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GUILTY; OR, NOT GUILTY.
% Dobcl.
BY
MRS. GORDON SMYTHIES,
AUTHOR OF
"COUSIN GEOFFREY," "TRUE TO THE LAST,"
BTO., ZTO.
MONTREAL :
W. B. CORDIER & CO.
■WT?TtT \rr\Tffr
THE AMERICAN NEWS CO.
The Coi
droHHing-
in May hi
niul wnit(
The largf
with pin)
been love
the lilies
autumnal
threw a li
tion cov<
brushes, i
Htill hand
8he had
not more
three yea
George's,
shape of
elderly, b
It is a
bloom, ci
white, we
for realiti
mansion :
ec[uipagc,
his, the 1
vainly ai
Tory of t
wanted h(
man — a e
light in o
Bockal]
alono iu i
of numbe
The bri
GUILTY. OR NOT GUILTY.
CHAPTER I.
" Oh I the licnrt. llko n tendril,
AociiHtorm (I to cllnm:,
Will twiiif rDHiul tlio nearest
And loveliest thing." MoonE,
The Countess of Rockalpiiio sat in licr oloirantly-furnishod
drosHing-room in Park Lano. The soft liglit of an afternoon
in May stole m through the tinted plato-glass, the roHO ailk
Biul winto lace curtains, and tho flowei-H tliat filled tbo balcony.
Iho largo oval mirror, draped witli loco and muMlin, looped up
with pink ribboiiH, rellected a Htill lovely face. It would havo
been lovelier, jierhapH, but that Art had vainlv tried to supply
tho hlies and rosea of youth ; and a good deaf of real beauty-
autumnal bcauty-thus accpiired an artificial gloss, which
threw a doubt on what was real. Cosmetics of every descrip-
tion covered tho toilet table, mixed with jowclr\', combs
brushes, and every kind of elegant trifle. Tho Countess was
Btill handsome, fascinating, thoughtless, vain, and romantic;
siie had lieen much handsomer, much more fascinating, but
not more vam, thoughtless, and romantic, when, some twenty-
three years before, she had been of!; -d up at tho altar of St.
Georges, Hanover S(|iiare— a sac. ihco to Mammon, in tho
shape of the cold, stern, rather bald, rather grey, rather
elderly, but very wealthy Earl of Rockalpino,
It is a very common sacrifice. At tliat altar, in her first
bloom, crowned with orange-lilossoms, veiled and robed in
white, were sacrificed the Maiden, Love, Liberty, and Hope,
I for realities of twenty thousand a year, a countess's coronet, u
mansionin Park Lane, Rockalnino Castle, Beech Park, an
eriuipage, an opera-box, and a handsome settlement. Onco
his, the Earl, who was a proud and disappointed man—having
I vainly aimed at political influence and senatorial fame, as a
: Tory of the old school— took her to Rockalpine Castle, and
I wanted her to hve there almost entirely. There he was a great
man— a solitary star ! In London ho was only a twinkling
light m one of many constellations.
^ Rockalpine Castle, stern, grey, and bald as himself, was also
aiono III its grandeur. Hauteville House, Park Lane, was ono
01 numberless town mansions of equal or greater importance.
The bride was timid, and sighed in heart over her enforced
9 Guilt,/, or Not Gnltlij.
ROcliiMion and Politinlo. Two houh were horn to licr in tho
courMo of three yciirn, and when thoy loll i\\v nursery an<l her
empire, to elieer her Ufo a little, slie ado|)t('d imd (Mlucuted as
her i^ww p roil' (ji'i\ the beautiful ClarinMrt Croft, daughter of tho
lawyer who was tho Earl's agent at lloekalpino Castle. It
never Htruck tho Coutjtess, for who was thoughtlesH, nor tho
Karl, for ho was all pride and disdain of humbler people, \\m\,
Clarissa— a perfeet Hiuibcam of bilghtnoss au'l beauty Hitting
about tho old grey castle —might become a ])eril and a tempta«
tion, in after years, to those young scions of -o proud a house.
The bride had boon timi<l and ciunnlying — the wife soon had
a will of her own. The pleasures of tho season in London,
•which sho had resigned in her youth, sho resolved to enjoy
when she grew older and, as she said, wiser. And now she
was forty, and hor sons woro with her in town. The elder,
Lord itiiutovillo, was twenty-two ; tho second was a year
younger. Clarissa, still by her side was about nineteen.
Tho fivo o'clock tea, so universal with fine ladies, was served
in tho Countess's boudoir. Clarissa presided at tho tea-table,
and Lord Hautovillo and his brother both dropped in, each
thinking to steal a march on tho other ; for both were despe-
rately in lovo with Clarissa — tho elder, with that pure lovo
which a maiden glories to inspire — tho yoimgor, with that
fierce selfish passion which she blushes to awaken.
" Show Hautovillo and Wilfred our drosses for to-niglit,
Clary," said tho Countess. Lady Rockalpino and her cllqiio
were trying to revive tho palmy days of Almock's. Clarissa
rose and lolt tho room.
" Are you going to tako Clarissa to Almock's, mamma P "
asked Wilfred.
" Yes ! as a lady patroness I can give lier a voucher ; and
I'm sure she'll bo the hollo of tho room. Nay, moro, I think I
Bhall present her at tho next Drawing-room."
" Dear, kind mamma ! " said I/ord Hautovillo ; and ho
blushed with delight, for ho thought that ovorything that
raised Clarissa in tho social scale removed a barrier to his
honourable hopes.
" It would bo very rash, I think, and might give offenco in
high quarters. An attorney's daughter ! " said Wilfred, grow-
ing pale; for tho better Clarissa's position in society, tho loss
likely was lie to succeed in degrading her.
"An attorney's daughter," said tho Countess, "but tny
friend."
Clarissa came in, followed by Finette and Bobbin, who dis-
pla3-ed the Countess's gold ln'oca<le, and Clarissa's tulle, looped
up with apple-blossoms ; the gorgeous head-dreas of the pa-
troness, the apple-blossom wreath of the protey^^e. The Couu-
5r in tho
y nud hor
ucjitod ftH
or of tlio
!aHtlc. lb
, nor tho
opio, fluib
Ly Hitting
a tompta-
1 a liouHo.
Hoon had
London,
to enjoy
now nho
rho older,
IS a year
3on.
as served
tea-table,
, in, each
3ro doHpo-
pnro love
with that
to-night,
ler cli'qiio
Clarissa
mmma P "
i-licr ; and
I think I
and ho
ling that
or to his
ofTenco in
ed, grow-
', tho less
"hut my
who dis-
le, looped
f the pa-
he Coun-
OuiUy, or Not Guilty. g
toss was very amiahio; sho took tho irreatesfc \nk..r.., •
fa.shi.mS^ ""^ ""' '"•^^' '"y ^y' '^nJ I am no Hobo of
"You shall be henreforth ; so do a.s I bid von "
tlio wall-Howors. ** ' '" '"*" ""= »'»« "Ut gf all
ClarU™ was tho Wfo of that, hor first and last ball
nautovjllo 1 tl'^SSlnt o cXT^ZI "ffi'l"' ^"•
|!:^ftl^t''.;?iror?oTi\^/'i? "iFv^^^^^
to hor. Tho ono was lS^^^'„5 ' •"''''i"'™ obtained access
was.foared? would havol^nrhuS * rkn"""' '^i'V'"" ''°
proved. hofSsMXh'^rnu;''g^^rer "l^'J^f '"-
Sho was m Chnrlotto Street, Fitzroy Kro when V^^ .
Jwi^i:^:''^ "'^^'f-' "' '»™8 I-ondon, bat only one
4
OuiUifi or Not Guilty.
CHAPTER II.
" Oh ! Love, what Is It in this world of oura
That makes it fatal to be loved ? Ah 1 why
With cyjiresa branches dost thou wreathe thy bowers,
And make the best interpreter a Bfgh." Byroit.
There was a solemn stillness on the purple moors, and in the
dark pine-woods of the Rockalpine estates in Northumberland.
The slanting rays of the setting sun came down ahke on the
black spiral tops of the tallest fir-trees of the forest, and on tho
pink bells of the heather.
A wild brook gleamed like molten gold in those rays ; they
gilded the grey battlements of the old castle on the heights,
amed and flashed from the windows of the villa of the agent
of the lord of that castle, and lighted up the humble roof of tho
poorest tenant on the estate.
It was a lovely autumnal evening ; there was not a creature
to be seen, not a sound to be heard, save the distant lowing of
the cattle, and the buzz and hum of the insects in the grass.
The moon, wan, dull, and out of place, Uke an actress by day-
light, was looking from her cold grey abode, pale with envy at
the radiant coucher of the monarch of day — the gold, the purple,
and the crimson of his canopy and coucn.
Suddenly, a young and very handsome man, in shooting cos-
tume, gun in hand, and a dog by his side, bovmded hghtly across
the brook, and entered the wood. His noble and delicate fea-
tures, fair waving hair, and princely bearing, betokened some
one of importance ; but yet no gamekeeper attended him, and
he had thrust some grouse he had shot into the pockets of his
shooting-jacket.
As h6 passed through the wood, with a birr and a whirr, up
rose a noble cock-pheasant ; bang went the sportsman's gun,
and a quivering bleeding mass of green, purple, and gold, lay
at his feet. The sportsman picked up the pheasant — habit har-
dens the softest heart — he who had just before stepped aside not
to harm the beetle in his path, felt no pity for the regal bird.
He walked on musingly, and reloaded his gun, and the word
" Clarissa," which was engraven on his heart, rose to his lips,
when suddenly a shot startled him.
The blood flew to his noble face. " Poachers, no doubt," he
said to himself; and without one thought of peril, or one feel-
ing of fear, he rushed forward in the direction whence the shot
came. " Hallo, Wilfred ! " he said, recognising his brother, like
himself, alone and unattended ; like himself, gun in hand, and
laden with game ; like himself, having just reloaded his gun.
" What brings you here, Wilfred?" he asked, good humouredly.
" I might ask the same question of you, Hauteville," replied
md in the
imberland.
ike on the
md on the
•ays ; they
e heights,
the agent
roof of the
a creature
lowing of
3 grass.
ss by day-
bh envy at
he purple,
•oting cos-
itly across
hcate fea-
ned some
. him, and
Lets of his
whirr, up
lan's gun,
I gold, lay
habit har-
l aside not
jal bird.
I the word
10 his lips,
loubt," he
r one feel-
e the shot
other, like
hand, and
I his gun.
mouredly.
)," replied
Guilty, nr Not Guilti/. 5
"^.ti^Tfr ^''°*^^'*' ^^^dwith some strong, secret emotion-
on^ that I can answer that ouestion as well'^s you ca"' '
What are you driving at P" said the elder brother (Lord
Hauteville, hen- of tlu) titto and estate of Rockalpine) ^
Tille-d[rr"s: r '' '^''' ''^ ^^''^" ^^ '' your Wst, Haute-
Hauteville blushed like a girl ; he laughed, and said,
frl^r'^^r '^""^^^ ^^' Clarissa" (he spoke the name with the
tl^nj^^f *'u^fr^'\°^^°^^)' "^^^* has she to do ^th my
ItS^nlt^LTcSte^t^^^^^^^ - *^^« «- ^^-oon, anS
A^' ^J^* has she to do with that ? Every^thing, as she has to
Sme Z aZ, ""t T^iJ P"^^*^^y send her a basket of
fh^l'I ,'?^^^''^ °^^ Ferret, or anyone else, to know any-
thmg about It ; you want no hint of such lovor-hke and ddicafo
SoSHnf fi?r *" T ^^'^V ^"^ «« y«^ steal oSt 1 ke a
poacher, and hll your bag on the slv '»
" And you P " '''
"I the same. You know that I love Clarissa, and that till
Ah! so your msolent vanity makes vou imamnp V^n
tShe'^rr .^«^*^^^h-« gi^en^ou man^XTSntales!
that she will give you that too; but I tell you, while vou are
beatmg about the bush, and, I dare say, planning ^mTe the
SorrcToft^S^^*"'"-^^? r'^?/' Wed^ompa^ion,^helow!
I +W T l"^^~75;our wife, I wiU steal a march upon you • not
' that irSl^Z ^'^Tl ^"^ ^"^^ ^ «^™y fo«l a« to Sedita?e
that greatest of mistakes, an unequal match ; but " T
I was a?n J'J^ ""i?. ^t^tateanything against the honour of one who
™Ha^ hTten ^"^v.Tl?^^'" "^^^^ *he young lord, fiercely
lSS TT«^;L m . ^^u^^^t^ *^^ *^"^Pt^^ 5 " and why not P " ^
i ,,f^2^'*Hauteville's blood was on fire ; he forgot himself- with
I ^^nw ^' ^^^? t« '^^^ his brother acfoss th^ fa^e.
ioffStolrrr* *"" ^'^^^ ^i^^^^^d °f the indignity L had
wmT. J ^^ ®^ his own proud race. ^
rnZ^lr-.t^T^J?^^''''^ him, livid with rage, for a moment na-
■ S Brother, forgive me ! " cried Lord Hauteville. « Strike mo
■ across the fano in fofnm " nr-l v« v -i 1 ' .""",">' ^"0^ . otriKe me
— « oTi/1 1^4. e — ; '^^"r"» ^"^ "S huid nis cneek to lus brother
spS^e '^I^Ff^r^^''^^''^^^ ^t''^'' gushed forth as he
UD ciari«L^i^ ^""'^ Pi-esenthr why vou must cease to follow
up Clmssa-why you must think o/her with respect, and
Ouilfj/, or Not Gutlty.
speak of her with tenderness, but never dream of lovo as con-
nected with her. '
"YouwiUP— you will tell me why everything worth living
for 18 to be yours P Why aU are to bow and cringe before you,
and to be hail, fellow, and well met,' with me P Why you are
to lord It on two thousand, and I on five hundred a-year P Why
you are to strike me with impunity, as you would your hound ?
W Y-f *^*^.!T?"lf ^ ^ ^®^° ^« *o ^6 torn from my life to adorn yours P
And i will teU you in return, that I hate, that I loathe, that I
curse you I— ves, from the depths of a broken heart I curse you !
And as lor Clarissa, I wiU never give up the pursuit— never,
never, never I ' ° i i »
•' Yes, you will, now at once, and for ever, when I tell you.
When 1 swear to you by the heaven above us, that she is mine !
Come, brother, forgive me ! Shako hands, and Hsten to me.
My own Clarissa is "
As the beloved name passed his lips, the spirit of the first
murderer entered the breast of the younger brother.
How oft the means to do ill deeds make ill deeds done ! "
^ ±lis gun was loaded and cocked. In the fiend-like rage, envy,
jealousy, and revenge of his heart, he took aim at the noble
beloved, and beautiful young form before him. Lord Haute-
1^'7a^a * ^^^ ^^y' sprang up with a bound, and then fell, in
a nuddied mass, on the ground, while, from the wound in his
breast, the crimson blood welled forth, and a little rill from that
l^\i^}^;^P/;''^S''^l^rother'a heart, came trickling rapidly down
to Wilfred 8 cold feet. The ground on which Lord HauteviUo
stood when the fatal shot was fired, was rising ground ; and
down, down, quickly down, as if in pursuit of the fratricide,
came the red fife-blood, and Wilfred rushed from the spot with
horror. He felt as if that blood would engulf his very soul.
Yes, It was done I But was he a murderer P Life might not
be quite extinct. ^
"No eyes have seen, no ears have heard what passed between
us! he said to himself He thought he could hasten home
through the fields, pretend to be about to summon Ferret and
ms son, and be by Hauteville's side in time to succour him if life
were not extinct, and so divert aU suspicion from himself if
he were indeed dead.
All happened as he had expected. . He gained the courtyard
ot the castle unseen, leaped into his own room at the open
window, called Ferret and Joe, his son, the stopper, and saying
he wanted to get a bra<;e of pheasants for a friend, he led the
way to the Black Wood, as it was called.
Altogether about an hour had elapsed since he had left that
«)ot, with the brand of Cain upon his brow, and the curse of
cam on his hfe, and on his heart. Twice as he approached the
ovo as con-
OuiHij, or Not Guilty. 7
dreadful spot a pheasant rose ; twice ho took aim, and twice ho
missed his aim; and old Ferret and his Joe marvelled, for
Wilfred was what they called a "naihng shot," and seldom
missed. At ength they reached the little amphitheatre of grass,
surrounded bv yews, holUes, and ilex-trees.
I Wilfred's knees shook ; his heart seemed to die in his
I breast.
"Whatever ails Dido P" said old Ferret ; « what's ^o snuffing
so hard at ? Lord have mercy upon us ! Whatev i has been
up here? The ground's all stained with blood ! Oh 1 there's
been a murder done here ! ''
" My brother ! " gasped Wilfred's conscience against his will,
ile did not dare to glance where ho knew he had left his
I brother.
"Ay, Mr Wilfred, it's my lord's gun a-lying here, sure
enougn; and how it came here, or whose blood's been shed,
jwhos to guess?
k ^^^^mf ^^ *^^^? ^ovAs, slowly and nervously turned his
inead. Iherewasthe blood-stained spot; the long grass, bent
and clotted with gore, where his brother had fallen ; but, aUvo
r^wM?' A "^ °^ ^^^ brother was no longer there !
Wilfred was not imaginative— he was not superstitious.
I ^ome poachers have murdered him," he gasped out, "and
Lrrps'o? ffi." '^'' "^ "^ '' "^ ^^^ *^-^ ^^^^^ «^^p« ^^
T ^1^' *^^i^ terrible track was to be seen, from the spot where
Lord Haut^eville had fallen, along the path through the wood,
across the fields, and to the entrance of the villa of old Croft,
the agent. The iron gates were open, the terrible track was on
the wide gravel path, and glared frightfully on the broad stono
I® lyr'iZ" i^i^ ^^^^^^y housekeeper had carefully pipeclayed.
I Wilfred Lorraine was not, at that time, a ' ardened villain.
±118 heart was new to the sense of actual crime ; and when
the parish doctor came downstairs, and not seeing him, said to
the gamekeeper, whom he recognised,
"This is a bad job. Ferret. It's all over— he's dono for!
w^?°j^ *o break It to the Earl and his brother? "
fl 1,1^ consciousness forsook him : he fell insensible on tho
\^Th ^^5- ^^ "*'"''' *° ^^"^'^^^ ^^ ^""^ lying on the sofa in
\rl:.k , 5 ^'"''^^l^T ' *^'^ ^°^*«^ ^^« V ^ side, and Mr.
1.1 oft stood at a little distance, his arms folded, and eyeing him
.. iir" ^^Pression before which Wilfred cowered.
LmJl • '-'T' ^Z^'^]" said Mr. Croft, with a curious
' emphasis on tho wnrri " liUo f^ -«- ^ ■r,"*-"^-^ A ---"
Vr,oii "^ f1*'''^'," ^^^ °°^'' ^^i^ed title sounded like a
knell. He had not thought of the fact, that his brother's death
made him Lord HauteviUe, heir to the earldom— the future Lord
8
Ouiltii, or Not Ouilty.
Eockalpmo. Bitterly as he had grudged his brother those titles.
It was not for their sake ho had done that dreadful deed— it was
done in the wild height of those bad passions which had long
smouldered m his breast, and which the blow he had received!
^d the announcement that Clarissa was his brother's, had
wrought to the highest. But, oh ! the vain remorse— the deep
and shuddering chill ! No coronet could remove the brand of
L nn trom his brow; no star, no ermine, could lighten his
breast of its secret load of crime and anguish.
It seemed that some labourers, returning from their day's
iTS rf .i^'l'^- ""^7^'^*,^ ?"° *^^"? i* ^o^ld be to be a youig
loid, hke the heir of Rockalpine, and to have no work to do but
to shoot at will over thof 3 preserves, where, if they broueht
down a bird, or shot a hare, they would be punished as poachirs,
came suddenhr on ih^ object of their envy, bleeding to death in
hismasteVwd^^ ^^^^'^^^^""^^^^^^^ ^^ he watched by
They at once inspected that he had been killed in an affray
To!? ^TS desperate poachers who infested the estate, and the
"ame of Rough Rob passed from hp to lip.
^r^A- ffT'"'' disputing what to do, Mr. Croft came up,
and directe(f them to get a Eurdle from the nearest fence, and
to carry the victim to his house, which was much nearer and
more a<;cessible than the castle
H^h^A^^''^ HauteviUe was laid on the bed, and somerestora-
« w vi^T ad°ii.^ptered, he rallied a little. Mr. Croft was
dor^nr'^fL^''?' 7M^ *^? ^"^ ^^"*' «°«^« i^ search of the
newstotSari. ^ ^l^^gyman, and to break the terrible
InJ^Ti the parson and the doctor came, he was breathing his
last, and to the questions they put as to who had done the deed,
he either could not or would not return any answer. '
TTJ^!/=^m^''''t*^'',H!' ^^**^^ *^^° ^^^^^'i ^aye been expected.
He had still an heir left ; that heir was his favourite son
».nt.T''T/i''''^''^^* sat upon the body-that beautiful and noble
body ! so lately warm with health and youth, and now cold clay
Many circumstances conspired to throw suspicion on Eougl'
in '^^'^ff Rob's father, also a desperate poa<;her, had been killed
Sd Rnr^lf^ kV^ under-gamekeeper of Lord Hauteville's,
^Ai .T S*"^ ^^^ ^^^"^ ^^^^^ ^"^ «^^»^ 1^0 ^o^ld have blood
tor blood Meantime, he owed the young lord a grude-e for
l^nn^S,f'\^'''' ^T'{^^^ ^°^- ^^ ^^^^d not satisfactorily
account for himself at the time of the murder. And all thesb
things coming out at the inquest, the verdict found by the
Quilty, or Not Ouilhj.
iry, and proclaimed in a loud, triumphant voice by their
preman, was one of
"Wilful Muuder"
jigainst Eobin Redna+h, commonly called Rough Roh.
Rough Rob was hooted as he was carried ott" to the nearest
lagistrate by three policemen, and the crowd that followed
Ihe fly in which he was driven would gladly have torn him
limb from limb.
CHAPTER III
•• Why did she lovo him ? Curious fool, be still f
Is human love the growth of human will ?
To her he might be gentleness." Byhon
loTJGH Rob stood in the dock, with a policeman by his side ;
ind even through the bronze of his weather-beaten face, there
■vas a pallor which all present attributed to conscious guilt.
There was also a visible tremor throughout his frame, and a
luskmess about his voice. He was not an ill-looking man
exactly, but he had something of the down-skidking look of the
babitual poacher.
His poor wife, with a babe at her breast, was in court,
re^pmg bitterly; she had persuaded him to smooth his shaggy
tiair, and plaster it down with grease, and to wash his face,
^he thought his wild look would go against him with the
nagistrate. She was a beautiful, devoted young creature,
passionately attached to him. He wore an old velveteen
Bhootmg-jacket, with large horn buttons, and, owing to his
Marys forethought, he looked much more respectable, but
luch less picturesque, than usual.
Rough Rob's examination elicited that, on the day of the
lurder, he was out on the sly with his gun, and a lurcher,
■which he said had followed him.
L T^^^ ™ned that he wis not obliged to criminate himself,
■but that his words would be used in evidence against him, he
|said^n a tone very meek and subdued for such a ruffian—
My lord, or rather, your worship— I can't criminate myself,
and nobod> can't criminate I ; I'm as innocent of this black
Ideed as the unborn babe, or as your lordship, which I means
your highness. Why, it seems but yesterday that my young
lord, and Master Wilfred, and I (poor hunted cretur that is
*iow), wor all lads together. Father wor an earth-stopper then,
3n the estate, and I kept birds ; and I was always a dab at
ishmg and setting traps and lines, and rat-catching, and all
nanner. And when my young lord and Master Wilfred came
lome from Eton, the first person they axed for were" Rough
tob ; and they'd get up o' the dark mornings, unbeknown, and
10
Ouilty^ or Not OiuUy.
r^er^<^tl"r:^'S^%^]^l^ «M- I t-"g^*'<^- to shoot,
of tLir own anTi tanJhf 'n T *5T "^^^^ *"'«ted with ono
flies ' And thnn„h T ^ V''"' *° f'^' »"^ "^ako their own
ahareorarabbifcfnr^L Vn f- ^a^^^ t l^ecause a man 'ud shoot
If my youne lord^' «^rf?« f'^^^^^"^' J^^^^us mischief-makers,
the tr/th af d that Ro .IpT ^T"? "«' *^^ ^"«^« ^ ^P^aks
life, would have shetew^^^^^ ^^^i^^ bispreW.s
I've got to say mv lord T'^ « i^ T.^ ^™- '^*'''*'« ^"
about it. than i b^" mnoceut of this crime, nor more cut up
the policemrby Sr ^^^"^«' ^ air of
t|J: ^SpL^^^^ te,\H.^'« ^ace too well,
far frn^??-' t^*^ ?.^^ a fine estate, preserved'rigidly. and so
tttTente^'lfoSer^^
any amount of crime ^Tn,f i. ?? u\''5''''«°' ^^^ ^^P^^le of
out iHhrdark wnnH w^?>.T^ ^""^ had owned that lie was
no one present was at aU sm|rised whenfarTho dose of wt
Ouilty, or Koi Ouilty.
H
'em to shoot,
ated with ono
ko their own
Jat'ning or so
hich ho dono
3ting the hen
5n— I'd have
id tears filled
f, and added,
the cupboard
at hor empty
lan 'ud shoot
d he's got a
ild things is
he'd known
who'd often
fvould never
hief-makers.
ws I speaks
his precious
. That's all
r, but there
more cut up
I a curious
Bcial air of
ice too well.
Hy; and so
)ught them
capable of
lat he was
ime of the
words, and
king away
)n whom a
ing in that
any ill-will
Jular, that,
night have
out effort,
>r he knew
said; and
ose of his
Ing oration, he committed Rough Rob to prison to take his
KttI at the assizes for the wilful murder of Lord Hauteville.
I piercing scream — a heart-rending scream — a wife's, a
loman's scream— rang through the court as the magistrate
Vonounced this sentence; and Rough Rob's pretty young
ife, with hor babe at her breast, fell in a dead swoon into the
ktendcd arms of some kind sympathising woman near her.
|no young and nursing mother took the poor babe from its
kother's cold exhausted l)rca8t, and warmed and nurtured it
\ her own. They tended the poacher's wifo aa if they liad
Den her sister.
How kind the poor always are to the afflicted, the distressed,
ie disgraced ! And what a sublime lesson do they give the
Ich, who fly from the lost and ruined, hko rats from a failing
ouse or a sinking ship ! °
Rough Rob was at once removed to the County Jail, and
le hissings and hootings, and the execrations of the mob
vhich had followed him to the police court), assailed him aa
? left it.
Alas for Rough Rob and his pretty young wife, just recover-
[ig to a sense of her misery !
The day of his brother's funeral was a terrible one for the
atricido.
On the plea of illness, both the proud old Earl and Wilfred,
lOrd Hauteville, had kept aloof as much as possible during
le investigations and proceedings, but they could not absent
lemselves from the funeral.
Rough Rob, on his wretched pallet in Morpeth Jail, innocent
f the crime for which he was now committed, was in a state
f bhss, of beatitude, compared to the fratricide on the bed of
.own, that to him seemed full of thorns, when waked from
ideous nightmares by the toll of the funeral bell booming on
lis ear.
He rose and dressed himself hastily, nervously, for the
partment seemed to him full of shades that took his murdered
mother's form.
How tedious, how dreadful were the preparations ! How
'avely officious were the undertaker and his assistants with
he hat-bands, scarfs, and gloves !
How horrible the whispers among the guests ! for guilt ia
always afraid of a whisper. How sickening the smell of all
Jthe gloves, hatbands, scarfs, and, above all, the funeral cake
™and wine ! The long drive in a mourning-coach was madden-
■mg ; slow, slow, slow, was the well-trained horses' pace, for
■they followed the hearse. What a black forest of plumes I
12
OuiUy, or Not OuiUy.
Kwpf tTr *^^ 'i*^'" ^"^ ^^"^'^V ^""^'^t^ J ^ g^e^<^ crowd
m>nnTnr ft ""T^ proccssion. tho deceased had been so
popular-the murder liad caused so intense an excitement.
TnrTo^ 1 J-"* ."""v tJio churchyard were soon filled, so were the
anos leading to it. All the well-to-do were in decent mourn-
l?rn;«^ •!? i- P°°''''^* ^^"""^ rummaged up some bit of crape,
brown with time or an old faded black 'ribbon. The poor
r&^.?l ^^T?^' '^^^^'' ^^ S'«^^« ^^^« a"«"ed them, were
£ffrien7»''Tt*^/°-?^ ^°'^'^ ^""^^^^5 *^« ^^d been their
uest triend! The fratricide's greatest trial was in the church
anH ?lf '^"^!^ ^i *^? "°^^ «" *^^° *^'«««el«' covered bfthe pall
he rnn?H ^ *^ ""Y '^ ^^^^^ained, and how it had come to pass
^reservi-nr'^''^^ suppress a shriek, but an instinct of self!
ToTZtZSri^t^ l^^ wentthrough it with all outward de-
K warin^th^ ?am5; .'a^^ ^^^ ' ^' "^^ «^^^ ^ *^^ ^^"^
" And dust to dust was given 1"
oMFlr^nL^i.^'P^'"'!^^',^'''^ J^^ ^^^^ coach bore the proud
om ±iarl and his son back to the Castle.
The dreadful day was over, and night came at last' The
tTeTarT/' ^^'^ ^f ' ^^^ ^^\^^^^ ^^^^^ f^« was mfrrored in
TZT^ ' ^^^^-^^ through the Eockalpine estate. The pine-
retal b?,uZ*^' f^^ T^^ ^^^^ ^^PPe^ ^'^ silver b/ her
regal bounty, and the wild moors beyond were flooded bv her
raaiance and seemed almost as bright as by day ^
r.1 A V * 1"^*^ ^0^ over his brows, and an amnle
through r«f°^ a'' ^?^' ^^"'^^^' ^°^d Hiute^L! gSfed
through that wood on his way to the lone hovel on tho ^nniT
oncej|e wretched abode of B^ Rob! and sIm inhabitTb^
from*" thI?VnfL^'''''^l K^^' °^ experience, or will learn
T^JT' ' ''**'^''l' ^^""^ terror, angiifsh, and self-Ioathine
fu t W."hr«'Sr;:^\^ ""Ti^ °°* ^^^^ ^« l^eart from onesS?
before "^h; ^t^"\^T^ *^^^ °"" ^* °^ ^^^^ ? ^ ^cek ago.
oeiore the deed that damns eternally was done." Wilfred
Lojaine and his brother had gone outsat night, by different
t^n^A^Z^V'^'^''^^^':^' ^^^ ^^ ^g^^^d t^o me/t a a cer-
tain old grand fir-tree in that wood !
crime'" ^Ki?^^ ""^ u^^'-^^ *^^^ ^« ^^^ committed no
rS?,V« f half-moon shone then on a blooming, handsome
resolu e face, a fine manly form, a firm foot. Itow. iC^Al
eSunk ab°l '''i 'J'^^'' ^y? «^^^^d and hoUowed.'a fig^i^e
Wthof?h«r?''?.'J^'^'^^t,n^^' uncertain step. In eVery
breath of the night wmd he hears his brother's sigh; ever?
Ouilty, or Not Quilty. 13
3180 startles him; every ebon shadow cast by the silver lamp
^lught takes his brother's form; and the flitting of a
fhite owl from tree to tree seems to him his brother's ghost
bmmg out of the httle grassy amphitheatre where he fell, to
ammon him to follow him to the grave. The Innocent, hiw-
rcr hapless go through a long life, without knowing a tithe
f the angmshHautevillo felt in that midnight walk to Rough
lob s hut on the moor Ho wildly rushed past the trees that
hclosed the scene of the murder, and did not stop till ho came
\xt upon the purple moor.
He felt a little less of abject terror on the moor than he had
i)no in the Black Wood, but still there came cold drops on his
brehead; his knees shook under him; and he had a horrible
bnso of being pursued.
[Ho hurried across the wild moonlit moor, and at length
Ime in view of Rough Rob's hovel. It was a wretched little
bttage of clay, standing m a mtch of potato and cabbage
^ound,anda gnome-hke old thorn and a few furze-bushls
bse to It. As in all cottages in Northumberland, where coals
Je so cheap and abundant, a mound of coal-dust and ashes
Bjomed the house, and a shed full of coal formed part of the
[There was a light in the small window, and through a broken
fcno came a voice of wild and exquisite sweetness, singing a
Irt of lullaby. e> es "
J Hauteville listened. The air was changed to the old nursery
Itty— originally the lullaby of a poacher's wife :—
"Bye, Baby Bunting,
Daddy's gone a-hunting,
Gone to find a pussy's skin
To wrap his precious baby in.
Bye, Baby Bunting 1"
l"Och hone! och hone!" sobbed the singer. "Och hone'
Jiat It were thrue, my darUnt, then we'd have him soon back
lul us— but now ! Och hone ! och hone ! Holy Virgin nro-
Ict my puir Rob ! I've lighted a candle till ye ; and to you.
bod bamt Robert, my puir Rob's pathron saint ! And so I
till though I can ill afford it, for a month to come, if ve'll
l-ing him safe back to me. Och hone ! och hone ! "
I Lord Hauteville pushed open the cottage door, and stood in
fie only room It boasted. The young wife had just risen from
er knees, and stood with a candle in L^ hand, which she had
?lited m true Irish fashion, by thrust ^ it between tL> bars,
K. was just going to fix it in a iitiie tin shrine, in which
pint Robert was placed.
The candle threw a strong light on Rob's wife. She was a
eautiful young Irish girl, of that type which the inspired
14
Ouilttf, or Not Quiltij.
pencil of Edmund Fitzpatrick lias immortalisod. Slio was ono
of that influx of IrLsli mipors who, in tho harvest season, como
over t<) tho North of England and fill thu golden corn-fiolda
with beauty, mirth, and Hong. Hautovillo thought, as who
Htood before him, that Hho onlv wanted a whcat-Hheaf on her
head to bo the bmu-idml of a Ruth, only that thoro was moro
ot tho wild daring of a daughter of Erin than of the meek
sweetness of the voung Hebrew widow. She was tall, and
though she had the strong broad shoulders (mercifully given
to the poor, who have so much to boar), yet they had a grace-
lul tall, and her waist " fine by degrees and beautifully less "
was marked bv a scarlet bodice, while her short blue serjro
skirt showed her fine leg and neat foot and ankle in red
stockings and buckled shoes. A yellow handkerchief crossed
nor tull and lovely bosom. Her head was proudly set on
a long round sun-burnt throat; her abundant black hair,
gathered under a Pamela cap, was braided in pretty ripnloa
across a fine brow, and formed a soft frame to a face of irreat
beauty; large, wild blue eyes, with long black lashes, and iefc
cvobrows, a pretty straight nose, a short upper lip of soft rod.
the under one fuller, and of a brighter scarlet, and both, when
she spoke, disclosing white, even, and glittering teeth! Tho
baby, a fine little fellow, lay in a cradle covered with hare-
skins, which she had stitched together.
The fire burned brightly, but the cupboard was bare, and
Mary had tasted nothing that day but a cup of tea and a cake
forced upon her, after Rob was carried off to Jail, by the vountr
nursing mother who had taken charge of her baby when she
tainted, and who had compelled her to rest awhile in her poor
tittle lodging and eat a morsel, and share that panacea of^^tho
poor, " a cup o tea."
Mary when she perceived Lord Hauteville, dropped a verv
low curtsey, and wiping down a chair with her apron, said,
Plase your honour to be sated ; ye may rest ye in mv Rob's
poor cabin, my lord, for the blood of yer blissed brother is aot
on his hand or his sowl! He's bearing the shame and the pun-
ishment he never desarved 1" ^
In spite of his passionate and persistent love for Clarissa.
Wilfred, or rather Hauteville, had often been struck with the
rare beauty of the wild Irishwoman of the moor, and at any
other time he could not have refrained from telling the lonely
unprotected beauty how splendid a creature he thought her
and from trying at least to lead her into the slippery paths of
dalhance; but the consciousness of a great crime sat on the
young man s heart, and crushed out aU its lighter foibles and
vanities.
Beauty was nothing to him now— Love saw nothing. He
Guilty, or JVoi Onilhj.
15
rorTd^^c'vcrr"' '^^^'"««-^--r -^ >- -i-o, and
jo luMl resol V0.1 that Rouffli Rol, slio.ild not bo l,ro„ffht to
lil; no not It ho hoKgarcl lnm.s..lf to l.rcsoi.t it Bu thi«
iovo dul no 8pnng from tho horror of ho thought of
d:^ormilt!^^V;;^■^""^ "?'.''-^'-J I'ttlo wJIS in
t this thougfit tho murderer shook n« wJ^i! VV ,
ibo the jai er, whom ho know n iiVfi//- i V i , ' "° wouhl
'inrcent but vof h^l fii^^ 'P^'\°^ apncarancos. ho bolirod
i^mnocent, but yet he felt sure bcwould bo found guilty and
lo?tu\^''''^-??^*^'^"^' ^'^d to l^^">e very high for tho
Kudt, and that Eob on,!; aafo off.r sCtJld Kho 'mor°o
ptri^^:trx.!tMii2r:r^;?di^^^^^
16
ChiiUy, 0r Not Ouilty.
V )
could manage that Rob Hhoiild oscapo from jail, you would bo
willing to go to Australia with him Y "
" Would 1 ? Oh, vor honour, wouldn't I go wid Rob whoro-
cver God aiul ho pluses P Hut why need ho oscapoP He's
innocent us his bubo in the cradle there ; and why should ho
ilee like a guilty cratur P "
" Because, guilty or not guilty, he's sure to be condemned —
circumstantial evidence is so strong against him. Well, as I
Buid before, for the sake of old times, and the love my poor
brother once had for Rob, I'll contrive an opportunity for you
to see 1 im, and to tell him to loosen a bur of his window.
You'll give liim this book to wile away the time. It is called
•The Prisoner's Help and Guide;' and so it is, in sooth, for
look, in tlie bjick is a easeful of tools — you touch this spring,
BO, and then they appear. Well, tell him to tie his bed-clothes
together, and let himself down from the window on the leads,
in the dead of to-morrow night, and then to make for the creek,
where he will find you, your bf>bo, and the boat awaiting him."
" Oh ! yer honour," said Mary, " how will I ever thank yor ?
But will not my poor Rob be overheard and stopped P "
" No ; I've managed all that.'*
" The Saints and the BUssed Virgin reward yor as yer de-
serves ! " said Nora.
Wilfred winced and shuddered.
" I understand, it's gold is the key as will let my Rob out.
And is there no odor hope ? If they will find him guilty that's
innocent of all but shooting wild things, which, we both thinks.
He who cares for the Poor and feeds the ravens sint more for
them, than for the Rich ; for haven't you yor Cfi] ons' and yer
ducks, and yor noble jints, and hot soups, and sw .en. ad wo
almost dying of hunger, agra? Very true, it's p.v,>.h' ,c J. law;
and Rob's being a poacher will set all the judge;^ agamst him."
" He has no other chance ; will you do what I have explained
to you P"
•'Och hone! och hone!" cried the poor wife. "I'm sorely
ten, ted; but what's to become of his good name P"
"Vv - " 't' ould not suppress a ghastly smile at the thought of
the i^-y. nam( jf Rough Rob, the notorious poacher.
" Osi}. :o.'.:e I" she ?' led, glancing mournfully at the babe in
the < '{..die " Maybe, <i' I consint, the day'll come when they'll
up and teii thee, my darlint, that thy dad was a murtherer— a
base dog, that bit the hand that had often fed and stroked him.
And my friends, masther — my lord, I mane — they were dead
agin the match ; for though I came over here a poor raper, my
great-grandmother, on mother's side, rode in her coanh and
four; and the blood of the 6'Rourkes, that's fader's side, once
flowed in the veins of an ould Irish king, and now to come to
1 HE escaj
mind of i
of evidea
oil would bo
Rob whoro-
mpo P He's
y should ho
)ndomnod —
WoU, as I
re my poor
iiity for you
lis window.
It is called
n booth, for
thin spring,
bed-clothoa
n iho loads,
)r the creek,
dting him."
thank yor ?
dP"
r as yer de-
ny Rob ouc.
juilty that's
3oth thinks,
nt more for
)n5i' and yer
•et:i, ,;nd wo
I'm i.lr law;
iiunst him."
re explained
'I'm sorely
thought of
r.
the babe in
vhen they'll
urtherer — a
troked him.
' were dead
r raper, my
co.ich and
s side, once
' to come to
Ouil/y, or mt OuiUy.
u V ■; - * «"iur luiinono'
J otifhri'ik from ifc flmnp' v r.w" ",'."'"""" "^'"''wst I"
R^vmuniboi. 1 warHo ; '" ill ?^«"^'" '^^ .^^ob Htun.1 hi« trial.
iho nock till ho is aZl 'cTeadT d^ad ! '• ^ «"^^^' '^"^ ^^^^^ '>y
her fivjjy bosom. "No no no n.?f If^ ^''''''' **"^ '^^'^ting
iaea^ZrZn?'^''' ''''' ^^" -^i^^' ^0- c^ot endure the
tubs.'^ Fn prayt" lim^fo^^^^^^^^ ''f ^"^« ^^^ «^- »"- the
yet I may not be act ing hko aCl 1 '''' ^"'•.^'^y'" «"ko; u„d
mnicent, and yet would have hKn^""^'*^ "I-'f^' ^"^ ^ ''"^w him
longcircuLusJt^^^^^^^^^^^^
poSnralSl^S^^^^^^^^ ^-t discontent and disap.
no trace was discovered of him or hif^.-f^'^S ^" P^^^s^it ; bit
It was not till he had been So fwni ^^i ^""^ ^^^^^- ^^ fact,
gave the alarm. ^'*''° ^^^^^^ ^ours that the jailed
toS'lSlft^tre'^^^^^^^^ ^-fh Robhadagreed
were hunting wooLannoves S^^^ ^^^ K
town rooms and country hovels Rou^^^^^
child, were sailing across the briad pSifi ""^'A^^'i^T,^'" ^^^^ ^«d
heart was hght, for he wn« ?r.^^ V^^^f ' ^^ ^^ough Rob's
world to eacf other as Tong as Th v' ^^ ?' '^^^ ""''' ^" *^'
Mary cared not whither the^y ^ent ^ ^^ *°^^^^^^' ^° ^^d his
But even he could nnf l Tow i
hind, and he m^de^C M^; seek 3T"5^S^^'« °^"^^ ^^-
exact a promise from him t^^We ^n J"^""^ Hauteville. and
cover the real murderer ami f^^ ""P. «*o°« unturned to dis-
black a blot, the name of Rough Rob. ' ^''^ *° '^'^' ^^"^ ««
CHAPTER IV
THE escape of Roue-h Pr^K i «. " , -^-'-" ^i«uy.
mind ofWone !tw^''eWdenT/°;'"/'''« ««"* »- the
Of .rideace that ^ould'to Z^t ^Zll^' "^ '''^ «»»««
18
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
His crafty and daring r>scape was a nino days' wonder, and
then other events occurred to excite and occupy pubUc atten-
tion, and Eough Eob sank into comparative oblivion.
Nearly a year had passed, and Wilfred, Lord Hauteville, had
hoped that when Rough Rob was far away, and the perils of the
trial were averted, he should be able to sleep and rest. Alas !
like Macbeth, he had " murdered sleep," and driven rest from
his life and soul.
The old Earl had always lived in comparative solitude. He
was a lonely being, and had but one passion, almost always cul-
tivated in soHtude— Avarice. To hoard was his great delight ;
the chink of the ruddjr gold was the only sound he loved to
hear ; money-bags and iron chests were his chosen companions.
This vice, for surely it is a vice, and a very mean one, hke
Moses' rod, swallowed up all others.
As a young man he had been proud, vain, and a great wor-
shipper of beauty, as his marriage proved. He had been am-
bitious. Now he was nothing but a miser. And he spent as
much time, and used as many arts to conceal his hoards and to
tell them over, as if the ghttering piles were not his own by
right, but stolen from others. He had no interest in his son,
or in anything but his gold.
^ And Lord Hauteville's loneliness had become so odious and
intolerable — for a bad conscience is a guest never so unendur-
able as in solitude — ^that he resolved to marry ; to marry some
heiress, who would rejoice to barter her wealth for a title and a
future coronet, and with whom he could live in the gay world,
whose noise, tumult, and din would, he hoped, drown the " still
small voice."
There was a lady of fabulous wealth, on whom Wilfred had
long cast an eye. She belonged to his own county, and lived
in a new but gorgeous hall, some fifteen miles from Rockalpine
Castle. Her father was one of the greatest of our princely
coal-masters. He was a self-made man ; and was M.P. for the
northern division of his native county.
Sir James Armstrong was a very fine, manly fellow; but
Miss Armstrong, though pretty and accompMshed, was, at heart,
vulgar, ambitious, and ashamed of her poor relations and low
origin, and resolved to obtain that unquestionable rank and po-
sition which a grand marriage alone would ensure. She had
always intended to be mamed to Lord Hauteville ; and thouo-h
he at whoni she had aimed was in his grave, yet a Lord HaiMe-
ville was still to be had, and she resolved to have him. Worldly
as she was, she was oniy seventeen, and singularly elegant and
pretty.
> Lord Hauteville, having ascertained that Pride had been so
completely swamped by Avarice in his father's breast that he
mnder, and
iblic atten-
i.
teville, had
)erils of the
est. Alas !
n rest from
litude. He
always cul-
at delight;
tie loved to
Qmpanions.
Q one, like
great wor-
d been am-
fcie spent as
irds and to
his own by
in his son,
odious and
unendur-
larry some
title and a
gay world,
1 the " still
'ilfred had
, and lived
Rockalpine
ir princely
:.P. for the
bllow; but
IS, at heart,
IS and low
ak and po-
She had
nd though
)rd Haute-
Worldly
egant and
d been so
it that hQ
I Guilty, or Not Ouilty, 19
i was willing to receive the low-bom heu-ess as a daughter-iu-
- law, resolved to wait on the young lady.
He determined to ride over to Armstrong Hall, quietly and
unattended. He had now a great dread, a vague but terrible
dread, of servants gossip, and so he would not take a groom
lie was too great, and his position too lofty and too well under-
stood, tor ^im to care, hke a meaner suitor, for pomp or display.
1' ^'^Ti.'^ld ride over and see the young lady, and, if she
welcomed him, he would make very short work of it, and get
ner to name the day. *
It was a glorious morning in August. The sun shone as it
does m Italy. Its intense brilliancy created a solitude on the
moors, grouse shooting had not yet commenced, and the fo-
rests and the woods were cool and pleasant in comparison.
L.ord Hauteville rode over to Armstrong Hall. He was kept
some time waiting before the young lady appeared. She was
making an elaborate toilet. At length she appeared, over-
dressed, but looking very pretty. She proposed to show Lord
I iiauteviUe a new annual m her own parterre. She culled for •
' If ^*.u A*^"^f ^? ^^^y ^^^g** ^"^^ of a pale lilac, which was
I caUed the Annabella, after herself
I Wim-ed held, for a moment, the Mr Httle hand which, with-
I ou^ a flutter, remained in his, saying,
; _ " WiU you make this heart's-ease an everiasting flower, bv
i gmng me the hand that offers it ? " ® **«»"/
The young lady replied,
" If papa consents, I agree."
J And thus did the young lord propose, and thus did the younff
lady accept. They were both young, both beautiful-a blue sk?
above them, and flowers of every hue at their feet. But this
world was too much with them— and their troth was plighted,
without a blush on the part of the maiden, or a quickened pulse
on that of the suitor. ^
Lord HauteyiUe left Armstrong Hall, and, remounting his
P^^JJ' took ills lonelv way back to the castle.
i^.7^ 1 ? ^^™sed the moor, just where it adjoined, on one side,
Si 1 ixr ' ^ , *^^''' circuitous bridle-road, and, on the other, the
iilack Wood,he overtook ataU,shght female form, which suddenly
w "f ""R. S^ Y^^^? ^^^?^ furze-bush, and rushed wildly oh
towards tlie Black Wood. TW form was very wasted, the dress
Z^.^}^'^ ?^' uncared for; the long golden hair streamed
over the shoulders ; there was no hat, hood, or bonnet on the little
urecian nead: but thprfi wajo nwr^oofu ^.p^-^aa a •
corn, and grass, an Opheha wreath— round the pale brow.
,,.f Hauteville grew ghastly pale. He felt, though he did
w^f!^ I % u t' ^^ ?''^^^, ^^^ ^°^ ^o^^ed fo^^ was BO
wasted— he felt he gazed on Clarissa !
c 2
20
Guiltij, or Not Quilty,
He had heard nothing, seen nothing, of that hapless girl since
after h'er ^""'^^' ^' ^ ^"* ^^'^^ *° ^^^^ Lr, of S^
He dreaded her anguish, her despair. And there she was
and-ohl hoiTor of horrors !-the s^'s rays flamed on somel
thing she held in her hand. It was a knife !
Instmctively Lord HauteviUe foUowed her.
«T,ilWK ^\ T"^' passing unheeded the water, across the
folSZl r ' ??^^^*^r,«itl^« dark wood, and ins inctively he
&d'a& cS:r ' "-^^ '^^ P^"^' ""^^ ^- *« - *-' -d
,-„'??^f-L^^^^^*^ • ®^® ^^^ stopped where the evergreens fence
^a^e'of llT'^'^'^P^'^^^^^^^ ^^' ' i^l^-dbeen^a ?J^sUng!
" S^e has heard that he died there," said Wilfred to himself
and there she means to kill herself." nimseii,
And, at the thought, he darted forward, and, just as she knelt
on the spot where he had faUen, the fratricide stole behind her
and snatched the upraised knife from her hand. '
. Ha, ha! is it youP " shrieked Clarissa, the fire of madness
m her eyes "And you wiU not let me join him? HiXhisti
do you not ^ow he was mine ? Mine through time and throu Jh
eternity ! Ha, ha ha ! I saw it all in a driam. Murderer C
Fratricide !-you have killed my darling ! " '
Hush, hush! "said Lord HauteviUe, "you are mad' vou
rave ! Let me take you home to your father's house, t^^ IZ
stajong there ? Have you escape'd P Where would yo^o P
To him ! to him ! to him !" shrieked the manias, teargi/up
the Se' ^^^""^^^^ *« g^* fr^^' «^d to reposse;s herTeWf
he^tSef ir^'^ ^ut ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^--^' -^ tol^y^
nnwl^'f '''T ^^^ J>u^ ^'^ discovered; she had been at home
only a few days, and her stepmother and her attendants were in
search of her. Mr. Croft was from home. He was In? S
search of some asylum where she could be placed ™al?y, fo?
her malady had been increased by her return to her home^
Mrs. Croft was young and pretty, but a very artful time-
serving, hard woman ; sle expressed the greatest gratUudTto
Lord HauteviUe, who fully impressed upon her th^at Clarissa
Croft ought to be placed in a private lunatic asylum as he?
mmd was corapletefy gone. He th^n fnot \.\. wal w,f iif?
the echo of Clarissa's shrieks long rung in~his eaTf ' ^
By degrees she became calm, and so rational that she was al-
lowed to return to the charge of that kind aunt who had been
Guilty, or Not Guilty. 21
. as a mother to her Here her malady took the form of a settled
■ melancholy varied by occasional affecting intervals of half,
crazy, half-frantic mirth. Here, too, she was allowed the solace
■ of the (H)mpany of her child-a child bom in secrecy, a noble
httle fellow, about three years of age
Her chief amusement was to twine bridal wreaths and bou-
quets, and throw a long muslin scarf over her head Uke a veil,
and then, with a garland on her forehead, she would kneel be'
fore a couch, as if it were an altar, and place a chaplet on the
head of her child, and call him her Hauteville
r.o?"?i. ^^ ! ^^^ \^'^^ engaged in the room appropriated to
her-(lier aunt was hvmg in a suburb of London, and Clarissa's
expenses were defrayed by her father)-when that father ac!
compamed by his young wife, arrived at her aunt's. Mrs. j£l
ionrwr* Pi^-"'"' ^^^ ^'- ^'^^^ ^^ o^c^ proceeded to the
room where Clarissa was.
As he opened the door, his sly, smiling wife by his side a
spasm contracted his heart and brow. ^ "^ '*" "J" ""^ ^^^®' ^
There was that wreck of beauty, talent, love !
Ihere was Clarissa-poor, crazy Clarissar-veiled, wreathed
kneehng before a couch, which she called the altar. a™own:
ing with flowers the head of the little child, whom she ad
Sla^^dTh".''""'?"'?'-;' ^.^^^ ^^«- Croft perZaded her
?n?fTi ^ *^^* ^ ?ri^^^ ^^°^*^« ^«yl^^ ^as the only fit place
^t^:Z:^^:^^' '' was veiy dangerous to trust'the ?hild
tXh'^tL'S'''' ^^' ^""f, ^^r/^ *« a P^i^ate mad-house,
httle boy. ^^^ ' ^""^ ■^''' ^"""^^ *°°^ ^^^^g^ o^ t^^
The parting from her child was the overflowing drop in
Clarissa s cup of bitters. She did not survive her Removal o
The Happy Home " more than a month.
The same day that saw Clarissa laid in her quiet grave at
fMTnPZjT^' '7 ^°r^ HauteviUe united to Annabe^a, only
and thl ZTf^^!^S^''''^' ^^^*-' ^■^'' of Armstrong Park,
wealth chuckling over this addition to the family
CHAPTER y.
"S.K,'^"* T?"^; ' ^*" give thee this plague for thy dowry-
Jhn^'lV.n^'/''^^ ^^ ^''^' «« P"^« «« unsunned BDow,^ ^^
p< f-.,!.?roi5j. Hamlet.
TH^REjras a good deal of whispering among the old maids
nPptrZi ! country town nearest to Kockalpine), and scraggy
necks were stretched, and quaint old heads met over the te?-
22
Ouilty, or Mt Guilty.
to Croft Villa abeaSrM litfi. vT "j??, •"•ought back with him
called his era^dsZ Thl it m^ °^ '•''T 5"'="'^ °'''- '^t"'" 1>«
dood wore Ed Mrs Croft'"''* ™ '" "'«'? "•"■^"S. as in-
an'^o^h^'* ™' named Arthur Bertram, a.d was introduced as
attacked by Sffevfr^^ heart that she had been
flveptedgeTofter aSfe^i^'^tht^^^PT'?'*'^ ^^ '-d with
ss-d "- «^^^^ 5^«:"i^h4tri^^dTc^^'s
^df^ffiv""* V "^J " *"™«J o"?«act^rtheXj°C*'
an-df^hJ fXr^Sret^eSTffL^Tf-^
provision for the litUe Sr^Snate ^K th'rh^''^ ""f ^ "?
at once to some orphan asylum ^''""''' """* ■■« ''as not sent
baSrd^-c^l'^dtr^lfe^sStt ''slT™/'^'''' «^^^-'
=ti-\rLa^v-^r'5?SB^^^^^^^^
s=Tn^d'L^o';?:,rK^,SS5 K^^^^^^^
^ff,??„t^.''l*?">d -*,{i™ on to an'e\t:mroSt:" tT^
Tning, as in-
ntroduced as
Guilty, or Not Guilty. £3
: the two thousand per annum which his murdered brother had
■ enjoyed, and an estate of considerable value, which his father's
mother had entailed on the eldest surviving son of the house of
Kockalpme and which was to be his absolutely on his attaining
the age of twentv-fiye. This estate, which was called BeecS
Park, was m Berkshire, close to Windsor Forest, and it in due
time became the country seat of Lord and Lady HauteviUe
Lord Hauteville was, of course, in his inner self, a. miserable
man, for the consciousness of guilt sat heavy on his soul, and
the possibihty of detection often palsied him Vith fear. But he
tried to lose the memory of the Past in poUtical excitement!
He entered Parhament, he studied oratory, and became a
popular speaker He appHed himself to finance, and b^amo
useful to his party. He set charities on foot, promoted Se
bmldmg of schools and reformatories, and the ameUoration of
prison disciphne. His name headed every subscription for the
good of the masses. He had a morbid craving for that poudar
esteem, which he weU knew he had forfeited; andhew6rked
incessantly to obtain present power and popularity, and to
drown thoughts of the future an^ the past. ^^"^"j"' ^^ *<^
In ;^8 own family, he was cold, stern, reserved; but he let
Lady HauteviUe have her own way, and aUowed her to spend aa
brou hThii a considerable portion of the income sL ha4
There was no affe#on, no sympathy between them ; but then
por. op, there was none of the jealousy of love, none of its
dissensions. Whatever other noblemen twho stood high a^
husbands and fathers) did by their wives and chUdren. hi did^
and the world quoted him as amoral man, a religious man a
good husband, and , model father ! '
iCT^i^^ rt^' ^^ ^% ^^ ^^u ""f ^^^ • " "^^^ ^o^ld Kttlo dreamt
that the hand so ready with the annual subscription or the
large donation was red with a brother's blood ; or that the ereat
reformer, who was so anxious about the moral improvementand
sanitary condition of our prisons, ought to be hin^self a prisoner
in I^ewgate, and to cross its threshold only for the scaffold
lime roUed on ; Lord HauteviUe stood very high both idth
the few in power and with the many to whom tfey owe that
£r^'':i, ^A }^}'^^'' for some time member for iockalpine
when the death of one of the county members gave him an on
portimity of offering himself as a candidate fof noStbu L"
one of the M.P.'s for North N . His poUtics and prSe'
were of the popular kmd (then in the ascendant). His fam 1 v
. -J Qrv.jit;, lixvr xiOuivaipiiiu property was verv
large ; but the election was fiercely contested by two other can
didatea. of even greater family wealth and influence; and yet
Lord HauteviUe was returned. His reputation carried it I
24
GuiUy^ or Mi Chiiliy.
So good, so gifted, so useful ! A man not merely of such
Tirtuous and noble thoughts and principles, but a man of action,
too ! A moral man, a pious man, a good churchman. Not a
fay man ; there were no sad stories afloat about him. It was a
erce contest, and a great triumph, and it was followed by a
greater still.
A change in the ministry caused three important vacancies.
One of them was offered to Lord Hauteville. He had always
longed for office— not merely on account of the power it gave
him, but for the sake of the absorbing occupation it ensured,
the engrossing labour it compelled. These promised a safe and
constant refuge from thought.
^ Of course, previous to his accepting the office, he had to re-
sign his seat, and to be re-elected. He did not feel quite safe
and secure of re-election ; for not only a guilty conscience made
him afraid of everything and everybody, but he had received
several anonymous letters, written in a mysterious, a menacing,
and to him a very startling tone ; warnmg him that he had a
secret foe, and that he had better not carry his head so high,
nor look down on better men than himself; that he was not
horn to he drowned, and was better known than he imagined.
To any man of Lord Hauteville's position, blest with " the
Ermcely heart of innocence," these anonymous attacks would
ave api)eared as the result of private or political pique, and he
would either have burnt them at once, o» have put them into
the hands of a detective.
But not so Lord Hauteville. They drove the blood from his
cheek, they shook Mm as the ague might have done. They
made his flesh creep, his 'knees knock together, his head swim,
and his heart sink.
They might mean nothing ; they were couched in the ordi-
nary cant of those meanest of the weapons of vulgar, coward,
and vile enmity— anonymous letters. The words " not horn to
he drowned " would have made an innocent man of Lord Haute-
ville's rank, station, and reputation laugh ; but to him, the
murderer, the fratricide, who knew in his secret heart that he
deserved to be hanged, those words made him feel as if a rope
were tightening itself round his throat.
However, after the first servile palsy of fear, he roused him-
self. He thrust the letters into the fire; and hearing that
Lady Hauteville was still asleep (she had been up late at a ball
the night before), he set ofi'for Cumbercourt (where he wp<,s ex-
pected), resolved to do his utmost to ensure his re-election ; for
of course on that re-election his being in office depended. Mr.
Croft, his father's agent and lawyer, had a good deal to do with
the election ; and as Lord Hauteville had a nervous horror of
Croft Villa, he sent for Mr. Croft to the Castle.
I
y of such
of action,
a. Not a
It waa a
wed by a
vacancies,
id always
ir it gave
ensured,
I safe and
lad to re-
quite safe
snce made
I received
nenacing,
he had a
so high,
' was not
agined.
rith " the
ks would
e, and he
hem into
from hia
e. They
ad swim,
the ordi-
, coward,
t horn to
d Haute-
him, the
that he
if a rope
led him-
ng that
at a ball
! WP.S ex-
ion ; for
id. Mr.
do with
Lorror of
I
OuiUij, or Mt Guilty. 25
Mr. Croft in his heart owed Lord Hautcville many a bitter
grudge. Mr. Croft was a man of very humble origin, and was
mean enough to be ashamed of what ought to have been his
pride and glory, namely, that he was a self-made man. He had
been a charity or blue-coat boy at N ; and when Hautevillo
was a younger son, and very haughty, insolent, and overbearing,
he once forgot himself so far as to remind Mr. Croft of his
origin, and that in presence of several strangers. This he did
in revenge for Mr. Croft's complaining to the Earl of the young
gentleman's breaking down hisfences.and treading down his corn.
Mr. Croft was not a noble-hearted man. He never forgave
the boyish affront.
However, it was now Lord Hauteville's policy to conciliate
Mr. Croft, and Mr. Croft appeared to be conciliated. He was
always rather stiff and cold certainly ; but he professed to be
at his lordship's service, while in heart he was as bitter as ever.
On his arrival at Kockalpine, Lord Hauteville, as usual, waited
on the old Earl, who, disturbed in counting over some gold,
which he hastily thrust into a drawer, paid little attention to
his son's plans and projects. While the son was sitting (as a
mere form) opposite to his father, Mr. Croft was announced.
Lord Hauteville soon arranged matters with him, and the
lawyer took his leave. Lord Hauteville then strolled out.
It was a lovely spring day, or rather evening, and Lord
Hauteville walked briskly on, to look at the young plantations,
and, as he rambled along some newly-made paths, unexpectedly
to himself he came to the entrance of the Black Wood. By
this time the shades of evening were closing in, and the Black
Wood looked blacker than ever.
In spite of himself his eye would try to pierce those deep,
mysterious shades ; and the memorjr of the dreadful crime he
had committed there, came back on his mind with the freshness
of yesterday ; when suddenly a tall, hooded female form in
black advanced to the entrance opposite to which he stood, and
beckoned him to follow her into the wood. Mechanically he
obeyed. The "Woman in Bla<!k" led the way, until they
reached the httle grassy amphitheatre where the fratricide had
slain his brother !
Lord Hauteville recoiled. The woman, who was a little in
advance of him, turned back, approached him, seized him by
the arm, and half persuaded, half compelled him to enter the en-
closure. She then threw back the hood that had concealed her
face, and Lord Hauteville recognised Eough Rob's handsome
Irish wife, Mary.
" I have bickoned you here, my lord," she said, " because
we'll not be interrupted here. The people say the place is
haunted, yer honour ; and they'll kip clear of it, anyhow."
.._■- .J
2G
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
" But what do you want with me, Mary p " said Lord Hautc-
ville, sternly.
" Eob's wid me," she said.
" Where P and what of that P "
"He repints that he did not stand his thrial, yer honour.
He's sure he'd have been acquitted, because ho knows he's in-
nicent. And we don't hke Australy, noways. We've lost all
our childrin ; we can't rare a Hving child noways out +here, yer
honour ; and it breaks our hearts to see 'em die, and to have to
lay 'em in that unnat'ral soil, so far from home, where tho
flowers have no swate smill, nor the birds no song. We've
thried now many a long year, and we're heart-sick wid it, and
that's the blessed truth ! And we can't make both inds meet,
noways. And you've been the friend in need till us, and so
we're come to tell you all, and consult wid yer honour. We've
a good chance in Ameriky, where I've kith and kin ; but we
want a good lump of money, and then Eob could jine in partner-
ship wid my cousin, Mike O'Eourke, and git on a bit, and pay
yer honour the money he owes you, back agin when we've got
smooth a bit, and aren't drove as we are now. Mike has got a
tidy bit of money to invist, and has been unkimmin kind, and
spent a sight in bringing us over here, and fitting Eob up
dacent ; but we tould him we'd a good, grand friend, who'd help
us, may be, when he heerd the rights on it. And oust up in tho
world a little, Eob 'ud come over, and shtand his thrial like an
innicent man as he is. And he says he'd have all the best
la-wyers and counsillors in England; and he's certain his in-
nicence would. be proved, and the guilty would be deticted."
Lord Hauteville winced, turned pale, and averted his eyes
from Mary's flashing glance and ammated face.
^ " If not, he's for giving himself up to be thried at onst ; and
I've had hard work to hinder him. But I owns I remimbera
yer honour's words, and I dreads the verdict, innicent as I
knows Eob to be."
" Where is poor Eob ?" said Lord Hauteville, tenderly, and
as if he felt deeply for him.
" He's jist hiding up till dark, in the ould cabin on the moor.
We found it as we Uft it, yer honour. No one has ever thried
to live there, because they think it was a murtherer's house,
and that my young lord's sperit walks there ! Well, Eob's
hiding there-, and he bade me (for I'd heard you were
expicted the day) to be on the look-out to spake wid yer
honour, and to say, if you'll lave the library winder opin, as
you used to do in the dear ould davSj when '^ov. .and
young murthered lord were lads, he'll come round
to spake wid yer honour."
"Tell him I shall expect him, Mary," said Lord Hauteville,
- • . > • ivttx
idnight
'
^•liBte -^^"^^ J]
Ouiliyy or Not OuiUij.
27
putting some gold into her hot trembling hand. "And hid
him keep close, or they'll nalj him ; and if they do, innocent
though he be, they'll hang him."
The wife turned deadly pale, and hurried off at these words,
after dropping a very low, rustic curtsey to his lordship, and
calling on the Blessed Virgin and Rob's patron saint to reward
him as he deserved ; and Lord Ilauteville, thrilled with horror
to find himself standing on the very spot where his brother
fell, slain by him, gazed around him with a glance of terror.
As he did so, the moon came out — the full moon — and lighted
up the tree at whose base his brother had fallen. To his
horror, he saw that the exact date of the murder was cut in the
bark, and his murdered brother's initials, and his own also.
They were picked out with red — that sort of raddle with which
sheep are marked ; and under his brother's monogram was a
coffin, and under his own a coronet, while a little lower down,
t(f his dismay, he saw a gallows deeply cut into the bark of the
old tree, marked out in black, and the motto, "I bide my
TIME !" legibly chiselled above it.
Who had done all that P and what did it mean P Hauteville's
heart beat high against his cold breast, as he sped, like one
pursued, back to the Castle.
# * « # «
At midnight, a taj5 at the library window (which he had left
partly open) made him start.
He hastened to see who was there, and — though looking
older, |terner, stouter, and more respectable than of yore — he
recognised Rough Rob. His sunburnt face was pressed against
the glass of the window, which flattened his nose, and gave him
a strange, ogreish, unnatural appearance.
The interview was not a pleasant one; for when Lord
Hauteville, seeing Rough Rob almost decided on standing his
trial, started from his chair with assumed fierceness, and
called him a fool, a doomed, predestined, obstinate, pig-headed
victim. Rough Rob answered angrily, and was about to leave
the room, with the words —
" I may be a fool, my lord, and I may be a victim, but I'm
not a murderer. And if I don't give myself up like an inno-
cent man now, at oust, and stand my trial, I'll not die till I've
done it. And I only gives in now because of Mary being so
dead agen it, and a man standing so poor a chance if he've got
no friend in his pocket to help him."
" Well," said Lord Hauteville, " Mary has told me of your
them. Name the sum you want, and you shall have it. But
get out of this neighbourhood at once, or, as sure as you stand
there, you'll be taken, tried, and hanged,'*
28
(Guilty, or Mt Ouiliy.
, "I don't beliovo it, my lord." said Unh «t i i-
innoccnoo would ho mado Hnn^ oo ,\ 7' ^ beliovo my
poZtToolf-aTfiCmli^r^ Hautovillo. taking out his
Sow, in Healen Wme^o^^yru'fe^^^^ ^''' ^'^^^'''^
God in Heaven ' Ston f rif 1„ "" ^'f^''* ^' f "^^ ^s there's- a
-I was goinTto d^iVTivertrirsJrZ'Crr ' ^^^^^^T
await me at t^e cross-road on the moor^ni ?"" ^''^ ^"^^'
back on some pretext or anof Tip^L^ t • • " ^^"^^ "7 P^^o™
take up Mary at the old hSt a'^ T'n ? f^ •'"^'^ ?^"- ^^'" *^^^
minutes' walk of the station '' '"^ ^°^ ^°^" ^^^^^ fi^«
andRranThis^^^frgS^^^^^^^^
joined Mike O'RouJke at hi. In/-''"'^^^ ^^*^^ '"^^l *^^in.
ultimately sailed foriLrLf. IS^''^ '"^ ^*- '^^^««'«' ^nd
real culprit. ^^^erica, to the unspeakable relief of the
CHAPTER VI.
vvith little to wish or to fear •
^.2{!r' '''*". ''^ P'««««°t as hers,
T.^ TT ^'«*»t^OTlew her enjoying it iiere." Cowper
aXoX'^'H^'rraUag^^^^^^^ --' -^culating,
andpower.^ s£ lonS fo be n ^f "JO^^J gave her position
coronet and robes SeHnL!: TS*^'"' ^^^ *« «^<^' ^^ her
sions; and she Sdld th^ oM °^ ^^^^"z ^° ^^^ ^^^^ occa-
protr^ted exiSeTandl W^^^^^^^ ^arl at Roekalj^ine, his
he should live onAn-Km?^^^^^^^^
mostof theadvantJeslheL^lo ^''l^''^7^^ *« ^ake the
peer's eldest son ^ ^''^ ^""'^^^ ^^ ^er union with a
fans, that >arvJ^t^s wer^ «n ^^^^^\said, behind their
not Exactly lirSrpropTe.''bv^rw'/''^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^
august, hi^h-bred, hLghty selvel £t «S^ S'^?*' ^1!^^ *^^^^
be haughty too, aid offen bv JSl ■ ^^^ HauteviUe could
them to* court W Mv *g,^,^^^^„^ Whence, she compelled
Omlty, or Nut Guilty. 29
dressed to such perfection— (taking care to get all her things
Ironi the niillinera and mantua-makers of Eugdnio, Empress of
tno J^ ronch)— that she set the fashions in England. She knew
when to bo grand and defiant, and when to bo humblo and
concihatmg.
She had a son and three daughters, born in the early years
ot her marriage ; and six years later, a fourth girl came into
the world, unwelcome and unwished - for ; somehow, her
arrival interfered with some fashionable arrangements of her
worldly mother's; and as she was rather a delicate, sickly
child, and did not possess the regular beauty of her elder
Bisters, Lady Hauteville from the first treated her rather as an
intruder, and took no interest whatever in her.
The pride (which she called maternal affection) with which
she regarded her boy, her son, her heir (the future Earl of
llockalpine), and even her three elder girls— had uo part in her
leelmgs towards poor little Edith.
To add to this worldly mother's disHko, the poor little girl,
left m her lonely, deserted, but once bustling, merry nursery,
to the care of servants, met with an accident while the family
were staying on an annual visit to the old Earl at Eockalpino.
Ihe doctors decided that the spine was injured, and they
announced, in conclave, that they much feared that Edith
would be a cripple.
Thev said she must live entirely in the country, and not far
Irmn the sea, and must remain constantly in a rechning posture.
Edith, at this time, was eight years of age. Her three
sisters were respectively eighteen, seventeen, and sixteen, and
her brother fourteen. As Lady Hauteville had resolved that
very spring to present her two elder daughters, Augusta and
Creorgina, she was not at all disposed to postpone a matter of
such "importance"— in her opinion— for the sake of poor little
Edith.
_ At the same time, she knew that Lord Hauteville would not
risk the censure of the httle world of Alnwick and Rockalpine
by neglecting the doctor's advice about the poor little invalid.
However, diplomacy, and the spirit of manoeuvering came to
her aid.
Two vears before Edith's accident she had made a long stay
at Rockalpine Castle (for the air of the north was considered
ora^mg for Edith) ; and the old miser Lord, hearing that little
Edith, who was his favourite, was ordered to spend the summer
b^ the sea, had proposed, as a saving of expense, that she
snould sta^ with her nui'se at the castle ; and, in acQordance
with his wish, she had been left there for several months with
one female attendant.
She had been much courted during her stay at Rockalpine
4
80
Ouilbj, or Mt Oullty,
company but his monoy.ba« '^,.^'^,■,1^^^^^
P'tyjng nature made hor cE oven t f In V''^^' ^^'^^^^^ '«^i«g.
would sometimes knock at ifsdnnr ^^^?,f^°^«' P';«y old man.
flowers and coax him out for a wairfn Tl' * ^'^'^'^^^ «^ ^"'1
or by the sea. And the rnU '^'*'^/" ^*^o sun, or the woods.
fond of the only thin f>?of' '^^''^'^' '""^^7 old man trrew
and a sort o? Unlhin tew ^in T] ^''^^ J'''^ ^^^P^'^^
liatures. '"^ ^^^^^ "P between tlieso opposito
^^:^^ IZl noThaVS f T ^^'-^^ ^^ —
civil and concihatory to Mr ProV "^^ '^5"^'^' ^'^^ always very
visit she paid to Mrs Croft rS?^ ' ?^ ^"^^ Hauteville, in a
wish to 4ve EcSat RoXw'ti^rf^^^^ ^'^^"^1-'
sacrificing her eldest daiin^hfor'^ ' ^^^ *^^ impossibility of
Iitte invalid to a s^rvaWat Mrrr'^S'^'^^"^
of the young lady, a^d to^-^o w Z''^* offered to take cfargo
and the greatest care and S nf?!.^''''^ 5°f '^^'« advantage,
Mrs. Croft did not s^aTord abon7' ^""^ *'"^?" "'^^^^"g
mont, as connected with thiTmaf fit i ^^.P^^^^iary arrange-
"loney, and had an eye io the Zl Av, ""* '^° ^.^' ^^^3^ ^ond of
"lade. Mr. Croft, X was ^mo-.f f'" '"^ i*^." P"«P««^1 «he
every other respect was rT^? n= . * *f ^'Pecked husband in
of liis cheque.bo':>k!;nTpVrse ' l&TsVt '"^^^"^^ "^««*-
whateyer was paid for the board nn^i™^^ ''^."t"^^^ «« that
be received by herself so thTlhn ^ fe"^?'"^ °^ ^f^ith should
}n every expensive wWm of Lr . ^^^S ^^ ^"^^^^^ *« indulge
he^pet, Eoger. ""^ ^''^ «^^ ^^^^^^t son, her idol and
brin?hini™to\tej^^^^^ ^%^^-> object was to
for him), Roger himself; and Wslnd mn't^ '^^ % ^V"^ ^^^^y
■Roger wished to be a liian of fL^ ^^^i^^^' ^ad other views.
;«en; f id even at Eton he trie&^^n p'^ *• mix with noble-
of wealth and liberaUty "^^ ^'^ ^^^^^^^ <^lio reputation
himjf MrrSrp^^^^^^^^^ "HeE^^"!f ."^?^ ^^« ^^^^ told
handsome stipend forSh's b?ard^n''/i ^S ^^' P^^^ent of a
he neyer went to the ■\^ir-L^f ?; T^ ^""^S^g; and though
spot in which his brother had brp!f^^ i^ ^^^^ ^^^^or of the
-g those door steps which had'St^^^^^^^ «f -^-d-
■-"e-uiuua— lie ijot the niri tTo^i +" ■"•''-^-^ "■'^" tnat brother's
I
ff
resery
loves,
that it
intere.s
Bad
bad fee
But
Lorraii
Her hf
might
rippled
horse-a
Her
to them
features
Edith
of fire a:
iihe littl(
With
and thre
the shor
decide p(
with wo
might en
As it 1
reclining
all the pl(
been into
and devoj
rrntoful for
(loliffhfc in
in that of
Ml at first
18, with no
•so loving,
' old man,
fc of wild
ho woods,
nan jf^ew
company;
opi)osito
ho novor
rays very
'illo, in a
)lend her
ibility of
Jting the
e charge
vantage,
irsing.
irrange-
fond of
osal aho
>and in
master
i so that
should
indulge
lol and
was to
: ready
views,
noble-
itation
ytold
t of a
lough
f the
cend-
iher'a
?Mr.
36 of
G^uilty, or Not QuiUy, gj
a?Sfc'v1lla:' ^'""' ^'''•^"goments al^out tho abode of Edith
brougham, to rcSo at rrnrvr'?'^ °"". "^ ^'^- ^>'>ft'«
"well, I'm Very glXmtW^^^^^ ^""^ iT- '^^^^^^^^^o period.
Bad thing if your prosT^^^^^ It would mdoed. have been a
on account of poo^r Sh nn^f"^ Gcorgma'shad been delayed
lundly offered toTkfwLw ^''\'{^^^- Croft had not so
" I sunnoso «L ^ Tl ^^""^ ''^"'^ ^'^^'^ been done P"
andwK;mLra''saTd'Mr7"^^ ''r ^'''^ ^-^^P'^Pa
manners. She his no rtiil ' '''"' *""■ dixpoaition or hor
loves, Ton wmMt?o7j'l„-™'"'"°-''''''''™i >»" I »»g. my
that it is b«l taste Zft t "/'""' '"'""•• ""li <»" m™lid anj
interest inTr ?• "' '*""' '° "«'"* '» ftjol ^ affeotiinato
ba|tS?„t!ith':r cat^ttKe-'"''^ that it was ve^
Lor^lT^f^t rS'c?[Z,e C.« '^i'l? "«•" ^ ^^"^ Edith
Her hair was cortainlv'of'„ ^" ™kly, ugly, little thing P"
might call it ca7ror\,rt it''^^ "'' auburn, and ill-nature
rippled; andwasjurof lehJtorr -'^f."' '"■"''"^O' »°<'
horse-chestnut orihe lAeaLttbreaft """ ""^ "°'°" "f "'«
features, digMy Si ne a deSe n'™"' "^^"^ '>'«' ^S"'"^
"^itf ^r^^di^rSH'^^^'^^^^^^ '"^^ ""
decide positively whTthe*res;^?nfT" *''«/«<='«■•« could no?
with would bef A trm.ft „!.„„• ^Z^"*"' si's had met
might enable her ttrfcoverSr ''"""' ""'^ =''^"8"'
reotiiXA'!^ Z^d'^m^JPf "£,«>« 'jvelong day on a
and devoted kindness ofttil trtrffeSS^JP'
32
Chiilty^ or J^oi Chiiltij.
fnJi!'r.?i''''^* children, headstrong, selfish, and quarrelsome,
took httle notice of poor Edith, who could not in any way
contribute to their amusement. ^
But Arthur Bertram would sit by her reclining-board the
livelong dav, reading to her; for when Edith went to Uve at
the Orojts he was four years older than herself, very precocious
m intellect, but rather a proud, sensitive boy, who preferred
the company of the grateful and bright httle invaUd to that of
^/" ' J®^^o^^» bullying young Crofts.
Mrs. Croft was as good as her word ; Uttle Edith had every
care and attention. Bhe was made a great deal of, for she was
the Earl of Eockalpme's granddaughter, and had no httle
influence with the miserly old recluse, who, to please her, as
she gained strength and was able to sit up and drive out
would mvite her and her chosen friend Arthur to spend weeks
together at the Castle; and Edith would sometimes get one or
other of the Croft children included in the invitation, and
induce her grandpapa to let Roger and some of his Eton
schoolfeUows, whom he invited during the hohdays (always
selecting the sons of the rich and affluent) to fish or shoot in
the Jtockalpme preserves.
Edith was fast growing straight, strong, rosy, and very
P^^ Y \^^^^ ™°^^ charming httle couple than Edith Lorraine
and Arthur Bertram could not be found. And while they grow
together m grace, goodness, and beauty, we must inquire what
Liady HauteviUe and her handsome daughters are doing in
town; and how the presentation of the Msses Lorraine went
ofl at ner Majesty's Drawing-room.
CHAPTER yil.
" So full of dismal terror was the time."
Shakespeabe.
" With scores of ladles, whose bright eyes
Bam influence, and adjudge the prize."
Milton.
We have said that at the first Drawing-room of the season
held by our beloved Queen (then a proud wife and a happy
daughter), Lady HauteviUe intended to present her two eldest
girls. Miss Lorraine and Georgina Lorraine.
Miss Loiraine was eighteen; and seventeen (which was her
sister s age) is that which Fashion has fixed for that ceremony,
which IS, as it were, the inauguration of young Enghsh ladies
ot the "upper ten thousand" into fashionable Ufe.
It IB an anxious and important event to all mothers and
daughters. Of course it is much more so among the aspiring
Classes (whose predecessors in the female line have not had the
i nif j i mmMi w w. ii m i nwngm wi i i
Chiiliy, or JVot Ckiilty. 33
honour of bending the knee to, and kissing the hand of the
queens of other days) than it can be to those "born to tread
the crimson carpet, and to breathe the perfumed air," and to
whom presentation at Court comes as a natural event and
almost as a birthright. But still, even to the loftiest, it'is an
event of importance. The young beauty, whom the wise
JJelgravian mamma has so carefully kept from the eyes of
those whose fiat decides her rank as a beUe, lest the great
charni of novelty should be worn ofi", is now exhibited for the
first time to the world of Fashion, and that in the searchincr
glare of the mid-day sun; and bare-headed, and her neck her
arms, and shoulders uncovered— in short, in her evening dress
which a wag once severely called almost a dress of Eve— is as
it were, put up in the matrimonial market. '
For what else in reality is this introduction into society ?
And what are all the rich old beaux (whether widowers or
bachelors), " who from sordid parents buy the loathing virgin "
but bidders-the highest bidders, perhaps-in that marketfand
those to whom the youngest and loveUest are sure to be
" knocked down ? "
Lady Hautevillo was, as we have said, a narvenu: and
though a very clover one, and a very adi-oit imitator of the
calm self-possession and high-bred indifference of the fair
patricians around her, she was not, as they were, exactly what
she seemed. In reahty, she was very much excited at the idea
of presenting her daughters.
She was in an inward fever about their dress, their appear-
ance, and the effect they would produce. Her eldest was
rather backward, both m the development of her person and
her mind; while the second was precocious, at least as far as
the former is concerned. And therefore it was ttat Lady
HauteviUe had decided to give Miss Lorraine the advantage of
another year, hoping she would fill out into greater roundSess
and have more manner, and more to say for herself, and be
even then not more of a woman than her sister at seventeen
bhe had axjted wisely. Miss Lorraine, who at seventeen had
been lank and scraggy, with very thin arms and red elbows a
very flat bust, and a tendency to purple arms and a red nose
shy, nervous, silent, and awkward, at eighteen was a weU'
rounded, graceful creature, with white hands and a white nose
easy manners, and plenty to say. *
It was a very gay Drawing-room. Victoria, every inch a
&\^''"f^i •\''?''^^'^^^^<^ many, but lookhig taller
than she is, stnnd with h^f ir^^i" n^-^^^1 -,1--- .- 1 ° -. ,
o^fl- ^ • 11. "-• ''"'-"^' \^'^ixa\ji.i- eiuau UD nana, ihe
soft sprmg sun sparkhng m her jewels, and a bright light and
a soft beam m her large blue eyes, whenever any fair young
rtefewfaw^e bent trembHngly before her. ^
34
ChiiUy, or Not ChiiUy.
Fair Queen ! the Angel of Death had not then left the shadow
of his dark wmgs on her heart or hearth ; she had never knoZ
Ivt^T- ^^''''l ^^^'- ¥^ ^'^ «^^ ^Wt since that bS
bear It and in His mercy temper the wind to the shorn lamb
But to our tale. Lady Hauteville, although all rich brocade
and gorgeous colours, and flashing gems hers! If, was well aware
that an elegant simpUcity best becomes the springttimlof
beauty Autumn has her gorgeous velvet dahlias ; sf rinTh^
her pale primroses, her snowdrops, her soft hlies ^ ^
Among those presented at that Drawing-room, the Misses
Lorraine were pre-eminent for that fair, deUcatrnroud ™S
cian beauty which is almost peculiar to our you^^^^^^
tocracy l^heywere-as^eizl^a^/^e. always s^oullbe^nZ;
S^efcjf th;\^^t"iVr" "^^^ ornamented with bouc Se^rof
«Soif 1? A^' white roses, and stephanotis; their many,
skirted tulle dresses were looped up with the same. Thevwore
no ornaments but pearls ; long and ample white tuHe veHs hun^
like a soft vapour about them ; a pearl tiara was on each fS?
brow; a plume of white feathers waved gracefully from eS
blonde head and drooped on to the white^ shouldeV TheT^^
citement of the occasion flushed their cheeks with a becoming
and dehcate rose tint ; and they had been so well tutoreTand
trained by Monsieur Le Zephyr their dancing-master th^tthev
made no mistake of any kind, but backed fdmi% and gS
fully out of the Queen's presence, having taken with preSon
d,r.=jr ^''' '''' ^^ ^^^^ '^' -^ havi^g^s:^:!
Lord and Lady Hauteville, who, as he was a minister h^A
the^privilegeof the entree, joined their fai? dau^iters £ thf
Lord Hauteville was always silent, pale, reserved and nrn
an automaton. His thoughts were far awav nerhans thpv
lencea m by hrs and other evergreens, in a dark wood three
S"^"^ ^^les away. Perhaps a certain fir-tree, Tth some
deadly, and to him, appalling symbols carved on its bark ?Z
pat^^on iTof?- ^-^-PTl*"i- withered and dSiur'ed
patches on the soft, green sod that carpeted the spot forced
theniselyes on his memory, and brought Vith them mSdenW
recollections of blood-a brother's blood! Perhaps that sS
recaUed alr^ee nt which, twenty years beforrKfder brother
then Lord Hauteville, and him^nfe h^A hop^ -rc^-rtJS *'^°^*^^^'
Quit^ against his will, and in spite of himself aUthe na^L
might have come ba.,k upon his miid ; and thelate noble Cm
of Ls brother-his fino fe full of life, and hope! and love-
left the shadow
id never known
tee that bright
\r enable her to
e shorn lamb,
ill rich brocade
was well aware
spring-time of
as; spring has
)m, the Misses
3, proud, patri-
ig female aris-
ild be — ^in pure
ith bouquets of
i ; their many-
le. They wore
ulle veils hung
IS on each fair
xlly from each
der. The e\.
h a becoming
ill tutored and
ster, that they
tl^and grace-
vith precision
aving been, in
minister, had
ighters in the
•yed, and pre*
ing-room like
perhaps they
amphitheatre*
c wood, three
e, with some
its bark, rose
id discoloured
3 spot, forced
m maddening
ps that scene
elder brother,
nt-eu.
', all the past
be noble form
3, and love —
Oniltij, or Mt Quilty. 85
laye come before him, and shut out his gorgeous, triumphant
vile, those fair and proud young beauties (his daughters), and
Ul the young, meanmgless, and blooming, and the old, haggard,
ind worn-out faces of those who crowded round to congratSate
|io admire, or to criticise.
^ J^^^^^ *^^^® ^^^ pressed round to admire were the old Earl
)f Kichlands, a childless and almost childish widower- the
(romig Marqms of Malplaquet, a red-haired, long-backed noodle,
TTith a hoUow roof and a hollow heart ; Sir Joseph Brownlow. a
QiUionau-e, who had made his fortune by speculation, and who
ms ot low birth, red face, vulgar person and habits, sordid
^md, and middle age; but yet was an object of constant aim
f? 7iV^ mterest to Belgravian mammas, and— alas ! that wo
thould be obhged to own it— to their daughters, too !
I ,™e was, also, a very handsome, dark, moustachioed count,
fcaU, slender, looking hke a hero of a novel, who, from a Uttlo
Hastance, was shooting dark glances at Miss Lorraine. He was
I Italian, who caUed himself Eomeo de Eoccabella. He had
Deen presented at a levee, by an EngUsh nobleman, with whom
le had been intimate m Italy, and to whom he had rendered
pome service, and therefore he found no difficulty in getting to
the Drawing-room. .^ o e «
This Itahan had constantly met the Misses Lorraine takinc
fcheir early morning walk in the park, before breakfast, with
then- governess. He had been struck by their beauty, and had
ioUowed them home. "^
He had made inquiries, and had ascertained who and what
they were ; and they, on their side-with the curiosity of their
age, the love of any sort of excitement that belongs to a life
M enforced seclusion, and the romance that lurks even in the
fcoldest female breast— had begun to anticipate meeting him in
Itheirmormng walk-to speculate about him-to count up the
iftimes they had seen him-to comment on his looks and dress,
land to interchange signs and whispers about him, when the
> weary pale governess had dropped asleep, or had left the school-
Ifrom them °^^^'®^ °^ hl^^^edi quiet, freedom, and seclusion
I The inquiries of Count Romeo de Eoccabella ended in hia
jhearmg an exaggerated account of the wealth of the HauteviUe
tamily, and, what interested him still more, that the two elder
-; }^ni ^TT! H^«^^ a f«f^^ne of twenty thousand pounds,
I ASr,«fI*^'''^''J^^l-^^ J^^ inillionau.e grandfather, Sir^ James
I Armstrong, and which became her own on her of > o^^ir,^ +v^ „^q
1 blfol^e''^' ^^ ^"^ ^^ marrying, with the^onsent of hei^n^.
After this, the Count never once missed the morning walk in
|Js.ensington Gardei^s or Hyde Pqrk, in which he was sure to
D 2
36
Ouilty, or Mt Chiilty,
K foi^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^* S^^^-ess, and the two tall,
Nor was this all. He haunted the neighbourhood of thpiV
^X^ol\^^^ P"T^^^. ^^«^* *^^ i^«^ railinlTrthe square 'n
which they sauntered with poor little Miss LindleHhenover
ness, every evening. He even contrived to borrow aSt^lf
S'i^ thT slutr ^^^^ ^^^^^^^' ^-- ^ friendTh^irot:^
fn.!!?rj^f ^ Lorraine thought he was her admirer. Augusta
ZttnkttoYI^ V^^ ^'"^ figure, and "aJ^tytSd
tiSg ^""^ "'^ wearing, enervating dmdgeiy of
The Count had contrived, bv the offer of nn inn<i,.nii. /
emer ot the two—with a view, we fear, of knowing which had
the longest time to wait for her twenty thousandpSu^ds
• ^/ ?i^/esult was, that aU his dark glances we?r^fntnr«
frt^tS.^^^^^^^--^ «^^> ^' co^e^irdTs^^atd^TL^
lar^^'^Jr,??^*^'^^ "^^r overjoyed to see that the Earl of Rich-
lands aiid the young Marquis of Malplaquet were, after thev had
est H^'iS'"''^ Y^?."""' P^^^g ^^^idSous court tXy^^^„.
Sd ?„^^^' P'^^.^-Proud old fooCattributed aU this LtSty
'?one of tW^'^'M being the object of the admSon
T o^ TT ! greatest catch-matches of the se",son.
Ijady HauteviUe was in an inward ecstasy. She had alrpprlv
Se^nlf ?'^ '^T^" ^^^^^ ^"^ *^^^ ber eldest SXs3
become Lady Brownlow, with an almost fabulous fSrtune and
that her Augusta should bo allowp^ to rhoo-^s "-^-- -- -' ^a
Earl of Richlands and the yomig Ma;quL o^mS^uX^
The arrangements at St^ Jales's are as ifra known
anything bat judicious. There is a terrible crushT and gr^t
I >.MUIM.J1U"WII-1.I- | .1WI- . mil
id the two tall,
•urhood of their
f the sc(uare, in
Uey, their gover-
rrow, against all
d whose mother
airer. Augusta
quest ; and even
square face and
pretty foot and
sre the heroines,
erness," "Jane
hat she herself
1 day and nighi,
3 ItaUan palace,
5 drudgery of
umbrella (one
haps purposely
with, the young
which was the
ing which had
pounds,
fvere in future
desperately in
Earl of Rich-
after they had
1 to her young-
i, strained his
c, and rose on
ilgar personal
eyes nor ears
'-ered Sir Jo-
fa incoherence.
is to timidity,
le admiration
1.
9 had already
ighter should
fortune; and
jwecn tho old
)laquet.
well known,
b, and great
Guilty, or Mt Guilty, 87
lestruction of finery, before getting into tho royal presence-
^nd the same passions agitate an aristocratic mob that excite
% democratic one. Self reigns supreme, and elbowing is tho
order of the day.
L T^^^'^^^® V ^^^^' *^®^*^ ^^ another and a very protracted one,
^nd which a httle management might greatly mitigate— that of
getting your carnage. - Bare-headed, bare-necked belles, of all
^ges, stand, closely jostled together, by the hour, just outside
bt. James 8 Palace, awaitmg the announcement, by the Queen's
footmen, that their servants are in attendance, and ready to an-
nounce their carriages. Beaux become very anxious, fussv, and
3usy, and are perfectly useless.
L T^! ^^°^^ daylight out of doors is very trying to the temper
tmd the complexion of all but the yomigest and most gentlef
^ Jjord Kichlands looked much more made up, old, and grim,
In the broad glare of day, than he had done in the softened lieht
pside the palace. *
Both he and the young Marquis were very officious about
jadyHau^evilles carriage; and Sir Joseph Brownlow was in
perfect fume.
But yet it was a very long time before the burly coachman,
I Ills wig, and the tall footmen, with their powdered heads,
gorgeous liveries, gold-headed sticks, and huge hothouse bou-
quets, appeared m view.
And all this time the fair young beauties gained in reputa-
tion for lovehness, for no dayhght can reveal grey hairs, or
wrmkles, or hollows, or rouge, or Poudre Imperatrice, or false
ringlets, or artificial charms of any kind, where they do not
lexist; and the Count de Roccabella, as he hovered near Miss
iJjorraine,and saw the love-Hght in her large blue eyes, and read
fmessages from the heart, w an in blushes on her cheeks, be-
Igan to fand Interest and Inclination unite in his determination
I to marry her.
, Sir Joseph Brownlow said to himself, « I've made an impres-
rv"" S!".. ^""^^ heautj. No girl ever looked and blushed
like that, unless something was busy at her heart, for the first
time; and I won t stand shilly-shallying, either, tiU she's got a
bevy of young coxcombs about her. I'll strike while the iron's
Kuin^^ ^^^,^ P^^^®^ °^^^ ^y ^^ad I'll propose— and in a
"^« 1T7 I 1- t^®"^ ^ -^^^y Brownlow worth looking at !"
WeU, the girls have made a triumphant debut, Hauteville."
said my lady the Belgravian mamma, as soon as they were
sately shut into their splendid new carriage, and were «lnwi.r
progressing back to Belgravo Square. ' " "^
38 Quilty, or Not Guilty.
CHAPTER VIII.
" Why looks your grace so heavily to-day ? "
Shakbspeami.
" nL^P^'^T'^^^' i? ^'^ ¥y*« «^d^ ^ *^« fro«* seat of the
«.af^^ 7- ' .^^^^^ ^'"^^ Lorraine were in the "beauty
seat, a?ta« the back seat. Miss Lorraine was in a sweet
«S^'' ^^'*'' ^^\ ^""J^y^^S *^® admiration of the « out-
athonU fWf 71^"^ too much self-engrossed to notice that,
jJT^ then, father mechanicaJly answered, or rather echoed
L^y Hauteville's remark in the words, "Very triumDha^f
Sm^Z'T" *^-r^^^ ^°^^«^ quaver VhifvS^^Sd
that his fax3e, always pale and stem, was positively livid; that
whifn.?^''^ ^^^^^y' ^' '^^^ H «een a ghost, ixd thit his
7^P« T\Z^r ^rr^^'"^' .^' ^°. ^^^^ ?^^°' ^*^« the lace
qw.w^ol ^^** ^^'^ ^^1* ""^^ ^^^°' *^ ^a^se *^8 abject terror?
oimplyabronzed,weather.beaten,rough.headed,sturdvfeUow
with his wide-awake pulled down over &s bushy browsV^ffi
coloured choker drawn up to his mouth, but witl 6^^^ Ms
dreaded, weU-known face uncovered, for Lord HautlviUe to
nfdp^'A^'^"^^^ ^f'- ^^^^ ^ *^« *^"' elastSforTat his
siOe, and the face, and air, whore native beautv, character, and
^gnity would have weU become a train, a ti^a. anda pCo
of feathers, and, so set off, would have echpsed many Slhe
™dest beauties he had just left behind, the paC^LbW
HauteviUe recognised Rough Rob's handsome l4h Wife, M^l
wi*!. .?'''i-^^"? ^^ ^°P^^ ^""^ ^eli^^ed that Rough Rob
was by tins time far away-that he was on the broad Itla^ic
at least, if he had not already landed at New York with the
friends who were to join him in the speculation for wMch Ms
lordship had furmshed Rough Rob with the funds.
, What could have detained him in London? And what could
induce him to show himself in the broad light of day Sin so
bcTm%" At\r.h"^ t'r'T^ ^PP-^--on, dkXd^ll
Bcaflold t^ At the thought Lord HauteviUe shook like an aspen
Rough Rob innocent, and therefore fearless, took no ure-
cautions but those which his Mary enforced. He ^ stS a
great hankering after giving himself up, and standing his trial
like a man. He was strong in a conviction that God would not
norTw.^T'''!? "^^1 ^"^ ^" ^^r^ ^il*y ^^d *« be hanged,
nor the real murderer to escanfi tho nuniqliTr^e^^ of ^i :- -
sav "tW't n^TY ^^'^^^"^d f^r ^y life' Mary I" he would
rrJfnr. ^t! T ^f /^o^^ who cares even for a poor hunted
cretur hke I, and I ought to have trusted in Him, aaid have
i-L
Guilti/, or Koi Ouilty. 39
stood mv trial like a man, and not have sknlked oflf like a ffuiltv
Iwretch.'" * ^
" Och hone ! " his Mary would repljr ; " och hone, och hone !
I why will ye not be ad\ised, Eob, whin the best frind ye ims
[in the wide world says ye'd be hanged hke a dog ! Surely my
lord must judge better than the likes of you. Ye'll break my
heart wid yer daring ways, ye will. It 'ud kiU me dead to have
ye dragged to the gallows, and I'd never know a minute's pace
after I was oust a widow— no, not if I Uved till a hundred. I'd
never recover the shame ; and my people, how they d cast it
up to me, that I ran away and got married to a gaUows-bird.
Och hone, och hone ! '*
With these and similar arguments, Mary induced Eough Rob
to keep mdoors a good deal (a great trial to the wild man of the
woods), and when he could not bear to stay in, to conceal his
person as much as he could.
An inevitable delay in the arrangements of Mike O'Rourke,
had kept Rough Rob and his wife in St. Giles's. But they
were to set sail for America on the very night of the day on
which the Queen held her first Drawing-room for that year
I at St. James's.
Now, Mary had a cousin, who had bettered herself— had
married a rising man, who had met with great luck in life ;
and a letter from Ireland brought the news tlxat Mary's cousin,
I once her equal, her playfellow, her confidante, Nora O'Halloran,
who had married Lawyer O'Hara, now Sir Miles O'Hara, was
I to be presented at Court, " and wear a long thrain and fine
i feaders, and jewels, and all to knale down before the Queen,
and kiss her Majesty's hand."
Mary felt no envy of her cousin Nora's prosperity, al-
though the contrast in the lot of the two beauties, who had
been girls together (and Mary much the handsomer of the two)
would force itself on her mind; but she felt a great desire, an
mtense curiosity, to see Lady O'Hara in her Court dress ; and
Rob, finding out this, her secret wish, ovennastered her fears,
and resolved she should see all that could be seen, by early
taking up their place in St. James's Street. And Mary did see*
her cousin; Mary, the head of her giey cloak drawn over her
bonnet, and her features concealed as much as possible ; Mary,
m her Irish peasant costume, much the worse for wear, cling-
ing with love's strength to Rough Rob, the suspected mur-
derer, the escaped prisoner, for whose apprehension a thousand
pounds was offered, Rough Rob with a price upon his head,
and iTora, sparkling with jewels, her white piumys heaving in
the breeze, looking all pride and triumph, with a little, mean-
looking, sly, ugly old man by her side, on whom she looked
down, far she was much taller than he was, and who was
40
O^iUij, ar Not Ouiliy.
ill-humonr 7 T^ *^^* S^."^^ ^* ^«^' ^"d scorned in a vory
Statin t^'^'/f*' «f ^^^f^els. her feathers, herS
Srlt ?Jn '^^""u *'^'* P"^^' *^^^^ ™ a dreary discontent
L?e":aV"oVl:n^rt^l^^^^^^ lordjharpl,, iTd
fowe?s'^and W wv! *^T ^°f ^^^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^^ splendour, her
}w T'^ . ^ feathers, her thrain and her cooch- and for nil
It was while Mary spoke thus-her fine erefeve^ fiill Af
mm. But the si-ht of them disturbed his pea<;e bv dav nn^
his sleep by night. For many a long day K wVn I^ hi^
lonely cUmber he woke from a troublfd sleep £ VWch Ws ho?
breast seemed to be trampled on by the sharn hoof, nf o
coronet. A scaffold would weave itself into the coat^ nf n/rr,o
on ^e velvet and on the chair backs; and the Past touffn^^^
=fl fl TJ^"""^ ^*^ all the freshness of yesterday He wo^U
see the httle grassy amphitheatre in the^BM Wood ar^l H«
sptS rcirlet'rm ;??' ^T/^^^ ^-" ' a^dt^smat
spectral, scarlet nil that would trickle down the gentle slonp
•that ^Pw TA^^" ^"^.^^r- ^d then FL?rd^?sol?ed
that v^ew, and he saw a dark mob of countless heads a^d
heard low groans of execration, and shouts and yells and he
tZ whT*'°^' with ice-cold feet, the steps of the sSld ; and
iWp^ Tv,-™ t"^^ °^^^ ^« fa^e, and the cord was Td-
S? Th^r ^P ""''^^r^f was over in this world But the
And whilfi her lr»r(l i« }„•« v^«i_ -i-_— v ~ .
tortnrPQ r.f fi,^^„*" i T T S^^-J' C""i"oer, was suffering the
tortures of the damned, Lady Hauteville, in her soft la<;e can
with Its pmk rosettes, and her richly-embroidered niXVpt?
was smihng in her sleep, as she dreamt of tL^ay we&fs of
'I!
Ouilti/, or Not Ouilty.
41
the fatiiro Lachr Brownlow, and that of the Countess of Rich-
lands, cr the Marchioness of Malplaquct, she did not care which,
for if the Marquis was a grade higher in rank, the Lord of
Richlands had finer estates, the handsomer town mansion in
Grosvenor Square, and the more splendid family diamonds.
Besides, he had been married, and knew what a lady of fashion
required, and had been very liberal, in every way, to the late
countess; while the Marquis of Malplaquet, though so young,
and a roue, was a sordid one. Ee was known to be mean ; indeed,
his stinginess about settlements had caused the breaking off of
a match between him and a belle of the preceding season.
And after all Lady Haute ville did not care which of those
two noble and ignoble suitors led her fair Georgina to the
altar, but lay on her bed of down, smiling in her sleep, under
the influence of the spirit of fashion, which
" Oft in dreams invention may bestow
1o add a flounce or cliange a furbelow."
And so this time the partner of her life — ^he whom she had
taken for better, for worse, and had sworn to keep in sickness
and in health, in weal or woe, till death did them part — ^lay, in
a room separated from hers only by a dressing-closet, lying on
that rack which a guilty conscience spreads upon every bed of
" stubble or of stubble-down ; " cold drops of sweat upon his
brow, " the worm that dieth not " feeding on his heart, and the
fire that is not quenched scorching his brain.
Oh! who that could count the cost would ever stain his
hands with blood, and sell his soul to the great enemy of man-
kind, who is ever at hand, first to tempt to crime, and then to
exult in the anguish it entails, and the hideous penalties it
enforces ?
CHAPTER IX.
" Oh, there's nothing half so sweet in life
As Love's young dream." MoORB.
Once fairly launched in the world of fashion, the Misses Lor-
raine, like all the other belles of Belgravia and fair of Mayfair,
resolved to drain the cup of pleasure to the dregs.
They were reigning belles. They dressed, danced, rode, flirted,
to perfection ; they waltzed or polked all night, and yet were in
their cold baths at eight, and in the parks betimes in the morn-
ing, riding in search of the roses of health.
They ate like troopers at that substantial early dinner which
the gay world calls a luncheon. They sipped their cheering,
refreshing five o'clock tea, with its relays of delicate toast and
thin bread-and-butter, in Lady Hauteville's boudoir ; and talked
over their own conquosts and charms, and the failures and
thoy were able at an eie-ht oVWlfX ""i"^ ^ '^^"^J ^^ ^^en
air, and, not to offend the re^-'^^'^"''''' ^'"'"'^'''^ *° ^'^^ "f*^'^
Bite, by any disXv of n Lf ^^ ^'^^^. *^^«^"»^ high-bred exqui-
to r^b&ingVbi? Xh-ck^ rl^^fF'"*^^ ^'^'^^"^ themse l^s
ice. or some choice fruft'^' "^"^ *'^"^S ^^^^ » *«^*i?4 a jelly, an
HlutSHo tfS",^ t^^^^^^^ -er in^ted by Lady
contrived to meet ^TssWaine at ?>^? ^^i ^'^ •'^^ ^°«««'
msolent, hauchtv ar^T^c^F^ ^^'^alla and parties; and, all
her tone from Z'sc^fety S^^^^^ '^' h/becom'e (taking
her proud looks" trhi?/ e7en thn^ wT"^^ '^^ ^'^'^^^ "^^^^
had proposed and been ^;>er)ted ?J^^\^^^} of Richlands
her daughter out of aU ^S! ^f ^7 Hautevillo had laughed
Adoni8,"old enough to be h?rf!;^^" ""H^^^^^?' *« the ci-devant
the wedding presf nts ihJf ^^^''''' /"^^'^ ^^^^^^1 settlements
I>lace at the end of Jmie MeanwhllT. l^ ^eddmg was to take
sipation, perhaps to sUence th^ "Si ^ T^ herself up to d^s-
heard in solituSe. ^^"^ ^"'^ ^^^ce » that wiU bq
had^not'^t^f^Xs'LJd^^^ ff"^.^ ^^"^^ of Malpla,nefc
would. A new b^uty-a t^llB^''^r^%^S^ ^^'^^^ they
made her debut since the " T o3' ""^^T ^,**^^ bnmette-ha5
and the young M^qul forsook t^^hln ^^'^'' ^^^ *^^ ^^^ ^arl
.Lady Hauteville would W lll!^ •'' 1' ^^^^^"^ate Augusta,
gina's splendid prolpects And . '"^ ^^T''' ^^* ^^^ ^^eor-
which the brideS^was toa^i. T/^l^^'* grand fete at
which approaching weJbckenS^^t^^^^^^ *A^<^ brief seclusion
Lady Loiisa SeylouSTniHf t ^l ^u''"* *" " ^^^^^ off" at
ama^mee, whichT-aan aullt ^^^kenham. It consisted of
^ The weather wasixqutteLd'^i: \^T^P^rty, and a baU
dens were illuminafpH TJ! i' i f^^ ^^^t mtense. The ear-
silver mooi^^ S H-ffr^i'^'l^^^^P^' ^^^ «*«! more by^he
by a cold accepS irtTilZt'''T'''f'''^ *« ^^^ ^oo^
Duchess of Snowdon Lo/dSind^^ the chaperona^e of the
not escort his bride-elect °bn«i^o ^"^ J"'^ ^^^^t ^Tef, could
had summoned Hm ^oli^rp^rr^^'^^^^^
rev?a?l^£:?^r..^p^l%|f-
Oh 1 wretched" wear'^?iir^"^"T^''-^^? ^^^ to be at this fete.
less system I sLrthe bride^.lSf ' "^'^'"^ ^^* ^«^« ^^ heart:
one, tue bnde-elect is m a secret tumult of joy,
Chiilty, Of Not Qmlty.
^
because tho Count will be present, and her intended will be far
away.
The matinee passed off wearily to the bride-elect, nor less so
I to Augusta Lorraine, who was doomed, in spite of a new and
[ most decant toilette, to see the old Baronet and tho yountf
Marqu.8 devote themselves to Brillantd de Bean voir, the spark-
Kng brunette, with so much to say, and so much a la mode, who
hiid brought dark beauty into fashion, and without a tithe of
the personal charms of the blondo Lorrainos, had, with her
Baucy httle Roxalana nose, put the dehcato aquilines of Augusta
and Gcorgma quito out of joint, as the Earl would have said,
only that he, at least, poor fellow ! was faithful to fair beauty.
for he was really in love with a blonde.
\m?^^y Georgina ! she was beginning co feel very sick at heart.
X <^er passed heavily off; the baU began, and still he camo
not. The Dvi chess of Snowdon, the Lorraines' chaperon, sat
[down to whist; tho company, in the intervals of 'the dance,
spread over the grounds. Georgina'a impatience and disap-
pointment became unbearable. She watched her opportunity,
and just as the dance recommenced, she slipped out at a glass
door, and hurried away, to hide the tears she could not repress.
m a dark shrubbery that skirted the river.
She had not been there long when she heard the splashing
I of oars, and a voice, that made her heart bound and her cheeks
I glow, sang A te, o ca/ra, in a voice which —
" Music to the ear.
Became a memory to the aoul."
" He is come I he is come !" she whispered to herself, wildly
I clasping her hands. « I wiU see him I I must speak to him !
1 must teU him my heart is his, although I am compelled to
i give my hand to another I "
She rushed out of tho shrubbery, and found the Count who
had just landed from a boat, standing near a marble urn.
"You are come," t,he said; "come at length!" and there
were tears m her voice.
He drew her arm in his, and led her back into the shrubbery.
Ihere, m language fuU of passionate eloquence, he told her that
tie adored her ; he painted to her a hfe of misery with her in-
tended—of purest happiness with him. He told her he was
there, not to see her for a moment, and then to leave her for
ever, but to bear her away with him to his own sweet, sunny
Italy, there to devote his whole hfe to love and her !
" My mamma ! " faltered the distracted girl.
"Mamma! "he cried. *-\Vhy, she would sell your youth,
your beauty, and your warm, young heart, for gold. I have
arranged all. I have a licence ready. To-morrow, before
a registrar, I will make you my wife — my countess — the
44
OullUj, or JVot Guilty.
BomrpJ "» ™' °f "SO! A carriage will „„t bo valid, will it,
they willSkoYhoZrin?''"'"",'' "v'""'" '' i« onco done
Wo a boat and two men c fo „T.v "h "'"'" ■!V/'"-' '"'"• "^7 I
whero "oarriago-and-four awaits L V''" ^"^ ™ '<" ""Pot
no objootions, no seniplos, S? ™; S^^'- ""y. I will hoar
not love mo, and I will ,,i^',™™»"»«-' If you rofuso, you do
hoartl Co''m7rfl^Syo„?lV' '7.^™'' "»' of ".y
% with mo!" ■^ ^"' """"O-like a second Juliet,
WildoredfCnin^'",?,? «™"° ''«'•<'«. tho Count lod the n„l/
hand claspi^^ff^h&rP'r'' «"^ '» t^o boatf^th'^oio
waist; hogofherto hoa?^,'^f ™°"'"'- """f onci'rctogher
Rucsts, who had failed to soeuro™^ '"""' '"*<'' "■"""S "ho
had tC^T r^rh'erVoT^' ?' «»^sina Lorraine
figure they only saw the b^k.'rfvr'^ of hor°tall gr.S
in the dark-mantlod ™w„, i ^^ was an earncstne»<i
arrested their attention a^d^'^'' "'™?"''hied cayalier, whFch
from a little distance thevtfr?*"'? 'heir foolings; and sS
tno Earl of Eichland<i witY "rwe-oJcct of the millionairp
who, though he admiredl^or bea^r""'^ J*,"""" "dTonK:
love, was chiefly urged on hvtw^^' "'"' '''" flattered hv her
sand pounds wfchfxriessTh*^%'''™fi''' "^ the twenty ttou-
therefore his. ^'^ '^^ *wo years would be hera, and
couurwhte betu' d" t'hSh^P "? l"'"' ' ""-^ Miss Lorraine
what thev had «oen "An^tle^^ '"t-\-^^^^ '° undSnd
be brought forward and eet w:>? I?*'?S. as they said, to
.ng nothing that couW tfrow "tS'^' '^^ ''™''«d on say?
appearance of the bride-elect S fomfne ■"y^"^™"^ dii
CHAPTEE X. i
"^&'/fHf ^ **!' «h«"'d ever bel
OuiUy, or Not Guilty. 45
to that world for which alono sho Hvorl thnf ).«^ r«
daughter (on the ovo of bocomiim »n SLr 1 n ^^^^o^rito
cloned with an Italian ilontrer^ "^^''^ ^°""^^««) ^^^
|ruLXrobb:d%7abl"^^^^^^^^^^ of a tender n^othcr.
her dearLo'H fato?dreadhi„^^^^^^^^ *''^''^^^i"« ^^
a disobedient and uneXfil l.fihfn , ^^''^^ '"^ ^^^^^ ^^^
generally inflicted by thovorv hanfcr^^ tho punishment
L; he/grief was mVde n^^^'^^^ofwtntd^^^^^^^^
pride disappointed ambition, sle M so rtll W TA T^'^^,9-
cipated triumph over Belgravian mammn^ n?lT t u-^T ^"^^•
far more thorough-bred feel n.i. !IT ^^^"g^^ '''''*^*^' ^^"1
whose daughters "hung on 3'' faAC^f 1 *^? ^^^«^^f'
and who. hiving passed t^rS^^^h tho cold TpHrtTh^' T^'
summer, and the gloomy autumn of fl-lv^Ji^' ^° ''"''^''"^
"winter of their di^contLt" coTin^ on w^h f^^^ ^^ *^«
twentieth year. For tho career Tffr, ^ *h''",'^'?^*-»«d.
world of fLhion caZorbo Xwed trexSTo?^ ^'"^ ^"1^^
wh ch time she dwindles into a "has been '' and'lf ?"'i ''^''
rather unfairly, shelved We sav nnSvi^f^-' ^ is fairly, or
enrich tho form, to atone for tho KJ nf t^ Ti'T^ "'"«'
Iostm«.nrightUnl;^ltS;tnS"^chrr''^ "'^' "'^^^''™
PoSro^t^uat ofThXlf ' ^^-^^^P^'- '•"d «'° "o™
iU-veiled ei^ta«on of tho'o who Z'l *T ^i'dolences, and
U old Earl of Biemlt^t"eir\tfl .^X™" '" *''"
nory^'o*:?: ^of^E*trthrwo°3ir *■■" i"-?'™ '^■' " ^^ -«
thought as -Hhe e^ot'cripnte .' ± Sl'T ?"*''<"• ""'^
the (Jroft family, a crippleT chiMhl^ H't'"' ''™ "" '''*
and old ago, if It w™S ^soW toeed^S„rT"^ru^'
removed from aworld inwhinh Jn» l,„!„^ij T^ she should bo
i^^f^.abnrthen^o^er^dftMrird'^^F^^^^
blighted being must a carrotv criDnlo 1«. l w™ i I? ''*'•''* *
beno"8easoiS"noDrese>it»tX>^??i / For Jer there could
the world of f^shion'^ "' "°'^' "° introduction into
IwMelltal fr ,!l\^™?„r..'^"?-''"^*''« breakfast-tray.
ptru^^ts-^- »-»^^"^'norbS^ieS^
Urb^L%iiKtr^'Kttc^.-oisi-^^
4a
Qmlty, or Mt Guilty.
asu
Misa Augusta knocked at the door.
mamma. I cZ I tSiS^t ™L l^- «« .yo« directed hor,
she had yovHrd^^^lofToirfcT^' ^' f*^ «"^'j
mine." ». imu oi course they were her law aud
^oir look JsXiJt^^J^^^ gSytLkSrt ^?-
sai^i'^^.^'-JS'^r.iT^-^^'^o^^^^^
been heard of her An^l +v,o^^„r IT '-r ^^^ nothing has
that this MaTI; a^dVenSeT^nTn^^^^^^^^^^ 4t*«'
he has eloped with Georgina for the s^e of t^^ f f' ^""^^^f
papa left her. And " ^* *^^ fortune grand-
anl^TJha^ftSf^^^^^^
ous/^nd w^^hts'lisr-is r^X'p^rsheTlt^' 'T-'^^'
her from my thoughts— mv heart '^EfT.i / ^^"^ ^'^^°
white hand to the bosom Shp^k ^^? *5^ -^^^^ P^^^^^d her
vacant place wLere a W «ho^^^^^^^ «^ *h«
you to do the same." '^®®^^' ^^'^ ^ command
" But we were always together. From mv t^i'tw-t, t
^oice, in its angriestT^es '^ ^"'''^^^^ ^^ ^^^ '^ot^r',
noble intended; S If Vou Sjteli^^^^^ ^T ""^ *"^^ ''^ ^^^
sole me, and to akme ff h^ ^S? of domg a 1 you can to con-
hT.iiiio,,;_„"l_^.^^J^^ her degradmg choice, bv Tn«.Hr,,> „
fuf^J^yeTslire'S r^^/" frf yourself i^toTfriglt:
who was^vl^l^r^T^Ld ^P^V^^l-^^^^^^^^
Chiilty, or Not Guilty, 4,7
shall not remain in London to witness such insane folly. I shall
go at once down to Armstrong Hall or Rockalpine ; and there
vou can weep away to your heart's content. Ida, as you well
know, cannot be introduced till next spring, and she is getting
on so well at Hyde Park House, that I shall not remove her I
have no daughter, then, to comfort me but you; and unless you
promise me to forget all about your unprincipled sister, and
to try all you can to make a brilliant match, to atone to me for
^s disappointment, I shall leave town to-morrow for Armstrong
Augusta, though she had some natural feeUngs left, was still
a beUe of Belgravia. "The season" was everything to her.
Ihe sohtude of Armstrong Hall, with her bitter, taunting, and
exasperated mamma as her companion, was intolerable. She
had not even the governess to turn to, for she had been dis-
charged when Augusta had completed her seventeenth year.
" I wiU do my best to obey you, mamma," she said, drying
her eyes ; " I know Georgina has acted very shamefully: I will
try to atone to you for her disobedience."
" Sensibly yjoken," said the mamma. « What's done can^t
be undone. I hope, for the family credit's sake, things may
not turn out so bad as they seem. If the man is really an
Itahan count, even if he is (as of course he must be) a fortune-
hunter, and, to some extent, an adventurer, all we can do is to
make the best of it; but until we hear from the wretched fool
herself, we can know nothing about it. Your papa was for pur-
suing and separatiixg them, as she is a minor ; but those things
never answer— they make a great esdandre ; parents have a
dis^aced and dishonoured daughter thrown back on their
hands ; no one else will marry her; and thus she is for hfe an
eyesore, a dead weight, and a great expense. No ; I have
decided to let matters take their course. And now, what say
you, my love, to the Earl of Richlands for yourself?"
Augusta shuddered and turned pale. Lady Hauteville did
not appear to notice the effect of her suggestion.
"The dear old feUow once told me," said the mamma, " that
It was quite a chance which of the belles blondes he proposed
to; for he thought you like two hhes on one stalk— two pearls
m one bed of cotton. Now, I think that a httle sympathy at
this msis would bring him to your feet, and the triumph and
deJight of the Rosevilles, the Belmonts, the Roscommons, the
Irehngs, and the Fitzarthurs, would be turned to woe and envy.
t^F ^I? all spreading their nets already. Write him a Httle
no„c, xi^y love, luid ask him to come and diuo quietly with
mamma and yourself, and then go alone with us in a private
box to see Charles Kean in his great character of Othello.
ttiohlands wiU take it kind; and I think if we don't do«ome-
48
Guilty, or Not QuilUf.
I ■< i
thing of the sort, Lady Elfrida Belmont, or that sly Rhoda
of them before he knows what he is about. So write, my love
r^yXttrs^l"^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^-^ -^ "-^^ ^^^
tlZl'^r^T^^^Kl^i^' ¥.^^ ^^^ *^^ cSmsonTervet c,^!
tarns of her bed with her dehcate hand, said •
o.'lr^''? l^^^^ ^^ J''^^ y^*' ^y ^^ssy • You can write pre- •
sently; butnowlwantyou to read me this letter ZmFvl
Croft. I suppose it is something about Edith-some new irons
or fresh doctor, or backboards, or systems to be tried. \t Z
rate, I must know what it is ; so read it to me." ^
Augusta took the letter and read as follows :'
"Croft Villa, NRAit Alnwick, Northumberland,
"November lith, 18—.
.^'IPifnt-^ ^^^ HAUTEviLLE.-First allow me to congratulate vou
on the brilliant marnage which I see by the Morning Post and the
Court Journal MiBB Lorrame is about to contract. I have no doubt her
lovely sister. Miss Augusta, will soon follow so good an' example, and
that the fair image of yourself, the beautiful Miss Ida, will, in due time
introduce a third coronet into your noble family. And now to business!
luTfn L^?u "^ r^-?^""^ *°>^^'' *^^* y^'^^ ^^^^^^*« *larfi°g and ours-sweet
!;::i fri*^"?^ ^"^^ S*^°S strength and health. No remains of curva-
ture of the spme are now apparent. The darling young lady can walk with
ease and grace; but of course we do not aUow her to inddge ki any
exertion which might produce relapse. Miss Edith is now, as you know,
fourteen ; and I have attended to her education as much as her delicate
vp„r! ^-^l ?; ^^^ } T ^T^ ^ ,*^^« °*y ^^"^i'y abroad for three
years. We shall embark from Sunderland in a yacht, which Mr Croft
Noir^T?''^ ^*/^' '^K""^ ?" ^^}' ^"^^ °^ N— • We intend ;isitit.g
Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, during the summer. We shall winte?
S. ^^' I ^^'^"' ^""^.^ ^"""^ ^**y '^b'^o*'^' *o ^sit, with my family, aU
the cities of Europe, and make such a stay in the principal ones as will
S^^sh tnSl'''^'''' *° ""''*'' *'' ^''°'''' ''''"^'"' ^*^'^' ^^
tv,l'^' J^Pxu-^y* *^at such a tour, as the one we propose, would be
the very best thmg possible for Miss Edith ; and I now wnte to ask you
fnZ^^'i^ ^r*';PH.*° -f''^ ^" *^ ^« °^ *b« party- With regard
to the outlay, Mr. Croft wiU communicate with my lord; but we shall
travel so economicaUy, that I think the liberal sum you now kindly remit
quarterly will very nearly cover Miss Edith's expenses.
• * 5^ Rockalpine, who continues in his usual health, and takes great
interest in the welfare of Miss Edith, highly approves of our schemeS
cttjo, ii iio wci-o a younger man, he would be of the party.
' Should your ladyship agree to our plan, we shaU set off by water
from Sunderland, on this day week ; and if not, I must beg you kmdly to
s
Guilty, or Not Chiilty.
49
lat slyRhoda
ni^aged to one
Tite, my love,
arling knows
l\ was about
i write to the
n velvet cur-
m write pre- •
er from Mrs.
tie new irons,
led. At any
AND,
»er I2th, 18—.
agratulate you
Post and the
no doubt her
example, and
, in due time,
y to business,
i ours— sweet
ains of curva-
can walk with
idulge in any
as you know,
s her delicate
3ad for three
chMr. Croft
itend visiting
shall winter
ay family, aU
[ones as will
Italian, and
•se, would be
ie to ask you
With regard
but we shall
kindly remit
1 takes great
3cheme, and
DfF by water
ou kudly to
lend a competent person to take charge of Miss Edith, as I cannot delay
py departure. '
^ "With best respects to the fair young bride-elect and her sweet sister
•' I remain, my dear madam, '
" Your ladyship's most devoted servant,
"Ann Cboft."
I "Ox course I shall agree at once," said Lady Hauteville.
^ Vi- hat could I do vdth the poor Uttle carroty cripple ? What
|ompetent person have I got to send for her?' And where
#)uld she reside ? No; I think it's a capital plan."
" But, mamma, if she has no remains of the curvature, and
can walk with ea^e and grace, she cannot be a cripple now."
_ " Nonsense ! She is, and was, and always will be a cripple.
Vv. Dulcibel said so, and he never makes a mistake. That's all
^oast and br-T-^ao of Mrs. Croft's, just to exalt herself, and the
-nre she hr en of poor little Edith. Let me see ; Ida will
seventt -^^t spring, and Edith is now fourteen. Not that
Cdith s ago matters— I could never introduce a cripple— but
da s does ; and you, my darhng, must contrive to get off before
la comes out ; for she's very pretty, and so much in your
style that you wouldn't have a chance. But now, for a
lort time, you've the field to yourself; so play your cards well.
ly love. * ^ .^ >
" What cards have I, mamma ? "
"Youth, beauty, position, and, that queen of trumps, a sensi-
le mother, my pet. And now go, write to the Earl, as I sue-
3sted; and then write for me to Mrs. Croft, and say that I
ftghly approve of the Continental scheme, and shall be very
Jad to let Edith be of the party. We must dine at six. Tell
ieEarl tobem time for 'Othello'; and do you come down
> tea with me at five, and I will advise you what to wear. So
•ff r "P.'„"^y ^^^^5 you are my only hope and comfort now, and
; r 5,^,^^^ season, when Ida comes out ; and all the pre-
pnts i had meant for your ungrateful, treacherous sister shall
B yours. I have m that drawer some such exquisite things,
I ride t d 9^ *^°^ ^* °^ ^^® ^'''^^''^ *^^ ' ® ^^^ ^^^S
«* I ^ate riding alone, mamma. I have no one to ride with."
JMever mmd ; go and take a country ride, and when you
Dme m, have a bath, and go to bed for a few hours ; you will
jen get up as fresh as a rose. Or, suppose you ask Miss De
telton to ride your sister's horse, and canter off to Clapham,
Id order some flowers from Acre. Not that it matters about
icompamon. with sunh o °too,ix. ^^-,^^:„__-j _._, . -r l .
I , jT ■ ,-— ■'^, •'■ "'^^^"^j'. cj-pcricUcuu trx'uom as dames.
IpI a' l"""^ ^¥ ^^^ ^^ *^^® yo^ "de, your bath, and your
l?^ttr,r^-^T^ ^^^^*^ does your hair in the usual style,
fichlanda hkes to see it waving round the face, so let it doVn
E
50
auilty, or mt Guilty,
he?^rtS*an'^^^^^^^^ -amma to finiah
Earl a .d Mrs. CroKnd then wifh'^^^^^^ "^^^ *« ^^^
f^eorgina's horse to ifiss de SlVnT f ^ ^'^^' ^°°* *» offer
offer was gladly accentPr? A ?'' ^°'' ^ country ride. The
from her long cante? and ^"T^^ ""J^^^^^ ^^^^^ed and rosy
tremulous ha^dTom th^'oM M Tal atl'''"-*^'!- ' "°'^ ^"^
tation to dinner and to escort the iaSn^^'f^^^^ *^^ i^^i"
Augusta, full of Miss drBeUnnl • °.*^^ P^^^'
and her wonder nt Ti.^ • ^ ^ ^ aspirations after a coronet
fully intoTe. mXrt pfans Au^u^. " '^"^' ^^^^^ '^^^^^
pressionable ; and the wnrl%^ ^^ ** ^^\ imitatiye and im-
a.nd again the sotninfinLn^^^^^^^ VV "^^--^^
ripples touched with paL " oi^^ ^IJ'T "^^^^^ ^onde hair (its
shoulders) was lent to &5° .' ^'"'^ ^^"^ ^^^^ locks on her
iug face. '^ ^^ *° ^^^ ^^^^^^^te, aristocratic, and now bloom!
h/fi^^^^^^^^^^ boudoir to partake of
white tuUe, many.skir?Jd ^r^;7 thought that her daughter's
with blue conrol^^^^,t.Z"Zhj)'^' ^'"^'' ^"^ ^^-"^d
head, forming a diadem on 1,1^^ • \ *^^ ^^"^^ encircled her
beautyofher^^gh SiVand foL^^^^^^^^ be^ghtening the
taste and in effect, iSt she couini-- ^ '^''' '° ^"'^^'^ ^°
only when Augusta produroH fho ? ^"^^^«^no improvement ;
of the old Earl, herCothe, tet in t''7^'''''' ^^^^*^»^ "nes
out a jewel-case of maJoon m^^ntn >^ ^""^r^'' ^"d' taking
of sapphires and vSr^ScaZ'^^'F^f an exquisite set
rings, and to fasten the necklace Hr^-^^^ ^f.'"" *^^ ear-
said, embracing her deli^hJlr? /lo V^^/r^*^^' ^"^ brooch, she
ber closet), ^ ^leiighted daughter (Leno having retired to
fancj,?nll;?,^|^^them t you ^^^T^^^ .^^ ^^^-d^. and I
mark." * ™ '° y°"' ™y lo™, I have about hit tho
e.gS"''''^ *™'i »»' >« Lady Hautoville had planned and
tioi »•! ISoraMe'' He It Tnf ^'■^^*''' ^?'^ «^=^«°
beauty. He was nnvi™.* T °™' °" marrying a youaff
nophe-W who had car oTurt°rt ^™ ^^ '«''■■' *» dislppZt f
eiiijbleinhfae^eaS'^Srgfl''™- '^"^''* '^ ?»■*" "^
had™ILut"n'!r«4*'pfP' very dose, for Lady Hautevill^
ridiouie. -d7hi,™d5e\'Sf:r'tr?£^Sl.'^EKrlr '
I
i
I
namma to finish
to write to tho
1, sent to offer
ntry ride. The
heered and rosy
able a note in a
epting the invi-
)lay.
after a coronet,
began to enter
litative and im-
s de Belton, a
lite turned the
«h had tinged
y her mamma,
blonde hair (its
locks on her
tid now bloom-
to partake of
her daughter's
', and adorned
encircled her
'ghtening the
3 so perfect in
mprovement ;
slanting lines
i, and, taking
txquisite set
t in the ear-
[ brooch, she
ing retired to
Uands, and I
bout hit the
planned and
a-lace season
ing a young
lisappoint a
i-s quite as
■ Hautevillo
eat dread of Ji
d from ono U
Chiilty, or Mt OuUty.
A v.. - 51
daughter to another would be as r>,a «.«n i
matter was stiU pending as Sir?fn.,-\^''^I ^^^' ^^^^ the
i flies were bS^zh^ about tK^ T"^^ ^?^.^^f<^ ^^^> and So
■: "Rag and I^ami^.-'^p^^^^^^i^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^s oiZ
• Right Honourable Fel^ M ^^?^ 5 """^""^ ^^ *^«
? Augusta, second daughter of Lord and T^"^^ V"^ ^°''' *°
^and-daughter of the Riah/ Wn^^ ui "'"1^^ Hauteville, and
pine. The^Oo^^. Jonmai%^te^T^f'^^ ?' f ^"^ ^^ ^o^kal-
the man-iage ceremon^ls SrmeS ^^"^ $^^ ^^^ «^d
a few select friends and reKs mrtook n^^ ?* ^^^^"^' *^^<^
at Armstrong HaU, the 8e«rn/T . S ""^/^ ^^^^^^^t cZejetiner
and that soon after he coUattn th. '^ ^"^ ^^^ HautiyiUe^
Contznent, .^.^ FolkntoneXtnLX^^^ f* ^^ ^«r the
Switzerland, and at the German spas. Iioneymoon in
CHAPTER XL
rPxTT, X • ^ " ^^^ "8 from Heaven." nvi>n»
an^op^dan at Eton! ^ravelhng party; and ho, too, was
\ Oroft's ^^ S^^" J!^ ^-^-?^ed themselves in Mr
^Poorboywhoihe SadSd^T^/^^^ *« gi^e toS
f of an undutiful daughtr'sTlandP^H ^ "^^"^^ (**^^ «ff«Pring
tages which many ffSitW^ . lv''^."'^^"^ge) ^^^ advan-
ellest sons-an eS on at S^^^^'^^^ "^ * *^'^
[subject Mr. Croft Jl. 7i^5_ ^|^?^ ^^^d Oxford. But on t^Z
iforbidden Mrs. C^oFio mSS' ' ^ ?; ^^^'?^' ^' ^^^ ^^
[stand; while to officious^^sito^ 'tif^**^^« '^^ ^^ 'lo*' under-
E 2
02
Guilty, or Not Chiilty,
I
f
1
*
I
his own affairs, and that when ho needed advice he would ask
for it."
After this, no one presumed to express an opinion, or to
offer any advice as to the education of young Bertram. They
contented themselves with casting up their hands and eyes,
and with whispering two very unpleasing and disparaging
words, in reference to the poor departed Clarissa, and the
beautiful and noble boy whom she had left to her father's
care.
Nothing could exceed the delight of Edith Lorraine at the
prospect of visiting all the beautiful countries and noble cities
of which they had read together, in company with one whom
she had always loved as a brother, until, with her fifteenth
year, stole into the maiden's heart a feeling more subtle, more
vague, more enchanting, than sisterly affection.
Arthur, nearly three years her senior, and consequently
seventeen, had only just begun to feel his heart leap in his
bosom at the sound of her voice, m d his blood ebb and flow at
the accidental touch of her little hand.
But the heart of woman ripens much sooner than that of
man ; and the maiden and her unacknowledged lover felt at the
same time the influence of him who " will be lord of all."
But as yet no suspicion of the power that bound them (as
with a spell) had entered the heart or the mind of either. No
thought of the Future, no plans, no prospects, no doubts, no
fears, intruded on them in that freehold each young heart has,
in the fairy land of Hope and Love. Indefeasible inheritance !
— our little all of the Eden we lost through Sin, and which
passes away from us as soon as Sin steals into the fairy bowers
of Love, and the innocent heart of Youth.
Mrs. Croft had said truly, that there were no remains of the
curvature of the spine, which had threatened with deformity
the graceful shape of Edith Lorraine ; no vestige of lameness
remained, and her health and strength were entirely restored.
Mrs. Croft's cue was not, as Lady Hauteville imagined, to
make Edith appear better and stronger than she was ; but,
on the contrary, to affect to consider her still as in a great
degree an invalid, who might relapse into a cripple, and for
whom change of air and scene was a great boon.
Mrs. Croft found the handsome stipend, which Lord Haute-
ville paid so regularly into her own hands, an inexpressible
comfort and help, botn to herself auu to that aspiring youth, her
son, whose great object was to be considered " fast" — an object
not to be attained without a very great outlay.
The day before the departure of the Crofts, and of Edith
Lorraine and Arthur, the old Earl of Rockalpine called at Croft
Villa, to take leave of his grand-daughter, and to make her
le would ask
inion, or to
bram. They
Is and eyes,
disparaging
3sa, and the
her father's
[•raine at the
[ noble cities
ti one whom
her fifteenth
subtle, more
3onsequently
leap in his
3 and flow at
than i'lat of
-^er felt at the
of all."
md them (as
either. No
doubts, no
ig heart has,
inheritance !
I, and which
fairy bowers
mains of the
th deformity
of lameness
jly restored,
imagined, to
le was; but,
3 in a great
pple, and for
Lord Haute-
inexpressible
ig youth, her
b" — an object
nd of Edith
lUed at Croft
bo make her
Chiilti/, or Not Guilty. 63
whAt, for him, was a magnificent present, namely, an old
traveping-bag, which had been his mother's, curiously fitted
up with toilet requisites of nearly a century back, and with
silver and ivory handles.
When the old Earl arrived at Croft Villa, Arthur and Edith
were roaming about the woods, taking a fond leave of scenes
where they had been so happy. But Mrs. Croft received hia
lordship in her best drawing-room; and, while she went in
Search of Edith Lorraine, she proposed that her youngest
child, a show-off, of the naine of Gloriana, who was supposed
to be a great musical genius, should entertain my lord by an
exhibition of her talents on the piano. The old Earl had a
keen sense of the ludicrous, and watched the little precocious
caricature, at the piano, with a smile which the proud and
enraptured mamma consfcruud into admiration.
The old Earl of Eockaipine was come to take leave of his
favourite grandchild Edith. He had listened with great
Satience to Gloriana'g grand sonata, and had delighted both
[rs. Croft and t^-e precocious young musician by his praises,
and by a, present of a sovereign to the young lady, to buy a
keepsake m memory of himself. But when Edith came run-
ning in, out of breath with haste, and rosy as the Dawn, the
Earl begged to be allowed to see his grand-daughter in private
and Mrs. Croft and Gloriana left the room.
Edith, although with the prospect of all the delights of
novelty, change, new countries, and new people before her,
and that, dearer still, of Arthur by her side to double and
share every joy, could not choose but weep when the old Earl,
mth a softness and a feeling very unusual in one whose only
affection for many years had been for his gold, took her in his
arms, and stroking her bright, glossy, auburn head with his
old withered hand, said,
" Farewell, my sunbeam !~my love !— my darling ! I wish
1 were ten years younger, and then I would be of your party,
my httle one; for, indeed, the glory of poor grandpapa's
suns-t fades with your bright face and sunny smile, my
precious httle girl!" "^
'•]PVj^t^ cannot you come now, dear, dearest grandpapa P"
said Jlidith, throwing her white arms round the old man's
neck, and pressmg her roseate cheek to his parchment-yellow
and wrinkled face, sere with age.
"No, my child. I a.n too infirm, too aged. Old trees, my
^ L^^^^®'. «°x''"*' -~ transplantiiig. And now. do not weep,
my ±,dith, if I say that I fear I shall not eee you again; but
snould It prove so— if the darkness that now and then over-
shadows my path, is, indeed, cast by the wings of the Angel
01 ueath— li the rushing of those wings causes the chiU, the
64>
Chiilti/, or Not Chiilty.
shudder that occasionally thrills through me, icing the blood
in my veins — then, my child (nay, do not sob) you will not see
me on this earth again ! "
" Oh, I will not go ! " sobbed Edith ; " I vnll stay with you
— I will read to you — pray with you — sing to you — comfort
you I How can I go away, and leave you to live and die
alone P"
"Edith," said the old Earl, smiling, *'I have read and
re-read the little book you gave me ; indeed, I know many of
its hymns by heart. Kow, listen.
" « Why Bhould we faint and fear to l.'ve alone,
Since all alone— so Hearen had wUlod— we die 7|
Nor even the tendercBt heart and next we own,
Knows half the reasons why we smile and sigh ?
•' ' Each In his hidden sphere of Joy or woe
Our hermit spirits dwell, and range apart ;
"^ Our eyes see all around . \ gloom or glow.
Hues of their own, fresh borrow'd from the heart I
•' ' And well it is for us our God should feel
Alone our secret throbbings: so our prayer
May readier spring to Heaven, nor spend Its zeal
On cloud-born idols of this lower air.'
I know the hymn all through, my pretty one," added the Earl,
** and I learned it to please you ; but there is no time to say it
now, for you have much to do, and I must return to the
Castle ; but before I go, sweet child, take an old man's thanks,
an old man's blessing. Edith, till I knew you, and heard
those truths which are hidden from the learned and the wise,
proclaimed by you, thai almost a babe, a suckling, and listened
to hjonns and ; rayers from your lips, I was hving without
God in the world ! I had made an idol of gold, my love, and I
worshipped it ; but Heaven sent an angel, without wings, in
your shape, my child, to lead me from darkness into hght.
Edith, I was an infidel — I am a believer, a penitent believer,
and through you! So do not weep, my pretty one, your
mission here is done. You have said, 'Awake, thou that
sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee
life.' Do you remember where we were when you read that
text to me, Edith P"
" We were sitting on some rocks by the sea," said Edith,
very gently, looking up from the old man's bosom, on which
her head was laid, and soft tears trickling down her cheeks.
"There had been a terrible storm, grandpapa, and we had
taken shelter in a cave, deep, deep in the rocks, and we had
heard the thnnder roa.r and
'/%TT/%>» l-» f\-V.
and we had seen the forked lightning flash, and the rain beat
down in torrents, and we drew closer together. It was so
grand, BO terrible, so awful a storm I Aak by degrees it
li-wiiw
ing tho blood
)u will not see
stay with you
you — comfort
I live and die
ave read and
know many of
3?;
>>
I?
art!
al
Ided the Earl,
time to say it
return to the
man's thanks,
lU, and heard
and the wise,
r, and listened
iving without
ly love, and I
out wings, in
3s into Tight,
bent believers
ty one, your
:e, thou that
Edl give thee
ou read that
," said Edith,
om, on which
1 her cheeks,
and we had
, and we had
L the caverns,
jhe rain beat
'. It was BO
Y degrees it
Guilti/, or Not OulUy. 55
abated. The rain ceased, tho winds were hushed, the sun came
out mall his glory; the rocks and tho sands were soon drv
and a glorious rambow spanned the sky. Its arch began on
the horizon and ended on the keef of the castle tower; and
wo left our cave, and sat down by the sea on some masses of
rock 1 hey were warm in the sun, and countless beautiful
|: shells and delicate sea-weeds had been cast up by the waves
m and I filled my basket with them, and I have them still Oh
grandpapa that storm and that heavy, awful darkness, and
the lury of the elements, as we shrunk into the darkest corner
of that cave I never can forget ; nor yet tho heavenly calm
ra?nbow° "^ glorious sunshine, and that brilliant, beautiful
"Edith," said the old Earl, "I never told you before, but,
on the eve of a long parting, I tell vou now, my child, that that
storm, that darkness, that calm, that sunshine, that rainbow
worosymbols of what was passing in my soul at that time'.
Darker than that darkness had oeen my benighted spirit, when
I entered that cave; fierce as the war of those elements was
the contest going on within me; sudden as the gush of sun-
shine that followed, was the light of Grace shimng into mv
soul ; and bright and beautiful as that rainbow in th? sky, was
the bridge of penitence, pardon, und faith, by which my spirit
was to mount to Heaven. When you prayed in the fervent
piety of your pure young heart-when you prayed for deliver-
ance from the perils of that ^tovm, I prayed too; and when you
returned thanks J ^ott^ecZ .^0.*. Edith, since I was a chil/at
my mother s knee, until that hour in that cave with you, I had
neither prayed nor thanked God for anything! '^A.nd now
prayer IS my great solace; now I 'search the Scriptures,' as
my little one told me I must do; now I live a new life; and
now, instead of heaping up riches without knowing who shall
gather them, I thin£ night and day howl can brinf a bles3
on others, by the gold I have hoarded, and I mean^o ^ave to
poofand'needy^^^ dispensmg my wealth for the good of the
xi^v?^' ^??'* ^^^^ so— you will break my heart!" sobbed
Edith, putting her little hand on his lips.
" -Nay, you must hear me," said the Earl, kissing her finger,
tips :— you are my heiress, my sole executrix, my residuary
i^nH ffVr"?^'"? *^^*^' "^^^^ ^''^^^^^' g«^« to you, my child^
And It m the days to come, when you are a woman, my Edith,
you wish to marry one worthy of you, in all but this world'«
uross, ana Iriends would oppose and part you, and try to unite
r«n i ^""^^ ''^''' ^""^^f worldling who is rich and great, you
mft & ^°.'.?'^^/^'^^P^?^ ?T^'^^ *^^ t^i^-l^ thft awaited
me. He felt that I should wish to give my haad, where my
66
Chiilti/, or Not ChiUiy.
11
heart had long been given ; that I hIiouW prefer a good, noblo
Christian lover, whom I had known from childhood— (for had
we not grown up together.?)— who loved mo for myself, to
some titled coxcomb and spendthrift, who wedded me for
fonnoction or wealth. And ho has empowered mo to raise
that dearest, truest one to my own level, and to select from tho
vorld, the Christian man of ray heart to bo tho husband of my
youth and the sharer of my good fortunes ! ' Ah ! darline
never blush about it ! Has old grandpapa discovered tho dear
delicious secret, scarcely known to her own heart, and never
never whispered to his?"
Edith, snailing through her tears, hid her face in the old
^t/'ml^^^^*' J^^^ ^^^^ hugged her up, and continued:—
Ihey say there IS a sort of second-sight given to those who
are not long for this world; and I fancy I see my little Edith's
future spread before her. And that noble youth, Arthur • I
see he loves you, Edith, and I see that you love him; and
whatever Worldlmess may say about the disparity of birth and
station between you, if you wed him you have your grand-
lather s blessing, for I see he is a true-hearted, noble-minded
youth, and I see, too, in the distance, a halo around his head,
indeperdently of you, my Edith. That youth wiU be a great
man; 1 cannot tell how or when it will come to pass, but I do
clearly see a coronet on your Arthur's brow. Perhaps he is to
achieve greatness; but be that as it may, I feel that he will be
great, and that, m the end, those who have opposed and con-
demned will congratulate and approve. And now I so my
love; but not as of yore, to a dreary solitude, with no com-
panions l)ut inanimate money-bags. No ; my home now is tho
home of a Christian. Each hour has its pleasant Christian
auty.^ in my Bible I have an inexhaustible source of comfort
and interest, and this Kttle book, this * Christian Year,' your
gift, is its fit companion— its handmaid. My soUtary halls are
no longer dark and dreary— the light of Grace is there; and I
am no longer alone, for Faith is ever by my side."
Edith, still sobbing, slipped from the old Eai^l's breast, and
lell on her knees before him.
" Don't weep, darling," he said, raising her, "but listen
your portrait, my Edith, stands on my table; your sweet
tace smiles on me, and your raised finger seems at one time to
beckon, at another to warn. So do not weep, as if I were still
the godless old miser going to count his hoards ; I am now
the aged Christian awaiting his summons. And now let me
Rive vou a sum I have brnnorht, xcn'tli rno oti/j cm^ nf td-v^-"!
can distribute your farewell chanties to those poor pensioners -
of whom you have often spoken to me; and if you will send
me a hst of their names, my darling, my steward ehall visifc
•Mb*
Oniliy, or Not Ouilty.
57
a good, noblo
lood— (for had
for myself, to
Jdded me for
I mo to raise
elect from the
usband of my
Ah! darling,
'erod the dear
rt, and never,
30 in the old
iinuod : —
I to those who
little Edith's
:h, Arthur ; I
ve him; and
T of birth and
your grand-
aoble-minded
nd his head,
II be a great
ass, but I do
haps he is to
lat he will be
sed and con-
)w I go, my
ith no com-
le now is the
mt Christian
e of comfort
Year,' your
ary halls are
bhere ; and I
3 breast, and
ut listen: —
your sweet
one time to
' I were still
; I am now
now let me
i wiiiCii you
f pensioners -
Qu will send
d shall visit
and relieve them in your abaenco." So saying, ho put a purse
into Edith's hands, who took it with a fresh burst of tears.
With these words, the old Earl clasped the wildly weeping
girl in a long embrace, and tore himself away. She rushed out,
and saw him enter his carriage, to which Arthur, who was in
the garden, was assisting him. She heard him say, " God bless
and prosper you, Arthur— tak care of my Edith; " and then
she saw no more, for the Earl .rew himself up in a corner of
the carriage, and hid his face in his hands.
CHAPTER XII.
*• Child no more I I love, and I am woman 1 " RionEtiEU,
As soon as the old Earl was fairly off, Edith hastened to her
own room to think, to pray, to weep, and then to wash away
the traces of her tears, for she had to repair to Mr. Croft's
library, to complete some calculations, accounts, and book-
keeping (which, as she was an excellent arithmetician, sho
always managed for him).
Edith longed to bo once more in the woods and fields with
Arthur, for it was exquisitely fine; but she promised Mr. Crcift
to complete all she had undertaken, and Edith never broke her
word. Since we saw him last, Mr. Croft had been to Paris, and
a French hair-dresser had persuaded him to adopt a curly ven-
tilating peruke. It gave him a jaunty, perky air, by no means
natural to the staid old attorney ; and as he sat in his easy chair
by the fire, conning liis Murray's Handbook, and glancing ap-
provinglv at Edith, his pretty book-keeper, pondering over a
total at her own little writing-table, a more cheery home-scene
could not have been designed.
By the time Edith had finished her work, Arthur had en-
tered the drawing-room in search of her.
They had agreed, as it was their last day at Rockalpine, to
pay farewell visits to some poor cottagers living on the moor.
"Duty first, and pleasure afterwards," was Edith's motto; and
now, with loving hearts, they wander forth together, bathed in
the lich sunset, hand-in-hand, on their errand of mercy,— silent,
but yet happy"; for them it was the Spring-time of life— the
Dawn of Love — the fairy-land of the heart ; and they wanted
nothing to make them blest but the dear delight of roaming to-
getlier through Nature's wild scenery— silent with that silence
which IS more eloquent than words, and a soft sigh occasionally
proclaiming a happiness far deeper than that which translates
itself into smiles and words.
Mrs. Croft's eldest son was, as we have said, to be of the
continental party, and a young fellow-Etonian, Lord Pontecraft,
58
G^*%, or JVot Ouilty.
tron sing «ort of mannoTori'Stlo E^^ ""'^T'"' ^'" ^ T'a-
habit of calling her- but n J.,-, f Ti * .' ^^ ^^^ was in the
for Edith Lorfaino/as tlo ..^nd .Z, t ^'V ^''^' '^^'^^^--
too, so powerful in his naHv,./*"^'^ '''''' "^ *^n earl~an earl,
in all hUan prZhuT^ZZt^t^: H ««^kalpine-and
daughter of the Earl of Rockalpine '''^■- "^^^^ I^orraine,
A^^^^^^^ of rank, title,
had he and his worldly motW ^ „ ' "" ^Po«^<^'0" ; and very early
what had been deS^^^trfe^ fer'^^^
hand Lord Pontecraft showeZa nvrnin J^ ^^T' °" ^^"^ ''^^'^''
Edith, although it had been ll?fi ?? .^ symptoms of love for
would have had power to at?rte^^ "*'"'^ ^^«"^^« ^^^o^
dressed well, and worths „r~r r^7^^''^ ^^^^ Pretty.
that peculiar charm-thSeSfirP tr ^i ^?* ^^^^^ ^^^^
can resist. It was not merely bcJ^^^ffT'^^ "1° ^^^^'*^ «*" "^'^n
Misses Croft might have contifS f / V ^^ •",*^ °^ '^^'^»^*7' ^^'o
that rare unicn of^a^rexnre^sfnn ^ Edith-ft was
faseination, naturefw^'ch o^ccTS^^ *^"^^°^' ^"'^°"-'
whole, and make the woraanT w?;"^ ^'i,^'"''"' ^"^ irresistible
of Hearts, evenif endoreTwith a mZ i^'T,"'^?"' *^^ ^"^^«
than that which fell to the lare o?tl«\. fJ^""/ v^'^ «^ ^^^"<^y
^ Both young Croft and LorSn/p.l/ffP''''^*^^^ ^?^^^^*^ ^'iitli-
Aclose league existed beSn thp,^ /^ "^T l^f °"^ «f ^
mint" propensities bofrw!^""' ^^.^^ ^^oth had very " yar-
raeing;1)otUad triumpt^r^^^^^^^ ^™^k^°^' ^^tting,
visits to casinos, and conm w^ fo '"^ *^^ ^^^ ^^ clandestine
Both were very dis^grS^^^^^^^^ C^ disgraceful than defeats ! .
susceptibilities of Edlt^ Wine p'l'"?^*^" Jf t^ ^^^ ^^fin^d '
pam. and often concealed fh«!^H!n ^i^* ^dith hated to give
than wound the matSl af^^^^^^^^ T^ ^\^^«* «^° f^l*. rafhir
Croft, who took aTfntel S^^^^^ If'^'' ™%) of Mrs!
elegant, and was extremely aSu?th«? t ""Z?? ' "'^^^^^^ ^« ^^
find sufficient attractio7in™ W Hr'n'i'^ Pontecraft should -
abroad, to secure his foUowinoTlii^^ , ?,® -^^^ut to remove
While the young LordTontecraft !f fi^^''' P^^^F^^ations.
strutting together up and doiT^h ' f S'" ^'^"y' ^^o^' were
grounds of 6roft Vi£a^thei?^«l«^ w^^ ^^^^^ walks of the
ther costume nauticat^d^rfLr^^^ «ide,
their ciD-aT-c or,^ u„- .7 „ prepared for the vach<---<=T«oi,,-^ J
plentifully seasoneTTdth^^^^^ adventures in odious ■slangl
Guilti/, or Not Ouilty, flg
jmaid, in doviaing tho most hocnminj* yacliting costntnes, with
■ft view to captivulu Lord rontecruft ; and Alrn. Cmft, a groat
toUopathiat, was intent upon hor medicino-chest, and a glasH jar
lof leoclios, travelling coinpaniona with whom she could not poa-
|Bibly dispense.
I Meanwhile, Arthur and Edith walked on, hand-in-hand, across
[the fields golden with buttcrcii'^s. and fragrant with cowslips,
over the stiles, across the r ■ alio\\ brooks, through (ho Black
Wood (of such terrible menory in Uiis tale, and which even
they could not pass withonc f shudo t, for they knew its dark
Btory), and came out upon tw purplr moor,
I A poor old cripple now live- ii that hovel which had onco bo-
longed to Rough Rob and his Irish Mary.
In their long rambles, Arthur and Edith had come upon this
poor old cripple, and had more than once helped him with small
sums of money, and had taken him tea, sugar, broth, and other
nourishing thmgs.
And now they had resolved to pay a last visit to poor old
Juke, and to leave with him a share of the sum the Earl has
left in Edith's hands to distribute in farewell gTts to hor poor
pensioners.
The sun was setting as the young lovers crossed the purple,
buoyant, and fra^ant moor.
"Look ! what is this, Arthur P " said Edith, just as they left
the Black Wood, stooping down to examine a little feathery
bundle of mauve and green and gold, fluttering in the heather.
" A wood-pigeon 1 " said Arthar, " a wounded wood-pigeon !
Ah, doubtless, one shot by Lord Pontecraft or Roger Croft,
when they were out with their guns this morning. See, it is
bleeding."
" Is it much hurt ? " said Edith, growing pale. "Oh, the cruel,
cruel sport 1 to wound a bird is much worse than to kill it."
" I do not think its wing is broken, although it is bleeding,"
said Arthur. " Shall we try to save it, dear Edith P "
" Of course, Arthur ; we could not leave it to die."
" Stop, then," said Arthur, " I will make a sort of basket of
heather for it, and we will carry it home."
"And I," said Edith, "will bind up its wing with my hand-
kerchief; for I think, in fluttering as it does, it keeps the wound
open."
Arthur, who had helping hands, soon wove some branches of
heather into a sort of nest or basket, and Edith adroitly bound
the injured wing, and then she hfted the poor wood-pigeon into
tiie nest, covcrud it over with Arthur's pocket -handkerchief^
and walked on with it towards the hovel on the moor.
Arthur and Edith had proceeded as far as an old thorn,
which stretched its gnome-hke and distorted trunk across their
60
OuUty, Of JSTot OuiUy.
path, and wJhioTi of 4-1, •
the cJuMn^lir: SSr- •^' » ^^ part of
dowed her with the power ffS?^ ^'P^^' ^^^ Superstitioren
casting evil eyes, b5^StLi hf '^^ ^^^^'i^^^' f«retVna ^^^^^^
evil, if offended, Ct often IVnt?'°^^ ^°^ ^^^"g ever^ VoSle
where she "took ?o peoy.^^^^^^ ^nd^valuSrSd
was a sinffularlv nnwi^fi 1 '• f^ *^® country folk harf if ou
and her ^^S^ATZ'^T: andTeCtoMewonS?
"tS ''^^' "''^'«'» *'«" - ■' would scare the
■ , " Ne™ °?elS;'S<? "^fe!" -id Edith, t„™tag ^,,
W, and a trae ^M^y to S*^ i,, ? 1*™' heart^m hS
But let me examine your Zlm ^,!, ' ^^ ""^'P him throneh
you more, and may ^Z-X^JT^ gentleman, and ru teU
*H:§fia±--"-^.ors^"^^^^^^^^
of^tr " '"«'^^'^»«-<', for henever.f„3ed a^uest
the hmdj-andSgSK;,™^;^''"''' of the noblest blood in
■"^ a 9f«tle await |ou." "^y"" "■ y""" Path of life, a coronet!
"'IE' *'^^''^^'^''"""'^<^*'^«^ wi* that of the
:;Ah.youCurtherK^°"f^'?L"g^'* of birth."
Jiiditn ijorraine .» " sairl TkT • "^"-^ ^^'^®'" «aid Arthur
-When he is the -<^^i t^o^k ^o'hthot-II '"^
^ould scare the
Ouilti/, or Not Onilty. qi
his coronet and ermine in the House of Lords-remember
iMadge the gipsy foretold the event." rememoer
« Shall I be happy in love, Madge P" said Arthur.
iTir J ^u"^^® °^ ^"^^ ^°^^ never did run smooth"' said
Madge; "but constancy on both sides will coZuer at Ct
•Faint heart never won fair lady.' See that your^ faints not
You'll have crosses and foes, and 'whisperilg^ongues thai
[poison truth 'will be busy between you and fboSt^you • but
seat m the House of Peers in coronet and ermine, younff man
'«h«nf rTt ^Y^ ^^? ^^^ b^«^' and a T.eer3rXs
shall hang about her form. And now Hsten; ,ou are bound
l-go'^nTtUt:^^ ^^ *'^ -°^^^ *-- ^-^W foc^sTeJs
•'But we promised to go," said Edith.
Lni^f^f P^'^'^'^frf-^ better broken than kept, pretty lady"
fe viUa.^^'^* ^^ '' ^^*"-^* ^^ S^**^^g darkL'hLen^bSo
She ceased, and hun-ied off in the direction of the village
Shall we obey her ? " said Edith. ^®'
• . should say no, dear Edith," said Arthur ; •• I have no fear
^-notl; let us hasten on These gipsies often pi etend there is
"^^oi nf ^^V^'^T?"^ *^"^^ P°^^^- Besides, what does she
Tflf '''"' ^^'*' Present or Future? She must be a mere
Ii urT-"" ™PO«<^or- Did you hear her nonsense about
Ob e blood m my veins and a coronet and a casZ^rmy path
Taft is here^%W '^^^^^^'^f'^ ^^e has heard that loC
-ran; is nere. Ihese gipsies trade on gossip. She fanciprl T
^as Pontecraft and wfth that idea, of cours? a coronerand a
a tie migh well be in my path of life, and noble bCd in m?
:Xt.''srcote:i:L'fS;rom^^'?p^^^^ -^^-^
CHAPTER XIII.
" ^!? ti^T®"^ °f ^^^'^ ^0 8«" Inherit,
iJut tho trail of tlie serpent Is over tliem all.*
Moore.
^vi^^Z?^A ^^ y^'^S ^°^^^« glided on, through bowers of
fragrance and verdure, and •'over yellow meads of Asphodel''
M^the^^over.^^^^^^^^ as the first Wr, ere Sin foundTs way
I Tli^! Z ^^ S^e""' *^^y ^er« as loving and as happy too
Llhttl'^^iTkn'"^--- -^ - --4 so prote?&-
rather~sun hnri^f ^>? r?,^'' ''''^ '"^ ^^^ ^'^'a^^' iiandsome face,
doZ t^Zr off ^ °'' ^'■*?^ ^^^ no Sybarite), that was bent
B^u^utterfcoT'^T^^^ f?^' with looks of such confiding!
Bucn unutterable love. The birds were singing as if to welcomo
62
Guilty, or Mt ChiUty.
tlTlintW^Z^^^^ «Pri-g "P to deck their path,
(concealed b^f rfl? ffi.^^l*^^^^ /^ ' ^ ^^^^^li railway
a cottage. hllolSS^ fnn^!^ ^Af ^ ''m''^ ^^^* distance; anS
T>,o «^- 1 P^"™^^® and performed their errand of mprpv
cantag, hurried, and «Lal in wW he saS wJ'i^Y- ??
Swhrh:i''S?;sx?£v^'Y^^^^^^^^
whiskey pervaded thJ hnvS t f ^' i"" ? •'*'^°^ ^"^^^ °^
strongly of t^ofi 1^ • l^ the close hovel, that smelt so
men." "^® "'^ "f"''® 'O'-Jay. nor ttose savage-looking
EMh" ^•" "^'^ ^""^ = " ^'" °= 8"=' '"«k ^ i^t as we can,
felWs"^Lt''?2^i;!^^"fL:!:^-_S- a- iU-looting
and lonely as it
Guilty, or Mt Chiilty. gg
|e then perceived that the three ill InnVi'ti., «,n^ t , ,
k Juke's hovel before them and who bad lln 7' ""^^ ^^
fesaulted him, and mth a well-aimed blow brought Edith'!
Bsailant to the erround But tho «,^«*„ * urougnc Jl^dith g
bhe two other^iU™„3 fell tpon Irtha/wl,^ •"™''?*"' °?''-
[aliant resistance, was OTerpoTred stunned i^l V" 'P',*! °V*
[round which was soon batC[rUs blood fIS^ ^^^^
tate, sank fainting .^"nfs'idr^^'''^ "'"' '"''™ ^' ^■'"""■'^
Ifer head on his brealt ' ^"^^^^ "' '^ ^^^^ «^oon.
en, and were waiting for their dav'^ w«Lo J \- •^,*^"
i>S' My'l^^W '^XTb*''!"" °™"- ^'''^^^- 'he official's
Win,^ber4^vstt^s%rc^?ri;sj^^^^^^^^^^^
»t on that brow, and said Xr ,V"^'**'« »=>* was
Wngtr^o-^ '■''"'*'^' "''='^' «■"» »y camphor julep will soon
Ztd'^rSasttltf addin'ir'^^"'"P ^'^i*'' '"="' «■"'
Jr mother and ^^^^^''^1^^^.^^^'^^ t'"" °'
ito paiuculars. Ho only said, ° *" ""'*''
KrhraettT^- J -C - » -- = - ao
64
Quiliy, or JSTot Guilty.
I will be
'm^^I;?- •»"«■-• "«" *o has only fainted. . „,„ ^
So saying, he carried Edith infn «,, '
lef? ?^? ^'^^ ^^d *^^° toed b^k ?o Z' "^^"^V^^d placed
In i^^?^ to assist the laboi^S t 1 • '^^* ^^^^^ ^^ had
youth to his mother's cottage ' ^ ^^^^^S the wounded
hadreft^tV'^^ at the spot where he
tage. Gently and carefnlW ff ^"^^ ^^^ removal to the cot
eyed the p„orbi?dfS™^;Swf'"? "'^ ^"""6 »»
welo».ed and c^essed b, t:'^^^^^^^^^^'-^
w^b^u^hlCS,^^- tdTr ^^ ""^ *™«^^>>-
from the bed on which shp W i? '^^''^ ^^^^^^s she sprang
«ic£s'^S'S^^^^^^ ^^^ '^Z'Zt Z^'^' ''""'.^ ^-* d^ai of
Jer own simple ways a veX L Ji ^""^^ ^ ^^pital nurse, but, in
best for ArtU7 4til ThJ ^Ce'd^^^^^^
sent, could reach the spot ^ ^°''*°'"' ^°^ ^^^^ she had
r^^Z^l^^Zu'sl^^^^^ of blood, but not
lips and cheeks when fc ParW^^^'V^^'^^^d *« Edith's
with smgular presence of mind tnS TTi K«^ *^^« 5 and.
good motherlf woman to wash the hlnnTr^' '^f ^^^^^^ ^^^
face, to cut away the o]nH^ i f^ "^^^^d from Arthur's Dale
to bind it up, aTd to a^Ser^^me'^-"' ^"^ ^^^ *^^ ^^^ 'd
soon enabled him (witH St sS "V"^P^« restoratives, ^ ^ :.
tis hand to Edith, who heThe T f recognition) to extend
was WUng by his^U ' "'^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^ ^^r eager eye.^
"let ns b?ttSl.\'a"d2itTs7w ^^ ^r«- Parker;
" Now that I feel a little H • ' ^^* '* '« "« ^o^se."
will tell you how this came f^ "" '"^ ^/ ^^°d'" «aid Edith, « I
She thV as simpVTnd Sr%W^ ""^^ ""?.^^^* ^^ are.''
adventures of herselHnTArtCrf^''!v,Po^«^ble, related the
li:ft^t^^?^y^^^^t^^^^^ ofTbe^ttr. li^^i^ -et-
Ouilty, or Not Guilty. gg
Parkerf-ldt r4t7mef ;■'' J»ko myself," said Mrs.
to let your frLds kno;"of^he SLTr ' ^-^ ''""^^ ™°'"™
imbibed a pint of beer thTs TZ. ,^r'""j' ™d after he had
1 kitchen /nd pocketthat ZCwWi?^^^^^^^ ^^^'^ -^^^ °^ ^i« o^
'ningjoke which he crackS a?Uhrme^d"is''rf ^^^^ %™-
Eockalpi^hTdbnc and v,l,lv ?*'/!;"?'"''' "f Alnwick and
:ases, both real Ld rmt'rar^''''C " ^""^ *" T-"*'''''' <*'^-
.ington-the Honourabfe Sissf TrnZ; T ^Sj"^^'
.er, that ^~^'LZT^t^ZS r^^t^ '^.^T^
off. she did w o^ i 1 ^^ "^^^^* ^* aii.y moment >:,rrv her
top: toredTiLtrr^f ^^^ ^^" ^^ - ^y -^^^
^S.':m^sXn^n^t^^ n}'J''r'' '^'^ «f ^^"^^'^ding the
Miss Moss if nnZvfded 4 in L^'f *'"" that waited poor
Misq Trnr»,^,- ^V '^, ^" *^®^ patroness's will.
imss 1 rumpmgton very hauo-htil v reni-d thJf i, - -
t;ompetent to the manao-pmpnf °^f i," ^^'i*'" *^'"^^t bHu was quite
no hints from anyZ^SHf M" Ir'^'^^ ^^^^^«' ^^^ wanted
was at fuU Hbe/tyTI and^^^^^^^ '^^t'^"* '^^^^^^'^ «^«
uwtyco go, and there the subject ended. Dr.
ee
Gtnlty, or X^ot Guilty.
Fussell never aJluded to it again, and for a !Vw rlav^
rrumpm^on did not send for lim. But ere Ion.. «oXha;n'
on hf.^w^ rr^d pride, and he was reinstated He wT^
Dr. TusseU staned when he recognised Edi i Lon aine "n fho
yoimg bdy knedi^g by the woundid youtb's si^ ':^th W
mure th.a once beea under hi. care. Irthm-, toc^^iou^^Z^
rally heai... 1,7,. n.d been ai^ patient in the case of two ?r £«
ehJ^ -'^i-^'^- Both were favourites with tLe^S S
"Ah I fiih EdiU of the swan neck!" he eald, offerine. b,-«
warm lm.d, "What, bending over Haroldf Not S f
hopet' -No nol Never saydfe! Come, how are we now P'^
ana he sat dowii by Arthur's side, took his hanci^th a vZL
mortal air, and felt his pulse. "Very low and fluttei W " he safd
Mi^. Parker have we a little good brandy in om cupboard P"
;; Yea, su- ; I have some French brandy."^ cupboard P
Very^ good. Now let's have some boiling water and ^
glass, and some lump sugar. This spirit, fair slith, which does
nL??,'^ T!'q^°'' sometimes a great deal of good. It has
ll nf 'T^^ ^'"'-^''^ P"^*^ ^^*« *^« ^orld, but Sometimes the
hfe of a dear one is owing to its potency. Now then E we
are. Take a sip yourself, fair EdiU. You need it fo^ vou Z
much shaken, and we know who wiU think the corffluh^
sweeter, if those pretty lips touch it : *^®
' But leave a kiss within the cup.
And I'll not ask for wine,' "
^®saiig in a Uttle, squeaky falsetto.
and^.'S*Hi7^'''J-^P',^^'^^'«^ll P^^^^ ^^^ glass, drank
.hli^''^.^^''K ^'^ ^"^^ ^^^' I^octor. Do - ■) '^dith so-
she s frightened to death." ^^^^
P.l?'"'^- 'i ""f-'i ''"^ '" ^^* "^ ^* • She's not f-^'-rhf.
Pretty girls hke a iMe blood shed in their • ^ ,
better if he's got a bloody costard in her Irr. ^
take another puU at this mixture here," ana •
into owo other glasses. " Now then, Edith faii
Prince Arthur; now then. Dr. Fussell— a lonaJiV- .- ^ '
pull and a null 9lto.,otV.'f ri.f "i'/ri.. ^ ^^pg P"! -\-v a strong
were Mrs Port^^ "ni i ' "T """V^'^^° ^^^^^ "^^^^ men we
>d; not she.
There isn't
fellow all the
There, now,
', ' ■ ired some
■ uow then,
n. ;i w dajR Misa
Ion..' oome sharp,
nstated. He was
jourer met with
lere u poor man,
)ulJ have bled to
'• Lon^anie In the
side, ::dithhad
00, tiiough gene-
of two or three
L the good little
uJd, offering his
? Not slam, I
■ are we nowP"
Id with a profes-
tei mg," he said ;
om- cupboard P"
g water, and a
dith, which does
f good. It has
t sometimes the
V then, here we
i it, for you are
3 cordial all the
e glass, drank
ed his eyes, he
said in a faint
tc') '^dith so-
• '^d; not she.
There isn't
fellow all the
There, now,
j j> "red some
ii's iiow then,
> £»)!<{ a strong
CO tile men we
sie and Patty,
ned to death."
Guilty, or JSTot Guilty. ^^
I Ari^u? S^T/ t^f ffSS fo &^^J n-ter, and
scious of au^ht but r,he Lt^eofsfethT^'' *?^ ^* ^^^«»-
|a«d|o her, tSe Uttlc Docto? saTd ^ '"^ ''^'^^^^'^ *» ^ifo
jof the^'damage.'' MrlXke^ToJfl Z"^ 'l' ^^^*'« *^« ^^tenfi
|dd a light, if you plea^ll'^1^ JSf InL'T'^^' ^-^ 5
Indeed! l^ow, have you a bed mvl!iM''''^^^^*^y Pressed
^ou can spare for ouJyoi^g g^ wf ''n^T^"*' ^^^^^
fe composing drau^t, t^tCT^^^e^^, S^^^^^' ^^^^<'.
%o have to exact from our womankind "^^^/o^ i^^m; and all
#oes work miracles-^amel^ sS^„^ » %t miracle-but Lovo
fongues, for when onceXmt^T; .T^^^xf^^'^ ^^^^ their
fill depend on rest-entSeCt Thf *^^^^^ *H' anodyne, all
f ver ; and that's the (^y tWwe^ ^^? ? ^'**^^ tend^icy to
|ed he can have." ^ ^ ^^ ^^^® *» ^ar- Show methe
ii hl^?£e'Sit ^h^SlS r^^^^^ --^ -0-. and
■ " The very thinffN^^^^^"!^^^^ Placed,
the field, weV get^ur woi^de/^T^^^^^J ^fjon^iU leave
quite comfortable, HI come^wlvf ° i° ^^J' ^nd when he^a
fi^e a brief account of thr^m?^r' ^""-^ ^'^ ^^^^^^ ^air to give
mat led to this dlaster '' ^^^ ^'''^"^<^ ^^ A^^d and fidd^
Ax^ ^:: s ;i'r i'a^^ ^^r«' -^^^h he
Heaven bless you!" they parted ^''^^ ""'Sht" and
I -In about half an hour the lif fin n ^
Ke upstairs to hear Cm Edith f>,«?''*^ ^^^ ^^«- ^^arker
[hich she had alreadrgTven to the P^'S^^ %U^^ <^i«aster
fed it, a carriage drove urtoflT/^^'''::. ^^^^ ^^^ re-
hionate wish to r^ain wS^sl^^.^^^^^f ed *^ ^^^^^'^
Ivmg offered to give up her little W f .1 *^^* ^^^^*' J^ssy
he ^nthhev mother aSd sTster '^ *° *^' ^^^^^ ^^dy, an J
^hur would be well enougS^^i^t t^^^^^^^^
CHAPTER XTY.
" Thus conscience doth make cowards of us all."
IhILE the Worlrllir «r,..^ T , SHAKESPEAia^
r 2
68
Ouilti/, or Not Quilty.
Earl of Richlands, and while Edith— whom in her hard heart
she had doomed to the perpetual spinsterhood that so often
awaits a cripple — is enjoying all that happiness that Love and
Youth can bestow on Innocence, there were hearts in which
the proud Lorraine blood was chilled by dread, or fevered with
anguish and despair. Lord Hauteville, in spite of his success
in public life, in spite of Popularity, Reputation, Office, could
never shake from his soul that nightmare, the consciousness of
Crime, and that ever-haunting, chilling terror that attends the
dread of Detection.
Rough Rob and his Mary were in Canada ; but things did
not go well with them there, not any better than they had
done in Australia. Mike O'Rourke, from Mary's account, was
a rash speculator and an inexperienced farmer, and had led
them to the verge of ruin. Mar^ was the scribe of the party,
and would write to Lord Hauteville, although the sight of her
handwriting, and her square letters, and her thimble seal,
caused him an ague of fear and anguish, and though he sent
lar^e sums to keep Rough Rob abroad; for he was haunted by
an impression, so vivid as to seem almost b. 'presentiment, that
if once Rough Rob were taken and tried, the long-hidden and
terrible truth would come to light,
Augusta, on her side, could not stifle with wedding finery the
yearnings of a young and not unfeeling heart. She dreaded to
be alone — she dreaded to think; she studiously {./oided all
tete-d-tetes with her intended, the wigged, padded, rouged old
Earl, with his glittering false teeth, so out of keeping with the
thin blue lips of age ; his blackened eyebrows and whiskers, so
harsh and unnatural when contrasted with the wrinkled parch-
ment of his cheeks and brow, and which the silvery locks of
age would have softened ; and his stiff gait, so ill suited to his
assumed juvenilitv.
Alas ! poor shrinking bride elect ! If thou so dreadest a few
minutes alone with thy lord elect, how wilt thou endure the
close intimacy, the forced companionship of wedded life — the
unbroken seclusion of that honeymoon which will so soon tear
thee from all but him at whose tottering steps and squeaky
falsetto thy cheek grows pale, and the young blood dancing in
thy veins grows icy cold ? Happier — oh ! ten thousand times —
beautiful and stately Augusta ! bride elect of an Earl ! is little
Edith (the carroty cripple). Carroty cripple, indeed! why,
Hebe might envy the golden auburn of her rippled tresses, and
Psyche could ask no form more perfect and more sylphlike.
Yes, ten thousand times happier, is Edith, with her young,
adoring, but unacknowledged lover by her side, though he ^s
the grandson of Attorney Croft, adopted out of charity, and,
in the world's opinion, as far beneath thee as Attorney Croft
. her hard heart
i that 80 often
i that Love and
hearts in which
or fevered with
3 of his success
)n, Office, could
onsciousness of
hat attends the
but things did
than they had
'■'s account, was
r, and had led
»e of the party,
ie sight of her
' thimble seal,
though ho sent
vas haunted by
isentiment, that
)ng-hidden and
Iding finery the
She dreaded to
sly {„/oided all
ed, rouged old
leping with the
id whiskers, so
rrinkled parch-
silvery locks of
ill suited to his
dreadest a few
bou endure the
edded life — the
ill so soon tear
3 and squeaky
ood dancing in
)usand times —
L Earl ! is httle
indeed! why,
ed tresses, and
nore sylphlike,
ith her young,
B, though he is
>f charity, and,
A.ttorney Croft
Gtillii/, or N'ot Ouilty. 60
U beneath the great Lord Hauteville, the popular orator, tho
Labinet Mmister, the man whose reputation is without a stain
or blemish and who if there ivere an order of Virtue and
Merit, would be a Knight Grand Cross of that Order, and wear
Its priceless star on tho breast of— a fratricide !
In about a week from the time of the assault and robbery on
t^ TiS"' n^'tl^'' "^f sufficiently recovered to embark on
board Mr Croft s yacht, the Water Lily, in company with tho
r?F P^^ ^°^"° abroad for the first time.
The police had made every possible effort to discover and
apprehend the ruffians who had committed the .ssault and
thett; but all their endeavours proved abortive. Old Juko
had lett his hovel, and was gone none knew whither; and
thus one great chance of detection was lost.
A reward of a hundred pounds was offered by the Earl, and
another to the same amount by the parish authorities, for the
apprehension of the culprits; but fn vain. Our party em-
barked without any progress having been made in the detec-
tion 01 the rumans.
Edith spent the last day of her sojourn in England at Eock-
alpine Castle, with her grandfather. It was a happy day, for
wbi-.r^oTH *^^^^^^^f T^ere proportioned to the great boon
which he felt he owed to his little Edith
ui^^^i^^^^ '"^ *^^ departure of Mrs. Croft and her party en-
abled the former to receive before she embarked the wedding
i 3pH%1 f ^r^"*" V °^ H'^l^^ds. Yes, Augusta had con-
Sf *^5,^^^,«^5^^ «^^*or ?f lier sister ; the sacrifice was com-
plete. ^ bhe had wedded her eighteen summers to the Earl's
S7;t'^T i''*^''^' f?^.^° 'l^^^^y ^ad i* all been managed,
that the London world of fashion was taken quite by surprise
and before Slander, Gossip, and Ridicule could make a feast out
ot their engagement. Interest silenced all three; for Augusta
was a Countess, and the Countess's robes covered up all tho
vanity, avarice, and ambition of such a match.
Lady Haute^Ue, although for a time her occupation was
gone, as she had no daughter to marry, continued in town for
the remainder of the season, she so thoroughly enioyed the
\27\f' ""t' ^""^ discomfiture of high-born matrons, with
Idaughters of many ..asons still on hand.
Lnf w^"!?^^ Countess had promised that her absence should
inot extend beyond the honeymoon, and then she was to return
llir^; be agam presented as a bride-the Countess of Rich-
llands-to ghtter .'^, the Birthday Drawing-room, give some su-
€ dinners and -nrees, and a fete and ball h^thevio unap-
iproached for magniixcence, at Richlands House. Park Lane, and
Ito display her diamonds and her trousseau before admiring or
leuvymg eyes, to the deUght of Lady Hauteville, who scarcely
70
^^■%, or ]^oi Ouilty.
ever now eave . thrm..-,. i.
viH^SotSt^S^S^^^ 'He wit .;t„ .,„.„ „
di«g"'r""; ,t",'t- f S"-^™ ;;ill receive by thia port ,!,» „,
dear g>,.. iu ,,„ g„, Be»8™ S "7 ' t " "' «'*la„d The'
off a ,,r,,;e for which high bo" a'^Zhi"",,,™'^ *"^™. '"'"arS d
li»v,> oiig contended in vain r„ '""hlonahle mothers and daiiS™
niarrjang a fort-if-n nobleman, consiS 1 ' ^^ °'^'" eWest dariW in
I ^-'^n^a great measure lostTo S "^^ "^" *^^*^«' °«* ^'^r^. an^di"
Nonhumbnans are liie Scotchmen IthevUvefo?
Adieu, my den -^ -St Mr r w t? i.
believe me ever yours most fdtlSally "''''" " "^^ 1^"°^ ^ ^^t^ ^^r me, and
To Edith, her mother TH-ote :-
,«f.T^!"A^«^EDiTH,-Tamgriev,
" Gr .R3INA Eauteville.'
enchanted f,n h^o. <•...„ ^^^^"^ ^^^ «» chtumingly contrived for v ^^
sonlatnotbei g able »o
-chanted to h:aXm"C Z roort ""-A'^ -Sr^/'^Tili
naps When you return from this inZ Z • ®° ^ ^*^* «aw yo«- Per-
mll be grown so much iThall h^S ^^°"'^ °" *^« Continent vou
^metoxntroduce you to yZr ^w /roTht^i'? ^^^^^^ ^ hope at tCt
t^J^---^ - -n H.e ^TS-^-^ -Bio.
-* and^ S^SSS^^devS S.i^ ^^^^^« -^^h over you. I^
* Georgina Hauteville."
<< I
Georgina, or to
mpletelv was she
u match her Au-
it "to assume a
Villef/ertoMrs
) Edith. To the
tliia post tlie wed-
f Bichlands. The
jiiteen, has carried
lers and dauprJitcrs
ultuous hapi)ine83
'^. of her Eichlanda
>joiced with me to
3 of air and scene,
te in son in degree
ville is more '^han
im by office, but
' ^'appy marriage,
eldest darling, in
not ours, and is,
fe this, to have
»"i', her seconi
dful death, Lord
never visits the
so.
n the Earl, my
he should be so
1— they live for
iith for me, and
AUTEVILLE."
t bei g able to
1 the deligJitfui
'pr y I am
in all resppcta
'W you. Per-
ontinent, you
hope at that
Earl of Rich-
[usta is a very
I over you, by
JTEVILLB."
Mrs. Croffc ^vas
<3^«%, or Not Quilttf.
n
municativo letter as fhut « m L? ''•" ^J^^^'onato and com-
villo. Great as was to A^, received fWnn Lady Haute
Lawyer Croffc and Ladv frt'^^'M ''T ^'^^^^^^ the^w n of
Sir John Arrnstrlg b/eamo i'il '' *?" '^"^ ^'^^ l^een J efore
Miss Armstrong and Mls^nnff y"'' T^ ^ millionaire when
drawing and danciW Ichoo^ a.''? r^>f ^ ^^^^°ded the Tamo
beauties at the danci?^ ^^r^s it ^'t' T"^ ^^^ ^^^^ rival
'W i'«o.-KinaP Hr?ho vdl Metf *'•' '-■^guided, the un-
■-7>c'll of passion outlasted the hom%m''°'"•^■'■«'i^''*' H"" tl,o
;l^es so. no. , «eor«i„..^ea^Jre;t1on^'rtU'ge*3
,r4;..:s:^:?47Wsroua^^^^
insured h. , life for douMe Z „^„ "f^ ^^y^'^^< a"d he has
gained f, ot^tithT^ilVT^S ,«l!j!,*-P- ^» ^as
Pense, a reproach ! She h^C-™?" I'r ™<=™braaee, ar !
watchful '^"'^ " A^nontented, too, unhappy, jeaiou;,
'tE''^fl?"^^'"^^e^hrh'tt»^
:repents of that one ialso sten r w™; /^ ?™ ?<"»• young wife
for restoration to her honJe P„d?°7J^'j° P/"«^ for pidol and
•In vain, in vain ' A ii fi,« i 71 fister J
Nened; and Bomio rRoccateS^^^ f ' """^''^ ^^^ ^^*^ned un-
per tears, her misery, commanfi,''^'P^^^^^^ ^* ^^er despair
«f S'^t to ,^ite nS'^o^J?" To a^J<]V "? ^'^^^ «^ ^^« dirrre!
oalth and strength fail her,' her be^ , ^'''- T' '"^^^^'^e^^' l^er
Uickness as unto death conS K ^^"^^'^^f" ^'^^ ^ dream.
^ L .^t j,,^, jjj ^^y half .=,^41^' I" "^ ^^'^^^ rtutecfcs
»P. However, h3 insists on her Wn ^ """^ ^'^ monstachioed
■of the first phy..cian in Hombi-g ^ ^^^''^' ^^^ *^^ ^Pi^ion
72
Ouilli/, or mt OuiUy.
Goorgina watched Inm closely whilo the doctor oxpresqed hU
onnion. and the rl.ud that dirkcnod his brow Zt 1 redd
Bhadow on her Binl.a.pr heart. The doctor, an old Zirlvn^
and a laughing philosopher, nibbed his hands, chuck cd and
congratulated the Count and the Countess, say nr*' You'll bo
Unhaopy Georgina! there is no joy. no sympathv in his ovo
TiC . T *^7l^»^band-he is the'fJther ofThrchM to be bo^rn
^Itil ^?*^"?l^«^«^«i«P:all and wormwood. Ho does not
clasp thoo to his heart, and bless and cheer thee. He Teavea
nrchm the llf '^.r iPT^^^-^^"^ P"'^^^^°" ' ^>^t even 7.; cZ
^rn ink f^ a7 7"^^ ^^^""^^ ^^'^^'^ fi'*^*^ learns that she is to
be a mother ! Nc ! ho cannot rob thee of that strange mvstic
rapture And he sees thee, with an eyil. mocking efe' Sw
Zr^}}!l 5'^\' ^^""^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^ «^k« of the unbo?n-re whos?
wishes that death would claim both the branch and the fn^t fo?
he has insured thy young life for twenty thousand pounds
CHAPTER Xy.
" O'er the glad waters of tlio dark blue sea,
wlfnii';^!; M^^ boundless and our souls as free :
2f™^/ "'^ "^ °*'^ ''''" '^'^"' t'»e billows roam.
Survey our empire, and behold our homo." BrnON.
Mr. Chopt although his wife had induced him to purchase
that H|)lendid yacht, the Water Lily, was by no means nanfl!
cally disposed. He as he said, did not kno7a ropTo?The sht
ten^dTobe :^: '^'^ '""^'"l ^^^ ^' ""^^ ''' *«« seSe to pr?-'
tend to be what he was not, or to undertake what he could nnf
ttZesKh ::'^ H ^" "^"i 'r^ r --Id W^^Xnge^el
ine lives ot others. Ho wisely hired a thoroughly comoctent
bl hTaTd MtsT'%^ T^''7' T^ '''--'''' eUaXtfon
oocn ne and Mrs. Croft, their daughters Roo-pr Crnfl- ^r^A +i,
young Lord, wore all lying on the AS S^&l^Cin^l
Z ^ZTh^^T^''"'*'^' "8°-™^ "f sea-sickness, alY^sUng
tor nothing but to be once again on term firma; all resolvini?
^„i T' T"" ^P'"" """'^ t''^'-^. noti&g would ever aaafn
induce them to enter a yacht, or to do ajiythEie in thit 1^1
were not m the least ill , on the contrary, th™ w7^ i";,,,.T±^
hu-ai.u ana smnto (as those who are not afflicted Tvithsiokne'r,
always are wfen at sea). The wood-pigeon, now quMe re^wed
tor OTprcssod his
ow cast its cold
old hon i-lv(mt.
Is, chuckled, and
^yinp, •• You'll bo
' s hie, not death,
a little stranger
)athy, in his eye,
3 child to be born
3d. Ho does not
hee. He leaves
but even he can-
ns that she is to
strange, mystic
iing eye, taking
lorn — lie, who so
md the fruit, for
nd pounds.
e;
am.
BTnON.
m to purchase
) means nauti-
3pe of the ship,
ensible to pre-
it he could not
ive endangered
hly competent
r embarkation.
Croft, and the
r berths, in all
)s, all wishing
all resolving,
iild ever again
', in that way,
nmer day, via
to all the rest
Lrthur. They
Te m iimip.iip.l
with sickness
li ' e recovered
Ouilfi/, or Mt Quilty. 73
witV^IZorLr }^ ^T^'--\ST^^--^on, and wa. a pot
happy in the soo hing ret,^; ofTl e'sofV ^^I"? I'r"^ '^'7 ^^^^
breeze freshened the?lovol , ' 1 .1 ""^"^^,^^0"; when the
now wafted 0^11^.0^ InLd ll ' Tf^ ^^^"•'^' ^"^^ '^"
Eflith woiiM ♦•o,- I pinngecl below, but always toffethor
of ftf doT V « troriio''o™f'' ""'' 'h ^ 3^"8"u
sufferers below B,.t tw ♦ '"''""^ ""'' ''""■'hs of the
long suffertag and they socSrh/T '" ■'"''""^ "^^ "'"'■•
was such purmtorT tn^h^™ fl, r ,. "^ ""f "Wmont of what
ment to p^oC^, tnori, r Vsto " tr? "cfoftTrr"
iaru„Tu:rro;xr"£ir°rf?'«'^^ '^^^^^^^^^^
wsiXtT;;arars^7s';iL^^^^^^
b rrditr"'! r ^Sre*:u?d"t; .y'rete^^^^^^^^^
fkv Z fl,i tl,' ""m ""= ?P™ '^' *'"' '■■■<'* air. and the beautiful
bndArt,h,7r mVj fif^ . at length the paradise of Edith
The? laideT nJ^r''«'"°'3' °' '^^ «"= others, rame to a close
in a Iw dfys aU the "T"'"^ ?' ,^'?-"°'''' '" "''"■""■'l^ 'and
-0 cnJOTthrbeautv of „ w ' '"'^'"^mg Mr. Croft, were able
nindVith «l,„t ^ " W? ™ associated n every Enslish
Hsinore (indeed it Hn^iff . ux ^.^^ ^^^ unexpectedly at
•aid her a good deal 71?.' J?!"'^ ""'^ ^ gentleman who Ld
.ondon. ^ * attention during a visit to an aunt in
,Jii' P^^^f.' a. ^r. Horton, was a vonntr ham-iof.. ...t,^„
■ter and rather si,. ^m^S^St^^^^lT^^^l^^^^
'fliPI
'^HnH
MIh
f'-fl
'^H^Q
!■
:^^^H
«
'9B
74,
Guilty, or Mt Guilty,
the thankless task of ronrfmn. +i.^ t ,
to meet with any oneat p11 if^ the yornig Lord, was very glad
inthis^xeursion^S^^^^^^^^^
and meet them at the old cas^lo wifh'^ ^T *° ^^ ^^ ^ ^^^™ge.
a lovely day ; the slSes werf ota deen t" ' ' '-" '^'- ^* ^^^
smooth as glass, was rich in wof f-r'^'^'l''^''^ ^^"^^^ t^e water
banks werefo bea^tTfjf enanTetd ^^^^^ ^^d the
Edith's request the boaf w"s ^,^1 in } 7.!^^ ?°^^^^' *^^t at
ladies might gather the wfw ^l? "'5"^ t^ey landed, that the
4red?ota:^^^^^^^^ ^-k did not seem
Mrs. Croft not to keen "th? r^nV^^ '.^'"'■^'^^^
Edith by the hand to helX^^to tK"'? ^°'a ^^^hl^on, took
with his oar in one hand and thp^ft ^°^*• • ^"'^ ^« ^^ stood,
her into the boat, his animftedft^^i '^^- P'"» ^^^^^'« *« ^^^Ip
she blushing beneath Ms Ardent ^aze hp^"\^P ^^^•^"^^«' ^"^
back under her little turban hat for «1^ ^''Y''''' ^^^^ ^^^^'^^d
their eyes, and the " celestial ?ofv rS' ' ™ ""^ love-light in
their blushing cheeks tdnJ^^*'"™.^ P™PO"- hul," on
them, and m4 Ihom form Sh rcont'raTf 7^'"i '° ''"*'' "*
ing, mercenary coquette and tLf* *" ^hepak. calculat-
fortune-hmiterf a ferstcMrehin^tl,? ''"''"'i"' .^^^-'ooking
that an opportinitylr a'^^eSntll^ l!?; '""' t"L ""''<= ™*kin|
Arthur was an amfcosL e^stTv » ^ barter, which to Edith and
too sweet to last, a^^re rste ^f fe^' happi„e>^^
Katnr. s lo.ehest hannts in the preSe ofThe aS oS' "'
CHAPTER XVI
lrt,inate°(lt™f,: cSl'SllT^'f ^^ *"» "^^ "^ 'h^
for a short spaoe.V eS and hfr A?th^ t'' '""iT" '^''™-
heroine of our tale, to trace in rL, ■ . ' ^^^ ™' '""'O and
quencesofonofalsesten aS,hef™ •^""',1 """""^ ^^^ <^onse-
aifairs. nl„„^„.t.-„; :°P' ™'' ™ '™glo results of secrenv in ].,„„
natural res„it:::t£;emeS:P'*'"'™™' """i' ™«' of-aU'thJ"
..^L^^kM
'd, was yery glad
sr, and she hoped
Guilty, or JSTot Guilty.
75
I and Miss Croft
go in a carriage,
etc., etc. It was
e blue, the water
lotuses, and the
flowers, that at
landed, that the
ihe wood straw-
, did not seem
^o had promised
luncheon, took
nd as he stood,
Edith's to help
3 into hers, and
^n hair braided
m arrayed in a
nd a black silk
ht have sought
or a handsomer
al, and Arthur
le love-light in
'opor hue," on
irm to both of
pale, calculat-
Vench-looking
were making
[ to Edith and
iness, perhaps
enjoyment of
iored one.
10 fate of the
ve will leave,
eal hero and
f the conse-
crecyin lovo
'f all, their
,sof butThef t^TchSe^^^^^^^^^ well-they have often done
PrinceHfor titles are rife o^^b^^^^^^ ^''''^ Marquis, Duke, or
tre of little value or dtnitv^ «^ liT*^' ^"^ ^^^"^^ ^^ ^^em
tnd well known irE3^^^^^^^
•bject of his choice T^itlh ^°^T^' l^^^S" t^ie parents of the
id resources wen aVceSnp7r*/'^'\°",^^ ^" ^^^'^^^d «l««ely.
.f hfe thorougMy sSd t^itf "?^ ^"^^'^^ "^^^e
>Uiance, may, Ihere there 1^2-1! ?. ^1^'^^*'°°^' "^ ^^^^^gn
tnd competence, and sv^mthvln "S-^^-*"''^"'"-"*- ^^ ^"*^ ^^^fs,
lappy one. sympathy ui religious opinions, be a very
*lVms a'^laXn ^^'" " '^^^' ^''^"^^°-^^' ^^y^terious
■ith^ you™ EnS '^^^^^ acquaintance and a secret Intimacy
,ipon her passiottf foV^ndfuve;^;!^ ^^^ ^°^^""?' ^"^ ^^^ks
lope Witt him ? Let thosi ir T^'i-f *° ^"^^^^^ ^^r to
^occabSVo^f^f :L's^r^^ °' ---'.j^-- di
jerfect specimen of thrtaD, aristocratic" fS 1 P^«^^"f J^^ a
eauty, so dear and so new to t ?p «nf '/?u ' ^^^^^f Jed, blonde
kccabella, villain and ruffian o A. ii""^ *^° ®°^*^- ^^^n Di
)ond to tiie graceful and rn^n f- T"? ™' ^^^^^ "^^^ but re-
ire, who haf sacrled a r^T 7^''' ^^ '^« ^^^^ ^ ^^ea-
loimtess'scoronet IndfttJe to?l "^"'^"""^ ^^ ^^^^^^^
^ unsuspectingly agreed to^n'^i^r ' lu^ '^^'' '° '^^^^^y ^"d
[ith regard to^tKrtunnKrK^'"^*^1.^", P^«P°«^d
knatureand her consent w:re nece'arrb!^?^^^^^^^^^ i?^^
bs reversion and to his insuring her ]ffe^ ^""^^ *° ^'' «^"^"g
iTs"rfrkSthiir^^^^
inghsh attorney (one Samiiel SkuXn T^' ""'^^ *A". ^^^P ^^ ^"
> a considerabfeUount-W^^^^^ f^'l^^' ^^^"'^ ^^^^
B had obtained. With the So., f t'-^t'f *^^ ^^"^ ^^^i^h
on, he, as the reader Lnw«i? 7 '''; '^^'''^ ^^ «old her rever-
Int oniarrying out sevS^^^^ '-?' ??'"^^^ ^P^^' ^"■
Id by degrees as T. Jn.^l ' '^ ?"" breaking the banks ;"
^thin^g mCto ;ithhoFor%r'^'^^°'^ "^ ^^'^ '^^ ^^^
^e CoSnt grew firlt negl gen aid foU and T^T^ '". "^°"^^'
id abusive. ^ ° ^°^*^' ^^^ finally rude, cri J,
■Ihif^b fillf^j T-- . 1 "^"''^er, and the knoAvleflD-fi of fhl" ^'--f
76
Guiltij, Of Not Q-uiltij.
he looked upon as a nuisance and a bore, while an^er ra^ed
within him at the thought of the inevitable expense.
A success^n of heavy losses compelled the Count to leave
-tiomburg. He had not patience and temper to be a successful
gambler; and he sternly desired Georgina to prepare to go
with him to an old castlo. the seat of his ancestors, in a wild,
remote part of Sicily (on the sea-coast). There, he told her, the
heir to the House di Eoccabella must, in all probabihty, be bom.
It did not seem to occur to him that such a spot might boast
neither doctor, nurse, nor any comforts necessary for the un-
fortunate Countess's safety and solace. Alas! she was too much
atraid of him to object.
Thither, then, they went, and thither came, soon after, and bv
degrees, numbers of dark, fierce-looking, moustachioed ItaHans
—who lounged about all day, idling, smoking, and playing cards,
and who often did what was far more objectionable, for they
tried with their glittering black eyes and their rich Italian
voices, which they accompanied with their guitars, to convey to
the miserable young wife's mind that they thought her very
S'hd^fe^f ^* sHghtest encouragement, t£y would 1^
Often for days and nights together Georgina neither saw nor
heard of her husband and these his "/ree companions;" and
she knew that sometimes they were out on excursions by land,
and sometimes by sea; that they met with perilous adventures
ot which her slender knowledge of ItaHan (as taught in England
prevented her understanding the object or the nature, but which
even she began to suspect had some deeper, darker motive than
W^' A V^^^^l)? ^\ ^°¥^*y °f *^^ ^omAvj, to which her
husband haughtily and rather sneeringly attributed them. It
Q- 9,T?i*e certain that these visits were never returned. No
bicihan lords and ladies ever entered the CasteUo di Eoccabella.
ihe castle was a very large, gloomy building, partly in ruins,
and so close to the sea that in stormy weather, the cellars
and even the marble entrance-hall, had been flooded more than
once. Ihe Countess s apartments were on the first floor: they
looked on the open sea and the blue skies of Sicily. There were
some remains of former grandeur about them, but not one iota
ot comfort, accordnig to our English notions. The windows
had no shutters, and the stone arches of the corridors were
open to the air. The fireplaces were Hke caverns, and, looking
up through the broad chimneys, you could see the blue sky^
Ihe floors were paved; the stairs were of marble. Theve were
no carpets anywhere but in the countess's bed-room and draw-
«f ii, " ' -^ .=4-t«,xea ui uia Lu-uustry in tne middle
01 the rooms. "^
Poor Georgina had no Enghsh maid with her; in fact, an
rhile anger raged
cpense.
le Count to leave
to be a successful
to prepare to go
icestors, in a wild,
e, he told her, the
obability, l^e bom.
spot might boast
ssary for the un-
she was too much
soon after, and by
stachioed Italians
ind playing cards,
ionable, for they
beir rich Italian
bars, to convey to
ihought her very
it, they would be
I neither saw nor
impanions ;" and
3ursions by land,
ilous adventures,
ight in England)
ature, but which
•ker motive than
y, to which her
buted them. It
returned. No
lo di Eoccabella.
partly in ruins,
ler, the cellars,
oded more than
first floor : they
ly. There were
but not one iota
The windows
corridors were
as, and, looking
3 the blue sky.
e. There were
oora and draw-
* in the middle
er ; in fact, an
GuiUi/, or Not Guilty.
77
lEngHsh maid would have died of discomfort, ennui, and de-
.-pair in such a place. When first she arrived there, an old
iwitch-hke woman had the care of the castle, and did all that
)vas not done by wild-looking, banditti-hke men in attendance
»)n the Count and his followers.
But when the Contessa's increasing dehcacy of health ren-
iered some additional female attendance necessary, and the an-
broach of an heir dekanded that it should be some one who
Md ply her needle in the cause, old Perpetua recommended
•hat her orphan granddaughter, who had been taught needle-
rork at the nearest convent, and who had been in good service
|)esides, should be hired to wait on the Contessa.
. Accordingly, Jocunda was introduced to the Contessa during
bne ot the long and frequent absences of the Count. She was a
plondid young creature, of twenty-two, but looking at least
&vo-and-twenty. Her dark complexion had a translucency
ihout It that gave it a singular eloquence and charm. Her
fcheeks were rich m the car-nation of youth and health Her
feyes were those of the gazelle ; and above her rather low brow
he thick ripples of blue-black hair waved in beautiful luxuri-
te, and were gathered together in two thick, long, Clothilde
blaits tied with red ribbon, and which reachecl down to
|he middle of her fine, tapering leg. This densely black
liair matched the ebon arch of her eyebrows and the long lashes
Ihat hung from the upper and under lids of her glorious eves
llernose was delicately aquiline, her upper lip short and curved'
Nr well-chiselled lips were of the richest vermihon, and her
"eeth were like two rows of Eoman pearls. She was a younjr
hana m form, with the broad shoulders, full bust, rhort waist
lolumn-hke throat, and powerful, well-shaped limbs that mark
ine cnud of the people. She wore the half-military, half-
easant costume of her country, in which a good deal of black
relvet, gold braid, white musHn,and scarlet, set oft' her singular
Ind most picturesque beauty. The Contessa took a fancy to
rocunda at once. The strong, healthy, young SiciHan, who had
ever knowii a care whose cheek was indeed " unprofaned by
I tear, felt her good, kind heart soften and warm towards the
IvI' f ^'^^^,?' ^-^^ i^nhappy-looking being, who, in j^ears a girl
Cv«T n *^'^* ,^yooi^ing, care-worn air, those pale
"leeks ana ■swoUen eye-lids, that air of self-neglect and self-
Jandonmeut and that sacred, crushed, forlorn look, which, in
II lands and at all times, bespeaks the unloved, unhappy,
OTv-n-trodden, and frightened wife. ^^^ '
^^lV^L.:^■ ° iC f ^^^H'fe'5 Mild, m spite oi ail ulu Teraeraa's
IntW ZtTff' ^^''''f *'' .^^'! promises (for Perpetua had no sym-
t vnli T ^^ ?''',^'' '^^^^^ ^"P^'" ^^ ^^^'^ «^"ed Georgina): all
[tie joimg Jocunda s energies were secretly directed to cheering
78
Chiilty, or Not Guilty.
and comforting the yonng Contessa. and preparing for the little
stranger, of whom she spoke with the love and enthus asm
generally only bestowed on the little one already born into ?hS
world of sm and sorrow. Not that, to Jocunda, it was the world
ofsm and sorrow which it had proved to her youn^ mirress
Jocunda was as mnocent as the wild flowerl she bved to
gather, and as glad and merry as the birds in the air, and the
lads that leaped from crag to crag. But she was fuH of darint
courage, moral and physical strength. She knew no fear and'
Inr&Tf^*^" ^"^¥ ^^^^°^^ ^^ *^^ neighbourhood we're ti'
ove with Jocunda, she as yet, knew the'master-passion on y
by name; for though her heart was not a httle^incCd to
^IT<\^!T~^^T'' ^l^ ^^^^ y^^^g fisherman, who would
have died to serve her-she, as yet, felt only for hini that erow-
"of r^^lTntXe' ^'^^ '^™"^ -terestf which may^^Xy
The doubt kept the handsome young Eenzo in a fever of
suspense an agony of devotion, and a perfect thm Idom of atLn
tions and homage. He was very glad when he Tard that
Jocunda was going to reside at the Castle, because hL little
fishing hut was situated among the rocks about ten minutS
he could see her waving her graceful hand to him, and at nirfif
a hght m her window told him that if she would not owiihfm as
P r^at^^^^^^^^^^ ^" r ''^"^ ^^^ thoughts^andTh"
pernaps thdfc light was meant as a beacon to guard, and a star
to light him on to an Eden of love and joy.
CHAPTER XVII.
"No radiant pearl that crested Fortune wears
vL^^i" that twinkling hangs from Beauty's'ears,
Nor the bright stars that heaven's blue arch adorn.
Nor rubies bright that deck the early mora
Shine with such radiance as the tear that breaks.
Jfor other p woe, down Womnn's lovely cheeks I '
Akon.
Ir^£ ^1"^ 'T^ Jocunda soon understood each other. Tlio
former qmckiy learnt the soft Sicilian dialect that flowed like
music from the sc^let hps of her maid ; and Jocunda b^gan to
t1^ palfL^Jof ^^^^^ "'f "^ ^"^^ picking it up as it felTfrom
mf n P tinhapp} C-mtessa.
±.'^,r«^"i.^^/r 'r-!?]?!"' ™^, ^-' .^-" -»« -ek.
absent, but soveml of tbo ..ghTwiiri/seTvi^rir^JJS
ti)e castle. assi>^t nlA Piimofiio T„ „]! i.„, ■> _„_.
'li m rli^vc^ r^V .-. Iv^ • IT-.
behind to STiard
iioid labours, evxjii in those of a boaicmaid and cook, , . by
t^ieir fishing, sh.x.tmg, and ga,rd^„ing, to supply the wJ
These aark, mou.ta£-hioed, f^arded fellows v ore farmed HuS
Oh!
-iiiir-ir-Kil
tig for the little
id enthusiasm
'■ born into this
j was the world
oung mistress.
she loved to
he air, and tho
full of daring,
7 no fear ; and,
'hood were in
r-passion only
jle inclined to
in, who would
im that grow-
1 may or may
in a fever of
Idom of atten-
e heard that
iuse his httle
ten minutes'
I the morning
, and at night
)t own him as
?hts, and that
rd, and a star
n,
Akon.
other. The
' flowed like
ida began to
3 it fell from
some weeks
n remained
>ok, i, ^. by
^ the table,
irmed; and
GhiiUt/, or JVot GuiUt/. 79
|ho Contessa, accustomed to tho woli fT^niv.^ i
fcuteville estabhshment (one of &f\^nTf^''T''^^ ^^ *^^
£ England), smiled a faint «^;?« f most perfectly appointed
fcubSng he wJ^ SrTwoJ?''' «lie saw these Lndits
Cbles, and watching iherolsf or bonpH"' 1?^^ ^"^ ^^^ vege-
ix spite of their da'Jers and S.Si: A^^^'*/?{.^*"^^ «^der.
f rmVnt temper of old PerpeC ' ^^ '^' '^"" '""Sne and
V^^^^e^l^Z^ ^"^^ ^r ^o under,
ince, her wedded WrvLdT P^^^^^* ^^^ filial peni-
fathising, devoted bS oTth'e'Sr/o tl^"^*?^^^^^ '^■
licihan had great natural shrewdness ner^nttn /?"^
these qualities in her sunnlied fl,^ So J^^ "^"' -^^"^ ^'^^'
Inowledge of the world sZ l.o ^l^"" ""^ experience and
Ife-assurances, buTwhen the rnnfT """^^'"f ^^ reversions and
fad been don^ JociSda shook h^^^^^^^^^ '^^/^'^°^ *^ ^^^ ^l^^O
ftelyand cautioustyas strcJa^r^^ ^.^ ^^^i"
W the Count had a dreadfhl rT^T^ZlfW '?^'^ ^^^ mistress
mn. was a remorseless Xin-thT^ ? ^"^^P"' ^'' ^'^^
3 the charge of both and thp 3^ aT^^? ''^™^'' ^^re laid
ppear to suspect nothing W "^'"'^ ^^'' *,^ dissimulate-to
Id her tealth^req^ed t?Te restorpdT ^' t' '^^^ ™ ^^^^^
' the baths of L— for a littlP J^?' "" ""^^M"^ ^^^^^^ *« go
^r escape to EngUnaZ.lTre^:^^'' ^"' ^^^^ *- --ke
I^B^^^ -^e ^^S^ - ^-^-- enei^.
wtV^o\^l!^^r4'tora»^^^^^^^^^^ "IwiU
|u, Eccellenza" (and here« %'lit^f i? i,""' ^^Y^^m I spoke to
h, "he shaU he?^ us By h?^^^^^^^^ ^T ^^«^^*^d
h to escape, or fc mavairTt,? ^ ^ 'T'?' ^^ ^^^^^ enable
fcrryhmnpbackedBeS." ^ "P' ^^^ ^^^^ ^"^^^If^ or
fddenwife. "It is not ne.-es-r^-f T *^\^«r^' down-
ft you look pale, EcSza T^l]^« '^' than m this castle,
will talk of^thiL wh^'fy^u' Lrte """t :?°'1, "* r.^^^"*'
!my grandmother that the Count t'u not T/^'^v ?'??«
fe ' tha'nf ^^"^ ^TP^^^'^ toTeM'th^^" '^ '^^' ^°^ ^-
3 thVcont^«fet:!S;h^_« "?* -°-J«g for six weeks then I"
« Tw ""P^^^o ""-'' J^mn, wiiite hands.
You St? "^"^ '»'"^ transparent of huo,
\ Oil » T ^ ^ ' ^ '""" """ »"««« «hine through "
p^nj Jocunda, what a reli*^f i=, f},.,f f v
[ a. renti is tbat ! J,rery morning and
80
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
I !
every evening I pray that God in His mercy may take me and
my expected babe to Himself before the Count returns to curso
me, as he did ere he departed."
And this was the young girl of some ten months back, who
had so cunningly deceived her parents, so adroitly wrought her
own ruin, and realized the romance of a foreign alliance and a
love-match.
CHAPTER XVIII.
" Unhappy woman ! still thy lot shall bo
A dream of love, or a reality
Of unshared sorrow ; raise your heart, you need
A firmer pillar than the broken reed
Of man's affection 1 Why will you bestow
On Mm the worship which to God you owe ?
Know you the cause of all your careworn years,
Your days of watching, and your nights of tears ?
Love you, and are you sad ? and would you know
Why tale of Love is ever traced in woe ?
Ask— ask your heart : you've reared an idol there ;
You've laid up treasun^s, with mistaken zeal.
Where moth and rust corrupt, where thieves break through and steal !"
Bride of Sikna.
One bright but windy night, just before the Contessa undressed,
preparatory to seeking her couch ( Jocunda and herself had been
working till a late hour for the expected one), loud screams in
the entrance-hall below caught the ear of both. Jocunda started
to her feet, and ran upstairs to rouse Perpetua, and to get a
dagger which the old crone kept under her pillow. She begged
the Contessa to await her return; and Georgina would certainly
not have ventured dowii alone, but that the shrieks which had
disturbed her were mingled with English ejaculations, in a
voice famihar to her ear ! Yes, it was the well-known voice the
poor Contessa had so often longed to hear again— the voice of
the constant companion of her girlhood — her sister Augusta !
Without a thought of self, the Contessa rushed downstairs,
and there, by the hght of the hall-lamp, she saw two of her
husband's free companions —the one was carrying a lady who
had fainted, the other was struggUng with a fair, dishevelled
young creature, who shrieked wildly, and resisted all his efforts
to drag her along. Despair gave her strength, and she clung
to the door-sill. The door was open, and the sea, flooded by
the silver radiance of the moon, was to be seen in all the glory
of both.
" Beppo," cried the Contessa ir, Itahan, " let the lady go -
Rhe IS my sister ! Augusta," she cried, " do you not see me ?—
do you not know me ?— do yoi^ not recognise youi- unhappy
In a moment the sisters w^e in eaeh other's arms ; and
Eeppo and Marco, all ruffians as they were, felt there was some-
ly take mo and
cturus to curso
nths back, who
ly wrought her
I alliance and a
leed
ars,
iars?
know
there ;
hrough and steal!"
IDE 01' SiKNA.
!ssa undressed,
jrself had been
ud screams in
3cunda started
, and to get a
■. She begged
?^ould certainly
eks which had
ulations, in a
lown voice the
I — the voice of
3r Augusta !
3d downstairs,
w two of her
ig a lady who
ir, dishevelled
[ all his efforts
md she clung
ea, flooded by
a all the glory
the lady go —
lot see me P —
;^our unhappy
Ouilti/, or mt Guilty. gl
ftaUan of gi-eat beautv Ladv^twLT /.i ^^^P^mon, an
1 The beautiful NeanoE hL „ '"'''■ ^'"' ^Partment.
Uent. by flood Ldtu .''""''• °"'* "^ ^"' """"^S
uj. doors, ^df^dr^ rasper ' ^"""^"^ "'^^^-^ *^«
randmother knows all nhmnf v.^ i ^^^P^'P^sts. I thmk my
hw looks of iSwLfexla^' ;J'h^ '\^' "^°«^ ^« ^^^
id growing pale a^s' the rSld ' '''''' ''"' ^'"^*^««a' shivering,
bam^7itey';m^&V^^^^^ T '' ^^ «^-^-*'" -^
J^ win ormk deep, and sleep soundly. I have
i '
82
Guilfi/, or Not Guilty,
inatnicted Renzo to bo in readiness; and Hiavo told him if
two ugncs instead of ono, ho is to row at once, in his iiahin<r
boat, under these windows, by tho terrace steps outside V^e
T^^^^, *?"-;"?° *■"> '""" ^'^o"' disturbing .hose ruffians
ttaW %hlt' 5'°". ^'y •'=''??'''!; ^'='='="^"^^' -30 not throw
It away ! J. hat woman's arrival bodes you no cood I Lpt mn
jSrtSenc?S:Sirwrds'?"''P'"''' "' ""'^'^ "^^ -
Jo?uft^\°eeMe"d'rr\t*"'''"' "-"^l- "ut her sister and
Jocunda signalled to hor lover, and ere long the licht sn!«h
of his oars was heard beneath the windows; i^d hisloat Ck
SsilX'Ces™'^"^*™^'' ""^ f^".-''^ '^^ ^dufatioltf
strln°Z'^the''rSt"P'''" *'"', ^''^y;'^?'' P^P^d for tho little
r^^iXt^X'^inSie?;^ --" *''™*^°
«,-/«1^ T ^^''f ^''^^^"'°^*^ helpless with fear; but, with tho
aid of Jocunda and her sister (Lady Richlands) The wn!
m-apped up n a large, black, hooded cloak and pkied in The
boat. Lightly Lady Richlands and Jocunda sp^ane in afW
her; and Eenzo, plying his oars as if for his omihSdhwt
" Polt her brow become more light
Beneath the freslmcss of the night ;"
and, to enliven the ladies (when they were out of earshots
Jocunda and Renzo chanted the Sicilian Mariners' hZn^
fll'^'^l^''^^ "'^''^^ "^f *^e south; and the melody tKoo?
light the sense of her sister's presence, and Jf Joci^^s"
LfiLf"^. devotion filled the Contessa's heart witHte
Ina pT^*' ^''" 5'^? ^"°°I^^^ «^ Jocunda's broad ^houlS
r^Lw """f ^ 'Z^^ '^^^^P ^lo^^^d her weary eyelids-the first
refreshing sleep she had known for many a long mouthi "^'^
Renzo knew of a safe shelter among the roSs ft wo« n
place where he had often moored his bL, and ? possesZ a
dZfSfh^f ^' fr'^ *^^* *^^ ladies should rL^n hidden
during the glare of day; and that when night again set in ^o
^oXorey^'tirtr^^ r^-^^ with^som:^:Ssef whie\'
England P''''*^ ^^^''''^ ^^^^ ^°^d ^^l^ark for
^t —as unght mooiiKght when they entered the rsi^ro Pat,.,^
moored his boat behind a jutting an^le of "Xre it eS
i
rwrr ifflinn ^iiBi
e told him, if,
bed, ho sees
n his fishing-
outside. Wo
lihose ruffians,
do not throw
3od ! Let me
lady, all your
2ty. I feel as
ler sister and
hght splash
lis boat, black
undulation of
1 for the littlo
)ney she had,
red down to
ned that the
3ut, with the
Is), she was
placed in the
rang in after
e and liberty,
e nerved the
of earshot),
fs' hymn, in
Yy the moon-
•f Jocunda's
'< with hope
d shoulders,
s — the first
3nth !
3. It was a
possessed a
aain hidden
in set in, he
Bssel which
embark for
ve. Renzo
ere it could
Ckiilti/, or J^t Chiilty. 88
not be seen from the castle side of the coast; and then he
busied himself in helping Jocunda to mako things comfortable
lor the Contessa and her sister.
Jocunda had brought a good supply of cushions, shawls, and
a rug and as there was clean, dry straw in the corner of the
ciivc, Renzo and Jocunda soon contrived, with the shawls and
the rug, to make a comfortable couch whereon the ladies could
repose. She had forgotten nothing; and Renzo, by her com-
mands, began to kindle a fire among the rocks outside, to fetch
water from a rill that trickled in a silvery stream down tho
rocks, and to boil tho same.
Soon the fragrant steam of coffee saluted the nostrils of the
recumbent, half-sleeping sisters. Renzo was in the seventh
heaven. It was such ecstasy to him to be permitted to help
Jocunda,to be byher side,to bo praised, consulted, or even
Bcolded by her, to fee? her sweet breath wave his thick cluster-
ing black hair, and fan his bronzed, manly cheek, now and then
to touch her hand, or even the hem of her garment— all this
was ecstasy. "Trifles make the sum of human things," and
this beautiful truth applies especially to the inner hfe of love.
J^. kind glance can ensure happy days and nights of sweet
repose. A cold look, a frown, or a haughty, sarcastic smile
have, ere this, driven Passion to Suicide. Oh! then, ye who
are loved, beware how you trifle with the great and sacred
power bestowed upon you !—
" The rose we wear upon the heart,
bhould have no thorn to wound us."
Jocunda, we must own it, loaa a little over-bearing, exacting,
and tyraimical, but Renzo was a very good-humoured young
iellow, and he could see that there was a growing softn'Lss i§
Jocunda s black eyes, even while she scolded him wiih her soft
bicihan tongue, or even when she hit him (hard, though iii
sport) an occasional slap with her largo, well-shaped band?
TiT °n" , ^^t ^''S''**®^ nothing-coffee, cream, sugar, cakes.
Ihe Contessa had a small Enghsh travelling-case, with tea and
coffee pot, two cups, &c., &c. This Jocunda had brought with
her, and, after the ladies had done, Renzo and his beloved
repaired to an outer cavern in the rock, out of hearing, that
they might not disturb the Contessa and her sister; and there
S'. k f*^*^ on the coffee and the cakes, and Renzo on
twrv^^l'^f filhng his own heart to an overflow, and on
that which he began to fancy trembled in Jocunda's voice,
ftS? . ^\^\^^^ bosom, beamed in her oye., and translated
Itself into blushes on^her cheeks, and into sd lies on her Hps.
H^^irCr.^\ZT'^'%^^^ ^^% -Kiciiianda slept tht deep, dreamless
the vnn^^ P ^^'^^^V ^°"^^ ^« ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ those slumbers,
the young Renzo and Jocunda were alone. That " sun of the
g2
i^
m
84
i I
G^iiil/y, or mt Quilty.
Wmmm^
rl','"ii-''"Ve' «»' 'Z'St t,™»»o.." with
He
" Who como7' tw j„^°?Pf' °?^^' "'oy ^---e!"
"Tho p ^"^^ "^aw Jocmidii, ii, r, fr;n.|,i,.,.„j _
Who como?" said"rZ';''i"'''"-'"''"' ^^"^ ''ok.c!"
Konzo." ^'"'^ i'-™ »ot d.-camt of the boaf ^Td „T yS™
" Why. we Wxi '.;„&: wo "^,v ^T ■"' ^"i'' 'h« maid,
'7s i, '^''f «"' SO onTo B^T" ''port. The Coteasa is
across tho hard, smooth! silvery L^Sr^Tf''*''', '*<''«"od S fly
SXS,er"°""^ P-^"« «^- Sinl'r i-r„Tcr?i
jon, ha,r floats i. ,he .So^Urslikf ^ Sfet l^;,^^\^i
" Oh '" '^ T> olOW
- Wi.?; 5SS i -■-" S '-1 ■"' - M, .i..,.„~
• '•" """^ '° "^ ^^-'-'^-i -'•en she, poor lady, is safe,'>
* ^.3
X
h and lookini?
f^zo led hor l)y
■ions sea. Ho
^'tis AloDo with
fo Js n sort of
navo blushed
cr fnir ima^o
and hy his
' looked thus,
•ont.
lectin g rock,
lispor.
they art ia
foot and are
and of you,
kissing her
laid.
^02itessa is
ocks where
tned to fly
rater- and
3 of crag,
' and what
• and her
ler. Who
tiere some
the slow
emember
tar stay
ielp this
e."
he stole
ilder.
3 safe."
GuiUf/, or JVot Ouilfy.
85
never even kissed her hanrl l„.fl.,v. +i ! t"^' "'"' ^^ ^ad
it was a fact that ho dkrshe tow 1 ^i!'^'^*^ " ^^^ ^t
kiss from hor sweJt vi miu lips-" " Inn^T' '''V "^"^"'^ ^'^^<^
vouth n „d love • " and fl.nf /^' , ?"^' ^°"? ^^^"' "- ^^^^ of
what s.o blushinHy i "d^ tS he w'/f ^"f 9on^P'-"i"^ of
ho would set all . ^it i ' nuttin'L Vl ' Y- '^ T^^^l J^^- exclaiming
very spt whence o ZlTf^^'ll^^^^ "^'"" °" ^^^^
long time in getting Jocuiil T f£ • i ^"'''''' ""'^ was a
would only do .,,on his r,n^^ • "^''''' '""^5 «»^1 this she
again, mil go<d'oW Fat e^^^^^^ ''^^^^"^"P^ tlie like
tb- little church of Santa MaS^:^''' had jomed their hands in
hu<l been woTit fro nini^^^^^^^^^ *''" *""'^' ,^^^^^0 both
their first communiorand wh^re^bn I ''^^''"^ ^"^^^ ^^^^^ "^^^^«
their littl. pcccadilloc defau^/',''.^^ ^°"<^ *« confess
obedience and not to lelul hcrse1?i 1 ^'7^ 'T'". ^^ ^^^^^'^
tation, Jocunda, orderW ^^^^ hrr betrothed into temp.
sleep in the outer ea? If ole info .7^^ '^'".P"'*^ *"^"«^'lf o
her sister, Lady Sikn Is «^^ If ^^^'^.^ere ihe Contessaand
forth in tHumptTi tta keltbTv'r '';" a ^' '\ ^"" ^'^"^«
with fresh roses, Renzo hi the o?,tov i I ^"^?^'^had strewn
cave, passed through tLcrv^^alln'p '^/^""'^•^^^ "^ *^^^ ^""^r
Dreamland. ^ ^ ''*'^' ^''^^^ ^^ sleep mto the bhssful
* * #
de^s*^:^ftt1oK^^^^ <^'^ r -*-^ ™-
the bee, a's he passed fromo° f ^f^^^^^d the wild hum of
were their luUahy ^'''' ^""'^''^ rock-cactus to another,
thei^fof t^r^^rCtthem ^^'"'^'^^^ ^^ ^--' ^
an English yacht-a mearTd ^t a\' °"i °^' ""^^^ ^ Jaeht-l
diWe, an5 E^lisrvoTcJs 1'^^^^^^^^^ ',^^ "^^°"' ^' ^ ^^"^0
"Boat, ahoy!" RenzoanswerpH W i^ 5 *^''''' ®''^''^- To their
two Enghst ladic^ fn Sis, jy '^^^^^g o"*, in Italian, that
Claremont, the kind^^'o ly k^d noil - °. •^'''. "f "^^^- ^^^^
was an old friend of Ladv Sinli 5 ^^^f'l ^ *^^' -^««^^'Z'*^,
old Earl, her husband who wbp^ .T^'' ^"'^ ^'''^ picked up the
the steamp^ -i,. "t„ •'„ "^N^^^n the supposed nirates \.c.L}s.a
PetronellarhadTbeen leftTo .inV '"^^ off herself and the Signora
The poor old Ear^ wL* had Lt' hlT wi "' /^'" ^^^^^ ^^-^^•
and his dressing-case in tht'o!St!::nT^ht "^^^^^^^^^^^^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-S)
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11:25 i 1.4
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Corporation
23 WIST MAIN STMIT
WnSTH.N.Y. MSM
(716)872-4S03
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86
Ouilty, or JVot Ouilty.
ose^od an ntorvicw witl. her taakcn a 'orj^ » '"" ^°"'"^''
Kciizo was silent I. nffhn «" '>oard tlio Nautilus.
in his dX;, pel i"Vves a^nT;'"^"'^
was a t^avpllVn^^^^ irresistible still, therj
ontheb.,„Llehee^kri^^^ a dead,, pallor
^onlVtr^LZr^Lnfl^^^^^^^ «^f «-?' "I P-miscd
safe. TheContersairsafenow H^ ^u^^ **'« Contessa was
Bhoro; wo shall repair at onro f'n fi "V" "'P'^ "^« '^"^^^ *« ^ho
among the hills; ri't^LrtheVood oM^ath" ^^^^ ^^"'*'
join our hands. Farewell dearladvf a 1 1- ^'iT-^'^UT" ^^^
Kenzo. at tliese words thrpw h?^ ^ddio addio, aAiio ! "
and wavid his red Serml^s ^nT.T"^ ^> ^"^'^ ^'^^*.
adieu, while she bowed heila^efuFhon^ *7V"^P^ ^^^^
and the crew on board thr^flSii'^^!'^ *.l'^ "°^'« captain
splendid English y^iranrth^^^ and then the
Sieilian fishifg-boat parteT^o^panv^^^^^^^ ^^"^^ ''^^
for Naples in the first instancT^nn J' n ^ ^°''"'^^ ^*« '^^"nd
latter Ibr the nearest poStio The ^tle 2'^ H" /^o^ ""^* ' ^»^°
confessions each other's nameXd t often Ln^ed' ""'"^^"^
littlTsli^^^^S^^^^ to the
of the heart. ' '^'^ '^''' *° ^^^^ert into a^i Eden
"Ilappy, linppy, happy pairi
^ollclmt the brave,
None Ijut the brave,
rnia may be wear it Jong I ^°'"'' ' ^^ "^ '' 'fc".
CHAPTER XIX.
rbe old, the ugly, may the fair control'
If he reveal nobfiif v «* =«„i '. ^""i^™'. _ ,
Kcuuraiiy . something great, beneath the bubbles of
I
■MM
mm
Ouilfi/, or Not Guilfy.
87
'arcs, was on-
tlio Contc3sa
of JocundaP
itlemen (Lord
cunda, whom
TautUus.
3 and entreaty
lo still, thero
deadly pallor
" I promised
CJontessa was
back to the
Santa Maria,
• Filinno will
io, addio!"
J biido elect,
triumph and
loble captain
and then tho
1 black old
p was bound
^ next; tho
Santa Maria
tho havens
ands of tho
^o innocent
i.
altar to tho
to on Eden
5 fair. Ho
on it well,
SCELLES.
Richlands.
jubblea of
vanity and folly, in the heart of an English nobleman. Froth
nnd strawri may floau on tho surface, and cold waters, that chill
and repel, may shock away sympathy ; but there are gems of
value in the caves beneath.
And so with the vain, mndc-un old Earl. He would not let
his young wife see him in his dilapidated state, denuded of all
his artificial charms. He was resolved she should not have ono
glimpse of his person until his valet, and the artistes in teeth,
hair, and complexion had restored him to his former self. Bub
for the first time he let hii-; young wife see into bis heart — his
inner self; and this glimpse of his true nature did more to win
her love and fealty, than all that Art had effected in patchhig
up his face and form.
The Contessa, remembt: ing how she had jilted him, feared ho
would refuse to allow his voung wife to receive and to shelter
her. Augusta, Countess oi' Kichb'nds, herself felt very uneasy
on the subject. Both sisters were very much reUeved, and tlio
wife was touched to the heai-t, when a note, written by the Earl
in ])encil (from his berth), was put into Lady Richlands' hands.
Ho simjily said : —
" I am sorry, my darling Angusta, that I cannot af present receive you
and your fair sistpr, and congratulate you both en the miraculous escape,
of which I do not at present know the full particulars ; but my nervous
system has been so much impaired by this shipwreck, I have caughi so
severe a cold, and um so much disfigured in my personal appearance,
that I cannot bear to present myself before you until I am in some degree
recovered and restored. To your lovely sister, my Augustft, present my
brotherly regards and warmest sympathy. Tell her that her sister's
husband will be in all respects a brother to her ; that our sj-mpathy shall
comfort, our love cherish her, our roof shelter, and our protection shield
her. Beg her, my darling Augusta, to rest assured that no harm I can
avert shall ever befall one who is tho sister of the idoliseA wife of
" RiCnLANDS."
Oh ! if men who really covet the love of their wives, and are
jealous of their tenderness did but know how their hearts re-
spond to any act of generosity to those dear to them from the
cradle, they would surely take as much pains to make their re-
latives welcome and happy in their homes, as they often do to
estrange and annoy them.
For tho^rs^ time (as she read this kind and generous letter)
Augusta's heart warmed towards the Earl, and she inwardly
vowed to be a good, a true, a loving, and a faithful wife to ono
who had proved that ho had such true nobility of soul, such a
sublime power of forgiveness of what a vain man hardly ever
does forgive — the being jilted, on the eve of marriage with a
girl young enough to be his daughter.
It is wonderful how much good a man does himself with his
I
!. JJ
8S
OuHhf, or Mt Guilty.
con T.ors,mrlo herself i£ ?s deTervc.l ° ^^"^^^ W«' ^l'«» «l^o
r-^^^^^S^ Geo^ina •' «aia the
tcssa, whom her former loveX i^^no..o^/"T*!J^ ^*^*^ P^^'^ Con-
sohs unci tears. - You w^ nr? ,f "^ ?«' ^ ^'ad conviiVsed with
, "No! no I no ! I couM cvo, tvn^^^^^^^^
EaHlT^er^SriJ^:?' n"" "'•■«■" jcalo... of «,„
now! Wdl ,l„„o, ol,l Eari of kVm V , ^'"' '" I'™'"' "f W m
more ma,lo „p i,, faoo amlformTlmn ri' ' T""? """' '»» '^o"
I'astjuat Riven of a gcnorZ^! ,™ '"'""'''^•''•''"'•'''loi'cc thou
""..d, would win the fovo Z„n;"uo';oSr;ar " "<""°
CHAPTER XX.
grandson of Lawyer S r.'i'i^''P°°'^' dependent, adopted
Hve years as an oppidan at i '^^^•f >^«''«d at Oxfird. iSe !
the Continent, as are thmp -.? ^'s vacations aro spent on
and the pWest'son of thehonse ^Hn^,^''.?,^' ^^^^ I^fecraft"
Rockalpmo still livos-a Hfe devot^r? . ''^'"!- '^^^^ «'d Earl of
passion Sf hi. crony! Wd ScrlftT"'"^ ^^ ^^^^^^ '^nd the
Arthur IS still what he has heen iS-n' ^T^" ^^^ ^^^^ his. But
^^Fi^m^: s?.Ty te 41 ?.«^ "^ h:;i?!^'^^^«^^-^^ -
the loveliest, mo^t de ieSv T^"'? ^^^'' ^^^^^^ i« grown into
pioT,rui"SS'-T.^^
" Olvon to marbio, ],aa Immortalised a nnmo."
one \^
Tlu
How
groat,
griefs
narro'
Mrs
the C
in the
Arthu
be fol]
Edith'
The
Arthui
higga^
a iierv;
from t]
Whe
Arthur
coverec
Croft n
impati(
nei ujij
in the
plaid el
mmm ' juM
tm
f<m
^ tho homago
lys, when sho
ina," said tho
tlio palo Con-
nviilscd with
niummn "
■ could work,
:?nts, I could
silent scorn.
OSHiy. ."
■id Augusta,
and I will,
iJous of tho
'oud of him
•» ten timca
idcnce thou
and a noble
I 1
CowPKn.
inent with
inrprise of
U adopted
ford, after
' spent on
onfecraft.
Id Earl of
od deeds,
raine; he
ler to do
> and the
his. But
-the one
'^vn into
lating of
lost and
•illc and
n
wn
Ouilfy, or JSTot GuiUy.
And all this time Lady irauteville, who
89
80 values, or rati
ler
over\ulue.s, tho "dowpv ^.f ....,., '» i ,< r. ' •■ •••-■"-»
HpiiiHtorhood.
Edith, tl
Her third daughter, liL, .., „,,, .„ „er «
?f. ?",',"' "? ""■^";- «'»« 'ms been mucl
carroty crippk.." doomed to perpetual
I, i« now ni her second season, and
yet has had no offer Sho I.nu iV« °^-^"»u «eason, and as
Ht her dvh.^), but she sees or T """" • '^ '^'"'r'* (especially
The old millic>,utU Si^J.^ o;;.^^^^^^ ^^'^""^^ ^^-^^
toms of liking; but Ida J rZ ' '"}\»'»«^T» «ome symp.
now she woutd^/ot refuse evei; him ''" '" ^''' "''' season! a,!d
^^^TSL^C:^^:^ r^/- claughter, tho
fortunate Contessa, whom h " ^viU uiV f """* "'^"/'T^ ^^'^' ""-
llichlands is so de cted a cham on n/'hP'"' ''"^^•''^"' ^^^''''^ "^
The Earl's charms are ah rl3T„,f,. "liPT'''''''*-"'-''^^^'
his eyebrows more iettv in t .^. \ . ^^T\ '"^ "^"'"^^ P'"J--»
glittering, and h sAy^i^r 1 curls'';^ ''^ T'^' *""^ *^*^^'' ">'^''-'
grant than ever. He is mddo^ ." 5 ^'^"""^ ""^^ '"«''^' f'*'^-
?W man is only to be detStun w' ^"^^"^ ^y^^J^^'y. and tho
is the very proiulest and Ir nni t f ""?'' ^'^ '"'^ ^'"'t- Ho
prescntedVim with an ei7^So ,1 ''i' ^"' \"i' .^'o"»te3s has
IS indeed a brother to t ^pooi Co2ssn '"V'^V"" ^*'^^^'^'^' ""^*
one word of her rufiuin hu^hnnri .? f ' '''''•" ''"'^ "^^-^'i' ^^eard
The poor Conte^'a wa S IZ^" '?* "nraculous escape.
How c!,uld a treacherou and td ti ,1 d-u^Jl Y^'"^^ ''''''^'T
great, all-atoning bk .sing of mat^^^^^^^^^ tl>«
griefs ended in tfio birth of a stilTbnrn iVf i <^? ^T''^''' '""^
narrowly escaped with hef oln ^^ Hf^ ^^ ^-S^^^-)' «i^o
the^co^^M: - XlaWf r ^'^^' ^-^r ^ ^-^- -
in the neighbourhood oftSk'^A fd'SthV^at ' r^^^
Artliiir had come to snrail h:. ™«„.- ■., . • '" I'nnstmiw,
be foUowed, Zl afto? v ELTr'°";^"l"' ^^'T' ^o was to
E<lith-s brother, Marcus Zo^rS **' ^'"■'' I'^'^^t. »d
ArTti;!!s.rh:rto^t„;:^;it'^™°/'-°':! ^'-™"' ""d
luRgago to come in a^a™^ H ttert ^^J |",™h. >e»vi„g his
a servant, had contrived tn l^lt\?' ■ ?"'"•• ""ended by
from tho -riUa. '^™'"™'' '" "«»' lum m a forest about a mili
ArSrwte^e'teS 'st T "'7,^°^ \' ^y "P°° -'-"
covered tho landscane Sl,„ 7- 1^"'.,'^ ""^^y *>" "f snow
Croft might iS oTLr not Z urh ''"S 'TT? f^f- ?^'-^-
jmpatonee, and the fear of dk:.;';o7Z„"'irtN;.''^L"' '?™,'
in'.h^'SSS;^^anT"£, orfe!""^ ,"■!"« »" ^'--o^nts
plaid cloak, sh4saKtortLlone ^'"'"''"' "'"' '""• ^"'^'^'^
1
90
Ouilfy, or Kot Ouilfy.
i
I I
t^^^ii^j^i^^^z:^' ^ -d to
got out into the open roimtrv tS Y '^ ''''''' "«' t'" Editli
fhoulci never HncI the Ta^t mu^ *? ^T ^^"^^ «''«
looked so difFerent; the coimtrv of i r (""^^f ' Everything
path, was now ull s'trangeT hT; » 7^ti S f'^i ^'T "^''^'y
fierce north wind set 'n and chnl;! h ^ ^"^ ^^ desj.air, i
-a<K;S^ Eclithl^nd then the
ostherway; that Arthur SdtCw7 fV"^*''^^^ ^^^ ^'^^l
to meet him; that the coirwt 1 ,^S''^"J^'^? "''<^ ^^^^-^d
denng further progress immss o if ^^r hmbs. and ren-
drearv, desolate, haTf.deadwPHrnv' }''^ ^''° ^'^« ^eary,
very fikely to beVro^en to Lath AsTh '"'! ""ll ?^''^'"^' "»d
forced Itself upon her mind her' stmi h'^ ^'^^5'^ conviction
way at once, and she sank^ .!i strength and endurance cave
through which her p7thw^^^^^^ "' '^' ^^^^^^^^^ of that forest
thouglit, frozen to death ^«o^«^utters found her, as they
^Y'^^^^^^^^^ one. ..She is
when we meet he? in the foreTt " ^' '"^^^ «« ^"dly
roV^ta\roZl'^^^^^ 1- health the other day."
on the c/.a,re^,e, and take her ?oL,^^^^^^^ "P. Place lev
asleep, but I don't believe she's dead '' "^ ' ''""'^"^ ^^^
p-Il^d^fa^hTg^ttte^^^^^^^^ IT^ *he half-frozen
Ecr to the villa. "^ "^""^^'^ *^"ck' hurried away with
-^rFa\'^ Bellevu* Yilla
Arthur, who had reckonoH S. ^°™"? ^*^« missing,
avenueoffir.treeslireentrlceo?^^^^^^^ ^'^'^^^ the
^"^l-^Hs^^^^^^^^^^^^^
smallest change, n^gJect^o; Xw^'^iut^V''''^^^^^^ *« *ho
ful as those of an April dav 3 nft« .1 '^^ ™°ods are as fit-
emotions of disappointmonf' n^A ''^'''" ^^e first heart-crushing
action in the thS^lff^X^^^ feeling came I re?
unhke Aerta disanpoint thfS S^^^rfi'"'. ^^ ™ ««
Edith-generous, Pivoted, delS?Edi>lr*k adored her!
ed to surpass her lover's exS^S^^^^^^ ^^"^^^^ ^^^ght-
Htront* r>"°"' — a^- ' • ^-M^^'Ciiacions 1 If ho f»nTr« i — °j.y ^
aweot Edith „paid hixn .^C f^'r mLC^'S^w^rt *
. tlio road to
lot till Edith
'ear that who
Everything
knew every
3r desj)air, a
Jood; down,
id then the
•at 8ho had
d not cared
'js, and ren-
wiw weary,
atigue, and
conviction
iranco gave
that forest
work with
r, as they
"She ia
so kindly
>ther day,"
. place her
mbed and
lalf-frozen
iway with
vue Villa
sing.
ist in the
. slighted,
^e to the
ire as fit-
crushing
me a re-
ft was so
red her I
I delight-
cr 11113
It heart,
' was not
Ouilti/, or Kot Guilfif. qi
one jot of coquetry one sha.le of artifice, one iota of vanHv in
tho nature of Edith Lorraiiip >un.iy ni
The Misses Croft were full of worl.llv maxims, instilled hv
hc.r mamrna MU-h a.s. " Fly, and they'll follow foil w a X
licy 1 fly;" "Bv keepn,^ them ofl; you'll keep them o "'a
You 11 never r,e dear If you make yourself cheap" E"e„
?ff r^^rJ?-^ Ican^t to toss her he.ul, and arch her neck and
affect indifference ; but E.lith was all truth. tendernc"^dco
ion She loved Arthur as Virginia loved Paul, a d A rth,^
loved her as Paul loved Virgima -^utuur
Of- course Mrs. Croft coul(l not be miite blind to the strong
affection that bound these fair and noble young hoartrtoSe?
But she affected to treat it ns a chihlinh frioiulHhip-atter
UK sister love She knew that the old Earl of RockaEo
had efl to his dar Ing Edith everything that was not str/ctlv
entailed on his heir, Lord Hauteville.*' Mrs. Croft was not
above occasionally ingering at doors or peeping into^etters '
tW V"" \Y' ^' u 'T. "^^■"'^' *" *^'^^t'» and her holy inSeTco
that the old man had been induced to lay up treasures in
heaven ho had left the hoards of a hfe to her ''^^**''"^^« »"
bho loiew, then, that Edith, at tho Earl's death wnnlrl nnf
only be Lady Edith Lorraine, but heiress to fabubrweluh
she knew that her son-her Roger, in her partial eyes the mosf,
modish, handsome, and fascinating of young men-loved sweet
Edith, with such love as such natures can fbel ; that a passln-
ate desire to possess and be master of a creature so lov el v aTd
iiiThtsTJ/r r '^^'"V;: ^'^ ^it^^ ^^^^^ ^^^° amSn "o
ally hiniself with the great house of Kockalpine ; to have fas ho
said) a handle to his wife's name, even if hj covdd have none to
forirdie^rVyw'^ ^^ ^^r^^ «'*^^^ «^^ EarrsTeall" Ve^
^re he d ed, and before it was known to the wo, ' and to Ladv
Hauteville, that poor little Edith, "the carroty c. le,'' to whom
she had destined two hundred a year, to iJVe a ? defoTmed
spinster at Croft Villa, was an autum Aphrodke m face and
form, and heiress to a 1 the hoards of her miser grandf aTer
Ihero were great difficulties in the way of getting her fast
over-dressed, under.bred, cigar-smoking, casin^o and^Cremorno
F2rV"?i^.T" r^"^i° *^° ^^^'^^^te and heart-stS°
Hnni 'p M }!,°*^^°^.«t¥r and son 80 highly estimated the attrac"
tions of Mr. Croft, junior, that they agreed it ^ms "on the carX"
Une great impediment arose (as they fancied) not in the form
?hi n?p ' ^^«™ Jl^^y both secretly hited and despised? Ut i^
oved F^^f f'^'^r^ .^l^^t"^"™' ^«^^ PonLraft. He
his immense estates and boundless wealth, he felt he had onlv
to ask and have— to nroj^ose and be accepted. He had no Bel-
gi-aviau mamma to plot and counterplot— no sisters to pick out
h
02
• h
Quilty, or Xoi Guihy.
flaws \r\ swoot P.liM. i .
immamm
"ur ms mother over for-
OOR
^vith flomo dear
tlioy were aim-
"It her, WHS ft
'"('0 u Mar(|niH
•tevillo (Hh(,ni,
'/«>'»lith; and
' "oin thorn,
iwirted nriHto.
[wtunoc; tall,
"1 Jii.s motlier,
lut liad iirvor
•»«ci()iiHoftlio
lion for L'dith
>crat. Roger
liord I'onte-
l^voro at liiin.
't'lpated with
lul of marry-
t »i ilusli to
luo eye, or a
cd to marry
'Wo friend's
• and to bo
of coldness
f his Eton
nis sot, had
letters, to
^"r Was an
of (?aj)rice.
n hy mas-
greater in-
upon In's
onfl upon,
Croft and
ired. At
n he had
traced a
and four
soundly,
ftcr this,
had two
vor for-
^«%, or Not Omlfy,
03
Vilht JJolleyue. and doscrZ t ife a Jo v'r n '" ^/"'''' ^^'^'''>- to the
r«mo certain that Edith was nrnvlX t^/i !• ' "^',''*"* ^^'^" '^ bo-
H'ff frantically about the cmintrv , '''• '"''"'*• ^e was rn.sh-
cu ers. and o,1 their V/J^^^S^^^^^^^ iho wood-
Iho men motioned to him not to „rn^;'^'«^ ^"'"'^ ««' J^^'Htli.
"' "« «^'ony of suspense w^lkod \t H "'', ''''':• ""^ ^^tliur,
nnd wlien it stop, ed at f In .? ^ * r ''i^^'' "^ ^^^ r//«nv^^; •
the apparently hVile s form of Z'\?^^ ''^' •''!"'> ^^ ^'*"^'J»t
and earned her un infn .t\ Vi , "' yo""i.' girl n his arm^
«oon rushed in. One^^ U,L 1 ol?l '""'i' "^ '^'^ household
sensible woman, and well niCainted wi^i.' ''''' ^"''tunately a
o restore animation in cas^s^S' d owrw! f"" '^'^'"^'^ ^^ '^«"«ed
y. tlie room, which was Sod-as a T ^'■'""?"8; etc Lucki-
''y a large earthenware stove was V^^ T""' V^ ^""ch are-
h^ood fire blazed in an omTi fiTn^n Z'"'''"'^^' '^"^^ "^ '^''iKl^t
(ooantrv) in Edith's d.J s ng roo n^' Ivi^"' ''"^'''^ "^ ^^^^^^
^annUh,and a warm bed^weretHn^l ""i"' a'*\'' -■'"<=«' a
larily driven away, was pacinrtL l j''"'^ Arthur, neces-
Moor, and praying fJrventlvP? ^he lamhng outside Edith's
for Iiis susUi fnd aSy wJnTout^to'r n'V- ^°°^ -»^« ^''^^
^'lon was restored; that wkmth h«V^ ^'" ^'3"^ that anima-
'olour to the hps aAd cheelTs H if Iho ^^*^^"^«^ ^o the body,
ho breathing heard ; and that - - ^'""h "^^^^ '^« f^lt, and
loft, deep slelp. ' ""^ ^^'^* *^^^ ^oung lady had sunk iAto a
- tfoS^'nfomenl ^fte'CHtni^ *« ^<^ -"o-d to
•ould not refuse to port ^h^^^^^
tpproach Edith's bedside ^^'^^'* °'^"^ restrictions) to
CHAPTER XXI.
-"5^«^tiJ^;^^^^^ ;^f ^ darkened chamber ^L
-aded lamp ^^^.^^^1^ ^^^^^^^^^
M
Ouilty, or Kot Ouilii/.
'i-
ii-
tored over tho pi low and 1^1.""*' '^TP '^^^^ «"°^' «^'«t-
sweot mouth, lio saiTk ?i, h . i ^'''^V"'."/'^ ^1 '"'""^'^ ^">-^« ""'l
of grief and fear Ho .1^ T '''''"^"i ^''"' '^^'^ "» an ugony
young girl'H bed and i, Lni n /"if ,'" ^''^ ".""^7 '"""' "^^the
controi^ot tearn^^^^^^^^^ Ihh manhoocl, all his self-
*Tr Jf^tVe'^^^^^^^^ ' ^^'^ """
tho cXur«e;Z?sStt
into a pretty yoXwomI?wa« Z "S^'^^'''^- ^'r'*^"^' P^">^»
Borrow at the foot ffTl?T. 1 ? «<^anding in real anxiety and
kerchief, as CvMemrrvw' f'"^°«S «'"-'"6 J»or pocket-Lu .
many liitb Si^n^sTs Zrl^^^^^^^^^ awakene'd Conscienco
lousy) which she had S S 3 Fd IT ''"*"' '"^y' '^"^^ J*^^"'
and bitter words, many ^ett; sZ"L^s a, d'wXf ''• ^'^'^' T"^^'
turns, and all in rotnini Wr, i ., ^""" ""'^-construe-
cither in word or deed «nSn^''°'^"''fv. *^'"*^ ^^'-^ "^^^r weary
but that of Enw and rnnnHr'"'''' ^-^^^ ^""^ '^^'^:^ ^"y ^rat^
folt. a^^knowltSd, and^^^^^^^^ «"d small-all
The eldest Mi^t J^'J^r^^^^emberod perhaps too late!
hardeneTwas sm linra Tml bit^ T ''''?' '^"^ "^^^'^^ "^^^^
an^i«h. Arthur. Srallv so Pnllo^^^^^^^ P''"^''^'' ^<^ ^"'"^'s
fied with these hiafmlf n3. collected, so reticent, so digni-
prostrated b^gr of al^^^^^^^ T'"^'?'' *° ^' '^^'^
malicious, holrthss ZmarmLtih^, T^ T^ '^""'P^ ^"^ ^
suchasccnewithasrcTorwhocmiM. ' ''""^^ ^""^ °"
could hear a mai. s^ob, ^^J^^ ^^ --eep. or
Th^exhaultTonTas'^o 72^2^7 ^'^"^ ^^j^^'^ ---^•
for Edith had never bcfn«trn^ there was so little re-actioi.
liichter (ho was a Swi^.^ Lf i "^ iT ^.''^'"^^- Everything Dr
fulnursig;Thlt\1Sorg\^^^^^^^
restorative administemrl J^rLJ^^ ^[ n "^"'^^ ^^ave some
jelly, strong br^lTbrandvtlL?'''''^ ^" tour-chicken-
quantities,Lt at reguT&e^^^^^^^^ ^^"^" l"/«,^ «"^-"
so that the room shonl n^ ^^ f Vi ^^^ ^^'^ ^^^^ ^^ kept up.
and hot bottri'bo kepT"o S t " "-"'" ^-P-"'-';
8-t up with Edith, but "m^S;„t?^^ '° '" P<'™iM<=d to
their looks, particularlv JS SZ.', n /"' ^"^ *■"' '« »•»"'
tu helievue \iila. would nnf >.i:.o^ V^I "i' U " "^"^ "" a visit
clared she was qS'^it ^o^rs^^^tVl^riot. t
«vluto and cold
th snow, Bcat-
losed vycH and
d in an agony
y <\yuh of the
d, uU his Bolf.
ing sobs con-
pationfc.wliilo
f)riana, grown
1 unxietv and
pocket-hund-
id Conacienco
nvy, and jea-
angiy, cross,
mis-construc-
nover weary
fiy any wrath
tid small— all
late !
much more
at Arthur's
nt, so digui-
o bo seen so
3epl But a
uld look on
lan weep, or
erself.
*
's recovery.
16 re -action,
rything Dr.
) most care-
'' have some
r — chicken-
very small
be kept up,
mperature,
fis own life
tteh. The
rmitted to
i' us about
id to bring
i On a visit
3lf, she de-
t hour, so
OuiUy^ or Kot OuiUy. 95
lorrihle had boon the shock which her nor^'ons system had sus-
Lmed, by ho absence an.l alarming condition «.f i.c d " • J H
khom she h,ul reared and cherislKMl us h.T own. No L ibc 1
Was wjlhng to take charge of Edith Lorraino-L sbeth ho
bo(,k, at one time a regular nurse, accustomed to sit m, t i X
^nd every way suited lor the responsibility. ^ ^ ^'
vatcnea hdth, he would take care to watch Lisbeth. Lisboth
I P"o*^' '»i^''<^,-workn)g creature, who rose every morn ng at fi o
lid toiled all dav long-could Arthur sloop wrtlTloknowlc to
Muvt o» her notctropinng off to sleep the l^ of Midi 5 ZulT
Edfth "in'l^^n?''" ^V> l«^c? «"«wer tfiat question ^ '
Edith lay still, 'white as her sheets," wl en Arthur with
he rest of the family, retired-they for the ufght he o siTo d
he long hours in walking up and cfown before Ed tVdooro
sten whether Lisbcth was up and stirring, and v;^et er iho
kgularly administered the sustenance on which depended tha?
hmng hfo, and, consequently, his own "cpcnucU tliat
8oerLw1hat^nu/-T • w'v. '''"l' T'^ ^'^ ^^'^ "° '^'^''^^^tv in
«oIf .iTl^ A. ol^„I^i«l>cth, who kept on muttering to her-
BO If. dul her duty well. Ho coula heir hor stirring!" nraisincr
b2 as?Jn\rLT"^^'-^^'^^^^^ "I\^^^^ «-' and l?X7h ?
a few soft in i7 » nursing.mother her babe. He could hear
a low soft weak, gentle words of thanks from Edith But at
t e coldest, shortest, darkest hour that precedes the da^-^ 1^
&o (aavZr^^^?'' ^""''^'V ruddy glow from the open fire^
Kr he dis ncthi K;r / ''"'^^"^^^^ ^»« \^^^^^ R'^^w cold and lioavy,
WiniriSr ^ oud. regular snore, and then all tlfo
I St somn lo^^ • "i"'*^- ^° ^"'''\'^" ^"^ ^'^^d '^nd f,K-e, for ho
e said '^SrinTl' '"^'-^^ ""V^^ ^^"""^ ^dith. He thought
«ink- T r ,^M ^^l«^^^^'- " ^'"^0 brandy I Oh, haste' I
horr^^s » 1 " 1. Y-^f\' ^'•'^"^y • " ^"d Lisbeth-horror of
fw JT ''1^''^ '"^ labour-earned sleep, only replied by aiio
Love"^f„\"r^'- frr- }^^"^ '^"^ faithful.sLpCs:wLhu
After imbibing ttoso few drops, a faint tingo of colour re-
I
0(1
OuiUy, or Not OuiUy.
n?l?7/ l"i^''? imlocheolcH nn.l lipH. Edith minod tho moy,s-
im wn lusl u'H 1 ho lur^o |,|„o j,^oh ^rleamod with lovo mid iov
mid then. Hlowly fil od with ioavn, ti^,\u^r fair }.cml drcH,nin/on
Ins .roust, nho Haid. " Hoavon I,1osh you, Arth..r?mX 3^
ho nnrne Lis both hud .h-opnod ftHleop in u cha^hy ^^^^^^
watchn.ff Homo broth, which' luid all lK,ilod aC l^f ^o Iw
coHodoyoH. Arthur mudo Homo uttomj.ts to arZsri iThe h
h..t ho Hoon Haw that, oven if ho sucrcot/od in awaking 1 ^r nh o
ns wntcii at i^dith h door. Ho did not ko to take advantacro of
hor unconHciouH and holploH« state, to ontablinh lu n of hftho
br^b ^"m^i^;?' ^'^i '^"^^'^ "^'^*^« "Ptlio firo, put on moro
broth, rohllod tho kottlo. trimmed tho limp, and takin J^ out hk
mdo Ldith 8 door on tho lun.ling, an ho OHtablishod himself there
h oundor and sounder slept old Lisboth ; and louder and
Joudor beeamo .her regular snore. Every quarter o? an iZr
Arthur adminiHterod tho necessary nourishment in retun,'
for which ho heard Edith I.Iohh him! GradudTy tho colour
deepened on her cheeks and lips; her pulse iSostron^^^^^^
Tnw.n TV"^" T ' her breathing softer and freer ^ ''
rowards hvo o'clock (old Lisbeth's usual hour for risinj?) she
hegan to stir to snort, to groan, to stretch. Arthui saw she
would soon bo wide awake ; and so, with a blessinij a^d a
prayer ho softly on tij.too left tho room. Lisbeth va^ed
nibbed her eyes, and was frightened at first to fmd shrhai
fallen asleep; but when she saw tho firo burning tho water
hoihng and Edith looking so much better and l^^s waiT sho
persuaded herself that she had only slept for a few riniTtos ' and
our lovers never undeceived her. «- ^i^w mmutos, and
Arthur watched her for some time, until ho felt certain that
Edithih'af hi".? ^""/-r^^' --1 ^-tt- able to nursTswee
JK^dith than ho was; for, tho excitement and anxiety over ho
foimd himself cramped .,ith cold, and very, very wea% '
But ho had saved his darling's life; but for him sho mn<,f
have died of exhaustion, as, alas ! so man^do whHo Wred
nurses sleep. But she is saved-saved by Lovo and Tim ' And
witji this conviction warm at his heart, irthur hurried 'to iSs
cold bed, and was soon fast asleep.
CHAPTER XXII.
" Oh, there's nothing hnlf so Bweot In llfo
As Lovc'h young dream,"
.aiOOHE,
Edith Lorraine's recoveiy was very rapid. Youth ai^ a cood
constitution were on her side, and, better still, the deh^gE
Ouilty, or Not Quilty.
f ^^
Olioijffli silent) conviction that hIio owed lior lifi, * a t .
an.l the lovc-liKht t,W,;.',! oj.;"'"* ''"'' ^''" ^^»«"» to her check.
Lishcth houMtcd of u recovcrv whici, .1,0, ffr.;! . i , ,
her nnreniitfini/ c.uv and K/<vi,/,.JV r '"'^/'■^.^•''"tcd soh-Iy to
tho.cri.iH. Yo!f, she h"^t a H^^;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^'" V'^'''^ "»'
praised, rewurde.l. An<l onr I ers k '^1 '^^ ^ ^^"-^ ^''.""'^•••'.
Arfhnr stole a tin.i.l glance t Kch X T, "''''/r''' ' *''''y
pwpously nresontii.u JJsheth wif . . i ^^'■'- ^ ''"'^ ^^'"'^
with'a Hilfel. watch ferCr,^., ;;Zr'^^^^ ^''-"'^
Kdith; and the J,h.:shes 1 tt MW^^^^ ^1'^ r^ then- .Icu-cst
and hoHonvind the tears thatl! j^ o,l 1 o.:^ "";'^' '^'•"^^••
at Arthur, convinced hini-th,, I . t| 'J 1 ^ V" "'"' ^'"^*'''
;;Pl-tnnity ofexchan^in^a woSu ^.X^t^t l'^' ""
fully conscious to wh„rn she owed her lilb il !^ n ''' '"'•"
hnaiden scruples kept her silent then ' ^ " thousand
Aiiw anli^S ^""' '^'-""^ '^ "- '--^ "^- -ion between
Icreature whoso instinc s tem-h heV .'l f ^'^ '• ^'''"^'^"' tiniid
Ihim. to cleave to him As ' ji In \ ''^\ '" 'l'"'' *« ^I'^ff to
rnerry little sirLs.to"sitb;Vd^s'^^;:|/^.;:':•y^ ''"l' ^f -^
hvas "the little carroty (Ti,,,,lo ' J^tho^^l^ "^^^^ «^»o
pmrp-ehinned. small, halting'^, whom eXTo i ^''^f'^^^^'
as certam to bo humpbtu-kwl l,nrv?i.^ ^ ''"^^''"'^^''i ''Pon
[patient, HO intelligent. rj/uUo pi; J^"' ''^^^ '^'"« «o grateful; so
lfn}sthopoot. Arthur's first feclinrrs for V.V^!\:
intense pity— pity that she rn ,1,1 , ^ , "*" ^'^'■^ *^»oso of
'•e little CVoffXls to Sthc r dl.rf '"'' ^^^^"'^ ^'^^ "^'^^^^ '^l^o
, i»o woods, nor rklo ho SllanL '''''''' "°^ ^'^^ ""«"'« i"
f^ea. but must always be in a u Ir^n ^^'' """f '^""^ ^^>^ ^^'^ ^^'^1*1
U lonelv. except fo^r him? \S Xi' ho "toT """^-^^"'^''^^'
pier faith, and her cheerfulness a fee ni oV f '''^ ^'^'' patience,
Vation, and of deep tenderner'™ mf t 'cvoronce. of admi-
ires, presseitn 1„," ™«t"°'-4" ".^'i''-'' ♦;,f'"-»kirto,l 4lrot
»o.st ™ brought to her md so w' A m^ '''"''"''■' W"!'^
[•each, looked like many c2,ir»7!Il 1 '^}'^^'^' '"''''■'■• <»> "•»
h "^"g=- when try"CT;irSr';"^if.r ' ^"^"^ P™^'
' I
ij 1
18
98
Chiilty, or Not Guilty,
Edith could scarcely remember the time when Arthur hnrl
not been her ^reat solace, guide, companion, and ffie am
Arthur felt that he had always loved Ed th but Hh.V
had never been in love with hlr till she was' fifteen nd h"
seventeen. And now, the stronger the nassion tW ^n i li •
young hearts, the more reservedCre tf ^ n e^^^^^ ^^
pany Love, as m Lalla Rookh's case, had fled from their pvpT
to hide himself in their hearts. ^" ^^ ^^'
Edith was again a member of the family circle when Rnimr
Croft arrived at Bcllevue Villa, with his tutor, or "rol,h''^u;
he called him, and with a gay party of vomm mon of 1.?™.'
travelling during the lonf v£atiJn aSf "Xm h^^^^^^^^^
Lord Pontecraft was pre-eminent for wealth, rank imnorC '^
and influence over his younc? comnanions Thn«n n • '
were all singularly ahke f thef wcTal Xssed 1 y oneTalior'
adorned by one ieweller, shodV one bootmaker^ t& ^w^
cut by ono haird'resser. their hats came from one hatter-eTon
their shirts gloves, ties, collars, were all furnished bythe sam
lX7^C^^^^7c^^^ been educated in one school-^ on one
^inS^? '* ^^^r^'' ?^^^ ^^^« ^^1 «lo«e imitators of oe
Tft • f ^""^"^ ^,f ^"^' ' ^"^ ^"' ^^«eP<^ Roger Croft were
of the aristocracy We say all except Roger, for in evervtK
Arthur was as unhke as possible to the "set" now honour n 5
the Bellevue Villa with tW presence. They auThoS bn
same thoughts, felt, or affecteli to feel, to tlJnk to ta | ta^
sit loll, yawn, and smoke alike. They had one common iCa
fTn Wif ^^°^;i ^''•^ ^r "^°" ^^^^^' one ^ery bad sTow 3
though they all aimed at being thought " fast » Thev nH
joined mquizzmgHarkup Hackney, their "coa^h.'" whom the
young Marqms set the fashion of cafling " Old HackneTS A "
?rTt ' ";^ nT ." ^'''^f' ''Y^^- ^"^ n^^thematSn- J .^doubio
farst who had lived from the age of eighteen to fiftv fw^ f i,!
cloistered, monkish hfe of an OxfW privllftutor^nd'^X wa
as simple, absent, unworldly, credulous, and igAoranrof The
world and Its ways as any village girl of fifteen^ He was also
as pure of heart, as impulsive, and affectionate. He was United
to be married, too, as soon as he had amassed a rertaKm
wherewith to make a settlement on the object of his affection^
-a cm.ate's seventh daughter. This curate had been his school
master ; and Prudence Pryme and Harkup Hackney had been
lovers from the time that he was a gaunt, plain, but very cleVe'
kind-hearted boy, m jacket and turn-down collar, anrSudenco
a rosy Wden, in white frock and frilled trouser^ and m"th her
?^ f ?,!;?:^^^.^"/!"^ J^rg^^*« ^«^n her back, till now, that his
umc iOn^, uiici uiacK hfiir was iron otpv nnri till 'r.w,^ i, j
Stolen the gold from her locks, and leftTe'^change fn siW
Harkup Hackney was a tall, wiry, powerfS man, with a
All thir
world an
of tempej
"fast pa;
mortal m
Ouilty, or Not OulUy, ^^
parchmenfc skin, deeply furrowed wIM. fJ.n r . ,
Like Dominie Sampson, he nSnn r/f .-^ ^'T ^^ thought,
it was the delight of the yoC KnuK ? T '" ^^'^ /^^^'^^ ' '^"^
money he lavished on what e^camH "s i' \'° .'^'"■'^? ""<^ ^^l^^t
old lia^jkney-Coach's threadbare iln.1 "'^ *° «»'^«titute for
trousers, whatever was o^avp«f n g ^"^"^^ »"^ washed-out
full of squaring tL^cllTtur'n^^^^^^ -^ he
whatever he found on the chair Tv hf. hn^l i^ cp'gram. put on
done so had it been a Lnemrf.n ff ^''^'^' ancfwouli have
darin's robes. ^''''^^^ ^ uniform, or a Chinese man-
neyt^etSi^^^^^^^^^^ Markup Hack-
period; forold#ryme the iTd^ fnH °^''" ^'^^^ ^" ^^^^t long
of NorthumberlanraiSrkuD har r ' -^^^ ^^'^ ^OP
had in view, no money to fnend Fn/tn' ^^"«^^«';"^g the object hi
stantly correspondec^ anrHarkun wa^'T' ^f they h^d con-
and Belf-deniai; fast approachinrZ Zv / ^^^^^^ industry
Pryme insisted on, beC he wm^^^^^^ «»"» old
He had suffered such miser? wln 1 7^ Prudence to marry,
he was a gentleman by iirtl anXd ± ^T'Y himself-^
vowed no girl of his sCd inSf herseTf to f ^ ^^^^T^^^^ ^^
not keep her in comfort andTffin ^ ** ^^^ ^^o could
a compitency in caTof ^dowhood "" ""°"^^ *" «^^^^ ^^e?
hadS aSZ^rtfe^^l-^^^^^^^ ^-> H-^ney
speculation, into which Craft hn^T ""• i T^ '^''^"'^ «^' «ome
threw him back again as far n. ''''f^'^ ^"' Simplicity,
Prudence! He wa? however ve' nea'r ^i^ '^' "^^^^ ^"^
sum he was to receive as travemStn?L'^ "°'^' ^"^ ^^^
would all but enable him t^roL^it h?m^^l?"7.\"*y ^^ " '^"^s "
?ri^/ Borders, to claim Keeur^f.f,.*^ parsonage,
huu-ed daughter of forty-nine— hT«^Ui^ i • f ^^^^ ^^^ grey-
young m Eis eyes and fn r fn^ ^ "^u^^l ^"^«' ^^^o was stHl
^s/ght,andth7imTge?/^^^^^^^ hani study had dimmed
on his heart; while th! recoTlStion of W ^^^ '-^''^^'''
demess, and her truth mad7 lin^ ? ^^ constancy, her ten-
womankind. * ^^^ ^'''^' *^ ^m* the 6e4 ^t^ea^ of
CHAPTER XXIII.
" Wlfte?/.^'*")'"^ '« the worst of nis.
All things consirlprpd H— ^--t- tt ^ • ■ ^^ttletgn.
world and its waysrhis absenr?nf ^-""^^^ ^'^°^^°^«^ of the
of temper, he was^ ^s Ut to be t^,^°,^' ^°d simple credulity
"fast party" now at XuevSe Vii^n «'Tf""}? ^'^^^^ «f <^hi
mortal memory himself ' ^^ *^® Dominie of im-
H 2
100
Onilti/, or JVof Guilty.
ll!
l\
young V"rc°„Ts1dt' o co^vTne'id "ttaf-t oXtf ' ^'^ "H
pathy sincere • inrl Tv.n,7n ' ^^''^Y^^. ^hoir interest and sym-
How ' *'' .r ^'^ '""'V^'''^ ^^il «^- f^£ehood in any one
^flXr^ttdSf^^^^^^^^^^ -y^i
sible, to an ndcfin te Sd /if. '""'^'^ *° postpone, if pos-
fast approacSnp MaSn ° Be^^^^^^^^ 'Y IS^^ ^^^^^^ *« ^^
Croft and the &rqX wL Se both' '^-^^^^^^^ ^?^^^
to yary the scene bv ik^nuvrZ^f . "^^ P'^^' resolyed
Which Vedes^eratVg&S^^^^^^ *^° to Spa, at
Roger Croft was onfTthe mo^f ^^r T""' J'*"' T^ngon.
men. He disliked o d Valne?C^^iT''\^''^ "?^^^"«^« ^^
Arthur-a preferencHhi^r nS: . ^^i ^' Preference of
Edith's cyeLndTflLftoLfche^^^^^^ ' ^'^^ ^' *"^^P^ *«
in the first instance^e lost nr wn 1 ''^ '^''*^^' and whether,
perseyere. ' ^""'^ '''^ ^^°' ^« ™ equally certain to
woKt!'o?''±^Je'^^^^^^^ -an of the world, he
himselfop^nlya^aSn^tahlP wW "'"^u*"*"^^^ ^^^« «^°^"
in private : hi^t he |^? "^4± / ^^^^^^^j: ^e might have done
picious, that when the Voun^^Mn'/'''''''"^.'^''!?' ^^^ '° ""«"«"
tending to he yer, mtrSe^t^d^-U^^^^^^
Hackney; they
-bio, as a tutor,
:hing; and the
of fun " would
our, that ho at
igagoment was
attended; and
3rest and sym-
3ted Prudence
as, bowing all
=g! God bless
;tachment was
I to shield old
prevent his
Prudence the
i have feared
iny one.
in old Hack-
merwith the
1 very jealous
tpone, if pos-
seemed to be
arters, Eoger
lay, resolved
TO to Spa, at
vas going on.
malicious of
preference of
triumph to
ery thought-
pted and re-
' postponing
*rudence.
ning-tables ;
ambling, in-
tnd whether,
y certain to
Guilfi/, or Mi Guilty.
101
wS ti:?;^ and napoleons.
concert), old Hafl^iey CoacK ' '"'i- n '^ ^^' '*^ Government
without leaving hfmXeJo^^^^^^ "l^-? ^ho snare; and
mto an cUganUhy puttTna- on iZ' ^^^^ j^'-^^^ily converted him
(who was very tallf a t o?)f L n'"X^"*^ "^ ^^^^ Marquis's
called it, of young 'iC^^^ ^^^^ .\"<1 ^ "tile," is ho
in company VithSllWs 7 unils^ol? H^""^' •" Hackney-Coach,
tlieope'nair,andw.ssZ3^ " Y'^''*' «unny day and
seated between tl^X 'Mar mn'^ i"]? ^ ^"^'^^ ^" ^"« hand,
table, at which were croL^l 1 T\ ^^''^^'' p^^^^ at a long
bound slaves of tl J De^no.fof C' ^"""^■^'^^^' ^^ous, spelC
the cWefof\r g^^^^^ they remained, lost to everything but
men, looking oWann;iv wfth IT ^^r'"->'°""^'' ^'^^ ^^'^^
who ought to have bLn Sjl ,Mf "' "^ P""^^ anxiety-women
there! Young menX h?d fnf«nt "'!',^^'*^ becoming demons
to Fame and Fortunr^th flf t """ ^^'^ "I''^'^"' ^''^^^J Path
lucky throw; and moi'o^i,,,*^^' ^T f Setting rich by one
their all, had irthenocternilV^ whom, having ventured
ure, to stifle the vole^of Co„?niin '^^T^^^^' "^ ^^«« ^^ fail-
Poverty and Despair ^^"'^"ence, and to cut short a life of
hadLfl^ma^hS^^^^^^ ^^ --^ on, on, on, and
him at once to reward his Pruln.^f'"?i necessary to enable
of a long hfe. His eves wer? n?'fi ^^^'i .^^e patient constancy
his heart beat high-wLrio r n f , ''' p '?^ '^^'"^ '^^^ «"«l^«i
he lost all!-all his winnfni Lfd '^" f ?°?;i^^"^> ?^l^^'^i and
By this time it was dark?uts^rl. f i l^^^i ^'^ °"^"^^J «<^ock!
and still on on cm t^.Za ^^^^^^^i^ and the lamps were lighted •
Marquis. E^ge; C^f fnd X'rSf '^^ ^'''''^ ' ^^^^ ^^^^
teur^s close by to dine but Harknt ' ""Ti ^°"" *« ^ rclmm-
Hackney thought hrdetLtedsor/ T" f ".^t '^''' Suddenly
to the ice. Maddened by hiHo^^^^^^^^
^ouiner, and demanded t7be alloworl Vn '°'- ' ^°".^^'"^ ^^^
the latter had tlim^f infn^ i • '^^^^^^ to examme a do which
clared was loader The whX ^t^t'' '"^^?^^^ ^^'^^^^ ^^^
a furious scuffle ensued betwoen S "P" ^^^\roHo in tumult;
two of the gamblers fell to Th! "^^^^/^^ ^^^^ the cro^ipier]
their fierce struggrupL ?hpl J combatants, in
drew a stiletto from hifbreast andT" ^^^"'^^^ *^^ ^'-^^^F^'^^'
to thfi hpart ^hr" " ? ' ^^ ^^^ ^hout to stab TIar-knpv
would probably ha;;jil£f^:L^^^^^ *'^om 1^ and hi
the gamblers, LeW the c-o3>^^^ '""^ *^'^^^' t^^* *^^^<^ *^« of
the coat-tails, and i^lk^ K^^ d^-J--^^^^^^^
102
OuiUy, or JVot QuiUt/.
*
! \
alf S^t^^^'t^^^^^^^^^^ -addoncd by his losses,
tain ho had dete^ctedrwas a vorvln '""' ^"^ ^^^'^ ^« ^^^^ cer-
ho was still armed ^Th the T)dnn.?r'?"l oipponent ; and, as
from the croupier, there wonfr? ^^ '^^'t ^^ ^^^ wrenched
had not the youne Marlk n.^ certamly have been bloodshed.
Of coursefarE^ni^^'hC/^^^^^ the party returned
certainty of thrashiL tC' Vrei'Jnfi." "^ '" ^ H^^" «"d the
but stand by and bacl „p thdr Sr 'id^lr^'f ' *^?7««?Id not
he insisted upon was iSs riJhffn « ^'^^.^^^-^^^^'i- ^1
which he had been robbed of fhn i ^"""^T J-^^ ^'° t^^-ough
nected with the ^I^iTAr! ^"^"^"^^ ^^ «- ^^^e. As all con-
ruin the character? &^^^^^^ they knew wouW
brmser, brought his fistrfn T,« ^®^*' *^*^ Marquis, a great
gamblers. aIi hi^ ,artv lilnt iT° *^^ «''^"°^ ^^e« of the
cially engaging wL thl f ^"^"^ his example ; Ha<;kney espe!
sawiis bUi,^which the SrSV^nTr ^T ^"' ^^^^ ^^
his embroidered shirt-front asTLfl!? i"'" "claret," soaking
broken nose. ^' ^^ '* ^^^^^^ ^om his cut hp and
the^ltd:d'lic^e?'^Artl;1;^^^^ P^-^^^^d himself of
young Marquis or his imitSTrnnM ' ^""^ ??*.^^"& ^^^^ the
beyond, ^' ixperientia S'' ''^^^ «^J^ ^^^^ elicited any reply
hetUt^drrnrt^^jJf Maroui,
caused him, by himself oMwt ^ ?• ^"^^ the agony he had
up the sumV&cnWate oM ?l^''p^ "^ *^^ tolir, making
ney to settle on his bride ^nd t^l^^^^
Prudence, she is workinrhWd at h^^^^^ communicated to
and happf Ho^e hf ^: t .eT^^l?at ^^^^^^^^^^^
4" om^ ™s"oT ferlirr"]'' ^-^Vr^^^ at the
set » at Bellevue Villa *'^' ^ ^'""'S Harqms, and Ma "fast
ha?^"^::=S:^4t™t^3Sl^:f™rJ^^^^^^^ P-tt^ e„o„gh to
dition to the selfish caUousnP«« Sf ?i, 1 ^^*^ ™^° 5 but, in ad-
tinguishes such nawS Z^'^e^^^^^^^^
respect, such imitators ~oiihi\^^^^ ' '" , '^ *"^ ^^^^ other
they aU admired EdiTh! I'd tS SS™'^. """'^ '^^'•' '"^
'd by his losses,
iich ho felt cer-
onent ; and, as
had wrenched
)een bloodshed,
larty returned,
fight," and the
they could not
sy-Coach. All
e die through
2. As all con-
y knew would
irnuis, a great
V faces of the
Tackncv espe-
3 in, when ho
iret," soaking
3 cut lip and
Bd himself of
e the Juge do
convicted of
I money, and,
3 the savings
lis first, so it
ling that the
;ed any reply
ig Marquis,
gony he had
3ur, making
uired Hack-
unicated to
id the con-
)re him, the
e kind wife
years I
nted at the
i his "fast
enough to
but, in ad-
!s that dis-
very other
)ader, that
OuiUy, or Not Guilti/.
108
eye^ste7eiu fix'ffi^^^^^ f?:.^^"' ""J '^^^ '""''^ '^'^^^ their
admiringly. SrLer e e ' S'i'V'I.^'"'*-^"^ '"''^^^^'P ^^^^d so
chmr or'l.ouch on which 2o su ll"^^ ^'"^^ ^'^^'^^^^'^ ' ^ho
a httlo Cour^ was formed ''™'' *" ^''''°"''' ^'"'^""^ ^^"ch
thn'l'lf^rrmthroVi^^onfsl*" ^Tli ^\ ^-"^ '--^^
and reviving (i„ s^ite of reconf r^i' T^'""^ *^ ^^^^ "^^^ ^^^^
ance) all the demons of fnr^?i''''^'°"' ^'^"^"''^e, and rcpenti
in the ho^ornXG^Alnriir^S^' '"^n' ^"^ detraction.Weu
nnamiable. of the S' famr '^'''^\^\l^^^ov the least
vvhen he returned found hJr^^n/' "^''"^r, °^^ Hackney-Coach,
Bide; she >C so fulf of ^f^;^^^^^^^
Misses Croft were so affivf?7 J '' T^ sympathy, and the
ful to Eoger'sTutor * '° ""^^^^' «° ^«W, and so scorn-
ag^Jat'^cLturrr^Cr^ he had
t)ie management of the^ estate ZfA''^^^^ *^' °'^ ^^^^ ^"'^
and old tries do not bear Lansplaifth L > f." T 1^^^^"^ °^'^'
was over, continental Hf'n ,™"^P'^nting. After the first novelty
office ; h; couM not o cunv he cIT?' '? ^'^' ^° "^^^^^^ J"«
hated foreiirn cooktw who T' ^'H.^^"^^i "9,^ amuse himself He
hated chearFrench^i^e' h- 'i'" ^ ''"''"' '' ^''''"^^' ^'
his old cr^rstyport,™'r^tT^^^^^^^^ P^ ^^^ed
legged, sinewy, half-starved r.S' i '^^ ^''P^"'' ' ^^e long-
da|, stringy ^^at^IttlK'^^ '^'"'^' ""^ *^^ *«"g^'
wafnoTsoJ^to^e't tid^ol S '? "^^ ^^"^' ^^ ^-- ^-ft
andwasforJverfmp;^4i-;e[-^^^^^^^^^
CoS^nd^Ijl'ht^S^^^^^^^ T^- Old Hackney,
as good as his word-Hark^^^^^^ *2 ^^^'''^- '^^^ ^^^H^^^ ^^^
repaired to the parlntewL^^ 7 ^'''1' "P coaching; he
father the curate. TSe^rllled s^,^ w"'" ^TA ""''^^ ^^^ ^^^
and in his own little chuS old Pp^.T '^*^*^^^ ^" Prudence,
of those whose hearts hid res L^^^^^ "^"^ T*''^ *^^ ^^^"^^
chance, and change to sever ti^^^ *^' ^^^^^^ °^' ^^^^^^^^ time,
oranglKomttthXou?s tr I^'"'^^"^^^; ^ -"' -
quiet, grey silk, and a npnf wfiV t ^arria^e and four. In a
dence ^afked to'l^^erwitl^Hlrkr^H^^^^ " ^f ^^^^' ^^-
married sister being present Th^^ Hackney, her only un-
to the parsonage to partake of J^^.^WJ pair then returned
ofVe^ Ju:_i, , e^/v ,Pari;aKe ot a quiet, comfortable hr^„uxt,_x
ter of the former-a Xasin« ntf ""^ accompanied by the sis^
1^
il
i
Harkun fwlin '3^"J«h, spirits. ' "" ^"« ^^ tlie very
Hackney cS'M ''"^''^ deserves the nlnt
Pior weddinTr. ! ^""^ ^^tremely kind nml n'^^^^^n^e of " Old
J^orno in tt"slow!tjnf '/"? ^/^'^ ^^-7 P^^ ^"'^^ ^^
fall conveyed'thnr^ f T ^, *^^ *^ie swift train «^k' JJ^^y ^^ro
CHAPTER xxiy
The winter " ""'"' °° '"^''^ ' ^^«>-«. and i am woman l" .,.
the best years^f ^>? -^^^ *° ^^^^ that they t^n^ ^^^^.^H" for the
ier dauffhter.^^' ^""^^^ ^^ ^y her own in of. T^"' ^'^^^ n^ono-
'0 let them d^^'"'"? ^>^ft 'ten be«,nf„f "■""*!.'"■ '«»'»Wul
"s^t ifSr»oSl-t?ttr^ -•
-o i-'Oiidon for the
'!§ to see all the
P/i.and London-
^tminster Abbey,
^aWe, Mudume
J^-ensington JVIu-
'rytlnngl And
'.was (as Roger
't entertained a
len vrith whicJi
was in the very
name of "OJd
*[; and a hap-
^n consisted of
»e. They were
hich by night.
>sited them at
jRrcnELiEu.
'Ua, after the
e spring foJ.
eet past, and
5^ dull for the
ting some of
n. but mono-
ambition and
nit the villa,
»/; and as
hotels, the
of beautiful
eir mamma
team-Boats,
onaire, Mr.
»e Convent
married to
cbes, too,"
ung Lord
ascending
Jiraine to
Guiify, or mt auilty. ..^
bo content, sitting in those dnll r . ^
berries, and sketeHinitho,b-«f/A^'''*^' Pothering wild straw
out, and that pretty sharn fnn \ i ' ^"^ ^^ must look
^7p;f^*."^9^rdes?ffi&' '"' ^^^^'^ ^'^ "^<^^". like M?st
^n 1 said Miss TrfifV »« t>
wants to marry Edith-not fn?? "^^ t' ^"^^ ^^^^^^^ of his own
fashion of admiring her Ko ? ?^^1 ^ P''«"ii«c you~set S>'
She despised every one of "hem' ^T .7^"^ ^^^^ *h«r«- I think
she's over head aifd ears n Jove'^mf l^' ^^^^^^ excepted Oh
the justice to .ay, she treated JlThe. W ' ^V^ ^ ^^^^ do her
And so must I " qoiVi a i" • ^^^ ***st set ' very coldlv "
co„tcm,,t of all womil'"'™' """ "»" tte/deser^e the
ter^t wasWi;^^ r^^JoHan, -.I fea. in ,«„ ease, sU-
4: 7 r """' "'" ■"' -"^ ^-' - —
taste would s^fthiueTmuSl-' ^^' ^ ■"» of good
-^tert ""b nt- 1^' ^4 -«• "e: daughters
Boger Croft were toTok thJm at7„T ,^rq««. Arthuf S
had found out the truti of the old lonjl '^'"'"- '^ ^'^'^
and, as our yomraH,?'"'"'.'"""'" «""'»■'*■■ ,■•
paHenoewhepiStr„tStn* T^ to practise
gsol™ he had confided to l^S™Croft t1?„r??^,^1.''-'»'l ^at
/d^'rwirht r""T""™^ ''""'' •"
J^idaW wL^Sl?ntaXc^^.;'ft?tr^- ""^ ^I"™'™-
tad wisely given up aU honeanf T^ ?? *'"" ^'^s^s Croft, who
J»ts ; for eaeh had, or fZcied ,h^ I,^'"''""''; '^"■'o ^ « Wgh
ers w '"V"' •"■ »«t them evef^w""!^!,"® costume,'^who
era wore also making love hv „P^ ™.' ^^^^ a set of foreim,
"■anu.uvres, to the tCrCr^ftS'S;"^^ ^t '?'*>" -^^^
vrracoa. lor foreigners fancy
lOG
that
Ouilfij, or JVot Ouilfy.
must
n,,n .^ travelling English fan
.iin'dSr JS it'^afa^Ct I- f^. -mo-
tion, and constancy-she Si' conrs^ J i'i ?i ^'"'^.'^; ^?^^' ^'«^«-
and more than her So l^Z^^v.■ f}^ ^^''^* ^"^^ ^^^^ «hare,
there was a virgin modes?; n\lf ^-^^^'^"^ ^"^^ flirtation; but
quility about hfr which rmnp1^"'?r^ '"'T''-'' "" ^'"ly-liko tran-
beauty) kept in J;rthe Krent 4rni7 ^^T'''^}'''' ^'^<^^ ^"^^
huntii^ foreigners ^^S^nt-street gents and the fortune-
the\t:^'uirS^/rtt? ''^^r^ mountains, visiting
the same forests the 0« .t ^"^ ^''''''^'' ^"^ picnicking in
foreigners haTelllteco^f ^^i^ -^the
disappomted when thov disrnvnro^i fi rJl ^"^^^'^ ^^'''^ » ^'^^t^o
in their inexperien^L-e hU iuS > I • f ^'"^'' ""^""^ *^^^y'
to be vouno- noblnn.n« •'k ^ "^ ^'^ *^^'^ ^^e«s and their airs
plain iSS and th^r.^''''^""^' ^* *^^^ ^^^^ l«^«t' were only
iratic. TheraCted sfcf ^^^^^^ ^'"^ ^^^ "° "^«^"« a"«to^
versation o/driH reviews Wn '^' ^'f' ^^«"«t^hios, and con-
Croft and he^dLaE \ "/T'"''i'?r' *^'"-' *^-' ^^^^ ^^^s.
Alas ! alas ! they we^re onlv ?Ff ^hey were guardsmen.
Miss Croft's esnS S ""■ ^''S/^J?''" ^^^ anticipate,
was Mr. Cutts and GloiST^
other hand, Le ComtP Pn^li ' ■^^- ^ o^er. But then, on the
Leopold de ChA^teru Ro^e IL^^^^v- ^^"^^^our, Le Baron
Valle'e Noire, wSreTt hnnT^.n^ .^"^ Viscomte Amddde de la
and illustrious descent Cn^T ?»,*'' f u"^' ^^ ^^^ ^« "^"^6' title,
admirers. True! the v^un^ F.tf P^'^^^'^"^^"^ «f the English
nicer, and evidently better fro^l^"^.T i^^'^ "^^^^ ^l^aner,
their foreign riva s^ butTnS nf qT*^ ^'^""^ ^^^ ^^^^ than
"What's iS a nl^e ?'' the fi:^"^^^^^^^ exclamation,
for? LUlKn^h^^ '"^ T!^ ^^^-^ ^ bTalthou^h, be-
Sdf -^ "--/- ^^^^^^^ fe.e .d
idowtnthlX'lS^^^^^ ^^« --!'«
imitative "fast set^'^aWd. ^ °^' ^""^ *^^ ^^'* ^^ *^«
wh?Lf 8(^147^^^ to show off before those
of aspirants whT^t^nt^'ttm";:^^^^^^ ^*' *^^ ^^^^^ ^-*
tvealtliy, and
>t petticoat,
immonplaco
. love, aovo-
l Jier share,
tation; but
ly-like tran-
•* grace and
ho fortnnc-
ns, visiting
micking in
ts, and the
i'ere a little
f^hom thoj,
their airs
were only
ans aristo-
i, and con-
that Mrs.
aardsmen.
^icipatc.
3ria's beau
on, on the
Le Baron
dde de la
ame, title,
e English
1 cleaner,
;ash than
lamation,
Kcited by
ronne de
fe, as op-
ough, be-
st in, the
was now
srce and
rupture,
is soul's
it of the
•e those
itle host
Omlty, or Mt Guilty.
107
Ky S to jSlsoIol? t T^ ^"^ ""^^ ™'""' do^-xtS
said, .ifcrtho'':^iv"?tf fr^ots Msr ^ "irs-^'^'"
exchanging rw^rd^t' wVotrtt'fd^&TwTrtr"''^ "!
rose, tho mtle & m of stS^'fe'tera^dtot^™
108
Oullt^, or Not GulUy.
tho rocky 8ul„tonco in wl,f "l. ?l "" "1"'': ™'"""' P'"-' "f
liKht sroou lcw™li ft, 2,v r^ T" ™'«*1'"1. '>ut whoso
beauty to tho "conirv K™ !'njncho» Ravo »uch gnu-o n„,l
tip thoso pcrpcSSr Mw7 ' V ■'•'•''■, "■'''J"»' '""«1». 1""1 piled
depth. bfvoXo Zd bloom"' '""' '" ^•°"^'"'" *''«'' I«"l™»
couU e„2™c!*Ha?et' much t^'th™' ""''^'' ""'i ""-Tthiug that
quia and hi^' feHt J wl """"""yi"'™ of tho young Mar-
ii wore yeT„o tl of 'coSit Ih i'X ^l">^ ,"7' *""« "'»»'
Bwcr for the safety of X K,,l i u"'?.^ '1<='-I";'e>l they could an-
off iA h^hTirir""'-^' ""■'"" " *''" *^""" -1 mL*^ cj^ar^t
mu^'^tfrrtuXncoand't'oir ''^'i' "^'^^^ *" E^««"s mule,
not like to make Ihdr m 1 ^1 f/'v'"""" f Arthur, who did
Marquis. qulLtg Lnd Xe ' ol'* ntsThi^^^^'^'j^t ^l'""
entirely toTho'Se;^^^if;:/?,C™ftw^^^^^^^ t„e been left
H^'jh$irw„°'th'e':,;«ro'? ;r,^ «™' "- *" *-^ ''^"-•
^ntl^r&^X^}r^: '".""F?"" for him the steep
tojja"htgrw«'&t ~r£t"" "■<>
had an odio3.W mfcta?e pZ t? ffl!'' ''°^"' ^'«'
asking Edith if she worSd iSve " a'Tr™ tholV^r ''•° =
tongue to eive it, „t.t»rp"cp •" oF-"r- ?< -k "^ ' ™'*- ^^^^
^hceks of the
IhIi loved to
^mcd part of
1, but whoso
h gnico and
Is, had jMled
loir perilous
ything tliat
^oung Mar-
thing about
y could an-
ler of those
ft was roso-
S8 Croft, set
lith's mule,
ur, who did
ject of the
by taking
If. But for
e been left
the belles.
have been
3d, and the
lUee Noire
s in favour
1 the steep
wished he
Ele did not
;e ; and so,
% eonsult-
s to push
jlt certain
at, on the
thing was
mountain
oger, who
iccession ;
md some
le Baron,
)usly dis-
was very
Oui/ii/, or Not Ouilty. i^
At length the guides and Mrs. Croft boean to H.JnL v
h.gh t.mo to prepare to set out home a d^riitUo sS^ '^ '''''
the cliffs was ])ronoscd nrminnM f,. • """ among
Edith, hoping t'„ £ s £ SnAibH" ;r„arAT;'-
left the noisy, excited sot biK^v w,f^ „ i ^ i "" '^''^ ^^>"i Arthur,
and Roger J;oft, and itoZi:^^,^^^^^^
while the Croft girls were flirtini wVA /i tV ^'^""^ ''"'^oj
Count, and Mrs. ^roft llVnXv l"t U "« o^T ""^ "^°
Arthur was gone to see to the salbtv of' VSn ' ^hampagno.
give the guides leave to sup onThe i-lts^f tt fcuT^^ '"
meant to try to get a few moments' <5 'l4t wS FdiH %^*''"
whom he had been crucllv sovornH ihr^r.,. ['^f^ wuu ^.aith, from
^. The ladies had all a^^d rdispe i^^"^^^^^^^^ ^^^!? ^'^3^-
lines, as, in ridin^r on mnln/nr^ r i- ''*'°P'' ^"^'^ crino-
rocks, such appSges wTe found a n^.^'^^ mountains and
ment; and Ekh,ifLT:olZtl^^^^
muslm, looked, as she moved anion;^ '^f^P^^ ^^ ^^olicate white
her way along the narrow ^^Ih^Eome mo^taTnf' ^^^1^^"^
guardian spirit of the spot mountain nymph or
It was the young Marquis nullT^\f^^T' ^^^^o;
champagne, Ld rWvTr^r'^'lnte't^ ^ ^^^
Bion and to make Edith an offer of his hand «nT?n T *"' P^'"
an angle of the craK°pfckod wlf?' """"d sharply round
and wt, aeon losHi'his W fotZ\'''""T <'''"''^".'''
cursed his fate, and swore at him«Tfo ^ j '.?"' ™»™>'red, he
where could ho see thltTnctl^ti^g fZ -'''''"^ '" ™ ^O"
werer^td^l^£p^:»> ^rs. ^^{* ""'■ her daughters
set off and still Edith CStme not™'^ ""^ ^^ ^"^y ">
of UsorifTtl',r;;L'^/ir^;,^*"-™*ed about. regardle,s
echo. only. ans^er7d- S^ire^l'^^jfrrCroft thr ' V' "^^^
Marquis, even Roger, the "fast set " .L fk J ■ S"'"'- *'"<'
had made sure thSt Edith w»»' h?i;„„°?f i'^.^f^-'^S^e,
St
Edith was Wding Tsrort, norSn"
to
110
Ouilii/, or Kot Ouilly.
cxrhanpro blank bok. ,f terror, and to trcml,lo and grow palo.
I u> Kuides Hhook their ).oads. There wa,s a fatal Hpofc not far
of whoro several ar(id(.r:tH had happened-one ve^y recently
1 hey had ropen and lantern.s, they never ascended these heiKhta
jyi hout, but they were of no use, sinco there was no trace or
indication of Edith's whereabouts.
Presently Arthur's shout was hoard. The guides, who know
whence the sound came, exclaimed in Swiss,
•' Blessed Virgin preserve us I It is the Death Valley I do is
shouting from the rocks above it I " ^
Again came Arthur's shout on their startled ears ; and still
they moved not. Arthur in a lew moments camo back, deadly
white— his eyes en fire, liis hair on end. ^
"I have seen her !" he said. " She has fa'len from a hich
crag into a dark deep chasm; but I can see the gleam of a
white dress ! What is to be done P " ^
The guides shook their heads.
"Nothing can bo done; she is dead by this time." said one
of them; "and it is useless to risk the Hfo of living men to
save a dead woman !" ^
" I wiU give a thousand pounds— nay, two thousand pounds
-totheguide who tries to save her, or who brings her up.
deader alive!" smd the young Marquis, trembling^ violently
The men shook their heads. " What is the use ot^the money
to dead men P" they murmured. ^
" Fools ! cowards ! brutes ! " said Arthur, «' I will risk what
you. mouutain-born, misnamed guides, shrink from ! Follow
"^mi^ t° ^^ silently and promptly tdl my commands !"
Ihey have reached the crag: down, down, down, deep in the
darkness below, the gleam of the white ^..v. is ; een
" Now, the strongest, of your ropes !"
It was produced.
" Now your lantern 1"
The guides gave it into Arthur's eager hand.
" Now you. my lord, and you all. help these men to hold fast
this rope. Do not yow give way— be sure I will not. Father
xn heaven, give me strength to save her! If not, blessed Jesus
. =i. ive ny spirit !" ^
W^xh. the lanternin his bosom, and the rope fast clutched in
., *;b ms hanu' , Arthur swung himself at one fling half-way
do.,ii the chasm. There he paused, gaining a momentary foot-
ing on a slopmg ledge of the cliff. More eagerly thL, he
peered into the dark chasm, and saw the form of Edith sense-
less at the bottoni. He pla^^ed the lantern on a proiectin^ an^l«
or tnerock,aiia by the aid of the thick rope, he" went" do^:
down, down, to the bottom of the dark abyss.
Edith lay, white as her dress, and perfectly insensible, on a
I grow palo.
<p()t not far
ry recently.
lioHO heights
no trace or
», who know
illoy ! .ao ia
3; nml still
)ack, deadly
I'om a high
gleam of a
," said one
ng men to
md pounds
ga her up,
^ violently.
the money
risk what
Q ! Follow
8 !"
leep in the
I.
> hold fast
b. Father
ised Jesus
lutched in
? half-way
titary foot-
T then, he
ith sense-
ting angrle
ent down,
I
Ouiltjf, or yot Quilt, J. ^^
bod of moss, withered loavoH. and loose earth A xrJn i
I.O lKm...s were l.n.ke... ;„. bl.m.l shed f ll' I A.-H "^ ''\^"'T'« ^hafc
nerved him afresh. He threw (...oufT.' ^••thur.s ]n ut, and
r...M.d the .shLfht \n\n nn7^^^^^^ i<-ft arm)
tho rope. I'fc 'M::;";in :^uide: '3^, r;i' '" "^"' "^'^"^
of he eru^.. pull.d ,,l,,vdy and wel '• ^^A^u. '"'''^ .V" *''« top
pull, mid U pull ail tocroth,.,. " nth nr^- "'f '"'"' "' '^^''^''^
lovely bunk'.n (still q.^te i s'en I o in :* t7 ^'"t'^'"" '^"'l *»«
ravmo. Midway, where ho 101^/0 ..! ^'"^'"'r) o<'fc of the
ment's footing, a .d^Ih ov . oh - 'J' •" ""''^'"''"'^ '* "^"-
th^jlc..lu.r^iunt,y&:;?Le;!^^^
^aS;:;^^ t;s^^^^ that ^^.h ro.
'ofc. sore, blistered, and almost ,^Iv.^ S"""^'' *° ^' "thur's
IS grante.l to those on he migU ^urS> "^^^^^ ^"^ ^' ""^'th
iip-for they can now see Art^LT ^^^l^'-o P""itu^ l.im
that black aiyss and Elthin t^m'K'?' ^" °^'^-"- ' ^"ve
ull-cZiSnglovef ' SyTe" d. "' l^'^"^^' alLendunng.
her froi. his arm4l ey 1 XT orf tCi^ '\ '7~'^''y '^^^^
side her. The Marquis i,lds Zh L^rS'^T^''' ^"^^^^^ '^o-
Arthur chafes her hands aXcmnlLw'^^'^^^^^^ ^« ^^•* li"«;
opens her eyes ; she smiles on A^K ^x!'"' ''"^^'^^ ^^^ums ; , he
bless and reVar'd you, Arthur ^ "" ' '^' "^"^°^^«' " ^eiv n
.PbrHl.tiataTl^Lt^^ and i.-
Arthur, would have perished ^ere hnf ?^i^''' ^"^' ^^^^ ft.-
H of leav^.s and loosL earth she nse.'^H^ T"'^' "" ^hat sof
i« told to this day bv the -nr^'''^","^''""t5andthestor.
Mountains;" indeej, tit do^^no? V the '« Miracle of thi
maiden's rescue to spirSl agency ''"P^" *° ^""^ute the
CHAPTER XXV
fl^,^^«'^-g^' thougrnot^^n^^^^^^^^
.ibIe,ona ^^^- -uld n^ot burS X^tr/o^^tl^
young peer, with a self-
112
Guilty, or Not Guilty,
absorption and aa egotism perfectly aristocratic, thanked Arthur
for Edith's life. Yes, perfectly blind to the fact that the life
Arthur had risked his own to save was ten thousand times
dearer to him than his own, and entirely engrossed by his own
emotions, his own passion, and the misery spared himself, the
young Marquis took an opportunity, on their return to the
hotel, to say —
" I honour and admire you for your bravery, and I am proud,
as an Enghshman, that you have done a deed that will be talked
of among these guides and their descendants as long as these
mountains stand. I dare say, a hundred years hence, they will
have made a fine weird romance of this bold English venture of
yours. Indeed, I should myself have acted exactly as you have
done " (how many people think this is the highest praise they
can bestow, and what intense conceit there is in the notion !)
" yes, I should have let myself down, as you did, by means of a
rope, only that I felt the chances were ten to one in your
favour ; and, where Miss Lorraine's hfe was concerned, I would
not suffer any personal feehng to interfere." (He has actually
made a sort of favour of allowing Edith to be saved by Arthur.)
"Tor compare my weight with yom-s; I doubt whether the
rope would have borne me at all, even if the men at the top of
the crag could have held it. And now, what I have to say is,
that I feel under a deep personal obligation to you. Some day
I will tell you why ; suffice it at present to say that such is the
fact. You may have heard me ofier two thousand pounds to
any one of those cowardly guides who would do what you have
done. I am not going to affront you, my dear sir, by placing
vou on a level with them, and offering you a reward of that
kind ; but if you have any wish which I can gratify— any object
m life which my interest can enable you to attain— any ap-
pointment in view, in obtaining which I can aid you, you have
only to remind me of this day, of the glory you have shed over
the Enghsh name, and the inestimable service you have done
to myself individually, as well as to Miss Edith Lorraine, and
all her family."
There was something in the tone and manner of this address,
kind and comphmentary as it was, that yet did not please
Arthur. However, he took kindly what seemed to be so kindly
meant, thanked the young Marquis, and got out of his way as
soon as possible.
Edith was much too weak to support herself, and sit upright
on a mule; but Arthur, who had a suggestive mind and helping-
hands, contrived a sort of hammock^out of some rugs and
shawls they had brought with them, and, with the aid of the
guides, carried Edith safely down the mountain side, and back
to Interlachen.
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
113
Miss Croft did not appear, as usual, to preside at the well-
spread tea-table. The English maid, whom the Crofts had
brought with them, announced that Miss Croft had begged she
might not be disturbed, as her headache was of a very distress-
ing kind.
Edith Lorraine was at once conveyed to bed, there to ponder,
with passionate gratitude and tenderness, on all she owed to
Arthur, who, for the second time, had saved her life. If the
first time she recalled his devoted watch at her bed-room door
with tears, she now dwelt on the daring heroism of his perilous
descent with a glow of enthusiastic admiration ; and in the
silence of the night — the bright moonhght night, so clear that
she could see, as she lay in her bed near the window, the giant
mountains and the transparent lake — she registered a solenni
vow to devote to him the life he had twice saved — to repay,
with all the love and tenderness of her woman-heart, and idl
the powers of her mind, soul, and strength, the devotion he
had shown her — to let no obstacles, no impediments, no preju-
dices, ultimately sever her hfe from his ; but, sooner or later,
to reward him with her hand and heart, and, as the wife of his
bosom and the partner of his Hfe, to double his every blessing
and lighten his every sorrow.
The next morning the Marquis was at the breakfast-table
much earlier than usual. Ho was in very high spirits, and his
handsome face betrayed some inward exultation, siich as he
always evinced when he had some capital joke or choice bit of
scandal to repeat at somebody's expense.
Mrs. Croft, who had a passion for peers, always toadied the
Marquis to a painful degree.
" Ah ! " she said, " my dear Marquis, I see you are brirnming
over with some capital bit of fun. Now, let us have it, my
dear lord ; it is running over at those bright eyes, which are
destined to break so many hearts. Ah ! I can see it stealing
out at the corners of your loidship's mouth. Now, what is it,
my dear Marquis ? I positively cannot wait. I must have it."
" Well, so you shall ; but first let me ask how Miss Lorraine
is?"
"Better, my lord— I thank your lordship for inquiring.
Edith is better ; but not well enough to appear at breakfast,
my lord."
"And Miss Croft?"
" Oh ! I hope she'll be down presentlv, my dear lord. And
'''^ 5^our lordship mugt tell us tlic joke.
Well, then, I've found out why ' the gents ' absented them-
selves yesterday ! And, more than that, I can tell you what
they are ! "
Mrs. Croft turned a little pale. She had greatly encou-
Guilti/j or Mf Guilty. ^
raged the attentions of Mr. Tippit to her eldest daughter, Miss
Crott. Mr. Tippit was a very dressy, fair, delicate young man,
of rather pert and off-hand, but effeminate and insinuating man-
ners. He had hght curly hair, pretty features, teeth of incompar-
able beauty, a small straw-coloured moustache, a slight figure,
white hands (wJiich he had a habit of rubbing softly), abrilUant
^^iTr m?' • ^® ^^*^^ breguet chain, rings, pins, studs, and links.
Mr. Tippit might be a little finnikin, and talk a little too
much about the weather, and in a sort of off-hand way about
i/"f^j^^ general; but he had a great command of money,
alluded to many ladies and gentlemen of distinction, as if he
were intimate with them, and gave Mrs. Croft a great number
ot autographs to add to her coUection. He had also prese.vod
her and her daughters with some very fragrant dentifrice, such
as he used himself; he was good-natured, too, and iad very
cleverly cur^d Mrs. Croft and her English maid of a raging
toothache, by an application known only to himself.
Miss Croft was desperately in love with him ; and Mrs.
h ^T^^ she did not suppose that a Mr. Tippit could be of
a noble family, imagined he might be a gentleman of fortune,
and was very anxious to promote the match.
And now the thought of her rashness, her imprudence,
blanches her cheek ; for it is evident, from the Marquis's man-
ner, that there is something very much against Tippit— some-
thing ludicrous ; what can it be ? The Marquis kept her a lone
time in suspense. Her anxiety delighted him. He hinted that
he also knew who and what Cutts and Blower were.
xt. ir®"^*^.^' "^^®" ^® ^°"l<i ^eeP the joke to himself no longer,
the Marquis revealed the terrible discovery in these words —
Compose yourself, my dear madam ; and first leb me assure
you that Mr. Tippit is a very respectable and a very wealthy
young niMi, and that he lives in a very handsome house in
iJedtord Eow, Bloomsbury, a house in which his father and
gi-andfather lived before him."
" Thank Heaven for that, my lord ! Tour lordship has taken
a great weight off my mind," said Mrs. Croft.
rv"^'^^-^ ^^^^ *^ ^^^^ ^*'" said the Marquis; "the name of
iippit is one not unknown to fame, either."
You enchant me, dear Marquis !" said Mrs. Croft ; " I never
heard it before I knew this charming young man, excepting
always as that of Tippit the dentist, who, when I was a little
girl, used to attend the boarding-school where I was educated,
Wraw our teeth. Oh ! how we all dreaded and hated him !
yii : my iora, how he used to smile and talk of the weather with
the terrible key instrument hidden up behind him ! Oh ! how
1 loathe a dentist, my dear lord !"
^^ And yet such is the calling of the gentleman in question.
•Wf"
•w
Q-uilty, or Not Ouilty.
115
laughter, Miss
ite young man,
sinuating man-
ihofincompar-
a slight figure,
■tly), a brilliant
tuds, and links.
Ik a little too
md way about
Lnd of money,
iction, as if he
great number
also prese.v.jd
entifrice, such
and had very
d of a raging
m; and Mrs.
pit could be of
lan of fortune,
• imprudence,
[arquis's man-
rippit — some-
ept her a long
Ee hinted that
re.
5elf no longer,
a'ese words : —
leb me assure
very wealthy
)me house in
is father and
ship has taken
" the name of
oft ; " I never
an, excepting
I was a little
ivas educated,
i hated him !
weather with
a ! Oh ! how
1 in question.
Mr. Tippit is a dentist ; nay, more — he ib the son of a dentist,
the grandson of a dentist. He is not a man of the calibre of
Cartwright or Parkinson ; but he is a very good, advertising,
third-class dentist, in great vogue with the middle classes !"
" Oh ! my lord !" cried Mrs, Croft, " how can I thank you for
discovering this ? Heaven only knows what misfortune you
may not have prevented ! How did your lordship discover it ?"
" Simply thus ! My valet, who was taken ill at Brussels,
only joined me yesterday. It seems, after I had set off, he met
with Mr. Tippit, who was about to join jour picnic with his
friends Cutts and Blower. Cutts— vou will be amused to hear
it — is a very celebrated chiropodist. '
" What is that P" groaned Mrs. Croft.
" A corn-cutter ! and Blower is an equally successful maker
of artificial legs, arms, eyes, and noses !"
" Oh ! what a disgusting set of fellows ! " said Mrs. Croft ;
" I'll never take the slightest notice of any one of them again ;
and Gloriana, remember, I forbid you ever even to bow to them.
Just go, my love, at once, and tell your sisters what those
odious wretches are, and beg them to come down to breakfast.
Oh ! my lord, what do we not owe to vou ! No wonder they
were ashamed to join our picnic, when they saw they were de-
tected, and knew that your valet would expose them."
At this moment, in rushed Gloriana, with 2 note in her hand,
pale as death, and trembling violently,
" Good heavens ! what is this ?" cried Mrs. Croft, as she tore
open the note, and read : —
" Beloved Mamma, — Forgive us for anticipating the consent we knew
you would not withhold ; our chosen lords and masters insist on this
proof of our confidence and affection. By the time you receive this, I
shall be Mrs. Tippit, and Almeria, Mrs. Cutts — two blessed brides — not
noble, not ' My Lady,' as you had hoped and planned, but the happy wives
of two perfect gentlemen, with plenty to keep us in affluence, and to en-
shrine us in elegant homes, where our beloved mamma will find she has
not lost two daughters, but gained two sons in the persons of those daugh-
ters' husbands. Pray forgive us this once, and we will never do so any
more ; and pray induce dear papa to pardon his
" Barbaba and Almeria."
" I have gained two sons, — a dentist and a corn-cutter ! Oh !
my lord, I can never survive the disgrace, the shock ! " cried
Mrs. Croft, and she went off into the strongest hysterics, of the
screaming and kicking genus.
It was as the young Marquis had divined. Mr. Tippit with
his iriends, Messrs. Cutts and Blower, were on their waj to
their rooms to array themselves in a jaunty, elegant picnic
costume, when the former, to his horror, met Mr. Pinkey,
his lordship's valet, whom he could not affect not to know,
i2
116
II
«t
if
li
Ouilfy, or Not Guilty.
since riot only Imrl Afr. fr; •;.
from Mr. vll^^^, hel/ffi t\'T''^ T^^'^^ h"g<> grinders
looking incorroc^ble poteia n^^^^^^^^^ '^^ largf bS
unnatu.,1 look^to Mr%S;VSa^ ^'^^ ^^^^^ ^ «^--ge,
unless t/could Vnduce°Miss C^oft^t^ was as he said, up.
became known, tliroujjh thp M«? • ? ^^°P^ ^'*^^ ^li^ before it
Interlachen wis the deiSl^?T' ' \^^'^' *^^* ^^^ ^'%an?of
^h'''?r^ with Messrfcutts and B?n ^'^- .^^^^^^ ^°""«et
absent themselves from theTcni^lsf r'S- *^^ ^'^"^ed to
tnvnig to despatch a note to £^,-1? ?"^. '"^ ^° ^he test by con-
the picnic excursion, but to ^S \"?P^^""fe' ^^^^ not to go on
busmess, while her mother bro L"'? ^ meeting on partz^cula?
This note he conveyed to her bv tl,. ' ^ '''*/^" ^^^^ absent.
The resAlt is already wrV^'r?-^^ ?^ ^^^ ^'-^""^ress.
q"entty,and looked so^charm n.^ ^i"' .^ffiP^'^ P'^^^ed so elo-
agreed to elope with him th«f i?' ^^^\ ^'^^ ^^^^^ft not only
ence with Ali^eria to rcoinv L"'^^^*' ^""^ *° "«^ ^^^ iX^
of Mr Cutts. Mr. BloweTSn f •'''^'' ^' *^« ^^ide elect
«aucy ittle Gloriana; but ]vS CroTo^^^" ?T'^^ ««" the
attempt to include he; in the brfdal nfl '"''^^. ^"^ ^^at any
tection and ruin of the whole .p^IP^^.i'^^"^^ ^"^ in the de-
most impracticable littL creature r?l' *^^^* S^^iana was the
resolved never to marry any one but «'' l^^^' ^"^ ^^« q^ite
sbe could not get an English neer .1^ "obleman; and that, if
one-probably the Count tl^/v' ^? ^°"'^ accept a foreia-n
'\SrtP^^"^^P-"^^^ ^'^ BaL,nowTf
to.elope wV Mr.'^o^eT^Tor".^^ ^"^^ ^"^^^^^ ^loriana
Pnnciple. and some fS„e dehctt T^ ^^^^^' '-^^^ some
her intimacy with Edith Craine ^'^' ''''' ^'^^^"^^ through
CHAPTER XXVI.
mother of the plot ^ ""^ *° " ''^ "' 0"ce informing her
. r'^-lpieria, on the contrarv ,,0;.. ^.j ____ ,.
into Jier sister's views j^'iiWirV^j "?"?'"=• "' ™ce entered
dupes, fane^, ^^^ri^l^iS<^^;.r.:^^l!^)^^o^
rcral huge grinders
ea the large bluish-
:ave such a strange,
vas, as he said, up
with him before it
that the elegant of
'• Taking counsel,
•, they decided to
mkey should have
is own charms and
to the test by con-
ber not to go on
;ting on particular
ters were absent.
i the laundress,
i pleaded so elo-
' Croft not only
t to use her influ-
as the bride elect
carried off the
3d him that any
lid end in the de-
jlorianawas the
d, and was quite
fian;and that, if
accept a foreign
p Baron, now of
nduced Gloriana
eart, and some
quired through
roll
Anon.
) Gloriana, she
informing her
i once entered
igtt these two
stole down, ja
OuiUy, or Not Guilty. 117
spend their honeymoon in the French city of delighls ^ *°
" Odious as the connection is," he said to his mother " it ia
yet quite necessary that I, as the only brother of these ttf
t!^Z '■"T"/"' '^"P"--' '''""■"d "^'^''rtain that they ^reX
be IX r'''"^ • Z ?^""^Se portion ; at the same tlme.7 may
wLnZ ^^^^^^^e^A^^ y^^ *° ^^ke an hotel of thei?hoS
™5,^ver you want to stay in town."
a^ted horror'. .fP^^^^of it !» exclaimed Mrs. Croft, with well-
^^.\tl^ \: ^^^- ™ag^ne, Koger, that I could ever bear
\l^!J ^ ^°^f outside which was one of those disgiisILVpTc^
^^3if i^^-''^^^l^''''*'>*^ «o«^« loathsome excrescfnce and a
No I .if/^"^ ^-.t^'P instrument just about to make an Scis?on ?
^o, I could neither rest, eat, drink, nor sleep in so deSed ^
home; why, I should see that horrid foot^ and hand^fn mv
the C'd'of^ *^'° ^'•^^*" '^^ consciousness that tlfat hanS ^l
the hand of my son-in-law, and that that foot belonrred to anv
chance customer who chose to be operated upon ^ A corn^
cutter call me mother ! a chronologist cSl my daughter hitwife "'
^^ Not a chronologist ; a chiropodist, mamma." *
Oh J^tl^A ^^**^^''' ^^\ ^^i °^^ 5 I knew it was one of the .'.^9
of 4«l^ drive me mad ! Nor is it less painful to me to think
of staying with Barbara. No doubt that vile Tippit has a brass
plate on his door— Mr. Tippit Dexttst ■ nrrl nf ^^,n 1
r.QOQ A,ii ,e • • j-ir±ii, jjiiJNiisT ana, 01 course, a erlass
case, full of grinning rows of white teeth with pink gums 'I
who have good old border blood in my veins-I, a FoTter of
Foster, to be disgraced and degraded thus ! " ' *
fT^ofVifv'^f "'"'''' ^ "^"^^^ ^® «ff5 1 must just ascertain the fact
that the fools are married, and then I will return to you Don't
Pvl%*^'^ ^'" ^^.^"^ ^^"d^' without portions! ^X^;a,S°"or
rir.*andTShlr'.f ^^^^^ ^^^"^-^ muTmarr;
well , and It Judith gets the old Earl's wealth, nnd I ^^e*- Ti^\fh
jj^aay^dilh she must be in due time)-you need never Sve"^
thought to Mrs. Tippit and Mrs. Cutts, except ^hen you wint
* * m m *
118
I I
I I
'Ml
'"!'i
0.
GuiUij, or Not auiUy.
He Lertain"ed; ^"hout any ^^^^^^^
actually married, and then he gfve hT^sel^^^^^^
and pleasure of erprv v\-nA tt v^ j xxuuslu up to amusement
But at present all is couleur de rose • for Mr 4\^^i^ T^^'
Cutts-the dentist and the corn-cutter-snefd Jpfi^ o^^^
money they earned at home. Sey areCoud nA^ • ^^-^^
o? IT;^;"™' PbTP"^""* '"^^ Barbara a mmWo in the wSJds
solaced his palate, if not his helrt ^'' P°'^^*'' ^^^
Oistance, where, shrouded from the?r ™wbT The ,,ni!L""',"
play, dissipation,
I sensual Paradise.
; his sisters were
up to amusement
to see the brides ;
out of the way of
some "nobs" at
ger wanted to be
)ier in their choice
red to be.
or excuse of the
duty and maiden
life, and rush into
support of her
punished, sooner
lerally finds her-
by her children.
Tippit and Mr.
freely abroad the
i of their union
ould have been
looked down on
)mebody to Mr.
e than a nobody
Cutts remained
>rt her. Tippit,
ble in the woods
I out of spirits,
^e with them to
:hat he did not
I own thoughts,
y in bon-bons,
s pockets, and
old trees were
ivild flowers, in
;ed the forest,
fragrant shade
hen they sank
ower, of whose
self at a little
le underwood,
hinkingofhis
^
Guilfi/, or Not Guiltt/. 119
Mrs. Tippit was not a regular beauty, but she was a fine
weU-grown, bloommg young woman, with rich brown hair
which she wore floating down her back; and, in our opinion
love IS such a beautifier, that, under its influence, Barbara, what
with the light m her eyes and the blush on her cheek, looked
very lovelv as she sat by her Tippit's side, her head resting on
his shoulder and his arm round her trim and shapely waist.
We have said that, all dentist as he was, there was something
elegant and interesting about Mr. Tippit. Both bride and
bridegroom had thrown their hats on the ground, and his fair
curhng hair contrasted well with her dark brown tresses He
was very much in love with Barbara, and she idolized hiiii, and
they were very happy— happy almost as the first pair— as they
talked of past fears, present joys, and future prospects, in all
the exaggeration and sweet tautology of love— when a gentleman
on horseback, but whose steed's hoofs fell unheard on that soft
velvet sod, passed- at a Httle distance, and caught a distinct
view ot the loving young couple.
" Hang it ! 'tis Barbara, and that snob of a dentist," murmured
the equestrian "What a fool she is, and what a pair of spoons
they look ! Well, I'm glad I've seen them, because now I know
how to avoid them. It would be a fine thing if Arlington, or
Yorke, or Porchester, or Charley Ord, or Lord Harry, were to
see me m TJompany with a dentist, and find out that the snob's
my brother-in-law] No— ' forewarned is forearmed,' I'll turn
my horse s head, and just canter away as quickly and as quietlv
as possible. ^ ./ ^ j
So saying, the affectionate brother fled the spot, and the YO\m»
jjair, conscious of nothing but each other's presence, and the
love that drew their hearts so closely together, wanted no third
person to break m on their happy tete-a-tete, and Barbara's head
still rested on Tippit's breast, although he had taken that op-
portumty to reveal to her who and what he really was He
had dreaded the result of that disclosure, but without cause
When once a woman really loves a man, no outward circum^
stances can disenchant or estrange her:
" I know that I love thee whatorer thou art,"
IS still the burden of her song,
Barbara now knows that her husband is Tippit, the celebrated
Bloomsbury dentist, and she has not hfted her cheek from his
shoulder nor withdrawn her waist from his embrace. Arm in
arm they have left a silvan spot worthy to be the scene of ^s
You^Like It— to have shdtered Eosahnd, and seen Jaquog
coucned en its sod. And Tippit took his bride to dine at the
Palais Eoyal—such a choice little dinner, and such creams and
T^M ?¥^ *^^y ^®^* *« ®°^ «f *^e TUdtrea des Varietis: and
she liked being the dentist's wife better than being the neelected
lonely daughter of the stuck-up Mrs. Croft.
120
■#iff
Ouilty, or Mt Guilty.
CHAPTER XXyil.
dear, simple, constant oh\ m^,l^^clll^^^^ i"^^^^^^ in
to know how ho, his elderly S^am^^^^^^ *« ^i«h
on in London, and whether the deli^hs of th?"''*T ''•'*"^ ^"<^
equalled their expectations. tH Id Hnlt ^^^t metropolis
the scene was, as he demurely sa?d jti'f^^^-^^^o^h, himself,
was to his womankind. Ho had SnY ^^'^^ ''° "°^ '^^^ it
and-hke all true scholars-hrwaslo murn/'' ^"^^°" ^'^^'^ 5
so absent, and so unobservant of nnf^i^'"'''''^^'^^" thought
differed from Oxford, for ™ onlv ir/v."^ "^'^J'?'' *^^* I^«"don
curred of being run oyer anTl' tboL .1^^ constant risks he in-
anathemas, Jaylshed upo^ him Ir'nof I'^ti'^^^^^^^^ ^'''^'^^ ^"d
' Mrs'^rT^ -h- -nd wharwas cominf '"^ '"' ^^ *^^ ^^y-
-ivirs. Hackney and her ssiufnT. t\t,- r7' ^
solved to be delighted witreyeklin^^^^^^ ^^^^' ^^^« ^e-
would not own to themselyes tha? aftpf ^"^ ^^^^Jbody. , They
the exquisite neatness, cleLSslnd^fr^^ '"""*^^' ^^^
rectory in which their curate fither Z^i ^^^^fance of the old
been born and bred, the hoLl t"nt 'gT^^ ""^''^ '^P ^"^
lose, dingy, and smelt of gas and st2 f^f '^''" '^?"^^^ ^^k,
disagreeable odour of cabbalos no In. Jf °^'!^''^ ' *^^<^ ^ W
m when they opened theS^; Xw tS Thf T P^;!^^' ^^"^^
and dmgy beds did not, for some^^son or nfif^'^'^ bedrooms
Tn^ 'T^*' T^^^hing, undisturbed sleep thev .w"*' ^'^-^ *^^"^
Lonechffe ; that their nights were invnX^ k ^ "^Y' ^"J07ed at
and their complexions d7d noTlook Is rll ^ nameless yisftants.
was their wonJ to do ; that thdr tidal fin eVV^" "^^'^^^^ ^' ^^
coming exchanged for the dark Wrl p7 ^J"^ ^^P^^ly be-
were dizzy with\he incessant nolestLtth^'''^^'' ' .*^^* V
overcharged for stale eggs, toimh stenvl fw kT '^^''^ frightfully
header wine; that they"|ere bewiS^^^
and ridiculed when they walked JnJ^^ fT^ ^*' ^^^g^od at
into the bargain, when thiy tookV-f- ' ^^^ often abused
solved to find e;erythinrSttfuf^n '"^ ^ "'"?; ^^^ ^^re re-
in London at last ?^ Had theyTot !^ JfJl ^I" ^t^ ""^^ ^«^"a%
a visit to the metropolis P ^ ""^^^^ *^^ ^^am of a Hfe-1
tha^lhe^rto Jel^^^^^^^^^ not at all aware
made m the fashion of bygone days fr.;.o^5*^^?'' T^ ^^^^es.
crous n London, where fSL Sns ^TSh'"^ singular a„d ludi-'
oyer all ranks and classes ^ "^^^ ^"""^^ absolute sway
The lady who set the fashions at Lonechffe was the squire's
J
■Ann,
■ iiOMSoy.
London with the
ro our interest in
efficiently to wish
ipinster sister pot
B great metropolis
y-Coach, himself,
leans so new as it
1 London before ;
iorbed in thought,'
ects, that London
stant risks he in-
oves, pushes, and
: out of the way,
Pryme, were re-
v^erybody. . They
'eet country, and
■ance of the old
where they had
en seemed dark,
CO ; that a very
leir prime, came
close bedrooms
her, yield them
"^ays enjoyed at
neless visitants,
e morning as it
vas rapidly be-
don; that they
vere frightfully
3 milk, and hot,
at, laughed at,
d often abused
They were re-
ey not actually
■eamofalife—
3t at all aware
and dresses,
rular and ludi-
absoluto sway
is the squire's
OuiUi/, or Not OuiUi/. i21
noTor changed the shape of her bonnet or her dress In tW
made them seem like caricatures of the Past in n X^i v.
beSfkno™trr';?,r"'?'\*' *^f'"'"'= -"-l el"eXre ht™
oeen Known to nb tlie water-butt of its hoops to transfer them
tooSe s f^SnlTbr- r-*-,*.han appear before "T Board?
Med sh^s, and little tipX^'^^dedT ?^"'a^ Sierof
nnf «?. ^^^ v"^ ^^'' ?''*^^ ^^"^^ ^ li"le vain-few women are
^.^t^r """"■" "'l^'^'ty of one wo^an is constantly and unex!
wvf« 1 ^"^^^^ °^,*^^ sunburnt peasantry, lingers over her
lookmff-irlass in thn Innr^ lo^oV li^flAaa h- '^ / ^
herself she is a Yenus "' '■^' ''''^ persuades
The bride and her sisters had been verv nreftv o-irla Tf «r„„
80 long ago that aU but themselvS Z^7r|ottet &d S«£
122
Ouilty, or Not Ouilfy.
I*
SionSrIl ""^"^T ^^?P«^cd' ^ho saw no change in thorn Thov
witf hoop,. /rmSror' Zg' n" «icor """"""^ '^^"'^*-
to get beds at the hotels, and even the pubUc-hmisS ^fj^''}^'^
ffi^tr^it- tt-tx ii-S IfrF
These, and a few more small accidents, were all thT mi;Pnr.
tunes our bridal party met with during the honeymoon Befor;
Pl5f''\^''^?5 ^7^^ returned to Lonecliffe herself a bride
elect^ An old colfege chum of Hackney- Coach'fwTn hnJ^w'
Tw ^ years a curate, and who met with his old friend and hi^
^n^Z^lr^ \ ^"^?^°* ^* E^^*er Hall, ending Ha^kneVa
domestic bbss, attached himself to Miss PrySef^d^ Se
in them. They
ctmlly attributed
•^ in this dehision,
•ido witli orango
with white roses
ses washed, and
lover thought of
ring themselves
seUvq with the
[iys Pryme espe-
of the monkeys,
•ther with nuts,
id off the crown-
onnet; and tho
ho had offended
lis trunk on her
was frightened
it's eyc8~ and in
io whom it was
's together, and
would be found
or Latin folio,
n him, lest he
tal Palace, on a
lost their be-
train, and only
closed. They
vehicle of any
see. They tried
ses. In vain ;
es did not hke
At length a
tant sum they
it Garden.
11 the misfor-
TOOon. Before
'e, seen every
lly worked out
ce Pryme had
-self a bride-
whn harl V\an-n
■■ — •-•- ••• .rx
riend and his
ag Hackney's
; and, wmle
Chiilti/, or Mt Guilii/.
123
paying his addresses to her, was, strange to say, presented to
a hvmg in the immediate neighbourhood of LonMim" Tho
whole party, at the end of th^e honeymtnTh^steuecf Lk to
tho Borders to prepare for tho wedding. ""'^''^"^^ «^^CK to
CHAPTER XXVIII.
" '^P^o flowers of Eden ye still inherit,
liut tho trail of tlio soriHint is over them all."
MoonB.
Glonana, she said, must atone by a very brilliant mjifoTi fr.r.
the disgrace which her sisters had Ltaile7on he CrX^^^^^^
W their degrading mesalliance with a dentist and aXoSf
Sue had mastered that hard word at last, to avoid the eCres
f S l''°S"'""-^^- . ^®°"^^*^"^^« «^« indulged in a wild C
that the Marquis of Dunstanburgh (for we should Ce sa?d
that Lord Pontecraft had become a Marquis, by his father'^
Gl^LTt''7^'rt'''^ ^y ^^^^' tSrn'hrfttughts to
Glonana; or if not. she resolved on securing her a foreifrn
tile, and encouraged the Count. In her ra^e against Sfs
Tippit and Mrs. Cutts, she was quite blind t? thf ^f"r tS
extenuating circumstance, that sh'e had herself promoted the
attachments which had ended in unions so odiousTher and
S/p'oinre^r ^' ^'° '''^' ^'^'^ ^' ^- «- ^«^- :n^
s.JVli.^^''^''^^- ^"""^ ^^^"^ *^^ "'^"^ ^oridly and artful women
act m the most imprudent and simple manner. In spite of^ho
recent severe lesson she had receiVed, Mrs. Crof? encoura -ed
the foreigners to accompany Edith and Gloriana n heTr mm^
bles-to sing, sketch, read, ride, walk. boat, and dance wSi
^ "^'/S^ ^^K '^^ ^°^^ ^« '"o^^ of tlieir antecedents tTan
she had done of those of "the Regent-street gents.'' ^
Le Comte de St Yentadour was the one amSng these foreign
aspirants whom both mother and daughter, in the shane^
Mrs Croft and G oriana. most affected.^ Not ^Sly was he the
highest in rank, but he had the greatest command of monlv
and seemed to be looked up to by the Vicomte and tLX ^'
as a sort of leader The cUte d^e St Yenrd^rl^^a SnT
some, accomplished man. of middle size, with plenty t^^av^;
tblT^n Ti""' '""^"^ ^f}^' ^""^ *°"^' ^^"' Playfuf attentions
that Enghshmen so seldom pay. and that Englishwomen so
delight to receive. He sang, >^thout much voice C^'f^
great taste, to a guitar whici was slung round Wsbreal ^a
I!
124
C«%, or Hot Guilty.
»bo.,t his honLr, his ancient hnoa^f'", '"''°'' ""''y B™,Ily
to (hstmotion. "noago, and lua power of loving
cat^^^o^Srtt^i !;^i?r^; /^° ^^^- ^-^^^--. ^-
«irted. and, in fact, odipscd 1 irn n^'ff '^ «"t-dunced. oiX
fa of his elder hUovIi^ ZlLT}^ f''^^ ^^"""^ V the
Glonana the necessity of makifif «o 'V" ^"^ •"''^.^^'^'- ""d to
rectnoss of the Count's Tn/n!£?'' t'"'l"'"^« ^"t^ the cor-
fnends. the .oality ofl: d^man^f V ' /T^^^^^ '^"^ hL
nei.to^roT' ^"^ ^^^^ -I^--^on t I^^yta"-; ^ r"
second edition^flL^^?-^;?,^^^-^'^^^^^ we ^ ^^
sand times worse ; for tl ose Cn],« ^^"^pce. only a thou-
but if these foreiffnors ar. X. . ''''" "maintain their wive"
theyVe either beggS s Tr escaned ^n r^'i' ^^" "^^3^ ^« «uro
ful thing or othe?." ''P'''* galloy-slaves, or some dread-
GlSl bX^g^nTt^^^^^^ Bogerl" said
more popular and more adm red than 1,"'''"° ^^^ ^^^nt is
tarn your spite and envy S itl H T' ^°" ^'^""o* ^on-
Marquis. I'm ashame7that Enl iiCV^" f"^° ^^**» the
Croft; "butffirst 4iS\^^^^^ Roger," said Mrs.
that she wrongs her Cher^wS^s "'^ Y. "?^ *^" ^^^
for his sister's welfare." actuated solely by anxiety
I can feel for Kr'sTnvinH. i T"' "^^ ^^^r children and
his sister's desKdThlt°ur oTtw'^* ^^^ ^"^ "-
appreciate dear Gloriana's annovance nf o ^?''T' and I can
pressed by the Marquis of thT Tank nnJ^-'^^"*^^ ^^^"^ ^^-
foreign nobleman, who has diJf ,'r.l • i J^ ^importance of a
proofs of admiration Ld respec ^"C'^ ^^^ ^^ «° ^^r^J
member that at present the Kt UnT"" ??"'* ^^^^ re-
quamtance, in short ; and of ronrl ^ ^ friend-an ac
more until we are all weras^ured of th^T.n.JTiT- ^" ^^^y'^^^
I have not a doubt of them '"said rin^ ""^^'^ assertions."
_ "Barbara had no doubt tSV^o?l^^-^T— ■
"lan; Almeria felt certain OnH^ T °""" .PP^'' was a gentle-
T.ppit waa a dentist. ^dCutts a er-outt:"?"""™'- ^"^ ^^^
(?«%, or Not GulUij. 125
o."ly chiUrou for I '.u7 ,'" ",T"'r'''''' ""^f '""' ""''• "l"" '
.i^torx of y„ur» an 7lau«tto"s of mit "IS ','!''«"/f>«™"3ful
know, very nmnd Yr.,? « / ^"° Count is, n.s voii
of a doubt of irvomcU^^^^^
Chateau Eoutfo i s a v Z ^ '?"°"''' ^"'^ ^^^o i^^ron do
fellow, and i'nnn 1 im I tEilfT; "'^^''^'' .^P^^n^^^cativo
"and I l^.h:;::;^JrS;^';i^-l^ ^j-^ount," said Glonana,
*' Where i« tlio M-in ,?. r T^'^^^ J^^''^ you a,-o about."
"Oh! ho and Arthur -o^^ ^l"r''"»a« suggestion.
Edith SheiHstetd g.^r^^^^^^^ 'Attendance oa
her like two slaves A.flinr /- ' r ^^'^T are waiting upon
"But yXv^'ni^Ko^ri"* ""«°^-" ^"-l M-. Croft.
insult to the Baron whr^Sf '""i^*" ^^ i^ an indirect
dour has said. The7e thev ^^^^Y^^^fi^^^ed all St. Venta-
meddling „,i3ehievousi&,g\t'^^^^^^^^^ "Roger, that
friend to his worst joke, and the T? ,.1 S"^ sacrifice his best
and the Marquis with his tnifo . \ ^'^^^^ "^^^^ ^^^ envy,
their stupid imnipTni of th? ito "" fu^?H^ '^ ^^^^^^ up with
avaihng himself of the onnortnJfwr' i ' J^^'' ''^^^^^ to be
her! How earnestly he bends 5ow^ t T' ' fe^ ^^^.^^^^^ >^ith
What a lovely, thorouelXpd ^,7? ^^ '• ^°^ «^« blushes!
the menare^all in lofe^th £ "a'?,^^^ ''} F« ^o wonde;
Gonzalvo-7.e never admits her [« ''^''^'^1 *^^ Count-^,y
poor face. The idea of h s not ^^^inlfif' ""^ ^^'^^^ ^""^ ^^ "^y
foi ^'j^-^ --to^-t'x^':;^"i^^^^^^^^^^ ii->- i
* " -"vious^Koger and the Marquis'areoFhim P' """"^
126
Ouilti/, or JVbt auiUi/.
fj
: !(
selves, their^p^t, tgir prS' theirTf ^T?^? '''5' "^ "'«'°-
of lore. Arthur has ViJ^AfiT^ r 'V,'"!®' *•■*"• "•'"'e world
Lorraine-Edia dauX^ of /'"'T'S '° P''°P°''« *<> Edith
daughter to the' EaZf Bookatoe T"'""\ ""i ^^^--i-
dependent, adontBfl_on!l „i i^ V How can he, the poor,
pandsonVA?or„e7crVa!k .r^^P^\"™" J"^^^
Bis fortunes, until he hlJ-L^A Jt" '"K''-''"™ EditT, to share
feeling of pridel^' ttse" Ss wto h^^s ittlt ';i'"'
Well does e3 th kno^X^^^^^^ ^""^"^l^? be shared with Sr.
the poor, littlt oarrotTTr*^^^^^^ ^°*^^^ «^^ i« «tiU
hood at Croft vX n w/.lf/i!T^*^ perpetual spinster-
actually to deceive LadvF«n?. ^f ^^s Croft had ventured
stantl/reiterateTas'jf LtbS^^^^^ ^^^ «be con-
was become almost as strong as the eener^tv n^^ Lorraine
of her age-that there was no lamenpT^^ft^ 7?'"''^.^^^'^^
parent. Ladv Hanf*.^iii^ i i ^^i^^^^^^ left, no deformity ap-
devoted^ nursings' thfunfttuftr^ ber own judicious and
brated Drs. Dulcimer LTTni?oKi#''"-^i .^^^ ^°<^ ^^^ cele-
lived, Edith mutTe a c« ^^'^ ^'''^'^ '^^'' '^'^ if «be
4n^dS:tl^,^^J'^l --Edith since she had con-
of her as Jiia l^fi ? i ^""^^^ ' ^^^ she always thought
cWed,'caX'^^^ bollow-cheekel poS
monstration woufd have m«IT' l"" v ""^^^l^^ but ocular de-
altered. "^^ "^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^eve that she was at all
and she thought to hersdf^«S?tW^^^ ^^'' ^^"^^^^^
me a portionless eirl fnl wV,« ^ T^' P^^baps, marry in
mother cJe^ Lf!i ^"^ ^^""^ nobody, not even her own
longt^rJS^^lfbt'Vand're^t'?^ day-which may to
hei?ess. And Xn V wTo P^^*' ^^"".^ ^^ ^^^^^ grandpapa's
least ideaof tharS he w!^ ''''''^ ^^-^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^« the
ignorance of it ;tV he foresresth^Fl^''^'^^^ *^««^ i"
wife, and he knows that such t^J; ^"^ one day to be Arthur's
posed bv mv JJIV— 14 _ - union would be violentlv on-
carroty, ^poTtioSJsTSip^"' As'^ri; \^ fi**l'«'
from a.y connection wftf tha^l^l^h^So^\Ti^
Chiilty, or Mt Guilty. 127
mamma knew that I am tall, straight, and by some pronounced
r^tf mTfrom^th^r^^^^^^^^ "^"^'^ «^^ woS?d"
rate me Irom the Crofts for ever, and try never to let me see
Arthur more ! In vain ! in vain ! T.vice\as he saved my Hfe
and solemnly have I voTved. sooner or later, to be his and to
devote to him that hfe which he risked his oWn to save."
CHAPTER XXIX.
" It is the blusli that galls, aud not the bruise,"
Tub Lady op Lyons.
SL^W]!h''''^t?°^'^ Croft, as the latter said, tacUed the
tact t W f ^^"^ ^"""f "' ^\ *^?y *^°"g^* ^ith consummate
VentadoiS! cross-questioned him about the Comte de St.
"What a charming person the Count is ! " said the Marquis,
rejhed"'''' '^^^' ^°^^^'^ ^'^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^ foreigne?,
" He is de best friend of me."
" What may be his age P "
l'?V-^ f 't^' ^"^^ ^ ^™ '^'■''^.V' ^00," said the Baron.
^^ Is his father dead ? " asked Roger Croft.
.. ^i^^.' ?^^ ^^ ^^"^^ ^^^ ^6 master of the Chateau."
(Jli ! he is master there ? "
1' J^l' J ^v^^ ^ J^®^^ ^™ *®1^ yo^ «0' and invite you dero."
Crof?t^LMTrfuis.'' "'^^' ^e in the air," whispered Roger
The quick ear of the Baron caught that whisper ; suddenlv he
anTwi*?r^.i^''''^^ ^?."^' ^""^^^d Roge?with one hJnd!
SnrTp. Z ^""^^ ^'^.^ resounding slap on the face
hv n^ f?^T ^o'lld recover himself, the Blron followed it up
by another slap, saying, m a voice hoarse with passion,
,vor,fT "" ""^ ^"^''"^ '^ ^ ^"«^1<^ to meself ! If you are a
gentleman, you require satisfaction, and I give it Vou "
Oh, hang your satisfaction ! " cried Roger, mad with raee •
and doubling his fists, he hit the Baron a^blow in the chTst
which sent hira to the ground.
wu'J! you refuse my cartel," said the Frenchman, foaming
with 1 age, I post you in every city and town of Europe as
one poltroon one dirty, lying, miserable poltroon ! " ^ '
T,i_J^.'' "^^"^'^ %^* ^im," said the Marquis, who had some Irish
^xuuu m HIS vems ; •• but see, there are people coming. The
duel cannot take place tiU to-morrow."
" Be my second, then," said Soger, who, though by no means
rarsurnetL"'^^^ ''f ^'l ^"^ ^^« ^ th/stat^i^ wS
rage supplies the place of valour.
128
Ouilti/, or JVbt Guilty.
Witli pleasure, said tlie Marquis, going up to the Baron
and askmg him the name and address of hi'^ second '
Ihe Baron named the Vicomte de la Valleo Noire, and
proposed that they should meet at the hour of six the next
morning. "o^u
fl. J V- ^^^,^T' '^^^'"^ ¥ ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ '-ill preliminaries with
the Vicomte, bowed to the Baron, and witi Eoger Croft left
the forest, m which they had been walking.
Roger Croft was full of deadly passions, but he was not
a brave man The Marquis, who was almost as anxTous for
the brilliant termination of this affair of honour as Sir Lucius
U 1 rigger was m a similar case, had great misgivings about
Roger, who looked deadly pale, and trembled violentfy. The
Marquis, fearing Mrs. Croft might suspect something was
Sf^r^r V '^'f " ^r^ ^^« "^ coLmplation andip!
prise the authorities, kept close to Roger, ^
" And tried to keep his spirits up
By pouring spirits down."
sister, but after he had seen the Vicomte, and settled all pre-
^^TT r *° Pl^^^' t.^me, and weapons, which were to^be
pistols, he took him a drive to a celebrated hotel, not far from
the spot where the duel was to take place, and ihere he plSd
vlw. ''^^"'P^^^^ ^"<^^^ ^^ actually became quite pot-
r.Ji^A ^^/i^,^f-^as excellent ; and a bowl of strong punch com-
£d .oW^^ w' ^^^"^P^S"? ^ad begun. Eoger fliS not goTo
ou?t.l.A ^^ was soon m the heavy sleep^f inebriety, and
^mu?^°^°"^°^*^^ approaching peril. ^
Vnl^ J^arq^is had written a note to Mrs. Croft, to say that
Roger and himself were going to dine and sleep out, in order
to jut ge of the merit of a certain celebrated vintac^e and that
IIh '"p "^ '^' ^^''^ ^^ ^^«- Wi^l^ some misgTv ngs as to
whether Roger's courage cotold be screwed up to the sticking?
place in the morning, the Marquis retired to bed. ^
Ihat morning came. The Marquis sprang from his bed
^dln the'tfe W- ^^n^J °^*" ^'^'''' ^°°-' *« get him up
ZJ^ A ^li ^^^'I^^^- It ^as some time before Roger could
be aroused to the full sense of what was expected of him ! He had
RP IT"^ headache, and felt very sick, gloomy, and irritabfe
SpnTnf f^""^ deal exasperated at the almost hilarious excite-
ment of the young Marquis, and, for the first time in his life
was sullen, gloomy, and almost snappish in his replies to his
lorvisiiip.
relnpfnil*^"" rather enjoyed his toady's ill-humour and evident
reluctance. The Marquis was himself-as almost all our Eng-
hsh aristocracy are-what Roger called " game to the bact
minaries with
'ger Croft left
Guilty, or Not Guilty. jOQ
^\lTil r?' '"^ ^d^ition to tlie resolute, unflinching courage of
the Enghshman, he had inherited from his beautiful Irish
mother and her ancestors a genuine delight in a fight of any
,CP,^% "''^?' ^"stl^'" ^e said; "I wouldn't for the world
tfc fi^^ frenchman should get the start of you, and be first on
the bel(L He s a regular scamp, no doubt ; but he's a plucky
dog, and I dare say he's a very good shot." ■
!l}^^^'f^^J^^S^^^^ scamp," said Eoger, stopping short as
^I do".?' t-^wP' *V?^^^2S.H".^' ^^^^« tyin^g^iif neclcio h;
1 don t thmk I ought to fight him."
JlS^l^"^^" s^y t^e Marquis, "we'venoproof of it; and he's
received everywhere here, and you've always met h m on an
equality and he's inflicted upon you an indignity which To
man of honour could put up with. Why, if he'd hit me in the
^Z ^ft \ confounded dirty hand, I should have fought
him there and then I'm afraid I should have killed him on
the spot ! I must have fought him at once ! "
.nl ^^^^T""" ^. ^""l *^°^^ «° • " said Eoger ; adding,
8oUo voce as the Marquis whistled and looked out of the wi£
dow, It I had fought him yesterday, it would have been all
over by this time, and I shouldn't hive had to fight him to-
In spite of the Marquis's impatience, Eoger Croft made a
very protracted toilet; and even when he wis obligedTo own
that he was ready, he returned to his room several times, on
one pretext or another. The Marquis was rather ashamed of
his man, as he walked with him to the ground. Eoc^er's knees
seemed to bend and shake, and almost to give wfy under hfm
The Marquis aff-ected not to perceive the evidence of what he
inwardly anathematised as dastardly cowardice, and very un-
S^''- ?.i?^"'^?r^^'"?.P°^t^°°"^^^^ from the old
snob his father. (The Marquis did old Croft great injustice
he had ten times the moral and physical pluck of his son.) *
.J.! ^^""a a^ ?vP°'J/°'' *^^ ^^^^ ^^^'^ ^evel space just out-
side a wood. As the Marquis, arm-in-arm with Eoger, almost
lugged the latter along, they heard footsteps behind them, and
Eoger, looking round, said,
" Stop ; we're followed ! Perhaps this matter has got wind •
this may— be some one sent— to put a stop to— it."
1 o^ 1 i''''' "".? ?tT'" ^""'^ *^'^ Marquis; "we're not in such
bad uck as that, I hope ! It's only a Mr. Hicksley, a young
Enghsh surgeon, who happened to be staving at tbo hof..! or,^
i tnouglit ifc might be just as well to have him with usTn case
ot need I daresay the Baron will bring some confounded
French Sawbone^s ; but I've no opinion of aly surgical pracdce
iWrT. fr^^i; ^^ ^^".^ ^ ^^"^* "^ "^^' I sl^okln't^like^o have
it extracted by any but an English surgeon."
K
130
Ouiltif, or JVot Giulty.
ment, save once when as a W tl S i f '"' ■*'?,?' """ "">•
compelSoTe; to e W "aAT^at «/ c„'? P'"^',; ^^
wine-glass and a half I A^2 X- ^^- ('' ™nta'ned about a
the gfoand • and the e ttey we^rataott imS' T ?"■' 'S
bytle Baron the Count, ari^tte TfcZ?e '"^"^^^y J<»"^d
to eKhTr pTZThll' ^"If ^•"^''nte stood opposite
■'--.y;'.*
^ •' ''&'
^ _ _ , . . c^uvc UJJ.O uiumeni; xia;Ci
stmng;r7pmn^ 0X0^ the^'tnfr'' ' i^'I'T suddenly a taU
batants,aDdc?id? wood, rushed between t£e com-
"Put up your pistols, and fly! The noliVfi xinli k« i,
"Oh! come," ho cried "w"o?.,!ri™'T'^™8myri8k.
there's time for an ^change o^ sh^'p"'"' '' '°° '«^' Purely
be tlroiWAytaP'^^^^^^^ "ifyoufire.it must
made this duflTn ^LTse for gttTng you\T %tl • ^ ^^^
riage round the corner— fly ! WeTJ]Zl h^ -^^l- '^.^. °^^-
are taken. Gentlemen " L Pvliof ^ 1 ^®. g"i"otmed if we
must be postponed the lilt.f Tn"^ ^^^'^^^ " *^s "meeting
HarkI hJkl HettSm^oSlg^^ fly'tTZ^t^^' «^^^^
J.^X?oirhetoor^^^^^^^^ -^ ?-^^^d ^n.
him there. The Count andlCyil'teH^^^^^^ %T''^
blmg in every Hmb follnwpri ni 1 ' . ^ P^^®' ^^^ ^rem-
went the whe.l«_n^p^^™V. .^.^^^ went the whip, round
quis, Roger Oro\ ^nS"^ thr^u;gS/"st:ni^^^^ "'^' ^"^S"
where, a few minutes later, they were sur?oZed hwl ^'T^'
and a mob in attendance on that body ^ ^^ ^''^''^'
f
'
3ger reel, stagger,
he did at that mo-
een obliged to sifc
uge back-tooth ex-
then was a mere
1 blood and palsied
to the roof of hia
^am before him.
in his pocket. He
contamed about a
Roger was got to
nmediately joined
nts stood opposite
had whispered to
ng his pistol, and
ike a man to-day,
the moment had
L suddenly a tall
etweeu the com-
!e will be here in
affair. If you do
i, and perhaps in-
ts been fired I"
i to imagine that
acurring anyrisk.
ioo bad ! Surely
3 to Roger; one
toltofire. Both
'you fire, it must
bo him, he whis-
[• track ! I have
There is a car-
guillotined if we
"this meeting
aed is at stake.
9y all I "
nd hurried him
age that awaited
pale, and trem-
lie whip, round
ipeed; the Mar-
on the ground,
d by the police,
1
Chiilty, or Not Guilty. 131
The Marquis tried to axjcount for their presence at the spot
and the pistol m Roger's hand, by saying they were practising
pistol-shootmg; but the police were not to be humbu£?ffe(£
They insisted on taking the whole party before the magistrate-
there, during a minute examination, it came out that it had
been discovered that four escaped galley-slaves, one of whom
was an Englishman, had been for some time playing the part
of fine gentlemen at Interlachen; that they were all gamblers
who had been sent to the galleys for cheating, and for conspir^
ing to murder a young nobleman whom they had fleeced, and
who had threatened to expose tliem. Their plan was, to mur-
der him, and make it appear that he had committed suicide.
Ihese wretches, then, were the aoi-disant Count, Yicomte and
Baron; and the Englishman— a dressy man, of gentlemanly
address, who called himself Captain Rutland Danvers— was the
fourth miscreant concerned in this base plot, and was a notori-
ous blackleg, who had been obliged to leave his own country
frc-n dread of the vengeance of a man whom he had cheated.
1 he Marquis, Roger, and Mr. Hicksley were dismissed with
a caution, after having been kept the whole bright summeir
day shut up in a small close office, reeking of onions and to-
bacco. This day Edith and Arthur had spent by the lake and
in the forest. A white day it was in Love's calendar.
When the truth was known to Mrs. Croft and Gloriana the
latter was in despair; for the soi-disant Count, who had been
bred to the stage, had completely captivated her fancy, and won
her affections. Tippit and Cutts became quite desirable ac-
quaintance in comparison with these three desperate villains
and escaped convicts.
Roger Croft, who had actually stood face to face with the
Baron, pistol in hanu, coasted largely of his prowess, save when
the Marquis was present; and Mrs. Croft was so ashamed of
her own weakness and imprudence in admitting those foreign
impostors to her house, and allowing them to associate with
her daughters, that She resolved on at once leaving the scene of
her folly and disgrace; and the Croft party set out on their
travels again the next week.
CHAPTER XXX.
"What is Love? If earthly only,
Like a meteor of the night,
Shining but to leave more lonely
Hearts that hailed its transient llpht.
But when calmi refined, and tender
Purified from passion's stain,
Like the moon in gentle splendour
Ruling o'er the peaceful main." Bernard BARTOW.
Mrs. Croft resolved to complete her continental tour by a win-
ter and spring in Paris. She had wrung from Mr. Croft a
K 2
182
Guilti/, or Mt Guilty.
P'^'tr^tZlXti^:^ that sHe
England, and (as he always safd in ^T^^ '''' ^^^ ^^*^ *«
which he sent to her^/'Ste wfoi^^^ ^^ -^^^^^ better
band, and her home - ^^"^'^"^ *° ^^^ ^^^^^^s, her hus-
no?^uch"clrw?afsL"r^^^^^^^ «^e did
was empowered fully to enfov the nl«^ /^*Y^' ^' ^^^^ ^« ^^^
having Lr own wa/w^sT'^s ud^^^^^^^^ ^T ^^^
she generally contrived to effpri Tf 2? v, .?? • -^^ ^^*® 5 and
blus|r," as f eggy Lobkin ha^t. '' '^'^'' '^^ ^^^mivation or
tbj, *4. s',1. pi^ ".sssS^'hS Cf Si"s
secured elegant aDartmpnf « . nr.A v. f^^^f ■'*irs. Croft had
the best sodety.S on Ws J^t^T' 7?*^ introductions to
old Earl of RocLlpfne and a Ipmw"^^*"" ' • f "^^*' ^y ^^^
coaxed out of old Croft with «r,?r ^'^^^P^^^^hle amount
HauteviUe, for Edith's boln.^^ increased stipend from Lord
pared fully to eSoy aU the varfed ^r*^^^^^^' ^^s. Croft pre-
"the City of DelK '' pleasures and amusements of
pletpeS'n'!';^^'^^^^^^^^^ ?,^^ ^ -!-' -^f-^^ -princi-
tall, tfiin, paleZd quiet ISd^ bef. * 'r"" ^^"^^^^^s- s£e was
passed muster very weli TspS^
fnvohties, their idleness vanif-D^ nt^^- -.■ ^^^^^ sensual
them to the necessity o?studvt;ifSf ^TP""}'^^' and roused
steadiness. ^ ^^^' self-demal, and some degree of
tiott^defy^lltLt^^^^^^ to resist tempta-
worthless and the Tdl^^-tW ^JiT^ *^^ ""y^'^e of the
of his ambition. WMhRoZ ™/^«t poaching the goal
la4t --iJS^Sr- #avr ret?:
Edith as his '^e""ms'^^Jti^^'' 'iTr^''^ *" " tome,' with
thur took the highest ho?Zj^»' °',^ ^""^^ '""^ ^^^d, if Ar-
promote. i. eve^XtTfpJ^^rS s^L^l^C^^S
Ouilty, or Not Ouiliy.
133
ndition that she
on her return to
up every letter
duties, her hus-
inciples ; she did
5, as long as she
r own way. The
of her life ; and
' insinivation or
iey visited Ger-
rt of the autumn
I finally took up
' Mrs. Croft had
ntroductions to
account, by the
derable amount
end from Lord
Mrs. Croft pre-
amusements of
rtful, unpriuci-
aers. She was
3nably dressed,
panied by two
ire the Psyche-
md large dark
iana.
ation; and the
set, were very
three of them
one expelled;
their sensual
a, and roused
)me degree of
fesist tempta-
dicule of the
hing the goal
mnant of the
ir to secure a
igh honours,
L. First Class!
a home, with
dsaid, if Ar-
n at the Bar,
n that noble
profession, place him as a pupil with a first-rate counsellor, and,
once called, use all his influence to get him briefs. As a soli-
citor, he could do a great deal himself in that way, and influence
many London attorneys to push the young barrister. In that
noble and progressive career, Arthur might, with his talent,
zeal, industry, and self-denial, rise to a great height, to which
even Lady Hautevillo must look up. And at that thought Ar-
thur's heart beat high ; for Edith was the prize for which ho
was contending.
Edith, on her side, had cultivated her own mind, and had
read and reflected, and studied, with a view of making herself
a helpmate worthy of a man of Arthur's intellect and know-
ledge. No vain, ridiculous thought of rivalry urged her on ;
she knew that the knowledge which is valuable in a man, would
be pedantic in a woman. She did not affect to study classics,
mathematics, philosophy, science ; but she tried hard to master
French, Italian, and German ; she endeavoured to become ac-
quainted with the best writers in her own language ; she wished
that Arthur might never have to blush for her ignorance of
history, geography, biography, poetry.
Edith was tne object of Arthur s deep, earnest, untiring
study, in his little college room. For her he consumed the
midnight lamp; for her he sacrificed his favourite exercise —
boating on the blue river ; for her he gave up the rosy morn-
ing, the sunny day, the dewy eve, the sweet moonlight, to hard
reading, stern, unflinching, earnest study. Her portrait smiled
on him as he read, a tress of her auburn hair warmed his heart,
a " sachet," given by her, perfumed his desk — everything spoke
of, breathed of, Edith.
And he was well repaid. It was for Arthur that Edith rose
betimes, and gave such energetic attention to the study of mo-
dern bnguages, that her masters marvelled at a pi'ogress of
which they never guessed the secret, and quoted her to their
other pupils as a model for their imitation. It was for Arthur
that she read so constantly, and tried so to remember what she
read. It was for Arthur that she threw her whole soul into
her drawing, her music, even her needlework ; for him (and in
the hope of fitting herself one day to keep his house, and to
spare him trouble) she perfected herself in arithmetic, and stu-
died book-keeping. Everything had reference to the acquire-
ment of that excellence which alone, as she thought, in the
sweet humility of her true love, could render her worthy to be
the companion of his life, the mistress of his home, the wife of
his bosom.
In proportion to Edith's indifference to the admiration of
any and every man but Arthur, was the interest and enthu-
siasm she excited wherever she appeared. She had not yet
been formally introduced, but Mrs. Croft took upon herself to
9 I
134(
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
r*
rianV« tI ^^^/,^ ^^^t^« Embassy, with her own and Glo-
S^ ;>,• ° ^^«^l^of tl"« was a- invitation to a ball. To
iS^f K °^^7 «t^«^ ^'^ll would have been a matter oflittle
aflnffnV.f''*^-S*^'lP^^*^^^^^^^ Edith looked forward with
Phlf ^ iT r^ ^'''^n' *^°^ ^^t^^^ ^a« to bo in Paris for Ws
bassv T.'w ''5^^r- • hY' ^°"^^ ^^^^^ hi« <^^rd at the Em!
c^aYpartnlrf ^ ^' ^""'^' *° ^^^ ^^"^ ^« ^^^^ ^^ ^er prS-
nf ^nL^""^"" !^° '?''"^^ ^*^'^^ °" *^° occasion became an obiect
ArtWs refin^^^^^^^^^ It worUd be so delightful to pSase
foiW of ffn f?^ ^ { -^^ surpass his expectations, to be the
olyect of woman's Hfe. The Empts^i'^r ^^^^^^^
the great Madame Eoget, was consulted. With the enth Wsm
■ ti:r"iih^T ^^^^^heart and soul into Exit's bT
Mth sh^l'slns^Ledf '^^ ""''• '''''' ^^^ ^^---' ^-* f-
bei'^'^nvit^ed'^ ^ T^^^^ -"^^^^^ "^'^ ^^ *^^ Embassy, had
oIk ^''^'t^,'^' ^ The Marquis, too, would bo at the English
ambassador's ball. The knowledge of this fact only made
frtn 'T?f ^""'"^^ ^''' *^^ fi^«t q^^drille to Arthur, and
cluShf' th/r'" ^'^^"^y *^^"^ ^^ P°««ible with him,Tn
Brovnt^ni fii ?P^''/^'''^' "^^^^^^ ^^^°g *oo exclusive/and
provoking ill-natured comments by their Arrangements.
to^ft.w f '/^""-u^T^ ^^ S°°^ *^^^- We^are not going
to attempt to describe them; suffice it to say that in Edith'!
Madame lloget had surpassed herself. Nothing in such exqui!
site taste so fairy-like, so aerial, so becominf, so cost^y^ so
P!r^ '° Th?t 7%^'' ^.%^i*, ^^^ ^-^^ b^«- «een ^ve^A n
ir-aris. I he perfection of Edith's rounded and yet sylnh-hke
S'a^efrhnt of'b'^ ' TIT ^''"^^ *« perfecIionS the
^r/^lnSf ^''- P^''^^* ^^'^ ^^^^ revealed, in spite of
T?^,-f^' T^ profusion of gossamer drapery and soft lace
Klupt^f f ""^'.r^*'' r^l^riV blush-rJses that eemed
just plucked from the tree, and which were spangled with dew
tresses ^]^i.w\"'^ ^if^ ^\^'^ ^^^""^ °f ^^^ abundant
triW,;^ S.-?r n' *^^ ^P^rl^li^g brunette, was in amber crape,
tXTatrifarondl""^ '"' P^"^^' ^"' ^^- ^'^^* ^ ^^^^
Fr^nrh^ wV^^ excitement caused among the demonstrative
if. I'.i: ^^7^^''*^":'^^ ^^^ la^iies, when the Croft party
:ften--i^ i^^o^« of the Embassy. The Marquis was inS
Rvron^ax.^-0 uu jj^cutn, alLiiough, being engaged to dance the
fi'f dance with Arthur, she llant on fis arm
f npTif,- ^t *^^*^"^« Y^s. twenty, taU, weU-grown, yery aria-
tocratio and gentlemanly in appearance, witf a fa^e o7^eat
Guilty, or Kot OxiUhj.
185
\ \
ler own and Glo-
1 to a ball. To
I matter of little
ed forward with
in Paris for his
card at the Em-
uld be her prin-
)ocanie an object
?htful to please
.tions, to be the
*aris is far more
)ilet is the great
ind dressmaker,
the enthusiasm
ito Edith's ball-
rloriana, but for
( Embassy, had
at the English
'act only made
to Arthur, and
with him, in-
exclusive, and
jements.
are not going
that in Edith's
in such exqui-
, so costly, so
I seen even in
yet sylph-Hke
iction, and the
ed, in spite of
and soft lace.
3s that seemed
gled with dew.
w, contrasting
her abundant
1 amber crape.
Croft in black
demonstrative
B Croft party
is was in close
. to dance the
wn, very aris-
face of great
irtelligence, and a smile of ineffable sweetness. His massive
brow denoted genius ; his large, deep-set, dark eyes were full
of thought. He was very pale, as all dccp-feeling and dccp-
thinking men are ; and, all self-made nobody as no was sup-
posed to be, and as he believed himself to be, there was not a
man in the room who looked more completely the hcau ideal of a
young English nobleman. And was this the adopted, dependent,
and perhaps illegitimate grandson of old Croft, the solicitor P
Arthur was dressed in quiet but good taste. The Marquis,
who was rather fond of finery and show (most fast men are),
had rather overdone it on this occasion.
Edith, who, during hex' abode on the Continent, had per-
fected herself in the art of which she had acquired the rudi-
ments from an Alnwick dancing-master, glided through the
mazes of the crowded dance with an ease and grace that de-
lighted even the Parisian connoisseurs, who crowded round
the quadrille to see la helle Anglaise. Gloriana got plenty of
partners, and was very much admired, but Edith was the
recognised queen and undisputed belle of that splendid ball.
The Marquis was more in love with her than ever. Most men
find their admiration increased in proportion as the object
of it is followed and worshipped by others. He could not
often obtain Edith's hand, but he could hover near, and carry
her shawl, her fan, her bouquet, her smelling-bottle. He could
watch her every movement, and parade his admiration, his
idolatry^. Not so Arthur. His object was to conceal as much
as possible the deep, deep love of his heart. To him Edith
was as lovely and as dear in her simple white muslin or pink
gingham as in all the aerial brilliancy of her ball dress. He
felt dejected, disheartened, and depressed.
Edith, in her pearls, her gossamer, her laces, her blush-
roses, and gazed or glanced at with half-tender adoration by
the elite of Paris, seemed much further removed above the
reach of his love than Edith in her morning dress and brown
straw hat, roaming through the forest glades, sitting by the
lake, and climbing the wild mountains. Poor Arthur ! he could
almost have wept at the thoughts that thronged his mind. At
one moment he said to himself, " This brilliant, high-born
beauty can never be my wife ; the queen of such a scene as this
can never love a nobody like me ! I have deceived myself—
she has deceived herself. I see now the wide distance between
And when a timid glance of eloquent and unmistakable
us
love stole suddenly from under Edith's long auburn lashes,
and, with a smile of tenderness unutterable, sne tried furtively
to dispel his gloom, his thoughts, not less torturing, took this
form : — " Even if she would resign all for my sake, ought I to
accept — ought I to permit such a sacrifice P Does she, in her
sweet ignorance of the world, her sublime humility and self-
I
130
Onlltif, or Not Ouilty,
abnegation -doo3 sho undorstand the full extent ofthe sacri-
fices she must make in order to bo true to moP Ought I
to allow her to unite her fortunes to one worse than fowlv
yers7f toil1n,n '"'Ji ""^ ^-^^^^ «^— cannorin lon^
Wrs that ^T? '' ^^^V^^'^^on anyone of these titled ad-
^np? T^ni vT ^«\"'t"^g ^^cr notice, could offer her ut
once ? I feel as if I ought to sacrifice my very bein- to her
fli „ ' 1 ^^ ^.^ ''^ valuable as so great a love as mine P I
foci a sad presentiment of some comTng evil settling hlo a
nigh mare on my heart, and the dark shadows of some comLe
events clouding the sunshiro of mv soul." coming
With a slow step and a mournful smile Arthur at th\^
moment approached Edith. A dance for whi^ she was e^'
gaged to him, was about to commence He made hTs w^v
to the spot where Edith sat with Mrs. Croft ^nd 010^2^
surrounded by Admirers, who had been introduced to her and
were imploring the honour of this polka or tharwalt/ 'So
Marquis was close b^, waiting upon Edith, an ice iVi his hand
whicli. with great difficulty, he had obtained from the reS
ment-room, and had almost persuaded Edith to take when
Arthur's arrival to claim her hand decided her upon rkiTsW
It. What a tyrant this Love is ! The Marqui. was a n oud
man, but once under Cupid's sway he was a slave and Edith
enchanted to be rid of him. and^all those (to her) wearS
admirers, blushed with dehght at Arthur's approach, roTe^^h
alacrity, and placed her frank young hand in His with a tender
mW^r r^ '°"^^,f 5^°^^°^ ^' which the'£rql*'grtw
pale and gloomy and all the others red and angry. ^ ^
Edith tried aU she could, by a thousand Tittle wiles and
devices which Love soon imparts to womankind, to wi^ Art W
from the dejection and anxiety which she read on hi^eloqueS
face. He smiled m answe^- to her gentle raiUery, but it was
Gleaming like moonlight o'er some lonel^lsle.
L rrht ng Its ruins ; and it seem'd to say '
That neath that smile the heart's cold ruins lay "
By this time the salons were full. The grandees of aU nations
who generally arrive very late and depart very early; were now
exchanging graceful bows and curtsi es, compfiment^' Tnd small
CHAPTER XXXI.
" 2iu' *'^?^® ^^^ partings such as rend
The life from out young hearts ; foi- who can guess
If ever more shall meet those mutual eyes. "•'*"'"*''
fclnco upon dawn so sweet, auoh awf.ii mnrn «<,« ^t-« •>•. t.
ilAS your ladyship seen the new EngUsh belle?" said a
foreign Duke, in Trench, to a lady, passee, blonde, and with
some remains of beauty, who, with a handsome, beautiSly
■A
Guiltt/, or Not Ouiltij,
137
dressed daughter on her arm, and a diplomatio, pale, stem-
looking husband by hor sido, had just arrived nt the ball.
" No ; I have seen nothing very beautiful, or very new,"
languidly replied the lady. ** What is her name ? "
"Ah! that I cannot tell you," said the Duke ; " but if your
laCyship will accept my arm, I can lead yon to the quadiillo
where she is dancing ; and I think you will own that a moro
lovely creature never came even from the Isle of Beauty."
" And is this miracle of loveliness well-dressed ? "
" Exciuisitely ! Nothing in the room approaches her in this re-
spect, your ladyship and your fair daughter of course excepted."
" And how does she dance ? "
" Admirably ! — with an case, a grace, and a hghtncss quite
inexpressible."
Her ladyship's curiosity was excited. She had hoped and
expected that her own daughter would have been the belle of
that ball ; and as she was a remarkably handsome girl, a very
fine dancer, and tastefully set off, perhaps, had Edith not been
present, she might have carried off the palm for beauty and grace.
The crowd, which had closed round the quadrille to see
Edith, made way for the Duke (himself an ambassador), and
for the lady on his arm, and the young belle on hers ; the sttrn,
diplomatic husband was close beside them. Edith at that
moment was gracefully advancing alone in VEte to meet
Arthur. A sofb blush mantled her fair cheek as she raised
to his, eyes full of the light of love.
" She is indeed a beautiful person ! " said the lady. " For
once, Duke, my expectations are surpassed. Who is that
elegant young man with whom she is dancing? and, above
all, who is the lovely creature herself? I have a fancy I have
seen that sweet face before, but I cannot rem.ember where."
" I will go and inquire of our noble hostess," said the Duke.
Presently he returned.
" The name of In belle Anglaise," he said, " is Miss Edith
Lorraine ; and she is here with a Mrs. Croft, and that lady's
son and daughter. The son is that young man whom your
ladyship admired just now; the daughter is that pretty,
sprightly little brunette in amber crape, with the wreath of
yellow roses in her black hair. See ! she is now halanccing
to her partner, the young Marquis of Dunstanburgh. But
what ails your ladyship P Are you not well ? "
The Duke might well ask that question, for Lady Hauteville
(the reader has probably suspected that it was she), yes. Lady
Hauteville, Edith's mother, has seen her child for the first
time for many a long year! The Httle, wan, moon-eyed,
carroty cripple, whom she so heartlessly sent from her, now
dances gracefully before her, in face and form the loveliest
creature she had ever beheld
i
138
Chiilty, or Not Ouilty.
IS.
has
"Yos."
BTo™ into S';„c™L!u*mJ of'p^rV."' """""^ '"•""» >-
Indocd t Then ifa high timo wo had her home "
son " "'°'' ''''° '' "^""""g '^"'' EditU is old Croft's grand-
Old Croft s grandson mi..« be a snob," said Lady HautoyiUe
With her. but reqnSg Mrs GvT'^MxZV'' ff ^^^^^s,
id not kno« he had not even guessed-who tto Sd, fesU^!
388 to hor
rm of hor
itiful girl
3 charm a.
ppio haa
n 1— that
well. T
8 grand-
man ho
Ah I no
utoville.
*
the arm
th Mrs.
aux and
Croft's
Lady
lom sho
9 hands ^
he way
ition of
ng her
en sent
' heart,
b could
mce to
to the
3 heart
g Mrs.
Haute-
ice."
nother
Lrthur
I with
,^4.1 —
Poor
. He
shion'
Chiilty, or Not Ouiltt/, 180
able, scornful lady was, who had watched Edith and himself so
narrowly during the last (jnadrillo. AIuh ! his worst anticipa-
tions are more than equalled. They are to part— to j)art at
once— that very night, never to meet on an equality again 1
Ho IS so agitated, he can scarcely control his emotion ; and her
tears will drop amid the flowers of her bouquet.
The danco over, while every other pair hastens to the supper-
room, Arthur leads Edith into a deserted alcove full of flowers;
and there the pale and hapless lovers exchange vows of eternal
constancy and deathless love; and one parting kiss seals those
vows. 1 hoy were slowly leaving that alcove, when the Marquis
of Dunstanburgh appeared.
" I am sent by Lady Hautovillo to conduct you to her side at
the supper table," he said.
"My partner is escorting mo thither," said Edith, proudly,
clmging to Arthur's arm.
Both felt that it was the last time, for a long, dreary, in-
definite period, that she would lean on that manly arm, and
look up into that dear face, or ho press that httlo taper hand
to his side and gaze into hor glorious eyes.
Oh 1 what pangs w^' < m i serve for Edith, when her mother,
who had kept a pla( ,or her and for the Marquis at the supper-
table, with a huurrhty bow dismissed Arthur. The evening,
begun in Love and Hope, ended in darkness and despair !
Edith, in spite of her mother's sneering surprise and anger,
sought out Mrs. Croft, to take an affectionate leave of her and
Gloriana; ami holding out her hand to Arthur, with i', courage
for which wo honour her, asked him to put on her opera cloak,
aad to hand her to the carriage. This was all she could do
to show her preference, her constancy, her resolve ; and the
thought of this comforted Arthur during many a long, sleep-
less night.
The Dawn of Love was overcast ! Lady Hanteville left Paris
suddenly— no one knew why; and Edith and Arthur were
parted.
The secret of Lady Hauteville's sudden departure was not
known in Paris for some time, but we have no wish to keep
our dear reader in the dark, and, therefore, we will at once own
that it was caused by a letter from a friend in the North, which
announced that the Earl of Rockalpine had had an attack of a
kind very closely resembling a lit.
Lady Hauteville did not communicate to Edith the tidings
she had received, else she would have discovered a fact of which
she had no idea ; namely, that Edith was deeply and affection-
ately allached to her grandfather. But no details of her child's
outer or inner life, during her abode with the Crofts, were
known to Lady Hauteville.
There had been a time, much as her Ladyship affected to
140
Quilfy, or JSTot Chciltij.
great man and a miT]iraire t nrL^ f 4:y«i«<^rong became a
forgetfulness and an eSe ouS ^^^^^ pretended a total
whenfirst she niet wSrf&at &T -^
been so proud. WhenfirsfMrV n J* /^ockalpme, the latter had
shin's niind tha they had atten^^^^^ ^ "'"^ *°- ^'^ ^^^^-
d^X^d^p tn.r:t^s-s-i
I associated." ""^^^"^^^^^^^g ^ere so very particular with whom
ma^rtharLlSfn^^^^^^ *«, ^f-^^ from this re-
their associatioi and shl hid w'''"'^ °^ ^^ ^^^y ^^^^ ^^^
all reference to tLt Past ,.ni >,• t"°?g^to avoid, in future,
Idl?nd^^dtar?e^^^^^^^ *° "- <^aughter.,
her to England, the eSZ thHlT •''i ^'^"^ *° accompany
their tempers and chSers t1 -Pl' "^^^ ^' ^^^^^^^ as
coldness and impasStv ^n/ ' "^""^^ thorough-bred in her
place was to he^mucffi^fr^f^ "^ ""T.^^^' ^° objection; one
was surrounded bTthesame'Kier?h^/'' '^^ '" ^""^ ^« «^«
mattered not to her whether sWnt' t^ ^T^ amusements, it
self, self!-hke so minv of f>.o J^^ m London or Paris. Self,
• and Ambition, she haTno ofwt^"? *t-' °^ ^^'^^°"' ^^^^^7
if she cared for anVbody but LS^^^^ ""^^ consideration
Brian. '^njooay but herself, it was for her brother
Kf 7^-of {i,is£ fc= -« *o°
Lady autevml'°""i^TtC^™'''^ ^f"'''"'"'' ^^^'^d
wish is that you shoSd 'J n„^ ^°"' "y '°™- My great
forget the exiScfo°f1ho.tpei'^ ^°" convonientVoan,
?org|GlS XZlfS-f forget -iI^^^doft'^.-
Well, If you ca^ot forget those exquisite specimens of ion
lost on an
became a
led a total
. of which,
latter had
iier Lady-
ig-school,
stmas, in
lying,
3u allude,
Bver per-
Both Sir
th whom
this re-
days and
n future,
to build
ughters,
!ompany
ferent as
d in her
on; one
g as she
rients, it
s. Self,
Vanity,
3ration ;
brother
i was as
3ing so
oft's, to
meered
r great
ly can,
r eyes,
se who
as the
i halt-
For-
oft?—
of hon
Guilty, or JVot Guilty. 141
f^' ^.""fi? .^^^^'r'^g^and fashion, at any rate, I hope you will
forget that ugly, pallid, low-bred young man. old Croft's^grand-
son. I really dont know his name— I doubt if he have one
1 remember hearing something to that effect, which, as I have
po supreme a contempt for the whole Croft family, has quite
escaped my memory; but I do remember all sorts of unpleasant
stories about that young man's mother, old Croft's daughter—
foolishly educated and introduced as a lady. I believe she went
wrong, and that m reality the young upstart has no name!
But whether he have or not, pray banish him from four
memory, Edith, even if the lovely Mrs. Croft is to be for ever
enshrined there ! Vulgar women are bad enough ; but a snob-
bish young man— oh ! the idea of such a creature quite over-
powers me ! My Ida, hand me your vinaigrette. When I think
of that young upstart, I fancy I smell cigars, and onions and
garlic and cheese and red herrings and beer, and all the hor-
rible things such creatures delight in ! "
"Arthur is no snob, mamma!" passionately exclaimed Edith,
witu a flood of tears. Arthur never smokes, never drinks
never touches onions or garlick, or cheese or red herrings • he
IS the scul of refinement—the quintessence of intellect— the
pride and g orjr of his coUege and his tutors. Twice has he saved
my life at the imminent peril of his own! He is the noblest,
bravest, most gifted, and best of men— the most refined and
well-bred of gentlemen; whatever his parentage may be, Arthur
IS one of Nature's noblemen ! And he is so virtuous, so good,
and speaks so tenderly of his mother, that I, for one, can never
believe that she was aught but the angel of goodness and purity
he believes her to have been. Do not be angry, mamma, when
1 say that I never, never can forget what he is, and what I owe
him!"
"You will find you both must and can forget all about such a
person ! said Lady Hauteville, as, reclining in an easy chair, she
gazed at Edith's agitated features and manner with a cool mock-
ery which Ida's handsome young face reflected in a softer sneer.
My Ida," continued Lady Hauteville, " Edith shall take a
part m Lady Bessborough's private theatricals. I'm sure she'll
make a great hit in high tragedy."
4.1.-'} T^^^ ^^^ ®^® ^^^" ^°°^^y replied fair Ida, "only I don't
think Lady Laura will resign in her favour."
"Then we'll have a performance at our own house," said Lady
Hauteville ; " I'm resolved Edith shall play Belvidera and Mrs.
Holler.
" You will not really refuse to let me wish Mrs. Croft and her
family good-bye, mamma? " sobbed Edith.
..TM-'^"^/^®^/^-'-- "^^^*^ ^^ ^°' °^y ^°^®'" ^^^^ '^^^y Hauteville.
Mrs. Croft is a very vulgar person; she is, besides, a very
142
Ouilti/, or Not Guilty,
"f Si kefpi'fmt t!^^^^^^^^^^^^ f ^ ^- -*^d ve^ unfairly to
appearancL&STnZ'f^"''" recovery, the entire 5is-
gular change thai has taken n^nn!f7v,°' ^T ^^^'^' ^^^ the sin-
complexion Yes' sheh.;?ilf ^ "" *?^ colour of your hair and
by nil. in thus d^oLt ™^ and
with her odious self, afc? W nrre^d^^^^^^
and never will, for^ivp hpn o«^ t% i • j ^^"^LLJ- 1 never can,
my serious displSre eT;.^^ ^"'I-'^ ^?"' ^^^^^h' «" Pain of
my presence! ^I am a^'.trif''*^'^'' ?" ^^"^^ «f ^^^ in
Georgina-as vou Zldn w!n T ""PP/v^l^'Wointed mother.
with^a soi S'?'Co^uS\hoL I - • ^tf ^''' not-eloped
better than an Italian L^^ff '^^'I'^T ^^^^^^^ to be nothing
not hve, and who I beW^ ^•^'^?*'^ ^*^ ^^o«i «he could
Lady Richlles haL,t h^^^^^^^ ^^^' ^«g-«ta.
enter on your fourth ^Pnl? • ^,^^ "^^^ ^ou, Ida, wiU
who mig^tTtone to ^^^^' T""™"^' ^°^ "°^ ^o"' Mth,
half-broken hea?t an,i dfsannoir^ ^^T^'^' ^^^ ^^^^o^* W
young Marquis of Dunst^^^^^^ ^^M^^^on (for thi
yond meas^e)-you aSw^pf,, ^^^^^% admires you be-
I made in parti/g^th v^^/ vn^^^ *.° ""^1^^*^^ *^^ ««^rifice
could wish, I o^ l^arr^TjAl ""^V™ *° nie, I say. all I
abject atta^hmer to tKebSl r^T' ^^^ ^"J! "^ *^^ "^^st
fortunatelyplaced vou L?fni? (^?^'^^ '^ ^^^^^ I so un-
I refuse to ^^t ^ouTeep un an^i?^^^ ^T t^^^ ^^^ because
fashion ought t JbUh t^o Zn i^^J^iacy which any woman of
resolute, and when I sav 7^n^•mp? ^^^S^^^ ^i ^ ^^' ^ ^^^ very
packs up your thincrs%ou' iw<? '*' *?^^^fo^e, while Lisette
company li^e to SmeTo.?//. Vf ^ ^T' ^^^^' «M a^.
We must aU give SsiveTi ' ? ^^^re's, and to Laure's. '
great ar^^«^efsee you Mth ^^^^^ and if those
plexion,and%ure,iheVlSlkno^^ ^"""^ ^^^' ^^^^'Com-
mg, what among the nYwTshdonTJn!^^^^ •^'"^ °^,5 of mourn-
"Out of moSrninrmarZf?'' •?*!??• "^S^U suit you."
-fgn.. "why shouTdwTg'o?^^^^^ ^ni^ Jp*^/ "^^ ^^^ «*^
ing h:?se'lf:"^^^raCS^?t1tt t^^k'^""''' --^-«-
in;j tsfdr'^i^sSS^^^^^^^^^^ —
nage is waiting; and now wfiio t i' , ^*^' ^^^ *^e car-
you put on your bonnet^'n^^ Fi"" ^""^ ^^*^^ ^7 attire, do
feditf," said^LaSy Hautevme ^CcHlv T^'* ^^^ Jour ;eil,
after me, and can ween wftl^.. ^r,^^^_'i. P^^^X^^^^ Jon take
red. That is what no plebeiaii'ra/iir W- ^"^ "'•^^^ ^^^^^ng
x^uay nauteviUe try to deceive herself Is weU as lier
unfairly to
entire dis-
md the sin-
iir hair and
bj^youand
n intimacy
never can,
on pain of
'f Croft in
d mother.
3t — eloped
•e nothing
she could
Augusta,
, Ida, will
3U, Edith,
nafort my
n (for the
I you be-
! sacrifice
say, all I
the most
I so un-
i because
ivoman of
am very
e Lisette
shall ac-
Laure's.
I if those
air, com-
fmoum-
ait you."
pv^as still
nember-
moum-
hitherto
the car-
btire, do
>ur veil,
3u take
getting
ity that
>»
as Iier
Chiilty, or Not Quilty.
if
143
both her grandmotCs had bee^^ maMs^fT"''!"' "^^ ^^'^^
youth .f' "'^®" maids-of-all-work in their
lines of aifectionate fare^ to Mr/rTnT''''*/n^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^
note to him whom sheTsnitP .fi, * and Gloriana, and a
cognised as the affianced bver of L/-"^^^^ ^on^^^V^, re-
husband. She poured ouTw, ^T^^' """^^ ^^^ destined
following words f- ^^"^ ^^"^^ ^^^^^^ to Arthur in the
"Arthur! dear Arthur! my first anri nr,i,, i ,
par ; and I 1 ^ow not ^henCwLrfwe iL r ' T ^'." ^°°°^«^ *<>
made or- v arts and filled them so Jl ,ft ""'^T^"'' He who
closely f,,.:,r, will, doubtlessTS Hi/^ln i'^** '^'"''^•* ^^'^^ ««
move ( :' ^..:,iers to our union ! Jnfi,«° good time, my Arthur, re-
doubts of your Edith's truTh Ld fa th ^ ^ ^^''^ ^"'«' ^«* "°
mmd ; be sm-e while she lives she S Z *'°°«*'^°y' disturb your
twice saved she will yet devote to vo«/ ^''^ ''^^'^«- ^^^^ "^ you
noonday she will pray^or her un on^mU fou T^' I'^^r^' ^'^'^ ^^
invoke heaven at the same time. theSouffi'nfl fr'-n"" ^"^"«^ °°«.
I b ArdtTl Z ir^^^^^^^^^ ~d for so Ion, ago.
Oh 1 Arthur ! usee as I J^l\^l hriahtoZ^ ^°°^'* ^'^^'"^ ''' ^y breaf t !
mth aU its thousand delSateKtSltsanf ^ *^''"'' ^''P' *^^ ^°^^'
cold, how lone, how desolate I sSlfLTi?hT^'°^*^^
This note Edith contrived to send with ih.^- u- ^^''''^°-"
mitten to Mrs. Croft by a norter nf Ti w *i '^^l'^^ «^® ^^d
arrived at the Place N^nd6m/t«f i? ^""^^l ^^^^ betters
been detained in Engird s^re"'r^«in'.A°^^ ^r?' ^^^ had
Mrs. Croft's lodgings ' ^^""'^ ^'^ ^"' ^ove up to
Hefo^nTtLf Sffii^^^^^^^^^ bounds when
In spite of Mrs. Croft's descriDtSHf /^"^ *"', mother's care,
and Wteur of Lady Haute^S 11 ^^Idness,
sador's ball, Roger Croft arsoona^^^^^^
and domied a recheXhSr^lZ^Ztul'^ *^^'^^ ™"^ bath,
the Hotel du Louvre to se^E^dith «^ ' ''T^''^^ ^^ hasten to
favourable impression on Lady SCne'^^'"^""' *" "^^^^ ^
, , Ludicrously overdressed. Jlitt^rltTiSlv. .•._ „
I glossy, and the quintessence of ^vAor.oVr"^'^''^'''"?.^' scented,
•I called at the H6tel du Lou4e ^ust ns £^ *^'*^' S^^^^ ^^oft
■ handing Ida Hauteyiiie TnTofearrintp 7:?''°^ Marquis was
which was to convey the Ha^uVXp^^ t^olS sT^Sl^irf^h
144
Oinlty, or Not Guilty,
^i^p^^ at;:^^ '^ -^- ^^e carnage.
shipiVoSraifh^; ^Sr^utf ^ 'r ^.- ^«- ^^'^y-
do you do. Lord Haitevfu; and "^^"^jj^jf ^"^ I^^g^r. "How
do ?» and he familiarly offLd to^Zvl^^'^"^. ^^^ Jou-how
Edith, her heart fulfofSur nf f >f ^v.^""^' "S*^ ^^^t^'
associations, never dreai^nf vAf -^^ u^PP^ ^^^^ ^nd its-old
Hauteville, who,for so^« .f f''"'"" ^^^ *^and; and Lord
affected gvelt Xint^TJ''''^^ reasons of his own, alwava
kindly ^klt Zf %o%:^s7arf:S\1 f '.'''''' ^^^Y'
scarcly deigning to i^coLSeft 'i.^""^ ^""^^ Hautevilli
Edith toremove at once??Zoffe/^-^'^/°^^^d^^' ordered
angrily saying, "HauSe^we sM mK T"^g^' ^«d
to her footman to tell the Ilchmar?o ^- ^""^'^^
took a cordial leave of the young Mara ui^fTf T' ®¥ *^^^
^t* rei;oi;. at Eockalpine, my deaf lord ??!' "^^T ^^^ ^^id
and, with a very cold, distant S ^ ' ?^® ^?°"®^ *^e better ;"
reddenmg to tL roots of Ms close Wo3^'l'^ ^°^^^' ^^°.
tat, and the HauteviUe nartv drml /«• ^P"^ ^^'^' raised his
that Edith, in spite of Sr«!L°^,™
waved her hand to him ^ ^^^t^viUe, bowed her head an!
accip^n'rrtTckrov^^^^^^^^
m the street), and a haT wIft'h^Tn?vrK?^"' ^°"^^ tad failed
were ao^ain in motion, a youn^ ZJr.-^^ 'r^^*' ^^^^^^ ^W
near. It liis approach EdfficdZ;^^. ? If'P ^^™e, dre^
the word " Arthur ! " burst from her^in^ ? *"" ^^ ^f ^^ ^^^P^es ;
unconsciously to herself, and Tuncon ?nt T ^^^ ^"^^*' ^^^^o^t
hand. Arthur stopped raised hi oT^^ ^^^ extended her
so full of genius an^d C f blus^nr^^^'^- ^^^^^ ^^^^ orbs!
mantled his pale cheek and tltf ""^ ^^^P^se and pleasure
Edith-s extended hand ' ^ ""'^^ ^"^"^^^^ cordiality^he to^k
4rtf ptVs?;!^^^^^^^ scru.
iseS Edith. Lord Hautevi b on the tl/'^*^"^ ^"* ^^^ idol-
sudden apparition of that noWeface thnW S^^S^*^^^ ^* the
If a ghost had stood before him A «t^o t^"' «^ender form, as
a deadly pallor stole over his f^ce tsh^arT.'^''*"^*"^ ^^« ^row.
He leant back in the carriage and Jn^JiF^''^ "^^^ ^* ^^^ ^^art
travelled in a moment badf ov^r a d ' / ^^^'' ^°^ ^« ^^^d
years-a ghost-haunted spLe» ^ '^^"^ ^^ twenty-four
ne^^K^^^^^ (with the distinct-
— 7 ---^^ «^ Lxiu youtn now before him f«"o~ui "V."fe^' ^"dianc
and who, for twpnt^.ft.,,. ^„ "° , iiim, to a bleeding corpse ;
inmate " '
, .v,x twenty-io
family vault at Rockalpi:
^ue-sent thither, by wJwmT
the
c the carriage,
see your lady-
uoger. "How
are you — how
h Edith.
•'St and its. old
I; and Lord
own, always
Oroft family,
'' Hauteville,
der, ordered
carriage, and
I," whispered
I- She then
lom she said
the better ;"
Koger, who,
^ raised his
even seeing
3r head and
owing to an
e had fallen
Before they
Jverie, drew
ry temples ;
eart, almost
rtended her
'■ dark orbs,
d pleasure
ity he took
linful scru-
ut his idol-
'ted at the
3r form, as
I his brow,
; his heart.
1 his mind
renty.four
e distinct-
oment, in
g, X uuiant
g corpse ;
•te of the
Ouilty, or Not
Ouilty.
145
^^i^'^^o^t^^^^^ and spok^to
and the whole dreadful Pa^rX^^ *^^ ^esh. befor^W
^^.^ ^^S^ tt hT- ^^h^~
and I^adyHautevilfe ™,cd2r.r°^r'^^^^^"- was gone
for condescending toIK t^^^*^^ P^^^ ^^^^ T^Png Mth
i^roft family. ° '^^ "^^^^s with a member of the low
CHAPTER XXXII.
"XmTyKi^^raSt thou rend in .under
On the arrival nf .i, T ^'"^"^^^ '"^'^^ ^^
revea1:d7r^l^^^^^^^^^^ London, the sad truth was
House announcing that the farl^f^P^ f f ^'^'^^^ HauteX
This telegram was sent W Mr p i^^^^^P^^^ was m
only that the Earl was dvin-l w 9[°^-- and it announced Tof'
can the Earl want to s^^^^^ ^tP'""^'^ ''^ ^^^^'^ ^^at
him] "'sobbeTEdiJh '''" nt'^^' ^^^ ^ ^"^ «« very, very fond of
cal, eccentric Sne a! |ou arS?;"''^"'''^^ ™=t a nervous, hyster"
vjn, mamma, I »}M?<jy r,/^f t
m her grief anH A..^.:"^^ .^^^J'^}^ •'_ and she fell on her kne^s
;« i: •"'^''."- ■L'o take me with rrrs.-, t" 7 , " ^^^^^ nis eyes ' "
m her grief and despair^ b^fcT^^ tt^"^ '^« ^^" on her kne;s
fou?LT> ^<^.\-U t'mbi: an%^^ «% «aid, "S
%fffigrhel tro^t'^ ^ SlUll/wl?.-^ ^^^^^^^^^ ^-
inr?. hnr.,-^^ ^" T^^ ^.^^ on her mothfir's ^>.«.„„ . _„ ,
~-ac«. we luust set off at nn7«" lu '■''" ^'^'*" go with ua
the express starts in ^" hour from r^™?-^ is at th^ door'
only be just in time." ""^^^ ^"°^ ^^^ston .' ..uare-we shall
■■"" i
146
Q^uilty, or ITot Ouiliy.
VA
in tears and prayers. Lady Hauteville's shallow head and hard
heart were full of exultation at the thought that at length she
should be a Countess, that the ancient coronet of Eockalpino
would grace her brow, that she should wear it in the House of
Lords, and take precedence of Lady this and that — and, above
all, of her own daughter, Lady Kichlands (as the Earldom of
Rockalpine was an older one than that of Richlands). She
would fain have talked on the subjects next her heart, but
Edith could not, and Lord Hauteville would not, listen to her
frivolous vanities, in the solemn presence of approaching Death.
Lord Hauteville's mind was full of anguish, and his breast of
a vague dread, an ever-haimting horror. The thought of him,
the brother who, but for his crime, ought to have inherited the
title and estates about to be his own, rose on his mind as he
looked from the window of the ^-ailway carriage into the gloomy
distance ; that brother's eyes seemed t ^ him to gaze at him
from the clouds — that brother's voice to whisper in the wind !
Then came the thought of his father's funeral, and of the open-
ing of that dread vault, closed for four-and-twenty y ?ars, and
which he must bear to see re-opened ! In fancy he sees his
brother's coffin ! Oh, what groans escape, as from his very
heart ! and how Lady Hauteville sneers as they catch her ear,
inwardly exclaiming. " Is he a fool or a hypocrite P It is impos-
sible he can really mourn for the old man, who has kept nim
for twenty years out of his title and estates, and who, by
all the laws of Natui-c, ought to have been dead and buried
long ago ! "
The Earl still breathed when Lord Hauteville and Edith ap-
proached his bed-side. Edith, overcome with grief, sank on
her knees beside the bed, took the lean, withered, old hand in
hers, and covered it with her kisses and her tears. " Like a
languishing lamp that just flashes to die," the Earl's eyes
brightened for a moment, a smile stole over his face ; he opened
his arms, Edith threw herself into them.
" Good-bye — a long good-bye, my blessed little one," said the
old man. " I am going, my lamb, and, thanks to you, I go to
the Good Shepherd. Here is my Bible. You taught the old
world-stained miser to love hip Bible, see if I have not studied
it well. You will find a list of my pensioners ; let them not
miss me, my child. You first taught me to care for others.
All I have is yours."
Here Lord Hauteville started, came forward and said,
" How are vou, father P "
He could tnink of nothing else to say.
" Good-bye, Hauteville, I wish you well," said the Earl ; and
then, kissing Edith tenderly, he said, " Pray for me, little one,
for my time is come."
1
and hard
ength she
ockalpino
House of
nd, above
arldom of
ds). She
leart, but
en to her
ng Death.
breast of
it of him,
srited the
ind as he
le gloomy
56 at him
}he wind !
the open-
1 Bars, and
3 sees his
his very
ti her ear,
is impos-
kept him
who, by
ad buried
*
Edith ap-
■., sank on
1 hand in
" Like a
arl's eyes
he opened
" said the
u, I go to
lit the old
ot studied
them not
or others.
ud,
Earl; and
little one,
Ouiliy, or Not Ouilty. 147
aS^^\a ^^^ J""^ K'", ^^braco to the floor, still holding the
dear old hanci Suddenly she felt it relax and grow cold
in her own. The word "Jesus" fell on her ear; she looked
timid y up-it was aU over— the Earl of Kockalpine was no
* * # * #
In the dead of the ensuing night, while the nurses were sup-
posed to watch beside the corpse, which hud been placed in a
sheU, and lay on a table in the dressing-room— and while the
women overcome by whiskey and fatigue, slept-three men,
who had surreptitiously introduced themselves into the Castle
were examining the contents of one of the late Earl's trunks
which they had dragged from under the bed, and of which they
had picked the lock. -^
One of these men knelt before the coffer, holding a bull's-eye
lantern m one hand, while with the other he cautiously rum-
maged an^ong the money-bags for a certain parchment, of
which he was m search. A young and handsome man, but of
prodigate appearance, leant on the lid of the open box, and
watched the searcher; whUe an old man of Jewish features and
T^th a black crape band round his white hat, and with a bunch
ot keys m his hand, superintended the movements of him of
the fustian coat and drab gaiters.
Who and what are these three men, and what was their
object ^^ . 4* was evident that no awe of the silent presence in
thpr^ •'T^'.^J'^r: ''% S'^'^ °^ i^^ ^^^^ °f Terrors'^influenced
them. At the foot of the very bed on which, on the previous
mormng, the old Earl of Rockalpine had breathed his last, they
were engaged m a search which, from the expression of their
countenances, their whispers, their hurry, their pallor, their
dark lantern and skeleton keys, we feel was a giSty, a nefa-
nous enterprise. ^
# # ^ jj(
Yes, the old Earl of Rockalpine, with the snows of eighty-
lillTw '■'1'''' ^r^*^ ^''^. «cat<^ered locks, and with the deep
nTKii 1 I ¥• f^Z^^ce, suspicion, and worldly care, had
indelibly ploughed into his cheeks and brow, lay in the marble
rigidity ot death; and, in spite of the marks with which mZ
mon stamps hw o%m%, among the sons of men, there was, on the
S"^f^^'i'''''*°^''''*i.^. f^^ '^f "^^^ ^ea<i' that ineffable
nfJlof" -T"". ^ ^^^"If "^^^""h ^^ ^^^ *°'d' ^ever left the face
ot that widows son" on whom the Saviour had looked and
which we see on the still, cold Hds of all who dirin the t-^-?
and who, as the scenes of earth darken round them, behold^'the
iXsireSi. '"' ''^ '"^^ "^"^^^^ ^^^^^-^ ^^- *-
The nurse, and the old woman whose office it is in the North to
lay out, or straik," the corpse, and whose duty it is to watch
L 2
'i
^j
i !
148
Chiilty, or Not Ouiltt/.
by it, were fast asleep, and a strong smeU of whiskey per-
vacled the dressing-room.
There were .nany candles burning round the shell in which
the old Earl lay awaiting the leaden coffin, and the outer one
covered with black velvet richly emblazoned, which was
ordered of the great London ndertaker, Mr. G , and was to
arrive with that great Lord High Chamberlain of the King of
1 errors, at Rockalpme as soon as possi,)le. But while the
hirelings slept and snored, and the light of the dark yellow
wax tapers fell unheeded on the sharp rigid outhnes, which,
- beneath the sheet that covered the cold form, betrayed Death
there were yet evidences of the fact that " there is a tear for all
who die.
, The season was unusuaUy . lild, and, although it was January,
in sheltered nooks a few flowers hngcied: and Edith had found
some monthly roses and other pale blossoms in those sunny
nooks, and, with some sprays of myrtle from the conservatory,
she had made three weaths, which she had placed in the old
mans coffin-one on his still, cold breast, once so warm and
ammated for her, one at the head, and one at the foot, and the
Ueath Watchers had not dared to remove them, althou<^h all
their delight was in rue, rosemary, and southernwood,°with
which they had filled the coffin, and the dried leaves of which
emitted a taint and deadly odour.
* * * * #
We have said that in the late Earl's bedroom three midni«^ht
marauders ^ ere at work, safe from intrusion, as they thought
m the dread, solemn presence of the Dead in the adioininff
room, and m the deep sleep of the half-tipsy watchers. Ye?
there they were, examining the contents of a trunk, which the
Jliarl was known to keep under the head of his bed, and of
which. It was said, he never trusted the key to any one, nor. in-
deed, ever opened it in the presence of any other person.
borne fifteen years before, the Earl had made a will leavinff
the whole of his long-hoarded wealth, and everything, in shorL
that was not strictly entailed, to Brian Lorraine, Lwd Haute'
ville 8 eldest son, the same who, at Eton and Oxford, had been
brought vip with Eoger Croft, the son of the Marquis of Dun-
sta,nburgh, the rest of the "fast set," and with Irthur; only
Brian, the son of the moody fratricide, Lord HauteviUe, and
his worldly, ambitious, and unfeeling wife, was a bad boy, and
a worse man. He was mean, crafty, cruel, at once a bully and
a sneak. He was very unpopular at Eton, and narrowly escaped
cxpuxSion Lhcrc. At Oxford he was shunned and " cut " by "all,
oven ot the "fast set," who hated everything base and unmanly.
Brian Lorraine, in spite of the old Norman blood in his
veins, liked low company. He was fond of drinking and smok-
ing with bad, disreputable fellows, with whom he would sit
^
iskey per-
I in which
! outer one
ivhich was
and was to
be King of
while the
ark yellow
les, which,
^'ed Death,
tear for all
s January,
had found
ose sunny
servatory,
in the old
warm and
it, and the
though all
rood, with
5 of which
m
midnight
r thought,
adjoining
irs. Yes,
which the
id, and of
le, nor, in-
ion.
II leaving
, in short,
cd Haute-
had been
I of Dun-
lur; only
ville, and
boy, and
bully and
y escaped
t"by"aU,
unmanly,
•d in his
nd smok-
vould sit
Guiltij, or Not Ouilty. 149
^?hlLm.''w''/f ''^P''''''"*^^''';^ ^^ ^^"^^^^y' *«^i"^ liberties
^iKnof ' ^* ^f anyone o' them retaliated, then ho would
ev"dences?f ^' -F^'^'' }^' ^^^*^' ^"^ ^^Pectations, and g^o
evidences of a pride much meaner than his humility ^
Lord and Lady Hauteville did all they could to reform him
and to conceal his degrading delinquencres, but they con ^dS
t^Th'attS'tu^or'' Tb "^- ^^^^ tried sending^im ubroad
Sandfafbp?tT!« J^'t^^i^Tx,^^^^^ ^^^^ous that his
grandlather, the ola Earl of Kockalpine, should have no inklinsr
rights of primogeniture, and had consequently made a will in
Brian's favour; but the late Earl had? also. C?ntenseanS
ineffable a horror of all that is -fast," ''varmint" "etna'*
mean, profligate, and vicious, that Lord and Lady Haute^Se
felt quite certain that the slightest suspicion of what Sn
really was, would make his lordship forbid him his house
'"4at klTlt'r ^^^ ^^^ '^'Tf " ^^^- '- his"ona%^^^^
obt^Spd wf P%'?-'P'*?.°^^l^*^^^^ precautions, the Earl
Slnted all t W ?^^% '^l^ ^,?*^"^ ' ^^ ^PP^^^^^ *« t^ke for
Kirhr l^i -u^ Hauteville said about dear Brian's love
Greek and Mnfb! ^l^?««,b^-2|?glit on by his devotion to Latin,
mnes. ^".^i^f^^^^^tics ! The old man chuckled when severe
Illness, from this cause, was pleaded by the false, worldly
mother as an excuse for her son's not being able to spend a
month with his grandfather at Kockalpine^ Castle ; fo^us?
T otrS. T A ^^ "^^^^ *°, ^' lordship's knowledge that Brian
Lorraine had been severely mauled by a set of bw, drunken
fi°4;^?h'^^' l^adger-baiting fellows. V refusing a sS-up
fight with one of them, whom he had insulted. ^
cratiW«Lr«*i5Tr '° ^^^g^^^^g' ^o revolting to the aristo-
cratic tastes and feehngs of the throughbred old nobleman, was
the dawn on his soul of that sudden, singular sunshine of Grlce
on t:Urtl''f:^''T^'.'7''^^^^^^ ^--t Childhood;
on the hardened, darkened despairing mind of infidel old age
Often has some little Sunday-school girl, with her hymns
of the al'p'^' ^f/ *'^''' T^^'"" ''^'^'' ^^^^^^^d the conSnce
ot the aged pitman, who has passed through life in darkness
tev'thrA i ""^ f "*""\^^*^^ ^^' '^' ^'^^ t^^ instrument
used by the All- wise to save his soul. And so, the reader will
remember, it was with Edith and her grandfather!
Lord'and^Tr^^'S* ^^y.^^V^"" '''^}T^^^^ ^^^^^ intentions to
i^ord and Lady HauteviUe m neither of whom he felt the
slightest confidence), the old man «lterPd hi« w^'ii E-c-v-hH-
ofl;?, b.^'/'^"' ^t^""'^ H^"^ leftto Brian (as the elde^ oS
the new w 11 fn "T ^^t^*^?^ *« ^^^^' ^^- Croft, who made
secret e^cf J frn'' \"^'^P knew this, and kept the old Eari's
secret, except from his wife and Eoger. Edith knew it from
her grandfather himself; but the pfor, loving cSdT who iS
150
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
m
hardly congecraterl all this wealth to hor dorof od Arthur and
who k.iow how hor family would ^rudgo it t . /..r aud'Rtm
more to Um, never of rourso, alluded to tho LhlovtlC^
Still a rumour of a rhau^^o in tho old Earl's testamentary dis
positions has reached Brian Lorraine ^^"i-ary ais-
r.Z^fVT ^"^ ."nder-gamekeepor at that time at Rockalpine
ono Jock Moss, m reality a very bad fellow, but who was assort
of cronjr of young Brian Lorraine's; and from such a source as
this Brian was noc ashamed to derive any knowledge essenHnl
to his i7itere8t8, as ho called them. ^ ^nowieage essential
CHAPTER XXXIII.
" I know a mniden, fair to sec ;
Take care I
She can both false and friendly bo •
Bowarol bewurol '
TniBt her not,—
She Is fooling thee." Longfbllow.
This Jock Moss had a beautiful sister, who was parlour-maid
and needlewoman at Rockalpine Castle ; but she fiad been for
wr/?''/ ?1 ?^ ^""^^^^ companiok to a lady of fTshion
titute! This girl had formed the ambitious design of beine
fZ ff ""? -"f ' ^* *^^ ^^^^^^' ^^'i «f ruling, wfth a rod o?
, Marion Moss wrs (as so many of the Border lasses are^
singularly lovely, both in form and face, but ambit ous ram
Clous plotting, gentle but it was the gentleness of the paX;
.7o.^ ^'*^' "^^^i^^ fierceness of that beautiful and peri oul
n.!? rvf • ^^u °" Moss had a brow and a smile all candour
and B^^Tf^ ^'^'- ^^f. P^-^^^,^ '^' " ^«^«^«" *« perfection;
and Brian Lorraine, madly m love with her, having totally
failed m his persevering and base attempts to get he? on hS
SvlTo; ^^^ ^'- " °t^^^"^ *°>^^^ *° ^^r«' and therefore had
resolved on marrying her ; and she had resolved on marrying
IZd^T^^L'^^^^T.'^-^''^ ^^^ "^''^^^ possessed of the
^ards of wealth included m the " personality'' of the old Earl
We know that at one time the whole of thJt personamy htd
been bequeathed to Brian. Formerlv T,n.A fro^^fw^n/ u„5
hT.u ^tf ' '^'^?!'?^^ °f ^'^ father's," wio had pr;fer;eThim to
old mt'JZr'' ^""^ ^^^^7 things had concurred to change the
«ii ? ^^^^^"g« 5 fnd the great influx of wealth, whi?h be!
came Lord Hauteville's in right of his wife, at the deTth of he^
Arthur, and
^r, and Htill
bjcct at all.
nentary dig-
Eockalpine,
3 was a sort
a source as
ge essential
irlour-maid
i/d been for
of fashion,
ft her des-
n of being
h a rod of
id kept so
lasses are)
ious, rapa-
he panther
id perilous
1 candour,
perfection,
ng totally
her on his
refore had
marrying
respective
)n was re-
Llowed his
ed of the
I old Earl.
lality had
ed him to
lange the
rhich be-
ith of her
h
Guilty^ or N'ot Ouiliy,
151
father, the millionaire, Sir James Armstrong, had decided the
old Earl on leaving his own wealth to Brian.
The knowledge of this fact made Brian fair and charming in
Marion's roe-like eyes, \r spite of that look of habitual intem-
perance so odious and jgusting on the soft face of youth.
It was Marion who had ..iscovercd the great family secret, so
closely concealed from the Hautevilles and all the world, save
Edith and the Crofts, nam ly, that the will in favour of Brian
Lorraine had boon cancelled by the old Earl's making another
and more recent one, in which all his real and personal estate,
plato, money, jewels, furniture, l>ooks, horses, carriages, stock,
etc., ate, were bequeathed to his youngest and most beloved,
grandchild, Edith Lorraine.
By dint of close and indefatigable watching, Marion had dis-
covered that this will in favour of Edith was, after being shifted
by the old Earl from one hidino^-place to another, f-om desk to
drawer, and drawer to box, and box to bag, and bag to port-
manteau, finally (a httlo while before his last fatal illness), con-
cealed m a trunk or strong box, curiously plated and lined
with iron, so as to be fire-proof It was stowed away with
several of the most valuable of the old Earl's cases of jewels, some
articles of plate in pure gold, some important title-deeds, and
pocket-books full- of bank-notes, and bags full of sovereigns.
A ^\ ^^ Brian's favour had been deposited in its tin case,
and m the iron safe of the London lawyer, Mr. Koper, who had
drawn up the will.
Marion no sooner discovered that the old Earl was dying,
and that Lord and Lady Hauteville, and, worse still, Edith,
had been sent for by telegraph (Mr. Croft wording the telegram
at the dying Earl's request), than she, too, sent off a letter to
Brian, who was idling away his time in low haunts of vice in
London. The letter ran thus :—
"My dearest Dear,— The Earl is dying; he cannot last much
longer. You told me long ago that directly he ceases to breathe, your
father is Earl of Bookalpine, and you— oh ! how I glory in the thought 1
--are Lord Hauteville 1 How I long to hail you as ray lord— your lord-
ship ! Then you want nothing but money. Well, I think I can manage
that ; but remember, whatever is to be done by you know whom about you
know what, must be done at once. I know the exact spot ; come down
secretly by the express, get out at B station, meet me at father's
cottage on the moor ; I forgot to teU you that father's moved into what
used to be Rough Rob's. Brother Jock and I will meet you there.
Come with a clear head, a brave heart, and a steady hand; you'll want
all three. Remember all yqu have at gtak<^- ! Wc""h ^^hich vonrH.
dear love, by every right, shall not. If fcan help it, .pass by' you, to
a whey-faced, canting Uttle Methody. That wealth, once yours, you
can afford to share it with one whom you say you love so d'larly, and who,
had she adored you less, would have seemed to love you more !
Your own Mabjon,"
Chiiltij, or Not Guilty.
I
Old Kit Moss, father of Marion and Jock, was a cheating,
lying, old scoundrf^l, with a plausible tonpue, an itching palm
and a thirsty throttle. At one time ho had been a locksmith,
with a respectable, loving wife, and a couple of rosy, curly,
headed children. Ho had always had a propensity to drink,
but while his wife lived he did not often yield to it. When
she died, which was when Jock was fourteen and Marion
twelve, he gave way to it at once and for ever. Then he went
down, down, down ! until he shrunk into the miserable, poach-
mg, begging-letter writing, sottish old fellow ho was at tho
time of his taking Eough Rob's hovel on the moor. Jock and
Marion, who, during their mother's lifetime had been carefully
reared, cared for, taught, and trained, both at school and at
Home, then ran wild. But when they were old cnou<rh for
service, they, not hking the bare cupboard and semi-star^ation.
the cold hearth and rags of the drunkard's home, went out.
Jock as an under-gamekeeper, Marion, first, to be educated as
an hired companion to a selfish lady of rank, and, at her death
as needlewoman and parlour-maid at Rockalpine Castle ; and
there Marion ripened into a lovely but unprincipled woman, and
Jock into a ^earddH, cunning, dare-evil of an under-gamekeeper.
It had occurred to the plotting but clever Marion, that in the
desperate attempt she had advised Brian to make— to possess
himself of and to destroy tho second will, which the old Earl
had made m Edith's favour— that the services of her father
who had been (as we have said) in better days a locksmith, and
a capital one too, would be invaluable. The degraded and
^nken old Kit Moss was ready to do anythmg for a guinea.
Me asked no questions. If Master Brian, as he still called
him, wanted a lock picked, or any other job in his line done, it
was nothing t(3 him whether it was by day or by night, in
castle or cottage; if he was paid well, he'd do his best,
f * * # #
Brian arrived bv the express train at B , and crossing
the line and the heath, was soon at Rough Rob's cottagi
1 here he learnt that the Earl, his grandfather, was no mofe-
fif ^t ^f f ®^ ^^ ^^^^ ^^0^ *^® toUing of the funeral-bell
that he had heard as he crossed the moor. His father, then,
was the Earl of Rockalpine, and he was Lord Hauteville !
Ihe old quondam locksmith, sober for once in his life, in
anticipation of this "job," and of making up for his self-denial
alterwards, was busy looking out, cleaning up, and sharpening
the tools he had not seen nor used for years. He was in that
state of mandlin Tm'cAtnr ar\r\ /loiQnfir.»» +V.«j4- ^^■^^■r'■^ „,,--s — J_ J.-.
the excitement of strong drink ; and the tools recalling as they
• J P?y dfiys of honest industry and domestic comfort, he
^^m? moaned as he sorted and cleaned them.
The arrival of Brian did not put a stop to his meanings;
i
Ouiliy, or Not Guilty.
168
. cheating,
line palm,
locksmith,
>sy, curly-
to drink,
t. When
d Marion
n ho wont
>le, poach-
'Jis at tho
Jock and
I carefully
»ol and at
lou^h for
tarvation,
went out,
ucated as
aer death,
kstle; and
>maii, and
nekeoper.
bat in the
;o possess
old Earl
er father,
mith, and
ided and
a guinea,
bill called
e done, it
night, in
crossing
'< cottage,
no more ;
neral-bell
ler, then,
lie!
IS life, in
elf-denial
arpening
IS in that
ceecus to
? as they
nfort, he
oanings;
^
only, instead of addressing them to himself, he addressed them
to Master Brian, who, as great a tippler us himself, and on tho
eve of so nefarious and wicked an enterprise, was in no mood
to listen to the wailinga of a vague remorse and the groans of
a morbid reaction.
Ere long Jock arrived at the place of rendezvous ; ami soon,
rosy and radiiint from her V;i)jj;, brisk walk, tho hood of her red
cloak setting off her glos' y black ) air, fine eyes, perfect features,
and rich complexion. Mi ri' ri Mof entered the novel. She had
dark thoughts in her miiid, but s! o smiled a bright smile when
she saw Brian; and as s> ^jrcuted him by his new title of
Lord Hautoville, and wished hhn long life to enjoy his fresh
honours, her serpentine and scarlet lips, of tho colour of tho
berries of tho mountain-ush, parted so as to disclose two rows of
pearl. Her tall, slight form was tho perfection of symmetry ;
and Lord Hautoville, who had not seen her for some months,
was astonished by the brilliancy of her beauty; and the passion,
which absence had in some degree subdued (as it does all
sensual passions), now rekindled at the bla/-^ of her loveliness,
and burnt fiercer than ever.
Marion explained that the old housekeeper was confined to
her bed, ill with grief at the death of the aged Earl, whom she
had served faithfully for forty years, that all the servants were
collected together for company (as they always are in the house
of Death) in the servants' nail, afraid to go upstairs, or to cross
the hall alone ! That she had stolen upstairs in the dark, and
had peeped in at the door of the room where the Earl was laid
out; that she had seen tho still form under the sheet, and
heard the three distinct snores of the red-faced, bottle-nosed
Death-Watchers. Nay, more; she had stood in the light of
the tapers round the cofiin, and had watched them in thesir
sleep.
" And now," she said, " if Lord Hautoville will see me safe
home through the Black Woo^, you, Father, and you,
Jock, following in a little while, "he can enter through the
library window, which I've left unfastened ; and you, Father,
and you, Jock, must do the same. You'll have to creep up-
stairs in the dark ; I've not lighted tho lamp in the hall, and
Tallboys and Puff do nothing but blubber and shake, and sit
over the fire, and are afraid to stir; so they won't have seen
about it. I've unlocked the bed-roo?n door that opens on the
landing, so you won't have to go through the room where the
body and the death-watchers are. Not that either the former
or tiic latter will ytir a ungcr — but no matter, it daunts somo
people to be where Death is, though I'm not one of them.
Once in my late Lord's bedchamber, you've only to pull the
trunk from under the bed, to get possession of the will, and
then be off back here with all speed; and I'll now make up a
ii
154
m
Ctuilty, or Not Guilhj.
\ n
f?etXC'o ri^e'p'Sttr" *" -^^^l- «° '»<• « hand
roots out of the sher- ^ """^ """'' "^^ *''°«« ^T old thon,
J''Lfoirtlc"L"p''S"'r.'' ^?"™.- ^* "er queenly
could look forward to T.- ^"*^'' ''^ Rockalpinel I wish I
ofaooronetl S^XSed^- on^-^_ W, j^^^^
i CHAPTER XXXIV.
«Shehastwoeye^s,eosoftandbn>wn.
Tnjst hor not,—
She is fooling tlioe " t
t^^'AZ'^^^^lt^^ »a — I,ht .a.
hoarded Lasmls of the 1 ^'°*'°? 'f? "«■" *» b^^r on"he
Hautorille eagerly p^^^^"^?!?".™^ J>«>i ™d the newLord
search of the w^ ffi ?",. """'Mte of the trunk in
. There were the Z^, of »old Z ' u IT™,"'' ™« '^ vain one
the gold Plate, the Lfef of jetr^hf titf/^ "^ ^ank-notes
re^™tr°ser;l'ta tife f TP'™"' '"''^ -J--'' the
vants- hall. ' '* ™'> ''""^'e, assembled in the ser!
rofl'^rdTnnhatTtnulll i" *'' ^V'" ^'^^a ™s
restrained them, else the to Id tuHCh "i ^"'^ HautertUe
temptmg. -:ut Brian <\\rSv ? •;, , hank-notes were very
to rob tie dead of a rfl and?C f """'• 7^° ''■^ ^^^ "noS
not yet sunk into . »rif robber LoY »''?"*»<^«. hfd
, Kit to mstore the lick fiXn ,.IJ tt ^ , ordered Jock and old
the head of the bed "^ ""^ '™°''' ^^ '"Plaoe it under
™it J^Xt'^oJwf ^1^*^ ^""f ) -- "t that moment the
m-arm throngh the Black 'v^^r^'ra^Xot'C
lend a hand,
T old thorn
her queenly
auteville to
uterille, as,
Hack Wood.
•' I wish I
ow, instead
^eetlove," ■
knight ma-
eir search,
rock, with
sar on the
new Lord
trunk in
vain one.
^nk-notes,
;his farm,
)und .'—it
)ined the
the ser-
#
5— it was
auteville
Bre very
I enough
nee, had
and old
it under
lent the
in with
'^ho had
3d arm-
wnhor
GiiiUij, or U'ot Gmliy. 155
before. It did not occur to him that his having become Lord
Hauteville made any difference in her feelings towards him.
T,-^i- ^™JP^f?' I ani loved! Jubilate!" he said to himself, as,
biddmg his disappomted accomplices to follow, he, in hopes of
overtaking Marion on her way to the hovel on he moor, stole
downstairs in the dark to let himself out by the library win-
dow. But a peril, on which Lord Hauteville had not calculated,
lay m wait for him.
While lying moaning in her bed, a strange fear had begun
to flutter at the old housekeeper's heart. It was, that the
death-watchers (prone as she well knew tlium to be "to keep
their spirits up by pouring spirits down," and often as she had
on other occasions supplied them with whiskey on the plea
that grief is dry," and "death-watching thirsty work ") would
get tipsy and set the house on fire. And her great dread and
horror, connected with so frightful a probability, was, not that
she herself, or the present Earl and Countess, or Edith (now
L-ady Edith Lorraine), or any of the servants, or the death-
watchers themselves, should be burnt to death; but lest the
T^iT^ ^^ *^® ^°^^® ^^° ^o^ld never feel bodily pain more,
should be consumed by fire instead of going in a many-plumed
hearse, followed by a tram of mourning coaches, to be buried in
state, as she well rememoered the late Earl's father had been,
and to be lowered into the vault where his ancestors, for hun-
dreds of years, had been lying.
At this, to her, unbearable thought (for her one comfort in
his death was the idea of the solemn magnificence of his fune-
ral), the good old soul had jumped out of bed, thrown on her
white wrapper, and, candle-in hand, had hurrier^ along a corri-
dor, and across the landing, just as the new Lord Hauteville
had stolen out at the half-open door, and unseen by her (taking
a peep at the old lady, and suppressing a laugh at her towering
night-cap), had hurried downstairs in the dark. Once at the
bottom, he groped his way across the hall, and to the librarv-
window, and was soon once again hurrying across the garden,
through the meadow, and out into the Black Wood .
Ihe old housekeeper then made her v^ay, with a beating
heart and weepmg eyes, to the dead Earl's dressing-room. The
death-watchers still snored and slept, and slept and snored;
but there was one watcher there, who did not, could not sleep.
It was Edi% who, before retiring for .the night, had stolen to
the coffm-side, to print one long kiss of gratitude and love on
the icy brow of the Dead. She had such good reason to believe
..„-. .„,n r^^^xx LiiB xiuiuuiu means of recouciliiig him to
his baviour, and of securing him a mansion among the Blest;
and he, too, had so loved and cherished her I
Prll^^'^^'ft"^ beg your pardon, my ladv, I mean-Lady
Edith, don t he look happy P Oh, ain't he a handsome corpse!
150
GuUty, cr Not QuiUy.
I ll^
^f^'i^y^:ir^t:i^^±^^^,^rv^r.U.y.n., and paia
whiskey fit to pison one? tL ^ • 'i""? ^^f' """i smellinR of
of thei/yile boLsrS-J have ' •^°'' "^ *='''° ""^ breath1,ut
t,, pOh. lot them sleep on ! " said Edith. " What can it n,at.
the dear departed soul ; because ™ ^L "" f^I^S "^V ^^^
the soul don't go Quite a^-^f/.T' P^, '"''7' Jnst at first,
hovering about fts o?d abode VX nafv''>°''y 'K"^"* W^
that's just the time the EtU IS fs Z th \ "?** *'"'? ^^ ^V.
down on It, and fly away ™th ?t " **" '"*■<"" '<> Pomce
powe?o™7tL'lS 'f:^: Sf-Thl^s'^ ^"' ^P-* ■=- "O
ins own; the Good Shenwl ^^V i, ®»"™"- takes care of
and believe in Him, she7pt^ faS -'"^^ ^" '^''° 'o^« Him
kissingX C/Lt^?; S'.' "futt^^""' "^^ -™-ntly
do know from them as TiPnr^^v V !, ^^^^^'^^ ^^ ^r saying I
Bvi. One has o^r^fo^'l^.^^J^^^''^,^^^^^
inf eTM^„S^ Sl-:aS5?ou^1h^'°'™. 'r'^^^^^
a few minutes after the new Lord m?^^ -ii ^^'^^i °,^ *^^ "^^or
arrived there. ^^"^"^ ilauteville and Ma^ on had
enfrS oYtS^t^od^' °^^^^^'^^ ^-- ^oss at the
.i^e'^rfd^tl^ o?tthK? r ^^ ^^ -^^ '- •'
raising herself, of being "My 1^^^^ ^^^^ 'fought of
and, above all, of beins one^dntl'. / ^^""'J^^ ^^""^^^ at wiU,
mistress of th^ old holsett at2l"cM^ ^«f ^^P^^, and
always been obliged to obev^o f Jr^ .F^?^^' ^^°^ ^^^ had
respect and even reverenre^^n^^f ^i ^' *° ^^^at with such
would then have to obey her low "j" ""^^'T" ^"^ ^^o
lier and to call her "Myiady"^ nd 'Vn^'^r'S ^1?^^^^ ^^^^^0
What " trifles mnto fi^^ "^ '^ , ^°"^ Ladyship."
portant toThe^m^ttous'LT^^^^^ *^^f ' ' -^ how im-
sum total of their n,nt?ZoTf/°!^i°^ *^? s^iallest items in the
Whilfi Ht^i-o^ t ---'^-iii"'^^'^ fei<JiiLiiess i
.ng beauty-whiio -»f longthSred^^Sr^h^er^^a
ed and paid
I smelling of
e breath out
can it mat-
te but wake-
r away with
just at first,
5, but keeps
tey do say,
it to pounce
pirit has no
ikes care of
) love Him
reverently
.r saying, I
It, that the
5rs slept."
iownstairs
jhe hbrary
s and the
. til moor
arion had
)ss at the
?his arm
here, and
er!
lought of
h at will,
pine, and
she had
ith such
3ut who
y before
how im-
is in the
itle and
ravish-
)es and
Guilti/, or Kot Ouilty. 157
designs wore, under the influence of her unwonted tenderness,
a^am busy in his shallow brain and at his bad heart— her
thoughts were not with him, save as the tool of her future
greatness, the instrument to enable her to realise her ambitious
opes. He was only the lord who was to make her "My Lady,"
now, and the future Earl through whom she was one day to be
a Countess.
Never (blind, sensual, credulous fool that he was), never at
any time of their clandestine intercourse had she been less
likely to forget one iota of that system which alone could in-
duce the wedlock-loathing profligate to marry her, than now
that, in the solitude of the Black Wood, she sufiers him to press
her to his side, and to hold her hand and cover it with kisses.
" You frighten me, dearest, you do indeed, my lord," she
said. " I Hke to hear you say you love me, but you must not
forget what I have often told you before ; that to me even your
love is terrible and unwelcome, if you forget the respect which
the proudest lord in the land owes to the simplest villaf^e
maiden who knows how to respect herself! " °
The tone in which this was said awed the impetuous youncr
lord; he was afraid. Marion was angry— he knew she coidd be
very angry, and very unforgiving, too. He was no casuist—
he did not know how hard it is for true Love to resent even
great injuries— how prone Aflection is to forgive.
Marion did not love him — she did not even like him— all elo-
quently as she told him with her lips and eyes that she adored
him ! No, she did not love him ; and once, when he had seriously
ofiended her, she had refused to speak to him or to " make it
up" for three months. What if she should do so again P "
At the thought ho dropped her hand, and withdrew his arm
Irom her waist, and humbly said, " Forgive me, Marion ! "
/'I do forgive you with all my heart, dear love!" said the wily
girl, herself taking his hand and carrying it to her warm
w ^®i T P^* " ■'■ ^° forgive you ; nay, more— alone in this Black
Wood I will have no fear, for I will call upon you to protect
me against yourself, against— myself ! "
"Against yourself! Oh, my angel, Marion ! is it possible you
need any protection against m?/ love? and— oh! enchantinf^
thought !— against your oiun ? Do you, then, love me so well?"
"Hitherto, dear love," said Marion in her most beguiling
tones, " 1 have depended solely on my own virtue : I now — no
matter why — I now appeal to your honour ! "
" You shall not appeal in vain, then, sublime, enchanting, in-
comparable, girl ! "' said the young lord, some latent spark of
good in his darkened breast igniting at this appeal to his chi-
valry, his honour. " Believe me, Marion, if as a woman I love
and dote on you, as a saint I honoui-, and obey, and reverence
you ! "
158
Guilty^ or Not Guilty.
^^•^^^'^l^^^^^ '^'^ ^^-0". "and
tell me all about the will V \ ^ ^^. ^ dangerous theme • w
"No, dearest I did I not tSl ^^^' ^'/"^^' ^ tope? " '' ^^*
™ ^0^ in that trunk at nlU ^^'^ ""^ °"^ fa^^^ire? The will
mistake! I am ir, h^ x, ' ^* ^as not there— if t^^^^^
father had ^a^ henZmlT? ^^^ ^^^^^'m^ o d JanT
proper idea of the rilZl 't '''^''- ^^ ^ad a great and ? J?
i^^en^ -y cripple, my Ulster Edith was
Edith^. ^^ufCJ^rce your n^other te .aw your dater
Croft. ^ml'^trS: Sfs .^^' ^-- ^"^ - Pi-d with the
crip|:? ^jSa^t' -"■ -% a Httlo Whey-faced, carroty
ject I oyer be\dd°f^t'hT,?''%^'»"'^'^' '™Pi"g. «% little oh
:™s?Sh^5?nes^to:'^«^
IS now as taU as I am and h«?i '?^ ^^"^^^ "I^ady Edith
ever saw; her hair^^'of ^^^^^^ ,^^^^^^^^ T'' ^^^nde^hape J
l^ght upon it. She is as beauHfnl ^ ''^ ^'''^^«' ^^th a gofien
fehe is chunked " sm'ri t ^ j%t ^^^ appearance ' "
better for her; but'ifZw^ "^ Sauteville^and so much fh.
would not W m4t;i^^^^^^^^^^
favour; and I bes>ni t^ i! "^ grandfather alter his v-i ;l. T
take W begil^rg't" ^d?.'""'" ''^"^^ that'ir-rau'.^nUr
Croft LwouTthe'wMTw''M5r™'^'''k'i c'J Lawyer
And I heard why the old m«t Za^ "^'i ™at was put into it I
.t was because itVas owTuHo «wltT'?°8 *° ^aSy Ei'th!:
first began to think about girsou ' He'??;,''°> ™^) t^a* he
Thi !?'^ """^ '^°"'=<^te. and prayers h,rl 5" ''^,™ """i tens.
I heard him say to old Croft tStf' i <=™™rted him. And
Well." said Lord i.lteviUe.'^^f^?,?;. sX-^oi';! I
^Tarion, "and
' theme; but
e?"
3? The will
—it is some
7 old grand-
t and a very
at being the
dous wealth
Edith was
your sister
ed with the
3ed, carroty
y little ob-
)se, a little,
ugh which
Sie doctors
fc, and that
tdy Edith
Jr shape I
a golden
loves like
lay to the
ig a very
3rfect re-
luch the
foy, that
m her
i i* mis-
Lawyer
or your
into it .'
Sdith—
fchat he
d texts,
; And
or her,
was to
ily one
then, I
Guilty, or Mt Guilty. 259
what he knew the world wTp.ii. 3"^^^'^.}° ^^o^d Hauteville
a disgrace "" m.^saZZiawce, and his family
And yet even he tried to think of himself . « rv,o^f ^
wretched door of what once was Rough Rob's hovel!
CHAPTER XXXV.
"Sm- «hrn„H''T *"*' "^^""^ ' *^« "ghts that Steal
feSlon."'^^'"^^^^' ^^"-^ ^"' to reveal
Anon.
fererLT nTpPTf ?y gloomy, still, and dreary in the
oarkened casWs of Bockalpme. The arrangements for the
*m
leo
Citimj^ or Mi QuUty.
funeral of the JnfA Tr™ «
the gloom), Mt «n..,«;^, „ ' ^''''^^i ,^ ^^ce "
teard in thesU^^Q'^ aisunctly was the '''"
St^lt "'''■n«-^'-Sm'^ ''X*^«'' gifted, affec.
that Black «'1j ^™ *'«= '">»se of DeathT? i ,^° f™' ^o
dnno" 7 '''°'' where "the rUoA *!.?,'' *" ''"ckon him to
rJShai'rt'/Tyi 'te shade ofVs y otf " """^ "*& fo™
tX R I ? ^''*°» ""m- ^''°°"=''' with no.
Jine knew how essential to «11 If J^ separate apartments
Hteh;%r„f--£"^^^^^^
«?d paraded before the fam^™ ^' ." ght».are« iotted out
f &fc?S^?e-rt(^^^^^ :.,:^ ^-W
shrouded licrht ihJ °^ ^'^ brother. Thm L^ "^'^d'
faces, sLa f V ;f ^^ "^^^n^^ stillness th ' ' *^? '^^^^
JiHflv -D 1 1 • ' ^^^r the
dame. Boget, Wera^rpl^rX^P»dfnee^^th mS
^' *''« ce-'Arated Parisian
magnificent a
lal being an
I consigning
o^ the hmhii
the old :aa.' I.
'^ P'^r^;ritopJ^
^na'il ^ oico "
is iflieason
y and Ima-
rifted, affec-
he strolled
the sun, so
^on him to
Jrnally vras
yet vivid,
7-
'ghtmares.
3an ; if he
i grounds,
ble form I
with up-
lable pair.
's wish —
i her pre-
ever con-
lis night-
'mpanied
'ments.
fy to one '
'ep,"and
ted out,
1 sullen
3 father
s mind,
le sapie
■begone
> sickly,
• herbs,
aber of
rer the
g con-
rorldly
'. Mes-
irisian
Guilty, or JVot Guilty.
'SS?^^^^-'"^ ^-P- -d Empress of
thoseVeTaXri?fes!KlL'^ni?^^''''^*^ .consultations with
ing dresses, man^.les, and bonnetT?o h^''T?^/.*^^^ of mourn-
her daughters on their ememWf^ ^"^T^ \^ ^^^^^^f and
in. dress, aniTn^tL^^ioronnifsTer'^T^ ^^^ -^ «P-d
tried to get rid of in readinTF^ench novpl/''^'^^ passionfshe
^^^\^^^^^ of Boclcalpine
she had not'^hearrcour^on^rse frlT^^^^^^
^LiGioN, and that topic was lntl5«K?^.^^i°^ °"^ topic-
stamed man, who wellVne?hrcould n^f ° *^' ^'''^^^' ^^^^d-
God and Mammon, and ^l;oJZ!,/fw ^^ serve two masters.
.Ida Lorraine, now Cril ^fcl. n^'^^^'^^^^^^^t^?
pme had left in town, was sent ST ^^ ^^^untess of Eockal-
ther because the Cois of Tf^V^l^ 5'^^t^^ ^^-"^
Richlands Park. ^"""^^^^^ ^t Richlands had invited her to
^nds Park of the unhannv P^^ ^ °''^* ^^*^^ ^^o^e at Eich-
For, frivolous as the SSJss of Top£i^- ^^"'^^ ^ Roccabella.
feehngs of revenge and maHce ?n W ..^""^ T?'' "^^ ^^<i deep
forgave an insult! an iniS^t or ^v.n o ''rE?''^'^"- ^he neve?
cable in the case of GeoS Z. V' ^^'^^*- She was imnla-
haddisanpointed?kcdvfrand^^^^^^
against fcr daughter Aum^^f n Pn, . "^ ^®^. ®^^ ^as furious
sSe had sheltered, coi^S ^n^Tn^^^^^^^^^^^ Richlands, because
For the same reason the Earl of EivfioJ ^^'' retched sister.
Bockalpine as a foe. Bichlands was treated by La<iy
Again, she felt a bitter rphqo ^f
Mrs. Croft, for the decentio? wl,f ifT"" ^^^ ^^^^"gc against
had practised upon her about F^?f\'^ ^P^sidered the1at?er
And she included in her resentmtf « ^^t^ ^^^ appearance!
knew why), poor Arthv^XtmrV^^P^^^.rage (sfie scarce
she felt that ^e was just t£ WpW i ^'"^^'^ grandson; for
hke Edith would nCally (fn 1o^'^^^^^^^^ ^ girl
had been from childhood) iL;..' love a J '"'^''^^^ ^« ^^^i^«
*3fle Had considoroKi.:. ^i, ^i "® ^^^ revere.
|e Ambassador's bSi at Pari ""l^^^S! 'V''"/ *°«^'''^'- »»
^- daughter ,o™ old Croar^rS^^^^n' w^aSg
162
Ouilfii, or JSTot Guilty.
l-^l^^ ^^ ^"^ contemplate ! Bosides, she had set her heart
«?« w V/^fr^'^i^ ^}'^ y°r^ ^^''9^^« of Diinstanburgh, and
vWJnn ?? f ^*^'"' ^i'/ '^"^ ^f ^^'^ «^^ f^^^ ^^ instinctive con.
viction that he would bo the barrier to so grand a match and
for hersdf ^ '''''''' ^'' ^'^''^' ^"^ '° ^"^^^l^tful a connecti^
She hated her son Brian, Lord Hauteville, too, because ho
Th l^'/f,'^,\'^,^^^l^Y^^y-^^ocanse he loved low company-
and had blotched and blurred a naturally handsome fa^e, and
bloated and puffed out a good figure by the lowest kind of T
temperance. She felt sure, too, that if he ever married ?t
S a shudTer"' *"''' ^'''''''^ ^'^' ^"^ '^^ *^°"g^* °f '""^^
With regard to her affections, she had some little tenderness
for Ida, and some hkmg for Edith (now that she was so beTutl!
strative kmd of friendship for some gaudy fashionabfes-ma^e
^n?i^T r F^?^"" r*> S ''°^^^"" adoration of a little French
poodle (a toj;.dog) cal ed Snowball; and he was, indeed, he-
chief companion and playmate at Eockalpine Castle
bnowball was certainly a beautiful, affectionate, and intelli-
gent creature, about the size of a full-grown squirrel but
covered all oyer, fa<,e, body and feet, with httle,trck. flossy
'^^ll'"A '^^^"'^ '^'■- ^^^ f^^ "^^^ beyo.-d descripS
pretty, and so were his tmy, thoroughbred paws. He could
dance beg, sit up, fetch, carry, shut the doo?; and, in short
was at once very accomplished and very intelligent. He was
V^TT. '\^'' ^T ^°^ ^^J Rockalpine, save in the case of
Edith, t<) whom he vouchsafed many little tokens of favour.
a Httlf il!!i '^•'"'Ik^'^ T^" peach-blossom tongue, bark^^g
a httle glad, musical bark at her approach, and sometimes even
deigning to spring up on her lap. ^
* * # « #
One evening Edith, oppressed by the general eloom and
haunted by anxiety about Arthur, opened tie glass^or^f^So
hbrarym which she had been sitting alone, Ind throwing a
mZl^tTrr ^ '^^ ""'^ ^^' P^^^^"' -^^^^ -^ "P- 'U
It was a beautiful, bright evening, very mild for the season
of the year ; and so much did she feel refreshed by the cool a^
that she wandered on through the grounds until Ihe came to a
httle summer-house which in their childhood's days (now so
long ago) Edith Lorraine and Arthur Bertram had ^been used
to call their castle and to defend from the assaults of the Httle
Crott crirla. wh^Tj thav wo^.^ oil ^j- : x -r. i , . "uwo
1 his part of the garden was divided only by a low, iron fence
^S tt K ^o'of ^'"P "' ^'- -^-^ ^^^^ -P-'^"
I set her heart
banburgh, and
stinctive con-
a match, and
a connection
>o, because ho
w company —
ome face, and
}t kind of in-
r married, it
ought of him
;le tenderness
^as so beauti-
imsv, demon-
nables — male
. little French
, indeed, he'
le.
i, and intelli-
squirrel, but
thick, flossy
L description
3. He could
md, in short,
nt. He was
the case of
IS of favour,
gue, barking
letimes even
gloom, and
3 door of the
throwing a
lit upon the
the season
the cool air,
le came to a
ays (now so
I been used
of the little
ne.
V, iron fence
separated it
GuiUi/, or Not Otiilty. 263
The Black Wood had no terrors for Lady Edith; and sh«
TTrl^''' «ummer-houso, so full of the gtosts of the past
As Edith sank on a rustic seat, almost unconsciously to herself
her secret thoughts stole from her lips in the words of a little
uuet. which she had been wont to sing with Arthur Bertram-!
" Como to mo !— conio to me |
Over the diirk blue wea,
I pine— I long for thee,
Cliolcc of my heart 1"
Firl^noirf/'^''°'T' ^^"■loyf d voice catcher up the strain P
First pale, then red, now cold, now hot, the maiden starts un
with ear attent, while a rich, manly voice responds- ^
"Denrost, I come to thee,
Over the dark blue sen.
Say, wilt thou dwell with me,
NcTcr to part ? "
It was no dream A tall shadow fell on the door, as, with a
bound, clearing the fences, Arthur was by his Edith's side
Yes, he was there; and, after a few moments, in which the
tumultuous happiness of both forbade either to speak, Arthur
explained that liis grandfather. Mr. Croft, had sent for £m
peremptorily, to be present at the reading of the late Earl's
will, but why his presence was required Arthur did not know.
All he knew, all he felt, was, that he should be near his Edith
and that was enough for him. -ciuitn,
J^^^^^'^A ^T^"" ^'^'■^' "^y ^^^^' *^^ ^^y before yesterday," he
A ^""/^^ ^r^ •'P^''*^ "^y *™^' ^^i«%' in roaming about
night and day. hoping to catch a glimpse of your form in the
gardens, and gazing at the light from what I heard from Mr
Croft was your window."
Not long would Edith aUow her Arthur to linger— not Iol -
would he have presumed to stay by her side.
They parted, cheered and soWed by that brief, unexpected
httle did they dream how soon they would meet again !
CHAPTER XXXYI.
" Pauline ! look up, Pauline !
Thou art safe 1" Lady of Lyons.
In the dead of the night, a shrill, wild cry of "Fire!" rane
f^T^A ^^^kal^ne Castle; and the Earl, the Countess, Lad?
Ida and th- terrified servants looked from their doors, in their
white nighi dresses and pale as death, aU asking what that
shriek meano-all distinctly smelling the fire and the smnk^.
ana ail bent solely on saving themselvco.
It was as the old housekeeper had feared. O.ie of the death-
atchers m her high cauled nightr^: ha.^, m her d anken
• ep, fallen against one of the wax tubers placed round the
iu. 2
I
tM
P\
IGl
Qtulti/^ or Not Quilt I/.
coffin -,n ^park had dropped on her cap border, and in a few
momont.s she was on fire.
. ^^^^' '^^°/;J ^^?« her • ^t ocxoio going to bed, had stolen
to her grandfather a room to kiss the cold, cold brow, for tho
last time (for at dawn ho was to bo shut for ever from her
Hight) opened the door of the chamber of Death, just as tho firo
Mraouldering m the garments of one of the death-watchers. was
communicating itself to those of her neighbours.
Edith's piercing screams aroused them to the sense of their
danger Sobered at once, they rushed from the roc.n, and on
the landing, at the bottom of the stairs, were met by the old
housekeeper who, the first to hear that shriek of Edith's and
her agonised reiterated cries of " Fire !" had roused the men-
servants who -slept down .-tairs, and who were bringing up
pails of water to the scero oi the conflagration. ° ^ f
In spite of the old housekeeper, whose ole care was for her
dead master, the men toasted (as she called it) the water in
putting out the flames that would soon have consumed the
deaih-watchers. Meanwhile, Edith did her best to keen the
raging element from her beloved grandfather's remains.
It was a sh-ange sight. Thore lay the uld man, fron whose
marble face and rigid f;»rm she had plucked the sheet, lest
It should catch fire- the fire-light Lading an almost hfe-like
glow and pkv to hi.-, still, mr ble features, and Edith perilling
her young L at To immi.ont risk of perishing by firr> to
save the sacred remains of the inanimate, the senseless Dead
Alas ! she has used all the water in the room— the smoke
begins to larkr . , e air, and to choke, !o smother her. The
tiames have luckily taken a div ction away from the 'loffir and
towards the door. Suddenly cui^^ciousness forsake? her— she
sinks on the ground; when, ^ ; one of the windows of the
^om IS forced open froir vitho t— the wind drives the flanes
fiercely towards her— Lu i , r voice reca, s her to hfe— a
strong arm is tiirown rot I h^
Arthur Bertram, once again h}r guardian a^-^e], raises her
from the ground, and bears her in safety oiu of the room
just as, headed by the old housekeeper, the men-servants with
cans and buckets of water rush in.
The fire i^ got under. The old housekeeper, at the risk of
her own life, ascertains that her " blessed master's body is
sate, and that he will yet be buried as his fathers were— that
is be borne m the plumed hearse, followed by the train of
black coaches to the family vault. The danger over. Lord
Kockalpme came forth. Arthur Bertram then explained that
from a aistauee he had seen ac the window the red glare which
betrayed the fire; that he had, by lid of the terrS>e and the
ivy, scaled the wall and had burst in at the window, in time to
save the Lady Edith. He d'd not add that he was wandering
J
nd in a few
[, had stolen
now, for tho
3r from her
fc as tho firo,
atchers, was
mse of their
3()in, and on
1 by the old
Edith's and
ed the men-
)riuging up
was for her
le water in
isumod the
to keep the
aius.
fron whose
sheet, lest
ost life-like
bh perilling
by firr, to
}ss Dead,
-the smoke
her. The
i 'loffii' and
I? her — she
3W3 of the
the fla nes
• to life — a
raises her
the mom,
■vants with
the risk of
■'s body is
were — that
le train of
>ver, Lord
ained that
lare which
30 and the
in time to
wandering
Ouilfi/, or ^^ot Oiiilfi/. 1G3
about the grounds to watch the light in hor chamber, when t},o
his ?yo!''' "' '''' ""^ ^^^ lat^Earl's drossing-roim ca^gh?
i^7^^ ^^^t}- ^^^^^ .^''l'''' questions. He coldly and haughtily
thanked him and offered him a bed at the Castle, bift t J
rurrthe'' E^^r^' ^^ didthis was so imperious and c^ni^mp ?
nous (the Earl remarkmg that there wore no rooms unoc
?X 'i.'T '" ^^"^ rr^""^ '^"^«' ^^^t that Croft, his Znd.
[ook hU^o °^^^rr/!"^ '^'P-' '^^^^)' *^^* ^^t^^^ declined and
out hr hnmuTY'^^'' '""'V^^^.^fhev father's presence, holding
out he. hands to him, and saymg, " Jfcaven bless you Arthu?
vou p'""'toIi" h^r^" «r^ r^ ^^^^ • ^^^ '^^ T feward
And thus they parted, the Earl angrily saying to Edith "Go
to bed. I am surprised that a daughter of miL should sufib?
. n?"?it°'' °J^" attorney to address her, as that low iipsta?t
o .n« tl'f ^T' '7^ ?^ ^^ P^^«^°^^- ^^^ but what the
o- ^us and degradmg familiarity began with you ! Go to your
,^ain rlhtr^^f' '^t^^^ y^^^g ^^^ wears befoie^yo^
^^^A-J ■ y°^ *^ exchange a word with him 1 " ^
byTtL ^dJ^Jre td^^^^^^ P^"^^' ^^^^^-- ^--^^<1
bv^thefamifli^T'if''' ""^^ sleepless, and it was also haunted
by tne same face and foim, and vividly did thcv recall those of
Zv«\' ^\^"' four-and-twenty years^een mo^ulTering in the
grave but who seemed to hve again in tho shape old Croft's
detested, insulted, and despised grandson, Arthur Bertr.^a !
Ihe young Marquis of Dunstanburghwas, as we hare said a
T^ rZ fT ""^i^l^f of RockalpL's, ii Shumber latd
ahe late Earl and tH late father of the present Marquis had
friends at Oxford; they had made (as was the fashion of their
toJlher . n^rfn'^" ^'^^' '' *" ^"^' t-^^^Uedall over Europ^
together; and. till avarice contracted the Earl's heart and soul
sort offrSrTf '^ ^^'l ^"^^T'« ^^"^' *^^^« ^^ beeTa
sort of friendship between thom. But when the Earl retired
from the world, to hon d i aey at Eockalpine Castle, and the
Marquis was sent as ambassador to the Court of — theh- in!
tercourse ceased. '
;« AT*^.t^°?^^P'°.® ^^"^'^y^ *^® principal seat was near A
m Northumberland. The Marqai. of Dunstanburgh had be^
sides his vast estate called Dunstanburgh (on the Borders) a
noble nark in E"'»lo"'^ — ;i->- -,ij —-^i -^-.^^^ , i'"o^x«uiut5is;, a
?n ?>f ^^Pf^Q "^ *^°/\°^ Dunstanburgh ran side by .iS do,^
d^^-^ti^^"*^ ?'^' f"? *^" ^^^^^ ^^^^°3 of the former was oX
IGO
Ouilii/, or Kot Ouilhj.
rai^no^rr^g^r'lS^^^^^^ '^'T '^ ^T ^'"'^ ^^''^ f--
and after the oSt The l^d n Y^Y\ '''^^'T'''^^''^^ ""^ ^^^''^'
whe- she ..a. had ^J^" Eckf l"'""^' ''''' ^^ ^^^'^^ P^"-
and I'lJ^htd lU^^^^^^ td tu-^ ^- E^it;\to her oncouragin,.
Earl'a danger bo wotiid U.n • T ^^^? «»^:^o« "«w,s of the okl
of his suifcfand have cntlt^^^^^^ Ifor Jadyshin's advocacy
and heart 'to her dISghtcrEdltl;'' permission to oAbr his hanS
as a suitor for hef votii^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^'^"^ ^^^^ Hauteville.
found herself lYia^sTt^S ,''^f'' ^' *^'^^^^' ^^'0"'^ hare
would have had to endu c^"S?TavI^^" perHccutions she
martyrdom, and yet not n^ Zl? >^^'7^1c^ed her life a
for she wa; devoted l^eart?Jl'^^^
though she was far too dnftf 1 ? • *^ ^''^'V'^ Bertram • and
disobey even tte mother w}lL''*''^'v,^"^^ right-minded to
years/and marry Arthur v, nf l''""* her away from her for
EaTl's\ fiL^rtrandlh tf^^"^ °? ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^^ old
Lady HautTvnfe on tC a riva? n^r^^ that awaited Lord and
time to any fuXr ad vnrfoo '^ *?^"' P^t a stop for a short
about the trfumph ofTbi. i;?JiK ^^K-"^' '""''^ ^^ «^« *^o"glit
hinted at it ?Xr dozen ^'d!^^^^^
fashion), could not indnw ^^""^^ fnends" (in the world of
the old Ea??L deadin the h*""^ ^f "?^ rnatcb-making while
interment, to convert her flat?^^^^ «^e o„,y ^^^if^^ ^^^
tainties; then sWd flnn ^T.r°P^^"'^o ^"^^^anting cer-
Castle, and a%orS eni Jme^f ^nfl ^^ ^^^^^^^ *« the
that she could expTat tS^.? f'^^^i be entered into, so
at, and be the en^ of n?l ^. ^""'^ ^"^"?'^ ^" «^^ ^^^ hinted
fa.>oust as aSb^e'r^^^^^^ -^ ^^7-
M?rqa iSi^t ?^^^^^^^^ of Eockal=^ the young
PaSra^t^f yt^fnarTu;: tdtnlt'd'^ *'^^ 5T ^^^^^
nearest neighbour^oftl^ SIS ^ ^ discovered that, as the
intimacy existiStweenXT^^^ on accormt of the former
and nJv.^T:^^^^?T^f^ t^^ families at Dunstanburah Ahh.^
"~" I shaiiTCn '" tT""' ^A?%^^ *° attend the funeraf "'
WsS^fc he'Vaf otfhr^inT''^^^^^^^^^^^ "^f
Edith, our Edith, n^y Edith, I maf ^Imostt^y.lf ^^^^^^
itli Edith Lor.
ulor's at Paris,
I id that every
as every pluco
r encouraging
Mvs of the old
lip's advocacy
oner his hand
ad the young
ly Haute villc,
h would have
iccution.s she
3d her life a
her to yield,
icrtram; and
tit-minded to
from her for
le was deter-
fc of the old
ed Lord and
p for a short
Marquis of
she thought
oadly as she
he world of
aking while
awaited his
lanting cer-
ited to the
ed into, so
had hinted
I and May.
the young
^ofl by tlio
? Edith to
le, reached
hat, as the
the former
r4?h Ab^»«^
if: '"""'
nin^ what
igehc girl,
or I have
Ouiltij, or Mt Guilty. iQff
S'i?arfh^.^''^T?f ^r ^l^°/^<^''^'ng, to her mother, and,
sem. her 1. i^ f 7''^"^' ^'"^ ^'^^^''^ aciuired rt'^euH and vo-
servo, her delight almost overpowered her."
In^nJ V rA •¥''*'''^^,'^" stammered Roger Croft, who himself
yond all expression, and had very long Ibd his ambition with
late Tn^l W I V'*? ^^T^^^ "*■ *'^« ^«^'th which he knew tho
^e&'et^^^^^^^^ ^« ^-•- " «"t Edith her!
"LacZz/lidith Lorraine!'' said tho young Marnuis not ji
little nettled by the doubt. Ho 8j)oko hau-htilv (l?o coidd bo
Sk Th ^ " r '^ ^'°^^^- 1 " ^°^^ --^"'-- lo thhlf and
Enr fiHo i 'If'^K •"' **^° ^""'^y E^^^th, but by a much
higher titlo-as the Marchioness of Dunstanburgh ! "
no iS oven "tZ "^'Tr^""'^^- H° ^"«^ Edith had no love,
b?m 3i 1 /• "'' ^ '"^ ^^a'-quia. His inordinate vanity made
Hi^mo?h^r W '^? '^'""^ '^" did admire, if not love himself
Ills mother had alwavs assured him that no girl couia inhabit
the same house w^th tim, without appreciatin^r^, anrinfand
adonng him; and that, with regard to Arthfi^ £tram' she
knew lor a certainty that Editli^s feehngs towards /S^'were
those of a sister towards a brother. ^^o^aras imn were
Roger conceited fool, coxcomb, fortune-hunter ass that hn
was, so fully believed that Edith, would one dTy b^ h s that he
to bo^ron^a'V'^'' '"^^'""^ T ^^«^'taintv, an J had e™ t ied
property^ ' "P°'' ""^^^ ^' ^^^"^^ *^^ «^««rity of her
r ,r^w ''T°'' ''''''^^ *^^ Marquis have for speaking with such
certainty of an event so ruinous to all his, Roger C?oft^s hones
andplans as a marriage between his Lord hipTnd Lady eS?
Roger Croft controlled his feelings, and tried to ehcit what
motfer'butT '"^^ "^'j^"i ^^1'^^^^" *^^ Marquis^Elith, and her
motner, but he was completely foiled. The ^reat mnA w«a ol
Roger afterwards told L mo^ '' deuced Ty^.^Td^Ido::
nic^?r w r'' ^'' lordship had, in reality, nothing to commu-
d scover th.t'fZ' H' 1 "". f^^^'^ *« ^"^^^ ^°g^^ Cro^?o
uiscover tnat tact. His lordship's pretensions were if nni- n«
ndiculous iuite as unfounded ^s tLse of ?he rttorney's on
\Zl^^^''^^''-^''f^^ i"-^^^d and irritating cross questionl
difnitv' ^r'Tp^'^^.^^^J^^P' entrenched himseWS.
shfulH^;"';.";„5^»JJl^.^^^. -ofc,^er, "gave him the cold
leffiTi'7v.;« ^ZW^'r \ "^'^ ^'^''/^ loriNoriiiuinberiand, without
letting his toady tyrant know that he was going.
Eoler cTofr.bJT'^^^?.r-^'" '*^" *^^ vengelnce that filled
fne^who hl«^n rr^^^^ ^^ ^t^ ^^ of hau^htv independence in
one who hitherto (little as he suspected it) had been but as a
w
168
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
had already been 8^^^ fnr Id^- ^^r*?,° ' ^^^^^^ Bertram
now '£^^t^2r^Ztn^iJ^lfI^''f''^^''''' ""^^ ^^«- Croft,
herself and GlofLna ret 1^ f ''''?"^ was taken in Paris of
city and to re^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^'^^ - that
madtyT^'lovtUf th^ L"dv\;f.%^'^^^'.-«^ b^^-''- -
couplithemtoffTther evp^^^i.^ ?^^ '^^ ^^^«^ *«
to counsel and fo warn h?m he r^'nf^' ^^^^ I ^ ^^ "^^ there
him while she is a minor Tnrl L^Ff °'^^'! ^^ *« ^^°Pe ^th
couldn't -get the mTrmfj d?ll ""Z^* ? ^" ^^^ ^^^" ^^^^^er
Roger imfrisoned! TSdL Xln^V^lfp T ^^^^ ^^^^^if^^l
endure the Marquis but r w7a ^ ^ "/ • ^^^^ ^^^^^ can't
and he has oftTbLn trSt 0?^.-" ^I''*? "^ ^^^^ ^i*^ l^im,
has been cau^ t on the reb/und 't^ / t ^^^\ ^^"^ ^ ^^^^^
spot,^bothfor^Bog"er'sltr^^^^^^ *« ^^ - ^^e
Croftt;S%hi" ^^^^^^^ and*Gloriana wete at
There Mrs. CroftfoAt^^rtL"^^^^^^^ ^^<i -^t.
-the irdrEdithlorra^ne , "''''^' '^"^^"^^ ^^ ^^' ^^^ «bjec1
Gaftie''"'ThetxrrL^^^^^^^^ agam, presented himself at the
behaviour tu^^ZlCn^^^f^Cf^^^^ ""I '^' ^^^ ^^^I's
possible for him t^enter ldtv« ^ '*^' ^^^ rendered it im-
foiget the contempt ^th wS th« T "i^^A ^^ ^^^^ ^^^
have a bed in the^L™t?.Sn ^ ^^^^ ^^^ -'^^^ ^^ could
looked upon him as littTe b.ffl v.' "^P^^^"?' ^^ it did, that he
of his heart he ment Wd ^^^ ^ ^ "'^''^^^- ^^ *^^ ^"^^^^'^
and he was stLTled Tthp ^^^^^^^^ ^'' grandfather,
now pale, g. ™^ quiet'o?d"' "^^^^*^^^ P-^^-^ on the
offS^ffbtdt tttlnt^tf ^rf^^^^ *^^ E-l'«
face glowed like fire! aS™ r^ale l"" v"^' ^^^^" ^'' P"^^o««
phosphoric rays of Iviath hi ^ci T""^ ^^^^ "^^^^^d to emit
thinUds, an^d^Lm™g\is Vel^°'^' ^^^^'^^' ^^^^^^^-^ ^-
A r [ ^^^ ^® '^are so to insult one who . "R,,^
A few days-a very few davs-and Wn~^„.^^l"o "^^tt^^.
wudmihe servants' a thV a'n,^ a. ^^- j-^an^c my tone, a
Justice did notStetlS dead'^n're- pot7°S^ *A """^ "'
forgotten-nay. I ha™ hoarded „p '^r yC. t^t^J^LI^Zul
But he waa
ir Bertram
Mrs. Oroft,
in Paris of
ay in that
'oy!— is so
e hked to
I not there
elope with
■■; perhaps
ing Wake-
3n't think,
irl left her
her father
. beautiful
)dith can't
with him,
y a heart
be on the
I were at
' had met.
apparent-
drinking
>ne object
If at the
ew Earl's
•ed it im-
3ould not
he could
, that he
e fulness
ndfather,
id on the
le Earl's
primrose
to emit
ling his
) matter,
lone. A
God of
lave not
'y of his
f
Ouilti/, or JSTot Guilty. 169
insults to me. Arthur, listen : I am a self-made man, but I am
not a low-born man. My father, once Croft of Croft, squan-
dei'cd his property, and I was brought up in a charity school—
a charitv school which my ancestors helped to found. I did
not thmk it was known, Arthur, but that insolent lad— he was
but a lad then— Wilfred Lorraine— he was not Lord Hauteville
then— taunted me with it, in a room full of people— in the pre-
sence of my own servant he jeered and flouted at me, and
called me ' Blue-coat boy ; ' and I vowed to be revenged on
^^^\ I never forgave him, and I never will. And now, now
has he dared to insult you, and to offer yon a bed in his ser-
vants attic? Oh! I'm glad of it— I'm glad of it, Arthur!
Kevenge is sweet— so sweet, so sweet, so sweet ! " And he
rubbed his thin old hands, and almost danced in his horrible
and unnatural delight.
"Forgiveness is much sweeter, dear grandfather ! " said
Arthur, shocked and even alarmed at the unwonted excitement
ot the usually impassive, grave, and professionally dignified old
*'Ha! ha! ha!" laughed old Croft; "I'll forgive him when
i ve had my revenge ; but not before, Arthur— not before !"
CHAPTER XXXVII.
" Come, let the burial rite be read,
Tlie funeral song be sung." Edgar Pob.
The day of the late Earl's grand funeral approached; the Earl
mid Countess of Rockalpine, who felt that their son, Lord
MauteviUe, ought m common decency to pay the lasL tribute of
respect to him who had, as they supposed, left him all that was
not strictly entailed, left no efibrt untried to discover in what
low haunt of dissipation this disgrace to his family was lurk-
ing. "
Little did they imagine that, while the Earl had actually
written to Detectives Meadows and Ferret, to urge them to
hnd out the hiding-place of his son, that son was lurking in
a little cottage on the Rockalpine estate. LittI -when it be-
came known that the beautiful parlour-maid, Marion Moss, had
seoretlv left the Castle— Hfctle did they associate her departure
mth the continued absence of their profligate and self-willed
son. ^ °
Yet so it was. Brian's passion for Marion, fosteiod by her
strange, fitful behaviour, had grown to such a madness, that
even at such a time, while his enrandfather lav vet unburied in
1x13 coffin, the selflsh, sensual, and passionate'man had but one
thought, one feeling, one object in life— Marion! Marion!
Marion !
One night, he suddenly appeared before her, in her father's
m
170
Guilty, or l^ot Guilty.
and ^^Y^ ^\f'"t '",'''° »''* "'"^"g alone by the wood
m, JTfv ™' '," *he h°™' ""»' •>*! onclbeen Rough B^b?
He sprang to his feet at the word, dashed the laree hot fp«r«
from his eves and taking a pistol from his brea t-focke held
aland- ''^' ^""^ ^^' ^^^^^ *^ ^''' ^^^^ MariSn teked
your^wife l'"""" '~^ '°''''''* ^ ^"^^' ^^^^ y°^ ^"' I wiU be
nnnW Tv!" ^''''^ fainting on the old wooden settle in the inde
Sh and h7.^^ '^'? f ^l^' ^'^'' ^?"^^ *^^ ^^^g^ tears gushed
8aid- "^^'^"^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ kisses. At length he
the Mill' Pnffo^ love-my bride-my wife, all is arranged ! At
tne JM.1II Cottage, where I have been hiding, your fat&r JnX
ThVmuKr"-^;: ^'^ ^°"?^^ '^^^^ ^f^^ssL-S^us^^
of the Cp.nl ^T bo«ie-my home, beloved one, till the day
will be ours » ' ' ^^ "^^ grandfather's will, fabulous wealS
wifstuldTefbrfl^^^^^^
his^breasf ^'" *^'''^^^'' ^'^ ^^'^' ^°^ *^™«t l^i« hand into
have been married in this old gown!" '""'^^^ ^^^^ » P^^^*. to
" I will make that up to you, dear love ! You shaU bla^P in
D?ar4 ETot^'"^ "*'"' " ''° '^''^=* ''"^'' "' 't' b^"4
be.^n^''"VX^?.eS'f^r„'';. Z^^l f^"" ^''-- '■aa .ho of
tJot^p"*^ ¥'5,^"?^*^^°''" *h® presence of old Kit and Jock the
Key. Copal Bl«^katter, a disreputable hock parson^ joined the
I
the wood
igh Eob's.
f his hand
id. There
! her heart
aarchment
, spread it
two days,
tout you !
this night
her brido
irlp Her
hot tears
3ket, held
shrieked
I will be
the ingle
's gushed
mgth. he
red ! At
er, Jock,
wait us.
the day
s wealth
e second
and into
you to
3Ut, " to
blaze in
irthday
i she of
>ck, the
led the
Gidltij, or Not Guiltij.
171
hands of Brian, Lord Hautevillo, bachelor, and Marion Moss,
spinster. By special hcence such a marriage was valid.
The Eev. Copal Blackatter, old Kit, and Jock hurried away
to get tipsy at the nearest public-house, and the bride and
bridegroom, Lord and Lady Hautevillo, remained at the Mill
Cottage.
CHAPTER XXXYIII.
" The maiden's vanity, the lover's passion,
Must always end iu soniethln!? of this fashion :
She frets to find hiiu weary of her charms-
He thinks no fetters heavier than her arms." LASCKLLES.
TiiE evening before the funeral, Marion, Lady Hauteville, who
had been ill from nervous excitement at the idea of being
actually " My Lady," was lying on a sofa near the window, in
the absence of Lord Hautevillo, who already began to pine for
some new excitement, and to grow weary of his bride, and the
monotonous confinement of the Mill Cottage.
The little maid of the mill was sitting with her ladyship, for
company to the latter, and had fallen asleep over her knitting,
when suddenly the faint remaining Mght wa^ darkened, and a
shadow thrown on a novel Marion was reading ; and looking
round, she beheld a strange, red, black-whiskered face peering
in at her through the cottage window-pane.
Instinctively she felt it was a Detective. She was right ; it
was Detective Meadows. Ever since the '-eceipt of the Earl's
letter, he had been engaged in a vain search after Lord Haute-
ville. At last he had got a clue — he was on his track — and
withdrawing from the window, he concealed himself behind a
tree imtil Lord Hauteville (about midnight) arrived at his
bridal home, when Mr. Meadows followed him into the little
cottage parlour.
The red face, sharp black eyes, and bushy dark whiskers, of
Detective Meadows were not quite unknown to Lord Hauteville.
It was the first time the clever Detective had been tracking
hxA lordship ; but many of those with whom Hautevillo, when
ho was Brian Lorraine, had delighted to associate, had been
the objects of the Detective's astute and persevering pursuit.
Piize-fighters who had killed their men: jockeys who had
played some deep, unfair game; gamblers who kept some
secret hell— as with all such outcasts of society L-^rd Hautevillo
had been wont to associate, the face of Detective Meadows was
familiar to him.
Marion, who WnS Hfill KriTifT r\-n Viow r>c\'->P^» f>nnA\^^^ n r!'^-"''!
When her husband returned, and who, though she did not love
him, was much nettled at his long absence, and the sudden in-
difference which had succeeded to his pEssionate idolatry, did
not look up when her lord entered. She pouted her prettv lips
172
Chanty, or JVot QuiUij.
I
i \
hdXid Vouf rfd ^^^^^^^^^^^ -0 him; but her
was well aware orhirpreCceTl.Pri?^?^i'H^^^^ *^^* ^^^
he went out, and she ToZ7n^'. i^l^^}^"^}^^ ^ ^'^^^^ ^'^ before
not taveres ed till SrSrWiv^ nl.-"'"^^^^^^ ^^ ^^^Id
with indignation at tW. f n i°/^.'^^^ him had been boiling oyer
man of whom sL had so W T'^'^r'^^^^^'" ^^^^^^^ in the
now retahate. ^°"^ ^^'^^ *^° ^3^^^^^, but who could
befnlw^^ethat'wMe LoveTa? 'T\- '^^•^^^'' «^^ ^^^^ ^-e
riage, Love as a m.^fni^ 7?i ' affection mcreases after mar-
with 'some very Crse nS."^ '^"^^^!J *^^ boneymoin ! anS.
^Sf ^ ^^ -/^'L^S^i^^^^^^^ °' ^^^^^' ^-^
gan t^^^p^^HfU^^^^^ ^^^^ (no/completely sated) be-
which already gallerhTm^ent^^^^^ to hate "'the fetters
an insolent, reckless a^T^nffl^ -^ ^'**^^ "^^^^^S^ Parlour with
occasionally, as he took' h^i"s c?|a? frfm'' r'"'"^..°'' ^-P^^?*^' ^^^
once-favourite song, called "SebTs W ^-^^^ '^"^^^^ ^'
" Free from satiety,
Care, and anxiety,
Cliarms of variety
Fall to his share.
Bacchus's blisses.
And Venus's kisses—
This, boys— this is
The bachelor's fare."
himl'UeThtSdf ^""^ '^^* ™'-''^' °^"=^«™ Meadows touched
saS°dHaut;me°''' '"'^' ""^^ ^^ ^^^ ™"' ^i* meP"
to me to t4 to fii^ouf f™, A"i^ ''' '1'^ ^^^J''- *l«^'-e, he wrote
job put. aXSe or rLCrpocSf lTif,.,^S ? ""'^ P"™?
So I've pewrered till T a2 J^ ' j ',' ^ "" '"'" J°™ S°<"J-
the worf -8 a«^^ Z LT "'' ""'' """^ ™'='' ^ ^et a'clue,
^^not^bfor^ou: t7t!?:^';rifer^,nS»tf^^ "^ou
me out of doors ! - "'' amomited to athreat to kick
allLyoiiood :f^\f":°r^^E^^^^ of Eockalpin. mS
no wwya Jncommudjng the . j " ' '^'^ " "^ ""^" -^ am t m
1' qT • v'^'^i ^^ ''"'" '^^^d Mark, in her blandest tnr,P«
She had at the f^st sour^ of the DeSv^'s' W locked
I
I
^', but her
ed that she
le tiff before
re he would
boiling over
ange in the
who could
would have
! ofter mar-
noon! and,
Jrian, Lord
^ sated) be-
the fetters
arlour with
spirits, and
linging his
GuiUv, or Mt Guilti/.
rs touched
ith me ? "
[ly in my
, he wrote
ie private
our good,
jet a clue,
-le; "you
does my
The last
it to kick
■ ■'dows.
i^ means
onfidence
I ain't in
;e looked
173
;?slr "^^TngZe '" '°^'' ^"' ^^^"°-^ ^- —bent
Meadowl?!' ^^" '' '^°^ "^^ '''^''' ^'^^ *b^ Mes," said
' Which manly hearts '^hould guard the fair ' "
ehip'^-'"'''^' "^ ^°'"^' '^"^'^ys. M that concerns your lord-
'"Sir, — You once showed considerable ffllpnf aAAr.^c« j
Weri^g tor m. the retreat o, my^'l^'S tr^il/^^'e »
Jd HautTo '''''°"'' P"' "^ '''''"■ °" ">y "-^k, thcnP "
"You're a clever fellow, Meadows," said Lord HautpHllp
Go on. What does the iJeZ'^e.^'n^ Officer say next P"''
Why, he goes on to observe," said Meadows _
and ?:Z:^L':^Z 112?^ ?7an"t JoTav t*1 T' T^^'
discover the adclress of my son, nL LoVd HauS. w- ^ ^^^?«V^"'
the late Earl of Rockalpine, is to bl Sd on f S^
the 6th. As he is heir by his crandfa?hpr'« ^ii ?w, ''''*''''* ' ""« ^^
Bonal estate, and as he is, I JeC so leTxecr/ir „n1^ "'-/'"^ T'^ P^'^"
it is of paramount impor ance thit he sh^ aftpn^ i.'''/'^"'''^ ^^^^atee,
present at the readin- of the will f ^^^^^^'^ ^^^^^nd the funeral, and be
openly: I have^Vdon: s" ndirl"; tfTu\^l7"^^ '^^ ''^^
in youi' power to workf and discover my scon's rJtre at ^^lil' "'^ '''^'^'
"Ah," said Meadows, checking himself " -11 +!,« ,,„ ^ •
nothmg to the purpose , i.ut just this^^^ pf ^IJ''^ ''
him over my father's co£? Snt byloneTsSl lb!, h '^*'^' ^'^^^^ ^^*^
am concerned; ..d I hope iord hSS l tl t'^^^^^^^^^^^
assocmtes and ;lie follies o^' Briaa LorraiiiP ''''" ,^%®^^'^ "^st aside the
place till the 13th instant; therX. m™Vin f vr''^\"'^^ ^""^^
your obedient servant, ^ ^ success and remain, sir,
" Well, my Lord," said Detective Meadows "fbo<-'« fT,o i
and the «hort of it. I don't denv that wJI o / • ^ ^""''^
lord ''-.-and he bowed to MarioS^>?f /; ^ Z^{Z:^?Zl "^
Lord Kockalpine has done the 'ansome Sin^by you' ' iffS
174
Ouilty^ or Not Guilty.
I f
every father that'll pay a lon^ chalk of his own free will-
so I hope you'll meet him half way. There's the old Earl
lymg dead up there ; and though he's died in a ripe old age
vet Death in the 'ouse— a father's death— often softens a man's
art, and "
■n "f? ,P° !^®^^"^y ^^<^^e^ ^oum ever have paid that bill of
Poole s, said Lord Hauteville. " Why he refused me ten
pounds the last time I wrote to him about it ! "
"As I said before, Death in the 'ouse alters men's minds
and softens their 'arts ; it sets us a-thinking and a-thinkintr
who 11 go next, and " ^
" Meadows, I'll go up to the Castle at once with you," said
Lord Hauteville, " if it is not too late."
"Never too late to mend, my lord!" said Meadows, who
lelt as It he had already fingered the reward, and secured the
appointment for his son, which the Earl of Eockalpine offered
" But you won't go, and leave me here alone, Brian P " said
Marion.
" Well, I don't think it would be very pleasant for me, or any
of the parties concerned, were you to accompany me to the
"In course not," said Detective Meadows; adding, as Lord
Hauteville sauntered out, puffing his cigar, and merely nod-
ding to Marion, " Love in a cottage for me ! Lor', never fret
my dear, nor cry your pretty eyes out! he'll come back inl
double-quick time, and no mistake, never fear ; and if he don't,
there's as good fish in the sea as ever wor caught. So give us
a kiss, there's a dear girl ! The game's up with him, I
see
can
" Wretch ! iiipudent -ivretch ! " cried Marion, as she gave the
too gallant Detective a resounding slap in the face ; " I am his
wife— I AM Lady Hauteville ! " and she drew her fine form up
to its full height, while her Iseautiful black eyes flashed fire, and
ker cheeks glowed with rage and wounded pride.
" Walker ! " said the Detective—
*" I'm no 5'oung man from the country,
So you can't come over me !'
" However, if you aren't agreeable, I shan't break my 'art.
So, good night ; I hear my lord caUing. Good night, miss "
" I am his Avife, I tell you, you low villain ! "
" Ay, ay ; anybody's wife— everybodv's wife— somebody else's
wife ! and with a wmk and a nod, and thrusting his tongue
mto Lis ' heek. Detective Meadows threw up the parlour-win-
dow, bolted out on to the little grass-plot, and overtook his
lordship at the entrance to the Black Wood.
TV hatever the ±iari of Eockalpine and his son, LoT-d Haute-
viUe, felt at this recouciiiation in the House of Deatli, after
a total estrangement of many years, neither betrayed any
free will;
e old Earl
pe old age,
ms a man's
that bill of
ed me ten
3n's minds
a- thinking
you," said
dows, who
ecured the
Ine offered.
anP" said
me, or any
mo to the
?, as Lord
erely nod-
never fret,
16 back in
if he don't,
So give us
lim, I can
e gave the
" I am his
le form up
;d fire, and
i my 'art.
;, miss."
3ody else's
lis tongue
rlour-win-
3i*took his
^d Haute-
iath, after
rayed any
Guilti/, or Not Guiliif. 175
nl^l'^J' V"^^ '^°''-'' ¥''?' °^^^ ^^^'^^^ closed coffin of the
old lord, whose remains had been removed to the hbrarv from
the dressing-room, which was partly destroyed by he fire vS
have already described ; and t£e new Earlthon LplunedTn
his son why the funeral could not take place roSnamelv
that the outer coffin was to be of so costly and elabomL a de '
scrip ion (so nchly embossed and emblazoned), that Mr G—
the undertaker, could not promise to have it roadv till ihL
thirteenth. "And now, Hauteville " he sSd "T^S S
settle with Meadows. 'l believe yiur it ^ arc gone ?o^W
?. Ill ^'""^ r\ "''^^ ^^^ ^°^^ "^^^^^^ (^ho keeps LfnSon hours
m the country) up and m the drawing-room. But hark ' whn
can be ringing at the castle gates at thif hour ? Tfancy 1 kelrd
wheels just now! There's the great beU again! ¥hat can
The Earl was ghastly white, cold, and shaking in everi^ hmb
That perpetual tormentor, a bad conscience, kept hirSit had
done tor twenty-five years) for ever on the gll vZ An un
wonted noise at night, the approach of a policeman a crowr Tr,"
Meanthi?e tir d ^7%^°^'^^^^^' -ffieeTfo\^r'Srhim
Meanwhile Lord HauteviUe, without noticing his fathers
abject terror, ran down stairs to inquire who wfs r noin^the
castle bell at that unwonted hour ^^"o^ng tne
Lord Eockalpine dreaded to go down, but he had not nerve
^ough to stay a one with the coffin that contained his fethS
corpse He resolved to hasten to l.he drawing-room to Ladv
Rockalpme and there to await the explanation of th^ loud S
oft-repeated rings at the castle bell. ^^
CHAPTEE XXXIX
"■f L'^nhU*^^* Dwan those stains of blood and mire-
Ihat cheek of a=aen hue-4hat glance of ire ? " Lascelles.
The mystery was soon explained; for— nale ao-itnfArl ..^a
B amed with blood and dust^-the young M^arquis^otSsta^^^
burgh was ehown mto the drawing-rocfm of the Castle T>?«
wheels, the noise of which the sfrl had heard even in The
heTa™?aTSl^^^^^^^ ^^ ''' --^^^^' -^ ^^--nt
.r,?V!3'^i'^ ''-"^ '"'"™'* *' Dunstanburgli the eveninK before
DaoR 10 Uunstanbui^gh Abbey, at about half-pastdeven ll/'S'
coachm.n dinvmg him, and his groom riding before to open the
gates when, as they were passing the out'sk^Vts of the^ Black
Wood, just whore it joined Ms own forest of fii, through
176
Guilty, or Not Chdlty.
S'i*';^^^^^^^ waked out
carriage Vindow of a monnL v \^^ *^° appearance at the
for he wore a Tlark pTJi ^ i^'ghwaymr^n, as he supposed;
face, anSheld in hfs ffi a^'Silr' '?if T?^^. P^^^ ^^ ^^
which the moon shone Tho ^ ?l *''' ^^t ^"^^*^ "^^^^^^ of
Foreft, sudlonly dashed up SeJ^?W„"'Th ".T*™''"^''
polling the robber's ste«lT' wt ^ thoron-hbred horse com-
his Welling et^pLto:l1of ma' ylets^^^hf^^^
a bullet whizzed Dast nTv ^t^?^ i^^ to examine his wOund
close by CoSed bvfh^sfhlrTi? ^""^T^ ^^^ *™^ of ^ tree
we set off at fSlsnee/ wl f ^ !f ^"^ ^^' ^^ "° «^^^«« Past,
burgh." adLd the^MtauiT " if ^^r'.°^?°™^« Dmistan-
time%he misereanL woTd be gone" and tW^^ *^f ^^ *>^
K' hes'e^dbVw'erT^^^^^^ ^^"^^^^^^ - *« ^^' -d
completely died out thft'l^nnU ^^^^^ ^^waymen has so
in/ality^ lights 'of the r^^^^^^^ '"'^"^'^ ^^^^^^ ^^^-^ ^^^^Id be
Old Baggs, my coachman, and ToDSum mv «r.o«rv,
very anxious to investigate this mvsterv Th'p^I-if fu r^"^
that plunder was the ohipr-f nf ViT-'^ ^' ^^ ^^^ ^o* beheve
'Chequers;' but it w^s^on^f^^^^^^ ^T5 *^t ^^^^ <^« *^^^
havfi hpp.. i„.T.,-^^ L„ IF""® ' ^^G wretches, however, must
fired from a'dislancTanrthnn^wi? i^t,*^^^^ •• *or a shot was
Mt my g^•oom,^^opr^^f JL^^^^^^^^^^
wUiiicC
Ma
y waked out
ranee at the
le supposed ;
' part of his
it muzzle of
fire, and he
3n killed on
nd to fasten
mstanburgh
I horse com-
oung fellow,
stol, lodged
brains, and
ifortunately
as the old
;h had been
Pv^o robbers
)ld Braggs,
lit effect,
out leaving
fing in his
his wound
ik of a tree
neans past,
3 Dunstan-
lat by that
eturned to
le man my
) who and
len has so
y could be
3om, were
lot believe
y are con-
> the spot,
eft it, but
ere gone !
eheld him
him, and,
t to send
ly to the
ver, miist
shot iras
spent, it
I by this
Ouiltt/, or Kot Guilty.
hospitality for the ni^ht '' " *^° '^""^S"' "^^^ ^^^^^ yoir
MLi^s,ThJD:tt^i,?r.tn^^^^^^^ ^-^^^ ^'''^ ^-^' "^hat
now in the Castle With von. Inl^ a smgular chance) to be
of «!l°d»Ttir''° b1; xt\ ''" t?" the mother, he co«M talk
He retired to bed and tZtf» nt^^ m <="*'='■"»'' the Marquis.
in the Castle, ^^hr^rs't^tcltTc^t'Jf^t:^ S,1 "^
solutfon \^ s"s t'ge "SiSnotf ^^"°™? '^^^
the.onoton/of her life at 'SJS^^^.Zr^S^
wiKLt*e4r1>T?eqL™%™^^^^^ ""'i' T'' ^PP'-"
h- gave a detailed aeeomt of the „ff,„w ^ardrohe, and while
attire Revived in bpmiH. ? T ""-^^^^ ornaments to her
graceful S gay her X/^i^in^''^^' ^f '^™.^ "^^ ^^^^2«^^.
Ordered for he^^nnex^^^^^^^ ^? «1^« tad
fire, piled up artistSrurnS ^'°^ ^^^ ^^^^
The room was lio-htedun TT^vt^ - ? ^^' ^f^ernous grate.
With a snow-whUc damSk c^Th ?C?P>;'f "^^^^ ^^^ ^°^«^ed
cate china reflecS^'tfi'^^J'^-^^/l^^T "^^ *^^ ^^^^-
t^n, the muffins and thfrtter'edt';^^
qcuuuc marmalade, could not be surDasspd" o^',f +7 "' '""
agam how delightful?* would tewgeT htw^'^'Sd"^
I i\H
178
I; I
ill :i
'H
Ouilty, or JVot Ouilty.
the wood, unTi ?hey had exwl Vfi I'f'^-^^ ^'f 'ord^Uip^in
the discourno to tL the^f ^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^ ^en he led
Edith's rnouJlri.^^'X.S^'^^^^^^^^ f -^^or
sent to enter into the hHrrl.* f.,f, ""^^^^ ^"7 aoul,t of Aer con-
tweeu them. ^^'^ ^"^^^ ^^^^^ ^"^^ro mapping nnt be-
Topsum slept soundfvth/l^ """'^i'" *^' "^^""'^^^ °f ^^^^i^'^i
apartments- Jr"S coul^ h"^ ^^"'" 7^^'"^^ *« ^'^^ °^
Arthur Bertram. X had "aved Ed?;!'^?- ^"' T' '^^^"^^
had a garret amon.r the servant n }\ could only have
Edith. In ^-at dream «l,nw? ^^"nstanburgh dreamt of
blossom. Ip :. hite sa^in and n. ^TT^ ^' ^ ^''^''^^ -^" ^^'^nge
but when U r.u.l to c?asn her £ V 'l*^'''?' T"^^' ^"^^ ^^^^^^^^ ;
into a ^V^io'^ n ar^^^n"^ !^ his heart the lair form shrunk
BBIDE is DlAi^r^ ^ ^'°^^' ^^^ ^ ^-^ico said, "TlIY
hi
CHAPTER XL.
" Wlth'Kth llf, "f^"'»-"'e <'"v.v mora,
sleep?e?s^ref -Th^^^^^ T, ^^^^ ^^^^^ -se from her
reception her fathe? had .^iren Trf^ ' Y^''".f^^?.'^°"S^* °f *1^«
Arthur, and that, too iust'aW t r':,^'"^^^*^ ' ^^°^' ^*^^' ^^^^^^^
the imminent risfc-of 'h L ov^^' To f TT" '^^'.^ ^^^ ^^^^' ^^*^
coldly-to offer him ^voomin ll T ^T^ '° ^^^^ghtily. so
gentle, so dignified, so refi,^d^ What Tf'hp ^^'"'V, ^'^ '^
grandson? He had tlm w ^ ^^^J^\?f ^e ivere old Croft's
Arthur, himsdf! Ind thatl ft hI *^'l ^?r°^ °^ ^^'^"^«
Am ./ In the solitude of ler o^ ?i. i '^^i^^^ ^F *« ^^"^ble
her tears gushed forth and ho7^.n«^^^^''i^'i' '^""^« ^^^^^d,
Poor EditI sank on he; knees Wlf? T^}^^^ ^* ^^^ *^«"g^t.
—to pray for faitl? hn?i ^ V^"" bedside, and tried to pray
the C; tmf l^^TadTJ^^^^^^^^^
one day to be theirs Prp^^nfil v,^ t i* *°, themselves as
door; she rose and admitted pCbe ?]T^ '.^T *^P ^* ^^^
herself and Ida. ^^"^"^ed I'hoebe, the maid who waited on
^ " I thought I heard you stirrinrr. mv lo.ix. » „„: j -ni . , ,.
i nave brought your hot water XnT' i7"' ' '''Y'^ -r^«3De, " so
.this note was given me iult now Wo' -n ^"""^ P^^^'^' "^y ^^^y,
give it to you ICl youCL abnt'' '^' ^"^' ^^^^ °^^^^« *^
pathisfng a
l^irdnhip in
lien lio led
I. Keither
of her con-
ing ^^tbe-
Tl- - Mar-
ibor belore
ad dressed
id had ad-
j of whicli
lis own
n, though
only have
dreamt of
all orange
1 blushes ;
m shrnnk
lid, "Thy
Ouilti/, or Not Guilty.
from her
ht of the
r belovod
er life, at
jhtily, so
He, so
1 Croft's
f Prince
humble
burned,
thought,
I to pray
lur, and
elves as
at her
lited on
ibe, "SO
ly lady,
ders to
170
4td\ntttmVed^^^^^^ - «^t took it. but she
ing. Phcebe left t ho rZ^ «ho recognised Arthur's handwrit-
H^^.ny_,«.I«oa ana SZo^^^'lT^^^tl^:^ I^IZ
iid not know ho WlXed himSr*!r",T'J«° ^'^ addresseg. I
that holov a you. What vo^LppTn do tlV ^ ^"'V^, ^""^ «"«P^t^<J
devoted, ui >.t unhappy 'laPPens, do not too rtadily condemn your
This sli viiffe note n^l<7^r1 fr» i? ri.i,» t , Arthur."
and. unable t? befr t^t iLme ^' f f '''\ ""? discomfort,
felt so restless and imoatS 7 Xn i !■^ ^'^'' *'h^"^'^cr while she
put on her hat and l^^tTnd Ifn^'l'^^ comi,loted her toilet,
the garden. ' """^ ^^^'^^ ^^^^n stairs, and out into
^^""'t^Zt:'^^^^^ -ad it again and
uiiappy Arthur" A^ Sin L^ i a ^^.^demn your devoted,
sinkiifheart, onthefe wordrti;Jro1.'r'^ '^'^^ ^^^
paper m her hand, and IZl;^ V^T.T^ ^S'^f ^^'^"^-^ *^o
there was a P.8. o'n the "^^^ l^^led^ti^!!^^' ^^^^
the M. of D. mean by his confi en^otht ' ^■""r„''«"stancy. wUt can
njl^has he dared t/insuU^S^r ^^ ^^ ^^^i^ Jj -^J
buf ^ItVan^uttt^stp'lt^^^^^^^^ T^'^-d ^--dly,
crisp and glittering w th'ht^frost ^ In'nf ?^, T'T *^« ^^^°
was always loose at nic^hV n . i x . ^^^ bloodhound, who
as a lamb to h!rfx?Ldf-E'd^h n^r ^ "T " *° ^"^«' ^^« gentle
silken tan ears haXint by t o «Tip '7^'^^-^^™^ "P' ^^^ long.
8ome face; and v&hl wl ?I^'' ^^^^^' «°l^^«n. banS-
and climbing npCsfde w?t^his''tin''°'^'^'^^^^^^'« ^^^^d,
seemed to beg £a ve to follow her *^°^°"S^bred forepaws, he
withtetdtua^i^i'a Cr^^^^ ^^' ^f P^«- throbbin.
of an insult to htXareToLTdS^^^^
ing with a vague present imnn; ^? ^ *° ^*' ^^d shiver-
giSi of the bifodhCd'^t^pLv %i?f '^1^' S^i^^ ^^« y^^
coaxed and patted him abseXL^ w fi.''^^^,?^.^^^^^' a^id
went on together. ^^^^^^^Ij' and with a cold hand, as they
Edith had hearrl o*" fho i**" • '
before. She wa"s"aw« JfLrir'"^"'" ^^'^^.^"'^'^- of the ni^ht
Phcebe bS^com^ iXher roo^'.r' sleeping in the Castle.f r
N 2
pi
yj j^
IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)
k
9 r
{./
J-"-,^
1.0 1^1^ ^
I.I
"f 140
L^ i U 116
^ ^'-"i
1 llU(L^Cl(J!liiL<
Sciences
Corporation
as west MAIN STRUT
WfBSTER.N.Y. MSSO
(716) •73-4S03
iV
■^
<^
%'^'^1-T^
^>^
-^^^^^B^ .^^B^^
^'^"^'^~
^'^
180
GuiUy, or Not Ouiltt/.
connceW it y^'h^ tL mack wZd S^^^^
Hubert made a dead ston 1>.,V.« i w^"^' *° ^^^ surprise.
grew cold and S; aid sCkZwT'/.V'SS^ ^i^^^^^ «l^o
on the track-tho ?rack of blood ?nT I^Vu^ bloodhound was
gouts were of human Lre and "^^^^^ f^ certain that those
tlie attack on the younrMarlr^^^ connected with
previous night. ^ ^ -O^arquis in the Black Wood on the
tollieVhe^t^h'tr'^^'^P^^^
wontMsTot^nr^M^^^^
and dreaming of InterlaLfenamfA^^^^ "'* l^^ ^^' ^^'^ »«leep,
sent by Lad/lda. ^o teif her s?lt t W liT^^ ^^^^^ ^^"^ei"
attacked by iigh^aymen in thiRlon^ ^^^ been
at that moment closS wfth Bo^i^ff ^^^'/"^ ^^^ «c<^"ally
apartments. Editlf rcmemWpH t J? Sf^?%' ^'" ^^^^ «tati
young Topsum-h^ loXhTp'rhidsoL^S^'^" ^^^ ^^^^ that
-was wounded in the arm Pfor F ,>l ' ^?PP^^ ^^^^^ ^room
fering in any shane) anTii. 7^' ^^^^^^ ^^^^e to suf-
quisiad esOuAhurt and ThSrPhif ' *r'/^^.'> ^^r-
authorityofoldBaires) tLttholm • ""^^ h*"^ ^^^^ (on the
waymen-that tW^anted to^^^^^ '°"^^°^ ^'S^-
But all this, wlicrmld hrl ^'l^^^^^
scarcely affected he^the"'4^r^^^^^^ bad
alone was concerned Now s}i« r.^v.1-^ ^°^ /ben the Marquis
Arthur's quarrel ^thDrmfn.hnJ5 "?i ^& associating
affair; not tharsheTor a mom^^^^^ ?^^ mysterioul
of Arthur's honour to crsrherheTrt ^he m" ^^ Wipion
bare so grossly insulted him. [hat even he x^ S 7t'
Christian horror of duelliuD- Tr^i-o.l,f i,o i ' ,^P"^ of his
to his own high standard of%.rhn^^^ ^^^ ^i''^" ""a'^^^ to act up
bl^ded murder, with Ite prC'n ? ZtXnT^ " ^*
wS a g^nSi ;;:j,dte1idrt^ S^t""'^ -olilo-nl^nTi?'
Xorgotten himself as to stHkt ht/lrtU oTSc^™/" ^J
'r knows, it
ss-land that
T surprise,
cited, smelt
the hedge,
way, till ho
; Wood,
e following
Ds and the
^ which she
Ihound was
that those
ected with
)od on the
>, and tried
)f Phoebe's
ist asleep,
'0 came in,
had been
s actually
the state
said that
ng groom
^e to suf-
the Mar-
1 (on the
tion high-
roh him.
now, had
Marq^uis
sociatmg
ysterious
suspicion
is might
e of lis
to act up
• In the
owed in
! had so
fer him-
a cold-
••'iirvci V,
man, he
i so far
ly other
Chcilti/, or mt Guilty. isx
sC' AL'';lix1?^^^^^^^^^ i't^'^ T ^''^ ^'^' '^"d sacred per-
often talSd freely t^he?. ^TZ T^ "'' ^^'ovon^^dv, ho had so
with his'qZ^" w4 ArthuT ""^"^ "' °" ™-^ ^ "'"""=*d
with bloor Edfth sh^^^^^^ '^^"'' petticoat was stained
^d^ stain, a^£;Si;^-S tttS^S
crel\rtUe'LiTte'tr''^^^ g-unds.and there was not a
cidedorretrLSherLrrw^^ T^'"' ^""^^ ^^ ^^° ^^^ ^e-
her. with sometlSn- 1 iL^^^^^^^ back to
fppf Tf ^„ "^''"^"o "1 U13 mouth, which ho drooDcd ah hnr
mmmmM
dear fnidals!^" li,'.!'™™ ™ "^^ S™«^ "t her foot, with S
with blood and staiucd w"h S^f j'.° be^Potted, blotted
oramemaskatbK^hedtoitr ' ^ '° '"'™ ""^^ '''«='^
The blood-hound stnnd loo^jn^ „„ .--x- ^■- i^- «
i
182
Ouiltij, or Kot Guilty.
Hubert sniffinJat through fT,n 1 °^' \" that ^ummor-houso, is
Edith starts^tfhor foct ho on'f '^7'- °^ *^i° ""P' ^^'''^ ?
button-she opens ?t. Wha l^^fcli^^^^^ ^7 «»
pair of boots, and a pockot-handl;.r.^^-nr vi ... overcoat, a
and mire, all well kn^owfto he" as Ar fL'i «P^??^T''^. ^'"°^
comer a waHh-hand-basin which W ol" ^ ^/J'^ 1" ^''° ^"'''her
h7r;L\^5;:i/l-ti ^^-'^^^^-uitbatl^^i^i^^^^^^^
tim'e're^t'^^hetrofthe^^^o^^^^^ ^^'^^ ^^^^ ^-" «»* -o
placed against theTrldoor S^^Cd t^^^^^ ^ '"^f '-'^^^ ^'^^^'^^r
was that? as children, ChurtrherseffM^^ i^?'" ''
cend, ni their defence of their nnUlnn- ^^^,,^•^^'1 used to as-
little Crofts, and thdr cu tom wni^ """'"'^ *¥ invaders, tho
it up after them at L anm oarb nP f '"" "^ ^^^° ''*^*^«^. '^''^w
the trap-door. W^oach of tho enemy, and shut down
dot,"iS2'pTr:d?e^fc' ^^""'1' ^"^ *--'• f-- the win
Bcription, shrknT;: t'^nTec^rMear '^^ -r^'^ •'^-
other men coming towards the tmrne^hotte'''' sT.'^ ''^''"'^
mysterious foreshadowing of evil arTnerilfH. k"?^ "^^"^'
nected with his blood-stamod ^nrmn^J n ^ ^^"^ ^''^^"^ ^on-
them up, with thrwash n^ bn^dn f ^' V^^^^V^^ ^'^r to catch
fear, darting ui) the TadVinn^i' ''"'^ ^'^^ '^teps winged by
the Up Zr,Tist a s^^^^^ f^^^ ^ "P ^^^'^ l^^^. and closed
ive Meadows ad ll comZfon^'' ^""''1^ ''\^ f*"P^^ ^^ ^^tect-
the'^gtuid :f hf wentlnd' fdlo"' '^Ilf' °^'^»-"' -^ffi^g at
into the Bla^k Wood ' ^"^ ^^' ^"^"^^ ^^ b^°<^d back
CHAPTER XLI.
Ills cnMlcst conquest sees—
The toy to every breeze." SiH K ScLM'En Lyttox
young
on the first
ir-housc, is
iloardP
nired by a
5vorcoafc, a
ivith blood
bo further
II rorcntly
as blood!
it his, or,
light was
—b'ut ask
n at ono
ht ladder
Th?» it
'cd to as-
tders, tho
ler, draw
ut down
the win
aid'-? dc-
i soreral
lur (con-
to catch
igcd by
d closed
Detect-
. hold a
iffing at
>d back
T0».
ng the
or soul
quia of
was of
Bscrip.
yowng
OiiiUi/, or mt Gidltij, 283
Marquis, an inrostigationof this kind, with Detoctiro Meadows
at Its head, was irresistible. The Earl of Rockalpire aCe
fel no inchna ion to take part in a search that must lead S
the I^kck Wood:""''^ '^"^ '^'^'^^'^ '^^>'""^'*" "^^^^''^ «» '-'•tl^-
Edith, from tho spot in tho loft whoro she was kneelini? her
car close to the tran-door, distinctly heard lloger Soft ay,
doo/ortt'Lll'j'^^^'^^''^'"^^-^^ the ladder, anS shut the^t^ap-
"h^^ftJu w'Ss'thar^te^^^ «"' ' '^^ -- «^ ^^° -^;
Rogefcroft!''' "" "'^'""^ '"^'' ^^° cupboard, Detective/' said
u ^°!i""^' ^'^J'P: ^^'*'" "'^^'^1 Dotcctivo Meadows.
Mart;^^"!:t1i'og'r?'''^^^^^ "^^^^ ^'^^^^-g
"I ? Oh! I didn't expect to find anything particular " said
Roger; "on y one never knows what mij tn.-n up, when a hor
rible deed like this has been attempted. It's jusfp^ss^blo Thlfc
the nearest place of shelter mighf contain sC ^chie; one of
the assassins might have hidden np here, or stowed away h?s
weapon, or his dKvguise, or something." ^
"Well I vote wo push on," said Lord Ilanteville; "we're
wf!."^.?TT' ^^T^' ^^^^Sot to the spot where DunstanburJh
tirrnSg ifet'' "^^ '° '''''''^- '' --^^-« ^^--
He left the summcr-honse, followed by Detective Meadows
mU::Z]^r'''' "^' ^^^^-^ Croa ^remaining for sZe
"Excuse me, Dunstanburgh," said Roger Croft, "but is
thoro any person in the world who owes you a grudge P "
No, said the young Marquis, colouring; 'not that I know
^Z^ '^Y /'*t«,. no one who would be capable of anything so
mean and dastardly as assassination." .7 b so
I'm^^J^J^f"^ y°;* ^'^/l "^ nuarrel with anyone, Dunstanburgh?
I m an old friend and a sclioolfellow, and I think the friendshin
of so many years entitles mo to sift a matter in which yoiS
safety is concerned. ' ""^^u jruur
Be'rtmm '"*^^''' ^''^^'' ^""^ ^^"^ °' '^^^P^^'^^o ^"arrel with Arthur
'' Ha ! '' cried Roger. " Tell me tho particulars."
^n.i w»3 to b ame ; and if Bertram hadn t been so deuced
cool and uppish I d gladly have made Vamcnde honorahle ; but;
as It was, he put me in a deuceof n, na^'«ion «>"d T f- f ~— -li
so^lar as to caU him a bastard, and to"thr"eatcn him witl^a hors'e"
!i S[^^ n"^^^,^ ^l"^ *^^ happen P " asked Roger, eagerly.
WeU to begin at the beginning," said tho Marquis. " I must
II
181
OuiUy, or Not Guilty.
comCcWu To^DitTinf^^^^, Bossborou.h. knowing I ;,,,
ut Madame La Modo^rK i'f ^•,^PP^"^^^ *« ""^^ ^^ to Si
«omo hoad-drcss wh.Vl \,T ^'^"^''" °^^*^'* ^o bring her down
Lord EgorS ficv J^ *« V««»'. as Anno Bole^ afc
would not como n tLo Ld ^^° .^S'^''^' ^^^^ ^^^ a^S it
«o I called at oldirirode's a'nd'taT f "^'^^^ '^"^^ ^^ ^^
niilhner's show-rooms. Xro CLn n ' ^T" "P ^"*° ^he
were wasting their bloom vli^fi f^ °'" ^^°<2" P^'otty mrls
their wealtllr and hTpir^sl'rf ""vT^'l^^ ''(""^ '^^'o^
ftngcrs, hollow eves anA nil. i '?' f'^^^ ^^""8^ ' what thin
The forewoman. rhideous^oM S' ^ f^-^ assembled there"
SLster's Anne Bdevn S ,w«« ^^' ^'^P^amed to mo that my
out. afterwards. tSt it w^f TotTve^l o^"^'° ^^^^ ^ ^^""^
ahould bo sent bv nost Zn „f^ 7°" begun; but she said it
sauntered into tS ewoife tufooJ'f^ ^ ^^ ^'^^ «^°P' ^^^
I had ordered, whin I came sud^on? '""^ '^^^f
He was standing with his b^Vtnl ,^ "P^J' ^^<^^"r Bertram,
a glance. He was fitting, tl^h hXln .f'V^'- ^ H"^^ ^^ «
mnnaturo portrait, on ivor7 and a Inl^ of the jeweUer. a small
^i^g. The lock nV ho!,, ^' .1 * ^^'^^ °^ ^^air into a cold sot
oneWl in the :lt fr^ wh^c'Iha^^^ Therf Is but
severed. As ho unwoundTt^oTts full W Ji^"'.f "^^ bave been
length, I may say-and a rnv rff . H'^'^i^-its extraordinary
gloss, so rare on^brown ha^r^l''''' ?^^*?^ "P that golden
-suspicion grew into'^ertaTnV a^^^^^^^^^^ ^^deed to onl on5y
blood was not cooled when afte'r t hi { -^ ""^ H^^^^ '^^^l- That
crystal (Bertram would not let an vfin'"''' "^T P^l^-"^ ^^^^ the
It). I saw the other side of the ^oXf^^''^^"^ ^'« °^ touch
templation. he held it i^Ls hand. L^r ' ^^^-"^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^on-
an exquisite miniature of4Lof Edith T^nt^-' T'' ^^ ^as
Bogcr started-nav. grew whl'^^^'^ ^°^'^°- '
face so^Ji^aTo'c fc ^^^ , 'H.-e i. no other
was the fair full brow shadod Zfi^^^' ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^"^ •' There
the large, doep-senkra^^^^^^^^^
delicate nose; the enchinHno. v!^' ?i .1 of light; the little
very dimple in the left cS^^ *^^ f^^^t smile; the
of Wen! Roger, there was a look of 'Z'^'''',^ "^"- ^^t.God
never seen in tSat hauntinTfo^e Rn J/^'^P ^T' ^^^^^ ^ bave
how I idolize Edith. You K oft?n f ' ^""^ ^"^^ ^«^ ^ ^ove,
ciprocated, as far as a vounl .^1? ^''^''^'^ "'^^ "^3^ love is re
may reciprocate an una^Sedir ^^-^^^tle and so timid
assured me that Edit^Smi^o hSl^'^'^ • l ^?^ ^^^« often
wards Arthur Bertram nnT^ °"'^ *", ^^«^«^r « feehngs to-
mv adovofj.,, ^T^p i"^^'".' ^,°d now— now, when T hn-e r^^^lil^
ker tor^^^ that"L^nir;a?ttr"thrr '-^«"/?f--t'J
^3 well over to declare -y^r^oX^'p^rSX^^^^
\
Bertrai
very m
that he
I darte
resistec
know, £
possess
Lorraii]
f^ing I was
"10 to call
ig hor down
' iioleyn, at
as afraid it
' sure of it.
P into the
aretfcy girla
off' that of
' what thin
>led there !
10 that my
1 found
'ho said it
shop, and
omo studa
• Bertram,
ew him at
21*. a small
t gold set-
>ro is but
lave been
^ordinary
it golden
one only
oil. That
^der tho
^ touch
its con-
It was
no other
There
brown;
he httle
ile; the
ut, God
I have
Ilove,
is re-
3 timid
e often
igs to-
•VGaicd
I
I
OuiUi/, or Not OmUy. 195
heftTCnly girl horsclf-uow, / hmx„ that Arthur linimm and
and If so, all I Uvo for, caro for on earth, is taken from me thn
itrilt S?;.'"" P- "-^o™ P-. is Li^Tan'd T^,
comSisstonedtimlo «'°,'.i°"' .''? ^'"""I' ! or she may have
lommissionca him to got tho mnnaturc and tho hair sot n<i «.
surprise for her mother or hor sister, or she may lookin" nnon
nr™dtn'S?trtid7'''°^°'™"'r^y''-'"'™^^-^^^^^^^
«„ 'f'?°' "°' ?^'i ^^^ P'^P^'' ^" ^hich they worcwranncd un lav
g^e^hZr/hatll .V -^{^-"oin- can7ht^r„pPii'J
Cifi IhanS <f ,f^^' "^^'^ ^^'° ^°^'^^' "^ li^r 'iolicate and
omised
e Earl
to the
CHAPTER XLII.
arv . "^''^''t guardian angora Ilko a woman's love?- Lascelles.
rnin"^^ ^ 1^ ^*''^^*'^ ^ °^^'" «^i^ Roger, livid in his turn with
MUfh°kip^tsr„"o^i^if^-^^^^^
bS feS" "isTi" *"".? "' J^'^-''"«»gh HaTi pardThe
xjiacK wooa. As it was rather a steen asppnf T ««f v.,,^- ^f^i.
carnage to walk up hilU„d I clTsSl o1^ tUs ?ellow
tSh" dronned it ll/f™ f • ^ "™'' "P°» I"™ ^» suddenly,
I teed atTiLdVi.tfn.''u^"T^^^^^ ^l"" I '--^
resisted, and being,''li^,i;;P;j,JJ,"—^^
180
OuiUy, or Not Ouilty.
i
»
U f
I will answer that
question,' he replied, rory coolly, ' when
jwui M-u ,„u „y wnat right you put it.'
when suddenly closing with mo. he snatche'.l the locket out of
my hand, and pushed me-I don't know whether intentionairy
or accidentaliy-fVom the raised footpath (you know it wcH-
LucknvT^ '^'^ '"" ''\ ^"'"^ "'-^ '''' "^ ^ 'P^'^' into the nil.
tZ.l? V'^,^'^"-."}So and servants had turned the corner, an
thus the la ter d.d not see the indignity offered to their master
1 was mad with rage, and soon clambered up the bank: and'
wl^n T saw am puttmg the locket in his b..Hom. I fcl a f I
could have strangled him then and there. My blood was boil,
mg-his seemed quite cool. Fool that I was.""! shouted in my
the IS' '^rr."^ ^'l'*^ P"^*^'*'**'^ • You can have no right to
the miniature of a lady whose mother encourages my addresses?
LadySte^ slr^n^y- P^sliJ ^^
in^K^"."^ -^w"^!; I suppose, she will accept, eh? and prefer a
ow bastard to the Marquis of Dunstanburgh P' I said, i^solvcd
to dose with him, and have a tussel for the picture '"''"''''^
andtlLn veT^l^'^'''^' ^'' ''"'''^' ^"^ ^'^'""^^ ^''' ^^^ ^^^te.
am' 'JToT ^^•'^^q»V''' ^'° '^'^^' '^"^ y°" ^^^ "o gentleman; I
n^Pnnni^f ^ V """^ ^ ^'^^ •"' g^ntleman-we do not meet on
S?ctTc n^wiT? ""'^ ^'"^;"f?,^t getting possession of this
pictuie; now listen-you shall have my heart's blood first. If
you approach me. I will throw you again. I could wrestle hs
stand off; I don t want to disgrace or to punish you. and before
your^ own servants, too. Sco-they are come bLk to look fi?
nnfV,-^''''^f '''^ • ^'''*'', ^T-^''"'''' ^'^^^^^^ • ' I s^id-' for you arc
n Pnwn^i T^'' f""^^ ^,'r "^•^ ^^^° satisfaction that none bufc
a coward would refuse. Meet mo on Dunstanburgh Flats at
fw? w^ ^"f 7'i'' P^^'''° ^' y°"^ «^«o^^^- We are both good
shots ; let pistols be our weapons. A boat shall be in readiness
m case I fall, to row you off to my yacht, and vice vcrsT '
1 am no ducUist—or rather no mukdekeh,' said the vouni?
bastard, with the air of a prince. «* u i.uo young
" ' But you shall bo the former,' I cried ; ' I hope to prevent
your being the latter. If you refuse to meet me, I'll post^vou all
Over x^ngiunu, and norsewiiip you wherever wo meet. I shall
TrFZi^r i ^S^stanburgli Flats to-morrow, at noon; you
know the spot we 1. You know the alternative, too,' I shouted,
hoarse witfi passion. ' Bastard ! wiU not the Lady Edith be
Ouiltij, or Not Ouiltu.
187
Hjf ' whon
my guard,
jkct out of
entionally
V it well— -
) tlio roarl.
arnor, and
'ir master.
•Hiik; and
bit as if I
was boil-
tcd in my
right to
ddresscs !'
ad if tho
t she will
; smile ou
i prefer a
, resolved
>ry white,
loman ; I
meet on
1 of this
first. If
rostlc (as
sn. But
id before
look for
you are
lone but
Flats at
remote.
)th good
adinoss,
young
prevent
i vou all
i shall
)n; you
ibouted,
Idith be
ashamed of tho coward, tho abjoct coward, your refusal will
prove you P '
"•I will be thoro,' he said, white with rage; and I descended
tho bank, entered my carriage, and saw him no more. And now,
Roger Croft," added the Marquis, " wo are old friends, and I
know you hate this Bertram, and for my sake, too, as much as
I do; and so I ask you to be my second. I know, under exist-
ing laws, it is a groat risk. If either of us fall— and one of us mmt
and shall, for we cannot both breathe freely in the same world
— you will have to go al)road for a time. You may be much
bothered, and therefore, if you give mo Ibis proof of your
regard, you deserve well of mo in return. I have no relations,
except two married sisters, both very wealthy ; my largo estates
are, as you know, entailed ; but all that is not entailed— all my
personality, and twenty thousand pounds— I leave to you. I
made my will last night; it is ])roperly signed, sealed, and
witnessed. Nay, no thanks ; what I offer you I can well spare
if I fall; and as I have no one I care a pin for, it is no gi-eat
proof of affection. But answer mo at once— will you bo rav
second?" ^ ^
There was sometliing to Edith's ear very strange, hoarse, and
hollow in tho voice in which, after a long pause, Roger Croft
answered —
"I will!"
" Wo have not much time to spare," said tho Marquis ; " for
we mu8t join in tho search in tho Black Wood, and present our-
selves at tho Countess's breakfast tnble. Wo can tlien slip out
on some excuse or other, and I will drive you over to Dun-
stanburgh."
" Agreed," said Roger ; " but I don't think that fdlow Bertram
will show up ; nay, more, I've a great notion that he's at the
bottom of the attempt to pick you off last night ; and, all things
considered, I think one would almost bo justified in having him
before a magistrate— the old Rector would do— who, I dare say,
would see the thing in the true light, and commit him at once*."
" No," said tho Marquis ; " I don't believe he'd anything to
do with the attack of last night. There's something fine about
the fellow, after all. I shouldn't like to take an unfair advan-
tage of him, but I should bo very glad to give him his quietus
in a fair and equal combat— man to man. I've told you what I
have done for you ; even at tho worst you can't take any harm.
If I fall, your fortune's made ; if Bertram's picked off, I'll do
tho same for you by deed of gift, and we'll leavo tho country to-
getaer for a time, till it's all blown over. When wo rotuin, we
may find that the fair Edith has dried her tears."
•' Oh ! no doubt of that," said Roger. " If a living dog ia
better than a dead lion, how much bettor must a living lion be
than a dead dog ? Besides, women have such short memories.
188
Guilty, Of Not Ouilty.
Thov n'i^'!''.';'"?'' ^''"" "■"■« "''<»" "^ ■"»«' from Bockalnino
™t o" rp°a7o? ^kf"'' ""■' ""^ ""™-'y «=»«i - "7:
te wild eoaft £0"^^" "''' P""^'"?"'"?'' estate, and on all
ment to cnablo hor t^' car^ out hS^.^I" "^l""''"^ """"^ ■•°''''<'*-
. Dunstanbu^ch Fkts st.f '' ^^^,^1?"^ the rocky coast to
who we?eS^ tn i^;-™ ^ ^"^"^ *^^* thelfarquis ciiid Roger.
much loX ald°^o J^^ P^^* «5 t^te way, would take a
I.U longer and more circuitous route, but one which would
f)no month,
ransforahlo
10 ticket!"
Edith, sick
r brow, (for
r Croft had
3r — prayed
i strength,
rthur from
ing a mur-
i in spirit,
ockaljiino.
bs of rock
and wcro
tide was
ed in by a
and on all
olate; for
ghosts of
by moon-
aud oven
on among
my," and
3 were an
elks ; and
I, and tho
ry-maids,
•rt cut to
there by
eringtho
[pressed)
in of his
eternity.
She had
and she
refresh-
T'ert sus-
ist-table.
r escape
:e across
coast to
1 Roger,
d take a
h would
OuiUy, or Kot QuiUy, 159
render it impossible that tlioy should meet with her. As for
Arthur, slio did not know wliat road ho would take to that
deadly rendezvous ; but even if he took the short cut. so well
i^'lW'ln ^';'^?;,'"V'''''"'°'''!' "'"^ ^^'^>' "'^^ '^"»""» ^l>o i-o^k^. or
in the JJl.uk \V ood, or on tho moor, what matter P She would
have the better opportunity of dissuading him from listoninir to
tlie call o worldV honour, when opposed to the direct cSm-
mandment of Ins Maker; and though her check 11 ushcd. and
her heart beat ugh, at the thought of that possil^lo meeting,
she would not let even tho misconstruction tho Marquis and
boXr ff ^"^ "^°" '^ prevent her doing what she felt to
fully Ldith hid up the blood-stained hat, black mask, overcoat,
boots, and basin under that pile.
''I do not conceal them,'^ she said to herself, "because I
beheve it possible that the best, the kindest, and the mostnoblo
ot men has suddenly changed from a Christian gentleman into
a vile cowardly assassm ; T)ut I have a heart-sickening suspi-
cion that my Irthur is the object of some base, crafty, and re-
morseless plot, which tho successful concealment of these thinirs
may tend to avert." ^""'fc,«
"Roger Croft, too (she thought), what could be his object in
trying to persuade the Marquis that she. Edith Lorraine, loved
him. and did not love Arthur? He must know-he could not
wJT7""/^''li*^° 'P^'^^y °^*^° ^^^fJ - ^as rather dis-
tastetul to her than otherwise. He must have seen how verv
vey dear Arthur was to her heart. She had done her best, and so
had her young lover, to conceal their mutual and passionate love
from tho world; but the son of Mrs. Croft, tte brother of
Ixloriana— how could he be deceived? Besides, he had con-
stantly, when alone with her, tried to disparage and ridicule
Arthur, and to make mdirect attempts at winning her for him-
sell ; and her defence of her beloved had always called forth his
most mabgnant sarcasms and spiteful inuendoes. And now
what could bo Ins object in firing up tho Marquis against
Arthur, and givmg him hopes, wliich he must know to be
groundless, of his lordship's obtaining her hand— her heart
. Jter listening for some time, and hearing nothing but tho
waving ot the hr-trces against the windows of the summer-
uT'/^?'^^ °P^"^^ *^® *^^P-^oor, let down the slight ladder
f^^'.S^'^i^f'^-?.? ^^'^'" ^^^' t"S stepping softly down, she was
m the httle sitting-room. Edith then withdrew the ladder •
m' r^~r~ ~ ";'-;*V«' "S' iQc uaufl. ui Lhu summer-nouse, and let
the ladder out (with some difficulty, but she did effect it) ; and
cf^ pT'^ife ''^°''.i J^ ^°°^ *^^^ ^" t^^* ''Old, northern, shaded
Bide of the httle building, it sunk into the soft white deposit
and was seen no more. Edith then looked about her for a long
190
OuiUy, or Not Ouilhj,
te ; '^' "'•"?" ''""' ^" '"•" ^•"^^•'» ""«' ''^^^•" t''o t »r..duor
r. n.l '%" ''"'^^/"•""- mcsH. ,,uito clurk. and full <. too s
cm.uml>cr.frHme.s. fl.,xvor.potH. etc., etc. Edith irroDod ub ,t
there. ,n h„,,e,s cf Hndin^ the pole; as Hhe did 5o The ou
voux-H and stens appro.uhinK the Hum,ner.h,H..e. HI°o iTc;
bock into a dark corner; her heart heat wihlly. Wh.i if Lhn
should !,e fo.md there P How couhl she explain or acco .«t I r
hornreso„cx.K What if thev nluadd get uSadder. Id h" ard
to foil P She distinguishecf Itoger'n voice-that odious v, a
always diH Iked, and now detostodl for now her quick worn J
mstmct told her he was aiming it the destLffon orhe; bl":
o«n;^^y',^^'"''^'"^^•",^"°'^ Roger, " shall wo havo another
squint at the HUMimer-house?" « "uvu unotuer
Meadows replied " No, sir ; it's only wasting time."
if vW^ ""T^'' ^^T'""' °t'^^ ^""y'' «'*'^^ I^'^'-'l Hautovillo; "and
If >ou re as sharp-set as 1 am, you'll bo glad to bo looking?
Bomethmg better than that rut-hole. I'm for gmb Come
Koger, lot's push on." * ^^i giuo. uome,
J^}uT^ l'"''?'^^' *? ^^'^^'« ff''°^fc relief, they wore all cono
«n fL ^'n' '1'"' P^''^'!^'^^ conscious of her prosenco. ?ema?ncd
smffing at tho door, and whining, too. until convinced that ho
men wlio had so terrified her must have reached tho lluse
i^dith came forth, and. rushing across tho crisp snow through
tho shrubbery, and across tho gardens into the conlirviUorv
Which communicated with the state drawing-room, escaped ,m'
perceived by any one. to her own room. ^Tiieio sKt ih^
cluvn«:ed her dross, smoothed her hair, made a suit^Zo oi eb^
and htted herself to attend to tho summons of obLk't
of Tin": 1''^ T^"" '"""\^''^ P^^^' "»^ of respect > he presenco
rn ?n? W^'"" houso. about a quarter of an hour after she ha5
re-entered lier room ; but before Edith went down to the brc^k
fast-room. she entered Ida's boudoir, and. to her sirpri^o found
that young lady flushed, excited, and in tears. AsChed at
any emotion in one generally so impassive. Edith fnqufredwha
had happened to discompose her sister. To her s^rpriserida
" Is it possible you do not knowP Hauteville, our brother
pur only Wother-poor Brian of my nursery days not voursll
IS come back ! He was very kind to me when I was a ttl^
girl and I am so fond of him. Oh I I have often crTed when I
Eavo been awake at night, to think that I did not know where
he wa.s and that papa Ead forbidden him the housoT
Edith emhrn/>pH T,la fil,^ u„,i .-j. ti ""'"^•, .
thing or cai^o for anybody. '"^ "" '""^ "^ '^'^^ '"^« ^°y-
" Let us go dowTi to welcome him, Edith," said Ida • " I hear
he IS m the butler's pantry with old Malmsey and the steward!
The Cox
own apa
cheon wi
young ]\!
lips wer
sunny w
and bega
the rath
saw Lodj
so sweet
the dull,
spoken I
dressed i
costly — b
any mter
Lady ]
but Editli
heart, soi
tho solo I
whom Loi
as he hac
Wood, CO
beauty.
The fan
Bockalpin
her, was
ermine ; c
matched b
silk, and !
fh, an chil-
) trap-tloor.
ill of tooln,
)j)e(l about
hIio lioard
Hho drew
Hiiit. if who
<'count for
mil Hoarch
ioiiM voki},
:, womanly
of lier bu-
another
llo; "and
ooking ut
>• Coiiio,
3 all ^ono
romainod
i that tho
lOuse.
, through
orvatory,
iiped, tin-
J hastily
\o toilot,
►rcakfast
prosenco
she had
le break-
le, found
ishod afc
•ed what
rise, Ida
brother,
yours —
a httlo
when I
IT where
ve any-
• I hear
teward.
Ouilfj/, or Kot OuiUy.
101
woman, wont on his broast to i. ,^ . * ''*" ^""''''' ^''"^«*
tl.obvolyHVlr.l^K Vcd nb, o • f ' «»rpnse; and K,|ith,
to lovo in it^ 'r/; w' , ' :; r ll!r ''"•^" to try to see .somotl.in j
ha.l been l»lottod anVl d. ! 'if r'!''r"' '''^ .•cnu.mbc.r4
but oven ho was a littrto . . ';y »:»l"ttud mtc.mnc.ranro;
"'msluMl at tho thoni Vr i '^ i'lus enu.t.on. and ho felt
jvhilo. tho Iml.l o r u lo. Jt^ m^^ ^^-«"-
hands behind hi.n, lo Scr c^ „ i ,r'^?''*'"'/^''^t«"^^' ''"«
fellow, peeped iu a tl ^or "v In l /'" l" '''"?''^' '^ J"">' "'^
digal's return. ' ^" Pleusod to witness the pro-
CHAPTEll XLin.
" Mnrdor nioHt foul, da In tho l)OHt if i. .
Tirp Countess or rr;"'"'"'"""^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
cheon'was anno Jnc . wa " S^ dnmer-like bm-
young Marrpiis. She was cvmnS* °^ f*"'"'''""^"' *» ^ho
lip. were d'elioately tinned ail hoP^/HU T^'S'^''^'' '^''''^' '^"^
sunny with smiles S rtool l Li I \ ^'^^ «"nio face was
andbcgan.byal itTleflowof?.nn.^r '''?* "^ *'*° breakfast-table,
the raThe • H^ilernndTomSt 'l^ «mall.talk,to enliven
f^awL,ulyRockal pinriookrjTon.fr'"^!^'''^^^^ ^« °"« ^^^o
80 sweetly, and 8^1^00,^^ ^ ^ T"^ '" animated, smiling
the dull -uot.Tii trz^;t"n'' w^;^^i;t2 rr '-^^^
spoken but to scold renron/.), """"'/'. ^"o o' late had never
dressed richly, of course-^ 'I' f '5'"' T- ^^^^'^'^ berself-
costlv-but hft er y wUtat anf nff^^^^^^ "°I^"".^ t,^"^^ ^«^ not
any iluerest in the^appclarancr^ ""'^'^°" '" '^° ^^^^"^^"g' °r
buStil'^Jitw'rtroS'^^^^^^ ''° "^"^^ '^^^-'- ^'-"^■^;
heart, sou . and mind ^re enln«« W'^^r'^nce (for her whole
the sole object on it CoT^rtf^^ by Arthur's peril), was
her, wis dressed in"a'rubv'~vplvM"^'" ""^ ""■'"•■'"""'■'g'o
ermine; and a Maria Sh,„.f^i j™?'""''' '"mmed with
™tehedb/ac%^Td^slLvesofte"'sa;e°'r'' '"^^ ^"^
BUk. and Lr hair exquisiteir^d^Isse^dlZt fchS tt
•# •>*.
I
192
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
hastily arrayed herself in what came first to hand, had yet
strange to say, never appeared to greater advantage. She was
flushed with the excitement of her feelings ; her hair was
brushed hastily off her fine forehead, and a black velvet Zouave
jacket, and black r/lace silk skirt, set off" her fair skin by the
force of contrast. Edith could not bear to put on anything but
black, while her grandfather lay dead in the Castle.
Lord Eockalpine was silent and reserved. He seldom spoke
at breakfast, and was generally absorbed by the Times. He
did not appear to hsten to the conversation at all; but had
anyone been disposed to watch him, a nervous twitching of his
mouth and nostrils, and a deadlier pallor on his pale, plaster-of-
raris-like face, would have betrayed the interest with which he
hstened to the account of the search in the Black Wood, and to
Hauteville s comments on the impertinence of some idle tres-
passer, m defacing one of the finest trees with initials and
hieroglyphics.
The Countess of Eockalpine, when breakfast was over, tried
to persuade the Marquis to remain at the Castle.
" The present melancholy statti of things here," she said.
debars us all from music, billiards, or any other amusement
worth speaking of; but if you and Edith, my lord, will play a
game of chess, I will bring my work and watch the game, and
Ida and I will have a bet upon it."
To Edith's gi-eat relief; the Marquis excused himself (with
extreme reluctance), for he longed to be with Edith; but his
dreadful appointment must be kept, and so, with many apologies,
he pleaded business, but begged leave to accept the challenge
this °Scl Wd— ''^''''^^^^ opportunity. Lady Eockalpine, upon
" Let it be this evening, then Marquis ! Nay, don't refuse.
YOU must give us your company to dinner; and after dinner I
, ivill back you, and Ida shall back Edith; and I hope, for my
sake you 11 give all your attention to the game," she added
archly.
And the young Marquis glanced at Edith, and said—
1 will do my best, Countess; but I will not promise an
impossibihty." ^
The breakfast-party broke up, when the Marquis and Eoger
announced that they must set out at once for Dunstanburgh.
Lord HauteviUe felt that he ought to return to Marion, his
bride, whom he had left, offended and alone, at the Mill Cot-
tage; but the company of Detective Meadows, with whom he
liad agreed to "crack a bottlo" at. the *• F-^<^iroiHT"> Av^-"
(whUe consulting what steps were to be taken about the attack
on the Marquis), was much more to his taste.
"Marion was all very well," he said to himself, " and I was
madly in love with her before I made her 'my lady' and my
nd, had yet,
5. She was
r hair was
Ivet Zouavo
skin by the
lything but
Idom spoke
Times. He
1; but had
;hing of his
, plaster-of-
h which ho
ood, and to
le idle tres-
nitials and
over, tried
" she said,
imusement
will play a
game, and
nself (with
h; but his
' apologies,
} challenge
pine, upon
m't refuse.
T dinner I
36, for my
she added
i—
romise an
md Roger
tanburgh.
arion, his
Mill Cot-
whom he
, e\ A >*'w\ rt "
and I was
' and my
OtdUtf, or Not Guilti/. 193
wife ; but now she's an ill-tempered, fault-findin-, nnarrehomn
bore, teasing me to own her. Although, until my^Sfo hc?s
ne s'w'tThlnl^^^ ^"' it w'ould bo mad!
nesH icantthmkwhatmademosuchafoolastomarrv' Now
she s mme I don't care a hang about her ; and arfo7beaur
her face and form, which seemed so bewitching, h^f^o charm
'Z prXT-tlinSSn?^^^^ "^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^'^^-^^^ -- t^
Such ever is, sooner or later, the reaction in the heart and
Tomestis A;rh'-1' "!S'" "^^^ ^^^ °^J*^^^ ' ^is passion te
comes his. And brief and evanescent as the t ..wire of ^Uv\L
over Hautevil e, is that of personal beauty over tHeart where
love 18 a passion not an affection. ^ ^^^""^
ihe Marquis and Eog6r Croft gone, the Countess retirerl fn
her boudoir, to write to her "dear fr ends " alw fl. *P 1
hngMarqui^'' her " dear Dunstanburg ,'^
t^T,T^)^^^'Z^^ and^Stub^
CHAPTER XLIV.
" ^^AJt!^ °'**' Hinda, In the power
Of Fancy's most terrific touch
Topalnt thy pangs in that dread hour.
i ny silent agony-'twas such
As those who feel could paint full well ;
PnT-rxr X.'^ T /"^ °°"^ ^ ^»' '^'^ ""^ liVd to tell." Lalla Itoolch.
±.DiTn, while Lady Ida was consulting with Phoebe ibont \^^r.
trlV^t "^""^°°' ^^^ ^^il« ^^^ father was^tm hLden u '
u~- '/r'^'^^'-'^^^.P^^^ «^ ^^^ h^t aud cloak LdslipneS
unperceived downstairs into the drawing-room and thrS
the conservatory into the garden. through
She had glanced at a splendid French clnrt flipf of« a ^-i.
mantel.piecein the state'draw?ni;rm,td\\^w ^^^2^^^^^^^^
that It was already so late that it would requJe the utS
speed on her part for her to reach the Dunstrbur^h pt^^T^^
time to prevent the duel she so dreaded. Poor S'f L hurrieS
L„ !ff; -A""! ?'?'^ she was alone in the Black Wood and 8h„
moan ! Terror-.tricken, she stood tranSdrwhile al^dea
9
194
Quilty, or Not Chiilty.
'd
gust of wind raised and blew aside a dark bough, and revealed
to her view a wild, hairy-looking man, grizzled, rudely clad, and
mifldle-aged, and by his side a tall, dark woman, with the re-
mains of great beauty of form and face, but barefoot and care-
worn. Both were travel-stained and ragged.
" 'Twas here he fell, Mary," said the man; "but well ye know
't was no shot from my gun — the first gun he ever fired off",
and that I teached him to fire off, and he loved as a boy, as he
never loved his own Manton in after-life — it was no shot fi'ora
that gun that laid him low. But I've been a poor hunted, luck-
less victim from that hour, Mary; nothing has prospered with
yer poor Rob ! Oh ! why did I flee, Uke a guilty thing, and
leave a bad name behind me — a murderer's name? I'd be
glad to be taken and tried now."
" Oh, Rob, Rob ! " said his poor wife, " ye'll break my heart
wid yer wild talk ! Come away wid me. Ye'll be taken here,
as the young lord — leastways, as was young then — tould me ;
and ye'll be handed, and I'll not live to see it."
" And that's aU the rason I haven't give myself up years ago,
Mary," said Rough Rob ; for if ever a man had an angel sent
him in the shape of a wife, that angel was you, Mary. Oh, the
good, kind, blessed help and comfort you've been to me ! "
Edith had no time to hear more. She had but one ghmpse
of the pair — Rough Rob kneehng on the spot where the young
lord had fallen, knuckling the tears out of his eyes, and Mary
bending over him and weeping on his shoulder. The same
gust of wind that revealed that scene, by raising the dark bough,
had the next instant closed it again ; but Edith, who had often
heard from the poor on the Rockalpine estate, and from the ser-
vants at the Castle and at Rock Villa, every detail connected with
her uncle's murder, was familiar with the names of Rough Rob
and his wife Mary, i-iid felt that she gazed on the supposed
murderer. The thought added to her anxiety to get out of the
Black Wood as soon as possible. To prevent t' e impending
duel she had sped along like one pursued, but she found terror
was able to add wings to her feet, when, looking back at the
scene of the murder, she saw Rough Rob's unshorn face peering
out through the dark boughs of the wall of evergreens, and
soon after beheld him and his tall Mary moving towards her.
With the swiftness of the roe she gained the purple moor,
pitying, as she did so, every hare and deer, and every other
hunted thing ; for she felt at that moment what it is to be pur-
sued — ^what it is to fly for your life.
She reached the sea-beach in safetv • it wf>s In-pr xi7-ater» Sh**
crept behind a rock, and looked round at the Black Wood. She
saw Rough Rob and his wife emerge from it, and prepare to
cross the moor; but — angel of mercy! — to her inexpressible
reUef, she sees th§m moving rapidly on in the oppoaite Erection!
'■
k'l
I revealed
clad, and
ih the re-
and care-
[ ye know
tired off,
loy, as he
shot from
ted, luck-
ered with
tiing, and
» I'd be
my heart
ken here,
ould me;
ears ago,
ngel sent
Oh, the
ae!"
! gHmpse
he young
nd Mary
["he same
•k bough,
bad often
a the ser-
cted with
lugh Rob
supposed
ut of the
apending
nd terror
sk at the
B peering
3ens, and
irds her.
»le moor,
iry other
D be pur-
er. She
3od. She
'epare to
pressible
irection!
Ouilty, or Not Ouilty. 195
^l}^,^^^ ^-^J wild terror, lest, seeing her, they should ima-
gme they might be detected, and that^Rough Rob, whomX
Had always heard of as a bloodthirsty and%ava-e muXrV
m^ht kdl her. to prevent the posslbihty of her betrap'ng
.^f'-y f?f-T* ^l^^^^'Siving for her rescue from an ima "i-
ary peril, which to her. had seemed so imminent and app^ll/.i
Edith hurried along the smooth, hard, shining sands, anX eked
her way among the dwarf rocks. ^ ""us, ana picJied
There were large, deep pools of clear salt water, in which the
f n^wT'^'f^' "^'^ '^' translucent leaves and round pods floated
Frjlw""^ *K? ^?'''^^ ^'^^' ^^^^^^' Over some of these pools'
Edith was able to jump, but others were so broad that sh?was
compelled to wade through them. ^^^
The dread and the terror of being too late was busv at h^r
heart, and the fear that she had l!st her way maddened her
vnth anxiety; when suddenly two bare-leggid boys whose
brown skins, ghttermg black eyes, raven hllr. and wild carb
betrayed the gipsy, and who haS been crab-huitW annexed
among the rocks. Edith knew that a frinsv's tent h£l fS? tf
^me been pitched on the heath, and thffflgl^'^^s/MSr
who. before she went abroad, had told Artfiir's ffinP nS
" Ani I going right for Dunstanburgh Flats ? »
Ihe boys returned no answer; they appeared to be mnVir,,,
with all speed for the village. Editt got up to theL Thef
What s the matter, my httle man ? " said Edith. ^
ihe boys were silent.
« ^? } ^i" ^^"""^ *^® ^^^ts ? " she asked.
"There's murder has jist been dune up there Tnrlr ot,^ t
t"?Mri^Sy'; V' ^°^^^^ *- *-"«' -tenVel^
Si f' .1^°^ °g that gate; and as ane vtiupit to pick un a
sheU.t other hit un a heavv blow /;,«r«. ^;*y, ^^i; 'hW -?!?
aoout the ear and he fell do'wn hke a stane, andtotheTfeuIn'
and repated the blow. tiU his brain wor all aboot the S and
vn,f .^''^•u^^' S?¥ ^^' *° *^^ ^lats. leddy ! He^l ml?be ^erve
y^j^thehke. We've creepit awa'to get^bock ham^wTelo
3
196
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
But Edith knew no fear. What if her beloved, her betrothed
Arthur, had been murdered by Roger Croft or the Marquis ?
She gained the Fiats. Ah ! what a cry burst from her very
heart ! There lay the dead body of the young Marquis of
Dunstanbiirgh, Roger Croft kneeling beside him, and Arthur
Bertram vainl} struggling in the grasp of three men, who were
binding him, antl preparing to lead him away.
"Arthur! dear Arthur!" cried Edith, rushing up to him;
"what is this?"
" Lady Edith," cried Roger, hoarse with passion, " this is no
place for you — no scene for you. The Marquis of Dunstan-
bxirgh came here alone. I saw him aliv at the Abbey an hour
ago. It seems that Arthur Bertram, there, and he, were going
to fight a duel. I find my friend, and butchered, as you see,
and no one near but that ruffian ! "
" He is no ruffian — ho is no murderer ! " cried Edith. " My
life upon it, he is innocent ! "
" Heaven bless you,m5' an^el Edith!" cried Arthur Bertram.
" I call God to witness I am mnocent. I came here alone, un-
armed, to persuade Lord Dunstanburgh not to risk making
himself or me a murderer or an outcast. I found him butchered
as you see, and quite dead ; but I had no hand in his death,
Edith, so help me Heaven ! "
" I iDclieve you, dearest," cried Edith ; " and I know Heaven
will ' 1 elp you ! "
CHAPTER XLV.
" Alas! the lovo of woman ! it is kiiown
To be a lovely and a fearful thlujj,
For all of hers upon that die is thrown."
Byhon.
Great, indeed, was the excitement felt not only in Northum-
berland, but throughout the British empire, when it became
known that the young Marquis of Dunstanburgh had been
murdered.
As yet little was known of his real nature; he was too young
to have taken any very active part in politics, or as a landlord,
but what little bias ne had shown was towards a spirit of
"Liberal Conservatism" — no contradiction in terms, for there
are such things as liberal Conservatives and illiberal Radicals.
His own party had expected a good deel of him, for he had a
good deal in his power, and generally those who want nothing
have a good deal forced upon them. As a great landowner,
everything that he had done, since his majority (only of nine
mouths' sLanding), had been popular. He had generous im-
pulses and a strong will ; he had lowered the rents of some of
his tenants, and had raised none. His tenants, judging from
this, thought they had lost in him an excellent landlord, and
their grief and indignation were very great indeed.
t
• betrothed
[arquis ?
n her very
VTarquis of
nd Arthur
, who were
p to him;
" this is no
■ Dunstan-
ey an hour
were going
18 you see,
ith. " My
r Bertram.
alone, un-
sk making
. butchered
his death,
m Heaven
BYnON.
Northum-
it became
. had been
; too young
a landlord,
a spirit of
s, for there
I Eadicals.
)r he had a
nt nothing
landowner,
mly of nine
uerous im-
of some of
iging from
udlord, and
Ouilty, or Not Ouilty.
197
Public reprobation set in like a tide against Arthur Bertram.
Even before the coroner's inquest had boon held, every one
Beemed to take it for granted hat he had done this l)aso and
cruel mui'der — done it of malice prepense — under the influonco
of jealousy and revenge, perhaps, also, of disappointed love ;
for the name of Lady Edith Lorraine began to lie whispced
about as connected with this dreadful tragedy. And again
scraggy necks (much scraggier than before) were stretched,
^ and again quaint old heads (now palsied) met over the tea-
tables at Rockalpine and at Alnwick ; and though Death had
thinned the ranks (which Time, however, was beginning to fill
up from another generation), again the memory of Clarissa
Croft was assailed, and old trembling hands, thin and with
knotted joints and veins, like blue cordage, raked up her ashes,
and the old scandal was revived; and the same bitter tongues
that had blamed the former Lady Rockalpine for bringing up
Clarissa Croft with her sons, now anathematized the present
Countess for having placed the Lady Edith in Mr. Croft's
family, and brought about all this evil by promoting what the
Hon. Mehssa Trumpington, head of the spinster coterie, called
" unequal intimacies," and "an improper fusion of the patrician
and plebeian elements ; and, in short, a dangerous domestica-
tion of a young lady of high rank (an Earl's daughter) with a
low-born agent's bastard grandson ! "
Even among the poor of Rockalpine and its neighbourhood
(where Arthur and Edith were known and loved), no doubt of
the young man's guilt was entertained; but horror of his
crime was mixed up with intense pity for the disappointed
love, the jealous anguish, the despair which, they agreed, must
have maddened him into the commission of so dreadful a
crime.
Lady Rockalpine was vehement in her denunciations of
the base-born, black-hearted assassin, as she called Arthur
Bertram, and in her lamentations over the aristocratic, hand-
some, noble-hearted young Marquis.
The Earl was palor,more silent, and more reserved than ever.
The word, " Murder" was a knell to his heart ; the question
" Guilty, or not Guilty" shook his very soul, and palsied him
with a vague, ever-haunting dread.
Roger Croft was become quite popular at the Castle and with
the Countess of Rockalpine, because he was so furious against
the Murderer, so anxious to bring him to justice, and because
he expressed such passionate and disconsolate grief at the
dreadful fate of him whom he called his noble patron and be-
loved friend. He always came to the Castle dressed in the
deepest mourning, and armed with a large, white, clerical, cam-
bric pocket-handkerchief, in which he buried his face when any
allusion was made to the Marquis and his terrible fate.
Ij
198
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
mil
n
H
k\
xJ^L^^^ / • "^^T ,^°^^*^^y affection was for a very un-
Castle less clTX ""?^^^°^?^« *« ^^^I'^im him, and to make^he
t^astlo less dull and wearisome to him. And Edith who lind
fes'ln ati^^-^^ ^7 ^'' how-from DunLtlnburgh
f' ^1 «3^cope which had succeeded to the terrible excite.
Wtuch LTr%'' V '°^^ ™ ^^^"^' P^°'^*^^*^d by despllr ot
thSt nfth. ^n^?rf^^ ''°°"l' "^^ ^'"^ ^i*^ terror as she
ArthS mltf £ f -^i^'^^' 7^' the ProbabiUty. that her beloved
wh ch sS felt tLr'i?' condemned, and executed for a crime of
riwif . h,^^^^ innocent; now melting into tears
prayer to Him who alone could succour and save him
Ihe momentous question of " Guilty, or not Guilty," never
W A^^'fif T^"* °^««rred to her mind. She felt as certafn of
ifciot s w«l' ;"r'"'^ ^' ?^ ^^' °^"- ^J^^rrible and dark su^!
K" 7 ^^f g^«™g into certainties, as she thought upon
aU the circumstances connected with his ghastly murdlr. ^
But while her heart throbbed, and her cheeked burned with
indignation, at the idea of Arthur's being even suspected ^f so
W t.7T' "'^r ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^^d' ^^liill would creep ove?
PvSri ^ ^ "^^^ ^ ^r. "°^^ ^"^ ^hi*^' as the circumstantTal
fn nt. /T ^P '^ 'r^ irresistible force, that she was obhged
to own to her own heart, that, were a.ny other than Arthur
concerned, her judgment would pronoiice a ver^d^S
+r, J^^'^^T'"'''^ '""i^?^^ ^a' h^^^ a* Dunstanburgh Abbey, on
Mth 7n/7 preceding that fixed for the old Earl's fuSral
and at ^tlT^^ v'^"" ^J^'^^^ ^^ *^^ important investigation
tTke Luch .n^'tlV' 7?^ *^ *^^" P^^"' ^^^ ^^^ not ap-pear to
nfws,rougrit to he^ announcement when PhcBberfuU of
as^she taV bLT^%^'?' ""^^ft ^^' ^«*^^««' and dishevelled,
Jl^ched W 1 ^T f«rty-eight hours ; but any one who had
Tvatched her closely would have seen the colour rush to her
lmouit"^J'^''-'''^:^'t ^^ ^'' '^'^'' d^rk' «leepLss eyes!
cloT r, -.r ^"'"'^*! ^^^ ^^"«^i^ f-^^ni, and her little hand
nothlnl ^""""^ '■'"''^ determination. StiU she said
a tS;,r^^ was a good, sympathising, feeling girl, brought
damaTi^n^T^ J'^f *' a\^ *'^? ^°^^^^^ with^^now-wSte
S^ce AS;'S«/r'^ 'J T ^ ^^'^' *^^^" ^y ^^*^'« ^^dside.
vonn!r M • . ^ ^f" if h"" Prisoner on suspicion of the
young Marquis's murder, Edith had not broken her fast
Tipriitf • ""*' attempted to rise, to dress herself, orTo arouse
hadsfpn^pT^ri' ^'T *h^*«^Por of grief and despair wS
had succeeded to her dee- swoon on Dunstanburgh Plats,
rnoebe, whose constani jpinion was that her young miatresg
i)
Guilti/f or Not OuilUj.
199
a very un-
ille — spent
' make the
1, who had
istanburgh
ble excite-
despair, on
Tor as she
ler beloved
a crime of
into tears
in fervent
a.
-TY," never
certain of
dark sus-
ught upon
'der.
irned with
jcted of so
jreep over
imstantial
as obHged
n Arthur
different
ibbey, on
s funeral,
istigation,
appear to
>e, full of
3hevelled,
who had
ih to her
less eyes,
ttle hand
she said
, brought
ow-white
J bedside.
in of the
i.st.
to arouse
lir which
ats.
mistress
*i
iras crossed in love, and was not quiio right in her mind, left
the room, saying to herself, " I've heard mother say that those
that ain't quite right in their heads won't eat before any one."
The good girl was in hopes that, if left to herself, Lady
Eiith would " eat hearty " after her long fast, and she went
in:o the next room, to prepare her young lady's bath and toilet.
And Lady Edith verified Phccbe's philosophy; for the reso-
lu:ion she had formed required not merely all her mental, but
al her bodily strength. She therefore forced herself to eat and
d'ink, and when Phoebe was gone downstairs. Lady Edith rose,
refreshed and invigorated her sinking frame with a bath,
dressed herself with care, put on her hat and cloak, stole timidly
down into the deserted drawing-rooms, entered the conservatory,
aid passed out into the shrubbery.
Lady Edith found her way through a gap in the hedge that
dvided the gardens from the brook and the Black Wood.
She hurried through the Black "Wood, scarce pausing to
*lance at the fatal spot where her uncle had been murdered
she came out upon the purple moor, looked at her watch, and
said, " I have no time to spare. Alas ! I doubt, weak and ill
as I feel, whether I shall be enabled to reach the Abbev in
time." ^
Still on, on, sped Edith ; and presently a man, driving a little
common-looking, rough cob, in a shabby chaise, passed her on
the road.
The man wore a slouched hat and an old overcoat. His face
was a good deal concealed, for his hat was pulled down, and his
coloured choker drawn up, while a quantity of shaggy, grizzled
hair mingled with a thick ragged frill of beard and whisker.
" Can I offer you a lift, lady ? " said the man, civilly.
•• Which way are you going, friend ? " asked Edith.
•* To Dunstanburgh Abbey, lady ? " said the man. " I have
to drive there, for one as is on the inquest."
"I will make it worth your while to drive very quick," said
Edith ; and seating herself by the mail's side, they set off as
fast as the cob's short legs could carry them.
" This here's a ghastly murder— ain't it, lady ? " said the ma a.
" It is, indeed," faltered Edith.
"Have you heerd the rights on it, lady ? " asked her companion.
"Yes— no— I don't know," said Edith trembling.
"If you has, lady, no one else hasn't; but I've formed my
opinion— leastways my wife has, which she always selects an
opinion for I, and she ain't often wrong either, she ain't— and
We don t hold with them as tuinks that young Ai'tLiu* Bertram
done this murdei ."
" Oh, I'm so glad to hear you say so ! " exclaimed Edith.
* But what will the jury say ? "
' " Oh, they'll find him guilty, and no mistake. TJiey mostly
I
Chiiltif, or Not Guilty.
aoo
fpteToo-Tho^ ^^X '^^-^f^^-SJo-- pardon for
tfcv T1.AV11 fi„^ ^ " ' "^ "" '"•^'^ bcyona their noso not
of his ^fo of hfs L„„m ' Tl """'' 'V '"="'■'• """i ""0 hcm-t
it's nine times ont of ton- fw"^ ^oes by appearances, whth
favour of the guil?y " ' °^ ^oes agni the innocent and in
to shame and punishment ' nl Vi! ' ^ r^^^g^^^y brough:
believe you was one i™??; Ti^ ^^ ^''^'^^. ^'^ *= ^^i^ely, I'd
on; an/EdS not a litd^ MS.i::T:^^^ ^Tl' ^^^ ^
doubting his sanity, remained Sf, .-wl ^^^«^"ience, and
of anoblepile-the^antSA^ ^r" ^ ^^^^
in a beautiful park S FrJ?f? 1 JT^*^''^'''*^^-standing
sunlight flashed from the il^ shuddered to think, as thi
draw? down and ^^^rf^e.T^t'IiXr^^^^^^ "^^"^J ^^^^ ^^^
iT:j^:nr ' ^^- «^^^ =^^^^ ^f fh: X%oX?fh^t
had Rlowed att ap™^^^^^^ ^"^ P^^ i« death
her Sow generous hThTd Verto^M ^^^^^^^^
Sfto be^^^Sn'ruX' tu\cfe^*^^ ^^^^^^^^^
halls ! •^^' ^ butchered, in his own ancestral
At this moment a loud yell— a horrible veil «p+ • i.
execration-reached Editf s ea^ and .V,!! f ^I'J^'^P^ ^"^
right's? wong^Cne^^T" '^T'^'^ ^1"*^^''^ -"-^d.
yja, unem liuwisi I knows em woli rJ^ i, , 7-r^^o 'SvtUti
so has my poor gal the wor.^lli;" P ^"^^""^ ^^ ^^^re, and
'
'pardon for
2ir nose, not
mit him for
d tho hom-fc
nccs, whLli
cent and in
<} ill prevail .
un they a-e
ment.'^
iddlooftle
s knees, as
n, while he
'; for theaa
ty brougk
e words t»
lem wordt
h broke—
ngels ever
3ikely, I'd
and drove
ence, and
le in view
-standing
ik, as the
were all
ow sight-
rd of that
icted how
in death
to please
ach, how
spring of
ancestral
mph and
a crowd
scordant
nee at a
accused,
1 brutes
r heart!
3re, and
«n," he
it wor
r
Guilty, or Mt Guilbj. 2OI
2In«cd "It r£ !i;L^;'i""^ '- e^-f' I'" "» "-kfui to bo
Arthur, tho supposed murderer. "^ arrival ol
CHAPTER XL VI.
" ^l knKfr!!'^!^"'*' ^''?' '»"•' "" hearts condemn
I know him innocent, and here I hurl
*^y <:"'*8<-*. juy deep anathema, on them
Who seek to crusli and stain my Drlcelcss nonrl f
Has ho but one ou earth to cling to-ono uXJ!?y girl ?-
Half fainting with the violence of her emotions, Edith sunk
on the step of the door in the wall. Here the poor "Sir! Irfor
TZJ''^'{ "°'?^°^ 5^^^^^^ *« ^^d fro in herdesSir, when
a loud and prolonged repetition of the groans and howTs of
£e Stle Zrfn ?r' "^? ^'T'^"^ *« ^^^ f^^^' «be knock d ^
former tit^y^^rll^ ''^\ ^^ "° ^^?^^^ ^^™^' ^^ith, who in
lormer times had known how to open it (when neither locked or
femilf «^^ ;. V ^^^ gardener, who was much attached to the
assembled to r^^^^^^^^ ^^"^ especially, was among the crowd
Sh ri -^'^^ the accused with groans, yells, and hisses.
door Thr^r T^ ^^"^ °" ^ ^^"^^ ^^^^ t^^ gardener's
?f 1; 7 u r"^ ?^ execration which reached her ear made
ArthU^« ^ •* T?A"" '}?'^ ^^^«- She knew that it washer
Arthur s arrival that called them forth. Indeed had not ihl
pohce interfered, the mob would have tom Arthur to pieces
hZ°^^'^^ the bastard !-the bloodthirsty, ungrateful
bastard ! Down with Arthur Bertram ! " cried nle """^'^^^^"^
gibb^r,'at"an7r:fer ^ ^"'" ^"' ^°*^^^^ "^^ ^^^ - *^^
ridef-'criefehird ^''''^"'^' "^^ ^' "" ^°^ ^^*^^^' ^^'"
Edith could not repress a burst of scalding tears as sho
thoughtofwhat Arthurmust feel-her noble, defcate, sensitive
I
202
Quilty, or Not Ouilty.
V]
^n; S"-^;; S^ --. ia^ed. wea^ p,nia.
fill iJ^ bcL!Tli;uJ?^;il':Z the tears Wk, an<l not let them
examination-on which so m?^,' a^ ^ \^}^ .''''**'" *^afc tho
theroforo for her-wTsgdng^;:? ^'^'^^'^ *°^ ^°^' *^^^°^-^' -«^1
like re'oVa'dVom tC part Itt ^l^vVr^'' '>^^ ^" ^ ^^-"k
has his brave daHngs^aTed '^l^lf ^^.^^ I^'»3^^ H^^
more than twenty livx^s at stnvJ t ;^"1 """^ ^^'^^ *^o ha.s
little all to help kim ! What It T^^^ ^^ ''"'^ '""^ ""^
smile, a jeerP And ^hall /?L • ^^F'^-a «neer. a stare, ft
Arthur's life-his honour? Nn^ 7^'M -i^/^^^ '^^'^nce agai, st
Edith rose, p2 but resolv^? 'n f ^*' l''^' ^"^ constancy!"
fruit-garden/ trosSubberva;d?i."'^'^' ?"' '^^^ *^^^°"?h t^^o
There'^wero people outside^nn^n Pa^-^c^r^. to tho Xbbey.
Edith spoke toTm in athiWrW^u^^ ^f ^ P^^^ceman.
listened' with gre^t defe^enc? to wW r^ ^^° '^^ ^''^•^ ' ^^^
making way for her to rfn Jl ? i 5 ^^? ^^id. and at once
where^the Jorone';: LVrs ' w^sTt^in " "iL'"^ '^"^"^-^^"'
hall, It was crowded Tho inrv v^tT ?^' . ^^''^'' ^^ ^'^^ the
the body in the fldioiiv.'^^'^^ i'^^f.^^^^^ed from viewinir
stood, sle could seJXfharvnn '^' ^tV' • "^^'^^ ^Tlitg
i^or one instant before th^L. '''' ^1"^ ^^«t J^^yman left it.
beheld THE conP E r TwJ^,t°^;; ™ ^^«^d, Edith distinctly
drew a sheet oyerthtcZ^^.TA-^''']^^''''^ ^^"^°^^* instantly
rigid form, brthat gHmTse o^ 0^0^^)? ^'TT ^"^ *^^
death, often reappeare^d ^poor Ed^tMn her d«''^ \'^'^'^'
dreams— a e-hn^Hv ui«in+^ ^ V ^^^^'} ^^ "er day and nicht
to be effac'edTom\:;temoi^^^^^^ ' "' dread, Uer, never
oril!u^7r&:rZ^^^^^ '^^ absence
inquests nfuch less 'iZ>S^^^^^^^
part in them, it was T^rn mi?n; n^ T •*''°^ ^ prominent
The fact was hat late the ?^XI"p "^^^^^f f "« circumstance,
his dressing-room and in hf.^w ^"^°^\ybile waiting alone in
1
I
waary, pallid,
not let thorn
'. "It would
reep ! "
I among tho
lin that tho
beloved, and
do I shrink
How often
that ho has
and Kay my
c, a atare, a
nco against
constancy!"
trough tho
tho Abbey,
policeman,
he was ; ho
nd at once
lining-hall,
I'S was tho
'HI viewing
lero Edith
nan loft it.
distinctly
i instantly
Bs and the
a violent
and night
ver, never
le absence
to attend
)rominent
amstance.
? alone in
had sud-
med him
^ate busi-
er of the
'. Roger
drive his
at once
'roft.
ing, sotto
Ouilfy, or Mt OuUty.
203
ZXrl' '"'' ""''' '^^ ^^^k' I''" « boater fool than I take my.
In ten minutes they set out together
Wte aimtt'c^^^^^^^^^^ He kept his hand.
almost convulsed and ov^o^^^^^^^^ frequently seemed
as yet perceived Edith who Ti hi ^ ? ^V""^- ^" ^^^^ "o*
samer veil over her ri lo Ikce a d hLT"^""/"''^' ? ^^^^^^^ ?^''
and ample black cWk st S n^l .1 "''™ ^^"jouded in a thick
a tall policeman by her s e un^T f "'"""^ '^^ ^^'° ^"^'•'^"eo,
^ bad brought her to the Abbe^^, ° '^''''"^r' T^^'i^ '""^ who
fore her. his broad shouldnr?'??","^-'"'''"'''^ standing bo-
the more selectZd atS icTrfir >f Z'''''^ ''''''''''^
upper end of the large dining-ha^" ^ '' ''"^'"^""'' ^^ ^^^"
berrd\C?epirc?''th: sT^^gtZ^hf haT" T^.^^^ ^«'^^' -^
examination^a rigid exaSSoVco^^^^^^^^
nbetweeitwopoTicomon^Tfc*3 was led
but at that momcnt^he'^ni n^ ""^^^^^
light passing ^rough the ste ned Hn°'''' • "? ** ^°*^^" ^"^^ Jf
balo round the noKeara^H^ni^rV'^'-^^T" ^^^^^''^ like a
Bertram, hie Accused P^^"" ^"^ pnnccly face of Arthur
CHAPTER XL VII.
" Why do you use mo thus ?" Tr„,»,7.*
BO Still, on those of women ' '^'^"' ^"^ "^o^e
nattalS' W ^^^^^^ ^'^^ ^^^^^d, his counte-
a clear, ferries . uTiludere^e ntV'^f ^T'*'""^^^*^"^ ^^^h
flushed, frowning f^es of fT' • ''./'''"^' ''P^'^ ^row, the
crowd, k change !ffTelLir in hk& *^' ^^^f,^^^^ and the
from heart to heart-a Kt nf 1' '''' ?f ^^^^ electricity
bosom. Every one instinnHLf 5'u ?u'^*^ Y^^ "^"^^ ^^ e^erV
mien, the herring the J^e'fn^ .[^^<^ *^^<^ ^^^'^ ^ero not tS
yet, as the invStlatfo^^^^^^^^ cowardly assassin. And
force of the oir::i^:2Te7ilt^:^,Zl^' '^^^^^ ^^^
cro^stfexTSfo^nry^THr^^^^^^^^^ and
prmcipal one was R^gcr'S '"^'"^ ^ ^°°-^ *^'"^' ^he
bis^oldtra'd SestSd^^^^^ Dunstanburgh-one of
timate at collec?eX trS 1- ^' schoolfellow at Eton, his in-
M
i
201
f
I
OuiUy, or mt Ouilty.
nr^^^^J^J^tu^ ^"^"^^ "^^^^ ^^^ ^«««« -'^n of the
iUt^or. only £^M^; --^^^ of hi.
like glance. andTorirvii'^fKirardttt «lyandsnakc.
W E^g^tK-tn lTa£ [r ^^^oyhood the.
noble, the warm-helrted 1 f Jn^ a\'' ^"'""^^ ^^^^^^^^ t»>o
Croft averred Sow fttlseiv -f fW f f" m'^'"'^."'^ ^^^^^«««'J-
tained that a boy of the ^nV^rh ni^^ ^''''i^'\'^ ^'""'^ ^"^^^'^ ^'^"'-
t*^*^ accused ha/ no rilfc nf "^ ^ ^^".'^^'^'•^^"'^^^"• '^>'*th of
^,.thfulnobiHt'^^^^^^^ among the
n.en ofThe r^TspT^^^^^^ ^?'T'^^ -^ g-tle-
miserable assaYsin-fbeg pfrdo^f w^^^^^^ -f no ill-will to the
mean the miserable acS for fL ? ?i^'7"^^' "° one-I
friend who was to rn^n^ n i ?[ *^°,"^^' *^'° '°^» ^^ t^o noble
heart, noveU^ L^etter thnn ?T ^^' ^'!J-."'eh broken my
prisoner's gTilladmitro7n^^^^^^^ my friend; and if the
administerfd by aTi?vof eS/ ^"7 ^F merciful ia,vs.
him the benefit d^CVoubt^Bn^t1?„f^."v,^^''^™'"^ ^^^^
the part of the nri^onnr f.^?; ' . *^^^^ ^as ill-wilF on
of a question - ^ ^ ^'°^' *" ^"^^ ^^^^^^ ^g«' does not admit
the^'pTLtran^dlrtstlflr' ^^^^r^^^^— -^^ by
^a/exister^tXn waf Ltlpf ^^^ *^^ """^^*7 *^^'
between the younTMrquifofZin.^f ^^'^^ ?.^ H"^^^""' ^^^
tecraft-and himsdrSt nrf^ ^^''^'V',^^-*^^" ^"^d Poi,-
a fight of two Ws ' dumdonT ^r^"?^}^ °"^^.^^°^ *^^^^ ™
fifteen, and Arthur BertrflT^f f *T' ^-^""^^^ ^°^^^ ^^^^ of
Croft's front tee' Wfreb^^^^^^^^ * o'/?>:-^" T^''^ ^^^^ ^^^--
dence, both in the ^ ^^ p^ , ^{ *^'^ ^^ Present had evi-
lisp ^th^hfe ,,V^^^,«;f^I--t^ and in the thick
the late Marquis h«.i't sf • i f^T . -S ^^^-^ on that occasion
X.-1, ^J.}^'^ ^^*«^' A- B. of 12, fought E. C. of IS, i^. ,,nn,- ... ,-..,.:.
PONXECRAPT."
The watch was here handed
I wanted
Roger Croft here
to the
jury.
know whether all this "bosh and
#**
man of tho
ogor Croft,
rtlmr lior-
liii'l of hia
)ft.
a obsorvod
lis fist, Biul
and snako-
hood thoro
'wardH tho
) deceased,
arly main-
il birth of
-niong the
nd gentle-
svill to tho
no one — I
tho noblo
poken my
lid if tho
ifnl laws,
will give
ll-will on
lot admit
nined by
tnity that
iself, not
ord Poi
;here was
' Croft of
it Roger
had evi-
;he thick
occasion
fighting
and had
e young
. himself
uu UcxLUU
osh and
OiiiUi/, or Not Ouilty. 205
boast," as ho railed it, was not perfectly irrelevant. Tlio Fore-
nmn remarked tlmt it was, of course, important to tho acruHod
to di.sprovo tho assiction that evil fooling and ill-will had lone
u'lr '"'!.''"'"'« ^'' *''"^ ^roast againHt tho noblo deceased.
Mr. iov man, aud gentlemen of tho jury." aaid Arthur
(and oh ! how ororv tone of his dear, well-known voice woko
the cchuos ol Euitl/s heart), "thoro was no ill-will, no bad fool-
ing, h.u\.on tho late lamented deceased and mysi-lf Wo far
from u. on one occasion, at Interlachen, when an oHbrt of mino
to save tlio hfo of a young lady of our travelling party was
crowned with success, and liis lordship thought I had shown
some bravery in risking my worthless life to save that of tho
lady in question, he generously otfered mo his mterest, hia
patronage, and pecuniary assistance to any amount necessary
to^rmr attaining any object in life on which I had set my hoart.^'
bent emen of the jui-y," lisped Roger Croft, " tho I^Iun-
chausen-liko adventures of ono who draws such a very long bow
f-n 7?* 7i''^^r'' ^'''*^,^?V? .'^°^'' '^^^^ ^'^'^^ "P your time and mino
I ?r ■^''°'*- ^^^^^ ^^ ^^ o^*^ o^ course for mo to ask him
whether or not he had any quarrel with the late lamented
deceased I'— whether there was not a delicate cause of bitter
nviUry and enmity between them P— whether the late Marquis
had not struck him on one occasion, and threatened to horse-
whip him ('—and whether he did not go to Dunstanburgh Flats
in answer to a challenge from his lordship— a challenge to
Fk"s p"^' * ^"^ ' ^"^^ ^^^^ "" "^"""^ "^'^^ P'^^^^'^ ""^ ^^"^
To each of these ouestions, as put by the Foreman, Arthur
IJertram was compelled by truth to reply in the affirmative ;
but while they were put, he was repeatedly warned that ho was
not bj nv:, to criminate himself, or to answer any question tend-
ing to that eflect.
"Mr Foreman," said Arthur, in a loud, clear voice, and with
a heightened colour, "allow me. once foi all, and with due
delerence, to say, that advice is thrown away upon me. I can-
not cnmm&te myself, for I am inm cent— aa innocent as your-
selt, or any other man present— of this vile, base, and bloody
murder ! I call God to witness that I am innocent. To the
question of 'Guilty, or not Guilty,' I can, with my hand on
my heart, and my eyes to the heavens and to the mountains
wnence help may yet come, proclaim that 1 am innocent. Yes,
1 aw, innocent, so help me God!"
Here a juror asked why, if Mr. Arthur Bertram meant to
ngnt a duel on the Flats, he went there withnnt, a snpnnri and
as far as the evidence went, without pistols ? ' '
"I did wo^ go there to fight a duel, gentlemen," said Arthur
Jaertram. I abhor duelling : I consider it to he deliberate mur-
der, with malice prepense. I went to the Flats unattended and
i
206
^M%, or mt Guilty.
bo ween uf ^ You ^-T' ™f°"'«"''. Ijing blander has comj
. in sXdotnce^SioS^r irnl^eTo" IrT'' '"'\^-
man, I say, there let it rp^f iT^^ n If ^ *^' ^^ ^^^ *»
Let us exeCg"forg7eS Bub' if l^ "t^"^. ''"I^™ »"•
you stiU cUngfo a bfrCo^ 'and now eSoS^d code „?°. '""^
and compe me to stand befm-o m„ .7 . ^i ™™ of honour,
that I sLll ><> 1 (Teatan/ tU fft? T^' ^'"'^^ V"
accuse you if I do f^-roL3? "' ^""^ ""^ <=o™cience wiU
inquire Wthefateo7?h„l"i" ""^"^^ m^-perhaps none wiU
warn you (for you tf not a^ev^^^^ •"" I
condeL •ouinStKtiiri^llS-;^,^ who wiU
and personal conflict which had tX^ „w,„ > !" °f * '!"*"''=•
ady and her picture Jn the B«lfcTo^tZnr Th™^
there was great evidence of interest ^ That reXl!; *S ™
lingXdagrc/d tft'r rdT^s^itnrTtr'ir '™'-
Bo^e'r'croTth'^t t r ' ?«^^''' f"^^^^^^
ablf to hav e a swgeoHt hL^.T.'^fllVV™""!"* ''\™"'y -J^''"-
to'^sitti^F^'^^^^^^^^^^
Kr pfnv^ ^ ' *° ^^^^^^ *^e services of Mr Puckrid^P
L^nt'^^^'dt.^l^:i%^^?Ll -s expect^d^ev?;'^^:
come at once" to'tSo Flat's Hp L'i^.^™''T^^'- ^f^^^^ ^"^ *«
his noble friend, whom he Wn^^/^^ ^""^^ °«'^« ^^i«in
high health and TdS TTp^I p twenty mmutes before in
w^h his han£cS;td?oM^^^^ ''^"^ ^^^^^^^ ^^« '^
Guilty, or UTot Ouilty.
207
(and here
?er Croft,
I handker-
has come
snt, and I,
s man to
dments —
J at issue
mself and
I will do.
mded me
-with the
5, and as-
^TgivB all.
do so — if
f honour,
'^}am you
fnll be A
ence will
none will
t; but I
5vho will
burst of
sed, and
age, and
'ed very
'am had
n a nut-
. quarrel
a young
. (Here
te Mar-
id asked
:'oft, not
it duel-
ey were
;k him,
y desir-
^[arquis
e could
kridge.
;ry mo-
him to
rejoin
fore in
is face
" I never saw him aHve again. He lay on the Flats, or rather
in a chasm between them, a mangled corpse, and no one near
him but the accused, who pretended to be approaching the
spot."
By a juror, —
" Was there any blood on the dress or person of the ac-
cused?"
" I cannot tell. At the horrible sight of my noble friend
lying in a pool of blood, a dizziness came over me, and I sank
down by his side. When I came to myself, I believe my cries
reached the ears of two policemen who were on duty near the
Flats. They took Bertram into custody — how could they do
otherwise ? "
The two poHcemen were here minutely cross-examined, and
their statements corresponded in all respects with that of
Roger Croft.
The brows of the jury darkened. The foreman asked if
there were no other witnesses.
Here, pale but resolute, Edith Lorraine, with the tall police-
man clearing the way for her, came forward.
"I (MYh a, witness for the accused" she cried; " I am here to
state all I know."
Roger Croft, Uvid with rage, scowled from beneath his flaxen
eyebrows at the brave and noble girl.
Arthur Bertram's colour rose to his temples ; he started, and
held out his hands as if to greet and bless her. It was but the
impulse of a moment ; the next he remembered himself, and
drew back, murmuring,
" Heaven guide and reward thee, my angel Edith ! "
By order of the foreman, Lady Edith was at once accommo-
dated with an arm-chair. She was firm, composed, and col-
lected, although many of the nobility and gentry of the county
were assembled there. She had but one object — to save her
Arthur. Firmly convinced of his innocence, she wa3 there at
that terrible inquest, in the midst of that dense crowd, — that
ghastly, and for ever still and silent one, close at hand !
Bravery in woman is always admired to enthusiasm by
Englishmen: and in Edith's bravery there was nothing mas-
culine. There was not one iota of the "show ofl*" of the
Amazon, the heroine of romance, about her. She was perfectly
simple, quiet, unaffected, dignified.
The foreman requested her, with a deference due to her
rank, her sex, and the sublime heroism of her bearing, to raise
her veil. lu doing so, iiidith's large garden-hat fell off, and she
did not attempt to pick it up. Some gentlemen darted for-
ward to do so ; but Edith held it by the strings in her hand.
She was not afraid that the searching rays of the sun should
fiall on her face ; she had nothing to conceal — nothing of which
208
Chiilti/, or JSTot Guilty.
she was ashamed. She gloried in her love for Arthnr- o ,
though with true maiden modesty, she niver LhTdlrTV^ .?^
feehng that bound them together, fn every word she «nnvi ^^
a flush mantled it ; her dark snSE^^if''' P^^^' '^^^ ^^^^
fire.now shining througSs^hefwhir^ '^f' T^ ^^^^^^
and her graceful form drS'bv hir /rl^^^^^^
There was not a man prSX L t f ' ^^^\ V^""^^ ^^^^k-
burned, how her eyes brightened and lipf t' "^ ^^'' ''^^^^^
Bhe tookoare not to menr„tealfestLrdTectT4''"'
that the account of her meS"w^-rt tt"''- ™'', " ™'' ""■J""'
cUffs caused intense etcSent^raU p^es^eT "Sthr"";* ft
to his feet ( he had beenallowed a seat? and .'l, ■ Z "^'^"'^
with a wild burst of joy, exc7dmed;'*'' ^""'' "'^P"'^ ""^ '"'"'J^
deedTi?d°i*<??°e'aet?y .'^^^ "^™ '''*"-- *''- "^ t^at
BeSre''o?t°of"he''hall'^"^«™™ '"'' ''^''- ''■^'' ™^ «^™d m-
Of his sister, Lady' EdUirbaK thf C^^^^^^
own room, where as snm nrfto ,, castle, fehe stole to her
inquest rea^Td Ldy Eockaln nl T °^ ^'^ ?PPearanee at the
f;r'oTg:r«3lPils^aroK
"rn»er"nSS^^--t r;.^a^^tn:i
ft,;-^^"" ^"^'"P'^ '" discover the Ripsvbovs h.A rH„v
cSe"of''?,;^htrort:t!&t's:ES^^^^^^^
week's delav. Sdith h^d don? aU sto couW do™ Th^ f "^^
ment over, L. strength gave way, a «uS'et1on"of Si^^l"
GuiUi/, or Not Guilty.
f^^^P^^^^^^ - postponed,
jng kind ; and even her worlZ and !? /""r" ""^ ^ "^^'^^ '^1^™ '
the triumph of informin Jher tha? fn . •'?''*7^f °^^^^' f«^'^>ore
master in spite of all the Xn A ^^^^ "^ ^^^r mind. Her
was conveyed, with all If S'Ind'' '^^' ^^^ crowded b)
pluir.: hearse, and followed Kfe fi?i P^'^^^^ '° *^^ "chly. ,
Vf^^ coaches, to his last long home ^l.T'^^''^^''^ of mourn-
cne ot intense agony to thf neTiiavl w^^ °^i^° ^""^^'-^l ^as
mg his brother'1 coffin v^^^Tuftk,?^ ^°",^^ "'^^ '-^^oid see-
vault. Lord Hauteyille h^ZxeltS^^l ' T' ^"^^^'^^ ^"^0 the
to whom of late the Earl had tli 1 f""^ decorum. The poor,
wailed; but Edith-the onlv re^fr^ ' ^'"''^ % ^"^^ wept^and
jmg between life and deaS^^mlS to'Slf ^^*^^f^^"^i^/-was
the grave, as she had meant To Sn *°,^°"9^^ ^^er benefactor to
those bells tolled for hiT '^°' '^''^ ^"^'« unconscious that
p;.tpSa*t^^^^^^^^^ ^-^/f,- sun absent
a boy, and by which the late E^JilI^f ^°^^ Hauteville was
personal property, all in flf fl^^^^ *° ^"^'^ all his real and
-all thatf b/the';ubsVuenrwil^^^^^ Sl]!?^ r'-J^f on his ^on
wiK Szi7^!L^^:^:f^ ofv'-^'n '\ -^-»- of this
leave, repaired at once t^'e Mm rof/'''''' l^"^ ^' '^^^ ^is
wisely resolved quietly to awairhL °. "^' "^^^"^i ^^^^^^ had
to great advantage, and in S beanff '?' ^"^ ^^^^^' ^'^ssed
ration to his sentes and to hef ^' ^^ ^^P^cted his resto-
Lord Hauteville, in hio-h cr'nr.A i,
wealth, promised ^slZtioST^J'Z'^Z ^ .^'% ^''''^^^ of
at once to London, to purchase a en if! f^^/^ ^"'^^ ^o take her
.their marriage, and to LtroXeeVerlf^^ *° P^^^l^^J^
That very afternoon she was seen n^flf T"^'
beauty making her the object of nn.vL i*¥. "— ^^^^^ion, her
old traveller, who. in gaS uUn I. '^^ attention, even to an
truck, and swore and r?ared1u2lv ' ^^* ^'' ^"^'^ ^"d"' ^
nonce) quile a modeVhustrnVTn^^i ^'''^x-?^'^*^^^"^ (for the
not presume to prophesy but a vnTn '"^ ^^'' -^j" ^^«<^ ^^ will
woman of the lower orders, and a Zfl?T'^'-P^?^' ambitious
nobleman never did form a Wv^^?^-^^^' ^^^iP^t^d young
never can, and never will ^^^ marriage, and, we beheve,
P
/.
210
Guilty, or Kot QuiUy.
I !
CHAPTER XLVIII.
•'Good Heaven, whose darling attribute, we find,
Is l)oundles8 grace and mercy to mankind,
Abhors the cruel, and the deeds of night
By wondrous ways reveals in open light.
Murder niav pass unpunished for a time,
But tardy justice will o'ertake the crime."
Anon.
The Earl of Eockalpine had pleaded indisposition, and had taken
to his bed, to account for and excuse his non-attendance at the
inquest on the body of the young Marquis of Dunstanburgh.
All the noblemen and gentlemen in the neighbourhood took an
intense interest in this horrible and ghastly murder of a young
Peer, so powerful, so popular, so beloved, and so unoffending ;
and indeed, but for his affected indisposition, the absence of the
nearest neighbour — the head of the family most intimate with
the deceased nobleman — must have caused great remark, and
general surprise and disapprobation.
A murder of any kind always awoke countless demons in the
breast of the new Earl of Eockalpine. Conscience (seldom in
a very deep sleep in his breast) arose, and awoke Eemorse,
Terror, Horror, Despair, Anguish ! The bed — the grand state
bed — the downy bed, with its purple-velvet hangings, its coro-
net, its supporters (which formed the bed-posts), its swelling
pillows edged with lace, its fine snowy linen sheets, so delicately
frilled, its fragrance, and its costly luxury — all yielded no ease,
no comfort, no rest, no sleep, to the Frateicide ! To him,
it was that bed of thorns which a guilty conscience always
spreads, whether in castle or cottage, hall or hovel — on the nar-
row pallet and flock mattress of Poverty, or on the stubble down
and under the gorgeous canopy of Eank and Wealth. Vainly
he tried to rest his throbbing, hot, and aching head on those
swelling and downy pillows ; serpents seemed to him to creep
from beneath them, to coil around them, and to raise their
horrid heads and fix their cold eyes on him, and to hiss in his
ear the word " Fratricide ! "
He was alone — quite alone — always alone, whether in the soli-
tude of a crowd, or that of his own chamber.
Nothing so isolates the heart, the mind, the soul of man, as
the consciousness of an unsuspected, unacknowledged crime.
He who has a secret which no one can share, ghastly memories
of horror and guilt, not buried, but hidden in the dark recesses
of his soul — he, whose whole liie is haunted by terrors of
which no living being has any knowledge or conception — what
intimacy, what sympathy, what friendship can he enjoy ? He
knows, he feels, that the very men who court, and praise, and
honour hiiii, and who bewail his being so very reserved, and
silent, and inaccessible, would, if they knew what he had done,
turn from him with horror and loathing, and perhaps be the
very first to give him up to justice. He felt that hia whole life
d,
Anon.
and had taken
endance at the
)unstanburgli.
irhood took an
ier of a young
) unoffending ;
absence of the
intimate with
,t remark, and
demons in the
JCE (seldom in
oke Eemorse,
le grand state
;ings, its coro-
i), its swelUng
iS, so dehcately
ielded no ease,
de! To him,
science always
j1 — on the nar-
} stubble down
;alth. Vainly
head on those
3 him to creep
to raise their
to hiss in his
)her in the soli-
oul of man, as
rledged crime,
istly memories
i dark recesses
by terrors of
Lception — what
e enjoy ? He
nd praise, and
' reserved, and
i/t he had done,
)erhaps be the
t his whole life
<^?'%, or JVot Ouilhj. 211
SSi^;S JX^^;-^^ the cha,.ities,the nhi.
schemes, speculations,^:^! pl^ns of n M 'S'' *^^ ^^'^t^^^ ^V^ecLs,
^ Poor wretch ! As ife hv in\f« /f '^'^'f ''~^ Fratricide ?
day of the inquest how fS i ^^^darkened room on the first
his chamber, a^dseemldto^^tV,^'"' "{" S^^ ^^^*^ *^^o"A
taken latterly to onTum ^n^r.i^ ''^''°']"^ ^"^ bed ! He gad
stupefy Consdencrrr'aW^M ^' """^ °*^.^^ '^^^^^ sedatives, to
Alas I Ven the sL^n tZ ^^T^"*^' ^'^^ ^^" Thought to rest
hideous vLions S.nnr''°i.^r' P^'°^"^^^ was haunted by
so terrible as to resemble m^df'""^'"^ •' T^ *^^ ^^^^^^o^ wa?
suicide ! resemble madness, and often to tempt him to
pvt o^rlfttt^tThtnot W^ --d l^ad
feared interruption, ^fere was notb ^^'f^Vi.^' "^^'^ ^°* ^^^^
ness of woman's love in hTs vl^n nnS ?^i?-^ the sweet officious-
who felt for all who Uved onH wi ^°^^' ^^.^^onable wife. Edith.
so deep and strong-Ed^irLd s^^^^^ ^"^^ ^^^^
bably have knocked nt W ftf.? . ^^^'^ ^* ^^^^^ would pro-
do anything trcoith^"i!fr^ ^^°\*« ^n^^ if she c?uld
knows whefe Edith was rtb^fi. '?""'" ^?- • ^"* *^^ ^^ader
W absence no o.l^ r^p^^Vh'ef [hi tf.Z^^^^' ' ^' ^
so^lliottttTht^er'^ft^^^^^^^^^^^
riiVer,arhts^^^^^^^^^
bated bre^tf of thT^rSe?;^^^ ^*^ P^^^ ^--« -nd
with that ghastly deed of WnoT,'. 7^ ?f ^^i' ^^^ comparing it
twenty yelrs aJo 1p VpH o ^ ^^- ^^-^^^ ^°°^' of five-lnd-
theco?nJarison??-thofetwoCir^^^^^^^^^ consciousness that
gest itself to every miT,d>r^i''°^^^''^^^^^*^^«^sug.
similarity in thel^o" fmes.^ tTc a'rofX^ ST^ ^'''''4'
same. Both were noble hnlh trT +?^ \ ® .victims was the
Both were so popular «o h. 11 H^- ^^^^/a^ Pnme of manhood,
supposed ever tThavp^n-?^^^' *^^* ^^'^^^^ ^o^ld have been
ill-will of a^y human b^n? ^aT'^J'^V ^^^' '^'^'^ ^^
the open face of dav rT& • ^ ^^^ ^"^^ ^^^^ murdered in
peSy ^ocI^^\t' "^'-^ '^T'^'SK E-'ri 'oo »ell knew)
Jfii— gaol. And tti *;.!„(■ S"^ 'y'",'^'? '''' ™« committed to
resistibfe conation thft^rtW^^el'''''' '^=" " ^'""S' ^ i^'
fliio ^^^^ -x. 11 ^''t""' tJiai; Artnur iiertram was as miiifioo^ „f
murS-\h'rBr^#^ood^^^^^^^^ ^t ^^^^^^'s^
yet the same verScLf Wnfn7 M f "^^^ ^^'^^ ^'^^^ ^?«- ^°d
him, and he was now Iv^^n^r. .1 ^^^"^ V^ recordeS against
Rob had escaped. ^^^ *^' '^"^^ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ Rough
p 2
212
Guilty, or Not Quilty.
'^^\
Oh! what a mockery was this! What a moral does this
f^!l!f P ' ^^•'^S ^^^"^ ^9"^^y • ^^'-^^ Po^'^^ have Title. Bank,
™?; • "^^'o Reputation, if the conscience is burden;d with
tt seci ec crime r
The state bed shakes, the purple velvet hangings quiver, for
Tnr.rn'f p'Vr^'^^^*^^.* «««% M, the great and po on
Lord of Rockalpme IS writhing with Eemorse, palsied with
Despair, quaking with abject Terror ! ^
Sons of Labour, slaves of the Loom, or of the Soil ! sleep-
sleep soundly on your truckle beds, if "the princely heart of
innocence" beats in your breasts; and if, on some brief holidav
brea J, ^o'StT '"^ ^' '''''' '' ^""^ ^^"^ '''' ^^ ^-^ ^-^^
wi?h The'^^irv"?/ V "^"^-^"^^ ^r^ °^ Rockalpine, worn out
witn the agony of his mmd, and overcome by the fumes of
the opium ho had swallowed, sank into a troubled, nightmare
?rom "L vTv^;^ ? '"'"^f *°i^^?' '^^' l^e awoke ^itg a start
trom. a yivid dream of early days of love- of his brother
SthnTSn' f,^;^f°!^her, the fair fcountess of Eockal pine and
anfht brnl'I vP^J""''^ S,^*'^^ her^ro^e^.', whom both himself
w^fh « o^r. f ^"ii"? T^^^ ^°^^^- H^ ^"ancied that he awoke
with a start from this dream, and sat up in his bed- when ?
stream of moonl ght gushed through some holes in the closed
shutters of his wmdoN.s, filling the^centre of the room wi°h a
ab^ft tHf^^gtro^bt^^^ ^J^^^r^i^^z:
curtains close, and exclude its radiance, whe^ a coTd whTd
seemed to pass over his face and person, and an invisTble hand
whSlZ^Z f r^ "P°^ ^^. p!,"°^- ^"d '^'^ ^^ fancied thai
while he lay there, icy cold, damp with horror, and perfectly
motionless and powerless, three forms, larger, youngerand if
possible, more beautiful than those he had just sfen in his
moon^Uf^fir^r^f •^^^^^^•"PP^^^^^ i^ *^-* column of
moonlight—first as faint outlines, and then, by decrees as
maturing mtp perfect though semi-transparent fiyref '
w3\-T'i*'r '^^""f^ *° ^°^^ Rockalpine to advance to-
fols and the t' rV^ '^' ?"*^^^ ^'^^'y °f *hose m^estb
3.? i:./i ^ melancholy radiance of those angelic but re-
proachful faces, the cold, still motionless Earl refoenised hk
mother his brother, and the object of his fir t wHrmlion
led tia..«su by the nand Lo his bedside, and pointed to a wed-
^anlTafd'" "" ^"^''' "^^ '^^' "^^ bi;ther,^taking her oTher
" Wilfred, behold Lady Hauteville ! "
ral does tliis
) Title, Eank,
urdened with
»s quiver, for
b and potent
palsied with
3oil ! sleep —
iely heart of
brief holiday,
* with that of
3r yoiir daily
ne, worn out
bhe fumes of
, nightmare-
with a start
his brother
kalpine, and
both himself
lat he awoke
3ed ; when a
n the closed
room with a
radiance the
and he was
^et window-
I- cold wind
visible hand
fancied that
id perfectly
iger, and, if
seen in his
column of
degrees, as
res.
idvance to-
se majestic
ilic but re-
)gnised his
Id, passion
his mf^ther
i to a wed-
j her other
Guilty, or JVot GuiUt/. 213
br^t'wo^e watb!^^^ ^-f.^ T^jch his elder
the spot where theTXSe b„^ l Tf • ^^T ^^^^°°^ «^o^ed
then &s murdered brother tidtit^« '"? *^*^" ^^^'^ ' ^^^
" Cain ! Cain ! knowest thou ^-^ ^^f "ITi?^^^^^ sternness,
twenty-second of OctXr «ni ^t T.P°f ^^^"^ remember the
innocent !-Arthur Lorraine t^^ ^^^?^^^^^ ^^^^^^ i«
of thy murdered Xerbro he; Lord'wA^^^ «°n
his wife, is innocent! C then ^^S^?7''^'i?'^''1°^^^^^^««^'
defeat his enemies, and to nrol v!'^^ blood-bought power to
the rights, titles ardp.fnfP^u^ mnocence ; restore to him
have feenmine ' Conlsfth; cri^^^ arehis because they would
death of the body is rjll^Xf ^^^^^^ thyself up to justice;
to toll thL, that t^ "Ss 4y torm^rf ['• } ™"/ '° *''^«-
Earl of EoekS^Le sa™ my"tf f.!'' •"^S'"'°''*« ' There is no
se^utfi ™rrwrat".eeteXfr' "^^l-^Vm.," said in a
brother's gW " rnnT^! tl^e /xcited Fratricide to be his
eternally 1 ^ '^'"*''' ''"'l*"'' ""^'Sr^' ''''store, or perish
re^io'traSgStT-'^wildlythrSJ W eT"?*'- ^^''S" ?"«'>'•
ground, stunned and streiess- for'in fl I'^f V'? *° ""^
his temple ogaink the pedestal' " *'"'°S ^^ ^ ^*™*
the ro'orbLlth fteSrf t*" ""^'''^ *'"« ™« ^'^'^ »
Oh, hearens - what is that ? " cried Lady Ida, starting to
214
Ouilty, or ITot Gtiilly.
Oh!
her feet. "What a heavy fall, and in papa's room, too !
what can it be P
She was very pale, and her hands, tightly clasped, were
pressed on her bosom. ^
"Perhaps your father has had a fit of some kind," said Ladv
Eockalpine. " Emg the bell for Leblond and Mrs. Prosser^'
(his valet and the old housekeeper). "I am a great deal too
nervous and excitable to venture upstairs, after hearing that
heay fall. Your father has been very poorly, and has looked a-d
acted in a very strange way, ever since we have been here," added
» Au ^u 'P ' " ^^^V*"'^ "J"^ knowing what may have happened !"
Uh, heavens ! what do you mean, mamma? " cried Lady Ida.
nishing out of the room, and darting upstairs, followed b/Mrs
Prosser and the Earl's valet, Leblond, whom she met at the door
ihe Earl s door was locked, but Mrs. Prosser had a pass-key
Leblond, who had at one time lived with a gambler who had
committed smcide, tried to persuade the Lady Ida to retire
But Ida was a girl of some character, originahty, and resolution,
bhe was the first to enter the room, to rush to her father's side
+L iT'^^TI ^'"S^i' r^ try with her handkerchief to staunch
the blood that welled up and streamed from his temple
ft... Pi?''''^ ^'" ^""^ Leblond lifted the Earl on to a sofa at the
toot of his bed, restoratives, were administered, and conscious-
ness was restored.
The Ea,rl then explained, that in getting out of bed to exclude
^e moonlight, which prevented his sleeping, he had stumbled,
knocked down the marble statue of hfs ancestor, and fallen
over It, striking his temple against the pedestal. He made no
allusion whatever to his dream, or to the mysterious and
ghostly visitants who were the cause of his leaving his bed
.He persuaded himself, or endeavoured to do so, that 'the
Sir ''L^P^^'t^-^ spirits, which had at first paralysed and
then maddened him formed in reality part of a frightful night-
mare and hideous dream, caused by the strong dSse of opium
with which he had tried to drown the voice of Conscience. Per-
haps he was right-perhaps it was merely a dream. Be that
as It may, he had no wish to dream such a dream again ; and
he requested the Lady Ida to bring the Times, and read to
ttet'of ms^coucL '^''''"' '' "^'^ "P ^ ^^^ «^ *^^ -f^ -'
Alas, alas ! even while the Lady Ida read a glowing article
on the results of the reformatories and prison disciplin'e which
he himself had originated and which proclaimed him as the
benefactor of his species, he still saw with his mind's eye that
— rr'V iP^rir^ — ne ouhuid that dioc of yore on his
brother's side— he heard those words—
JIJ^^^^"^^ Lorraine is Earl of Egckalpdte ! Conpess, resign.
vEESIOaB, OR PERISH ETERNALLY I " ^^ouxJN,
, K
, too ! Oh !
asped, were
" said Lady
s. Prosser "
eat deal too
learing that
3 looked a"d
lere," added
happened !"
id Lady Ida,
^ed by Mrs.
at the door.
. a pass-key.
ler who had
a to retire.
'. resolution,
ither's side,
to staunch
iple.
. sofa at the
I conscious-
i to exclude
1 stumbled,
and fallen
[e made no
erious and
bis bed.
>, that the
ilysed and
itful night-
e of opium
ence. Per-
. Be that
gain ; and
id read to
the sofa at
ing article
line which
im as the
s eye that
)re on his
SS, RESIGN,
s
ChiiUt/, or Mt Guilty.
CHAPTER XLIX.
215
i J '^''* ■* <^»11 »•'«'» o'er doform my liuad
Think you my nllken tresses Til conceal.
And slmi'late a woo I cnnnot feel ?
/rP' . 1*-' "*■ l''*'''^ the first year III Rpcnd
Tn'Vl*'"'^'"^ Frenchman Is the wldoWs friend !)
Ann w^''*""!?'' ?"?" '*^ «^"'l »'e mine to rove.
f.^.,f3. '''"'='' ^ ''''" exchange /or ma«rc
Jet butterti lea upon my breast 1 11 wea r.
^M f \^''«in '" my folds of flaxen hair,
wi.. Jl"^^ ''^'"P^"' mourning I'll assume
Foi one who made my life a living tomb.' " Lasoellks.
mfnTtS^ho^^n^l^W"^^^^^^^^ ''''^'^^ it i" her own
mma, that the Earl had either had a fit, or that somotUnn
worse had happened. A thousand frivolous fancies crowded
through the Countess's shallow brain, before Mrs. Prosseras
she thought herself in duty bound to do, presented herself be!
fore her ladyship to quiet the fears and allay the anxiety whic^^^
occaSon 'ycs'TV^^T^!? ''T' ^' '''' "^^^'^ heart'U this
or foTnl i..7rV u °''!Tt^^i^°V°t^'^ '"^^^ that nothing serious
or fatal had befallen the Earl, she had resolved never in ami
;Tdow^ tt^The'b' f'} r''y 'r? hy wearingT'EngS
wiaow 8 cap. bhe had determined to escape all censure on
this head, from the noble matronage of England, by retTrW to
had Z''T' t""^ f^^ ^'.'' y^^^ «f her widowhood Ihe
^wt °'* ""^-^l."? her mind how soon mauve, violet, and
tlZl ?"^y,"^^?ht be substituted for black, whi^h was very
mibecommg to her complexion, and therefore, odious to her
What visions of freedom, boundless wealth at her oZdisposIi
^ wW 'T ^^'t^r ^^^ T^ ^^"-Se, and her jointur?spleS
-what continental gaiety, beaux, flatteries, himage, and dissi
mt ?o^^b? T'^T "^S^^*" ^°"°^t^ ^^d J^t butt;rflies were
put to flight when Mrs. Prosser, with many low curtsies ex-
plained tEe real state of the case. Howeve^ Lady Rockalpfne
had tact enough to " assume a virtue if she had^it not "and
to simulate an anxiety and relief she was far from feelinc:.
Tr«?rfnr'? ^^'/' the reader knows, the funeral of the late
fnlli^^ ^Tf' K^°'^ Rockalpine was sufiiciently recovered
to attend, and to be present at the reading of his father's will-
f}Zl^mA^^:^\^lo'''^'i'^^^^^ hy the latest tTai; •
wnicn leic ^— — at 11 30. He felt his heart grow somewhat
lighter as he drove through the park (drawn by a paHf^eet
horses) on his way to the station. He had suff-ered such mental
Son oT/bf h' ''"^ f ,R««l^^!pine, that to him the thought of
Jjondon, ot the House of Peers (m wTiiph he v-onH -,r~ ^?— f ^
take his place), of committees, debatel,me:trgsc£i^^^^
Sr.HZ.^°^ mmxsterial dinners, and the consfant pre ence of
his private secretary, were a comfort and relief.
Xbe recollection of the dream or vision of the ghostly trio
r
•Ki-r "■ -
.p > . j^r^ -
21G
Ouilty, or Not Ouilty.
faded as ho thought of the excitement and absorbing interest
of his pubHc career ; when suddenly, at an angle of the road,
lying down under a gnome-like thorn, ho beheld a man and
•woman of the lower orders. The woman's head was on tho
man's shoulder, and her hand was clasped in his.
The moon came from behind a cloud at this moment, and her
rays fell full on those two figures, who, startled by tho sound of
tho carriage wheels, both looked up at once ; and tho Earl drew
back in his carriage, for, at a glance, ho recognised EouGii
Bob and his wife Mary !
The si^ht of Eough Rob, associated, as he always was, in the
Earl's mnid with the chance of detection, drove all hope and
tranquility from his breast ; and again the ague of fear was
upon him, and again, looking, in spite of himself, from the car-
riage window, the ghostly trio of the night before seemed to
move hand in hand over the wild moor, and to gaz'^ at him with
mournful menace in their eyes, while, with hands raised as if to
warn, they flittpd away, and disappeared in the dark, distant
depths of the Black Wood. Was it the vision of a morbid and
excited fancy, or do departed spirits really revisit the earth?
Wo incline to believe But, no; let the reader deri-^o for
himself.
One day Lady Ida, who was moped to death at the Castle,
and who was never so happy as when she was on horseback, not
having her own favourite steed with her in the country, re-
quested that Wildfire, a very spirited horse, which, she had once
ridden with her father, might be saddled, as she felt disposed
for a good gallop. Lady Ida never looked so well as she did
on horseback. She was a fearless rider, and, attended only by
a groom, she set off, determining not to return till dinner-time,
and thus get rid of the dull monotonous succession of hourff be-
tween an early luncheon and a late dinner.
Lady Ida, who, though she did not understand Edith's
nature, and could not sympathise with her secret sorrow, felt
some interest in so sweet and suffering a sister, looked in at
Edith's sick-room before she set out for her ride.
Edith lay pale and wan on her bed ; her eyes were closed, but
she was not asleep. She looked up at the slight noise that
Lady Ida made, in drawing back the bed-curtains, and said,
gently holding out her thin, burning hand to her sister —
" How bright and blooming you look, Ida ! I see you are
equipped for riding ; where are you going ^ "
" Over the hills and far away — anywhere out of this Castle
Dolorona. lain moped to death ; I can endure it no lon^fer."
" But vfhat horse are you going to ride ? " asked Edith.
" You haven't got your own Atalanta, here, have you ? "
" Oh, no ! but I have ordered Rogers to saddle Wildfire."
** Oh, don't ride that fiery-spirited, powerful horse ! " said
\
ing interest
)f the road,
a man and
was on the
;nt, and her
ho sound of
3 Earl drew
sod EouGii
was, in tho
11 hope and
of fear was
om the car-
) seemed to
at him with
ised as if to
irk, distant
morbid and
the earth?
def i'^e for
the Castle,
fseback, not
country, re-
he had once
3lt disposed
as she did
ded only by
linner-time,
of hourff be-
md Edith's
sorrow, felt
ooked in at
3 closed, but
fc noise that
s, and said,
ster —
see you are
this Castle
rj lon"'er."
sked Edith.
ou?"
Vildfire."
,orse!" said
Quilty, or Not Ouilty.
217
\
Edith. " HautoTille could not manage him — he's a hunter,
too."
" Never mind ; I can manage him, and I should like to follow
tho hounds to-day — my blood stagnates hero I Good-bye. I
wish you were able to come with me."
"Ah!" thought Edith, as the large tears filled her eyes,
" the last time I rode was at Interlachcn, on the day when
Arthur risked his life to save me, when I fell into tho Death
Valley ! Poor, beloved Arthur, where art thou now ? "
Lady Ida did not show herself to her mother. The Covintess,
herself very timid on horseback, would have raised a hundred
objections to Ida's riding Wildfire — visions of broken limbs,
hump-backs, concussion of tho brain, death, would have passed
through the Countess's brain. This Lady Ida knew full well.
So she stole downstairs, flitting from pillar to pillar like a
sunbeam ; her golden hair floating from beneath her black
velvet hat, and her dark-green habit setting oft* to great advan-
tage the slender proportions of her tall, graceful figure. Lady
Ida placed her little elegant, well-shod foot in the groom's
hand, and with one bound the practised horsewoman was
on Wildfire's glossy back. How he ;irched his noble neck and
tossed his beautiful thoroughbred head, and seemed proud (as
he curveted and caracoled) of his lovely burden !
Lady Ida rode gaily away, followed by the groom, and she
tried all Wildfire's paces — walk, trot, canter, gallop — and found
them all perfect ; and she patted his neck, and felt as if she
could command the world ; when suddenly " the horn of the
huntsman was heard on tho hill ! "
Wildfire snorted, pricked up his ears, and was ofi*, fleet as
the wind, in the direction whence the sound came.
Vainly Lady Ida tried to draw him in, to moderate his pace.
Another blast of the horn reached his ears, and swift as light-
ning away he went, leaving the groom, white with terror, far,
far behind. On, ou, on dashed Wildfire ! Lady Ida had no
power to guide him ; all she could do was to keep on his back.
Nothing stopped him, and to her horror she saw him rushing
wildly on to the cliff's that overhung the sea.
She gave herself up for lost, and with a wild cry implored
her Father in Heaven to save her. She was within a few feet
of the edge of the cliff", and all her efforts to pull in Wildfire
were vain.
Her strained arms had lost all strength, her whole frame
trembled with terror and excitement, and large tears streamed
down her white cheeks. A minute more, and she sees, she feels
that Wildfire and herself must go over the rocks into the foam-
ing sea — when suddenly a man, who had been lyin^ on the edge
of the cliff", started uj), caught Wildfire by the bridle, stopped
his mad career, and with great strength held him in, while Lady
-te^ V. . •«-:.--^
218
Ouilbj, or Mi Quilty.
g?Swn?ock/'*''"' ^'''' ^°''^^''' eminonco on to a ledge of graas-
;'.IIo^^ «»\'^" I tliank youP" Raid the trembling Lady Ida
taking out her purse. *' -^ '*'
'.'Oh, I mint no thanks, my lady," said the man; "for though
lorof'hoT/'" ' '^'' ^'^^ ^^^^'^^ ^"^^'^•"^' Vou've got^S
on ho? delfveref '" '"^^ ^^"' ^"'""^ '^^^ ^""*^"^^ ^^ ^'^ P"^««
thlTf'/^?'?^H*^'°;"^"' "y^'^ tell her that Rough Rob.
h ??ru w'''\ ^''^<^"»;«^« ™ «o aboard on the other day in
the B ack Wood saved your life, and wouhl her'n, or that of
any of the family, for the sak. of him who's in heaven and
whose blood Rr ugh Rob's so falsely accused of shedding
norfo f^of Y"% ^ '° '^r ^.'"^ ""^^^y- ^"'1 tell her to?;
SnL K ^ V T-i^T^"^? shan't swing for a crime he nevei^
done-he s too like him that was murdered in the Black Wood
fiye-and-twenty y^ars ago. Tell her I'm on the track of Them
gipsy, ads that saw the murder done. I'm a poor half°craze?
hunted cretur myself-forced to herd with gipsies' and hide hi
caves and holes, and wear a knife at my side. ne;er knowh L
who U attack me; but I won't go on so. I'll stind my trSf
a nian. And now my lady, if you aren't afeard to mount VIX
lead you back to the road and there we'll find the groom and
Id advise you to have the saddles changed, and let tho man
Lady Ida followed Rough Rob's advice, and got home on the
^"^T^v^^T "' ^''^^^^- ^^^° *°^^ Edith of her strange rencoJre
and Edith drew some comfort from Rough Rob's p?om?sQ '
CHAPTER L.
" She never told lier love, but let
Concealment, like a worm i' the bnd,
!^'^;i'"?.u"'*^"'""^^'^'''^'''^- She pluofUn thought.
And with a green and yellow melancholy
She sate, like Patience ou a monument.
Smiling at grief." SnAKESPEAnE.
Yes. Arthur Bertram was committed to M gaol there \n
^""Al^'ltlt ^r '^'' "^^"^^^ °f '^' ^^^q^^i'^ °f Duns aXr.h
And Edith Lorraine was still lying on her bed in a verv
dehcatestate of health; unconscious of the verdici of wS
Murder recorded against her beloved; unconscious of the suD-
pression of he will, by which her grandfather had lef?all Els S
th^t all Hn^nTi^^Tir^' ^u '''^ ''"^"^' °*"^ ^^^^'*° ^^^ ' unconscious
«io^ nf .V. ^liouWhavebeenhers was nowto come into the posses-
sion of the profligate young Lord Hauteville, her brother and
Maxionhiswife ; and that a^e,whohadso looked forwidtoe^kh.
Ou'iUij, or Not Ouilty.
210
of grass-
Lady Ida,
for though
u've got a
r her purse
ough Rob,
bur day in
or that of
iavon, and
shedding,
11 her, too,
ho never
ack Wood
k of them
alf-crazed,
nd hido in
knowing
'■ trial like
nount, I'll
room, and
b tho man
•unt — he's
me on the
rencontre,
mise.
SPKAnE.
there to
anburgh.
ti a very
3f Wilful
the sup.
11 his real
jonscious
leposses-
bher, and
io enrich-
mg her Arthur, was, owing to tho disappearance of tho late Earl's
will in her favour, loft entirely doncndenfc on her parents ; one
of whom never concerned hiinHolf about her, while tlie other
was much cxaHporatcd against her by her attendance at the
inriuest, and the devotion to Arthur Bertram which she had so
publicly displayed.
The Countess of Rockalpine, who longed to quit the Castle
with her favourite daughter, Liuly Ida, i)rofessc(l to think very
lightly of Edith's disorder, and had fixed the day for hor own
departure, having resolved to leave Edith in the care of Mrs.
Croft and Mrs. Pressor, until she had recovered hor strength.
The only peril that attended her stay at Mrs. Croft's was
now removed.
Arthur Bertram was in prison, awaiting his trial for murder.
There was no dancer from that source; but both Lord and
Lady Rockalpine, though from very ditlerent motives, wished
to keep up a good understanding with Mr. and Mrs. Croft ; and
Roger Croft had paid such obsequious court to the Countess,
that she had decided he was a very agreeable, useful, and oblig-
"^g young man. She had that passion for news, or rather gossip,
which belongs to very small minds and very narrow hearts ;
and Roger had most successfully pandered to this weakness.
The topic next in interest to that of the murder of the young
Marquis, and the arrest and committal of Arthur Bertram, was
the entire disappearance of old Mr. Croft.
It will be remembered that on the night preceding tho day
fixed for the inque.st, and two days before the funeral of tho late
Earl and the reading of his will, Roger Croft suddenly appeared
in his father's apartment, and induced him to leave tlio Villa
and proceed with him to B , where a boat awaited him (on
mysterious business connected with the Earl of Rockalpine).
Since that time old Croft had not been heard of His absence
at the inquest on the young Marquis of Dunstanburgh, and
still more, his not being present at the late Earl's funeral and
at tho reading of his will, would have excited great surprise
and animadversion, but that Mr. Roger Croft explained to all
inquirers, that his father's absence was inevitable, and that he
was well aware that important affairs of the Earl's kept him away
at such a time.
For some weeks Roger Croft, by a variety of excuses and
explanations, satisfied the curiosity of his mother and sister
Gloriana about his father's absence; but at length Mrs.
Croft became very uneasy at never receiving one line from her
her mother's anxiety ; and Roger Croft, while reassuring them,
was obliged to own that his father's absence was strangely
protracted.
He even proposed (if it lasted much longer) to set out for the
220
Guilti/, or Not Guilty.
I
r'c?ott\teTrti*^^^^^^^^ ^-^,^IP- had sent
befallen him. ^^""^^^"^ ^^^* ^^ was well, and that no evil had
in the course of a fX Says IZft ^''^ ^'!,- ^^°*"*^ '^^' ^dith!
A little change foT thTbettt f.^f "T^"^?^ *°.^^«^* ™'*-
Phoebe, who was much atteched S l. '^ ^^^"^ -^^ ^'^^^^ 5 and
preferred staying with the Lai Fdff^'*'''';? '^''*'"'^' ^^^^^^^^^
lowing the Ladfldatn T Li^ ^ ??'^^ '"^ *^® country, to fol-
to lea^ve the c^y Thf sTcV.f^^f^r^"' she did Jot wish
entirely in love of t?eLadvPH^f? ""M^"' preference lay not
formeriasbecomeastrongmS?^^^^^^^^ *l""g^ the
potent influence still was at wnVv p ^5,^**^? ^P^be; butamore
with a handsome younrfarmer ^ ^ ^^ ?^°' • ' ^^^ ^^ ^^^^
he was desperatelfin fove wfth her TT^°f ^^^T .^\*^*^' ^^^
with him to Alnwick Fai^ wWiT ."^^ ^^^ ^'^^^ ^^r to go
Old Potts, his fSher aid S-l pT \^^ ^"^^ ^^ ^ ^^^ days.
Potts and her sweeth^aTt^r^ot^ "'^^^"^' ^^^^ ^'^^^
hoped that Joe would^ptp^sTai'^^^^^ P^^^^' -^ ^^-ba
^£5f ^l?^^^^^^^^ nursing wrought a
bettt'wiutl'lt^^^^^^^ -«* been a good deal
nor the heart to on W one Sd ',T'^^"^^ *« ^^^ for a holiday.
herself the natural oTeTgossipa^^ TV^ ^"^^"^^ ^^
sensation. gossip, and the delight in creating a
t^tl^i^^nrT^^rSTJ ^--^-^7 Edith the fact
on a charge of r^uJ£r^r.l"LlTlS^^ ^— ^-^
inquest was still adjourned ^^^ ^^P^^ *ha<^ t^e
feltXrsVetLVrtt^^^^ ^'-^^.^ ^^*^-' ^- «he
secret of her heart ?o pEe .^u? shr/^'^^i T^^^^"^ ^^^
was gone to the fair and Mr.' P^. resolved when Phoebe
tea. to make a feTiCinW th^^ T'l 7f ^^^ «^ ^^^ a<^
perhaps, not suspect Is a vol* ^°°^ °^^ ^^y' ^^^ ^^^d,
interest she took t her C.T' '^''";f"- ""^^h*^' ^^^ intense
concerned Arthur Bertram ' ''''^ "' everything that
Edt&to be 'rL::!t^rilZ^l then Thursday-Lady
that Arthur, setT^fcty^w^ol' T^^L? f * ^ ^^^^ope^
Love and Hope would affain%T.?^fi^*'T • ^^"^'^^5 ^^d that
What a bright day waf that on wV ^'' ^f'^^ited lives !
the morn. and^v..?L^S!,i!f>,°^ which pretty Ph(Bbe. rosv as
Her e,. were a. blue't th?°CoZf CiSro?. ato^f
Ouiltj/, or Not Guilty.
221
^tr^tSTn^^^^ straw bonnet Her hair and eye
right ' ™' '" '°™' """• *■"• '"='•• ^''='to«r Joe did was
tilt cart S "hi" wifr H™"''* °" ". 5^'"">^■ ™nt in his own
thirty years before aiirl ^no/fJ^ i ^^f^'^3^.' ""gal trousseau
appro=«hii?rpXmaico 7"a 'S^^^^ ""'' announeel tho
mar called ™»IWff' J- ^ ?™*">=ly ™w sensation dram.
222
Guilty, or Mt Guilty.
ft™taC U^Cton'tS .''n' Goit.oldgiri. Give
fatigue, the old djmo Z So culprit l'ri°^"f'' '""? '^''''
a final poke in the back wilh SXurofrAmLua''''w?h
at'rlS^ ^^^"P*'°"' -^-Tthingwcnt smoothl"XnaeTri5y
noraSof/jSl:'^''^"' ^^"^ da^'at^lS^fC
CHAPTER LI.
" stone walls do not a prison make.
Nor iron bars a cage ; *
Mkids innocent and pious take
These for a hermitage." j^^q^
hisses and howls of the mob JTh.A f if ^^"^ ^^^^ *^®
?i*t;:.tr to iLrth-3H«^
derer ! " " Blood for blonH i ' » V . . ^ ^^^ *^^ ^^^-
few questions the accused easned out nf f?. +11 i?l, ^^^^ ^
tion of his imprisonment ^ ^ ^'^ *^^ probable dura-
forced themselt3'rhrgrhSfnt%rnTnrt'r.«?l^'i^^
vldsea ms once maniy, noble breast. "°""' '""' °'-'"° ™"" .
Ihe gaoler glanced at him over his shrueeed 8hn„M».= ^n,
an expression of ineffable contempt ™"8Sea shoulders with
" There's a poor, sniyelling. blubbering chap ! " he mnttcred
Guilti/, or mt Guilhj, 223
same as a forrine" but cW? ,h„^ * 'T.'," f'"!,'^''*' "" tie
rable creature as a n^ rue to hfsself hI W^" ' ''°™-'' "''^'=-
done the thine thatl^w^.J . ^^^ back-bone, and if they've
as he went his way awfhp T ^' ^^^^ (muttered the gaoler
was Arthur's cd?f " tof hinlc ^f ^f' i^"' ^^ !¥ ^"^ ^^ ^^^^^h
sent the Most Noke the M^^^^^^^^ ^'^.^'5 ^^ ^^°^^d have
this world, and tha aforeS. f f v""'^^"^^^^ "^^^^ °'^<^ «f
chap! GuiW, OK Z7 GviLT??-^tlt'^^^^^^^ °f ^
see at a glance as T Hn f w VT^ y' *^° l^^ge and jury will
fellows. ^hSSo ' I'll^; and* h! ' ^^^^^ ^T ^t^b-in-the-back
along of Bobihe Burlfar H.m h ^ ^^f « «f «qn?ething stiffish
mistike, for he knocS oi? A^- m^"* '* *^^' *^"^^' ^"^ no
sartainsure. but thpnlo!? ^^t^^. ^^^es on the head, that's
Miles wasfust going to shootTnJ'bV '^^f^'^^^^^^ when Miser
as a grig. He doTt lil nl 7^V T ^^^^^^^^g, and he's as merry
world ^±Lt1 ""^i^fe-^"""' '^'"' ^''™"y th"" -Ji-J 'be
the!^&saS7SL-™rS»o^r-C^^^^^^^^^^^
gene;nn^ CXL'"^ an eloquent article on Surders S
the -nWit^'i 7 ?^™? ^"""e "'""se" "bout not preiudicinS
224
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
//
r
i
h'
And now, shall we venture to ask the reader what opinion he
has formed upon this momentous question of " Guilty, or not
Guilty ?"
Ws know, and we trust that all who have read this " ower
true tale," know and feel, that of deliberate, premeditated
murder Arthur Bertram was quite incapable. But we know,
too, that passion will occasionally master the best and wisest
among us ; we know that he loved Edith Lorraine with a love
which fell very little short of that idolatry which is forbidden by
Him who cannot err; we know that the Marquis's jealousy was
such that it had already urged him to use exasperating words,
and even personal violence, to Arthur Bertram— that a conflict
had already taken place between them on the confines of the
Black Wood. ^ ^ ^ ,-.
We will suppose that Arthur went forth to carry out to the
full his Christian principles and pious abhorrence of duelling.
He, the successful lover— he who, whatever his birth, his low
estate, his wretched fortunes— he who had, in spite of all, won
from the maiden they both adored, a preference and a favour
for which the Most Noble the Marquis of Dunstanburgh, lord
of so many noble estates, and of such fabulous wealth, had sued
so iung in vain ! Is it impossible that, meeting on those lone
Flats, before Roger Croft joined them, Arthur Bertram, armed
with a loaded stick, solely for self-defence, may have met with
the young Marquis in an angry, an insulting, a maddening
state of exasperated feeling, and may have been so provoked,
so outraged, as to have struck him in self-defence, and uninten-
tionally to have slain him P The Marquis may have used lan-
guac^e of the most irritating, insulting kind. He did so once
befo° e, and may have done so again. He may have struck his
rival on the face ; and Arthur Bertram is a man. We know how
often a blow has proved fatal, which was never meant to injure
seriously. . ,
We only put these questions hypothetically, and m answer to
the solemn, momentous question of, " Guilty, or not Guilty ?
Surely, if it were so, Arthur's crime would be one which,
could the facts of the case be proved to be what we have sug-
gested as not quite impossible, the sternest judge and jury
would consider " justifiable homicide."
But was it so ? The evidence of the surgeons who made the
post-mortem examination proved that the blow or b^ws of
which the young Marquis died must have been struck from be-
hind. And how, in the case we have supposed, could Arthur
have struck his rival from behind ? v -ui. o
Alas ! alas ! how can the truth ever be brought to hght i'
Arthur swore at the inquest, and at the adjourned inquest, that
wlien he reached Dunstanburgh Flats, he found the Marquis
lying on his face between the fissure of the rocks, in a pool of
bat opinion he
rUILTY, OR NOT
ad this " ower
premeditated
But we know,
est and wisest
ne with a love
s forbidden by
's jealousy was
erating words,
-that a conflict
confines of the
,rry out to the
ice of duelling.
birth, his low
pite of all, won
e and a favour
itanburgh, lord
ealth, had sued
T on those lone
Jertram, armed
have met with
, a maddening
n so provoked,
36, and uninten-
have used Ian-
He did so once
have struck his
, We know how
meant to injure
nd in answer to
R NOT Guilty ?"
be one which,
at we have sug-
judge and jury
is who made the
•w or b^ows of
struck from bs-
)d, could Arthur
ought to light ?
led inquest, that
nd the Marquis
cks, in a pool of
OuiUy, or Mt Guilty. 225
ItenTLr \\?^^^^^^^^ coming up at that
of the murder That hi^rRnL ' ^ I^^T f "^'^^ accused him
guardsmen and pohcemef to° the ''t^'' ^TM^'^ someeoast-
J^'dith Lorraine aVS a? thppL^f' and that when Lady
Everything, then! woul teVdt StV^tLTtar^i'l^^"^
Arthur Bertram ""luw me started suspicion on
and oxamiMd separatelT and wori ^^L l^ ""'"^ ^° P™ducod,
Wentify among 4ny ofo C'iS oSo SZ'^IZtTfl; *°
Bertram s innocenpp mio-lif k« ..„^„i , . , *" ^■^"-'^^ *d^is, tiiat Arthur
At present, TSn^^^'cha^n of ri '""v^^'? »"*" P™™<J.
seldU linked cri^wTth detection?™""'^*''"''''' '''^'"^■^<' ^^^
white and faint, was CS i^Te tdTonlHt'^n'"'"!.^"^
tection on awalliinff ' .mr Witi. *i„» i j j S'.", " '°'' scli-pro.
done-that ^rpr^veHeyrd a donbt ft,v T^ "''= i"'^''^'
back of tlie yonns MaS" hnnd .„jj" tte wounds at the
the loaded kn^b of tSotted sttok '"'"* "^"^"^ ""''^
in his own mind, that tL irpsXs e^isteZ'^" If^ ''"■""S
and somewhat morbid fafe? of t h» !.^„ ? ° ^ ™ "'" "^"^'^'^
had so strangely appear/HS 1 Flatf ta faS "tSe ™^ T^°
and more strangely still, had, as it were dronned f "''l'''
cjouds dunng the inquest, and insister givLS evident
Xtatn ^reulSr^eS-!;ilne".S ^'''■'
time wore on, and notSin "waf 1 pF,T„?l.,"P''!f '°" ' ""<» "s
believed in them sh^^ tLl^ra]; »d1aid- ' ''"^'^ "'^^ ^^
Poor young lady ! how she loves that vile murderer ! "
CHAPTER LII.
j^ndTloria^n^bfpS'^wlrt™ *f' '^^^ ot hi. mother
' of his father knl ro^nrZf J' ZZtClZZ.fr '° '^'"■■*
!Shth™„?hS:Tg5f,^™ f /^^^^^
I "i« ngnt nand, and which rendered writing painful
226
Guilty^ or Not Chiilty.
it
to him. He added, that he was progressing favourably iHth
the business Lord Eockalpine had confided to him, and that his
return might be confidently expected ere long.
Edith was now again an inhabitant of Croft Villa, and Mrs.
Croft began to hope that, as the Marquis had been murdered,
and the wretched Arthur Bertram, whom she had always hated,
would no doubt be hanged for that murder, her darling Soger
would in the end win Edith, and that the lost will would be
found and proved, and Edith thus become one of the wealthiest
and best of matches.
" As for Arthur's being hanged bringing any disgrace on us,"
she said, " that's all nonsense. Mr. Croft, who doted on his ill-
conducted baggage of a daughter, made a great fool of himself in
bringing up the base-born brat as a gentleman. But the fact
is, in point of law, bastards have no relations ; and, therefore,
Arthur (wicked rufiian) is no relation of ours. Of course it's
very horrible to think of anyone one has known from his in-
fancy, and seen playing with one's own angel children, coming
to tne scafibld. But these bastards are almost always bad ; and
I was a poor, timid, weak young thing at the time, or I should
have set my face against his introduction into my family, and
have said : * Mr. Croft, you may trample me in the dust, you
may cut me in halves, but you shall not force a bastard upon
my true-born babes. I know what I owe to my children, if you
have no sense of propriety and decency towards them.' "
Eoger Croft did his utmost to ingratiate himself with Lady
Edith Lorraine, but in vain. She more than disliked, she
loathed him, and pleaded indisposition as an excuse for confin-
ing herself almost constantly to her own room.
This plea could not well be disputed, for every tinge of
colour had forsaken her cheeks ; she was wasted almost to a
shadow, and the late rounded, blooming, bright-eyed girl had
now in her face and form the shadowy, touching beauty of a
sorrowing angel.
Eoger Croft had two heavy cares on his bad heart : one was
the inexplicable disappearance of the late Ekrl of Eockalpine'a
will from an iron safe, of which he had a forged key, and in
which he knew that his father kept it ; and the other, worse
still, was the total failure of all his attempts to interest in
his favour the idol of his base soul, the Lady Edith Lorraine.
There was in the immediate neighbourhood of M gaol a
house — we will not call it a convent — in which dwelt a number
of ladies — Protestant ladies of rank and wealth — who had re-
tired from the world, and had given themselves up to good
works. The.) were Sisters of Mercy in every sense of the
word ; and Edith, having met one of them by the death-bed of
a pool" cottager, had formed a sort of intimacy with the sister-
hood, some of whom, much to the annoyance of Eoger Croft
avourably vnth.
m, and that hifl
Villa, and Mrs.
been murdered,
d always hated,
• darling Soger
b will would be
f the wealthiest
lisgrace on us,"
loted on his ill-
lol of himself in
. But the fact
and, therefore.
Of course it's
m from his in-
lildren, coming
Iways bad ; and
me, or I should
my family, and
1 the dust, you
a bastard upon
children, if you
them.' "
iself with Lady
a disliked, she
!use for confin-
every tinge of
ted almost to a
it-eyed girl had
ing beauty of a
heart : one was
Df Eockalpine'a
:ed key, and in
le other, worse
1 to interest in
dith Lorraine.
)f M gaol a
iwelt a number
ti — who had re-
ves up to good
y sense of the
he death-bed of
«vith the sister-
of Boger Croft
GuiUy, or Mt Guilty. 227
and his mother, visited lady Edith occasiomllv nf r.^Pf ir-n
«Si-<.f«r«'' ni P- pensioners cottage with one of thp^so
SiSsI aSfhey "bXb^ T^'' ?!??=*«»-«. saintly
defeLTfoftf o'*;;i"'"A^3'\b ""• 4 ^Sagod u*pon hi,
fr,,i Ti^^ say what is true," he exclaimed. «I wiU teU th«
" Xd O Vlt -'^V^' ^^^ r^^'^S ^^' '^^ tritV' he cried
?o™TfZ St^iSXiriditt St'-l T '-"^ ^°? ™' '^^
Q 2
223 Guilty, or Not Guiltij,
\
CHAPTER LIII.
«' Would I were with theo every day and hour,
Which now I ppeud so sadly, far from theo ;
Would that my form pospcssed the magic power
To follow wlicro my siuking heart Avould be ;
Would I were with theo !"
The Hon. Mus. Carolixb Norton.
The Sister of Mercy who had so kindly accompanied poor
Edith to her Arthur's prison, was one of those saintly women
who, no matter whether Roman CathoHc or Protestant, are true
Christians, and seem sent from heaven to visit the fatherless
and widows in their affliction, and to keep themselves unspotted
from the world. „ ^ ,., , , - . ix
Sister Sympathy (such was the nair^e of Edith s friend) was
a lady of high birth and ample fortune. She was one of the
" Marys " of earth, and she had chosen that good part which
should not be taken from her. Such women seem, indeed, like
angels without wings.
Wherever Sorrow, Sickness, Shame, and Penitence groaned
and wept, there Sister Sympathy's pale, sweet face, her soft,
white, helping hands, and graceful, black-robed form, was seen.
There her soft, low voice was heard ; there her influence (at
once cheering and softening) was felt, and there her wealth dif-
fused comfort and help. She stole from the poor cottages to
the hospital wards or the wretched prison, like a sunbeam.
Where she had been, the cupboard was no longer bare, the
grate fireless, the children barefoot. The feverish patient, toss-
ing on the hospital bed, grew calm and cool as Sister Sympathy
poured into his wounds the oil of comfort and the wine of help.
She bathed the burning brow with fragrant waters, and
smoothed the hot pillow, and the sufferer blessed her and slept.
She stole to the captive's side, and whispered of hope and faith;
and, lo ! there was light in the dark cell, and comfort in the
sinking heart.
And now, with Arthur's help, she has restored Edith to con-
sciousness, and has seated her by her lover's side; and she
looked from the grated window, while Arthur held the maiden
of his bosom in a long embrace, and while they exchanged a
few whispered words of welcome and of love.
Sister Sympathy knew all— Edith had confided everything to
her ; she knew, too, what love was, for she had loved in her
bright and beautiful youth, now so long passed away ; Death
had claimed her beloved one, almost at the altar. Not satisfied
with robbing her of her little world of love and Ught, the " fell
sergeant " had enlisted in his black band, her father, mother,
sister, brothers ; and for some time Amabel St. Ormond prayed
that she, too, might be taken. But it was not to be ; there was
work for her to do, and she must do it, before going to her rest.
KB NonTON.
npanied poor
amtly women
stant, are truo
tho fatherles-i
ves unspotted
's friend) was
as one of the
(d part which
n, indeed, like
tence groaned
face, her soft,
Drm, was seen.
[• influence (at
ler wealth dif-
3r cottages to
:e a sunbeam,
iger bare, the
ti patient, toss-
iter Sympathy
D wine of help.
1 waters, and
her and slept,
tope and faith;
jomfort in the
L Edith to con-
side; and she
3ld the maiden
)y exchanged a
1 everything to
i loved in her
L away; Death
, Not satisfied
light, the " feU
father, mother,
)rmond prayed
) be ; there was
bg to her rest.
Guilty, or Not Gullft/. 2''9
Sktevi^rn^n^l.^^^ ^uide, adviser, oracle!
powers of^^eZntnlf ^'*?^"" "'"^^' ^ ^^^^^ ^'^^^" g^^at
FnJl^f.f ° reasoning, a fund of natural logic, and an unerrinrr
mstnict in her estimation of character, l^ie organs of nerrorf
tion and reflection gave fulness to the pale, nobg brow of sl s"
Z ^.r^f'y- ^rom all that Edith told her. Sister sUpathv
nlfZf convinced of Arthur's innocence; but^Se he
CXS If if nrfrS^^^^Q-"? ^^^^^ occurrence on Dunstan-
sureit woni;? fW^if "^^^'^^ Sister Sympathy felt pretty nearly
w^th ArThur wnf.^' ^f^P^P^^^O"' f tcr seeing and conversing
I!!? ^^i^^ur, was all m his favour, then she had a plan in her
wise head and warm heart for proving his innocence and sha
had resolved to spare no trouble, no expense?to heirthe ?riend!
of hirj^fe"""' ^''^' '''' ^^^'^^" °^ '^' ^«lV trutf and justl
Lady Edith, after a few moments of passionate tenderness
tore herself from Arthur's fond embrace, and, going up rSs!
ArthurSi^?' ^'¥'^u^r *^ ^^^^^i«^ anT cro^ss-^estion
nrison SiS-ri "?i,*^ ^'' Pf-^'^* ^^^^^ ^^'S^'^ and doleful
?he SlP nnlW ^Tl^^ comphed; she drew S chair close to
onH Avll^ .r''^'''^^^*^^^ ''^"^ ^'^th sat hand-in-hand.
an f dl r' ^* ^''' '■"^'^"^ ^"*^"^^ i^^« ^^^ "lin^test details of
all those occurrences with which the reader is familiar As he
proceeded, the convmcing eloquence of truth foundlls ^y to
bister Sympathy's heart and mind; her soft eves bnVbtPnpS
rs^oKnwi^/?;;^^ *^r*^r' ^^^ p^ie 'Ll^bSeS
mitedLp^f tofw"" vW*..'"^^^^^ ^^^ 1^*^*1^ ^l^ite hand
united Itself to that which Arthur held tiffhtlv clasned in hin
own namely, that of Edith ; and when he hid /one sCsa^d
Cheer up, my Edith-dear child, cheer up ! Mv children
do not despond. And you, Arthur Bertram, tell yo^ stor^Tn
^^JZ'^.^Z^'^^-'V'' "^' ^^1 ^ '° ^« belie'vTthlranv
^r^^r, ' .r,^g^^°^^en van bu empanelled as a jury who wUl find
you guilty or any judge on the Enghsh bench condemn you."
+1, \}.^ 7-^^' *^a"^ yoU' for those dear words '" said Ar
» ^s^'^''^' "''"^ convulsively, sank inio SistS^I
1
230
Guilt]!, or Not Ouilly.
(
" And now, dear children," said the Sister of Mercy, " I will
tell you what I will do. I have a rclai^lve learned in the law,
and once a barrister in high repute and good practice. He
ceased to practise his profession because he coultf not bear to
make the worse api)ear the better cause ; but, as the champion
ot Iriendless innocence, he still occasionally enters the lists; and
1 am much mistaken and disappointed in him if ho does not
take up your cause, Arthur Bertram, as if you were his own eon.
1 would judge no one hastily, rashly, but I own I have formed
my own suspicions ; God forgive me if I wrong any one I At
any rate, I feel pretty sure that my cousin, Charko St. Ormond,
wiU think with me, that much will depend on the evidence of
those gipsy-boys; and I can promise you, my dear young
Iriends, that no expense shall be spared to got those boys into
fwi: ^.^^l^ite to my cousin at once. I have little doubt
that he will be here to-morrow, although ho is three hundred
miles away. Into his hands you may safely put yourself and
your cause ; and I feel convinced that all t4t mai can do for
S' f Jl ^^' ^'m? *^f ^°^ ^"^ ^«^^P ^™ to justify innocence
and to detect guilt. And in the meantime, my iear young
t^fkr^v'^'^Z Sympathy, "let me exhok you to paUencf
and la th. Pray at morning, at evening, and at r.oonAay, and
m the long sleepless hours of the silent night. Pray fervently
~P^?y f \er. Read your Bible, and daily learn a Hymn from
this httle book," she said, giving Arthur T/.e ChrisEn yZ.
And now we must leave you, for it is growing late, and the
time allowed the prisoners for converse with their friends will
^^^.^^^^^ iJ^^ ^^^""^ ^''?' ^"^^ ^^ l^^^e you with the fountain
frf^Ti P ^^Z""! '^^ *^""^"^ *^^ Bible); "and the Father wiU
send tiie Comforter m answer to your prayers "
Again the gentle Sister looked out of the barred and dinev
SbTA w i^ ^.^t^^^d court, and again Arthur pressed Ma
Edith to his breast, and imprinted a long kiss on her pale hps.
aJ^TJ ^^^ f"""^' ^^^ :^^t^'"^ '^ ^lone ; but no longer downcast
desolate distressed. He turned to his Bible for comfort and
^eloundit He committed to memory that exquisite evening
hymn m The Christicm Year, and then he prayed long, fer?
^!ltl^~?f''^^^ ?' \' ^^""^^^ ^^^^«' by the sidi of his little
pallet, and prayed as he lay stretched on that hard and narrow
bed; and as he did so, sleep came softly down on the lonff-
wakeful hds. A choir of heavenly harpi seemed to lull hfs
weary spirit and m a column of silver moonlight (that came
Ranting m hrough the barred window of his prison) whTe!
winged angels^ seemed to float, and Faith, with her oaken crosB,
7^iC^SlZT TfTfi ^"S^"' ^" ^^'^^ ^°^' a^d take their
station at the head of Arthur Bertram's little pallet. And few on
couches of down, and under canopies of crimson velvet, have
ever passed a night of such bUss, such beatitude, as did poor
kforcy, " I will
;d in tho law,
practice. Ho
d not bear to
tho champion
5 tho lists; and
f ho does not
his own son.
[ have formed
aiw one ! At
St. Ormond,
to evidence of
r dear young
oso boys into
B little doubt
hret hundred
yourself and
an can do for
tify innocence
>■ dear young
)u to patience
r.oonday, and
Vay fervently
1 hymn from
ristian Year.
late, and the
' friends will
the foimtain
e Father will
d and dingy
' pressed his
her pale hps.
^er downcast,
comfort, and
isite evening
3d long, fer-
of his little
[ and narrow
)n the long-
l to lull his
b (that came
'ison) white-
oaken crosa,
id take their
And few on
velvet, have
m did poor
Guilfi/, or Not Ouilfy. 231
i^lH^M ^'^'*^"' T ^t ^;«<^«l^e^l straw mattress, in hi. prison.
^;if r^ gttol, after the maiden of his bosom and the sweet
Sister of Mercy had visited him there. True Love, sublime
Constancy strong Faith, bright Hope, sweet Consolation, lovdy
land of di^amf ^'''"^ ^^''"*'' ^^"^ ^''^''^'^ ^''^^''''' ^^ *^^'° ^'"^
onlj love! and, with God's help, may thy innocence be proved
f mnocent thou art). And for her dear sake we pray tkt the
tinie may come when thy waking realities may bo as fuU of ioy
and peace as thy prison dreams. a-aiauoijoy
CHAPTER Liy.
" Absence makes the heart grow fonder." Haynes Bayt,ey.
liME passed on, and still Mr. Croft came not. Roger Croft had
sTZl^ T""'"^ •"? "?°u'^f *^^^ *"'^ ^^'^^^ was perfectly
fnl^'rwl i!- ^ occupied with the Earl's business ; but that thi
injury to his right thumb, which he had begged him, Roger
amZTf P'^r^''^ ^' T?.^""- ^' ^d^^d that a'certS
amount of mystery surrounded tho affairs that at present en-
grossed him, and that, as the result of the private negotiations
he was conducting for the Earl of Rockalpine would be ve?y
W ive and beneficial, he hoped Mrs. Croft would keep qS
and not expect him till she saw him
.\^^^^ ^^^""rf ''5^*^ ^""^ ^* ^°"^^' ^ia arguments succeeded in
silencing Mrs, Croft's tongue, and quietini her fears ; but when
Roger took his leave which he did to endiavour to get poTses-
sion of the splendid legacy left him by the Marquis oTl)unstan.
burgh and of which his mother knew nothing), then she begVn
again to fret and get frightened at the protracted and mvs^
terious absence of her husband. » u iuvh
Mr. Croft had all his life been a very dull and prosy, but a
inZlTw .r^ P^^^tual correspondent. The excuse of the
injury to his thumb seemed to her verv much hke an inven-
t on ; and she we 1 knew, alas ! that Roger Croft never Idd
to'thL M^. 'r^^^^^^^^^ T'f ""^^^^ ^^^ P"^P°^« better. Added
^ this Mrs Crofts funds were very low. Mr. Croft had al-
ways kept the cheque-book and the purse, but then hrhad
never failed to empower her every Saturday, as regular as the
day came round, to pay all the weekly bills. Now, for three
weeks they had not been paid. Butcher, baker, gmcer fish-
S,?:irf.r' ^"""^^^^^' "^^ ^^^d^^^^' -11 begin To '^t
anxious abouf- thfiir mnnoT^ fr. w„U „f 1 ^ 1 ° o
x^ __ , t; "' ^" "^^-^ "Otcs a.uuuu largre amounts
to make up or small sums to meet, and, in shortjo dun the
distracted Mrs. Croft. But what was Worse still was, that
E'cror/'?^^-'i'S ^"S ""'rr^ ^' '^^ ™^' direct'ed to
Mr. Croft, and which Mrs. Croft had opened, announcing that
232
a policy for flvo thousand
Qiiilty, or JVot OiilUy.
poim.ls would lapso imloHs tho
mium wore at onco T)ai,rn,V,;i,. "'.'''"' 'f^pso imioHs tho pro-
ffroat oinect of Mr.s (J ■ ft'i lirn '"^"••'"/^'^ '^ '""I been the
hushmufto effect for .. n. -^ 'T" '''.'' '''''^^) *« '"^"^o her
want of a few pounds if f} '''^ , f T^"^" ^"^^ ^^^^ for tho
wa.s furious aTt o hoU^^ '' Sh7vv^'^/" ]^^''' ' ^'''- ^^^^^
tainod no an.wor. S o tVoto i JI 1° ^^^^^^-.^ufc ^ho ob-
result. Mrs. Croft coll on,h„T] ''"'^ •"^'"' '^'^^' «- ^i^iiJ^r
resolved to go to town She In ll ^'l ''"n i'^^' "" '""^^'' «^»o
and tako up lior aS for a ZZ ^^'^ Clloruma for company.
Lambert, in OueenST ^i?, 1^ °'' ^^'^^ »<^ t^»o house of MV
an old fri'end fZ'cTs'r^^^^^^^ /V' ^^'"^-"'^ --"
to make his house her home ZiL i^'' bad often allowed her
ho had given her a InornTin, V •" ^f '' ""'"'^^ *« London, and
Squarc^iot oven Sfn' on anv r '- ^'"' "^ *'^' ^^^ Q"^^»'^
"ig. Mrs. Croft resXd then t^,? «V''"' "?V'° °^ '^^^ ^'^"^-
day for town, and rwah- ntnnAn ? S"" T^"'^ ^^'^ ^^'^^e next
fortable. old-fashroneS risklenco in^^ '^ ^;'^^'^^''t'« ^^ry com-
joct was to make every noss^Mp^n?' 'i ^'^^r^' ^er ob-
especially of an old ckn-k^ wl o L,?^ "^ about her husband,
office, ami who now was ei^Snvn T"" ^'^"^ "^ ^^''- Croft's
pany-TitE VAMPmE-Tn ThSf Mr^^^^^ ^"^^^^"^^ Con.
fivo thousand pounds qI^ "V^ T ^ ^ ^'^"^ ^^^ ^n«"red for
Roger, and the Sn?y scmnle «h^vf ^'^' *"°' ^ '^° ^«^ ^^oloved
Lorraine alone at LvZci ^'""^ '"^ ^^l^^h
the only danirer tW nlVi? ^*"'^"^ ^^^r visit to town. JJut ^ lien
trader ^hatfho Ea I'and Snto^T ^"1 TT^^^' *^^ ^'^ i"'
out, as tho hard woman honed o.fl Tr"^ °^J^"* *° ^^^^'^ ^^^^t
walls of M gaol ^ ^ believed, for e^er by tho
com^nrbnTtat ^ftstTs^^X^^^^ ^^? ^"^^^^^^ - -
herself or Gloriana. Edith waT^infer^'^^ T* "^>' ^^*^^^
Countess or Lady Ida To l^n7^nJl a '''^.^'^ *« ^^^^^ to the
Edith's behavioifr attho ^n^f '^^"^^ '^''^^ *^^ ^^^"^er at Lady
not very likdXr Lvsh^^^^^ therefore, it was
At any rate, MrrCrSu^« J ''^'^.^^^^ "^ *^^ ^^«it to town.
a few shillings in the woSd^^^^^ ^"^' ^^ she had only
generous Edith whatever ^dcetm^^^^^^ kind, gentle^:
her, and apologise for a 8t?n wmT ^- . ^^^^ ^^''^ had by
life (or rather t'^o1ns™ceTnTtVnL^''''n'1\^'^°^* ^^- Croft's
Gloriana, who really loved hor LT ^^"^'^ ?^^ *« *^ke.
anxious about h?m %h^^^^^
London. ' ^^""'^^^ ^""^^^^ *» attend her mother to
unfu'^SCr^;;^.^^ solitude and
ai;a gladly handed to Mri' fmil tV'"*' I""*?" "" "mection,
which, ho^eyer, o^ing tXr arV tount'l'?'' ,"^ ^'^ P"^'"
-uoh smaller tha« M?. Cror, ffio&'L^„Vr' ""°
..
nlcsfl tho pro-
liiid been tho
to induce hor
now, for tho
! JVIi-H. Croft
f, but sho ob-
'Vith a HJraihir
lon/a^er. 8ho
for eoiTipniu',
huuao of Mr.
Lnuibort was
1 alloAvod her
Loudon, and
; 111 Queen'.s
of her com-
fc ofl'the next
;'» very com-
''0. licr ob.
ler husband,
Mr. Croft's
arance Com-
3 insured for
her beloved
avin^ Edith
1. But • hen,
tho only in-
to Was shut
ever by the
' csted in no
miss either
mto to the
ner at Lady
fore, it was
3it to town,
ae had only
ind, gentle,
?irl had by
Mr. Croft's
ake.
excessively
mother to
>litude and
objection,
her purse,
poor, were
)d.
Onilty^ or Kot On,
TTow
7/y.
233
Editri:; ::;^:;;;1'':::j; j^!^: -id M... Croft to Gio.
'"'b i,s so very poor in ^^ "*"" ^'^''^ ^'"o't to Glorlana "that
once wo get to dear old I mlM.rr. , ^r,', however, wlu.n
fpeuse; and bo always ,|"lL'l ' > "" ^'" ^'-^o from all
too : so when once we ge/ oro wi s .nni^''"""."*^ "7 '^'^P"'^^^'.
^ "But, mamma, if ho should To ''^ '''"^^ ""^ ^^o"i« "
Gloriana. "° ^^'^"'^ *^« out of townP" su-.rcsted
"i; "II wo «l,„|l „^°^?.- ^""l no'v, Imvo you made liot.y pS
.«J tio a «Lriot bow on toX7lStn7,'? ^t' r" t™''^'»
then recognise it at onco, and m W ''" ^7"^-' Wosliall
chI*tra'iti*p\\t?hi':Lr" "'"^T "'■ *"» p-y-
a very fine day i„ caVfrs ri t 1, "™^-, ^'"^ ""en, as A wis
Mrs. Prosser, ko houKeSlt w? °'?'' '".g" »»d «dl on
laid up with rheumatism SL Edi^h'^n "•.''"'' ''^'' ^""l been
Edith's way lav mrfl,. V *""" s departure.
oyer tbe bro^^rXf.r^L^dT;''; ^'-^^^ purple moor,
pieces of rock or stone p£d theZ n ^^'"^ °^ *^« l^'-ge
through the Black Wood and fnf« il t^"^"". Purpose, and th?n
As Croft Vzlla was on the RockalSi^r^"^^^"^" shrubberies
formed one estate, belonr^in! to f£«T T J^^^P^^ty, and it all
not hesitate to t^ke thfs 4 k ^nlf\ ^^ ^^*^"^' ^^^^1^ did
alone, to think of her dear Irthur"''^'^- ®^" ^^^^ *« ^o
^^ootKp'^X^ol^!-^^^^^^^ with their
were rich in nnowdrops^and Sn ol l^i^^^ evergreens,
was on the grass andV^hc leave. ^1 If crocuses; the dew
g^ms. She went down the hiZi T'*^^'''^ ''' ^^^ sun like
which five-and4wentyyea^^^^^ steps-those steps
b ood of Lord Hautevftle he" St » ^ ^^^'^ ^^^^^^^i with the
pinfi'.« lioi«„_„-,j '^"'^t-vm®' "*^^ father's elder b^^^^^i^^- -d-.i "
the "wiW eoun°t;;,'S;liu«fuliv''' ^reeu gates of tho "viMalTj
-..for .ho ^'^L''zxtr.^t^j.ro^,^'s:
il
234.
Guilii/, or Not Ouilty.
■w? I
i
.
Sympathy, saying that her cousin, Mr. St. Ormond, was as fully
convinced as herself of Arthur Bertram's innocence, and had
ereat hopes that the momentous question of " Guilty, oe not
Guilty? " would be decided in his favour. At the same time,
Sister Sympathy warned Edith not to be too sanguine; but
while hoping— and, above all, praying— for the best, to try to
prepare for the worst, since all depended on the success of the
efforts she and her cousin were making, and the large reward
they had offered for the production of the two gipsy-boys who
had witnessed the murder of the Marquis on the Mats.
" Father in heaven ! " said Edith (as she quitted the open
moor and entered the Black Wood), " in Thy great mercy bring
these gipsy-boys to light, for my Arthur's sake ! "
This ejaculation, or rather prayer, burst from the depths of
Edith's heart, and ere long it was answered; for as Edith
passed by that grassy amphitheatre, closed in by evergreens,
the scene of Lprd Hauteville's murder, an impulse, which she
could not understand or resist, compelled her to lift the sweep-
ing boughs of a dark pine and to enter that fatal spot ! There
was the rough, unshorn man whom she had seen peering
through those branches on the day of the Marquis's murder;
there was the tall, lean, but still handsome Irishwoman, his
WHO ; there was that Gipsy Madge, who had, some four years
since, prophesied that Arthur would hve in a castle and wear a
coronet! and— Qh,joyl oh, ecstasy! oh, comfort, hope, dehght !
—by her side, all seated on the grass, were the two bright-eyed,
black-haired, brown-skinned boys who had witnessed the
Marquis's murder, and who had begged her not to go to the
Flats, lest she, too, should be killed !
Yes, those very gipsy-boys who had seen the young Marquis
lying murdered on the stones, and who had warned Edith not
to approach the blood-stained spot, there they were I They, on
whose evidence, in all probabihty, the life, name, fame of her
heart's idol depended.
"Oh, boys! dear, good boys!" cried Edith, rushing up to
the young vagrants and drawing them to her, "where have you
been ? whence do you come ? Don't you know there's a great
reward offered for you ? "
" We were talking of it a minute syne," said Gipsy Madge,
and Rough Rob here'll get it, for he's found 'em ; and they're
my lads, and I mean to take them the night, as quiet and
private as may be, to the Sisters o' Mercy ; and, oh ! my dear
young leddy, the tale they'U teU at the trial will turn the scale,
I m thinking, and the poor youth now in gaol will be proved as
--••"•- «c jr^Ui i/u-xiixj Bci . ^TLiiu uu yv rumemoer wnac i told
vou four years ago, about a castle in his path and a coronet on
hia brow, and you in jewels and ermine by his side in the House
of Lords, my leddy P''
?ggr
d, was as fully
ence, and had
rUILTY, OR NOT
ibe same time,
sanguine; but
best, to try to
luccess of the
! large reward
ipsy-boya who
Plats.
bted the open
i mercy bring
:he depths of
for as Edith
)y evergreens,
Ise, which she
ift the sweep-
spot ! There
seen peering
lis's murder;
shwoman, his
ae four years
le and wear a
b.ope, delight !
) bright-eyed,
itnessed the
to go to the
>ung Marquis
ed Edith not
'el They, on
, fame of her
ishing up to
lere have you
Lore's a great
ipsy Madge,
; and they're
as quiet and
)h! my dear
rn the scale,
be proved as
r wnat I loid
a coronet on
in the House
Guilfi/, or Jffbt Guilii/.
Oh ! " said Edith,
23i
theseboysFrov^hi^^rcS "^^' ^^^^^^^ ^-* can
1 thmk they can, my leddy," said Madr/P
point out the man as diH? wVbothSn ".?" ^}°°^ f-J™'"
It was an ngly sight, mv \^I^ TJ'} TI^ Hun by sight. Oh,
dead body-<dI wSite 3 mS' j ^ ''*™ "^"n^s I sees the
I'll spake the t™th, my "eddy "' '^ «^"'°' ^ "P""! °f blood
, " WeSstl^'^f^fS'tfetrL8J'''«?^e and delight.
Wn^lidnappedSnce, >^S^^ rS^''^^^™
with each in turn, fs, tlZ^^^%^^ ^^0?"^^
CHAPTER LV.
" ^2'jS''ii'"'"' ^° *''« rear,
J-nat blasts the promised Joy."
J . ^""•-o i^uu promised Joy." Gbat
and another smXporteWe hp,!''^^^^^
London on their w^^^^^^^ driving through
we can We^dist '^i'c^^t ^""-'""^-d Mrs. Croft, "but
tea. I think I SI on t ^te'ak T 'r\'''^^' ^^^^ ^^
rump-steak just to mv taL-1 W~^^^^ Lambert's cook does
but only red with th^Wavy tSu ^:;°T «^^«i^ and red in,
bert's makes the best Kred toast t 'thp' '°i^ ^* ^'' ^^'^'
have a nice sprint salad or n fo f • ? ^^^ ^°^^^' »»d we can
keeps Doultrv^«n ^/r?i °L^/^^ ^^^d potatoes. Beside., ho
^Sf i like- rnTnV ve^V %ttly k)i'ipd ""ft" ''"'"•^^ ^ "^^-i^^d
Itte-UT^tCH^^^^
Plu.m or Hr.Lam^rp?;rit;rstSd TnLIS
■^'i
236
Guilty, or Nbi Ouilty.
1
I- i
worsr for a broiled chicken, with mushroom sauce; we can
have that, I dare say."
" Oh, that will be very nice ! " said Gloriana ; " but I lone
especially for a cup of tea. I am very tired and thirsty." ^
"Well, I promise you, you shan't have to wait long. Glory,"
said Mrs. Croft. " My dear old friend's servants well know they
cannot please their master more than by making me very comfort-
able. Mrs. Plumm, the housekeeper, has known me from a
girl— child, indeed— and she is well aware that, if I had chosen,
I might have been mistress of that house and of her fine, portly
self. The Square certainly is not as fashionable as I could
wish ; but the house is a perfect temple of comfort— such beds !
and such a delightful warm bath at a few minutes' notice!
Then I shall have the brougham and pair at my disposal (I
always have), and that saves a fortune in cabs. If I can but
find out where your father is, and get money from him to pay
up the interest on the policy, if it is not already too late— which
God forbid ! — I shall be easy in my mind ; and then, if we are
very comfortable, and old Lambert pressing, perhaps I may
make out a week in town."
" But Edith ? " suggested Gloriana.
" Oh, Edith will do very well. I am not at all uneasy about
her ; but I shouldn't like to meet with Lady Kockalpine. She
might think I ought not to have left that wrong-headed mope
of a girl alone. But unless I were to seek the Countess out
(which I promise you, my dear, I shan't do), I am not very
hkely to meet her. And now let me give you a hint. Glory :
old Lambert is very fond of young girls, but he likes them to
be full of fun, and always merry. You have taken lately to be
almost as dull and moping as Edith herself. A word to the
wise : — if you want old Lambert— who is as rich as a Jew — to
remember you in his will, you must talk and laugh and joke,
and be, as Eoger would say, * up to everything.'"
" But how can I, mamma ? " said Gloriana. " I am uneasy
about papa, I am distressed about Edith, I am miserable about
Arthur."
" Hang Arthur ! " said Mrs. Croft ; adding, the next moment,
" No, I don't mean that, in a literal sense. Glory ; but I do
wish the trial well over, and his sentence commuted to penal
servitude for life."
" Oh, mamma, I am certain he is innocent ! "
" And I am certain he is guilty ! I remember the trouble I
had with his mother — a pert, sly, independent young baggage,
who disgraced her family and herself, and died in a madhouse.
Ah, by the bye, if that were known, he might get ott" on the
score of insanity, and be confined as a criminal lunatic for life,
or rather, during Her Majesty's pleasure, and I hope that
wou].d bo for life.^ ^
mce; we can
"but Hong
ihirsty."
long, Glory,"
rell know they
verycomfort-
n me from a
I had chosen,
er fine, portly
le as I could
b — such beds !
antes' notice!
ny disposal (I
If I can but
m him to pay
o late — which
aen, if we are
srhaps I may
uneasy about
kalpine. She
■headed mope
Countess out
am not very
I, hint, Glory:
likes them to
m lately to be
. word to the
as a Jew — to
igh and joke,
' I am uneasy
iserable about
next moment,
ry; but I do
ated to penal
the trouble I
mg baggage,
L a madnouse.
Bt ott" on the
natic for life,
I hope that
^•■>
OuiUij, or Mi auUty.
237
saSJrn^^^^^ faith in Arthur,
stopped with a sudden ferk and thp Lt *^^«?^oment tho cab
do^^the^dowfromih?^^^^^^^^ himself, putting
" n^J'i ""T^T ^^ >'°^ say, ma'am ?"
^rs^ol^Cvftlv^S^^^^^^^^ -« } eould speak," said
" Well, this 'ore Is' a larl .. ""'^""^ ^^^^^ ^^^^^r hiuse !"
plain as plain/and that ^3 a"" 'u^^^^^^ '^?' «^^« ^«
coolates." ™^*^®^ ^ underd and heleven, I cal-
« V^7 T"' *¥^ ^"ocl^ at the door, will von P"
ma-al°,"wteV^.'"" '°"' ""^ '^^^X, for youraolf
Mrs. Croft looked out.
Good Heavens!" shp '^xciaimpr^ «w„ ^i,
so unfortunate, so ex-^ ^ Hn? ' ^as there ever anything
house is mider'repaiW ■ o Id fooTr.'^f ?^^^"^ ^ Why, thf
lust to torment and provoke me '" ^^ ^'^''^ °^^ ^^ *o^n>
She sank back in the cab and Wan to n.^
ropes; that bricks were pled un arffl^'^'^. *"S"^^^^ ^ith
about to be commenced; and ?n fact fW •.^''^^'^""^^^<^ ^^^e
to suppose that any master was li^'*f* it "^^^^^^ absurd
any guests could be receiVed There ^ *^^^ ^°^^'^' °^ tl^at
sucrv^V'c^XffSp^^^^ r^i S* t^- ^/^'' '^'^ -- that
would no^t have leffthThou^'.^^^^^^^ ^}' housekeeper
the cabman to knock, and Tfa1,^fn^'^''P'^^' ^^^ ^^^lered
some one hear. ' ^''^' *° persevere until he made
After several thu-^derine- knonlfQ o i,- 1.4.
the garret-windows, and afoirhead In ?^!?P''T? ^* «^« ^^
whe^Vri^iurm ifp^?.- ^™'*' "'^''-« Mr. Lambert is, and
Th« cabman put the question as desired
wo/^beTa»l:%4tu™T„r '"''f r^' -^ ^^r
and two more rooms built of" ft -T S'"°*<"i and papere.1.
me oose but myself, and fbadnik'^K' T'^'^ '^.' ' "o o™ in
dear "ead." •" '"™ ™ rlieumatis in my poor
sa;?S?Sbe;t^rS^aS:°P^i;^°p.To- -an to
(S
ii
\i
1 :.:
f1
238
Chiiltyt or Not Ouilty.
\
I?
" Yes, marm," cri 1 the charwoman ; " they were married a
fortnight ago, at St Paneras Church ; and they 'ont be back
for six weeks, if then. Lawk-a-daisy, how the night wind do
punish my poor, dear 'ead ! Your servant, ma'am ; will you
">lease to leave your names P"
" Oh, no ; it's of no consequence," said Mrs. Croft, biting her
handkerchief in her ra,ge and despair.
The old charwoman had closed the window, and put out the
light ; and the question was, " What's to be done now ?"
" My sisters ! " suggested Gloriana.
"Oh! the vile, undutiful, ungrateful creatures!" said Mrs.
Croft, " they are quite out of the question."
"They would onlj be too deUghted to receive us, dear
mamma."
'' You're a fool," retorted Mrs. Croft, " and know nothing at
all about it ; besides I could not sleep in a house with a glass-
case of grinning white teeth, in pink gums, and ' Mr, Tippit,
Dentist,' on a, brass-plate on the door. Still less could I rest
with the thought of a horrid foot, and a hand armed with a
sharp instrument, just about to make an incision, to announce
a chiropodist!"
The truth was, Mr. Tippit had written a very kind, manly
letter — ay, and a letter any Christian gentleman might have
been proud of— to tell Mrs. Croft that his Barbara was about
to become a mother, and that her nervous, excitable, and deli-
cate state of het.\lth was greatly increased by the grief and
regret she felt at having offended her parents ; that she was
always saying she was sure she should never be a happy mo-
ther unless she were forgiven as a daughter ; and he implored
Mr. Croft to forgive the past, and to come and cheer up hiij
darhng wife by her presence, in the fast-approaching hour of
pain and peril.
To this letter Mrs. Croft had returned a very heartless and
unworthy reply ; and the next thing was an announcement in
the Times, and this she kept from Gloriana : —
" On the ^rd inst., in Bedford-row, the lady of Timothy Tippit,
Esq., of a son, still-horn."
Mrs. Croft had not much heart, but even she felt a pang
Tvhen she read that announcement, and wished she had not
written so harshly, nor acted so implacably. But it would cer-
tainly not do to drive up to Mr. Tippit's house, and ask for
their hospitality, after what had passed so recently.
Then, as for Mrs. Cutts, she had written to invite her mother
to come and visit her, expatiating on her spacious, well-fur-
nished house, her four servaiils, hur brougham, her adoring
husband, her happiness, alloyed only by there being no pros-
pect, in her case, of such good fortune as Barbara's (that was
when a little stranger was expected) ; and actually presuming
li
e married a
ont be back
jht wind do
m; will you
I, biting her
put out tho
ow?"
" said Mrs.
ve US, dear
V nothing at
vith a glass-
' Mr. Tippit,
3ould I rest
med with a
to announce
kind, manly
might have
I was about
le, and deli-
e grief and
lat she was
L happy mo-
be implored
heer up hit;
ing hour of
^artless and
tneeraent in
lothy Tippit,
felt a pang
she had not
t would cer-
md ask for
her mother
us, well-fur-
her adoring
ig no pros-
's (that was
' presuming
h
Guilty, or Not QuUty. 239
was'^tt tf^^g^f/e a^S\t'^ :\ """^ ^'^- •"" that '.he
jointly extended, and come™ dst^^V^K °''™ 'j™™'' they
Wd, bringing Gloriaaa ^ '* """m ^ long aa she
anKrt^^'l^t t '^''''hn'P' "'■.this letter was very great
^tLrt"?~r?a„thetro'trr ''^- '^"«htr,v:'
hl'Sstp^^rtX^e^iLrtiiir''""?- /*-»'d
grets were useless thpv.rir!'^ ^^^^ mo{h^v. But re-
Already theXdrU„/«''^'*-i'°^^^^^ ^^ *^^ ^^b all night
a hotel-there was no hL r"-/f '^??^^ .^"""^ ' ^^^7 "^^st gfto
hotel, Mrs. Croft conSef thV ni^"' ^^"^^^ °^^^^ ^^^^'j
the London-bridge Sel nrldn.llS"'^''' ""-^ ^^^^^^^lendeS
oiF, and so would suSws CkTh^^^"^'''^ ? ^^^^ g^^d way
cause the stand he "n^^.H "-2 , ^^^P^cfc; and partly be-
it was in tfid|hbrrhoo7L7„ttr '" ^^-^-bSlgef and
flict with eabCwhenEwlrd !;' 'md angry was her con?
London.bridSHotT ^^^^^f ^""^ ** 'he entrance of the
aSaXSSSf'S^'^^"^^^^^^^^^
room, and fbrVet aU W Tf ^f ^'^.^^ ^^^^r^ into a small inne.
rooms assignefto Mrs and M^i'^ V ^"^y «mall bed. The
of their arfivarwefeai the t^nnf.TV™^ ^^ *^^^ ^^^^ne««
bed was not largre^o^aglf ^ot^^^^^^^^^ ^-^'^
the^r^Xg^tr^^^^^
about tCpr^obable if^^^^^^ herself-now in agonies
loss of the Wy aimo5^p5 the pohcy-now in tears at tho
marriage-no^full o? w^^^^^^ ^^^ Lambert's
in LonfonI BeSre she cWH > i'' *^'^^t* ^^ ^^^"^ P^^^i^^^^
betimes in the moraW f„ f ^ ^f ^^^^ she resolved to be up
have an inter^^w 3 hL 1^^^ T^ *^r*^' ^^^.^^^^^' ^"^ tS
was stirring. ^ ''^''''* *^® P^^^^^' before Gloriana
Having Af^oMKf^A n-n +v: — t , -, .
as a loud-and r^-ular ^^ZlZ?\f^ composed herself to sleep,
was at all ariouf J^^^t "ohlf ' "^'^^ '°™^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^
f
i^l
240
Quilty, or Not Quilty.
H -
CHAPTER LVI.
" Heaven first sent letters for some wretch's aid." Pope.
At a very early hour Mrs. Croft arose, and, taking a writing,
case from her carpet-bag, sat down to address a note to Mr.
Krimp, the old clerk at the Vampire Life Insurance Office.
As soon as she heard the wa^'ters and the chambermaids stir-
ring, Mrs. Croft rang her bell, and succeeded in getting her
note sent at once to the Vampire Office, not very far from Lon-
don-bridge. She then dressed herself, and awaited the return
of her messenger— sitting in an easy-chair the while, though
ith a very uneasy mind, and knitting, for Mrs. Croft was an
incessant knitter.
Gloriana still slept soundly.
In about an hour Mr. Krimp arrived. He was a very lean,
bald old fellow, all in black. His clothes were very glazed and
threadbare, but carefully brushed. Mrs. Croft, not having a
sitting-room, was going to receive the old *^erk in her bed-
room, which, as we have said, was in one of the attic of the
hotel, and consequently was -^ery meanly furnished — for a hard,
smaU bed, with scanty and rather soiled dimity curtains, three
or four rush-seated chairs, a small round washmg-stand, with a
set of cheap ware of the well-known " willow pattern," and a
small dressing-table, formed the principal objects in Mrs.
Croft's bed-room. Mrs. Croft, however, perceiving, when she
went out on the landing, on hearing a man's step, a sitting-
room neatly-furnished, of which the door was ajar, invited her
visitor into the apartment in question, hoping that her doing
so would not be noticed or mentioned by the chambermaid
who " showed up " Mr. Krimp.
Mr. Krimp was, like so many of his class, a Job's comforter.
"Your servant, ma'am," he said. "I'm sorry to see you
looking so bad. Fear you enjoy bad health, ma'am, to judge
by your looks."
" Oh, I'm very well, thank you, Mr. Krimp," said Mrs. Croft.
" A little tired, and rather anxious, that's all ; and I've not had
a very good night."
" Ah ! sorry to hear it, ma'am ; a bad night tells sadly upon
us when we're beginning to be uppish in years ; it does on
Mrs. Krimp, and I think, ma'am, you've the advantage of her,
and she's no chicken, as I often remind her," he added with a
chuckle ; " for she's on the shady side of sixty, 2nd if I remem-
ber right, when we were obliged to have your register "-
■ I wish to talk of something much more important, if you
■please. Mr. KrimD." said Mrs. flrnff, • " T rp^qn <-i>" -^rM,.^
How long IS it since you saw Mr. Croft ? "
" Senior, ma'am, of course. Oh, I haven't seen him or heard
of him for two months, ma'am ; but I have seen the youno-
Pope.
ing a writing-
a note to Mr.
nee Office,
ibermaids stir-
in getting her
far from Lon-
ted the return
while, though
, Croft was an
as a very lean,
Bry glazed and
not having a
k in her bed-
3 attic of the
id — for a hard,
curtains, three
j-stand, with a
attern," and a
jects in Mrs.
ing, when she
itej), a sitting-
ir, invited her
liat her doing
chambermaid
)b's comforter.
ry to see you
a am, to judge
lid Mrs. Croft,
d I've not had
Us sadly upon
s ; it does on
mtage of her,
added with a
id if I remem-
ister "
lortant, if you
J-
him or heard
m the young
Squire, for
I'm
<^«%, or Not GuiWj.
L^hri€i^"srforZ&
241
don't mean to saftw'^^h?^^^^ C^nft .
to hand you ovpr fi ^^® ^^mpire is verv evn^f \ ^^^ ^8^
son to believe thatM^n T^^^^^ into tears "Tha
'^^?LfS^c5 "^^'^^'- ""^--'^^^
^£^:^^^^it^:^^ ^r. Cro.,
where there's n!'-f ^°°^ ^^^ ofmolevT^^^''''''^^ i« no
ladies are wen t^'^^-. ^ ^^^^d, m^am^'C^.^'"' Particularly
their Io?S SZTZ'-^;^^^^^^^^^ trl'^'VT^
attends our teeth, and th« i ^^'^ ^^^^ ^r. Cutts^ihJf ^"^"^
congratulate you r^«'. ^ ^^^'^ ^"^s our cornf T' ^^''"'^^
young men- S' ^^^^' for they're fwn ^^ sure I
firstiat^ru;bSs%7"«^^' ^^« -^«i*' ttm^^rj, respectable
appointment in f?!' ^^ course you've helvT'^^^ ^^^y ^ake
a£d she nooVl ^'^'' ^"^ heir of Mr 'vf^t'.T^'^' ^^ ^^e dig.
*veii, I should snv t,^<. , ""»,x
■^s. Cutis is wirh-L 1™ 8" off a' anvmom^'^", ""-f" '"^« »
J i
'I MM
Mki
if:!
242 GiiiUij, or Not Ouilty.
" Oh. no ! I don't mean that." j^ „«„
"Why ma'am, there am't any other proof that f" ^o ymi
to prove itf and the Vampire won't cheat you of a farthing, or
keep vou waiting an hour."
"Perhaps I had better advertise," said Mrs. Croft. ^
«rve done that already, ma'am," said Mr.Krimp, taking out
a newspaper! and handing it to Mrs. Croft ; " uut no good came
^'^"Vell," said Mrs. Croft, eagerly scanning the paper, "I
must try ' see my son, and consult with him.
" Ah, 1 am ! I fear you'll not get much help or comfort out
of him ,,all I put in another advertisement, ma am I- iney
come expensive ! but the Vampre would like to come to some
-.^rU^o^jToCdt^^
*^^;^ V'eTra^am^'peX; when you have, you'll drop me a line^
Sound's yXs,onproof of date and place of death, likewise age."
P'" Oh Have nl hope," said Mr^s Croft ; but checking her-
self, she said, " I mean, I have no fear. In fact, I m so agi-
tntpfi I scarcely know what I mean.
"Well ma'am," said Mr. Krimp, "either ways I beg to
offer m^' c?ndolenee« ; for if yo„vS not lost a good partner
youVe certainly lost five thonsanu ;)0und8, and iim versa. Bo
^ C^wThiSouttf tie room, and Mr,. Croft threw her-
selTon tCsofa in an agony of grief While she was sobbmg
there, a waiter looked in, napkin m hand.
"Beg pardon, ma'am ; I didn't know you'^ engaged a private
sitting-room."
" Nor have I," cried Mrs. Croft.
" Well, ma'am, the rule is, you must pay for every room you
'''"X'i've only occupied it for half an hour" said Mr «. Croft.
"We don't make half hours here, ma'am/' said the waiter
skippincr downstairs to have a good laugh about the angry old
ladr^th the pretty chambermaid who was commg upstairs
with Gloriana's hot water. . ■, ^ • „,t,„+^
Mrs Croft hurried back to her own room, to indulge m wM"
1U.16S. v^iuiu lii" ^ ,j i_v;»,j| the -wrVntfiv-brown
she called "a regular guud uij, •^^uxx.na tne w ^
dimity curtains of her tent-bed. ■. .i,^ ,„i,f xiHt>
w£le she sat rocking herself to and fro, as she thought w^^,
agony of the possible lapse of the pohcy, on that of the l^^^l
the charge for the sitting-room, and aU the unpleasant remarkl
can do you
land of the
you've only
farthing, or
ft.
», taking out
good came
B paper, " I
comfort out
/am? They
omo to some
1."
le on nothing
op me a lino,
a joke), the
Lvo thousand
ikewise age,"
ihecking her-
, I'm so agi-
lys, I beg to
rood partner,
ce versa. So
)ffc threw her-
was sobbing
Lged a private
ery room you |
id Mrs. Croft, j
id the waiter,
the angry old!
ming upstairs!
idulge in whalj
whitev-bro\
s thought witl
; of the legacy!
asaut remarkf
Ouilfy, or liot Quiltij.
243
trunk had £30,? placed T^loH^nnl .'? '^'5' ""^^^'^ ^^^^ ^laek
room unperceiv^d kiedinri \^^ f ^ ?"*^^'^^^ ^^^^ "^other's
opened, and gazin'.. into it^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^'^"^'^^ «^^« l^^^d
cieeks and clasped liaml. Z t^ v^ ^'°^'^°^'' ^^'^ P'^lo
made Mrs CrXruirto ho .if' W^ '^''-r^ ^^'^ ^^'•«^"^.
Mrs. Croft's turn to sLlm and^^^^^^^^^^ 'J^-, ^*^. ^^^ '^'^^
she gazed was not her ov3^ Thn 1 P^^^T/^^^ ^^-^ into which
suglested itself to and Wi hnl f^^^ f ^^''^ '^''^'"^^t ^"^^« ^^^
wlio'e wardrobe (a tood cw'tL ^^'^"'1^^' ^^' "'^ gentleman,
rifled gaze, in the sCne oTl! T'T ^^' ""'^^"^ "^^'^ ^^^^ hor-
waistcoats, bootsetc etc ohni-?" *'°^'''''^' ^^''^^ «^^ ^^ats.
instead of W own fm. anf neaTlv fnl TV f''^' ^'^^^ «™«»
delicate, lavendered in'on hpr ??i ^ .r"^' f ^^^'''"^ '^'■^«^^«' *^«^
settes, and pocketlnS^^^^^^ '"''^' ^^^^^^-l^-tH, chemi.
GlSa"''' ^°''"'"° "^^' ^^^^ ^"S^ ^-^ ^nd bodice ! " gasped
Mrl^Jjr^ '^''''' "^^ ^y ^l^^k Genoa velvet!" shrieked
;; My Paris blue velvet mantle ! " sobbed Gloriana
My Indian cashmere " sobbed Mr^ Prnff
^_^^ My jewol-o.se, and my gold watch and chain ! " cried Mrs.
CHAPTER LVII.
« Will vn. h " vT T '''' '""' "'" "°°""^*'^ '"'^•" Shakkspeah..
cofferroC^,^^!^^^^^^^ -/'-' or in the ladies'
Mrs. Croft's bXSe knS f .^^fT'''^' '^i,?"' ^^ '-^"^^^r to
room is very cWul an^^ln! H»°°^^^
"and most oLurladiespreffe''^'' '"^^ '^' chambermaid,
is lo^cts"'.''^'''^'"^*'^^^^' mamma," said Gloriana, "this room
genfsZ^ftu'^i^^^^^^^ ^''^^ l-^i««. family
?oom-whTch i isn^ manTC.f ""^"f '" '^^ ^'"^d^^^' ^"ff^e^
many, and never r.oITe^ST, itt.^^'>^'. ^^'^^ ^'^^ ^^^^^ i^
MrsSftr:ft:?"heTa^tnflded'to'^'"' ^ff-™"™ ." -^
the disaster of the e'eh^ged trtfc * ' ^™"8 chambermaid
Effie, the pretty chambermaid took an intense interest in thi,
s2
■I II ii m\
2U
Guilty, or Not Ouilfy.
i
misfortune when she heard of all the finery lost, and had bron
permitted to glance ut what she called the "male rubbish."
Comforiud by her sympathy and by her prophecies that the box
would be returned to the station, because the old gentleman
would be as much put out by the loss of his " male rubbish "
as the ladies by that of their beautiful silks and velvets, Mrs.
Croft repaired to the ladies' coffee-room wish Gloriana.
The chambermaid was right in saying that few London hotels
possessed the advantage of a ladies' coffee-room; and this was a
delightful room.
In spite of their many troubles, Mrs. Croft and her daughter
did ample justice to the excellent breakfast spread before them
in that large, airy, well-lighted saloon. While at breakfast,
Gloriana remarked, in one of the further corners of the large
room, a party at breakfast, consistinjr of three ladies and three
gentlemen. One of the latter had his back turned to Mrs. and
Miss Croft, but a glance which Gloriana had of his long face,
and lantern jaws, coupled with his quaint look and strange ap-
pearance, convinced her that she gazed on Old Hackney-Coach.
A very venerable-looking, handsome old clergyman, with
silver locks, and evidently in extreme old age, yet hale, rosy,
and cheerful, was of the party ; and Gloriana suspected that
this old divine, attired in the fashion of fifty years ago, was the
Eev. Peter Pryme, father-in-law of Hackney-Coach. There
were two very odd-looking women of the party, in ccal-skuttle
bonnets, gigot sleeves, small tippets, short waists, short skirts,
and sandaled shoes; these ladies and one more gentleman
formed the party, which seemed very happy and merry. There
was something bridal in their appearance; and Gloriana guessed
that the old curate had been temp'ed to share in the wedding
festivities of Grace Pryme and her clerical bridegroom. Gloriana
wished to claim acquaintance with Old Hackney-Coach; but
Mrs. Croft, perceiving her inclination, and not having any gene-
rosity of impulse or independence of feeling, sharply rebuked
her for thinking of attaching such a set of " Guys" to her party,
and added —
" If they are here to-night, and nothing better has turned up,
we will ask Old Hackney-Coach to lend us a few pounds. Of
course they must have plenty of money, or they would not be
here at a first-rate hotel. But," she added, " if I can but see
Roger, I am certain of money from him ; and, in that case, I
shall not renew my acquaintance with those figures of fun, and
as they have all read themselves almost blind, and cannot see
an inch beyond their noses, they won't make us out if we don't
introduce ourselves to them. And now, my love," added Mrs.
Croft, " if you have quite done, we will sUp away unperceived,
and get into a cab, and drive at once to the Great Northern
Station."
d had brcn
5 rubbish."
hat the box
gentleman
3 rubbish"
:lvets, Mrs.
na.
idon hotels
[ this was a
r daughter
efore them
breakfast,
f the large
I and three
o Mrs. and
! long face,
strange ap-
ney-Coach.
^man, with
hale, rosy,
seated that
^o, was the
}h. There
joal-skuttle
lort skirts,
gentleman
rry. There
na guessed
tie wedding
1. Gloriana
Doach; but
g any gene-
ily rebuked
) her party,
turned up,
ounds. Of
ould not be
can but see
that case, I
of fun, and
L cannot see
; if we don't
added Mrs.
mperceived,
,t Northern
Guilti/, or JVot Ouilty. 245
Mrs. Croft's r««c did not succeed. A waiter detected that
she was going, and as she was a stranger there, ho swiftly
brought up the bi 1. ancl to her horror, she saw a private sit-
tmg-room charged for.^ Mrs. Croft remonstrated. Lut in vain
—except that a shilling was taken off the charge. Mrs. Croft's
purse was so slender, she was afraid to leave herself penniless
and she proposed to the waiter to pay on ^er return to dinner
Ho remarked that being quite a stran.r ,. it would be more
satisfactory if she would settle so far, ant. indeed that it was a
peremptory rule with his master never to trust strangers.
Mrs Croft^ "^ ^^° *^'°^° ^^°^'^'' '" ^^^^ ' "'°^'' ^""^'^^ ^^^^'^
" Oh, yes, ma'am ; they are old customers. Mr. Harkun
Hackney and his bride, and lior father the Kov. ]Vrr. Pryme, and
Mrs. Hackney s sister and her bridegroom. They are como
here for their honeymoon, ma'am."
"Well." said Mrs. Croft, "take my card to the gentleman
t^ him here""^"*^^ """^^ ^"""^ ^''''^' "^^ ^^^ ^ ^''*^' ^"^ ^P'^^^
The waiter obeyed.
Kind Hackney-Coach was very glad to meet with his old
friends; and Mrs. Croft found that, by giving him as a re-
ference, she was able to avoid immediate payment.
1 he ladies of the party were introduced, and it was agreed
they should all dme together. Hackney-Coach was very full
of the cruel murder of the young Marquis of Dunstanburgli, his
patron and friend ; but he would not admit a possibility of
Arthur Bertram s having had any hand in that dreadful crime.
1 see by this morning's paper," ho said, " that, for the con-
vemence of the parties concerned, this memorable trial will
take place m the Central Criminal Court, and that it is fixed
tor this day week."
" I shall stay in town," said kind old Hackney, "to see if I
can be of any use, help, or comfort to the dear boy, of whose in-
nocence I am as certain as of my own."
. "Ah still waters run deep," said Mrs. Croft. "I fear the
^nX, J^'^A •^°'' ^'' ¥^ '^ ^"^ '^* ^P a plea of insanity. His
mother died in a madhouse."
" Oh," said Hackney, "I hope he'll scorn such a plea. He's
no more mad than I am, and no more guilty than you are."
" w f\-' V. Gi^lonana; " but mamma behoves him guilty."
rrnff S: r^^^f^'^vi^ ^^ ^^""^^^^ "«^ in a few days," said Mrs.
L-rott._ 1 should hke to be present, and I must tryif I can
.ixa^;ig,"c u,; out; come, my dear CMoriana, we are losing' precious
time with regard to our trunk-I will tell you all about that
'^ComrCbr" '" ^^'^ ^''' ^^""^^^ ^^'^'"S ^ '■*'^^^-
Alas ! poor Glory, at the thought of Arthur's being tried for
II
240
Chiilty, or Kot Guilty,
I:
his life on n rhargo of wilful mti^'dcr, her tears fell fast. Mrs.
Croft's H('(! ling made no impression on hor; for hHo kept on
saying to hersoli— " In ono week ! Ar^ur Bertram to bo tried
for his life this day week ! Oli. (I<!ar, xlcar Arthur ! may God
strengthen tlice, and enable thy judge and jury to see the truth,
and to acquit thee, poor dear Arthur 1 Only a week ! Alas !
alas ! "
CHAPTER LVIIT.
" How Bharpf r than the Hcrpcnfa tooth it Is
To hiivo a thaukless child." SnAKKSPKARE.
It was a bitter disappointment to Mrs. Croft and Oloriana to
find, on their arrival at the Great Nortliern Station, that nothing
had been heard of their travolling-trunk. By the advice of the
clerk of the Lost Luggage Office, Mrs. Croft left the trunk sho
had carried away in mistake ; and, after bewildering the official
with multitudinous and very involved descriptions and direc-
tions, she took her leave in a very ill-humour, re-entered the
cab, and said —
" If you had had your wits about you, Gloriana, this horrible
misfortune would not have happened. My mind is distracted
by anxieties of all kinds, but yon have not a real care or trouble
in life. You ought at once to have seen that that old wretch's
box was not our beautiful trunk. Why, the scarlet bows were
of a different size and shade, and — oh ! " she added, suddenly,
with a sort of scream, that made Glpriana start, " oh, what a
fool I have been, to leave that box at the office ! I feel con-
vinced we shall never get our own back, and I should have done
much better to have kept tliat than none."
" But what could you have done with it, mamma ? " asked
Gloriana.
" Well, I only looked into it. There were only old clothes
and boots at top, but there might have been some things of
value underneath ; and if not, at any rate I could have had in
a Jew, and have got something for all those old coats, trousers,
and boots. And now what's to be done ? I must try to see
Roger ; I know he's in town, for old Krimp, whom I saw this
morning before you were up, told me he's Hving a great deal
too fast, and getting into every kind of scrape, always
going about with that disreputable Hauteville, who, though
he's a nobleman, is certainly no gentleman. However, Roger's
as proud as a peacock, and he'd be in a fine rage if we were to
drive up to Mivart's or Long's Hotel in this wretched old cab.
J. never saw so miseraoie a coricciii ! The horse is broken-
kneed, and almost a skeleton, and has a raw on his back ; the
cabman has but ono eye — and that is the case with the horse,
too ; then the cab is mended, splashed, and very small and low.
A cab is always a very disgraceful conveyance, but this is the
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
247
m
-at. Mrs.
10 kopt on
;o 1)0 tried
may God
tho truth,
: ! Alas !
ISPEAUE.
loriana to
it nothing
fice of tho
trunk sho
:ho official
md dii'ec-
itored tho
s horrible
distracted
or trouble
i wrotch'a
jows were
suddenly,
h, what a
'. feel con-
bave done
? " asked
Id clothes
things of
kve had in
, trousers,
bry to see
[ saw this
»reat deal
3, always
), though
r, Eoger's
'^e were to
d old cab.
3 broken-
back ; the
bhe horse,
I and low.
his is the
meanest and dirtiest old vehicle I over beheld. Of course
Roger would cut us dead if ho saw us, in our dusty, old travel-
ling-dresHOs, driving up in tliiH odious cab to one of his hotels."
" What can we do, then, mamma ?" said Gloriuna.
" Ah ! that is uU you can say ; there is no help or advice to
be got out of you, Gloriana. 3iut, thank Heaven ! I have a
head on my shoulders, and, I flatter myself, a pretty good one.
Old Lambert used to say, I should have been Prime Minister,
or Lord Chamberlain— no, iiord Chancc-ui ; . . can't remember
which — if I had but been a boy."
" And what have jou decided on doi ig mannna P"
"Why, on stoppnig in this cab jus.joand ,ho comer in
Clifford Street, close to Long's Hotel, an ' g<-\,Ling the cal)man
to give in a note I have written to Roger. I have begged him
to come and dine with us at the Bridge Hotel; and i have
asked him to bring a few pounds with him, saying that we are
penniless in London, have lost our luggage, and are quite in
despair and terror at our dreadful position. He cannot bo so
cruel and undutiful as not to attend to such a harrowing note
as I have written to him."
" Does the cabman know where ho is to go, mamma P" as?. 3d
Gloriana.
" Yes ; while you were staring about you like a stuck pig, I
explained all to him. But here we are in Clitford Street, I
declare ! Cabby, cabby ! " said Mrs. Croft, putting her head
out of the cab-windoAv ; "come here a minute, please, cabby."
Mrs. Croft had an object in being so civil to cabby.
" Will your horse stand still here, while you step round to the
door of Long's Hotel in Bond Street, and give in this note, and
wait for an answer P"
"Well, he ain't a good im at vaiting," said the cabman. HeVe
zeed better days, he has. He wor an 'unter oust, and carried a
peer o' the realm. I 'ont warrant un to vait long. He's a
spirited hanimal ; but if you likes to chance it and stand all
repairs, I don't mind."
He took the note from Mrs. Croft's hand, and disappeared.
" What did he mean by ' chancing it, and standing all re-
pairs P' " said Mrs. Croft. " That poor old skeleton horse, with
rags round his broken knees, is not very likely to run away with
us, I think."
Just at this moment a very dashing equipage, with four
spirited greys, and a very showy harness, whisked past Mrs.
Croft in her little dingy cab.
" Tf. la Tirttraf I" oVio pmo/l . nmA -Jr! \>r\-n n.^>->4-r.r.^ ^£\~ J-*-* t-i-
^ — ... o"" ' •••«•-• '^■i ivVt , tfiiU, Hi Lit,-! clJSLany, lOiycLLillg HIS
dislike to all that was dusty and shabby,, she put her head, in
her old tiavelling-bonnet, out of the cab window, and cried,
"Roger! Roger!"
Roger heard, and Roger saw ; but none are so deaf as those
248
Oiiilty, or IfTot Guilty.
u
who will not hear, none so blind as those who will not see
The undutiful wretch let his mother call on him in vain !
It was a very high carriage— the same to which he had given
his name. It was painted a bright green; the liveries of the
outriders and the servant behind were green. Eoger Croft in
a very low-crowned hat of green beaver, and in the celebrated
green " Croft " coat, was driving a beautiful woman, all velvet
^ce, feathers, and gold. This was Marion, Lady Hauteville'
Between Lord and Lady Hauteville and Eoger Croft a great in^
timacy had sprung up. They were staying at the same hotel
(Mivart s) ; and while Hauteville drank and smoked with his
own base and profligate associates, Eoger Croft drove about
with Lady Hauteville.
"flow styHsh— how beautiful he looks!" said the silly
mother "But I know, by a certain tiwnkle in his eye and a
curl of his hp, that he saw us. Well, I can't blame him, cutting
such a dash as that, for not noticing us in this wretched old
Just at that moment a street-band struck up ; a horn-player
gave a loud blast, preparatory to playing the " Huntsman's
(chorus. At that sound all the past rushed on the broken-
kneed, broken-spirited, broken-hearted old cab-horse. He
forgot the old cab at his heels, he forgot the brute his driver,
he torgot his heavy whip, he forget the raw on his shoulder,
the rags on his broken knees, the burden of life, and the
knackers yard staring him in the face! He is off, off! as if
again he was bearing the daring sportsman, the noble Lord
Ascot, to be m at the death. How often he had done so.
Loudljr screamed, roared, and bellowed the horrified Mrs
Croft, crimson with rage and terror ; while silent, pale, and in
trembling fear, Gloriana drew herself back into the corner of
the cab. Another blast ! and yet another ! and the old hunter
has overtaken Eoger Croft in his das>>ing equipage, and driven
up against the bright green panel and its showy arms.
It was now Lady Hauteville's turn to scream and turn pale.
Eoger Oroft, mad with rage, rose up, and dealt the old hunter's
head a heavy blow; ma-^dened with the pain, the old horse
reared, kicked, plunged, and dashed the old cab again and again
on the side of the new " Croft." With his last dash the old
cab-horse^ came down up n his knees, and the old cab went to
pieces. Mrs. Croft was thrown into the middle of the street.
and Woriana sank fainting a-ong the ruins of the cab. A
large crowd had assembled. Mrs. Croft was picked up sense-
less, and carried into the nfiarpsf, r1 ot> Unr^t^v n^^p*^ ^..uv„,,f
stopping to inquire whether his mother was hurt, drove away,
amid the yells, hisses, and groans of the crowd. How much
louder would those yells, groai •, hisse- and have been, had they
known, that the woman he had not the decency to inquire after
^11
iii-us
Chiilty^ or Not Guilty.
249
ill not see.
rain!
i had given
;ries of the
3r Croft, in
celebrated
, all velvet,
Hauteville.
a great in-
same hotel
id with his
rove about
I the silly
1 eye and a
im, cutting
etched old
lorn-player
[untsman's
le broken-
orse. He
his driver,
shoulder,
B, and the
\ off! as if
loble Lord
so.
ified Mrs.
ale, and in
3 corner of
old hunter
md driven
s.
turn pale,
d hunter's
old horse
and again
ih the old
b went to
/he street,
e cab. A
up sense-
ove away,
low much
, had they
luire after
\
was his own mother, and the young girl fainting in the broken-
down cab, his sister !
The brutal cabman by this time had reached the scene of the
accident, and savagely and brutally was he lashing and kicking
the poor old hunter, who was again on his legs.
Among the crowd assembled round the broken cab, was a
gentleman, who no sooner perceived the face and form of the
young lady who had fainted inside, than, opening the door, he
lifted her out, and carried her into the same shop in which Mrs.
Croft, not really hurt, was in a violent paroxysm of kicking and
screaming hysterics.
The shop, luckily, was a chemist's ; and the usual restoratives
having been administered, Gloriana opened her pretty black
eyes, to meet those of her quondam adorer, Mr. Blower.
Grloriana had often rather regretted Mr. Blower, and Mr.
Blower had never, as he said in confidence to Mrs. Cutts, been
able to root out the image of Gloriana from among the ruins of
a broken heart. Their eyes met, and so did their hands ; and
Mrs. Croft came out of her hysterics " to watch the game," as
she called it. But her attention was soon called off by a gruff
voice at the door. It was that of Cabby, come to demand the
full cost of the repairs to be done to his cab.
" You said you'd chance it, ven you axed me to leave my 'oss.
I told you he wor a sperited hanimal, and 'ad been a 'unter; and
you said you'd chance it, and stand all repairs."
" Neither your wretched old horse nor your more wretched
old cab was safe nor fit for use, and I'll not 'pay a farthing,
said Mrs. Croft.
" Oh ! you 'ont, 'ont you, you reg'lar wicious old cure ? "We'll
soon see that. Whatever does you go to presume for to ride in
cabs ? Homnibushes is the wehicles for you, only them's too
good, and so's a yeelbarrer ; but I'll get my rights, you may
depend. Oh ! if it warn't for the lor, woul(hi't I lurrip you a
good un — wouldn't 1 wallop you as I never walloped a 'oss in
my life ! You a lady ! "
" Hold your insolent tongue, cabman," said Mr. Blower, going
boldly up to the enraged brute, " or I'll give you in charge for
insulting and abusive language."
The cabman, cowed by the voice and manner of Mr. Blower,
backed into the street, and began brutally lashing and kicking
his wretched horse.
The crowd cried " shame ! " but did not interfere. Gloriana,
who had learnt from Arthur and Edith to feel intensely for that
ill-used being the London cab-horae, and who had read Captain
Curling's admirable work on the subject, seeing a policeman
coming towards the scene, ran up to mm, and at once gave the
cabman in charge.
As a magistrate was sitting at that very time in — Court
1
m
i 4
250
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
close by, the policeman took the bnite off at once, telling Gloriana
she must accompany them to prefer her charge. Mr. Blower
offering to attend her, called a cab, and handed in Mrs. Croft
and his heart's idol, who was loudly cheered by the crowd for
her spirited conduct in defence of thr poor cab-horse. On their
way to the police-office, Mr. Blower informed Mrs. Croft that
he had inherited the fortune of his aunt, the wealthy Mrs.
light, who had left him all she possessed, on condition of his
gmng up business in the artificial leg, arm, eye, and ear line
and adding to his own name that of Tight : so that he was now
Mr. Tight-Blower, or Mr. Blower-Tight, whichever the ladies
preferred. The magistrate, a very humane man, fined the cab-
man forty shillings under Mr. Martin's Act; and as he was
unable to pay it, he was sent to piison, with hard labour, for a
fortnight ; the poor old horse being taken, by the magistrate's
order, back to his stable, and the cab, in its dilapidated state, to
its proprietor.
Mrs. Croft, enraptured with Mr. Tight-Blower in his altered
circumstances, and enchanted to see that he was more than
ever enamoured of Gloriana (in spite of her old black straw
turban-hat, grey cloak, and linsey-wolsey dress), was in high
good humour. °
Mr. Tight-Blower proposed that they should keep together
that day, and that he should get his brougham, which he had
left at a Hvery-stable, and drive them to his house. Mrs. Croft,
^reed, on condition that betook her first to the London-bridge
Hotel, to put off till the morrow their dinner with the bridal
party. She then gladly accepted Tight-Blower's invitation to go
down with him to Wimbledon, where he was living in his late
aunt's villa, to dinner.
" We'll buy a nice bit o' fish," he said, " and a goose, to add
to my bachelor's fare, and bf %b happy as the day is long. As
for Mr. Croft, I no more beliuve he's dead than I am ; and I
think the Vampire can be made to pay. I'll tender the money
to-morrow— five thousand pounds is no flea bite ; we'll see about
it. So now cheer up, and let's be merry while we may — ^for
we every day grow older."
An excellent dinner, with plenty of champagne, restored Mrs.
Croft's spirits, and brought on " an exposition of sleep."
Yes; there she lay, in the pretty villa drawing-room, after
dinner, on the late Miss Tight's comfortabh crimson Utrecht
velvet sofa; and while she enjoyed her nap, Ttr. Tight-Blower
or Mr. Blower-Tight (which the reader .rjs) stood in the
window rfinoaa witli frlnriann. lnnViTir» of f>.o v»,/^^», «_J — T-.m-
relating all lie had suffered, stole his arm round her trim waist,
and whispered in her ear, "Doesn't she see how her poor Tight-
Blower loves the ground she treads onP and will she doom him
to despair— or will she be his dear, darling little wife P"
ling Gloriana
Mr. Blower,
1 Mrs. Croft
le crowd for
36. On their
s. Croft that
ealthy Mrs.
iition of his
nd ear line,
he was now
r the ladies
tied the cab-
l as he was
labour, for a
mp-gistrate's
-ted state, to
I his altered
more than
3lack straw
ras in high
ep together
lich he had
Mrs. Croft.
idon-bridge
I the bridal
tation to go
in his late
)ose, to add
i long. As
am; and I
the money
II see about
3 may — ^for
stored Mrs.
iep."
'oom, after
3n Utrecht
ght-Blower
ood
A
in the
whiiG
trim waist,
3oor Tight-
! doom him
3P"
i'
Chiilty, or Not Guilty.
251
Gloriana's head sank on Tight-Blower's shoulder, as she
whispered, " I will ;" and when the footman came in with the
tea, Mr. Tight-Blower handed to the table, to preside there, his
aflSauced bride — the future Mrs. Tight-Blower.
CHAPTER LIX.
*' Yes, I forgive my child's clandestine marrlafre ; , ■_
For, after all, she's married to her carriage." Lascelles. ff«i
Mr. Tight-Blower lent his mother-in-law a sum sufficient to
pay her bill at the London-bridge Hotel, and to meet all her
expenses in town. The dinner with Hackney-Coach and his
party came off, and was a very merry one, Hackney-Coach in-
sisting on playing host on the occasion.
Mr. Tight-Blower " tackled" the ^/ ampire, as he called it, and
there seemed some hope of the policy being saved ; and so " all
went gaily as a marriage bell."
Mrs. Croft found, indeed, great help and comfort in her son-
in-law elect, but even he failed to obtain any tidings of old
Croft. Neither could Mrs. Croft obtain the slightest notice
from her undutiful and insolent son Roger. The intimacy of
his mother and sister with Mr. Tight-Blowor made him more
resolute than ever in shunning, and, in fact, cutting them. But
if Tight-Blower was an element of estrangement and discord
between Mrs. Croft and her vile, ungrateful son, he was one of
reconciliation in the case of the offending daughters, Mrs.Tippit
and Mrs. Cutts.
Tight-Blower had a very good heart, and he could not bear
to see Mrs. Tippit so unhappy and deserted. He therefore
made it a personal request that Mrs. Croft would call on her
suffering daughter. Tight-Blower had a brougham, and in this
brougham he drove Mrs. Croft and Gloriana to Bedford-ro\ri to
visit Mrs. Tippit.
Great was Mrs. Croft's delight when she found that, instead
of the glass-case full of grinning rows of white teeth witli pink
gums, nothing announced the dentist but a small brass-plate
with the name of " Mr. Tippit." This change had been wrought
by the influence of Mrs. Tippit. Tippit certainly lost many in-
ferior patients by the removal of the glass case and the rows of
white teeth and pink gums, but he rose in the profession in
consequence of the withdrawal of this showy, practical adver-
tisement. His patients were of a higher, wealthier class, and
on the whole he was no loser.
Mrs. Tippit, scarcely recovered from her confinement, was
looking very delicate and pretty. Her tender and devoted
husband had surrounded her with every possible comfort and
elegance of life ; and when Mrs. Croft saw her daughter lying
ou a rich modern sofa — in a wadded rose silk wrapper — in a
'
252
Chiilttf, or Not Guilty.
\h
: m
boudoir furnished with the most elegant luxury, her own French
w/;n<f r '''' ^^l' '"l^.^ -Er^^^-^ P^^f««* constellation of
buttons-to answer her bell, Mrs. Croft forgave her from the
nrpt«;^ • ^l .^^^'*; a°d deigned to accept her daughter's
pressing mvitation to make her house her home durino- her
invitat'ion "" GHoria^a, of course, was included in^'this
fn PaffJf^''^"^'?-^^' ^^^T^. S°^^ ^^^^ ^^' Cutts, her husband,
to Pans for a hohday, and therefore Mrs. Croft was spared the
H^S*"!"' iv^""f "^^^ ^ daughter whose husband still pro-
cU.med his calling by the picture over his door of the h^nd,
IT f Xf'^^^^l ^i'.^"*? instrument. Mrs. Croft was so verv
comfortable at the Tippits', and was made so much of by her
tC;?i;iT' Ki^^\*''*' ^^/ by Tight-Blower, Gloriana's inteiided,
that she troubled herself very Httle about Lady Edith Lorraine
lfl^ 1?'^ ^^^^ ^?,^l^ ^°^^^^"^ *^o"ble herself about her
centr^^'f^r^r- » ^" ^^^ *^«"^^^«' ^^^P^^' ^^^ feehngs were
cZt^Lfr. ^*^,Y « .^cquittal. Long and frequent wire her
consultations with Sister Sympathy, that lady's cousin, Mr.
St Ormond and Detective Meadows, who had long been lurk:
crfm« wS 1? ^''^ ^\ Rockalpine, to unravel the dark web of
crime which had puzzled even that renowned Detective.
onkr f <? 'aT""^ %aII ^T^ ^°^' ™ ^ «^c^e* a« yet known
P ^ u ■^'^''^I'^^r^^*^^' ®'^*^^ Sympathy, Mr. St! Ormond
tve^wh^ti''' ^V.^;P'? ^^^S^' ^^^ ^^^d«^« the DetS
tr/ Io?fn >?TS^^I^P|1^°"S1i Rob to discover the dis-
tant spot to which they had been most artfully kidnapped. In
company with Sister Sympathy, Edith had fJequentf/cheered
Arthur 3 captivity; and, as far as she was concerned, all she
thSr\?^'''i^'"?'^ return-all she hoped (about her)
Oh wT^!/^f 5'"°^''''^ ^^''. '*y ^'^t^l *h^ d^y of Arthur's trial
Oh, what blessed comfort, m this his houi- of grief and misery
mn^'^^^'f ^?V^ *^' *'^^? ^"^^ «f «^^ faithful womai^shSi
hi hi Tf ^'/T' '"^'' always find in such afi^ection, as long as
^e has virtue to deserve and sense to appreciate it ! And Edith
seems to him to be appointed the blessed instrument Provi-
hfm'?itif ''*'^^'Jp^^^S bis life, and what are dearer to
mm tar, his name and fame.
^v"^*^f o*.^''°^Sh ^^i*h ^^ ^^^^ l^new Sister Sympathy and
ter..^ v'' ^;rPf> ^'' ^'- ^"^^'^^ bad reduced
to interest himself in the ease of one so forlorn, and to bring
all the experience of a practised barrister, and all the zeal of a
Stionor^t*^ '^' ^""^'^^ ^' -— -^ ^e
\
Ouiliy, or Not Chiilty.
253
own French
stellation of
ler from tho
daughter's
during her
ied in this
ler husband,
1 spared the
nd still pro-
f the hand,
vas so Tery
ih of by her
I's intended,
th Lorraine,
f about her
selings were
it were her
cousin, Mr.
: been lurk-
ark web of
;ive.
yet known
b. Ormond,
the Detec-
er the dis-
apped. In
tly cheered
led, all she
about her)
hur's trial,
nd misery,
in's heart!
as long as
And Edith
ent Provi-
! dearer to
pathy, and
n induced
I to bring
e zeal of a
3 and the
CHAPTER LX.
"A son abridge the old age of his father ! " Loins XI.
Mr. and Mrs. Cutts were, as we have said, in Paris, and, among
other objects of interest, they visited the madhouses with which
the City of Delights abounds. The lively Frenchman re-
proaches the English as a nation driven by fog and gloom to
despair and suicide; but social statistics have proved that
suicide is of more frequent occurrence in France than in Eng-
land. And in the suburbs of the gayest city in the world,
" moping Madness, laughing wild amid severest woe," is most
frequently found.
Among the wards and cells vis^"^ed by Mr. and Mri , Cutts,
was one m which one of the keepers told them that an old
Enghshman had beer for some time located. His madness, the
keeper said, was of a perf-ctly harmless kind, and had he
not been placed there by his son, who had exhibited the neces-
sary certificates, and who paid for his board and lodging, they
should scarcely have considered him sufficiently insane for
confinement in that asylum. The keeper added that the
old man was always reading an English Bible which a former
patient, also English, had left behind him when he went to his
last long home ; and what seemed most to distress him was
there being no one whom he could unu. stand, or who could
understand him.
The account the keeper gave of the old man interested Mr.
and Mrs. Cutts, and they requested to be allowed to see their
countryman.
Little did Mrs. Cutts, when she tripped lightly along the
stone passages in her French kid boots, gathering up her
flounced silk, and thinking of her rich velvet paletot and its
ermine trimming— little did she think who would meet her
view when the door was opened ! There, on a wooden trest, 1,
his Bible on his knees, and the light streaming in through the
grated window on his bald head— there was old Croft, her
father, who had been decoyed, trepanned, and tricked into that
living tomb by the heartless villain whose plot required the old
lawyer's absence — his son Eoger !
It was sad to seethe change wrought by misery, confinement-
and the sense of his son's base treachery and ingratitude,'.!
the face and form of old Croft. But yet, changed as he was,
his daughter knew him at a glance.
^" Let me go to him alone, Castor," she said to her husband,
after she had revealed to him who the old Engiishmaju was.
" He is not mad, and it would pain him too much to be seen in
• this degraded state by you or any other stranger."
Mr. Cutts complied with his wife's considerate wishes, and
Almeria entered the cell alone.
•*f
' i I
251
Ouilty, or Net Ouilty.
i
.
^'J^
/^
fiii
As she drew near, the change in the once spruce and prouii
old man seemed more touching, anci her sense of her r;wn fili:!;
ingratitude and desertion more harrowing.
Old Croft was reading the Book of Job. So intent was lie
on troubles greater than his own, that he did not hear Almuria
enter, nor was he aware of her presenc • until .vr . .sank on her
knees before him, and the well-known, well-remembered wor-^,
" Father ! " burst from her very heart.
Yes; tiio daughter knelt, her rich silks trailing on tlie d'.-sty
floor — sl'o knelt in ];; r v elvet Biid ermine, her lace? and jev<ls,
before the wasted, boken -hearted, old man! And, at fciio
sound of that familial voic , he lool<od up, and extended his
arms. Almeria crawled oii liOf kuees to his feet, and laying
her face on ids old, totter. rg kneels wept long and bitterly.
Her father, whose inh l.ect was quite unimpaired, soon ex-
plained the mystery of Mh confinement in a French madhcvise.
Eoger, the arch-villain, had decoyed him from his home by a
diabolical artifice, had tricked him into a visit to this madhout.<',
and left him there as a lunatic.
" Ah, I fancy I know his object," said old Croft. " He wantea
to -^^reyent my presence at the reading of the late Earl of Eock-
alpino's will, and ho dreaded my revealing certain important
family secrets connected with Arthur. He shall be defeated
yet. Tlsr will which he hoped to get out of my iron safe is here,
stitched in the breast of my coat, and. so are the papers on
which Arthur's welfare depends. Take me away from this
prison— take me to England, my child, that I may do justice
Mrs. Cutts, who spoke French well, and was no stranger in
Paris, soon obtained of the authorities the release of old Mr.
Croft ; but when they got him to the Hotel du Louvre, he was
taken dangerously ill, and for some time his life was despaired
of. And while he was lying between life and death, Arthur
Bertram, his grandson, was undergoing his trial for the wilful
murder of the Marquis of Dunstanburgh, in the Central
Criminal Court, London. In his case, as in that of Palmer the
Poisoner, and many others, it was found more convenient ^
the judges, witnesses, etc., etc., to remove the scene of trial ■
London. The excitement th«t attended it was interne a'. )
unparalleled. The rank of tl. ictim, the romance wo ■ '^
with the crime, the Love and : arder so closely unit' . - aio
mystery in which the whole case had been so long invo'v /* -
all contributed to invest this murder and trial with an in;/ o. t
no crime of the Kind had excited for m.anv a lonf^ -"^e-ar. T}>n
papers were full of the " Dunstanburgh murder ; " a broadshc -t.
by a street author, sold by hundreds of thousands daily; poi-
traits, said to be of Arthur Bertram, but which had done duty
for Thurtell, Grreenacre, Eush, Tawell, and many others, were
<
3 and proi) )
er own fili;!;
itenfc was }ie
ear Almi;ria
.sank on hor
berod wor?,
m the dt-si>y
and je-.v*. Is,
Lnd, at fcho
xtended his
and laying
bitterly.
d, soon ox-
madhoHSG.
home hy a
I madhout^!',
' He wanted
irl of Eock-
important
36 defeated
safe is here,
papers on
from this
' do justice
jtranger in
of old Mr.
p^re, he was
3 despaired
ith, Arthur
' the wilful
le Central
Palmer the
venient
of trial
iter^e a •
! wo •
nit'vi -tiio
involved —
in in" 'est
rear. Th<^
•roadshcet,
laily; poi
done duty
hers, were
'
Ouilti/, or Not Guilty. 255
hawk d about the streets ; and so were lives, histories, etc., etc.
Lyery tletail connected with the prisoner's most triflincrreiark
or actif^i was made public; and where facts fell sh"ort, fibs
supplied their place The mysterious Dunstanburgh murder
occupied every mind, and was the theine of every tongue
CHAPTER LXI.
"Thrice la ho armed who hns lils fiuarrcl Just :
Anil ho but naked, thouiili In triple stool,
Whose conscience with injustice ia corrupted." Siukespeare.
The sun rose with unclouded splendour on the morning fixed
for Arthur Bertram's trial. The sky was of the deep,^clear.
bright sapphire so common in Italy, so rare in England : the
granite ot the pavement sparkled in the rays of the sun. The
riower-girls hawked about the cheapest and most common-place
offerings These London Floras were sunburnt, and thei?
growth stopped and stunted by the heavy bui-dcns they had
borne from their cradles-that of hfe itself not the hghtest
carried on their broad shoulders; but Nature never yet made
a flower which m its first freshness has not some bcLty, nor
L^.T"^''"^ "^^^ '"^ ^^'' ^^^^y y°^^^ ^as not a charm for
some one.
At a very early hour the Central Criminal Court was crowded
—thronged to excess ; so were all the avenues approaching to
w f^ indeed, was the interest excited by this trial for
Wilful MuEDEE-the Wilful Murder of a Peer of the Realm--the
young, wealthy, happy, hopeful Marquis of Dunstanburgh The
romance mterwoven with this story of blood and crime, the
extraordinary details connected with this deep tragedy, which
Sw it'^H^^l P^.w' P^P^^?'^«d thence intolveJy home
and heart, filled all with horror, doubt, and intense curiosity as
to he solution of the mystery. The constantly-disputed point
of oiJiLTYOE Not Guilty? which had become almost a party-
BprfW«^ •''f ^''•^i the empire, all united to invest Arthur
StptpT JrVr^u ^ ?,^^?^ing' a tl^-illmg, a bewildering
mteiest, felt ahke by all classes, from the noble lords anS
MP. s, who were a<;commodated with seats on the bench, to
the poor hawkers of ginger-beer and lemonade, the vendors of
nuts, apples oranges, etc., etc., and the strolling Floras of whom
we have spoken. Outside the Court the mob fbrmed one len^^
closely.pad.ed mass; mside, there was not an available spot
unoccupied People, outside and in, seemed in luL^h ^oSd-
xxumour. So orignc a day! so interesting a trial! so much
sensation ! Oh, it was high holiday for all fhe spectators , anS
so It was m ancient Rome, when the lions, the tigers, and the
panthers were let loose upon the Christian martyrs, who pre-
ferred death to apostasy. j*o, wiiu pie
i "^i
*••«'
256
Guilty, or Not Quilty.
I *m}
i
/
Among the spectators, and vainly flattering themsclres that
they were incog were ladies well known in the fashionable
world armed with opera-glasses. Quietly dressed and closelv
veiled. Lady Rockalpine and her daughter, Lady Ida, might
have been detected among these lovers of a sensation drama
But It was not merely curiosity that led Lady Rockalpine to
tnat Uourt. bhe was very vindictive ; she owed Arthur Ber-
tram a bitter grudge, not only for winning Edith's young heart
but for the part she believed he had taken in depriving her and
her tamily of the alliance she had so ardently coveted— that of the
young of Marquis Dunstanburgh. Lady Rockalpine had written
to Mrs. Croft when first she left her daughter in that lady's
care, desiring her on no account to allow any information con-
nected with Arthur Bertram and the proceedings against him
to be conveyed to Lady Edith.
1 A'^f ^^t'^j-'-^^I^ judge," said her ladyship to Mrs. Croft (by
letter). Lady Edith has ceased to interest herself in the fate
ot that most guilty and unhappy wretch. I do not think she
knows or has tried to ascertain the result of the coroner's
1?^!^!?. » ^.^^ f s.^^ange girl, and I have sometimes thought
that the fall which, m her childhood, threatened to make her a
cripple, may in some way have affected her brain. Let the
name ot the wretched prisoner never be mentioned in her pre-
sence; keep all newspapers carefully away from her; and if
evm- she should make any inquiry as to the fate of the young
ruffian, tell her his friends have got him out of the way, and
that he is enjoying himself in Paris or Brussels, or where you
will ; and do not on any account give her any idea that he is in
prison or to be tried for his life. To such romantic girls as
Lady Edith, a culprit Mke Bertram becomes a hero and a
martyr; and looking upon him in that light, there is no excess
—no madness— of which she would not be guilty! If she
thinks him safe and happy, she will soon forget all about him,
and, I hope, accept a certain young duke, who saw her in Paris
and who not only admired her, but ardently desires to be allied
(by marmng my daughter) to we."
Mrs. Croft had answered this letter in the meanest and most
abject style, promising everything her ladyship required; and
Lady Rockalpine then troubled herself no more about the
matter.
She was very anxious that Arthur Bertram should be found
guilty ; and if a something, inseparable from woman's nature,
made her prefer that he should not be hanged, the best she
Wiahfid nim was ihah n. t^Ioo nf iricori^'f-' el -.u 1- - i 1
ii- .L -L i 1^1 — "r, ^'","' '"^ ^ii°anirv SuuUiu uu auo up, ana
that he should be confined as a criminal lunatic during her \
Majesty s pleasure— namely, for the term of his natural Ufe.
Lord Rockalpine had taken, in secret, an intense interest in I
every detaU connected with Arthur Bertram's trial, and at one
OuiJii/, or Not Guilty. 257
time ho had resolved tolse present; but his courage failed him
when the time came, and when Lady Rockalpine sent to propose
that they should drive to the Central Criminal Court together
My Lord was nowhere to bo found ! His absence was the
result ot a long and ghastly conflict with his own tormented
spirit.
He wanted— nay, he burned to know exactly what passed
what transpired, at this trial. How could ho tell but that the
tram of circumstances might drag him in some way before the
pubhc, as connected indirectly with this murder ?
In all webs, whether woven by the Fatal Sisters, and called
the web of life, or those delicate silken meshes that seem to
grow beneath the fingers of fair ladies, a touch will unravel
what it has taken a long time to weave. Conscience whispered
in the terrified, anxious ear of Lord Rockalpine, that at any
moment the web he had woven so carefully might be unravelledf,
and he stand bare, exposed, disgraced, and defenceless before
the world which had so long been at his feet, worshipping in
him the great moral reformer; he who had so greatly inproved
the discipline of our prisons, established reformatories, formed
ragged schools, and realized what many had long deemed im-
possible— a liberal conservatism. Alas! alas! the pillory of
public opinion is at all times a terrible one ! What must it be,
then, to him who, for five and twenty years has occupied a
shrine placed on the highest pinnacle of popular esteem, and
been worshipped as an idol ?
No wonder Lord Rockalpine, when the awful time drew near,
shrank from the dangers which, to his excited fancy and deeply-
wounded conscience, seemed almost Uke his own trial for Wil-
ful Murder — a trial which he had evaded and averted for
five and twenty years, but which he had gone through more
than a thousand times by day and by night in his midnight
vision, on his feverish couch ; that couch, with its velvet hang-
ings, surmounted by a coronet, and its gilded griffins rampant
forming the supporters. Yes, he had gone through that trial
while the busy world slept. He had seen the Court— the Judge
—the Counsel for the Crown— the Jury of his peers. He had
heard the vei diet, Guilty ! He had heard the Sentence, and
sank back insensible at cL< long-deferred doom ! And even
in his grand office at WL' uall, with the noon- day sim shining
brightly on his despatch-boxes, his official grandeur, and his
mysterious-looking private secretaiy, he had gone through
every harrowing detail of the trial, which, ever since the fatal
day when " the deed tha' damns eternally was done." he. inge-
nious in self-torture, haa acted over and^^over again to himself,
at the crowded levee and the Court ball, as by the lonely sea-
beat haunts of Rockalpine, or in the green solitud. j of Arm-
strong Park, or wandering alone by moonlight amid the ru'ns
6
25S
Ouilty, r- Mi O- ilty.
m
'1*
S'
of Rome, or gliding like u giiost amid the forests of Baden-
Baden, while Lady Ro(jk Ipine, armed with a card and a pin,
was seated at tho tables of the misnamed " conversation saloon,"
since a deadly silence, the silence of impending doom, prevailed
there.
Guilty and miserable wretch that he v . ; xie aaii no; ooner
started by exprehj for a place at a considerable distance from
the scene of trial, than he repented having loft London, and
conjured up ath )iisand terrors and " chimeras dire." Among
others, he was h nmted by the thought that his absence from
the trial of the supposed murderer of his noble friend and near-
est neighbour, the Marquis of Dunstanburgh, would excite
suspicion, ari.uar strange and unnatural, and lead to those
remarks and sut mises which he so dreaded.
However, it was too late. He could not return in time for
the trial, had he wished it. While the preliminary formulae were
being gone through, the fratricide was hui -iedly slipping out
of the express at M , his hat dra.m a,jwn, and his coat
collar pulled up ; bent only on escaping unnoticed, and o i hid-
ing himself among tho wild flinty rocks, and wishing that the
petrifying walors by whioh ho roamed could extend their power
to him, and turn to stone tbe wildly-beating heart, where Ter-
ror and Remorse had held their empire for five and twenty
years. •'
CHAPTER LXII.
For who, to dull fo'-cretfuln S8 a prey,
This pleasing, aj us hv\v :; e'er rep led—
Left the warm prei , cs of the cheerful day.
Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind ? Orat.
It is a dreadful thing to see anv human being tried for Wil-
ful Murder. The bases, ruffic-xi," .^hose oft-: peated du.^ds of
blood and crime are proved beyond a doubt, u id for whom, in
vulgar parlance, " hanging is too good," yet ex^" es a th.'illino
mterest m all who think seriously what hfe .id death really
are, when awaiting the verdict that may om im to a sudden
and violent death.
But if the vilest -alprit ever oried for ilfu. "^lurder does, in
spite of his low brow, his brutal mouth, his small, porcine eyr
and his b-ii neck, yet inspire a sort of interest, what must have
been felt for Arthur Bortram, when he was led into Court by
two policemen, and placed at the dock P And what must those
who had ever known Arthur Bertram have felt when the sun
shone full on his pale brow, his hollow eyes, his thin cheek, and
his figure wasted by confinement, distress, and anxiety about
Directly Arthur Bet-tram appeared, all evil impressions va-
mshed about him. They had been excited by the savage portraits
Which had been sold by tens of thousands, heading the most
Jts of Badon-
rd and a pin,
ation saloon,"
om, prevailed
lad no ;>oon(5r
iiatance from
London, and
'e." Among
fibsence from
nd and near-
vrould excite
ead to those
I in time for
brmulsB were
slipping out
ma his coat
, and o i hid-
ling that the
their power
, where Ter-
and twenty
PrRAT.
ied for Wil-
ed dijjds of
or whom, in
3 a thi.'illing
deal Ii really
to a sudd'^n
•der does, in
orcine ejv
b must liavu
bo Court by
must those
len the sun
cheek, and
ixiety about
'essions va-
ge portraits
g the most
■
Ouilty, or Not Guilty. 269
absni a and impossible Ufe and adventures of one whom the
Htreet authors cfesignated as " Bertram, the Bold Bastard," thus
thdrTo^ad-sL'ta!'''"''"'''' "''^"^ "^^ " *" '^' e°^l>ollishment of
„ J«^T .T' a sublime expression of hope, faith, resignation
S ^^^"^ Ber ram's pale, noble, an^ earnest facf. O^e
thick dusters of closely-curhng dark-brown hair waved above
a marble brow of power and intelligence. In his large, deep-set
e^es there was a 6nght calm and a gentle daring. 1 pale rose
tmt on his thm cheeks deepened x^nto p crimson flush as the
buzz ot surprise and approbation at his ap^oarance went through
tne Uourt. And some were touched to the heart, and some
women eveii wept ^o .see how wasted was the tall form, how
thm and seini-transparent the hand he passed across his brow,
how graceful m its aignified humility his bow to the Judge and
Jury and how sweetly sad the smile with which he recognised
Mr. St. (Vmond and several others of his friends and witrfosses
Among Ue witnesses for the Crown, and certainly the most
orX?r» YS-^*''^'^ ^^°?' ^^ ^^^ elossy jet-black "Prince
wi h « ff K \, ^s^f eon velvet sacque (or very loose paletot),
foi ft^"**^"' "''^'' ^'^^°"'^ ^°at' i^ short, which a servile
tailor had nm \ the " Croft," after him.
Lord Hauteville, w h his bleared eye. his pale and yet bloated
f^e, was by Eoger oft's side; and the*^two we?e actually
S^^~^ that ver^ tien vily_on the trial.
Marion Lady Hautevillo, gorgeously dressed, and looking
very handsome, had been driven to the spot by Eoger CroC
Avhose showy equipage had attracted as much notice as that of
tne Liord Mayor of London might have done.
In spite of an assumed
air of independence and swaggei.
and m spite of a borrowed bloom, there was a ghaetly hue
bpread over Eoger Croft's vulgar face ; and all the bluster of
his fr ^^^^^ ^° ^ ^^^ conceal the aspen-Hke tremor that shook
Eoger Croft was no voluntary witness at that dread trial.
Me had suffered enough at the inquest on the young Marquis
to make hirn dread and shun all public examinations and inves-
tigations; but he had been subpoenaed, and, much as L, dreaded
to be present, he yet dared not to absent himself.
Lord Hauteville. looking very pale and bloated, dressed in a
Slovenly s vie, unshorn, his hair dul and matted, and in his eye
the dulness, and in his whole person the neglect, that charw).
terize thf" drunkard, had yet roused himself— or rather, caused
nimsell to bfi arnnfao<1 fn/-.m fV.« !,«„ 1 _* ^_x-__.:
m order that he, too, might be present at a trial on which he
had some heavy bets, and in which his low associates took a
lively interest, as such men always do in cases of murder, or
any other capital oifence.
8 2
2G0
Ouilty^ or Not Ouilty.
M
After Arthnr Bortrnm had mado his appoaranco and been
placed in the dock, whore, on -vcoxmi of recent illness, }»o was
accommodated with a seat, a i liange came over tlie expression
ot every face, from the pale, clear, earnest countenance of the
Judge on the bench, to the twelve thoughtful, anxious visagoa
m the jury-box; and even the Counsel for the Crown and his
junior, with their rather bullying expression, the barristers
present out of curi. ^ity, and the spectators who had awsembled
^V:^^- witness a play —all found a "change come o'er the spirit
of their dream. ' when, for the first time, all their conceptions
ot the notorious ruffian, the savage murderer, Bertram, the
Hold BASXARn wore put to flight l)y the appearance in the dock
ot the beau ideal of an English gentleman, whose countenance
expressed at once nobility of soul, cultivation of mind, and
goodness ot heart, refined, Hnftened, spirituaHsed, as it were, by
the confinement, the anxiety, the mental and bodily sufferings
which had sharpened the firm and flowing outline. hoUowed the
young cheek traced a deep violet shadow round those dark
eyes so full of light, and changed the sunny-brown and glowint?
rose tints of youth and health for the pale primrose that is the
very livery of pain. As a stream of sunshine came in, and
settling like a halo round that noble head, lighted up that
massive marble brow and those deep-set eyes, the Judge's
countenance relaxed into a smile, the Jury breathed more freely
—tor It IS a fearful thing to be compelled by conscience to find
a tellow-creature Guilty— and each Juryman had decided in his
own heart that the prisoner in the dock had never committed
Wilful Murde n .
Even the Counsel for the Crown was a little taken aback as
ho glanced smilingly at the dock. The face and form that met
his view were m no respect such as he had expected to see: for
in his close and life-long study of the wicked, he had never
once met with the face of Virtue coupled with the heart of
Buffiamsm. When the Clerk of Arraigns, in a loud, official
voice, said, after he had read over the charge against the
accused-" Arthur Bertram, prisoner at the bar, what say you
-Guilty, or Not Guilty?" The silence that ensued wis so
unbroken and the excitement so intense, that the buzz and
Hum ot a fly on one of the court windows was distinctly heard :
and when Arthur Bertram started to his feet, his fine face first
crimson and then deadly pale, his eyes first flaming like those
of an angel in m-ath. and then slowly suffused with tears, and
P « '""^.^^ •u''' ^^?^, °° ^^^ breast' in a loud, clear jice, said
— . ot Guilty, so help me Heaven ! Not Guilty I swear it. in
the name of Him, the Sinless One. who died for «in » " a r""^.
mur ui approbation, which was at once suppressed, went through
that vast assembly ; a faint tinge of colour dawned in the pile
ffl<3e of the Judge; the Jury exchanged glances that seemeu to
4
CO and been
ness, ho was
e expression
nance of the
iouH viHftffoa
f)wn and his
e barristers
d assembled
er the spirit
conceptions
GRTRAM, THE
in the dock
3ountenance
mind, and
a it were, by
ly sufFeringa
loUowed the
those dark
md glowing
B that is the
imo in, and
ed up that
ihe Judge's
more freely
ence to find
aided in his
• cjommitted
en aback as
'm that met
i to see ; for
> had never
he heart of
oud, official
against the
hat say you
ued was so
e buzz and
Lctly heard ;
ne face first
» like those
1 tears, and
oice, said
swear it, in
!»
IV Tr|-ii|»_
mt through
in the pale
) seemeu to
Ouilti/t or Not Guilty. 261
say, "Wo believe you, prisoner at the bar;" and the Counsel
tor the prosecution (jihaa the Crown) said, in a loud whisper, to
hia junior, " So said Palmer, the PoiHonor— a fine iruin, a clever
man, u pleasant man, too— and we hanged him ! We know that
'a man can smilo, and Hmile, and smile, and be a villain.' "
" Even^o," said the junior. *' The duvil canjissumo the form
of an angel of light."
After the attempt at applause had been suppressed, the busi-
ness of the trial proceeded in the usual manner, and the Counsel
for the Crown, who seemed to take as vivid and as personal an
interest m proving Arthur Bertram guilty us if the victim had
been his own son, cominonced an eloquent and closely-argued
statement, so well linked together bv the strongest chain of
circumstantial evidence— so clearly keeping ever before tho
minds of tho Judge and Jury tlie motive of the prisoner's
crime, that again the brow of the Judge was corrugated, and
his cheek pale.
The Jury now began to look anxious and stern, like men who
felt they would be called upon to sacrifice duty to feeling, or
feeling to duty; and the tiers a])ove tiers of human faces, which
had worn the rosy hue of hone, were now livid with intense
anxiety and deadly fear that the noble and intellectual being
before them, in whose guilt they could not believe, would yet,
by the force of resistless Destiny, and the astute arguments
and overpowering eloquence of the Counsel for the Crown, be
sent, in the flower of nis life, out of this fail- world, and leave a
bughted name behind him !
CHAPTER LXIII.
"A^^.P^^-'''''"'^*^^^ ^'^^^ °' ™"" entered the breast of tho wild, droaming boy i
and he became— what to the last he must bo- her adorer." Lady of Lyons.
The Counsel for the Crown was a man of great physical and
mental energy. He was what Roger tailed an " old hand," and
" a cunning old file." Habit had haiden.d his heart. He felt
no pity, no compunction ; to get a verdict was his great object.
It was not so much that he wanted Bertram hanged, as that
he could not endure to be defeated or outdone. Still, even he
felt the necessity of simulating something like pity for the
young life he was working so hard to cut short.
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury," he said, " in the
whole of my long professional experience, I have never felt the
pain I ieei at this mi inent. I perceive the impression made
upon you by the appearance of the prisoner ; nay, more— I my-
self, with all the warm impulses and strong emotions which
agitate your breasts at work within my own, I cannot but wish
that the task which it is my duty to perform had devolved
262
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
i 'I
,^
I
upon another ; for never since T first practised at this bar, my
Lord, and gentlemen of the Juiy, never have my convictions
and my feelings been more terribly antagonistic. It is a fright-
ful thing— and in the pale and anxious faces of all present I see
my own impressions confirmed — it is a frightful thing to con-
nect the idea of a bloodjr, treacherous, and most remorseless
murder, and thcawful punishment that awaits on such a crime,
with a young man of the bearing, the education, the position,
the intellectual and classical advantages, and I will add (at the
risk of being accused of a weakness), tho singularly interesting
appearance of the prisoner at the bar. It is a frightful thing
to feel and to know that one holds in one's own hand the clue
of that dark labyrinth of crime, and to feel, too, that after track-
ing him through all the twistings, turnings, and twinings in the
maze of Folly and Guilt into which he has sufiered Passion to
lead him, one is obliged, in common justice to that noble victim's
friends and relations, and in common justice, my Lord, and
gentlemen of the Jury, to the great family of Man, to hunt
down, this blood-stained criminal of the white hands and the
black heart, of the cultivated mind, but of the ruthless and
savage breast, till, the black labyrinth completely threaded, we
find him at the foot of the gibbet itself !"
Here a murmur of horror and deprecation ran through the
crowd, and Mr. Charles St. Ormond, in wig and gown, acting
as one of the Counsel for the Defence, sarcastically reminded
his learned brother, the Counsel for the Crown, that he was
begging the question, and acting in direct opposition to the
great, just, and merciful ^aw of the land, which considers every
man innocent until he has been proved guilty.
" My learned and eloquent brother," said Mr. St. Ormond,
" has actually brought the accused to the scaffold for execution
before he has been convicted, and has convicted him before he
has been tried. I must, therefore, beg your lordship to call
my learned brother to order ; for it is as much an act of justice
to the 'great family of Man' to justify innocence falsely accused,
as to convict and punish remorseless crime."
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury," said the Counsel for
the Crown, " it is my turn to call the Counsel for the Defence
to order. My learned brother will have an opportunity for
arguing the great question of Guilty, or Not Guilty when I
sit down. I will now simply state the circumstances of this
sad, and, I may say, horrible case. The prisoner at the bar,
my Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury, is a young man who, like
KncrfiTlfi Am.m artrl onma nflioT" apTifilq-ra ■!»> V^.^r^'la-^A «»,J „ — _„-
O ~~". " ■••-. .-VHUirtl o iii .rjllj^ictina. (XIIU. S/Ul'OSS
the Atlantic, has not found in Learning and Science a refuge
from Passion. I do not wish in the slightest degree to preju-
dice your calm, enlightened, and just minds, gentlemen of the
Jury, against the accused, when I say that his birth is of that
bis bar, my
convictions
i is a fright-
resent I Kee
ing to con-
remorseless
ich a crime,
he position,
add (at the
interesting
:htful thing
nd the clue
after track-
lings in the
Passion to
ble victim's
Lord, and
VTH, to hunt
ds and the
ithless and
ireaded, we
brough the
3wn, acting
Y reminded
hat he was
tion to the
iders every
b. Ormond,
r execution
n before he
hip to call
it of justice
ily accused,
Counsel for
le Defence
rtunity for
■TY when I
3es of this
it the bar,
n who, like
aiii^ across
e a refuge
! to preju-
nen of the
I is of that
Chiilty, or Not G^xilty.
263
'I
kind which has been supposed to transmit, with its other dis-
advantages and inabilities, a certain lawlessness, sadly in keep-
ing with the position of one who comes into this cold world
with a brand upon his brow, to mark him as an outcast of
society." . « „
Here Arthur Bertram started to his feet, his fine face crim-
soned with shame and anger, h's thin hands extended in depre-
cation. He seemsd about to speak, but meeting the calm eye ot
Mr. St. Ormond, which seemed to say, " Be patient, and bide
your time," he pressed those hands tightly, first on his breast,
and then on his burning forehead, and sank back, white and
trembling, in his chair.
"The prisoner at the bar, my Lord, and gentlemen ot the
Jury," resumed the Counsel for the Crown, " is the unhappy
offspring of man's sin and woman's shame."
Here Arthur Bertram's head sank on his breast, while his
hands closed and unclosed convulsively ; and Mr. St. Ormoud
again called his learned brother to order.
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury," almost screamed the
Counsel for the Crown, " I submit it to you whether I am out
of order in making a statement which, however much I may
regret to be obliged to mcike it, is yet essential to the full un-
derstanding of this case. The prisoner at the bar is the son of
a lovely and ill-starred lady. Miss Clarissa Croft, daughter of
Mr. Croft, attorney-at-law, and agent of the late and of the pre-
sent Right Honourable Earl of Rockalpine. An impenetrable
mystery surrounds this unhappy liaison ; and the name of the
prisonei's father has, though frequently whispered over tea-
tables, ne' or been clearly pronounced or positively ascertained.
Suffice it to say that Mr. Croft, the prisoner's grandfather— a
very worthy man, and who would have been subpoenaed here
to-day as a witness, but that he has most mysteriously disap-
peared, and can nowhere be found— adopted, educated, and sup-
ported the prisoner at the bar as if he had been his own legiti-
mate child. Having contracted a second marriage, and his
daughter, the ill-fated Clarissa Croft, mother of the prisoner,
having died in a madhouse— mark that, gentlemen of the Jury
—having died in a madhouse " (here there was a great etir m
the Court)—" the prisoner was brought up with Mr. Croft s
youncr family by his second wife. A story of a private mar-
riage of Clarissa Croft with a Mr. Bertram, was, I fear I must
eay it, invented by old Croft, to shield his daughter's memcy,
and to give some respectability to his grandson's position; aiid
.■% ° jn .1 -- , Ji'„^l^-->v" '^fVf" rift ir>forl fat* m^irA
aci tne grandiatuur- u,!^ giaxiuiaLiicro oiici. «.o .„.!.,— ..- -
blindly on his grandchild than on his children, nothing was
thought too good for young Bertram, as it was agreed to call
him. At an early age he was sent to Eton, and thence, at the
usual time, to Oxford. At both Eton and Oxford he was intj^
2G1
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
h
f
mate with the young, noble, amiable, and generous Lord Pon-
tecraft (since the Marquis of Dunstanburgh), the beau-ideal of
an iLnghsh nobleman; a being in the first warm flush and
Bunny prime of youth, uniting in his own most noble person
the chivalry of a Norman knight, and the virtues of a Christian
gentleman. This young nobleman, both at Eton and Oxford,
took the young Pariah by the hand, fought his battles, and
secured tor him a footing which nothing but such generous
patronage could have secured, in such an exclusive society, to
the Illegitimate grandson of an attorney. It was a noble, a
sublime friendship, on the part of the young Marquis ; and I
must, I will hope that until Love, with his prime minister,
Jealousy, broke up this friendship-as Love always does, when
two triends carry their sympathy so far as to adore and covet
the same inexpressive she'— I will hope and beheve that, be-
lore that master-spirit came, the prisoner was grateful, was
attached to the most noble deceased.
" I do not wish to harrow up your feelings, gentlemen of the
Jury, nor yet to wound the pride and delicacy of a patrician
lamily the head of which boasts a name Eeligion loves, and
Morality re veres~-I mean the honoured name of the great
moral reformer, the Earl of Rockalpine "-(great applauSe in
the Oourt)— 1 do not wish to wound the feelings of that noble-
man and his family-God forbid ;-but in the careful unravel-
img ot this web of crime I am obliged to reveal. the fact that
a daughter of that noble house had been placed, in her sickly
infancy, as a boarder at Mrs. Croft's, and had grown up from
.hat sickly, and, indeed, crippled infancy, among the Croft
children, and the rocks and moors of Rockalpine, and had ex-
panded into health, bloom, and beauty worthy of Hebe herself,
pomesticated with the Croft children, she was also domesti-
cated with Arthur Bertram, and a strong attachment between
these young people was the result of this unfortunate intimacy.
On the young lady s side it was a sister's tender and true affec-
?^^ ^^ the passionate heart of man— the heart of the prisoner
at the bar-It was Love .'—first, wild, jealous, adoring, exacting
Love! Remember, my Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury, that
the prisoner at the bar is what in some countries is called a
li^r* M 1 K Passion was his only heritage-the passion, law-
less wid, absorbing of Abelard for Eloisa-of Claude Melnotte
lor rauhne. The prisoner was obliged to content himself with
the young girl s gentle and sisterly affection, although you may
tir^ •''^A-^^^a.-^,".^^'^.*^^^^ ^^^ rose-leaves, as Passion
(._ ^.. Ot ill Kc Lii-cu t(j uu cuxiLoni}, uncii a rival came
upon the scene ; that rival was his old college-friend— his bov-
patron and protector at Etou-the young, brilliant, generous
Marqms of l)unstanburgh. The noble parents of the yoiZ
lady approved of and encouraged the Marquis's suit. The
1
Lord Pon-
leau -ideal of
a flush and
oble person
a Christian
md Oxford,
battles, and
;h generous
3 society, to
1 a noble, a
^uis; and I
le minister,
does, when
5 and covet
ve that, be-
'ateful, was
men of the
a patrician
. loves, and
■ the great
ipplauso in
that noble-
ul unravel-
tie fact that
her sickly
n up from
the Croft
id had ex-
ibe herself,
io domesti-
it between
3 intimacy,
true affec-
le prisoner
g, exacting
Jury, that
is called a
ssion, law-
3 Melnotte
nself with
h you may
as Passion
rival came
—his boy-
, generous
he young
Juit. The
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
265
I
young lady herself could not be blind to so much that was good
and great in a form made to captivate, combined with manners
that could not fail to win woman's favour. Here, too, were high
rank, ancient birth, boundless wealth, approval of parents, the
world's applause. No wonder the young Marquis found favour
in the lady's eyes ; no wonder the spirit of Cain, the craft of
lago, and the jealousy of Othello entered the breast of the ador-
ing but despised bastard. 'Who loves raves— 'tis youth's fever,'
says the great poet Byron. Love and jealousy combined will turn
any brain— they must have turned that of the prisoner at the
bar ; for I am prepared to prove that, the night before the mur-
der on Dunstanburgh Flats, a fruitless attempt was made by
supposed highwaymen on the Marquis, as he drove home at
night from Bessborough Castle through the Black "Wood, on
his way to Dunstanburgh Abbey. I will presently call wit-
nesses to prove that a hat with a black crape band attached to
it, a blood-stained shirt and overcoat, and other articles, were
found concealed in the loft in the summer-house near the scene
of the murder, and that all these blood-stained articles belonged
to the prisoner at the bar, and have been identified as his by
many witnesses. I will prove to you, also, my Lord, and gen-
tlemen of the Jury, that a violent and personal conflict had oc-
curred between the prisoner at the bar and the most noble
deceased Marquis, a little while before the murder; that the
latter challenged the former to fight a duel with him on Dun-
stanburgh Flats ; that the prisoner at the bar went to the ap-
pointed spot without pistols or second— mark that, my Lord, and
gentlemen of the Jury — without pistol or second ; and I can
prove, by the evidence of a most reluctant but most credible and
highly respectable witness, Mr. Eoger Croft, junior, who was
to have been the ^oung Marquis's second on the occasion, that
he left his lordship on his way to the Flats, in order to desire a
surgeon to be in attendance m case of need ; that he left the
young Marquis of Dunstanburgh in high health, buoyant spi-
rits, and full confidence that the lady of his love returned his
aSection ; and that when, at the end of about twenty minutes,
he, Mr. Eoger Croft, returned to the spot, he found Lord Dun-
stanburgh lying on his face in a sort of fissure between the flat
rocks — the back of his head battei-ed in, smashed, pounded as
it were -a pool of blood surrounding the face and head of the
deceased, a loadod bludgeon, covered with blood and hair, lying
on a flat at a Httle distance, and no one near save the prisoner
at the bar.
'' My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jurj^, 1 know you must feel
with me, that if ever a murderer was fairly and justly convict'^d
on circumstantial evidence, the prisoner at the bar must be that
man. How seldom is it that the blackest crimes are not done
in the dark, or in those loue and secret places where no eye can
i^^
Ik
266
, Guilty, or Not Quilty.
see the deadly blow given, no ear detect the curse of the mur-
derer, the cry for help of the attacked, the dying groan of the
murdered ! For one murderer convicted on the oath of an eye-
witness, thousands have been proved guilty on circumstantial
evidence alone. Crime, defiant and fearless, still stalks abroad
at noon-day, infesting our streets, blanching the cheeks of our
women and children with terror, and firing the hearts of man-
hood with the thirst for vengeance; but, if we are a crime-ridden
people now, what should we be if Murder — Murder, that loves
night, darkness, secrecy, and lonely places, and seldom shows
his horrent head and blood-stained hand in the light of day, or
the open haunts of man — what should we be, I say, if all who
have not been seen to do the bloody deed are to be let loose
upon society, and circumstantial evidence, however convincing
and irresistible, is driven from our Courts ? I know that the
unhappy young lady, whose name has been mixed up with this
tale of blood and crime, and whose reason, it is much to be
feared, has been impaired by the horrors she has witnessed, is
said to have deposed that, on her way to prevent the duel, of
which she had overheard some inklings, she met with two
gipsy -lads, crab-hunting among the rocks, who told her they
had just witnessed a bloody murder, and warned her not to go
to the Flats. This was solemnly deposed to by the Lady Editli
Lorraine at the inquest on the late Marquis's body ; but as the
unfortunate young lady's manner was very wild and excited,
and all search for the gipsy-lads had proved vain, it was sup-
posed that they existed only in the excited fancy or the hapless
lady, and the coroner's inquest very wisely resulted in a ver-
dict of Wilful Murder against the prisoner at the bar.
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury," added the Counsel
for the Crown, " if no one can think without emotion of a
young man so gifted in mind, so polished in manners, so win-
ning m appearance as Arthur Bertram, the prisoner at the bar,
suddenly sent out of this fair world, and launched upon that
d«rk ocean, without, as his deeds lead us to fear, the pole-star
of Faith to guide bis soul to the throne of grace, can any
present think with indifference of the sudden and bloody close
of the virtuous, blamel#^«s, and Christian life of the young and
most nobk Marquis of Dunstanburgh ? How fair for him was
the world from which the treacherous blow of the assassin
severed hxit, ! — that assasBin rxmnd to liim by all the ties of
gratitude--if gratitude could dwell in Cke breast of treachery,
jealousy, and ruffianism . Love — firat kw«, happy love — warmed
J.1,. „_1_1_ 1- ----J. ---.^^ .-.-.1-^ -— Jiii-J-l-. /*»- ;~— -- -i-.i-. Jfj-.--'-.- If- r
charity, was tliat hand, now stiff for ever ! If you have teai's,
lot them flow for a legitimate object — a Hiost noble victim ;
make not a hero of an assassin, when a grwi,t and good man
has been cut off by that assassin's toeaci^erous and dar ' ardly
J
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
267
of the mur-
Toan of the
h of an eye-
cumstaxitial
;alk8 abroad
leeks of our
,rts of man-
rime-ridden
r, that loves
Idotn shows
it of day, or
r, if all who
be let loose
convincing
3w that the
ip with this
much to be
witnessed, is
the duel, of
)t with two
Id her they
er not to go
Lady Edith
; but as the
and excited,
, it was sup-
the hapless
id in a ver-
ar.
the Counsel
notion of a
lers, so win-
sr at the bar,
1 upon that
he pole-star
Lce, can any
bloody close
e young and
for him was
the assassin
the ties of
f treachery,
ve — warmed
— J. li.: —
have tears,
able victim ;
d good man
id dat'ardly
blow — the blow all Englishmen loathe and despise — the blow
of one who feared to meet his victim face to face, but stole
behind him, and killed his unguarded, unsuspecting benefactor,
as ' butcher felleth ox.'
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury, I will presently call
the witnesses for the prosecution, and my learned brother,
Sergeant Darkside, will examine them. When you have heard
the evidence, no doubt will remain on your enlightened, manly,
and upright minds, gentlemen of the Jury ; and to you I now
leave a cause which is the cause of every Englishman, whether
he dwell in castle or cottage, hall or hovel ! May God enlighten
yt. ir minds to see the truth, and strengthen your hearts and
hands to do what is just ; so that your verdict may be received
with the applause of all just and honest men, not merely
throughout the length and breadth of the land, but wherever
among all the nations of the world this ghastly and most bloody
murder has been discussed; with white lips and burning hearts !"
The Counsel for the Crown sank exhausted on his seat, and
Sergeant Darkside, Q.C., proceeded to the examination of the
witnesses for the prosecution.
While the witnesses were called, and during the bustlo that
always attends their appearance in the witness-box, a murmur
ran through the Court that the Lady Edith Lorraine had
arrived, resolved to give her evidence. This was, in fact, the
case ; but how it got wind no one knew.
Yes ; the devoted girl, thijkly veiled and closely shrouded,
was there, haying travelled all night to be present ; and having
the very evening before, while wandering in the woods of Rock-
alpine, been suddenly accosted by her detested adorer, Roger
Croft, who, fearing she might appear at the trial, as she had
done at the inquest, was there with a carriage ready to carry
her to a place of confinement ; thus, having compromised her fair
fame, hoping to compel her to accept his base hand. Luckily,
Edith had concocted her plans, and confided them to Rough
Rob and his party.
They, fearing some foul play- for Roger was better known
than he was aware of— were Oi tl o vatch, masked like high-
waymen ; and when they hear.i tho Lady Edith's shrieks, they
rushed forth, carried her oflTii saiipty to the very carriage her
odious lover had procured for L.'b own objects, and drove her at
once to the station, securin^ij him until she was off by the express,
when they released him, end let him do what he chose with his
vile self.
Although the announcement of the Lady Edith's arrival had
passed like electricity through the crowd, no one had as yet
seen her, nor did she appear in Court till the witnesses for the
defence were cfilled.
2G8
Guilty, or Not Guilty.
u
mi
hi
CHAPTER LXIY.
The first witness for the prosecution who was called by the
Counsel for the Crown was Roger Croft. Now, Roger Croft,
after his rash, desperate, and futile attempt to carry off Edith
Lorraine, had remained for about two hours, bound and guarded
by Rou^h Rob and his friends in the depths of the Black Wood.
They offored him no insult, they did him no injury ; but they
kept him a close prisoner until they felt sure that the Lady
Edith was off by the express to London ; and they knew that
tiiere was no other train by which Roger Croft could follow,
save and except a very slow one, that loft Rockalpine at nine
o'clock at night, and did not reach London till the following
morning. By this train, then, Roger Croft, who was subpoenaed,
and compelled to appear at the Central Criminal Court, set off
for London.
He looked, as he stood in the witness-box, not only very
malicious and very mean, but very haggard, anxious, and
brutally stupid. He had not had time to shave, or do more
than hurry on his clothes, including the green "Croft," and
the superfine Prince of Wales hat. His eyes were red and
heavy from want of sleep, and the impression he made on
all present was as unfavourable as that made by Arthur Bertram
had been the reverse. A shudder passed through the frames
of the most impressionable among the audience, when, from
under his red, swollen eyelids, and white eyelashes, Roger
Croft stole a glance of unmistakeable and mostmaHcious hatred
at the prisoner in the dock, who met that furtive, snake-like
glance with a calm, prdud gaze, folding his arms across his
breast the while, and compelling Roger's weak, prominent, pale-
blue eyes to droop beneath the clear, searching, indignant, and
fixed gaze of Arthur Bertram's dark, soul-beaming eyes.
" Are you related to the prisoner at the bar ? "asked'Mr. Dark-
sidC' Q.[l> with a very insinuating smile, addressing Roger Croft.
" Indeed ! I thought he was described as your father's grand-
son P" ^
" He is so described, and has been so considered ; but as he
was the < UegUimate son of a half-sister of mine, who was old
enough to be my mother, I never acknowledged him as a re-
lative ; for I have always understood that bastards, by the law
of tiie land, have no relations."
" Certainly ; no one can dispute that proposition. Are you
_T — _ .. 5... ..US- --. -.-iig -itcrii-^xny DecvVcexi i,iiv uucuascu
Marquia and the pi-isoner at the bar F "
'' Yes."
" What wab the cause of that evil feeUng, and when did it first
begin ? "'
Jailed by the
Roger Croft,
rry off Edith
and guarded
Black Wood.
ry ; but they
at the Lady
;y knew that
could follow,
[pine at nine
he following
subpoenaed,
yourt, Bet off
)t only very
nxious, and
or do more
Croft," and
ere red and
18 made on
aur Bertram
. the frames
when, from
;hefl, Eoger
cious hatred
!, snake-like
i across his
linent, pale-
ignant, and
eyes.
d"Mr. Dark-
ioger Croft.
ber's grand-
; but as he
'ho was old
ira as a re-
by the law
I. Are you
he doccciacd
I did it first
Gmlfy, or Not Chiilty.
269
" My late most noble and most beloved friend the Marquis of
Dunstanburgh " (here Roger Croft hid his face in his handker-
chief) " had for some time been attached to a young lady brought
up by mv mother. He had not proposed to the young lady her-
self, but he had expressed his intention of doing so to her mother,
a lady of high rank, who encouraged his suit. Under these
circumstances, my most noble friend was startled one day, on
going accidentally into Messrs. Hunt and Rcskell's, to see in the
hand of the prisoner at the bar a locket, containing a miniature
and a lock of hair, which at a glance he recognised as the por-
trait and hair of the object of his own suit."
" Did any conflict take place in consequence ?" asked Serjeant
Darkside.
" None. The Marquis, who had not been seen by the prisoner
at all, passed on to the other end of the shop ; and shortly after
the prisoner at the bar left the shop."
" How do you happen to know the particulars to which you
allude ? " said Serjeant Darkside,
" I had them," said Roger Croft, " from my deceased friend."
" When did the conflict of which my learned brother spoke
take place P "
" A few days later. My most noble and lamented friend,
passing through the Black Wood — a part of the Rockalpine
property — came suddenly on the prisoner at the bar, who was
sitting on a high bank, with the locket I have alluded to in his
hand. My noble friend, who had been accepted in the mean-
time by the young lady's mother as a suitor for her daughter,
tried to possess himself of a treasure which he thought and f eh
— as we all should, I think, my Lord Judge, and gentlemen of
the Jury, in similar circumstances — that no man had a right
to possess save himself, seeing thai he looked upon the lady in
question as his future wife. The prisoner at the bar, who from
His boyhood had been a very pugnacious bully, refused to give
up the prize. A struggle ensued. My most noble and beloved
friend, whose blood was up. called the ^prisoner at the bar an
insolent bastard for presuming to raise his ejes to the lady in
question, and threatened, if he refused him the satisfaction of a
gentleman, to horsewhip him wherever he met him. A meet-
ing was subsequently consented to by the prisoner at the bar ;
the place fixed upon was Dunstanburgh Flats, the weapons
were to be pistols, and I was to be my friend's second."
Cross-examined by Mr. St. Ormond :
" Had the Marquis been accepted or encouraged by the young
lady herself? "
that any young lady could be indifferent to the attachment of
such a man as the Marquis of Dunstanburgh."
"A prior attachment would render such indifference very
i
't 'i I
11/!
y-
270
Guilty, or Not Ouilty.
probable. Have you any reason to believe that the young lad v
gave the locket m question to the prisoner at the bar P "
It she did, It must havo been as a token of sisterly regard
not aa a pledge of any warmer feeling," saidEoger Croftf grovinff
hvid with the consciousness of the lies he was telling, Say. the
perjurjp- he was committing. ^ ^'
"This youn^ lady, then, who had known the prisoner at the
bar trom her infancy, had a warm, sisterly regard for him—
that 18 something m his favour ? " ^ o
JIp^^ * ^!'^ ;Ould bamboozle her or any one else; but he's a
wolf m sheep's clothing."
" Ah ! the wolf did not wear the sheep's clothing at home
vou may be sure. A man who is loved in his home is sure to
be a sterling character. No one wears a mask at home." (Ad-
plause in the Court.) ^ ^
Here the Counsel for the Crown remarked that all this was
irrelevant; that his learned brother was wasting the tiir - of his
Lordship, of the enlightened Jury, and of the whole Court.
Koger Croft then went through all the details, with which
the reader is famihar, connected with the intended duel; the
reluctance of the prisoner at the bar to fight his most noble
triend; the subsequent arrangement for a duel with pistols on
Dunstanburgh Flats; his leaving the young Marquis to secure
the attendance of a surgeon; and his finding his beloved, la-
mented. and most noble friend, half an hour later, lying in a
pool of blood on hi-^ face m a fissure of the rocks-a loadelbtick
or bludgeon close by, clotted with blood and hair, and no one
to be seen on that lone and dreary spot but the prisoner at the
bar, who pretended to be coming towards the spot. On exam-
ming the bludgeon, it proved to be one belonging to Arthur
^ertram-the witness remembered his bringing, it for protection
durmg a walking tour. ^ ^ uto^uiuxi
Roger Croft here sat down, covered his face with his hand-
kerchief, and appeared lost in grief for his most noble friend.
Ihe surgeon, Mr. Poke, who had made the post-mortem ex-
amination was then called. He deposed that the most noble
deceased died from the effects of several most violent, savage,
and brutal blows with a bludgeon at the back of his head
By ajuror:" Did these blows correspond with the bludgeon?"
(Here the bludgeon was produced and handed to the judge
and jury. The initials "A. B." were carved on the wool.)
Ihey corresponded exactly. '
By another juror: "Is it possible the deceased could have
mflicted those blows on himself p "
Mr. Poke: " Tf, is iTm-»r»aQ;Kl/i V./» ««,,1^ 1 J .,
must have been dealt from behind." ^
The Counsel for the Crown here observed that he did not in-
tend to caU any more witnesses. The case lay in a nut-sheU •
Ouiltj/, or Not ^.:itu.
271
3 young lady
mrP"
terly regard,
rofib, grov'ing
ing, nay, the
isoner at the
d for him —
; but he's a ^
ag at home,
tie is sure to
ome." (Ap-
all this was
3 tiir ' of his
3 Court,
with which
d duel; the
most noble
h pistols on
lis to secure
beloved, la-
, lying in a
loadedbtick
and no one
ioner at the
On exam-
1 to Arthur
r protection
h his hand-
tie friend.
■mortein ex-
most noble
3nt, savage,
head.
bludgeon?"
> the judge
the wood.)
could have
© so J they
did not in-
k nut-shell ;
and he should now await, as soon as the Defence had been heard
with confidence the charge of his Lordship, and the verdfct of
^et:^^^^^^^^^ et4%?wrsTri*
every neck was stretched, every ear was attent ^^^^a^^ed.
^i^t^ Z^^ u ^ 7'''''^ ^^^ low, and betrayed some internal agita-
tion; his cheek was very pale, and a tremor ran through hi^
frame; but after the few first words his voice became clear
loud, sonorous, steady; his manner firm and composed and a
glow was suffused over the pallor of his fine face
" My Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury," he said, " I have re-
solved to address you myself, because I alone, in this Court
hnow that I am innocent. I might have amled myself of the
nSSr"" f ««"^%«f ^»^« greatest orators, and of the special
pleading of some of the greatest ornaments of the profession
to persuade you not to find me Guilty; but strong in the con-
sciousness of an innocence as spotless (with regard to this foul
**ie Ju/y, I disdain all the powers of oratory, all the science
and chicanery of law ; I believe in the irresi;tible powLrof
1 RUTH, and I pray God to enable me to state that truth, sTthat
iirSlT''^ T'^'^'^A^'Jl ^? *^? ^""^^ «f *^°«^ «^ ^hose verdict
mj life depends and that which I value far more than life~mv
fair fame and the esteem of all good people in general, and of
one angeho being in particular. ^ '
" The Counsel for the Crown and one of the witnesses for the
prosecution Eoger Croft, have attempted to prejudice your
n^ !: ^^, I\^A^ gentlemen of the Jury, by asserting tWt
1 am a bastard ; I deny that such is the case. 1 have the word
—nay. the solemn assurance, of my grandfather, that I ^ae
bom in wedlock; and he has often told me that, althoueh a
mystery surrounds my birth, yet that it was in his power, ard
that It would oe his duty, at a certain time not far distant, to
raise the veil that has been dropped over my father's nai^e:
ana that when that veil is raised, and justice done, I shall find
myself not only the lawful son of a man of honour, but entitled
to a name I shall be proud to bear. The unaccountable absence
o my grandfather, who has been for some time 'missing'
alone prevents my proving this point ; and I only allude to it
because the Counsel for the Crown, and one of the witnesses
tor file prosecution, have tried so hard to make what ^^ev call
m^ 'Utegihmacy a weapon against me. It was with ir^rttprahlp
remccance, a-uu wilu deep regret, that I heard the ne-ie I most
revere and love upon earth dragged by the witness Roger
Croft into this investigation ; but as this has been done I
liAVO no alternative but to disprove many of the false state
I
272 Guilty, or Not Omlty.
ments connected with that honoured lady, and with her roTcred
Tnd beloved name. Of the midnight attack on the lato Marquis
of Dunstanbur-h in the Black Wood at Rockalpinc, 1 so help
mo Heaven! know nothing but by report. How my hat. my
coat, or any other articles of apparel belonging to me came to
be Btained iith blood, and secreted m the lo over the summer,
house at the end of Rockalpine Park as the Counse for the
prosecution has told us they vv'ere, I know no more than you
So, gentlemen of the Jury ! I can only believe that the real
cu prit is some miscreant who had acce -s to my room at Croft
Villa, and that his object was less to Y^«.^^^7^ t^«,^™''of
Dunstanburgh, in thnl midnight attack m the Bl^ick Wood,
than to ruin me ; not I .ut what his Satanic plan may have in
eluded both the objects which he has at length i riumphantly
carried out. That after a frank and iVieodly understanding and
intimacy of many years, and after repeated proofs from the
late lamented Mlirquis of Dunstanburgh that he held .ne in
hicrh esteem, some modem lago, whose name I may most un-
willingly whisper to my v'f, but will not, m this early stage of
the proceedings agaiK.:!. ..e, proclaim m this Court, may have
filled his noble hear) vfiib jealousy, hatred, aiid rage against
me, I cannot a,ttemnc to deny or to disprove. I would wish to
say as little as possible ..1 out the cause ot that sudden jealousy,
ra^e, and hatred ; not on my own account, but because the deli-
cate sensibilities of one whose peace and happiness are far
dearer to me than my own are concerned. I have besides,
little to object to the account the witness Roger Croft has given
of mv quarrel and personal conflict with the Marquis of Dun-
stanburgh; but allow me with all deference to ask, what ma i
is there here present who would suffer what he valued most on
earth to be wrested from him, even by a Prince of the blood
roval— nav, by a Monarch himself— however humble a member
he may be of what the eloquent Counsel for the Prosecution
has called ' the great family of Man ?' The locket the deceased
so coveted was mine— mine by every law, human and Divine.
The Marquis demanded it of me in language the most insulting,
and tried to possess himself of it by force. I defended my
nrize ; I defended myself. I hurled him from the ba,nk on which
we stood, and he fell from that height into the road. He chal-
lenged me ; he called me by every name which he thought would
molt debase and outrage me; he threatened to horsewhip me
whenever he met me, unless I accepted his challenge. I agreed
to meet him, my Lord, and gentlemen of the Jury; but as my
Tirincinles are strongly opposed to deliberate murder under the
name of duelhng, I resolved not to fight the Marqms uj UMiszan-
hurqh, but to go alone tc the place of meeting, to try to con-
vince him that he wronged me. He had a noble and a gentle
spirit and,left to himself and to the promptings of his own heart,
1 her revered
lato Mtmiiiis
nv, 1, sn help
my hat, my
me came to
the summer-
unsel for the
lore than you
that the real
:'oom at Croft
le Marquis of
Black Wood,
may have in
triumphantly
[•standing and
^oTh from the
le held me in
nmy most un-
early stage of
urt, may have
L rage against
would wish to
dden jealousy,
cause the deli-
piness arc far
have, besides,
Jroft has given
arquis of Dun-
ask, what ma i
i^alued most on.
ze of the blood
nble a member
be Prosecution
et the deceased
lan and Divine,
most insulting,
1 defended my
5 bank on which
•oad. He chal-
3 thought would
horsewhip me
enge. I agreed
i'ury ; but as my
urder under the
mis of iJvj'iisiobn-
», to try to con-
ble and a gentle
of his own heart,
QidUy, or Kot Guilty,
Jife ^ ^° Jr"""^'^ ^'^''^ h^MevvA me; but had T found it i
•ible to soften or convinrfi him T »««..„. ... ,.__ " \^P *
278
t'lpoa-
m\\.\I \ —"""■■* ""-vu oeiievoa me; but had I found it i».
•ut I
Lord. I WiuTtad up woVrou fH „„',"„r '" '■r. * ^
without auy weapon at all, and witl„:;,t a »eS wf f^
there, I fanciod \ was fi.-st on the Ei-ouml "or I ron, ^
proa,;h,ng . ex'minrit^ rrecoRlSlttith ■/ """' ™ ^^
and accused me as the murdeier of fhl V?.?? • ^*'^/?f^l «Pot,
lad,, who were crSiuntingflS" l""rockwh^^^ S'P?^
a state of pat agitation aSdalarS andThaVthey wa^Id'anS
entreated her not to d-o in fli,» T<^i„L i:i i-^ wcunea ana
Ihe mquest was adjourned, my Lord and ffentL men of th^
lad? 'a f ^"' '° ^'^% '^' ^^' '^^ productk)f of ese IsY-
lads. A large reward was offered, but in vam-ji-v w-^^?^?
search, they were supposed by many, who did not know af?
do the integrity and the bright intiihgence of the ^^un^ and
noble lady m question, to exist only in £r imagination ^
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274 Guilti/i or Not Guilty.
" The inquest was, therefore, resumed without their havinc
been discovered, and a verdict of Wilful Murder was returned
airainst me / A warrant was then obtained, 'vnd I was impn-
Boned nearly ton weeks in M gaol; but, even m that
wretched prison, Faith and Hope never deserted mo ! Kind
friends— friends warm of heart, wise of head, powerful, wealthy
—believed mo what, so help me Heaven, I ani—lNNOCENT ! Yos,
by my immortal soul, and all my hones for its salvation, even
if my body perish on a scaffold, sacrificed to delusive evidence
and a false oath— I am innocent! I have no doubt that the
same cruel and remorseless wretch who planned the midnij^ht
attack on the late Marquis, in the Blaok Wood of Rockalpme,
and craftily contrived to throw suspicion on me, planned this
foul murder on Dunstanburgh Flats, knowing thnt I should
be there, and must be suspected.
" My great, good, and wise friends saw how much depended
on the evidence of these gipsy-lads, and with the aid, the in-
valuable aid of Detective Meadows, they set to work ; they left no
effort unmade— they spared neither time, nor money, nor trouble,
nor energy ; by n'ght and by day they have toiled for me; and
the result is, that those hoys have been found— that they are reap
to give evidence that they were eye-witnosses of this ghastly
murder; and, that as I have never seen them, nor they me, it
will he satisfactory to all parties that they should he examirwd
as witnesses, sworn, and asked to point out, in thin <yrowded
Court, the man in whose hand they saw the bludgeon— the man
whom they beheld, from their hiding-place, doing this bloody and
most brutal murder !" , , -,, i j • j *
Here Roger Croft started, turned deadl:^' pale, and cried out,
"No, no! I object; they are suborned! "
As he spoke, his glaring eyes fell on the brown, intelligent
faces of the two gipsy-lads, who were brought in at this
moment. He gasped, he stuttered, he tried to speak, but voice
failed him, and he fell back insensible.
? I
CHAPTER LXV.
" The injurcr'8 face grew pale.
Pale writhe the lips, the murmurs full.
And thrico he «uove to BPC-^k^-^^'BCLWEa Lttton.
RoGEU Cropt's sudden indisposition excited considerable emo-
tion in the Court; all eyes were turned from Arthur Bertram,
and fixed with suspicion and disgust on Roger Crott— who,
hue, his lips white, and his prominent hght eyes blood-shot,
cocked his glossy Prince of Wales hat on one side, and pro-
ceeded to settle bis collar, square his elbows, take several
b their havinc
r was returned
I I was impri-
evon in that
5d me ! Kind
verful, wealthy
nnocent! Yes,
salvation, even
lusivo evidence
doubt that the
i the midnight
of Rockalpine,
e, planned this
; tnat I should
nuch depended
he aid, the in-
rk ; they left no
lev, nor trouble,
ed for me ; and
t they are ready
rf this ghastly
nor they me, it
Id he examined
n thin crowded
igeon — the man
this bloody and
), and cried out,
own, intelligent
ght in at this
speak, but voice
Ouiltjf, or Not Ouilty.
LWER LTTTON.
nsiderable erao-
Lrthur Bertram,
;cr Croft — who,
;i was of a lc;aden
eyes blood-shot,
side, and pro-
rs, take several
276
m conclusion. •• I Lve now sa d a?! T 7' .^ Arthur Bertram,
strong faith, a lively hoD^nTdnfi ^""^ ^^ ^^^'^ '*"^ I ^eel a
neasef for the dSeTboui to h^"" ''''''V^^T ^^^ ^^le wit-
and excellent friend? b;nef^toran/n''''''"''"^^r^y '"y '^'^^"ed
wiU establish to the satTsfSn of 1 "'^S ^r ^t- Ormond,
statement 'I am no orator "as Bru^tri""t T ^-^h o^ W
learned and experienced Counsel for t hi" r ^"^ "''*^' ''^° ^*>«
you, my Lord /udge.on youv^^LlZ'. ^i'""-'^'''. ^^"^Pli'nent
fe .ntlemen of the JurV!o/Z/unr^Sl'^" T^ ^^'^^ 5 ^or you,
but I thank you for^ho naUe"^ n^S . ^^
have heard ie out I fetieTe Zf ^'^.''"t '^ - "^ ""^^"^ ^""^
England has not reached that hi. h. J Lord Chief Justice of
ties that make a great iud^e a In. if "^"^ "^^^^^^^^ ^^° q^ali-
gentleman; and I bcllve thl-f „ t "^ ^''7^^^' '^"^ * Christian
ontly intelligent, ro^^t^l^fj '^^^^^ -?-"
will not sufl'or themaelves to hn Inf f^I^ i u ^« »n»pa"ellcd here
facts of this case-tha? they wll s^frS .r^ ""^r*""^. ^"^ "^«
a verdict in accordance with fin n, i thoroughly, and return
boi.h sides. On that evidence T^-^^^
been stated by the witnels C.r r-r?:;^ ^ ^ T'^- ^^""^ ^^
a confirmation of the fiLt that tin m' ^"'^""^.^^o nothing but
was found murdered o^Dnnln f T'^ ""^ Dunstanburgh
close at hand wh^n his°crfer"/^tlrt;^n:dl^ ^r^ ' JT
brought two coast-ffuardsmon n„r„ 1- "^ ^^°"*« ^^^ belp
landed from a smalf ^^0 hTspot^Irr^^'.^^^ ^^ j"«^
and gentlemen of the Jui^v thaf Xn T ^ f''^^'"' "^^ ^""^^
corpse of the young MaZlifn,^? \ ''^T *^°^^^^^ P^«<^«. tbe
man. he Uft Bunsio.nburXMZ wtZ^'^n'''' "^ ^'""^^
panion when he set out for the Plats PThri-r"^ ^''t,^^™'
Croft. That witness stafo*, t W if i / , ^^° witness, Roger
would be very derail thlVastg^^^^^^^^^ /l'^ '''^' ''
in case of need, and that, leavh^f ?he Maio.W.? ^!l? ^'^""^
the place appointed hn tnmo^ ^ i -"^arquis on the way to
house; butTat uotfindtrMr'^^^ *° Mr. PoL's
with the ,maid-seVv:LwK.o^^^^^^^ '«^ --d
was required on the Flats ^Tnw f K f t? ^^^^ '"^ presence
Mr. Poke's, I belicve-nav I knnw f i ^"l^^" ^''^^ ^'^ «a» at
am prepared to p^rve, m^'irJT.liLlr\!l{i"^^^
am prepared tVproie mvLordTi° li'' true ; but I think I
Arthur BortrL rWCroatZS,.';' '=J'<'^ '^^ f"-"™
T 2
270 Guilty^ or Not Ouilty.
beliovo that Bogor Croft is the murderer of the Marquis of
Dunstanburgh ! ,
" When we come to the great question of Motive, wc tind
mo'ive enough to urge to sucli a deed a remorseless man of no
principle. All his life he has hatc^' me, with a hatred that has
grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength.
Ho too, was 5?n aspirant for the hand of the young ladjj^ whose
name has been already mentioned here. He was my rival, he
was the Marquis's rival; but more esnecially was he my rival,
because he know that the Marquis had not found any favour in
her eyes. Ho knew that, although it suited the deep and des-
viiu lady's noble parents might advocate the Marquis-
young lady would never give her hand where she could not
give her heart, and that that heart was alrefidj' bestowed by her
6n another." (Great excitement.) "I believe, so help me
Heaven ! that Eoger Croft did all in his power to exasperate
the Marquis against me, and to urge him to insult and to chal-
lenge me. His object I beUeve to have been twofold— the death
of the Marquis, and mine. I believe, and I think I can prove,
that Roger Croft was at the head of the attcu;k on the Marquis,
as he drove through the Black Wood, on his way from Bess-
borough Castl Dunstanbirgh Abbey, and that he had
dressed himsei.' jlothcs of iniuo— to which, as we are both at
Croft Villa, he had easy access— in order to throw suspicion on
me. Had the Marquis been shot, imd had I been arrested and
hanged ibr that murder, he— for he has no faith in woman's
constancy or woman's tiuih— fancied he would have ultimately
obtained the hand we all three so coveted. As that attack
failed, he planned a duel between the Marquis and myself. He
was to be second, but before it took place he had obtained a
E remise from the Marquis of a very handsome provision for
imself in either case." ^^
By a Juror : " What do you mean by * either case ?
" I mean (as the Marquis had intended it to be a duel unto
the death) in case either he or I fell. The Mar(i[uis of Dunstan-
burgh had told Roger Croft that he was resolved either to kill
me or be killed himself in the duel he meditated ; and that as, in
eit' er case his second would get into great trouble, and have to fly
the country, so, in either case, he R()ger Croft, would find an ample
provision secured to him by will." (Cirreat sensation.) " I do not ?3e-
lieve," said Arthur Bertram, "that the late Marquis's affairs have
been wound up, the will proved, or the legacies paid, as yet ;
but I do know that he has'raised large sums on these bequesLa,
and has been living in great luxury and dissipation ever since
the murder of the Marquis. My grandfather's family have been
in deep distress, and have been driven to great straits, by the
the Marquis of
Motive, wt find
jelcas man of no
hatred that has
th his strength.
)ung lady whose
vaa my rival, he
\ra3 he my rival,
nd any favour in
le deep and des-
tho late Marquis
t, however much
arquis's suit, the
•0 she could not
bestowed by her
JVC, so help me
vor to exasperate
isult and to chal-
t'olbld — the death
hink I can prove,
: on the Marquis,
5 way from Bess-
md that he had
as wc are both at
irow suspicion on
iioen arrested and
faith in woman's
d have ultimately
As that attack
1 and myself. He
le had obtained a
)me provision for
to be a duel unto
ir(|uis of Dunstan-
)lved either to kill
cd ; and that us, in
ible, and have to fly
rould find an ample
tion.) " I do not be-
.rquis's affairs have
;acies paid, as yet ;
on these buquoats,
isipation ever since
''s family have been
reat straits, by the
Qxiilty, or Not Guilty. 277
Croft has spent rscenos orwW?'''""!!"'";' *"'•' *^"^ «"^'°'-
have spent in M ~ Ta? tI HT"' T^^^''^''^ ^''« *»""' I
people that if his irricf for th.T^^ >o clear to all thinking
genuine, he would ^ assumo thr' "' ^"^ ''^^^ ^'^^'•«» were
when in the presencf of ^ Ju.Utut^^^^^^ "T "^«-l>^
njour^e^not fou.d in Cid^f:^^'^; J^^^^^^^^^^^
thfdXtn^r^^i^rafth'er^^^ *« -"
with the case in poTnt) '^' """^ "°*^^^"^' <^« ^»
Co.^orirZTJn'lt^^^ '^'^. ^''^^-. t-ning to the
It IS only by small Zj'naH -^[i'^'V ^'»" »« M^us in omni.
convictiJnTS daS "-"'^ "'^'- ^"'° ^'"" ''^ '^^
from whic'. at LtTreeoTed wTh ?'"^ '", M-— gaol, and
circumstances that have come 7o L r°'',^'i* ^^^'"^ "^^"3^
completely confirmed and wHph T ff knowledge smce, havi
prove-namely S /?. J ; . ^''''^*"' ^ «^^*" ^o able to
ma4 no ap^l extent to f hi ..r"'*""' ^I'T ^^'•^""^^tances, I
Jury, while the emhfent n«H P ^«"f «f t'^^ gentlemen of the
Not GmLTY?^virhe aoouZ'^^^''''\'i''^''^''''' «^ CTuilty or
which has beenlavisM^^^ favour and the odium
did the foul dSjd of whiolf T >,? ' V^"«f«''''ed to one who really
" Mrr j^^^^^^^ Which 1 have been so uniustlv accuspd
«, ,. S-Tit SMS ' jrb=:f.Jl,'; '•£-""-
■i M *'«»i n mm
278
Ouilty, or Not Guilty.
•I
h
CHAPTER LXVI.
•• No ceremony thnt to f^roat oner 'lonRR,
Not, th« kInti'B cn)wn, nor tin; di'piiU*! Hword,
Tho MnrchnlH tninchoon, nor tlio Jii(1k<'*» «>*»,
nocomo thoin with ono-half so good a grace
Ah moro.y iloos." 8HAKR8PHABII.
" I noFB your futhor will disinherit that wilful fool of an Edith,"
gaid Lady Rockalpino to tho Lady Ida, when Edith was led in
as a witness for tho defence. " Oh, I shall faint, I know I shall,
to think of a daughter of n>ine coming into a court of justice
to bo a witness for a murderer ! "
•• Oh, he's no mtirdorer, mamma; I'm convinced he's inno-
cent, and that the verdict will bo Not Guilty. That wretch,
Roger Croft, who leads dearest Hautevillo into bo much mis-
chief— ho it is who ha^i done this vile deed. I see it all."
" Nonsense ! Roger Croft is a very sensible, agreeable person,
and a man of good manners and good taste. I'll never rest till
I got that insane creature, Edith, shut up in a private lunatic
asylum, for her wilful folly in coming here to > lay to disgrace
herself in an open Court by parading her degrading affection for
that young base-born ruffian. 1 11 give hor one chance ; the
Duke of Durham is so much in love with her, he is willing to
marry hor at once ; if she accepts him — and I cannot think she
will dare to refuse— all will be well ; if not, as sure as we're sit-
ting hero, I'll have her shut up 1 "
" Oh, but the Duke of Durham, mamma, is such an odious
creature ! I remember hearing Augusta say that when she was
8 resented ho made up to her, and she hated him. He was the
[arquis of Malpliupict then, with, as she said, a hollow roof,
and hollow heart, red hair, and red eyes. Oh ! Edith will never
look at him."
" If she refuses Durham Castle, she will go at once to that
admirable private lunatic asylum, * The Happy Home,' " said
liady Rockalpine. " Gracious heavens ! why, she is wasted to
a shadow, white as marble ; and what horrid object is that by
her side ? She looks as if she were Mrs. Noah, come out of the
ark a widow."
The fact was. Sister Sympathy was by the side of the Lady
Edith Lorraine, who clung to her arm, and looked up into the
kind face of the Sister of Mercy for encouragement and support.
The Lady Edith Lorraine ascended the witness-box, and every
eye was fixed on the sweet pale face which was revealed when
she was ordered to raise a thick veil which had shrouded her
foaturerj. She was also desired to take off her gloves (of which
Sister Sympathy took charge), and this done, t'lie beauty of
her small, taper, snow-white hand excited universal admiration.
Fervently and reverently she kissed the Testament handed
to her for that purpose ; and with downcast eyes and an orient
eillAKRBPBARII.
3l of an Edith."
dith was led in
I know I shall,
ourt of justico
ced he's inno-
That wretch,
) 80 much mis-
30 it all."
Tcoablo person,
I never rest till
f)rivato lunatic
ay to disgrace
ng afTcction for
ne chance ; the
Ko is willing to
mnot think she
iro as we're sit-
Buch an odious
t when she was
I. He was the
a hollow roof,
Jdith will never
at once to that
y Homo,' " said
lie is wasted to
)jcct is that by
[;ome out of the
do of the Lady
kod up into the
mt ana support,
-box, and every
i revealed when
i shrouded her
jloves (of which
, the beuuLy of
'sal admiration,
tament handed
!S and an orient
Chtilty, or Not Quilty. 279
Ormom"& ^T' '^' ^^^^^^ ^« ^"^^or Mr. 8t
l^o:^iTni^fi\^J^^}^- " ' ""'^^ ^° -- -are that my
" Was Mr. Roger Croft aware of that circumstanro P "
n was.
loft of ZrmlrSao ? " ' "''°" ^^ """ '<"'«"''«<1 *" ""o
She added that Roror Croft lo J hnJl? '?^°\ " .^'^q-'-inUid.
about. carol Idly. Stnps of paper were handed
Mr. St. Ormond cor led
de;te/:„7tirp5iL, i\^c^ <•-"'"« •»"-- «■«
Bertram wa.\i» S^LTof^^ i^^^^^^^^^ ^'"ur
n,y,7 "»y/ ."nd .down," said Mr. It. ofmond
b^rSLf.tante-1 '"' "—^olas^d her hand.,
mmsmm
i80
Guilty, or Not Ouilty.
always actod like an angel should auddenly become a ruffian.
Ho is innocent as I am of thin bla(-k crime. May God send
into your hearts the convictirin that dwells here ! "
At those words Edith's voice failed her, and she sank back
fainting. Sho was carried out of Court, attended by Sister
Sympathy.
Mr. St. Ormond then called the gipsy-boys. Tliey were
examined anart, and separately and sevcrelv cross-examined at
{freat length by Mr. Darksido, Q.O. But they were not in the
east puzzled or bamboozled; they persisted in their first plain
statement. Eat^h gave his evidence clearly, and with great
intelligence. On being severally asked to point out the mur^
derer, they, after looking around them for some time, fixed on
Eoger Croft, although ho tried all he could, by a hideous grimace,
to puzzle and bewilder them.
" Pray, my lads," said the Counsel for the Crown, " how do
you know that the gentleman in the green coat and hat is the
same you saw on the Flats ? Now, let us hear, had he on that
same coat and hat P "
*' Na, na ; he had na the same coat and hat, but he had the
same gap in his mouth, for ho grinned when he gived the blows
that killed the young Markis, as he's grinning now ; and I
whispered to Ben, as we crouched down all of a tremble ahinfc
the rocks, * Eh, but he's a ugly brute to look at, with them
broken teeth and that gap in his front gate ; ' and Ben whis-
pered, • He'll do for us, if we can't stale awa' unbeknown.' "
Nothing could shake the gipsy-lads, on their separate exami-
nation, as to the truth of this testimony ; and Roger Croft's
case began to look very l)ad, and Arthur Bertram's very bright.
The next witness called by Mr. St. Ormond was Kit Moss,
who deposed to the fact that he and others had been employed
by Roger Croft, disguised as highwaymen, to play the young
Marauis a trick, and give him a good fright, by pretending to
attack Mm in the Bhick Wood at Rockalpine ; that it turned
out a very bad joke, as one of the party of the sham highway-
men was killed ; that as he did not belong to those ])arts he
was not missed ; and as a great stir was made about it, Roger
Croft paid them handsomely to hush it all up, and keep their
own counsel ; that their dead comrade was by them buried in
the Black Wood, and that there the matter ended.
This witness was repeatedly examined and cross-examined,
but his evidence was unshaken.
Keziah Cripps, housemaid at Mr. Poke's, was next put into
the witness-box. She swore that when Mr. Roger Croft called
at her master^s, he was very white, and all of a tremble, and
that she remarked a splash of blood on his trousers. (Great
sensation.)
Betsy Blake, parlour-maid at Croft Villa, deposed that on
'ome a ruffian.
May God send
who Rank back
dod by Sister
Tliey were
as-examined at
rero not in the
heir first plain
id with great
t out the mur-
I time, fixed on
deouB grimace,
own, " how do
and hat is the
had he on that
ut he had the
fived the blows
g now ; and I
tremble ahint
at, with them
and Ben whis-
icknown.' "
enarate exami-
Roger Croft's
I's very bright.
ivas Kit Moss,
been employed
)lay the young
' pretending to
that it turned
iham highway-
those parts ne
ibout it, Roger
and keep their
hem buried in
d.
ross-examined,
next put into
er Crofb called
a tremble, and
)users. (Great
sposed that on
Ouilty, or Not Guilty. 281
two occasions she foimd Mr T?no-nr n..«<v • mr l ,
tram', bod, cm, a..l tim ' 1'' men uLd" if ''to'^r''"? ,?°"--
como from the w«"hZlI„ '•''''''/:'■ ''"' "' "'" '"'"•■" J""'
hat and ^tioriing m™ ing '^ ^ '''"""■ """^ '" "'» f""' "^ ">»
the description of Kit S,s &ow hot, T" ^"^^.^^'"g <:<>
Roger Croft here stuttered out that " T?niifr)i Pr^K" ^
escaped murderer- that I'n fnr.f L J^^^ugh Kob was an
sid^'^ Hnr' ^''^ ^«^,alled, and cross-examined by Mr. Dark-
evS°ed^Zri/°Ll^£™- «!-«>»''« ".'•- —J', which
oufa vei^^^olT.r'^"'''^ '" "•""•8° *« J>"7 ; andThrongh-
i1 V ■
■MlMh
282
Chiilty, or Not Ouilty.
i
The Jury retired for not more than two minutoH ; and ro-
tnming at once, the Foreman, in answer to the usual question,
announced that thoy found tho prisoner Nor Guilty; and that
in their opinion tho ovidonco tended bo strongly to criminate
Koger Croft, that they submitted it to his Lordship, whether
ho should not at once bo committed upon a charge of Wilful
Murder.
After the necessary forms this was done.
Loud, long-continued, oud irrcproHsible cheers followed the
announcement of the verdict of Not Guilty.
The Judge, before tho Court was cleared, congratulated tho
prisoner on the result of his trial, complimented him on the
high testimony elicited in his favour, and added, ho left that
Court, not only without a stain on his name, but raised in tho
opinion of all present by his conduct during the trial, and by
all that had transpired concerning him.
Arthur Bertram was soon surrounded by friends congratu-
lating and shaking hands with him. But he was thinking only
of one ; and Sister Sympathy and Mr. St. Ormond, fooling for
the young lovers, led thorn to a small room, where, for a few
moments, quite alone, the Lady Edith wept on her rescued
Arthur's bosom, and ho thanked and blessed her, and clasped
her to his yearning, beating heart. There, in that little room,
they renewed their troth, and had just sworn to be true to tho
last, when Sister Sympathy and Mr. St. Ormond returned.
Baying that Lady Eockalpino was eagerly inquiring for her
daughter, to take her homo with her ; and the weeping girl,
lowering her veil, was, after another passionate embrace, and
after both Arthur and herself had warmly thanked Mr. St.
Ormond and Sister Sympathy, handed into her mother's
carriage, and driven rapidly away.
CHAPTER LXVII.
» " Though now to both mlRht Fortune's wrath deny
'J'ho plighted vows, tho nltiir, and tht- home,
Yet still and far there glittered on the eye
Life's only fairy-land— tho days to come !"
The Lady Edith's life at home was a very wretched one. Her
inother treated her with supn lo contempt; her father con-
tinued absent. The Duke of Durham proposed, and Edith,
affianced to Arthur Bertram, of course rejected him. After
this, her^mother's persecution became intolerable.
root Jiidith ! her only comfort was an occasional note thrust
through the grating of the Park-lane gardens when she walked
thero, or a word interchanged with Arthur at the seme spot at
early morn or " dewy eve.'^ Lady Rockalpine discovered this
lutofl ; and ro-
isual quofltion,
ILTY; and that
f to criminate
iBhip, whether
trgo of Wilful
J followed the
jratwlatod the
1 him on the
d, ho left, that
; raised in tho
> trial, and by
ids congratu-
thinking only
nd, feeling for
ore, for a few
1 her rescued
r, and claRpcd
at little room,
be true to tho
and returned,
liring for her
weeping girl,
embrace, and
inked Mr. St.
her mother's
led one. Her
r father con-
1, and Edith,
V him. After
d note thrust
3n she walked
same spot at
iscovered this
OuiUy, or Not Ouilty. 283
of Arthur. ' '''"'''' ■>'""«»• »"« "or hoard
didthofouLiirdorforwL, ir„,.°ff ^S "'""'y i" whfch ho
«»« in,o,»,il,lo, and wo, camodl tho g,Uh,S" """"' '"'
who had always takon 1 1 volv intolun A /.h '™ .""»<'','""•
by h?r„ mTs, f1' •"'"^'r? W^ Wal. maintainod himsolf
tL':irhad.t,i^ts%':s:o?o^,Li>TiranuT^
to commence his new career with °^^
?fl'^jT"'- ^""^ ".""^ y°^ ^^^" *»«'*''d of. Mrs. Croft was a
aa won as that of all around her, would render it necessarv to
confine her as a lunatic. Her daughters were very kind toTnr
and 80 were her three sons-in-law .ft,,. nZ • ^ . .^'
Mf. rvir,\.^ T>i "^"^^ Huns-in-iaw; lor Ulonanawas married to
Mr Tight-Bbwer shortly after their meeting in London
du^th mLKX S"""^ "^"'"^^ ^ ^oLiu^ZZ, intro.
Home" T^i, n . ^^«g»»«o of a nurse into " IV Happy
h^rbac4raraptrd ^;rof at"3V^^^^^^
pr|"n;h?„rtfa ^at^ olS?^^^^^^^^^^^
?^"1?I"?"8' »"? th« o'^oitoment. tho hopo. tho™ov^th„ r^ln"''
«™:?„dVaodTo hi £0""™ '•'■' ""^ <"-pidiiirIw;
Guilty, or Not Ouilty.
lav throtiffh tho Black Wood, and across tho wild mwr; but
iuKt aH tluiv otnei-Kod from tho latter, thoy camo Buddeidy on
Tour mon maHked and arn.cd. Thoso men wore lynig iti wait
for Mr. WyhH, the Earl of Uockalpino'n now agent, who had
lowered their wages, ruined their reiitrt, and roused them to
ir>adnoH8. Hough Hob was one of thoao men ; Kit Moss was
another. They did not mean to murder, but to compel UylcH
to grant thetn better terms. At i\w approiwh of a horso, thoy
rushed forth, for Bylcs was expected (m horseback. Artlnir luul
already felled tho foremost with his heavry whip, when Hough
Rob, recognising him as tho moon shone full on his fmo, loudly
called on his mates to fall back, and explained his error. Alter
this, Arthur Bertram proceeded (m his way unopposed; ami,
after some hours of hanl riding, he reat^hed the home ot the
Sisters of Mercy, and placed his darling on the kind breast ot
Sister Sympattiy. ^. „ ^. ,
A month later, with tho sanction of Sister Sympathy and
Mr. St. Ormond. Edith, who could not venture to let her cruel
parents know of her intentions, for thoy had imprisoned her,
sane as she w.us, in a lunatic asylum, was married to Arthur
Bertram. She was of age. She re(|uired the protection ot a
husband after treatment so illegal, so inhuman ; and, all things
considered, her friends, her only true friends, thought this was
the best way of ^jrotecting her from further outrage, and ot
ensuring her lasting happiness. vAhW,^
Lord and Lady Rockalpine, when they heard of Lady Edith s
marriage, cast her off for ever. It was not a very long tor
ever," at least on earth, for one of them !
CHAPTER LXVIII.
" They met nprnln. and oft 1 what tlmo tho star
Of HenponiH IninR hiB roHy lamp on niffh.
Lovo's earllem iMMicon, from our stornm afar,
Lit In tho loneliest watch-tower of the sky.
Perchance by bouIb that, en' thle world was mode,
were tho flrnt lovers tho ttrst .tnr. ^tt^-J,-^^ LvrroH.
LOUD and Lady Rockalpine Ij'eld high festival at Rockalpine
Castle, to celebrate the nuptials of tho Lady Ida with the Duke
''^All'thrnobility and gentry of the country wore preseivt^
The Earl and Countess Sf Richlands. with the Contessa, were
among the guests. The wicked Count Romeo di Roccabella
S VLr. V\La in a frav. Jocunda^now a happy mother-had
^Uento the Contessa; to announce the Count's death, whieh
had taken place some months before it was known to her. Lady
Rockalpine, upon this, forgave the Contessa.
A splendid dejeuner was spread on the lawn ; the poor were
ild moor; but
Huddt'iily on
lying in wnit
j^vut, who hiul
lUHeil thorn to
Kit M<wH was
) cotnpt'l DylcH
r a horno, tnoy
k. Arthur had
1, yfhou UoUKh
his liMo, loudly
8 error. Alter
lopposod; and,
lo homo of the
! kind breast of
Sympathy and
to lot her cruel
imprisoned her,
'ried to Arthur
protection of a
and, all things
lought this was
outrage, and of
of Lady Edith's
very long " for
mado,
I*
>BB LYTFOW.
Ill at Rockalpine
la with the Duke
•y were present,
e Contessa, were
eo di Koccabella
ppy mother— had
nt's death, which
Dwntoher. Lady
n ; the poor were
OuiUy, or Not Guilty.
It «ra» „|,1 (:,,,|t_,,i„ ,l,,u'hln.M - ''"'''"'' '" "'"'«>"""
tl.„„Kl,t it w,H l,i°^b'«t.r "" """• «" I'"'". "» "Imdowy, ,„„„y
« '^Xn''Ll'%'1.tC\:"r »' '■"'■ I ""-"o from my M i„
"ii|'P"«od l,y the lm,..l .,( In , ^, .1 '""• "'" '«' "»»
K,.l^h„f„llVyo„^l„ ',,,;, „;'';,';,',iV:. ''■''''' ''«•»• "''•■" «»"«!■
down 111 toneuts. g'owieU, the ruin poured
;; Komovo that mai.iac!" said Lady Rorkalnino
his father was no^i 0,-^ IJef o / ^ ^l\ '■''""''^' ^*'^* ^'•"t'' till
was c-arriod off by Zo wli f I c, • ''! "obleman was l.t.ried. I
penalty of his Mime He in .v ' ' i' "'"'• ''^''' '"^"^ P"''l the
u.usc-'to prevent my r.n.vi "^X 1^^^^ 'i' '^ I'''-^"»>'''« niad-
have here-iu lUvour o'^ ,, v F 1 f ? ^''"'^n ^'''^ ^'"-whi<-h I
>i"o. But now that lo Cl^d h\' l'^ ^ """t«H« of Rockal-
have been s parcel 0,17^^^ "('"" mo - now that
only that you. fn;h.rc[id^h.lf"'f"r^^^ ^'^V^ '"'"^•''""^ ""t
bn^ther had bee.f pi utelv nt^.-i ll '^""'r'^^''' '^"^ ^hat. as your
Cioft, my dauglitc.r (of wl^il , mij ^1'"'' ^'^^''^ *" ^^^''^^^^
Arthur /orraitle. commlnw'.Xr Aft'ln^^ the proofs),
born 111 wedlock, i.s by riir\2 tul iL'^ !'u ^^'I'tV*'"' ^is son,
ligl.tning-killed by ho 1 a d P r'^ ""nn" ^^*^'"' '^''''^ ^Y
was a blUckcned corns" ' ZLn \T^ 'r ^^'^^ 'i^''^^^^ *"'"-*»o
by this sudden st oko-dio: ? •? ""^ ''"^'^^^ ^^ ^^^^ died
murderer! "^'"-^ irnpemtent-dicd the death of a
r
^ Old Croft lived long cnouirh to «no i,,-. ^..^.__ „ , .
xvvK;K-aipiiic. and Edith his Countess " ' S^'*ria:son i:,ari of
t Jxtt;r„Vt,^ '^{zv^T ""'T "■"^ -- ''-™
286
Guilty, or Not Ouilty.
for ever ; as it was, Edith often said that it behoved her to be
doubly tender as a wife, since it was owing to her father that
her Arthur was an orphan.
They live in seclusion a live of virtue, and are blessed witli
many heirs and heiresses of their beauty and their truth.
Bough Bob and his Mary are no longer compelled to hide.
They are well provided for now by Akthur Lorraine, the new
Earl of Bockalpine, who has made Bough Bob his head game-
keeper. The new Earl has granted a handsome annuity to the
supposed Lord and Lady Hauteville, now Mr. and Mrs. Lor-
raine, to be paid to them only as long as they live peaceably
together.
The unhappy woman, who for five-and-twenty years had
figured as Countess of Bockalpine, retired to the Continent,
and with her own large fortune bought herself, as a husband,
an Italian Prince.
Mrs. Croft died in " The Happy Home."
After some years of retirement, Arthur, Earl of Bockalpine,
is beginning to take a part in politics and active life. Edith
still shrinks from that world wnich, when the veil was lifted,
beheld in the great Moral Beformer (her father) a hypocrite and
a fratricide ! But home is her sphere of happiness, and the
great world has no charms for her.
" Eh, my lord ! " said Bough Bob, as smooth, well shaven, his
hair oiled, and in a bran-new gamekeeper's suit, he kissed hia
Mary's now plump rosy cheek, and, followed by his dogs, joined
his lord on the moors — " Eh, my lord ! I'm a new mon the day.
But we'd both gone through a deal, before the world corned to
a right understanding of us, and of the momentous question of
Guilty, or not Guilty."
I \
THE END.
r
Bntler & Tanner, The Solwood Printing Works, Promc, and London.
)ehoved her to be
bo her father that
are blessed with
their truth,
impelled to hide.
lORRAiNB, the new
lb his head game-
Tie annuity to tho
r. and Mrs. Lor-
ley Uve peaceably
'^enty years had
io tne Continent,
3lf, as a husband,
%
i,rl of Kockalpine,
ictive life. Edith
le veil was lifted,
r) a hypocrite and
bppiness, and the
1, well shaven, his
ait, he kissed hia
>y his dogs, joined
new mon the day.
le world corned to
ntous question of
f
ne, and London.