THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES GIFT OF P. ^ennox Tierney BEATRICE HALLAM. NotieL AUTHOR OF "SURRY OF EAGLES NEST," "MOHUN," "HILT TO HILT," ETC., ETC. NEW YORK: COPYRIGHT, 1892, BT G. W. Dillingham, Publisher^ SUCCESSOR TO G. W. CARLETON & Co. MDCCCXCII. BEATRICE HALLAM. PROLOGUE THE memories of men are full of old romances : but thej will not speak our skalds. King Arthur lies still woundee grievously, in the far island valley of Avilyon : Lord OdiL. in the misty death realm : Balder the Beautiful, sought long by great Herrnoder, lives beyond Hela's portals, and will bless his people some day when he comes. But when? King Arthur ever is to come : Odin will one day wind his horn and clash his wild barbaric cymbals through the Nord- land pines as he returns, but not in our generation : Balder will rise from sleep and shine again the white sun god on his world. But always these things will be : Arthur and the rest are meanwhile sleeping. Romance is history : the illustration may be lame the truth is melancholy. Because the men whose memories hold this history will not speak, it dies away with them : the great past goes deeper and deeper into mist : becomes finally a dying strain of music, and is no more remembered forever. Thinking these thoughts I have thought it well to set down here some incidents which took place on Virginia soil and in which an ancestor of my family had no small part to write my family romance in a single word, uad alsc t though following a connecting thread, a leading idea, to speak briefly of the period to which these memories, as I may call them, do attach. That period was very picturesque : illustrated and adorned, as it surely was, by such figures as one seldom sees now on the earth. Often in my evening reveries, assisted by the partial gloom resulting from the struggles of the darkness and the dying firelight, I endeavor, and not wholly without success, to summon from their sleep these stalwart 16 AN INTERIOR WITH PORTRAITS. cavaliers, and tender, graceful dames of the far past. They rise before me and glide onward manly faces, with clear eyes and lofty brows, and firm lips covered with the knightly fringe : soft, tender faces, with bright eyes and gracious smiles and winning gestures ; all the life and splendor of the past again becomes incarnate ! How plain the embroidered doublet, and the sword-belt, and the powdered hair, and hat adorned with its wide floating feather ! How real are the ruffled breasts and hands, the long-flapped waistcoats, and the buckled shoes ! And then the fairer forms : they come as plainly with their looped-back gowns all glittering with gold and silver flowers, and on their heads great masses of curls with pearls interwoven ! See the gracious smiles and musical movement all the graces which made those dead dames so attractive to the outward eye as their pure faith ful natures made them priceless to the eyes of the heart. CHAPTER L AN DPTESIOB WITH PORTRAITS, ON a splendid October afternoon, in the year of our Lord 1763, two persons who will appear frequently in this history were seated in the great dining-room of EfEngham Hall. But let us first Ray a few words of this old mansion. Effingham Hall was a stately edifice not far from Williams- burg, which, as every body knows, was at that period the capi tal city of the colony of Virginia. The hall was constructed of elegant brick brought over from England : and from the great portico in front of the building a beautiful rolling country of hills and valleys, field and forest, spread itself pleasantly before the eye, bounded far off along the circling belt of woods by the bright waters of the noble river. Entering the large hall of the old house, you had before you, walls covered with deers' antlers, fishing-rods, and guw : portraits of cavaliers, and dames and children : even carefu ly painted pictures of celebrated race-horses, on whose spe and bottom many thousands of pounds had been staked an lost and won in their day and generation. AN INTERIOR WITH PORTRAITS. IT On one side of the hall a broad staircase with taken ba lustrade led to the numerous apartments above : and on the opposite side, a door gave entrance into the great dining room. The dining-room was decorated with great elegance : the carved oak wainscot extending above the mantelpiece in an unbroken expanse of fruits and flowers, hideous laughing faces, and long foamy surges to the cornice. The furniture was in the Louis Quatorze style, which the reader is familiar with, from its reproduction in our own day ; and the chairs were the same low- seated affairs, with high carved backs, which are now seen. There were Chelsea figures, and a side board full of plate, and a Japan cabinet, and a Kiddermin ster carpet, and huge andirons. On the andirons crackled a few twigs lost in the great country fireplace. On the wall hung a dozen pictures of gay gallants, brave warriors, and dames, whose eyes outshone their diamonds : and more than one ancestor looked grimly down, clad in cui rass and armlets, and holding in his mailed hand the sword which had done bloody service in its time. The lady por traits, as an invariable rule, were decorated with sunset clouds of yellow lace the bright locks were powdered, and many little black patches set off the dazzling fairness of the rounded chins. Lapdogs nestled on the satin laps : and not one of the gay dames but seemed to be smiling, with her head bent sidewise fascinatingly on the courtly or warlike figures ranged with them in a long glittering line. These portraits are worth looking up to, but those which we promised the reader are real. In one of the carved chairs, if any thing more uncom fortable than all the rest, sits, or rather lounges, a young man of about twenty-five. He is very richly clad, and in a costume which would be apt to attract a large share of at tention in our own day, when dress seems to have become a mere covering, and the prosaic tendencies of the age are to despise every thing but what ministers to actual material pleasure. The gentleman before us lives fortunately one hundred years before our day : and suffers from an opposite tenden cy in costume. His head is covered with a long flowing pe ruke, heavy with powder, and the drop curls hang down OB 18 AW TNTBRIOE WITH PORTRAITS. his cheeks ambrosially : his cheeks are delicately rouged, and two patches, arranged with matchless art, complete the distinguished tout ensemble of the handsome face. At breast, a cloud of lace reposes on the rich embroidery of his figured satin waistcoat, reaching to his knees : this lace is voint de Venise and white, that fashion having come in just one month since. The sleeves of his rich doublet are turned back to his elbows, and are as large as a bushel the opening being filled up, however, with long ruffles, which reach down over the delicate jewelled hand. He wears silk stockings of spotless white, and his feet are cased in slippers of Spanish leather, adorned with diamond buckles. Add velvet garters below the knee : a little muff of leopard skin reposing near at hand upon a chair not omitting a snuff-box peeping from the pocket, and Mr. Champ Effingham, just from Oxford and his grand tour, is before you with his various surroundings. He is reading the work which some time since attained to such extreme popularity, Mr. Joseph Addison's serial, " The Spectator," collected now for its great merits, into bound volumes. Mr. Effingham reads with a languid air, just as he sits, and turns over the leaves with an ivory paper cutter, which he brought from Venice with the plate glass yonder on the sideboard near the silver baskets and pitch ers. This languor is too perfect to be wholly affected, and when he yawns, as he does frequently, Mr. Effingham applies himself to that task very earnestly. In one of these paroxysms of weariness the volume slips from his hand to the floor. " My book," he says to a negro boy, who has just brought in some dishes. The boy hastens respectfully to obey crossing the whole width of the room for that purpose. Mr. Effingham then continues reading. Now for the other occupant of the apartment. She sits near the open window, looking out upon the lawn and breathing the pure delicious air of October as she works. She is clad in the usual child's costume of the period (she is only eleven or twelve), namely, a sort of half coat, half frock, reaching carcely below the knees ; an embroidered undervest ; scar let silk stockings with golden clocks, and little resetted shoes with high red heels. Her hair is unpowdered, and hangs in juris upon her neck and bare shoulders. Her little fingeri A SERIES OF CATASTROPHES. 19 we busily at work upon a piece of embroidery which repre sents or is to represent a white water dog upon an intensely emeraid back-ground, and she addresses herself to this occu pation with a business air which is irresistibly amusing, and no less pleasant to behold. There is about the child, in her movements, attitude, expression, every thing, a freshness and innocence which is only possessed by children. This is Miss Kate Effingham, whose parents died in her infancy, for which reason the little sunbeam was taken by the squire, her father's brother. Kate seems delighted with the progress she has made in Jelineating Carlo, as she calls him, and pauses a moment to survey her brilliant handiwork. She then opens her ivory decorated work-box to select another shade of silk, holding it on her lap by the low-silled open window. But disastrous event ! Just as she had found what she wanted, just as she had procured the exact shade for Carlo's ears, just as she closed the pretty box, full of all manner of little elegant instruments of needle-work she heard an im patient exclamation of weariness and disdain, something flut tered through the air, and this something striking the hand some box delicately balanced on Kate's knees, precipitated it, with its whole contents, through the window to the lawn beneath. The explanation of this sudden event is, that Mr. Effing- ham has become tired of the " Spectator," hurled it sidewise from him without looking ; and thus the volume has, after its habit, produced a decided sensation, throwing the work- box upon the lawn, and Kate into utter despair. * CHAPTER II. A SERIES OF OATA8TEOPHE8, ENDING IN A FAMILY TABLEAU. KATE, spite of her great age and near approach to woman* hood, is almost ready to cry: " Oh cousin Chamo 1 " she says, ' 'now could you 1 " 20 A SERIES OP CAlASTROPHES. Mr. Effingham yawns. " Did you speak to me, Katy ? " he says languidly. " Yes I" " Why, what's the matter ? " " You've ruined my work-box 1 " I ! " " Yes, you knocked it out of the window with your book and I think it was not kind," Kate says, pouting, and leaning out of the window to gaze at the prostrate work-box. Mr. Effingham sees the catastrophe at a glance, and ap parently smitten with remorse, tries to ascertain the extent of the injury. But the morning seems an unlucky one for him. As he places his heel upon the carpet, he unfortunately treads with his whole weight upon the long silky ear of his sister's favorite lapdog Orauge, who is about the size of the fruit from which he takes his name. Orange utters a yell sufficiently loud to arouse from their sleep the seven champions of Christendom. Drawn by his successive yells, a lady appears at the door and enters the apartment hurriedly. Miss Alethea, only sister of Mr. Effingham, is a lady of about thirty, with a clear complexion, serene eyes, her hair trained back into a tower ; and with an extremely stately and dignified expression. She looks like the president of a benevolent society, and the very sight of her erect head, the very rustle of her black silk dress has been known to strike terror into evil-doers. " Who has hurt Orange ? " she says, severely ; " here, poor fellow ! some one has hurt him I " Orange yells much louder, seeing his defender. " V'hat in the world is the matter with him, Champ ? " he Bays ; " please answer me 1 " Mr. Effingham regales his nostrils with a pinch of snuff, and replies indifferently : " Probably Orange has an indigestion, or perhaps he is uttering those horrible sounds because I stepped upon his ear." " Stepped on his ear ! " Mr. Effingham nods serenely. " Keally, you are too careless !" Miss Alethea exclaims, and her black silk rustling, she goes to Orange and take him in her arms. A SERIES OP CATASTROPHES. 2 1 But in brushing by Mr. Effingham her ample sleeve chances to strike that gentleman's snuff-box, and the contents of the useful article are discharged over little Kate, who coughing, sneezing, crying and laughing, perfects the scene. " See what you have done, Alethea !" says Mr. Effingham, reproachfully, and yawning as he speaks ; " you have thrown my snuff upon Kate." And turning to the child : " Never mind, Kate ! " he says, " it's excellent snuff. It won't hurt you now don't " With such observations Mr. Effingham is quieting the child, when another addition is made to the company. This is in the person of a young gentleman of thirteen or fourteen Master Willie Effingham, Mr. Champ's brother, aad a devoted admirer of Kate. Will, seeing his sweetheart in tears, bustles up, upon his little resetted shoes, flirting his little round-skirted coat, and fiercely demands of the company at large : " Who made Kate cry ! " " Oh, the snuff ! the snuff ! " says Kate, crying and laughing. " Whose snuff! " says Will, indignantly. " Mine," replies Mr. Effingham ; " there are no excuses to be made ; arrange the terms of the combat." " For shame, Champ ! " says Miss Alethea, with stately dignity ; " you jest at Willie, but I think his behavior very honorable." " Ah 1 " you are an advocate of duelling, then, my dear madam ? " drawls Mr. Effingham. " No, I am not ; but your snuff made Kate cry." " Deign to recall the slight circumstance that your sleeve discharged it from my hand." " Never mind, I think Will right." Will raises his head proudly. " Kate is his favorite and playmate " " As Orange is yours," says Mr. Effingham, languidly, the lapdog having uttered an expiring howl. " Well, well s don't let us argue ; I am ready to make the amende to my little Kate we are all dear to each other so here is my lace handkerchief, ma mignonette, to wipe away the snuff 1 ' Kate laughs. 22 A SERIES Of CATASTROPHES. ' And here's a kiss, to make friends for the snuff and tha work box." Kate wrung her hands, and says, laughing and pouting " Oh my box ! my box 1" " Your box 1 " says Will, who has been looking daggers at Mr. Effingham for kissing the child. " Yes ! my poor box 1 " " Never mind, Katy," says Mr. Effingham, smiling as he passes his hand caressingly over the little head ; " I un fortunately broke it, but you shall have one twice as hand some ; I saw one in Williamsburg yesterday, which I thought of getting for Clare Lee but you shall have it." " Oh, thankee ! " cries Kate, " but I oughtn't to take cousin Clare's, you know 1 And there's papa 1 he's got my box I" Kate springs forward to meet the squire the head ef the house who enters at the door. The squire is a gentleman of fifty-five or sixty, with an open frank face, clear, honest eyes, and his carriage is bold, free, and somewhat pompous. He is clad much more simply than his eldest son, his. coat having upon it not a particle of embroidery, and his long plain waistcoat buttoning up to the chin : below which a white cravat and an indication only of frill are visible. His limbs are cased in thick, strong and comfortable cloth, and woollen, and he wears boots, very large and serviceable, to which strong spurs are attached. His broad, fine brow, full of intelligence and grace, is covered by an old cocked hat, which, having lost the loops which held it in the three-cornered shape, is now rolled up upon each side ; and his manner in walking, speaking, arguing, reading, is much after the description of his costume plain, straightforward, and though somewhat pompous, destitute of finery and ornament. He is the head of a princely establish ment, he has thousands of acres, and hundreds of negroes, he is a justice, and has sat often in the House of Burgesses : he is rich, a dignitary, every body knows it, why should he strive to ape elegancies, and trouble himself about the impression he produces ? He is simple and plain, as he con ceives, because he is a great proprietor and can afford to wear rough clothes, and talk plainly. His pomposity is not obtrusive, and it is tempered with A SERIES OF CATASTROPHES. 23 Bo much good breeding and benevolence that it does not de tract from the pleasant impression produced by his honest face. As he enters now that face is brown and red with ex ercise upon his plantation and he comes in with cheerful smiles ; his rotund person, and long queue gathered by a ribbon smiling no less than his eyes. In his hand is the unfortunate work-box, which has not, however, sustained any injury. " Here 'tis, puss 1 " says the squire, " nothing hurt I picked up the scissors and the vest : and the grass was as soft as a cushion." With which words the worthy squire sits down and wipes his brow. " Oh, thank'ee. papa," says Kate this is the child's name for him : and she runs and takes his hat, and then climbs on his lap, and laughingly explains how cousin Champ hadn't meant to throw the box out " because you know me and cou sin Champ are great favorites of each other's : and I am his pet." Having achieved this speech, which she utters with a rush of laughter in her voice, Kate hugs her box, and returns to Carlo. " Well, Champ," says the planter, " whither go you this afternoon any where ? " " I believe not," says Mr. Effingham. " Still enamored of your ease, you jolly dog 1 " " The Epicurean philosophy is greatly to my taste," saya Mr. Effingham, " riding wearies me." " Every thing does." "Ah?" " Yes, sir : you are the finest fine gentleman in the Colony." This half compliment produces no effect upon Mr. Ef- dngham, who yawns. " Why not go and see Clare Lee ? Clary's the most be witching little creature in the world," says the squire, unfold ing a copy of the " Virginia Gazette," which he draws from his pocket. " Clare Lee ? " says Mr. Effingham. " Yes, sir : she's a little beauty." 11 Well, so she is." 24 80METHINO LIKE AN ADVENTURE. " And as good as an angeL" " Hazardous, that, sir." " No, sir 1 " exclaims the squire, " it is true ! Zounds 1 she's too good for any mortal man." " Consequently, as I am a mortal man I draw the infer ence," says Mr. Effinghara. " Well, she's too good for you, sir : you had better go and see her : it may improve you." Mr. Effingham relents. " I think that is very desirable, sir," he says, " and on my word, I'll go. Please ring that bell." The squire without protest takes up the small silver bell and rings it. Mr. Effingham orders his horse descends soon in boots and riding gloves, and mounting, sets forth to wards the abode of the angel Miss Clare Lee. CHAPTER III. SOMETHING LIKE AN ADVENTURE, LEAVING the group which we have seen assemble in the drawing-room of Effingham Hall, let us follow the worthy whose misdeeds in connection with the work-box and lapdog caused the dramatic assemblage. Mr. Effingham, elegantly clad in a riding costume, perfect in its appointment, and mounted on a splendid courser which he had appropriated from his father's stud, took his way through the fresh woods towards Riverhead, the residence. of Mr. Lee and his two daughters, Henrietta and Clare. But Mr. Effingham was much too sensible a gentleman to bore himself, as we say to-day, with the fine scenery of Octo ber the fair blue skies, with their snowy clouds floating on like ships towards the clear horizon the variegated woods Cull of singing birds the streams dancing in the sun and all the myriad attractions of an autumn afternoon. Hia taste had been phaped iu London, and the glare of lights, SOMETHING LIKE AN ADVENTURE. 25 the noise of revelry, and gay encounter of bright wits and beauty, had long since deprived him of the faculty of admir ing such an insipid thing as simple nature. There was little affectation about the worthy gentleman in reality : he wag really and truly worn out. Accustomed for some length of time to evry species of dissipation, his character had been seriously injured his freshness was gone, and he sought DOW for nothing so much as emotions. We shall see if he was fortunate in his search. At times, as he went along, Mr. Effingham indulged in a gort of silent, well-bred laughter, at the scene he had just witnessed at the Hall. ' What a farce the world is," he said, philosophically, " we all run after something one has his literary ambition, another political aspiration : this young lady wishes to marry a lord : that young gentleman's highest hope in life is, that his comedy may not be damned for its want of freedom the polite word now I understand. It's all weariness : I really begin to think that little Katy and Alethea, with their em broidery and lapdogs, are the most sensible after all. Em broidery and lapdogs cost less, and " Mr. Effingham drew up suddenly so suddenly, that his horse rose on his haunches, and tossed his head aloft. The meaning of this movement was simply that he saw before him in the centre of the road he was following, a lady, who apparently awaited his approach. The lady was mounted upon a tall white horse, which stood perfectly quiet in the middle of the road, and seemed to be docility itself, though the fiery eyes contradicted this first impression. Rather would one acquainted with the sin gular character of horses have said that this animal was subdued by the gentle hand of his rider, and so laid aside from pure affection / all his waywardness. This rider was a young girl about eighteen, and of rare and extraordinary beauty. Her hair so much as was visi ble beneath her hood seemed to be dark chestnut, and her complexion was dazzling. The eyes were large, full, and dark instinct with fire and softness, feminine modesty, and collected firmness the firmness, however, predominating. But the lips were different. They were the lips of a child soft, guileless, tender, confiding : they were purity and VB 26 SOMETHING LIKE AN ADVENTURE. nocence itself, and seemed to say, that however much the brain might become hard and worldly, the heart of this ycung woman never could be other than the tender and delicately sensitive heart of a child. She was clad in a riding dress of pearl color and from the uniformity of this tint, it seemed to be a favorite with her. The hood was of silk, and the delicately gloved hand held a little ivory-handled riding whip, which now dangled at her side. The other gloved hand supported her cheek ; and in this position the unknown lady calmly awaited Mr. Effing- ham's approach still nearer, though he was already nearly touching her. Mr. Effingham took off his hat and bowed with elegant courtesy. The lady returned this inclination by a graceful movement of her head. " Would you be kind enough to point out the road to the town of Williamsburg, sir ? " she said, in a calm and clear voice. " With great pleasure, madam," replied Mr. Effingham, "you have lost your way 1 " " Yes, sir, very strangely, and as evening drew on, was afraid of being benighted." " You have but to follow this road until you reach Effingham Hall, madam," he said " the house in the dis tance yonder : then turn to the left, and you are in the highway to town." " Thanks, sir," the young girl said, with another calm inclination of her head: and she touched her horse with the whip. " But cannot I accompany you ? " asked Mr. Effingham, whose curiosity was greatly aroused, and found his eyes, he knew not why, riveted to the rare beauty of his companion's face, " do you not need me as a guide ? " " Indeed, I think not, sir," she said, with the same calm ness, your direction is very plain, and I am accustomed to ride by myself." " But really," began Mr. Effingham, somewhat piqued, a I know it is intrusive I know I have not the honor " She interrupted him with her immovable calmness. " You would say you do not know me, and that your offer b intrusive, I believe sir. I do not consider it so it is verj SOMETHING LIKE AN ADVENTURE, '<i7 kind : bat I am not a fearful girl, and need not trouble you at all." And she bowed. " One moment, madam," said Mr. Effingham; " I am real ly dying with curiosity to know you. 'Tis very rude to say so, of course but I am acquainted with every lady in the neighborhood, and I do not recall any former occasion upon which I had the pleasure " " It is very easily explained, sir," the young girl said. " Madam?" " I do not live in the neighborhood " "Ah? no?" " And I am not a lady, sir : does not that explain it ?" Mr. Effingham scarcely believed his ears : these astound ing words were uttered with such perfect calmness that there was no possible room to suppose that they were meant for a jest. What then ? He could not speak : he only looked at her. "You are surprised, sir," the young girl said, quite simply and gravely. " Upon my word, madam never have I really-* " Your surprise will not last long, sir." " How, madam ?" " Do you ever visit the town of Williamsburg ? M " Frequently." " Well, sir, I think you will see me again. Now I must continue my way, having returned you my very sincere thanks for your kindness." With which words words uttered in that wondrous voice of immovable calmness the young girl again inclined her sumptuous head, touched her white horse with the whip, and slowly rode out of sight. Mr. Effingham remained for several moments motionless, in the middle of the road, gazing with wide and astonished eyes after the beautiful equestrian. He was endeavoring by a tremendous mental exertion to solve the astounding problem of her identity. Vain was all his pondering noth ing came of all his thought, his knit brows, his lip gnawed ferociously, as he mused. Mr. Effingham was confident that he knew, at least by sight, every young lady at Williamsburg, and within a circuit of twenty miles, but this face was whoi- 28 THE ROSE AND THE VIOLET. ly unknown to him. He had certainly never seen her before and then the strange fact of her riding out alone : her self- possession : " she was accustomed to ride alone " " she waa not a lady " " they should probably meet again " what in the name of Fate, was the meaning of all this ? " May the fiend seize me, if the days of wandering Knights and forlorn damsels, haunted castles and giants have not returned ! " exclaimed Mr. Effingham, emphatically. And having thus disburdened his mind, he rode on but still his mind dwelt on the strange lady, and her more singular words. Not a lady ! " what could she mean ? was there ever since the days of the Sphinx so complete a puzzle i In face, person, dress, and carriage she was every inch a lady why then utter that astounding observation, enunciate that start ling intelligence ? who could she be. however ? Mr. Effing- ham ran over in his mind, the whole of his friends and ac quaintances, and could recollect no one whose face bore the slightest resemblance to that of the unknown lady. He gave ap in despair, finally, and struck his spurs into the noble ani* mal he rode, with unusual vigor. The horse started forward, and in half an hour he had reached Riverhead. CHAPTER IV. THE BOSE AND THE YIOLET. Two young ladies were walking upon the smooth-shaven lawn, which stretched unbroken save by a few noble oaks and clumps of shrubbery, from the fine old mansion to the wood land on each side and the enclosure in front. One of the ladies was tall and brilliant : her superb figure undulating with every movement would have graced a palace, and her bright eyes and merry lips were full of life and fire. She was clad with extreme richness, and the fine silks and Telvets which she wore shone brilliantly in the clear October THE ROSE AND THE VIOLET. 29 aunlight as she moved. This sheen of silk seemed her ap propriate accompaniment, and the diamond necklace which she wore was not observed. Her eyes and brilliant expres sion threw the silk and velvet and all jewels in the back ground. She looked the incarnation of aristocracy, using that term in its colloquial sense, and seemed to brim with mirth and merry witticisms from a pure sentiment of life and superiority to every one. Her companion was smaller in stature, and plainly younger apparently about nineteen. Her figure was more delicate, her beauty more pensive and aerial. The squire's criticism, or abandonment of all criticism, did not seem at all extravagant. A profusion of golden hair, blue eyes full of deep tenderness and instinct with a species of quiet happy pensiveness these, added to a complexion as fair as a lily and as transparent as a fresh stream, made up a countenance of exquisite beauty. The first lady was Miss Henrietta Lee : the second was her sister, Miss Clare Lee, between whom and Mr. Effing- ham a sort of undeveloped courtship existed. Mr. Effingham approached the ladies, trailing the feather of his hat upon the grass. " Ah 1 Mr. Effingham ! " cried Henrietta, with a merry laugh, " and as weary-looking as ever 1 " " Still jesting, Miss Henrietta or cousin Henrietta, as you agree I may in future call you ; have I presumed, and may I address you by that pleasant name ? " " Certainly you may," said the laughing girl, " though I believe the cousinship is rather distant." " To my regret." " Your regret ? truly ? ' " In sober truth," replied Mr. Effingham, languidly twirl ing his cocked hat : " near cousins, you know, have many agreeable privileges. Have they not, Miss Clare ? " Clare turned her soft, frank eyes on the young man and II / / O railed. " That is enough," continued Mr. Effingham, " when a lady smiles she always means yes." " A hasty conclusion ! " said Henrietta, " many a gay cavalier on his knees before a lady has been laughed at." " True, true : though I am most happy to say that 1 30 THE ROSE AND THE VIOLET. have never had the bad fortune to verify the t.rath of youi observation." And smoothing gently the ruffles at his breast, Mr. Effingham yawned. Henrietta burst into laughter, and her brilliant eyes flashed mischievously. Mr. Effingham looked round in apparent astonishment. " If I may be permitted to inquire, Miss Henrietta, or cousin Henrietta, as I shall beg leave henceforth to call you " Oh, certainly 1 " " What were you laughing at, pray ? " " Shall I tell you ? ' " If you please." " At you, then ! " " At me ? " " At you." " I am glad to find my company BO agreeably entertain ing : true, I am in unusually excellent spirits." " Spirits 1 you ? Why you yawned most portentouslj this moment 1 " "All habit a bad habit, I confess : and to prove that I am not weary, I have an adventure to relate." " An adventure ? " " Yes." And Mr. Effingham, in an elegant, petit maitre manner, narrated his adventure, as he was pleased to call it, with the unknown horsewoman. " Who could it have been ? " said Clare. " Who, indeed ! " echoed Henrietta. " Upon my soul, I don't know. Some wandering queen, or fairy, I suppose this Virginia is ths land of romance and magic. I think it very fortunate that she did not bid me dismount, seat myself behind her, and go off thus to fairy land with her. In which case," continued Mr. Effingham, gallantly, " I should not have experienced the happiness of gazing at your pleasant and beautiful countenances, cousins Henrietta and Clare." " You are too kind 1 " laughed Henrietta. " And not very sincere," said Clare, smiling. " Not sincere ? " And Mr. Effingham's glance dwelt for a moment almost THE ROSE AND THE VIOLET. 3 1 tenderly on the face of Clare, who looked like a pure angel, in the bright crimson light of sunset. " If you thought us so pleasant you would come oftt>tier," she said, with a flitting blush. " My poor society would ovly weary you, I fear," he said, ostensibly addressing both of the sisters, but looking at Clare, " I am a poor visitor." Clare turned away and puiled a rose. " It is not so far," she murmured, refusing plainly tc accept the excuse, and speaking in so low a tone that Hen rietta, who had taken some steps to meet her approaching father, did not hear the words. " And if I came ? " whispered Mr. Effingham. Clare turned away to hide her confusion. " Could I hope, dear cousin Ciare dearest Clare 1 " Mr. Effingham was getting on. But Henrietta and Mr Lee approached. " That you could could " " Good evening, Champ," said Mr. Lee, a fine portly old gentleman, coming up arm in arm with Henrietta, " glad to see you." Mr. Effingham bowed, and Clare bent down to examine, with profound curiosity, the rosebud which she held in her little hand. " The evening was so fine, that I thought I could not spend it more agreeably than in a ride to Riverhead, sir/' said Mr. Effingham. " Delightful 1 these August days are excellent for the corn ; what news ? " " Nothing, sir I have not seen the ' Gazette.'" " Oh, the ' Gazette' never contains any intelligence : sometimes, it is true, we hear what is goiog on in Parliament, but it never condescends to afford UP any news from Vir ginia. The tobacco on the south side may be all gone to the devil for any thing you read in the ' Gazette.' Here it is an abominable sheet I Ah 1 I see we are to have a the atrical performance in Williamsburg next week," added th old gentleman, glancing over the paper, " Mr. Hallam and his ' Virginia Company of Comedians ' very politic, that addition of ' Virginia 1 * are to perform The Merchant of Venice, by perir-iiuion of his worship the Major, at the Old Theatre near the Capitol, he announces. Truly we are im- 12 THE ROSE AND THE VIOLET. proving : really becoming civilized, in this barbarous term incognita. Mr. Effingham winced ; be bad more than once expressed a similar opinion of Virginia in good faith not ironically and the old gentleman's words seemed directed at himself. A moment's reflection, however, persuaded him that this could not be the case ; he had not visited Kiverhead a dozen times since his return from Oxford and London and on those occasions had never touched upon the subject of Vir ginia and its dreadful deficiencies. " A play ? " he said, " that is really good news : but the ' Merchant of Venice ' is not one of my acquaintances." " Ah, you young men are wrong in giving up Will Shakespeare for the Steeles, Addisons, and Vanbrughs. Mr. Addison's essays are very pleasant and entertaining reading, and sure, there never was a finer gentleman than Sir Roger ; but in the drama, Will Shakespeare distances him all to nothing." " Let us go to see the play, papa," said Henrietta. " Oh, yes," said Clare. The old gentleman tenderly smoothed the bright golden hair. " Certainly, if you wish it," he said. " And may I request permission to accompany the party, ladies ? " said Mr. Effingham, languidly. "How modest!" said Henrietta, laughing ; "certainly you may go, sir. You will tell us when to hiss or applaud, you know, as you are just from London 1 " " What a quick tongue she has I " said Mr. Lee, fondly ; " well, we will all go, and see what the ' Virginia Company of Comedians ' is like : not much, I fear." " Oh, we'll have a delightful time," cried Clare, glanc ing at Mr. Effingham softly and frankly. That young gentleman's languor melted like snow iu the sunshine, and as he placed the little hand upon his arm to lead its owner in to supper, he pressed it tenderly, and whispered : " I know I shall, for you will be with me, dearest Clare : don't be offended, for you know " The whisper of the leaves around them, drowned the end of the sentence, but the red sunset lighting up Clare'* K>ft warm cheek might very well have spared its crimscn 1 POLITICS AND COURTSHIP. &3 CHAPTER V. POLTH08 AND OOUBTBHIP. " WE cannot rationally doubt it, sir," said the squire, admir ing the excellent glass of claret which he held between hi eye and the window ; " there must be classes, scales of re finement, culture and authority : to state the proposition proves it." The squire uttered these oracular words at his dinner- table on the day after Mr. Champ Effingham's visit to River- head. That gentleman was seated in a lounging attitude, ever and anon moistening his lips with a glass of wine. In one corner of the room Miss Alethea prosecuted some dar ling household work, her favorite Orange lying comfortably coiled up in her lap : in another, Master Willie and little Kate were having a true-love quarrel as to the proper shade of silk to be used on Carlo's nose in the famous embroidery. But we have omitted in this catalogue of personages a gen tleman sitting at the table on the squire's right hand, and whom we now beg leave to briefly introduce to the reader as Mr. Tag, the parson of the parish. The parson was a rosy, puffy-looking individual of some fifty years, and in his person, carriage, and tone of voice betrayed a mingled effrontery and awkwardness : having formerly served as a common soldier, then lived by his wits, as an adventurer, he had finally, perforce of the influence of a noble patron for whom he had performed some secret seivice, been pre sented to a benefice in the colony of Virginia. We cannot dwell on the worthy gentleman's character, and can only add here that he was a regular visitor at Efl&ngham Hall about dinner time, and that he had no religious scruples against taking a hand at ticta< or other games of chance, any more than he was opposed to the good old English divertisement of fox-hunting. To the squire's oracular dogma laying down the laws of so cial organization, the parson replied between two gulps of elaret : " Certainly oh certainly." 34 folifics " The men of education and lineage not only must alwayi rule," continues his host, "but ought to ; to trust the reins of power in the hands of common men, who have compar atively no stake in the community, no property, no family, is absurd a doctrine too monstrous to require refutation." The parson shook his head. " I very much fear, squire, that these good old sentiments are becoming obsolete. We men of position and rank in so ciety, born in high social station, will have to yield, I fear. They are seriously talking, I understand, of giving every man in the colony a vote." " Every man a vote 1 who speaks of it ? who Droaches such an absurdity ?" "'A parcel of hair-brained young men, who will yet get themselves into trouble. As a minister of the Established Church, I hold it my duty to warn them, and after that have no further concern with them. I have pointed them out to the authorities, and I now call your worship's attention to the subject" " Who are they ?" " First and foremost, a young man called Waters son of the fisherman on the river there near Williamsburg. He had the audacity to intrude upon a conversation I was holding with some gentlemen of my parish in town a day or two since, and he uttered opinions over and above what I have called to your attention, which will bring him to the gallows if he does not beware." " Other opinions ?" " He spoke of the oppressions of the Home Government, said that Virginians would not always be slaves, and actually broached a plan for thoroughly educating the lower classes." " A statesman in short clothes," said the squire, with a sneer " the wine stays with you, sir a colonial patriot ! faugh ! Educate the lower classes 1 Educate my indented servant, and the common tradesman and farmer, and have the knave talking to me of the ' rights of men,' and all the wretched stuff and foolery of Utopian castle-builders I you are right, sir, that young man mtut be watched. Good hea vens 1 how has the Home Government oppressed us ? I grant you, there are some laws I would have altered and others refused us, passed but is this oppression ? Damn my POLITICS AND COURTSHIP. 35 blood I" added the squire, with great indignation, " I now feel the truth of Will Shakespeare's words, that 'the age is grown BO picked, the toe of the peasant comes near the heel of the courtier and galls his kibe,' or to that effect. The direct consequence of these fooleries is to abolish our rank follow these doctrines, and where will be our gentlemen ?" " Where, indeed ? " Even the very parsons will go to the devil," here in terposed Mr. Champ Effingham, with an evident desire U yawn. The squire greeted this sally of his son with a laugh. " You are irreverent, young sir," the parson said, making an effort to look dignified. " I irreverent ! " replied Mr. Effingham, coolly ; " by no means, most reverend sir. I think my respect for you is sufficiently shown by attending church punctually every Sunday, and respectably going to sleep under the effect of your admirable homilies." " You jest at my homilies " " Oh, no." " But you should understand, young man, that a minister of the Church of England is not a public haranguer " " Precisely." " And dishonors his high place and position by appealing to the passions and feelings of his hearers instead of giving them good wholesome doctrine." And Parson Tag drew himself up, with a hauteur which badly assorted with his puffy face and figure. " You are right," replied Mr. Effingham, with languid indifference ; " nothing is so disagreeable as these appeals to the feelings which you speak of, most reverend sir. How could you bend your excellent mind to ombre and tictac after such performances ; or, exhausted by such unnecessary exertion as a ' rousing appeal ' demands, join in the delight ful pursuit of a grey fox on the following Monday ? " The squire laughed again, at the crestfallen parson, and said: " Come, no tongue-fencing at the dinner-table ; we have wandered from the subject which we commenced with." " What was the subject ? " asked Mr. Effingham, lau guidly. 86 POLITICS AND COURTSHIP. " What 1 was all the parson's eloquence thrown away on you ? " " Perfectly ; I was not listening, with the exception of a moment, when you closed your address." " We were speaking of classes, and the necessity which avery gentleman is under to preserve his rank." " I suppose it's true ; but I never busy myself with these matters." " You should, sir ; the estate of Effingham falls to you as eldest son." " I trust, respected sir, that I shall worthily comport myself in that station in life to which it hath pleased Heaven to call me," drawled Mr. Effingham. " Never jest with the forms of the Established Church, sir," said his father, with some asperity ; for however willing the squire was to applaud a jest at the parson's expense, one directed at the church itself was a very different matter. " I hold every thing connected with the Liturgj of the Holy Church as sacred." Mr. Effingham assented, with a careless inclination of his head. " This spirit of free speaking and thinking is worse than the other," continued the planter ; " those abominable New Lights 1 " " Wretched, misguided fools," chimed in the parson, whose equanimity several glasses of wine had restored by this time perfectly. " I cordially hate and despise them," said the planter, " and consider it my duty to do so. I hope the representa tive of my family will share my sentiments." This observation being directed at Mr. Effingham, that gentleman replied indifferently : " Of course of course." " Champ," said the old planter, " you are really becom ing worse than ever. Where will your indifference to every thing end, I should like much to know ? You seem to have no aim in life, no thought of advancement, no opinions, even." " True, sir ; that is a pretty fair statement of the truth. This subject of rank and classes, gentlemen and commoner** advancement, ambition, and all that, never troubles me." POLITICS AND COtJRTSHIK 37 "Sunt quos curriculo pulvorem Olympicum, Collegisse juvat metaque fervidis Evitata rotis," or something of that sort. It's Horace, I believe, and the scanning strikes me as correct. I mean, respected sir, that I am not ambitious, and have no very fervid desire to get dusty in the arena, or race-course, I should more properly say dust soils the ruffles so abominably." The squire always ended by laughing at his son's peti maitre airs, though he had sagacity enough to perceive that there was little real affectation in the young gentleman's weariness and indifference. He argued, however, that this would disappear in time, and knowing that any argument would be useless on the present occasion, turned the conver sation by taking wine with the parson. Let us see what the youthful members of the company were saying now. Human nature, under all guises, and in every possible degree of development, is worthy of atten tion. Master Will, who had been making assiduous love to Kate, engaged now on Carlo's nose, caught Mr. Effingham's Latin, and betook himself to a sotto voce criticism on the speaker. " Just listen to brother Champ, how learned he is 1 He's just from Oxford, and thinks that Latin mighty fine to be kissing you the other day I " added this young scion of the house of Efimgham, thus betraying the disinterested and impartial character of his criticism. " Why, I didn't care I like to kiss cousin Champ," says Kate, with a coquettish little twinkle of the eye, " he's al ways so nice, you know." "Nice! he nice?" "Why, yes.' 1 " He aint ! " " That's your gallantry : to contradict a lady," aayi Kate, with the air of a duchess. " I'm nicer than he is," says Will, eluding like a skilful debater the charge of want of gallantry. u I don't stuff my nose full of snuff and sneeze all the powder off my hair." " Ha ! ha ! " laughs Kate. " What are you laughing at ? ' " You hav'n't any powder 1 " 38 POLITICS AND COURTSHIP. " Never mind : I mean to." " When ? " Never mind 1 " " Why you'd look ridiculous, Willie." " Ridiculous i me ridiculous 1 Hav'n't I aigh-heeled *hoes " " So have I I'm a girl" M And silk stockings." So have I, sir." And ruffles, and sword, and all' " Oh, what a fine cavalier." Master Will looks mortified. " Now, Willie," says Kate, " don't pout, for you know I was only jesting." " Give me a kiss, then." " A young lady kiss a gentleman ? Indeed ! " The flattering word " gentleman " completely restores Master Will's good humor: and essaying to conquer a 'salute," as they said in those honest courteous old times, Kate's needle pricks his finger, which circumstance causes the youthful cavalier to utter a shrill cry of pain. " What's the matter, Will ? " asks the squire, breaking off in the middle of a sentence addressed to the parson. " Nothing much," says Mr. Champ Efliingham, who has watched the assault of his younger brother with philoso phic interest, " merely an illustration of the truth of my views." " Your views what views ?" " Will was ambitious to ' collect the Olympic dust ' in other words to kiss Katy, and the needle ran into hit finger. So much for ambition. Moral : never meddle with the ladies." Master Will listens to this languidly-uttered speech with many indications of dissatisfaction uttering more than one expressive " humph ! " that little monosyllable which onveys so much. At Mr. Emngham's " moral," however, he boiled over. " Never meddle with ladies, indeed ! " he said, " that's pretty, coming from you, brother Champ, when old June from Kiverhead says he saw you yesterday courting cousin Clare 1 "--old June having, indeed, retailed to Cato that POLITICS ANt) COBRTSfllf. 39 evening, in Master Will's hearing, the fact that he " sped they'd be a marridgin somewheres 'fore long 'sidering how Mas' Champ Efnum and Mis' Clary was agwyin' on I ' The squire burst into a hearty laugh, and rallied Mr. Effingham without mercy. That gentleman, though for a moment disconcerted, quickly regained his nonchalance, and raising his glass languidly, said with a delightful drawl, an exaggeration of his usual languor : " Of course it's all true, sir ; but why laugh at me foi following your respectable advice ? " " Clare's much too good for you, Champ," eaid Miss Alethea, taking a pin from her mouth and affixing there with some indescribable garment to her knee, the better to set to work on it. " Ah 1 " said Mr. Effingham, indifferently, " well, I think so too." " A thousand times," said Master Will. " Come, Will, recollect Champ is your elder brother,' said the old planter, laughing merrily. " Brother Champ laughed at me," said Master Will. " True, I did, and am justly punished but correct the word, Will : say I philosophized upon the result of your as sault to steal the kiss. I never laugh." " There's no harm in my kissing Kate," says Master Will, with great dignity. " None none 1 " " Because we are engaged," adds Will, with the air of an emperor. Kate suddenly fires up at these words, and exclaims in dignantly : " My goodness ! aint you ashamed, Willie ? " " Not engaged ! " cries Will. " No never," says Kate, with a charming little pout i( and if we were, do you think I would acknowledge it, and have the servants talking about me like cousin Clare ? " At which speech the whole company burst into laughter and a smile is even observed to wander over Mr. Effing ham's face. " I see," says that gentleman, " that Miss Clare is given to me by universal consent : I forgive you, Katy " " Oh, cousin Champ, I didn't mean " commences Kate, emorsefully. 40 HOW THEY WENT TO THE PLAY. " No matter," concludes Mr. Effinghara, yawning, " I have only to observe that I am willing to take Miss Clare or any other agreeable young lady for my wedded wife : and now, as I feel drowsy, I beg leave of you, parson, a*hd you, le spected sir, to excuse me ; I am going to take a nap." With which words Mr. Effingham saunters through tke door, and slowly ascends the broad stairs to ais chamber. Miss Alethea continues to sew : the children to play . the parson and his host to converse over their wine. CHAPTER VI. HOW THEY WENT TO THE PLAY. THE reader will recollect that Mr. Lee had promised hii daughters to go with them to Williamsburg, to witness the performance of the " Merchant of Venice" by those newly- arrived Virginia Comedians, of whom every one was talking. Mr. Champ Effingham had asked permission to be one of the party, it will be remembered, and that permission had been granted by Miss Henrietta with the merry speech we have recorded. So on the appointed day, Mr. Effingham, in his most be coming riding suit, and mounted on his handsomest courser, made his appearance at Rivet-head. The young ladies came down to him, already dressed for their excursion to town as Williamsburg was called, just as they called London " the Town" in England and Miss Henrietta commenced immediately her accustomed amust ment of bantering their visitor. She was radiant in a dress of surpassing elegance flowered satin, yellow lace, jewels, powdered hair, pearl pendants, and rich furbelows and the bright beauty of her laughing face well assorted with her flashing and glittering costume. As for Clare, her dresa was much more subdued, just as her manner was more quiet, than that of her sister. But Mr. Effingham, gazing at her Buietly, with little care for Miss Henrietta's sky-rockets, HOW THEY WEN.T TO THE PL4Y. 41 thought he had never seen a more enchantingly beautiful face ; so soft and tender was it, with the bright hair gathered back from the temples, and strewed all over with its pearly powder ; so warm and red were the girlish lips ; so clear and mild the large melting eyes. Mr. Effingham began t think seriously of having in future a distinct aim in life to make his own this fairy creature, who had thus moved his worn-out heart, making him feel once more some of the light and joy and enthusiasm of his boyhood that time passed from him, it really seemed, long ages ago. Clare did not return his gaze, but busied herself in turn ing over the leaves of a new book from England, with an affectation of interest which was the merest failure. Really all my wit is thrown away upon Mr. Effingham," said Henrietta suddenly, with a beautiful pout ; " he has not done me the honor to listen, I believe my last question waiting a reply from him." Mr. Effingham waked up, so to speak, and turned round. " What did you say, my dear cousin ? " he asked indif ferently. " I say that my cousin, Mr. Effingham, is the most affected personage I have ever known." " I affected ! You have made that charge once before. But what was your question ? " " I asked where you procured that ridiculous little muff there on the settee, which you threw down so carelessly OD entering." " In London," said Mr. Effingham, concisely. " And are the London gallants such apers of the ladies as to wear them ? " " I don't know; they are used." " And you imitate them ? " " I imitate nobody, my dear cousin Henrietta ; it is too troublesome. I do not wear a coat, or powder my hair, or use ruffles from a desire to imitate any one." " I don't think you do ; for I never saw such prepos terous ruffles in my life." " Eh ? " said Mr. Effingham, with languid indifferuece. " Or such red cheeks." " What of them ? " " They are as rosy as a girl's." f HOW THEY WENT TO THE PLAT. " Your own are more so, and I think cousin Clare's mor\ BO still," returned Mr. Effingham ; " but let us dismiss the subject of ruffles and roses, and come to the play. Do you anticipate much pleasure ? " " Oh, it will be delightful ! " exclaimed Miss Henrietta, always ready to run off upon any subject which afforded her an opportunity to pour out her spirits and gayety. " And you, cousin Clare do you think these Virginia Comedians, as they call themselves, will afford you a very pleasant entertainment ? " " Oh, yes I'm sure I shall be pleased, you know I have never seen a play." " But read a plenty ? " " Oh yes : and I like the ' Merchant of Venice ' very much. The character of Portia is so delicate and noble." " Quite true an excellent criticism : better than any thing in Congreve, I think, though I should hesitate to ad vance such an opinion in London." " Who will act Portia ? " " I don't know : but can tell you without much difficulty. Here is a play-bill which I sent to town for yesterday." And Mr. Effingham drew daintily from his coat pocket a small roughly-printed handbill, which he spread out before the eyes of Clare. " ' Virginia Company of Comedians,' " he read, " ' by permission of his worship the Mayor in the Old Theatre near the Capitol, Thursday evening a tragedy called " The Merchant of Venice," by Mr. William Shakespeare boxes seven shillings sixpence vivat Rex et Kegina ' here it is : ' Shylock, Mr. Pugsby Portia, Miss Beatrice Hallam : ' The part of Portia is to be performed by Miss Beatrice Hal- lam I have never seen or heard of her." " Which means," said Henrietta, laughing, " that Miss Beatrice cannot be very well worth going to see, as Mr. Champ Effingham, just from London, and conversant with all the celebrities there, ha& never heard of her existence." " My dear cousin Henrietta," said Mr. Effingham, lan guidly, " you really seem to sit in judgment on my wearisome conversation. I do not profess to know any thing about cele brities : true, I very frequently lounged into the theatres iu IiQndon, but I assure you, took very little interest iu the playi HOW THEY WENT TO THE PLAT. 4fl or performers. Life itself is enough of a comedy for me, and I want nothing more. I know nothing of Miss Hallam she may be a new witch of Endor, or as beautiful as Cleo patra, queen of Egypt, for all that I know. That I have not heard of her proves nothing the best actors and ac tresses are often treated with neglect and indifference." " Well," said Clare, smiling, " we shall soon see for our selves, for there is papa corning, all ready dressed to go, and I hear the wheels of the chariot." Mr. Emngham took up his muff. " Oh," cried Henrietta, " how do you carry that funny little thing while riding ? it's smaller than mine." " I swing it on my arm," replied Mr. Effingham, indif ferently. " Let me relieve you of it all the girls will then be admiring my new London muff." " No, thank you. I will not trouble you." " Oh, here is papa," said Clare. Mr. Lee entered. " Good morning, Champ," he said, in his strong, hearty voice, " how is your good father ? have you dined ? Yes ? Then let us get on to town. We have no time to lose, as the play commences, I am informed, at seven." With which words the worthy gentleman led the way to the door, where the large chariot, with its four pawing horses and liveried coachman, awaited them. Mr. Emngham assist ed the ladies in with great elegance and gallantry. After performing this social duty, he made a slight bow, and waa going toward his horse. " Come, take a place in the chariot," said Mr. Lee. " Oh, yes," cried the lively Henrietta, " don't go prancing along out there, where I can't get at you to tease you. There's room enough for a dozen in here." " No, no, my horse would get impatient." Mr. Emngham was waiting for Clare to invite him to enter, and no one who looked at his face, and witnessed his tell-tale gaze could doubt it. Clare stole a glance at him, and said, with a slight blush, " There's plenty of room." Mr. Effingham took two steps toward the chariot u But my horse," he said. Mr. Lee called to a servant, and ordered him to take tb 44 THE OLD THEATRE NEAR THE CAPITOL. animal to the stable. Mr. Effinghara then yielded he only wanted the excuse, indeed and entering the chariot, waa about to sit down by the old gentleman, opposite the young girls. "Ah ! take care !" cried Mr. Lee, with a hearty and sudden laugh, " my glasses are on the seat 1 " Henrietta laughed too, and said, moving near to her side of the carriage, and making room, " Come ! you may ride between us mayn't he, Clary ? there's plenty of room for a bodkin." Mr. Effingham plainly had no objection, and, as before, in the matter of riding within or without, waited for Clare's manifesto on the subject. This time he would have been sa tisfied with a simple glance granting him permission so very reasonable was this gentleman at bottom but unfortunately Clare did not invite him, either with her lips or eyes. The consequence was that Mr. Effingham refused Henrietta's in vitation, with a graceful wave of his muff-ornamented arm, and the glasses of the old gentleman having been transferred from the seat to his nose, gently subsided into the softly- cushioned space left free for him, smoothing his ruffles, and arranging delicately the drop-curls of his powdered peruke. The chariot rolled on, then, with dignified slowness, to ward " Town " that is to say, the imperial metropolis of Virginia, then, and now, known as Williamsburg. CHAPTER VII. THE OLD THEATRE NEAR THE CAPITOL, THE " old Theatre near the Capitol," discoursed of in the manifesto issued by Mr. Manager Hallam, was so far old, that the walls were well-browned by time, and the shutters to the windows of a pleasant neutral tint between rust and dust color. The building had no doubt been used for the present purpose in bygone times, before the days of the ." Virgieia Gazette," which is our authority for many of the THE OLD THEATRE NEAR THE CAPITOL. 45 facts here stated, and in relation to the " Virginia Company of Comedians " but of the former companies of " players,' as my lord Hamlet calls them, and their successes or misfortunes, printed words tell us nothing, as far as the researches of the present Chronicle extend. That there had been such companies before, however, we repeat, there is some reason to believe ; else why that addition " old " applied to the " Theatre near the Capitol." The question is submitted to the future social historians of the Old Do minion. Within, the play-house presented a somewhat more attractive appearance. There was " box," " pit," and * gal lery." as in our own day ; and the relative prices were ar ranged in much the same manner. The common mortals gentlemen and ladies were forced to occupy the boxes raised slightly above the level of the stage, and hemmed in by velvet-cushioned railings, in front, a flower-decorated panel, extending all around the house, and for this posi tion were moreover compelled to pay an admission fee of seven shillings and sixpence. The demigods so to speak occupied a more eligible position in the " pit," from which they could procure a highly excellent view of the actors' feet and ankles, just on a level with their noses : to concili ate the demigods, this superior advantage had been offered, and the price for them was, further still, reduced to five shillings. But " the gods " in truth were the real favorites of the maaager. To attract them, he arranged the high upper " gallery " and left it untouched, unincumbered by railing or velvet cushions, or any other device : all was free space, and liberal as the air : there were no troublesome seats for " the gods," and three shillings and nine pence was all that the managers would demand. The honor of their presence was enough. From the boxes a stairway led down to the stage, and some rude scenes, visible at the edges of the green curtain, completed the outline. When Mr. Lee and his daughters entered the box which had been reserved for them, next to the stage, the house was nearly full, and the neatness of the edifice was lost sight of in the sea of brilliant ladies' faces, and strong forms of cavaliers, which extended Uk a line of glistening foam 46 THB OLD THEATEK NEAR THE CAPITOL. around the semicircle of the boxes. The pit was occupied by well-dressed men of the lower class, as the times had it, and from the gallery proceeded hoarse murmurs and the un- forgotten slang of London. Many smiles and bows were interchanged between the parties in the different boxes ; and the young gallants, follow ing the fashion of the day, gathered at each end of the stage, and often walked across, to exchange some polite speech with the smiling dames in the boxes nearest. Mr. Champ Effingham was. upon the whole, much the most notable fop present ; and his elegant, languid, petit maitrc air, as he strolled across the stage, attracted many remarks, not invariably favorable. It was observed, how ever, that when the Virginia-bred youths, with honest plain ness, called him " ridiculous," the young ladies, their com panions, took Mr. Effingham's part, and defended him with great enthusiasm. Only when they returned home, Mr. Effin^ham was more unmercifully criticised than he would otherwise have been. A little bell rang, and the orchestra, represented by three or four foreign-looking gentlemen, bearded and moustached, entered with trumpet and violin. The trumpets made the roof shake, indifferently, in honor of the Prince of Morocco, or King Richard, or any other worthy whose entrance was marked in the play-book " with a flourish." But before the orchestra ravished the ears of every one, the manager came forward, in the costume of Bassanio, and made a low bow. Mr. Hallam was a fat little man, of fifty or fifty-five, with a rubicund and somewhat sensual face, and he expressed extraordinary delight at meeting so many of the " noble aristocracy of the great and noble colony of Virginia," assembled to witness his very humble representation. It would be the chief end and sole ambition of his life, he said, to please the gentry, who so kindly patronized their servants himself and his associates and then the smiling worthy concluded by bowing lower than before. Much applaust from the pit and gallery, and murmurs of approbation from the well-bred boxes, greeted this address, and, the orchestra having struck up, the curtain slowly rolled aloft. The young gallants scattered to the corners of the stage seating them selves oo stools or chairs, or standing, and the IN THE SQUIRE'S BOX. 47 of Venice " commenced. Bassanio having assumed a digni fied and lofty port, criticised Gratiano with courteous and lordly wit : his friend Antonio offered him his fortune with grand magnanimity, in a loud singing voice, worthy the utmost commendation, and the first act proceeded on its way in triumph. CHAPTER VIII IN THE SQUIBE'S BOX. THE first act ended without the appearance of Portia or Nerissa ; the scene in which they hold their confidential though public and explanatory interview having been omit ted. The audience seemed to be much pleased, and the actors received a grateful guerdon of applause. In the box opposite that one occupied by Mr. Lee and his daughters, sat the squire, Will, and Kate, and proh pudor ! no less a personage than Parson Tag. Let us not criticise the worthy parson's appearance in a play-house, too severely, however. Those times were not our times, nor those men, the men of to-day. If parsons drank deep then, and hunted Reynard, and not unwillingly took a hand at cards, and they did all this and more why should they not also go and see the " good old English drama ? " Cer tain are we, that when the squire proposed to the parson a visit to town, for the purpose of witnessing the performance of the " Merchant of Venice," that worthy made no sort of objection : though it must be said, in justice to him, also, that he expressed some fears of finding his time thrown away. He now sat on the front seat beside the squire, with solemn gravity, and rubicund nose, surveying from his respectable position the agitated pit. Miss Alethea had remained at home : but, beside the squire, Will and Kate were exchang ing criticisms on the splendid novelty they had just witness ed. They remembered it for years afterwards this, thjj oeautiful, glittering, glorious, magical first play 1 48 IN THE SQUIRE'S BOX. " Not so bad as you predicted eh, parson ? " said thf squire. " I don't think that fellow Antonio acts so badly/ " Very well very well," replied the parson, who was in the habit of echoing the squire's opinions. " And the audience seem delighted. Look at that scamp of a son of mine, strutting up to friend Lee's box, and smoothing those enormous ruffles like a turkey-cock." "Harmless devices of youth, sir." " Yes, and innocent, at least : he'll reform in time, sir, 1 tell you." " Beyond all doubt" " There's good in Champ." " A most amiable young man." " Who abused your homilies," laughed the squire. " Oh ! that is forgotten, my respected friend a mere youthful jest the words of a thoughtless youth." The parson was evidently in a most Christian state of mind, and had plainly left his usual severity at home. The fact was, that the worthy man felt no little complaisance at being seen the honored companion of " one of the aris tocracy," as Mr. Hallam would have said, in that public place. It flattered him he thought he heard the gallery say to the pit, " Who is that fine-looking gentleman in Squire Effingham's box ? " and the pit audibly replied, " That is the Reverend Mr. Tag, the distinguished clergyman." The parson was, therefore, in a forgiving state of mind, and at that moment would not have refused to agree with the squire if that gentleman had stated his opinion that Mr. Efnngham's natural genius and moral purity were sub* lime. Suddenly, however, the parson's face clouded over, and catching hold of the squire's arm, he said : " There, sir ! look there ! That is the young man I spoke of Charles Waters below us 1 " " What of him ? " " Have you forgotten, sir ? " " Perfectly," said the good-humored squire. " Oh, yes 1 now I recollect, the young man who^" " Has been propagating those treasonable opinions, sir one of the lower classes turned statesman, as you very eloquently observed 1 What business has he to be there ? m THE SQUIRE'S BOX. 49 the gallery is his plac*, among the servants and laborers. I wonder he is not in the boxes, by us gentlemen ! " The squire followed the indignant finger of the parson, and saw beneath them in the pit a young man clad in gray cloth, and gazing with a thoughtful and fixed look upon the curtain. Plainly, however, he was unconscious of thus staring out of countenance the poor curtain his own thoughts, it was evident, pre-occupied his mind. He was ap parently twenty-two or three, and his countenance was full :>f truth and nobility : the hair short, 'chestnut-colored and unpowdered the eyes large and clear, the mouth firm, but somewhat sorrowful. Altogether, the face of this young man would have attracted much attention from close ob servers of character ; and it was not without its effect on the generous mind of the squire. " You may say what you please of young Waters, par son," he said, " but he's no fool ; you may see that in his countenance." " I fear he is much more knave than fool, honored sir," said his companion. " If what you said of him is true, he's both," said the bluff squire, suddenly recollecting the young man's alleged opinions on education, " but let him go we came here to be amused and I shall not talk politics. Come, let us ques tion the juveniles here. How did you like the play, Kate, was it pretty ? " Kate clapped her hands, and said : " Oh, lovely, papa ! " "And you, Will?" " Pretty good," said Master Will, endeavoring to smooth his modest ruffles after the manner of his brother Champ, whom he secretly admired and venerated as the model of a gentleman and cavalier. " I think it's pretty well, sir but not up to my anticipations hum ! " " My goodness, Willie ! " cried Kate, in the midst of the squire's laughter at this magniloquent speech, " you just said to me a minute ago that you were delighted." " I said so to satisfy you," said Master Will, grandly. " To satisfy me, indeed ! " " Yes. I never argue with women." The squire seemed much delighted with this ppeeoh, and 3 BO Hi THE SQUIRE'S BOX. endeavoring to command his risible muscles, asked Kate " what she had to reply to that ? " " He says he never argues with women !" answered Kate, pouting and shaking her little fresh-looking head up and down, " never mind 1 I'll catch him at it before long. Never argues with women 1 " adds Kate, " as if he was not arguing with me all the time 'most ! " " Let us dismiss the subject," says Will, gently caressing his upper lip as Mr. Champ was doing opposite, " if that's the way you're going on when we are married, I'll have a time of it." " I won't marry you ! " says Kate, " to be quarrelling all the time " " I quarrel ! " " Yes ! " pouts Kate, wiping her eyes. " Well, I won't any more," says Will, descending from his heroics, and endeavoring to make friends j '' don't cry, Kate. You know how devoted I am to you " " I won't be friends 1 " " Now, Kate ! " " You needn't be squeezing my hand." " I'll get you the silk for Carlo's foot" " Will you ? " ' Yes, from cousin Clare." " To-morrow ? " " This very night." " Then," says Kate, smiling, " I won't quarrel : and you niusn't." "I? never!" " How pretty Carlo will be I " " Lovely and we're engaged ? " " Oh, yes ! " says Kate, absorbed in the imaginary con templation of Carlo's foot, " but hush ! Willie, they are go ing on with the play, and you m jsn't be making love to me, you know, where every body can hear you ! " " Never 1 " says Will, with Roman dignity and firmness. The audience utter a prolonged " Sh-h-h-h 1 " and the curtain rises. m MR. LEE'S aox. CHAPTER IX, IN MR LEE'S LET us return for a moment to the box occupied by Mr. Lee and his daughters. At the end of the first act Mr. Effing- ham left his companions, with whom he had been interchang ing remarks during the performance, to the great disgust of the pit, and sauntered to the side of Miss Clare Lee, who sat nearest the stage. Clare was radiant with pleasure : she had never seen a play before, and it was therefore as much of a novelty to her as to little Kate. Never had she looked more beautiful, with her bright eyes and soft rosy cheeks and this fact probably occurred to Mr. Effingham : for his gaze betrayed unmistakable admiration. No one, however, would have discovered it from his manner, which was as full of languor as ever. " How does my fair cousin relish the performance ? " he asked. " Oh ! I was never more pleased with any thing," said Clare, " and how do you like it ? " " Tolerably : but I never had a very great relish for these things " " Because, to wit, life itself is a comedy," said Henrietta, laughing. " Yes," said Mr. Effingham, " and a very brilliant one it would be, if all the world were Miss Henriettas. I hope, my dear cousin, that compliment is sufficiently broad." " T.hank you, sir I know how to take your fine speeches : don't think they deceive me." " There ! you have it, Champ," said Mr. Lee, who turned round to greet a neighbor who had just entered. '* I'm rather a poor hand at compliments," replied Mr. Effingham, " but really it is hard to do you the injustice, my fair cousin, of withholding them. Come ! no reply, for I see cousin Clare is going to say something more flattering than what you are about to utter." Clare laughed, and said, blushing slightly : 52 IN MB.. LEE'S BOX. " Oh, no 1 I was going to say only that Shylock realty frightened me." " It was very well done, much like Shuter at Castle Gar den," said Mr. Effingham, "how did you like it, cousin Hen rietta ? Come, your criticism." " Oh, what could you expect from a mere country girl like me ? Besides, there is Mr. Hamilton, my devoted ad mirer, coming to speak to me." Mr. Hamilton, the fox-hunter, entered and took his seat, and Henrietta was now engaged in a laughing and animated conversation. " How I envy them," said Mr. Effingham, applying to his nostrils, with a listless air, a delicate pinch of snuff, " they are so gay." " Why are you not gay, cousin Champ ? " said Clare, in a timid voice, " you have no reason to be sad." " No I do not say I have any reason. But I am out of sorts." " Why are you ? " Mr. Effingham leaning over the velvet cushion, and speaking in a tone audible to no one besides himself and Clare, replied : " I am out of sorts, because I am rusting." " Busting ! " C( Yes, more than rusting. I take interest in scarcely any thing I am wearied to death with every thing what is life worth ? Here are some hundreds of persons, and they all seem delighted with this play, which tires me to death I take no interest in it. Shylock and Antonio strut and spout without amusing me I am already weary, and every body else seems to be impatient for the reappearance of those wonders. Why are they so much amused ? For my part, I am sick of all this, and only stay," Mr. Effingham added, lowering his voice, " because you stay. The nearest approach to happiness I make, is in your presence." Clare blushed this time in earnest, and yet, gathering self-possession, looked into Mr. Effingham's face and smiled. '" How beautiful you are 1 " he said with profound ear nestness. " Oh," said Clare, the co?or of a peoviy, " you are jesting with me." IN MR. LEE'S BO*. SS " I am not jesting." " Well, don't say any thing to make m feel so a^ain I feel as if my face was as red as fire." There was so much childlike frankness in the tone with which these words were uttered, that Mr. Effingham felt his heart leaving him, and going quickly into the possession of the owner of the red cheeks. Yet strange to say, he felt no pain, but rather pleasure. " I really believe I am growing less tired of the play, and all, " he said to himself, with a smile : then added aloud : " I really think you could charm away my misanthropy and melancholy, if you desired, cousin." "How, pray?" " By smiling at me." Clare smiled : " There," she said, " be merry, then. Indeed, cousin, you could become gay again, if you chose. Do not determine to find fault with every thing and think every thing weari some. Seek novelty : you say that all here seem to take pleasure in the play, while you do not. They are pleased because it is new to them. I have never seen a play, and I am highly pleased. If you have been often to theatres, there is nothing strange in your thinking this poor one excellent though it seems beautiful to me. But you will find no velty and interest in other things. Try it, now, and see if my philosophy is not true." The softness and earnestness in the tender voice of the young girl, and the interest in himself betrayed by her tone, was so plain that Mr. Effingham felt his languid heart beat " I know but one means," he said. " What is that ? " " To have a companion." " A companion ? " His meaning suddenly flashed upor her, and she turned away her head. " To have the philosopher always near me" said Mr. Effingham, imprisoning in his own the hand which rested on the railing. The head was turned further away. " Clare ! dearest Clare 1 " he whispered, ' if you taka Buh a tender interest in my welfare why not " M ACTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. " Sh h h h I " came in a long murmur from the atfc dience. " True," muttered Mr. Emngham, turning away, " how ridiculous, here in the theatre 1 " Suddenly his eyes fell upon one of the actresses, and he almost uttered an exclamation. It was the unknown lady of the wood. CHAPTER X. ACTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. THE unknown lady was no gentle Virginia maiden, no "lady,' as she had said, with perfect calmness, at their meeting in the wood only one of the company of Comedians. Her singular expression when she uttered the words, " I think you will see me again," occurred to the young man, and he wondered that this easy solution of the riddle had not occurred to him at once. What was her name ? Mr. Effingham drew forth his bill, and saw opposite the name of Portia, Miss Beatrice Hallam. " Ah, yes," he said, carelessly, " the same we were spe culating upon, this morning. Let us see how Portia looks, and what change the foot-lights work in her face." He sat down in the corner of the stage upon a wicker chair, and scanned Portia critically. Her costume was faultless. It consisted of a gown and underskirt of^-fewn- colored silk, trimmed with silver, and a single band of gold encircled each wrist, clearly relieved against the white, finely-rounded arm. Her hair, which was a beautiful chest nut, had been carried back from the temples and powdered, after the fashion of the time, and around her beautiful, Bwan-like neck, the young woman wore a necklace of pearls of rare brilliance. Thus the costume of the character defied criticism, and Mr. Effingham passed en to the face and figure. These we have already described. The countenance of Beatrice Hallam wore the same simple, yet firm and collected expression, which Mr. Effingham had observed in ACTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. 55 their first interview, and her figure had the same indefinable grace and beauty. Every movement which she made might have suited a royal palace, and in her large brilliant eyea Mr. Effingham in vain sought the least trace of confusion. She surveyed the audience, while the Prince of Morocco was uttering his speech, with perfect simplicity, but her eyes not for a single moment rested on the young men collected at the corners of the stage. For her they seemed to have no existence, and she turned to the Prince again. Thai gentleman having uttered his prescribed number of lines, Portia advanced graciously toward him, and addressed him. Her carelessness was gone ; she no longer displayed either indifference or coldness. She was the actress, with her role to sustain. She commenced in a voice of noble and queen- like courtesy, a voice of pure music, and clear utterance, so to speak, such as few lips possess the power of giving forth. Every word rang and told ; there was no hurry, no slurring, no hesitation ; it was not an actress delivering a set speech, but the noble Portia doing the honors of her beautiful palace of Belmont. The scene ended with great applause the young woman had evidently produced a most favorable impression on the audience. But she seemed wholly un conscious of this compliment, and made her exit quite calmly. A buzz ran through the theatre : the audience were dis cussing the merits of Portia. On the stage, too, she was the subject of many comments ; and this continued until Lance lot made his appearance and went through his speech. Then Portia's reappearance with the Prince was greeted with great "applause. Mr. Effingham leaned forward and touched the young woman's sleeve. " Come," he said, with easy carelessness, and scarcely moderating his voice, "come, fair Portia, while that tire some fellow is making his speech, talk to me a little. We are old acquaintances and you are indebted to me for direct ing you home." " Yes, sir," said Beatrice, turning her head slightly, " but pardon me I have my part to attend to." " I don't care." " Excuse me, sir but I do." 89 4CTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. " Reaily, madam, you are very stiff for an actress. Is it so very unusual a thing to ask a moment's conversation ? " " I know that it is the fashion in London and elsewhere, ir, but I dislike it. It destroys my conception of the char acter," she said, calmly. Mr. Emngham laughed. " Come here and talk to me," he said, " did you not say we should meet again ? " " Yes, sir. And I also said that I was not a lady." " Well what is the meaning of that addition?" " It means, sir, that being an actress, I am not at liberty to amuse myself here as I might were I a lady in a drawing- room. Pardon me, sir," she added calmly, " I am neglect ing what I have engaged to do, play Portia." And the young woman quietly disengaging her sleeve from Mr. Effingham's fingers, moved away to another por tion of the stage. " Here is a pretty affair," said Mr. Emngham to him self, as he fell back, languidly, into the chair, from which, however, he had not deigned to rise wholly when addressing the young actress, " what are things coming to when an actress treats a gentleman in this manner. I really believe the girl thinks I am not good enough for her : ' Pardon me, sir ! ' was there ever such insufferable prudery and affecta tion ! No doubt she wishes to catch me, and commences with this piquant piece of acting. Or perhaps," added the elegant young gentleman, smoothing his frill, " she fell iu love with me the other day, when we met, and is afraid she will betray herself. Not talk when I desire to talk with her, indeed and yonder all those people have seen her cavalier treatment of me, and are laughing at me. For tunately I am proof against their jeers come, come, let us see if Miss Portia will treat me as badly next time." Portia entered next with the Prince of Arragon, and while that gentleman was addressing the caskets, Mr. Emngham again applied himself to the task of forcing the young woman to converse with him. " Why did you treat me so, just now ? " he said, with abrupt carelessness. " How, sir ? " " You refused to talk to me." ACTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. 57 " I had my part to perform." " That is no excuse." " Besides, sir," added the young woman, surveying Mr Effingham with an indifferent glance, " I know you only very slightly." " Know me only slightly," cried Mr. Effingham, affecting surprise. " A chance meeting is very slight acquaintance, sir ; but I offer this as no apology for refusing to do what I am now doing converse with you on the stage." " Really, one would say you were a queen speaking to a subject, instead of an actress " " Honored with the attentions of a gentleman, you would add, sir," she interrupted, quite calmly. " As you please." " Pray, speak to me no more, sir I forget my part. And the audience are looking at you." " Let them." " I see some angry faces," said the young woman, look ing at Charles Waters, " they do not understand the fashions of London, sir." " What care I." " Please release my sleeve, sir that is my line." The gallery uttered a prolonged hiss as Portia disen gaged her arm. Mr. Effingharn turned round disdainfully, and looked up to the gallery from which the hiss came This glance of haughty defiance might have provoked an other exhibition of the same sort, but Portia at that moment commenced her speech. Thereafter the young woman came no more near Mr. Effingham, and treated that gentleman's moody glances with supreme disregard. What was going on in Mr. Effingham's mind, and why did he lose some of his careless listlessness when, clasping her beautiful hands, the lovely girl, raising hei eyes to heaven, like one of the old Italian pictures, uttered that sublime discourse on the " quality of mercy " ? and how did it happen that, when she sobbed, almost, in that ten der, magical voice, " But mercy is above this sceptered sway, It is enthroned in the hearts of kings * It is an attribute of God himself 1 " 58 ACTRESS AND GENTLEMAN. how did it chance that Mr. Effingham led the enthusiasts applause, and absolutely rose erect in the excess of his en thusiasm ? As she passed him in going out, he made her a low bow, and said, " Pardon me 1 you are a great actress ! " A single glance, and a calm movement of the head, were the only reply to this speech ; and with this Mr. Effingham was com pelled to remain content. He returned to the side of Clare, thoughtful and pre occupied. " What were they hissing for ? " asked Clare, from whom the scene we have related had been concealed by the projec tion of the wall, and the group of young men. Indeed, scarcely any portion of the audience had witnessed it, the gallery excepted, which overlooked the whole stage from its great height " Some folly which deserved hissing, probably," returned Mr. Effingham, wondering at his own words as he spoke ; " but here are the actors again." The play proceeded, and ended amid universal applause. Mr. Hallam led out Portia, in response to uproarious calls, and thanked the audience for their kindness to his daughter. Beatrice received all the applause with her habitual calm ness ; and, inclining her head slightly, disappeared. Mr. Effingham's eyes dwelt upon her to the last, and even Clare spoke to him in vain. " Bah ! she's a mere scheming jade 1 " he said, at last, disdainfully, and almost aloud ; " come, cousin Clare, the chariot is ready at the door. Take my arm." And so the audience separated, rolling, well pleased, to their homes. But why did Mr. Effingham preserve such inexplicable silence in the chariot? Why did Henrietta tell him that the performance must have made him sleepy ? Why did he push his horse angrily as he galloped back from Biverhead to Effingham Hall ? Was he thinking of that strange Portia ? MR. EFF1NOHAM CRIT. JISES THE COMEDY 59 CHAPTER XI. ME. EFFmGHAM OEITICI8ES THE COMEDY, BETRAYING GREAT CONSISTENCY. THAT night Mr. Effingham paced his room for more than an hour in moody thought, troubled and out of humor, it seemed, at something which had recently occurred. He kicked out of his way every obstacle, and betrayed other unmista kable evidences of ill-humor. At last, this annoyed state of mind took to itself words and he muttered : " An actress, forsooth, to so treat a gentleman ! making him the laughing-stock of every body by her insolent airs of superiority ! As if it were not a high compliment for me to address her at all a common Comedienne! One would really say that it was presumption in me to speak to one so much my superior. ' Pardon me, sir I have my part to attend to ! ' and then those stupid country bumpkins around me tittering ! Let 'em ! I thank heaven that their mirth does not affect me how insolent it was ! And that hiss from the knaves in the gallery. Presume to hiss a gen tleman ! And who caused all this ? By heaven ! she shall repent her insulting hauteur. Who is this woman who con ducts herself in such a manner toward a gentleman ? Some low woman, the daughter of that vulgar fellow Hallam : no lady, a common actress 1 Suppose she did act well, and I don't mean to say or think she is not a superior artist. Common justice requires me to acknowledge her genius. But what of that ? Her attitude in the trial scene was fine ! " continued Mr. Effingham, thoughtfully, forgetting for a moment his indigna tion, and returning in thought to the theatre. " How tender and noble her countenance ! what music in her voice ! Never have I seen such purity and truth upon the stage. By hea ven ! she's no common actress 1 and I had to tell her so a she went out ! But how did she receive my high compliment," he said, returning to his grievances, " how did that respectful address, ' You are a great actress,' affect her ? She looked at me as carelessly and indifferently as if I had said ' good morn ing,' and inclined her head with the eoldness of a 60 MR. EFFINGHAM CRITICISES THE COMEDY. speaking to her subject. Damn my blood ! " said Mr. Effing ham, with unusual vehemence, " I'll make her repent it, and she shall suffer for causing me this annoyance. It is ridicu lous, pitiable, silly : I, Mr. Champ Effingham, of Effing- ham Hall, to annoy myself about a common actress to b treated with contemptuous indifference by a woman of hei grade 1 " And Mr. Champ Effingham, of Effingham Hall, sent an unfortunate cricket which stood in his path, flying across the room. The cricket struck against a table which supported a tall silver candlestick, and all came down with a crash. The incident served the purpose of a partial vent to the young man's irritation, and after some more growling and impreca tions he went to bed. He made his appearance at the breakfast-table on the next morning two hours after the squire had left it, and received a remonstrance from Miss Alethea on his late rising, with great indifference. Entering the library there after, he found the squire, who had just returned, reading the " Virginia Gazette." " Good morning, Champ, lazy as usual, I see," said the squire, good-humoredly ; " but you were late returning from Riverhead, which is a good excuse. How did you like the play ? we have not met, you know, since." " I was charmed with it," said Mr. Effingham, "all but Portia acted their parts excellently, I thought." "All but Portia /" Mr. Effingham nodded. " Why," continued the squire, " I thought her acting excellent." " Poor, sir poor very." " What fault did you find come, Mr. London critic ?" " It was overacted." " How ? " " It took up too much room in the piece." " Why Portia is a chief character in the play." " Yes but not the only one." " You are very critical." " I always was." " And what other fault did you find ? Was Miss Hallana MR. EFFINGHAM CRITICISES THE OOMEDT. 61 " No not ugly, exactly but dreadfully affected and stiff." " I do not agree with you." " You liked her, then ? " " Exceedingly," said the honest squire ; " I thought her a young woman of rare beauty ' " Bah ! " And great talents." " Well," said Mr. Effingham, " tastes proverbially dif fer. I thought her abominable." " Were you not speaking to her at one time ?" "Speaking to Portia?" " Yes. I could not see very well through the group around her, but thought I saw her speaking to you." " She did speak to me " " Do you know her ?" " At least she says we are not acquainted." " Here's a mystery 1" " Not at all. I met her some days since riding out. She had lost her way, and I directed her to Williamsburg." " I hope you treated her with courtesy." " As courteously as a subject could a queen, and got snubbed last night for my pains," said Mr. Effingham, with a bad affectation of indifference. The squire laughed, which caused Mr. Effingham to frown. " Most insulting treatment," he said. " Come, come your ideas are too English and not sufficiently Virginian," said the squire. " This young wo man is not degraded by her profession ; and though not exactly a lady, is worthy of respect if she conducts herself properly. For my part, I was vastly pleased with her, and I believe every one but yourself who witnessed her acting thought as I did." " Well, sir," said Mr. Effingham, " I am sorry to find we disagree. In my eyes, her acting, costume, voice, and general style were inappropriate, stilted, and in bad taste." " You are offended at her refusal to converse with you," laughed the squire, " and so are a prejudiced witness. Hey 1 " he added, looking through the window, " there's the person come vr t dine." 62 MR. EFFINGHAM CRITICISES THE COMEDT. Mr. Effingham was glad to be thus relieved frjm th dilemma into which he had fallen, and he greeted the parson with a bow, due to him as deliverer. " A fine morning, squire," said Parson Tag ; " how does your worship find yourself after the lato sitting last night?" " Quite fresh sit down. How did you like the acting ? " Every body is asking that question now." " Well, well," said the parson, dubiously. " It was toler ably good, but much of it was overdone overdone, sir, much overdone." " WhaJ; part ? But excuse me for a moment. I have a word to say to Alethea, and must have your horse taken : you will stay to dinner ? " " No, I think not. I have an engagement but perhaps well, I suppose " The squire, well accustomed to this formula, was already out of the room, and the first thing he did was to order the parson's animal to be led away, as he would spend the re maining portion of the day at the Hall. " You said the play was overdone, I believe ? " said Mr, Effingham, lounging in an easy chair, and drawling out his words. " What part, please inform me, reverend sir ? I re peat my respected governor's question." " All was overdone especially the part of that young wo man, the daughter of the manager." Miss Hallain ? " " Yes, young sir." " Who acted Partia ? " " Precisely. I never saw a greater failure it was wretched." " What do you know of acting ? " said Mr. Emngham, with indignant disdain, which expression did not escape Mr. Tag. " You are somewhat abrupt, sir," he said ; " but, never theless, I will answer you. In my former worldly days, I frequented playhouses much, and have thus some knowledge of thsm." " And you think Portia's part was overdone ? " " Yes." " And wretched ? " MR. EFF1NGHAM 3RTI CISES THE COMEDY. 63 " Exactly." " And a failure ? " " Perfect." " Then, reverend sir," said Mr. Effingham, with insulting carelessness, " I beg leave to inform you, that you know noth ing about acting. I have never seen a more beautiful ren dering of the character. Miss Hallam whom I highly esteem, sir, and should be sorry to hear any one insult ! ia an artist of rare genius ! Her conception and execution are alike uncommon and admirable. If there are persons who are ignorant of what acting exacts, and who do not know when it is of a superior order, so much the worse for them ! I repeat, sir, that any competent critic would have approved unconditionally of Miss Hallam's acting last night in the part of Portia, and I feel some surprise at hearing from you a criticism such as you have uttered. The acting of this young lady and she is a lady in every sense of the word ; for do not think that I am of the prejudiced way of thinking which the gentlemen so-called of this colony take pride in Miss Hallam's acting is of an order superior to any I have ever witnessed. Her costume, style, voice, and whole ren dering were worthy of the first comedians of the English stage. And permit me to say, that your former drilling in theatrical criticism, which you have alluded to, must have been very slight and incomplete, if, after attending the per formance with which every one was delighted last night, you failed to perceive that this young girl of eighteen she is not more, sir is destined to take a rank inferior to no artist who now adorns with her genius or decorates with her beauty and accomplishments that department of art, the histrionit profession ! " Mr. Tag was fairly overwhelmed. His feelings, while this storm of words was being poured out on his devoted head, might have been compared to those of a man whv-rse eyes are dazzled and his ears deafened by lightning uid thunders issuing from a cloudless sky. He could mustei no reply words failed him. He essayed once or twice to mus ter some appropriate indignation, but failed lamentably. The worthy gentleman was accustomed to bully as we now gay others, not to be bullied ; and Mr. Effingham having " stolen his art^' that art now failed him. 64 MR. EFFLNGHAM CRITICISES THE COMEDY. " Yes, sir," continued the animated and consistent en tic, " I shall make it my business to call upon Miss Hallam, and assure her of my high appreciation aud admiration of her brilliant genius. I know what acting is, sir ! and when we, the gentlemen of Virginia, are so fortunate as to secure a great comedienne, it becomes us to offer her the tribute of our applause ! Miss Hallam deserves it for I again repeat, that in style, dress, voice, and conception, she is far before any actress with whom, in my various experience, I have been thrown in contact." " Why, Champ 1 " cried the voice of the squire, at the door, " you are the most consistent of critics, and the most impartial of admirers ! You praise and abuse in the same breath." Mr. Effingham betrayed some slight embarrassment, upon finding that his enthusiastic tribute to Miss Hallam had thus been overheard, by one to whom he had spoken of her so disparagingly. But this soon disappeared, and the versa tile young gentleman replied with great coolness. " All chivalry, sir pure chivalry. I thought it my duty to espouse Miss Hallam's cause, when she was attack ed by so rough a tilter as the reverend gentleman here. Was I wrong, and would you not have done the same ? " This was very adroit in Mr. Effingham, as it diverted at tention from himself to the views of the parson. " The parson attack Portia 1 " said the squire ; " how so?" " I did nothing of the sort, your worship," said the crest-fallen parson, u I only expressed some dissatisfaction with a portion of her acting : for which crime, Mr. Effing ham has been for some minutes pouring out upon my head the vials of wrath." " Well, let us say no more," returned Mr. Effingharc, subsiding into indifference again ; " I'm tired of the subject, and will no longer afflict your reverence. Bring me some Jamaica," he added, to a servant who was passing through the hall : then to the parson, " we'll bury all differences in a flagon," he said, " 1*111 as thirsty as a fish." The parson brightened up, and, when he had emptied a fair cup of excellent Jamaica, was ready to forgive Mr. Ef fingham and all the world even think well of Portia. In THE OLD RALEIGH f AVEfcN. 65 due time, that is to say, about noon, dinner was announced and discussed honestly by all, except Mr. Effingham. That gentleman soon rose and ordered his horse, announcing hia intention of riding to Williamsburg, where he would proba bly spend the night. " Don't sit up for me, Alethea," he added, with a yawn. " Indeed, I won't," Miss Alethea replied. Mr. Effingham nodded indifferently, and sauntered from the room. CHAPTER XIL THE OLD EALEIGH TAVERN. THE " Raleigh Tavern " in Williamsburg had been se lected for a residence by Mr. Hallam and his company of comedians, chiefly on the ground that there was no other hostelry of any size in the good city at the period : and be fore the Raleigh Mr. Effingham drew rein. A negro took his horse, and, entering the broad doorway, the young man found himself opposite to the manager himself. " Give me some Jamaica," he said to the portly land lord, who bowed low to his well-known and richly-clad guest, " and you, Mr. Hallam, come here and empty a cup with me. I came to see Madam Portia. Where is she at the present moment? I wish to pay her my respects." So far from displaying any ill-humor at these cavalier words, the red-faced manager bowed as low as the landloi 1, and expressed his perfect willingness to drink with Mr. Effingham ; which, judging from his voice and appearance, he had performed in company with himself a number of times already. He marched up, accordingly, to the side board in those simple times the bottles were set out freely without any obstructing " bar " and pouring out an abund ant supply of the heady rum, swallowed it at a gulp. Mr. Effingham drank his own more leisurely, talking about the performance on the preceding night. " A fine house, sir 1 a most enlightened and intellectual 66 IHE OLD RALEIGH TAVERN. audience, such as I expected to find in this noble colony/ Bald Mr. Hallam. " What receipts ? " asked Mr. Effingham. " Nearly a hundred pounds, sir ; as much as the great Congreve's ' Love for Love ' ever brought me." " I should have thought the amount larger, cursed dust 1 I believe it has strangled me ! " " I saw you, sir, and your honorable party." " The devil you did ! that's strange, for Shylock natu rally took up your whole attention." " Shylock was too drunk," said Hallam, quite naturally " there he is, in the corner, now." " Let him stay there, then. You have not answered my question." " Your question ? " " I asked where Portia was. M " Oh, Beatrice 1 she is somewhere about." " I met and directed her on her way to town the othei day. Send up, and say that Mr. Effingham wishes to see her." " Certainly, sir." A messenger was dispatched to Miss Hallam's room, and in a moment returned with the reply, that she was busy studying her part. "She can see you, though," said Hallam, laughing; " follow me, sir." Mr. Effingham followed the fat manager, and a flight of stairs brought them to a door, which Hallam knocked at, and a voice bidding him come in, he threw it open. It afforded entrance to a small, neat room, the simple ornaments of which were in perfect taste ; the window of this room waf open, and at it sat the young girl, whom we have seen twic* before ; once, in the bright autumn woods, and again on the stage, in the character of Portia. Beatrice was clad in a handsome morning dress of dove color, and her fine hair was secured behind her statue-like head by a bow of scarlet riband. She leaned one hand upon her book, the other supported her fair brow, and her classic profile was clearly defined against the rich fall forest, visible through the window. At the noise made by the opening door she railed her THE OLD RALEIGH TAVERM. 67 eyes, and for a moment gazed in silence upon the intruders Then apparently resigning herself to her fate, she closed the book and rose. " I told the servant to say that I was engaged upon my part, father," she said, calmly, to Hallam. " I shall be badly prepared if I am interrupted, sir." <( Oh, plenty of time and with your genius, child, you can do any thing. She is as quick as lightning, Mr. Effing- ham," added the manager, discussing the young girl's talents in her hearing without a thought of any indelicacy in such a proceeding, " and when she catches hold of a role it's done." Beatrice was silent. " Come, now, talk with Mr. Effingham for a quarter of an hour, since he is an acquaintance," continued the man ager, smiling, " in that time you will lose nothing," And passing through the door, he descended into the lower part of the tavern. For a moment the two personages thus left alone sur veyed each other in silence. Before Mr. Effingham's bold and careless glance, Beatrice's eyes did not lower for an instant. " Well, Mr. Effingham," she said, at length, quite calm ly, " what would you have ? " " Simply, a little conversation with you, my charming Beatrice," said Mr. Effingham, carelessly. " I am busy, sir, very. I act Juliet to-night, and am now studying." " Oh, you can give me a few moments " " Well, sir," she said, sitting down and pointing to a hair. " Especially," continued her visitor, " as you refused to say any thing to me last night." " That is a reproach, sir ? " " Yes." " It is unjust, as you know. " " Now, sfte the difference of opinion," said Mr. Effing ham, smoothing his ruffles, daintily, " I think that nothing could be more just. I reproach you justly, because you have nothing but prudery to allege as an excuse for youi refusal." OB THE OLD RALEIGH TAVERN. " I told you, sir, then, as I now do, tlat conversation on the stage destroys my conception of the character I ain representing." " Bah ! all theory." The young girl seemed to he somewhat irritated by the disdainful expression of Mr. Effingham's voice. " Mr. Effingham," she said, " be pleased not to treat me like your servant. I am no common attach 6 of the stage, sir, such as you have met with, doubtless, in London frequently. I say this, sir, in no spirit of self-approval, but because it is true." " Why, Beatrice, you are really about to bowstring me, or put me to some horrible death, I believe." " See, sir," said the young girl, with noble calmness, " we are very nearly perfect strangers, and you address me as ' Beatrice,' as familiarly as my own father." " May the devil take it you quarrel with a mere habit. :l " Mr. Effingham," said the young woman, rising, and speaking in a tone of perfect calmness, " I quarrel neither with you nor any one; above all, I do not presume to criticise your habits, except when those habits, as in the present instance, concern myself." " Bah ! " repeated Mr. Effingharm with a laugh, " how, pray?" " You seem to think, sir, that it is my place to be thank ful when you address me intimately, and familiarly, as you have done." " What harm is there ? " " That question is an insult, sir ! " " May the devil take me, but you are fruitful in imagi nary offences, and insults offered you." " No, sir I do not exercise my imagination at all Your tone to me is disagreeable." " There it is again you are really going to bite me, I believe. Let us leave the subject, and discuss last night's performance. Your acting was really not bad." The proud lip of the young woman moved slightly. " Ah ! ah ! " said Mr. Effingham, laughing, " I see what you mean by that scornful look. I am a poor critic, you would say." " I say ittkimg, sir THE OLD RALEIGH TAVERN. 69 " I have no taste, you would say : though I fceg you to observe, that inasmuch as I have praised your acting, that is a false step in you." Beatrice repressed her rising anger, and bowed coldly. Mr. Effingham received this exhibition of hauteur witk. careless nonchalance, and picking up the volume which tho young girl had laid down on his entrance, said : " You act Juliet to-night? " " I do, sir." " I shall come." Beatrice made no reply. " I beg, now," continued Mr. Effingham, arranging one of his ambrosial drop-curls daintily upon his cheek, " I beg you will not put any of that ferocious feeling you now exhibit into Juliet. The character is essentially tender and poeti cal, and ranting would kill it." " I never rant, sir," said Beatrice, apparently resigning herself to the presence of her insulting visitor, and speaking in a tone of utter coldness. " That's right," replied Mr. Effingham, indifferently ; " be subdued, quiet, but intense, and all that. Juliet is deeply in love with Komeo, recollect, and love does not express itself by tirade. Do you think it suits you ? Come, answer me." " I have played it before, sir." " That is no answer." " Please leave me to study my part, sir time is pass ing." " Not before giving my views, Beatrice. I don't think you will act Juliet well. It requires a tender, loving na ture ; and you are minus the heart, it is plain ; and you will butcher the part." " Thanks for your compliment, sir." " Oh ! I never compliment, or any thing of the sort." * I am losing time, sir." ' Conversing with me, you mean ? " " Yes, sir." " The conversation, then, is very distasteful to you, pay charming Beatrice ? " " Yes, sir 1 " she said. M You hate me, perhaps ? ' ' 70 THE OLD EALE1GH TAVERH. The young girl made no reply. " Or, perhaps, your ladyship despises me ? " added M/. Effinghain, betraying some irritation. " I do neither, sir you are indifferent to me." These words were uttered with so much coldness, that Mr. Effingham's amour-propre was deeply wounded. He began to get angry. A " You are really a very amiable young lady," he said. ' Here I ride all the way from the country for the sole pur pose of seeing you." " And insulting me, sir, add." " And you receive me," continued Mr. Effingham, taking no notice of the interruption, "as if I were a common clodhopper, instead of a gentleman, paying you a friendly visit." ' Your friendly visits do not please me, sir." " I see they do not." " I am an actress, sir, and not of your class." " Bah ! who speaks of classes ? " " You yourself this moment, sir ! " " You choose to misunderstand me. I said that my visit was the friendly one of a well-bred man, not the imper tinent intrusion of a country bumpkin, like those knaves who hissed me in the gallery, or that clodhopper who presumed to bend his angry glances on me from the pit Mr. Charles Waters, I know him well the young reformer, forsooth ! " Beatrice's face flushed. " I saw no nobler countenance, sir," she said, coldly, " among all your aristocratic friends." " Ah I your cavalier, I perceive 1 " said Mr. Effingham, bitterly ; " really, I shall become jealous." " I do not know him, even, sir your scoff is unjust." " Your true knight, who wished to run a tilt with me for touching your arm ! Perhaps he has but now left you, and before going, devoted my humble self to the infernal gods for daring to address you." " I repeat," said Beatrice, indignantly, " that I have seen him but once, and on the occasion you allude to." " Well, I believe you. But let such impertinent bump kins beware how they criticise my actions in future, even by their looks." THE OLD RALElGtt TAV0RN. 71 Beatrice sat down, with a mixture of weariness and scorn on her beautiful countenance, and, taking up the book which the young man had laid down, began to study her part. This calmness seemed to enrage Mr. Effingham not a little, and he put on his cocked hat with a flirt of irritation. " Very well," he said ; " that means that you are weary of me I am not good enough for Miss Hallam she is too immaculate for me." " I have my part to study, sir." And she began to con her character in silence. Mr. Effingham swung his short sword round angrily and without further words went hurriedly out of the room. He brushed by Mr. Hallam, who was talking with Shylock, and, mounting his horse, galloped from the town towards the Hall, The manager's good-humored greeting as he passed had been completely disregarded ; and thinking rightly that something bad happened to cause this abrupt departure, ha went up to his daughter's room. " Why did the young man go so abruptly, my, child ? " he said. " Because I would not return him my thanks for visiting me," said Beatrice, bitterly. " Oh," said the manager, laughing, " you are too prudish, Beatrice. You should not complain of these visits, which are customary, and not strange, when you are acquainted as you are with Mr. Effingham, he says. Your aim in life, as you say you hate the stage so much, should be to marry well and I much misunderstand this young fellow, if he would not marry you in the face of the world, if he fancied." " I do not wish to marry him, or any one like him I " said Beatrice, her face flushing, and her beautiful eyes filling with angry tears. " You are mad ! he is, the landlord tells me, of one of the best and wealthiest families in the colony." " And because he is," said Beatrice, wiping her eyes, " he thinks he has the right to intrude upon me, and speak in any tone he chooses. Father ! " she added, passionately, " I am sick of this eternal persecution in London here ev*ry where. I shall go mad if I remain upon the stag?, 79 THE OLD RALEIGH TAVERN. exposed to this class of persons all my life my head is hot and burning now, my eyes feel like fire oh ! I wish I was dead ! " Passionate tears followed these words, and Beatrice covered her face with her hands, bending down and sobbing. The good-hearted old fellow, who really had his daughter's good at heart in all things, betrayed some feeling at this ex plosion of grief ; and betook himself to soothing the young girl, with gentle words, and caresses, and assurances of his own unchangeable love. " Come, come," he said, much affected, " I can't bear to see you so much moved. Don't think too hardly of this young man. He is thoughtless, perhaps, but does not mean any offence. There now ! " he said, caressing her disorderd hair, " don't cry, Beatrice. You shall forget all this to-morrow, when, as there will be no performance, we can go and have the sail upon James River, which you said you would like so much will you go ? " " Yes, sir," said Beatrice, growing calmer, " oh yes ! I want to get away from all this tormenting excitement, and breathe the fresh river air. I am happiest in the woods, or on the water. I won't cry any more, sir, and don't fear I will not act my part well. I don't like acting, and at times I feel a weariness and disgust which I cannot subdue : but I will not let any of my bad feelings interfere with your wishes. Indeed, I'll act very well, sir." " And don't be too angry at the young man he meant nothing, I know." " I have forgotten him, sir," said the young girl, with noble calmness. " A mere thoughtless youth, who admires you highly I aw that well, when you were speaking in the trial scene last night. Now I will leave you. Good-bye." " Good-bye, father kiss me, before you go." And Mr. Manager Hallam having retired, the young girl growing gradually calm, again applied herself once more to the study of her part, A LOYKK. FOX-HUNTER. AND IAMOK. 70 CHAPTER XIII. A LOVEK, FOX-HUNTEB, AND PABSON. OUT of Williamsburg into the forest through the forest and so into the open highway sped Mr. Effingham, as if au avenging Nemesis were behind him, and nothing but the headlong speed he was pushing his noble bay to, could pre serve him from the clutches of the pursuer. He made furious gestures, uttered more furious words. The ordinary languor and nonchalance of this gentleman seemed to have passed from him wholly, and a fiery, passionate man, taken the petit maitre's place. Going at this headlong speed, he very nearly ran over, be fore he was aware of their proximity, a party of gentlemen nf his acquaintance, who were riding leisurely toward the bachelor establishment of Mr. Hamilton, visible a few hun dred yards ahead. Mr. Hamilton rode in front of the glittering cortege, and became aware of Mr. Effingham'a presence, by having his horse nearly driven from beneath him. " What, the devil ! " cried jolly Jack Hamilton. " It's Effingham, racing for life 1 " rose in chorus, from the laughing horsemen " The devil, Champ ! what's the matter ?" asked Hamil ton, " have you made a bet that you will ride over us, horse, foot and dragoons ? " " Excuse me," said Mr. Effingham, regaining a portion of his habitual calmness, " but the fact is, Hamilton, I am angry enough to gallop to the devil, whom you have twice apostrophized so emphatically." " What's the matter ? " " lam mad." " Intellectually, or do you mean that you are merely out of temper ? " " Both, I believe." " Then, come and sleep with me, and have a with us in the morning." " No." 4 74 A LOVER, FOX-HUNTER, AMD PARSON. " Come, now." " I cannot." " Well, at least, let us have the cause of your fury." Mr. Effingham hesitated, but at last, overcome with raga, eaid: " That young actress has been assuming her airs ttwardi me, and has made me as you find me. There it is 1 I con fess I am out of temper." " What a confession it is I " cried Hamilton, laughing u I thought you never suffered yourself to be ruffled." " I seldom do." " And she offended you ? " " Snubbed me nothing less. It is really humiliating." And Mr. Effingham looked as if he believed what he naid : his face was flushed, and he looked gloomy. " How was it ? " asked the company. " Why, just thus. I went to pay her a visit, and com plimented her performance in Portia, highly. What reply did I receive, sir ? " said Mr. Effingham, indignantly, " why, an insult ! ' Please leave me I must study my part ! ' that was her reply. And when I declined to avail myself of the privilege, she went on studying, as calmly as if I was not present." " A perfect she-dragon, by George ! " said Hamilton, " but really, that was bad treatment." " Abominable ! " said the chorus. " She could not have treated a country clown more harsh ly," added Hamilton ; " how could she be guilty of such rudeness. She don't look like it I thought her very lady like." " All acting 1 " said Mr. Effingham. " Plainly." " She shall repent it," blurted out Mr. Effingham, " the insulting girl 1 I never saw greater rudeness and hauteur. A mere London commedienne of no talents, and bringing her stilted affectations to the colony." " Come, my dear Effingham, don't be angry. Here we are at the Trap my respectable bachelor residence : come in, and cool off in some Jamaica " " No, thank you I must get on. I am bad company. ' And, leaving the fox-hunters, Mr. Effingham rode on toward the Hall. A quarter of a mile from the house he A LOVER, FOX-HUNTER, AND PARSON. 7& met Parson Tag, jogging on his cob from the Hall home ward, with broad-brimmed hat, and knees and elbows pain fully angular. " Good evening, sir," said the parson, " you return soon : the dews of evening are scarce falling." " I thought you were at the Hall, sir, for the evening." "Why so?" " Because I was absent," said Mr. Effingham coldly. u We quarrel, I believe, always, and I thought you would re main, as I was away." Mr. Effingham's irritation and ill-humor must plead his excuse for this irreverent speech. " The quarrelling is on your side, not on mine, sir," said the parson, endeavoring to be dignified; "lam a man of peace." " Carrying out which character, you this morning attacked Miss Hallam, sir ! " " Really, you seem to have espoused that young lady's cause against all comers," said the indignant parson. " Tak^i care, young sir ; as the parson of your parish, it is my duty to warn you against the snares of Satan. This Jezebel will be your ruin." " Be pleased to speak respectfully of Miss Hallam, sir," said Mr. Effingham, threateningly, " when you address me on the subject of her character. Though not her knight, I hold myself ready to ' espouse her cause,' as you say, sir, even against the ' parson of my parish ! ' " " Here's a pretty mess," returned the pompous gentleman, descending to the vulgate : " you threaten me, forsooth ! " " No, sir : I acknowledge the folly of my words. You wear no sword, and are not responsible for thus slandering my friends yes, my friends, sir 1 I say again, that Miss Hal lam is one of my friends, and a young lady who has thus far conducted herself with immaculate propriety. Now, go sir, and laugh at me. I value your derision as I value your praise as nothing." And Mr. Effingham rode on as furiously as before, with out reflecting for an instant on the strange inconsistency of his conduct. Might not a small modicum of self-kaowledge have explained to him the truth of the matter ? But he was blinded by those dazzling eyes, and saw no inconsistency in his words. 76 HOW MR. E. STAINED HIS RUFFLES WITH BLOOD. CHAPTER XIV. HOW MR. EFFINOHAM STAINED HIS RUFFLES WITH BLOOD. TEN minutes' ride brought him to Emngham Hall, and, throw ing his bridle to a negro who ran forward to take it, he en tered the hall. Supper was soon served, and Mr. Emngham was plied with questions as to his abrupt return, and moody state of mind. These questions were received with very little good-humor by the young man, who was in a furious ill- humor, and he was soon left to himself. The squire was not present, having some writing to do in the library, whither a cup of chocolate was sent him. After supper Mr. Emngham sat down moodily, resting his feet on the huge grim-headed andirons, which shone brightly in the cheerful light thrown out by some blazing splinters, for the October evenings were becoming chilly. Miss Alethea, who sat sewing busily, after pouring out tea, endeavored in vain to extract a word from him. Little Kate, who sat in the corner near Mr. Emngham, on her own little cricket, paused in the midst of her work Carlo was going on bravely now to ask cousin Champ what made him feel bad, and was he sick ? The child was Mr. Effingham's favorite, and he was always ready to play with her ; but on the present occasion he replied that he was not sick, and did not wish to be annoyed. Kate looked much hurt, and Master Willie, who was pouring over a wonderful book of travels at the table, mani fested some disapprobation, on hearing his future wife thus rudely addressed. " You are not mad with me, cousin Champ ? " said little Kate, piteously. " No no ! I am angry with nobody," said Mr. Effing- bam, with some impatience, but more softly than before. Kate, encouraged by these words, laid Carlo down, and pouring some perfume from a bottle into her hand, stole up to Mr. Emngham, and said : " Oh, I know you've got a headache, cousin Champ I Let me put this on your forehead." He would have refused, but the little face was so tender, %nd the small hand so soft, that he could not. HOW MR. E. STAINED HIS RUFFLES WITH BLOOD. 7? " I have no headache, Katy," he said, " I am only an noyed no, I believe I am not even annoyed." And rising abruptly, he said to a servant : " Order my horse ! " The negro hastened out. " Why, where in the world can you be going at this hour ? " said Miss Alethea, writing busily. Mr. Effingham either did not hear this question, or deign ed to take no notice of it : a circumstance which caused Miss Alethea to toss her head, and preserve a dignified silence. " Well ! my horse ? " he said, as the servant re-entered. " Be round directly, sir, I told Dick to be quick." Kate stole up and took his hand. " Cousin Champ," she said, " it is getting cold. Won't you wear my white comfort ? I'll bring it in a minute." " No, no ! I don't need it." Kate tip-toed, and whispered in his ear : " I won't like cousin Clare, if she treats you badly." " Foolish child ! for heaven's sake let me alone ! " Then, seeing that the little face looked hurt and morti fied , he added gloomily : "I am not treated badly by any one, Kate : you attach too much importance to my moods. There : I had no inten tion of hurting your feelings, and I am not going to see any body in particular." " Did anybody ever ! " said Miss Alethea, raising her hands. " Apologise to a child, when my questions are met with insult." Mr. Effingham treated this apostrophe to the unknown personage, who finds himself called upon to express his sen timents on such astounding occasions, with profound dis regard, and went out into the night. A servant held his horse, and he vaulted into the saddle, and set forward at a gallop toward Williamsburg. " That woman will be my fate !" he muttered, between his clenched teeth ; and with a reckless laugh, " I see the abyss before me, and the mocking glances of the world are plain to me. I, a gentleman, to trouble myself about an actress 1 I suppose I will end by offering her my hand, and then comes the storm ! Married to an actress 1 for, by 78 HOW UK. E. STAINED HIS RUFFLES WITH BLOOD. heaven, if I wish to do so, I will do so in spite of fire and tempest ! They'll laugh when they read of my wedding I see them now, leering and smiling, and giggling : the well- bred gentlemen wondering how I could throw myself away BO, the eligible young ladies intensely indignant, at what? why, at the loss of a visitor and prospective husband. They would scout the idea, truly ! but I defy them to deny it a score of them. Marry an actress ! I am stamped with degradation for ever by it. Well, I'm not fool enough for that, quite yet ; but every bound of this horse is a step in my fate. Let it be ! " And digging his spurs into the animal's sides, he fled on through the darkness like the wild huntsman ; as furious and fast. The lights of the town soon rose on his sight, and clattering to the " Raleigh," he gave his horse in charge of an ostler, and repaired without brushing the dust from his clothes, or wiping the perspiration from his brow, to the theatre. The play had commenced nearly an hour before, and it was with great difficulty that the young man pushing by a number of ladies, his acquaintances could reach the stage, upon which some dozen or more gentlemen were standing or seated. In the middle box, his excellency, the Governor, and his household, glittered in silk, embroidery and gold. Just as he reached the stage, Juliet made her appear ance in the garden. Beatrice was the very impersonation of the poet's conception so tender, yet passionate ; bold, yet fearful, were her looks and tones, her gestures, and whole rendering of the part. Her dewy eyes burned with a steady and yet changeable flame ; were now veiled with thought, then radiant with passionate love, and like two moons, new risen, swayed the quick currents of the blood. The audience greeted her with enthusiastic applause, and Mr. Eflingham saw that the favorable impression she had made on the pre vious night had now been much heightened. In truth, nothing could be more splendid than her coun tenance, as she hastened to meet tin nurse, bringing her news of her lover : and Mr. Effinghaui, spite of his agitation and gloom, could not help hanging on her words and glances, drinking in the music of her rare and wonderful voice with greedy ears. A bitter smile distorted his features, how HOW MR. E. STAINED HIS RUFFLES WITH J5LOOD. 7 r J ever ; for with every burst of applause and no opportunity was allowed by the audience to escape them he felt more and more how insignificant he was to this young girl, ap plauded, caressed, overwhelmed with the intoxicating praise lavished on her from a thousand hands the incense ascend ing in her honor there before him. " What does she care for me ! " he said, bitterly ; " every body praises her all are delighted those fools, there, ar devouring her with their eyes, and think her an angel of genius and beauty from the skies. I tear my heart in vain.' And with passionate anger Mr. Effingham grasped his breast, and dug his nails into the flesh, until they were stained with blood. The rich lace ruffle, rumpled and torn, revealed in its crimson stain the excess of his rage. He made no reply to the laughing words addressed to him by his companions, and taking up a position almost behind the scenes, arrested Beatrice in her passage as she went out. " You do not see me ! " he said, abruptly. " Good evening, sir," said Beatrice, calmly ; " I was ab sorbed in my part." And she endeavored to pass on. " Stop," said Mr. Effingham, with a sneering laugh, " you are really too much in a hurry." " I must look at my next speech, sir I should have known it but for your interruption this morning." " You hate me do you not ? " he said, clasping her arm " No, sir please release me." " Ah ! you have merely contempt for me, madam." " Mr. Effingham," said Beatrice, raising her head with oold dignity, " I despise no one. Your words are probably ironical, as you ask me, an actress, if I despise you, a wealthy gentleman ; but I reply to you aa if you were in earnest. Now, sir, I must go." " Not until I have told you that you ar a heartless and unfeeling woman a nature of stone a coL.\ and unimpress- ible automaton ! " The young girl looked strangely at him. " You have despised the honestly-offer* <J courtesy of a man against whom you know nothing. Stoj , madam ! You have tormented me ; yes, tormented me ' *-oe humiliating 80 THE SAIL-BOAT " NANCY.** truth will out! -tormented me by your coldness and con tempt destroyed my temper; since seeing you I am another man, and a worse one. Look, my ruffle is rumpled and bloody your nails tore my flesh ! " " Oh, sir ! " cried the young girl, starting back in horror, " how could you " " A mere scratch, madam," said Mr. Effingham, bitterly, " and I used a mere figure of speech in saying that your hand inflicted it. You only caused it 1 " " Mr. Effingham, you frighten me. I must go." " You shall hear me." " I must go, sir ; listen, the audience are becoming im patient. Release my sleeve, sir," she said, coldly and firmly, again ; and leaving him, she issued forth upon the stage, and with a voice as firm and steady as ever so won derful was her self-control continued her character. As she passed out after the scene, Mr. Effingham in vain attempted to address her. Failing in this, he ground his teeth, and clutching a second time the unfortunate lace at his bosom, tore it into shreds. He turned, and almost rushed from the theatre. As he brushed through the box, he heard a little cry of astonishment, and a soft voice full of surprise said, " Mr. Effingham ! " He turned, and his eyes met those of Clare, fixed on him with trouble and aston ishment. He bowed, said hurriedly something about regretting the necessity of his departure, and left the theatre just as the audience greeted the re-entrance of Beatrice with a burst of applause. He hastened to the " Raleigh," mounted his horse, and fled out into the dark night like a phantom, full of rage and despair, that joyous applause still ringing in his ears. CHAPTER XV. THE SAIL-BOAT "NANCY." " HAVE you never, friend, who now readest these un worthy lines, abandoned for a time your city life, with its noise nd bustle, and eternal striving, and locking up with your THE SAIL-BOAT "NANCY." 81. ledgers, or your lawbooks, all thoughts of business, gone into that bright lowland, which the James flows proudly through, a band of silver wavering across a field of emerald ? Have you never sought a sensation finer, emotions fresher, than city triumphs and delights and, leaving for a time your absorbing cares and aspirations, trusted yourself to the current, like a bark, which takes no prescribed course, stops at no stated place, but suffers the wind and the stream to bear it whithersoever they will, well knowing that the wind cannot waft it, the tide cannot bear it, where the blue sky will not arch above, the fresh, waving woods will not mirror their tall trunks and fine foliage in the serene surface ? Have you never sailed along that majestic river, with its sentinel pines, and wood-embowered mansions, and bright ripples breaking into foam, when the west wind, blowing freshly, strikes against the tide, surging for ever from the sea ? Go, on an October day, when the white clouds are shattered by the breezes of the Atlantic those breezes still redolent with the perfumes of the tropics, and telling of their long travel over lands of unimagined beauty and un dreamed-of splendor go on one of those clear, sunny days of the early autumn, when the waters ripple like molten sil ver agitated by the breath of the Deity; when trees ar* crimson, and blue, and golden, like the myriad silken banners which erewhile flouted the deep heaven before Tamerlane ; when the wave laps upon the shore, and silences *he whisper of the pines with its monotonous and dreamy music ; where the water-fowl sleep upon the surge, or extend their broad wings above the glittering foam, to strike the :juick- darting prey their keen eyes have descried ; go on some day when the white sail of some sea-bound bark bellies in the wind, and her prow cuts the silver, dashing into foam the bright sunlit waters ; or when glorying in the fine sea son, and in his momadic, careless lot, the fisherman spreads his small lateen sail, and feels his bark bound beneath him like a sea-gull tossed upon the waves when, trusting to Pro vidence to guide his course, he drops the paddle he has been plying, carelessly, and with closed eyes, dreams in the broad sunlight of the past and future. Go, on one of these days, ana gliding over the swaying billows of the great stream, see if there is not yet some fresh delight in this our human life 82 THE SAIL-BOAT " NANCY." ft poetry and romance unstifled in the heart ! On such a day did Beatrice Hallam leave the town of Williamsburg, with her father, and bend her steps toward the stream." Thus far, the author of the MS., in that rhetorical and enthusiastic style which every where characterizes his works. Let us descend from the heights of apostrophe and declama tion to the prose of simple narrative. Beatrice had received the assurance of her father, that she should spend a day upon the waters, with a delight which may readily be imagined. She was a pure child of the wilderness, in spite of the eternal claims which an arti ficial civilization, an inexorable convention, laid to her time and thoughts. She rejoiced in the forest, and on the hills : we have seen her riding out fearlessly, to drink in the fresh splendor of the autumn now she anticipated a delight ful day upon the river. Mr. Effingham would not be there, with his insulting advances, his intolerable drawl, his irritat ing airs of superiority and patronage. She would have the whole day to herself. She had no performance to neglect; no rehearsal to go to. She was free for the day wholly. Beatrice was an excellent rider, and she chose this mode of reaching the river, in preference to the light calash, which the manager suggested The good-humored old fel low yielded at once, and mounting a stout cob, instead of installing his corpulent person in the comfortable vehicle, they set forth the young girl riding her favorite white horse. They reached the bank of the stream without in cident, and found the boatman, to whom a message had been sent on the night before, ready to receive them. He gather ed up his fishing lines with the ease of a practised hand, placed in the pocket of his pea jacket the inseparable black flask of rum, and led the way to his little vessel. It was one of those light and airy barks, which obey the hand of the helmsman, as the body of the seabird runs with the movement of the wings, or turns obedient to the red, webbed feet; and soon it was gliding over the water, borne onward by a fresh wind, which filled the small triangular sail, toward the fishing ground. Beatrice, with clasped hands and dancing eyes, drank in the splendor of the beautiful day. Her cheeks filled with blood, her parted lips assumed an inexpressible softness and THfc SAIL-BOAT "NANCY." 83 delight she was free as the bright water, and rejoiced like au Indian once more in his native wilds ! never had she looked more beautiful, more fascinating. She laughed, ran on with childlike merriment in her voice and eyes ; dipped her fingers with affected shivering in the foam before the prow, and startled the wild sea-gulls with her cries and laughter. She was a child again, and the manager said as much to her. " Oh ! " cried the young girl, her whole countenam radiant with joy aud pleasure, " you can't think, father, how happy I feel out here on the water ! " I'm nothing but a child, you know, and I always shall be. Look at that bird with the white wings ; how he darts over the waves 1 " The manager smiled. " It's a shame to keep you where there are any houses, child," he said, " you are never half as happy as this in London, or any where." "I can't be, sir." " Why ? " " Oh, I feel so cramped where people are. They stare at me, and make me feel badly ; and often when I pass, I hear them say who I am, and laugh." " That's because you act well." " Oh, don't talk about acting now, father, please. I don't want to think of it. I'm so happy 1 Look at the pretty foam ! " " Yes you love the water." " Oh, dearly ! you didn't know how I spent the evenings on the ocean, while you were playing ombre with Captain Fellowes." " Commander of the merchant-vessel ' Charming Sally,' " laughed the manager ; " but how about your evenings ? " " Oh, I used to go and lean over the what are they called ? " " Bulwarks." " Yes, the bulwarks. I used to lean over, and look at the foam, and the great fish tumbling about in the moonlight for hours. It was delightful ! " The fresh face lit up with a childlike delight, as the young girl spoke. " Very romantic," said Mr. Hallam, smiling. 84 THE SAIL-BOAT "NANCY.** " Oh, I'm not romantic, sir, I'm the most matter-of-fact person in the world, but I couldn't help liking the foam." " You are right but we old fellows like tictac better than moonlight thinking." " Yes I used to think : I recollect I did think." "What of?" " Of the beautiful land we were coming to Virginia : the Virgin Land, they called it. How pretty that sounds ! " " Yes." " A fresh, bright land, where the wind was always blow ing, the trees always full of leaves and flowers, and no cold winter to chill one." " A young poet ! " " No, no, father I must have been born in the south, though. Oh, tell me where I was born. You never told me." The manager looked somewhat embarrassed, and replied, after a moment's silence : " We were at Malta, then, I be lieve. But how did you find Virginia in reality ? " The young girl's face assumed a sorrowful expression, and she replied : " Not very different from England, sir ; but it is pretty, the forest and all, and this river. Oh ! " she cried suddenly, " look at that bird carrying off the fish in his talons stop, sir, stop 1" Mr. Hallam laughed heartily. " What would they say if they heard Juliet calling after a sea-bird so. Mr. Effing- ham would not believe the account." " Oh, father ! " said Beatrice, returning to her sorrowful expression, " do not talk to me of playing to-day, I feel so happy now, sir ; and don't speak of that wild young man ; I shall get angry, and then be sorry, and cry and you know, father, that would spoil our day. Don't speak of Mr. Effingham ; he looked at me so, last night, with his eyes on fire, and his frill crumpled and torn I thought it was stained with blood." " With blood ! " " He became angry with me for not attending to him on the stage, in the last act, and clutched his breast with his nails. Oh, don't speak of him," she added, growing gloomy, " I do not like that man." " Well, well," said the manager, " don't think too hard TflE SAIL-BOAT "NANCY." 85 df him ; he is young, and means nothing. I wish you to marry well, much as I will lose in you ; and you may find a mate in Virginia. There, don't look so distressed.'' " I don't want to marry 1" said Beatrice, her face clouded over. " You don't like playing ? " " Oh, no ! but I have you, father, and I don't wish to part from you. I can'bear all." " There now, dear, don't lose your bright smiles, and spoil th* day. We will talk no more of these matters. Sink the theatre ! " added the manager good-humoredly, " we came out to fish." " At the ground, squire," said the boatman. " Go it, I'll keep the craft straight." And soon the bright fish were being drawn up from the water in numbers which would have afforded delight to Isaac Walton, much as that worthy gentleman dwelt upon brook-sides and art in snaring the solitary trout. They spent the greater part of the morning thus, and Beatrice forgot her gloom completely. About noon the wind began to grow fresher, and large clouds rolled themselves up from the western horizon, and spread their dark curtain over the sun. The boatman looked at them with an experienced eye, then turning to the manager, said : " Look here, squire ; seems to me we'ro goin' to have a storm. Them clouds look like it ; and hear the wind ! " In fact the forest on each side of the river began to toss its boughs and roll aloft that wild, surging sound which the wind wakea up in its passage through tall trees. The pines waved in tho chill blast, and roared like great organs ; and in addition to these threatening sounds, the waves began to roll higher, tossing the little bark like a nutshell, and sprinkling the white lateen sail with snowy foam. " I believe you are right, and we had better get to shore." " We're a mile from the cabin, squire, but this west wind will carry us down like a flash. Must I tie the sail ? " " Oh, let's wait a little, father," cried Beatrice, w:th animated looks and bright eyes, " the wind is so grand. Oh, don't tie the sail yet !" 86 TJtE SAIL-BOAT " NANCY.'* " The wind'll tear it to tatters if it keeps crackin' it so miss," said the boatman ; " but I'm willin', for I'm goin 1 to do all I'm wanted to do. I ain't goin' to deny youi pretty face any thing." With which words the honest boatman laid down tran quilly in the stern of the bark, and first taking a pull at his black flask applied himself to the task of keeping the craft before the wind. Mr. Hallam had yielded to this arrangement, but was plainly desirous of returning imme diately. He opened his mouth to say as much, but Beatrice interrupted him before he could speak. " Oh, listen, father ! " she cried, starting up and steady ing herself by clinging to the slight mast ; " listen to the woods ! The wind roars through them like the cannon we heard at Dover ! How sublime it sounds ! And look at the waves ; they are beginning to grow black, I believe, and they toss us about like a cork ! Oh, how the wind sobs and rolls along ! It makes me so happy ! " " Take care, miss! " said the boatman; "that mast ia unsteady." " Oh, don't be afraid for me." " Come, let us get to shore at once," said Mr. Hallam, becoming really alarmed. " That's easy, sir," said the boatman ; " with the sail up the wind'll carry us down in a jiffy. Don't be afraid of up setting. The Nancy never served me such a trick, and won't now, though there is a wind, squire ; it's coming worse, too, but there's no danger." And he caught the rope, which the wind was cracking as a man cracks a whip, and, with a vigorous hand, secured it to the gunwale. The effect was instantaneous. The little bark, which before had merely danced about on the waves, now shot down the stream like lightning, cleaving the wavea which struck it, and shipping clouds of foam. Beatrice hailed this accession of speed with delight. Her ardent and impressible nature rejoiced in the hurly- burly of the wind, the speed of the bark, the foam of the high waves wetting her at every instant. " Oh, it's delightful, father ! " she cried. " I could shout for joy ! Look at that little boat, there, with the man m it so quiet and easy it jumps about like a dry leaf 1 " ffiE SAIL-BOAT " NANCY.*' 8? The boat, indeed, which the young girl was looking at, did seem to be of no more strength than a leaf. It was a frail little canoe, scarcely large enough it seemed to hold a child, and beautifully built. The sides were painted with great taste, and the prow ran up in a curving point, which dashed aside the foaming water like a steel blade In the stern of the canoe a young man was seated, holding in his hand a paddle, with which he both propelled and guided the skiff on its path toward the shore. The young man seemed to be no stranger to such storms as the present, and, without paying any attention to the foam which broke over him, looked intently at the sail-boat. " Oh, how it darts ! " cried Beatrice ; " look, the wind struck it then, and it jumped out of the water ! " " Take care, miss 1 " cried the boatman ; " if she veers you'll fall overboard ! " " Take care, my daughter ! " echoed Mr. Hallam; "there is a tremendous gust of wind coming right down. Get down ! " " Steady ! " cried the boatman ; " this is a roarer ; take care of the mast, miss ! Sit down 1 " It was too late. Beatrice made a movement to obey, but before she had regained her seat, and while she yet clung to the mast, the frail pole bent beneath the powerful blast, the sail almost doubled up, and the spar snapping like a reed, precipitated the young girl into the stream. A huge wave bore her ten feet from the bark in an instant, and, passing over her, swallowed the fair form in its gloomy depths. The fat manager was struck motionless with horror, and the boatman, dropping his paddle, leaped into the stream. But another saviour was before him. The young man in the skiff had approached within a stone's throw of the sail-boat, when the gust struck her, and his canoe was darting directly across the wake of the bark when the mast snapped. At the same moment he seemed to have recognized the young wo man and, uttering an exclamation which was drowned in the shrill blast, threw himself into the waves, and catching her half-submerged form as she rose, struck out with the ease of a practised swimmer. Beatrice was a dead weight on his arm, and he soon felt that exhaustion which the strongest swimmer experiences, 8R SEQUEL TO THE ADVEJTTUtlE. itruck every moment in the face by surges strong enough to ingulf a giant. The boatman, swimming with the wind and foam blinding him, could not come to his assistance the two forms struggled with the devouring waves in vain a huge billow passed over the young man's head, and he sank, clasping to his heart the chill form of the girl. As he rose for the last time, one of those providences which watch over us, giving the lie to chance, was the means of his salva tion. His shoulder struck against the boat, which had been swept to the spot by the wind ; and, as he caught its gun wale, he felt the body of the young girl weigh less upon him. He was taken into the sail-boat, he knew not how he saw a woman whom he had saved lying lifeless before him a rude boatman chafing her temples a corpulent man weeping and still grasping a billet of wood with which he had plunged into the waves and then he fell exhausted, overcome. The first words which he heard when he came to himself, were : " Well, squire, she's all right now : only a little wetting. Here we are at neighbour Waters', and that's his son, that saved the young woman." CHAPTER XVI. SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURE. THE fat manager did not know whether to laugh or weep. She was saved! that was all he was conscious of; and he scarcely knew how he got on shore. Beatrice, who had by this time revived wholly, though she still shivered with cold and terror, was borne to dry land by the strong boatman ; and the rest following, the whole party was safe from the storm, which raged more furiously still, at thus being forced to give up its prey. Before them rose a rough but comfortable cottage, which from its bluff, overlooked the river up and down for miles. A walk of ten minutes brought them to the door, and within a cheerful fire was burning, apparently made necessary by the high and exposed situation of the house. The boatman SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURE. 89 deposited, we may almost say, the young girl on a comfort able chair. She had been supported from the landing be tween the honest fellow and her father the young man walking iu silence before. After thus getting rid of his charge, the boatman turned to greet the owner of the mansion, saying : " Well, neighbour Waters, here's a mess ! the young lady's been overboard and nigh gone." The host was an old man of sixty-five or more : in every thing about him, the simplicity of his nature was manifest. His open features were almost constantly lit up by a cheer ful smile, and his eyes were full of kindness and good-humor. He was clad as the humbler class were almost universally at that day in a broad-skirted coat of drab cloth, with plain cuffs, but turned back after the fashion of the time : his stockings were of wool, and his waistcoat was of plain serge, with large pockets, and reaching almost to the knees. On his feet he wore heavy, thick-soled shoes ; and his gray hair, gathered in a club behind, was free from powder. To the boatman's address, he replied, cheerily : " Overboard ! how so, neighbor Townes ? and in your craft ? I never hearn tell of such a thing bappenin' to you before. The pretty bird ! we must see how to fix her. Sit down, sir : sit down your daughter, I reckon. Well, well, this is a bad day to be on the water. How does the young lady feel now ? " Beatrice had profited by the cheering blaze, and replied quietly, though with a slight shiver : " I am a great deal better than I was, sir : I owe you many thanks for your kindness," " No kindness in the world," said the old man, " I'm poor and sin pie, but you're heartily welcome." " Poor aud simple as you say you are, neighbor," here broke in the boatman, " there ain't a squire about here equal to you : and I've been knowin' you this thirty years : and Charley," here he looked at the young man, who had taken his seat in silence, " Charley is a chip of the old block. Ef it hadn't been for him, the young lady'd a been at Davy Jones' locker by now." "Why, did Charley?" " Yes, he did so, neighbor; he saved the young 'ooman. JO SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURE. A.8 for me, I'm most nigh 'shamed to say it, but the wind and foam blinded me. " " Well, well it's what Charley ought 'a done, and there's an end on it. Now we'll see to a room for you, miss," he said to Beatrice ; " you musn't move to-day. I don't know you, but you're welcome to any thing old John Waters owns." " You are very kind, Mr. Waters," said the fat maua- ger, who had been looking around him, " but we had better get back to town. Our horses are down at your house, friend," he added, to the boatman ; " couldn't you bring 'em here ? " " Easiest thing in life. Jest give me time to swallow a drop ; and that puts me in mind, won't you take somethin' yourself, 'squire, and the young lady ? Neighbor Waters drinks nothing but water he don't." Mr. Manager Hallam received this proposal with extreme satisfaction, and no doubt reflecting that it was just " what the great Congreve " would have done a favorite authority with him emptied nearly half a pint. Beatrice, however, refused the rum, with a shake of her head. " Now, I'll take Sam, neighbor," said the boatman, " and jog down. There's Lanky onhitchin' him. 'Seems to me the sooner I am back the better." " Yes, yes ; and there's a pistole," said Mr. Hallam. The boatman received the money doubtfully, hesitated, then pocketed it ; finally, mounting Sam, a rough-looking cart-horse, harness and all. clattered off through the whirling leaves of the forest toward his cabin. " But you ain't goin' to take the young lady away so soon," said old John Waters ; " she'll catcb the agy, friend. We'll have a room for her the little place up there fixed in no time. Lanky's just come from town, and will make a blazing fire." " I think we had better get back," said Hallam, un easily ; " eh, daughter ? " " Yes, sir; I feel quite strong now, and would like to ride. I never can thank you, sir, and and your son, enough for what you have done. He saved my life." " Oh," laughed the old fisherman, " that's his place you're a weak little thing, and couldn't "be expected to take keer of yourself not a strong woman, either ; only a little easy-iiviu' lady." SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURE. ft " Oh no, sir," said Beatrice, with her lip twitching, " I am only an actress." u An actress ! what's that ? Oh" " My name is Beatrice Hallam," said the young g j-1, re gaining her calmness. " Well ! did any one ever ! " said the old man, " the young lady that played ! I heard all about you, the other day, and made Charley go to see the playin' : and he said a heap in your favor. Charley, you know," said the old fellow, with a smile, " aint much given to these things and I 'most fear he hurts his health over his books look through the door, there what a parcel ! He works hard, too, in the field, and helps me with the seine, but he's been studyin' too much lately I told him so : and says I, ' Charley, you'd better go to town and take some rest : go and see the players.' At first he wouldn't hear of it ; but he went, and praised you a heap, I can tell you, Miss ; though I'm bound to say he didn't say much in favor of young Squire Effin'ham." Beatrice flushed to her forehead, and stole a glance at the young man. He rose, and seeming to banish with an ef fort the thoughts which preoccupied his mind, said, in a grave and serious voice : " I confess, Miss Hallam, that your acting was faultless, as far as I could judge of it ; and my father has not misun derstood my opinion of Mr. Effingham's very unworthy con duct toward yourself. But let us dismiss all these matters you must be greatly fatigued, and not much disposed to listen to conversation. We are very poor, here, as you see, but can give you, and you also, Mr. Hallam, shelter for th night. Remain." Beatrice gazed a moment furtively at the noble and thoughtful face, allowed the last sound of the clear voice to die away, then replied : " We had better return, sir indeed, we should not refuse your kindness, I know : but " " Yes, we must return : you have not dried your own clothes even, sir," said the manager, " and we are under suffi cient obligation for one day. You saved my daughter's life, sir God reward you." " I did nothing but what I should have done, Mr. Hal lam. My father has told yott that it was my simple duty, 92 SEQIEL TO THE ADVESTOBB. and there was little risk. Had there been real risk, I trust I should still have done my duty." " I know you would, Charley," said the old man proud ly, " you'd throw your life away for a child : and I rather think Mr. Emngham would a had a hard time, if you had met after the play ! " " Come come, father," said the young man, gravely, " do not repeat my follies. I have repented it. Harsh words do no good." " If what you said was true, he deserved 'em and more," naid old Waters : " you can't deny it ! " " Well, yes ! he deserved harsh comment 1 you are right ! " said the youug man, his face flushing, " for he in sulted and annoyed a woman. We cannot go far wrong in saying that the man who annoys a woman or a child, must have a bad heart, and ungenerous and narrow soul ! " The young man's voice, ordinarily grave and simple, changed, as he uttered these words : and his flushed face positively overawed the fat manager, who, feeling his own character of paterfamilias indirectly called in question, was about to speak, and ask Beatrice the particulars of Mr. Effingham's conduct. His tone was so firm and proud his eye so clear and full of disdain his attitude so erect and noble, as he uttered these words, that the wide apartment, with its fishing-nets, and rough chairs and tables, seemed to grow brilliant and imposing mind penetrating matter, and transforming it to its own likeness. Beatrice Hallam felt her face fill with blood, her heart throb : for the first time in her life she had found the nature which heaven had moulded in the form of her own, and when the young man, apparently regretting his excitement, mo mentary as it was, returned in silence to his seat, her lus trous glances, brilliant as light itself, but dimmed by a haze of emotion, followed him, and could not withdraw themselves from him. A few moments afterwards, the boatman returned with the horses, and the manager, who began to feel some embar rassment, rose to go. " We've treated you very bad considerin'," said -he old man, " but the fire here was about the best thing for you, I thought, after the wettiu'. Lanky's makiii' the fire now for SEQUEL TO THE ADVENTURE. 93 the young lady : but 'sides that, we had in the way o' clothea nothin' much better 'n a peajacket to offer her, and you said the rum was the best thing for you after the wettin'." " All I wanted all I wanted, sir," said the manager, with a good-humored laugh. " And I am nearly quite dry now, sir," said Beatrice, with a timid smile ; " I shall never forget your kindness to me, Mr. Waters." And she pressed with her small fingers the huge, hearty hand of the old fisherman, and then held out the same little hand to his son, who pressed it with a sensation at his heart which he could not understand. " Strange ! " he said, as they turned away, " I seem to have met this young girl in some other world well, well, the common fancy ! ' And following Beatrice to the door, he assisted her to mount which operation was somewhat embarrassed by the long riding dress, brought with the horses from the boat' man's cabin after which the guests set forward toward Williamsburg. " Waters Waters ? I seem to have heard that name be fore, father," said Beatrice, " and really seem to have known Mr. Charles." " It's a very common name," replied the manager, " and we often find these resemblances. How the evening has cleared off. I don't think any rain has fallen ; the storm must have passed off to the southward." Whether Mr. Manager Hallam wished to turn the con- veisation or not, remains a mystery: but if such was his design, it succeeded perfectly, and Beatrice began to talk about the adventures through which they had passed. Soon the houses of the town came in sight, and they passed along, and drew up before the " Raleigh." Beatrice changed her wet garments, and felt no bad effects from her accident beyond a slight chill. One would have said that the warmth at her heart vivified her person, and defied the chilly waters of the river. All that evening, while the fat manager was relating the adventures of the day, she sat studying, apparently ; but merely her dreamy eyes were fixed upon the page. Of what was she thinking, and why that flush upon thf face, that light in the veiled eyes ? 64 ME.. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. CHAPTER XVII. MB. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. ON the next morning, just as Beatrice was binding up her hair before the single mirror of her small sitting-room, she heard a knock at the door, and answering, " Come in," she saw through the open door Mr. Champ Effingham, who en tered the apartment with a smile. " Ah, good morning, charming Miss Beatrice ! " he said, with a pleased air, too elaborate indeed not to be somewhat affected ; " how is your ladyship to-day ? " Beatrice uttered a sigh of despair, with which no little irritation was commingled. She, however, remembered the wish her father had expressed, that she should not receive her visitor harshly, and this consideration silenced the haughty reply which rose to her lips, though it could not subdue the flash in her proud, brilliant eye. " I am very well, sir," she said. " For which reason," replied Mr. Effingham, playing with his ruffle, and sitting down languidly, " you receive mo very ill." " No, sir ; my reception is neither the one nor the other ; but you have mo right to expect a very friendly reception." " Why not friendly ? " " Can you ask, sir 1 " " Certainly." " I have nothing to reply, then, sir." " Ah, ah ! " said Mr. Effingham, first smoothing the feather in his cocked hat, then negligently playing with the bright hilt of his short sword ; " ah, you are thinking about my naughty behavior in the theatre the other evening." " I have forgotten all, sir." she said calmly. " Well, well, I have come to-day to ask your ladyship to pardon these various exhibitions of ill-humor. My un fortunate ruffle, which you, no doubt, observed, had suffered somewhat in the melee, proved to me the next morning that I must have been rather violent. The fact is, 1 was in a bad humor out of temper a most mortifying acknow ledgment for a star of fashion and nonchalance like myself but skill true." ME. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. 99 Beatrice made no reply. " Granted ! I was out of sorts nervous, in a bad humor ; but, this morning, I am in a delightful state of mind. I feel as if I could embrace the whole world, your self included with the most fraternal and enthusiastic regard. Am I not in an enviable state of mind ? But this is nothing to you. Ah 1 you take very little interest in my welfare, I am really afraid, and have not forgiven, as such a lovely saint should, what I have been guilty of. Come, my charming Miss Beatrice, exert your amiability, and pardon all." Beatrice, with her quick eye, easily discerned the painful emotion beneath this raillery the fire concealed beneath the ashes. For a moment she hesitated, then said : " I am not revengeful or unforgiving, sir, and the painful ordeal you subjected me to in the theatre is already forgot ten. Now, sir, I must go to rehearsal." " Bah ! don't be in a hurry, Beatrice, and, above all, don't pity me ; I am not a man to be pitied ; and, as to rehearsal, that can wait a little, while we have a short con versation. You have a charming voice, and this morning I am really wearied to death. Come, amuse me." " I have no time to converse, sir ; I must leave you." " Come, come : don't be so unamiable you may go di rectly ! " Beatrice sat down, with a sigh of resignation, instead ot leaving the room, as she felt tempted to do. Her father's wish made her patient. " Where were you yesterday ? " " We went to the river, sir, for a saiL" ' To the James ? " 1 Yes, sir." ' Why did you not send me word ? " ' Send you word why, sir ?" ' Why, my new sailboat is just launched, and we might have had a delightful day in her." " We had a very good one." " Any adventures ? " " I fell into the river, sir." " The devil ! And how did you get to land ? " " A gentleman rescued me." 96 MR. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. " A gentleman who, in heaven's name ? Beatrice felt her face flush, half with embarassment half with anger, at this persevering cross-examination. For a moment she hesitated; but her frank and fearless nature made her reply almost instantly, " Mr. Charles Waters, sir." " Charles Waters ! " cried Mr. Effingham, with a sudden pallor, and a flash of the eye, which revealed the volcano beneath his affected carelessness. " Mr. Charles Waters," said Beatrice, calmly and firm ly, "to him I am indebted for my existence, at this moment." A flush of hatred passed over Mr. Effingham 's brow, and he said, with a sneer: " Ah, your cavalier 1 I had forgotten, Madam." Beatrice felt her heart throb with anger, and a scornful answer arose to her lips : but she repressed these evidences of feeling, and said coldly : " Mr. Effingham, I will not exchange another word with you, if I am to be insulted thus. Mr. Waters is, as you well know, almost a perfect stranger to me, and I am nothing to him : " with which the lip trembled : " he saved my life yesterday, at the peril of his own, and I owe to him deep gratitude. For this reason, sir, you will understand that I am not the proper sympathizer with your dissatisfaction. Now, sir, I must go." Mr. Effingham made a powerful effort over himself, and burst into a laugh which was painful to hear. " Well, well," he said, in a voice which he in vain en deavored to render careless and easy, " we won't quarrel about the Chevalier Waters. I'm sure I am very much obliged to him for restoring to the community so charming an actress ; though, as I always had a partiality for heroism, especially being heroic myself, when nothing was to be lost by it, I regret that the present grand effort was not made by myself. Come 1 don't burn me with your eyes." " I must go, sir." " Without pardoning my naughty treatment of you in the theatre ? Wasn't it horrible f " " Yes, sir I " said Beatrice, flushing ; " it was unmanly." " Striking coincidence of opinion, at least. Yes, it was dreadful ; and do you know what occurred when I was mak- Mt. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDL? CALL. 9? Ing my exit, right of centre ? that is the phrase, I believe why, I very nearly ran over a young lady with whom I am dead in love." Beatrice looked at the young man with a strange expres sion. Had she met with a real life actor superior to her self ? " Just so," continued Mr. Effingham, bursting into laugh ter ; " my chre amie, you know one of the most beautiful, highborn, and wealthy young girls in the colony; pretty, fair hair, blue eyes, and all that just opposed to your style. Did you see her ? " " No, sir," said Beatrice. " Well, you might have done so. I'm certain she saw you, and possibly had a view of the attack upon my ruffles, when I accidentally scratched myself, you know. In going out, I placed my foot upon her dress, and nearly tore a fur below away. What horrible awkwardness 1 I shall never forgive myself." " Your tone is bitter, sir." " Bitter ? Not at all ! I am ready to laugh now, re flecting on the melodrama. After the affair of the furbelow, the hero made his exit myself, that is to say and then I rode quietly away, accomplishing the first ten miles in fifteen minutes, I believe." " Mr. Effingham, you seem to me to be laboring under gome bitter emotion ; you shock me. If you love a lady, do not, sir, do not abandon her for me. I know not what I say, sir, I only know that you banish all sunshine from my life. I have not enough to spare, sir. For heaven's sake, leave me." " You are right," said Mr. Effingham, losing his forced gayety, " I am carried away by my infatuation I love you." " Sir ! you must not " " Bah ! " he said, gloomily ; " don't let us mince matters." " I must go, sir." " Not before giving me one word not altogether harsh." " I must go, sir " " Beatrice Hallam, you are the most bitter and unrea sonable of women. You choose to despise me, because I seek you ; you are not only unreasonable, you are a woman without heart ! " Beatrice suppressed her emotion, and said : 5 93 JtR. BFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. " No, sir ; that is unjust. I am not a woman without heart I have feelings, deep feelings.' " I have never discovered them." " You do not know me, sir." " Ah, you mistake, madam ; I know you welL" " For heaven's sake, go, sir." " I prefer remaining." " I must then leave you, sir." Mr. Emngham rose with a threatening gesture; but, collecting himself, sat down again. " Ah, madam," he said, with gloomy bitterness ; " you are very prudish : you hate me Mr. Charles Waters takea you in his arms I cannot approach you." " Sir ! " said Beatrice, indignantly, " I avoid you, be cause I feel that you are not a proper companion for me. No, sir ! I am not prudish I am no silly girl. My life has been hard and changeable my fate adverse. I have em braced the profession of the stage from necessity. My father was an actor. I am an actress because I am his daughter. As an actress, I know that I am exposed to a thousand temptations, and a thousand insults. I know very well that we are considered the bond slaves of the public, especially of the aristocratic portion. But I will not accept the ques tionable attentions of yourself, or any other young gentle man, who is trained to look upon me, and upon persons of my profession as infinitely beneath him as so many slaves. No, sir ! I have chosen to go and exhibit myself in public, that the bread I eat may be honestly procured. After the theatre, I am a woman, and I will not have my name tossed from mouth to mouth unworthily remember, sir." The young girl looked so lovely at that moment her beautiful eyes flashed such vivid lightning her rosy face was so eloquent with indignation, that Mr. Emngham found words fail him lost in, overwhelmed as he was by, her splendid and fiery beauty. " You are a strange actress," he said at length, in a low, deep-toned voice, " and certainly unlike any other I have ever seen. Yes, I have seen many actresses, in France, Italy, England, every where, and I find in you nothing like khem. Well: you say you are no common comedienne, and MR. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. 99 you see that I agree with you. You hint that I would be apt to abuse any friendship you granted me I do not say you are wrong there. There is some truth in your views, and I find no fault with you. But, at least, I should not scoff at you : I might bless you, or only mention your name with a curse upon my lip but I do not think I could do aught else. For you are not indifferent to me. You smile : you think I am very inconsistent. But when I say that I can never treat your name as that of an indifferent woman, I mean this : I mean that from our first meeting in the forest, near the Hall yonder, your image has dwelt in my mind and heart or if not quite in my heart, to be frank, at least in my memory. At the theatre we met again, and I treated you as gentlemen are accustomed to treat actresses ; for I laughed at my feelings. You received that treatment as be came you you are a noble girl and I went away cursing and loving you almost. I spent a bad night after the play, and worse since I came here to-day to jeer at you. In place of further jeering, I bow to you, and offer you respect and admiration, if not love, and ask your friendship in return." Beatrice betrayed some feeling at these earnest words, and no longer looked at the young man so disdainfully. " I have listened to you, sir," she said, " and I request you to pardon any harshness in what I have but now said. But, let me here say, what you will feel to be true, and no less true than unchangeable that there can be nothing in common between us. You cannot be my friend visiting and talking unreservedly with me as friends may without causing a scandal in the Colony : a scandal which will be as injurious to yourself as to me. Now, sir, you had better leave me. We may meet again indeed, I have it not in my power to refuse to meet you in the theatre. This is not an invitation, for I say again, there cannot and must not be any thing in common between an actress, like myself, and Mr. Eflinghain. Good evening, sir." Mr. Effmgham stood looking at the young woman in silence, with an expression upon his countenance which she could not understand At last he said, with a pale lip, and very abruptly : " A.re you acting ? " 100 MR. EFFINGHAM MAKES A FRIENDLY CALL. " No, sir ! " said the young girl, indignantly. " Then you are a prodigy of truth and nobleness," In eaid, with a lightning-like glance. " Come, come, let me throw aside all this sophistry with which I am trying to de ceive myself. I love you ! " he said, gloomily. The young girl drew back. ' You shall love me in return ! " he said. And there was so much haughtiness in his tone that her cheek flushed. " 5Tou are consistent, sir," she said; "just now, your re gard for me was slight, you said at least, I thought so." " As you please I do not know whether I love you or not, and am sure I love another. But what I do know is, that there is something about you, which tears me from all else toward you, my beautiful diabolical syren ! " " Mr. Effingham, you really seem to have grown mad : let our interview end here." " I am mad, and it is you who have driven me urazy. Beatrice ! mine is a family of fiery traits we love or hate strongly, and do nothing by halves. I am not unlike my ancestors. Look at me ! I am a petit maitre exhausting my life in idleness and ease. Why ? Because I need some great passion. Now I have opened my breast to you, and I add, that you will be my passion." " Mr. Effingham, dismiss all thought of me. I am an actress, sir an actress : my associates are players, those who are now waiting for me yonder, sir no other persons : a barrier is raised between me and the world, by my profes sion. For the hundredth time, I say we can have nothing in common. Even now your presence is causing discussion in the room below, and rude lips jeer me. Oh, sir ! leave me, for heaven's sake ! If you have any regard for me, go, and end this trying interview ! " He gazed at her for a moment in silence, and then, putting his hat on, left the room, full of gloomy rage, but with a sneering lip Ten minutes afterwards he left the town. THE KAN IN THE RED CLOAK. .01 CHAPTER XVIII. THE MAN IN THE EED CLOAK. JUST as Mr. Champ Effingham left Williamsburg, by the western road his splendid animal careering at full gallop in obedience to his rider's spur a young man entered the town from the south on foot, and directed his steps toward the Raleigh Tavern. He soon reached the long platform in front of the inn, and entered the ordinary. He was about to address some question to the portly landlord, when turning his eyes to the opposite side of the room, he saw seated in one of the large leathern chairs, a man whose face seemed to excite some slumbering thought in his mind, for he passed his hand over his brow, and seem ed to question his memory. This man, who was reading the last issue of the " Virginia Gazette " with some interest, seemed to be verging on thirty, and did not appear to be above the rank of what then were called yeomen. His crisp hair was curled up beneath the ears, outwardly: his mouth had in it a world of character, though it was rather stern : and his forehead, very broad and high, was tanned and freckled. He was clad in coarse leather breeches, leg gings, a long fustian waistcoat, and coat of shaggy cloth, without a particle of ornament, then almost universal in the costume of gentlemen. Over his shoulders was hung loosely an old red cloak, and his slouch hat lay by him on the rude pine table. The new comer took in all these details with a single glance, and was about to turn away, when, raising his eyes, the stranger saw him looking at him. He rose, and extended a hard, brown hand, saying . " Ah, sir ! good -day, I believe we are acquaintances, though I fear you have forgotten me." " No sir," said the new comer, " I recognized you at once." " Because you found me an agitator of ideas, like your self on our last meeting which I believe was also our first. You will recollect we met some days since near the Capitol, when Parson Tag took politely from your hand the * Ga* 102 TfiE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK. zette,' you had just purchased ' to look at it,' he said : in return for which courtesy you ga~e him some original ideas." " I did not obtrude them," said his companion, calmly " he questioned me, and I replied." " Yes, and he treated your crudities, as he called them, with well-bred contempt, when he found an opportunity to turn his back on you." " I was not offended, sir. He had a perfect right to turn to those gentlemen who bowed to him." " Offended ! I should say that would be a loss of time with a parson, not to mention the deadly sin." As he ut tered these words, a grim curl of the lip betrayed the irony of the speaker. " The fact is," he added, " you gave him, as I said, some original views on the subject of education ; and he did not seem to relish them from a gentleman clad, like your self, in drab and fustian." " Well, well, sir," said the other, " perhaps he was right. Men of my class are not generally worth listening to on matters of policy, as I feel I am not he is a culti vated scholar." " Bah ! " said the man in the red cloak, good-humor- edly, " mind is mind, sir, and it matters little whether the frame be covered with fustian or cut velvet, the head with a gold-laced hat or a slouch, like mine there ; the man, weak or strong, remains." His companion felt again the strange influence of that voice, at once careless and earnest, laughing and grave ; a singular sympathy seemed to have already sprung up be tween these two men, spite of their acquaintance of yesterday. " Now," said the stranger, wrapping his old cloak about his shoulders, " I find in you a thinking man you scarcely reflect about classes and dresses, I venture to say. You have walked far this morning ? " he added. " Yes, that is, some miles," replied the young man somewhat at a loss to understand this abrupt question. " You are dusty.'' " Yes ; the sand is dry." " Well, did you think of that dust as you came along ?' " I believe not, my thoughts were elsewhere." TfiE JUAN IN THE RED CLOAK. 103 " Good, that is what I mean. The squire riding in his coach has his hook, or takes his nap ; you can't read or nap walking the consequence ? why you must think." The young man sat down to rest ; that coarse yet musi cal voice drew him in spite of himself. " It remains to tell me what you were thinking of as you came along, friend," added the stranger ; " come, let us talk unreservedly. Let us clash our minds together, and see if some sparks do not spring forth. What were you thinking of?" " Well, I can tell you easily," said his companion ; " I was reflecting upon the system of education we spoke of some days since." " Oh, I recollect. Your free school ideas ? " " Yes." " Broached to the parson ?" " Yes." " They were striking, I confess, but wholly out of the question." "Out of the question?" " Certainly ; is it possible that a man of your clearness of head let us speak like friends, and as roughly and honestly as we can is it possible that you could for a moment be in favor of such a doctrine as you stated, that the men of property should put their hands into their pockets to take out money for people they know nothing of, to support free schools ; to give a premium for idleness ? That, I think, is what you said they were bound to do, the other day." " Well, sir," said the young man, looking at his interlo cutor with some surprise, " I am still of that opinion." "It is Utopian 1" " Utopian ? " " Yes, as impossible as it is unjust," said the stranger. " You are then of the past, instead of the future," said his companion, with noble simplicity, " I am sorry that 1 misunderstood you so completely." " Of the future? Oh, yes, I understand you. Well, I did take your part, as was natural : " the speaker pronounced this word, natural, " but my only end was to draw out tha parson. Do not think that, on that account, I a am reformer, as you are, sir." 104 THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK. " Yes, sir : had I the power to make my words felt 1 would be a reformer." " Take care, reform is often merely change : and change for the worse. You would reform, what ? " " Nearly every thing ; but originate more." " Ah, we return to the question of education." " A paramount question." " Your darling Utopia above all the rest." " My thought always yes." Nothing was ever more visionary," said the man in th red cloak, " excuse my plainness : but I do not even see any necessity for such a system, leaving the possibility of found ing it entirely out of the question." " No necessity, sir ! " " There is very little popular ignorance in Virginia " " Very little ! " interrupted the other with animated looks, " you deceive yourself ! It is immense ! From the indented servant who drives his master's coach, to the yeo man who toils with the sweat running from his brow, all is ignorance, darkness and gloom. The children grow up like wild beasts, the animal cultivated in place of the soul the man is but the larger child as ignorant and more danger ous." " Dangerous, did you say ? " " Yes, dangerous 1 dangerous as a wild animal is danger ous to approach : dangerous as a marsh is to tread upon ! This mind, which holds so much of richness and God-given, inherent capability of improvement, is a mere morass ; tread on it, it will ingulf you ! a morass covered with poisonous flowers, festering with decayed vegetation, lit up only by dancing fires a dance of death ! But, clear this morass : drain it, expose it to light, and it will fecundate. Light, light is what it wants, what it cries for despairingly ; and no answer is vouchsafed to it." " You wish government to answer it, eh ? " " Yes, I would have government to change the animal in to a human being, the wolf into a civilized man." " Now you make us all wolves," said the man in the red cloak, " how are men animals, sir ? " " Why, who that has opened the * ecords of the world, for in instai t even, could controvert it * The normal condition THE HAN IN THE RED CLOAK. 105 is animal the spirit is there, God be thanked ! but it flick ers, glimmers, burns faintly in the poisonous miasma. Still environed by a thousand foes it lives on. Encourage it nev er so little and it flames aloft in clear heavenly radiance ! what a noble field for those who love the race, and have the power to benefit these souls steeped in gloom. For this poor feeble existence is a soul it will never die ! the re sponsibility of leaving that soul to struggle alone and unaid ed against its foes seems to me dreadful, sir ! It seems to me that God will some day ask of those men who had the power and did not use it, what he asked of Cain : 'Where is thy brother ? ' If they have not struck the blow themselves, they have allowed the better part of men to be overcome within them, and this spiritual murder will lie at their doors. That better part moans and mutters its inarticulate despair, the very life-blood arrested in the veins by this nightmare of ignorance and darkness, which, squatting upon its breast, makes it writhe and groan and toss, in the deep darkness. The more I reflect upon this thing, the more dreadful does it seem to me. There are thousands who have never known the means of salvation pagans in this Virginia of to-day. Christ has wept tears of blood for them in vain : his hands were not pierced for them, they never heard of him mere heathen men there within a stone's throw of us. Is it not dreadful ? " The thinker carried away by his excitement, had risen from his seat, and now stood erect before the man in the red cloak, who seemed to regard him with that philosophic in terest which a naturalist takes in a new species of animal. " Well, well," he said, " there is much truth in your views, but they do not convince me Governments, my friend, are rather selfish, it seems to me ; and though we common people here discussing them, pride ourselves upon our fine and noble views, I fancy we should act much after the same fashion were we in power. Good policy would keep us from testing these elevated ideas. " No, never ! " said his companion ; " I cannot agree with you. Rather is it a most false and narrow policy to trample thus on the low." " Why, pray ? " said the stranger, who seemed to hav no end beyond making the other talk. 106 THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK. " Because ignorance is the most fatal of all curses to rulers. The ignorant soul is the prey of demagogues and false leaders it is a sea which any wind will la.sh into foam. The little history which I have read has been read in vain, if it has not shown me that an ignorant and uncultivated people are the most dangerous of all. You see the great mass every day, and do not look at it from your elevation you are ruler ! Well, sir, some day, that great ocean will be agitated by some popular grievance, it will rise in its might as strong as it is ignorant and, with its world of fury, it will burst your vain dykes, and bury you and your government for ever." The stranger looked at the speaker with the same curious expression. " You have thought much upon this subject, sir," he said. " Yes," said the other, " often and deeply. I must have wearied you, and I shall now permit you to return to your paper, sir. Free schools the form in which I would have this vast evil attacked are not, to all, the absorbing subject of thought which they are to myself." " Oh, no ; you have given me thoughts. I have listened with attention," said the stranger ; " I do not live in Wil- liamsburg, and am thankful for the time and society you give me. I am one of the people myself, and, though I have a smattering of Latin, and some reading, feel, in my own person, the truth of many of your remarks." " I did not mean, believe me " " Come, come, don't let us interchange any compliments," said the stranger, with a laugh ; " we understand each other there is something like sympathy I etwceii us." "Yes, from our first meeting I have felt it." " You are more of a student than myself, doubtless,' said the stranger ; " I recognize in you the patient worker. For myself, I am very indolent, and wrnld rather play the violin, or hunt, or fish, than study. '' " But you think reflect." " Yes," said the stranger, " much. And his wandering, careless eye became steadfast, and full of steady strength. There was wond rful clearness in it, and that proud and lofty glance peculiar to men born to lead and rule, did not escape the attention of his companion. BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. 107 It was the eye of the eagle looking down from the clouds apon men and things, the past and present ; old things and new; the glance of fire, which, rejecting petty details, and piercing the heaviest mist, caught the central idea, the living fact, then turned to renew itself at the great source of light. The thinker felt that the stranger was greater than he seemed, greater than he even knew himself. He felt that this ungainly man, clad so rudely, and speaking with such clownish accent, was a born leader of men a thinker of new thoughts. " Yes," the stranger added, " I reflect much, and my conclusions would, perhaps, astound the parsons more than your own idftas have done, sir. At a more opportune mo ment, I hope to interchange thoughts with you upon some of the vital questions which affect this age and country now. I recognize in you a spirit which sympathizes with my own a nature like my own for I am a man of the people. You shall give me your ideas I will give you my own. Who knows that from this collision of thought fire may not dart. You do not know me by name or condition, sir ; I know as little of yourself : still, mind speaks to mind, and recognizes its co-worker. And if, in future, occasions shall arise, whic 1 require bold hearts and hands, I shall come to you, and claim your aid, without fear of refusal, as without dread of the result." With which words the man in the red cloak put on his old slouch hat, made an awkward bow, and with a gait, which was half stride, half shamble, went out of the Raleigh, and disappeared. Charles Waters stood, for some moments, looking thoughtfully after him : then, arousing himself, turn ed to the landlord, and asked for Miss Hallam. The land lord pointed through the door : the young girl was just going up stairs, having returned from rehearsal, and her visitor fol lowed her. CHAPTER XIX. BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VI8ITOB. HE knocked at the door which he saw close behind her, and, being bid to come in, opened it and entered. The youu 108 BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. was standing in front of the window, which was open, and did not seem to be in a very amiable mood. Her brow was knit, and her firmly closed lips appeared to indicate the ex pectation on the part of their mistress, of an unwelcome visitor. No sooner had she caught sight of the young man, how ever, than this expression of annoyance and ill-humor van ished like magic : and, running forward, with the abandon and fresh grace of a child, she held out her hands, saying : " Oh, I am very glad to see you ! " Her beautiful face was, at that moment, lit up with such joy, the eyes were so bright and happy looking, the parted lips radiant with a smile of such tenderness and child-like simplicity, that her companion stood, for a full minute, look ing at her in silent surprise. She had taken his hand, and pressed it so warmly that, spite of himself, spite of the pre occupation, caused by the interview which he had just pass ed, he felt his heart throb with a new and delightful emotion. " Oh ! " said Beatrice, " this is very kind to come and see us : have I kept you waiting ? " " No, madam," he said, " and I am very happy to find you so well. You are right in supposing that my visit was to you and your father. We were all desirous of knowing whether you had suffered any bad effects from your accident." " I am very well, sir, I believe," replied Beatrice, be coming more calm, " and I only have a slight cough which will go off, I am sure : sit down, sir." He was on the point of saying that he only called to usk the simple question to which she had just replied : but. in spite of himself, he was swayed by the bright, tender glance of the young girl, and sat down. " I am afraid I interrupt you," he said, "you are busy." " Oh no, sir : I have just returned from from rehear sal. You know I am an actress, sir," she added, with t light blush ; but, at once calling her pride to her assistance this blush disappeared, and she said calmly, " I have to play to-night." He saw the blush, and perfectly well understood it. " You said, ' I am an actress,' with some hesitation," he teplied. " I do not find in that fact any thing that you should be ashamed of. It is an honest and worthy employ- BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. 109 aient, when it is pursued worthily, as you pursue it, Miss Hallam." " All do not think so, sir." " At least, I do ; and do not expect to find in me the mode of thinking which characterizes the wealthier classes of the day. Nothing is derogatory which is undertaken in a pure and elevated spirit which is honest. It would take much to persuade me that the ' player,' to use the phrase of Shakspeare, who labors honestly and nobly in his vocation, should not rank above the idle gentleman, who consumes merely, without producing any thing. I do not say this in a fault-finding or bitter spirit : it seems simply true to me ; and thus I cannot understand why you should hesitate to avow your profession." " I do not, sir," said Beatrice softly ; " but spite of my self, I am affected by the popular opinion of my class, and find all my pride necessary to combat it. Oh yes, sir 1 it is unjust indeed it is ! " added the young girl, earnestly ; " and though I do not like acting, and dread the approach of every night, I cannot think the gentlemen are right in de spising us ! " " I am sure they do not think so of you," he said; "and though Mr. Effingham has behaved toward you in a man ner most unworthy of an honorable man, I cannot think he meant a deliberate insult to a young girl. That were too base," he added, with the latent flash of the eye which char acterized him. " Ah, sir 1 " said Beatrice, with the same cloud upon her face, which had warned the manager upon the river, " do not let us speak of Mr. Effingham he does not treat me as a gentleman should treat all persons, however much beneath him. I feel that I am not beneath him, and I can forget the suffering he causes me. Come ! I won't talk of him any more. I see your face becoming gloomy, and your anger rising. Do let us leave all this, and not talk about it any more." " Well, madam, you teach me a lofty lesson. If I am indignant, I had the right to be ; but there is something greater than anger, that is forgiveness. Let this young man, then, be no longer the subject of our thoughts ; he is beneath you far enough I say it with no scofling, much leu to flatter far enough for you to pardon him." 110 BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. The face of the young girl flushed with feeling, and hd eyes filled. " Oh ! how different from the other," she murmured, turning away ; " these words are a balm to me : they make me happy, though I do not deserve his opinion." And looking at him with happy eyes, bathed in theii tender mist, she said softly : " You are very kind to me, sir ; you must have a noble nature to speak thus to a poor young girl like myself." Never had he seen a more winning countenance so much purity and simple truth in human eyes. He began to look at her more closely, surveying in tuin the noble brow, the soft, melting eyes, the tender, childlike mouth, the maidenly at titude, so full of modesty and grace. She had just called herself a poor girl, and he found himself looking upon her as a princess. " I am a poor man, too," he said, " much poorer than yourself. You have many things which I have not. How grateful must the applause your genius excites sound to yon 1 I have no such pleasure," he said with a smile at hii own sophistry. " Ah ! but you have liberty." " Have not you ? " " No that is, I mean not your liberty." " What is mine ? " " Oh ! " cried Beatrice ; " you have the forest, the river, and the clouds. Don't smile at me, sir ; when I think of them, I am a child again, and forget all my worry and every thing." " And you love the woods ? " " Oh, dearly ! " " And the water." " More still" " Strange that your career has not made these simple things distasteful," he said, regarding her with more and more attention. " Never could any thing make me dislike them," said Beatrice, with a lovely rose-color in her beautiful cheek " I must have been born in the country I never heard from father, and I only recollect London for it makes me happy to get away among the leaves and flowers. I like autumn BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. 1 1 1 especially, and, I believe, I could listen to the woods sighing in the wind for whole days. I have often thought the great trees were men with grand souls, sheltering all that come beneath them, and raising their heads to heaven without fearing the lightning or storms ! " He had not taken his eyes from the animated face. " And then on the river," added Beatrice, with a happy light in her eyes, "on the water I feel freer than ever. I feel like dancing sometimes, aud father was laughing at in for calling after the waterfowl the other day when you saved me, you know," she said, with a look which went to his heart. He made a movement with his hand. " I love the water," she said, " and the clouds and waves, and all the sunlight makes me deeply joyful. I could never have felt it again," she added in a subdued voice. " but for you and who knows who knows " The impulsive young girl passing, as was her wont, from excitement to quiet, from joy to melancholy, paused, hanging down her head. " Who knows you would say ? " he asked, taking the little hand which hung at her side, with scarcely a conscious ness of doing so. " I am not fit to die," said Beatrice, with tears in her eyes, and turning away. There was a silence more eloquent than any words. Her hand remained in his, and neither spoke, but once their glances met, and then were withdrawn. " God alone knows who is prepared for that voyage to eternity," her companion said at length, in a grave, serious voice, releasing her hand as he spoke ; " we are mere instru ments as I was in his hand : mere wood and metal, which cannot see or know any thing which are wielded by the right hand of the Deity. But I am trespassing on your time, Miss Hallam, and must go." " Oh no, sir no." " Do not rate my service to you too highly," he said, taking no notice of this ; interruption, and rising; " if you sus tain no inconvenience, I need not say I shall be most happy as I am happy to have been near you when you fell ; any debt you owed me has been more than repaid by the pleasure I have felt in this friendly conversation, and now I must go I fear that I have trespassed too much upon your time." *' Oh no please sit down : I am not busy " said Bea- 112 BEATRICE AND HER SECOND VISITOR. trice, with all the simplicity of a child, " you know I hav been to rehearsal." " You play to-night ? " " Yes, sir : but will you do me a great favor ? " " Is it very great ? " he said, gazing with a soft smile upon the tender face. Beatrice caught the expression, and her own countenance became so radiant and winning, so full of happiness and tender feeling, that he felt his breast heave . ' What is the favor ? " he added. " To promise me not to come," said Beatrice. " To see you ? " " Yes, sir." " At the theatre ? " " To-night yes, sir : I would rather you would not ;ome, to-night or ever." " Tell me why : we are friends, are we not enough for that ? " " Oh, you please me more than I can tell you, by saying that," said Beatrice ; " indeed I wish you to have no worse one than myself. But I cannot tell you why I do not wish to see you ever at the theatre. I hope you will not come to see me." " Well, I will not," he said with a softness which was uncommon with him, " at least to-night, but I may come and see you here again ? " u Oh, will you?" " Indeed if you will permit me." " Oh, always I so love to hear you talk." Beatrice seemed to be carried away by her feelings, and afterwards blamed herself severely for acting in so childlike a manner. Her companion said, as he exchanged a pressure of the hand at parting, " I will certainly come as often as I can you have no better friend than myself, believe me." And with these simple and sincere words, he took his departure, thinking of the bright, fresh face, which seemed to have risen for the first time, like a harvest moon, upon his sight. As for Beatrice, she sat still for half an hour, with her head bent down, pensively, and her eyes veiled with their long lashes. At the end of that time she raised her face, and said, with deep tenderness, and eyes that swam io happy tears, " He is so good and noble ! " THE EXPLOSION: SCENE, EFFINGHAM HALL. ill CHAPTER XX. THE EXPLOSION : SCENE, EFFINGHAM HALL. 1 WHEN an individual of violent temperament adopts a man ner of ease and unconcern, sedulously avoiding every thing calculated to arouse his latent passion, the effect, after a series of years, is undoubtedly beneficial. The character takes the color of its nutriment in a great degree ; and if it is nourished upon strong emotions, and critical sensations, will become more and more violent : if upon quiet plea sures, and moderate delights, the result will be just the re verse. Still, there is this to be observed in such cases. The mind of man is not unlike a river ; it may be directed into a new channel, but scarcely arrested wholly in its course. Build a dam of convention across it bid it curb its waves, arrest its current, and it will sweep all before it. The higher you build the obstruction, the more violent the rush of the waters, when once they have broken loose. This was the re sult with my respected ancestor, Mr. Champ Effingham. True, he declared often and believed, that he needed strong emotion novelty passion, for his existence ; but this was a mistake. His passions were naturally strong enough, and emotion was dangerous to himself and others. The quiet life of his native country had allowed these passions to sleep for a long time, and he fancied that he had none. He was, as I have already declared, very greatly mistaken. " The first view of young Miss Hallam had stirred up a hurly-burly in his breast ; not because she was so much more beautiful than Miss Clare Lee, for whom, as the reader of these pages has perceived, my respected ancestor had begun to have something more than a friendly regard : not that she was one of those fiery phenomena, who, like Cleopatra or Aspasia, dazzle the eyes, and set the brain and heart on fire. The effect produced upon Mr. Effingham by the young woman was attributable to the novelty and freshness of her character, and the state of his own mind, ripe for some great passion, and dissatisfied with the tran quil affection of the little beauty at Riverhead. Miss Hal- lam's reception of his advances had blown the vague and 114 THE EXPLOSION: SCENE, EFFINGHAM HALL. dubious spark into a blaze her favorable smiles would in all probability have extinguished it at once : and no one who has read the human heart attentively, more especially that strange chapter dedicated to love, will fail to under stand this simple fact. Love, I am convinced, is a mere thing of the imagination at first : the heart seeks something new and strange something to ponder upon and treasure up, and spend its passionate yearnings upon : tranquil, quiet, unostentatious affection succeeds, and this is love indeed, but the storrn precedes the calm. " These few words will explain what I mean when I add that Mr. Effingham was not, properly speaking, in love with Miss Hallam. He experienced for her a violent, passionate emotion, which had ripened in a few days to full size and vigor, and though many persons may say if, indeed many read these pages that his love was ' love at first sight,' and genuine, still I must be permitted to doubt it; and I hope to show conclusively, before ending this narrative, that those views I have stated are correct. I am convinced that it was a sort of infatuation, like that of the drunkard for the draught of fire : if he comes near it, he seizes and swallows it. Miss Hallam declined being swallowed ; if I may be permitted to make a very poor witticism ; she was offended, and I think very justly, at the manner in which Mr. Effing- liam uniformly addressed her, and she did not take the trouble to conceal her feelings. She showed him plainly that she did not desire him to visit her, and the conse quence was a vast increase of Mr. Effingham's passion. We have seen how inconsistently this violent emotion led him to speak and behave : now praising, then scoffing at the object of his passion : at one time almost cursing her, as he said, then blessing her, and declaring that she was a noble, high- souled girl. The last interview he had with Miss Hallam, at which the reader has been present, was the capstone to all these passionate interviews ; and the state of Mr. Effingham's mind may very correctly be inferred from his mingled mock ery and earnestness, sincerity and sarcasm in Miss Hallam's presence. After leaving her he left Williamsburg just when Mr. Waters entered it as we know and launched him self, like a flash of lightning, toward the Hall, overwhelmed with rage and despair." THE EXPLOSION : SCENE, EFUNGHAM HALL. . 15 Thus far the writer of the MS., to whom we shall recur whenever his narrative commentary on the events of this narrative elucidates the posture of affairs, or the emotions of the various personages. Mr. Champ Effingham soon reached Effingham Hall, and, throwing his bridle loose, hurried to his room. He did not make his appearance again that day, sending word in reply to the various messages dispatched to him, that he was unwell, and wished to be left in quiet. The result of two replies of this description to Miss Alethea's messenger, was the desired quiet. The young gentleman made his ap pearance on the next morning, at the breakfast-table, a'fter the squire's departure to ride over his farm, looking very much out of sorts. The sallow rings beneath his eyes were darker than ever, and he seemed to have spent a bad night, if in deed he had slept at all before morning. Miss Alethea de clared her opinion, that he had not slumbered : and asked an explanation of the stamping and striding over her head the noise of flying chairs, and rattling swords, hurled ap parently for amusement on the floor. She worded these questions in such a manner, that the impression left upon all ininds, was to the effect that Mr. Champ Effingham was a naughty boy, who had been behaving badly, and deserved a scolding. The reader will no doubt imagine, without any explana tion upon our part, the manner in which Mr. Effingham re ceived these observations. He looked at Miss Alethea, as a mastiff does at a lapdog who is worrying him, and went on with his breakfast. Miss Alethea was a lady of excellent sense, and did not meddle with him any more during the whole day. Mr. Effingham spent the day in gloomy thought varying this monotonous amusement, by hurling from his path every thing which stood in his way. Orange, Miss Alethea's lapdog, chanced to obstruct his steps, as he was passing through the hall, and this unfortunate scion of a royal race, found himself kicked twenty feet across the pas sage, into the embraces of an astonished tortoise-shell cat, his inveterate enemy. Orange was so completely astounded, and overawed by this summary treatment on the enemy's part, that he did not utter so much as a single whine. He was cowed. 16 T&E EXPLOSION: SCENE, EFFINGHAM HALL. Mr. Effingham spent several days in this manner, scarcely eating any thing, but sitting long after dinner, drinking claret. The squire could extract nothing from him; and soon little Kate, his favorite, was repulsed, to her sorrow and mortification. The child prayed earnestly that night for cousin Champ, and could not get her geography the next day for sorrowing about him. As for Master Will, that young gentleman preserved a rigid silence, and a re spectful distance from the irate Achilles, whose sombre mood he regarded with astonishment and awe. He saw with dumb astonishment that Mr. Effingham's hair had remained un- powdered for a whole week, and that his ruffle was torn re gularly every evening. One morning, Mr. Effingham was observed to sit with his head bent down for more than an hour, in gloomy thought ; at the end of that time, he rose and ordered his horse. Mounting, he directed his way, with a strange ex pression on his lips, toward Riverhead. At the stream, which ran across the road, a quarter of a mile from the house, his new cocked-hat, with its magnificent feather, blew off into the water, and was all muddied and draggled ; and when, after picking it up, he again mounted, he found that his horse had by some means become suddenly lame. " Well," he said, bitterly, " fate is against my seeing her. I will not go." And returning to the Hall, he shut himself up in his room, and did not issue forth again until evening. It was the seventh day after the interview with Beatrice Hallam ; but it brought him no rest from hi harassing and gloomy thoughts. He was growing reckless ; burnt up by his complicated emotions, he began to regard things in a mysterious and fateful light. Was this young woman to be his curse, appointed by Heaven to ruin him here in this world, for some dreadful sin he had committed ? He felt no penitence, shrank not, but with the same mock ing, reckless smile, entered the supper-room, where Misa Alethea was preparing chocolate. He sat down in moody silence, but was not long left to himself. "Champ!" said Miss Alethea, as she finished the ar rangement of the table to her satisfaction, " you really muit have something on your mind." No reply. THE EXPLOSION: scEfrE, EFFINGKAM HALL. lit " What has made you so moody for several days ? I never saw you more disagreeable." The same silence. " Have you addressed Clare Lee and been discarded ? " Mr. Effingham's face flushed, and he turned with an irritated look toward Miss Alethea, which that lady under stood perfectly. " Oh, well, sir ! " she said. " If you are going to eat me, I will not presume to speak. I should like to know what there was so insulting in my question ? " she added, oblivious of her intention not to address the young man fur ther, on any consideration. " It is no insult," said Mr. Effingbam, gloomily, " and I have not seen Miss Clare Lee for a moment since the play, more than a week ago. But I do not desire to have my affairs meddled with." " Indeed ! " replied Miss Alethea, indignant at the tone Df the young man, " perhaps they are better not meddled with, they may not bear examination. I believe that that young play-girl has something to do with the matter ; and Clare told me the other day, that some gentleman had told her that you had met him in a distracted state of mind, galloping from town. You had better take care, they are already talking about you." Mr. Effingham's rage on hearing this intelligence, may be better conceived than described. Clare Lee to know of his infatuation ! to hear of his acquaintance with Beatrice Hallam ! to be told of his violent, infatuated conduct ! And .hat impudent fellow who had dared to meddle with his affairs ! Mr. Effingham ground his teeth, and grasped his sword-hilt with ominous meaning. This, then, was what he was coming to be ; the gossip of the country side. Clare Lee, even, was one of the laughers, and pitied him, no doubt, if she did not despise him. Pity or contempt ! Mr. Effing ham's lip curled, and his brow contracted ; then his face resumed its gloomy look again, and he said : " Woe to those who busy themselves with me. Who spoke of me to Misa Clare Lee ? Come, tell me, madam." Miss Alethea, though somewhat awed by his manner, re plied, that she did not consider herself called upon to crosa- exaorine Clare. The fact was bad eneugh. I 1 8 THE EXPLOSION : SCENE, EFFING&AM HALL. " What fact ?" Mr. Effingham said, rudely. " That you, my brother, sir," replied Miss Alethea, bri dling up, " should make yourself the talk of every one : in \ove with a common actress ! " " Madam 1 " said Mr. Effingham, with a flash of the eye " You may scowl upon me as much as you choose, sir," said Miss Alethea, now thoroughly aroused, " but I say it is disgraceful." Mr. Effingham bit his lip until it bled. " Yes, disgraceful ! " continued Miss Alethea, " for you to be making yourself ridiculous and not only yourself, but me and all by your infatuation for this woman, who would not be permitted to enter a respectable house. Yes, sir ! you imagine because you have been to Europe, that you are at liberty to do just as you choose, and to act without refer ence to any one's pleasure but your own. Don't think to awe me, Champ, for you cannot. I say it's a shame a burning shame ! and you ought to be ashamed to treat Clare so. You know it will break her heart, but this has no weight with you. / don't mean to submit to your scowling and growling, though," added Miss Alethea, " I can tell you, sir." Mr. Effingham rose and said to a servant who was going out " Pack my portmanteau, and order my horse." And without further words he left the room, and was seen by that lady no more. She half regretted her vehe mence, for she ' was a woman of excellent heart at bottom, but her strong religious feelings, made her intolerant of con duct like that attributed to Mr. Effingham ; and the result of an argument held with her conscience, was, that she had not said a word too much. Those words had put the capstone upon Mr. Effingham's feelings, and he went to his room, paJe, and with a sueer upon his lip, which boded no good. Thenceforth he was perfectly reckless. CHAMP EFPINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. 1 19 CHAPTER XXI. CHAMP EFFINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. ON the next morning Mr. Champ Effingham made his ap peal ance in Williamsburg, accompanied by a mounted ser vant, and the two horsemen drew up before the door of the Raleigh Tavern. The portly landlord came forth, cap in hand, to welcome him. " Well, Master B;niface," said Mr. Effingham, with ele gant pleasantry, " is the room my servant engaged No. 6 ready ? " " Yes, sir quite ready, sir." " Carry up my portmanteau," said Mr. Effingham to the negro, who had brought that article behind him, " and then return. Answer no foolish questions asked you do not hear." " No, Massa Champ," said Tom, with the grin of intelli gence peculiar to his race, " not by no means, sir." " And tell no lies either : if you do, I'll amputate your ears." Having given this caution, and made this unmistakable promise, which the negro received with a broader grin, as he turned away, Mr. Effingham lounged into the ordinary. " Where's Hallam ? " he asked, sitting down carelessly. " He's out somewhere, sir at the theatre, I should say : but this is nearly his rum hour," laughed the landlord. " Bring me a cup," said Mr. Effingham ; " or no, I'll have some claret." The landlord hastened to bring the wine, and placed the bottle at Mr. Effingham's elbow. " A cracker ! " The cracker was brought with the same respectful rapidi ty, or rather a basket of those edibles, placed generally at hand, then as now, to refresh the company. Mr. Effingham then betook himself to the agreeable employment of sipping his claret, one leg being thrown carelessly over the arm of his leather-bottomed chair : and when tired of this monotony, he varied it by d-pping a cracker in his wine-glass, and throwing his leg over the other arm. The young gentleataa 120 CHAMt EFFINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. was more than usually splendid : his coat of crimson cut velvet, was ornamented with a mass of the richest embroid ery, and had chased gold buttons : his waistcoat was of yellow silk, with flowers worked in silver thread, and his new cocked hat, just from London, was resplendent with its sweeping feather. At his side dangled the finest of his short swords, and, altogether, Mr. Champ Effingham seemed, to judge from his " outward accoutrement," the very pet of fortune. His manner was not unsuited to his dress : it was, if possible, more nonchalant and indifferent than ever ; but any one who would have taken the trouble to scan the hand- Borne face closely, would have perceived a dark shadow un der the eyes, which betokened sleepless nights, and a reck less, mocking expression upon the lips, very much at variance with the petit maitre airs assumed by the young gentleman. Half an hour passed, and Mr. Effingham was visibly be coming very impatient, when the entrance of the manager caused him to lay down the " stupid gazette " he had been reading and maligning for the last fifteen minutes. " Ah ! there you are at last, Hallam," he said, " what the devil kept you so long ? " The fat manager received this address with great good- humor, and replied, that they had been getting up a play of the " great Congreve " for that night's performance. " You had better let Congreve alone, and stick to Shake speare," said Mr. Effingham, " he won't take here among these barbarous Virginians. But come here, and drink some claret with me I'm tired of it myself: bring me some rum ! " The rum came, and Mr. Manager Hallam sat down. " Good ? " Paid Mr. Effingham. " Very excellent indeed, sir," said Hallam, smacking his lips. " Well, now, let us come to the matter 1 am thinking about. Hallam, I am going to join the company." " The company, sir 1 " " Yes your company : what, the devil 1 Is there any thing so astounding in that ? " " Really, sir really now you take me quite aback 1 You join the company ? " " Yea ! The ' Virginia Company of Comedians. 1 IB CHAMP EFFINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. 12 there any thing strange in a Virginian belonging to that ex- cellent association of his Majesty's, or his Excellency^ players ? " " Upon my word, sir," said the manager, laboring under great astonishment, " never in my life " " Why, what surprises you ? " " That a gentleman of your wealth and standing should join us." " Curse my wealth and standing 1 That is not youi look out." " But it is yours, sir," said the manager, with a troubled look, " if you knew about these things your family, sir really a most extraordinary proposal " " Come, no humbug ! Let us look at the matter. I am a gentleman, you say, and I have a family to affect. That is a mistake any thing I do will not affect my family: and if it does, I am a free man. Now, on the other side I rather natter myself your house would be filled, when Champ Effinghain, Esq., was announced in some thrilling and over whelming part. What do you say to that ? Drink there ! give me another cup." " You would really play, sir ? " said the manager, sur veying his position with a hurried glance, " you would real ly appear ? " " Bah 1 you don't know me. Of course I would : and the fact would appear to you too, in adding up your re ceipts. I needn't tell you that when a gentleman takes to the stage, something more is due him than what your com mon fellow gets ' a beggarly account of empty benches.' " Hallam hesitated; evidently troubled. " I would, you know, sir, be more than pleased it would make my fortune, sir I feel, sir, that I ought not to hesi tate" " Bah 1 don't hesitate, then. Can't you understand that I would make a better Romeo, a better any thing, act ing with Beatrice, than that stupid fellow Pugsby ? " A light dawned on the muddy brain of Mr. Manager Ilallam. Here was the exciting cause : Beatrice was the engine which had produced this extraordinary convulsion in the heart of Mr. Effingham. And with the thought in his mind, the course he ought to pursue became plainer One 6 122 CHAMP EFFINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. of the darling projects of Mr. Manager Hallam was to marry his accomplished and beautiful daughter to some wealthy and high-born youth : once married, Beatrice would, of course, abandon the stage : that was the loss to him but the advantages of such connection would vastly outweigh this. The manager was growing old, and getting tired of his nomadic, restless life ; tossed from inn to inn, from country to country : and he wished to settle down. Now, if Beatrice married, of course, her husband would not separate the daughter from the father : the consequence ? " I would live in clover all the rest of my life, in a fine house, with plenty to drink, tictac every night, and nothing to do but eat, drink, and sleep," he said to himself. To eat, drink, and sleep was the height of this worthy gentleman's ambition, and he had already conceived the intention of per forming those agreeable ceremonies, for the rest of his days, at Effingham Hall, if that were possible in the nature of things. The reader will now be able to understand the effect pro duced upon the worthy manager by the mention of Beatrice's name. That explained all. Mr. Effingham was desperately enamored of her his family no doubt scoffed at the con nection he came to join the company time would do the rest; and, once married, a few dramatic scenes of father's weeping and relenting daughter-in-law kneeling in tears son promising to be immaculate in future, would make all well again. He trusted to his theatrical experience to ar range these little matters, and already dreamed of ending his days tranquilly, in what he seemed to consider the place of happiness in " clover." So, when Mr. Effingham had repeated his disdainful ques tion, " Would he not make a better companion for Beatrice, in every thing, than that stupid fellow, Pugsby ? " Mr. Manager Hallam melted from his doubtful state of mind into increasing conviction, and said, that " He really felt hum he must certainly acknowledge hum Pugsby was certainly not what he had been ; and, if Mr. Effingham was bent on joining them, he did not feel himself at liberty to refuse his most flattering proposal. As the great Congreve had said to him, on one occasion, such common players as himself could not feel too much flattered when gentlemen CHAMP EFFINGHAM, ESQ., COMEDIAN. 123 condescended to associate with them on terms of equality ; and nothing was more reasonable. He could not refuse Mr. Effingham, whom he was proud to call his friend ; he had many such distinguished friends ; among the most so, the great Congreve. Therefore, if Mr. Effingham was still of the same mind, he would be most proud, most flattered to have him. He would find them a plain, honest set ; and the only drawback was on the delicate subject of his remunera tion. For, as to salary, he feared " " Curse the salary ! " said Mr. Effingham, with disdain ful carelessness he had listened to the above tirade with perfect indifference " I don't want your money, Hallam. You don't think that I would join your set for a few pis toles, do you ? No, sir ! I have quite sufficient ; but what I want is excitement, novelty,, jovial society. I'm sick of she well-bred insipidity of good society, and the ' repose ' they consider the summum bonum and great desideratum of human existence. I'm done with it tired of it. I am going to pick out a piece to act this very day. Go, and put ' Champ Effingham, Esq.,' on your roll of comedians." And Champ Effingham, Esq., rising from his seat, went out, and stood at the door of the Raleigh, yawning and frowning, and scowling on such members of that insipid good society as passed in their coaches. . He did not take the trouble to return the nods of the gentlemen, or the smiles of the ladies. He felt perfectly reckless, and cared, at that moment, for no human being on earth. Yes, there was one whom he loved and hated, blessed and cursed ; and she passed him, coming from the theatre, with a quick step, and an averted face. Why, else, did the frown become deeper, and the glance of the eye grow more gloomy and reckless ? Beatrice hurried up to her room, and Mr. Effingham re- entered, and began again to converse again with the manager, a?er a second bottle of claret. 124 THK BOOH OF THK "OAZETIE" OFT 1C*. CHAPTER XXII. THE DOOE OF THE " GAZETTE " OFFICE. AFTER his interview with Beatrice, Charles Waters re- turned homeward, lost in thought. Was he pondering again upon his system of education, or upon any of his novel political ideas, such as Parson Tag had " called to the atten tion " of the squire, for their absurd and treasonable cha racter ? Was he admiring the beautiful autumn woods, all yellow, and gold, and crimson, through which the fresh fall breezes laughed and sang, from the far surging ocean ? None of these things occupied his thoughts ; ideas of na tional politics were as far from his mind as the forest, which his dreamy eye took no note of. He was thinking of that young girl he had just left ; so womanly, yet childlike ; so beautiful and attractive in the richness of her great loveliness ; yet so like a girl who has never thought to bind up the careless waves of her hair. What an anomaly was here ! And was there not food for thought ? He had seen her on the stage, and, spite of his total ignorance of what acting was, felt perfectly convinced that she was a great genius ; and now this splendid woman, whose magical voice had interpreted every change and phase of passion, glancing from the highest to the lowest tones, with lightning-like rapidity and marvellous ease ; whose attitudes were so grand, whose very walk rivetted the atten tion, and hushed the crowd ; this great interpreter of the greatest of human intellects, with whose name the whole colony was ringing, had thrown aside in his presence all this intellect and strength, to take his hand, and laugh merrily, and talk with rapture of the fresh beauty of the river and the forest, and, like a child, plead for another visit from him ! Was the scene real or imaginary ? He passed over the whole distance between Williams- burg and his home in a dream, and all that day, and for more than a week thereafter, was plainly busy with some problem that he could not explain to his satisfaction. He would go and work in the field ; and, before he knew it, find himself leaning on his spade and murmuring, " Could she THE DOOR OF THE (t GAZETTE " OFFICE. 125 have acted all this ? " He pored over his books hour after hour, and found he had made no progress; for her image rose in all its fresh and tender beauty between him and the page. Then he became conscious of his preoccupation, and determined to banish it. She was nothing to him he had other ends in life, and other duties than idle visits. This young woman was, no doubt, very original and striking in every point of view, and he felt a strange sympathy with her a strange sensation of having seen and known her else where, perhaps in another world but that was nothing to him. Realities were his food, not fancies henceforth he would drive from his mind this fit of dreaming. And he succeeded. This young man had a mind of rare vigor and resolution ; he had trained his mind like a courser to obey the bridle, and now he found the effect of this mental discipline. By degrees the young girl's image no longer made his eye brighter, his lip wreath into a tender smile; he returned to his grave, patient labor, and his thoughts on the great questions which absorbed him. On the day after Mr. Eflmgham's instalment at the Raleigh, Charles Waters visited Williamsburg again. Hill business was to procure some little articles for his father who seldom went to the town Lanky, the lad we have seen on the day of the river adventure, attending to the sale of fish and other things which old Waters sent to market. Having dispatched his errand, he went to the office of the " Virginia Gazette " to purchase a copy. As he was coining out with the paper in his had, he felt a touch upon his arm, and turning round, perceived his friend with the red cloak, who had come for the same purpose, it seemed, as he had a copy of the Gazette under his arm. " We are well met, friend," said the man in the red cloak, " and at a place which is -not extraordinary. We might have expected to find each other here." " How so ? " asked Charles Waters, gravely extending his hand, but betraying evident pleasure at the meeting. " Why," replied his companion, " we are both thinkers." " Yes, but" " And as thinkers must have food for thought," added the man in the red cloak, " we both decided, some moments lince, to ccme and purchase the ' Gazette.' Is it fitt so ? " " With roeyea." 126 1HK DOOR OF THE "GAZETTE" OFF1CJ. " Something new is as much your passion, or I greatly mistake, as it is my own. What is new in facts, what is new in ideas ? " " You will search long in this paper for the latter novelty,' eaid the other ; " there is generally, however, a good budget of news from Norfolk, York, and when a vessel arrives from England." " Good 1 That is what we want more than comments on facts. Give me the food I can myself digest it. I beg leave to decline taking any writer's opinion on the eternal legislation in Parliament on Virginia affairs the said opinion being invariably favorable to government. I ask for the new act of Parliament I will light my pipe with the com mentary." " Still the two things might be combined in a gazette." " Yes, when thought is free." " It will be, some day." "Well, I think so, too," said the man in the red cloak. " I hope I shall live to see the day when the public journal will be the great speaker of the time though I could never express my own ideas with a pen ; it freezes me I dream sometimes of this mingled chronicle and essay you mention a great daily volume, containing intelligence from every quarter of the world, news upon every subject, comment free from partisan falsehood ; and this great organ of thought I sometimes think will, in future, be scattered over the land like the leaves of that antumn forest yonder. When the time comes, mankind will take a great stride onward." " I scarcely hope to liw- so Isng," said his companion. " Why ? The new era comes slowly, but still comes." " This paper I hold in my hand is a bad commencement of your grand dream, liberty ! Yos, liberty will come but will it be in our day ? " " What do you mean by liberty ? " said the stranger, bending his keen eye on his companion ; " are men fit for such a thing ? " " Yes." " Let us see, now but here we are at the Raleigh Tavern, accompany me to my room, and we will talk ; or if not talk, I will play you a tune on the violin, and before you go ahow you something I have written." A THINKER OF THE YEAR OF GRACE, 1763. 127 Charles Waters willingly complied, and, passing Beatrice's 4oor, which he merely glanced at, they entered the apart ment of the stranger. It was, like most rooms in Virginia taverns, of considerable extent, and of a rather bare appear ance. In one corner, a neat bed covered with a white coun terpane, stood, with its tall, slender posts ; and the rest of the furniture consisted of a rude oaken table and some leather-bottomed chairs. On the table lay a violin and bow, and beneath it an open book. The fire-place had two square stones in place of andirons, and these stones now supported an armful of twigs, which were crackling and blazing plea santly. The day was not cold, but the stranger seemed to be one of those men who rightly consider a cheerful blaze always pleasant, and he sat down before it, resting his rudely-shod feet on the iron fender. His companion sat down opposite, and for a moment there was silence. It was first broken by the man in the red cloak, who said : " We are now separated from the outer world; this inn is our castle, and before I amuse you, as my guest, by play ing the violin, let us have a few words upon the subject we were speaking of but now." CHAPTER XXIII. A THINKEB OF THE YEAE OF GBACE, 1T68. CHARLES Waters sat down, and resting his elbow on the table, leaned his head upon his hand; he seemed to be think ing ; but scarcely upon the subject they had adverted to, if one might have formed any opinion from the compression of the lips and the troubled expression of the eyes. The man in the red cloak, whose keen eye nothing seemed to escape, observed this expression, and determined to try the effect of music. The reader will have already perceived, that one of the peculiarities of this strange man, was great curiosity as to the working of the human heart, and the means of affecting men through their feelings. He took up the violin, which was an old battered instrument of littlq 128 A THINKER OF THE YEAR OF GRACE, 1763. value, but not without much sweetness of tone, and drew the bow across the strings. " What shall I play ? " he said. His companion raised his head at the sound of the stranger's voice, and looked at him inquiringly. The man in the red cloak repeated his question with a slight smile. " Any thing," said the other, relapsing into reverie again ; he was subject to these fits of thinking, and the stranger seemed to understand the fact ; for he commenced playing without taking any notice of his auditor's preoccupation and indifference. His bowing was firm and strong, and playing evidently from his ear wholly, he executed a minuet with great delicacy and force. His whole soul seemed to be ab sorbed in the grand floating strain, which, with its crescen- dos and cadences, sweeping onward in full flood, or dying like sinking winds, filled the whole chamber with a gush of harmony. But still his eye was fixed curiously upon his companion, and he noted with great care every change of expression in the lips, the brow, and the eyes veiled with their long dusky lashes. He finished with a vigorous flou rish, and Charles Waters raised his head. " Do you like it ? " asked his companion. " Yes ; you are a fine player, sir," he said indifferently. " Perhaps you would prefer a Virginia reel ? " " No, I prefer the other, which is a minuet, I believe." " Yes ; but listen to this." And, first tuning a rebellious string, the stranger struc* up, with a vigorous and masculine movement of the elbow, one of those merry and enlivening tunes, which seem to fill the air with joy and mirth. His fingers played upon the strings like lightning, the bow rose, and fell, and darted backward and forward ; and, throwing his whole heart into the piece, the stranger seemed to imagine himself in the midst of some scene of festivity and laughter, to be sur rounded by a crowd of bright forms and merriest faces, run ning through the dance, and moving in obedience to hi* magical bow. He wound up with a tumultuous, deafening roar, his eyes flashing, his crisp hair seeming to more with the music : and then, stopping suddenly, laid down the in strument. Charles Waters raised his head, waked, so to epeak, by the silence. A THINKER OF THE TEAK 5f GRACE, 1763. 109 " f ou play excellently well, sir," he said ; " but I am BO wholly ignorant of music, that my praise, doubtless, is of little value." This seemed to afford the stranger much satisfaction : he evidently prided himself upon his proficiency on the in strument. " It is a very enviable accomplishment," his companion added, " for it affords you the means of easily contributing to harmless enjoyment. Music is a great educator, too. Dan cing is one of the most healthful and innocent of pastimes, 1 am convinced ; and the violin is, I believe, the best instru ment to dance to." " Yes yes : none other is comparable to it, and I con fess I do feel satisfaction in knowing that I perform tolera bly on this great' instrument. There is but one other supe rior to it." " What is that ?" " The human voice." " Yes yes, I understand." " That is, after all, the great master-instrument, con structed by the Deity. The violin is merry and joyous, or mournful and sombre, but the voice is all this, and all else, in a degree ten thousand times more powerful. To move, to agitate, to sway, to bend ; what is like it. Ah ! my Livy, there, upon the table, gives me the words ; but who shall fill my ear with the magical voices, dead and silent! Who shall 'speak the speech,' as Virginius did, when fronting the tyrant Appius, he plunged the dagger into his child ? Would I had been there ! " added the stranger, with one of those brilliant flashes which seemed, at times, to convert his eyes into flame. But before his companion could reply, this ex pression had disappeared, and the man in the red cloak took up the open volume of Livy, and, turning over the leaves, carelessly, seemed to have forgotten Virginius and his mis fortune, in a moment. " After all," he said, with one of his adroit turns, and apparently desiring to make the other talk, " after all, I don't know whether Appius was so much worse than other despots : and men have in all ages required to be ruled strong ly, and often tyrannically. Despots are disagreeable, but necessary." 130 A THINKER OP TtiE YEAR OF GRA.E, 1763. Waters looked at bis companion with astonishment : he th mght he must be jesting : but there was not the least in dication of any such thing : his countenance that index oi the mind, ordinarily betrayed nothing of the sort. Appa rently the stranger had spoken these words in perfect good faith. " Could I have understood you, sir," said the thinker, " and did you really mean that men required despotic rulers?' " Yes : certainly." "This, from yew?" " Come, come you may have taken up a "wrong impres sion in regard to my opinions ; let us not break into excla mations, companion ; rather let us sift opinions and compare ideas. Is it not undeniable that men in all ages have been weak and faltering, preferring rather the bad and false to the great and good ? and if this is true, does it not follow that despots are a necessity of the world's being ? " "Ah ! " said his companion, " but that is not true it is false, permit me to say honestly, and with no desire to offend you " " Not at all not at all : go on." " I deny your maxim totally, sir it is not true." " Have not the records of the world proved it ? Are they not darkened every where by deeds which prove the truth of the Bible, saying, that mankind are prone to deceit and des perately wicked V have not the annals of all lands and gov ernments shown conclusively, that truth and grandeur and purity have ever attracted to themselves envy and hatred, malice, and all uncharitableneps ? Come I let me hear you deny that men are radically hateful, false, unworthy of trust, as they are of respect : come, let me hear you deny that they are swine before whom it is the merest boyish folly to throw that brilliant pearl called liberty. You cannot deny the truth of this view : men have always been radically false and unworthy." " I do deny it, sir," said Waters, his brow flushing and his eyes suddenly growing brilliant with the fires of enthusi asm. " Never was any philosophy so weak, so wholly based on sand I It is a dreadful, an awfal philosophy, that which scoffs at and seeks to overthrow all that is pure and worthy in our fellow-men all that is brilliant and imposing for it* A THINKER OF THE YEAR OF GRACE, 1763. 131 truth and beauty in the annals of the race ! I cannot beliera that you speak seriously, for I have seen that in your eyes and your spoken words which is opposed to this terrible phi losophy utterly. No, sir I men are not by nature destitute of truth and love, nobility and purity the annals of the world show how untrue it is. Go back as far as you may, penetrate the gloom which wraps the overthrown columns of the Syrian desert, the Egyptian plains, and you will find in the midst of crime and falsehood the light of heaven ; among those monsters whom God, for His own wise purposes, sent upon the earth, flowers of majesty and honor ; in the moral desert those oases of verdure and pure limpid waters, which prove that beneath this burning sand the eternal springs exist, the germ remains. No ; I do not deny that men have in all ages fallen and sinned yes, they have hated and despised, blasphemed and cursed, dyed their right arms in blood, and revelled in the foul, the false, the unnatural. None can dispute it. I acknowledge it. But what is equally true is this that every where the instincts of humanity, planted by God in it, have revolted against this abnormal state ; love has effaced hatred, justice the spirit of wrong ; heaven has opened and the abyss has closed ! " Go into this Golgotha of nations, this Jehosaphat of extinct generations, and question those dry bones which once supported living frames such as our own here now. They will make you but one reply a reply which embraces the history of humanity ' I sinned, I repented ; I wa? human, I endeavored to grow divine.' Look at Greece. Rome, Modern Europe embrace at a glance the whole sur face of three distinct civilizations, three diverse ages, from horizon to horizon, from their dawning in the East, fresh, rosy, and pure, to their sad and sorrowful decline sorrowful and sad because the soul ever doubted ever was afraid to hope for the new dawn 1 In Greece, art overthrowing rude ness, beauty driving away deformity the good and beauti ful passionately yearned for by all classes of men eternally sought ! The childlike and poetical nature filling the streams with naiads, the woods with dryads, the mountains with the oreads and the graces every where the false, which is the deformed, overthrown to make way for the true, which is the beautiful Arcadian temples glittering in the forests, alUri 132 A THINKER OP THE TEAR iP GRACE, 1763. of white marble crowniiig the blue mountains. Phidias and Apelles, famous in all countries for their incarnations of grace and beauty, rather than their incarnation of the Gre cian idea I And not in sculpture and painting only did the true and beautiful conquer the false and deformed. In liter ature, Sophocles and Euripides purified the heart by pity and terror Aristophanes lashed with his satire the un worthy and despicable Homer embodied in his heroes grace and strength, as in Achilles nobility and tenderness, as in Hector in Ulysses, the dignity of suffering and misfortune. Socrates taught immortality Plato penetrated the mists of prejudice nd ignorance with that glance of lightning given him by God. Every where mind overcame matter, the moral conquered the brutal ; and such was the force of their teachings, the vitality of their dogmas, that all the nations of the world turned their eyes to Greece as toward the dawn of civilization. u The cry, ' Great Pan is, dead ! ' was only heard when the Roman Colossus had strangled in his arms this nascent civili zation, this pure ray of the dawn. Pan had taught men hus bandry, and tranquil country happiness, and that wars should be no more. When he died, that cry told the nations that the glory of Greece had disappeared, and with it the only civilization which surpassed the ripe majesty of Rome. But that civilization was not altogether lost ; Juvenal was greater than Aristophanes, as Cato and Cicero rose in moral height above the statesmen of Athens. You know well the history of that empire, stretching its vast roads through every land, and drawing to the great centre, the imperial city, towards which those vast highways converged the silks, and gold, and pearls of every land the captives of all nations. " I know that you would say that human depravity cul minated in those emperors and that they had fit subjects. Yes; God had given that race dominion, permitted it to conquer every land, and then cursed it with rottenness and decay. Men felt the divine curse, and shook their clenched hands at the gods in impotent wrath. See how every thing reveals the despair which fell upon the men of Rome ; see how the race, blind, staggering, rioting in an eternal orgy, still knew their foulness, gnashing their teeth with rage at )keir wm depravity ; see kow every thing became vernal A THINKER OF THE YEAR OF GRiiE, . 763 133 female honor, the arms of men, the suffrages of the legions. The commander who could glut the revelling multitude with the greatest shows was emperor Messalina was queen. The race was staggering, despairing ; they saw the night coming, and the lurid glare of burning cities lighting on their way to Rome those ' hammers of God,' Alaric and Q-enseric. They felt that the impending fate was the just punishment of the unspeakable corruption reigning in the land, and they sought to drown conscience in those moral stimulants which now horrify the world. They clamored for wild beast shows ;, they rolled on the seats of the Amphitheatre in convulsive laughter, when the slave was torn to pieces in the arena by the lion or tiger ; they intoxicated themselves with blood to drown despair, and, drunk with horror, staggered and fell into the welcome grave dug for them by war, or pestilence, or famine. " Then, on this worn-out world this chaos of darkness and corruption, rose the sun of Christianity, blessing and healing. God took pity on the race, and would not over whelm it with a new deluge ; and men cast off their foulness, abjured their heathen gods, and and knelt like children at the foot of the cross. " But I weary you, sir. Every where the annals of the world show the god-given instincts of the race, leading then; to seek the true and beautiful to embrace love in place of hatred. See how the northern nations worshipped their hero souls, as the Anglo-Saxons almost did their brave King Ar thur. They still yearn for them, and say they will return to bless the nations. The precursor of the returning god is still looked for in the northern solitudes by the rude islanders and Arthur, the middle age believed, would come again, his sword excalibur turned to the shepherd's crook, and with him peace, love, and happiness. Look at all nations. In France, see how the convulsions of a thousand years have proved the yearn ings of the race for something better, truer, nobler than their effete royalty, their nobility, exhausted by Duguesclin and Bayard. See England, grand and piteous spectacle ! > heart of the modern world, as she was the torch, whose light glared on the crumbling props of old imperial Rome the Btar of the new era. See England, groaning through all her history with the fatal incubus of a privileged class, sucking 134 A TS1NKER OF THE YEAR Of GRACE, 1763. np all offices of profit or distinction ; a king, whose person il sacred who can do no wrong. Sec her still seeking for the true, the pure, the just; see those men of England plunging into war and blood to find the jewel beheading the king in the name of justice- embracing puritanism, because it clad itself in the robes of truth and purity returning to their king, when puritanism became bigotry love, hatred justice, a scoff and only to find in that son of the man they had be headed a worse curse than any yet ! For Charles II cursed the rising generation with corruption, unbelief, despair ; no longer levying tonnage like his father only destroying the honor of families ; no longer holding down the nation with a rod of iron only inaugurating that horrible comedy of the Restoration, which made all that is good contemptible the honor of men, the fidelity of wives, the faith of humanity in God. The poor, struggling nation bargained for liberty and toleration they received bigotry and licentiousness. Yes, yes, sir 1 this is the truth of that great revolution, and the English people therein embodied the history of humanity in all ages, every where. Yes, yes ! if any thing is true, this is true that men are not false and hateful, black from the cradle, foul from their first breath ! On this conviction alone do I base my hopes for the future of the race in' Europe, America, every where. That this land we live in will prove mankind able to think, to act, to rule, above all, to love, I have a conviction which nothing can deprive me of. The old world totters ; she is diseased, and though this dis ease may demand two hundred years to eat its way to the heart, yet it will finally attack the vital part, and all will crumble into dust. The new world lies bathed in the fresh light of the new age : here will the heart of man vindicate its purity; here the tiger will lie down, the serpent no longer hiss ; here, I feel that God will accomplish the po litical regeneration of humanity, proving the eternal truth of these poor words I have uttered I " The thinker paused, and leaning his brows on his hand, seemed to be buried in thought. The stranger was also silent, either from conviction or in order that he might mar- hal t'S thoughts for the struggle of intellects. But if this last were the reason of his silence, he was dcomed to dis appointment. WARLIKE PROCLAMATION PROM THE SQUIRE. . 35 His companion rose and said : " I fear I have wearied you, sir, and fear still more that you will think it discourteous in me to leave you, after thus taking up our whole interview in talking myself. But I have just recalled a business engagement at this hour the clock has just struck." " Well, well," said the man in the red cloak, who did not seem greatly put out by these words, " I cannot think hard of that. Your ideas, sir, have found in me an atten tive listener, and if I led you to suppose that I believed nothing good could come out of human nature, I miscon- veyed my meaning. Let us part, then, for the present we shall meet again, as my stay here will be prolonged for a week or two longer, and I count upon seeing you again. I do not fear a disappointment. We shall come together often in the future, I feel a conviction." His companion bowed his head in token of willingness and assent, and looking at the door, said : " Your room is No. 7, is it not? " " Yes that one opposite is occupied by a young gentle man from the neighborhood ; and that one next to me by the young actress, Beatrice Hallam, I believe. Mr. Effingham seems to be her very good friend." " Effingham ! " exclaimed his companion. " Yes, he has been an inmate of this tavern for two or three days don't mistake and enter his room for mine." Charles Waters could only bow his head : and turning away from the man in the red cloak, he went in silence down the stairs. The house seemed to stifle him ; and when he reached the open air he seemed suddenly to revive, for his face was suffused with blood. CHAPTER XXIV. WARLIKE PROCLAMATION FEOM THE SQUIML JUST as Charles Waters left the door of the inn, and while the stranger was still looking after him, with a curious ex pression upon his finely-moulded lips, the door of No. 7 . 36 WARLIKE PROCLAMATION FROM TflE SQU1H*. opened, and Mr. Champ Effinghara issued from it. Th young gentleman, who had just been refreshing himself with a cup of chocolate, served to him in bed was clad with his usual elegance and richness, and for a moment his eye dwelt on the coarsely-dressed stranger, who stood with the knob of the door in his hand, gazing, as we have said, after Charles Waters. The man in the red cloak surveyed him with great calmness, and some curiosity. An imaginative spectator might have fancied them the representatives of the old world and the new the past and the future the court and the backwoods. Mr. Effingham looked every inch the gentleman and courtier. The drop curls of his powdered peruke reposed ambrosially on his clear pale cheek, his lace ruffles at bosom and wrist were of spotless purity, his sur- coat of cut velvet, with its chased gold buttons, just lifted up the point of his richly ornamented sword, and his waist coat, silk stockings, cocked-hat, and jewelled hands, com pleted the vivid and perfect contrast between himself and the rude-looking, coarsely clad stranger. Plainly the court and the wilds, Europe and America stood face to face. The man in the red cloak having apparently satisfied his curiosity, made a slight and very awkward bow, which Mr. Effingham returned with negligent carelessness, and then re-entered his chamber, with a smile on his grim fea tures. Mr. Effingham descended. The reader will recollect that he had been at the tavern now for some days : the manager had regularly enrolled him as a member of the " Virginia Company of Comedians,' 1 and availing himself of the privileges of his membership, Mr. Effingham had met Beatrice daily, in the theatre, in the tavern, every where. He was no longer a chance visitor, an occasional torment to be borne with, and endured patient ly, in consideration of his going away soon ; he was now her shadow, and in the young girl's own words, he " drove away all the sunshine from her life." At rehearsal she had seen daily his reckless and mockiug smile, glittering and gloomy, follow her every movement at the inn, when he condescend ed to appear at the common table, she had been transfixed by his burning glances in all places and at all times he had obtruded himself with his ironical and yet sombre mile ; a smile which seemed to say audibly, " You defied WARLIKE PROCLAMATION FROM THE SQUIK.B. 137 me, scorned me, thought yourself more than a match for me and I have foiled you and conquered you, by superior will and reckless carelessness." Whether Mr. Manager Hallam was conscious of Bea trice's unhappiness of Mr. Effingham's treatment of his daughter we are not able to say. At least, he took no notice of it, and was always ready to echo the young man's jests, and drink with him as long, and as deeply as he desired. " At the Hall the storm was rising, and ere long it was destined to fall upon the devoted head of Mr. Effingham. Miss Alethea had deeply regretted her violence, and earnest ly prayed for him, and that he might return to them again. She saw too late that her injudicious words had driven him away, and this she confessed to her father, with tears ; but that bluff gentleman had pish'd and pshaw'd, and told hei that she was too soft-hearted, and that she was not to blame he would see to the matter 1 The rest of the household soon found out the dreadful fact that Mr. Champ Effingham had abandoned his home for the young actress, and the very negroes, following the wont of Africans in all years, discussed and commented on " Master Champ's " wild conduct. Will reflected upon the matter, with a dreadful feeling of alarm, and fear, and admiration, for the rebel and Kate sorrowed in quiet, wiping her eyes frequently, as she bent over Carlo, and sometimes getting up from the table, and hurrying out, with no imaginable cause for going away, unless she had tears to hide. She loved Mr. Champ Effingham dearly much more fondly, I am compelled to add, than my respected ancestor deserved and wept for him, and every night and morning joined her hands together and asked God to bless him, wetting the pillow all the time with her tears. As 1 have said, this was by no means the spirit of the squire : he was indignant, he felt outraged, he knew now all about the matter, and felt excessive dissatisfaction at Mr. Effingham's conduct, as he called it. It never occurred to him that his own youthful career had been by no means immaculate, and without regard to Mr. Champ's peculiarities of mental organization, he determined to bring the rebel to subjection." Thus far, the MS. from which those events were drawn ; the extract may serve to explain the appearance of a mounted fervant at the door of the Raleigh, where Mr. Effingham 138 descended, after his meeting with the stranger. It was Tom, who, with many smiles, presented to his master a missive, directed, in a large, firm hand : " To Mr. Champ Effingham, at the Raleigh Tavern Williamsburg." Mr. Effingham frowned, tore open the letter, and read it, with a flush upon his brow, which froze the smiles of the shining African. Having gone through it, he crumpled it furiously in his hand, scowled upon the negro, hesitated, in evident doubt as to what course he should pursue, then bidding the servant wait, hurried to his room. The letter was in these words : u EffingJiam Hall, Thursday Forenoon. " MY DEAR CHAMP I have heard of your conduct, sir, and have no intention of being made the laughing-stock of my neighbors, as the father of a fool. No, sir ! ^ I decline being advised and pitied, and talked about and 'to by the country on your account. I know why you have left the Hall, sir, and taken up your residence in town. Alethea has told me how you insulted her, and flouted her well-meant advice, and because she entreated you, as your sister, not to go near that young woman again, tossed from her, and fell into your present courses. I tell you again, sir, that I will not endure your conduct. I won't have the parson condol ing, and shaking his head, and sighing, and, when he comes in the Litany to pray for deliverance from all inordinate and sinful affections from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil have him looking at the Hall pew, and groaning, until every body understands his meaning. No, sir 1 If you make yourself a fool about that common actress, you shall not drag us into it. And Clare Lee ! have you no regard for her feelings ? Damn my blood, sir ! I am ashamed of you. Come away directly. If you are guilty of any thing unworthy toward that young woman, I will strike your name from the family Bible, and never look upon your face again. Remember, sir; and you won't be fool enough to marry her, I hope. Try it, sir, and see the consequence. Pah ! a common actress for my daughter the wife of the representative of the house of Effingham, after my death. 'Sdeah, sir 1 it is intolerable, abominable ; ad I command you to return at once, and never look upon WARLIKE PROCLAMATION FROM THE SQUIRE. 139 that young woman again. For shame, sir. Am I, at my age, to be made a laughing-stock of, to be jeered at by the common people, at the county court, as the father of the young man that played the fool with the actress ? No, sir. Leave that place, and come and do what you are expected to do, called on to do take Clare Lee to the Governor's ball. I inclose your invitation. Leave that woman and her artful seductions. Reflect, sir, and do your duty to Clare, like a gentleman. If it is necessary, I repeat, sir, I command you to return, and never see that girl again. " EFFINGHAM." Mr. Champ Effingham read this letter with those mani festations of wrath and indignation which we have described, and as we have said, hurried to his apartment, bidding the servant wait. Once by himself, he tore his unfortunate frill furiously, and shook his clenched fist at the representation of himself in the mirror. " Dictation ! I am a child ! " he said. " I am to be whipped in, like a hound, because I choose to come and spend a few days in town here, and to be ordered about, as if I were a negro. I am, forsooth, to come back to the Hall, and humbly beg Alethea's pardon, for leaving her so ab ruptly, and hear the servants tittering behind me, and go, like a milk-and-water girl, to escort Miss Clare Lee to the Governor's ball 1 Curse me, if I will submit to be lashed into obedieno -. like a dog, and Miss Clare Lee may find some other escort. I will go to that ball with Beatrice Hal- lam, and I will act next week." With which words, he sat down and wrote : " I have received your letter, sir, and decline returning to Effingham Hall, or being dictated to. I have passed iny majority, and am my own master. No one on earth shall make a slave of me. I have the honor to be, " CHAMP EFFINGHAM." Mr. Effingham read this note over, folded it, sealed it deliberately, stamping the wax with his coat of arms, and summoning a servant, ordered him to deliver it to the negro at the door. Then rising, with a mocking laugh, he went toward Beatrice's room- 140 MR. EFF1NGHAM WISHES TO ESCORT CHAPTER XXV. MB. EFFINGHAM BEQUESTS THAT HE MAT HAVE THE PLEASUB1 OF ESCORTING MI38 HALLAM TO THE BALL. MR. EFFINGHAM knocked at the door of the young girl'a apartment, but being in doubt whether he heard her voice, was about to retire. He decided, however, after a moment's reflection, to enter, and opening the door, which yielded to his push, found himself in presence of Beatrice. She was sitting at the window, and leaned her head upon her hand, which lay upon the sill. She did not move when Mr. Effing- ham entered, and a second glance proved to him that she was asleep. For a moment, Mr. Effingham gazed at the beautiful head bent down, the forehead moist with the dews of sleep, the small hand hanging down, from which the volume of Shakspeare, she had been reading, had fallen to the floor. None of these things escaped him, and for a moment he paused, silent, motionless, his eyes becoming softer, his brow less gloomy. Then the shadow returned ; thought, like a hound, again struck the trail, for a moment lost, and the eye of the young man assumed its habitual fire, his lips their curl of scornful and gloomy listlessness. Beatrice stirred in her sleep and awoke ; it might have been supposed that the glittering eye fixed on her face, bad not permitted the sleeper to continue insensible to the pre sence of the visitor. She opened her eyes and sat up, placing her hand, with an instinctive movement, on her dis ordered hair. Mr. Eflingham approached her. " I knocked," he said, negligently, " but was uncertain whether you answered or not, so I entered. How is Miss Beatrice to-day ? " " I am not well, sir," she said, resigning herself to he* fate. "Not well?" " I am worn out, sir." " Worn out ?" " Yea, sir ; the exceedingly late hours I have kept IaU ty, have injured m. M MISS HALL AM TO THE BALL. 14 1 " All imaginary ; you are accustomed to them." Beatrice made no reply to these words, which Mr. Effing- ham uttered with careless indifference as he sat down. " Have you been to the theatre, this morning ?" he added. " Yes, sir." " Rehearsal ? " " Yes, sir." " Well, that wore you out. That fellow, Pugsby, is enough to put any one to sleep, he's so somniferous." " He did not come." " And so after rehearsal, you came here ? " " Yes, sir." " And went to sleep ?" " I tried to study, but could not." " True ; there is your Shakspeare on the floor." Mr. Effingham picked the volume up with a yawn, and politely restored it to the young girl. " By the by," he said, " when shall we appear together ?" " I don't know, sir." " Come, now ; wouldn't you prefer me as your vis-a-vis in acting to Pugsby ? " " It is perfectly indifferent to me whom I play with, sir." " Amiable, at least ! But we are going to play together soon." " Are we, sir ? " " Yes, madam, the duchess 1 By heaven, you must have been born in a court, or you never could have caught the imperial air so perfectly 1 ' Are we, sir ? ' " continued Mr. Effingham, mimicking the frigid tones of the young girl's voice ; " the devil 1 you carry acting into private life ! " " No, sir ; I am not sufficiently fond of it." " You hate it ? " " I do not like playing." " You would prefer quiet domestic happiness, eh ? " " Yes, sir." " Then, marry me," said Mr. Effingham, with perfect coolness, " I have half ruined myself for you." Beatrice looked at him fixedly. " Your great pleasure in life is to scoff at me, Mr. Ef fingham," she said, calmly. 142 MR. EFFINGHAM WISHES TO ESCORT " No, by heaven 1 There's my hand. Take it. I am just in the mood to-day to follow any whim which seizes me." Beatrice was silent. " You won't accept me, then ? " said Mr. Effingham. " Well, that is wrong in you. Effingham Hall yonder comes to me, and you might indulge your dreams of rank and sta tion to any extent, as we are of tolerably good family." " I have no such dreams, sir." " Well, then, your dreams of domestic happiness, but now discoursed of." Beatrice was again silent ; and Mr. Effingham burst into a harsh laugh. " Ah, ah 1 " he said, " you don't reply, but I know very well what the expression of your ladyship's face signifies. You mean, Madam Beatrice, that you would have very little domestic happiness as the wife of reprobate Mr. Champ Effingham ! Hey ? Come, now, let us chat like tender friends, as we are. Is not that your thought ? " " I do not think we should be happy together, sir ? " "Why?" " We are not congenial." " Bah I we were cut out for each other." " No, sir ; indeed we were not." " We were I Come, now, I'll prove it We are both hypocritical " " Sir 1 " " Both exceedingly worldly and unamiable " " Mr. Effingham ! " " And we love each other devotedly. Could better matches be found ? " " You are in a bitter humor this morning, sir," said Beatrice. " I ? Not in the least, as I believe I have replied to similar charges on previous occasions. I never was in more charming spirits. I have just had a little correspondence which raised my spirits amazingly. Just fancy my respected father writing me word that if I did not give you up, never Bee you again, the paternal malediction would descend. Think of it." " Oh, sir ! did your father write that about me ? " said Beatrice, suddenly losin^ her frigid indifference. MISS HALLAM TO THE BilX. 143 Yes. '* Advising you to come away from this place ? " " Advising ? not in the least ! commanding me." " Oh, sir 1 then obey that command ! Kecollect he is your father ! Remember that you will cause yourself to be talked about, and I shall be the cause of all this ! I shall be the means of distressing your father ! Oh, sir, abandon me; leave the company which you have so rashly united yourself to ; do not cause me the misery of standing between father and son ! Be reconciled, sir I Oh, do not stay here, sir ! " Beatrice had risen, in the excess of her emotion, and stood before the young man now pleading for mercy mercy for himself! Her eyes were full of earnestness and emo tion, her words impassioned and tearful, her hands clasped before her in an attitude of what seemed irresistible entreaty. Mr. Effiugham leaned back, and looked at her with a mocking smile. " You are really exceedingly handsome," he said, " and upon my word the gentlemen, and even the ladies of the colony, might show some cause for not liking you, and think ing it very naughty in me to come near you. Talk about me ! you think my infatuation for you will make me talked about ! My dear Miss Beatrice, don't be hypocritical. You know well that I am at present the most interesting topic of conversation in the colony of Virginia. I fancy I can hear the tittering the delightful gossip about my unworthy self, every where here, in the upper country, south side, every where. Didn't you see how they stared at me, night after night, in the theatre ? And some of the moral and irreproachable young ladies would no longer return my bows, if their re spected parents would permit them to quarrel with so illus trious a nobleman as myself. Talked about ? Bah 1 let us be easy, madam ; we are both the scoff of Virginia ! " " But your family, sir," cried Beatrice, " much as you affect to despise general opinion " " My family will not care much for me a little worry, and when the matter ends in some diabolical way, some an noyance : that is all ! Come, don't talk of my family 01 of any of these matters. Let us speak of acting." " Oh, sir ! I am sick. You have made me feel so badlj by what you have said." 144 MR. EFFINGHAM WISHES TO ESCORT, ETC. Mr. Effingham's laugh was the perfection of recklessness and scorn. " Bah ! " he said, <; let us talk of business matters. I am going to act Benedick soon, and you shall play the par* of your namesake. Can you act it ? " " Yes, sir but I do not wish to again," said Beatrice, sitting down, overcome with emotion. . " You must not have a voice in the matter it suiis me, madam, and with all possible respect, I shall make my debut in ' Much Ado about Nothing.' What an exceedingly apposite piece to appear in ! It will be a practical epigram upon public sentiment the very title 1 " " Will you really act, sir ? " " Yes : that will I ! nothing can prevent me." " Then I am the most unhappy of created beings," said Beatrice, tearfully. " Oh ! to be the occasion of this alter cation between father and son ! " " That is all arranged : and all will go on well now. We will have a delightful time at the ball." " What ball, sir ? " " Have you not heard ? Why, the Governor's. I am going to take you. You will then have an opportunity of seeing all the gentry of this noble colony." Beatrice looked at the young man with astonished eyes. " You would escort me, then, sir ? " she asked coldly. " Certainly." " You must not, sir." " I will." " Oh, no, I will not go ! I cannot go, sir I am not in vited, sir." " Pshaw ! I am, and of course I can bring any lady I fancy." " Mr. Effingham ! " said Beatrice, wildly, " I am not a lady ! I will not accompany you, and be the occasion of a new and more distressing sorrow to your family. No, no, sir I will not ! " and the young girl's face flushed. " Well here's my respected friend and manager : good morning, Hallam," he added carelessly, as that gentleman entered, smiling and rosy ; " here, I have been talking to Madam Beatrice about the ball." " At the Governor's, sir ? " IN WHICH A PISTOL FIGURES. 145 Yes." " He wants me to go, father, and I must not," said Bea trice, covering her face. Hallam stared ; and his incredulous glance asked the young man if he really thought of such a thing. This mean ing was so plain, that Mr. Effingham burst into laughter, and said : " Yes, Hallam ! I am going to escort Madam to the ball, and be her most devoted cavalier. Now talk to her about it, and remove her scruples I must go and take a look at the streets of this great town." And bowing, he went out. The scene which ensued between the manager and his daughter is not one of those which we take pleasure in de scribing. Art cannot compass all things. Hallam saw the means of attaching the young man to Beatrice for ever by this ball, for his appearance there with her would be regarded as his public defiance of all the powers of society : and this social prejudice, he felt convinced, was all which prevented Mr. Effingham from marrying Beatrice. It was necessary thus to overcome her scruples, and he did overcome them. Beatrice, at the end of an hour of passionate pleading, fell back, weak, nerveless, overcome. She had consented to go to the ball. CHAPTER XXVI. IN WHICH A PISTOL FIGURES. MR. EFFINGHAM passed the whole of the day succeeding this interview in a state of mind more easily imagined than de scribed. The reader will not have failed to perceive that his reckless, and scornful indifference, his mocking laughter, were but the mask which concealed a profound emotion rf pain and depression. Proud, headstrong, and passionate, he had nevertheless experienced a sinking of the heart even in the midst of his violent passion, on reading the bluff gentleman's letter and ill-advised as that letter undoubtedly was, he already bitterly regretted the tone of his reply. The conse quence of these conflicting emotions was frightful : he tossed about, gesticulated, astounded the members of the Virginia 7 146 IK WHICH A PISTOL FIGURES. company of Comedians by replying to the simplest observa tions with insult, and betrayed every indication of a mind ill at ease, and charged with " that perilous stuff Which weighs upon the heart." His brow was gloomy, his eye fiery, his walk hasty and by starts. So the day passed, and the morning of the next. In the afternoon he went to his apartment, and sitting down, leaned his head gloomily on his hand. Where would all this end ? That abyss he had imagined to be awaiting him, after the first interview he had passed through with the young woman, now seemed to open visibly before him. He had left his home defied his friends abandoned all that made life tranquil and happy for what, for whom ? For a woman who scorned him, and did not take the trouble to conceal that scorn ; for a beautiful demon, who met all bis advances with indifference or disdain, and, strong in her weakness, defied him with looks and words. If he had abandoned all that happy life for some angel of love and purity, whose heart was a treasure grand enough to console him for all the blasts of obloquy or the winds of scorn, there might have existed some reason which would have calmed him. But no! she hated him scorned him could not bear his presence 1 He rose, and with clenched hands stood looking at his sneering and unhappy visage in the mirror over the fireplace. There he stood, young, handsome, graceful; clad in the costume appertaining to his rank of gentleman; the brow untanned by sun or wind, the hand white and jewelled, not brown, and hard and knotty with rude toil ; every thing in the image reflected from the mirror betrayed the enviable position in the world which the young man sustained. The plain gold ring upon his finger was the gift of Clare years ago, when tt ey were sweethearts ; the beautiful cravat he wore, with its gold and silver flowers, was worked by the child at the Hall ; the diamond pin in his bosom was a birth day present from his father lastly, the snuffbox peeping from his waistcoat pocket had been given him by Lord Botetourt when he had admired it one day in England. All this flashed through the young man's mind ; and then, with a mental effort as rapid and comprehensive, he IN WHICH A PISTOL P..: URES. 147 surveyed his future. What would that future be ? Young, high born, wealthy, heir to the estate of Effingham and re presentative of that stately house, all honors and pleasures were open to him, did he but sit down and wait quietly. No exertion was necessary the future was assured. Would that be his future ? Would he go on in life surrounded by friends and tender relatives gladdened by the smiles of true-souled companions, the tender love of gentle woman and so passing his early youth, arrive at a middle age of in fluence and honor ; his old age finally to come to him, bright with all that makes it fair and attractive " as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends ? " Would he keep up the honors of his ancient house be a worthy representative of his honorable name ; would he find in that gentle girl whom every one loved, the companion of his joys and sorrows, the light illuminating his existence to its close ? Was this his future, he asked himself, with a bitter curl of the distorted lip could this be his destiny in life ? No ! that was not for him ; he had made his election thrown away the goblet of limpid and healthful water, to grasp the bowl foaming with its fiery and poisonous draught. The Circe had taken him captive he was no longer human ; no longer had any power over his will; felt that he wo aid not, if he could, abandon the shore upon which he had cast him self away. No ! that bright and happy future was not for him he had forfeited it. Effingham Hall was closed to him Clare despised or pitied him friends had deserted him he had stopped at the Siren isles, and never would sail forth again for ever. The name of Effingham would die if he had to uphold it he would be stricken from the annals of his house nothing remaining of his name and life but a sad and shameful recollection 1 Again he gazed steadily at his sneering and unhappy image in the mirror upon his pale cheeks, fallen away so quickly, upon his bloodshot eyes, his colorless, mocking lips, and the point to which his thoughts had carried him, was reflected in his visage so faithfully that a groan issued from his inmost heart. Then his eye fell upon a pistol, lying on the table, and he took it up and gazed gloomily at it : a harsher, more mocking smile, wreathed his proud lip, and, cocking the weapon, he murmured the first words of th soliloquy in Hamlet. 148 IN WHICH A PISTOL FIGURES.. " Yes," he said, " I know, now, what my lord Hamlet meant, when he asked that question of his soul : Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The stings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them 1 ' " Then, looking with gloomy curiosity upon the murderous instrument, he said, with a sigh which resembled a groan : " Yes, now I understand those words : " To die ! to sleep I No more! and by a sleep to say we end The heartache and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to ? ' Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished 1 For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love 1 ' " There he stopped, with an expression painfully affecting ; and, sitting down, he covered his face with his hand, and was silent for a time. Then, the hand was taken away, and the head rose again and on the lips the same mocking smile played with terrible meaning. He looked again at the pistol, and, with a sneer, placed the muzzle to his forehead. " It is plain that I am a comedian," he said, bitterly ; "I go for authority to plays ! Well, now, if I were to play the tragedy to the end imitate the Moor ! Is it not easy ? This little instrument ends all, at once ! " and his finger touched the trigger. Suddenly a tap at the door startled him, and hastily un cocking the pistol, he thrust it into his bosom, and said, harshly and gloomily, " Come in ! " The door opened softly, a light step was heard, and little Kate Emngham entered the apartment. Kate, smiling and fond ; her fair hair falling on her shoulders in long girlish curls ; a tender, loving light in her mild, soft blue eyes ; the little hands stretched out to greet him ; her face, and form, and smile, and very dress redolent of home, and that happiness which the weary heart but now looked back upon, as the wrecked mariner clinging to the floating mast, about to be ingulfed in the dark waves, launches a last thought back to the sunshine and pure joy of his far inland home 1 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED. CHAPTER XXVII. HOW IE. EFFINGHAira ROOM AT THE RALEIGH TAVERN WAS ILLUMINATED. IN a moment the child was in his arms, clasped to his heart. The fresh, bright-eyed little face though now those eyes were bathed in dews of happiness lay on his bosom, and two hot tears from the dry, weary eyes of the young man, rolled down, and fell upon the child's hand. For some minutes no word was uttered. Kate spoke first, and said, earnestly : u Oh ! I'm so glad to see you, cousin Champ indeed, indeed, I am." " And I am as glad to see you, Katy," he said, turning away ; but no longer with that painful expression of mock ery ; " you came in like a sunbeam ! I was so gloomy." And again the poor, weary eyes were bathed in moisture, and the man's tears mingled with the child's. " Come," he said, at length, " how is it possible you are here?" And as he spoke, the young man caressed fondly the bright locks of the little head. " Oh ! " said Kate ; " I just came by myself. I was so sorry, cousin Champ, when you went away, and have been crying about it often since I couldn't help it. For you know you have always been so good to me. I couldn't help loving you dearly, and crying when you left us. Then papa got angry, and told cousin Alethea you had not done right ; and then, when the parson came, he abused you, and papa quarrelled with him, and he's going away. Papa said no one should abuse you, and that you were not half as much to blame as they chose to say ; and then went away to the library, and didn't come back to tea." " But, Katy," said Mr. Effingham, turning away, " this does not explain how you " " Oh 1 I am coming to that at once, cousin Champ. You know I love you dearly and I couldn't bear to think you were here all by yourself, and not happy. So as cousie 150 HOW MJl. EFFINGHAM: S ROOM WAS ILLtJBHNAll>. Alethea was coming to town in the chariot, me and Willie thought we'd come, too, and cousin Alethea said we might." " Is Alethea in town ? " " Yes, cousin Champ ; she's down at the store, buying a cake mould, and Willie was looking for a new whip. So I just slipped out and ran up here, and asked if you were here, of a gentleman though I don't know if he is a real gentle man wearing such a funny red cloak. He laughed, and was very good, and said you had just gone up to ' number 6,' and I came up, and saw the figure on your door, and tapped." " Heaven sent you, Katy," said Mr. Effingham, pressing his tremulous lips to the child's forehead. " God knows what might have happened," he added, in a murmur. " What did you say, cousin Champ ? " " Nothing, dear." " What is this hard thing under your lace ? " said the child, whose arm had struck against the concealed weapon. " Nothing, nothing 1 " he said, hastily. And rising sud denly, he went to the open window, and hurled the pistol to the distance of fifty feet. Then returning, after seeing it fall into a pile of rubbish in the yard of the tavern, he took the child in his arms again, and leaned his weary head upon her shoulder. " "Sou don't seem to me well, cousin Champ," said Kate, tenderly, and endeavoring with the tact of a grown woman, to come to the subject which she wished to reach, without offending Mr. Effingham. " I don't think you are well, in deed I don't, and they can't take very good care of you in this place. I don't like it it don't seem clean and nice. And then I'm sure you haven't got any body who can bathe your forehead as nicely as I can. Please come and go back with us, cousin," added the child, earnestly. " You can't think how happy it would make me, and all indeed I would cry for joy." " I can't make you cry, dear," said Mr. Effingham, with a fond look. " Well, then, I'll laugh." " I can't go now." " But you are sick." " No, no." HOW MR. EFFINGHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINAIKD. 151 " Indeed indeed, you're not well." " Perfectly, dear Katy but I am as glad to see you as if I wanted you to bathe my forehead." " You don't seem to think that, cousin," said Kate, sigh ing, and looking wistfully at him, " or you would not leave us so long." " Why, I have not been here a week." " That's a long time a long, long time indeed 1 " Mr. Effingham softly smoothed the bright head. " I was much longer away, when I went to England,'* he said, " and you did not write me a word to return, dear. You did send me enough of love, however." " Yes, but I love you more now : you didn't take much notice of me when I was a little chicken, running about the Hall and then, and then, cousin " " What ? " You know, you had to go England " " You mean " " Yes, dear cousin Champ," said Kate, with a tremulous but earnest voice, " I mean that you needn't have come here. Don't be angry with me, please." " Angry with you ! " " For I love you so much. I don't think you ought to stay here now, indeed, you would be better at the Hall. Come now," she said, with an earnest pleading look, which made the little face inexpressibly lovely, " go back with me ! won't you ? Oh 1 I'll be so good if you'll go back ; and so will Willie for I will make him. Think how happy we would be, dear cousin Champ indeed we can't be happy at all, while you are away. I can't." And the little head drooped, the fair curls falling down, and veiling the child's cheeks. Mr. Effingham was silent, but he unconsciously clasped the small hand lying on his own more tightly, as if some invisible and hostile force were pulling him the other way, and in the child lay his only hope of resistance. " You can't think how your being away has made me feel indeed, you can't," continued the child, in a low voice, and glancing at his face with wistful, dewy eyes ; " you know I never liked any body I loved to go away, and after papa, I love you better than any body in the world. Ever since 152 HOW MR. EFFINOHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED. you went, and papa got angry, I have felt as if I was going to fall sick I was so sorry ! Papa didn't look like he waa well either, and sometimes I think I saw cousin Alethea looking sorry. When Tom was packing up your portman teau, I thought you were going away, and put in it " " Did you put that Bible ' " Yes, cousin Champ for I knew you would like to read out of my little Bible." Mr. Effingham rose, and going to his dressing-table, took the small volume from his portmanteau. " Hero Katy," he said, turning aside his head as he spoke, " I have not time to read it now." " Oh, but keep it ! " " No I don't wish to." " Not when I ask you to, cousin Champ ? " " No no not now," said Mr. Effingham, with a shadow on his face. Kate looked inexpressibly hurt, and two tears which she could not restrain, rolled down her cheeks. Mr. Effingham strode up and down the apartment passed his hand wearily over his forehead, gazed wistfully at the child, and the book she held, and then away from her again. He stopped finally before the window, and looked out. Then he felt a little hand, warm and soft, take his own ; and turning round, the child was again in his arms, pressed to his heart. " Katy," he said, with a troubled voice, " I cannot keep your Bible now I have not time to read it and some one coming in here might take it." Mr. Effingham's face clouded. The thought had oc curred to him that some one of the rude, jeering actors might touch it and at that moment he felt as if he would preserve it from such profanity at the hazard of his life. " Keep it, dear," he added, tenderly, " I will read it if I ever when, I mean, I come back to the Hall. Now, don't ask me to take it back any more, Katy indeed, I cannot." The child put the volume into the pocket of her frock, with an expression of quiet, uncomplaining sorrow, which was very touching. " I'll promise to read it every day, when I get back, dear," said Mr. Effingham, " now don't feel badly." HOW MR. EFFINGHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED. 153 " Oh ! if you would only come back," she said, hiding her head in his bosom, and crying, " Oh ! cousin Champ 1 if you would only come back ! Oh, please do please leave this place, and don't be angry with papa any more. They said you came to see to see a lady, cousin Champ You know you've seen her now, and if she is good, and I know you would not like her if she was bad if she is good she wouldn't have you to distress us to come and see her ! Oh, where is she ? I'll go and tell her myself, if you'll let me, how much we want you to come back to us, and I knoM you will not think I am presuming. Now, do let me go >-- I'm sure she will not be angry with a little child like me where is she, cousin Champ ? " Mr. Effingham held the child upon his lap, overcome with gloomy and yet hopeful thoughts. She looked into his face, and saw the troubled expression. " Oh, come come ! " she said, in an earnest, pleading voice, " indeed you are not well. Oh, cousin Champ, you will not refuse me your pet please come now cousin Champ we'll all go back so nicely in the chariot and won't you ? " He looked at her for some minutes in silence, and said : " Katy, do you believe in guardian angels ? " " I don't know if you mean " " Then, do you believe in angels ? " " Yes ! oh, yes ! " " And in heaven ? " " Yes : mamma is in heaven, and papa," she said. " What do you think it is like?" he continued, gazing on the tender face, " a great city of pearls, and diamonds, and gold ? Come, don't be surprised at my speaking so abruptly. Do you think there is really a heaven, and angels ? " " Oh, yes, cousin Champ and I'm sure it is not made of gold and diamonds I mean I don't think it is. I think it's a place where we all love each other more than we can on earth and God, too." " Can we love more than we do on earth ? " he said, thoughtfully. " Oh, yes I believe we can and then we will not have any thing in heaven to make us sorry. We won't be sick, .54 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED. and grieved, and all, but be happy, and love God for evoi and ever." Mr. Effingham made no reply ; he only murmured to him self. " Angels are good like little children before they gel bad," added Kate, earnestly ; " there's a verse about ' the Kingdom of Heaven,' and it's being filled with good people, like little children.. Must I show it to you ?" fa No, no I believe not," said Mr. Effingham, " I don't know that reading the Bible would do me any good. I be lieve what that verse says already, dear," he added, looking with moist eyes at the child, " and I meant that when I asked you about heaven ; ' Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Is not that the verse ? I knew it was. Well, I wish I had died at your age." " Oh 1 " said Kate, in a low voice, " I am not good enough I'm very bad." " You are heavenly in comparison with me." " Oh, cousin Champ ! " " I am well, well," he said, suddenly checking himself: and he murmured, " Why should I deprive myself of this child's heart." " Indeed, indeed, you are not well," said Kate, gazing with a long, sad look, on the troubled and gloomy face, " and I think something has grieved you," " No, no" " Let me read a little to you, please I know you'll like" " No, no ; I'm not fit to hear reading now, dear," he said, but more softly, and with less decision in his tone. Kate noted this change, with that marvellous quicknesd of children, and said : " Oh, yes ; let me read you just a little about heaven. When I read it, I never feel sorry afterwards ; and, if I am lick, it makes me feel almost well and happy. Sometimes I think about my being a little child, without any father or mother any real father, I mean, though papa is my father and I feel like crying ; but I read a little in my Bible, and think that papa and mamma are in heaven, and that, if I am good, I'll go to heaven, too ; and, then, I feel as if it MOW MR. EFFINGHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED. 155 wasn't much matter whether I felt sick and badly or not, so I kept myself good ; for I will see them in heaven, if I obey God." The weary and storm-tossed soul listened to these simple words, and felt a strange emotion at his heart, as if that heart had been frozen, and was slowly melting. " For you know," Kate went on, earnestly, " this world ia not a good place, and we can't be very happy here, though some things are very sweet and pleasant. We have to suffer a great deal here, and we must get mighty tired. But we ought not to cohaplain when we have heaven to think of, where all will be happiness and joy. We feel wrong towards people very often, at least I do, and people behave badly to us, and make us suffer ; but we ought to bear all this, when we think of living and loving dearly in heaven, for ever and for ever. Oh 1 let me read what St. John says about lov ing each other and God : I always loved to read what he says." And, without waiting for a reply, the child opened her little Bible, and read, in a low, subdued, earnest voice, some verses, which the young man listened to in silence. Kate closed the book, and leaning her head on his shoulder, said : " That sounds to me so sweet, that it makes me happy." " Yes, yes," murmured Mr. Effingham, covering his eyes " Do you like to hear me read ? " she asked, wistfully. " Yes," he murmured again. " Then," said Kate, with an expression of entreaty, which lit up her tender little face, like a light from heaven, and putting her arm round his neck as she spoke " then come and go back 1 Oh, please come and go back, and I'll read to you whenever you want to hear me ; and, oh ! we'll be so happy, cousin Champ ! I can't be happy while you are here, and I think that you are not well, may be, and haven't any body to do little things for you. Don't stay in this place, and be all by yourself. I'm sure cousin Alethea's sorry if she said any thing to make you angry; indoed, I know she is for she said to papa that she ought not to have said something to you. Papa is dreadfully distressed at your going away, and, indeed indeed " (here the child's voice faltered) " I shall be so unhappy so so Oh, cousin Champ,do come and go with me ! Oh, please don't stay ! You can't find any body 156 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM'S ROOM WAS ILLUMINATED., to love you as much as we do, and till you come back the Hall will look dark to me." The little arm around his neck drew him toward the door; the beseeching voice went to his heart, and melted all his pride, and hardness, and stubborn coldness; the half jest he had uttered about his guardian angel, seemed to become a heavenly reality to be there in the person of that child, entreating him to go away with her. " Oh, come 1 " cried Kate, clinging closer and closer to him, and turning her moist, tender eyes upon his own ; " come with me, cousin Champ come back with us oh ! you are coming. I knew you would. You wouldn't refuse me, I know." And she placed one hand on the door to open it. Before she could touch the knob the door opened, and a servant appeared on the threshold. " A gentleman to see you, sir ; ask him up, sir ? " he said, bowing. Mr. Effingharn hesitated, and was silent. It might have been imagined that he feared to leave the child to go be yond the reach of her voice, the brightness of her eyes. " Well, well," he said, after a moment's silence, " who ever it is I will see him. Stay here, dear wait till I come back I will return directly. Say I will be down immedi ately," he added, to the servant. Then stooping, and pressing his lips to the child's fore head, he said, tenderly and softly : " Stay till I return, Katy ; I will soon send this gentle man off, whoever he may be. I cannot lose you so soon, and I think, before you go if I do not go with you you may read me some more." Kate looked inexpressibly delighted, and this expression of joy seemed to touch and please Mr. Effingham extremely. He threw a last fond glance on the child, and saying again that he would be back in a moment, went out and closed tho door. Kate sat down overcome with joy and pride : her smile seemed to illuminate the whole apartment, dimming the very radiance of the sunlight. Ten minutes passed thus, when suddenly a knock at the door made her heart throb ; and rising quickly to her feet, she said, before she was aware of it, " Come in 1 " ENTER SHYLOCK, AND HIS SHADOW. 157 CHAPTER XXVIII. ENTEB 8HYLOCK, AND HIS SHADOW. THE door opened, and two men made their appearance. We say men : it would be sacrificing too much to courtesy to call them gentlemen ; for neither in their dress, features, nor ex pression, was there any thing whatsoever remotely entitling them to that distinction. He who came first was that wor thy who had acted Shylock on the opening night, at the theatre near the capitol ; and the reader may possibly recol lect Mr. Manager Hallam's criticism of his performance, delivered in the presence of the worthy himself, on the next morning, at the Raleigh. His present state was not materi ally an improvement upon his condition that night, and having dined not very long before, his spirits were naturally in an elevated and generous condition. When Mr. Pugsby had emptied his pint of rum or his bottle of port a delicacy which he did not usually indulge in, however he felt at peace with all the world, and ready to embrace the whole of mankind. His companion was a lean, cadaverous gentleman, whose favorite characters were " Shallow," " Slender " the apothe cary in " Romeo and Juliet," he had been assisting Mr. Pugsby in emptying his last bottle. Kate beheld the entrance of these worthies with great alarm ; though her womanly little air of dignity did not de sert her. Perhaps it was rather distaste than alarm which she felt, child as she was, for certainly no contrast could have been imagined less to the advantage of the stage worthies. Kate, clad in her rich and tasteful little costume of silk and velvet with her bright eyes and rosy face, looked like a flower, a picture, something beautiful, rich and rare, to be approached with reverence, and regarded with love and ad miration : she seemed out of place in the rough apartment, as some masterpiece of Titian, framed in gold, would look hung up in a wide garret, with a ceiling of dirty rafters. She had the beauty and tenderness of childhood : purity and gentleness enveloped her like a oloud. None of these things appertained to the worthies who now entered, inasmuch ai 158 ENTER SHYLOCX, AND HIS SHADOW. they were extremely rough and common specimens of human ity, with bloated faces, and unsteady gait, and sleepy-look ing eyes, which rolled, and winked, and leered, as authentic tradition relates of the ancient worthy Silenus. Shylock hesitated for a moment on the threshold, and exhibited a species of inane surprise, at finding a child, in stead of his brother-comedian, Mr. Effingham, in the apart ment. " Hum ! " said Shylock, by way of signifying that he was about to speak. This expressive monosyllable wag echoed by Shallow, who, to save himself the trouble of thinking, generally repeated or coincided in, the observations of his friend. " Stand and unfold thyself," continued Shylock, striking an attitude, and facetiously pretending to consider Kate a ghost. " Unfold yes, unfold," echoed Shallow, stretching out his cadaverous hand as his friend did. " Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damned ? thou comest in such a questionable shape, I'll speak to thee ! " continued Shylock, " hey ? come, speak ! " Kate felt as if she should sink into the floor, and was so frightened that she could scarcely restrain her tears or com mand her voice. " Come, come, pretty damsel 1 " exclaimed Shylock, with some impatience, and descending into prose, " come, why don't you answer? Who are you? Why are you here, instead of that jolly minion of the moon, that lad of metal, hight Childe Effingham ? " " Oh, sir ! " said Kate, with a trembling voice, and re treating as the leering tragedian approached her, " Oh, sir, I am Mr. Effingham I mean, he is just gone, sir." " That is no answer." " No answer," echoed Shallow. " A subterfuge." " Perfect." " And subterfuges are a deadly sin," said Shylock, whose words unconsciously flowed into a metrical shape. " An awful sin," said Shallow. " So now perpend, young damsel," continued Shylock, approaching the child, who shrank back, " either thou dje't ENTER SllXLOCK, AND HIS SHADOW. 155 presently, or do'st relate to me the marvel strange, why thou art here all armed in complete no, thou hast no steel ! Speak ! what art thou ? And if thou do'st conceal the least small thing " Shylock drew out the knife which he was accustomed to whet upon his shoe, when Antonio was to be sacrificed, and flourished it with deadly meaning. Kate shrank further back and turned pale. " Oh, sir, you frighten me 1 " she said. " I'll eat thee whole ere the leviathan hath swum a league " Kate fell into a chair. " Come," said Shylock, putting up his knife, " I'll be merciful, if I am a Hebrew vile, and thou, fair lass, a Chris tian." " We'll be merciful," said Shallow. " Therefore, unfold unfold, I say ! " continued Shylock, " art thou base, common, and popular ; or, high and mighty, like Prince Hal ? discourse. Whence art thou ? " Kate murmured, with a throbbing heart : " From the Hall, sir." " What is thy name ? " " Catherine, sir ! " " Well, Catherine, listen : thou shalt go below, and bid the tapster draw a measure of rum, which thou shalt bring to us. We are noble gentlemen, come hither to see Prince Hal, that noble bully. Do'st thou understand ? " " Oh, sir, I cannot 1 I don't know " " Do'st thou reply ? " " Oh, sir, don't come near me, I do not like you 1 " " Not like me ? Well, I will be calm I Go bid them draw the ale ; do'st hear, thou varlet vile ? " Kate's indignation began to conquer her fear, and, child as she was, in the midst of such persons, her face flushed with anger, at the word vile. " I can't go, sir," she said. " Cannot ! sayest thou ? Why, ' cannot' ? " " I do not know any body here, sir," she replied ; " please let me pass out." " Never ! thou shalt pass over my dead body, rather." " And mine," said Shallow. " Oh, I must pass ! " cried Kate, endeavoring to leave (he room. 160 KATE AND BEATRICE. " Stand back ! ill met by moonlight, proud Titama . But thou shalt not go hence." " I must, sir ! " said Kate, endeavoring to pass again, and nearly crying from fear and indignation. " By heaven, thou diest ! " And uttering these words, Shylock moved with unsteady gait to shut the door. But Kate was too quick for the worthy, and ran through, brush ing against him as she passed. Shylock made a grasp at her, and caught the ribbon of her little hat, tearing the covering from her head. The next moment he would have reached her and brought her back by main force, but just as she was about to fall upon her knees, in despair, the door opposite opened, and a young woman, evidently attracted by the noise, appeared upon the threshold. " What is this ? " she said. " Oh, ma'am ! that man won't let me go ! " cried Kate, " he has frightened me nearly to death. Oh, don't let him take me from you 1 " And clinging to the dress of Beatrice, she shrunk from the infuriated Shylock. Beatrice, with a single word and a look, closed the door in the face of that worthy, and she and the child were alone together. CHAPTER XXIX. KATE AND BEATRICE. FOR a moment the young girl and the child were silent ; Beatrice knew not what to think of the scene, and Kate was indulging in a hearty cry. At last she dried her eyes, and stopped sobbing by degrees, and looking at Beatrice, said : " Oh, ma'am, I'm so thankful that you saved me from that horrid man I " " How did he come to annoy you, my child ? " said Beatrice, looking affectionately at the sweet little face. " Oh, he came in, and and because I wouldn't go and get him something for I couldn't, you know. Oh, he frightened me so ! " and Kate began to sob again. Beatrice wiped the child's eyes and got her a glass of water, all the time soothing her with kind words. 161 " Don't speak if it makes you cry," she said, softly. " Oh, I am not frightened, now ! " " You are quite safe here." " Am I quite ? " " Yes, that rude man will not presume to come into this room, and were he to do so, I would send him from it with a single word." And Beatrice, with a disdainful motion of her hand, seem ed to wish to dismiss so insignificant a subject. Kate look ed at her attentively, for the first time, and said ; " Do you know him ? I think you are too pretty and good to know that rude man." Beatrice turned away. " I am sorry that I am obliged to know him," she said in a low tone, " but how did you come to be pursued by him ? It was disgraceful ! " added Beatrice, with a generous flash of her proud, brilliant eye. " I was waiting a minute for cousiu, who had gone down *o see a gentleman. He left me in his room, and I was so frightened when those rude men came in. I am not used to such people, you know ; papa don't have any visitors like them, and the gentlemen that come to the Hall are always kind to me. Oh, he drew out such an ugly sharp knife, and threatened to kill me 1 " added Kate, very nearly beginning to cry again. Beatrice looked at her attentively : some re collection seemed to be struggling in her mind. " Strange 1 " she said, " I seem to have seen this child be fore somewhere- where was it ? " And she pressed her forehead, and seemed to be buried in thought. Kate looked at her, and said, timidly: ' I am afraid ma'am, that you were busy when I came in." " Yes, I was my child but that is nothing." " Were you sewing ? what a pretty handkerchief I " And remembering the scene she had just passed through, Kate used the embroidered handkerchief she had taken up to admire, for the purpose of drying a rebellious tear. " I was not sewing," said Beatrice, with a look of weari ness, " I was studying. But you have not told me, my child, how you came to be in the Raleigh." " Oh, cousin Alethea, and Willie, and me, can^e to town and" 162 KATE AND BEATRICE. " Then you do not live here : but I forget you spoke of the Hall, and there are no halls here." " Oh, no : a hall is a house in the country." " And you came to see your cousin a gentleman who wears a red cloak ? " " Oh, no ! he's not my cousin " " Ah ! " said Beatrice, her eyes suddenly dazzled with a rapid lightning-like thought, " your cousin what is his name the Hall ? " " Cousin Champ is his name, and we all live at Effing- ham Hall. My name is Catherine Effingham but papa is not my father." Beatrice sat down, murmuring. " Effingham ! Effingham always Effingham 1 Yes at the theatre ! " Kate misunderstood these half-audible words, and said . " Did you ask if Effingham was our name, ma'am ? Yes ; and I know papa will be mighty thankful to you and cousin Champ too. He's a dear good fellow, and I love him dearly." Beatrice remained silent, and turned away her face in order that the child might not see the painful and gloomy expression which dimmed the eyes, and took the tender smile from the lips. " And you were in yon in Mr. Effingham's room were you, my child ? " she murmured, at last. " Yes ; and cousin Champ had just gone down to see a gentleman. He told me to wait till he came back." " Is he fond of you ? " asked Beatrice, why she scarcely knew. " I know he is 1 " exclaimed Kate, with a bright smile shining through her moist eyes. " And you love him ? " " Oh, dearly ! he is so kind and good 1 " They were almost the very words which had escaped from the lips of Beatrice after her interview with Charles ; and the recollection of that interview now came to efface the bitter expression which followed little Kate's words. The bitter smile only glanced, then flew away. " Did your father bring you to town, my child ? " she asked, pressing her hand upon her heart to still its throbbing. " Oh, no 1 " said Kate, " papa is not pleased with cousin KATE AND BEATRICE. 163 Champ." Then regretting this speech, she added " that is I mean, ma'am cousin Champ went away from the Hall, and hasn't been back." Beatrice could not look at the child. " And is he angry ? " she said. Who ? papa ? " " Yes," murmured Beatrice. " No, I don't think papa is much angry ; but he don't like cousin Champ to be here." " Why ? " said Beatrice, in a low voice, and like a despair ing soldier turning the weapon in the wound. " He came to see some lady here, and papa and cousin Alethea do not like " " No, no not a lady " There the young girl stopped, overcome, panting, avoid ing the child's look, her head drooping, her forehead burning. " I don't know who it is," said Kate, " but I think cousin Alethea said it was that young actress we saw act in the ' Merchant of Venice.' " " Do you not recollect her? " murmured Beatrice. " Who Miss Hallam ? Oh, yes 1 She wore a lovely fawn-colored silk, and was very pretty." " I did not know I was so completely changed," said the young girl, turning away and smiling painfully. Then she said aloud : " And so Mr. Effingham your cousin came to see the actress, and his family are displeased ? " " Yes, ma'am, we all want dear cousin Champ to come back. I don't think he ought to come here to see an actress She is not good enough for him, and oughtn't to distress us. " Oh, it is an unjust punishment ! it is unjust 1 " mur mured Beatrice, with tears in her eyes : but Kate neither saw the tears nor heard these bitter words. " I came to tell cousin Champ to-day he was too good for her but I didn't like to," continued Kate, not observing the change in the countenance of Beatrice ; " we read some in the Bible, though, and cousin Champ 'u. ?st promised to go back with me " " Did he 1 " " Yes, ma'am." Oh, take him back 1" 164 KATE AN3 BEATRICE. Kate was somewhat surprised at these venement woidfl ( but said : " I think he is going with us. I don't think he would leave us, all who love him so, for a common playing girl." " Oh, it is unjust it is unjust I " repeated Beatrice, in an inaudible voice. " I have not deserved it ! " " She's very pretty for I believe it is Miss Hallam," continued Kate, " but she is not good enough to marry cousin Champ, you know." Beatrice rose wildly, and said, with passionate tears in her eyes : " She would not marry him ! she does not wish to ! I am that actress 1 I am Beatrice Hallam ! He has made my life miserable and wretched ; he follows me, persecutes me, and will not leave me ! Oh, I am not to blame I am not ! I do not deserve so much unjust blame no, no 1 It is cruel in you to make me suffer so ! oh, it is cruel ! " And hiding her face in her hands, the young girl trem bled and shook with passionate sobs. Kate was so much startled and alarmed by these passionate words that she stood for a moment motionless with surprise and astonish ment. Then her tender little heart overcame every thing, and running up to the beautiful girl who had been so kind to her, she took her hand, and, sobbing, said : " Don't cry ! please, don't cry 1 I didn't mean to be so rude indeed, I am ashamed and sorry oh ! please don't cry I " And Kate herself cried, as if her heart would break. Beatrice suffered the little hand to imprison her own, and slowly raised her head again her eyes full of tears. " Pardon me, my child," she said, with noble dignity and calmness, " I did not mean to blame you I could not help speaking abruptly and shedding some tears for indeed I am not to blame. My lot is very unhappy, for I cannot even ask a little child like you to love me." And her humid eyes dwelt with great softr ess and ten derness on Kate's fresh little countenance, over which large tears were chasing each other. " I am glad I was near to save you from that rude man,' continued Beatrice, rising, " and that is my only reward- my own feelings. I ask no other " SHOWING HOW A LOAF Of BAEAD MAY BE USED. 166 Kate would have fallen into the tender arms, for very weakness and emotion. " No,'* said Beatrice, gently repulsing her, " I am an actress. Come ! " And she went toward the door. At the same moment it opened violently, and Mr. Effingham stood before them. CHAPTER XXX. SHOWING TO WHAT USE A LOAF OF BKEAD MAT BE PUT. THE young man entered grasping his sword which he had drawn half from the scabbard. " Ah ! " he said, with a deep sigh of relief: then turning upon Beatrice, he said : " I have to thank you, madam, for robbing me of my visitor ! " And his haughty eye flashed, as' he put his arm round Kate, and drew her away. Beatrice made no reply but Kate cried out. " Oh ! cousin Champ ! Don't speak so to her 1 She was so good to me." " Good to you, Kate ! What do you mean ? " " Those horrid men ! Oh, they frightened me so I " Mr. Effingham looked from one to the other, to ask an explanation. " What men ? " he said. " The men that came into your room." " Men in my room ! Who ? " " I don't know, indeed, cousin Champ, but they behaved very badly to me." " Behaved badly to you ! " said Mr. Effingham, his brow flushing with haughty fire. " Oh, it was nothing," said the child, becoming alarmed at the storm she had aroused, " they only frightened me a little 1 " Suddenly Mr. Effingham looked at the child's hair still disordered and rumpled for the worthy Shylock, in pulling away her hat, had naturally dragged the well-brushed hair from its place. Mr. Effingham observed this at a glance, and said, with a flashing eye : 166 " Where is your hat, Kate ? " Beatrice rose. " I can tell you what has taken place in a moment, sir,' she said, calmly ; " it is nothing more than happens almost every day only disgraceful, you know, sir. Mr. Pugsby annoyed your young relative, and the child came to my apart ment for refuge. I gave it to her, that is all ; and now, sir " Mr. Effingham did not wait to hear the end of the sen tence. His eye burned fiercely, and hurrying out with the child, he said, hastily: ;< Come, Katy, let us go to the carriage : I must put you in : I can't go to-day to the Hall. Ah, when you are once safe, we'll have a settlement " " But my hat, cousin Champ ? " said Kate. Mr. Effing- ham's teeth ground audibly, but before he could make a reply, a voice behind him, loud and familiar, said : " Here's your beauty's hat where the devil are you going " It was Shylock, who came along the passage behind, and turning, Mr. Effingham saw the child's hat in his hand. A flash as of lightning blazed from the young man's eye, and to abandon Kate's hand, throw himself upon the leering worthy, clutch him by the throat, and hurl him headlong from the landing-place to the bottom of the stairs, was the agreeable employment of a single moment. But this did not satisfy Mr. Effingham's rage; and motioning the child to remain behind, he sprung down the steps, and ar riving at the bottom just as Shylock, in a violent rage, rose up, he shouted wrathfully : " Draw, you dog 1 draw ! you wear a sword 1 Damn my blood, I'll have your heart's blood !' And drawing his sword, the young man would have plung ed it into Shylock's breast, had not the jolly host thrown him self between the combatants and received the thrust in a huge loaf of bread h* was lugging into his larder. This incident BO far delayed further employment of the weapon, which had completely passed through it to the hilt. The crowd then oarted the infuriated combatants, and this consummation was one for which Shylock seemed devoutly grateful. Having Wily frightened the child for fun, as that worthy said, after- SHOWING HOW A LOAF 3f BREAD MAt BE USED. 167 wards, Mr. Effingham's sudden attack upon him had taken him completely by surprise : and his blood had scarcely time to rise. So it was they were parted, and Shylock, mut tering curses and threats of vengeance, retreated to his apart ment. Mr. Effingham, with insulting disdain, called after him that he should have an opportunity to right his wrongs at the sword's point, though he might be excused from match ing himself against such a cowardly villain ; and so this little interlude ended. Kate, sobbing and agitated, had put on her little hat, and now, with Mr. Effingham's hand in her own, left the inn. At the threshold they ran against Master Will, who, breathless, his face flushed, his mouth open, was running to ask if any one at the Raleigh had seen Kate. " Here I am, Willie," said the child ; " I'm not crying, you know only laughing." And Kate, after this abortive effort to show that nothing had happened, burst into a passion of tears. Mr. Effingham, with a short and curt greeting to Will, went on to the place where the carriage stood, and placed the child in it. Miss Alethea had felt much less anxiety about Kate than Will, and was still making her purchases. Will ran in to tell her that Kate was found. Mr. Effingham was going away in silence, after pressing the child's hand, when, sobbing, she said : " Oh, won't you kiss me ? you are not angry with me, cousin Champ ! " And tears choked the tender, distressed voice deep sighs shook the little frame of the child. Mr. Effingham jent over toward her, but, suddenly resuming his erect attitude, said, gloomily : " No, no, Katy ; I cannot kiss you. No ; do not think of me in future ; and never come near the Raleigh again Have you your Bible ? " " I believe so," sobbed Kate. " Good," he said, in the same quiet, gloomy voice ; " I will love you dearly as long as I live, but I can see you no more. Good-bye," and, turning away, he muttered, " The die is cast ! " 163 . WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM MEANT, WHEN CHAPTER XXXI. WHAT ME. EFFINGHAM MEANT WHEN HE SAID THAT THE DH WAS CAST. LET us now endeavor to explain why Mr. Effingham acted so strangely toward the child, refusing to kiss her at parting, and exhibiting that singular solicitude about her Bible's safety, in the little pocket. The explanation of these mat ters will be found in that interview with the nameless gen tleman, whom Mr. Effingham left Kate to go and see. When the young man descended, he saw, seated in the ordinary, waiting for him, his friend, Jack Hamilton, the fox-hunter. A family tradition, supported by the family Bible, averred that this gentleman's name had originally been John, but this was not generally credited, so com pletely had the sobriquet by which he was almost universally addressed, come to be regarded as the name given to him by his sponsors in baptism. The face which Mr. Hamilton re joiced in, was, perhaps, remotely responsible for this altera tion in his patronymic ; and it seemed almost impossible to feel that he should be addressed by any other name than a nickname. He was a hearty, laughing, honest-looking fellow, with frank, open eyes ; a nose, which seemed to be everlast ingly engaged in snuffing up the odors of broils and roasts, or critically testing wines ; a voice, which greeted all, high and low, with nearly equal friendliness, cordiality, and heartiness. Mr. Hamilton was richly clad, but down his velvet pantaloons ran a long red stain, the blood of a fox he had followed to the death on the preceding day. Mr. Effingham greeted him with unusual cordiality, and his languid, indifferent, petit maitre manner seemed to have entirely disappeared at least, this was the observation made by his friend. " You were busy, were yob not ? " said Hamilton ; " any friends ? " " No, no ; I'm very glad to see you, my dear fellow." " Well, that's understood, or, it would be understood," eaid honest Jack Hamilton, ' if my visit was a mere drop- ping-in, as I passed by, to use the new slang which is be- HE SAID THAT THE DIE WAS CAST. 169 coming fashionable ; but I came to say something to you, Champ. Come, let's take a stroll." " I would but really " And Mr. Effingham thought of Kate. " Oh, you need not fear being detained any time, scarcely. Come, we cannot talk here." And, putting his arm through Mr. Effingham's, the fox- hunter led him away. " Well, well," said the young man to himself, " Katy can amuse herself for a few minutes, until I return ; and I must know what brings Hamilton to see me. He evidently has something on his mind." They strolled out into the square, in the centre of the town, and found themselves thus insulated from the ears, if not from the eyes, of the community. Hamilton stopped, and said : " I came to talk about this ball, Champ." " What ? at the Governor's ? " " Yes." "Well, my dear fellow?" "These actors, here, and the people at the tavern, are saying " " That I am going to it ? " " Yes." " With Beatrice Hallam? " " Yes." " Well, they had the right to say so I announced my intention to do so," said Mr. Effingham, in a gloomy and hesitating voice. " The people at the tavern have been talking through the town about it," continued Hamilton, " and so it got to the gentlemen in the neighborhood, and created quite a sensation." " It seems that every thing I do creates something of that description," said Mr. Effingham, gloomily. " But, really, you must confess that this " " Deserves to create a sensation, you would say : is it not so ? " ' Well, Champ, I'll be honest with you, and say that I think it does." Mr. Effingham passed his hand thoughtfully and wearily 8 170 WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM MEANT, WHEN acrose his brow. A struggle seemed to be going on in h t mind. " If I fancy going with this young woman, I will go," he said, at length. " You have not determined, then ? " said Hamilton, dis playing great satisfaction at these words. Mr. Effingham mused. " I had determined," he replied, " but I do not know now if I shall go I think not." " Delighted to hear it ! really now, Champ, you must permit me to say that you are too good a fellow to throw yourself away upon that young girl, though I grant you she is pretty. I suppose, though, you are running after her as we run a fox, for the glorious excitement of the chase. Up and away 1 ride all day and night ! no matter if you break your neck, you gain the excitement and glory ! " Mr. Effingham's countenance displayed still the struggle going on in his mind. Then a bright light cleared away the gloom and doubt, and his features became serene and soft once more. He had thought of Kate, and now said : " Jack, I don't think I will go. No, I will not 1 " " By George, I'm delighted to hear it 1 " " You're a good friend ! " " I hope so ; we have run many a fox together." " Yes, yes ! " " Don't you remember the gray rascal we ran from Cote's to the ford ? what a day we had and Tom Lane has not got over his dislocated shoulder to this day." " Those were fine times, fine times ! " said Mr. Effing- barn, cheerily. " And you remember, by George ! " said Hamilton, laughing heartily, " I recollect it as if it was yesterday 1 You remember when we swept by the Hall like a parcel of wild devils, Tom Lane came near running over your little cousin what was her name ? I think it was Kate ? " " Yes, yes I " said Mr. Effingham, with a soft smile. " A lovely little creature, and as good as she's pretty ; I saw her at the Hall the other day, when I went to see my good friend, Miss Alethea think of a bachelor, confirmed and obdurate like myself, having lady friends 1 the child took my eye mightily, and I do believe she recollected the old times before you went to England 1 " " Happy times, happy times 1 " said Mr. Effingham HE SAID THAT THE DIE WAS {AST. 171 returning to his youth again, as the fox-hunter brought tha past back to him with his familiar, honest voice, his frank eyes, and laughing reminiscences. u Yes, they were happy enough," said Hamilton, " and you thought so then, I know, judging from the foolish things you were guilty of about Clare Lee. By George, she was a perfect little angel, and is yet ! " Mr. Effingham's head drooped. " I remember when we all used to go to gather applefl. I was a young man, then, but just as young as the youngest, and your favorite practice was to hold up the corners of her silk apron, until that black monkey, Joe, threw down enough to fill it" Mr. Emngham smiled. " And as the little apron slowly got full, it weighed down more and more, and naturally you came closer to pretty Clare ; and somehow your face struck against her own, the lower portions thereof 1 and ah, Champ, my boy, you were a wild fellow then ! " And Mr. Hamilton laughed heartily. His companion smiled, with dreamy eyes and tender lips, thinking of his boyhood and of Clare. " After that, you took it into your head to go to Eng land, and came back the perfect dandy you are," continued honest Jack Hamilton, with refreshing frankness. " Yes, yes ! " said Mr. Effingham, smiling. " And snubbed us." " No, no I " " And swaggered about like a lord, and talked literature like a wit what a wearisome thing literature is ! And you altogether deteriorated ! Come, now, deny it ? " " I'm afraid I cannot," said Mr. Emugham, thinking of Clare. " Still our family we are distant kin, you know our family comes of too good a stock to degenerate, and I don't thiuk your foreign journeyings, have hurt you much. The folks all about stand up for you, and have one eternal ob servation, which makes me yawn, about your ' sowing your wild oats.' They always shake their heads when my name is mentioned, and hiut that my crop is always being put in, and never reaped and disposed of." " You're better than X am, Jack," said his friend 172 WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM MKANT, WHKN " The devil ! no compliments ! If some folks heaid thai, they would dissent most emphatically 1 " " Who ? " " All sorts of people, even down to that little chick we were talking of, Kate. By George, sir, you should have heard the eulogy she pronounced in your honor, on the visit I mentioned I made to the Hall ! " " What ! little Kate praised" " Yes, I should think so : the private impression of any stranger who had heard her, would have been that her illus trious cousin united in his single person all the graces, attrac tions, and virtues of the greatest sages and heroes of modern and ancient times. Of course such extravagance couldn't deceive one who knew you as well as I did 1 " Mr. Effingham found himself laughing delightedly, and murmuring, " Darling Kate ! " " Well, now, I'm glad to see that my well-meant advice is not needed," continued Hamilton. " You will not go to the ball with Beatrice Hallam ? " " No no ; I think I shall go back to the Hall to-day." " Good ! Take a seat in my turn-out ! I'm glad you are not going there for there would have come no good from it. Those fellows are very hotbrained." " Who ? " " Oh, I was just thinking of what a party of fellows were saying of it," said Hamilton, not reflecting upon his words, or being at all conscious how injudicious they were. " They talked so that I thought I would co'ine and see you." " What did they say ? " Mr. Effingham asked, with an imperceptible clouding of the brow. " Oh, don't mind them. They got to talking, and said nothing but what was foolish they said that your going with Miss Hallam was out of the question and I agree with them." " How out of the question ? " " Why, ridiculous. ' " Ridiculous ? " " Come 1 my dear fellow, don't think of them." " But what did they say ? who were they 1 " asked Mr. Effingham, feeling his anger rise at what he regarded aa an impertinent piece of interference with his private affairs HE SAID THAT THE DIE WAS CAST. 173 " I will not tell their names," said Hamilton. " Well their words, then." " Their words ? " " Yes ; what did they say of my going to the ball Come, tell me, Hamilton." " Well, as I came to tell you, I will," his friend replied thoughtlessly ; " they said it was wrong." " Wrong ! " " Yes, and ridiculous." " Is that all ? " asked Mr. Effingham, with a curling lip. " No ! " said Hamilton ; " they got to saying after the third bottle, that they would not permit it by George ! There it is out, fool that I am ! But when did I ever fail to make a fool of myself ! " And conscious, too late, of his indiscretion, Mr. Jack Hamilton regarded his own conduct with profound contempt and indignation. He was not far wrong, if this were on the score of discretion : for his last words completely aroused the devil of pride and obstinate wilfulness, which had been put to sleep by those familiar reminiscences of youth and home, and Clare's tenderness Kate's, too. " Not permit me to attend the ball with Beatrice Hal lam ! " said Mr. Effingham, with disdainful pride. " By heaven ! I will know who dared to say that 1 " " I will not tell you," said Jack Hamilton, stoutly. Mr. Effingham's hand grasped the hilt of his sword. " I have been insulted 1 " he said, " None was meant." " None meant!" " I tell you, Champ ; they had all been drinking, and did not know what they said." " No man shall insult me, and say he was intoxicated ! I will not take such a lame excuse, 'Hamilton." " Come, now challenge me," said his friend, coolly. " No ; I shall apply to the proper parties for redress." " Of course, I am responsible, Champ. Come, run your short sword through me, and let out the foolish mind which has made me act so childishly ! " " Hamilton, you have acted as a real friend," said Mr. Effingham, with a frown. " I hold that no friend should hear another spoken of in such terms, without informing him of the assault upon his honor " IT4 WHAT MR. EFFINCJH.iM MEANT, WHEN ' What assault is there here, in the devil's name ? " " They said that my conduct was ridiculous " " A mere joke ! " " And they the paladins of respectability and chbalry they would not permit me to go to the Governor's ball- to escort Miss Hallam thither. By heaven ! I'll make them repent it." " Champ, you are as furious as a Spanish bull you see red at a moment's warning ! Come, moderate your anger.' " I am not angry ! " said Mr. Effingham, furiously. " Not angry ! " " No I am indignant, though ; and I will show these excellent gentlemen that my actions or intentions are not such as concern themselves. I shall find the paladins 1 " " How will you ? " " Why, I will go to that ball with Miss Hallam, and if any gentleman in the room looks sideways at her or at me, I will call him to account for it. Your bottle critics will not fail to expose themselves ! " And Mr. Effingham's lip curled with anger and scorn. " Presume to criticise my affairs thus ! " he continued, indignantly, " I am then a child who is to ask permission of these worthy gentlemen these potent, grave, and reverend signers if I chance to feel a wish to escort a lady to a ball ! Yes, a lady, Hamilton ! for by heaven ! I tell you, that Bea trice Hallam is as pure and high-souled as the noblest lady in the land 1 I know her well, and to my cost ; and I tell you that she is the pearl of honor, delicacy, and truth. You may smile, and I know well what causes your mirth. You are thinking of my wild words, that day when I met you going out of town. Well, I was angry that day, because Miss Hallam had received my familiar addresses with proper coldness had repulsed me. She was right and I honor her for it If she scorns me again, I may hate her, and taunt her ; bat at the bottom I respect and honor her. You look at me ironically 1 well, say I do love her say I am infatu ated about her better men have made fools of themselves ! whether that be true or not, one thing is certain, I shall allow no man to make a fool of me ! " And Mr. Effingham put his cocked hat on with a move ment which betravcd his anger arrd indignation: he had HE SAII "5HAT THE DIE WAS OAST. 175 taken it off during this speech to wipe his brow, moist with perspiration. For a moment Hamilton said nothing. " Well, Champ," he replied, at length, " I repeat that I was a great fool to tell you this, and I still hope you will re gard these hasty words I have reported to you I did it in the most friendly spirit in the light they should be re garded as the mere idle talk of young men. Come, dis miss your anger, and go back with me. Forget what I have said, and let the matter end." Mr. Effingham shook his head, with a frown. " It will end otherwise," he said " You will not go to the ball ? " " Yes, I will." " With Miss Hallam ? " " With Miss Hallam." " It will be a dreadful thing for you : you will be laughed at all over the colony." " Let them laugh ! " said Mr. Effingham, dsidainfully. " You may even get a dozen duels on your hands." " Oh, very well ! very well ! I wish some little excite ment. I have a good deal of time on my hands. I think it highly probable that some chevalier will espouse the cause of outraged society, and avenge its accumulated wrongs upon my insignificant person if I do not give an account of the chivalrous gentleman myself! " added Mr. Effingham, with a scornful pride., Hamilton saw that he had raised a storm beyond his power to quell, and with mingled sorrow, and self-upbraiding, very unusual with him, led the way back to the tavern in silence. " Well," he said, as they reached the door, " I have used my best efforts to persuade you to give this up, Champ : you are determined, I see, and I know it is useless to say any more. I have only to add, that as you are alone, and the enemy is numerous, I shall hold myself prepared to espouse your side in any thing which may arise of a hostile character. Good day." And the honest fox-hunter, refusing to receive Mr. Effing- ham's assurances of regret, for any thing that he might have said, and declining to enter the tavern, parted from him, with a shake of the hand, full of cordiality and friendship. Mr. Emngham for a moment looked after him with friendly rv ) 76 IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPEARS AND DISAPPEARS. gard, then the old gloomy expression usurped its former place upon his visage, and he ascended to his chamber. Kate was not there, and he hurried out to look around for her. He heard voices in Beatrice's room Kate's, he thought; and hastening to the door, opened it just as they were issuing forth as we have seen. What ensued thereon, we have related. CHAPTER XXXII. IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPEARS AND DISAPPEARS. " IN former pages of this true history, I had occasion to set down a few reflections upon the feelings of my worthy an cestor, Mr. Effingham, when, having been repulsed by the young actress, he rode back to the hall. I come now to say a few brief words of Mr. Charles Waters, another of the characters whose mental development it is my duty to ad vert to. Charles Waters was, as the reader will have per ceived, by nature a student and thinker. Unused from his very childhood to the amusements and employments of his associates, his character had assumed a peculiar mould. To strong feelings he united a cool and self-possessed intellect, and this intellect he had trained by bard study, and long and profound thought. Accustomed to live thus in the past and future, not in the present or if at all in the present, only so far as to examine its bearing on that future he had grown up without experiencing any of those sensations which men generally become acquainted with when they are thrown in contact with the fairer sex. In other words, he had passed his majority without experiencing what is universally known by the name of love. His character had thus become serious, and his countenance habitually wore an expression of thought ful quiet. He seldom laughed, and scarcely ever joined in the rough, jovial converse of his father's guests the boatman Townes and others and though he was greatly beloved by this class of persons, and respected also, this personal popu larity was rather to be attributed to his well-known good ness and nobility of character than his social traits. He IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPEARS AND DISAPPEARS. 177 had visited the theatre, as we have seen, on the opening night, in compliance with his father's request, not from any motion of his own. His father had imagined that his cheek was pale, his eye mournful, his health injured, by those in cessant explorations into the ruins of systems and nations ; the play, he thought, would be of service to him ; and he had gone, and admired Beatrice Hallam, and felt some in dignation when Mr. Effingham annoyed her and nothing more. Then he had preserved that young woman's life, and there is much of significance in this fact. We experience warm regard toward those we have greatly served a young girl is never afterwards wholly indifferent to the man who has preserved her life. He had felt the truth of this, and required no urging on his father's part to go and inquire how Miss Hallam had borne her accident. We were pre sent at that interview, and were witnesses of the pleased surprise he betrayed at the exhibition by Beatrice of such fresh and virgin innocence and childlike enthusiasm. Ho came away, as we have seen, thinking of her, and thereafter for many days neglected his books, and felt at his heart the new and strange emotion I have spoken of. Then impelled by the desire to see again that enchanting face, hear again the fresh voice, so pure, and loving, and musical, he had gone to town persuading himself that business required his attention there, and at the office of the ' Gazette' encoun tered his friend, who, at the conclusion of their interview, had conveyed to him the intelligence that number seven was occupied by Mr. Effingham. We have seen how his face flushed and his breast labored as in a close atmosphere. He had intended to visit the young girl, but business called him away, and when he had dispatched it, the evening began to draw on, and he was obliged to return homeward. He re turned, then, with that one thought in his brain that one sensation in his heart. Persecuted for this was plainly persecution on Mr. Effinghain's part loved and followed, for this, too, was as plain Beatrice became more dear to him than ever. His breast heaved, his eye flashed, his haughty lip trembled, and he passed a sleepless night think ing of her. Then for th,e first time he started at his own feelings, and he felt his heart throb. He would be her pro tector from that man, who had, on the first evening of her 178 IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPEARS AND DISAPPEARS. Appearance, annoyed and insulted her ; he would watch over her, find if he really persecuted her yes, and if necessary, avenge her ! Then he stopped, like a horse at full speed suddenly checked by his rider. Where had his imagination borne him what was he dreaming of? What interest had he in this young girl ? say that he had preserved her life, would not any courageous man have done the same ? She was grateful to him for that, there the matter ended ; the service rendered, the thanks returned, what were they fur ther but strangers ? What was he to the young actress ? The young actress ! What could she be to him ? She waM a bird of passage with gorgeous wings, and magical singing, caressed, applauded, swaying all hearts and he, what was he? An obscure man, without name, or wealth, or birth; his station repelled her, as her profession repelled him. A thousand thoughts like these chased each other through his mind during the two or three days which fol lowed his interview with the stranger; and then, drawn as by a magical influence he sought Williamsburg again he had an object, too, as will be seen. Thus, the writer of the MS. : Charles Waters entered Williamsburg, and, thoughtful and absent, took his way along the main street toward the Raleigh. Suddenly, as he walked on rapidly, he found himself stopped by an obstruction. He raised his head, and found himself in the presence of the man in the red cloak. That gentleman was conversing with no less a personage than Parson Tag ; and when Charles Waters joined them, the parson was about to pass on. He scowled upon the homely-clad man, bowed with patronizing conde scension to the stranger, and with head borne magisterially erect, went down the street. " There goes one of the lights of the age one of the pillars of the church," said the stranger, with his habitual coolness, but smiling as he spoke, " the good Parson Tag I The worthy gentleman is indignant to-day, having, from his own account, just quarrelled with his wealthiest parishioner Squire Effingham." His companion raised his head at this name : and this movement did not escape the stranger's keen eye. " Yes," he added, " there seems to have been some little private matter in tb" busine&s. The squire has a son, my IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPEARS AND DISAPPEARS. 179 neighbor at the tavern No. 7, you know and this son, it appears, has been making himself the subject of discussion, for presuming to experience an honest friendship for the young actress, Miss Hallam." The stranger did not fail to note the troubled and gloomy look of his listener, as they walked on toward the Raleigh. "Well," he continued, "the parson took the liberty of condoling with the worthy squire on thereprobacy of his son and, thereby, excited the rage of his parishioner. High word followed the squire declared, indignantly, that he would permit no one to insult his son in his presence that it was a mere youthful freak on his part and that the Christian religion made it incumbent on all men, especially parsons, to exercise a little of the spirit of forgiveness, or affect the same, if they had it not. Tolerably plain, you observe, that intimation of his excellency, the squire. The interview ended by the parson's getting enraged, and declaring he would no longer live in a parish which was cursed with so unreason able a member and by the squire's replying, with a bow, that his holiness should be called elsewhere, as the parish had long desired. These are pretty nearly the facts of the interview, I suppose sifted from the rubbish and now, it seems to be understood that the good Parson Tag goes to the Piedmont region, and a Mr. Christian an excellent name takes his place. ' A mere milk-and-water family visitor,' says Parson Tag. Ah, these parsons, these parsons ! " And the stranger shook his head, in a way which signi fied that the representatives of the established church were far from occupying a distinguished place in his regards. Charles Waters had listened to this account with a troubled expression, which did not escape the stranger. The name of Effingham evidently excited some painful emotion and he remained silent, until they reached the Raleigh. He inquired for Miss Hallam. She was not at the tavern, but would probably come in soon. He turned away. He was diverted from his absorbing thought, by feeling the arm of the stranger in his own. " Come," said his companion, " as I suppose you will wait, in view of the fact, that a lady is in the question let us sit down here on the porch, the sun is warm and pleasant. Perhaps we may wile away a tedious moment. I leave thil place to-day, and may not see you again for years." 180 IN WHICH PARSON TAG APPBAS.S AND DISAPPEARS. Charles Waters sat down by the stranger. " What a singular race these parsons are," said the man in the red cloak ; " come, dismiss your meditations, companion, and listen to me. What do you think of them ? " " There are many worthy, not a few unworthy," said his companion, absently. " True : but as they are an important element of our society, it seems to me that the proportion of the unworthy is too great." " Yes, sir : they are a very influential class," said the other, endeavoring to banish his thoughts. " And wealthy." " Many I believe are." " They love their tobacco salary but after all we can not complain of them. They are necessary, just as it is necessary to have a class that rules and a class which obeys." " That is true in a very limited sense, sir." " Why, we of the lower orders must look up to the gentlemen : fustian cannot rub against velvet. The wealthy gentleman and the poor laborer cannot associate with each other. One rolls in his chariot, the other digs in the field, and admires the grand machine rolling on with its liveried coachman, and glossy four-in-hand. The necessity of the thing is as plain as the fact, that we envy these lords of creation." " We should not, sir." " Pshaw ! whether we should or not, we always will envy and hate them. We are poor and obscure ; they are distinguished and wealthy. Could a clearer case be made out ? " Charles Waters looked at his interlocutor with the same expression, as on a former occasion, when the stranger had Baid, " All men are false." " To envy those fortunate possessors of wealth and ease, sir, is neither liberal nor true philosophy," he said. " True, there are classes, and must ever be, in some form ; but the poor are not, and should not be the enemies of the rich beyond all, they should not base such enmity upon the ground that the gifts of fortune are unequally divided. What a world we should have if that ^vere so ! We havo WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. 181 here in Virginia all grades of wealth and rank, from that negro yonder rubbing down his horse, to Governor Fauquier in his palace. We have first, the rude ignorant servant indented for a term of years, and almost an appendage of the glebe almost as much a slave as the negro. Then the coarse overseer, scarcely better. Then the small merchant, factor, and the yeoman, plain in manners, often very ignorant but a step higher. Then the well-to-do farmer. Lastly, the great landed proprietors, with thousands of acres and negroes, wearing velvet and riding in chariots, as you say. Well, now sir, apply your philosophy ! Let the well-to-do farmer hate the great wealthy gentleman the common yeoman hate the farmer and the gentleman the overseer hate all three and the indented servant, following the example of his bet ters, hate all four of them, where would the clashing of these complex hatreds, these inimical and bitter envyings, have their termination? No, sir," said Charles Waters, raising his noble head, and speaking in that earnest and persuasive voice, which it was hard to resist being moved and convinced by even by its very intonation " No, sir : believe me- - these harsh and bitter feelings retard the advance of our race, rather than forward its destiny. No sir no 1 hatred is not the element of progress, as envy and uncharitableness are not the precursors of liberty 1 " CHAPTER XXXIII. HOW THE MAN IN THE BED CLOAK THREW HIS NET, AND WHAT HE CAUGHT. THE stranger was silent for some moments, then, drawing his old red cloak around him, he said : " Liberty ! Well, that is a great word ; but, unfortu nately, it is also one of those nobly-sounding terms which fill the ears only, never jonveying to the brain much more than a vague and doubtful meaning. What is liberty ? True, I ask you to answer a hard question ; but you have drawn it upon yourself, companion, by your anomalous and contradictory statement* " .82 WHAT THE iAtt IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. " How contradictory, sir ? " said his companion, losing his absent-mindedness, and looking earnestly at the stranger. " Why," replied the man in the red cloak, coolly, " nothing could well be more paradoxical than your views. You agree that there are classes here, and elsewhere, sepa rated by unreasonable distinctions, holding, as regards each other, unjust positions. You do not deny that we we, the common people are the mere hewers of wood and drawers of water for our masters, and, when I chance to say what ia perfectly reasonable and natural, namely, that we must hate and envy these dons, why. you answer, ' No, no ; envy and hatred are not the elements of progress, the forerunners of liberty.' I say, they rule us ! the wealthy gentlemen, the house of burgesses, the English parliament why not hate and envy, and, if necessary, match ourselves force for force against them, and see if we cannot achieve this noble end you speak of liberty ! " u Because force the blind force of envy and hatred, striking in the dark, and without thought is the mere movement of the brute, who closes his eyes, and tears, with out seeing, whatever comes beneath his paws. No, sir ! before we can overturn parliaments, and dictate laws, we must mould public opinion." " Public opinion ? What is that ? " " It is the great unseen power which governs the world." " Oh yes ; the opinion of kings and autocrats. Now I understand." " No, not of kings and autocrats of common men, the masses ! The calm, just judgment, formed in silence, and without prejudice, of those men and things which figure on the great stage of life. Not the mere impulses of envy and hatred, any more than the jealousy of rank, but the cool, deliberate weighing of events and personages in the scales of eternal justice." " Fine words. Well, then, you would not overthiow the present state of things ; or, perhaps, you are well content with the social organization of this colony. We must not hate, we must not envy all is for the best 1 " " No, sir, all is not for the best ; far from it." " It seems to me that we are wandering in our ideas, and liable to misunderstand each other. Let us see, now explain. WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAfc CAUGHT. 183 You are more or less dissatisfied with the present position of things ; but you like the gentry, the Established Church, you admire the traditions of feudalism, and revere his gra cious majesty King George. Eh? Come, let us know if you do not ? " " We must have misunderstood each other, indeed, sir. I would overthrow or, at least, materially change all that you have mentioned." " What, the gentry the church the king ? Treason ! ' " That cry does not daunt me, sir." " Beware ; I shall inform on you, and his majesty will send for you to come and visit his handsome residence, called the Tower." " Let me explain, briefly, what I mean, and meant," said his companion, too gloomy to relish these pleasantries of the stranger. " You have misunderstood me wholly you would say that I am an advocate of the present, with all its injus tice, its wrong, its oppression ; and, that, because I am not willing to go and turn out proprietors of great landed estates, at the point of the bayonet ; shatter those splendid mirrors, which reflect gold, and velvet, and embroidery, with a pistol's muzzle ; organize the lower class, with bludgeons, hay-forks, cleavers, knives, and scythes, against the gentlemen, who roll in coaches, and eat from gold and silver plate you would say, that, because these revolutionary proceedings, the off spring of envy and hatred, are not to my taste, I am an ad vocate of those oppressions, those bitter wrongs, inflicted on the commons by the gentry. No, sir ! I am not an advo cate of them; I know them too well. I have studied, as far as possible, with a calm mind, an unbiassed judgment, this vestige of feudalism which curses us, and I have found, every where, as in the old feudal system, wrong, oppres sion, a haughty and unchristian pride of rank, and birth, and wealth " " Good, good," said the stranger, no longer interrupting his companion. " An unjustifiable pride ! an unchristian arrogance, scorning charity, humility, all that Christ inculcated, as so much weakness ! " continued the thinker, in his noble and earnest voice ; " I find it here, as I find it in the history of England, of France, of Germany, of the whole feudal world ; !4 WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. among the gentry of to-day, as the nobles of the middle age ? Q-o back to that middle age see the great lord passing in his splendid armor, and surcoat of cloth of gold, on his glos sy charger, followed by his squires, his men-at-arms, while the battlements of his great castle ring with trumpets, greet ing his return : see the serf there in the shadow of the wall, with the ring around his neck, with his wooden shoes, his goatskin covering swarthy, with his shaggy beard, his brow covered with perspiration, as becomes the villein, his cere bral conformation, as he takes off his greasy cap to lout low to his master, like the head of the wolf, the jackall, the hyena. That serf is no longer a man he is a wild beast, with strong muscles and sinews like rope, who will fight well in the field, and be cut to pieces cheerfully, while his master reaps undying renown, covered by his proof armor of Milan yes, he will fight and toil, and go home and kiss his chil dren in their mud hovel but he is not a man : his lord is a man how can he be of the same race as that splendid and haughty chevalier, honored by kings and emperors for his deeds of chivalry, smiled on by fair ladies every where, like the noble dame who reigns in yonder castle with him. True, the serf has legs and arms, and his blood, strange to say, is much the color of the great seigneur's but they do not be long to the same race of animals. They both feel it are convinced of it. When my lord passes, see the back bent down ; the eyes abased, as in the presence of the God of Day the dog-like submission, when harsh words are uttered by the seigneur to his animal. The serf does not dream of there being any impropriety in all this it is a part of the order of things that he should be a wild beast, his lord a splendid, noble chevalier, glittering with stars, and clad in soft silk and velvet. He always submits : he is a part of the glebe, the stock like the horse, the hound, the hawk. Does the seigneur wish some amusement for his noble guests ? the boor comes, and with another of his class cudgels away in the court-yard, until he is covered with bruises, and falls or conquers : and the noble lords and ladies, glittering like stars in the balcony, throw largesse to the knaves, who lout humbly, and go down to their proper place the kitchen. " There is the past, sir ! look at it ! " WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. 185 The stranger nodded. fi You don't like feudalism," he said. " It makes me shudder, sir." " How ? why it's dead ! " " No : it is alive." " Alive, say you ? " " To this very day and hour." " What ? in full force ? " " No, sir not in full force : far from it. But in a de gree, at least, it exists." " Hum ! you are a metaphysician." " No, sir, I am practical." " You are a dreamer 1 " Waters sighed. " I thought you dreamed as I did," he said. " Perhaps I do who knows ? " Waters was silent. " Define your idea," said the stranger. " I understand you to say and we won't discuss the subject that this thing we call feudalism which has come in for so much abuse from you, still exists in a degree ? Come ! let us see how it looks in Virginia." " We have but the shadow thank God, the edifice has crumbled in part : but the flanking towers remain, and that shadow still lies like gloom upon the land. See how human thought is still warped and darkened by it how rank and unwholesome weeds possess the earth ! " " Hoot out these weeds, then begin ! Hurl down these towers which shut out the sunlight, your historical reading must have told you of the Jacquerie ! " " Yes, sir ! and I have seen -how that rising led to worse evils than before, for hatred was added to contempt. No, to attack this still vigorous remnant of feudalism, something besides hammers and pickaxes are necessary ; gunpowder, even, will not blow it into atoms 1 " " What, then ? " The winds of Heaven ! God will strike it ; he has thrown down the donjon keep, where captives gnashed their teeth and cursed and blasphemed in darkness ; he will alsc 86 WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. level with the ground what remains of the great blot upoi the landscape 1 " " Figures, figures 1 " said the stranger ; " come, let us have ideas 1 " " By the winds of Heaven the breath of God I mean those eternally progressive steps of mind, which go from doubt to certainty, from certainty to indignation, from indig nation to revolution ! " " Very well ; now we get on firm ground again. We meet and shake hands over that toast, ' Revolution ! ' " " Understand me ; revolution is not a slight thing. It levels many valuable things, as the hurricane and the tem pest of rain sweeps away much more than the accumulated rubbish. Revolution, sir, is the last thing of all the tor nado which clears the poisonous atmosphere, cannot be loosed every day or year, for the land is strewed with ruins by it. The slow steps of public opinion must be hastened, the soil prepared for the seed, the distance made plain, the body armed then, if it is necessary, the conflict." " Ah, you come back to your ideas upon education, sir ? " " Yes ; I would unfetter the mind." " Enlighten it ? " " Yes, sir ; I would teach the great mass of the people, that God made this world, not man ; that wrong and oppres sion is not the normal state of human things ; I would point out all th> falseness, I would point to the lash-marks on the back ; I would, if necessary, pour brine into those bleeding furrows ! " " Yes, and drive to madness to what you deprecate, mad violence 1 " " No 1 for minds would be enlightened, men would see and seeing, they would wait. I would have them know when to strike ; I would organize in their minds an oppo sition, quiet, stubborn, unbending, never-sleeping ; a confi dence in time, faith in the ultimate intervention of God using them as his instruments." " You generalize too much," said the stranger ; " let us come now to Virginia, at this day and hour. Let us see what are the great abuses. Speak 1 " " First, an established church, which dictates religious opinion forces itself upon all the community, armed with the terrors of the law-" WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLCAK CAUGHT. 187 " Yes, that is just ; and I promise you something will l*e said soon about the twopenny-act. Well, the church I What else ? " " The offspring of that feudalism I have spoken of aristocracy I " " Yes, ' power of the best ; ' that is, the wealthiest. What next ? " " Laws, without representation ! " said his companion, compressing in these short words the great popular griev ance of the age. " Ah ! " said the stranger, with a grim smile, " there is something in that, too. What more ? " " What more ? Is it not enough, sir, for the Established Church to wring from you, whether you conform or not, support for its ministers to stuff itself and its tenets down your throat ? is it not bad enough for the house of bur gesses to legislate for the great landed proprietors alone, who form the body, ignoring the very existence of the com mon man, who has no vote ? is any thing more needed to make us slaves, than laws passed in the English parliament, crushing our trade, our very lives, without representatives of us there in council ? " " I confess that seems to me quite enough," said the stranger ; " and this great, oppressive, intolerant church this haughty arrogance of rank lastly, that English law lessness, seem to me to constitute a case of mortification gangrene to be burnt out by the hot iron of revolution ! " " No ! it has not gone far enough yet ; let us advance step by step. At present we contemplate that great, intole rant, bigoted establishment with respect and awe ; we bow to the grand chariot, doffing our caps ; we search in our minds for what will justify that oppression of Parliament J we are not convinced that this great triple wrong is a wrong. We doubt ; let us scan the matter calmly dispassionately investigate the nature of things ; let us educate our minds, we common people, and with the calm, unobscured eyes of truth, test the error. We will not say to the parsons, ' Off with you, you are the vermin of a rotten system, you shall not tyrannize over us 1 ' No, let us, with the Bible in our hands, and God in our hearts, say, ' We come to try you, we coma to know whether you are false and bigoted, or true au4 188 WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. " Yes," said the stranger, " and those worthy gentle men, who procured benefices by marrying the cast-off mis tresses of lords, will, with one voice, for about the space pf two hours, cry, ' Great is Diana of the Ephesians 1 W are holy, pure, and immaculate ! ' What, then ? " " Reason ! the light of education still ! flooding the whole system, lighting up every hidden crypt ! " " Good ! And you would apply these fine ideas to the aristocracy, too ?" " Yes. I would have men scan that system also ; not strike it blindly ; I would have them come with the law of nature in their hands, the evangel of truth and justice, and say, ' Show us what you are. Show us if you are really our natural and rightful superiors. Show us whether those titles you derive from kings, are like the authority of those kings, derived, as they say, from God, and so, just and right. Show us if you are really superior beings, because you de scend from the knights of the middle age we inferior to you, your born slaves, because we draw our blood from the serf who tilled the glebe below your grandsire's castle walls. Show us if this mysterious sentiment of awe we feel in your presence, is direct from the Deity, planted thus in us to make us keep our places ; or, whether it is the mere tradition of the past, the echo of injustice, the shadow of that monstrous oppression of the dark ages, yet lying on our souls ? " " Very well and what then ? " said the stranger. " Why, these worthy gentlemen would reply, ; Friends, the distinction of classes is absolutely necessary; some must rule, others obey ; some wear fustian, others velvet ; some must ride in coaches, and eat from gold plate, others jog along in the dust of the highway, eat their brown bread and swill their muddy ale. Order is heaven's first law. Come, now, and listen to this splendid passage from Shakspeare, about degrees in a state ; it is there, in that volume with a gilt back iu the gothic book-case don't muddy the carpet with your dirty brogues, or stumble over that damask chair in reaching it. Very welL Now, listen ! Can any thing be more just than these views ? Some must be great, others small ; one must vote, another be denied that privilege. We are gentlemen, you commouors. Can any thing be plainer, WHAT THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK CAUGHT. 189 than that we should have the offices and honors, live easily, and sustain our proper rank, while you till the glehe, and leave your interests in our hands ? ' That is what they would say what then ? " " Reason, again 1 " said his companion ; " reason, turning away from the dazzling pageant, stopping the ears to shut out the rumbling of the coach and six, forgetting the past and questioning that great evangel of right open in their hands reason, which should weigh and test, and try the whole system by the rules of a stern, inexorable logic." " I admire your logic ! and you think that it would ap ply to English legislation on Virginia matters ? " " Yes ; I would remonstrate, petition, debate with Par liament; I would exhaust every means of testing and over throwing this cruel and bitter wrong ; I would ask for light ask nothing but that right should be made manifest I would go to the foot of the throne, and say, ( Justice, justice, nothing but justice, as a British subject as one laboring under wrong 1 ' " The stranger's lip curled. " Well, your system is now tolerably plain," he said. " You would go and ask the parsons to tell you if they are in truth, pure and immaculate you would ask the gentry if they really are the distinguished gentlemen they pretend to be you would fall at the feet of King George, and sue for leave to argue the matter of taxation with his gracious Ma jesty ! Very well. Now, suppose it is a very extrava gant supposition, I know, and springs, no doubt, from my irreverent, incredulous, and obstinate prejudices suppose, I say, that the worthy parsons thus adjured, as to their purity, were to tell you that they were the salt of the earth, and that your question was an impertinence ; suppose if you can suppose such an incredible thing that the wealthy gentle man tells you that he is your born lord, and that he will commit you in his quality of justice of the peace, for misde meanor, should you intrude upon him again with your wretched folly ; suppose his gracious Majesty were to re move your humble petition with his royal foot, bidding you begone, and learn that when money was wanted to sup port his splendor, you were to sweat and pay it, and be silent on pain of being whipped in by armed soldiers ; sup- 190 IN WHICH BEATRICE A.ETURN8. pose these disagreeable incidents greeted your philanthrope exertions what then ? " " Then, revolution ! revolution, if that revolution waded in blood ! " cried his companion, carried away by his fiery thoughts, and losing all his calmness and self-control ; " revo lution, with God for our judge ! history for our vindication If, after all their sufferings, all their wrongs, all the injusticft of long years, of centuries, the prayers of humanity were thus answered revolution ! A conflict, bitter, desperate, unyielding, to the death ! A conflict which should root out these foul and monstrous wrongs, or exterminate us ! A revolution, which should attack and overwhelm for ever, or be itself overwhelmed ! That is the hurricane I spoke of, sir 1 If God decrees it, let it come 1 " CHAPTER XXXIV. IN WHICH BEATRICE RETURNS. WITH head erect, brows flushed, eyes clear and fiery, lips still agitated by the tumult of thought, the speaker was silent. His eyes then turned toward the stranger. A singular alteration seemed to have taken place in his features, and the expression of grandeur and majesty which illuminated the rugged features, usually so cold, was start ling. The stranger's expression was so noble, his eye so bright and proud, his whole manner so completely changed, that his companion found himself gazing at him with an astonish ment which he could not suppress. " Pardon me, sir," said the man in the red cloak, in a voice of noble courtesy, strongly in contrast with his habitual roughness ; " pardon me for the manner in which I have seemed to sift your opinions, and provoke a collision of your ideas with my own, in this and our former interviews. It ia one of the bad habits which I acquired in a country store, and I find myself now its slave since the temptation to open and study that grand volume, human nature, wherever I find it, has become irresistible. In your case, I have been IN WHICH BEATRICE RETURNS. 191 instructed and interested ; and though I say with a frank ness which you may consider rude, that I have thought most of your thoughts before still, sir, permit me to return you my thanks for an honor and a pleasure." The haughtiest nobleman in the world would not have found in these words, uttered by the coarsely-clad stranger on the rude tavern porch, to a man of the people like him self, any thing to cater to his laughter or amusement ; for the man in the red cloak seemed no longer to be coarsely dressed ; his pronunciation no longer appeared vicious and incorrect ; the very porch of the tavern seemed to be trans formed by his magical voice and look into a palace portico. " In all your views I concur," continued the stranger, " and your ideas are mine. God himself placed us in the condition we both find ourselves in, that mind might speak to mind, freely, sympathetically, with that frankness and plainness from which Truth springs, armed, ready for the conflict." " Yes, sir," continued the stranger, with that high and proud look which his companion had observed once in a former interview. " Yes, sir! this Virginia of 1763 is in an unhappy state ! Social organization to-day, with the in fluences that environ it, is one of those phenomena which occur but once in a century. On all sides murmurs, mut- terings as of an approaching storm ! Men doubtful of the ground they walk on new ideas dazzling them old institu tions crumbling the hand upon the wall tracing, in fiery letters, the mysterious future that future crammed with storms groaning like a womb which holds the destiny of humanity ! The heavens are dark, the ways we tread devious and full of hidden snares. England, our tender mother, might say, who planted them ? For England, from whose loins we sprung, has cursed us ! like a stepmother, she has struck, with a bitter and remorseless hatred, those who would be her children 1 She cursed us with this race of Africans who are eating us up and ruining us, and some day, in the blind convulsions of her rage, she will taunt us bitterly for asking what we do not grant ourselves for de manding freedom, when our arms are holding down a race human as ourselves ! Let her gnash her teeth in impotent and irrational complaint ! let her complain, we will not ; 192 a* WHICH BEATRICE RETURNS. for God decreed that she herself, black with crime and in justice, should be the means of bringing hither this race, that in the future Christianity should dawn on that vast con tinent of Africa that land where the very air seems tainted with paganism where the very palms which wave their long plumes on the ocean breeze seem celebrating some horrible rite ! No ; this is not the head and front of the accusation which, in the name of justice and humanity, we bring against England. She has thrust upon us her despotic regulations. She has contracted suffrage. She has given to Lord Cul- peper the whole territory from the mouth of the Rappa- hannock to the sources of the Potomac enthroned him a prince and king over us ! She has crushed our commerce by navigation laws which are so odious and unrighteous that jhe very instruments of her tyranny shrink from enforcing them ! With a blind, remorseless hatred a policy destitute of reason as it is foul with injustice and wrong she has bound on this poor laboring brute, Virginia, burdens which crush her, under which she staggers, groaning, and tearing herself with rage, terror, and despair ! She has made for herself a gospel whose commandments are ' Thou shalt steal ' ' Thou shalt bear false witness against thy neigh bor' 'Thou sbalt have no other god but George II I.' She has gone on from wrong to wrong, from injustice to injustice, until like those unhappy creatures whom the gods intend to strike, she has grown mad, lost her brain, her reason, braced herself to rush upon an obstacle which will hurl her back, as a wave of the ocean is hurled back from the cliff of eternal stone ! Yes, sir, that empire rushes upon what will tame her 1 Already she speaks of an act decreeing that a stamp shall be placed upon every instrument written or printed of human affairs. Journals, deeds, conveyances pleadings in law, bills of lading on the marriage contract, and the bill for the headstone nothing to be operative without that stamp ! Well, sir, that act will make the cup filled with the bittor and poisonous draught run over that law will make the infuriated animal, thrown on her knees, rise up, and then, sir, God alone knows where things will end 1 You wish to wait and let the old world pass away by virtue of its in herent decay, its immemorial rottenness you would have the crumbling monument of wrong fall slowly, stone by tN WHICH BEATRICE RETURNS. 193 tone, as the winds and rain descend upon it year after year ! Such will not be the event, sir ! The tornado you spoke of will bring down that godless monument, at one blow, with a crash that will startle nations ! And do not think that this is not as legitimately God's act as the slow ruin you advocate. That Great Being unlooses the hurricane of re volution as easily as he sends the zephyr to cool the cheek, each in its place ! the hurricane here ! You may even now scent the odor of the storm ! " And the stranger rose with such grandeur in his visage, such majesty in his attitude, such a clear fire in his proud eyes, which seemed to plunge into the mysterious future, and see with the vision of a prophet all which that future was to bring, that his companion felt himself overwhelmed, he knew not how, carried away in spite of himself. " It is coming ! " continued he, with indescribable gran deur in voice and countenance and attitude ; " the storm which will topple down the edifice of fraud and lies, which has so long shamed the sunlight ! in that storm old things shall pass away, and behold ! all things shall become new. The old world is decayed, she totters on the brink of the abyss pre pared for her : she rushes on, blindly, full of curses, and hatred the gulf yawns let her foot trip, she is swallowed up for ever ! " And the brilliant eye seemed to grow brighter still, the voice became more clear and strong. The rude visage of the speaker glowed as if the light of a great conflagration stream ed upon it. His stature seemed almost to grow before his companion's eyes, and become gigantic, his two hands to be filled with thunderbolts ! " Yes, sir ! yes ! " he exclaimed, " the storm comes ! the tocsin of a revolution is already being sounded ! Ere long the clash of arms will fall upon our ears, the sound of firearms and the roar of cannon. War and storm, tempest and hurricane, are waiting, like hounds held back by the leash, to burst upon this land. Let it come ! let the storm roar, the lightning flash, the waves roll mountain high God still directs that storm, and will fight for us ! Let the bloody dogs of war be loosed, let them dye their sharp fangs in blood, they shall not daunt u\ I repeat it, sir, let it come ! 9 194 HOW BEATRICE PRAYED FOR STRENGTH I, for one, will grapple with the monster, and strangle or b strangled by him I Liberty or death 1 " And the man in the red cloak, with a gesture of over whelming grandeur, stood silent, motionless, his eyes on fire, his hands clenched as though the struggle depicted by his brilliant and fiery imagination were about to begin. Charles Waters, carried away by his tremendous passion could make no reply, and they both remained silent. The stranger wiped his brow, and drew his cloak around him : then gazing on his companion with an expression of nobility and pride, which glowed in his eyes and filled them with light, said : " And now, sir, we must part. I go hence to day, hav ing yesterday been retained in an important cause in Hano ver county, Drought by the Reverend Mr. Maury against the collector. I am for the defendant, and must prepare myself for a hard struggle. Permit me again to thank you, sir, for many hours of your company. I repeat, that you have done me a pleasure, and an honor : for I find in you a mind clear and strong, competent to test, to sift, to grasp, to wield those new ideas which will change the world. Do not dream that we will pass through the years, directly fol lowing this, without convulsions and a conflict, such as the world has never seen. Prepare yourself, put on your armor, get ready ! For my part, I ask in that inevitable conflict, no better companion. These are no idle words, sir. I shall call upon you, and am well convinced, that my call will not be in vain ! " And bowing with lofty courtesy, the stranger entered the tavern. At the same moment the footfall of a horse at tracted the attention of Charles Waters, and looking up, he saw Beatrice Hallam, who had stopped before the inu, mounted as usual on her tall white horse. CHAPTER XXXV. HOW BEATRICE PEATED FOR STRENGTH TO RESIST HERSELF. HE rose and went toward the young girl, walking as in * dream. Those magical accents of the stranger's voice were TO RESIST HERSELF. 195 gtill ringing in his ears he almost thought he heard the roar of thunder, and the crashing of the sea the air almost seemed alive with lightning flashes. For thunder, lightning, and a stormy ocean, seemed to be the elements of that grand, fiery oratory. But he soon found this preoccupation put to rout by something more powerful than the grandest eloquence, the most overpowering oratory a young girl's eyes. Slowly, his great thoughts fled away from his mind the fate of Vir ginia was forgotten mind beat an ignominious retreat, and the heart knew of but one object in the universe, a fresh, bright face that smiled upon him, a mild, tender pair of eyes, that filled with happy light when they fell upon him. He assisted the young girl to the ground quietly : neither spoke, but their eyes were more eloquent than any words could have been. On their last meeting, Beatrice had has tened forward, exclaiming, " I am very glad to see you ! " and now, when day after day, and night after night, she had thought of him with inexpressible tenderness, and come to feel, indeed, that her life was illuminated by a new, unim- agined glory now she did not assure him that she was glad to see him. The human heart in 1 763 was much the same as at present, the reader will perceive. So without speaking, she passed in and he followed her, with no need of invitation in words : her eyes said all and they entered the little apartment which had witnessed so many memorable scenes. Then for the first time Beatrice taking off her little hat, and throwing back her beautifu. hair, which had become loose, said : "Oh, you have been away so long ! You promised to come often I " How could he resist that earnest tender voice how feel any more sorrow or disquiet how prevent his heart from beating more rapidly, as these soft words sank into it. " Indeed, I have not kept my promise," he said, with that gentleness and softness, which at times characterized his voice, " but fate has seemed to decree that we should not meet." " That was very naughty in fate ! " said Beatrice, with a winning little smile, " because we are good friends, yoi knaw." 16 HOW BEATRICE PRAYED FOR STRENGTH And the soft voice trembled with its depth of meaning. " Indeed, I can answer for myself," he said, sitting down. " And I do not think I need say any thing for my part," answered Beatrice; "you saved my life." And again, the tender eyes dwelt <or a moment on his face, and were cast down. " You have not forgotten that yet ? " " No how could I ? " " Well, well, pray do not speak of it again. Has you! wetting caused you any inconvenience ? I hope not." " Only a little cough but I have not coughed a bit to day." With which, as if to improve the portion still remaining, the young girl began to cough, but with no violence. " You see I began just because I boasted," she said, smiling. " Is Mr. Waters well ? " " Yes, very well." " He was very kind to me," said Beatrice, gratefully , " please give him my best love." And, without being conscious of any reason for it, she blushed, and turned away. It is probable that something similar to what was passing in her mind, passed in the heart of her companion also, for his countenance brightened, and grew very tender. " My father sent you his best regards," he said, " and I came for the purpose of bringing them. I must confess, however, that I was somewhat selfish " Selfish ? " " Yes ; since I promised myself the pleasure of seeing you." " Oh," said Beatrice, " please, don't let us make any polite speeches to each other." " But, indeed, that is not mere courtesy ; it is the truth," he replied. " I had such a quiet, friendly talk, when I was here before, that I wished to keep my promise, to visit you every day." He had paused slightly before the word " friendly," and, conscious of the reason, avoided the frank, tender eyes. " Why did you stay away so long, then ? " she said ; " in- deed, I kav longed to see yu." TO RESIST HERSELF. 19? These words were uttered with great simplicity, and with that childlike frankness, which was one of the young girl's most striking traits of character. One would have said that she was so innocent and truthful, that she could not school herself with forms ; and such, indeed, was the case. Beatrice was no longer the actress, in his society ; she was the young, girlish being we have seen shouting after the sea gulls, and said, " Indeed, I have longed to see you," without a thought of any impropriety. " Fate would not let me come, as I said," he replied, smiling ; " but, now I have conquered destiny, and bring you, not only my father's regards, and my own good wishes, but a trinket, which, I fancy, must belong to you. The ini tials upon it must be those of your mother." Beatrice rose quickly, and ran up to him. " Oh, have you got it ? " she cried. He smiled, and taking from his pocket a small locket of gold, attached to a narrow blue ribbon, handed it to her. Beatrice took it quickly, and with an eagerness which be trayed the importance she attached to it. "Oh, I am so glad!" she said; "I am so glad you found it ! " " It is yours, then ? " " Yes, yes ! " " You must have dropped it, on the day of your saiL" " Yes, I must have." " It was picked up, upon the river's bank, by my father, and, from the letters B. W. upon it, he fancied that it be longed to you." " Yes, yes ; I have worn it a long time, and I believe it was my mother's. But I don't know," added the young girl, with some sadness ; " I never saw my mother, I believe," " Did your father give you the locket ? " " No, I believe not. I do not remember. I think I wore it around my neck when I was a little child ; at least I have worn it as long as I could remember." " I am glad to have been able to restore it ; though the merit really belongs to my father. ' " Please say I thank him very much," said Beatrice ; K indeed, it is very dear to me. I had been to look for H," "What! this morning?" i8 HOW BEATRICE PRAYED *OR STRENGTH " Oh, yes ; you know I am a great rider. So I thought I would just put on my skirt, and go to the river, where Mr. Townes lives you know it was his boat we sailed in and ask him if I had dropped it there, or in the boat." " You had, then, been to the river ? " " Yes, indeed ; and I had a delightful ride. Mr. Townea was very kind to me," she said, laughing, like a child, " and was good enough to praise my cheeks, and bless my eyes and, I think he said he would drag the river, or something for my locket. Oh, he praised you so ! " " Townes is an excellent and worthy man, and loves my father and myself very much, I believe." " I will like him more than ever, hereafter ; for you are my friends, you know," said Beatrice, with the most charming simplicity ; " indeed, I like him very much already, for his kindness to me on the day we sailed." " He really saved you," said her companion. " No, no 1 " cried Beatrice ; " indeed I owe my life to you." He shook his head. " I was very strong once," he said, " but have been of late devoured by a thirst for study I was nearly exhausted when Townes came. But let us dismiss the subject. I am very glad your locket is safe." And he gazed, with a look of great softness, upon her bright face. " Yes, indeed, I value it highly," said Beatrice ; " see how prettily 'tis chased." He took and examined it. " Here are the letters I observed," he said ; " but they are nearly worn away. Still, as you see, they are distinct. There they are ' B. W.' The B. stands for for your first name, I suppose." " My mother's name was Beatrice, I imagine. Strange," the young girl added, half to herself, " that father has never talked to me about mother." And she sighed, and looked very thoughtful. He sat gazing on the tender, gentle face, the veiled eyes, and girlish lips ; thinking he had never seen any one more beautiful never, among those fair maidens who passed in their Chariots like lovely princesses, enveloped in clouds of fO RESIST HERSELF. l&j rith bright diamond-like eyes, and snowy hands nung out against the cushion of the door. The features of Beatrice were always striking for their purity and elegance, but the eloquent expression was the great charm of her face. " I suppose it was my mother's," she added, " but I do not know what the ' W.' stands for. I'll ask father." " Would it not be singular if it stood for Waters ? " he said, smiling. She started. " Waters ! Oh ! how singular ! " " Beatrice Waters ? " he added. She did not reply. " How strange ! " she said, at length, buried in thought ; " it is very strange ! " " What ? " he said. " The coincidence Beatrice Waters," she added, after a pause. And her soft eyes met those of her companion, who look ed at her with so much unconscious meaning, that she turned away, blushing. " I am afraid we are not related," he said. " I fear not," she murmured. " Even if your mother's maiden name had been the same with my own, it would not follow that we were connected. There are many persons named Waters." " Yes I do not think, however, that the { W.' stands for that." " What then ? " " I do not know." " It might." " Yes," she said, with the same thoughtful look, " but I had a brother who died he did not live with us somewhere abroad -I never knew him but his name was Wesley. I suppose that was my mother's name." " Oh, you are determined that I shall not have the satisfaction of being your kinsman." The tender face clouded. " Would that be a satisfaction ? " she said, softly. " Ah, yes 1 " he muttered. " I am an actress," said Beatrice, softly, and in a low tone, casting down her eyes as she spoke, " I had forgofr ten it." 200 HOW BEATRICE PRATED FOR STRENGTH And a moisture which she could not drive back made her eyes swim, and gathered on the long dusky lashes. Those swimming eyes went straight to his heart, an irnpressiblo gush of tenderness made his brow flush, and taking the little hand, he pressed it between his own, with a tenderness which made Beatrice burst into tears : for his meaning could not be misunderstood. " Oh 1 " she sobbed, turning away and hiding her face with the other hand, " you are so good and noble ! I felt it when you left me before, and more than ever now ! It is so good in you to treat a poor young girl like me so kindly! a poor actress, that other people took upon with contempt ! Oh 1 how can I ever thank you 1 I can only only bless you ! and never forget you ! Oh I never never will forget how kind you were ! " And bending lower still, the young girl sobbed and sighed ; and then gently drawing away her hand, took from her pocket a handkerchief, with which she attempted to dry her eyes from which a flood of tears were gushing. That last word which she had uttered had jarred upon his heart strangely. " How kind you were ! " Then she was soon to leave him they were to be separated this brief glimpse of happiness and joy was to disappear like a sift of blue be tween driving thunder clouds 1 "I will never forget how kind you were I " Then, she would be lost to him ! she would pass on like a bird of the tropics, brilliant and beautiful, attracting all eyes and hearts, but sailing far away to other skies 1 He would see her no more ! Her pure, tender face would never smile on him again ! those large melting eyes would no more flood his heart with unspeakable happiness that voice of marvellous sweetness and earnest ness, so full of joy and softness and music, would no longer greet him those small hands would no longer press his own, sending the warm blood to his heart, and filling his soul, his being, with a delicious tranquility, a pure delight ! This enchanting form now before him, would, before many days at most a few months had elapsed, be to him but a memory, a picture for the eyes of the heart ! She would leave him 1 that one thought gathered into a burning focus all the scattered rays of tenderness in his heart, and that heart now throbbed passionately. We have said that Charlei Waters was a man of strong TO RESIST HERSELT. 20. passions, spite of his ordinary quietness a quietness whicb eprung from self-control. Under that mild exterior he con cealed a heart of powerful impulses, and he proved it on this occasion. Unable to bear the thoughts which the young girl'f unconscious allusion to her departure had aroused, he yielded, giving himself up unresistingly to the flood of emotion. " Oh 1 " he cried, seizing the young girl's hand and cov ering it with passionate kisses ; " Oh, Beatrice 1 you wound me to the heart ! do not speak thus to me again! I cannot bear it ! No, you are not a mere actress no ! you are the pearl of purity and honor 1 Never wound me again with such words, for they pierce my heart! But you will have no occasion, perhaps, you are going to leave us ! to leave me ! No ! I cannot endure the thought ! for I love you passion ately, devotedly ! I love you with my heart and soul, and would ask no greater satisfaction than to pour out my blood for you. You think I am cold because my face is calm : undeceive yourself : few men have so much fire in them such a danger ous and fatal temperament when aroused. No, I am not cold, and I love you, Beatrice, with a love which has grown and increased in a short time to the height of a violent passion. Oh, no ! you shall not go you must be my wife you must love me at last, because I almost worship you ! " No words can describe the brilliant expression which flushed the young girl's face, then left it pale. That flush was the evidence of an emotion of unspeakable happiness. The pallor was from the thought which darted through her brain like lightning. She saw all the future spread out be fore her like a sunny landscape, all the happiness within her grasp ; she felt his arm approach her and drew back with a start, a cry. Her face was bathed in tears : her eyes swam ; her lips trembled ; all the nerves of the weak woman's form rebelled and shook but the great heart remained. " No," she said, with a passionate sob, which seemed to tear its way from her heart " No 1 no ! I cannot . . . ! It breaks my heart to say it God pity me ! but no, no, I can not 1 Oh, God will accept this agony I am suffering as an expiation ILr all sin I have committed ! no no ! do not tempt me ! my heart failed me for a moment, but is now strong yet do not tempt me I " 202 HOW BEATRICE PRAYED FOR STRENGTH And she covered her face, over which her hair fell and sobbed as if indeed her heert were about to break ; scarce ly hearing his entreaties, his prayers, his passionate assur ances of love. " I cannot be your wife," she said, at length, with more calmness ; " God has not permitted me to be, and I submit ! I am an actress, do not interrupt me ! for I have scarcely strength now to think or speak. I am a poor playing girl, with nothing in the wide world but my self-respect ! I will not make your father blush for an unworthy daughter ! Oh let me go on ! I cannot take advantage of your noble devo tion I cannot weigh down and darken your life for pity's sake, do not look at me so ! do not ! I cannot oh, no ! I cannot ! God has no pity on me it is not my fault that I am such as I am but I must suffer Oh ! it is a bitter suf fering 1" She stopped for a moment, choked by her sobs ; then went on : " Your eye flashes ! and I know well what you mean. Yes, you are noble and courageous you would trample on this unjust prejudice love me more for that ; I know it, it is the bitterest of all but " " Oh, I would die for you ! give my life, oh, how wil lingly, for ah ! let them dare ! " And his eye flashed, his breast heaved tumultuously. " Why do you speak of that ! Beatrice, I love you love you so devotedly, so passionately, that I could ask no greater happiness than to dare the world's scorn for you go down to death with you 1 But there is no scorn 1 What is there in our positions I am poor and obscure, you are the admiration of all ! They shall not deprive me of you ! No, no ! I cannot exist without you now you are my soul, my life, my blood, my heart ! I die without you 1 " The young girl felt her heart yielding her brain swam overcome, exhausted, faint, she sobbed, and shook, and struggled with her rebellious heart. He saw the hesitation. " Oh, be my own, Beatrice ! " he cried, overwhelming her hand with kisses ; " be my wife ! the sunlight of my exist- tence ! make my life happy come, my Beatrice, my beau tiful, noble girl 1 " And opening his arms, be would have clasped her to his TO RESIST HERSELF. 208 heart. Overcome, powerless, another moment and his arm would have encircled her, her head lain on his bosom ; but suddenly her hand fell on the locket, and she started back with a cry, and burst into an agony of tears. " Oh, mother ! give me strength, if you look down on me from heaven ! " she cried, ' give me strength against myself, against my own heart ! Oh, I am so weak ! I know what is right, and am tempted to do wrong ! Mother ! mother ! give me strength ! Oh," she continued, looking at him and sob bing violently, " do not tempt me longer ! Do not make me yield, and suffer remorse for ever while I live for this mo ment's weakness ! I cannot be your wife ! You tempt me in vain. I am broken-hearted, but you cannot move me now ! I am weak exhausted but God has heard me ! I have conquered myself! " And falling into a chair, she fainted. Ten minutes after wards she was stretched weak and exhausted on her couch, and Charles Waters was hurrying with a pale brow from the town. Yes, she had conquered herself! she had drawn back from those arms opened wide to receive her, clasp her like a poor dove beaten by storms to the true breast her refuge She had evercome that passionate yearning to fall upon his bosom, and given up to love and tenderness weep away all her unhappiness in those strong arms ; she had closed her eyes to that seducing picture of such calm and lifelong happiness as his wife she had resolutely bidden her heart lie still she had by a sublime effort of devotion drawn back from that tranquil future to be passed with him ; but she was firm. Yes, the weak body had succumbed, the nerves given way her strength had failed her, but not her soul. The struggle, however, was not over. Stretched upon the little couch to which he had carried her in his arms, the conflict was renewed with her returning strength. Oh, bow unhappy she was ! What a poor, lonely, wretched thing she was ! How heaven had cursed her when it made her destiny so miserable ! How terrible that trial ! on one side love, with open arms and smiling lips, and eyes full of tenderness, saying to her, " Come, weary heart 1 come, poor unhappy child ! here is a future of full, quiet happiness, a nature which your heart yearns for both are yours come 1 " and, 204 EFFINGHAM HALL '. SLUMBERS. on the other side, stern, inexorable duty, saying, with a frown, " Come away ! preserve your self-respect close your eyes to this. Self-respect is all you have, retain your trea sure ! " Was it not bitter, she sobbed, was it not too much agony for one poor heart ! and for a moment heaven seemed black to her truth a mere lie her moral sense was being deadened. Suddenly her bare arm struck against something on the couch ; she looked at this object and saw that it was a small Bible. She opened it and read on the fly leaf " Catherine Effingham, from dear papa" and would have closed it again, but her good angel held her hand. " The child dropped it when she sat here, doubtless," she murmured, faintly. And her eyes fell upon the open page, where she read, through tears : " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. " Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me : for I am meek and lowly of heart : and ye shall find rest unto your souls. " For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." As she closed the book, her eyes expanded with wonder and solemn thought ; her brow was overshadowed, then bright ; then all this passed, and clasping the volume to her bosom, she sobbed, and prayed, and slowly grew more calm. A voice had spoken to her which she had not heard before. CHAPTER XXXVI. EFFINGHAM HALL SLUMBERS. WHILE these events were occurring at Williamsburg theeo rarious and conflicting passions, writhing, bubbling, boiling, and exploding while the town began to thrill, and buzz, and rouse itself, and make preparation for the meeting of the burgesses, and the great opening day all this while pro found quiet reigned at Effingham Hall. Embowered in its lofty oaks, which only sighed and rustled mournfully in the EFFINGHAM HALL: SLUMBERS. 205 sad autumn days, it seemed to sleep, looking, with its sunset illumined windows, like great eyes, on the broad woodlands and champaign, and the far river flowing solemnly to the great ocean. One might have fancied, without any violent effort of the imagination, that the great manor-house was a living thing, which mourned for something which had happened not long since. The casements rattled gloomily in the chill au tumn evening, and the mourning winds, scattering the varie gated leaves, sighed round the gables like an invisible host of mourners, then died away with sobs in the dim forest. The sun came up, but did not shine with cheerfulness and warmth something seemed to have dimmed his light, and the rainy mist drooped long above the fields before his struggling beams could pierce and overthrow it. He went down in a pomp of golden clouds, indeed : but even they looked sad for it was like a great monarch dying on his purple couch of state, and taking with him to the far undis covered land beyond the immense horizon, all that blessed and cheered the hearts of nations. In the long nights, the breezes of the ocean sighed, and sobbed, and murmured to each other round the antique chimneys, and a sombre desola tion, uncheered by any light but the great struggling blood- red moon's, appeared to brood over the broad domain of Effingham and the thoughtful, silent Hall. Within, there was scarcely more cheerfulness than with out. The. servants moved about with quiet steps and sub dued voices ; for they felt that the echoes should not be aroused. The cloud on their master's brow awed them, and instinctively they spoke in whispers, and tipped in and out , and when a silver cup or salver chanced to fall, they started and held their breath, and looked round fearfully. Little was said by any member of the household ; days, it seemed, passed sometimes without a word being uttered by any one. That gloom upon the old squire's brow repelled any advances silenced any attempts at social intercourse. The meals passed in silence, with their array of almost motionless black servants, standing behind the chairs, and moving noiselessly in obedience to signs. All countenances were clouded, and, when the old gentleman had swallowed his chocolate, or eaten something with an obvious effort, he passsed in silence to the library, and was seen no more for hours. 206 EFF1NGHAM HALL: SLUAlBKltb. Miss Alethea had grown unusually good-tempered , she did not scold, or rate the servants, or fill the house with clatter in her housekeeping, as her wont had been : she looked sad, and spoke little passing her time in assiduous sewing on household articles a dress for Kate, or else a frill for Willie, or maybe a neckcloth for her father. Orange was no longer in high favor, and would come and wag his tail, and look up wistfully, and whine, and then, finding that no notice was taken of him, would go and lie down on the rug, and, resting his chin upon his paws, gaze into tho singing fire, hour after hour, in silence. Willie was, ho knew not why, in low spirits ; he often thought of Champ, now, and regretted all those hasty words he had uttered lately. His whip no longer waked the echoes of the old portrait-decorated hall ; his halloos to the fox-hounds drag ging their heavy blocks and baying hoarsely, were never heard now startling the silent lawn ; the gallop of his poney never sounded on the gravelled road winding through the rich grounds up to the door. Little Kate had not had a ride behind him now for weeks Willie had lost his relish for the amusement, and for all else, it seemed he vent slowly singing about the house, in a low, melancholy tone, and seemed to be looking for something which he could not find. And what of little Kate ? She was, perhaps, the s?.d- dest of them all. Her tender, sensitive heart had received a wound from that which had occasioned all this gloom in them. She loved him so dearly ! as she had said, with her simple, childish truth they had been so happy all those days and years before and since his return ! How could she mi^s his presence and not grieve ? They had such quiet, smiling talks together in the evenings, when stretched upon the sofa with his head upon her lap she had sung for him her little songs " The Flowers of the Forest," " Birks of Invermay/' or " Roslin Castle," in the clear sunny voice, instinct with so much marvellous sweetness, he had said, one day. They had walked together, hand in hand, far into the deep woods, aiid he had never complained of the pebbles hurting his feet through the frail Spanish leather slippers, as he had done in her hearing to grown ladies; they had looked upon the Betting sun from the hi^gh hill westward from the Hall ari EPFINGHAM HALL: SLUMBERS. 207 then, turning round, seen the tall windows all in flame : he had taken such good care upon those rides that she should sit easily, and pressed the little hand clasped round his waist with such smiling goodness. She remembered so well his voice, and looks, and smiles other people said they were affected or sarcastic smiles, but they were very bright when they shone on her ; and now, when she no longer saw them, she missed their light, and sat down in her little corner, and wetted the silk of which Carlos was composed with silent tears. After one of these quiet, uncomplaining cries, she felt that she must see him, and she did, as we know, at the Raleigh. She came back from that interview with a greater weight than ever on her heart. She could not understand those gloomy words he uttered, but she heard him say, they could not meet again, and that he could not go back with her and all the way back to the Hall, the child sobbed and shook, and hid her face, making no reply to Miss Alethea's questions. What could have changed him so at the tavern so suddenly 1 She knew she had half persuaded him when he left her and then the child shrunk and trembled, think ing of those scenes which followed. She sat down in her corner again, and mourned, and cried, and went on with her work, or said her lessons, with a dumb sorrow, which it was a cruel sight to see; at night, though, she was calmer having read her Bible and prayed for him. One day the parson came to see his parishioner and con dole with him. He performed this parish duty by endeavor ing to prove that the prodigal was not worthy to be his father's son, and that his " conduct " could not in any manner affect the squire : he wound up with a reiteration of his argument proving the young man's unworthiness, and then, to his hor ror, saw the squire rise, and flush to his brows with passion. High words followed Champ should not be abused in his father's house, the squire said, by any person in Christen dom ! This was all the thanks he got, the parson said, with indignation : and proceeding thus from irritation on both sides, to rage, the interview had ended, as the pardon had rela ted to the stranger, Kate to her cousin. Parson Tag had drank his last glass of port at the Hall, and before many days had accepted a call from the Piedmont region, and so shaken the dust of the parish from his feet for ever. 208 WILLIAMSBURG : EXCESSIVE WAKEFULNES8. Visitors talked about the weather, when they came to the Hall, and of the crops, the news from England, the ap proaching speech of his excellency, Governor Fauquier, at the opening of the House of Burgesses, and indeed of every thing but that one subject. Mr. Effingham's doings were, indeed, the talk of the colony, as he had said, with such dis dainful indifference, but none of the colonists introduced the subject at the Hall. One day Mr. Lee and his family dined there, and Willie asked Clare, in the middle of a profound silence, if she was going to the governor's ball with brother Champ. Clare had colored, and her lip had trembled slightly, as she had answered that she did not think of going to the ball. Whereupon the squire had struck the table, and sworn that he would go and take her and he had looked so mournful after his outburst, that Clare had said nothing. It was half understood that she and Henrietta would go with the Effingham party, or accompanied by their cava liers. So the days passed, and Effingham Hall seemed to be come more and more sad and still : its inmates conversed less, and a deeper quiet seemed to reign. The winds that sobbed across the lonely autumn fields, and swayed backward and forward all the haughty oaks, seemed only to increase the stillness. So the Hall slept its sleep. CHAPTER XXXVII. WILLIAMSBUEG: EXCESSIVE WAKEFULNESS. WHILE Effingham Hall was falling asleep more and more deeply, Williamsburg having passed through its night that is to say, the period of time elapsing between the adjourn ment and the re- assemblage of the House of Burgesses, that galaxy of brilliant suns which periodically shone upon it Williamsburg woke up from its long slumber, laughing, merry, full of activity and expectation. Already the grate ful chinking of merry-faced pistoles were heard, as they rose and fell in jovial planters' pockets, while the owner pon dered how to lay them out to the best advantage already, WILLIAMSBURG : EXCESSIVE WAREFCT.NESS. 209 though the meeting of the House was three days off, the t^wn was filling fast ; and on every hand jests and laughter, hearty greetings, the slamming of doors, the rattle of car riages, the clatter of hoofs, the jingle of spurs, and the neighs of horses, gave abundant proof that the joyous season had arrived. The taverns were filling rapidly, and mine host of the Raleigh was in full activity running, that is to say toddling ; bowing, that is to say ducking his fat head ; laugh ing, that is to say shaking the windows, in honor of the jolly patrons of his establishment clapping him on the back asking about his health facetiously, and calling for his rum. claret, and strong waters. Whips cracked ; the streets were full of sound ; the men roared over their cups ; the ladies filled the stores, running the clerks mad with orders ; every thing said very plainly that the great gala day of the middle class had come : the class who visited the town but once a year with their wives and daughters, and were so determined to suck joy from every thing. Through this laughing, jesting crowd some lordly equi page would pass from time to time, with its glossy four-in- hand, its liveried coachman and small footman on the board behind ; and, through the window plainly seen, the lovely face of some young beauty, smiling in her silk and velvet, like the countrymen in their fustian ; or else some fat, pursy squire, with puffy cheeks, and formal look, set off by his good wife in plain black silk and diamonds. Young gallants, pranced by on their splendid horses ; coun try carts toiled slowly on, laden with vegetables and drawn by diminutive, shaggy, solemn-looking animals ; a thousand bright-faced, grinning negroes illuminating like black suns the buzzing, restless, laughing, jovial, hearty, shouting up roar and behold ! A drum comes from the distance, quick ly rolling, trumpets blare aloud and split the ears, and mount ed on his car of state a cart fixed with a platform and pull ed by three mules the great Hallam rides in state above the tuneful throng. The drums deafen all ; the trumpets shatter all tympana with a gush of sound, flowing from beard ed lips, blowing for life ; and high above the whole the noble Shylock rears a pine sapling with a placard beauteous. That placard says, that at the old theatre, near the cap- 210 WILLIAMSBURG : 2li ESSIVE WAKEFULNES9. itol, and by permission of his worship the mayor of Williamj- burg, the company will that night enact the tragedy of Ham let, written by Mr. William Shakespeare. Hamlet, the prince, by the great tragedian, Pugsby ; Ophelia, by Miss Beatrice Hallam, the delight of the noble aristocracy and the wonder of the universal world. This information is conveyed in let ters half a foot long, and with a profusion of exclamation points. Such is the placard, gazed on wonderingly by those bar barous country people, who had never delighted their eyes with the sight of the great tragedian Mr. Pugsby, nor of Miss Hallam, the delight of the whole aristocracy and the wonder of the universal world ; perhaps, indeed, had been so sunk in barbarism as never to have done aught but read the great drama written by the glorious Mr. William Shake speare ! But to-night they will go and have their ignorance of play-acting turned into grand illumination on the subject. Yes ! they will go and see the play, the actors, and the noble aristocracy ! Their pockets are well filled five shillings nothing ! And shouts sound louder, the great trumpet blares more shatteringly, the drum wakes the thunder, and the splen did pageant passes onward ; Hallam and Shylock proud, and full of dignity and state. At the Raleigh as on Glou cester-street and everywhere life is jubilant, and men con sider drinking, with every friend they recognize, a duty. And rum and claret, port and Rhenish, flow in streams, and doors bang, windows rattle, heavy shoes clump, merry lips laugh : Williamsburg scents the coming banquet of mind, spread by his excellency and the burghers the boasted flow of reason and the soul and, full of joyful anticipation, empties count less flagons at the Raleigh, kicks its chairs, plays cards upon its tables, and erects it into a great jolly temple a temple where, at most reasonable charges, as mine host avers, they may worship Bacchus, Momus, and all the heathen gods. IN WHICH THE TALK IS OP COSTUME. 211 CHAPTER XXXVIIL IN WHICH THE TALK IS OF COSTUME. LET us now descend from generalities to particular scenes, jtnd in order to make this descent, ascend to Mr. Efhngham's apartment in the "Raleigh." Aloof from all the bustle, con fusion and laughter of the crowd, indifferent to it, or despis ing it, the young man sat thinking in silence, and glancing at times with a scornful smile on the merry groups, seen through the window, passing up and down the street. His lips wore that same bitter weary expression we have so often noted ; his cheek was more sallow, his eyes more gloomy. He was clad as usual in the richest and most elegant manner, but the gayety of his toilette the lace, the embroidery, the feather in his cocked hat, which lay beside him on the floor was a mockery, contrasted thus with the moody and exhausted face. The young man's lips moved, and he muttered, bit terly : " Yes, now the die is really cast ! While it rattled, I might have drawn back now the throw has been made, it is but to raise the box, and the future is decided for the player he is a beggar ! Yes, I am mad ; I feel that this infatuation amounts to madness ! this girl will ruin me ! I love her, and hate her ! She is an angel, and a devil 1 So pure and innocent in face, with such a bitter and scornful heart. By heaven, I'll conquer her she shall be mine 1 And yet and yet," he murmured, looking down, " why not draw back ? There is time ! And Kate ! how I distressed the tender child, who loves me so much, more than I de serve who, perhaps, saved me ! I thought a ray of sun light fell upon me when she came. She would have per suaded me ; I feel it, I know it, I could not have resisted dear child ! " and the poor, weary eyes were softened, the mocking smile disappeared ; ' ; thank God, she loves me still. Why should I not go back now ? But Beatrice ! Aye, those chivalric gentlemen, who would display their courage at my expense. Ah ! " he continued, smiling bitterly again, " they will not permit me to av-J as seems proper to me. By heaven, we shall see ' " 212 IN WHICH THE TALK IS OF COS1.ME. And his reckless, dare-devil eyes flashed haughtily. At the same moment, the drums and trumpets of the cortege we have seen, attracted his attention, and he gazed through the window. There stood the noble Shylock, on the platform, moving slowly, holding in his hand the banner, on which was inscribed the words we have seen. The letters were enormous, and Mr. Emngham read, without difficuly, " Miss Beatrice Hallam, the delight of the noble aristocracy and the wonder of the universal world." " Yes," he said, smiling grimly, as the procession passed slowly on ; " yes, she is the delight of the noble aristoc racy ! I am one of that noble aristocracy, I believe, and she is my delight. Ah, Madam Beatrice ! you go on now in pride and happiness, scorning me, and all who are not your abject slaves ; but wait ! You go to affect to-night, in the character of Ophelia, griefs you have never known, sufferings you can only imagine. Some day you will suffer really, and I shall be avenged." He was not present at that interview with Charles Waters, and had not heard those prayers, and sobs, and despairing murmurs, or he would never have uttered that bitter taunt. For a long time he sat thinking of her, and would mutter curses and blessings in the same breath. He had estimated justly his passion it was not so much love as infatuation. He did hate and love, respect and despise her ; at one moment he thought her a devil, at the next he was convinced she was an angel. But, by degrees, these conflicting emotions settled down into a collected reckless ness, so to speak a careless, bitter, mocking unconcern, and he rose up, with a sneer. At the same moment the door opened, and Mr. Manager Hallam made his appearance, jovial and smiling. Mr. Emngham sat down again. " What the devil puts you in such a good humor, Hal lam ? " he said, with scornful carelessness. " I am laughing at the people, sir." The people ? " " Yes, their folly." What folly ? " " At their surprise and wonder on seeing my placard.'* " Yes; that was foolish enough." Itt WHICH THE TALK S )F COSTUME. 21 S " They absolutely looked all eyes, as the grea. Congreve was accustomed to say." " Did they ? " " And the negroes I " " What of them ? " " They looked like charcoal, with two lumps of fire in it." " Eh ? their eyes, you mean ? " " Yes." " They are a facetious race." " Oh, sir, they would make great comedians, I assure you. Now, there was one monkey-like boy, who went along, blowing the trumpet through his hands, beating two stones together for the drum, and at times sawing his left arm for the fiddle really, now, in a way indicating lofty talent." " In the low comedy ? " " Yes." "The buffoon?'' " Well, low comedy requires something like that. How would a company of negro actors take here ? " "Take?" " Yes, sir ; would it attract ? " " Strongly the attention of messieurs the justices. But come, let us estimate the receipts to-night." " Impossible, sir." " Come, think." " Really can't say, sir." " As much, think you, as on the night I perform ? " said Mr. Effingham, with his usual disdainful coolness. " Why, really now I should say not, sir. I calculate that you would draw a large crowd." " There is but one obstacle to my acting." " And that, sir ? " " Miss Beatrice Hallam." " Beatrice ! " Mr. Effingham shrugged his shoulders. " Yes," he said. " How is it possible? " began Hallam, with some indig nation. " Come, no exploding," said Mr. Effingham, with cool disdain ; " do not affect astonishment. You know she does not wish to appear with me." 214 IN WHICH THE TALK IS OF COSTUMfi. " Not wish, sir 1 " Yes." " Oh, you must be mistaken." " No, I am not," said Mr. Effingham, gloomily. " She is young, sir." " Well, what does that mean ? " And diffident." " Bah 1 " " She would prefer acting with her associates. But, throw any obstacles in the way I would soon Stop that, sir ! " " There is a virtuous father for you ! You would conj- mand your child to do what she wishes not to do ? " " She is full of whims, sir." " One of which whims is a contempt for the name of Effingham ; is it not ? " said the young man, with a curl ing lip. " Oh, never, sir." " Come, now, deny " " She honors, and looks up to you, sir." " She has a queer way of showing it," he said, with gloomy scorn. " What makes her hate me so ? I am really curious to know." " On my word, sir, you astonish me, as the great Con- greve used to say : Beatrice, I am sure " " Well, no more protests, and curse the great Congreve ! Is the agreeable Shylock still determined to eat me for kick ing him down stairs ? " " No no. He is a reasonable fellow, and will take no more notice of the matter. I told him, sir, my opinion of his disgraceful conduct to your fair young relative, and he incerely regrets it." " Very well : I will take no further note of the knave. Only, on the next occasion, I shall pin him to the wall with out warning, like an enormous beetle my sword for the pin. He would be a striking object. Now, let us talk of my first appearance." " Willingly with pleasure, sir." " The town is full ? " " Yes, sir." " And more coming ? n IN WHICH THE TALK IS OP COSTtiME. 215 " Yes : they are pouring in." " Well, if it is now full, and they are pouring in, by the day of opening the House of Burgesses, that is in two days, they will be sleeping in th streets." " Quite likely, sir." " And hence it follows," continued Mr. Effingham, " that there is no danger of having a thin house to greet me." " Oh, sir 1 " " I understand you " " How could" " Yes ! how could the fashionable Mr. Champ Effingham, of Effingham Hall, turning comedian, fail of a crowded house ? You would say that ? " " Yes, sir : it is impossible." " Well perhaps you are right. But I choose to wait, and I have fixed upon the day after the opening of the House, for my debut. I shall appear in ' Much Ado about Nothing.'" " As you say, sir. Well, we can easily get it up. The honor " " Bah : let us have no foolery ! It's no honor to either party. Now for the dress the costume : I have none that would suit the character." " I think I can serve you, sir though my best military dresses are still at Yorktown, in the sea trunks. I have not needed them yet." " A military dress rough soldier's costume, is indispen sable : you know very well that Benedick is just from the wars." " Indispensable, as you say, sir." " Have you one here ? " " Let me see " And Mr. Manager Hallam, placing his fat finger upon his puffy brow, repeated : " I think there is such a costume in my private trunk, in my room. Will you go see, sir ? " "Yes: I'll follow." And the two worthies went out, and closing the door, bent their way to Mr. Manager Hallajn's sleeping apartment ituatod on the same floor. 216 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM BECAME THE CHAPTER XXXIX. HOW MB. EFFINQHAM BECAME THE INSTRUMENT OF PROVIDENCE 1 THE apartment occupied by Mr. Manager Hallam was an odd place, and we regret that, from its want of importance to the present narrative, we cannot give a description of it. It is sufficient to say, that the bed was covered with heteroge neous costumes, of all ages and nations the table with prompt-books and rolls of paper containing " parts " the floor with shoes, buskins, and sandals, which had trodden many stages in their day. In one corner a large trunk, with heavy iron binding, and knobs, contained the manager's finer costumes. This trunk he approached, and unlocked with a key which he took from the breast-pocket of his doublet. " Now, sir," he said, raising the lid, " I think I shall find what we want." " Good," said Mr. Effingham, leaning over his shoulders. The manager took out several parcels. " Those are the fops," he said. " Of course, they would not suit me," said Mr. Effingham, with his usual disdainful indifference. " Oh, no, sir." " Certainly not," said Mr. Effingham. " These are the first class costumes for the heroes," Baid the manager, unrolling another parcel. " That would suit me as little," replied Mr. Effingham. " Yes, sir I mean " Luckily Mr. Manager Hallam was relieved from his lame apology. A servant entered, and said : " There's a gentleman, sir Mr. Joyce, sir to see you to get a private box at the theatre, sir." Hallam rose quickly, which possibly might be owing to a slight love of money. " Say I am coming," he replied to the servant : then turning to Mr. Effingham, he added, "just wait for me, sir I'll be back in a minute. These business matters must be attended to." And with these words he hurried out of the room, puff- INSTRUMENT OF PROVIDENCE. 217 ing and red in the face. Mr. Effingham had received thi speech with extreme indifference, and gazed with great dis dain on the half-emptied trunk : then he seemed to change his mind, and stooping down he turned over and tossed the costumes about, carelessly. Suddenly his eye fell upon one which seemed to suit perfectly his purpose. It was a dark military coat, with heavy embossed buttons, and an embroi dered collar. He took it up, and said aloud : " Well, here is what will answer my purpose, I suppose a pretty heavy bundle ! Come, let us try it on." Had he done so, the whole course of this narrative, thereafter, would have been different how different no one can tell. But he changed his mind before unrolling it, and added : " Bah 1 I cannot judge ! let us go to Madam Beatrice, and ask her opinion. Doubtless she will afford me her valu able advice most willingly and sweetly. Of course she will." And leaving the trunk open, he walked carelessly along the passage, and scarcely taking the trouble to knock, entered Beatrice's apartment. The young girl was engaged as usual, in studying, and looked completely exhausted. Her eyes were heavy and red, her cheeks pale and thin ; in her very attitude there was an indescribable air of weariness and sorrow which was painful to behold. The round shoulders drooped, the head inclined toward one side seemed to be bent down by some ever-present grief: the bosom labored and heaved: she seemed to draw breath with difficulty. For a moment Mr. Effingham stood looking at this eloquent picture, returning her silent and cold gaze. " Ah," he said, at length, " studying as usual, I see 1 Keally, madam, you will injure your health, which, as you know, is very dear to me." There was great bitterness in these words : but Beatrice made no reply. " You do not answer," he said, still more bitterly ; " per haps I am not worth answering, madam." Beatrice raised her cold, heavy eyes, and looked at him fixedly. " Mr. Effingham, I am in no humor to converse thii morning," she replied, coldlj 10 218 HOW JtR. EFF1NGHAM BECAME THE " With me : you never are, madam." " With no one, sir." " Are you sure, madam ? " " Yes, sir." " Perhaps your dear friend is an exception." " What friend, sir ? " w The Chevalier Waters," replied Mr. Effinghaa with a sneer. A flush of pain and wretchedness threw a lurid glow upon the young girl's brow, and she trembled. " Come, now, madam, get angry if you please. That is your favorite amusement when I chance to address you." She bent down and made no reply : and this seemed to irritate her visitor more than any words. " Really your ladyship is in a charming mood to-day," he said, with a scornful curl of the lip ; " you have chosen a new and brilliant means of insulting me." " Mr. Emngbara," said Beatrice, raising her head with cold solemnity, and speaking in a voice hoarse with sorrow, " I insult no one, sir. I have said that I was not disposed to converse to-day. I am not well, sir." " You are always sick when I visit you," said the young man, pitilessly : his passion had changed his whole charac ter : " you hate my very face, I believe. My presence is a discord. I have given up every thing for you, and you scorn me 1 Beware, Beatrice Hallain 1 God will punish youl" Her lip quivered, and she looked strangely at him. " Have you come to make me more unwell than I am, sir ? " she said, pressing her hand upon her breast. " No, madam," he said, with his former bitterness. " I came on business, strictly professional." " What is that, sir ? " " To ask your most respectable opinion of my costume, in the character of Benedick. Having determined to ruin myself, I wish to do it handsomely with the best bow I have and in the most appropriate costume I " " Well, sir," said Beatrice, taking no notice of his terri ble irony, " I listen." And she closed her book. " This, which I hold in my hand, madam, appears to mf to be very suitable for the character of Benedick." INSTRUMENT OF PROVIDENCE. 219 I do not know, sir." He was a gentleman, you know, madam." " Yes, sir." " Ruined." " I do not remember, sir." " Yes, ruined in the wars like myself, by this infatua tion I have for you : wounded and scarred as I am by your scorn." " Mr. Effingham, we waste time." " Oh, pardon me, madam, my grief and agony are nothing to you I had forgotten." " My own occupy my whole thoughts, sir." " Really ! then you have griefs too." " Yes, sir." " Agony perhaps." " Overpowering agony, sir," she said, hoarsely, and with a trembling lip. He looked at her in silence, and said, with some feeling, " Then, you really suffer ? " " Yes, sir." Deeply ? " " Yes, sir." " Then have some pity on my own," he said, in a voice of anguish, which was most affecting. " I love you, you scorn me ! Do you know what that means ? It means days and nights of agony hours of despair, such as the bitterest foe would not inflict on his worst enemy sleepless hours in the dim night, when the rain pours, and the winds groan, and your own groans reply. Have you no pity, Beatrice ? " He stopped, overcome with so many conflicting and ter rible emotions, bending down his head and groaning. " Did you only know what it is to love, and know that love can never solace your life ! " he continued, passionately ; " to see the paradise open and then close upon you ! to love madly, and feel the cold hand of fate pushing you back in exorably ! " These broken words painted her own condition with such truth that Beatrice uttered a moan. " I know it," she said, hoarsely. " Then pity me 1 " " I do, sir, from my heart 1 " 220 HOW MF. EFFINGHAM BECAME THE His face flushed. " And nothing more ? " he said, in a low tone. " No, sir no, no 1 " she said, shrinking back. " Ah, you despise me you hate me ! " "No, sir." "T. ruin myself for you, and you meet me with a con temptuous smile." " I do not, sir." " You will not love me." " I cannot, sir I " " You love another, perhaps, madam already you have selected your future husband ! " he said, becoming again bitter and scornful as before. Beatrice turned pale. " I shall never marry," she replied, in a low voice. " I am not good enough for you, I make no doubt, madam ! " " You taunt me, sir." " I do not I offer you my hand 1 " " I cannot accept it." * Never ? " Never ! " " Then we shall see," said Mr. Effingham, with that bitter and reckless laugh which at times issued from his lips, " /orce against force ! " Beatrice colored, and said, coldly : " That is a defiance, sir." " Yes to the death." " I despise it," she answered, with haughty coldness : then murmured, turning away, " God pardon me ! " " Ah, that is not singular ; contempt for the person ne cessarily comprehends as much for all he can effect." " Mr. Effingham, I am weary I have my part to study." " Well, madam, permit me to trespass upon your kind patience for a moment still. I came to ask of your great experience if this coat will suit my part." u You may see at a glance, sir," she said, frigidly, " that it is moth-eaten, and unsuitable." ' Ah I I had not perceived that. Pray what shall \ wear?" " I do not know, sir." INSTRUMENT OF PROVIDENCE. 22'i " You act Beatrice in the comedy, I believe or do some of those delightful characters your father has picked up here in the colony, and trained to murder dramas, take the part?" " I know nothing of the matter, Mr. Effingham," she said, coldly. " But Beatrice is young ? " " Yes, sir." " Brilliant ? " " Yes, sir." " And very scornful ? " " I believe so, sir." " Then it will suit you admirably. Young, brilliant, and scornful 1 Could the description answer more perfectly 1 Shakespeare must have known you ! " " Mr. Effingham, your great pleasure in life seems to lie in insulting me." " Insulting ? Really you are very unreasonable, ma dam" "What, sir is not ?" " No, madam, let me say, even at the expense of polite ness for I know how ill-bred it is to interrupt you no, it is not an insult, only the truth ! It is very amusing, very laughable, but it is true that you really scorn me. As tc the young and brilliant, that is undeniable in your lady ship's presence." " Mr. Effingham, I am exhausted your voice agitates me pray leave me, sir " Mr. Effingham listened to these coldly-uttered words of dismissal with an internal rage, which broke forth and dis played itself in a mocking and harsh laugh. " Ah ! you are very lofty, madam ! " he said, with a sneer ; " you bring your queenly airs from the stage for me ! No thing that I say, nothing that I do, provokes any thing but scorn and contempt from you ! I have not sacrificed enough to you, perhaps ! Do you know what trifling things mere trifles, madam I have left to follow your diabolical eyes 1 I have only forfeited the affection of my family, only lost my position in society, only struck cruelly a pure young girl's heart, who loves me 1 I have only left peace and hap piness for agony and rage ! only abandoned love and ten derness for scorn and contempt only given up loving faces 222 MR. E. THE INSTRUMENT OF PROVIDENCE. and caressing hands for a woman who hates me and repulses me ! These are mere trifles, madam ! they are nothing I What is the love of Clare Lee that is her name to me, compared to your overwhelming tenderness and affection ? True, we have loved each other, I may say, I think, for years ; true, we were bred together, and have always felt a tenderness toward each other deeper than words could utter or the eyes speak ! True, her face filled with sunshine when she saw me, as my heart overflowed with joy at her innocent smiles! But what of that? You are all this to me and more ! Your love is a treasure greater than her own ; what matter if her heart is broken ; what if she gazes from bar father's window on the Hall which she once thought she would enter as my wife, and sobs and moans, and feela that henceforth life is dark to her as I feel it is to me ? Your tender heart, your loving nature, your mild, angelic soul, your overwhelming love for me will more than make me forget her. What matters it if the poor girl dies broken hearted, are you not all my own ? " And overpowered by rage, and remorse, and agony, his brow wet with perspiration, his lips trembling, all his form shaking with the terrible war of emotions so profound and bitter, the unhappy young man, waiting for no reply, rushed from the room. Beatrice rose from her seat, trembling with excitement, and bursting into tears of agony, cried : " Oh, is this really true ! Is this a horrible dream, or not 1 God has cursed me ! all that I approach is ruined. Oh, can I be the cause of this dreadful suffering, which I feel myself, in the heart of a pure, young girl ? God pity me 1 But no, it shall not be 1 " she cried; " my life ia lost and ruined my very soul is giving way ! But this stain shall not rest upon my memory no, no ! Oh, her name 1 I heard it near his father's house I will go there tell her all God give me strength ! " And hastening out, she ordered her horse, made her pre parations quickly, and was soon upon her way to River-head galloping feverishly. So feverish had been her emotion, that she had not ob served the presence of an object, which Mr. Efiingham had dropped upon the floor of her apartment. BEAT1UCE HALLAM AND CLARE LEE. 223 CHAPTER XL. BEATRICE HALLAM AND CLAEE LEE. SHE reached Riverhead in an incredibly short space of time ; and, dismounting at the gate, hastened to the door, and trembling, shuddering, followed the astonished servant into the reception-room, where she fell into a chair, exhausted, overcome, and shedding torrents of tears. A light step startled her, and she rose, trembling, from her seat. The young girl she had asked for, stood before her. " Did you ask forme Clare ? " said the young girl, won- deringly. " Oh, yes ! for you ! " cried poor Beatrice, clasping her hands and sobbing: "I could not breathe until I saw you! I came to tell you that I am not the miserable creature that you think me 1 that I am not so abandoned as to wrong you so!" Suddenly Clare recognized her rival, whose features had been hidden by the partial darkness of the room. She drew back with a sudden faintness. " Yes ! you shrink from me ! " cried Beatrice, with in expressible anguish in her voice ; " and perhaps you are not wrong you have heard so much falsehood of me 1 But you wrong me bitterly my heart is bursting with this load of unjust scorn I cannot bear it 1 It is cruel oh, it is unjust I " And she covered her face with her hands, and sobbed passionately. Clare felt as if she were about to faint; but indignation, and the bitterness of wounded love and pride sustained her. She looked at Beatrice with scorn, and shrunk from her as she approached. " Do not do not touch me 1 " she said, alternately flush ing and turning pale. " Oh, you are cruel 1 " cried Beatrice, wringing her hands; ' you are cruel and unjust ! He told me you were tender and that every body loved you and I find you with a heart harder than stone 1 You have no pity on me you scorn 224 BEATRICE HALLAM AND CLARE LEE. me my very presence is loathsome to you ! Oh, madam, it is unjust ! it is a bitter and unmerited punishment 1 I never could have come had I really expected this though what more had I the right to expect ? But he told me you were so good that your heart was so pure that you were in such distress how could I live with the thought thai you despised and scorned me ! " Clare shrunk further back and trembled. Then she had been the topic of careless conversation between this unworthy creature and her lover ! Her name, and her love for him, even, had been bandied in tavern purlieus with scoffs, and rude jests, perhaps ! He had said she was " so good " doubtless, deriding her soft, tender manner, so tame, com pared with the fiery and brilliant carriage of this shameless creature ! her " heart so pure " no doubt contrasting de risively her simple truth with the scoffing boldness of this woman ! Then, to crown the whole, he had told this woman that she, Clare, was " distressed " that she was pining for him ! that she envied, hated, would give life to hold the position of that rival in his affections ! This last bitter thought put the finishing touch to Clare's agony, and she rose. " I can listen to no more, madam ! " she said, hoarsely, and with inexpressible anguish and indignation in her altered voice. " You are deceived Mr. Effingham if you refer to him Mr. Effingham is nothing to me ! " And, shuddering from head to foot, she looked at Bea trice with an expression of sick and scornful aversion, which pierced the poor girl's heart like a dagger. " Oh, no no ! do not look at me so ! " she cried, clasp ing her hands, and sobbing as if her heart would break ; " do not look at me so 1 I am not the unworthy creature you think me I I am innocent 1 He sought me has persecuted me with attentions I abhor he has made my life, dark enough, God knows, already, darker still by his eternal per secution. Oh 1 madam, you have no right to scorn me I You have no right however much you may hate me 1 I am innocent before God of any thing done to give you pain this rash young man has done all 1 Do you think I am his paramour, madam ? I see your cheek flush and your eyes flash ! Poubtless your maiden purity is shocked by the BEATRICE SALLAM AND CLARE LEE. 225 very word. But we, madam, we poor actresses have to look at and bear things coarsely, and call them by their names. God forgive you, if you thought that of me ! I am a poor, unhappy girl, with no defence but my self-respect ; but I am innocent innocent as a child, in thought as in deed ! " And sobbing, moaning, shedding floods of tears, Beatrice stood before the young girl like an angel pleading for a word of love, of charity. Her fair hair had fallen, from the vio lence of her emotion, her snowy arms had let the cloak cover ing them fall down, her face was eloquent with a sorrow and despair which sublimated its tender beauty, and would have touched, indeed, any but a heart of stone. Clare's was that heart ; she only saw how lovely this young girl was ; she only saw in her a triumphant rival, darkening her life, and taking from her him she loved. What did it concern her whether this woman was innocent or not? And the frigid, sick, and scornful look remained. She pointed to the door, and, unable to say more than "this interview must end!" hoarsely and almost in- audibly. " No, no ! it shall not end," cried Beatrice, wringing her hands, and sobbing, and speaking with passionate grief; "it shall not end until you have heard me ! I am innocent Oh ! I am innocent before God ! your distress is not upon my hands ! He came and addressed me on. the stage, the first night I appeared in this country I drew back and en deavored to avoid him ! He came to see me the next day. I tried to deny him any converse with me ; he staid, he came again and again he has made my life wretched ! I shrink when I see his face, or hear his voice ! Ah, I am in nocent of wounding you, as God hears me, I am innocent ! " And falling on her knees, Beatrice hid her face in her hands, and shook with passionate weeping. She seemed so broken and overwhelmed by her sorrow, her accents were so profoundly miserable, she resembled so much some tender bird, wounded mortally and about to fall and die, that Clare, ' with all her pride and love, and hatred and indignation, melted. She struggled with herself, echoed the sobs of Bea trice, and then turning from her, murmured : "Leave nn I cannot speak I pardon you God Will-" 226 BEATRICE HALLAM AND OLARE LEE. There she stopped, overcome by emotion. Beatrice rais ed her head. " Oh, I have done nothing to ask pardon for ! " she cried, in a voice of bitter anguish. " God is iny witness, that I have acted as a loyal and pure woman ! I saw your scorn of me was unjust, and it is it is ! for I am innocent I had no part in inflicting this wound upon you ; you have reason to hate me but you cannot no ! no ! you cannot scorn me ! " " I do not," muttered poor Clare, sobbing and turning away. " Oh, thank you 1 We poor girls are not like you ladies, protected and surrounded by every comfort, able to choose our associates," continued Beatrice, weeping, but betraying great feeling at these words from Clare. " God exposes us to every persecution and temptation ! We are met with in toxicating applause upon the stage a dangerous and fatal thing ! and there we fancy that we are really something more than human ! Alas ! we go out in the sunlight, and those hands, which applauded us, repulse us ; those smiles are turned to frowns ! The commonest woman that toils in the meanest employment, is more worthy. Contempt is our portion for what are we but abandoned playing girls ! Or, if not contempt, what is more dreadful oh ! so dreadful, madam, that you in your pure home here cannot imagine it. The temptation which a strong man offers to a defenceless girl, without a thought of that avenging God who looks down on this world ! I will not speak of it I shudder to think of it ! my brain burns, and my temples throb ! God decreed that I should fill the position I do, and I know its terrors and its snares. Oh, do not undervalue them, madam ! if a poor weak girl comes from that furnace of fire, still pure in all things, she is not fit for scorn I " And the poor agitated breast labored and heaved, the cheeks were bathed in tears, the childlike hands trembled and could not arrange the hair, falling around the face so eloquent and pure. And Clare felt her true woman's heart moved with that high truth and worth which the reader will find she possess ed from future pages of this narrative. She violently sup pressed her sorrow and wounded love ; she saw only a poor broken-spirited girl before her a inera child she seemed j BEATRICE HALL AM AND CLARE LEE. 227 praying and sobbing, and entreating mercy or rather justice, but simple justice. " I have listened to you and pity you and do not, cannot scorn you or h.ate you " she said, in a broken and agitated voice, shedding tears as she spoke. " If I have been unjust to you, I pray for your pardon 1 We are all weak and poor ; God does not permit us to scorn each other ! " And covering her face with one hand, she felt as if eartl was dark for ever for her from that day heaven only left. Beatrice heard these words with passionate delight, and burst into an agony of tears. " Oh, you are too good 1 " she cried, seizing the hand of the young girl, which hung down, and covering it with kisses ; " you are too good and noble, to speak so kindly to a poor, weak child like me I Oh, Q-od will reward you ! God sent me to you, to hear these blessed words from you to know that my existence was not wholly cursed ! God had pity on me, and inspired me with the thought ! Oh, say again that you will not hate or scorn me ; forget that I am a common actress, one of a proscribed and branded class one who has cruelly wronged you, however innocently ; forget that I am so much your inferior in goodness, forget that my life has been thrown in contact with so much that is vile 1 See before you, at your feet, only a poor weak girl, who prays you not to scorn her ! See in me a feeble creature, like all mortals, weak and stumbling and sinful, like all the world, but with good impulses and pure feelings like the purest ! Oh, bless me again with the sound of your kind voice I am so helpless ! so broken-hearted so overborne by agony and suffering ! " she continued, strangling a pas sionate sob at the thought of Charles ; " so wretched ah ! so miserable ! Speak to me ! one more kind word, before I leave you Oh, for pity's sake ! " And covering the hand she held with kisses, she hall rose in an agony of weeping. And that hand she held was no more drawn away. The trembling forms approached each other with a last shudder, and the two women were in each other's arms : the bitter rivals, the wronged and she who had wronged her, the actress and the lady ! Sobbing 228 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM RODE FORTH, AND BEFORE upon each other's shoulders, trembling like a single agitated form, they wept in silence. A quarter of an hour afterwards Beatrice was on her way back to Williamsburg. God had spoken: her tears wera happy tears. CHAPTER XLI. HOW MB. EFFINGHAM BODE FORTH, AND BEFORE MIDNIGHT BE- APPEABED EN MILITAIRE. AFTBR uttering that mad, passionate speech, so crammed with bitter and scornful irony, Mr. Effingham, as we have seen, flung from the young girl's room, in an access of rage, which tore him like a vulture's talons. He had passed through many of these fiery interviews lately, and had many such pale rages, which tore his heart for a time, then slowly subsided, like a storm muttering away into the distance. On this occasion he found himself, as usual, grow somewhat calmer, when her cold and inexorable face was removed from him ; and soon his bitter, reckless smile returned, and mockery replaced anger. He went back to the manager's room, and threw the costume disdainfully into the trunk; then, scarcely con scious of what he was doing, proceeded to restore the various bundles to their places. Fate still directed him, for who knows what would have occurred if that fit of absence had not seized him, and he had left those dresses where they lay throwing down carelessly the one he had brought back upon them ? He had just slammed down the lid of the trunk violently, when Mr. Manager Hallam returned. " Ah, sir," he said, with a smile, " you are tired of the search ; are you ? " " Yes." " Well, I think there was little good in it. My military costumes are still at Yorktown." " Are they 9 " said Mr. Eflingham, coldly. " Yes, sir, as I informed you." " Did you ? ' " Ha, ha 1 don't you recollect, air ? " MIDNIGHT REAP! EARED EN M.'LITAIRE. 229 " How tan I ? I have just had such a charming inter view with your amiable daughter." " Ah ! have you, sir ? " said Mr. Manager Hallam anxiously; for hia matrimonial project never left hia thoughts. " Yes," returned Mr. Effingham, with scornful careless ness ; " I think she is beginning to like me." " I am sure of it, sir," said the delighted worthy. " She seemed to brighten up, when I entered." " Did she, indeed ? " " Of course she did ! She seemed delighted to see me ! " " She is the most truthful and sincere girl in the world a gold mine would not make her smile, if she did not choose to,' ? said Hallam, with real fraternal pride. " Quite true," replied Mr. Effingham ; " she is perfectly sincere." " Indeed she is, sir." " And plain-spoken." " Oh, remarkably ! " " And we spent half an hour delightfully." " You are gaining on her, sir." " You think she don't hate me, then ? " " Oh, sir ! " " Come, answer." " Hate you, sir ? Never, sir 1 " " How then ? Does she love me ? " This somewhat embarrassed Mr. Manager Hallam ; for the young girl's demeanor to Mr. Effingham, when he had observed it lately, was exceedingly far from supporting an answer in the affirmative. But he replied, at once : " I think she will in time, sir." " In time ! " " Very soon, sir." " Really ? " " Yes, sir ; I have observed little things of late which prove to me that you are acquiring her affection ; and she no longer " " You are right I understand she no longer scorns, and insults, and hates me " "Oh, sir 1" " She no longer tells me that she will never look at me 230 HOW MR. BFFlNGflAM IlObE FORTfi, AND BfiFORB but with hatred and aversion. In our interviews now sh smiles, and presses my hands tenderly, and seems to pity my pale cheeks, and languid eyes my health is dear to her or becoming dear she is beginning to love me. Yes, as you very justly say, sir, I am ' beginning to acquire her affection'!" And the young man laughed, with terrible irony a laugh which jarred upon Manager Hallam's ears, and dis pelled, unpleasantly, the agreeable impression the words were calculated to produce. "Bah!" continued -Mr. Effingham ; "let us leave love matters, and come to business. You have no Benedick cos tume here ? " " Really I believe not, sir ; but " " Have you at Yorktown ? " " Oh yes, sir." " In trunks ? " " Yes, sir." " Where are they ? " " Stored in the warehouse." " Good ; then you have a complete Benedick dress at Yorktown in trunks, stored in the warehouse ? " said Mr Effingham, summing up with disdainful nonchalance. " Yes, sir." " Give me the key." " The key, sir? " " I am going to get the dress. " You, sir ! " " Certainly ; what the devil are you staring at ? ' Why really, sir" " Give me the key 1 " " Of course, sir ; here it is," said the manager, taking a huge iron key from a drawer of the table. " Is there but one trunk ? " " Three, sir." Well, the dress" " Is in the green one, bound with brass hoops." " Very well. They know me there ; and when I assure them further that I am a member of the company, there will be small difficulty. Order my horse," he added to a ser yant passing through the passage. MIDNIGHT REAPPEARED EN MILIAIRE. 23 And the young man, without taking the trouble to say good-bye to Hallam, went out, and going along the passage, entered his own room, leaving the worthy manager in a state of stupor, staring after him. " Well, really," said Manager Hallam, at length, " that young man is an extraordinary character. I don't know how to deal with him. He snubs me ; I feel he is continually a-roasting me, and I don't know how to answer. He has such lordly airs- -worse than the great Congreve. Well, ha is going to act, and go to the ball with Beatrice ; and then I'll have him. He is not good enough for her, I know, except that he is so rich. Effingham Hall comes to him, I understand ; and that is enough." With which Mr. Manager Hallam began to dream of the clover-enveloped life which he desired so ardently. An hour or two afterwards Mr. Effingham issued forth, clad as before in his rich foppish costume only that his slippers were replaced by elegant riding buskins reaching a little above the ankle and ornamented with rosettes : he seldom wore boots, then rapidly becoming the fashion among all classes. In his hand he carried an elegant gold-orna mented riding whip and so he mounted, and, as the evening closed in stormily, set forth toward Yorktown. Half an hour afterwards it began to rain heavily, and this circumstance distressed Mr. Manager Hallam exceed ingly; without reason, however, for the theatre was cram med from pit to dome, and Beatrice had never been more completely overwhelmed with applause, or had acted with such overpowering splendor. They could not know what gave that supernatural power to the young girl's voice, that marvellous reality to the expression of her lips and eyes but they saw the wonderful genius, and rose up with a shout that drowned the thunder rolling through the sky without. Long before midnight the storm cleared away, and in the now silent streets the stroke of a horse's hoof was heard, and this horse stopped before the Raleigh. Mr. Effingham dismounted, and summoning the sleepy servant, gave his ani mal into his hands. The horse was covered with sweat, and his mouth drop ping foam. 232 WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM HAD DROlPED. Mr. Effingham was clad in a complete military suit- huge boots, curved heavy sword, broad belt, and Flanders hat. Mr. Manager Hallam had no such costume in his re pertory, and indeed, Mr. Effingham had not visited the good town of York, at all CHAPTER XLII. , WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM HAD DBOPPED. BEATRICE had reached Williamsburg just as the theatre was about to commence, and was compelled, without losing a mo ment, to hurry away to her painful duty. We may fancy that she felt little disposition to appear that evening : but one of the lessons of her hard life, was an unhesitating sacri fice of private feelings to her duty, and she repaired to the theatre, without even tasting a morsel. Indeed, she could not have eaten any thing her heart was too much overcome by the thousand conflicting emotions she had experienced throughout the day ; and she did not feel weak. Something sustained her, and she began her part with strange calmness. Never had she acted better, as we have seen but those tu multuous plaudits fell upon unheeding ears : they were now painful to her as that profession, which a cruel destiny forced her to pursue, was revolting and a cruel trial. She made her concluding bow with the same coldness which had characterized her, when, on her entrance, she had been greeted with thunders of applause ; and then calmly returned to tho Raleigh. She wished to be alone with her grief to shed tears without being subjected to the wondering questions of any person : she Wished, after delighting the crowded au dience, and sending them away thinking how rapturous her happiness and pride must be at such intoxicating praises Bhe wished to go and sob her heart into calmness, in the stillness of her chamber. Bidding her father good night with a kiss at the door or her little room from which another door led to her bed chamber the young girl entered and lighted a taper. Then she observed for the first time, on the floor, that object which WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM HAD DROPPED. 233 Mr Effingham had dropped, when he rushed from the room, and which in the tumult of her feelings she had lost sight completely of. It was a little frock, such as were worn by very young children ; and so slight was it, that Mr. Effingham had doubtless not observed that it had escaped from the bundle which he held in his hand. Beatrice picked it up, and ex amined it wonderingly, completely at a loss to understand how such a thing had gotten into her room. Why does she start so why does her cheek flush, then grow pale again ? On the collar of the little frock, is written in distinct though faded letters, " Beatrice Waters ! " Beatrice sat down, feeling too weak to stand : a sudden faintuess invaded her heart, and her temples throbbed. " Beatrice Waters ! Beatrice Waters ! " What did this mean ? Whence could the frock have come who brought it thither ? Beatrice Waters ? Had Charles then guessed correctly, and did the letters " B. W.," on the locket really mean this ? She felt her mind whirl her face flush and turn white again some indefinable presentiment seemed to seize upon her, and the frock fell from her hand to the floor. For some minutes the young girl remained motionless then she picked the dress up again. Suddenly she felt something in the pocket, and drew it out. It was a letter faded and discolored, and worn at the edges. She tore it open and run her eyes eagerly over it trembling coloring growing pale breathing with difficulty. Then it fell from her hand, arid pressing the other hand upon her heart, she leaned back overcome, as though she were about to faint. The letter was in these words words traced in faded yellow ink. " A man about to die, calls on the only Englishman he knows in this place, to do a deed of charity. Hallam, we were friends a long time since, in Kent, Old England, and to you I make this appeal, which you will read when I will be cold and stiff. You know we were rivals Jane chose to marry me 1 I usftd no underhand acts, but fought it fairly and like an honest soldier and won her. You know it, and are too honest a man to bear me any grudge now. I mar ried her, and we went away to foreign countries, and I be- 234 WHAT MR. EFFINGHAM HAD DROPPED. came a soldier of fortune now here now there : it rnni in the family, for my father was covered with wounds. She stuck to me sharing all my trials my suffering as she shared my fortunate days. She was my only hope on earth my blessing : but one day God took her from me. She died, Hallam, but she left herself behind in a little daughter I called her Beatrice, at the request of her mother. The locket around the child's neck, is her mother's gift to her : preserve it. Well: we travelled I grew sick I came to Malta, here I am dying. Already I feel the cold mounting from my feet to my heart my eyes are growing hazy, as my hand staggers along my last battle's come, comrade ! Take the child, and carry her to my brother John Waters, who lives in London somewhere find where he is, and tell him, that Ralph Waters sends his baby to him to take care of: she is yonder playing on the floor while I am dying. I ask you to do this, because you are an honest man, and be cause you loved Jane once. I have no money all I had is gone for doctor's stuff and that: he couldn't stand up against death ! Keep my military coat to remember me by it is all I have got. As you loved her who was my wife, now up in heaven, take care of the child of an English sol dier ; and God reward you. "RALPH WATERS. "Malta, March, 1743." The last words were written hurriedly, and were exceed ingly indistinct ; as though the writer had been warned of his approaching death by a chill hand covering his eyes , but Beatrice ran over them like lightning, as by inspiration. We may now understand why she leaned back faintly, drop ping the letter from her nerveless hand. Here was the mystery illuminated suddenly by a flash, which made plain every recess, the most gloomy depths. All was as plain as light now ! She was not Hallam's daughter ! that locket was the gift of her dying mother that coat in Mr. Effing- ham's hand the soldier's that little frock was the garment she had worn, a poor little baby, while her brave father, Stretched upon his couch, was struggling with the cold hand of death, and dedicating his last moments to her own safety and restoration. WHAT MR. EJFINGHAM HAD DROPPED. 235 Her powerful and vivid imagination painted the scene with lifelike reality. The brave soldier dying the poor apartment the trembling hand contending with the dread angel those dim eyes herself a little child unconscious of all this and the glazing eyes fixed on her as she laughed and prattled and the last sigh of the stalwart breast a prayer for her 1 The scene was so real that she burst into a passion of tears, and sobbed until she was completely exhausted. Oh, that dear father dying there alone ! his brow covered with the sweat of the death agony, far away from frienda and home, in a foreign land I That strong frame fighting with the destroyer that face, which dawned on her memory now like a dim dream, convulsed with pain and dread for her after fate ! How could she bear to think of this and not feel her very soul overwhelmed with an agony like that which he had suffered ? And she wept and sobbed, and shook with the tempest of her feelings; and then slowly grew more calm. Why had she not been restored to her friends. Was not that old man, whose son had s;A'ed her, her uncle Charles her cousin ? And this thought dazzled her mind, for a mo ment darkened by that scene of death, plain through so many misty years. Yes, yes 1 she had heard the boatman Townes call him " Old John Waters." Thousands in the colony had come from England to retrieve their fortunes, and this must be her uncle ! Overwhelmed with this new weight of thought bewil dered by this new light streaming upon her mind, she felt her brain for a moment totter, and pressed it with her hand. The uiher hand was laid on her breast, through which shot an acute pain ; that hand fell upon the locket her mother's locket and drawing it forth, she pressed it passionately to her lips, and again burst into a flood of tears. Her mother 1 her poor mother, who had loved her dear father so much, and been his good angel until she died, away from her home and friends, as he didl This was her mother's, and she pressed it convulsively to her lips, and wept herself faint and quiet. The taper died away and flickered, but she heeded it not ; for that whole scene again Was passing through her mind, and she was far away in the bright south that south which she had rightly dreamed she 236 WHAT MR. EFINGHAM HAD DROPPEL. had been born in. Scenes now came to her which had been long buried in oblivion ah ! so long ; kind faces, rude bivou acs, the implements of war and orange groves ! That far dim past enveloped her with its marvellous breath, and from it rose dear faces, tender smiles, rough, rude caresses of great bearded faces, and the sound of trumpets. Those trumpets echoed faintly through the air, and died away like an enchanting harmony like the clear voices of gondoliers singing the wondrous lays of Tasso, under the starry skies of Italian nights. The far muttering of cannon then rose to her memory, and this, too, died away; and then izas beautiful rosy headlands, orange trees, and waves of gold rolling their molten fire to the great wide horizon in the sunset. Then her thoughts rushed backward to her after life the English scenes, the theatres, the rough city life, the loud applause, the nights of study, the days of weariness and patient grief. Virginia rose on her last, and all she had suffered Mr. Eflingham's persecutions, the scorn and forgiveness of that young girl who loved him lastly, the love and unhappiness of Charles. That thought made her cheek flush, she knew not why 1 Would not this change every thing would she not leave the stage would they not take her to their hearts, their long-lost child ? Why had her father not obeyed that dying request of her real father ? Was it because he could not find her uncle, or because self-interest was too strong for him foreseeing her proficiency in his art ? If the latter, was it not cruel in him ? If the former, did she not owe him deepest love for his long years of tenderness and care ? Then these tumultuous thoughts disappeared, aud that far dreamy land rose on her mind again and with her eyes closed she saw it plainly ah, how very plainly ! She saw again those scenes which had but now come back to her with a reality more real than the outward world a charm more marvellous and grand than she dreamed possible. Again, those strong bearded faces shone on her and uttered tender words aud one was far more tender than them all 1 Again, she heard those trumpets sounding like liquid gold, shat tered and sprinkled in the deep blue air ; again that faint and solemn murmur of the distant cannon rolled upon her, aud spoke to her with its grand, eloquent voice, of a great FROM THE MS. 237 Conflict and the clash of arms ! She heard them now dis tinctly no longer dying away farther and farther into the dim past but real, audible as reality, and instinct with a heavenly harmony which wrapped her heart in ecstasy and delight. And then again she saw that wondrous southern land, where the blue skies drooped down upon a marvellous horizon where the warm seas, covered with white-sailed ships, were ruffled by soft winds, laden with the rich perfume of orange trees and flowers perfumes that set her dreaming, breezes that soothed her agitation and anxiety, like winds from hea ven. Again, the vast wide sea rolled its great liquid gold, its billows crested with a fiery foam in the red sunset, gra dually fading : and above the whole, grand in its softness, beautiful for its light, rose the dear father's face smiling upon his child ! The taper flickered and went out she did not heed it, dreaming of the bright southern home and of his face. She leaned her head upon the window-sill, and dreamed and dreamed : sleeping, those wondrous memories clung to her, and when the full sunlight streamed upon the tender, gentle face, waking her, she almost thought it was her father's kiss. CHAPTER XLIII. FROM THE Ma " LET us pause here a moment," says the author of the MS., " and observe how events march onward obedient to the great Chief of heaven ; how personages of all ages and con ditions are but blind puppets in the hands of an all-seeing, all-wise Providence. Heaven decreed that this young wo man should, in Virginia, be subjected to a persecution, more systematic than she had ever experienced in any other land before and this persecution proceeded from one of that class which social feeling then separated from her own by barriers as striking and impassable as those existing between the peasant and the great lord. This persecution was to be a daily and systematic one, a trial of the temper and the 238 FROM THE MS. heart a test of the young girl's patience and her strength It was to come to her at the theatre, in the street, in her apart* ment every where. It was to insult, to worry, to irritate, to wound the subject of its enmity. It was to try the cha racter of the young woman to the utmost, as the spur inces santly plunged into the quivering side tests the endurance of the noblest animal. " Then, not satisfied with this systematic, chain-like train of wounds and insults, Providence one day sent a child of the same race as her arch-persecutor to her presence : and from that child's lips came words which wounded, mortified, humiliated the already overburdened heart so cruelly, that the poor heart had cried out passionately against the injus tice, and the bitter, cruel, terrible wrong. " Then, having tried the young woman with such apparent harshness, that same Providence began to unroll the chain of circumstance that chain formed of such a myriad of in visible links, links which by the short-sighted are called ' small events ' and ' trifles,' but which hold the universe together. The instruments of all this persecution were to hasten the light upon its way to brighten Beatrice's life and to do this, spite of themselves, not knowing what they did. All things were to work harmoniously to that end, nothing was to fall short, or occupy its wrong position. The trunks containing that much-coveted costume were at York hence the two men were led to open that other one, wherein the secret of a life was shut up. The only obstacle to the revelation, was the man who knew it he was called away. That this secret should dawn upon the proper person first, the coat is not unrolled the young man goes to ask her advice. He becomes agitated, and in his agitation drops the child's garment then he returns, and instead of throw ing down the coat carelessly, replaces it with all the rest in the trunk : the time has not arrived for the manager to know that all is known. Thrown thus at her very feet, the young girl does not see the frock, until having ~nade her peace with Clare, she returns to the stillness of her chamber. Then she knows the whole, and all is clear to her. But she haa no harsh thoughts of the man she had called her father for so long sbe does not cry out in bitterness against the cruel concealment which has made her so unhappy which hai THE GHOST OF MR. EFFINGHAM. 239 placed her in that position which renders acceptance of the hand of Charles impossible. Why ? Because the second chain of circumstance had been unrolled also. A child had been brought to the place by the presence there of him who had persecuted her : a coarse ruffian had frightened her : she had fled in her terror to the young girl's room : there she had left her Bible that Bible which was to affect the spirit of Beatrice, as the accident the world would call it of the child's frock affected her life. That Bible was to make her meek, to give her strength to bear the sneers and mock ery and reproaches she was to be subjected to in that fiery interview. That Bible was to give her strength to hold fast to the victory she had won over herself, when Charles went from her in despair the thought of which nearly bent hex resolution, broke her remaining strength. " Those two personages, man and child, whose words had wounded her more cruelly than all else, were thus fated to become the instruments of Providence the one to reveal her far southern birth, the other to be the direct agent of her purification spiritual birth. There was the chain no link of it defective bearing up the weight of a whole life , shaped link by link by Providence, and slowly, certainly un wound by hands which thought themselves at other work. Is there no overruling Providence ? " CHAPTER XLIV. HOW THE GHOST OF ME. EFFINGHAM ARRIVED AT THE "BALEIGH," AND CALLED FOR SOME VINO D'OBO. THE manuscript from which this veracious history is taken, contains many passages similar to that which we have just transcribed. The writer, indeed, seems very fond of tracing thus the secret steps of Providence making plain the won drous ways of that invisible Power which guides the uni verse in its onward course directing men and events as it rolls the great globe through the realms of space, around the central sun of Eternal Law. The reader would, how ever, be apt to complain were we to transcribe many such 240 THE GHOST OF MR. EFFINGHAM. pages ; for this narrative is much more a development of events and characters than a bundle of essays. The worda which men and women utter are far more powerful interpret ers of what they think and feel than any mere comment on their thoughts and feelings by an indifferent person; and, acting upon this conviction, we shall proceed to deal again, directly, with the personages of the history. We have seen how Mr. Effingham, with that blind and obstinate wilfulness, had clung to his determination to ap pear upon the stage, and how he had ridden forth to procure the necessary costume. We have also seen how he returned to the " Raleigh," a few hours afterwards, equipped in a com plete military costume perfectly adapted to the character which he designed to represent. Busy with other and more im portant events, we could not follow him on his night ride ; but we now proceed to show in what manner he became pos sessed of the costume a costume which no less a personage than Mr. Manager Hallam himself had declared wonderfully appropriate, not without many exclamations and interroga tories, which were left unanswered. Mr. Effingham, on the next morning, had just repaired to his room, after languidly conversing at the door of the " Raleigh" with half a dozen of the wild hangers-on of the dramatic company, to whose society he had learned to stoop in gracious condescension, when a singular circumstance at tracted the attention of the worthies who surrounded the door. This circumstance was the arrival of a traveller, who, pushing his way through the crowd, halted at the door of the " Raleigh." This event, it is perfectly plain, was not in itself very remarkable, inasmuch as travellers were accus tomed to come and go in Virginia at that period to and from Williamsburg and the " Raleigh" as at present. The observable circumstance about the foreign-looking gentle man, who now drew up and called in a loud, hearty voice for the ostler, was that, in his outward appearance, he presented a perfect counterpart of no less a person than Mr. Champ Effingham. His broad, muscular shoulders were clad in a rich velvet coat, which was stretched across them as tightly aa the skin upon a drum; his waistcoat was of embroidered silk, and not more than three of the buttons had yielded and given way ; his vigorous libs were moulded on a scale en- THE GHOST OF MR. EFFINGHAM. 241 tirely too large for the velvet knee-breeches and silk stock ings, which fitted so tightly as to define every swelling muscle with the utmost distinctness. The "osettes had burst off from his shoes his hands were saffron-colored, and you only found, upon close inspection, that he wore gloves fitting as closely as the cuticle in one of these remarkable hands he carried a gold handled riding whip. As he dismounted, the other hand arranged conveniently the hilt of a small, highly- decorated sword, and then raised from its owner's brows his feather-ornamented hat of the last London fashion. The head thus bared was that of a man of about thirty or thirty-two, whose profession was evidently arms. The bright martial eye, black and full, could not be mistaken; the straight form, which indeed almost bent backward, so erect was it, plainly indicated the profession of the worthy. The face was an excellent one, not because it was very hand some, in the ordinary acceptation of the word, but for its frank and bold carelessness its sunshine ; in the open fea tures mental and physical health fairly shone. The hair was dark and somewhat grizzled; the brow broad, and darkened by sun and wind ; the eye, as we have said, black and bril liant ; the nose prominent, the chin and under lip full of re solution and character. We say the chin and under lip, be cause the stranger wore a long and very heavy moustache, as black as jet, under which his white teeth sparkled when he laughed very frequently, that is. For the traveller's face seemed to be made for laughing it was so bold, so careless, he seemed to enjoy life so much that laughter more or less loud was a necessity to him, and he reminded the >bserver irresistibly of Hamlet's friend, Horatio. But a dingle glance was needed to perceive that this was " A man that fortune's buffets and rewards Had ta'en with equal thanks : ' a soldier who had been tossed upon the surges of war, until he had grown quite indifferent to storms, and, in the gloomi est weather, still saw the sunshine through the clouds ; who, losing once, rattled the dice again ; who took the world easily, and pushed his way, aud laughed and drank, and slept and fought, contented, endeavoring still through all to do his soldier's duty." 11 THE GHOST OF MR. EFFINGHAM. This is a brief and Lurried sketch of the martial gentl man who, stopping at the " Raleigh" tavern that bright morning, delivered into the hands of the astounded ostler the bridle of his cob. Ned, the ostler, rubbed his eyes and gazed at the stranger precisely as the worthies on the por tico were doing. " Well, well, my friend," said the traveller, in a strong, hearty voice, " what detains you ? my horse is weary." " Yes, your honor yes, sir " And Ned the ostler led away the animal, with his eyes still fixed upon the stranger, to the serious inconvenience of his neck, twisted until the blood covered his face. The stranger entered the " Raleigh," politely giving the good-day to those gentlemen who, after staring at him with a curious look, made way for him. Mine host stopped in the middle of a sentence, which he was addressing to one of his numerous patrons a crowd of whom filled the ordinary and the look which accompanied this sudden silence was more eloquent than any words. Then, suddenly recollecting himself, he bowed low, and said . " Your honor is looking for me, the landlord ? " " Yes, parbleu" said the stranger ; " my horse has ^one to the stable, where they will, doubtless, take good care of him ? " " Oh yes, sir the best ostlers, sir " " And now, mine host," continued the stranger, twirling his mustache, " now a stall for me." " A stall ! oh, your honor, sir " " Perpend, man ami a room, I mean." " Oh yes, sir I understand, sir. I have an excellent room, just given up by Farmer Williamson number 8, sir just up there, sir." And mine host pointed to the stairs. " Bon" replied his guest, " and send me a bottle of wine. I'm as thirsty as a fish." " What will your honor have ? " asked the landlord, still riveting his eyes upon the extraordinary counterpart of Mr. Effingham. " Val de Penas my favorite vintage." " I'm really afraid, sir " M Haven't the blood of Spain ! " interrupted the stranger, THE GHOST OP MR. EFFINtiHAM. 243 who exhibited some disappointment at mine host's apologetic grimace. " We are just out, sir exceedingly sorry, sir but Mr. Williamson " " Well, well ; give me a flask of vino cToro. I must l satisfied. Mine host made a second grimace, which was more eloquent than words. " What ! none of the vino d'oro ! " cried the stranger, who seemed to understand perfectly well what the expres sive features of the landlord indicated ; " none of the bottled sunset, as one of my friends calls it ! I really am afraid, mine host," continued the traveller, shaking his head, " that this hostelry of yours is not a place for an honest and Chris tian soldier to tarry in ; none of the wine of Lebanon ? " " Oh, sir ! the most unfortunate thing, I know but really, now my last bottle has just been sent up to Squire Wilton." " I should like very much to engage in single combat against your Farmer Williamson and Squire Wilton ! Most unjustifiable in them to be drinking up my favorite wines in this way 1 " "We have some excellent claret, Madeira, .and some Rhenish, sir, which I think your honor " " Bon ! I choose the Rhenish. Send it to my room." " Yes, sir j directly, sir. Would your honor give me your name to write in my book ? I wish to keep that book, sir for my family, sir that they may know the distin guished gentlemen I have had the great pleasure to enter tain, sir." The stranger's mustache curled, and his white teeth shone under the black fringe. " My name ? Ah, very well," he said ; " that is easy." And raising up the hilt of his sword, the stranger care fully scanned some letters cut into the gold. " My name is Effingham," he said. " Parbleu, I had forgotten it; as nothing is more troublesome to recollect than names." And, leaving the landlord in a state of semi-stupefaction, the stranger pushed his way through the crowd, who drew back for him, and went up the stairs. The worthies who 244 BEATRICE REVEALS HER SECRET. had witnessed his arrival, also, were present at the scene be tween the traveller and mine host ; and now they crowded round the landlord, to give vent to their astonishment. We need not take the trouble to report their sage opinions. The general conviction was, that Mr. Effingham had a ghost, who, unlike himself, wore a mustache, and they waited for the re appearance of the spectre. CHAPTER XLV. BEATRICE REVEALS HER SECRET. " IT is not a trifling thing, when some soul, the noblest and purest ever sent by God to bless us, is torn from us by the hand of what seems a blind and pitiless destiny. This is, perhaps, the hardest trial of poor, feeble human patience, and, if the very soul succumbs, and the heart grows sour and bit ter, is there any room for wonder ? Under one of these overwhelming strokes, the head bows down and faints, as the knight of the middle age, struck by some gigantic battle-axe, lost his firm place upon the saddle, and was hurled to earth. All suddenly is gone all that made life desirable the sunshine and the blue skies in place of them, darkness, despair. " At such moments, poor humanity doubts its God ; that God who does all things for the best, but does not deign to anticipate the future for his justification. It is maddened. Its faith, and purity, and trust in God are gone ; and the blood lingers in the veins, frozen, yet fiery ; the eyes, by turns, glare and are glazed. Ere long this passes, however, and, if the mercy of God is not manifest, still the heart forces itself to believe to trust in that mercy, and then, with the slowly-dragging hours, some of the bit terness passes ; the day is not so dark ; and if the sunshine cannot lie with such a glory on the earth again, at least we know and feel it is not wholly gone away for ever, but is there behind the lurid cloud, from which crashed the great thunderbolt which struck us. " These trite sentences may indicate, in some measure, BEATR-CE REVEALS HER SECRET. Al the feelings of Charles Waters, when, leaving Beatrice ifter that interview, in which, overwhelmed by her agitatio i, she had fainted he left Williamsburgh pale and despairing." Thus writes the author of the MS. For days his soul was the prey of bitter and conflicting passions. For the first time he felt how completely she had grown to be a portion of himself. He never knew how much he loved her until he lost her. And now, when all the powers of his being were subdued to an unutterable tender ness for that bright, gentle creature when he could not think, or read, or study, or see any thing around him, for her ever-present image now, when he loved her passion ately, with the full force of his affluent and large nature now he felt an impassable barrier rise up between them a huge wall, more durable than adamant more lofty than the stars a barrier which defied his utmost efforts, which must separate her eternally from him. He raved and tore his hair ; he felt his heart growing sour all those great and noble thoughts, which were wont to tenant the palace of his mind, like a troop of radiant angels, fled away ; and if he again attempted to gather hope or tranquillity from the pure, veiled brows, they changed and gibbered at him like a troop of imps, and jeered and fled away with horrible mocking laughter ! So days passed nights, almost sleepless : calm suc ceeded. He began to feel the dignity of suffering : he rose grander from his despair, and saw the sunlight through the clouds the light of heaven. With his brow resting on his clasped hands, the strong man prayed, and went forth in the quiet evening, and was comforted. Nature looked on him with her soft, luminous eyes, and the bright river, and the autumn forest, spoke to him. He now saw what his duty was plainly. She was immovable ; he knew, he felt, that she was lost to him : that she might passionately yearn to fall upon his bosom, but not yield. She might love him far more deeply than she had done still, he felt well convinced that she would be equal to the struggle with herself. She could not turn his life into splendor, be his dear wife : he had no claim upon her, would not ask to have any. But he 246 BEATRICE ?.EVEALS HER SEIRBT. eould watch over her protect her if necessary, match hii own heart and arm against that insulting annoyer. Yes, all was lost to him but she had gained, at least : and so he returned to his labors in the field, and having finished his work, entered the house where his old father dreamed in the chimney corner, to prepare himself for another visit to the town. The old man and his son ex changed a tender greeting as he passed into his small apart ment, and taking off his blanket coat, he donned his usual doublet of coarse drab. As he was putting on his hat, he heard voices in the next room, and going thither found him self in the presence of a servant whom he had seen frequent ly at the " Raleigh." The servant delivered to him a note, directed succinctly " to Mr. Charles Waters." He opened it with a flush upon his brow, and read : " Please come to me. BEATRICE." A sudden paleness chased away the crimson flush, and the young man turned away and fell into a chair. " Answer, sir ? " said the negro boy. He made a move ment of his head, and muttered : " I will come say to Miss Hallam that I shall come at once." And again he read the simple words which had aroused such a tumult in his heart. Her hand had rested on this paper ; she had traced those words she was lost to him ! Those were the thoughts which made him again breathe heavily and close his eyes. Telling the old man that he would return very soon, he left the house, and took his way towards Williamsburg. Why had she sent for him ? To rend his heart by the sight of that paradise for ever closed to him ? To trv herself, and show him that her life was not wholly dark ? To say " you think that I am wretched, that I suffer pain because you suffer see 1 I am calm ? " No 1 none of these thoughts dwelt for a moment on his mind : his clouded brow plainly rejected all of them. Suddenly, a light like the flush of dawn broke over those gloomy eyes, and his face brightened like a midnight sky, illuminated by some great soaring confla gration. Could it be ? Could she have sent for him to say " my strength has failed me I cannot resist myself I am BEATRICE REVEALS fiER SECRET. 247 too weak my heart, my life, are yours ! " Had she relented, banished that stern resolution, given herself up to what her heart called out for ? No ! and the light changed to gloom again. He recollected too well that last faint cry of love and grief, of passion and despair, of weakness and strength. " You cannot move me now I have conquered myself 1 ' No, no ! that woman's resolution was adamant he felt that all he loved her for was against him in the strife her noble disinterested devotion, and strength of purpose to continue in the right ! could she have called upon him to protect her ! had Mr. Effingham dared to persecute her in reality ! and with the thought his hand clenched, his breast heaved, his brows were curved into a haughty frown ; his pace, already rapid, became the walk of a race-horse. He would soon know, for there was Williamsburg : he is in the streets : he passes through the noisy, laughing, bustling throng : he en ters the inn : he knocks and goes into her room she is there before him ! Beatrice rose, with such an expression of mingled anxiety and joy, that he remained for a moment without advancing, gazing at her in silence. Beatrice broke that silence : " Oh ! this was very kind," she said, with that simplicity and tenderness, which at times made her voice pure music, " I could not have expected you so soon." And her voice trembled slightly, as she placed her hand in his, with fond and confiding affection. A tremor passed over his frame as he took it. " Do you need me has any one annoyed you ? " he said, coming with a bound to his absorbing thought. " Oh no ! " said Beatrice. He breathed more freely, and sat down, passing his hand over his throbbing brow. For a moment they both remained silent, scarcely daring to look at each other. " You sent for me ? " he murmured, with his face turned from her. " Yes," said Beatrice, in the same low tone, " I WM troubled, and unhappy no, not unhappy " And her voice faltered. " Unhappy ? " he said, not feeling himself strong enough 248 BEATRICE REVEALS HER SECRET. to encounter her gaze: "what could have made you uiv happy ? " The tone of these words plainly indicated that his mean ing was, " / am the wretched and unhappy person your suitor for a priceless boon denied to me / have a right to feel miserable, you have not." Beatrice felt her heart throb, and her throat fill with tears. " I have much to make me unhappy ! " she said, in a broken and faltering voice, " very much." " Yes, yes, we all have we are mortal," he replied, in a low voice, " I have had much myself." " Oh, do not speak of that," cried Beatrice, bursting into tears, " I cannot speak if you do." " I will not," he murmured, his large shadowy eyes turning to her own for a moment, then averting their gaze. " I am so weak now, that I don't think I could endure another such " and the tears choked her. He suppressed his emotion by a powerful effort, and tak ing her hand, said, sorrowfully : " You shall not be agitated again by any thing I say ; let us not touch upon that subject then. Tell me frankly, Beatrice, what you wished me to visit you for you cannot have a more devoted brother ! " Beatrice looked at him, with inexpressible affection, and murmured, " that might be nearly true." " What ? " he said. She trembled. " I do not think, father Mr. Hallam is my father," she said, greatly agitated. " Not your father 1 " he exclaimed, raising his head quickly. " It is so strange 1 " she murmured again, half to her self. ' " Not your father !" " I am certain that heaven has the wildest fiction could not " She stopped, overcome by agitation. " Beatrice 1 " he exclaimed, rising erect, " something strange has happened : you tremble : you send for me : gpeak ! What is this in my brain, my soul ! What is that so strangely familiar in your features I my brain strug gles " THE RIVALS AND THE GHOST. 249 " Charles ! I am Beatrice Waters your Uncle Ralph's daughter ! I feel it ! Oh, heaven has removed my doubts ! I d ) not need your assurance ! You are my cousin ! " F )r an instant, the two hearts beat fast the two frames felt a tremor run through them. " Yes ! heaven tells me, I am that little child ! the child of a father who died in that foreign land ! but speak 1 Had you not an uncle Ralph ? " " Yes," he murmured, looking at her as in a dream. " Your father's name is John 1 " " Yes ! " " You lived in Kent once 1 " " Yes ! " " In London next ! " " Yes ! " " Your uncle died in " " In Malta, twenty years ago ! " he said, scarcely con scious of what he was saying, scarcely able to speak from agitation wonder an overwhelming, undreamed of delight, which paralyzed his limbs, it seemed, arresting the very blood in his veins, making a lifeless statue of him. Beatrice was almost as much agitated as her companion, and had uttered these hurried interrogatories with a trem bling voice, a heaving bosom, a brow flushing and growing pale by turns. But when his last reply came when he said, " In Malta, twenty years ago : " then her remaining doubt became a dazzling certainty ; all mists swept away, and, covering her face with her hands, she murmured : " I am his daughter ! God directed the orphan's steps ! I am his child ! " Her knees bent under her, and overcome, exhausted, she would in another second have fallen upon his bosom : when suddenly the door was thrown open, and Mr. Effingham en tered the apartment. C HAPTER XLVI. THE RIVALS AND THE GHOST. THI rivals stood face to face, and surveyed eah thei, with glances which flashed and crossed like lightning. THE RIVALS AND THE GHOST. They were both strong men : for one had the strength of passion, the other the strength of resolute courage, and great self-control. How the singular interview would have commenced, it ig impossible to say for all at once, the wheezy voice of Mr. Manager Hallam was heard at the door, saying : " Ah, Mr. Effingham ! Mr. Effingham ! I called after you, and you have made me lose my breath, puffing after you up the stairs. But here is metal more attractive, you would say, after the great Congreve or, rather, the grand Shakspeare." With which words, the voice took to itself the sem blance of a puffy, red-faced gentleman, who entered smiling. At sight of Charles Waters, however, the manager's face fell. " Good morrow, sir," said Waters, calm and self- collected, spite of the various emotions he still experi enced. " Welcome, sir," said the manager, with some constraint. " We have a very fine day, sir hum I" And Mr. Manager Hallam cleared his throat. " We do not see you so often as our friend Mr. Effing ham," he added, for the sake of saying something. " Which is probably attributable to the fact that I live here," replied Mr. Effingham, coldly. There was a pause. " You look agitated, Beatrice," continued the manager, turning to his daughter with a constraint which was Tery observable. Beatrice turned away her head, and murmured, " No, sir 1 " I u Are you sick ? " " Oh no, sir." " Mr. Waters left his father well, I trust?" he continued turning to the silent man. " Perfectly, sir," was the calm reply. " Commend me to him when you return I feel as if we had met before," the manager said, with some hesita tion. His constraint was so plain, that Charles Waters deter mined to remove it, by taking his departure. His presence THE RIVALS AND THE GHOST. 25 1 evidently caused it ; and it was not pleasant to benold. Th strange and mysterious revelation made to him by Beatrice a revelation which his mind still struggled in vain to real ize had moved him, as we need not say, profoundly ; and the sight of the man who, beyond all doubt, knew and had been the chief actor in the hidden drama, then threw him into unwonted agitation. He wished for solitude and quiet to collect his scattered thoughts, and with a few common place words took his departure. He had reached the top of the stairway, and was on the point of descending, when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. He turned round ; Mr. Effingham stood before him. " A moment, sir ! " said that gentleman, haughtily. " Well, sir," said his opponent as coldly. " Mr. Waters, I believe, who saved Miss Hallam'a life ? " " My name is Waters, sir." " And mine Emngham." His opponent inclined his head coldly. " Ah ! " said Mr. Effingham, haughtily ; " you will not understand; you are a marble statue. One would really say that my name had struck upon your ears for the first time." " No, sir ; I have heard it before." " From Miss Hallam, doubtless ? " " Yes, sir." " Coupled with a highly favorable opinion, I suppose ? " " No, sir." " Ah ! ah ! now we approach the point." " What point, sir ? It is impossible for me to under* stand your meaning." These cold words seemed to irritate Mr. Emngham more and more. " I mean, sir," he said, " that you and Miss Beatrice Hallam have been making me the subject of criticism you have been indulging in abusive words relating to myself." " You are mistaken, sir." " Ah ! indeed ! " " Yes, sir ; but as you have thrust this conversation on me, I will add, that I have at different times spoken of yourself not abusively for that is a species of converse 252 7HB RIVALS AND THE GHOST. tion which I do net indulge in but critically . -hat, iir, I confess." " Very well, sir. It only remains for you to repeat those critical observations." " Mr. Effingham," said his opponent, " look at my fao.' " Well, sir ! " " If you have ordinary acuteness, you must perceive that I adopt this tone of calmness by a violent effort." " Well, sir ; permit me to request that you will deign to look at me. If I spoke my true feelings plainly, they would cut as the edge of a sword cuts." "A sword, sir?" " Yes ; have you one at home, sir ? " " No." " Ah 1 I had forgotten you do not wear this description of weapon." His adversary's face flushed, and forgetting all his self- control, he said: " If I do not wear, I use the sword, sir." Mr. Eflingham's eye flashed. " Good ! good 1 " he cried ; " when shall we meet ? " " Meet, sir ? " " Yes ! " " Do you purpose defying me to mortal combat ? " " Precisely, sir." " The reason ? " " I am not aware that a gentleman need give another any reason I wish it. Is not that enough, sir ? " " I asked your reason, because it seemed to me, sir, that if this challenge should be given at all, it should proceed from me." " From you I " " Yes, sir." " And, pray, why, sir," asked Mr. Effingham, haughtily. " Because I am the aggrieved party." " You 1 " " Yes, sir." " How, if it j lease you, sir ? " "I regret that 'tis not possible for me to explain and this I should have reflected upon before speaking." " Well, sir," said Mr. Eflingham, coldly, but cold only by a violent effort, " it is a matter of little importance from THE RIVALS AND THE GHOST. 255 which party the defiance comes. If from you, I accept ; H you do not send it, I will. There, sir ! Is that plain ? " " Perfectly, sir," said his opponent, turning pale with anger at the disdainful coldness of Mr. Effingham's tone, and losing, at lastj all his self control. " Well, your answer ? I waive all discussions of rank." His adversary's brow flushed. " Yes, yes, sir ! " he said, " you are very courteous, and I trust your lesson in the sword exercise will be more worthy of attention than the present one you give me in politeness.' " Politeness, sir ! " " I mean, sir, that you adopt towards me a tone which is most insulting and unworthy." " Sir I " " Yes, most unworthy. You will waive all discussions of rank ! By heaven, sir ! I think the waiver should be on my side. Yes, sir, you have overcome my self-control by pure force of continued insult driven me to anger. Well, sir, you shall hear my thoughts now. You have thrown to the winds all courtesy, you throw my station in society in my teeth, you think me a peasant a mere boor who should be whipped back to his place when be attempts to make his breast the barrier between a strong, passionate man, and a weak, feeble girl ! For that is your real cause of quarrel, sir ; you hate me because I stand between yourself and that young girl, yonder ! Yes, sir, you hate me, and you ima gine that I will yield to you that your sword will pass through my heart, and that you will be left free to persecute that child, as you have done already, without hindrance. Undeceive yourself ! I am no child 1 I promise you some thing more than a weak struggle the struggle of a girl en deavoring to escape your approaches. Yes, sir ! you shall have a fair field, and my heart's blood if you can take it 1 But guard well your own ! " Mr. Effingham was carried away by his rage his eyes filled with blood and, grinding his teeth, he drew his sword. Furious, blind, mad with passion, no one knows what he might have done, when, suddenly, a loud " Diable ! " was heard, and Mr. Effingham found his sword knocked up by the scabbard of another perfectly similar to it. It was the ghost, who, coming (ut of his roc m, had heard the altercation, and arrived just in time. 254 THE GHOST EXPLAINS WHAT HAD TAKEN ILAOl CHAPTER XLVII. THE GHOST EXPLAINS TV HAT HAD TAKEN PLACE AT THE BAOCtH ABMa MR. EFFINGHAM turned abruptly, and saw his counterpart the exact fac-simile of himself, as far as dress went, be it understood. "Ah, it is you, is it, sir? " he said, coldly, as he sheathed his sword. " Yea, and parbleu ! you are my friend of the Bacon Arms ! Why, bonjour, man ami ! " " Good day, sir ; you came just in time. I was on the point of committing a very foolish and unworthy action, which, no doubt, would have displeased this gentleman." " Morbleu ! quite likely 1 " cried the stranger, twirling his moustache. " I do not consider the circumstance by any means extraordinary. Displease him ? I believe you. It is calculated to displease a man to have a good short sword run through his midriff without even the satisfaction of mak ing his own sword say click 1 against the invading weapon ! " And, without a moment's hesitation, the stranger turned to Charles Waters, and, bowing to him, drew the sword from the scabbard he held in his hand, took it by the point, and presented the hilt to the unarmed man. " If we must have fighting and I regard it as the natu ral state of human things at least, let us have fair play my friends," he said. But Charles Waters drew back. " Thanks, sir," he replied, " but we will settle our differ ences elsewhere." " A duel ? " said the stranger. " Well, I am not fond of duels it is a villanous mode of settling the said differ ences. Hilf himmel 1 could any thing be more unreasonable than such a cold-blooded proceeding ! Strike, strike, com panion, while the blood is warm ; strike, and so fall : or, if you stand, shake hands and go away with a quiet conscience 1 Drink, and be friends ! I abominate your duels, though I have fought many." " Well, sir," said Mr. Effingham, with his reckless ** oome to-morrow and see another." AT THE BACON ARMS. 255 " Why, with pleasure 1 " returned the stranger; "are the arrangements made ? " " Not quite, the cause of strife having just arisen-" " Ah, ah ! a pretty girl is in the affair ! Morbleu, com rade, I'll see you in your sword exercise with pleasure, though you were going on contrary to the rules just now. A pretty girl, my life on itl Perhaps that charming little comedienne, Miss Hallam, whom I have seen in London, and who is here ? " " Yes, sir." The stranger shook his head. " Never fight about a woman," he said, sagely ; " one always regrets it always, comrade." " Permit me to say that I consider nothing more ap propriate." " Appropriate ! See how opinions differ. Perpend, compagnon : if you fight about the turn of H card, the rattle of a dice-box there is some philosophy in it they are worth it it is rational. But about a pair of eyes a woman ! never 1 " " Well, sir, I still hold to my opinion." " And are going to fight ? " Yes." " Have you a friend ? " "Not yet." " Let me act for you ; and don't think I bear you any ill-will for the affair out yonder. We can easily cross swords on that, if necessary, afterwards," said the stranger, with the utmost calmness and good-humor. " Thanks, sir," said Mr Effingham ; " your offer relieves me from much trouble, and I accept it." " Who is my principal ? in other words, comrade, let me have your name Effingham, is it not ? " " Yes." " My own is hum well, I am called La Riviere sometimes Captain La Riviere not unfrequently the Che valier La Riviere. Now for your opponent," added the stranger, looking keenly at Charles Waters. ' My name is Waters, sir," he said, " but I really do not Bee the necessity of " " Waters 1" cried the stranger: "tonnerel is it DOB- ibje 1 " 256 THE GHOST EXPLAINS WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACB And dropping his band to his sword hilt, he looked long and fixedly, with a strange expression, at the silent man. " What surprises you, sir ? " asked Waters. The stranger made no reply ; he seemed to have sud denly grown dumb ; then he murmured, " Waters ! Waters ! did you say Waters ? " " Yes, sir ; Charles Waters." The stranger, with his eyes still fixed with the samf curious expression on the other, said to Mr. Effingham : " I regret that I shall have to withdraw my offer to offi ciate as your second." " Why, sir ? " said Mr. Effingham, abruptly, and with some irritation. " Come, come, comrade ; because it pleases me. I can't give a reason at the sword's point," said the stranger, coolly " Pardon my abruptness, sir. " " Certainly, certainly," returned the stranger, with great good-nature ; " and I will state that I think I was well ac quainted with a relative of Mr. Waters, in the Seven Years' War." " With my brother, sir 1 " " Was he your brother, mon ami ? A certain Captain Ilalph ; was that his name ? " u Yes, yes ; did you " " Know him ? Oh, perfectly well Morbleu, we were inseparable 1 Excellent friendsdevoted to each other eating out of the same platter drinking out of the same glass loving the same damsels marching together sleep ing together defending each other really inseparable, on the honor of a soldier ! " And the captain laughed, until his moustaches curled up to his eyes. " I never can think of that man without laughing," he said ; " he was such a ridiculous character had been through so many odd adventures, which he was eternally relating n u Yes, yes ; I recognize the portrait," said Charles Wa ters, hanging on the stranger's words. " Faith, do you ? " said the captain ; " well, I should recognize him in the dark. You know, now ? sir," he added, turning to Mr. Emngham, " why it is not proper that I should act as your second in a duel with the brother of mj dearest friend." AT TttE BACON ARMS. 257 "Well, sir, as you choose," said Mr. Effingham ; "you are at liberty to act as pleases you, of course." " Of course ; and, therefore, I transfer my offer to Mr. Waters, here." " Very well, sir." " You are very kind, sir," said Charles Waters, calmly. " Not at all, not at all ; I owe that much to Ralph ; but parbleu, I can't go on the field a perfect counterpart of your opponent," said the stranger, laughing. " I have been wondering, sir, at the perfect similarity." The stranger laughed heartily. " The plainest thing in the world," he said ; " a real case of highway robbery at an inn, and to this moment I myself am as completely in the dark as to what it means." " It means that I wanted your soldier's dress," said Mr. Effingham, coolly, "and took it." " Leaving your own. Good ! good ! " laughed the stranger. " Don't think I am going to quarrel, or find fault. Nothing astonishes me in this world, and few things make me angry. Faith 1 I admired your strategy. Figure to yourself, as the French say," continued the stranger, turning to Charles Waters, and curling his black moustache ; " imagine me stopping at the tavern called the ' Bacon Arms,' half way between this place and York, the port at which I landed. I am seated in the ordinary, amusing myself by tracing figures on the sanded floor, with my sword's point ; I wait for the end of the storm and rain, knowing the value of a good hostelry, when, suddenly, my friend here enters, having outrun the wind, and desirous, like myself, of saving himself a wetting. He looks at me he admires my cos tume, and faith ! he had reason, for the great Frederic him self always regarded it with a smile of approbation. We drink there I am never at a loss, morbleu we converse we abuse the storm we become excellent friends. Now mark the sequel. At eleven at night the storm still rages ; we agree to retire. Mine host has but one bed-room vacant, with two beds. We go to sleep I wake up in the morning and when I come to -ook for my proper habiliments, diable 1 they are gone. My good friend, too, has vanished, leaving, however, his own dress 1 What a comedy I Better than Closter Zeven 1 I take up the coat I regard th 258 THE GHOSf EXPLAINS WHAT HAL TAKEN FLAGS breeches I put them on, and turn myself in admiring them. But faith, they were too tight ! My shoulders ached my breast felt as if I was cased in armor faith, it feels so now ! " And the soldier drew a long breath, which sent flying from the rich waistcoat the two remaining buttons; at which amusing circumstance he laughed again. " And now, man ami" he said, to Mr. Effingham, " take pity on a poor defeated comrade, who has got the worst of it, who came along groaning over his defeat, who, in conclu sion, will cheerfully debate the right of property in the said costume, at the sword's point 1 Come now, be mag nanimous; let us have a bout 1 " " That is not necessary, sir," said Mr. Effingham, who had listened to the stranger with haughty indifference ; " I have no need of the dress at present, as the occasion for which I took it in exchange for my own is deferred some days." " Oh, you are welcome then, to it, comrade," replied the stranger, who, still looking abstractedly at Charles Waters, had not noticed the cold accent of Mr. Effingham's voice ; " when you wish me to unsbell myself, you have but to speak, and I will cheerfully do so. I will even place my whole travelling wardrobe, at York yonder, at your disposal." " Thanks, sir : will you come now and resume your dress ? " " Yes, yes, at once for theso elegant velvets worry <ne." " First, however, let me restore to you this bundle of Bank of England notes," said Mr. Effingham, taking from his purse the money, " I found them in the pocket of your coat ten notes of ten pounds each." " Good good I had forgotten them completely," said the soldier, thrusting them into his pocket without looking at them ; " and now let us proceed to your apartment, mon compagnon. It is understool that this little affair takes place " " Day after to-morrow, if that is agreeable to Mr. Wa ters," said Mr. Effingham, with his disdainful coldness ; " I have indispensable engagements." " What say you, sir ? " the soldier said to the other, ' I act for you." AT THE BACON ARMS. 259 u When you please, sir," was the calm reply. " Well, well now : that is arranged. We shall ta.k over scatters in the course of the day." And leaving Charles Waters, the two copies of each other entered Mr. Effingham's apartment the one augh- ing, joyous, talking loudly; the other cold, silent, and with a weary, reckless look, which made the contrast perfect. CHAPTER XLVIII. HOW HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR FAUQUIEB, GAVE A GREAT BALL, AND WHO WERE PRESENT. THE day for the meeting of the House of Burgesses had ar rived : indeed, the scene which we have just related took place on the afternoon preceding it. We have already expended some words upon the appear ance of the town for days before this important occasion, and can now only add, that the bustle was vastly greater, the laughter louder, the crowd larger, and the general excitement a thousand-fold increased on this, the long-expected morning. We have no space to enter into a full description of the appearance which the borough presented : indeed, this nar rative is not the proper place for such historic disquisitions, dealing as it does with the fortunes of a few personages, who pursued their various careers, and laughed and wept, and loved and hated, almost wholly without the " aid of govern ment." It was scarcely very important to Beatrice, for instance, that his Excellency Governor Fauquier set out from the palace to the sound of cannon, and drawn slowly in his splendid chariot with its six glossy snow-white horses, and its body-guard of cavalry, went to the capitol, and so delivered there his gracious and vice-regal greeting to the Burgesses, listening in respectful, thoughtful silence. The crowd could not drive away the poor girl's various disquieting thoughts ; the smile which his Excellency threw towards the Raleigh, and its throng of lookers-on, scarcely shed any light upon her anxious and fearful heart : she only felt that to-night the crowd at the theatre would be noisier, and iuor 260 . GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. dense ; her duty only more repulsive toh'er finally, that aft this bustle and confusion was to terminate in a ball, at which she was to pass through a fiery ordeal of frowns and comments ; even through worse, perhaps more dreadful trials. She had not dared, that morning, when her father told her he should expect her to keep her promise, and ac company the young man, after the theatre, to the ball the poor girl had not dared to speak of her secret, or to resist. Then she had promised that was the terrible truth ; and so she had only entreated, and cried, and besought her father to have mercy on her : and these entreaties, prayers, and sobs, having had no effect, had yielded ; and gone into her bed-chamber, and upon her knees, with Kate's little Bible open before her, asked the great heavenly Father to take care of her. All this splendid pageant all this roar of cannon, blare of trumpets, rumbling thunder of the incessant drums, could not make her heart any lighter ; her face was still dark. And the spectacle had as little effect upon the other person ages of the narrative. Mr. Effingham, seated in his room, smiled scornfully, as the music and the people's shouts came to him. He felt that all that noisy and joyous world was alien to him cared nothing fur him was perfectly indiffer ent whether he suffered or was happy. He despised the empty fools in his heart, without reflecting that the jar and discord was not in the music and the voices but in himself. And this was the audience he would have to see him play Benedick ! these plebeian voices would have liberty to ap plaud or hiss him ! the thought nearly opened his eyes to the true character of the step he was about to take. What was he about to do ? that night he was going to the palace of the Governor with an actress leaning on his arm there to defy the whole Colony of Virginia, in effect to say to them " Look ! you laugh at me I show you that I scorn you ! " then in a day or two his name would be pub lished in a placard, " The part of Benedick, by Champ Effingham, Esq." to be made the subject of satirical and insulting comment by the very boors and overseers. Thesa two things he was about to do, and he drew back for a mo ment for an instant hesitated. But suddenly, the interview fee had with Hamilton came back to him, and his lip was ttOVERNOR FAUQOTER'S LALL. 26 1 Wreathed with his reckless sneer again. They would not permit him, forsooth ! his appearance at the ball with Misa Hallam, would be regarded as a general insult, and a dozen duels spring out of it ! he would do well to avoid the place ! to sneak, to skulk, to swallow all his fine promises and boasts ! " No I " he said, aloud, with his teeth clenched ; " by heaven 1 I go there, and I act ! I love her and I hate her more than ever, and, if necessary, will fight a hundred duels for her, with these chivalric gentlemen ! " So the day passed, and evening drew on slowly, and the might came. Let us leave the bustling crowd hurrying to ward the theatre leave the taverns overflowing with revel lers let us traverse Gloucester-street, and enter the grounds, through which a fine white gravelled walk leads to the palace. On each side of this walk a row of linden trees are ornamented with variegated lanterns, and ere long these lanterns light up lovely figures of fair dames and gallant gentlemen, walking daintily from the carriage portal to the palace. Let us enter. Before us have passed many guests, and the large apartments, with their globe lamps and chan- deliers, and portraits of the king and queen, and Chelsea figures, and red damask chairs, and numerous card-tables, are already filling with the beauty and grace of that former brilliant and imposing society. See this group of lovely young girls, with powdered hair brushed back from their tender temples, and snowy necks and shoulders glittering with diamond necklaces ; see the queer patches on their chins close by the dimples ; see their large falling sleeves, and yellow lace, and bodices with their silken network ; see their gowns, looped back from the satin underskirt, ornamented with flowers in golden thread ; their trains and fans, and high red-heeled shoes, and all their puff's and furbelows, and flounces ; see, above all, their gracious smiles, as they flirt their fans and dart their fatal glances at the magnificently-clad gentlemen in huge ruffles and silk stockings, and long, broad-flapped waistcoats and embroidered coats, with sleeves turned back to the elbow and profusely laced ; see how they ogle, and speak with dainty softuesa under their breath, and sigh and smile, and ever continue playing on the hapless cavaliers the dangerous artillery of their brilliant eyes. 62 OONEE.NOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. Or, see this group of young country gentlemen, followeft of the fox, with their ruddy faces and laughing voices ; theii queues secured by plain black ribbon ; their strong hands, accustomed to heavy buckskin riding-gloves; their talk of hunting, crops, the breed of sheep and cattle, and the blood of horses. Or, pause a moment near that group of dignified gentle men, with dresses plain though rich ; and lordly brows and clear bright eyes, strong enough to look upon the sun of royalty, and, undazzled, see the spots disfiguring it. Hear them converse calmly, simply, like giants knowing their strength ; how slow and clear and courteous their tones ; how plain their manners i Lastly, see the motley throng of the humbler planters, some of the tradesmen, factors as they were called, mingled with the yeomen ; see their wives and daughters, fair and attractive, but so wholly outshone by the little powdered damsels ; last of all, though not least, see his bland Excel lency Governor Fauquier gliding among the various groups, and smiling on every body. Let us endeavor to catch some of the words uttered by these various personages, now so long withdrawn from us in the far past that silent, stern, inexorable past, which swal lows up so many noble forms, and golden voices, and high deeds ; and which in turn will obliterate us and our little or great actions, as it has effaced though Heaven be thanked, not wholly ! what illustrated and adorned those times which we are now trying to depict. And first let us listen to this group of quiet, calm-looking men fame has spoken loudly of them all " Your reverend opponent really got the better of you, 1 think, sir," says a quiet, plain, simple gentleman, with a fine face and eye. "'The Twopenny- Act' made out too clear a case, in mere point of law, to need the after-clap." " True, sir," his friend replies, smiling so pleasantly, that his very name seemed to indicate his character, " but I would willingly be unhorsed again by the Reverend Mr. Camm, in a cause so good. Every thing concerning Vir ginia, you know, is dear to me. I believe some of my friends consider me demented on the subject or at least call m the ' Virginia Antiquary.' " UOVBB.NOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. 263 " I consider it a very worthy designation, sir ; and in spite of my opinion, that ' The Colonel's Dismounted' is an appropriate title I cannot be otherwise than frank ever I am fully convinced that equity was with you. BufrTiere comes our noble Roman." As he speaks, a tall, fine-looking gentleman approaches, with an eagle eye, a statuesque head, inclined forward as though listening courteously, a smile upon his lips, his right hand covered with a black bandage. " What news from Westmoreland, pray, seigneur of Chantilly ?" asks the opponent of the Reverend Mr. Camm. " Do they think of testing the Twopenny- Act by suits for damages ? " " No, sir," says the newcomer, very courteously ; " I believe, however, that in Hanover county the Reverend Mr. Maury has brought suit against the collector." " Ah, then we shall get some information from our friend from Caroline 1 See, here he is. Good day, sir 1 " He who now approaches has the same calm, benignant expression as the rest an expression, indeed, which seems to have dwelt always on those serene noble faces of that period, so full of stirring events and strong natures. The face was not unlike that which we fancy Joseph Addison's must have been a quiet, serene smile, full of courtesy and sweet ness, illuminated it, attracting people of all ages and condi tions. When he speaks, it is in the vox argentea of Cicero, a gentle stream of sound, rippling in the sunlight. " What from Caroline, pray ? " asks the ' dismounted Colonel,' pressing the hand held out to him with great warmth. " Do the clergy speak of bringing suit to recover damages at once, for the acts of '55 and '58 ? " " i believe not," the gentleman from Caroline replies, courteously, in his soft voice; " but have you not heard the news from Hanover ?" " No, sir ; pray let us hear " " In the action brought by the Reverend Mr. Maury against the collector, a young man of that con nty has pro cured a triumphant verdict for the collector." " For the collector ? " " Yes!" " Against the clergy ? '* 264 GOVERNOR FAUQCIER'S BALI. Yes ! " You said a triumphant verdict ? " " One penny damages." An expression of extreme delight diffuses itself over th face of the gentleman receiving this reply. " And what is the name of the young man who has worked this wonder ? " " Mr. Patrick Henry." " I have no acquaintance with him." " I think you will have, however, sir. His speech is said to have been something wonderful ; the people carried him on their shoulders, the parsons fled from the bench I found the county, as I passed through, completely crazy with delight. But what is that small volume, peeping from your pocket, sir ? " adds the speaker, with a smile at the abstracted and delighted expression of his interlocutor. " An Anacreon, from Glasgow, sir," says the other, al most forgetting his delight at the issue of the parsons' cause, as he takes the book from his pocket and opens it It is a small thin volume, with an embossed back, covered with odd gilt figures ; and the Greek type is of great size, and very black and heavy. " Greek ? " says the gentleman from Caroline, smiling serenely. " Ah, I fear it is Hebrew to me 1 I may say, however, that from what I have heard, this young Mr. Henry is a fair match for > former orator of that language De mosthenes 1 " " Well, sir," says the Roman, " if he is Demosthenes, yonder is our valiant Alexander ! " "Who is he?" " Is that fine face not familiar ? " " Ah, CoL Washington ! I know him but slightly ; yet, assuredly, his countenance gives promise of a noble nature ; he has certainly already done great service to the govern ment, and I wonder his Majesty has not promoted him. His promotion will, however, await further services, I fancy." " Ah, gentlemen, you are welcome 1 " says a courteous voice ; " Mr. Wythe, Colonel Bland, Mr. Lee, Mr. Pendle- ton, I rejoice to see you all : welcome, welcome ! " And his Excellency Governor Fauquier, with courtly urbanity presses the hands of his guests. GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. " You will find card-tables in the next room, should you fancy joining in the fascinating amusements of tictao and spadille," he adds, blandly smiling as he passes on. The next group which we approach is quite large, and all talk at once, with hearty laughter and rough frankness ; and this talk concerns itself with plantation matters the blood of horses, breeds of cattle, and the chase. Let us listen, even if, in the uproar, we can catch nothing very con nected, and at the risk of finding ourselves puzzled by the jumble of questions and replies. " The three field system, I think, sir, has the advantage over all others of " " Oh, excellent, sir ! I never saw a finer leaf, and when we cut it " " Suddenly the blood rushed over his frill, and we found he had broken his collar bone ! " " The finest pack, I think, in all Prince George " " By George ! " " He's a fine fellow, and has, I think, cause to congratu late himself on his luck. His wife is the loveliest girl I ever saw, and " " Trots like lightning 1 " " Well, well, nothing astonishes me 1 The world must be coming to an end " " On Monday forenoon " " On the night before " " They say the races near Jamestown will be more crowded this year than ever. I announced" " The devil ! " " Good evening, sir ; I hope your mare will be in good condition for the race " " To destruction, sir I tell you such a black act would ruin the ministry even Granville " " Loves his pipe " " The races" " Hedges" " Distanced " " I know his pedigree ; you are mistaken by Sir Arohy dam " " The )dds ? I close with you. Indeed, I think J could afford " I? ' 266 GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. " Ah, gentlemen ! " a courteous voice interposes, amid the uproar, " talking of races ? Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Lane, welcome to my poor house ! You will find card-tables in the adjoining room." And his bland Excellency passes on. Space fails us or we might set down for the reader's amusement some of the quiet and pleasant talk of the well- to-do factors and humbler planters, and their beautiful wives and daughters. We must pass on ; but let us pause a mo ment yet, to hear what this group of magnificently-dressed young dames, and their gay gallants, are saying. " Really, Mr. Alston, your compliments surpass any which I have received for a very long time," says a fasci nating little beauty, in a multiplicity of furbelows, and with a small snow storm on her head, flirting her fan, all covered with Corydons and Chloes, as she speaks ; " what verses did you allude to, when you said that ' Laura was the very image of myself ? ' I am dying with curiosity to know 1 " " Those written by our new poet yonder : have you not heard them ? " " No, sir, upon my word ! But the author is " " The Earl of Dorset, yonder." " The Earl of Dorset ! " " Ah, charming Miss Laura ! permit the muse to deco rate herself with a coronet, and promenade, in powdered wig and ruffles, without questioning her pedigree." A little laugh greets these petit maitre words. " Well, sir, the verses," says Laura, with a fatal glance. The gallant bows low, and draws from his pocket a MS., secured with blue ribbon, and elegantly written in the round, honest-looking characters of the day. " Here it is," he says. And all the beautiful girls who have listened to the colloquy gather around the reader, to drink in the fascinat ing rhymes of the muse, in an earl's coronet and powder. " First comes the prologue, as I may say," the reader commences ; " it is an address to his pen : M Wilt thou, adrent'rous pen, describe The gay, delightful silken tribe, That maddens all our city ; Nor dread lest while you foolish claim A near approach to beauty's flame, Icarus' fate may hit ye 1 " GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. 267 The speaker pauses, and a great fluttering of fans ensues, with many admiring comments on the magnificent simile of Icarus. The reader continues, daintily arranging his snowy frill " Mark the fate of the bard," he says, and reads : " "With singe'd pinions tumbling down. The scorn and laughter of the town Thoul't rue thy daring flight. While every Miss, with cool contempt, Affronted by the bold attempt, Will, tittering, view thy plight." " Tittering observe the expressive phrase," says the reader. They all cry out at this. " Tittering ! " " Ladies do not titter 1 " " Really ! " " Tittering ! " The serene reader raises his hand, and, adjusting his wig, " Mere poetic license, ladies ; merely imagination ; not fact. True, very true 1 ladies never titter an abominable imputation. But, listen." And he continues : "Myrtillaa Deatities who can paint, The well-turned form, the glowing teiut, May deck a common creature ; But who can make th* expressive soul, With lively sense inform the whole, And light up evwy feature ? " " A bad rhyme * teint,' and a somewhat aristocratic allu sion to ' common creatures,' " says the reader. " Oh, it is beautiful 1 " says a pretty little damsel, enthu siastically. " I am glad you like your portrait, my dear madam," says the gallant, " I assure you that Myrtilla was designed for you." " Oh ! " murmurs Myrtilla, covering her face with her fan. The reader continues ; 268 GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. "See Laura, sprightly nymph, advance Through nil the mazes of the dance, With light fantastic toe; See laughter sj nrkle in her eyes At her approach new joys arise. New fires within us glowf "Such sweetness in her look is seen. Such brilliant elegance of mien, So jauntie and so airy: Her image in our fancy reigns, All night she gallops through our veins, Like little Mab the fairy 1 " Laura covers her face to hide her delight, in the midst of universal applause. The reader helps himself daintily to a pinch of snuff from a golden box, and continues : " Shall sprightly Isadora yield To Laura the distinguished field Amidst the vernal throng ; Or shall Aspasia's frolic lays From Leonella snatch the bays, The tribute of the song J " And as the gallant gentleman reads, he pauses at " Isa dora," " Aspasia," and " Leonella," and, raising his head, reveals the hidden meaning of the verse by gazing at those beauties, who utter little cries of delight, and go into rap tures. He continues : " Like hers I ween, the blushing rose On Sylvia's polished cheek that glows ; And hers the velvet lip To which the cherry yields its hue, Its plumpness and ambrosial dew, Which even gods might sip 1 " Isadora and Sylvia cover their faces, and feel conscioui f having made a host of enemies. The reader reads on : " What giddy raptures fill the brain, When tripping o'er the verdant plain, Florella joins the throng, Her looks each throbbing pain beguiles, Beneath her footsteps nature smileo, And joins the pot's sons'." GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. 269 Then there is a pause. " Who is Florella ? " they ask. " Florella, ladies, I regret to say, is not present," the reader replies, embracing the brilliant and undulating throng with a glance. " But who is it ? " " Are you really desirous of knowing ? " " Yes, yes.' " I have been told that curiosity was not one of the foi bles of the divine sex " " Come come, Mr. Alston," says Laura, " on pain of my displeasure ! " " That is far too dreadful to endure," says the gallant, smoothing his frill with a jewelled hand, and bowing low, " Florella, ladies, is Miss Henrietta Lee." " Exactly like her excellent," comes from all sides. Some more verses are read, and they are received with a variety of comment. " Listen now, to the last," says the engaging reader. " With pensive look and head reclined, Sweet emblem of the purest mind, Lo 1 where Cordelia sits I On Dion's image dwells the fair Dion, the thunderbolt of war The prince of modern wits 1 "At length fatigued with beauty's blaze^ The feeble muse no more essays, Her picture to complete. The promised charms of younger girls, When nature the gay scene unfurls, Some happier bard shall treat I " There is a silence for some moments after these words the MS. having passed from the gallant's hands to anothei group. <: Who is Cordelia ? let me think," says Laura, knitting her brows, and raising to her lips a fairy hand covered with diamonds, absently. " And Dion who can he be ? " says Isodora, twisting her satin sleeve between her fingers abstractedly. " It is ! no, it is not 1 " " I know, now ! but that don't suit 1 " " Permit me to end your perplexity, ladies," says the 270 GOVERNOR FAUQUtER S BALL. oracle, " Cordelia, is Miss Clare Lee, and Dion, is Mr. Champ Effingham ! A general exclamation of surprise, from all the ladies. They say : " It suits him, possibly, but " " He may be the prince of wits ; still it does not fol low" " Certainly not, that" " Clare is not such a little saint ! " " Let me defend her," says a gentleman, smiling ; " I grant you that 'tis extravagant to call Mr. Effingham a thun derbolt" " Laughable." " Amusing," say the gentlemen. " Or the prince of modern wits," continues the counsel for the defence. " Preposterous ! " " Unjust 1 " they add. " But I must be permitted to say," goes on the chivalrio defender of the absent, " that Miss Clare Lee fully deserves her character : the comparison of that lovely girl, ladies, to Cordelia, Cordelia, the sweetest of all Shakespeare's charac ters seems to me nothing more than justice." The gentlemen greet this with enthusiastic applause, for our little, long-lost sight of heroine, had subdued all hearts. " As regards Mr. Effingham," adds Clare's knight, " I shall be pardoned for not saying any thing, since he is not present." " Then I will say something " here interposes a small gentleman, with a waistcoat reaching to his knees, and pro fusely laced, like all the rest of his clothes indeed, the richness of his costume was distressing " but I will say, sir, that Mr. Effingham's treatment of that divine creature, Miss Clare Lee, is shameful." " How ? " ask the ladies, agitating their fans, and scenting a delicious bit of scandal. " Why," says the gentleman in the long waistcoat, squar ing himself, so to speak, and greatly delighted at the sudden accession to his importance the general opinion being that he was somewhat insignificant, " why, ladies, he has been running afHr that little jade, Miss Hallam 1 " FAUQUIER'S BALL. 271 u Miss Hallam ! " cry the ladies, in virtuous ignorance though nothing was more notorious than the goings-on of our friend Mr. Effingham, " Miss Hallam ! " " Precisely, ladies." " The actress ? " " Yes." " A playing girl ! " exclaims a lady, of say thirty, and covering her face as she spoke. " Falling in love with her ! " " Possible ? " " Haven't you heard all about it ? " This home question causes a flutter and a silence. " I'll tell you, then," continues the gentleman in the long waistcoat, " I'll tell you all about the doings of ' Dion, the thunderbolt of war, and prince of modern wits.' He, the thunderbolt of war ? preposterous ! He, the prince cf wits ? ludicrous ! He may be the king of coxcombs, the coryphaeus of dandies but that is all." The gentlemen standing around listen to these words, with some amusement and more disgust. It is plain that some secret spite actuates the gentleman in the long waist coat. " Well, let us hear Mr. Effingham's crimes," says Laura, " By all means," adds Isadora. " Of course," says Myrtilla. " He has been making himself ridiculous about that ac tress," continues the chronicler, " and I have even heard, designs to marry her." The ladies make a movement, to express surprise and indignation, but after a moment's reflection, suppress this somewhat ambiguous exhibition of their feelings. " He's been at the ' Raleigh Tavern,' making love to her for a mouth," continues the narrator. " At the tavern ? " " Yes, in town here." " Did any one ever ! " says the lady of unceitain age. " Never ! never 1 " chime in the virtuous little damsels, shaking their heads solemnly. " He has left his family," the gentleman in the long waistcoat goes on, indignantly, " and they are dying of grief" 279 GOVERNOR FAUQ JIER'S BALL. "Oh, can it be!" " Certainly, madam. Why are they not her to-night ? M " Very true." " Why is Clare Lee, the victim of his insincerity, away, pray tell me I They are not here they are not coming, madam." At the same moment, the usher announces the squire, Miss Alethea, and Miss Clare Lee Master Willie and Kate being too small to be seen, which the squire had warned them of. The squire is as bluff as ever, and makes his salu tation to his Excellency with great cordiality Clare is pale and absent, presenting thus a singular contrast to Henrietta, who enters a moment afterwards, brilliant, imposing, and smiling, like a queen receiving the homage of the nobility around her throne. She sweeps on, leaning on the arm of honest Jack Hamilton, and the party are swallowed in the crowd. Let us return to the group, whose conversation the new arrivals had interrupted. " Well, I was mistaken," says the gentleman in the long waistcoat, " but any one may see that Clare Lee is dying slowly ! " At which affecting observation, the young ladies sigh and shake their heads. " And just think what that man has thrown this divine creature away for," continues the censor inorum, " for a com mon actress ! an ordinary playing girl tolerably pretty she may be, but vastly overrated a mere thing of stage paint and pearl powder, strutting through her parts and rant ing like an Amazon 1 " " I think her quite pretty," says Laura, " but it is too bad." " Dreadful 1 " Awful 1 " Horrible 1 " " Shocking 1 " These are some of the comments on Mr. Effingham'a conduct, from the elegant little dames. " He is ashamed to show himself any where," continues the gentleman in the long waistcoat, " and only yesterday met me on the street, and in passing, turned away his head, GOVERNOR FAUQUIER'S BALL. 273 plainly afraid that I would not speak in return, had Ke ad dressed me ! " At which words the gentlemen are observed to smile knowing as they do, something of Mr. Champ Effingham'a personal character and habits. " He actually was afraid to look at me," says the censor, " and I am told keeps his room all day, or passes his time in the society of that Circe, yes, that siren who is only too fond of him, I am afraid and I predict will make him marry her at last." The ladies sigh, and agitate their fans with diamond- sparkling hands. They feel themselves very far above this shameless creature attempting to catch as we now say Mr. Emngham : they pity her, for such a thing never has occurred to them no gentleman has ever been attractive enough for them to have designs upon his heart. And so they pity and despise Beatrice, for wishing to run away with her admirer. " He is heartily ashamed of his infatuation, and I saw him last night in the theatre, positively afraid to look at the audience but staring all the time at her," continues the small gentleman. " But that is easy to understand, as he is in love," says Myrtilla, with a strong inclination to take the part of the reprobate against his enemy. " No, no, madam," exclaims the censor, " he was really ashamed to look at the people, and took not the least notice of their frowns : he does not visit any where : he knows he would not be received he is afraid to show his face." It seemed that the gentleman in the long waistcoat was doomed to have all his prophecies falsified ; for at that mo ment, the usher announced in a loud voice, which attracted the attention of the whole company : " Mr. Emngham and Miss Hallam ! ' 274 BOW MR. EFFINGHAM AND BEATRICE DANCED CHAPTER XL IX. HOW MK. EFFING1IAM AND BEATRICE DANCED A MINUET AT TH1 BALL. MR. EFFINGHAM entered under the full light of the central chandelier, with Beatrice on his arm. He carried his head proudly erect, his eye was clear and steady, his lip calm and only slightly sarcastic : his whole carriage displayed per fect and unaffected self-possession. The thousand eyes bent on him vainly sought in his eyes, or lips, any thing going to show that he felt conscious of the dreadful, the awful social enormity, which he was committing Mr. Effingham was dressed with extraordinary richness. He was always elegant in his costume, on that night he was splendid. His coat of rich cut velvet, was covered with embroidery, and sparkled with a myriad of chased gold but tons; his lace ruffles at breast and wrist were point-de-venise, his fingers were brilliant with rings, and his powdered hair waved from his clear pale temples like a stream of silver dust. He looked like a courtier of the days of Louis XIV., dressed for a royal reception. And how did Beatrice compare with this brilliant star of fashion this thunderbolt of war, and prince of modern wits, as the muse in powdered hair and ruffles had charac terized him. Poor Beatrice was quite eclipsed by her cava lier. Her simple, unassuming dress, of pearl color, looped back with plain ribbon, and without a single flower, or any ornament whatever, looked strangely out of place, thrown in contrast with the brilliant silks, and velvets, and gold but tons, and diamonds of her companion : her modest, tender face, and drooping head, with its unpretending coiffure, looked quite insignificant beside the bold, defiant counte nance of Mr. Effingham, which returned look for look, and gaze for gaze, with an insulting nonchalance and easy hau teur. We know how reluctantly Beatrice had come thither rather how bitter a trial it was to her, and we may under stand why she looked pale and troubled, and spite of the fact that she had just encountered the gaze of a curious and laughing audience, without any emotion now felt her spirit 4 MINUE1 AT THE BALU 275 die within her. It was not because she shrunk from com ment, half so much, as from the fact that each moment she expected to see opposite to her the cold, pale face, and sick, reproachful eyes of Clare Lee of Clare, who had thrown aside the prejudices of class, even forgot the jealousy of a wronged and wretched rival, to press in her arma the riva* who had made all her woe, and that rival a common actresa It was the dread of her eye which made poor Beatrice trem ble this alone made her lip quiver and her brow droop. His excellency Governor Fauquier came forward to wel come his guests, but started at the sight of Beatrice, and almost uttered an exclamation. For a moment he was stag gered, and said nothing. This soon passed, however, and by the time Mr. Effingham had accomplished his easy bow, the governor was himself again, and like the elegant gentle man he was, made a low inclination before Beatrice. Then he made a pleasant allusion to the weather that mucb abused subject, which has extricated so many perishing con versations and so, smiling agreeably, passed on. Mr. Effingham advanced through the opening, on each side of which extended a row of brilliant forms, sparkling with lace and jewels, without any apparent consciousness that he and his companion were the observed of all observers without being conscious, one would have said, of those murmured comments which greeted, on every side, the strange and novel scene. His manner to Beatrice, as he bent down to speak to her, was full of respectful and chi- valric feeling ; his eye was soft, his lip smiling ; the highest lady of the land might well have felt an emotion of pleasure in so elegant and noble an exhibition of regard. And this was not affected by Mr. Effinghara. By no means. We have failed to convey a truthful impression of this young gentleman's character, if the reader has not, before this time, perceived that, with all his woful faults and failings, Mr. Champ Effingham had much in his character of the bold gentleman the ancient knight. With those thousand satirical or scornful eyes bent on her, Beatrice was dearer to him than she had ever been before. Those elegant ladies and gallant gentlemen were saying, with disdain, " a common actress ! " Well, he would espouse the cause of that girl they scorned against them all, and treat her like a queen 1 276 HOW MR. EFFINGHAM AND BEATRICE DANCED Never had she had more complete possession of his heart- never had his heart thrilled so deliciously at the contact of her hand, resting upon his arm. As we have said, all drew back from the new comers, and they entered through an open space, like a king leading in his queen. Mr. Effinghain looked round, with a cool and easy smile, and led the young girl to a seat, near some elderly dowagers, in turbans and diamonds, who had en throned themselves in state, to watch their daughters, and Bee that those inexperienced creatures did not give too much encouragement to ineligible personages. As Beatrice sank into one of the red damask chairs, the surrounding chairs suddenly retreated on their rollers, and the turbans agitated themselves indignantly. Mr. Effingham smiled, with his easy, mocking expression, and observing that one of the diamond-decorated dowagers had dropped her fan, picked it up, and presented it to her, with a bow. The indignant lady turned away her head, with a frown. " Ah," said Mr. Effingham, politely, " I was mistaken." And fanning himself for a moment negligently, he placed the richly feathered instrument in the hand of Beatrice. " My fan, if you please, sir," said the owner, suddenly flushing with indignant fire. " Your fan, madam ? " asked Mr. Effingham, with polite surprise. " Yes, sir 1 you picked it up, sir ! " " A thousand pardons ! " returned the young gentleman, with a courteous smile ; " did I ? " " Yes, sir 1 that is it, sir ! In the hands of that " " Oh, I understand," returned Mr. Effingham ; and with a low inclination to Beatrice, he said, holding out his hand, " Will you permit me ? " The fan was restored by the young girl, just as she had taken it unconsciously ; and the dowager received it with the tips of her fingers, as if it had been contaminated. At the same moment, the band struck up a minuet, and two couples began to dance. " How graceful the costume of our young ladies is be coming," said Mr. Effingham, bending down courteously to Beatrice, on the back of whose chair he leaned. Beatrice murmured, " Yes." A MINUET AT THE BALu. Ail " Much prettier, I think, than that of fifty years ago," continued Mr. Effingham, smiling, and glancing respectfully at the elderly and indignant ladies, who were listening. The fans waved furiously. " There is a fitness about the fresh, new style," he con tinued, " and it suits youth. I do not quarrel, however, with the former costume turbans, and all that it is also suitable for elderly ladies." And Mr. Effingham, smiling meekly, seemed perfectly unconscious of the storm muttering around him. As he spoke, honest Jack Hamilton, who had left the Riverhead and Effingham party in the other room, approached, and with a movement of his head, asked to be presented to Beatrice. , The young girl could hardly return his bow ; she felt such anxiety, that the power of movement seemed almost gone from her. " Mr. Hamilton is one of my best friends, Miss Hal- lam," said the young man, who had rewarded honest Jack with a bright smile ; " but I shall claim your hand for tho first minuet." " Oh no," murmured Beatrice ; " I do not wish to dance. Oh, sir ! do not ask me to dance ! " And she stopped, overcome by her emotion. " Oh, I insist upon it ! " said Mr. Effingham, smiling ; " it seems to me that that minuet there is abominably per formed, and the music is shockingly fast." " Hallo, Brother Champ ! " here said a voice, at his elbow ; " ain't I glad to see you ! " And turning round, Mr. Effingham found himself in front of Master Will ; but Master Will was so metamorphosed that he scarcely recognized him. Willie had carried out his threat to Kate, and had donned a complete cavalier's cos tume. His hair was powdered, and gallantly tied into a queue behind; his coat was embroidered and heavy cuffed ; his waistcoat nearly down to his knees ; his frill irreproach able ; his stockings of most approved scarlet iilk ; and his shoes rosetted with ribbon, and with such high red heels, that the young gentleman walked as it were on tiptoe. Al together, with his long queue, and quick-moving little feet, Will resembled a large rat, decked out with ribbons, and 278 HOW MK. EFFINGHAM AND BEATRICE DANSED conscious of his frill and the good society he moved in, on his best behavior. " I'm delighted to see you," added Will, holding out his hand. Mr. Effingham shook hands. " 'Say," whispered Will, " is that the girl you're in love with?" Will started back before the tremendous frown of his brother ; for Beatrice heard the words, and turned away her head. Mr. Effingham raised his finger, and was about to say something that would have annihilated the youthful cavalier, when suddenly he felt a soft, warm, little hand take his own, and turning round, he saw little Kate's bright, smiling face. " Oh 1 I wanted to come before, but couldn't," she said, leaning her bright little head against his side ; " I'm so glad to see you." And she pressed the hand she held harder. Mr. Effingham's cynical smile became soft, his head drooped toward the child ; but suddenly Kate recognized Beatrice, who had been concealed from her by Jack Hamil ton, motionless, coughing, trying to converse ; there was the lady of the tavern the actress the person who had caused them so much grief. She drew back sorrowfully, and her little face was covered with a shadow. Mr. Effing ham saw it divined the reason and his face too was over shadowed. He was about to speak, when the first dance having terminated some moments before a second minuet was commenced by the band. " Come ! " said he to Beatrice ; and taking her hand, he raised her, and led her forward. " Not so fast," he said, with a gesture of his hand, to the musicians ; " I cannot dance a minuet to a gavotte tune." And he entered into the broad, open space with Beatrice the mark of a thousand eyes. The group which we have paid some attention to already that group which had expressed such delight at the verses of the accomplished (colonial) Earl of Dorset, and who had uttered such a variety of comment on Dion, Cordelia, and Beatrice the group of which Myrtilla, Isadora, and th A MlNUfiT AT THE BALL. 79 Long waistcoat, were the shining stars now gazed in horror at the presumption and effrontery of Mr. Effingham. "Just look! "said Sylvia; "he is positively going to dance the second minuet ! " " With that actress 1 " said Isadora. " The playing girl ! " echoed Leonella, horrified. " While we must wait 1 " added Myrtilla, with som show of reason. " It is presumptuous ! " " It is shocking ! " " It is insulting ! " " It is outrageous ! " " I will not stand it ! " here interposed the gentleman in the long waistcoat, boiling with indignation. " Just look ! " said Sylvia ; " did anybody ever see such ridiculous respect and ceremony in a gentleman before ? " " You would think that she was a queen, and he a sub ject ! " " What a bow ! " " See how he takes her hand, bending to her waist 1 " " Ridiculous ! " " But he is very graceful," hazarded Myrtilla, who, aa we know, defended faintly Mr. Effingham's character, when it had been attacked by the censor. " Well, suppose he does bow elegantly," said Isadora, spitefully, envying Beatrice her cavalier. " True : we do not wish to have him for a partner," said Myrtilla, who was something of a wit. " There, look at her 1 " " Theatrical 1 " Affected 1 " " Stiff! " " Frightened 1 " " She looks as if she was going to cry." " Poor thing ! " said Myrtilla ; " I think she does not want to dance." "Does not want to?" Pshaw 1 " " She is too artful for that 1 " " But look ! her eyes are moist, as she curtseys, and they seem to beseech him for something," said Myrtilla. 280 HOW MR. EFFINGRAM A3ID BEATRi.B DANCED " What odious artfulness ! " cried Sylvia', " she pretend* to look as if she was not dying for joy at being the partnei of the fascinating Mr. Effingham." " I suppose she would not ally herself with his family ; they are too low," said Isadora, spitefully j " may be she has refused his hand." " Quite probable ! " " Oh, of course ! " "Doubtless!" And the pretty little damsels curled their handsome little lips ironically. ' She is an odious-looking creature," said Leonella ; " did any one ever see such evidences of low birth ? " " Oh, I am sure you are wrong ! " cried Myrtilla, too generous to keep silent ; " I think she is very sweet." " Well, she is not so bad, but " " Tolerable, but" " A pretty arm, but " " Fine eyes, still " " Graceful, yet" " I think she is an odious, artful, designing creature, but not at all too bad for her partner," here interposed the gen tleman in the long waistcoat ; and so the colloquy went on. Almost every group in the room was uttering something similar to that which we have just listened to. The en trance of Mr. Effingham into the open space, to dance the second minuet of the evening, had caused an awful sensa tion As he glided through the stately dance to the slow rolling music, bowing profoundly, with his tender, lordly smile, touching the young girl's hand with chivalric respect, pressing his cocked hat to his heart at each inclination of his handsome and brilliant head, all eyes had been bent upon him, all tongues busy with him. And these eyes and tongues had taken equal note of Beatrice. The young girl moved through the old stately dance with that exquisite grace and ease with which she performed every evolution, and her tender, agitated face, as we have seen, tempered the wrath of many an indignant damsel. After the first burst of surprise and anger, the gentlemen, too, began to take tho part as Virginia gentlemen always have done, and always will do of the louely girl environed by so manv hostile A MINUET AT THE BALL. 281 eyes and slighting comments. They forgot the preposses sions of rank, the prejudices of class no longer remem bered that the young actress occupied upon the floor a posi tion to which she was not entitled ; they only saw a woman who had all the rest against her ; and their sympathy was nearly powerful enough to make them lose sight of Mr. Effingham's defiance. A murmur rose as the music stopped, and he led her to a seat; and then a species of undulation in the crowd, near the entrance into the next room, attracted attention. Mr. Effingham had his back turned, however, and did not ob serve this incident. He was talking to Beatrice in a low tone. " You see," he said, with his calm, nonchalant voice " you see, Beatrice, that this superb society, which you fancied you would find yourself so much out of place in, is not so very extraordinary after all. I think that I hazard nothing in saying that the second minuet was better than the first ; you are, indeed, far more beautiful than that little dame, whose ancestors, I believe, came over with the con queror Captain Smith." And his cynical smile grew soft, as he gazed on the ten der, anxious face. " It was not so dreadful an ordeal," he added, " though I must say we were the subject of much curiosity. I ob served a group, criticising me, which pleased me. There was a fiery young gentleman in a long waistcoat, whom I of fended by not returning his bow some months since and I believe he was the orator of the occasion." With which words, Mr. Efiingham's lip curled. " See ! the very same group every body, in fact, is gazing at us. Let them ! you are lovelier than them all." And Mr. Effingham raised his head proudly and looked around like an emperor. But Beatrice felt her heart die within her : that minuet had exhausted her strength ; each moment she expected to see the pale cold face of Clare looking at her. Mr. Effingham observed how faint she was, and leaning over took a smelling-bottle from the hand of the old dowager, who had dropped the fan bowing and smiling. He presented it to Beatrice, but she put it away with the back of her hand : whereupon Mr. Effiiigham, with a eecond bow, restored it to the dowager, who, aghast at hia 282 HOW MR. B. AND BEATRICE DANCED, ETC. impudence, beaten by his superior coolness, and overwhelmed with rage, took it without knowing what she did. Mr. Effingham thereupon turned, smiling, to Beatrice again : " There seems to be something going on yonder," he said, leaning on her chair, and directing the young girl's attention to the flashing waves of the crowd, which moved to and fro like foaming billows, in the light of the brilliant chandeliers. Beatrice felt an indefinable and vague fear take possession of her heart At the same moment, Master Willie came pushing and elbowing through the crowd. " Cousin Clare is sick 1 " he said, " you'd better go and see her, brother Champ. She liked to fainted just now 1 " Beatrice understood all. " Oh, sir ! let me go 1 " she cried, " go out with me 1 I shall die here ! oh, I cannot that dance nearly killed me and now I Oh, sir, have pity, give me your arm 1 " And rising with a hurried movement, she placed her hand on Mr. Effingham's arm. That gentleman smiled bit terly. " Yes," he said, " this is the tragedy after the comedy I I understand this fainting." " Oh, sir, have pity I must go 1 " cried Beatrice, " I will go alone ! " Mr. Effingham held her back, and hesitated. At last he said : " Well, madam as you please I have had a pleasant minuet I will go." And with the same cold, defiant ease, he led the young girl across the room, and issued forth into the open air. Without speaking they traversed the walk, with its lin dens and variegated lanterns, passed through the crowd of grooms and coachmen, who made way respectfully, and en tered the carriage which had brought them. In ten minutes it stopped at the Raleigh, and Mr. Effingham, with a strange throbbing of the heart, handed the young girl out. At that moment ne loved her so madly, so defiantly, that he would have given the universe to clasp her io his bosom. He knew how such a proceeding would be received, how ever, and led her in silence to her room, where Mr. Manager Hallam was sitting by the fire, toasting his enormous feet. Then with a bow he closed the door ? and returned to th governor's palace. MR. EFFINGHAM RETURNS TO THE BALL. CHAPTER L. ICE. EFFINGHAM EETUEN8 TO THE BALL AND DISCOURSES ON THE SUBJECT OF WAISTCOATS. MR. EFFINGHAM made his re-entrance into the ball-room, with the same disdainful calmness which had characterized him at first. If as many eyes were not turned toward him, that was because he was no longer accompanied by the young actress was a single cavalier. Near the door he encountered that group, which we have twice listened to ; and he approached with his satirical and careless smile. " Ah, really, " he said, to Sylvia, " I am charmed to see you ! Why, how adorably you are looking 1 " And turning round before Miss Sylvia could reply, he added to Leonella, " Your coiffure is charming ! " The expression upon the faces of Miss Sylvia and Leo nella was so ludicrous, that Myrtilla burst out laughing. " Ah 1 " said Mr. Effingham, in his most petit maitre tones, " how could I have so long neglected to place my homage at the feet of the queen of beauty 1 " Myrtilla laughed at this languid and elegant address to her. " I cannot pardon myself," continued Mr. Effingham, arranging his drop curls ; " if Phillis scorns her Corydon, and beats him with her crook, he cannot complain ; his humbled eyes dare not rise higher than the ribbons fluttering on the bodice of his pastoral princess." The fashion of the time, must plead Mr. Effinghain's excuse for this extraordinary speech. Our lovely fore- mothers relished these rural allusions, and started with delight at the mention of Chloes, Phillises and crooks. And so Myrtilla made a laughing courtesey : and Mr. Effingham turned away. He found himself face to face with the small gentleman who had criticised him so pleasantly, and whose criticism his quick eye had seen reflected m his face, as the young man had danced opposite to Beatrice. " Oh ! really a great pleasure ! " said he, now, to thii gentleman, " are you here too ? " 284 MR. EFFINGHAM RETURNS TO THE BALL. " Yes, sir," said the small gentleman, sullenly. w And with as long a waistcoat as ever," continued Mr Effingham, smiling. " Sir 1 " " Yes, a pleasant ball but the society is somewhat mixed," said Mr. Effingham, with courteous smiles, " things are becoming changed. Is it not so, ladies ? Gay, adorable shepherdesses, clad in the bloom and freshness of the spring am I not right ? " " Yes, you are right, sir," said Sylvia, tossing her little head : a manoauver which Mr. Effingham rightly attributed to the fact that the damsel meant to allude to Beatrice. " Why, nothing could be plainer," he continued. " Nothing, sir I " here interposed the small gentleman, with a frown. Mr. Effingham slightly turned round, as much as to say " did you presume to reply to me, sir ? " and went on superciliously. "Very mixed shockingly," he said; "every body is beginning to mingle in society, and we now see all descrip tions of costume. I do not complain of the simple dress of the lower class, yonder I like it. What I allude to is dif ferent. I refer to those individuals who endeavor to make up by splendor what they lack in good-breeding, and who load their dress with all manner of remarkable and extraor dinary ornament " Myrtilla began to laugh, mischievously glancing at the small gentleman, who winced. " Shocking taste, and shows their condition," added Mr. Effingham ; " they even persist in wearing those abominable waistcoats, as brilliant as the rainbow, and nearly as long invariable indication of the parvenu." And Mr. Effingham smiled amiably at the gentleman in the long waistcoat, who was furious raised his hand with an air inexpressibly foppish, to the ladies, and moved on. He encountered Jack Hamilton, who, in the midst of a group of foxhunters like himself, was laughing and talking at the top of his voice. " Oh, here is Effingham I " said Hamilton, " where is Miss Hallam ? " Mr. Effingham replied, calmly : "She got tired, and I returned with her. You see, MR. EFFINGHAM RETURNS TO THE BALL. 288 however, that I have made my appearance again my friends, I fear, had not an opportunity to speak to me." And his cold eye told Hamilton very plainly what he meant. Honest Jack laughed. " By George ! I believe they are all your very excellent friends by this time," he said ; " they calculated without their Virginia blood, when they spoke of resenting Miss Hallam's appearance. They forgot that they were a dozen men matched against one woman." " And a sword, Hamilton." " Come, come," said Hamilton, " forget that, and don't tet the fellows here, who are jolly boys, as you know, into our little secrets. They are waiting to be recognized by Monseigneur." This was true ; and when Mr. Effingham held out his hand to the party, who were all slightly acquainted with him, it was taken with hearty warmth, and not a few rough and sincere compliments paid to Beatrice, though they did not scruple to say as plainly that there " was no use in bringing her." In consideration of their good feeling, our hero pardoned this : and then leaning on Hamilton's arm, passed on. Ten steps brought him in front of his Excellency and that gen tleman, no longer checkmated by the presence of Beatrice, turned away with great hauteur. Mr. Effingham only smiled, and passed on, leaving Jack Hamilton behind. He went through the room with his cold, disdainful smile, seeking his adversaries : strange to say, however, they seemed to be far from those ferocious personages described by Mr. Hamilton. He could find nothing to take umbrage at, and so he returned towards the door. The simple fact was, that, proud and disdainful as Mr. Effingham was, he feared to encounter the eye of his father, or of Henrietta, or Alethea, or Clare. He had understood the cause of the young girl's sudden faintness perfectly well. She had enter ed from the second room, and seen him dancing a minuet with that rival, whom she had so generously forgiven, and clasped to her pure, tender heart and though Mr. Effing ham was ignorant of the fact of the interview, he wai at no loss to understand Clare's emotion. This was the reason why he feared to meet her and yet 286 BEATRICE AND THE MANAGLR with that dread was mingled a strange desire ; as if be wish ed to stand before her and give her look for look, and break her heart and his own. Mr. Effingham began to feel a dis eased craving for excitement he had become accustomed to acute and painful emotions; he fed on them as his daily bread. Fortunately this insane desire was doomed to disappoint ment. Clare had left the ball almost at the same moment with himself and Beatrice : had entered the Effingham cha riot with the squire and his party just as his own carriage drove off. Once, as Mr. Effingham drew near the door, he encoun tered the gaze of Henrietta, who had chosen to remain with Hamilton : and with rage in his heart he made her a low and exaggerated bow. Then passing by the gentleman in the long waistcoat, with a meaning look full of disdain and menace, he struck his hat upon his head, and rushed, almost, from the room. His infatuation for Beatrice had never so closely ap proached madness as at that moment CHAPTER LI. BEATEICE AND THE MANAGES. HAVING thus briefly related the manner in which Mr. Effingham returned to the ball, and sought for adventures there like a second Don Quixote, though without the good fortune of the noble gentleman of La Mancha, we shall now go back to the moment when Beatrice re-entered her room, after the trying ordeal she had passed through. As we have said, Mr. Manager Hallam was sitting pla cidly by the fire, which was far from uncomfortable at that advanced season of the autumn. Upon Beatrice's entrance he turned round, smiling. Beatrice was in tears, and sobbing. " What in heaven's name is all this crying about ? " asked the manager, who, having emptied his nightly two bottles, was in a most contented state of mind; "you are a) way* crying, Beatrice ! " BEATRICE AND THE MANAGER. 287 " Oh, father 1 " she said, and then stopped. " Well, well," he said, impatiently, " speak." "I am not well." " How ? " " It was killing to me." " Bah ! every thing kills you, but you always amtinue alive, as I recollect hearing the great Congreve say, once on a time." " I am really sick, sir." "Was the ball brilliant?" " Yes, sir." " Was Mr. Effingham attentive ? " " Yes, sir." " Did the set up women treat you badly f " " No, sir." " You were treated politely ? " " Yes, sir." " And danced ? " " Yes, sir." " The governor bowed to you ? " " Very politely, sir." " Then in the name of all the fiends what are you crying about, daughter 1 You are really a very extraordinary girl You go to a brilliant ball, with a handsome and attentive cavalier ; you are not treated badly by the fine ladies, but very kindly ; you danced among the best, the governor of Virginia made you a polite bow, and after all this, which would turn the head of any common girl with joy, you come back crying, instead of laughing, sorrowful instead of happy. Basta ! as the great Congreve was wont to say, you are foolish ! " Beatrice sat down, wiping her eyes, and murmuring the words she had read in Kate's Bible, before going " Oh, Lord, my strength and my Redeemer ! " " What is that you say ? " asked Hallam, stretching his feet luxuriously on the fender, and looking with muddy eyes at the ceiling. " Nothing, sir," said the young girl, trying to command her voice. " Beatrice," said Hallam, " you are perfectly ridiculous you are throwing away, by your folly and obstinacy, th0 288 BEATRICE AND THE MANAGER. mosf excellent offer I say it without hesitation which wai ever made to an actress. One would really think that you were a duchess, with your rent-roll and estates, instead of the daughter of an actor, like myself." Beatrice listened with a strange feeling to these words. Again that martial face rose for her from the far southern land ; again she saw the soldier dying, and her tears flowed afresh. " Instead of acting as you should do," continued Hal- lam, working himself into anger, " instead of being to this young man the brilliant and fascinating woman which you are instead of managing him, and spurring him on, aud attracting him instead of giving him hope, and you know his intentions are perfectly honorable instead of this, what are you doing ? You are making your eyes and face thin with weeping, you are growing ugly from grief at having a splendid position in society thrust on you- you are defying my wishes, madam ! You know I wish you to marry this young fellow. Answer ; are you not disobedient ? " and the manager pushed back his chair, angrily. " Oh, father, father ! " she cried, carried away by her feelings, " I do not wish to be disobedient. I will do all you wish me to do, but that 1 I will work day and night, and never complain but do not, do not ask me to marry, or encourage this man 1 I do not like him, I shudder when he approaches ; all my good traits of character and, indeed, I have some become changed to bad in his presence. He repels me ; something tells me that he will be my curse yet 1 Oh, I cannot do as you command I cannot smile and make myself attractive, and show him that I like him for I do not 1 I should be the most miserable person living, were I his wife 1 " " Really ! " cried the manager. " Truly, madam, the countess is in her tantrums 1 You would be the most mis erable creature alive, as his wife ? " " Oh, miserable, sir I " " He repels your ladyship 1 " " I tremble when he comes near me 1 " she cried, weeping. " You would not marry him ? " " Oh, no ; for it would break the heart of a pure girl, who loves him, aud would have been his wife, if I had never seen him I " BEATRICE AND TfiE MANAGER. 2$9 " Really, you are very magnanimous I Pray, who is that ?rl ? " " Miss Lee, his cousin." " What does her fate concern you, pray, madam ? " " She forgave me, and took me in her arms, and kissed me. Oh, God is my witness, that I would rather cut off my right hand than make her suffer again ! " " Where the devil did you enact that fine drama ? " said the manager, frowning. " I went to see her." " You ? " " Yes, sir ; at her home, near Mr. Effingham's." " And, no doubt, told her how much you hated him ; that you were not to blame if her lover was infatuated about you ; that you had repulsed him, insulted him, asked him to leave you, exhausted every means to make him abandon his unworthy project, of marrying you " " Yes, sir I did" "You did 'Yes, sir I did!' sneered the manager; " you had the boldness to go and say that to a person, who will tell him every thing " " Oh, no, sir 1 for" " In future, madam," said Hallam, angrily, " you do not ride out without an escort. You might be guilty of worse things than this audacious proceeding." At this unworthy insinuation, Beatrice felt the blood rush to her face, and her heart begin to throb with bitter and rebellious thoughts. " Oh, father ! " she cried, bursting into tears, " how can you be so cruel ? " " Well," he said, " I was wrong ; but your conduct ia bad enough, madam. I suppose this child was at the ball his sweetheart ? " " Yes, sir. Miss Lee was preset* " " How did he treat her ? " " He did not see her." " Where is he now ? " " He went back, I believe." " To see her 1 " cried the manager ; " your prospects are ruined 1 Beatrice, from this moment- if it is not. too late you act just as I bid you ! T will have none of your dis- 13 290 BEATRICE AND THE MANAGE* obedience in future, madam ! You shall not beard me with your cryings, and entreaties, and childish tears. You shall not ruin your own and my fortune in life. I command you, madam, to behave yourself in future, better. Take caro ! " Beatrice felt her rebellious heart grow more bitter ; sh no longer thought of little Kate's Bible. " I will have no nonsense, madam ! " continued her father, in a rage. " I will not have a child like you, setting at naught all my wishes, and overturning all my plans in life, by your ridiculous folly. In future, you take no more rides to meet your lovers, or your lovers' sweethearts. Under stand me I will not be dictated to by my own child I As your father, I" command you, in future, to give encourage- ment to this young man. Don't frown and look rebellious at me I will not submit to any folly I If you choose to act as you have done, I choose to tell you the truth. You have ridden, Heaven knows where, to see, Heaven knows who. You have nearly ruined your prospects ; he is now gone back, and if what you say about your interview with her is true, she will tell him all, and he will never look at you again 1 Madam ! " cried the manager in a fury, " I shall not endure this 1 As your father, I command you to obey me 1 Take care you have some silly religious feel ing, and that feeling will tell you, that if you dare to dis obey your father, God will take his account of you. I am that father see that you obey me ! " The young girl's feelings were worked up to the avowal, her heart was agitated by rebellious and obstinate anger, but she could not throw off, all at once, her habit of affec tion and obedience. Still she could not remain silent, and she cried, with passionate tears : " Oh, you are not my father ! God has revealed to me my real father. Mr. Emngham brought here this frock 1 " And with a quick movement, she drew from a drawer the child's garment " That God, you speak of, revealed my birth to me 1 " she continued ; " this letter has told me all. My father was Ralph Waters ; my name is Beatrice Waters 1 " And over whelmed with her emotion, the young girl sunk into a seat, almost fainting. The manager snatched the frock and the letter from her iu a violent rage The truth all at once flashed on him ht BEATHICE AND THE MANAGER. 291 had no one to blame but himself, and with a furious hand he tore his hair. " Yes 1 " he cried, in a violent rage, " yes 1 you have dared to read that letter 1 you have dared to pry into what was my secret ! " " Oh, it was mine ! " murmured Beatrice, bitterly. * { You have dared ! " And Mr. Manager Hallam again tore his hair. " I could not help it, father ! " cried Beatrice, calling on God to calm her wicked feeling of rebellion, as she spoke ; " I felt compelled to read that letter ! I did not mean " And she stopped, choked by her sobs. The manager sank into the chair from which he had risen in the excess of his rage. " Oh, do not be angry with me, father ! " cried Beatrice, burying her head in his bosom. " I did not mean to do wrong ! I am your daughter still. Do not frown at me." The manager slowly became calmer. " I love you as much as ever," said Beatrice. " I felt wrong just now, when you spoke such harsh words so un just ! but now I am calm again ! " The manager began to cry doubtless, like the great Con- greve. " Oh, father ! I am so wretched ! " exclaimed Beatrice. " I did not mean to make you suffer ! " " To be defied by one whom I have always loved ! " ejacu lated Hallam, half seriously, half from policy, giving way afresh to his emotion; " whom I raised from infancy, trying to find her family defied by her ! " " Oh, I did not mean to defy you ! indeed I did not ! forgive me, father ! I am your daughter still 1 " " I am a poor, childless old man ! " muttered the manager, with his favorite choking cry. " I will be your child ! " cried Beatrice, weeping pas sionately. " I will love you as dearly as I always have done, you know, father you have been so good to me 1 What matter if I am not your daughter in reality. What mat ter if I am the daughter of Ralph Waters the brother of Charles's father." He started, but not with surprise; he had felt that John Waters must be Beatrice's uncle, for some days. " Why should I leave you, who have been so TWO WATER-DOGS. kind to me, because I was born in Malta, where my father died, and am not your daughter? You are my real father- God sent you ! My real name is Beatrice Waters ; but I will be Beatrice Hallam still. Oh, do not cry you break my heart ! " She again buried her face in his bosom ; but, hearing a noise, raised it again. Mr. Effingham stood before her, and had plainly heard the words she had just uttered. The scene which followed was one of those which are best left to the reader's imagination. The pen can only describe passions, or trace utterances to a certain point beyond that it yields the field to the painter, who alone can make the highest passions, the most conflicting emotions, eloquent. We may imagine the feelings of Mr. Effingham, on hearing from the gloomy and agitated manager, that his own act had revealed to Beatrice the secret of her birth ; we may com prehend the rage of the young man on finding that, by his own agency, Beatrice had come to know that Charles Waters was her cousin, his uncle her father ; we may further under stand the despair of Hallam, the terrible agitation of Bea trice we cannot describe them. When Mr. Effingham went away to his room that night, he was a prey to one of his silent and sombre rages ; he had raised this new barrier himself. The instrument of fate, and unknown to himself, his hand had opened that sealed book ; and what the young girl had read had for ever separated her from him. That rival bitterly hated before, now far more bitterly would be her lawful protector; and whether in their duel he fell or conquered, nothing would be gained. A thousand tumultuous thoughts like these chased themselves through his mind we cannot trace them it is a repulsiv* subject, and we pass on. CHAPTER LII. TWO WATEB-DOGS, MR. EFFINGHAM spent a sleepless night, and rose more agi tated than ever. With a mind supernaturally active from TWO WATER-DOGS. 293 feverous emotion, he embraced at a glance all his latter life. He followed the history of his infatuation for Beatrice from his first meeting with her in the forest, near Effingham HalL through the scenes at the theatre, at her apartment, in the street, at the ball, to this last final denouement, which had cfcme like the blast of the trumpet and the roar of the drum, to finish all before the curtain fell upon the drama. He surveyed with a lightning-like glance his present posi tion the state of his mind and life. He felt more than ever that he must conquer that diabolical angel who had scorned him, or die. She must yield to him, or he would yield to her, and pass from the earth. He raved and tore his hair, and revolved in his gloomy and agitated mind a thousand plans. All were rejected after a moment's reflection, if that word could be applied to the operations of the young man's mind. He rose in despair, and the room seemed too close to breathe in. He went out, gloomy, and breathing heavily. Suddenly, as he entered the passage, a loud, hearty voice made the windows jar, and, turning round, he found himself opposite to the stranger. " Good day, comrade," cried the soldier. " What 1 gloomy on such a morning ? " " I am not well, sir," said Mr. Effingham, coldly. " Come, drink a cup of this abominable Rhenish they vend at this hostelry," said the soldier, laughing. " You see me in excellent spirits. I am myself again ! " Indeed, the soldier was no longer cabined, cribbed, and confined in the tight, foppish suit he had originally worn, but was clad in the elegant military suit which we have seen Mr. Effiugham return in, on the night he left Williamsburg for York. The costume seemed infinitely more appropriate for the stranger's vigorous and martial figure ; the heavily- laced but dark uniform set of his person to great advantage, and his fine face, with its keen, dark eye and long black moustache, appeared to far more advantage beneath the rich Flanders hat. The stranger, in his present proper costume, was the model of a soldier. To his merry observation, that he felt in excellent spirits, Mr. Effingham made no reply. " Why, see now, you are moody, comrade 1 That is not the philosophic state of a bon soldat, whether Jn the ranks, or in life, which, parbleu ! seems to me as much a battle as Lissa, Grlatz, or Minden. Come ! hold your head up I I have good news for you ! " "What news, sir?" said Mr. Effingham, still cold and gloomy. " Why, I am just about to go and arrange the details of our little affair: that is to say, I am going to see Mr. Waters brother of Ralph : an honest straightforward fel low was Ralph, though I say it, parbleu ! " " Well, sir ! " said Mr. Effingham, already tired of his companion. " Arrange, is not precisely the word, companion," con tinued the soldier, caressing the black fringe on his lip ; " I believe the day after to-morrow is fixed upon though the time, as all else, should have been left to us, the wheel-horses the seconds. Your friend is Mr. , you omitted to tell me, comrade, in the multitude of affairs we had to arrange : you will recollect that you omitted it." " Sty at once, sir, that having a duel forced on me, I had not fixed every thing. Well, sir, I now say further, that I must defer the whole affair for a day or two longer. Cir cumstances," and Mr. Effingbam's lip curled, " render mo somewhat cooler in the quarrel." The soldier looked keenly at the young man but a single glance convinced him, that this delay did not spring from backwardness to match himself in combat against an adversary. There was the unmistakable fire in the eye; and fighting was a satisfaction to such a man, he felt. " Perhaps you object to your antagonist," said the sol dier, coolly. " No, sir ! I do not 1 " " Come," said the stranger, " suppose we have a little bout here on the staircase. You really seem desirous of try ing my ferrara, comrade." " I have no such desire, sir," replied Mr. Effingham coldly, " and if my tone is harsh, it is because I am in no humor to answer questions, or converse. I am not well, sir arrange this matter as you choose. Mr. John Hamil ton will act for me but I repeat, that I will not meet Mr. Waters for three days or more." TWO WATER-DOGS. 29$ " Well, well, companion, I can arrange that. By heaven you must have something on your mind, but that is not my affair. I'll empty a cup of Jamaica I'm done with the Rhenish and get into my saddle. Bon jour au revoir." And the soldier, curling his moustache, and humming a rude song, took his way down the staircase, his huge sword rattling against the banisters, and making with the jingle of his heavily-rowelled spurs, a martial sort of music elo quent of camps. Mr. Effingham, gazing moodily after him, observed tha* he stopped suddenly at the foot of the stairs. A gentleman dressed in black had struck against him, owing to the fact that the said gentleman refused to yield one inch of the way. Then Mr. Effingham heard the important and pom pously-uttered words : " You should have more respect for the clergy, sir." And no less a personage than Parson Tag came up, and with a cold bow passed into the apartment, next to his own that one in which we have heard the man in the red cloak play his violin. The young man gazed after him moodily, and with a bitter smile ; and hesitated whether he should re turn to his room, or descend. A glance at the bright sun shine of the clear cold autumn day decided him, and to escape its brilliance, he went into his apartment again, with a mocking and gloomy face painful to behold. Then he sat down, as he had done on that day when little Kate had come to see him, and again embraced at a single glance, the sad and gloomy horizon of his life, where no sun shone, no birds sang. Again he went over the path which he had trodden revived those bitter joys, those deli cious agonies he had suffered. Full of gloomy wonder, he weighed all that had taken place in his acquaintance with Beatrice, and as before, that fatal, unavoidable question came to him, where would all this end ? He had now defied so ciety for her, and he was convinced that he stood lower in her regard than ever he had given up all for her, she dis dained him the more for his sacrifice. As his love increased, she grew colder he was rushing toward the abyss 1 And that revelation which he had been the instrument of I Charles Waters was her cousin, and she loved him, perhaps! He had given that man the right to watch over her, to defend 296 TWO WATER-DOGS. ker. Thenceforward there was a new and more irritating obstacle. " Woe to him, if he crosses my path before we stand face to face, sword in hand 1 " he muttered, with a sombre and threatening flash of his proud eyes. As he spoke, a tap came at his door, and a servant en tered. " Well ? " said the young man, raising his head with a movement which frightened the negro nearly out of his wits, " what now ? " "Two boatmen, Mas' Effnum say they want to see you." " To the devil with them 1 " he said : but suddenly he paused a light shone from his eyes. Already his mind had conceived the outline of a strange, desperate, and auda cious project. " About my sail-boat ? Yes ; go and bring them here go I 11 And he motioned the negro feverishly toward the door. In two minutes the door opened again, and the rough-looking watermen entered, and with their caps in their hands, louted to the young man, standing respectfully on the threshold. " Close the door and come in 1 " he said, gloomily : the door was shut, and obedient to a sign from Mr. EflmghaiE. the watermen approached. " About my sail-boat, I suppose ? " he said, curtly. " Yes, your honor," replied the water-dog, who seemed to be spoKe&man. " Where is ahe ? " " Down at the landing, by Townes', your honor." " You got up to-day ? " " Jest so, your honor and she's as tight a little craft / as ever walked the water swifter'n a waterfowl." Mr. Effingham looked strangely at the rough watermen, who turned their tarpaulins in their hands, and coughed re- Bpeotfully behind them. " Is she fully equipped ? " he said. " Out and out, your honor. I never see a jollier craft; and she carries sail enough for a merchantman. I was a sayin' to mate hero only jest now, 'at I never hearn o' such a thing afore." TWO WATER-DOO8. 291 " And she is down there ? " " At Townes', your honor." " All ready ? " " Ready as a squall, when the rags are taut." Mr. Effingham looked at the water-dogs again with the ume strange expression. " Your name is Junks, is it not ? " he said, motioning to the man to approach. " Yes, your honor, and mate's name is Jackson," " Very well you are poor ? " " Poor as a lean cat, sir." " "Would you like to make fifty pistoles ? " The water-dogs opened their eyes. " I'd sell myself to the devil for it," said the spokesman, laughing. " No ; I wish you to sell yourself to me," said Mr. Effingham, with haughty coldness. " Is this weather too cold for a night run down the river ? " " Your honor is jokin' it ain't warm, but ta'int nothin' to the likes o' us." " Whoever I brought, then, you are willing to shut your eyes ? " " Oh, your honor's got a frolic on hand ? That suits me to a circumstance." " And me, too, your honor," said mate, in a mumbling voice from behind his thick woollen comfort. Mr. Effingham, looking keenly at these men, saw that they were such as could be bought for much less than fifty pistoles. Then he was silent. A struggle seemed to be going on in his mind his brow flushed, then grew pale, and his cheeks were covered with a cold sweat. The w&ter-dogs looked at him wonderingly, for his eyes were not a pleasant sight they were like lurid lightning. " Wait here," he said, suddenly, as he heard a door open and close without. " Don't stir until I return." And hastily putting on his hat, he went out, closed the door, and crossing the oassage, entered the room of Bea trice. 298 THE LAST INTERVIEW BETWEEN CHAPTER LIII. THE LABT INTERVIEW BETWEEN BEATRICE AND MR EiyiNOHAM. BEATRICE had just come in, and was sitting in front of the fire, gazing sadly and thoughtfully into the blaze, when Mr. Effingham's entrance caused her to turn round. For a mo ment these two persons who sustained toward each other such strange and anomalous relations, maintained perfect silence. At last Mr. Effingham, pale and gloomy, yet gazing at the young girl with passionate love, said abruptly, and in a low tone " We meet again ; I trust you are well after the ball." " Yes, sir," said Beatrice, in a tone of quiet, uncomplain ing sorrow; " I do not think I feel worse than usual." " You do not ask me how I am," he said, with painful earnestness. " Pardon me, sir," she said, in the same low, sad tones. " I hope you are well." " No ; I am far from it I feel as if my brain was bursting." " I am sorry, sir sincerely." " You are so cold," he said, leaning on the mantelpiece, and gazing at her with fixed, stony eyes. " You have n pity on me." " /pity you, Mr. Effingham ! " " Oh, you know what I mean," he said. " We know each other now. I mean that you meet all my love with coldness a freezing coldness ; or, if not, wi'<ii cold indiffer ence with contempt 1 I mean that you do not cast your proud eyes down on the man who suffers, kneeling at your feet, because you despise him and his love. I mean that you have nothing but scorn for me, when I have nothing but passionate, devouring love for you. I mean that I love you love you with all the power of my soul, with all my strength, with my whole being, and that you disdain to speak to me 1 " " Indeed I do not, BIT oh, no 1 If I have been harsh or cruel, or unwomanly, I beg you to pardon it. I believe BE4TR..CE AND MR. EFF1NGHAM. 299 that I have spoken harsh words to you sometimes -I regret them. I have no right to scorn any human being, sir. God does not approve of such feelings. Pardon me 1 " The earnest, low-toned voice went to his poor, bruised heart her soft, sorrowful face took away all his anger. " Oh, why will you not love me ?" he said, with painful earnestness. " Why does your heart still remain closed to me? See me here at your feet, Beatrice, with my pride broken, my wilfulness all gone, seeing you only in the uni verse ! You are to me the sole light which shines on the dark waters of my life you know it, why so indifferent to me ? Oh, I love you so passionately I so purely 1 I follow you with yearning eyes I live in you and through you 1 Why still despise me ? " " I do not, sir I must not feel so toward any human being." " I have been criminally harsh I have repented of it in the long hours of the gloomy night repented bitterly." " I have forgotten it, sir," said Beatrice. " Then, for pity's sake, do not look at me so coldly 1 " " I am not well to-day, sir." He looked at her with inexpressible love, and said : " Did you only know how much I suffer when you suffer 1 " " I do not complain, sir. " You must have had a trying ordeal last night *" " Yes ; very trying." " You were the queenliest of them all," he said, gazing on her with passionate love and pride. " Why should you not give me the right to lead you forth in the eyes of the world, as I did before that assembly ? " " Mr. Effingham, I cannot be your wife," she said. " We have said much upon this subject. It only distresses me." " Why, Beatrice ? Give me some reason for my wretch edness." A deep flush covered the young girl's sad pale brow, a she thought of Charles Waters. " We are not suited to each other," she said. He saw the blush, and his own brow flushed. His super- naturally active mind discerned the hidden reason left un expressed and a pang shot through his heart. 300 THE LAST INTERVIEW BETWEEN " That is not the real reason," ho said a shadow passing over his face. " I can give no other," she said, with a deeper blush than before. Anger began to invade the young man's heart like a bit ter and poisonous vapor. " The true reason is, that you lore another," he said, with a cruel groan. " Mr. Effingham I " " Yes, yes ; my rudeness is insulting my plainness re pulsive, I know it 1 " he said, bitterly. " But how can I feel my heart breaking, and not speak? You love that man ! " " Mr. Effingham, you must know " she murmured, suf fering painfully " this is obtrusive, sir I " " Oh, do not deny it, madam ! " he said, giving way to his bitter and feverish emotion. " You scorn me and my love you refuse my hand, because your heart could not go with it ! " " You agitate me, sir I " she said, " I am not well 1 These conversations can lead to nothing 1 " " You mistake, madam 1 " he replied, with his old, gloomy bitterness, " they lead to despair, for I love you." " I cannot prevent your suffering, sir I cannot com mand you to leave me if I could " " You would," he interposed, " you need not assure me of that, madam. You hate me you scorn me because you love that man who insulted me in your presence, here. Wo to him 1 " And Mr. Effingham's brows grew darker, his eyes flashed with hatred. " Remember he is my relative, sir," said Beatrice, flush ing crimson. " And your lover 1 " " Mr. Effingham 1 " " Oh, madam, do not cry out according to your wont. I have ruined myself for you, and naturally feel some objec tion to being robbed of you by a common boor." " Sir 1 " " Yes, I offend you 1 make you hate me more bitterly : but for that same reason that I am lost from seeing your BEATRICE AND MR. EFFINGHAM. 35 1 fatal beauty, and have defied all the powers of this society, I should be allowed to speak plainly, to throw aside the con ventional rules which I have trampled on for your sake." " I did not wish to go to that ball it was a cruel trial," she said, coldly, and pressing her hand upon her heart as she Bpoke, " my father exacted it." " You did not like your escort, I know," he replied, bit terly ; " you were too good for him, as the vulgar expression goes." " Mr. Effingham, this is unworthy ! " " Yes, madam ! it is 1 I know it ! But I cannot feel the poisoned arrow in my side, like St. Sebastian, and be silent not cry out not utter a groan ! - Oh, may you never know what it is to love, and that hopelessly ! to turn and toss on your sleepless couch through the long, weary hours of the gloomy night to rave and curse and weep to utter prayers and blessings, maledictions and blasphemies ! may you never suffer this cruel agony, which leaves the heart torn, the cheek pale, the eyes heavy, the brain oppressed with a bitter and poisonous mist ! may you never love, and feel that love is hopeless ! " And, overwhelmed with sour and gloomy emotion, he turned away. His words went to her heart, but it was almost her own situation which he painted, and this made her flush and tremble. But by a great effort she became calm again. " You know not what you say," she murmured, " you know your own sufferings, not mine, sir." " Yours 1 you have suffered this " " I have suffered much, sir." " You have felt those pangs of despised love ? " " Mr. Effingham, you agitate me ! you have no right to intrude upon my privacy thus : I am not well, sir my suf ferings do not concern yourself : pray leave me." " Whom do they concern, then, madam ? " Mr. Effingham 1 " " Perhaps your chivalric cousin, Mr. Waters ! " " You make me unwell, sir 1 " said the young girl, flush ing. The young man understood what this exhibition of emotion sprung from, and gnawed his lip until it bled. " You might pardon that, if you had a little charity," h 302 THE LAST INTERVIEW BETWEEN said, bitterly ; " I believe that I was the instrument in r* vealingyour secret." " Yes, sir unconsciously." " By which you mean, that no thanks are due me. ' " I mean nothing, sir." " Well, you are right, madam. I would have cut off my right hand before I would have had any agency in revealing that" " You are truly very friendly." I do not pretend to be, where my love and despair are concerned," he said, gloomily ; u I had some claim upon Bea trice Hallam, the actress I have much less on Miss Wa ters." " Mr. Effingham I cannot bear this much longer 1 " " You will leave the stage ? " he went on, pitilessly. " I do not know, sir." " You hope to ? " " I do, sir." " What a delightful time you will have with that noble gentleman, your cavalier I " he said, with sombre irony. " In future, I see that I shall not be allowed to kiss your hand, or approach you, even." " Oh, leave me, sir ! " " In future, my days must be without even your frowns and insults." " Mr. Effingham, I am suffering ! " " You suffering 1 " " Yes, sir." " I thought, madam, that I monopolized the despair and agony of the whole world." " You do not, sir." " And because you suffer, you consider that you have the right to tear my heart. I am despised, because you suffer ! I admire your logic, madam 1 " " No, sir," she said, growing indignant at his insulting tone, " though much of that suffering has been caused by you." " Because I have told you my love." " No, sir not that only." " What have I done ? " " Every thing to persecute me : but I say again, that I BEATRICE AND MR. EFFINOHAM. 303 do not wish to remember that. I had forgotten it. Pray leave me I am not well, and cannot bear any more agita tion." He gazed at her long and fixedly, with eyes burning yet stony, cold yet fiery. "Beatrice," he said, in a gloomy and sombre voice, " this is the crisis of my life. This moment makes or mars me. I have given up all for you left behind all that makes life happy to follow the ignis-fatuus of your love. If you cast me off, I am ruined reflect." " You make me suffer cruelly," said poor Beatrice, turning away, " but oh, I cannot, will not marry you, sir ! I cannot ! " " For the last time ! " he said, taking a step toward her, with clenched hands, and grinding his teeth; "you refuse ? " " Mr. Effingham, I" " You spurn my love despise me and every thing con nected with me still scorn me ? Reflect, madam ! " " I cannot marry you, sir. This interview is killing me My breast is " " For the last time yes or no ? " " No ! then, sir : no ! " cried Beatrice, rising, with her hand upon her heart ; " I cannot, will not 1 " With one hand he tore his breast, until his nails were stained with blood the other opened and clenched, as though in his fury he was grasping some deadly weapon. He looked at her for a moment, with rage, despair, and menace, shook from head to foot, and muttering, " Breast to breast, then ! force against force ! " rushed wildly from the room, and passed into his own, the door of which closed with a crash. A quarter of an hour afterwards the boat men came out and went away ; and in ten minutes Mr. Eflingham made his appearance, pale, and covered with perspiration. He held in his moist and nervous hand a Bank of Eng land note of large value ; and muttering, " That, too, can be arranged ! " went toward the room occupied by the parson. 304 JEGRl SOMN1A. CHAPTER LIV. 2BGEI 8OMNIA. EVENTS Lurry on. As the passions and complicated more- ments of the drama develope themselves, the task of the chronicler becomes more and more difficult. We must pro ceed, however, to narrate, as clearly as possible, what fol lowed the final outburst of the young man's fiery passion rejected finally, as we have seen, by the object of his love. Night drew on, cold and stormy. It was one of those evenings which succeed late autumn days, when the sun seems to set in blood, and the vast clouds reposing on the far horizon are tinged with that lurid light which resembles the glare of a great conflagration. The wind rose, and moaned, and died away, and came again, ever becoming chiller and more mournful. The moon rose like a great wheel of fire rolled up the sky, over which dark clouds drifted, driven by the wind ; and the almost leafless forests seemed to be murmuring to themselves, and whispering some mysterious secret. The tall, gloomy pines waved like solemn giants, in the fitful moonlight, and the oaks ground their boughs together, or parted with their last rattling leaves, in the stormy gusts, which ever and anon swept over them, clattering their dry, hard branches. In the town, every living thing soon housed itself from the chill wind and the gloomy, fitfully-illuminated night and not the cold, cheerless air alone drove them to their firesides. Those were the times when men believed in witchcraft and every species of diablerie ; and many per sons in the town could make oath that they had seen horri ble, uncouth figures, celebrating awful and mysterious rites on the wild, lonely common, near ; where the pine bushes waved like deformed spectres, trowing long shadows over the dangerous ground. It was a night for fiends to be abroad in, holding their wild revels beneath the frosty light of the great solemn moon; and none cared to brave it, when a good fire and a cup of foaming ale awaited them. They looked round fearfully when the gust moaned by the gables ; and told tales which d-?alt in terrible mysteries in JEGUI SOMNlA. 309 hidden treasure in fiends, and black dogs guarding it and how the witches, who had tormented honest Christians, had been burned, not long before, for an example to all evil doers. It was a night to believe in such things, and they trembled at every sound at the very grating of the branches against the window. All that day Beatrice had been in a state of agitation and nervous fear. The interview with her father on the night before, had succeeded the trying ordeal of the ball, and then the interview with Mr. Effingham had crowned all. That interview had affected her cruelly never had she seen the young man so torn by passion, so completely overwhelmed with emotion never had she known him to utter such de spairing cries of agony and torture. It had made her suffer deeply, and shocked her nervous system dreadfully. In addition, she had not slept for more than forty-eight hours, and nothing so prostrates the nerves as this. We cannot wonder, therefore, that the young girl was exhausted in mind and body, by these various and complicated moral and phy sical trials subject to a nervous trepidation, which made her start at every noise. She went through the duties of the day, walking as in a dream, with fixed eyes, and heaving bosom ; her agitation was so striking, that every body observed it, and questioned her about it. She made no reply to these questions she seemed not to have heard them. Her mind was laboring with its burden of fear and agitation. As the night drew on, she felt an indefinable dread. Seated in her room, alone, she started at every gust which sobbed around the inn, and trembled at every noise. The moonlight now streamed through the window like a flood of dark, fiery gold, then disappeared, swallowed up in the gloomy and threatening clouds, which swept over the sky toward the far, freezing ocean. As the night passed on, and midnight approached, she fell into a sort of trance of thought. With a dreamy eye she ran over her whole life, since she had arrived in Virginia she thought of those persecutions, of ihe adventure on the river, of her rescue, of that noble face, of those persecution again, of the ball, of tbj strange revelation which had BO changed her life. 306 jEGRI SOMNtA. As she thought of that strange cor junction of circunv stances, her eye fell upon the volume of Shakespeare, open, from habit, on her lap. She read : "And pity, like a naked, new-born babe, Striding the blast, or heaven's cherubim, hora'd Upon the sightless couriers of the air, Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye, That tears shall drown the wind 1 " The words seemed to apply strangely to her own case. Truly, that deed had been blown in every eye, by an acci dent which was plainly from heaven. With dreamy eyes, she read on, and came to the passage where the usurper sees the air-drawn dagger, and feels the cold sweat of horror bathe his brow, as he attempts to clutch it. She saw him, with his stealthy tread, gliding slowly, the murderous weapon in his hand, toward the apartment where the murder was to be committed she heard his low breathing saw his fiery eyes almost thought that his awful invocation to the firm earth not to hear his stealthy steps, was really uttered that she saw the tiger stealing toward his victim with deadly caution. The scene was so clear in her marvellously vivid imagination, that she trembled ; and when a bird flew against the window, started up in an agony of fright. She sat down again, endeavoring to calm herself; the fire was burning fitfully, and she tried to make it brighter. The last sticks, however, were burning out, and the trembling blue flame licked, and struggled, and clung to the whitening embers, and went out. She did not observe it, however she was again buried in thought ; and those thoughts fled to the far southern land, enveloped in such mysterious and dreamy interest. It seemed to her that the life she novr embraced, with a drowsy and unsteady eye, must have been in another world a strange, far world, which she could never go to any more forever 1 Gradually her eyes closed, her head drooped on her breast, then she would start up, trembling at some noise ; and then her head would droop again, the wild stormy gust would lull her, and the fitful weird light of the great, sol emn moon, would envelope her gentle Madonna-like head in flood of glory. At last, all her thoughts flowed into each THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. 307 other, merged their outlines, lost themselves in dreams, and overcome by exhaustion, the young girl slept ; her head drooping on one shoulder, her long dusky lashes lying on her cheeks, her hair waving in profuse curls round the still agitated countenance. She had a strange dream. She thought, as the second or third hour after midnight struck, or rather murmured through the silent inn she thought that her window opened, and a man, enveloped in a cloak, stepped into the room through the opening. The dream was so real, that she thought she felt a gust of chill air blow on her. Then, this man approached her slowly, enveloped as before, in his long cloak and wide drooping hat ; took her languid form in his strong arms, raising her without effort ; and passing through the window, bore her, she knew not how, to the ground. A horse stood waiting, and the man mounted, holding her still in his arms. Then they set off like the wind ; and shaken by the quick movement, uttering a scream, as the chill air raised by the horse's gallop struck her person, she awoke, and found her dream a reality 1 What she had re garded as the mere conjuration of her excited fancy, was a terrible fact ! what she had considered a mere freak of the imagination, was real, as the gloomy night through which the furious and neighing animal darted, obedient to the spur of his desperate rider ! She was in the arms of a man, who wrapped her in his cloak with one hand, while he clasped her waist with the other the bridle lying on the neck of his flying animal. In five minutes they had left the town and entered the gloomy forest. CHAPTER LV. THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. THROUGH the gloom as through the moonlight, under the drooping boughs of the dark pine forest, as across the lonely tracts of bare, waste ground *he furious animal, driven pitilessly by his rider's spur, fled on. Clouds of foam flew from l.is reeking jaws, his glossy 308 THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT. coat became as wet as though he had just issued from a river ; still he went on, his speed unabated. The trees flew by the moon came out and flooded the flying animal and his burden with its chill light, then swept beneath the clouds again ; the cold wind moaned and sobbed, still on ! The silent cavalier only drew his hat further over his eyes, clasped the young girl's waist more securely, wrapped more carefully in the thick cloak the tender body, which shuddered with cold in its thin dress. That shudder passed over his own person, too, as if they were but one had all feelings in common but the horse man betrayed no other evidences of emotion, of life. Once, his dark fiery eyes, glowing like coals, under his slouched hat, met her own ; once his warm breath, almost his kiss, touched her cheek ; but he did not kiss the cheek. It was only to see if her arm was rubbed against the pistols in his girdle, or the hilt of his sword. Still on ! The blast blew chiller, the wind seemed to sob, and moan, and laugh in cruel glee at her ; the stars soaring out, looked at her with their pitiless and sorrowfully twinkling eyes, then were obscured again still on ! She seemed still to be in a dream ; the whole affair had occurred so suddenly, that the young girl could scarcely collect her senses. When she attempted to reason calmly, the dreadful position she occupied deadened her brain, and her mind wandered. Was this not all a mere dream still ? Could it be real ? Was it not the mere fancy of her excited and agitated mind ? Could she not wake from such a hor rible nightmare, and sit up ? As the thought passed through her mind, she felt the arm around her waist cling tighter, and suddenly the animal reared, made a desperate leap, fell upon his knees, sprung up again, trembling, and fled onward faster than before. She looked back, and saw a stream, with high banks ; the current, of great width, glittered in the moon. It was a desperate leap, even for a phantom. But she began now to collect her thoughts ; and sud denly finding her voice, said, in trembling and agitated tones : " You frighten me 1 you hurt me ! Is this a dream or a dreadful reality ? You are killing me 1 " THE FLIGHT A .VD PURSUIT. The cavalier made no reply. Beatrice burst into tears, and struggled to release herself from his arms those arms only held her tighter. She said, moaning, that her position hurt her ; the cavalier dropped the bridle on his horse's neck, and with both arms raised her, laid her, so to speak, on his breast ; and thus carrying her, like a child, again plunged his spurs into the quivering side? of the flying animal, and fled faster. The ocean breeze grew colder, the odor of water began to fill the wild, wandering air ; the night grew darker and more dismal. Nothing was heard but the quick smiting of the horse's hoofs the far, mournful cry of a whippoorwill, and the low sighing of the wind through the solemn pines, under whose boughs the animal passed, like some phantom steed of the German mythology. She shrunk as the boughs bent down toward her for they seemed to be gigantic hands of fiends, stretched out to grasp and carry her away ; she sobbed, and wept, and entreated, but in vain still on ! The flying animal issued from the forest, and entere^ upon a wild waste, from which the James River was visible in the distance, glittering like a silver mirror in the fitful moonlight. As the young girl caught the flash of the far waters, she suddenly felt the animal arrested by an obstacle, which threw him to one side ; a loud voice came to her ears a voice which sent a thrill through her brain the cavalier only wrapped her closer in his cloak, and with a muttered curse, fled on. The animal seemed to scent the water, to know that it was his bourne, and with incredible speed darted on, and disappeared in a hollow, thick with pines. That obstacle which had arrested the animal, was the body of a man ; and this man had grasped the bridle, been rolled on the ground by the chest of the flying horse, and then rising, seen the whole disappear like a phantom. It was Charles Waters, and spite of the cloak, the disguise, he had recognized Beatrice and Mr. Effingham. For a moment the young man stood motionless in the moonlight, overwhelmed with horror ; then clenching his bands, he fled after them with the rapidity of a race-horse. 310 THE FLIGHT AND PURStflf. He now felt the advantage of his country train ing- hii days and nights spent in hunting ; his speed was scarcely less than that of the flying horse. As he fled onward, a thousand mad thoughts passed through his mind ; curses were on his lips, fire was in bis heart. He blessed God for that strange feeling he had experi enced all day, that Beatrice was in danger a feeling which had accompanied him in sleep, had waked him while night still lay upon the earth : which had driven him forth toward the town which had led him there to rescue her I But could he ? That animal was going faster than any mortal man could. He would be too late 1 Whither were they flying ? That sail-boat he had seen coming up the river, on the day before ! He clenched his hands, and his eyes glared. Still he sped on. Yes 1 that was the base scheme of that coward ! Yes 1 he had kidknapped a defenceless girll She was in his power 1 A flame seemed to pass before his eyes; he felt hia brain totter : no matter on ! The river suddenly bu/st upon his view : he ran on with staggering steps, heaving bosom : he saw figures mov ing on the shore in the moonlight, heard the faint neigh of a horse. He felt the eyes filling with blood his heart throb- bed with the desperate exertion, like an engine still on ! The moon shone suddenly on the white sails of a boat, as she veered round the water danced in the moon, and against the silver mirror ; he plainly saw the figures of three men, who carried by main force, some object in their arms toward th'e boat. With fiery eyes, eyes which saw nothing clearly, but through a flame, it seemed, he still sped on. His strength was exhausted he tottered as he ran : he staggered, still on! They reach the boat they embark she is gone ! Ha tore his hair, and uttered a sob of rage and despair. Suddenly a dark object interposed itself between the worn-out, exhausted, overwhelmed pursuer, and the bright ON THE RIVER. 311 Water illuminated by the moon. This object was the hut of Townes the boatman, and a despairing hope flashed through his breast. He staggered toward it seeing flame breathing fire, he thought. A light was burning in the window a shadow passed to and fro. He tottered, gasping, to the door fell against it burst it open caught the boatman by the shoulder, and said, al most inarticulately : " Come ! you must ! I must have ! look there ! they are carrying her off Miss Hallam, who sailed in your boat I she is my cousin ! mercy 1 " And staggering he would have fallen, had not the boat man caught him in his arms. CHAPTER LVI. ON THE EIVEE. THE boatman Townes was one of those men who understand perfectly at a single word, and act quickly. The broken ex clamations of Charles Waters, told him plainly all that had occurred he understood in an instant. " Blast my eyes ! " he cried, cramming his tarpaulin on his head, " I knowed somethin' was a-goiii' on ! But I didn't dream o' this ! I heard them horse's hoofs, but the devil himself couldn't a' dreamed this ! I'll have the craft ready in a minute 1 Stay here, and catch your breath, Charley, and we'll live or die together ! " With which words the boatman grasped a heavy stick, threw down another before Waters, who was nearly fainting, and rushed from the hut. With two bounds he was at his boat, and slung off the chain which held the bark to the shore. Then with a rapid and experienced hand he caught, and tore open the sail tied it to the gunwale, and seized his oars. Charles Waters was at his side panting, his eyes on fire, his looks fixed upon the other boat. Obedient to oar and sail, the " Nancy " darted from the 312 ON THE RIVER. shore, and plunged her cutwater into the silver expanse raising clouds of cold spray. The other boat was much of the same description : her size was greater she was more ornate that was all. On fire with his terrible emotion, his eyes burning, his body trembling, Charles Waters bent to his oar like a giant : it was as much as the boatman could do to keep the craft from whirling round, so tremendous were these strokes. The boat flew. " Look ! " cried the boatman, " I can see him 1 It is young Mr. Eflingham ! " Yes ! don't stop ! " " Him ! " cried the boatman, wonderingly. " Yes ! ' you would live and die with me 1 ' row 1 " " That will I ! " And plunging his oar into the water, the powerful boat man sent the craft twenty feet. The men in the other boat, plainly saw that they were pursued, and bent to their oars. The bark groaned with its enormous mass of sail, and careened dangerously. Standing in the bow, with one arm around Beatrice, Mr. Eflingham looked on gloomily. He knew very well that a deadly encounter was imminent this encounter he both desired and dreaded : dreaded because Charles Waters was her cousin. The young girl tried to shrink from him. " Oh, for pity's sake, do not carry me away 1 " she cried. He only gazed bitterly at her. " Oh, it is cruel ! " she cried. " You were cruel to me ! " he muttered, hoarsely. " They are pursuing us they will rescue me 1 " " Yes, when I am dead." " Oh, it is Charles ! " she cried. " Yes, your excellent cousin : we shall meet soon I see they are gaining on us ! " And Mr. Effingham drew a pistoL " Oh, for mercy's sake ! mercy ! do not fire 1 " exclaimed Beatrice, clinging to his arm. " Be easy, madam," said Mr. Eflingham, gloomily, " I only meant to try the lock : the sword will settle it. Row, there, row 1 " ON THE RIVER. ?13 And seizing an oar himself, he bent to nis task with des perate energy. He dreaded the encounter more than he would acknowledge. Beatrice kneeling and watching the boat which was pursuing them, could only pray. That boat fled toward them like a seagull. It seemed to dart rather than move. Every stroke of the large oars whirled it onward through the foamy surges, and the mast groaned. " We are gaining ! ' cried the boatman, " look 1 " And he raised his hand, to indicate the position of the two vessels. " Row ! row ! " cried Waters, hoarsely. The boatman bent to his oar again. The little bark flew over the water, leaving a long track of foam, which glittered in the moonlight. Her triangular sail bent in the wind her mast groaned she bore on like a living thing. The excitement of Charles Waters was terrible. His brain was on fire, his heart felt as if ice were pressed to it. That woman whom he loved more than all the world, was being torn from him by his insolent rival who had plainly compassed her abduction by some skilful trick ! she was being borne away before his eyes ! And uttering a groan of rage, he threw in a strength in his oar-strokes which seemed almost supernatural. The boats neared but the greater surface of sail on the foremost still made escape probable. The strength of the rowers must soon wear out at the rate they were going then the foremost boat would leave her pursuers behind. She was already flying before the wind, and, as we have said, careening perilously. " Oh, they will escape ! I am wearing out 1 " cried Waters, with a despairing groan. " Cheerly, cheerly ! " answered the boatman, "we'll give em a whack yet." And he rowed more powerfully. " I will throw myself into the water and die there, but I will overtake them ! " " Look 1 " shouted the boatman, " her mast's snapped ! hurrah ! " It was true the boat could not carry the press of sail, 14 314 ON THE 1UVER. and too well built to capsize easily, the frail mast had Broken under the press, and fallen over the side with all its mass of canvas. The craft was no longer any thing but a wreck : like & wounded sea-bird, whose wing has been broken by the hunts man, she paused in her course, verred round and threatened to go down with every wave. The pursuers darted toward her like lightning they were now not ten yards off. Again the foiled and infuriated young man drew his pis tol, and this time it seemed with deadly intentions. The barrel glittered in the moonlight as he levelled it. Then again he replaced it with a curse, and with one arm round Beatrice, as though he would die with her, awaited the approach of his pursuers. They were but two men yet he knew they were desper ate. The boat darted toward him the sides of the small ves sels crushed together : Charles Waters and the boatman, armed with their heavy clubs, threw themselves from their own into Mr. Effingham's craft. " You come to your death ! " cried the furious young man, rushing toward Charles Waters, " woe to you ! " His foot caught in the sail which cumbered the gunwale, and he half fell. Beatrice rushed toward her cousin, and he caught her in his arms. At the same moment Townes levelled the fore most waterman with his club : the other grappled with him, and endeavored to plunge a knife into his side. Mr. Effingham rose overwhelmed with fury. His blood boiled with rage he was in one of his madnesses of passion. He saw only that one sight before him Beatrice clasped in the arms of his hated, abhorred rival. He only under stood that that rival had defeated him, despised him. The blood rushed to his head he staggered, and draw ing his pistol, levelled it at Charles Waters' breast, and fired. A sudden careening of the boat deranged his aim, and the ball, drawing blood from Beatrice's shoulder, struck the waterman Junks, just as he had nearly strangled Townes, and had lifted his knife to stab him. THE FATHER AND SON 815 That sudden careening of the boat, saved the ufe of Charles Waters and his friend. " Oh ! you've got it ! blast you ! " cried Townee, as his adversary fell. Mr. Effingham saw all : he saw his two companions dis abled he saw himself left alone to contend against his ene mies he saw that all was lost. One thing remained revenge ! And as Charles Waters seeing him rise sword in hand, raised his arm, protecting Beatrice with the other, the infuriated young man plunged the weapon into his breast. Waters fell backward, dragging down Beatrice who had fainted. The sword snapped off in his body within six inches of the hilt only the hilt and the stump remained in Mr. Effingham's hand. With a wild cry the boatman, Townes, threw himself on his knees beside his friend, and, crying like a child, sought to stanch the blood. " No do not mind me ! " said Charles Waters, faintly, and turning deadly pale as he spoke, " attend to Bea trice ! " And drawing the blade from his breast with a desperate effort he fell back. The boatman tore his hair with both hands, and wept until he was worn out. Suddenly he started up woe ! to that man ! He was alone on the boat, with the wounded and dying. A hundred yards from the boat, he saw the young man swimming desperately toward the shore. Exhausted, over whelmed with horror, the boatman sunk back and fell, his head striking heavily against the side of the boat. CHAPTER LVII. THE FATHER AND BON. MR. EFFINGHAM, uttering a wild curse, had thrown himself into the water as Charles Waters fell, and still holding the stump of the bloody sword, had struck out toward the shore 316 THE FATHER AND SON. At one moment he determined to make no effort to reach the shore, to let the dark waves ingulf him but nature prevailed. Still grasping madly the weapon, he swam toward the bank, and issued from the water near the point from which he had started. His horse was grazing where he had left him, and came whinnying to him. He mounted, and plunging the broken sword into the scabbard, looked over his shoulder. There was the bark upon which the mortal encounter had just taken place a dark object upon the silvery ex panse. He turned from it gloomily. Where should he go ? He looked around him from side to side, and shook his head. That was a hard question. But one thing he knew that he would not stay there to be devoured with rage and despair. Motion ! motion I and striking his spur into the animal's side so cruelly, that it neighed with pain, he set forward furiously, his hair streaming in the wind his lips writhing his eyes glaring with despair. All was thenceforth lost to him he was lost ! his infat uation for that diabolical angel had ended, as he predicted, in a terrible crash, which shook the props of his whole life ! But at least he had no longer that rival. Every noise startled him he trembled at the moan ing of the wind shook at the fitful shadows : the moon seemed to grow pale, the stars to fade. Still the wild ani mal fled on the bridle on his neck his sides reeking with sweat. The young man knew nothing of the road he was tak ing : he did not see that the animal, with a strange instinct, had followed the road to the hall, avoiding the town. Still on ! more desperately, still he urged the flying horse with his spur he tried to outrun his thoughts in vain. They pursued him like ferocious bloodhounds, and caught him with their sharp teeth, and tore him 1 The sobbing, panting animal bounded onward wildly passed mile after mile, and entered the forest stretching around the hall, just as the first streak of dawn reddened in the east. THE FATHER AND SON. 317 The young man raised his head and looked around. " This place is familiar to me," he muttered, " it is home ! " And he groaned. The poor moaning animal halted in front of the great portico ; and, panting, covered with sweat, foaming at the mouth, stood still. Mr. Effingham dismounted and passed his hand over his neck the affection of that animal was grateful. Suddenly a voice startled him and he turned round. It was a negro just risen, and his face expressed the greatest delight at seeing his master back. Mr. Effingham gave him his hand ordered him to attend to his horse and then> scarcely knowing what he did, entered the hall, sombre, and moving slowly. He sat down in the library, where a fire had just been kindled, for the squire was accustomed to rise very early : and looking round, took note of all the familiar household objects, which he had not seen for so long years, it seemed to him. There was the squire's writing-table covered with papers, and ears of corn, and specimen apples, and large heads of wheat. There was the plain leather-bottomed chair with the marks of powder on the carved back, where the old gen tleman's head had rested. There was the book-case half open the " Gazette " lay on a chair Willie's new whip was on the floor. There was his mother's portrait over the fire-place : he turned from it with a groan. There was lit tle Kate's embroidery now finished, and converted into a screen : he looked away from that too. And the shadow on his brow grew deeper : his pale lips writhed. A step behind him, startled him, and he rose. The squire stood before him. The old gentleman's pride was all broken in his heart, by the sight of his long lost son ; and he would have grasped his hand hard : but Mr. Effingham drew back. " No sir," he said, hoarsely, " do not touch that hand : there is blood on it 1 " " Blood 1 " echoed the horrified squire, with wide dis tended eyes. " Blood I the blood of a man : perhaps that of a w( man too/' 318 THE FATHER AND SON. And the shadow in the dark eyes grew deeper. The squire fell into a chair overwhelmed with this an nouncement : he could not speak at first. At last he re gained his voice, and said, with a gasp : " Blood ? whose blood ? " " A rival's." " Who ? " " Mr. Charles Waters." The old man groaned. " That woman ! that woman I " he said, in a low voice, which trembled piteously. " Yes, sir, that woman ! " replied his son, with eyes which resembled nothing human, " you were right in warning me against her. She has ruined me I am lost 1 " The squire could not reply : " I have committed a murder, sir," continued Mr. Effing- ham, " see, my sword is still bloody, I believe " And drawing from the scabbard the stump of the wea pon, on which some drops of clotted blood still hung, he threw it on the floor before the old man. " A murder ? " cried the squire, turning deadly pale. " Well, sir no : not an assassination, for his arm was raised to strike me, and he was not alone " " Thank God ! I am spared that ' " groaned the old man. " But it is scarcely better," said the young man, in the same tone of gloomy calmness, " I carried off a woman, sir : that woman, whom you rightly dreaded so : yes, she has been my evil genius my fate ! I loved and hated her I was mad 1 But this is from the purpose. I carried her off was pursued first on land then on the water we were attacked my associates in the diabolical affair were both dis abled, one of them by myself, one by his adversary then I plunged my sword into my enemy's heart, having first tried to kill him with my pistol, thinking, from a stumble I made, that he would strike me unprepared. That is it, sir." And looking at the squire with lurid eyes, the young man paused. " I believe the ball wounded the woman," he added, hoarsely. " But thank Grod, you did not kill in cold blood 1 " cried THE FATHER AND SON. 319 his father, " it was while your blood was hot, and in a strug. gle. My poor son ! how fatally this has ended 1" And the squire covered his face. " Yes, sir ruin has been the end for me : henceforth, I am lost. As I shall probably be wanted by the officer! of the law some time to-day, I think that we had better decide upon something." " Yes yes ! " cried the squire, starting up, " you art right ! The officers of the law arrest you ! my son ! " And the old man, with some of his youthful heat, flushed to the temples. " The middle age is past," said Mr. Effingham, with the same sombre calmness ; " we cannot drop the portcullis, and from our castle bid defiance to all foes." The squire fell into his seat again. " There is one way which ends all, and well ends it," continued the young man, with the calmness of incipient madness ; " I have another pistol if the water has not wet ted the powder." And he drew it from his belt. The squire wrested it y with a groan, from his hand. " Well, sir you are right. I feel that this is the act of a coward. I have no intention of committing suicide : what remains ? " " To the continent ! Oh, you can go to Europe." " I'm tired of it, sir." " But Virginia you cannot remain in Virginia." " True." " The paper, there ! see what vesse) sails, and when Perhaps one goes from York, or Noil'olk, this very week." And the squire seized the paper : the first words he read, were : " On Saturday, the 21st, will s*il from the port of York, for Amsterdam, via Liverpool, the bark CHARMING SALLY, Capt. Fellowes " " That is to-morrow ! Oh, go in this vessel ! " cried the agitated squire, losing all his pride, and melting at the sight of the pale and disfigured features of his son. " Well, sir that will suit me as well as any thing else." " I will send off a servant to engage your passage in th 320 THE FATHER AND SON. ship, instantly Cato will understand : he is as secret as night : instantly ! " And the squire hastened out. Mr. Effingham sat down again with the same stony calm ness : that calmness would not have pleased a physician. He was in that state of despair which deadens the nerves. Suddenly a light step came down the stairs Kate en tered saw him ran to him, and with a face radiant with joy, threw her arms round his neck, and pressed her cheek to his own. Then, as a sequel to all this, she burst out cry ing, from pure delight. Mr. Effingham removed the arms, and rose : she shrunk back, frightened at his expression it was terrible. " Oh, cousin, Champ 1 " she cried, " you won't drive me from you ! " He was silent. " Oh ! you are not angry at me, for , oh 1 you make me feel so badly 1 " And she sobbed. " I cannot talk to you now I cannot kiss you I am not angry with you " he said. And muttering to himself, he went his way to the cham ber, which he had occupied before leaving the hall, and dis appeared at the turn of the great staircase from Kate's eyes. The child sat down, and wept piteously. The day drew on, and still the young man remained in his chamber. Miss Alethea passed in and out, making pre parations for him, and her face was observed to be bathed in tears. The squire shut himself up in his library, and only once came out to ascend to Mr. Effingham's chamber. About noon a visitor in a military dress, and with a coun tenance convulsed with passion, came to the Hall, and was closeted for an hour with the old man in the library, from which were heard high voices, " parbleus ! " and exclama tions. Finally the voices moderated, and the visitor, still much moved, but more calm, came out and rode away. The squire went to the young man's room, and told him that the brother of Charles Waters Captain Ralph Waters, had just come and informed him, that his brother was not dead though he was despaired of and the young woman scarcely at all injured. A flush greeted this information a sombre frown, THE FATHER AND son. $2* " Was there no challenge left for me," he asked. By Captain Waters ? " " Yes, sir." "None." And the squire, to avoid further embarrassing questions, went j)ut. The Captain had come to take Mr. Effingham's life in return for his brother's simply and purely and he would have " left a challenge," had the squire not made him change his mind. How this was effected must remain a mystery. The night drew on cold and gloomy, and Mr. Effingham was to set out for York soon after midnight. He and the squire sat up talking, for neither could sleep. No persons were present but themselves, and we know nothing of that conversation. About two o'clock, when a chill wind had arisen and moaned round the gables, Cato came and reported the horses ready, and took his master's baggage. Mr. Effingham then wrapped himself in his cloak ; buck led on a new sword, calmly, and went out. As he entered the passage he was approached by a small figure clad in white. This was Kate, who was in her night- clothes, and who pressed with her bare feet the chill polished oak of the floor. " Oh, cousin Champ 1 " she sobbed, " please don't go without kissing me ! They, made me go to bed, but I couldn't sleep, for you were going. Oh, don't go away feel ing angry with me. Please kiss me ! " The hard heart was overcome : he stooped down and took the child in his arms, and pressing her to his breast, two large bitter tears rolled down his pale thin cheeks. Then hastily kissing her, he again wrapped his cloak around him and passed on. In fifteen minutes he was in the saddle. The wild wandering wind sobbed mournfully around the lofty gables and through the pines. This was the sound which greeted Mr. Effingham as he turned his back upon the Hall, and rode forth into the cold, gloomy night. 32 THE AUTHOR OF THE MS. SPEAKS. CHAPTER LVIII THE AUTHOR OP THE MS. SPEAKS. " HERE let us pause," says the author of the manuscript from which these scenes are taken, " and looking back on the current of events which we have seen flow on through light and shadow, endeavor to extract briefly their signifi cance. " In the history of my respected ancestor, Champ Effing- ham, Esq., I think I discern something which reminds me of an Eastern fable I have met with. The enemy of Hu manity, the tale relates, came and found the first man sleep ing calmly under the palois of paradise : and gazing long at him, endeavoured to find some weak point of attack. But the lordly face of the sleeper made him groan with rage and disappointment. He saw the brows made to conceive pure and noble thoughts the chiselled lips shaped to express those thoughts, and utter prayer. He saw the strong arm, with its iron muscles, moulded wondrously to strike and overthrow wrong, should wrong trench upon the fair fields it cultivated : all repelled the enemy. At last he observed the movement of the sleeper's heart, and kneeling down, tapped upon it with his finger. It sounded hollow, and the enemy smiled, as only fiends smile. " ' Here is a cavity 1 ' he muttered ; ' I will fill it with passions ! ' " And, leaving the sleeper writhing in his slumbers, the enemy of souls disappeared. " My worthy ancestor, Mr. Effingham, seems to have afforded proof that this fable is not wholly fanciful. His passions were so strong that he was led by them to the com mission of actions which he often regarded with wondering disgust in after years : that infatuated young man whose acts he recollected, scarcely seemed to be himself. His mad passion for the young girl had changed his whole character. Chivalrous and noble, it made him persecute a woman, and exhaust the depths of bitterness and weakness. Sweet-tem pered and affectionate, under all his languid and satirical in difference, if the phrase may be used, his character WM THE AUTHOR OF THE MS. SPEAKS. 323 changed by that infatuation into one of sour and bittei scoff ing and mocking sarcasm. Careless of the prejudices of rank, and disposed to treat all men with cordiality and kind ness, it made him taunt with low birth the rival who sup planted him. Venerating his father, it led him to write to that father a letter of cold defiance and lastly, it made him commit an action which madness alone excuses the forcible abduction of an unoffending girl : and his wild, tur bulent, mad career, was wound up by an attempt to take th life of a man whose only crime was love for that woman who had driven him mad. " Mr. Effingham was a true descendant of the man tempted by the fiend, and filled with passion. " But then we may observe in this career equal proof of what Mr. Charles Waters had said to the man in the red cloak that the human heart is not radically false and hate ful, but suffers for the crimes it is led by passion to commit, cruelly; and ever strives to disentangle itself from the meshes of that fiery net which is bound around it by fate. " In the midst of all his delinquency when he was per secuting the young woman defying society and his family, uttering unworthy and insulting words to his rival carry ing off Beatrice striking at the heart of her defender : all this time, remorse and sombre rage with himself burned in his agitated heart like fire. We have traced some of the scenes in his lonely chamber, in which these stormy emotions were bared to his own consciousness, even in words and we have seen on one occasion, that the fury of his suffering and remorse nearly led him to self-destruction. We have seen how on that occasion he caught the child to his heart, and called her his guardian angel and blessed her : at that mo ment his good impulses were strong, and had not the words of his friend revived the slumbering passion in his heart, many of the events herein narrated would never have oc curred. " Even in the midst of his most furious rages when ho tried to persuade himself that he was the victim of cruel in justice and unjustifiable scorn, his heart still whispered to him that he was the wrong-doer ; and in that night and day after the river-fight, his remorse grew to a climax. We have peeu how he was touched by the affection of an animal, how 324 TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. he mingled his tears with those of the child when she bade him farewell. Those tears were not unmanly ones, and are pleasanter to think of now, to me at least, than all his fear less acts, his scornful defiances cast in the teeth of tho uni verse. " I have not space to speak further of those other per sonages who were grouped around my ancestor, the central figure of them all, and attracting to his splendid and fiery graces, his wild passions, every eye : Beatrice pure and lovely creature ! whose portrait I have vainly striven to de lineate, must be passed by : and Charles Waters, too ; the pure thinker. In after pages of this history I shall endeav our to develop further those feelings which, so much mo^e than mere events, enter into the lives of my personages." CHAPTER LIX. TWO SCENES ON A WINTEB NIGHT. THE writer, after these moral reflections, which we have transcribed for the benefit of our readers, goes on to narrate how, after the fight upon the river, the two watermen leaped into the " Nancy," and without exchanging compliments, excuses, or regrets, ran off with that craft ; even Junks with a bad wound in his arm, rowing as if the officers of the law were already on his track : further, he goes on to tell how Charles Waters, by his own request, was borne to his father's : how Beatrice, stanching her bleeding arm, would not leave him : how the old man wept and sobbed as he met his dying son : how the Chevalier La Riviere, otherwise Captain Ralph Waters, uttered furious " morbleus ! " and threats, and tore his moustache : and how, day by day, nursed by the tender hand of Beatrice, the young man's wound in the shoulder-blade grew gradually better, and his deadly pallor changed more and more to the hue of health : all this is related by the worthy writer of the MS., at considerable length. It is not necessary to dwell upon these scenes : the reader, BO doubt, will be able to understand all that is necessary TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. 32 without the aid of the chronicler. Let us pass over a month, and on a winter night enter the plain and simple, but cheerful and comfortable mansion of the old fisherman, and see what the inmates are engaged in. The apartment is the one which we have already entered several times, and a cheerful fire is burning in the wide, rude fireplace. Two stones serve the purpose of andirons, and a hook stands out prominently from the great cross beam. The light of the fire fills the room, bathing in its full rich flood of warmth and brightness the nets, the fish ing rods, the brown rafters overhead with their strings of onions and bacon flitches ; and these humble objects take a glory from the brilliant light, and seem to laugh and move about as the flame rises and falls, in a sort of ecstasy. In one corner of the great chimney sits old John Wa ters with his venerable gray head bent down, his face bright with its habitual smile of simple good-nature and kindliness. The old man occupies the chair of state, which is woven into a species of basket-work and softly cushioned the work of Charles. He wears his ordinary dress of fustian; his stockings are of woollen, and his huge shoes are decorated with huge buckles. His gray hair is tied in a queue behind, and in his hard, bony hand the old man holds a corn-cot pipe, which he replenishes from time to time by inserting his fingers into the ample pocket of his long waistcoat, and then thrusting the bowl into the ashes, from which it re appears crowned with a burning coal, and sending up clouds of fragrant smoke. Opposite, and crouching on his stool, sits Lanky, the cart- boy, who seems to be eternally protesting against something, for he shakes his head from north-east to south-west inces santly, and gazes into the fire with a profundity which would have delighted Newton. Lanky is clad in a pair of orna mental woollen stockings, and has enormous feet, which oc casionally are stretched out toward the blaze, then with drawn, as the warmth penetrates too feelingly into his shins : his short clothes are of leather, and are much soiled hia waistcoat is tattered and torn, and the pockets are stuffed with whip-lashes, nails, and iron rings, apparently the debria or some defunct harness; his coat has lost a portion of the skirt. Lanky has been working all day has ben with 326 TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. the cart of fish and vegetables to Williamsburg ; and now like an honest fellow with an excellent conscience takes his ease on his stool, and munches when the hunger fit seizes him, his bread and bacon, and, as we have said, carries on that silent protest against something or somebody, with his head, which closely resembles a pine knot. Immediately in front of the cheerful fire, and seated close to the rude pine table, Townes, the boatman, and the Chevalier La Riviere or, dropping this nom-de-guerre, Cap tain Ralph Waters occupying themselves with a sheet of paper, lying on the rough board, on which the Captain has traced a diagram, the lines of which are something less than an inch in breadth. Townes is clad in his usual dress, half sailor, half farmer, whole boatman. The Captain is re splendent in the fine military suit which we have seen Mr. Effingham dressed in, and his long sword lies by him on a settee. His moustaches are longer and blacker than ever ; his eye more laughing, his voice louder, his " parbleus ! " more emphatic, as he explains the diagram of the battle of Rosbach to the boatman. " Faith ! there it is ! " says the Captain, twirling his moustache, and making a dig at the paper with his broad- nibbed goosequill, " there is the river Saal these dots here represent Marshal Soubise's forces, opposite the head-quar ters of the great Frederic ; and here, at this line, Prince Hildbourghausen had posted himself." " Hill who ? " asks Townes, scratching his head, " talk it out plainer, Captain." " Hildbourghausen ! " says the soldier, laughing ; " faith 1 that is nothing to some of the jaw-breakers I have been compelled, for my sins, to pronounce, man ami!" " Hell bug housen," says the boatman, in a low, med itative tone, " now I've got it ! " " Well, here was the river we crossed on the 5th of November, all colors flying a glorious day, and a glorious set of devils to fight it out though I say it. I ean't go over the battle but fifty thousand mounseers bit the dust, or were taken: see, here was my share." And opening his coat, the soldier showed a deep s :ar on his breast. " A bayonet did it but I ran the follow through for it, tWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. 327 and the great Frederic made me a captain. What a beast he was ! And morbleu ! what a leader ! " " Well, now, seems to me," says Townes, " them things don't pay. Is scars all you get in the wars, Captain Ralph ? " No, I'm indifferent rich." " Really, now." " Yes." " How did you get the pistoles together ? " " They were not pistoles, mon arm they were florins and guilders," says the Captain, with a strange, wistful smile which is a pleasant sight to look upon. " Guilders ? I have seen some of that com," gays old John Waters, cheerfully, " come tell us, my son, something more of your doin's than you have done." The Captain pauses for a moment, and passes his hand over his eyes dreamily : then he raises his fine head, and says, manfully : " Very well, bon pre : ten words, more or less, will do that. You know that when I was eighteen, and had an in different smooth face, I ran away half with your knowledge, half without" " You were not a bad son," says the old man, pleasantly. " No, I believe not. Well, I got to Europe, found that I must starve or enlist, and having a natural turn for eating heartily, and an intense aversion to starving, at once accepted his gracious and serene majesty's shilling. We were shipped at once to the Continent, and under the Great Frederic, the Protestant champion, as we called him, fought like a parcel of honest English dogs, every time we could meet with the mounseers, who were equally the enemies of Prussia and England. " Very well, I knocked about got a wound at Rosbach, also my Captaincy had a public compliment paid me after Lissa a devil of a fight, comrade ! and at Glatz had the misfortune to be taken prisoner, as I was about to run my hanger through a fellow all bedizened with lace a Colonel, at the very least. I mention the great pitched battles the skirmishes, countermarches, night-encounters, here, there, every where, are understood. Well, I was taken after Glats Glats was in '59, mark you to a little town in the int- 328 TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. rior, where a fort was held by the troops of his Gracious Majesty, the King of France in the Rhine-land. There I became no longer a bachelor." With which words, the wistful expression again passed over the soldier's face. " She was a soft, bright-eyed girl I don't know how 1 ever came to love her," he murmured; " she was a good wife to me, and having sold my commission at her earnest request, I lived in that little town for two whole years or there abouts. She was a tender heart my poor Katrina." And the Captain frowns, to conceal his emotion. " Married, my son you ain't a-tellin' me you were mar ried ? " says the old man. " Yes, yes," says the soldier, raising his martial face with a sigh. " I married and lost my wife all within two short years." There is a silence. " Poor thing : she loved me devotedly, and left her whole fortune to me. What did I want with it, when she was gone ? well, well, the money amounted to some fifteen or twenty thousand pounds English coin, and that is what I have." " Twenty thousand pounds 1 " ejaculates Townes, with astonishment. " Yes, yes," adds the soldier, " but in spite of the fine fortune a great fortune for a poor soldier, her death nearly unmanned me ! She was a good girl ! " And with dreamy eyes the Captain twirls his moustache, and sighs. His auditors are silent. " After that," he continues, " I found myself no longer fit for peace the void in my heart, friends, called for war. How could I live there, looking on all those objects she had looked at with me ? No, no ! I could not, and I buckled on my sword again. Ah, man ami ! ah, bon pere ! vous ne tavez bah I English is the best 1 Well, well ! I went back again to the camp, did my duty, they said got some more wounds and slowly my good spirits came back to me 1 She was a good wife ! she is in heaven ! " " And you came away when the war ended, Captain ? " ays Townes, " for I hearn tell somethin' 'bout the pea o Fontybulll" SWO S.ilNES ON A WINTER NIOHT. 32ft " F >ntainbleau, man ami yes, I threw up my commis- then turned my back on camps, and as my heart began to grow strong again, it turned toward old Virginia here. I got into the first ship, leaving my gold in London there and came over. The sea voyage set me up again that, with the fighting, and here I am as fresh and hearty as a lion." With which words the Captain looks with great affection at old Waters, and seeing that Lanky is nodding, stirs that gentleman up with his foot. Lanky starts and looks around in utter and profound astonishment at which comical ex pression the boatman laughs, and Captain Ralph goes on with his adventures. Let us now pass through the door directly in the rear of the astonished Lanky, and look around us. The apartment is wholly different from the one which we have just left : it is smaller and neater. The fireplace is surmounted by a tall mantel-piece, upon which are ranged a number of old volumes, and in the recess to the right, some neatly-con structed shelves are covered with more books, and a great number of papers chiefly old copies of the " Virginia Ga zette." Immediately beneath this bookcase, if we may call it such, stands a small table covered with sheets of paper, some of which have been written upon, while others contain geometrical diagrams. A little window, with very small panes of thick, bluish glass, opens on the river, sleeping in the chill winter moon. In one corner of the room, a low narrow bed is seen in the corner opposite, a partition juts out, indicating that a narrow staircase leads from without, to the two small rooms above. Before the fire, which sings and murmurs cheerfully, are seated Charles Waters, and on another, but lower chair, Beatrice. He is very pale, and his cheeks are thinner than their wont ; but his clear eye is as full as ever of frank truth ; his sad smile as sweet. Beatrice is radiant with that tender and childlike beauty which characterizes her ; and as she sews and talks in a low tone, when he is not reading to her, she raises her large melting eyes to his face, with a look exquisitely soft iid Ipy- ing. Both are clad very simply. 330 TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. There is for a time silence in the small cheerful room, which, with its homespun carpet, and rude shelves and ruder rafters, is yet extremely neat and cheerful, and home-like. The voices of the interlocutors in the next room come to them indistinctly. The words, " She was a good wife ! " however, are heard plainly : and Beatrice raises her tender eyes. He smiles faintly. " Ralph is telling some of his adventures," he says, " but they cannot be more singular than those which we have passed through." And his eye dwells with great tenderness on the gentle, girlish face. " Oh ! how strange yes, how very strange ! " she mur murs, gazing into the fire : " it seems to me almost like a dream." " It is a bright reality, which has restored you to us," he replies, taking the little hand. Yes yes." And her head droops, quietly. The round rosy neck is half illuminated, half shadowed, hjf the fitful firelight ; and the curls seem to nestle closer : the face is plain, and a dewy glance trembles from the eyes. " After so many wanderings, so many singular experi ences, such rude contact with the world, and all sorts of people ah ! to see you here at last, it is strange indeed." " Yes yes but he was very kind to me : " she mur murs. " He was a kind-hearted man, and loved you, Beatrice : I do not know whether he made any exertion or not to find us and restore you and I do not attach very great blame to him. Ah ! had I found you, I should have hesitated long before parting with you." And the thin hand plays gently with her own. " He was very kind to me," she repeats, in a low tone, " and that last interview with him in this room was very trying. You remember, Charles, how bitterly he com plained, at first, that I would not return to Europe with him" " You could not." " No, I could uot 1 and yet I felt very deeply the sepa- TWO SCENES CTN A WINTER NIGHT. 33 \ ration : I told him so, you know, and thanked him for all his fondness and kindness, to poor Beatrice Hallam, his daughter for so long : and so you know he relented, and shed some tears, and took me in his arms, and said he did not blame me that I was right that blood was the strongest, after all : and so he blessed me and kissed me, and now he is far away on the sea, sailing for the old world." With which words Beatrice droops lower, her hair covers her face, she weeps in silence. He looks at her with inexpressible affection, and caresses with his pale hand the tender head. She raises her face, and he sees the tears. " Weeping, dear ! " he says. " I cannot help crying a little, thinking of him," she murmurs. " But, they are not bitter tears." " Oh, no ! " " You do not regret your determination ? " Oh, no no ! " And she looks at him with so much love, that his heart throbs, and his pale cheek is for a moment reddened, as if the flush of some golden autumn sunset bathed it. " You do not complain of having to leave all that bril liant life ? " he says. " I thank G-OO!, that I was permitted to abandon it." " For our poor house, here ah, it is very poor." " But I have you and uncle and " The weak voice gives way. " And we have you " he murmurs, holding out his arms with an expression of pride and joy, which illuminates his countenance like a glory. In a moment she is in his arms pressed to his breast, sobbing and weeping, and nestling close to his bosom. She will be his dear wife, she says she has promised that she will forgjt all for him in future never grieve she is not grieving now, her tears are tears of joy, she feels that God has been very good to her, and she is happy. And the red firelight lingers lovingly upon them, heart to heart, cheek pressed to cheek : the moonlight struggles to come in and share their joy : the room is still and holy. And from the adjoining room, come cheerful voices soon, 332 TWO SCENES ON A WINTER NIGHT. and merry laughter, and the loud camp-expletives of Cap tain Ralph. Then the voices moderate, the soldier's tone is lower, he has gone back to his happy days : and as they listen, the gentle head resting confidingly on his bosom, thoM low words are heard again, and echo in their hearts : " Yes, comrade a good wife I " UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-32TO-8,'57(,C8680s4)444 PS 1332 Beatrice Hallam B18 PS 1382 638 A ( ii in | 001375933 7 .