X..i^. ^^^ it r ■^*-^- UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN r;r::rer:!s:issi25.oo,s3oo.oo,or a!fi1.fi9 1510 (toll-free) or cirdib@uiuc.edu. 'Rttef ;*e S; chooling t.e My Accoun, op„on at. http://www.library.uiuc.edu/catalog/ APR 3 2007 i J...- 1^ k EALPH D AENELL - QC TO GO in oo MY D E A E F A T H E E, WITH THE LOVE OF MY LIFE, THESE VOLUMES. \;* Old Court, ^ Harold's Cross, near Dublin, August 16, 1865. I Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/ralphdarnell01taylo PREFACE. When I wrote * Tara/ it was to illustrate one of tlie events wHcIl had an important eflfect upon tlie history of India : the first blow against the dominant power of the Mahomed- ans, which was struck in 1657. A hundred years later, on the 23d of June 1757, a blow still more momentous in char- acter fell upon all native powers in India, Mahomedan and Mahratta alike, by the foun- dation of a Political authority which, hereto- fore insignificant, rose into immediate action after the battle of Plassey. In these volumes I have endeavoured to fol- low the events and actions of history; and to invest it with such English interest as was, in many instances, common to the period. IMEADOWS TAYLOE. CONTENTS OF THE FIEST VOLUME. PART FIRST. CHAP. I. THE GOLDEX COCK, LOWER THAMES STREET, n. COMPANIONS, .... m. A LITTLE PLAY, TV. SAFE HOME, .... V. MORNING, .... VI. ROGER DARNELL AND COMPANY, \T:L THE DARNELLS PAST AND PRESENT, VIII. AN INDIAN LETTER OF 1755, IX. IMPROVEMENTS, X, THE DARNELLS OF MELCEPETH, XL ROBERT SMITHSON's VISIT, XII. BESSIE GROVER's MISSION, XIII. RESOLUTIONS AND PREPARATIONS, PAGE 1 13 21 36 50 65 75 88 98 113 131 148 163 PART SECOND. XIV. STEADY, RALPH ! 181 XV. MR Elliot's supper and concert, . . . 199 XVI, IN which miss CONSTANCE DARNELL's POLITICAL OPINIONS ARE E^^NCED, 217 X CONTENTS. XVII. "INSTRUCTIONS FOR A WILL," .... 234 XVni. RALPH DARNELL'S VISITORS, 246 XIX. A DINNER IN BLOOMSBURY SQUARE, . • • 266 XX. PROMENADE, "°" XXI. TEMPTATIONS, ^^^ XXII. THE BARONET IS EXPLICIT, ..... 309 PAKT FIRST EALPH DARNELL. CHAPTEE I. THE GOLDEN COCK, LOWER THAMES STREET. It was a rough afternoon tliat of the 21st March 1755. True to its period, a blustering equinoctial gale had set in since morning, and was rapidly in- creasing. Clouds of dust in the then ill-swept streets of London swirled along with little intermission, en- veloping horses, vehicles, and passengers in tempo- rary obscurity; then passing on to meet wayfarers, caught them suddenly at the corners of sheltered streets, causing them to stagger, or clap their hands hastily upon the small three-cornered hats which sate lightly upon the wigs then worn by most of the liege subjects of His Most Gracious Majesty King VOL. L A 2 RALPH DARNELL. George the Second. During the course of the morn- ing, a few smartly-dressed and venturesome beaux had tried the Mall; and even a few of the ladies of the then " fast" species of our ancestresses had sallied forth, for the sky for a while was clear and bright; but the wind was too much for them. It blew in fierce gusts from the river down Birdcage Walk, and even the unavoidable precautions of gay bandanas tied round hats and wigs, or curls and toupees, had been frequently insufficient, and many an honest sixpence had been earned by gamins, porters, and chairmen, following and recovering lost possessions. Beaux and belles, with their own pow- der blown into their eyes, together with street dust ; their mouths closed tightly, or tied up in mufflers ; the hoops of the one, and the gay-laced coats and ruffles of the other, sorely discomposed by the storm ; unable to flirt, or even in most cases to exchange more than the barest civilities, had already given up the fight, and left victory with the boisterous ele- ment. It was difficult, very difficult, for chairs to get about; extra porters were reaping a plentiful harvest by steadying those top-heav}^ vehicles ; and as each passed you might have seen that, whether gay lady powdered and frizzed after the wonderful fashion of the time, or gentleman of quality in laced or embroidered satin or velvet, bound to the rout, THE GOLDEN COCK, LOWER THAMES STREET. 3 club-liouse, or coffee-tavern, the person witliin ex- pressed anxiety at every succeeding blast ; and you might have heard very often a faint shriek of alarm, as a fair inmate nervously clutched the tassels which hung at her sides. Hackney coaches seemed but little if anything better, for they swayed about on their long springs; and their drivers, half -blinded, and barely able to keep their lofty seats, seemed hardly to be trusted by the passengers within ; for here and there a head might be seen to emerge sud- denly from the window, to be as quickly withdrawn when there came up a fresh whirlwind, and its fel- low-travellers urged the throwing up of the glass as rapidly as possible, and apparently yielded them- selves to their fate. It was, however, on the river that the gale was beginning to be felt most severely. Often during the morning, the skippers and mates of tlie vessels lying below London Bridge, by the Tower Wharf, and else- where, had looked up to the sky in their short, rapid deck- walk ; and as they s\\^ung their arms with loud thuds against their sides, had said, " It will blow off; it's only a fresh breeze, after aU." They are thankful, nevertheless, that they are not off Flamborough Head, or the Goodwin, pitching and labouring in the heavy seas. As the afternoon drew on, however, scraps of grey cloud came one by one out of the east, and hurried 4 RALPH DARNELL. " up the river, seeming to sweep past the cross of St Paul's or touch the weathercocks on the church steeples. They might easily be counted at first, as they disappeared over Westminster Abbey and St James's, and joined together beyond ; but they increased so fast, that the sun, who had blinked from among them as long as he could see, gave up at last, and was hidden away altogether before he had set. As the sky grew thicker and the scud drove lower, many a v/atchful mate and skipper looked to his ship's tackle, and made everything as snug as he could. Topgallant -masts were lowered, and their yards struck ; topsail and lower yards were braced up sharp to the wind; the strong cables and hawsers by which vessels were moored in their places were carefully looked to, precautions to prevent chafing were taken as far as possible, and soft rope-fenders were thrown over the vessels' sides. Still the wind rose, and the scud flew faster overhead. The wind was rising with the tide. As the sea- stream hurried up, it seemed impelled by the gale, which swept on in gusts, blackening the surface as the wind struck it, and often, indeed, scooping up and whisking away in spray whatever it could lay hold of ; but there were no waves as yet. The cur- rent set upwards through London Bridge, and a few wherries, plied with lusty stroke, seemed to fly over THE GOLDEX COCK, LOWER THAMES STEEET. 5 the surface, and, as if endowed with life, to enjoy their rapid course westwards. Those coming down the river, however, grew fewer and fewer. It was next to impossible to meet both tide and wind, and, after struggling for a while, one by one the stout water- men, like the fashionables on the Mall, gave up the contest, landed their fares at the nearest steps, and made their boats fast for the night as best they could. As it was no time for out-door amusement, or even safe passage through the streets — for here and there a slate, or tile, or chimney-pot came flying down through the air, and was smashed to pieces on the pavement, barely avoided in many instances by those on foot — so the taverns and coffee-houses were full of people. Some, driven into them by stress ot weather, were taking temporary shelter ; others had fairly settled down to a night of cards, dice, or drink, as it might be. East or west it was the same ; and in the more fashionable resorts of St James's, as in those of the city proper and its outskirts, the gay and dissolute of London gathered together. What matter if the houseless poor roamed about in rags and misery, and shivering sought what shelter they could find in by-lanes and under porches of great mansions or churches ? what matter if, on the roaring sea, many a crew of hard-pressed seamen began to find 6 RALPH DARXELL. ' sails blown from tlieir bolt-ropes and grim death star- ing them in the face, and, with little hope of clamng off the dreaded lee-shore of eastern England, prayed their last prayer and commended their souls to God ? I say none of these fierce and horrible strivings with the elements troubled the tavern-goers. Within were warmth and comfort; rich viands, generous wines, or strong spirits; and amusement and excitement blended together in bright contrast with the hideous riot without ; and thus the gay world, flirting, play- ing, or drinking — in palace, mansion, or tavern — was happy after its fashion, and defied the storm. Not far from London Bridge, in Lower Thames Street, on the right hand side as you went east- wards, stood at that time an old tavern of high local repute, which, as its sign without informed the passenger, was " the Golden Cock." This build- ing was long and low, being of one story only over the ground-floor. Above, three long project- ing oriel windows in the centre, with others at the sides, marked the positions of the large apart- ment frequented by parties of the higher char- acter of guests, and its smaller ones for possibly more select or private company; and the bright light which now streamed from all, and the dark forms which occasionally flitted before the latticed windows, showed them to be well filled as they were brightly THE GOLDEX COCK, LOWER THAMES STREET. 7 lighted. To tlie street, the oblong windows of the lower story, of similar shape to those above, but guarded by grim iron stanchions, were also full of light; and the whole place looked so cheerful in comparison with the street, that many a chance pas- senger had entered in at the half-open door, which was sheltered by a deep j)i'ojecting porch, instead of struggling more with the gale — and, according to his quality, and perhaps the length of his purse, either went up the broad black oak stairs which led to the upper rooms, or turned into the long low apartment to the left of the great hall. There a crowd of persons sat drinking ale or hot punch, and smoking vigorously; and from the room, as the door opened occasionally, a confused clamour of tongues, or a droning song or lusty chorus, and a cloud of tobacco-smoke, and reek of ale, and gin, and brandy-punch, escaped into the outer hall, till the door was shut again. This hall was a large room, in fact, with benches all round, and opened into an apartment or deep bay towards the river, which in summer was a favourite resort of watermen and sailors. Above it was a simi- lar projecting room, which formed a portion of the central apartment before alluded to, and from both of these there was an uninterrupted view of the river; and nothing could be pleasanter on a fine sunny day, than to sit at the open windows of this room, watching 8 EALPH DARNELL. ' the wherries, the ships, and the varying objects and changes of river life. On the right of the hall was the bar, now set out gaily with bright pewter pots, glasses, and a few silver flagons for the use of quality who would drink their mulled wine only out of pre- cious metal. The place was brightly illuminated with strong oil-lamps, whose light was reflected by sconces. A roaring wood-fire burned in a wide chimney; and through another door the large kitchen was discernible, glowing with brilliant tin and copper vessels, and with delf plates and dishes on its shelves. Here a long bright coal -fire glowing in the grate was covered with various pots and pans, stewing and bubbling, and partly screened by several active wenches with bare arms and short petticoats, whose principal employment at the present time seemed to be the frying of rashers of bacon and eggs, the hissing, crackling sound of which, and their appetising odour, came strongly into the hall. It was said that this tavern was part of an old mansion which had stood in the time of the Plan- tagenets; and perhaps it had. Suits of mail and weapons might once have hung on the great hooks round the hall, and the benches and the wide fire- place have seen the rough merriment and watch and ward of the retainers of the house. The place was perhaps little altered from its original condition ; THE GOLDEN COCK, LOWER THAMES STREET. 9 and if well-^yo^n flags in the liall, and the almost black colour of the staircase, with its heavy carved banisters, of the oak wainscot and the paneled ceil- ing, might be accepted as a proof of antiquity, there could be no doubt of that of the Golden Cock. The doors and windows of the rooms looking upon the river had been carefully shut since the gale had risen ; else, as you passed through the hall and bay beyond, you emerged upon a broad wooden terrace or stage, built upon piles, and protected by a stout rail towards the water. Here, on flue summer days or evenings, parties sat at small tables provided by the house, and smoked, drank, played, or ate as they had a mind to do ; while wherries rocked and bobbed on the wavelets in the river, and a crowd of smart watermen, dressed in their best, took fares for a row up to Westminster or Chelsea, or down river to see the large East and AVest Indiamen at Black- wall, or for a ramble in beautiful Greenwich Park. It will be allowed, then, that the Golden Cock had many advantages of position for the entertainment of its frequenters ; and there was not the least doubt that its host. Mister John Wilkins, was master of his trade, and did not neglect his opportunities. He was bound to serve his guests with the best, and he did so. A useful good-natured wife overlooked the kitchen; and her store of receipts for all old- 10 EALPH DAEXELL. fashioned English dishes, and many French, were the envy of all tavern-keepers in London who knew of them. ISTay, I have reason to believe that they formed the basis of that excellent book — ' The Com- pleat Housewife, or Accomplish'd Gentlewoman's Companion, compiled by Mister E. Smith, and printed for J. & J. Pemberton at the Golden Buck, over against St Dunstan's Church in Elect Street, in 1736/ The excellent preface to which sets forth, no doubt with Mistress Wilkins's entire concurrence, not only the profane but the religious and meta- physical view of the science of cookery ; and how, *'in the Infant Age of the World the Inhabitants contented themselves with the provisions of Nature ? The Art of Cookery was unknown; Apples, Nuts, and Herbs were both Meat and Sauce, and Mankind stood in no need of additional Sauce, Eagoes, &c., but a good appetite." How, also, " when Man began to pass from a Vegetable to Animal Diet, and feed on Elesh, Fowls, and Fish, their Seasonings grew necessary ; and probably Salt was the first Seasoning discovered, for of Salt we read Gen. xiv." And then how, '' when Digestive Faculties became Weak and Impotent, the use of Soops and savory Messes began. So that Cookery began to be a Science, though Luxury had not brought it to the Height of an Art." Thus we also read that ''Jacob made THE GOLDEN COCK, LOAVER THAMES STREET. 11 such palatable Pottage, that Esau purchased a Mess of it at the extravagant Price of his Birthright ; and Isaac, before by his last Will and Testament he bequeathed his Blessing to his Son Esau, required him to make some savoury Meat, such as his Soul loved — i. e., such as was relishable to his blunted Palate." I am afraid I cannot find time to follow the learned argument as to the identity of the first cook, therein set forth — whether it w^as Abraham, Esau, or Rebekah. This, it is pithily stated, is a question "too knotty for me to determine" — and no doubt it is so. I am convinced that Mrs Wil- kins had studied it profoundly, as she did the practice of her noble art. Was it not needful that she should be as much mistress of her peculiar department as her husband was of his ? For the shipping was nigh at hand, and many foreign cap- tains and their mates came to the Golden Cock, and were glad indeed to eat "ragoo,'' " friccassee," " ollas," and other dainty messes savouring of their own countries ; while there were many liquids, such as hot sack with cream, clary wine with spices, brandy-punch or brandy-butter, ale-flip, and the like, for rich and poor, which had raised the good dame's reputation to a high pitch ; and those that drank them declared them to be incomparably the best in London city. 12 EALPH DAKNELL. Perhaps, too, Mary and Susan, the two rosy- cheekecl, bright - eyed, good-natured daughters of this worthy and loving pair, with their smart caps and bright -green stuff gowns turned out through their pocket-holes over their tiny hoops, the bright scarlet quilted linsey petticoat beneath, and we will not say how much of swelling calf and neat ankle showing above the natty high-heeled shoes, might be described as they sat in the bar overlooking the bar-maids, pot-boys, and serving-men. But I am afraid this might only lead me into a detail of the whole establishment, including Mrs Sarah Baker the cook — irreverently called " Sallibaky," as in- vented by the French and Dutch captains ; and Eichard Wiggins the head-waiter, who was called, in like manner, " Dickiwig " — both being well known to the frequenters of the Golden Cock, and thriving well upon the bounties paid for their particular and individual services. And, I think, as all this might prove wearisome, and we are only visitors, like all the other guests on the evening of the 21st March 1755, we had better not stay with the young women in the bar, lest we should be tempted to flirt with them — an amusement in which, by frequent practice, they are doubtless well exercised — but go up-stairs at once, and join the genteel company assembled there. CHAPTEE 11. COMPANIONS. A BUSY and a noisy party filled the best apartment of the tavern. The room was low and broad, set out with tables round the sides, at which most of the company there were engaged with cards ; or, with flagons or glasses before them, were drinking the many-titled potations which they ordered as fast as they could be brought by the ever active Pdchard and his mates. According as the guests were old cus- tomers or new-comers driven in by the storm, the cries of "Dickiwig" or more respectful "Eichard" sounded from impatient thirsty throats on all sides, and the errands to be done for viands or for liquid compounds, were only equalled by the number of the guests and their requirements. The room afforded evidence of the noble rank of its ancient proprietors. The walls were of polished oak wainscot, laid out in panels; the corners were 14 RALPH DAENELL. finislied in ricli devices of flowers or scrolls of carved ornaments ; and tlie ceiling, also divided into panels, liad three divisions along its length, the centre of each being marked by a boss of carving similar to that on the corners of the panels, but richer and more elaborate. From the dark colour of the wood, the room might have had a gloomy aspect but for the brilliancy with which it was lighted. All round the walls, in the centres of each of the panels, were brass branches, holding polished silver or plated reflectors, which increased the light of the oil-lamps burning therein ; and from the centre bosses of the ceiling depended brass chandeliers, holding in each twelve wax candles. The game, as old Wiggins used to say — he had picked up the aying from the French captains, who often came — "luas worth the candles," and he woidd have nothing but the best wax tapers in his domain. So, witli the wind roaring without, and now beating furiously against the long windows towards the river, the room had a peculiarly rich and comfortable appear- ance ; and even those who had intended only to stay a while altered their minds, called for cards, and betook themselves to boston, piquet, or cribbage ; or ordered supper and wine, and determined to make a snug night of it. There might have been fifty people or more in the COMPANIONS. 15 room. Here were groups of the foreign captains, who, overtaken by the storm, could not get back to their ships, French and Dutch together, men with dark, bronzed faces, ear-rings in their ears, and wear- ing costumes gay with lace and embroidery, or clad in the plain cloth and baggy breeches of Flanders and the Low Countries. Few, if any, of these mingled with the Englishmen present ; they gathered to- gether according to their nationalities, and carried on their conversation in their own tongues, playing at dominoes or cards, and apparently with no stakes on their games. The Englishmen present, however, were very different. We see now in old portraits of the time, on the stage, in pictures, or at fancy balls where proper costume is a point critically observed, what the dress of our great-great-grandfathers was, and how richly and how becomingly it clothed their figures : satin and velvet in full dress, with a liberal use of costly lace and embroidery in silk, silver, or gold; cloth also, but never without gold or silver trimming on those who affected or indulged in fashionable cos- tume. The high riding-boot, the neat long gaiter, or the bright silk stocking, fitted well with the short nether garment ; while the waistcoat fell low over the hips, and was as resplendent as the genius of the tailor, or the pocket of the wearer, could contrive it to 16 EALPH DARNELL. be. My own opinion is, also, that these garments were very comfortable. The sleeves were wide and loose, the waistcoat sat easily in its place, and the nether garments, however continued below, gave free scope to the limbs. For the trader or quiet merchant, the colour and fashion were as sober as he could desire ; while for the gay man of fashion, what limit was there, except his purse, to the brilliancy of the costume, whether for day or night ? Not that there were any very memorable examples of this costume present on this evening ; and the dress of the majority might have been called plain almost to soberness ; but there were a few excep- tions, and as they belong to characters which have to do with this history, I may briefly note them. At a small table, not far from the roaring fire, which was liberally supplied with logs of wood, sat two men, more richly dressed than others present, who, by the attention paid to them by the head- waiter, were evidently persons of some consequence in his, and no doubt in their own, opinion. The younger of the two wore a light grey velvet suit, with bright steel buttons, wdiich, as well as the richly-cut hilt of his sword, sparkled in the strong light. On the front and flaps of his waistcoat w^as a delicate embroidery of flowers in silk, and the dress jabot or cravat, as well as the ruffles on his wrists COMPAXIOXS. 17 and breast, were of the finest Flanders lace. He was evidently dressed for an evening jjarty, and was not perhaps in the best of humours at being detained by the rough weather, into which he was in no trim to emerge from his present shelter. He was eminently handsome. A fair fresh face, the colour of which was almost effeminate in its tone and bloom, with light wavy hair, a high white forehead, and large blue eyes, were the first features you noticed, and generally with a pleasurable impres- sion : but just then, the eyes were redder than they need have been; the colour on the cheek was height- ened, and had flushed up into the forehead; the brows were knit ; and it was evident that the com- bined influences of a good deal of wine and some high play, were making themselves felt. The other features were perhaps not remarkable or worth discus- sion, for there was weakness and sensuality about the small but pale-red lips, and irresolution in the shape of the chin, and white, soft, woman-like throat ; and as he now sat, there was a reckless expression in the eyes which plainly betrayed a dissolute char- acter. His figure left nothing to desire. It was tall, and to all appearance strong; and the very move- ments of the broad sloping shoulders and back, as he shifted his position occasionally with impatient ges- tures, showed him to be lithe and active. VOL. I. B 18 EALPH DAENELL. > In truth, there were few better figures, or more graceful young men in London, than George Elliot at twenty-four. He walked well, danced well, was master of his sword's use, and had already fought several duels with credit. He had excellent taste in dress, and always made a conspicuous figure upon the public promenades ; and because of all these outward evidences, and an independent position as to fortune, he was already well advanced in th^ favour of the gay ladies of the town, and into the rank of society which it was his highest ambition to attain. When he should become a member of White's or Arthur's, indeed, he considered he should take his proper place in the world's esteem and his own. Before him sat John Forster, his companion, and, for the time, sworn friend, handsomely dressed in brown cloth, trimmed with gold lace. Not that the man was wealthy, or belonged to that higher class of gay folks to join which Elliot strove so hard ; but he knew, or seemed to know, everybody, and partly by effrontery, partly because of his very determined manner, and indifference to all obstacles in the gratification of his own will, Forster had risen to the place he occupied and maintained. Older by several years than Elliot, but hardly yet thirty, John Forster was a man who at once attracted attention, COMPANIONS. 19 and puzzled a good deal. He was not handsome or noble-looking, or even dignified ; but his face in- terested at once, nay, almost fascinated, especially the large brown eyes, which were soft or fiery as it might be, varying with every thought — now sha- dowed by the long lashes, as with a woman's tender- ness, or opened wide with a daring, flashing stare, which few cared to provoke or encounter. It seemed as if there were more than ordinary intelligence be- tween those eyes and the mouth, for both varied together in intensity of expression which could not be controlled. His might have remained a gentle, loving, trustful, though passionate face, under happy influences ; but these were long past, and it was fast hardening into reckless vice under the combined influence of entire selfishness, the society which he frequented, and its pursuits. John Forster was shorter than George Elliot, and he appeared thinner ; but the strengih of the man was in reality much greater. In the muscular throat, the strong round chin, the low square forehead and high head, and the very slight projection of the under lip, which was only noticeable under strong excitement, there were evidences of strength of character as well as of body ; and as the two men sat holding their cards, so that their loose cuffs fell back from their hands, the con- trast of the nervous resolute grasp of the one with 20 EALPH DARNELL. " the comparative irresolution and dimpled softness of tlie other, was very remarkable. It was a criti- cal period of the game too. Elliot, far ahead of his adversary in score, had backed himself heavily to win, but in this hand luck seemed to have changed. CHAPTER III. A LITTLE PLAY. Both parties had counted up their cards, and began to play. Forster exhibited irrepressible triumph, though when his companion occasionally spoke to him he replied from behind his hand, as if he feared to show the expression of his mouth. Elliot played very slowly, and with much thought — and he was by no means an indifferent player ; but this was no common hand. Chance, or the coolest calculation, might save him from a capot ; but he knew Forster would exert every ingenuity to mislead him, and there was a heavy stake on the game, more than he cared to lose. At last there remained but two cards in his hand, and one of these might win a trick and save him: which should he play? What card had Forster reserved ? Perhaps, if he had shut his eyes and considered well, he might have saved the game ; but it was already as good as lost. In 22 EALPH DAENELL. " Elliot's nerveless fingers the two cards were moved about irresolutely; then he closed his eyes, and played one desperately. " The wrong one, by G ! " he exclaimed, throw- ing the other passionately on the table. " I thought it would be so. Thou hast the devil's luck to-night, Jack!" " l!Tay," retorted the other, " if thou wilt be such a fool, Geordie, as to trust to luck when memory would have helped thee better, I have no more to say. It was no clean capot, only thou hast made it one; and but for this," and he held up the card, "as your score was at eighty-two, I had a poor chance." " Well, so be it. Jack; and what's to pay? Let me see — I bet thee three to two on the rubber, and there is the score besides." " In ponies, Geordie. Nay, thou wouldst have it so." " Yes, by George, it is true ; and here is only enough to pay the score on the table, and my purse is empty." " I wish my I U were as good as thine," returned his friend. " Well, I suppose it must be so. Here, Dickiwig ! a pen, ink, and paper — sharp, my lad; and a glass of brandy next, to wash down my ill luck. Come, Darnell," he continued, turning round to a young A LITTLE PLAY. 23 man sitting by the fire with a glass before him which was half full of steaming punch — " come, rouse thy- self. Art asleep ? It is thy turn now; here's Forster has won nigh a hundred of me, and I hope it will all get back to thee. Come, bring another chair, for there is no luck in this." The person to whom Elliot spoke belonged to the small party which that night, as often before, had met at the Golden Cock to play. The youngest of the three, he was not more than twenty ; and as he will have a good deal to do with this history, and may be briefly described, I will not now pass him by. A fresh-faced, curly-headed youth, who you could not help thinking would have been safer and better in other company. What hair there was on his face had been late in coming, and was as yet but down. Thick, wav}^, dark-chestnut locks clustered over the brow and temples, and, uncut, curled over the ears and on the shoulders. The face was a good deal freckled, but not plain — quite the contrary ; and though it was not that of a man of good blood, so to speak, in which respect those of Elliot and Forster were remarkable, it was one which many a woman would have looked on with favour, from its bold, manly, and usually good-natured expression. The mouth was small and well cut, showing white even teeth : the eyes dark grey with black lashes, and 24 EALPH DAENELL. ^ sufficiently large to be capable of much affectionate expression, thougb liable to passion, which was evinced by the bold nose and open defiant nostril. In figure he was as tall as Elliot, and showed evi- dences of greater future strength, though certainly of less grace, than had been attained by that accom- plished beau. Believing Ealph Darnell to be the heir of a north country baronetcy and a large estate, his fellow-countymen had taken him under their patronage, and were educating him in the accomplish- ments of the day, after their own particular fashion : while he, nothing loath, was by no means an indif- ferent pupil. " Come !" cried Forster, theatrically. '' Ealph Dar- nell ! I dare thee ! Sir Ealph Darnell, Baronet, of Melcepeth Castle to be. Gad ! it has a sound of sea- waves in it, befitting the neighbourhood of Dunstan- borough and Warkworth. I dare thee to battle 1 I have just capotted Geordie, and intend to capot thee ! Awake, sleeper ! Thou art not drunk, surely ? " " Drunk ! " retorted the young man, drinking off the remaining contents of his glass at a gulp — " no more drunk than you are. I thought you would never have done with that infernal rubber, and had wellnigh gone to sleep over my punch and the bright fire. Here, Dickiwig — fresh cards, old fellow, and a fresh jorum of punch." A LITTLE PLAY. 25 " Indeed, Mr Darnell," replied that worthy, as he brought the cards, " if yon're going to play with Mr Forster, you'd as well not have more punch ; that's the second glass I've brought you, and you'll please to pay at the bar for what you had before." " Mind your own business, you old fool," cried the young man, " and I'll mind mine. I want the punch, I say, and if you won't bring it I'll go to the bar myself" " Coming, sir ! " was Dicky's answer, as, in reply to some real or fancied caller, he dashed away. " But the punch," cried Darnell after him — " you old sinner " " Be quiet, Ealph," said EUiot. " I don't know that it is good for you, but as you will. I am going to change these gay garments of mine, and will tell Susan, your beloved, to send it to you : and I think I shall take a turn at hazard when I return." "That means hell flirt with her himself," said Forster ; " but come, man — cut for deal, and let's be- gin. What shall it be? — guineas, and ten on the rubber ? " " Susan's a jade, and you may tell her so, Geordie, from me, and you're welcome to her — if — you can get her, which is more than I can ; but then you're a beau, you know, and I'm hardly a ' blood.' Well, John ! Oh ay ! I got twenty yeUow boys from old Sanders •S6 RALPH DAKNELL. to-day, and here they lie against yours. And I've won the deal, huzza 1 Now for it." They continued playing, and the luck had changed. Forster's face was no longer triumphant, but it changed very little with ill-fortune, the under lip only grew out, as it were, as the teeth were set and occasionally ground passionately, and the strong upper lip closed over it with a rigid pressure under a profane oath, which I cannot record. Indeed, in this respect, the conversation of these young men was ordinarily interlarded by explosive expressions, which our ancestresses used not to object to; and therefore the quiet form of speech I use to express what they said may appear strange and untrue to nature. But as I think that I could not safely record the conversation exactly as it was, without ofience, it were therefore best modified. "You will give me my revenge, Darnell," said Foster, with an attempt at gaiety, as the rubber ended, and he had lost heavily : " you're not going yet ? " "No, by George, not in this furious storm; and that's hail," he continued, after a pause, as sheet after sheet was dashed against the shutters, and the blast fairly shook the old room, whistling through crevices in the panels. " No, I'U play as long as you like, and you may win all this back if you can. One, two, three " A LITTLE PLAY. ;27 " I hate the chink of money. Ealph, let it alone, will you, and play/' cried Forster, nervously. "Ha, ha, ha! a good joke! Mayn't I count my coin ? Come, I've only won six-and-twenty of thee after all; and here, Dicky, more drink's wanted — burnt sack this time." " Indeed, Master Ealph," said Dicky, " you shan't have it to-night ; j'ou'll never get home, and it's time you were there." "Then I'll sleep here, you stingy old scoundrel. I'll sleep on the floor ; it's as soft as a ship's plank — isn't it-? 'No sack! Look, Dickiwig, here's the guinea for thee I've promised so long. Dost see it ? Ay, but bring the sack, and then thou'lt get it ; not before, old boy!" " Well, Master Ealph, and if I have ^Ir Darnell here to-morrow, asking why his nephew was drunk over-night, or Mr Sanders, what's to be said ? " " D — n ]\Ir Sanders ! " cried Ealph ; " if ever you say a word to him about me, I'll break every bone in your skin, or to my uncle either. There, that's what you want, you old miserly rascal ; there's your guinea," and he threw one to the old man. " Away now for the liquor ! Tell Miss Susan to sweeten it with her sweet lips before she sends it up; and if it's weak, by Jove I'll make thee drink it thyself, at the point of my sword ! Ha, ha, ha ! I shall 28 EALPH DAENELL. get my liquor now, I think, after the guinea — eh, Jack?" " Come over here, Jack," cried Elliot, now advancing from the centre table, where they had seen him play- ing after his return ; " leave that cursed piquet ; they've got some hazard a-going here, and that's better. What a glum face, to be sure 1 and so thou'st been losing, Jack?" " Only six-and-twenty to me, Geordie," said Darnell ; " and thou wouldst say it was six-and-twenty drops of his life's-blood. Let him alone. Let him win it back as he grudges it. I'm not drunk, Geordie, not a bit ; I can see the cards quite well, and if they will come points and quarts, don't blame me. 'Pon my life, I can't help it ! I've played fair, indeed I have — and — I'm not — drunk ! I'm " " Come away. Jack ! I'll not let thee play another card with him — no, not one, by the Lord Harry!" cried Elliot, dragging Eorster from his chair. " Nay, no need to look savage, man ; you know I care nought for that. Can't we get him to my place some even- ing, and do what we like with him?" he whispered hurriedly. " Come away, I say, both of ye. Look what I've won from the sea-captain yonder, who is flourishing a bag of guineas as if they were half- pence." "If — you'll give me another glass of hot sack, A LITTLE PLAY. 29 Geordie," said Darnell, steadying himself npon his chair, " I'll go with you — to the devil — old fellow — if you like. Here, Dickiwig ! " " Come away, I say, you fools, and curse the cards !" cried Elliot, seizing the packs and flinging them to the other end of the room ; " and, you old sinner, Dicky, if you give Mr Darnell another drop, I'll be the death of you ! mind that. Come along, boys." Darnell rose and steadied himself as well as he could before he moved. He was not very tipsy after all, but in that state when he would have braved anything or done an}i;hing without a thought. " I'll give you your revenge any day — six-and-twenty, you know, Jack — that's all — and don't be angry now." "What a fool you are to think me angry," said Forster between his teeth. " Lend me five pieces, and see if my luck turns against that sailor fellow." " Five? nay, but here's ten," replied Darnel], gravely counting them on the palm of his hand, " and good luck to you with them." " Seven's the main, gentlemen," cried the man of whom Elliot had told them. " Don't be afraid of the gold, or of me. Here it is, won on the coast of the Indies, gentlemen. Ah, you should see the soft Hindu girls there, and the palm-trees, and hear tales of Mr Clive's doings, and how he fights the blacks as 30 EALPH DARNELL. I have. I'd a mind to have joined him, sirs — by the Lord Harry I had, with my ship's crew 1 " The speaker was a dashing, bronzed young man, wearing richly-laced clothes, and a strong sword, half hanger, half rapier, by his side. His face looked as though fierce suns had scorched it, and the hand in which he held a leather bag of coins was as dark as mahogany. " Should be glad to see you, gentlemen, on board the Valiant any time convenient," he con- tinued ; " got a comfortable cuddy there, and the best of grog, and these bones always ready. Seven's the main, gentlemen; who'll join?" " I will for one," cried Darnell, throwing down a handful of pieces at once. " Who's afraid ? Come Jack, come Geordie, don't be afraid. I'm — I'm in luck, and I'm not drunk. Huzza for King George! and d — n " "Be quiet, you fool!" cried Forster ; "you don't know who may be here ; do you want a fight ?" " Anything for me ! I'm not drunk ! " hiccuped Ealph. " Huzza, I say, for King George, and damna- tion to all Pretenders ! They're your friends. Jack, that you wince, aren't they?" "By Jove! if you don't pick up your money I wiU," cried Elliot. " Look out — see what you've won." " Huzza! double or quits. Captain? What do you say?" roared Darnell. " Here's thirty of 'em !" A LITTLE PLAY. 31 " Done, sir," replied the other. '' I don't think he's lit to play, though," he continued, apart to Elliot. " I'd have ever}i:hing fair, gentlemen." " Mind your game, sir," cried Elliot, haughtily; " we can look after our friend's play as ^^■ell as our own. You've a hea^y stake on that throw." "^Mind yours, sir," retorted the Captain; "I know well what I'm about. Any one backing the gentle- man there ? I'll take odds against him — two to one? three to five ? name your sums, gentlemen. I've only brought a small bag to-night, but there's plenty more where that came from." " I back him then, three to five," said Forster, sharply. " That's right, my blood of bloods ! " cried Ealph, slapping his thigh. ""Who's afraid to-night? Gad, sir, we'll clean you out! and there, my hand that it'll be all fair! Drimk, sir? I'm not drimk !" As Darnell spoke, and put out his hand to grasp the Captain's across the table, he felt his coat gently pulled behind. " What's that ? " he cried sharply. "Let me go, Elliot; I will shake hands with him!" " It's me," said a soft girlish voice behind him — " it's only me. Oh, come home, Mr Ealph ! Xanny's in a sore fright for you, and mother's iU, and I've run over the bridge with your cloak — come with me." "E faith, a brave little wench!" cried a dozen of 32 RALPH DARNELL. ^ voices round tlie table. "Who art tliou, my dar- ling?" coarsely added a man near, who put his arm round the girl. " Nay, but I'll have a kiss from thy sweet lips — by George, I will 1" As the girl struggled to free herself, Ealph Darnell struck the man heavily in the mouth with a back- handed blow, so that he staggered back. "Who dares touch her 1 " he exclaimed, haughtil}^ as if suddenly sobered ; and drawing his sword with one hand, gathered the girl to him with the other, in spite of her frantic efforts to drag down the weapon. The dice had been thrown, and Darnell had won. Elliot gathered up the stakes, and thrust them into Darnell's breeches pocket, just as the man who had been struck attacked him fiercely, and the swords crossed. " No brawling here, gentlemen ! " cried Mr Wilkins — " no brawling ; ye can go into the streets for that ; the Golden Cock is no place for Mohocks. Mr Elliot, Mr Forster, look to Mr Darnell !" Neither, however, nor the company present, had any mind to let the quarrel go on. The stranger was forthwith disarmed and dragged away ; and Forster, wrenching Darnell's sword from him, thrust it into the scabbard, and he was hurried to the end of the room near the door. " I am well known/' cried Elliot to the Captain, as he returned to the table ; " and Mr Wilkins will A LITTLE PLAY. 33 answer for me. Let him go ; you shall have your revenge to-morrow night ; if you will come, we will bring our friend." "Nay, 'twas but a trifle," replied the good- humoured fellow ; " and one must lose and another win with the bones' rattle. I shall be happy to see you, sir, here or in the cabin of the Valiant, as you will. The ship is easily found ; and I am Captain Abel Scrafton, at your service or your friend's, always." Meanwhile Ealph Darnell had been hurried on by Mr Wilkins, Dicky, and a posse of tapsters — some of whom had caught up stout sticks and flourished them over their heads — down the stairs, and into the hall, where he sat down doggedly on the flags, swearing frightful oaths, and declaring he would not stir till he had more drink. The girl was crying bitterly, but would not leave him ; and now folded his thick cloak about liim, buttoning it at the throat — an office in which Forster and the old waiter assisted — trying to raise Darnell to his feet. "Susan, another flagon of sack, and a kiss from thee, my darling," hiccuped Ealph ; " and I'll go, I'll go ; I'm not drunk ! and Sybil, wait ! 'pon my soul, I'll go home quietly if I get it." " give it him, Mr Wilkins," cried the girl, clasp- ing her hands piteously ; " give it him, else I shaU VOL. L C 34 RALPH DAENELL. never get him away, and they don't know I am out — indeed they don't — and I can't wait, sir ; I will not leave him." "Now, that's the last, Mr Ealph, and it's only because you promised to go home that I give it you," said the host, gently. " Now, go — that's a good lad, and let's have no more of this nonsense." "If that fellow had not insulted Sybil," cried Darnell, rising to his feet and steadying himself, as he received the small tankard, " I would not have hit him. Served him right ; didn't I, Jack ? didn't I, Mr Wilkins? Here's to your good healths, all round. Now, Sybil, your arm, my darling. It's a bad night, isn't it ?" " Never mind, Mr Ealph, we have not far to go, and we'll soon be over the bridge," said the girl, who, not heeding the pitiless storm without, was only anxious to get Ealph away. " Good night, then, Mr Wilkins ; good night. Jack ; where's Geordy ? Ah ! I'm the better for that hot sack and the ginger. Bless thee, Susan ! I blow a kiss to thee, my dear." The damsel in the bar tossed her head scornfully as Ealph blew his parting benediction from the tips of his fingers, and the door being opened, admitted a furious blast of wind with snow, as he emerged from it staggering into the street. A LITTLE PLAY. 35 " My mind misgives me about the lad, Jack," said Elliot good-naturedly, as lie returned from the upper room ; " we had better follow liim and see him safe home." " It will be a charitable act, gentlemen," added the host. "He has too much money about him to be alone so wild a night as this." CHAPTEE IV. SAFE HOME. I LEAVE it to scientific professors to define why, if a half tipsy man goes out suddenly into cold air, the inevitable result is that he advances a stage further in inebriety. No doubt this phenome- non is capable of a most easy-to-be-comprehended solution, but I have only to do with the fact ; . and though it is no doubt painful to have to exhibit a fine young fellow like Ealph Darnell in the condi- tion he had attained after his steady potations of strong brandy-punch and burnt sack, I profess that this history has to deal with the truth, and that, whether the acts of those who have part in it be good or evil, they shall be faithfully set forth to the end. For after all, my friend, this is the true aspect of all human nature — poor, imperfect, blind, striving, jostling human nature ; and my opinion is, that you SATE HOME. 37 would no more believe all the characters I have to bring before you to be perfectly good, not though I painted them with the brightest colours and the softest moral brushes I could find, than you would believe them to be perfectly bad, even though I blackened them with all the sins named in the commination service. And while I shall have no occasion, I hope, to do either one or the other, you must be prepared, in the course of this history, to take the people who belong to it in general, and this very Ealph Darnell in particular, as you may find them. Just now, as we see him, he is certainly in no very dignified condition ; but we cannot help that. After passing out of the porch of the Golden Cock, above which that resplendent bird was swinging rapidly and creaking loudly in the blast, Ealph and Sybil fairly faced the snow and wind ; and it was as much as the girl could do to steady her companion, even though the gale helped them occasionally, as the blasts came from the east down the street — and the snow, whirled round and round by the eddies among the houses, had settled into drifts which were deep enough to puzzle any one whose footing was not quite within his o^\^l control. Ealph, then, had fallen more than once into soft places, but he was in good humour, laughing heartily at his own erratic steps, and the girl, gaining confidence from his merriment, 38 EALPH DAENELL. was leading him as well as slie could onwards. For- tunately there was a good deal of light, not only from the effect of the moon, dark as the clouds were, but from the snow, which now lay thick on the ground. It was, however, very different when they turned the corner of Thames Street, and emerged upon the bridge. There they had to encounter the full force of the storm, and for a while Darnell's spirits ap- peared to rise higher as he struggled against the furious wind and blinding snow. I am afraid no modern ears would like to hear of the scraps of vile, ribald songs he sang, of the volleys of profane oaths he fired against the tempest, or of the frantic manner in which he roared and howled more and more impotently as he struggled on. He had flung off Sybil more than once as she attempted to steady and guide him ; and it was evident to the terri- fied girl that his intoxication was much increased, and increasing. What if he fell insensible ! She could not stir him ; he must be snowed up, and so perish. She had heard her mother and Nanny tell of travellers on northern moors overtaken by the snow, who had gone to sleep, and were found dead in the morning; and her terror increased. There was no one on the bridge, not even a watchman, and only a few street lamps, at great intervals, remained a light in the storm. What should she do if he fell. SAFE HOME. 39 but watch by him like a dog ? Ah, yes ! she would be as faithful. The bridge, too, was steep — steep, that is, for a tipsy man to ascend with such a storm raging ; and Darnell's steps became so painfully erratic that Sybil no longer dared to touch him. His shouts and songs had gradually died away, and a change was coming over the young man, by no means imcommon in phases of such excitement. He was now sullen and silent, and Sybil feared these moods, which came over him sometimes even when there was no cause like the present. Suddenly, as he staggered more than usual, a blast from the river, fiercer than any they had met before, flung Darnell into a drift of snow, and he lay there without stirring. It was what Sybil had feared, and she crept to him under shelter of the parapet ; but he had raised him- self up, and sat crying and sobbing in a maudlin tone, which to her was far more painful than the previous ribaldry, and cursing all belonging to him ; and, as it often happens, what is nearest the heart of any one so afi*ected comes out first. "Curse 'em, I say — curse them all," he whined, " for a pack of miserly scoundrels, who want — cheat me — cheat me. There's Uncle Geofirey — Sir Geofirey — and I'm Sir Ealph to be, by-and-by, if they'll let me ; but no ! they won't. I know they won't, else 40 RALPH DAENELL. why was I sent to this infernal place? And they won't let me have my Constance — no, they won't ; and I curse them all, and Uncle Eoger, and Sanders, and Constance ! my darling, my darling," he continued, stretching out his arms and whimpering, " come here — come and get me out of this snow. I can't get up. my darling ! don't, don't leave me here." Then he howled more curses and profane oaths, and the gentle girl crept nigher and nigher to him in the snow-drift. " Oh, Mr Ealph, don't curse so," she said, gently; "get up and come home with me. Lean on me; I'm quite strong, and we'll soon be there. It's only Sybil — your own Sybil — come." " No, d — n you," roared the young savage ; " get away ! I hate you ! I want Conny ! Go and fetch her, you They've taken my Conny from me : they've sent me here, and won't let me see her; and I shall never go to Melcepeth any more — no, curse them — and you — everybody! " The girl had raised him up partially, and helped to get him on his feet, but this time he caught hold of her dress, shook her violently, and flung her from him with all his strength. It was well that the snow lay thickly on the pavement, else she had been terribly hurt. As it was, she was partially stunned; and he looked at her lying before him SATE HOME. 41 with a stupid wonderment which, for the moment, partially sobered him. As he rose and staggered back to the parapet, to which he clung moaning, his feet refused to obey him. How the wind shrieked and the snow fell 1 To look towards the river w^as impossible. Darnell had faced the storm for a moment ; and his small hat, over which one of the tapsters had kindly tied a handkerchief, had been wrenched instantly from his head, and blo^^Ti away like a feather. Xo- thing could be seen of the water, or the ships, or the houses by the river-side — all was a confused cloud of battling, whirling, blinding snow-flakes: but the sounds were fearful. Far belo^v, the tide was running out — and some of us may remember with what violence it used to pour through the old arches at ordinary times ; but now the ebb -flood met the gale, and the furious waves dashed high against the bridge piers, or raged in a fearful tur- moil in the centre of the river. From the shipping there was a hoarse and continuous roar of the wind through the rigging, which often rose into a wild howl as if of evil spirits riding on the storm. "With it, a confused sound of plashing and rolling vessels mingled with heavy thuds of collision; and above all these, hoarse but constant cries of human voices came up fitfully. It could not be said w^hether 42 EALPH DAEXELL. ' they were orders on board the sliii^s, shouts for help, or the death-shrieks of the crews of shattered and sinking vessels. But of anything precise, Ealph Darnell was now unconscious. Just as he had steadied himself to advance, Sybil raised herself and looked round. Wiping the snow from her face, she saw Darnell ; and, remembering his curses and despair, the first thought which occurred to her was that he would destroy himself in the river beneath. " No 1 no ! no 1 Ealph ! " she shrieked, as she rose suddenly and staggered through the snow. " Help ! help ! save him, save him ! " Her cry had been heard. She was clinging to liim in her terror, as his two companions, who had followed on the track of his footsteps, came up. " Ay, thou art a rare brave wench ! " cried Elliot ; " and hast not left him. But for thee, indeed, we had missed ye both, for we were on the other cause- way. Hallo, Ealph! who is this fairy? A sweet- heart of thine ? Tie ! man, she's but a child." " Hie on home, lassie, and get into shelter," said Forster, good-naturedly. "Well bring him to you safe. This is no place for the like of you." "Please, sir," said Sybil, timidly, "I'm not his sweetheart — I'm only " " Never mind what thou art ! " cried Elliot ; SAFE HOME. 43 " there's a smack of my ain county's ' burr ' about thee ; and thou'rt a brave lass. If I hadn't more sweethearts than I know what to do with already, thou shouldst be chief of mine. But there's Jack Forster — he wants one; and a canny lass frae the North will just Bless me, she's gone ! " he continued — " vanished, i' faith ! perhaps in the snow among Mother Bunch's feathers; an' wha kens, Johnnie Forster, but the deil's maybe sent ye a leman, my bonny lad — an' you've letten her gang. Did ye no see her broomstick ? " "Peace, with your ribald foolery, George," re- torted the other; "and help me with this stupid ass. Darnell ! do you know who we are ? " Kalph looked dreamily from one to the other, and dashed the snow from his eyes. "I know you," he hiccuped. "It's the sack, Geordie, that did it ! One shouldn't mix — you know I'm better now ! Come along. Hurrah for King George, and damn the Pretender ! Tol de rol, de rol, de rol ! Pol de rol de ray ! " There is nothing so efficient for the care of a tipsy man as two stout sober companions, one on each side. The sufferer may stumble, or stagger, or reel; but he must walk; and legs incapable of any independent action, obey the laws enforced upon them by those of others. Accordingly, though 44 RALPH DARNELL. Ealph Darnell did huzza for the King once more, and damn the Pretender — much to Elliot's amuse- ment, who knew Forster to be one of the secret agents of a ruined house — and roar out scraps of ditties, he was forced along the bridge till the trio reached Tooley Street corner, where they stopped. They knew Darnell lodged somewhere in that vicin- ity — but where? And could he direct them now Sybil was gone? Ealph, however, was now somewhat more sober, and knew his way perfectly. " Come on, bo^^s ! " he said, with tipsy gravity; ''Mrs Morton will be glad to see my friends; and I've got a glass of brandy apiece for ye. It is but a step ; " and he moved forwards by himself " Let's see where he lives," said Forster ; " we may need to know some day ; and I should like to look at that little girl's face again, to know it better." "I hope she may never see thine to know it better," rejoined Elliot, laughing. " If she ever do, so much the worse for her — that's aU. I hope the old lady may give us the brandy too ; we've got to face that bridge again, and a cordial will do us no harm." And they followed close on Darnell's heels, lest he should faU again ; but, partly by aid of the wall, and by considerably more command over his legs SAFE HOME. 45 than before, the young man made his way forward Yery surely, and, turning into a small street appar- ently close to the river, as the dashing and gurgling of waves among the piles denoted, he stopped at the porch of an ancient house and knocked at the door, which was instantly opened by an elderly woman, carrying a candle, who held out her hand to Darnell. " Tak' care, Master Eraafe," she said, in a broad Northumbrian accent ; " tak' a grrip o' me, and hand fast doon the step ; that's richt. Eh lad ! but what hae ye been doin' wi' yousel' ! an' wha's them wi' ye ? 'Deed, gentlemen," she continued, curtsying to Elliot and Forster, " ye've dune the daft lad a gude turn the nicht — A've heerd on it, of my young leddy ; an' my mistress, that's Mistress Morton, ye ken, she's vary obligated t'ye." "Don't prate, Xanny," said Ealph, who had steadied himself against the parlour door as she shut the outer one ; " let us in here, and stir up the fire ; they're not going yet. Come in, Geordie — come in, both of ye. It would be hard if a Darnell turned out an Elliot and a Forster in sic a nicht wi'out a tass o' brandy to help them hame ; quick, Xanny ! I'm not drunk now, ye auld fule ! ha! ha! ha! — not now." The fire was blazing up cheerily as the parlour door opened and they were shown in. 46 RAI.PH DARNELL. " You're welcome to my poor room, Geordie — not like yours exactly," continued Ealph ; " but you've both done me a good turn to-nigbt, and I'll drink your healths for it, I'm d — d if I don't. Now Nanny!" " Ma mistress's compliments, surrs," said Nanny, bringing in a small tray with glasses, and a case- bottle in a filigree stand, " and she hopes ye'U tak' no harm o' the nicht ; and she's thankfu' t'ye for your service, and hopes ye'U tak' a glass apiece, or mair if ye like the sperrit ; but it's frae Melcepeth Castle, ye ken, so that's paid no king's duty. Ye'll be frae the North yersels, gentles. Forster an' EUiot they ca'd ye ? eh sirs ! but they're canny names, an' ye'll be of gude people, I'll warrant." "We'll drink Mrs Morton's good health," said Forster ; " and if you'll tell her I am Mr Forster of the Craig Peel, she'll know who I am ; and this is Mr Elliot, of Wooler HaU, and she'll know well of him too : we're friends of Mr Darnell's." Nanny curtsied low as each familiar name and place was mentioned, and, pouring out bumpers of spirit, handed them to the guests, as she set down the tray on the table near Ealph, who was looking from one to the other with tipsy gravity. As he saw the tray set down, however, and as Nanny was smoothing her apron prior to beginning a set speech. SAFE HOME. 47 he suddenly poured out a quantity of the spirit into a large silver flagon which Nanny had brought with the glasses, and, with a wild hurrah to their health, drank it off at a draught, and fell heavily to the floor. "Enough for to-night," exclaimed Forster, with a sneer; "keep him quiet, ma'am, and his head high, and let him lie there before the fire till he comes round. Take care of the money in his pockets — he has more than he needs, and," he added bitterly, "he won much of it from me, with his cursed good luck. But perhaps we could see the young lady again to say how much we admired her courage," he continued, " if we might be so honoured before we go." "Mss Morton's wi' her mither, surrs," replied Nanny, with some dignity, and drawing up her tall slight figure ; "an' she's no minded to see stranger gentry at this time o' nicht. A'll mind him mysel', surrs — a' ken weel what to dee. Ye'd as well go, surrs." "Come away. Jack," cried Elliot, laughing, and pulling Forster to the door, " the old woman's more than a match for you. Eh, but that's good stuff! wadna ye gie us just anither tass o't, my darlin' ?" he added in the broad dialect she was speaking in. " Awa wi' ye, ye reivin' loons," cried the old woman. 48 KALPH DAKNELL. angrily — " awa wi' ye ! a'll be glad when I've steekit the dure behint ye. There ! " she exclaimed, when they had gone out, and she drew the heavy bolts and turned the key twice in the lock. " Elliots and Fors- ters were ever a dour set, and these are nae good, I reckin. Miss Sybil, they're baith gone ; come doon and see till Mister Ealph ; he's in a sair dwam ; come doon, hinny, if yer mither's asleep." " Thank God, Nanny," said Sybil, descending the stairs gently, wdth a candle in her hand. " I was sore afraid of those bold men, but the Lord has truly protected us this night." " Ay, hinny darling, ye may say that indeed ; but there's nae sleep for me the nicht ; he'll be restless in his drink, an' need watchin'. Get thee to bed, childie, I'd be better wi'out thee, darlin' ; drunken lads is no fit company for the likes of thee." " Nay, Nanny, but I'U sit by you for a while and watch. I'll go by-and-by." And the two sat down beside Ealph, w^hile he groaned and moaned in his heavy sleep ; and the storm raged still without, the river waves surging up against the piles, and the wind roaring its unearthly chorus in the ships' rigging. '' It's the first time he ever was like this, Nanny," said the gentle girl, as she smoothed the pillow beneath the sleeper's head, and covered him more SAFE HOME. 49 carefully, while she prayed for him after her simple fashion, " May the Lord in His mercy grant it be the last!" " Amen, amen, hinny ; but men's dour folk, ma dar- lin', and uz women has to bear wi' mony an evil time they bring on uz. Wae's me ! but I've seen mony o' them ; and this callant 11 be nae wiser, I reckon, in his young time, than his folk wuz before him. The Darnells wuz iver a wild race, and it's ill gettin' a tame bird oot o' a wild bird's nest. Eh ! but thou'rt a brave lassie, ma pet. If iver a man's life was saved before, it was done by thee the nicht." " God was good to me, ISTanny," murmured Sybil, wiping away her tears. VOL I. CHAPTEK y. MORNING. If the house where Mrs Morton dwelt was not so imposing in its appearance as the Golden Cock nearly opposite, on the city side of the river, it was perhaps as old, and much in the same style. The ground-floor had similar narrow oblong windows, and the story above the like projecting oriels, wdiich, over some intermediate stairs and wharves, com- manded a beautiful view of the river. Originally the house had been large ; and, as with the Golden Cock, might have been the residence of a noble family in days gone by ; but what remained of the original structure had been divided into several tenements, occupied by respectable, but comparatively poor fa- milies ; and in one of these lived Mrs Morton, her daughter Sybil, and her old servant, Nanny Keene, with Ealph Darnell as a regular boarder in the family. Mrs Morton's story was a sad one. Her hus- MOEXING. 51 band's family, and indeed her own, had been stanch Cavaliers, and adhered to the house of Stuart to the last. Others had fought in the civil wars, had risen and fallen Avith the times, and had finally settled down into recognition of, and adhesion to, the Hano- verian succession ; but this Walter Morton's father could not do ; and when he died, he left all his devo- tion, all his loyalty, all his energy and bravery, re- presented in his son. I am not, however, about to recapitulate old scenes in history, which are familiar to us under a thousand illustrations. We all know of the Pretender's campaign in 1745, and of its fatal termination. Colonel ^lorton was among the first to join the Prince Charles Edward, with a strong body of his tenantry and levies, and no more efficient troop of horse belonged to the soi-disant "Pioyal" army. To support these, and to aid the cause in general. Colonel Morton had not only raised money by mort- gages on his estate, but had even pledged his plate, his wife's jewels, and other valuables ; and, in this respect, as in all others, there were few adherents of the Stuart cause who had shown more true devotion and disregard of personal interest. I feel certain, indeed, that, mercenary as were the motives of many of the Prince's friends, and deeply as they hoped for eventual personal aggrandisement by the success of his cause, no such motive had crossed the LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF lUINOIS 52 RALPH DAENELL. mind or tarnished the lustre of the character of Walter Morton. As with his father and his ancestors, so with him attachment to his Prince's cause was an article of faith, as earnest, and as devout, as his religi- ous belief. The story of the end is soon told. Colonel "Wal- ter Morton charged boldly, and shouted " victory," at Prestonpans ; marched in triumph to Derby ; and when Hawley's dragoons charged at Culloden, was knocked from his horse in a vain attempt to check them, stunned by the fall, and so taken prisoner. For the sake of a beloved wife and one darling daughter he would have been glad to live on ; for the results of the campaign, the disunion of the leaders, and the irresolution of the Prince himself, had removed from his eyes many of the old veils of romantic devotion. But the Government of the day was not placable, and little mercy was shown to Charles Edward's adherents. From his well-known character. Colonel Morton ex- pected no mercy, and received none; and being removed to London, was tried, condemned to death, and execut- ed on Kennington Common with his companions. You may read the terrible narrative anywhere in the history of the period, if you have a mind to do so. If you do, it will present to your imagination a fear- ful scene of human suffering and human revenge ; and you will be thankful that times have changed, and that MORNING. 53 we are changed in them, I hope for the better. "What- ever the provocation, England would not now endure the bloody, horrible executions of 1746; nor will Temple Bar ever again be garnished with that ghastly- row of pale faces, blistering and rotting in the sun and wind, to which loyal London citizens, and many a fair dame of the period, then looked up with exultation. Mrs Morton had followed her husband faithfully to the last ; had exerted what interest she had, per- sonally or through others, with my Lord Chesterfield and Mr Pelham, but to no purpose. Her dear hus- band had told her from the first it would be so ; but she strove nevertheless, as it behoved her to do, for it was hard to think that he, so glorious in his noble manhood, was to die at man's bidding, and leave her alone. She was an orphan, whom he had seen and loved in the courtly society at St Germains, and her family had so completely died out, that her husband knew, and knew bitterly, there would be no one henceforth to protect her but the merciful Father into whose gracious care he fervently committed her. I have said already there is no use raking up the past — else I might tell of the widow's frantic cries from her coach window on Kennington Common ; of her prayers, even to the last, for rescue — for his life — which went by on the blustering wind unheeded, and were lost in the shouts of a crowd looking on 54 EALPH DARNELL. traitors' deaths ? Who heeded the miseiy of a traitor's wife, when huzzas for Kincr Georc^e, and damnations to all Pretenders, rent the air ? So she returned with her child to the city ; and as all her husband's estate was confiscated, and she had no longer a roof to shelter her, she dismissed her servants, and hence- forth lived in obscurity, on the comparative pittance which remained, guarded by the one faithful heart which, in all her direst agony, only clung more closely to her. It was long, indeed, before she regained proper consciousness ; and when any did return, that last frightful scene, — the surging crowd ; the tall gibbets beyond, rising grim and black out of the smoke of the fires by them ; the Dutch dragoons, with their heavy brass caps ; the halberdiers' pikes ; and, above all, the huzzas, shrieks, groans, and shouts of the multitude, — fell upon her eyes and ears again, as though they were then present, and she relapsed. But the most terrible acuteness of misery can be blunted by time ; and if in Mrs Morton this proved a long process, it was only when the finer chords of her nature — relaxed by the daily cares and events of common existence — gave forth no painful responses. It was well that a sum of money had been saved before the general wreck came on, and had been lod.sfed with the OTeat house of EoG^er Darnell and MORXIXG. g5 Company, of London, by Colonel Morton, in his wife's name, in case of accidents ; for of this Mr Darnell proved as faithful a steward as dear old Nanny Keene was a faithful servant. After many explora- tions, the old house near Tooley Stairs was found, and, as Nanny said, " was a bit cannie auld placie, where naebody wad care to speer after them ; and though the watermen lads wuz whiles rough and drucken, yet she'd nae fear o' them, nor the mistress either, an they were aye kind to the bit lassie." If her mind were weakened considerably in some respect, Mrs Morton had not forgotten her ac- complishments. French she spoke like a native ; she played prettily on the harpsichord ; and a talent for embroidery, originally learned in France, was now a means of constant, and in many respects profitable, employment. By degrees all her little accomplish- ments had been imparted to Sybil There was no need of any more formal instruction. The child had been docile and intelligent, and was now excelling her mother in many of these pretty arts, more espe- cially in music and embroidery ; and while they used the one for their pleasure and amusement, the latter was an occupation which could not now be interrupted without denial of many comforts. When also ^Ir Darnell found it no longer convenient to have his nephew Ealph living in his house, he had 56 EALPH DAENELL. taken a boat across the river, and paid Mrs Morton a formal visit. The subject of her receiving the lad had been finally discussed, and being open to no objection, was gratefully accepted. There was a comfortable bedroom for him ; and the sitting-room above stairs, which looked out on the river, as well as the small parlour below, were to be common to him as to them. So Ealph Darnell had been living in the old house for five years, and had grown to be one of the family. He was an orphan, and his story will be told by-and- by ; and while he had grown to look often upon Mrs Morton as a mother (he had never known his own), Sybil was as a sister, and, after a fashion, a dear one. It was a convenient place for the young man to live in. The counting-house of Eoger Darnell & Co. was in Lombard Street, and it was a pleasant row in the ferry-boat to the Tower Stairs on fine days, or an easy walk across the bridge, to his daily occupation, return- ing early to take Mrs Morton and Sybil either for a row on the river, or a walk in the Temple Gardens or the country, which was soon reached in the direc- tion of Newington, and the too-well-remembered and fatal Kennington Common. Yes, five years had passed pleasantly and peaceful- ly in the house. Ealph had been as regular and or- derly a lad as even the precise old Nanny Keene could desire, and he loved the old dame perhaps as MORNING. 57 miicli as Sybil did, which is saying a good deal. If Nanny scolded, he was penitent ; if she praised him, he felt a greater pride in those few, simple, loving phrases, in the dear old Northumbrian dialect, than he did at the more elaborate speeches of Mrs Morton. To the residence of Ealph Darnell beneath that roof, he owed, whatever good principles and whatever re- ligious feelmg he ever displayed in after life; and Mrs Morton was no niggard in her instructions, which he shared with Sybil. ^\nien he came home in the evenings — and merchants' offices closed then earlier than they do now — there were pleasant French and Italian exercises to do ; a few stanzas of Dante, or a tale of Boccaccio to be read, for there was not much prudery in those times, and women read and heard innocently, what it would be an insult now even to repeat. Nor was music neglected. Ealph had developed a sweet manly voice, and it was the great delight of old Nanny to linger on the stairs by the sitting-room door, listening to some of those grand old Italian duets and trios, and oftentimes to passages from Mr Handel's music, then growing into high repute, and rivalling, if not exceeding, that of the Italian masters. Ah weU, those were pleasant days ! when there were no cares nor anxieties, and when passions had not been stirred which were slumbering unknown 58 EALPH DARNELL. and unsuspected, growing in strength witli age, to break out and distort wliat was otherwise fair to look at. As yet Mrs Morton knew little, or comparatively little, of Ealph's wild doings. If she remarked he was not so regular as he used to be as a lad, and often came home at nights after sire had retired to her room, were there not two apologists always ready in his defence ? "Wad ye hae the puir lad be always cooped up wi' twa auld wives and a bit lassie V Nanny would say. " Eh, mum, but ye'd ne'er hand a Darnell that gate ! Na ! na ! I'se seen mony siccan, and all see till him. Dinna ye speer too much at him ; it'll do nae gude. Ye maunna check a het colt too sharp." And there w^as truth in this homely advice of Nanny Keene's ; nevertheless, she could not conceal from herself that Ealph's irregularities were increas- ing, and she and Sybil had had many an anxious conference about them, which had been productive of no very practical result. Now and then, for a week or even a month, Ealph would reform, and be once more what they were proud of. Then there would be fresh relapses. Is it not always so ? Facile de- census Averni is an ancient saying truly, now pass- ed into a proverb ; but I don't know that it is very easy in all cases, in spite of the old pagan's asser- tion. Then, as now, there were often sore struggles MOENIXG. 59 to regain lost footing, which sometimes succeeded; and as temptation must needs assail eveiy son of Adam, it is well that some places are found on the slippery path where sorely tried souls can rest for a while, look round and think, and so, praying for safety, he helped up again. Thus we have seen Eaph Darnell already slide down a long way. The path was very pleasant, and he was in good company too. He liked play, and was growing to like it still hetter, not for the sake of money, but for the excitement which accompanied it. He liked drink too. Most men of spirit drank heavily then, and to be drunk was a Yevy venial sin indeed. Did not his most sacred majesty King George drink ? Did not Sir Eobert Walpole drink ? "Was there any one, in fact, who did not drink? And did our ances- tresses think the worse of their brothers, lovers, and husbands if they drank ? I fear not ; and perhaps some of them even gloried in it. Above all, Ealph was getting into a set of his own : a right merry set of " hot bloods," not numerous but choice ; such men as were his equals in birth and breeding, and who, having preceded him in the royal road of life, had experience to lead him on. ISTo wonder he found it a pleasant one ! Very pleasant at the time ; but afterwards ? Well, I have heard it said, that the waking after a night 60 EALPH DAKNELL. sucli as Darnell liacl passed is not pleasant — quite the contrary; and so it proved in this case. As morning was breakmg in grey streaks, and the few last patches of scud were flying lazily below the motionless clouds above, Ealph turned heavily on his pillow, yawned, stretched himself, and suddenly sat up. How the room seemed to reel ! how ill he felt ! how every bone ached ! Where was he ? On a floor somewhere, not certainly in his bed. What was that seated in the large arm-chair, with a red petticoat or cloak over it, and the feet set up on another, fast asleep ? He looked again and saw it was old Nanny, and felt ashamed as most of the events of the evening flashed suddenly upon him. He remembered Sybil's calling to him in the tavern, and that he left it with her ; but of what had passed afterwards, or how he got home, his memory was very confused. Had Elliot and Forster brought him home ? Something hard pressed against his thigh as he turned round. Yes, it was money, a large sum, too, — more than he knew of. "Nanny!" he cried softly, "dear Nanny!" The old Avoman had too long attended sick-beds to be a hard sleeper ; she opened her eyes at once, and looked down. "Master Eraafe, are ye wakin?" she said in a low tone, as if uncertain whether he had called or not. He tried again to rise, but it was impossible ; the MORNING. CI hesiYj head sank down on the pillow, and he groaned aloud. "Puir bairn! puir laddie!" she said, rising; ''ye'U be no happy the morn ; an' it's aye thatten wi' 'em. Dinna get up ; lie there a bit, an' dinna stir for yer life. It's early yet, an' there's naebody movin'. Ma certie, but it was a vnld nicht ! let's see what it's like noo, an' the daylight breakin'." She went up into the sitting-room above and looked out on the river. The wind had quite fallen, and the dappled -grey sky was tinged with gold where the sun was now rising. The river had alread}' calmed down, and the swell which broke lazily among the wooden piers, and rocked the ships and boats gently, was like the heaving of a child's breast with an occa- sional sigh and sob, after passion. Broken rigging and masts, however, showed what the force of the storm had been ; but the seamen were already at work, damages would soon be repaired, and many wherries and other boats were busily plying to and fro among the shipping. It was a fair and beautiful sight ; and the pure snow was lying upon the roofs of the houses and churches beyond the river, clear and bright in the sun's rays, which now broke out cheerily. "It's the only thing for him noo," said the old dame to herself; "the only thing he'll care for ; and 62 EALPH DAENELL. maybe a liet griddle cake and a bit of rede harrin' by- and-by, and a strong cup o' the green gunpouther tey ; " and she opened the door of a cupboard in the corner of the room, and took out the flask which had been produced the night before. Holding it up to the light, "Eh my!" she exclaimed, "but it's nigh empty, and it was full ! Wasn't I jist an auld fule for pittin' it nigh his hand ? But there's enow for him the morn. It's a hair of the doggie that bit him that'll dee him service, an' nothin' else." And so saying she poured out a small glassful of spirits, and descended the stairs gently. Ealph Darnell had risen from the floor and taken possession of the chair. A few embers of the fire were still alight, and he had stuTed them into a blaze. "An' sae ye're up. Master Ealph," said Nanny, kindly ; " but did I no tell ye to lie quiet ? Here, drink that, ma lad, and ye'll be the better o't. Aff wi' it at ance — it's no ony physic stuff!" Ealph's hand trembled as he took the glass, but he drank ofi* the contents, and felt revived. " Xanny, darling!" he said, piteously, "what have I done? what have I done to be like this?" Ah, what a face it was ! So pale, so weak, so scared ; the eyes so red and swollen : so different to that of the hale, ruddy, handsome youth, who had MOEXING. 63 gone forth the evening before dressed in liis' smartest suit. " Xanny, darling I " he cried again, " what have I done ? You'll all hate me after this!" Xanny brushed some hot tears from her eyes, and took the poor aching head to her bosom, where it lay helplessly, as she stroked the wan cheeks and smoothed down the rough curly hair. " All no greet," she said, "and a'll no be scoldin ye neyther, ma bairnie, for that's nae gude, ye ken. Dinna dee the like again. Master Ralph, that's all old Nanny Keene asks o' ye. Ye will not ? an' ye'll promise me truly ? The word of a Darnell's true before God and man, an' ye'll mind it, hinny. ma bairn ! but ye're safe hame, an' ye may e'en thank the Lord for it, as I do, and as sweet Miss Sybil did, when ye lay helpless in the snaa." "Ah! she, too, saw me then. God bless her!" said the young man, fervently — " God bless her ! But she'll never speak to me after this disgrace. And Mrs Morton?" " She was asleep, darlin', an' no sound of ye reached till her. I was watchin' her when Miss Sybil brought ye back, and the strange men wi' ye. But ye'll promise me — Master Ealph ! ye'll no deny me, nor her, what I axed o' ye ! ' "I will! I will, Nanny!" he said, hiding his face still deeper in the woman's breast. " May God help 64 EALPH DARNELL. me ! It was the first time, and it'll be the last. And she brought me home ! Sybil!" Nanny sighed. Was this a promise to hold good ? She had little hope of it in her heart, but she took what came, and treasured it up, praying that it might be true. " Ye're better noo," she said, " an' I'll believe ye, Eraafe Darrnell. It's no the likes o' me that suld be preachin' t'ye ; and ye'll be none the better of an auld wife's foolin'. Get ye to rest a while ; I'll bring ye some het water, and ye'll soon be fit for wark again." " But Sybil," said the young man, — " can I not see her?" " Better not, ma pet — better not. Wlien ye come hame the afternoon, the nicht's wark will be a' clean forgotten. Ye'll get across the river by the ferry, an' I'll have the het griddle cake, and a bit o' harrin', an' a cup o' the green gunpouther tey ready agin ye come doon; an' ye maunna be lang aboot reddin' yersel' up, ye ken. There, awa' wi' ye — that's a gude bairn." CHAPTEK yj. ROGER DARXELL AXD COMPANY. The counting-house of Roger Darnell and Company was situated, as I have before mentioned, in Lom- bard Street, precisely where the establishment of so great a merchant should have been. If there were no plate-glass windows, gay brass railings, or architec- tural decorations of the front in inconceivably mag- nificent Byzantine and other styles, such as we see prevalent at present in that and other parts of our most wonderful metropolis, there was at least a healthy, well-to-do look about the handsome red brick edifice, and its scrupulously clean bright win- dows, which imparted confidence as you entered it. In this respect there was a great and very pleas- ant contrast between it and other merchants' and brokers' offices in the vicinity, in which as much dirt outside and in, as much gloom and mystery as was consistent with any possible endurance, VOL. I. E 66 KALPH DARNELL. seemed to be affected, as proofs, perhaps, of wealth and devotion to trade. Not such, however, in Siuj shape or degree, was the house of Eoger Darnell & Co. now, whatever it might have been before the days of good Queen Anne, when the old premises had been pulled down and re- built on a handsome scale by one of the best city architects of the period, for the residence, as well as the offices, of the then senior partner. We most of us know what good houses those were — how noble the broad staircases and halls, how richly ornamented the ceilings and cornices, how ample the dimensions of the rooms, and their quaintly decorated panels and lofty marble chimney-pieces. All through the reigns of the Queen and of the first George, Mr Eoger Darnell's predecessors had lived in this house, had entertained their friends there after a princely fashion, and had become in time magnates of the city where their wealth was gained, and to which their sympathies were confined. But though the upper portion was still well furnished, it did not suit the taste or the convenience of the present senior partner to reside there, and he had removed, on his marriage, to a handsome mansion of the same period in Bloomsbury. Not that Mr Darnell, and still less his wife, affected the fashionable society of the higher gentry and aristocracy of the time, who EOGER DARNELL AND COMPANY. 67 ^Yere graduall}^ progressing westward ; but it was felt that a relief from City business, and in some re- spects a purer air, was desirable, and, without going to any extreme, Bloomsbury afforded all that was desired. Many of Mr Darnell's friends and contem- poraries had already set up their Lares and Penates there ; the neighbourhood was eminently respect- able, in the highest sense of the word ; and if the aristocracy and landed gentry of the realm gathered together in the western quarter of the metropolis, there was, in the Bloomsbury district, a genteel aris- tocracy of wealth which held its own defiantly, and was content therewith. The upper portion of the house was not, however, deserted. When Mr Sanders, the ostensible head clerk and local manager, returned from Calcutta, where he had been for many years employed as a servant of the East India Company, and was, it was supposed, now the " Co." of the firm (though he was only advanced to the dignity of signing " per pro." for Eoger Darnell and Company), he had arrived, as he went, a bachelor ; and for the convenience of busi- ness, as well as on account of the high and well- earned regard in which he was held by Mr Eoger Darnell, w^as offered the use of the house, or such part of it as he needed. Here, then, Mr Sanders ruled supreme. Two maiden sisters, whom his 68 EALPH DARNELL. bounty had supported in liis absence, lived with him and managed his household affairs with such admir- able discretion and care, that it was assumed, and with good foundation, by those who knew them, that their brother would never need to marry, and the fact was that he never did. How often, in the anxiety of business in India, in the half-mercantile half-political transactions of those days, in charge of up-country factories, making advances for silk, for saltpetre, sugar, or cotton, with the native merchants of Bengal, or negotiating with native princes, and in the lonely hours of endurance of sickness in a climate which had never suited him — had the thoughts of John Sanders turned wist- fully and painfully to those two dear sisters, long- ing, and praying too, to be reunited with them. And when he could be spared — when, in fact, by the death of his predecessor in office, Eoger Darnell had written that his experience, knowledge of the country, and of business in general, would be most valuable — how gladly and thankfully did John San- ders resign the service he had belonged to, and, in- vesting all his savings in a last venture, had found it a profitable one, and so rejoined those whom he had left twenty years before. They were changed, of course, those dear ones. Susan, the fair, merry, bright-eyed girl whom he had EOGER DAKXELL AND COMPANY. 69 left just budding into womanhood ; Mary, the elder, with her soft brown hair, now being streaked with grey, her gentle trusting face and loving eyes, — were changed into women of middle age, and yet not very much changed after all. They had watched, while they were permitted to watch, the declining years of a beloved mother, long spared to them ; and they had laid her gently to rest in one of those quiet, still, beautiful city cemeteries with only one regret — that John was not with them to receive her last sigh of blessing for the care which had guarded her from every discomfort. It was said that both sisters might have married, and that many a rich merchant or tradesman of consequence had wooed them, but in vain. Would they have been happier as wives and mothers, doing their parts in the world's work? I cannot tell. The natural yearn- ings of woman's inner life, which so few of us under- stand, may have existed for a while, and there may have been, for all any one knew, many a bitter struggle between duty and inclination to be over- come ; but the sense of duty overbore all. Mother, dear mother, weakly as she was, could not be left; and, above all, there was such unbounded faith in, and love for, brother John, that, had there been no mother at all to absorb daily care, I think their absolute devotion to him alone would have borne 70 KALPH DARNELL. them lip. Tliey were well repaid for it at last, and the yearnings for prattling children about their knees, or for the pride of independent estahlishments, had died out. Others of their schoolfellows and contem- poraries had all these to their hearts' desire, but they excited no envy. In their brother's safe return their fervent prayers had been answered, and daily, as I may say, these three persons seemed to grow more and more into each other. Ah, how proud they were of brother John ! Away in the East, in a land then unknown in any intelli- gible manner to English people, his letters, minute in detail as they used to be of his daily life, though very precious, were often quite incomprehensible. They only knew he had charge of vast responsi- bilities and of vast wealth, and was valued and trusted. But now they saw why this had been ; they knew and felt, as a thing close to their hearts, that, as manager of Eoger Darnell and Company's business, brother John was a great man. True faith ever exaggerates perhaps, and, I fear, more that of fond, devoted women, than of harder minded men. " Mr Darnell, indeed ! he was very well ; but what would he be, or have been, without John?" " Had I remained in India," John had said to his sisters that morning at breakfast, " what might not I have been now ? There's Drake — why, he was my ROGER DARNELL AND COMPANY. 71 junior by a long way, and Holwell, and Watts, and all the rest of tliem, second to me ; and now Drake's head of the factory. And there are letters to-day from Wharton, by the Valiant, and he mentions never mind, girls, you wouldn't understand it ; but all I know is, that I might have been noiu head of that factory instead of Drake, and here I am, after all, only a clerk." "What if you had been in your grave, brother John, with some of those wild Indians with scalps at their girdles dancing on it?" replied Mary, with a shudder. " You know you could never bear the heat; as it is, even here, on a warm day you are good for nothino'." "They would not have danced on it, Molly," he re- plied gravely ; " and they don't carry scalps like the savages of the West, as I have often told you. Per- haps these simple people would have lighted a lamp every night there ; and when the day came round on which they had laid me to rest, they would have hung garlands of flowers over me lovingly, or done something else equally foolish, as they have often done to those they loved, before now." " Xo, no, John," both cried in a breath ; " you are best here with us, you darling old brother ; and what could Mr Darnell do without you ?" But this, perhaps, is a digression altogether ; for 72 KALPH DAENELL. these worthy folks have little to do with our history, and might have been passed by altogether, but for their connection with the firm of Eoger Darnell & Co. ; and it will suffice to know that they exist, and that all investments in the house are secure so long as John Sanders is the manager ; for he is certainly not the " Co." For the " Co." was in Calcutta, and, after his fashion, very busy there. Presently we may even come to know him ; but now I can only mention that one Henry Wharton was the mysterious person who figured as " Co." in the style and title of the London house, who, under cloak of his official situa- tion as a servant of the Honorable East India Com- pany, w^as in the habit of making large investments in silk, saltpetre, sugar, and the like, and transmitting them to the house of Eoger Darnell and Company, and receiving and selling on mutual account hard- ware, broadcloth, and other English productions, which were readily negotiable with the native mer- chants of Bengal. The local official pay of Mr Henry "Wharton was not much above twenty pounds ster- ling per year, and how it was that he contrived to send to England some fifty thousand pounds' worth of goods every year, seems incomprehensible to us, though it was not in the least so either to Mr Eoger Darnell or John Sanders. One way or other, the ROGER DAEXELL AXD COMPANY. 73 goods came; and again, one way or other, a corre- sponding sliipment was made against tliem ; and so, on the whole, a very pretty trade resulted. Its generalities, Mr Eoger Darnell's very clear mercan- tile head could master ; but the details, and the purchases from Juggut Seit, Omichund, and Earn Narra}ain, or the bazaar or market prices, and the Exchange, were mysteries only known to, or cap- able of being checked by, John Sanders. Alone, Mr Darnell would have been much at the mercy of his Indian agent ; but no Bengal factor would have dared to venture an irregularity when his invoices, and bills of sale and purchase, were to be examined by " the manager." So this morning, precisely as the office clock began to strike ten, Mr John Sanders had opened the glazed door wliich led from the hall into that spacious apart- ment ; and as the last stroke sounded through it, he had seated himself in a comfortable arm-chair at a table covered with green baize, as befitted the rank of " the manager," and looked around him. " Mr Darnell is not come yet, I think, Mr Sims," he said to a respectable, plainly-dressed clerk, who bowed humbly as he deposited a pile of rather yeUow-looking letters before him. " No, sir, not yet ; it is hardly time." "Is Mr Ealph come?" he continued, brushing a 74 EALPH DAENELL. very imaginary speck of dust from Lis elaborate and neatly-adjusted breast ruffles. " ^N'o, sir," rejoined Mr Sims, with somewhat of a sneer perceptible in his voice ; " Mr Ral^h Darnell usually takes his time." " Ah ! it was a bad night — a great storm indeed, and part of the river is still too rough to cross. He will be walking round by the bridge. Let me know, Mr Sims — ahem ! — when he comes." "Very good, sir;" and as Mr Sims retreated to his desk, the manager applied himself to his task of opening and docketing the several despatches which Mr Eoger Darnell had to read. CHAPTEE VII. THE DAENELLS PAST AND PEE SENT. Not many minutes afterwards, ^Ir Eoger Darnell entered the office, shook hands warmly with John Sanders, who rose to receive him, and passed on into his own sanctum, which, by a door near the large fireplace, communicated with the counting- house. Here he carefully hung up his laced hat, deposited a stick with an ivory handle in the corner, and a cloak, which the sharp morning air had ren- dered necessary. After this, he took off his high strong shoes, and gaiters, spread them before the fire, and put on a pair of warm fur slippers, which had been duly set out for him : at the same time seating himself and stretching out his hands and handsome legs, cased in ribbed woollen stockings, to be well warmed ere he should proceed to business. Mr Darnell also re- moved the wig in which he had walked to the office, took another of a ligjhter fabric from a stand in a ,76 RALPH DAENELL. small cupboard, and, having perfectly aired it, put it deliberately on his head, looking at the same time into a mirror on the marble chimney-piece to see that it was quite straight, and smoothing down the ruffles on his breast, which had become slightly discomposed. You will say, perhaps, that Mr Eoger Darnell was exceedingly particular, and took very good care of himself : and you are quite right. He did so in every respect, and had need to do so. Was he not the head of the great house of Eoger Darnell & Co ? a director of the Honourable East India Company, and the brother of a baronet descended from one of the most ancient Saxon families of England ? Was he not also an alderman of the city of London, a member of the Honourable Company of Goldsmiths, and gov- ernor or director of I hardly know how many charitable institutions ? Truly Mr Eoger Darnell had need to be careful of himself. Dear me, I dread to think what would have happened if, by any mis- chance or neglect of precaution, Mr Darnell had then fallen ill and died ! But as I cannot brins myself to anticipate anything so shocking, I will not attempt to portray what will eventually en- sue, when he, like all others who have sat in the same chair, and who are looking at him from their canvasses from all sides of the room, receives THE DAEXELLS PAST AXD PEESEXT. 77 the awful message which they have heard in turn and answered. If they could speak, all those predecessors would agree that their present representative was worthy of them, as well in professional reputation, as in per- sonal appearance. The Darnells were ever a hand- some race. There was not one of the portraits round Eoger Darnell then, which did not show talent, high- breeding, and intellectual character which had ele- vated their mercantile pursuits. There they were, grave men in costly suits, from the time of Henry YIIL and Elizabeth — one painted by Holbein and one by Vandyke — down to the first George. One more too would be shortly there, for Mr Eoger, as befitted his position, was sitting to Mr Eeynolds for his portrait ; and as it may be seen by the curious in the noble mansion of the Earl of ^Miinborough, in Midlandshire, I may be pardoned if I describe it briefly. Mr Eeynolds had become Sir Joshua before he en- tirely finished this picture : on which, as the original interested him more than ordinarily, he had bestowed unusual pains, and hence its great value now. ^Yas there a more beautiful specimen of the master in the Manchester Exhibition, or the noble collection of Sir Joshuas in 1862 ? I do not think there was, and I believe it to be priceless. Dr Johnson had watched 78 EALPH DARNELL. its progress on the easel, and liad given his opinion freely as to the high intellectual character it de- manded. "None of your turtle-eating, port -wine- drinking, guttling aldermen, sir," he had observed, " and I won't have you make it like one. That man ought to be Prime Minister of England, sir, and I wish he were. Look at his eyes, sir — look at his eyes." Well, whether Dr Johnson's, Mr Boswell's, my Lord Chesterfield's, Sir Horace Walpole's, or any otlier individual or collective opinions of the time urged the painter to do his best, I know not ; but this I do know, that I can never look at that face for any time uninterruptedly, but it seems to me to be alive. The deep, dark grey-blue eyes, with their long soft eyelashes, flash from under the strong black eye- browns, with no scowl of ambition or excitement of study, but with a keen healthy intelligence, worldly if you like, but most piercing ; they verily look through you. If they w^ere alive, you would feel them busy about any skeleton you had hidden away in your mental cupboard ; and I can imagine how they may have looked a thousand times upon petitioners for ad- vances, dishonest tradesmen, struggling merchants, or keen rivals in business, who had encountered them in that room. All the Darnells round you had fine eyes, black, brown, and grey ; but there was not one pair THE DARNELLS PAST AND PRESENT. 7.9 to equal their descendant's. The forehead is high and broad, the complexion is bright and clear ; and though the vivid carnations of the original painting have perhaps faded somewhat with time, they have been treated gently by the old destroyer, and are clear as skin itself. The lips are a little full, and the mouth and chin are perhaps somewhat sensual ; no matter, they are firm, and yet have a very sweet ex- pression — benevolent, one would rather call it — A\^hich you at once respect and honour involuntarily; and over it sits a grand nose, which you would swear pro- jects from the canvass, so admirably is it drawn — a strong manly nose, with the thin, open, quivering Darnell nostril, the effect of which has been deftly given with pure scarlet in the shadow. A glorious picture truly, and you feel j)erhaps, if the man there painted were great, this is greater. You do not care about the clothes, beautiful as they are. The satin is satin, the embroidery silk, the lace gold, and the figure — it is full length — stand- ing at a table on which are some letters ; and one dated Moorshedabad, July 4, 1757, and signed " Eobert Clive," is shown as far as the date and sig- nature of a dear friend. Ah ! that is a w^onderful letter too, for it tells how the battle of Plassey was won, and what marvel if Mr Darnell asked Sir Joshua to. put it where it is ? You do not care for this 80 RALPH DARNELL. letter, casual spectator ! as I do, who have to tell you about it, and even perhaps many have forgotten who Mr CHve was ; but you do care for the manner in which the man stands before you, so nervously, yet so firmly, as if with the will to stand and com- mand, and never be displaced. Involuntarily you do him homage, and remember the head of the house of Eoger Darnell & Co. as long as you live. When Mr Darnell was ready — after, as we have seen him, he had secured his person from all chances of damp — he tapped at the door, at the same time wheeling round his chair to his writing-table, which he unlocked, and the cover of which he turned over. Mr Sanders knew the signal, and, gathering the the bundles of letters together, took them in. " Sit down, Mr Sanders," said Mr Darnell, rising and courteously handing the manager a chair — " sit down. A rough night, sir, last night. I hope the Valiant took no harm ; we have a good deal in her, I think. I hear there was some damage done on the river." " Principally upon the small craft, sir — colliers and coasting smacks, and some were even sunk at their moorings ; but the large vessels are all safe. I sent one of the porters to Blackwall early, and he has just returned to say the Valiant had not started a rope. THE DARNELLS PAST AND PRESENT. 81 The captain had gone ashore last evening, and could not get back ; but the chief officer, Mr Duggan, had her well in hand." "As was certain, Mr Sanders. Oh yes, Abel Scrafton would be after No matter, sir ; he is a good commander and a good fellow ; and we've no occasion to mind what he does when he gets ashore after five months of the sea." " None whatever, sir," replied Mr Sanders, smiling; " and here are some of the letters and invoices. You must have received private letters from Deal direct — they were put ashore by the pilot-boat." " Here they are," said Mr Darnell, taking a bundle out of his pocket. " Wharton is as particular as usual in regard to purchases and sales ; and, by the prices quoted, we shall do very well both here and there. Look over them at your leisure. Stay, there is one letter which will interest you more, perhaps, than it does me, for there is a good deal of political news in it. You can cast your eye over it while I examine the rates of silk and sugar. It appears to me that we shall do very well to sell all at once, Mr Sanders, and realise. What do you think ? " Mr Sanders did not immediately reply — the letter put into his hand had absorbed all his interest, and he read it to the end so attentively, that he did not notice how Mr Darnell had several times looked up VOL. I. F 82 EALPH DAEXELL. from his papers, and even said, " Well ! what do you think ? " more than once. "I beg your pardon, sir," said Mr Sanders at length, when he had finished all, and laid down the letter with a deep sigh — "I beg your pardon, but Mr Wharton's news is most interesting ; and, indeed, sir, for the time I seemed to be back once more in the old factory, hearing the old soimds, talking the old language, and looking out on the broad river with the royal ensign flying from our grand ships over a crowd of native boats, which I used to think em- blems of the difference between us and the people there. And the notices of all my old companions, too ! I have no letter myself ; perhaps you would let me have a copy of this, ]Mr Darnell ? " " Certainly, Mr Sanders, certainly ; take it with you ; I don't profess to understand it, and these are much more to my purpose. Ah yes ! I remember ; WTiarton regrets you are not there instead of Mr Drake. You would have been head of the factory, he says. Well, I don't know what that may be ; but, for my own part, I would rather live in a snug house in Lombard Street, with two pleasant sisters and a troop of friends about me, than " "It means," broke in the manager, with en- thusiasm, "that I, John Sanders, should be now the political chief of Bengal. That the native princes. THE DAENELLS PAST AXD PRESENT. 83 the native bankers, tlie zemindars, even the Emperor of Delhi himself, would be suitors to me ; and that I should be wielding a power of which even you, ]\Ir Darnell, director though you be, would have but a faint — a very faint — idea. And it means, too, that all this power is now in the hands of that drivelling coward Drake. But forgive me this earnestness, Mr Darnell. It appears to me a very momentous period indeed — a crisis, as I may say. What will be done when Ali Verdy Khan dies ? AATiat terms wall the factory get ? AMiat amount of nuzzurana — that is, fine — will they be obliged to pay " "Well, I daresay this is very interesting to you Indians," observed Mr Darnell, interrupting him, "and I have no doubt we shall discuss it all very wisely in Council by-and-by, for all we cannot affect actual occurrences in Calcutta one way or other ; but what I want to know is, shall we sell what the Valiant has brought, or not ? " " No, sir, not yet ; not certainly the saltpetre or the sugar. A good deal will depend upon the suc- cession in Bengal whether we get any more. In any case, we can afford to wait ; and we may soon have a war with France." " We should gain cent per cent, Mr Sanders, now." " We shall gain five hundred per cent, Mr Darnell, if I am risht." 84 KALPH DAEXELL. " Well, I daresay you will be — j^ou always are," said Mr Darnell, laughing, ''1 never knew you wrong, by George ; " and the keen eyes looked up and through his manager. All he saw was clear and pure, person as well as heart. The first as nice in all respects as his own — the second perhaps purer, nay, a good deal purer ; and the blue eyes met black ones as intelligent and apparently as fitted, if not for command, at least for counsel. Large black soft eyes, with at times a dreamy expression in them; but not often, though an occasional look of languor could not be mistaken. A colourless olive face, in which a blush like that of a girl showed itself beneath the skin sometimes, and instantly faded away. A thin straight nose, and a firm expression, but a most kindly one, about the mouth. Titian has painted some such faces, which we meet occasionally among our galleries ; and he is the only man except Vandyke who ever could paint that clear yet sallow complexion. Mr Sanders wore no wig; his strong iron-grey hair was enough; and it fell in waves and curls about his brow and neck, to the great pride of his sisters and his own com- fort. In regard to wigs, " he defied," he said, " the Eng- lish fashions." For the rest, a tall thin figure, as tall as Mr Darnell's, and much thinner — perhaps consti- tutionally, perhaps the effects of the Indian climate. THE DARNELLS PAST AXD PRESENT. 85 Mr Sanders rose to go. " By the by, sir," he said, " I wish you would speak to Mr Ealph — he is not steady, I fear, at all, and sets a bad example in the office. He only just came in as I got up to come to you, and it was half-past ten by the clock. His looks, too, are not pleasant this morning." " What ! again, and so soon, Sanders ? Well, send him to me," and Eoger Darnell sighed. He loved Ealph, and he had no son of his own. Here was the last Darnell, it seemed, and he looked round the room. He was looking round the familiar pictures as Ealph entered. No, as Mr Sanders said, Ealph was not pleasant to look upon ; and there was a sullen expression about his red swollen eyes which Mr Darnell saw at a glance was only to be met with one course. Anger would not answer then — it would only aggravate. " Ealph," said Mr Darnell, kindly, putting out his hand, "I was just looking round at the old folks — they are so bright to-day from the snow on the roof beyond, and so beautiful, that I hardly heard you come in. Beautiful, are they not ? look at the old Holbein yonder; and there, my namesake, Eoger, the Vandyke ; and your namesake by Heine." "Beautiful indeed, sir," replied the young man, who did not see what was to follow, and whose heart was thumping almost loudly against his ribs. 86 RALPH DARNELL. ''And I was thinking/' continued Mr Darnell, "that not one of them was unworthy, and that we can look back on them all to Queen Bess's time, ay, and beyond that, too, without a blush. Can we not ? and hope that those to come, if there be any, will be like them ? May we not, Ealph ? " And as he spoke he turned his keen blue eyes straight upon the youth, and looked into him, as Ealph felt, into his very heart. We know what he saw there, and it was not plea- sant ; but there was no deep vice as yet, only low habits, for which Eoger Darnell thought he knew a reason, and cure might come. There was no occasion to speak ; a kind look had been enough, and all the Darnells round the room were witness to it. Ealph fell on his knees before his uncle. It was a common thing to do in those times: more respectful than the prodigal son nowadays is, who swaggers into the " governor's " room, and thinks " the gover- nor awful slow." I say Ealph fell incontinently on his knees, and put up his clasped hands. He could not speak, and the tears had started from his eyes, and were rolling down his cheeks, as he was gasping with a choking ball in his throat. Oh, what would he not have given to lay his head on his uncle's breast, as he had laid it on Nanny Keene's, and sob out his penitence there and then ! THE DAEXELLS PAST AND PRESENT. 87 " I know, Ealpli — I know it all," said liis uncle, kindly. "Bless the boy! don't choke; thine eyes tell tales enough. There now. I want no promises, and will take none. Make them to the Lord, not to me, and pray to be delivered from temptation, as I do eveiy day of my life. Enough, Ealph ! — get up, lad, and never forget that there was never a Darnell — not one of those yonder — that was not a gentleman. We have all of us gone through what you have, Ealph — may God forgive us : but no Darnell ever for- got he was a gentleman. Now, up with you ; and if you have nothing particular to do, go to Mr Sanders as you leave this, and tell him I wish you to copy Mr Wharton's letter that he took away mth him. I give you this work in proof that my confidence in you is not weakened." Ealph Darnell did not venture to speak ; but he rose, and taking his uncle's hand, kissed it fervently, and turned away to the door. " I will do it carefully, uncle," he managed to utter, brushing away his tears as it closed after him. Eoger Darnell sighed. "Where will it all end," he said to himself, " and how ? Henry ! once dear brother ! we have, indeed, an anxious care of what thou left us 1 but that shall not be nedected. o And now for these invoices." CHAPTEE YIIL AN INDIAN LETTER OF 1755. Mr Sanders felt what had happened. He was thankful there had been no violence between the two, such as had occurred before; but he thought for a moment Mr Darnell might have been too indul- gent. "Would he have been less so ? I think not. " I am to copy a letter of Mr Wharton's, which my uncle gave you just now," said Ralph ; " may I have it ? " The young man's eyes were wet with tears, and the wide nostril was scarlet and quivering ; but there was a better expression on the face, and there- with Mr Sanders was content. " Here it is, Mr Ealph," he said gently ; " please be careful about the copying, for the letter is import- ant. Bring it to me, with the copy, and we will compare the two." And Ralph took the letter to his desk, not noticing any one, and set to work diligently. A great load AX INDIAN LETTER OF 1755. 89 of apprehension had been removed from him. " Yes," he said to himself, " they were gentlemen. I shall be a baronet some day, and I will be a gentleman too." Perhaps Mr Sims, the book-keeper, and others who had been speculating upon his disgrace, were disap- pointed; but they saw, plainly enough, that Ealph, smiling through his tears, was not ; and so w^nt on with their work as steadily and noiselessly as Ealph Darnell did. Yes, to Ealph this was a curious letter, and in spite of his ignorance, interested him warmly. Who were these Eastern magnates of whom he read in Mr Wharton's clear, clerk-like hand? What like the great country which they inhabited ? Let me tran- scribe from the paper itself, now yellow, and the ink faded, some of what was written there. AVe have no- thing to do with the mercantile portion of it, which was of temporary interest only to those immediately concerned ; but the rest belonged to the time — to all time — and was full of momentous considerations, present and future. " And now that I have finished with details of " Purchases and Sales," Mr Wharton wrote, '' it is necessary to inform you, in some sort, " as to our local Position, and of what is going " on about us, which causes me much anxi- " ous Thought, which I doubt whether any of 90 RALPH DARNELL. " my colleagues do quite share with me. It " is reported that the Nabob, Ali Verdy Khan, " is growing to be more and more infirm, and " very incapable of Business. On the whole, " I may say he hath been, and still continues, " a fair Friend to us. His loss, whenever it " may happen, will be one we shall have " much reason to deplore seriously ; for I '' do not see, in the Heir to whom we shall " have to look, any good Hopes, nor any " Hopes at all, of that consideration which " we have enjoyed, and which we must strive " hereafter to maintain. For, Sir, in this " country, among Gentoos and Moors — who " look more to the effects of physical than " moral Power than you are accustomed to " do in a free country like England — 'tis " only by showing ourselves prepared to re- " sist and overcome any attempt at Oppres- " sion, that we can insure that "Weight and " Eespect which are the foundations of all '' Commercial transactions, with which those " of a Political Nation are inevitably involved. " On this point it appears to me a miserable " Fatuity to risk anything; and a very poor " ceconomy also, when the vast amount of Trade " and Capital vested in it, both public and AX IXDIAX LETTER OF 1755. 91 " private, is considered. Should any reverse " overtake us by any Native combination, or " sudden onslaught, the sacrifice of immediate " Advances and Investments, however great " the loss would prove, would be trifling in " comparison of the difficulty of regaining a " lost Position — a position which, no one " knows better than our friend Mr Sanders, " it hath cost years of pain and anxiety, and " a vast expenditure of Money, to maintain " and raise to what it is. " We know the Nabob's Armies to be very con- " siderable, and he hath some excellent Sol- " diers among them. He may have from " thirty to forty thousand men, with Artillery ; " while we, to defend ourselves, have barely " one hundred effective Europeans. We have " no hope of assistance from Madras or Bom- " bay, or from the Dutch — in short, of none, " Sir ; and this it is that makes our native " friends so apprehensive, and our credit so " low. These men, sir, are as keen and careful " in their business as any merchants of Lon- " don : and had we the means of assuring " them, and protecting them as well as our- " selves, there is no saying to what extent we " might not extend our authority in Bengal ; 92 RALPH DARNELL. " yea even to the control of the country " itself. " It is not too late to assist ns, and, by a time- " ous display of Force, to guard the Company's " interests and our own. With a strong Fort, " and such extension of the present as would " afford us more accommodation, and with a " respectable Army of English Soldiers and " Artillery, our position would be strong and " beyond any risk ; and we could make our " own terms with the young Nabob. He is " no valiant Hero, we hear ; and compara- " tively very little addition to our means " would deter him from any overt act against " us. 'Tis not that, as hath been the case " at Madras, I would advise war with the " Nabob, or with any one. There, great Wars " have been undertaken with varying suc- " cess. Mr Clive, who is now in England, " will have related to you all particulars of " these great doings. I, a humble servant of " the Company, have no right to discuss the " propriety or otherwise of the Madras course " of Policy — nor, indeed, that of Bombay. " Both Factories are in the neighbourhood of " much more ambitious and unquiet folks '' than we are ; and it hath been necessary AN INDIAN LETTER OF 1755. 93 " for them to defend themselves against " Treachery- : and they have Forces enough " for this. But we, dear Sir, are very help- " less ; and we ought not, nor ought the " Company, to trust to good appearances, " which at any moment may break down. " And there is another great subject of disquiet " to my mind, and that of Mr Holwell, and " others, at this critical juncture, which is, " the French progress in the central part of " the Deccan, under Monsieur Bussy. 'Tis " said openly at Chandernagore, by Natives " of good repute, that the aim of M. Bussy " is to extirpate us from India ; and, if he " cannot effect this in Madras or Bombay — " which, thank God, are too strong for him " just now — that nothing will deter him " from an attack upon us in our weakest " Settlement : and, furthermore, that the " young Nabob, who hateth us with a bitter " Hatred, hath already covenanted with the " French for assistance, which they will " readily give. If, therefore, M. Bussy can, " by marching by the Sircars (for he hath " already the control of the whole of the " Deccan Soubadar's Dominions, and pos- " sesses a large Army devoted to himself, 94 EALPH DARNELL. " both of Frenclimen and of natives — Tel- " ingas they are called, whom he hath trained " and disciplined — with much heavy Artil- " lery), penetrate to Chandernagore, and " join the young Nabob — then, dear Sir, may ,- " God help us ; for we have no hope to re- " sist this double combination, and no Means " whatever. We should, so far as I can see, " be driven from the Country ignominiously ; " and in this opinion not only does Mr Hol- " well and all steady thinking men here con- " cur, but our Native Friends are perpetually " warning us of it, and most heartily mar- " veiling at our Inaction. As I have said " before, Sir, Power can alone insure us re- " spect, and the faithful observance of all " Treaties and Agreements. Without it, I " well believe them to be only so much waste " Paper — nay, worse, the very means of pro- " vocation for their annulment. " Most private. With these anxieties on gene- " ral political grounds, I am more beset by '' others of a local nature than I can describe. " Our chief here hath, I may say it to you, '' neither Ability nor Firmness to guide our " Ship into a safe Haven if ever a Storm " should arise, which may God avert. De- AX INDIAN LETTER OF 1755. 95 " pend upon it, clear Sir, that I write the " Truth, and the Truth only ; and hard as it " may be to say anything derogatory of my " Superior, I cannot think it inconsistent " with my Duty to allude to this painful Suh- " ject. Sir, he hath no Eespect from ifis nor " from the Natives ; and I sadly fear — and " many share this fear with me and Mr " Hoi well — that he hath no Courage neither. " Alas ! that I should have to say so of any '' Englishman ; and alas ! if ever it hath to " be put to the proof! If you could send " us Mr Clive, indeed, Courage would at once " be infused into every one ; and though he " might come in a Military capacity, there is " not one of us who would not stick to him " in case it were necessary for him to assume " the chief Authority. You may say we may still depend upon the " Emperor of Delhi. Alas, sir ! that great " Empire is breaking up fast, and little be- " yond very nominal Power remains to him. " He coidd not protect us against the Nabob, " even did he desire to do so. The Morat- " toes are pressing him hard. His own Sub- "jects are everywhere rebellious and incon- " stant ; his Viceroys and Deputies are growing 96 RALPH DARNELL. " fast into independent Princes, and the Mor- " attoe kingdom is increasing. Twas only " last year, as yon may have heard, that the " old Emperor, who, for his part, was well " affected towards the English factories, was •" taken by treachery to the Morattoes, and " had his eyes cruelly put out in their camp, " and is now a prisoner. His Successor is " powerless to help himself — a mockery in " truth of an Emperor ; from whom, or indeed " from any other Native Power, near or far " away, it would be only a Delusion to hope. " Now, dear Sir, if I have written in any " despondent tone in this most confidential " Communication, I pray your Forgiveness ; " for indeed I cannot help doing so under the " threatening circumstances of our Position ; " and, for tlie better comprehension of its " details, I pray you also to lay it before our " excellent friend Mr John Sanders, who, " from his long residence here, and great " Experience, hath Ability to give you such " explanation as may serve you in the " Council-parlour of the Directors. Were Mr " Sanders indeed here, we should not need "Mr Clive. We deplore that his Health " would not allow him to remain, to be, as AX IXDIAX LETTER OF 1755. 97 he would be now, Chief of the Factory; for were he among us, we should have no occasion to fear the treacherous wiles of the Moors or the Morattoes, however we might be apprehensive of their great Armies." n VOL. 1. CHAPTEE IX. IMPEOTEMENTS. Ralph Darnell's penmanship was none of the most rapid ; and in common with the political portion of the letter, there was a long detail of mercantile, official, and private transactions, which had also to be copied. Ealph had done it all in his best and clearest hand. He was very happy, and with a light heart no toil is irksome. It was nearly two o'clock when he had finished the whole, and he had not moved once from his seat. Just as he was about to conclude, a stout active young man of middle height, richly dressed in a military uniform, opened the office door, and crossing the room with a quick decided step, greeted Mr Sanders kindly, and asked whether Mr Darnell was to be seen ; the reply was in the affirmative, and he passed on to the parlour ; and while Ealph was showing his work to Mr Sanders, and they were about to commence their IMPROVEMEXTS. 99 comparison, the door opened, and Mr Darnell re- quested the Indian letter might be sent to him. " Let me take it, Mr Sanders," said Ealph, eagerly — " let me take it ; I'm not afraid now, and my uncle will be glad to see that I have made clean work of what he bid me do." "By all means, Ealph," replied the good-natured manager ; " one of the gentlemen mentioned in that letter, Colonel Clive, is now with your uncle, and you may like to see him ; go at once." Ealph did not then understand the weight of that illustrious name, though the mention of him by Mr Wharton had excited his curiosity; but as he entered the room, it was impossible not to be struck with the soldierly aspect, the quick, penetrating glance, and energetic gestures of the man before him. How well Ealph remembered this meeting in after times ! Perhaps he was not much struck with Mr Olive's appearance because he knew nothing, so to speak, of his history or his achievements, beyond a very confused impression of battles in India ; but he felt, as he entered with the papers, that, for a second time that day, he was being measured from head to foot, and looked through. " No need to say who that is, Mr Darnell," said Mr Clive, laughing; 'Td swear he was one of your blood, if I had met him in Fort St George; yet I did not know " 100 RALPH DARNELL. " Not a son of mine, Colonel," replied the merchant, hastily — " a nephew. Ealph, I must present yon to Colonel Clive, about whom yon have read a little to-day, and of whom yon will read a great deal more by-and-by." " Glad to see you, sir," said Clive, cordially offering his hand. " I wish I could tempt a Darnell to join me in the East ; but I suppose no scion of the great house would think it worth his while to become a poor soldier of fortune like me." " Don't unsettle the lad's mind, Mr Clive, I pray you," said Mr Darnell, laughing. " We shall have him flying away with you to India ; but look, here is the letter I told you of. You will read Ealph's fresh clear writing better perhaps than the original. Show Mr Clive, Ealph, where the political portion begins — he won't care about our trade details — and wait till he has done." Colonel CHve read with evident interest, and Mr Darnell, as Ealph could see, watched him narrowly. His uncle's keen eyes were fixed upon the well- bronzed face of the soldier, and followed every change of his countenance. As the letter was finished, Clive rose, gave it to Ealph, and began to pace the room rapidly. "Well," said Mr Darnell, " what do you make of itaU?'^ IMPROVEMENTS. 101 " Make of it, Mr Darnell ? why, only this, that, by God, I will see it out with that d — d Erenchman yet, and youll hear then who is best man in India, he or I. He's a very clever fellow, sir, and a good soldier, and I respect him for all he has done at Hyderabad ; but there's no room for both of us in that country, and one, sir, will have to leave it. If I had a doubt on the subject of going soon, that letter has done more to clear it away than anything else I have heard or read." " But about our Calcutta factory, Mr Clive ? shall we get any more sugar ? and what of this young Nabob, sir?" " Ask Mr Sanders," replied Colonel Clive, with somewhat of a sneer. "What do I know about sugar and saltpetre ? my hand has ever been more familiar with this, Mr Darnell," and he touched his sword, " than with mercantile affairs. I do not think there is any immediate danger in Bengal, and if there should be, I will see to it when I get out. Sugar and silk, silk and sugar, and that's all you folks here care about ; I can't account for it, Mr Darnell. Have you no ambition ? With all the old political organisation of that vast country breaking up — resolving itself into new forms, can't you — cannot England, strike in," he cried, as he paced to and fro more rapidly, " and establish a political power which 102 EALPH DARNELL. should overwhelm every other ? That Nawab, sir ! why, he's only of yesterday ! why should not we be there instead of him ? Give me a couple of thousand Englishmen, Mr Darnell, and let me march through India to Bengal ; I will sweep away Bussy, clever as he is, and the Company — by God, sir ! — shall rule in Bengal instead of the Nabob, and do as they please. But no, you cannot understand this here, Mr Dar- nell — not yet, not yet ; wait till I get there." " I trust sincerely, Mr Olive," said the merchant, gravely, " that you will become dispossessed of such wild, impracticable thoughts. What could we do with any territory ? what do we want with Eastern politics ? what does the crowTi want, sir ? Have we not enough of anxiety already with America ? No, sir ! I shall grieve to see one whom I love and honour, betraying the trust we repose in him by wild ambition, which may only lure him on to de- struction." "You cannot understand the country, Mr Dar- nell," replied Mr Clive, " and we might only quarrel over what my poor thoughts lead me to express ; but that we shall possess that country, Mr Darnell — that we must inevitably possess it — I believe as firmly as that I am Eobert Clive. I thank you for showing me that letter ; it is most important to any one who can understand it." IMPKOVEMENTS. 103 " In confidence, Mr Clive — in the utmost confidence that one man can show to another," said the merchant, decidedly. " Certainly, Mr Darnell — certainly ; Eobert Clive never yet forfeited any that was reposed in him, and I may live to repay this. Good morning. And yon, young gentleman," he continued, turning to Ealph, "cannot you be tempted to follow a soldier's for- tunes ? There should be one Colonel Darnell to hang up among that goodly company. No ? well, I don't blame you. If I had had wealthy uncles like you, and were heir to a baronetcy, instead of being the poor*son of a poor lawyer, I should never have seen India. Now my fate is there, and I must follow it. Farewell, Mr Darnell, I do but interrupt you ; but I shall see you again before I leave England, and I shall be at the Council by-and-by, and you must wish me good luck." " That I shall always do. Colonel Clive," returned Mr Darnell, " from my heart ; and you have but to command my best services. Don't let his offer tempt you, Ealph," he continued, as Ealph thought, gravely, after Mr Clive left the room. " He is one of the finest feUows that ever served the King, but that is no country for a Darnell while we are here. I am quite satisfied with you, Ealph, to-day; you have copied this letter very neatly and carefully, and had 104 EALPH DAENELL. better get home ; I am going to the Council, at which there may be some anxious matters to dis- cuss ; " and as he turned to gather up his papers, Ealph bowed to him and left the parlour. " My uncle has taken the letter, Mr Sanders, but here is the copy ; it is quite correct, for Colonel Clive has just read it all through." " And what did he say ? what did he say ? " cried the manager, eagerly; "can you remember?" "Very little indeed, sir," said Ealph, laughing; " he seemed to care more for the mention of Mon- sieur Bussy than about Bengal. He said you knew more of that country than he did." " Just like him, Ralph," replied the manager ; " he has been all his life as yet fighting with the French, and has thoughts just now for nothing else. But we shall see — we shall see. Now you may go ; there is nothing else to do." " Thank you, sir," replied the young man, " and good-day to you." " You are going home, Ealph, I ho^De ? " added Mr Sanders, with some emphasis on " home." " Yes, sir ; I intend to go home." It would have been well for Eali)h if he had gone — if he had turned towards the river and taken the ferry-boat at the Tower Stairs; and for a moment, as he stood at the hall-door of the house, he was irre- IMPROVEMENTS. 105 solute. In truth, the events of the past night were rapidly coming more clearly to his mind, and the money he had won was lying heavily in his pocket. He had not dared to count it, and he knew he had promised his revenge to the sailor captain. It would be an ungentlemanly thing to evade this, and Darnells should be gentlemen; had not his strict uncle said so ? He would at least offer the captain his chance ; and Gracechurch Street, too, would lead him home quicker than the round by the Tower. If he met EUiot and Forster, well and good ; he w^ould take his chance of the result. Yes, it was the open and manly course to follow. Why should he sneak home with a pocket full of another man's money? So he turned into Gracechurch Street, and walked rapidly towards the Golden Cock. I am not going to moralise upon this act. I, too, as well as you w^ho read this, well know what has befallen some of the best of our virtuous resolutions ; and here I have to teU you of one by no means strong- minded, or as yet strongly grounded in his. Many a hard tussle, many a painful weary fall, has to be endured before they become able to compete with what they have to encounter in the fierce struggle of life ; and many a slip on the road, which I have be- fore noticed, to be regained, with cries and tears be- fore God, ere the mental footing is firmer. Happy 106 KALPH DARNELL. they who have had none of them ; I say, very happy, and to be envied truly. But are there any ? Well, Ealph Darnell was not at least one of them, and so he went on. Nor had he to go far. As he neared Thames Street, the trio he almost looked for met him plump, and could not be avoided. " Confound that counting-house of yours, Darnell," cried Elliot, cheerily; " we thought you had been shut up for good by that great uncle of yours for being a naughty boy last night, as we did not find you at the old place of tryste. Why, we have been there ever so long, and had wellnigh given you up." " A good day to you, sir," said the Captain, raising his hat courteously, " and I hope you are none the worse of last night. Your friends have done me the honour to accept my invitation to take their dinner on board my ship, and I hope you will not object. We are not yet in harbour trim, sir, and things look rusty after a long voyage ; but I have a fair cook, and for the rest will do my best, gentlemen, to enter- tain ye. I have a boat ready at the stairs here, and I will send another crew to see ye home. It is calm on the river, and a row down will be pleasant pastime for you landsmen." Could Ealph refuse ? The Captain's guineas were clinking in his pocket, as heavy there as they were on IMPROVEMENTS. 107 liis mind. Before him was the bridge, and Nanny and Sybil would be looking for him, he knew, anxiously. Should he go on ? What excuse could he make ? An- other time he could meet them — to-morrow. Could he say so ? Porster seemed to read his thoughts. " No time like the present, Ealph," he said, taking the young man by the arm. " Come along ! we have enough to do to-morrow, Elliot and I, and we may not have an- other chance for a week. Come along," and — he went. The party passed through the Golden Cock, and by the wooden stairs was a smart eight-oared cutter lying. " Oars ! " cried the coxswain, as he saw the party ; and they were raised at once, as if by men- of-war's-men. "Now, men, let these gentlemen see how a Valiant's crew can row them down to the good old ship. Give way — with a will," cried Captain Scrafton, cheerily; and the boat shot down the noble river more rapidly than ever Ealph had been rowed before. His care had gone; and, with aperversity of judg- ment, he was now rejoicing in the idea of having done what it was incumbent on a gentleman and a Dar- nell to do. He only hoped he might lose, and so be rid of the Captain's money, and of play for ever; and he was as joyous and cheerful at the thought of this as his companions had ever seen him. 108 EALPH DAENELL. And it was a pleasant dinner in the cuddy of that stately ship, where they had been welcomed with all the honours of the boatswain's pipe, a guard of ma- rines with side-arms, and the officers in uniform. As the Captain saluted them, and the quarterdeck, with a wave of his laced hat, the others followed his ex- ample, and looked around with admiration on the white deck, and polished brasses, and carved wood- work of the deep poop awning. " You are welcome, gentlemen, to the Honourable East India Company's ship Valiant ; not quite a fri- gate, sirs," said Captain Scrafton, looking proudly about him, " but a ship of which no officer of King George's navy need be ashamed." It was a pleasant dinner, I say, with honest Eng- lish fare. Many a strange and savoury Eastern con- diment ; pickles, and preserves of rich flavour too, were set before them; and the party did justice to the gallant captain's good cheer and generous wine, while they enjoyed his tales of sea life, of Indian experi- ences, and of the wars there, in which Englishmen were beginning to bear so proud a part. Of most of these Indian stories Colonel CHve was the hero ; and as Ealpli heard of Wandiwash, Arcot, and many another bloody fight, he began to understand what manner of man that was, of whom his uncle's kin- dred nature was so fond. IMPROVEMENTS. 109 I will not go through the rest of the evening. Ealph had come there with two settled objects — one to lose his money if he could, the other to be sober like a gentleman ; and he fulfilled both. Captain Scrafton did not press wine upon him, and he was for the time proof against the raillery of his companions. The Captain, too, had his revenge, for Ealph not only lost all that he had won, but more to boot ; for Elliot had pressed money upon him persistently ; and while the play went on, could he withdraw with any spirit ? He did not think so at any rate, and so played on. It was well that the party broke up early. Elliot and Eorster had both other enc^acrements for the nio^ht at the west end of the city, and must fulfil them ; and the Captain, after many hospitable protestations against it, ordered the cutter, and let them go. It was a calm, moonlight night, the water was smooth, and the men stretched to their oars, as they believed only Captain Scrafton's Valiants could do. As the clocks were striking ten, the cutter ran in among the wherries at Tooley Stairs, and, giving a crown to the coxswain, Ralph sprang ashore, and watched the boat in its course through the rapids under the bridge, dashing the spray from its bows in bright sparkles as it danced over the roaring ebb. " An' what hae ye dun wi' a' them gouden guineas, Master Eraafe?" asked Xancy Keene, as she lit 110 EALPH DARNELL. a candle for him in the parlour. "Maybe ye ha' bin winnin' mair o' them ? " " Nay, Nanny dear ; but I've lost them all to the man I won them from, and I'm glad of it — aren't you? Where's Sybnr' " Deed an' she's gane to bed this lang time, Maister Eraafe. D'ye think she'd be stoppin' up for yow ? An' sae they're gane? Deed, then, I'm glad o't, Maister Eraafe. What wad a Darnell, that's to be a barrinit, be doin' wi' ither folk's gowd in his pooch ? Has they not enou' o' their ain? Deed, then, I'm jist glad, ma bairn, an' that's a' aboot it. Get to bed wi' ye — they're a' gane langsyne, an' when a've steekit the door, a'll follow ye. A' thank the Lord," continued Nanny to herself aloud, " there's nae ony sign o' drink on the lad. Eh my ! but we bided his comin' wi' sair hearts — didn't we jist ?" It had been an anxious watch. Sybil and the old servant had listened for every footfall near the porch door for many an hour since early evening, vainly speculating upon the reasons of Ealph's absence, and dreading a recurrence of the scene of the previous night. Indeed, Nanny's reminiscences of tipsy men, and how the "drout o' the drink drav them agin an' agin to't," seemed to be the sole burden of her tale, till Sybil could bear it no longer, and had re- treated to her room, whence, as Nanny opened the IMPROVEMENTS. Ill porch door, she listened with a throbbing heart ; and as the old woman's soliloquy fell on her ear, she gently closed her door as Ealph steadily ascended the stairs, knelt do^vn, and with a grateful heart blessed God that he was safe. I fear Ealph Darnell's heart was not so grateful or so devout ; and that as he lay down, his thoughts presented a very different aspect to Him who saw them, than did those of the gentle girl's. He had lost money, more than fifty pounds, and given Elliot an I U for it. ^Miere was he to get this sum ? Well, Elliot said " it might lie over till he was a baronet ;" and had they not drunk his health with a hip-hip- hurrah, wild and earnest, and his speedy succession to the ancestral dignity of all the Darnells ? Yes, he would be a baronet, but when? His uncle Eoger never mentioned the subject ; Sir Geoffrey sent him an occasional blessing, and paid his quarterly allow- ance, which had been his father's, regularly. That was all. He would be of age in a few months ; would he then be recognised and placed in his proper posi- tion ? Eroper ? pshaw ! Eoger Darnell might yet have sons, and did not he come first after his brother? All seemed dark here too — uncertain and undefined, as if some mystery hung over him which he could not penetrate. Who was Mr Smithson, and who Miss Grover ? Gradually, as sleep followed, the 112 RALPH DARNELL. lines of thought in the young man's mind seemed to cross each other, and interweave like confused wehs spinning around him. His uncle Geoffrey and his uncle Eoger appeared to be at cross purposes with each other and with him ; and along with them, the deeply bronzed and keen-eyed Colonel Clive, wearing an Eastern dress, was beckoninsj him on through hosts, countless and still increasing, of struggling, surging, turbaned men, while his mouth felt parched, and his brow was covered with sweat in the fierce turmoil. Then all this faded away, and there was with him a bright fair-haired girl by the wooded banks of a brawling northern river, with the trout rising in its pools, and a warm summer sun shining upon all. " Constance ! my own, my darling, why was I sent away ? I will come ; I have not forgotten," the lips murmured ; and if the young man could have been watched, it would have been seen how the knit brow, the clenched hand above the bed-clothes, and the uneasy restless postures, were changed for a soft sleep, while tears glistened on the eyelashes, and the name of Constance seemed to linger upon the smil- ing ruddy mouth. CHAPTER X. THE DARXELLS OF MELCEPETH. Abo^t: the point where the present railway bridge crosses the deep bed of the Coquet river, in Northum- berland, and from thence to the sea, there are few streams in England which surpass this in beauty of a striking and peculiar character. The banks are high and broken; there are lofty scaurs, and bold knolls and promontories, covered with luxuriant woods ; and the river itself brawls over a rocky bed, or lies in still, deep pools speckled with foam and overhung with graceful foliage, where there ap- pears scarcely any current at all. Such localities seem to have afforded favourite sites for the old local princes, or Saxon thanes ; and examples of them still exist in the county, which are proud and precious memorials of the past. Of such, the most remarkable, perhaps, is Mitford Castle, above Morpeth, in the lovely valley of the VOL. I. H 1]4 EALPH DARNELL. Wansbeck, a sister stream to the Coquet ; for the site combines the utmost picturesque effect with natural strength at a period when artillery was unknown, and when bowmen, and rude engines for casting stones, could have had little effect upon defenders protected by those massive walls. For many a cen- tury, Mitford must have flourished defiant and unin- jured; but its now shattered walls and keep evince the terrible power of a comparatively modern system of w^arfare. Centuries have passed since the artillery of an English king was planted against those stout defences and brought them low ; and Time has perhaps done little more than hang his victorious banners of ivy and fern, woodbine and wild rose, over the ruins, till they have assumed their present grace- ful and romantic aspect. In other respects the place is little changed. The broad meadow round the castle foot is smooth and green, as when ISTorman and Saxon fought there, or tilted in manly sport. The beautiful Wansbeck babbles by, under the lofty scaurs fes- tooned with hanging ivy ; the rooks swing and caw in the great trees by the little church; and the Mitfords still possess those noble ancestral properties which they have held round their castle for a thousand years — nay more, far back into the dim period of Saxon possession. But it has been other- wise with the Darnells. THE DARNELLS OF MELCEPETH. 115 I have no doubt, in old times before the Conquest, that these Darnells and Mitfords were stanch friends or bitter enemies, as it behoved neighbours to be in rough old border society, and the various feuds and petty wars then occurring ; and there can be no doubt that Melcepeth, like Mitford, was a place of strength and of war. Like it, also, the castle had suffered heavily, perhaps at the same period; but the destruc- tion had either been more complete, or the place had been less cared for afterwards ; for at the period of this history there was little of the ancient structure remaining, except a portion of the keep, and one tower, which had been incorporated with the more modern stables and farm-buildings. Part of the great hall was the present baronet's dog-kennel ; the ancient buttery was the dairy ; and, in like manner, some other portions remained, while all the stones of the rest had been used to build the present manor- house. I cannot say, either, that this was a noble or a capacious building. It had the look of being a temporary structure, and had, in fact, been built in the time of Elizabeth as one. Not, however, in the elaborate style of that period, or with the comfortable adaptation to improved domestic habits which was then progressing ; but as a makeshift, and in the prospect of an altogether new edifice, which had never been carried out. One possessor after another had 116 KALPH DARNELL. left that work to his heh^; no building fund, as I may call it, had been accumulated ; and though the present baronet, Sir Geoffrey Darnell, having encoun- tered much rough weather in the early portion of his life's voyage, had gained smooth water, he, too, did not seem inclined to launch again into new enter- prises, and always said to his steward, as he looked up at the old place, " It will last my time, Smithson ; anybody after me can do as they like with it." And so, with a patch here, a new floor there, and general overlooking, the old castle, as it was still called, lasted very well. There could be no doubt of the beauty of its situa- tion. A little further back than the old castle — that had been perched upon a high scaur, with an almost precipitous face towards the river, which boiled and foamed at its foot in a rocky channel, here consider- ably narrowed — the present Melcepeth occupied a round knoll, sloping down from the fields above to a meadow by the river-side, now converted into a lawn. To the north and east, the high castle-crag protected the house from the bitter winter winds; and the hollow, as it were, in which the mansion lay, always presented a warm and cheerful aspect. I have often wondered why such a situation was neglected ; but when the place was no longer wanted as a residence, the Earl of Whinborough's family having a palatial THE DAEXELLS OF MELCEPETH. 117 mansion in Midlandshire, and other noble houses on other family properties, it fell to ruin, was not worth repair, and being inconvertible into a farm-house, was pulled down, and so has disappeared as completely as the Darnells have, who owned it, and as has been the fate of many another Saxon family as proud and as wealthy as they were. But at the time of this history, the castle was in excellent order. Sir Geoffrey Darnell was not perhaps wealthy, so to speak, but he had an income quite equal to his position, drawn from prosperous estates in Durham and Yorkshire ; and he always said that when a new place was necessary, it had far better be built in either of those pleasant counties, than in the locality in which the family possessed least land, and where they lived only in conceit of the " Saxon " Darnells. "If they had/' Sir Geoffrey said, "like the Mitfords, indeed, all their land about them, it would be a different matter truly ; but, as it is, Sniithson, as it is, I am not going to be such a fool as to burn my fingers with bricks and mortar. The place will last my time very well" There was a gool deal in that simple " as it is " of the Baronet, which Mr Smithson understood per- fectly ; and I owe it to the elucidation and compre- hension of this history, to explain in some degree why the Baronet had laid such particular emphasis 118 EALPH DAKNELL. on a repetition of those three little words ; and I think, when my readers' eyes have glanced over what I have to write, that, in consideration of its details, I may be forgiven for an apparent digression. There is no need for me to go into the past. Any curious person can, by paying a registered fee, know all about the family — whom they married, who were born, who died, and when — if the family-tree in the Heralds' College be consulted ; but I don't know, after all, that any one w^ould be much the wiser if they did this. There had been always a Darnell a baronet, since baronets began, and always a Darnell — brother, uncle, or cousin, or as it might be — at the head of the great firm in Lombard Street. Therefore we have only to do with the present. Sir Geoffrey and his belongings. I must now mention that the family had always been loyal — most loyal, to their ancient princes ; and that the Stuarts possessed their adhesion and support as heartily as those of any family in the land — so heartily, indeed, that Sir Geoffrey, then a young man of twenty-five, had joined Forster and the Earl of Der- wentwater in 1715, and shared their fortunes, rough and fatal as they were to many. The youth only, perhaps, of Geoffrey Darnell had saved him from the fate of the chiefs of that unhappy rebellion. I do not think the Jacobite Northumberland baronet had THE DARNELLS OF ^lELCEPETH. 119 many friends, or much interest at Court ; but his life was spared vrhen he was taken with others at Pres- ton, and he was one of that sad company which, amidst thundering huzzas for 'King George, and up- roarious demonstrations of London loyalty, suffered the indignity of being marched, bound and pinioned, through the streets, as a warning to future dabblers in treason and rebellion. Geoffrey Darnell, as might be supposed, did not often visit the city after that. " He hated the d — d place," he said ; and had no craving for town pleasures or occupations. In 1745, when his neigh- bour Morton, and many another too, joined Prince Charles Edward, Sir Geoffrey was not to be deluded. He had had enough of the first trial ; he thought this would succeed no better : and though he gave what money he could spare secretly — through Morton — he personally kept entirely aloof. Sir Geoffrey had mar- ried, too, and his wife's pleadings accorded with his own thoughts. Morton had left as dear a home, as deeply loved a wife, and a child nearly the same age as his own, and what had been the result ? Mis- ery to all, and ruin past redemption. Sir Geoffrey Darnell, personally because of his disgrace, and hereditarily because of his family predilections, de- tested the house of Hanover ; but saw it was no use contesting its power with any Jacobite means, and. 120 RALPH DARNELL. as he escaped all accusation or suspicion in 1745, lie was grateful that he had been able to resist so much temptation. His first wife, Lady Jane, died in childbirth of her second child — a boy, still-born. Had she lived, in- deed, or had that infant lived, Sir Geoffrey's situation would have been very different to what it was at the present juncture. He grieved deeply for his wife, in- deed for a time was inconsolable ; but he was lonely, and he married, about five years after her death, a lady whom he loved as dearly, and who, with more grace, more accomplishments, and allied to greater families, promised to be a lifelong joy to him. But it was not fated to be so. Ah ! it was a sad story — a sad tragedy, too. They were riding out one day ; they had ridden to Mr Smithson's farm, near Dunstanbor- ough, and, on their return, Lady Honoria's horse had swerved at some object, as she cantered homewards, too heedlessly, by her husband. The spirited ani- mal had then reared and become unmanageable ; there was a heavy fall, and the poor lady never spoke more. This had happened in 1749. Sir Geoffrey did not marry again. He began to conceive that fate had set against the Darnells ; and though many friends, and, most of all, his brother Eooer, urg^ed him to take a third wife, he would not hear of it, and the expec- tations of many a bright county damsel were sorely THE DARNELLS OF MELCEPETH. 121 disappointed. Bessie Grover, his first wife's com- panion and schoolfellow, who had lived with her, and taken charge of her child after her death, was again invited ; and, acting as governess to the little Constance, as well as housekeeper, she reigned, as much supreme as she desired to be, at Melcepeth. The Baronet had two brothers ; one, Eoger, we know already. He had been early sent to his uncle and godfather, Eoger, after whom he had been named, and, being adopted by him, became, on his death, head of the house. There was little communication be- tween these brothers. Eoger Darnell the elder had no Jacobite sympathies, and he, as well as his nephew, had looked with shame upon Sir Geoffrey's march through London city, where their name stood so high. The only consolation was, that no one knew the suf- ferer, and the event soon died out of men's memories. As the brothers grew older, and Geoffrey never came to London, the connection grew even slighter, and was confined to interchanges of game from the north in the season (which, Eoger complained, seldom reached so as to be fit to eat), with a box of Indian (East or West) condiments or preserves, and tea, in return, such as money could not buy. There were letters of sincere condolence written on the deaths of both Ladies Darnell, and of congratulation when Eoger married the daughter of a rich Virginia mer- 122 RALPH DARNELL. chant and quondam jjlanter, who, having sold his estate there, had again settled in London. When the Baronet had proposed that nephew Ealph should come to London, w^hen he was falling into wdld country ways, as his father had done, Eoger had accepted the charge under some necessary reserva- tions only known between the brothers ; and the young Ealph had been sent about five years before — shortly, indeed, after the last Lady Darnell's sad death. Perhaps, had she lived, he would not have left Melcepeth ; but, as we know, she had been early taken, and Ealph had lost in her the truest friend he ever possessed. As it sometimes happens in families, the youngest born had been the father's favourite. Geoffrey held his own as heir ; Eoger was gone to London to his uncle Eoger ; and Henry, a fair, beautiful child, remained to the old baronet Sir Henry, as his life faded away quietly enough. Geoffrey had gone to Oxford, and had worked his way through London society with the nominal profession of the law ; but Henry, whose mother died when he was young, was never sent away, not even to school. The curate of the village near, who acted as domestic chaplain at Melcepeth, and lived in the house, was the young Henry's tutor ; and so he grew up, learning very little — for some of his letters that I know of are sadly illiterate, both as to THE DARNELLS OF MELCEPETH. 123 spelling and composition — but the best rider, the best shot, the best tier of flies, and the best fisher- man in all Coquetdale. If "that had been all, Henry Darnell might well have been alive at this period, and as prosperous in some honest calling as either of his brothers; but his Jacobite sympathies had prevented him joining the Hanoverian army; and his father had always said he would not part with Harry, and had allowed him a handsome income as he grew up — indeed, settled it upon him ; and looked to his marrying a county beauty, and becoming a Squire of the land. The issue, however, was not so. There was no one to check Henry Darnell ; and his sport- ing friends were none of the cleanest handed, or most respectable. If there was good salmon-fishing by AYarkworth, there were men there who followed the exciting trade of smuggling; and, among many more, Eobert Smithson, the farmer and land-agent, was not idle. Was he not owner of three smart luggers, which, under pretence of herring-fishing, ran over to the Low Countries and brought tea and silks, tobacco and brandy? Many a pleasant trip had Henry Darnell taken in them, and many a keg of hollands had he assisted to run ashore among the caves and rocks under the gaunt walls of the old castle of Dunstanborough ! 124 EALPH DAKNELL. A wild, lawless life it was ; against whicli the old baronet, Sir Harry, now reaping the fruits which his own course of conduct had rendered almost in- evitable, often protested in vain. "Wlien at last he died, and Geoffrey succeeded, the brothers tried to live together for a while, but it would not an- swer ; they quarrelled bitterly. The remonstrances Henry had endured from his father were inadmis- sible from his brother Geoffrey, and they sej^arated in anger. Henry's character declined after this rapidly. He went to reside in the fishing village at Wark- worth, built a lugger for himself, and in fine weather ran across to the Low Countries or to Northern Germany so frequently, and stayed away so long, that it was often said he had married there. There was a daughter of Smithson's, however, who grew up to be very lovely, and was the belle of the fish- ing village and of the country-side. Her mother, a vain foolish woman, doted upon this child, her only one, and lavished on her all the means and finery which could be procured by the skippers of her husband's lugger. Dutch ear-rings, and brooches, and chains of the purest gold; laces, silks and satins, which many a town lady would have envied, were made up for the beautiful child ; and so what marvel that she grew out of her natural rank of THE DAEXELLS OF MELCEPETH. 125 life, and that, in spite of her broad Northumbrian dialect and ntter want of the commonest education, her mother told her " she wad be a bonny leddy some day ; " and she believed what she was told every day of her life. At sixteen Grace Smithson was truly lovely ; and, till she opened her mouth, might have passed for a daughter of the highest house in the land. "When she spoke, however, you knew what she was, and giieved that she had been spoiled. Henry Darnell had watched Grace grow up, and the fond mother encouraged the intimacy. "\Yhy should her Gracie no marry a Darnell? Gin they had birth, Gracie was bonnie, and fit bride for a king — bless her ! an' a gude lassie tae," said the mother. The result of all was, that one summer day the Ariel went out for "jist a bit sail roond the Castle," as Mrs Smithson told her husband when he came in and asked for Gracie, and Mr Henry said " he'd not keep her oot long ; " but they did not return at sunset — no, nor afterwards ; and when the distract- ed parents looked into the girl's room, they found all her clothes had been removed, and that she had gone away from them deliberately. Grace did not return for nearly two years. Henry had taken her to Amsterdam, and there she had learned some accomplishments ; and her native grace and 126 RALPH DARNELL. beauty were developed by foreign culture. Her parents had forgiven her ; and as she always told them in her letters she was lawfully married, they had believed her fully, and never — her mother at least — beyond the first miserable suspense, had had any doubt on the subject. They returned, I say, in about two years, bring- ing with them an infant of a few months old ; but Henry Darnell could not be persuaded to remain, nor indeed could Grace. Both had imbibed a lik- ing for foreign society, where they had formed a position ; and both felt they could obtain none at Warkworth. Sir Geoffrey Darnell had once re- ceived his brother, but had refused to receive Grace, and denied the legality of her marriage ; and Henr}^, ever haughty and wilful, did not press proofs of it upon him. " So long as there is hope of a son being born to you or Eoger," he had said, " I will be silent. When that no longer exists, I will de- fend my boy's rights." So the brothers parted in anger — never, as it proved, to meet again. The object of Henry Darnell and Grace in com- ing to Warkworth had been to leave the boy with her mother; and for this Grace had pleaded very earnestly. "There was naebody like mither to rear the child ; an' I dinna trust thae Dutch wives, nor their ways, wi' my ain bairn; and wha was to THE DARNELLS OF MELCEPETH. 127 christen it? I dinna like them Dutch jjarsons wi' black cloaks, neyther — they're no canny/' she had said in her own broad mother tongue ; and Henry Darnell had consented. So the child was christ- ened Ealph Darnell, and left with its grandparents; and the ill-fated pair sailed again in the Ariel They were never heard of afterwards. John Rob- son, the skipper of Smithson's best lugger, cruised lon