young lman met her, whose
jacent cottage, and discover if I could re- countenance expressed a deeper despondmain in the habitation I bad found. It was ence. Uttering a few sounds with an air




g6                     -FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
of melancholy, he took the pail from her taking some of the fuel into the cottage,
head, and bore it to the cottage himself. placed it on the fire; then she and the
She followed, and they disappeared. Pre- youth went apart into a nook of the cotsently I saw the young man again, with tage, and he showed her a large loaf and
some tools in his hand, cross the field be- a piece of cheese. She seemed pleased;
hind the cottage; and the girl was also and went into the garden for some roots
busied, sometimes in the house, and some- and plants, which she placed in water, and
thing in the yard.                    then upon the fire. She afterwards con" On examining my little dwelling, I tinued her work, while the young man
found that one of the windows of the cot- went into the garden, and appeared busily
tage had formerly occupied a part of it, employed in digging and pulling up roots.
but the panes had been filled up with wood. After he had been employed thus about an
In one of these was a small and almost hour, the young woman joined him, and
imperceptible chink, through which the they entered the cottage together.
eye could just penetrate. Through this   "The old man had, in the mean time,
crevice, a small room was visible; white- been pensive; but, on the appearance of
washed and clean, but very bare of furni- his companions, he assumed a more cheerture. In one corner, near a small fire, sat funl air, and they sat down to eat. The
an old man, leaning his hlead on'his hands meal was quickly dispatched. The young
in a disconsolate attitude. The young woman was again occupied in arranging
girl was occupied in arranging the cot- the cottage; the old man walked before
tage; but presently she took something the cottage in the sun for a few minutes,
out of a drawer, which employed her leaning on the arm of the youth. Nothing
hands, and she sat down beside the old could exceed in beauty the contrast beman, who, taking up an instrument, began tween these two excellent creatures. One
to play, and to produce sounds, sweeter was old, with silver hairs and a countethan the voice of the thrush or the night- nance beaming with benevolence and love:
ingale. It was a lovely sight, even to me, the younger was'slight and graceful in
poor wretch! who had never beheld aught his figure, and his features were moulded
beautiful before. The silver hair and with the finest symmetry; yet his eyes
benevolent countenance of the aged cot- and attitude expressed the utmost sadness
tager, won my reverence; while the gen- and despondency. The old man returned
tle manners of the girl enticed my love. to the cottage; and the youth, with tools
He played a sweet mournful air, which I different from those he had used in the
perceived drew tears from the eyes of his morning, dire6ted his steps across the
amiable companion, of which the old man fields.
took no notice, until she sobbed audibly;   "Night quickly shut in; but, to my exhe then pronounced a few sounds, and the treme wonder, I found that the cottagers
fair creature, leaving her work, knelt at had a means of prolonging light, by the
his feet. He raised her, and smiled with use' of tapers, and was delighted to find,
such kindness and affection, that I felt that the setting of the sun did not put an
sensations of a peculiar and overpowering end to the pleasure I experienced in watchnature: they were a mixture of pain and ing my human neighbors. In the evening,
pleasure, such as I had never before expe- the young girl and her companion were
rienced, either from hunger or cold, warmth employed in various occupations which I
or food; and I withdrew from the window, did not understand; and the old nian again
unable to bear these emotions.        took up, the instrument, which produced
" Soon after this the young man re- the divine sounds that had enchanted me
turned, bearing on his shoulders a load of in the morning..So soon as he had finwood. The girl met him  at the door, ished, the youth began, not to play, but to
helped to relieve him of his burden, ald, utter sounds that were monotonous, and




THE MODERN PROMETHEUT S                               S5a
neither resembling the harmony of the old a delightful house (for tuch it %was in my
man's instrument or the songs of the eyes,) and every luxury; they had a fire
birds; I since found that he read aloud, to -wiam. then   when chill, and delicious
but at that time I knew nothing of the viands when hungry; they were dressed
science of words or letters.            in excellent clothes; and, still more, they
"The family, after having been thus oc- enjoyed one another's company and speech,
cupied -fbr a short time, extinguished interchanging each day looks of affection
their lights, and retired, as! conjectured,'and kindness. What did their tears imply?
to rest.               -Did they really express pain?  I was at
first unable to solve these questions; but
CHAPTER Xi. -perpetual attention, and time, explained to
"'I LAY on my straw, but I could not me many appearances which were at first
sleep. I thought of the occurrences of the enigmatic.
day.  What, chiefly struck me was the    " A considerable period elapsed before
gentle manners of these people; and I I discovered one of the causes of the unlonged to join them, but dared not.  I re- easiness of this amiable family; it was
membered too well the treatment I had poverty  and they suffered that evil in a
suffered the night before from the barbar- very distressing degree.  Their. nourishouns villagers, and resolved, whatever ment consisted entirely of the vegetables
course of conduct I might hereafter think  of their garden; and the milk of one cow,
it right to pursue, that for the present I who gave very little:during the winter,
would remain quietly in my hovel, watch- when its masters could scarcely procure
ing, and endeavoring to discover the mo- food to support it.  They often, I believe,
tives which influenced their actions.;  suffered the pangs of hunger very poig(The cottagers arose the next morning  nantly, especially the two younger cottabefore the sun. The young woman ar- gers; for several times they placed food
ranged the cottage, and prepared the food; before the old man, when they reserved
and the youth departed after the first meal. none for themselves.
"This day was passed in the same rou-   "This trait of kindness moved me sentine as that which preceded it. The young' sibly. I had been accustomed, during the
man vwas constantly employed out of doors, night, to steal a part of their store for my
and the girl in various laborious occupa-'own consumption: but when I found that
tions within. The old man, whom I soon in doing this I inflicted pain, on the cottaperceived to be blind, employed his leisure gers, I abstained, and satisfied myself with
hours on his instrument, or in contempla- berries, nuts, and roots, which I gathered
tion. Nothing could exceed the love and from a neighboring wood.
respect which the younger cottagers ex-   "I  discovered  also  another means
hibited towards their venerable companion. through which I was enabled to assist
They performed towards him every little their labors. I found that the youth spent
office of affection and duty with gentle- a great part of each day in collecting wood
ness; and he rewarded them by his bene- for the family fire; and during the night,
volent smiles.                          I often took his. tools, the use of which I
"They were not entirely happy. The quickly discovered, and brought home firyoung man and his companion often went ing sufficient for the consumption of sevapart, and appeared to weep'  I saw no eral days.
cause for their unhappiness; but I was   "I remember, that the first time I did
deeply affected by it. If such lovely crea- this, the young woman, when she opened
tures were miserable, it was less strange the door in the morning, appeared greatly
that I, an imperfect and solitary being, astonishlled on seeing a great pile of wood
should be wretched. Yet why were these'on the outside.  She uttered some words
gentle beings unhappy?  They possessed in a lould vqice, and the youth joined her,




FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
who also expressed surprise. I observed to encourage his children, as sometimes I
with pleasure, that he did not go to the found that he called them, to cast off their
forest that day, but spent it in repairing melancholy.  He would talk in a cheerful
the cottage, and cultivating the garden.   accent, with an expression of goodness
"By degrees I made a discovery of still that bestowed pleasure even upon me.
greater moment. I found that these peo- Agatha listened with respect, her eyes
pie possessed a method of communicating sometimes filled with tears, which she entheir experience and feelings to one an- deavored to wipe away unperceived; but
other by articulate sounds. I perceived I generally found that her countenance
that the words they spoke produced either and tone were more cheerful after having
pleasure or pain, smiles or sadness, in the listened to the exhortations of her father.
minds and countenances of the hearers. It was not thus with Felix. He was alThis was indeed a God-like science, and I ways the saddest of the group;  and, even
ardently desired to become acquainted to my unpractised senses, he appeared to
with it. But I was baffled in every at- have suffered more deeply than his friends.
tempt I made for this purpose. Their pro- But if his countenance were more sorrownunciation was quick; and the words they ful, his voice was more cheerful than that
uttered, not having any apparent connec- of his sister, especially when he addressed
tion with visible objects, I was unable to the old man.
discover any clue by which I could unrav-   "I could mention innumerable instanel the mystery of their reference.  By ces, which, although slight, marked the
great application, however, and. after hav- dispositions of these amiable. cottagers. In
ing remained during the space of several the midst of poverty and want, Felix carrevolutions of the moon in my hovel, I dis- ried with pleasure to his sister the first
covered the names that were given to some little white flower that peeped out from
of the most familiar objects of discourse: beneath the snowy ground. Early in the
1 learned and applied the words fire, milk, morning, before she had risen, he cleared
bread, and wood. I learned also the names away the snow that obstructed her path to
of the cottagers themselves. The youth the milk-house, drew water from the well;
and his companion had each of them sever- and brought the wood from the out-house,
al names, but the old man had only one, where, to his perpetual astonishment, he
which was father.  The girl was called found his store always replenished by an
sister or Agatha; and the youth Felix, invisible hand. In the day, i believe, he
brother, or son. I cannot describe the de. worked sometimes for a neighboring farmlight I felt when 1 learned the ideas ap- er, because he often went forth, and did
propriated to each of these sounds, and not return until dinner, yet brought no
was able to pronounce them. I distin- wood with him. At other times he worked
guished  several other words, without in the garden; but as there was little to
being able as yet to understand or apply do in the frosty season, he read to the old
them; such as good, dearest, unhappy.    man and Agatha.
"1I spent the winter in this manner.   "This reading had puzzled me extremeThe'gentle manners and beauty of the ly at first; but, by degrees, I discovered
cottagers greatly endeared them  to Me: that he uttered many of the same sounds
when they were unhappy I felt depressed; when he read as when he talked. I conwhen they rejoiced, I sympathized in their jectured, therefore, that he found on the
joys. I saw few human beings beside paper signs for speech which he underthem; and if any other happened to enter stood,and I ardently longed to comprehend
the cottage, their harsh manners and rude these also; but how was that possible,
gait only enhanced to me the superior ac- when I did not even understand the sounds
complishments of my friends. The old for which they stood as signs. I improved
man, I could perceive, often endeavored however, sensibly in this science, but not




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               59
sufficiently to follow up any kind of con- they had retired to rest, if there was any
versation, although I applied my whole moon, or the night was star-light, I went
mind to the endeavor: for I easily per- into the woods, and collected my own food
ceived that, although I eagerly longed to and fuel for the cottage. When I returned,
discover myself to the cottaogers, I ought as often as it was necessary, I cleared
not to malie the attempt until I had first their path from the snow, and performed
become master of their language; which those offices that I had seen done by Felix.
knowledge might enable me to make them  I afterwards found that these labors, peroverlook the deformity of my figure,; for formed by an invisible hand, greatly astonwith this also the contrast perpetually shed them; and once or twice I heard
presented to my eyes had made me ac- them, on these occasions, utter the-words
quainted.                               good spirit, wonderful; but I did not then
" I had admired the perfect forms of my understand the signification of these terms.
cottagers-their grace, beauty, and deli-   "My thoughts now became more active,
cate complexions: but how was I terrified and I longed to discover the motives and
when I viewed myself in a transparent feelings of these lovely creatures; I was
pool!  At first I started back, unable *to inquisitive to know why Felix appeared
believe that it was indeed I who was re- so miserable, and  Agatha  so sad. I
flected in the mirror; and when I became thought (foolish wretch!) that it might be
fully convinced that I was in reality the in my power to restore happiness to these
monster that I am, I was filled with the deserving people. When I slept, or was
bitterest sensations of despondence and absent, the'forms of the venerable blind
mortification.  Alas! I did not yet entire- father, the gentle Agatha, and -the excelly know the fatal effects of this miserable lent Felix, flitted before me. I looked
deformity.                              upon them as superior beings, who would
"As the sun becaume warmer, and the be the arbiters of my future destiny. I
light of day longer, the snow vanished, formed in my imagination a thousand picand I beheld the bare trees and the black tures of presenting myself to them, and
earth. From  this time Felix was more their reception of me. I imagined that
employed; and the heart-moving  indica- they would be digusted, until by my gentions of impending famine disappeared. tle demeanor and conciliating words, I
Their food, as I afterwards found, was should first win their favor, and afterwards
coarse, but it was wholesome; and they their love.
procured a sufficiency of it. Several new    "These thoughts exhilarated me, and
kinds of plants sprung up in the garden, led me to apply with fresh ardor to the acwhich they dressed; and these signs of quiring the art of language. My organs
comfort increased daily as the season ad- were ilideed harsh, but supple; and alvanced.                                though my voice was very unlike the soft
"The old man, leaning on his son, music of their tones, yet I pronounced
walked each day at noon, when it did not such words as I understood, with tolerable
rain, as I found it was called when the  ease. It was as the ass and the lap-dog;
heavens poured forth its waters.  This yet surely the gentle ass, whose intesitions
frequently took place; but a high wind  were affectionate, although his rianners
quickly dried the earth, and the season be- were rude, deserved better treatment than
came far more pleasant than it had been.  blows and execration.
My mnode of life in my hovel was uni-' The  pleasant showers and genial
form.  During the morning I attended  warmth of spring greatly altered the asthe motions of the cottagers; and when  pect of the earth. Menl, who before this
they were dispersed in various occupations, change seemed to have been hid in caves,
I slept: the remainder of the day was dispersed themselves, and were employed
pent in observing my friends. When  in various arts of cultivatio.r.  The birds




6FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
sang in more cheerful notes, and the  but gentle, although animated; her fealeaves began to bud forth on the trees. tures of a regular proportion, and her comHappy, happy earth! fit habitation for plexion wondrously fair, each cheek tinged
gods, which, so short a time before, was with a lovely tint.
bleak, damp, and unwholesome. My spirits   Felix seemed ravished with delight when
were elevated by the enchanting appear- he saw her, every trait of sorrow vanished
ance of nature; the past was blotted from  from his face, and it instantly expressed a
my memory, the present was tranquil, and degree of ecstatic joy, of which I could
the future gilded by bright rays of hope, hardly have believed it capable; his eyes
and anticipations of joy.              sparkled, as his cheek flushed with pleasure; and at that moment I thought him as
beautiful as the strange:.  She appeared
CHAPTER XII,               affected by different feelings; wiping a few
I ENOW hasten to the more movi~ng part tears from her lovely eyes, she held out
of my story. I shall relate events that her hand to Felix, who kissed it rapturimpressed me with feelin~gs which:from  ously, and called her, as well as I could
what I was, have made me what Ii am.    distinguish, his sweet Arabian. She did
" Spring advanced rapidly; the weather not appear to understand him, but smiled.
became fine, and the skies cloudless. It He assisted her to dismount, and, dismisssurprised me, that what before was desert ing her guide, conducted her into the cotand gloomy should now bloom with the tage. Some conversation took place bem6st beautiful flower~s and verdure. My tween him and his father; and the young
senses were gratified and refreshed by a stranger knelt at the old man's feet, and
thousand scents of delight, and a thousand would have kissed his hand, but he raised
sights of beauty.                      her, and embraced her affectionately.
1" It was on one of these days, when my   "I soon perceived, that although the
cottagers periodically rested:from labor- stranger uttered articulate sounds, and apthe old man played on his guitar, and the peared to have a language of her own, she
children listened to him-I observed that was neither understood by, or herself unthe countenance of Felix was melancholy derstood, the cottagers. They made many
beyond expression: lihe sighed frequently; signs which I did not comprehend; but I
and once his father paused in his music, saw that her presence diffused gladness
and I conjectured by his manner  that he through the cottage, dispelling their sorinquired the cause of his son's sorrow. row as the sun dissipates the morning
Felix replied in a cheerful accent, and the mists. Felix seemed peculiarly happy, and
old man was recommencing his music, with smiles of delight welcomed his Arawhen some one tapped at the door.     bian.  Agatha, the ever-gentle Agatha,
" It was a lady on horseback, accom- kissed the hands of the lovely stranger;
panied by a countryman as a guide. The and, pointing to her brother, made signs
lady was dressed in a dark suit, and cov- which appeared to me to mean that he had
ered with a thick black veil.  Agatha been sorrowful until she came, Some
asked a question; to which the stranger hours passed thus, while they, by their
only replied by pronouncing, in a sweet countenances, expressed joy, the cause of
accent, the name of Felix. Her voice was which I did not comprehend. Presently
musical, but unlike that of either of my I found, by the frequent recurrence of one
friends. On hearing this word, Felix came sound which the stranger repeated after
up hastily to the lady; who, when she saw  them, that she was endeavoring to learn
him, threw up her veil, and I beheld a their language; and the idea instantly occountenance of angelic beauty and expres- curred to me, that I should make use of
sion. Her hair of a shining raven black, the same instructions to the same end.
and curiously braided; her eyes were dark, The stranger learned about twenty words




THE MODERN PROlMETHEUJS                               61
at the first lesson, most of them  indeed though they were considerably shortened
were those which I had before understood, by the late setting and early rising of the
but I profited by the others.           sun; for I never ventured abroad during
"As night came on, Agatha and the daylight, fearful of meeting with the same
Arabian retired early. When they sepa- treatment as I had formerly endured in the
rated, Felix kissed the hand of the stran- first village which I entered.
ger, and said,' Good night, sweet Safie.'   "My days were. spent in close attention
He sat up much longer, conversing with that T might more speedily niaster the lanhis father; and, by the frequent repetition guage; and I may boast that I improved
of her name, I conjectured that their love-  more rapidly than the Arabian, who underly guest was the subject of their conver- stood very little, and conversed in broken
sation. I ardently desired to understand accents, while I1 comprehended andc could
them, and bent every faculty towards that imitate almost every word that was spoken.
purpose, but found it utterly impossible.  While I improved in speech, I also
" The next morning Felix went out to learned the science of letters, as it was
his work; and, after the usual occupations taught to the stranger; and this 4pened
of Agatha were finished, the Arabian set before me a wide field for wonder and deat the feet of the old man, and, taking his light.
guitar, played some airs so entrancingly'" The book from which Felix instructed
beautiful, that they at once drew tears of Safie was'Volney's RPuins of Empiles. I
sorrow and delight from rny eyes. She should not have understood the purport of
sang, and her voice flowed in a rich ca- this book, had not Felix, in reading it, given
denuce, swelling or dying away, like a night- very minute explanations. He had chosen
ingale of the woods.'   this work, he said, because the declamaWhen she had finished, she gave the tory style was framed in imitation of the
guitar to Agatha, who at first declined it. eastern authors.  Through  this work I
She played a simple air, and her voice ac- obtained a cursory knowledge of history,
companied it in sweet accents, but unlike and a view of the several empires at presthe wondrous strain of the stranger. The ent existing in the world; it gave me an
old man appeared enraptured, and said insight into the manners, governments, and
some words, which Agatha endeavored to religions of the different nations of the
explain to Safie, and by which he appeared earth.  I heard of'the slothful Asiatics;
to wish to express that she bestowed on of the stupendous genius and mental ace
him the greatest delight by her music.    tivity of the Grecians; of the wars and
The days now passed as peaceably as wonderful virtue of the early Romans-of
before, with the sole alteration, that joy their subsequent degeneration-of the dehad taken place of sadness in the counte- cline of that mighty empire; of chivalry,
nances of my friends.  Safie was always christianity, and kings. I heard of the
gay and happy; she and I improved rap- discovery of the American hemisphere, and
idly in the knowledge of language, so that wept with Safie over the hapless fate of
in two months I began to comprehend its original inhabitants.
most of the words uttered by my protec-   " These wonderful narrations inspired
tors.                                   me with strange feelings.  Was man, in,
In the meanwhile also the black ground deed, at once so powerful, so virtuous, and
was covered with herbage, and the green magnificent, yet so vicious and, base?  He
banks. interspersed with innumerable flow- appeared at one time a mere scion of evil
ers, sweet to the scent and the eyes, stars principle, and at another as all that can be
of pale radiance among the moonlight conceived of noble and godlike.  To be a
woods; the sun became warmer, the nights great and virtuous man appeared the highclear and balmy; and my nocturnal ram- est honor that can befall a sensitive being;
bles were an extreme pleasure to me, aAl- to be base and vicious, as many on record:




FRANKENSTEIN; OR.
have been, appeared the lowest degrada- rock. I wished sometimes to shake off all
tion, a condition more abject than that of thought and feeling; but I learned that
the blind mole or harmless worm. For a there was but one means to overcome the
long time I could not conceive how one sensation of pain, and that was death-a
man could go forth to murder his;fellow, state which I feared, yet did not underor even why there were laws and govern- stand. I admired virtue and good feelings,
ments; but when I heard details of vice and loved the gentle manners and amiable
and bloodshed, my wonder ceased, and I qualities of my cottagers; but I was shut
hurried away with disgust and loathing.   out from  intercourse with them, except
"Every conversation of the cottagers through means which I obtained by stealth,
now opened new wonders to me.  While when I was unseen and unknown, and
I listened to the instructions which Felix which rather increased than satisfied the
bestowed upon the Arabian, the strange desire I had of becoming one among my
system of human society was explained to fellows.  The gentle words. of Agatha,
me. I heard of the division of property, of and the animated smiles of the charming
immense wealth and squalid poverty; of Arabian were not for me. The mild ex.
rank, descent, and noble blood.        hortations of the old man, and the lively
"The words induced me to turn to- conversation of the loved Felix, were not
wards myself. I learned that the posses- for me.. Miserable, unhappy wretch!
sions most esteemed by your fellow-crea-   " Other lessons were impressed upon me
tures were, high and unsullied descent even more deeply. I heard of the differunited with riches. A man might be re- ence of sexes; of the birth and growth of
spected with only one of these acquisitions; children; how the father doated on the
but without either he was considered, ex- smiles of the infant, and the lively sallies
cept in very rare instances, as a vagabond of the older child; how all the life and
and a slave, doomed to waste his powers eares of the mother were wrapt up in the
for the profit of the chosen few. And what precious charge; how the. mind of youth
was I?  Of my creation and creator I was expanded and gained knowledge; of broabsolutely ignorant,; but I knew that I ther, sister, and all the various relationpossessed no money, no friends, no kind ships which bind one human being to anoof property. I was, besides, endowed with ther in mutual bonds.
a figure. hideously deformed and loath-   "But where were my friends and relasome; I was not even of the same nature tions? No father had watched my infant
as man. I was more agile than they, and days, no mother had blessed  me with
could subsist upon coarser diet; I bore the smiles and caresses; or if they had, all my
extremes of heat and cold with less injury past life was now a blot, a blind vacancy
to my frame; my stature far exceeded in which I distinguished nothing.  From
theirs. When I looked around, I saw and my earliest remembrance I had been as I
heard of none like me.  Was I then a then was in height and proportion. I had
monster, a blot upon the earth, from which never yet seen a being resembling me, or
all men fled, and whom all men disowned. who claimed any intercourse with me.
I cannot describe to you the agony that What was I? The question again rethese reflections inflicted upon me; I tried curred, to be answered only with groans.
to dispel them, but sorrow only' increased    "I  will soon explain to what these feelwith knowledge.  Oh, that I had for ever ings tended; but allow me now to return
remained in my native wood, nor known or to the cottagers, whose story excited in-me
felt beyond the sensations of hunger, thirst, such various feelings of indignation, deand heat.                              light, and wonder, but which all termina-'Of what a strange nature is know- ted in additional love and reverence for my
1 dge! It clings to the minds, when it protectors (for so I loved, in an innocent,
nas once seized on it, like a lintichen on the half painful self-deceit to call them.)




THE MODERN PROMETEEUS                                63
CHAPTER  XIII.               lighted, endeavored to kindle the zeal of his
c" S~OE time elapsed before I learned tfhe deliverer by promises of reward and wealth.
history of my friends. It was one which Felix rejected his offers with contempt
could not fail to impress itself deeply on  yetwhenhe sawthelovelySafie,whowas
my mind), unfolding as it did a Inulmlber of allowed to visit her father, and who by her
circumstances each interestingo and wond-gestures, expressed her lively gratitude,
erful to one so utterly inexperienced as the youth could not help owningtohisown
I was.                                  mind, that the captive possessed a treasure
" The name of the old mall was De La  which would  fully reward his toil and
hazard.
cey.  He was descended from a good fam-aard.
ily in France, where he had lived for many    "The Tulr quickly perceived the inyears in affluence, respected by his supe- pression that his daughter had made on the
riors, and beloved by his equals. His son  heart of Felix, and endeavored to secure
was bred in the service of his country; and  him more entirely in his intelests by the
Agatha had ranked with ladies of the high- promise of her hand in marriage, so soon as
est distinction. A few months before my  he should be conveyed to a place of safety.
arrival, they had lived in a large and luxu- Felix was too delicate to accept this
rious city, called Paris, surrounded by offer; yet he looked forward to the profriends, and possessed of every enjoyment bability of that event as to the eonsummawhich virtue, refinement of intellect, or  ion of his happiness.
taste, accompanied by a moderate fortune,    During  the ensuing days, while the
could afford,                           preparations were going forward for the
"' The father of Safie had been the cause escape of the merchant, the zeal of Felix
of their ruin.  He was a Turkish merch- was warmed by several letters that he
ant, and had inhabited Paris for many years, received from this lovely girl, who found
when, for some reason which I could not means to express her thoughts in the lan-.
learn, he became obnoxious to the govern- guage of her lover by the aid of an old man,
ment. He was seized and cast into prison  a servant of her father's, who understood
the very day that Safie arrived from Con- French.  She thanked him in the most
stantinople to join him. He was tried, and  ardent terms for his intended services
condemned to death. The injustice of his towards her father; and at the same time
sentence was very flagrant; all Paris was she gently deplored her own fate.
indignant; and it was judged that his reli-   "I have copies of these letters; for I
gion and wealth, rather than the crime found means, during my residence in the
alleged against him, had been the cause of hovel, to procure the implements of writing;
his condemnation.                       and the letters were often in the hands of
" Felixhad been present at the trial; his Felix or Agatha.' Before I depart, I will
horror and indignation were uncontrollable, give them to you, they will prove the truth
when he heard the decision of the court. of my tale; but at present, as the sun is
He made, at that moment, a solemn vow to already far declined, I shall cnly have time
deliver him, and then looked around for the to repeat the substance of them to you.
means. After many fruitless attempts to    " Safie related, that her mother was a
gain admittance to the prison, he found a Christian Arab, seized and made a slave by
strongly grated window in an unguarded  the Turks; recommended by her beauty,
part of the building, which lighted the dur- she had won the heart of the father of Sade,
geon of the unfortunate Mahometan; who, who married her. The young girl spoke
loaded with chains, waited in despair the in high and enthusiastic terms of her
execution of the barbarous sentence.    mother, who, born in freedom, spurned the
"Felix visited the grate at night,and bondage to which she was now. reduced.
made known to the prisoner his intentions She instructed her daughter in the tenets
n his favor. The Turk, amazed and de- of her religion, and taught her to aspire




$4                         FRANKENS TEIN; OR,
to higher powers of intellect, and an inde- Felix if he should appear lulkevwarm; for he
pendence of spirit, forbidden to the female knew that he was still in the power of his
followers of Mahomet. This lady died; deliverer, if he should choose to betray him
but her lessons were indelibly impressed on to the Italian state which they inhabited.
the mind of Safle, who sickened at the He revolved a thousand plans by whlich he
prospect of again returning to Asia, and should be enabled to prolong' the deceit
the being immured within the walls of a until it might be no longer necessary, and
haram, allowed only to occupyherself with secretly to take his daughter with him
puerile amusements, ill suited to the temper when he departed. His plans were greatly
of her soul, now  accustomed to  grand facilitated bv the news which arrived
ideas and a noble emulation for virtue. from Paris.
The prospect of marrying a Christian, and' The goverment of France were greatly
remaining in a country where women enraged at the escape of their victim, and
were allowed to take a rank in society, spared no pains to detect and punish his
was enchanting to her.                  deliverer.  The plot of Felix was quickly
"The day for the execution of the Turk discovered, and De Lacey and Agatha were
was fixed; but, the night previous to it, he thrown into prison. The news reached
had quitted prison, and before morning Felix, and roused him from his dream  of
was distant many leagues from  Paris. pleasure. His blind and aged father, and
Felix had procured passports in the name his gentle sister, lay in a noisome dungeon,
of his father, sister, and himself. He had while he enjoyed the free air, and the
previously communicated his plan to the society of her whom he loved. This idea
former, who aided the deceit by quitting was torture to him. He quickly arranged
his house, under the pretence of a journey, with the Turk, that if the latter should find
and concealed himself, with his daughter, a favorable opportunity for escape before
in an obscure part of Paris.           Felix could return to Italy, Safie should
"Felix conducted the fugitives through remain as a boarder at a convent at LegFrance to Lyons, and across Mont Cenis horn; and then, quitting the lovely Arato Leghorn, where the merchant had de- bian, he hastened to Paris, and delivered
cided to wait a favorable opportunity of" himself up to the vengeance of the law,
passing into some part of the Turkish do- Ioping to free De.Lacey and Agatha by
minions.                               this proceeding.
" Safie resolved to remain with her father   "He did not succeed. They remained
until the moment of his departure, before confined for five months before the trial
which time the Turk renewed his promise took place; the result of which deprived
that she should be united to his deliverer; them of their fortune, and condemnedthem
and Felix remained with them in expecta- to perpetual exile from their native countion of that event; and in the mean time he. try.
enjoyed the society of the Arabian, who   "They found a miserable asylum  in the
exhibited towards him the simplest and cottage in Germany, where I discovered
tenderest affection. They conversed with them. Felix soon learned thatthetreacherone another through the means of an in- ous Turk, for whom  he and his family
terpreter, and sometimes with the interpre- endured such unheard of oppression, on
tation of looks; and Safie sang to him the discovering that his deliverer was thus
divine airs of her native country.      reduced to poverty and impotence, became
"The Turk allowed this intimacy to a traitor to good feeling and honor, and
take place, and encouraged the hopes of the'had quitted  Italy  with his daughter,
youthful lovers, while in his heart he had insultingly sending Felix a pittance of
formed far other plans.  He loathed the money to aid him, as he said, in some plan
idea that his daughter should be united to a of future maintenance.
Christian; but he feared the resentment of. "Such were the events that preyed on




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS                                65
the heart of Felix, and rendered him, when affection; but the poor girl died, and the
I first saw him, the most miserable of his Arabian was left'alone, unacquainted with
family. He could have endured poverty, the language of the country, and utterly
and when this distress had been the meed ignorant of the customs of the world.  She
of his virtue, he would have gloried in it: fell, however, into good hands. The Italian
but the ingratitude of the Turk, and the had mentioned the name of the spot for
loss of his beloved Safie, were misfor- which they were bound; and after her
tunes more bitter and irreparable.  The death, the woman of the house ill which
arrival of the Arabian now infused new  they had lived took care that Safie should
life into his soul.                    arrive in safety at the cottage of her lover.
W' hen the news reached Leghorn, that
Felix was deprived of his wealth and rank,
the merchant commanded his daughter to            CHAPTER XIV.
think no more of her lover, but prepare to
"'SUCH~ was the history of my belovedl
return with him to her native country.ottagers. It impressed me deeply. I
The generous nature of Safie was outraged learned from the views of social life which
by this command; she attempted to expost- it developed, to admire their virtues, and
ulate withher father, but he left her angri- deprecate the vices of mankind.
ly, reiterating his tyrannical mandate.  "c As yet I looked upon crime as a dis.
"A fewdays after, the Turk entered his tant evil; benevolence  and generosity
daughter's apartment, and told her hastily, were ever present before me, inciting withthat he had reason to believe that his resi. in me a desire to become an actor in the
dence at Leghorn had been divulged, and busy scene where so many admirable, qualthat he should speedily be delivered up to ities were called forth and displayed, but,
the French government; he had, conse- in giving an account of the progress of my
quently, hired a vessel to convey him to intellect, I must not omit a circumstance
Constantinople, for which city he should which occurred in the beginning of the
sail in a few hours. He intended to leave month of August of the same year.
his daughter under the care of a confiden-   "One night, during nmy accustomed visit
tial servant, to follow at her leisure with to the neighboring wood, where I collected
the greater part of his property, which had my own food, and brought home firing for
not yet arrived at Leghorn.            my protectors, I found on the ground a
"When alone, Safie resolved in her own leathern portmanteau, containing several
mind the plan of conduct that it would articles of dress and some books. Ieaogerly
become her to pursue in this emergencey. seized the prize, and returned with it to the
A residence in Turkey was abhorrent to hovel.  Fortunately the books were writher; her religion and feelings were alike ten in the language the elements of which
adverse to it. By some papers of her I had acquired at the cottage; they confather's, which fell into her hands, she heard sisted of Paradise Lost, a volume of PMuof the spot where he then resided.  She trarch's Lives, and the Srrow2s of Werter.
hesitated some time, but at length she The possession of these pleasures gave me
formed her determination. Taking with extreme delight; I now continually studher some jewels that belonged to her, and ied and exercised my mind upon these hisa small sum of money, she quitted Italy, tories, while my friends were employed in
with an attendant, a native of Leghorn, but their ordinary occupations.
who understood the common language of "'  I can hardly describe to you the effect
Turkey, and departed for Germany.      of these books. They produced in me an
"She arrived in safety at a town about infinity of new images and feelings, that
twenty leagues from the cottage of De sometimes raised me to ecstacy, but more
Lacey, when her attendant fell dangerous- frequently sunk me into the lowest dejecly ill. Safie nursed her with most devoted tion, In the,&orrows of Werter, besides




66                         FRANKENSTETN; OR,
the interest of its simple and affecting sto- confused knowledge of kingdoms, wide exry, so many opinions are canvassed, and tents of country, mighty rivers, and boundso many lights thrown upon what had hith- less seas. But I was perfectly unacquainterto been to me obscure subjects, that I ed with towns and large assemblages of
found in it a never ending source of spec- men. The cottage of my protectors had
ulation and astonishment. The gentle and been the only school in which I had studied
domestic manners desrdibed,combined with  human nature; but this book developed
lofty sentiments and feelings, which had new  and mightier scenes of action.  I
for their object something out of self, ac- read of men concerned in public affairs
corded well with my experience among governing or massacreeing their species.
my  protectors, and  with  the  wants 1 felt the greatest ardor for virtue rise
which were forever alive in my own bo- within me, and abhorrence for vice, as far
som. But I thought Welter himself a as I understood the signification of those
more divine being than I had ever beheld terms, relative as they were, as I applied
or imagined; his character contained no them, to pleasure and pain alone.  Induced
pretension, but it sunk deep. The disquisi- by these feelings, I was of course led to
tions upon death and suicide were calcula- admire peaceable law-givers, Numa, Soted to fill me with wonder. I did not pre- lon and Lycurgus, in preference to Romutend to enter into the merits of the case, Ius and Thesus.  The patriarchal lives of 
yet I inclined towards the opinions of the my protectors caused these impressions to
hero, whose extinctionI wept, without pre- take a firm hold on my mind; perhaps, iff
cisely understanding it.                my first introduction to humanity had been
"As I read, however, I applied much  made by a. young soldier, burning for glopersonally to my own feelings and condi- ry and slaughter, I should have been irition.  I found myself similar, yet at the bued with different sensations.
same time strangelyuunlike the beings con-   "But Paradise Lost excited different
cerning whom I read, and to whose con- and far deeper emotions. I read it, as I
versation I was a listener. I sympathized had read the other volumes which had fallwith, and partly understood them, but I was en into my hands, as a true history.  it
uninformed in mind; I was dependent on moved every feeling of wonder and awe,
none, and related to none.' The path of that the picture of an omnipotent God svarmy departure was free,' and there was none ring with his creatures 1,7was capable of exto lament my annihilation. My person citing. I often remarked the several situwas hideous, and my stature gigantic: tions, as their similarity struck me, lo my
what did this mean? Who was I? What own. Like Adam, I was created, appawas I? Whence did I come? What was rently united by no link to any other being
my destination?  These questions contin- in existence; but his state was far differually recurred, but I was unable to solve ent firom mine in every other respect. He
them.                                   had come forth from the hands of God a
r' The volume of Plutarch's Lives which  perfect creature, happy and prosperous,
I possessed, contained the histories of the guarded by the especial care of his Creafirst founders of the ancient republics. tor; he was allowed to converse with, and
This book had a far different effect upon acquire knowledge from beings of a supeme from the Sorrows. of Werler.  I learn- riot nature: but I was wretched, helpless,
ed from Werter's imaginations desponden- and alone. Many times I considered Satan
cy and gloom: but Plutarch taught me as the fitter emblem of my condition; for
high thoughts; he elevated me above the often, like him, when I viewed the bliss of
wretched sphere of my own reflections, to my protectors, the bitter gall of envy rose
admire and love the heroes of past ages. within me.
Many things I read surpassed my under-   " Another circumstance  strengthened
standing and experience. I had a very and confirmed these feelings.  Soon after




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               67
my arrival in the hovel, I discovered some ence, that I was unwilling to commence
papers in the pocket of the dress which I this undertaking until a -few more months
had taken from  your laboratory.  At first should have added to my wisdom.
I had neglected them; but now that I was   "Several changes, in the mean time,
able to decipher the characters in which took place in the cottage. The presence
they were written, I began to' study them  of Safie diffused happiness among its inwith diligence. It was your journal of the habitants; and I also found that a greater
four months that preceded my creation. You degree of plenty reigned there. Felix and
minutely described in these papers every Agatha spent more time in anusement and
step youa took in the progress of your conversation, and were assisted in their
work; this history was mingled with ac- labors by servants,  They did not appear
counts of domestic occurrences.  YTou, rich, but were  contented and happy;
doubtless, recollect these papers. Here their feelings were serene and peaceful,
they are. Everything is related in them  while inine became every day more tuwhich bears reference to myaccursed ori- multuous.  Increase of knowledge only
gin; the whole detail of that series of dis- discovered to me more clearly what a
gusting circumstances which produced it wretched  outcast I was.  I cherished
is set in view; the minutest description of hope, it is true; but it vanished, when I
my odious and loathsome person is given, beheld my person reflected in water, or my
in language which painted your own hor- shadow  in the moonshine, even as that
rors, and rendered mine ineffaceable. I frail image and that inconstant shade.
sickened as I read. 6 Hateful day when I   "~ I endeavored to crush these fears, and
received  life!' I exclaimed  in agony. to fortify myself for the trial which in a'Cursed creator!  Why did you form a few months I resolved to undergo; and
monster so hideous that even you turned sometimes I allowed  my thoughts, unfrom me in disgust?  God in pity made checked by reason, to ramble in the fields
man beautiful and alluring, after his own of Paradise, and dared to fancy amiable
image; but my form is a, filthy type of and lovely creatures sympathizing with
yours, more horrid from its very resem- my feelings and cheering my gloom; their
blance. Satan had his companions, fellow  angelic countenances breathed smiles of
devils, to admire and encourage him; but consolation.  But it was all a dream: no
I am solitary and detested.'            Eve soothed my sorrows, or shared my
"'These were the reflections of my hours thoughts; I was alone.  I remembered
of despondency and solitude; but when I Adam's supplication to his Creator; but
contemplated the virtues of the cottagers, where was mine? he had abandoned me,
their amiable and benevolent dispositions, and, in the bitterness of my heart, I cursed
I persuaded myself that when they should himn.
become acquainted with my admiration of   "Autumn passed thus. I saw, with surtheir virtues, they would compassionate prise and grief, the leaves decay and fall,
me, and overlook my personal deformity. and nature again assume the barren and
Could they turn from their door one, how- bleak appearance it had worn when I first
ever monstrous, who solicited their com- beheld the woods and lovely moon. Yet
passion and friendship?  I resolved, at I did not heed the bleakness of the wealeast, not to despair, but in every way to ther; I was better fitted by my conformafit myself for an interview witlh them which tion for the endurance of cold thafi heat.
would decide my fate. I postponed this But my chief delights were the sight of
attempt for some months longer; for the the flowers, the birds, and all the gay apimportance attached to its success inspired parel of summer; when those deserted
me with a dread lest I should fail. Be- me, I turned with more attention towards
sides', I found that my understanding im- the cottagers. Their happiness was not
proved so much with every day's experi- decreased by the absence of summer.




68                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
They loved, and sympathized with one   "My heart beat quick; this was-r'the
another; and their joys, depending on hour and moment of trial, which would
each other, were not interrupted by the decide my hopes, or realize my fears. The
casualties that took place around them. servants were gone to a neighboring fair.
The more I saw of them, the greater be- All was silent in and arounud the cottage:
came my desire to claim their protection it was an excellent opportunity; yet,
and kindness; my heart yearned to be when I proceeded to execute my plan, my
known and loved by these amiable crea- limbs failed me, and I sunk to the ground.
tures: to see their sweet looks turned to- Again I rose; and, exerting all the firmwards me with affection, was the utmost ness of which I was master, removed the
limit of my ambition. I dared not think planks which I had placed before my hovel
that they would turn them from me with to conceal my retreat, The fresh air
disdain and horror. The poor that stopped revived me, and, with reneweed determiat their door were near driven away. I nation, I approached the door of their cotasked, it is true, for greater treasures then tage.
a little food or rest;.1 required kindness   "I knocked.' Who is there?' said the
and sympathy; but I did not believe my- old man-' Come in.'
self utterly unworthy of it.              "I entered;' Pardon this intrusion,' said
"The winter advanced, and an entire I,'I am a traveller in want of a little
revolution of the seasons had taken place rest; you would greatly oblige me, if you
since I awoke into life. My attention, at would allow rue to remain a few minutes
this time, was solely directed towards my before the fire.'
plan of introducing myself into the cottage   "'Enter,' said De Lacey;'and I will
of my protectors. I revolved projects; but try in what manner I can relieve your
that on which I finally fixed was, to enter wants; but, unfortunately, my children
the dwelling when the blind old man are from  home, and, as I am blind, I am
should be alone. I had sagacity enough afraid I shall fiend it difficult to procure
to discover, that the unnatural hideous- food for you.'
ness of my person was the chief object of   "' Do not trouble yourself, my kind
horror with those who had formerly beheld host, I have food; it is warmth and rest
me. My voice, although harsh, had no- only that I need.'
thing terrible in it; I thought, therefore,   "I sat down, and a silence ensued. I
that if, in the absence of his children, I knew that every minute was precious to
could gain. the good-will and mediation of me, yet I remained irresolute in what
the old De Lacey, I might, by his means, manner to commence the interview; when
be tolerated by my younger protectors.   the old man addressed me" One day, when the sun shone on the,  "' By your language, stranger, I supred leaves that strewed the ground, and pose you are my countryman; are you.
diffused cheerfulness, although it denied French?"
warmth, Safie, Agatha, and Felix, depart-   "' No; but I was educated by a French
ed on a long country walk, and the old fainily, and understand that language only.
man, at his own desire, was left alone in I am now going to claim the protection of
the cottage. When his children had de- some friends, whom I sincerely love, and
parted, he took up his guitar, and played of whose favor I have some hopes.'
several mournful, but sweet airs, more;' 6Are these Germans?'
sweet and mournfulthan I had ever heard  ""'JNo, they are French. But let us
him play before. At first his countenance change the subject. I am an unfortunate
was illuminated with pleasure, but, as he and deserted creature; I look around, and
continued, thoughtfulness and sadness have no relation or friend upon earth.
succeeded; at length, laying aside the in- These amiable people to whom I go have
strument, he sat absorbed in reflection.    never seen me, and know little of me.  I




THE MiODERN PROMETHEUS.                               60
am  full of fears; for if I fail there, I am  to virtue. I also am  unfortunate; I and
an outcast in the world for ever.'       my family have been condemned, although
"'Do not despair. To be friendless is innocent: judge, therefore, if I do not feel
indeed to be unfortunate; but the hearts for your misfortunes.'
of men, when unprejudiced by any obvious    "' How can I thank you, my best and
self-interest, are full of brotherly love and  only benefactor? From your lips first have
charity. Rely, therefore on your hopes; I heard the voice of kindness directed toand if these friends are good and amiable, wards me; I shall be forever grateful; and
do not despair.'                         your present humanity assures me of suc"'They are kind-they are the most cess with those friends whom I am on the
excellent creatures in the world; but, un- point of meeting.'
fortunately, they are prejudiced against   "'May I know the namies and residence
me. I have good dispositions; my life of those friends?'
has been hitherto harmless, and, in some    "I paused. This, I thought, was the
degree, beneficial; but a fatal prejudice  moment of decision, which was to rob me
clouds their eyes, and where they ought of, or bestow happiness on me for ever. I
to see a feeling and kind friend, they be- struggled vainly for firmness sufficient to
hold only a detestable monster.'         answer him, but the eiTort destroyed all
"'That is indeed unfortunate; but if my remaining strength; I sank on the
you are really blameless, cannot you unde- chair, and sobbed aloud. At that moment
ceive them?'                            I heard the steps of my younger protectors.
"' 6I am about to undertake that task; I had not a moment to lose; but, seizing
and it is on that account that I feel so the hand of the old man, I cried,' Now is
many overwhelming terrors.  I tenderly  the time! save and protect me! You and
love these friends; I have, unknown to your family are the friends whom I seek.
them, been for many months in the habits Do not you desert me in the hour of trial!'
of daily kindness towards them; but they    "' Great God' exclaimed the old man,
believe that I wish to injure them, and it' who are you?'
is that prejudice which I wish to over-        t that instant the cottage door wab
come.'                                  opened, and Felix, Safie, and Agatha en", Where do these friends reside?'
Where do ttered.  Who can describe their horror and
s"' Near this spot.'                 consternation on beholding me?  Agatha
"The old man paused, and then con- fainted; and Safie, unable to attend to her
tinued,'If you will unreservedl y confide  friend, rushed out of the cottage.  Felix
to me the particulars of your tale, I may  darted  forward, and  with  supernatural
perhaps be of use in tlndeeriving them.  I
perhaps be of use in undeceiving them. 1 force tore me from his father, to whose
am blind, and cannot judge of your coun-  knees I clung: In a transport of fury, he
tenance, but there is something in your dashed me to the ground, and struck me
words which pelrsuades rlue that; you are violently with a stick. I could have torn
sincere. I am poor, and an exile; but it him limb from limb, as the lion rends the
will afford me true pleasure to be in any  a
antelope. But my heart sunk within me
way serviceable to a human creature.'
as with bitter sickness, and I refrained.  I
" Excellent man! I thank you, and acExcellen an  I than  you, and c-  saw him on the point of repeating  his
cept your generous offer. You raise me
blow, when, overcome by pain and anguish,
from  the dust by this kindness; and I
I quitted the cottage, and in the general
trust that, by your aid, I shall not be driven
*from the society and sympathy' of your fellow creatures.'
"'Heaven forbid! even if you were                CHAPTER  XV.
really criminal; for that can only drive    "CTJsuED, cursed creator! *Why did I
you to desperation, and not instigate you  live?  Why, in that instant, did I not ex



70                           FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
tinguish the spark of existence which you  dently. It was apparent that my converhad so wantonly bestowed?  I know not; sation had interested the father in my bedespair had not yet taken possession of half; arid I was a fool in having exposed
me; my feeling's were those of rage and  my person to the horror of his children. I
revenge. I could with pleasure have de- ought to have familiarized theothe old De
stroyed the cottage and its inhabitants, and  Lacey to me, and, by degrees have discovhave glutted myself with their shrieks and  ered myself to the rest of his family, when
misery.                                  they should have been prepared for my
" When night came, I quitted my retreat, approach. But I did not believe my errors
and wandered in the wood; andl now, no  to be irretrieveable; and, after much conlonger restrainedt by the fear of discovery, sideration, I resolved to return to the cotI gave vent to my anguish in fearful howl- tage, seeli the old - man, and by my repreings.  I was like a wild beast'that had  sentations win. him to my party.
broken the toils; destroying the objects    " These' thoughts calmed me, and in the
that obstructed me, and rang'ing through  afternooll   sank into a pofount sleep;
the wood with a itag-like swiftness.  Oh! butl the fever of  my blood did riot allow me
what a miserable night I passed! the cold  to be visited by peaceful dreams.  The
stars shone in mockery, and the bare trees  horrible scene of tie preceding day was
waved their branches above me: i now and  for evel acting before rn  eyes; the fethen the sweet voice of a bird burst forth  males were fying, and the enraged Felix
amidst the universal stillness.  All, save I, tearing me from his father's feet. I awoke
were at rest or in enjoyment: 1, like the  exhausted; and, finding that it was already
arch fiend, bore a hell within inme; and, night, crept forth from  my hiding-place,
finding myself unsympathized with, wishedh  f food.
to tear up the trees, spread havoc arid de-er was appeased, I di" When mny hunllger  was appeased, I distruction around inme, and then to ]lave sat.
rected my steps towardcl the well-known
down and enjoyed the ruin.
path that conductedc to the cottage.  All
" But thlis was a luxury of sensation that
there was at peace. I crept into my hovel,
could not enldure;  I became faitigued wkth
could not endure; I became   igued with  and remained in silent expectation of the
excess of bodily exertion, and sank on the                       t
accustomed hOur When the family  arose.
damp grass in the  sick impotence of deThat hour past, the sun mounted high in
spair. There was none among the myriads                                       n
the heavens, but the cottagers did not apof men that existed who would pity or assist me; and should I feel kindness towardsently, apprehending
some dreadful misfortune.  The inside of
my enemies?  No: from that moment I
thle cottage was darli, an(d [ heard nlo modeclared everlasting war against the spe-  h 
n..   r   tion; I cannot describe the a;ony  of this
cies, and, more than all, against him who
had formed me and sent me forth to this su'pense.
insupportable misery.                      " Presentiy two countrymen passed by;
" The sun rose; I h1eard the voices of but, pausing near the cottage, they entermen, and knew that it waos impossible to  ed into conversation, using violent gesticureturn to my retreat during that day. Ac- lations; but 1 did not understand what
cordingly I hid myself in some thick un- they said, as they spoke the language of
derwood, determining to devote the ensu- the countly, which differed from that of
ing hours to reflection oln my situation.    my protectors. Soon after, however, Felix
The  pleasant sunshine, and the pure air approached with another man: I was surof day, restored me to some degree of tran- prised, as I;new that h ad not quitted
quility; and when I considered -whal; had  the cottage that morning, and waited anx-'passed at the cottage, I could not help be- iously to discover, -from his discourse, the
lieving that I had been too hasty in rny  meaning of these unusual appearances.
conclusions. I had certainly acted impru-    "' Do you consider,' said his companion




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               71
to him,' that you will be obliged to pay  dry branch of a tree, and danced with fury
three months' rent, and to lose the produce around the devoted cottage, my eyes still
of your garden? I do not wish to take any  fixed on the western horizon, the edge of
unfair advantage, and I beg therefore that which the moon nearly touched. A part
you will take some days to consider of of its orb was at length hid, and I waived
your determination.'                    my brand; it sunk, and with a loud scream?I"' It is utterly useless,' replied Felix, I fired the straw, and heath, and bushes,'we can never again:inhabit your cottage. which I had collected.  The wind fanned
The life of my father is in the greatest the fire, and the cottage was quickly endanger, owing to the dreadful circulm- veloped by the flames, which clung tp it,
stance that I have related. My wife and  and licked it with their forked and destroysister will never recover their horror. I ing tongues.
entreat you not to reason with me any    "As soon as I was convinced that no
more. Take possession of your tenement, assistance could save any part of the haband let me fly from this place.'        itation, I quitted the scene, and sought for
"Felix trembled violently as he said this. refuge in the woods.
He and his conpanion entered the cottage,   " And now, with the world before me,
in which they remained for a few minutes, whither should I bend my steps?  I reand then departed.  I never saw any of solved to fly far from the scene of my misthe family of De Lacey more.             fortunes: but to me, hated and despised,
I continued for the remainder of the day  every country must be equally horrible.
in my hovel in a state. of utter and stupid  At length the thought of you crossed my
despair.  My protectors had departed,and mind. I learned from your papers that
had broken the only link that held me to you were my father, my creator; and to
the world. For the first time the feelings whom could I apply with more fitness than
of revenge and hatred filled my bosom, to him who had given me life?  Among
and I did not strive to control them; but the lessonls that Felix. had bestowed upon
allowing myself to be borne away by the  Safie geography had not been omitted; I
stream, I bent my mind towards injury and  had learned friom these the relative situadeath. W~hen I thought of my friends, of tions of the different countries of the earth.
the mild voice of De Lacey, the gentle eyes  You had mentioned Geneva as the name
of Agatha, and the exquisite beauty of the  of your native town; and towards this
Arabian, these thoughts vanished, and a place I resolved to proceed.
gush of tears somewhat soothed me. But   ":ut how was, I to direct myself? I
again, when I reflected that they had  knew that I must travel in a south westerspurned and deserted me, anger returned, ly direction to' reach my destination; but
a rage of anger: and, unable to injure  the sun was my only guide. I did not
anything human, I turned my fury towards know the names of the towns that if was
inanimate objects. As night advanced, I to pass through, nor could I ask informaplaced a variety of combustibles around  tion from a single human being; but I did
the cottage; and, after having destroyed Inot despair. From you only could I hope
every vestige of cultivation in the garden, for succor, although towards you I felt no
I waited with forced impatience until the  sentiment but that of hatred. Unfeeling,
moon had'sunk, to commence my operations. heartless creator! you had endowed me
"' As the night advanced, a fierce wind  with perceptions and passions, and then
arose fiom the woods, and quickly  dis- cast me abroad an object for the scorn and
persed the clouds that had loitered in the  horror of mankind. But on you only had
heavens; the blast tore along like  a  I any claim for pity and redress, and from
mighty avalanche, and produced a kind of you I determined to seek that justice
insanity in my spirits, that burstall bounds which I vainly attempted to gain from any
of reason and reflection. 1 lighted the other being that wore the human form.




72                           FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
s2" M-y travels were long, and the suffer- of the wood, until I came its boundary,
ings 1 endured intense. It was late in au- which was skirted by a deep and rapid
tumn when I quitted the district where I river, into which many of the trees bent
had so long resided. I travelled only at their branches, now budding with the fresh
night, fearful of encountering the visage  spring.  -lere I paused, not exactly knowof a human being. Nature decayed around  ing what path to pursue, when I heard the
me, and the sun became heatless; rain  sound of voices, that induced me to conand snow poured around me; mighty riv- ceal myself under the shade of a cypress.
ers were frozen; the surface of the earth  I was scarcely hid, when a youngo girl
was hard, and chill, and bare, and I found  came running towards the spot where I
no shelter. Oh, earth! how often did I was concealed, laughing as if she ran
imprecate curses on the cause of my being! from some one in sport. She continued
The mildness of my nature had fled, and  her course alono' the precipitous sides of
all within me was turned to gall and bit- the river, when suddenly her foot slipt, and
terness. The nearer I approached toyour she fell into the rapid stream. I rushed
habitation, the more deeply did I feel the from my hiding place, and, with extreme
spirit of revenge enkindled in my heart. labor from the force of the current, saved
Snow fell, and the waters were hardened, her, and drag'ged her to shore.  She was
but I rested not. A few incidents now  senseless; and I endeavored, by every
and then directed me, and I possessed a imeans in my power, to restore animation,
map of the country; but I often wandered  when I was suddenly interrupted by the
wide from my path. The agony of my  approach of a rustic, who was probably the
feelings allowed me no respite; no inci- person from whom she had playfully fled.
dent occurred from which my rage and  On seeing mei he darted towards me, and,
misery could.not extract its food; but a tearing the girl from my arms, hastened
circumstance that happened when I arrived- towards the deeper parts of the wood. I
on the confines of Switzerland, when the followed speedily, I hardly knew why; but
sun had recovered its warmth, and the  when the man saw mlle draw near, he aimed
earth again began tolook green, confirmed  a gun, which he carried, at my body, and
in an especial manner the bitterness and  fired. I sunk to the ground, and my inhorror of nay feelings.                 jurer, with increased swiftness, escaped
"' I generally rested during the day, and  into the wood.
travelled only when i was secured by night   " This was then the reward of my befrom  the view  of man. One morning, nevolence!  I had saved a human being
however, finding that my path lay through  from destruction, and, as a recompense, I
a deep wood, I ventured to continue my now writhed under the pain of a wound,
journey after the sun had risen; the day, which shattered the flesh and bone. The
which was one of the first of spring, feelings of kindness and gentleness, which
cheered even me by the loveliness of its I had entertained but a few moments besunshine and the balminess of the air. I  fre, gave place to hellish rage and gnashfelt emotions of gentleness and pleasure ing of teeth. Inflamed by pain, I vowed
that had long appeared dead, revive within  eternal hatred and vengeance to all manme.  Half surprised by the novelty of kind.  But the agony of my  wound
these sensations, I allowed myself to be overcame me: my pulses paused, and I
borne away by them; and, forgetting my fainted.
solitude and deformity, dared to be happy. ": For some weeks I led a miserable life
Soft tears again bedewed my cheeks, and in the woods, endeavoring to cure the
I even raised my humid eyes with thank- wound which I had received. The ball
fulness towards the blessed sun, which had entered my shoulder, and I knew not
bestowed such joy upon me.             whether it had remained there or passed
"I continued to wind among the paths through; at any rate I had no means of




THE MODERN PROMt ETHEUS.                              73
extracting it. My sufierings were aug-    6 Boy, you will never see you father
mented also by the oppressive sense of the again; you must come with me.'
injustice and ingratitude of their infliction.   "' Hideous monster! let me go; my
MTy daily vows rose -for revenge, such as papa is a Syndic-he is M. Frankenstein;
would alone compensate for the outrages lhe would punish you. You dare not keep
and anguish I had endured.              me.'
"After some weeks my wound healed,   "' Frankelnstein! you belong then to
and I continued my journey. The labors my enemy-to him towards whoml I have:1 endured were no longer to be alleviated  sworn eternal revenge; you, shall be my
by the bright sun or gentle breezes of first victim.'
spri ng: all joy was but a mockery, which    "The child still struggled, and loaded
insulted my desolate state, and made me ine with epithets which carried despair to
feel more painfully that I was not made for my heart: I grasped his throat to silence
the enjoyment of pleasure.              him, and in a moment he lay dead at my
feet.
But my toils now drew near a close; feet.
and, two months from this time I reached'"  gazed on my victim, and my heart
the lenvirons of G-enieva.              swelled with exultation and hellish triLumph: clappino my hands, I exclaimed,
g4 It wcas evening when I arrived,. and I.                    n
w eveningwhen          6arrived n I, too, can create desolation; my enemy
retired to a hiding place among the fields is 
M        is not impregnable; this deathl will carry
that surround it, to meditate in what m  dandespair to him, and as thIousand other misner I should apply to you. I was oppressed ri es shall torment and destroy him.'
by fatigue and hunger, and far too unhappy     fixed my eyes on the child, I
n,y   61" As I fixed my eyes on the child, I saw
to enjoy the gentle breezes of evening, orglittering on his breast.    took
) Isomething glittering on his breast.  1 took
the prospect of the sun setting behind the
it; it was a portraiitlt of a most lovely wo..
stupeildous mountains of Ju1ra.
man. In spite of my malignity, it softened
"At this time a slight sleep relieved me and attracted me.  For a few moments I
from the pain of reflection, which was dis- gazed with delight on her dark  eyes,
turbed bythe approach of a beautiful child, -frinoed by deep lashes, and her lovely lips 
who came running into the recess I had but presently my rage returned: I rememchosen with all the sportiveness of infancy. bored that I was for ever deprived of the
Suddenly, as I gazed on hinm, an idea delights  that such  beautiful creatures
seized me, that this little creature was un- could bestow; and that she whose resemprejudiced, and had lived too short a time blance I contemplated would, in regarding
to have imbibed a horror of deformity. If me, have changed that air of divine betherefore, I could seize him, and educate nignity to one expressive of cligust and
him as my companion and friend, I should afli'ight.
not be so desolate in this peopled earth.  " Can you wonder that such thoughts
"' Urged by this impulse, I seized on the transported me with rage?  I only wonboy as he passed, and drem, hirn towards der that at that moment, instead of venting
ime. As soon as he beheld my form, he my sensations in exclamations and agony,
placed his; hands before his eyes and ut- I did not rush amnong mankind, and perish
tered a'shrill scream: I drew his hand  in the attempt to destroy them.
forcibly firom his face, and said,'Child   "While I was overcome by these feelwhat is the meaning of this? I do not ings, I left the spot where I had commitintend to hurt you; listen to me."      ted the murder, and was seeking a mnore
"Hle struggled violently;'Let me go,' secluded hiding place, when I perceived a
he cried;'monster! ugly wretchl! you young woman passing near me.  She
wish to eat me, and tear me to pieces — was young, not, indeed, so beautiful
You are'an ogre-Let me go, or I will tell as her whose portrait I held, but of an
ly papa.'                               agreeable aspect, and blooming in the love



74                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
liness of youth  and health. Here, I I have answered you; you may torture me,
thought, is one of those whose smiles are but I will never consent."
bestowed on all but me; she shall not es-   " You are in;I the wrong," replied the
cape: thanks to the lessons of Felix, and fie;  "and, instead of threatening, Ic;'onthe sanguinary laws of man, I have learn- tent to reason with you. I am malicious
ed how to work mischief. I approached because I am miserable; am I not shunher unperceived, and placed the portrait ned and hated by all mankind?  You, my
securely in one of the folds of her dress.  creator, would tear me to pieces, and tri"For some days I haunted the spot umph; remember that, and tell me why I
where these- had taken place; sometimes should pity man more than man pities
Wvishing to see you, sometimes resolved to me?  You would not, certainly, call it
quit the world and its miseries for ever. murder, if you could precipitate me into
At length I wandered toward these moun- one of those ice-rifts, anda destroy my
tains, and have ranged through their im- frame, the work of your own hands. Shall
mense recesses, consumed by a burning I respect the man, when he contemns me?
passion which you- alone can gratify. We Let him live with me in the interchange
may not part until you have promised to of kindness, and, instead of injury, I would
comply with my requisition. I amrn alone, bestow every benefit upon him, with tears
and miserable; man will not associate with of gratitude at his acceptance.  But that
me; but one as deformed and horrible as cannot be; the human senses are insurmyself would not deny herself to me. My mountable barriers to our union.  Yet
companion must be of the same species, mine shall not be the submission of abject
and have the same defects. This being slavery. I will revenge my injuries: if I
you must create."                       cannot inspire love, I will cause fear; and
chiefly towards you, my arch-enemy, be-.
CHIJIAPTER  XVI.             cause my creator, do I swear inextinguishable hatred. Have a care: I will work
THE being finished speaking, and fixed at your destruction, nor finish until I desohis looks upon me in expectation of a re- late' your heart, so that you curse the hour
ply.  But I was bewildered, perplexed, of your birth."
and unable to arrange my ideas sufficient-   A fiendish rage animated him as he said
ly to understand the full extent of his pro- this; his face wke wrinkled into contorposition., He continued-                tions too horrible for human eyes to be"You must create a female for me, with hold; but presently he calmed himself,
whom  I can live in the interchange of and proceeded:
those sympathies necessary for my being.   " I intended to reason. This passion is
This you alone can do; and I demand it detrimental to me;' for you do not reflect
as a right which you must not refuse."   that you are the cause of its excess. If
The latter part of his tale had kindled any being felt emotions of benevolence toanew in me the anger that had died away wards me, I should return them an hunwhile he narrated his peaceful life among dred and an hundred fold; for that one
the cottages, and, as he said this, I could creature's sake, I would make peace with
no longer suppress the rage that burned the whole kind! But I now indulge in
within me.                              dreams of bliss that cannot be realised.
"I do refuse it," I replied; "and no What I ask of you is reasonable and modtorture shall ever extort a consent from  erate; I demand a creature of another sex,
me. You may render me the most mis- but as hideous as myself: the gratification
serable of men, but you shall never make is small, but it is all that I can receive,
me base in my own eyes. Shall I create and it shall content me. It is true, we
another like yourself, whose joint wicked- shall be monsters, cut off from all the
ness might desolate the world? Begone! world; but on that account we shall be




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               75
more attached to one another. Our lives But a moment ago you were moved by my
will not be happy, but they will be harm- representations, and why do you again
less, and free from the misery I now feel. harden yourself to my complaints  I swear
Oh! my creator, make me happy; let me to you, by the earth which I inhabit, and
feel gratitude towards you for one benefit! by you that made me, that, with the comLet me see that I excite the sympathy of panion you bestow, I will quit the neighsome existing thing; do not deny me my borhood of man, and dwell, as it may
request?"  chance, in the most savage of places. My
I was moved.  I shuddered when I evil passions will have fled, for I shall
thought of the possible consequences of meet with sympathy; my life will flow
my consent; but I felt that there was some quietly away, and, in my dying moments,
justice in his argument.  His tale, and the I shall not curse my maker."
feelings he now expressed, proved him to   His words had a strange effect upon me.
be a creature of fine sensations; and did I compassionated him, and sometimes felt
[ not, as his maker, owe him all the por- a wish to console him; but when I looked
tion of happiness that it was in my power upon him, when I saw the filthy mass that
to bestow? He saw my change of feeling, moved and talked, my heart sickened, and
and continued:                          my feelings were altered to those of horror
" If you consent, neither you nor any and hatred. I tried to stifle these sensaother human being shall ever see us again: tions; I thought, that as I could not symI will go to the vast wilds of South Ameri- pathize with him, I had no right to withca. My food is not that of man; I do not hold from him the small portion of happidestroy the lamb and the kid, to glut my ness which was yet in my power to bestow.
appetite; acorns and berries afford me suf-    " You swear," I said, " to be harmless;
ficient nourishment, My companion will but have you not already shown a degree
be of the same nature as myself, and will of malice that should reasonably make me
be content with the same fare. We shall distrust you?  May not even this be a
make our bed of dried leaves; the sun will feint that will increase your triumph by
shine on us as on man, and will ripen our affording a wider scope for your revenge.i"
food. The picture I present to you is   "How is this? 1 thought I had moved
peaceful and human, and you must feel your compassion, and yet you still refuse
that you could deny it only in the wanton- to bestow on me the only benefit that can
ness of power and cruelty. Pitiless as you soften my heart, and render me harmless.
have been towards me, I now see compas- If I have no ties and no affections, hatred
sion in your eyes; let me seize the favor- and vice must be my portion; the love of
able moment, and persuade you to promise another will destroy the cause of my
what I so ardently desire."            crimes, and I shall become a thing of whose
V"' You propose," replied I, " to fly from  existence every one will be ignorant. My
the habitations of man, to dwell in those vices are the children of a forced solitude
wilds where the beasts of the field will be that I abhor; and my virtues will necesyour only companions.  How  can you, sarily arise when I live in communion with
who long for the love and sympathy of an equal. I shall feel the affections of a
man, persevere in this exile? You will sensitive being, and become linked to the
return, and again seek their kindness, and chain of existence and events, from which
you will meet with their detestation; your I am now excluded."
evil passions will be renewed, and you will   I paused. some time to reflect on all he
then have a companion to aid you in the had related, and the various arguments
task of destruction: This may not be; which he had employed. I thought of the
cease to argue the point, for I cannot con- promise of virtues which he had displayed
sent."                                 on the opening of his existence, and the
"How  inconstant are your feelings! subsequent blight of all kindly feeling by




76'RANKENfiT`EIN;  OR,
the loathingand scorn which his protectors scene of wonderfiul soleirniity, and stirred
had manifested towards hlim.  His power strange thoughts within me. I wept bitand threats were not omitted in my calcu- terly; and clasping my hands in agony, I
lations: a creature who could exist in the  exclaimed, "Oh! stars, and clouds, and
ice-caves of the glaciers, and hide himself!winds, ye are all about to mock me: if ye
from pursuit among the ridges of inacces- really pity me, crush sensation and memsibie precipices, was a being possessing  ory; let me become as nought; but if not,
faciulties it would be vain to cope  with. depart, depart, and leave me in darkness."
After a long pause of reflection, I colu-   T hese were wild and miserable thoughts;
ded, that the justice due both to him and  but I cannot describe to you how the etermly fellow-creatures demanded of me that nal twinkling of the stars weighed upon
I should comply with his request.  Turnz- m ne, and how I listened to every blast of
ing to him, therefore, I said:           wind, as if it were a dull ugly siroc on its
"' consent to your demand, on your way to consume me.
solemn oath to quit Europe for ever, and   5Morning dawned before I arrived at the
e-ery other place in the nei-hbodrhood of villag'e of Chamounix; but my presence,
man, as soon as I shall deliver into youir iso haggard and strange, haxrdly calmed the
hands a female who will accompany you  fears of mny family, who had waitedl the
in your exile."                          whole night in anxious expectation of my
I swear," hie cried, " by the sllun, anMd  return.
by tile blue sky of heaven, that if you grTant    The:ollowing' day we returned to Gemy prayer, while they exist you shall Ilev-ir neva;.   The intention of my father in cornbehold me again. Depart to your home, infg had been to divert my mind, and to
and commence your labors: I shall watch  restore imy lost tranquillity; but the meditheir progress withb unutterable anxiety; cine had been fatal.  And, unable to acand fear  not bnut tlat wlhen you are ready  count for the excess of misery I appeared
I shall appear.'                         to'sufier, he hastened to return home, hoSa.ying this, he suddcenly quiited  me,  pino the quiet and monotony of a domestic
fearful, perhaps, of any change in my sen- life would by degrees alleviate my suffertimuents. I sawhim descend the mountain  ings, fiom  whatever cause they might
with greater speed thanl thle flight of an  spring.
eacgle, and q nicIly lost him  among, te    For myself, I was passive in all their
undulations of the sea of ice.          1 arrangements; and the gentle affection of
His tale had occupied the whole day; my beloved Elizabeth wvas inadequate to
and the sun;was eupon the Verge of the  drlw me fr'omi the depth of my despair.
horison when he departed.  I knew that I The promise I had made to the dmenon
ought to hasten my descent towards the  weighed upon my mind, like Dante's iron
valley, as I should soon be encompassed  cowl on the heads of the hellish hypocrites.
in darkness; bu;  my herart was heavy and  All myv pleasures of earth and sky passed
my steps slow. The labor of bwinding  before me like a dream, and that thought
amlonIg the little paths of the mountains, only had to me the reality of life.  Can
and fixingn my feet firmly as I advanced, you wonder, that sometimes a lined of inperplexed mae, occupied as I was by the  sainity possessed me, or that I saw continemotions which the occurrenees of the day  ually about me a multit-ude of filthy anihad produced.  Night was far advanced, rmals inflicting on me incessant torture,
when I camne to the half-way resting..place, that ofren extorted screams and bitter
and seated myself beside tlme fountain. groans?
The stars lshone at intervals, as the clouds    By de-rees, however, these feelings bepassed from  over them; the darkl pines came calmed.  I entered again into the
rose before fme, and every here and there  every-day scene of life, if not with interest,
a broluen tree lay on the ground: it was a at least with some degree of tranquijlity.




THE   MODERN  PRO METHITS,                             77
CHAPTERR  XVII.               useless, but draw down treble misery on
us all."9
DY after day, week after week, passed       trembled violently at this exordium,
away on my return to Geneva; and. Icould
not collect the courage to recommence my                  on
rl~~ 4                   ~"'I  confess, my son, that I have always
work. I feared the vengeance of the, dis- looked forward to your marriage with your
appointed fiend, yet I was unable to over-he tie of o
cousin as the tie of our donmestic comfort,
come my repugnance to the task which
and the stay of my declining years.  YTou
was enjoined me. I found that I could not
were attached to each other from ydor earcompose a female without again devoting  liest infancy  you studied toge;her and
several months to -profound study and lasevera  months to  nd  stdy and la- appeared, in dispositions and tastes, entireborious disquisition.  I had heard of someto oe aother.  But so blid is
ly suited to one another.  But so blin d is
discoveries having been made by an Engthe experile~;ce of man, that`v.hat I conlish philosopher, the knowledge of which
ceived to be the best assistants to myplan
was material to my success, and I some-          e entirely des
may have entirely destroyed it. You, pertimes thought of obtaining my father's haps, regard her as your sister, without
consent to visit England for this pupose;  alay wish that she might become your wife.
but I clung to every pretence of delay, and
Nay, you may have met with another whom
copld not resolve to interrupt my returning you may love; and, conside
you may love; and, considering yourself
tranquillity.  My health, which had hithIo            t~as bound in honor to your cousin, this
erto declined, was now much restored; and
struggle may occasion the poignant misery
my spirits, when uncheckedl y the memory  which you appear to feel."
of my unhappy promise, rose proportion-   "  y dear fathe, re-assure yourself.  I
ably. Aly father saw this change with
love my cousin tenderly and sincerely.  I
pleasure, and he turned his thoughts to- never saw  a
never  saw  any woman who excited, as
wards the best method of eradicating the Elizabeth does, my warmest admiration
remains of my melancholy, which every and affection.  My future hopes and prosnow and then would return by fits, and
ow  and then would return by fits, a pects are entirely bound'up in the expecwith a devouring blackness overcast the tation of our union.",approaching sunshine. At these moments      he  expression of yor       ments on
"The expression of your sentiments on
I toolk refuge in the most perfect solitude. this subject, ry dear  ictor, gives me more
I passed whole days on the lake alone i  pleasure han  have for some time expepleasure tha        - I  have for some time expea little boat, watching the clouds, and lisite boat, waching the clouds, and lis- rienced.  If you feel this, we shall assutening to the rippling of the waves, silent
redly be happy, however present events
and listless. But the fiesh air and bright       t a gloom over us.  But it is t
may cast a gloomn over us. But it is this
sun seldom failed to restore me to some
gloom, which appears to have talken so
degree of composure; and, on my return, strong a hold of your mind, that I wish to
I met the salutations of my friends with a  dissipate. Tell me, therefore, whether yo
readier smile and a more cheerful heart.
object to an immediate solemnization of the
It was after my return from one of these  marriage. We have been unfortunate, and
rambles that my father, calling me aside, recent events have drawn us from  that
thus addressed me:                        every-day tranquillity befitting my years
"I am happy to remark, my dear son, and infirmities.  You are -younger; yet I
that you have resumed your former plea- do not suppose, possessed as you are, of a
sures, and seenl to be returning to yourself. competent fortune, that an early marriage
And yet you are still unhappy, and still would at all interfere with any future plans
avoid our society.'For some time I was of honor and utility that you may have
lost in conjecture as to the cause of this  formed.  Do not suppose, however, that I
but yesterday an idea struck me, and if it wish to dictate happiness to you, or that a
is well founded, I conjure you to avow it. delay on your part would cause me any
Reserve on such a point would be not only serious umeasiness.  Interpret my words




78                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
with candor, and answer me, I conjure you, to Strasburgh, where Clerval would join
with confidence and sincerity."         me. Some short time would be spent in
I listened to my father in silence, and the towns of Holland, and our principal
remained for some time incapable of offer- stay would be in England. We should
ing any reply. I revolved rapidly in my return by France; and it was agreed that,
mind a multitude of thoughts, and endeav- the tour should occupy the space of two
ored to arrive at some conclusion.  Alas! years.
to me the idea of an immediate union with  L My father pleased himself with the remy cousin was one of horror and dismay. flection, that my union with Elizabeth
I was bound by a solemn promise, which I should take place immediately on my rehad not yet fulfilled, and dared not break; turn to Geneva. "' These two years," said
or, if I did, what manifold miseries might he, " will pass swiftly, and it will be the,
not impend over me and my devoted fami- last delay that will oppose itself to your
ly! Could I enter into a festival with this happiness. And, indeed, I earnestly desire
deadly weight yet hanging round my neck, that period to arrive, when we shall all be
and bowing me to the ground? I must united, and neither hopes or fears arise to
perform my engagement, and let the mon- disturb our domestic calm."
ster depart with his mate, before I allowed    "I am content," I replied, " with your
myself to enjoy the delight of an union arrangement. By that time we shall both
from which I expected peace.            have become wiser, and I hope happier,
I remembered also the necessity imposed than we at present are."  I sighed; but
upon me of either journeying to England, my father kindly forbore to question me
or entering into a long correspondence further concerning the cause of my dejecwith those philosophers of that country, tion. He hoped that new scenes, and the
whose knowledge and discoveries were of amusement of travelling, would restore my
indispensable use to me in my present un- tranquillity.
dertaking.  The latter method of obtain-   I now made arrangements for my jouring the desired intelligence was dilatory ney; but one feeling haunted me, which
and unsatisfactory: besides, any variation  filled me with fear and agitation. During
was agreeable to me, and I was delighted my absence I should leave my friends unwith the idea of spending a year or two in conscious of the existence of their enemy,
change of scene and variety of occupation, and unprotected firom his attacks, exaspein absence from my family; during which rated as he might be by my departure.
period some event might happen which But he had promised to follow me wherewould restore me to them  in peace and ever;I might go; and would he notaccomhappiness: my promise might be fulfilled, pany me to England 3 This imagination
and the monster have departed'; or some was dreadful in itself, but soot.hing, inasaccident might occur to destroy him, and much as it supposed the safety of my
put an end to my slavery for ever,     friends. I was agonized with the idea of
These feelings dictated my answer to the possibility that the reverse of this
my father. I expressed a wish to visit might happen. But through the whole
England; but, concealing the true reasons period during which I was the slave of my
of this request, I clothed my desires under creature, I allowed myself to be governed
the guise of wishing to travel and see the by the impulses of the moment; and my
world before I sat down for life within the present sensations strongly intimated that
walls of my native town.               the fiend would follow me, and exempt
I urged my entreaty with earnestness, my family from the danger of his machiand my father was easily induced to comn- nations.
ply; for a more indulgent and less dictato-   It was in the latter end of August that I
rial parent did not exist upon earth.  Our departed, to pass two years of exile. Elizaplan was soon arranged. I should travel beth approved of the reasons of my depart




THE MODERN PROMETHEUSi                             79
ture, and only regretted that she had not don. During this voyage, we wassed by
the same opportunities of enlarging her many willowy islands, and saw several
experience, and cultivating her under- beautiful towns. WTe staid a day at Manstanding. She wept, however, as she bade heim, and, on the fifth from our departure
me farewell, and entreated me to return from Strasburgh, arrived at Mayence. The
happy and tranquil. " We all," said she, course of the Rhine below the Mayence
"depend upon you; and if you are miser- becomes much more picturesque. The
able, what must be our feelings?"    river descends rapidly, and winds between
I threw myself into the carriage that hills, not high, but steep, and of beautiful
was to convey me away, hardly knowing forms. We saw many ruined castles standwhither I was going, and careless ofwhat ing on the edges of precipices, surrounded
was passing around. I remembered only, by black woods, high and inaccessible.
and it was with a bitter anguish that I re- This part of the Rhine, indeed, presents a
flected on it, to order that my chemical singularly variegated landscape. In one
instruments should be packed to go with spot you view rugged hills, ruined castles
me; for I resolved to fulfil my promise overlooking tremendous precipices, with
while abroad, and return, if possible, a free the dark Rhine rushing beneath; and, on
man. Filled with dreary imaginations, I the sudden turn of a promontory, flourishpassed through many beautiful and majes- ing vineyards, with green sloping banks,
tic scenes; but my eyes were fixed and and a meandering river, and populous
unobserving.  I could only think of the towns, occupy the scene.
bourne of my travels, and the work which   We travelled at the time of the vintage,
was to occupy me while they endured.    and heard the song of the laborers, as we
After some days spent in listless indo- glided down the stream. Even I, depresslence, during which I traversed many ed in mind, and my spirits continually agileagues, I arrived at Strasburgh, where I tated by gloomy feelings, even I was
waited two days for Clerval. He came. pleased. I lay at the bottom of the boat,
Alas, how great was the contrast between and, as I gazed on the cloudless blue sky,
us! He was alive to every new scene; I seemed to drink in a tranquillity to which
joyful when he saw the beauties of the I had long been a stranger. And if these
setting sun, and more happy when he be- were my sensations, who can describe
held it rise, and recommence a new day. those of Henry? He felt as if he had
He pointed out to me the shifting colors been transported to Fairy-land, and enjoyof the landscape, and the appearances of ed ahappiness seldom tasted by man. "1
the sky. " This is what it iss to live;" he have seen," he said, "the most beautiful
cried, "now I enjoy existence! But you, scenes of my own country; I have visited
my dear Frankenstein, wherefore are you the lakes of Lucerne and Uri, where the
desponding and sorrowful?"  In truth, I snowy movntains descend almost.perpenwas occupied by gloomy thoughts, and dicularly to the water, casting black and
neither saw the descent of the evening impenetrable shades, which -would cause a
star, nor the golden sun-rise reflected in gloomy and mournful appearance, were
the Rhine. And you, my friend, would be it not for the most verdant islands that refar more amused with the journal of Cler- lieve the eye by their gay appearance; I
val, who observed the scenery with an eye have seen this lake agitated by a tempest,
of feeling and delight, than to listen to my when the wind tore up whirlwinds of wareflections. I, a miserable wretch, haunt- ter, and gave you an idea of what the
ed by a cure that shut up every avenue to water-spout must be on the great ocean,
enjoyment.                            and the waves dash with fury the base of
We had agreed to descend the Rhine in the mountain, where the priest and his
a boat from  Strasburgh to Rotterdam, mistress were overwhelmed by an avawhence we might take shipping for Lon.,, lanche, and where their dying voices are




80                          FRANKENSTEIN; OiR,
still said to be heard amid the pauses of ished?  Does it now  only exist in my
the nightly wind; I have seen the moun- memory?  No, it is not thus; your form
tains of La Valais, and the Pays de Vaud: so divinely wrought, and beaming with
but this country, Victor, pleases me more beauty, has decayed, but yourl', spirit still
than all those wonders.  The mountains visits and consoles your unhappy friend.
of  Switzerland are more majestic and    Pardo1 this gush of sorrow; these inefstrange; but there is a charm in the banks fectual words are but a slight tribute to
of this divine river, that I never before saw  the unexampled worth of Henry, but they
equalled.  Look at that castle which over- sooth my heart, overflowing with the anhangs yon precipice; and also that on. the guish which his remembrance creates.  I
island, almost concealed among the foliage  will proceed with my tale.
of those lovely trees; and now that group    Beyond Cologne we descended to the
of laborers coming from among their vines; plains of Holland; and we resolved to post
and that village half-hid in the recess of [he remainder of our way; for the wind
the mountain.  Oh, surely, the spirit that was contrary, and the stieam of the river
inhabits and guards this place has a soul was too gentle to aid us,
more in harmony with man, than those    Our journeyhere lost the interest ariswho pile the glacier, or retire to the inac- ing from  beautiful scenery[; but we arricessible peaks of the mountains of our ved in a few days at Rotterdam, whence
own country.'"                            we proceeded by sea to England.  It was
Clerval! beloved friend! even now it on a clear morning, in the latter days of
delights me to record your words, and to December, that I first saw the white cliffs
dwell on the praise of which  you' are of Britain. The banks of the Thames preso eminently deserving.  He was a being sented a new  scene; they were flat but
formed in the "very poetry of nature."* fertile, and almost every town was marked
His wild and enthusiastic imagination was by the remembrance of some story.  We
chastened by the sensibility of his heart. saw  Tilbury Fort, and remembered the
His soul overflowed with ardent affections, Spanish armada; Gravesend, Woolwich,
and his friendship was of that devoted and  and Greenwich, places which I had heard
wondrous nature that the worldly-mind- of even in my country.
ed teach us to look for only in the im-   At length we saw the numeroussteeples
agination.  -But even human sympathies of London, St. Paul's towering above all,
were not sufficient to satisfy his eager and the Tower famed in English history.
mind.  The scenery of external nature,
which others regard only with admiration,             CHAPTER XVIII.
he loved with ardor 
-loved    — "t Thesondinoataract        -LONDON was our present point of rest;
----- ---— " —   The sounding cataract
Haunted him like a passion; the tall rock,  we determined to remain several months
The mountain, and the deep and gloomy wvood,  in this wonderful and  celebrated  city.
Their colors and their forms, were then to him  Cler   desird the intercourse of the men
Clerval desired the intercourse of the men
An appetite; a feeling, and a love.
That had no need of a remoter charm,   of genius and talent who flourished at this
By thought supplied, or any interest  -  time; but this was with me a secondary
Unborrowedfrom the eye."l
object; I was principally occupied with
And where does he now exist?  is this the means of obtaining the information
gentle and lovely being lost forever? I-as neceessary for the completion of my prothis mind so replete wlth ideas, imagina- mise, and quickly availed myself of the
tions fanciful and magnificent, which form- letters of introduction that I had brought
ed a world, whose -existence depended on with me, addressed to the most distinthe life of its creator; has this mind per- guished natural philosophers.
If this journey had taken place during
*Leigh Hunt's "Pimini."
tWad.sworth's "Tintern Abbey,"      my days of study and happiness, it would




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                                 1
have affbrded me inexpressible pleasure. view again the mountains and streams,
But a blight had come over my existence, and all the wondrous works with which
and I only visited these people for the sake  Nature adorns her chosen dwelling-places.
of the information they might grive me on   WVe had arrived in Eneland at the bethe subject in which my interest was so  ginning of January, and it was now Febterribly profound.  Company was irksome  ruary.   We accordingly determined to
to me; when alone,! could fill my mind  commence our journey towards the north
with the sights of heaven and earth; the  at the expiration of another month. In
voice of Henry soothed me, and I could  this expedition we did not intend to follow
thus cheat myself into a transitory peace. the great road to Edinburgh, but to visit
But  busy, uninteresting, joyous flaces  Windsor, Oxford, Matlock, and the Cumbrought back despair to my heart.  I saw  berland lakes, resolving to arrive at the
an insurmountable barrier placed between  completion of this tour about the end of
me and my fellow-mlen; this barrier was July. I packed my chlemical instruments,
sealed with the blood of William and Jus- and the materials    I had collected, resolvtine; and to reflect on the events con- ing to finish my labors in some obscure
nected with those names, filled my soul nook in the northern highlands of Scotwith anguish.'       land.
But in Clerval I saw the image of my       e  quitted  London on the 27t1 of
former self; he wMas inquisitive, and anx-   arch, and remained a few days at Windious to gain experience and instruction. sor, rambling in its beautiful forest. This
The dii erence of manners whichl he oh- was a new scene to us mountaineers; the
served was to him an inexhaustible source  majestic oaks, the quantity of game, and
of instruction and amusement.  He was the herds of stately deer, were a11 novelfor ever busy; and the only check to his ties to us.
enjoyments was my sorrowful and dejected
mien. I tried to conceal this as much as
As we entered this city, our minds were
possible, that I might not debar him front
possible that I miht notdebarhimfro filled with the renmembrance of the events
the pleasures natural to one who was en- that ad been tranacte  there more tha
that had been transacted there more thalA
tering on a new scene of 1ifb, undisturhbgd
terig on a newa century and a half before.  It was here
by any care or bitter reflection. - I often                  collect   his frces.
that Charles L  had collected his forces.
refused to accompany him, alleging anoth- his city had remained fithful to 
This city had remained faithful to him,
er engagement, that I might remain alone.
after the whole nation had forsaken his
I now also began to collect the materials
now   o ean to collect the matials  cause to join the standard of parliament
necessary for my. new creation, and this      liberty.  The memory of that unforwas to me like the torture of single drops  nate  ing, an his companions, the atio
of water continually falling on the head. ble Falkland,  the insolent Gower, his
Every thought that was devoted to it was queen, and son, gave a peculiar interest to
an extreme anguish, and every word that every part of the city, which they might
I spoke in allusion to it, caused my lips to  be supposed to have inhabited. The spirit
quiver, and my heart to palpitate.      of elder days found a dwelling here, and
After passing some months in London, we delighted to trace its footsteps.  If
we received a letter from a person in Scot- these feelings had not found an imaginary
land, who had formerly been our visiter at gratification, the appearance of the city
Geneva.  1Je mentioned the beauties of had yet in itself sufficient beauty to obtain
his native country, and asked us if those  our admiration. The colleges are ancient
were not sufficient allurements to induce  and'picturesque; the streets are almost
us to prolong our journey as far north as magnificent; and the lovely Isis, which
Perth, where he resided. Clerval eagerly flows beside it through meadows of exdesired to accept this invitation; and I, quisite verdure, is spread forth into a plaalthough I abhorred society, wished to  cid expanse of waters, which relects its




82                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
majestic assemblage of towers, and spires, manner as in the collections at Servox
and domes, embossed among aged trees.-  and Chamounix. The latter name made
I enjoyed this scene; and yet my enjoy- me tremble, when pronounced by Henry;
ment was embittered both by the memory  and I hastened to quit Matlock, with
of the past, and the anticipation of the fu- which that terrible scene was thus assoture. I was formed for peaceful happi- ciated.
ness. During my youthful days, discon-   From Derby still journeying northward,
tent never visited my mind; and if I was we passed two months in Cumberland and
ever overcome by ennui, the sight of what WVestmoreland. I could now almost fancy
is beautiful in nature, or the study of what myself among the Swiss mountains. The
is excellent and sublime in the productions little patches of snow which yet lingered
of man, could always interest my heart, on the northern sides of the mountains,
and communicate elasticity to my spirits. the lakes, and the dashing of the rocky
But I am a blasted tree; the bolt has en- streams, were all familiar and dear sights
tered my soul: and I felt then that I to me. Here also we made some acquainshould survive to exhibit, what I shall soon tances, who almost contrived to cheat me
cease to be-a miserable  spectacle of into happiness. The delight of Clerval
wrecked humanity, pitiable to others, and was proportionably greater than mine; his
abhorrent to myself.                    mind expanded in the company of men of
We passed a considerable period at Ox- talent, and he found in his own nature
ford, rambling among its environs, and en- greater capacities and resources than he
deavoring to identify every spot which  could have imagined himself to have posmight relate to the most animating epoch sessed while he associated with his infeof English history. Our little voyagesof riors.  " I could pass my life here," said
discovery were often prolonged by the  ie to me; "and among these mountains I
successive objects that presented themri  should scarcely regret Switzerland and
selves. We visited the tomb of the illuo- the Rhine."
trious Hampden, and the field on which    But he found that a traveller's life is
that patriot fell; For a moment my soul I one that includes much pain amid its enwas elevated from its debasing and miser- joyments. His feelings are forever on the
able fears to contemplate the divine ideas stretch; and when he begins to sink into
of liberty and self-sacrifice, of which these repose, he finds himself obliged to quit
sights were the monuments and the re- I that on which he rests in pleasure for
membrances.  For. an instant I dared to something new, which again engages his
shake off my chains, and look around me attention, and which also he forsakes for
with a free and lofty spirit; but the iron other novelties.
had eaten into my flesh, and I sank again,   We had scarcely visited the various
trembling and hopeless, into my miserable lakes of Cumberland and Westmoreland,
self.                                   and conceived an affection for some of the
We left Oxford with regret, and pro- inhabitants, when the period of our apceeded to Matlock, which was our next pointment with our Scotch  friend  applace of rest. The country in the neigh- proached, and we left them to travel on.
hood of this village resembled, to a greater For my own part I was not sorry. I had
degree, the scenery of Switzerland; but now neglected my promise for sometime,
everything is on a lower scale, and the and I feared the effects of the demon's disgreen hills want the crown of distant appointment. He might remain in Switzwhite Alps, which always attend on the  erland, and wreak his vengeance on my
piny  mountains of my native country. relatives.  This idea pursued me, and torWe visited the wondrous cave, and the mented me at every moment from which
little cabinets of natural history, where I might otherwise have snatched repose
the curiosities are disposed of in the same and peace. I waited for my letters with




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               88
feverish impatience: if they were delayed  " I had rather be with you," he said, " in
I was miserable, and overcome by a thou- your solitary rambles, than wiih these
sand fears; and when they arrived, and I Scotch people, whom  I do not know:
saw the superscription of Elizabeth or my hasten, then, my dear friend, to return,
father, I hardly dared to read and ascer- that I may again feed myself somewhat
tain my fate. Sometimes I thought that at home, which I cannot do in your ab
the fiend followed me, and might expedite  sence."
my remissness by murdering my compan-   Having parted from my friend, I deterion;  When these thoughts possessed me, mined to visit some remote spot of ScotI would not quit Henry for a moment, but land, and finish my work in solitude. I
followed him  as his shadow, to protect did not doubt but that the monster folhim from the fancied rage of his destroyer. lowed me, and would discover himself
I felt as if I had committed some great to me when I should have finished, that
crime, the consciousness of which haunted  he might receive his companion.
me. I was guiltless, but I had indeed    With this resolution I txaversed the
drawn a horrible curse upon my head, as northern highlands, and fixed on one of
mortal as that of crime.                the remotest Orkneys as the seene of my
I visited Edinburgh with languid eyes labors. It was a place fitted for such a
and mind; and yet that city might have work, being hardly more than a rock,
interested the most unfortunate being. whose high sides were continually beaten
Clerval did not like it so well as Oxford; upon by the waves. The soil was barren,
for, the antiquity of the latter city was scarcely affording pasture for a few mismore pleasing to him. But the beauty erable cows, and oatmeal for its inhabitand regularity of the new town of Edin- ants, which consisted  of five persons,
burgh, its romantic castle, and its environs, whose gaunt and scraggy limbs gave tothe most delightful in the world, Arthur's kens of their miserable fare.  Vegetables
Seat, St. Bernard's Well, and the Pent- and bread, when they indulged in such
land  Hills, compensated  him  for the luxuries, and even fresh water, was to be
change, and filled him with cheerfulness procured from the main land, which was
and admiration. But I was impatient to about five miles distant.
arive at the termination of my journey.   On the whole island there were but
We left Edinburgh in a week, passed  three miserable huts, and one of these was
through Coupar, St. Andrews, and along  vacant when I arrived. This I hired. It
the banks of the Tay, to Perth, where our contained but two roomls, and these exhibfriends expected us. But I was in no ited all the squalidness of the most mismood to laugh and talk with strangers, or erable penury.  The thatch had fallen in,
enter into their feelings or plans with the the walls were unplastered, and the door
good humor expected from  a guest; and was off its hinges.  I ordered it to be reaccordingly I told Clerval that I wished to  paired, bought some furniture, and took
make the tour of Scotland alone. "'Do  possession; an  incident which  would,
you," said I, " enjoy yourself, and let this doubtless, have occasioned some surprise,
be our rendezvous. I may be absent a. had not all the senses of the cottagers
month or two; but do not interfere with  been benumbed by want and squalid povmy motions, I entreat you: leave me to  erty. As it was, I lived ungazed at and
peace and solitude for a short time; and  unmolested, hardly thanked for the pitwhen I return, I hope it will be with a  tance of food and clothes which I gave;
lighter heart, more congenial to your own  so much does suffering blunt even the
temper."                                coarsest sensations of men.
Hey~j wished to dissuade me; but see-   In this retreat I devoted themorning to
ing  e`ent on this plan, ceased to remon- labor; but in the evening, when the weastrate. He entreated me to write often. ther permitted, I walked on the stony




84                         FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
beach of the sea, to listen to the waves as       CHAPTER XIV.
they roared, and dashed at my feet. It   I SAT one evening in my laboratory; the
was a monotonous, yet ever-changing sun had set, and the moon was just rising
scene. I thought of Switzerland; it was from the sea; I had not sufficient light for
far different from this desolate and appal- my employment, and I remained idle in a
ling landscape. Its hills are covered with pause of consideration of whether I should
vines, and its cottages are scattered thick- leave my labor for the night, or hasten its
ly in the plains. Its fair lakes reflect a conclusion by an unremitting attention to
blue and gentle sky;! and when troubled it. As I sat, a train of reflection occurred
by the winds, their tumult is but as the to me, which led me to considerthe effects
play of a lively infant, when compared to of what I was now doing. Three'years
the roarings of the giant ocean.        before I was engaged in the same manner,
In this manner I distributed my occupa. and had created a fiend whose unparalleled
tions when I first arrived; but, as I pro- barbarity had desolated my heart, and filled
ceeded in my labor, it became every day it forever with the bitterest remorse. I was
more horrible and irksome to me. Some- now about to form another being, of whose
times I could not prevail on myself to on- dispositions I was alike ignorant; she
ter my laboratory for several days; and might become ten thousand times more
at other times I toiled day and night in malignant than her mate, and delight, for
order to complete my work. It was indeed its own sake, in murder and wretchedness.
a flthy process in which I was engaged. Ite had sworn to quit the neighborhood of'During  my first experiment, a kind of en- man, and hide himself in deserts; but she
thusiastic frenzy had' blinded me to the had not; and she, who in all probabiiity
horror of my employment; my mind was was to become a thinking and reasoning
intently fixed on the sequel of my labor, animal, might refuse to comply with a
and my eyes were shut to the, horror of compact made before her creation. They
my proceedings. But now I went to it might even hate each other; the creature
in cold blood, and my heart often sickened who already lived loathed his own deformat the work of my hands.               ity, and might he not conceive a greater
Thus situated, employed in the most abhorrence for it when it came before his
detestable occupation, immersed in a soli- eyes in the female form?  She also might
tude where nothing could for an instant turn with disgust from him to the superior
call my atteiltion from the actual scene in beauty of man; she might quit him, and
which I was engaged, my spirits became  he be again alone, exasperated by the fresh
unequal; I grew  restless and nervous. provocation of being deserted by one of
Every moment I feared to meet my perse- his own species.
cutor. Sometimes I sat with my eyes fixed    Even if they were to leave Europe, and
on the ground, fearing to raise them lest inhabit the deserts of the new world, yet
they should encounter the object which If one of the first results of those sympathies
so much dreaded to behold. I feared to for which the damon thirsted would be
wander from the sight of my fellow-crea- children, and a race of devils would be
tures, lest when alone he should come to propagated upon the earth, who mightl;
claim his companion.                    make the very existence of the species of
In the mean time I worked on, and my man a condition precarious and full of terlabor was already considerably advanced. ror. Had I right, for my own benefit, to
I looked towards its completion with a inflict this curse upon everlasting generatremulous and eager hope, which I dared tions?  I had before been moved by the
not trust myself to question, but which  sophisms of the being I had created; I
was intermixed with obscure forebodings had been struck senseless by his fih ish
of evil, that made tmy heart sicken in my threats; but now, for the first - tim.Ithe
bosom.                                 wickedness of rmy promise burst upon me;




TEHE MODERN PRO]METIJEUSE.                          85
I shuddered to think that future ages might from head-to foot; I felt a presentiment of
curse me as their pest, whose selfishness who it was, and wished to rouse one of the
had not hesitated to buy its own peace at peasants who dwelt in a cottage not far
the price, perhaps, of the existence of the from mine; but I was overcome by the
whole human race.                      sensation of helplessness, so often felt ill
I trembled, and my heart failed within frightful dreams, when you in vain enme; when, on looking up, I saw by the deavor to fly from  an impending danger,
light of the moon, the daemon at the case- and was rooted to the spot.
ment. A ghastly grin wrinkled his lips   Presently I heard the sound of footas he gazed on me, where I sat fulfilling steps along the passage; the door opened,
the task which he had allotted to me. Yes, and the wretch whom 1 dreaded appeared.
he had followed me in my travels; he had Shutting the door, he approached me, and
loitered in forests, hid himself in caves, or said, in a smothered voicetaken refuge in wide and desert heaths;   You have destroyed the work which.
and he now came to mark my progress, you began; what is it you intend  Do
and claim the fulfilment of my promise.   you dare to break your promise? I have
As I looked on him his countehance ex- endured toil and misery; I left Switzerpressedthe utmost extent of malice and land with you; I crept along the shores
treachery. I thought with a sensation of of the Rhine, among its willow islands,
madness on my promise of creating ano- and over the summits of its hills. I have
ther like to him, and, trembling with pas- dwelt many months in the heaths of Engsion, tore to pieces the thing on which I land, and among the deserts of Scotland.
was engaged. The wretch saw me de- I have endured incalculable fatigue, and
stroy the creature on whose future exist- cold, and hunger; do you dare destroy my
ence he depended for happiness, and, with hopes?" 
a howl of devilish despair and revenge   "Begone! I do break my promise, nev~wcithdrew.                           )er will I create another like yourself, equal
in deformity and wickedness."
I left the room, and locking the door,
made *a solemn vTow in my own heart never    " Slave, I before reasoned with you, but
to resume my labors; and then, with you have proved yourselfunworthy of my
trembling steps, I sought my own apartpower; you believe yourself miserable,
ment. I was alone, none were near me power; you believe yourself miserabie,
to dissipate the gloom, and relieve me from  but I can nake you so wretched that the
the sickening oppression o the most ter- light of day will be hateful to you. You
rible reveries,                       are my creator, but I am  your master;
Several hours past, and I remained near obey 3"
my window gazing on the sea; it was al-   " The hour of my weakness is past, and
most motionless, for the winds were the period of your power is arrived. Your
hushed,, and all nature reposed under the threats cannot move rme to do an act of
eye of the quiet moon. A few fishing yves- wickedness; but they confirm me in a
sels alone specked the water, and now and resolution of not creating you a comthen the gentle breeze wafted the sound of panion in vice. Shall I, in cool blood, set
voices, as the fishermen called to one ano- loose.upon the earth a daemon, whose dether. I felt the silence, although I was lightis in death and wretchedness? Behardly conscious of its extreme profundity, gone! I am firm, and your words will only
until my ear was suddenly arrested by the exasperate my rage."
paddling of oars near the shore, and a per-   The monster saw my determination in
son landed close to my house.         my face, and gnashed his teeth in the iraIn a few minutes after, I heard the potence of anger.  "Shall each man,"
creaking of my door, as if some one en- cried he, "find a wife for his bosom, and
deavored to open it softly. I trembled each beast have his mate, and I be alone?




FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
I had feelings of affection, and they were guish his malice. The prospect did not
requited by detestation and scorn. Man, move me to fear; yet when I thought of
you may hate; but, beware! your hours my beloved Elizabeth-of her tears and
will pass in dread and misery, and soon the endless sorrow, when she should find her
bolt will fall which must ravish from you lover so barbarously snatched:from heryour happiness for ever. Are you to be tears, the first I had shed for many months,
happy, while I grovel in the intensity of streamed from my eyes, and I resolved not
my wretchedness? You can blast my to fall before my enemy without a bitter
other passions; but revenge remains-re- struggle.
venge, henceforth dearer than light or   The night passed away, and the sun
food! I may die; but first you, myltyrant rose from the ocean; my feelings became
and tormentor, shall curse the sun that calmer, if it may be called calmness, when
gazes on your misery. Beware; for I am  the violence of rage sinks into the depth
fearless, and therefore powerful. I will of despair.  I left the house, the horrid
watch with the wiliness of a snake, that scene of the last night's contention, and
I may sting with its venom. Man, you walked on the beach of the sea, which I
shall repent of the injuries you inflict."   almost regarded as an insuperable barrier
"'Devil, cease; and do not poison the between me and my fellow  creatures;
air with these;sounds of malice. I have nay, a wish that such should prove the
declared my resolution to you, and I am  fact stole across me. I desired that I
no coward to bend beneath words. Leave might pass my life on that barren rock,
me; I am inexorable."                  wearily, it is true, but uninterrupted by
"It is well. I go; but remember, I any sudden shock of misery. If I reshall be with you on your wedding-night." turned, it was to be sacrificed, or to see
I started forward, and exclaimed, "' Vil- those whom  I most loved die under the
lain! before you sign my death-warrant, be grasp of a daemon whom I had myself cresure that you are yourself safe."       ated.
I would have seized him; but he eluded    I walked about the isle like a restless
me, and quitted the house with precipita- spectre, separated from all it loved, and
tion: in a few moments I saw him in his miserable in the separation.  When it be-'boat, which shot across the waters with an came noon, and the sun rose higher, I lay
arrowy swiftness, and, was' soon lost amid down on the grass, and was overpowered
the waves.                              by a deep sleep. I had been awake the
All was again silent; but his words whole of the preceding night, my nerves
rung in my ears. I burned with rage to were agitated, and my eyes inflamed by
pursue the murderer of my peace, and pre- watching and misery.  The sleep into
cipitate him into the ocean. I walked up which I now sunk refreshed me; and
and down my room hastily and perturbed, when I awoke, I again felt as if I belonged
while my imagination conjured up a thou- to a race of human beings like myself, and
sand images to torment and sting me. I began to reflect upon what had passed
Why had I not followed him, and closed with greater composure; yet still the
with him in mortal strife?  But I had suf- words of the fiend rung in my ears like a
fered him to depart, and he had directed death-knell, they appeared like a dream,
his course toward the main land.  I shud- yet distinct and oppressive as a reality.
dered to think who might be the'next vic-   The sun had far descended, and I still
tim  sacrificed to his insatiate revenge. sat on the shore, satisfying my appetite,
And then I thought again of his words —  which had become ravenous, with an oaten
" Iwill be With you on your wedding-night." cake, when I saw a fishing boat land close
That then was the period for the fulfil- to me, and one of the men brought me a
ment of my destiny.  In that hour I packet; it contained letters from Geneva,
should die, and at once satisfy and extin- and one from  Clerval, entreating me to




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                             87
join him. He said that nearly a year had I had first made would be an act of the
elapsed since we had quitted Switzerland, basest and most atrocious selfishness; and
and France was yet unvisited. He en- I banished from my mind every thought
treated me, therefore, to leave my solitary that could lead to a different conclusion.
isle, and meet him at Perth, in a week   Between two and three in the morning
from that time, when we might arrange the moon rose; and I then, putting my
the plan of our future proceedings. This basket aboard a little skiff, sailed out about
letter in a degree recalled me to life, and -four miles from  the shore. The scene
I determined to quit my island at the ex- was perfectly solitary: a few boats were
piration of two days.                 returning towards land, but I sailed away
Yet before I departed, there was a task from them. I felt as if I was about the
to perform, on which I shuddered to re- commission of a dreadful crime, and avoidflect: I must pack my chemical instru- ed with shuddering anxiety any encounter
ments; and for that purpose I must enter with my fellow-creatures. At one time
the room which had been the scene of my the moon, which had before been clear,
odious work, and I must handle those was suddenly overspread by a thick cloud,
utensils, the sight of which was sickening and I took advantage of the moment of
to me. The next morning, at daybreak, I darkness, and cast my basket into the sea;
summoned sufficient courage, and unlock- I listened to the gurgling sound as it sunk,
ed the door of my laboratory.  The re- and then sailed away from the spot. The
mains of the half-finished creaturd, whom  sky became clouded; but the air was
I had destroyed, lay scattered on the floor, pure, although chilled by the nokth-east
anDd I almost felt as if I had mangled the breeze that was then rising. But it reliving flesh of a human being. I paused freshed me, and filled me with such agreeto collect myself, and then- entered the able sensations, that I resolved to prolong
chamber. With trembling hand I con- my stay on the water, and fixing the rudveyed the instruments out of the room; der in a direct position, stretched myself
but I reflected that I ought not to leave at the bottom of the boat. Clouds hid the
the relics of my work to excite the horror moon, every thing was obscure, and I
and suspicion of the peasants, and I ac- heard only the sound of the boat as its
cordingly put them  into a basket, with a keel cut through the waves; the murmur
great quantity of stones, and laying them  lulled me, and in a short time I slept
up, determined to throw them into the sea soundly.
that very night; and in the mean time I   I do not know how long I remained in
sat upon the beach, employed in cleaning this situation, but when I awoke I found
and arranging my chemical apparatus.    that the sun had already mounted considNothing could be more complete than erably. The wind was high, and the
the alteration that had taken place in my waves continually threatened the safety of
feelings since the night of the appearance my little skiff. I found that the wind was
of the demon. I had before regarded my northeast, and must have driven me far
promise with a gloomy despair, as a thing from the coast from which I had embarkthat, with whatever consequences, must ed. I endeavored to change my course,
be fulfilled; but 1 now felt as if a film had but qkikly found that if I again made the
been taken from before my eyes, and that attempt the boat would be instantly filled
I, for the first time, saw clearly. The with water. Thus situated, my only reidea of renewing my labors did not for one source was to drive before the wind. I
instant occur to me; the threat I had confess that I felt a few sensations of terheard weighed on my thoughts, but I did ror. I had no compass with me, and was
not reflect that a voluntary act of mine so little acquainted with the geography of
could avert it. I had resolved in my own  this part of the world that the sun was of
mind, that to create another like the fiend little benefit to me, I might be driven in.




FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
to the wide Atlantic, and feel all the tor- ing with joy at my most unexpected estures of starvation, or be swallowed up in  cape. As I was occupied in fixing the boat
the immeasurable waters that roared and  and arranging the sails, several people
buffeted around me. I had already been  crowded towards the spot.  They seemed
out many hours, and felt the torment of a very much surprised at my appearance;
burning thirst, a prelude to my other suf- but, instead of offering me any assistance,
ferings. I looked on the heavens, which  whispered together with gestures that at
were covered by clouds that flew before  any other time might have produced in me
the wind only to be replaced by others: I a slight sensation of alarm. As it was, I
looked upon the sea-it was to be my  merely remarked that they spoke English;
grave. " Fiend," I exclaimed," your task  and I therefore addressed them  in that
is already fulfilled!"  1 thought of Eliza- language: "My good friends," said I,
beth, of my father, and of Clerval; and  " will you be so kind as to tell me the
sunk into a reverie, so despairing and  name of this town, and inform me where. 
frightful, that even now, when the scene is am?"
on the point of closing before me for   "You will know that soon, enough,"
ever, I shudder to reflect on it.       replied a man with a gruff voice.  " May
Some hours passed thus; but by de- be you are come to a place that will not
grees, as the sun declined towards the ho- prove much to your taste; but you will
rizon, the wind died away into a gentle  not be consulted as to your quarters, I
breeze, and the sea became free from  promise you."
breakers. But these gave place to a hea-   I was exceedingly surprised on receivvy swell; I felt sick, and hardly able to  ing so rude an answer from  a stranger;
hold the rudder, when suddenly I saw a and I was also disconcerted on perceiving
line of high land towards the south.    the frowning and angry countenances of
Although spent, as I was, by fatigue, his companions. s" Why do you answer
and the dreadful suspense I endured for me so roughly?"  I replied: " surely it
several hours, this sudden certainty of life is not the custom of Englishmen to receive
rushed like a flood of warm joy to my  strangers so inhospitably."
heart, and tears gushed from my eyes.    "s I do not know," said the man "c what
How mutable are our feelings, and how  the custom of the English may be; but it
strange is that clinging love we have of is the custom of the Irish to hate villains."
life, even in the excess of misery! I con-   While this strange dialogue continued,
structed another sail with a part of my  I perceived the crowd rapidly increased.
dress, and eagerly steered my course to.. Their faces expressed a mixture of curioswards the land. It had a wild and rocky  ity and anger, which annoyed, and in some
appearance; but as I approached nearer, I degree alarmed me. I inquired the way
easily perceived the traces of cultivation. to the inn; but no one replied. I then
I saw vessels near the shore, and found  moved forward, and a murmuring sound
myself suddenly transported back to the  arose from the crowd as they followed and.
neighborhood of civilized man. I eagerly  surrounded me; when an ill-looking man
traced the windings of the land, and hailed  approaching, tapped me on the shoulder,
a steeple which I at length saw iSing  and said,'" Come, Sir, you must follow
from behind a small promontory. As I me to Mr. Kirwin's to give an account of
was in a state of extreme debility, I re- yourself."
solved to sail directly towards the town as    " Who is Mr. Kirwin?"  Why am I to
a place where I could most easily procure  give an account of myself? Is not this a
nourishment. Fortunately I had money free country?"
with me. As I turned the promontory, I   "Aye Sir', free enough for honest folks.
perceived a small neat town and a good Mr. Kirwin is a magistrate, and you are to
harbor, which I entered, my heart bound- give an account of the death of a gentle.




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                  s9
man who was found murdered here last the corpse of sompe person who had been
night."                                drowned, and was thrown on shore by the,
This answer startled me: but 1 present- waves; but, upon examination, they found
ly recovered myself. I was innocent; that that the clothes were not wet, and even
could easily be proved: accordingly I fol- that the body was not then cold. They
lowed my conductor in silence, and was instantly carried it to the cottage of an
led to one of the best houses in the town. old woman near the spot, and endeavored,
I was ready to sink from fatigue and hun- but in vain, to restore it to life. He apger; but being surrounded by a crowd, I peared to be a handsome young man, about
thought it politic to rouse all my strength, five and twenty years of age. He had apthat no physical debility might be constru- parently been strangled, for there was no
ed into apprehension or conscious guilt. sign of any violence, except the black
Little did I then expect the calamity that mark of fingers on his neck.
was in a few moments to overwhelm me,   The first part of this deposition did not
and extinguish in horror and despair all in the least interest me, but. when the
*fear of ignomy and death.             mark of the fingers was mentioned, I reI must pause here; for it requires all my membered the murder of my brother, and
fortitude to recall the memory of the felt myself extremely agitated; my limbs
frightful events which I am about to relate trembled, and a mist came over my eyes,
in proper detail, to my recollection.  which obliged me to lean on a chair for'_B~sl              I"support.  The magistrate observed me
CHAPTER XV.                 with a keen eye, and of course drew an
I wAS soon introduced into the presence unfavorabje augury from my manner.
of the magistrate, an old benevolent man,   The son confirmed the father's account:
with calm and mild manners. He looked but when Daniel Nugent-,was called, he
upon me, howTever, with some degree of swore positively, that, just before the -fall
of his companion, he saw a boat, with a
conductors, he asked who appeared as witnesses on this occasion.              the shore; and, as far as he could judge
About half a dozen men came forward * by the light of a few stars, it was the same
and one being selected by the magistrate, boat i which I had just landed.
he deposed, that he had been out fishing    A wman deposed, that she lived near
the night before with his son and brother- the beach, and was standing at the door of
in-law, Daniel Nug~ent, when a~bout ten her cottage, waiting for the return of the
o'clock, they observed a strong northerly -fishermen, about an hour before she heard
of the discovery of the body, when  she
blast rising,      andtheyccordingly pue discovery of the  body when  she
port. It was a very dark night, as the saw a boat, with only one man in it, push
moon lad not yet risen; they did not land off from that part of the shore where the
at the harbor, but as they had been accus- e was afterwards found.
tomed, at a creek about two miles below. Another woman confirmed the account
He walked on first, carrying a part of the of the fisherman having brought the body
fishingtacle, andhiscompanions followed ito her house; it was not cold. They
him at some distance.  As he was pro- put it into a bed, and rubbed it; and.Danceeding along the sands, he struck his foot iel went to the town for an apothecary, but
against something, and fell all his length life was quite gone.
on the ground. His companions came up   Several other men were examined conto assist him; and, by the light of their cerning my landing; and they agreed,
lantern they found that he had fallen on that with the strong north wind that had
the body of'a man who was to all appear- arisen during the night, it was very probance dead.                             able that I had beaten about for many
Their first supposition was, tlha; it was hours, and had been obliged  to return




90                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
nearly to the same spot from which I had  called myself murderer of William, of Jusdeparted. Besides, they observed that it ap- tine, and of Clerval: Sometirles I entreatpeared that I had brought the body from  ed my attendants to assist me in the deanother place, and it was likely, that as I struction of the fiend by whom I was tordid not appear to know the shore, 1 might mented; and, at others, I felt the fingers
have put into the harbor ignorant of the of the monster grasping my neck, and I
distance of the town of --— from the place  screamed aloud with agony and terror.
where I had deposited the corpse.      Fortunately, as I spoke, my native lanMr. Kirwin, on hearing this evidence, guage, Mr. Kirwin alone understood me;
desired that I should be taken into the but my gestures and bitter cries were suffiroom where the body lay for interment, cient to affright the other witnesses.
that it might be observed what effect the   Why did I not die? More miserable
sight of it would produce upon me.     than man ever was before, why did I not
This idea was probably suggested by sink into forgetfulness and rest? Death
the extreme agitation I had exhibited when snatches away many blooming children,
the mode of the murder had been described. the only hopes of their doating parents:
I was accordingly conducted, by the mag- how many brides and youthful lovers have
istrate and several other persons, to the been one day in the bloom of health and
inn. I could not help being struck by the hope, and the next a prey for worms and
strange coincidences that had taken place the decay of the tomb! Of what materiduring this eventful night; but, knowing  als was I made, that I could thus resist so
that I had been conversing with several many shocks, which, like the turning of
persons in the island I had inhabited about the wheel, continually renewed the torthe time that the body had been found, I ture.
was perfectly tranquil as to the conse-   But I was doomed to live; and, in two
quences of the affair.                 months found myself as awaking from a
I entered the room where the corpse lay, dream in a prison, stretched on a wretched
and was led up to the coffin.  How can bed, surrounded by gaolers, turnkeys, bolts,
I describe my sensations on beholding it? and all the miserable apparatus of a dunI feel yet parched with horror, nor can I re- geon. It was morning, I remember, when
fleet on that terrible moment without shud- I thus awoke to understanding: I had fordering and agony, that faintly reminds me gotten the particulars of what had happenof the anguish of the recognition. The ed, and only felt as if some great misfortrial, the presence of the magistrate and tune had suddenly overwhelmed me; but
witnesses, passed like a dream from my when I looked around, and saw the barred
memory, when I saw the lifeless form of windows, and the squalidness of the room
Hehry Clerval stretched before me.  I in which I was, all flashed across my
gasped for breath; and throwing myself memory, and I groaned bitterly.
on the body, [ exclaimed, "' Have my mur-   This sound disturbed an old woman who
derous machinations deprived you also, my was sleeping in a chair beside me. She
dearest Henry, of life? Two I have al- was a hired nurse, the wife of one of the
ready destroyed; other victims await their turnkeys, and her countenance expressed
destiny: but you, Clerval, my friend, my all those bad qualities which often characbenefactor," —--                       terize that class. The lines of her face
The human frame could no longer sup- were hard and rude, like those of persons
port the agonizing suffering that I endur- accustomed to see without sympathizing
ed, and I was carried out of the room in in sights of misery. Her tone expressed
strong convulsions.                   her entire indifference; she addressed me
A fever succeeded to this. I lay for two in English, and the voice struck me as one
months on the point of death; my ravings, that I had heard during my sufferings:
as I afterwards heard, were frightful; I   "Are you better now, sir?" said she.




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               91
I replied in the same language, with a but his visits were short, and at long infeeble voice, " I believe I am; but if it be tervals.
all true, if indeed I did not dream, I am    One day, when I was gradually recoversorry that I am still alive to feel this mis- ing, I was seated in a chair, my eyes half
ery and horror."                        open, and my cheeks livid like those of
"For that matter," replied the old wom- death, I was overcome by gloom and mis.
an,'"if you mean about the gentleman ery, and often reflected I had better seek
you murdered, I believe that it were better death than remain miserably pent up only
for you if you were dead, for I fancy it will to be let loose in a world replete with
go hard with you; but you will be hung wretchedness.  At one time I considered
when the next sessions come on. How- whether I should not declare myself guilty,
ever, that's none of my business, I am sent and suffer th9 penalty of the law, less into nurse you, and get you well; I do my nocent than poor Justine had been. Such
duty with a safe conscience; it were well were my thoughts, when the door of my
if everybody did the same."             apartment was opened, and Mr. iirwin enI turned with loathing from the woman tered. His countenance expressed symwho could utter so unfeeling a speech to' pathy and compassion; he drew a chair
a person just saved, on the very edge of close to mine, and addressed me in French:
death; but I felt languid, and unable to   "I fear that this place is very shocking'eflect on all that had passed. The whole to you; can I do anything to make you
series of my life appeared to me as a dream; more comfortable?"
I sometimes doubted if indeed it were all   "I thank you; but all that you mention
true, for it never presented itself to my    nothing to me: on the whole earth
mind with the force of reality.        there is no comfort which I am capable of
mind~ with the force of reality...  1
As the images that floated before me be- receiving."
"I know that the sympathy of a strancame more distinct, I grew  feverish; a
ger can be but of little relief to one borne
darkness pressed around me; no one was down as you are by so strange a misfornear me who soothed me with the gentle tune. But you will, I hope, soon quit this
voice of love; no dear hand supported me. melancholy abode; for doubtless, evidence
The physician came and prescribed mediThe physician came ad prescribed medi- can easily be brought to free you from the
cines, and the old woman prepared them  criminal charge."
for me; but utter carelessness was visible
" That is my least concern: I am, by a
in the first, and the expression of brutality course of strange events, become the most
was strongly marked in the visage of the miserable of mortals. Persecuted and torsecond.  Who could be interested in the tured as I am and have been, can death be
fate of a murderer, but the hangman who any evil to me?"
would gain his fee 1                     "Nothing indeed could be more unforThese were my first reflections; but I tunate and agonizing than the strange
soon learned that Mr. Kirwin had shown chances that have lately occurred. You
me extreme kindness. He had caused the were thrown, by some surprising accident,
best room in the prison to be prepared for on this shore, renowned for its hospitality;
me (wretched indeed was the best;) and seized immediately, and charged with murit was he who had provided a physician der. The first sight that was presented to
and a nutse.  It is true he seldom  came your eyes was the body of your friend,
to see me; for, although he ardently de- murdered in so unaccountable a manner,
sired to relieve the sufferings of every hu- and placed, as it were, by some fiend across
man creature, he did not wish to be pre- your path."
sent at the agonies and miserable ravings   As Mr. Kirwin said this, notwithstandof a murderer. He came, therefore, some- ing the agitation I endured on this retrotimes to see that. I was not neglected; spect of my sufferings, I also felt consider



92                       gFRANF.   STEIN; OR,
able'surprise at the knowledge he seemed pleased the magistrate; perhaps he though t
to possess concerning me. I suppose some  that my former exclamation was a momenastonishment was exhibited in my coun- tary return of delirium, and now he instanttenance; for Mr. Kirwin hastened to say: ly resumed his former benevolence. He
"It was not until a day or two after. your rose and quitted the room with my nurse,
illness, that I thought of examining your and in a moment my father entered it.
dress, that I might discover some trace by    Nothing, at this moment, could have
which I could send to your relations an  given me greater pleasure than the arrival
account of your misfortune and illness. I of my father. I stretched out my hand to
found several letters, and, among others, him, and cried:
once which I discovered from its com-     Are you then safe-and Elizabethmencement to be from your father. I in- and Ernest?"
stantly wrote to Geneva: nearly two    My father calmed me with assurances
months have elapsed since the departure of their welfare, and endeavored by dwellof my letter. But you are ill; even now  ing on these subjects so interesting to my
you tremble: you are unfit for agitation of heart, to raise my desponding spirits; but
any kind."                             he soon felt that a prison cannot be the
"This suspense is a thousand times abode of cheerfulness.  "What a place is
worse than the most horrible event: tell this that you inhabit. my son!" said he,
me what new scene of death has been  looking mournfully at the barred windows
acted, and whose murder I am now to la-  nd wretched appearance of the room
ment.)"                               s"` You travelled to seek happiness, but a
"Your family is perfectly well," said  fatality seems to pursue you. And poor
Mr. Kirwin, with gentleness; "and some  Clerval-"'
one, a friend, is come to visit you."    The name of my unfortunate and murI know not by what chain of thought the  dered friend was an agitation too great to
idea presented itself, but it instantly darted  be endured in my weak state; I shed tears.
into my mind that the murderer had come    Alas! yes, my father," replied I;
to mock at my misery, and taunt me with  "some destiny of the most horrid kind
the death of Clerval, as a new incitement hangs over me, and I must live to fulfil
for me to comply with his hellish desires. it, or surely I should have died on the cofI put my hand before my eyes, and cried  fin of Henry."
out in agony:                            We were not allowed to converse for
6' Oh! take him  away! I cannot see any length of time, for the precarious state
him; for God's sake, do not let him en- of my health rendered every precaution
ter!"                                 necessary that could insure tranquillity.
Mr. Kirwin regarded me with a troubled  Mr. Kirwin came in, and insisted that my
countenance. He could not help regard- strength should not be exhausted by too
ing my exclamation as a presumption of much exertion. But the appearance of
my guilt, and said, in rather a severe tone: my father was to me like that of my good
C"I should have thought, young man, angel, and I gradually  recovered my
that the presence of your father would have health.
been welcome, instead of inspiring such    As my sickness quitted me, I was abviolent repugnance."                   sorbed by a gloomy and black melancholy,
"My father!" cried I, while every fea- that nothing could dissipate. The image of
ture and every muscle was relaxed from  Clerval was for ever before me, ghastly and
anguish to pleasure. "Is my father, in- murdered. More than once the agitation
deed, come? How kind, how very kind. into which these reflections threw me made
But where is he, why does he not hasten  my friends dread a dangerous relapse.
to me?"                              Alas! why did they preserve so miserable
My change of manner surprised and  and detested a life?  It was surely that I




THE  VMODERN PROMETHIEUS.                            93
might fulfil my destiny, which is no0w  feelings of affictioni.  I-le talked of Genedrawing to a close. Soon, oh, very soon, va, which I should soon visit-of Elizawill death extinguish these throbbings, beth, and Ernest; but- these words only
and relieve me from the mighty weight of drew  deep groans me.  Sometiimes, iil
anguish that bears me to the dust; and, deed, I felt a wish for happiness; and
in executing the award of justice, 1 shall thought, with melancholy delight, of my
sink to rest. Then the appearance of beloved cousin; or longed, with a devourdeath was distant, although the wish was ing maladie du ptays, to see once more the
ever present to my thougLhts; and I often  blue lake and rapid Rhone, that had beeri
sat for hours motionless and speechless, so dear to me in early childhood: but my
wishing for some mighty revolution that general state of feeling was-atorpor, in
might bury me and my destroyer in its which a prison was as welcome a resie
ruins.                                  dence as tlie divinest scene in nature; arid
The season of the assizes approached. I these fits were seldom interrupted, but: by
had already been three months in prison;  paroxysms of anguish and' despair.  At
and: although I was still weak, and in con* moments I often endeavored to put an end
tinual danger of a relapse, I was obliged to the existence I loathed'; and it required
to travel nearly a hundred miles to the  unceasing  attendance and vigilance to recounty-town, where the court was held.. strain me from  committing- some dreadful
Mr. Kirwin charged himself with every  act of violence.
care of collecting'witnesses, and arranging    I remember, as I quitted thlie  rison, I'
my defence. I was spared the disgrace  heard one of the ulen say, " He may be inof appearing publicly as a criminal, as the inocent of the murder, but he has certainlyV
case was not brought before the court that a bad conscience."  These words struck:
decides onil life and death.  The grand  me. A bad conscience! yes, surely I had
jury rejected the bill, on its being proved' one.  William, Justine, and Clerval had'
that I was on the Orkney Islands at the died, through my infernal machihations;
hour the body of my friend was found, and  " And whose death," cried I, " is to finisi
a fortnight after my removal I was liber- the tragedy?  Ah! my fatheri, do not reated from prison.                       main in this wretched country; take me
My father was enraptured on finding me wliere I may'forget myself, my existence,
fieed: from  the vexations of a criminal and all the world."
charge, that I was again allowed to breathe    My father easilyr acceded to my desire;
the fresh atmosphere, and allowed to re- and, after having taken leave of Mr. Kirturn:to my native country. I did not par- win, we hastened to Dublin.  I felt as if
ticipate in these feelings; for to me the' I was relieved from a heavy weight, when
walls of a dungeon or a palace were alike Ithe packet sailed with a fair wind'from Irehateful. The cup of life was poisoned for land, and I had quitted for ever the connever; and although the sun shone upon try which had been to'me the scene of so
upon, as upon the happy and gay of heart, much misery.
I saw around me nothing ]but a dense and    It was midnight. My father slept in'
frightful darkness, penetrated by no light'the cabin'; and I lay on the deck, looking
but the glimmer of two eyes that glared  at the stars, and listening to the dashing?u'me.  Sometimes they were the ex- of the waves. I hailed the darkness that
pr sive eyes of Henry, languishing in  shut Ireland from my sight, and my pulsedeath, the dark orbs nearly coverled by the  beat with a feverish joy, when I reflected
lids, and the long black lashes that fringed  I should soon see Geneva.  The past apthem; sometimes it was the watery cloud:. peared to me in the light of a frightfuled eyes of the monster, as I first saw them;dream; yet the vessel in which I was, the
in:my chamber of Ingolstadt.            wind that blew me from the detested shore
My father tried to awaken in nme  tile  of Ireland, and the sea which i     urrounded'




94                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
me, told me too forcibly that I was de-   As for my father, his desires t and exerceived by no vision, and that Clerval, my tions were bounded to the again seeing me
friend and dearest co mpanion, had fallen a restored to health and peace of mind. His
victim to me and the monster of my crea- tenderness and attentions were unremittion. I repassed, in my memory, my whole ting; my grief and gloom was obstinate,
life; my quiet happiness while residing  but he would not despair. Sometimes he
with my family in Geneva, the death of thought that I felt deeply the degradation
my mother, and my departure of Ingol- of being obliged to answer a charge of
stadt. I remembered shuddering at the murder, and he endeavored to prove to me
mad enthusiasm that hurried me on to the the futility of pride.
creation of my hideous enemy, and I called    " Alas! my father," said I, " how little
to mind the night during which he first do you know me. Human beings, their
lived. I was unable to pursue the train  feelings and passions, would indeed be deof thought; a thousand feelings pressed graded, if such a wretch as I felt pride.
upon me, and I wept bitterly.          Justine, poor unhappy Justine, was as inEver since my recovery from the fever, nocent as I, and she suffered the same
I had been in the custom of taking every charge; she died for it; and I am the
night a small quantity of laudanum; for it cause of this-I murdered her. William,
was by means of this drug only that I was Justine, and Henry-they all died by my
enabled to gain the rest necessary for the hands."
preservation of life. Oppressed by the re-   My father had often, during my impricollection of my various misfortunes, I sonment, heard me make the same assernow took a double dose, and soon slept tion; when I thus accused myself, he
profoundly. But sleep did not afford me sometimes seemed to desire an explanarespite from  thought, and misery; my tion, and at others he appeared to consider
dreams presented a thousand objects that it as caused by delirium, and that, during
scared me. Towards morning I was pos- my illness, some idea of this kind had presessed by a kind of nightmare; I felt the sented itself to my imagination, the refiend's grasp in my neck, and could not membrance of which I preserved in my
free myself from it; groans and cries rung convalescence.  I avoided explanation,
in my ears. My father, who was watching and maintained a continual silence conover me, perceiving my restlessness, awoke cerning the wretch I had created. I had
me, and pointed to the port of Holyhead, a feeling that I should be supposed mad,
which we were now entering.            and this for ever chained my tongue, when
I would have given the whole world to
have confided the fatal secret.
CHAPTER XVI.                  Upon this occasion my father said, with
WE had resolved not to go to Lonidon, an expression  of unbounded wonder,
but to cross the country to Portsmouth, "What do you mean, Victor? are you
and thence embark for Havre. I preferred mad! My dear son, I entreat you never
this plan principally because I dreaded to make such an assertion."
again to see those places in which I had     1 aminot mad," I cried energetically;
enjoyed a few moments of tranquillity with " the sun and the heavens, who have viewmy beloved Clerval. I thought with hor- ed;my operations, can bear witness ofy
ror of seeing again those persons whom we truth. I am the assassin of those most'Inhad been accustomed to visit together, and nocent victims; they died by my machinawho might make inquiries concerning an tions. A thousand times would I have
event, the very remembrance of which  shed mny own blood, drop by drop, to have
made me again feel the pang I endured  saved their lives; but I could not, my fawhen I gazed on his lifeless form in the ther, indeed I could not sacrifice the whole
inn at ----—.                        human race."




THE MODERN PROMETHE1US.                            95
The conclusion of this speech convinced    "Explanation! you may possibly say-;
my father that my ideas were deranged, what can Elizabeth have to explain?  If
and lie instantly changed the subjection of you really say this, my questions are anour conversation, and endeavored to alter swered, and I have no more to do than to
the course of my thoughts.            sign myself your affectionate cousin. But
He wished as much as possible to oblit- you are distant from me, and it is possible
erate the memory of the scenes that had that you may dread, and yet be pleased
taken place in Ireland, and never alluded with this explanation; and, in a probability
to them, or suffered me to speak of my of this being the case, I dare not any lonmisfortunes.                          ger postpone writing what, during your
As time passed away I became more absence, I have often wished to express to
calm: my misery had her dwelling in my you, but have never had the courage to
heart, but I no longer talked in the same begin.
incoherent manner of my own crimes;   "You well know, Victor, that our union
sufficient for me was the consciousness of had been the favorite plan of your parents
them.  By the utmost self-violence I ever since our infancy. We were told
curbed the imperious voice of wretched- this when young, and taught to look forness, which sometimes desired to declare ward to it as an event that would certainly
itself to the whole world; and my man- take place. We were affectionate playners were calmer and more composed than fellows during childhood, and, I believe,
they had ever been since my journey to dear and valued friends to one another'as
the sea of ice.                       we grew older. But as brother and sister
We arrived at Havre on the 8th of May, often entertain a lively affection towards
and instantly proceeded to Paris, where each other, without desiring a more intimy father had some business, which de- mate union, may not such also be our case?
tained us a few weeks. In this city, I re- Tell me, dearest Victor.  Answer me, I
ceived the following letter from Elizabeth: conjure you, by our ~mutual happiness,
with simple truth-Do you not love ano"TC O VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN.       her?
ther?'MY DEAREST FRIEND,                     "You have travelled; you have spent
"It gave me the greatest pleasure to several years of your life at Ingolstadt;
receive a letter from my uncle dated at and I confess to you, my friend, that when
Paris; you are no longer at a formidable I saw you last autumn so unhappy, flying
distance, and I may hope to see you in less to solitude, from the society of every creathan a fortnight. My poor cousin, how  ture, I could not help supposing that you
much you must have suffered! I expect might regret our connection, and believe
to see you looking even more ill than when yourself bound in honor to fulfil the wishes
you quitted Geneva. This winter has been  of your parents, although they opposed
passed most miserably, tortured as I have themselves to your inclinations. But this
been by anxious suspense; yet.I hope to is false reasoning. I confess to you, my
see peace in your countenance, and to find cousin, that I love you, and that in my
that your heart is not totally devoid of'airy dreams of futurity you have been my
comfort and tranquillity.             constant friend and companion. But it is
" Yet I fear that the same feelings now  your happiness I desire as well as my own,
exist that made you so miserable a year when I declare to you, that our marriage
ago, even perhaps augmented by time. I would render me eternally miserable, unwould not disturb you at this period, when less it were the dictate of your own free
so many misfortunes weigh upon you; but choice. Even now I weep to think, that,
a conversation that I had with my uncle borne down as you are by the cruellest
previous to his departure, renders some misfortunes, you may stifle, by the word
explanation necessary before we meet.    honor, all hope of that love and happiness




96                        iPR E1V NSXEIN; OR,
which wotlld alone restore you to yourself. the angel's arm bared to drive mr  friin ali
I, who have so interested an affection for hope. Yet I would die to mrake her hapyou, iay increase your miseries ten-fold, py. If the monster executed his threat,
by being an obstacle to your wishes. Ah, death was inevitable; yet, again, I considVictor, be assured that your cousin and  ered whether my marriage would hasten
playmate has too sincere a love for you my fate. My destruction might indeed
not to be made miserable by this supposi- arrive a few months sooner; but if my tortion. Be happy, my friend; and if you  turer should suspect that I postponed it,
obey me in this one request, remain satis- influenced by his menaces, he wouild surefled that nothing on earthwill have power ly find other, and perhaps more dieadful
to interrupt my tranquillity.           means of revenge. He had vowed to be
"Do not let this letter disturb you; do with me on my wvedding nighlt, yet he did
not answer it to-morrow, or the next day, not consider that threat as bidding him to
or even until you come, if it Will give you peace in the meantime; for, as if to show
pain. My uncle will send me news of me that he was not yet satiated with blood,
your health  and if I see but one smile on he had murdered Clerval immediately afyoiur lips when we meet, occasioned by ter the enunciation of his threats. I rethis or any otler exertion of mine, I shall solved, therefore, that if'my immediate
need no other happiness.                union with my cousin would conduce either
"ELIZABEmT  LAVENZA.   to her's or my father's happiness, my ad.
"GGeneva, nMay lthl,  —'."'          versary's designs against my life should
not retard it a single hour.
This letter revived in my memory what   In this state of mind  I wrote to ElizaI had before forgotten, the threat of the beth. My letter was calm and affectionate.
find-" I will be with you oni yourl wedding "I fear, my beloved girl," I said, "little.nigbht!"  Such was my sentence, and on happiness remains for us on earth; yet all
that night would the dermon employ every that I may one day enjoy is concentered in
art to destroy me, and tear me from the you. Chase away your idle fears; to you
glimpse of happiness which promised part- alone do I consecrate my life, and my enly to console my suffering's. On that night deavors for contentment. I have one sehe had determined to consummate his cret, Elizabeth, a dreadful one; when
crimes by my death. Well, be it so; a revealed to you, it will chill your frame
deadly struggle would. then assuredly take with horror, and then, far from being surplace, in'which if he was victorious, I prised at my misery, you will only wonder
should be at peace, and his power over me that I survive what I have endured. I
be at an end. If he were vanquished, I will confide this tale of misery and terror
should be a free man.  Alas! what free- to you the day after our marriage shall
dom'  such as the peasant enjoys when take place; for, my sweet cousin, there
his family have been masisacred before his must be perfect confidence between us.
eyes, his cottage burnt, his lands laid  But until then, I conjure you, do not menwaste, and he is turneid adrift, homeless, tion or allude to it. This I most earnestly
pennyless, and alone, but free.  Such entreat, and I know you will comply."
would be my liberty, except that in my    In about a week after the arrival of
Elizabeth I possessed a treasure; alas! Elizabeth's letter, we returned to Geneva.
balanced by those horrors of remorse and Mly cousin welcomed me With warm affecguilt, which would pursue me until death. tion; yet tears were in her eyes, as she
Sweet and beloved Elizabeth! I read beheld my emaciated frame and feverish
and re-read her letter, and some softened cheeks. I saw a change in her also. She
feelings stole into my heart, and dared to was thinner, and had lost much of that
whisper paradisaical dreams of love and heavenly vivacity that had before charmed
joy; but the apple was already eaten, and me; but her gentleness, arid soft looks of
e i.




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                               97
compassion, made her a more fit compan- nounced the words, "I shall be with you
ion for one blasted and miserable as I was. on your wedding night," I should regard
The tranquillity which I now enjoyed the threatened fate as unavoidable. But
did not endure. Memory brought madness death was no evil to me, if the loss of
with it; and when I thought on what had  Elizabeth were balanced with it; and I
passed, a real insanity possessed me; therefore, with a contented and even cheersometimes I was furious, and burnt with  ful countenance, agreed with my father,
rage, sometimes low and despondent.  I that if my cousin would consent, the cereneither spoke or looked,but sat motionless, mony should take place in ten days, and
bewildered by the multitude of miseries thus put, as I imagined, the seal to my
that overcame me.I fate.
Elizabeth alone had the power to draw    Great God! if for one instant I had
me from these fits; her gentle voice would  thought of what might be the hellish insoothe me when transported by passion, tention of my fiendish adversary, I would
and inspire me with human feelings when  rather have banished myself forever fromn
sunk in torpor.  She wept with me, and  my native country, and wandered a friendfor me. When reason returned, she would less outcast over the earth, than have conremonstrate, and endeavor to inspire me sented to this miserable marriage. But,
with resignation. Ah! it is well for the as if possessed of magic powers, the monunfortunate to be resigned, but for the ster had blinded me to his real intentions;
guilty there is no peace. The agonies of and when I thought that I prepared only
remorse poison the luxury there is other- my own death, I hastened that of a far
wise sometimes found in indulging the dearer victim.
excess of grief.                          As the period fixed for our marriage
Soon after my arrival my father spoke drew nearer, whether from cowardice or a
of my immediate marriage with my cousin. prophetic feeling, I felt my heart sink
I remained silent.                      within me. But I concealed my feelings
"Have you, then, some other attach- by an appearance of hilarity, that brought
ment? "                                 smiles and joy to the countenance of my
6 "None on earth. I love Elizabeth, and father, but hardly deceived the ever-watchlook forward to our union with delight. ful and nicer eye of Elizabeth. She lookLet the day therefore be fixed; and on it ed forward to our union with placid conI will consecrate myself, in life or death, tentment, not unmingled with a little fear,
to the happiness of my cousin."         which past misfortunes had impressed, that
"My dear Victor, do not speak thus. what now appeared certain and tangible
Heavy misfortunes have befallen us; but happiness, might soon dissipate into an
let us only cling closer to what remains, airy dream, and leave no trace but deep
and transfer our love for those whom we and everlasting regret.
have lost to those who yet live. Our cir-   Preparations were made fcr the event;
cle will be small, but bound close by the congratulatory visits were received; and
ties of affection and mutual misfortune. all wore a smiling appearance. I shut up,
And when time shall have softened your as well as I could, in my own heart the
despair, new and dear objects of care will anxiety that preyed there, and entered with
be born to replace those of whom we have seeming earnestness into the plans of my
been so cruelly deprived."              father, although they might only serve as
Such were the lessons of my father. the decorations of my tragedy. A house
But to me the remembrance of the threat was purchased for us near Cologny, by
returned: nor can you wonder, that, om- which we should enjoy the pleasures of
nipotent as the fiend had yet been in his the country, and yet be so near Geneva as
deeds of blood, I should almost regard him  to see my father every day; who would
as invincible; and that when he had pro- still reside within the walls, for the benefit




s  PRANKENSTEIN; OR,
of Ernest, that he might follow his studies that would quit its native country, and an
at the schools.                       almost insurmountable barrier to the invaIn the mean time I took every precau- der who should wish to enslave it.
tion to defend my person, in case the fiend   I took the hand of Elizabeth: "You are
should openly attack me. I carried pistols sorrowful, my love. Ah! if you knew
and a dagger constantly about me, and what I have suffered, and what I may yet
was ever on the watch to prevent artifice; endure, you would endeavor to let me taste
and by these means gained a greater de- the quiet, and freedom from despair, that
gree of tranquillity. Indeed, as the period this one day at least permits me to enjoy."
approached, the threat appeared more as a   "Be happy, my dear Victor," replied
delusion, not to be regarded as worthy to Elizabeth; "there is, I hope, nothing to
disturb my peace, while the happiness I distress you; and be assured that if a livehoped for in my marriage wore a greater ly joy is not painted in my face, my heart
appearance of certainty, as the day fixed is contented. Something whispers to me
for its solemnization drew nearer, and I not to depend too much on the prospect
heard it continually spoken of as an occur- that is opened before us; but. will not
rence which no accident could possibly listen to such a sinister voice. Observe
prevent.                               how fast we move along, and how the
Elizabeth seemed happy; my tranquil clouds, which sometimes obscure and
demeanor contributed greatly to calm her sometimes rise above the dome of Mont
mind. But on the day that was to fulfil Blanc, render this scene of beauty still
my wishes and my destiny, she was mel- more interesting. Look also at the innuancholy, and a presentiment of evil perva- merable fish that are swimming in the
ded her; and perhaps also she thought of clear waters, where we can distinguish
the dreadful secret, which I had promised  every pebble that lies at the bottom. What
to reveal to her the following day. My a divine day! how happy and serene all
father was in the mean time overjoyed, nature appears!"
and, in the bustle of preparation, only ob-   Thus Elizabeth endeavored to divert
served in the melancholy of his niece the her thoughts and mine from all reflection
diffidence of a bride.                 upon melancholy subjects. But her ternAfter the ceremony was performed, a per was fluctuating; joy for a few instants
large party assembled at my father's; but shone in her eyes, but it continually gave
it, was agreed that Elizabeth and I should place to distraction and reverie.
pass the afternoon and night at Evian, and   The sun sunk lower in the heavens;
return to Cologny the next morning. As we passed the river Drance, and observed
the day was fair, and the wind favorable, its path through the chasms of the higher,
we resolved to go by water.            and the glens of the lower hills. The
Those were the last moments of my Alps here come closer to the lake, and we
life during which I enjoyed the feeling of approached the amphitheatre of mountains
happiness. We passed rapidly along: the which forms its eastern boundary. The
sun was hot, but we were sheltered from  spire of Evian shone under the woods that
its rays by a kind of canopy, while we en- surrounded it, and the range of mountain
joyed the beauty of the scene, sometimes above mountain by which it was overhung.
on one side of the lake, where we saw    The wind, which had hitherto carried
Mont Salkve, the pleasant banks of Mon- us along with amazing rapidity, sunk at
talegre, and at a distance, surmounting sunset to a light breeze; the soft air just
all, the beautiful Mont Blanc, and the as- ruffled the water, and caused a pleasant
semblage of snowy mountains that in vain motion among the trees as we approached
endeavor to emulate her; sometimes coast- the shore, from which it wafted the most
ing the opposite banks, we saw the mighty delightful scent of flowers and hay. The
Jura opposing its dark side to the ambition sun sunk beneath the horizon as we land



THE MODERN'PROMETHEUS.                              99
ed, and as I touched the shore, I felt those But I discoveried no trace of him, and was
cares and fears revive, which soon were beginning to conjecture that some fortu.
to clasp me, and- cling to me for ever.  nate chance had intervened to prevent the
execution of his menaces; when suddenly
I heard a shrill and dreadful scream. It
CHAPTER XVII.                came from the room into which Elizabeth
IT was eight o'clock when we landed: had retired. As I heard it, the whole truth
we walked for a short time on the shore, rushed into my mind, my arms dropped,
enjoying the transitory light, and then re- the motion of every muscle and fibre was
tired to the inn, and contemplated the suspended; I could feel the blood trickling
lovely scene of waters, woods, and moun- in my veins, and tingling in the extremitains, obscured in darkness, yet still dis- ties of my limbs.  This state lasted but
playing their black outlines.           for' an instant' the scream was repeated,
The wind, which had fallen in tile south, and I rushed into the room.
now rose with great violence in the west.   Great God! why did I not then expire!
The moon had reached her summit in the Why am I here to relate the destruction
heavens, and was beginning to descend; of the best hope, and the purest creature
the clouds swept across it swifter than the of earth. She was there, lifeless and inflight of the vulture, and dimmed her rays, animate, thrown across the bed, her head
while the lake reflected the scene of the hanging down, and her pale and distorted
busy heavens, rendered still busier by the features half covered by her hair. Everyrestless waves that were beginning to rise. where I turn I see the same figure-her
Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended. bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by
I had been calm during the day; but so the murderer on its bridal bier. Could I
soon as night obscured the shapes of ob- behold this, and live? Alas! life is objects, a thousand fears arose in my mind. stinate, and clings closest where it is most
I was anxious and watchful, while my hated. For a moment only and I lose reright hand grasped a pistol which was collection; I fainted.
hidden in my bosom. Every sound terri-   When I recovered, I found myself surfled me; but I resolved that I would sell rounded by the people of the inn; their
my life dearly, and not relax the impending countenances expressed a breathless terconflict until my own life, or that of my ror: but the horror of others appeared
adversary, were extinguished.          only as a mockery, a shadow of the feelElizabeth observed my agitation for some ings that oppressed me. I escaped from
time in timid and fearful silence; at length them to the room where lay the body of
she said, "What is it that agitates you, Elizabeth, my love, my wife, so lately livmy dearVictor?  What is it vou fear?"' ing, so dear, so worthy.  She had been'Oh! peace, peace, my love," replied moved from the posture in which I had
I: "this night, and all will be safe; but first beheld her; and now, as she lay, her
this night is dreadful, very dreadful." head upon her arm, and a handkerchief
I passed an hour in this state of mind, thrown across her face and neck, I might
when suddenly I reflected how dreadful have supposed her asleep. I rushed tothe combat which I momentarily expected wards her, and embraced her with ardor;
would be to my wife, and I earnestly en- but the deathly languor and coldness of
treated her to retire, resolving not to join the limbs told me, that what I now held in
her until I had obtained some knowledge my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth
as to the situation of my enemy.       whom I had loved and cherished. The
She left me, and I continued some time murderous marks of the fiend's grasp was
walking up and down the passages of the on her neck, and the breath had ceased to,house, and inspecting every corner that issue from her lips.
m ight afford a retreat to my adversary.   While 1 still hung over her in the agony




o00                         RAN E'ENSTEtN; OR,
bf despair, I happened to look up. The  idea made me shudder, and recalled me to
windows of the room had before been  action. I started up, and resolved to redarkened; and I felt a. kind of panic on turn to Geneva with all possible speed.
seeing the pale yellow light of the imoon    There were no horses to be procured,
illuminate the chamber. The shutters had and I must return by the lake; but the
been thrown back; and, with a sensation  wind was unfavorable, and the rain fell in
of horror not to be described, I saw at the torrents. However, it was hardly mornopen window a figure the most hideous ing, and I might reasonably hope to arrive
and abhorred. A grin was on the face of by night. I hired men to row, and took
the monster; he seemed to jeer, as with  an oar myself, for I had always experihis fiendish finger he pointed towards the enced relief from mental torment in bodily
corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the exercise. Bant the overflowing misery I
window, and drawing a pistol from r'y now felt, and the excess of agitation that
bosom, shot; but he eluded me, leaped I endured, rendered me incapable of any
from his station,, and, running with the exertion. I threw down the oar; and,
swiftness of lightning, plunged into the leaning my head upon my hands, gave
lake.                                  way to every gloomy idea that arose. If I
The report of the pistol brought a crowd looked up, I saw the scenes which were
into the room. I pointed to the spot where familiar to me in my happier time, and
he had disappeared, and we followed the which I had contemplated but the day betrack with boats; nets were cast, but in fore in the company of her wuho was now
vain. After passing several hours, we re- but a shadow and a recollection. Tears
turned hopeless, most of my companions streamed from my eyes. The rain had
believing it to have been a form conjured ceased for a moment, and I saw the fish
by my fancy. After having landed, they play in the waters as they had done a few
proceeded to search the country, parties hours before; they had then been observ.
going in different directions among the ed by Elizabeth. Nothing is so painful to
woods and vines.                       the human mind as a great and sudden
I did not accompany them; I -as ex- change.  The sun might shine, or the
hausted: a film covered my eyes, and my clouds might lower; but nothing could apskin was parched with the heat of fever. pear to me as it had done the day before.
In this state I lay on a bed, hardly con- A fiend had snatched from me every hope
scious of what had happened; my eyes of future happiness: no creature had ever
wandered round the room, as if to seek been so miserable as I was; so frightful
something that I had lost.             an event was single in the history of man.
At length I remembered that my father   But why should I dwell upon the inciwould anxiously expect the return of Eliz- dents that followed this last overwhelming
abeth and myself, and that I must return  event. Mine has been a tale of horrors 9
alone. This. reflection brought tears into I have reached their acme, and what I
my eyes, and I wept for a long time; but must now relate can but be tedious to you.
my thoughts rambled to various subjects, Know that, one by one, my friends were
reflecting on my misfortunes, and their snatched away; I was ]eft desolate. My
cause. I was bewildered in a cloud of own strength is exhausted; and I must
wonder and horror. The death of Wil- tell in a few words, what remains of my
hliam, the execution of Justine, the murder hideous narration.
of Clerval, and lastly of my wife; even at   I arrived at Geneva. lMy father and
that moment I knew not that my only re- Ernest yet lived; but the former sunk
maining friends were safe from the malig- under the tidings that I bore. I see him
nity of the fiend; my father even now  now, excellent and venerable old man!.
might be writhing under his grasp, and his eyes wandered in vacancy, for they
Ernest might be dead at his feet. This had lost their charm and their delight



THE MODERN PROMETHEEUS.                            101
his niece, his more than daughter, whom  part shall be spared to discover the vilhe doated on with all that affection which lain."
a. man feels, who, in the decline of life,   "i thank you," replied I; " listen, therehaving a few affections, clings more earn- fore, to the deposition that I have to make.
estly to those that remain. Cursed, curs- It is indeed a tale so strange, that I should
ed be the fiend that brought misery on his fear you would not credit it, were there
gray hairs, and doomed him to waste in not something in truth which, however
wretchedness! He could not live under wonderful, forces conviction. The story
the horrors that were accumulated around is too connected to be mistaken for a
him; an apoplectic fit was brought on, and dream, and I have no motive for falsein a few days he died in my arms.      hood."  My manner, as I thus addressed
What then became of me?  I know  him, was impressive, but calm; I had
not; I lost sensation, and chains and dark- formed in my heart a resolution to pursue
ness were the only objects that pressed my destroyer to death; and this purpose
upon me. Sometimes, indeed, I dreamed quieted my agony, and providentially rethat I wandered in flowery meadows and conciled me to life. I now  related my
pleasant vales with the friends of my history briefly, but with firmness and preyouth; but awoke, and found myself in a cision, marking the dates with accuracy,
dungeon.  Melancholy followed, but by and never deviating into invective or exdegrees I gained a clear conception of my clarnation.
miseries and situation, and was then re-   The magistrate appeared at first perleased fr'om my prison,  For they had fectly incredulous, but as I continued, he
called me mad; and during many months, became more attentive and interested; I
as I understood, a solitary cell had been saw him sometimes shudder with horror;
my habitation.                          at others a lively surprise, unmingled with
But liberty had been a useless gift to ne disbelief, was painted  on his countehad I not, as I awakened to reason, at the nance.
sanme time awa - ned to revenge. As the   VWhen I had concluded my narration, I
memory of past misfortunes pressed upon said, "This is the being whom I accuse,
me, I began to reflect on their cause-the and for whose detection and punishment I
monster whom I had created, the misera- call upon you to exert your whole power.
b3e demon whom I had sent abroad into It is your duty as a magistrate, and I bethe world for my destiuction.  I was pos- lieve and hope that your feelings as a man
sessed  by a maddening  rage when I will not revolt from the execution of those
thought of him, and desired and ardently functions on this occasion." This address
prayed that I might have him within my caused a considerable change in the physg'rasp, to wreaka great and signal revenge iognomy of my auditor. He had heard
on his cursed head.                    my story with that half kind of belief that
TNor did my hate long confine itself to is given to a tale of spirits and supernatuuseless wishes; I began to reflect on the ral events; but when he was called upon
best means of' securini him; and for this to act officially in consequence, the whole
purpose, about a month after my release, I tide of his incredulity returned. He howrepaired to a criminal judge in the town, ever, answered mildly, "I would willingly
and told him that I had an accusation to afford you every aid in your pursuit; but
make; that I knew the destroyer of my the creature of whom you speak appears
family; and that I required him to exert to have powers which would put all my exhis whole authority for the apprehension ertions to defiance. Who can follow an anof the murderer.                       imal which can traverse the sea of ice, and
The magistrate listened to me with at- inhabit caves and dens,where no man would
tention and kindness: "Be assured, sir," venture to intrude? Besides, some months
paid he, " no pains or exertions on my have elapsed since the commission of his




102                        FRANKENSTEIN;' OR,
crimes, and no one can conjectuire to what turbed, and retired to meditate on some
place he has wandered, or what region he other mode of action,
may now inhabit."
C "I do not doubt that he hovers near the
spot which I inhabit; and if he has indeed        CHFAPTERi XVIII.
taken refuge in the Alps, he may be hunted
like the chamois, and destroyed as a beast   Mv present situation was one in which
of prey. But I perceive your thoughts: all voluntary thought was swallowed up
you do not credit my narrative, and do iot and lost. I was hurried away by fury;
intend to pursue my enemy with the pun- revenge alone endowed me with strength
ishment which is his desert."           and composure; it modelled my feelings,
and allowed me to be calculating and
As I spoke, rage sparkled in my eyes; and allowed me to be calculating and
the magistrate was intimidated;  You are calm, at periods when otherwise delirium
the magistrate was intimidated;'" You are
or death would have been my portion.
mistaken," said he, "I will exert myself;
and if it is in my power to seize the mon-   My first resolution was to quit Geneva
ster, be assured that he shall suffer pun- for ever; my country, which, when I was
ishment proportionate to his crimes. But I happy and beloved, was dear to me, now,
fear, from what you have yourself des- in my adversity, became hateful. I procribed to be his properties, that this will vided myself with a sum of money, togeprove impracticable, and that, while every  ther with a few jewels which had belonged
proper measure is pursued, you should en- to my mother, and departed.
deavor to make up your mind to disap-   And now my wanderings began, which
pointment."                             are to cease but with life. I have tra"That cannot be; but all that I can say  versed a vast portion of the earth, and
will be of little avail. My revenge is of have endured all the hardships which trano moment to you; yet, while I allow it vellers, in deserts and barbarous countries
to be a vice, I confess that it is the devour- are wont to meet. How I have lived I
ing and only passion of my soul. My rage hardly know; many timestave I stretched
is unspeakable, when I reflect that the my failing limbs upon the sandy plain, and
murderer, whom I have turned loose upon  prayed for death. But revenge kept me
society, still exists. You refuse my just alive, I dared not die, and leave my addemand: I have but one resource; and I versary in being.
devote myself, either in my life or death,   hen    uited  Geneva, my firt labor
y,    VIWhen I quitted Geneva, my first labor
to his destruction."
was to gain some clue by which I might
I trembled with excess of agitation as 1 trace tihe steps of my fiendish enemy. But
said this; there was a phrenzy in my man- my plan was unsettled; and I wandered
ner, and something,  I doubt not, of that many hous around the confines of the
haughty fierceness, which the martyrs of town, uncertain what Jpath I should purold are said to have possessed. But to a  sue. As night approached, I found myGenevan magistrate, whose mind was oc- sat he entrance of the cemetery where
cupied by far other ideas than those of de-  Tilliam, Elizabeth,  and my father, revotion and heroism, this elevation of mind  posed. I entered it, and approached the
had much the appearance of madness. H-e tomb which rarked their graves. Everyendeavored to soothe me as a nurse does a thing was silent, except the leaves of the
child, and reverted to my tale as the effects trees, which were gently agitated by the
of delirium.                            wind; the night was nearly dark; and the
"Man," I cried, " how ignorant art thou  scene would have been solemn and affectin thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you/know  ing even to an uninterested observer. The
not what it is you say."                spirits of the departed  seemed to flit
I broke from the house angry and dis- around, and to cast a shadow, which was




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                             103
felt, but seen not, around the head of the 1, moon arose, and shone full upon his ghastmourner.                               ly and distorted shape, as he fled with
The deep grief which this scene had at more than mortal speed.
first excited quickly gave way to rage and   I pursued him; and for many months
despair. They were dead, and I lived; this has been my task. Guided by a slight
their murderer also lived, and to destroy clue, I followed the windings of the Rhone,
him I must drag out my weary existence. but vainly. The blue Mediterranean apI knelt on the grass, and kissed the earth, peared; and, by a strange chance, I saw
and with quivering lips exclaimed, " By the fiend enter by night, and hide himself
the sacred earth on which I kneel, by the in a vessel bound for the Black Sea. I
shades that wander near me, by the deep took my passage in the same ship; but he
and eternal grief that t  feel, I swear; and escaped, I know not how.
by thee, 0 Night, and by the spirits that   Amid the wilds of Tartary and Russia,
preside over thee, I swear to pursue the although he still evaded me, I have ever
demon, who caused this misery, until he followed in his track.  Sometimes the
or I shall perish in mortal conflict. For peasants, scared by this horrid apparition,
this purpose I will preserve my life: to informed me of his path; sometimes he
execute this dear revenge, will I again be- himself, who feared that if I lost trace I
hold the sun, and tread the green herbage should despair and die, often left some
of the earth, which otherwise should mark to guide me. The snows descended
vanish from my eyes for ever. And I on my head, and I saw the print of his
call on you,' spirits of the dead; and on huge step on the white plain. To you
you, wandering ministers of vengeance, first entering on.life, to whom  care is
to aid and conduct me in my work. Let the new, and agony unknown, how can you
cursed and hellish monster drink deep of understand what I have felt, and still feel?
agony; let him feel the despair that now  Cold, want, and fatigue, were the least
torments me."                          pains which I was destined to endure; I
I had begun my adjuration with solem- was cursed by some devil, and carried
nity, and an awe which almost assured me about with me my eternal hell; yet still
that the shades of my murdered friends a spirit of good followed and directed my
heard and approved my devotion; but the steps, and, when 1 most murmured, would
furies possessed me as I concluded, and suddenly extricate me from  seemingly
rage choaked my utterance.             insurmountable difficulties.  Sometimes,
I was answered through the stillness of when nature, overcome by hunger, sunk
night by a loud and fiendish laugh. It under the exhaustion, a repast was prerung on my ears long and heavily; the pared for me in the desert, that restored
mountains re-echoed it, and I felt as if all and inspirited me. The fare was indeed
hell surrounded me with mockery and coarse, such as the peasants of the counlaughter. Surely in that moment I should try ate; but I may not doubt that it was
have been possessed by phrenzy, and have set there by the spirits that I had invoked
destroyed my miserable existence, but that to aid me. Often, when all was dry, the
my vow was heard, and that I was reserved  heavens cloudless, and 1 was parched
for vengeance. The laughter died away; by thirst, a slight cloud would bedim the
when a well-known and abhorred voice, sky, shed the few drops that revived me,
apparently close to my ear, addressed me and vanish.
in an audible whisper —" I am satisfied:   I followed, when I could, the courses of
miserable wretch! you have determined the rivers; but the diemon generally
to live, and I am satisfied."          avoided these, as it'was here that the! I darted towards the' spot from which population of the country chiefly collected.
the sound proceeded; but the devil eluded In other places human beings were selmy grasp. Suddenly the broad disk of the dom seen; and I generally subsisted on the




a104                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
wild animals that crossed my path. I had  frost, to which I am impassive.  You will
monev with me, and gained the friendship  find near this place if you follow not too
of the villagers by distributing it, or bring- tardily, a dead hare; eat, and be refreshed.
ing with me some food that I had killed, Come on, my enemy; we have yet to
which, after taking a small part, I always  wrestle for our lives; but many hard and
presented to those who had provided me  miserable hours must you endure, until
with fire and utensils for cooking.     that period shall arrive."
My life, as it passed thus, was indeed    Scoffing devil! again do I vow venhateful to me, and it was during sleep  geance; again do I devote thee, miserable
alone that I could taste joy.  0 blessed  fiend, to torture and death. Never will I
sleep! often, when most miserable, I sank  omit my search, ur;t he or I perish; and
to repose, and my dreams lulled me even  then with what ec-b;tacy shall I join my
to rapture.  The spirits that guarded me Elizabeth, and those who even now prehad provided these moments, or rather pare for me the reward of my tedious toil
hours, of happiness, that I might retain  and horrible pilgrimage.
strength to fulfil my pilgrimage.  De-   As I still pursued my journey to the
prived of this respite, I should have sunk  northward, the snows thickened, and the
under my hardships.  During the day I cold increased in a'degree almost too sewas sustained and inspirited by the hope vere to support. The peasants were shut
of niglht: for in sleep I saw my friends, up in their hovels, and only a few of the
my wife, and my beloved country; again most hardy ventured forth to seize the anI saw the benevolent cotintenance of my imals whom  starvation had forced from
father, heard the silver tones of my Eliza- their hiding-places to seek for prey.  The
beth's voice, and beheld Clerval enjoying  rivers were covered with ice, and no fish
health and youth.  Often, when wearied  could be procured; and thus I was cut off
by a toilsome march, 1 persuaded myself from my chief article of maintenance.
that 1 was dreaming until night should    The triumph of my enemy increased
come, and that I should then enjoy reali- with the difficulty of my labors.  One inty in the arms of my dearest fiiends. scription that he left was in these words:
What agonizing fondness did I feel for "Prepare! your toils only begin: wrap
them! How did I cling to their dear yourself in furs, and provide food, for we
forms, as sometimes that haunted even my  shall soon enter upon a journey where
wakinrv hobrs, and persuade myself that your sufferings will satisfy my everlasting
they still lived! At such moments ven- hatred."
geance, that burned within me, died in my    My courage and perseverance were inheart, and I pursued my path towards the vigorated by these scoffing words; I redestruction of the d emon, more as a task  solved not to fail in my purpose; and callenjoined by Heaven, as the mechanical ing on heaven to support me, I continued
impulse of some power of which I was with unabated fervor to traverse immense
unconscious, than as the ardent desire of deserts, until the ocean appeared at a dismy soul.                                tance, and formed the utmost boundary of
What his feelings were whom I pursued, the horizon. Oh! how unlike it was to
I cannot know. Sometimes, i~ndeed, he the blue seas of the south' Covered with
left marks in writing on the barks of the ice, it was only to be distinguished from
trees, or cut in the stone, that\guided me, land by its superior wildness and ruggedor instigated my fury. "M My reign is not ness. The Greeks wept for joy when they
yet over," (these words were legible in beheld the Mediterranean from the hills of
one of these inscriptions;) "you live, and  Asia, and hailed with rapture the boundary
my power is complete. Follow  me'; I of their toils. I did not weep; but I knelt
seek the everlasting ices of the north, down, and, with a full heart, thanked my
where you will feel the misery of cold and guiding spirit for conducting me in safety




THE MODERN  PROMETIEUS.,                            105
to the place where I hoped, notwithstand- ocean; and, purchasing a plentiful stock
ing my adversary's gibe, to meet and grap- of provisions, I departed from the land.
ple with him.                              I cannot guess how  many days have
Some weeks before this period I had passed since then; but I have endured
procured a sledge and dogs, and thus tra- misery, which nothing but the eternal senversed the snows with inconceivable speed. timent of a just retribution burning within
I know not whether the fiend possessed the my heart could have enabled me to support.
same advantages; but I found that, as be- Immense and rugged mountains of ice
fore I had daily lost ground in the pursuit, often barred up my passage, and I often
I now gained on him; so much so, that heard the thunder of the ground sea, which
when I first saw the ocean, he was but one threatened my destruction. But again the
day's journey in advance, and I hoped to frost came, and made the paths of the sea.
intercept him before he should reach the secure.
beach. With new courage, therefore, I   By the quantity of provision which I had
pressed on, and in two days arrived at a consumed I should guess that I had passed
wretched hamlet on the seashore. I in- three weeks in this journey; and the conquired of the inhabitants concerning the tinual protraction of hope, returning back
fiend, and gained accurate information. A  upon the heart, often wrung bitter drops of
giganwJc monster, they said, had arrived  despondency and grief from my eyes. Dethe night before, armed with a gun and  spair had indeed almost secured her prey,
many pistols; putting to". flight the inhab- and I should soon have sunk beneath this
itants of a solitary cottage, through fear of misery; when onze, after the poor animals
his terrible appearance. I-e carried off that carried me had with incredible toil
their store of winter food, and placing it in gained the summit of a sloping ice mouna sledge, to draw which he had seized on tain, and one sinking under his fatigue
a numerous drove of trained dogs, he had died, I viewed the expanse before me with
harnessed them, and the same night, to the anguish, when suddenly my eye caught a
joy of the horror-struck villagers, had pur- dark speck uponthe dusky plain. I strained
sued his journey across the sea in a di- my sight to discover what it could be, and
rection that led to no land; and they con- uttered a wild cry of ecstacy when I disjectured that he must speedily be destroyed tinguished a sledge, and the distorted proby the breaking ice, or frozen by the eter- portions of a well-known form  within.
nal frosts.                             Oh! with what a burning gush did hope
On hearing this information, I suffered revisit my heart  warm tears filled my
a temporary access of despair. He had eyes, which I hastily wiped away, that
escaped me; and I must commence a de- they might not intercept the view I had of
structive and almost endless journey across the dmmon; but still my sight was dimmed
the mountainous ices of the ocean-amid by the burning drops, until, giving way to
cold that few of the inhabitants could long the emotions that opp.ressed me, I wept
endure, and which I, the native of a genial aloud.
and sunny climate, could not hope to sur-   But this was not the time for delay; I
vive.  Yet at the idea that thefiend should disencumbered the dogs of their dead comlive and be triumphant, my rage and ven- panion, gave them a plentiful portion of
geance returned, and, like a mighty tide, food; and, after an hour's rest, which was
overwhelmed every other feeling.  After absolutely necessary, and yet which was
a slight repose, during which the spirits' of bitterly irksome to me, I continued my
the dead hovered round, and instigated me route.  The sledge was still visible; nor
to toil and revenge, I prepared for my jour- did I again lose sight of it, exeept at the
ney.                                    moments when for a short time some ice
I exchanged my land sledge for one rock concealed it with  its intervening
fashioned for the inequalities of the frozen crags. I indeed perceptibly gained on it 




10                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
and when, after nearly two days journey, dure the hardships that I have undergone?
I beheld my enemy at no more than a mile No; I am not so selfish. Yet, when I am
distant, my heart bounded within me.    dead, if he should appear; if the ministers
But now, when I appeared almost within of vengeance should conduct him to you,
grasp of my enemy, my hopes were sud- swear that he shall not live-swear that he
denly extinguished, and I lost all trace of shall not triumph over my accumulated
him more utterly than I had ever done be- woes andlive to make another such a wretch
fore. A ground sea washeard; the thun- as I am. He is eloquent and persuasive; and
der of its progress, as the waters rolled and once his words had even power over my
swelled beneath me every moment more heart; but trust him not. His soul is as
ominous and terrific. 1 pressed on, but in hellish as his form, full of treachery and
vain. The wind arose; the sea roared; fiend-like malice. Hear him not; call on
and, as with the mighty shock of an earth- the manes of William, Justine, Clerval,
quake, it split, and cracked with a tremen- Elizabeth, my father, and of the wretched
dous and overwhelming sound. The work Victor,.and thrust your sword into his
was soon finished: in a few minutes a tu- heart. I will hover near, and direct the
multuous sea rolled between me and my steel aright.
enemy, and I was left drifting on a scattered piece of ice, that was continually
lessening, and thus preparing for me a hid-     WALTON, IN CONTINUATION.
eous'death.                                                     August 26th, 17 —.
In this manner many appalling hours   You have read this strange and terrific
passed; several of my dogs died; and I story, Margaret; and do you not feel your
myself was about to sink under the accu- blood congealed with horror, like that
mulation of distress, when I saw  your which even now curdles mine    Somevessel riding at anchor, and holding forth times, seized with sudden agony, he could
to me hopes of succor and life. I had no not continue his tale; at others, his voice
conception that vessels ever came so far broken. yet piercing, uttered with difliculnorth, and was astounded at the sight. I ty the words so replete with agony. His
quickly destroyed part of my sledge to fine and lovely eyes were now lighted up
construct oars; and by these means was with indignation, now subdued to downenabled, with infinite fatigue, to move my cast sorrow, and quenched  in  infinite
ice-raft in the direction of your ship. I wretchedness. Sometimes he commanded
had determined, if you were going south- his countenance and tones, and related
ward, still to trust myself to the mercy of the most horrible incidents with a tranquil
the seas, rather than abandon my purpose. voice, suppressing every mark of agitaI hoped to induce you grant me a boat tion; then, like a volcano bursting forth,
with which I could still pursue my enemy. his face would suddenly change to an exBut your direction was northward.  You pressionof the wildest rage, as he shrieked
took me on board when my vigor was ex- out imprecations on his persecutor.
hausted, and I should soon have sunk under   His tale is connected, and told with an
my~multiplied hardships into a death,whiich  appearance of the simplest truth; yet I
I still dread-for my task is unfulfilled.   own to you that the letters of Felix and
}a Oh! when will my guiding spirit, in Safie, which he showed me, and the appaconducting me to the duemon, allow me rition of the monster, seen from our ship,
the rest I so much desire; or must I die, brought to to me a greater conviction of
and he yet live? If I do, swear to me, the truth of his narrative than his asseverWalton, that he shall not escape; that ations, however earnest and connected.
you will seek him, and satisfy my yen- Such a monster has then reailly existence;
ge'ance in his death~`'et. do I dare ask I cannot douih: it; yet ISn lost; fix Burs
vov *-"4 oi'. d,It t:9,3::',,i rim pI iloa,,  to   0ri an"" ad i'iantion, m, 0 tIt-,.. 4 ab




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                              107
deavored to gain forno  Frankenstein the sions of pity or love, without tears. What
particulars of his creature's formation; but a glorious creature must he have been in
on this point he was impenetrable.      the days of his prosperity, when he is thus
"Are you mad, my friend?" said he, noble and god-like in ruin. He seems to
"or whither does your senseless curiosity  feel his own worth, and the greatness of
lead you?  Would you also create for his fall.
yourself and the world a demoniacal ene-   "W hen younger," said he, " I felt as if
my? Or to what do your questions tend? I were destined for some great enterprise.
Peace, peace! learn my miseries, and do My feelings are profound; butI possessed
not seek to increase your own."         a coolness of judgment that fitted me for
Frankenstein discovered that I made illustrious achievements. This sentiment
notes concerning his history: he asked to of the worth of my nature supported me,
see them, and then himself corrected and  when others would have been oppressed;
augmented them  in many places; but for I deemed it criminal to throw away in
principally in giving the.life and spirit to useless grief those talents that might
the conversations he held with his enemy. be useful to my fellow-creatures.  When
"' Since you have preserved my narration," I reflected on the work I had completed,
said he, " I would not that a mutilated one no less a one than the creation of a sensishould go down to posterity."           tive rational animal, I could not rank myThus has a week passed away, while I self with the herd of common projectors.
have listened to the strangest tale that But this feeling, which supported me in
ever imoagination formed. My thoughts, the commencement of my career, now
and every feeling of my soul, have been  serves only to plunge me lower in the
drunk up by the interest for my guest, dust.  All my speculations and hopes are
which this tale and his own elevated and as nothing; and, like the archangel who
gentle manners have created. I wish to aspired to omnipotence, I am chained in
sooth him; yet can I counsel one so infi-  an eternal hell.  1MVy imagination was
nitely miserable, so destitute of every hope vivid, yet my poweis of analysis and apof consolation, to live?  Oh, no! the only plication were intense; by the union of
joy that he can now know will be when  these qualities I conceived the idea, and
he composes his shattered  feelings to executed the creation of a man. Even
peace and death. Yet he enjoys one com- now I cannot recollect, without passion,
fort, the offspring of solitude and delirium: my reveries while the work was incomhe believes, that, when in drearns he holds plete.  I trod  heaven in my thoughts,
converse with his friends, and derives now exulting in my powers, now burning
from that communion consolation for his with the idea of their effects.  From my
miseries, or excitements to his vengeance, infancy I was imbued with high hopes
that they are not the creations of his fan- and  a lofty ambition; but how  am  ][
cy, but the real beings who visit him from  sunk!
the regions of a rermote world. This faith    "Oh! my friend, if you had known me
gisves a solemnity to his reveries that ren- as I once was, you would not recognise
der them to me almost as imposing and me in this state of degradation. Despondinteresting as truth.                   ency rarely visited my heart; a high (lesOur conversations are not always con- tiny seemed to bear me on, until I fell,'fined to his own history and misfortunes. never, never again to rise."
On every point of general literature he    Must I then lose this admirable being?
displays unbounded  knowledge, and  a 1 have longed for a friend; I have sought
quick and piercing apprehension.  His one who would sympathize with and love
eloquence is forcible and touching; nor me. Behold, on these desert seas I have
can I hear him, when he relates a pathetic found such a one; butI fear I have gained
incident, or endeavors to move the pas- him only to know his value and lose 




10)8                       FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
I would reconcile him to life, but he re- wards me for aid; but I have none to bepulses the idea.                        stow. There is something terribly appal"I thank you, Walton," he said," for ling in our situation, yet my courage and
your kind attentions towards so miserable  hopes do not desert me. We may sura wretch; but when you speak of new  vive; and if we do not I will repeat the
ties, and fresh affections, think you that lessons of my Seneca, and die with a good
any can replace those who are gone? Can  heart.
any man be to me as Clerval was; or any    Yet, what, Margaret will be the state
woman another Elizabeth?  Even where of your mind?  You will not hear of my
the affections are not strongly moved by  destruction, and you will anxiously wait
any superior excellence, the companions my return. Years will pass, and you will
of our childhood always possess a certain  have visitings of despair, and yet be torpower over our minds, which hardly any  tured by hope. Oh! mry beloved sister,
later friend can obtain. They know  our the sickening failings of your heart-felt
infantine  dispositions, which, however expectations are, in prospect, more terrible
they may be afterwards modified, are never to me than my own death.  But you have
eradicated; and they can judge of our a husband, and lovely children; you may
actions with more certain conclusions as be happy: I-Heaven bless you, and make
to the integrity of our motives. A sister you so!
or a brother can never, unless indeed such    My unfortunate guest regards me with
symptoms have been shown early, suspect the tenderest compassion.  IHfe endeavors
the other of fraud or false dealing, when  to fill me with hope; and talks as if life
another friend, however strongly he may  were a possession which he valued.  He
be attached, may, in, spite of himself, be  reminds me how often the same accidents
invaded with suspicion.  But I enjoyed  have' happened to other navigators, who
friends, dear, not only through habit and  have attempted this sea, and, in spite of
association, but front their own merits; myself, he fills me with cheerful auguries.
and, wherever I am, the soothing voice of Even the sailors feel the power of his elomy Elizabeth, and the  conversation of quence: when he speaks, they no longer
Clerval, will be ever whispered in my ear. despair; he rouses their energies, and,
They are dead; and but one feeling in  while they hear his voice, they believe
such a solitude can persuade me to pre- these vast mountains of ice are mole-hills,
serve my life. If I were engaged in any  whichl will vanish before the resolutions
high undertaking or design, fraught with  of mall. These feelings are transitory;
extensive utility to my fellow-creatures, each day's expectation delayed fills them
then could I live to fulfil it. But such is with fear, and I almost' dread a mutiny
not my destiny; I must pursue and de- caused by this despair.
stroy the being to whom I gave existence;
then my lot on earth will be fulfilled, and                        Septelber 5th.
I may die."                                A. scene has just passed of such uncommon interest, that although it is highly
September 2d.  probable that these papers may never reach
M1  BELOVED  SISTE: I write to you you, yet I cannot forbear recording it.
encompassed by peril, and ignorant whe-    We are still slrrounded by mountains
ther I am ever doomed to see again dear of ice, still in immrinent danger of being
England, and the dearer friends that in- crushed in their conflict.  The cold is exhabit it. I am surrounded by mountains cesslve, and many of my unfortunate comof ice, which admit of no escape, and rades have already found a grave amid
threaten every moment to crush my ves- this scene of desolation. Frankenstein has
sel. The brave fellows, whom  I have daily declined in health: a feverish fire
persuaded to be mt'E companions, look to- still glimmers in his eyes; but he is ex



THE  I, ODERN  PROMETHEUS.                         109
hausted, and, when suddenly roused to any  after to be hailed as the benefactors of
exertion, he speedily sinks again into ap- your species; your names adored, as beparent lifelessness.                   longing to brave men who encountered
I mentioned in my last letter the fears I death for the honor and benefit of manentertained of a mutiny. This morning, kind. And now, behold, with the first
as I sat watching the wan countenance of imagination of danger, or, if you will, the
my friend —his eyes half closed, and his first mighty and terrific trial of your courlimbs hanging listlessly-I was roused by age, you shrink away, and are content to
half a dozen of the sailors, who desired  be handed down as men who had not
admission into the cabin. They entered; strength enough to endure cold and peril;
and their leader addressed me. He told  and so, poor souls, they were chilly, and
me that he and his companions had been returned to their warm fire-sides. Why,
chosen by the other sailors to come in dep- that requires not this preparation; ye need
utation to me, to make me a demand, not have come thus far, and dragged your
which, in justice, I could net refuse. We captain to the shame of a defeat, merely
were immured in ice, and should probably to prove yourselves cowards.  Oh! be
never escape; but they feared that if, as men, or be more than men. Be steady to
was possible, the ice should dissipate, and your purposes, and firm as a rock. This
a free passage be opened, I should be rash  ice is not made of such stuff as your hearts
enough to continue my voyage, and lead might be; it is mutable, cannot withstand
them  into fresh dangers, after they might you, if you say that it shall not. Do not
happily have surmounted this.          return to your families with the stigma of
They desired, therefore, that I should  disgrace marked on your brows. Return
engage with a solemn promise, that if the as heroes who have fought and conquered,
vessel should be freed, I would instantly  and who know not what it is to turn their
direct my course southward.            backs on the foe."
This speech troubled me. I had not   He spoke this with a voice so modulated
despaired; nor had I yet conceived the to the different feelings expressed in his
idea of returning, if set free. Yet could I, speech, with an eye so full of lofty design
in justice, or even in possibility, refuse this and heroism, that can you wonder that
demand? I hesitated before I answered; these men were moved? They looked at
when Frankenstein, who had at first been  one another, and were unable to reply. I
silent, and, indeed, appeared hardly to have spoke; I told them to retire, and consider
force enough to attend, now roused him- of what had been said: that I would not
self; his eyes sparkled, and his cheeks lead them further north, if they strenuousflushed with momentary vigor. Turning  ly desired the contrary; but that I hoped
towards the men, he said —             that, with reflection, their courage would
"What do you mean?  What do you return.
demand of your captain?  Are you then    They retired, and I turned towards my
so easily turned from your design?  Did friend; but he was sunk in languor, and
you not call this a glorious expedition? almost deprived of life.
and wherefore was it glorious? Notbe-    How all this will terminate, I know not;
cause the way was smooth and placid as a but I had rather die, than return shamesouthern sea, but because it was full of -flly  -y purpose ufulilled  Yet I far
dangers and terror; because, at every new  such will be ny fate; the men, unsupincident, your fortitude was to be called ported by ideas of glory and honor, can
forth, and your courage exhibited; because  never willingly continue to endure their
danger and death surrounded, and these present hardships.
dangers you were to brave and overcome.                          September 7th.
For this was it a glorious, for this was it   The die is cast; I have consented to
an honorable undertaking. You were here- return, if we are not destroyed. Thus are




I11i0                        FRANRENSTE1N; OR.
my hopes blasted by cowardice and inde- he breathed with difficulty, and was unable
cision; I come back ignorant and disap- to speak.  The surgeon gave him a cornpointed.  It requires more philosophy than  posing draught, and ordered us to leave
I possess, to bear this injustice with pa- him  undisturbed.  In the meantime he
tience.'                     told me that my friend had certainly not
many hours to live.
eptember th.  His sentence was pronounced; and I
It is past; I am returnino to:England. could only grieve, and be patient. I sat
I have lost my hopes of utility and glory; by his bed watching him; his eyes were
I have lost my friend. But I will endeavor             thought he slept; 
closed, and I thouht he slept; bat preto detail these bitter circumstances toyou,        called to me in a fe
sently he called to mle in a feerde voice,
my dear sister; and, while I am wafted
y dear sis; and, while I a  wafted  and, bidding me come near, said —" Alas!
towards England, and towards you, I will the strength I relied on is gone; I feel
not despond.                                  T 
not despond. 10th, t  ice began to movethat I shall soonl die, and he, my enemy
September 10th, the ice began to move, and persecutor, may still be in being.
and roarings like thunder were heard at a Think not, Walton, that in the last modistance, as the islands split and cracked  ments of my existence I feel that burning
in every direction.  We were in the most hatred, and ardent desire of revenge, I
imminent peril; but, as we could only re- once expressed, but I feel myself justified
main passive, my chief attention was occu- in desiring the death of my adversary.
pied by my unfortunate guest, whose ill- During these last days I have been occuness increased in such a degree, that he  pied in examining my past conduct; nor'
was entirely confined to his bed. The ice  do I find it blameable.  In a lit of enthucracked behind us, and was driven with  siastic madness I created a rational creaforce towards the north; a breeze sprung  tare, ard was hound towards him, to as
fro'm the west, and on the 1lth the pas- sure, as far as was in my power, his hap
sage towards the south became   pfectly  piness and well-being. This was my dufree. When the sailors saw this, and that ty; but there was still another, paramount
their return to their native country was to that.. My duties towards my fellow.
apparently assured, a shout of tumultuous creatures had greater claims to my attenjoy broke from thenm, loud and long-con- tion, because they included a greater protinued. Frankenstein, who was dozing, portion of happiness or misery.  Urged by
awoke, and asked the cause of the tumult. this view, I refused, and I did right in re" They shout," I said, "beause they will fusing, to create a companion for the first
~soon return to England."                creature.  He showed unparalleled malig"' Do you then really relturn? 7nity and selfishness in evil: he destroyed
"6 Alas! yes; I cannot withstanld their 5my fri-iends; he devoted to destruction bedemands. i cannot lead them unwillingly  ings who possessed exquisite sensations,
to danoger, and I must return."          happiness, ad  vidoi; nor do I know
"Do so, if you will; but I will not. where this thirst lor vengeance may end.
You may give up your purpose; but mine  Miserable himself; that he may render no
is assioned to m8 byt Heaven, and I dare  other wretched he ought to die. The task
not. I am weak; but surely the spirits of his destruction was mine, but I have
who assist my vengeance will endow me. failed.  When actuafed byv selfish and viwith sufficient strewngth."  Saying thi, lihe cio-us motives, I asked you to undertake
endeavored to spring fromn the bed, but the  my unfinished work; and I renew this reexertion was too great for him; he fell quest now, when I am  only induced by
back, and fainted.                       Ieason and virtue.
I waS 0loJ n  besore hie was restored; and   et I cannot asl you to renounce your
I often thought that life was e ntirely nx    t cottnry and friends, to fulfil this taslk; and
tInct.  Ar-, lengtlh he o.ened his eyes, b'Ut  ow, tcot ou oare y ett  ln  to e.ngilaod




THE MODERN PROMETHETS.                              ll
you will have little chance of meeting with complete without this final and wonderful
him. But the consideration of these points, catastrophe.
and the well-balancing of what you may    I entered the cabin, where lay the reesteem  your duties, I leave to you; my mains of my ill-fated and admirable friend.
judgment and ideas are already disturbed Over him hung a form which I cannot find
by the near approach of death. I dare not words to describe; gigantic in stature, yet
ask you to do what I think right, for I may uncouth and distorted in its preparations.
still be misled by passion.             As he hung over the coffin,\ his face was;That he should live to be an instrument concealed by long locks of ragged hair;
of mischief disturbs me; in other respects but one vast hand was extended, in color
this hour, when I momentarily expect my and apparent texture like that of a mumrelease, is the only happy one which I my. When he heard the sound of my aphave enjoyed for several years. The forms proach, he ceased to utter exclamations of
of the beloved dead flit before me, and I grief and horror, and sprung towards the
hasten to their arms.  Farewell, Walton! window. Never did I behold a vision so
Seek happiness in tranquillity, and avoid horrible as his face, of such loathsome,
ambition, even if it be only the apparently yet appalling hideousness. I shut my
innocent one of distinguishing yourself in eyes involuntarily, and endeavored to rescience and discoveries. Yet why do I collect what were my duties with regard
say this? I have myself been blasted in to this destroyer. I called on him  to
these hopes, yet another may succeed."   stay.
His voice became fainter as he spoke;   He paused, looking on me with wonder;
and at length, exhausted by his effort, he and again turning towards the lifeless
sunk into silence. About half an hour form of his creator, he seemed to forgetmy
afterwards he attempted again to speak, presence, and every feature and gesture
but was unable; he pressed my hand fee- seemed instigated by the wildest rage of
bly, and his eyes closed for ever, while the some uncontrollable passion.
irradiation of a gentle smile passed away    "That is also my victim!" he exclaimfrom his lips.                          ed; " in his murder my crimes are conMargaret, what comment can I make on summated; the miserable series of my bethe untimely extinction of this glorious ing is wound to its close! Oh, Frankenspirit?  What can I say, that will enable stein! generous and self-devoted being!
you to understand the depth of my sorrow? what does it avail that I now ask thee to
All that I should express would be inade- pardon me?  I, who irretrievably destroyquate and feeble. My tears flow; my ed thee by destroying all thou lovedst.
mind is overshadowed by a cloud of disap- Alas! he is cold; he may not answer
pointment. But I journey towards Eng- me."
land, and I may there find consolation.   His voice seemed suffocated, and my
I am interrupted. What do those sounds first impulses, which had suggested to me
portend? It is midnight; the breeze the duty of obeying the dying request of my
blows fairly, and the watch on the deck friend, in destroying his enemy, were now
scarcely stir. Again; there is a sound as suspended by a mixture of curiosity and
of a human voice, but hoarser; it comes compassion. I approached this tremenfrom  the cabin where the remains of dous being: I dared not again raise my
Frankenstein still lie. I must- arise, and looks to his face, there was something so
examine. Good night, my sister.         scaring and unearthly in his ugliness  I
Great God! what a scene has just ta- attempted to speak, but the words died
ken place! I am yet dizzy with the re- on my lips. The monster continued to
membranee of it. I hardlyklnow whether utter wild and incoherent self-reproaches.
XI sha2i  have the powe.r to detail it; yet the At length I gathered resolution to asddress
t'Rabi'~wht   l' wave recoroded wouid be iy him, in a pause  f the, tempest of his




112                        FRANKENSTEIN; OR,
passion: " Your repentance," I said, 6 is   I was at first touched by the expressnow superfluous.  If you had listened to ions of his misery; yet when I called to
the voice of conscience, and heeded the mind what Frankenstein had said of his
stings of remorse, before you had urged  powers of eloquence and persuasion, and
your diabolical vengeance to this extremity, when I again cast my eyes on the lifeless
Frankenstein would yet have lived,"     form of my friend, indignation was re"And do you dream?" said the demon; kindled within me. "Wretch!" I said, "- it
"do you think that I was then dead to ag- is well that you come here to whine over
ony and remorse'. He," he continued, the desolation that you have made. You
pointing to the corpse,  he suffered not throw a torch into a pile of buildings, and
more in the consummation of the deed; when they are consumed you sit among the
oh! not the ten-thousandth portion of the ruins, and lament the fall. Hypocritical
anguish that was mine during the linger- fiend? if he whom you mourn still lived,
ing detail of its execution.  A frightful still would he be the object, again would he
selfishness hurried me on, while my heart become the prey, of your accursed venwas poisoned with remorse. Think ye geance. It is not pity that you feel; you
that the groans of Clerval were music to lament only because the victim  of your
my ears? My heart was fashioned to be malignity is withdrawn from your powsusceptible of love and sympathy; and, er."
when wrenched by misery to vice and ha-   "Oh, it is not thus —' not thus, " interruptred, it did not endure the violence of the ted the being; "yet such must be the imchange without torture, such as you can- pression conveyed to you by what appears
not even imagine.                       to be the purport of my actions. Yet I seek
" After the murder of Clerval, I returned  not a fellow-feeling in my misery.  No
to Switzerland, heart-broken and overcome. sympathy may I ever find. When I first
Ipitied Frankenstein; my pity amounted sought it, it was the love of virtue, the
to horror: I abhorred myself. But when feelings of happiness and affection with
I discovered that he, the author at once of which my whole being overflowed, that I
my existence and of its unspeakable tor- wished to be participated. But now, that
ments, dared to hope for happiness; that virtue has becoxme to me a shadow, and that
while he accumulated wretchedness and happiness and affection are turned into
despair upon me, he sought his own en- bitter and loathing despair, in what should
joyment in feeling and passions from the I seek for sympathy? I am content to suffer
indulgence of which I was forever barred, alone, while my sufferings shall endure;
then omnipotent envy and bitter indigna- when I die, I am well satisfied that abhortion filled me with an insatiable thirst for rence and opprobrium  should load my
vengeance. I recollected my threat and  memory. Once my fancy was soothed
resolved that it should be accomplished. I with dreams of virt.ue, of fame, and of enknew that I was preparing for myself a joyment. Once I falsely hoped to meet
deadly torture; but I was the slave, not with beings, who, pardoning nay outward
the master of an impulse, which I detested, form., would love me for the excellent qualiyet could not disobey.  Yet when she ties which I was capable of bringing forth.
died! —nay, then I was not miserable. I I was nourished with high thoughts of
had cast of all feeling, subdued all an- honor and devotion.  But now vice has
guish to riot in the excess of my despair. deraded me beneath the meanest animal.
Evil thenceforth became my good. Urged No crime, no mischief, no malignity, no
thus far, I had no choice but to adapt my  misery, can be found comparable to mine.
nature to an element which I had willingly When I call over the frightful catalogue of
chosen. The completion of mnydemonical my deeds, I cannot believe that I am he
design became an insatiable passion. And  whose thoughts were once filled with subnow it is ended; there is my last victim-!" lime and transcendant visions of the beauty




THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.                              113
and the majesty of goodness. But it is sel on the ice-raft which brought me hitheven so; the fallen angel becomes a malig- er, and shall seek the most northern exnant devil. Yet even that enemy of God  trernity of the globe; I shall collect my
and man had friends and associates in his funeral pile, and consume to ashes this
desolation; I am quite alone.           miserable frame, that its remains may af"You, who call Frankenstein your friend, ford no light to any curious and unhallowseem to have a knowledge of my crimes ed wretch, who would create such another
and his misfortunes.  But in the detail as I have been. 1 shall die. I shall no
which he gave you of them, he could not longer feel the agonies that consume me,
sum up the hours and months of misery or be the prey of feelings unsatisfied, yet
which I endured, wasting in impotent pas- unquenched. He is dead who called me
sions. For while I destroyed his hopes, I into being; and when I shall be no more,
did not satisfy my own desires. They were the very remembrance of us both will
for ever ardent and craving; still I desired speedily vanish. I shall no longer see the
love and fellowship, and I was still spurned. sun or stars, or feel the winds play on my
Was there no injustice in this? Am I to be cheeks. Light, feeling, and sense, will
thought the only criminal, when all hu- pass away; and in this condition must I
man kind sinned against me? Why do you find my happiness. Some years ago, when
not execrate the rustic who sought to de- the images which this world affords first
stroy the saviour of his child? Nay, these  opened upon me when I felt the cheering
are virtuous and immaculate beings? I, the warmth of summer, and heard the rustling
miserable and the abandoned, am an abor- of the leaves and the chirping of the birds,
tion, to be spurned at, and kicked, and and these were all to me, I should have
trampled on. Even now my blood boils at wept to die; now it is my only consolation.
the recollection of this injustice.     Polluted by bitter crimes, and torn by the'" But it is true that I am a wretch. I bitterest remorse, where can I find rest but
have murdered the lovely and the helpless; in death?
I have strangled the innocent as they slept,   "Farewell! I leave you, and in you
and grasped to death his throat who never the last of human kind these eyes will ever
injured me or any other living thing. I behold. Farewell, Frankenstein! If thou
have devoted my creator, the select speci- wert yet alive, and yet cherished a desire
men of all that is worthy of love and admi- of revenge against me, it would be better
ration among men, to miseryl; I have pur- satiated in my life than in my destruction.
sued him even to that irremediable ruin. But it was not so; thou didst seek my exThere he lies, white and cold in death. tinction. that I might not cause greater
You hate me; but your abhorrence cannot wretchedness; and if yet, in some mode
equal that with which I regard myself. unknown to me, thou hast not yet ceased
I look on the hands which executed the to think and feel, thou desirest not my life
deed; I think on the heart in which the for my own misery. Blasted as thou wert,
imagination of it was conceived, and long my agony was still superior to thine; for
for the moment when they will meet my the bitter stings of remorse may not cease
e:es, when it will haunt my thoughts, to rankle in my wounds until death shall
no more.                                close them for ever.
Fear not that I shall be the instrument   "But soon," he cried, with sad and solof future mischief. My work is nearly emn enthusiasm, " I shall die, and what I
complete. Neither your's nor any man's now feel be no longer felt. Soon these
death is needed to consummate the series burning miseries will be extinct. I shall
of my being, and accomplish that which ascend my funeral pile triumphantly, and
must be done; but it requires my own. exult in the agony of the torturing flames.
Do not think that I shall be slow to per- The light of that conflagration will fade
form this sacrifice,  I shall quit your ves- away; my ashes will be swept into the




114      FRANKENSTEIN; OR, THE MODERN PROMETHEUS.
sea by the winds. My spirit will sleep in  said this, upon the ice-raft which lay close
peace; or if it thinks, it will not surely  to the vessel. He was soon borne away
think thus. Farewell."                 by the waves, and lost in darkness and
He sprung from the cabin-window, as he  distance.
THEI END,




A NEW AND ELEGANT EDITION OF
FROIS SART'S CtRONICLES.
IANYDSO1/EILY BOUND, AND STAWMPED AND LEsTTXnZD IN GOLD.
Price Three Dollars I
~       This is a super-royal'octavo, elegantly printed on fine paper, and containing
O)NE HUNDRED AND TWENTY SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS,:. Which were executed  expressly for this edition, at great cost, by one of the best
engravers in America, B. B. LOSSING.  It is one of the most distinguished  of the
English  classics, and should  command  a place in  all libraries.   The  present is the
only American edition ever printed.
COMIMENDATOlRY NOTICE.                    fortunes of nobles, in the squabbles of priests, and the
amusements of that class with whom he associated.
This great work has stood the test of nearly five centuries, and comprises a history of the most interesting peri-   "In selecting Froissart's Chrouicles," says Earl Spenod of the Middle Ages. Froissart hits presented a living  cer's librarian, the greatest book-smsan of the age, " let me
picture of Europe in its boisterous spring-time, with all its  press strongly upon the reader's attention the importance,
tumultuous pleasures, its chivalrous glories, and its mag-  the instructiveness, and the never failing source of amusenificent superstitions. He has given us a type both of the  ment of his History, which has alike endeared the author
splendor and the decline of the heroic world. I-e has  to the antiquary, the man of taste, and even to the lover
transmitted to posterity brilliant examples of dauntless  of romantic lore! The pages of Froissart exhibit a perheroism, and perfect models of reproachless chivalry.  feet, natural and pleasing picture. Conversations, skirmWith the sympathy and spirit of an eye-witness, and with  ishes, battles-the country-the town-scenes within the
the frankness of an old priest anxious to entertain Isis noble  tent, the palace, or the church-the quiet of pastoral ocpatron with as good a story as was consistent with truth,  cupations, or the tumult of a popular assembly-these,
lie has detaiied the most interesting periods of English  and everything which he touches, are hit off in a smfanner
history, and one of the most exciting epochs in the pro-  the most simple and striking imaginable; and severe ingress of civilization. He has described, wiih a most charm-  deed must be that taste, and fastidious that feeling, which
ing simplicity, even with dramatic power, all that can ex- shall deny to the pages of this historian the merit of great
cite curiosity in the usages of warfare, in the lives and  interest, candor, and apparent fidelity."
vOF' All orders in all cases from dealers and others should be addressed
to the sole proprietor of the work, namely
HENRY G. DAGGERS,
30 ANN-STREET, NEw-York,




TO LEADERS OF CHOIRS, 1MUSICAL SOCIETIES, PROFESSORS AND AMATEURS OF MUSIC THROUGHOUT THE U. S.,
T BET iOEViEN COLLECTION
OF
SACRE D MUSIiC
IS WElYRILY RECOMBIENDED AS
THE VERY BEST MUSIC-BOOK EXTANT.
This great work is the result of the joint labors of three eminent
composers and. teachers, viz 
E. IVES, Je3 L, W. ALPERS, AND HENRY C. TIMM.
This collection is IENTIRELY NEW-containing the largest number eve
published in one volume of fine and solid Church Tunes, beautifully harmonized.  There is a separate Organ-part, together with ANTHEMS, TE
DETUMS, CHANaTS, &C., arranged cxpressly for this work.
Letters from the most distinguished artists in all parts of the country,
speaking in unqualified terms of approbation, have been received.' The
more the collection is known, the better it is appreciated.  It has already
superseded the old collection in the principal churches of New York, and
it is always introduced into choirs when its great merits are understood.
The work comprises one hundred and ninety-two pages of music, with
the words of the various hymns, which are of the highest character, and
never doctrinal-so that they may be sung by all denominations.
It is sold for $1 a single copy and $9 for a dozen copies.  Copies presented graiis to choristers by whom the work is adopted.  All orders should
be addressed to the only proprietor and publisher-namely
HENRY G, DAGGERS, 30 ANN.STREET, N. Y.
N. B.-The Beethoven Collection is for sale by all Periodical Agents




OF
INTERESTING BOOKS.
Just Published and for Sale'by
HENRY G. DAGGERS, No. 30 Ann-street, New-York.
Who takes this occasion to assure Agents and Dealers that no one of his
publications will ever, in any case, be sold for less than the first prices mentioned in this Catalogue.   There will be but one uniform   retail and wholesale price.
THE NUN; OR, LIFE IN A CONVENT~   THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, translaBy one of the Sisterhood.  This is a romance of  ted  by HENRY  C. DEMING, Esq.-This is a
great beauty and remarkable interest, being the genu-  new edition of this correct, complete, elegant, and eloine production of a young lady who witnessed the  quentversion of Eugene Sue's greatestromance. The
scenes she so vividly describes. It will be read with  price is the same as Town's ineomlplete, abridged, and
the greatest interest by both the religious and secular  faulty translation, published by the Harpers. 50 cents.
classes,     25 cents.
~~~II~~~~~~~~~A.
THE BOOK OF BRITISH BALLADS,
LAWRIE TODD; OR, THE SETTLERS IN  THE BOOK     BITISH  ALLADS
THE WOODS.  TBr JO N GALT, ESQ. Author of  edited  by S. C. HALL, Esq., with  an original
the Ayrshire Legatees, Southenan, &c., with an origi-n and preliminary  remarks to each
nal Preface by GRANT TIORBURN, Esq., the original  ballad  by PARK  BENJAMIN.-This neat and
Lawrie Todd. This is pronounced on all sides the  elegant collection comprises all the ballads (all the.
most excellent novel of its distinguished author. Mr.  finest in the language) contained in the two large and
Thorburn's preface is quaint and curious, 25 cents.    very expensive volumes published in England. It is a
book without which no library can be considered comlTiP.                         plete, since it comprises a most important department
POOR  JACK.   BY  CAPTAIN  M][ARRYAT,  of English romantic literature.   37~ cents.
Author of Peter Simple, Jacob Faithful, Midshipman                          v Kf,
Easy, &c., with several appropriate engravings. But a   FOREST LIFE.  By Mrs. MARY CLAVERS,
few copies are left of this popular and thrilling story o f
a sailor's life. It is its author's latest novel. 25 cents.  (C. M.' Kirlkland,) Author of "A New Home,"
&c. &c. Few writers have elicited more sincere adV:i-t.                        miration than this lady. Her sketches of Western life
MOUNT  SOREL;  OR, TrHE  HEIRESS                       1 OF  in all its phases are admirable. There is a quiet vein
of mingled humor and simplicity pervading her books,
TiE DE VE~RES, by the Author of Two Old
X TaDRlVEeRs,    bylef the  A r od  T,   Od  which has seldom been surpassed. The present book
Men's Tales, Tales of the Woods and Fields, &c. A       as originally publishd at $1.25. This is an elegant
romance of the purest character, which every father  thouh cheap edition in two volumes.   50 cents.
should recommend to his child:.en, and husbands to
their wives.    12-~ cents.                                                  XS-.
A PLEA FOR WOMAN. By Mrs. HuTo
V.                           REID.   With  an  Original Introduction, by
THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURES Mrs. C. M. KIRKLAND (Mary Clavers.) A
OF  BARON  MUNCHAUSEN.-To which  more impressive and sensible exposition of the true
is added an acconnt of his veracious visit to America.  claims of the female sex than this, has never been pub
This most mendacious of travelli.ng-books —which is  lished. Every woman, who has a heart and mind too,
universally quoted, and without reading which no  should possess it; and every man, who loves and rescholar can be considered to have completed his classi-  spects the better and brighter half of creation, should
cal education-is running over with fun.    129- cents  commend this admirable work.   25 cents.




CATALOGUE.
X.                         with the most important elementary instructions, and
THE   ADVENTURES   OF   LITTLE   should be read by every one who desires to possess a
MARY.  By UNCLE PETER PARLEY.  This is general acquaintance with this most interesting science
a most charming story for grown people as well as chil- 64 cents.
dren. It is pronounced delightful by all who Ilave                      XX.
read it.   124 cents.                               THE  BIBLE  IN   SPAIN, by the  REay
XI.                         GEORGE BORROW.-A more charming book of
MESMERISM  AND ITS OPPONENTS,  travels than this-one more replete with good feeling,
with a Narrative of Cases. By GEORGE SAND-  wit, and the emanations of a happy and brilliant spirit,
BY, Jr., M. A.  Now that the subject of Human  canuot be found in the whole range of English letters..By, Jr. M. A, Now that the subject of Human
25 cents,
Magnetism is attracting universal attention, a book of
so high and true a character as this must be read with                  XIX.
great interest. No fact is better established than that    ZINCALI, by the REV. GEORGE BORROW,
of the beneficial influence exercised by Mesmerism in  author of the Bible in Spain.-The interest of
many cases of disease. Several interesting and remark-  this work is much much greater than that of a romance,
able cures are related in this book, the authenticity of being full of the most thrilling and heart-touching stowhich does not admit of a doubt.   25 cents.      ries of the gipsey race.   25 cents.
2K I.
LIFE IN THE NEW WORLD.-This is
by far the best work of the celebrated SEATSFIELD,    FATHER  GORIOT; OR, SCENES OF LIFE
who is spoken of in a late number of Blackwood's Ma- IN PARIS.   By H. DE BALZAC.  Translated
gazine, as one of the greatest authors of modern Ger- from  the French by Edward S. Gould.  De
many.   50 cts.                                   Balzac is one of the greatest of modern French novelXIII.                        ists-and there is no story of his extant, more: chara -
PUSS  IN   BOOTS, versified  by MRs. teristic of his strange and fascinating style.  25 cents.
FRANCIs  OSGOOD, with beautiful Lithographic                          yxxII.
Illustrations by GEORGE ENDICorT; after de-    KATE  IN  SEARCH OF A HUSBAND.
signs by OTTO SPECITEPR. —This is by far the  No lady should venture to accept a lover without first
most beautiful picture-book for the young ever pub- having read this delightful and instructive story.  124
lished in the United States. It is pronounced on all cents.
hands quite equal, if not superior, to the English edi-               XXIlI][.
tion issued by John Murray. Neatly bound in silk and    PHILIP IN  SEARCH  OF A  WIFE.gold, and stamped.   50 ceests.. 1No gentleman should dream of choosing a wife without
X]KV.                        attentively studying the adventures of Philip.  12z
HANS OF ICELAND, translated from the  cents.
French of VICTOR HUGO, Author of the Hunch-                            XXI:v.
back of Notre Dame, &c. &c.-A more bril-    THE  EMIGRANT'S TRUE GUIDE.liant, exciting and powerful romance than this has sel- This valuable little work comprises advice and instrucdom appeared even in France.   25 cents.          tion in every stage of the voyage to America; such as
~XV.                       Ichoice of a ship; provisions and clothing for the voyage; hints during the voyage; custom-house laws;
THE POEMS  OF SIR EDWARD BULwhat to do on landing; interesting anecdotes, &c.
WER LYTTON, Author of Pelham, Zanoni, Also, information which the emigrant needs on arrival,
The Lady of Lyons, &c.  This is the only  &c. &c.   25 cents.
collection extant of the beautiful poetical productions                XXV.
of this distinguished novelist, dramatist and poet.    A   MEMOIR   OF  MRS. JUDITH   S.
They are eminently worthy of his genius. A very neat
volume, suitable for a present to a frienid or lover-neatly bound. 50 cents.                               Heon. W. W. CAMPBELL. —This is a biography
XVl.  of one, whose life was beautiful, and whose death was
MARTIN  CHUZZLEWIT, by CHARLES  worthy of a Christian.   25 cents.
DICKENS, Esq., author of the Pickwick Papers, Nich-                    XXVI.
olas Nicklebv, the Christmas Carol. Complete in one    WILHEM'S CELEBRATED  METHOD
volume. 25 cerXts.                                OF TEACHING  SINGING IN CLASSES.
RICHLIEU  IN  LOVE, a comedy in five  This work is a standard in Great Britain, and universally approved of by musicians. It must become a text
acts.-This comedy is very interesting: it was prohib-  book in our schools.   25 cents.
ited to be played by the Lord Chancellor in London on
account of its political allusions. Printed very neatly               XXVII.
12X cents. 1                                         GRIMALDI, THE CLOWN, by CHARLES
FAMILIAR  LETTERS  ON  CHEMIS-  DICIrENS, Esq. (BOZ,) author of Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Christmas Carol, &c. Boz never
TRY, by JUSTIN  LIEBIG, author of Animal  wrote a more funny and diverting book than these huMagnetism, &c.-This little work is replete  mors in the life of a comic actor.   25 cents.