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Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont film«s en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la derniere page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaltifh sur la derniAre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbols — »► signifie "A SUIVRE" le symbols V signifie "FIN". Les cartas, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent.Atre filmte « des taux de reduction diff«rents. Lorsqife le document est trop grand pour «tre reproduit en un seul cliche 11 est film« A partir de Tangle sdpArieur gauche, de gauche A droite ♦ et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images n«cessaire. Les diagrammes sjiivants illustrent la m^thode. 6 ^ ?, 1. ALTHAM : -A TALE OF THE SEA. /" TN TWO VOLUMES. *' JOHN S. CUMMIN.S, E^Ja., LT, CUI,. CA.NAIIA .MILITIA. VOL. II. LONDON : SAUNDERS A^D OTLhY, CONDUIT STREET. 184.9. h ^' njtmi ' K J!i:« cj lj^ -*^' »t » < ?< >t, fn iwrgKi, foRKT «■ ALT HAM. Chaptkr L " Beshrew me but I love her heartily; For she is wise, if I can judge of her ; And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true ; And true slie is, as she hath proved herself; And therefore like herself, wise, fair, aod true, Shall she be placed in my constant heart." *** P\ Mkrcrant or VcMcc. Halifax^ is proverbially gay and hospitable at all times — more particulai'ly during war ; but never was it more remarkably so than on the Shannon's arrival. It required all Jonathan's previous bragging to- give such zest to so usual an occurrence then, as that of an enemy's frigate of slightly superior force being brought in ; but .the American navy of the day consisted of only a few frigates, to which, however, we had scarcely one' o^ anything hke equal force to oppose. Had Captain Brooke captured a Frenchman Df thr^ ■0 ■ ' ALTHAM. Z°U T'f ^ little, comparatively speaking would have been thought of it. U„4 Sam had entn-ely succeeded in persuading himself and mor. than half convincing sufh of our counfymen as were ignorant of ^val affai,., that at sea h>s prowess was* uneEalled I was therefore that such gn^tulation ' was Expressed when the first action of nearly equal ships, set the question so effectually at rest As to the capture of a solitary frigate, it w^ a matter of no importance to England mid the loss could be but slightly felt by the • Umted States; but morally considered it was a conquest^ The rulers of the infant republic could only hope to console their country for the total destruction of herforeign commerce, which the.r navy was unable toprotect, by triumphs - m emgle actions of equal ships, and hitherto then- rulers and press had furnished the people •with an abundant harvest of "glorious news " »t,ngsloopsofl0audl8gu„s,as..fi,;e fagates when taken from us, and glorifying the readers of their "naval chronicles," by jJar Yankee tricks. The respective fo„,es of the Chesapeake and the Shannon w.r., ALTHAM. a speaking icle Sam : himself, h of our J affairs, lied. It on was dy equal ; rest, i^ate, it Ingland, '' by the - I it was ■epublic for the ', which iumphs - itherto people lews," "fine •ifying /'by forces yere . v--^ however,' toio well known to be much falsified ; still the proceedings of the court of* enquiry, which reported on the causes of the capture of the former, shewed how sore the parties composing it felt, and that there was at least no indisposition on their parts to lessen the^ national discomfiture, by the grossest misre- presentation of all'kinds. . It was for the above • reastins that the ever loyal Novascotians vied with each other in feting Captain Brooke and his officers. . Old Smith was on his pins again — inerely evincing (whence arising, of course we know jjot,) a mercurial indisposition to sit still for a moment at a time. The Admiral had at once confirmed his promotion, and the old fellow was in the seventh heaven. As usual, Annesfey and he were inseparable. Jemmy was a handsome *' gentlemanlike lad, and was in great request at i all the shines. Amongst the Halifax belles, his acquaintance was extended, and despite his junior rank, we doubt whether Captain Brooke himself was considered a more desirable partner, at least by the young ladies themselves. Now «Hd -tliefr « mamma did certainly: f manoeuvre to sever lier fair daughters from the handsome mid, but often in vain. Few partners are so acceptable to the lassies as a good-looking little middy—the dear ^young saltees are so full of fun and frolic, so gallant" so frank, and jet so polished when in ladies' society. Saltwater and French polish differ essentially, and the gun-room is by yo means noted fdr the elegance of its intercourse ; yet who of cither sex, whether young or old, has associated with its occupants ashore, and not been delighted?^! he young scamps are always welcome companions, mon^ especially to ladies of their own age ; they are indeed generally " Variable as the shade. By the light qui\«ering aspen made," in their Uaimn^, which, though too often entered pn with the sole intention of spending the passing hour, sometimes are for the moment sincere as they are brief. We know not in which of these classes to place a flame on which Annesley's shipmates quizzed him— its object was certainly well calculated to excite tlie l attor---whils t the actttd caitteiy wbich she"- ■'Ifr^l ' ALTHAM. 5 unsparingly applied to his romance, shewed that she at least was yet free from the ranklino- of the boy-god's arrows. Annssley was proud of her as a partner, (for she was the belle of Halifax,) and delighted in her soc^iety, for, unless when he presumed too far, she was^ gentleness itself. .Her well informed mind reflected' warmly his boyish generosity, and the innate nobleness of his thoughts. In his quiet ' moments he sought her approval of each ' projected action, and if he read it not in her soft blue eye, felt that he nmst be wrong; but if she smiled on thoughts which she read, though but half expressed, that sunny smile'^ assured his wavering judgment. Did he love her?— perhaps he had, wei^not that remi- niscences which scarcely asslimed a tangible form, wdre ever present, arming him in proof against piaster Cupid's assaults. If the sly boy's arrows had touched him in by-gone days it was but to produce for the moment pleasant pain, arid when he reipember^d Isabella Brock, he felt but the happier iA the recollection of their youthful friendship ; but his heart had never f :iM:ied, lichen a/ouc, another image. 1-^ a iWiTHAM. In the sweet girl whose ^eveuipg companion . be now constantly was, lie unconsciously worshipped her likeness, for in many respects -they were alike. At till events their alliance gave pleasure to each— neither was of ^ age to detect the lurking quagmire beneath the A%^h wreath^ tofi^age on which they sported — '^ . ,» " Theif ways were ways of pleasantn«s," and thoughtless and joyoys was their path. On such terms was Annesley with — - . ^ the second daughter of Sir ■ .- /the : highly esteemed Governor of Nova Scotia, ^t whose house, the kind mention of his Captain had made him always, welcome, and where we ^ take up the too long neglected thread of our story. . ■■:"■ ^ ■ Government House was brilhantly lighte*d up. No absurd conventionality closed its hospitable doors to the wealthy and well " * infonhed mercantile community, whose pre- seiice, with that of their wives and blooming daughters, formed one of its chief attractions. The ^rowdgd s ^lQons w^re ^ay as mornbg-^.^ ALTUAM. ^ (iftir, forms twined the mazy dance to the deUcious music of a military^and. softened % distanc^ T|»e glitteritig *miform of the soldier, mingled with the more tasteful o^e of • the sailor, and the chaste plain dress of the civilian^-the sweet presence of wpman shed its ^balmy influence around, and all was happiness as perfect as is! allowed us here below. The brave old soldiei^ whose half century of service lad been rewarded by his sovereign with the government of th^ Colony, hung o*er his daughter's chair, interchanging with its occupant aad our hero, that Hght chat ^ which forms the staple of our usual ihterjjourse. " Why are you not dancing, m)KMary ?'* " I have been, papa, und am a little tired, besides, I hardly like dancing witji a new acquaintance, and the officers who have arrived to-day are the only partners who have offere3 - —to them riiave pleaded fatigue.** " I did not expect such an accusation froin . you. Miss Mary,'* cried An;iiesley, "I am not ' a vfery new acquaintance, I hope. Sir, yon do nj*t imaging thai I have npt pressed Mi^s Mary . "to dance. '-^^-^ — - — ir o' > »- 8« ALTHAM. i ' "You know Mr. Annesley I had twice danced with you before, so you cannot, complain." " I am not given to complaining, lady, more especially when you grant me the more enviable gratification of your society in a quiet chat." The old General's calm eye rested for an instant or two, first on his daughter and then on Annesley, with a questioning glance — no consciousness tinged either cheek. " You are right to reserve yourself, Mary, I hope to have the pleasure by and by of presenting to^ypu one of the most agreeable young men I have for som^ time met. He is aid-de-camp to the General in command of the new arrival— I wonder the party has not appeared." A glance passed with electric rapidity, between the young people. After our eluci- dation, was it coquetry? wg fancy not: a sufficiently jealous feehng may exist between two young people of different sexes, without _bordering on love or it s s ubordinate phasf The Governor passed on to do tlie honors of ALTHAM. 9 his house to osiers, and Annesley continued to chat with liis former partner ; they criticized the different parties who now flew by in the fascinating waltz, or swept through the more stately quadrille. A movement ^A place at the door of the room, and eyen th^eet tones of Mary's voice were unheeded; for with his daughters leaning on each arm, and his uniforpi decked with the aiguilette of a general officer, the father of Alice and Isabella entered] followed by Mountmorris as his aid. Scarcely a year had passed since Annesley had been their uncle's guest at Mountjoy Square, yet in that brief space his favorite Isabella 'had ripened into womanhood • had she not been in company with her father and sister, he could scarcely have recognised her, at least at first sight. Sparkling eyes and lovely forms had surrounded him during the evening, and he had enjoyed the association with a zest which a sailor alone can feeF; but amongst them, to his eye at least, none could compare with Isabella ; his senses wandered to long passed scen e s 4i9^.he ga z ed on hc r> Ma ry a f~ h^ngth perceived his abstraction. 10 ALTIIAM. " May I ask. Mr. Annesley. what it is which prevents your answering- me ? " "Pardon my rudeness-lam certain you wU], when I tell you that General Brock and hi, daughters have been amongst the kindest friends of my boyhood, and that until this instant I w^not aware that they were in America." Ihey must be the arrivals of whom my father spoke-pray let no idle ceremony detain you from your friends." Had Mary entertained even a latent feeling for our hero, his meeting with the Brocks would have pained her, but it was not so • she esteemed and liked him as an acquaintance, but that was all ; it was therefore that she felt unmixed pleasure at seeing him most heartily received by the veteran and Lord Mountmorris whJstthe General'syomigestdaughtertestified " MF surprise and pleasm-e by soft blushes. Ihe observant eye of a female friend reads om' heaxte ere their pulsations are rightly construed by ourselves, and Mary had already sketched a shuung future for Annesley and Isabella Brock, ere they had exchanged their blushing -gr e eting s . - ° ALTHAM. 11 f The surprise felt by Jemmy and the General's party, was mutual, but did not equal the pleasure which the meeting afforded. Sir Isaac took the earliest opportunity of with- » drawing with Annesley ^nd Mountmorris to an unoccupied card-room and seating himself, said — "We fancied you still with Mr. Bushe's uncle, working away in the Attorney's office. How in the name of fortune, have you been metamorphosed into a navy ofijcer ?" '* The tale is a long one, sir ; but if you can afford me a few minutes, I will condense it." " Let us hear it, my boy." Jemmy briefly told h^" tale, in delicacy to Mountmorris, suppressing his suspicion that Lord Altham was his evil genius. " 'Tis a wonderful story, Annesley," said the General, after musing for a few minutes, " and beyond my comprehension ; but Mr. Quill shall make all clear — my utmost endeavotirs shall be exerted to punish the scoundrel, and do yoa right. Take an oppor- tunity to introduce me to your gallant Cflp fftig^ —I long to make his acqudMince, were it .iKia. . .!. t ALTilAJK only to thank him for his kindness to you ; and now let us rejoin the girls, they are no doubt as curious as their old father to hear your adventures. Of course you take up your quarters at rnyhouse for the few days I remain here, at least when duty does nqt intervene/' Notwithstanding the delicacfy which had prevenfeed Annesley's touching on any point in his history, which might (ead suspicion towards Lord Altham, a chill; oppressed the heart of Mountmorris, as he /proceeded, and the most painfid of all doubts^' that of a loved father's honor, fell on his spirit and clouded his brow ; he coiJd not help remembering the unaccountable dislike evinced by Lord Allham to Annesley after his wound,and the prohibition so strongly insisted on againsi their intimacy. He was also aware that just before he left, Mr. Quill had ■ been appointed agent ^o the* estates in Galway, and Jcnnny's abstraction happening scarcely a month after,— the whole subject was shrouded in painful mysteryj They rejoined the ladies, who gladly reijcwed their acquahitancc with Anncs%, questibninjr -«m iis^ opponunify o^red: ATIcc'^ttGnti^ AI:TlIA>r. 13 was soon taken up with i\JouiitnioiTis, wiiose depression she perceived. They had only, met that day, after a long absence, during which the young noble had been with his regiment, from which he was recalled l)y an order to await General Brock's arrival at Halifax, arid to attach himself to his staflp. Short as had been the period of their reunion, much of deep importance to the happiness of both had passed, and though no express troth had been exchanged, yet each heart was glowing with hapjiiness, when they entered the Governor's house. It was therefore that the gloomy abstraction which he manifested, on rejoining their party, after . the conversation with Annesley, almost instantly attracted Alice's attention and fond sympathy. " You have heard ill tidings, Edward— or something has occurred to pain you." "Much, sweet Alice— Annesley has been most infamously treated, and placed in the^ hands of pirates, from which extraordinary good fortune alone has delivered him." ^^XPPX friend is certajnly in a Jar- better position than when we last met ; and u.wJl.ik%U/,-r£*>*«..A\ f.j ,r 14 ALTHAM. V. although this dpes not absolve the unintelitional authors of his good fortune, surely there is nothing to regret." "Not on his behalf, certainly. Pardon me, dearest Alice, if 1 cannot even to you, explain my present feehngs, as they are founded on what may, I trust, prove idle suspicions—still I cannot shake off the depression which your kindness has noticed. What a lovely girl Annesley is introducing to your sister— let us too make her acquaintance." Happily the evening sped for Jemmy. Mary had read his secret soul, and in a thousand apparently trifling ways advanced his suit. Nothing pleads more strongly the merit of a lover, than finding it appreciated by one to whom his homage might be worthily devoted, but is not ; and very different would have been Jsabella's sensations at hearing Annesley mentioned in such terms by a lovely girl, were it not apparent at a glance that they>ere simply warm friend^. General Brock reminded Je^y of his engagfimjrnt to introduce him to his Com- ALTIIAM. 15 where the hero of the day was surrounded ijy the most distinguished persons present. All made way for the noble looking old solcjier-t- the introduction took place, and Jemmir blushed gra^fuUy at the praises bestowed oti his conduct during the period he had served in his ship, by Captain Brooke, who conclude(i by requesting to know at what hour he shoW wait on the General the next day— s^i^gi that he had much of deep importance b communicate on a subject which he. doubted not would be of great interest. \ "Name your owii hour, sir; my time is entirely my own at present, so that any hour which may convenience you will suit me." " Shall we say at noon. Sir Isaac ?." " Certainly, I shall be at home all day- having letters to write-so do not inconve- nience yourself to be punctual— meanwhile I have a favour. to ask." "Itisgranted, sir, ifinmypower." • "I wish, should duty not occur to prevent It, that you would give Annesley leave to remain ashore with me whilst I stay ." ^^^tLe greatest pleasure, sir/ I am y lej alvvavs delimited ALTHAM; when iiiy young ofUcers have an opportunity i)f being in good society. Anneslcy deserves leave, but I should recom- mend him to pasi a few hours on board each day, as repairs are going forward which it viU advantage him to witness. Au revoir-^l am habitually punctual — so notwithstanding your good natured permission to be otherwise, I shall be with you at twelve to-morrow." ■__' , .,'; (ftj.i^ '*! Chapter II. " Let me persuade you to forbear awhile/' ,Hbnrt vr. Upon the return of our party from Government House, the General, after kissing his daughters, bade them good night, whilst the young people drew their chairs around the drawing-room fire, foj a chat. AU had much to hear and to ,«6mmunicate. Drawn out by Isabella, Anuesley entertained them with his adventures at greater length than he had detailed them to the General, but with the sam^ cautious reserve on any subject which he thought might be painful to Mountmorris. It grew late, and as they lighted their bed-room candfes^ Mountmorris drew Ahce aside. ** WiU ydu promise me, dear A hce, that Klowever strange my conduct may ^||^; you VOL. II. B «k 18 ALTHAM. will not doubt me? for, circumstttnccd as 1 am, after what has passed this morning, I feel it my duty to be explicit. T long have dearly loved you — I seek not, nor indeed could I in honor receive a reciprocal avowal, should I be so happy as to have won your regards. I shall hope the best ; but- should my suspicions become certainty, I shall not hesitate, painful as it may bd, t0 tell you all. Good-night dearest — whatever may betide, I shall n^ver cease to love you fondly.'* ^ " I promise you all you wish, dearest Edward, and hope, to whatever your fears point, 'you may be in error. Happen what may, you , have my warmest sympathy — ^you have forbidden my saying more," she added, blushing, and smiling ilu-ough tears. The breakfast p^y at^tl^e General's seemed to him less mirthful than he fiad expected ; yet, suspecting nothing, lie attribiifed it to the late houi^ of the last nighty succeeding, to the confinement of a ship. " You must, Alice, j^nsider yourself under arrest ; and, after eleven in the evening, ittut^ u» y(Hif room. liaKing does not i-i i-i'ka s^^ ALTHAM. 19 agree with you— you look pale and weary this morning, my- girl, and need a few days rest after our voyage. Take a short drive by and by — Mountmorris and Annesley will be your esquires. I have an engagement which wili prevent my accompan^ng-you." " I fear, ^ir, I must ^eny myself the pleasure," said Anneslpy, " 'great as it wojild be, you remember the condition on which Captain ^Brooke allowed my remaining on shore. Although he only expressed it in the shape of advice, I would not Ipn any accoiinlr— disobey his wishes. I hope '^o be back to dinner, but must be on board ^le greater part of each day." . j " you're perfectly" right— I ^ad forgotten / Captain Brooke's advic^. On you ^then. Mountmorris, will devolve the duty of enacting diadle boiteux, that is if you Ibave no other * engagement." " It would >e an important one indeed, sir, ' wlMch should prevent me. 1 am qualified toa; sfior, during the first month after t joined, • I was quartered here." A tt- WeD, chamn a mi metier7i ynll order f^&^. •-^.^ 20 4 ALTHAM. the earriage at once, so get ready you lasses, and come in wltfefifreshened roses, or faith I'U send for old Sawbones, for I won't have you ^^ looking pale. You can take Annesley down to the wharf, on your route." ' The old Geperal sat hioi down to his writing table — giving directions that he should be at home to none, but Captain Brooke, and ordering that '"gentleman to be shewn up on his arrival. ^0"' Punctual to the stroke of noon, the Captain entered the apartment, saying — . " I have solicited the honor of, this inter- view. General, finding that you were an old acquaintance of my friend Annesley— rdo you know who he is ? " . / " Yes;. a natural son of t^^e^^lte^jyl of Altham, and as mffe a youngster J^^H^^^^ " I entirely concur in your good opinion of hi^m. Sir Isaac, but you arc in error as to his itaget*-! have good reason to know that 'is legto^e, and is at this moment de jure ^Eatl of Altham, and heir apparent to the EnglisErEarldom of Aunesley.'* ^^— ^-^^^ £iL-i-,: /^» / ALTHAltf. 21 ^^^ .^ »^ews indeed, sir ; I remember brother-in-law suspected that all was pt right,' on his uncle's a6cession\r the title, )ut oij investigation, he learned the truth from tlie boy's own mother, who reluctahtly-confessed all; so you must-be mistaken, my good sir." " You shall judge forjyourself. General— « man n^med Ingram, who at one time saved my lifc^at the imminent risk of his own, by ^attending me through a desperate fever on the African coast, left the service a short time afterwards, despite iny entreaties to the con- trary, and promises of promotion— he was^ a wild adventurous fellow, and had been at one tune a sort of gentleman in Galway when, through his own youthful extravagance' ^M ^"^^^'^ «f an Attorney, he soon ran ihrough the remains of an already heavily, bm-dened patrimony,- and finding himself destitute, entered the Navy, where his daring corn-age, aided by some slight education, would qmcklyiiave ensured his advancement, were it y -not that misconduct in other respects ever mtervened; ^en jiis^ bravery jm d a toiick o l ' Toolhardine.s. pn the whole, he was one of ^ ( t*-ji*-<^- '"' ^* . t\ mil !> 22 ALTHAM. **. ■■;ir the most troublesome characters I ^ver com- manded, always in scrapes of one kind or other, for which, more than once, I was obliged to pmiish him. When I was attacked with the fever, we were running into Sierra Leone, and knowing its deadly character, I had myself at once carried to the hospital on shore, when Ingram sought and obtained my Lieutenant's leave to attend me. Of his devoted care, I was for more than three weeks unconscious. You well know how few survive hospital treatment on those deadly shores, and I have no doubt that but for Ingram I should not have been amongst the few. Through a Jong convalescence no mother could have nursed a son with more untiring care. I besought him to change his habits on board, offering my purse and interest to their fullest | extent ; but lj6 refused both, requesting as his sole reward, a discharge from the service. I remonstrated, but finding him determined, procured it for him. Though constant in my enquiries for him, for three years I could not — diseovei" what^^ h©" was^ aoout^- -^fl£i wutiij- through Anncslcy, I again traced him, I found ■'-'fit - ■■■ ■ <• ALTHAM. 23 that he had turned pirate, kidnapper, and traitor. I endeavoured, nevertheless, after the destruction of his vessel, to get him on board, but he had taken to the woods. How he made his way toJBoston I know not, but the day before my action with the Chesapeake, he voluntarily came on board my ship. During the action, he behaved with his accustomed coolness, and poor Lawrence, as Annesley afterwards informed me, ^wed his death to Ingram's deadly aim, who the next moment was himself mortally wounded. On his death bed he sent for me, and told me that a couple of years before he had found himself in funds to repurchase his paternal property from a Mr. Quill, the attorney who had enabled him to dissipate it so quickly, and into whose hands it had eventuaUy faUen. The' most cunning sometimes betray themselves, and most fortunately, Mr. Quill misdirected a parcel of private papers of the late Lord Altham to Ingram, in mistake for the deeds of the land he had purchased— no nice scruples ) reve nt ed t he jover fr o m nosscs i Bing himself of— their contents.— Accompanying them was a 24 ALTHAM. letter to a Miss Gregory, who it appears was Lord Altham's mistress, and entertained hopes of persuading him to marry her. The letter acknowledged the receipt of a large sum of money, and stated that the papers of which it was the price, were enclosed, dwelling on the » diflaculty he had in obtaining them, and the great risk incurred, especially in inserting a false leaf in the parochial registry. The papers referred to as enclosed, were a leaf taken from the registry of the Parish of Dunmaine, shewing the marriage of Lord Altham with Miss Mary Sheffield, and a similar document, proving the baptism of a son, the issue of that marriage, by the name of James Annesley. Ingram further stated, that Quill, discovering Jiis mistake, came on board Uke a maniac, but that for his own ulterior purposes, he had refused to deliver the papers, as he gained thereby, togdilier with a lasting tye over the attorney, the probable means of extorting money from the parties implicated in sup- pressing the marriage and birth. — Ingram f urthe r s ta ted, that— oa^n bn ndoning the schooner, he had given the packet containing ALTHAM. 25 these papers to Annesley, making him, how- ever, promise on his honor, not to open it dntil he had in vain endeavoured to procure 1^ justice from Quill, after having let him know that Ingram had placed in his hands the >papers, which were enumerated in a sealed note accompanying the parcel. I have ascer- tained that Jemmy has them safe, but felt under all the circumstances, that it was better* not to enter on the matter at large with him. My Clerk was by at Ingram's confession, and took down its substance in writing, which I have duly attested. In connection with all this, taking Annesley's reminiscences of himself, no doubt remains of his identity with the child to whom these papers refer; and his uncle's having subsequently caused him to be kid- napped by this same rascal Quill, (to whom he had restored the agency) has to my mind fully corroborated my views." " My brother-in-law was then right after all, in . his suspicions. Although of course justice must be done, I must confess I am grieved for you ng and will suffer deeply." •*,5' 26 ALTHAM. from his " But has Aniiesley not suffered infancy upwards ; "and, considering tlie destiny to which his worthy uncle intended to consign him, I confess I feel but Uttle sympathy with the usurping family, at losing their ill-gotten wealth aud rank." " You mistake me, Captain Brodke ; the loss of station will weigh less with Mo^ntn^orris than with most young men ; but if I judge him rightly, he will deeply feel his father's crimes, and consequent dishonor. With such a man as Lord Altham, Annesley will have a severe contest ere he establish his rights. • Possession is nine points of the law,' more especially as that possession affords luihouuded resources." " Money will not be wanted, Sii- Isaac, to make good Annesley 's claims., Ingram has left m my hands the large galherkigs of ill spent years, amounting, I should suppose, to a greatef sum than Lord Altham can command, as it will be impossible for him to sell or realise by mortgage with a disputed title." ^Mf^awkinswai be delighted^ Although he too values poor Mountmorris highly. ALTHAM. 27 " Fiat justiiia mat coelum." If I can be of any use in the matter, I pray you to believe that I shall do my utmost. Meanwhile,, shall we inform those most, deeply concerned, or leave them to learn it from home ? " "I should suggest the latter as regards Mountmorris— poor fellow, ill news flies fast, and he will learn it soon enough ; but we must tell Annesley all, as on his part immediate action is needful." « " Be it so ; I have to repeat that if I can be of use, either myself, or through my connexions in Ireland, I shall be most happy." " The Captain took his departure — leaving Sir Isaac Brock in what is vulgarly termed a " brown study ;" he felt deeply for Mount- morris— well knowing how his sensitive spirit would feel the impending blow ; at the same time he could not but rejoice, that Lord Altham's deeply planned schemes were about being fmstrated. In justice to Annesley, it would be necessaiy to inform him of what had come to light, that he might use the important documents iii_ his possfis-sjo n ; i^ then ruDg, and ordered the servant who answered \^ pi "liiii 28 ALTHAM. his beU^ to desire that Mr. Annesley should, on his return, be told that he wished to see him. Sir Isaac sat with pen in hand, occasionally adding a line to the letter he had been writing, 'but his thoughts ever and anon wandered to the momentous tidings he had heard ; and although three hours had elapsed since Brooke had taken leave, his letter was still unfinished, when Annesley was shewn in, looking pale and harrassed. ^ " Sit down, my young friend — I have to inform you of things wonderfully discovered, which deeply concern you." " I have seeti Captain Brooke, sir, and know all." ** I had hoped to be the first to communicate the good news — I congratulate you from my heart on the bright prospect before you." •* You'are most kind-gir, and I am grateful ; but Captain Brooke's communication has occasioned me, nevertheless, almost unmixed pain ; fortunately the papers he referred to are in my possession, and he has promised \ takeCno^ep-UL the business, contrary to my will, nor even to mention a word of it — P«c% ALTHAM. 29 may I hope a similar, promise from you, my dear sir ? " " You are a most unaccountable fellow, Annesley ! What can you mean ? " " Simply, sir, that I love my cousin Edward, more than (with one exception) any earthly being ; he has been brought up in the idea . that he was the heir of honors and estates ; he is also the soul of honor, and how can he endure disgrace. I, on the contrary, have always roughed it, and have now an honorable profession, and sufficient means to support me creditably, .until I win promotion. Promise me, dear General— if you love me, promise.*' " I do promise. Jemmy ; but do you know what you relinquish ? An ancient title- estates, whose rental few in England equal, and (it must out) an unblemished birth." " I know and have thought on all. I have never doubted my being legitunate ; you, dear sir, now know it also— so does Captain Brooke ; for the opinion of strangers on that point, I care nothing. My poor mother, I neveijinew. Alas, what miiat have been h&^ anffrrinL ol had she lived, a different course would have ,. ^-i^Stn, •iO ALTIIAM. been forced upon me — Wt there is no doubt she is long since dead; and the few who kne,w her have forgotten that she ever existed." " I will riot conceal from you, Annesley, how much the generosity of your determination has raised you in my esteem. I would there were some way of punishing your rascally uncle, without including Edward in the chastisement. 'Tis strange that gentle blood could conceive such baseness — stranger still that such rascality should have been successful in this age — ^but most strange that' the chivalrous friendship entertained by you for the son, should prevent justice taking its due course with the false peer. Leave me, my dear boy, — ^thinking of this astonishing drama, and its probable future events, has prevented my finishing a most important letter which must be in time for the packet which sails this eveuipg. We shall meet at dinner." ^ '2^ 1 , ChI^pter III. " We the world can compass soon, Swifter than the wandering moon." \ MlDHI/MMBR NiOHT. We have been so occupied with Annesley and those whom fate threw into his immediate proximity, that we have too long neglected our earhest acquaintance, Bus^e. On reaching London (where it will we\ trust be in the reboUecfcion of our readers, he had been despatched by his uncle, in order to have the coast clear for his villanous designs upon Jemmy,) his fu-st duty had been to wait on Quill's correspondent. The affair on which he was employed had been judiciously chosen by the astute attorney, being one of much historic and legal interest, involving a curious question o^succession Jo forfeited lands, ongrnalljrgranted by Charies II., to his Sl \ :;ii:! 32 ALtHAM. ■^ • ■ ' ■"■"■■ ■ ^ ^ unfortunate b^the?:- -fames Buke of York, and by him sold to a London' Corporation, styled "The Governor and Company^ for making hollow Sword blades," at a .tr|Ung suS, on the sole condition of extirpati^^the wolves and Kernes, or Wild Irish. A^engst the title deeds were strange old bonds, m quaint contracted law latin, executed by . Murtach Oge O'Sullivan More, and which, notwithstanding his forfeit^ , were (being previously granted to a proiestanQ held binding on the lands. The rents reserved by the Company, from the Irish occupying Tenants of these lands, \^efe all made payable at Strongb6w's tomb, in the cathedral of Christ Church, in the city of Dubhn. This gaUing badge of slavery and conquest having been inflicted doubtless, in the rancorous spirit of haughty domination with which untU almost our own times, it has ever been the custom of theur Saxon conquerors to treat the " mere Irish," as in scorn they termed their serfs,— the inscription upon ihe aforesaid tomb stating, ^jl^Pirhftjje Earie^S^gbowe," to have been " the first and principal inwader of Irelande." ■^ s L^ ^ S5|4*^^A?i'v> * .V»"'.Af. c^ ALTHAM. 33 Many other particulars excited the attention of the law student, which would be scarcely read ^y you, good reader, had we theif;ruelty to inflict them ; and, to say the truth, with which you Kave as little to do as with the above recited legahcuriosities. Mr. Qoill's first letter entered at length on, the cgise of Bushe's mission, giving the most. detailed instructions as to his proceedings. I A postscript hne mentioned Alinesley as giving Isatisfaction, and being well. The next epistE contained a liberal remittance to enable Buslie to enjoy tTie idle time which would necessarily ')e his. in the interval of the sessions of the j&w Courts ^plainly evincing Mr. Quill's ie^re that he should remain in Town: to i^hich, assuredly, he had no disinchnation. Ir. Dawkins had furnished him with letters rhich enabled him to spend such' evenings as ^ere not devoted to the Opera or Theatre— that taking into consideration that this was ps first visit to the great Babel, it is not tob^ mndered at, that he was in no great hurry to eturn t o his mu sty law books. Thus three lontTis passed, wHencBushe, wondering that " VOL. 11. c r''^^KLiijU"a tr^ Wj*:*'^^ yrf^^'^^fr^Cji?^ [^ 34 ALTHAM. his uncle took no notice of his questions about ; his protege, wrote directly to Annesley— Weeks elapse^, and'feis lettet remaining unanswered caused hini some unet^siness ; he consoled himself, however, . with the thought that it might have miscarried, and with the belief, - that had anything serious occurred to Jemmy, Mr. Quill would have informed him ; he however, wrot^ again, enclosing his letter to , hife uncle, for though he was one whose nature ' it was— " ■ '- " When an equal poise of hope and fear , I Did arbitrate the event"— fo choose the former ; still the attorney's strange silence respecting one in whose weal h6 knew his nephew's interest, and his letters ^ remaining unanswered, made him uncora-V fortable. He therefore waa^anxiously expecting an tosWer from Annesley, when the postman handed in a letter with the Galway mark. Bushe did not at first recognise the writing, and with that so easily to be gratified! inquisitiveness, which we all have felt, he! turned it over mor^ than onc^, exannning the superscription, anfthe impression ; h lengtB >-^-^-t ^S6v v-V- ALTHAM. 35 curiosity ^ot the better of this unaccountable Feeling — he broke the seal and j^ead as follows :-*■ ; Galway, January 10, 18 — . Dear Bushe, I think I mentioned in my last, that I was Icomihg down here to oUr young friend Daly, I to have some shooting— finding myself in your luncle's neighbourhood, I determined to call Hnd see young AnnesJey. Mr. Quill* received^ le^in his inner office — pardon me,' dear Bushe, for saying that neither the old gentleman's )ersonal appearance, nor his shop prepossessed in his favor. On enquiring for Jemmy, he M me that he really could not say where he ras at that moment. I said I would call in, to which, although he looked sulky, hfe id not object. Happening to mention his ^ame at the dinner table at Mr. Daly's, I imed with some astonishment, that just previously to your leaving for London he had ^een reappointed to Lord Altham's agency— jiy suspicion was jit once aw ak^ed. hd ling asc Fou may recollect, much doubt of this samjel ' ^^ft^u, ■ • 36 ALTHAM. i!,h, Lord's intentions, when he offered to reheve you of the care of his nephew when wounded. I therefor^, called early the next day on Mr. Quill, but found him from home, and on the succeeding day learnt that he had gone to towUi and was not expected to return for some time. Of Jemmy the people at his house either knew or would tell nothing ; I therefore determined to await the attorney's return, knowing that his business would not allow his absenting himself for any length of time, and that if (as I judged) such were his purpose, he could easily evade me in town. I took care to make my intention known to his greasy cynical looking old clerk, and the result was, that as I expected, he came home fully a fortnight earlier than I had been led to expect. On ftiy being shewn in„ the morning of his arrival, he, after no very cordial greeting! asked — " Are you come again about that boy? " "Yes." . " Well, then, I no longer see any use iiij congealing, that he has been indented as a vagrant by his natujral guardian. I should > r^ ALTHAM. 87 have informed you of this when last you were here, but that my fooUsh nephew has taken a sort of fancy to t"his young vagabond, and I ■did not wish that he should be disturbed (whilst transacting important business about which I have employed hp) concerning a matter for which when he dispassionately . considers it, he iTiU thank me heartily ; and now, sir, that you have the information which alone, as I suppose, you sought here, I trust that you will not think me discourteous if I remind you that my business is in arrear in consequence of my absence from home." Sheer astonishment had hindered my inter- rupting this oration, and even kept me silent, when your good uncle arose and moved towards the door, for the purpose of bowing me out ; at length I recovered from this feeling of stupid amazement. " By whose authority has this been done, sir ?— depend upon it, it shall be enquired into.'' " Be it 80," he replied, " you will find, young sir, that the authority was competent. A ll ow m e ogam to remi o d y o u tlit t i my tii is too vahiable to be taken up thus." b. 4.'Ki,^' ^ -LiSi. t' * j^fc-^stS-^feiW* 'at'^d- 38 ■\>- ALTHAM. A bitter rejoinder rose to my lips, but I suppressed it, and left the office in, I confess it, no very charitable mood towards Mr. QuiU. I have since made enquiries at every place where I thought I might obtain information, and can only learn that our poor boy has been sent to sea in a vessel which lay here for some time under pretence of - being an African trader, but turned out, as it appears, a pirate ; and which, after cripplmg an English cruiser that had been sent to take her, escaped to sea. I have thus, dear Bushe, given you a narrative of the means by which I have learned so much of this sad business — it will be for you to consider your course. I know your situation as respects Mr. Quill, and you may depend on it that my father's zeal and my own will leave no stone unturned to penetrate its depths — to recover if possible poor Annesley, and to punish his persecutors. As ever, yours. '* H. Dawk INS. A. Bushc, Esq. r^ ALTHAM. 39 Bushe had more than once started to his feet whilst reading Henry Dawkins' letter. On concluding it, he mused for some moments, feeling perfectly stunned at his uncle's baseness. He never had loved or respected Mr. Quill, but had felt grateful to him for benefits conferred, and now deeply lamented that he was forced by cilfcumstances to assume a hostile attitude ; for, never for an instant did he hesitate as to his course, fte mechanically read the sentence in Dawkins' lettef- suggesting the probability of his leaving to others the task of compeUing justice to his young friend, but read it without thinking of its obvious meaning. After musing for a few minutes, he packed up his necessaries, discharged his bill, and taking a coach called on his uncle's agents, and having informed them that business of the utmost import required his instant presence in Ireland, and calmly pointed out that in the j present stage of the business which they were I jointly carrying on, no injury could accrue from his absence. He drove to the Spread Ea gfe, Grace C hurch Street, fo r &t the time that ancient hostlery was in the zenith of its V idSR V 40 ALTHAM. fame, and took his place in the Liverpool Coach. On the day week from that on which he left town, (a journey at the time of almost unequalled velocity,) he landed in Dublin, and drove at once, though it was late at night, to Mountjoy Square, where he found Mr. Dawkins and his son, who had that day returned from Galway, in deep debate on the subject which had so hurriedly and unexpectedly recalled him. " A thousand times welcome, Bushe," said Henry, as he entered the drawing room where they held their conclave ; " this is a bad business; but we feared that we should not have your assistance, and indeed still you should consider what ypu are about." J' Surely, Henry, you cannot suppose that I could hesitate, or that I would accept hrehd at the price of my independence, nay, of my honesty." " You are in the right, Bushe," said Mr. Dawkins, " you are abje to work your own way in the world ; nay, it vnll be better for you in the end that you should do so — a hot- ho us e p l ant .ra re ly s ucc eed s when transpl a nted into the common atmosphere. All I can sny, ALTHAM. 41 l11 I can snv, my dear fellow, is, that my house is ever open , to you, and that in the prosecution of this matter, you will consider me your banker; you must remember*^ that we took almost as deep an interest in Annesley as you did." " Without hesitation I shall avail myself of your assistance, sir." I start for Galway in the morning, as my first exertions must be to find out the motives of my uncle, and if possible to obtain some clearer clue as to what has become of poor Annesley." " On mature consideration," rephed Mr. DAwkins, "I think that Henry is right in supposing that Lord Altham is at the. bottom of the whole aflair; and if we can asc^rfein , that this is the case, we may feel assured that he is" influenced by most important motives, for otherwise he would hardly run the risk of kidnapping the boy, knowing that we should sift 'it to the bottom." " Mn. Quill seems little apprehensive of the result of any measures we may take," said Henry; " he would not else have so boldly a dm i tted t b e ^app r enti ci n g ot A n nesley^" - =^— He kmltts he could not conceal it on 1,1 i'» !J|! 42 ALTHAlf. Bashe's retuni, and that in fact he could not hide it from you for any period ; he was moreover aware that if he made a mystery abolit it, t/iat would tell against ' him in the ; investigation which he well knew must take place! On the whole, he has played his part ably-«with the * wisdom of the serpent,** at least, if' not with the ' harmlessness of the dove.' I am sorry th^tmy brother-in-law has left; he would ;have been Isoth an. able arid a zealous assistant." . .• " How fortunate poor Jemmy has been, Jllr. Ddwkins, to havfe made so many friends at the crisis of liis fortune ; had he been kidnapped or murdered a few months ago, there would have been no one to make a fuss about it, except indeed poor Mary Weedon, whom, as you know, sir, he used to call his inother. I now much doubt whether he was right in so doing, though I did not then after qu^tioning her on the subject. By the way, I must see her, and tell her every thing : when she left DubUn, she made me promise, that if He should fall into ' his dad uncle's hands,' I would at once let her knpw ; I have only this moment remembered ALTHAMv- 43 it, yet she may be a useful auxiliary, having attended hiln jfrom his infancy, and of course being conversant with the history of the , Althams." " 'I'hat is a good thought, Bushe," replied Henry,' " I wonder it did not occur to me. You will recollect I met her at your chambers at college, and at the time t certainly should have asked her more than your good-nature permitted you. With my father's leave, I will accompany you to Galway, and thence to Dunmaine, where no doubt Mary Weedon still is with her vagabond husband. Ton. my honor I dare not write to Isabella Brock, though I promised to correspond wjth her by every packet, without being better able to account for Annesley's whereabout — the darling little puss is hatf in love with him." " I was about to propose that you should go with Bushe," said Mr. Dawkins. " pj^ connections and friends may be of avail to y^ in the country. I am a^re Mr. Daly will put you on the right scent in Galway. He is getting old, and rarely acts in his i riagisterial capacity ; but I know no one of more clear 44 ALTHAM. judgment, when he can overcome a laziness which, to say the truth, is constitutional; or who, when his interest is excited in a .case, as in this I have no doubt it will, exerts himself more." "I can assure you, sir, that ere I left, the interest you suppose needed, was effectually aroused. He hates Mr. Quill from the bottom of his heart ; some tenants of his also hold lapd from Jbps^ Altham, and (pardon nie, Bushe,) your uncii has of late screwed the poor deyils to the uttermost. This, in Galway, is a new system, and Mr. Daly has, in almost all the cases of this, mutual ownership, been the sufferer to the full extent of his rent, as he would not exact his rights from poois^etches whose cattle and crops were sold for even the last groat, by Lord Altham. Of course this aided his old antipathy to Quill, together with finding his name associated in the same commission with his own. You may believe too, sir, that my eloquence in Annesley's behalf was not spared on him." " Well. I am g ladj^ bo ys, that you vvill have his assistance, for his opinion carries the 't. . f \ AL^HAM. 45 weight it' Qught to ^6 in the county; the people are devoted to him, as they invariably are to the few landlords who, do not abuse their position. Good night, i)iy lads— my old '" eyes grow heavy — I shall see you before you ^ go in the morning." « ^:. •' I fear it will be too early for you, sir ; the coach starts at five— Bushe and I must leave this half an hour earlier." " Well then, God bless you — keep me well informed of your movements — good night.'' ^ " Is not the old governor a trump ? " asked Dawkins, after his father left. " I hardly think you take more interest in Annesley's fate than he does. I thought, when first I . told him what my letter informed you of, that he would have gone and accused Lord Altham of what he might suspect, but could not prove. We'have since had long consultations on the course to be adopted, but some how, could iiot^ fall on anything likely to succeed. Your uncle has, doubtless, entrenched himself within legat ramparts, which it will task our utmost efforts J^J^^?^ ^ ^^^ yQ^ ^ve ^Q-»ight 8uggfist.f>d the „ true source to be relied on, in Mary Weedon - /' i-t-f 46 ALTHAM. that is i£ she still lives — she scarcely looked Hkely to outlast the winter, when I saw her at your rooms." " Well, it is time to turn in now, Harry ; and, to say^the truth, I need rest, for with the exception of some ten hours of sea-sickneaa and misery on board the packet, I have not been in bed for a week. Have me called in* time, for I verily believe that, anxiety notwith- standing, I should sleep for two or three days otherwise. My constitution generally makes up for any grievance it may be subjected to in that way." r .A Chapter IV. " She is asle^ good wencb,— let's ^it down quiet, For fear we wake her." HiNRT vni. The communication^ by public stage between Dublin and the ancient jcity of the tribes, is one of the oldest in Ireland; and whilst on other routes, at a distance from Dublin, the traveller "rode post " as he best could, either hiring or buying cattle. Even at the period , of our tale, a pubHc conveyance was no novelty on the Galway road — slowly, though at a steady pace, it jolted along, racking the bones of its unfortunate passengers. Yet although staging is there of such ancient date, the reader may infer that it has, or, at least twoaty years ago had, not reached any great degree - of ex celle nce, when we inform him, in sober seriousness, that in the year of m^ice 1828, we ■■». ■ \ ^^ ■$ ' ■ " - ' t^JiS 48 ALTHAM. travelled from Loughrea to Connolley's hotel, in the county town, in a Hearse, and that such was the ordinary conveyance plying between those places, of which carriage, if we recollect aright, the inn-keeper aforesaid was the proprietor. This sia^e had received some trifling alt\^atidhs, but- still retained its dome- shaped head, and lugubrious gildings might be traced through the coat of rough paint which was intended to cover them. The panel of the door was adorned with a skeleton figtire menacing the entering traveller with a brandished scythe ; and on the adjoining sides were to be seen ,angels, skulls, cross-bones, and hour-glasses ; nevertheless, although at first we confess to some ; rather unpleasant feelings, we certify that after we h$d shaken into our places, a merrier party of six in sides n^er passed over that most bone-dis^locating of all earthly roads. True it is, that in such torrents fell the rain, we could only occasionally calch a glimpse at the prospect ; but decis^iedly this was an advantage ; for a more desolately dreary view can scarcely be imagined— ythe country was covered with loose stones of all ■J- 'Y\ altham;. 49 dimensions, with hardly a vestiga of green to be discovered between ; but then our Hearse was waterproof. We were a party of fellow collegians, and had become very intimate in I the canal boat, which brought us to Loughrea, I far more comfortably, and quite as fast as we were now finishing our travel, (well might it I be so named.) The roughest part of the jjourney was through the streets of Galway. jWe were used to the wretched tumble-down appearance of Irish countrjr towns, but tjiis city astonished us \^ its misery, as much, as ^'udgiag from appearances, it must have struck 3ur friends, Dawkins and Bushe, by its lourishing prosperity, when they arrived, as they in safety did three days after we lost sight of them. -"Nations and cities die as i^eU as men/'— And poor Galway appeared, in 1828, far gone in fever and ague ; so tottering, Md, and squalid, did it seem, — having,' nevertheless, an air of fade4 respectabiUty rhich touched the heart.— Luckily our friends iad not to entrust the supplying of their M% wants to thg^te nderjaercies^^ a Galw ay- idlord-HBJthough in olden times, they miffht VOL. II. J) ' ^ » ;,*^ 50 ALTHAM. ililij! p^haps We attained some thing besides salmon and whiskey, the only viands in vogue there twenty years ago. They drove at once to Mr. Daly^s ; the old gentleman received them hospitably, and although for a brief space he could not forget that Bushe was Mr. Quill's nephew, that soon wore off before the student's honest candor ; and Mr. Daly was, jjerhaps, willing to be still more friendly, from^Hhe feeling that he had done one frieQ^injustice. They found their host in p^session of all the particulars respectingt^e indenting of Annesley — such proceedijlgs^ere of common occurrence. The government of the day, much more anxious to I settjjf "the colonies, than scrupulous about the ' rt(eans, held out inducements to parents / overburdened with large families, — to the guardians of the poor, and the relatiom of friendless children, to rid themselves of the incumbrance, by indenting them to captains or Owners of vessels, who found the means of transport to the Plantations,— receiving from t hei r n ominal apprentic es, but real sla ves^ jnj engagement to work in the colonies for such - ■( . /'"f^ ALTHAM. 51 shipowners or their assigns. These indentures they set up, on their arrival, for public auction to the highest bidder, and the slavery of these ^ unfortunates was far more bitter than that now endured, amongst their "free and enlightened" descendants, by the negro population.* No doi^ rested on Mr. Daly's mind that poor jAnnesley was at this moment eating the bitter jbread of slavery, and he had hitherto been lunable to strike out any plan for his recovery. Mr. Quill, as Henry Dawkins supposed, had avoided laying himself^^pen to the law. The old rascal appeared very much astonished, rhen, on the morning after his arrival, his lephew entered his sanctum, but received him Tith his usual manner. "Why, Amos, what brings you here? four last letter said nothing of your intention " return." ♦ We are not aware that the indentmg of emigrant, i. legal even af the pre^snt day. In our own memory, a fellow pprenticed a cargo in Cork Harbour, aqd wld their .ervice. at feCapeofGoodHope. The affair made much noine w hen it. td«ract«r1»ame tnowto ; but he laughed at the" «blic indignation, having become affluent by hi. .peculation. ■:J:M&M^1 Jlb.Ji ^ (.-. . J^^ 3 L 'Jjlb. aJdi»^'.'f l^• i^fflbii 52 ALTHAM. " Nor did I then intend it, sir. Without preface, I ask what you have done with young Annesley ? " " I have thought it right to relieve you of the burden of his support. I do not exactly see how you could reconcile it to yourself to press more heavily on me than was needful for your 6wn." " I never exceeded the allowance you gave me, sir ; and the little I should have been obliged to expend on the boy, I should have retrenched from my own expenses ; but we are wide of the question. I entreat you to tell me how we may regain the unfortunate boy." " Even if I wished it, that is impossible now. He is earning his own bread, as / have always j dtne, and will most likely do well abroad." " Am I then to expect no further information | from you, sir? " " I have none to give." " You hav© been kind to me ; but now, sir,! you force me to say that I am sorry ever to have received obligation at your hands. I am not without friends, and this ujirighteous business shall be sifted to the bottom. iT / '^;,Sp: r'f ALTHAM. 53 Mr. Quill was not prepared for such resolution on hk nephew's part,— as the latter ' turned to leave the office, he said— " " In what I have done, I have been actuate«l with the sole View of doing you good. I have nothing to fear^m any investigation ; but mark me, sir jUold you presume to shew your ingratituOTby endeavoring to stir up idle prej^ces against me^, you have no further I favor to expect at my'hands." " I shall not seek it; do you suppose me I base enough to be indebted to you, after what has passed. I will work hard to repay the expense you have been at on my account, and I that of my poor mother." " Well spouted, sir ; doubtless you deem I what you have said as creditable to yourself as it is painful to me; for once, at least, I have conferred favors, and I ought to have expected the usual harvest— my want of foresight is annoying. Leave me." -, Without comment, Bushe did as he Was bid- I den, and returned to Mr. Daly's. When he had kyounted what had taken plar,e at Km interview / Iwith his uncle, the old gentleman said— ■f 54 ALTHAM. ' " You have not a moment to lose, boys, in going to Dunmaine — ^tjiat rascal will act with determination, now that he is put to it, — my son will ride over with you. It is a rough country, but I can mount you well, and a ride of a couple of hours will bring you to Lord Althai^'s place. I passed an evening there once with his .rollicking brother.— Egad we have had some hard ^ing fellows in Galway, but lie worst of them was slow, compared to him. One night in his house was enough for me,v-he had around him as choice a rabble as Comus, and their wassailing was as noisy. I suppose the old place is going to wreck, for it has been long deserted." Accompanied by young Daly, our friends were soon cantering across the park at Dunmaine. It was a wide expanse of wood and lawn; much of the timber was^ evidently the I remains of the primeval forest. Magnificent avenues shaded by ojd gnarled oaks, led across it in various directions, and imdemeath reposed immense herds of deer. At a distance might be ^een the old m ansion^ Muse, gre y witli time, having its steep gables, and curiously 'f^: ALTHAM, 55 clustered chimneys, wreathed with luxuriant ivy. It was a bright, frosty, winter evening, and the half dozen spaniels which followed Daly, nqw chaced the hares which each moment started from their forms — now flushed the skirring coveys, long unused to such intrusion. The park, at least, had been well kept, and the Earl's game-keepers had done their duty. " By Jove," cried Dawkins, it puzzles me much how the ^wner of such a pljace as this can condescend to hang about our faJ-ce of an IrisK Court; if 1 were he, my visits to town would be few and far between. What a prinbe this Lord Altham might be here/' . j " Most likely he would' be about as happy as the l^te Lord," replied Bushe. " Hd is notia man to enjoy the country ; young Mountmorr^s however will b#of a different stamp— I cat I fancy him one of these days a regul^ patriaix;h ; but here we are— the old house seems shuf up—I wonder whether we shall get-inPI" \ Loudly and repeatedly they rappecl, and I rung peals of the sonorous hall bell, whicW Iresounded ^m b a se m ent to garret, througb^ the empty old house, but had nigh given up' •J. i'- I ..'4' .ilsSi'. mw- ■■- ■ *.■ ■' .— - ■» ' ' ■ *". • ^* lillff. • ' 1 ill ■ ■.:. '. ■.■^^ o i 1 1 i ^ *. . 111 i 56. AT.THAM. the effort in despair, when an elderly lady was seen coming through a door*^in an ojd moss- clad wall, which probably enclosed the garden. The young men ceased their clamorous demands for entrance, as she slowly approached. She did not perceive theni until within a few paces, when she stopped and gazed on the unwonted presence of strangers, with unfeigned astonish- ment. Her voice was harsh and imperious as she asked — * " How got you into the park, sirs? " " Why faith, madam, very much against the wish of the good woman at the gate, by which we entered ; fortunately we found it on the latch — a young girl having just passed out, and once we were in, the portress vainly tried to persuade us to return,*' answered Bushe. " The truth is. Madam," he continued, " my| friend, Mr. Dawkins, and I, kijew a poor woman named Mary Weedon, who now resides here, in Dublin, and having something of impor- tance to tell her, have taken the liberty ahnostl to force an entry into the domain. May I ask, I, wb^&w^ige^likdy to fi nd he r?" „ " Unless your business is of very great I 'I- IV ALTHAM. 57 importance to others, sir, you must not intrude on her now. With earth and its ' concerns she has weU nigh done," answered the lady in a softened tone. " It is of the utmost importance to one whom I am mistaken if she loves not more than her ownUfe."' " • . " It must then relate to the boy whom she calls Jemmy.— She .has lain, poor thing, during long dehrious nights--s6metimes aecusiiig him of deserting her, and again thanking God that he was safe. Know you ought of him young sir ? " This question was accompanied with a^ , quick, enquiring gl&nce, which assured Bushe that the old lady was not, unacquainted with Annesley's history. \ " It is on his account that I wish to see Mary Wee,don— our interview should take place at once." " It shall, su* ; but you must comq alone- she is not in a state to admit the presence of strangers." " Our conference should have witnesses, ^QJy, a n d fo r t hat purposa I Jiave^brought = these gentlemen." " ■w i i .'ik -^afTT^M'WRrt '■'(■■ , : -,' !^ 58 ALTHAM. "I cannot consent to it, sir, it would kill her — my evidence wiHi suffice to corroborate your statement of what may pass. May I ask whether your name is Bushe ? " "It is, madam." "Well, sir, we will go together to Mrs. Weedon's, — meanwhile tell me if all is well with Jemmy ? " " The qtlestion was embarrassing, but Bushe , saw that it was put with anything but hostile motives ; he, however, parried it for the time, answering merely — \ " i trust it may be, madam." The old lady's keen eye had been intently fixed on the student, as if endeavoring to anticipate his answer, which she heard with a disappointed sigh, and turning to his com- panions she said — " I presume, gentlemen, that I need not apologise at leaving you for an hour to amuse yourselves — we shall scarcely be detained longer. Come, Mr. Bushe." The good lady^ dress was that of a liouse- keepCTr^g^^when I foiuad my honored ladjT acting as housekeeper.^ By jhe aid of her ^^^ old servant^ the steward and gardener, she had^Kouse ALTHAM. 65 been represented to Lord Altham as theHdow of a gentleman in the neighbourhood, and be employed her, little imagining that she was his brother's widow ; he had indeed long supposed her dead, as I also did." " But, lady," asked Buslie, " what induced you to allow a doubt of your son's right to the succession ? " " Alas, sir, my story is a most unhappy one ; deserted by my kindred, my lonely situation induced Lord Altham to indulge in designs against my honor ; finding himself frustrated, he sought me in marriage ; young, inexpe- rienced, dependant on the bounty of unkind relatives, who seconded his suit with all their power, I at length consented, though with a foreboding heart— would to God I had listened to its promptings, or had rather married the poorest peasant on his vast estates. My husband was a capricious tyrant, whose passion having quickly subsided, he treated me with the utmost barbarity ; by mutual consent we separated, and for twenty years all intercourse ceased, when unfortuna tel y we m et « f th e ner, she had ■louse of a mutual acquaintance in ,Dublin ■ ' VOL. II. £ ' G6 ALTHAM. where neither expected the other's presence. ' Lord Altham could assume any character he chose, and, notwithstanding my previous knowledge of him, his pretended penitence deceived me, and I suffered myself to be persuaded that he had changed. A recon- ciliation took place, and we came to live a^ Dunmaine; but, alas, my eyes were soon opened — ^he assembled around him a horde of his most vicious acquaintances — days and nights were passed in mad riot and sottish debauch, whilst to me his conduct was more cruel than at first. I however bore up as well as I could, for I was about to become a | mother. Increased uproar and revelry marked . the period which heralded my unfortunate son's birth ; for his sakdl I lived, for I fell what a.situation his would hk if I suffered my weary frame to sink. Yeari passed, during wl^ich my only comfort was my boy, whom I removed to my faithful Mary's house. About this time, Lord Altham first met a being who| contrived to render my misery still more acute, JDuring on e of his Miss Gregory short Residences JP P^^^°' had fascinated him, an3| ALTHAM. 67f thenceforth he strove by aU peans .in his power to drive me from his house; fiading neglect and cruelty unavaiHng, he at lengths succeeded by bringing an abominable accusa- tion against me. This drov^ me to despair-^ I returned to town, and only twice since have seen my poor boy. As long^as his father treated him with common dece% I was satisfied ; but finding after a time that he was regarded as illegitimate, I summoned resolution : once more to see Lord Altham,— he received me at first moj-e courteously than I expected, but on my alluiTmg to bis treatment of oi* son,' stated in coarse terms that I had never beej^ legally his wife, of which I might easily satisfy myself; that the party who officiated at the *> mock ceremony was not in orders,--that as for Jemmy, he would have him^rought up as * |befitted his future station in life. I was struck dumb with astonishment and borror— I knew Lord Altham to be capable of ^he baseness of which he had accused himself. -wa» carried fainting from his house, and leve r s a w him agai n. On my i - eco v erjr from *d hin,, .«« 3evere iUness, which w»8 the result of this '■1^. 68 ALTIIAM. interview, I employed a person in whom I could confide^ to j investigate the tmth of my destroyer's assertions, and his report fully corroborating them, determined to hide my shame in a foreign convent ; and selling my jewels and other remn?ints of former d^ys, I went to Prance ; but continued ill health rendered me unable for some years to carry out my resolution, and on my partial restoration, /finding that Lord Altham was dead, the advice of my medical attendants, together with an eager desire once more to see my son, inducedJ me to return to Ireland. With a beating heart, I sought Mary Weedon at Dunmaine,- even my old servants did not recognise me, such was the alteration which sorrow and long | sickness had wrought. I then formed the plan of residing here permanently, under an assumed name, and made myself known to the steward and gardener, both of whom loved their old mistress well. Shortly after my arrival, Lord| Altham sent instructions that a new house keeper should be employed in the room of onel who had ktel j^ did. a n d on the stjwa rd^ mentioning the matter to me, I detcmuucd to ALTHAM. 69 assume that Character. I dreaded to write to Mary Weedon, (who, I found, was in Dublin her husband being. a servant of the present Lord's,) fearing that my letter might fall into wrong hands,, and' determined to wait until the steward went to town, to lay his quarterfy accounts before Lord Altham ; but ere this time came, poor Mary arrived at Dunmaine • she too had suffered much, and her constitution bemg unequal to the burden, was sinking fast Her account of my son's situation on th« whole comforted me, although, it deferred mdefinitely my prospect of seeing him. You know ^U, Mr. Bushe-may I enquire what course do you propose to take ?^\, " I confess, lady, that I km aS loss how to proceed.-Weedon must be in the cofifidence of his employer;— do you thinlj^ we « do [anything with him?" "It must be tried at least, Mr. Bushe"^ saidM^^. "I feel that my end is neai; 1 wiU see him once more--it may be that he |will hearken to me, -at least I will -" ■ jjtjimstjo t b^ |AItham~- yon arc unequal to such an inter- «. >° t % ?«f. vifiWj^ it wmiM |)ut huiry jo|| at mftlfer^, dear I sooner or later. Believe me ^ if I ielt that I^ft aught , ,^ '^hj^ might benefit po(Hf Jemmy. *^/^Si«||^ see «John> and that at once, jfc time is ^ 'y^ mosl'precious now." ^|^ % . " Be it so then— I will send to the s^ward's, land have him brought hither. Mr; Buo^he and I will return before he can be here— meilnwhile, my poor Mary, endeavour io rest." ^ . • f \ ^ \ . iiii ■ /. """"Wr '"'1^ t B,',Jl 1^ ^v i^. ^ % Chapter V. y X' "Oh ill starr'd wench : Pale as thy smock ! wht^n we shall peet at coriipt. Th,s look of thine will hurl my soul from heuvLn." ^ pTaKi.1,0. I TRUST, Mr. Bushe, your friends will p^'dou our long absence/' said Lady Althari, aa they I ^"^^'^^^ fro^ tl^e garden, and approached &e house, " Gentlemen," she continued, as they rejomed Bu^he^s compftniois, " our interview with Mary Weedon, has been much longer than I anticipated, otherwise I should not have left you so unceremoniously. We must U^th^ mtroduce»e, ere his intemperance-^^fe wrecked iieir happiness for evei^pe was sdftened. Such a %nood was that, eftong which the proji^ted' interview was most likely to ptoduce the de^ed effect. " 1 am .sorry to say that I have no hope, Weedon; nay scarcely do I think that Mary ■^ ■=H. win see to-morrow's ^lin:'* ALTHAM. 75 She took a lamp from the table, and softly ent^ed the invalid's room.. After a brief ^absence she returned much affected. " It is too late— the misery of «us wretched' world ^as no longer power- over poor Mtor. She has been some time dead." ^ The wretched husband, with a i)iercin