CU',:"-:'*At.:' c *■ < * e • • » « e « t. a ■ c 4 o t ■ « « % c « • ' « * « • * ft « • • c t e * • « ■ « r • « • • • • « • • 1. « C » I * % '. • • « • • c e ■J QyZ?Z'-/u€^ ^???.aAki^ /U^t^hs^ /^r ;^■>^'*'i^'•'^ ""^Vcld^^^^-^i jl!i£ ,.^. Qy^ ^^ih>m^-ni^^^Je^. _^®p>Jf 5Q)@M ((iE:®i5vj^is. ]|^yj^iLii:i0@-is <^^^S®^; /"< LEWIS ARUNDEL; OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. BY FRANK E. SMEDLEY, AUTHOR OF " FRANK FAIRLEGH," " HARRY COVERDALE's COURTSHIP," " THE FORTUNES OF THE COLVILLE FAMILY," ETC, " VVei lehret mich ? was soil ich meiden ? Soil ich gehorchen jenem Drang? Ach ! iinsre Thaten selbst, so gut als unsre Leiden, Sie heminen unsres Lebens Gang." Faust, eine Tra^SdU. X\i\ Jorig-tba lUustratians on gtcel bg " |bi^." LONDON: GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS, THE BROADWAY, LUDGATE, NEW YORK : 416, BROOME STREET. -PR •74-53 AI/rUOUGH P{jaBliUlY UECIAHES, THAT "REAKING AXr* WRITING COIVIE BY NATXHiE/ I, THE AUTHOR 0? THIS WORK, WAS AN UNFORTUNATE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE — TO MY MOTHER, THEREFORE, WHO SUPrLIED THE DEFICIENCY BY TEACHING ME THESE USEFUL ARTS, AMONGST OTHER THINGS HARD TO BE LEARNED, I AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBE THIS VOLUME, Afi A SMAIJ. TOKEN OF GIUTITUDE FOR ALL THE TROUBIiE SHE HAS BESTOWED UPON ME. ^r>547'7 CONTENTS. I'AOH Chap. I.— In which the Train starts, and the Header is introduced to three First-Class Passengers 3 Chap. II. — Showing how Lewis loses his Temper, and leaves his Home . , IS Chap. III. — In which Kichard Frere mends the Back of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Header is introduced to Charley Leicester 21 Chap. IV. — Lewis enlists under a "Conquering Hero," and starts on a dangerous Expedition S3 Chap. V. — Is of a decidedly warlike Character 36 Chap. VI. — In which Lewis Arundel sketches a Cow, and the Author draws a Young Lady 47 Chap. VII. — Wherein the Header is introduced to Miss Livingstone, and informed who is the greatest Man of the Age 55 Chap. VIII. — Lewis receives a Lecture, and a Cold Bath 65 Chap, IX. — Wherein Richard Frere and Lewis turn Mahometans 72 Chap. X.— Contains a practical Commentary on the Proverb, "All is not Gold which glitters" 80 Chap. XI. — Tom Bracy meets his Match 92 Chap. XII. — Lewis forfeits the Hespect of all Poor-Law Guardians 97 Chap. XIII.— Is chiefly Horticultural, showing the Effects produced by Training upon a sweet and delicate Rose 103 Chap. XIV. — Presents Tom Bracy in a new and interesting Aspect 110 Chap. XV. — Contains a Disquisition on Modern Poetry, and affords the Reader a Peep behind the Editorial Curtain 115 Chap. XVI. — Miss Livingstone speaks a bit of her Mind 122 CUAP. XVII.— Contains much Folly and a little Common Sense 129 Chap. XVIII. — Lewis receives a mysterious Communication, and is run away with by two youthful Beauties 137 Chap. XIX.— Charley Leicester bewails his cruel Mis-Fortune 141 Chap. XX.— Some of the Characters fall out, and others fall in 161 Chap. XXL— Faust gets on swimmingly, and the Reader is introduced to a diving Belle wringing wet 1G8 Chap. XXII. — The Train arrives at an important Station 17'J Chap. XXIIL— De Grande ville threatrtis a Confidence, and elicits Charley Leicester's Ideas on Matrimony 189 |uAP. XXIV.— Relates how Charley Leicester was first "sprighted by a Fool," then beset by an Amazon 193 Chap. XXV.— Contains'a mysterious Incident, and shows how the Course of True Love never does run smooth 207 Chap. XXVI. — Sunshine after Showers 217 Chap. XXVIL— Brotherly Love d la Mode 225 Chap. XXVIII. — Begins abruptly and ends uncomfortably • 229 Chap. XXIX.— De Grandeville meets his Match 238 Chap. XXX.— The General takes the Field 247 Chap. XXXI.— Is chiefly culinary, containing Receipts for a "good pre- serve," and a " pretty pickle " 257 Chap. XXXII. —Lewis makes a Discovery, and gets into "a State of xMind" vr-W 2^^ Chap. XXXIII. —Contains sundry Definitions of " Woman as she should be," and discloses Mrs. Arundel's opinion of Richard Frere 276 Chap. XXXIV.— Rose and Frere go to Visit Mr. Nonpareil the Publisher 289 Chap. XXXV.— How Richard Frere obtained a Specimen of the " Podiceps Comutus" 296 VI CONTENTS. PAGU Chap. XXXVI.— Recounts ♦' ye pleasauute Pastymes and cunnynge De- vyces" of one I'homas Bracy 303 CuAP. XXXVII.— Wherein is faithfully depicted the Constancy of the Turtle-Hove 312 Chap. XXXVIII.— Describes the Humours of a London Dinner-Party in the Nineteenth Century 321 Cjiap. XXXIX.— Is in two Fyttes, viz. : Fytte the First, a sulky Fit— Fyttc the Second, a Fit of Hysterics 332 Chap. XL. — Shows, amongst other Matters, how Kichard Frere passed a restless Night 342 Chap. XLI.— Annie Grant falls into Difficulties S-SS Chap. XHI. — A Tete-a-tete and a Tragedy 3C3 Chap. XLIIL— Whei Faust "sets up" for a Gentleman, and takes to a Course of serious reading ' 371 Chap. XLIV. — Lewis practically tests the Assertion that Virtue is its own Eeward, and obtains an unsatisfactory Result 385 Chap. XLV. — ^Vnuie Grant takes to studying German, and meets with an alarming Adventure 391 Chap. XLVL— Is calculated to "murder Sleep" for all nervous young Ladies 'A'ho read it 401 Chap. XLVIL— Contains a "ilidniglit Struggle," garnished with a due amount of Bloodshed, and other necessary Horrors , 409 Chap. XLVIIL— Wherein the Reader diverges into a new Branch of " the Railroad of Life," in a Third-Class Carriage 417 Chap. XLIX. — Contains a Parados — Lewis, when least resigned, displays the Virtue of Resignation 429 Chap. L. — Shows how Lewis came to a "dogged" Determination, and was made the Shuttlecock of Fate 441 Chap. LL— Contains much Sorrow, and prepares the way for more 449 Chap. LIL— Vindicates the Aphorism, that " 'Tis an ill Wind which blows no one any good 459 Chap. LIIL— Depicts the Jilarricd Life of Charley Leicester 472 Chap. LIV. — Treats of a Jletumorphosis not described by Ovid 481 Chap. LV.— Is decidedly Original, as it displays Matrimony in a more fttvour:ible Light than Courtship 486 Chap. LVI. — Lewis attends an Evening Party, and narrowly escapes being " cut " by an old Acquaintance 499 Chap. LVIL— Walter sees a Ghost 513 Ch.\.p. LVllI. — Contains much Plotting and Counterplotting 5'29 Chap. LIX.— Describes that indescribable Scene, " the Derby Day " 545 Chap. LX. — Contains some " novel " remarks upon the romantic Ceremony of Matrimony 553 Chap. LXI.— " We met, 'twas in a Crowd !" 568 Chap. LXIl. — " Points a iloral," and bo it is to be hoped " adorns a Tale" 577 Chap. LXllL— Shows how it fared with the Lamb which the Wolf had worried 598 Chap. LXI V.— The Fate of the Wolf ! 609 Chap. LXV. — Faust pays a morning Visit G19 Chap. I^XVI. — Ursa Major shows his Teeth 6o0 Chap. LXVI I. —Relates how, the Eclipse being over, the Sun began to shine again 641 CiiAF. LXVI 1 1. —Lewis out-generals the General, and the Train stops . , 653 PREFACE. The Preface is to a book, what the heard is to an oyster, ^.— an uncomfortable indispensable appendage, which people either reject altogether, or find the greatest difficulty in swallowing; but without this undesirable addition, both book and oyster would be deemed incomplete. To choose the subject matter of a Preface is not so easy as the uninitiated may imagine. If an Author writes about himself, the " gentle public " call him egotistical and con- ceited ; if he writes about his book, he usually (supposing it to be a work of fiction) contrives to forestall any interest it may contain, by unconsciously laying bare the plot. This being my opinion, no reader, acquainted with the consistency of human nature, will be surprised to find the rest of this Preface devoted to two subjects, — myself and my book ! First and foremost — with a preliminary flom'ish ot trum- pets (penny ones, probably, but still trumpets) — myself! In publishing this my second novel, for the first time in a collected form, I have affixed to it my own name instead of the no7n de plume under wliich I have hitherto written. Clear-sighted persons, who like to exercise their ingenuity by discovering unpleasant motives for the conduct of others, will naturally decide that I have done so in the liope that beneath the skin thus cast ofi", an enlightened public may discern a lion rather than an ass. To deny the imputation would be to stereotype it indelibly on the minds of those with whom it may originate. I prefer to throw out a sug- gestion which the amiable minority who are dissatisfied with the former hypothesis. may adopt, viz. — a secret known to so many people that he who cares to penetrate it may ask and learn, becomes simply an absurdity ; — the incog- nito of Frank Fairlegh is now such a secret ; therefore, the sooner it is dropped, the better. via PnEFACE. Secondly — my book. In Frank Fairlegli tlie moral (if moral it contains) is purely incidental ; in Lewis Arundel it is tlie result of design. In a certain order of mind, — a high one, but not the highest, — an overweening confidence in its own strength breeds a desire to test this. strength by running into, rather than by avoiding, temptation. Thus its possessor advances, sowing dragons' teeth broadcast at every step, till they spring up a host of armed men, with whom contending single-handed, he falls overpowered, having perceived when too late, that he is but a weak and fallible mortal after all. The character of Lewis Arundel was drawn to illustrate this idea, by pointing out the evils necessarily arising from such mistaken self-confidence. Ere I conclude, I wish to mention a circumstance, which, having aflforded me some amusement, may possibly do the same to others. Being out of health in the summer of 1851, I was on one occasion prevented from furnishing my usual monthly quota of manuscript. Now, Brother Jonathan, who pays me the compliment (and nothing else) of republishing my works in the New World, not approv- ing of this delay, saw fit to engage the pen of some go- ahead writer straightway to indite a concluding cliapter to Lewis Arundel, which, being accomplished, was inserted after the G4th chapter of this edition, and tlie work thus terminated, was brought out as a " genume " whole. I have since read, with feelings which " can more easily be iniagined than described," this conclusion, and beg hereby to thank my Transatlantic do2'>pel- ganger for his liberal conduct towards my hero, on whom he generously bestows an Earldom and £40,000 a-year. To any of my friends in America, however, who wish to read the tale ended by the same hand which began it, I strongly recommend the perusal of the present edition only. And thus, having affixed a " beard to my oyster," I leave the public to di_scuss it with what appetite they may. LEWIS ARUNDEL; CE, THE RAILEOAD OF LIFE CHAPTER I. IN WHICH THE TRAIN STARTS, AND THE READER IS INTKODDCM) TO THREE FIRST-CLASS PASSENGERS. " Surely he ought to be here by this time, Rose ; it must be past nine o'clock !" " Scarcely so much, mamma ; indeed it wants a quarter of '.line yet ; the coach does not an-ive till half-past eight, and ho has quite foui* miles to walk afterwards." " Oh ! this waiting, it destroys me ;" rejoined the first speaker, rising from her seat, and pacing the room with agitated steps ; '• how you can contrive to sit there, drawing so quietly, I do not comprehend !" " Does it annoy you, dear mamma 1 — why did you not teU me so before 1" returned Rose gently, putting away her drawing- apparatus as she spoke. No one would have called Rose Arundel handsome, or even pretty, and yet her face had a charm about it, a charm that lurked in the depths of her di-eamy grey eyes, and played about the comers of her mouth when she smiled, and sat like a glory upon her high smooth forehead. Both she and her mother were clad in the deepest mourning, and the traces of some recent heartfelt soitow might be discerned in either face. A stranger would have taken them for sisters, rather than for mother and daughter ; for there were lines of thought on Rose's brow which her twenty years scarcely wan-anted, while Mrs. Arundel, at eight-and-thirty, looked full six years younger, despite her widow's cap. " I have been thinking, Rose," resumed the elder lady, after a short pause, during which she continued pacing the room mc^t c'vssiduously, " I have been thinking, that if we were to sctllp B :2 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; . uear some large town, I could give lessons in music and singing : -rnj voice is as good as ever it was — listen ;" and, seating herself at a small cottage piano, slie began to execute some difficult ' solfeggi in a rich clear soprano, with a degree of ease and grace ■ which proved her to be a finished singer ; and, apparently » carried away by the feeling the music had excited, she allowed her voice to flow, as it were unconsciously, into the words of an Italian song, which she continued for some moments, without noticing a look of pain which shot across her daughter's pale featiu-es. At length, suddenly breaking oiF, she exclaimed in a voice broken with emotion, "Ah! what am I singing f and, bmying her face in her handkerchief, she bm'st into a flood of tears ; — it had been her husband's favourite song. Recovering herself more quickly than from the violence of her grief might have been expected, she was about to resume her walk, when, obseiwing for the first time the expression of her daughter's face, she sprang towards her, and placing her arm caressingly round her waist, kissed her tenderly, exclaiming in a tone of the fondest affection, " Rose, my own darling, I have distressed you by my heedlessness, but I forget everything now 1" She paused ; then added, in a calmer tone, " Really, love, I have been thinking seriously of what I said just now about teaching ; — if I could but get a sufficient number of pupils, it would be much better than allowing you to go ov.t as governess ; for we could live together then ; and I know I shall never be able to part with you. Besides, you would be miserable, managing naughty children qll day long — throwing away your talents on a set of stupid little wretches, — such di-udgery would ennui you to death." " And do you think, mamma, that I could be content to hve in idleness, and allov<- you to work for my support?" replied Rose, while a faint smile played over her expressive features. " Oh, no ! Lewis will try to obtain some appointment ; you shall live with him, and keep his house, while I go out as governess for a few years ; and we must save all we can, until we are rich enough to live together again." " And, perhaps, some day we may be able to come back and to.ke the dear old cottage, if Lewis is very lucky, and should make a fortune," retimied Mrs. Arundel. "How shall we be able to bear to leave it 1" she added, glancing round the room regi'ctfiilly. OR, 1-flE RAILROAD OF LIFE. S " Hew, indeed !" replied Hose, vitli a sigb : "but it must be done. — Lewis will not feel it as we sbali, — be bas been awav 60 Ions;." " It seems au age," resumed Mrs. Ai-undel; musing ; " How old was lie wben he left Westminster?" " Sixteen, was he not 1" rephed Rose. " And he has been at Bonn three years. — Why, Rose, he must be a man by this time !" " Mr. Frere wrote us word he was the taller of tiie two by half a head last year, if you recollect," retiu-ned Rose. " Hark !" exclaimed Mrs. Arundel, starting up, and going to the window, which opened in the French fashion upon a small flo^ver-garden. As she spoke, the gate-bell rang smartly, and in another moment the person outside, having apparently caught Bight of the figure at the window, sprang lightly over the paling, crossed the lawn in a couple of bounds, and ere the slave of the bell had answered its impatient summons, Lewis was in his mother's arms. After the first greeting, in which smiles and tears had mingled in strange fellowship, Mrs. Arundel cbew her son towards a table, on which a lamp was burning, sajdug as she did so, " Whj, Rose, tan tliis be our httle Lewis 1 He is as tall as a grenadier ! — Heads up, sir ! — Attention ! — You are going to be inspected. Do you remember when the old sergeant used to drill us all, and wanted to teach Rose to fence ?" Smiling at his mothers caprice, Lewis Ai-undel drew liimself up to his full height, and, placing Ms back against the wall, stood m the attitude of a soldier on parade — his head just touching the fi'ame of a picture which hung above him. The light of the lamp shone full upon the spot where he had stationed himself, displaying a face and figiu-e on which a mother's eye might well rest with pride and admiration. Considerably above the middle height, his figure was slender, but singularly gi-aceful ; his head small, and intellectual-looking. The features, exquisitely formed, were, if anything, too delicately cut, and regidar ; -which, together with a brilliant complexion, and long silken eyelashes, tended to impai-t an almost feminine character to his beauty. The expression of his face, however, effectually counteracted any such tendency ; no one could observe the flashing of the dark eyes, the sarcastic cm-1 of the short upper-lip, the cui*ved nostril siightly drawn back, the stern resolution cf the knitted brow, 4 LEWIS ARUXDELJ without tracing signs of pride unbroken, stormy feelings and passions unsubdued, and an iron will, which, according as it might be directed, must prove all-powerful for good or evil. His hair, which he wore somewhat long, was, like his mother's, of that jet black colour chai-acteristic of the inhabitants of a southern clime rather than of the descendants of the fair-hau'ed Saxons, while a soft down of the same dark hue as his clustering curls, fringed the sides of his face, affording promise of a goodly crop of whiskers. Despite the differences of featui-e and ex- pression — and they were great, — there was a decided resemblance between the brother and sister, and the same indescribable charm, which made it next to impossible to watch Rose Arundel without loving her, shed its sunshine also over Lewis's face when he smiled. After suiweying her son attentively, with eyes which sparkled with surprise and pleasure, Mrs. Annidel exclaimed, " Why, how the boy is altered ! Is he not improved. Rose 1" As she spoke, she involuntarily glanced from Lewis to the picture under which he stood. It was a half-length portrait of a young man, in what appeared to be some foreign uniform, the hand resting on the hilt of a cavalry sabre. The features, though scarcely so hand- some, were strikingly like those of Lewis Arundel, the greatest difference being in the expression, which was more joyous, and that the hair in the portrait was of a rich brown instead of black. After comparing the two for a moment, Mrs. Arundel attempted to speak, but her voice failing from emotion, she burst into tears, and hastily left the room. "Why, Rose, what is itf exclaimed Lewis in sui-prise; "is my mother ill V " No ; it is your hkeness to that picture, Lewis love, tliat has overcome her : you know it is a portrait qf our deai'est father " (her voice faltered as she pronounced his name), •' taken just after they were married, I believe." Lewis regarded the pictm-e attentively, then averting his head as if he could not bear that even Roso should witness his gi'ief, he threw himself on a sofa, and concealed his face wath his hands. Recovering himself almost immediately, he drew his sister gently towards him, and placing her beside him, asked, as he stroked her glossy hair, " Rose, dearest, how is it that I was not informed of our poor father's illness ? Surely a letter must have miscarried !" OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 6 " Did uot mamma explain to you, then, how sudden it was?" " Not a word ; she only wrote a few hun-ied lines, leading me 4o prepare for a great shock ; then told me that my father was dead ; 'and entreating me to return immediately, broks ofi abruptly, saying she coidd write no more." " Poor mamma ! she was quite overcome by her grief, and yet she was so excited, and so anxious to save me, she would do everything herself. I wished her to let me write to you, but she •objected, and I was afraid of annoying her." " It was most unfortunate," retm-ned Lewis ; " in her huny she misdirected the letter ; and, as I told you when I wrote, I was from home at the time, and did not receive it till three weeks after it should have reached me. I was at a rifle- match got up by some of the students, and had just gained the prize, a pair of silver-mounted pistols, when her letter was .put into my hand. Fancy receiving such news in a scene of gaiety !" " How exquisitely painful ! My poor brother !" said Rose, while the tears she could no longer repress dimmed her bright eyes. After a moment she continued, " But I was going to tell you, — it was more than a month ago — poor papa had walked over to Warlington to negotiate about selling one of his paintings. — Did you know that he had lately made his talent for painting seiwe as a means of adding to our income ?" " Richard Frere told me of it last year," replied Lewis. " Oh yes, Mr. Frere was kind enough to get introductions to several picture dealers, and was of the greatest use," continued Rose. " Well, when papa came in, he looked tired and harassed ; and in answ^er to my questions, he said he had received intel- ligence which had excited him a good deal, and added something abo\it being called upon to take a very important step. I left iim to fetch a glass of wine, and when I returned, to my hon-or, "iis head was leaning forward on his breast, and he was both speechless and insensible. We instantly sent for the neai-est medical man, but it was of no use ; he pronounced it to be *;ongestion of the brain, and gave us no hope : his opinion was but too correct ; my dear father never spoke again, and in less tlian six houre all was over." " How dreadful ! " murmured Ijcwis ; " My poor Rose, how siiocked yo\i must bavo been !" — After a few minutes' silence ho LEWIS ARUNDEL j continued, "And what v/as this news which j)roduced such an effect upon my father 1" " Strange to say," replied Rose, " we have not the slightest notion. No letter or other paper has been found which conld at all account for it, nor can we learn tliat papa met any one at Warlington likely to have brought him news. The only clue we have been able to gain is, that ^Ir. Bowing, who keeps the library there, remarked that papa came in as usual to look at the daily papers, and as he was reading, suddenly uttered an ex- clamation of surprise, and put his hand to his brow.' Mr. Bowing was about to inquire whether any thing was the matter, when he was called away to attend to a customer ; and when he was again at liberty papa had left the shop. Mr. Bowing scut us the paper afterwards, but neither mamma nor I could discover in it any thing -we could imagine at all likely to have aftected papa so strongly," " How singular !" returned Lewns, musing; "What could it possibly have been 1 You say my father's papers have been examined ]" " Yes, mamma wrote to Mr. Coke, papa's man of business in London, and ho came down directly, but nothing appeared to throw any light on the matter. Papa had not even made a will. She paused to di-y the tears which had flowed copiously during this narration, then continued, " But oh ! Lewis, do you know we are so very, very poor 1 " " I suspected as much, dear Rose ; I knew my father's was a life income. But why speak in such a melancholy tone 1 surely my sister has not gi-own mercenary ?" " Scarcely that, I hope," returned Rose, smiling ; " but there is some difference between being mercenary, and regi-etting that we are so poor that we shall be unable to live togetlier ; is there not, Lewis dear]" "Unable to live together!" repeated Lcv,'is slowly; "Yes, well, I may of course be obliged to leave j^ou, but I shall not accept any employment whicli will necessitate my quitting England, so I shall often come and take a peep at you." " Oh ! but Lewis love, it is worse than that — we shall not be able to — Hush ! here comes mamma ; we will talk about thia another time." " Why, Lewis," exclaimed IMrs. Arundel, entering the room with a light elastic step, without a trace of her late emotion OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 7" visible on her animated countenance, " what is this 1 hei'o's Rachel complainins^ that you have brought a wild beast with you, which has eaten up all the tea-cakes." " Let alone fright'ning the blessed cat so that she's flowed up the chimley like a whirlpool, and ma a'most in fits all the tim3, the brute ! But I'll not sleep in the house with it, to be de- voured like a cannibal in my quiet bed, if there was not another sitivation in Sussex !" — And here Rachel, a stout serving womaUj with a face which, sufficiently red by nature, had become the deepest crimson from fear and anger, biu'st into a flood of tears, which, mingling with a tolerably thick deposit of soot, acquired dm'ing the hunted rise and progress of the outraged cat, im- parted to her the appearance of some pieballed variety of female Ethiopian Serenader. " Rachel, have you forgotten me 1 " inquired Lewis, as soon as he could speak for laughing : " What are you crying about ? You are not so silly as to be afraid of a dog? Here, Faust, where are you 1" As he spoke, he uttered a low peculiar whistle ; and in obedience to his signal, a magnificent Livonian wolf- hound, which bore sufficient likeness to the animal it was trained to destroy to have alarmed a more discriminating zoologist than poor Rachel, sprang into the room, and, delighted at rejoining his master, began to testify his joy so roughly, as not only to raise the teiror of that damsel to screaming point,., but to cause Mrs. Arundel to interpose a chair between herself- and the intnider, while Rose, pale but silent, shrank timidly into a corner of the apartment. In an instant the expression of' Lewis's face changed ; his brow contracted, his mouth grew: stem, and fixing his flashing eyes upon those of the dog, he- uttered in a deep low voice some German word of command;, and as he spoke, the animal di'opped at his feet, where it crouched in a suppliant attitude, gazing wistfully at his mastei''s- countenance, without offering to move. " You need not have erected a bairicade to defend yourself^ my dear mother," said Lewis, as a smile chased the cloud which had for a moment shaded his featm-es ; " the monster is soon quelled. Rose, you must learn to love Faust — he is my second self; come and stroke him." Thus exhorted, Rose approached, and patted the dog's shaggy head, at first timidly, but more boldly when she found that ha still retained his crouching posture, merely repaying her cai'esaos- b LKWIS AiirNDEL ; by fixing his bright tinithful eyes upon her face lovingly, and licking his hps with his long red tongue. " Now, Rachel," continued Lewis, " it is your tiu'n ; come, 1 must have you good friends with Faust." " No, I'm much obliged to you, sir, I couldn't do it, indeed,— no disrespect to you, Mr. Lewis, though you have growed a man in foreign parts. I may be a sei"vant of all work, but I didn't engage myself to look after wild beastes, sir. No ! nor woiddn't, if you was to double my wages, and put the washin out — I can't abear them." " Foolish girl ! it's the most good-natured dog in the world. Here, he'll give you his paw ; come and shake hands with him." " I couldn't do it, sir ; I'm jest a-going to set the tea-things. I won't, then, that's flat," exclaimed Rachel, waxing rebellious in the extremity of her terror, and backing rapidly towai'ds the door. " Yes, you will," returned Lewis quietly, " every one does as I bid them ;" and, gi-asping her ^VTist, while he fixed his piercing glance sternly upon her, he led her up to the dog, and in spite of a faint show of resistance, a luilf-frightcued half-indignant " I dare say, indeed," and a muttered hint of her conviction, " that he had lately been accustomed to drive black nigger slaves in Guinea," with an intimation " that he'd find white flesh and blood woiddn't stand it, and didn't ought to, neithei'," succeeded in making her shake its great paw, and finally, (as she perceived no symptoms of the humanivorous propensities with which her imagination had endowed it,) pat its shaggy sides. " There, now you've made up yoiu- quan'cl, Faust shall help you to cany my things up stairs," said Lewis ; and slinging a small travelling valise round the dog's neck, he again addressed him in German, when the well-trained animal left the room, with the astonished but no longer refractory Rachel. " You must be a conjiu'or, Lewis," exclaimed his mother, who had remained a silent but amused spectator of the foregoing scene ; " why, Rachel manages the whole house. Rose and I do exactly what she tells us, don't we. Rose ? What did you do to her ] was it mesmerism V " I made use of one of the secrets of the mesmerist, certainly," replied Lewis ; " I managed her by the power of a strong will over a weak one." " I should hardly call Rachel's a weak will," observed Rose, with a quiet smile. '^r/zs/^ <.y7zA-^P!3!Ma^^i^m'y^ t-^UCif^. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 9 " Ton must confess, at all events, mine is a stronger," replied Lewis ; " when I consider it necessary to cany a point, I usually find some way of doing it ; — it Avas necessary for the sake of Faust's well-being to manage Rachel, and I did so." He spoke carelessly, but there was something in his bearing and manner W'hich told of conscious power and inflexible reso- lution, and you felt instinctively that you were in the presence of a master-spirit. Tea made its appearance ; Rachel, upon whom the charm still appeared to operate, seeming in the highest possible good humour, — a frame of mind most unusual with that exemplary woman, who belonged to that trying class of servants who, on the strength of their high moral character and intense respectability, see fit to constitute themselves a kind of domestic scoiu'ges, household horse-hair shirts (if we may be allowed the expression), and, bent on fulfilling their mission to the enth, keep their martyi'ed masters and mistresses in a constant state of mental soreness and initation from morning till night. Tea came, — the cakes demolished by the reprobate Faust in the agitation of his arrival (he was far too well-bred a dog to have done such a thing, had he had time for reflection) liaviug been replaced by some marvellous impromptu resulting from Rachel's unhoped-for state of mind. The candles bm-ned brightly; the fire (for though it was the end of INIay, a fire was still an agi-eeable companion) blazed and sparkled cheerily, but yet a gloom hung over the little party. One feeling was uppermost in each mind, and saddened every heart. He whom they had loved with a deep and tender affection, such ss but few of us are so fortunate as to call fortli, the kind and indulgent husband and father, the dear friend rather than the master of that little household, had been taken from amongst them ; and each word, each look, each thought of the past, each hope for the future, served to realize in its fullest bitternes'.i the heavy loss they had sustained. Happy are the dead whose virtues are chronicled, not on sculptured stone, but in the faithful hearts of those whom they have loved on earth ! During the evening, in the cotn-se of convei'sation, Mrs. Arundel again refen-ed to the project of teaching music and singing. Lewis made no remark on the matter at the time, though his sister fancied, from his compressed lip and darkened brow, that it had not passed him unobserved. When the two 10 x^EWlS ARUNDEL; ladies were about to retire for tlie night, Lewis signed to his sister to remain ; and, having hghted his mother's candle, kissed her affectionately, and wished her good night, he closed tho door. There was a moment's silence, which was broken by Lewis saying abruptly, " Rose, what did my mother mean about giving singing lessons'?" " Dear unselfish mamma !" replied Rose, " always ready to sacri- fice her own comfort for those she Icves! She wants, Avhen avo leave the cottage, to settle near some large town, that she may be able to teach music and singing, (you know what a charming voice she has,) in order to save me from the necessity of going out as governess." " Leave the cottage ! go out as governess !" repeated Lewis in a low voice, as if he scarcely understood the pm-port of her words ; " Are you mad V " I told you, love, we are too poor to continue living here, or indeed anywhere, in idleness ; we must, at all events for a few years, work for our living ; and you cannot suppose I would let mamma — " " Hush !" exclaimed Lonas, sternly, " you will distract me." He paused for some minutes in deep thought ; then asked, in a cold, hard tone of voice, which, to one skilled in reading the human heart, told of intense feelings and stormy passions kept down by the power of an iron will, " Tell me, what is the amount of the pittance that stands between us and beggary V " Dear Lewis, do not speak so bitterly ; we have still each other's love remaining, and Heaven to look forward to ; and A\dth such blessings, even poverty need not render us imhappy." And as she uttered these words. Rose leaned fondly upon her brother's shoulder, and gazed up into his face with a look of such deep affection, such pure and holy confidence, that even his proud spirit, ciiielly as it had been wounded by the unexpected shock, coTild not withstand it. Placing his arm roimd her, he di-ew her towards him, and kissing her high, pale brow, murmiu'ed, — " Forgive me, dear Rose ; I have gi'own hareh and stem of late — all ai'e not true and good as you are. Believe me, it was for your sake and my mother's that I felt this blow : for myself, I heed it not, save as it impedes freedom of action. And now answer my question, What have we left to live upon T " About 100^. a-year was what Mr. Coke told mamma." " And, on an average, wliat docs it cost living in this cottage Ct'. comfortably as you have been accustomed to do ?" OH, TUB RAILROAD OF LIFE, \\ »* Poor papa used to reckon we spent 200?, a-year here." " No more, you are certain f ' " Quite." Again Lewis paused in deep thought, his brow resting on his hand. ■* At length he said, suddenly, " Yes, it no doubt can be done, and shall. Now, Rose, listen to me. While I live and can work, neither my mother nor you shall do anything for your o^\^l support, or leave the rank you have held in society. You shall retain this cottage, and live as you have been accustomed to do, and as befits the widow and daughter of him that is gone." " But, Lewis " " Rose, you do not know me. When I left England I was a boy : in years, perhaps, I am little else even yet ; but circum- stances have made me older than my years, and in mind and disposition I am a man, and a determined one. I feel strongly and deeply in regard to the position held by my mother and sister, and therefore on this point it is useless to oppose me." Rose looked steadily in his face, and saw that what he said was true ; therefore, exercising an unusual degree of common sense for a woman, she held her tong-ue, and let a wilful man have his way. Reader, would you know the circumstances which had changed Lewis Arundel from a boy to a man 1 — They are soon told. He had loved, foolishly perhaps, but with all the pure and ardent passion, the fond and trusting confidence of youth — he had loved, and been deceived. Lewis had walked some miles that day, and had travelled both by sea and land ; it may therefore reasonably be supposed that he was tolerably sleepy. Nevertheless, before he went to bed, he sat down, and wrote the following letter : — " My dear Frere, " There were but two men in the world of whom I would have asked a favom*, or from whom I would accept assistance — my poor father was one, you are the other. A week since, I received a letter to tell me of my father's death : to-day I havo retiuned to England, to learn that I am a beggar. Had I no tie to bind me, no one but myself to consider, I should instantly quit a country in which poverty is a deadly sin. In Germany or Italy I could easily render myself independent, either as painter 42 LEWIS ARUNDEL: or musician ; and the careless freedom of the artist life suits me well ; but the little that remains from my father's scanty fortune is insufficient to support my mother and sister. Therefore I apply to you, and if you can help me, you may — your willingness to do so, I know. I must obtain, immediately, some situation or ■employment which wiU bring me in 200^. a-year ; though, if my purchaser (for I consider that I am selling myself) will lodge and feed me, as he does his horse or his dog, 50^. less would do. I care not what use I am put to, so that no moral degradation is attached to it. You know what I am fit for, as well o. better than I do myself. I have not forgotten the Greek and Latin flogged into us at Westminster, and have added thei'eto French, Italian, and, of course, German ; besides picking up sundry small accomplishments, which may induce somebody to oflFer a higher price for me ; and as the more I get, the sooner I shall stand a chance of becoming my own master again, I feel ■intensely mercenary. Write as soon as possible, for, in my present frame of mind, inaction will destroy me. I long to see you again, old fellow. I have not forgotten the merry fortnight we spent together last year, when I introduced you to student- life in the ' Vaterland ;' nor the good advice you gave me, which if I had acted on Well, regi-ets are useless, if not worse. Of ■course I shaU have to come up to town, in which case we can talk ; so, as I hate WTiting, and am as tired as a dog, I may as well wind up. Good bye, till we meet. " Your affectionate Friend, " Lewis Arundel. " P.S. Talking of dogs, you don't know Faust— I picked him up after you came away last year ; but wherever I go, or whoever takes me, Faust must go also. He is as largo as a calf, which is inconvenient, and I doubt whether he is full-gi-own yet. I dare say you think this childish, and very likely you are right, but I must have my dog. I can't live among stmngere without some- thing to love, and that loves me ; so dotv't wony me about it, there's a good fellow. Can't you write to me to-morrow T Having in some measm'e relieved his mind by finishing this letter, Lewis undressed, and sleep soon effaced the lines which bitter thoughts and an aching heart had stamjKsd upon his fair yowng brow. oil, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. IS CHAPTER II. SnOWING HOW LEWIS LOSES HIS TEMPER, AND LEAVES HIS HOME. " Has the Post come in yet, Rose 1" inquired Mrs. Arundel, as she made her appearance in the breakfast-room the following morning. " No, mamma ; it is late to-day, I think." " It is always late when I pai-ticularly expect a letter ; that old creature Richards the postman has a spite against me, I am certain, because I once said in his hearing that he looked like an owl — the imbecile !" " Oh, mamma ! he's a channing old man, with his venerable white hail'." " Very hkely, my dear, but he's extremely like an owl, never- theless," replied Mi-g. Arundel, cutting bread-and-butter with the- quickness and regulaitity of a steam engine as she spoke. " Here's the lettei-s, ma'am," exclaimed Rachel, enteiing with a polished face, beaming out of a marvellous morning cap, composed- of a species of opaque muslin, (or some analogous female fabric,) which appeared to be labouring under a violent emption of little thick dots, strongly suggestive of small-pox. " Here's the letters, ma'am. If you please, I can't get Mr. Lewis out of bed nohow, though I've knocked at his door three times this here blessed morning ; and the last time he made a noise at me in French, or some other wicked foreigneering lingo ; wliich is what I won't put up with — no ! not if you was to go down upon yom' bended knees to me without a hassock." " Give me the letters, Rachel," said Mrs. Arundel, eagerly. " Letters, indeed !" was the reply, as, with an indignant toss of the head, Rachel, whose temper appeared to have been soaked in vinegar during the night, flung the wished-for missives upon the table ; " Letters, indeed ! them's all as you care about, and not a poor gal as slaves and slaves, and gets insulted for her trouble ; but I'm oome to " " You'i'e come to bring the toast just at the right moment," said Lewis, who had approached imobseiTed, " and you're going down to give Faust his breakfast; and he is quite ready for it, too, poor fellow !" 1 4 LEWIS ARUNDEL ', As lie spoke, a uiarvellous cliange seemed to come over the temper and countenance of Rachel : her ideas, as she tm-ned to leave the room, may be gathered from the following soliloquy, which appeai-ed to escape her unwares : — " He's as 'andsome as, a iliike, let alone his blessed father ; but them was shocking words for a Christian with a four years' carikter to put up with." During Rachel's little attempt at an aneute, which the appear- ance of Lewis had so immediately quelled, Mrs. Anmdel had been eagerly perusing a letter, which she now handed to Rose, saying, mth an air of triumph, " Read that, my dear.'" " Good news, I hope, my dear mother, from yom* manner ?" observed Le-\vis, interrogatively. " Excellent news," rephed Mrs. Ainindel, gaily. " Show your brother the letter. Rose. Oh ! that good, kind Lady Lombard !" Rose did as she was desired, but from the anxiety with which iiie scanned her brother's countenance, as he hastily ran his eye over the writing, it was evident she doubted whether the effect the letter might produce upon him would be altogether of an agreeable nature. Nor was her suspicion unfounded, for as he became acquainted with its contents, a storm-cloud gathered upon Lewis's brow. The letter was as follows : — " My DEAR Mrs. Arundel, — To assist the afflicted, and to relieve the unfortunate, as well by the influence of the rank and station which have been graciously entrusted to me, as by the judicious employment of such pecuniary superfluity as the muni- iicence of my poor dear late husband has placed me in a position to disburse, has always been my motto through life. The many calls of the numerous dependents on the hberality of the late lamented Sir Pinchbeck, with constant apphcations from the relatives of his poor dear predecessoi", (the Girkins are a very large family, and some of the younger branches have turned out shocking pickles,) i-educe the charitable fund at my disposal to a smaller sum than, from the noble character of my last lamented hiisband's will, may generally be supposed. I am, therefore, all the more happy to be ublo to inform you, that, owing to the too high estimation in which my kind neighbours in and about Comfoilown hold any recommendation of mine, I can, should you determine on settling near our pretty little town, promise jou six pupils to begin with, and a prospect of many more should your metliod of impai-ting instruction in the delightful science of OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 15 music realise the veiy high expectations raised by my euiogium ou your talents, vocal and instrumental. That such will be the case I cannot doubt, from my recollection of the touching manner in which, when we visited your sweet little cottage on our (alas ! too happy) wedding trip, you and yom* dear depai'ted sang, at my request, that lovely thing, ' La ci darem la mano.' (What a fine voice Captain Arundel had !) I dare say, with such a good memory as yours, you will remember how the late Sir Pinchbeck obseiTed, that it put him in mind of the proudest moment of his life, when at St. George's, Hanover Square, his friend, the Very Reverend the Dean of Dinnerton, made liim the happy husband of the relict of the late John Girkin. Ah ! my deai' madam, we widows learn to sympathise with misfortune ; one does not sui-vive two such men as the late Mr. Girkin, though he was somewhat peppery at times, and the late lamented Sir Pinchbeck Lombai'd, in spite of his fidgety ways and chi'ouic cough, without feeling that a vale of tears is not desirable for a permanency. If it would be any convenience to you when you part with youi' cottage, (I am looking out for a tenant for it,) to stay with me for a week or ten days, I shall be happy to receive you, and would ask a few influential families to hear you sing, some evening, which might prove useful to yoiu Of course, I cannot expect you to part with your daughter, as she will so soon have to quit you, (I men- tioned her to my friend Lady Babbycome, but she w^as provided with a governess,) and wish you to understand my invitation extends to her also. " I am, dear Madam, ever your very sincere friend, '' Sarah Matilda Lombard. " P.S. "Would your son like to go to Norfolk Island for fom-teen years 1 I think I know a way of sending him free of expense. The climate is said to produce a very beneficial efibct on the British constitution ; and with a salary of sixty pounds a-year, and an introduction to the best society the Island affords, a young man in your son's circumstances would scarcely be justi- fied in refusing the post of junior secretary to the governor." " Is the woman mad]" exclaimed Lewis impetuously, as he finished reading the foregoing letter, " or what right has she to insult us in this manner ]" " Insult us, my dear !" replied Mrs. Arundel quickly, disi-e- .gardjng a deprecatory look from Rose. " Lady Lombard har 16 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; ans.vered my uote informing her that I wished fur musical pupils with equal kindness and promptitude. — Mad, indeed ! she is con- sidered a very superior woman by many people, I can assure you, and her generosity and good-nature know no bounds." " Perish such generosity !" was Lewis's angiy rejoinder. " la it not bitterness enough to have one's energies cramped, one's free-will fettered by the cm-se of poverty, but you must advertise our wretchedness to the world ; and put it in the power of a woman, whose pride of purse and narrowness of mind stand forth in every line of that hateful letter, to buy a right to insult us with her patronage 1 You might at least have waited till you knew you had no other alternative left. What right have you to degrade me, by letting yourself down to sue for the charity o£ a7iy one ? " " Dearest Lewis," murmured Rose, imploringly, " remember it is mamma you are speaking to." " Rose, I do remember it, but it is the thought that it is my mother, my honoured father's widow, who, by her ovai impru- dence, to use the mildest terni; has brought this insult upon us,, that maddens me." " But, Lewis," interposed Mrs. Arundel, equally siu-prised and. alarmed at this unexpected outbiu-st, " I cannot understand what, all this fuss is about : I see no insult ; on the contrary. Lady Lombard wTites as kindl}' " An exclamation of ungovemable anger burst fi-om Lewis, and' he appeared on the point of losing all self-control, when Rose,, catching his eye, glanced for a moment towards her father's portrait. "Well did she read the generotis though fiery nature of him with whom she had to deal : no sooner did Lewis perceive the direction of her gaze, than, by a strong effort, he checked all. further expression of liis feehngs, and, turning towards the window, stood apparently looking out for some minutes. At length he Buid Rliniptly, " Mother, you must forgive me ; I am hot and impetuous, and all this has taken me so completely by surprise. After all, it was only my affection for you and Rose which made me resent your patronising friend's impertinent benevolence ; but the fact is, I hope and believe you have been premature in asking her assistance. I have little doubt I shall succeed in obtaining a situation or employment of some kind, which will be sufficiently lucrative to prevent the necessity of yoiu- either gi^nng OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 17 ap tke cottage, or i)eing separated from Rose. I havG ^litten to Frcre about it, aud expect to hear from him in a day or two." " My dear boy, would you have us Uve here in idleness and lusiu-y, while you ai'e working yourself to death to enable us to do sol" taid Mrs. Arundel, her affection for her son overcoming any feeling of anger which his opposition to her pet scheme had excited. •' I do not see that the working need involve my death," replied Lewis ; " perhaps," he added, with a smile, " j'ou would prefer my embracing our Lady Patroness's scheme of a fomieen-years' sojourn in Norfolk Island. I think I could accomplish that object without ti'oubhng any body : I have only to propitiate the Home Office by abstracting a few silver spoons, — and Govern- ment, in its fatherly care, would send me there free of expense, and jjrobably introduce me to the best society the Island affords, uito the bargain." " Poor dear Lady Lombard ! I must confess that pai't of her letter was rather absiu'd," retm-ned Mrs. Arundel : " but we must talk more about this plan of yours, Lewis ; I never can consent to it." " You both can and will, my dear mother," replied Lewis, playfully but firmly ; " however, we will leave this matter in abeyance till I hear from Frere." And thus, j^eace being restored, they sat down to breakfast forthwith ; Lewis feeling thankful that he had restrained his anger ere it had led him to say words to his mother which he would have regretted deeply afterwards, and amply repaid for any effort it might have cost him, by the bright smile and grateful pressure of the hand with which his sister rewarded him. Happy the man whose guardian angel assumes the form of such a sister and friend as Rose Arundel ! Rachel was spared the trouble of calling her young master the following morning, as, when that worthy woman, animated with the desperate courage of the leader of a forlorn hope, approached iiis room, determined to have him up in spite of any amount of '.he languages of modern Europe to which she might be exposed, ehe found the door open, and the bird flown ; the fact being, that Lewis and Faust were taking a scamper across the country, to their mutual delectation, and the alarming increase of their re- spective appetites. Moreover, Faust, in his ignorance of the Gftme Laws and the Zoology of the land of his adoption, wouid C Jfl LEWIS ARUNDEL ; pei-sist in looking for a wolf in the preserves of Squire Tilbury, and while thus engaged could not resist the temptation of killiuj; ■d hare, just by way of keeping his jaws in practice ; owing tc xrhich little escapade, he got his master into a row mth an under keeper, who required first knocking down, and then propitiating oy a half-sovereign, before he could be brought to see the matter in a reasonable hght. This gave a httle interest and excitement to his morning ramble, and Lewis returned to breakfast in a high state of health and spirits. A letter from his friend Frere awaited his arrival ; it ran as follows : — " Dear Lewis, — If you really mean what you say, (and you are not the man I take you to be if you don't,) I know of just the thing to suit you. The pay is above yoiu- mark, so that's all right ; and as to the work — well, it has its disagreeables, that's not to be gainsaid ; but life is not exactly a bed of roses— or, if it is, the thorns have got the start of the flowers nine times out of ten, as you will know before long, if you have not found it out already. In these sort of matters, (not that you know any thing about the matter yet, but I do, which is all the same,) it is half the battle to be first in the field ■,—ergo, if 300^. a-year will suit your complaint, get on the top of the first coach that will bring you to town, and be with mo in time for dinner. I have asked a man to meet you, who knows all about the thing I have in vie^r for you. Pray remember me to Mrs. Arundel and your sister, although I have not as yet the pleasure of their personal acquaint- ance. Don't get into the dolefuls, and fi\ucy yourself a victim ; depend upon it, you are nothing of the kind. Mutton on table at half-past six, and Faust is specially invited to cat the bone. " So good-bye till we meet. " Youra for ever and a day, " RicuARD Frere. " There !" said Lewis, handing the epistle to his mother, "now ihat's something like a letter : — Frere's a thorough good fellow, pvery inch of him, and a real true friend into the bargain. I'JJ take whatever it is he has found for me, if it is even to blaci shoes all day ; you and Rose shall remain here, and Lady Lon> ^ai'd may go to ^" " nn-ee hundi-ed a-year! "Wliy, my dear LotvIs, it a on THE EAILllOAD Ci)' LIFE, 19 quite a little fortune for you!" iuteri-upted Mrs. iUimdol de- lightedly. "I -vronder what the situation can be?" said Rose, regarding her brother with a look of aflfection and regret, as she thought how his proud spirit and sensitive nature luafitted him to contend with the calculating pohcy and keen-eyed selfishness of worldly men. Rose had of late been her father's confidante, and e\eB adviser, in some of his matters of business, and had observed the tone of civil indifiference or condescending familiarity whicli the denizens of Vanity Fan- assume towards men of broken fortunes. " Yes," resumed Mrs. Arandel, " as you say, Rose, What can- 't be ? something in one of the Government oflSces, perhaps." " Curator of Madame Tussaud's Exhibition, and Master of the Robes to the waxwork figm-es, more likely," replied Lewis, laughing. " Or what say you to a civic appointment 1 Mace- bearer to the Lord Mayor, for instance ; though I believe it requires a seven years' apprenticeship to eating tm-tle soup and venison to entitle one to such an honom*. Seriously, though, if Frere wishes me to take it, I will, whatever it may be, after all his kindness to me, and Faust too. Faust, mein kind ! here's an invitation for you, and a mutton bone in prospect — hold up yoiu- head, my dog, you are come to honour." And thus Lev/is rattled on, partly because the ray of sunshine that gleamed on his darkened fortunes had sufficed to raise his naturally buoyant spirits, and partly to prevent the possibility of his mother offering any effectual resistance to his wish — or, more properly speaking, his resolution — to devote himself to the one object of. supporting her and Rose in their present position. It was well for the success of his scheme that Mi-s. Arundel had, on the strength of the 300^. per annum, allowed her imaginatioi; to depict some distinguished appointment (of what natm-e shft had not the most distant notion), which, with innumerable prospective advantages, was about to be submitted to her son'a consideration. Dazzled by this brilhant phantom, she allowed herself to be persuaded to write a civil rejection of Lady Lom- bard's patronage ; and took leave of her son with an April face, in which, after a short struggle, the smiles had it all then* o\vn way. Rose neither laughed nor cried, but she clung to her brother's neck (standing on tiptoe to do it, for she was so good, every bit' of her. that Natm-e could not aflford to make a very tall womaE.- c 2 20 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; out of such precious materials), and wliispered to him, in her sweet, silvery voice, if he should not quite like this appointment, Dr if he ever for a moment wished to change his plan, how very happy it would make her to be allowed to go out and earn money by teaching, just for a few years, till they grew richer ; and Lewis pressed her to his heai-t, and loved her so well for saying it, ay, and meaning it too, that he felt he would die rather than let her do it. And so two people who cai-ed for each other more than for all the world beside, parted, having, after a three years' separation, enjoyed each other's societ}' for -wo days. Not that there was anytliing remarkable in this, — it being a notorious though inexplicable fact, that the more we like people, the less we are certain to see of them. We have wearied our brain in the vain endeavour to find a reason for this phenomenon, and should feel greatly indebted to any philosophical individual wdio woidd WTite a treatise on •■' The perversity of remote contingencies, and the aggravating citure of things in general," whereby some light might be I'irownupon this obscure subject. We recommend the matter i'tore particularly to the notice of the British Association of ioience. And having seated Lewis on the box of a real good old- fashioned stage coach (alas ! that. Dodo-like, the genus should be all but extinct, and nothing going, uow-a-days, but those wonderful, hox'rible, convenient, stupendous nuisances, railroads ; rattling, with their " resonant steam-eagles," as Mrs. Browning calls the locomotives), with Faust between his knees, apparently studying with the air of a connoisseur the "get up" of a spanking team of greys, we will leave him to prosecute his journey to Loudon ; reserving for another chaptei the adventures which befol him in the modern Babylon. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 2i CHAPTER III. ■* IN WHICH RICHARD FBERE MENDS THE BACK OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, AND THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO CHARLEY LEICESTER. Richard Frere lived in a moderate sized house in a street in the vicinity of Bedfoi'd Square. It was not exactly a romantic situation, neither was it aristocratic nor fashionable ; but it was respectable and convenient, and therefore had Frers chosen it ; for he was a practical man in the proper sense of the term — by which we do not mean that he thought James Watt gi*eater than Shakspeare, but that he possessed that rare quality, good common sense, and regulated his conduct by it ; — and as in the course of this veracious history we shall hear and see a good deal of Richard Frere, it may tend to elucidate matters if we tell the reader at once who and what he was, and " in point of fact," as Cousin Pheenix would say, all about him. Like Robinson Crusoe, Richard Frere was bom of respectable parents. His father was the representative of a family who in Saxon days would have been termed " Franklins," i.e. a superior class of yeomen, possessed of certain broad acres, which they farmed themselves. The grandfather Frere having, in a moment of ambition, sent his eldest son to Eton, was made aw^are of his error when the young hopeful on leaving school declared his intention of going to college, and utterly repudiated the plough- tail. Having a very decided will of his own, and a zealous supporter in his mother, to college he went, and thence to a special pleader, to read for the bar. Being really clever, and, determined to prove to his father the wisdom of the course he had adopted, sufficiently industrious also, he got into veiy tolerable practice. On one occasion, having been retained in a well-known contested peerage case, by liis acuteness and elo- quence he gained his cause, and at the same time the aifections of the successful disputant's younger sister. His noble client very ungratefully opposed the match, but love and law together proved too powerful for his lordship. One fine evening the young lady made a moonlight flitting of it, and before twelve o'clock on the following morning had become Mrs. Frere- '22 LEWIS AEUNBEL ; Within a year from this event, Eichard Frere made his appear- ance at the cradle terminus of the railroad of life. AVhen ha was six years old, his father, after speaking for tlu-ce hours, in a cause in which he was leader, more eloquently than he had erer before done, broke a blood-vessel, and was carried homo a dying man. His wife loved him as woman alone can love — tor his sake she had given up friends, fortune, rank, and the pleasures and embeUishmonts of life ; for his sake she now gave up life itself. Grief does not always kill quickly, yet Richard's ninth birthday was fipent among strangers. His noble uncle, • who felt that by ii3glecting his Eister on her death-bed, he had done his duty to his pedigree handsomely, and might now give Tvay to family affection, sent the orphan to school at Westminster, and even allowed him to run wild at Bellefield Park during the holidays. The agremens of a public school, acting on a sensitive dispo- sition, gave a tone of bitterness to the boy's mind, which would- have rendered him a misanthrope, but for a strong necessity for loving something (the only inheritance his poor mother had left liim), which developed itself in attachment to unsympathising silkworms and epicurean white mice during his early boyhood, and in a hizari'e but imtiring benevolence in after life, leading him to take endless trouble for the old and xinattractive, and to devote himself, body and soul, to forward the interest of tliose who were fortunate enough to possess his friendship. Of the latter class Lewis Arundel had been one, since the day when Frere, a stripling of seventeen, fought his rival, the cock of the school, for having threshed the newcomer in return for his accidental trans- ^•ession of some sixth-form etiquette. Ten years had passed over their heads since that day : the cock of the school was a judge in Ceylon, weighed sixteen stone, and had a wife and six httle chil- dren ; Richard Frere was secretary to a scientific institution, witli a salaiy of 400Z. a-year, and a general knowledge of evcry- tliing of which other people were ignorant ; and little Lewia Ai'uudel was standing six feet high, waiting to be let in at the door of his friend's house, in the respectable and convenient street near Bedford Square, to which lie and Faust had found their way, after a prosperous joui'uey by the coach, on the roof of which -we left them at the end of the last chapter. A woman ugly enough to frighten a horse, and old enough for anything, rephed in the affirmative to Lewis's inquiiy whether OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 23 hor master was at home, and led the way up-stah-s, glancinn; suspiciously at Faust as she did so. On reaching the first landing, she tapped at the door ; a fidl, rich, but somewhat gruff voice shouted '' Come in," and Lewis, passing his ancient conductress, entered. ■* " "What, Lewis, old boy ! how are you ] — Don't touch me, I can't shake hands, I'm all over paste ; I have been mending the backs of two of the old Fathers that I picked up, dirt cheap, at a book-stall, as 1 was coming home to-day : one of them is a real editio x>'>'inceps ^Tiy, man, how you are grown ! — Is that Faust ? Come here, dog — what a beauty ! Ah ! you brute, keep your confounded nose out of the paste-pot, do ! I must give Aquinas another dab yet. Sit down, man, if you can find a chair — bundle those books under the table — There we are." The speaker, who, as the reader has probably conjectured, was none other than j\Ir. Richard Frere, presented, at that moment, as sing-ulai- an appearance as any gentleman not an Ojibbeway Indian, or other natui'al curiosity for public exhibition in the good city of London, need to do. His apparent age was some- what under thirty. His face would have been singularly ugly, but for three redeeming points — a high, intellectual forehead ; full, restless blue eyes, beaming with intelligence, and a bright benevolent smile, which disclosed a briUiant set of white, even teeth, compensating for the disproportioned width of the mouth which contained them. His hair and whiskers, of a rich brown, hung in elf locks about his face and head, which were somewhat too large for his height ; liis chest and shoxilders were also dispro- portionately broad, giving him an appearance of great strength, which indeed he possessed. He was attired in a chintz dressing- gowTi, that had once rejoiced in a pattern of gaudy colours, but was now reduced to a neutral tint of (we may as well confess it at once) London smoke. He was, moreover, for the greater convenience of the pasting operation, seated cross-legged on the floor, amidst a hecatomb of ponderous volumes. " I received your letter this morning," began Lewis, " and, as you see, lost no time in beiug with you ; and now what is it you have heard of, Frere ? But first let me thank vou ^" " Thank me !" was the repl}', " for what 1 I have dono nothing yet, except wTitiug a dozen lines to tell you to take a dusty journey, and leave gi-eeii trees and nightiagales for smoke LKWIS ARUNDEL; and bustle — nothing very kind in that, is there '( Just look at the dog's-ears — St. Augustine's, I mean, not Faust's." " Don't tease me, there's a good fellow," retm-ned Lewis : " I'm not in a humour for jesting at present. I have gone tlu'ough a good deal in one way or other since you and I last met, ind am no longer the light-hearted boy you knew me, but a man, and well-nigh a desperate one." " Ay !" rejoined Frerc, " that's the style of thing, is it 1 Yes ; '^ know all abovit it. I met Kirschberg the other day, with a cjoard like a cow's tail, and he told me that Gretchen had bolted with the Baron." " Never mention her name, if you would not drive me mad," exclaimed Lewis, springing from his chair, and pacing the room impatiently. His friend regarded him attentively for a moment, and then luicrossing his legs, and muttering to himself that he had got the cramp, and should make a shocking bad Turk, rose, ap- proached Lewis, and, laying his hand on his shoulder, said gravely, '•' Listen to me, Lewis ; you trusted, and have been deceived ; and, by a not unnatuml revulsion of feeling, your faith in man'a honour and woman's constancy is for the time-being destroyed ; and just at the very moment when you most require the assist- ance of your old friends, and the determination to gain new ones, you dislike and despise your fellow-creatures, and are at war in your heart with society. Now this must not be, and at the I'isk of paining you, I am going to tell you the tiTith." " I know what you would say," interrupted Lewis, vehementl}'- ; " you would tell me that my aflPection vras misplaced — that I loved a girl beneath mo in mind and station — that I trusted a man whom I deemed my friend^ but who, with a specious exterior, was a cold-hearted, designing villain. It was so ; I own it ; I see it noio, when it is too late ; but I did not see it at the time when the knowledge might have availed me. And why may not this happen again 1 There is but one way to prevent it : I will avoid the perfidious sex — except Rose, no woman shall' ever " " My dear boy, don't talk such rubbish," interposed his friend ; " there are plenty of right-minded, loveable women in the world, I don't doubt, though I can't say I have much to do with them, seeing that they are not usually adthcted to practical science, and therefore don't come in my way — household angels, with their wings clipped, and their manners and their drapcrica OU, THE RAIIK 32 LEWIS ARUNDKL ; " Not really, only in imagination," was the roply. " We means himself and the other Whig magnates of tko land, iu this instance." " Tiien you did not really know Graves was deadl" oontiuucd Grandeville. " I am not quite cei-tain that I even knew he was alive," re' plied Leicester ; " Who was he ?" A significant smile, saying plainly, " Don't fancy I am going to believe you as ignorant as you pretend," floated across Grande- \alle's face ere he continued, " You need not be so cautious with me, I can assure you ; the moment I heard Graves was given •over, I wrote — ar — that is, I gave the hint to a man who wTote to Lord Bellefield to say the county was his ; he had only to declare himself, and he would walk over the course." " Extremely kind of you, I'm sure," replied Leicester ; then turning to Lewis, while Grandeville was making some mysterious ■communication to Frere, he added in an under tone, " That's a lie from beginning to end. I had a note from Bellefield (he's my frc've able, you know) this morning, in which he says, ' Our county member has been dangerously ill, but is now better ;' and, he adds, ' Some of the fools about here wanted me to put up for the county if he popped ofi', but I am not going to thrust my neck into the collar to please any of them.' Bell's too lazy by half for an M.P., and small blame to him either." Frere having listened to De Grandeville's whispered communi- cation, appeared for a moment emban-asscd, and then observed — •b,it an adventure so important as that to V/Mch hi!5 obscnTiticn roL'\.')d, deiifi'vos a fresh chapter. on, THE RAILROAD CF LIFE. 33 CHAPTER IV. •.LWIS ENLISTS UNDER A " CONQUERING HERO," AND STARTS OK A ■♦ DANGEROUS EXPEDITION. " T SHOULD be happy to join you, but you see I am engaged to my friends here," observed Frere to Grandeville. " You would never di-eam of standing on ceremony with mo, Frere, I hope," interposed Lewis. " Why should we not all go together ?" inquired Frere ; " the more the merrier, pai'ticularly if it should come to a shindy." '' What's the nature of the entertainment ?" asked Leicester. " Tell them, De Grandeville," said Frere, looking hard at his cousin, as he slightly emphasized the De. " Ar — well, you won't let it go fui'ther, I'm sure, but there's a meeting to be held to-night, at a kind of Mechanics' Institute, a place I and one or two other influential men have had our eyes on for some time past, where they promulgate very unsound opinions ; and we have been only waiting our opportunity to give the thing a check, and show them that the landed gentry are united in their determination not to tolerate sedition, or in fact any thing of the sort ; and I have had a hint from a very sure quarter (I walked sti'aight from Downing Street here), that to- night they ai"e to muster in force, a regular show off ; so a party of us are going to be present, and watch the proceedings, and if there should be seditious language used, we shall make a decided demonstration, let them feel the power they are arraying them- selves against, and the utter madness of provoking such an unequal struggle." " Then we have a very fair chance of a row, I should hope," interposed Lewis, eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement ; " 'twill put us in mind of old sixth-form days, eh, Frere 1" " Leicester, what say you 1 do you mind dh'tying your kid gloves in the good cause f ' asked Frere, " There is no time to put on an old coat, I suppose ?" was the reply. " A broken head I don't mind occasionally, it gives one a new sensation ; but to sacrifice good clothes, verges too closely on the wantonly extravagant, to suit either my pocket or my principles." " T will lend you one of mine," returned Frei-e. I) 34 LEWIS ABDl-TDSL ; " Heaven forefeud !" was the liomfied rejoinder, " I have too much regard for the feelings of my family, let alone those of my tailor, to dream of such a thing for a minute, Only suppose anything were to happen to me, just see how it would read in the papers : ' The body of the unfortunate deceased was enveloped in a thi-eadbare garment of mysterious fashion ; in the enormous pockets which undermined its voluminous skirts, was discovered, amongst other cm'iosities, the leg-bone of a fossil Iguanodon.' " " Gently there !" cried Frere ; " how some people are given to exaggeration ! Because I happened accidentally one day to pull out two of the vertebrce of " " Ar — if you'n aUow me to interi*upt you," began Grandeville, " I don't tliink you need apprehend any display of physical force ; our object is if possible to produce a moral effect — in fact, by weight of character and position to impress them with a deep sense of the power and resources of the upper classes." " Still a good licking is a very effectual argTiment where other means of persuasion fail. I have great faith in fists," said Frere. " Ar — in the event of our being obliged to have recourse to such extreme measures, I must impress iipon you the necessity of discipline," returned GrandeviUe. " Look to me for orders, ar — I am not exactly— ar — regular profession — ar — military, though, when I was at the head-quai-ters of the th in Ireland last yeai', they did me the honour to say that I had naturally a veiy unusual strategic turn — a good officer spoiled — ha ! ha !" " I always thought you had a sort of Life-guardsman-like look about you," said Leicester, with a sly glance at the others ; " you often hear of a man being one of ' Natm-e's gentlemen,' now I should call you one of ' Natiu-e's gTiaxdsmen.' " " Ar — yes, not so bad that," returned GrandeviUe, the possi- bihty of Leicester's meaning to laugh at him flxintly occun-ing to him, and being instantly rejected as utterly inconceivable " Here, sir," he continued, tm'ning abruptly to Lewds, " feel my arm ; thei-e's muscle for you ! I don't say it by way of a boast, but there is not such an arm as that in her Majesty's th • there was not one of their crack men that could hold uj) so heaij a weight as I could, for I tried the thing when I was over at Killandrum last autumn, and beat them all." " At what time does yom' entertainmenl commence, may I aak ?" inquired Leicester. ** Ar — I promised to join the otliers at 3. quarter before nine ; OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 35 the mcetiug was to commence at nine, and we shall have some little way to walk." " Then the sooner we are oflf the bettei'," said Frere ; "but you expect a reinforcement, do you ¥' " Ar — some men, some of our set, you understand, very first- rate fellows who have the cause at heart, have agreed to come, and carry the matter tlirough with a high hand. Failm'e might produce very serious results, but the right measui'es have been taken ; I dropped a hint at the Horse Guards." " I suppose I had better not take Faust," observed Lewis ; " if there is a crowd he will get his toes trodden on, and he is apt to show fight under those circumstances. May I 1-eave him here ?"" " Yes, certainly," replied Frere ; " that is, if you can persuade him to stay quietly, and bind him over to keep the peace till we return." " That is soon accomplished," rejoined Lewis, and calling the dog to him, he di'opped a glove on the floor, and uttered some German word of command, when the well-trained animal imme- diately laid down, with the glove between his huge paws. " Caution youT old lady not to interfere with the glove," he continued, " or Faust will assuredly throttle her." "What, is he touchy on that head?" inquired Grandeville, poising himself on one leg, while he endeavoured to kick the glove away with the other. A growl like that of an angry tiger, and the display of a set of teeth of which a dentist or a crocodile might equally have been proud, induced him to di-aw back his foot with rather more celerity than was altogether in keeping with the usual dignity of his movements. "The dog has not such a bad notion of producing a moral impression," said Leicester, laughing ; " Don't you think he might be useful to us to-night 1 " " Ar — now, there is nothing I should hke better than to take that glove away from him," observed Grandeville, casting a withering: dance on Faust, " ar — I wish I had time." " I wish you had," returned Lewis, drily. "Why, do you think it would be so mighty difficult- 1" retorted Grandeville. " When Rudolph Arnheim, a fellow-student of mine, tried the experiment, I had some trouble in choking Faust off before the dog had quite throttled him," was the reply ; '' RudDlph ia no- cluld, and had a heavy wager depending on it." 30 UEWIS AHUXDEL ; " Ar — "well, I cau't see any gi'eat difficulty iu the thing, but it depends on a man's nerve, of course. Now, are we ready 1" So saying, Marmaduke Grandeville, Esq. placed his hat firmly on his head, and with the gait of a heavy-dragoon, and the air ot a conquering hero, marched nobly out of the apartment. Leicester held back to allow Lewis to foUow, then drawing Frero on one side, he said, " Richard, I like your friend Arundel ; he is a manly, intel- Hgent young fellow, much too good to be bear-leader to a half-witted cub like this precious ward of old Grant's ; and if I were as rich as I am poor, I would do something better for him. Now, if he had but a few hundreds to go on with, matrimony would be the dodge for him. With such a face and fioure as his, he might secure no end of. a prize in the wife market ; there's a thorough- bred look about him which would tell with women amazingly." " He has all the makings of a fine character in him," replied Frere, " but he is proud and impetuous ; and pride and poverty are ill companions, though they often go together." "Do they?" replied Leicester; "well, I am poor enough for anything, as a very large majority of the metropolitan tradesmen know to their cost, but, upon my word, I am not pi'oud. Any man may give me a good dinner, and I'll eat it, — good wine, and I'll drink it ; I never refuse a stall at the Opera, though the bone may belong to an opulent tallow-chandler ; and there is not a woman in England with 150,000^. that I would not many to- inoiTow, if she would have me. No ! I may be poor, but you can't caU me proud." And placing his arm through that of his cousin, they descended to the street together, and rejoined Lewii and his companion. CHAPTER V. IS OP A DECIDEDLY WARLIKE CHARACTER. The place of rendezvous for the " gallant defenders of the British constitution," as Leicester had designated the little party, was a cigar shop in the immediate vicinity of the building in which tlie meeting was to be held. On their an-ival, they perceived that the shop was already occupied by several young men, who wero OK, THE RAILHOAD OF LIFE. 37 lounging over the counter, bandying jests and compliments with a ringleted young lady, who appeared thoroughly self-possessed Rnd quite equal to the part she had to perform, having tlu'ough all her pretty coquetries a shrewd eye to business, and reserving her most fascinating smiles for the most inveterate smokers. As GrandeviUe entered the shop, which he did with a mos' lordly and dignified air, he was welcomed with general acclamation. "All hail, Macbeth!" exclaimed a thin young man, with a white great coat, and a face to match, throwing himself into a tragedy attitude. " Most noble commander ! " began another of the gToup ; " Most illustrious De Grandeville ! how is" — "Your anxious mother?" inteniipted a short muscidar little fellow, with as rich a brogue as ever claimed Cork for ita county. " Hush ! be quiet, Pat ; we have no time for nonsense now, man," cried a taU youth, with a profusion of light curling hair, a prominent hooked nose, a merry smile, and a pair of wicked grey eyes, which appeared to possess the faculty of looking in every direction at once. "You are late, Dc Grandeville," he added, coming forward. " Ar — no, sir ; five minutes good by the Horse Guards. Ar — I should have been here sooner, but I have been ar — recruiting, you see. Mr. Bracy, Mr. Frere, Mr. Arundel, — you know Leicester?" " Delighted to see such an addition to our forces." replied Bracy, bowing ; then shaking hands with Leicester, he added in an under tone, " walk with me when we start, I have a word to say to you." Leicester nodded in assent ; and then proceeded to accost others of tlie party with whom he was acquainted. "Ar — now, gentlemen, will you please to attend to orders," began Grandeville, raising his voice. " Hear, hear !" cried the pale young man, faintly. " Well do it betther, if you'd be houldin' yer tongue, maybe," intei-posed the hero from Cork, who, being interpreted, was none other than Lieutenant Mc Dermott of the Artillery, believed by the Commander-in-Chief to be at that very moment on duty at Woolwich. " Ar — you are to divide yourselves into three or foui' bodies." " Faith, we must get blind drunk, and see double twice over 3S LEWIS ARUNDEL ; then, before we can do that," remai-ked the son of Erin ai-gumeu- ^atively. " Now, Paddy, be quiet," said Bracy, soothingly ; " you know you never got so far in your arithmetic as vulgar fractions, so you can't be supposed to understand the matter." A somewhat forcible rejoinder was drowned by Grandeville, who continued, in his most sonorous tone, " Ar — you will then proceed to the hall of meeting, and make your way quietly to the right side, as near the platform as possible. There— keep together, and attract as little attention as you can, and Mr. Bracy will transmit such directions to you as circumstances may render advisable. Do you all clearly understand 1" A general shout of assent, varied by a muttered, " Not iu the slightest degree," from McDermott, was followed by the order, " Then, march !" and in another moment the party were en route. The pale young man, who was in his secret soul rather alarmed than otherwise, had attached himself firmly to Frere, with whom he was shghtly acquainted, and w^ho he thought would take care of him, so Lewis was left to pair ofi" with Leicester. As they proceeded, the latter began, " D-epend upon it, there's some trick in all this, probably intended fur Graudeville's benefit; that fellow Bracy is one of the most inveterate practical jokers extant, and he seems particularly busy to-night ; he's a clerk in the Home Ofl&ce, and Grandeville believes in him to an immense extent ; but here he comes. Well, Bracy, what is it, man ?" "Is yoiu- Mend safe V inquired Bracy aside, glancing at Lewis as he spoke. '• The most cautious man in London," was the reply ; " and one who appreciates our noble commander thorouglily ; so now allow us a peep behind the scenes." " Well, the matter stands thus," returned Bracy. " I was walking with Duke Grandeville one night about three weeks ago, when we chanced to encounter the good folks coming away fi-om one of these meetings ; they were nothing very formidable, — a fair sample of young Newgate Street, youthfid patriots from Snow Hill, embryo republicans of St. Paul's Churchyard, Barbican, and other pmiicus of Cockaigiiia, led by a few choice spirits, copying clerks, who hide their heroism from the light of day in lawyers' offices — ^booksellers' shopmen from the Row, who regard themselves as distinguished literai-y chai-actcrs, and prate of the sovereignty of the press, and the hke ; — well, as might be expected OR; THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 39 they discoursed most ferociously, and the Duke, overheaiung soma of their conversation, was deeply scandalized, and fancied he had discovered a second Cato Street conspiracy. The thing appeared to promise fun, so I encouraged him in the idea, and we attended the next meeting, when they talked the usual style of radical clap-trap. Every thing was an abuse — the rich were tyi'ants, the poor slaves, and property required transferring (i. e. from its present possessors to themselves) ; they knew they never shovdd bo kings, so they cried down monarchy ; but they trusted that, with strong lungs and good luck, they might become paid dele- gates, therefore they clamoured for a republic. There was much noise, but no talent ; sanguinal theories were discussed, which they had neither minds nor meai s to enable them to carry out ; in short, the place is one of those innocent sedition shops, which act as safety valves to carry off popular disconttnt, and ensure the health and vigour of the British constitution. Of course, however, Grandeville did not see it in that point of view^ and from that night forth he became positively rabid on the subject ; so it entered the heads of some of us that we might improve the occasion by persuading him that he might, through me, commu- nicate information to the Home Office, (I need scarcely tell you that it never reached the authorities there,) and we have led him on sweetly and easily, till he positively believes that he is to be at the Hall to-night as"an accredited government agent, with full powers to suppress the meeting, and I know not what else." " But sm-ely you'll get into a fearful row," urged Leicester. *' We are safe for a bit of a shindy, no doubt," was the cool reply ; " in fact, I do not consider that the thing would go off properly without it, so I brought an Irishman with me to render it inevitable ; but I have bribed a door-keeper, and let the worst come to the worst, we can easily fight our way out." " To be sure we can," exclaimed Lewis, " lick a hundi-ed such fellows as you have described. This is glorious ftm ; I would not have missed it for the world." Bracy glanced at him for a moment with a look of intense approval, then shaking him warmly by the hand, he said, " Sir, I'm delighted to make your acquaintance ; your sentiments do you honour, sir. Are you miich accustomed to rows of thi? nature, may I ask 1 " " I have been resident in Germany for the last three years, was the reply ; " and, although they have a very fair notion of 40 LEWIS ARUNDEL; an emeiUe after their own fashion, they don't undei-stand the use of the fist as we do." " There are two grand rules for crowd-fighting," returned Bracy. " First, make play with your elbows, Cockneys' ribs are as sensitive as niggers' shins; secondly, if it conies to blows> strike at their faces, and never waste yom- strength ; but when you do make a hit, di-op your man if possible ; it settles him, and frightens the rest. Here we are !" So saying, he turned into a kind of passage, which led to an open door, through which they passed into the body of the hall. It was a large room, with a vaulted ceiling, and appeared capable of holding from five to six hundred persons. At the farther end of it was a platform, raised some feet, and divided from the rest of the hall by a stout wooden railing. The room was lighted with gas, and considerably more than half filled. Afthough the majority of the audience appeared to answer the description Bracy had given of them, yet along the sides of the apartment were ranged numbers of sturdy artisans and craftsmen, amongst whom many a stalwart form and stern determined visage might be detected. "There are some rather awkward customers here, to-night," whispered Leicester ; " if we chance to get black eyes, Arundel, we must postpone our visit to the General to-morrow." " The man that gives me a black eye shall have something to. remember it by, at all events," returned Lewis, quickly. " Hush ! that fellow heard you," said Leicester. Lewis glanced in the direction indicated, and met the sinister gaze of a tall heavy-built mechanic, in a rough great coat, who frowned menacingly Avhen he found that he was observed. Lewis smiled carelessly in reply, and proceeded after Bracy up the room. When he had passed, the man, still keeping his eye. upon him, quitted his seat, and followed at some little distance. On reaching the upper end of the room, they perceived Grande- villo and two or three others, among whom was McDermott, on the platform, while Frere and the rest of their party had coijgregated on and near a flight of five or six steps, leading to it from the body of the hall. "Bravo, Grandeville !" observed Bracy, in an under-toue, to Leicester ; " do you mark that ! he has secured a retreat— good ({oneralship, very. I shall have to believe in him, if he goes on as wellas he hascommenced. Hark ! they are beginning to givetongue.'' OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 41 As he concluded, a little fat man came forWdid, and said a :'; )od deal about the honour which had been done him in being dllowed the privilege of opening the evening's proceedings, to which he appended a long and utterly incomprehensible account of the objects of the meeting. His zeal was evident, but Nature lj;id never intended him for an orator, and the chances of life had fitted him with a short husky cough, so that noljody was. very sony when he ceded the rostrum to his " esteemed friend, if he might be allowed to say so, (which he was,) Jabez Broadcom." This Jabez Broadcom was evidently a gi'cat gun, and his coming forward created no small sensation. He was a tall, gaunt-looking man, with straight weak hair^ and an vmhealthy complexion ; but his great featui'e, in every sense of the word, was his mouth. It ivas a mouth, not only for mutton, but for every other purpose to which that useful aj)erture could be applied ; at present it was to be devoted to the task of conveying its owner's mighty thoughts, in appropriate language, to the eager listeners who siuTounded him. This gentleman then, having, by dint of drawing in his lij/S,^ and thrusting them out again, and rolling his eyes so fearfully as to suggest a sudden attack of English cholera, got up his steam to the required height, proceeded to inform the assembly, that they were, individually and collectively, free and enlightened citizens of the great metropolis of Em'ope, prepared to recognise tlieir sacred rights, and resolved to go forth as one man to assert and maintain them. Having imparted this information, (through his nose, for the greater effect,) he began to ask himself a species of Pinnock's Catechism, so to speak, which ran somewhat after the following fashion : — '•' And why am I here to night ? Because I love profit 1 No. Because I love personal distinction ? No. Because I love my countiy 1 Yes. Because I would not see her children slaves 1 Yes. Because purse-proud oppressors, revelling in their wealth, trample on the honest poor man ? Yes." Having said by heart several pages of this, in which he was exceedingly well up, and which he rattled off most fluently, he continued : — " But such t3-ranny shall not always be tolerated. British freemen, whose proud boast it is that they have never borne a foreign yoke, shall no longer crouch beneath a despotic rule at home. The atrocious barbarities of a brutal poor-law, which ■13 LEWIS ARUNDEL; taxes holiest liouseliolders to furnish salaried ruffians mth power to di-ag the half-eaten ciiLst from the famished jaws of helplesa poverty " (A shght sensation was here occasioned by McDermott mentioning for the benefit of the meeting in general, and the orator himself in particular, his conviction that the last sentence was "very pretty indeed," together with a polite inquuy as to whether he could not be so kind as to say it again. Peace being restored after sundiy shouts of "Turn him out 1" "Shame!" &c., the orator resumed :) — " Let them build their Bastiles, let them tear the wife fi-om her husband, the mother from her child ; let them crowd then* prison- houses with the honest sons of labour whom their brutality has forced into crime, — tlie poor man need never di'ead starvation while the hulks hunger, and the gallows gapes, for him, — but a day of retribution is at hand ; let the tyrants tremble beneath their gilded roofs, — those unjust usurpers of the soil, — ^the poor man's bitterest foes, the landed gentry as they arrogantly style themselves must be cut off and rooted out." " Pretty strong, that !" observed Bracy, in a whisper. " Ar — this won't do, you know !" retm'ned Grandeville, in an equally low voice ; " I must, really — ar — interfere." " Better hear him out," rejoined Bracy, " and then get up and address them yoiu-self." To which suggestion, after a slight remonstrance, the former agreed ; but such a shining light as ]\Ir. Jabez Broadcom was not to be put out as quickly as they desired ; he was the great card of the evening, and knew it, and prolonged his speech for a good tln-ee-quarters of an hour, during which time he theoretically dethi'oned the Queen, abohshed the Lords and Commons, seated a National Convention i]i St. Stephen's, and made all the rich, poor, and the poor both rich and liappy, whilst he practically rendered himself so hoarse as to bo nearly inaudible ; for which gallant exertions in the cause of liberty, he received the tumultuous applause of the meeting, together with Lieut. McDermott's expressed conviction that he was " a broth of a boy entirely," together with an anxious inquiry — >" whether his mother had many more like him." When Broadcom retired from the rostrum there appeared some misunderstanding and confusion as to his successor ; taking advantage of which, Grandevillc looked at Bracy, who nodded, adding, " Now's youi* time ! — Go in, and win ;" then, catching a OKj THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 43 caclavei'ous lookiug individual who was about to advance, by the shoidders, and twisting him round, he exclaimed, " Now, my man, stand out of the way, will you 1 — this gentleman is going to address the company 1" — he next thi'ust Grandeville forwaixl> and, patting him encouragingly on the back, left him to his own devices. That heroic gentleman, having bowed to his audience with much grace and dignity, waved his hand to command attention, and began as follows : — *■' Ar — Listen to me, ray friends ! — At — hem — I am prepared to admit — that is, it is impossible to deny — that many great and serious evils exist in the complicated social fabric of this glorious country,, — ^the vast increase of population " " Owing to the introduction of chloroform," suggested Bracy. " Though shghtly checked by " " The alai-ming consimiption of Morrison's Pills," interposed the Irishman ■ " The wise flicihties afforded for emigration ! " continued Gi'andeville, not heeding these interruptions — " is one chief cause of the poverty and distress which, though greatly exaggerated by the false statements of evil-disposed and designing persons, (groans, and cries of 'Hear !') are to be found even in this metropolis, l)eneath the fostering care of an enlightened and paternal government — (increasing murmm's of dissatisfaction) — but if you beheve that these evils are hkely to be redressed by such measm-es as have been pointed out to you this evening, or that anarchy and rebellion can lead to any other result than misery and ruin — ar ■ — I tell you, that you are fearfully mistaken ! Ar — as a man, possessed of — ar — no inconsiderable influence— and ai- — inti- mately connected with those powers against which you ai'e madly aiTaying youi-selves, I warn you !" Here the excitement and dissatisfaction, which had been rapidly increasing, reached a pitch which threatened to render the speaker inaudible; and amid cries of "Who is he?" — "an informer!" — "government spy!" — " tm-n him out!" — " ihrow him over !" — several persons rose from their seats, and attempted to force their way on to the platform, but were kept back by Lewis and others of Grandeville's pai'ty, who, as has been already men- tioned, had taken possession of the flight of steps, which afibrded the only legitimate means of access from the body of the hall. Undistm-bed by these hostile demonstrations, Grandevillo continued, at the top of his voice. — " I warn you that you aiv LK^YIS ARUNDEL , provoking an uiioqual struggle. — that you are bringing upon yourselves a feaifiil retribution, — e^•en now I am armed with authority to disperse this meeting — to " What more he would have added, the reader is not fated to learn, for, at tliis moment, the man in the rough great-coat, who had followed Lewis from the entrance of the room, exclaiming, " Come on, ^^ 3 are not going to stand this, you know, never mind the steps," seized the railing of the platform, and drawing himself up, sprang over, followed by several others — in an instant all was confusion— Grandeville, taken in some degree by surprise, after knocking down a couple of his assailants, was overpowered ; and amid cries of '-'throw him over," hurried to the edge of the platform ; here, grasping the rail with both hands, he struggled violently to prevent the accomplishment of their purpose. " Come along boys ! we must rescue him ;" exclaimed Bracy ; and, suitino- the action to the word, he bounded forward, and, hitting right and left, readied the scene of conflict. — Lewis, and the others, abandoning the steps, followed his example, and the row became general. For some minutes, the uproar was terrific ' blows were given and received ; blood began to flow from sundry noses ; and certain eyes, that had begam the evening blue, brown, or gi'ey, as the case might be, assumed a hue dark as Erebus. As for Lewis, he knocked down one of the fellows who had hold of Grandeville ; then he picked up the Irishman who, of course, had singled out and attacked the biggest man in the crowd, (none other indeed than the rough-coated patriot, who appeared a sort of leader among them,) and been immediately felled by him to the gi-ound ; then he assisted F rere in extricating the pale-faced youtli from three individuals of questionable honesty, who were availing themselves of the confusion to empty his pockets ; as he did so he felt himself seized with a grasp of iron, and, turning his head, found he was collared by the gigantic leader. A violent but ineffbctual effort to fi'ee himself, only served to convince him that, in point of strength, he was no match for his antagonist, who, regarding him with a smile of gratified mahce, exclaimed, " Now, then, young feller, I've been a-waiting to get hold of you. How about a black eye now 1" As he spoke, he drew him forward witli one hand, and stnick at him savagely with the other. Avoiding the blow, by suddenly dodging aside, Lewis closed with his adversary, and inserting his knuckles within the folds of his neckcloth, tightened iL initil ui self-defence, and in order to avoid OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 45 straugulation, the fellow was forced to loosen hie giasp of Lewis's collar. The instant he felt himself free, Lewis, giving the neck- cloth a final twist, and at the same time pressing his knuckles into the man's throat so as for the moment almost to throttle him, stepped back a couple of paces, and, springing forward again before the other had time to recover himself, hit up under his guard, and succeeded in planting a stinging and well-directed blow exactly between his eyes ; this, followed by a similar application rather lower on the face, settled the matter ; — reeling backwards, his antagonist lost his footing, and fell heavily to the gi-ound, dragging one of his companions down with him, in a futile attempt to save himself. The fall of their leader threw a damp on the spirits of the others, and although those in the rear were stiU clamoi'ous with threats and vociferations, the members of the crowd, in more immediate proximity to the little partv, showed small inclination to renew the attack. " Now's our time for getting away," said Bracy, " make a bold push for the door.'' " Ar — I should say," rejoined GrandeviUe, one of whose eyes was completely closed from the effects of a blow, and ^\hose coat was hanging about him in ribands, " let us despatch one of our party for the police and militaay, and stand firai and maintain 0 LEWIS ARUNDEL ^ her fa.tlier'd pride, her great-aunt's determiuatiou to have her owu way, aud the devil's own love of teasing. To set against all this, I believe her to be thoroughly good and amiable, and every thing of that kind ; at all events, she is a most bewitching girl, and bids fair under judicious management to become a very charming woman. I fancy her mission is to reform my brother Beilefield, and render him a steady married man, and I wish her joy of it. She comes into her mother's fortune when she is of age, and the respective governors have set their hearts upon the match." " And what says Lord Beilefield ? " inquired Lewis listlessly. * Oh, Bell reckons she won't be of age, and that the match san't come off these four years, by which time he expects to be so hard up that he must marry somebody, and as there will be plenty of the needftd she will suit his book as well as any other." " The young lady of course approves !" continued Lewis dreamily, untying a knot in the thong of Leicester's whip. " Catch a woman refusing a coronet," returned Leicester, as he pulled up at a house in Park Crescent so suddenly as almost to throw the bay on his haunches. " General Grant begs you will walk up stairs, lIi'. Leicester j he is engaged at present, but desired me to say he particularly wishes to see you," was the reply made by a most aristocratic butler to Leicester's inquiry whether his master was at home. " Keep the bay moving, Tim — now, Ai'undel, turn to the right — • that's it," and suiting the action to the word, Charley the indolent leism'ely descended from the cab, and crossing the " marble hall " lounged up a wide staircase followed by Lewis. " Silence and solitude," he continued, opening the door of a 'large di'awing-room handsomely furnished. " I hope they won't be long before they introduce us to the luncheon-table ; oysters are popularly supposed to give one an appetite, but the natives WG demolished at Frere's last night must have been sadly dege- nerate, for I declare to you I could scarcely get through my breakfast this morning. Ah ! what have we here 1 — a water- colour landscape in a semi-chaotic condition. Annie has been sketching, as sure as Me ; I'll introduce a few masterly touches and sm-prise her." So saying he seated himself at the table, aud Uoo'an dabbling with a brush. '•' By Jove, I've done it now !" he exclaimed in a tone of OR, THE EAILROAD OF LIFE. 51 consternatiou, after a minute's pause, " Just look here ; I thought I would insei-t the tinink of a tree in the foreground, and the confounded brash had got red in it, so I have made a thing hke a lobster, and spoiled the di-awing." " I think, if you wish, I could turn it into a cow, and so get you out of the scrape," suggested Lems, smiling at his com- panion's guilty countenance. " My dear fellow, the veiy thing," exclaimed Leicester, hastily risiag and thrusting Lewis into his seat ; '•' let's have a cow, by all means. — That's famous," he continued, as T\ath a few graphic strokes Lewis converted the red daub into the semblance of an animal. *" Bravo ! make her an eye — now the horns — what a fixsciuating quadi-uped ! where's the tail to come ? " " You would not see the tail in the position in which the cow is supposed to be lying," remonstrated Le-n-is. " Still, it would make it more natural," lu-ged Leicester. " As a personal favour, just to oblige me, stretch a point and give her a tail." " There, then, I've twisted it under her leg," said Lewis, making the desired addition, " but depend upon it, there never was a cow's tail so situated." " AU the gi-eater proof of your talent," was the reply ; " the ideal is what you artists (for I see you are one) are always raving about, and this is a specimen of it." So engi'ossed had the two young men been with their occvipa- tion, that they had not obseiwed the entrance of a third pei-son. The new comer was that most chamiing of all created beings, a very lovely girl of seventeen. As every poet since Homer has done his utmost to clothe in fitting language a description of the best specimen of the class which it may have been his hap to meet with, and as no man in his senses would exchange half-an-hour of the society of one cf the originals, for all the fanciful descriptions of women that ever were wiitten, we would fain be excused from adding one more to the number, and were all oui* readers of what grammarians most ungallantly term, " the worthier gender," we should cut the matter short by begging each man to imagine the damsel in question exactly like the " unexpressive she " who is, for the time being, queen of his soul. But as we flatter ourselves certain bright eyes will sparkle, and coral lips smile over this " o'er true tale," and as we have already been asked by " oceans " vrf 52 LEWIS ARUNDEL; youug ladies, " What is the heroine to be like ?" we will e'err make a virtue of necessity, and give a catalogue raisonne of her many perfections. Annie Grant, then (for we'll have no disguise about the matter, but own at once that she it was who entered the di-awing-room uuperceived, and that she it is who is destined to play the heroine in this oiu- draroa of the Kaikoad of Life — and be it observed inter-parenthetically that we use the theatrical metaphor ad- visedly, for Shakspeare has told us that " all the world's a stage," and it is a matter of common notoriety, that in the' present day all stages have become raikoads) Annie Grant, then, we say, was rather above the middle height, though no one would have thought of pronouncing her tall ; her gown of mousseline — poll de — psha ! what are we thinking of 1 — she had not a gown on at all ; how should she, when she was going to ride directly after luncheon 1 No, her habit, which fitted to perfection, was well calculated to set off her slight but singularly graceful figure to the best advantage. Her hair, which was braided in broad plaits for the gi-eater convenience, (seeing that ringlets xuidcr a riding-hat are an anomaly, not to say an abomination,) was really auburn,— by which definition we intend to guard against the pale red, or warm sand coloured locks, which usually pass current for the very rare but very beautiful tint we would particvilarize, — and if a poet had speculated as to the probability of some wandering sunbeam being imprisoned in its golden meshes, the metaphor, though fanciful, would not have been unapt. Delicate regular featm-es, large blue eyes, now dancing and sparkling with mischievous- glee, now flashing with pride, a mouth like an expressive rose-bud, a clear skin, wdth a warm glow of health painting each velvet cheek, but retreating from the SDOV7J forehead, combined to form a whole on which to gaz& was to admire. This young lady, being such as we have described her, tripped lightly across the apartment, till she had stationed herself behind her cousin Charles, and perceiving that both gentlemen were so pre-occupied as not to have observed her approach, contrived by standing on tip-toe, and peeping over Leicester's shoulder, to witness the introduction of the cow of whom we have already made lionoiirable mention. Durmg the animated discussion on the tail question, she nearly betrayed her presence by laughing outright ; repressing tho OR, THE EAILROAD OF LIFE. 55 tnciination, however, she I'etraced her steps, and had nearly succeeded in reaching the side door by which she had entered, when her habit, catching against a table, caused the overthi'ow of a piece of ornamental china, and revealed her presence. On hearing the sound, Lewis, recalled to a sense of his situa- tion, and for the first time struck by the idea, that in touching the drawing he had been guilty of an unwarrantable liberty, rose hastily fi'om his seat, coloimng crimson as he did so, from an agi-eeable mixture of shyness, mortification, and proud self-re- proach. , Leicester, on the other hand, with the a-plomb and presence of mind of a man of the world, turned leisurely, and whispering, " Keep your own counsel, there's no harm done," he advanced towards his cousin, saying with a nonchalant air, " You have stolen a march upon us, Annie. — This gentleman and I called to see the General upon business, and as he seems resolved to afford us a practical lesson on the virtue of patience, I ventured to while away the time by showing my friend some of youi* sketches. By the way, let me introduce you. My cousin. Miss Grant — Mr. Arundel." Thus invoked, Lewis, who in order to atone to his wounded self-respect had wi'apped himself in his very coldest and haughtiest manner, and resembled a banished Prince rather than an every-day Christian, advanced a few steps, and acknowledged the introduction by a most Grandisoniaii inclination of the head. The lady performed her part of the ceremony with an easy courtesy, into which, perhaps an equal degree of hauteur was infused, although not the slightest eftbrt was visible. " Mr. Arundel is doubtless a judge of painting, and my poor sketches are by no means calculated to bear severe criticism," remarked !Miss Grant, demurely. As Lewis remained silent, Leicester hastened to reply :— " A judge ! of com-se he is ; he's just returned fi-om Gei'many, the happy laud where smoking, singing, and painting, all come by nature." "Indeed!" returned Miss Grant; "then, if it is not too troublesome, perhaps I might ask Mr. Arundel's advice as to a sketch of Broadhurst I was attempting before your arrival ; I left off in despair, because I could not manage anything foi the foregi'ound." " Try an elephant," suggested Leicester ; " it would have 04 LEWIS ARUXDEIi a gi'aud effect, besides possessing the advantage of novelty, and filling up lots of space." " Would jou bring me the drawing, Charles'?" returned hia cousin ; " I know too well the style of assistance I may expect from you in such matters. Who embellished my poor head of Minerva with a pair of moustaches 1 " "I did" rejoined Leicester, complacently, "and I am proud of it ; Minerva was the goddess of war, and sported moustaches in virtue of her profession." " Arc you never going to give me the drawing, Charles V asked Annie, impatiently. " Positively, cousins are most uncourteous beings. Mr. Aiimdel, might I trouble you to hand me that sketch 1 " Thus appealed to, Lewis had nothing for it but to comply, which he did accordingly, biting his lip with vexation at the denouement which now appeared inevitable. But Leicester's i-e- sources were not yet exhausted ; stretching out his hand before liis cousin had received the drawing, he coolly took possession of it, saying, " I know you meant this drawing as a little sur- prise for me ; you have heard me say how much T coveted a sketch of dear old Broadhurst, and so you have kindly made one for mc. You have really done it extremely well ! Who was it — Fielding— you have been learning of? Positively, you have caught his style !" " Don't flatter yourself that I did you the honour of recol- lecting any such wish, even supposing you really uttered it in my hearing, of which I entertain grave doubts," retiu'ned Annie ; " but, if 3'ou particularly desire it I will make you a present of it when it is finished — if I could only manage that tiresome foreground !" " I like it better without," was the reply ; " there's nothing to interfei'e with the outline of the building which stands forth in bold relief — and — eh ! — well, what's the matter?" During his speech his cousin had risen from her seat, and, approaching him, caught sight of the di'aAving, which she had no sooner done, than, raising a little white hand, she pointed to the intrusive cow, and asked, qiiietly, " Where did that come fromr The comic perplexity of Leicester's face was irresistible to behold, as, with a glance at Lewis to secure his sympathy and co-operation, he was evidently about to adopt ih-9. Gow at all OR, THE RAILROAD OF Life. 55 hazards, when the door opened, and a tall, stately old man, with a military port and erect bearing, entered ; and surveying the group with evident sm-prise drew himself up still more stiffly, ere, with slow and measm-ed steps, he advanced towards them. It was General Grant ! CHAPTER VII. WHEREIN THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO MISS LIVINGSTONE, AMD INFORMED WHO IS THE GREATEST MAN OP THE AGE. " Ah ! General," exclaimed Leicester, as he rose leisurely from the arm-chair in which he had been recHning, " I hope they have not disturbed you on om- account, I was criticising one of Annie's sketches pour passer le temjys — i-eally she draws very nicely — let me introduce Mr. Arundel, Mr. Frere's friend, about whom I wrote to you yesterday." A stiff bow, acknowledged on Lewis's pai't by an equally haughty inclination of the head, was the result of this intro- duction ; when General Grant observed, "Mr. Frere is a man of whom I have a very high opinion, both on account of his unusual intellectual attainments, and his manly, upright charactei'. Have you been long acquainted with him, sir, may I ask 1" " He was my guide and protector when I first went to Westminster," replied Lewis, "and we have been close friends ever since." "A most fortunate circumstance," remarked tlie General, sententiously. " The mind of youth is easily impressible for good or evil, and, unless such establishments are greatly altered for the better since my time, Satan has no lack of emissaries at a pubhc school. Will you allow me a few minutes' private con- versation with you, Mr. Arundel 1 The library is in this direc- tion." So saying, General Grant opened the door with frigid courtesy, and signing to Lewis to precede him, followed with a Etateliness of demeanour admirable to behold. 56 LEWIS ARUNDEL j Scarcely had they left the room, when Auuie, clapping her hands joyfully, exclaimed, " What a creature ! why he's as stiff and dignified as Papa himself. Now then, Charley, tell me who he is, and all about him : we shall have Aunt Martha or somebody coming, and then I shall never know, and be obliged to die of cm-iosity. You are asleep, I beheve." " There you go — that's always the way with women," returned Leicester, speaking very slowly, and with an exaggeration of his usual mode of pronunciation, which was something between a lisp and a drawl ; " asking half-a-dozen questions in a breatli, and resolved to get up a suicidal amount of curiosity if they are not as speedily answered, "Why, my dear child, I w^ould not speak as quickly as you do for any amount of money — at least any amount of money I should be at all likely to get for doing so." "Now, Charley, don't be tiresome — Who is the man?" rejoined Annie, half pettishly. Then, seeing that her imperious manner only induced her cousin still further to tease hei-, slio added, in an imploring tone, which no heart of any material softer than granite could reeist, " you will tell me — won't you 1 I want to know so much, and I have had nothing to amuse me all day." "There, do you hear that?" soliloquized Leicester, appealing to society in general, " Trust a w^oman to get her own way j if she can't scold you into giving it to her, she'll coax you. Well, you little torment, I suppose you must know all about it. The man, as you please to call him, is seeking the honourable post of bear-leader to the cub your father has the felicity of being g-uardian unto." "What, a tutor for poor Walter!" rejoined Annie, medi- tatively ; " but, surely, he's a gentleman, is he not ? " " Very pai-ticularly and decidedly so, as far as I am a judge," returned Leicester, hooking a footstool towards him with his cane, and depositing his feet thereupon : " at least, I dined and spent last evening in his company, and never wish to meet a better fellow." " But," continued Annie, pursuing her train of reasoning, " if he is a gentleman, why does he want to go out as a tutor?" " Because, unfortunately, there is a vulgar prejudice extant in this feeble-minded country, that the necessaries of life, such aa bread and cheese, cigars, kid gloves, and the like, must be paid .=.^^^^^^ ^^S'^i^^^^ /<«> ^i^t//,,^^^ ^/-^ yC<^/z/l^^^^/^ yOi^/:^. OK, TllK RAILROAD OF LIFE, 57 for ; tliis requires money, whereof Aruudel has httle or none. Moreover, Richard Frere hinted at a mother and sister in the case, who hkewise have to be supported." As he spoke, a shade of deeper thought flitted across Annie's ■expressive features, and after a moment's pause she resumed. " Now I understand his strange manner ; he was mentally contrasting himself (he is evidently a proud man) and his position ; it must indeed have been a struggle— and he does this for the sake of his mother and sister. Charley, do you know, I rather admire him." '• Yes, I dare say you do ; he's a decidedly good-looking fellow for the style of man ; there's a thorough-bred air about nim, and he carries himself well." " Psha ! I am not talking of his appearance : except that he is tall and dark, I scarcely know what he is like," retimied Annie, quickly. " No ! I mean that there is something fine in the idea of a proud mind submitting to degradations and indignities for the sake of those it loves; bearing with a mai'tyr-spirit tlie thousand hourly annoyances " Checking herself suddenly, as she perceived upon her cousin's face something nearly akin to a contemptuous smile, Annie continued, impatiently — " Charles, how stupid you are ! I hate you !" " Not possible," was the ccol reply. " Moreover, you have really no cause to do so. I assiu-c you I was not exactly laughing at your sudden plunge into the sentimental ; it was merely a notion which crossed my mind, that out of the thousand hom-ly annoyances by which poor Arimdel is to be mart}T.-ized, some nine hundred and fifty would originate in the caprices of a certain young lady, who shall be nameless. In the monotony of life amid the leafy shades of Broadhm-st, even teasing a tutor may be deemed a new and interesting variety, as the botanists have it Seriously, though, you can coax the General to let him teach you German." " And embellish my water-colour sketches by the insertion of occasional cows, with impossible tails made to order — eh, cousin Charley ?" returned Annie, with an arch smile. " Give me my tlrawing, six*, and let me look at the creature. How well he has done it ! — I know a cow at Broadhurst with just such a face !" " There's a world of speculation in the eye," rejoined Leicester, carelessly, though he was slightly sui-prised at the extent of her 58 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; information respecting tlie " tail " debate ; " the animal appears tc be ruminating on the advisability of petitioning Parliament against the veal trade, or some other question of equal interest to the ' milky mothers of the herd.' " Wliilst Annie and her cousin thus gaily conversed, a very different scene was enacting in the library. During a short delay, occasioned by General Grant's being obliged to answer a note, Lewis had time to recollect himself, and to school the rebellious feelings which his conversation with Leicester and the other events of the morning had called into action. He thought of Rose and his mother, and of his determination that they at least should be spared all knowledge of the real evils of poverty ; and this reflection was for the time sufiicient to efface every selfish consideration. Bringing his strength of will into play, he regained the most complete self-control, and even experienced a sort of morbid pleasure in the idea of voluntarily humiliating himself before the proud old man, whose clear, cold eye was occasional!}' raised from the note he was employed in writing, to fix its scrutinising glance on Lewis's features. Having sealed the missive, and given it to a servant, he slowly approached the spot where Lewis was standing, and after a word or two of apology for having kept him waiting, began. " I presume my nephew, jMr. Leicester, has made you in some degree acquainted with the nature of the circumstances in wliich I am at present placed, and of the necessity which renders me anxious to secure the services of some gentleman as tutor to my Trard, Sir Walter Desborough V " Mr. Leicester informed me that the yoimg gentleman's education had been neglected, and that his mind was singularly undeveloped," replied Lewis, choosing the least offensive terms .in which he might express his conviction that the youth in question was rather a fool than otherwise. " Yes, sir, though it is even worse than you describe," returned the General. " In fact, it depends upon the degree of succesa which may attend the efforts which must now be made, whether Sir Walter Desborough can ever be considered capable of manag- ing his ovn\ affliirs, or able to take that place in society to wdiich his rank and fortune would naturally entitle him. You perceive, therefore, that the post of tutor will be one of much trust and impoitance, and the duties attending it most onerous. xMr, OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. OO Frere has written so high a character of youi' various attahameuts^ that I canuot but feel perfectly satisfied of yoiu* competency; but you are very young, and as I should, in the event of your andertaking the charge, expect a strict performance of your duties, it is only fair to inform you that I conceive they may be irksome in the extreme. What is yoar feeling on the subject?" Lewis paused for a moment in thought, and then replied, — " I will be frank with you, sir. Were I free to act as I chose, such £tn office as you describe would be one of the last I should select ; but the welfare of others depends vipon my exertions, and I have determined to refuse no occupation not unvrorthy a gentleman, which will enable me to render the necessaiy assistance to my family. If, therefore, you consider me fitted to undertake the charge of your ward, I am willing to do so, and to fulfil the duties of such a situation to the best of my ability, on one condition." " What is that ?" inquired General Grant, quickly. " That I may be allowed to pursue whatever system I may deem best fitted to attain the desired end, without the interference of any one, and may be accountable for my conduct to you alone." " Rather a singular rec^uest, young gentleman," retiu-ned the General, knitting his brows. " My reason for making it is easily explained, sir," replied Lewis, firmly, but respectfully. " Unless such permission is accorded me, I feel certain all my eflbrts would prove unavailing; I must have full ]oower to do what I think right, or I could not act at all, and should have undertaken a duty which I shovdd be incompetent to perform." " Well, sir, there is truth in what you say," replied General Grant, after a moment's consideration. " I like you none the. worse for speaking in a manly, straightforward manner. It is my intention to go down to Broadhurst in a day or two : you shall accompany me ; and if, after seeing my Avard, you are still wilt ing to undertake the task of conducting his education, I shall be happy to entrust hirw to your care, upon the conditions you have proposed. Your salary will be 300^. a-year : this, you are aware, is itniisiially high, but the case is a peculiar one, and money, fortunately, a very secondary consideration. An entire siiito of rooms will be devoted to the use of yourself and your 60 LEWIS ARUNDEL piipil, and a liorse kept for you, that you may accompany him in his rides. Do these arrangements meet your wishes?" Lewis bowed his head in token of acknowledgment, and said, ** I have one other request to make. I brought a Livonian wolf-hound with me from Germany — ^he is much attached to me, and I should be unwilling to part fi'om him." " Bring him with you, sir," returned the General, his lip slightly curling with a sarcastic smile ; " a dog more or less will make little difference in such an establishment as that at Broadhurst : and now, if you will give me the pleasm-e of your company at luncheon, I shall be happy to introduce you to my relative, Miss Livingstone, who does me the honour to preside ■over my household. My daughter, I believe, you have already seen :" and as he spoke he led the way to the dining-room, whei*e the rest of the party were already assembled. ]\Iiss Livingstone, who scrutinised Lewis as if she suspected him of belonging to that ingenious fraternity yclept the swell mob, was, in appearance, a very awful old lady indeed. The nearest approach we can make to a description of her features is to say, that they bore a marked (with the small pox) resemblance to those of Minerva and her owl; the sternness of that utilitarian goddess — the Miss Martineau of Olympus — and the sapient stupidity o^ the so-called bird of wisdom, finding their exact coiinterpai-t in Miss Livingstone's time-honoiu-ed physiognomy. This lady was appareled after a strange and imposing mode, aa behoved a spinster of such orthodox station, and ferociously virtuous propriety, as the General's female commander-in-chief. Minerva's helmet was modernised into a stupendous fabric, wherein starch, muslin, and ribbon of an unnatural harshness, struggled upwards in a pyi'amid, whence pointing with stiffened ends innumerable, suggestive of any amount of porcupines, they ■appeared ready and anxious to repel or impale society at large. A triangle of spotless lawn supplied the place of the breastplate beneath which Jove's daughter was accustomed to conceal her want of heart ; and a silk gown of an uncomfortable shade of grey, made so scanty as to render at first sight the hypothesis of A mermaidic termination conceivable, completed the costume of this immaculate old lady. Having aj^parently satisfied herself that Lewis had no imme- diate design upon the spoons and forks, she condescended to OR, THE I5A1LK0AD OF LIFE. 61 (ilTord him the meteorological infonnation. that altliQiigh the sunshine might delude the unwary into believing it to be a fine day, she had received private information that the weather was not to be relied upon : after promulgating whidi opinion she placed herself at the head, and assumed the direction of, the hmcheon table. Charley Leicester appeared to be the only individual of the party insensible to a certain fi-eezing influence, which might be Bpecificd as one of Miss Livingstone's most characteristic attributes. Having exerted himself to supply that lady with every possible adjunct she could require, and seduced her into an amount of Cayenne pepper which afterwards subjected her to considerable physical suffering, he began — " I was present, a day or two ago. Miss Livingstone, when a question was started as to what man of modern times had been the greatest benefactor to his race. It opened a mine of very curious speculation, I can assure you." " I do not doubt it, Charles," returned Miss Livingstone ; " and I am glad to learn that the young men of the present day employ their time in such profitable discussions. What decision did you aiTive at V " Well, ma'am," resumed Leicester, gravely, " there was of coiu-se much difference of opinion. James Watt had rather a strong party in his favoui*, but an ex-railway director was present who had lost 10,000^. on the Do-em-and-Foot-in-it Line, and he blackballed him. Lord John was proposed ; but some of the men who took in Punch laughed so immoderately when his name was mentioned, that it was immediately withdi-awn. One youth, who is known to be a little bit flighty, not quite accountable, poor fellow ! declared for Lord Brougham, but we soothed him, and he had sense enough left to see his eiror almost immediately. At length it came to my turn " " And whom did you mention ?" inquired Miss Livingstone, with a degi-ee of interest most unusual in her. i " I had been pondering the matter deeply," continued Leicester " to try and hit on some worthy against whom no valid objection could be raised ; at one moment, I thought of Moses " " I fancied it was restricted to men of modem times," inter- posed Miss Livingstone. "He to whom T referred, ma'am," leturned Leiccsler, "was 02 LEWIS Ar/JNRi:L; not the Israelitisli lawgiver, but the man of the City Mart, that benevolent individual who clothes poverty in ' a light paletot at ten-and-six,' and enables the honest hearts of free-born Britons to palpitate beneath a 'gent's superior vest' for the trifling remu- neration of five shilhngs." This speech was algebra, or thereabouts, to the lady to whom it was addressed, but she had a sort of instinctive apprehension that Leicester ?/as talking nonsense, and accordingly di-ew herself up stiffly, completing her resemblance to Mineiwa by composing her features into a very satisfactory likeness of the Gorgon. No way affected by this transformation, Leicester continued : — " On mature reflection, however, I discarded Moses rince means to disappoint her." Lewis's toilet was soon completed, and proved eminently success- ful, the flowing robe setting off his tall graceful figure to the utmost advantage, and the scarlet fez with its di-ooping tassel contrasting well with his dark curls, and enhancing the efiect of his dehcately cut and striking featm-es. Bracy making his appearance at the same moment, most elaborately got up for the occasion, with a blue satin under- waistcoat, and what he was pleased to denominate the Order of the Holy Poker suspended by a red ribbon from his button-hole, the tiger of lying celebrity was despatched for a vehicle, and the trio started. " To a reflective mind." began Bracy, when an intei-val of wood-pavement allowed conversation to become audible, — "to a reflective mind, there is no section of the zoology of the Loudon streets more interesting, than that which treats of the habits and general economy of the genus cabman." " As to their general economy," returned Frere, " as far as I am acquainted with it, it appears to consist in doing you out of more than their fare, and expending the capital thus acquired at a gin palace." " Sir, you misapply terms, treat an important subject with unbecoming levity, and libel an interesting race of men, OR, TnE UAILROAD OF LIFfi. 79 returued Uracy, witli a countenance cI ii.0 i-io&i immovable gi-avity. " Interestec^, you mean/'' rejoined Frere. " One very striking peculiarity of the species," continued Bracy, not heeding the interruption, " is their talent for subtle analysis of character, and power of discriminatmg it by the application of unusual tests." "What's coming now?" inquired Frere. "Keep your ears open, Lewis, my son, and acquire wisdom from the lips of the descendant of many Bracys." " I am awai'e an assertion of this natm-e should not be lightly hazarded," resumed Bracy, " as it carries little conviction to the ill-reg-ulated minds of the sceptical, unless it be verified by some illustrative example di-awn from the actual." " You have not got such a thing as a Johnson's Dictionary about you, I suppose ? " interrupted Frere ; " I want to look out a few of those long words." " With this view," resumed Bracy, " I -will relate a little anecdote, which will at the same time prove my position, and display the capacity of the London cabman for terse and epigram- matic definition. I had been engaged on committee business at the House of Commons, a short time since, and was retm-niug to my lodgings, when as I emerged into Palace Yai'd it began to rain. Seeing me without an umbrella, a cabman on the stand hailed me with a view of ascertaining whether I required his services. While I was debating with myself, whether the rain ■were likely to increase or not, I was hailed by the cad of an omnibus just tm-niug into Parliament Street." " I never do m.ake puns," began Frere, " or else I should be inclined to ask, whether being exposed to so much kail and rain at the same time did not give you cold 1" " It happened that I had just betted a new hat with a man," continued Bracy, still preserving the most perfect gravity, " as to how many times the chairman of the committee would take snuflP, and had lost my wager ; this made me feel awfully dtingy, and accordingly avaihng myself of the lowest cf the two esti- mates, I fraternized with the 'bus fellow, and metaphorically threw over the cabman. As I was ascending the steps of the vehicle I had resolved to patronise, the following remark from the injured Jehu reached my ears : it was addressed to an amphi- bious individual, ' en sabots et bandeaux de foin' (as the Morning 80 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; Post would liave it), yclept the waterman ; and if you don't think it fully bears out my previous assertions, I can only say that you are an incompetent judge of evidence. He first atti'acted his friend's attention, by pointing to me over his shoulder with his thumb, and winking significantly ; then added in a tone of intense disgust, ' See that cove ; I thort he worn't no good ; 'stead o' takin' a cab to his self, like a gent, he's a goin to have threepenn orth of all sorts.'' " As Bracy amid the laughter of his companions concluded hia recital, the vehicle which conveyed them drew up at the door of Lady Lombard's mansion. CHAPTER X. CONTAINS A PRACTICAL COMMENTARY ON THE PROVERB, "ALL IB NOT GOLD WHICH GLITTERS." Lady Lombard, being in many senses of the word a great lady, lived in si gi'eat house, which looked out upon that gloomy sight, a London garden, and had its front door at the back, for the sake of appearances. At this perverted entrance did Bracy 's mendacious tiger, standing on tip-toe, the better to reach the knocker, fulminate like a duodecimo edition of Olympian Jove, until two colossal footmen, in a great state of excitement and scarlet plush, opened the door so suddenly as nearly to cause the prostration of the booted boy, who only saved himself from falling by stumbling, boots and all, against the tall shin of the highest footman, thereby eliciting from that noble creature an ejaculation suggestive of his intense appreciation of the injury done him, and hinting, not obscurely, at his wishes in regard to the future destiny of his juvenile assailant. That youth, how- ever, who, we are forced to confess, was not only as " impudent as he was high," but, reckoning by the peculiar standard which the expression aforesaid indicates, at the very least tln-ee feet more so, hastened thus to rebuke his adversary — " Hit's lucky for you. Maypole, as I hain't hon the bench of majorstraits yet, hor ther'd a been five bob hout o' yom' red plush pockets for OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 81 Bwearin , as sure has heggs is heggs ! hif that's hall yer gratitutle for me a-bringin' of ye my honoui-able master and two noula Pm-shun princes, hi'd better border the carridge to turn round, and take 'em back agen." Having astonished the disgusted giant by this speech, the imp bounded down the steps, and held open the cab-door with an au- of dignified condescension. " Is not that boy a treasm-e ?" whispered Bracy to Frere, as they alighted ; " how neatly he took the shine out of tliat thick- witted pyi-amid of fool's flesh. I could not have done the thing better 'myself" " I don't pretend to any very unusual powera of foresight, muttered Frere, under his beard, " but I think I covdd point out that brat's residuary legatee." " All, indeed ! " returned Bracy, " and who do you fix upon 1 tlie aa-chbishop of Canterbmy ?" " No, the hangman," was the gi'uff reply " Well, I'd myself venture to insure him against drowning, for a very moderate premium," rejoined his master, laiighing ; " but now I really must beg you to bear in mind that you are utterly ignorant of the English language." " Inshallah ! I'd forgotten my illustrious descent most com- pletely," answered Frere, "but I'll be careful; so, for the next tlu-ee hours, ' my native' tongue, ' good night.' " While this conversation had been can-ied ou in an under tone, the party had been ushered up-stairs, amidst the wondering gaze of servants innumerable, of all sorts and sizes, from the Uttle foot-page staggering under a galaxy of buttons, to the mighty butler, barely able to walk beneath the weight of his own dignity. " What name shall I say, gentlemen V asked the last named official, in his most insinuating tone ; for a Persian prince was a rarity sufficient to impress even his imperturbable spirit with a sense of respect. " His Highness Prince Mustapha Ah Khan and suite," I'etm-ned Bracy, authoritatively. Immediately the door of a well-lighted saloon was flung back on its hinges, and, in a stentorian voice, the major domo an- nounced, " His Highness Prince Mystify-all-I-can and see-it." " By Jove ! he's hit it," whispered Bracy to Lewis, as, following Frere, they entered the room, " he won't beat that if he tries till he's black in the face." u 83 LEWIS akundel; As he finished speaking, the guests, who had crowded as near the door as good breeding would allow, to witness the prince's entree, drew back, as a rustling of silks and satins announced the approach of their hostess. Lady Lombard, who, to judge by appeai-ances, would never again celebrate her forty-fifth birth-day, had been a handsome, and still was a fine-looking woman. She was tall and portly ; in fact, portly is rather a mild term to use in speaking of her lady- ship, but we don't like to stigmatize her as stout, and beyond that we could not go in speaking of a lady. She had a very bright colour, and a very fair skin, in the display of which she was by no means niggardly, her gown having short sleeves, (so short, indeed, as scarcely to be worth mentioning,) and being well, wo know a French word which would express our meaning, but we prefer oiu' own language, and must therefore say, being rather too much off, where it woiild have been better a little more on. She wore a profusion of light ringlets, which we feel justified in stating, upon our personal responsibiUty, to have been her own, for Lady Lombard was an honoiu'able woman, and paid her bills most punctually. These flaxen locks rejoiced in one peculiarity — they were not divided in the centre, after the usual method, but the in medio tutissimus ibis principle had been ahandoned in favour of a new and striking coiffure, which until 176 were introduced to her ladyship, we had beheved to be re- stricted to the blue-and-silver epicene pages who worship the prima donna, and poke fun at the soubrettes on the opera stage ; — the page-like pai-ting, then, was on one side of her head, and across her ample forehead lay a festoon of hair, arranged so as to suggest, to a speculative mind, a fanciful resemblance to the drapery at the top of a window curtain. Her features were by no means without expression ; on the contrary, meek pomposity, and innocent self-satisfaction, were written in legible characters on her good-natured countenance. The moat carefully written descriptions usually prove inade- quate to convey to the reader's mind a just idea of the object they would fain depict ; but as we are especially anxious that others should see Lady Lombard with our eyes, we must beg their attention to the following simple process, by which we trust to enable them to realize her. Let each reader, then, call to mind the last average specimen of fat and fair babyhood which may have come under his notice ;. ^^/y'^Smk OR, THE RilLROAD OF LIFE. 83 let him imagine it clothed in the richest sky-blue satin ; let him deprive it of its coral, and substitute in its place a gold ^7atch and appendages ; round its fat little excuse for a neck let him clasp a diamond necklace ; let him dress its hair, or provide it a flaxen wig — if its hair should be as yet a pleasm-e to come — made after the fashion we have above described ; and let him, lastly, by a powerful effort of imagination, inflate this baby until, still preserving its infantine proportions, it shall stand five feet nine in its satin shoes, — and he will then have arrived at a very con-ect idea of Lady Lombard, as she appeared when, rustling- forward in a tremour of delight, she advanced to perform the part of gracious hostess to the Prince of Persia. " Really, Mr. Bracy," she began, as that gentleman, with a countenance of solemn satisfaction, stepped forward to meet her, " really, this is too kind of you ; how do you do 1 — so you have positively brought me the dear prince 1 — tvill you introduce me to him, and explain to him how very much honoured I am by his condescension in coming this evening 1" Be it observed, by the way, that her ladyship spol^e with the greatest empressement, and had a habit of uttering many of her words in italics, not to say small capitals. " It will gi\e me much satisfaction to do so," returned Bracy, with grave courtesy; "but I can assure you the prince came quite of his own accord ; the moment I had explained your invitation to him, he caught the note out of my hand, pressed it three times to his forehead, and exclaimed, in the covu't dialect of Iraun, ' Hahazvr imeyur manzur ;' he did, indeed." " No-o-o, really I" ejaculated Lady Lombfu-d, more emphati- cally than she had ever yet spoken in her hfe : then, as a faint glimmering came across her, that there was a slight anomaly in appearing so deeply interested in a remark which she could by no possibility understand, she added — " But you should recollect, Mr. Bracy, that every one does not possess your remai'kablo acquaintance with the Eastern languages." " Psha ! how forgetful I am !" returned Bracy ; " your ladyship must excuse me ; the prince has been so short a time in this country that I am scarcely yet accustomed to my new duties. The few words I had the honour to repeat to you, merely eighify — you know the Eastern metaphors are veiy peculiar — ' I will kiss' — it's the usual form of accepting any distinguished iuvi- tation — ' I will kiss her ladyship's door-mat !' — curiou-?, is ituot »" G 2 84 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; "Yes, indeed," was the sympathetic reply. At the same moment, Bracy, turning to Frere, presented him to their hostess, saying, " Prince, this is Lady homhard— Twi/gt-kur rhumauld gair The first sound that escaped his highness was an hysterical grunt which, in an Englishman, miglit have been deemed indicative of suppressed laughter ; but proceeding from tlie bearded lips of a Persian potentate, assumed the character of an Eastern ejaculation. After muttering a few real Persian words, witli an appearance of deep respect, Frere took hw ladyship's plump white hand between both his own, and raised it to his lips ; then relinquishing it, he spoke again, made a low salaam, and drawing himself up to his full height, crossed his arms on his breast, and stood motionless before her. The appealing looks wliich she cast upon Bracy when the prince spoke, was a sevei-e trial to his gravity ; but by long experience in practical joking he had acquired wonderful command of countenance, which stood liim now in good stead, and he proceeded to translate Frere's sentences into certain flowery^ and unmeaning compliments, which were about as unUke their real signification as need be. After Ijewis had gone through the same ceremony, without the speeches, for which omission Bracy accounted by explaining that it was not etiquette for the Persian nobles to speak when in attendance on their princes, they were led to the upper end of the apartment, where Frere seated himself cross-legged on a sofa^ and made himself very much at home, keeping Bracy fully employed in inventing translations to speeches not one word of which he, or any one else present, comprehended. Lewis, in th* mean time, who was becoming dreadfully tired of the whole affair, stood near the end of the sofa, with his arms folded across his breast, looking especially scornful, and very particularly bored. " Ah !" exclaimed Lady Lombard, as a pretty gi'aceful girl, Aery simply di'essed, made her way up the room, " there's that dmr Laura Peyton arrived — I must go and speak to her, and bring her to be introduced to the Prince." She then added, aside to Bracy, " She's immensely rich ; clear six thousand a-year, and does not spend two." " A very channing ti'ait in her character," returned Bracy; " I'll mention it to the Prince. I don't know that there ever was an Englishwoman queen of Persia j but that's no reason there never should be one." OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. gff Bracy was accordingly introduced to the young lady, and led her, smiling and blushing, up to Frere, by whom he seated her. and paved the way for conversation by the following remark : — " Tliarmy buoi aintsheaz tunnar ?" which for the damsel's edification he translated, " Asylum of the Universe ! the maiden, the daughter of roses, salutes thee !" After a short interval, Lady Lombard again bore down upon them in full sail, towing in her wake a small hirsute baboon-like individual, evidently one of her menagerie. " There's a chimpanzie !" whispered Bracy to Frere. " Now, if that picture of ugliness turns out an eastern traveller we're gone 'coons." " All right," returned Frere in the same tone, " he's only an exiled something. He came to our shop with a recommendation from some of the Parisian savans, the other day." " I must trouble you once again, Mr. Bracy," insinuated Lady Lombard ; " Professor Malchapeau is dying to be introduced." " No trouble, but a pleasure," returned Bracy ; " I sJiall have the gi-eatest satisfaction in making two such illustrious individuals knowm to each other. Does the Professor speak English?" " Yas ; I vas spik Angleesh von pritte veil," replied the person alluded to, strutting forward on tiptoe. " I ave zie honaire to vish you how you did, my prince 1" Frere made some reply, which Bracy paraphrased into, " The descendant of many Shahs kisses the hem of the mantle of the Father of science." The Professor's " Angleesh" not providing him with a suitable reply ready made, he was obliged to resort to that refuge fur destitute foreigners — a shrug and a giimace. Lady Lombard came to his assistance. " Now, Professor, suppose you were to tell his highness your affecting history ;" adding, in a whisper, " Mr. Bracy, the interpreter, is connected with government, and might be of the greatest use to you." " Ohf, miladi, if all zie bodies had your big heart in dem, ziea vicked vorld should be von 'eaven," replied the Professor, gratefully, through his talented nose. " My littel storie ! chf, zie Prince should not vant to ear him V His Highness, however, being graciously pleased to signify his ftnxiety so to do, the small man resumed. 86 LBWIS ARUNDEL J '' " Ah, ma Patrie ! vhats I ave come thro' for him, ven I tUI raconte nobody shall not belief," "To enable the Prince to understand your account more clearly," interrupted Bracy, " may I ask to what country it relates ? " " Vidout von doubt, saire ! you shall tell zie Prince dat my littel tale is Swish. My fadaire vas vot you call von mayor, of zie canton of Zurich. My brodaire and myselfs vas his only schild ; since a long time ve vas live very appy, mais enfin, — but on his end, — zie sacre Autriche, — von bad Oystrish government, did vot you call oppress ma pauvre patrie, and my fadaire, toujours brave, got himself into von littel conspiration, vaire he did commit vat you call zie offence politique ; vas trown to •prison, and in his confinement he did die. Ah ! ' mourir pour la patrie, cest doux,' to die for zie country is zie — vat you call doicx in Angleesh ?" " You will find the same word in both languages, Professor, only we pronounce it deuce," replied Bracy, politely. " Ah ! cest hon, to die for zie country is zie deuce ! Eh hien, after my poor fadaire was entombed, my brodaire did run him- selfs avay, and vas converted to un herger, a little shepherd of cows, and I, Mlas I pour moi, fetais desole, — for myself, I was dissolute, left alone in zie vide vorld, visout von fi-iend to turn against. Mais le del embrace les orphelins — 'eaven embaiTasses zie orphans ; I marched on my foot to Paris ; I found an unex- pected uncle, who had supposed himself dead for some years ; I undervent all zie sciences, and enfin vie void — on my end here I am." " A most affecting history, indeed," returned Bracy, covering his mouth with his hand to conceal a smile. As for Frere, he had for some time past been nearly suffocated by suppressed laughter, which at length made itself so apparent, that nothing but his beai'd and an assumed fit of coughing could have saved him from disco veiy. While this conversation had been going on. Miss Peyton called Lady Lombard's attention to Lewis, by obsei-ving : " The inter- preter, in entertaining the prince, seems entirely to have forgotten that very handsome young attendant who stands there, looking 80 haughty and disconsolate." " Deal" me ! so hs does," exclaimed Lady Lombai'd, anxiously. ' How very handsome he is ! such a thoroughly Eastern coun- OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 87 tenance ! Ae s a man of very high rank, too, over there. What could we do to amuse him 1 " " Perhaps we might show him some prints," suggested Laura ; " at all events the attention might please him." " Oh, yes ! how clever of you ; I should never have thought of that now. I've a tahle covered with them in the boudoir," ex- claimed Lady Lombard, delightedly ; " but do you think you could turn them over for him 1 I'm so foolish, I should be quito nervous ; you see it's so awkward his not understanding English, poor fellow ! I know I'm very fooUsh." " I shall be most happy to do anything I can to lessen your difficulties," replied the young lady, good naturedly ; " shall I look out a book of prints'?" ■" If you tvould be so kind, my dear, you'll find lolenty in the boudoir, and I'll go to IMi*. Bracy and get him to speak to him for me." The result of this application was the capture of Lewis, who, inwardly raging, was canied off to the boudoir, and seated at a table, while Miss Pe}i;on, half frightened, half amused, turned over a volume of prints for his edification. Lady Lombard and sundry of the guests stood round for some minutes watching the smiles and pantomimic gestures with which Lewis, or rather Hassan Bey, as Bracy had named him, felt bound to acknowledge the young lady's attentions. Amongst the guests who were thus amusing themselves, lounged a young dandy, who, on the strength of a MediteiTanean yacht voyage, set up for a distinguished traveller. To Lady Lombard's inquiry whether he spoke Persian, he simpered, " Be'ely — no, not exactly so as to talk to him ; but he'll do vastly well ; they prefer silence, re'ely, those fellows do : you know I've seen so much of 'em." " You were in Persia, were you not I" asked one of the company. "Re'ely — not exactly in his part of Persia.— Stamboul, the city of palaces, was my head quarters : but its much the same ; indolence, beards, and tobacco, are the characteristics of both races." " Don't you think he is obarmingly handsome ?" asked an old young lady, shaking her ringlets after a fashion which five yeara before had been a very " telling " manoeuvre. " Re'ely, I should scarcely have said sti.-'' was the reply ; " tho 8(.* LEWIS AliUKDEL J boy is well euougli for an Asiatic. / like a more — ahem ! manly Btyle of tiling." And as he spoke, he passed his hand caressingly over a violent pair of red whiskers, which garnished his ovra hard-featured physiognomy. The cool impudence of this remark inspired Lewis with so intense a sentiment of disgust, that his lip curled involuntarily, and he tm-ned over the print before him with a gesture of im- patience. On looking up, he was rather disconcerted to find Laura Peyton's piercing black eyes watching him curiously. " You've given us nothing new in the musical way lately, Lady Lombard," observed the "sei'e and yellow leaf" damsel before alluded to. " I expect a lady to stay with me soon," was the reply, " whom I think you'll be pleased with ; she sings and plays in very Jirst- rate style." " Indeed ! Is she an amateur or professional, may I inquire 1" " Why, real! I/, my dear Miss Sparkless, you've asked a difficult question. The fact is," continued Lady Lombard, sinking her voice, "it's one of those very sad cases, reduced fortune — you luiderstand. I mean to have her here merely out of charity ;" sinking her voice still lower, the following words only became audible : " Wife of a Captain Arundel — foreign extraction origi- nally — quite a mesalliance, I believe." As she spoke, some new arrival attracted her attention, and she and her confidante left the boudoir together. It may easily be conceived with what feeling's of bui-niug indignation Lewis had listened to the foregoing remarks ; but Frere's lecture of the morning had not been without its fruits, with his anger the necessity for self-control presented itself; and he was congratulating himself at having checked all outward signs of annoyance, when he was startled by a silvery voice whispering in his ear : " Persian or no Persian, sir, you under- stand English as well as I do;" and slightly turning, his eyes encountered those of Laura Peyton, fixed on him with a roguish glance. His resolution was instantly taken, and he replied, in the same tone : " Having discovered my secret, you must promise to keep it." " Agreed, on one condition," was the rejoinder. " And that is V asked Lewis. " Tliat you immediately make a full confession, and tell me alt about it." OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFH. 89' " It is a compact," was his reply. " That is good," rejoined the young lady, " Now move the portfolio, so that yoiu' back will be towai'ds those people. That will do. Hold down your head, as if you were examining the prints, and then answer my questions, truly and concisely. First, you are an English gentleman ?" " Yes, I hope so." " Who is the prince?" " llj friend, Richard Frere." " And why have you both come here dressed like Persians?" " To mystify our foolish hostess." " For shame, sir ! I'm very fond of Lady Lombard." " But, you know, she is a silly woman." " AVell, never mind. Who planned this hoax '2" '■' Bracy, the so-called intei-preter." " Does Prince Frere talk real Persian 1" " Yes." " And docs the other man understaiid him '?" " Not a bit." " Then he invents all the answers 1 That's rut'her clever of him. I shall go and listen presently. And you can't talk either Persian or gibberish, so you held your tongue and looked sulky. Well, I tliiuk it's all very wTong ; but it's rather ch'oll. Poor, dear Lady Lombard ! she'd never survive it if she did but know ! And now, tell me, lastly, what put you in a rage just this minute, and enabled me to find you out 1 " " You would not care to know." " But I do care to know, sir, and you have promised to answer all my questions." " You heard the speech that woman made about a Mi-s. Arundel V " Yes, surely." " Learn, then, that my name is Lewis Arundel, and the lady referred to was my mother. Now do you understand 1" Aa Lewis uttered these words, in a tone of suppressed bitter- less, his companion hastily turned away her head, and said, in a hsv, luu'ried voice : " I beg your pardon ! I fear I have pained you ; but I iid not know — I could not guess " " Pray do not distress yourself," returaed Lewis, kindly, Rose's amile for a moment smoothing his haughty brow, and playing 90 LEWIS ARUNDEL J round his proud mouth. — " I am sure you would not hurt any one's feelings knowingly ; and since you observed my annoyance, 1 am glad to have been able to explain its cause." So engrossed had they been by this conversation, that they had not observed Miss Sparkless enter the boudoir by another door and they were first made aware of her presence by seeing her standing, breathless with astonishment, at discovering Miss Peyton in familiar colloquy with a Persian nobleman utterly ignorant of tlie English language. " Do you speak German 1" asked Lewis, quickly, " Yes, a little," rotiurned Miss Peyton. " She has not caught a word yet," continued Lewis ; " tell her you found out by accident that I had picked up a few Gei'man sentences when the prince was at the court of Prussia. White lies, unhappily, are inevitable on these occasions," he continued, seeing his companion hesitate ; " it's the only way to prevent an cclaircissement ; and then, think of poor Lady Lombard's feel- ings ! " " As I seem fairly embarked in the conspiracy, I suppose I must do your bidding," was the reply, and Miss Sparkless, the middle-aged young lady, was accordingly informed of Lewis's (German proficiency, whereat, falling into an ecstasy, she replied, — " How charming ! What a dear creatui-e he is !" On which the dear creature himself, catcliing Miss Peyton's eye, was very near laughing outright. " Laura, my lovej' exclaimed Lady Lombard, entering hastily, '• the prince is going down to supper, will you come V Tlien, taking her hand caressingly, she added, " Have you been vety much bored by him, poor fellow !" " I found he could speak a few words of German, and that helped us on," was the reply. " Yes, realli/ — ah ; we might have thought of that before," returned Lady Lombard, by no means certain the German lan- guage might not form an important and customary branch of Persian education. During supper, Laura Peyton contrived to be seated between Frere and Bracy, the latter of whom she kept so constantly engaged in interpreting for her, that he scarcely got anything to eat, and came to the conclusion, that in the whole course of hia experience he had never before encountered such a talking woman. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 9t Nor was his annoyance diminislied by obsendng that Lewis, •who was seated opposite, appeared to be deriving the utmost amuse- ment from his discomfitui-e. Having exhausted every possible pretext for breaking off the conversation, and being each time foiled by the young lady's quiet tact, he was about to resign himself to his fate, and relinquish all idea of supper, when a pro- ject occurred to him which he immediately hastened to put into execution. Waiting till Frere had spoken a Persian sentence, he suddenly di-ew himself up, looking deeply scandalized, frowned at the speaker, shook his head and muttered something unintel- ligible in a tone of grave remonstrance, then paused for a reply, which Frere, intensely perplexed, and by no means clear that he had not done something un-Persian and wi'ong, was forced to utter. This .only seemed to make matters worse : Bracy again remonstrated in gibberish, then appeared to have detei'mined on his course, and mattering, " Well, there's no help for it, I suppose," he turned to Lady Lombard, and began in a tone of deep coucera, — " "I have a most disagreeable duty to perform, and must beg you to believe that nothing but absolute necessity could have induced me to mention the matter ; but I have remonstrated Vvith his Highness without effect, and I dare go no fai'ther — he is subject to most violent bursts of passion, and becomes dangerous when opposed. He drew his dagger, and attempted to stab me only yesterday, because I interfered to prevent his having one of the waitei-s of the hotel strangled with a bow-string." Lady Lombard turned pale on receiving this infoi-mation, while Bracy continued, — " It is most uufoi-tunate, but the Prince has been so much delighted with tliis young lady's charming flow of conversation, that, in his ignorance of the customs of tliis country, he has actually commissioned me to offer you 5001. for her, and declai'ed his determination of taking her home with him." The effect of this communication may be " better imagined than described." !Miss Peyton, aware of the true state of affairs, hid her face in her handkerchief in an uncontrollable fit of laughter ; Lewis, sorely tempted to follow her example, bent over his plate till the flo-ndng tassel of the fez concealed his features ) Frere, excessively annoyed at the false imputation, all but began a flat denial of the charge in somewhat forcible English, but remembering his assumed character just iu time, clenched his D2 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; fist, aiid gi-ound his teeth with impatience, while Lady Lombard, observing these gestures, and construing them into indications of an approaching burst of fury, was nearly swooning with terror, when a note was put into her hands by a servant ; hastily casting her eyes over it, she handed it to Bracy, saying, — " This is most fortunate ; it may serve to divert his atten- tion." " As he became awai'e of its contents, his countenance fell, and holding it so that Frere might read it, he whispered, — " Here's a treat ! we are in for it now, and no mistake 1" The note ran as follows : — " Dr. , Persian Professor at Addiscombe, presents his com- pliments to Lady Lombard, and begs to inform her, that being only in town for a few hours, and learning accidentally that his Highness Prince Mustapha Ali was spending the evening at her house, he has ventured to request her permission to intrude upon her uninvited, as he is most anxious to renew his acquaint- ance with his Highness, whom he had the honour to know in Pereia." CHAPTER XL TOM BRACY MEETS HIS MATCH. The position in which we left Lewis and liis friends at the conclusion of the preceding chapter was decidedly more peculiar than agreeable, and afforded no bad illustration of the American expression, " a pretty tall fix." Bracy, the fei-tile in expedients, was the first to hazard a suggestion, which he did by whisj>ering to Frcre, " You had better be taken suddenly ill ; I shall say you have had too much tongue, (if you have not, I have,) and tliat it has disagreed with you." " Wait a bit," returned Frere, " you have seen the real Princ^ naven't you V Bracy nodded in assent, and Frere continued, " He's something like me, is he not ]" " Better looking," was the uncomplimentary rejoinder. " Well, never mind tint," resumed Frere, " I don't set up for OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFB. 93 ft beauty, but if I am sufl&cieutly like to pass for him, 1 might contrive to humbug the fellow for a few minutes, and then vre could manage to slip away quietly without any shindy at all" " You can try it on, if you choose, but he is safe to find you out, unless he is a perfect fool, and that is too great a mercy to hope for," returaed Bracy dejectedly. " If the worst comes to the worst, pretend to pick a quairel with him, draw your cai-ving knife, and make a poke at him ; then Arundel and I will bundle tim out of the room bodily, and swear we are doing it to save his life. I can see nothing else for it, for there go the women, and, by Jove, here's the learned Pundit himself ! Oh ! isn't he pretty to look at 1 Why, he is a fac-simile of the picture in the old editions of Gay's Fables, of ' the Monkey who had seen the World.' " AVhile this dialogue was proceeding, Lady Lombai'd, having gathered the ladies under her wing, had marched them off to the drawing-room. Miss Peyton finding an opportunity as she passed Lewis to say, in German, " Tell your Prince that when I sell myself I shall want a great deal more than 500Z." " In fact, that yom* value is quite inestimable," returned Lewis. " Exactly so," was the reply. " I am glad you have sufficient penetration to have found it out already." The description given by Bracy of the Doctor s outward man was by no means inapt. His hair and whiskers were grey, and, Btni adhering to the fashions of his younger days, he wore powder and a pig-tail. His dress consisted of a black single- breasted coat with a stand-up collar, knee breeches, and silk stockings ; a profusion of shirt frill rushed impetuously out of the front of his waistcoat, a stiS" white neckcloth appeai-ed thoroughly to deserve the appellation of " choker " which Bracy applied to it, while a shirt-collar stai'ched to a pitch of savage harshness, invaded the region of his cheeks to an extent which rendered the tract of country lying between the ears and tlie comers of the mouth a complete terra incognita. Constant ttudy of the Eastern hieroglyphics had probably rendered his wearing spectacles a matter of necessity ; at all events a huge pair in a broad tortoiseshell setting garnished his nose, which, ti-uth compels us to confess, was more than slightly red, in which particular it afforded a decided contrast to his general com- plexion, which was, we say it distinctly and without compronuBe, yelloM. 94 LEWIS aeundel; To this gentleman, who entered witli a hasty step, aud glauced round him with a quick, abnipt, and rather startling manner^ did Bracy address himself with much empressement. " My dear sir, this is most fortunate ; the Prince is quite dehghted at the rencontre, but you must expect to find hia Highness greatly altered. The cares of life, my dear sir, the anxieties attending — ah ! I see you are impatient ; I won't detain you, but I wished to warn you that if you should perceive any gi-eat change in his appearance, you must not be sui-priscd, and above all be careful not to show it by your manner ; you have no idea how sensitive he is on the point ; quite morbidly so, really. Don't let me detain you — how well you are looking !" A good deal of pantomimic action had accompanied the delivery of this speech, the Doctor being engaged in making vain and futile attempts to get past his persecutor, who on his part con- tinued, with an affectation of the deepest respect, constantly, and with the utmost perseverance, to frustrate them. The conclucUng words of his address, however, elicited the following rejoinder, epoken in a quick cross manner : — " You have the advantage of me, sir, for I do not remembef ever setting eyes on you before in my life. I never forget a face I have once seen." " Confound liis memory !" thought Bracy, "Frere won't have a chance with him ;" he only said, however, " You are right, Doctor ; the fact of your looking well is so self-evident, that I ventured to remark it, without having any previous data to go upon — but here is his Highness," and as he spoke, he at length moved on one side, and allowed the man of learning to pass. Frere coming forward at the same minute, Bracy whispered, while the Doctor bent in a low salaam, " I have bothered his brains sweetly for him, he hardly knows whether he's standing on his head or his heels j so now you must take care of yourself, and joy go with you." Frere, thus apostrophized, retm-ned the Doctor's salute with touch cordiality, and Bracy, feigning some excuse, left them to entertain each other, having before his eyes a wholesome dread of the new-comer's addressing him in Persian, and thereby discovering his deplorable ignorance of that interesting language. Time, which does not stand still for Princes any more than for private individuals, passed on with its usual rapidity. Most of the gentlemen having eaten as much, and drunk probably OR, THE Railroad of life. 9'i more (looking at it in a medical point of view) than was good for them, had rejoined the ladies, and it became evident to Bmcy that a crisis in his evening's amusement was approaching^ On hia return to the drawing-room, he must of course resuru* hi<3 duties as interpreter, and this inconvenient Persian professur would inevitably discover the imposture. This was the more provoking, as Frere's Kkeness to the Prince must evidently huve been much stronger than he had imagined, and his acquaintance with the rules of Persian etiquette more extensive than he had believed possible, for the Doctor continued to converse with the utmost gi'avity, and appeared to believe in him implicitljr. While he was still pondering the matter in his anxious mind, the few last remaining guests conveyed themselves away, and the Prince and his party were left to dispute possession of the supper- room with empty champagne bottles, and half tipsy waite' Frere, when he perceived this to be the case, beckoned Brac} tu approach, and as soon as he was within earshot, whispered, " I have humbugged the old fellow beautifully on the score of our Persian recollections, but he has just been questioning me about you, — where you acquired your knowledge of the language, whether you have been much in the East, how I became acquainted with you, and all the rest of it. I put him off with hes as long as I could, but it would not do, and as a last resource, I have been obliged to refer him to you." " The deuce you have !" was the reply ; " that is pleasant. He'll be jabbering his confounded lingo, and I shall not understand a word he says to me ; besides, my jargon won't go down with him, you know. I tell you what, I shall be off, and you must say up stairs, (he can intei-pret for you,) that I have been sent for by the prime mini&'ter at a minute's notice, a la De Grandeville." "'Tistoo late," rephed Frere; and at the same instant tlie Doctor seized Bi-acy by the button, and in a stem and impressive manner asked some apparently searching question in Persian. Few men had enjoyed the dehght of seeing Tom Bracy in tlie unenviable frame of mind expressed by the nautical tei-m "taken aback," but of that favoured few were the by-standers on the present occasion ; never was an unliappy individual more thoroughly and completely at a loss ; and it must be confessed the situation was an embarrassing one. To be addressed by an elderly stranger in an unintelligible language, in which, you arc ^6 LEWIS ARUNDEL; expected to reply, while at the same time you are painfully conscious that your incapacity to do so, or even (not under- standing the question) to give an appropriate answer in your native tongue, will lead to a discovery you are most anxious to avert, is an undeniably awkward position in which to be placed. That Bracy found it so was most evident, for he fidgeted, stammered, glanced appealingly towards Frere for aid, and at last was obliged, between annoyance and an intense appreciation of the absui'dity of his situation, to get up a fictitious cough, which, irritating the membrane of the nose, produced a most violent genuine sneeze. From the effects of this convulsion o nature, he was relieved by a hearty slap on the back, while at the same moment the tones of a familiar voice exclaimed in hii? ear, " Sold, by all that's glorious ! Bracy, my boy, how do you find yourself f and on looking up, he recognised in the laughing face of the Addiscombe doctor, now divested of its spoctaolee; *lie wel'i-kuo\n3 features of Charley Leicester. QVR, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 97 CHAPTER XII. UJTTIS FORrEITS THE RESPECT OF ALL POOR-LAW GUARDIANS. Equally sui-prised and mystified at the complete manner in which the tables had been turned upon him, Bracy stcod listening with a disgusted expression of countenance to the peals of laughter which his discomfitiu-e elicited from his companions. " Yes, laugh away," growled the victimised practical joker; " it's all very funny, I dare say, but one thing I'll swear in any court of justice, which is, that you have been talking real Persian, at least if what Frere jabbers is real Persian." " Of course I have," returned Leicester, still in convulsions. " When Frere and I planned this dodge, we knew what a wide- awake gentleman we had to deal with, and took our measures accordingly. I learned four Persian sentences by heart from his dictation, and pretty good use I have made of them too, I think." " It was not a bad idea, really," obseiwed Bracy, who having got over his annoyance at the first sense of defeat, instantly recovered his good humour. " How well you are made up ! I did not recognise you one bit, till you pulled off the barnacles." " Yes, I got little Stevens, who does the light comic business at one of the minors, to provide the apparel, and come and dress me — I hope you admire my complexion ; he laid on the red and yellow most unsparingly." " He has done it vastly well," returned Bracy. " I shall cultivate that small man ; he may be extremely useful to me on an occasion." " Now wo ought to be going up-stairs," interrupted Frere j "these waiter-fellows are beginning to stai-e at us suspiciously too. I say, Bracy, cut it short man ; we have had all the fun now, and I'm getting tired of the thing." " Ya, Meinheer," rejoined Bracy, aloud, adding in a lower tone, " The slaveys will swallow that or any thing else for Persian ; tlioy axe all more or less drunk, by the fishy expression of their optias.* Laura Peyton was astonished somewhat later in the evening hy the Addiscombe professor leaning over the back of the sofu TI S8 LEWIS ^VRUNDEL ; on wliich she was seated, and asking whethcv she had enjoyod her last valse at Ahiiack's the evening before last. " Surely, you can feel no particular interest about such a frivolous and unintellectual matter, sir," was her repl}'. " I was about to follow up the inquiry by asking whether your partner made himself agreeable." " To which I shall reply after the Irish fashion, by asking how it can possibly concern you to know, sir ?" "Merely because I have the honour of the gentleman's ac- quaintance." " That in fact you are one of those uncommon characters who know themselves," returned Laura, with an arch smile ; " is not that what you wish to impress upon me, Mr. Leicester 1 " Charley laughed, then continued in a lower tone, " I saw you knew me. Did your own acuteness lead to the discovery, or are there traitoi's among us 1 " " Your friend Mr. Arundel's expressive featiu'es let me into the secret of his acquaintance with the Enghsh lang-uage, before we went down to supper ; but I entered into a contract not to betray the plot, if he would tell me all I might wish to know about it, so the moment he came up, I made him inform me who you were. What a gentlemanly, agreeable person he is !" As she said this, a slight shade passed across Leicester's good- natured countenance, and he replied, more quickly than was his wont, " I had fancied Miss Pej'ton superior to the common feminine weakness of being caught by the last handsome face." "What a thoroughly man-like speech," returned the young lady. " Did I say anything about his appeai'ance, sir 1 Do you suppose we poor women are so utterly silly that we can appreciate nothing but a handsome face 1 Yom^ professor'? disguise has imbued you -udth the Tui-kish belief that women have no souls." " No one fortunate enough to be acquainted with Miss Peyton would continue long in such a heresy," replied Leicester, with the air of a man w^ho thinks he is saying a good tiling. " Yes, I knew yon would make some such reply," retm-ne." Lam-a. " You first show your real opinion of women by libelling the whole sex, and then try to get out of the scrape, by insulting my understanding with a personal comphment. Wait," slie ^continued, seeing be wajs about to defend himself, "you must not OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 99 talk to me any more now, or you will excite Lady Lombard's suspicions, and betray the whole conspiracy. Go away, and send my new fi-iend Mr. Arundel Hassan Bey here ; Lady Lombard committed him to my charge, and I want to cultivate him." Leicester tried to assume a languishing look, which he was in the habit of practising upon young ladies with gi'eat success, but becoming suddenly conscious of the wig and spectacles, and gathering fi'om Laura's silvery laugh, that such adjuncts to an interesting expression of countenance were incongruous, not to say absurd, he join-ed in her merriment, then added, "You are in a very wicked mood to-night, Miss Peyton ; but I suppose 1 must e'en do as you bid me, and reserve my revenge till some more fitting opportunity," then, mixing with the crowd, he sought out Lewis, and dehvered the young lady's message to him, adding in his usual drawling tone, " You have made a what-do- ye-call-it — an impression in that quarter. "Women always run after the last new face." " You are right," returned Lewis, with a degree of energy M'hich startled his listless companion, " and those men are wisest who know them for the toys they are, and avoid them." Leicester gazed after his retreating figure in astonishment, then murmured to himself, " What's in the wind now, I wonder ; is the good youth trying to keep up the Asiatic character, or suddenly tm'ned woman-hater 1 Confound that little Pe}i:on girl, how sharp she was to-night !" " How very well ^Ir. Leicester is disguised," observed Laura Peyton to Lewis, after they had conversed in German for some minutes on general topics. " Yes," replied Lewis ; " though I can't say his appearance is improved by the alteration." " A fact of which he is fully aware," returned Laura smiling. A pause ensued, which was terminated by Laura's asking abruptly, " Do gentlemen like Mr. Leicester ?" " Really I have not sufficient knowledge of facts to infonn you, but I should say he is a veiy popular man." " Popular man ! I hate that phrase," retm-ned his companion pettishly ; " it is almost as bad as describing any one as a man about town, which always gives me the idea of a creature that vears a pea-jacket, lives at a club, boards on cigars, talks slang, carries a betting-book, and never has its hair cut — can't you tell me what you think of Mr. Leicester yourself]" h2 100 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " Well, I thiuk him gentlemaiily, good-natured, agreeable up to a certain point, cleverish — " " Yes that will do ; I quite understand. I don't think you do him justice — he has a kind heart, and more good senso than you are disposed to give him credit for. You should not form such hasty judgments of people ; a want of charity I perceive is one of your faults. And now I must wish you good night ; I hear my kind old chaperone anxiously bleating after me in the distance," So saying she arose, and hastoned to put herself under the protection of " a fine old English gentlewoman," who with a hooked nose, red gown, and gi-een scarf, looked like some new and fearful variety of the genus Parroquet. At the same time, Bracy summoned Lewis to join the Prince, who was about to depart, which, after Lady Lombard had in an enthusiasm of gratitude utteied a whole sentence in the largest capitals, he was allowed to do. Leicester accompanied them, tearing himself away from Pro- fessor Malchapeau, who had singled him out as a brother savan, and commenced raconte-ing to him his affecting history, thereby leaving that shaggy little child of misfortune to lament to his sympathising hostess the melancholy fact that " Zie Professor Addiscombe had cut his little tale off short, and transported hiraselfs avay in von great despatch." 'Twere long to tell the jokes that were made, the new and additional matter brought to light, as each of the quartette, assembled round a second edition of supper in Bracy 's rooms, detailed in turn his own personal experiences of the evening's comicalities — the cigars that were smoked, or the amount of sherry cobbler that was imbibed : suffice it to say, that a certain lyrical declaration that they would not " go home till morning," to which, during their symposium, they had committed them- selves, was verified wlien, on issuing out into the street, the cold grey light of early dawn threw its pale hue over their tired faces, and straggled with sickly-looking gas lamps for the honour of illuminating the thoroughfares of the slee])iiig city. Leicester's cab, with his ni<:ht-horse, — a useful animal, which, witliout a leg to stand upon, possessed the speed of the wind, and, liaving every defect horseflesh is heir to, enjoyed a constitution which throve on exposure and want of sleep, as other organiza- tions usiuilly do on the exact oppusites — was in waiting. Into thia ■mM l.l.,.'^ .rfilillli ^::4it: ■tlLiili^'' ^.^/ii^e^ /^c^u^x^ J£^- .ydsa^/Aj(^^ ..^:^^4^^ ^ LC>i?mitS(^/'^^. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 101 •vehicle CJiai-ley (who bore some token of sherry cobbler in the unsteadiness of his gait), having made two bad shots at the step, rushed headlong, and di'ove off at an insane pace, and in a suc- cession of zigzags. Frere and Lewis watched the cab, till, having slightly assaulted an unoffending lamp-post, it flew round a conier and disappeared ; then, having exchanged a sig-nificant glance suggestive of sym- pathetic anticipations of a sombre chai'acter in regard to the safety of their friend, they started at a brisk pace, which soon brought them to Frere's respectable dwelling. While the pro- prietor was searching in every pocket but the right one for that ten*or of all feeble-minded elders, that pet abomination of ail fathers of families, that latest invention of the enemy of mankincL — a latch-key, — they were accosted by a lad of about fifteen, whose ragged clothes, bronzed features, and Murillo-like appeai*- ance, accorded well with his supplication, — " Fer pietii, Signor, denaro per un povey Italiano." Frere looked at him attentively, then exclaimed — " I tell you "what, boy, it won't do ; you're no more an Italian than I am ; you should not try to impose upon people." The boy hung down his head, and then replied, doggedly, " It s youi" own fault ; you'll let an English boy starve in the streets before you'll give him a bit of bread, but you are chaiitable enough to them foreign blackguards." " That's not true," replied Frere ; " however, liar or not, you must be fed, I suppose ; so if you choose to take a soup-ticket here's one for you." " No," returned the boy, proudly, '• you have called me liar, and I won't accept your miserable bounty ; I'd sooner starve first." '•' As you please," returned Frere, coolly pocketing the rejected ticket ; '' now have the goodness to take yoiu-self off. — Coma Lewis." " I'll join you immediately," replied Lewis. " Mind you shut the door after you, then," continued Frere, " or we shall have that nice lad walking off with the silver spoons." So saying, he entered the house. Lewis waited till his retreating footsteps were no longer audible, then, fixing his piercing glance upon the boy, he said, in an impressive voice, " Answer me truly, and I will give you assist- ance. 'V^^Iere did you learn to speak Italian with so good on accent ?" 102 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " lu Naples, sir ! " " How did you get there V " I served on board a man-of-war." " And how have you fallen into this state of beggary 1" Tha boy hesitated for a moment, but something led him in- Btiuctively to feel that his confidence would not be abused, and he answered, " When we got back to England, and the crew were paid ofif, I received 15^. I got into bad company, they tempted me to every thing that was wrong ; my money was soon gone : I had no friends in London, and I wouldn't have applied to them after going on so bad, if I'd had any. I sold my clothes to buy bread ; and when I had nothing left, I begged, and lately I've passed myself off as an Italian boy, because I found people more willing to give to me." " And do you Hke yom' present life 1 " " No, I have to bear cold and hunger ; and when people speak to me as he did just now it makes me feel wicked. Some day it will drive me mad, and I shall go and mui'der somebody." " What do you wish to do, then 1 " " If I could buy some decent clothes, I'd walk down to Ports- mouth, and try and get afloat again." " And what would it cost to provide them?" " I could rig myself out for a pound." Lewis paused for a moment, then added, quickly, " Boy, I am poor and proud, as you are, therefore I can feel for you. Had I been exposed to temptation, fiiendless and untaught, I might have fallen as you have done. You have learnt a bitter lesson, and may profit by it ; it is in my power to afford you a chance of doing so." He drew a card fi*om his pocket, and WTote upon it a few worda in pencil, then, handing it to the boy, continued, " There is the direction to a friend of mine, the captain of a ship about to sail in a few days ; show him my card, and tell him what you have told me. There is a sovereign to provide your dress, and five slcillings to save you from begging or stealing till you get to Portsmouth ; and when next you are tempted to sin remember its bitter fruits." As he spoke he gave him the money. The boy received it mechanically, fixed his bright eyes for a moment on the face of liis benefactor, and then, utterly overcome by such unexpected kindness, burst into a flood of tears. As Lewis turned to depailj OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 103 the fii-st rays of the rising sun fell upon the tall, gracefiJ figure of the young man, and the tattered garments and emaciated form of the boy. Far diflferent was the scene when Lewis Araudel and the creature he was thus rescuing from infamy met again upon ths Railroad of Life ! CHAPTER XIIL 18 CHIEFLY HORTICULTURAL, SHOWING THE EFFECTS PRODUCED BT TRAINING UPON A SWEET AND DELICATE ROSE. Rose Arundel sat at the open window of her little bed room, and gazed out into the night. The scent of many flowers hung upon the loaded air, and the calm stars looked down fi'om Heaven, contrasting their impassive grandeur with the unrest of this weary world. The evening had been lovely, not a breath of wind was stirring, the long shadows that slept upon the gi-een sward, and aficirded a dirk back-ground on which the brilliant glow- worms shone like diamonds on a funeral pall, were motionless ; the silence, unbroken save when some heavy beetle or other strange insect of the night winged its drowsy way across the casement, was almost oppressive in its depth of stillness j it was a time and place for gi-ave and earnest thought, a scene in which the full heart is conscious of its own sorrow. And Rose, although she had too much good sense and right principle to allow herself to feel miserable, was far from happy. The key to the inner life of every true-hearted woman must be sought in the affections. The only two people whom Rose had loved, as she was capable of loving, were her father and brother ; for Mrs. Amndel, thouj^ all her impulses were kind and amiable, did not possess sufficient depth of character to inspire any very strong attachment. Be- iween Captain Arundel and his daughter had existed one of thore rare affections which appear so nearly to satisfy the cravings of our spiritual nature, that lest this world should become too dear to us, they are blessings we are seldom permitted long to enjoy. Rose and her father were by nature much alike in disposition, and in forming her character, and educating and developing her mind, he had for some years found Ids chief interest, while in her 104 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; affeoliDn lay lus only solace for the blighted hopes and mined prospects of a lifetime. Originally highly connected, Captain Arundel had incurred the displeasure of his family, by forming in the heat of youthful passion, and under peculiar circumstances, a marriage with the daughter of an English resident at Marseilles, by a foreign mother. Too proud to seek to conciliate his relations, Mr. Arundel became a voluntary exile, entered into the Austrian army, where he speedily rose to the rank of captain, and served with much distinction, till failing health induced him to resign his commission, and return to England for the sake of educa- ting his children. His heart was set on one object, namely, to bestow upon his son the education of an English gentleman, and for this purpose he had availed himself of a very unusual talent for painting, as a means by which he might increase his slender incomp sufficiently to meet the expenses of sending Lewis to Westminster, and afterwards to a German university. The constant application thus rendered inevitable, fostered the seeds of that most insidious of all ailments, a heart-disease, and while still forming plans for the welfare of his family, an unwonted agitation induced a paroxysm of his complaint, and ere Rose covild realize the misfortune that thi'catened her, she was fatherless. Although stunned at first by the unexpected shock, hers was not a mind to give way at such a moment, and to those who judge by the outward expression only, Mrs. Arundel's gi'ief appeared much more intense than that of her daughter. But Rose's soiTow was not a mere transitory feeling, which a few weeks more or less might serve to dissipate ; it had become part of her vei-y nature, a thing too sacred to be lightly brought to view, but enshrined in the sanctuary of her pure heart it re- mained a cherished yet solemn recollection, which would shed its hallowing influence over the future of her young life. And now as she sat with her calm earnest eyes upturned to the tranquil heaven above her, her thoughts wandered back to him she had 80 dearly loved, and she pondered the solemn questions which have ere now pi-escuted themselves to many a mourning spirit, and longed to penetrate the secrets of the grave, and learn things which death alone can teach us. Then she recalled conversations she had held with him that was gone, on these very subjects, and remembered how he had said, tliat the things which God had not OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 105 seen Ht to reveal, could neither be needful nor expedient for hh to know ; that such speculations were in themselves dangerous, inasmuch as they tended to lead us to form theories which, having no warrant in Scripture, might be at variance with truth j and that it was better to wait patiently in humble faith — that a time would come when we should no longer see through a glass darkly, and the hidden things of God should be made kno\ni unto us. Then her thoughts still pursuing the same train, led her to reflect how all her father's aspirations, crashed and disap- pointed in the wreck of his own fortunes, had centred in his son, and the bitter tears which no personal privations or misfortunes could have forced from her, flowed down her cheeks as she re- flected how these bright anticipations seemed doomed never to be realized. Unselfish by nature, and trained to habits of thoughtfulness by witnessing her father's life of daily self-sacrifice, Rose had never been accustomed to indulge on her own account in those day- dreams so common to the sanguine mind of youth. But the germs of that pride and ambition which were Lewis's besetting sins existed in a minor degree in Rose's disposition also, and found vent in a visionary career of greatness she had marked out for her brother, and for wliich his unusual mental powers and striking appearance seemed eminently to qualify him. In nourishing these visions her father had unconsciously assisted. when in moments of confidence he had imparted to her his hopes that Lewis would distinguish himself in whatever career of life he might select, and by his success restore them all to that position in society which by his own imprudence he had forfeited. What a bitter contrast did the reality now present ! Rose had received that morning a letter fi-om her brother, detailing his interview with General Grant, and its results ; and though, from a wish to spare her feelings, he had been more guarded in his expressions than on the occasion of his conversation with Frere the pre- ceding day, yet he did not attempt to disguise from her his repugnance to the arixingement, or the degradation to which his haughty spirit led him to consider he was submitting. " Poor Lewis !" murmured Rose, " I know so well what miser} it will be to him ; the shghts, the hourly petty annoyances which his proud sensitive nature will feel so keenly ; — and then, to waste his high talents, his energy of character and strengtli of H-ill. on the drudgery of teaching, when they were ceitiiin to lOG LEWIS ARUNDEL; have led hiiii to distinctiou if ho had only had a fair field for their exercise — it would have broken dearest papa's heart, when he had hoped so differently for him. But if he had lived, this never would have been so ; he often told me he had influential friends, and though he never would apply to them on his own account, he declared he would do so when Lewis should become old enough to enter into life. I wonder who they were. He never liked to talk on those subjects, and I was afraid of paining him by inquiring. I am glad there is a Miss Grant ; I hope she may prove a nice girl, and will like Lewis ; but of course she will — every one must do that. Oh ! how I hope they Avill treat Mm kindly and generously — it will all depend upon that. Poor fellow ! with his impulsive disposition and quick sense of wrong — his fiery temper too, how will he get on 1 And it is for our sakes he does all this, sacrificing his freedom and his hopes of winning himself a name ; — how good and noble it is of him ! " She paused, and leaning her brow upon her little white hand, sat buried in deep thought. At length she spoke again. " If T could do any thing to earn money, and help, I should be so much happier. Poor papa got a good deal lately for his pictures ; but they were so clever. Lewis can paint beautifully, but my di-awings are so tame. I wonder whether people would buy poetry. I wish I knew whether my verses are good enough to induce any one to purchase them. Dearest papa praised those lines of mine which he accidentally found one day. Of course he was a good judge, only perhaps he liked them because they were mine." And the tears rolled silently down her pale cheeks as memoi*y brought before her the glance of bright and surprised approval, the warm yet judicious praise, the tender criticism, — words, looks, and tones of love now lost to her for ever, which the accidental discovery of her verses had di-awn forth. With an aching heart she closed the casement, and lighting a candle, pro- ceeded to unlock a small wiiting-desk, from whence she di-e-^ somo manuscript verses, which ran as follows : — THE PREACHER'S ADDRESS TO THE SOUL. Weary soul, Why dost tbou still disquiet Thyself with senseless riot, Taking thy fill and measure Of earthly pleasure? OR. THE RAILROAD OF LIVE. IQJ f, The things which thou dost prize Are not realities ; All is but seeming. Waking, thou still liest dreaming. That which before thine eye Now passeth, or hath past, Is nought but vanity — It cannot last. This evil world, be sure. Shall not endure. Art thou a-weary, Soul, and dost thou cry For rest ? Wait, and thou soon shalt have That thou dost crave, For Death is real — the Grave no mocJcci'y. THE SOUL'S REPLY. Preacher, too dark thy mood ; God made this earth — At its primeval birth " God saw that it was good." And if through Adam's sin Death enter'd in. Hath not Christ died to save Me from the grave ? Repented sins for His sake are forgiven — There is a heaven. For that this earth is no abiding-place, Shall we displace The flowers that God hath scatter'd on our path— The kindly hearth ; The smile of love still brightening as we come, Making the desert, home ; The seventh day of rest, the poor man's trcasun} Of holy leisure ; Bright sunshine, happy birds, the joy of flowers 1 Ah, no ! this earth of ours Was " very good," and hath its blessings still ; And if we will, We may be happy. Say, stem preacher, why Should we then hate to live, or fear to die. With Love for Time, Heaven for Eternity? RosG perused them atteutively, sighed deeply, and then re- «Runed, — " Yes, he hked them, and said, (I remcrrher his very -words,) there was more vigoui' and purpose about them than in the general run of girlish verses. How could I find out whether they are woi'th ^ i08 LEWIS ARUNDEL, anything?" She paused in reflection, then clasping her handa together suddenly, she exclaimed, — " Yes, of course, Mr. Frere ; he was so good and kind about the pictures, and Lewis says he is so very clever, he ^dll tell me. But mav not he think it stranoje and odd in me to write to him I Had I better consult mamma?" But with the question came an instinctive consciousness that ohe was about the last person whom it would be agi'eeable to consult on such an occasion. Rose, like every other woman possessing the slightest approach to the artist mind, felt a shrinking delicacy in regard to what the Browning school would term her " utterances," which rendered the idea of showing them where they would not be appreciated exquisitely painful to her. Now, Mrs. Arundel had a disagreeable knack of occasionally brushing against a feeling so rudely, as to cause the unlucky oi'iginator thereof to experience a mental twinge closely akin to the bodily sensation yclept toothache. It will therefore be no matter of surprise to the reader to learn that Rose, after mature deliberation, resolved to keep the foct of her having applied to Mr. Frere a secret, at all events till such time as the result should become known to her. She accordingly selected such of her poetical effusions as she deemed most worthy, in the course of which process she stumbled upon a short prose sketch, the only thing of the sort she had ever attempted, it being, in fact, a lively account of her first appeai'ance at a dinner-party, wTitten for the benefit of a young-lady friend, but for some reason never sent. This, after looking at a page or two, she was about to condemn as nonsense ; when an idea came across her, that if Mr. Frere was to form a just estimate of her powers, it was scarcely fair to select only the best things ; so she popped in the sketch of the dinnei'-party as a kind of destitution test, to show how badly she could wiite. Then came the most difficult part of the business — the letter to Frere ; true, she had wi'itten to him before, acting as her father's amanuensis, but that was a different sort of thing altogether. Still, it must be done, and Rose was not a person to be deteiTcd by difficulties ; so she took a sheet of paper, and wrote '•' Sir" at the top of it, and having done so, sat and looked at it till she became intensely dissatisfied. " Sir," — it seemed so cold and un- comfortable ; so she took a second sheet, and wrote, " Dear Sir." Yes ! that was better, decidedly ; she only hoped it was not toe OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 103 familial- in WTiting to a young man ; but then, Mr. Frere was not exactly a young man ; he was a gi-eat deal older than Lewis; above thirty, most likely; and three or four-and-thirty was quite middle-aged ; so the " Deai- Sir" was allowed to remain. " Ce nest que h premier pas qui coute," and having once Ktaiied, it was not long before Rose's nimble pen had covered two sides of the sheet of paper, and the following letter was the result : — " Dear Sir, — I know not how to offer any excuse for tha trouble I am about to give you, otherwise than by explaining tho reasons which have induced me to apply to you ; and, as I know your time is valuable, I will do so as briefly as I can. Do not think me forgetful of, or ungrateful for, your great kindness to Lewis, when I tell you, that ever since I received my brother's letter, infoi-ming me of his engagement as tutor to General Grant's ward, I have felt miserable at the idea of his workinsr hard at an occupation which I fear must be distasteful to him, in order to provide for Mamma and myself the comforts we have hitherto enjoyed. It was impossible to prevent this in any way, for we tried to shake his determination, but in vain. Now I feel that I should be so much happier if I could assist, in ever so small a degree, in relieving him fi'om his burthen ; and the only possible idea that occurs to me (for he will not heai* of my going out as governess) is, that I might be able to earn something by my pen. With this view, I have ventured to enclose for your perusal a few verses which I have written at odd times for my own amusement ; and I tnist to your kindness to tell me honestly whether they possess any merit or not. I dare not hope your opinion will be favourable ; but if by possibility it should prove so, will you do me the additional kindness of advising me what steps to take in order to get them published. 1 have never been in London, but I have heard there are a good many booksellers who live there ; and as I dare say you know thexn all, perhaps you would kindly tell me to which of them you would recommend me to a[)ply. 1 have not told Mamma that 1 am writing, for, as I feel a presentiment that your answer will only prove to me the folly of the hopes I am so silly as to indulge, it is not worth while disturbing her about the matter. Once again thanking you for your extreme kindn.iss to Lewis, and hoping tluit you will not consider me too troublesome in thus applying to you, believe me to remaiu your sincerely obliged " Rose Arundel.'* 110 LEWIS ARUNDEL J « P. S.— T have enclosed a little prose sketch with the verses, but I am quite sure you wall not like that. Perhaps, if Lewis has not left you when this arrives, you will be so very kind as not to say anything to him about it, as he would be sure to laugh at me." When Rose had finished this epistle, she felt that she had done Bcmething towards attaining the object she had at heart, and went to bed feehug more happy than she had done since the receipt of Lewis's letter. Straightway faUing asleep, she dreamt that she was introduced to Mr. Murray, who offered her lOOZ. to write a short biographical memoir of General Grant for the " Quarterly Review." CHAPTER XIV. PRESENTS TOM BRACY IN A NEW AND INTERESTING ASPECT. Three days passed by, and still poor Rose received no answer to her letter, but remained a prey to alternate hopes and fears, and all " The gnawing tortui-e of an anxious mind :" on the fourth arrived the following chai'acteristic note : — " My dear Miss Arundel, — I dare say you've been abusing me like a pick-pocket, — at least, T must have appeared to you deserving of such abuse, for treating your request so cavalierly ; but the fact is, I have been down in a Cornish tin mine for the last two days, and only received your packet on my an-ival in town, au hour ago. And now, to business. I don't set up for a judge of poetry, though I know what pleases me and what doesn't, (I should be a donkey if I did not, you'H say,) — for instance, the present school of 'suggestive' poetry doesn't suit me at all ; but then I have an old-fashioned prejudice in favour of understanding what I read, and calling a railway locomotive a * resonant steam eagle^ for instance, does not tend to simplify literature ; the only thing such phrases ' suggest ' to me is, that it woTild be a gi-eat deal better if the authors were content to stick to plain English, and when they have such inexpressibly grand ideas, not to trouble themselves to express them at all. Your verses have at least one good point in them— they are so OR, THE RAILEOAD OF LlFfe. 11) worded that a plain man may understand them ; in flict, all that I have yet read, I like — the feeling is invariably piu-e, true, and beautiful, (your heart's in the right place, and no mistake ;) the language is well chosen, and sometimes eloquent ; there are, of coui'se, plenty of places where it becomes weak and young lady- like, but that was only to be expected. We can't all be men, unfortunately. I could not help laughing when you ' supposed I knew ' all the booksellers and publishers in London. Heaven forbid ! for in that case I should have a very miscellaneous acquaJutance. However, I do know several, and I will go the first thing to-morrow morning and consult one of them — a gentleman on whose judgment I can rely, as to what will be the most advisable course for us to pursue. I say us, because, as I don't mean to let the matter rest till I have succeeded, I consider myself a partner in the concern. Lewis parted from me in high health and very tolerable spirits. He left town, with General Grant, the same morning on which I started for Cornwall. You shall hear from me again when I can repoit progress. Don't write any more nonsense about giving me trouble : in the first place, the thing is no trouble ; in the second, I shoidd not mind it one bit if it were. " I am yours very truly, " Richard Frere." The first thing next morning, Frerc called upon his friend the pubhsher, who, as soon as he understood that nothing beyond advice was required of him, became very communicative and agreeable — glanced his eye over the verses, and approved of them, though he added, with a Bm-leigh-hke shake of the head, that he wished they were anything but poetry. Frere wondered why, and asked him. In reply, he learned that the pubhc mind had acquired a sadly practical bias, which leading him to suggest that poetry was the very thing of all others to bring it right again, he was farther informed that the evil was much too deeply seated to be affected by so weak an application as the poetry of the present day ; and the truth of this assertion appearing unde- niable, the subject was di-opped. " The best thing for you to do with these MSS., Mr. Frere continued his adviser, " woidd be to get them inserted in sori. popular periodical." " Well, I don't object," returned Frere ; " which had I better 1 1 2 LEWIS ARUNDEL : bend them to 1 there's ' Geutiy's Miscellany,' and the ' Noiv Weakly,' and ' Guinsworth's Magazine,' and half-a-dozen mora of 'em." " 'What do you suppose would be the result of adopting such a line of conduct?" inquired his friend. " Why, as the things are in themselves good, they'd probably put 'em in next mouth, and send a cheque for the amount, enclosed in a polite note asking for more." " I fear not," was the answer. "A very promising young friend of mine sent a nicely written paper to the least exclusive of the periodicals you have just mentioned ; hearing nothing of it, he ventured at the end of six months to write and inquire its fate ; in reply, he received a note from the editor, which appeared to him more explicit than satisfactory. It was couched in the following laconic terms : — ' Declined with thanks.' " " Phew ! that's pleasant," rejoined Frere. " What would you advise, then, under the circumstances 1 I place myself quite in your hands." His friend leaned back in his chair, and considered the matter deeply. At length he seemed to have hit upon some expedient, for he muttei'ed with gi'eat emphasis, " Yes, that might do. He could if he would. Yes — certainly!" Then turning suddenly to Frere, he exclaimed " Mind, you'll never breathe a word of it to any living being !" " Not for the world," returned Frere ; '-'and now, what is it?"' " You've heard of Blunt's Magazine ?" " Yes ; I've seen it in several places lately." " No doubt ; it's a most admirably conducted publication, and one which is certain to become a great favoiu"ite with the public. Now I happen to be acquainted with one of the gentlemen who edit it, and shall be happy to give you a note of introduction to him ; but you must promise me to be most cai-eful never to reveal his name." " Certainly," rejoined Frere, " if you wish it ; but may I venture to ask what it would signify if all London knew it ?" His companion turned upon him a look of indignant surprise ; but, perceiving that he made the inquiry in honest simpUcity of heart, his face assumed an expression of contemptuous pity, as he replied, in such a tone of voice as one wc -Id use to a little child who had inquired why it might not set light to a barrel of gunpowder, "My dear sir, you do not know — you cannot OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 113 conceive the consequences. Such a thing would be utterly impoiiiible." He then wrote a few lines, which he handed to Frere, saying, *• You will find him at home till eleven." *' And this mysterious name," observed Frere, glancing at tlie address, " is ! — eh ! nonsense ! — Thomas Bracy, Esq. Why, ho ia an intimate friend of my own ! That's famous. Oh ! I'll have some fun with him — I'm sure I'm extremely obliged to you — good morning ;" so saying Frei-e seized his hat, shouldered his umbrella, and hmined off, overjoyed at his discovery. The mendacious tiger, of whom we have already made honour- able mention, answered Frere's inquiry as to whether his master ■was at home, with a most decided and unequivocal negative, adding the gratuitous information that he had gone down to dine with his uncle at Hampstead the previous day, and was not expected home till four o'clock that afteraoon." " Well, that's a nuisance," returned Frere. " I tell you what, boy, I'll step in and write your master a note." " Yes, sir, certainly, if you please, sir ; only we've been a having the sweeps bin, and the place is hall in a hu^^roar, so as it's unpossibul to touch notliink." At this moment a bell rung violently, and the boy, begging Frere to wait, bounded up the stairs with a cat-hke rapidity, re- turning almost immediately with the information that — " He waa weiy soiTy, but he'd just been to the gi-eengi-ocer's, and while he was hout, master had comed home quite promiscuous." " And how about the sooti" asked Fi-ere, a light breaking in upon him. " Please, su-, cook's been and cleaned it hup while I were gone." " I thought so," I'eturned Frere ; " you're a nice boy !" Then catching him by the collar of his jacket, he continued — " Tell ine, you young scamp, how often do you speak the tnith V Tlie urchin, thus detected, glanced at Frere's face, and reading there that any attempt to keep up appearances must prove a dead failure, replied with the utmost sang froid, " Please, sir, whenever I can't think of nothink better." " There's an answer," returned Frere, meditatively, " Well, you need never learn swimming — water won't harm you ; but mark my words, and beware of hemp." So saying, he loosened Ilia hold on the boy's collar, and followed him up staira, 1 Hi LEWIS ARUNBEL ; The tiger, not having recognised Frere in his European habiliments, had merely told his master that a gentleman wished to see him on business ; and Bracy, who had reason to expect a visit from a cei-tain literary Don, had rushed into his dressing- room to exchange a very decidedly " fast " smoking jacket, for the black frock-coat of editorial propriety ; for which reason Frere was left to entertain himself for a few minutes with his own society. After examining sundry clever caricatm-e sketches of Bracy 's, which evinced a decided talent for that branch of art Frere seated himself in an easy chair in front of a writing-table, on which lay a mysterious document, wi'itten in a bold dashing hand, which involuntarily attracted his attention. Perceiving at a glance that it contained no private mattex*, he amused himself by perusing it. For the reader's edification w^e will transcribe it:— Blunt' s Magazine, June. Sheets 3 and 4. Questions on Quicksilver 4 The Homeless Heart, {Stanzas by L. 0. V. E.) . . . 1 Hist. Parallels, No. 3, {Cromwell d; Caur-de-Lion) . 7 L'Incomprise, (by the Authoress of L'Inconnue) . . 6 Hard Work and hard Food ; or. How would you like ) f. it yourself? A Plea for the Industrial Classes » Dog-cart Drives, {by the Editor,) Chap. 10, '^The\f. Spicey Screiv ; " Chaiy. 1 1 , '^ Doing th e Govern or" } Wanted something light, abt ... ..... 2 SSt The last item in this singular catalogue was written in pencil. " Now I should like to know what all that means," soliloquized Fi'ere ; " Something light about two 1 — a luncheon would come under that definition exactly ; — two whats ? that's the question ! Two pounds 1 — it would not be particularly light if it weighed as much as that. Perhaps the figures stand for money — the prices they pay for the magazine articles, I daresay ; 4 — 6 — 7 ; now, if they happen to be sovereigns, that will suit my young Lady's case veiy nicely. Ah ! here he comes." oR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 115 CHAPTER XV. CONTAINS A DISQUISITION ON MODERN POETRY, AND AFFORDS IHB READER A PEEP BEHIND THE EDITORIAL CURTAIN. The position in which Frere had placed himself, prevented Bracy from discemiug his featiu-es as he entered, and he accord- ingly accosted his visitor as follows : — " My dear sir, I am really distressed to have kept you waiting, but as you an-ived I was just jotting down the result of a little flirtation with tlie Muse." " And this is it, I suppose?" observed Frere, turning his face towards the speaker, and pointing to the document before alluded to. " Why, Frere ! is it you, man 1 " exclaimed Bracy, in surprise. " As I'm a sinner, I took you for that learned elder, Dr. . My young imp told me you were a gentleman who wished to see me on particular busmess. If that juvenile devil takes to telling lies to instead of for me, I shall have to give him his due for once, in the shape of a sound caning." " You may spare yom-self the trouble," retm-ned Frere, " as by some accident he has only spoken the truth this time ; for I hope you don't mean to insinuate that I am anything but a gentleman, and I have most assuredly come to you on business — that is, always supposing Mr. of Street has informed me correctly in regard to your editorial functions." " Wliat ! has the cacoethes sci'ihendl seized you also, and tempted you into the commission of some httle act of light literature?" added Bracy. " Thank goodness, no," answered Frere ; " I'm happy to say I'm not so far gone as all that comes to, yet. No, this is a different case altogether," and he then proceeded to inform his companion of Rose's application, and the necessity which existed to make her talents available for practical pm-poses. " Magazine writing affords rather a shady prospect for realizing capital, in these days," observed Bracy, shaking his head dis- couragingly. " Let's look at the young lady's interesting efForta — have you ever seen her 1 Ai-undel's sister ought to be pretty, i2 116 LEWIS ARUNDEL, Wliat's thisi 'Tlio Preaclier's Address to the Soul.' Wliy it's a sermon in rhyme — heaven help the girl ! what's she thlaking of?" " Read it and you'll see. I like it very much," returned Frere, slightly nettled at the reception his protegees productions appeared likely to meet with. " Oh ! it's a sermon clearly," continued Bracy ; " here's some- thing about vanity and the grave. 1 heard it all last Sunday at St. Chrysostom's, only the fellow called it gz^ave and giface. He'd picked up some conscientious scruple against the use of the letter It, I suppose. It's quite wonderful, the newfangled docti'ines they develop now-a-days. Hum — ha — 'Making the desert home,' — rather a young idea, eh ? ' Happy birds,' — don't like that, it puts one too much in mind of 'jolly dogs,' or 'odd fish.' I should have said dickey birds, if it had been me ; that's a very safe expression, and one that people are accustomed to. * The joy of flowers,' — what on earth does she mean by that, nowl J should say nobody could understand that — for wliich reason, by the way, it's the best expression I've seen yet. Poetry, to be admired in the present day, must bo utterly incomprehensible. We insert very little, but that's the rule I go by : if I can't understand one word of a thing, I make a point of accepting it ; it's safe to become popular. * Love for time, Heaven for eternity ' — well, that's all very nice and pretty, but I'm sorry to say it won't do ; it's not suited to the tone of the Magazine, you see." " I can't say I do see very cleai'ly at present," returned Frere, " what kind of poetry is it that yon accept 1 " " Oh, there are different styles. Now here's a little thing I've got 'n the June part, — 'The Homeless Heart, by L, O. V. E.' Her real name is Mary Dobbs, but she couldnt very well sign herself M.D. ; people would think she was a physician. She's a very respectable young woman, (such a girl to laugh,) and engaged tj an opuleit stockbroker. Now Listen : — " ' Homeless, forsaken, Deeply oppress'd, Riiving, yet craving A cony 8 rest ; Bitterly hating, Fondly releuting, Siiuiiug, jet wiouing OB, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 117 Souls to repenting ; AVhen for her sorrow Comes a to-morrow, Shall she be bless'd]'" " That's a question I can't take upon myself to answer," interrupted Frere ; " but if those are in the style you consider suited to the tone of yom- Magazine, it must be a very wondeifiu pubUcation." " I flatter myself it is, rather," replied Bracy, complacently ; " but that's by no means the only style — here's a thing that will go down with the million sweetly. Listen to this," — and as he spoke, he extracted from a drawer a mighty bundle of papers labelled " Accepted Poetry," and selecting one or two specim^s from the mass, read as follows : — "THE COUNTESS EMMELINE'S DISDAINMENT. ** Bitter-black the winter's whirlwind wail'd around the haunted hall, Where the sheeted snow that fleeted, fester'd on the mouldering wall. " But his blacker soul within him, childish calm appear'd to view, And when gazing, 'twas amazing, whence the sceptic terror grew. " Then her voice so silver-blended, to a trumpet-blast did swell. As she task'd him when she asked him, ' Mr. Johnson, is it well? " Ashen-white the curdled traitor paled before her eagle eye, Whilst denying in replying, deeper grew his perjury." — " There ! I can't stand any more of that, at any price !" exclaimed Frere, putting his hands to his ears ; " unless you wish to make me seriously ill, spare me the infliction of those detestable compound adjectives." " My dear fellow, you've no taste," returned Bracy. " Why, that's written by one of our best contributors ; an individual tliat will make Tennyson look to his laurels, and do the Brownings brown, one of these days. But, if that's too grand for you, here's a little bit of pastoral simplicity may suit you better : — "'TO A HERBLET, NAME UNKNOWN. ' Once upon a holiday. Sing licigho; Still with sportive fancy playing While all nature wtis a-maying, On a sunny banR I lay ; 118 LEWIS arundhl; Vi'here the happy grass did grov/, 'Neath the fragrant lime-tree row. Sing heigho 1 • There a little fairy flower, Sing heigho ! Glancing from its baby eyes With a look of sweet surprise, Grew beneath a bower, Brought unto my soul the dawning Of a mystic spirit warning, Sing heigho ! ' Then I wept, and said, despairing. Sing heigho ! Fate is dark, and earth is lonely, And the heart's young blossoms only Render life worth bearing " " Now, then, what's the matter with you?" inquired Bnuy, interrupting himself, on seeing Frere snatch up his hat and umbrella. " If you're going to read any more of that, I'm off ; that's all," returned Frere ; " my powers of endurance are limited." " Oh, if you are positively such a Hottentot as to dislike it," rejoined Bracy, " I'll not waste any more of its sweet simplicity upon you ; but, you'U see, the gentle public will rave about it to an immense extent." " Now tell me honestly, Bracy — you don't really admire that childish rubbish !" Thus appealed to, Bracy's face assumed an expi-ession of most comical sig-nificance ; and, after pausing for a moment in indecision, he rephed : " Well, I've a sort of respect for your good opinion, Frere, and I don't exactly like to send you away fancying me a greater ass than I am ; so I'll honestly confess, that, what between affected Germanisms on the one hand^ and the puerilities of the Wordsworth-and-water school on the other, the poetry of the present day has sunk to a very low ebb indeed." " Then don't you consider it the duty of every honest critic to point this out, and so guide and reform the public taste, as to evoke from the ' well of English imdefiled/ a truer and purer style ?" returned Frere, earnestly. " My dear fellow, that all sounds very well in theoiy, but in practice, I'm afraid, (to use a metaphor derived from one of thg OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 119 humane and intellectual amusements of our venerated forefathers,) that cock won't fight. It may be all very weU for some hterary Don Quixotte, with a pure Saxon taste and a long pui-se, to tilt at the public's pet windmills, because he conceives them to be giant abuses — if he meets with a fall, he need only put his hand in his pocket and purchase a plaster, getting a triple shield of experience in for the money ; but it is far otherwise with a magazine — if that is to continue in existence it must pay ; in order to pay it must be rendered popular ; to make a thing popular you must go with the stream of public opinion, and not against it. The only chance is to head the tide, and turn it in the direction you desire ; but to attempt that, a man ought to possess first-rate talent, and I'm fi'ee to confess that I, for one, do not ; and therefore, you see, as people must be amused, I'm very -willing to amuse them in their own way, as long as I find it pleasant and profitable to do so. Voila 1 do you comprehend ?" " I comprehend this much," retui'ned Frere, gmffly, " that the ground of your argument is expediency and not principle ; and I tell you plainly, that does not suit me, and I'm afraid Miss Arundel is too much of my mind in that particular, for her writings to suit yoiu: wonderful magazine ; so the sooner I take my departm-e, the better for your morning's work." " Stay a moment, don't get on stilts, man," returned Bracy, resuming his examination of Kose's papers ; " is there nothing but verses 1 What have we here 1 — ' My first Dinner-party ' — this seems more likely." He paused, and ran his eye over several of the pages, muttering from time to time, as he went along, " Yes, good Hvely style — < quick powers of observation — a very graphic touch — bravo ! ha ! ha ! here, listen to this — " ' Immediately before me stood a dish which even my inexperience believed itself able to recognise ; it was jelly of some kind, with cex-tain dark objects encased in it, as flies occasionally are in amber. These opaque portions I settled, in my own mind, must be preserved fruit, and accordingly, (fearful lest, in my ignorance of fashionable dishes, I should say ' yes ' to some tremendous delicacy which might prove utterly impracticable,) when invited to partake of it, I graciously signified my assent. Imagine my horror, wlicn, on putting the first mouthful to my lips, I discovered the jelly was savoury, i.e. all pepper and salt. 120 LEWIS ARUNDEL] and the creatiu-e embedded in it, a fragment of some dreadfa) fish ! Eating ttie thing was out of tlie question, tlie mere taste I liad taken of it made me feel uncomfortable ; an attempt to conceal it beneath the knife and fork proved utterly i utile. I glanced at the butler, but he was too much absorbed iu his own dignity, and the dispensation of champagne, to observe me ; I gazed appealingly at a good-looking young footman, but he merely pulled up his shirt-collar foppishly, tliiuking he had made an impression ; I even ventured to call, in a low voice, to the sprightly waiter who had eloped with my untouched plate of lamb five minutes before, but he did not hear me ; and tliere 1 sat with a huge plateful of horrible food before me, which I could neither eat nor get rid of, " a cynosiu'c for neighbouring eyes," forced, as my fears suggested, to run the gauntlet of all the mocking glances of the assembled company.' " There," continued Bracy, " I call that a stunning description ; I could not have done it better myself ; the girl wi'ites so easily ! Let me see, 18 — 25 — 28 lines in a page of manuscript ; there's not much of it, I think I can get it in, I want two pages of amusing matter in the fourth sheet." " Ah ! something light, about two. Now I understand," exclaimed Frere, pointing to the mysterious document on the table ; " that was not a memorandum in regard to luncheon, then." " A what 1" returned Bracy, shouting with laughter. " No," ho continued, as soon as he had in some measure recovered iiis composure, " that is the ' make-up,' as we call it, of the third and fourth sheets of the ]\Jagazine." " Indeed !" returned Frere ; " I should think it must require a great deal of careful reflection, to select suitable articles, and an-ango them properly." " Eh ! no, not a bit ; the thing's simjjle enough, when you once get in the way of it — have plenty of variety, that's the gran 1 point ; what one doesn't like, another wall. Take large shot for big birds, and small shot for little ones, and then you'll bag the whole covey ; that's my maxim. Now, look here ; first we begin with a scientific article, ' Questions on Quicksilver ; there's not one reader in a hundi-ed that can understand that paper when they've read it ; and very few even of those who can take it in care two straws about Quicksilver, why should they ? but they all read it, becavise it's a cheap way of getting up tlio Dccessary amount of scientific jargon, to hash into small talk. OR, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. TJl I never ook at that man's papers myself; I know they're safe, ttiough I can't understand a word of 'em— but they're a great help to the Magazine. Then comes our friend, the ' Homeless Heart;' I put that in as a drop of romantic barley-sugar, to Boften the women's throats after swallowing the science. Next we have ' An Historical Parallel ;' famous fellows they are ; the principal dodge in writing them, is to take an ' entirely new reading of the character,' as the actors say ; in the present article, if I recollect right, they prove Coeiu:-de-Lion to have been a hj-pocritical fanatic, and Cromwell a chivalric, magnanimous enthusiast. It's safe to take, depend upon it. ' L'Incomprise' tells its own tale — it's as close an imitation of Eugene Sue, and George Sand, as English morality will tolerate, though the invention of Gutta Percha, or some other elastic agent, enables even that stiff material, now-a-days, to stretch to lengths which would astonish our grandmothers. Then comes the ' Plea for the industrial Classes,' — a regular savage poke at the present Poor Law ; (we're obliged to do a little bit of political economy as well as om* neighbours, you know ;) it's awfully heavj'', but it will neutralize any ill effects ' L'Incomprise' may have had on f\ithers of families all the better. Lastly, there's my own little thing, * Dog-cart Drives.' Ahem ! — have you seen that V " Not I," replied Frere ; "I've no time for reading tra — I mean, novels and that sort of thing." " I believe it's liked ; I hear it's a good deal talked about," continued Bracy, ^vith an air of bashful self-complacency. " Bell's Life spoke very handsomely of it last week ; there were six whole lines devoted to it, I think ; upon my word I should Uke you to read it." At this moment, Frere suddenly discovered that he had remained over his time, and should be too late for some deeply interesting experiments that were to come off that morning at, what his companion tenned, his science shop ; so receiving an assm'ance from Bracy that Rose's sketch should be inserted in the Magazine, and that he would consider what would be her best mode of proceeding in regard to the po-^try, the friends shook hands and parted, Frere promising to make himself acquainted with the subject-matter of " Dog-cart Drives," at an early opportunity. J 22 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; CHAPTER XVI. laSS LIVINGSTONE SPEAKS A BIT OP HER MIND. It was a lovely morning in eai4y summer, when the sun, . ainiug into Lewis's bed-room at Broadhurst, aroused him from a heavy dreamless sleep, the result of his previous night's dissipa- tion at Lady Lombard's. The sensation of waking for the first time in a strange place, is usually a di;sagreeable one ; there is an unfamihar newness in the aspect of everything around us, an absence of old associations, which to an impressible disposition is siugTdarly disheartening. This was peculiarly the case with Lewis ; the costly furniture of the room, arranged with a stiff propriety, the spotless carpet, the chair-covers too clean and slippery to be sat upon, the bright cold mirrors, the polished grate, in which a fire would have been high treason, each and aU suggestive of the chilling influence of that rigid disciplinarian ]\Iiss Livingstone, served painfully to realize his new position. Splendour without comfort was an anomaly he had never before encountered, and ii; his then frame of mind, it aroused all the bitter feelings which even his strength of will ■nas imable to subdue, and he mentally compared himself to a slave working in gilded chains, and longed for independence, no matter through what hardships, struggles, and dangers it must be attained. But there was a healthy energy about his mind, which prevented his yielding to these morbid feelings ; hastily dressing himself, he found his way into the pleasure garden, and as it was yet early, strolled onward through the park. After wandering about for nearly an houi', the calm beauty of the scenery, and the exhilarating freshness of the morning air, producing their natm-al effect upon his spirits, it occuiTcd to him that his absence might be commented upon, and possibly give oflence ; accordingly, he retraced his steps towards the house. Ignorant of the locale, however, he was unable to discover tha door by which he had gone out, and, after making one or two attempts in a wrong direction, was compelled to effect his entrance through a French window, opening into a conservatoiy. Lewis possessed a gi-eat taste for, and some knowledge of Botany, OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 123 and his attention was at once attracted by the rare and beautiful plants around him. So completely was he engrossed by his admiration, that not until he heard his own name pronounced, did he become aware that he was not the sole tenant of the con- servatory. Tiirning at the sound, he perceived Annie Grant, in a very becoming gai'dening costume, busily employed in altering the arrangement of certain flower-pots. Before we proceed farther, it may be as well to afford the reader an insight into Lewis's feehugs towards this young lady, as they were by no means of such a nature, as might be expected from a young man towards a pretty and agreeable girl, with whom he was about to be domesticated. In order to account for his peculiar state of mind on this subject, we must take a retrospective glance at an episode in Lewis's student life, which has been already alluded to in a conversation between Frere and his friend. About a 3'ear before the period at which our story opened, Lewis had encountered, at a festive meeting of the worthy citizens of Bonn, the very pretty daughter of a wealthy shopkeeper, and struck by her bright eyes, and a certain naive simplicity of manner, had danced with her the greater part of the evening. Flattered by the attentions of the handsome young Englishman, the damsel, who (her simplicity being con- €ned entirely to manner,) was as an-ant a Uttle flirt as ever caused a heart-ache, took care that the acquaintance should continue ; and while she was merely bent on adding to her train of admirers, Lewis fell in love with her, as deeply as a man can do, with a girl completely his inferior in mind, as well as in station. Imagination, however, which at eighteen is alarmingly active, supplied all deficiences, and Lewis continued to di-eam his lady-love was an angel, till, one fine morning, the fact of her elopement with a young German baron, who looked upon matri- mony as a supei-fluous ordinance, induced him to alter his opinion. With the termination of the adventm-e the reader is already acquainted, but the efiect upon Lewis's disposition was one which time might weaken, but could never efiace. The fatal lesson that one who seemed true and pure was not so, once learnt could never be forgotten ; the seeds of mistrust were sown, and, strive as he might, the perfect faith, the bright eager confidence of yo\ith, were lost to him for ever. Annie, as the reader is aware, was unusually lovely, and Lewis accordugly regarded her in the light of a dangerous man- 1 24 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; trnp ; besides tins, oddly enough, she was by no means uulike an ethereal and spiritualized representation of " (Jretchen ;" , the features and colouring were similar, and the arch simplicity of the Frauleins manner was part and parcel of Annie's very nature. The painful recollections which thisi resemblance ex- cited, added unconsciously to the prejudice (for it amounted to that) which Lewis had conceived against the General's daughter : — but the true source of the feeling lay deeper. However circum- stances may cause him to afTect, or even to believe the contrary, there is in every mans heart a latent desire to render himself agi-eeable to any young and pretty woman into whose society he may be thrown, more esi>ecially where the individual is conscious of possessing powers of jjleasing, if lie chooses to exert them ; and even Lev.'iiS slight experience of society had sufficed to enlighten him in regard to this point, on which the dullest are usually clear- sighted. But coupled with this feeling came the humiliating consciousness, that although by birth and education Miss Grant's equal, the position he held in the family rendered him her infe- rior ; and this idea was galling in the extreme to Lewis's haughty nature. Annie, on the other hand, profoundly ignorant of all these wheels within wheels, entertained the most amiable and benevolent intentions towards her new associate. She knew he was unfortunate, she saw he was a gentleman, and she had heard that he was undertaking a duty he disliked, for the sake of his mother and sister ; and for all these reasons her woman's heart warmed towards him, and she determined to do what she waa able, to render his position as little painful as might be ; moreover, she was sufficiently acquainted with the idiosyncrasies of her father and her gi'eat-aunt. to be aware, that any particular kindness tie young tutor would be likely to meet with in the family must emanate from herself Accordingly, when Lewis, having replied to her cordial " Good morning, Mr. Arundel," by slightly raising his hat, and making a formal bow, was about to pass on, she I'enewed the attack by adding, — " May I trouble you to move this flower-pot forme? it is so heavy." Thus appealed to, Lewis stopped short and for a moment debated with himself the possibility of refusing ; but mthout bohig actually ill-bred, such a possibility did not exist ; so, resigning himself to his fate with a very ill grace, he deposited his hat on a vacant flower-stand, and tossing back his dark curia with the air of a sulky lion shaking his mane, he took the garden /^//^y^. OR, THK RAILROAD OF LIFE. 125 jK.it, which indeed seemed too heavy for Annie's little h.inds, nsking, with a stately coldness by no means in chai-acter with the mild nature of the inquiry, " Where would you wish to have it placed, Miss Grant ? " Here, if you will be so kind," returned the young lady, indi- cating the spot by pointing with the end of a pert little parasol. Lewis, having installed the plact in its appointed place, was again aboiit to take his departure, but ore he did so, glancing involuntarily at the effect of his labour, his quick eye at once discerned the object of the changes Annie was striving to effect, and perceived that, in order to carry out her design, several heavy flowers yet required moving. Nothing, however, was farther from his thoughts than the idea of volunteering his assistance, when Annie, catching the direction of his eye, con- tinued, " Yes, the White Camellia is too low." " While the Rhododendron is as much too high," returned Lewis, eagerly, and forgetting his proud scruples m the impulse of the moment, he set to work with the gi'eatest energy, to comple^.e the arrangement, which his con'ect taste acknowledged to be an improvement. The Camellia had been exalted, and the Rhododendron abased, and many other " pets of the pai-terre" had experienced sudden changes of position, and still Lewis worked with unabated zeal, and still his foir companion directed and approved, when just as, poised like a flying Mercury on one foot half way up a high flower-stand, he was stretching to his utmost to instill a g-audy Cactus, all red and green like a paroquet, on the topmost pinnacle, a stately tread was heard approaching, and General Grant entered the conservatory. Lewis coloured with mingled anger and annoj'ance at being detected in such a situation ; but Annie good-naturedly came to his assistance. Tripping up to her C\ther, and taking both his hands, she exclaimed, — " Good morning, papa. Welcome to dear old Broadhurst once nguin. How pretty it all looks ! but they have placed mj flowers so stupidly, I must have every one of them altered. I've been working away for half-an-hour at least, and as Mr. Arundo happened to be passing, T pressed him into the service, for some of the pots ai'e so heavy." "Much too heavy for you to attempt to move, my dear, lotiiraed the General in a tone ot marked disapproval, " but why 126 LEWIS arun^del; did yoii not summon one of the gardeners to make the alteration you wished, without troubling Mr. Arundel, who must have had other duties to perform." " As it was your desire, sir, to be present at my introduction to my future pupil," replied Lewis, who had by this time reached terra firma, and recovered his self-possession, " I have refrained from making any attempt to see him, till I should have learned your farther wishes on the subject. My time was therefore quite at Miss Grant's disposal, if I could be in any way useful to her." " My daughter is obliged by youi- politeness, sir, but will not trespass upon it farther," replied the General coldly. — " My dear Annie," he continued, " it only wants ten minutes of nine ; you will oblige me by preparing for breakfast — punctuality is a quality by the neglect of which all order is subverted, propriety set at nought, much valuable time wasted which can never be recalled, and the comfort of a family totally destroyed. Your excellent aunt is aware of my opinion on this subject, and during the twelve years she has done me the favour to preside over my hou.sehold, she has never kept me waiting one minute." " Well, dear papa, T'll do my best to please you," returned Annie ; " but," she added, laying her hand on his shoulder caressingly, and looking iip in his face with a glance half mis- chievous and half imploring, " you won't expect me to be so terribly perfect as Aunt Martha 1 Recollect, she is thi-ee times as old as I am, aad ought therefore to be three times as wise." The General tried to look displeased, but he could not resist Annie, for he was human after all ; so, stroking her glossy curls, he told her that Mrs. Botherfille (a serious schoolmistress, who, for the trifling consideration of 300^. per annum, condesceudod to allow the youthful female aristocracy of the land to sit at her feet, and learn from her lips how to regenerate society through the medium of frivolous accomplishments,) had failed in curing her of talking nonsense, at which Annie laughed men-ily and then tripped off, turning as she passed Lewis to take a last glance at the newly arranged flowers, and saying, " Now, don't they look pretty, Mr. Arundel ? " As the directions in regard to Lewis and his pupil's separate establishment (for such the isolated suite of rooms they were to occupy might be considered,) had not as yet been communicated <:o the sei-vants, General Grant requested the favour of Lewis's ocmpany at breakfast, with as much ceremony as he could have OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 127 used if he had been inviting a royal duke to a banquet ; and aa a request from such a quarter was equivalent to a command, Lewis could only comply. Half a minute before the clock struck nine, Miss Livingstone, that human hedge-hog, nistled into the breakfast room, more stiff and starched in mind and body than any other living creature. As for her cap, a railway train might have passed over it without injuring that rigid mystery, while her govra was at the least sabre, not to say bullet-proof. If ever there were a wife fitted for our Iron Duke, that adamantine spinster was the woman — only that to have mamed her, would have required more courage than twenty Waterloos ! As the clock struck nine, the household een^ants made their appeamnce, and all the family knelt down, (with the exception of Miae Livingstone, who, being evidently fashioned as the ancients beheved elephants to be, without knee joints, merely reared up against the breakfast table, as the next best thing she could do,) while the General read them a short, shai-p, but polite prayer, after which he blessed them very much as if he were doing the reverse, and suffered them to depart. The breakfast was excellent as far as the commissariat depai-tment was con- cerned, and the tea was not so cold as might have been expected considering that Miss Livingstone poured it out. Even Lewis's short acquaintance with that austere \argin's usual expression of countenance, led him to believe that a darker shade than ordinary lowered upon her brow ; nor was he mis- taken, for after despatching a piece of diy toast with the air of an acidulated martyr, the spirit (we fear it was not an amiable one) moved her, and she spoke. " I must say, General, your benevolence has i-ather over- powered your judgment, to my poor thinking, in this singular addition to the establishment at Broadhm-st. I reaUy consider that I ought to have been a httle more cleai'ly informed as to the facts of the case, before these new arrangements were actually decided on." " If you refer to Sir Walter Desborough, madam," retm-ned the General sternly, " I must recall to your memory the fact of my having mentioned to you, this day week, my intention that my ward should reside at Broadliurst." " I am not in the habit of forgetting any communication you do me the honour of making to me, General Grant, nor have I forgotten tho conversaMon to which you refer ; but if you 128 LEWIS ARUNDEL; mentioned that your ward was a dangerous idiot, and that you expected me to preside over a private lunatic asylum, that circumstance certainly has escaped me." The wrinkles on the General's forehead deepened, as he replied with a glance towards Lewis, — " You forget, Miss Livingstone, that we are not in private." " Really," rejoined the lady, " if, as I believe, that young " (and she laid an ill-natured emphasis on the woi*d) " gentleman has undertaken the duties of keeper — " " Tutor," interposed the General sharply. " Well, tutor, then, if you like to call it so," continued Miss Livingstone, " the name does not much signify ; but if Mr. Arundel is to have the care of this dreadful boy, the sooner he knows what his duties will be, and sets about them, the better ; for I tell you plainly, General Grant, that unless there's a man about the creature who can manage him, I won't sleep another night in the house with him. There's no trusting those idiots ; we may all be murdered in our beds." As the good lady, who had by this time got the steam up to a very high degree of pressure, hazarded the above uncomfortable suggestion, Annie, who had been hstening with an expression of painful annoyance to her aunt's harangue, suddenly tvirned pale and glanced with a look of appealing inquiry towards her father, who replied to her rather than to Miss Li\'ingstone, in the following terms : — " Really, my dear Annie, I am compelled to say, that the feai's with which your excellent relative " (and he looked bayonets at Minerva, who shook her head till her terrific cap rustled like an angry hail-storm) " would seek to inspire you are utterly without foundation." He paused, took a pinch of snufF viciously, as though it were gimpowder, and he was priming himself for a fresh discharge ; and thus prep;ired, he tm'ued to Lewis, saying — but we will reserve the volley for another chapter. OH, TUB KAILROAD OF LIFE. J 20 CHAPTER XVII. CONTAINS MUCH FOLLY AND A LITTLE COHMOIf BEN3B. " The truth of the matter is this, Mr. Arundel," began General Grant : — " from a mistaken policy, your future pupil has been indulged in every caprice of his weak intellect, till the slightest opposition to his wishes irritates him beyond all control that has yet been exercised over him ; but as his only attendants are an old female domestic who was his nurse, and her son, a lad younger^ than Sir Walter himself, whom he has been foolishly permitted to look upon in the light of a companion, this is not so much to be wondered at." " It will be a difl&cult task to eradicate faults of temper, which have been allowed to become habitual, especially where the reasoning faculties are defective," observed Lewis, thoughtfully. " You may well say that, sir," chimed in Miss Livingstone ; "his reasoning faculties (as you please to term them) are so defective, that in my humble opinion the boy is neither more nor less than a fool ; and you may as well try to drive a pig straight^ a« to talk sense to a fool, — but how a man so particular as General Grant can have brought such an inmate into his family, and then expect that things are to go on with the order and precision that — " " Madam !" began the General in a voice of thunder, his stock of patience utterly exhausted by this indirect mode of attack. But Annie, with a degree of tact and moral courage for which Lewis had by no means been disposed to give her credit, laid her hand imploringly on her father's arm, and whispered a few magical words, which served to avert the storm that had appeared inevitable. An awkward pause ensued, which was broken by the General, who, rising majestically from his chair, informed Lewis that he should request his attendance in half-an-hovu- ; then casting a withering glance at Miss Livingstone, which caused that respectable porcupine of private life to bristle up if possible more fiercely than before, he quitted the room. No sooner had her nephew-in-law's retreating footsteps ceased to echo through the long comdor, than the good lady, freed from the restraint of his K 130 TEwis abundel; presence, did tlieu and there openly, avowadly, and with much vehemence, utter a declaration of war to the knife with that gallant officer, issued a protest against the introduction of " rampant idiots" into that heretofore peaceful family, and finally assert her own liberty of action, by promulgating her determina- tion to depart forthwith, leaving her companions to contemplate the agi'eeable contingencies of " being frightened out of their wits every day, and mm-dered in theii* beds all night." Having in some degree relieved her mind by this explosion, she apphed the superfluous steam still remaining, to the purpose of locomotion, her crisp schako rending the air, and her high- heeled shoes knocking sharp little double knocks, as of an angiy postman, against the polished oak floor, as she swept along. And these " pleasant passages" were the first votive offering which Lewis saw presented to the Lares and Penates of Broad- hurst. General Grant sat bolt upright in his easy-chair, as if he were on his charger, and his face wore an expression of scrutinising authority, as of a commander about to review his troops, when Lewis, in obedience to his summons, entered the library. '•' Take a chair, 'Mr. Arundel, I have desired the attendance Oi. Sir Walter Desborough, and expect he will be here immediately." In compliance with this request, Lewis seated himself to await the arrival of his future pupil ; but the minutes glided by, and still no pupil appeared. At length, jast as the Genei-al's small stock of patience became exhausted, and he had begged Lewis to ring the bell, the butler retm*ned, saying that it was impossible to induce Sir Walter to leave his room, unless his female attendant might come with him. General Grant fro-^Tied portentously, glanced expressively towards Lewis, muttering, " some of the evil effects of a grievous system of neglect," then added, to the servant, "You may desu'e Mrs. Peters to accompany Sir Walter Desborough." " One of the first points to which you will have to direct your attention, Mr. Arundel," continued the General, as the domestic quitted the apartment, '' is to induce my ward to dispense with the society of this person and her son ; he may retain their services as attendants, but must be taught no longer to regard them as companions." As he spoke, the door opened, and admitted three individuals. Of these, the first who claims our notice was the unfortunate THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 131 young baronet who was to be Lewis's future charge. He ap- peared about fourteen, but was tall for that age ; his figure waa slig t and not ungraceful, and his featui'es were handsome ; his forehead was high, but naiTow ar.d receding; his eyea were I right aud clear, though totally devoid of expression, and there was an appearance of weakness and iiTesolution about the mouth, which too clearly indicated his want of intellect. Mrs. Peters was a very stout old lady, on whom the cares of life, and a rare specimen of the female costume of some by-gone age, appeared to sit easily ; her outline might have suggested to an imaginative beholder, the idea of a huge pillow which had " come ahve," and made itself a gown out of one of the chintz bed-curtains, forget- ting the waist. Her conversation was embellished by a redun- dancy of mild ejaculations, amongst which a benediction on her own " heart alive," and an apostrophe to a solitary possessive pronoun, which had lost its noun, and agi'eed with nothing in particular, stood rreaminent. Her stock of ideas, which was by no means inconveniently large, had been ps«sented to her in her youth, and required altering to suit the present fashion. Still she was a good old woman in her way ; her " heart alive" was a very kind one ; and she doated on poor Walter, spoUing and indulging him till she had made even a greater fool of him than nature had intended. The trio was completed by her hopeful son Robert, or, as he was more fiimiliarly termed. Bob Peters, who, one year younger than Sir Walter, was as clever and mis- chievous an imp as ever indued a page's livery and bore a splendid crop of buttons to fascinate society. Pressing close to his nurse's side, and dragging the pretty page after <■ him bj the wi'ist, Walter entered the alarming presence of his guardian and nis tutor, hanging back like a startled colt the moment he perceived a stranger. " Walter, come here ; I want to introduce you to this gentle- man," exclaimed General Grant, in the blandest tone he could command ; but in vain — Walter only hung his head, and shi-ank closer to his protectress. " Oh ! my ! Walter dearie, go to the General, Bless my heart alive, you ain't so silly as to be afraid of him,'" exclaimed Mrs, Peters, emphasizing the him as though it referred to a pet lamb or a tame rabbit. " Go in and win, Master Walter ; the gentleman won't bite yer," suggested Bob, in an audible whisper. k2 1Z2 LEWIS aiiunpel: But their remonstrances produced no effect upon Walter, and nerved only to increase General Grant's in-itation. " He must he taught obedience, sir," he remarked qu-'-kly, appealing to Lewis, " nothing can be done until he becombs jbe- dient ;" then turning to the old iiui-se, he continued, " Mre. Peters, Sir Walter will not require your attendance at present ; yju may leave the room, and take youj" son with you." " I'm afeard, sir, you won't be able to do nothing with Master Walter, without one of us stops with him ; you see he's kind of used to us," urged Mrs. Peters. " I shall feel obliged by your leaving the room, Mrs. Peters ; when I require your advice, I will inform you of the fact," returned the General, walking with stately steps towards the ioor, which he held partially open, to permit the egi'css of the servants, while he prevented Walter from following them. As he saw his friends depart, the boy raised his eyes, which gleamed with mingled fear and anger, to General Grant's face, but cold inflexibility was written there so unmistakeabl}', that even the darkened perceptions of the idiot could not fail to per- ceive it ; and apparently feeling instinctively that resistance would be unavailing, his countenance assumed a sulky dogged expression, and he suffered himself to be led to a seat without opposition. • But, despite this success, the General seemed as far from gaining his point as ever ; neither kindness nor coercion could induce Walter to pay the slightest attention to the remarks addressed to him, or to utter a single word. Any one, to have seen him at that moment, would have imagined him to be hope- lessly imbecile. That such was not the case, however, Lewis, who without interfering openly had been closely observing him from the moment of his entrance, felt convinced. He had particularly watched the play of his featm'es, and had remarked when he first came in, that they were characterised by an expression of fear and shyness, mther than of stupidity, and that it was not until his guardian had banished those whom he knew well, and in whom he had confidence, that they assumed the look of stolid sulkiness vrhich they now wore. After making several uiisuccessful at- tempts to elicit from his wai*d some proof of intelligence, General Grant at length quitted the room in search of his daughter, actuated thereunto by a vague consciousness that his own manner might possibly be deficient in conciliatory power, and that Annia from the fact of her belonging to the softer sex, possessed a on, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 133 decided advantage over him in this particulai-. Availing himsel/ of this oppoi-tunity, Lewis caught up a young kitten which wn playing about the room, towan-ds which he had observed Walter cast several furtive glances ; and caressing the little animal as h j held it in his ai-ms, he approached his pupil, saying quietly, — "I'm siii'eyoulike the kitten,Walter, she is so playful and pretty 1" The boy made no answei', but the sullen look in his face gi'a- dually gave place to a milder expression, and he glanced from Lewis to the kitten, with an appearance of intelligence, for which any one who had seen him a minute before would not have given him credit. Lewis saw that he had touched the right string, and continued in th"e same kind and gentle manner, — " We must make a gi'eat pet of the kitten ; sli© will play with us and,amuse us nicely." As he said this, Walter drew closer to him, and seeming, in his interest about the kitten, to forget his fear of the stranger, held out his hands for the little creatm'e to be given to him. " Will you be kind to her if I let you have her ? " continued Lewis. Walter nodded in token of assent, and Lewis handed him the kitten, which he immediately began to fondle and play with, laughing with childish glee at its gambols. After amusing him- self in this manner for several minutes, he suddenly turned to Lewis, and asked in a half-whisper, — " Do you like ponies too 1 " DeUghted at this proof of the success of his attempt to win his pupil's confidence, Lewis signified his intense affection for ponies iu general, and inquired whether Walter possessed one. On receiving an affirmative nod, he continued, — " And are you very fond of riding it 1" This question seemed to perplex the boy, for he made no reply, and a half-puzzled, vacant expression banished the gleam of intelligence which had lighted up his features. Lewis repeated the inquiry iu two or three different forms, but with no better success. A pause ensued, duiing which the young tutor pondered with himself the best means of calling forth and strengthening the faint germs of intellect which evidently existed in the clouded mind of the poor idiot, when Walter again looked up, and ex- claimed abruptly, — " Bob says I'm to ride the pony when somebody cornea to takfl care of m^." 134 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; " And I am that somebody," retiu'ued Lewis, smiling good- naturedly ; " you shall ride the j)ony to-day, if you like." Tliis seemed to please him, for he nodded and laugbed, and resumed his gambols with the kitten. Suddenly a new idea ap- peai-ed to strike him, for his face became clouded, and drawing close to Lewis, he whispered, pointing to the door by which General Grant had left the apartment, — " Don't tell him, or he won't let me go." " Why should you think so, Walter 1 That gentleman is your guardian, and means to be very kind to you," returned Lewis ; but Walter shook his head, and repeated, — " Don't tell him ; he wont let me go." At this moment the General returned, accompanies by Annie, whose feelings of sympathy and pity were slightly tempered by the fears wluch Miss Livingstone had laboured industriously to instil into her mind. Lewis di-ew the General on one side, and gave him an outline of all that had passed during his absence ; adding, that although it was of course too soon for him to judge with any degree of accuracy to what extent they might proceed, it was e^ndent his pupil possessed some reasoning powers which cultivation might develop. And he was going on to add that harshness appeared to him likely rather to inci'ease than diminish the evil, when his attention was attracted by an exclamation of anger from Walter. • The moment General Grant returned, his ward had I'elapsed into his former state of sullen apathy, and all Annie's attempts to induce him to notice her, only appeared to increase his obstinacy, till at length she began to stroke the kitten, which he still held in his arms. This, for some unexplained cause, (probably because he fancied she might be about to injure his favourite, or to deprive him of it,) irritated him beyond control, and forgetting his fear iu his anger, he uttered the exclamation above alluded to, and struck at her fiercely with a riding-whip, which he had brought in with him. Springing forward, however, before the blow could descend, Lewis caught his viplifted arm, and held it in an iron grasp, while ia a grave, but stern voice, he said, — " Walter, I am surprised at you. Attempt to strike a lady ! You must never do such a thing again." The calm, impressive manner in which he uttered these words, appeared to produce a beneficial effect in subduing the boy's irritation ; for, after making one furious but unavailing attempt OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 135 to free himself, he sat perfectly still and um-esisting. Nothing, howevei-, could induce him to make friends with Annie, or to allow her to teuch his beloved kitten ; though when Lewis caressed it, and even took it in his arms, he appeared well contented, A fortnight's careful study of the young baronet's character only sei-ved to confirm the impressions Lewis had received dm-ing tbis first intei-view. That he possessed some powers of reasoning and reflection was evident ; but the great difiiculty lay in finding a key to the workings of his mind, by aid of which these powei-s might be strengthened and developed. Any direct question seemed to pvizzlc and confuse him ; and the only plan which ap- peared to offer any hope of success, was, if possible, to discover some tmiu of thought, (if the vague and desultory fancies which flitted across his feeble brain deserved to be so called,) and then to iead him gently on, by suggesting new ideas, some of which he might adopt and retain. But it was an up-hill task ; and often when Lewis, with a degree of calm perseverance which in one of his eager and impetuous disposition could scarcely have been looked for, had succeeded in making him acquire, as he believed, a leading idea on which he hoped to base some superstructure of elementary knowledge, a look of hopeless vacuity would show that no progress had been made, and that the labour must all be gone through again. At other times, some shrewd remark or pertinent question would take Lewis, as it were, by suiprise, and induce him to imagine that he had underrated his pupil's mental capacity, and that the fault must lie in his own inexperience of such cases. But there was much to be unlearned, as well as to be taught. As is often the case in persons of weak intel- lect, the mere animal tendencies were unusually strong. He was subject to violent bursts of passion, if his wiU were in the slightest degree thwarted, which it required all Lewis's firamess and strength of character to contend against successfully. Occa- sionally fits of melancholy would seize him, during which he would sit for hours without speaking, his head resting dejectedly on his hand, and nothing appealing able to intei'est or amuse him. If not pi-evented, he would eat so voraciously as to injure his health. He was also indolent, and averse to active exertion of any kind. But Lewis took much pains to teach him to ride, and the exercise thus obtained, tended greatly to strengthen his constitution. His fondness for animals was one of the most !-3G amiable points in bis disposition. He and Faust ere long became inseparable ; and Lewis found the dog a most useful auxiliary in inculcating — by example, not precept, for Faust could not quite talk — the necessity of implicit obedience. A month soon glided by, and at its expiration Le\vis informed General Grant, that, if he still wished him to undertake the care of his ward, he was willing to do so ; an offer of which that noble commander joyfully availed himself, being in his secret soul equally sui-prised and pleased at the degree of success which had already attended Lewis's efforts, and only too glad to secm-e the services of one who could, and would, save him all fm-ther diffi- culty, in regai'd to the onerous and troublesome responsibility which he had taken upon himself. For the next six months of his residence at Broadhm-st, Lewis saw but little of the family. During the greater part of that time the General was absent on a visit to some relations in Scotland, whither his daughter ac- companied him. Miss Livingstone, having supplied herself with a resident victim in the person of Miss Susan Pinner, an unhappy little fourteen-year-old cousin once removed, (the further the better from such a relative, we should imagine,) spent her time very much to her own satisfaction, in daily offei'ing up the helpless sacrifice thus acquired, at the altar of her evil temper, and in tyrannising over the poor of the neighbourhood, with most ex- cruciating benevolence. A sick family was a rai'e treat to this venerable scourge. Nauseous were the medicines she forced down the throats of the destitute — aggravating the directions with which she toi'tured the suffering — hateful the dietary on which she nourished all sick persons and young children ! — truly an iiTitating poor man's p^Ctsster was that sphinx of modern society, Minei-va Livingst':xie ; and CEdipus himself would neve have g-uessed at one half her modes of ingeniously tormenting indigent meiit. Fortunately, working out the details of this ferocious philanthropy occupied so much of the good lady's time, that Lewis enjoyed a happy immunity from her attentions, and was allowed to put in pi-actice his theories for the improvement of his pupil, without let or hindi-ance ; and it was with a degree of pleasure which was in itself sufficient reward for his trouble, that he perceived his plans likely to succeed beyond his most sanguine expectations. Affairs were in this position, when but Buch an interesting disclosure requires a fresh chapter. OB THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 137 CHAPTER XVIIL LRTJG RECEXVES A MYSTERIOUS COMMUNICATION, AND IS RUN AWA7 WITH BY TWO YOUTHFUL BEAUTIES. The arrival of the post-bag was an interesting event to Lewis, as almost the only pleasure he allowed himself was a rapid inter- change of lettera with his sister ; and to this correspondence was he indebted for an amount of warm sympathy, judicious advice, and affectionate interest in his pursuits, which tended greatly to relieve the monotony, and diminish the irksomeness of his situa- tion ; but, with the exception of Rose, and (occasionally) Frere, his coiTcspondents were exceedingly limited in number, and their epistles few and far between. It was, then, a matter of no small surprise to him to receive a business-like-looking letter, in an unknown handwi-iting. To break the ■ seal (which bore the im- pression of the letters J. and L. united in a flomishing cypher that, at first sight, looked like a bad attempt to delineate a true lover's knot,) was the work of a moment. The contents were as follow : — " Sir, — My partner and myself, having some connexion with Warlington, were cognisant of the death of your late lamented father, which sad event was reported to have been caused by the sudden discovery of some important information contained in a public journal. It is in our power to impart to you the nature of that information ; but as we have every reason to believe its importance has not been overrated, we are only prepared to do so on the following terms — viz. the present receipt of ten guineas, and a bond, pledging yourself to pay to us the sum of £200 should the information prove as valuable as we conceive it to be. Awaiting the favour of a speedy answer, We have the honoui- to remain, Sir, Yours obediently, "Jones & Levi, Attorneys-at-Lato " Street, Old Bailey.'" " What a strange letter !" soliloquised Lewis, after perusing it carefully for the second time. " The writer is evidently acquainted with the circumstances of my poor father's death, but that proves 138 LEWIS ARUNDEL j notliiiig ; the newspaper story rests on the evidence of the library-keeper at Warlington ; and he, probably, told it to every one who came into his shop for the next week ; and this tale may have been invented to suit the circumstances, with a view to extort money. One has heard of such rogueries ; still, in that case, why insist on the £200 bond? That seems as if Messrs. Jones and Levi themselves had faith in the value of their infor- mation ; or it may only be done in order to give me that im- pression. I'll send the letter up to Richard Frere, and ask him to ferret out these gents — T dare say they are thorough gents. Walter, I will not allow you to give Faust all yoiu- gloves to play with ; that is the third pair he has bitten to pieces this ween. Faust ! drop it, sir ! Do you hear me % That's right : good, obedient dog ! Now for Master Richard." So saying, he took a pen, and wrote, in a delicately-formed, yet free and bold hand, the following note : — "Dear old Frere, — Certain individuals, signing themselves ' Jones and Levi,' have seen fit to favour me with the enclosed mysterious communication, which, on the face of the thing, looks veiy like an attempt to swindle. As there is, however, just a remote possibility that something may come of it, (for their account of the circumstances preceding my poor father's deatk tallies exactly with the recital my sister gave me on my return,) you will, I am sure, add one more to your many kindnesses, by investigating this matter for me. You must bear in mind that £10 notes are by no means too plentiful with me, and that, under present circumstances, my bond for £200 would scarcely be worth as many pence. My poor charge progresses slowly ; he has become much more docile and tractable, and is considerably improved in manners and general amiability, but his mental capacity is lamentably deficient ; his reasoning powers, and usual habits of thought, are about on a par with those of an average child of six or seven years old ; many intelligent children of that age are greatly his superiors in intellect : still, he makes visible progress, and that is nscompense sufficient for any expenditure of time and trouble. He appeal's much attached to me, and (perhaps for that very reason — perhaps from the necessity to love something, which exists in the nature of every man worthy of the name,) I have become so deeply interested in him, that duties which, six months ago, I should have reckoned irksome in OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 139 the extreme, I now find a real pleasure in performing. I bvore you with these details because .... because you are so old a friend that I have acquirea a prescriptive right to bore you when I like. As Waiter, and Eaust (who clearly knows that I am wilting to ycu, and sends you an affectionate wag of the tail), are becoming impatient at the length of my epistle, there being a walk in prospect dep-endent on my arriving at a satisfactory Conclusion, the soonet I do so the better. Yoiu-s ever, L. A." As Lewis folded and scaled this missive, a seiwant entered, with a note on a silver waiter, saying, as he presented it, " For you, sir. I am desired to wait while you read it." ft was written in a stiff, formal hand, and ran as follows : — " Miss Livingstonie presents her compliments to Mr. Arundel, and requests the favour of an interview with him. ''What is in the wind now, I wonder?" thought Lewis; but he only said, "Tell Miss Livingstone I will do myself the pleasure of waiting on her immediately ;" and the servant retii'ed. MIneiva was enthroned in state in the small drawing-room, the large one being an awful apartment, dedicated to high and solemn r^ocial convocations, and by no means lightly to bo entered. Care sat upon her wrinkled brow, and looked as un- comfortable there as in such a situation might reasonably Imve been expected. As Lewis entered, this remarkable woman rose, and ]jerformed as near an approach to a courtesy as her elephantine confcrmation would permit ; then, graciously motioning her visitor to a seat, she growled an inquiry after the well-being of his pup'l, promulgated a decidedly scandalous account of the vtate of the weather, with a disheartening prophecy appended relative to meteorological miseries yet to come ; and having thus broken her own ice, dived into the chilly recesses of her cold water system, and fished up from its stony depths the weighty gTievance that oppressed her. It appeared that the same post which had conveyed the mys- terious document fi'om Messrs. Jones and Levi, had also brought a letter from General Grant, containing the intelligence that he was about to return home forthwith ; that the house was to be prepared for the reception of a large Christmas party, and that 140 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; he wished Miss Livingstone to pay a round of visits preparatory to the issue of innumerable notes of invitation, by which tho neighbourhood was to be induced to attend sundry festive meetings at Broadhm-st ; and all this was to be done more thoroughly, and \)n a larger scale than usual, for some mysterious reason, in regard to which the General was equally urgent and enigmatical. But Minerva shall speak for herself. "Having thus, Mr, Arundel, made myself acquainted with General Grant's wishes, (fourteen beds to be ready this day week, and not even the hangings put up on one of them — but men ai-e so inconsiderate no-sv-a-days,) I proceeded to give Reynolds (the housekeeper) full and clear instructions, (to not one of which did she pay proper attention — but sei-vants are so careless and self- conceited now-a-days,) as to all the necessary domestic arrange- ments. I then desired the coachman might be informed that I should require the carriage to be ready for use at two o'clock to-morrow, (as you are perhaps aware, sir, that since the General's departure for Scotland, I have restricted myself to a simple pony-chaise). Judge of my amazement when I was told there were no horses fit for use ! I begged to see the coachman instantly, but learned that he was confined to his bed with influenza ; the aecond coachman is in Scotland with the General, so that in fact there w^as not a creature of sufficient respectability for me to converse with to whom I could give directions about the matter. Under these circumstances, which are equally unex- pected and annoying, I considered myself justified in applying to you, Mr, Arundel, Would you oblige me by going through the stables, and ascertaining whether anything can be devised to meet the present emergency? I am aware that the service I require of you is beyond the strict routine of your duties ; but you must yourself perceive the impossibility of a lady ventm-ing among stablemen and helpers, without showing a disregard to that strict iiile of propriety, by which it has been the study of my life to regulate my conduct." Having reached this climax, Minerva glanced with an air ot dignified self-approval towai'ds Lewis, and began a very unneces- sai-y process of refrigeration, with the aid of a ftxn apparently composed, like its mistress, of equal pai'ts of cast-iron and buckram. Lewis immediately signified his readiness to under- take the commission, and promising to return and report pro- gi'ess, bowed, and left the room. Oi,. THE RAILROAD 01' LIFE. 141 Oil reaching the stables, a gi'oom attended his summons, and, after the fashion of his race, entered into a long explanation of the series of untoward circumstances to which the present state cf equine destitution might be attributed ; in the coui-se of which harangue he performed, so to speak, a fantasia on the theme — " And then do you sec, sir, coachman being hill," — to which sentence, after each variation, he constantly returned. The substance of his communication was as follows : — Shortly before the General's departure, one of the carriage horses had fallen and broken his knees, and its companion having an unamiable pre- dilection for kicking, the pair were sold, and a couple of young unbroken animals purchased, which, after a summer's run, were destined to replace the delinquents. Shortly after this the General fell in love with, and bought a pair of iron-gray four- year-olds, also untrained ; all these young horses were now taken up from grass, and about to be broken in, but the coachman's illness had interrupted their education. " Well, but are neither pair of the young stock available 1 ' inquired Lewis. " I'm afeared not, sir," was the reply; the bays aiiit never been in harness, and the iron-grays only three times." " Oh, the grays have been in harness three times, have they 1 " resumed Lewis. " Let us take them out to-day, and see how they perform." " If you please, sir, I am only pad groom and I can't say as I should feel myself disactly compeitent t) drive them wild young devils." " Bring out that mail phaeton ; put on the break harness, and I'll drive them myself," returned Lewis. " But, if you please, sir," began the groom, in a tone of re- monstrance. " My good fellow, you waste time in talking ; of course, if any thing goes wrong in consequence of your obeying my direc- tions, I alone shall be answerable ; but nothing will go wTong if your harness is sound," returned Le\\'is quickly. The man, seeing the young tutor was determined, summoned ne of his fellows, and in a short time the phaeton was made ready, and the horses harnessed and led out. They were a splendid pair of dark iron-grays, with silver manes and tails ; their heads, small and weU set on, their sloping shoulders, and fine graceful legs, spoke well fur their descent ; but tliey snorted with fear 142 LEWIS AIIUNDEL j aud impatience as they were led up to their places, and theu* bright full eyes gazed mldly and restlessly around, " Be quiet with them !" exclaimed Lewis, as one of the men laid a rude grasp on the rein to back the near-side horse into hig place j '•' you never can be too quiet and steady with a young horse. Soho, boy ! what is it then 1 nobody is going to hurt you," he continued, patting the startled animal, and at the same time backing him gently into the required position. The operation of putting-to was soon completed ; and Lewis saying, " You had better lead them off if there is any difficulty in getting them to start," took the reina in his hand, and sprang up lightly but quietly. Seating himself firmly, he asked, " Now, are you all ready?" and receiving an answer in the afiirmative, continued — '• Give them their heads ;" then making a mys- terious sound which may be faintly pourtrayed by the letters " tchick," he endeavoured to start his horses. But this was no such easy matter. The near-side horse, the moment he felt the collar, ran back, pulling against his companion, who i-etm*ned the compliment by rearing and striking with his fore-feet at the groom who attempted to hold him. "Steady there!" cried Lewis. "Pat his neck; that's right. Quiet, horse ! stand, sir ! One of you call those men here," he added, pointing to a couple of labourers who were digging in a slip of gi-ound near. " Now, my men," he resumed, as they came up, " take hold of the spokes of the hind wheels, and move the carriage on when I give you the signal ; — are you read}' ? Stand clear ; all right," — as he spoke he again attempted to start the horses, and this time more successfully. The animal which had reai-ed at the first attempt sprang forward, and finding the weight which he had probably fancied was immovable, yield to his efforts, appeared anxious to proceed, but the other still hung back, and was partly dragged forward by his yoke-fellow, partly pushed on by the men who were pro- pelhng the carriage. Lewis again tried mild measures, but with- out cfiect; and at length, considering that the sootliing system had been carried far enough, he drew the point of the whip smartly across the animal's shoulder. In reply to this the re- cusant flung up his heels as high as the kicking-straps would permit; but on a second and rather sharper application of the thong, he plunged forward, and threw himself into the collar with a bound that tried the strength of the traces • then, pulling OB, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE, 143 like a steam-eugiue, appeared resolved to revenge himself on hia driver by straining every sinew of liis arms to the utmost pitch of tension. But rowing, fencing, and other athletic exercises^ Ziad rendered those arms as hard as iron; and though the swollen muscles rounded and stood out till his coat-sleeve was stretched almost to bursting, Lewis continued to hold the reins in a vice- like gi'asp, and the fiery hoi-ses, arching their proud necks, and tossing the foam-flakes from their champing jaws, were compelled to proceed at a moderate pace. The grooms ran by their sides for a short distance, then, at a sign from Lewis, one of the men watched his opportunity, and scrambled up, while the phaeton was still going on ; the other, having opened a gate leading down a road thi-ough the pai'k, remained gazing after them with looks of the deepest interest. " Well, sir, you've managed to start 'em easier than I expected," observed the gi-oom, as, in compliance with Lewis's desire, he seated himself at his side. " Coachman was a good half hour a getting 'em hout of the yard last time as they was put- to; that near-sider wouldn't take the collar no how." " And yet he'll tm-n out the better horse of the two if he's judiciously managed," returned Lewis. " He has higher courage than his companion, though they're both splendid animals ; they only require careful driving and working moderately every day, to make as good a pair of carriage-horses as a man need wish to sit behind." " It aint the first time as you've handled the ribbons by a good many, I should say, su-," continued Bob Richards, (for that was the man's name, dear reader, although I've never had an opportunity of teUing you so before ;) " I see'd as you know'd what you was about afore ever you got on the box." ^^ Before I got up !" returned Lewis; "how did you manage that, my fi-iend ? " " Why, sir, the furst thing as you did was to cast your eye over the harness to see as aU was right ; then, afore ever you put your foot on the step you took the reins into your hands, so that the minute y )u was up you was ready for a bolt, hif so be it had pleased I'rovidence to stai-t the 'orses ofi" suddenly. Now, any- body as wasn't used to the ways of four-footed quadi-upals wouldn't never have thought of that." '' Yom' powers of observation do you credit," returned Lewis, with difliculty repressing a smile. " You are right, I have been 14 - LEWIS ARUNDEL; accustomed to driving, as you imagine ;" and as he spoke, the remembrance of scenes and persons now far away came across him, and he thought with regret of pleasant hours passed with his young associates in Germany, when the mere fact of his being an EngHshman, caused him to be regarded as an oracle on all matters connected w^ith horseflesh. While this convei'sation was taking place, the iron-grays had proceeded about a mile through the park, dancing, curvetting, and Ftaring on all sides, as though they vroidd fain shy at every object they discerned. " They are gradually dropping into a steadier pace, you see," ob served Lewis ; " they'll be tired of jumping about, and glad to trot without breaking into a canter, when they get a little warm to their work. Quiet, boy, quiet !" he continued, a.s the horses suddenly pricked up their ears, and stared wildly about them ; " gently there, gently ! What in the world are they frightened at now]" The question did not long remain a doubtful one, for in another minute a hollow rushing sound became audible, and a herd of deer, startled by the rattling of the can-iage, broke from a thicket hard by, and bounding over the tall fei'n and stunted brushwood, darted across the road, their long thin legs and branching antlers indistinctly seen in the gi"ay light of an autumn day, giving them a strange and spectre-like appearance. But Lewis had no time to trace fanciful resemblances, for the horses demanded all his attention. As the sound of pattering feet approached they began to plunge violently; at the sight of the deer they stopped short, snorting and trembling with fi-ight ; and when the herd crossed the road befoie them, perfectly maddened vvnth terror they reared till they almost stood upright; then, turning short round, they dashed off the road at right angles, nearly overtmiiing the phaeton as they did so, and breaking into a mad gallop, despite all their driver's efforts to restrain them, tore away with the speed of lightning. For a few seconds the sound of the wind whistling past his ears, and oppressing his breathing to a painful degree, confused Lewis and deprived him of the power of speech ; but the imminence of the danger, and the necessity for calmness and decision, served tc restore his self- possession ; and turning towards his companion, who, pale with teiTor, sat convulsively gi-asping the rail of the seat, he inquired — " Can you recollect whether there are any ditches across the 5«rk in this direction? OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 145 "There aint no ditches, as I recollects," was the leply ; "but there's somethiug a precious sight worser. If these devils go straight ahead for five minutes longer at this pace, v.'e shall be •dashed over the bank of the lake into ten foot water." " Yes, I remember ; I see where we are now ; the ground rises to the left, and is clear of trees and ditches, is it not ?" asked Lewis. The groom replied in the affirmative ; and Lewis continued : " Then we must endeavour to turn them ; do you take the whip, stand up and be ready to assist me at the right moment. What are you thinking of?" he continued, seeing that the man hesi- tated, and was apparently measming, with his eye, the distance from the step to the gi'ound ; " it would be madness to jump out while we are going at this mte. Be cool, and we shall do very well yet." " I'm agreeable to do whatever you tells me, only be quick about it, sir," rejoined the groom; "for if it comes to jumping hout, or sitting still to be drownded, hout I goes, that's flat, for I never could abear cold water." " I suppose the reins ai*e strong, and to be depended on 1" inquired Lewis. " Nearly new, sir," was the reply. " Then be ready ; and when I tell you, exert yourself," con- tinued Lewis. While these remdrks passed between the two occupants of the phaeton, the horses still continued their mad career, resisting successfully all attempts to check the frightful speed at which they were hurrying on towai'ds certain destruction. As they dashed past a clump of shrubs, which had hitherto concealed from view the danger to which they were exposed, the full peril of their situation became evident to the eyes of Lewis and his companion. With steep and broken banks, on which American slirubs, mixed with flags and bulrushes, grew in unbounded luxu- riance, the lake lay stretched before them ; its clear depths reflecting the leaden hue of the wintry sky, and a slight breeze from the north rippling its polished surfoce. Less than a quarter of a mile of smooth greensward separated them from their dangerous neighbour. An artist would have longed to teize this moment for transferring to canvass or marble the expression of Lewis's features. As he perceived the nearness and reality of the danger that threatened him, his spirit rose with the ocoafiion, and L 146 LEWIS ARUNDEL J calm self-reliance, dauntless courage, and an energetic determina- tion to subdue the infuriated animals before him, at whatever risk, lent a brilliancy to his fltxshing eye, and imparted a look o. stern resolve to his finely cut mouth, which invested his unusual beauty with a character of superhuman power, such as the sculptors of antiquity sought to immortalize in their statues of heroes and demigods. Selecting an open space of turf unencumbered with trees or other obstacles, Lewis once more addressed his com ■ panion, saying: — " Now be ready ; I am going to endeavour to turn them to the left, in order to get their heads away from the lake and up hill ; but as I shall require both hands and all my strength for the reins, I want you to stand up and t-ouch them smartly with the whip on the off-side of the neck : if you do this at the right moment, it will help to bring them round. Do you understand mc ?" Richards replied in the affirmative, and Lewis, leaning forward, and shortening his grasp on the reins, worked the mouths of the horses till he got their heads well up ; then assuring himself by a glance that his companion was ready, he checked their speed by a great exertion of strength ; and tightening the left rein suddenly, the groom at the same moment applying the whip as he had been desired, the fiery steeds, springing from the lash and yielding to the pressure of the bit, altered their course, and going round so sharply that the phaeton was again ^\dtllin an ace of being overtm-ned, dashed forward in an opposite direction. "You did that uncommon well, to be sure, sir," exclaimed Richards, drawing a long breath like one relieved from, the pressure of a painful weight. "I thought we was over once though ; it was a precious near go." "A miss is as good as a mile," retm-ned Lewis, smiling. "Do you see?" he continued, — "they are slackening their pace; the hill is beginning to tell upon them already. Hand me the whip ;. I Bhall give the gentlemen a bit of a lesson before I allow them to stop, just to convince them that running away is not such a pleasant amusement as they appear to imagine." So saying, he waited till *he horses began sensibly to rehxx their speed ; then holdin^^ ihem tightly in hand, he punished them with the whip pretty severely, and gave them a good deal more running than they liked, before he permitted them to stop; the natm-e of the ground (a gentle ascent of perfectly smooth turf) allowing him to inflict this discipline with impunity. OR, IflE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 117 After proceeding two or three miles at tiie same speed, he per- ceived anotlier cross road running throiigh the park. Gradually pulling up as he approached it, he got his horses into a walk, and as soon as they had once again exchanged grass for gi'avel, he stopped them to recover wind. The gi'oom got down, and, gathering a handful of fern, wiped the foam from their mouths and the perspiration from their reeking flanks. " You've given 'em a pretty tidy warming thoiigh, sir," he observed. " If I was you I would not keep 'em standing to* long." " How far are we from the house, do you imagine'?" inquired Lewis. '' About three mile, I should say," returned Richards ; " it will tixke you nigh upon half an hour, if you drives 'em easy." Lewis looked at his watch, muttering, " More than an hour to Walter's dinner time." He then continued, " Get up, Richards j I have not quite done with these horses yet;" adding, in reply to the man's questioning glance, as he reseated himself, " I'm only going to teach them that a herd of deer is not such a frightful object as they seem to imagine it." " Surety you're never agoin to take 'em near the deer again Mr. Arundel ; they'll never stand it, sir," expostulated Richards. " You can get down if you like," observed Lewis, with the shghtest possible shade of contempt in his tone; "I will pick you up here as I return." Richards was a thorough John Bull, and it is a well-known fact, that to hint to one of that enlightened race that he is afraid to do the most insane deed imaginable, is quite sufficient to de- termine him to go through with it at all hazards ; accordingly, the individual in question pressed his hat on his brows, to be prepared for the w^orst, and folding his arms with an air of injured dignity, sat sullenly hoping for an overturn, which might prove him right, even at the risk of a broken neck. Lewis's quick eye had discerned the herd of deer, against a dai'k background of trees, which had sei-ved to screen them from the less acute perceptions of the sei-vant, and he now contrived, by skirting the aforesaid belt of Scotch firs, to bring the phaeton near the place where the deer were stationed, without distm-bing them, so that the horses were able clearly to see the creatures which had before so greatly alarmed them. It has been often remarked that horses are greatly terrified by an object seen but l2 148 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; ii;difetiQctly, at which, when they are able to observe it more closely they will show no signs of fear. Whether for this recison, or that the discipline they had undergone had cooled their courage, and taught them the necessity of obedience, the iron- gi-ays approached the herd of deer without attempting to repeat the manoeuvre, which had been so nearly proving fatal to their driver and his companion. Lewis drove them up and down once or twice, each time decreasing the distance between the horses and the animals, to the sight of which he wished to accustom them, without any attempt at rebellion on their part, beyond a slight preference fur using their hind legs only in progression, and a very becoming determination to arch their necks and point their ears, after the fashion of those high-spirited impossibilities which do duty for horses in Greek friezes, and in the heated imagination of young lady artists, who possess a wonderful (a very wonderful) talent for sketching animals. Having continued this amusement till the deer once again conveyed themselves away, Lewis, de- lighted at having earned his point and overcome the difficulties which had opposed him, drove gently back to Broadhurst ; and having committed the reeking horses to the care of a couple of grooms, who began hissing at them like a whole brood of serpents, returned to make his report, and soothe the tribulation of that anxious hyiena in petticoats, Miss Martha Livingstone. CHAPTER XIX. CHARLEY LEICESTER BEWAILS HIS CRUEL MIS-FORTUNE. Frere's answer to Lewis's note made its appearance at Broad- hurst, on the morning of the second day after that, on which the events narrated in the previous chapter took place. It ran aa follows : — " Dear Lewis, — I think I've told you before, — (if it wasn't you it was yoiir sister, which is much the same thing,) — not to write such a pack of nonsense as 'adding to my many kindnesses,' and all that sort of stuff, because it's just so much time and trouble wasted. I see no particular kindness in it, that's the fact. You and she on, THE RAILUOAD OF Ll'FE. 149 Jive in the country, and I in town ; and if there is anything that either of you want here, why, of course, it's natural to tell me to get or to do it for you ; and as to apologising, or making pretty speeches eveiy time you require anything, it's sheer folly ; besides, I like doing the things for you ; if I didn't, I woiUdn't do them, you may depend upon that; so no more of such rubbish 'an you love me.' And now, touching those interesting, or rather inter- isXed, individuals, Messrs. Jones and Levi. I thought when I read their letter they were rascals or thereabouts, but a personal interview placed the matter beyond doubt ; and, if you take my lidvice, you'll see them — well, never mind where — but keep your XI in your pocket, that's all ; depend upon it they are more used to making rich men poor than poor ones rich. However, 111 tell ^ou all their sayings and doings, as far as I am acquainted therewith, and then you can judge for yourself As soon as I received your letter, I tinidged off into the city, found the den of thieves — I mean, the lawyer's office — of which I was in search; sent in my card by an unwashed Israelite with a pen behind each eai", and ink aU over him, whom I took to be a clerk ; and by the same unsavouiy individual was ushered into the pi'esence of Messrs. Jones and Levi. Jones was a long cadaverous-looking animal, with a clever, bad face, and the eye of a hawk ; Levi, a fat Jew, and apparently a German into the bargain, with a cunning expression of countenance and a cringing manner, who gave one the idea of having been fed on oil-cake till he had become something of the sort himself ; a kind of man, who, if you had put a wick into him, wouldn't have made a bad candle, only one should so have longed to snuff him out. Well, I soon told these worthies what I was come about, and then w^aited to hear all they had to say for themselves. The Gentile, being most richly gifted with speech, took upon him to reply : — " ' Let me offer you a chair, !Mr. Frere, sir. Delighted to have the honour of making your acquaintance. I speak for my partner and myself — eh, Mr. Levi V '"In corn-she, shir. Moosh play sure, Misthur Vreer, shur,' muttered Levi, who spoke thi'ough his nose, after the manner of modern Israelites, as if that organ were afflicted with a permanent cold. " Wlien I had seated myself, Jones returned to the attack by observing : ' Our letter contained a certain definite and specifio offer. Does Mr. Arundel agree to that, Mr. Frere, sir?' 160 LEWIS ahundel; " ' Mr. Ai-uudel has placed the matter entirely in my hands, Mr. Jones,' replied I ; ' and before I can agree to an3fthing, I must understand cleaidy, what benefit my friend is likely to derive, from the information hinted at in your letter*.' " ' May I inquire, Mr. Frere, sir, whether you are a professioi:al manl' asked Jones. " ' If you mean a lawyer, Mr. Jones,' replied I, ' I am thankful to say I am not.' "I suppose he did not exactly relish my remark, for he re- sumed, in a less amicable tone than he had used before : — " ' I believe the letter to which I have already referred, con- tained a clear statement of the 07ily (he emphasised the word strongly,) ' teiTus upon which we should be fhsposed to commu- nicate the information,' and he glanced towai'ds his partner, who echoed — " ' De o??7y turmsh.' " ' Then, gentlemen,' said I, (gentlemen, indeed !) ' I beg most distinctly to inform you, tliat my friend shall never, witli my consent, pay £10 down, and become liable for £200 more, this liability depending on a contingency which you have no doubt provided against, on the mere chance, that some information in your possession may refer to the exciting cause of his father's death, and prove valuable to him.' " ' De informationsh ish mosht faluaple,' broke in Levi. " * I beg pardon, Mr. Levi,' exclaimed Jones, quickly, ' but 1 believe we agreed this matter was to be left to my management?' " Levi nodded his large head and looked contrite, wdiile Jones continued : ' In that case, Mr. Frere, sir, I have only to add that if Mr. Arundel refuses to comply with our terms, we shall not part with the information on any others; at the same time I should advise him to reconsider the matter, for I do not hesitate to say, that I quite coincide with Mr. Levi in his opinion con- cerning the importance of the infomiation which is in our possession.' " As he said this, an idea occurred tc me, and I rephed : — " ' Suppose, instead of the bond for £200, in the event of some contingency which may never occur, Mr. Arundel were willing to pay £20 down for tlie information, would you agree to that?' " ' Say vive and dirtysh,' put in the Jew, his dull eyes bright- ening at the prospect of money. ' Say vive and dirfysh, and it shall pe von pargainsh.' OB, THK RAILROAD OF LIFE. 151 "*Wou]J you agree to take that sum, Mr. Jones?' asked T. " He glauced at his partner v^dth a shght contractiou of the brow, and shook his head ; but the spirit of avarice aroused in the Jew was not so easily to be put down, and he continued, in a more positive tone than he had yet ventured to use : — " ' Yesh, he dosh agree. Me and my bardner ve vill take the vive and dirtysh poundsh, ready monish, Mr. Vreer.' " ' Not quite so fast, my good sir,' returned I ; ' if you are so very ready to give up the bond for £200, to be paid in case the information should prove as valuable as you assert it to be, the natural inference is that you yourself have mighty little faith in the truth of your assertion ; and, as I happen to be pretty much of that way of thinking also, I shall wish you both good morning.' " So saying, I put on my hat and walked out of the room, leaving the Jew and the Gentile to fight it out to their own satisfaction. " I had not a very strong affection for la^vyers before, and I can't say this visit has served to endear the profession to me particularly. You know the old story of the man who defined the difference between an attorney and a solicitor to be much the same, as that between an alligator and a crocodile. Well, Messrs. Jones and liCvi realized such a definition to the life, for a more detestable brace of rascals I never encountered ; and, depend upon it, the less you have to do with them the better ; at least, such is the opinion of your's for ever and a day, (always aupposing such an epoch of time may exist,) "Richard Frere." *' So," exclaimed Lewis, refolding the letter, " that chance has felled me. Well, I never expected anything would come of it ; and yet — hcigho ! I certainly was born under an unlucky star. I think Frere was rather precipitate. According to his account of his proceedings, he seems to have felt such an intense conviction that the men were rascals, that he called on them rather for the purpose of exposing them, than to investigate the matter. He prejudged the question. However, I have no doubt the renult would have been the same in any case. What a bore it is that men wdll be rogues ! I shall have out those horses again after Walter has got through his lesson ; if they go quietly, I shall take him with me for a drive to-morrow." 'Ind, thus communiiig 152 LEWIS ARUNDEL; with himself, he summoned Walter, and commenced the usna\ morning routine. Mis3 Livingstone had, by Lewis's advice, ordered post-horses to the carnage, and was in that way enabled to accomplish her round of visits. Lewis carried out his intention of drivino- the iron- grays, who conducted themselves with so much propriety that on tlie following day he took his pupil with him ; and finding tic • di-ive pleased and amused the poor boy, he repeated it every fiuo day. Thus a week slipped away, and the time for the General's return arrived. It was late on the afternoon of the day on which he was expected, and Lewis was wearily assisting poor Walter tO' spell through a page of dissyllables, when that peculiar gravel- grinding sound became audible, which, in a country house, neces- s;\rily precedes an arrival. Then there was a great bustle as of excited seiwants. p Jiabel-like confusion of tongues, bumps aud thumps of heavy luggage, much trampling of feet, ringing oi bells and slamming of doors ; then the sounds grew fointer, were remitted at intervals, and at last ceased altogether. The house was no longer masterless — General Grant had returned. Walter's attention, by no means easy to command for five minutes together at the best of times, became so entirely estranged by the com- motion above alluded to, that Lewis closed the book in despai^^ ftnd told him to go and play with Faust, who, sitting upright on a rug in front of the fire, was listening with the deepest interest to all that passed in the hall, and was only restrained from barking by a strict sense of propriety operating on a well disci- plined mind. The boy gladly obeyed, and Lewis, resting hia aching head on his hand, fell into deep thought — he thought of old times, when, head of his class at a public school, alike leader and idol of the little world in which he moved, his youno- ambi- tion had shaped out for itself a career ia which the bar, the bench, the senate, were to be but stepping-stones to the highest honouss to which energy and talent might attain ; and he contrasted his present position with the ideal future his boyish fancy had depicted. Then he bethought him of the tyrant who commanded -that a living man sliould be chained to a corpse, and considered how the cold and numbing influence of the dead, gradually paralyzing the vital energy of tl>e living, was, as it were, typical of his own fate. He could not but be conscious of unusual powers of mind, for he had tested them in the struggle for honom-s with the deep and subtile thinkers of Germany, and had come off on, THE RAILROAD OF LIFK. \53- victorious ; and to reflect that these tjilcnts, ■v^■hich might hava ensured him success in the game of Ufe, were condemned to be wasted in the wearying attempt to call forth the faint germs of re:ason in the mind of an almost childish idiot ! The thought was a bitter one ! and yet for months past he had felt resigned to his fate ; and the deep interest he took in his pupil's improvement, together with the time such a quiet life aftbrded for reflection and self-knowledge, had rendered him contented, if not what is con- ventionally termed happy. To what then shoidd he attribute his- present frame of mind 1 At this moment a tap at the study door inteiTupted his meditations, and he was unable to pursue his self- analysis further. Had he done so, he might possibly have dis- covered that pride, his besetting sin, lay at the root of the evil. As lon^ as he lived in comparative seclusion, his duties sat easily upon him ; but now that he was again about to mix in society, his position as tutor became galling in the extreme to his haughty nature. As he heard the summons above mentioned, he started from his reverie, and sweeping his hair from his foreliead by a motion of his hand, exclaimed, " Come in." As he spoke, the- door opened, and our old acquaintance, Charley Leicester, lounged into the room. " Ah ! how do you do, Anindel ? " he began, in his usual lan- guid tone. " I know all the ins and outs of this place, and I thought I should find you here — this used to be mi/ den, once upon a time ; many a holiday's task have T groaned over in this venerable apartment. Is that your incubtis ?" he continued in a- lower tone, glancing towards Walter. " Handsome features, poor fellow ! — does he understand what one says 1 " " Scarcely, unless you speak to him individually," returned Lewis ; " you may talk as you please before him, the chances are he will not attend ; but if he does, he will only understand a bit here and there, and even that he will forget the next moment^, wiien some trifle occurs to put it out of his head. "Walter, come and shake hands with this gentleman ! " Thus spoken to, Walter turned sheepishly away, and stooping down, hid his face behind Faust. Lems's mouth gi-ew stem. " Faust, come here, sir ! " The dog arose, looked wistfully at his- play-fellow, licked his hand lovingly, then walking across the- room, crouched down at his master's feet. "Now, Walter, look at me." At this second appeal the boy raised- his eycn to Lewis's face. " Go and shake hands with Mr. Leicester," 154 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " Don't worry him on my account, pray, my deai" Ainindel," interposed Leicester, good-naturedly. " The General makes a great point of his being introduced to every one ; and 7 make a great point of his doing as I bid him," returned Lewis, with marked emphasis. But it v>^as unnecessary, if meant as a hint to Walter, for his tutor's eye appeared to possess a power of ftiscination over him ; ijO sooner did he meet his glance than he arose from his kneeling i-osition, and going up to Leicester held out his hand saying, How do you do 1 " Charley shook hands with him kindly, asked him one or two simple questions, to which he replied with tolerable readiness ; then, observing that his eyes were fixed on a silver-mounted cane he held in his hand, he inquired whether he thought it pretty, and receiving an answer in the affinnative, added, " Then you may take it to amuse yourself with, if you like." A smile of childish delight proved that the offer was an acceptable one ; and canying off his treasure with him, and calling Faust, who on a sign from his master gladly obeyed the summons, he betook himself to the further end of the room, ■which was a very large one, and began playing with his canine associate. Leicester gazed at him for a minute or two, and then observed — " "What a sad pity ! Such a fine-gi'own, handsome lad, too I Why, in a year or two he will be a man in appearance, with the mind of a child. Does he improve much 1" *■' Yes, he improves steadily, but very slowly," returned Lewis. 1 icicester wandered dreamily up to a chimney -glass, arranged his hair with an air of deep abstraction, pulled up his shii-t- coll;a-s, caressed his whiskers, then separating the tails of a non descript garment, which gave one the idea of a cut-away coat trying to look like a shooting-jacket, he extended his legs so as to form two sides of a triangle, and subjecting his frigid zone to the genial influence of the fire, he enjoyed for some minutes in silence, the mysterious delight afforded to all true-born English- men, by the peculiar position above indicated. At length he feighed deeply, and muttered, " Heigho ! it's no use thinking about it." " That depends on what it is, and how you set to work to think," retiu-ned Lawns. '• That may do as a geneml rule," continued Leicester ; " but it OR, THE RAILROAD OF LITE. 155 won't apply to the case in point. Tlie tiling I w.'is trying to cypher out, as the Yankees call it, is the incomprehensible distri- bution of property in this sublunary life. Now look at that poor boy — a stick for a plaything and a dog for a companion, make •him perfectly happy. Those are his only superfluous require ments, which together with eating, diiuking, clothing, and lodg- ing, might be provided for £300 a-year ; instead of that, when he is twenty-one he will come into from 8 to £10 000 per annum, besides no end of savings during his minority. Well, to say nothing of your own case," (Lewis's clieek kindled and his eye flashed, but Leicester, absorbed in his own thoughts, never noticed it, and continued,) " though with your talents, a little loose cash to give you a fxir start might be the making of you — just lyok at my wretd^ed position, — the son of a peer, brought up in all kinds of expensive habits, mixing in the best set at Eton and at Oxford, the chosen associate of men of large property, in- troduced into the highest society in London — of course, I must do as others do, I can't help myself There are certain things necessary to a young man about town — just as indispensable as smockfrocks and bacon are to a ploughman. For instance, to live one must dine — to dine one must belong lo a club. Then London is a good large place, even if one ignores every thing east of Temple Bar ; — one must keep a cab, if but to save boot- leather — that entails a horse and a tiger. Again, for four months in the year, people talk about nothing but the opera — one can't hold one's tongue for four months, you know — that renders a stall indispensable. It's the fiishion to wear white kid gloves, and the whole of London comes ofi" black on everything, so there 'a a fine of 3s. 6d. a-night, only for having hands at the end of one's arms. The atmosphere of the metropolis is composed chiefly of smoke — the only kind of smoke one can inhale without being choked, is tobacco smoke ; besides, hfe without cigars would be a desert without an oasis — but unfortunately Hsvannahs don't hang on every hedge. I might multiply instances ad infinitum, but ihe thing is self-evident — to provide all these necessaries a man must possess money or credit, and I unfortunately liave more of the latter than the former article. It is, as I have explained to you, utterly impossible for me to exist on less than — say £1,500 a-year ; and even with my share of my poor mother's fortuna, and the Governor's allowance, my net income doesn't amount to £800 ; ergo, half the London and all the Oxford tradesmen, 15G I.K7,'I3 AKUNDEL po9Hos,s little mfinuscript volumes containing interesting reminis- cences of my private life. It's no langhing matter, I can assure yon/' he continued, seeing Lewis smile ; " there 's nothing cramps a Clan's" — here he released a coat-tail, in order to raise his hand to conceal a yawn — " augh ! what do you r^W 'em 1 — energies — so much as having a load of debt hanging i^yund his neck. If it havln't been for those confounded Oxford bills checking me at first starting, 'pon my word I don't know that I might not have done something. I had ideas abont a parliamentary career at one time, I can assure you, or diplomacy, — any fool 's good enough for an attache. Now, if I had that poor boy's fortiine, and he had my ??iis-fortune, what an advantage it would be to both of us ; hell never know what to do with his money, and I should — rather ! Just fancy me with £10,000 a-year, and a coat on my back that was paid for — by Jove, I should not know myself ! Ah, well ! it 's no use talking about it ; all the same, I am an unlucky beggar." '• But," intei-posed Lewis, eagerly, " if you really dislike the life you lead so much, why don't you break through all these tram- mels of conventionality, and strike out some course for yourself? With £800 a-year to ward off poverty, and the interest you might command, what a splendid career lies before you 1 Were I in your position, instead of desponding, I should deem myself singularly fortunate." " So you might, my dear fellow," returned Leicester, after pausing for a minute to regard Lewis with a smile of languid wonder. " So you might with your talents, and — and wonderful power of getting up the steam, and keeping it at high pressure — I dare say we should see you a Field Marshal, if you took to the red cloth and pipe-clay trade ; or on the woolsack, if you pre- ferred joining the long-robed gentlemen. Now, I haven't got that Boi't of thing in me ; I was born to be a man of propei'ty, and nothing else ; and the absurdity of the thing is, the bringing a man into the world fit only for one purpose, and then placing him in a position in which, to use the cant of the day, he can't ' fulfil his mission' at any pi-ice. It 's just as if nature were to form a car- nivorous animal, and then turn it out to grass." Having delivered himself of this opinion, with the air of a deeply injured man, the Honourable Charles Leicester consulted a minute Geneva watch with an enamelled back ; and replacing it in his waistcoat pocket continued, " Five o'clock, — I shall just OR, THE RAILROAD OF hWE. 157 iiave time to smoke a cigar before it is necessary to dress for dinner. I presume tobacco is a contraband article in the interior of this respectable dwelling-house 1 " " A salutary di*ead of Miss Livingstone's indignation has pre- vented me from ever trying such an experiment," returned Lewis. " Well, I won't run the risk of offending the good lady,'' replied Leicester, " Aunt Martha has a wonderful knack of blighting the whole family for the rest of the day, if one happens to run against one of her pet prejudices. By the way, you must have found her a most interesting companion ? " " We are gi'eat friends, I can assure you," rejoined Lewis; " she condescends to patronise me most benignantly ; but I have not spoken half-a-dozen times with her in as many mouths." " I suppose she has enlightened you as to the events about to come off, during the next three weeks." " By no means. Beyond the fact of the General's return, and the information that the house was to be filled with people, Mi.ss Livingstone has allowed me to remain in a state of the most lamentable ignorance." "What ! have not you heard that the county is vacant, and the General has been persuaded to allow himself to be nominated aa a candidate on the conservative intei'est V " But I thought he was already member for the borough of A ?" " Yes ; he will resign that if he succeeds for the county. Oh, you're quite in the dark, I see; we mean to stir heaven and earth to get him in. My father gives him all his interest — Belle- field is coming down to look up the tenantry. You know we (that is. Belle and tlie Governor, worse luck) have large estates in the county ; Belle can do a little bit of love-making in between whiles, and so kill two birds with one stone. And who else do you think is coming ? — a very great man, I can assm-e you ; no less a personage, in fact, than — ar — the de Grandeville ! He has been induced to— ar — " (and here he mimicked de Grande ville's pompous manner inimitably,) " throw his little influence — ar — into the scale, and — ar — show himself on the hustings, and — ar — arrange one or two matters, which will, in fact — ar — render the thing secure ! The plain truth being, that he really is a good man of business, and the General has engaged him as an elec- tioneering agent. Well, then, there are a lot of people comuig 158 LEWIS ARUNDEL j besides ; and balls and dinners will be given to half tLo coiiaf,y. In short, the General means to do the thing in style, and spend as much money as would keep me out of debt for tb.e next three years. Several parties are to arrive to-morrow, so the General brought Annie and me down with him, as a sort of advanced guard. There will be some fun, I dare say ; but an awful deal of trouble to counterbalance it. I shall lose my cigar though, if I stand gossiping here any longer. Let me see, the nearest way to the stables will be to jump out of that window; deduct the dis- tance saved from the amount of exertion in leaping, and the remainder will be the gain of a minute and a half. Well, time is precious, so off we go. I suppose you appear in the course of tha evening 1 Take care, Walter ; that is right." Thus saying, he flung open the window, sprang out with more agility than from his usual listless movements might have beei\ expected, pulled the sash down again, and having nodded good- naturedly to Walter, disappeai-ed. General Grant felt, and expressed himself, greatly delighted at the marked improvement which had taken place in his ward's manner and appearance, and attributing it with justice to Lewis's judicious management, that young gentleman rose many degrees in his employer's favour. The Generai was essentially a practical man — he was endowed with a cleai" head, and (save where preju- dice interfered) a sound judgment, and being happily devoid of that inconvenient organ, a heaii;, (whence proceed, amongst other reprehensible emigrants, the whole host of amiable weak- nesses, which merely gain for their proprietor that most useless, because unsaleable, article — aftection,) he looked upon his fellow- creatures as machines, and weighing them in the balance, patronised those only who were not found wanting. Lewis had proved himself a good teaching machine, and the General valued him accordingly. " The gi-eat point now, Mr' Ainindel," he said, " is to endeavour to expand your pupil's mind : you have developed in him (and I give you great credit for the degree of success you have attained) powers of acquiring knowledge, — those powers must bo cultivated ; he must have opportunities afforded him of seeing people, and amassing facts for himself; and to this end it is my wish that he should mix as much as possible in society. I am about to entertain a large party at Broadhurut, and I con- ceive that it will be a desirable opportunity to accustom Sk OR, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 159 Walter to the presence of strangei-s, and to enable Lira, by tl^ force of example acting on his imitative powers, to acquire the jruinners and habits of tliose of his own rank. I therefore propose, that after two o'clock on each day your pupil and your- self should join the family circle, and enter into any schemes for amusement or exercise which may be arranged. I consider my- self most fortunate," contmued the General, with a little patronis- ing inclination of the head towards Lewis, " in having secured the ser-\aoes of a gentleman, whom I can with such entire satii^- faction present to my friends." In compliance with this injunction, Lewis was forced, much against his will, to withdi-aw from the retirement under the shadow of which he had hitherto contrived to screen himself from those annoyances, to which his dependent situation exposed him, and which his sensitive natm-e led him especially to di-ead. On the following day aiTivals succeeded one another with gi-eat rapidity, and when Lewis joined the party after luncheon, there were several faces with which he was unacquainted. One, how- ever, immecUately arrested his attention, and turning to Leicester, he inquu'ed the name of the person in question. " Eh ! who is the man with moustaches, did you say 1 What ! don't you know him 1 " exclaimed Leicester — if, indeed, the slow languid manner in which that young gentleman was accustomed to promulgate his sentiments, can be properly so termed. " How very odd ! I thought every body knew him; that's my fi-efe aine, Bellefield ; come with me, and I'll introduce you." " Excuse me," returned Lewis, drawing back with a flushed cheek, as the recollection of the scene on the banks of the Serpentine came vividly before him ; " I had no idea it was your brother ; I never imagined for a moment " " My dear Arundel, don't excite yourself; as a general rule, there's nothing in this life worth getting up the steam about," retm-ned Leicester, di-awing on a kid glove ; " Bellefield will be extremely happy to make your acquaintance, — in fact, he is always extremely happy ; — if you were to cut your throat before his very eyes he would be extremely happy, and, if he thought you did it well, probably fold his arms, ask what you would take for the razor, and be extremely happy to buy it of you. But as he'll be constantly here, there exists a positive necessity for you to know him, — so come along." Thus saying, Charley Leicester linked his aiTn in tliat of Lewis, 160 LEWIS AltUNDEX; and carried him off, nolens volens, to be introduced to his brother. Lord Bellefield having seen Lewis only once before, and undef very peculiar circumstances, did not immediately recognise him and having made up his mind that for electioneering purposes it was necessary to bear all species of social martyrdom amiably, underwent his introduction to Lewis wdth great resignation, curling up his moustaches, and showing his white teeth in a ready-made smile — of which article he had always a stock on hand — most condescendingly. Lewis's was, how^ever, a face that once seen it was not easy to forget ; moreover, there was at that moment an expression gleaming in his dark eyes, not altogether consistent wath the conventional indifference befitting a mere social introduction, and Lord Bellefield was too close an observer not to notice it. " I've a strange idea I've seen you somewhere before, Mr. Arundel," he remarked. " If I am not much mistaken," retm-ned Lewis, " your lordship once did me the honour" — and he laid a slightly sarcastic emphasis on the words — "to offer me a sum of money for a favourite dog." There was something in Lewis's manner as he uttered these words, which showed that he had neither forgotten nor forgiven the insult that had been offered him. Lord Bellefield perceived it, and replied, with a half-sneer, — " Ay, I recollect now — you jumped into the water to fish him out ; and I naturally imagined that, as you appeiu-ed to set such store by him, you mast expect to make money of him. Hav« vou ffot him still ? " Lewis replied in the aflai-mative, and his lordship continued : — " Well, I'll give you your own price for him any day you like to name the sum." Without waiting for an answer he turned away, and bc^au conversing in an under tone with his cousin Annie. OR, THii RAILROAD OF LIFE. Igl CHAPTER XX. SOME O? THE CHAEACTERS PALL OUT AND OTHERS FALL l^S. *• So ! you're old acqaaintances, it seems ! " observed Leicester, who had overheard the conversation foUowdng upon Lewis's intro- duction to Lord Bellefield. " Frere told me about the dof^ business, but 1 never knew till now that it had been Bellefield who offered you money for him. I can see you were annoyed about it. Belle fancies money can buy everything, (which is pretty,true in the long run,) and a dog is a dog to him and nothing more ; he'd never di'eam of making a friend of one ; in fact, he votes friendsliip a bore altogether ; so you must not heed his insult to Herr Faust. What are people going to do this after- noon 1 I wish somebody wou^d settle something. Annie, just attend to me a minute, will you — what are we going to do V " Papa talked of a skating party on the lake," returned Annie, " but I've had no definite orders. Where can papa be 1 — do go and look for him, Charles." " Is he in the house, think you ] " inquired Charles, rising languidly, and gazing round with a look of dreamy helplessness. " I saw General Grant cross the lawn with a gentleman — Mr. De Grandeville, I believe — not five minutes since," obsen'ed Lewis. " Exactly ; then as you know where to find him, Arundel, and I don't, I dare say you'll be kind enough to tell him that — what was it, Annie 1 " said Leicester, re-seating himself in an easy-chair, with an expression of intense relief. " Charley, how idle you are ! I am quite ashamed of you," exclaimed Annie, vehemently ; then, turning to Lewis, she con- tinued, — " If you would be so kind, Mr. Arundel, as to ask papa whether the lake scheme holds good, and if we ai'e to walk oi drive there, I should be so much obliged to you." Lewis signified his wilhngness to execute her wishes, and calling to Walter to accompany him, left the room. " Well, Annie, how do you like Lewis Arundel by this time ? inquired her cousin. "Wasn't I right in telling you he was quite a catch ? " 162 LEWIS abundel; " Yes, indeed," returned Annie, warmly ; " and he is so kind and clever about that poor Walter ; I don't know what we should do without him. I think it is quite delightful to see his manner towards him, poor boy ! it combines all the tenderness of a woman with the firmness of a man, he is so patient and forbear- ing ; but it must in some degi'ee repay him for his trouble, to sae the improvement he has effected, and the strong affection he has inspired. Walter absolutely seems to dote upon him." " A most desirable acquisition, certainly, the affection of an idiot," observed Lord Bellefield, with a satirical curl of the lip. " I never despise real affection of any kind," returned Annie, quickly. " I am delighted to hear* you say so, belle cousine," replied Lord Bellefield, fixing his bold roving eyes on her, Avith an expression intended to be fascinating, but which was simply disagi-eeable. Annie looked annoyed, and saying she must warn Miss Living- stone of the intended expedition, rose and quitted tlie apartment. "Wlien the brothers were left together, Charles, after a minute's pause, began — " I say, Bellefield, I wish you'd try and be a little more civil to young Arundel ; you annoyed him by the way in which you offered money for his dog, just after he had risked his life to save it, and I don't think you mended matters by what you added to-day ; recollect he's a gentleman by birth, and has the feelings of one." "Curse liis feelings!" was the unamiable rejoinder; "he's a proud, insolent young puppy; if he's a gentleman by birth, he's a beggar by position, and requires pulling down to his proper level ; I've no notion of dependents giving themselves such airs, and shall let him know my opinion some of these days." Charley Leicester regarded his elder brother with a half sleepy look of serio-comic disgust, then slightly shrugging his shoulders, he drew on his glove, placed his hat on his head, arranged his curls to his satisfaction at a muTor, and lounged gi-acefuUy out of the room. Scarcely had he done so, when the late subject of their con- versation entered by another door which opened into the conser- vatory, and glanced rovnid the apartment as if in quest of some one ; apparently the object of his search was not to be discerned, for turning to Lord Bellefield, he inquired, " whether he coald direct him where to find Miss Grant?" OR, THE RAILKOAD OF LIFE. 163 The person adckessed favoured him for some seconds with a supercihous stare, ere he ans^vered, " And what might you want ^vith that young lady, pray ?" Lewis paused for a moment before he dared trust himself to reply, for the tone in which the question had been asked was most insolent. At length he said, " I can have no objection to gratify your lordship's ciu-iosity. The General wished me to infonn Miss Grant, that he had aiTanged a skating party on the lake for this afternoon, and that carriages would be at the door in ten minutes, to transport those of the company thither who might prefer di'iving to walking." " Eeally, you must possess a wonderfal memory, Mr. Anmdel ; I dare sweai* those were the General's very words ; as, however, I can scarcely imagine it consistent with your onerous duties, to play me part of squire to dames, I'll save you the trouble for once, by delivering yoiu- message myself." And with an irritating smile, as he remarked the anger his words had produced. Lord Bellefield turned, and quitted the apartment. Lewis stood for a moment gazing after the retreating figm-e, liis chest heaving, and his nostrils expanded, like those of some hunted animal ; then pacing the room (his invariable custom when laboiu'ing under strong excitement), he gave vent to the following broken sentences : "He meant to insult me — his words, his look, ever}i:hing proves it — and I did not resent it ; — perhaps he thinks I fear him — if I believed so, I'd follow him, and before them all, fix on him the blow of shame that he must avenge, or own himself a coward." As he spoke, he took two or thi-ee hasty strides towards the door; checking himself, however, as his eye acci- dentally feU upon Walter, who had entered with him, and who stood regarding him with looks of stupid amazement, he continued: " But I must not think of myself only ; the interests of othei-s are at stake — Rose — my Mother — that poor boy — I dare not sacrifice them." He flung himself into a chair, and pressing his hand against his burning brow, resumed, — " Oh, why am I called upon to bear this 1 — how have I sinned, that this degradation should be forced upon me 1 — the coward ! he knows I am bound hand and foot, or he dare not thus insult me ; it is like striking a fettered man — " he paused, then added, " WeU, a time may come when I may meet him more as an equal; at all events, now, it is my duty to bear as much as human nature can, and I'll do it." He 164 LEWIS ARUNDEL J remained silent for a few minutes, with his hand ovei' his eyes, waiting till the excitement should pass away. From this state he was aroused by feehng something touch him, and looking up, he perceived the idiot, half kneeling, half sitting by his side, gazing up into his face with looks of wonder and sympathy. This mute evidence of affection acted as a balm to his wounded spirit, and laying his hand kindly on the boy's shoiilder, he said, — " Walter, my poor fellow, have I frightened you 1 I was not angry with i/ou, you know; come, we will walk down to the lake, and see the skating. "What has become of Faust, I wonder ? we must take him with us, of com'se." " Who was that who went away just now 1" returned Walter ; he with the hau- over his mouth, I mean 1 " " That was Lord Bellefield, your friend Mr. Leicester's brother." " He's a bad man, isn't he 1" " Why should you think so, Walter ?" The boy paused for a few moments in reflection, then answered — "His eyes look wicked, and frighten me ; besides, he made you angry — I hate him." " You should not say that, Walter ; you know it is not right to hate any one," returned Lewis, feeling di-eadfolly hypocritical; then linking his arm in that of his pupil, they passed out through the conservatory. As the sound of their retreating footsteps died away, a figure peeped timidly into the apartment, and seeing it was untenanted, entered, and gazed after them long and fixedly. It was Annie Grant, who, returning to learn the result of Lewis's embassy to her father, had involuntarily overheard both the insult, and the burst of wounded feeling which it had called forth. In that short five minutes were sown seeds that, as they gi-ew to maturity, bore sleepless nights and weary days, and the tearless Borrow of a breaking heart, as a portion of their bitter fruit. The lake in Broadhm-st Park presented a gay scene on the afternoon in question. The General, anxious to propitiate the good-will of the voters, had ordered the park to be thrown open to all who might choose to witness, or join in, the amusement of skating. A sharp frost, which had continued, without intermis- sion, for several days, had covered the water with a firm coating of ice, which afforded a surface as smooth as glass for the evolu- tions of the skaters. The sun was shining brightly, bringing out beautiful effects of light and shade on the steep and rugged OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 165 bauks; and causing the lioar-frost on the feathery branches of a young birch plantation to ghtter hke sprays of diamonds. On the side approached by the drive from the house, a tent had been pitched, in such a direction that any of the party who feared to -expose themselves to the cold, might witness the performances of the skaters, and yet be sheltered from the troublesome intrusion of the north wind. As Lewis and Walter came in sight of the spot (on which several groups of well-dressed people, together with a considerable number of a lower class, were ah'eady assembled) the latter uttered an exclamation of deUght, and, roused out of his usual state of apathy by the novel excitement, bounded gaily forward, till he reached the side of Charles Leicester, to whom he had taken* an extreme fancy. " Mr. Arundel is going to teach me how to skate, Mr. Leicester, and you are to help," he exclaimed, as soon as he had recovered breath after his run. "Am I?" returned Leicester, with a good-natured smile; •" how do you know that I will help you ?" " Because Mr, Arundel said so ; and everybody minds liim — Faust and all." " Is that true, Arundel 1 Am I to do just as you tell me 1" inquired Leicester, as the individual alluded to joined them. " It is quite right that Walter should think so, at all events," returned Lewis ; " but I told him to ask you, as a favour, whether you would lend us your assistance. Walter is anxious to learn to skate, and to save his cranium from getting a few arti- ficial bumps suddenly developed upon it, I propose that you and I should each take one of his arms, and keep him from falling, tiU he learns to stand safely upon his skates without assistance." Leicester gave vent to a deep sigh of resignation, then mut- tered, " Well, I should certainly never have dreamed of under- going such an amount of exertion on my own account ; but I suppose Walter fancies it will be very charming ; and he has not a great many pleasures, poor fellow !" he continued, aside ; and so, like a good-natui'ed, kind-hearted creature, as, despite his affec- tation, he reaUy was, he performed the service required of him, and actually exerted himself till his complexion became, as he expressed it, "redder than that of some awful ploughboy." After a time Walter grew tired with the unaccustomed exercise^ and, taking off his skates, the ti'io proceeded to join the party at 1G6 LEWiS ARUNDEL j the teut. As they approached, Auuie tripped up to Leicester, and, seizing his arm, said, " Where have you been all this time 1 I wanted you particularly." She then added something in a low voice which had the effect of heightening her cousin's unromantic complexion to a still greater degi-ee, and elicited from him the incredulous ejaculation, " Nonsense !" " I knew you'd be surprised," returned Annie, laughing. "She is going to remain here till the party breaks up, so you'll have plenty of "'time to make yourself agreeable, if it's not 'too much trouble,' or ' such a bore,' " she continued, mimicking Charles's languid drawl. "How was this matter brought about, pray f inquired her cousin; "and why on earth do you fancy it concerns me in any way V " It was all my doing," retmiied Annie. " I was not blind when we were in Scotland ; and after you left us I made a point of cul- tivating the young lady ; and — fortunately for you — approving of her, I asked papa to let me invite her to Broadhm-st." " Of course, with tliat discretion which is such a striking characteristic of youi- amiable sex, imparting to him all your views in doing so." " Now, Charley, you are veiy cross and unkind and disagree- able. I asked her merely because I thought it would give you pleasure ; and though I like sometimes to tease you a little my- self, of course I never di-eamed of saying anything to my father which coiild annoy you." " Well, you are a dear, good little cousin, I know, so I wont scold you," was the reply ; and they entered the tent together. A few minutes afterwards Lewis was engaged in pointing out to Walter one of the skaters who was performing some very intricate figm-e with great success, when he heard a female voice exclaim, " Surely I am not mistaken, — that is Mr. Arundel !" and, tui-ning at the sound, beheld, leaning on the arm of Chai'les Leicester, Miss Laura Peyton, the young lady who had pene- trated his disg-uise at Lady Lombard's party. Not to retm-n her bow was impossible ; but at the recollection of all that had passed on that evening, his cheek flushed, and his features assumed a cold, haughty expression, the result of mingled pride and vexation, under which he strove to conceal his annoyance. Annie, who was not aware that Lewis and her friend had ever met before, glanced from one to the other ^vith looks of the gi-eatest OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 1G7 astomshment, which was by no means diminished when Miss Peyton continued, " Now let me inquire after the Prince of Persia. I hope you left his highness in the enjoyment of good health." While Lewis was striving to fi-ame a suitable reply, Annie, who could restrain herself no longer, exclaimed, in a tone of the utmost bewilderment, " The Prince of Persia ! My dear Laura, arc you out of your senses 1 " The only reply her friend was able for some minutes to retm-n, was rendered inaudible by a fit of laughing, in which Leicester and at last, even Lewis himself, could not resist joining. " Now I call that abominable," continued Annie ; " you are all enjoying some excellent joke, and I am left to pine in ignorance, Laura, what are you laughing at 1 " "A^ Mr. Leicester," returned Miss Peyton, breathless with laughter. ^ " Chai-les, what is it all about 1 " " Ask Arundel," was the reply, " he is the proper person to explain." " Mr. Arundel, you must tell me !" " Really, I must beg you to excuse me," began Lewis ; " Misa Peyton — that is — ^Ir. Leicester — in fact, it is utterly impossible for me to tell you. Come, Walter, you've rested quite long enough, you'll catch cold sitting still, after making yoiirself so hot ;" and as he spoke, he took his pupil's aim, and hastily quitted the tent. Of course as soon as he was out of earshot, Annie reiterated her demand that the mystery should be explained, and of coiu-se Lam^ begged Charles to relate the affair, and then, woman like, inter- rupted him before he had uttered half-a-dozen words, and being once fairly off, did not stop till she had told the whole history, from beginning to end, which she did with much spirit and droUeiy ; then, in her tiuTi, she had to be informed of the position Lewis held in the Greneral's family ; how wonderfully Walter had improved under his care, and how much everybody liked him. When they had fully discussed these matters, they were joined by Lord Bellefield, who escorted them across the ice, to witness moi-e closely the proceedings of the skatei-s. Later in the afternoon, a party of young men had undertaken to skate a quadrille ; this being something new, people hurried fi-om all sides to witness the performance, and a crowd speedily collected Walter had expressed a wish to see it. and Lewis, 168 LEWIS ARUNDEL; pleased at the unusual interest he took in all that was going forwai-d, which he rightly regarded as a proof of the decided progress his intellect was making, willingly complied. The crowd still continued to thicken, as the quadrille proceeded, and it had just occmred to Lewis that the weight of so many ■' people collected in one spot would tiy the strength of the ico pretty severely, when a slight cracking sound confirmed his sus- picions, and induced him to withdi*aw "Walter from the group. It was fortunate that he did so, for scarcely were they clear of the crowd, when a sharp crack, like the repoi-t of a pistol, rang in hia ears, followed in rapid succession by one or two similar pxplosions. Then came a rush of many feet, accompanied by the shrill screaming of women, and on looking round, Lewis perceived that a portion of the ice had given way, and that several persons were struggling in the water. CHAPTER XXL FAUST GETS ON SWIMMINGLY, AITO THE READER IS INTRODUCED TO A DIVING BELLE WRINGING WET. The shrieks alluded to in the last chapter still continued, and Lewis, consigning Walter to the care of a servant, hastened to the spot to render any assistance which it might be in his power to afford. As he reached the scene of action, the panic and con- fusion were so gi-eat, that it was no easy matter to ascertain the extent of the mischief, or to perceive how best it might be remedied. Loi\i Bellefield, who seemed the only person at all collected, was issuing directions in a loud authoritative voice, to which the majority of the bystanders appeared too much alarmed and excited to pay attention. The number of persons who were actually immersed had been increased by the injudicious attempts of those who had first endeavom-ed to assist them by rushing to the edge of the broken ice, which, giving way under their weight, had plunged them also into the water. As Lewis came up, a rope was flung across the opening, and held tightly by men on either side ; gi-asping this firmly with one hand, the young tutor assisted to extricate several persons who wern OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFK 169 clinging to the edges of the ice. He was just springing back, as the portion on which he was standing broke away beneath his feet, when a cry was raised, "There's a lady in the water !" and immediately some one added, " It's the General's daughter — it's Miss Grant." Before the words were well spoken, Lewis had flung off his gi-eat-coat, and was about to plunge into the water, when his eye suddenly caught that of Lord Bellefield, who, having in the confusion accidentally stationed himself by his side, was pointing with vehement gestui-es to the spot, where, paiily sustained by the buoyant natui-e of her dress, partly suppoi-ted by a mass of floating ice, the form of Annie Grant was to be dis- cerned. At the sight of the eager face of the man who had insulted him, some evil spirit seemed to take possession of Lewis's * breast ; checking himself suddenly, he stepped back a pace, and fixing his eyes with a piercing glance on Lord Belle- field's featui'es, said coldly, " I beg pardon, your lordship will, of course, rescue Miss Grant." For a moment anger and surprise deprived Lord Bellefield of the power of speaking, but as soon as he could find words, he replied, " Go on, sir ; as you could risk yom* life for a dog, you will surely take a cold bath to save your master's daughter." The speech was an ill-chosen one, for it excited a degi'ee of in-itation which outweighed all other considerations, and folding his arms across his chest, Lewis replied in a tone of the bitterest irony, "Your lordship must excuse me, / am no squire of dames." Lord Bellefield's only rejoinder was an oath, and, flinging off his wi'apper, he appeared about to spring into the water. Sud- denly changing his intention, he tm-ned to Lewis, and exclaimed, his face livid with rage and vexation, " Ten thousand curses on you ! you know I cannot swim." - It is at such moments as these, when by om* o-^ti wilful act we have laid om-selves open to his attacks, that the tempter m-ges us on to crimes which in our calmer moments we should siiudder to contemplate. A glance of triumph shot from Lewis's dark eyesj — the feai-ful thought flashed across him, — "She is to be his bride — her fortune is to repair his extravagance — perhaps he loves her — let him save her himself, I will not rescue her for him ; " and the fiend prompted the idea, worthy of its originator, that he might revenge himself on Lord Bellefield, by leaving Annie to perish. But, like many other clever people, for once 170 LEWIS akundel; the demon outwitted himself ; the very magnitude of the offence seiTing to awaken Lewis to the sinfulness of the line of conduct he had meditated. Almost in the same moment in which the idea occuiTcd to him, a mist seemed to clear itself away from his mental vision, and he perceived the abyss of: guilt on the brink of which he was standing. And now the agonizing doubt suggested itself to him, whether his repentance might not have come too late — whether Annie might not sink before he could reach her y and, as Lord Bellefield ran off impetuously to hasten the move- ments of a party who were bringing a small flat-bottomed boat towards the spot, Lewis sprang into the water, clearing a quarter of the distance in his leap, and swam with vigorous strokes in the dii-ection of the still floating figiu-e. His fears were not unfounded. Annie's di-ess, which had hitherto served in great measm-e to sustain her, was rapidly be- coming saturated with water ; every instant she sank lower, and while he was still some yards from the spot, to his horror, he per- ceived the fragment of ice on which she rested, roll round and slip from her grasp. The effect was instantaneous. Uttering a l^ierciug shriek, which rang through his ears like a death-knell, she threw out her arms in a vain attempt to save herself, and disappeared beneath the water. At the same moment, there was a rush, a bound, a plunge, — some large animal dashed past Lewis, and ere the last fragment of Annie's di-ess disappeared, Faust had seized it in his mouth, and prevented its wearer from sinking. The bystanders now drew the rope which had been flimg across the opening in the ice, in such a direction that Lewis could grasp it, and, thus supported, he contrived to raise Annie's head above the water, and, with some assistance from Faust, to keep both her and himself afloat till such time as the punt should arrive. This, fortunately, was not long. The instant it was launched, Lord Bellefield and one or two others jumped into it, and in another moment Annie Grant was rescued from her perilous situation, to the hoiTors of which she was however by this time happily insensible. As they were lifting her into the boat, poor Faust, who probably did not understand that his services were no longer needed, still retained his hold on her dress, and Lord Belle- field struck him so fiercely with the handle of a boat-hook that he fell back, stunned, and would have sunk, had not Ijcwis, who was still in the water, thrown his arm round him and supp(>rted him. OR, THE RAILRO.VD 0^ LIFE. 171 " The punt can hold no more," exclaimed Lord Bellefield ; " Miss Grant's safety must not be endangered for any considera- tion ; " and as he spoke he pushed the boat fi-om the spot, leav- ing Lewis still clinging to the rope and supporting the weight of the dog, which did not as yet begin to show any signs of life. ' We will bring the boat back for you, sir, directly," cried one of the men who were assisting Lord Bellefield in pimting. " You must be qiiick about it, if you care to be of any use," retm-ned Lewis in a faint voice, " for I can't hold on much longer ; my limbs are becoming numbed ^\-ith the cold." " Better let go the dog if you're in any difficulty," suggested Lord Bellefield, with a malicious laugh, as the boat moved rapidly away. " That is the way they would repay youi* faithful service, eh ! my poor Faust," mui-mm-ed Lewis ; " never fear, we'll sink or swim together, my dog. If any one deseiwes to drown for this day's work, 'tis I, not you." At the sound of his master's voice the poor animal opened his eyes, and began to show signs of re- turning animation. Fortunate was it for them both, that Lewis had contrived to place the rope tinder his arms in such a position as almost entirely to support, not only his own weight, but that of the dog also ; for long before the boat retimied, his streng-th was entirely exhausted — and his Hmbs, from the length of time he had been immersed in the icy water, had completely lost aU sensation, and were powei'less as those of a child. Lord Bellefield contrived to detain the boat, on various pretexts, till at last the man who had promised to retmni, lost all patience, and pushed off" without waiting for permission ; in another moment it was by Lewis's side. " Take the dog first," exclaimed Lewis, in a voice scarcely auchble fi-om exliaustion. '• Now you must lift me in, for I can't help myself." "With some difficulty (for even with the assistance of the rope Lewis had been barely able to keep his own head and that of Faust above water), the men in the boat complied with his direc- tions ; the dog had by this time nearly recovered from the efiects of the blow, and was able to stand up and lick his master's face and hands, as he lay at the bottom of the punt. Lewis, however, by no means appeared in such good case — his cheeks and even lips were deadly pale, his breathing was hard and laborious, and he kv with his eves closed, ani his Hmbs stretched out with 172 LEWIS ARUNDEL; unnatural stiffness and rigidity. As tlie boat approached the spot where a landing •svas pmcticable, Charles Leicester, who had assisted his brother in conveying Annie to the carriage, which was fortunately in waiting, came running back, and as his eye fell upon the prostrate form of Lewis, he exclaimed — *' "Why, Arundel ! good heavens, I believe he's insensible." Nor was he wrong. The instant the necessity for exertion was over, the reaction had been too much for Lewis, and he had fainted. He was instantly lifted from the boat, and carried to the tent, where such restoratives as could be at the moment pro- ciu-ed, were applied, at first without siiccess, but after a short time the colom* began to retm-n to his lips, and in a few minutes more he was restored to consciousness. " Bravo, that's all right," began Charley Leicester, as Lewis, with a faint smile, sat upright and retm-ned his hearty shake of the hand with a feeble pressiu-e ; " you begin to look a little less like a candidate for a coffin than you did five minutes ago. I declare, when I saw you .,in the boat, I thought it was a case of ' found di'owned.' Faust ! good dog ,; how unpleasantly wet you are — what a bump he's got on the top of his head, just whei'e the organ of combativeness — no, veneration, isn't it 1 ought to be. How did that Jiappen 1 In fact, I'm quite in the dark as to the whole affaii', for I had gone to fetch shawls for some of the ladies, and when I reached the scene of action, Bellefield was fishing his intended, half-di'owned, out of a moist punt, and en- listed me to assist in conveying the di-ipping damsel to the car- riage. Did you fall in together 1 " " You will hear enough about it soon, I, dare say," retm-ned Lewis, speaking feebly and with apparent difficulty ; " I am afi'aid I have scarcely sufficient life left in me just now to tell you." " Don't attempt it,** returned Leicestei', good-natm'edly. " And the sooner you get those soaked clothes off", the better. Of com-se they will send back the tmp for you." " My carnage is on the spot," intennipted a tall, aristocratic looking man, who had assisted in conveying Lewds to the tent. " My carriage is on the spot, and is veiy much at this gentleman's service ; we -must all feel anxious to prevent his suffering fi-om the effects of his. gallant conduct. The preserver of Miss Grant's life must be considered as a public benefactor." At this praise a slight colom* rose to Lewis's pale cheeks, and OK, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 173 a look of pain passed across his features. He to be styled Annie's presei-ver ! — he who had all but sacrificed her life to his feelings of revenge ! and as the recollection occurred to him, a slight shudder ran through his fi-ame. " There, you are actually shivering," exclaimed Leicester. " I shall not let you stay here any longer. Since Sir Ealph Strick- land is so kind as to offer his can-iage, there is nothing to delay us. Can you walk % Take my ann." Lewis, with an inclination of the head to Sir Ralph, took Leicester's proffered arm, and having with difficulty risen from his seat, attempted to walk, but at the first step he stumbled, and would have fallen, had not his fi'iend supported him. " Steady, there," continued Leicester ; " you're hardly in marchiilg order yet. Would you like to wait-another minute or two % " " I think I had better try to proceed," replied Lewis ; " ex- ercise may serve to restore the circulation." "Allow me to take your other arm," said Sir Ralph Strickland, kindly ; " then I think you will be able to reach the carnage — ■ it is close at hand. The length of time you were in the water has cramped your limbs. I saw the whole affair, and never witnessed anything more interesting than the conduct of your noble dog." And as he spoke, he stooped and patted Faust, then forcing Lewis to accept his offer of assistance, they left the tent together. As his blood began once again to circulate, the cramp and stiffness gradually disappeared, and ere the trio reached the can-iage, Lewis scarcely required assistance. On reaching Broadhiust, he found the General waiting to receive him, and the instant he alighted, he had to undergo a long, prosy, and pompous harangue, embodying that noble commander's gi-atitude, during the delivery of which oration the subject of it was kept standing in his wet clothes, a compulsoiy act of homage to the cold-water system, by no means congenial to his feelings, mental or bodily. How- ever, it came to an end at last, and Lewis was permitted to retire to his own room. Moreover, Charles Leicester (instigated there- unto by a hint from Miss Peyton) waylaid the apothecary, who had been summoned on Annie's account, and caused him to in- spect Lewis's condition, which measure resulted in a command to have his bed warmed, and instantly to deposit himself therein with which medical ordinance Lewis was fain to comply. 17i LE^ylS ARUNDEL ; There he lay until, from being much too cold, he became a great deal too hot, for before night he was in a high state of feverish excitement, accompanied by violent pains in the head and limbs. His medical adviser was, however, fortunately really skilful, and by vigorous and timely measures, he contrived to avert the rheumatic fever with which his patient was threatened ; and after spending three days in bed, Le^as arose, feeling indeed especially weak, but otherwise little the worse in body for hia aquatic exploit. We say in body, for mentally he had suffered, and was still suffering bitterly. As he lay on the couch of sick- ness in the silent hom's of the night, face to face with conscience, the recollection of the sin he had committed (for a sin it was, and he was too honest-hearted in his self-scrutiny not to recog- nise it as such), haunted him. The fact that he had been unable by his own act to repair the conseqxiences of the evil he had meditated, impressed him deeply — but for Faust, Annie would have sunk ere he could have reached the spot, probably to rise no more. It appeared a special interference of Providence to convince him of the folly of self-rehance, and to impress upon his mind a sense of the mercy of God, in saving him from the consequences of his revengeful feelings. True, he had repented of his fault, almost in the moment of committal ; tiiie, he had risked his life in proof of the sincerity of his repentance ; true, the provocation he had received might, in the eyes of men, serve in great measui-e to justify him ; still the knowledge that but for the interposition of Pro%ddence he might now have felt himself a miu'derer, filled him with emotions of the deepest penitence, and at the same time of the liveliest gratitude. In this frame of mind the encomiums passed upon his gallant conduct were most distressing to liim, and a short note from Annie, thanking him in a few simple words for having saved her life, added fuel to the fire of his self-condemnation. Amongst other good resolutions for the futiue he determined to bear any insults Lord Bellefield might offer, with as much patient endm-ance as coidd by any possibility be consistent with self- respect in one in his dependent situation ; and the reader may judge of the sincerity of his repentance, if he reflects what such a resolution must have cost his haughty natm-e. He also deter- mined to seek an opportunity of confessing to Annie, how little he deserved her gratitude, and to implore her forgiveness for the wrong he had intended her. The dipping that young lady had OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 175 undergone, did not appear to have affected either her health -or her spirits. By the doctor's orders she also had been sent to bed immediately on her retm-n home, where, felling asleep, she escaped a lectm-e from IMinerva, and all other evil consequences of her immersion, and woke the next morning none the worse for the accident. It was about a week after the day on which these events had taken place, when the afternoon being fine, Lewis and Walter proposed to take a ride together. Walter had mounted his pony, and Lewis was strapping a gi-eat-coat in fi-ont of his horse's saddle, when Richards, the groom, who had been elevated to the rank of second coachman, (as the illness of the head coachman had rendered his resignation an act of necessity, and the next in commatid had succeeded to his vacant box,) came forward, and touching his hat, asked if he could speak to Lewis a minute 1 " Cei'tainly j what is it 1 " retm-ned liCwis, stepping aside a few paces. " "\\1iy, sir, p'raps you know as the General's gone o'ut a- diiving 1 " " I was not aware of the fact," retm-ned Lewis ; " but what then ? " " He's a-driving of hisself, sir, — our iron-greys, Mr. Arundel. Master ain't so young as he used to was, and it's my belief if any- think startles 'em, he won't be able to hold 'em — they go sweetly now, but they do pull most amazing. I drove 'em yesterday, and afore I got home my arms ached proper?//." " Did you mention this to General Gi-ant 1 " inquired Lewis. " Well, I told him I was afeard he'd find 'em pull rather stiff; but he only give me one of his dark looks ; as much as to say, ' Keep your advice to yourself, and mind yoiu" own business.' Master's rather a hai-d gentleman to talk to, you see ; he's always been used to shooting and flogging the blacks, out in the Ingies, till it's kind a-become natm-al to him ; and as he can't act the same here with us whites, why it puts him out like." " I do not see that anything can be done now," obseiwed Lewis, after a moment's reflection : " if I had been here when the General started, I would have told him the trick the iron-gi-eya played us, and advised him not to drive them just yet ; but I dare say it would have done no good ; for as you say, your master is not over-fond of advice gratis. I suppose he has one of the grooms with him 1 " 176 L15WIS AKUXDELj " Only a mere boy, sir, and Miss Annie," was tlie reply. " What ! " exclaimed Lewis, in a quick, excited tone of voice ; " is Miss Grant with him ? Why did you not say so before 1 Which road have they taken 1 — How long have they been gone 1 " " About twenty minutes, or p'raps not so long," retui-ned Richards. " I think they're gone to Camfield — ^least ways, I heard master tell Miss Annie to bring her card-case, 'cos he was going to call on Colonel Norton." " That must be eight miles by the road, but not much above five across the fields by Chm-ton Wood," rejoined Lewis. " That is right, Mr. Arundel," was the reply ; " and the gatea is unlocked, for I rode that way with a note for Colonel Norton the day afore yesterday." Ere Richards had finished speaking, Lewis was on horseback ;. and as soon as they reached the park, he tm-ned to his pupil,, saying, " Now, Walter, sit fiimly, guide the pony on to tlie turf, tighten your reins, and then for a good canter ; — touch him with the whip — not too hard — that's it." Putting his own horse in motion at the same time, they rode forward at a brisk canter, w^hich, as the horses grew excited by the rapid motion, became almost a gallop. Crossing the park at this pace, they turned down a bridle path which led through a wood, and across several grass fields, beyond the last of which lay a wide common. As they approached this, Lewis took out his watch. " Above four miles in twenty minutes, — I call that good work for a pony. You rode veiy well, Walter, — you've a capital seat on horseback now." " I can leap too," rejoined Walter ; " Richards taught me, the days when you were ill in bed." " I'm glad to hear it," returned Lewis — who, while his pupil was speaking, had been endeavom-ing, unsuccessfully, to open a gate — " for they liave fastened this gate with a padlock, and we must find our way over the hedge." " Oh ! but I can't—," began Walter. " Yes, you can," intei-posed Lewis, " when I have cleared the road for you, and shown you how to do it. Sit still, and watch me." So saying, he selected a place where the hedge was thin, and the ditch and bank practicable, and, putting his horse into an easy canter, rode at it. Being particuku'ly anxious that nothing Bhould go wi'ong, and that Walter should be convinced of the feasibility of the attempt, Lewis was not best pleased when OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 177 Ilis horse, instead of rising to the leap, refused it, and replied to a tolerably sharp application of the spin- by plunging violently, and turning short round. His rider, however, sat as firmly as if he were part of the animal, and cantering round two sides of the field, got him well in hand and again rode him at the hedge, working his mouth with the bit, and giving him the spur. This discipline produced the desired effect ; for, instead of refusing tho leap this time, the horse sprang foi'ward with a bound which would have cleared an obstacle of twice the size, and alighted on the other side several feet beyond the ditch. Lewis rode on a few yards, and then tm-ning, leaped back into the field, and rejoined his pupil. " Now, Walter, you must do as I have done ; — canter up to that gap, give the pony his head, touch him on the flank as he approaches the hedge, sit firmly, and press in your knees, and you'll go over as nicely as possible." But poor Walter's courage failed him ; the conflict between Lewis and his horse had destroyed his confidence, and he was afraid to make the attempt ; his tutor read it in his blanched cheek and quailing glance, and being as kind and judicious as he was firm, forebore to press the point, and dismoimting, led the pony through the gap, and assisted Walter to scramble over on foot ; then remounting his steed, he tested his obedience by once more leaping him over ; and having thus achieved the adventure of the locked gate, tutor and pupil cantered off across the common. But this little episode had caused some loss of time, and when Lewis reached the lane leading to the village, near which Colonel Norton's house was situated, he leai-ned from a man who was mending the road, that a pliaeton, answering the description of General Grant's equipage, had passed a few minutes before. " My friend Richards' fears were needlessly excited then, it seems, and the old gentleman is a better whip than he gavs him ci-edit for being," thought Lewis. " Come, Walter," he added aloud, " we will go back by the road. Don't trot just yet ; the horses are warm, we must allow them to get a little cool." After proceeding a\)out half-a-mile along the lane, which was only just wide enough to allow vehicles to pass each other, they overtook an elderly woman in a red cloak, most picturesquely perched between two panniers on a donkey's back. Such an arrangement being a novelty to Walter, he was prcoeeding K 178 LEWIS ARUNDEL; inquire of what use the panniers were, when Lewis's quick sens® of hearing caught a sound which caused him to rein in his horse^ and, enjoining silence, pause to listen. His ears had not deceived him. Owing to the frosty weather the road was particulaily hard, the ruts also had been lately mended with coarse gTavel, and as he listened the sound of horses' feet galloping, and the rattle of a can-iage proceeding at unusual speed, became distinctly audible in the lane behind them. The vehicle wag evidently rapidly approaching. The lane being in this pait extremely narrow, Lewis's first thought was for Walter's safety. Seizing the pony's rein, he set spurs to his horse, and they cantered on a short distance tiU they reached a gateway lead- ing into a field. The gate was fortunately open, and desiring Walter to ride into the field, and wait tiU he joined him, he turned his horse's head and began to retrace his steps. As soon as he had passed an old oak-tree which stood at a corner of the road and prevented any one fi-om seeing beyond it, he perceived the cause of the sounds which had reached him, and which lie had already but too correctly divined. At about a hundred yards fi-om the spot where he was stationed, appeared a phaeton drawn by a pair of magnificent iron-grey horses, which Lewis had no difficulty in recognising ; from the fiu'ious pace at which they were advancing, it was evident that their driver had lost all control over them ; while about half-way between Lewis and the equipage in question, were the donkey and panniers, with the old woman in the red cloak before alluded to. The gentleman driving the phaeton shouted to her to get out of the way, and Lewis made signs as to which side of the road she had better take ; but she appeared either paralysed with fear, or unable to guide her donkey ; and ere she was able to comply with, or probably to comprehend these directions, the infuriated horses had overtaken her, and dashing against her, flung, her, donkey, panniers and all, to the ground with a shock hke that of a battering ram. At the same instant Lewis, availing himself of the temporary check, rode forward, and, springing from his saddle, seized the heads of the phaeton horses, and with much difficulty, and no inconsiderable personal risk, succeeded in stopping them. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 179 CHAPTER XXri. niE TRAIN ARRIVES AT AN IMPORTANT STATION. Tee catastrophe related at the end of the last chapter attracted the attention of a couple of labourers, who had been engaged in mending the road, and they immediately hastened to the spot, to render any assistance which might be required. By their aid, the poor woman was extricated from her periloua- situation, and fortunately proved to be less injured than could have bfeen expected, a dislocated shoulder being the most serious hurt she had sustained. Committing the phaeton and horses to the care of one of the working men, Lewis and the other labourer carried the poor woman to a cottage, by the road-side, and deposited her on a bed, till such time as the surgeon (for whom General Grant had, by his daughter's suggestion, despatched the groom on the horse which Lewis had ridden) should arrive. Luckily, they had not long to wait, as the boy met the person he was in search of, returning from his round of professional visits. The dislocated shoulder was soon set to rights and bandaged up, and the sight of Annie's well-filled purse rendered easy an arrangement with the tenants of the cottage, to allow the invalid to continue their inmate till the next day, when she could be removed without detriment. In the meantime, the General bad drawn Lewis on one side, and was expatiating to him upon the cause of the accident. " You perceive, Mr. Arundel, that my wrist is slightly swollen 1 Well, sir, tliat is from an old strain received in the little affair at Sticum- lykphuu J I was only a captain then, — the company to which I belonged got separated from the regiment in crossing a jungle, and a party of the Rajah's in-egular horse tried to cut us off; they were upon us so suddenly, we hadn't time to form a hollow square, and for a minute, our fate appeared sealed ; — they rode the men down like sheep. In the melee, a gigantic trooper cut down the coloui'-sergeant, and was about to possess himself of the flag, when I seized the staff with my left hand, and struck at him with my sabre, but, imfortunately, it broke on his cuirass — ^hia Bword had also snapped with the blow which had caused the. x2 180 LEWIS ARUNDEL; sergeant's death, and a struggle ensued between us, for the poti- session of the colours. His strength was in proportion to hia height, but, although I Mt as if every muscle in my arms waa about to snap, I held on, till one of my men shot him through the head. At the same moment, a troop of the 14th Lancers rode up, and rescued us — but my ^vl•ists have never recovered that strain. However, I found little difficulty in holding in these horses, till, just now, when we had turned to come home, some boys overthrew a barrow full of stones by the road-side, which startled the animals ; they broke into a gaUop, and, despite all my efforts to prevent it, the accident to which you were witness, occurred." " Had I known of yoiu* intention, sir, I should have cautioned you not to tmst them too implicitly," replied Lewis. "Before yom- return, — by Miss Livingstone's wish, — I went over the stables to ascertain whether there were any carriage horses she could use. I di'ove these greys the second or third time they had ever been in harness, and they ran away with me in Broad- hurst Park ; but I have taken them out several times since, when Walter wished for an airing, and I believed they had become quiet." " Indeed," retm-ned the General, more graciously than was his wont, " I was not aware you were so good a whip ; that relieves me fi-om a great difficulty ; you will be so obliging as to drive the phaeton home, and I can ride your horse. With my wrists in their pi'esent condition, it would be a gi-eat risk for me to attempt to hold in those animals, and the groom is a mere boy. Annie, my dear," he continued, as his daughter approached them from the cottage ; " our difficulties are at an end ; Mr. Arundel, it appears, has been in the habit of di-iving these horses lately, and will be so good as to take my place, and see you safely home." "But, papa ^ began Annie, in a tone of remonstrance, while a slight accession of colour replaced the roses, which fear had banished from her cheeks. " My dear, the arrangement is the only one which appears feasible, under present circimistances. I shall ride Mr, Arundel's hoi-se, and will keep near, so you need be under no alarm," re- turned her father, majestically. Annie by no means approved of the plan.-— in the first place, Bhe was a good deal afraid of the horses, and having no experience of Lewis's skill as a driver, was naturally alarmed at trusting 0. l^ OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 181 herself agaiii behind them. In the second place, she had a vague idea that it was scarcely etiquette to take a tete-a,-tete diive with the handsome young tutor. But she saw that her father was quite determined, sc, like a sensible girl, she refrained fi-om offering opposition which she foresaw would be useless. Lewis, however, reading in that " book of beauty," her expre*. sive face, the secret of her fears, took an opportunity, while the General was altering the stirrups to suit himself, to re-assure her, by saying, " You need not be in the least afraid, Miss Grant ; believe me, I would not undertake so great a tmst as that of yoiu" safety, did I not feel perfectly sm-e that I could drive you. home without the slightest danger." As Leiris spoke, Annie raised her eyes, and glanced at him for a momefit. It has been ab-eady remarked, in the course of this veracious history, that when Lewis smiled, the nameless charm which in Rose Arundel's face won the love of all who knew her, shed its lustre over his handsome features — to analyse such au expression of countenance is scarcely possible, but perhaps the nearest approach to a coirect description of it would be, to say that it was a bright sunshiny look, which inspired others with a conviction of its wearer's kindliness of heart, and honest truth- fulness of pxirpose. Such was its effect in the present instance, and when her father handed her to her seat in the phaeton, the uneasiness which had arisen from a want of confidence in her di'iver, had in great measure disappeai'ed. Lewis waited, with the reins in his hand, till the General had mounted and ridden off with Walter, who acquiesced silently in the change of com- panion, then springing lightly to his place, he desired the man at the horses'" heads to stand aside, and drove off. The iron-greys soon found out the difference between their late conductor and their present one, and after one or two slight attempts to gain their own way, gave up the point, and settled down into a quiet steady trot. Annie, whose alarm had quickened her perceptions on the subject, was not long in remarking the change, and tinning to her companion observed, " How do you contrive to make the horses go so quietly, Mr. Ai-undel ? When papa was driving them, they did nothing but dance and caper the whole way, and at last, as you are aware, ran away with us." Lewis, who considered that the present was a f^voiu'able opportunity which might never occur again, to unburden hia mind in regard to the skating, affair, and was debating with him- 182 LEWIS ARUNDEL; self how he might best introduce the subject, heard her question mechanically, as it were, without its reaching the eai-s of his undei-standing, and it was not until he observed her look of surprise at receiving no answer to her query, that he hastened to reply, " I beg your pardon. Miss Grant, I was thinking on quite a diflferent subject. I have lived such a hermit's life of late with poor Walter, that I fear I have become dreadfully absent. " I merely asked by what charm you had contrived to tame these fiery steeds/' returned Annie, smiling at his evident bewil- derment. " The charm of a steady hand and a strong arm," replied Lewis. " But these horses and I are old acquaintances ; we had a struggle once for the mastery, and I conquered, which they have not forgotten." He then gave her a short accoimt of the run-away scene in Broadhiu-st Park, to which she listened with much interest. When he had concluded, Annie remarked, " How dreadful it must have been when they were rushing towards the lake, and you felt uncertain whether you might be able to check their wild career ! That lake seems destined to become the scene of dangerous adventm-es. I must take this opportunity," she continued, with a faint blush, " of thanking you for saving my life : in the few hurried lines I wrote you, I am afraid I scarcely made you imderstand how much I — in fact, that I am not ungi-ateful." It was now Lewis's tvu:n to feel embarrassed. The moment he had sought for was arrived ; he must confess that which would tm*n his companion's gratitude into aversion ; he must forfeit her good opinion kretrievably, and probably for this very reason, (so perverse is human nature,) he, for the first time, discovered that he valued it highly. Annie was the only member of the family (with the exception, perhaps, of Charles Leicester,) who had never caused him to feel painfully his dependent situation ; and it had not escaped his notice, how, on several occasions, she had interfered to save him from some trifling annoyance, which her woman's tact led her to feel would be doubly mortifying to his proud and sensitive uatm-e. Still he had resolved to make the confession, and with him to resolve, and to do, were one and the same thmg. Another difficulty which rendered his task more embarrassing was, that, in order to make his explana- tion intelligible, he must revei-t to Lord Bellefield's insult, and though, at that moment, nothing would have given him gi-eatei OB, THE EUrEOAD OT IXFE, i93 uatisfaction than to bestow on that unworthy scion of nobility ■a Bound horse-whipping, he shrank from the idea of being supposed capable of the littleness of revenging himself by in- juring his enemy in the aflfections of his betrothed. Thiiiing, however, was useless; the more he reflected, the more embar- rassed did he become, so he plunged at once in medias res, by exclaiming, " You cannot be aware, Miss GSrant, of the pain your words give me; fer from deserving your gratitude, I must implore yom- pardon for having nearly sacrificed your Hfe to my unfortvumtely warm temper, and revengeful feelings; nor shall I again enjoy peace of mind till I have obtained your forgiveness, should I indeed be fortunate enough to succeed in doing so." At this singular address, Annie opened her large eyes and re- garded laer companion with unmixed astonishment, feeling by no means satisfied that he had not suddenly taken leave of his senses — not heeding her surprise, however, Lewis continued: •" In order to make my tale intelligible, I must revert to an occm-rence which I would rather, for many [reasons, have left unmentioned ; but you will, I hope, do me the justice to beheve that I am actuated by no unworthy motive in alluding to it. About a year ago, my favourite dog became entangled, whilst •smmming in the Serpentine river, and woidd have been drowned if I had not jumped in and saved him." " I know, I saw it all, we were driving in the park at the time," interrupted Annie, eagerly. " As I regained the bank," resumed Lewis, *• a gentleman, whom I have since learned to be yom' cousin. Lord Bellefield, came up and offered me a sum of money for the dog. I had not accomplished Faust's rescue without some risk, for though I am a good swimmer, my wet clothes kept dragging me down, and I confess the offer of money for an animal I had just imperilled my life to save, irritated me, and I retm-ned Lord Bellefield an answer which, perhaps, he was justified in considering imperti- nent. When Mr. Leicester introduced me to his brother, on the day of the skating party, it was evident he had not forgotten this transaction, and he soon found an opportunity to address me in a style which could only have been applied to a dependent with safety." As he spoke these words in a tone of bitter contempt, his eyei flashing and his cheeks bm-ning, his companion murmured as though she were thinking" aloxid, " It was ungenerous of him, in 184 LEWIS iUiUNDEL; the extreme." Lewis remaiued silent for a moment, and then continued in a calmer voice, " I am by nature of a lamentably hasty temper, and my impulse would have led me to resent Lord Bellefield's insult (3n the spot ; but many considerations with- held me, and still possessed by angry feeling, I joined the party on the lake. After the ice had given way, while I was assisting those who clung to the edges to scramble out, I fii-st became aware that you were in the water, and I was about to jump in and swim to your assistance when, by some ill luck, yom* cousin approached in a state of great excitement, and ordered me autho- ritatively to * save my master's daughter.' " "Oh! how could he say such a thing?" exclaimed Annie indignantly. " As he spoke," resumed Lewis, " some evil spirit seemed to take possession of me, and, to annoy him, I bowed and drew back, saying, ' Your Lordship must excuse me, — I am no squire of dames ;' adding, that of cotu'se he would rescue you himself From the irritation produced by my reply, I discovered that his Lordship was unable to swim, and having reason to suppose your safety was especially important to him, the fiendish idea crossed my mind, that by leaving you to perish, I could revenge myself on him more effectually than by any other means." "How could you be so unjust, so cruel, even in ideal" in- temipted Annie reproachfully ; " I who have never injm-ed you in thought, word, or deed ; — but you were maddened at the time, and knew not what you did." " I must indeed have been mad," exclaimed Lewis, completely overcome by the kindness of these last words, " when I could even for a moment forget the gentle com'tesy with which you have always treated me — the consideration — the — " He paused abruptly and pressed his hand to his forehead as if to shut out some hateful vision ; a relaxation of vigilance of which the near- side hoi-se took advantage to shy at its own shadow and break into a canter, which manoeu\Te restored Lewis's self-possession in an instant, the rein was again tightened, and the culprit ad' monished, by a sharp stroke of the whip, tkat he was not to indulge in such caprices for the futm'e, — ere his di'iver resumed — " I had scarcely formed the idea you so justly stigmatize as cruel, when the atrocity of the act flashed across me, and as Lord Bellefield i*an off to procm-e a boat, I sprang into the water and Bwam towards you ; imagine then the aa;ony of mind with which OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 185 I perceived that you would sink before I could reach you ! At that moment I felt what it was to be a mui'derer ! The rest of the tale you have no doubt heard from others — how it pleased the Almighty to permit the instinct of my noble dog to become the instrument by which you were saved from death, and I from a life of remorse, to which death itself would have been preferable. Of this you are already aware ; it only remains for me to add, *hat if the deepest self-abhon-ence, the most sincere repentance for the past may weigh with you, you will forgive me the wrong I meditated." At this moment the sound of horses' feet canter- ing, gave notice that General Grant was about to effect a junction with the main body, and Annie replied hastily, " As far as I have anything to forgive, Mr. Arundelj I do so most heartily. If for a moirient you thought of allowing my life to be sacrificed, you risked yom* own to save it immediately aftei-^'ards, so that I re- main your debtor, even putting to-day s adventm'e out of the account — for I fully believe papa and I were in a fau- way to break our necks, though he would not allow it." " "Well, Annie," remarked the General, riding up to his daughter's side, " you don't appear to be frightened now." " No, papa," was the reply, " there is nothing to be alarmed at ; the horses go as quietly as possible." " All ! I thought I had pretty well tamed them," retiu-ned the General triumphantly ; " you scarcely find them at all difiicult to restrain now, Mr. Arundel, I presume." " They do pull a little strongly, even yet, sir," returned Lewis quietly ; " that glove was whole when I took the reins." As he spoke, he held up his left hand, and disclosed two large rents caused by the friction. "Hum !" rephed the General, slightly disconcerted; "well, you have di-iven them very steadily ; don't huny them, take them in cool; Walter and I will precede you, and explain how this adventm-e came about." So saying, he g-ave his horse the rein, and he and Walter cantered on. " Lord Bellefield has behaved abominably," obsei-ved Annie, abruptly, after they had proceeded for some distance in silence ; "he ought to apologise to you, and I have a gi-eat mind to make him do so." " Do not think of such a thing," returned Lewis, hastily. " If I can read his character, Lord Bellefield is a veiy proud man, and to one whom he considers his inferior, he could not bring himself 186 LEWIS ARUNDEL , to apologise j uor, on calmly reviewiug my own conduct, can T entirely acquit myself of having given him cause of ojGfence ; in my manner towards him I have shown too plainly my forget- fulness of om- difference of station. Feeling that the son of one who was a soldier, a man of old family, and a gentleman in the highest sense of the word, is any man's equal, I overlooked the distinction between the heir to a peerage and a poor tutor, and I treated Lord Bellefield, as I would any other man whose manner displeased me, cavalierly, without considering, or indeed caring, in what Hght my conduct might appear to him. This error I am resolved to avoid for the future, and if he will, on hia part, forbear farther insult, it is all I desire. Believe me," added Lewis, in a tone which carried conviction with it, "I do not undervalue your kindness in advocating my cause, but I would not have you suffer further annoyance on my account ; so if you have really forgiven me, you will best show it by forgetting the whole matter as speedily as possible." Annie shook her head as though she considered such a termi- nation to the affair highly improbable, merely replying, " Perhaps you are right in thinking I should do more harm than good by my interference ; at all events, I will be guided in the matter by your -wishes. And now, !Mi-. Arundel," she continued, " let me say what I have often wished, but have never been able to find an opportunity to tell you before, and that is, that as long as you are with us, — not that I mean to hmit it only to that time,- -I hope you will regard me as a friend. I have heard from my cousin Charles an outline of the ch'cumstances thi'ough which my father was fortunate enough to secvu'e your valu- able assistance for poor Walter, and I can well conceive how greatly you must feel the loss of the society of youi' mother and sister." " I know not how to thank you for such unexampled kindness, — you are indeed returning good for evil," replied Lewis, warmly ; he paused for a moment, as if he were considering how best he might express his meaning, then added, " As far as may be, I shall most gladly avail myself of the privilege of yoiu' friendship. I cannot tell you the weight you have taken off my mind by thia convincing proof of your forgiveness. You may imagine how exquisitely painful, knowing how little I deserved them, were all the civil speeches people considered it necessary to make me on n\y ' gallant conduct' as they termed it ; as if there were any* OB, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 187 tiling wonderful in swimming a few yai-ds to save a life ! — the wonder would be for any man who could swim not to do so.'' " And yet, thinking thus lightly of the peril, you tell me you were so carried away by yom* angry feeling as to hesitate whether or not to leave me to perish," returned Annie reflectively ; " how strange that the mind can be engi'ossed by passion so completely as to banish aU its natural impulses." " You will laugh at me, and think my German education has filled my brain with strange, wild fancies," rephed Lewis, " but I beUeve that we are under a species of deaaoniacal possession at such moments — ^that by indulging our evil feeUngs instead of resisting them, we have given Satan additional power over us. You know the legend of the Wild Huntsman ; I cannot but look upon the description of the spirit-riders who accompanied the bai'on, one on a white, the other on a black steed, and alter- nately plied him with good and evil counsel, less as an allegoiy than a reality." " You believe, then, that we are constantly sui-rounded by spiritual beings imperceptible to ovu' bodily senses ? " asked Annie. " It is rather a fearful idea." " Believe," returned Lewis, " is perhaps too strong a term to apply to any theory not distinctly borne out by Holy Writ, but as far as I have stixdied the subject, I think the existence of spiritual beings of opposite natm-es, some good, some evil, is clearly indicated by Scriptm-e ; and there are many passages which would lead one to suppose that they are permitted, undei certain restrictions, to interest themselves in mundane affah-s, and influence the thoughts which are the springs of human actions — immaterial agents, in fact, for working out the wiU of God. Nor do I see anything feai'ful in the idea ; on the contraiy, as we cannot doubt that it is om* ONvn fault if the evQ spii-its ever prevail against us, and that good angels witness our straggles to do right, and are at hand to assist us, I consider the theoiy a most consolatory one." " I never looked at the subject in this light before," observed Annie thoughtfully ; " of coui'se, like most other people, I had a vague, visionary kind of belief in the existence of good angels, and evil spirits, but I never applied the belief practically, never imagined they had anything to do with me ; and yet it seems reasonable that what you have suggested shovdd be the case. Oh ! if wS LEWIS AltUN DEL ; Vorilv. tlioiv are as mam- comodios povtonuovl otV iho bta^o tw apou it ! The ball at Bri\<\dluu-st took plaoo on tho ovoning of tlio day oa -vvhioh tho abovo oonvei-saxtiou had passed, and Avas a wondorfiil aiVair iudetHl ; it wi\s given for a spooid p\n-poso. and that pxirpose Avas to oonoiliato evonbody. and induoo ovorybody to promise Cenonvl Onmt their vote and inteivst at tho ensning oloelion. Aecmxlingly, everybody was invited — at legist ovei-ybody who had tlio slightest pivteusiou to be anybody — and everybody came ; aad, as almost cvervbodv brouirht somobodv else with them. a wife, or a daxxghter, or the yonng lady t\\nn T-ondon who was speuiling Christmas with them, theiv was no laek of gnests. The objeet of the entertainment was no secret ; and tlie king of the comity, the Marqnis of C . being in tho couservativo inteivst, and eoiiseipiently anxions to seomv the Generars return, not only came himself, but actually brought a iwxl live duke with him, to exhibit to the company. This was a great stroke of policy, and told immensely, partieuhu-lv with the smaller anybodies who wew almost nobodies, but who, having associated with a duke, staitight- way became somebodies, and remained so ever after ; moivover. in all cases of incipient n^dicalism, chartist tendencies, or socialist symptoms, his Grace wiis an infallible spocitic. Depend on it, theiv is no better ivmedy for a certain sort of democa-acv than a decoction of straw berry -leayes ; apply that to tlie sore place and the patient instantly becomes sound in i^is opinions, and continues a healthy member of the body politic. The particular duke on the occivsiou in questiou, was a very young one. little more than a boy in fact, (if a duke can eyer be considered in the light of a boy.) This youthful nobleman had a leading idea — though you would hai\lly have supposed it, to look at hiu\ — he believed that he was the best match in England, and so, in the conven- tional sense of the term, he undoubtedly was, although he woul have been yeiy dear at the price to any woman with a head an a heart. His p\stora and masters, backed by tho maternal anxi ties of a duchess imambitious of the dignities of doAvagea-slnp. hau sedulously cultivated this one idea till it had assumed the cha- racter of a monomania, under the iutluence of which this imhapj^y scion of ai-istocracy looked upon life as a state of perpetual war- fare agixiust the whole race of women, and was haunted by a frightful vision of himself carried ot^' and forcibly marriixl to the chief of a horde of female pirates, with long tongues, longer Uiiils, OB, THE BAILEOAD OF LIFE. 199 and an utter absence of creditable ancestry. His outward duke (if we may be allowed tiie expression) wa« decidedly prepossessing. He wa« tall, and not ungraceful in fignre, and had a bright, round, innocent face, aa of a good child ; — his hair wa^j nicely Vanished and parted ; whiskers he liad none ; indeed, the feiinginess of nature to him in this particular wa« so remarkable, that. a« the eldest Z^Iiss Simpking aftenvards observed to an eager audience of uninvited younger sisters, " So far from whiskers, my dears, now I come to think of it, his Grace had ro.Ooer iJoe rererse!" However, take him " for all in all," he was a very creditable yoimg duke, and a perfect godsend on the occasion in question. Then there was a descending scale from his Grace downwards, leading through the aristocracy of birth to the aristocracy of riches, till it reached the ehte of the country towns, and the more presentable sj^ecimens of yeomen farmers. But let us join a group of people that we know, and hear what they think of the guests who are so rapidly assembling. In a snug comer of the reception-room, not far from a door lead- ing into the large drawing-room, stands one of those mysterious innovations of modem upholstery, a species of the genuj; otto- man, which resembles a Brobdignagian mushroom, with a thimble made to match stuck in the middle of it. Seated at her ea.se upon this nondescript, half-biiried by the yielding cushions, appeared the pretty figure of Laura Peyton ; by her side, attired In much white muslin, crinolined to a balloon-like rotundity, but which apparently had shrunk abominably at the wash in the region round about its wearer's neck and shoulders, sat another — well, from the juvenility of her dress and manners, we suppose we must say yfrnng b.dy, though it was an historical fact that she had been at school with Annie Grant's mother ; but then jxxo: Mrs. Grant married when she was quite a child, and died before she was thirty, and of course Miss Singleton must know her own age best, and she had declared herself eight and-twenty for the last five years. Tlils lady possessed one peculiarity : she always had a passion for somebody ; whether the ohjed was of the gentler or the sterner sex was all a matter of chance ; but, as she was in the habit of observing "there existed m her nature a neces.sity for passionately loving," and it has become proverbial tlxat necessity lia.s no law. The object of her adoration just at present was «' tliat darling girl," Laura Peyton ; and really that young lady was in herself so loveable. that to endeavour to account for Mies 200 LEWIS ARUNDEL j Singleton's devotion by insinuating that the heiress was usually surrounded by all the most desirable young men in the room, would be the height of ill-nature. " Dear me !" exclaimed Miss Singleton, whose troublesome rature had another necessity for liking to hear its own voice as often as possible ; " dear me ! I wish I knew who all the people were t Dearest Miss Peyton, do not you sympathise ? Ah, that tell-tale smile ! We girls certainly are sadly curious; though I believe the men are just as bad, only they're too proud to owr, it. But, really, we must contrive to catch somebody who will tek us who eveiybody is ; there's that handsome, grave, clever Mr . Arundel : I shall make him a sign to come here — ah ! he saw mt directly — he is so clever, Mr. Arundel, do tell me, who are all these people 1 " " Rather a comprehensive question," returned Lewis, smiling ; " moreover, you could scarcely have applied to any one less ablo to answer it ; for beyond our immediate neighbours, I really do not know a dozen people in the room." '' " Mr. Ai'undel's acquaintance lies rather among illustrious, foreigners," observed ]\Iiss Peyton, demurely. " Were any mem bers of the royal family of Persia jDresent, for instance, his intimate knowledge of the language, manners, and habits of that interest- ing nation would be invaluable to us." " As you are strong be merciful," returned Lewis, in a tone ol' voice only to be heard by the young lady to whom he spoke. " Dear me ! how very delightful ! What a thing it is to be si clever," exclaimed Miss Singleton, aiTanging her bracelet, and rounding her arm (which was now one of her best points) with au action that expressed, as plainly as words could have done, " There, look at that — there's grace for you ! " " Here comes some one who can tell vis everything," she continued ; " that good-natured, fascinating Mr. Leicester, with his loves of w^iiskers all in deai little curls. Tiresome man ! he won't look this way. Would you be so very good, Mr. Anandel, as to follow him and bring him hez*e 1 Say that Miss Peyton and I want him particularly." " I beg you'll say nothuig of the kind, Mr. Arundel," intei - posed Laura, quickly, with a very becoming blush. " Pteally, Miss Singleton, you run on so that " " I will deliver your message vex-batim. Miss Singleton," re turned Lewis, with the same demure tone and manner in which Miss Peyton had referred to the Persian x)rince • and without OR, THE RAILROAD OP LITE. 201 waiting to mark the effect of bis words, he mingled with the crowd, and almost immediately returned with the gentleman in pursuit of whom he had been despatched. Charles Leicester, who was most elaborately got up for the occasion, though his good taste prevented him from i-unning into any absm-d extremes in dress, looked remarkably handsome, and, being flattered by the summons he had just received, particularly happy. Both these facts Miss Peyton discovered at a glance, but whether urged by some secret consciousness, or annoyed by an indescribable look of intelligence which lui'ked in the corners of Lewis's dai'k eyes and revealed itself thi-ough the sternness of his compressed hps, she received him with marked coldness, and observed, in reply to his offer to play showman to the collection of strange animals there assembled, that she had no taste for zoology, and that it was Miss Singleton's curiosity he had been summoned to satisfy. " Yes, indeed, 'Mr. Leicester," exclaimed that mature damsel, in no way daunted by a shade of discontent, which, despite his en- deavours to the contrary, overspread the countenance of the gen- faeman she was addressing ; " yes, indeed, I'm dying to know aU sorts of things. In the first place, who's that tall stout gentle- man in the wonderful waistcoat 1 " "That," replied Leicester, coolly examining the person indi- cated, " that is — no, it isn't ! Yes, sm-ely ! — I thought I was right — that is the Marquis of Carabbas." Then, seeing from her manner, she did not recognise the name, he continued, " he has enormous estates situated in " " Where ? " asked Miss Singleton earnestly, thinking she had lost the name. " That interesting tract of country yclept, by John Parry, the Realms of Infantine Romance," continued Leicester. " Oh, Mr. Leicester, you're laughing at me. How wicked of you — the Marquis of Carabbas ! Let me see : hadn't he some- thing to do with AVhittinglon and his Cat ?" " With the cat, possibly," replied Leicester ; " for if my memory fail not, the fortunes of the noble Marquis, like those of the ever- to-be lamented Lord Mayor of London town, were the result of feline sagacity, and it's not likely there existed two such talented cats — even Puss in Boots may only be another episode in the career of the same gifted individual." " Another of its nine lives, in fact," suggested Lewis. " YeSi of course," rejoined Leicester. " I dare say it was the 202 LEWIS ARUXDEL ; original ' cat of nine tales/ only like the sibylline leaves, several of the manuscripts have been lost to posterity tlu'Oiigh the careless- ness of some elfin Master of the Eolls." " I beg your pardon, but I really must inteiTupt you," ex- , claimed Miss Singleton ; " can you teU me, soberly and seriously, who that very strange looking person may be who has just seized the General's hand, and nearly shaken his arm out of the socket." Seeing that Laura Peyton's eyes asked the same question, tliough her lips were silent, Leicester glanced in the direction in- dicated, and immediately replied, "That energetic female rejoices in the name of Lady Mary — but is more commonl}^ known among her intimates as Jaclc — Goodwood. In person she is what you behold her ; in character, she presents a most unmitigated speci- men of the genus Amazon ; for the rest, she is a veiy good woman at heart, but my especial torment ; she always calls me Charley, and her usual salutation is a slap on the back. She hunts, shoots, breaks in her own horses, has ridden a hurdle race, in which she came in a good second, and is reported to have dragooned her husband into popping the question, by the threat of a sound horsewhipping ; and now Miss Singleton, you'll have an oppor- tunity of judging for j^oiu'self, for she has caught sight of me, and is bearing down upon us in full sail." " Well, but is she really a lady 1 " inquired the astonished Miss Singleton, who, in her philosophy, had most assuredly never dreamt of such a possibility as Jack Goodwood. " She is second daughter of Lord Oaks," was the reply, " and Goodwood is one of the Goodwoods, and is worth some 8,000^. a-year ; but here she is." As he spoke, the lady in question joined the group ; her ago might be eight or uine-and-twenty ; she was tall, and decidedly handsome, though her features were too large ; she had magnifi- cent black eyes, and very white teeth, which prevented the width of her mouth fi'om interfering with her pretensions to beauty ; her complexion was brilliant in the extreme, nature having be- stowed on her a clear brown skin, which withstood the combined effects of exposure to sun and mnd, and softened the high colour induced by the boisterous character of her ladyship's favourite pursuits ; — but if her personal gifts were striking, the style of costume she saw fit to adopt rendered her still more remarkable. As it Will be necessary to describe her dress minutely in order to 'yv>/''/ V.^tn/f7" OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 203 convey auy idea of her appearance, we throw ourselves on the mercy of our lady readers, and beg them to pardon all errors o. description, seeing that mantua-making is a science in which we have never graduated, and of which our knowledge is derived solely from oral traditions picked up during desultory conversa- tions among our female friends, usually held (if our memory fail us not) on their way home from church. Her dress consisted, then, of a gown of exceedingly rich white silk, made half-liigh in the body, and remarkably full in the skirt, over which she wore a polka of bright scarlet Cachemere, lined and trimmed with white silk, and adorned with a double row of the Liint buttons. Her head was attii-ed in a Spanish hat of black velvet, while a single white feather, secured by a valuable diamond clasp, was allowed to droop over the brim, and mingle with the rich masses of her raven hair, which was pictm'esqiiely aiTanged in a complication of braids and ringlets. She leaned on the arm of a gentleman, double her age, whose good-humoured hea^T" face afforded a mai'ked contrast to the ever-vaiying ex- pression that lit the animated features of her who was, in every sense of the word, his better half. Leicester's description had but slightly enhanced the vigour of her mode of salutation, for as she reached the spot where he stood, she clapped him on the shoulder with a small white-gloved hand, exclaiming in a deep but not unmiisical voice : — " Bravo, Chai'ley ! run you to earth at last, you see. Where have you hidden yourself all this age 1 Now, Goody," she con- tinued, tiu-ning to her husband, " you may go. Charley Leicester will take cai-e of me — don't lose your temper at whist, don't drink too much champagne, and mind you're forthcoming when I want you." "There's a life to lead," retm-ned her spouse, appealing to Leicester. " Did you ever see siich a tyrant 1 " '•' Be off. Goody, and don't talk nonsense," was his lady-wife's rejoinder. " How is it we never see you at tne ]\Ianor-House now," began the master of that establishment in a hospitable tone of voice, but his lady cut him short in his speech by exclaiming — " Why 1 because he found you such a bore he could not stand you any longer ; nobody can except me, and even my powers of endurance are limited, so," she continued, taking him by the shoulders and turning him round, " right about face — heads up 204 LEWIS ARUNDEL; — march. Voild," she added, turning to Leicester, " he's famously under command, isn't he, Charley 1 all my good breaking in — he was as obstinate as a mule before I married him, nobody could do anjrthing with him. He's in splendid condition, too, for a man of sixiy. I'll back him to walk, ride, hunt, shoot, or play at billiards, with any man of his age and weight in the three king- doms. I've been obliged to dock his corn, though ; there was seldom a day that he didn't finish his second bottle of port. He only drinks one now ; but I say, Charley, about this election of Governor Grant's, how is he going the pace 1 you must tell me all about it ; I've been in Paris for the last two months, and I'm quite in the dark." " ' Pon my word, I take so little interest in the matter, that I can scarcely enlighten you. Lady Mary," returned Leicester, glancing uneasily at Miss Peyton, who was talking with much apparent emi^ressement to Miss Singleton, though her quick eai's drank in every word spoken by the others. " Who's that girl 1 " resumed Lady Mary, lowering her voice a little {very little) as she perceived the direction of Leicester's glance. " Miss Peyton, eh ? " she continued, " You shall introduce me ; but first tell me who's that man by her side, like an old pictm-e." " Mr. Arundel," was the reply ; " tutor to poor young Desborough." " He's too good for the work," returned Jack ; " he's too near ihorough-bred to take to collar and keep his traces tight with such an up-hill pull as that must be. I say, Charley," she con- tinued in a half whisper, " he's handsomer than you are ; if you don't mind your play, he'll bowl you out, and win with the favou- rite — there, it's no use getting up the steam, or looking sulky with me," she added, as Leicester uttered an exclamation of an- noyance : " I can see it all with half an eye ; you're as thoroughly what Goody calls ' spoony,' as a man need to be ; but now, Charley, don't go putting your foot in it, you know ; is it all right with ■the tin ? that's the main question." " Ask me to dance, for pity's sake, and let me get out of that creature's way," murmm-ed Lai;ra Peyton to Lewis ; " I never had a taste for seeing monsters." Lewis smiled, and offered her his arm, at the same moment De Grandeville, gaudily ornate, marched up and requested the honour of Miss Peyton's hand for the set then forming. OR. THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 205 " I am engaged to Mr. Arundel for the next quadi-ille," returned Miss Peyton. " For the following one then — ar ? " " I slmll have much pleasure," was the reply ; " in the mean time allow me to introduce you to my friend Miss Singleton, who is at present without a pai-tner." De Grandeville, charmed to have the opportunity of obliging Miss Peyton, acted on the hint, and the two couples hastened to take their places in the quadrille then fomiiug. Leicester's volatile companion still continued chattering, heedless of his evi- dent annoyance, until she had worried him into a state of mind bordering on distraction, when some fresh fancy seizing her, she fastened herself on to a new victim and left him to his meditations ; — tliese were by no means of an agi'ceable character ; and after wandering listlessly through the suite of rooms, and watching Lam'a Peyton, as during the intervals of the dance she talked and laughed gaily with De Grandeville, (an occupation which did not ten;! <^reatly to raise Leicester's spirits or-soothe his ruffled temper,) he strolled into a card room tenanted only by fom- elderly gentle- men immersed in a rubber of whist ; and, flinging himself on a vacant sofa in a remote coraer of the apartment, gave himself up to gloomy retrospection. He had not remained there long when Lewis entered and glanced round as if in search of some one ; then approaching Leicester, he began : '•' You've not seen Walter lately, have you 1 Your amusing friend. Lady Mary Goodwood" ("confoimd the jade," muttered Leicester, sotto voce) •' introduced herself to me just now, and having captivated Walter by her bright smile and scarlet jacliet, carried him ofij to tease me, I believe, and I can't tell what she has done with him ; — but," he continued, for the first time ob- serving his companion's dejected manner and appeai'ance, " is any- tliing the matter — you're not ill, I hope 1 " " I wish I was," was the unexpected reply ; " ill — dead — any- thing rather than the miserable fool I am — " " Why, what has occurred ] " asked Lewis, anxiously. " Can I be of any use 1 " ♦* No, it's past mending," returned Leicester, in an accent of deep dejection. He paused, then turning to Lewis he resumed iilmost fiercely : " The tale is soon told, if you want to hear it, I met that girl — Laura Peyton, I mean— in town about a year LEW.S ARUNDEL J ftgo ; in fact— for my affairs are no fcocret — CTery foci kno^^'s that I am a beggar, or thereabouts — I was introduced to her because she was a great heiress, and dangled after her through the whole of a. London season, for the sake of her three per cents. Well, last autumn I met her again down in Scotland ; we were staying together for thi-ee weeks in the same house ; of coxu-se we saw a good deal of each other, and I soon found I liked her better for herself than I had ever done for her money ; but somehow, as soon as this feeling aros^ I lost all nerve, and could not get on a bit ; the idea of the meanness of marrying a woman for the sake of her fortune haunted me day and night, and the more I cared for her the less was I able to show it. My cousin Annie perceived what was going on, it seems, and without saying a word to me of her intention, struck up a friendship with Laura, and invited her here ; and somehow — the thing's very absiu'd in a man like myself, who has seen everything, and done everything, a-nd found out wha± humbug it all is — but the fact of the matter is, that I'm just as foolishly and romantically and deeply in love with that girl, as any raw boy of seventeen could be ; and I don't believe she cares one soics about me in return ; she thinks, as she has a good right to do, that I am hunting her for her money, like the rest of them, I dare say ; and, — stop a minute," he con- tmued, seeing Lewis was about to speak — " you have not heard the worst yet : — because all I've told -^ou was not enough, that conceited ass, De Grandeville, must needs come and consult me this morning as to whether Miss Peyton was worthy of being honoured with his hand ; hinting pretty plainly that he did not anticipate much difficulty on the lady's pai't ; and by Jove, from the way in which she is going on with him this evening, I believe that for once he wasn't lying : then that mad-headed Mary Goodwood coming and bothering with her confounded ' Charley' this, and ' Charley ' that, and her absurd plan of monopolizing one — of coiu-se she means no harm ; she has known me from a boy, and it's her way ; besides, she really is attached to old Goodwood ; — but how is Laura Peyton to know all that ? " " Why, rouse up ; and go and tell her yourself, to be sure," replied Lewis. " No, not I ! " returned Leicester, moodily ; " I'll have no more trouble about it. I'll leave tbio house to-morrow morning, and bo off to Baden, or Naples, or Timbuctoo, or some place where there are no women, if such a Paradise exists — and she OR, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 207 may marry De GrandeAalle, or whom she pleases, for me. You see it would be different if she cared at all for me, but to worry one's heart out about a girl who does not even like one " " Ilalte Id ! " interrupted Le^vis ; " lookers on see most of the game ; and if I know anything of woman's nature — " he paused and bit his lip as the recollection of Gretchen crossed his mind — " depend upon it. Miss Peyton is not as indifferent to you as you imagine." " Did you see how coldly she received me to-night 1 " urged Leicester. " Yes ; and her so doing only confirmed my previous opinion ; *-hat chattering Miss Singleton had annoyed her by bidding me summon you in ]\Iiss Peyton's name ; but the very fact of her annoytmce showed consciousness ; had she been indifferent to you, she would not have cared. Then her irritation at Lady Mary's familiarity proves the same thing." " You really think so ? " returned Leicester, brightening up. ••'' My dear fellow, you've quite put new life into me. It's veiy odd now, I never saw it in that light before. AVhat would you have me do, then ? " " If, as you say, you really and truly love her," returned Lewis gravely, '' lay aside — excuse my plain speaking — lay aside your fashionable au*s which disguise yom' true nature, and tell her of yom' affection in a simple, manly way, and if she is the girl I take her to be, your trouble will not be wasted.'' So saying, he rose .and quitted the room, leaving Leicester to reflect on his advice. CHAPTER XXV. CONTAINS A MYSTERIOUS IITCIDENT, AND SHOWS HOW THE COURSE OP TRUE LOVE NEVER DOES RUN SMOOTH. As Lewis, after the conversation detailed in the last chapter, was prosecuting his search for Walter through the various apart- ments, he encountered Annie Grant, who, having escaped the vigilance of Miss Livingstone, was enjoying, in company with a young lady friend, the dangerous luxury of standing by an open 208 LEWIS ARUNDEL, window. The monieut she perceived Lewis she advanced towardjs him, and began — " May I detain you one moment, Mr. Arundel ? Can you tell me anything of my cousin Charles 1 Fm afraid he must be ill, and I wished him to exert himself so particularly to-night." " He is not ill," returned Lewis ; " I left him not two minutes since in the card room." " In the card room 1 " repeated Annie, in a tone of annoyance ; " what can he be doing thei*e 1 Is he playing whist ] " " No," was the reply ; " he did not appear in a humour to enjoy the dancing, and had gone there for the sake of quiet." " A fit of his incorrigible idleness, I suppose," remarked Annie, pettishly ; " really it is too provoking ; it must seem so odd his absenting himself on such an occasion as this. Would you mind the trouble of returning, and telling him I want to speak to him particularly, and that he will find me here 1 " " I shall be most happy ; it is no trouble ; " began Lewis. He paused, and then added, in a lower tone, " Perhaps you scarcely do ]\Ir. Leicester justice in attributing his absence to a fit of indolence ; I fancied, from his manner, something had occmTed to annoy him." " Something to annoy him ! " exclaimed Annie, starting and turning pale as a disagi'eeable possibility suddenly occurred to her. " Surely he has not 1 she never can have ! " then seeing Lewis's glance fixed on her with a look of peculiar intelli- gence, she paused abniptly, and a most becoming blush over- spread her features. Lewis pitied her confusion, and hastened to relieve it by observing — " If I have ventured to gaiess the direction of your thoughts somewhat too boldly, MisB Grant, you must pardon me, and believe that did I not think I might thereby in some slight degi-ee repay the kindness Mr. Leicester has invariably shown me, I would not have allowed you to perceive it. If," he added, in a lower tone, " you will permit me to advise you, I believe you could most effectually serve your Cousin's interests by explaining to Miss Peyton, at your first opportunity, the nature uf the fi-iendship which exists between Lady Mary Goodwood and Mr. Leicester, mentioning at the same time the ftict that they have known each other from childhood." " Tliat's the difl&culty, is it 1 " rejoined Annie. " Oh ! I can set that right in five minutes ; — thank you very much, Mr. Arundel, OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 209 how extremely kind you are ; but," she added with an arch look, " you are most alarmingly clever ; I shall become quite afraid of you ; " then tm-niug to her companion, she added, " Now, Lucy dear, you will catch your death of cold standing at that window. You will send Chaides Leicester, then, Mr. Ai-undel." So saying, she linked her arm in that of her friend, and the two girls left the room. "■ Leicester's a lucky dog to have such a zealous advocate in that sweet cousin of his," thought Lewis, as he retraced his steps towards the card-room. " She is a gi-eat deal too good for that brute. Lord Bellefield ; she had better have chosen Charles, if she must marry either brother, though he is scarcely her equal in mind or depth of character, and without that I don't believ* marrie^ life can ever progress as it should do." On reaching the card-room he found it only tenanted by the whist players ; and rightly imagining that his advice had so far restored Leicester'^ •pints as to induce him again to return to the ball-room, he resumed his search for Walter, and at length discovered him in the ice-room, where, under the auspices of a pretty interesting looking girl, the daughter of one of the tenantry, called in on the occasion to assist the female servants, he was regaling himself with unlimited cakes. While Lewis was gently insinuating the possibility of his having had enough, two or three men, amongst whom was Lord Bellefield, lounged into the room and began eating ices at a table opposite that at which Lewis and Walter were stationed. One of the party, who was unacquainted with Lewis, apparently stmcV by his appearance, addi-essed Lord Bellefield in an under tone, evidently inquiring who the young tutor might be ; the answer, though spoken in a low voice, was (whether designedly or not w« will 'not say) perfectly audible to the person to whom it related. " That 1 oh, some poor devil old Grant has picked up cheap as diy-nurse to his pet idiot ; a kind of male bonne, as the French term it ; a sort of upper servant, half valet, half tutor. You need not notice him." There was a degi-ee of littleness in this speech which completely robbed it of its sting. It was such a mean attempt at an insult that Lewis saw it would be letting himself down even to feel angi-y about it; and merely allowing his lip to curl slightly with a contemptuous smile, he folded his arms and patiently awaited the conclusion of Walter's repast. After Lord Bellefield and his r 210 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; friends had devoured as many ices as seemed good to them, tlioy prepared to leave the room, and, just as they passed the spot where Lewis stood, Lord Bellefield, in drawing out his handker- chief, accidentally di'opped a glove. Not perceiving his loss, he was stUl walking on, when Lewis, after a moment's hesitation resolved to adhere to his determination of treating Lord Belles field as he would any other man his superior in rank, and per- haps inwardly rejoiced at the opportunity of returning good for evil, or at least civility for insult, stooped and picked up the glove, then advancing a step or two, he presented it to its owner, saying— " Excuse my interrupting yoiu* lordship, but you have dropped your glove." Now it so happened that the moment before, Lewis had removed his own glove to render some assistance to Walter, and had not replaced it when he extended his hand to Lord Bellefield, who, without making any reply, signed to his French valet, then assisting in the Champagne department, and when he approached, said : — " Tenez, Antoine ! take the glove from this gentleman, and bring me a clean pair." The insolence of his look, and the aflfected drawl in which he spoke, rendered his meaning so unmistakable, that, after a slight attempt to repress the inclination, one of his companions bm-st into a laugh, while the other, who had sufficient good feeling to be disgusted at such an unprovoked insult, turned on his heel and walked away. Lewis stood for a moment as if stunned ; then, flushing crimson, he actually quivered with suppressed anger ; still it was evident that he was striving to master his passion, and apparently he was in gi-eat measure successful, for when he spoke it was in a low calm voice. " Am I to understand," he said, " that your lordship, con- sidering this glove polluted by the accident of my having touched it, will never wear it again 1 " " Ya — as," was the reply ; " you may very safely come to that conclusion without any fear of misinterpreting my intentions." " In that case," continued Lewis, in the same low, clear voices though his eyes, which were fixed on Lord Bellefield's, actually glowed with the intensity of his emotion, " I will crave your permission to retain it as a memorial of this evening. Your lordship will observe it is a right hand glove. I may, on som9 ^^ OK, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 211 future occasiou, have the pleasiu-e of calHng your attentioii to the care "with v.-hich I have preserved the relic." So saying, he bowed coldly, and still holding the glove with a vice -like gi'asp, as though he feai-ed to have it wrested from hiin, he tiu'ned away without waiting a reply. " "What on earth does the fellow want with that glove 1 " inquired Lord Bellefield's companion, who not being a particu- larly intellectual young gentleman, had been gi-eatly mystified by the whole proceeding. " And what in the world is the matter with you 1 " he added, observing for the first time that his friend was looking strangely pale, and shuddering slightly. " Eh, — come along, — we're standing in a confounded draught, and I've never rightly recovered that ague I picked up at Ancoua," was the reply ; and taking his companion's arm. Lord Bellefield hastily left the room. So engrossed had Lewis been with his own share of the trans- action, that he had not observed the breathless interest with which the whole scene had been watched by the girl before alluded to. She now approached him under the excuse of offisring some cakes ; and, as he somewhat impatiently refused them, said, in a hurried whisper : — " I beg your pardon, sir, but what is it you intend to do with that glove?" Surprised alike at the question, and the quarter from whence it proceeded, Lewis looked at the girl more attentively than he had yet done. She was above the middle height, and of a singularly graceful figiu-e ; her features were chara-cterised by a degree of refinement and intelligence not usually to be found amongst persons of her class ; she was very pale ; and, though she endeavoured to repress all outward signs of emotion, he could perceive she was fearfully agitated. " Do with the glove!" returned Lewis ; " what makes you ask such an odd question ? " " You cannot deceive me, sir," she replied, in the same eager whisper. '• I witnessed all that passed between you and — that gentleman, just now." " And what is it you fear 1 " asked Lewis. " That you are going to challenge him to fight a duel to- mon'ow morning — and — and perhaps mean to wear that glove on the hand you shoot him with." As bhe uttered these last words, a strange expression p2 212 LEWIS ABUNDEL^ flitted across Lewis's face ; it had passed, however, ere ho replied : — " You are mistaken. As long as I remain under this roof I shall avoid any collision with that gentleman. Nay, more : should he i-epeat his insult, (though I scarcely think he will,) 1 sliall not attempt to resent it ; — so," he continued, with a smile, " as I am living here, I think he is tolerably safe from me. Stay," he added, as, after glancing anxiously at his features, as though slie strove to read his very soul, she was about to turn away, satisfied that he was not attempting to deceive her, — " stay; do not mention what you have observed amongst the servants ; and here is something to buy you some new ribbon for your cap." " I will not accept your money, sir," she replied, somewhat haughtily ; " but your secret is safe with me as in the gi-ave." Then taking Walter's plate, which was by this time empty, she crossed the room, and mingled with the other servants. It was later in the evening, much dancing had been accom- plished, many civil speeches and some rude ones made, mild flirtations began to assume a serious character, and one or two aggravated cases appeared likely to end in business. The hearts of match-making mammas beat high with hope, marriageable daughters were looking up, and eligible young men, apparently bent on becoming tremendous sacrifices, were evidently to be had cheap. The real live Duke was in unusually high spirits ; he had hitherto been mercifidly preserved from dangerous young ladies, and had passed a very pleasant evening ; Lady Mary Goodwood, who was equal to a Duke, or any other emergency, had been introduced to him, and had taken upon hei'self the task of enter- taining him ; and his Grace being slightly acquainted with Mr. Goodwood, and fortified by an unshakeable faith in that gentle- man's powers of longevity, liad yielded himself unresistingly to the fascinations of the fair Amazon, and allowed himself to be amused with the most amiable condescension. Charles Leices- ter, in some degree reassured by his conversation with Lewis, returned to the dancing-room, and secured Miss Peyton for a waltz ; but his success did not tend gi-eatly to improve his position, as the young lady continued stmngely silent, or only opened her mouth to say cutting things. The last polka before Bupper she danced with De Grandeville ; on that gentleman's arm she entered the room in which the repast was laid out, and he it was who, seated by her side during the meal, forestalled her OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 213 €?VCTy wish with most lover-like devotion. Lord Bellefield, after the rencontre with Lewis, had consoled himself by taking posses- Bion of Annie, whose side he never quitted for a moment, and who he thereby prevented from holding any private communica- tion with her friend. Miss Peyton, her acquaintance with the domestic economy of her uncle's family leading her to divine that his brother would be about the last person to whom Charles Leicester would wish his hopes and feai-s confided. Seeing that things thus continued steadily to " improve for the worse," and that the tide which Shakspeare discovered in th& nffairs of men, appeared to have set dead against him, the unfor- tunate " Chaiiey" having, in a spirit of self-mortification, repu- diated supper, and rejected offers of champagne with the vii-ulence of a red-hot teetotaller, betook himself to the solitude of the music-room in a state of mind bordering on distraction, which fever of the soul Lady Mary Goodwood had not tended to aUay, by remarking, with a significant glance towards Miss Peyton and De Grandeville, — " I say, Charley, cast your eye up the course a minute ; the heavy-weight's making play with the favoui'ite at a killing pace ; I'd bet long odds he pops, and she says, ' Done,' before the meet- ing's over ; so if that don't suit your book, Charley, my boy, the Booner you hedge on the double event the better." The music-room at Broadhurst was a spacious apartment, with a coved ceiling, and deep bay windows, hung with rich crimson damask curtains, and containing ottomans of the same material in the recesses. On one of these Leicester flung himself, and halt hidden by the voluminous folds of the drapery, sketched out a gloomy future, in which he depicted himself quarrelling with De Grandeville, shooting him in a consequent duel, and residing ever after in the least desirable part of the backwoods of America, a prey to remorse, without cigars, and cut off from kid gloves and pale ale in the flower of his youth. Occupied with these dreary thoughts, he scarcely noticed the entrance of various Beceders from the supper table, nor was it until the sound of the pianoforte aroused his attention, that he perceived tlie room to be tenanted by some twenty or thirty people scattered in small coteries throughout the apartment. At the moment when ho became alive to external impressions, Miss Singleton was about to favour the company with a song ; having secm-ed a mild young man to turn over the music, who knew not life, and beUeved 214 LEWIS ARUNDEL J in ner to the fullest extent, with a touching simplicity. Before this interesting performance could commence, however, sundry preliminary arrangements analogous to the nautical ceremony of " clearing for action," appeared indispensable ; first, a necessity existed for taking off her gloves, whicli was not accomplished without much rounding of arms, display of rings, and rattling of bracelets, one of which, in particular, would catch in everything, and was so incorrigible that it was forced to be unclasped in dis- grace, and committed to the custody of the mild young man, who blushed at it and held it as if it were alive. Then Miss Singleton di-ew up her head, elongated her neck to a giraffe-like extent, raised her eyes, simpered, cast them down again, glanced out of their corners at the " mild one," till he trembled in his polished boots, and jingled the wicked bracelet like a baby's rattle, in the excess of his agitation, and finally commenced her song by an ener- getic appeal to her mother (who had been dead and biu'ied for the last fifteen years) to " wake her early" on the ensuing first of May. Just as she was assuring the company that " she had been Trild and wayward, but she was not wayward now," a couple entered the room, and appai'ently wishing not to disturb the melody, seated themselves on a sofa, in a retired corner which chanced to be neai'ly opposite to the recess of which Leicester had taken possession ; thus, although the whole length of the music- room intervened, he could (himself unseen) catch occasional glimpses of this sofa as the ever-changing groups of loungera formed and dispersed themselves. The occupants of the seat were Miss Peyton and De Grande- ville j and could Charles Leicester have overheard the following conversation, the passive amioyauce with which he observed the colloquy might have given place to a more active sentiment. " Ar — really," remarked De Grandeville, " that is a very — ar — touching, pathetic song " Murdered," observed Miss Peyton, quietly finishing his sen- tence for him. " Ar — eh — yes, of course, I was going to — ar — that is, your exquisite taste has — ar — in fact — ar — beyond a doubt the woman is committing mm-der." " Recollect, the ' woman,' as you are pleased to call her, is my particular friend, Mr. De Grandeville," retm-ned his companion, ^vith a slight degree of hauteur in her tone. " Ar — ^yes, of course, that speaks volumes in her favour," was OR, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 215 the rejoinder ; " and although it is not every one who is gifted with the — ar — talent of vocalization, yet the estimable quahtiea which one seeks in the — ar — endearing relation of fiiendship may be found — ar — that is, may exist — ar " "What did you think of the champag-ne at supper?" inter- rupted Miss Peyton abruptly. " Eeally — ar — 'pon my word I did not particularly notice it. I was — ar — so agreeably situated that I could not devote much attention to the — ar — commissariat department." " Siurely it was unusually strong," persisted Laui'a. " Ai' — yes, of course you are right, it is no doubt owing to its agi'eeably exhilarating qualities that it is so universally popular with the fair sex. Were I — ar — so fortunate as to be — ar — a man-fed man, I should always have champagne at my table." " What a temptation !" returned Miss Peyton, smiling ironi- cally ; " your wife will be an enviable woman, if you mean to indulge her in such luxm'ies." ^-- " It delights me to hear you say so," exclaimed De Grandeville eagei'ly ; " if such is your opinion, I am indeed a fortunate man, I had not intended," he continued in a lower tone, " to speak to you at this early period of our acquaintance on the subject nearest to my heart, but the — ar — very flattering encourage- ment " '■ Sir ! " exclaimed Miss Peyton in a tone of indignant surprise. " Which you have deigned to bestow upon me," continued De Grandeville, not heeding the intemiption, " leads me to unfold my intentions without further delay. I am now arrived at an age when, in the prime of life, and with judgment so matured that I consider I may safely act in obedience to its dictates with- out the risk of making any great mistake, it appears to me, and to those of my highly born and influential friends whom I have consulted on the subject, that I might greatly improve my general position in society by a judicious matrimonial alliance. Now, without being in the slightest degree actuated by — ar — anything approaching to a spirit of boasting, I may venture to say that in the selection of a partner for life I have a right to look — ar— high. l\lj family may be traced back beyond the ISTorman conquest, and the immense estates in our possession — ar — my cousin Hilde- brand holds them at present — but in the event of anything happening to his seven — ar — however, I need not now trouble you with such family details, suffice it to say that we are of 216 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; ancient descent, enormous landed proprietors, and that my own position in society is by no means an unimportant one. Now, although I am aware that by birth you are scarcely — ar — that is — that the Peyton family cannot trace back their origin — ar — I have made up my mind to waive that point in consideration of " " Excuse me, sir," interrupted Miss Peyton. " Doubtless your matm'e judgment has led you to discover many, in fact ^ome thousands of good and weighty reasons why you should overlook the humble origin of the poor Peytons; but there is one point which appears to have escaped even your sagacity, iiamely, whether this unworthy descendant of an ignoble family desires the honour of such an alliance as you propose. That you may no longer be in doubt on the subject, allow me to thauk you for the sacrifice you propose to make in my favour, and most unequivocally to decline it." No one could be in De Grandeville's company for ten minutes without perceiving that on the one subject of his own importance lie was more or less mad; but with this exception he was a clear- headed quick-sighted man, used to society, and accustomed to deal with the world. Laura Peyton, in her indignation at the inflated style of the preamble of his discoxu-se, had committed the indiscretion of refusing his hand before he had distinctly offered it. De Grandevillo perceived the mistake, and hastened to avail himself of it by replying — "Excuse me. Miss Peyton, but you jump rather hastily to conclusions; had you heard me to the end, you might have leanied that there were equally strong reasons why in my present position I dare not yield to the impulse of my feelings — for that I greatly admire and respect you I frankly own. Should these reasons disappear under a change of circumstances, I shall hope to have the honour of again adcbessing you on this subject with a more favom-able result — in the mean time, to assm-e you that I entertain no unfriendly recollection of this interview, permit me the honour ^" So saying, ere she was aware of his intention, he raised her hand to his lips — bowed respectfully, and, rising, quitted the apartment. jMiss Peyton, equally siu-prised and provoked at the turn De Grandeville had given to the conversation, remained for a minute or so pondering the matter, with her eyes fixed on the ground ; as she raised them they encountered those of a gentleman on, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE, 217 ■wlio was passing down the room at the time. Charles Leicester (for he it was) returned her gaze haughtily, and as their eyes, met, a contemptuous smile curled his lip, and, bowing coldly, he passed on without a word. Well might he despise her, for he had witnessed the parting salute, and not unnaturally deemed her the affianced bride of Mai-maduke De GrandeviUe. Ere he^ retired for the night his servant had received orders to pack up his clothes and to procure post-horses by eight o'clock on the following morning. Annie Grant, who when the latest goiests- had depai-ted, sought her friend Laura's di-essing-room to explain to her the old friendship which had existed between her cousin Charles and Lady Mary Goodwood, was equally sui-prised and distressed to find her communication received with an hysterical burst *f tears. CHAPTER XXVL SUNSHINE AFTER SHOWERS. Annie Grant found her friend strangely uncommunicative on the subject of her fit of weeping; she declared that it was nothing — that she felt nervous and overtired, but that a good night's rest was all she required to set her to rights again ; then kissing her affectionately, Laiu'a, with much caressing, turned her out of the room. As sound sleep was the specific to which Miss Peyton trusted for the restoration of her health and spirits, it can scarcely be imagined that, after passing four restless hours in a vain attempt to obtain the desired boon, she should have felt particularly refreshed. Weary both in mind and body, she was aroused from a dreamy, half-sleeping, half-waking, but wholly uncomfortable state into which she had fallen, by the sun shining brightly into her room. The beauty of the morning, though a thick hoar frost lay upon the groimd, banished all further desire for sleep, and commencing her toilet, she resolved on a scheme, which her acquaintance witk the usual habits of the family led her to conceive feasible, — namely, to possess herself of the third volume of a new novel, in which she was considerably interested, and with that for a companion, to take a brisk walk 213 LEWIS ARUNDEL^ in the clear morning air, and return ere any of the party had made their appeai-ance at the breakfast table. Dressing hastily, she wrapped herself in a thick shawl, and tripped lightly down the staircase, only encountering in her progi-ess a drowsy hovise- maid, who stared at her with lack-lustre eyes, as though she took her for a ghost. Before she could carry her whole plan into execution, however, it was necessary that she shoidd visit the library in order to procm-e the volume she wished to take with her. Opening the door quickly, she had proceeded half- way across the room, ere she perceived it was not untenanted. As she paused, uncertain whether or not to proceed, Charles Leicester — for he it was, who, acting on his resolution of the previous night, was writing a few lines to account for his abrupt departm-e — rose from the table at which he had been sitting, and advanced towards her. He was attired for a jom-ney, and his pale features, and the dark circles under his eyes, gave token of a sleepless night. There was a restless energy in his tone and manner, as he addressed her, totally opposed to his usual listless indifference ; and no one could be in his company a moment, without per- ceiving that (to use a common, but forcible expression) something had come over him, — that he was (at all events, for the present) a changed man. " You are an early riser. Miss Peyton," he said ; " I did not expect to have an opportunity of wishiug you good-bye in person." " I was not aware you intended leaving Broadhiu'st so soon," returned Laura, feeling, she scarcely kuew why, exceedingly uncomfortable. " Shall you return before the party breaks upl" " No. I shall go abroad directly, and endeavour to procm-e an attacheship to one of the embassies; the Tm-kish, I think: I've never seen Constantinople." " Surely you 've formed this resolution somewhat abruptly," observed Miss Peyton : " it was only yesterday, you agi-eed to escort your cousin Annie and myself, to ride over and sketch the ruins of Monkton Priory. I was thinking this morning, as soon as I saw the sunshine, what a charming canter we should have." " I should be more sorry. Miss Peyton, to be forced to break 80 agreeable an engagement, did I not feel certain you will have no difBculty in supplying my place on the occasion," retmiied I^eicester, laying a marked emphasis on the pronoun. " I must now wisli you good morning," he continued; then bowing coldly, he took up his hat, and turned to leave the room. OR, THB RAILROAE OF LIFE 219 Miss Peytou allowed him to reach, the door, ere she could make up her miud what course to pursue; then coloui-ing brightly, she exclaimed, "Stay one moment, Mr. Leicester;" as he paused, and closing the door, which he had partially opened, tui'ued towards her, she continued, " I will not affect to mis- understand yom- aUusion, and although the subject is one or which I shoidd not wiUingly have entered, I consider it due t( myself not to suffer you to depai-t under a mistake, into which 1 should have thought you knew me too well to have fallen." " j\Iistake ! " repeated Leicester, eagerly, " is it possible that I can be mistaken? Are you not then engaged to Mi". De Grandeville?" " Most assiu-edly am I not," retmiied Miss Peyton, " nor, unle^ I very greatly alter my opinion of that gentleman, shall I ever be so. I did think Mr. Leicester would have given me credit for better taste than to have supposed such a thing possible, but I see I was mistaken; and now/' she added, "having found the book I came to seek, I must wish you good morning, and a pleasant jom-uey to Constantinople." "Stay, Miss Peyton," exclaimed Leicester, for once really excited : " You have said too much, or too little ; — pardon me," he continued, " I will not detain you five minutes, but speak I must ;" taking her hand, he led to a seat, and resumed, " I am placed in a position equally painfid and difficult, but the best and most straightforward com-se I can pursue will be to teU you in as few words as possible the simple truth, and then leave you to decide upon my fate. The difficulty I have to encounter is this: — you are an heiress; I, a portionless younger brother, without a profession, and brought up in expensive and indolent habits; were I then to tell you that I love you, and that the dearest wish of my heart is to call you mine, how can I expect you to think that I am not actuated by mercenaiy motives? to believe that I do indeed, deeply, truly love you, with an intensity of which I scai'cely could have believed my natui-e capable? When first I sought your society, I frankly own, (and if the admission ruins my cause I cannot help it, for I will not attempt to deceive you,) it was the report of your riches which attracted me: I considered you lady-hke and agreeable, and this being the case, I would willingly have done as I saw men of my acquaintance do every day, — married for monoy; but, as I became intimate with you, and discovered the priceless 220 LEWIS ARUXDEL. treasiires of yoiu- heart and mind, my vie-n's aud feelings altered. I soon learned to love you for yourself alone, and then for the first time, when I perceived that in marrying you I had every- thing to gain and nothing to offer in return, I became fully aware of the meanness of the act I contemplated — in fact, I saw the matter in its true light, and felt that to ask you to become my wife would be an insult rather than a compliment. Thus, the more I grew to love you, the less I ventured to show it, till at last, pride coming to my assistance, I resolved to tear myself away, and quitted Scotland abruptly, intending never to renew our intimacy, unless some unexpected stroke of fortune should enable me to do so on more equal terms. My cousin Annie, however, had it seems guessed my secret, and invited you here without mentioning her intention to me till you had actually anived. Had I acted consistently, I should have left this place a fortnight ago ; but I had suffered so much during my absence, and the delight of again associating with you was so overpowering, that I had not sufficient strength of wdll to carry out my deter- mination ; thus I continued day by day yielding myself to the fascination of yoiu' society, learning to love you more and more, and yet not daring to tell you so, because I felt the impossibility of proving — even now it seems absurd to say — my disinterested- ness; but that I loved you for yourself alone. Such had been for some days my state of feeling, when yesterday I was nearly driven distracted by that man, De Grandeville, actually selecting me as his confidant., and considting me of all people in the world as to the advisability of making you an ofier of marriage, hinting that-he had reason to believe such a proposal would be favourably received by you." "Insolent !" exclaimed Miss Peyton, raising her eyes for the first time during Leicester's addi-ess, and looking him full in the face ; " so far from encouraging him, I have never spoken to him save to tm'n his pompous speeches into ridicule, since I was first introduced to him." " So I would fain have taught myself to believe yesterday," resumed Leicester ; " but the coldness of your manner towai'ds me, and the marked attention you allowed him to pay you during the evening, tortured me with doubts, and when, after an animated conversation in the music-room, I saw him raise your hand to his lips, I imagined he had put his design into execution, and was an accepted suitor." OR, THE RAILROAD OF LlPjt 221 " A rejected one would have been nearer the mai'k," murmured Miss Peyton. " Utterly miserable," continued Leicester, " at the idea of having irrevocably lost you, — provoked that you should have accepted a man so completely your inferior in mind, and, indeed, in every particular, I ordered post-horses before I retired for the night, and, but for this accidental meeting, should have been already on my road to London. And now," he continued, with passionate earnestness, "it is for you to decide whether my future hfe is to be happy or miserable. If truth has any power of revealing itself, you will believe that I love you deeply, tenderly, for yourself alone ; and you will decide whether such an affection is calculated to ensure your happiness ; but, if you are unable to credit my sincerity, only say the word, and I leave you for ever." He ceased, and, clenching his hands in the excess of his emotion till the nails appeared to grow into the flesh, stood before her, pale and agitated, like a criminal awaiting the eentence which shall send him forth a free man, or consign him to a felon's gi'ave. After watching her anxiously for a few moments, during which she I'emained without speaking, her head averted, and her features concealed by her close straw bonnet, he resumed, " I see it is in vain to wait ; your silence tells me that I have nothing to hope, — fool that I was ever to deem it could be otherwise ! Farewell, Lam-a ; may you be as happy as I would have striven to render you." He turned, and his hand was again on the lock of the door, when a low, sweet voice, every accent of which thrilled tlu-ough his very soul, murmured, — '•^[r. Leicester — Charles — do not go, — you will not leave me?" And accordingly he did not go, but came back instantly like an amiable obedient yoimg man, as he was, and received the reward ->f merit by learning from the lips of her he loved, that she was not only convinced of the sincerity of the affection he had bestowed on her, but prized the gift so highly that she felt obliged to return it, which statement soimded very like a contradiction, but was nothing of the kind. Then followed a bright happy half-hour, one of those little bits of \mmitigated sunshine which gleam, once or twice in a lifetime, to thaw the ice that team which have never found vent form more or lesa thickly around 222 LEWIS AKUNDKL j the heart of each of us ; and, ere it was over, Laura Peyton stoo^ pledged to become the wife of Charley Leicester, who dis-ordered the post-horses and postponed his journey to Constantinople, ad infinitum. Several di-oU little scenes occun-ed later on that morning between various members of the party assembled at Broadhurst. In the first place, Annie Grant, who, — completely tired out, and greatly concerned at the mysterious impediments which obstructed the course of her cousin Charles's love affair, had sought her pillow with a firm conviction she should never close her eyes all night, — fell asleep immediately, and woke soon after nine o'clock on the following morning, under the impression that she had just gone to bed. While she was dressing, she revolved in her anxious mind her cousin's difficulties, and came to the following conclusions.; first, that for sundiy reasons connected with his natural indolence and a painful sense of his dependent position, Charley would never "tell his love;" secondly, that Laura, not divining these reasons, was piqued and hurt at his prolonged silence ; and thirdly, that it behoved her (Annie) to remove these stumbling-blocks by a httle judicious interference. Accordingly, when she had finished her toilet, and, giving a last parting glance at her pretty face and graceful figure in the cheval glass in her dressing-room, had thought well, I don't know that we've any business to pry .into her thoughts, but by the bright half-smile, half-blush which resulted from the inspectioa it may be concluded they were of an agi-eeable natui-e. "When she had performed this little unconscious act of homage to her own beauty, she tripped off" to her friend's room, and foimd that young lady fastening a very dangerous little bow of ribbon around her neck, with a small turquoise brooch made in the- shape of a true lover's knot. I wonder why she should have- selected it from some twenty others, on that morning in particular ? " Idle girl !" exclaimed Annie, kissing her affectionately, as if idleness were a highly commendable quality, " idle girl ! not di-essed at ten o'clock, and I've been ready for the last five- minutes." ^ " I'm very sorry, dear ; but if you knew what pleasant dreams- I've enjoyed, you would not wish to have dispelled them," returned Laura demiirely, though there was a fund of merriment gleaming in her dark eyes, which Annie in her innocence did not OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 223 perceive. Feeling, however, that under the circumstances her friend had no business to have been so very happy, even in her dreams, she answered somewhat pettishly, — " You have been more favoured than I have been ; I went to bed cross and won-ied, and fretted over all my troubles again in my di'eams. Laura dear," she continued, " I want to say some- thing to you, if I thought you would not be angTy v.-ith me ; I wish you but can't you guess what I'm going to say 1 " Miss Peyton shook her pretty head, and confirmed the con- viction expressed by De Grandeville, that her family was of modern date, by repudiating any connexion with the race of CEdipus. So poor sensitive Annie was forced to clothe her meaning in plain and unmistakable words, which she en- deavoiu'cd to do by resuming, " My cousin Charles, dear Laui-a — you know we were brought up together as childi'en, and I love him as a brother; he is so kind-heai-ted and such a sweet temper ; and, — of com-se, I am aware he makes himself rather ridiculous sometimes with his indolence and affectation, but he has been so spoiled and flattered by the set he lives in — it is only manner — whenever he is really called upon to act, you have no notion what good sense and right feeling he displays. Dear Lam-a, I can't bear to see him so unhappy ! " At the beginning of this speech Miss Peyton colom-ed slightly; as it proceeded her eyes- sparkled, and any one less occupied with their own feelings than was Annie Grant; might have observed that tears glistened in them ; but at its conclusion she obseiTed LU her usual quiet tone, — " I don't believe Mr. Leicester. is unhappy." " Ah ! you don't know him as well as I do," returned Annie, her cheeks glowing and her eyes beaming with the interest she took in the subject ; "he was so wretched all yesterday evening ; he ate no supper, and sat moping in corners, as unlike hia natural happy self as possible." " Did you hear that he had ordered post-horses at eight o'clock this morning 1 " inquired Laura. " No ! you don't mean it !" exclaimed Annie, clasping her hands in dismay. " Oh ! I hope he is not gone !" "You may depend upon it he is," rejoined Miss Peyton, turning to the glass, avowedly to smooth her glossy hair, which did not in the slightest degi-ee require that process, but in reality 224 LEWIS abundel; to hide a smile. " He must be on Ws way to town Dy tl\is time, unless anything has occurred this morning to cause him to alter his determination." " That is impossible," retmnied Annie quickly ; then adding in a tone of the deepest reproach, " Oh Laura ! how could you be so ci-nel as to let him go ?" she burst into a flood of tears. And Laura, that heartless young hyaena of fashionable life, that savage specimen of the perfidious sex of whom a poet sings, — " 'Woman, though so mild she seem, Will take your heart and tantalize it. Were it made of Portland stone, She'd manage to MacAdamise it ;" what do you suppose she did on the occasion ? Nothing wonder- ful, and yet the best thing she could, for she wreathed her soft arms round Annie's neck, and kissing away her tears, whispered in a ibw simple touching words the secret of her happy lovo. OK, THE ItAlLKOAD OF i'.iVl. 22b CHAPTER XXVII. ' BROTHERLY LOVE A LA MODE. Now let US ehake the kaleidoscope and take a peep at ar.ctlier combiuation of owe dramatis j)ersonai at this particular phase of tlieir destinies. Lord Bellefield is breakfasting in his private sitting-room ; a bright lire blazes on the hearth ; close to it has been drawn a sofa, upon which, wrapped in a dressing-gown of rich brocaded silk, lounges the tenant of the apartment ; a break- fast table stands by the sofa, on which ai'c placed an empty coffee cup, a small flask of French brandy, and a liqueur glass, together with a plate of toast apparently scarcely touched, a cut glass saucer containing marmalade, and a cigar-case. His lordship appears to be by no means in an amiable frame of mind. He had sat up the previous niglit S'jiuc twu hours after the ball w;isj over, playing Ecarte with certain intimates of his own, whom he had caused to be invited to Broadhurst, during which time he had contrived to lose between 200?. and 300Z. Earlier in the past day he had formed a canvassing engagement with General Grant for eleven o'clock on the following morning, which had obliged him to rise sooner than was by any means agreeable to his tastes, or consonant with his usual habits; and, lastly, he expected an important letter, and the post was late. AVhile he was ponder- ing this agglomerate (to choose an euphonious word) of small evils, the door opened noiselessly, and Antoine, the French valet, carrying a well-brushed coat as tenderly as if it had been a baby, stole on tiptoe across the room. Lord Bellefield, whose head was turned away from the door, stretched out his hand, exclaiming impatiently, " Well, where are they ? " ''■Milor!" returned the astonished Frenchman, who in his interest about the coat had forgotten the letters. "The letters, fool, where are they?" reiterated bis lordship angi-ily. "Mille pardons, Milor ; but ven I did valk myself up zie stair. I am not avare dat zie lettairs had made zemselves to arrive," rejoined Antoine with a self-satisfied smile, as if he had said something clever. 22G LEWIS AKUNDEL ; " Did you ask 1 " returned his master with a frown. " Xon pas precisement — I did not exactly demand," stammered Antoine, with (this time) a deprecatory smile. Lord Bellefield's only reply was an oath ; then, seeing the man 'remained, uncertain what to do, he added, "Go down again directly, idiot, and don't return without my letters, imless " a menacing gestm-e of his clenched fist supplied the blank, and the valet qidtted the room, muttering with a shrug, as he closed the door, " Quils sont harhares, ces Anglais ; but, parbleu, like all zie savage, dey are made of gold — eh ! lien, cest egal, — he shall pay me veil for him." Lord Bellefield was not fated to enjoy the blessing of peace that morning, for scarcely had his servant closed the door, ere some one else tapped at it. " Come in," shouted the victimized peer, appending a wish concerning his visitor, of which the most cliaritable view we can take is that he was desirous of offering him a wai*m reception ; however this may be, Charles Leicester (for he it was to whose lot his brother's left-handed benediction had fallen) entered the room, his face reflecting the joy of his heai't, and drawing a chair to the opposite side of the fire-place, seated himself thereupon, and began rubbing his hands with a degree of energy totally opposed to his usual listless indifference. " Is there no other fire in the house, that you ai'e necessitated to come and warm yoiu* hands here, Mr. Leicester ? I fancied you were aware that if' there is one thing in the world which annoys me more than another, it is to be intruded on in a morn- ing," observed his lordship pettishly. Then, for the first time catching sight of his brother's face, he continued, " What on eai'th ai'e you looking so absm-dly happy about V " Now, don't growl this morning. Belle j be a little bit like a brother for once in your life. I'm come te receive yom' con- gratulations," returned Leicester. " Has yom- Jewish money-lender tm-ned Christian and bm-ned his books, hke the magicians of old?" iuqiured BeUefield • sarcastically. " Something almost as wonderful," replied his brother, " for I live in good hopes of paying him." " Why, you don't mean to say my father is going to be csuch a confounded fool as to pay your debts?" continued Bellefield. • Bpringing up in the excitement of the moment j " I sweai' FlI OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE, 227 not allow it ; he'll burdeu the estates so that wheu I come into the title I shall be a beggar." " Keep yourself cool, ray good brother ; you might be siu-e I jiiould never in my wildest moments dream of asking you to congratulate me on any good fortune which could by the most remote contingency either affect your interests, or interfere with your ease and comfort," replied Leicester, for once provoked to say a cutting thing by his brother's intense selfishness, " Really, Charles, I'm in no humour for foolery or imper- tinence," said Lord Bellefield snappishly ; " if there's anything 3'ou wish me to know, tell it at once ; if not, I am expect- ing important letters, and should be glad to be alone." " Wliat should you say if you heard I was going to be hanged, Belle ¥' asked Charley. " Wish you joy of your exalted destiny, and think things might have been worse," was the answer, " Apply both the wish and reflection to the present emer- gency," returned Leicester ; " for I'm in nearly as sad a ease — I'm going to be manied," " On the principle that what is not enough to keep one, can support two, I suppose!" rejoined Lord Bellefield in a tone of the most bitter contempt ; " Well, I did not think — but I wash my hands of the aflPair entirely — only mind this ; the property is strictly entailed, ray father can do nothing without my con- sent, and if you expect that you're to be supported in idleness at our expense " " My dear fellow, I expect nothing of the kind," I'etumed Charley, caressing his whiskers ; " my wife and I mean to set up a cigar divan, and all we shall look for from you is your custom ; we certainly do hope to make a decent living out of that." Lord Bellefield uttered an exclamation expressive of disgust, and then inquired abruptly, " VfeU, who is the woman 1 " " Sho isn't exactly a woman," returned Charley, meekly ; " that is, of course, speaking literally and in a physiological point of view, she is a woman, but in the language of ci^dlized society she is something more than a mere woman — for instance, by birth she is a lady ; nature has bestowed on her that somewhat unusual feminine attribute, a mind, to which art, through the medium of the vaiious educational sciences, has added cultivation ; then she has the sweetest, most loveable disposition " q2 228 LEWIS ARUNDKL . " There ! spare me your lovers' raptures," returned Lord Bellefield ; " of all stale trash, they are the most sickening ; and tell me plainly in five words, who she is, and what she has." " Laura Peyton — heiress, value unknown," returned Leicester emphatically and concisely. " Miss Peyton !" exclaimed Lord Bellefield in surprise. " My dear Charles," lie continued, in a more cordial tone than he had yet used, " do you really mean that you're engaged to Laura Peyton? Why, she is said to have between four and five thou- sand a-year in the funds, besides a princely estate in shire ; are you in earnest 1" " Never was so much so about anything before in my life," returned Leicester. " If I don't marry Laura Peyton, and that very soon too, I shall do something so desperate, that society had better shut up shop at once, for it's safe to be ' uprooted from its veiy foundations,' as the conservative papers say if a poor devil of a chartist happens to strop his razor before committing the ' overt act ' by which he cuts his own throat." " 'Pon my word," exclaimed Lord Bellefield, as he became con- inced that his brother was really in earnest, '' 'pon my word, you've played yovu- cards dcucedly well. I declare, if I hadn't been booked for little Annie here, I wouldn't have minded marrying the girl myself. Why, Charley, you'll actually become a creditable member of society." As he spoke, a tap was lieard at the door, and Antoine made his appeai'ance, breathless with the haste in which he had run up stairs. " Enfin elles sent arrivces," he exclaimed, handing the letters on. a silver waiter ; " vhy for zey vos si tard, zie postman, he did slip up Oil von vot you call — {ah! qiCils sont difficiles, ces sacres mots Anglais,) slid] oui! oui! he did slip himself up on von slid, and tumbled into two ditches." Lord Bellefield seized the letters eagerly : signing to the valet to leave the room, without heeding his lucid explanation of the delay, he selected one in a particular handwriting, and tearing it open, hastily penised the first few lines ; then rubbing his hands he exclaimed with an oath — "By ! Beppo's won and I'm a clear 12,000Z. in pocket — Charley, boy," he continued with a sudden impulse of generosity, (for no one is all bad,) " how nnicli are your debts ?" " [ believe about 2,000^. would cover them," returned Leicester. OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 220 " Then, I'll clear you, old fellow," replied Lord Bellefiekl, clapping him on the shoulder, " and you shall marry your rich bride, a free man." " My dear Bellefield, I can't allow it — you are too kind — I — I really don't know how to thank you— I can't think what's come to everybody this morning," cried poor Chai-ley, as, fairly overpowered by his good fortune, he seized Lord Bellefield's hand and wrung it wai-mly. At that moment those two men, each warped and hardened differently, as their dispositions differed, by the world's evil influence, felt more as brothei-s should feel towards each other than they had done since they played together yeai's ago as little childi'cn at their mother's knee. With one the kindly feeling thus revived was never again entirely forgotten; with the other — but we will not anticipate. CHAPTER XXVIIL BEGINS ABRUPTLY AND ENDS UNCOJIFOllTABLY. " Well, what is it ? for I can see by your eyes that you have something you wish to ask me, Walter," observed Lewis, as hia pupil stood before him nervously moving his feet and twisting tho lash of a dog-whip round his hands. " Only j\lillar wanted— that is, he didn't want, but he said he would take me out with him to see him shoot those great pretty birds." " Pheasants," suggested Lewis. " Yes, to see him shoot pheasants," continued Walter, " if yo-a would let mo go. Millar says," he added, seeing that Lewis ap- peared doubtful, " Millar says all real gentlemen like shooting, and that I'm quite old enough to learn." One gi-cat change wrought in Walter since he had been under Lewis's direction, — a change from v/hich his tutor augiured the most favourable results, — was the almost total disappearance of those fits of morbid despondency and indifference to external ob- jects, at times almost amounting to unconscious imbecility, to which he had foiTaci-Iy been subject ; it was therefore a part of 230 LEWIS ARUNDEL; Lewis's system to encouinge him to follow up vigorously auy pur Buit for which he evinced the slightest predilection ; indeed, sc effectual a means did he consider this of arousing his faculties, that he often sacrificed to it the daily routine of mechanical teaching. Having, therefore, i*un over in his mind the pros and cons, and decided that if he accompanied his pupil, no danger could accnie, he gi-aciously gave his consent, and having encased his feet in a stout pair of boots, and seen that Walter followed his example, both master and pupil hastened to the stable-yard to join the worthy individual with whom the expedition had originated. Millar, who, as the reader has probably ere this divined, w:^s none other than General Grant's head gamekeeper, appeared anxious to be off without delay, as he had received orders to kill a certain amount of game, which was required for a forthcoming dinner-ptirty. The morning was, as we have abeady said, lovely, and Lewis enjoyed -the brisk walk through some of the most wild and picturesque scenery the countiy afforded, with a degree of zest at which he was himself surprised. The pheasants, however, — not being endowed with such super -ornithological resignation us certain water fowl, who, when required for culinary pm'poses, were invited, as the nursery rhyme relates, to their o^ti execu- tions by the unallui-ing couplet, " Dilly dilly dilly duck.s, come and be killed ! " appeared singularly unwilling to face death at that particular epoch, and contrived accordingly by some means or other to render themselves invisible. In vain did Millar try the choicest spinnies, in vain did he scramble through impassable hedges, where gaps there were none, rendering himself a very pincushion for thorns ; in vain did he creep along what he was pleased to term dry ditches, till from the waist downwai-ds he looked mcic; like a geological specimen, than a leather-gaitered and cordm-oyefi Chi-istian ; still the obdurate pheasants refused to stand firG either present or prospective (gun or kitchen), and at the end ot three hours' hard walking through the best preserves, the disconsolate gamekeeper had only succeeded in bagging a brace. At length completely disheai-tened, he came to anchor on a style, and produced a flask of spirits, with the contents of which, (after fruitlessly pressing Lewis and Walter to partake thereof,) he proceeded to regale liimself. Finding himself the better foi OB. THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. T''"i this prescription, he shouted to a dishevelled individual yclept the beater, who for the trifling consideration of eighteen -pence per diem, and a meal of broken victuals, delivered himself over to the agreeable certainty of being wet to the skin, and scratched raid torn through it, with the by-no- means-remote contingency of getting accidentally shot into the bargain. The creatiu-e who appeared in answer to this summons, and who in spite of the uu- comfortabls description we have given of his occupation, seemed to enjoy his day's sport excessively, was too old for a boy and too young for a man. His face was, of course, scratched and bleeding, and his elf locks, drenclied with the hoai- frost, now melted into a species of half frozen gelatine, gave him a strange imearthly appeai'ance. His clothing, if rags which looked like the cast-off garments of an indigent scarecrow desci-ved the name, was so tat- tered and torn, that the fact of their hanging upon him at all was calculated to shake one's faith in the Newtonian theory of gi'a\'itation, till one gained a clue to the mystery by recollecting tlie antagonistic principle " attraction of cohesion ;" the only personal attraction by the way, (save a pair of clear grey eyes giving a shrewd expression to his face,) that our friend possessed. " Viliiam," began his superior, — and here let it be remarked parenthetically that it was the custom of this excellent gamekeeper invariably to address his satellite for the time being, as " Viliiam," utterly disregarding the occasional fact that the sponsors of the youth had seen fit to call him otherwise, — " Viliiam," obsei^ved Mr. jNlillar, " you're vet." This being an incontrovertible certainty^ evident to the meanest capacity, " Viliiam" did not feel called upon to reply in words, mei'cly shaking himself like a Newfound- laud dog, for the benefit of the bystandei"S, and glancing wistfully at the flask. " Yer vet right thro' yer, Viliiam," resimied hia employer dogmatically ; " so shove a drop o' this here down yer throat, and make spurrits and vater of yerself." To this proposition " Viliiam " replied by stretching out his liand, grasping the flask eagerly, then tugging at a tangled lock of hair on his forehead, as a salutation to the assembled com- nany, and gi-owling out in a hoarse damp voice, " Here's wushin hall yer 'ealths," he proceeded to " do his spiriting," though by no means as " gently " as the delicate Ariel was accustomed to perform that operation. Having thus qualified his cold-water system, by the introduction of alcohol, the spirit moved him and he spake. 232 LEWIS ARUXDLL ; " Yer aiu't bagged much game, Master, this moruin', I reckon?" " Not I," was the reply ; " uo man can't shoot things as ain't wisibul, yer know, ViUiam; I can't think vot's got all the game." " They do tell I as pheasands as looks wery like ourn, goes to Lunnun in t'caiTier's cart twice a-veek," observed Villiam, in a dreamy, absent kind of manner, as if the remark were totally foreign to the subject under discussion. "Ah! that's vot yer hear, is it, Villiam f returned Millar, carelessly; "hif that's the case, I suppose, (for 'taint likely they valks there of themselves,) somebody must take 'em?" " That is right. Master," was the rejoinder. " Has it hever cum across yer — take another drop of spm-rits, Villiam; yer vet, — has it hever cum across yer who that some- body his?" demanded Millar, in an easy, cai'eless tone of voice. " His it true as ther General thinks o' puttin' lion a second hunder keeper?" rejoined "Villiam," replying, like an Irish echo, by another question. " Hi'm avake, Villiam," i-eturned his patron, with an encou- raging wink, " it certingly his possibui hif I vas to tell ther General that I knowed a quick, hiutelligent lad has migh be wery useful in catch 171' poarchers, — yer understand, Villiam, — sich a thinoj mio;ht cum about." " " In that case hi'm free to mention that hi see three coves a cummin' hout 0' Todshole Spinney vith a sack as vosn't haltogither hempty, a'tween three and four o'clock this here blessed momin'." " And vot might yer be a' doin' yerself, hout 0' bed at that time o' night, Villiam?" inquired Millar, suspiciously. " A lying in a dry ditch vith my heyes open," returned the imp, significantly. " I sees!" rejoined the keeper, reflectively; "yer didn't happen haccidentally to know any o' they three coves, Villiam, I suppose? " " Ther von has carried the sack worn't haltogither unlike long Hardy, the blacksmith," was the reply. The worthy Mr. Millar meditated for some minutes in silence on the information thus acquired ; then, rousing himself wnth a sudden start, he observed, — " Now, Villiam, hif you'll be so hobliging has to beat along that ere edge-row to the right, ve'U eee hif ve can knock hover another brace 0' longtails, and ve can talk about Mi: Hardy ven ve have finished our day's vork. OR, TAB KAILEOAD OF LIFE. 23J There's a precious young limb o' vickeduess," he added, tui-uing to Lewis as the boy got out of earshot, " he's von hof 'em, bless yer, only he's turned again 'em with a mercenary view, hof getting a hunder keeper's sitivation." " In which rascahty do you mean to allow him to succeed I " asked Lewis. " Not by no manner o' means, — halways supposing I can pump him diy without," was the prudent reply, and, shouldering Ixis double-barrel, the gamekeeper quitted his perch on the stile, and resumed his shooting. Whether the intelligence he had received had affected his nervous system, (reserving for futm'e discussion the more doubtful question of his possessing such an aristocratic organiza- tion,) or whether in the excitement of the moment he had allowed himself to imbibe an unusually liberal allowance of the contents of the spirit-flask, we do not pretend to decide ; but certain it is that he missed consecutively two as fair shots as ever presented themselves to the gun of a sportsman, and ended by wounding, without bringing down, a young hen pheasant, despite the warning cry of " ware hen" from the perfidious " Villiam," then located in a quagmire. " Veil, I never did ! " exclaimed the unfortunate perpetrator of this, the greatest crime, which in a gamekeeper's opinion a sports- man can commit, " I aven't done sich a think has that since I wos a boy o' thirteen year old, and father quilted me with th« dog-whip for it, and sarve me right too. This here's a worry snipey bit, too," he continued, dejectedly, " but hif I can't 'it a pheasand, hit's useless to 'old up my gun hat a snipe." " Yom* ill-luck in the morning has made you impatient, and spoiled your shooting," observed Lewis, wishing good-naturedly to propitiate his companion. This speech, however, seemed to produce just a contraiy effect, for ]\Iillar answered gruffly, " Perhaps, ]\Iister, you fancies as you can do better yourself ; hif so, you're velcome to take the gTin and try." " I've no objection," replied Lewis, smiling at the very evident contempt in which, as a " Lunnuner," his companion held him ; *' I"ll try a shot or two, if you like." " Here you are, then, sir," was the reply, as the keeper handed him the gun ; " the right barrel's shotted for pheasands, and the left for snipes ; so look hout, and if yer don't bag Villiam, or Master Valter here, hit'll be a mercy, I excects." 234 LEWIS ARUNDEL J If the unfortunate Millar hoped to console himself for his owiT failure by witnessing a similar misho^p on the part of the young tutor, he was once more doomed to be disappointed ; for scarcely had Lewis taken possession of the gun, when a splendid cock- pheasant rose within distance, though fm-ther off than either of the shots the keeper had just missed, and ere its gaudy plumage had well caught the rays of the sun above the tops of the young plantation, fell to the ground, qiuvering in the a"-onies of death. As the smoke from the discharge cleared away, a snipe, scared alike by the report of the gun and the approach of the beater, sprang from a thick clump of alder bushes, and darted away, uttering its peculiar ciy. " No use — hit's clean out o' shot," exclaimed Millar, as Lewis, swift as thought, again raised the gun to his shoulder. Slightly piqued by the keeper's contemptuous manner, he determined not to tlu-ow away a chance of vindicating his skill as a marksman, and, though he felt by jio means sure of success, on the " nothing venture nothing have " principle, the instant he got a clear sight of the bird, he blazed away at it. Great then was his delight to. perceive the snipe suddenly tower upwards, and then drop to the ground, as if struck by lightning. " Vel, if that hain't a clever shot!" ejaculated Millar, sur- prised into admiration in spite of himself, " bless'd if yer 'aven't tuk the shine hout of me properly. I thort yer vos a reg'lar green un, but I'm free to confess I couldn't ave killed that ere bird at that distance ther best o' times." " Nor have T, it seems," exclaimed Lewis, as the snipe, whicli was only wounded, rose, flew a short distance, and dropped again. " Hit's dead this time, I'll bet a quart," observed Millar ; " hit'll never git hup no more, hif ve can honly find it." ' = I think I can," said Lewis ; " I marked the exact spot where it fell. Walter, do you stay with Millar till I come back. I shoidd not like to lose it." So saying, Lewis, completely earned away by the excitement of the sport, returned the gun to its owner, and dashing the branches aside, bounded forward, and was soon hidden amongst the trees, as he forced his way throiigh the dense underwood towards the spot where he trusted to find the snipe. With some difficulty, and after much energetic scrambling, Lewis reached the place where he had seen the bird fall, but cvon then it wis no such easy CH, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 235 matter to find it, nor was it till he had nearly decided that ho must relinquish the search, that he discovered his victim caught in a forked branch, and perfectly dead. Having secured his prize, the next object was to rejoin his companions, and thia accordingly he endeavoiu'ed to accomplish without delay; but since the days of pious -^ilneas, the task of retracing our steps, the '-revocare gi-adus," has been a work of difficulty, more espe- cially if we have begun by taking a few in a wTong direction, and Lewis's case proved no exception to the rule. After one or two ^Toug tm-ns he became completely bewildered, and feeling suro that he should never discover his right course while surrounded by the thick underwood, he struck into the first path which presented itself, and following its windings, found himself, almost immediately, close to the hedge which separated that side of the plantation fi.-om a gi-ass-field beyond. As he made his way towards a gap in this hedge, his attention was attracted by the sound of voices, and on approaching the spot, he perceived two persons engaged in earnest conversation. They were a man and a girl, the former, who wore the dress of a gentleman, having his arm round his companion's waist. The interview seemed, however, about to terminate, for as Lewis paused, uncertain whether or not to make himself known to the lovers, (for siich ho conjectm-ed them to be,) the gentleman stooped, imprinted a kiss on the damsel's brow, then saying, " Remember, you have pro- mised!" loosed the bridle of a horse, which was fastened to the bi'anch of a tree, sprang into the saddle, and rode hastily away. Not, however, before Lewis had recognised the featm-es of Lord Bellefield. Siuprise at this discoveiy was the first feeling of which Lewis was conscious, then a sudden desire seized him to ascertain who the girl could be, and without waiting to reflect on what further com*se it might be advisable for Jiim to pursue, he crossed the gap, sprang over the ditch beyond, and presented himself before her. With a violent start and a slight scream at this sudden apparition, the girl raised her head, disclosing to Lewis the intelligent face and earnest eyes of the young female, who had accosted him on the previous evening, immediately after the affiiir of the glove had taken place. Lewis was the fii-st to speak. " I have startled you, I fear," he began ; " I quitted my com- panions to go in seai'Cii <:f a snipe I had just shot, and, becoming 23 G LEWIS ARUNDEL; bewildered in the wood, have contrived to miss them. Hear- ing voices in this direction, I jumped over the hedge, hoping I should find some one who could tell me how to retrace my steps." " Were you in the hazel walk when you left your party, sir ?" inquired the girl, in a voice which faltered from various conflict- ing emotions. Lewis answered in the affirmative, and she continued, " Then, if you go straight on till you come to the corner of the field, you will see a gate on j'our left hand ; get over that, and follow the road which leads into the wood, and it will bring you to your friends." Lewis thanked her, and then stood a moment, irresolute whether or not to allude to the parting he had just witnessed. It was no affliir of his, and yet could he answer it to his con- science not to warn her against the designs which, he did not doubt, Lord Bellefield entertained against her] " Do not think me interfering without reason," he observed, "but I was an involuntary witness to your parting with that gentleman, and T wish to ask you if you are acquainted with his name and position?" The girl cast down her eyes, and, after a pause, murmured that she knew he was very rich. " And his name 1 " urged Lewis. " Mr. Leicester, brother to the young Lord," she believed. " He has told you that, has he?" returned Lewis sternly; " and did it not occur to you to inquire of the servants last night whether your wealthy admirer had revealed to you his real name?" " No ; she had never doubted that he had done so." " And perhaps were unwilling to call attention to youi connexion with him, by making the inquiry?" resumed Lewis. A bright blush proved that he had hit upon the truth ; but the probing nature of his questions roused the girl's spirit, and, 2-aising her eyes, she looked him full in the face, as she in her turn inquired, "And pray, sir, who are you? and what right have you to question me in this way ?" " My name is Lewis Arundel; I reside at Broadhurst, as tutor to Sir Walter Desborough," was the reply ; " and luy right to abk you these questions, is the right ev.'vy man possesses to do ^■"f, en, THE RAILROAD OF UJ-E, 237 Mb best to counteract the designs of a heartless libertine; for such I take your friend to be, and now I will give you my reasons for thinking him so. la the first place, he has not told you his true name : he is not Lord Bellefield's brother, as he pretends, but Lord Bellefield himself ; and in the second place, at the very moment when he is making professions of affection here to you, he is engaged to be maiTied to his cousin the daughter of General Grant." " It is not true, you hate him," exclaimed the girl, with flashing eyes ; " you quarrelled with him last night, and now you seek to revenge youi'self by sowing dissension between him and me, but you shall not succeed. I see through your meanness, and despise you for it." " Girl, you are infatuated," returned Lewis angrily, " and must reap the fruits of your obstinate folly. I spoke only for your good, and told you the simple tnith ; if you choose to disbelieve me, the sin will lie at your door, and not mine." As he spoke he turned and left her. By the time he reached the gate into the wood, his conscience began to reproach him for having been too hasty. He looked back to see if the girl were still there; she had not moved from the spot where he had quitted her, but stood motionless, apparently buried in the deepest thought. Suddenly observing that his eyes were directed towards her, she started, and, drawing her shawl closer around her, hun-ied away in an opposite direction. Lewis watched her retreating figaire till it became no longer visible; then, getting over the gate, he walked leism-ely along the turfed road to rejoin his companions. He was no coward, far from it ; but had he known that at that moment a gun-barrel covered him, levelled by the stalwax-t arm and keen eye of one before vrhose unemng aim by the broad light of day, or beneath the cold ra^'s of the moon, hare, pheasant, or pai-tridge fell like leaves in autumn, — one who, hiding from the gaze of men, had witnessed his parting from the gfrl, not five minutes since ; — had he known the deep interest felt for her by this person, and how, his suspicions being aroused, he had watched day after day to discover the features of hei clandestine suitor, but had never succeeded, till, creeping through the bushes, he had accidentally come up at the moment when Lewis, having spoken eagerly to her, turned and left the spot , had he known the struggle between the good and evil principle in that man's heart, — a sti-uggle on the result of which depended 2hH LEWIS ARUNDEL; life or death j— had he knowu all this, Lewis Anmdel, though a bmve mau, would scai-cely have paced that greenwood nUoy with i\ yulse so calm, a brow so unruffled and serene. CHAPTER XXIX. DE GltAXDEYILLE MEETS "HIS MATCH. Unpleasant as was the. situation inwliich Lewis was left at the €nd of the last chapter, we can scarcely imagine that any of our readers, however they may be accustomed to look on the " night side of nature," can have coolly made up their minds to the worst, and settled to their own dissatisfaction that he fell a victim to the poacher's gun. We say, we cannot imagine such a possi- bihty, — not because we have any very deep reliance on the tender-heartedness of all our fellow-creatures, seeing that this tale may Ml into the hands of a pooi--law guardian or a political •economist ; that a butcher may read it fresh from the shambles, or a barrister after defending some confessed murderer ; but, we feel certain, bu.tcher or bai-rister, lawgiver or giiai'diau miisi; alike perceive, that as we ai'e writing the life and adventures of Lewis Ai'undel, we cannot commit manslaughter without adding there- unto suicide ; or, to speak plainly, we cannot kill hems without docking our own tale; therefore, the utmost extent for which our most truculent reader can possibly hope must be a severe gun-shot wound, entailing a lingering illness . and a shattered constitution. But even these pleasant and reasonable expectations are doomed to meet with disappointment, the fact being, that almost at the moment in which " long Hardy " (for he it was) levelled his gun at Lewis's retreating figure, his quick ear had caught a sound betokening the advance of some person through the bushes in his immediate \acinity ; and neither wishing to encounter any of the gamekeeper's satellites, nor considering the deed he had meditated exactly calculated to be performed before any, even the most select audience, the poacher slowly recovered his gun, and proceeded to convey himself away, after a singular snake-like fashion of his own, reserving to himself the right of OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE, 239 •sliooting liis supposed enemy at some more convenient season. In the meantime Le^ns walked quietly on, unconscious of the danger he had escaped, until a turn in the road brought him iu sight of his companions. During the com'se of their homeward walk Lewis questioned the gamekeeper as to his intentions con- cenaing the poachers to whose proceedings he had that morning gained a clue. '•' Veil, yer see, Mr. Ai-undel," retm-ned Millar, iu whose esti- mation Lewis had risen fifty per cent, since his clever shot at the snipe, — " yer see, it ain't ther fust time as this chap, Hardy, has give us a good deal o' trouble; — we catched him S; poarchin about thi"ee yer.r ago, and he wor in gaol for sis months at a stretch ; veil, ven he cum out, he tuk to bad courses all to- gether^* — jined ther chartists, them chaps as preaches equal erty, ''cos, being at the wery bottom of ther ladder therselves, equalerty would pull them hup and their betters down ; vunce let 'em get to ther middle round, and they'd soon give up equalerty, — hit would be the ' haristogTacy of talent,' or ther ' shupremacy of physic-all force,' (\4ch means, adwisability of pitching into some- body else,) vith 'em then. I hates such cant as I hates vainnint, BO I do." Having delivei'ed himself of this opinion with much emphasis, the keeper proceeded to relieve his mind by flogging an inoffen- sive dog for an imaginary offence ere he continued : " Veil, arter he jined the chartists, he vent to Lunnun as a Delicate, as they calls 'em ; and has they found him in wittles and drink, lodgin' and bother parqiusites, in course he worn't in JIG hurry to cum back ; howsomdever, I suppose, at last they diskivered what I could a told 'em at fm-st — that he wasn't worth Jiis keep ; and so they packed him off home agen. I 'spected vhen I heard he vas arrived vot he 'd be hup to. He calls hisself a blacksmith; but he drives more shots into ares and pheasands than nails into 'orses oofs, i/ou may cZepend," " And how do you propose to put a stop to his depredations T inquired Lewis. " Vy, I should like to catch him in the wery act — nab him vith the game upon him," returned the keeper, meditatively; " then ve could get him another six months ; but he's precious sly, and uncommon swift of foot too, though he ain't fur hoff my age, vich shall never see five-and-forty no more," " I wish, Millar," said Lewis, after a moment's consideration. 240 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " I wish that whenever you receive information which you think hkely to lead to this man's capture, you 'd send me word ; there's nothing I should like better than to lend you a hand in taking him, — I might he useful to you, for I am considered ». fast runner." " And suppose it comes to blows ? Them poarching chaps is rough customers to handle sometimes," rejoined Millar, with a cunning twinkle in his eye, as if he expected this informatioa would alter his companion's intentions. " So much the more exciting," returned Lewis, eagerly ; " an affray with poachers would be a real treat after such a life of inaction as I 've been leading lately." As he spoke, — throwing off for a moment the cold reserve which had now become habitual to him, — his eyes flashed, he drew himself up to his full height, and flung back his gi'aceful head with an air of proud defiance. The gamekeeper regarded him fixedly, and mentally compared him with — not the fighting gladiator, for Millar's unclassical education had never rendered him acquainted with that illustrious statue; but he had once been present at a j^rize-fight, in which a tall, athletic youth, rejoicing in the ornithological soSri^^e^ of " the spicey Dabchick," proved victor, and to that dabchick did he assimilate Lewis. At length his thoughts found vent in the following ejaculation : — " Veil, Mr. Arundel, hif ther's many more like you hup there,, that blessed Lunuun can't be as bad a place as I thought it." Lewis smiled ; perhaps (for after all, he was human, aud under Iweuty-one), the evident admiration which had replaced the no less evident contempt with which the sturdy gamekeeper had regarded him eai'lior in their acquaintance was not without its charm ; at all events, when, after another hour's shooting, Millar went home to dinner, and Lewis and Walter returned to Bi'oad- huret, the young tutor diminished his income to the extent of half-a-crown, and the keeper, as he pocketed the " tip," renewed his assurance that he Avould send Mr. Arundel timely notice, " vhenever there vas a chance of being down upon that poarching willain. Hardy." Charley Leicester, as he did not start for Constantinople, found himself at liberty to escort Laura Peyton and his cousin Annie, to view the ruins of Monkton Priory, which in themselves wera quite worth the trouble of a ride ; had they, however, been even a less interesting combinatioa- of bricks and mortar than the OK, THE RAILROAB OF LIFE. 2 11 National Gallery in Trafalgar Square, (supposing such a tiling possible,) it would not have signified to the party who then visited *heni. Never were three individuals less inclined to be critical, or more thoroughly determined to be pleased with everything. The old grey luins, frowning beneath the cleai- wintry sky, appeared the colour of strawberry ice to them ; every object re- flected the rose-tint of their happiness. As for Charley, a change had come o'er him ; the indolent fastidious man of fashion, whose spotless gloves and irreproachable boots were the envy and ad- miration of Bond Street, had disappeared, and in his place arose an honest, genuine, light-hearted, agreeable, sensible being, to whom nothing seemed to come amiss, and who appeared endowed with a preternatural power of diffusing his own superabundant hajjpiness amongst all who came in contact with him. The girth of his saddle broke ; they had no groom with them. " Grooma were such a bore, he would be groom," Charley had said ; conse- quently, there were no means at hand by which the injury could be repaired. " Well, never mind ; he would get some string at the first cottage, and tie it up ; he was rather glad it had happened, riding Avithout a girth was great fun." But Laura's horse stumbled, and Chai'ley, forgetting his precai'ious seat, dashed in the spurs, intending to spring forward to lier assistance. The horse did spring forwai'd, but the saddle turned round. Mr. Leicester was. however, fated that day to fall on his legs, literally as well as metaphorically, and beyond being splashed up to his knees by alighting on a spot where the sun had thawed the ice into a puddle, he sustained no further injuiy. Laura was frightened ; he must not mount again till he had been able to get the girth mended. " Very well," returned Charley ; " he would lead the horse then ; it was pleasanter to walk than to ride, such a cold day as that ; he liked it particularly." So he marched sturdily through mud and mire, leading his own horse, and resting his hand on the mane of the animal ridden by Laura, for the space of some five miles, laughing and talking all the time so agi'eeably, that the young lady came to the conclusion that she had never properly appreciated his powers of conversation till that moment. Altogether, despite the broken girth and the mud and the cold, to say nothing of a slight snow- storm which overtook them ere they i-eached home, each membei K 242 LEWIS ARUNDEL; of that little party felt mentally convinced that they had never before enjoyed a ride so much in all their lives. " Ai-undel, where are you ] " exclaimed Leicester, putting his head into the study as he passed the door on his way to his apai'tment. " Can you spare me five minutes' convei-sation 1 " he continued, as Lewis, closing a book, rose to receive him. " Cei-tainly," was the reply, " pray come in." "I've been wishing to see you aU day," resumed Leicester carefully shuttmg the door, and glancing round the room ; " Where is your charge ? " « He is with the General," was the reply ; " he likes to have him for half-an-hour eveiy day before he goes to dress ; he talks to him, and tries to instil into his mind correct notions regarding things in general, and his own future social position in particular. Walter sits still and listens, but I'm afraid he does not understand much about it." "No great loss, either, I've a notion," returned Charley irreverently. He paused, whistled a few bars of " Son Geloso," entangled his spm- in the hearthrug, extricated it with muct difficulty, then turning abruptly to Lewis, he exclaimed, — " Arundel, I'm no hand at making "fine speeches, but recollect if ever you want a friend, I owe you more than I can possibly repay you. Not that this is such a very uncommon relation for me to stand in towards people," he added with a smile. " Nay," returned Lewis, " you are reversing om- positions ; I am your debtor for my introduction to this family, and for an amovmt of kindness and consideration, which you must be placed like myself in a dependent situation fully to appreciate. But," he added, glancing at his firiend's happy face, " I hope you have some good news to tell me 1 " " You are right in your conjectui-e,'' replied Leicester, " but it is mainly owing to your straightforward and sensible advice that I have gained the prize I strove for. I was within an ace of losing it, though ; " and he then gave a hasty outline of his day's adventures, with which the reader has been already made ac- quainted. Lewis congratulated him warmly on his good fortune : " You Bcc I was right when I told you Miss Peyton was not so indiflferent to you as you imagined," he said, " and that she liked you, not because you were a man of fashion, the admired of all admirers, but because she had sufficient penetration to discover that you OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 243 vrcre something more,— that you possessed higher and better qualities, and were not " '• Go on, my dear Arundel," urged Leicester, as Lewis paused^ " go on ; I like plain speaking when it comes from a friendly mouth." '•' The mere butterfly you strove to appear, I was going to say," resumed Lewis, " but you will think me strangely imperti- nent." "Not at all," retm-ned Leicester, "it's the tnith ; I can see -it plainly now. I've taken as much trouble to make myself appear a fool as other men do to gain a i-epiitation for wisdom. Wellj it's never too late to mend ; I shall turn over a new leaf froru' this time forth, give up dress, restrict myself to one cigar a-day, moderate my affection for pale ale, invest capital in worsted gloves and a cotton umbrella, and become a regular bvisiness character." He paused, and drawing a chair to the fire, seated himself, and stretching out his legs, subjected his boots, which bore unmistak- able traces of his pedestrian episode, to the influence of the blazing wood. Having thus made himself comfortable, he fell into a fit of musing which lasted till, after gazing vacantly at his extended legs for some moments, his features suddenly assumed an eager expression, and he exclaimed, " Confound those blockheads, Schneider & Shears, I suppose if I've told them once, I've told them fifty times, to give more room in the leg for nding-trousers — a horse's back is a wide thing, and of course, when you stretcli. your legs across it, you require the trousers to fit sufiiciently loosely to accommodate themselves to the position : they need not set like a couple of hop sacks either ; the thing's simple enough — I know if I'd a pair of scissors I could cut them out myself." Glancing at Lewis as he spoke, Leicester perceived that he was struggling, not over successfully, to preserve his gravity, and the absm-dity of the thing striking him for the first time, he indidged in a hearty laugh at his own expense 'ere he added, " Heigh ho ! it's not so easy to get rid of old habits as one imagines ; I see it will take me longer to unpuppyise myself than I was aware of. Seriously, however, I don't mean to continue a mere idler, liv-ing on my wife's fortune. My father has interest with Government, and I shall ask him to push it, and obtain for me some creditable appointment or other. He will have no difficulty ; the Hon. Charles Leicester, husband to the rich Miss Peyton, wili posseaa- 244 LEWIS ARUNDEL; muoli stronger claims upon his country than Charley Leicester the portionless younger son. In this age of humbug it is easy enough to get a thing, if you don't cai'e whether yo\i have it or not ; but if you chance to be some poor wretch, to whom the ob- taining it is Ufe or death, ten to one but you are done out of it. Poverty is the only unpardonable sin in these days ; the worship of the golden calf is a species of idolatry to which Christians are prone as well as Jews ; it's rare to find a sceptic as to that religion, even amongst the most inveterate unbelievers." Lewis, to whom Leicester in his self-engi-ossment had not per- ceived that his remarks w^ould apply, bit his lip and coloured ; then, wishing to save his companion the mortification of dis- covering that he had accidentally wounded his feelings, he hastened to change the conversation by observing, " How will the magnanimous Marmaduke bear the news ot your success 1" " Oh ! to be sure, I was going to tell you about him, when Bomething put it out of my head," returned Leicester. " The great De Grandeville was greater than ever on the subject — it was such fun — he came up to mc after breakfast this morning, and catching hold of my button, began — 'Ar — Mr. Leicestei' — excuse — ar — won't detain you five minutes, but — ar — you see in regard to — ar — the matter we conversed on yesterday, when you were good enough to give me the benefit of 3'our opinion, concerning a certain proposed alliance, if I may call your attention once more to the subject ; you will perceive that — ar — the affair has assumed a very different aspect — ar — indeed so completely diffei'cnt, that I feel confident vou will agree with me in considering tlie — ar — in fact the an-angement no longer desirable.' I told him I was quite prepared to think as he did on this point, and begged to know in what the mysterious impediment consisted. ' "Well, sir ■ — ar — I don't say it — ar — by way of a boast — ar — such things are quite out of my line, but, you must have yourself perceived the very marked encouragement which my advances met with yesterday evening — ai* — in fact the game was — ar — in my own hands !' — I succeeded in repressing a strong desire to kick him, and he continued with bland dignity — ' Ar — finding that this was the case, I felt, that, as a man of honour, I was bound — ar — to make up my mind definitely as to my future course, and had — ar — all but resolved to acquaint the young lady with the brilliant, that ia — ar — in many points unexceptionable position which OR, THE i;.VILi;v)AD OF LIFE. 245 awaited her, when fortunately — I might say providentially — it occurred to me to open a letter I had that evening received from my friend iu the Herald's College. Imagine my horror to learn, tliat her actual father, the immediately previous Peyton himself, had — ar — horresco referens, as Pliny has it — 'pon my word it quite upset me ! ' " ' This dreadful Papa, had he mxirdered somebody ] ' in- quired I. * No, sir,' was the answer, ' Lord Ferrera and other men with unexceptionable pedigrees have committed that crime ; there is nothing necessarily vulgar about murder ; the case was far worse — this intolerable proximate ancestor, who has not rested in his dishonom-ed grave above half-a-dozen years, was not only guilty of belonging to an intensely respectable firm in Liverpool, but had actually been insane enough to allow his name to be entered as sleeping partner in a large retail house on Ludgate Hill ! Fancy a De Grandeville marrying the daughter of " Plumpstern k Peyton, dealers in cotton goods ! " 'pon my woi'd, sir, it took away my breath to think of the na-rrow escape Pd had ! ' ' And the young lady ? ' inqxiired I. ' Ar — of course it will be — ar — disappointment, as I've no doubt she considered — ar — that she'd made her book cleverly, and stood to win, as the betting men say ; but — ar — she soon had tact enough to perceive that the grapes were sour — ar — took that tone immediately, — clever girl, sir, very — ar — I shouldn't wonder if she were to give out, that she had discom-aged my attentions — ar — in fact, virtually refused me — ar — I shall nut contradict her, I owe her that — ar — with the exception of yourself, Mr. Leicester, her secret will bo perfectly safe in my keeping.' It was now my turn ; so, drawing myself up as stiffly as old Grant himself, I said, ' Confidence begets confidence, Mr. De Grandeville ; so, iu return for your candour, allow me to inform you, that Miss Peyton, doubtless driven to despair by your desertion, has done me the honour to accept me as your substitute ! One word moi'e,' I continued, as, completely taken aback, lie flushed crimson, and began stammering out apologetical ejaculations, ' I have listened in silence to your account of the transaction ; I confess I have my own opinion about the matter, but, should you adhere to your intention of preserving a strict secrecy in regard to the affair, I shall do so likewise, — if not, I may feel called on to publish a somewhat different version of these love passages — 2 IS LEWIS aruxdel; one which will scarcely prove so agreeable to your self-esteem, unless, indeed,' I added, seeing that he was about to bluster, ' you prefer settling the business in a shorter way ; in which case, I shall be quite at your service.' So saying, I raised my hat, bowed, and, tm-ning on my heel, left him to his meditations." " Which myst have been of a singulai-ly unsatisfactory nature, I should imagine," returned Lewis, laughing. " But there is no chance of your fighting, I hope?" " Not the shghtest, I expect," repHed Leicester. " De Grande- ville, to do him justice, is no coward, but he wiU have sense enough to see that he can gain no cdut by giving the aflliir publicity, and will remain quiet for his own sake. Luckily, I'm not of a quarrelsome temperament, or I should have horse- wliipped him, or, at least, tried at it, when he was talking about Laura." " It was a temptation which in yom- place I could not have resisted," rejoined Lewis. " Ah, it's easy to be magnanimous when one is happy," re- turned Leicester; "besides, I really was rather sorry for the poor devil, for, as I dare say you've guessed long ago, it is clear Lam-a refused him last night — in fact, she as good as told ■me so." " Perhaps it may benefit him," remarked Lewis ; " his vanity was too plethoric, and a little judicious lowering may conduce to the general health of his moral system." "I'm afraid it's a case of too long standing," replied Leicester; ■" such a lamentable instance of egotism on the brain is not so Kisily to be cm-ed— however, he's had a pretty strong dose this time, I must confess. And now, seeing that ray boots have been wet through for the last three horns, the sooner I get rid of them the better."— So saying, Chai-ley Leicester took himself ofT, pre- paratory to perfoi-ming the same operation on his pei-fidioua boot^ ORj THE RAILROAD OF LI?S. 247 CHAPTER XXX. THE GENERAL TAKES THE FIELD. The interview which Levns had witnessed between Lord Belle- field and the girl, dwelt in his thoughts, and was a source of much doubt and uneasiness to him. The quiet secluded life he had led for the last year, affording ample time for meditation, — the almost total want of society, (for poor "Walter was no companion,^ — the* peculiar position in which he was placed, shut out from all the pleasures and excitements natural to his age and taste— had given an unusually reflective turn to his vigorous mind, and produced in him a gravity and depth of character, to which, imder different circumstances, he might never have attained. Thvis, in the views he took of life, he was accustomed to look beyond the surface, and deeming it unwortliy of a believer in the truths of Christiamty to attribute events to the mere caprice of a blind destiny, was rather disposed to trace in such occurrences the finger of a directing Providence, and to consider them as op- portunities purposely thrown in our way, for the use or abuse of which we should one day be called to account, as for every talent committed to our charge. Holding these opinions, he could not be content to sit down quietly witli the knowledge of which he had become possessed, without making some effort to prevent Lord Bellefield from successfully accomplishing the evil he could not doubt he meditated. But what then should he do 1 The question was not an easy one to answer. The most natui*al and effectual means to employ, would be to inform General Grant of the affair ; he was the person likely (as the father of his future bride) to possess most influence over Lord Bellefield, while as possessor of the estate on which they resided, he was certain to meet with respect and obedience from the pai'ents of the girl. But besides the dislike every honourable man feels to undertake the office of talebearer, Lewis's chivalrous natm'e shi-ank from even the appearance of seeking to wi-eak his revenge on the man who had insulted him, by injuring him in the opinion of his futui'e father-in-law. Again, were he to find nut the girl, and 2t8 LEWIS ARUNDEL : expostulate with her, he felt certain he should produce no g-ood effect — the fact of her being aware of the terms on which he stood with her admirer would render her suspicious of his intentions, and prevent her fi-om paying any regard to his arguments. At last it occun-ed to him to mention the thing to Charles Leicester, and persuade him, if possible, to visit the gii-1, and, at all events, to make her aware of the deceit which had been practised upon her by his brother in assuming his name. Accordingly, he determined to seek an early opportunity of speaking to Leicester on the subject; but good resolutions are always more easy to form than to caiTy into effect. On the following morning Leices- ter went to town, as well to acquaint his father with the im- portant step he contemplated, as to bear in person an invitation to an old family friend and ci-devant g-uardian of Laura Peyton's, to join the party at Broadhurst ; nor did he retizrn till after several days had elapsed, so that it was nearly a week ere Lewis found the opportunity he sought for. There had been a dinner party at Broadhurst, and, as was the- custom of the neighboiu-hood, the guests had departed early. Lewis waited till Leicester had disposed of a lady, whom he was handing to a carriage, then drawing him aside, he made him ac- quainted with the interview which he had involuntarily wit- nessed; informing him at the same time of his object in so doing. As he proceeded with his tale, Leicester's brow grew dark. " It is really too bad of Bellefield," he muttered, " situated as he is in regard to this fiimily ; it shows a w\ant of all proper feel- ing—all delicacy of mind — assuming my name too ! Suppose it had come to Laura's ears by any chance — 'pon my woi'd I 've a gi-eat mind to speak to him about it — though, I don't know, it would only lead to a quarrel — Bellefield is not a man to brook interference —I feel quite as you do in regard to the affixir, my dear Arundel, but really I don't see that I can do anything that would be of the slightest use." " Surely you can find out the girl, and prove to her the truth of my statement, that your brother has deceived her by assuming your name — you owe that to yourself" " She would be certain to tell him of it the next time she sees him," retm-ned Leicester, uneasily ; " it would lead to a quarrel between us, and you don't know what Bellefield's resentment is when it's once excited— it's actually ten-ific, and that's the truth." " But for your cousin, Miss Grant's sake, you ought uot to let OR, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 249 your brother proceed with this affair," urged Lewis ; " surely you must see the matter in this Hght ? " " Ah ! poor Annie," retm-ned Leicester, with a half sigh ; " I Eometimes wish that engagement had never been entered into. I doubt whether they are at all calculated to render each other happy. In fact, I've learned to look upon marriage in a very dif- ferent light lately — however, it 's no business of mine, wiser heads will have to settle it, luckily" He paused, and after a few mo- ments' deliberation, resumed abruptly, " I'll do as you advise, x\rundcl. I'll see this girl, and talk to her, and if Bellefield hears of it, and makes himself disagi'eeable, why it can't be helped, that's all — he should not attempt such things — particularly iu this neighbom-hood. He ought to have more respect for the General and his daughter ; it shows a want of good taste and good feeling ; besides, as well as I can judge from the glimpse I had of her iu the refreshment room, the girl's not so unusually pretty, after all. She'd an awful pair of hands, if I recollect right." A contemptuous smile passed across Lewis's handsome fea- tures, as his companion promulgated the above original moral distinction. Leicester, however, did not observe it, and con- tinued — " Just fancy my coming out in the character of a virtuous Mentor. I only hope I shall get through my arduous duties without laughing at my own performance. Ton my word, thouoh, it's rather serious, when a man feels inclined to scoff at himself for doing his duty from the sheer inconsistency of the thing. I tell you what, Arundel, I believe I've been a very naughty boy without in the least knowing it. I've always con- sidered myself the victim of circumstances, and set all my pecca- dilloes down to that account ;— but I don't see why I need bother you by making you my father confessor." Lewis, considering the train of thought into which Leicester had fallen one hkely to lead to useful practical results, was about to encourage him to proceed, when a servant approached them, and placed a small, crumpled, and not over clean piece of paper in Lewis's hand. Holding it under the light of a lamp, he was enabled with difficulty to decipher the following words : — " To jMuster Arundel.— Sur, the party as you knows of ia hout to-night, and more of his sort along vith him. Ve are safo 250 for a sliiudy ; but being quite ready for ther blackguards, lives in good 'opes hof a capture — bin wbich bif you likes to assist, not minding a crack o' ther bead, sbould sich occur, wbicb will some- times in tlier best regerlated famurlies, pleas to follur ther bearer, as will conduct you to your humbel servaunt to commarnd, " J. Millar." " That's glorious !" exclaimed Lewis, placing the missive in the hands of bis companion ; " I never did catch a poacher in my life, but I've often wished to do so — the whole scene must be so pictxu'esque and unlike anything one has ever met with — the darkness, the excitement — but you are laughing at my eagerness. "Well, I confess to a love of adventure for its own sake ; if I'd lived in the middle ages I should have been a knight eiTant, that's certain. I suppose it's no use asking you to join us 1 there's metal more attractive in the drawing room, nest-ce 2)as ? " " Wiiy," returned Charley, arranging his neckcloth by aid of a glass placed in the cloak-room for the benefit of the ladies who wished to wrap up becomingly ; "really I must own I prefer Lam-a's smiles even to the delights of a possible rencontre with your friend Mr. Whats-his-name the poacher." " Hardy is the fellow's name," replied Lewis ; " he is a chai'tist and all sorts of horrors, so that I don't feel the smallest degree of sympathy for him. Do you know where the General is to be found 1 I suppose, as I may be very late, or even obliged to sleep at Millar's cottage, I must ask his sanction ei'e I start oa my expedition." " I think you'd better," returned Leicester, " he's in the libraiy — I saw him go there after he had seen Lady Runnymede to her carriage. So good night — I shall be curious to learn in the morning whose brains have been knocked out ;" and with this agi-eeably suggestive remark Leicester ended the convei-satioiij and strolled off to the drawing-room. Lewis proceeded at once to the libraiy, where he found not only General Grant, but, to his extreme annoyance. Lord Belle- field also ; there was, however, no help for it, and he accordingly explained liis wishes as briefly as possible. The General heard him to the end without speaking — his first idea was, that such a request was strange, and unbecoming the peaceful gi-avity that should environ the office of a tutor, and he intended to favour him with a dignified refusal ; but as Lewis proceeded, his eager on, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 251 tones and sparkling eyes recalled to the old officer the days of his youth when the spirit of enterprise was strong within liim, raid in the wild bivouac, the dashing assault, the hand to hand stiiiggle, "i' the imminent deadly breach," and the many exciting vicissitudes of a campaigning life, he had found a degree of pleasure which his age knew not, and he was fain to accord gracious assent. " Yom- father was a soldier, Mr. Arundel, I think you told mef Lewis replied in the affirmative, mentioning some engagement in which he had particularly distinguished himself. The General listened to him with complacency, then exclaimed, — " That's it, sir, that's it ! I confess when I first heard your request, I considered it unnatural, in fact, unbecoming in a civiliaji, but in a soldier's son it assumes an entirely different character. I like to see spirit in a young man." (Here he glanced at Lord Bellefield, w^ho, apparently engrossed by a legal document which he was perusing, seemed unconscious of Lewis's presence.) " It's a pity your fother was unable to afford you a commission : there's been some very pretty fighting in India lately, and you might have distinguished yourself" Ho paused, then added, " I know most of the agricultural laboui'ers about here ; did Millar tell you any of these poachers' names 1" " Hardy, a blacksmith, was the most notorious character," returned Lewis. As he mentioned the name. Lord Bellefield started so violently that he nearly overturned the lamp by which he was reading. Seeing the General's eyes fixed on him inquiringly, he rose, and putting his hand to his side, drew a deep breath as he exclaimed, " One of those sharp stitches, as they call them, — nothing worse. You know I am sulyect to them ; it's want of exercise, producing indigestion. I tell you what," he continued, " I've rather a cm-iosity to witness Mr. Ai-undel's prowess, and see wliat sport this poacher will afford. Man-hunting, in the literal ferce naturce sense of the term, v/ill be a new excitement." " We'll all go," exclaimed the General, springing up with the alertness of a young man ; " if these rascals choose to trespass on my land and destroy my property, who so fit to resist them and bring them to justice as myself? I'll make the necessary alteration in my dress, and we'll start immediately." Lord Bellefield urged the lateness of the hoiu-, the cold night air, the chance of danger to life or limb, — but in vain ; General 252 LEWIS ARUXUEL ; Grant had taken the crotchet into liis head, and he was not th« man to be easily induced to change his mind. Accordingly Lewis found himself suddenly associated with two as strange companions as ever a man was embarrassed withal. Still there was no help for it ; and inwardly pondering what possible reason Lord Bellefield could have for joining the expedition, and why he had started at the mention of Hardy's name, Lewis hastened to wrap himself in a rough pea-jacket, and selected a heavy knotted stick, wherewith he proposed to knock respect for the rights of property into the head of any misguided individual who mio-ht be deaf to all milder argument. As he returned to the hall, the General made his appearance, carrying under his arm a cavalry sabre ; his bearing was even more stiff and erect than usual, and his eye flashed with all the fire of youth. " Early on parade, I sec, Mr. Arundel," he said, with something more nearly approaching to a smile on his countenance than Lewis had ever previously observed there ; " we'll read these poaching rascals a lesson they will not easily forget, sir." As he spoke, a light footstep was heard approaching, and in another moment Annie Grant bounded down the staircase, her glossy curls streaming wildly over her shoulders, and hor cheeks flushed with the speed at which she had come. " My dear papa !" she began, then turning pale as her eye fell upon the sword, she continued — " Oh ! it is really true ! I hoped they were only deceiving me in jest. Dearest papa, you will be good and kind, and not go out after these men 1 Suppose any accident should occur 1 think how valuable your life is — papa, you will not go 1 " " Annie, I thought you were perfectly aware of my extreme dislike to, or I may say, disapproval of all uncalled-for di8j)lays of feeling ; I am about to perform a duty incumbent on my •position, and I need scarcely add that any attempt to induce me lO neglect that duty, will not only prove ineffectual, but will be h'ghly displeasing to me. Not another word," he continued, scemg she was about to resume her entreaties ; " return im- mediately to the drawing-room, and apologise to our friends in my name for being obliged to leave them." At this moment a servant announced that his master's shooting pony was at the door, and that Lord Bellefield had already started ; so placing his hat on his head with an air of offended dignity, the General marched proudly out of the hall Lewis OT^ £^ ^z//pzs^ty OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 253 was about to follow him, when, glancing at Annie, he perceived that she had sunk into a chair, and covering her face with her hands, had given way to an irrepressible burst of tears. The young tutor paused — wishing to reassure her by promising to use his best efforts to shield her father from daufrer, and vet fearing to intrude upon her grief In his embarrassment he accidentally drojjped his stick — starting at the sound, Annie for the first time perceived him, and springing up, she came hurriedly towards him, exclaiming — " Oh, Mr. Arundel ! I am so glad you are going. Yoii, will take care of papa, will yon not 1 " As she spoke, she laid her hand on his arm, and gazed up into his face imploringly. " I will most assuredly try to do so, Miss Grant," returned liCwis, calmly, though that light touch thrilled through him like a shock of electricity. " You need not alarm yourself so greatly," he continued, anxious to soothe her ; " believe me, your appre- hensions have greatly exaggerated any probable danger." " You really think so ?" returned Annie, doubtfully. " At all events," she continued, "I shall be much happier now I know you are going ; I c">m sure you will try and take care of papa." "I will, indeed," returned Lewis, earnestly, as, glancing towards the door, he essayed to depart ; but Annie, completely engrossed by her anxiety to secure his services on her father's behalf, still unconsciously retained her hold on his arm, and Lewis was obliged gently to remove the little hand that detained him. As their fingers met, Annie, becoming suddenly aware of what Miss Livingstone would have termed her " indiscreet and unpardonable heedlessness," blushed very becomingly; then, with a sudden impulse of gratitude and warm feeUng, she extended her hand to Lewis, saying, ' Tliank you very much for all yom- kindness, Mr. Anuidel. I*Iind you take good cai-e of yourself as well as of papa — I shall not go to bed till I hear you have brought him safe home again." Lewifi pressed the fiiir hand offered to him, repealed his assurances that her alarm was unnecessary, and has/ciicd to follow General Grant. Annie gazed after him with teaiful eyes, but his words comforted her. She had already begun to rely on him in moments of difficulty or of danger. The moon was shining brightly, though flitting clouds passed from time to time across its silvery disk, wrapping wood, and hill. 254: LETV-IS ARUNDEL; and valley, in momentaiy darkness^ only to enhance tneir beautj when its pale cold rays once more fell uninterruptedly upoi: them, imparting to the scene the magic of a fairy twilight. Such, however, were scarcely Lewis's thoughts as, haunted by the appealing expression of Annie's soft eyes, he hastened to overtake his companions. The pai-ty proceeded in silence, following their guide, who was none other than the renegade Villiam, across one of the wildest portions of the park towards a young larch planta- tion, covering about forty acres of ground. This spot, nameo Tod's Hole Spinney, from certain fox earths that had existed in it till their occupants' partiality for dining on pheasants had led to their ejectment, was considered, from its isolated situation, the thick growth of underw^ood, the fact of a running stream passing through it, and other propitious circumstances, the most amply stocked preserve on the property, and it was with a degree of annoyance proportioned to the enormity of the oftence, that the General learned this was the place selected by the poachers for the scene of their depredations. As they approached the spot, the report of a gun was heard, followed by three or four others in rapid succession. General Grant, irritated beyond control by this audacity, immediately rode forward at a brisk trot. Lewis, bearing in mind Annie's injunction, gi-asped the crupper of the saddle firmly with his left hand, and with this slight assistance iTin by the General's side, keeping pace with the horse. In this manner they had nearly reached the wood, when a man sprang from behind a bush, and would have seized the horse's bridle, had not Lewis interposed, saying, in a low voice, "Don't you know us, Millar 1 it is General Grant, who, when he heard the poachers were out, determined to come with me." " I beg yer honour's pardon," returned the keeper, touching his hat, as he recognised his master. " I never expected to ha seen you here to-night, to be siire." " I am usually to be found where my duty calls me," returned the General stiffly. " These scoundrels seem to be out in force," he continued. '' Veil, I take it there's as many on 'em as ve shall know wot to do with," was the reply ; " but I've got above a dozen men on- the look hout, only in course they're scattered." " And how do you propose to act 1" inquired the General. " I thort of taking a party into the wood, trying to captiwate long Hardy, and one or two of the ringleaders, chaps as I've had OR, THE KAlLROAD OF LUK, 25o my eye on for ever-so-long ; thsn take tlier game from the tothei-s, and seize their guns hif posserbul ; — but the chief thing is to captiwate that willain, Hardy ; so I means to leave thi-ee or four men on the look-hout, in case he manages to do us, and break cover." "Your plan seems a good one," retiu-ned the General re- flectively. "How many men do you propose to take into the wood with you 1 " "Veil, there's half-a-dozen lads a laying down behind those bushes yonder, and there's two more jist inside that gap; then there's myself and Muster Arundel." " Let the boy that guided us hold my horse," — began General Grant. , " Hif I might adwise," inteiTupted Millar, " yer honour would remain in this weiy place ; and hif Hardy should get away from us — as he's likely enough, for he's as strong and houdacious as a steam ingine — he's a-most sure to break cover here ; in vich case yer honour can ride him down, and hif he dares to show fight, give him a cut hover the scull with yer long sword there." " You feel sure he will endeavour to effect his retreat on this side 1 " inquired the General, doubtingly. " Sartain siu*e, I may say," cried Millar, confidently j then as his master turned to exjilain to Lord Bellefield, who had just come up, the plan of operations, he added in a low voice, so that Lewis only might hear, " The old Gineral's pluckey enough for anything, but his legs ain't so young as they used to be, and he's rather touched in the vind, vich von't do for sich a valk as we've got before us." At this moment more shots wei*e heard in the wood, but apparently much nearer than the last ; the poachers were evidently advancing in that direction. " There is not a moment to be lost, Millar," exclaimed the General, eagerly. " I think as you say, I may be of more use here ; some one must remain outside to cut oJT the retreat of these fellows if you should succeed in diiving them out of the wood. Lord Bellefield will accompany your party ; — where are the other watchers on this side stationed 1 " " About fifty yai'ds apart, along the ditch skirting the wood. If yer honour wants help, a note on this whistle will produce it." So saying, Millar handed him an ivory dog-whistle; then, signing to Villiam to proceed, and requesting Lord Bellefield and Lewis 250 LEWIS ABUNDEL ; to follow him, the keeper conducted them along a narrow track leiding into the wood. " Do you really expect that Hardy will attempt to cross that part of the park, or was your assertion merely a white lie, framed to secure the General's safety ? " asked Lewis, as he walked by the keeper's side. " Veil, it woru't altogether a lie," was the reply ; " for if we don't nab the gentleman, that's the side he'll try for, as it's easiest for him to get away ; but if I vonce has a fair hit at him, I don't mean to leave him a chance to get away. I shaU not stand nice about hurting him neither, I can tell yer. He beat Sam Jones, one o' my hunder keepers so savage tiiat the poor feUer worn't out of his blessed bed for two months. He deserves summut pretty strong for that." " Mind you point him out to me, if you catch sight of him," rejoined Lewis ; " I am most anxious to be introduced to this truculent gentlemen." " Yer can't mistake him hif yer once sets eyes on him," returned the keeper ; " he's half a head taller than any of the rest of 'em, but I'll show him to yer." As he spoke, they reached the spot where the six men were waiting, though, so well had they concealed themselves, that Lewis was close upon them ere he was aware of their vicinity. " Now, my lads, are yer all ready ? " inquired their leader in a low voice ; an answer in the affirmative was followed by the order, — " Come on, then ;" when Lord Bellefield interposed by saying, — " One moment ! listen to me, my men ; I offer five guineas rov,'ard to any of you who may secure Hardy." on, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 2{:'7 CHAPTER XXXI. 16 CniEPLT CULINARY, COXTAINING RECEIPTS FOR A *^Gi30D PRESERVE," AND A " PRETTY PICKLE." After a strict iuj unction from Millar to preserve silence, the party in search of Hardy and his associates again moved for- ward, Lord Bellefield, Millar, and Lewis in front, and the others following two abreast. As soon as they had entered the wood, the remaining men joined them, making altogether a company of eleven. As they advanced further into the plantation, the boughs of the trees, becoming thicker and more closely interlaced, intercepted the moonlight, and ren- dered their onward progress a matter of some difficulty. The gamekeeper, however, knew every intricacy of the path, and could have found his way in the darkest night as easily as at jioonday. After winding among the trees for some minutes, they came upon a little glade where the underwood had been partially cleared away, and a small quantity of barley stacked for the purpose of feeding the pheasants. At the entrance to the space thus cleared, the party halted, and Millar, creeping forward on his hands and knees, reached the stack. Sheltering himself behind it, he made his way to the opposite side, where he was lost to sight; reappearing almost immediately, he cautiously rejoined the others, saying in a low whisper — " I expected how it would be; there is from twenty or thii-ty pheasands roosting on the trees beyond the stack there, and Hardy and his mates being aware on it, is a-making of their way through the bushes right ahead. I could hear 'em plain enough when I was at the stack yonder. Now, two on yer must come along o' me, creep to the stack and hide behind it as yer see me do, then vait till them blackguards has let fly at the pheasands, and afore they can load again ve three must jump forrard and try and captiwate Hardy ; in the meantime, you others must make yer way round through the bushes and take 'em in the rear, and help us if we wauta helping." " Which you will do most certainly," retiuned Lord BellefiehL — " 111 lead the party that remains." " And I'll go with you, Millai-," observed Le\\if> S,o8 LEWIS ARUNDEL J " And jow, Sam," continued Millar, addressing the under- Kecper before alluded to. The man came forward, and placing himself by Lewis's side, the thi-ee crept along till they had reached the stack, sheltered by which they again stood upright. Scai-cely had they taken their places, when two guns, followed by four others, were discharged in rapid succession, and so close to them, that the shot pattering amongst the underwood was distinctly audible, and one of the wounded pheasants di-opped at Lewis's feet; while almost immediately afterwards a couple of men ran forward to collect the fallen game. The foremost of these was a fellow of Herculean proportions : as he stooped to pick up a pheasant, a ray of moonlight revealed his features, and Lewis immediately recognised his former antagonist the tall Chartist. At the same moment Millar whispered, " That's our man ; go ahead!" " Leave him to me," retm-ned Lewis eagerly; and bencUng forward, with a bound like that of a tiger, he sprang upon him. The poacher was taken so completely by surprise (his back being tm-ned towards his assailant), that Lewis, encircling him with a grasp of iron, was enabled to pinion his anus to his sides. Like a wild bull caught in the toils, his struggles to free himself were tremendous ; but Lewis, now in the full vigoui- of his strength, was an adversaiy not easily to be shaken off; and despite his unrivalled powers, the poacher failed to extricate his arms. Shouting, therefore, to his companion for assistance, he desired him, with an oath, to shoot the keeper ; but that individual was unable to comply with his comrade's benevolent suggestion, by reason of certain well-directed blow^s wherewith Sam Jones the under-keeper was producing a marked alteration in the general outline of his features. In the meantime Millar, drawing forth a piece of cord, began coolly to tie Hai'dy's wi'ists together, disregarding a series of ferocious kicks with which he assailed him. At this moment the other poachers, to the number of some half-dozen, attracted by the sound of blows, reached the scene of action, but the party led by Lord Bellefield were equally on the alert, and the fight became general. And now the captm-e of the poachei Haz-dy appeared certain ; exhausted by his xmavailing struggles to free himself from Lewis's encircling arms, he could offer no effectual resistance to Millar, who continued most methodically to bind his wrists, in no way diverted from his purpose by the storm of blows which OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE 259 raged around him, many of whijh fell on his unprotected person, — ^when suddenly the report of a pistol rang sharply above the other sounds of the combat, and an acute stinging pain darted through Lewis's left shoulder, causing him such agony for tlxc moment, that he involuntarily relaxed his grasp. Hardy was not slow to avail himself of the opportunity thus offered ; — flinging off the young tutor with so much violence that he would have fallen had not one of the gamekeeper's assistants caught him and prevented it, he wrenched his hands fi'om Millar's grasp, and raising them still bound together as they were, struck the keeper such a severe blow on the side of the head, that he reeled and fell ; then, seeing that his companions, overpowered by numbers, and disheartened by his supposed captui-e, were giving way on all sides, he tui-ned, and dashing into the bushes, disappeared, not so quickly, however, but that Lewis, who despite his wound had never taken his eyes off him for a moment, perceived the movement. Grasping his stick, which he had conti'ived to retain during the struggle, firmly with his right hand, he lost no time in following the fugitive, and g-uided by the crashing of the bushes, kept close on his traces till they reached the boundary hedge ; — breaking his way through tliis obstacle with the strength and fury of some wild animal, the poacher sprang across the ditch into the open park beyond. Seeing that he had a desperate man to deal with, and fearing that although the first severe pain had abated, and little more than a sensation of numbness remained, his left arm might prove in some degi'ee incapacitated by the wound he had received, Lewis paused a moment to reconnoitre, ere he followed him. To his great delight, he perceived he had reached the hedge along the side of which the watchera were stationed, near the spot where General Grant had taken up his position. Hardy, unconscious liow closely he was followed, stopped also a moment while he endeavoiu'ed to set free his wrists ; but so securely had Millar bound them, that although by a violent exei-tion of strength he contrived to render the cord slacker, he was unable wholly to succeed in his object. Fearing, however, that the cord wotdd not hold out much longer, and unwilling to lose the only advantage gained by his previous struggle, Lewis determined once more to endeavour to seize him. Shouting, thei'efore, to give notice to the watchers, where their assistance was likely to be required, he sprang across the ditch and advanced towards his antagonist. At first the poacher appeai'ed inclined to stand his ground ; but see- s2 2ll0 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; ing his opponent was armed with a stout stick, and recollecting' his own defenceless condition, he resolved to trust rather to his uni'ivalled fleetness, and turning away with an exclamation of disappointed rage, again betook himself to flight. This portion of the park was clear of trees or any other cover, for a space oS more than half-a-mile square, beyond which lay another larger wood ; if Hardy could contrive to reach this, his escape would become a matter of certainty. The gTOund, which had once formed part of an ancient Eomau camp, lay in terraces, and this circumstance gave Hardy, who knew every inch of the country oy heart, a slight advantage. In speed they were very equally matched ; for although Lewis, from his yoiith and light active make, was, perhaps, really the fleetest, Hardy was in better train- ing. When they first started, the poachei- was about ten yards ahead, and they had reached nearly half the centre of the space between the two woods ere Lewis had diminished that distance materially. Hitherto they had been running up-hill, and the poacher's superior condition (as a jockey would term it) enabled him to continue his rapid com-se without the pace telling as much as it did on his piu'suer ; but now the gi-ound began to descend^ and Lewis, having saved himself for a short distance to recover breath, put forth his whole powers, and despite the utmost exer- tion's the poacher was capable of making, gained upon him so fast that it was evident that in a few more strides he must overtake him. But Hardy's usual good luck appeared not even yet to have deserted him, for at the vexy moment when it seemed certain Lewis must come up with him, a cloud obscured the moon, and the poacher, taking advantage of this accident to double on his pursuer, contrived to make such good use of his knowledge of the ground, that when the bright moonlight again enabled Lewis to discern his retreating figure, he perceived, to his extreme cha- grin and disappointment, that the fugitive would gain the wood, and doubtless effect his escape, before he could again overtake him. It was, then, with no small satisfaction that just as he was about to give up the chase as hopeless, he caught sight of a man on horseback galloping in a direction which must effectually cut off the poacher's retreat. Another moment sufficed to show him that the rider, in whom he immediately recognised General Grant, had perceived the fugitive, and intended to prevent his escape. I«wi8 accordingly strained every nerve to reach the spot in time to render assistance, more particularly as he remarked that Hardy OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 261 had by some means contrived to set his hands at liberty. lu spite of his utmost exertions, however, it was evident that the encounter would take place before he could arrive ; and remem- bering his promise to Annie, it was with mingled feelings of ■ anxiety for her father's safety, and self-reproach for having quitted him, that he prepared to witness the struggle. As soon as the General perceived the state of affairs, he waved his hand as a sign to Lewis ; then, drawing his sabre, stood up in his stin-ups, and rode gallantly at the poacher, shouting to him at the same time to stop and yield himself prisoner. Hardy paid no attention to the summons, continuing to run on till he felt the horse's breath hot upon his neck ; then, as General Grant, after again calling on him to " surrender, or he would cut him down," prepared to put his tlireat into execution, he dodged aside to avoid the blow, and springing suddenly upon the rider, dashed the sword from his hand, and soizmg him by the throat endeavoured to drag him off his horse. The old man, though taken by sui-prise, clung firmly to his saddle, and spurring his horse, tried to shake off his assailant; but his strength unfortunately was not equal to his courage, and the poacher, snatching at the rein, backed the horse till it reared almost erect and flung its rider forcibly to the ground. Apparently bent on revenge. Hardy, still retaining his gi'asp on the bridle, led the horse over the fallen body of the man, with the brutal intention of trampling him to death. But the gene- rous instinct of the animal served to frustrate his evil purpose ; as, though he led it twice directly across its prostrate master, the horse raised its feet and carefully avoided treading on him. Striking the animal ferociously on the head with his clenched fist, he next attempted to back it in the same direction, but the frightened animal sprang aside and plunged so violently that he was unable to effect his design. He was still striving to do so, when Lewis, breathless with the speed at which he had run, reached the spot. Instantly leaping over the fallen man, stick in hand, he struck Hardy so severe a blow on the wrist that he was forced to quit his hold on the bridle, and the scared horse broke away and galloped off, snorting with terror. The poacher, infuriated by the pain of the blow, forgot all prudential considerations ; and heed- less of the approach of three of the watchei's, who, attracted by tlie noise of the struggle, were rapidly hastening towards the spot, he rushed upon Lewis, and disregarding a heav;)- l)low with which the young tutor greeted him, flung his arms round him and 262 LEWIS arujtdel; endeavoured to dash him to the ground. Fortunately for Lewia, he was not ignorant of the manly exowise of wi'estling, and hia proficiency in the art stood him in good stead at this moment ; for, despite his gigantic strength, Hardy could not succeed in throwing him. In vain did he lift him from the gi'ound ; with whatever violence he flung him down, he still fell upon his legs ; in vain did he compress him in his powerful arms, till Lewis felt as if every rib were giving way — the only effect of his exertions was to exhaust his own strength ; till at length, taking advantage of an incautious movement of his adversary, the young tutor con- trived to pass his leg behind that of the poacher, and thus trip him up. His victory was, however, nearly proving fatal to him ; for, in falling, the ruffian clutched him by the throat and di'agged him down with him. Nor, although Lewis being uppermost was enabled to raise himself on one knee, and return the compliment by insex'ting his hand within the folds of his adversary's neck- cloth, could he force him to relinquish his grasp. Fortunately, help was at hand; and just as Lewis began to feel that it was be- coming serious, and that if tlie pressure on his throat continued much longer he should bo strangled outright, the three assistants came up ; two of them immediately flung themselves upon the poacher, while the third ch-agged Lewis, who was rapidly growing exhausted, from the deadly embrace of his prostrate foe. Having with some difficulty succeeded in so doing, the man laid him at full length on the grass, and leaving him to recover as best he might, tm-ned to assist his companions to secure Hardy. This was now a comparatively easy task, for his final struggle with Lewis had exhausted even the poacher's strength, and after a fu- tile attempt to rise and shake off his captors, he ceased to resist, and submitted in sullen silence, while his arms were secured with the General's sword-belt. This operation concluded, the man who had rescued Lewis retm-ned to him, and found him suffi- ciently recovered to sit up. " Have you looked to the General ) is he uninjured ?" was his first question. " I'm afear'd he's terrible hurt, if he ain't killed outright ; leastways he's onsensibul ; and one of his arms seems crushed like," was the consolatoiy reply. " Oh that I had come up a minute sooner !" exclaimed Lewis, in a tone of bitter self-reproach. " You'd have been a dead man, if yer had, Sir," was the re]>ly ; OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 2G3 " if that willian there had had hold of your throat half a minute longer, you'd have been as stiff as a leg of mutton by this time." " Better that I had perished than that this should have oc- cuiTed," murmiu'ed Lewis ; then turning to the man he con- tinued, " Lend me your arm ; I can walk now 3" and risiog with difficulty, he advanced towards the spot where General Grant lay. He was perfectly insensible ; his hat had fallen off, and his grey hair, exposed to the night dews, impai-ted, as the moonlight streamed on it, a ghastly expression to his features; while his right arm was bent under him in an vmnatural position, which left no doubt that it must be broken, probably in more places than one. Lewis knelt down beside him, and raising his un- injured hand, placed his finger on the wrist. " r can feel his pulse beat distinctly," he obsei-ved, after a moment's pause ; " he is not dead, nor dying, — indeed, except the injury to his arm, I hope he may not be seriously hiu-t, — no time must be lost in carrying him to the house and procuring a sm'geou." " Somebody ought to go to Broadhm-st, to let'm know what's happened, and get us some help. We've more than we can manage here, you see," urged the assistant ; " it will take two on us to purwent that blackguard Hardy from getting away — he won t lose no chance, you may depend." " I'll stay with General Grant if you'll run to the house," returned Lewis feebly. "Your arm's a bleeding, Sir ; did that willian stab youl" in- quired the assistant. " No ; I was hurt in the wood," was the reply. "Do you think you could ride. Sir?" continued the man; " cos if you could I'd try and catch the horse, — he's a grazin' very quiet yonder, — and then you could go to the house, start oft one of the grooms to fetch a doctor, send some of the people down here to help us, get yer own wound dressed, and break the news to the family better than such a chap as me." This obsen'ation was a true one ; and Lewis felt that it was so j therefore, although he dreaded the task, and would rather have again encountered the dangers he had just escaped, than -sv-itnessed A.nnie Grant's dismay and son-ow when she should find her dark anticipations realized, he agreed to the aiTangement ; and as the man succeeded in catching the horse almost immediately, he mounted with some difficulty, and rode ofi" at speed, though the 204 LE^vis arunt)el; rapid motion iucreased the paiu of his wound till it became almost insupportable. He reached Broadhurst in less than ten minutes, never di-awing bridle till he entered the stable-yard ; al- though he turned so faint and dizzy on the way, that more than once he was nearly falling from the saddle. His first act was to despatch a mounted groom to procure a surgeon ; he next sent off four of the men-servants with a hurdle converted into an ex- temporary litter, giving them exact directions where to find their master, and waiting to see that they started without loss of time ; he then attempted to dismount, but was unable to do so without assistance ; having paused a few moments till the faintness had agam gone ofiF, he entered the house by the servants' entrance, and calling the butler aside, desired him to summon Mr. Leices- ter as quietly as possible ; then, sinking into a chair and resting his head on his hands, he awaited his ai'rival with ill-concealed anxiety ; dreading lest some incautious person should abruptly inform Annie of her father's accident. CHAPTER XXXII. LEWIS MAKES A BISCOVERY, AND GETS INTO A " STATE OF MIND." The end of the room at which Lewis had seated himself lay in shadow, so that Leicester, who shortly made his appearance M'rapped in a dressing-gown, could merely distinguish the outline of his figure. " Why, Arundel," he began, " is anything the matter 1 Here has Wilson been and roused me out of my first sleep, with a face like that of the party who ' drew Priam's curtains i' the dead o' the night.' Where's Governor Grant, and how is it that you're home first 1 " "It's no joking matter, Mr. Leicester," returned Lewis, faintly, and wdthout raising his head, " The poachers have given us more trouble than we expected, and in attempting to capture Hardy, the General has been thrown from his horse. His right arm is broken in two places, and when I came away he was still in- sensible." OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 265 From the position in which Lewis sat (his elbows resting on a table, and his forehead supported by his hands), he was unable to perceive anything that might be going on in the apartment, con- sequently he had continued his speech, ignorant that a third person had joined them. Annie (for she it was who, pale as some midnight ghost, had glided noiselessly into the room) laid her hand on Leicester's arm to prevent his calling attention to her presence, while eager and trembling she listened to Lewis's account of her father's accident ; and overcome for the moment by these evil tidings, she remained speechless, leaning against a chair for sxipport. Lewis, surprised at Leicester's silence, raised his head languidly, and the first object that met his eyes was Annie's sinking figure. With an exclamation of dismay, he attempted to start up, but he was becoming so weak from loss of blood, that he failed to accomplish his purpose. Roused by the action, Annie recovered herself, and as a new idea struck her, she asked, — " Where, then, is poor papa 'i Have they brought him home ? I must go to him instantly ! " * He is not yet arrived, Miss Grant," returned Lewis, in a low voice, that trembled with conflicting emotions ; " his own servants are can-ying him, and a siu-geon will be here instantly. I " he paused abruptly, for Annie, drawing herself up, advanced towards him, and with flashing eyes exclaimed, — " Is this then the way in which yovi have fulfilled your promise, Ml'. Arundel ? I trusted so implicitly to yoiu* assurance that j'ou would w^atch over him and protect him ; and now yon have not only failed him in the moment of danger, but deserted him in his necessity, and secured your own safety by coming home to break my heart with these evil tidings, Oh, I am ashamed of you — grieved — disappointed ! " " Hush, my dear Annie,* observed Leicester, soothingly, " Arundel might not be able to prevent this accident — you arc too hasty." " No ! no ! " retm'ued Lewis, in a low broken voice, " I deserve her reproaches. I ought never to have quitted him, and yet I did so, believing that I left him in perfect safety. I could not bear to stand inactive, when other men were about to face danger ; — besides, I had pledged myself to assist in capturing this poacher." He paused, then added, " I have been to blame. Miss Grant, but I am not quite the poltron you imagine me. I did, indeed, leave your father, that I might 266 LEWIS ARUNDEL j accompany the attacking party into tlie wood, but I strained every nerve to come up with Hardy before General Grant encountered him j and although that was impossible, I arrived in time to prevent him from forcing the horse to trample the life out of the fallen man, and wounded as I am, I engaged with and captured, at the risk of my own life, the ruffiau who had injm-ed your father ; nor should I have been here now, but that it was necessaiy for some one to procure as- sistance, and summon a surgeon, and I rode back at speed to my own injury, that I might leave a more efficient man with the General," As he ceased speaking, the butler entered the room, bearing in his hand a lamp, and for the first time the light fell upon Lewis's figure. Leicester, as he beheld him, uttered an exclamation of surprise and horror, which his appearance was well calculated to call forth. His face was deadly pale, save a red line across the forehead, where some bramble had torn the skiti ; his dark hair, heavy with the night dew, clung in wild disorder around his temples ; and his clothes, stained with mud, bore traces of the severity of the struggle in which he had been engaged ; the sleeve of his left arm, which still rested on the table, was soaked with gc*'e, while the momentary excitement which had animated him as he spoke, had given way to a retm'n of the faintness produced by the loss of blood, which was by this time very considerable. As this ghastly figure met her sight, Annie uttered a slight shiiek — then a sense of the cruel injustice of her own reproaches ban- ished every other consideration, and springing towards him, she exclaimed, — • " Oh, Mr. Arundel, what can we do for you 1 how shocked, how gi'ieved I am ! — will you, can you forgive me 1 " Lewis smiled and attempted to reply, but the woi'ds died away upon his lips, and, completely overcome by faintness, he would have fallen from the chair had not Leicester supported him. Fortunately, at this moment the surgeon arrived, and Annie quitting the apartment, Lewis's sleeve was cut open, his wound temporai-ily bound up, and his temples bathed with some stimulating essence which dispelled his faintness, before the Eurgeon's services were required for General Grant. The latter gentleman had recovered consciousness ere he reached Broad- hurst, and though suffering acute pain from his broken arm, appeared cool and collected. His first question had been OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 2G7 " whether Hai'dy had escaped," and he seemed to revive from the momeut he was iuformed of his captm-e. His next inquiry was, who had taken him, and on learning it was Lewis, he was luiicli pleased, muttering, " Brave lad, brave lad, pity he's not in the army." He recognised Annie and spoke kindly to her, gave orders for the safe custody of Hardy, demanded of the sm-geon who examined his arm whether he wished to amputate it, as he felt quite equal to the operation, and in short, under circumstances which would have overpowered any man of less finnness of character, behaved like a gentleman and a brave old soldier, as he was. Fortunately the sm'geons (for a second, attracted by the rumour of an accident, as vultures are if a camel ^dies in the deseii, had come to test the truth of the old proverb that two heads are better than one) succeeded in setting the arm, pronounced amputation unnecessary, and, after carefial examination, gave it as their opinion that, with the exception of a few contusions of little consequence, the General had sustained no fiu'ther injury. Having come to this satisfactory con- clusion, they found time to direct their attention to Lems. After much whispered consultation, and considerable exchange of learned winks and profound nods, they infoi-med him that he had been wounded by a shot from a pistol, (which, by the way, Le could have told them,) and that they had very little doubt that the ball remained in the wound, in which case it would be necessary to extract it ; — to this Lewis replied, " The sooner the better." Accordingly, they proceeded to put him to great agony by probing the wound to find the ball, after which they hm-t him still more in extracting it, performing both operations with such easy cheerfulness of manner and utter disregard of the patient's feeling-s, that a bystander would have imagined they were carving cold shoulder of mutton rather than the same joint of live humanity. But surgeons, like fathers, have flinty heoi-ts, unmacadamized by the smallest grain of pity for the wi'etched victims of their uncomfortable skill ; their idea of the " ^Yhole Duty of Man" being that he should afford them "an interesting cfise" when living, and become a "good subject" for them, when he has ceased to be one to the Queen. After the ball was extracted, Lewis requested it might be handed to him ; it was small, and fi'om its peculiar shape, he perceived that it must have been discharged from a pistol with a rifle ban'eh 2G8 LEWIS AKUNDEL ; " If you will allow me," he said, " I shall keep this bic of lead as a memorial of this evening's entertainment." " Oh certainly," replied the most cheerful sui-geon, " by all means ; if it had b\it gone an eighth of an inch fm'ther," he added, rubbing his hands joyously, "only an eighth of an inch, it would have injured the spinal cord, aud you would have been — ch'oll how tliese things occm* sometimes—you'd have been paralysed for life." Lewis shuddered, and wished devoutly he were for the time being Caliph Haroun Alraschid, in which case idic focetious surgeon would have added a practical acquaintance with the effects of the bastinado on the sole of the human foot, to his other medical knowledge. " I don't think," resumed the doctor, meditatively, " I don't think you need apprehend any very unpleasant result, as for as I can as yet see into the case. Of course," he continued, with bilai'ity, " crj'sipclas might supervene, but that is seldom fatal, unless it affects the brain ; and I should hope the great effusion of blood will prevent that in the present instaiice. You feci vejy weak, don't you 1 " Lewis replied in the affirmative, and his tormentor continued : " Well, you need not bo uneasy on that score ; I don't apprehend a retm-n of syncope, but if you should feel an un- natural deficiency of vital heat, or perceive any symptoms of approaching collapse, I would advise your ringing the bell, and I'll be with 3-ou instantly. Scalpel's obliged to be off" ; he's got a very interesting broken leg — compound fracture — waiting lor him down at the village, besides some dozen agreeable minor casualties, the result of to-night's work. Keep up your spirits, and go to sleep — your shoulder is easier now ?" " It feels as if the blade of a red-hot sword were bein» constantly plunged into it," returned Lewis, crossly. " Delighted to heai* it," replied Dr. Bistoury, rubbing his hands ; " just what I could have wished ; nothing inert tliere , I would recommend yoiu* bearing (which word he pronounced bea-a-a-riiig,) it quietly, and rely upon my looking in the first thing to-morrow." So saying he rubbed his hands, chuckled and departed. In spite of his wound, which continued very painful, Lewis contrived to get a few ho\u*s' sleep, and awoke so much refreshed, ihat he resisted all attempts to keep him in bed, and though 0I^ THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 209 stiff and weak to an excessive degree, made his way to the study and cheated Walter out of the holiday he had expected ; a loss which he scarcely regretted in his joy at finding that the wicked poachers had not seriously injured his dear Mr. Anmdel. And then Annie could not be happy till she had caught Charles Leicester and made him accompany her on a penitential visit to Lewis, to tell him how grieved she was at the re- collection of her injustice to him ; — it seemed so dreadfully ungrateful when in fact he had just saved her father's life : — and she looked so pretty and good and pure in her penitence, that Lewis began to think women were brighter and higher beings tlian his philosophy had di-eamed of, and for the first time it occurred to him that he had been guilty of an unpardonable absurdity in despising the whole race of woman-kind because he happened to have been jilted by a little coquettish, half-educated Gterman girl ; and he forgave Annie so fully in his heart, that with his lips he could scarcely stammer out half-a-dozen un- meaning words to tell her so. Leicester asked him in the course of the convei-sation whether he had any idea which of the gang of poachers had fired the pistol, adding that two others had been taken besides Hardy. Lewis paused for a moment ere he replied, " That his back had been turned towards the man who shot him, and that it was too serious a charge to bring against any one without more certain knowledge than he possessed on the subject;" and having said this, he immediately changed the convei'sation. As soon as Annie and her cousin withdrew, Millar the game- keeper made his appearance, full of congratulations on Lewis's gallant conduct, and sympathy in regard to his wound. " I can't imagine vitch o' ther warmints could have had a. pistol ; it worn't neither o' ther two as we captiwated, for I sarched 'em myself, and never a blessed harticle had they got about 'em, except ther usual amount o' bacca and coppers hiu ther breeches' pockets." " Did you have any more fighting after I left you to follow Hardy 1 " asked Lewis. " Veil, we did 'ave one more sharpish turn," was the reply , •' when the blackguai-ds see me down, they made a rush to re- cover the sack with the game, and almost succeeded, only Sam Jones pulled me out of the crowd and set me on my legs again, and I was so mad a-thinking thnt Hardy had got dear away that 270 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; I layed about me like one possessed, tliey do tell me ; so wo not only recovered the game, but bagged two o' ther chaps themselves. By ther bye," he continued, " Sam Jones come here with me ; he wants to see yer when I've done with yer ; he says he's picked up somethin' o' yourn, but he won't say what — he's a close chap when he likes, is Sam ; howsomedever, I suppose he expects you'll tip him a bob or so, for it was he as ketched yer, when Hardy first flung yer ofT ; you've paid him for it sweetly, and no mistake ; he'd got a lovely black hye, and his right wrist was swelled as big as two ven we mai'ched him hofF to H jail this morning. And now I'll vish yer good arternoon, Mr. Arundel, and send Sam hup, if you're agi'eeable." Lewis, with a smile at the equivocal nature of the phrase, signified his agi-eeability, and the keeper took his departure ; — in another minute the sound of heavy footsteps announced the approach of Sam, who having obeyed Lewis's injunction to " come in," vindicated his title to the attribute of "closeness" by carefully shutting the door, and applying first his ear and then his eye to the key -hole, ere he could divest his cautious mind of a dread of eaves-di-oppers. He then crossed the room on tip-toe, partly from a sense of the grave nature of liis mysterious eiTand, partly from respect to the carpet, the richness of which oppressed him heavily during the whole of his visit, restricting him to the use of one leg only, the greater portion of the time. " You have found something of mine, Millar tells me," began Lewis, finding that ghost-hke his visitor appeared to consider it a point of etiquette not to speak first. " You're very kind, Mr. Arundel," returned his visitor, who, catching sight at the moment, of the gilt frame of an oil painting which hung over the chimney, and believing it firmly to be pure gold, became so overpowered between that and the caiq^et, that he scarcely dared trust himself to speak in such an aristocratic atmosphere. " I'm much obUged to you. Sir : yes, I have found something, Sir, but I don't know disactly as it's altogether yourn." "What is it, my good fellow?" inquired Lewis, half amused and half bored by the man's baslifulness. A consolatory mistrust of the sterling value of the pictm-e- frame had, by this time, begun to insinuate itself into Sam's mind, and reassured in some degree by the doubt, he continued, " I beg pardon. Sir, but I hopes you don't feel so bad as might be ex;)ccted, you looks shocking pale surely." OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 271 Lewis thanked him for his inquiry, and said he believed the wound was going on favourably. " I'm sm-e I'm very glad to hear it, which is a mercy to be thankful for ; you looking so bad too," returned this sympa- thising visitor ; then leaning forward so as to approach his lips to Lewis's ear, he continued in a loud whisper, '•' Have ye any notion who it was as fired the shot ?" Lewis started, and ccjomiug slightly, fixed his eyes on tha man's face as he inquired abruptly, "Have you 1" Forgetting his veneration for the cai^pet in the excitement of the conversation, the suspicious under-keeper walked to the door, and again tested the key-hole, ere he ventured to answer the question ; then approaching Lewis, he thiTist his hand into a private pocket in his shooting-jacket, and di-awiug theuce some- thing carefully wTapped in a handkerchief, he presented it to the young tutor, saying, " That's what I've been and found. Sir ; I picked it up in the wood, not twenty yards from the place where you stood when you was shot, Mr. Arundel." Lewis hastily um-oUed the handkerchief, and ch-ew from its folds a small pocket-pistol ; on the stock, which was richly in- laid, was a silver escutcheon, with a coat of arms engiuved upon it ; from mai'ks about the nipple, it iiad evidently been lately discharged, and on examination it proved to have a rifle barrel. Lewis's brow grew dark. " It is then as I suspected," he muttered ; pausing, however, as a new idea seemed to strike him. "It might be unintentional," he continued, " the mere result of accident, — I must not jump too hastily to such a conclusion;" then addressing the under- keeper, he inquired, "Have you any idea to whom this pistol belongs?" '•'P'r'aps I may have," was the cautious reply, "but there's some things it's best not to know — a man might get himself into trouble by being too knowing, you see, Mr. Arundel." '•' Listen to me, my good friend," retm'ned Lewis, fixing his piercing glance on the man's face ; " it is evident you more than suspect who is the owner of this pistol, and you probably are aware by whom, and under what circumstances, it was last night discharged. Now, if through a selfish dread of consequences yoii wish to keep this knowledge to yourself, why corner here and show 273 LEWIS ARUNDEL j me the pistol 1 If, on the contrary, you wish to enhance tlifi value of your information in order to make a more profitable bargain with me, you are only wasting time. I am naturally anxious to know who wounded me, and whether the deed was accidental, or intentional ; therefore, you have but to name your , price, and if I can afford it, I will give it you. I say this because I can conceive no other reason for your shilly-shallying." During this speech, the unfortunate Sam Jones, shifted uneasily from leg to leg, dropped his cap, stooped to pick it up again, bit his under lip with shame and indecision, and at last exclaimed, " Bless'd if I can stand this hany longer ! out it must come, and if* I loses my sitiation through it, I suppose there's other places to be got ; they can't say nuffin against my character, that's one comfort. It ain't your money I wants, Mr. Arundel, Sir ; I'm able and willin' to earn my own livin' ; but I've got a good place here, and don't wish to offend nobody ; still right is right, and kno^ning what I knows, my conscience wouldn't let me rest till I'd come and told you — only I thort if you would ha' guessed it of yourself like, nothing needn't ha' come oiit about me in the matter." " I understand," returned Lewis, with a contemptuous curl of the lip ; " I will take care not to commit you in any way ; so speak out." " Well, if you remember. Sir, I went with you and Millar up to the barley-stack last night, and when you grabbed hold of Hardy, he sung out to the chap as was with him to come and help him, so I thort the best thing for me was to pitch into him, and prevent his doing so. Well, I hadn't much trouble with him^ for he was a shocking poor hand with his fists, and as soon as I'd polished him off, I tui-ned to lend you a help ; just at that minute I see the moon a-shining upon something bright, and looking further, I perceived the figure of a man crouching close to the stack, with a cocked pistol in his hand. When fust I see him the pistol was pointed at Hardy, but suddenly he changed his aim, and fired straight at you ; as he let fly, the moonlight fell upon his face, and if ever a man looked like a devil, he did then." "And it was — 1" asked Lewis, eagerly. " Lord Bellefield ! " was the reply ; " there's none of 'em wcf.rs hair on their top lip except the young lord, so it ain't cany to mistake him, ye see." OK, TUt} KAILKOAD OK LIFE. 273 ■*"■ Are you quite siu-e lie changed the directiou of the pisloi f Might not the shot have been intended for Hardy?" " I'll take my oath it worn't, Mr. Arundel ; he pointed it straight at your breast, and if Hardy hadn't given a sudden wrench at the minute, and dragged you out of the line of fire, you'd have been a dead man long before this." I Seeing that Lewis continued silent, the keeper resumed, — " As soon as you was hit, you let go, and Hardy threw you off. I caught you, expecting it was all up with you, but I still kept my eye on his lordship, for I was curious to know how he'd act. When he saw you fall, he smiled, and then he looked more like a devil than he had done before. As Hardy was a-cuttiug away, he passed close to Lord Bellefield, and struck against his shoulder, accidenfty — and his lordship in a rage flung the discharged pistol after him, and it would ha' fetched him down too if it hadn't a-hit against a branch ; however, I marked where it fell pretty nigh, and as soon as it was light this morning I went and found it. Thei"e'« his lordship's arms upon it, same as them on his pheatou." Completely overpowered and amazed at this recital, Lewis, •desiring to be alone with his own thoughts, obtained from Sam Jones a. promise of the strictest secrecy in regard to the afiair, and having liberally rewarded him for his discreet behaviour, dismissed him. He then, concealing the pistol in his pocket, withdrew to the privacy of his own apartment, and locking the door, sat down to collect his ideas. At first he could scarcely realize the fact with which he had become acquainted. True, he had suspected that it was from Lord Bellefield's hand that he had received his wound, for he had previously observed the butt of a pistol protniding from a pocket in his lordship's gi-eat-coat, his attention being particularly called to the fact by the eagerness with which its owner immediately hastened to conceal it more effectually ; still, he had believed that he had been wounded by an accident, and that the shot had been fired with the intention cif disabling Hardy, in whose capture Lord Bellefield appeared, for some mysterious reason, to be deeply interested. The ac- count he had just received proved that this was evidently not th« case, and Lewis could only conjecture, that at the moment Lord Bellefield was about to shoot Hardy, some fiend had suggested to him the opportunity of an easy revenge on the man he hated, and that, in an impulse of ungovernable malice, he had altered the direction of the pistol. 274 LEWIS ARUNDEL; llising and opening liis dressing-case^ Lewis took fi'om a secret drawer the ball which had been extracted from his shoulder, and di-awing the pistol out of his pocket, tried it ; it fitted the baiTel to a nicety. Replacing it, he muttered, "There is then no doubt ;" he paused, but immediately resumed, "'Tis well; he has now filled up the measure of his guilt ; the time is come to balance the account." His intention vl that moment was to seek out Lord Bellefield, upbraid him with his treachery, threaten to expose him, and demand as a right, that he should afford him satisfaction, forcing him, by some means, to meet him on the following morning. But even when carried away by passion, Lewis was not utterly forgetful of the feelings of others, and his friendship for Leicester and for Annie, consideration for the General in his present situation, and the interest he took in Walter, rose up before him, and he exclaimed, " No, it is impossible ; a thousand reasons forbid it while I remain under this roof; I must break off all intercourse with this family, before I seek my just revenge. Well, the day of retribution is postponed, then, perhaps for years ; but it will come at last, I know ; I feel that it will. That man is a pai't of my destiny. With what pertinacity he hates me ! He fears me too ; he has done so ever since that affair of the glove ; he read in my eyes that I had resolved on — on what ? what will all this lead to 1 Am I at heart a murderer ? " He sat down, for he was very weak, and trembled so violently from the intensity of his feelings, that his knees refused to support him. "No!" he continued, "it is an act of justice. This man insulted me — I bore it patiently ; at least, I did not actively resent it : he repeated his injurious conduct, he heaped insult on insult — I warned him ; he knew what he was doing ; he saw the fiend he was arousing in me, but he persevered — even yet I strove to forgive him ; yes, for the sake of his brother's kindness to me, for the sake of the fair girl who is betrothed to him, I had almost resolved to forego my right to j^unish him. Then he seeks my life, the cowardly assassin ! and in so doing he has sealed his own doom." — He rose and paced sternly up and down the apartment. " Frere would say," he resumed, " Frere would say that I ought to forgive him yet ; but he would be wrong : he would quote the Scriptures that we should forgive a brother ' till seventy times seven.' Yes, if he turn and repent ; repented sins only are forgiven cither in heaven or on c;n-th. Doec this OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 275 man repent 1 let liim tell me so, and I will give him my hand in fi-iend.ship ; but if he glories in his wickedness 1 — why then the old Hebrew law stands good, ' An eye for an eye.' He owes me a life already, and if I offer him fair combat, I give him a chance to which in strict justice he has no right ; but / am no mean assassin ; — and now to return his pistol, and inform his lordshia that I am aware of the full extent of my obligations to him." So saying, he drew pen and ink towards him, and hastily wi'ote as follows : " J\Ir. Arundel presents his compliments to Lord Bellefield,. and begs to return the pistol with which he did him the honour to attempt his life in the wood last night. Mr. Arundel reserves the pleasiu-e of returning the shot till some future opportunity." He then rolled up the note, and inserting it in the barrel of the pistol, formed the whole into a small parcel, which he care- fully sealed, and, ringing for Lord Bellefield's valet, desired him to lay it on his master's di'essing-table before he prepared for dinner. Eeader, when your eye falls upon this page, which lays bare the heart of one whom we would fain depict, not as a mere picturesque brain-creation of impossible virtues and startling faults, but as an eiTing mortal like ourselves, swayed by the same passions, subject to the ;*^me influences for good or for evil — when you perceive how this one ^^Tong feeling, permitted to take root in his mind, gi-ew and flourished, till it so warped his frank generous nature, that the fiend of sophistiy, qiioting scripture to his purpose, could blind his sense of right with such shallow reasoning as the foregoing, — resolve, if a single revengefid feeling Im-k serpent-Hke in your bosom, to cast it from you at whatever sacrifice, lest when you pray " Oui- Father " which is in heaven to " forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass ftgairist us," you unawares pronounce your own condemnation. Ta 276 LEWIS AHli'NDST, CHAPTER XXXIIl. CONTAINS SUNDllY DEFINITIONS OF " WOilAN AS SHE SHOULD I5E, AND DISCLOSES MRS. ARUNDEL's OPINION OP RICHARD FRERE. Lewis did not obtain any answer to his polite note, as Lord Bellefield received on the following morning letters, which he said required his immediate pi-esence in London, and in the hurry of departure he no doubt forgot to refute the charge Lewis had seen fit to bring against him ; and, as the young tutor pre- served a strict silence on the subject, and Sam Jones kept his own coiuisel with his accustomed closeness, there, for the pi*esent, the matter appeai-ed likely to rest. Some little surprise was caused in the village, by the sudden disappearance of Jane Hardy, the poacher's daughter, a girl of about nineteen ; but, as it was imagined she had gone to take up her quarters in the town of H , where her father was imprisoned, her absence was soon forgotten. Lewis and Charles Leicester alone, having ascer- tained her identity with the young person who had assisted in the refreshment-room on the night of the party, connected her flight with Lord Bellefield's abrupt departure, and, although the subject was, for obvious reasons, avoided between them, little doubt remained on their minds as to her probable fate. This occurrence afforded Lewis a clue to Lord Bellefield's sudden interest in regard to Hardy's capture ; — by her father's im- prisonment would be removed the chief impediment to the success of his designs upon the daughter. The event had proved the correctness of his calculation. Weeks passed on ; the wound in Lewis's shoulder healed, despite the aggravating attendance of Doctors Scalpel and Bistoury, and, with youth and health on his side, he speedily regained his accustomed vigour. General Grant's recovery was a matter of greater difficulty. The fracture had been by no means easily reduced, and the process by which the bones re-united was a long and tedious one. His accident (as is us'oally the case with such events) had occurred at a most inconvenient moment ; — while he was yet confined to his room the election for the county oame on, and hia opponent, taking advantage of his absence to OR^ THE RAILROAD OF LIFE, 277 undermine his iuiluence wiih the voters, was returned by a laro-e majority. The bribery by which he had obtained his seat was, however, a matter of such notoriety, that, by De Graudeville's advice, the General was induced to petition Parhamentto annul the election. The petition failed, and the expenses, which, from the prolonged proceedings, Avere unusually heavy, all fell upon the unsuccessful candidate. Dming the progress of the afiliir, Lewis, by the General's wish, acted as his amanuensis and private secretary, a confidential servant being engaged to wait on Walter and attend him during his rides, thus relieving his tutor of mucli that was irksome in his situation. The London season was at its height before General Grant had recovered sufficiently to leave Broadhurst, but a fortnight before the day on which Charles Leicester's wedding was fixed to take place, Amxie and her father started for the great metropolis. Duriiig his attendance on the General, Lewis had been thrown much into Annie's society, and their intimacy had deepened, on the lady's side, into feelings of the warmest esteem and friendship, while the gentleman became more and more convinced that his previous estimate of the fair sex was a completely mistaken one, and altogether to be condemned as the weakest and most falla- cious theory that ever entered the brain of a hot-headed boy, — by which opprobrious epithet he mentally stigmatized his six-months- ago self, — and, for at least a week after she had departed, he felt as if something had gone wrong with the sun, so that it never shone propeidy. The General had been away about a fortnight, when Lewis received a letter from Rose, informing him for the first time of her literary pursuits. Since we have last heard of this young lady she had been growing decidedly blue. Not only had she, under Bracy's auspices, published a series of papers in Blunt's Magazine, but she had positively written a child's book, which, although it contained original ideas, good sense, and warm feeling, instead of second-hand moral platitudes, and did not take that jxarticulai'ly natural view of life which represents it as a system of temporal rewards and punishments, wherein the praise- v/orthy elder sister is always recompensed with an evangelical young duke, and the naughty boys are invai-iably di'owned on clandestine skating expeditions, yet found an enterprising pub- lisher willing to purchase it ; nay, so well did it answer, that the courageous bibliopolist had actually expressed a wish to confej 278 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; with the " talented authoress," as he styled poor Rose, in regard to a second work. Whereupon Frere despatched a note to tluit young lady, telling her she had better come up to town at once oflFering her the use of his house in a rough and ready way, just as if he had been writing to a man ; and though he did add in a postscript, that if she fancied she should be dull, she 'd better bring her mother with her, the after-thought was quite as likely to have arisen from sheer good-nature, as from any, even the most faint, glimmering of etiquette. Owmg to a judicious hint thrown out by Bracy, however, an invitation arrived, at the same time, from Lady Lombard, which Mrs. Arundel had immediately decided on accepting, and the object of Hose's letter was to inquire whether there was the slightest hope of Lewds being able to meet them. By the same post an-ived a note written by Amiie from her father's dictation, saying that he found he was quite unable to get on without Mr. Arundel's assistance; that he considered change of scene might prove beneficial to Waltei', and that it was therefore his wish that Lewis and his pupil should join them immediately after the bustle of the wedchng should be over ; which scheme chimed in with the young tutor's wishes most admirably, and for the rest of the morning he was so happy as to •be quite unlike his usual grave and haughty self, and astonished Faust to such a degree by placing his fore-paws against his owa chest, and in that position constraining him to waltz round the room on his hind-legs, that the worthy dog would have assuredly taken out a statute of lunacy against his master, had he been aware of the existence of such a process. Those who witnessed the marriage of the Hon. Charles Leicester to the lovely and accomplished daughter of the late Peregrine Peyton, Esq. of Stockington Manor, in the county of Lancashire, (they said nothing of Ludgate Hill, and ignored Plumpstern totally,) describe it to have been a truly edifying ceremony. The fatal knot was tied, and the wretched pair launched into a married state by the Bishop of L , the unhappy victims iubmitting to their fate with unexampled fortitude and resigna- tion, and the female spectators evincing by their tears, that the lesson to be derived from the awful tragedy enacting befoi'e tliem, would not be thrown away upon them. Nor were the good intentions thus formed allowed to swell the hst of " unredeemed pledges " whence that prince of pawnbrokers, Satan, is populai-ly OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 27-9 supposed to select his paving materials, as, dui-ing the ball whick concliKlod the evening, two fine young men of property fell vdctims to prematui-e declarations, and after a rapid decline from the ways of good fellowship, were carried off by matrimony, and departed this {i.e. fashionable) life, in less than two months after their first seizure. On Lewis's arrival in town, he found a small packet directed to him in Leicester's hand-writing, containing, besides the glazed cards lovingly coupled by silver twist, a remarkably elegant gold watch and chain for the waistcoat pocket, together with a few lines from Charley himself, saying that to Lewis's good advice and plain speaking he felt he in a gi-eat measure owed his present happiiipss, and that he hoped Lewis would wear the enclosed trifle, the joint gift of himself and Lam-a, to remind him of their mutual friendship and regaixl. Had he known that Annie Grant had noticed the fact of his not possessing a watch, and suggested the nature of the gift to her cousin, he would have valued it even more highly than he did. The happy pair had determined to test the endurance of their felicity by starting for the Rhine, which popular river it was their intention to go up as far as it was go-up-able, then proceea to Switzerland, do that land of musical cows and icy mountains thoroughly, and finally take up their quarters at Florence, wliere Leicester had succeeded in obtaining a diplomatic appointment. A letter had been received from them dated Coblentz, wherein it appeared their new-found happiness had stood the voyage better than might have been expected ; a fact mainly attributable to their having had an unusually calm passage. Laiu'a considei'ed the Khiue scenery exquisite ; Charley thought it all very well for a change ; but for a constancy, he must confess he preferred the Serpentine ; he was disg-usted with the German students, whom '^e stigmatized as " awful tigers," wondered why the women wore short petticoats if they hadn't better ancles to show, complained bitterly of the intense stupidity of the natives for not understand- ing either French or English, and wound up by a long violent sentence, quite uncoimected with all that had gone before it, setting forth his unalterable conviction that Laura was an angel, which unscriptural assertion he reiterated four times in as many lines. A change had taken place in Rose Arundel, and Lewis, as he gazed with affection on her calm, pensive brow, and marked tha 280 LEWIS AHUXDEL ; earnest thoughtful expression of her soft, grey eyes, felt that she ivas indeed altered ; he had left her little more than a child, he found her a woman, in the best and fullest sense of the expression Reader, do you know all that phrase implies ? do you understand what is meant by a woman in the true and fullest sense of the term ? " Eh 1 I should rather think I did, too, just a very little," replies Ensign Downylip, winking at society at large ; " know what a woman is 1 yes, I consider that good, rather." " And what, oh ! most exquisite juvenile, may be yom' defini- tion of woman as she should be 1 " The Ensign strokes his upper lip where that confounded mous- tache is so very " lang a comin," rubs his nose to arouse his intel- lect, which he fails to do because that faculty is not asleep, but wanting, and replies, — " Ar — well, to begin with ; woman is of course a decidedly inferiar animal, but — ar — take the best specimen of tine class, and you'll find it vewy pwitty, picquante, devoted to polking, light in hand, clean about the pasterns, something like Fanny Elsler, with a dash of Lady to give it style, (I can't stand vulgawity,) decidedly fost ! (I hate your cart-horsey gals,) plenty of bustle to make it look spicey, ready to go the pace no end, and able properly to — ahem! appweciate ' Your's tndy' — ai- — that's about the time of day, eh, Mr. Author !" " No such thing, sir," replies Cosrulea Scribbler, who is so very superior, that she is momentarily expected to regenerate society single-handed ; " No such thing. Sir ; I know what the author meaiis ; he justly considers woman as a — that is, as the concen- trated essence of mind ; nothing low, base, earthy — but— in fact, — definitions should be terse — you'll excuse my mathematical tastes, but — ahem ! — three terms at Queen's College, and that dear Professor Baa-lamb ! naturally produce a logical habit of thought— you require a perfect woman." " No, madam, I am not so unreasonable." " I mean, you require a definition of a perfect woman ; here- yon have it then — the maximum of mind united to the minimum of matter; or, to speak poetically, a 'thing all soul.'" And, having thus given her opinion, Miss Coerulea, who measures barely five feet, and is as thin as a latli, shakes her straw-coloured ringlets, and subsides into the Sixth Book of Euclid. But neither the red-jacket nor the blue-stocking, albeit each OB, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 281 the type of a not unuumerous class, lias exactly answered our questiou as we would wish it replied to. We do not agi-ee Avitli Charley Leicester in considering woman an angel ; — fii-st, because our ideas with regard to angels are excessively vague and un- defined, wings and white drapery being the only marked features which we have as yet succeeded in realizing ; and, secondly, because, to verify the resemblance, woman should be fliultless, and we have never yet met with one who had not some fiiscinating little sin left to show that she was not too good for this world. Our notion of a woman, in the best sense of the word, is a being fitted to be a help meet for man ; and this would lead us into another disquisition, which we will dismiss summarily by stating that we mean a man wortliy of the name, not an ape in a red coat like Ensign Downylip, or an owl in a sad-coloured one like Professor Baalamb ; but a man whom it wovild not be mere satire to call a lord of the creation. A help meet for such an one as this, should possess a clear acute intellect, or she would be imable to comprehend his aspirations after the good, and true, and beautiful, — the efforts of his fallen nature to regain some- what of its original rank in the scale of created beings. She should have a faithful, loving heart, that when, foiled in his worldly career, his spirit is dark within him, and, in the bitter- ness of his soul, he confesses that " the good that he would he does not, but the evil he would not, that he does," her affec- tion may prove to him, that in her love he has one inestimable blessing yet remaining, of which death alone can deprive him, and then only for a season ; for, — availing herself of the fitting moment with the delicate tact which is one of the brightest instincts of a loving woman's heart, — she can offer him the only true consolation, by urging him to renew his christian warfare in the hope that together they may attain the reward of their high calling, a reward so glorious that the mind of man is impotent to conceive its nature. But to be able to do this, she must herself have realized by the power of faith, the blessedness of things unseen, and with this requisite, without which all other excellencies are valueless, we conclude our defini- tion of " woman as she should be." Such an one was Rose Arundel, and countless others are there who, if not sinless as the radiant messengers of heaven, are yet doing angels' woi'k by many a fire-side which their presence cheers and blesses. Happy is the man who possesses in a wife or JS'2 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; sister such a household fairy ; and if some there be who bc-ar alono the burden of hfe — whose joys are few, for we rejoice not in solitude — let those whose lot is brighter forgive the clouded brow, or the cynical word, that at times attests the weaiiness of a soul on which the sunlight of affection seldom beams. No particular alteration was observable in Mrs. Arundel, wh seemed to possess the enviable faculty of never growing older, an wlio remained just as gay and sparkling as when at sixteen sh nad enslaved the fancy, rather than the heart of Captain Arundel, " My dear Lewis," she exclaimed, after having asked a hundred q^uestions in a breath regarding the internal economy of General Grant's family, the affray with the poachers, Charles Leicester's wedding, and every other event, grave or otherwise, which occurred to her active and versatile mind, " my dear Lewis, what an original your friend Frere is ! excessively kind and good- natured, but so very odd. He volunteered to come and meet 'is at the coach-office, which I considered quite a, work of ■ supererogation ; but Rose had imbibed such a mistrust of London 9,nd its inhabitants, wdiom she expected to eat her up bodily, I believe, that she persuaded me to accept his offer. Well, when the coach arrived, I looked about, but nobody did I see who at all coincided with my pre-conceived ideas of Mr. Frere, and I began to think he would prove faithless, when I descried ■an individual in a vile hat and an old rough great-coat, perched •on a pile of luggage, with a cotton umbrella between his knees, reading some dirty little book, in which he appeared completely immersed. He took not the slightest notice of the bustle and confusion going on around him, and would, I believe, have sat there until now, if a porter, carrying a heavy trunk, had not all but fallen over him ; upon which he started up, and, for the first time perceiving the coach, exclaimed — ' By Jove, there's the very thing I am waiting for !' then shouldering his umbrella, he ad- vanced to the window, and, thrusting in his great head, growled ■out, ' Are any of you Miss Arundel V Rose answered the question, for I was so taken by surprise that 1 was dying with laughter. As soon as he had ascertained our identity, he continued, ' Well, thou I should say, the sooner you're out of this, the better. I'll call ^ cab.' The moment it drew up he flung open the door, and exclaiming — ' Now, come along,' he caught hold of Rose as if she'd been a carpet-bag, dragged her out, and pushed her by main force into the csb.' OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 283 " Oh, naamma," interrupted Rose apologetically, " you really colour tlie matter too highly. Mr. Frere was as kiud as posaible. He was a little rough, certainly, aud seemed to think I must be as helpless as child ; but I dai'e say he's not accus-tomed to act as squire to dames." " Indeed he's not," resumed Mrs. Arundel ; " but I was deter- mined he shouldn't paw me about like a bale of goods ; so I rested my hand on a porter's shoulder, and sprang from the coach into the cab, while he was stooping to pick up his wretched umbrella ; and finely astonished he looked, too, when he dis- covered what I had done. Then he dragged down all the luggage, just as he had done Rose, and tried to put two trunks that did not belong to us on the cab, only I raved at him till I obliged him to relinquish them. Of course I was forced to offer him a seat in the cab, but he coolly replied, — ' No, thank ye ; there are too many bandboxes — the squares of their bases occupy the entire area. I'll sit beside cabby.' And, to my horror, he scrambled up to the driving-seat, and taking the dirty book out of his pocket, was speedily absorbed in its contents ; and in this state we actually drove up to Lady Lombard's door. I could have beaten the man, I was so angry with him. And yet, with it all, the creature is a gentleman." •' Indeed he is," retm-ned Lewis, " a thorough gentleman in mind, though, from the extent to which he is engi'ossed by his literary and scientific pursuits, and from the fact of living so much alone, he has not the manners of society. But Frere is a very first-rate man ; his is no ordinary intellect." " It is impossible to watch the play of his featm-es and doubt that for a moment," retm-ned Rose, eagerly. "Look at his speaking eye — his noble forehead." " Oh ! Rose is quite emjjrise %vith the monster," remarked Mrs. Arundel, laughing. " It's a decided case of love at first sight. Was it the old great-coat, or the dreadful hat, which first touched yom- heart, ma ckere!" " I'm not bound to ariminate myself," was the reply ; " so I shall decline to answer that question." While she spoke, a short, shai-p double knock, as of an agita,ted postman, awoke the echoes and the porter in Lady Lombard's " Marble Hall." In another minute the Brobdignagian footman, with prize calves to his legs, flung open the drawing-room door and announced, in a stentorian voice, " Mr. Frere." «>> 81 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " Quand on jxirle da diahle on en voit la queue" whispered Mvs. Arundel, rising quickly. " Positively, Rose, my nerves won't stand the antics of your pet bear this morning. Let me see you again before you go, Louis, mon cher, — yoii'll find me iu the boudoir." So saying, she glided noiselessly out of one door, a moment before Frere entered at the other. Lewis followed her retreating figure with a glance half-painful, half-amused. " My mother grows younger, and more gay, every time I see her," he observed to Rose. A speaking glance was her only answer, for at the moment Frere made his appearance ; and a somewhat singular one it was. The day being fine, he had discarded the obnoxious great-coat, and — thanks to his old female domestic, who had caught him going out with a large hole in his sleeve, and sent him back to put on another garment, which she herself selected — the coat he wore was in unusually good preservation, and not so very much too large for him; but the heavy shoes, the worsted stockings, the shepherd's plaid trousers, and the cotton umbrella, were all in statu quo; while his bright eyes, sparkling out of a greater bush than ever of untrimmed hair and whiskers, gave him a strikuig resemblance to some honest Scotch terrier, worthy to be immortalized by Landseer's pencil. Catching sight of Lewis, he rushed towards him, and seizing both his hands, (in order to accomplish which act of friendship, he allowed the umbrella to fall on Rose's toes,) he shook them heartily, ex- claiming — " Why, Lewis, old_^boy ! this is a pleasure ! 1 hadn't a notion you would be here so soon. How's General Grant? and how's Walter 1 and how's Faust 1 and how's everybody 1 Well, I am glad to see you ! " All this time Frere had taken not the slightest notice of Rose, who having advanced a step or two to greet him, had resumed her seat, more pleased to witness his delight in welcoming Lewis than any attentions to herself could have rendered her. Having seated himself on a sofa, and pulled Lewis down by his side, he, for the first time, appeared aware of Rose's presence, which he hastened to acknowledge by a nod, adding, " Ah ! how d'ye do 1 I've got something to tell you presently, as soon as I've done with j^our brother." Then, turning to Lewis, he recommenced his string of ques- tions, without regarding Rose's presence otherwise than by occa- Bionally including her in the conversation with such interjectional ORj THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 285 remarks as — " You can understand that," — " I explained that to you the other day ;" until at length he abruptly exclaimed, — " Now I must go and talk to her, — she and I have got a little business together." " Perhaps 1 am de trop," observed Lewis, with a meaning smile. In reply to this, Frere merely clenched his fist, and having shaken it within an inch of Lewis's face, marched deliberately across the room, and drawing a chair close to Rose, seated himself in it ; then, laying hold of one corner of her worsted work, he said, in a gruff voice, — " Put away this rubbish." " I can listen to you, Mr. Frere, and go on with my slipper at the same time," returned Rose, quietly releasing her work. " 15ou cau't do two things properly together," was the reply ; " nobody can ; for it 's all fudge about Caesar's reading and dic- tating at the same time. What I've got to tell you is more im- portant than a carpet shoe." Smiling at liis pertinacity, Rose, not having a pai'ticle of obsti- nacy in her disposition, put away her work, and, demurely cross- ing her hands before her, like a good child saying its lessons, awaited her tyrant's orders. That her attitude was not lost upon Frere, that gentleman made evident by catching Lewis's eye, and pointing backwards with his thumb, as much as to say — " There ! do you see that 1'"— then, pi-oducing a note from his pocket, he coolly broke the seal, opened it, and handing it to Rose, mut- tered, " Read that." The note ran as follows : — " Mr. T. Bracy presents his compliments to Miss Arundel, and begs to enclose a note of introduction to Mr. Nonpareil, the publisher, as Mr. Frere agrees iu thinking that the offer made by j\Ir. A of B Street, for the copyright of her interesting tale, was quite inadequate to its merits." " How very kind of Mr. Bracy ! " exclaimed Rose, handing the note to her brother, Frere having quietly read it over her shoulder. " Lewis, I must ask you to be good enough to go with me to Mr. Nonpareil's whenever you can spare the time." " You needn't trouble him," retm-ned Frere, gruffly ; " I mean to take you there myself; and as there's never any good in putting things off, I vote we go this morning — "What do you Ray?" " You are very kind," replied Rose, smiling ; " but really, now 286 LEWIS ARUNDEL; my brotlier is in towu I need not encroach on your valuable time." " Valuable fiddlestick !" was the courteous reply ; "though, of course, everybody's time is valuable, if people did but know how to employ it properly — which they never do. But you don't suppose, if I'd anything very particular in hand, I should be dawdling here, do you ? I've got to be at the Ornithological at four, and to call at Moore's, the bu-d-stufFer's, first ; but I can look in there on our way to Nonpareil's." " Yes ; but I'm sure Lewis — " began Rose, in a deprecatory tone of voice. "Nonsense about Lewis!" was the surly rejoinder. "What do you imagine he knows about dealing with publishers ? — they're ' kittle cattle to shoe behint,' as a Scotchman would say. I've had dealings enough with 'em to find out that, I can tell you. As for Lewis, if he were to walk into one of their dens witli his head up in the air, they'd take him for Lord Octavo Shallowpat^ come to negotiate for another new novel, -svTitten with a paste pv^c and scissors, and when they found he had not a handle to his name, with which to shove his rubbish down the ■public tlii'oat, they'd kick him out of the shop again." " Then you really think I look as stupid as a literary lord, eh, Frere f inquired Lewis. " Well, that's too strong a term, perhaps," answered Frere, reflectively ; " but you don't look like a man of business, at all event* " " Where does this sagacious publisher reside f ' asked Lewis ; and when Frere had given him tlie required information, he con- tinued : — "Then we'll settle the matter thus : — my tailor, with wliom I am anxious to gain an interview, lives in the adjoining street ; accordingly, I'll walk down with Rose and you, and while you negotiate with the autocrat of folios, I'll take 'fitting measures' for getting myself 'neatly bound in cloth.'" "So be it then, most facetious youth," returned Frere, laugliing; " and the faster you can get ready, you know," he continued, turning to Rose, " the better," " I'm all obedience," replied Rose, smiling ; " but I think j'ou're rather fond of tyrannizing. Mi", Frere." " Who, I ?" returned Frere, in astonishment ; "not a bit of it; I'm the most easily managed fellow in London — I am, upon my word." OR, THE EAILKOAD OF LIFE. 287 " You should see what perfect command his old housekeeper Las him in," observed Lewis, with an arch glance at his sister ; " the bear dares not growl at her — she's a perfect Yan Amburgh to him." Now, there was so much truth in this charge that it was rather a sore subject with Frere. The old woman in question had lived with his mother, and had nursed him when a child ; and for these reasons, as well as from good nature, and a certain easiness of disposition which lay beneath his rough manner, Frere had allowed her gradually to usui-p control over him, till, in all the minutice of his domestic life, she ruled him with a rod of iron. Although her admiration of, and respect for her master's learning was fully equal to her total ignorance of the arts and sciences ; and, although her affection for him was boundless, nature had gifted her with a crusty temper, which an interval of poverty and hardship (extending from the death of Frere's motner, till the time when his first act on obtaining a competence had been to seek her out, and take her into his service) had not tended to sweeten. The dialogaies which occasionally took place between the master and servant were most amusing, and her power over him was exercised so openly, that his fear of Jemima had become a standing joke among his intimates. Accordingly, on hearing Lewis's observation, Frere hastily jumped up, and strode to the fireplace, muttering — "Nonsense! psha ! rubbish! don't you believe a word of it. Miss Arundel ; but go and dress, there's a good—" he was going to add "fellow ;" for, be it known, the clue to his gTuflf, unpolished behaviour towards the young lady iu question was to be discovered in the fact, that from her quiet composure, fi-eedom from affectation, clear good sense, and the interest she took in subjects usually considered too abstnise for female investigation, Frere looked upon her as a kindred soul, and as all his other chosen intimates were of the worthier gender, he was continually forgetting that she was not a man. Checking himself, however, just in time, he substituted " creatxu-e" for "fellow;" and, as Rose left the room, he contiimed, "Ton my •word, Lewis, your sister's such a nice, sensible, well-informed, reasonable being, that I am constantly forgetting she's a woman." ""Which speech shows that amongst your numerous studies, that of the female character has been neglected," replied Lewis ; " or that you have taken yoiu- impressions from veiy bad gpecimens of the sex." -'38 LEWIS AEUXDEL ', Frere, who during the above remark had drawn from hia pocket a kimp of crumbliug sandstone, which, in order to examine more closely, he coolly deposited on a small satin-wood work-table, looked up in surprise, as he rejoined — " Yoin- opinions, touching the merits of womankind, seem to have suffered a recovery, young man, seeing that the last time I had the honour of discussing the matter with you, women were all perfidious hyseuas, or thereabouts. What has wrought so re- markable a transformation ?" Something appeared to have suddenly gone wrong with Lewis's boot, for it was not until he had thoroughly investigated the matter that he replied, — his f;ice being still bent over the offending article, — '' The simple fact, that as one grows older one grows wiser, I suppose. No doubt Gretchen behaved abomi • nably, and rendered me for the time intensely wretched ; but it was folly in me ever to have placed my ha2:)piness in the power of such a little romantic flirting half-educated thing as she was ; I should not do so now, and to argue from such an individual instance, to the disparagement of the whole sex, was one of the maddest notions that ever entered the brain of a hot-headed boy." " Phew !" whistled Frere in astonishment, '•' you ai'e not over civil to your former self, I must say. If anybody else had spoken so disrespectfully of you, you'd have been for punching his head for him ; however, I believe your present frame of mind is the more sane of the two, though sweeping assertions are always more or less untenable. The truth is, you can lay down no general rule about it — women are human as well as men ; there are a few very good, a few A^ery bad, and an immense number who fire nothing particular, in both sexes. There is no authority which would lead us to suppose Adam's rib was made of ivory, more than any of his other bones. There's one vice belonging to the fair sex, though ; they're always an unmerciful time putting on their bonnets — yom- sister's been five minutes already, and I'd lay a bet we don't see her for five more." As he uttered the last words. Rose, fully equipped and looking the picture of neatness, tripped into the room, to Frere's intense discomfiture, who scrambled his relic of the Era of the Old Red Sandstone into his pocket, with the air of some culprit school- boy, detected in Ids malpractices by the vigilant eye of his pedagogue. OB THK RAILRCAD OP Ll^a 239 CHAPTER XXXIV. ROSE AJTD FRERE GO TO VISIT MR. NONPAREIL THE PUBLIBUEU. Lewis, having slipped away for a moment to take leave of Mrs. Arundel, who dismissed him with a parting injmiction to take cai'e Ursa Major did not devour Rose, the trio descended the stairs, Frere taking an opportunity to whisper to Lewis, — " She was down upon me then in every sense of the word ; didn't believe a woman could get ready in five mimites on any consideration ; but yoiu' sister has more sense than I ever ex- pected to see under a bonnet, that's a fact." " Don't you think for once you could dispense with that dreadful umbrella'?" inquired Lewis, who had imbibed a few Leicesterian prejudices from his residence at Broadhurst. "Dreadful umbi-ella ! why what's the matter with it?" exclaimed Frere, half unfurling his favourite ; " it's water tight, and has a famous strong stick to it ; what more do you want in an umbrella, eh 1 " " It might have been made of silk," suggested Lewis mildly. " Yes, and be stolen and brought back again regularly three times a-week," retm-ned Frere. " I had a silk one onc^, and the expense that umbrella was to me, to say nothing of the wear and tear of mind it occasioned, was perfectly terrific. I shudder when I think of it ; there are not a dozen cabmen in London who have not received half-a-crown for bringing home that umbrella. It was a regular bottle-imp to me, always being lost and always coming back again. The 'bus conductors knew it by sight as well as they know the Bank ; they were for ever laying traps to get it into their possession, with a view to obtain the reward of honesty by bringing it home again. I got rid of it at last, though ; I lent it to a fellow who owed me five pounds, and I've never seen man, money, or umbrella since. Now, this dear old cotton thing, not being worth finding, has never been lost ; however, if you'll promise to take care I have it to-morrow when I call. 111 leave it here, and if your sister gets wet don't Ylfjme me." u 290 LEWIS AKUNDEL " lloEiP, will you undertake the heavy respcnsibility ?" asked Lewis. " I think I may safely promise so to do," was the reply ; ' there is a little foot page in this establishment, in whom I have the greatest coafidence, and to his custody will I commit it." And Frere's anxious mind being soothed by this assurance, they stalled on their expedition. Twenty minutes' brisk walk- ing, — which would have been brisker still if Rose had not gently hinted that ladies were not usually accustomed to stride along like postmen ; to which suggestion Frere responded with some- thing very like a growl, — twenty minutes' walking brought them to the veiy elegant front of ISIr. Nonpareil's shop, where Lewis left the two others. A nice young man, with Hyperion curls outside his head, and nothing save much too high an opinion of himself within, who lounged gi'acefully behind the counter, replied to Frere's inquiry " Whether Mr. Nonpareil was at home," after the fashion of the famous Iiish echo, i.e. by another question. Elevating his eyebrows till they almost disappeared in his forest of hair, he drawled out, " Wh-a-y 1 did you w-a-ant him ?" " Of course I did, or else T should not have asked for him," returned Frere, shai'ply ; then handing his own card and Bracy's note of inti'oduction across the counter, he continued, " take those to your master, and tell him that a lady and gentleman are waiting to see him." At the word " master " Hyperion coloured, and appeared about to become impertinent, but something in Frere's look induced him to alter his intention, and turning on his heel, he strode into the back shop with an air viartyre, which was deeply affecting to the risible muscles of the pair he left behind him. " There's an animal !" exclaimed Frere, as the subject of hii "■jzaark disappeared behind a tall column of account books j ^ now, that ape looks upon himself as a sort of Admirable Crichton, and I'll be bound has a higher opinion of his own mental endowments than ever Shakspeare or Milton had of theirs. I dare say the creature has his admuers too : some subordinate shop boy, or the urchin who runs of eiTands. takes him at his own price, and believes in him implicitly. Ye gods, what a * ship of fools' is this goodly vessel of society !" " I hope he does not rest his claims on the ground of his pensontd attractions," returned Rose with a quiet smile. OR, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 291 " His strength must lie in his hair, if he docs," replied Frere, " like that of his Israelitish Hercules of old. But see, here he comes, shaking his ambrosial locks ; and behold, he smiles gra- ciously upon us. Bracy's note has worked miracles." Approaching with a smirk and a bow, Hyperion politely signi- fied that Mr. Nonpareil was disengaged, then again retreating, led the way through a sort of defile of unsold literature, to the sanctum of the enterprising publisher. This remarkable apart- ment was of the most minute dimensions, a very duodecimo edition of a room, embellished with a miniature fire-place, an infinitesimal WTiting-table, and a mere peep-hole of a window, looking across many chimney-pots into space. In the middle of this reti'eat of learning, like an oyster in its shell, reposed that Rhadamanthus of literature, the heroic Nonpareil. His outer man was encased in black, as became the severity of his office ; a white neck-cloth encu'cled his august thi-oat; while a heavy gold watch-chain and seals attested his awful respectabihty. He was of a most respectable age, neither incautiously young nor unadvisedly old ; he was of a most respectable height, neither absm-dly short nor inconveniently tall ; his weight, 12 stone 6 lbs., was most respectable — it had not varied a pound for the last ten years, nor could one look at him without feeling that it would remain exactly the same for the next ten joaxs ; he had a most respectable complexion, red enough to indicate that he lived well and that it agi-eed with him, but nothing more. Nobody could suspect that man of an apoplectic tendency ; he was much too respectable to think of dying suddenly ; the very expression of his face was a sort of perpetual life assurance; he go out of the world without advertising the day on which he might be expected to appear most respectably bound in boards ! the idea was preposterous. His manner naturally expressed his convictiou of his own intense respectability, and was impressive, not to say pompous ; while from a sense of the comparative want of respect- ability in everybody else, it was also famihar, or as his enemies (all gi'eat men have enemies) declared, presuming. As Rose and Frere entered, he stood up to receive them, favoured Frere with a salutation half-way between a bow and a nod, partially extended his hand to Rose, and as she hesitated in surprise, hastily drew it back again, then motioning them to the only two chairs save his own judgment-seat the apartment contained, resumed his tlu-one, and smilina; graciously at Ro5«. 292 LEWIS AKUNDKL ; leaut back, waiting apparently until that young Iiidj should humbly prefer her suit to him. Perceiving his design, Rose glanced appealingly at Frerc, who Cftme to her assistance by plunging at once in medias res with his^ tccustomed bluntness. " Well, Mr. Nonpareil," he began, " touching the object of our visit to you, I suppose Bracy has told you in his note what we've come about 1" " Yes — that is, so far, — Mr. Bracy signifies, that yoiu- visit has a business tendency," was the cautious reply. " Why, we certainly should not have come here for pleasure," returned Frere shortly ; then catching Eose's look of dismay, he continued, " I mean to say, we should not have thought of taking lip your valuable time," (hei'e he gave Rose a confidential nudge with his elbow to indicate that he spoke ironically,) '•' unless we had a legitimate object in doing so." In answer to this, the Autocrat merely inclined his head, and revealed a highly respectable set of teeth ; so Frere resumed, " This young lady. Miss Arundel, has determined by the advice of Mr. Bracy and — ahem ! — myself, to make you the first offer of a very valuable work which she has written — a tale of a very unusual description, peculiarly suited, as I consider, to the pre- sent state of society, pointing out certain social evils, and showing how a more consistent adherence to the precepts of Christianity, would prove the only effectual remedy." At these last words, Mr. Nonpareil, who, having apparently lapsed into a state of torpor, had listened -with a face as im- movable as if it had been cast in bronze, suddenly pricked up his ears and condescended to exist again. " If I understand you, Mr. " — " Frere," suggested that gentleman, — " Mr. Frere," continued Nonpareil, " if I compre- hend your meaning, sir, this lady wishes to dispose of the copy- right of a religious novel 1 " " That's it," replied Frere. " Then my answer must mainly depend on the exact height of the principles." " On the how much 1 " inquired Frere, considerably mystified. " On the exact height of the principles, sir," returned Mr. Nonpareil, with dignity ; " I possess a regular scale, sir, which I have had worked out minutely, proceeding from the broad out- lines of Christiauitj to the most delicate shades of doctrine, and ' ' ^~l. -: -4. (2-^^^^i;^^^i^Ji/^^;;;!g^,.^^ 'P^^/z^^:!^^^::'z^^^e<^^^^^ OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 293 descending even to the smallest points of the canon kuv. Such An ecclesiological table is most important in our line. Public opinion, sir, fluctuates in such mattei's, just like the funds, up one "week, down the next, up again the next. Now, I'll just give you an instance. There was a little work we published, I dai-e say you've seen it, ' Ambrosius ; or, the Curate confessed.' It war> thought rather a heavy book when it first came out. The public would not read it ; the trade did not like it ; it hung on hand, and I expected to lose from £200 to £300 upon it. Well, sir, the Surplice question began to be agitated. Fortunately, the author had made Ambrosius preach in a white gown. I imme- diately advei*tised it freely, the thing took, we sold 3,000 copies in a fortnight, and, instead of losing £300 I made £G00. But that's not all, sir. Shortly after that, the Rev. Clerestory Lec- tern, one of the very tip-top ones, went to Rome, and took his •three cxjjrates, a serious butler, and the family apothecary, with him. This made a great sensation, convulsed the public mind fearfully, and brouglit on a general attack of the ultra-protestant epidemic. Accordingly, I sent for the author of Ambrosius, offered him tenns he was only too glad to jump at, shut him up in the back-shop, with half a ream of foolscap and a bottle of sherry, and in little more than a week we printed off 5,000 copies of ' Loyoliana, or, the Jesuit in the Chimney Corner.' The book sold like wild-fire, sir. A second edition was called for, and went off in no time, and I believe I might have got through n, third, only Lord Dunderhead Downhill joined the Plymouth brethren, and maiTied his kitchen-maid, which brought public opinion up again several degrees, and spoiled the sale ; but I made a very nice thing of it, altogether." So saying, Mr. Nonpareil rubbed his hand gleefully, pushed h., hair off his forehead, and looked at Rose as if he longed to coi/i her into money on the spot. After a pause he inquired, abruptly, " What's the name, ma'am 1 " " The name of my tale?" began Rose, slightly flurried at the conversation so suddenly taking a personal tiu'ii. '' I thought of calling it ' Helen Tremorne.' " " Very good, ma'am, — very good," returned Mr. Nonpareil, approvingly ; " euphonious, aristocratic, and vague ; just at this time, a title that does not pledge a book to anything particular of any kind is most desirable. About how long do you suppose it will be J" 294 LEWIS ARUNDEL ; " Mr. Frere thought it would make two small volumes about the size of a work called ' Amy Herbert,' I believe," replied Rose. " Quite right, ma'am, quite right, a very selling size indeed," was the answer ; " clever book, ' Amy Herbert,' very. So much tenderness in it, ma'am ; nothing pays better than judicious tenderness ; the mothers of England like it, to read about — the daughters of England like it — the little girls of England like it — and so the husbands of England are forced to pay for it. If you recollect, ma'am, there's a pathetic governess in ' Amy Herbert,' who caUs the childi-en ' dearest,' — well imagined cha- racter, that. She's sold many a copy, has that governess. May I ask, does ' Helen Tremorne' call anybody ' dearest V " " I really scarcely remember," said Rose, hiding a smile behind her muff. " It would be most desirable that she shoidd, ma'am," returned Mr. Nonpareil, solemidy. " Some vindictive pupil, if possible, ma'am — the more repulsive the child, the greater the self-sacrifice — people like self-sacrifice, to read about — they call such inci- dents toucliing ; and just at the present moment, pathos sells immensely. Pray, ma'am, may I ask, are you high or low 1 " " My principles would not lead me to sympathise with the very ultra party on either side," replied Rose, slightly annojxd at being foiled to allude to such subjects in such a presence. " Ah ! the via media ; yes, I see — very good, nothing could be better. Just at the present time, the via media is, if I may be allowed the expression, the way that leads to fortune ; nothing sells like it — it's so vague and safe, you see ; the heads of families buy it in preference to any more questionable teaching. May I ask, have you fixed on any sum for which yoii would dispose of the copyright of your story 1 " Rose glanced at Frere, who responded to the appeal by naming a sum exactly double the amount which Ro^, in her humility, would gladly have accepted. She was uoout to say so, but a slight contraction in her companion's brow, warned her ag-ainst committing such an imprudence. Mr. Nonpareil, however, did not appear alarmed at the magnitude of the demand, but pro- mising to peinxse the manuscript carefully, (which promise he fulfilled by sending it to his paid reader, never even glancing at it himself,) and to give a definite answer in the course of a few days, he bowed them out of his den in the most respoctablo CR, THE EAILHOAD OF LIFE. 295 manner possible. As soon as they had qnitted the shop, Rose exclaimed, — " Well, if all publishers are like Mr. Nonpareil, the less personal communication I hold with them, the better I shall be pleased." " Aye, but they are not," returned Frere ; " many of them are men of gi-eat intelHgence, simple manners, and who possess much out-of-the-way knowledge, which renders them veiy agi'ee- able companions. There are pompous and naiTow-minded indi- viduals in all professions. Nothing is more illogical than to generalize from a single instance ; it's certain to lead to the most absurd results. Why, I've actually encountered an honest lawj^er, and met with a disinterested patriot, before now ! But hero comes Lewis ; I wonder what conclusion he has amved at in regard to tailors." CHAPTER XXXV. HOW RICHARD FRERE OBTAINED A SPECIILEN OF THE " PODICRra CORNUTUS."' " Now for the Podiceps Cornutus /" exclaimed Frere, after Lewis had been made acquainted with the result of the interview with Mr. Nonpareil. " May I ask what wonderful creature rejoices in that ineffable name?" inquired Rose. " You may well say * wonderful creatm-e,' " returned Fiere, enthusiastically. " It's my belief, that my precious Podiceps is the first specimen which has ever been obtained in this country ; and, I should fancy, it will be the last, too; for I don't expect any one wiU be inclined to take the same amount of trouble that I took in order to get it. I was down in Lincohishire last Christ- mas, at a place called Water End, — so named, I should imagine, on the lucus a non lucendo principle, because there was no end of water all round it. Well, sir," (he was addressinfr Rose all this time,) " Fenwick, the man with whom I was staying, told me one * The incident in the following chapter is taken from an anecdote related (an the author believes) in " Gilpin's Scenery of the New Forest." DOG LEWIS ABUNDEL ; day, tliat he'd seen a bird when he was duck-shooting, which he d never met with before; and, by the description he gave me of it, I felt almost certain it must liave been a specimen of the Podi- ceps CornutiJLS, which, as I dare say you know, is scarcely ever found in this latitude." " You must excuse my lamentable ignorance," replied Rose, smiling, " but I was not even aware of its illustrious existence five minutes ago." •* Well," returned Frere, arching his eye-brows, '• they do neglect women's educations shamefully, I must say ! The Podi- ceps Cornutus is a species of Grebe, by no means rare in Penn- sylvania, where they winter; in summer they migrate to the fur countries, to reai' their young ; they are web-footed ; the bill is — but, however, you shall see my specimen, so I need not bother you with a long description, which I dare say you would not undei-stand after all ; and I'll tell you, instead, my adventures in pursuit of the particular individual in question. The weather was unusually cold, the ground was covered with snow, and the water astonishment. " Why, who should I be talking about, except Miss Living- Ktone?" returned Frere, grufily;" have you 'gone stupid' all of a sudden 1 " " You must have become blind," retorted Ror* '•' not to Lavff ^^^^l^^^^^ ^^%^^.^i^^ OM, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 300 ■observed Miss Grancs uuusual grace and beauty; I ,vonder Lewis has never said more about her." "Bah!" growled Frere, ''do you think your brother has nothing better to do than to chatter about a woman's pretty face 1 Lewis is, or was (for his opinions on the subject seem to have been modified lately), a confirmed mysogynist, and I'm very glad of it ; nothing makes me more savage than to hear the confounded puppies of the present day talk about this ' doosed fine woman' or that 'uncommon nice gal.' If I happened to have a sister or any other woman-kind belonging to me, and they were to make free with her name in that fashion, I should pretty soon astonish some of their exquisite delicacies. Well," he con^nued, buttoning up his coat all awry, " I'm ofi^, so good bye ;" aud taking Rose's hand in his own, he wrung it with such force, that a flush of pain overspread her pale features. Observing this, he exclaimed, " Did I squeeze your fingers too hard ? Well, I am a bear, as Lewis says, that's certain." As he spoke he laid her hand in his own broad palm, and stroking it gently, as though trying to soothe an injured child, he Continued, " Poor little thing, I didn't mean to hurt it ;" then looking innocently surprised, as Rose somewhat hastily withdrew it, he added, "What! isn't that right either? well, I see I'd better be off. I'll look you up again in a day or two, and if you want me, you know where to find me." So saying, he clattered down stairs, put on his hat hind-side before, and strode off, walking at the rate of at least five miles an hour. As he passed the church in Langham Place, he overtook two gentlemen engaged in earnest conversation : regardless of this he quickened his pace, and struck the younger of the two a smart lilow on the back, ex- claiming, "Bracy, my boy, how are you?" The individual thus roughly saluted, immediately reeled for- ward as if from the effects of the blow, and encountering in his headlong cai-eer an elderly female, whose dress bespoke her au upper servant, or thereabouts, he seized her by the elbows and twirled her round in the bewildering maze of an impromptu and turbulent waltz, which he continued till an opportune lamp-post interposed and checked his Terpsicliorcan performance. Before his astonished partner had recovered breath and presence of mind sufiicient to pour forth the fh«t words of a tide of angry remonstrance, Bracy interposed by exclaimi/ig in a tone of th»- oK^Kt bland civility, — 306 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " My dear madam, excuse this apparent liberty, really I am BO completely overpowered, that I would sink into the ground at your feet, if it were not for the granite pavement which is " Here the good woman, having scarcely recovered breath, gasped vehemently, "It's veiy hard, so it is — " " Which is," continued Bracy, louder and with still deeper empressement, "as you justly observe, so very hard; but, my dear madam, the facts of this case are yet harder. Let me assure you my offence, if you choose to stigmatize my late lamented indiscretion by so harsh a name, was perfectly in- voluntary ; simply an effect produced by a too vehement demou- Btration of fraternal feeling on the part of my particular fi'iend Mr. Frere. Allow me to introduce you — Outraged Elderly Lady, Mr. Frere — Mr. Frere, Outraged Elderly Lady. Ah, what a happy meeting! As the ever-appropriated Swan observes, — 'Fair encounter of two most rare affections!' or again — 'J 03-, gentle friends, joy and fresh days of love accompany your hearts.'" " Yes, it's all wery fine," exclaimed the outraged one (suddenly finding her tong-ue) " to go frightening of respectible parties out of their wits, and then think to smooth 'em over with your blarneying words ; but if I could set eyes on one of them lazy pelisemen which is never to be found when wanted, blessed if I wouldn't give you in charge for your imperence, so I would." During the delivery of this speech, Bracy had listened in an exaggerated theatrical attitude of entranced attention, and at its conclusion he exclaimed, in a voice so intensely impassioned that it would have ensmed his success at any of the miner theatres, — " Oh ! speak again ; let mine enraptured ear Drink the sweet accents of thy silvery voice." Which sentiment procured for him the applause of a small male spectator of the tender age of ten years, clad in much dirt, and a pair of adult trousers on their last legs in every sense of the term, who expressed his approval by nodding complacently and remarlcing, " Wery well done ; ancore, I says." " Come along," exclaimed Frere, seizing Bracy's arm, and almost forcing him away ; " you'll have a crowd round you directly. Your companion has taken himself off long ago." " So he has," returned Bracy, looking round ; " now I call that siean, to desert a friend iu difficulties ; more esnecially," he OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 307 adiied, as they walked away together, "as the said difiBcixltiea were imdertaken wholly and solely on his account." " On his account?" returned Frere in surprise, " why I should have thought the mighty De Grandeville was the last person likely to appreciate a street row." " For which reason I never lose an opportunity of involving; him in one," replied Bracy, rubbing his hands with mischievous glee ; " he can't beai- walking with me, for T always get him into some scrape or other, and injure his dignity in-eparably for the time being. AVhy, the last severe fi-ost we had, I met him in Pall Mall, di-ew him on to talk of architectvu-e, pointed out to him a mistake which didu't exist, in the front of one of the club houses,-, TUE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 315 Eiay oix inontlis with Lady Lombard; and although, during the whole of that period, she told every one she was anxiously looking cut for a house, so few edifices are there in London and itg vicinity, that she was unable to find one till the very week before ner hostess was about to start on a self-defensive tour to the Iiakes. Since then, she had been vizier-in-chief to her v.'ealthy sister in affliction, — ridiug in her carriage, eating her dinners, and entertaining her gTiests, especially such eligible males as appeared hkely to succeed to the (nominal) command left vacant by the cut-off colonel ; but, up to the present time, tlicso young eligiblcs had remained unattached, and the appointment was still to be filled up. Mrs. Brahmin was not really pretty, though, by dint of a pair of fine eyes, glossy hair, a telling smile, and little white hand^, she contrived to pass as such. In her manner, she affected the youthfid and innocent; and veiy well she did it, considering her natural astuteness, and the amount of experience and savoir vivre she had acquired when following the world-wide fortunes of the cut-off one. Lady Lombard believed in her to a great extent, and liked her better than she deserved. Perquisite saw at a glance, not only through, but considerably beyond her, and hated her with ail the rancour of a vulgar mind. But Mrs. Brahmin was too strong for Perquisite, and with her soft voice and imper- turbable simplicity put her down more thoroughly than the veriest virago could have done ; — the housekeeper's most bitter speeches and cutting innuendos producing much the same effect on the mild Susanna that a blow might have done upon an air- cushion — viz. exhausting the aggi'essor's strengtli, without makii'ig the slightest impression on her opponent. Mrs. Brahmin had been prepared to find in Mrs. Arundel a dangerous rival, and was ready to defend her position to the death, and to battle a. Voutrance for her portion of the Lombard loaves and fishes. But her courage was not destined to be put to the proof, the present being an occasion on which an appeal to arms was unnecessary, — diplomacy would suit her purpose better, and on diplomacy, therefore, she fell back^ She had not been ten minutes in Mrs. Arundel's company ere she discovered her weak point, — she was unmistakeably vain. Accordingly, with artless simplicity, Mi-s. Brahmin indirectly praised evei-y thing Mrs. Arundel said or did, and Mrs. Arundel straightway suffered her discrimination to be tickled to sleep, took Mrs. Brahmin at aer own price, and doated on her from that time forth, until ■> IG LEWIS ARUNDEL; hut \vc will leave events to develop themselves in their duo course. Rose and Mrs. Brahmin were mutual enigmas — neither could comprehend the other. Rose had heard the details of the " Chopi- matoo" affair, and all her sympathies were ready to be enlisted in behalf of the interesting widow ; but the " sweet simplicity," cleverly as it was done, did not deceive her. With the instinct of a true nature, she felt that it was assumed, and that beneath it lay the real character. What that might be, remained to be dis covered,— and she suspended her judgment till opportunity might afford her a glimpse of that which was so studiously concealed. On the other hand, the character of Rose was one which Mrs. Brahmin could by no means comprehend, perhaps because, in its entireness, it was beyond and above her comprehension ; but parts of it she discerned clearly enough, and most particularly did they puzzle her. For instance, she perceived that Rose had a mind, properly so called, — that her ideas and opinions were hcnd ■fide the product of her own intellect, and not like those of too many girls, a dim reflex of somebody else's ; but the straightfor- ward, earnest truthfulness of her nature she could by no means fathom, such a quality being essentially foreign to her own dis- position; accordingly, she deemed it put on for a purpose, which purpose it behoved her to find out. But her investigations did not prosper well, from the simple fact that ex nihilo nil fit; — Rose, having nothing to conceal, concealed it most effectually. Many and important were the consultations held in the boudoir by this council of three, as to who should, and who should not, be invited. Lady Lombai'd's smooth brow grew furrowed with the unwonted demand upon her powers (1) of mind. *' Sir Benjamin and Lady Boucher regret exceedingly that a pre- vious engagement prevents their accepting Lady Lombard's kind invitation for Thursday, the — th." "Dear me, how dreadfully provoking!" sighed the perplexed " invitress." " My dear Susanna," (the Brahmin's Christian name,) " the Bouchers are engaged, and there'll be nobody fit to meet the General Gudgeons. What are we to do?" " Would you ask the Dackerels % They're such very nice people, and live in such very good style, deai* Lady Lombard," cooed I^Irs. Brahmin, (for, be it observed, that bereaved one's OR, THE RAILROAD OP LIFE. 317 method of speaking, together with the low, gentle, sleepy, caress- ing tones of her soft voice, involuntarily reminded her hearers of the cooing of a dove, or the pun-ing of a cat.) "They're only lieutenant-colonels, are they, my love?" in- quired Lady Lombard, doubtingly. " Oh ! my dear Lady Lombard, surely you must recollect, he has been a full colonel, by purchase, these five yeai's, vice Raw- bone Featherbed, who sold out, and married an heiress, — at least," murmured Innocence, remembering herself, or rather her part, " she was said to be very rich ; but, of course, it must have been a love match. I cannot believe people are so — so horrid as to raaiTy from any other motive." ",Well, then, we'd better ask the Dackerels. Miss Arundel, my love, will you request the pleasure of Colonel and Mrs. Dackerel's company, — with one R, my dear — at seven o'clock. That shy son with the long legs, I suppose we need not ask him, my dear." " He's lately come into a large Yorkshire property from an uncle on the mother's side, and has taken the sm-name of Dace, and, perhaps, as he's so shy, he might feel hurt at not being asked. I feel such sympathy with shyness, you know ; besides somebody said he was an author," rejoined Susanna, di'opping her eyelids, and looking as unconscious and disinterested as if John Dace Dackerel Dace, Esq., Barrister at Law, still de- pended upon that ghost of nothing, his professional income, instead of the i-ent-roll of the manor of Roachpool, in the West Riding. " If they come, they'll make — let me sec," mused Lady Lom- bai'd, "what did I say the Fitzsimmons's were? yes, twelve; well, then, they'll make fifteen, and the table only holds three more, and that tiresome Mr. De Grandeville hasn't sent an answer yet, and I shall be so disappointed if he docs not come, for he knows everybody, and moves in such high society, and is such a tall, noble, military-looking creature." This eulogium, recalling, probably by contrast, (seeing that the lamented Brahmin had been remarkably small of his age all through liis boyhood, and never outgrown it afterwards.) sad recollections of the fair Susanna's killed and wounded, produced a little embroidered handkerchief, which just held the two teai-a its owner felt called upon to shed on such occasions. The memory of the victim had however been so oft*n before embalmed by 318 LEWI? auundbl; peaily di-ops in her presence, that Lady Lombard had grown rather callous on the subject, and she abruptly invaded the sanc- tity of grief, by exclaiming, '•It lies between the Lombard Browns and the Horace Hic- ciiys, my dear. The Hiccirys live in better style, I know ; Mrs. Hicciry was to have been presented at court last year, only little Curatius chose to be born instead, — the most lovely child ! but the Lombard Browns are godsons, at least he is, of poor dear Sir Pinchbeck's, and they've not dined here this season." " I think, dear Lady Lombard, if I might venture to advise, the Horace Hiccirys would do best. Mrs. General Gudgeon would get on so well with Mrs. Hicciry, I'm sure ; and I'm afraid Mrs. Dackerel, — you know, she's very clever, — writes poetiy, those sweet things in the Bijou — ail clever people ai-e sarcastic, you know — I'm afraid Mrs. Dackerel might laugh at poor dear Mr. Lombai'd Brown's little eccentricity about his H's." ''Ah, yes, that's true," returned Lady Lombard, "yes, I forgot his H'a." " As he probably does himself," whispered Mrs. Arundel, aside to Rose. " Then, my dear Miss Arundel, may I trouble you to wi-ite a note to the Horace Hicciry's, — with two I's, my love, — 15, Bellairs TeiTace, Park Village West. What a pretty hand you wi'ito, and so quick ! Tlien, if Mr. De Grandeville will only come, the table will be filled properly." '■' And a dear charming party it wiU be," cooed the bereaved one, who had manoeinTcd herself into an invitation at an early stage of the proceedings. " Yes, my love, I hope it wall," replied the giver of the feast anxiously, " and if I was quite sure that Perquisite and Haricot Avould not quaiTel, and that General Gudgeon would not take too much poiii wine after dinner, and tell his gentleman's stories to the ladies up in the drawng-room, more particularly since I hear Miss Mac Salvo has taken an extra-serious turn lately, I should feel quite happy about it all." " You'd better add a postscript to the gi'eat Gudgeon's note, mentioning the port wine, and its alarming consequences, Rose," whispered the incorrigible Mrs. Arundel. Her daughter smiled reprovingly, and the sitting concluded. CB, THE RAir>nOAD OF LIFE. 319 Exactly at the time when Lady Lombard had completely given him up, and -was revolving in her anxious mind how she might best supply his loss, De Grandeville condescended gra- ciously to vouchsafe a favourable answer. On the afteraoon of the eventful day, as Frerc was returning from his place of business, he met — of course, accidentally — Tom Bracy, who immediately took possession of his vacant arm, and engaged him in a disquisition on the use of formic acid as an anaesthetic agent, which discussion proved so deeply interesting to his companion, that in less than five minutes he was com- pletely lost to all outward objects, and reduced (for all practical purposes) to the intellectual level of a docile child of three years old.* "Well," continued Frere, eagerly, as Bracy paused before a hairdresser's shop, "well, supposing, for the sake of argument, I consent to waive my objection ; supposing I allow that by the process you describe, you've produced your acid — " " Excuse my interrupting you one moment, but I was going in here to have my hair cut : if you're not in a particular hurry, perhaps you'll come in with me, and I think I can show you where you are wrong." " Yes — no, I'm not in a hurry ; come along, I'm convinced there's a mistake in yom- theory which upsets your whole argu- ment, — merely subject to the common analj^sing process " " By the way," observed Bracy, carelessly, " you'd be all the better for a little judicious trimming j^ourself ; besides, its more sociable. This gentleman and I each want oiu- hair cut — Sit down, Frere," " Eh? nonsense ; I never have my hair cut except when the hot weather sets in," remonstrated that individual ; but he was faii'ly in the toils. Bracy set a garrulous hairdresser's man at him, who deprived him of his hat, popped him dov>'n in the ap- pointed chair, and enveloped him in a blue-striped wrapper, before he vei-y well knew where he was, or had an-ived at any kind of decision whatsoever on the subject. No sooner was he seated than Bracy administered a fresh dose of his ansesthetic agent ,; Frere resumed his argument, and long ere he had exhausted the catalogue of chemical tests to which his opponent's theory (in- vented for the occasion) might be subjected, the hair-cutter (previously instructed) had reduced his hair and whiskers to the latitude and longitude usually assigned to such capillary 320 LEWIS ARUNDEL; attractions by the '• mauners and customs of yo English in y" nineteenth century." And thus Frere became, for the time being, a reasonable looking mortal, and Bracy won a new hat, which he had betted that morning with a mutual acquaintance, on the appai-ently rash speculation, that he wovdd, before the day ■vas over, administer an anaesthetic agent to Richard Frere, under tlie influence of which he should have his hair cut. OE, TUE RAlLHOAiJ OF LIFE, 3£I CHAPTER XXXVIir. DESCRIBES THE HUMOURS OF A LONDON DINNER PARTY IN 11113 NINETEENTH CENTURY. - . Dear Rose Arundel, (excuse us the adjective, kind reader, for we fi-ankly own to being very fond of her,) having been a perfect godsend to eveiybody during the whole morning of the party day, having thought of everything, and done everything, and looked on the bright side of everything, and sacrificed herself so j)leasantly that an uninitiated beholder might have imagined her intensely selfish, and doing it all for her own personal gratifi- cation, — Rose having, amongst other gymnastics of self-devotion, run up and down stairs forty-three times in pursuit of waifs and strays from Lady Lombard's memory, committed the first bit of selfishness of which she had been guilty all day, by sitting down to rest for five minutes before she began her toilet ; and leaning her forehead on her hand, thought over her own chances of pleasure or amusement during the evening. She had had one disappointment; Lewis had been invijted, ,,i;iiid Lewis "would not come. He did not say he could not come, but he put on what Mrs. Arundel called his " iron face," fvpd said shortly, " the thing was impossible ;" and no one could have looked on his compressed lips, and doubted the truth of the assertion. It grieved Rose, for she read his soul as it, were au open book before her, and she saw there pride, that curse ,pf noble minds, still imsubdued. Lady Lombard patronised tjiem^ and Lewis could not submit to witness it. Rose had hoped better things than this ; she had not foiled to observe the change that had taken place in her brother, during his residence at Brofi^- hurst ; she saw that from an ardent impetuous b^y, he. Jiad become an earnest-minded, high-souled man, and iui the.catm dignity of his look and bearing, she recognised the evidence of conscious power, chastened l)y the discipline of a mind gret>t enough to rule itself Nor was she wrong in her conjcctiu'^g. j only she irnstook a part for tlic whole, and arguing ;«v.ithp^liie gentle sophistry of a woman's loving heart, concluded that. l^. he finished, which was but in fact begun. Lewis had leacnod tc V S^ -*'^- LEWIS ABUNDEL ; control (except in rare instances) liis haughty natui'e, but he relied too much on his own strength, and so he had failed as yet to subdue it. Rose was too honest to disguise tlie truth from herself, when it was fairly placed before her, and she acknow- ledged with an aching heart, that the great fault of her brother's character yet remained unconqucred. Poor Rose ! as this con- Tiction foi'ced itself upon her, how she sorrowed over it. He was so good, so noble, and she loved him so entirely — oh ! why was he not perfect 1 If Lewis could have read her thoughts at that moment, he would have assuredly made^-ejiae-of the guests at Lady Lombard's hospitable board. As the clock struck the half-hoiir, forming the juste milieu between seven and eight, post meridiem, the goodly company assembled in Lady Lombard's drawing-room, being warned by the portly butler that dinner was served, paired off. ■ iand betook themselves two by two (like the animals coming otit bf Noah's Ark, as represented on the dissecting puzzles of childhood) to the lofty dining-room, where much English good cheer, disguised under absurd French names, awaited them. During- the short time that Bracy had been in the house, he had not been alto- gether idle. He first took an opportunity of informing Lady Lombard that De Grandeville was directly descended from Charle- "magne, and that he was only waiting till the death of an opu- lent relative should render him independent of his pi'ofession, to revive a dormant peerage, when it was generally supposed his colossal intellect, and unparalleled legal acumen, would render him political leader of the house of Lords; he then congratulated .'her on her good fortune in having secured the presence of this illustiious individual, who, he assured her, was in such request -amongst the aristocracy of the kingdom, that he was scarcely ^ fiver to be found disengaged ; and wound \ip by running glibly through a long list of noble names, with whom he declared the mighty Marmaduke to be hand and glove. Accordingly, good Lady Lombai-d, believing it all faithfully, mentally elected Do ■^Grandeville to the post of honour at her right hand, deposing for the pui-pose no less a personage than General Gudgeon. When we say, no less a personage, we speak advisedly, for that gallant officer, weighing sixteen stone without his snuff-box, and being fully six feet high, was, if not exactly " a Triton amongst minnows," at all events a Goliath amongst gudgeons, which we conceive to be m\ich the same thing. - — - ...... OB, THR RJILROM) OF LIFE. 323 Having achieved his object of placing De Grandeville in exactly the position he wished him to occupy, Bracy next proceeded to frustrate a scheme wliich he perceived the fair Susanna (who was his pet antipathy) to have originated for the amatory subjugation and matrimonial acquisition of John Dace Dackerel Dace, Esq., of Koachpool, in the West Riding. Tlie aforesaid John D. D. had a weakness, bordering indeed on a mental hallucination ; ha fancied he was born to be a popular author, — " to go down to posterity upon the tongues of men," as he himself was wont to expi'ess it, — and the way in which he attempted to fulfil his exalted destiny, and effect the wished- for transit, vid these un- ruly members of his fellow-mortals, was by writing mild dull articlee, signed J. D. D., and sending them to the editors of vari- ous magazines, by whom they were always unhesitatingly rejected. The frequent repetition of these most unkind rebuffs, and the consequent delay in the fulfilment of his mission, had tended to depress the spirit (at no time an intensely ardent one) of John Dace Dackerel, and had induced a morbid habit of mind, through which, as through a j-ellow veil, he took a jaundiced view of society at large ; and even the acquisition of the sui-name of Dace, and his accession to the glories of Eoachpool, had scarcely sufficed to restore cheerfulness to this victim of a postponed de- stiny. Bracy, from his connexion with Blunt's Magazine, knew him well, and had rejected, only a fortnight since, a forlorn little paper, entitled " The Ciu'se of Genius, or the trammelled Soul's Remonstrance ;" in which his own cruel position was touchingly shadowed forth in the weakest possible English. Accosting this son of sorrow in a confidential tone of voice, Bracy began : — " As soon as you can spare a minute to listen to me, I've some- thing rather particular to tell you ! " " To tell me ? " retm-ned the blighted baii-ister in a hollow voice, suggestive of any amount of black crape hatbands ; " what ill news have I now to arm, or I may say, to steel my soul against?" and here be it observed, that it was a habit with this pseudo-author to talk, as it were, a rough copy of conversation, which he from time to time corrected by the substitution of some word or phrase which he conceived to be an improvement upon the original text. " Perhaps it may be good news instead of bad ! " remarked Bracy, encouragingly. The blighted one shook his head. *"' Not for me," he murmured ; then turning to Susanna he y2 324 LEWIS ARUNDEL; continued, — '' Excx>se my interrupting oiu- conversation, tut tliia gentlfennan has some intelligence to impart — or I may say, to break to me." Mrs. Brahmin smiled sweetly such a sympathetic smile, that it went straight through a black satin waistcoat, with a cypress wi-eath embroidered on it in sad-coloured silk, and reached tiio " crushed and withered " heart of J. D. D. '•' You know," continued Bracy, " I was obhged, most un- willingly, to decline that touching little thing of yours. The — what is it 1 the Cough of Genius 1 " " The Curse," suggested its author gloomily. " Ah ! yes. I read it cough — you don't write very clearly — yes, ' the Cursing Genius.' You know, my dear Dace, we editors are placed in a very trying position. A great responsibility devolves upon us ; we are scarcely free agents. Now, your article affected me deeply," (this was strictly true, for he had laughed over the most tragic touches, till the tears ran down his cheeks ;) '• but I was forced to decline it. I could not have put it in if my own brother had written it. You will naturally ask. Why 1 — Because it did not suit the tone of Blunt' s Magazine !" — and as Bracy pronounced these awful and mysterious words, he shook his head and looked unutterable things ; while the " child of a postponed destiny," seeing the shadow of a still further postpone- ment clouding his dark horizon, shook his head likewise, and relieved his elaborately-worked shirt-front of a sigh. " But," resumed Bracy, " thinking the paper much too original to be lost, I took the liberty of handing it over to Bullbait, the Editor of the 011a Podrida. Well, sir, I saw him this morning, and he said — " " What 1 " exclaimed the fated one eagerly, a hectic tinge colouring his sallow cheek. " Don't excite yourself, my dear Dace," rejoined Bracy anxiously ; " you're looking pale : too mvich brain work, I'm afro id. You must take care of yom-self ; so many of our greatest geniuses have died young. But I see you're impatient. Bullbait said, — he's a very close, cautious character, never likes to commit himself, but he actually said, he'd thinh ahoxit it ! " "Was that alii" groaned the disappointed Dace, relapsing into despondency. " All ! my dear sir ? all ! Why, what would you have 1 When ft man like Bullbait says he'll think about a thing, T consider OR, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 325 it a ease of opus operatiun — reckon the deed done. If lie meant to refuse your paper, what need has he to think about it ? No, Mr. Dace, if you're not correcting a proof of the ' Cough' — psha, Curse,' I mean — (when one once takes a wrong idea into one's Jiead, how difficult it is to get it out again !) before the week is over, I'm no prophet. By the way," he continued, as Rose, looking better than pretty, in the whitest of muslin frocks, resig-ned a comfortable seat to a cross old lady in a gaudy tur- ban, which gave her the appearance, from the neck upwards, of a plain male Turk, liberally endowed with the attributes com- monly assigned to his nation by writers of fairy tales and other light literature for the nm-seiy, amongst which man-stealing and cannibalism are two of the least atrocious, — " by the way, I must introduce you to this yoimg lady ; a kindred soul, sir, one of the most rising authoresses of the day." " No, I really — " began the Dace, flapping about in th€> ex- tremity of his shyness like one of his fishy namesakes abstracted from its native element. "Nonsense," resumed Bracy, enjoying his embarrassment. '• Miss Arundel, let me have the pleasure of making you ac- quainted with one of our men of genius, a writer to whom a liberal posterity will no doubt do justice, however the trammelled sycophants of a cliqvie may combine to delay his intellectual triumphs." Then in an aside to J. D. D. he added, " INIake play with her, Bullbait wants her particularly to write for the 011a, and she hangs back at present : she would merely have to say a word to him, and you might obtain the run of the magazine." Thus urged, John Dace Dackerel Dace, Esq. called up all the energies of his nature, and by their assistance overcoming his habitual sheepishness, he caused to descend upon Kose a torrent of pathetic small-talk, which overwhelmed that young lady till dinner was announced, when he claimed her arm, and floated Avith her down the stream of descending humanit}^ until he found himself safely moored by her side at the dinner-table. Bracy having thus, as he would himself have expressed it, taken the change out of that odd fish Dace, aiid frustrated, for the time being, the matrimonial tactics of the Brahmin's widow, was making his way through the various groupa of people in search of Miss Mac Salvo, whose rampant Protestantism might, he con- sidered, afford him some sport if judiciously handled, when he was suddenly intercepted by the innocent Susanna, with the inquir}*, 326 LEWIS ARUNDEL; " Pray, Mr. Bracy, can you explain this wonderful metamorphosis ill yom- friend IMi'. Frere 1 he's grown quite handsome." Thus appealed to, Bracy regarded attentively the individual in question, who was good-natm-edly tvu'uiug over a book of prints for Lady Gudgeon, a little shrivelled old lady, so deaf as to render conversation with her a pursuit of politeness under difiiculties. Having apparently satisfied himself by this investigation, Bracy replied, " To the best of my belief, I should say he had only had his hair cut, and was for once dressed like a gentleman." '• He is wonderfully clever, is he not 1 " inquired the lady. "Clever !" repeated Bracy, " that's a mild word to apply to such acquirements as Frere rejoices in. He knows all the lan- guages hving or dead ; possesses an intimate acquaintance with the arts and sciences, has all the 'ologies' at his fingers' ends, and is not only well up in the history of man since the creation, but will tell you to a fraction how many feeds a-day kept a Mastodon in good condition, two or three thousand yeai's before we tailless monkeys came into possession of our landed property." " I suppose, as he di'esses so strangely in general, that he's A'ery poor ; all clever people are, I believe," returned Susamia, with an air of the most artless naivete, the idea having for the first time occurred to her that, faute de mieux, the philosopher might do. to replace the man of war. Bracy read her thoughts, and kindly invented a few facts and figures, by which he increased Frere's income about sevenfold, and gave him a magnificent stock of expectations, regarding the realization whereof not the most forlorn hope ever existed. Having done this small piece of mischief also, he continued his search after Miss Mac Salvo. The result of these machinations was, that Lady Lombard signified to De Grandeville that he was to hand her down to dinner ; John Dace Dackerel Dace, Esquire, performed the same office by Hose, much to the disgust of llichard Frere, who had intended to secure that pleasure for Jjimself, and who being, at the moment in which he first became aware of his misfortune, captiu'cd by the Brahminical widow, whose silky manner he could not endure, went down stairs in a frame of mind anything but seraphic. Mrs. Arundel contrived to gain possession of General Gudgeon, with a view, as she observed to Bracy, to discover, firstly, his system of feeding, Avhich, from its results, she felt sure must be an excellent one ; and, secondly, to ensui-e his obtaining a liberal supply of port OB, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 327 wine, to the eud that she might satisfy a reprehensible curiosity as to the precise nature of the " gentleman's stories " Lady Lom- bard was so anxious to suppress; which act of xm-English woman-like espieglerie must be set down to the score of a foreign education, than which we know not a better receipt for unsexing th.e minds of the daughters of Albion. When we add that Bracy, with a face of prim deconmi, escorted JNliss Mac Salvo, a gaunt female, whose spirit appeared to have warred with her flesh so effectually, that there was little more than skin and bone left, we believe we have accounted for every member of the party in whom oiu- readers are likely to feel the slightest interest. .--Jiuuiia Dm-ing the era of the fish and soup, by which our modei-n dinners are invariably commenced, little is discussed except the viands ; but after the first glass of sherry, mute hps begin to un- close, and conversation flows more freely. Thus it came about that John Dace Dackerel Dace, Esquire, of the Inner Temple, (we admire his name so much, that we lose no opportunity of repeat- ing it,) having revolved in his anxious mind some fitting speech wherewith to accost the talented young authoress, of whom he felt no inconsiderable degi-ee of di-ead, fortified himself with an additional sip of sherry ere he propounded the very original inquiry, "Whether Miss Arundel was fond of poetry?" Before Rose could answer this query, her neighbour on the other side, one Mr. James Rasper, a very strong young man, with a broad, good-natui-ed, dullish face, demanded, abruptly, in a jovial tone of voice, " Whether she' was fond of riding ?" As soon as she could collect her senses, scattered by the raking fire of this cross-examination. Rose replied, " that she was parti- cularly fond of some kinds of poetry," which admission sho qualified by the apparently inapposite restriction, — " When she was on a very quiet horse." J. D. D. was about to follow up his attack by a leading qnes- tion in regard to the gushing pathos of the bard of Rydal, when Rasper prevented him, by exclaiming, "No! — Do you really?" (which he called "railly.") " Then I know just the animal that would suit you." And having thus mounted his hobby-horse, he dashed at eveiything, as was his wont when once fair^ / off, and rattled away, without stopping, till dinner was finish .d, and he had talked Rose completely stupid ; while the unfortunate Dace, foiled in his weak attempt to captivate the influential authoress, plunged again into the deep waters of affliction, where, pon- 328 LEWIS ARUNDEL, dering over this further postponement of his destiny, he sank, and -was heard no more. Exactly opposite to Rose and her companions, sat Frere and the simple Susanna, who, labouring zealously at her vocation — viz. husband-hunting — threw away much flattery, and wasted an incalcidable amount of " sweetness on the desert air." To all her pretty speeches Frerc returned monosyllabic replies, in a tone of voice suggestive of whole forests-full of bears with sore heads, while a cloud hung heavy on his brow, and his bright eyes flashed envj^ hatred, malice, and all uncharitableness, at the unconscious James Rasper. At last Susanna chanced to inquire whether he were fond of music ; and as, without falsifying facts, he could not answer this negatively, he was forced to reply, " Yes ; I like some sort of music well enough." " Some sort only," returned Susanna, in a tone of infantine artlessness. " Oh ! you should like every kind, Mr. Frere. I never hear a merry tunc without longing to dance to it; and pathetic music afiects me even to tears. But what class of music is it that you particularly prefer? — though I need scarcely ask, — operatic, of course." " Not I," growled Frere ; " I hate your operas." "Oh, ]\[r. Frere!" exclaimed Simplicity, fixing its large eyes reproachfully i;pon him, " you can't mean what you say. Not like operas ! Why, they are perfectly delicious. Look at a well- filled house, — what a magnificent coup cCceil !" " A set of pigeon-holes full of fools, and a long row of fiddlers," rejoined Frere ; " I can't say I see much to admire in that. I went to one of your operas last year, and a rare waste of time I thought it. It was one of Walter Scott's Scotch stories bewitched into Italian. There was poor Lucy of Lammermoor dressed out like a fashionable drawing-room belle, singing duets all about love and murder, with a palefaced moustachioed puppy as much like Edgar Ravenswood as I am like the Belvidere Apollo ; a brute engaged, on the strength of a tenor voice, to make love to all and sundry for the space of four calendar months, for which 'labour of love' he is paid to the tune of 500^, a-ii onth, a salary on which better men than himself con- trive to li\ e for a whole year. Then Lucy's cruel mamma, who is the great feature in the novel, was metamorphosed into a rascally brother, who growled baritone atrocities into the ears of a ajmpathising chorus of indigent needle-women and assistant OK, THE RAILROAD OF LIFE. 31] 9 evs, who act the nobility and gentry of Scotland, at half-a- L head and their beer. The first act is all love and leave- -the second all cursing and confusion — and the third all s and misery ; and that's what people call a pleasant ;'s amusement. The only thing that amused me, was in : scene, when the stipendiary lover kills himself first, and long scena afterwards. I thought that very praiseworthy rsevering of him, and if I'd been Lucy, such a little in as that would have touched me particularly, and ay it woidd have done her ; only — seeing that she had ving mad some five minutes before, and was then drink- tied porter in her dressing-room for the good of her voice, ras perhaps scarcely in a situation to appreciate it." t if you don't like the singing, I dare say you prefer the ' suggested Susanna. , I don't," was the short, sharp, and decisive reply. t like the ballet 1 Oh ! Mr. Frere, what can be your " inquired the surprised turtle-dove. ;11, I have a reason good and sufficient, but I shan't tell it ' growled Frere ; then muttered as an aside, which was, V, sufficiently audible — "A set of jumping Jezebels, g about in white muslin kilts, for they're nothing better ; ible people ought to be ashamed of looking at 'em/' enunciated this opinion, Frere cast a doubly ferocious at Mr. Rasper, then eloquently describing to Rose the of his favourite hunter, and relapsed into surly mono- is, beyond which no amount of cooing could again tempt naduke de Graudeville, enthroned in state on the right f the lady of the house, gazed regally around him, and, plenitude of his magnificence, was wonderful to behold, ter all, he was human, and the evident depth and reality y Lombard's admiration and respect softened even him, so } long he graciously condescended to eat, drink, and talk, — ;e an ordinary mortal, for that he never did ; but like For instance, the topic under discussion being the new of Parliament, then in even a more unfinished state tliau re at present, De Grandeville elaborately explained the iesign, every detail of which he appeared to have at hia ends — a fact for which he accounted when he allowed it mderstood, that — " Ar — he had — ai" — given Barry a hint 330 LEWIS ARCXDEL j or two, — ar — that Boitt was a very sensible fellow,, and not above — ar — acting upon an idea when he saw it to be a good one ;" and it nrust be owned that as De Grandeville had onlv once been in Mr. Bany's company, on which occasion he had sat opposite to him at a public dinner, he had made the best use of his time, and not suffered his powers of penetration to rust for want of use. Having in imagination put the finishing-stroke to the Victoria Tower, (one of the furthest stretches of fancy on record, we should conceive.) he contrived to work the conversa- tion round to mihtary matters, set General Gudgeon right on several points referring to battles in the Peninsula at which the General had himself been present, and gave so graphic an account of "Waterloo, that to this day Lady Lombard believes he acted as Amateur Aide-du-Camp and Privy Cotmsellor-in-Chief to the Duke of "Wellington on that memorable occasion. He then talked about the De GrandeviLIe estates tiU. every one present beheved him to be an immense landed proprietor, and woxmd up by the anecdote of "William of Normandy and the original De Grandeville, which, with a shght biographical sketch of certain later worthies of the family, (one of whom. Sir Solomon de Grandeville. he declared to have suggested to TTing Charles the advisibUity of hiding in the oak,) la.sted till the ladies quitted the room, when, by Laiy Lombard's request, he assximed her vacant chair, and did the honoui-s with dismified court esv. Bracy, who dm-ing dinner had appeared most devoted to Miss Mac Salvo, now endeavovired to render himself univei-sally agree- able. He applauded General Gudgeon's stories, and plied him vigorotisly with port wine, which, as Mrs. Arundel had taken care the servants did not neglect to replenish his wiue-glass at dinner, began to tell upon him visibly. He elicited the names, pedigrees, and peiformances of all Mr. James Puisper s horses,