A Heart-Song of To-day
by
Annie Gregg Savigny
Part 6 out of 7
and not only in the heart of the man who only lives in her love...."
"I am more than glad, Vaura, _ma chere_, that Dame Fortune is
playing so smilingly into dear Lionel's hands," said Lady Esmondet,
as she read aloud the letter she had received from Trevalyon on the
morning of the 30th. Yes, more than glad, for the legacy of $500,000
and the title, will do more to close the gaping eyes of society, and
lips of Dame Rumour, than any red-tapeism in the form of libel
suits; or living proofs, from living truthful lips."
"True, god-mother dear, and 'tis well we are women of our day, or
the knowledge that a man may, if he will, live the life of a Mormon
in Utah, on the quiet; and if he present a wife well gilt with gold,
and a title, to society; society will fall prostrate; or this
knowledge might mystify us."
"Yes, we hive eaten of the tree of knowledge, Vaura dear; we know
society's deal and the cards she bids us play; no matter though we
don't like our hand."
"Poor Lionel does not relish the play just now, manly, brave, and
true as he is," said Vaura, pityingly.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BRIC-A-BRAC.
The morrow dawned, fair and bright, and Vaura looked as bright and
fresh as a goddess of day, as she stepped, from the door of the villa,
robed in a gown of blue velvet, tight jacket of same, and a small
bonnet of a lighter shade, with long tan kid gloves; her cheek was
warm with the colour her quickened heart-beats gave, and the love-
light shone in her eyes, for she had again just re-read Lionel's
loving words, and knew her own would soon make his heart glad.
O'Gormon came up the walk as she descended the verandah steps.
"Good morning, Miss Vernon."
"_Bonjour_, Sir Dennis; sorry I am deserting the villa as you are
making your _entree_."
"Fortune favours me, in that you are not already gone. May I not be
your escort, and attend you?"
"Well, I scarcely know; I am not going to the Colonna gardens," she
answered gaily.
"No matter, I am only too willing to follow you blindly; whither thou
goest I go; thy will shall be my will; thy goal my goal."
"Then to the dusty shop of Pedro; to the rescue of some trifles in the
matter of bric-a-brac."
"But, am I not sufficient escort without yon trim female; give her a
holiday to go buy ribbons to 'tie up her bonny brown hair.'"
"You may take an hour's pleasure, Saunders; I do not require your
further attendance."
And now they bend their steps in the direction of the old town, and
turning into a short, narrow street, ascend the high stone steps of an
old house; so old one wondered it held together; in fact, many stones
had fallen from the front wall, giving it a hollow-eyed appearance.
The whole _quartier_ in which they now are, presents a dilapidated
front. But when they enter the old, mouldy apartment, lit up with so
much of the beautiful, they forgot the gloomy, damp street; the
uninviting exterior of the building; the weird old man in charge;
everything but the gems by which they are surrounded. Here were some
rare bits of Sevres and Dresden china, there some modern tile
painting, here some old Roman jugs, jars, and vases; there the sweet
face of a Madonna looks down, as if in pity, on a Greek dancing girl.
Here a goblet, fit for a kingly gift; there a zone to win the good
graces of some pretty little ballet dancer. Here were Romish missals
in rare old inlaid coverings, side by side with garters studded with
precious stones, destined for the leg of woman.
Vaura, an ardent admirer of the choice in bric-a-brac, was in her
element amid this confusion of beauty, while her companion preferred
the living charms of a lovely woman more than anything the world of
art could show; so, not a purchaser, he seated himself on a chair with
more carving than comfort to recommend it, and watching Vaura, fell
into a reverie: "She is the most priceless gem in the casket, and
though my governor left me as heritage the waste acres, and nothing
but an income of debts to keep up Castletruan, unless I marry money,
by my faith a fellow could live on love with Vaura Vernon, better than
on stalled ox without her."
Here he gave a start knocking down a porcelain vase at the weird voice
of Pedro from behind, saying:
"You don't examine my poor wares, mi lord.'
"The shattered remains of that vase are typical of the _denouement_ of
the idle dreams I was dreaming," he muttered, as the wily Italian,
full of regrets, picked up the fragments, naming double the value of
the vase, and thinking,
"He would not have spent a _soldi_, the Signora occupies all his
thoughts; so Pedro, you are in good fortune that the English lord was
startled at the sound of thy voice; the intention was good, Pedro, so
is the result."
Vaura now signified to the Italian her wish to purchase bric-a-brac to
the extent of a golden goblet, beautiful in design and of early Roman
handiwork. A group of statutory, representing Venus and Adonis, at
once piquant and charming, with an exquisite painting of the Dying
Gladiator pathetic in the extreme.
"He is a grand athlete," said Sir Dennis.
"Yes, and a land-mark of Home, in the by-gone. Ah! Sir Dennis, there
has been more martyr's blood shed in the immortal city than that of
the early Christians; when one thinks of the use the Coliseum was put
to, when one thinks of the Roman women with their warm beauty, of
their men beautiful as gods, who graced with their presence scenes
where men like that met a death of torture, one weeps for human nature
with its stains, its blots. Ah! well, even the flowers one loves best
are bespattered in the mire, and soiled by the skirts of mortals with
not too clean a record, and the pure snow-flake as it falls goes down
with smut from the chimney upon it, it is only the trail of the
serpent which is over all."
"The wells of pity in your eyes are deep and full enough to take in
more than the Dying Gladiator; he is dead; there are living men," said
the Irishman with the susceptibility of his race.
"Why, Sir Knight of Erin," said Vaura gaily, as she turned from the
painting, "you are not going to ask me to weep over all suffering
humanity, from the Pole, not North but Siberian; the Sultan, whose
siesta, is disturbed by the call to arms; to your own Pat with his
real or imaginary wrongs."
"To the shades of oblivion with Pat and the Pole,--they don't fill the
world."
"And in the meantime the shades of evening will be upon us if we don't
hasten. Pedro, you will send my purchases with the vases and model of
St. Peter's Lady Esmondet bought yesterday, to the Villa Iberia, and
be expeditious, as the servants are now packing our belongings for
England."
"Already packing!" said the Irishman, as they turned their steps
homeward, "that sounds like the first note of a fare-thee-well."
"A true and fairly-well made remark, oh, Son of Erin!"
"Your voice is glad as the bird-notes of my own Isle, which means
you'll smile as you say farewell."
And so in gay chit-chat Time seemed as naught until the villa was
reached. Sir Dennis lunching with them when as afterwards the ladies
having P.P.C.'s to make, he took a reluctant leave.
The following three days were spent in leave-takings to the beauties
abounding in and around the city; sometimes attended by Signer
Castenelli, sometimes by the warm-hearted Irishman, and again by
Priest Douglas; they walked again and lingered in the gardens of the
Colonna palace they loved; the dear warm earth which was kissed so
lovingly by the sun's rays as not to be cold to the bare brown feet of
the child-peasant; and sent up such bright flowers for the vase of the
King. Their glance rested often on the deep blue of the heavens above
them, as though to carry its majestic arch with them to lift the
leaden clouds from off the spires of London, which seemed as though
weighed down to earth, as the souls the bells in their tower called to
worship, were weighted with the clouds in the struggle of life.
And so Father Time, who to Vaura for once seemed to walk with stealthy
step, still with inevitable tread brought the world and humanity to
the fourth day of a new year.
On the third a letter had come from Col. Haughton to Lady Esmondet,
which ran thus:
"MY DEAR OLD FRIEND,--
"Your letters are so full of health that I don't think I'm selfish in
saying to let nothing tempt you and my hearts-light, Vaura, to stay
away any longer; when you come you will not blame me for wanting you
both; my married life has not been of very long duration, and yet, and
yet my new made wife ... but you will see if there is anything to see;
you are not a curious woman, Alice, God forbid; but you will know in
the social atmosphere which surrounds me, if I needlessly fear for the
honour of my name.
"The preparations for the ball are on a gorgeous scale and my _bete
noire_, Major Delrose, is up to the neck in, floral decorations. And
my lady's gown, mine and yours, too; did we say him yea; his nose is
broad enough to enter into everybody's business; and his back is broad
enough to bear anything I may write you.
"Be sure and be here on the morning of the sixth, so you can rest for
the night's frolic; and Vaura, whose health is too splendid to feel
much fatigue, can chat with me and look about her.
"I see by the _Daily News_ that Trevalyon has succeeded to the
baronetcy; he writes me he will be here for the ball; I feel just now
in the humour for a long talk with my old friend.
"I'm really grieved he should have got himself into such a mess as to
have married some years ago some female he has been hiding ever since.
It is common gossip here; some name her as a ballet dancer; some as
pretty daughter of his late father's lodge-keeper; some, as wife of a
friend; in whatever dress Dame Rumour presents her, she's a toothsome
bit for Mrs. Grundy. Whatever truth there's in it the wasps sting
Trevalyon all they can; but the butterflies smile and say: 'if he has,
he's handsome enough to take out a license for anything.' I have
regretted since hearing the news and seeing it in the papers, that he
was in daily intercourse with Vaura; but again, if he is bound as I
fear, I can trust to his honour not to endeavour to gain her
affections.
"Isabel Douglas was married on New Year's' day; we were invited;
Blanche and I went; the laughs at the Hall were the loudest, so Mrs.
Haughton remained. Isabel looked hopeful and happy, and an ideal
Scotch lassie as she is. I am writing in the recess at the end of the
library, and merry voices and gay laughter reach me here; but the
sounds come not from any of my personal friends; none are with me as
yet; we have Mrs. Meltonbury, the Fitz-Lowtons, two De Lancy girls,
Peter Tedril, Everly, and Major Delrose at Rose Cottage--means Major
Delrose at the Hall. So you see, Alice, a congenial spirit would be
congenial. Read above to Vaura; she is a woman of the world, and knows
its walks and ways. Come soon. And from
"Yours,
"ERIC HAUGHTON,
"Haughton Hall, Surrey, England.
"To both, love and kind thoughts,
"January 2nd, 1878."
"TO LADY ESMONDET,
"Villa Iberia, Rome, Italy."
The outcome of above letter was to cause Lady Esmondet and Vaura to
make immediate preparations to reach Haughton Hall.
"We should be there; the hand Madame holds is too full of tricks,"
said Lady Esmondet, energetically, as she finished reading the letter
aloud.
"We can go to-night by the midnight express," said Vaura, impulsively.
"I should like it, dear, but you are full of engagements for to-
morrow, and we are due at the Opera tonight."
"Trifles, all; as you are willing, we shall be on the wing to-night."
_Tres bien ma chere_; I shall give the orders, but there will be three
or four pairs of wistful eyes looking for your _entree_ at the opera,
to-night."
"Yes, until the curtain rises," said Vaura gaily.
On the afternoon of the same day (the third) Castenelli, with a couple
of friends, also O'Gormon, on calling at the villa, heard a rumour of
the departure from the servants (who were all astir, their ladies
being out driving), the Italian p'shawed and said to his friends:
"It is not so, the beautiful Signora told me she would be at the
Duchess of Wyesdale on the night of the fourth for a concert and ball;
they leave at sunrise on the fifth." And so was content that the
servants were mistaken. Not so O'Gormon, who hearing the same story,
and knowing their intention to attend the opera went thither, and not
seeing them was for leaving, but the Wyesdale signaled him to her
side, and so off duty only at the close; saw her party to the
carriage, and throwing his toga over his evening dress, hurried to the
depot. And none too soon, Lady Esmondet was already in the coach and
Vaura about to follow, when the tall figure of the Irishman came up
hurriedly.
"Surely you are not going to leave us, Miss Vernon, and so hush our
heart-beats as we listen in vain for your footfall."
"I am, and my heart is a trifle sad, as I say so."
"And has a great gladness, or you would not make us sad by going."
"Well, yes, Sir Dennis, glad and sorry; I go home! You are Irish and
will know the feeling; one loves with one's whole heart, and one's
life, one's home and friends; one loves with passion; and for a year,
or a day, fair warm Italia, where one has met loving words and kind
hearts, and yours is one Sir Knight of Erin," she added with feeling,
as she returned his tight hand clasp.
"The last whistle, by my faith, I wish it were for me too."
And the guard locked the door and in a few minutes, miles separated
these two who had so lately spoken, Sir Dennis still staring at space,
while a new pain came to his heart.
CHAPTER XXXV.
HEART TO HEART.
We shall not accompany our friends on their home-bound journey. Time
will fly with greater speed if we relate not the talks and incidents
by the way, but simply meet them at London, whither Lady Esmondet had
telegraphed Trevalyon of their arrival. Accordingly, on their coming
in at the station at 9 p.m., on the evening of the 5th, Lionel, all
eagerness, met them.
"So kind of you to meet us, Sir Lionel," said Lady Esmondet, for
Madame Grandy was about.
"Only a pleasure, dear Lady Esmondet. Someone told me you and Miss
Vernon were due," and turning to his servant, "Here, Sims, are the
checks; get the luggage stowed safely away until to-morrow morning,
and send the maids on to Park Lane."
"Yes, sir; all right, sir."
"You look tired, poor fellow," said Vaura, sympathetically, as they
were driven to Park Lane.
"Tired, yes, waiting for you. God only knows how I have missed you,
darling."
"How about the nun you spoke of in your letter, Lionel?" inquired Lady
Esmondet, "will she aid you? What a long story you have to tell us."
"Yes, and one until lately I had will nigh forgotten, for in spite of
Dame Rumour's falseness I have not been the principal actor in it. For
to-night only does she triumph, ere, to-morrow's sun has set I hope to
be at or very near Haughton Hall with those who will lift the veil
from the past, and put in Dame Rumour's hands another version of the
scandal."
"We shall have a long evening together, Lionel; you can stay with us,
I suppose."
"Only until I see you comfortably settled, dear Lady Esmondet, in
still untangling the web of 'difficulty,'" and Vaura's hand is
pressed. "I have a twelve-mile drive in a suburban train to the
monastery of St. Sebastian."
"Nuns and monks, the _denouement_ will be interesting," said Vaura.
"Will they win, that's the question; the other hand is full of knaves
and tricks," said Lady Esmondet.
"They shall," answered Lionel, earnestly, and holding Vaura's hand, "I
hold a hand that gives me strength to win."
Park Lane is now reached, the servants are in the hall to welcome
their mistress, when the house-keeper says:
"If it will suit your ladyship, dinner will be served in twenty
minutes or half an hour."
"Say half an hour, Grimes."
"Surely you can stay and dine with us, Lionel?" said his friend.
"You know, dear Lady Alice, how much I would wish it, but I must be
off in less than half an hour."
Whereupon remembering the "Golden Rule," saying she would go and talk
with the housekeeper, and so again these two who feel such
completeness in each other, such fulness of satisfaction, such an
ecstasy of love, are alone in the sweetest of solitude, dual solitude,
and in silence, save for the deep full heart-beats.
"Let me take off your jacket, my own darling."
"I can, dear Lionel; you look too tired to do anything but rest."
But he does as he wills, the jacket of seal, and bonnet of velvet are
off, the long tan gloves laid aside, the fluffy hair is caressed, a
strong arm is about her, the perfect shaped head is again on his
chest, and the sweet mouth and warm eyes are kissed rapturously.
"Rest; yes, love, I want rest, and can only rest so, with you in my
arms; away from you I am nervous and agitated, afraid lest some one
take you from me; my life, my love, oh! darling, darling, you don't
know how dependent I am on you; on your love, your sympathy; you have
not told me and I long to hear you say so; tell me if you love me,
darling."
"Love you!" and she started to a sitting posture, "bend your face
towards me, dearest, that you may read the truth in my eyes."
And now with a soft hand on each cheek, she continues.
"Love, you dearest, does the sun-flower love its god? Does the mother
her first born? Then, do I love thee, my heart's dearest, with an
unchanging tender love, and with all the intensity of my woman self."
For answer, she is drawn to a close embrace, and there are ecstatic
moments with only throbbing eyes to the rhythm of heart-beats.
At last Vaura breaks the silence, by saying softly:
"'Tis time for you to leave me, Lionel, and yet I cannot spare you."
"I cannot go, my own, mine, mine; oh! darling, you do not know the
joy, the paradise I feel as I hold you in my arms, and think that you,
my beauty, you, whom men rave of, you actually love me; God be
thanked," and the love-warm kisses come to the sweet flexible lips.
At this moment, Lady Esmondet considerately talking to Mars at the
door, gave the lovers time to get a conventional number of inches
between them, ere she entered.
"I fear it is time you were off, Lionel; it is really too bad you
cannot dine with us."
Lionel standing up, and laying one hand on Vaura's head, as it rested
on the cushioned back of the sofa, said:
"I feel as if I had drank of the elixir of life; you don't know how
courageous I feel, now that I have you both back, when the difficulty
is removed, I shall begin to live!"
"How the women will envy me!" she said, looking up lovingly at the
handsome face full of grave earnestness, the tired look gone from the
mesmeric eyes.
"You will both be wondrously happy, each a gainer in the other," said
their friend earnestly.
"Do you think you will be able to go down with us, Lionel dear?"
"No, darling, I am sure not; I cannot say what train I shall take
until I reach the monastery; there we decide."
"The plot thickens, a monk makes his _entree_," said Vaura gaily.
"Yes, and I shall not tell either of you more of the play, the act
will be more interesting, only this, tell Col. Haughton that after
dinner, on to-morrow evening three unbidden guests will appear with
myself, and that we shall carry a more highly spiced dish than any
they have partaken of; further, that it is my wish that the Hall
guests hear of the ingredients, so that they can tell the recipe
to the London world. Good-bye, till to-morrow night, dear friend;
good-bye, darling."
"Good-night, Lion, we shall be on the look-out for you; so don't tire
our eyes."
"I shall feel your eyes, love, and shall hasten."
"Be sure, Lionel, that you come with winning cards."
"I shall, dear Lady Esmondet; _au revoir_."
"How greedily the gossips will partake of the dish in preparation for
them! What an exciting scene we shall have!" said Vaura, as dinner
over and servants dismissed, the friends chatted over a cup of coffee
before retiring.
"Yes, indeed, dear; oh! if Lionel could only find this Mrs. Clarmont,
with whom they said he eloped, and that she would reveal the facts,
what a triumph!"
"But, if in reality; this Major Delrose was her favoured lover, he may
yet have influence enough over her to stay her tongue," said Vaura,
thoughtfully.
My own fear, dear, especially as I believe there was a child."
"And you say that in the bygone he was an admirer of my uncle's wife?"
"So Dame Rumour hath it."
"So, so, we all aim at something; the Delrose ambition was to pose as
king o' hearts. Strange freak of fortune, that this all comes into the
Haughton life; we must now only hope that the clouds in our sky will
soon disperse. But, god-mother darling, we had best follow the advice
of the liege lord of the wilful Katherine, and 'to bed.'"
CHAPTER XXXVI.
KNAVES ARE TRUMPS.
Vaura spent the night of the fifth in dreamy wakefulness; Lionel's
looks, caresses, and loving words seeming hers still; and to-morrow
eve; the glad joy of his presence would be again felt; and her
sympathy and love for him were so tender and heartfelt, that she lost
herself in an intoxicating sense of languor, sweet beyond expression,
and which she could scarcely rouse herself from, when her maid, on the
morrow bid her arise.
Both her god-mother and self, being a good deal excited over the
coming events, on meeting at breakfast, spoke either in disjointed
sentences, or were buried in thought.
"In all your conjectures, ma chere, you have never made one as to your
ball dress; if you will like it, and if it is due."
"It is useless, god-mother dear; I always adore Worth, and he is
always on time."
"Dear me," said Lady Esmondet an hour later, as they, in travelling
gear, awaited the carnage to take them to the Southern station, "how
time drags, I wish we were off."
"In our eagerness, we have dressed too soon, god-mother; but still,
waiting is insufferable. Poor uncle! I wonder what people are at the
Hall? what a scene is on the _tapis_! and what a bore the _expose_ of
truth is and will be to poor Lion! But, thank heaven, here is the
carriage."
At the station they meet Mr. Clayton, who has run up to town on
business. He will be with them to the next station, when he takes a
branch line to the Lord Elton's, where his wife is; later in the day
they run down to Haughton Hall for the ball.
"You will see no end of changes at the old place, Miss Vernon; I would
give something to see your face as you make your _entree_. I should,
in that case, see as many changes as yourself. At the revels each
evening, variety holds full sway."
"_Tres bien_," she answered carelessly (for she will not lay her heart
bare), "some have it that 'variety is the spice of life;' if so, as
you and I care nought for a mere existence, we must swallow the spice
and smile on the caterer."
"Exactly, as the guests do. By the way some one told me Trevalyon was
a good deal with you while abroad, but you may not yet have heard that
there has been no end of talk about him; the papers have him; in both
_Truth_ and the _Daily News_ I read of the scandal myself, and am
shocked beyond expression, that a married man should have been running
loose all these years; and to my thinking, it makes matters worse that
she was the wife of a friend; it was a traitorous act: did he confide
in you while abroad? did he tell you of his base act?"
"Yes, and 'tis all false as the face of society, and hollow of truth
as many of her gems; but the false face will soon be torn off, and the
ring of the true diamond will be heard," she said, with impulsive
fervor.
"Indeed! you surprise me, Miss Vernon; but I shall be really glad if
Trevalyon comes out a free man and can prove himself so to the
suspicious eye of society."
"Conveniently blind, Mr. Clayton, when she chooses."
"Distended and greedy in Trevalyon's case; he has been too independent
of her," he said thoughtfully; "but here is my halting place, sorry to
leave you both, but only till to-night."
It was the lightning express, and there was no other stopping place
until they reach the village of Haughton, Here they stayed just long
enough to allow the Hall people to make a speedy exit. On our friends
alighting they were a little surprised to see Blanche Tompkins
followed by Sir Tilton Everly (who, on seeing them, looked not unlike
a whipped cur), emerge from a second class coach.
"Some of the spice of variety we were to look for," said Vaura, in an
undertone.
"_Oui, ma chere_, and I am sure we are both prepared not to be
astonished at the seasoning, no matter what shape it may take."
Blanche was gaily dressed in a seal brown silk suit, trimmed with
ermine, a large brown beaver flat with ostrich feathers; the wee white
mouse face almost hidden, the sharp little pink eyes--for pink they
looked--the rims red as usual, and a cold in the head giving them a
swollen appearance. She had not forgotten her golden loves, for, from
ears, throat, and wrists, dangled many yellow dollars. With a
whispered, "Don't let the cat out of the bag till I bid you, or you're
not worth a cent," she stepped over to Lady Esmondet and Vaura,
saying: "I'm sure you're too awfully surprised for anything to see
me."
"Not at all, Miss Tompkins,"' said Lady Esmondet. Here Sir Tilton came
up, lifted his bat, while both ladies shook hands with him.
"You have a truant look about you, Sir Tilton," laughed Vaura; "do you
foresee a fair woman's frown for your absence?"
"Don't chaff me, dear Miss Vernon; I can't stand it just now."
"Fact is," said Blanche, with cunning effrontery, "I wanted some gay
fixings for the ball, so I took the rail to London, got 'em, stayed
all night with the Claytons, and am bringing back to Mrs. Haughton her
dear little Sir Tilton."
"Why, we met Mr. Clayton, and he says they are staying at Oak Hall at
the Lord Eltons," exclaimed Vaura amusedly, and to see how Blanche
would extricate herself.
"See you know too much; but don't say anything, for here is the trap,
with the Colonel inside, I suppose, and he's too awfully too, I'll
tell you later on; Mrs. Haughton don't do all the tricks."
"But should you have been missed, what then?"
"Oh, that's too easy, Miss Vernon; I've been too awfully busy with my
maid; headache, anything that comes first."
"A pupil of Madame would naturally learn how to shuffle the cards,"
said Lady Esmondet, a trifle cynically, and, _sotto voce_, "I am too
awfully sleepy to take you in, Lady Esmondet," said Blanche, yawning.
A covered carriage with two servants, drives to the steps; the Colonel
is not inside; leaving one man to look after their maids and
belongings, they enter, and are soon on the well known road.
"I wonder my uncle did not meet us; especially as he must have
received our telegram."
"Surely he is not ill! How was he when you left the Hall, Miss
Tompkins?" inquired Lady Esmondet.
"A one, and it's too awfully funny he wasn't down. But I remember,
whenever he and Mrs. Haughton have a spat, and they had one (this time
hare and hounds), he clears out and takes to the lodge, so perhaps he
never spotted your telegram."
Lady Esmondet and Vaura, exchanging glances, fell into deep thought,
while Blanche and the small Baronet carried on a half-whispered
conversation, with a yawning accompaniment from the young woman.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
WEE WHITE MOUSE WINS A POINT.
But the reverie and wagging of tongue is over and ceases, to give
place to society's mask, for the picturesque lodge with its gabled
roof and climbing vines is in sight, and in the twinkling of an eye
the great gates are reached, which are wide open, for 'tis the
entrance to Liberty Hall under the present _regime_. Leaning against
the door post is a tall military looking figure, smoking vigorously,
as men will, if life's springs want oiling. Both ladies see him, and
Vaura's face is at the window.
"Halt, John," shouts his master, for the man is a new servant, and
driving full speed for the Hall. "My two darlings, how glad I am to
see you both," and kisses with long hand-clasps are exchanged.
"And we are more than glad to see you again, dearest uncle."
"Blanche, you here! and Sir Tilton; it was kind of you to meet them."
"Yes, we tripped down, as you had cut and run," tittered Blanche.
Here the Colonel took Sir Tilton's offered seat, who, getting out,
said he would prefer to walk up the long avenue.
"You must both make your home with me, dears, else it will not be
home," said the Colonel feverishly, as he leaned forward, taking a
hand of each, and gazing eagerly first into one face, and then into
the other.
"We shall, for a while at least, Eric," said Lady Esmondet tenderly.
"And what do you say, Vaura dear; you will not leave me and Haughton
Hall again?"
This he said with nervous haste, as though even in the rest her return
gave him, he must have a surety of it's continuing.
"I shall not even think of leave-taking, dear uncle, but if I should,
I shall pack you up and take you with me," she said pityingly,
noticing how he leaned on her, and also the reckless tone in which he
spoke before Blanche; turning to Miss Tompkins, he continued in same
tone:
"Who ran down the hare last night?"
Here was a puzzler for _la petite_, but she was equal to the occasion,
even though she was at London.
"No conundrum, Colonel, with the Major as hare."
"Gad, I must get rid of him; they all see it."
"And they all do it, Colonel," tittered Blanche; "keep cool; the Major
keeps cool--to you;" this she said, liking the Colonel, but thinking
him, to use her own expression, "soft."
"You see, Alice," he said, turning to his old friend with a
half-smile, "the only rose in my path has a D before it."
"A rose without beauty or fragrance, Eric, which will cease to bloom
by to-morrow; waste not a thought upon it."
"You give me strength, Alice."
"I should, else friendship's cords would be weak indeed."
"It is very strange that Mrs. Haughton should keep the man about her,
if she is aware it is an annoyance to you," said Vaura indignantly.
"Ah! but they were too sweet for anything, even in poppa's life time,"
said Blanche with her innocent air. Mrs. Haughton would think it too
awfully cruel (just to please the Colonel) to tell him good-bye."
"Heartless in me to suppose for one moment, one's husband's feelings
to be of more consideration than those of one's male-friend," said
Vaura cynically.
"See, Vaura, the changes," said her god-mother, as the end of the
avenue reached the Hall, renovated and partly modernised, burst upon
their view.
"Verily, old things have passed away, and all become new," said Vaura.
"Excepting the south wing, dear, which is of sufficiently modern date
to have contented Mrs. Haughton; also the north tower which I begged
off, only allowing it to be strengthened below."
"Dear old tower; yes, 'tis old, and in its clinging dress of ivy; I am
glad; but in the language of Sir Tilton, 'here we are again.'"
As the carriage rolled up to the steps of the grand entrance a few
ladies and gentlemen, equipped for riding, were on the steps or
already mounted. Mrs. Forester, a gay London huntress, Mrs. Cecil
Layton, of the same feather, two De Lancy girls, who wished they were
the other two, a couple of army men, with one of the matches of the
county, whom both sisters were willing to worship, but were too shy to
adore, with eyes too prudish to bend the knee.
"The beautiful Miss Vernon! by Wolsley," exclaimed Chancer of the
Guards in an undertone to Everett of the Lancers. "Wish I wasn't
promised to the huntress for the afternoon."
"Wish she heard you," laughed Everett.
"Which one?" said his friend gaily, as with one bound he is at Vaura's
side, not missing his opportunity which he had sworn to take, should
it offer, of an introduction; he now stood bareheaded as he tendered
the muff she had dropped; his handsome face aglow with satisfaction,
as he took Vaura's offered hand as she thanked him, on her uncle
presenting him. There was rather more loitering by Vaura's side than
the Forester liked, so she, by a sly manoeuvre, caused her horse to
rear violently; it had the desired effect, and in a few moments they
were careering across the park in the wake of the rest of the party.
"The dear old place! though it is changed I love it, and am glad to be
here once more," said Vaura, feelingly, inwardly telling herself, "my
love will be here to-night."
"Where is your mistress, William?" inquired his master of a servant in
the brown and buff livery of the house.
"In the ball-room, sir."
"Tell her some guests have arrived, and await her in the morning-
room; and here, present these cards."
"Always an ideal room of mine if unchanged," said Vaura, entering the
well known apartment.
"No, Aurora, still welcome one to her blue and gold bower, with the
perfume of flowers about."
"Mrs. Haughton wished it altered; but as the New York renovator or
decorator condescended to say: 'if done over, it would be really quite
pretty,' she yielded to my wish; I knew, dear, your love for at as it
is."
Here the servant returned from Madame, saying: "Mrs. Haughton sends
her compliments, and will her ladyship and Mademoiselle excuse her, as
she is giving the painter a last sitting for the picture which is to
be framed and hung for to-night; and will be happy to welcome their
ladyships in the ball-room if not too tired."
"That will do, William, you may go," said his master. "And now that we
are alone, let me tell you, you will do anything but admire this
painting."
"Is it not true?" asked Lady Esmondet.
"Yes, in every detail; it's not that--you will see."
"What will you do, god-mother mine? Rest here awhile, go to the
dining-room and refresh the inner-woman? See, Madame, I protest
against; you are too fatigued."
"I am, dear, and prefer to go to my room. Somers may bring me
something on a tray. Eric, kindly ring the bell."
William answered, coming in with Somers, to whom he had given the
housekeeper's message to show Lady Esmondet "the green room."
The Colonel's brow darkened.
"Are you sure you have Mrs. Haughton's own orders correctly, William?"
"Yes, sir; my mistress gave them to Simpson in my hearing; and Miss
Vernon, please sir, is to have the pink room,--first room, sir."
"There must be some mistake about the green room; it is dark, cold and
gloomy; in the east wing, too."
"Never mind, Eric, I shall survive it, with a bright fire, and at
Haughton."
"The pink room is cheerful, large, and with a boudoir," he said,
troubled.
"William, show Somers the pink room, that she may conduct her mistress
hither; I shall take the green room," said Vaura, decisively, "which I
feel sure was the wish of our hostess."
"Go, Somers, and do your bidding," said her mistress; "thank you,
Vaura dear, you are always thoughtful for me; and should the green
room be gloomy, come and share mine."
"What a restful pair of women you are," said the Colonel, earnestly.
"I feel as if I had taken a narcotic, my nerves have become so quiet;
they have been going at race-horse speed. Ah!, how much I have needed
you!"
"In meeting, one feels what one has lost by parting," said Lady
Esmondet, gently.
"True, Alice, I am at one with you, and feel your words to the last
degree of bitterness."
"Come, come," said Vaura, brightly, "see the sunlight streaming in
upon the sky-like walls; so our lives will be happy now in union once
more."
"You are a sunbeam, Vaura; and here comes Somers to lead me to the
room of pink."
"Which I hope will prove the pink of perfection, god-mother mine; and
now, uncle, to see Madame, on and off the canvas, ere I retire to my
vernal apartment."
On the way to the ball-room the corridors were almost deserted, the
fair sex either closeted with their maids discussing the war-paint for
the midnight revels, or wooing the god of slumber with a narcotic; the
men flirting with their unwearied sisters anywhere, or killing time
with the balls in the billiard-room.
But the ball-room is reached; over the velvet hangings which drape the
entrance, and which are of scarlet, on which are painted blue grapes
with their green vine leaves; for contrast, the yellow sun-flower,
with heavy, many-coloured fringe;--as a heading to the drape are the
words in letters of gold formed by leaves of the vine: "Dedicated to
Comus and Kate." It was a fitting room for revelry, with its gaily
painted walls and ceiling, now with its ropes of natural blossoms
festooning windows and chaining gasalier to gasalier. The door of the
long conservatories were open, and so the air was redolent of
sweetness almost intoxicating.
Vaura's face showed no surprise at the scene which met her gaze. On
the dais at the end of the room were grouped Mrs. Haughton, who
reclined in the corner of a lounge, her well-shaped feet resting on a
footstool; she wore the divided skirt, with loose tunic waist; it was
of blue Lyons velvet, richly braided with scarlet silk braid, low
shoes of blue velvet with scarlet silk stockings; her black hair in
rings on her forehead, meeting brows of gipsy darkness, her white
teeth showing as she laughingly drew the cigarette from her mouth on
the approach of her husband and his niece.
"It shall be hung for to-night, Mr. ----," she said imperiously, if
jokingly, in reply to the artist's protest that his work 'would not be
dry;' "if," she continued, "it has to be baked dry in the cook's oven,
or by the fire in the men's words engendered by their champagne
lunch!"
There was a general laugh.
"The dear thing must have her way," lisped the Meltonbury, from the
floor where she sat, cross-legged, also in divided skirt.
"My work will be spoiled, then," said the artist, ruefully.
"Then dry it by the flame in the Colonel's eyes as he nears and takes
in my trousers, and hang it so he gets a double show," exclaimed
Madame, recklessly.
"Or the heat from the orbs of Everly as he gazes on the approaching
belle would do the business," echoed Delrose.
"Heat, indeed!" cried madame, "and, Miss Vernon, he's emerald green
jealous of you! never mind, dear little Sir Tilton, I'll pet you by-
and-by; here, come and lift, down one of my feet, the Major or Sir
Peter may have the other; and now adieu to the gay _abandon_ and for
the conventionalities, if I can."
"Honours are divided," cried Delrose, lifting down one foot.
"So is the skirt," said the Colonel, with grave dignity. "Kate, I wish
you would dress in a manner befitting your station."
"Your niece will tell you, Colonel," she said, rising to welcome Vaura
"that men's eyes are women's mirrors; what I see there pleases me; you
are in the minority and feel considerably sat upon, and not--" she
added, laughingly, "so comfortable in your trousers as I in mine; take
it coolly Colonel, and the flame in your eyes will die out, 'tis as
the flicker of an old-fashioned candle; the electric, light the newest
flame for me."
"Pardon, Kate, I accept the trousers; being only your husband and in
the minority (as you say), I am old-fashioned; the latest flame puts
me out."
And the latent meaning in his words was read by more than the speaker.
"You don't say how you like the painting, Miss Vernon," said Delrose,
on being presented, "the divided skirt would suit your style
immensely."
"Anything would," said Sir Tilton, almost savagely, and in a half
growl.
"'Tis merely the accident of birth, Major Delrose," she said,
carelessly; "had I been cradled in the land of the Sultan--the land of
trousers--they would fit into my life as my gown by Worth does _a
present_."
And she was so more than lovely as she spoke, and her frock of navy
blue velvet trimmed with fox fur, small bonnet blending in hue with
her gown, with scarlet geraniums and strings, all becoming to her
sweet womanliness, her perfect figure, lithe as a young fawn and
rounded as a Venus, held the men's gaze, while the women bit their
lips with envy. For we repeat that envy is the motive power that moves
and sways their little world, and though they will band themselves
together to pull the pedestal from under the feet of a more favoured
sister, there would be mutiny in the band did one display a charm.
But Vaura, ever connected in the mind of Mrs. Haughton with Trevalyon,
and the wish never dying in her breast to have him at her feet, hence
her question, which she would much prefer not to have asked in the
presence of Delrose, but, accustomed to obey impulse, she said:
"And Captain Trevalyon, Miss Vernon, what of him? Will he come for the
ball, or has he gone to visit his hidden wife of _Truth_ and the
_News_; sly fellow that he is?"
Her tone was too eager to please Delrose. "Confound the fellow, I must
lose no time," he thought, savagely, as Vaura replied, laconically:
"Sir Lionel Trevalyon will be here for the ball."
"Trevalyon to be here to-night! You never told me, Vaura."
"I have not had an opportunity, dear uncle," she said, taking his arm,
with a "We shall meet again at dinner" to madame; as they left the
room she continued: "He bid me tell you, dear, that he comes after
dinner with three unbidden guests, and that he wishes that the Hall
guests may learn from their words of the ingredients of a dish of
scandal, so that they will tell it to the London world!"
"It is of his hidden wife, I presume. Yes, of her ingredients he can
now tell; she _is his wife_. Of the woman previous to the altar knot
man knows naught. _She is masked!"_
"Society is a fencing school, dear uncle; we all have our masks and
foils."
"Not all, Vaura; we all pay society's tolls, for we live to enter the
arena, but we are not all masked."
"You will be glad to see your old friend again, uncle?" she said
questioningly, anxious to know how the man she loved would be
welcomed.
"Yes and no, dear; his hand-clasp will strengthen, me but not you.
Trevalyon's hand enclosing woman's is weakening to them, and he has
been much with you; were it not for this scandal--."
"Which by mid-night," she said quickly, "the nightbirds will have, by
the flutter of their wings, blown into the right current, and from
poor Lionel."
"So, so, Vaura, you speak warmly; it is as I feared; he has made you
care for him."
"He has."
"I am sorry for you, Vaura, and glad for him; peerless, as you, are, a
man should woo you with spotless breastplate; but I love Trevalyon,
and if he can in any way clear himself, but I fear he cannot," he said
gravely.
"'All's well that ends well,' dear uncle; he _will_ clear himself."
"After dinner, you say?"
"Yes, but no preparations; he wishes to come in with the three
unbidden guests unnoticed."
"Yes, but if he or they, I suppose, are to come with 'mouth full of
news,' to tell publicly, I think he is wrong not to let it be known,
otherwise they (some of them) may not appear until the ball opens."
"Let it be as he wishes, dear uncle; they are epicurean enough not to
fail your good board, even though ignorant of the highly seasoned
desert. But some one sneezed! we have a listener! yes," she continued
breathlessly, "my hearing is very acute, and see! something between a
man and woman, gliding softly down the dim corridor."
"Yes, we had better separate; go and rest, dear; we have, I fear, been
talking to the Hall through some one else, and I feel somewhat excited
over your news and shall smoke it off."
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MADAME IN A FELINE MOOD.
A window in the library looked out upon the avenue, and a carriage
approaching could be distinctly seen. Vaura, in the long ago, had
frequently sat in this window, to watch the return of her uncle; aye,
and of the man whom she now loved better than life itself. She was
sure she could distinguish a conveyance from the village, and the
occupants devoid of the gay trappings of revelry, from the guests in
their comfortable carriages. Accordingly, as Madame had changed (for
to-night), the dinner hour to half-past nine, at nine o'clock, Vaura,
a soft beam of loveliness, with light foot-fall, entered the library
and took her station at the watch-tower above mentioned. She was
scarcely seated ere she was aware she was not the only occupant of
what she had felt sure would be a deserted room; she would have risen,
but her heart was there, and the words she heard chained her to the
spot; the voices were those of Mrs. Haughton and of Major Delrose.
"I will have my way, Kate!"
"You will, I know; but can't you wait?"
"What for? For you to have Trevalyon fooling round you. Gad, if he
comes near you, I'll shoot him."
"I am sorry I told you Melty followed them and heard."
"I'm not, for there's a devilish mystery about his coming; I wish
she'd heard more."
"But she didn't, dear George; and that he comes at all does not look
well for our plot, eh? She may yet get him, not I; and so you will
remember, sweet Georgie; if so you don't win the game."
"Kate, you madden me."
"You do seem a little that way; there, go away, you are crushing my
flowers. Heaven knows you ought to be satisfied, I have given you
enough."
"I shall have you _all to myself_."
This he said with such fierce emphasis as to cause Vaura to tremble;
not so Madame, for she loved this man for his boldness only (a tamer
nature would have palled upon her long ere this), but the feline
nature in her triumphed at times, and she tortured him.
"But, dear boy," she continued, "you have not carried out your
bargain, and so no reward."
"I know I promised to separate them, and so I have, and shall; you
don't see all my hand, my queen, there'll be the devil to pay when I
do. I got a letter from New York this summer I shall yet turn to our
advantage, even if I do stretch a point."
"Why did you not show this letter you speak of to me? Take your head
away, you don't care a fig that my flowers will wear a dissipated
recumbence; remember the dinner and ball."
"Hang the flowers, the dinner and everything; I want you."
"But suppose I like queening it among the English nobility a trifle
longer. You see Trevalyon is--"
"You rouse the devil in me, Kate; look you, I won't and can't stand
this any longer; name that man again to me in that fooling way and by
the stars I'll shoot him. You _belong to me_ as much as our--. But you
know you do. Heaven is my witness, Kate, if you don't end this humbug
I will, and in my own way."
"I sometimes think it would have been better had we never met; you are
so fierce and jealous."
"No you don't, for our love is the same, our natures the same. The
burning lava of my love suits you better than the, ah, dear me,
gentlemanly affection of the Colonel, or than Lincoln Tompkins'
innocent pride in you."
"How about the other men?" she said, teasingly.
"Leave them to me, I'll handle them should they cross my path. _You
shall_ come with me to-night, my plans are laid; you will never regret
it. You would soon tire of the child's play here, no excitement; after
the ball I away from Rose Cottage. Our life at New York and elsewhere
will be one long draught of champagne. You must come with me to-night,
or look you--" and he hissed the words between his teeth, "I'll make
you."
"My flowers again,--and the dinner bell; I'll tell you yea--perhaps,
by-and-by."
Vaura, with her hand on her heart to still its violent throbbing,
lingered until sure of their retreat. She now emerged from the recess
in which she had been completely hidden. The others having entered
from the end door had seated themselves in the first recess, there
being only the double row of book shelves between them. The whole
length of the room was in this way, shelves jutting out from either
side, and a dim, very dim light pervading.
"Oh, what shall I do? How can I appear with their voices in my ears,
their words stamped upon my memory," she murmured, "and yet I must,
for my poor darling comes after. I must try to forget their words or
my brain will be too full. What a scandal for our house. But to the
conventionalities," and with rapid steps she reached her apartments.
"Quick, Saunders, a wine glass of Cognac, I am not well. There, that
will do; how do I look?"
"Like a picture, Mademoiselle."
CHAPTER XXXIX
TREVALYON THROWS DOWN THE GLOVE.
The dinner on this Twelfth-night, fraught as it was with so much of
the effervescence of the champagne of life to so many, was a dinner
fit for an emperor. The gold plate, the glassware, each piece a gem.
Sweet flowers looked up from their delicate design in moss beside each
person, or from elegant vases. The hostess was recklessly gay and
_abandon_, looking like a scarlet poppy with dew upon it, robed as she
was in satin of scarlet, the whole front of the dress and corsage
being embroidered in poppies from pink to scarlet, their leaves of
pearls; her necklet, armlets, and earrings were diamonds, rubies
and pearls. A handsome woman, without doubt, loving life and its
_bon-bons_.
"We only make the run once," she would cry, "let us take it
effervescing."
Vaura is peerlessly beautiful and brilliant as her diamonds, her large
hazel eyes bright as stars, her lips a rose, throat, neck and arms
gleam in their whiteness as does the satin of her gown. Ah! Lionel,
much as we love you, we are happy in the thought that Vaura is your
rest. Colonel Haughton notices that his niece often glances at him,
and that beneath her gay repartee or brilliant converse, there
underlies some powerful excitement which he attributes wholly to the
_expose_ of the truth by Lionel.
"And so you enjoyed Rome," said Capt. Chancer to Vaura, who had been
assigned to him, so causing him to be the envy of the other men.
"Intensely! dear sun-warm, love-warm Italia."
"Yes, one loves to live and lives to love while there. I hope you did
not leave your heart behind you, Miss Vernon."
"Nay, you should congratulate me had I done so, and by your own words
of 'one lives to love while there.'"
"Yes, and on my warm heart; for, though old Sol laughs in gay Paris,
his temple is in warm Italia," she said, gaily.
"Your eyes tell whether your heart's warmth depends upon the zone you
dwell in."
"Are you wise in trusting in truth from woman's eyes?" she said
softly, and looking into his face.
"In some cases, yes; they are _en verite_ the language of the soul."
And his gaze plainly shows his admiration. "You sing, I am told?"
"A little; it could not be otherwise if one has lived so much in the
south as I; the voice of song seems the natural language for one's
varying emotions."
"You will sing me one song to-night?"
"Yes, if you care; instead of a waltz."
"I want both."
"And you look like a man who has his way most days."
"In trifles, yes; in things longed for, never!'"
"Well, if so; as the song and waltz are trifles to make your assertion
true, you must have them."
"I am in paradise, and shall try to forget that did you consider them
things of moment, you would never have granted them," he said,
earnestly laying down knife and fork as he turned to gaze wistfully
into the face of the fair woman near him at last.
"You have the nattering tongue and eyes of your sex, Capt. Chancer,
and you and the other men are to blame if I have promised more than I
can perform; for I have been unable to say nay to your pleadings,
being in a passive mood to-night."
And the eyelids with their wealth of curled lashes were uplifted, as
she smilingly looked into his face, for her thoughts were of Lionel;
his, of her.
"Of all women's moods, I love her best in the dreamy languor of
passiveness."
"To mould us as wax in your hands, to love us till you tire, as we do
a bird or a flower, and then sigh for another mood; you see I know you
in all your moods and tenses," she said softly.
"You know us till we meet you," he said earnestly, as a servant
refilled his champagne glass.
"Tis Greek meeting Greek" she said gaily, though her heart throbbed
wildly, for she alone heard a slight bustle in the hall and the voice
of the man she loved.
"No, fairest of women, 'tis the war of love!"
"A pleasant strife with its heart-stir; its weapons, the emotions."
"No wonder, that were we a very Achilles, you rob us of our strength."
Here Trevalyon's servant entering, handed his master's card to
Delrose; on the back of which he read: "Are you prepared to own up as
to the part you played in the Clarmont escapade? if not, I shall clear
myself."
"Tell your master I am neither a babe nor suckling," he answered
defiantly, his brow black with hate and rage as he tore the card to
pieces, throwing it towards the man.
There being a sort of free-masonry between Madame and Delrose, the
movements of each being rarely unobserved by the other, she was about
to play into his hands by signalling her sisterhood to rise from the
table, when Sir Lionel Trevalyon was announced, who, hastily coming to
her side, taking her hand in salutation, said:
"You will kindly give me a few moments, Mrs. Haughton; oblige me,
please, by keeping your seat."
Madame was recklessly abandon, and Sir Lionel had asked her with his
mesmeric eyes, or she would not have disobeyed the pressure of the
Delrose boot upon her fours in scarlet satin, (for she did not pine
for the whiteness of the lily in boots or hose), "It is too tame, not
_chic_," she would laugh, and say adding, "a fig for its purity."
"Welcome, thrice welcome, Trevalyon, my dear fellow," cried the
Colonel warmly. "Here, Winter," to the butler "attend to the comfort
of Sir Lionel Trevalyon'"
"I thank you, Haughton, you are always kind, but I have dined."
There was another pressure of the Delrose boot which, this time, had
the desired effect, emphasised as it was by a meaning look.
Lionel, with one hand on the back of Colonel Haughton's chair, smiled
his greetings, and as his eyes rested for a moment on Vaura, knowing
her intensely emotional nature, and seeing her quickened heart beats,
her cheek paling, her lips scarlet by contrast, her large eyes full of
sympathy, he was glad to change the scene to the great drawing rooms.
On Madame answering the Delrose signal by rising from the table,
saying, "Say your say in the greater comforts of the drawing-rooms,
Sir Lionel, as you have dined; come away, the gentlemen will not
linger to-night; here, give me your arm and I shall be well taken care
of between two such gallants as Lord Rivers and yourself."
"As you will, fair Madame, and you I know will not say me nay when I
ask you to bid all your guests come, as I have a word to say to them
of the 'hidden wife,' society gives me."
"The bait is sufficient," she said laughing, though baffled, "they
will all follow like a lot of hungry fish."
"Gad! Trevalyon," cried Lord Rivers jokingly, "she must be old! enough
to come out."
"I am relieved that Trevalyon is going to make a clean breast of it;
English society is degenerating," said Lord Ponsonby in severe tones
to Lady Esmondet.
"Trevalyon looks as he did in the east," said Chancer to Vaura, "when
one of the blacks cut poor Cecil Vaughn's throat when he lay dying,
then robbed him; Trevalyon caught him in the act as he rode up, Cecil
haying asked his orderly to bring him to receive his dying messages."
"No need to tell me the result Capt. Chancer. I read Sir Lionel's
expression as you do, treachery lived and was extinct."
"But dear Miss Vernon, who are Cecil and the black this time? I know
there has been some by-play, to which I have been oblivious, but no
man would blame me."
"Not while I have heard for you," giving him a bewildering smile.
"Which means you have had no ear for me," he said, regretfully seating
himself beside her on a _tete-a-tete_ sofa, for they have now reached
the _salons_.
"Not so, _cher_ grumbler, for I have two ears, and while Sir Lionel's
rather mournful notes entered first; your pretty nothings were blown
in upon them so quickly, by some more mirthful sprite as to send his
to my memory, while yours are in my ear still."
"There is so sweet a bewitchment in your healing touch, as to make a
man not regret his wound."
"Come, trot her out, Sir Lionel," said Madame saucily, as she passed
Vaura and Capt. Chancer, "and after I have opened the ball Lord Rivers
can have her, and you and I from a _tete-a-tete_ chair, will pronounce
upon candle-moulds and ankles."
"Trevalyon will take the ankles," said Lord Rivers lazily.
"At last we are going to bag our game and I, my gold-mounted riding
whip," said the huntress, who with Major Delrose seated themselves
near Vaura and her cavalier.
"Why how?" asked Delrose quickly and absently, for he had been
intently watching the movements of Mrs. Haughton and her escort's.
"By the bow of Diana, Major, I believe you are off the scent, though
you heard me make the bet with Sir Peter Tedril on Trevalyon's wife, I
bet my dog against a whip he'd take this ball as a door to trot her
out by, and so make his peace with Mrs. Grundy."
"You and your dog are always game, and I take sides with you; if he
brings her out at all it will be here," he said, absently. But now a
look of savage hate comes to his face on seeing Mrs. Haughton smile
caressingly on Trevalyon.
"Confound him," he muttered, "he bags game at will."
"Yes, his eye and touch of his hand bring us down every time. I wonder
when he'll introduce her; one thing I'll wager that we women will all
be hounds and run her down to, earth."
"Excuse me, Mrs. Forester, I must run over to Rose Cottage, I have a
word to say to my servant, Simon."
"Oh, that's too bad! hurry back, Major, ours is the first dance," and
turning to Sir Tilton, who had strolled up, "one would think the
hounds were after him, instead of poor Sir Lionel Trevalyon, as we
have all been lately."
"What a terrible expression came into Major Delrose's face just now,
as he looked at Sir Lionel Trevalyon," said Vaura to Chancer, "if ever
man was born to hunt something he looked the man."
"Yes? I did not notice, but have always thought there was a latent
jealousy and dislike in his breast of Trevalyon."
"One goes hand in hand with the other," she answered.
CHAPTER XL.
BLACK DELROSE USES EMPHATIC LANGUAGE.
Delrose flew rather than walked to Rose Cottage muttering curses on
Kate and Trevalyon as he ran. "D--- him, he has always had the best of
it whenever he and I have crossed lances. Kate has loved him best all
along, and did he hold up his finger she'd not go with me to-night.
But by the stars she shall! I have got the upper hand of her at last
by the help of the coming--. We are a daring, reckless race. Yes, she
is mine at last, I can make her come, but curse that fellow, she cares
most for him, but she and her gold shall be mine, and I love her as
the panther its mate, as the lioness her whelps, for is she not of my
blood? though I have not told her what I have known for years that the
Capt. Vivian, forsooth, her father, is my first cousin. Vivian
Delrose, in our family surnamed the reckless. What is she saying to
him now? Heavens how hot my brain is! Gad, how far to the cottage!
Even though it be to an _expose_, I wish I was back. I must not lose
sight of her, the two hours before we are off may do me mischief--he
may fall in love. She is looking splendid; all fire, gown and all! ha,
ha! but," and he hissed the words between his teeth, "let him stand in
my way and she woos a corpse. And now to throw as many stones in his
path as Satan shows me how," and springing, rather than walking into
Rose Cottage he surprised Simon in the act of discussing a bottle of
Burgundy with himself. An empty decanter with the remains of some ham
sandwiches were on the table. Ellen, the cook, with flushed face lay
on the sofa in a deep sleep. Conspicuous on the table embroidered by
the aesthetic fingers of Miranda Marchmont, were groups of potato bugs
and a vial, on which in the handwriting of Delrose was the word
"Chloral."
"What the devil do you mean, Simon," shouted his master, "what fool's
game are you after! Nice way you're attending to my orders. What are
you playing with this chloral for?"
"Well, you see, sir, cook's been spoons on me ever since you and I put
up here. She was so dead gone on me when she know'd we was to go
to-night--"
"You scoundrel! didn't I tell you you were to keep dark as to our
leaving?"
"Please, sir, I only told her to see how she'd stare, and then I
drugged her so she can't blab, out of that bottle I've seen you use,
sir (with a cunning leer), more nor once. She wants to come with us,
sir, she's so gone on me, sir."
"And you are gone on that bottle, or you wouldn't gabber like a fool;
it's my belief you were born in a wine cask and nursed on a bottle;
here, drop that glass," and snatching it from his servant's hands, he
threw the contents out of the open casement; "what's that! moving away
from under the window; look here, you fool, something white! only I
know everyone is at the Hall, I'd say it was a girl or woman."
"No, sir; it's only the white goat as Miss Marchmont pets; she's
startled me afore now, sir."
"Very well, listen; I have work for you to do, hark you, for I shall
not tell it twice: Sir Lionel Trevalyon has arrived at the Hall; you
know my feelings towards him."
"You don't exactly doat on him, sir."
"No; well, mark me, he has brought some people with him to swear
falsely, and to clear him of all part in running off with Col.
Clarmont's wife (some twelve years ago); he wants to father her on to
me; as his game is to marry the new beauty, Miss Vernon; but, my man,
if you will stick to it that he was the man (that all the regiment had
it so), not I, your wages are doubled next quarter. And now, look you,
the work I have for you since you know so well how to use this bottle,
is, to get with all speed to the Hall; they will be having
refreshments; you add a _good sound sleep_, on the plea of getting a
cup of strong coffee which will steady you; force your way into
whatever room they are; I wish you had not been such an ass as to take
to the bottle to-night; your game is to say nothing of Paris, or of
the part I played with that little fool of a Clarmont. And now away."
"Yes, sir; and I'll not fail you; it's work I like; and if I can do
_his_ cup, there will be no harm, I suppose, sir?"
"None; and you'll not regret it; only don't make a blundering idiot of
yourself with all that Burgundy inside of you; put the chloral in your
pocket carefully. And now for the Hall at once, and with me."
With rapid strides (Simon rather unsteady in his gait, but a wholesome
dread of his master sobering him at every step) they are soon within
range of the illuminated windows, and now separate to make their
_entree_ at doors for big and little flies.
CHAPTER XLI.
AN EXPOSE, SOCIETY ON TIP-TOE.
Immediately after dinner, Blanche, who wished to perfect her own
little plot, had commanded the attendance of that squire of dames,
Everly, down at Rose Cottage, for half an hour, saying to him:
"Everyone will be at the Hall; cook Ellen is my friend; her plot being
that I marry the Major; she is sure he talks to Mrs. Haughton for my
sake (shows how perfect their tricks have been), and she (Ellen) is to
be my maid and marry Simon; she's a good creature, Baronet, so she
won't have her way; they never do down here; we gobble up all the
_bon-bons_; so you be up to time; slip off after you lead Cis back
from dinner; my plot wants trimming; and walls have ears here; there
won't be a soul down there, or a body which would be worse."
"But I shall be missed," whined small Everly.
"Spoken like an English baronet, who don't see how small it is; you've
_got_ to come to help me fix my plot."
So after dinner, and in the corridor to the _salons_ the wee white
mouse excusing herself to her cavalier, flew softly to a cloak-room;
it was only a minute, and the cloak enveloped _la petite_; when, with
hood drawn well over the forehead, and the satin-dressed feet pushed
into over-boots, she is off. Quickly she sped in and out among the
trees, the wind blowing her cloak open, giving her the appearance in
the shadow of a white-breasted bird on the wing, now flying, now
resting in the shade, to listen for the footsteps of her expected
companion when within a stone's throw of the cottage she stood.
"He's too utterly mean for anything; I see I shall have to bribe him
every time," she thought; "but here he comes; I'll give him a fright,"
and throwing her cloak off, though chilled, she hid in the shadow and
waited; but, no; it is not the expected, but Delrose flying, as we
have seen him, to speak to his man.
"What's to pay now? I'll step in and hide, and not pad my ears either;
he's expected too, I see, for the parlour is lit up."
In a moment Everly is forgotten in her loved game of detective. First,
under the window where she was almost discovered by Delrose (as we are
aware), next, the back door is entered, housemaid and small boy at the
Hall, no one sees her enter, Ellen's loud breathing covering her
footstep; in a few seconds she is in a pantry between dining-room and
parlour. Here she heard every word that passed between them, master
and man.
"The plot thickens, you bet; what a lovely time I am having, and what
a thunder and lightning wretch the Major is; I don't suppose I can
save those poor people, they have got ahead of me this time, in more
ways than one," murmured wee Blanche, now leaving the cottage, only
having given the others time to be out of sight. Half way to the Hall
she meets the tardy little Everly, to whom Mrs. Forester had said,
"What's up, Sir Tilton? you're as absent as a hound that's lost the
scent; you are all cut up, your eyes are Miss Vernon's, your
personality is the sofa's, away and find yourself, you're too tame for
me, and send me Major Delrose."
"How awfully late you are," exclaimed Blanche, breathlessly, "here
give me your arm."
"I regret what has been unavoidable, so many men buttonholed me" (he
did not say they were duns).
"All right, Baronet, we havn't time to talk much, I'm out of breath,
but I am going to have that show tonight."
"Oh! Blanche, I do wish you would wait, say even for a day or two,"
implored small Everly.
"Well, I guess perhaps I will," she said cunningly, not meaning to
defer her intention for even an hour, "but you must do something for
me then."
"Anything, anything," he cried eagerly.
"That's all O.K.; first, I must have surgeon Strange from the village
double quick."
"Why, you are not ill! if so, Sir Andrew Clarke is--"
"I know he is at the Hall; don't interrupt me, he is too big a man for
what I want; you must send one of the servants for Strange; I know he
is to come to the ball, but if he hasn't come, fetch him right along;
next, you are to be too awfully sweet for anything to Mrs. Haughton."
"Oh! Blanche, not too pronounced. I owe half the men money and want to
keep in the back ground."
"I'll pay them all off to-morrow."
"Well, I suppose I must; first, you want Strange, but you don't seem
ill, too bad if you have to miss the dance."
"Oh, he'll fix me up in no time; there, _ta-ta_, you go that way to
the stables; mind, right along to me, that will fetch him."
And the wee innocent-faced this time, white mouse is in the salons
quicker than it takes to tell it, even though she had first paid a
flying visit to the apartments of Mrs. Haughton. "Wonder if the
Colonel will dream on the cake, or take to tragedy," was her mental
ejaculation on what she saw there.
Just as she entered the drawing-rooms, Trevalyon, who had evidently
had a word with Delrose, judging from the look of defiance on the face
of the latter as he left his side, now walked up to Colonel Haughton,
seated at the end of the rooms beside Lady Esmondet, with whom he had
been conversing earnestly, and said:
"Haughton, dear friend, kindly ask your guests to give me their
attention for a few minutes."
On the Colonel complying with his request, Trevalyon meanwhile
glancing at the gems of art around him; behind him in a niche stood a
statue of Venus smiling down upon the blind god who had been making a
target of her breast in which were many arrows. Vaura giving him
strength by being so near, what woman whom Lionel Trevalyon would
love, but would be near him. Ah! heaven, thou hast given such bliss to
a few of us, as makes us long for immortality.
But Lionel is about to speak; looking around him, a settled purpose in
his handsome face, he said in his musical voice:
"One could not, even in one's dreams, picture a fairer garden of
society's flowers as listeners, while one tells of a plot nourished by
the sting of its wasp, and smiles of its beauteous butterflies; each
of our plots has its name, you all know the name of your last, you
have given it to the _News_ and _Truth_, and have designated it
'Trevalyon's hidden wife;' while I have come to the conclusion that,
here and now, I shall introduce the wife you have given me; her
_entree_ and recital of how you have come to give her to me will be as
fragrant spice to your dish of small talk, as you tread a measure in
yonder ball-room."
On Trevalyon speaking of his purpose to introduce his 'hidden wife,'
Delrose, who seemed to have lost all control over himself, with
muttered oath, left Mrs. Forester's side, and, with rapid strides,
went down the room and seated himself behind a small sofa on which
were seated Mrs. Haughton and Lord Rivers, seeming too comfortable,
Delrose thought; overhearing Rivers say lazily, "I wish we lived in
Utah," pressing the hand concealed in the folds of scarlet satin.
"I wonder how Lady Rivers would like me; as the last, the dearest
one," had said Madame, her white teeth showing.
Lord Rivers gave her a side-long glance.
"There'd be the devil to pay," said Delrose, savagely, as he sank
heavily into the chair behind them; folding his arms on the back of
their sofa, and between them, and leaning forward.
"You look black enough to be his dun," said Lord Rivers, carelessly.
As Sir Lionel ceased speaking, a lady, in the garb of a cloistered
nun, and closely veiled, had entered with slow, uncertain step; Sir
Andrew Clarke, stepping forward, offered a seat, saying, "Allow me;
you seem about to faint."
"No; I thank you," she said hurriedly, "I feel quite well again, with
the exception of a slight dizziness."
But in a moment, Trevalyon is beside her, whose arm she quietly takes,
while he led her up the long drawing rooms, the _cynosure_ of all
eyes, giving her at the head of the room, an easy chair. At the first
sound of the voice of the nun, Delrose had started violently,
muttering,
"By thunder, her voice, but no! not from behind a nun's veil."
"Unveil the statue, Delrose," whispered Lord Rivers; for society was
watching and listening with itching ears for more, and a pinfall could
have been heard.
"Unveil her, she'll let you, if she have any charms to show," he
continued lazily.
"My dear boy, do keep quiet; or perhaps you'd like to run away till
the farce is over," said Madame, caressingly, for she has a _penchant_
for the peer beside her; he is a new distraction and will amuse her
until she can secure a _tete-a-tete_ with the man who has some rare
fascination for her, as Lionel Trevalyon has for many. But no, Delrose
will not stir from beside the woman who has magnetised him for years.
And as he keeps his position, he mentally curses Lord Rivers for his
temporary monopoly of her.
Trevalyon had stepped over to Vaura on pretence, or with the excuse of
borrowing her fan for the nun, he not feeling strong enough to wait
any longer for a pressure of the hand; as she turned her exquisite
face upwards, oh, the torture that he could not take her to his heart;
but, his "hidden wife," and all the eyes. But he managed while, as if
learning how to open the fan and while the attention of Chancer was
momentarily engaged, to whisper, "oh darling, this ordeal is too much,
why did I not fly away with you."
"My own darling," was all her eyes and lips could silently frame. But
his hand brushed her arm, and with a sweet pain from heart to heart,
he went from her side strengthened for the fight.
"Shall I introduce you, sister, to Mrs. Haughton and a few of my
personal friends?"
"Not so, Sir Lionel, I thank you; I am dead to the world and am only
here to perform a duty; the hearing of names would stir sad memories
in my heart and unfit me for my task," and motioning him to bend down
towards her, she said in tones only heard by him:
"Your kind heart requires sympathy; go and stay near that lovely lady
you spoke to just now."
"I shall, and shall be near you also."
And though by this time half a dozen men had grouped themselves about
the beauty, he got into a corner behind her, where, when they spoke,
her breath fanned his cheek, or in turning, the soft bronze of her
hair brushed his face.
The nun now standing up, spoke in quick, nervous tones, as follows:
"You all know why I am here; an odd figure truly in such a scene. I
have been one of you, so know exactly how out of place is one in my
garb, where all is gold lace and revelry. I regret to have detained
you, but you gentlemen will not mind when beauty and grace are so
near; and you ladies will not tire, as curiosity, your strongest trait
(pardon, I, too, am a woman) is about to be gratified in my words.
Vanity has been my curse, and even now it hurts me to humiliate myself
to you all, so much so, that, though I pity a man who has wrongfully
suffered condemnation through me for many years, I would not exonerate
him were it not at the command of the church. Twelve years ago I was a
young bride, and with my husband, an officer high in rank in our army,
was at London. I was called pretty; I know I was worldly, foolish and
vain. My husband, a very superior man (as I see men now), might have
done something with me had I submitted to his guidance, but I was but
seventeen, if that is any excuse for my wickedness. The officers of
our regiment were as gay as their kind. I thought them all in love
with me; I know men well enough since to be aware that their love was
winged, and lighted where fancy willed, and _pour passer le temps_. My
own fickle fancy," and her voice faltered, "was held by two men,
antipodes each of the other; the one fair as an angel of day, who, had
he bid me to his arms, ah well' though I shame to tell you, his will
would have only been my wish."
Here Delrose's face grew black as he muttered, "there, too."
"The other man, dark as a storm-tossed sky, bewitched me also, and he
did will that I should be wholly his, and conquered; I, at last,
giving him my whole heart, and passionately loving him and him alone."
Here the slight figure swayed and would have fallen, but Vaura and
others were beside her; in a moment she again stood erect, waving them
away saying: "'Tis the weakness of the flesh; but let me do my poor
weak nature justice, I could conquer my feelings better, but that the
wine I drank on entering after my journey, and to nerve me to my task,
was drugged."--sensation--"but to my penance; I consented to leave my
husband, and with the man of whom I last spoke; on pretence of
visiting friends, I went to Paris; my lover obtaining leave of absence
at the same time for himself, and with deep cunning, inducing his
brother officer to do likewise; for though unlike, still, both as gay
society men and of the same regiment, were a good deal together.
The one honourable, the other, as I have found him to my sorrow.
The one 'in all his gay _affaires de coeur_, never desecrating a
hearth-stone;' this he told me on seeing" here her voice broke, "on
seeing my love for him; I hope he will forgive my breach of
confidence; this was previous to my dark lover having gained my heart.
We lived as man and wife at Paris; he, returning to his regiment
before his leave had expired, told me I must write to his brother
officer at his hotel to come and see me on a certain day; I obeyed
blindly; he came, and my lover managed so that his own servant should
call at the same time with messages from England, bogus and with no
reference to himself. The servant (the same man who drugged my wine
to-night) returned to his regiment with the information that I was
living _a_ Paris with the other officer, who, returning to England, on
his furlough lapsing, was called out by my husband, who was worsted in
the duel. My lover was waited on by the man he had wronged (I mean his
brother officer, not my husband), who implored him to own up. My lover
said it would ruin him; he had nothing but his sword; he must get his
promotion; he would marry me as soon as his Colonel secured a divorce,
etc. The other man consented to bear the stigma, as it would be best
for me, and until a divorce was obtained, the man of honour sold out;
my lover was promoted. So does the green bay tree flourish. The
divorce was obtained; my lover, though visiting me frequently, and
always unsuspected, at each visit swore to marry me at the next, but
instead, deserted me just three months previous to the birth of our
child, with no means of support, moving from lodging to lodging,
living by the sale of my jewels; at last when these failed, getting
bread for myself and child by giving a few music lessons to the poor
people's children. But now, hearing that the man for whom I had given
up all, had sold out, and now the avowed admirer of a wealthy American
at New York, U.S.A., I gave up; my pitiable loneliness, poverty,
failing health were too much and I completely broke down. You will
wonder how I, in my retirement, heard of his unfaithfulness. Just
about eight years ago, a creature who had once paid me compliments, a
dissolute man, found me out, telling me my lover had sent him; he
renewed his odious addresses. Some of my women hearers will be shocked
to hear me tell of declarations of love of this kind, but when a woman
takes the step I did, she must accept such; one cannot play with pitch
and escape defilement, and though I loathed the messenger and his
words it would have been an incongruity to say so; so when he said I
had best take the sunny side of life's boulevard with him, with forced
calmness I refused and decidedly. On his taking a reluctant leave, I
fell into a death-like swoon, and so, good Father Lefroy, the parish
priest found me. But to hasten (you can easily I believe I had been an
extremely careless religionist). The kind sisters of a neighbouring
convent brought me and my little son to their hospital, and nursed me
back to more than my former health. I embraced their faith, and at my
earnest entreaty they accepted me as a member of their order, and I
trust by zeal in good works to atone for the wickedness of my past
life. My boy, I have given as a sin offering to the church. And now
the penance imposed upon me is finished, save in a few concluding
words. I say most solemnly, upon oath, that what I have said and am
about to say is the truth. The man I spoke of at first, as handsome as
an angel of day, and to whom you have given me as hidden wife, is Sir
Lionel Trevalyon. The man with whom I eloped, and who finally won my
love, is the father of my child and is Major Delrose; for I am none
other than Fanny Ponton, at one time wife to Colonel Clarmont." At
these words, the poor thing gave way, but the wee white mouse, who had
gradually from pillar to post reached the head of the room is beside
her, first sending Everly to the side of Madame, saying, "Make love to
her openly, to-night, and to my banker to-morrow." And now the pink
eyes peer through the black veil as she whispers, "you'll have another
'pick me up;' where's the small bottle? I saw them and the priest is
aching to come right along. What a dear little boy, but the bottle,
quick!"
"You are very kind; it is in my pocket." A wine-glass is brought and
the contents swallowed.
In the meantime Colonel Haughton, Claxton, Wingfield, and others came
forward, congratulating Sir Lionel, while some of the loveliest women,
glad of his freedom, did likewise. Meanwhile Sir Peter Tedril had
«come hastily to the little group around Madame, just as she was
saying jestingly to Delrose--
"Come, George, own up, you and the nun are a black pair. Hadn't I
better go and pat and purr over _dear_ Sir Lionel?"
"None of your chaff, Kate, I am in no mood to stand it; the ball is at
_his_ feet now, it will be at _mine_ ere sunrise," he said savagely,
and with latent meaning.
"That's right, Delrose," said Tedril, mistaking his purpose. "Whether
she is yours or his does not signify; throw down the gauntlet; give
her the lie; tell her she is an adventuress; anything! to put a spoke
in Trevalyon's wheel; all the women go with him; a man has no chance,"
drawing himself up to his full height of five feet five inches, and
pulling his whiskers furiously; "even with a handle to his name, and
an M.P.; if you don't care to go in yourself, let Rivers, Everly, or
myself be your spokesman."
"Leave me out, Tedril, please," said Lord Rivers lazily; "I'd rather
be all eyes and ears just at present," drawing closer to Madame, and
being for the moment proprietor of her fine arm, lace wraps telling no
tales. "I vote Delrose kiss and make up, so we see the statue unveil."
At this there was laughter, when Rivers continued: "Don't look black
as a storm-tossed sky, Delrose, as the veiled lady hath it. I dare say
honours were divided between you and Trevalyon."
"Both soldiers, they went to war and vanquished a woman, eh, Georgie?"
said Kate, still laughing; "they all do it. Even my spouse, Saint
Eric, is laying siege to that women in violet velvet."
"While scarlet is our colour," cried Everly, gallantly, as Mrs.
Forester and others joined the group, while the huntress exclaimed--
"Speak, Major; say you deny the wooing and the wooer. Black isn't our
colour, so for fun we'll pelt the robed one."
Delrose, pushed to it and full of hate to Trevalyon, excited, and as
was usual, reckless (knowing also what his plot was for this very
night; knowing, too, how that act would be canvassed at dawn; when
society! in her chaste morning robe would look shocked at what she
would wink at at midnight, and in her _robe de chambre_), electrified
the groups of wasps and butterflies, in their musical mur-mur and
whirr-whirr, by standing up and saying, in a tone of bravado--
"A pretty plot and well got up for a fifth-rate theatre, but not for a
drawing-room in Belgravia I need scarcely say I deny the charge, the
object of which is to free a man from a 'hidden wife' to enable him to
wed a new beauty with us to-night. (Sensation). Sir Lionel Trevalyon
has lately come into the possession of much gold; the Church of Rome
hath a fancy for the yellow metal; if the woman robed as a nun be a
nun, then she is only adding to the coffers of the church by speaking
the words we have heard. If she even be the one-time wife of poor
Colonel Clarmont, society, knowing a thing or two (excuse the slang),
will place no reliance on the story of such an one."
To attempt to describe the effects of the words of Delrose on the gay
groups of revellers would be impossible. Butterflies and wasps forgot
for a moment their beauty and their sting. It was as though Dame
Rumour and Mrs. Grundy were struck blind and dumb, their lovers
faithless, or Worth dead! But now the Babel of tongues fills the air,
and silence lays down her sceptre to go forth into the night alone.
"Isn't it too delightful! a double scandal!" cried one.
"Alas! alas! that my day should be in such an age," said Lord
Ponsonby.
"I wonder who it is darling Sir Lionel wishes to marry," said another.
At this remembering rivalry got on the war path, as each looked
critically at the other.
"Trevalyon would be a decent fellow enough if you did not all kneel to
him," growled a county magnate. "I wish he would go to Salt Lake city
and take his harem with him."
"I wonder if he has his eye on me," cried gay Mrs. Wingfield; "you men
do sometimes take a fancy to other men's belongings. If he does I
shall have to succumb instanter. Eustace, dear fellow, has rather a
consumptive look, now I come to notice him."
"He may drop off in time," laughed the huntress; "but I am afraid I've
lost my whip," she added, dolefully, brushing past Colonel Haughton,
standing beside Lady Esmondet, and conversing in an undertone with
Claxton and Trevalyon.
"Lost your whip!" exclaimed her host with forced gaiety; "that
dare-devil has picked it up, then."
"Say that he only has the whip-hand _pour le present_, dear Sir
Lionel,” said Mrs. Wingfield, taking both his hands in a pretty,
beseeching way.
"Or we women shall eat our hearts out in pity for your chains," said
Vaura softly, coming near him.
"You are a pretty group of gamblers," he said, thinking there had been
a wager among them; "but I must win when fair hands throw the dice."
Delrose had unconsciously given his foe some ecstatic moments, for the
crowd so pressed about him to hear what answer he would make to the
bold denial of the black-bearded Major that Vaura was close enough to
hear his heart-beats, and to whom he whispered brokenly--
"All the nun's words will not avail, darling, after his false denial;
I must bring on my other proofs for both our sakes, beloved."
"Poor, tired Lion.; I wish I could help you," she whispered from
behind her fan, and he felt her yield to the pressure of the crowd and
come closer.
"You do, sweet; I feel _just now_ strong and weak; you understand?"
One glance up from her fan and he is satisfied.
But the conjectures as to whether Sir Lionel will or can reply to
Delrose are put to rest by his voice again filling the air--
"To seem, and to be, are as unlike as are the hastily constructed
bulwarks of the savage tribes as compared with a solid British
fortress; we soldiers know this, and that Major Delrose. should still
entrench himself behind the flimsy _seeming_ of days of yore, where he
was safe through my careless good-nature (we shall call it), in
allowing it to be supposed that I had robbed Colonel Clarmont of his
wife, submitting to the stigma so that his act would not stand in the
way of his promotion as this poor nun has told you; you will wonder
why I was careless. Because, for reasons of my own, I had forsworn
matrimony, as I then thought, for all time. But Madame Grundy has
lately revived this scandal, making a lash for my back with it for the
hands of Dame Rumour. I have determined to stamp it out at once, and
for ever! And now to pull down the bulwarks of Major Delrose." And
holding up his hand, a signal agreed on with his servant, Sims at once
ushered a priest and a small boy, who was masked, and who walked, as
if asleep, up to the head of the room. Father Lefroy, saying a word to
the nun in an undertone, lifted the boy to a chair beside her; now,
standing beside them, in calm measured tones, he spoke as follows:--
"We priests of the church have too many strange experiences to be very
much astonished at any new one, yet I must say that to hear the words,
on oath, of one of our pious sisterhood doubted is a novel sensation.
Major Delrose is unwise in his present course of action, as he has by
such prolonged a most painful duty on the part of the church. Sir
Lionel Trevalyon will pardon me for saying he was wrong in wearing the
mantle of dishonour for another; the lining, a good motive, was unseen
by the jealous eye of society, hence, when the lash was put into her
hands by revenge or envy, her motive power, it, the lash, went down;
Sir Lionel Trevalyon has had his punishment. With unwearied exertion
he has found Sister Magdalene through Paris, at London, and she has
spoken the truth, and Major Delrose knows it. Moreover, and in
connection with his name, we have examined papers, letters to Sister
Magdalene, previous to and after her elopement, thus proving her
words. Again, I may say here, for I have grave doubts of his having
done so, six months ago I received from Father O'Brien, of New York
city, same mail as he wrote Major Delrose, whose acquaintance he had
made in that city in 1873, and believing by his words that he was an
intimate friend of the house of Haughton, wrote him, as I say, of
dying messages, and a few lines to a niece of Colonel Haughton, by
name Vaura Vernon, and from Guy Cyril Travers."
At this, Vaura started, turned pale and visibly trembled, putting her
hand to her side, when half a dozen men started to their feet; but
Lionel quietly put her arm within his and led her to a seat behind a
large stand covered with rare orchids and beautiful ferns, where, did
she not revive, the open doors of the conservatory lent a means of
speedy retreat.
"My own love, be brave; it was six months ago," he whispered, bending
over her, and puzzled at her great emotion; "I know it, dear; and yet
dead, poor, poor Guy: I have been always unpitying towards him. But
did he say he was dead! let me hear; he will tell more; but in this
crowd!" And she leaned forward, her large eyes glistening, the rose
mouth quivering. Lady Esmondet silently joined her, as did her uncle,
who, ever and anon shot fiery glances of contempt at Delrose, who,
with bold recklessness, still leaned forward on his folded arms,
between Madame and Lord Rivers. But the priest, instead of continuing
aloud, came to Vaura's side, saying quickly and in low tones:
"Pardon; this is; yes, I see it is society's rarest flower--Miss
Vernon; you have been hidden from me by those who would sun themselves
in your smiles; else had I seen you, whom I know from the London
shop-windows: should have told you quietly of Father O'Brien's letter,
as I see by your emotion, black Delrose has been faithless to his
trust."
"He has; tell me of poor Guy; did you say he is dead?" she asked, in
broken accents, her eyes full; "tell me quickly; now, here; I can bear
it."
"It was only a scrawl; he was dying, and signed your--your husband; he
had been stricken down by fever; your name was ever on his lips; he
said you loved Paris, and he would be buried there; he had loved you
all his life; he was glad to go; you were not to shed one tear for
him, but to make some one blest by your love; your miniature was to be
buried with him; he is in paradise; you must not weep for him, and so
cause others to weep for you."
"I shall not forget to remember your kindness," she said, giving her
hand, the tears welling her eyes; "Sir Lionel Trevalyon will perhaps
bring me out to your monastery."
"I thank you, and for our Order," and moving away to his former
position, he continued:
"I have now finished my task, self-imposed and in the ends of justice;
Sir Lionel Trevalyon is free to go to God's altar with the proudest
and fairest woman in the world; and may the blessing of heaven rest
upon his union. Had he not exposed the facts, he could not have wed,
while your lips framed the word--bigamist!"
Here the boy started violently, put up his hands to his face, tearing
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