THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 IRVINE 
 
 GIFT OF 
 
 MR. WARREN STURTEVANT
 
 ALICE 
 
 THE MYSTERIES
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES.
 
 ALICE 
 
 BY 
 
 EDWARD BULWER LYTTON 
 
 (LORD LYTTON) 
 
 0APPQ TO AIOIKOYNTI 
 
 M. ANTONIN. lib. vi. sec. 8 
 
 GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS 
 
 LONDON: BROADWAY, LUDGATE HILL 
 NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 BOOK I. 
 
 2 rav (vavXiois vnb 8ev8poK.6fj.ois 
 
 * dvapod<ro>. EURIP. Hel. I. I II 6. 
 
 Thee, hid the bowering vales amidst, I call. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ** Who art thou, fair one, who usurp'st the place 
 Of Blanch, the lady of the matchless grace ? " LAMB. 
 
 IT was towards the evening of a day in early April that two 
 ladies were seated by the open windows of a cottage in Devon- 
 shire. The lawn before them was gay with evergreens, relieved 
 by the first few flowers and fresh turf of the reviving spring ; and 
 at a distance, through an opening amongst the trees, the sea, 
 blue and tranquil, bounded the view, and contrasted the more 
 confined and home-like features of the scene. It was a spot, 
 remote, sequestered, shut out from the business and pleasures of 
 the world ; as such it suited the tastes and character of the 
 owner. 
 
 That owner was the younger of the ladies seated by the 
 window. You would scarcely have guessed, from her appear- 
 ance, that she was more than seven or eight and twenty, though 
 she exceeded by four or five years that critical boundary in 
 the life of beauty. Her form was slight and delicate in its
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 proportions, nor was her countenance the less lovely because, 
 from its gentleness and repose (not unmixed with a certain sad- 
 ness) the coarse and the gay might have thought it 'wanting in 
 expression. For there is a stillness in the aspect of those who 
 have felt deeply, which deceives the common eye as rivers are 
 often alike tranquil and profound, in proportion as they are 
 remote from the springs which agitated and swelled the 
 commencement of their course, and by which their waters 
 are still, though invisibly, supplied. 
 
 The elder lady, the guest of her companion, was past seventy; 
 her grey hair was drawn back from the forehead, and gathered 
 under a stiff cap of quaker-like simplicity ; while her dress, rich 
 but plain, and of no very modern fashion, served to increase the 
 venerable appearance of one who seemed not ashamed of years. 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Leslie," said the lady of the house, after a 
 thoughtful pause in the conversation that had been carried on 
 for the last hour, " it is very true ; perhaps I was to blame in 
 coming to this place ; I ought not to have been so selfish." 
 
 " No, my dear friend," returned Mrs. Leslie, gently ; " selfish 
 is a word that can never be applied to you ; you acted as 
 became you agreeably to your own instinctive sense of what 
 is best when at your age, independent in fortune and rank, and 
 still so lovely ; you resigned all that would have attracted 
 others, and devoted yourself, in retirement, to a life of quiet and 
 unknown benevolence. You are in your sphere in this village 
 humble though it be consoling, relieving, healing the wretched, 
 the destitute, the infirm ; and teaching your Evelyn insensibly 
 to imitate your modest and Christian virtues." The good old 
 lady spoke warmly, and with tears in her eyes ; her companion 
 placed her hand in Mrs. Leslie's. 
 
 "You cannot make me vain," said she, with a sweet and 
 melancholy smile. " I remember what I was when you first 
 gave shelter to the poor, desolate wanderer and her fatherless 
 child ; and I, who was then so poor and destitute, what should 
 I be, if I was deaf to the poverty and sorrows of others others, 
 too, who are better than I am. But now Evelyn, as you say, 
 is growing up ; the time approaches when she must decide on 
 accepting or rejecting Lord Vargrave ; and yet in this village
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES, 
 
 how can she compare him with others ? hew can she form a 
 choice ? What you say is very true ; and yet I did not think 
 of it sufficiently. What shall I do ? I am only anxious, dear 
 girl, to act so as may be best for her own happiness." 
 
 "Of that I am sure," returned Mrs. Leslie ; " and yet I know 
 not how to advise. On one hand, so much is due to the wishes 
 of your late husband, in every point of view, that if Lord 
 Vargrave be worthy of Evelyn's esteem and affection, it would 
 be most desirable that she should prefer him to all others. But 
 if he be what I hear he is considered in the world, an artful, 
 scheming, almost heartless man, of ambitious and hard pursuits, 
 I tremble to think how completely the happiness of Evelyn's 
 whole life may be thrown away. She certainly is not in love 
 with him, and yet I fear she is one whose nature is but too 
 susceptible of affection. She ought now to see others, to know 
 her own mind, and not to be hurried, blindfold and inex- 
 perienced, into a step that decides existence. This is a duty we 
 owe to her nay, even to the late Lord Vargrave, anxious as he 
 was for the marriage. His aim was surely her happiness, and 
 he would not have insisted upon means that time and circum- 
 stances might show to be contrary to the end he had in view." 
 
 " You are right," replied Lady Vargrave ; " when my poor 
 husband lay on his bed of death, just before he summoned his 
 nephew to receive his last blessing, he said to me, ' Providence 
 can counteract all our schemes. If ever it should be for 
 Evelyn's real happiness that my wish for her marriage with 
 Lumley Ferrers should not be fulfilled, to you I must leave the 
 right to decide on what I cannot foresee. All I ask is that no 
 obstacle shall be thrown in the way of my wish ; and that the 
 child shall be trained up to consider Lumley as -her future 
 husband.' Among his papers was a letter addressed to me to 
 the same effect.; and, indeed, in other respects that letter left 
 more to my judgment than I had any right to expect. Oh, I 
 am often unhappy to think that he did not marry one who would 
 have deserved his affection ! and but regret is useless now." 
 
 " I wish you could really feel so," said Mrs. Leslie ; " for regret 
 of another kind still seems to haunt you ; and I do not think 
 you have yet forgotten your early sorrows."
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "Ah, how can I ?" said Lady Vargrave with a quivering lip. 
 
 At that instant, a light shadow darkened the sunny lawn in 
 front of the casements, and a sweet, gay, young voice was heard 
 singing at a little distance : a moment more, and a beautiful girl, 
 in the first bloom of youth, bounded lightly along the grass, and 
 halted opposite the friends. 
 
 It was a remarkable contrast the repose and quiet of the two 
 persons we have described the age and grey hairs of one the 
 resigned and melancholy gentleness written on the features of 
 the other with the springing step, and laughing eyes, and 
 radiant bloom of the new comer ! As she stood with the setting 
 sun glowing full upon her rich fair hair, her happy countenance 
 and elastic form it was a vision almost too bright for this weary 
 earth a thing of light and bliss that the joyous Greek might 
 have placed among the forms of Heaven, and worshipped as an 
 Aurora or a Hebe. 
 
 " Oh ! how can you stay indoors this beautiful evening ? 
 Come, dearest Mrs Leslie; come, mother, dear mother, you 
 know you promised you would you said I was to call you 
 see, it will rain no more, and the shower has left the myrtles 
 and the violet-bank so fresh." 
 
 " My dear Evelyn," said Mrs. Leslie, with a smile, " I am not 
 so young as you." 
 
 " No ; but you are just as gay when you are in good spirits 
 and who can be out of spirits in such weather ? Let me call for 
 your chair; let me wheel you I am sure I can. Down, Sultan; 
 so you have found me out, have you, sir? Be quiet, sir down!" 
 
 This last exhortation was addressed to a splendid dog of the 
 Newfoundland breed, who now contrived wholly to occupy 
 Evelyn's attention. 
 
 The two friends looked at this beautiful girl, as with all the 
 grace of youth she shared while she rebuked the exuberant 
 hilarity of her huge playmate ; and the elder of the two seemed 
 the most to sympathise with her mirth. Both gazed with fond 
 affection upon an object dear to both. But some memory or 
 association touched Lady Vargrave, and she sighed as she 
 gazed.
 
 ALICE , OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 '! stormy life preferred to this serene?" YOUNG'S Satires. 
 
 AND the windows were closed in, and night had succeeded 
 to evening, and the little party at the cottage were grouped 
 together. Mrs. Leslie was quietly seated at her tambour-frame ; 
 Lady Vargrave, leaning her cheek on her hand seemed absorbed 
 in a volume before her, but her eyes were not on the page ; 
 Evelyn was busily employed in turning over the contents of 
 a parcel of books and music which had just been brought from 
 the lodge where the London coach had deposited it. 
 
 " Oh, dear mamma ! " cried Evelyn, " I am so glad ; there is 
 something you will like some of the poetry that touched you 
 so much, set to music." 
 
 Evelyn brought the songs to her mother, who roused herself 
 from her reverie, and looked at them with interest. 
 
 " It is very strange," said she, " that I should be so affected 
 by all that is written by this person : I, too " (she added, tenderly 
 stroking down Evelyn's luxuriant tresses), " who am not so fond 
 of reading as you are ! " 
 
 " You are reading one of his books now," said Evelyn, glancing 
 over the open page on the table. " Ah, that beautiful passage 
 upon ' Our First Impressions.' Yet I do not like you, dear 
 mother, to read his books ; they always seem to make you sad." 
 
 " There is a charm to me in their thoughts, their manner of 
 expression," said Lady Vargrave, "which sets me thinking, 
 which reminds me of of an early friend, whom I could fancy 
 I hear talking while I read. It was so from the first time I 
 opened by accident a book of his years ago." 
 
 " Who is this author that pleases you so much ? " asked 
 Mrs. Leslie, with some surprise ; for Lady Vargrave had usually 
 little pleasure in reading even the greatest and most popular 
 master-pieces of modern genius.
 
 10 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Maltravers," answered Evelyn ; " and I think I almost share 
 my mother's enthusiasm." 
 
 " Maltravers ! " repeated Mrs. Leslie. " He is, perhaps, a 
 dangerous writer for one so young. At your age, dear girl, you 
 have naturally romance and feeling enough of your own, without 
 seeking them in books." 
 
 "But, dear madam," said Evelyn, standing up for her 
 favourite, "his writings do not consist of romance and feeling 
 only; they are not exaggerated, they are so simple so 
 truthful." 
 
 " Did you ever meet him ?" asked Lady Vargraye. 
 
 " Yes," returned Mrs. Leslie, " once, when he was a gay, fair- 
 haired boy. His father resided in the next county, and we met 
 at a country-house. Mr. Maltravers himself has an estate near 
 
 my daughter in B shire, but he does not live on it ; he has 
 
 been some years abroad a strange character ! " 
 
 " Why does he write no more ? " said Evelyn ; " I have read 
 his works so often, and know his poetry so well by heart, that 
 I should look forward to something new from him as an event." 
 
 " I have heard, my dear, that he has withdrawn much from 
 the world and its objects that he has lived greatly in the East. 
 The death of a lady to whom he was to have been married is 
 said to have unsettled and changed his character. Since that 
 event he has not returned to England. Lord Vargrave can tell 
 you more of him than I." 
 
 " Lord Vargrave thinks of nothing that is not always before 
 the world," said Evelyn. 
 
 " I am sure you wrong him," said Mrs. Leslie, looking up and 
 fixing her eyes on Evelyn's countenance; " for you are not before 
 the world." 
 
 Evelyn slightly very slightly pouted her pretty lip, but 
 made no answer. She took up the music, and seating herself 
 at the piano, practised the airs. Lady Vargrave listened with 
 emotion ; and as Evelyn in a voice exquisitely sweet, though not 
 powerful, sang the words, her mother turned away her face, and 
 half unconsciously, a few tears stole silently down her cheek. 
 
 When Evelyn ceased, herself affected for the lines were 
 impressed with a wild and melancholy depth of feeling she
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. II 
 
 came again to her mother's side, and, seeing her emotion, kissed 
 away the tears from the pensive eyes. Her own gaiety left her 
 rshe drew a stool to her mother's feet, and nestling to her, and 
 clasping her hand, did not leave that place till they retired 
 to rest 
 
 And the lady blessed Evelyn, and felt that, if bereaved, 
 she was not alone. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 * But come, thou Goddess, fair and free, 
 
 In heaven yclept Euphrosyne ! 
 ***** 
 
 To hear the lark begin his flight, 
 
 And, singing, startle the dull night." L f Allegro. 
 
 "But come, thou Goddess, sage and holy, 
 
 Come, divinest Melancholy ! 
 
 * * * 
 
 There held in holy passion still, 
 
 Forget thyself to marble." // Pemeroso. 
 
 THE early morn of early spring what associations of 
 freshness and hope in that single sentence ! And there a 
 little after sunrise there was Evelyn, fresh and hopeful as the 
 morning itself, bounding with the light step of a light heart over 
 the lawn. Alone alone ! no governess, with a pinched nose 
 and a sharp voice, to curb her graceful movements, and tell her 
 how young ladies ought to walk. How silently morning stole 
 over the earth ! It was as if youth had the day and the world 
 to itself. The shutters of the cottage were still closed, and 
 Evelyn cast a glance upward, to assure herself that her mother, 
 who also rose betimes, was not yet stirring. So she tripped 
 along, singing from very glee, to secure a companion, and let 
 out Sultan ; and, a few moments afterwards, they were scouring 
 over the grass, and descending the rude steps that wound down 
 the cliff to the smooth sea-sands. Evelyn was still a child at 
 heart, yet somewhat more than a child in mind. In the 
 majesty of 
 
 "That hollow, sounding, and mysterious main "
 
 12 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 in the silence broken but by the murmur of the billows in the 
 solitude relieved but by the boats of the early fishermen she 
 felt those deep and tranquillising influences which belong to the 
 Religion of Nature. Unconsciously to herself, her sweet face 
 grew more thoughtful, and her step more slow. What a com- 
 plex thing is education ! How many circumstances, that have 
 no connection with books and tutors, contribute to the rearing 
 of the human mind ! the earth, and the sky, and the ocean, 
 were among the teachers of Evelyn Cameron ; and beneath 
 her simplicity of thought was daily filled, from the urns of 
 invisible spirits, the fountain of the poetry of feeling. 
 
 This was the hour when Evelyn most sensibly felt how little 
 our real life is chronicled by external events how much we 
 live a second and a higher life in our meditations and dreams. 
 Brought up, not more by precept than example, in the faith 
 which unites creature and Creator, this was the hour in which 
 thought itself had something of the holiness of prayer ; and if 
 (turning from dreams divine to earthlier visions) this also was 
 the hour in which the heart painted and peopled its own fairy- 
 land below of the two ideal worlds that stretch beyond the 
 inch of time on which we stand, Imagination is perhaps holier 
 than memory. 
 
 So now, as the day crept on, Evelyn returned in a more sober 
 mood, and then she joined her mother and Mrs. Leslie at break- 
 fast ; and then the household cares such as they were devolved 
 upon her, heiress though she was ; and, that duty done, once 
 more the straw hat and Sultan were in requisition ; and, opening 
 a little gate at the back of the cottage, she took the path along 
 the village churchyard that led to the house of the old curate. 
 The burial-ground itself was surrounded and shut in with a belt 
 of trees. Save the small time-discoloured church, and the roofs 
 of the cottage and the minister's house, no building not even 
 a cotter's hut was visible there. Beneath a dark and single 
 yew-tree in the centre of the ground, was placed a rude seat ; 
 opposite to this seat was a grave, distinguished from the rest 
 by a slight palisade. As the young Evelyn passed slowly by 
 this spot, a glove on the long damp grass beside the yew-tree 
 caught her eye. She took it up and sighed it was her mother's.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 13 
 
 She sighed for she thought of the soft melancholy on that 
 mother's face which her caresses and her mirth never could 
 wholly chase away. She wondered why that melancholy was 
 so fixed a habit for the young ever wonder why the ex- 
 perienced should be sad. 
 
 And now Evelyn had passed the churchyard, and was on the 
 green turf before the minister's quaint, old-fashioned house. 
 
 The old man himself was at work in his garden ; but he 
 threw down his hoe as he saw Evelyn, and came cheerfully 
 up to greet her. 
 
 It was easy to see how dear she was to him. 
 
 " So you are come for your daily lesson, my young pupil ? * 
 
 " Yes ; but Tasso can wait if the " 
 
 " If the tutor wants to play truant ; no, my child ; and, 
 indeed, the lesson must be longer than usual to-day, for I fear 
 I shall have to leave you to-morrow for some days." 
 
 " Leave us ! why ? leave Brook-Green impossible ! n 
 
 " Not at all impossible ; for we have now a new vicar, and I 
 must turn courtier in my old age, and ask him to leave me with 
 my flock. He is at Weymouth, and has \vritten to me to visit 
 him there. So, Miss Evelyn, I must give you a holiday task to 
 learn while I am away." 
 
 Evelyn brushed the tears from her eyes for when the heart 
 is full of affection the eyes easily run over and clung mourn- 
 fully to the old man, as she gave utterance to all her half- 
 childish, half-womanly grief at the thought of parting so soon 
 with him. And what, too, could her mother do without him ? 
 and why could he not write to the vicar instead of going 
 to him ? 
 
 The curate, who was childless and a bachelor, was not insensible 
 to the fondness of his beautiful pupil, and perhaps he himself 
 was a little more distrait than usual that morning, or else 
 Evelyn was peculiarly inattentive; for certain it is that she 
 leaped very little benefit from the lesson. 
 
 Yet he was an admirable teacher, thai* old man ! Aware of 
 Evelyn's quick, susceptible, and rather fanciful character of 
 mind, he had sought less to curb, than to refine and elevate 
 her imagination. Himself of no ordinary abilities, which leisure
 
 I 4 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 had allowed him to cultivate, his piety was too large and cheer- 
 ful to exclude literature Heaven's best gift from the pale of 
 religion. And under his care Evelyn's mind had been duly 
 stored with the treasures of modern genius, and her judgment 
 strengthened by the criticisms of a graceful and generous taste. 
 
 In that sequestered hamlet, the young heiress had been 
 trained to adorn her future station ; to appreciate the arts and 
 elegances that distinguish (no matter what the rank) the refined 
 from the low, better than if she had been brought up under 
 the hundred-handed Briareus of fashionable education. Lady 
 Vargrave, indeed, like most persons of modest pretensions and 
 imperfect cultivation, was rather inclined to overrate the 
 advantages to be derived from book-knowledge, and she was 
 never better pleased than when she saw Evelyn opening the 
 monthly parcel from London, and delightedly poring over 
 volumes which Lady Vargrave innocently believed to be 
 reservoirs of inexhaustible wisdom. 
 
 But this day Evelyn would not read, and the golden verses 
 of Tasso lost their music to her ear. So the curate gave up the 
 lecture, and placed a little programme of studies, to be conned 
 during his absence in her reluctant hand ; and Sultan, who had 
 been wistfully licking his paws for the last half-hour, sprang 
 up and caracoled once more into the garden and the old 
 priest and the young woman left the works of man for those 
 of Nature. 
 
 " Do not fear, I will take such care of your garden while you 
 are away," said Evelyn ; " and you must write and let us know 
 what day you are to come back." 
 
 " My dear Evelyn, you are born to spoil every one from 
 Sultan to Aubrey." 
 
 "And to be spoilt too, don't forget that," cried Evelyn, 
 laughingly shaking back her ringlets. " And now, before you 
 go, will you tell me, as you are so wise, what I can do to make 
 to make my mother love me ? " 
 
 Evelyn's voice faltered as she spoke the last words, and 
 Aubrey looked surprised and moved. 
 
 " Your mother love you, my dear Evelyn ! What do you 
 mean does she not love you ? "
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 15 
 
 " Ah, not as I love her ; she is kind and gentle, I know, for 
 she is so to all ; but she does not confide in me she does not 
 trust me ; she has some sorrow at heart which I am never 
 allowed to learn and soothe. Why does she avoid all mention 
 of her early days ? she never talks to me as if she, too, had once 
 a mother! Why am I never to speak of her first marriage 
 of my father ? Why does she look reproachfully at me, "and 
 shun me yes, shun me, for days together if if I attempt to 
 draw her to the past ? Is there a secret ? if so, am I not old 
 enough to know it ? " 
 
 Evelyn spoke quickly "and nervously, and with quivering 
 lips. Aubrey took her hand, and pressing it, said, after a little 
 pause, 
 
 " Evelyn, this is the first time you have ever thus spoken to 
 me. Has anything chanced to arouse your shall I call it 
 curiosity, or shall I call it the mortified pride of affection?" 
 
 " And you, too, are harsh ; you blame me ! No, it is true 
 that I have not thus spoken to you before ; but I have long, 
 long thought with grief that I was insufficient to my mother's 
 happiness I who love her so dearly. Aid now, since Mrs. 
 Leslie has been here, I find her conversing with this comparative 
 stranger so much more confidentially than with me ; when I 
 come in unexpectedly, they cease their conference, as if I were 
 not worthy to share it ; and and oh, if I could but make you 
 understand that all I desire is that my mother should love 
 me, and know me, and trust me " 
 
 " Evelyn," said the curate, coldly, " you love your mother, and 
 justly ; a kinder and a gentler heart than hers does not beat in a 
 human breast. Her first wish in life is for your happiness and 
 welfare. You ask for confidence, but why not confide in her ? 
 why not believe her actuated by the best and the tenderest 
 motives? why not leave it to her discretion to reveal to you 
 any secret grief, if such there be, that preys upon her ? why add 
 to that grief by any selfish indulgence of over-susceptibility in , 
 yourself? My dear pupil, you are yet almost a child ; and they 
 who have sorrowed may well be reluctant to sadden with a 
 melancholy confidence those to whom sorrow is yet unknown. 
 This much, at least, I may tell you for this much she does not
 
 16 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 seek to conceal that Lady Vargrave was early inured to trials 
 from which you, more happy, have been saved. She speaks not 
 to you of her relations, for she has none left on earth. And 
 after her marriage with your benefactor, Evelyn, perhaps it 
 seemed to her a matter of principle to banish all vain regret, all 
 remembrance if possible, of an earlier tie." 
 
 " My poor, poor mother ! Oh, yes, you are right ; forgive me. 
 She yet mourns, perhaps, my father, whom I never saw, whom I 
 feel, as it were, tacitly forbid to name, you did not know 
 him?" 
 
 "Him! whom?' 
 
 " My father, my mother's first husband." 
 
 " No." 
 
 "But I am sure I could not have loved him so well as my 
 benefactor, my real and second father, who is now dead and 
 gone. Oh, how well I remember him how fondly!" Here 
 Evelyn stopped and burst into tears. 
 
 " You do right to remember him thus ; to love and revere his 
 memory a father inteed he was to you. But now, Evelyn, my 
 own dear child, hear me. Respect the silent heart of your 
 mother ; let her not think that her misfortunes, whatever they 
 may be, can cast a shadow over you you, her last hope and 
 blessing. Rather than seek to open the old wounds, suffer 
 them to heal, as they must, beneath the influences of religion 
 and time ; and wait the hour when without, perhaps, too keen a 
 grief, your mother can go back with you into the past." 
 
 " I will,, I will. Oh, how wicked, how ungracious I have 
 been ! it was but an excess of love, believe it, dear Mr. Aubrey, 
 believe it." 
 
 " I do believe it, my poor Evelyn ; and now I know that I 
 may trust in you. Come, dry those bright eyes, or they will 
 think I have been a hard taskmaster, and let us go to the 
 cottage." 
 
 They walked slowly and silently across the hunfble garden 
 into the , churchyard, and there, by the old yew-tree, they saw 
 Lady Vargrave. Evelyn fearful that the traces of her tears 
 were yet visible, drew back ; and Aubrey, aware of what passed 
 within her, said,
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 17 
 
 " Shall I join your mother, and tell her of my approaching 
 departure ? and perhaps, in the meanwhile, you will call at our 
 poor pensioner's in the village Dame Newman is so anxious to 
 see you we will join you there soon." 
 
 Evelyn smiled her thanks, and kissing her hand to her mother 
 with seeming gaiety, turned back and passed through the glebo 
 into the little village. Aubrey joined Lady Vargrave, and drew 
 her arm in his. 
 
 Meanwhile Evelyn thoughtfully pursued her way. Her heart 
 was full, and of self-reproach. Her mother had, then, known 
 cause for sorrow ; and, perhaps, her reserve was but occasioned 
 by her reluctance to pain her child. Oh, how doubly anxious 
 would Evelyn be hereafter to soothe, to comfort, to wean that 
 dear mother from the past ! Though in this girl's character 
 there was something of the impetuosity and thoughtlessness of 
 her years, it was noble as well as soft ; and now the woman's 
 trustfulness conquered all the woman's curiosity. 
 
 She entered the cottage of the old bedridden crone whom 
 Aubrey had referred to. It was as a gleam of sunshine that 
 sweet comforting face; and here, seated by the old woman's 
 side, with the Book of the Poor upon her lap, Evelyn was found 
 by Lady Vargrave. It was curious to observe the different 
 impressions upon the cottagers made by the mother and 
 daughter. Both were beloved with almost equal enthusiasm ; 
 but with the first the poor felt more at home. They could 
 talk to her more at ease : she understood them so much more 
 quickly ; they had no need to beat about the bush to tell the 
 little peevish complaints that they were half-ashamed to utter 
 to Evelyn. What seemed so light to the young, cheerful 
 beauty, the mother listened to with so grave and sweet a 
 patience. When all went right, they rejoiced to see Evelyn ; 
 but in their little difficulties and sorrows, nobody was like " my 
 good Lady ! " 
 
 So Dame Newman, the moment she saw the pale countenance 
 and graceful shape of Lady Vargrave at the threshold, uttered 
 an exclamation of delight. Now she could let out all that she 
 did not like to trouble the young lady with ; now she could 
 complain of east winds, and rheumatiz, and the parish officers, 
 
 B
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and the bad tea they sold poor people at Mr. Hart's shop, and 
 the ungrateful grandson who was so well to do and who forgot 
 
 he had a grandmother alive 1 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "Towards the end of the week we recehel a card from the town ladies." 
 
 Vicar of Wakefield. 
 
 THE curate was gone, and the lessons suspended ; otherwise 
 as like each to each as. sunshine or cloud permitted day 
 followed day in the calm retreat of Brook-Green ; when, one 
 morning, Mrs. Leslie, with a letter in her hand, sought Lady 
 Vargrave, who was busied in tending the flowers of a small 
 conservatory which she had added to the cottage, when, from 
 various motives, and one in especial powerful and mysterious, 
 she exchanged for so sequestered a home the luxurious villa 
 bequeathed to her by her husband. 
 
 To flowers those charming children of Nature, in which our 
 age can take the same tranquil pleasure as our youth Lady 
 Vargrave devoted much of her monotonous and unchequered 
 time. She seemed to love them almost as living things ; and 
 her memory associated them with hours as bright and as 
 fleeting as themselves. 
 
 " My dear friend," said Mrs. Leslie, " I have news for you. My 
 daughter, Mrs. Merton, who has been in Cornwall on a visit to 
 her husband's mother, writes me word that she will visit us on 
 
 her road home to the Rectory in B shire. She will not put 
 
 you much out of the way," added Mrs. Leslie, smiling, " for Mr. 
 Merton will not accompany her ; she only brings her daughter 
 Caroline, a lively, handsome, intelligent girl, who will be 
 enchanted with Evelyn. All you will regret is, that she 
 comes to terminate my visit, and take me away with her. 
 If you can forgive that offence, you will have nothing else 
 to pardon."
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 19 
 
 Lady Vargrave replied with her usual simple kindness, but 
 she was evidently nervous at the visit of a stranger (for she 
 had never yet seen Mrs. Merton), and still more distressed at 
 the thought of losing Mrs. Leslie a week or two sooner than 
 had been anticipated. However, Mrs. Leslie hastened to reas- 
 sure her. Mrs. Merton was so quiet and good-natured, the wife 
 of a country clergyman with simple tastes ; and, after all, Mrs. 
 Leslie's visit might last as long, if Lady Vargrave would be 
 contented to extend her hospitality to Mrs. Merton and 
 Caroline. 
 
 When the visit was announced to Evelyn, her youn^ heart 
 was susceptible only of pleasure and curiosity. She had no 
 friend of her own age ; she was sure she should like the 
 grandchild of her dear Mrs. Leslie. 
 
 Evelyn, who had learned betimes, from the affectionate 
 solicitude of her nature, to relieve her mother of such few 
 domestic cares as a home so quiet, with an establishment so 
 regular, could afford, gaily busied herself in a thousand little 
 preparations. She filled the rooms of the visitors with flowers 
 (not dreaming that any one could fancy them unwholesome), 
 and spread the tables with her own favourite books, and had 
 the little cottage piano in her own dressing-room removed into 
 Caroline's Caroline must be fond of music : she had some 
 doubts of transferring a cage with two canaries into Caroline's 
 room also, but when she approached the cage with that 
 intention, the birds chirped so merrily, and seemed so glad 
 to see her, and so expectant of sugar, that her heart smote her 
 for her meditated desertion and ingratitude. No, she could not 
 give up the canaries ; but the glass bowl with the gold fish oh, 
 that would look so pretty on its stand just by the casement; 
 and the fish dull things ! would not miss her. 
 
 The morning the noon the probable hour of the important 
 arrival came at last ; and after having three times within the 
 last half-hour visited the rooma, and settled and unsettled, and 
 settled again everything before arranged, Evelyn retired to her 
 own room to consult her wardrobe, and Margaret once her 
 nurse, now her Abigail. Alas ! the wardrobe of the destined 
 Lady Vargrave the betrothed of a rising statesman, a new and
 
 zo ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 now an ostentatious peer the heiress of the wealthy Templeton 
 was one that many a tradesman's daughter would have 
 disdained. Evelyn visited so little ; the clergyman of the 
 place, and two old maids who lived most respectably on a 
 hundred and eighty pounds a year, in a cottage, with one 
 maidservant, two cats, and a footboy, bounded the circle of 
 her acquaintance. Her mother was so indifferent to dress ; she 
 herself had found so many other ways of spending money ! 
 but Evelyn was not now more philosophical than others of her 
 age. She turned from muslin to muslin from the coloured to 
 the white, from the white to the coloured with pretty anxiety 
 and sorrowful suspense. At last she decided on the newest, 
 and when it was on, and the single rose set in the lustrous and 
 beautiful hair, Carson herself could not have added a charm. 
 Happy age ! Who wants the arts of the milliner at seventeen ? 
 
 " And here, miss ; here's the fine necklace Lord Vargrave 
 brought down when my lord came last ; it will look so grand ! " 
 
 The emeralds glittered in their case Evelyn looked at them 
 irresolutely ; then, as she looked, a shade came over her forehead, 
 and she sighed, and closed the lid. 
 
 " No, Margaret, I do not want it ; take it away." 
 
 " O dear, miss ! what would my lord say if he were down ? 
 And they are so beautiful ! they will look so fine ! Deary me, 
 how they sparkle ! But you will wear much finer when you are 
 my lady." 
 
 " I hear mamma's bell ; go, Margaret, she wants you." 
 
 Left alone, the young beauty sank down abstractedly, and 
 though the looking-glass was opposite, it did not arrest her eye ; 
 she forgot her wardrobe, her muslin dress, her fears, and her 
 guests. 
 
 "Ah," she thought, "what a weight of dread I feel here when 
 I think of Lord Vargrave and this fatal engagement ; and every 
 day I feel it more and more. To leave my dear, dear mother 
 the dear cottage oh ! I never cn. I used to like him when I 
 was a child ; now I shudder at his name. Why is thfs ? He 
 is kind he condescends to seek to please. It was the wish 
 of my poor father for father he really was to me ; and yet 
 oh that he had left me poor and free 1 "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 21 
 
 At this part of Evelyn's meditation the unusual sound of 
 wheels was heard on the gravel ; she started up wiped 
 the tears from her eyes and hurried down to welcome the 
 ^xoected guests. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 **Tell me, Sophy, my dear, what do you think of onr new visitors ?" 
 
 Vicar of Wake field. 
 
 MRS. MERTON and her daughter were already in the middle 
 drawing-room, seated on either side of Mrs. Leslie. The former 
 a woman of quiet and pleasing exterior ; her face still handsome, 
 and if not intelligent, at least expressive of sober good-nature 
 and habitual content. The latter a fine dark-eyed girl, of decided 
 countenance, and what is termed a showy style of beauty, tall, 
 self-possessed, and dressed plainly indeed, but after the approved 
 fashion. The rich bonnet of the large shape then worn ; the 
 Chantilly veil ; the gay French Cachemire ; the full sleeves, at 
 that time the unnatural rage ; the expensive, yet unassuming 
 robe desoie; the perfect chaussure ; the air of society, the easy 
 manner ; the tranquil but scrutinizing gaze all startled, dis- 
 composed, and half-frightened Evelyn. 
 
 Miss Merton herself, if more at her ease, was equally surprised 
 by the beauty and unconscious grace of the young fairy before 
 her, and rose to greet her with a well-bred cordiality, which at 
 once made a conquest of Evelyn's heart. 
 
 Mrs. Merton kissed her cheek, and smiled kindly on her, but 
 said little. It was easy to see that she was a less conversable 
 and more homely person than Caroline. 
 
 When Evelyn conducted them to their rooms, the mother and 
 daughter detected at a glance the care that had provided for 
 their comforts ; and something eager and expectant in Evelyn's 
 eyes taught the good-nature of the one and the good breeding 
 of the other to reward their young hostess by various little 
 exclamations of pleasure and satisfaction.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Dear, how nice ! What a pretty writing-desk !" said one 
 "And the pretty gold fish! "said the other "And the piano, 
 too. so well placed ; " and Caroline's fair fingers ran rapidly 
 over the keys. Evelyn retired, covered with smiles and blushes. 
 And then Mrs. Merton permitted herself to say to the well- 
 dressed Abigail : 
 
 " Do take away those flowers, they make me quite faint." 
 
 "And how low the room is so confined!" said Caroline; 
 when the lady's lady withdrew with the condemned flowers. 
 "And I see no Psyche however, the poor people have done 
 their best." 
 
 " Sweet person, Lady Vargrave ! " said Mrs. Merton " so 
 interesting ! so beautiful and how youthful in appearance ! " 
 
 "No tournure not much the manner of the world," said 
 Caroline. 
 
 " No ; but something better." 
 
 " Hem ! " said Caroline. " The girl is very pretty, though too 
 small." 
 
 " Such a smile such eyes she is irresistible ! and what a 
 fortune ! she will be a charming friend for you, Caroline." 
 
 " Yes, she may be useful, if she marry Lord Vargrave ; or, 
 indeed, if she make any brilliant match. What sort of a man 
 is Lord Vargrave ? " 
 
 " I never saw him ; they say, most fascinating." 
 
 " Well, she is very happy," said Caroline, with a sigh, 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 "Two lovely damsels cheer my lonely walk." LAMB'S Album Versa. 
 
 AFTER dinner there was still light enough for the young 
 people to stroll through the garden. Mrs. Merton, who was 
 afraid of the damp, preferred staying within ; and she was so 
 quiet, and made herself so much at home, that Lady Vargrave, 
 to use Mrs. Leslie's phrase, was not the least " put out " by her :
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 23 
 
 besides, she talked of Evelyn, and that was a theme very- 
 dear to Lady Vargrave, who was both fond and proud of 
 Evelyn. 
 
 " This is very pretty indeed ! the view of the sea quite 
 lovely ! " said Caroline. " You draw ? " 
 
 " Yes, a little." 
 
 " From nature ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes." 
 
 " What, in Indian ink ? M 
 
 " Yes ; and water-colours." 
 
 " Oh ! why, who could have taught you in this little village ; 
 or, indeed, in this most primitive county ? " 
 
 "We did not come to Brook-Green till I was nearly fifteen. 
 My dear mother, though very anxious to leave our villa at 
 Fulham, would not do so on my account, while masters could 
 be of service to me ; and as I knew she had set her heart on 
 this place, I worked doubly hard." 
 
 "Then she knew this place before ? " 
 
 " Yes ; she had been here many years ago, and took the place 
 after my poor father's death (I always call the late Lord 
 Vargrave my father). She used to come here regularly once a 
 year without me ; and when she returned, I thought her even 
 more melancholy than before." 
 
 "What makes the charm of the place to Lady Vargrave?" 
 asked Caroline, with some interest. 
 
 " I don't know ; unless it be its extreme quiet, or some early 
 association." 
 
 " And who is your nearest neighbour ? " 
 
 " Mr. Aubrey, the curate. It is so unlucky, he is gone from 
 home for a short time. You can't think how kind and pleasant 
 he is the most amiable old man in the world just such a man 
 as Bernardin St. Pierre would have loved to describe." 
 
 " Agreeable, no doubt, but dull good curates generally are." 
 
 " Dull ? not the least ; cheerful even to playfulness, and full 
 of information. He has been so good to me about books ; 
 indeed, I have learned a great deal from him." 
 
 " I dare say he is an admirable judge of sermons." 
 
 " But Mr. Aubrey is not severe," persisted Evelyn, earnestly
 
 24 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " he is very fond of Italian literature, for instance ; we arc 
 reading Tasso together." 
 
 " Oh ! pity he is old I think you said he was old. Perhaps 
 there is a son, the image of the sire ? " 
 
 " Oh, no," said Evelyn, laughing innocently ; " Mr. Aubrey 
 never married." 
 
 "And where does the old gentleman live? " 
 
 " Come a little this way there, you can just see the roof of 
 his house, close by the church." 
 
 " I see ; it is taut soit peu triste to have the church so near 
 you." 
 
 "Do you think so ? Ah ! but you have not seen it ; it is the 
 prettiest church in the county ; and the little burial-ground so 
 quiet so shut in; I feel better every time I pass it. Some 
 places breathe of religion." 
 
 " You are poetical, my dear little friend." 
 
 Evelyn who had poetry in her nature and therefore some- 
 times it broke out in her simple language coloured and felt 
 half-ashamed. 
 
 " It is a favourite walk with my mother," said she apolo- 
 getically ; " she often spends hours there alone : and so, perhaps, 
 I think it a prettier spot than others may. It does not seem to 
 me to have anything of gloom in it j when I die, I should like 
 to be buried there." 
 
 Caroline laughed slightly. " That is a strange wish ; but 
 perhaps you have been crossed in love ? " 
 
 " I ! oh, you are laughing at me ! " 
 
 " You do not remember Mr. Cameron, your real father, I 
 suppose ? " 
 
 " No ; I believe he died before I was born." 
 
 " Cameron is a Scotch name : to what tribe of Camerons do 
 you belong ? " 
 
 "I don't know," said Evelyn, rather embarrassed; "indeed 
 I know nothing of my father's or mother's family. It is very 
 odd, but I don't think we have any relations. You know when 
 I am of age that I am to take the name of Templeton." 
 
 "Ah! the name goes with the fortune; I understand. Dear 
 Evelyn, how rich you will be 1 I do so wish I were rich 1 "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 25 
 
 " And I that I were poor," said Evelyn, with an altered tone 
 and expression of countenance. 
 
 "Strange girl! what can you mean ?" 
 
 Evelyn said nothing, and Caroline examined her curiously. 
 
 " These notions come from living so much out of the world, 
 my dear Evelyn. How you must long to see more of life 1" 
 
 " I ! not in the least. I should never like to leave this place 
 I could live and die here." 
 
 "You will think otherwise when you are Lady Vargrave. 
 Why do you look so grave ? Do you not love Lord Var- 
 grave ? w 
 
 " What a question ! " said Evelyn, turning away her head, and 
 forcing a laugh. 
 
 " It is no matter whether you do or not : it is a brilliant 
 position. He has rank reputation high office : all he wants is 
 money, and that you will give him. Alas ! I have no prospect 
 so bright. I have no fortune, and I fear my face will never buy 
 a title, an opera-box, and a house in Grosvenor Square. I wish 
 I were the future Lady Vargrave." 
 
 " I am sure I wish you were," said Evelyn, with great ncuvett '; 
 " you would suit Lord Vargrave better than I should." 
 
 Caroline laughed. 
 
 " Why do you think so ? " 
 
 " Oh, his way of thinking is like yours ; he never says any- 
 thing I can sympathise with." 
 
 " A pretty compliment to me ! Depend upon it, my dear, you 
 will sympathise with me when you have seen as much of the 
 world. But Lord Vargrave is he too old ? " 
 
 " No, I don't think of his age ; and indeed he looks younger 
 than he is." 
 
 " Is he handsome ? " 
 
 " He is what may be called handsome you would think so." 
 
 " Well, if he comes here, I will do my best to win him from 
 you ; so look to yourself." 
 
 " Oh, I should be so grateful ; I should like him so much, if 
 he would fall in love with you !" 
 
 " I fear there is no chance of that." 
 
 " But how," said Evelyn, hesitatingly, after a pause ; " how is it
 
 26 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 that you have seen so much more of the world than I have ? I 
 thought Mr. Merton lived a great deal in the country." 
 
 " Yes, but my uncle, Sir John Merton, is member for the 
 county : my grandmother on my father's side Lady Elizabeth, 
 who has Tregony Castle (which we have just left) for her 
 jointure-house goes to town almost every season, and I have 
 spent three seasons with her. She is a charming old woman 
 quite the grande dame. I am sorry to say she remains in Corn- 
 wall this year ; she has not been very well ; the physicians forbid 
 late hours and London ; but even in the country we are very 
 gay. My uncle lives near us, and though a widower,, has his 
 house full when down at Merton Park ; and papa, too, is rich 
 very hospitable and popular and will, I hope, be a bishop one 
 of these days not at all like a mere country parson ; and so, 
 somehow or other, I have learned to be ambitious we are an 
 ambitious family on papa's side. But; alas ! I have not your 
 cards to play. Young, beautiful, and an heiress ! Ah, what 
 prospects ! You should make your mamma take you to 
 town." 
 
 " To town ! she would be wretched at the very idea. Oh, you 
 don't know us." 
 
 " I can't help fancying, Miss Evelyn," said Caroline, archly, 
 " that you are not so blind to Lord Vargrave's perfections and 
 so indifferent to London, only from the pretty innocent way of 
 thinking, that so prettily and innocently you express. I dare 
 say, if the truth were known, there is some handsome young 
 rector, besides the old curate, who plays the flute, and preaches 
 sentimental sermons in white kid gloves." 
 
 Evelyn laughed merrily so merrily that Caroline's suspicions 
 vanished. They continued to walk and talk thus till the night 
 came on, and then they went in ; and Evelyn showed Caroline 
 her drawings, which astonished that young lady, who was a 
 good judge of accomplishments. Evelyn's performance on the 
 piano astonished her yet more ; but Caroline consoled herself 
 on this point, for her voice was more powerful, and she sang 
 French songs with much more spirit. Caroline showed talent 
 in all she undertook, but Evelyn, despite her simplicity, 
 had genius,- though as yet scarcely developed ; for she had
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 27 
 
 quickness, emotion, susceptibility, imagination. And the differ- 
 ence between talent and genius lies rather in the heart than 
 the head. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Dost thou feel 
 
 The solemn whispering influence of the scene 
 Oppressing thy young heart, that thou dost draw 
 More closely to my side ? " F. HEMANS : Wood Walk and Hymn. 
 
 CAROLINE and Evelyn, as was natural, became great friends. 
 They were not kindred to each other in disposition, but they 
 were thrown together; and friendship thus forced upon both. 
 Unsuspecting and sanguine, it was natural to Evelyn to admire ; 
 and Caroline was, to her inexperience, a brilliant and imposing 
 novelty. Sometimes Miss Merton's worldliness of thought 
 shocked Evelyn; but then Caroline had a way with her, as if 
 she were not in earnest as if she were merely indulging 
 an inclination towards irony ; nor was she without a certain 
 vein of sentiment that persons a little hackneyed in the world 
 and young ladies a little disappointed that they are not wives 
 instead of maids, easily acquire. Trite as this vein of sentiment 
 was, poor Evelyn thought it beautiful and most feeling. Then, 
 Caroline was clever, entertaining, cordial, with all that superficial 
 superiority that a girl of twenty-three who knows London 
 readily exercises over a country girl of seventeen. On the other 
 hand, Caroline was kind and affectionate towards her. The 
 clergyman's daughter felt that she could not be always superior, 
 even in fashion, to the wealthy heiress. 
 
 One evening, as Mrs. Leslie and Mrs. Merton sat under the 
 veranda of the cottage, without their hostess, who had gone 
 alone into the village and the young ladies were confidentially 
 conversing on the lawn, Mrs. Leslie said, rather abruptly, 
 " Is not Evelyn a delightful creature ? How unconscious of 
 her beauty; how simple, and yet so naturally gifted I" 
 
 " I have never seen one who interested me more," said 
 Mrs. Merton, settling her pttcrine ; "she is extremely pretty."
 
 28 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " I am so anxious about her," resumed Mrs. Leslie, thought- 
 fully. " You know the wish of the late Lord Vargrave that she 
 should marry his nephew, the present lord, when she reaches 
 the age of eighteen. She only wants nine or ten months of 
 that time ; she has seen nothing of the world : she is not fit 
 to decide for herself ; and Lady Vargrave, the best of human 
 creatures, is still herself almost too inexperienced in the world 
 to be a guide for one so young placed in such peculiar 
 circumstances, and of prospects so brilliant. Lady Vargrave 
 at heart is a child still, and will be so even when as old as 
 I am." 
 
 " It is very true," said Mrs. Merton. " Don't you fear that 
 the girls will catch cold ? the dew is falling, and the grass 
 must be wet." 
 
 " I have thought," continued Mrs. Leslie, without heeding the 
 latter part of Mrs. Merton's speech, "that it would be a kind 
 thing to invite Evelyn to stay with you a few months at the 
 Rectory. To be sure, it is not like London ; but you see a 
 great deal of the world : the society at your house is well 
 selected, and at times even brilliant ; she will meet young 
 people of her own age, and young people fashion and form 
 each other." 
 
 " I was thinking myself that I should like to invite her," said 
 Mrs. Merton ; " I will consult Caroline." 
 
 " Caroline, I am sure, would be delighted ; the difficulty lies 
 rather in Evelyn herself." 
 
 " You surprise me ! she must be moped to death here." 
 
 " But will she leave her mother ? " 
 
 " Why, Caroline often leaves me," said Mrs. Merton. 
 
 Mrs. Leslie was silent, and Evelyn and her new friend now 
 joined the mother and daughter. 
 
 " I have been trying to persuade Evelyn to pay us a l.ttle 
 visit," said Caroline; "she could accompany us so nicely and 
 if she is still strange with us dear grandmamma goes too I am 
 sure we can make her at home." 
 
 " How odd ! " said Mrs. Merton ; " we were just saying the 
 same thing. My dear Miss Cameron, we should be so happy 
 to have you."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 29 
 
 'And I should be so happy to go, if mamma would but 
 go too." 
 
 As she spoke, the moon, just risen, showed the form of Lady 
 Vargrave slowly approaching the house. By the light, her 
 features seemed more pale than usual ; and her slight and 
 delicate form, with its gliding motion and noiseless step, had in 
 it something almost ethereal and unearthly. 
 
 Evelyn turned and saw her, and her heart smote her. Her 
 mother so wedded to the dear cottage and had this gay 
 stranger rendered that dear cottage less attractive she who had 
 said she could live and die in its humble precincts ? Abruptly 
 she left her new friend, hastened to her mother, and threw her 
 arms fondly round her. 
 
 " You are pale, you have over-fatigued yourself. Where have 
 you been ? why did you not take me with you ? " 
 
 Lady Vargrave pressed Evelyn's hand affectionately. 
 
 "You care for me too much," said she. ."I am but a dull 
 companion for you ; I was so glad to see you happy with one 
 better -suited to your gay spirits. What can we do when she 
 leaves us ? " 
 
 " Ah, I want no companion but my own own mother. And 
 have I not Sultan, too ? " added Evelyn, smiling away the teat 
 that had started to her eyes. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 " Friend after friend departs ; 
 
 Who hath not lost a friend ? 
 There is no union here of hearts 
 That finds not here an end." J. MONTGOMERY. 
 
 THAT night Mrs. Leslie sought Lady Vargrave in her own 
 room. As she entered gently she observed that, late as the hour 
 was, Lady Vargrave was stationed by the open window, and 
 seemed intently gazing on the scene below. Mrs. Leslie reached 
 her side unperceived. The moonlight was exceedingly bright, 
 and just beyond the garden, from which it was separated but by
 
 30 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 a slight fence, lay the solitary churchyard of the hamlet, with 
 the slender spire of the holy edifice rising high and tapering into 
 the shining air. It was a calm and tranquillizing scene ; and so 
 intent was Lady Vargrave's abstracted gaze, that Mrs. Leslie 
 was unwilling to disturb her reverie. 
 
 At length Lady Vargrave turned ; and there was that patient 
 and pathetic resignation written in her countenance which 
 belongs to those whom the world can deceive no more, and who 
 have fixed their hearts in the life beyond. 
 
 Mrs. Leslie, whatever she thought or felt, said nothing, except 
 in kindly remonstrance on the indiscretion of braving the night 
 air. The window was closed : they sat down to confer. 
 
 Mrs. Leslie repeated the invitation given to Evelyn, and urged 
 the advisability of accepting it. " It is cruel to separate you," 
 said she ; " I feel it acutely. Why not, then, come with Evelyn ? 
 You shake your head why always avoid society ? So young 
 yet you give yourself too much to the past ! " 
 
 Lady Vargrave rose, and walked to a cabinet at the end of 
 the room ; she unlocked it, and beckoned to Mrs. Leslie to 
 approach. In a drawer lay carefully folded articles of female 
 dress rude, homely, ragged the dress of a peasant girl. 
 
 " Do these remind you of your first charity to me ? " she said, 
 touchingly : " they tell me that I have nothing to do with the 
 world in which you and yours, and Evelyn herself, should move." 
 
 " Too tender conscience ! your errors were but those of cir- 
 cumstance of youth ; how have they been redeemed ! none 
 even suspect them. Your past history is known but to the good 
 old Aubrey and myself. No breath, even of rumour, tarnishes 
 the name of Lady Vargrave." 
 
 " Mrs. Leslie," said Lady VargraVe, reclosing the cabinet, and 
 again seating herself, " my world lies around me I cannot quit 
 it. If I were of use to Evelyn, then indeed I would sacrifice 
 brave all ; but I only cloud her spirits : I have no advice to give 
 her no instruction to bestow. When she was a child I could 
 watch over her ; when she was sick, I could nurse her ; but now 
 she requires an adviser a guide ; and I feel too sensibly that 
 this task is beyond my powers. I, a guide to youth and inno- 
 cence // No, I have nothing to offer her dear child! but
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 31 
 
 my love and my prayers. Let your daughter take her, then 
 watch over her, guide, advise her. For me unkind, ungrateful 
 as it may seem were she but happy, I could well bear to be 
 alone!" 
 
 " But she how will she, who loves you so, submit to this 
 separation ? " 
 
 " It will not be long, and," added Lady Vargrave, with a 
 serious, yet sweet smile, " she had better be prepared for that 
 separation which must come at last. As year by year I outlive 
 my last hope, that of once more beholding him I feel that life 
 becomes feebler and feebler, and I look more on that quiet 
 churchyard as a home to which I am soon returning. At all 
 events, Evelyn will be called upon to form new ties that must 
 estrange her from me ; let her wean herself from one so useless 
 to her, to all the world, now, and by degrees." 
 
 " Speak not thus," said Mrs. Leslie, strongly affected ; " you 
 have many years of happiness yet in store for you ; the more 
 you recede from youth, the fairer life will become to you." 
 
 " God is good to me," said the lady, raising her meek eyes ; 
 * and I have already found it so I am contented," 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " The greater part of them seemed to be charmed with h!s presence.** 
 
 MACKENZIE : The Man of tht World. 
 
 IT was with the greatest difficulty that Evelyn could at last 
 be persuaded to consent to the separation from her mother : 
 she wept bitterly at the thought. But Lady Vargrave, though 
 touched, was firm, and her firmness was of that soft, imploring 
 character, which Evelyn never could resist. The visit was to 
 last some months, it is true ; but she would return to the 
 cottage; she would escape, too and this, perhaps, uncon- 
 sciously reconciled her more than aught else the periodical 
 visit of Lord Vargrave. At the end of July, when the parlia- 
 mentary session at that unreformed era, usually expired, he
 
 32 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 always came to Brook-Green for a month. His last visits had 
 been most unwelcome to Evelyn, and this next visit she dreaded 
 more than she had any of the former ones. It is strange, the 
 repugnance with which she regarded the suit of her affianced ! 
 she, whose heart was yet virgin who had never seen any one who, 
 in form, manner, and powers to please, could be compared to the 
 gay Lord Vargrave. And yet a sense of honour of what was 
 due to her dead benefactor, her more than father all combated 
 that repugnance, and left her uncertain what course to pursue, 
 uncalculating as to the future. In the happy elasticity of her 
 spirits, and with a carelessness almost approaching to levity, 
 which, to say truth, was natural to her, she did not often recall 
 the solemn engagement that must soon be ratified or annulled ; 
 but when that thought did occur, it saddened her for hours, and 
 left her listless and despondent. The visit to Mrs. Merton was, 
 then, finally arranged the day of departure fixed when, 
 one morning, came the following letter from Lord Vargrave 
 himself: 
 
 * To the Lady Vargrave, &c. &c. 
 " MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 " I find that we have a week's holiday in our do-nothing 
 Chamber, and the weather is so delightful, that I long to share 
 its enjoyment with those I love best. You will, therefore, see 
 me almost as soon as you receive this ; that is, I shall be with 
 you at dinner on the same day. What can I say to Evelyn ? 
 Will you, dearest Lady Vargrave, make her accept all the 
 homage which, when uttered by me, she seems half inclined 
 to reject? 
 
 " In haste, most affectionately yours, 
 
 " VARGRAVE. 
 " HAMILTON PLACE, April $ot/t, 18 " 
 
 This letter was by no means welcome, either to Mrs. Leslie 
 or to Evelyn. The former feared that Lord Vargrave would 
 disapprove of a visit, the real objects of which could scarcely 
 be owned to him. The latter was reminded of all she desired 
 to forget. But Lady Vargrave herself rather rejoiced at the 
 thought of Lum ley's arrival. Hitherto, in the spirit of her
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 33 
 
 passive and gentle character, she had taken the engagement 
 between Evelyn and Lord Vargrave almost as a matter of 
 course. The will and wish of her late husband operated most 
 powerfully on her mind ; and while Evelyn was yet in childhood, 
 Lumley's visits had ever been acceptable, and the playful girl 
 liked the gay and good-humoured lord, who brought her all 
 sorts of presents, and appeared as fond of dogs as herself. But 
 Evelyn's recent change of manner, her frequent fits of dejection 
 and thought once pointed out to Lady Vargrave by Mrs. Leslie 
 aroused all the affectionate and maternal anxiety of the 
 former. She was resolved to watch, to examine, to scrutinize, 
 not only Evelyn's reception of Vargrave, but, as far as she 
 could the manner and disposition of Vargrave himself. She 
 felt how solemn a trust was the happiness of a whole life ; and 
 she had that romance of heart, learned from Nature, not in 
 books, which made her believe that there could be no happiness 
 in a marriage without love. 
 
 The whole family party were on the lawn, when, an hour 
 earlier than he was expected, the travelling carriage of Lord 
 Vargrave was whirled along the narrow sweep that conducted 
 from the lodge to the house. Vargrave, as he saw the party, 
 kissed his hand from the window ; and, leaping from the 
 carriage, when it stopped at the porch, hastened to meet his 
 hostess. 
 
 " My dear Lady Vargrave, I am so glad to see you ! You 
 are looking charmingly ; and Evelyn ? oh, there she is ; the 
 dear coquette how lovely she is! how she has improved! 
 But who (sinking his voice), who are those ladies ? " 
 
 " Guests of ours Mrs. Leslie, whom you have often heard us 
 speak of, but never met " 
 
 " Yes and the others ? " 
 
 " Her daughter and grandchild.** ( 
 
 " I shall be delighted to know them." 
 
 A more popular manner than Lord Vargrave's it is impossible 
 to conceive. Frank and prepossessing, even when the poor and 
 reckless Mr. Ferrers, without rank or reputation his smile 
 the tone of his voice his familiar courtesy apparently so 
 inartificial and approaching almost to a boyish bluntness of 
 
 C
 
 34 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 good-humour were irresistible in the rising statesman and 
 favoured courtier. 
 
 Mrs. Merton was enchanted with him ; Caroline thought him, 
 at the first glance, the most fascinating person she had ever 
 seen ; even Mrs. Leslie, more grave, cautious, and penetrating, 
 was almost equally pleased with the first impression ; and it was 
 not till, in his occasional silence, his features settled into their 
 natural expression that she fancied she detected, in the quick 
 suspicious eye, and the close compression of the lips, the tokens 
 of that wily, astute, and worldly character, which, in proportion 
 as he had risen in his career, even his own party reluctantly 
 and mysteriously assigned to one of their most prominent 
 leaders. 
 
 When Vargrave took Evelyn's hand, and raised it with 
 meaning gallantry to his lips, the girl first blushed deeply, 
 and then turned pale as death ; nor did the colour thus chased 
 away soon return to the transparent cheek. Not noticing signs 
 which might bear a twofold interpretation, Lumley, who seemed 
 in high spirits, rattled away on a thousand matters praising 
 the view, the weather, the journey throwing out a joke here 
 and a compliment there, and completing his conquest over 
 Mrs. Merton and Caroline. 
 
 " You have left London in the very height of its gaiety, Lord 
 Vargrave," said Caroline, as they sat conversing after dinner. 
 
 " True, Miss Merton ; but the country is in the height of its 
 gaiety too." 
 
 " Are you so fond of the country, then ? " 
 
 " By fits and starts my passion for it comes in with the early 
 strawberries, and goes out with the hautboys I lead so artificial 
 a life ; but then I hope it is a useful one. I want nothing but 
 a home to make it a happy one." 
 
 " What is the latest news ? dear London ! I am so sorry 
 grandmamma, Lady Elizabeth, is not going there this year ; 
 
 so I am compelled to rusticate. Is Lady Jane D to be 
 
 married at last ? " 
 
 "Commend me to a young lady's idea of news always 
 
 marriage! Lady Jane D ! yes, she is to be married, as 
 
 you say at last I While she was a beauty, our cold sex
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 35 
 
 was shy of her ; but she has now faded into plainness the 
 proper colour for a wife." 
 
 " Complimentary ! " 
 
 "Indeed it is for you beautiful women we love too much 
 for our own happiness heigho ! and a prudent marriage means 
 friendly indifference, not rapture and despair. But give me 
 beauty and love ; I never was prudent : it is not my weakness." 
 
 Though Caroline was his sole supporter in this dialogue, Lord 
 Vargrave's eyes attempted to converse with Evelyn, who was 
 unusually silent and abstracted. Suddenly Lord Vargrave 
 seemed aware that he was scarcely general enough in his talk 
 for his hearers. He addressed himself to Mrs. Leslie, and 
 glided back, as it were, into a former generation. He spoke 
 of persons gone and things forgotten ; he made the subject 
 interesting even to the young, by a succession of various and 
 sparkling anecdotes. No one could be more agreeable ; even 
 Evelyn now listened to him with pleasure ; for to all women 
 wit and intellect have their charm. But still there was a cold 
 and sharp levity in the tone of the man of the world that 
 prevented the charm sinking below the surface. To Mrs. 
 Leslie he seemed unconsciously to betray a laxity of 
 principle ; to Evelyn, a want of sentiment and heart. Lady 
 Vargrave, who did not understand a character of this descrip- 
 tion, listened attentively, and said to herself, " Evelyn may 
 admire, but I fear she cannot love him." Still, time passed 
 quickly in Lumley's presence, and Caroline thought she had 
 never spent so pleasant an evening. 
 
 When Lord Vargrave retired to his room, he threw himself in 
 his chair, and yawned with exceeding fervour. His "servant 
 arranged his dressing-robe, and placed his portfolios and letter- 
 boxes on the table. 
 
 " What o'clock is it ? " said Lumley. 
 
 " Very early, my lord ; only eleven." 
 
 " The devil ! the country air is wonderfully exhausting. I 
 am very sleepy ; you may go." 
 
 " This little girl," said Lumley, stretching himself, " is preter- 
 naturally shy I must neglect her no longer yet it is surely all 
 safe ? She has grown monstrous pretty ; but the other girl is 
 
 r c
 
 36 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 more amusing, more to my taste, and a much easier conquest, I 
 fancy ? Her great dark eyes seem full of admiration for my 
 lordship sensible young woman ! she may be useful in piquing 
 Evelyn." 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Julio. " Wilt thou have him ? "The Maid in the Mill. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE heard the next morning, with secret distaste 
 and displeasure, of Evelyn's intended visit to the Mertons. He 
 could scarcely make any open objection to it ; but he did not 
 refrain from many insinuations as to its impropriety. 
 
 " My dear friend," said he to Lady Vargrave, " it is scarcely 
 right in you (pardon me for saying it) to commit Evelyn to the 
 care of comparative strangers. Mrs. Leslie, indeed, you know ; 
 but Mrs. Merton, you allow, you have now seen for the first 
 time a most respectable person doubtless; but still, recollect 
 how young Evelyn is how rich what a prize to any younger 
 sons in the Merton family (if such there be). Miss Merton 
 herself is a shrewd, worldly girl ; and if she were of our sex, 
 would make a capital fortune-hunter. Don't think my fear is 
 selfish ; I do not speak for myself. If I were Evelyn's brother, 
 I should be yet more earnest in my remonstrance." 
 
 " But, Lord Vargrave, poor Evelyn is dull here ; my spirits 
 infect hers. She ought to mix more with those of her own 
 age, to see more of the world before before " 
 
 " Before her marriage with me. Forgive me, but is not that 
 my affair ? If I am contented, nay, charmed with her innocence 
 if I prefer it to all the arts which society could teach her, 
 surely you would be acquitted for leaving her in the beautiful 
 simplicity that makes her chief fascination ? She will see 
 enough of the world as Lady Vargrave." 
 
 " But if she should resolve never to be Lady Vargrave ? " 
 
 Lumley started, bit his lip, and frowned. Lady Vargrave had
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 37 
 
 never before seen on his countenance the dark expression it now 
 wore. He recollected and recovered himself, as he observed her 
 eye fixed upon him, and said, with a constrained smile 
 
 " Can you anticipate an event so fatal to my happiness, so 
 unforeseen, so opposed to all my poor uncle's wishes, as Evelyn's 
 rejection of a suit pursued for years, and so solemnly sanctioned 
 in her very childhood ? " 
 
 " She must decide for herself," said Lady Vargrave. " Your 
 uncle carefully distinguished between a wish and a command. 
 Her heart is as yet untouched. If she can love you, may you 
 deserve her affection." 
 
 " It shall be my study to do so. But why this departure from 
 your roof just when we ought to see most of each other ? It 
 cannot be that you would separate us ? " 
 
 " I fear, Lord Vargrave, that if Evelyn were to remain here, 
 she would decide against you. I fear if you press her now, 
 such now may be her premature decision. Perhaps this arises 
 from too fond an attachment for her home : perhaps even a short 
 absence from her home from me may more reconcile her to a 
 permanent separation." 
 
 Vargrave could say no more ; for here they were joined by 
 Caroline and Mrs. Merton. But his manner was changed, nor 
 could he recover the gaiety of the previous night. 
 
 When, however, he found time for meditation, he contrived to 
 reconcile himself to the intended visit. He felt that it was easy 
 to secure the friendship of the whole of the Merton family ; and 
 \hat friendship might be more useful to him than the neutral 
 part adopted by Lady Vargrave. He should, of course, be in- 
 vited to the Rectory ; it was much nearer London than Lady 
 Vargrave's cottage he could more often escape from public caref 
 fco superintend his private interest. A country neighbourhood, 
 particularly at that season of the year, was not likely to abound 
 in very dangerous rivals. Evelyn would, he saw, be surrounded 
 by a 'cvorldly family, and he thought that an advantage ; it might 
 serve to dissipate Evelyn's romantic tendencies, and make her 
 sensible of the pleasures of the London life, the official rank, the 
 gay society that her union with him would offer as an equivalent 
 for her fortune. In short, as was his wont, he strove to make
 
 38 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the best of the new turn affairs had taken. Though guardian to 
 Miss Cameron, and one of the trustees for *"he fortune she was 
 to receive on attaining her majority, he had not the right to 
 dictate as to her residence. The late lord's will had expressly 
 and pointedly corroborated the natural and lawful authority of 
 Lady Vargrave in all matters connected with Evelyn's education 
 and home. It may be as well, in this place, to add, that to 
 Vargrave and the co-trustee, Mr. Gustavus Douce, a banker of 
 repute and eminence, the testator left large discretionary powers 
 as to the investment of the fortune. He had stated it as his wish 
 that from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty 
 thousand pounds should be invested in the purchase of a landed 
 estate ; but he had left it to the discretion of the trustees to 
 'increase that sum, even to the amount of the whole capital, should 
 an estate of adequate importance be in the market ; while the 
 selection of time and purchase was unreservedly confided to the 
 trustees. Vargrave had hitherto objected to every purchase in 
 the market ; not that he was insensible to the importance and 
 consideration of landed property, but because, till he himself 
 became the legal receiver of the income, he thought it less 
 trouble to suffer the money to lie in the funds, than to be pestered 
 with all the onerous details in the management of an estate that 
 might never be his. He, however, with no less ardour than his 
 deceased relative, looked forward to the time when the title of 
 Vargrave should be based upon the venerable foundation of 
 feudal manors and seignorial acres. 
 
 "Why did you not tell me Lord Vargrave was so charming?" 
 said Caroline to Evelyn, as the two girls were sauntering, in 
 familiar tete-ci-tte, along the gardens. " You will be very happy 
 with such a companion." 
 
 Evelyn made no answer for a few moments, and then, turning 
 abruptly round to Caroline, and stopping short, she said, with a 
 kind of tearful eagerness, " Dear Caroline, you are so wise, so 
 kind too advise me tell me what is best. I am very un- 
 happy." 
 
 Miss Merton was moved and surprised by Evelyn's earnestness. 
 
 " But what is it, my poor Evelyn," said she ; " why are you 
 unhappy ? you whose fate seems to me so enviable."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 39 
 
 1 cannot love Lord Vargrave ; I recoil from the idea of marry- 
 ing him. Ought I not fairly to tell him so ? Ought I not to say, 
 that I cannot fulfil the wish that oh, there's the thought which 
 leaves me so irresolute ! his uncle bequeathed to me me who 
 have no claim of relationship the fortune that should have been 
 Lord Vargrave's, in the belief that my hand would restore it to 
 him. It is almost a fraud to refuse him. Am I not to be 
 pitied ? " 
 
 " But why can you not love Lord Vargrave ? If past the 
 premihe jeunesse, he is still handsome : he is more than hand- 
 some : he has the air of rank an eye that fascinates a smile 
 that wins the manners that pleas'e the abilities that com- 
 mand -the world ! Handsome clever admired distinguished 
 what can woman desire more in her lover her husband ? 
 Have you ever formed some fancy, some ideal of the one you 
 could love, and how does Lord Vargrave fall short of the vision ? " 
 
 " Have I ever formed an ideal ? oh, yes ! " said Evelyn, with 
 a beautiful enthusiasm that lighted up her eyes, blushed in her 
 cheek, and heaved her bosom beneath its robe ; " something that 
 in loving I could also revere : a mind that would elevate my 
 own ; a heart that could sympathise with my weakness, my follies, 
 my romance, if you will ; and in which I could treasure my whole 
 soul." 
 
 " You paint a schoolmaster, not a lover ! " said Caroline. "You 
 do not care, then, whether this hero be handsome or young ?" 
 
 "Oh, yes, he should be both," said Evelyn, innocently; "and 
 yet," she added, after a pause, and with an infantine playfulness 
 of manner and countenance, " I know you will laugh at me : but 
 I think I could be in love with more than one at the same time ! " 
 
 " A common case, but a rare confession ! " 
 
 " Yes ; for if I might ask for the youth and outward advantages 
 that please the eye, I could also love with a yet deeper love that 
 which would speak to my imagination Intellect, Genius, Fame ! 
 Ah, these have an immortal youth and imperishable beauty of 
 their own!" 
 
 " You are a very strange girl." 
 
 " But we are on a very strange subject it is all an enigma ! " 
 said Evelyn, shaking her wise little head with a pretty gravity
 
 40 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 half mock, half real. " Ah, if Lord Vargrave should love you 
 and you oh, you would love him, and then I should be free, 
 and so happy !" 
 
 They were then on the lawn in sight of the cottage windows, 
 and Lumley, lifting his eyes from the newspaper, which had 
 just arrived and been seized with all a politician's avidity, saw 
 them in the distance. He threw down the paper, mused a 
 moment or two, then took up his hat and joined them ; but 
 before he did so, he surveyed himself in the glass. " I think 
 I look young enough still," thought he. 
 
 " Two cherries on one stalk," said Lumley, gaily : " by the 
 by, it is not a complimentary simile. What young lady would 
 be like a cherry ? such an uninteresting, common, charity-boy 
 sort of fruit. For my part, I always associate cherries with the 
 image of a young gentleman in corduroys and a skeleton jacket, 
 with one pocket full of marbles, and the other full of worms for 
 fishing, with three-halfpence in the left paw, and two cherries on 
 one stalk (Helena and Hermia) in the right." 
 
 " How droll you are ! " said Caroline, laughing. 
 
 " Much obliged to you, and don't envy your discrimination 
 ' melancholy marks me for its own.' You ladies, ah, yours is 
 the life for gay spirits and light hearts ; to us are left business 
 and politics law, physic, and murder, by way of professions 
 abuse nicknamed fame; and the privilege of seeing how 
 universal a thing among the great and the wealthy is that 
 pleasant vice, beggary ; which privilege is proudly entitled 
 'patronage and power.' Are we the things to be gay, 'droll,' 
 as you say ? Oh, no, all our spirits are forced, believe me. Miss 
 Cameron, did you ever know that wretched species of hysteri- 
 cal affection called ' forced spirits ' ? Never, I am sure ; your 
 ingenuous smile, your laughing eyes, are the index to a happy 
 and a sanguine heart." 
 
 " And what of me ? " asked Caroline, quickly, and with a 
 slight blush. 
 
 " You, Miss Mertcn ? ah, I have not yet read your character 
 a fair page, but an unknown letter. You, however, have seen the 
 world, and know that we must occasionally wear a mask." Lord 
 Vargrave sighed as he spoke, and relapsed into sudden silence ;
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 41 
 
 then looking up, his eyes encountered Caroline's, which were 
 fixed upon him ; their gaze flattered him ; Caroline turned 
 away, and busied herself with a rose-bush. Lumley gathered 
 one of the flowers, and presented it to her. Evelyn was a few 
 steps in advance. 
 
 " There is no thorn in this rose," said he : " may the offering 
 be an omen you are now Evelyn's friend oh, be mine ; she is 
 to be your guest. Do not scorn to plead for me." 
 
 " Can you want a pleader ? " said Caroline, with a slight tremor 
 in her voice. 
 
 " Charming Miss Merton, love is diffident and fearful ; but it 
 must now find a voice, to which may Evelyn benignly listen. 
 What I leave unsaid would that my new friend's eloquence 
 could supply." 
 
 He bowed slightly, and joined Evelyn. Caroline understood 
 the hint, and returned alone and thoughtfully to the house. 
 
 "Miss Cameron Evelyn ah, still let me call you so as in 
 the happy and more familiar days of your childhood I wish you 
 could read my heart at this moment : you are about to leave 
 your home new scenes will surround new faces smile on you ; 
 dare I hope that I may still be remembered ? " 
 
 He attempted to take her hand as he spoke ; Evelyn withdrew 
 it gently. 
 
 " Ah, my lord," said she, in a very low voice, " if remembrance 
 were all that you asked of me " 
 
 " It is all favourable remembrance remembrance of the love 
 of the past remembrance of the bond to come." 
 
 Evelyn shivered. " It is better to speak openly," said she : 
 " let me throw myself on your generosity. I am not insensible 
 to your brilliant qualities to the honour of your attachment 
 but but as the time approaches in which you will call for my 
 decision let me now say, that I cannot feel for you those 
 those sentiments, without which you could not desire our union 
 without which it were but a wrong to both of us to form it. 
 Nay, listen to me I grieve bitterly at the tenor of your too 
 generous uncle's will can I not atone to you ? Willingly 
 would I sacrifice the fortune that, indeed, ought to be yours 
 accept it, and remain my friend."
 
 42 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Cruel Evelyn ! and can you suppose that it is your fortune 
 I seek ? it is yourself. Heaven is my witness, that, had you no 
 dowry but your hand and heart, it were treasure enough to me. 
 You think you cannot love me. Evelyn, you do not yet know 
 yourself. Alas ! your retirement in this distant village my own 
 unceasing avocations, which chain me, like a slave, to the galley-- 
 oar of politics and power have kept us separate. You do not 
 know me. I am willing to hazard the experiment of that 
 knowledge. To devote my life to you to make you partaker 
 of my ambition, my career to raise you to the highest eminence 
 in the matronage of England to transfer pride from myself to 
 you to love, and to honour, and to prize you- all this will be 
 my boast ; and all this wrll win love for me at last. Fear not, 
 Evelyn, fear not for your happiness ; with me you shall know 
 no sorrow. Affection at home splendour abroad await you. 
 I have passed the rough and arduous part of my career sun- 
 shine lies on the summit to which I climb. No station in 
 England is too high for me to aspire to, prospects, how bright 
 with you, how dark without you ! Ah, Evelyn ! be this hand 
 mine the heart shall follow ! " 
 
 Vargrave's words were artful and eloquent ; the words were 
 calculated to win their way but the manner, the tone of voice, 
 wanted earnestness and truth. This was his defect this charac- 
 terised all his attempts to seduce or to lead others, in public or 
 in private life. He had no heart, no deep passion, in what he 
 undertook. He could impress you with the conviction of his 
 ability, and leave the conviction imperfect, because he could not 
 convince you that he was sincere. That best gift of mental power 
 earnestness was wanting to him ; and Lord Vargrave's defi- 
 ciency of heart was the true cause why he was not a great man. 
 Still, Evelyn was affected by his words ; she suffered the hand he 
 now once more took to remain passively in his, and said, timidly 
 " Why, with sentiments so generous and confiding why do you 
 love me, who cannot return your affection worthily ? No, Lord 
 Vargrave ; there are many who must see you with juster eyes 
 than mine many fairer, and even wealthier. Indeed indeed, 
 it cannot be. Do not be offended, but think that the fortune 
 left to me was on one condition I cannot, ought not tc
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 43 
 
 fulfil. Failing that condition, in equity and honour it reverts 
 to you." 
 
 " Talk not thus, I implore you, Evelyn : do not imagine me 
 the worldly calculator that my enemies deem me. But, to re- 
 move at once from your mind the possibility of such a com- 
 promise between your honour and repugnance (repugnance ! 
 have I lived to say that word ?) know that your fortune is not 
 at your own disposal. Save the small forfeit that awaits your 
 non-compliance with my uncle's dying prayer, the whole is 
 settled peremptorily on yourself and your children ; it is entailed 
 you cannot alienate it. Thus, then, your generosity can never 
 be evinced but to him on whom you bestow your hand. Ah ! 
 let me recall that melancholy scene. Your benefactor on his 
 death-bed your mother kneeling by his side your hand 
 clasped in mine and those lips, with their latest breath, utter- 
 ing at once a blessing and a command." 
 
 " Ah, cease, cease, my lord ! " said Evelyn, sobbing. 
 
 "No; bid me not cease before you tell me you will be 
 mine. Beloved Evelyn ! I may hope you will not resolve 
 against me." 
 
 "No," said Evelyn, raising her eyes and struggling for 
 composure; "I feel too well what should be my duty; I will 
 endeavour to perform it. Ask me no more now. I will 
 struggle to answer you as you wish hereafter." 
 
 Lord Vargrave, resolved to push to the utmost the advantage 
 he had gained, was about to reply when he heard a step 
 behind him ; and, turning round, quickly and discomposed, 
 beheld a venerable form approaching them. The occasion was 
 lost: Evelyn also turned; and, seeing who was the intruder, 
 sprang towards him almost with a cry of joy. ... 
 
 The new comer was a man who had passed his seventieth 
 year; but his old age was green, his step light, and on his 
 healthful and benignant countenance time had left but few 
 furrows. He was clothed in black ; and his locks, which were 
 white as snow, escaped from the broad hat, and almost 
 touched his shoulders. 
 
 The old man smiled upon Evelyn, and kissed her forehead 
 fondly. He then turned to Lord Vargrave, who, recovering
 
 44 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 his customary self-possession, advanced to meet him with 
 extended hand. 
 
 " My dear Mr. Aubrey, this is a welcome surprise. I heard 
 you were not at the vicarage, or I would have called on you." 
 
 "Your lordship honours me," replied the curate. "For the 
 first time for thirty years I have been thus long absent from 
 my cure ; but I am now returned, I hope, to end my days 
 among my flock." 
 
 "And what," asked Vargrave " what if the question be not 
 presumptuous occasioned your unwilling absence?" 
 
 "My lord," replied the old man, with a gentle smile, "a new 
 vicar has been appointed. I went to him, to proffer an humble 
 prayer that I might remain amongst those whom I regarded 
 as my children. I have buried one generation I have married 
 another I have baptized a third." 
 
 "You should have had the vicarage itself you should be 
 better provided for, my dear Mr. Aubrey ; I will speak to the 
 Lord Chancellor." 
 
 Five times before had Lord Vargrave uttered the same 
 promise, and the curate smiled to hear the familiar words. 
 
 " The vicarage, my lord, is a family living, and is now. vested 
 in a young man who requires wealth more than I do. He has 
 been kind to me, and re-established me among my flock ; I 
 would not leave them for a bishopric. My child," continued 
 the curate, addressing Evelyn with great affection, "you are 
 surely unwell you are paler than when I left you." 
 
 Evelyn clung fondly to his arm, and smiled her old gay 
 smile as she replied to him. They took the way towards 
 the house. 
 
 The curate remained with them for an hour. There was a 
 mingled sweetness and dignity in his manner which had in it 
 something of the primitive character we poetically ascribe 
 to the pastors of the church. Lady Vargrave seemed to vie 
 with Evelyn which should love him the most. When he retired 
 to his home, which was not many yards distant from the cottage, 
 Evelyn, pleading a headache, sought her chamber, and Lumley, 
 to soothe his mortification, turned to Caroline, who had seated 
 herself by his side. Her conversation amused him. and her
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 45 
 
 evident admiration flattered. While Lady Vargrave absented 
 herself, in motherly anxiety, to attend on Evelyn while Mrs. 
 Leslie was occupied at her frame and Mrs. Merton looked on, 
 and talked indolently to the old lady of rheumatism and ser- 
 mons, of children's complaints and servants' misdemeanours 
 the conversation between Lord Vargrave and Caroline, at first 
 gay and animated, grew gradually more sentimental and sub- 
 dued : their voices took a lower tone, and Caroline sometimes 
 turned away her head and blushed. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 " There stands the Messenger of Truth there standi 
 The Legate of the skies." Cow PER. 
 
 FROM "that night Lumley found no opportunity for private 
 conversation with Evelyn ; she evidently shunned to meet with 
 him alone ; she was ever with her mother, or Mrs. Leslie, or the 
 good curate, who spent much of his time at the cottage ; for the 
 old man had neither wife nor children he was alone at home 
 he had learned to make his home with the widow and her 
 daughter. With them he was an object of the tenderest affec- 
 tion of the deepest veneration. Their love delighted him, and 
 he returned it with the fondness of a parent and the benevolence 
 of a pastor. He was a rare character, that village priest ! 
 
 Born of humble parentage, Edward Aubrey had early 
 displayed abilities which attracted the notice of a wealthy 
 proprietor, who was not displeased to affect the patron. 
 Young Aubrey was sent to school, and thence to college as 
 a sizar: he obtained several prizes, and took a high degree. 
 Aubrey was not without the ambition and the passions of 
 youth : he went into the world, ardent, inexperienced, and 
 without a guide. He drew back before errors grew into 
 crimes, or folly became a habit. It was nature and affection 
 that reclaimed and saved him from either alternative fame 
 or ruin. His widowed mother was suddenly stricken with
 
 46 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 disease. Blind and bedridden, her whole dependence was on 
 her only son. This affliction called forth a new character in 
 Edward Aubrey. This mother had stripped herself of so many 
 comforts to provide for him he devoted his youth to her in 
 return. She ,was now old and imbecile. With the mingleck 
 selfishness and sentiment of age, she would not come to London 
 she would not move from the village where her husband lay 
 buried where her youth had been spent. In this village the 
 able and ambitious young man buried his hopes and his talents ; 
 by degrees the quiet and tranquillity of the country life became 
 dear to him. As steps in a ladder, so piety leads to piety, and 
 religion grew to him a habit. He took orders and entered the 
 church. A disappointment in love ensued it left on his mind 
 and heart a sober and resigned melancholy, which at length 
 mellowed into content. His profession and its sweet duties, 
 became more and more dear to him ; in the hopes of the next 
 world he forgot the ambition of the present. He did not seek 
 to shine 
 
 " More skilled to raise the wretched than to rise." 
 
 His own birth made the poor his brothers, and their dispositions 
 and wants familiar to him. His own early errors made him 
 tolerant to the faults of others ; few men are charitable who 
 remember not that they have sinned. In our faults lie the 
 germs of virtues. Thus gradually and serenely had worn away 
 his life obscure, but useful calm, but active a man whom 
 " the great prizes " of the church might have rendered an 
 ambitious schemer to whom a modest confidence gave the 
 true pastoral power to conquer the world within himself, and 
 to sympathise with the wants of others. Yes, he was a rare 
 character, that village priest I
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 47 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 "Tout notre raisonnement se reduit a ceder au sentiment." 1 PASCAL 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE, who had no desire to remain alone with 
 the widow when the guests were gone, arranged his departure 
 for the same day as. that fixed for Mrs. Merton's ; and as their 
 road lay together for several miles, it was settled that they 
 
 should all dine at , whence Lord Vargrave would proceed 
 
 to London. Failing to procure a second chance-interview with 
 Evelyn, and afraid to demand a formal one for he felt the 
 insecurity of the ground he stood on Lord Vargrave, irritated 
 and somewhat mortified, sought, as was his habit, whatever 
 amusement was in his reach. In the conversation of Caroline 
 Merton shrewd, worldly, and ambitious he found the sort 
 of plaything that he desired. They were thrown much 
 together ; but to Vargrave, at least, there appeared no danger 
 in the intercourse ; and, perhaps, his chief object was to pique 
 Evelyn, as well as to gratify his own spleen. 
 
 It was the evening before Evelyn's departure ; the little party 
 had been for the last hour dispersed ; Mrs. Merton was in her 
 own room, making to herself gratuitous and unnecessary occu- 
 pation in seeing her woman pack up. It was just the kind 
 of task that delighted her. To sit in a lafrge chair, and see some- 
 body else at work to say, languidly, " Don't crumple that scarf, 
 Jane and where shall we put Miss Caroline's blue bonnet ? " 
 gave her a very comfortable notion of her own importance 
 and habits of business a sort of title to be the superintendent 
 of a family and the wife of a rector. Caroline had disappeared 
 so had Lord Vargrave ; but the first was supposed to be with 
 Evelyn ; the second, employed in writing letters ; at least, it was 
 so when they had been last observed. Mrs. Leslie was alone 
 in the drawing-room, and absorbed in anxious and benevolent 
 thoughts on the critical situation of her young favourite, about 
 1 All our reasoning reduces itself to yielding to sentiment.
 
 48 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 to enter an age and a world, the perils of which Mrs. Leslie 
 had not forgotten. 
 
 It was at this time that Evelyn, forgetful of Lord Vargrave 
 and his suit of every one of everything but the grief of the 
 approaching departure found herself alone in a little arbcur 
 that had been built upon the cliff to command the view of the 
 sea below. That day she had been restless, perturbed ; she had 
 visited every spot consecrated by youthful recollections ; she 
 had clung with fond regret to every place in which she had 
 held sweet converse with her mother. Of a disposition singu- 
 larly warm and affectionate, she had often, in her secret heart, 
 pined for a more yearning and enthusiastic love than it seemed 
 in the subdued nature of Lady Vargrave to bestow. In the 
 affection of the latter, gentle and never fluctuating as it was, 
 there seemed to her a something wanting, which she could not 
 define. She had watched that -beloved face all the morning. 
 She had hoped to see the tender eyes fixed upon her, and 
 hear the meek voice exclaim, " I cannot part with my child !" 
 All the gay pictures which the light-hearted Caroline drew of 
 the scenes she was to enter had vanished away now that the 
 hour approached when her mother was to be left alone. Why 
 was she to go ? It seemed to her an unnecessary cruelty. 
 
 .As she thus sat, she did not observe that Mr. Aubrey, who 
 had seen her at a distance, was now bending his way to her ; 
 and not till he had entered the arbour, and taken her hand, did 
 she waken from those reveries in which youth, the Dreamer, and 
 the Desirer, so morbidly* indulges. 
 
 "Tears, my child," said the curate. "Nay, be not ashamed 
 of them ; they become you in this hour. How we shall miss 
 you and you, too, will not forget us ? " 
 
 " Forget you ! Ah no, indeed ! But why should I leave you ? 
 Why will you not speak to my mother implore her to let me 
 remain ? We were so happy till these strangers came. We did 
 not think there was any other world here there is world enough 
 for me ! " 
 
 " My poor Evelyn," said Mr. Aubrey, gently, " I have spoken 
 to your mother, and to Mrs. Leslie ; they have confided to me 
 all the reasons for your departure, and I cannot but subscribe to
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 49 
 
 their justice. You do not want many months of the age when 
 you will be called upon to decide whether Lord Vargrave shall 
 be your husband. Your mother shrinks from the responsibility 
 of influencing your decision ; and here, my child, inexperienced, 
 and having seen so little of others, how can you know your own 
 heart ? " 
 
 " But, on, Mr. Aubrey," said Evelyn, with an earnestness that 
 overcame embarrassment, " have I a choice left to me ? Can I 
 be ungrateful disobedient to him who was a father to me ? 
 Ought I not to sacrifice my own happiness? And how 
 willingly would I do so, if my mother would smile on me 
 approvingly ! " 
 
 "My child," said the curate, gravely, "an old man is a bad 
 judge of the affairs of youth ; yet, in this matter, I think your 
 duty plain. Do not resolutely set yourself against Lord Var- 
 grave's claim do not persuade yourself that you must be 
 unhappy in a union with him. Compose your mind think 
 seriously upon the choice before you refuse all decision at the 
 present moment wait until the appointed time arrives, or, at 
 least, more nearly approaches. Meanwhile, I understand that 
 Lord Vargrave is to be a frequent visitor at Mrs. Merton's 
 there you will see him with others his character will show itself. 
 Study his principles his disposition examine whether he 
 is one whom you can esteem and render happy: there may be 
 a love without enthusiasm and yet sufficient for domestic 
 felicity, and for the employment of the affections. You will 
 insensibly, too, learn from other parts of his character which 
 he does not exhibit to us. If the result of time and examina- 
 tion be, that you can cheerfully obey the late lord's dying wish 
 unquestionably it will be the happier decision. If not if you 
 still shrink from vows at which your heart now rebels as 
 unquestionably you may, with an acquitted conscience, become / 
 free. The best of us are imperfect judges of the happiness of 
 others. In the woe or weal of a whole life, we must decide for 
 ourselves. Your benefactor could not mean you to be wretched ; 
 and if he now, with eyes purified from all worldly mists, look 
 down upon you, his spirit will approve your choice. For when 
 we quit the world, all worldly ambition dies with us. What now 
 
 P
 
 50 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 to the immortal soul can be the title and the rank which on 
 earth, with the desires of earth, your benefactor hoped to secure 
 to his adopted child ? This is my advice. Look on the bright 
 side of things, and wait calmly for the hour when Lord Vargrave 
 can demand your decision." 
 
 The words of the priest, which well defined her duty, inex- 
 pressibly soothed and comforted Evelyn ; and the advice upon 
 other and higher matters, which the good man pressed upon a 
 mind, so softened at that hour to receive religious impressions, 
 was received with gratitude and respect. Subsequently their 
 conversation fell upon Lady Vargrave a theme dear to both 
 of them. The old man was greatly touched by the poor girl's 
 unselfish anxiety for her mother's comfort by her fears 
 that she might be missed, in those little attentions which 
 filial love alone can render ; he was almost yet more touched 
 when, with a less disinterested feeling, Evelyn added, mourn- 
 fully, 
 
 " Yet why, after all, should I fancy she will so miss me ? Ah, 
 though I will not dare complain of it, I feel still that she does 
 not love me as I love her." 
 
 " Evelyn," said the curate, with mild reproach, " have I not 
 said that your mother has known sorrow ? and though sorrow 
 does not annihilate affection, it subdues its expression, and 
 moderates its outward signs." 
 
 Evelyn sighed, and said no more. 
 
 As the good old man and his young friend returned to the 
 cottage, Lord Vargrave and Caroline approached them, emerging 
 from an opposite part of the grounds. The former hastened to 
 Evelyn with his usual gaiety and frank address: and there was 
 so much charm in the manner of a man, whom apparently the 
 world and its cares had never rendered artificial or reserved, that 
 the curate himself was impressed by it. He thought that Evelyn 
 might be happy with one amiable enough for a companion and 
 wise enough for a guide. But, old as he was, he had loved, and 
 he knew that there are instincts in the heart which defy all our 
 calculations. 
 
 While Lumley was conversing, the little gate that made the 
 communication between the gardens and the neighbouring church-
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 51 
 
 yard, through which was the nearest access to the village, creaked 
 on its hinges, and the quiet and solitary figure of Lady Vargrave 
 threw its shadow over the grass. 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 **And I can listen to thee yet, 
 
 Can lie upon the plain 
 And listen till I do beget 
 
 That golden time again." WORDSWORTH. 
 
 IT was past midnight hostess and guests had retired to 
 repose when Lady Vargrave's door opened gently. The lady 
 herself was kneeling at the foot of the bed : the moonlight 
 came through the half-drawn curtains of the casement; and 
 by its ray her pale, calm features looked paler, and yet more 
 hushed. 
 
 Evelyn, for she was the intruder, paused at the threshold, till 
 her mother rose from her devotions, and then she threw herself 
 on Lady Vargrave's breast, sobbing as if her heart would break 
 hers were the wild, generous, irresistible emotions of youth. 
 Lady Vargrave, perhaps, had known them once ; at least, she 
 could sympathise with them now. 
 
 She strained her child to her bosom she stroked back her 
 hair, and kissed her 'fondly, and spoke to her soothingly. 
 
 " Mother," sobbed Evelyn, " I could not sleep I could not 
 rest. Bless me again kiss me again ; tell me that you love me 
 you cannot love me as I do you ; but tell me that I am dear 
 to you tell me you will regret me, but not too much tell rne 
 " Here Evelyn paused, and could say no more. 
 
 " My best, my kindest Evelyn," said Lady Vargrave, " there 
 is nothing on earth I love like you. Do not fancy I am 
 ungrateful." 
 
 " Why do you say ungrateful ? your own child your only 
 
 D 2
 
 52 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 child ! " And Evelyn covered her mother's face and hands with 
 passionate tears and kisses. 
 
 At that moment, certain it is that Lady Vargrave's heart re- 
 proached her with not having, indeed, loved this sweet girl as she 
 deserved. True, no mother was more mild, more attentive, more 
 fostering, more anxious for a daughter's welfare; but Evelyn 
 was right ! the gushing fondness, the mysterious entering into 
 every subtle thought and feeling, which should have characterised 
 the love of such a mother to such a child, had been, to outward 
 appearance, wanting. Even in this present parting, there had 
 been a prudence, an exercise of reasoning, that savoured more 
 of duty than love. Lady Vargrave felt all this with remorse 
 she gave way to emqtions new to her at least to exhibit, she 
 wept with Evelyn, and returned her caresses with almost equal 
 fervour. Perhaps, too, she thought at that moment of what love 
 that warm nature was susceptible ; and she trembled for her 
 future fate. It was as a full reconciliation that mournful hour 
 between feelings on either side, which something mysterious 
 seemed to have checked before ; and that last night the mother 
 and the child did not separate the same couch contained them : 
 and, when worn out with some emotions which she could not 
 reveal, Lady Vargrave fell into the sleep of exhaustion, Evelyn's 
 arm was round her, and Evelyn's eyes watched her with pious 
 and anxious love as the grey morning dawned. 
 
 She left her mother still sleeping, when the sun rose, and went 
 silently down into the dear room below, and again busied herself 
 in a thousand little provident cares, which she wondered she had 
 forgot before. 
 
 The carriages were at the door before the party had assembled 
 at the melancholy breakfast-table. Lord Vargrave was the last 
 to appear. 
 
 "I have been like all cowards," said he, seating himself; 
 ' anxious to defer an evil as long as possible ; a bad policy, for it 
 increases the worst of all pains that of suspense." 
 
 Mrs. Merton had undertaken the duties that appertain to the 
 " hissing urn." " You prefer coffee, Lord Vargrave ? Caroline, 
 my dear " 
 
 Caroline passed the cup to Lord Vargrave, who looked at her
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 53 
 
 hand as he took it there was a ring on one of those slender 
 fingers never observed 'there before. Their eyes met, and Caro- 
 line coloured. Lord Vargrave turned to Evelyn, who, pale as 
 death, but tearless and speechless, sat beside her mother; he 
 attempted in vain to draw her into conversation. Evelyn, who 
 desired to restrain her feelings, would not trust herself to speak. 
 
 Mrs. Merton, ever undisturbed and placid, continued to talk 
 on : to offer congratulations on the weather it was such a lovely 
 day and they should be off so early it would be so well 
 
 arranged they should be in such good time to dine at , and 
 
 then go three stages after dinner the moon would be up. 
 
 " But," said Lord Vargrave, " as I am to go with you as far 
 
 as , where our roads separate, I hope I am not condemned 
 
 to go alone, with my red box, two old newspapers, and the blue 
 devils. Have pity on me." 
 
 " Perhaps you will take grandmamma, then ? " whispered 
 Caroline, archly. 
 
 Lumley shrugged his shoulders, and replied in the same tone. 
 
 " Yes provided you keep to the proverb, ' Les extremes se 
 touchent' and the lovely grandchild accompany the venerable 
 grandmamma." 
 
 " What would Evelyn say ? " retorted Caroline. 
 
 Lumley sighed, and made no answer. 
 
 Mrs. Merton, who had hung fire while her daughter was 
 carrying on this " aside," now put in 
 
 " Suppose I and Caroline take your britzka, and you go in 
 our old coach with Evelyn and Mrs. Leslie ? " 
 
 Lumley looked delightedly at the speaker, and then glanced at 
 Evelyn ; but Mrs. Leslie said, very gravely, " No, we shall feel 
 too much in leaving this dear place to be gay companions for 
 Lord Vargrave. We shall all meet at dinner; or," she added, 
 ^fter a pause, " if this be uncourteous to Lord Vargrave, suppose 
 Evelyn and myself take his carriage, and he accompanies you ? " 
 
 " Agreed," said Mrs. Merton, quietly ; " and now I will just 
 go and see about the strawberry-plants and slips it was so kind 
 in you, dear Lady Vargrave, to think of them." 
 
 An hour had elapsed, and Evelyn was gone ! She had left 
 her maiden home she had wept her last farewell on her mother's
 
 54 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 bosom the sound of the carriage-wheels had died away ; but 
 still Lady Vargrave lingered on the threshold still she gazed on 
 the spot where the last glimpse of Evelyn had been caught. A 
 sense of dreariness and solitude passed into her soul : the very 
 sunlight the spring the songs of the birds made loneliness 
 more desolate. 
 
 Mechanically, at last, she moved -away, and with slow steps 
 and downcast eyes passed through the favourite walk that led 
 into the quiet burial-ground. The gate closed upon her and 
 now the lawn the gardens the haunts of Evelyn were 
 solitary as the desert itself; but the daisy opened to the 
 sun, and the bee murmured along the blossoms not the less 
 blithely for the absence of all human life. In the bosom of 
 Nature there beats no heart for man !
 
 BOOK II. 
 
 fros fade, TTpnr\ofi(V(ov 
 T ol firfK\a<raTo ffeot, oiKovSe Vftcrdai, 
 Eif 'idaKrjv, oi!8' evda irfQwyptvos r)t 
 
 HOM. Od. lib. r. 
 
 The hour arrived years having rolled away- 
 When his return the Gods no more delay. 
 Lo ! Ithaca the Fates award ; and there 
 New trials meet the Wanderer. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " There is continual spring and harvest here- 
 Continual, both meeting at one time ; 
 For both the boughs do laughing blossoms bear, 
 
 And with fresh colours deck the wanton prime J 
 And eke at once the heavy trees they climb, 
 Which seem to labour under their fruit's load." 
 
 SPENSER : The Garden of Adonis. 
 
 " Vis boni 
 In ipsa inesset forma." J TERENT. 
 
 BEAUTY, thou art twice blessed ; thou blessest the gazer 
 and the possessor ; often, at once the effect and the cause of 
 goodness ! A sweet disposition a lovely soul an affectionate 
 nature will speak in the eyes the lips the brow and become 
 the cause of beauty. On the other hand, they who have a gift 
 that commands love, a key that opens all hearts, are ordinarily 
 inclined to look with happy eyes upon the world to be cheerful 
 
 1 Even in beauty there exists the power of virtue.
 
 56 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and serene to hope and to confide. There is more wisdom 
 than the vulgar dream of in our admiration of a fair face. 
 
 Evelyn Cameron was beautiful: a beauty that came from the 
 heart, and went to the heart a beauty, the very spirit of which 
 was love ! Love smiled on her dimpled lips it reposed on her 
 open brow it played in the profuse and careless ringlets of 
 darkest yet sunniest auburn, which a breeze could lift from her 
 delicate and virgin cheek. Love, in all its tenderness, in all its 
 kindness, its unsuspecting truth Love coloured every thought, 
 murmured in her low melodious voice, in all its symmetry and 
 glorious womanhood, Love swelled the swan-like neck, and 
 moulded the rounded limb. 
 
 She was just the kind of person that takes the judgment by 
 storm : whether gay or grave, there was so charming and 
 irresistible a grace about her. She seemed born, not only to 
 captivate the giddy, but to turn the heads of the sage. 
 Roxalana was nothing to her. How, in the obscure hamlet of 
 Brook-Green, she had learned all the arts of pleasing it is 
 impossible to say. In her arch smile, the pretty toss of her 
 head, the half shyness, half freedom, of her winning ways, it 
 was as if Nature had made her to delight one heart, and 
 torment all others. 
 
 Without being learned, the mind of Evelyn was cultivated 
 and well informed. Her heart, perhaps, helped to instruct her 
 understanding ; for by a kind of intuition she could appreciate 
 all that was beautiful and elevated. Her unvitiated and guileless 
 taste had a logic of its own : no schoolman had ever a quicker 
 penetration into truth no critic ever more readily detected the 
 meretricious and the false. The book that Evelyn could admire 
 was sure to be stamped with the impress of the noble, the lovely 
 or the true ! 
 
 But Evelyn had faults the faults of her age ; or rather, she 
 had tendencies that might conduce to error. She was of so 
 generous a nature that the very thought of sacrincing herself for 
 another had a charm. She ever acted from impulse impulses 
 pure and good, but often rash and imprudent. She was yielding 
 to weakness, persuaded into anything so sensitive, that even 
 a cold look from one moderately liked cut her to the heart : and
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 57 
 
 by the sympathy that accompanies sensitiveness, no pain to her 
 was so great as the thought of giving pain to another. Hence it 
 was that Vargrave might form reasonable hopes of his ultimate 
 success. It was a dangerous constitution for happiness ! How 
 many chances must combine to preserve to the mid-day of 
 characters like this, the sunshine of their dawn ! The butterfly, 
 that seems the child of the summer and the flowers, what wind 
 will not chill its mirth what touch will not brush away its 
 hues? 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "These, on a general survey, are the modes 
 Of pulpit oratory which agree 
 With no unletter'd audience." POLWIIELK. 
 
 MRS. LESLIE had returned from her visit to the rectory to 
 her own home, and Evelyn had now been some weeks at Mrs. 
 Merton's. As was natural, she had grown in some measure 
 reconciled, and resigned to her change of abode. In fact, no 
 sooner did she pass Mrs, Merton's threshold, than, for the first 
 time, she was made aware of her consequence in life. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Merton was a man of the nicest perception in 
 all things appertaining to worldly consideration : the second soa 
 of a very wealthy baronet (who was the first commoner of his 
 county), and of the daughter of a rich and highly-descended 
 peer, Mr. Merton had been brought near enough to rank and 
 power to appreciate all their advantages. In early life he had 
 been something of a " tuft-hunter ; " but as his understanding was 
 good, and his passions not very strong, he had soon perceived 
 that that vessel of clay, a young man with a moderate fortune, 
 cannot long sail down the same stream with the metal vessels of 
 rich earls and extravagant dandies. Besides, he was destined 
 for the Church, because there was one, of the finest livings in 
 England in the family. He therefore took orders at six-and- 
 twenty ; married Mrs. Leslie's daughter, who had thirty thousand 
 pounds: and settled at the rectory of Merton, within a mile of
 
 S8 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the family seat He became a very respectable and extremely 
 popular man. He was singularly hospitable, and built a new 
 wing containing a large dining-room and six capital bed-rooms 
 to the rectory, which had now much more the appearance of 
 a country villa than a country parsonage. His brother, succeed- 
 ing to the estates, and residing chiefly in the neighbourhood, 
 became, like his father before him, member for the county, and 
 was one of the country gentlemen most looked up to in the 
 House of Commons. A sensible and frequent, though uncom- 
 monly prosy speaker, singularly independent (for he had a clear 
 fourteen thousand pounds a year, and did not desire office), and 
 valuing himself on not being a party man, so that his vote on 
 critical questions was often a matter of great doubt, and, there- 
 fore, of great moment Sir John Merton gave considerable 
 importance to the Reverend Charles Merton. The latter kept 
 up all the more select of his old London acquaintances ; and 
 few country houses, at certain seasons of the year, were filled 
 more aristocratically than the pleasant rectory-house. Mr. 
 Merton, indeed, contrived to make the Hall a reservoir for the 
 parsonage, and periodically drafted off the /lite of the visitors at 
 the former to spend a few days at the latter. This was the more 
 easily done, as his brother was a widower, and his conversation 
 was all of one sort the state of the nation and the agricultural 
 interest. Mr. Merton was upon very friendly terms with his 
 brother looked after the property in the absence of Sir John 
 kept up the family interest was an excellent electioneerer a 
 good speaker at a pinch an able magistrate a man, in short, 
 most useful in the county : on the whole, he was more popular 
 than his brother, and almost as much looked up to perhaps, 
 because he was much less ostentatious. He had very good 
 taste, had the Reverend Charles Merton ! his table plentiful, 
 but plain his manners affable to the low, though agreeably 
 sycophantic to the high ; and there was nothing about him that 
 ever wounded self-love. To add to the attractions of his house, 
 his wife, simple and good-tempered, could talk with anybody, 
 take off the bores, and leave people to be comfortable in theif 
 own way : while he had a large family of fine children of all ages, 
 that had long given easy and constant excuse under the name
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 59 
 
 of "little children's parties," for getting up an impromptu dance 
 or a gipsy dinner enlivening the neighbourhood, in short. Caro- 
 line was the eldest ; then came a son, attached to a foreign 
 ministry, and another, who, though only nineteen, was a private 
 secretary to one of our Indian satraps. The acquaintance of 
 these young gentlemen, thus engaged, it was therefore Evelyn's 
 misfortune to lose the advantage of cultivating a loss which 
 both Mr. and Mrs. Merton assured her was very much to be 
 regretted. But to make up to her for such a privation there were 
 two lovely little girls, one ten, and the other seven years old, 
 Who fell in love with Evelyn at first sight. Caroline was one of 
 the beauties of the county, clever and conversable, " drew 
 young men," and set the fashion to young ladies, especially when 
 she returned from spending the season with Lady Elizabeth. 
 
 It was a delightful family ! 
 
 In person, Mr. Merton was of the middle height ; fair, and 
 inclined to stoutness, with small features, beautiful teeth, and 
 great suavity of address. Mindful still of the time when he had 
 been "about town," he was very particular in his dress : his black 
 coat, neatly relieved in the evening by a white underwaistcoat, 
 and a shirt-front admirably plaited, with plain studs of dark 
 enamel his well-cut trousers, and elaborately polished shoes 
 (he was good-humouredly vain of his feet and hands) won for 
 him the common praise of the dandies (who occasionally honoured 
 him with a visit to shoot his game, and flirt with his daughter), 
 
 " that old Merton was a most gentlemanlike fellow so d d 
 
 neat for a parson ! " 
 
 Such, mentally, morally, and physically, was the Reverend 
 Charles Merton, rector of Merton, brother of Sir John, and 
 possessor of an income that, what with his rich living, his wife's 
 fortune, and his own, which was not inconsiderable, amounted to 
 between four and five thousand pounds a year, which income, 
 managed with judgment, as well as liberality, could not fail to 
 secure to him all the good things of this world the respect of his 
 friends amongst the rest. Caroline was right when she told 
 Evelyn that her papa was very different from a mere country 
 parson. 
 
 Now this gentleman could not fail to see all the claims that
 
 60 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Evelyn might fairly advance upon the esteem, nay, the venera- 
 tion of himself and family : a young beauty, with a fortune of 
 about a quarter of a million, was a phenomenon that might 
 fairly be called celestial. Her pretensions were enhanced by 
 her engagement to Lord Vargrave an engagement which 
 might be broken ; so that, as he interpreted it, the worst that 
 could happen to the young lady was to marry an able and rising 
 Minister of State a peer of the realm ; but she was perfectly 
 free to marry a still greater man, if she could find him ; and who 
 knows but what perhaps the attach^, if he could get leave of 
 
 absence ? Mr. Merton was too sensible to pursue that thought' 
 
 further for the present. 
 
 The good man was greatly shocked at the too familiar manner 
 ia which Mrs. Merton spoke to this high-fated heiress at. 
 Evelyn's travelling so far without her own maid at her very 
 primitive wardrobe poor, ill-used child ! Mr. Merton was a 
 connoisseur in ladies' dress. It was quite painful to see that 
 the unfortunate girl had been so neglected. Lady Vargrave 
 must be a very strange person. He inquired compassionately 
 whether she was allowed any pocket money ? and finding, to his 
 relief, that in that respect Miss Cameron was munificently 
 supplied, he suggested that a proper Abigail should be im- 
 mediately engaged ; that proper orders to Madame Devy should 
 be immediately transmitted to London, with one of Evelyn's 
 dresses, as a pattern for nothing but length and breadth. He 
 almost stamped with vexation, when he heard that Evelyn 
 had been placed in one of the neat little rooms generally 
 appropriated to young lady visitors. 
 
 " She is quite contented, my dear Mr. Merton ; she is so 
 simple ; she has not been brought up in the style you think for." 
 
 " Mrs. Merton," said the rector, with great solemnity, " Miss 
 Cameron may know no better now ; but what will she think 
 of us hereafter? It is my maxim to recollect what people 
 will be, and show them that respect which may leave pleasing 
 impressions when they have it in their power to show us civility 
 in return." 
 
 With many apologies, which quite overwhelmed poor Evelyn, 
 she was transferred from the little chamber, with its French bed
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 61 
 
 and bamboo-coloured washhand-stand, to an apartment with 
 a buhl wardrobe and a four-post bed with green silk curtains f 
 usually appropriated to the regular Christmas visitant, the 
 Dowager Countess of Chipperton : a pretty morning room 
 communicated with the sleeping apartment, and thence a 
 private staircase conducted into the gardens. The whole 
 family were duly impressed and re-impressed with her 
 importance. No queen could be made more of. Evelyn 
 mistook it all for pure kindness, and returned the hospitality 
 with an affection that extended to the whole family, but 
 particularly to the two little girls, and a beautiful black 
 spaniel. Her dresses came down from London her Abigail 
 arrived the buhl wardrobe was duly filled and Evelyn at 
 last learned that it is a fine thing to be rich. An account of 
 all these proceedings was forwarded to Lady Vargrave, in a 
 long and most complacent letter, by the rector himself. The 
 answer was short, but it contented the excellent clergyman ; 
 for it approved of all he had done, and begged that Miss 
 Cameron might have everything that seemed proper to her 
 station. 
 
 By the same post came two letters to Evelyn herself one 
 from Lady Vargrave, one from the curate. They transported 
 her from the fine room and the buhl wardrobe to the cottage 
 and the lawn ; and the fine Abigail, when she came to dress 
 her young lady's hair, found her weeping. 
 
 It was a matter of great regret to the rector that it was that 
 time of year when precisely because the country is most 
 beautiful every one worth knowing is in town. Still, however, 
 some stray guests found their way to the rectory for a day or 
 two, and still there were some aristocratic old families in the 
 neighbourhood, who never went up to London : so that two 
 days in the week the rector's wine flowed, the whist- tables / 
 were set cut, and the piano called into requisition. 
 
 Evelyn the object of universal attention and admiration 
 was put at her ease by her station -itself; for good manners 
 come like an instinct to those on whom the world smiles. 
 Insensibly she acquired self-possession and the smoothness 
 of society; and if her child-like playfulness broke out from
 
 62 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 all conventional restraint, it only made 'more charming and 
 brilliant the great heiress, whose delicate and fairy cast of 
 beauty so well became her graceful abandon of manner, and 
 who looked so unequivocally ladylike to the eyes that rested 
 on Madame Devy's blondes and satins. 
 
 Caroline was not so gay as she had been at the cottage. 
 Something seemed to weigh upon her spirits : she was often 
 moody and thoughtful. She was the only one in the family 
 not good-tempered ; and her peevish replies to her parents, when 
 no visitor imposed a check on the family circle, inconceivably 
 pained Evelyn, and greatly contrasted the flow of spirits which 
 distinguished her when she found somebody worth listening to. 
 Still Evelyn who, where she once liked, found it difficult to 
 withdraw regard sought to overlook Caroline's blemishes, and 
 to persuade herself of a thousand good qualities below the 
 surface ; and her generous nature found constant opportunity 
 of venting itself in costly gifts, selected from the London 
 parcels, with which the officious Mr. Merton relieved the 
 monotony of the rectory. These gifts Caroline could not 
 refuse, without paining her young friend. She took them 
 reluctantly, for, to do her justice, Caroline, though ambitious, 
 was not mean. 
 
 Thus time passed in the rectory, in gay variety and constant 
 entertainment ; and all things combined to spoil the heiress, if, 
 indeed, goodness ever is spoiled by kindness and prosperity. 
 Is it to the frost or to the sunshine that the flower opens its 
 petals, or the fruit ripens from the blossom ?
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 63 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 u Rod. How sweet these solitary places are 
 
 ** 
 
 Ped. What strange musick 
 
 Was that we heard afar off? 
 Curio. We've told you what he is what time we've sought him 
 
 His nature and his name." 
 
 BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER : The Pilgrim. 
 
 ONE day, as the ladies were seated in Mrs. Merton's morning- 
 room, Evelyn, who had been stationed by the window hearing 
 the little Cecilia go through the French verbs, and had just 
 finished that agreeable task, exclaimed, 
 
 " Do tell me to whom that old house belongs with the 
 picturesque gable-end and Gothic turrets there, just peeping 
 through the trees I have always forgot to ask you."- 
 
 " Oh, my dear Miss Cameron," said Mrs. Merton, " that is 
 Burleigh have you not been there ? How stupid in Caroline 
 not to show it to you. It is one of the lions of the place. It 
 belongs to a man you have often heard of Mr. Maltravers." 
 
 " Indeed !" cried Evelyn ; and she gazed with new interest on 
 the grey melancholy pile, as the sunshine brought it into strong 
 contrast with the dark pines around it. " And Mr. Maltravers 
 himself ?" 
 
 " Is still abroad, I believe ; though I did hear the other day 
 that he was shortly expected at Burleigh. It is a curious old 
 place, though much neglected. I believe, indeed, it has not 
 been 'furnished since the time of Charles the First. (Cissy, 
 my love, don't stoop so.) Very gloomy, in my opinion ; and 
 not any fine room in the house, except the library, which was 
 once a chapel. However, people come miles to see it." 
 
 "Will you go there to-day?" said Caroline, languidly; "it is 
 a very pleasant walk through the glebe-land and the wood not 
 above half a mile by the foot-path." 
 
 "I should like it so much." 
 
 "Yes," said Mrs. Merton, "and you had better go before he 
 returns he is so strange. He does not allow it to be seen when
 
 64 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 he is down. But, indeed, he has only been once at the old place 
 since he was of age. (Sophy, you will tear Miss Cameron's 
 scarf to pieces ; do be quiet, child.) That was before he was 
 a great man he was then very odd saw no society only 
 dined once with us though Mr. Merton paid him every 
 attention. They show the room in which he wrote his 
 books." 
 
 " I remember him very well, though I was then but a child," 
 said Caroline ; " a handsome, thoughtful face." 
 
 " Did you think so, my dear ? fine eyes and teeth, certainly, 
 and a commanding figure but nothing more." 
 
 " Well," said Caroline, " if you like to go, Evelyn, I am at 
 your service." 
 
 "And I Evy, dear I may go," said Cecilia, clinging 
 to Evelyn. 
 
 " And me, too," lisped Sophia the youngest hope, " there's 
 such a pretty peacock." 
 
 " Oh, yes they may go, Mrs. Merton, we'll take such care 
 of them." 
 
 " Very well, my dear Miss Cameron quite spoils you.'' 
 Evelyn tripped away to put on her bonnet and the children 
 ran after her, clapping their hands, they could not bear to 
 lose sight of her for a moment. 
 
 " Caroline," said Mrs. Merton, affectionately, " are you not 
 well ? you have seemed pale lately, and not in your usual 
 spirits." 
 
 Oh, yes, I'm well enough," answered Caroline, rather peevishly; 
 " but this place is so dull now very provoking that Lady 
 Elizabeth does not go to London this year." 
 
 " My dear, it will be gayer, I hope, in July, when the races at 
 Knaresdean begin ; and Lord Vargrave has promised to come '' 
 " Has Lord Vargrave written to you lately?" 
 " No, my dear." 
 "Very odd." 
 
 " Does Evelyn ever talk of him ? " 
 
 " Not much," said Caroline, rising and quitting the room. 
 It was a most cheerful exhilarating day ; the close of sweet 
 May ; the hedges were white with blossoms, a light breeze
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 65 
 
 rustled the young leaves, the butterflies had ventured forth, and 
 the children chased them over the grass, as Evelyn and Caroline, 
 who walked much too slow for her companion (Evelyn longed 
 to run), followed them soberly towards Burleigh. 
 
 They passed the glebe-fields ; and a little bridge, thrown over 
 a brawling rivulet, conducted them into a wood. 
 
 "This stream," said Caroline, " forms the boundary between 
 my uncle's estates and those of Mr. Maltravers. It must be very 
 unpleasant to so proud a man as Mr. Maltravers is said to be, to 
 have the land of another proprietor so near his house. He could 
 hear my uncle's gun from his very drawing-room. However, Sir 
 John takes care not to molest him. On the other side, the 
 Burleigh estates' extend for some miles ; indeed Mr. Maltravers 
 is the next great proprietor to my uncle in this part of the 
 county. Very strange that he does not marry ! There, now 
 you can see the house." 
 
 The mansion lay somewhat low, with hanging woods in the 
 rear: and the old-fashioned fish-ponds gleaming in the sunshine 
 and overshadowed by gigantic trees, increased the venerable 
 stillness of its aspect. Ivy and innumerable creepers covered one 
 side of the house ; and long weeds cumbered the deserted road. 
 " It is sadly neglected," said Caroline ; "and was so, even in 
 the last owner's life. Mr. Maltravers inherits the place from his 
 mother's uncle. We may as well enter the house by the private 
 way. The front entrance is kept locked up." 
 
 Winding by a path that conducted into a flower-garden, 
 divided from the park by a ha-ha, over which a plank and a 
 small gate, rusting off its hinges, were placed, Caroline led the 
 way towards the building. At this point of view it presented a 
 large bay window that by a flight of four steps led into the 
 garden. On one side rose a square, narrow turret, surmounted 
 by a gilt dome and quaint weathercock, below the architrave of 
 which was a sun-dial, set in the stonework ; and another dial 
 stood in the garden, with the common and beautiful motto 
 
 "A'on nurnero horas, nisi sennas I" l 
 
 On the other side of the bay window a huge buttress cast its 
 
 1 I number not the hours, unless sunny.
 
 66 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 mass of shadow. There was something in the appearance of the 
 whole place that invited to contemplation and repose something 
 almost monastic. The gaiety of the teeming spring-time could 
 not divest the spot of a certain sadness, not displeasing, however, 
 whether to the young, to whom there is a luxury in the vague 
 sentiment of melancholy, or to those who, having known real 
 griefs, seek for an anodyne in meditation and memory. The low 
 lead-coloured door, set deep in the turret, was locked, and the 
 bell beside it broken. Caroline turned impatiently away. " We 
 must go round to the other side," said she, " and try to make the 
 deaf old man hear us." 
 
 " Oh, Carry ! " cried Cecilia, " the great window is open ; " and 
 she ran up the steps. 
 
 " That is lucky," said Caroline ; and the rest followed Cecilia. 
 
 Evelyn now stood within the library of which Mrs. Merton 
 had spoken. It was a large room, about fifty feet in length, and 
 proportionably wide; somewhat dark, for the light came only 
 from the one large window through which they entered ; and 
 though the window rose to the cornice of the ceiling, and took 
 up one side of the apartment, the daylight was subdued by the 
 heaviness of the stonework in which the narrow panes were set, 
 and by the glass stained with armorial bearings in the upper part 
 of the casement. The bookcases, too, were of the dark oak 
 which so much absorbs the light ; and the gilding, formerly 
 meant to relieve them, was discoloured by time. 
 
 The room was almost disproportionably lofty ; the ceiling, 
 elaborately coved, and richly carved with grotesque masks, pre- 
 served the" Gothic character of the age in which it had been 
 devoted to a religious purpose. Two fireplaces, with high 
 chimney pieces of oak, in which were inserted two portraits, 
 broke the symmetry of the tall bookcases. In one of these fire- 
 places were half-burnt logs ; and a huge armchair, with a small 
 reading-desk beside it, seemed to bespeak the recent occupation 
 of the room. On the fourth side, opposite the window, the wall 
 was covered with faded tapestry, representing the meeting of 
 Solomon and the Queen of Sheba ; the arras was nailed over 
 doors on either hand ; the chinks between the door and the wall 
 serving, in one instance, to cut off in the middle his wise majesty,
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 67 
 
 who was making a low bow ; while in the other it took the ground 
 from under the wanton queen, just as she was descending from 
 her chariot. 
 
 Near the window stood a grand piano, the only modern article 
 in the room, save one of the portraits, presently to be described. 
 On all this Evelyn gazed sileutly and devoutly : she had 
 naturally that reverence for genius which is common to the 
 enthusiastic and young ; and there is, even to the dullest, a cer- 
 tain interest in th$ homes of those who have implanted within 
 us a new thought. But here there was, she imagined, a rare and 
 singular harmony between the place and the mental character- 
 istics of the owner. She fancied she now better understood 
 the shadowy and metaphysical repose of thought that had 
 distinguished the earlier writings of Maltravers the writings 
 composed or planned in this still retreat. 
 
 But what particularly caught her attention was one of the two 
 portraits that adorned the mantelpieces. The further one was 
 attired in the rich and fanciful armour of the time of Elizabeth ; 
 the head bare, the helmet on a table on which the hand rested. 
 It was a handsome and striking countenance ; and an inscription 
 announced it to be a Digby, an ancestor of Maltravers. 
 
 But the other was a beautiful girl of about eighteen, in the 
 now almost antiquated dress of forty years ago. The features 
 were delicate, but the colours somewhat faded, and there was 
 something mournful in the expression. A silk curtain, drawn on 
 one side, seemed to denote how carefully it was prized by the 
 possessor. 
 
 Evelyn turned for explanation to her cicerone. 
 
 "This is the second time I have seen that picture," said Caro- 
 line ; " for it is only by great entreaty and as a mysterious 
 favour, that the old housekeeper draws aside the veil. Some 
 touch of sentiment in Maltravers makes him regard it as sacred. 
 It is the picture of his mother before she married ; she died in 
 giving him birth." 
 
 Evelyn sighed ; how well she understood the sentiment which 
 seemed to Caroline so eccentric ! The countenance fascinated 
 her ; the eye seemed to follow her as she turned. 
 
 " As a proper pendant to this picture," said Caroline, " he
 
 68 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 ought to have dismissed the effigies of yon warlike gentleman, 
 and replaced it by one of poor Lady Florence Lascelles, for 
 whose loss he is said to have quitted his country : but, perhaps. 
 it was the loss of her fortune." 
 
 " How can you say so ? fie ! " cried Evelyn, with a burst of 
 generous indignation. 
 
 " Ah, my dear, you heiresses have a fellow-feeling with each 
 other ! Nevertheless, clever men are less sentimental than we 
 deem them- heigho ! this quiet room gives me the spleen, I 
 fancy." 
 
 " Dearest Evy," whispered Cecilia, " I think you have a look 
 of that pretty picture, only you are much prettier. Do take off 
 your bonnet ; your hair just falls down like hers." 
 
 Evelyn shook her head gravely; but the spoiled child hastily 
 untied the ribands, and snatched away the hat, and Evelyn's 
 sunny ringlets fell down in beautiful disorder. There was no 
 resemblance between Evelyn and the portrait, except in the 
 colour of the hair, and the careless fashion it now by chance 
 assumed. Yet Evelyn was pleased to think that a likeness did 
 exist, though Caroline declared it was a most unflattering 
 compliment. 
 
 " I don't wonder," said the latter, changing the theme, " I don't 
 wonder Mr. Maltravers lives so little in this ' Castle Dull ; ' yet 
 it might be much improved. French windows and plate-glass, 
 for instance ; and if those lumbering bookshelves and horrid old 
 chimney-pieces were removed and the ceiling painted white and 
 gold like that in my uncle's saloon, and a rich, lively paper, instead 
 of the tapestry, it would really make a very fine ballroom." 
 
 " Let us have a dance here now," cried Cecilia. " Come, stand 
 up, Sophy ; " and the children began to practise a waltz step, 
 tumbling over each other, and laughing in full glee. 
 
 " Hush, hush ! " said Evelyn softly. She had never before 
 checked the children's mirth, and she could not tell why she 
 did so now. 
 
 " I suppose the old butler has been entertaining the bailiff 
 here," said Caroline, pointing to the remains of the fire. 
 
 "And is this the room he chiefly inhabited the room that 
 you say they show as his ? "
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 09 
 
 " No ; that tapestry door to the right leads into a little study 
 where he wrote." So saying, Caroline tried to open the door, 
 but it was locked from within. She then opened the other door, 
 which showed a long wainscoted passage, hung with rusty pikes, 
 and a few breastplates of the time of the Parliamentary Wars. 
 "This leads to the main body of the house," said Caroline, 
 " from which the room we are now in and the little study are 
 completely detached, having as you know, been the chapel in 
 popish times. I have heard that Sir Kenelm Digby, an ancestral 
 connection of the present owner, first converted them into their 
 present use, and, in return, built the village church on the other 
 side of the park." 
 
 Sir Kenelm Digby, the old cavalier philosopher J a new name 
 of interest to consecrate the place ! Evelyn could have lingered 
 all day in the room ; and, perhaps, as an excuse for a longer 
 sojourn, hastened to the piano it was open she ran her fairy 
 fingers over the keys, and the sound from the untuned and 
 neglected instrument thrilled wild and spiritlike through the 
 melancholy chamber. 
 
 " Oh ! do sing us something, Evy," cried Cecilia, running up 
 to, and drawing a chair to, the instrument. 
 
 " Do, Evelyn," said Caroline, languidly ; " it will serve to bring 
 one of the servants to us, and save us a journey to the offices." 
 
 It was just what Evelyn wished. Some verses, which her 
 mother especially loved ; verses written by Maltravers upon 
 returning, after absence, to his own home, had rushed into her 
 mind as she had touched the keys. The}'' were appropriate to 
 the place, and had been beautifully set to music. So the children 
 hushed themselves, and nestled at her feet ; and, after a little 
 prelude, keeping the accompaniment under, that the spoiled 
 instrument might not mar the sweet words, and sweeter voice, 
 she began the song. 
 
 Meanwhile in the adjoining room, the little study which 
 Caroline had spoken of, sate the owner of the house ! He had 
 returned suddenly and unexpectedly the previous night. The 
 old steward was in attendance at the moment, full of apologies, 
 congratulations, and gossip ; and Maltravers, grown a stern and 
 haughty man, was already impatiently turning away, when he
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 heard the sudden sound of the children's laughter and loud 
 voices in the room beyond. Maltravers frowned. 
 
 "What impertinence is this?" said he in a tone that, though 
 very calm, made the steward quake in his shoes. 
 
 " I don't know, really, your honour ; there be .so many grand 
 folks come to see the house in the fine weather, that " 
 
 " And you permit your master's house to be a raree-show ? 
 you do well, sir." 
 
 " If your honour were more amongst us, there might be more 
 discipline like," said the steward stoutly ; " but no one in my 
 time has cared so little for the old place as those it belongs to." 
 
 " Fewer words with me, sir," said Maltravers, haughtily ; "and 
 now go and inform those people that I am returned and wish for 
 no guests but those I invite myself." 
 
 "Sir!" 
 
 " Do you not hear me ? Say, that if it so please them, these 
 old ruins are my property, and are not to be jobbed out to the 
 insolence of public curiosity. Go, sir." 
 
 " But I beg pardon, your honour if they be great folks ? " 
 
 " Great folks ! great ! Ay, there it is. Why, if they be great 
 folks, they have great houses of their own, Mr. Justis." 
 
 The steward stared. " Perhaps, your honour," he put in, 
 deprecatingly, "'they be Mr. Merton's family: they come very 
 often when the London gentlemen are with them." 
 
 " Merton ! oh, the cringing parson. Harkye ! one word more 
 with me, sir, and you quit my service to-morrow." 
 
 Mr. Justis lifted his eyes and hands .to heaven; but there 
 was something in his master's voice and look which checked 
 reply, and he turned slowly to the door when a voice of such 
 heavenly sweetness was heard without, that it arrested his own 
 step and made the stern Maltravers start in his seat. He held 
 up his hand to the steward to delay his errand, and listened, 
 charmed and spell-bound. His own words came on his ear 
 words long unfamiliar to him, and at first but imperfectly 
 remembered words connected with the early and virgin years 
 of poetry and aspiration words that were as the ghosts of 
 thoughts now far too gentle for his altered soul. He bo\\ed 
 down his head, and the dark shade left his brow.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTFRIES. 71 
 
 The song ceased. Maltravers moved with a sigh, and his 
 eyes rested on the form of the steward with his hand on the 
 door, 
 
 " Shall I give your honour's message ? " said Mr. Justis. 
 gravely. 
 
 " No take care for the future : leave me now." 
 
 Mr. Justis made one leg, and then, well pleased, took to both. 
 
 "Well," thought he, as he departed, "how foreign parts do 
 spoil a gentleman ! so mild as he was once ! I must botch up 
 the accounts, I see the squire has grown sharp." 
 
 As Evelyn concluded her song, she whose charm in singing 
 was that she sang from the heart was so touched by the 
 melancholy music of the air and words, that her voice faltered, 
 and the last line died inaudibly on her lips. 
 
 The children sprang up and kissed her. 
 
 " Oh," cried Cecilia, " there is the beautiful peacock ! " And 
 there, indeed, on the steps without perhaps attracted by the 
 music, stood the picturesque bird. The children ran out to 
 greet their old favourite, who was extremely tame; and 
 presently Cecilia returned. 
 
 "Oh, Carry! do see what beautiful horses are coming up the 
 park!" 
 
 Caroline, who was a good rider, and fond of horses, and whose 
 curiosity was always aroused by things connected with show 
 and station suffered the little girl to draw her into the garden. 
 Two grooms, each mounted on a horse of the pure Arabian 
 breed, and each leading another, swathed and bandaged, were 
 riding slowly up the road ; and Caroline was so attracted by 
 the novel appearance of the animals in a place so deserted, that 
 she followed the children towards them, to learn who could 
 possibly be their enviable owner. Evelyn, forgotten for the 
 moment, remained alone. She was pleased at being so, and 
 once more turned to the picture which had so attracted her 
 before. The mild eyes fixed on her, with an expression that 
 recalled to her mind her own mother. 
 
 " And," thought she, as she gazed, " this fair creature did not 
 live to know the fame of her son to rejoice in his success or 
 to soothe his grief. And he, that son a disappointed and
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 solitary exile in distant lands, while strangers stand within his 
 deserted hall ! " 
 
 The images she had conjured up moved and absorbed her ; 
 and she continued to stand before the picture, gazing upward 
 with moistened eyes. It was a beautiful vision as she thus 
 stood, with her delicate bloom, her luxuriant hair (for the hat 
 was not yet replaced) her elastic form, so full of youth, and 
 health, and hope the living form beside the faded canvas of 
 the dead once youthful, tender, lovely as herself! Evelyn 
 turned away with a sigh the sigh was re-echoed yet more 
 deeply. She started: the door that led to the study was 
 opened, and in the aperture was the figure of a man in the 
 prime of life. His hair, still luxuriant as in his earliest youth, 
 though darkened by the suns of the East, curled over a forehead 
 of majestic expanse. The high and proud features, that well 
 became a stature above the ordinary standard the pale but 
 bronzed complexion the large eyes of deepest blue, shaded by 
 dark brows and lashes and, more than all, that expression at 
 once of passion and repose which characterises the old Italian 
 portraits, and seems to denote the inscrutable power that ex- 
 perience imparts to intellect constituted an ensemble which, 
 if not faultlessly handsome, was eminently striking, and formed 
 at once to interest and command. It was a face, once seen, 
 never to be forgotten ; it was a face that had long, half uncon- 
 sciously, haunted Evelyn's young dreams ; it was a face she had 
 seen before, though then younger, and milder, and fairer, it wore 
 a different aspect. 
 
 Evelyn stood rooted to the spot, feeling herself blush to her 
 very temples an enchanting picture of bashful confusion, and 
 innocent alarm. 
 
 "Do not let me regret my return," said the stranger, ap- 
 proaching after a short pause, and with much gentleness in his 
 voice and smile, " and think that the owner is doomed to scare 
 away the fair spirits that haunted the spot in his absence." 
 
 "The owner!" repeated Evelyn, almost inaudibly, and in 
 increased embarrassment; "are you then the the - ?" 
 
 "Yes," courteously interrupted the stranger, seeing her con- 
 fusion ; " my name is Maltravers ; and I am to blame for not
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 73 
 
 having informed you of my sudden return, or for now trespass- 
 ing on your presence. But you see my excuse ; "and he pointed 
 to the instrument. "You have the magic that draws even the 
 serpent from his hole. But you are not alone ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! no, indeed ! Miss Merton is with me. I know not 
 where she is gone. I will seek her." 
 
 " Miss Merton ! You are not then one of that family ?** 
 
 " No, only a guest. I will find her she must apologise 
 for us. We were not aware that you were here indeed we 
 were not." 
 
 " That is a cruel excuse," said Maltravers, smiling at her 
 eagerness : and the smile and the look reminded her yet more 
 forcibly of the time when he had carried her in his arms, and 
 soothed her suffering, and praised her courage, and pressed the 
 kiss almost of a lover on her hand. At that thought she 
 blushed yet more deeply, and yet more eagerly turned to 
 escape. 
 
 Maltravers did not seek to detain her, but silently followed her 
 steps. She had scarcely gained the window, before little Cecilia 
 scampered in, crying 
 
 " Only think ! Mr. Maltravers has come back, and brought 
 such beautiful horses ! " 
 
 Cecilia stopped abruptly, as she caught sight of the stranger ; 
 and the next moment Caroline herself appeared. Her worldly 
 experience and quick sense saw immediately what had chanced : 
 and she hastened to apologise to Maltravers, and congratulate 
 him on his return, with an ease that astonished poor Evelyn, 
 and by no means seemed appreciated by Maltravers himself. 
 He replied with brief and haughty courtesy. 
 
 " My father," continued Caroline, " will be so glad to hear 
 you are come back. He will hasten to pay you his respects, 
 and apologise for his truants. But I have not formally intro- 
 duced you to my fellow-oft_nder. My dear, let me present to 
 you one whom Fame has already made known to you Mr. 
 Maltravers, Miss Cameron, step-daughter," she added in a 
 lower voice, " to the late Lord Vargrave." 
 
 At the first part of this introduction Maltravers frowned at 
 the last he forgot all displeasure.
 
 74 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Is it possible ? I tJwngJit I had seen you before, but in a 
 dream. Ah ! then we are not quite strangers !" 
 
 Evelyn's eye met his, and though she coloured and strove to 
 look grave, a half smile brought out the dimples that played 
 round her arch lips. 
 
 " But you do not remember me ? " added Maltravers. 
 
 " Oh, yes ! " exclaimed Evelyn, with a sudden impulse ; and 
 then checked herself. 
 
 Caroline came to her friend's relief. 
 
 " What is this ? you surprise me where did you ever see 
 Mr. Majtravers before ? " 
 
 " I can answer that question, Miss Merton. When Miss 
 Cameron was but a child, as high as my little friend here, 
 an accident on the road procured me her acquaintance ; and 
 the sweetness and fortitude she then displayed left an im- 
 pression on me not worn out even to this day. And thus we 
 meet again," added Maltravers, in a muttered voice, as to 
 himself. " How strange a thing life is ! " 
 
 " Well," said Miss Merton, " we must intrude on you no 
 more you have so much to do. I am so sorry Sir John is 
 not down to welcome you ; but I hope we shall be good 
 neighbours. Au revoir !" 
 
 And, fancying herself most charming, Caroline bowed, smiled, 
 and walked off with her train. Maltravers paused irresolute. 
 If Evelyn had looked back, he would have accompanied them 
 home : but Evelyn did not look back, and he stayed. 
 
 Miss Merton rallied her young friend unmercifully, as they 
 walked homeward, and she extracted a very brief and imperfect 
 history of the adventure that had formed the first acquaintance, 
 and of the interview by which it had been renewed. tBut Evelyn 
 did not heed her; and the moment they arrived at the rectory, 
 she hastened to shut herself in her room, and write the account 
 of her adventure to her mother. How often, in her girlish 
 reveries, had she thought of that incident that stranger! 
 And now, by such a chance, and after so many years, to meet 
 the Unknown by his own hearth ! and that Unknown to be 
 Maltravers ! It was as if a dream had come true. While she 
 was yet musing and the letter not yet begun she heard the
 
 ALICE ; OK, THE MYSTERIES. 75 
 
 sound of joy-bells in the distance at once she divined the 
 
 cause ; it was the welcome of the wanderer to his solitary 
 home 1 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "Mais en connaissant votre lOidition naturelle, usez des moyens qui lui sont pro- 
 pres, et ne pre'tendez pas regner par une autre voie que par celle qui vous fait roi." 1 
 PASCAL. 
 
 IN the heart as in the ocean, the great tides ebb and flow. 
 The waves which had once urged on the spirit of Ernest 
 Maltravers to the rocks and shoals of active life had long since 
 receded back upon the calm depths, and left the strand bare. 
 With a melancholy and disappointed mind, he had quitted the 
 land of his birth ; and new scenes, strange and wild, had risen 
 before his wandering gaze. Wearied with civilisation, and sated 
 with many of the triumphs for which civilised men drudge and 
 toil, and disquiet themselves in vain, he had plunged amongst 
 hordes, scarce redeemed from primaeval barbarism. The adven- 
 tures through which he had passed, and in which life itself could 
 only be preserved by wary vigilance and ready energies, had 
 forced him, for a while, from the indulgence of morbid contem- 
 plations. His heart, indeed, had been left inactive ; but his 
 intellect and his physical powers had been kept in hourly 
 exercise. He returned to the world of his equals with a mind 
 laden with the treasures of a various and vast experience, and 
 with much of the same gloomy moral as that which, on emerging 
 from the Catacombs, assured the restless speculations of Rasselas 
 of the vanity of human life and the folly of moral aspirations. 
 
 Ernest Maltravers, never a faultless or completed character* 
 falling short in practice of his own capacities, moral and 
 intellectual, from his very desire to overpass the limits of 
 the Great and Good, was- seemingly as far as heretofore from 
 the grand secret of life. It was not so in reality his mind had 
 
 1 But in understanding your natural condition, use the means which are proper to 
 it ; and pretend not to govern by any other way than oy that which ctmstitutes you 
 governor.
 
 . 76 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 acquired what before it wanted Jiardness ; and we are nearer 
 to true virtue and true happiness when we demand too little 
 from men, than when we exact too much. 
 
 Nevertheless, partly from the strange life that had thrown 
 him amongst men whom safety itself made it necessary to 
 command despotically, partly from the habit of power, and 
 disdain of the world, his nature was incrusted with a stern im- 
 periousness of manner, often approaching to the harsh and 
 morose, though beneath it lurked generosity and benevolence. 
 
 Many of his younger feelings, more amiable and complex, 
 had settled into one predominant quality, which more or less 
 had always characterised him Pride ! Self-esteem made 
 inactive, and Ambition made discontented, usually engender 
 haughtiness. In Maltravers this quality, which, properly con- 
 trolled and duly softened, is the essence and life of honour, 
 was carried to a vice. He was perfectly conscious of its excess, 
 but he cherished it as a virtue. Pride had served to console 
 him in sorrow, and, therefore, it was a friend ; it had supported 
 him when disgusted with fraud, or in resistance to violence, and, 
 therefore, it was a champion and a fortress. It was a pride of 
 a peculiar sort it attached itself to no one point in especial 
 not to talent, knowledge, mental gifts still less to the vulgar 
 commonplaces of birth and fortune ; it rather resulted from a 
 supreme and wholesale contempt of all other men, and all their 
 objects of ambition of glory of the hard business of life. 
 His favourite virtue was fortitude; it was on this that* he now 
 mainly valued himself. He was proud of his struggles against 
 others prouder still of conquests over his own passions. He 
 looked upon FATE as the arch enemy against whose attacks 
 we should ever prepare. He fancied that against fate he had 
 thoroughly schooled himself. In the arrogance of his heart 
 he said, " I can defy the future." He believed in the boast of 
 the vain old sage "I am a world to myself!" In the wild 
 career through which his later manhood had passed, it is true 
 that he had not carried his philosophy into a rejection of the 
 ordinary world. The shock occasioned by the death of Florence 
 yielded gradually to time and change ; and he had passed from 
 the deserts of Africa and the East to the brilliant cities 'tf
 
 UK, niH MYSTERIES. 77 
 
 Europe, But neither his heart nor his reason had ever again 
 been enslaved by his passions. Never again had he known the 
 softness of affection. Had he done so, the ice had been thawed, 
 and the fountain had flowed once more into the great deeps. 
 He had returned to England ; he scarce knew wherefore, or 
 with what intent ; certainly not with any idea of entering again 
 upon the occupations of active life ; it was, perhaps, only the 
 weariness of foreign scenes and unfamiliar tongues, and the 
 vague, unsettled desire of change, that brought him back to the 
 fatherland. But he did not allow so unphilosophical a cause 
 to himself: and, what was strange, he would not allow one much 
 more amiable, and which was, perhaps, the truer cause the 
 increasing age and infirmities of his old guardian, Cleveland, 
 who prayed him affectionately to return. Maltravers did not 
 like to believe that his heart was still so kind. Singular form 
 of pride ! No, he rather sought to persuade himself that he in- 
 tended to sell Burleigh, to arrange his affairs finally, and then 
 quit for ever his native land. To prove to himself that this 
 was the case, he had intended at Dover to hurry at once to 
 BUrleigh, and merely write to Cleveland that he was returned 
 to England. But his heart would not suffer him to enjoy this 
 cruel luxury of self-mortification, and his horses' heads were 
 turned to Richmond when within a stage of London. He had 
 spent two days with the good old man, and those two days had 
 so warmed and softened his feelings that he was quite appalled 
 at his own dereliction from fixed principles ! However, he went 
 before Cleveland had time to discover that he was changed ; 
 and the old man had promised to visit him shortly. 
 
 This, 'then, was the state of Ernest Maltravers at the age of 
 thirty-six an age in which frame and mind are in their fullest per- 
 fection, an age in which men begin most keenly to feel that they 
 are citizens. With all his energies braced and strengthened 
 with his mind stored with profusest gifts in the vigour of a 
 constitution to which a hardy life had imparted a second and 
 fresher youth so trained by stern experience as to redeem with 
 an easy effort all the deficiencies and faults which had once 
 resulted from too sensitive an imagination, and too high a 
 standard for human actions ; formed to render to his race the
 
 78 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 most brilliant and durable service, and to secure to himself tht 
 happiness which results from sobered fancy a generous heart 
 and an approving conscience ; here was Ernest Maltravers, 
 backed, too, by the appliances and gifts of birth and fortune 
 perversely shutting up genius, life, and soul, in their own thorny 
 leaves and refusing to serve the fools and rascals who were 
 formed from the same clay, and gifted by the same God. Morbid 
 and morose philosophy, begot by a proud spirit on a lonely 
 heart 1 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " Let such amongst us as are willing to be children again, if it be only for an hour, 
 resign ourselves to the sweet enchantment that steals upon the spirit when it indulges 
 in the memory of early and innocent enjoyment." 
 
 D. L. RICHARDSON. 
 
 AT dinner, Caroline's lively recital of their adventures was 
 received with much interest, not only by the Merton family, but 
 by some of the neighbouring gentry who shared the rector's 
 hospitality. The sudden return of any proprietor to his old 
 hereditary seat after a prolonged absence makes some sensation 
 in a provincial neighbourhood. In this case, where the proprietor 
 was still young, unmarried, celebrated, and handsome, the sen- 
 sation was of course proportionably increased. Caroline and 
 Evelyn were beset by questions, to which the former alone gave 
 any distinct reply. Caroline's account was, on the whole, gracious 
 and favourable, and seemed complimentary to all but Evelyn, 
 who thought that Caroline was a very indifferent portrait-painter. 
 
 It seldom happens that a man is a prophet in his own neigh- 
 bourhood ; but Maltravers had been so little in the county, and 
 in his former visit his life had been so secluded, that he was 
 regarded as a stranger. He had neither outshone the establish- 
 ments, nor interfered with the sporting of his fellow-squires ; and. 
 on the whole, they made just allowance for his habits of distant 
 reserve. Time, and his retirement from the busy scene, long 
 enough to cause him to be missed, not long enough for new
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 favourites to supply his place, had greatly served to mellow and 
 consolidate his reputation, and his country was proud to claim 
 him. Thus (though Maltravers would not have believed it had 
 an angel told him) he was not spoken ill of behind his back : a 
 thousand little anecdotes of his personal habits, of his generosity, 
 independence of spirit, and eccentricity were told. Evelyn 
 listened in rapt delight to all ; she had never passed so pleasant 
 an evening ; and she smiled almost gratefully on the rector, who 
 was a man that always followed the stream, when he said with 
 benign affability, " We must really show our distinguished neigh- 
 bour every attention we must be .indulgent to his little oddities : 
 his politics are not mine, to be sure: but a man who has a stake 
 in the country has a right to his own opinion that was always 
 my maxim: thank Heaven, I am a very moderate man we 
 must draw him amongst us : it will be our own fault, I am sure, if 
 he is not quite domesticated at the rectory." 
 
 " With such attraction yes," said the thin curate, timidly 
 bowing to the ladies. 
 
 " It would be a nice match for Miss Caroline," whispered an 
 old lady ; Caroline overheard, and pouted her pretty lip. 
 
 The whist-tables were now set out the music began and 
 Maltravers was left in peace. 
 
 The next day Mr. Merton rode his pony over to Burleigh. 
 Maltravers was not at home. He left his card, and a note of 
 friendly respect, begging Mr Maltravers to wave ceremony, and 
 dine with them the next day. Somewhat to the surprise of the 
 rector, he found that the active spirit of Maltravers was already 
 at work. The long-deserted grounds were filled with labourers ; 
 the carpenters were busy at the fences ; the house looked alive 
 and stirring ; the grooms were exercising the horses in the park ; 
 all betokened the return of the absentee. This seemed to denote 
 that Maltravers had come to reside ; and the rector thought of 
 Caroline, and was pleased at the notion. 
 
 The next day was Cecilia's birthday ; and birthdays were kept 
 at Merton Rectory : the neighbouring children were invited. 
 They were to dine on the lawn, in a large marquee, and to dance 
 in the evening. The hothouses yielded their early strawberries, 
 and the cows, decorated with blue ribands, were to give syllabuba
 
 8o ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 The polite Caroline was not greatly fascinated by pleasure ot 
 this kind : she graciously appeared at dinner kissed the prettiest 
 of the children helped them to soup^ and then, having done her 
 duty, retired to her room to write letters. The children were 
 not sorry, for they were a little afraid of the grand Caroline ; 
 and they laughed much more loudly, and made much more 
 noise, when she was gone and the cakes and strawberries 
 appeared. 
 
 Evelyn was in her element ; she had, as a child, mixed so little 
 with children she had so often yearned for playmates she was 
 still so childlike; besides, she was so fond of Cecilia she had 
 looked forward with innocent delight to the day; and a week 
 before had taken the carriage to the neighbouring town to return 
 with a carefully concealed basket of toys dolls, sashes, and 
 picture-books. But, somehow or other, she did not feel so child- 
 like as usual that morning ; her heart was away from the pleasure 
 before her; and her smile was at first languid. But in children's 
 mirth there is something so contagious to those who love children ; 
 and now, as the party scattered themselves on the grass, and 
 Evelyn opened the basket, and bade them with much gravity 
 keep quiet, and be good children, she was the happiest of the 
 whole group. But she knew how to give pleasure : and the 
 basket was presented to Cecilia, that the little queen of the day 
 might enjoy the luxury of being generous ; and to prevent 
 jealousy, the notable expedient of a lottery was suggested. 
 
 " Then Evy shall be Fortune ! " cried Cecilia ; " nobody will be 
 sorry to get anything from Evy and if any one is discontented 
 Evy sha'n't kiss her.'' 
 
 Mrs. Merton, whose motherly heart was completely won by 
 Evelyn's kindness to the children, forgot all her husband's 
 lectures, and willingly ticketed the prizes, and wrote the num- 
 bers of the lots on slips of paper carefully folded. A large old 
 Indian jar was dragged from the drawing-room and constituted 
 the fated urn the tickets were deposited therein, and Cecilia was 
 tying the handkerchief round Evelyn's eyes while Fortune 
 struggled archly not to be as blind as she ought to be and the 
 children, seated in a circie, were in full joy and expectation, when 
 there was a sudden pause the laughter stopped so did Cissy's
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTER ES. 
 
 little hands. What could it be ? Evelyn slipped the bandage, 
 and her eyes rested on Maltravers ! 
 
 "Well, really, my dear Miss Cameron," said the rector, who 
 was by the side of the intruder, and who, indeed, had just brought 
 him to the spot, " J don't know what these little folks will do to 
 you next." 
 
 " I ought rather to be their victim," said Maltravers, good- 
 humouredly ; " the fairies always punish us grown-up mortals for 
 trespassing on their revels." 
 
 While he spoke his eyes those eyes, the most eloquent in 
 the world dwelt on Evelyn (as, to cover her blushes, she took 
 Cecilia in her arms, and appeared to attend to nothing else) 
 with a look of such admiration and delight as a mortal might well 
 be supposed to cast on some beautiful fairy. 
 
 Sophy, a very bold child, ran up to him. " How do, sir ? " she 
 lisped, putting up her face to be kissed " how's the pretty 
 peacock ? " 
 
 This opportune audacity served at once to renew the chirm 
 that had been broken to unite the stranger with the children. 
 Here was acquaintance claimed and allowed in an instant. The 
 next moment Maltravers was one of the circle on the turf with 
 the rest as gay, and almost as noisy that hard, proud man, so 
 disdainful of the trifles of the world ! 
 
 " But the gentleman must have a prize, too," said Sophy, 
 proud of her tall new friend : " what's your other name ? why do 
 you have such a long, hard name ? " 
 
 " Call me Ernest," said Maltravers 
 
 " Why don't we begin ? " cried the children. 
 
 l< Evy, come, be a good child, miss," said Sophy, as Evelyn, 
 vexed and ashamed, and half ready to cry, resisted the bandage. 
 
 Mr. Merton interposed his authority ; but the children 
 clamoured, and Evelyn hastily yielded. It was Fortune's duty 
 to draw the tickets from the urn, and give them to each 
 claimant, whose name was called : when it came to the turn 
 of Maltravers, the bandage did not conceal the blush and smile 
 of the enchanting goddess ; and the hand of the aspirant thrilled 
 as it touched hers. 
 
 The children burst into screams of laughter when Cecilia
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 gravely awarded to Maltravers the worst prize in the lot a blue 
 riband which Sophy, however, greedily insisted on having ; but 
 Maltravers would not yield it. 
 
 Maltravers remained all day at the rectory, and shared in the 
 ball yes, he danced with Evelyn he Majtravers who had 
 never been known to dance since he was twenty-two ! The ice 
 was fairly broken Maltravers was at home with the Mertons. 
 And when he took his solitary walk to his solitary house over 
 the little bridge, and through the shadowy wood astonished, 
 perhaps, with himself every one of the guests, from the oldest 
 to the youngest, pronounced him delightful. Caroline, perhaps, 
 might have been piqued some months ago that he did not 
 dance with her ; but now, her heart such as it was felt pre- 
 occupied. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " L'esprit de 1'homme est plus pinetrant que consequent, et embrasse plus qu'il ne 
 peut ISei." 1 VAUVENARGUES. 
 
 AND now Maltravers was constantly with the Merton family ; 
 there was no need of excuse for familiarity on his part. Mr. 
 Merton, charmed to find his advances not rejected, thrust 
 intimacy upon him. 
 
 One day they spent the afternoon at Burleigh, and Evelyn 
 and Caroline finished their survey of the house tapestry, and 
 armour, pictures and all. This led to a visit to the Arabian 
 horses. Caroline observed that she was very fond of riding, and 
 went into ecstasies with one of the animals the one, of course, 
 with the longest tail. The next day the horse was in the stables 
 at the rectory, and a gallant epistle apologised for the costly 
 gift. 
 
 Mr. Merton demurred, but Caroline always had her own way ; 
 and so the horse remained (no doubt, in much amazement and 
 disdain) with the parson's pony, and the brown carriage horses. 
 
 1 The spirit of mm is more penetrating than logical, and gathers more than it cao 
 garner.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 83 
 
 The gift naturally conduced to parties on horseback it was 
 cruel entirely to separate the Arab from his friends and, how 
 was Evelyn to be left behind ? Evelyn, who had never yet 
 ridden anything more spirited than an old pony ! A beautiful 
 little horse belonging to an elderly lady, now growing too stout to 
 ride, was to be sold hard by. Maltravers discovered the treasure, 
 and apprised Mr. Merton of it he was too delicate to affect 
 liberality to the rich heiress. The horse was bought ; nothing 
 could go quieter Evelyn was not at all afraid. They made 
 two or three little excursions. Sometimes only Mr. Merton and 
 Maltravers accompanied the young ladies sometimes the party 
 was more numerous. Maltravers appeared to pay equal atten- 
 tion to Caroline and her friend still Evelyn's inexperience in 
 equestrian matters was an excuse for his being ever by her side. 
 They had a thousand opportunities to converse ; and Evelyn 
 now felt more at home with him ; her gentle gaiety, her fanciful 
 yet chastened intellect, found a voice. Maltravers was not slow 
 to discover that beneath her simplicity there lurked sense, 
 judgment, and imagination. Insensibly his own conversation 
 took a higher flight. With the freedom which his mature years 
 and reputation gave him, he mingled eloquent instruction with 
 lighter and more trifling subjects ; he directed her earnest and 
 docile mind, not only to new fields of written knowledge, but to 
 many of the secrets of nature subtle or sublime. He had a 
 wide range of scientific as well as literary lore : the stars, the 
 flowers, the phenomena of the physical world, afforded themes 
 on which he descanted with the fervent love of a poet and the 
 easy knowledge of a sage. 
 
 Mr. Merton, observing that little or nothing of sentiment 
 mingled with their familiar intercourse felt perfectly at ease ; 
 and knowing that Maltravers had been intimate with Lumley, 
 he naturally concluded that he was aware of the engagement 
 between Evelyn and his friend. Meanwhile Maltravers appeared 
 unconscious that such a being as Lord Vargrave existed. 
 
 It is not to be wondered at that the daily presence the 
 delicate flattery of attention from a man like Maltravers 
 should strongly impress the imagination, if not the heart, of a 
 susceptible girl. Already prepossessed in his favour, and wholly
 
 84 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 unaccustomed to a society which combined so many attractions, 
 Evelyn regarded him with unspeakable veneration ; to the darker 
 shades' in his character she was blind to her, indeed, they did 
 not appear. True that, once or twice in mixed society, his dis- 
 dainful and imperious temper broke hastily and harshly forth. 
 To folly to pretension to presumption he showed but slight 
 forbearance. The impatient smile, the biting sarcasm, the cold 
 repulse, that might gall, yet could scarce be openly resented, 
 betrayed that he was one who affected to free himself from the 
 polished restraints of social intercourse. He had once been too 
 scrupulous in not wounding vanity ; he was now too indifferent 
 to it. But if sometimes this unamiable trait of character, as 
 displayed to others, chilled or startled Evelyn, the contrast of 
 his manner towards herself was a flattery too delicious not to 
 efface all other recollections. To her ear his voice always 
 softened its tone to her capacity his mind ever bent as by 
 sympathy not condescension ; to her the young, the timid, the 
 half-informed to her alone he did not disdain to exhibit all 
 the stores of his knowledge all the best and brightest colours 
 of his mind. She modestly wondered at so strange a preference. 
 Perhaps a sudden and blunt compliment which Maltravers once 
 addressed to her may explain it : one day, when she had con- 
 versed more freely and more fully than usual, he broke in upon 
 her with this abrupt exclamation 
 
 " Miss Cameron, you must have associated from your child- 
 hood with beautiful minds. I see already that from the world, 
 vile as it is, you have nothing of contagion to fear. I have 
 heard you talk on the most various matters on many of which 
 your knowledge is imperfect ; but you have never uttered one 
 mean idea, or one false sentiment. Truth seems intuitive to 
 you." 
 
 It was indeed this singular purity of heart which made to 
 the world-wearied man the chief charm in Evelyn Cameron. 
 From this purity came, as from the heart of a poet, a thousand 
 new and heaven-taught thoughts which had in them a wisdom 
 of their own thoughts that often brought the stern listener back 
 to youth, and reconciled him with life. The wise Maltravers 
 learned more from Evelyn than Evelyn did from Maltravers.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 85 
 
 There was, however, another trait deeper than that of 
 temper in Maltravers, and which was, unlike the latter, more 
 manifest to her than to others ; his contempt for all the things 
 her young and fresh enthusiasm had been taught to prize 
 the fame that endeared and hallowed him to her eyes the 
 excitement of ambition, and its rewards. He spoke with such 
 bitter disdain of great names and great deeds " Children of 
 a larger growth they were," said he, one day, in answer to her 
 defence of the luminaries of their kind ; "allured by baubles as 
 poor as the rattle and the doll's house how many have been 
 made great, as the word is, by their vices! Paltry craft won 
 command to Themistocles. To escape his duns, the profligate 
 Caesar heads an army, and achieves his laurels. Brutus, the 
 aristocrat, stabs his patron, that patricians might again trample 
 on plebeians, and that posterity might talk of him. The love 
 of posthumous fame what is it but as puerile a passion for 
 notoriety as that which made a Frenchman I once knew lay 
 out two thousand pounds in sugar-plums ? To be talked of 
 how poor a desire ! Does it matter whether it be by the gossips 
 of thfs age or the next ? Some men are urged on to fame by 
 poverty that is an excuse for their trouble ; but there is no 
 more nobleness in the motive than in that which makes yon 
 poor ploughman sweat in the eye of Phoebus. In fact, the 
 larger part of eminent men, instead of being inspired by any 
 lofty desire to benefit their species, or enrich the human mind, 
 have acted or composed, without any definite object beyond the 
 satisfying a restless appetite for excitement, or indulging the 
 dreams of a selfish glory. And, when nobler aspirations have 
 fired them, it has too often been but to wild fanaticism and 
 sanguinary crime. What dupes of glory ever were animated 
 by a deeper faith, a higher ambition, than the frantic followers 
 of Mahomet ? taught to believe that it was virtue to ravage the 
 earth, and that they sprang from the battle-field into Paradise. 
 Religion and liberty love of country what splendid motives 
 to action ! Lo, the results, when the motives are keen the 
 action once commenced ! Behold the Inquisition ; the Days 
 of Terror; the Council of Ten; and the Dungeons of 
 Venice 1 "
 
 86 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Evelyn was scarcely fit to wrestle with these melancholy 
 fallacies ; but her instinct of truth suggested an answer. 
 
 " What would society be if all men thought as you do, and 
 acted up to the theory ? No literature, no art, no glory, no 
 patriotism, no virtue, no civilisation ! You analyse men's 
 motives how can you be sure you judge rightly ? Look to 
 the results our benefit, our enlightenment! If the results 
 be great, Ambition is a virtue, no matter what motive awakened 
 it Is it not so ? " 
 
 Evelyn spoke blushingly and timidly. Maltravers, despite 
 his own tenets, was delighted with her reply. 
 
 " You reason well," said he, with a smile. " But how are we 
 sure that the results are such as you depict them ? Civilisation 
 enlightenment they are vague terms hollow sounds. Never 
 fear that the world will reason as I do. Action will never be 
 stagnant while there are such things as gold and power. The 
 vessel will move on let the galley-slaves have it to themselves. 
 What I have seen of life convinces me that progress is not 
 always improvement. Civilisation has evils unknown to the 
 savage state ; and vice versa. Men in all states seem to have 
 much the same proportion of happiness. We judge others with 
 eyes accustomed to dwell on our own circumstances. I have 
 seen the slave, whom we commiserate, enjoy his holiday with 
 a rapture unknown to the grave freeman. I have seen that 
 slave made free, and enriched by the benevolence of his 
 master ; and he has been gay no more. The masses of men 
 in all countries are much the same. If there are greater comforts 
 in the hardy North, Providence bestows a fertile earth and a 
 glorious heaven, and a mind susceptible to enjoyment as flowers 
 to light, on the voluptuous indulgence of the Italian, or the 
 contented apathy of the Hindoo. In the mighty organisation 
 of good and evil, what can we vain individuals effect ? They 
 who labour most, how doubtful is their reputation ! Who shall 
 say whether Voltaire or Napoleon, Cromwell or Caesar, Walpole 
 or Pitt, has done most good or most evil ? It is a question 
 casuists may dispute on. Some of us think that poets have 
 been the delight and the lights of men. Another school of 
 philosophy has treated them as the corrupters of the species
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 87 
 
 panderers to the false glory of war, to the effeminacies of taste, 
 to the pampering of the passions above the reason. Nay, even 
 those who have effected inventions that change the face of the 
 earth the printing-press, gunpowder, the steam-engine, men 
 hailed as benefactors by the unthinking herd, or the would-be 
 sages have introduced ills unknown before ; adulterating and 
 often counterbalancing the good. Each new improvement in 
 machinery deprives hundreds of food. Civilisation is the eternal 
 sacrifice of one generation to the next. An awful sense of the 
 impotence of human agencies has crushed down the sublime 
 aspirations for mankind which I once indulged. For myself, 
 I float on the great waters, without pilot or rudder, and trust 
 passively to the winds, that are the breath of God." 
 
 This conversation left a deep impression upon Evelyn ; it 
 inspired her with a new interest in one in whom so many noble 
 qualities lay dulled and torpid, by the indulgence of a self- 
 sophistry, which, girl as she was, she felt wholly unworthy of 
 his powers. And it was this error in Maltravers that, levelling 
 his superiority, brought him nearer to her heart. Ah ! if she 
 could restore him to his race ! it was a dangerous desire but 
 it intoxicated and absorbed her. 
 
 Oh ! how sweetly were those fair evenings spent the evenings 
 of happy June ! And then, as Maltravers suffered the children 
 to tease him into talk about the wonders he had seen in the 
 regions far away, how did the soft and social hues of his 
 character unfold themselves ! There is in all real genius so 
 much latent playfulness of nature, it almost seems as if genius 
 never could grow old. The inscriptions that youth writes upon 
 the tablets of an imaginative mind are, indeed, never wholly 
 obliterated they are as an invisible writing, which gradually 
 becomes clear in the light and warmth. Bring genius familiarly 
 with the young, and it is as young as they are. Evelyn did 
 not yet, therefore, observe the disparity of years between herself 
 and Maltravers. But the disparity of knowledge and power 
 served for the present to interdict to her that sweet feeling 
 of equality in commune, without which love is rarely a very 
 intense affection in women. It is not so with men. But by 
 degrees she grew more and more familiar with her stern friend ;
 
 SB ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and in that familiarity there was perilous fascination to Mai- 
 travers. She could laugh him at any moment out of his most 
 moody reveries contradict with a pretty wilfulness his most 
 favourite dogmas nay, even scold him, with bewitching 
 gravity, if he was not always at the command of her wishes 
 or caprice. At this time it seemed certain that Maltravers 
 would fall in love with Evelyn ; but it rested on more doubtful 
 probabilities whether Evelyn would fall in love with him. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Contrahe vela, 
 Et te littoribus cymba propinqua vehat." : SENECA, 
 
 " HAS not Miss Cameron a beautiful countenance ? " said 
 Mr. Merton to Maltravers, as Evelyn, unconscious of the 
 compliment, sat at a little distance, bending down her eyes 
 to Sophy, who was weaving daisy-chains on a stool at her 
 knee, and whom she was telling not to talk loud for M.erton 
 had been giving Maltravers some useful information respecting 
 the management of his estate ; and Evelyn was already interested 
 in all that could interest her friend. She had one excellent thing 
 in woman, had Evelyn Cameron : despite her sunny cheerfulness 
 of temper she was quiet ; and she had insensibly acquired, under 
 the roof of her musing and silent mother, the habit of never 
 disturbing others. What a blessed secret is that in the inter- 
 course of domestic life ! 
 
 " Has not Miss Cameron a beautiful countenance ? * 
 
 Maltravers started at the question it was a literal translation 
 of his own thought at that moment he checked the enthusiasm 
 that rose to his lip, and calmly re-echoed the word 
 
 " Beautiful indeed ! " 
 
 " And so sweet-tempered and unaffected she has been 
 admirably brought up. I believe Lady Vargrave is a most 
 exemplary woman. Miss Cameron will, indeed, be a treasure 
 to her betrothed husband. He is to be envied." 
 
 1 Furl your sails, and let the next boat carry you to the shore
 
 ALICE; OK, THE MYSTERIES. 89 
 
 " Her betrothed husband ! " said Maltravers, turning very 
 pale. 
 
 " Yes ; Lord Vargrave. Did you not know that she was 
 engaged to him from her childhood ? It was the wish, nay, 
 command, of the late lord, who bequeathed her his vast fortune, 
 if not on that condition, at least, on that understanding. Did 
 you never hear of this before ? " 
 
 While Mr. Merton spoke, a sudden recollection returned to 
 Maltravers. He had heard Lumley himself refer to the engage- 
 ment, but it had been in the sick chamber of Florence little 
 heeded at the time, and swept from his mind by a thousand 
 after-thoughts and scenes. Mr. Merton continued 
 
 " We expect Lord Vargrave down soon. He is an ardent 
 lover, I conclude ; but public life chains him so much to London. 
 He made an admirable "speech in the Lords last night ; at least, 
 our party appear to think so. They are to be married when 
 Miss Cameron attains the age of eighteen." 
 
 Accustomed to endurance, and skilled in the proud art of con- 
 cealing emotion, Maltravers betrayed to the eye of Mr. Merton 
 no symptom of surprise or dismay at this intelligence. If the 
 rector had conceived any previous suspicion that Maltravers was 
 touched beyond mere admiration for beauty, the suspicion would 
 have vanished as he heard his guest coldly reply 
 
 " I trust Lord Vargrave may deserve his happiness. But,' to 
 return to Mr. Justis you corroborate my own opinion of that 
 smooth-spoken gentleman." 
 
 The conversation flowed back to business. At last, Maltravers 
 rose to depart. 
 
 " Will you not dine with us to-day ? " said the hospitable 
 rector. 
 
 " Many thanks no ; I have much business to attend to at 
 home for some days to come." 
 
 " Kiss Sophy, Mr. Ernest Sophy very good girl to-day. Let 
 the pretty butterfly go, because Evy said it was cruel to put it in 
 a card-box kiss Sophy." 
 
 Maltravers took the child (whose heart he had completely 
 won) in his arms, and kissed her tenderly; then, advancing to 
 Evelyn, he held out his hand, while his eyes were fixed upon her
 
 90 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 with an expression of deep and mournful interest, which she 
 could not understand. 
 
 " God bless you, Miss Cameron," he said, and his lip quivered. 
 
 Days passed, and they saw no more of Maltravers. He 
 excused himself on pretence, now of business now of other 
 engagements from all the invitations of the rector. Mr. 
 Merton, unsuspectingly, accepted the excuse ; for he knew that 
 Maltravers was necessarily much occupied. 
 
 His arrival had now spread throughout the country; and such 
 of his equals as were still in B shire hastened to offer con- 
 gratulations, and press hospitality. Perhaps it was the desire to 
 make his excuses to Merton valid, which prompted the master 
 of Burleigh to yield to the other invitations that crowded on him. 
 But this was not all Maltravers acquired in the neighbourhood 
 the reputation of a man of business. Mr. Justis was abruptly dis- 
 missed ; with the help of the bailiff Maltravers became his own 
 steward. His parting address to this personage was characteristic 
 of the mingled harshness and justice of Maltravers. 
 
 " Sir," said he, as they closed their accounts, " I discharge you 
 because you are a rascal there can be no dispute about that : 
 you have plundered your owner, yet you have ground his 
 tenants, and neglected the poor. My villages are filled with 
 paupers my rent-roll is reduced a fourth and yet, while some 
 of my tenants appear to pay nominal rents (why, you best know), 
 others are screwed up higher than any man's in the country. You 
 are a rogue, Mr. Justis your own account-books show it : and if 
 I send them to a lawyer, y^ u would have to refund a sum that I 
 could apply very advantageously to the rectification of your 
 blunders." 
 
 " I hope, sir M said the steward, conscience-striken and 
 appalled, " I hope you will not ruin me ; indeed, -indeed, 
 if I was called upon to refund, I should go to goal. " 
 
 " Make yourself easy, sir. It is just that I should suffer as 
 well as you. My neglect of my own duties tempted you to 
 roguery. You were honest under the viligant eye of Mr. Cleve- 
 land. Retire with your gains: if you are quite hardened, no 
 punishment can touch you ; if you are not, it is punishment 
 enough to stand there grey-headed, with one foot in the grave,
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES, 91 
 
 and hear yourself called a rogue, and know that you cannot 
 defend yourself go ! " 
 
 Maltravers next occupied himself in all the affairs that a mis- 
 managed estate brought upon him. He got rid of some tenants 
 he made new arrangements with others he called labour into' 
 requisition by a variety of improvements he paid minute at- 
 tention to the poor, not in the weakness of careless and indis- 
 criminate charity, by which popularity is so cheaply purchased, 
 and independence so easily degraded ; no, his main care was to 
 stimulate industry and raise hope. The ambition and emulation 
 that he so vainly denied in himself, he found his most useful levers 
 in the humble labourers whose characters he had studied, whose 
 condition he sought to make themselves desire to elevate. 
 Unconsciously his whole practice began to refute his theories. 
 The abuses of the old Poor-Laws were rife in his neighbourhood ; 
 his quick penetration, and perhaps, his imperious habits of de- 
 cision, suggested to him many of the best provisions of the law 
 now called into operation ; but he was too wise to be the Philo- 
 sopher Square of a system. He did not attempt too much ; and 
 he recognized one principle, which, as yet, the administrators of 
 the new Poor-Laws have not sufficiently discovered. One main 
 object of the new code was, by curbing public charity, to task 
 the activity of individual benevolence. If the proprietor or the 
 clergyman find under his own eye isolated instances of severity, 
 oppression, or hardship, in a general and salutary law, instead of 
 railing against the law, he ought to attend to the individual 
 instances ; and private benevolence ought to keep the balance of 
 the scales even, and be the makeweight wherever there is a just 
 deficiency of national charity. 1 It was this which, in the modi- 
 fied and discreet regulations that he sought to establish on his 
 estates, Maltravers especially and pointedly attended to. Age ; 
 infirmity, temporary distress, unmerited destitution, found him 
 a steady, watchful, indefatigable friend. In these labours, com- 
 menced with extraordinary promptitude, and the energy of a 
 
 1 The object of parochial reform is not that of economy alone ; not merely to reduce 
 poor-rates. The ratepayer ought to remember that the more he wrests from the 
 gripe of the sturdy mendicant, the more he ought to bestow on undeserved distress. 
 "Without the mitigations of private virtue, every law that benevolists could make would 
 be harsh.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 single purpose and stern mind, Maltravers was necessarily 
 brought into contact with the neighbouring magistrates and 
 gentry. He was combating evils and advancing objects in which 
 all were interested ; and his vigorous sense, and his past parlia- 
 mentary reputation, joined with the respect which in provinces 
 always attaches to ancient birth, won unexpected and general 
 favour to his views. At the rectory they heard of him con- 
 stantly, not only through occasional visitors, but through Mr. 
 Merton, who was ever thrown in his way ; but he continued to 
 keep himself aloof from the house. Every one (Mr. Merton ex- 
 cepted) missed him ; even Caroline, whose able though worldly 
 mind could appreciate his conversation ; the children mourned 
 for their playmate ; who was so much more affable than their own 
 stifif-neckclothed brothers : and Evelyn was at least more serious 
 and thoughtful than she had ever been before ; and the talk of 
 others seemed to her wearisome, trite, and dull. 
 
 Was Maltravers happy in his new pursuits ? His state of mind 
 at that time it is not easy to read. His masculine spirit and 
 haughty temper were wrestling hard against a feeling that had 
 been fast ripening into passion : but at night, in his solitary and 
 cheerless home, a vision, too exquisite to indulge, would force 
 itself upon him, till he started from the reverie, and said to his 
 rebellious heart, "A few more years, and thou wilt be still. 
 What in this brief life is a pang more or less ? Better to have 
 nothing to care for, so wilt thou defraud Fate, thy deceitful foe ! 
 Be contented that thou art alone ! " 
 
 Fortunate was it, then, for Maltravers, that he was in his native 
 land ; not in climes where excitement is in the pursuit of pleasure 
 rather than in the exercise of duties. In the hardy air of the 
 liberal England, he was already, though unknown to himself, 
 bracing and ennobling his dispositions and desires. It is the 
 boast of this island that the slave whose foot touches the soil is 
 free. The boast may be enlarged. Where so much is left to 
 the people where the life of civilisation, not locked up in the 
 tyranny of Central Despotism, spreads, vivifying, restless, ardent, 
 through every vein of the healthful body, the most distant 
 province, the obscurest village, has claims on our exertions, our 
 duties, and forces us into energy and citizenship. The spirit of
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 93 
 
 liberty, that strikes the chain from the slave, binds the freeman to 
 his brother. This is the Religion of Freedom. And hence it is 
 that the stormy struggles of free states have been blessed with 
 results of Virtue, of Wisdom, and of Genius by Him who bade 
 us love one another not only that love in itself is excellent, but 
 that from love, which in its widest sense is but the spiritual term 
 for liberty, whatever is worthiest of our solemn nature has its 
 birth.
 
 BOOK III. 
 
 XeicuW, Travel Kopov. 
 
 Ex. SOLON. Eleg, 
 
 Harsh things he mitigates, and pride subdues. 
 
 . CHAPTER I. 
 
 * You still are what you were, sir ! 
 
 * * * 
 
 . . . With most quick agility could turn 
 And return ; make knots and undo them 
 Give forked counsel." Volpone, or the Fox. 
 
 BEFORE a large table, covered with parliamentary papers, sat 
 Lumley Lord Vargrave. His complexion, though still healthy, 
 had faded from the freshness of hue which distinguished him in 
 youth. His features, always sharp, had grown yet more angular : 
 his brows seemed to project more broodingly over his eyes, which, 
 though of undiminished brightness, were sunk deep in their 
 sockets, and had lost much of their quick restlessness. The 
 character of his mind had begun to stamp itself on the physiog- 
 nomy, especially on the mouth when in repose ; it was a face, 
 striking for acute intelligence for concentrated energy but 
 there was a something written in it, which said " BEWARE ! " 
 It would have inspired any one, who had mixed much amongst 
 men, with a vague suspicion and distrust. 
 
 Lumley had been always careful, though plain, in dress ; but 
 there was now a more evident attention bestowed on his person
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 95 
 
 than he had ever manifested in youth ; while there was some- 
 thing of the Roman's celebrated foppery in the skill with which 
 his hair was arranged on his high forehead, so as either to conceal 
 or relieve a partial baldness at the temples. Perhaps, too, from 
 the possession of high station, or the habit of living only amongst 
 the great, there was a certain dignity insensibly diffused over his 
 whole person, that was not noticeable in his earlier years when 
 a certain ton de garnison was blended with his ease of manners : 
 yet, even now, dignity was not his prevalent characteristic ; and in 
 ordinary occasions, or mixed society, he still found a familiar 
 frankness a more useful species of simulation. At the time we 
 now treat of, Lord Vargrave was leaning his cheek on one hand, 
 while the other rested idly on the papers methodically arranged 
 before him. He appeared to have suspended his labours, and to 
 be occupied in thought. It was, in truth, a critical period in the 
 career of Lord Vargrave. 
 
 From the date of his accession to the peerage, the rise of 
 Lumley Ferrers had been less rapid and progressive than he 
 himself could have foreseen. At first, all was sunshine before 
 him ; he had contrived to make himself useful to his party he 
 had also made himself personally popular. To the ease and 
 cordiality of his happy address, he added the seemingly care- 
 less candour so often mistaken for honesty ; while, as there was 
 nothing showy or brilliant in his abilities or oratory nothing 
 that aspired far above the pretensions of others, and aroused 
 envy by mortifying self-love he created but little jealousy even 
 amongst the rivals before whom he obtained precedence. For 
 some time, therefore, he went smoothly on, continuing to rise in 
 the estimation of his party, and commanding a certain respect 
 from the neutral public, by acknowledged and eminent talents 
 in the details of business^ for his quickness of penetration, and 
 a logical habit of mind, enabled him to grapple with and 
 generalise the minutiae of official labour, or of legislative 
 enactments with a masterly success. But as the road became 
 clearer to his steps, his ambition became more evident and 
 daring. Naturally dictatorial and presumptuous, his early 
 suppleness to superiors was now exchanged for a self-willed 
 pertinacity, which often displeased the more haughty leaders
 
 9<5 ALICE'; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 of his party, and often wounded the more vain. His pretensions 
 were scanned with eyes more jealous and less tolerant than at 
 first. Proud aristocrats began to recollect that a mushroom 
 peerage was supported but by a scanty fortune the men of 
 more dazzling genius began to sneer at the red-tape minister as a 
 mere official manager of details ; he lost much of the personal 
 popularity which, had been one secret of his power. But what 
 principally injured him in the eyes of his party and the public 
 were certain ambiguous and obscure circumstances connected 
 with a short period when himself and his associates were thrown 
 out of office. At this time, it was noticeable that the journals 
 of the Government that succeeded were peculiarly polite to 
 Lord Vargrave, while they covered all his coadjutors with 
 obloquy : and it was more than suspected that secret negotia- 
 tions between himself and the new ministry were going on, 
 when, suddenly, the latter broke up, and Lord Vargrave's 
 proper party were reinstated. The vague suspicions that attached 
 to Vargrave were somewhat strengthened in the opinion of the 
 public by the fact that he was at first left out of the restored 
 administration ; and when subsequently, after a speech which 
 showed that he could be mischievous if not propitiated, he was 
 readmitted, it was precisely to the same office he had held 
 before an office which did not admit him into the Cabinet. 
 Lumley, burning with resentment, longed to decline the offer 
 but, alas ! he was poor ; and, what was worse, in debt ; - " his 
 poverty, but not his will, consented." He was reinstated ; but 
 though prodigiously improved as a debater, he felt that he had 
 not advanced as a public man. His ambition inflamed by his 
 discontent, he had, since his return to office, strained every nerve 
 to strengthen his position. He met the sarcasms on his poverty, 
 by greatly increasing his expenditu*e ; and by advertising 
 everywhere his engagement to an heiress whose fortune, great 
 as it was, he easily contrived to magnify. As his old house in 
 Great George Street well fitted for the bustling commoner 
 was no longer suited to the official and fashionable peer, he had, 
 on his accession to the title, exchanged that respectable 
 residence for a large mansion in Hamilton Place; and his sober 
 dinners were succeeded by splendid banquets. Naturally, he
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 97 
 
 had no taste for such things ; his mind was too nervous, and his 
 temper too hard, to take pleasure in luxury or ostentation. But 
 now, as ever he acted upon a system. Living in a country 
 governed by the mightiest and wealthiest aristocracy in the 
 world, which, from the first class almost to the lowest, ostenta- 
 tion pervades the very backbone and marrow of society he 
 felt that to fall far short of his rivals in display was to give them 
 an advantage which he could not compensate, either by the 
 power of his connections or the surpassing loftiness of his 
 character and genius. Playing for a great game, and with his eyes 
 open to all the consequences, he cared not for involving his 
 private fortunes in a lottery in which a great prize might be 
 drawn. To do Vargrave justice, money with him had never been 
 an object, but a means he was grasping, but not avaricious. 
 If men much richer than Lord Vargrave find state distinctions 
 very expensive, and often ruinous, it is not to be supposed that 
 his salary, joined to so moderate a private fortune, could support 
 the style in which he lived. His income was already deeply 
 mortgaged, and debt accumulated upon debt. Nor had this 
 man, so eminent for the management of public business, any of 
 that talent which springs from justice, and makes its possessor a 
 skilful manager of his own ;,ffairs. Perpetually absorbed in 
 intrigues and schemes, he was too much engaged in cheating 
 others on a large scale to have time to prevent being himself 
 cheated on a small one. He never looked into bills till he was 
 compelfed to pay them ; and he never calculated the amount 
 of an expense that seemed the least necessary to his purposes. 
 But still Lord Vargrave relied upon his marriage with the 
 wealthy Evelyn to relieve him from all his embarrassments; 
 and if a doubt of the realisation of that vision ever occurred to 
 him, still public life had splendid prizes. Nay, should he fail 
 with Miss Cameron, he even thought that, by good management, 
 he might ultimately make it worth while to his colleagues to 
 purchase his absence with the gorgeous bribe of the Governor- 
 Generalship of India. 
 
 As oratory is an art in which practice and the dignity of 
 station produce marvellous improvement, so Lumley had of late 
 made effects in the House of Lords of which he had once been 
 
 G
 
 95 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 judged incapable. It is true that no practice and no station can 
 give men qualities in which they are wholly deficient ; but these 
 advantages can bring out in the best light all the qualities they 
 do possess. The glow of a generous imagination the grasp of 
 a profound statesmanship the enthusiasm of a noble nature 
 these no practice could educe from the eloquence of Lumley 
 Lord Vargrave, for he had them not: but bold wit fluent and 
 vigorous sentences effective arrangement of parliamentary logic 
 readiness of retort plausibility of manner, aided by a delivery 
 peculiar for self-possession and ease a clear and ringing voice 
 (to the only fault of which, shrillness without passion, the ear of 
 the audience had grown accustomed) and a countenance im- 
 pressive from its courageous intelligence ; all these had raised 
 the promising speaker into the matured excellence of a nervous 
 and formidable debater. But precisely as he rose in the display 
 of his talents, did he awaken envies and enmities hitherto 
 dormant. And it must be added that, with all his craft and 
 coldness, Lord Vargrave was often a very dangerous and mis- 
 chievous speaker for the interests of his party. His colleagues 
 had often cause to tremble when he rose : nay, even when the 
 cheers of his own faction shook the old tapestried walls. A 
 man who has no sympathy with the public must commit many 
 and fatal indiscretions when the public, as well as his audience, 
 is to be his judge. Lord Vargrave's utter incapacity to com- 
 prehend political morality his contempt for all the objects of 
 social benevolence frequently led him into the avowal of 
 doctrines, which, if they did not startle the men rf the world 
 whom he addressed (smoothed away, as such doctrines were, by 
 speciousness of manner and delivery), created deep disgust in 
 those even of his own politics who read their naked exposition 
 in the daily papers. Never did Lord Vargrave utter one of 
 those generous sentiments which no matter whether propounded 
 by Radical or Tory, sink deep into the heart of the people, 
 and do lasting service to the cause they adorn. But no man 
 defended an abuse, however glaring, with a more vigorous 
 championship, or hurled defiance upon a popular demand 
 with a more courageous scorn. In some times, when the anti- 
 popular principle is strong, such a leader may be useful ; but at
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 99 
 
 the moment of which we treat he was a most equivocal auxiliary. 
 A considerable proportion of the ministers, headed by the 
 premier himself, a man of wise views and unimpeachable honour 
 had learned to view Lord Vargrave with dislike and distrust 
 they might have sought to get rid of him ; but he was not one 
 whom slight mortifications could induce to retire of his own 
 accord : nor was the sarcastic and bold debater a person whose 
 resentment and opposition could be despised. Lord Vargrave 
 moreover, had secured a party of his own a party more 
 formidable than himself. He went largely into society he was 
 the special favourite of the female diplomats, whose voices at 
 that time were powerful suffrages, and with whom, by a thousand 
 links of gallantry and intrigue, the agreeable and courteous 
 minister formed a close alliance. All that salons could do for 
 him was done. Added to this, he was personally liked by his 
 royal master; and the Court gave him their golden opinions; 
 while the poorer, the corrupter, and the more bigoted portion of 
 the ministry, regarded him with avowed admiration. 
 
 In the House of Commons, too, and in the bureaucracy, he 
 had no inconsiderable strength ; for Lumley never contracted 
 the habits of personal abruptness and discourtesy common to 
 men in power, who wish to keep applicants aloof. He was bland 
 and conciliating to all men of all ranks ; his intellect and self- 
 complacency raised him far above the petty jealousies that 
 great men feel for rising men. Did any tyro earn the smallest 
 distinction in parliament, no man sought his acquaintance so 
 eagerly as Lord Vargrave ; no man complimented, encouraged, 
 " brought on " the new aspirants of his party with so hearty a 
 good will. 
 
 Such a minister could not fail of having devoted followers 
 among the able, the ambitious, and the vain. It must also be 
 confessed that Lord Vargrave neglected no baser and less justifi- 
 able means to cement his power, by placing it on the sure rock 
 of self-interest. No jobbing was too gross for him. He was 
 shamefully corrupt in the disposition of his patronage ; and 
 no rebuffs, no taunts from his official brethren, could restrain him 
 from urging the claims of any of his creatures upon the public 
 purse. His followers regarded this charitable selfishness as the 
 
 G 2
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 stanchness and zeal of friendship ; and the ambition of hundred', 
 was wound up in the ambition of the unprincipled minister. 
 
 But besides the notoriety of his public corruption, Lord 
 Vargrave was secretly suspected by some of personal dishonesty 
 suspected of selling his state information to stock-jobbers of 
 having pecuniary interests in some of the claims he urged with so 
 obstinate a pertinacity. And though there was not the smallest 
 evidence of such utter abandonment of honour though it was 
 probably but a calumnious whisper yet the mere suspicion of 
 such practices served to sharpen the aversion of his enemies, and 
 justify the disgust of his rivals. 
 
 In this position now stood Lord Vargrave : supported by in- 
 terested, but able and powerful partisans ; hated in the country, 
 feared by some of those with whom he served, despised by 
 others, looked up to by the rest. It was a situation that less 
 daunted than delighted him ; for it seemed to render necessary 
 and excuse the habits of scheming and manoeuvre which were 
 so genial to his crafty and plotting temper. Like an ancient 
 Greek, his spirit loved intrigue for intrigue's sake. Had it led to 
 no end, it would still have been sweet to him as a means. He 
 rejoiced to surround himself with the most complicated webs and 
 meshes ; to sit in the centre of a million plots. He cared not 
 how rash and wild some of them were. He relied on his own 
 ingenuity, promptitude, and habitual good fortune, to make every 
 spring he handled conducive to the purpose of the machine 
 SELF. 
 
 His last visit to Lady Vargrave, and his conversation with 
 Evelyn, had left on his mind much dissatisfaction and fear. In the 
 earlier years of his intercourse with Evelyn, his good humour, 
 gallantry, and presents, had not failed to attach the child to the 
 agreeable and liberal visitor she had been taught to regard as 
 a relation. It was only as she grew up to womanhood, and 
 learned to comprehend the nature of the tie between them, 
 that she shrank from his familiarity ; and then only had he 
 learned to doubt of the fulfilment of his uncle's wish. The last visit 
 had increased this doubt to a painful apprehension : he saw that 
 he was not loved ; he saw that it required great address, and the 
 absence of happier rivals, to secure to him the hand of Evelyn ;
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. IOI 
 
 ind he cursed the duties and the schemes which necessarily 
 kept him from her side. He had thought of persuading Lady 
 Vargrave to let her come to London, where he could be ever at 
 hand ; and as the season was now set in, his representations on 
 this head would appear sensible and just. But then again this 
 was to incur greater dangers than those he would avoid. 
 London ! a beauty and an heiress, in her first dtbut in 
 London ! What formidable admirers would flock around her ! 
 Vargrave shuddered to think of the gay, handsome, well-dressed, 
 seductive young fl/gans, who might seem, to a girl of seventeen, 
 suitors far more fascinating than the middle-aged politician. 
 This was perilous ; nor was this all : Lord Vargrave knew that 
 in London gaudy, babbling, and remorseless London all that 
 he could most wish to conceal from the young lady would be 
 dragged to day. He had been the lover, not of one, but of a 
 dozen women, for whom he did not care three straws ; but whose 
 favour had served to strengthen him in society ; or whose influence 
 made up for his own want of hereditary political connections. 
 The manner in which he contrived to shake off these various 
 Ariadnes, whenever it was advisable, was npt the least striking 
 proof of his diplomatic abilities. He never left them enemies. 
 According to his own solution of the mystery, he took care 
 never to play the gallant with Dulcineas under a certain age 
 " Middle-aged women," he was wont to say, " are very little 
 different from middle-aged men ; they see things sensibly, and 
 take things coolly." Now Evelyn could not be three weeks, 
 perhaps three days, in London, without learning of one or the 
 other of these liaisons. What an excuse, if she sought one, to 
 break with him ! Altogether, Lord Vargrave was sorely per- 
 plexed, but not despondent. Evelyn's fortune was more than 
 ever necessary to him, and Evelyn he was resolved to obtain 
 since to that fortune she was an indispensable appendage.
 
 102 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "You shall be Horace, and Tibullus I." POPE. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE was disturbed from his reverie by the 
 entrance of the Earl of Saxingham. 
 
 "You are welcome!" said Lumley, "welcome! the very man 
 I wished to see." 
 
 Lord Saxingham, who was scarcely altered since we met with 
 him in the last series of this work, except that he had grown 
 somewhat paler and thinner, and that his hair had changed from 
 iron-grey to snow-white, threw himself in the armchair beside 
 Lumley, and replied 
 
 " Vargrave, it is really unpleasant, our finding ourselves always 
 thus controlled by our own partisans. I do not understand this 
 newfangled policy this squaring of measures to please the Op- 
 position, and throwing sops to that many-headed monster called 
 Public Opinion. I atn sure it will end most mischievously." 
 
 " I am satisfied of it," returned Lord Vargrave. " All vigour 
 and union seem to have left us ; and if they carry the* * * * 
 question against us, I know not what is to be done." 
 
 " For my part, I shall resign," said Lord Saxingham, doggedly ; 
 " it is the only alternative left to men of honour." 
 
 " You are wrong I know another alternative." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " Make a cabinet of our own. Look ye, my dear lord ; you 
 have been ill-used your high character, your long experience, 
 are treated with contempt. It is an affront to you the situ- 
 ation you hold. You, Privy Seal ! you ought to be Premier 
 ay, and, if you are ruled by me, Premier you shall be yet." 
 
 Lord Saxingham coloured and breathed hard. 
 
 " You have often hinted at this "before Lumley ; but you are so 
 partial, so friendly." 
 
 " Not at all. You saw the leading article in the to-day ? 
 
 that will be followed up by two evening papers within five 
 hours of this time. We have strength with the press, with the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 103 
 
 Commons, with the Court only let us hold fast together. This 
 * * * question, by which they hope to get rid of us, shall destroy 
 them. You shall be prime minister before the year is over by 
 Heaven, you shall ! and then, I suppose, / too may be admitted 
 to the cabinet I" 
 
 " Bat how how, Lumley ? You are too rash, too daring." 
 
 " It has not been my fault hitherto but boldness is caution 
 in our circumstances. If they throw us out now, I see the 
 inevitable march of events we shall be out for years, perhaps 
 for life. The cabinet will recede more and more from our 
 principles, our party. Now is the time for a determined stand 
 now can we make or mar ourselves. I will not resign the 
 king is with us our strength shall be known. These haughty 
 imbeciles shall fall into the trap they have dug for us." 
 
 Lumley spoke warmly, and with the confidence of a mind 
 firmly assured of success. Lord Saxingham was moved bright 
 visions flashed across him the premiership a dukedom. Yet 
 he was old and childless, and his honours would die with the 
 last lord of Saxingham ! 
 
 " See," continued Lumley, " I have calculated our resources as 
 accurately as an electioneering agent would cast up the list of 
 
 voters. In the press, I have secured and , and in the 
 
 Commons we have the subtle , and the vigour of , and 
 
 the popular name of , and all the boroughs of ; in the 
 
 cabinet we have , and at Court you know our strength. Let 
 
 us choose our moment a sudden coup an interview with the 
 king statement of our conscientious scruples to this atrocious 
 measure. I know the vain, stiff mind of the premier ; fie will 
 lose temper he will tender his resignation to his astonishment, 
 it will be accepted. You will be sent for we will dissolve parlia- 
 ment we will strain every nerve in the elections we shall 
 succeed, I know we shall. But be silent in the meanwhile be 
 cautious : let not a word escape you, let them think us beaten 
 lull suspicion asleep let us lament our weakness, and hint, only 
 hint at our resignation, but with assurances of continued support. 
 I know how to blind them, if you leave it to me." 
 
 The weak mind of the old earl was as a puppet in the hands 
 of his bold kinsman. He feared one moment, hoped another
 
 104 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 now his ambition was flattered now his sense of honour was 
 alarmed. There was something in Lumley's intrigue to oust the 
 government with which he served, that had an appearance of 
 cunning and baseness, of which Lord Saxingham, whose personal 
 character was high, by no means approved. But Vargrave 
 talked him over with consummate address, and when they 
 parted, the earl carried his head two inches higher he was 
 preparing himself for his rise in life. 
 
 " That is well that is well ! " said Lumley, rubbing his hands 
 when he was left alone : " the old driveller will be my locum 
 tenens, till years and renown enable me to become his successor. 
 Meanwhile, I shall be really what he will be in name." 
 
 Here Lord Vargrave's well-fed servant, now advanced to the 
 dignity of own gentleman and house-steward, entered the room 
 with a letter ; it had a portentous look it was wafered the 
 paper was blue, the hand clerk-like there was no envelope it 
 bore its infernal origin on the face of it IT WAS A DUN'S. 
 
 Lumley opened the epistle with an impatient pshaw ! The 
 man, a silversmith (Lumley's plate was much admired !) had 
 applied for years in vain ; the amount was large an execution 
 was threatened ! an execution ! it is a trifle to a rich man ; but 
 no trifle to one suspected of being poor one straining at that 
 very moment at so high an object one to whom public opinion 
 was so necessary one who knew that nothing but his title, and 
 scarcely that, saved him from the reputation of an adventurer ! 
 He must again have recourse to the money-lenders his small 
 estate was long since too deeply mortgagd to afford new security. 
 Usury, usury, again ! he knew its price, and he sighed but 
 what was to be done ? 
 
 " It is but fora few months, a few months, and Evelyn must be 
 mine. Saxingham has already lent me what he can ; but he is 
 embarrassed. This d d office, what a tax it is ! and the rascals 
 say we are too well paid ' I, too, who could live happy in a 
 garret, if this purse-proud England would but allow one to sxist 
 within one's income. My fellow-trustee, the banker, my uncle's 
 old correspondent ah, well thought of! He knows the con- 
 ditions of the will he knows that, at the worst, I must have thirty 
 thousand pounds, if I live a few months longer. I will go to him
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 105 
 
 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Animum nunc hoc ceierem, nunc dividit illuc." l VlRGIL. 
 
 THE late Mr. Templeton had been a banker in a provincial 
 town, which was the centre of great commercial and agricultural 
 activity and enterprise. He had made the bulk of his fortune in 
 the happy days of paper currency and war. Besides his country 
 bank he had a considerable share in a metropolitan one of some 
 eminence. At the time of his marriage with the present Lady 
 Vargrave he retired altogether from business, and never returned 
 to the place in which his wealth had been amassed. He had 
 still kept up a familiar acquaintance with the principal and 
 senior partner of the metropolitan bank I have referred to ; for 
 he was a man who always loved to talk about money matters 
 with those who understood them. This gentleman, Mr. Gustavus 
 Douce, had been named, with Lumley, joint trustee to Evelyn's 
 fortune. They had full powers to invest it in whatever stock 
 seemed most safe or advantageous. The trustees appeared well 
 chosen ; as one, being destined to share the fortune, would have 
 the deepest interest in its security ; and the other, from his habits 
 and profession, would be a most excellent adviser. 
 
 Of Mr. Douce, Lord Vargrave had seen but little ; they were 
 not thrown together. But Lord Vargrave, who thought every 
 xich man might, some time or other, become a desirable acquaint- 
 ance, regularly asked him once every year to dinner ; and twice 
 in return he had dined with Mr. Douce, in one of the most 
 splendid villas, and off some of the most splendid plate it had 
 ever been his fortune to witness and to envy ! so that the little 
 favour he was about to ask was but a slight return for Lord 
 Vargrave's condescension. 
 
 He found the banker in his private sanctum his carriage at 
 the door for it was just four o'clock, an hour in which Mr. 
 Douce regularly departed to Caserta, as his aforesaid villa was 
 somewhat affectedly styled. 
 
 1 Now this, now that, distracts the active mind.
 
 IOC ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Mr. Douce was a small man, a nervous man he did not seem 
 quite master ofr his own limbs : when he bowed he seemed to be 
 making you a present of his legs ; when he sat down, he twitched 
 first on one side, then on the other thrust his hands into his 
 pockets, then took them out, and looked at them, as if in asto- 
 nishment then seized upon a pen, by which they were luckily 
 provided with incessant occupation. Meanwhile, there was what 
 might fairly be called a constant play of countenance : first he 
 smiled, then looked grave now raised his eyebrows, till they 
 rose like rainbows, to the horizon of his pale, straw-coloured 
 hair and next darted them down, like an avalanche, over the 
 twinkling, restless, fluttering, little blue eyes, which then became 
 almost invisible. Mr. Douce had, in fact, all the appearance of 
 a painfully shy man, which was the more strange, as he had the 
 reputation of enterprise, and even audacity, in the business of 
 his profession, and was fond of the society of the great. 
 
 " I have called on you, my dear sir," said Lord Vargrave, after 
 the preliminary salutations, " to ask a little favour, which, if the 
 least inconvenient, have no hesitation in refusing. You know 
 how I am situated with regard to my ward, Miss Cameron ; in 
 a few months I hope she will be Lady Vargrave." 
 
 Mr. Douce showed three small teeth, which were all that, in 
 the front of his mouth, fate had left him ; and then, as if 
 alarmed at the indelicacy of a smile upon such a subject, 
 pushed back his chair, and twitched up his blotting-paper- 
 coloured trousers. 
 
 " Yes, in a few months I hope she will be Lady Vargrave ; and 
 you know then, Mr. Douce, that I shall be in no want of money." 
 
 " I hope that is to say, I am sure that I trust that never 
 will be the ca-ca-case with your lordship," put in Mr. Douce, 
 with timid hesitation. Mr. Douce, in addition to his other good 
 qualities, stammered much in the delivery of his sentences. 
 
 " You are very kind, but it is the case just at present : I have 
 great need of a few thousand pounds upon my personal security. 
 My estate is already a little mortgaged, and I don't wish to 
 encumber it more ; besides the loan would be merely temporary ? 
 you know, that if at the age of eighteen Miss Cameron refuses 
 me (a supposition out of the question, but in business we must
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 107 
 
 calculate on improbabilities), I claim the forfeit she incurs 
 thirty thousand pounds you remember." 
 
 "Oh, yes that is upon my word- I I don't exactly but 
 -your lord 1-1-1-lord-lordship knows best I have been so so 
 busy I forget the exact hem hem !" 
 
 " If you just turn to the will you will see it is as I say. 
 Now, could you conveniently place a few thousands to my 
 account, just for a short time ? But I see you don't like it. 
 Never mind, I can get it elsewhere ; only, as you were my poor 
 uncle's friend " 
 
 " Your lord 1-1-1-lordship is quite mistaken," said Mr. Douce, 
 with trembling agitation ; " upon my word, yes, a few thou-thou- 
 thousands to be sure to be sure. Your lordship's banker is 
 is " 
 
 "Drummond disagreeable people by no means obliging. 
 I shall certainly change to your house when my accounts 
 are better worth keeping." 
 
 " You do me great great honour ; I will just step step 
 step out for a moment and and speak to Mr Dobs ; not but 
 what you may depend on. Excuse me ! Morning Chron-chron- 
 Chronicle, my lord ! " 
 
 Mr. Douce rose, as if by galvanism, and ran out of the room, 
 spinning round as he ran, to declare, again and again, that he 
 would not be gone a moment. 
 
 "Good little fellow, that very like an electrified frog!" 
 murmured Vargrave, as he took up the Morning Chronicle, so 
 especially pointed out to his notice ; and, turning to the leading 
 article, read a very eloquent attack on himself. Lumley was 
 thick-skinned on such matters he liked to be attacked it 
 showed that he was up in the world. 
 
 Presently Mr. Douce returned. To Lord Vargrave's amaze- 
 ment and delight, he was informed that ten thousand pounds 
 would be immediately lodged with Messrs. Drummond. His bill 
 of promise to pay in three months five per cent, interest was 
 quite sufficient : three months was a short date ; but the bill 
 could be renewed on the same terms, from quarter to quarter, till 
 quite convenient to his lordship to pay. " Would Lord Vargrave 
 do him the honour to dine with him at Caserta next Monday ? "
 
 loS ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Lord Vargrave tried to affect apathy at his sudden accession 
 of ready money ; but, really, it almost turned his head : he 
 griped both Mr. Douce's thin, little shivering hands, and was 
 speechless with gratitude and ecstasy. The sum, which doubled 
 the utmost he expected, would relieve him from all his immediate 
 embarrassments. When he recovered his voice, he thanked his 
 dear Mr. Douce with a warmth that seemed to make the little 
 man shrink into a nutshell ; and assured him that he would dine 
 with him every Monday in the year if he was asked ! He then 
 longed to depart ; but he thought, justly, that to go as soon as 
 he had got what he wanted would look selfish ; accordingly, he 
 reseated himself, and so did Mr. Douce, and the conversation 
 turned upon politics and news ; but Mr. Douce, who seemed to 
 regard all things with a commercial eye, contrived, Vargrave 
 hardly knew how, to veer round from the change in the French 
 ministry to the state of the English money-market. 
 
 " It really is, indeed, my lord I say it, I am sure, with 
 concern, a very bad ti-ti-ti-ti-time for men in business indeed, 
 for all men such poor interest in the English fu-fun-funds 
 and yet speculations are so unsound. I recommended my 
 friend Sir Giles Grimsby to to invest some money in the 
 American canals ; a most rare res-res-respons-responsibility, I 
 may say, for me ; I am cautious in in recommending but 
 -Sir Giles was an old friend con-con-connection, I may say ; 
 but most providentially, all turned out that is fell out as I 
 was sure it would thirty per cent. and the value of the sh-sh- 
 sh-shares doubled. But such things are very rare quite god- 
 sends, I may say ! " 
 
 " Well, Mr. Douce, whenever I have money to lay out, I must 
 come and consult you." 
 
 " I shall be most happy at all times to to advise your 
 lordship ; but it is not a thing I'm very fond of ; there's Miss 
 Cameron's fortune quite 1-1-locked up three per cents, and 
 exchequer bills ; why, it might have been a mil-mil-million by 
 this ti-ti-time, if the good old gentleman I beg pardon old 
 old nobleman, my poor dear friend, had been now alive ! " 
 
 " Indeed ! " said Lumley, greedily, and pricking up his ears ; 
 " he was a good manager, my uncle ! "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 109 
 
 " None better, none better. I may say a genius for busi hem 
 hem ! Miss Cameron a young woman of bus-bus-business, 
 my lord ? " 
 
 " Not much of that, I fear. A million did you say ? " 
 
 "At least ! indeed, at least money so scarce speculation so 
 sure in America great people the Americans rising people 
 gi-gi-giants giants ! " 
 
 " I am wasting your whole morning too bad in me," said 
 Vargrave, as the clock struck five ; "the Lords meet this evening 
 important business once more a thousand thanks to you 
 good day." 
 
 " A very good day to you, my lord ; don't mention it ; glad 
 at any time to ser-ser-serve you," said Mr. Douce, fidgeting, 
 curveting, and prancing round Lord Vargrave, as the latter 
 walked through the outer office to the carriage. 
 
 " Not a step more ; you will catch cold. Good-bye on 
 Monday, then, seven o'clock. The House of Lords." 
 
 And Lumley threw himself back in his carriage in high spirits. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "Oublie de Tullie, et brave du Senat." 1 
 
 VOLTAIRE : Brutus^ Act ii. Sc. I. 
 
 IN the Lords that evening the discussion was animated and 
 prolonged it was the last party debate of the session. The 
 astute Opposition did not neglect to bring prominently, though 
 incidentally, forward, the question on which it was whispered 
 that there existed some growing difference in the cabinet. Lord 
 Vargrave rose late ; his temper was excited by the good fortune 
 of his day's negotiation ; he felt himself of more importance 
 than usual, as a needy man is apt to do when he has got a large 
 sum at his banker's ; moreover, he was exasperated by some 
 personal allusions to himself, which had been delivered by a 
 dignified old lord who dated his family from the ark, and was 
 
 1 Forgotten by Tully and bullied by the Senate.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 as rich as Croesus. Accordingly, Vargrave spoke with more 
 than his usual vigour. His first sentences were welcomed with 
 loud cheers he warmed he grew vehement he uttered the 
 most positive and unalterable sentiments upon the question 
 alluded to he greatly transgressed the discretion which the 
 heads of his party were desirous to maintain; instead of 
 conciliating without compromising, he irritated, galled, and 
 compromised. The angry cheers of the opposite party were 
 loudly re-echoed by the cheers of the more hot-headed on his 
 own side. The premier and some of his colleagues observed, 
 however, a moody silence. The premier once took a note, and 
 then reseated himself, and drew his hat more closely over his 
 brows. It was an ominous sign for Lumley ; but he was look- 
 ing the Opposition in the face, and did not observe it. He sat 
 down in triumph, he had made a most effective and a most 
 mischievous speech a combination extremely common. The 
 leader of the Opposition replied to him with bitter calmness ; 
 and, when citing some of his sharp sentences, he turned to the 
 premier, and asked, " Are these opinions those also of the noble 
 lord ? I call for a reply I have a right to demand a reply," 
 Lumley was startled to hear the tone in which his chief uttered 
 the comprehensive and significant "Hear, hear ! " 
 
 At midnight the premier wound up the debate ; his speech 
 was short, and characterised by moderation. He came to the 
 question put to him the House was hushed you might have 
 heard a pin drop *he Commoners behind the throne pressed 
 forward with anxiety and eagerness on their countenances. 
 
 " I am called upon," said the minister, " to declare if those 
 sentiments, uttered by my noble friend, are mine also, as the 
 chief adviser of the Crown. My lords, in the heat of debate 
 every word is not to be scrupulously weighed, and rigidly 
 interpreted." (" Hear, hear," ironically from the Opposition 
 approvingly from the Treasury benches.) " My noble friend 
 will doubtless be anxious to explain what he intended to say. 
 I hope, nay, I doubt not, that his explanation will be satisfactory 
 to the noble lord, to the House, and to the country. But since 
 I am called upon for a distinct reply to a distinct interrogatory, 
 I will say at once, that if those sentiments be rightly interpreted
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. in 
 
 by the noble lord who spoke last, those sentiments are not mine, 
 and will never animate the conduct of any cabinet of which I 
 am a member." (Long-continued cheering from the Oppo- 
 sition.) "At the same time, I am convinced that my noble 
 friend's meaning has not been rightly construed ; and till I 
 hear from himself to the contrary, I will venture to state what 
 I think he designed to convey to your lordships." Here the 
 premier, with a tact that nobody could be duped by, but every 
 one could admire, stripped Lord Vargrave's unlucky sentences 
 of every syllable that could give offence to any one ; and left 
 the pointed epigrams and vehement denunciations a most 
 harmless arrangement of commonplace. 
 
 The House was much excited ; there was a call for Lord 
 Vargrave, and Lord Vargrave promptly rose. It was one 
 of those dilemmas out of which Lumley was just the man to 
 extricate himself with address. There was so much manly 
 frankness in his manner there was so much crafty subtlety in 
 his mind ! He complained, with proud and honest bitterness, 
 of the construction that had been forced upon his words by the 
 Opposition. " If," he added (and no man knew better the 
 rhetorical effect of the tu quoque form of argument), " if every 
 sentence uttered by the noble lord opposite in his zeal for 
 liberty, had, in days now gone by, been construed with equal 
 rigour, or perverted with equal ingenuity, that noble lord had 
 long since been prosecuted as an incendiary, perhaps executed 
 as a traitor ! " Vehement cheers from the ministerial benches ; 
 cries of "Order!" from the Opposition. A military lord rose 
 to order, and appealed to the Woolsack. 
 
 Lumley sat down as if chafed at the interruption ; he had 
 produced the effect he had desired he had changed the public 
 question at issue into a private quarrel : a new excitement was 
 created dust was thrown into the eyes of the House. Several 
 speakers rose to accommodate matters >and, after half-an-hour 
 of public time had been properly wasted, the noble lord on the 
 one side and the noble lord on the other duly explained paid 
 each other the highest possible compliments, and Lumley was 
 left to conclude his vindication, which now seemed a compara- 
 tively flat matter after the late explosion. He completed his
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 task so as to satisfy, apparently, all parties for all parties were 
 now tired of the thing, and wanted to go to bed. But the next 
 morning there were whispers about the town articles in the 
 different papers, evidently by authority rejoicings among the 
 Opposition and a general feeling, that, though the Govern- 
 ment might keep together that session, its dissensions would 
 break out before the next meeting of parliament. 
 
 As Lumley was wrapping himself in his cloak after this stormy 
 debate, the Marquess of Raby a peer of large possessions, and 
 one who entirely agreed with Lumley's views came up to him, 
 and proposed that they should go home together in Lord Raby's 
 carriage. Vargrave willingly consented, and dismissed his own 
 servants. 
 
 " You did that admirably, my dear Vargrave ! " said Lord 
 Raby, when they were seated in the carriage. " I quite coincide 
 in all your sentiments ; I declare my blood boiled when I heard 
 * * * * (the premier) appear half inclined to throw you over. 
 Your hit upon ***** was first-rate he will not get over it for 
 a month ; and you extricated yourself well." 
 
 " I am glad you approve my conduct it comforts me," said 
 Vargrave, feelingly ; " at the same time I see all the conse- 
 quences ; but I can brave all for the sake of character and 
 conscience." 
 
 "I feel just as you do!" repPed Lord Raby, with some 
 warmth ; " and if I thought that * * * * meant to yield to this 
 question, I should certainly oppose his administration." 
 
 Vargrave shook his head, and held his tongue, which gave 
 Lord Raby a high idea of his discretion. 
 
 After a few more observations on political matters, Lord 
 Raby invited Lumley to pay him a visit at his country-seat. 
 
 " I am going to Knaresdean next Monday ; you know we have 
 races in the park and really they are sometimes good sport ; at 
 all events, it is a very pretty sight. There will be nothing in 
 the Lords now the recess is just at hand ; and if you can spare 
 the time, Lady Raby and myself will be delighted to see you." 
 
 " You may be sure, my dear lord, I cannot refuse your invita- 
 tion ; indeed, I intended to visit your county next week. You 
 know, perhaps, a Mr. Merton."
 
 ALICE; OR, 1HE MYSTERIES. 113 
 
 " Charles Merton ? to be sure most respectable man capital 
 fellow the best parson in the county no cant, but thoroughly 
 orthodox ; he certainly keeps in his brother, who, though a 
 very active member, is what I call a waverer on certain questions. 
 Have you known Merton long ? " 
 
 " I don't know him at all as yet my acquaintance is with his 
 wife and daughter a very fine girl, by the by. My ward, Miss 
 Cameron, is staying with them." 
 
 " Miss Cameron ! Cameron ah ! I understand ; I think 
 I have heard that but gossip does not always tell the truth ! " 
 
 Lumley smiled significantly, and the carriage now stopped at 
 his door. 
 
 " Perhaps you will take a seat in our carriage on Monday ? " 
 said Lord Raby. 
 
 " Monday ? unhappily I am engaged ; but on Tuesday your 
 lordship may expect me." 
 
 " Very well the races begin on Wednesday : we shall have a 
 full house good night ! " 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 "Homunculi quanti sunt, cum recogito." * PLAUTUS. 
 
 IT is obvious that for many reasons we must be brief upon 
 the political intrigue in which the scheming spirit of Lord Var- 
 grave was employed. It would, indeed, be scarcely possible to 
 preserve the necessary medium between too plain a revelation 
 and too complex a disguise. It suffices, therefore, very shortly 
 to repeat what the reader has already gathered from what has 
 t;one before namely, that the question at issue was one which 
 has happened often enough in all governments one on which 
 the cabinet was divided, and in which the weaker party was 
 endeavouring to out-trick the stronger. 
 
 The malcontents, foreseeing that sooner or later the head of 
 the gathering must break, were again divided among themselves 
 1 When I reflect, how great your little men are in their own consideration. 
 
 H
 
 H4 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 whether to resign or to stay in, and strive to force a resignation 
 on their dissentient colleagues. The richer and the more honest 
 were for the former course ; the poorer and the more dependent 
 for the latter. We have seen that the latter policy was that 
 espoused and recommended by Vargrave (who, though not in 
 the cabinet, always contrived somehow or other to worm out its 
 secrets) at the same time he by no means rejected the other 
 string to his bow. If it were possible so to arrange and to 
 strengthen his faction, that, by the coup cFttat of a sudden 
 resignation in a formidable body, the whole Government might 
 be broken up, and a new one formed from among the resignees, 
 it would obviously be the best -plan. But then Lord Vargrave 
 was doubtful of his own strength, and fearful to play into the 
 hands of his colleagues, who might be able to stand even better 
 without himself and his allies, and, by conciliating the Opposi- 
 tion, take a step onward in political movement, which might 
 leave Vargrave placeless and powerless for years to come. 
 
 He repented his own rashness in the recent debate, which 
 was, indeed, a premature boldness that had sprung out of 
 momentary excitement for the craftiest orator must be indis- 
 creet sometimes. He spent the next few days in alternately 
 seeking to explain away to one party, and to sound, unite, and 
 consolidate the other. His attempts in the one quarter were 
 received by the premier with the cold politeness of an offended 
 but careful statesman, who believed just as much as he chose, 
 and preferred taking his own opportunity for a breach with a 
 subordinate, to risking any imprudence by the gratification 
 of resentment. In the last quarter, the penetrating adventurer 
 saw that his ground was more insecure than he had anticipated. 
 He perceived in dismay and secret rage, that many of those 
 most loud in his favour while he was with the Government would 
 desert him the soonest if thrown out. Liked as a subordinate 
 minister, he was viewed with very different eyes the moment 
 it was a question, whether, instead of cheering his sentiments, 
 men should trust themselves to his guidance Some did not 
 wish to displease the Government; others did not seek to weaken j 
 but to correct them. One of his stanchest allies in the Commons 
 was a candidate for a peerage another suddenly remembered
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 115 
 
 that he was second cousin to the premier some laughed at the 
 idea of a puppet premier in Lord Saxingham others insinuated 
 to Vargrave that he himself was not precisely of that standing in 
 the country which would command respect to a new party, of 
 which, if not the head, he would be the mouthpiece ; for them- 
 selves they knew, admired, and trusted him ; but those d d 
 country gentlemen and the dull public! 
 
 Alarmed, wearied, and disgusted, the schemer, saw himself 
 reduced to submission, for the present at least ; and more than 
 ever he felt the necessity of Evelyn's fortune to fall back upon, 
 if the chance of the cards should rob him of his salary. He was 
 glad to escape for a breathing while from the vexations and 
 harassments that beset him, and looked forward with the eager 
 interest of a sanguine and elastic mind always escaping from 
 one scheme to another to his excursion into B shire. 
 
 At the villa of Mr. Douce, Lord Vargrave met a young 
 nobleman who had just succeeded to a property not only large 
 and unencumbered, but of a nature to give him importance in 
 the eyes of politicians. Situated in a very small county, the 
 estates of Lord Doltimore secured to his nomination at least 
 one of the representatives, while a little village at the back of 
 his pleasure-grounds constituted a borough, and returned two 
 members to parliament. Lord Doltimore, just returned from 
 the Continent, had not even taken his seat in the Lords ; and 
 though his family connections, such as they were and they 
 were not very high, and by no means in the fashion were 
 ministerial, his own opinions were as yet unrevealed. 
 
 To this young nobleman Lord Vargrave was singularly 
 attentive ; he was well formed to attract men younger than 
 himself ; and he eminently succeeded in his designs upon Lord 
 Doltimore's affection. 
 
 His lordship was a small, pale man, with a very limited share 
 of understanding, supercilious in manner, elaborate in dress, not 
 ill-natured au fond, and with much of the English gentleman in 
 his disposition ; that is, he was honourable in his ideas and 
 actions, whenever his natural dulness and neglected education 
 enabled him clearly to perceive (through the midst of prejudices, 
 the delusions of others, and the false lights of the dissipated 
 
 H 2
 
 ii6 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 society in which he had lived) what was right and what wrong- 
 But his leading characteristics were vanity and conceit. He had 
 lived much with younger sons, cleverer than himself, who bor- 
 rowed his money, sold him their horses, and won from him at 
 cards. In return, they gave him all that species of flattery which 
 young men can give with so hearty an appearance of cordial 
 admiration. " You certainly have the best horses in Paris. You 
 are really a devilish good fellow, Doltimore. Oh, do you know, 
 Doltimore, what little Dfcirt says of you ? You have certainly 
 turned the girl's head." 
 
 This sort of adulation from one sex was not corrected by any 
 great acerbity from the other. Lord Doltimore at the age of 
 twenty-two was a very good parti ; and, whatever his other de- 
 ficiencies, he had sense enough to perceive that he received much 
 greater attention whether from opera-dancers in search of a 
 frieixl, or virtuous young ladies in search of a husband than 
 any of the companions, good-looking though many of them were, 
 with whom he had habitually lived. 
 
 " You will not long remain in town now the season is over ? " 
 said Vargrave, as after dinner he found himself, by the de- 
 parture of the ladies, next to Lord Doltimore. 
 
 " No, indeed ; even in the season, I don't much like London. 
 Paris has rather spoiled me for any other place." 
 
 " Paris is certainly very charming the ease of French life has 
 a fascination that our formal ostentation wants. Nevertheless, to 
 a man like you, London must have many attractions." 
 
 " Why, I have a good many friends here ; but still, after Ascot, 
 it rather bores me." 
 
 " Have you any horses on the turf ? " 
 
 " Not yet ; but Legard (you know Legard, perhaps a very 
 good fellow) is anxious that I should try my luck, I was very 
 fortunate in the races at Paris you know we have established 
 racing there. The French take to it quite naturally." 
 
 " Ah, indeed ! it is so long since I have been in Paris most 
 exciting amusement ! A propos of races I am going down to 
 Lord Raby's to-morrow ; I think I saw in one of the morning 
 papers, that you had very largely backed a horse entered at 
 Knaresdean."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 117 
 
 "Yes, Thunderer I think of buying Thunderer. Legard 
 Colonel Legard (he was in the Guards, but he sold out) is a 
 good judge, and recommends the purchase. How very odd that 
 you too should be going to Knaresdean ! " 
 
 " Odd, indeed, but most lucky ! we can go together, if you arc 
 not better engaged." 
 
 Lord Doltimore coloured and hesitated. On the one hand he 
 was a little afraid of being alone with so clever a man ; on the 
 other hand, it was an honour it was something for him to talk 
 of to Legard. Nevertheless, the shyness got the better of the 
 vanity he excused himself he feared he was engaged to take 
 down Legard. 
 
 Lumley smiled, and changed the conversation ; and so agree- 
 able did he make himself, that when the party broke up, and 
 Lumley had just shaken hands with his host, Doltimore came to 
 him, and said in a little confusion 
 
 " I think I can put off Legard if if you" 
 
 " That's delightful ! What time shall we start ? need not get 
 down much before dinner one o'clock ? " 
 
 " Oh, yes ! not too long before dinner one o'clock will be a 
 little too early." 
 
 " Two then. Where are you staying ? " 
 
 " At Fenton's." 
 
 " I will call for you good night ! I long to see Thun- 
 derer 1" 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " La sant<? de Time n'est pas plus assuree que celle du corps ; et quoique Ton 
 paraisse eloigne des passions, on n est pas moins en danger de s'y laisser emporter 
 que de tomber malade quand on se porte bien." J LA ROCHEFOUCAULD. 
 
 IN spite of the efforts of Maltravers to shun all occasions 
 of meeting Evelyn, they were necessarily sometimes thrown 
 
 1 The health of the soul is not more sure than that of the body ; and although \ve 
 may appear free from passions, there is not the less danger of their atiack, than ol 
 falling sick at the moment we are welL
 
 n8 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 together in the round of provincial hospitalities ; and certainly, if 
 either Mr. Merton or Caroline (the shrewder observer of the two) 
 had ever formed any suspicion that Evelyn had made a conquest 
 of Maltravers, his manner at such times effectually removed it. 
 
 Maltravers was a man to feel deeply ; but no longer a boy to 
 yield to every tempting impulse. I have said that FORTITUDE 
 was his favourite virtue but fortitude is the virtue of great and 
 rare occasions ; there was another, equally hardfavoured and 
 unshowy, which he took as the staple of active and every-day 
 duties and that virtue was, JUSTICE. Now, in earlier life, he 
 had been enamoured of the conventional Florimel that we call 
 HONOUR a shifting and shadowy phantom, that is but the 
 reflex of the opinion of the time and clime. But justice has in it 
 something permanent and solid ; and out of justice arises the 
 real, not the false honour. 
 
 " Honour ! " said Maltravers " honour is to justice as the 
 flower to the plant its efflorescence, its bloom, its consumma- 
 tion ! But honour that does not spring from justice is but a 
 piece of painted rag, an artificial rose, which the men-milliners 
 of society would palm upon us as more natural than the true." 
 
 This principle of justice Maltravers sought to carry out in all 
 things not, perhaps, with constant success ; for what practice 
 can always embody theory ? but still, at least, his endeavour at 
 success was constant. This, perhaps, it was which had ever kept 
 him from the excesses to which exuberant and liberal natures 
 are prone from the extravagances of pseudo-genius. 
 
 "No man," for instance," he was wont to say, "can be em- 
 barrassed in his own circumstances, and not cause embarrass- 
 ment to others. Without economy, who can be just ? And 
 what are charity generosity but the poetry and the beauty of 
 justice ? " 
 
 No man ever asked Maltravers twice for a just debt ; and no 
 man ever once asked him to fulfil a promise. You felt that, 
 come what would, you might rely upon his word. To him might 
 have been applied the witty eulogium passed by Johnson upon a 
 certain nobleman : " If he had promised you an acorn, and the 
 acorn season failed in England, he would have sent to Norway 
 for one ! "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 119 
 
 It was not, therefore, the mere Norman and chivalrous spirit 
 of honour, which he had worshipped in youth as a part of the 
 Beautiful and the Becoming, but which in youth had yiel'ded to 
 temptation, as a sentiment ever must yield to a passion but it 
 was the more hard, stubborn and reflective principle, which was 
 the later growth of deeper and nobler wisdom, that regulated 
 the conduct of Maltravers in this crisis of his life. Certain it is, 
 that he had never but once loved as he loved Evelyn ; and yet 
 that he never yielded so little to the passion. 
 
 " If engaged to another," thought he, " that engagement it is 
 not for a third person to attempt to dissolve. I am the last to 
 form a right judgment of the strength or weakness of the bonds 
 which unite her to Vargrave for my emotions would prejudice 
 me despite myself. I may fancy that her betrothed is not 
 worthy of her but that is for her to decide. While the bond 
 lasts, who can be justified in tempting her to break it ?" 
 
 Agreeably to these notions, which the world may, perhaps, 
 consider overstrained, whenever Maltravers met Evelyn, he 
 intrenched himself in a rigid and almost a chilling formality. 
 How difficult this was with one so simple and ingenuous ! Poor 
 Evelyn ! she thought she had offended him she longed to ask 
 him her offence perhaps, in her desire to rouse his genius into 
 exertion, she had touched some secret sore, some latent wound 
 of the memory ? She recalled all their conversations again and 
 again. Ah ! why could they not be renewed ? Upon her fancy 
 and her thoughts Maltravers had made an impression not to be 
 obliterated. She wrote more frequently than ever to Lady 
 Vargrave, and the name of Maltravers was found in every 
 page of her correspondence. 
 
 One evening, at the house of a neighbour, Miss Cameron (with 
 the Mertons) entered the room almost in the same instant as 
 Maltravers. The party was small, and so few had yet arrived, 
 that it was impossible for Maltravers, without marked rudeness, 
 to avoid his friends from the rectory ; and Mrs. Merton, placing 
 herself next to Evelyn, graciously motioned to Maltravers to 
 occupy the third vacant seat on the sofa, of which she filled the 
 centre. 
 
 ''We grudge all your improvements, Mr. Maltravers, since
 
 120 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 they cost us your society. But we know that our dull circle 
 must seem tame to one who has seen so much. However, we 
 expect to offer you an inducement soon in Lord Vargrave. 
 What a lively, agreeable person he is ! " 
 
 Maltravers raised his eyes to Evelyn, calmly and penetratingly, 
 at the latter part of this speech. He observed that she turned 
 pale, and sighed involuntarily. 
 
 " He had great spirits when I knew him," said he ; " and he 
 had then less cause to make him happy." 
 
 Mrs. Merton smiled, and turned rather pointedly towards 
 Evelyn. 
 
 Maltravers continued" I never met the late lord. He had 
 none of the vivacity of his nephew, I believe." 
 
 " I have heard that he was very severe," said Mrs. Merton, 
 lifting her glass towards a party that had just entered. 
 
 " Severe ! " exclaimed Evelyn. " Ah, if you could have known 
 him the kindest the most indulgent no one ever loved me 
 as he did." She paused, for she felt her lip quiver. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, my dear," said Mrs. Merton, coolly. 
 Mrs. Merton had no idea of the pain inflicted by treading upon a 
 feeling, Maltravers was touched, and Mrs. Merton went on. 
 " No wonder he was kind to you, Evelyn a brute would be 
 that ; but he was generally considered a stern man." 
 
 " I never saw a stern look I never heard a harsh word ; nay, 
 I do not remember that he ever even used the word ' command,' ' 
 said Evelyn, almost angrily. 
 
 Mrs. Merton was about to reply, when, suddenly, seeing a 
 lady whose little girl had been ill of the measles, her motherly 
 thoughts flowed into a new channel, and she fluttered away in 
 that sympathy which unites all the heads of a growing family. 
 Evelyn and Maltravers were left alone. 
 
 "You do not remember your father, I believe?" said 
 Maltravers. 
 
 " No father but Lord Vargrave ; while he lived, I never knew 
 the loss of one." 
 
 " Does your mother resemble you ? " 
 
 " Ah, I wish I could think so ; it is the sweetest coun- 
 tenance!"
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Have you no picture of her ? " 
 
 " None she would never consent to sit." 
 
 "Your father was a Cameron; I have known some of that 
 name." 
 
 " No relations of ours : my mother says we have none 
 living." 
 
 " And have we no chajice of seeing Lady Vargrave in B 
 
 shire?" 
 
 " She never leaves home ; but I hope to return soon to Brook- 
 Green ' 
 
 Multravers sighed, and the conversation took a new turn. 
 
 *' I have to thank you for the books you so kindly sent I 
 ought to have returned them ere this," said Evelyn. 
 
 " I have no use for them. Poetry has lost its charm for me ; 
 especially that species of poetry which unites with the method 
 and symmetry something of the coldness of Art. How did you 
 likeAlfieri?" 
 
 "His language is a kind of Spartan French," answered 
 Evelyn, in one of those happy expressions which every now and 
 then showed the quickness of her natural talent. 
 
 "Yes," said Maltravers, smiling, "the criticism is acute. Poor 
 Alfred ! in his wild life and his stormy passions, he threw out 
 all the redundance of his genius ; and his poetry is but the repre- 
 sentative of his thoughts not his emotions. Happier the man 
 of genius who lives upon his reason, and wastes feeling only on 
 his verse ! " 
 
 " You do not think that we waste feeling upon human beings? ' 
 said Evelyn, with a pretty laugh. 
 
 " Ask me that question when you have reached my years, and 
 can look upon fields on which you have lavished your warmest 
 hopes your noblest aspirations your tenderest affections and 
 see the soil all profitless and barren. ' Set not your heart on the 
 things of earth,' saith the Preacher." 
 
 Evelyn was affected by the tone, the words, and the melan- 
 choly countenance of the speaker, " You, of all men, ought not 
 to think thus," said she, with a sweet eagerness ; "you who have 
 done so much to awaken and to soften the heart in others you 
 who "she stopped short, and added, more gravely, "Ah,
 
 122 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Mr. Maltravers, I cannot reason with you, but I can hope you 
 will refute your own philosophy." 
 
 " Were your wish fulfilled," answered Maltravers, almost with 
 sternness, and with an expression of great pain in his compressed 
 lips, " I should have to thank you for much misery." He rose 
 abruptly, and turned away. 
 
 " How have I offended him ? " thought Evelyn, sorrowfully ; 
 " I never speak but to wound him what have I done ? " 
 
 She could have wished, in her simple kindness, to follow him, 
 and make peace ; but he was now in a coterie of strangers ; and 
 shortly afterwards he left the room, and she did not see him 
 again for weeks. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Nihil est aliud magnum quam multa minuta." * VET. AUCT. 
 
 AN anxious event disturbed the smooth current of cheerful 
 life at Merton Rectory. One morning when Evelyn came down, 
 she missed little Sophy, who had contrived to establish for her- 
 self the undisputed privilege of a stool beside Miss Cameron at 
 breakfast. Mrs. Merton appeared with a graver face than usual. 
 Sophy was unwell, was feverish ; the scarlet fever had been in 
 the neighbourhood. Mrs. Merton was very uneasy. 
 
 "It is the more unlucky, Caroline," added the mother, turning 
 to Miss Merton, " because to-morrow, you know, we were to have 
 spent a few days at Knaresdean to see the races. If poor Sophy 
 does not get better, I fear you and Miss Cameron must go 
 without me. I can send to Mrs. Hare to be your chaperon ; s';e 
 would be delighted." 
 
 " Poor Sophy ! " said Caroline ; " I am very sorry to heat she 
 is unwell ; but I think Taylor would take great care of her ; you 
 surely need not stay, unless she is much worse." 
 
 Mrs. Merton, who, tame as she seemed, was a fond and atten- 
 tive mother, shook her head and said nothing : but Sophy was 
 
 J There is nothing so great as the collection of the minute.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 123 
 
 much worse before noon. The doctor was sent for, and pro- 
 nounced it to be the scarlet fever. 
 
 It was now necessary to guard against the infection. Caroline 
 had had the complaint, and she willingly shared in her mother's 
 watch of love for two or three hours. Mrs. Merton gave up the 
 party. Mrs* Hare (the wife of a rich squire in the neighbour- 
 hood) was written to, and that lady willingly agreed to take 
 charge of Caroline and her friend. 
 
 Sophy had been left asleep. When Mrs. Merton returned to 
 her bed, she found Evelyn quietly stationed there. This alarmed 
 her, for Evelyn had never had the scarlet fever, and had been 
 forbidden the sick-room. But poor little Sophy had waked and 
 querulously asked for her dear Evy ; and Evy, who had been 
 hovering round the room, heard the inquiry from the garrulous 
 nurse, and come in she would ; and the child gazed at her so be- 
 seechingly, when Mrs. Merton entered, and said so piteously, 
 " Don't take Evy away," that Evelyn stoutly declared that she 
 was not the least afraid of infection, and stay she must Nay, 
 her share in the nursing would be the more necessary since 
 Caroline was to go to Knaresdean the next day. 
 
 " But you go too, my dear Miss Cameron ? " 
 
 " Indeed I could not ; I don't care for races, I never wished to 
 go ; I would much sooner have stayed ; and I am sure Sophy 
 will not get well without me will you, dear ? " 
 
 "Oh, yes, yes if I'm to keep you from the nice races I 
 should be worse if I thought that." 
 
 " But I don't like the nice races, Sophy, as your sister Carry 
 does ; she must go ; they can't do without her ; but nobody 
 knows me, so I shall not be missed." 
 
 " I can't hear of such a thing," said Mrs. Merton, with tears iu 
 her eyes ; and Evelyn said no more then ; but the next morning 
 Sophy was still worse, and the mother was too anxious and 
 too sad to think more of ceremony and politeness, so Evelyn 
 stayed. 
 
 A momentary pang shot across Evelyn's breast when all was 
 settled ; but she suppressed the sigh which accompanied the 
 thought that she had lost the only opportunity she might have 
 for weeks of seeing Maltravers ; to that chance she had indeed
 
 124 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 looked forward with interest and timid pleasure, the chance 
 was lost but why should it vex her what was he to her ? 
 
 Caroline's heart smote her, as she came into the room in her 
 lilac bonnet and new dress ; and little Sophy, turning on her eyes 
 which, though languid, still expressed a child's pleasure at the 
 sight of finery, exclaimed, " How nice and pretty you look, 
 Carry'! do take Evy with you Evy looks pretty too ! " 
 
 Caroline kissed the child in silence, and paused irresolute ; 
 glanced at her dress, and then at Evelyn, who smiled on her 
 without a thought of envy ; and she had half a mind to stay too, 
 when her mother entered with a letter from Lord Vargrave. It 
 was short : he should be at the Knaresdean races hoped to 
 meet them there, and accompany them home. This information 
 re-decided Caroline, while it rewarded Evelyn. In a few minutes 
 more, Mrs. Hare arrived ; and Caroline, glad to escape, perhaps, 
 her own compunction, hurried into the carnage, with a hasty 
 *' God bless you all ! don't fret I'm sure she will be well 
 to-morrow and mind, Evelyn, you don't catch the fever !" Mr. 
 Merton looked grave and sighed, as he handed her into the 
 carriage ; but when, seated there, she turned round and kissed 
 her hand at him, she looked so handsome and distinguished, that 
 a sentiment of paternal pride smoothed down his vexation at her 
 want of feeling. He himself gave up the visit ; but a little time 
 after, when Sophy fell into a tranquil sleep, he thought he might 
 venture to canter across the country to the race-ground, and 
 return to dinner. 
 
 Days nay, a whole week passed the races were over but 
 Caroline had not returned. Meanwhile, Sophy's fever left her ; 
 she could quit her bed her room she could come down stairs 
 now and the family was happy. It is astonishing how the 
 least ailment in those little things stops the wheels of domestic 
 life ! Evelyu fortunately had not caught the fever : she was 
 pale, and -joine.vhat reduced by fatigue and confinement: but she 
 was amply repaid by the mother's swimming look of quiet grati- 
 tude the father's pressure of the hand Sophy's recovery and 
 her own good heart. They had heard twice from Caroline, 
 putting off her return : Lady Raby was so kind, she could not
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 125 
 
 get away till the party broke up ; she was so glad to hear such 
 an account of Sophy. 
 
 Lord Vargrave had not yet arrived at the rectory to stay ; but 
 he had twice ridden over, and remained there some hours. He 
 exerted himself to the utmost to please Evelyn ; and she who, 
 deceived by his manners, and influenced by the recollections of 
 long and familiar acquaintance, was blinded to his real character 
 reproached herself more bitterly than ever for her repugnance 
 to his suit and her ungrateful hesitation to obey the wishes of her. 
 stepfather. 
 
 To the Mertons, Lumley spoke with good-natured praise of 
 Caroline ; she was so much admired : she was the beauty at 
 Knaresdean. A certain young friend of his, Lord Doltimore, 
 was evidently smitten. The parents thought much over the ideas 
 conjured up by that last sentence. 
 
 One morning, the garrulous Mrs. Hare the gossip of the 
 neighbourhood called at the rectory ; she had returned, two days 
 before, from Knaresdean ; and she, too, had her tale to tell of 
 Caroline's conquests. 
 
 " I assure you, my dear Mrs. Merton, if we had not all known 
 that his heart was pre-occupied, we should have thought that 
 Lord Vargrave was her warmest admirer. Most charming man, 
 Lord Vargrave ! but as for Lord Doltimore, it was quite a 
 flirtation. Excuse me no scandal, you know, ha, ha ! a fine 
 young man, but stiff and reserved not the fascination of Lord 
 Vargrave." 
 
 " Does Lord Raby return to town, or is he now at Knaresdean 
 for the autumn ? " 
 
 " He goes on Friday, I believe : very few of the guests are left 
 now. Lady A., and Lord B.. and Lord Vargrave, and your 
 daughter, and Mr. Legard, and Lord Doltimore, and Mrs. and 
 the Misses Cipher ; all the rest went the same day I did." 
 
 " Indeed I " said Mrs. Merton, in some surprise. 
 
 " Ah, I read your thoughts : you wonder that Miss Caroline 
 has not come back is not that it ? But perhaps Lord Doltimore 
 ha, ha ! no scandal now do excuse me!" 
 
 " Was Mr. Maltravers at Knaresdean ? " asked Mrs. Merton, 
 anxious to change the subject, and unprepared with any other
 
 126 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 question. Evelyn was cutting out a paper horse for Sophy, who 
 all her high spirits flown was lying on the sofa, and wistfully 
 following her fairy fingers " Naughty Evy, you have cut of! 
 the horse's head ! " 
 
 " Mr. Maltravers no, I think not ; no, he was not there. 
 Lord Raby asked him pointedly to come, and was, I know, 
 much disappointed that he did not. But d propos of Mr. 
 Maltravers : I met him not a quarter of an hour ago, this 
 morning, as I was coming to you. You know we have leave 
 to come through his park, and as I was in the park at the 
 time, I stopped the carriage to speak to him. I told him that 
 I was coming here, and that you had had the scarlet fever in 
 the house, which was the reason you had not gone to the races : 
 and he turned quite pale, and seemed so alarmed. I said we 
 were all afraid that Miss Cameron should catch it; and, excuse 
 me ah, ah ! no scandal, I hope but " 
 
 " Mr. Maltravers," said the butler, throwing open the door. 
 
 Maltravers entered with a quick and even a hurried step ; he 
 stopped short when he saw Evelyn ; and his whole countenance 
 was instantly lightened up by a joyous expression, which as 
 suddenly died away. 
 
 " This is kind, indeed," said Mrs. Merton ; " it is so long since 
 we have seen you." 
 
 " I have been very much occupied," muttered Maltravers, 
 almost inaudibly, and seated himself next Evelyn. "I only 
 just heard that that you had sickness in the house Miss 
 Cameron, you look pale you you have not suffered, I hope ? " 
 
 " No I am quite well," said Evelyn, with a smile ; and she 
 felt happy that her friend was kind to her once more. 
 
 " It's only me, Mr. Ernest," said Sophy ; " you have forgot 
 me." 
 
 Maltravers hastened to vindicate himself from the charge, and 
 Sophy and he were soon made excellent friends again. 
 
 Mrs. Hare, whom surprise at this sudden meeting had hitherto 
 silenced, and who longed to shape into elegant periphrasis the 
 common adage, u Talk of," &c., now once more opened her 
 budget. She tattled on, first to one, then to the other, then to 
 all, till she had tattled herself out of breath ; and then the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 127 
 
 orthodox half-hour was expired, and the bell was rung, and the 
 carriage ordered, and Mrs. Hare rose to depart. 
 
 " Do just come to the door, Mrs. Merton," said she, " and look 
 at my pony-phaeton, it is so pretty Lady Raby admires it so 
 much ; you ought to have just such another." As she spoke, 
 she favoured Mrs. Merton with a significant glance, that said, as 
 plainly as glance could say, " I have something to communicate." 
 Mrs. Merton took the hint, and followed the good lady out of 
 the room. 
 
 " Do you know, my dear Mrs. Merton," said Mrs. Hare, in a 
 \\hisper, when they were safe in the billiard-room, that inter- 
 posed between the apartment they had left and the hall ; 
 "do you know whether Lord Vargrave and Mr. Maltravers are 
 very good friends ? " 
 
 " No, 'indeed ; why do you ask ? " 
 
 "Oh, because when I was speaking to Lord Vargrave about 
 him, he shook his head ; and really I don't remember what his 
 lordship said ; but he seemed to speak as if there was a little 
 soreness. And then he inquired very anxiously if Mr. Maltravers 
 was much at the rectory ; and looked discomposed when he 
 found you were such near neighbours. You'll excuse me, you 
 know ha, ha ! but we're such old friends ! and if Lord Vargrave 
 is coming to stay here, it might be unpleasant to meet you'll 
 excuse me. I took the liberty to tell him he need not be jealous 
 of Mr. Maltravers ha, ha ! not a marrying man at all. But I 
 did think Miss Caroline was the attraction you'll excuse me 
 no scandal ha, ha ! But, after all, Lord Doltimore must be 
 the man ; well, good morning, I thought I'd just give you 
 this hint. Is not the phaeton pretty? Kind compliments to 
 Mr. Merton." 
 
 And the lady drove off. 
 
 During this confabulation, Maltravers and Evelyn were left 
 alone with Sophy. Maltravers had continued to lean over the 
 child, and appeared listening to her prattle ; while Evelyn, 
 having risen to shake hands with Mrs. Hare, did not reseat 
 herself, but went to the window, and busied herself with a flower- 
 stand in the recess. 
 
 "Oh, very fine, Mr. Ernest," said Sophy (always pronouncing
 
 (28 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 that proper name as if it ended in tk}, "you care very much for 
 us to stay away so long don't he, Evy ? I've a great mind not 
 to speak to you, sir, that I have ! " 
 
 " That would be too heavy a punishment, Miss Sophy only, 
 luckily, it would punish yourself; you could not live without 
 talking talk talk talk ! " 
 
 " But I might never have talked more, Mr. Ernest, if mamma 
 and pretty Evy had not been so kind to me ;" and the child shook 
 her head mournfully, as if she had pitit de soi-mhne. " But you 
 won't stay away so long again, will you ? Sophy play to-morrow 
 come to-morrow, and swing Sophy no nice swinging since 
 you've been gone." 
 
 While Sophy spoke Evelyn turned half round, as if to hear 
 Maltravers answer : he hesitated, and Evelyn spoke. 
 
 " You must not tease Mr. Maltravers so : Mr. Maltravers has 
 too much to do to come to us." 
 
 Now this was a very pettish speech in Evelyn, and her cheek 
 glowed while she spoke ; but an arch, provoking smile was on 
 her lips. 
 
 " It can be a privation only to me, Miss Cameron," said Mal- 
 travers, rising, and attempting in vain to resist the impulse that 
 drew him towards the window. The reproach in her tone and 
 words at once pained and delighted him ; and then this scene, 
 the suffering child brought back to him his first interview with 
 Evelyn herself. He forgot, for the moment, the lapse of time 
 the new ties she had formed his own resolutions. 
 
 " That is a bad compliment to us," answered Evelyn, in- 
 genuously ; " do you think we are so little worthy your society 
 as not to value it ? But, perhaps " (she added, sinking her 
 voice) " perhaps you have been offended perhaps I I said 
 something that that hurt you ! " 
 
 " You ! " repeated Maltravers, with emotion. 
 Sophy, who had been attentively listening, here put in 
 "Shake hands and make it up with Evy you've been quarrel- 
 ling, naughty Ernest ! " 
 
 Evelyn laughed, and tossed back her sunny ringlets. " I 
 think Sophy is right," said she, with enchanting simplicity j 
 11 let us make it up;" and she held out her hand to Maltravers.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Maltravers pressed the fair hand to his lips. "Alas!" said 
 he, affected with various feelings which gave a tremor to his 
 deep voice, "your only fault is that your society makes me 
 discontented with my solitary home ; and as solitude must be 
 my fate in life, I seek to inure myself to it betimes." 
 
 Here whether opportunely or not, it is for the reader to 
 decide Mrs. Merton returned to the room. 
 
 She apologised for her absence talked of Mrs. Hare and the 
 little Master Hares fine boys, but noisy ; and then she asked 
 Maltravers if he had seen Lord Vargrave since his lordship^ had 
 been in the county. Maltravers replied, with coldness, that he 
 had not had that honour : that Vargrave had called on him in 
 his way from the rectory the other day, but that he was from 
 home, and that he had not seen him for some years. 
 
 " He is a person of most prepossessing manners," said Mrs. 
 Merton. 
 
 " Certainly most prepossessing." 
 
 " And very clever." 
 
 " He has great talents." 
 
 " He seems most amiable." 
 
 Maltravers bowed, and glanced towards Evelyn, whose face, 
 however, was turned from him. 
 
 The turn the conversation had taken was painful to the visitor, 
 and he rose to depart. 
 
 " Perhaps," said Mrs. Merton, " you will meet Lord Vargrave 
 at dinner to-morrow ; he will stay with us a few days as long 
 as he can be spared." 
 
 Maltravers meet Lord Vargrave ! the happy Vargrave ; the 
 betrothed to Evelyn ! Maltravers witness the familiar rights 
 the enchanting privileges accorded to another ! and that other 
 one whom he could not believe worthy of Evelyn ! He writhed 
 at the picture the invitation conjured up. 
 
 " You are very kind, my dear Mrs. Merton, but I expect a 
 visitor at Burleigh an old and dear friend, Mr. Cleveland." 
 
 "Mr. Cleveland! we shall be delighted to see him too. We 
 knew him many years ago, during your minority, when he used 
 to visit Burleigh two or three times a year." 
 
 '' He i changed since then ; he is often an invalid. I fear I 
 
 I
 
 130 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 cannot answer for him ; but he will call as soon as he arrives, 
 and apologise for himself." 
 
 Maltravers then hastily took his departure. He would not 
 trust himself to do more than bow distantly to Evelyn ; she 
 looked at him reproachfully. So, then, it was really premedi- 
 ated and resolved upon his absence from the rectory and 
 why? she was grieved she was offended but more grieved 
 than offended perhaps because esteem, interest, admiration ; 
 are more tolerant and charitable than love. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 "Arethusa. 'Tis well, my lord, your courting ofladies. 
 
 **** 
 
 Claremont. Sure this lady has a good turn done her against her will." 
 
 PHILASTER. 
 
 IN the breakfast-room at Knaresdean, the same day,, and 
 almost at the same hour, in which occurred the scene and con- 
 versation at the rectory recorded in our last chapter, sat Lord 
 Vargrave and Caroline alone. The party had dispersed, as was 
 usual, at noon. They heard at a distance the sounds of the 
 billiard-balls. Lord Doltimore was playing with Colonel 
 Legard, one of the best players in Europe, but who, fortu- 
 nately for Doltimore, had, of late, made it a rule never to 
 play for money. Mrs. and the Misses Cipher, and most of 
 the guests, were in the billiard-room looking on. Lady Raby 
 was writing letters, and Lord Raby riding over his home farm. 
 Caroline and Lumley had been for some time in close and 
 earnest conversation. Miss Merton was seated in a large arm- 
 chair, much moved, with her handkerchief to her eyes. Lord 
 Vargrave, with his back to the chimneypiece, was bending down 
 and speaking in a very low voice, while his quick eye glanced, 
 ever and anon, from the lady's countenance to the windows 
 to the doors, to be prepared against any interruption. 
 
 " No, my dear friend," said he, " believe me that I am sincere 
 My feelings for you are, indeed, such as no words can paint." 
 
 " Then why "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 131 
 
 " Why wish you wedded to another why wed another 
 myself? Caroline, I have often before explained to you that 
 we are in this the victims of an inevitable fate. It is absolutely 
 necessary that I should wed Miss Cameron. I never deceived 
 you from the first. I should have loved her, my heart would 
 have accompanied my hand, but for your too seductive beauty, 
 your superior mind ! yes, Caroline, your mind attracted me 
 more than your beauty. Your mind seemed kindred to my 
 own inspired with the proper and wise ambition which regards 
 the fools of the world as puppets as counters as chessmen. 
 For myself, a very angel from heaven could not make me give 
 up the great game of life ! yield to my enemies slip from 
 the ladder unravel the web I have woven J Share my heart 
 my friendship my schemes ! this is the true and dignified 
 affection that should exist between minds like ours ; all the 
 rest is the prejudice of children." 
 
 "Vargrave, I am ambitious worldly: I own it, but I could 
 give up all for you ! " 
 
 " You think so, for you do not know the sacrifice. You see 
 me now apparently rich in power courted ; and this fate you 
 are willing to share ; and this fate you should share, were it the 
 real one I could bestow on you. But reverse the medal. De- 
 prived of office fortune gone debts pressing destitution 
 notorious the ridicule of embarrassments the disrepute 
 attached to poverty and defeated ambition an exile in 
 some foreign town on the poor pension to which alone I 
 should be entitled a mendicant on the public purse ; and 
 that, too, so eaten into by demands and debts, that there is 
 not a grocer in the next market-town who would envy the 
 income of the retired minister I Retire, fallen despised, in 
 the prime of life in the zenith of my hopes ! Suppose that 
 I could bear this for myself could I bear it for you ? You, 
 born to be the ornament of courts ! and you could you see 
 me thus? life embittered career lost and feel, ^e ;erous as 
 you are, that your love had entailed on me on us both on 
 our children this miserable lot! Impossible, Caroline! we 
 are too wise for such romance. It is not because we love too 
 little, but because our love is worthy of each other, that we 
 
 I 2
 
 132 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 disdain to make love a curse ! We cannot wrestle against the 
 world, but we may shake hands with it, and worm the miser 
 out of its treasures. My heart must be ever yours my hand 
 must be Miss Cameron's. Money I must have ! my whole 
 career depends on it. It is literally with me the highwayman's 
 choice money or life." 
 
 Vargrave paused, and took Caroline's hand. 
 
 " I cannot reason with you," said she ; " you know the strange 
 empire you have obtained over me, and, certainly, in spite of all 
 that has passed (and Caroline turned pale) I could bear anything 
 rather than that you should hereafter reproach me for selfish 
 disregard of yonr interests your just ambition." 
 
 " My noble friend ! I do not say that I shall not feel a deep 
 and sharp pang at seeing you wed another, but I shall be con- 
 soled by the thought that I have assisted to procure for you 
 a station worthier of your merits than that which I can offer. 
 Lord Doltimore is rich you will teach him to employ his riches 
 well ; he is weak your intellect will govern him ; he is in love 
 your beauty will suffice to preserve his regard. Ah, we shall 
 be dear friends to the last ! " 
 
 More but to the same effect did this able and crafty villain 
 continue to address to Caroline, whom he alternately soothed, 
 irritated, flattered, and revolted. Love him she certainly did, 
 as far as love in her could extend ; but perhaps his rank, his 
 reputation, had served to win her affection ; and, not knowing 
 his embarrassments, she had encouraged a worldly hope that if 
 Evelyn should reject his hand it might be offered to her. 
 Under this impression she had trifled she had coquetted 
 she had played with the serpent till it had coiled around her 
 and she could not escape its fascination and its folds. She was 
 sincere she could have resigned much for Lord Vargrave ; but 
 his picture startled and appalled her. For difficulties in a palace 
 she might be prepared perhaps even for some privations in a 
 cottage ornte but certainly not for penury in a lodging-house ! 
 She listened by degrees with more attention to Vargrave's 
 description of the power and homage that would be hers if she 
 could secure Lord Doltimore : she listened, and was in part 
 consoled. But the thought of Evelyn again crossed her; and,
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 133 
 
 perhaps with natural jealousy was mingled some compunction 
 at the fate to which Lord Vargrave thus coldly appeared to 
 condemn one so lovely and so innocent. 
 
 " But do not, Vargrave," she said, " do not be too sanguine ; 
 Evelyn may reject you. She does not see you with my eyes ; 
 it is only a sense of honour that, as yet, forbids her openly to 
 refuse the fulfilment of an engagement from which I know that 
 she shrinks ; and if she does refuse, and you be free, and I 
 another's " 
 
 " Even in that case," interrupted Vargrave, " I must turn to the 
 Golden Idol ; my rank and name must buy me an heiress, if not 
 so endowed as Evelyn, wealthy enough, at least, to take from 
 my wheels the drag-chain of disreputable debt But Evelyn 
 I will not doubt of her ! her heart is still unoccupied ! " 
 
 "True, as yet her affections are not engaged." 
 
 " And this Maltravers she is romantic, I fancy did he seem 
 captivated by her beauty or her fortune ? " 
 
 " No, indeed, I think not ; he has been very little with us of 
 late. He talked to her more as to a child there is a disparity 
 of years." 
 
 " I am many years older than Maltravers," muttered Vargrave, 
 moodily. 
 
 " You but your manner is livelier, and, therefore, younger ! " 
 
 " Fair flatterer ! Maltravers does not love me : I fear his report 
 of my character " 
 
 " I never heard him speak of you, Vargrave ; and I will do 
 Evelyn the justice to say, that precisely as she does not love 
 she esteems and respects you." 
 
 " Esteems respects these are the feelings for a prudent 
 Hymen," said Vargrave, with a smile. " But, hark ! I don't 
 hear the billiard-balls; they may find us here we had better 
 separate." " 
 
 Lord Vargrave lounged into the billiard-room. The young 
 men had just finished playing, and were about to visit 
 Thunderer, who had won the race, and was now the property 
 of Lord Doltimore. 
 
 Vargrave accompanied them to the stables ; and after con-
 
 134 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 cealing his ignorance of horseflesh as well as he could, beneath 
 a profusion of compliments on fore-hand, hind-quarters, breeding, 
 bone, substance, and famous points, he contrived to draw Dolti- 
 more into the court-yard, while Colonel Legard remained in 
 converse high with the head groom. 
 
 "Doltimore, I leave Knaresdean to-morrow r you go to 
 London, I suppose? Will you take a little packet for me to 
 the Home Office?" 
 
 " Certainly, when I go ; but I think of staying a few days 
 with Legard's uncle the old admiral he has a hunting-box 
 in the neighbourhood, and has asked us both over." 
 
 "Oh, 'I can detect the attraction but certainly it is a fair 
 one the handsomest girl in the county ; pity she has no money." 
 4 " I don't care for money," said Lord Doltimore, colouring 
 and settling his chin in his neckcloth ; " but you are mistaken ; 
 I have no thoughts that way. Miss Merton is a very fine girl ; 
 but I doubt much if she cares for me. I would never marry 
 any woman who was not very much in love with me." And 
 Lord Doltimore laughed rather foolishly. 
 
 "You are more modest than clear-sighted," said Vargrave 
 smiling ; " but mark my words I predict that the beauty of 
 next season will be a certain Caroline Lady Doltimore." 
 
 The conversation dropped. 
 
 " I think that will be settled well," said Vargrave to himself, 
 as he was dressing for dinner. " Caroline will manage Doltimore, 
 and I shall manage one vote in the Lords and three in the Com- 
 mons. I have already talked him into proper politics ; a trifle 
 all this, to be sure : but I had nothing else to amuse me, and 
 one must never lose an occasion. Besides, Doltimore is rich, 
 and rich friends are always useful. I have Caroline, too, in my 
 power, and she may be of service with respect to this Evelyn, 
 who, instead of loving, I half hate : she has crossed my path, 
 robbed me of wealth ; and now if she does refuse me but no, 
 I will not think of that I n
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 135 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 * Out of our reach the gods have laid 
 
 Of time to come the event ; 
 And laugh to see the fools afraid 
 
 Of what the knaves invent" SEDLEY, from Lycophron. 
 
 THE next day Caroline returned to the rectory in Lady 
 Raby's carriage; and two hours after her arrival came Lord 
 Vargrave. Mr. Merton had secured the principal persons in 
 the neighbourhood to meet a guest so distinguished, and Lord 
 Vargrave, bent on shining in the eyes of Evelyn, charmed all 
 with his affability and wit. Evelyn, he thought, seemed pale 
 and dispirited. He pertinaciously devoted himself to her all 
 the evening. Her ripening understanding was better able than 
 heretofore to appreciate his abilities ; yet, inwardly, she drew 
 comparisons between his conversation and that of Maltravers, 
 not to the advantage of the former. There was much that 
 amused, but nothing that interested in Lord Vargrave's fluent 
 ease. When he attempted sentiment, the vein was hard and 
 hollow ; he was- only at home on worldly topics. Caroline's 
 spirits were, as usual in society, high, but her laugh seemed 
 forced, and her eye absent. 
 
 The next day, after breakfast, Lord Vargrave walked alone to 
 Burleigh : as he crossed the copse that bordered the park, a large 
 Persian greyhound sprang towards him, barking loudly ; and, 
 lifting his eyes, he perceived the form of a man walking slowly 
 along one of the paths that intersected the wood. He recognised 
 Maltravers. They had not till then encountered since their 
 meeting a few weeks before Florence's death; and a pang of 
 conscience came across the schemer's cold heart. Years rolled 
 away from the past he recalled the young, generous, ardent 
 man, whom, ere the character or career of either had been 
 developed, he had called his friend. He remembered their wild 
 adventures and gay follies, in climes where they had been all in 
 all to each other ; and the beardless boy, whose heart and
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MASTERIES. 
 
 purse were ever open to him, and to whose very errors of youth 
 and inexperienced passion, he, the elder and the wiser, had led 
 and tempted, rose before him in contrast to the grave and 
 melancholy air of the baffled and solitary man, who now slowly 
 approached him the man whose proud career he had served to 
 thwart whose heart his schemes had prematurely soured whose 
 best years had been consumed in exile a sacrifice to the grave 
 which a selfish and dishonourable villany had prepared! 
 Cesarini, the inmate of a mad-house Florence in her shroud 
 such were the visions the sight of Maltravers conjured up. 
 And to the soul which the unwonted and momentary remorse 
 awakened, a boding voice whispered " And thinkest thou that 
 thy schemes shall prosper, and thy aspirations succeed ? " For 
 the first time in his life, perhaps, the unimaginative Vargrave 
 felt the mystery of a presentiment of warning and of evil. 
 
 The two men met and with an emotion which seemed that of 
 honest and real feeling, Lumley silently held out his hand, and 
 half turned away his head. 
 
 " Lord Vargrave ! " said Maltravers, with an equal agitation, 
 "it is long since we have encountered." 
 
 " Long very long," answered Lumley, striving hard to regain 
 his self-possession ; " years have changed us both ; but I trust it 
 has still left in you, as it has in me, the remembrance of our old 
 friendship." 
 
 Maltravers was silent, and Lord Vargrave continued 
 
 " You do not answer me, Maltravers : can political differences, 
 opposite pursuits, or the mere lapse of time, have sufficed to 
 create an irrevocable gulf between us ? Why may we not be . 
 friends again ? " 
 
 " Friends ! " echoed Maltravers ; " at our age that word is not 
 so lightly spoken that tie is not so unthinkingly formed as 
 when we were younger men." 
 
 " But may not the old tie be renewed ?" 
 
 " Our ways in life are different ; and were I to scan your 
 motives and career with the scrutinizing eyes of friendship, it 
 might only serve to separate us yet more. I am sick of the 
 great juggle of ambition, and I have no sympathy left for those 
 who creep into the pint-bottle, or swallow the naked sword."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " If you despise the exhibition, why, then, let us laugh at it 
 together, for I am as cynical as yourself." 
 
 "Ah 1" said Maltravers with a smile, half mournful, half bitter, 
 " but are you not one of the Impostors ? " 
 
 "Who ought better to judge of the Eleusiniana than one of 
 the Initiated ? But seriously, why on earth should political 
 differences part piivate friendship? Thank Heaven! such has 
 never been my maxim." 
 
 " If the differences be the result of honest convictions on 
 either side. No. But are you honest, Lumley ? " 
 
 " Faith, I have got into the habit of thinking so ; and habit's 
 a second nature. However, I dare say we shall yet meet in 
 the arena, so I must not betray my weak points. How is it, 
 Maltravers, that they see so little of you at the rectory ? you 
 are a great favourite there. Have you any living that Charley 
 Merton could hold with his own ? You shake your head. And 
 what think you of Miss Cameron, my intended ? " 
 
 " You speak lightly. Perhaps you " 
 
 " Feel deeply, you were going to say. I do. In the hand 
 of my ward, Evelyn Cameron, I trust to obtain at once the 
 domestic happiness to which I have as yet been a stranger, and 
 the wealth necessary to my career." 
 
 Lord Vargrave continued, after a short pause, " Though my 
 avocations have separated us so much, I have no doubt of her 
 steady affection, and I may add, of her sense of honour. She 
 alone es.n repair to me what else had been injustice in my 
 uncle." He then proceeded to repeat the moral obligations 
 which the late lord had imposed on Evelyn ; obligations that 
 he greatly magnified. Maltravers listened attentively, and said 
 little. 
 
 " And these obligations being fairly considered," added 
 Vargrave, with a smile, " I think, even had I rivals, that they 
 could scarcely in honour attempt to break an existing 
 engagement. 
 
 " Not while the engagement lasted," answered Maltravers ; 
 " not till one or the other had declined to fulfil it, and therefore 
 left both free: but I trust it will be an alliance in which all but
 
 138 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 affection will be forgotten that of honour alone would be but 
 a harsh tie." 
 
 " Assuredly," said Vargrave ; and, as if satisfied with what had 
 passed, he turned the conversation praised Burleigh spoke of 
 county matters resumed his habitual gaiety, though it was 
 somewhat subdued and, promising to call again soon, he at last 
 took his leave. 
 
 Maltravers pursued his solitary rambles : and his commune 
 with himself was stern and searching. 
 
 " And so," thought he, " this prize is reserved for Vargrave ! 
 Why should I deem him unworthy of the treasure ? May he 
 not be worthier, at all events, than this soured temper and 
 erring heart ? And he is assured too of her affection ! 
 Why this jealous pang? Why can the fountain within never 
 be exhausted ? Why, through so many scenes and sufferings, 
 have I still retained the vain madness of my youth the 
 haunting susceptibility to love ? This is my latest folly."
 
 BOOK IV. 
 
 TvvaiKos ov 
 
 'E<r0XJ)? aptivov. SlMONIDES. 
 
 A virtuous woman is man's greatest pride 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 * Abroad uneasy, nor content at home. 
 
 * 
 
 And Wisdom shows the ill without the cure." HAMMOND t Elegits. 
 
 Two or three days after the interview between Lord Vargrave 
 and Maltravers, the solitude of Burleigh was relieved by the 
 arrival of Mr. Cleveland. The good old gentleman, when free 
 from attacks of the gout, which were now somewhat more 
 frequent than formerly, was the same cheerful and intelligent 
 person as ever. Amiable, urbane, accomplished, and benevolent 
 there was just enough worldliness in Cleveland's nature to 
 make his views sensible as far as they went, but to bound their 
 scope. Everything he said was so rational arid yet, to an 
 imaginative person, his conversation was unsatisfactory, and his 
 philosophy somewhat chilling. 
 
 " I cannot say how pleased and surprised I am at your care of 
 the fine old place," said he to Maltravers, as, leaning on his cane 
 and his ci-devant pupil's arm, he loitered observantly through 
 the grounds ; " I see everywhere the presence of the Master."
 
 140 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 And certainly the praise was deserved ! the gardens were 
 now in order the dilapidated fences were repaired the weeds 
 no longer encumbered the walks. Nature was just assisted and 
 relieved by Art, without being oppressed by too officious a 
 service from her handmaid. In the house itself some suitable 
 and appropriate repairs and decorations with such articles of 
 furniture as combined modern comfort with the ancient and 
 picturesque shapes of a former fashion had redeemed the 
 mansion from all appearance of dreariness and neglect ; while 
 still was left to its quaint halls and chambers the character 
 which belonged to their architecture and associations. It. was 
 surprising how much a little exercise of simple taste had effected. 
 
 " I am glad you approve what I have done," said Maltravers. 
 " I know not how it was, but the desolation of the place when . 
 I returned to it reproached me. We contract friendship with 
 places as with human beings, and fancy they have claims upon 
 us ; at least, that is my weakness." 
 
 " And an amiable one it is, too I share it. As for me, I look 
 upon Temple Grove as a fond husband upon a fair wife. I am 
 always anxious to adorn it, and as proud of its beauty as if it 
 cGuld understand and thank me for my partial admiration. 
 When I leave you I intend going to Paris, for the purpose of 
 attending a sale of the pictures and effects of Monsieur De 
 
 . These auctions are to me what a jeweller's shop is to a 
 
 lover ; but, then, Ernest, I am an old bachelor." 
 
 " And I, too, am an Arcadian," said Maltravers, with a smile. 
 
 " Ah, but you are not too old for repentance. Burleigh now 
 requires nothing but a mistress." 
 
 "Perhaps it may soon receive that addition. I am yet 
 undecided whether I shall sell it." 
 
 " Sell it ! sell Burlegh ! the last memorial of your mother's 
 ancestry ! the classic retreat of the graceful Digbys I Sell 
 Burleigh ! " 
 
 "I had almost resolved to do so when I came hither; then I 
 forswore the intention : now again I sometimes sorrowfully 
 return to the idea." 
 
 * And in Heaven's name, why ? " 
 
 " My old restlessness returns. Busy myself as I will here. I find
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 141 
 
 the range of action monotonous and confined. I began too 
 soon to draw around me the large circumference of literature 
 and action ; and the small provincial sphere seems to me a sad 
 going back in life. Perhaps I should not feel this, were my home 
 less lonely ; but as it is no, the wanderer's ban is on me, and I 
 again turn towards the lands of excitement and adventure." 
 
 " I understand this, Ernest ; but why is your home so solitary ? 
 You are still at the age in which wise and congenial unions are 
 the most frequently formed ; your temper is domestic your easy 
 fortune and sobered ambition allow you to choose without 
 reference to worldly considerations. Look round the world, and 
 mix with the world again, and give Burleigh the mistress it 
 requires." 
 
 Maltravers shook his head, and sighed. 
 
 " I do not say," continued Cleveland, wrapt in the glowing 
 interest of the theme, " that you should marry a mere girl but 
 an amiable woman, who, like yourself, has seen something of life, 
 and knows how to reckon on its cares, and to be contented 
 with its enjoyments." 
 
 "You have said enough," said Maltravers, impatiently ; "an ex- 
 perienced woman of the world, whose freshness of hope and heart 
 is gone ! What a picture ! No, to me there is something inex- 
 pressibly beautiful in innocence and youth. But you say justly 
 my years are not those that would make a union with youth 
 desirable or well suited." 
 
 "I do not say that," said Cleveland, taking a pinch of snuff; 
 " but you should avoid great disparity of age not for the sake 
 of that disparity itself, but because with it is involved discord of 
 temper pursuits. A very young woman, new to the world, will 
 not be contented with home alone; you are at once too gentle 
 to curb her wishes, and a little too stern and reserved (pardon 
 me for saying so) to be quite congenial to very early and 
 sanguine youth." 
 
 " It is true," said Maltravers, with a tone of voice that showed 
 he was struck with the remark ; " but how have we fallen on 
 this subject ? let us change it I have no idea of marriage the 
 gloomy reminiscence of Florence Lascelles chains me to the 
 past."
 
 142 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Poor Florence, she might once have suited you, but now you 
 are older, and would require a calmer and more malleable 
 temper." 
 
 Peace, I implore you !" 
 
 The conversation was changed ; and at noon Mr. Merton, who 
 had heard of Cleveland's arrival, called at Burleigh to renew an 
 old acquaintance. He invited them to pass the evening at the 
 rectory ; and Cleveland, hearing that whist was a regular amuse- 
 ment, accepted the invitation for his host and himself. But 
 when the evening came, Maltravess pleaded indisposition, and 
 Cleveland was obliged to go alone. 
 
 When the old gentleman returned about midnight, he found 
 Maltravers awaiting him in the library ; and Cleveland, having 
 won fourteen points, was in a very gay, conversable humour. 
 
 "You perverse hermit!" said he, "talk of solitude, indeed, 
 with so pleasant a family a hundred yards distant ! You 
 deserve to be solitary I have no patience with you. They 
 complain bitterly of your desertion, and say you were, at first, 
 the enfant de la maison" 
 
 " So you like the Mertons ? The clergyman is sensible, but 
 commonplace." 
 
 "A very agreeable man, despite your cyniqal definition, 
 and plays a very fair rubber. But Vargrave is a first-rate 
 player." 
 
 " Vargrave is there still ? " 
 
 " Yes, he breakfasts with us to-morrow he invited himself." 
 
 " Humph ! " 
 
 " He played one rubber ; the rest of the evening he devoted 
 himself to the prettiest girl I ever saw Miss Cameron. What 
 a sweet face ! so modest, yet so intelligent ! I talked with 
 her a good deal during the deals, in which I cut out. I almost 
 lost my heart to her." 
 
 " So Lord Vargrave devoted himself to Miss Cameron ? " 
 
 " To be sure, you know they are to be married soon. Merton 
 told me so. She is very rich. He is the luckiest fellow 
 imaginable, that Vargrave! But he is much too old for her: 
 she seems to think so too. I can't explain why I think it ; but 
 by her pretty reserved manner I saw that she tried to keep the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 143 
 
 gay minister at a distance : but it would not do. Now, if you 
 were ten years younger, or Miss Cameron ten years older, you 
 might have had some chance of cutting out your old friend." 
 
 " So you think I also am too old for a lover ? " 
 
 " For a lover of a girl of seventeen, certainly. You seem 
 touchy on the score of age, Ernest." 
 
 " Not I ; " and Maltravers laughed. 
 
 " No ! There was a young gentleman 'present, who, I think, 
 Vargrave might really find a dangerous rival a Colonel Legard 
 one of the handsomest men I ever saw in my life; just the 
 style to turn a romantic young lady's head ; a mixture of the 
 wild and the thoroughbred ; black curls superb eyes and the 
 softest manners in the world. But, to be sure, he has lived all 
 his. life in the best society. Not so his friend, Lord Doltimore, 
 who has a little too much of the green-room lounge and French 
 cafi manner for my taste." 
 
 " Doltimore Legard names new to me ; I never met them 
 at the rectory." 
 
 "Possibly they are staying at Admiral Legard's, in the 
 neighbourhood. Miss Merton made their acquaintance at 
 Knaresdean. A good old lady the most perfect Mrs. 
 Grundy one would wish to meet with who owns the mono- 
 syllabic appellation of Hare (and who, being my partner, 
 trumped my king !) assured me that Lord Doltimore was 
 desperately in love with Caroline Merton. By the way, 
 now, there is a young lady of a proper age for you hand- 
 some and clever, too." 
 
 " You talk of antidotes to matrimony : and so Miss 
 Cameron " 
 
 " Oh, no more of Miss Cameron now, or I shall sit up all 
 night ; she has half turned my head. I can't help pitying her 
 married to one so careless and worldly as Lord Vargrave 
 thrown so young into the whirl of London. Poor thing ! she had 
 better have fallen in love with Legard ; which I dare say she 
 will do, after all Well, good night 1 "
 
 144 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "Passion, as frequently is seen, 
 Subsiding, settles into spleen ; 
 Hence, as the plague of happy life, 
 I ran away, from party strife." MATTHEW GREEN. 
 
 " Here nymphs from hollow oaks relate 
 The dark decrees and will of fate." Ibid, 
 
 ACCORDING to his engagement, Vargrave breakfasted the 
 next morning at Burleigh. Maltravers, at first, struggled to 
 return his familiar cordiality with equal graciousness. Con- 
 demning himself for former and unfounded suspicions he 
 wrestled against feelings which he could not or would not 
 analyse, but which made Lumley an unwelcome visitor, and 
 connected him with painful associations, whether of the present 
 or the past. But there were points on which the penetration of 
 Maltravers served to justify his prepossessions. 
 
 The conversation, chiefly sustained by Cleveland and Vargrave, 
 fell on public questions ; and, as one was opposed to the other, 
 Vargrave's exposition of views and motives had in them so much 
 of the self-seeking of the professional placeman, that they might 
 well have offended any man tinged by the lofty mania of political 
 Quixotism. It was with a strange mixture of feelings that 
 Maltravers listened : at one moment he proudly congratulated 
 himself on having quitted a career where such opinions seemed 
 so well to prosper: at another, his better and juster sentiments 
 awoke the long-dormant combative faculty, and he almost 
 longed for the turbulent but sublime arena, in which truths are 
 vindicated and mankind advanced. 
 
 The interview did not serve for that renewal of intimacy which 
 Vargrave appeared to seek, and Maltravers rejoiced when the 
 placeman took his departure. 
 
 Lumley, who was about to pay a morning visit to Lord Dolti- 
 more, had borrowed Mr. Merton's stanhope, as being better 
 adapted than any statelier vehicle to get rapidly through the 
 cross-roads which led to Admiral Legard's house ; and as he
 
 .ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 145 
 
 settled himself in the seat, with his servant by his side, he said, 
 laughingly, " I almost fancy myself naughty master Lumley again 
 in this young- man-kind of two-wheeled cockle-boat: not dignf- 
 fied, but rapid, eh ? " 
 
 And Lum ley's face, as he spoke, had in it so much of frank 
 gaiety, and his manner was so simple, that Maltravers could 
 with difficulty fancy him the same man who, five minutes before, 
 had been uttering sentiments that might have become the 
 oldest-hearted intriguer whom the hot-bed of ambition ever 
 reared. 
 
 As soon as Lumley was gone, Maltravers left Cleveland alone 
 to write letters (Cleveland was an exemplary and voluminous 
 correspondent) and strolled with his dogs into the village. The 
 effect which the presence of Maltravers produced among his 
 peasantry was one that seldom failed to refresh and soothe his 
 more bitter and disturbed thoughts. They had gradually (for 
 the poor are quick-sighted) become sensible of his justice a 
 finer quality than many that seem more amiable. They felt 
 that his real object was to make them better and happier ; and 
 they had learned to see that the means he adopted generally 
 advanced the end. Besides, if sometimes stern, he was never 
 capricious or unreasonable ; and then, too, he would listen 
 patiently and advise kindly. They were a little in awe of him, 
 but the awe only served to make them more industrious and 
 orderly ; to stimulate the idle man to reclaim the drunkard. 
 He was one of the favourers of the small-allotment system ; not, 
 indeed, as a panacea, but as one excellent stimulant to exertion 
 and independence: and his chosen rewards for good conduct 
 were in such comforts as served to awaken amongst those " 
 hitherto passive, dogged, and hopeless, a desire to better and 
 improve their condition. Somehow or other, without direct 
 alms, the good wife found that the little savings in the cracked 
 teapot or the old stocking had greatly increased since the 
 squire's retrirn, while her husband came home from his moderate 
 cups at the alehouse more sober and in better temper. Having 
 already saved something was a great reason why he should save 
 more. The new school, too, was so much better conducted than 
 the old one; the children actually liked going there ; and now 
 
 K
 
 146 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and then there were little village feasts connected with the 
 schoolroom ; play and work were joint associations. 
 And Maltravers looked into his cottages, and looked at the 
 allotment-ground ; and it was pleasant to him to say to himself, 
 " I am not altogether without use in life." But as he pursued his 
 lonely walk, and the glow of self-approval died away with the 
 scenes that called it forth, the cloud again settled on his brow ; 
 and again he felt that, in solitude, the passions feed upon the 
 neart. As he thus walked along the green lane, and the insect 
 life of summer rustled audibly among the shadowy hedges, and 
 along the thick grass that sprang up on either side, he came 
 suddenly upon a little group that arrested all his attention. 
 
 It was a woman, clad in rags, bleeding, and seemingly in- 
 sensible, supported by the overseer of the parish and a labourer. 
 
 " What is the matter ? " asked Maltravers. 
 
 " A poor woman has been knocked down and run over by a 
 gentleman in a gig, your honour," replied the overseer. " He 
 stopped, half an hour ago, at my house to tell me that she was 
 lying on the road ; and he has given me two sovereigns for her, 
 your honour. But, poor cretur! she was too heavy for me to 
 carry her, and I was forced to leave her and call Torn to help 
 me." 
 
 "The gentleman might have stayed to see what were the 
 consequences of his own act," muttered Maltravers, as he ex- 
 amined the wound in the temple, whence the blood flowed 
 copiously. 
 
 " He said he was in a great hurry, your honour," said the 
 village official, overhearing Maltravers. " I think it was one 
 of the grand folks up at the parsonage ; for I know it was Mr. 
 Merton's bay horse he is a hot 'un !" 
 
 " Does the poor woman live in the neighbourhood ? Do you 
 know her ? " asked Maltravers turning from the contemplation 
 of this new instance of Vargrave's selfishness of character. 
 
 " No ; the old body seems quite a stranger here a tramper, 
 or beggar, I think sir. But it won't be a settlement if we take 
 her in ; and we can carry her to the Chequers, up the village, 
 your honour." 
 
 " What is the nearest house your own ? "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 147 
 
 " Yes ; but we be so busy now ! " 
 
 " She shall not go to your house, and be neglected. And as 
 for the public-house it is too noisy : we must move her to the 
 Hall." 
 
 " Your honour ! " ejaculated the overseer, opening his eyes. 
 
 " It is not very far ; she is severely hurt. Get a hurdle lay a 
 mattress on it. Make haste, both of you ; I will wait here till 
 you return." 
 
 The poor woman was carefully placed on the grass by the 
 road-side, and Maltravers supported her head, while the men 
 hastened to obey his orders. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Alse from that forked hill, the boasted seat 
 Of studious Peace and mild Philosophy, 
 Indignant murmurs mote be heard to threat." WEST. 
 
 MR. CLEVELAND wanted to enrich one of his letters with a 
 quotation from Ariosto, which he but imperfectly remembered. 
 He had seen the book he wished to refer to in the little study, 
 the day before ; and he quitted the library to search for it. 
 
 As he was tumbling over some volumes that lay piled on the 
 writing table, he felt a student's curiosity to discover what now 
 constituted his host's favourite reading. He was surprised to 
 observe that the greater portion of the works that, by the 
 doubled leaf and the pencilled reference, seemed most frequently 
 consulted, were not of a literary nature they were chiefly 
 scientific ; and astronomy seemed the chosen science. He then 
 remembered that he had heard Maltravers speaking to a builder, 
 employed on the recent repairs, on the subject of an observa- 
 tory. " This is very strange," thought Cleveland " he gives up 
 liteiature, the rewards of which are in his reach, and turns to 
 science, at an age too late to discipline his mind to its austere 
 training." 
 
 K 2
 
 148 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Alas ! Cleveland did not understand that there are times in 
 life when imaginative minds seek to numb and to blunt ima- 
 gination. Still less did he feel that, when we perversely refuse 
 to apply our active faculties to the catholic interests of the 
 world, they turn morbidly into channels of research the least 
 akin to their real genius. By the collision of minds alone does 
 each mind discover what is its proper product : left to ourselves, 
 our talents become but intellectual eccentricities. 
 
 Some scattered papers, in the handwriting of Maltravers, fell 
 from one of the volumes. Of these, a few were but algebraical 
 calculations, or short scientific suggestions, the value of which 
 Mr. Cleveland's studies did not enable him to ascertain ; but in 
 others they were wild snatches of mournful and impassioned 
 verse, which showed that the old vein of poetry still flowed, 
 though no longer to the daylight. These verses Cleveland 
 thought himself justified in glancing over ; they seemed to por- 
 tray a state of mind which deeply interested, and greatly 
 saddened him. They expressed, indeed, a firm determination 
 to bear up against both the memory and the fear of ill ; but 
 mysterious and hinted allusions here and there served to denote 
 some recent and yet existent struggle, revealed by the heart 
 only to the genius. In these partial and imperfect self-commun- 
 ings and confessions, there was the evidence of the pining 
 affections, the wasted life, the desolate hearth of the lonely man. 
 Yet, so calm was Maltravers himself, even to his early friend, 
 that Cleveland knew not what to think of the reality of the 
 feelings painted. Had that fervid and romantic spirit been 
 again awakened by a living object ? if so, where was the object 
 found ? The dates affixed to the verses were most recent. But 
 whom had Maltravers seen ? Cleveland's thoughts turned to 
 Caroline Merton to Evelyn ; but, when he had spoken of both, 
 nothing in the countenance, the manner, of Maltravers had be- 
 trayed emotion. And once the heart of Maltravers had so 
 readily betrayed itself! Cleveland knew not how pride, years, 
 and suffering school the features, and repress the outward signs 
 of what pass within. While thus engaged, the door of the study 
 opened abruptly, and the servant announced Mr. Merton. 
 "A thousand pardons," said the courteous rector. "I fear we
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES, 149 
 
 disturb you ; but Admiral Legard and Lord Doltimore, who 
 called on us this morning, were so anxious to see Burleigh, I 
 thought I might take the liberty. We have come over quite in 
 a large party taken the place by storm. Mr. Maltravers is out, 
 I hear ; but you will let us see the house. My allies are already 
 in the hall, examining the armour." 
 
 Cleveland, ever sociable and urbane, answered suitably, and 
 went with Mr. Merton into the hall, where Caroline, her little 
 sisters, Evelyn, Lord Doltimore, Admiral Legard, and his 
 nephew were assembled. 
 
 "Very proud to be my host's representative and your guide," 
 said Cleveland. "Your visit, Lord Doltimore, is indeed an 
 agreeable surprise. Lord Vargrave left us an hour or so since 
 to call on you at Admiral Legard's : we buy our pleasure with 
 his disappointment." 
 
 " It is very unfortunate," said the admiral, a bluff, harsh- 
 looking, old gentleman; "but we were not aware, till we saw 
 Mr. Merton, of the honour Lord Vargrave has done us. I can't 
 think how we missed him on the road." 
 
 " My dear uncle," said Colonel Legard, in a peculiarly sweet 
 and agreeable tone of voice, " you forget ; we came three miles 
 round by the high road ; and Mr. Merton says that Lord 
 Vargrave took the short cut by Langley End. My uncle, Mr. 
 Cleveland, never feels in safety upon land, unless the road is as 
 wide as the British Channel, and the horses go before the wind 
 at the rapid pace of two knots and a half an hour !" 
 
 " I just wish I had you at sea, Mr. Jackanapes," said the 
 admiral, looking grimly at his handsome nephew, while he shook 
 his cane at him. 
 
 The nephew smiled ; and, falling back, conversed with 
 Evelyn. 
 
 The party were now shown over the house ; and Lcrd 
 Doltimore was loud in its praises. It was like a chateau he had 
 once hired in Normandy it had a French character ; those old 
 chairs were in excellent taste quite the style of Francis the 
 First. '-'fc : 
 
 " I know no man I respect more than Mr. Maltravers," quoth 
 the admiral. " Since he has been amongst us this time, he has
 
 ISO ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 been a pattern to us country gentlemen. He would make an 
 excellent colleague for Sir John. We really must get him to 
 stand against that young puppy who is member of the House 
 of Commons only because his father is a peer, and never votes 
 more than twice a session." 
 
 Mr. Merton looked grave. 
 
 " I wish to Heaven you could persuade him to stay amongst 
 you," said Cleveland. " He has half taken it into his head to part 
 with Burleigh!" 
 
 " Part with Burleigh ! " exclaimed Evelyn, turning abruptly 
 from the handsome colonel, in whose conversation she had 
 hitherto seemed absorbed. 
 
 " My very ejaculation when I heard him say so, my dear 
 young lady." 
 
 " I wish he would," said Lord Doltimore hastily, and glancing 
 towards Caroline. "I should much like to buy it. What do 
 you think would be the purchase-money ? " 
 
 " Don't talk so cold-bloodedly," said the admiral, letting the 
 point of his cane fall with great emphasis on the floor. " I 
 can't bear to see old families deserting their old places quite 
 wicked. You buy Burleigh ! have not you got a country-seat 
 of your own, my lord ? Go and live there, and take 
 Mr. Maltravers for your model you could not have a 
 better." 
 
 Lord Doltimore sneered coloured settled his neckcloth 
 and, turning round to Colonel Legard, whispered, "Legard, 
 your good uncle is a bore." 
 
 Legard looked a little offended, and made no reply. 
 
 " But," said Caroline, coming to the relief of her admirer, " if 
 Mr. Maltravers will sell the place, surely he could not have a 
 better successor." 
 
 " He sha'n't sell the place, ma'am, and that's poz ! " cried the 
 admiral. " The whole county shall sign a round-robin to tell 
 him it's a shame ; and if any one dares to buy it we'll send him 
 to Coventry." 
 
 Miss Merton laughed ; but looked rgund the old wainscot walls 
 with unusual interest ; she thought it would be a fine thing- to be 
 Lady of Burleigh I
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 151 
 
 " And what is that picture so carefully covered up ? " said the 
 admiral, as they now stood in the library. 
 
 " The late Mrs. Maltravers, Ernest's mother," replied Cleve- 
 land, slowly " He dislikes it to be shown to strangers : the 
 other is a Digby." 
 
 Evelyn looked towards the veiled portrait, and thought of her 
 first interview with Maltravers ; but the soft voice of Colonel 
 Legard murmured in her ear, and her reverie was broken. 
 
 Cleveland eyed the colonel, and muttered to himself, " Var- 
 grave should keep a sharp look-out" 
 
 They had now finished their round of the show-apartments 
 which, indeed had little but their antiquity and old portraits to 
 recommend them and were in a lobby at the back of the house, 
 communicating with a court-yard, two sides of which were oc- 
 cupied with the stables. The sight of the stables reminded 
 Caroline of the Arab horses ; and at the word " horses " Lord 
 Doltimore seized Legard's arm and carried him off to inspect 
 the animals ; Caroline, her father, and the admiral followed. 
 Mr. Cleveland happened not to have on his walking-shoes; and 
 the flagstones in the court-yard looked damp ; and Mr. Cleve- 
 land, like most old bachelors, was prudently afraid of cold ; so he 
 excused himself, and stayed behind. He was talking to Evelyn 
 about the Digbys, and full of anecdotes about Sir Kenelm at 
 the moment the rest departed so abruptly ; and Evelyn was 
 interested, so she insisted on keeping him company. 
 
 The old gentleman was flattered ; he thought it excellent 
 breeding in Miss Cameron. The children ran out to renew 
 acquaintance with the peacock, who, perched on an old stirrup- 
 stone, was sunning his gay plumage in the noon-day. 
 
 "It is astonishing," said Cleveland, "how certain family 
 features are transmitted from generation to generation ! Mal- 
 travers has still the forehead and eyebrows of the Digbys that 
 peculiar, brooding, thoughtful forehead, which you observed in 
 the picture of Sir Kenelm. Once, too, he had much the same 
 dreaming character of mind, but he has lost that, in some 
 measure at least He has fjne qualities, Miss Cameron I have 
 known him since he was born. I trust his career is not yet 
 :losed ; could he but form ties that would bind him to England,
 
 152 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 I should indulge in higher expectations than I did even when 
 the wild boy turned half the heads in Gottingen. 
 
 " But we were talking of family portraits there is one in the 
 entrance-hall, which perhaps you have not observed ; it is half 
 obliterated by damp and time yet it is of a remarkable per- 
 sonage, connected with Maltravers by ancestral intermarriages 
 Lord Falkland, the Falkland of Clarendon. A man weak in 
 character, but made most interesting by history. Utterly un- 
 fitted for the severe ordeal of those stormy times ; sighing for 
 peace when his whole soul should have been in war ; and re- 
 pentant alike whether with the Parliament or the king, but still 
 a personage of elegant and endearing associations ; a student- 
 soldier, with a high heart and a gallant spirit. Come and look 
 at his features homely and worn, but with a characteristic air 
 of refinement and melancholy thought." 
 
 Thus running on, the agreeable old gentleman drew Evelyn 
 into the outer hall. Upon arriving there, through a small 
 passage, which opened upon the hall, they were surprised to find 
 the old housekeeper and another female servant standing by a 
 rude kind of couch on which lay the form of the poor woman 
 described in the last chapter. Maltravers and two other men 
 were also there. And Maltravers himself was giving orders to 
 his servants, while he leant over the sufferer, who was now con- 
 scious both of pain and the service rendered to her. As Evelyn 
 stopped abruptly, and in surprise, opposite and almost at the 
 foot of the homely litter, the woman raised herself up on one 
 arm, and gazed at her with a wild stare ; then muttering some 
 incoherent words which appeared to betoken delirium, she sank 
 back, and was again insensible
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 153 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "Hence oft to win some stubborn maid, 
 
 Still does the wanton god assume 
 The maitial air, the gay cockade, 
 
 The sword, the shoulder-knot, and plume." 
 
 MARRIOTT. 
 
 THE hall was cleared, the sufferer had been removed, and 
 Maltravers was left alone with Cleveland and Evelyn. 
 
 He simply and shortly narrated the adventure of the morning ; 
 but he did not mention that Vargrave had been the cause of 
 the injury his new guest had sustained. Now this event had 
 served to make a mutual and kindred impression on Evelyn and 
 Maltravers. The humanity of the latter, natural and common- 
 place as it was, was an endearing recollection to Evelyn, pre- 
 cisely as it showed that his cold theory of disdain towards the 
 mass did not affect his actual conduct towards individuals. On 
 the other hand, Maltravers had perhaps been yet more impressed 
 with the prompt and ingenuous sympathy which Evelyn had 
 testified towards the sufferer: it had so evidently been her first 
 gracious and womanly impulse to hasten to the side of this 
 humble stranger. In that impulse, Maltravers himself had been 
 almost forgotten ; and as the poor woman lay pale and lifeless, 
 and the young Evelyn bent over her in beautiful compassion, 
 Maltravers thought she had never seemed so lovely, so irresist- 
 ible in fact, pity in woman is a great beautifier. 
 
 As Maltravers finished his short tale, Evelyn's eyes were fixed 
 upon him with such frank and yet such soft approval, that the 
 look went straight to his heart. He quickly turned away, and 
 abruptly changed the conversation. 
 
 " But how long have you been here, Miss Cameron, and your 
 companions ? " 
 
 " We are again intruders ; but this time it was not my fault." 
 
 " No," said Cleveland, " for a wonder it was male, and not 
 lady-like curiosity that trespassed on Bluebeard's chamber. But, 
 however, to soften your resentment, know that Miss Cameron
 
 154 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 has brought you a purchaser for Burleigh. Now, then, we can 
 test the sincerity of your wish to part with it I assure you, 
 meanwhile, that Miss Cameron was as much shocked at the idea 
 as I was. Were you not ? " 
 
 " But you surely have no intention of selling Burleigh ? " said 
 Evelyn, anxiously. 
 
 " I fear I do not know my own mind." 
 
 "Well," said Cleveland, "here comes your tempter. Lord 
 Doltimore, let me introduce Mr. Maltravers. 
 
 Lord Doltimore bowed. 
 
 "Been admiring your horses, Mr. Maltravers. I never saw 
 anything so perfect as the black one ; may I ask where you 
 bought him ? " 
 
 " It was a present to me," answered Maltravers. 
 
 "A present?" 
 
 " Yes, from one who would not have sold that horse for a 
 king's ransom : an old Arab chief, with whom I formed a kind 
 of friendship in the desert. A wound disabled him from riding, 
 and he bestowed the horse on me, with as much solemn tender- 
 ness for the gift as if he had given me his daughter in marriage." 
 
 " I think of travelling in the East," said Lord Doltimore, with 
 much gravity : " I suppose nothing will induce you to sell the 
 black horse ? " 
 
 " Lord Doltimore ! " said Maltravers, in a tone of lofty 
 surprise. 
 
 " I do not care for the price," continued the young nobleman, 
 a little disconcerted. 
 
 " No ; I never sell any horse that has once learned to know 
 me. I would as soon think of selling a friend. In the desert, 
 one's horse is one's friend. I am almost an Arab myself in these 
 matters." 
 
 " But talking of sale and barter reminds me of Burleigh," said 
 Cleveland, maliciously. " Lord Doltimore is a universal buyer. 
 He covets all your goods : he will take the house, if he can't 
 have the stables." 
 
 "I only mean," said Lord Doltimore, rather peevishly, "that 
 if you wish to part with Burleigh, I should like to have the 
 option of purchase."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 155 
 
 " I will remember it, if I determine to sell the place," answered 
 Maltravers, smiling gravely ; " at present I am undecided." 
 
 He turned away towards Evelyn as he spoke, and almost 
 started to observe that she was joined by a stranger, whose 
 approach he had not before noticed ; and that stranger a man 
 of such remarkable personal advantages, that, had Mahravers 
 been in Vargrave's position, he might reasonably have 
 experienced a pang of jealous apprehension. Slightly above 
 the common height slender, yet strongly formed set off by 
 every advantage of dress, of air, of the nameless tone and 
 pervading refinement that sometimes, though not always, 
 springs from early and habitual intercourse with the most 
 polished female society Colonel Legard, at the age of-eight- 
 and-twenty, had acquired a reputation for beauty almost as 
 popular and as well known as that which men usually acquire 
 by mental qualifications. Yet there was nothing effeminate in 
 his countenance, the symmetrical features of which were made 
 masculine and expressive by the rich olive of the complexion, 
 and the close jetty curls of the Antinous-like hair. 
 
 They seemed, as they there stood Evelyn and Legard so 
 well suited to each other in personal advantages their different 
 styles so happily contrasted ; and Legard, at the moment, was 
 regarding her with such respectful admiration, and whispering 
 compliment to her in so subdued a tone, that the dullest observer 
 might have ventured a prophecy by no means agreeable to the 
 hopes of Lumley Lord Vargrave. 
 
 But a feeling or fear of this nature was not that which 
 occurred to Maltravers, or dictated his startled exclamation of 
 surprise. 
 
 Legard looked up as he heard the exclamation, and saw 
 Maltravers, whose back had hitherto been turned towards him. 
 He, too, was evidently surprised, and seemingly confused ; the 
 colour mounted to his cheek, and then left it pale. 
 
 " Colonel Legard," said Cleveland, " a thousand apologies for 
 my neglect: I really did not observe you enter you came 
 round by the front door, I suppose. Let me make you 
 acquainted with Mr. Maltravers." 
 
 Legard bowed low.
 
 156 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "We have met before," said he, in embarrassed accents: "at 
 Venice, I think ! " 
 
 Maltravers inclined his head rather stiffly at first, but then, 
 as if moved by a second impulse, held out his hand cordially. 
 
 "Oh, Mr. Ernest, here you are!" cried Sophy, bounding into 
 the hall, followed by Mr. Merton, the old admiral, Caroline, and 
 Cecilia. 
 
 The interruption seemed welcome and opportune. The 
 admiral, with blunt cordiality, expressed his pleasure at being 
 made known to Mr. Maltravers. 
 
 The conversation grew general refreshments were proffered 
 and declined the visit drew to its close. 
 
 It so happened that, as the guests departed, Evelyn, from 
 whose side the constant colonel had insensibly melted away, 
 lingered last, save, indeed, the admiral, who was discussing 
 with Cleveland a new specific for the gout. And as Maltravers 
 stood on the steps, Evelyn turned to him with all her beautiful 
 naivett vi mingled timidity and kindness, and said 
 
 " And are we really never to see you again, never to hear 
 again your tales of Egypt and Arabia never to talk over Tasso 
 and Dante ? No books no talk no disputes no quarrels ? 
 What have we done ? I thought we had made it up and yet 
 you are still unforgiving. Give me a good scold, and be 
 friends!" 
 
 " Friends ! you have no friend more anxious, more devoted 
 than I am. Young, rich, fascinating as you are, you will carve 
 no impression on human hearts deeper than that you have 
 graven here ! " 
 
 Carried away by the charm of her childlike familiarity and 
 enchanting sweetness, Maltravers had said more than he 
 intended : yet his eyes, his emotion, said more than his words. 
 
 Evelyn coloured deeply, and her whole manner changed. 
 However, she turned away, and saying, with a forced gaiety, 
 " Well, then, you will not desert us we shall see you once 
 more ? " hurried down the steps to join her companions.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 157 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 * See how the skilful lover spreads his toils." STILLINGFLEET. 
 
 THE party had not long returned to the rectory, and the 
 admiral's carriage was ordered, when Lord Vargrave made his 
 appearance. He descanted with gay good-humour on his long 
 drive the bad roads and his disappointment at the contre- 
 temps that awaited him ; then, drawing aside Colonel Legard, 
 who seemed unusually silent and abstracted, he said to him 
 
 " My dear colonel, my visit this morning was rather to you 
 than to Doltimore. I confess that I should like to see your 
 abilities enlisted on the side of the Government ; and knowing 
 that the post of Storekeeper to the Ordnance will be vacant in 
 
 a day or two by the promotion of Mr. , I wrote to secure 
 
 the refusal to-day's post brings me the answer. I offer the 
 place to you ; and I trust, before long, to procure you also a 
 seat in parliament. But you must start for London imme- 
 diately." 
 
 A week ago, and Legard's utmost ambition would have been 
 amply gratified by this post ; he now hesitated. 
 
 " My dear lord," said he, " I cannot say how grateful I feel 
 for your kindness ; but but " 
 
 " Enough : no thanks, my dear Legard. Can you go to town 
 to-morrow ? " 
 
 " Indeed," said Legard, " I fear not ; I must consult my uncle." 
 
 " I can answer for him ; I sounded him before I wrote 
 reflect ! You are not rich, my dear Legard ; it is an excellent 
 opening : a seat in Parliament, too ! Why, what can be your 
 reason for hesitation ? " 
 
 There was something meaning and inquisitive in the tone of 
 voice in which this question was put that brought the colour to 
 the colonel's cheek. He knew not well what to reply ; and he 
 began, too, to think that he ought not to refuse the appointment. 
 Nay, would his uncle, on whom he was dependent, consent to
 
 158 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 such a refusal ?. Lord Vargrave saw the irresolution, and pro- 
 ceeded. He spent ten miuntes in combating every scruple, every 
 objection : he placed all the advantages of the post, real or ima- 
 ginary, in every conceivable point of view before the colonel's 
 eyes ; he sought to flatter, to wheedle, to coax, to weary him 
 into accepting it ; and he at length partially succeeded. The 
 colonel petitioned for three days' consideration, which Vargrave 
 reluctantly acceded to ; and Legard then stepped into his 
 uncle's carriage, with the air rather of a martyr, than a maiden 
 placeman. 
 
 " Aha ! " said Vargrave, chuckling to himself as he took a turn 
 in the grounds, " I have got rid of that handsome knave ; and 
 now I shall have Evelyn all to myself! " 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 '* I am forfeited to eternal disgrace if you do not commiserate. 
 
 ** 
 
 Go to, then, raise recover." BEN JONSON : Poetaster. 
 
 THE next morning Admiral Legard and his nephew were 
 conversing in the little cabin consecrated by the name of the 
 admiral's "own room." 
 
 " Yes," said the veteran, " it would be moonshine and madness 
 not to accept Vargrave's offer ; though one can see through such 
 a millstone as that with half an eye. His lordship is jealous of 
 such a fine, handsome young fellow as you are and very justly. 
 But as long as he is under the same roof with Miss Cameron, 
 you will have no opportunity to pay your court ; when he goes, 
 you can always manage to be in her neighbourhood ; and then, 
 you know puppy that you are her business will be very soon 
 settled." And the admiral eyed the handsome colonel with grim 
 fondness. 
 
 Legard sighed. 
 
 " Have you any commands at ? " said he ; "I am just 
 
 going to canter over there before Doltimore is up."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 159 
 
 " Sad lazy dog, your friend." 
 
 " I shall be back by twelve." 
 
 "What are you going to for?" 
 
 " Brookes, the farrier, has a little spaniel King Charles's 
 breed. Miss Cameron is fond of dogs. I can send it to her, 
 with my compliments it will be a sort of leave-taking." 
 
 " Sly rogue ; ha, ha, ha ! d d sly ; ha, ha ! " and the 
 
 admiral punched the slender waist of his nephew, and laughed 
 till the tears ran down his cheeks. 
 
 " Good-bye, sir." 
 
 "Stop, George ; I forgot to ask you a question ; you never told 
 me you knew Mr. Maltravers. Why don't you cultivate his 
 acquaintance ? " 
 
 " We met at Venice accidentally. I did not know his name 
 then ; he left just as I arrived. As you say, I ought to cultivate 
 his acquaintance." 
 
 " Fine character ! " 
 
 " Very ! " said Legard, with energy, as he abruptly quitted the 
 room. 
 
 George Legard was an orphan. His father the admiral's 
 elder brother had been a spendthrift man of fashion, with a 
 tolerably large unentailed estate. He married a duke's daughter 
 without a sixpence. Estates are troublesome Mr. Legard's was 
 sold. On the purchase-money the happy pair lived for some 
 years in great comfort, when Mr. Legard died of a brain fever ; 
 and his disconsolate widow found herself alone in the world with 
 a beautiful little curly-headed boy, and an annuity of one thou- 
 sand a year, for which her settlement had been exchanged all 
 the rest of the fortune was gone ; a discovery not made till Mr. 
 Legard's death. Lady Louisa did not long survive the loss of her 
 husband and her station in society ; her income of course, died 
 with herself. Her only child was brought up in the house of his 
 grandfather, the duke, till he was of age to hold the office of 
 king's page ; thence, as is customary, he was promoted to a 
 commission in the Guards. To the munificent emoluments of his 
 pay, the ducal family liberally added an allowance of two 
 hundred a year ; upon which income Cornet Legard contrived 
 to get very handsomely in debt. The extraordinary beauty of
 
 160 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTi RIES. 
 
 his person, his connections, and his manners, obtained him all the 
 celebrity that fashion can bestow ; but poverty is a bad thing. 
 Luckily, at this time, his uncle, the admiral, returned from sea. 
 to settle for the rest of his life in England. 
 
 Hitherto, the admiral had taken no notice of George. He 
 himself had married a merchant's daughter with a fair portion ; 
 and had been blessed with two children, who monopolised all his 
 affection. But there seemed some mortality in the Legard 
 family; in one year after returning to England and settling in 
 
 B shire, the admiral found himself wifeless and childless. 
 
 He then turned to his orphan nephew ; and soon became fonder 
 of him than he had ever been of his own children. The admiral, 
 though in easy circumstances, was not wealthy ; nevertheless, he 
 advanced the money requisite for George's rise in the army, and 
 doubled the allowance bestowed by the duke. His grace heard 
 of this generosity ; and discovered that he himself had a very 
 large family growing up ; that the marquis was going to be 
 married, and required an increase of income ; that he had already 
 behaved most handsomely to his nephew ; and the result of 
 this discovery was that the duke withdrew the two hundred a 
 year. Legard, however, who looked on his uncle as an exhaust- 
 less mine, went on breaking hearts and making debts till one 
 morning he woke in the Bench. The admiral was hastily sum- 
 moned to London. He arrived ; payed off the duns a kindness 
 which seriously embarrassed him swore, scolded, and cried ; 
 and finally insisted that Legard should give up that d d cox- 
 comb regiment, in which he was now captain, retire on half-pay 
 and learn economy and a change of habits on the Continent. 
 
 The admiral, a rough but good-natured man on the whole, had 
 t\vo or three little peculiarities. In the first place, he piqued 
 himself on a sort of John Bull independence ; was a bit of a 
 Radical (a strange anomaly in an admiral) which was owing, 
 perhaps, to two or three young lords having been put over his 
 head in the earlier part of his career ; and he made it a point with 
 his nephew (of whose affection he was jealous) to break with 
 those fine grand connections, who plunged him into a sea of 
 extravagance, and then never threw him a rope to save him from 
 drowning
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 161 
 
 In the second place, without being stingy, the admiral had a 
 good deal of economy in his disposition. He was not a man to 
 allow his nephew to min him. He had an extraordinarily old- 
 fashioned horror of gambling a polite habit of George's ; and 
 he declared positively that his nephew must, while a bachelor, 
 learn to live upon seven hundred a year. Thirdly, the admiral 
 could be a very stern, stubborn, passionate old brute ; and when 
 he coolly told George, " Harkye, you young puppy, if you get 
 into debt again if you exceed the very handsome allowance I 
 make you I shall j\ist cut you off with a shilling," George was 
 fully aware that his uncle was one who would rigidly keep his 
 word. 
 
 However, it was something to be out of debt, and one of the 
 handsomest men of his age ; and George Legard, whose rank 
 in the Guards made him a colonel in the line, left England 
 tolerably contented with the state of affairs. 
 
 Despite the foibles of his youth, George Legard had many 
 high and generous qualities. Society had done its best to spoil 
 a fine and candid disposition, with abilities far above mediocrity ; 
 but society had only partially succeeded. Still, unhappily, 
 dissipation had grown a habit with him ; all his talents were 
 of a nature that brought a ready return. At his age, it was but 
 natural that the praise of salons should retain all its sweetness. 
 
 In addition to those qualities which please the softer sex, 
 Legard was a good whist player superb at billiards famous 
 as a shot unrivalled as a horseman in fact, an accomplished 
 man, " who did everything so devih'sh well ! " These accom- 
 plishments did not stand him in much stead in Italy ; and, 
 though with reluctance and remorse, he took again to gambling 
 he really fiad nothing else to do. 
 
 In Venice there was, one year, established a society, somewhat 
 on the principle of the salon at Paris. Some rich Venetians 
 belonged to it ; but it was chiefly for the convenience of 
 foreigners French, English, and Austrians. Here there was 
 select gaming in one room, while another apartment served the 
 purposes of a club. Many who never played belonged to this 
 society : but still they were not the habitues. 
 
 Legard played : he won at first then he lost then he won 
 
 L
 
 '62 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 again ; it was a pleasant excitement. One night, after winning 
 largely at roulette, he sat down to play *fojr//with a Frenchman 
 of high rank. Legard played well at this, as at all scientific 
 games ; he thought he should make a fortune out of the 
 Frenchman. The game excited much interest ; the crowd 
 gathered round the table ; bets ran high ; the vanity of 
 Legard, as well as his interest, was implicated in the conflict. 
 It was soon evident that the Frenchman played as well as the 
 Englishman. The stakes, at first tolerably high, were doubled. 
 Legard betted freely cards went against him : he lost much 
 lost all that he had lost more than he had lost several 
 hundreds, which he promised to pay the next morning. . The 
 table was broken up the spectators separated. Amongst the 
 latter had been one Englishman, introduced into the club for 
 the first time that night. He had neither played nor betted ; 
 but had observed the game with a quiet and watchful interest. 
 This Englishman lodged at the same hotel as Legard. He was 
 at Venice only for a day ; the promised sight of a file of English 
 newspapers had drawn him to the club; the general excitement 
 around had attracted him to the table ; and once there, the 
 spectacle of human emotions exercised its customary charm. 
 
 On ascending the stairs that conducted to his apartment, the 
 Englishman heard a deep groan in a room the door of which 
 was ajar. He paused the sound was repeated; he gently 
 pushed open the door and saw Legard seated by a table, while 
 a glass on the opposite wall reflected his working and convulsed 
 countenance, with his hands trembling visibly, as they took a 
 brace of pistols from the case. 
 
 The Englishman recognised the loser at the club; and at 
 once divined the act that his madness or his despair dictated. 
 Legard twice took up one of the pistols, and twice laid it down 
 irresolute ; the third time he rose with a start, raised the weapon 
 to his head, and the next moment it was wrenched from his 
 grasp. 
 
 " Sit down, sir ! " said the stranger, in a loud and commanding 
 voice. 
 
 Legard, astonished and abashed, sank once more into his 
 and stared sullenly and half-unconsciously at his countryman.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 163 
 
 "You have lost your money," said the Englishman, after 
 calmly replacing the pistols in their case, which he locked, 
 putting the key into his pocket ; " and that is misfortune enough 
 for one night. If you had won, and ruined your opponent, you 
 would be excessively happy, and go to bed, thinking Good Luck 
 (which is the representative of Providence) watched over you. 
 For my part, I think you ought to be very thankful that you 
 are not the winner." 
 
 " Sir," said Legard, recovering from his surprise, and beginning 
 to feel resentment, " I do not understand this intrusion in my 
 apartments. You have saved me, it is true, from death but 
 life is a worse curse." 
 
 "Young man no! moments in life are agony, but life itself 
 is a blessing. Life is a mystery that defies all calculation. You 
 can never say, 'To-day is wretched, therefore to-morrow must 
 be the same ! ' And for the loss of a little golcl you, in the full 
 vigour of youth, with all the future before you, will dare to rush 
 into the chances of eternity ! You, who have never, perhaps, 
 thought what eternity is ! Yet," added the stranger, in a soft 
 and melancholy voice, " you are young and beautiful perhaps 
 the pride and hope of others ! Have you no tie no affection 
 no kindred ? are you lord of yourself? " 
 
 Legard was moved by the tone of the stranger, as well as by 
 the words. 
 
 " It is not the loss of money," said he, gloomily, " it is the loss 
 .of honour. To-morrow I must go forth a shunned and despised 
 man I, a gentleman and a soldier ! They may insult me and 
 I have no reply ! " 
 
 The Englishman seemed to muse, for his brow lowered, and he 
 made no answer. Legard threw himself back, overcome with 
 his own excitement, and wept like a child. The stranger, who 
 imagined himself above the indulgence of emotion (vain man !), 
 woke from his reverie at this burst of passion. He gazed at first 
 (I grieve to write) with a curl of the haughty lip that had in it 
 contempt ; but it passed quickly away ; and the hard man 
 remembered that he too had been young and weak, and his own 
 errors greater perhaps than those of the one he had ventured 
 to despise. He walked to and fro the room still without 
 
 L 2
 
 164 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 speaking. At last he approached the gamester, and took his 
 hand. 
 
 " What is your debt ? " he asked gently. 
 
 " What matters it ? more than I can pay." 
 
 " If life is a trust, so is wealth : you have the first in charge 
 for others / may have the last. What is the debt ? " 
 
 Legard started it was a strong struggle between shame and 
 hope, "'If I could borrow it, I could repay it hereafter I know 
 I could I would not think of it otherwise." 
 
 " Very well, so be it I will lend you the money on one con- 
 dition. Solemnly promise me, on your faith as a soldier and a 
 gentleman, that you will not, for ten years to come even if you 
 grow rich, and can ruin others touch card or dice-box. Promise 
 me that you will shun all gaming for gain, under whatever 
 disguise whatever appellation. I will take your word as my 
 bond." 
 
 Legard, overjoyed, and scarcely trusting his senses, gave the 
 promise. 
 
 " Sleep then, to-night, in hope and assurance of the morrow," 
 said the Englishman : " let this event be an omen to you, that 
 while there is a future there is no despair. One word more 
 I do not want your thanks ! it is easy to be generous at the 
 expense of justice. Perhaps I have been so now. This sum, 
 which is to save your life a life you so little value might have 
 blessed fifty human beings -better men than either the giver 
 or receiver. What is given to error, may perhaps be a v/rong to 
 virtue. When you would ask others to support a career of blind 
 and selfish extravagance, pause and think over the breadless lips 
 this wasted gold would have fed ! the joyless hearts it would 
 have comforted ! You talk of repaying me : if the occasion offer, 
 do so ; if not if we never meet again, and you have it in your 
 power, pay it for me to the Poor ! And now, farewell" 
 
 " Stay give me the name of my preserver ! Mine is " 
 
 " Hush ! what matter names ? This is a sacrifice we have both 
 made to honour. You will sooner recover your self-esteem (and 
 without self-esteem there is neither faith nor honour), when you 
 think that your family, your connections, are spared all associa- 
 tion with your own error ; that I may hear -them spoken of
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 165 
 
 that I may mix with them without fancying that they owe me 
 gratitude." 
 
 " Your own name then ? " said Legard, deeply penetrated with 
 the delicate generosity of his benefactor. 
 
 " Tush I " muttered the stranger impatiently as he closed the 
 door. 
 
 The next morning when he awoke Legard saw upon the table 
 a small packet it contained a sum that exceeded the debt 
 named. 
 
 On the envelope was written, " Remember the bond." 
 
 The stranger had already quitted Venice. He had not 
 travelled through the Italian cities under his own name, for he 
 had just returned from the solitudes of the East, and not yet 
 hardened to the publicity of the gossip which in towns haunted 
 by his countrymen attended a well-known name : that given to 
 Legard by the innkeeper, mutilated by Italian pronunciation, the 
 young man had never heard before, and soon forgot. He paid 
 his debts, and he scrupulously kept his word. The adventure of 
 that night went far, indeed, to reform and ennoble the mind and 
 habits of George Legard. Time passed, and he never met his 
 benefactor, till in the halls of Burleigh he recognised the stranger 
 in Maltravers. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Why value, then, that strength of mind they boast, 
 As often varying, and as often lost ? " 
 
 HAWKINS BROWNE (translated by SOAME JENYNS). 
 
 MALTRAVERS was lying at length, with his dogs around him, 
 under a beech-tree that threw its arms over one of the calm still 
 pieces of water that relieved the groves of Burleigh, when 
 Colonel Legard spied him from the bridle-road, which led 
 through the park to the house. The colonel dismounted, threw 
 the rein over his arm ; and at the sound of the hoofs Maltravers 
 turned, saw the visitor, and rose ; he held out his hand to Legard' 
 and immediately began talking of indifferent matters.
 
 166 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Legard was embarrassed ; but his nature was not one to profit 
 by the silence of a benefactor. " Mr. Maltravers," said he, with 
 graceful emotion, "though you have not yet allowed me an 
 opportunity to allude to it, do not think I am ungrateful for the 
 service you rendered me." 
 
 Maltravers looked grave, but made no reply. Legard resumed, 
 with a heightened colour. 
 
 " I cannot say how I regret that it is not yet in my power to 
 discharge my debt ; but " 
 
 " When it is, you will do so. Pray think no more of it Are 
 you going to the rectory ? " 
 
 " No, not this morning ; in fact, I leave B shire to-morrow. 
 
 Pleasant family, the Mertons." 
 
 "And Miss Cameron " 
 
 " Is certainly beautiful and very rich. How could she ever 
 think of marrying Lord Vargrave so much older she who could 
 have so many admirers ? " 
 
 " Not, surely, while betrothed to another ? " 
 
 This was a refinement which Legard, though an honourable man 
 as men go, did not quite understand. " Oh," said he, " that was 
 by some eccentric old relation her father-in-law, I think. Do 
 you think she is bound by such an engagement ? " 
 
 Maltravers made no reply, but amused himself by throwing a 
 stick into the water, and sending one of his dogs after it. 
 
 Legard looked on, and his affectionate disposition yearned 
 to make advances which something distant in the manner of 
 Maltravers chilled and repelled. 
 
 When Legard was gone, Maltravers followed him with his 
 eyes. "And this is the man whom Cleveland thinks Evelyn 
 could love ! I could forgive her marrying Vargrave. Inde- 
 pendently of the conscientious feeling that may belong to the 
 engagement, Vargrave has wit, talent, intellect ; and this man has 
 nothing but the skin of the "panther. Was I wrong to save 
 him ? No. Every human life, I suppose, has its uses. But 
 Evelyn I could despise her if her heart was the fool of the 
 eye!" 
 
 These comments were most unjust to Legard ; but they were 
 just of that kind of injustice which the man of talent often
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 167 
 
 commits against the man of external advantages, and which 
 the latter still more often retaliates on the man of talent. As 
 Maltravers thus soliloquised, he was accosted by Mr. Cleveland. 
 
 " Come, Ernest, you must not cut these unfortunate Mertons 
 any longer. If you continue to do so, do you know what Mrs. 
 Hare and the world will say ? " 
 
 "No what?" 
 
 " That you have been refused by Miss Merton." 
 
 " That would be a calumny ! " said Ernest, smiling. 
 
 " Or that you are hopelessly in love with Miss Cameron." 
 
 Maltravers started his proud heart swelled he pulled his 
 hat over his brows, and said, after a short pause 
 
 "Well, Mrs. Hare, and the world must not have it all their 
 own way ; and so, whenever you go to the jrectory, take me 
 with you." 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 "The more he strove 
 To advance his suit, the farther from her love." 
 
 DRYDEN : Theodore and Honoria* 
 
 THE line of conduct which Vargrave now adopted with regard 
 to Evelyn was craftily conceived and carefully pursued. He did 
 not hazard a single syllable which might draw on him a rejection 
 of his claims ; but, at the same time, no lover could be more 
 constant, more devoted, in attentions. In the presence of others, 
 there was an air of familiar intimacy, that seemed to arrogate 
 a right, which to her he scrupulously shunned to assert. 
 Nothing could be more respectful, nay, more timid, than his 
 language, or more calmly confident than his manner. Not 
 having much vanity, nor any very acute self-conceit, he did not 
 delude himself into the idea of winning Evelyn's affections ; he 
 rather sought to entangle her judgment to weave around her 
 web upon web not the less dangerous for being invisible. He 
 took the compact as a matter of course as something not to 
 be broken by any possible chance ; her hand was to be his as
 
 i68 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 a right : it was her heart that he so anxiously sought to JJA:II . 
 But this distinction was so delicately drawn, and insisted upon 
 so little in any tangible form, that, whatever Evelyn's wishes for 
 an understanding, a much more experienced woman would have 
 been at a loss to ripen one. 
 
 Evelyn longed to confide in Caroline to consult her. But 
 Caroline, though still kind, had grown distant. " I wish," said 
 Evelyn, one night as she sat in Caroline's dressing-room " I 
 wish that I knew what tone to take with Lord Vargrave. I 
 feel more and more convinced that a union between us is im- 
 possible ; and yet, precisely because he does not press it, am 
 I unable to tell him so. I wish you could undertake that task ; 
 you seem such friends with him." 
 
 " I ! " said Caroline, changing countenance. 
 
 " Yes, you ! Nay, do not blush, or I shall think you envy me. 
 Could you not save us both from the pain that otherwise must 
 come, sooner or later ? " 
 
 " Lord Vargrave would not thank me for such an act of 
 friendship. Besides, Evelyn, consider it is scarcely possible 
 to break off this engagement now" 
 
 " Now ! and why now ? " said Evelyn, astonished. 
 
 "The world believes it so implicitly observe, whoever sits 
 next you rises if Lord Vargrave approaches ; the neighbourhood 
 talk of nothing else but your marriage ; and your fate, Evelyn, 
 is not pitied." 
 
 "I will leave this place I will go back to the cottage I 
 cannot bear this I " said Evelyn, passionately wringing her 
 hands. 
 
 "You do not love another, I am sure; not young Mr. Hare, 
 with his green coat and straw-coloured whiskers ; nor Sir Henry 
 Foxglove, with his how-d'ye-do like a view-halloo ; perhaps, 
 indeed, Colonel Legard he is handsome. What ! do you blush 
 at his name ? No ; you say ' not Legard : ' who else is there ? " 
 
 "You are cruel you trifle with me!" said Evelyn, in tearful 
 reproach ; and she rose to go to her own room. 
 
 " My dear girl ! " said Caroline, touched by her evident pain ; 
 " learn from me if I may say so that marriages are not made 
 in Heaven ! yours will be as fortunate as earth can bestow. A
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 169 
 
 love-match is usually the least happy of all. Our foolish sex 
 demand so much in love ; and love, after all, is but one blessing 
 among many. Wealth and rank remain when love is but a 
 'heap of ashes. For my part, I have chosen my destiny and my 
 husband." 
 
 " Your husband ! " 
 
 "Yes, you see him in Lord Doltimore. I dare say we shall 
 be as happy as any amorous Corydon and Phillis." But there 
 was irony in Caroline's voice as she spoke ; and she sighed 
 heavily. Evelyn did not believe her serious; and the friends 
 parted for the night. 
 
 "Mine is a strange fate!" said Caroline to herself; "I am 
 asked by the man whom I love, and who professes to love me, 
 to bestow myself on another, and to plead for him to a younger 
 and fairer bride. Well, I will obey him in the first ; the last is 
 a bitterer task? and I cannot perform it earnestly. Yet Vargrave 
 has a strange power over me ; and when I look round the world, 
 I see that he is right. In these most commonplace artifices, 
 there is yet a wild majesty that charms and fascinates me. It 
 is something to rule the world : and his and mine are natures 
 formed to do so." 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 " A smoke raised with the fume of sighs." 
 
 Romeo and Juliet. 
 
 IT is certain that Evelyn experienced for Maltravers sentiments 
 which, if not love, might easily be mistaken for it. But whether 
 it were that master-passion, or merely its fanciful resemblance, 
 love in early youth and innocent natures, if of sudden growth, 
 is long before it makes itself apparent. Evelyn had been pre- 
 pared to feel an interest in her solitary neighbour. His mind, 
 as developed in his works, had half formed her own. Her 
 childish adventure with the stranger had never been forgotten. 
 Her present knowledge of Maltravers was an union of dangerous 
 and often opposite associations the Ideal and the Real.
 
 170 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Love, in its first dim and imperfect shape, is but imagination 
 concentrated on one object. It is a genius of the heart, resem- 
 bling that of the intellect ; it appeals to, it stirs up, it evokes, 
 the sentiments and sympathies that lie most latent, in our 
 nature. Its sigh is the spirit that moves over the ocean, and 
 arouses the Anadyomene into life. Therefore is it that MIND 
 produces affections deeper than those of external form ; there- 
 fore it is that women are worshippers of glory, which is the 
 palpable and visible representative of a genius whose operations 
 they cannot always comprehend. Genius has so much in 
 common with love the imagination that animates one is so 
 much the property of the other that there is not a surer sign 
 of the existence of genius than the love that it creates and 
 bequeaths. It penetrates deeper than the reason it binds a 
 nobler captive than the fancy. As the sun upon the dial, it 
 gives to the human heart both its shadow and its light. Nations 
 are its worshippers and wooers ; and Posterity learns from its 
 oracles to dream, to aspire, to adore ! 
 
 Had Maltravers declared the passion that consumed him, it 
 is probable that it would soon have kindled a return. But his 
 frequent absence, his sustained distance of manner, had served 
 to repress the feelings that in a young and virgin heart rarely 
 flow with much force, until they are invited and aroused. Le 
 besoin cT aimer in girls, is, perhaps, in itself powerful ; but is fed by 
 another want, le besoin d'etre aim ! If, therefore, Evelyn, at 
 present, felt love for Maltravers, the love had certainly not 
 passed into the core of life : the tree had not so far struck its 
 roots but what it might have borne transplanting. There was 
 in her enough of the pride of sex to have recoiled from the 
 thought of giving love to one who had not asked the treasure. 
 Capable of attachment, more trustful, and therefore, if less 
 vehement, more beautiful and durable than that which had 
 animated the brief tragedy of Florence Lascelles, she could 
 not have been the unknown correspondent, or revealed the soul, 
 because the features wore a mask. 
 
 It must also be allowed that, in some respects, Evelyn was 
 too young and inexperienced thoroughly to appreciate all that 
 was most truly lovable and attractive in Maltravers. At four-
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 171 
 
 and-twenty she would, perhaps, have felt no fear mingled with 
 her respect for him'; but seventeen and six-and-thirty is a wide 
 interval ! She never felt that there was that difference in years 
 until she had met Legard, and then at once she comprehended 
 it. With Legard she had moved on equal terms ; he was not 
 too wise too high for her every-day thoughts. He less excited 
 her imagination less attracted her reverence. But, somehow 
 or other, that voice which proclaimed her power, those eyes 
 which never turned from hers, went nearer to her heart. As 
 Evelyn had once said to Caroline, " It was a great enigma ! " 
 her own feelings were a mystery to her ; and she reclined by 
 the " Golden Waterfalls " without tracing her likeness in the 
 glass of the pool below. 
 
 Maltravers appeared again at the rectory. He joined their 
 parties by day, and his evenings were spent with them as of old. 
 In this I know not precisely what were his motives perhaps he 
 did not know them himself. It might be that his pride was 
 roused ; it might be that he could not endure the notion that 
 Lord Vargrave should guess his secret, by an absence almost 
 otherwise unaccountable ; he could not patiently bear to give 
 Vargrave that triumph ; it might be that, in the sternness of 
 his self-esteem, he imagined he had already conquered all save 
 affectionate interest in Evelyn's fate, and trusted too vainly to 
 his own strength ; and it might be, also, that he could not resist 
 the temptation of seeing if Evelyn were contented with her lot, 
 and if Vargrave were worthy of the blessing that awaited him. 
 Whether one of these, or all united, made him resolve to brave 
 his danger or whether, after all, he yielded to a weakness, or 
 consented to what invited by Evelyn herself was almost 
 a social necessity, the reader, and not the narrator, shall 
 decide. 
 
 Legard was gone; but Doltimore remained in the neighbour- 
 hood, having hired a hunting-box not far from Sir John 
 Merton's manors, over which he easily obtained permission to 
 sport. When he did not dine elsewhere, there was always a place 
 for him at the parson's hospitable board and that place was 
 generally next to Caroline. Mr. and Mrs. Merton had given up 
 all hope of Mr. Maltraverj for their eldest daughter ; and, very
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 strangely, this conviction came upon their minds on the first day 
 they made the acquaintance of the young lord. 
 
 " My dear," said the rector, as he was winding up his watch, 
 preparatory to entering the connubial couch "my dear, I don't 
 think Mr. Maltravers is a marrying man." 
 
 "I was just going to make the same remark," said Mrs. 
 Merton, drawing the clothes over her. " Lord Doltimore is a 
 very fine young man his estates unencumbered. I like him 
 vastly, my love. He is evidently smitten with Caroline: so 
 Lord Vargrave and Mrs. Hare said." 
 
 " Sensible, shrewd woman, Mrs. Hare. By the by, we'll 
 send her a pine-apple. Caroline was made to be a woman 
 of rank!" 
 
 " Quite ; so much self-possession ! n 
 
 " And if Mr. Maltravers would sell or let Burleigh ! - " 
 
 " It would be so pleasant ! " 
 
 " Had you not better give Caroline a hint ?" 
 
 " My love, she is so sensible, let her go her own way." 
 
 " You are right, my dear Betsy ; I shall always say that no 
 one has more common sense than you ; you have brought up 
 your children admirably 1 " 
 
 " Dear Charles ! " 
 
 " It is coldish to-night, love," said the rector ; and he put out 
 the candle. 
 
 From that time, it was not the fault of Mr. and Mrs. Merton 
 if Lord Doltimore did not find their house the pleasantest in 
 the county. 
 
 One evening the rectory party were assembled together in the 
 cheerful drawing-room. Cleveland, Mr. Merton, Sir John and 
 Lord Vargrave, reluctantly compelled to make up the fourth 
 were at the whist-table ; Evelyn, Caroline, and Lord Doltimore 
 were seated round the fire, and Mrs. Merton was working a foot- 
 stool. The fire burned clear the curtains were down the 
 children in bed : it was a family picture of elegant comfort. 
 
 Mr. Maltravers was announced. 
 
 " I am glad you are come at last," said Caroline, holding out 
 her fair hand. " Mr. Cleveland could not answer for you. We 
 are all disputing as to which mode of life is the happiest"
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 173 
 
 * And your opinion ? " asked Maltravers, seating himself in 
 the vacant chair it chanced to be next to Evelyn's. 
 
 " My opinion is decidedly in favour of London. A metro- 
 politan life, with its perpetual and graceful excitements ; the best 
 music the best companions the best things in short. 
 Provincial life is so dull, its pleasures so tiresome; to talk 
 over the last year's news, and wear out one's last year's 
 dresses: cultivate a conservatory, and play Pope Joan with 
 a young party. Dreadful ! " 
 
 " I agree with Miss Merton," said Lord Doltimore, solemnly ; 
 " not but what I like the country for three or four months in the 
 year, with good shooting and hunting, and a large house properly 
 filled independent of one's own neighbourhood: but if I am 
 condemned to choose one place to live in, give me Paris." 
 
 " Ah ! Paris ; I never was in Paris. I should so like to 
 travel ! " said Caroline. 
 
 " But the inns abroad are so very bad," said Lord Doltimore ; 
 " how people can rave about Italy, I can't think. I never suffered 
 so much in my life as I did in Calabria ; and at Venice I was bit 
 to death by musquitoes. Nothing like Paris, I assure you : don't 
 you think so, Mr. Maltravers ? " 
 
 " Perhaps I shall be able to answer you better in a short time. 
 I think of accompanying Mr. Cleveland to Paris!" 
 
 " Indeed ! " said Caroline. " Well, I envy you ; but is it a 
 sudden resolution ?" 
 
 " Not very." 
 
 " Do you stay long ? " asked Lord Doltimore. 
 
 " My stay is uncertain." 
 
 " And you won't let Burleigh in the meanwhile ? " 
 
 " Let Burleigh ? No ; if it once pass from my hands it will be 
 for ever ! " 
 
 Maltravers spoke gravely, and the subject was changed. Lord 
 Doltimore challenged Caroline to chess. 
 
 They sat down, and Lord Doltimore arranged the pieces. 
 
 " Sensible man, Mr. Maltravers," said the young lord ; " but 
 1 don't hit it off with him : Vargrave is more agreeable. 
 Don't you think so ? " 
 
 Y-e s."
 
 174 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Lord Vargrave is very kind to me ; I never remember any 
 one being more so ; got Legard that appointment solely because 
 it would please me very friendly fellow ! I mean to put 
 myself under his wing next session ! " 
 
 " You could not do better, I'm sure," said Caroline ; " he is 
 so much looked up to I dare say he will be prime minister one 
 of these days." 
 
 " I take the bishop : do you think so really ? you are rather 
 a politician ? " 
 
 " Oh no ; not much of that. But my father and my uncle are 
 staunch politicians ; gentlemen know so much more than ladies. 
 We should always go by their opinions. I think I will take the 
 queen's pawn your politics are the same as Lord Vargrave's ?" 
 
 " Yes, I fancy so : at least I shall leave my proxy with him. 
 Glad you don't like politics great bore." 
 
 "Why, so young, so connected as you are " Caroline 
 
 stopped short, and made a wrong move. 
 
 " I wish we were going to Paris together, we should enjoy it so ; " 
 and Lord Doltimore's knight checked the tower and queen. 
 
 Caroline coughed, and stretched her hand quickly to move. 
 
 " Pardon me, you will lose the game if you do so !" and Dolti- 
 more placed his hand on hers their eyes met Caroline turned 
 away, and Lord Doltimore settled his right collar. 
 
 " And is it true ? are you really going to leave us ? " said 
 Evelyn ; and she felt very sad. But still the sadness might not 
 be that of love ; she had felt sad after Legard had gone. 
 
 " I do not think I shall long stay away," said Maltravers, trying 
 to speak indifferently. " Burleigh has become more dear to me 
 than it was in earlier youth ; perhaps because I have made 
 myself duties there : and in other places I am but an isolated 
 and useless unit in the great mass." 
 
 " You ! everywhere, you must have occupations and resources 
 everywhere, you must find yourself not alone. But you will 
 not go yet ? " 
 
 "Not yet: no. (Evelyn's spirits rose.) Have you read the 
 book I sent you ? " (it was one of De StaeTs.) 
 
 " Yes ; but it disappoints me."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 175 
 
 ** And why ? it is eloquent ? " 
 
 " But is it true ? is there so much melancholy in life ? are the 
 affections so full of bitterness ? For me, I am so happy when 
 with those I love J When I am with my mother, the air seems 
 more fragrant the skies more blue : it is surely not affection, 
 but the absence of it, that makes us melancholy ? " 
 
 " Perhaps so ; but if we had never known affection, we might 
 not miss it : and the brilliant Frenchwoman speaks from memory, 
 while you speak *from hope Memory, which is the ghost of joy: 
 yet surely, even in the indulgence of affection, there is at times 
 a certain melancholy a certain fear. Have you never felt it, 
 even with with your mother ?." 
 
 " Ah, yes ! when she suffered, or when I have thought she loved 
 me less than I desired." 
 
 " That must have been an idle and vain thought Your 
 mother ! does she resemble you ? " 
 
 " I wish I could think so. Oh, if you knew her ! I have 
 longed so often that you were acquainted with each other ! It 
 was she who taught me to sing your songs." 
 
 " My dear Mrs. Hare, we may as well throw up our cards," 
 said the keen clear voice of Lord Vargrave : "you have played 
 most admirably, and I know that your last card will be the ace 
 of trumps; still the luck is against us." 
 
 " No, no ; pray play it out, my lord." 
 
 " Quite useless, ma'am," said Sir John, showing two honours. 
 " We have only the trick to make." 
 
 " Quite useless," echoed Lumley, tossing down his sovereigns, 
 and rising with a careless yawn. 
 
 " How d'ye do, Maltravers ? " 
 
 Maltravers rose ; and Vargrave turned to Evelyn, and addressed 
 her in a whisper. The proud Maltravers walked away, and 
 suppressed a sigh ; a moment more, and he saw Lord Vargrave 
 occupying the chair he had left vacant He laid his hand on 
 Cleveland's shoulder. 
 
 " The carriage is waiting are you ready ? *
 
 176 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 "Obscuris vera involvens." J VlRGIL. 
 
 A DAY or two after the date of the last chapter, Evelyn and 
 Caroline were riding out with Lord Vargrave and Mr. Merton, 
 and on returning home they passed through the village of 
 Burleigh. 
 
 " Maltravers, I suppose, has an eye to the county, one of these 
 days," said Lord Vargrave, who honestly fancied that a man's 
 eyes were always directed towards something for his own interest 
 or advancement; "otherwise he could not surely take all this 
 trouble about workhouses and paupers. Who could ever have 
 imagined my romantic friend would sink into a country squire ? " 
 
 " It is astonishing what talent and energy he throws into 
 everything he attempts," said the parson. "One could not, 
 indeed, have supposed that a man of genius could make a man 
 of business." 
 
 " Flattering to your humble servant whom all the world allow 
 to be the last, and deny to be the first. But your remark shows 
 what a sad possession genius is : like the rest of the world, you 
 fancy that it cannot be of the least possible use. If a man is 
 called a genius, it means that he is to be thrust out of all the 
 good things in this life. He is not fit for anything but a garret ! 
 Put a genius into office ! make a genius a bishop ! or a 
 lord chancellor ! the world would be turned topsyturvy ! You 
 see that you are quite astonished that a genius can be even a 
 county magistrate, and know the difference between a spade and 
 a poker ! In fact, a genius is supposed to be the most ignorant, 
 impracticable, good-for-nothing, do-nothing, sort of thing that 
 ever walked upon two legs. Well, when I began life I took 
 excellent care that nobody should take me for a genius ; and it 
 is only within the last year or two that I have ventured to 
 emerge a little out of my shell. I have not been the better for 
 
 1 Wrapping truth in obscurity.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 177 
 
 it ; I was getting on faster while I was merely a plodder. The 
 world is so fond of that droll fable the hare and the tortoise it 
 really believes because (I suppose the fable to be true !) a tortoise 
 once beat a hare that all tortoises are much better runners than 
 hares possibly can be. Mediocre men have the monopoly of 
 the loaves and fishes ; and even when talent does rise in life, it 
 is a talent which only differs from mediocrity by being more 
 energetic and bustling." 
 
 "You are bitter, Lord Vargrave," said Caroline, laughing; 
 "yet surely you have had no reason to complain of the non- 
 appreciation of talent ? " 
 
 " Humph ! if I had had a grain more talent I should have been 
 crushed by it. There is a subtle allegory in the story of the lean 
 poet, who put lead in his pocket to prevent being blown away ! 
 Mais a nos moutons to return to Maltravers. Let us suppose 
 that he was merely clever had not had a particle of what is 
 called genius been merely a hard-working able gentleman, of 
 good character and fortune he might be half-way up the hill 
 by this time ; whereas now, what is he ? Less before the 
 public than he was at twenty -eight a discontented anchorite, 
 a meditative idler." 
 
 " No, not that," said Evelyn, warmly, and then checked herself. 
 
 Lord Vargrave looked at her sharply; but his knowledge of 
 life told him that Legard was a much more dangerous rival 
 than Maltravers. Now and then, it is true, a suspicion to the 
 contrary crossed him ; but it did not take root and become a 
 serious apprehension. Still, he did not quite like the tone of 
 voice in which Evelyn had put her abrupt negative, and said, 
 with a slight sneer, 
 
 " If not that, what is he ?" 
 
 " One who purchased by the noblest exertions the right to 
 be idle," said Evelyn with spirit ; " and whom genius itself - 
 will not suffer to be idle long." 
 
 " Besides," said Mr. Merton, ** he has won a high reputation, 
 which he cannot lose merely by not seeking to increase it." 
 
 "Reputation! oh yes! we give men like that men of 
 genius a large property in the clouds, in order to justify our- 
 selves in pushing them out of our way below. But if they are 
 
 1C
 
 178 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 contented with fame, why, they deserve their fate. Hang fame 
 give me power." 
 
 "And is there no power in genius ?" said Evelyn with deep- 
 ening fervour ; " no power over the mind, and the heart, and the 
 thought ? no power over its own time over posterity over 
 nations yet uncivilised races yet unborn ? " 
 
 This burst, from one so simple and young as Evelyn, 
 seemed to Vargrave so surprising, that he stared on her 
 without saying a word. 
 
 "You will laugh at my championship," she added, with a 
 blush and a smile ; " but you provoked the encounter." 
 
 "And you have won the battle," said Vargrave, with prompt 
 gallantry. " My charming ward, every day develops in you 
 some new gift of nature ! " 
 
 Caroline, with a movement of impatience, put her horse into 
 a canter. 
 
 Just at this time, from a cross-road, emerged a horseman it 
 was Maltravers. The party halted salutations were exchanged. 
 
 " I suppose you have been enjoying the sweet business of 
 squiredom," said Vargrave, gaily : " Atticus and his farm 
 classical associations ! Charming weather for the agriculturists, 
 eh ! what news about corn and barley ? I suppose our English 
 habit of talking on the weather arose when we were all a squire- 
 archal farming, George the Third kind of people ! Weather is 
 really a serious matter to gentlemen who are interested in beans 
 and vetches, wheat and hay. You hang your happiness upon 
 the changes of the moon ! " 
 
 " As you upon the smiles of a minister. The weather of a 
 court is more capricious than that of the skies ; at least we are 
 better husbandmen than you who sow the wind and reap the 
 hirlwind." 
 
 " Well retorted : and really, when I look round, I am half 
 nclined to envy you. Were I not Vargrave, I would be 
 Maltravers." 
 
 It was, indeed, a scene that seemed quiet and serene, with 
 the English union of the feudal and the pastoral life ; the 
 village-green, with its trim scattered cottages the fields and 
 pastures that spread beyond the turf of the park behind,
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 179 
 
 broken by the shadows of the unequal grounds, with its mounds 
 and hollows, and venerable groves, from which rose the turrets 
 of the old hail, its mullion windows gleaming in the western 
 sun ; a scene that preached tranquillity and content, and might 
 have been equally grateful to humble philosophy and hereditary 
 pride, 
 
 " I never saw any place so peculiar in its character as Burleigh," 
 said the rector ; " the old seats left to us in England are chiefly 
 those of our great nobles. It is so rare to see one that does not 
 aspire beyond the residence of a private gentleman preserve all 
 the relics of the Tudor age." 
 
 " I think," said Vargrave, turning to Evelyn, " that as by my 
 uncle's will, your fortune is to be laid out in the purchase of 
 land, we could not find a better investment than Burleigh. So, 
 whenever you are inclined to sell, Maltravers, I think we must 
 outbid Doltimore. What say you, my fair ward ?" 
 
 " Leave Burleigh in. peace, I beseech you ! " said Maltravers, 
 angrily. 
 
 "That is said like a Digby," returned Vargrave. "Allans! 
 will you not come home with us ? " 
 
 "I thank you not to-day." 
 
 " We meet at Lord Raby's next Thursday. It is a ball given 
 almost wholly in honour of your return to Burleigh ; we are all 
 going it is my young cousin's debut at Knaresdean. We have 
 all an interest in her conquests." 
 
 Now, as Maltravers looked up to answer, he caught Evelyn's 
 glance, and his voice faltered. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " we shall meet once again. Adieu ! " He 
 wheeled round his horse, and they separated. 
 
 "I can bear this no more," said Maltravers to himself; "I 
 overrated my strength. To see her thus, day after day, and to 
 know her another's to writhe beneath his calm, unconscious 
 assertion of his rights. Happy Vargrave! and yet, ahl will 
 sJie be happy ? Oh, could I think so ! " 
 
 Thus soliloquising, he suffered the rein to fall on the neck of 
 his horse, which paced slowly home through the village, till it 
 stopped as if in the mechanism of custom it the door of a 
 cottage, a stone's throw from the lodge. At this door, indeed, 
 
 M 2
 
 I8o ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 for several successive days, had Maltravers stopped regularly ; it 
 was now tenanted by the poor woman, his introduction to 
 whom has been before narrated. She had recovered from the 
 immediate effects of the injury she had sustained; but her 
 constitution, greatly broken by previous suffering and exhaus- 
 tion, had received a mortal shock. She was hurt inwardly ; and 
 the surgeon informed Maltravers that she had not many months 
 to live. He had placed her under the roof of one of his favourite 
 cottagers, where she received all the assistance and alleviation 
 that careful nursing and medical advice could give her. 
 
 This poor woman, whose name was Sarah Elton, interested 
 Maltravers much ; she had known better days : there was a 
 certain propriety in her expressions which denoted an education 
 superior to her circumstances ; and what touched Maltravers 
 most, she seemed far more to feel her husband's death than her 
 own sufferings ; which, somehow or other, is not common with 
 widows the other side of forty! We say that youth easily 
 consoles itself for the robberies of the grave middle age is a 
 still better self-comforter. When Mrs. Elton found herself 
 installed in the cottage, she looked round, and burst into tears. 
 
 " And William is not here ! " she said. " Friends friends ! 
 if we had had but one such friend before he died ! " 
 
 Maltravers was pleased that her first thought was rather that 
 of sorrow for the dead than of gratitude for the living. Yet 
 Mrs. Elton was grateful simply, honestly, deeply grateful ; her 
 manner, her voice, betokened it. And she seemed so glad when 
 her benefactor called to speak kindly, and inquire cordially, that 
 Maltravers did so constantly ; at first, from a compassionate, and 
 at last from a selfish motive for who is not pleased to give 
 pleasure ? And Maltravers had so few in the world to care for 
 'him, that perhaps he was flattered by the grateful respect of this 
 humble stranger. 
 
 When his horse stopped, the cottager's daughter opened the 
 door and curtsied it was an invitation to enter ; and he threw 
 his rein over the paling and walked into the cottage. 
 
 Mrs. Elt.on. who had been seated by the open casement, rose 
 to receive him. But Maltravers made her sit down, and soon 
 put her at her ease. The woman and her daughter who occupied
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. iSl 
 
 the cottage retired into the garden; and Mrs. Elton, watching 
 them withdraw, then exclaimed abruptly 
 
 " Oh, sir ! I have so longed to see you this morning. I so long 
 to make bold to ask you whether, indeed, I dreamed it or did 
 
 I, when you first took me to your house did I see " She 
 
 stopped abruptly: and, though she strove to suppress her 
 emotion, it was too strong for her efforts she sank back on her 
 chair, pale as death, and almost gasped for breath. 
 
 Maltravers waited in surprise for her recovery. 
 
 " I beg pardon, sir I was thinking of days long past ; and 
 but I wished* to ask whether, when I lay in your hall, almost 
 insensible, any one besides yourself and your servants were 
 present ? or was it " added the woman, with a shudder " was 
 it the dead ? " 
 
 " I remember," said Maltravers, much struck and interested in 
 her question and manner, "-that a lady was present." 
 
 " It is so it is so ! " cried the woman, half rising and clasping 
 her hands. " And she passed by this cottage a little time ago ; 
 her veil was thrown aside as she turned that fair young face 
 towards the cottage. Her name, sir oh, what is her name ? It 
 was the same the same face that shone across me in that hour 
 of pain ! I did not dream ! I was not mad ! " 
 
 " Compose yourself; you could never, I think, have seen that 
 lady before. Her name is Cameron." 
 
 " Cameron Cameron ! " the woman shook her head mourn- 
 fully. " No ; that name is strange to me. And her mother, sir 
 she is dead ? " 
 
 " No ; her mother lives." 
 
 A shade came over the face of the sufferer ; and she said, 
 after a pause 
 
 " My eyes deceive me then, sir ; and, indeed, I feel that my 
 head is touched, and I wander sometimes. But the likeness was 
 so great ; yet that young lady is even lovelier ! " 
 
 " Likenesses are very deceitful, and very capricious ; and 
 depend more on fancy than reality. One person discovers a 
 likeness between faces most dissimilar, a likeness invisible to 
 others. But who does Miss Cameron resemble?" 
 
 " One now dead, sir ; dead many years ago. But it is a long
 
 182 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 story, and one that lies heavy on my conscience. Some day 
 or other, if you will give me leave sir, I will unburden myself 
 to you." 
 
 "If I can assist you in anyway, command me. Meanwhile, 
 have you no friends, no relations, no children, whom you would 
 wish to see ? " 
 
 " Children ! no, sir ; I never had but one child of my own " 
 (she laid an emphasis on the last words), "and that died in a 
 foreign land." 
 
 " And no other relatives ? " 
 
 " None, sir. My history is very short and simple. I was 
 well brought up an only child. My father was a small farmer; 
 he died when I was sixteen, and I went into service with a kind 
 old lady and her daughter, who treated me more as a companion 
 than a servant. I was a vain, giddy girl, then, sir. A young 
 man, the son of a neighbouring farmer, courted me, and I was 
 much attached to him ; but neither of us had money, and his 
 parents would not give their consent to our marrying. I was 
 silly enough to think that, if William loved me, he should 
 have braved all ; and his prudence mortified me, so I married 
 another whom I did not love. I was rightly punished, for he 
 ill-used me and took to drinking ; I returned to my old service 
 to escape from him for I was with child, and my life was in 
 danger from his violence. He died suddenly, and in debt. 
 And then, afterwards, a gentleman a rich gentleman to 
 whom I rendered a service (do not misunderstand me, sir, if 
 I say the service was one of which I repent), gave me money, 
 and made me rich enough to marry my first lover ; and William 
 and I went to America. We lived many years in New York 
 upon our little fortune comfortably ; and I was a- long while 
 happy, for I had always loved William dearly. My first 
 affliction was the death of my child by my first husband ; 
 but I was soon roused from my grief. William schemed and 
 speculated, as everybody does in Amerca, and so we lost all : 
 and William was weakly and could not work. At length he 
 got the place of steward on board a vessel from New York to 
 Liverpool, and I was taken to assist in the cabin. We wanted 
 to come to London, I thought my old benefactor might do
 
 ALICE; OK, THE MYSTERIES. 183 
 
 something for us, though he had never answered the letters 
 I sent to him. But poor William fell ill on board, and died 
 in sight of land." 
 
 Mrs. Elton wept bitterly, but with the subdued grief of one to 
 whom tears have been familiar ; and when she recovered, she 
 soon brought her humble tale to an end. She herself, incapaci- 
 tated from all work by sorrow and a breaking constitution, was 
 left in the streets of Liverpool without other means of subsis- 
 tence than the charitable contributions of the passengers and 
 sailors on board the vessel. With this sum she had gone to 
 London, where she found her old patron had been lorlg since 
 dead, and she had no claims oh his family. She had, on 
 quitting England, left one relation settled in a town in the 
 North ; thither she now repaired, to find her last hope wrecked ; 
 the relation also was dead and gone. Her money was now 
 spent, and she had begged her way along the road, or through 
 the lanes, she scarce knew whither, till the accident, which, in 
 shortening her life, had raised up a friend for its close. 
 
 " And such, sir," said she in conclusion, " such has been the 
 story of my life, except one part of it, which, if I get stronger, 
 I can tell better ; but you will excuse that now." 
 
 " And are you comfortable and contented, my poor friend ? 
 These people are kind to you ? " 
 
 " Oh, so kind ! and every night we all pray for you, sir ; 
 you ought to be happy, if the blessings of the poor can avail 
 the rich." 
 
 Maltravers remounted his horse, and sought his home ; and 
 his heart was lighter than before he entered that cottage. But 
 at evening Cleveland talked of Vargrave and Evelyn, ano^the 
 good fortune of the one, and the charms of the other ; 'and 
 the wound, so well concealed, bled afresh. 
 
 " I heard from De Montaigne the other day," said Ernest, just 
 as they were retiring for the night, " and his letter decides my 
 movements. If you will accept me, then, as a travelling com- 
 panion, I will go with you to Paris. Have you made up your 
 mind to leave Burleigh on Saturday ? " 
 
 " Yes ; that gives us a day to recover from Lord Raby's ball. 
 I am so delighted at your offer ! we need only stay a day or
 
 184 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 so in town. The excursion will do you good your spirits, my 
 dear Ernest, seem more dejected than when you first returned 
 to England : you live too much alone here ; you will enjoy 
 Burleigh more on your return. And perhaps then you will 
 open the old house a little more to the neighbourhood, and to 
 your friends. They expect it: you are looked to for the 
 county." 
 
 " I have done with politics, and sicken but for peace." 
 " Pick up a wife in Paris, and you will then know that peace 
 is an impossible possession," said the old bachelor, laughing.
 
 BOOK V. 
 
 oi8* lo-aa-iv o<r&> ir\fov rjpiirv iravrbs. HES. Op. et Dies, 4> 
 
 Fools blind to truth ; nor know their erring soul 
 How much the half is better than the whole. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 * Do as the Heavens have done ; forget your eyfl ; 
 With them, forgive yourself." rA? Winter's Talt. 
 
 ' . . . The sweet'st companion that e'er man 
 Bred his hopes out of." Ibid. 
 
 THE curate of Brook-Green was sitting outside his door. The 
 vicarage which he inhabited was a straggling, irregular, but 
 picturesque building ; humble enough to suit the means of 
 the curate, yet large enough to accommodate the vicar. It 
 had been built in an age when the indigentes et pauperes for 
 whom universities were founded, supplied, more than they do 
 now, the fountains of the Christian ministry when pastor and 
 flock were more on an equality. 
 
 From under a rude and arched porch, with an oaken settle on 
 either side for the poor visitor, the. door opened at once upon 
 the old-fashioned parlour a homely but pleasant room, with 
 one wide but low cottage casement, beneath which stood the 
 dark shining table that supported the large Bible in its green 
 baize cover ; the Concordance, and the last Sunday's sermon, in 
 its jetty case. There by the fireplace stood the barfcelor's round
 
 lS6 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 elbow-chair, with a needlework cushion at the back ; a walnut- 
 tree bureau ; another table or two ; half a dozen plain chairs 
 constituted the rest of the furniture, saving some two or three 
 hundred volumes, ranged in neat shelves on the clean wainscoted 
 walls. There was another room, to which you ascended by two 
 steps, communicating with this parlour, smaller, but finer, and 
 inhabited only on festive days, when Lady Vargrave, or some 
 other quiet neighbour, came to drink tea with the good curate. 
 
 An old housekeeper and her grandson a young fellow of 
 about two-and-twenty, who tended the garden, milked the cow, 
 and did in fact what he was wanted to do composed the 
 establishment of the humble minister. 
 
 We have digressed from Mr. Aubrey himself. 
 
 The curate was seated, then, one fine summer morning, on a 
 bench at the left of his porch, screened from the sun by the cool 
 boughs of a chestnut-tree, the shadow of which half covered the 
 little lawn that separated the precincts of the house from those 
 of silent Death and everlasting Hope; above the irregular and 
 moss-grown paling rose the village church ; and, through 
 openings in the trees, beyond the burial-ground, partially 
 gleamed the white walls of Lady Vargrave's cottage, and were 
 seen at a distance the sails on the 
 
 " Mighty waters, rolling evermore." 
 
 The old man was calmly enjoying the beauty of the morning, 
 the freshness of the air, the warmth of the dancing beam, and 
 not least, perhaps, his own peaceful thoughts ; the spontaneous 
 children of a contemplative spirit and a quiet conscience. His 
 was the age when we most sensitively enjoy the mere sense 
 of existence : when the face of nature, and a passive conviction 
 of the benevolence of our Great Father, suffice to create a serene 
 and ineffable happiness, which rarely visits us till we have done 
 with the passions ; till memories, if more alive than heretofore, 
 are yet mellowed in the hues of time, and Faith softens into 
 harmony all their asperities and harshness ; till nothing within 
 us remains to cast a shadow over the things without ; and on 
 the verge of life, the Angels are nearer to us than of yore. There 
 is an old age which has more youth of heart than youth itself!
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 187 
 
 As the old man thus sat, the little gate through which, on 
 Sabbath days, he was wont to pass from the humble mansion 
 to the house of God, noiselessly opened, and Lady Vargrave 
 appeared. 
 
 The curate rose when he perceived her ; and the lady's fair 
 features were lighted up with a gentle pleasure, as she pressed 
 his hand and returned his salutation. 
 
 There was a peculiarity in Lady Vargrave's countenance 
 which I have rarely seen in others. Her smile, which was 
 singularly expressive, came less from the lip than from the 
 eyes; it was almost as if the brow smiled it was. as. the 
 sudden and momentary vanishing of a light but melancholy 
 cloud that usually rested upon the features, placid as they were. 
 
 They sat down on the rustic bench, and the sea-breeze 
 wantoned amongst the quivering leaves of the chestnut-tree 
 that overhung their seat. 
 
 " I have come, as usual, to consult my kind friend," said Lady 
 Vargrave ; " and, as usual also, it is about our absent Evelyn." 
 
 " Have you heard again from her, this morning ? " 
 
 " Yes ; and her letter increases the anxiety which your 
 observation, so much' deeper than mine, first awakened." 
 
 " Does she then write much of Lord Vargrave ? " 
 
 " Not a great deal ; but the little she does say, betrays how 
 much she shrinks from the union my poor husband desired : 
 more, indeed, than ever ! But this is not all, nor the worst ; for 
 you know that the late lord had provided against that probability 
 (he loved her so tenderly, his ambition for her only came from 
 his affection) ; and the letter he left behind him pardons and 
 releases her, if she revolts from the choice he himself preferred." 
 
 " Lord Vargrave is, perhaps, a generous, he certainly seems a 
 candid, man, and he must be sensible that his uncle has already 
 done all that justice required." 
 
 " I think so. But this, as I said, is not all ; I have brought 
 the letter to show you. It seems to me as you apprehended. 
 This Mr. Maltravers has wound himself about her thoughts more 
 than she herself imagines ; you see how she dwells on all that 
 concerns him, and how, after checking herself, she returns again 
 and again to the same subject"
 
 i88 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 The curate put on his spectacles, and took the letter. It was 
 a strange thing, that old grey-haired minister evincing such 
 grave interest in the secrets of that young heart ! But they 
 who would take charge of the soul must never be too wise 
 to regard the heart ! 
 
 Lady Vargrave looked over his shoulder as he bent down to 
 read, and at times placed her finger on such passages as she 
 wished him to note. The old curate nodded as she did so ; but 
 neither spoke till the letter was concluded. 
 
 The curate then folded up the epistle, took off his spectacles, 
 hemmed, and looked grave. 
 
 " Well," said Lady Vargrave, anxiously, " well ? " 
 
 " My dear friend, the letter requires consideration. In the 
 first place, it is clear to me that, in spite of Lord Vargrave's 
 presence at the rectory, his lordship so manages matters that 
 the poor child is unable of herself to bring that matter to a 
 conclusion. And, indeed, to a mind so sensitively delicate and 
 honourable, it is no easy task." 
 
 " Shall I write to Lord Vargrave ? " 
 
 "Let us think of it In the meanwhile, this Mr. Mal- 
 travers " 
 
 "Ah, this Mr. Maltravers !" 
 
 " The child shows us more of her heart than she thinks of ; 
 and yet I myself am puzzled. If you observe, she has only once 
 or twice spoken of the Colonel Legard whom she has made 
 acquaintance with ; while she treats at length of Mr. Maltravers, 
 and confesses the effect he has produced on her mind. Yet, do 
 you know, I more dread the caution respecting the first, than 
 all the candour that betrays the influence of the last ? There 
 is a great difference between first fancy and first love." 
 
 " Is there ? " said the lady, abstractedly. 
 
 " Again, neither of us is acquainted with this singular man I 
 mean Maltravers ; his character, temper, and principles of all of 
 which Evelyn is too young, too guileless, to judge for herself. 
 One thing, however, in her letter speaks in his favour." 
 
 "What is that?" 
 
 " He absents himself from her. This, if he has discovered her 
 secret or if he himself is lensible of too great a charm in her
 
 AT.ICE: OR. THE MYSTERIES. 189 
 
 presence would be the natural course that an honourable and 
 a strong mind would pursue." 
 
 " What ! if he love her ? " 
 
 "Yes while he believes her hand is engaged to another." 
 
 " True ! What shall be done it Evelyn should love, and 
 love in vain ? Ah, it is the misery of a whole existence ! " 
 
 " Perhaps she had better return to us," said Mr. Aubrey; "and 
 yet, if already it be too late, and her affections are engaged we 
 should still remain in ignorance respecting the motives and 
 mind of the object of her attachment. And he, too, might not 
 know the true nature of the obstacle connected with Lord 
 Vargrave's claims." 
 
 "Shall I, then, go to her? You know how I shrink from 
 strangers how I fear curiosity, doubts, and questions how 
 (and Lady Vargrave's voice faltered) how unfitted I am for for 
 " she stopped short, and a faint blush overspread her cheeks. 
 
 The curate understood her, and was moved. 
 
 "Dear friend," said he, "will you intriist this charge to myself? 
 You know how Evelyn is endeared to me by certain recollec- 
 tions ! Perhaps, better than you, I may be enabled silently to 
 examine if this man be worthy of her, and one who could secure 
 her happiness ; perhaps, better than you, I may ascertain the 
 exact nature of her own feelings towards him ; perhaps, too, 
 better than you I may effect an understanding with Lord 
 Vargrave." 
 
 "You are always my kindest friend," said the lady with 
 emotion ; " how much I already owe you I what hopes beyond 
 the grave ! what " 
 
 ' : Hushl" interrupted the curate, gently; "your own good 
 heart and pure intentions have worked out your own atonement 
 may I hope also your own content. Let us return to our 
 Evelyn ; poor child ! how unlike this despondent letter to her 
 gay light spirits when with us ! We acted for the best ; yet, 
 perhaps, we did wrong to yield her up to strangers. And this 
 Maltravers ! with her enthusiasm and quick susceptibilities to 
 genius, she was half prepared to imagine him all she depicts him 
 to be. He must have a spell in his works that I have not 
 discovered for at times it seems to operate even on you."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "Because," said Lady Vargrave, "they remind me of his 
 conversation his habits of thought. If like him in other 
 things, Evelyn may indeed be happy ! " 
 
 "And if," said the curate, curiously "if now that you are 
 free, you were ever to meet with him again, and his memory had 
 been as faithful as yours and if he offered the sole atonement 
 in his power, for all that his early error cost you if such 
 a chance should happen in the vicissitudes of life, you 
 would - " 
 
 The curate stopped short ; for he was struck by the exceeding 
 paleness of his friend's cheek, and the tremor of her delicate 
 frame. 
 
 " If that were to happen," said she, in a very low voice ; " if we 
 were to meet again, and if he were as you and Mrs. Leslie 
 seem to think poor, and, like myself, humbly born if my 
 fortune could assist him if my love could still changed, 
 altered as I am ah ! do not talk of it I cannot bear the 
 thought of happiness ! And yet, if before I die I could but see 
 him again ! " She clasped her hands fervently as she spoke, and 
 the blush that overspread her face threw over it so much of 
 bloom and freshness, that even Evelyn, at that moment, would 
 scarcely have seemed more young. " Enough," she added, after 
 a little while, as the glow died away. " It is but a foolish hope ; 
 all earthly love is buried; and my heart is there I" she 
 pointed to the heavens, and both were silent. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "Quibug otio vel magnifice, vel molliter, vivere copia erat, incerta pro certi 
 malebant. " l S ALLUST. 
 
 LORD RABY one of the wealthiest and most splendid noble- 
 men in England was prouder, perhaps, of his provincial distinc- 
 tions than the eminence of his rank or the fashion of his wife. The 
 
 1 They who had the means to live at ease, either in splendour or in luxury, 
 
 preferred the uncertainty of change, to their natural security.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 191 
 
 magnificent chateaux the immense estates of our English peers 
 tend to preserve to us in spite of the freedom, bustle, and com- 
 mercial grandeur of our people, more of the Norman attributes of 
 aristocracy than can be found in other countries. In his county, 
 the great noble is a petty prince his house is a court his 
 possessions and munificence are a boast to every proprietor in 
 his district. They are as fond of talking of the earl's or the 
 duke's movements and entertainments, as Dangeau was of the 
 gossip of the Tuileries and Versailles. 
 
 Lord Raby, while affecting, as lieutenant of the county, to 
 make no political distinctions between squire and squire 
 hospitable and affable to all still, by that very absence of 
 exclusiveness, gave a tone to the politics of the whole county ; 
 and converted many who had once thought differently on the 
 respective virtues of Whigs and Tories. A great man never 
 loses so much as when he exhibits intolerance, or parades the 
 right of persecution. 
 
 " My tenants shall vote exactly as they please," said Lord 
 Raby ; and he was never known to have a tenant vote against 
 his wishes! Keeping a vigilant eye on all the interests, and 
 conciliating all the proprietors, in the county, he not only never 
 lost a friend, but he kept together a body of partisans that 
 constantly added to its numbers. 
 
 Sir John Merton's colleague, a young Lord Nelthorpe, who 
 could not speak three sentences if you took away his hat : and 
 who, constant at Almacks', was not only inaudible but invisible 
 in parliament, had no chance of bgsing re-elected. Lord Nel- 
 thorpe's father, the Earl of Mainvvaring, was a new peer ; and, 
 next to Lord Raby, the richest nobleman in the county. Now, 
 though they were much of the same politics, Lord Raby hated 
 Lord Mainwaring. They were too near each other they 
 clashed they had the jealousy of rival princes ! 
 
 Lord Raby was delighted at the notion of getting rid of Lord 
 Nelthorpe it would be so sensible a blow to the Mainwaring 
 interest. The party had been looking out for a new candidate, 
 and Maltravers had been much talked of. It is true that, when 
 ^in parliament some years before, the politics of Maltravers had 
 differed from those of Lord Raby and his set But Maltravera
 
 192 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 had of late taken no share in politics had uttered n ? political 
 opinions was intimate with the electioneering Mertons was 
 supposed to be a discontented man and politicians believe in 
 no discontent that is not political. Whispers were afloat that 
 Maltravers had grown wise, and changed his views : some 
 remarks of his, more theoretical than practical, 'were quoted in 
 favour of this notion. Parties, too, had much changed since 
 Maltravers had appeared on the busy scene new questions 
 had arisen, and the old ones had died off. 
 
 Lord Raby and his party thought that, if Maltravers could 
 be secured to them, no one would better suit their purpose. 
 Political faction loves converts better even than consistent 
 adherents. A man's rise in life generally dates from a well- 
 timed rat. His high reputation his provincial rank as the 
 representative of the oldest commoner's family in the county 
 his age, which combined the energy of one period with the 
 experience of another all united to accord Maltravers a prefer- 
 ence over richer men. Lord Raby had been pointedly courteous 
 and flattering to the master of Burleigh ; and he now contrived 
 it so, that the brilliant entertainment he was about to give might 
 appear in compliment to a distinguished neighbour, returned to 
 fix his residence on his patrimonial property, while in reality 
 it might serve an electioneering purpose serve to introduce 
 Maltravers to the county, as if under his lordship's own wing 
 and minister to political uses that went beyond the mere 
 representation of the county. 
 
 Lord Vargrave had, during his stay at Merton Rectory, paid 
 several visits to Knaresdean, and held many private conversa- 
 tions with the marquess : the result of these conversations was a 
 close union of schemes and interests between the two noblemen. 
 Dissatisfied with the political conduct of government, Lord Raby 
 as also dissatisfied that, from various party reasons, a noble- 
 man beneath himself in rank, and as he thought in influence, 
 had obtained a preference in a recent vacancy among the Knights 
 of the Garter. And if Vargrave had a talent in the world it was 
 in discovering the weak points of men whom he sought to gain, 
 and making the vanities of others conduce to his own ambition. 
 
 The festivities of Knaresdean gave occasion to Lord Raby to
 
 ALIJE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 193 
 
 unite at his house the more prominent of those who thought and 
 acted in concert with Lord Vargrave ; and in this secret senate 
 the operations for the following session were to be seriously 
 discussed and gravely determined. 
 
 On the day which was to be concluded with the ball at 
 Knaresdean, Lord Vargrave went before the rest of the Merton 
 party, for he was engaged to dine with the marquess. 
 
 On arriving at Knaresdean, Lumley found Lord Saxingham 
 and some other politicians, who had arrived the preceding day, 
 closeted with Lord Raby; and Vargrave, who shone to yet 
 greater advantage in the diplomacy of party management than 
 in the arena of parliament brought penetration, energy, and 
 decision to timid and fluctuating counsels. Lord Vargrave 
 lingered in the room after the first bell had summoned the other 
 guests to depart. 
 
 " My dear lord," said he then, " though no one would be more 
 glad than myself to secure Maltravers to our side, I very much 
 doubt whether you will succeed in doing so. On the one hand, 
 he appears altogether disgusted with politics and parliament ; 
 and, on the other hand, I fancy that reports of his change of 
 opinions .are, if not wholly unfounded, very unduly coloured. 
 Moreover, to do him justice, I think that he is not one to be 
 blinded and flattered into the pale of a party ; and your bird will 
 fly away after you have wasted a bucketful of salt on his tail." 
 
 "Very possibly," said Lord Raby, laughing ; "you know him 
 better than I do. But there are many purposes to serve in this 
 matter purposes too provincial to interest you. In the first 
 place, we shall humble the Nelthorpe interest, merely by showing 
 that we do think of a new member ; secondly, we shall get up a 
 manifestation of feeling that would be impossible, unless we 
 were provided -with a centre of attraction ; thirdly, we shall 
 rouse a certain emulation among other county gentlemen ; and 
 if Maltravers decline, we shall have many applicants : and 
 fourthly, suppose Maltravers has not changed his opinions, we 
 shall make him suspected by the party he really does belong 
 to, and which would be somewhat formidable if he were to head 
 them. In fact, these are mere county tactics, that you can't be 
 expected to understand." 
 
 V
 
 194 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " I see you are quite right : meanwhile you will at least have 
 an opportunity (though I say it, who should not say it) to 
 present to the county one of the prettiest young ladies that ever 
 graced the halls of Knaresdean." 
 
 "Ah, Miss Cameron ! I have heard much of her beauty : you 
 are a lucky fellow, Vargrave ! by the by, are we to say 
 anything of the engagement ? " 
 
 " Why, indeed, my dear lord, it is now so publicly known, that 
 it would be false delicacy to affect concealment." 
 
 " Very well ; I understand." 
 
 "How long I have detained you a thousand pardons! 
 I have but just time to dress. In four or five months 
 I must remember to leave you a longer time for your 
 toilet." 
 
 11 Me how ? " 
 
 "Oh, the Duke of can't live long; and I always observe 
 
 that when a handsome man has the Garter, he takes a long time 
 pulling up his stockings." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! you are so droll, Vargrave." 
 
 " Ha, ha ! I must be off." 
 
 " The more publicity is given to this arrangement, the more 
 difficult for Evelyn to shy at the leap," muttered Vargrave to 
 himself as he closed the door. " Thus do I make all things 
 useful to myself ! " 
 
 The dinner party were assembled in the great drawing-room, 
 when Maltravers and Cleveland, also invited guests to the 
 banquet, were announced. Lord Raby received the former with 
 marked empressement ; and the stately marchioness honoured 
 him with her most gracious smile. Formal presentations to the 
 rest of the guests were interchanged ; and it was not till the 
 circle was fully gone through that Maltravers perceived, seated 
 by himself in a corner, to which he had shrunk on the entrance 
 of Maltravers, a grey-haired solitary man it was Lord Saxing- 
 ham I The last time they had met was in the death-chamber of 
 Florence ; and the old man forgot, for the moment, the anticipated 
 dukedom, and the dreamed- of premiership ! and his heart flew 
 back to the grave of his only child ! They saluted each other 
 and shook hands in silence. And Vargrave whose eye was
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 195 
 
 on them Vargrave, whose arts had made that old man child- 
 less, felt not a pang of remorse ! Living ever in the future, 
 Vargrave almost seemed to have lost his memory. He knew 
 not what r egret was. It is a condition of life with men 
 thoroughly worldly that they never look behind ! 
 
 The signal was given : in due order the party were marshalled 
 into the great hall a spacious and lofty chamber, which had 
 received its last alteration from the hand of Inigo Jones ; though 
 the massive ceiling, with its antique and grotesque masques, 
 betrayed a much earlier date, and contrasted with the Corinthian 
 pilasters that adorned the walls, and supported the music-gallery 
 from which waved the flags of modern warfare and its mimicries. 
 The Eagle of Napoleon, a token of the services of Lord Raby's 
 brother (a distinguished cavalry officer in command at Waterloo), 
 in juxtaposition with a much gayer and more glittering banner, 
 emblematic of the martial fame of Lord Raby himself, as Colonel 
 of the B shire volunteers ! 
 
 The music pealed from the gallery the plate glittered on the 
 board the ladies wore diamonds, and the gentlemen, who had 
 them, wore stars. It was a very fine sight, that banquet ! such 
 as became the festive day of a lord-lieutenant whose ancestors 
 had now defied, and now intermarried, with royalty. But there 
 was very little talk, and no merriment. People at the top of the 
 table drank wine with those at the bottom ; and gentlemen and 
 ladies seated next to each other whispered languidly in mono- 
 syllabic commune. On one side, Maltravers was flanked by a 
 Lady Somebody Something, who was rather deaf, and very 
 much frightened for fear he should talk Greek ; on the other 
 side he was relieved by Sir John Merton very civil, very 
 pompous, and talking, at strictured intervals, about county 
 matters, in a measured intonation, savouring of the House-of- 
 Commons jerk at the end of the sentence. 
 
 As the dinner advanced to its close, Sir John became a little 
 more diffuse, though his voice sank into a whisper. 
 
 " I fear there will be a split in the cabinet before parliament 
 meets." 
 
 " Indeed 1 " 
 
 "Yes; Vargrave and the premier cannot pull together very 
 
 N 2
 
 196 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 long. Clever man, Vargrave ! but he has not enough stake in 
 the country for a leader ! " 
 
 " All men have public character to stake ; and if that be good, 
 I suppose no stake can be better ? " 
 
 " Humph ! yes very true ; but still, when a man has land 
 and money, his opinions, in a country like this, very properly 
 carry more weight with them. If Vargrave, for instance, had 
 Lord Raby's property, no man could be more fit for a leader a 
 prime minister. We might then be sure that he would have no 
 selfish interest to further : he would not play tricks with his 
 party you understand ? " 
 
 " Perfectly." 
 
 " I am not a party man, as you may remember ; indeed, you 
 and I have voted alike on the same questions. Measures, not 
 men that is my maxim ; but still I don't like to see men- placed 
 above their proper stations." 
 
 " Maltravers a glass of wine," said Lord Vargrave across the 
 table. " Will you join us, Sir John ? " 
 
 Sir John bowed. 
 
 "Certainly," he resumed, "Vargrave is a pleasant man and a 
 god speaker ; but still they say he is far from rich embarrassed, 
 indeed. However, when he marries Miss Cameron it may make 
 a great difference give him more respectability ; do you know 
 what her fortune is something immense ?" 
 
 " Yes ; I believe so I don't know." 
 
 " My brother says that Vargrave is most amiable. The young 
 lady is very handsome, almost too handsome for a wife don't 
 you think so ? Beauties are all very well in a ballroom ; but 
 they are not calculated for domestic life. I am sure you agree 
 with me. I have heard, indeed, that Miss Cameron is rather 
 learned ; but there is so much scandal in a country neighbour- 
 hood ; people are so ill-natured. I dare say she is not more 
 learned than other young ladies, poor girl! What do you 
 think?" 
 
 " Miss Cameron is is very accomplished, I believe. And so 
 you think the government cannot stand ? " 
 
 " I don't say that very far from it ; but I fear there must be 
 a change. However if the country gentlemen hold together, I
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 197 
 
 do not doubt but what we shall weather the storm. The landed 
 interest Mr. Maltravers is the great stay of this country the 
 sheet-anchor I may say. I suppose Lord Vargrave, who seems, 
 I must say, to have right notions on this head, will invest Miss 
 Cameron's fortune in land. But though one may buy an estate, 
 one can't buy an old family, Mr. Maltravers ! you and I may be 
 thankful for that. By the way, who was Miss Cameron's mother, 
 Lady Vargrave ? something low, I fear nobody knows." 
 
 " I am not acquainted with Lady Vargrave ; your sister-in-law 
 speaks of her most highly. And the daughter in herself is a 
 sufficient guarantee for the virtues of the mother." 
 
 " Yes ; and Vargrave on one side, at least, has himself nothing 
 in the way of family to boast of." 
 
 The ladies left the hall the gentlemen re-seated themselves. 
 Lord Raby made some remark on politics to Sir John Merton, 
 and the whole round of talkers immediately followed their leader. 
 
 " It is a thousand pities, Sir John," said Lord Raby, " that you 
 have not a colleague more worthy of you ; Nelthorpe never 
 attends a committee, does he ? " 
 
 " I cannot say that he is a very active member ; but he is 
 young, and we must make allowances for him," said Sir John, 
 discreetly ; for he had no desire to oust his colleague it was 
 agreeable enough to be the efficient member. 
 
 " In these times," said Lord Raby, loftily " allowances are not 
 to be made for systematic neglect of duty ; we shall have a 
 stormy session the Opposition is no longer to be despised 
 perhaps a dissolution may be nearer at hand than we think for : 
 as for Nelthorpe, he cannot come in again." 
 
 " That I am quite sure of," said a fat country gentleman of 
 great weight in the county ; " he not only was absent on the 
 great Malt question, but he never answered my letter respecting 
 the Canal Company." 
 
 " Not answered your letter ! " said Lord Raby, lifting up his 
 hands and eyes in amaze and horror. " What conduct ! Ah, 
 Mr. Maltravers, you are the man for us! " 
 
 " Hear ! hear ! " cried the fat squire. 
 
 " Hear ! " echoed Vargrave ; and the approving sound went 
 round the table.
 
 198 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Lord Raby rose. " Gentlemen, fill your glasses ; a health to 
 our distinguished neighbour ! " 
 
 The company applauded ; each in his turn smiled, nodded, and 
 drank to Maltravers, who, though taken by surprise, saw at once 
 the course to pursue. He returned thanks simply and shortly ; 
 and, without pointedly noticing the allusion in which Lord Raby 
 had indulged, remarked, incidentally, that he had retired, certainly 
 for some years perhaps for ever from political life. 
 
 Vargrave smiled significantly at Lord Raby, and hastened to 
 lead the conversation into party discussion. Wrapped in his 
 proud disdain of what he considered the contests of factions for 
 toys and shadows, Maltravers remained silent ; and the party 
 soon broke up, and adjourned to the ball-room. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "Le plus grand de'faut de la penetration n'est pas de n'aller point jusqu'au but 
 c'est de le passer." 1 LA ROCHEFOUCAULD. 
 
 EVELYN had looked forward to the ball at Knaresdean with 
 feelings deeper than those which usually inflame the fancy of a 
 girl proud of her dress and confident of her beauty. Whether 
 or not she loved Maltravers, in the true acceptation of the word 
 love, it is certain that he had acquired a most powerful command 
 over her mind and imagination. She felt the warmest interest 
 in his welfare the most anxious desire for his esteem the 
 deepest regret at the thought of their estrangement. At Knares- 
 dean she should meet Maltravers in crowds, it is true but still 
 she should meet him ; she should see him towering superior 
 above the herd ; she should hear him praised ; she should mark 
 him, the observed of all. But there was another and a deeper 
 source of joy within her. A letter had been that morning 
 received from Aubrey, in which he had announced his arrival 
 for the next day. The letter, though affectionate, was short 
 
 1 The greatest defect of penetration is not that of not going just up to the point 
 t is the passing it.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 199 
 
 Evelyn had been some months absent Lady Vargrave was 
 anxious to make arrangements for her return ; but it was to be 
 at her option whether she would accompany the curate home. 
 Now, besides her delight at seeing once more the dear old man, 
 and hearing from his lips that her mother was well and happy, 
 Evelyn hailed in his arrival the means of extricating herself 
 from her position with Lord Vargrave. She would confide in 
 him her increased repugnance to that union he would confer 
 with Lord Vargrave ; and then and then did there come once 
 more the thought of Maltravers ? No ! I fear it was not Mal- 
 travers who called forth that smile and that sigh ! Strange girl, 
 you know not your own mind ! but few of us, at your age, do ! 
 
 In all the gaiety of hope, in the pride of dress and half- 
 conscious loveliness, Evelyn went with a light step into Caroline's 
 room. Miss Merton had already dismissed her woman, and 
 was seated by her writing-table, leaning her cheek thoughtfully 
 on her hand. 
 
 " Is it time to go ? " said she, looking up. " Well we shall 
 put papa, and the coachman, and the horses, too, in excellent 
 humour. How well you look ! Really, Evelyn, you are indeed 
 beautiful ! " and Caroline gazed with honest but not unenvious 
 admiration at the fairy form so rounded, and yet so delicate ; 
 and the face that seemed to blush at its own charms. 
 
 " I am sure I can return the flattery," said Evelyn, laughing 
 bashfully. 
 
 " Oh ! as for me, I am well enough in my way : and hereafter, 
 I dare say, we may be rival beauties. I hope we shall remain 
 good friends, and rule the world with divided empire. Do you 
 not long for the stir, and excitement, and ambition of London ? 
 for ambition is open to us as to men ! " 
 
 "No, indeed," replied Evelyn, smiling; "I could be ambitious, 
 indeed ; but it would not be for myself, but for " 
 
 "A husband, perhaps; well, you will have ample scope for 
 such sympathy. Lord Vargrave " 
 
 " Lord Vargrave again ? " and Evelyn's smile vanished, and 
 she turned away. 
 
 "Ah," said Caroline, " I should have made Vargrave an excel- 
 lent wife pity he does not think so ! As it is, I must set up
 
 200 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 for myself and become a mattresse femme. So you think I look 
 well to-night ? I am glad of it Lord Doltimore is one who 
 will be guided by what other people say." 
 
 "You are not serious about Lord Doltimore?" 
 
 
 
 " Most sadly serious." 
 
 " Impossible ! you could not speak so if you loved him." 
 
 " Loved him ! no ! but I intend to marry him." 
 
 Evelyn was revolted, but still incredulous. 
 
 " And you, too, will marry one whom you do not love 'tis 
 our fate " 
 
 " Never ! " 
 
 "We shall see." 
 
 Evelyn's heart was damped, and her spirits fell 
 
 '-' Tell me now," said Caroline, pressing on the wrung withers 
 " do you not think this excitement, partial and provincial 
 though it be the sense of beauty, the hope of conquest, the 
 consciousness of power better than the dull monotony of the 
 Devonshire cottage ? Be honest " 
 
 " No, no, indeed ! " answered Evelyn, tearfully and passion- 
 ately ; " one hour with my mother, one smile from her lips, were 
 worth it all." 
 
 " And in your visions of marriage, you think then of nothing 
 but roses and doves, love in a cottage ! " 
 
 " Love in a home, no matter whether a palace or a cottage," 
 returned Evelyn. 
 
 " Home ! " repeated Caroline, bitterly ; " home home is the 
 English synonym for the French ennui. But I hear papa on the 
 stairs." 
 
 A ballroom what a scene of common-place! how hackneyed 
 in novels ; how trite in ordinary life ; and yet ballrooms have a 
 character and a sentiment of their own, for all tempers and all 
 ages. Something in the lights the crowd the music 
 conduces to stir up many of the thoughts that belong to fancy 
 and romance It is a melancholy scene to men after a ceitain 
 age. It revives many of those lighter and more graceful images 
 connected with the wandering desires of youth ; shadows that 
 crossed us, and seemed love, but were not ; having much of the 
 grace and charm, but none of the passion and the tragedy, of
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 2OI 
 
 love. So many of our earliest and gentlest recollections are 
 connected with those chalked floors and that music painfully 
 gay and those quiet nooks and corners, where the talk that 
 hovers about the heart and does not touch it has been held. 
 Apart and unsympathising in that austerer wisdom which comes 
 to us after deep passions have been excited, we see form after 
 form chasing the butterflies that dazzle us no longer among 
 the flowers that have evermore lost their fragrance. 
 
 Somehow or other, it is one of the scenes that remind us most 
 forcibly of the loss of youth! We are brought so closely in 
 contact with the young and with the short-lived pleasures that 
 once pleased us, and have forfeited all bloom. Happy the man 
 who turns from " the tinkling cymbal," and " the gallery of 
 pictures," and can think of some watchful eye and some kind 
 heart at home. But those who have no home and they are a 
 numerous tribe never feel lonelier hermits or sadder moralists 
 than in such a crowd. 
 
 Maltravers leaned abstractedly against the wall, and some 
 such reflections, perhaps, passed within, r.s the plumes waved 
 and the diamonds glittered around him. Ever too proud to 
 be vain, the monstrari digito had not flattered even in the 
 commencement of his career. And now he heeded not the eyes 
 that sought his look, nor the admiring murmur of lips anxious 
 to be overheard. Affluent, well-born, unmarried, and still in 
 the prime of life, in the small circles of a province, Ernest 
 Maltravers would in himself have been an object of interest to 
 the diplomacy of mothers and daughters ; and the false glare 
 of reputation necessarily deepened curiosity, and widened the 
 range of speculators and observers. 
 
 Suddenly, however, a new object of attention excited new 
 interest new whispers ran through the crowd, and these 
 awakened Maltravers from his reverie. He looked up, and 
 beheld all eyes fixed upon one form ! His own eyes encoun- 
 tered those of Evelyn Cameron ! 
 
 It was the first time he had seen this beautiful young person 
 in all the &lat, pomp, and circumstance of her station, as the 
 heiress of the opulent Templeton the first time he had seen her 
 the cynosure of crowds who, had her features been homely,
 
 202 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 would have admired the charms of her fortune in her face. And 
 now, as radiant with youth, and the flush of excitement on her 
 soft cheek, she met his eye, he said to himself " And could I 
 have wished one so new to the world to have united her lot with 
 a man for whom all that to her is delight has grown wearisome 
 and stale? Could I have been justified in stealing her from the 
 admiration that, at her age, and to her sex, has so sweet a 
 flattery ? Or, on the other hand, could I have gone back to her 
 years, and sympathised with feelings that time has taught me 
 to despise ? Better as it is." 
 
 Influenced by these thoughts, the greeting of Maltravers 
 disappointed and saddened Evelyn, she knew not why ; it was 
 constrained and grave. 
 
 " Does not Miss Cameron look well ? " whispered Mrs. Merton, 
 on whose arm the heiress leant. " You observe what a sensation 
 she creates ? " 
 
 Evelyn overheard, and blushed as she stole a glance at 
 Maltravers. There was something mournful in the admiration 
 which spoke in his deep earnest eyes. 
 
 " Everywhere," said he, calmly, and in the same tone, 
 "everywhere Miss Cameron appears, she must outshine all 
 others." He turned to Evelyn, and said with a smile, " You 
 must learn to inure yourself to admiration a year or two 
 hence, and you will not blush at your own gifts I " 
 
 "And you, too, contribute to spoil me ! fie ! " 
 
 " Are you so easily spoiled ? If I meet you hereafter, you 
 will think my compliments cold to the common language of 
 others." 
 
 " You do not know me perhaps you never will." 
 
 " I am contented with the fair pages I have already 
 read." 
 
 "Where is Lady Raby?" asked Mrs. Merton. "Oh, I see: 
 Evelyn, my love, we must present ourselves to our hostess." 
 
 The ladies moved on and when Maltravers next caught a 
 glance of Evelyn, she was with Lady Raby, and Lord Vargrave 
 also was by her side. 
 
 The whispers round him had grown louder. 
 
 " Very lovely indeed so young, too ! and she is really going
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 203 
 
 to be married to Lord Vargrave : so much older than she is 
 quite a sacrifice ! " 
 
 " Scarcely so. He is so agreeable, and still handsome. But 
 are you sure that the tKing is settled ? " 
 
 " O, yes. Lord Raby himself told me so. It will take place 
 very soon." 
 
 " But do you know who her mother was ? I cannot make 
 out." 
 
 " Nothing particular. You know the late Lord Vargrave was 
 a man of low birth. I believe she was a widow of his own rank 
 she lives quite in seclusion." 
 
 " How d'ye do, Mr. Maltravers ? So glad to see you," said the 
 quick, shrill voice of Mrs. Hare. " Beautiful ball nobody does 
 things like Lord Raby don't you dance ? " 
 
 " No, madam." 
 
 " Oh, you young gentlemen are so fine nowadays," (Mrs. Hare 
 laying stress on the word young, thought she had paid a very 
 elegant compliment, and ran on with increased complacency.) 
 
 " You are going to let Burleigh, I hear, to Lord Doltimore is 
 it true ? No ! really now, what stories people do tell. Elegant 
 man, Lord Doltimore ! Is it true, that Miss Caroline is going to 
 marry his lordship ? Great match ! No scandal, I hope ; you'll 
 excuse me ! Two weddings on the tapis quite stirring for our 
 stupid county. Lady Vargrave and Lady Dolt'imore, two new 
 peeresses. Which do you think is the handsomer? Miss Merton 
 is the taller, but there is something fierce in her eyes. Don't 
 you think so ? By the by, I wish you joy you'll excuse me? 
 
 " Wish me joy, madam ! " 
 
 " Oh, you are so close. Mr. Hare says he shall support you 
 You will have all the ladies with you. Well, I declare, Lord 
 Vargrave is going to dance. How old is he, do you think ? " 
 
 Maltravers uttered an audible pshaw, and moved away ; but 
 his penance was not over. Lord Vargrave, much as he disliked 
 dancing, still thought it wise to ask the fair hand of Evelyn ; and 
 Evelyn, also, could not refuse. 
 
 And now, as the crowd gathered round the red ropes, 
 Maltravers had to undergo new exclamations at Evelyn's 
 beauty and Vargrave's luck. Impatiently he turned from the
 
 204 ALICE OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 spot, with that gnawing sickness of the heart which none but the 
 jealous know. He longed to depart, yet dreaded to do so. It 
 was the last time he should see Evelyn, perhaps for years the 
 last time he should see her as Miss Cameron ! 
 
 He passed into another room, deserted by all save four old 
 gentlemen Cleveland one of them immersed in whist ; and 
 threw himself upon an ottoman, placed in a recess by the oriel 
 window. There, half concealed by the draperies, he communed 
 and reasoned with himself. His heart was sad within him ; he 
 never felt before how deeply and how passionately he loved 
 Evelyn how firmly that love had fastened upon the very core 
 of his heart ! Strange, indeed, it was in a girl so young of 
 whom he had seen but little and that little in positions of such 
 quiet and ordinary interest to excite a passion so intense in a 
 man who had gone through strong emotions and stern trials 1 
 But all love is unaccountable. The solitude in which Maltravers 
 had lived the absence of all other excitement perhaps had 
 contributed largely to fan the flame. And his affections had so 
 long slept and after long sleep the passions wake with such giant 
 strength ! He felt now too well that the last rose of life had 
 bloomed for him it was blighted in its birth, but it could never 
 be replaced. Henceforth, indeed, he should be alone the hopes 
 of home were gone for ever; and the other occupations of mind 
 and soul literature, pleasure, ambition were already forsworn 
 at the very age in which by most men they are most indulged ! 
 
 O Youth ! begin not thy career too soon, and let one passion 
 succeed in its due order to another ; so that every season of life 
 may have its appropriate pursuit and charm ! 
 
 The hours waned still Maltravers stirred not; nor were his 
 meditations disturbed, except by occasional ejaculations from 
 the four old gentlemen, as between each deal they moralized 
 over the caprices of the cards. \ 
 
 At length, close beside him he heard that voice, the lightest 
 sound of which could send the blood rushing through his veins ; 
 and from his retreat he saw Caroline and Evelyn, seated 
 close by. 
 
 " I beg pardon," said the former, in a low voice " I beg 
 pardon, Evelyn, for calling you away but I longed to tell you
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. ao$ 
 
 The die is cast. Lord Doltimore has proposed, and I have 
 accepted him 1 Alas, alas ! I half wish I could retract ! " 
 
 " Dearest Caroline ! " said the silver voice of Evelyn : " for 
 Heaven's sake, do not thus wantonly resolve on your own 
 unhappiness ! You wrong yourself, Caroline ! you do, indeed ! 
 You are not the vain ambitious character you affect to be! 
 Ah ! what is it you require wealth ? are you not my friend ? 
 am I not rich enough for both ? rank ? what can it give you 
 to compensate for the misery of a union without love ? Pray, 
 forgive me for speaking thus. Do not think me presumptuous, 
 or romantic but, indeed, indeed, I know from my own heart 
 what yours must undergo ! " 
 
 Caroline pressed her friend's hand with emotion. 
 
 "You are a bad"* comforter, Evelyn ; my mother my father 
 will preach a very different doctrine. I am foolish, indeed, to be 
 so sad in obtaining the very object I have sought ! Poor Dolti- 
 more ! he little knows the nature, the feelings of her whom he 
 thinks he has made the happiest of her sex he little knows " 
 Caroline paused, turned pale as death, and then went rapidly on 
 " but you, Evelyn, you will meet the same fate ; we shall bear 
 it together." 
 
 " No ! no ! do not think so ! Where I give my hand, there 
 shall I give my heart." 
 
 At this time Maltravers half rose, and sighed audibly. 
 
 "Hush!" said Caroline, in alarm. At the same moment, the 
 whist-table broke up, and Cleveland approached Maltravers. 
 
 " I am at your service," said he ; "I know you will rot stay 
 the supper. You will find me in the next room ; I am jurt going 
 to speak to Lord Saxingham." The gallant old gentleman then 
 paid a compliment to the young ladies, and walked away. 
 
 " So you too are a deserter from the ballroom ! " said 
 Miss Merton to Maltravers as she rose. 
 
 " I am not very well ; but do not let me frighten you away." 
 
 " Oh, no ! I hear the music it is the last quadrille before 
 supper : and here is my fortunate partner looking for me." 
 
 " I have been everywhere in search of you," said I ,ord 
 Doltimore, in an accent of tender reproach: "come, we are 
 almost too late now."
 
 206 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Caroline put her arm into Lord Doltimore's, who hurried her 
 into the ball-room. 
 
 Miss Cameron looked irresolute whether or not to follow, 
 when Maltravers seated himself beside her ; and the paleness of 
 his brow, and something that bespoke pain in the compressed 
 lip went at once to her heart. In her childlike tenderness, she 
 would have given worlds for the sister's privilege of sympathy 
 and soothing. The room was now deserted they were alone. 
 
 The words that he had overheard from Evelyn's lips 
 " Where I shall give my hand, there shall I give my heart " 
 Maltravers interpreted but in one sense "she loved her be- 
 trothed " and, strange as it may seem, at that thought, which 
 put the last seal upon his fate, selfish anguish was less felt than 
 deep compassion. So young so courted so tempted as she 
 must be and with such a protector ! the cold, the unsympa- 
 thising, the heartless Vargrave ! She, too, whose feelings, so 
 warm, ever trembled on her lip and eye. Oh ! when she awoke 
 from her dream, and knew whom she had loved, what might be 
 her destiny -what her danger ! 
 
 " Miss Cameron," said Maltravers, " let me for one moment 
 detain you ; I will not trespass long. May I once, and for the 
 last time, assume the austere rights of friendship ? I have 
 seen much of life, Miss Cameron, and my experience has been 
 purchased dearly : and harsh and hermit-like as I may have 
 grown, I have not outlived such feelings as you are well formed 
 to t-xcite. Nay," (and Maltravers smiled sadly)- " I am not 
 about to compliment or flatter I speak not; to you as the 
 young to the young ; the difference of our years, that takes 
 away sweetness from flattery, leaves still sincerity to friendship. 
 You have inspired me with a deep interest; deeper than I 
 thought that living beauty could ever rouse in me again ! It 
 may be that something in the tone of your voice, your manner, 
 a nameless grace that I cannot define reminds me of ( one 
 whom I knew in youth ; one who had not your advantages of 
 education, wealth, birth ; but to whom Nature was more kind 
 than Fortune." 
 
 He paused a moment j and, without looking towards Evelyn, 
 thus renewed :
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 207 
 
 "You are entering life under brilliant auspices. Ah! let me 
 hope that the noonday will keep the promise of the dawn ! 
 You are susceptible imaginative ; do not demand too much, 
 or dream too fondly. When you are wedded, do not imagine 
 that wedded life is exempt from its trials and its cares : if you 
 know yourself beloved and beloved you must be do not ask 
 from the busy and anxious spirit of man all which Romance 
 promises and Life but rarely yields. And oh ! " continued 
 Maltravers, with an absorbing and earnest passion, that poured 
 forth its language with almost breathless rapidity ; " if ever 
 your heart rebels if ever it be dissatisfied fly the false 
 sentiment as a sin! Thrown, as from your rank you must 
 be, on a world of a thousand perils, with no guide so constant, 
 and so safe, as your own innocence make not that world too 
 dear a friend. Were it possible that your own home ever could 
 be lonely or unhappy, reflect that to woman the unhappiest home 
 is happier than all excitement abroad. You will have a 
 thousand suitors hereafter: believe that the asp lurks under 
 the flatterer's tongue, and resolve, come what may, to be 
 contented with your lot How many have I known, lovely 
 and pure as you, who have suffered the very affections the 
 very beauty of their nature to destroy them ! Listen to me 
 as a warner as a brother as a pilot who has passed the seas 
 on which your vessel is about to launch. And ever ever let 
 me know, in whatever lands your name may reach me, that one 
 who has brought back to me all my faith in human excellence, 
 while the idol of our sex is the glory of her own. Forgive me 
 this strange impertinence ; my heart is full, and has overflowed. 
 And now, Miss Cameron Evelyn Cameron this is my last 
 offence, and my last farewell ! " 
 
 He held out his hand, and involuntarily, unknowingly, she 
 clasped it, as if to detain him till she could summon words to 
 reply. Suddenly he heard Lord Vargrave's voice behind the 
 spell was broken the next moment Evelyn was alone, and the 
 throng swept into the room towards the banquet, and laughter 
 and gay voices were heard and Lord Vargrave was again by 
 Evelyn's side !
 
 208 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 .... "To you 
 
 This journey is devoted." 
 
 Lover's Pro^rt: ;, Act Iv. Sc. I. 
 
 As Cleveland and Maltravers returned homeward, the latter 
 abruptly checked the cheerful garrulity of his friend. " I have 
 a favour a great favour to ask of you. 
 
 " And what is that ? " 
 
 "Let us leave Burleigh to-morrow; I care not at what hour; 
 we need go but two or three stages if you are fatigued." 
 
 " Most hospitable host ! and why ? " 
 
 "It is torture, it is agony to me, to breathe the air of 
 Burleigh," cried Maltravers, wildly. "Can you not guess my 
 secret ? Have I then concealed it so well ? I love, I adore 
 Evelyn Cameron, and she is betrothed to she loves another ! " 
 
 Mr. Cleveland was breathless with amaze ; Maltravers had 
 indeed so well concealed his secret ; and now his emotion was 
 so impetuous, that it startled and alarmed the old man, who had 
 never himself experienced a passion, though he had indulged 
 a sentiment. He sought to console and soothe ; but after the 
 first burst of agony, Maltravers recovered himself, and said 
 gently 
 
 " Let us never return to this subject again : it is right that I 
 should conquer this madness, and conquer it I will ! Now you 
 know my weakness, you will indulge it. My cure cannot com- 
 mence until I can no longer see from my casements the very roof 
 that shelters the affianced bride of another." 
 
 " Certainly, then, we will set off to-morrow : my poor friend ! 
 is it indeed " 
 
 " Ah, cease," interrupted the proud man ; " no compassion, I 
 implore : give me but time and silence they are the only 
 remedies." 
 
 Before noon the next day, Burleigh was once more deserted by 
 its lord. As the carriage drove through the village, Mrs. Elton 
 saw it from her open window. But her patron, too absorbed
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 209 
 
 at that hour even for benevolence, forgot her existence : and 
 yet so complicated are the webs of fate, that in the breast of 
 that lowly stranger was locked a secret of the most vital 
 moment to Maltravers. 
 
 " Where is he going ? where is the squire going?" asked Mrs. 
 Elton, anxiously. 
 
 " Dear heart ! " said the cottager, " they do say he be going 
 for a short time to foren parts. But he will be back at 
 Christmas." 
 
 " And at Christmas I may be gone hence for ever," muttered 
 the invalid. "But what will that matter to him to any 
 one?" 
 
 At the first stage Maltravers and his friend were detained a 
 short time for the want of horses. Lord Raby's house had been 
 filled with guests on the preceding night, and the stables of this 
 little inn, dignified with the sign of the Raby Arms, and about 
 two miles distant from the great man's place, had been exhausted 
 by numerous claimants returning homeward from Knaresdean. 
 It was a quiet, solitary post-house, and patience, till some jaded 
 horses should return, was the only remedy ; the host, assuring 
 the travellers that he expected four horses every moment, invited 
 them within. The morning was cold, and the fire not unac- 
 ceptable to Mr.' Cleveland ; so they went into the little parlour. 
 Here they found an elderly gentleman of very prepossessing 
 appearance, who was waiting for the same object. He moved 
 courtepusly from the fireplace as the travellers entered, and 
 
 pushed the B shire Chronicle towards Cleveland : Cleveland 
 
 bowed urbanely. " A cold day, sir ; the autumn begins to show 
 itself." 
 
 " It is true, sir," answered the old gentleman ; "and I feel the 
 cold the more, having just quitted the genial atmosphere of 
 the south." 
 
 "Of Italy?" 
 
 " No, of England only. I see by this paper (I am not much 
 of a politician) that there is a chance of a dissolution of parlia- 
 ment, and that Mr. Maltravers is likely to come forward for 
 this county ; are you acquainted with him, sir ?" 
 
 "A little, said Cleveland, smiling. 
 
 O
 
 210 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " He is a man I am much interested in," said the old gentle- 
 man ; " and I hope soon to be honoured with his acquaintance." 
 
 " Indeed ! and you are going into his neighbourhood ? " asked 
 Cleveland, looking more attentively at the stranger, and much 
 pleased with a certain simple candour in his countenance and 
 manner. 
 
 "Yes, to Merton Rectory." 
 
 Maltravers, who had been hitherto stationed by the window, 
 turned round. 
 
 " To Merton Rectory ? " repeated Cleveland. " You are 
 acquainted with Mr. Merton, then?" 
 
 "Not yet; but I know some of his family. However, my 
 visit is rather to a young lady who is staying at the rectory 
 Miss Cameron." 
 
 Maltravers sighed heavily; and the old gentleman looked 
 at him curiously. "Perhaps, sir, if you know that neighbour- 
 hood, you may have seen " 
 
 " Miss Cameron ! Certainly ; it is an honour not easily 
 forgotten." 
 
 The old gentleman looked pleased. 
 
 " The dear child ! " said he, with a burst of honest affection 
 and he passed his hand over his eyes. Maltravers drew near 
 to him. 
 
 " You know Miss Cameron ; you are to be envied, sir," said 
 he. 
 
 " I have known her since she was a child Lady Vargrave is 
 my dearest friend." 
 
 " Lady Vargrave must be worthy of such a daughter. Only 
 under the light of a sweet disposition and pure heart could that 
 beautiful nature have been trained and reared." 
 
 Maltravers spoke with enthusiasm ; and, as if fearful to trust 
 himself more, left the room. 
 
 "That gentleman speaks not more warmly than justly," said 
 the old man, with some surprise. " He has a countenance which, 
 if physiognomy be a true science, declares his praise to be no 
 common compliment may I inquire his name?" 
 
 " Maltravers," replied Cleveland, a little vain of the effect his 
 ex-pupil's name was to produce.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. ail 
 
 The curate for it was he started and changed countenance. 
 "Maltravers : but he is not about to leave the county?" 
 
 * Yes for a few months." 
 
 Here the host entered. Four horses, that had been only 
 fourteen miles, had just re-entered the yard. If Mr. Maltravers 
 could spare two to that gentleman, who had, indeed, pre-engaged 
 them ? 
 
 * Certainly," said Cleveland ; " but be quick." 
 
 "And is Lord Vargrave still at Mr. Merton's?" asked the 
 curate, musingly. 
 
 " Oh, yes I believe so. Miss Cameron is to be married to 
 him very shortly is it not so ? " 
 
 "I cannot say," returned Aubrey, rather bewildered. "You 
 know Lord Vargrave, sir ? " 
 
 " Extremely well ! " 
 
 "And you think him worthy of Miss Cameron ? w 
 
 " That is a question for her to answer. But I see the norses 
 are put to. Good day, sir ! Will you tell your fair young friend 
 that you have met an old gentleman who wishes her all 
 happiness ; and if she ask you his name, say Cleveland ? " 
 
 So saying, Mr. Cleveland bowed, and re-entered the carriage. 
 But Maltravers was yet missing. In fact, he returned to the 
 house by the back way, and went once more into tHe little 
 parlour. It was something to see again one who would so soon 
 see Evelyn ! 
 
 " If I mistake not," said Maltravers, " you are that Mr. Aubrey 
 on whose virtues I have often heard Miss Cameron delight to 
 linger? Will you believe my regret that our acquaintance is 
 now so brief?" 
 
 As Maltravers spoke thus simply, there was in his coun- 
 tenance his voice a melancholy sweetness, which greatly 
 conciliated the good curate. And as Aubrey gazed upon his 
 noble features and lofty mien, he no longer wondered at the 
 fascination he had appeared to exercise over the young Evelyn. 
 
 "And may I not hope, Mr. Maltravers," said he, "that before 
 long our acquaintance may be renewed ? Could not Miss 
 Cameron," he added, with a smile and a penetrating look, 
 * tempt you into Devonshire ? " 
 
 O 2
 
 212 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Maltravers shook his head, and, muttering something not very 
 audible, quitted the room. The curate heard the whirl of the 
 wheels, and the host entered to inform him that his own carriage 
 was now ready. 
 
 "There is something in this," thought Aubrey, "which I do 
 not comprehend. His manner his trembling voice bespoke 
 emotions he struggled to conceal. Can Lord Vargrave have 
 gained his point ? Is Evelyn, indeed, no longer free?* 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " Certes, c'est un grand cas, leas, 
 Que toujours tracas ou fracas 
 Vous faites d'une ou d'autre sort ; 
 C'est le diable qui vous emporte ! M1 VoiTUWC. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE had passed the night of the ball and the 
 .following morning at Knaresdean It was necessary to bring 
 the counsels of the scheming conclave to a full and definite 
 conclusion ; and this was at last effected. Their strength 
 numbered friends and foes alike canvassed and considered and 
 due account taken of the waverers to be won over, it really did 
 seem, even to the least sanguine, that the Saxingham or 
 Vargrave party was one that might well aspire either to dictate to, 
 or to break up, a government. Nothing now was left to consider 
 but the favourable hour for action. In high spirits, Lord 
 Vargrave returned about the middle of the day to the rectory. 
 
 " So," thought he, as he reclined in his carriage " so, in politics, 
 the prospect clears as the sun breaks out. The party I have 
 espoused is one that must be the most durable, for it possesses 
 the greatest property and the most stubborn prejudice what 
 elements for Party ! All that I now require is a sufficient 
 fortune to back my ambition. Nothing can clog my way but 
 these cursed debts this disreputable want of gold. And yet 
 Evelyn alarms me ! Were I younger or had I not made my 
 
 1 Certes, it is the fact, leas, that you are always engaged in tricks or scrapes of 
 some sort or other it must be the devil that bewitches you.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 213 
 
 position too soon I would marry her by fraud or by force : run 
 off with her to Gretna, and make Vulcan minister to Plutus. 
 But this would never do at my years, and with my reputation. 
 
 A pretty story for the newspapers d n them ! Well, nothing 
 
 venture, nothing have ; I will brave the hazard ! Meanwhile, 
 Doltimore is mine ; Caroline will rule him, and I rule her. His 
 vote and his boroughs are something his money will be more 
 immediately useful : I must do him the honour to borrow a few 
 thousands Caroline must manage that for me. The fool is 
 miserly, though a spendthrift ; and looked black when I delicately 
 hinted the other day that I wanted a friend id est, a loan ! 
 money and friendship same thing distinction without a dif- 
 ference ! " Thus cogitating, Vargrave whiled away the minutes 
 till his carriage stopped at Mr. Merton's door. 
 
 As he entered the hall he met Caroline, who had just quitted 
 her own room. 
 
 " How lucky I am that you have on your bonnet ! I long for 
 a walk with you round the lawn." 
 
 "And I, too, am glad to see you, Lord Vargrave," said Caro- 
 line, putting her arm in his. 
 
 " Accept my best congratulations, my own sweet friend," said 
 Vargrave, when they were in the grounds. " You have no idea 
 how happy Doltimore is. He came to Knaresdean yesterday to 
 communicate the news, and his neckcloth was primer than ever. 
 C'est un bon enfant." 
 
 " Ah, how can you talk thus ? Do you feel no pain at the 
 thought that that I am another's ? " 
 
 " Your heart will be ever mine and that is the true fidelity 
 what else, too, could be done ? As for Lord Doltimore, we will 
 go shares in him. Come, cheer thee, iriamie I rattle on thus to 
 keep up your spirits. Do not fancy I am happy ! " 
 
 Caroline let fall a few tears; but, beneath the influence of 
 Vargrave's sophistries and flatteries, she gradually recovered her 
 usual hard and worldly tone of mind. 
 
 " And where is Evelyn ? " asked Vargrave. ! ' Do you know, 
 the little witch seemed to be half mad the night of the ball : her 
 nead was turned : and when she sat next me at supper, she not 
 only answered every question I put to her d tort et d travers, but
 
 214 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 I fancied every moment she was going to burst out crying. Can 
 you tell what was the matter with her ? " 
 
 " She was grieved to hear that I was to be married to the 
 man I do not love. Ah, Vargrave, she has more heart than you 
 have!" 
 
 " But she never fancies that you love me ? " asked Lumley, In 
 alarm. " You women are so confoundedly confidential ! " 
 
 " No she does not suspect our secret." 
 
 "Then I scarcely think your approaching marriage was a 
 sufficient cause for so much distraction.." 
 
 " Perhaps she may have overheard some of the impertinent 
 whispers about her mother, ' Who was Lady Vargrave ? ' and 
 'What Cameron was Lady Vargrave's first husband?' / 
 overheard a hundred such vulgar questions ; and provincial people 
 whisper so loud." 
 
 "Ah, that is a very probable solution of the mystery. And 
 for my part, I am almost as much puzzled as anyone else can be 
 to know who Lady Vargrave was ! " 
 
 " Did not your uncle tell you ? " 
 
 " He told me that she was of no very elevated birth and 
 station, nothing more; and she herself, with her quiet, say- 
 nothing manner, slips through all my careless questionings like 
 an eel. She is still a beautiful creature, more regularly hand- 
 some than even Evelyn; and old Templeton had a very sweet 
 tooth at the back of his head, though he never opened his mouth 
 wide enough to show it." 
 
 " She must ever at least have been blameless, to judge by an 
 air which, even now, is more like that of a child than a matron." 
 
 "Yes ; she has not much of the widow about her, poor soul ! 
 But her education, except in music, has not been very carefully 
 attended to ; and she knows about as much of the world as the 
 Bishop of Autun (better known as Prince Talleyrand) knows of 
 the Bible. If she were not so simple, she would be silly ; but 
 silliness is never simple always cunning; however, there is 
 some cunning in her keeping her past Cameronian Chronicles 
 so close. Perhaps I may know more about her in a short time, 
 
 for I intend going to C , where my uncle once lived, in order 
 
 to see if I can revive under the rose since peers are only
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. ZI5 
 
 contraband electioneerers his old parliamentary influence in 
 that city : and they may tell me more there than I now know." 
 
 " Did the late lord marry at C ?" 
 
 " No in Devonshire. I do not even know if Mrs. Cameron 
 ever was at C ." 
 
 "You must be curious to know who the father of your 
 intended wife was ? " 
 
 " Her father ! No ; I have no curiosity in that quarter. And, 
 to tell you the truth, I am much too busy about the Present to 
 be raking into that heap of rubbish we call the Past. I fancy 
 that both your good grandmother and that comely old curate of 
 Brook-Green know everything about Lady Vargrave ; and, as 
 they esteem her so much, I take it for granted she is sans tacJie" 
 
 " How could I be so stupid d propos of the curate, I forgot 
 to tell you that he is here. He arrived about two hours ago, 
 and has been closeted with Evelyn ever since ! " 
 
 " The deuce ! What brought the old man hither ? " 
 
 " That I know not. Papa received a letter from him yester- 
 day morning, to say that he would be here to-day. Perhaps 
 Lady Vargrave thinks it time for Evelyn to return home." 
 
 " What am I to do ? " said Vargrave, anxiously. " Dare I yet 
 venture to propose ? " 
 
 " I am sure it will be in vain, Vargrave. You must prepare 
 for disappointment." 
 
 " And ruin," muttered Vargrave, gloomily. " Hark you, 
 Caroline, she may refuse me if she pleases. But I am not 
 a man to be baffled. Have her I will, by one means or another ; 
 revenge urges me to it almost as much as ambition. That 
 girl's thread of life has been the dark line in my woof she has 
 robbed me of fortune she now thwarts me in my career she 
 humbles me in my vanity. But, like a hound that has tasted 
 b'ood, I will run her down, whatever winding she takes." 
 
 ''Vargrave, you terrify me! Reflect; we do not live in an 
 age when violence " 
 
 "Tush!" interrupted Lumley, with one of those dark looks 
 which at times, though very rarely, swept away all its customary 
 character from that smooth, shrewd countenance. " Tush ! we 
 live in an age as favourable to intellect and to energy as ever
 
 216 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 was painted in romance. I have that faith in fortune and 
 myself that I tell you, with a prophet's voice, that Evelyn 
 shall fulfil the wish of my dying uncle. But the bell summons 
 us back." 
 
 On returning to the house, Lord Vargrave's valet gave him 
 a letter which had arrived that morning. It was from Mr. 
 Gustavus Douce, and ran thus : 
 
 Fleet Street, 2Oth, 18 . 
 
 " MY LORD, 
 
 " It is with the greatest regret that I apprise you, for Self & 
 Co., that we shall not be able in the present state of the Money 
 Market to renew your Lordship's bill for io,ooo/., due the 28th 
 instant. Respectfully calling your Lordship's attention to the 
 same, 
 
 " I have the honour to be, for Self & Co., my Lord, 
 " Your Lordship's most obedient 
 
 " And most obliged humble servant, 
 
 " GUSTAVUS DOUCE. 
 " To the Right Hon. Lord Vargrave, &c. &c" 
 
 This letter sharpened Lord Vargrave's anxiety and resolve; 
 nay, it seemed almost to sharpen his sharp features as he muttered 
 sundry denunciations on Messrs. Douce and Co., while arranging 
 his neckcloth at the glass. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Sol. "Why, please your honourable lordship, we were talking here and there 
 this and that." The Stranger. 
 
 AUBREY had been closeted with Evelyn the whole morning; 
 and, simultaneous with his arrival, came to her the news of the 
 departure of Maltravers : it was an intelligence that greatly 
 agitated and unnerved her: and, coupling that event with his 
 solemn words on the previous night, Evelyn asked herself, in 
 wonder, what sentiments she could have inspired in Maltravers ?
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 217 
 
 Could he love her ? her, so young so inferior so uninformed ! 
 Impossible ! Alas ! alas ! for Maltravers ! his genius his 
 gifts his towering qualities all that won the admiration, 
 almost the awe, of Evelyn placed him at a distance from 
 her heart ! When she asked herself if he loved her, she did not 
 ask, even in that hour, if she loved him. But even the question 
 she did ask, her judgment answered erringly in the negative 
 Why should he love, and yet fly her ? She understood not his 
 high-wrought scruples his self-deluding belief. Aubrey was 
 more puzzled than enlightened by his conversation with his 
 pupil ; only one thing seemed certain her delight to return to 
 the cottage and her mother. 
 
 Evelyn could not sufficiently recover her composure to mix 
 with the party below ; and Aubrey, at the sound of the second 
 dinner-bell, left her to her solitude, and bore her excuses to 
 Mrs. Merton. 
 
 " Dear me ! " said that worthy lady ; " I am so sorry I 
 thought Miss Cameron looked fatigued at breakfast ; and there 
 was something hysterical in her spirits ; and I suppose the 
 surprise of your arrival has upset her. Caroline, my dear, you 
 had better go and see what she would like to have taken up to 
 her room a little soup and the wing of a chicken." 
 
 " My dear," said Mr. Merton, rather pompously, " I think it 
 would be but a proper respect to Miss Cameron, if you your- 
 self accompanied Caroline." 
 
 " I assure you," said the curate, alarmed at the avalanche of 
 politeness that threatened poor Evelyn, " I assure you that Miss 
 Cameron would prefer being left alone at present ; as you say, 
 Mrs. Merton, her spirits are rather agitated." 
 
 But Mrs. Merton, with a sliding bow, had already quitted the 
 room, and Caroline with her. 
 
 " Come back, Sophy ! Cecilia, come back ! " said Mr. Merton, 
 settling \nsjabot. 
 
 " Oh, dear Evy ! poor dear Evy ! Evy is ill ! " said Sophy J 
 " I may go to Evy ! I must go, papa ! " 
 
 " No, my dear, you are too noisy ; these children are quite 
 spoiled, Mr. Aubrey." 
 
 The old man looked at them benevolently, and drew them to
 
 218 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES 
 
 his knee ; and, while Cissy stroked his long white hair, and 
 Sophy ran on about dear Evy's prettiness and goodness, Lord 
 Vargrave sauntered into the room, 
 
 On seeing the curate, his frank face lighted up with surprise 
 and pleasure ; he hastened to him, seized him by both hands, 
 expressed the most heartfelt delight at seeing him, inquired 
 tenderly after Lady Vargrave, and, not till he was out of breath, 
 and Mrs. Merton and Caroline returning apprised him of Miss 
 Cameron's indisposition, did his rapture vanish ; and, as a moment 
 before he was all joy, so now he was all sorrow. 
 
 The .dinner passed off dully enough ; the children, re-admitted 
 to dessert, made a little relief to all parties ; and then they and 
 the two ladies went, Aubrey himself quickly rose to join Evelyn. 
 
 " Are you going to Miss Cameron ? " said Lord Vargrave ; 
 "pray say how unhappy I feel at her illness. I think these 
 grapes they are very fine could not hurt her. May I ask 
 you to present them with my best best and most anxious 
 regards ? I shall be so uneasy till you return. Now, Merton 
 (as the door closed on the curate), let's have another 
 bottle of this famous claret ! Droll old fellow that quite a 
 character ! " 
 
 " He is a great favourite with Lady Vargrave and Miss Came- 
 ron, I believe," said Mr. Merton. "A mere village priest, I 
 suppose ; no talent, no energy or he could not be a curate at 
 that age." 
 
 " Very true ; a shrewd remark. The Church is as good a 
 profession as any other for getting on, if a man has anything in 
 him. I shall live to see^<? a bishop!" 
 
 Mr. Merton shook his head. 
 
 "Yes, I shall ; though you have hitherto disdained to exhibit 
 any one of the three orthodox qualifications for a mitre." 
 
 " And what are they, my lord ? " 
 
 "Editing a Greek play writing a political pamphlet and 
 apostatising at the proper moment." 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! your lordship is severe on us." 
 
 " Not I I often wish I had been brought up to the Church 
 famous profession, properly understood. By Jupiter, I should 
 have been a capital bishop ! "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 219 
 
 In his capacity of parson, Mr. Merton tried to look grave ; 
 in his capacity of a gentlemanlike, liberal fellow, he gave up 
 the attempt, and laughed pleasantly at the joke of the rising 
 man. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 M Will nothing please you ? 
 What do you think of the Court?" The Plain Dealer. 
 
 ON one subject Aubrey found no difficulty in ascertaining 
 Evelyn's wishes and condition of mind. The experiment of 
 her visit, so far as Vargrave's hopes were concerned, had utterly 
 failed ; she could not contemplate the prospect of his alliance, 
 and she poured out to the curate, frankly and fully, all her 
 desire to effect a release from her engagement. As it was now 
 settled that she should return with Aubrey to Brook-Green, it 
 was indeed necessary to* come to the long-delayed understanding 
 with her betrothed. Yet this was difficult, for he had so little 
 pressed so distantly alluded to their engagement, that it was- 
 like a forwardness, an indelicacy in Evelyn to forestall the 
 longed-for yet dreaded explanation. This, however, Aubrey 
 took upon himself ; and at this promise Evelyn felt as the slave 
 may feel when the chain is stricken off. 
 
 At breakfast, Mr. Aubrey communicated to the Mertons 
 Evelyn's intention to return with him to Brook-Green on the 
 following day. Lord Vargrave started bit his lip but said 
 nothing. 
 
 Not so silent was Mr. Merton : 
 
 " Return with you ! my dear Mr. Aubrey just consider it is 
 impossible you see Miss Cameron's rank of life, her position 
 so very strange no servants of her own here but her woman- 
 no carriage even ! You would not have her travel in a post- 
 chaise such a long journey! Lord Vargrave, you can neve* 
 consent to that, I am sure ? " 
 
 "Were it only as Miss Cameron's gttardian," said Lord Vai- 
 grave, pointedly, "I should certainly object to such a mode of
 
 230 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 performing such a journey. Perhaps Mr. Aubrey means to 
 perfect the project by taking two outside places on the top of the 
 coach?" 
 
 " Pardon me," said the curate, mildly, " but I am not so ignorant 
 of what is due to Miss Cameron as you suppose. Lady Vargrave's> 
 carriage, which brought me hither, will be no unsuitable vehicle 
 for Lady Vargrave's daughter ; and Miss Cameron, is not, I trust, 
 quite so spoilt by all your friendly attentions, as to be unable to 
 perform a journey of two days, with no other protector than 
 myself." 
 
 " I forgot Lady Vargrave's carriage, or rather I was not aware 
 that you had used it, my dear sir," said Mr. Merton. " But you 
 must not blame us, if we are sorry to lose Miss Cameron so 
 suddenly : I was in hopes that j<w too would stay at least a week 
 with us." 
 
 The curate bowed at the rector's condescending politeness ; 
 and just as he was about to answer, Mrs. Merton put in 
 
 "And you see I had set my heart on her being Caroline's 
 bridesmaid." 
 
 Caroline turned pale, and glanced at Vargrave, who appeared 
 solely absorbed in breaking toast into his tea a delicacy he had 
 never before been known to favour. 
 
 There was an awkward pause : the servant opportunely 
 entered with a small parcel of books, a note to Mr. Merton, 
 and that most blessed of all blessed things in the country, the 
 letter-bag. 
 
 " What is this ? " said the rector, opening his note ; while Mrs. 
 Merton unlocked the bag and dispensed the contents ; " Left 
 Burleigh for some months a day or two sooner than he had 
 expected excuse French leave-taking return Miss Merton's 
 books much obliged gamekeeper has orders to place the 
 Burleigh preserves at my disposal. So we have lost our 
 neighbour ! " 
 
 " Did you not know Mr. Maltravers was gone?" said Caroline. 
 " I heard so from Jenkins last night ; he accompanies Mr. Cleve- 
 land to Paris." 
 
 " Indeed ! " said Mrs. Merton, opening her eyes. "What could 
 take him to Paris ? "
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Pleasure, I suppose," answered Caroline. " I'm sure I should 
 rather have wondered what could detain him at Burleigh." 
 
 Vargrave was all this while breaking open seals and running 
 his eyes over sundry scrawls with the practised rapidity of the 
 man of business; he came to the last 'letter his countenance 
 brightened 
 
 " Royal invitation, or rather command, to Windsor," he cried. 
 * I am afraid I, too, must leave you, this very day." 
 
 " Bless me ! " exclaimed Mrs. Merton ; " is that from the king ? 
 Do let me see ! " 
 
 "Not exactly from the king; the same thing though:" and 
 Lord Vargrave, carelessly pushing the gracious communication 
 towards the impatient hand and loyal gaze of Mrs. Merton, care- 
 fully put the other letters in his pocket, and walked musingly to 
 the window. 
 
 Aubrey seized the opportunity to approach him. " My lord, 
 can I speak with you a few moments ? " 
 
 " Me 1 certainly : will you come to my dressing-room ? * 
 
 CHAPTER VIIL 
 
 .... " There was never 
 
 Poor gentleman had such a sudden fortune." 
 
 BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER : The Captain, Act T. Sc. 5. 
 
 " MY LORD," said the curate, as Vargrave, leaning back in his 
 chair, appeared to examine the shape of his boots ; while, in 
 reality, " his sidelong looks/' not " of love," were fixed upon his 
 companion " I need scarcely refer to the wish of the late lord, 
 your uncle, relative to Miss Cameron and yourself; nor need I, to 
 one of a generous spirit, add, that an engagement could be only so 
 far binding as both the parties, whose happiness is concerned, 
 should be willing in proper time and season to fulfil it." 
 
 " Sir ! " said Vargrave, impatiently waving his hand ; and, in his 
 irritable surmise of what was to come, losing his habitual self- 
 control " I know not what all this has to do with you ; surely
 
 223 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 you trespass upon ground sacred to Miss Cameron and myself? 
 Whatever you have to say, let me beg you to come at once to 
 the point." 
 
 " My lord, I will obey you. Miss Cameron and, I may add., 
 with Lady Vargrave's consent deputes me to say that, although 
 she feels compelled to decline the honour of your lordship's 
 alliance, yet, if in any arrangement of the fortune bequeathed to 
 her she could testify to you, my lord, her respect and friendship, 
 it would afford her the most sincere gratification." 
 
 Lord Vargrave started. 
 
 " Sir," said he, " I know not if I am to thank you for this 
 information the announcement of which so strangely coincides 
 with your arrival. But allow me to say, that there needs no 
 ambassador between Miss Cameron and myself. It is due, sir, 
 to my station, to my relationship, to my character of guardian, 
 to my long and faithful affection, to all considerations which 
 men of the world understand, which men of feeling sympathise 
 with, to receive from Miss Cameron alone the rejection of my 
 suit " 
 
 " Unquestionably Miss Cameron will grant your lordship the 
 interview you have a right to seek ; but pardon me, I thought it 
 might save you both much pain, if the meeting were prepared by 
 a third person ; and on any matter of business, any atonement to 
 your lordship " 
 
 "Atonement! what can atone to me?" exclaimed Vargrave, 
 as he walked to and fro the room in great disorder and excite- 
 ment. " Can you give me back years of hope and expectancy 
 the manhood wasted in a vain dream ? Had I not been taught 
 to look to this reward, should I have rejected all occasion while 
 my youth was not yet all gone, while my heart was not yet all 
 occupied to form a suitable alliance ? Nay. should I have 
 indulged in a high and stirring career, for which my own fortune 
 is by no means qualified ? Atonement ! atonement ! Talk of 
 atonement to boys ! Sir ! I stand before you a man whose 
 private happiness is blighted, whose public prospects are 
 darkened, life wasted, fortunes ruined, the schemes of an 
 existence built upon one hope, which was lawfully indulged, 
 overthrown : and you talk to me of atonement I "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 223 
 
 Selfish as the nature of this complaint might be, Aubrey was 
 struck with its justice. 
 
 "My lord," said he, a little embarrassed, "I cannot deny that 
 there is truth in much of what you say. Alas ! it proves how vain 
 it is for man to calculate on the future, how unhappily your 
 uncle erred in imposing conditions, which the chances of life 
 and the caprices of affection could at any time dissolve ! But 
 this is blame that attaches only to the dead : can you blame 
 the flving ? " 
 
 " Sir, I considered myself bound by my uncle's prayer to keep 
 my hand and heart disengaged, that this title miserable and 
 barren distinction though it be ! might, as he so ardently 
 desired, descend to Evelyn. I had a right to expect similar 
 honour upon her side ! " 
 
 " Surely, my lord, you, to whom the late lord on his death- 
 bed confided all the motives of his conduct and the secret 
 of his life, cannot but be aware that, while desirous of pro- 
 moting your worldly welfare, and uniting in one line, his rank 
 and his fortune, your uncle still had Evelyn's happiness at 
 heart as his warmest wish ; you must know that, if that 
 happiness were forfeited by a marriage with you, the mar- 
 riage became but a secondary consideration. Lord Vargrave's 
 will in itself was a proof of this. He did not impose, as an 
 absolute condition, upon Evelyn, her union with yourself; 
 he did not make the forfeiture of her whole wealth the 
 penalty of her rejection of that alliance. By the definite 
 limit of the forfeit, he intimated a distinction between a 
 command and a desire. And surely, when you consider all 
 circumstances, your lordship must think that, what with that 
 forfeit and the estate settled upon the title your uncle did all 
 that in a worldly point of view, equity, and even affection, 
 could exact from him." 
 
 Vargrave smiled bitterly, but said nothing. 
 
 "And if this be doubted, I have clearer proof of his inten- 
 tions. Such was his confidence in Lady Vargrave, that in the 
 letter he addressed to her before his death, and which I now 
 submit to your lordship, you will observe that he not only ex- 
 pressly leaves it to Lady Vargrave's discretion to communicate to
 
 224 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Evelyn that history of which she is at present ignorant, bu* 
 that he also clearly defines the line of conduct he wished to 
 be adopted with respect to Evelyn and yourself. Permit me to 
 point out the passage." 
 
 Impatiently Lord Vargrave ran his eye over the letter placed 
 in his hand, till he came to these lines : 
 
 " And if, when she has arrived at the proper age to form a 
 judgment, Evelyn should decide against Lumley's claims, you 
 know that on no account would I sacrifice her happiness ; that all 
 I require is, that fair play be given to his pretensions due indul- 
 gence to the scheme I have long had at heart Let her be 
 brought up to consider him her future husband, let her not be 
 prejudiced against him, let her fairly judge for herself, when 
 the time arrives." 
 
 " You see, my lord," said Mr. Aubrey, as he took back the 
 letter, "that this letter bears the same date as your uncle's will. 
 What he desired has been done. Be just, my lord be just, 
 and exonerate us all from blame : who can dictate to the 
 affections ? " 
 
 "And I am to understand that I have no chance, now or 
 hereafter, of obtaining the affections of Evelyn ? Surely, at 
 your age, Mr. Aubrey, you cannot encourage the heated 
 romance common to all girls of Evelyn's age. Persons of 
 our rank do not marry like the Corydon and Phillis of a 
 pastoral. At my years, I never was fool enough to expect 
 that I should inspire a girl of seventeen with what is called 
 a passionate attachment. But happy marriages are based upon 
 suitable circumstances, mutual knowledge and indulgence, 
 respect, esteem. Come, sir, let me hope yet let me hope that, 
 on the same day, I may congratulate you on your preferment 
 and you may congratulate me upon my marriage." 
 
 Vargrave said this with a cheerful and easy smile ; and the 
 tone of his voice was that of a man who wished to convey 
 serious meaning in a jesting accent 
 
 Mr. Aubrey, meek as he was, felt the insult of the hinted 
 bribe, and coloured with a resentment no sooner excited than 
 checked. " Excuse me, my lord, I have now said all the rest 
 had better be left to your ward herself."
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 225 
 
 " Be it so, sir. I will ask you, then, to convey my request to 
 Evelyn to honour me with a last and parting interview." 
 Vargrave flung himself on his chair, and Aubrey left him. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Thus airy Strephon tuned his lyre." SHENSTONB. 
 
 IN his meeting with Evelyn, Vargrave certainly exerted to 
 the utmost all his ability and all his art. He felt that violence 
 that sarcasm, that selfish complaint would not avail in a man 
 who was not loved, though they are often admirable cards 
 in the hands of a man who is. As his own heart was perfectly 
 untouched in the matter, except by rage and disappointment 
 feelings which with him never lasted very long he could play 
 coolly his losing game. His keen and ready intellect taught 
 him that all he could now expect was to bequeath sentiments of 
 generous compassion and friendly interest ; to create a favourable 
 impression, which he might hereafter improve ; to reserve, in 
 short, some spot of vantage-ground in the country from which 
 he was to affect to withdraw all his forces. He had known, in 
 his experience of women, which, whether as an actor or a spectator, 
 was large and various though not among very delicate and 
 refined natures that a lady often takes a fancy to a suitor 
 after she has rejected him ; that, precisely because she has once 
 rejected she ultimately accepts him. And even this chance was, 
 in circumstances so desperate, not to be neglected. He assumed,, 
 therefore, the countenance, the postures, and the voice of heart- 
 broken but submissive despair ; he affected a nobleness and 
 magnanimity in his grief, which touched Evelyn to the quick, 
 and took her by surprise. 
 
 * It is enough," said he, in sad and faltering accents ; " quite 
 enough for me to know that you cannot love me, that I should 
 fail in rendering you happy : say no more, Evelyn, say no more ! 
 Let me spare you at least, the pain your generous nature must 
 
 P
 
 226 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 feel in my anguish I resign all pretensions to your hand : you 
 are free ! may you be happy ! " 
 
 " Oh, Lord Vargrave ! oh, Lumley ! " said Evelyn, weeping, 
 and moved by a thousand recollections of early years. " If T 
 could but prove in any other way my grateful sense of your 
 merits your too partial appreciation of me my regard for my 
 lost benefactor then, indeed, nor till then, could I be happy. 
 Oh ! that this wealth, so little desired by me, had been more at 
 my disposal ; but, as it is, the day that sees me in possession of 
 it, shall see it placed under your disposition, your control. This 
 is but justice common justice to you ; you were the nearest 
 relation of the departed. I had no claim on him none, but 
 affection. Affection ! and yet I disobey him ! " 
 
 There was much in all this that secretly pleased Vargrave ; 
 but it only seemed to redouble his grief. 
 
 " Talk not thus, my ward, my friend ah ! still my friend," 
 said he, putting his handkerchief to his eyes. " I repine not ; 
 I am more than satisfied. Still let me preserve my privilege 
 of guardian, of adviser a privilege dearer to me than all the 
 wealth of the Indies ! " 
 
 Lord Vargrave had some faint suspicion that Legard had 
 created an undue interest in Evelyn's heart ; and on this point 
 he delicately and indirectly sought to sound her. Her replies 
 convinced him that if Evelyn had conceived any prepossession 
 for Legard, there had not been time or opportunity to ripen it 
 into deep attachment. Of Maltravers he had no fear. The 
 habitual self-control of that reserved personage deceived him 
 partly ; and his low opinion of mankind deceived him still more. 
 For, if there had been any love between Maltravers and Evelyn, 
 why should the former not have stood his ground, and declared 
 his suit? Lumley would have "bah'd" and " pistid" at the 
 thought of any punctilious regard for engagements so easily 
 broken having power either to check passion for beauty, or to 
 restrain self-interest in the chase of an heiress. He had known 
 Maltravers ambitious ; and with him, ambition and self-interest 
 meant tne same. Thus, by the very finesse of his character 
 while Vargrave, ever with the worldly, was a keen and almost 
 infallible observer with natures of a more refined, or a highef
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 22? 
 
 order, he always missed the mark by overshooting. Besides, 
 had a suspicion of Maltravers ever crossed him, Caroline's 
 communications would have dispelled it. It was more strange 
 that Caroline should have been blind ; nor would she have been 
 so had she been less absorbed in her own schemes and destinies. 
 All her usual penetration had of late settled in self; and an 
 uneasy feeling half arising from conscientious reluctance to aid 
 Vaigrave's objects half from jealous irritation at the thought of 
 Vargrave's marrying another had prevented her from seeking 
 any very intimate or confidential communication with Evelyn 
 herself. 
 
 The dreaded conference was over ; Evelyn parted from 
 Vargrave with the very feelings he had calculated on exciting ; 
 the moment he ceased to be her lover, her old childish regard 
 for him recommenced. She pitied his dejection she respected 
 his generosity she was deeply grateful for his forbearance. But 
 still still she was free ; and her heart bounded within her at 
 the thought. 
 
 Meanwhile, Vargrave, after his solemn farewell to Evelyn, 
 retreated again to his own room, where he remained till his 
 post-horses arrived. Then, descending into the drawing-room, he 
 was pleased to find neither Aubrey nor Evelyn there. He knew 
 that much affectation would be thrown away upon Mr. and Mrs. 
 Merton ; he thanked them for their hospitality, with grave and 
 brief cordiality, and then turned to Caroline, who stood apart by 
 the window. 
 
 " All is up with me at present," he whispered. " I leave you, 
 Caroline, in anticipation of fortune, rank, and prosperity ; that 
 is some comfort. For m)'self, I see only difficulties, embarrass- 
 ment, and poverty in the future ; but T despond of nothing 
 
 hereafter you may serve me, as I have served you. Adieu ! 
 
 1 have been advising Caroline not to spoil Doltimore, Mrs. 
 Merton ; he is conceited enough already. Good-by ! God bless 
 you all ! love to your little girls. Let me know if I can serve 
 you in any way, Merton good-by again!" And thus, sentence 
 by sentence, Vargrave talked himself into his carriage. As it 
 drove by the drawing-room windows, he saw Caroline standing 
 motionless where he had left her ; he kissed his hand her eyes 
 
 P 2
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 were fixed mournfully on his. Hard, wayward, and worldly, as 
 Caroline Merton was, Vargrave was yet not worthy of the affec- 
 tion he had inspired ; for she could feel, ancf he could not ; the 
 distinction, perhaps, between the sexes. And there still stood 
 Caroline Merton, recalling the last tones of that indifferent 
 voice, till she felt her hand seized, and turned round to see Lord 
 Doltimore, and smile upon the happy lover, persuaded that he 
 was adored !
 
 BOOK VI. 
 
 ttvp vA *rpO(rot(ra>, KOV ri aov 7rpo<r^o;*ai. EURIP. Androm. 2I4> 
 I will bring fire to thee I reck not of the place. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 * * Th; s anc i e nt city, 
 
 How wanton sits she amidst Nature's smiles ! " 
 
 * "Various nations meet, 
 
 As in the sea, yet not confined in space, 
 
 But streaming freely through the spacious streets." YOUNO, 
 
 " His teeth he still did grind, 
 
 And grimly gnash, threatening revenge in vain. " SPENSER. 
 
 "PARIS is a delightful place that is allowed by all. It is 
 delightful to the young, to the gay, to the idle ; to the literary 
 lion, who likes to be petted ; to the wiser epicure, who indulges 
 a more justifiable appetite. It is delightful to ladies, who wish 
 to live at their ease, and buy beautiful caps ; delightful to 
 philanthropists, who wish for listeners to schemes of colonising 
 the moon ; delightful to the haunters of balls, and ballets, and 
 little theatres, and superb caf/s, where men with beards of all 
 sizes and shapes scowl at the English, and involve their intellects 
 in the fascinating game of dominoes. For these, and for many 
 others, Paris is delightful. I say nothing against it But, for 
 my own part, I would rather live in a garret in London, than in a 
 palace in the Chaussfa d'Antin. Chacun d son mauvais
 
 230 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "I don't like the streets, in which I cannot walk but in the 
 kennel : I don't like the shops, that contain nothing except 
 what's at the window : I don't like the houses, like prisons which 
 look upon a court-yard : I don't like the beaux jardins, which 
 grow no plants save a Cupid in plaster : I don't like the wood 
 fires, which demand as many petits soins as the women, and 
 which warm no part of one but one's eyelids : I don't like the 
 language, with its strong phrases about nothing, and vibrating 
 like a pendulum between 'rapture* and 'desolation ;' I don't like 
 the accent, which one cannot get, without speaking through one's 
 nose; I don't like the eternal fuss and jabber about books 
 without nature, and revolutions without fruit ; I have no sympathy 
 with tales that turn on a dead jackass; nor with constitutions 
 that give the ballot to the representatives, and withhold the 
 suffrage from the people : neither have I much faith in that 
 enthusiasm for the beaux arts, which shows its produce in 
 execrable music, detestable pictures, abominable sculpture, and 
 a droll something that I believe the French call POETRY. 
 Dancing and cookery these are the arts the French excel in, I 
 grant it ; and excellent things they are ; but oh, England ! oh, 
 Germany ! you need not be jealous of your rival ! " 
 
 These are not the author's remarks he disowns them ; they 
 were Mr. Cleveland's. He was a prejudiced man ; Maltravers 
 was more liberal, but then Maltravers did not pretend to be a 
 wit. 
 
 Maltravers had been several weeks in the city of cities, and 
 now he had his apartments in the gloomy but interesting 
 Faubourg St. Germain, all to himself. For Cleveland, having 
 attended eight days at a sale, and having moreover ransacked 
 all the curiosity shops, and shipped off bronzes, and cabinets, 
 and Genoese silks, and objets de vertu, enough to have half 
 furnished Fonthill, had fulfilled his mission, and returned to his 
 villa. Before the old gentleman went, he flattered himself that 
 change of air and scene had already been serviceable to his 
 friend ; and that time would work a complete cure upon that 
 commonest of all maladies, an unrequited passion, or an ill- 
 placed caprice. 
 
 Maltravers, indeed, in the habit of conquering, as well as of
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 231 
 
 concealing emotion, vigorously and earnestly strove to dethrone 
 the image that had usurped his heart. Still vain of his self- 
 command, and still worshipping his favourite virtue of Fortitude, 
 and his delusive philosophy of the calm Golden Mean, he would 
 not weakly indulge the passion, while he so sternly fled from its 
 object. 
 
 But yet the image of Evelyn pursued it haunted him ; it 
 came on him unawares in solitude in crowds. That smile so 
 cheering, yet so soft, that ever had power to chase away the 
 shadow from his soul ; that youthful and luxurious bloom of 
 pure. and eloquent thoughts, which was as the blossom of genius 
 before its fruit, bitter as well as sweet, is born that rare union 
 of quick feeling and serene temper, which forms the very ideal 
 of what we dream of in the mistress, and exact from the wife ; 
 all, even more, far more, than the exquisite form and the delicate 
 graces of the less durable beauty, returned to him, after every 
 struggle with himself: and time only seemed to grave, in deeper 
 if more latent folds of his heart, the ineradicable impression. 
 
 Maltravers renewed his acquaintance with some persons not 
 unfamiliar to the reader. 
 
 Valerie de Ventadour how many recollections of the fairer 
 days of life were connected with that name ! Precisely as she 
 had never reached to his love, but only excited his fancy (the 
 fancy of twenty-two), had her image always retained a pleasant 
 and grateful hue ; it was blended with no deep sorrow no stern 
 regret no dark remorse no haunting shame. 
 
 They met again. Madame de Ventadour was still beautiful, 
 and still admired perhaps more admired than ever : for to the 
 great, fashion and celebrity bring a second and yet more popular 
 youth. But Maltravers, if rejoiced to see how gently Time had 
 dealt with the fair Frenchwoman, was yet more pleased to read 
 in her fine features a more serene and contented expression than 
 they had formerly worn. Valerie de Ventadour had preceded 
 her younger admirer through the "MYSTERIES OF LIFE;" she 
 had learned the real objects of being ; she distinguished between 
 the Actual and the Visionary the Shadow and the Substance ; 
 she had acquired content for the present, and looked with quiet 
 hope towards the future. Her character was still spotless ; or,
 
 233 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 rather, every year of temptation and trial had given it a fairer 
 lustre. Love, that might have ruined, being once subdued, pre- 
 served her from all after danger. The first meeting between 
 Maltravers and Valerie was, it is true, one of some embarrassment 
 and reserve : not so the second. They did but once, and that 
 slightly, recur to the past, and from that moment, as by a tacit 
 understanding, true friendship between them dated. Neither 
 felt mortified to see that an illusion had passed away they 
 were no longer the same in each other's eyes. Both might be 
 improved, and were so : but the Valerie and the Ernest of Naples 
 were as things dead and gone ! Perhaps Valerie's heart was 
 even more reconciled to the cure of its soft and luxurious 
 malady by the renewal of their acquaintance. The mature and 
 experienced reasoner, in whom enthusiasm had undergone its 
 usual change, with the calm brow and commanding aspect of 
 sober manhood, was a being so different from the romantic boy, 
 new to the actual world of civilised toils and pleasures fresh 
 from the adventures of Eastern wanderings, and full of golden 
 dreams of poetry before it settles into authorship or action ! She 
 missed the brilliant errors the daring aspirations even the 
 animated gestures and eager eloquence that had interested and 
 enamoured her in the loiterer by the shores of Baise, or amidst 
 the tomb-like chambers of Pompeii. For the Maltravers now 
 before her, wiser better nobler even handsomer than of yore 
 (for he was one whom manhood became better than youth) 
 the Frenchwoman could at any period have felt friendship 
 without danger. It seemed to her, not as it really was, the 
 natural development, but the very contrast, of the ardent, variable, 
 imaginative boy, by whose side she had gazed at night on the 
 moonlit waters and rosy skies of the soft Parthenope ! How 
 does time, after long absence, bring to us such contrasts between 
 the one we remember and the one we see ! And what a 
 melancholy mockery does it seem of our own vain hearts, 
 dreaming of impressions never to be changed, and affections 
 that never can grow cool ! 
 
 And now, as they conversed with all the ease of cordial and 
 guileless friendship, how did Valerie rejoice in secret that upon 
 that friendship there rested no blot of shame ! and that she had
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 233 
 
 not forfeited those consolations for a home without love, which 
 had at last settled into cheerful nor unhallowed resignation 
 consolations only to be found in the conscience and the pride ! 
 
 Monsieur de Ventadour had not altered, except that his nose 
 was longer, and that he now wore a peruque in full curl, instead 
 of his own straight hair. But, somehow or other perhaps by 
 the mere charm of custom he had grown more pleasing in 
 Valerie's eyes ; habit had reconciled her to his foibles, deficiencies, 
 and faults ; and, by comparison with others, she could better 
 appreciate his good qualities, such as they were generosity, 
 good-temper, good-nature, and unbounded indulgence to herself. 
 Husband and wife have so many interests in common, that, 
 when they have jogged on through the ups and downs of life a 
 sufficient time, the leash which at first galled, often grows easy 
 and familiar ; and unless the temper, or rather the disposition and 
 the heart, of either be insufferable, what was once a grievous yoke 
 becomes but a companionable tie. And for the rest, Valerie, 
 now that sentiment and fancy were sobered down, could take 
 pleasure in a thousand things which her pining affections once, 
 as it were, overlooked and overshot. She could feel grateful for 
 all the advantages her station and wealth procured her ; she 
 could cull the roses in her reach, without iighing for the 
 amaranths of Elysium. 
 
 If the great have more temptations than those of middle life, 
 and if their senses of enjoyment become more easily pampered 
 into a sickly apathy ; so at least (if they can once outlive 
 satiety) they have many more resources at their command. 
 There is a great deal of justice in the old line, displeasing though 
 it be to those who think of love in a cottage, " 'tis best repenting 
 in a coach and six ! " If among the Eupatrids, the Well Born, 
 there is less love in wedlock, less quiet happiness at home, still 
 they are less chained each to each they have more independence, 
 both the woman and the man and occupations and the solace 
 without can be so easily obtained ! Madame de Ventadour, in 
 retiring from the mere frivolities of society from crowded rooms, 
 and the inane talk and hollow smiles of mere acquaintanceship 
 became more sensible of the pleasures that her refined and 
 elegant intellect could derive from art and talent, and the com-
 
 234 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 munion of friendship. She drew around her the most cultivated 
 minds of her time and country. Her abilities, her wit, and her 
 conversational graces, enabled her not only to mix on equal 
 terms with the most eminent, but to amalgamate and blend the 
 varieties of talent into harmony. The same persons, when met 
 elsewhere, seemed to have lost their charm-; under Valerie's roof 
 every one breathed a congenial atmosphere. And music and 
 letters, and all that can refine and embellish civilised life, con- 
 tributed their resources to this gifted and beautiful woman. And 
 thus she found that the mind has excitement and occupation, as 
 well as the heart ; and, unlike the latter, the culture we bestow 
 upon the first ever yields us its return. We talk of education 
 for the poor, but we forget how much it is needed by the rich. 
 Valerie was a living instance of the advantages to women of 
 knowledge and intellectual resources. By them she had purified 
 her fancy by them she had conquered discontent by them she 
 had grown reconciled to life and to her lot ! When the heavy 
 heart weighed down the one scale, it was the mind that restored 
 the balance. 
 
 The spells of Madame de Ventadour drew Maltravers into this 
 charmed circle of all that was highest, purest, and most gifted 
 in the society of Paris. There he did not meet, as were met in 
 the times of the old regime, sparkling abbes intent upon 
 intrigues ; or amorous old dowagers, eloquent on Rousseau ; 
 or powdered courtiers, uttering epigrams against kings and 
 religions straws that foretold the whirlwind. Paul Courier was 
 right ! Frenchmen are Frenchmen still, they are full of fine 
 phrases, and their thoughts smell of the theatre ; they mistake 
 foil for diamonds, the Grotesque for the Natural, the Exaggerated 
 for the Sublime : but still I say, Paul Courier was right : there 
 is more honesty now in a single salon in Paris, than there was in 
 all France in the days of Voltaire. Vast interests and solemn 
 causes are no longer tossed about like shuttlecocks on the 
 battledores of empty tongues. In the bouleversement of Revolu- 
 tions the French have fallen on their feet ! 
 
 Meeting men of all parties and all classes, Maltravers was 
 struck with the heightened tone of public morals, the earnest 
 sincerity of feeling which generally pervaded all, as comppred
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 235 
 
 with his first recollections of the Parisians. He saw that true 
 elements for national wisdom were at work, though he saw also 
 that there was no country in which their operations would be 
 more liable to disorder, more slow and irregular in their results. 
 The French are like the Israelites in the Wilderness, when, 
 according to a Hebrew tradition, every morning they seemed on 
 the verge of Pisgah, and evry evening they were as far from it 
 as ever. But still time rolls on, the pilgrimage draws to its close, 
 and the Canaan must come at last ! 
 
 At Valerie's house, Maltravers once more met the De 
 Montaignes. It was a painful meeting, for they thought of 
 Cesarini when they met. 
 
 It is now time to return to that unhappy man. Cesarini had 
 been removed from England, when Maltravers quitted it after 
 Lady Florence's death ; and Maltravers had thought it best to 
 acquaint De Montaigne with all the circumstances that had led 
 to his affliction. The pride and the honour of the high-spirited 
 Frenchman were deeply shocked by the tale of fraud and guilt, 
 softened as it was; but the sight of the criminal, his awful 
 punishment, merged every other feeling in compassion. Placed 
 under the care of the most skilful practitioners in Paris, great 
 hopes of Cesarini's recovery had been at first entertained. Nor 
 was it long, indeed, before he appeared entirely restored ; so far 
 as the external and superficial tokens of sanity could indicate a 
 cure. He testified complete consciousness of the kindness of his 
 relations, and clear remembrance of the past : but to the in- 
 coherent ravings of delirium, an intense melancholy, still more 
 deplorable, succeeded. In this state, however, he became once 
 more the inmate of his brother-in-law's house; and, though 
 avoiding all society, except that of Teresa, whose affectionate 
 nature never wearied of its cares, he resumed many of his old 
 occupations. Again he appeared to take delight in desultory 
 and unprofitable studies, and in the cultivation of that luxury of 
 solitary men, "the thankless muse." By shunning all topics 
 connected with the gloomy cause of his affliction, and talking 
 rather of the sweet recollections of Italy and childhood than of 
 more recent events, his sister was enabled to soothe the dark 
 hour, and preserve some kind of influence over the ill-fated man.
 
 236 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 One day, however, there fell into his hands an English news- 
 paper, which was full of the praises of Lord Vargrave ; and the 
 article in lauding the peer, referred to his services as the 
 commoner Lumley Ferrers. 
 
 This incident, slight as it appeared, and perfectly untraceable 
 by his relations, produced a visible effect on Cesarini ; and three 
 days afterwards he attempted his own life. The failure of the 
 attempt was followed by the fiercest paroxysms. His disease 
 returned in all its dread force : and it became necessary to place 
 him under yet stricter confinement than he had endured before. 
 Again, about a year from the date now entered upon, he had 
 appeared to recover ; and again he was removed to De Mon- 
 taigne's house. His relations were not aware of the influence 
 which Lord Vargrave's name exercised over Cesarini ; in the 
 melancholy tale communicated to them by Maltravers, that 
 name had not been mentioned. If Maltravers had at one time 
 entertained some vague suspicions that Lumley had acted a 
 treacherous part with regard to Florence, those suspicions had 
 long since died away for want of confirmation ; nor did he (nor 
 did therefore the De Montaignes) connect Lord Vargrave with 
 the affliction of Cesarini. De Montaigne himself, therefore, one 
 day at dinner, alluding to a question of foreign politics which 
 had been debated that morning in the Chamber, and in which 
 he himself had taken an active part, happened to refer to a, 
 speech of Vargrave's upon the subject, which had made some 
 sensation abroad, as well as at home. Teresa asked innocently 
 who Lord Vargrave was? and De Montaigne, well acquainted 
 with the biography of the principal English statesmen, replied, 
 that he had commenced his career as Mr. Ferrers, and reminded 
 Teresa that they had once been introduced to him in Paris. 
 Cesarini suddenly rose and left the room ; his absence was not 
 noted for his comings and goings were ever strange and fitful. 
 Teresa soon afterwards quitted the apartment with her children, 
 and De Montaigne, who was rather fatigued by the exertions 
 and excitement of the morning, stretched himself in his chair to 
 enjoy a short siesta. He was suddenly awakened by a feeling of 
 pain and suffocation awakened in time to struggle against a 
 strong gripe that had fastened itself at his throat The room
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 237 
 
 was darkened in the growing shades of the evening : and, but for 
 the glittering and savage eyes that were fixed on him, he could 
 scarcely discern his assailant He at length succeeded, however, 
 in freeing himself, and casting the intended assassin on the 
 ground. He shouted for assistance ; and the lights borne by the 
 servants who rushed into the room, revealed to him the face of 
 his brother-in-law. Cesarini, though in strong convulsions, still 
 uttered cries and imprecations of revenge ; he denounced De 
 Montaigne as a traitor and a murderer ! In the dark confusion 
 of his mind, he had mistaken the guardian for the distant foe, 
 whose name sufficed to conjure up the phantoms of the dead, 
 and plunge reason into fury. 
 
 It was now clear that there was danger and death in Cesarini's 
 disease. His madness was pronounced to be capable of no 
 certain and permanent cure : he was placed at a new asylum (the 
 superintendents of which were celebrated for humanity as well 
 as skill), a little distance from Versailles, and there he still 
 remained. Recently his lucid intervals had become more 
 frequent and prolonged ; but trifles that sprang from his own 
 mind, and which no care could prevent or detect, sufficed to 
 renew his calamity in all its fierceness. At such times he 
 required the most unrelaxing vigilance ; for his madness ever 
 took an alarming and ferocious character ; and had he been left 
 unshackled, the boldest and stoutest of the keepers would have 
 dreaded to enter his cell unarmed, or alone. 
 
 What made the disease of the mind appear more melancholy 
 and confirmed was, that all this time the frame seemed to 
 increase in health and strength. This is not an uncommon case 
 in instances of mania and it is generally the worst symptom. 
 In earlier youth, Cesarini had been delicate even to effeminacy ; 
 but now his proportions were enlarged his form though still 
 lean and spare, muscular and vigorous as if in the torpor which 
 usually succeeded to his bursts of frenzy, the animal portion 
 gained by the repose or disorganisation of the intellectual. 
 When in his better and calmer mood in which indeed none 
 but the experienced could have detected his malady books 
 made his chief delight. But then he complained bitterly, if 
 briefly, of the confinement he endured of the injustice he
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 suffered ; and as, shunning all companions, he walked gloomily 
 amidst the grounds that surrounded that House of Woe, his 
 unseen guardians beheld him clenching his hands, as at some 
 visionary enemy ; or overheard him accuse some phantom of his 
 brain of the torments he endured. 
 
 Though the reader can detect in Lumley Ferrers the cause cf 
 the frenzy, and the object of the imprecation, it was not so with 
 the De Montaignes, nor with the patient's keepers and physi- 
 cians ; for in his delirium he seldom or never gave name to the 
 shadows that he invoked not even to that of Florence. It is, 
 indeed, no unusual characteristic of madness to shun, as by a 
 kind of cunning, all mention of the names of those by whom the 
 madness has been caused. It is as if the unfortunates imagined 
 that the madness might be undiscovered, if the images connected 
 with it were unbetrayed. 
 
 Such, at this time, was the wretched state of the man, whose 
 talents had promised a fair and honourable career, had it not 
 been the wretched tendency of his mind, from boyhood upward, 
 to pamper every unwholesome and unhallowed feeling as a token 
 of the exuberance of genius. De Montaigne, though he touched 
 as lightly as possible upon this dark domestic calamity in his 
 first communications with Maltravers, whose conduct in that 
 melancholy tale of crime and woe had, he conceived, been 
 stamped with generosity and feeling, still betrayed emotions 
 that told how much his peace had been embittered. 
 
 " I seek to console Teresa," said he, turning away his manly 
 head, " and to point out all the blessings yet left to her ; but 
 that brother so beloved, from whom so much was so vainly 
 expected ; still ever and ever, though she strives to conceal it 
 from me, this affliction comes b^ck to her, and poisons every 
 thought ! Oh ! better a thousand times that he had died ! When 
 reason, sense, almost the soul, are dead how dark and fiend-like 
 is the life that remains behind ! And if it should be in the blood 
 if Teresa's children dreadful thought ! " 
 
 De Montaigne ceased, thoroughly overcome. 
 
 "Do not, my dear friend, so fearfully exaggerate your mis- 
 fortune, great as it is ; Cesarini's disease evidently arose from no 
 physical conformation it was but the crisis, the development, ot
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 239 
 
 a Icng-contracted malady of mind passions morbidly indulged 
 the reasoning faculty obstinately neglected and yet too he 
 may recover. The farther memory recedes from the shock he 
 has sustained, the better the chance that his mind will regain its 
 tone." 
 
 De Montaigne wrung his friend's hand 
 
 " It is strange that from you should come sympathy and 
 comfort ! you whom he so injured ! you whom his folly or his 
 crime drove from your proud career, and your native soil ! But 
 Providence will yet, I trust, redeem the evil of its erring creature, 
 and I shall yet live to see you restored to hope and home, a 
 happy husband, an honoured citizen : till then, I feel as if the 
 curse lingered upon my race." 
 
 " Speak not thus whatever my destiny, I have recovered 
 from that wound ; and still, De Montaigne, I find in life that 
 suffering succeeds to suffering, and disappointment to disappoint- 
 ment, as wave to wave. To endure is the only philosophy to 
 believe that we shall live again in a brighter planet, is the only 
 hope that our reason should accept from our desires." 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 " Monstra evenerunt mihi, 
 , - Introit in cedes ater alienus canis, 
 
 Anguis per impluvium decidit de tegulis, 
 Gallina cecinit !" TERENT. X 
 
 WITH his constitutional strength of mind, and conformably 
 with his acquired theories, Maltravers continued to struggle 
 against the latest and strongest passion of his life. It might be 
 seen in the paleness of his brow, and that nameless expression 
 of suffering which betrays itself in the lines about the mouth, 
 that his health was affected by the conflict within him ; and 
 many a sudden fit of absence and abstraction, many an impatient 
 sigh, followed by a forced and unnatural gaiety, told the observant 
 
 1 Prodigies have occurred ; a strange black dog came into the house ; a snake 
 glided from the tiles, through the court ; the hen crowed.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES 
 
 Valerie that he was the prey of a sorrow he was too proud to 
 disclose. He compelled himself, however, to take, or to affect, 
 an interest in the singular phenomena of the social state around 
 him, phenomena that, in a happier or serener mood, would indeed 
 have suggested no ordinary food for conjecture and meditation. 
 The state of -visible transition is the state of nearly all the 
 enlightened communities in Europe. But nowhere is it so 
 pronounced as in that country which may be called the Heart 
 of European Civilization. There, all to which the spirit of society 
 attaches itself appears broken, vague, and half developed the 
 Antique in ruins, and the New not formed. It is, perhaps, the 
 only country in which the Constructive principle has not kept 
 pace with the Destructive. The Has Been is blotted out the 
 To Be is as the shadow of a far land in a mighty and perturbed 
 
 sea. 1 
 
 Maltravers, who for several years had not examined the 
 progress of modern literature, looked with mingled feelings of 
 surprise, distaste, and occasional and most reluctant admiration, 
 on the various works which the successors of Voltaire and 
 Rousseau have produced, and are pleased to call the offspring 
 of Truth united to Romance. 
 
 Profoundly versed in the mechanism and elements of those 
 masterpieces of Germany and England, from which the French 
 have borrowed so largely while pretending to be original, Mal- 
 travers was shocked to see the monsters which these Frankensteins 
 had created from the relics and the offal of the holiest sepulchres. 
 The head of a giant on the limbs of a dwarf incongruous 
 members jumbled together parts fair and beautiful the whole 
 a hideous distortion ! 
 
 " It may be possible," said he to De Montaigne, " that these 
 works are admired and extolled ; but how they can be vindicated 
 by the examples of Shakspeare and Goethe, or even of Byron, 
 who redeemed poor and melodramatic conceptions with a manly 
 'vigour of execution, an energy and completeness of purpose that 
 Dryden himself never surpassed, is to me utterly inconceivable." 
 
 1 The reader will remember that these remarks were written long before the la.? 
 French Revolution and when the dvnasty of Louis Philippe was generally considered 
 nost secure.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 241 
 
 "I allow that there is a strange mixture of fustian and maudlin 
 in all these things," answered De Montaigne ; " but they are but 
 the windfalls of trees that may bear rich fruit in due season ; 
 meanwhile, any new school is better than eternal imitations cf 
 the old. As for critical vindications of the works themselves, 
 the age that produces the phenomena is never the age to classify 
 and analyse them. We have had a deluge, and now new creatures 
 spring^ from the new soil." 
 
 " An excellent simile : they come forth from slime and mud 
 fetid and crawling unformed and monstrous. I grant excep- 
 tions ; and even in the New School, as it is called, I can admire 
 the real genius the vital and creative power of Victor Hugo. 
 But oh, that a nation which has known a Corneille should ever 
 spawn forth a * * * * ! And with these rickety and drivelling 
 abortions all having followers and adulators your Public can 
 still bear to be told that they have improved wonderfully on the 
 day when they gave laws and models to the literature of Europe ; 
 they can bear to hear *.**** proclaimed a sublime genius 
 in the same circles which sneer down Voltaire ! " 
 
 Voltaire is out of fashion in France, but Rousseau still main- 
 tains his influence, and boasts his imitators. Rousseau was the 
 worse man of the two ; perhaps he was also the more dangerous 
 writer. But his reputation is more durable, and sinks deeper into 
 the heart of his nation ; and the danger of his unstable and 
 capricious doctrines has passed away. In Voltaire we behold the 
 fate of all writers purely destructive ; their uses cease with the 
 evils they denounce. But Rousseau sought to construct as well 
 as to destroy ; and though nothing could well be more absurd 
 than his constructions, still man loves to look back and see even 
 delusive images castles in the air reared above the waste 
 where cities have been. Rather than leave even a burial-ground 
 to solitude, we populate it with ghosts. 
 
 By degrees, however, as he mastered all the features of the 
 French literature, Maltravers became more tolerant of the present 
 defects, and more hopeful of the future results. He saw in one 
 respect, that that literature carried with it its own ultimate 
 redemption. 
 
 Its general characteristic contradistinguished from the literal- 
 
 Q
 
 142 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 ture of the old French classic school is to take the heart for its 
 study : to bring the passions and feelings into action, and let the 
 Within have its record and history as well as the Without In 
 all this our contemplative analyst began to allow that the French 
 were not far wrong when they contended that Shakspeare made 
 the fountain of their inspiration a fountain which the majority 
 of our later English Fictionists have neglected. It is not by a 
 story woven of interesting incidents, relieved by delineations of 
 the externals and surface of character, humorous phraseology, 
 and every-day ethics, that Fiction achieves its grandest ends. 
 
 In the French literature, thus characterised, there is much false 
 morality, much depraved sentiment, and much hollow rant. 
 But still it carries within it the germ of an excellence, which, 
 sooner or later, must in the progress of national genius, arrive at 
 its full development. Meanwhile, it is a consolation to know, 
 that nothing really immoral is ever permanently popular, or ever, 
 therefore, long deleterious ; what is dangerous in a work of genius 
 cures itself in a few years. We can now read Werter, and 
 instruct our hearts by its exposition of weakness and passion 
 our taste by its exquisite and unrivalled simplicity of construction 
 and detail, without any fear that we shall shoot ourselves in top- 
 boots ! We can feel ourselves elevated by the noble sentiments 
 of The Robbers, and our penetration sharpened as to the 
 wholesale immorality of conventional cant and hypocrisy, without 
 any danger of turning banditti, and becoming cutthroats from 
 the love of virtue. Providence, that has made the genius of the 
 few in all times and countries the guide and prophet of the many, 
 and appointed Literature as the sublime agent of Civilisation, of 
 Opinion, and of Law, has endowed the elements it employs with 
 a divine power of self-purification. The stream settles of itself 
 by rest and time ; the impure particles fly off, or are neutralised 
 by the healthful. It is only fools that call the works of a master- 
 spirit immoral. There does not exist in the literature of the world, 
 one popular book that is immoral two centuries after it is pro- 
 duced. For, in the heart of nations, the False does not live so 
 long ; and the True is the Ethical to the end of time. 
 
 From the literary, Maltravers turned to the political state of 
 France his curious and thoughtful eye. He was struck by the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 243 
 
 resemblance which this nation so civilised, so thoroughly 
 European bears in one respect to the despotisms of the East : 
 the convulsions of the capital decide the fate of the country ; 
 Paris is the tyrant of France. He saw in this inflammable con- 
 centration of power, which must ever be pregnant with great 
 evils, one of the causes why the revolutions of that powerful and 
 polished people are so incomplete and unsatisfactory why, like 
 Cardinal Fleury, system after system, and Government after 
 
 Government, 
 
 * * " floruit sine fructu, 
 Defloruit sine luctu." 1 
 
 Maltravers regarded it as a singular instance of perverse ratio- 
 cination, that, unwarned by experience, the French should still 
 persistinperpetuating this political vice ; that all their policy should 
 still be the policy of Centralisation a principle which secures 
 the momentary strength but ever ends in the abrupt destruction 
 of States. It is, in fact, the perilous tonic, which seems to brace 
 the system, but drives the blood to the head thus come apoplexy 
 and madness. By centralisation the provinces are weakened, it 
 is true ; but weak to assist as well as to oppose a Government 
 weak to withstand a mob. Nowhere, nowadays, is a mob so 
 powerful as in Paris : the political history of Paris is the history 
 of mobs. Centralisation is an excellent quackery for a despot who 
 desires power to last only his own life, and who has but a life- 
 interest in the State ; but to true liberty and permanent order 
 centralisation is a deadly poison. The more the provinces govern 
 their own affairs, the more we find everything, even to roads and 
 post-horses, are left to the people ; the more the Municipal Spirit 
 pervades every vein of the vast body, the more certain may we 
 be that reform and change must come from universal opinion, 
 which is slow, and constructs ere it destroys not from public 
 clamour, which is sudden, and not only pulls down the edifice but 
 sells the bricks ! 
 
 Another peculiarity in the French Constitution struck and 
 perplexed Maltravers. This people so pervaded by the re- 
 publican sentiment this people, who had sacrificed so much 
 for Freedom this people, who, in the name of Freedom, had 
 
 1 Flourished without fruit, and was destroyed without regret. 
 
 Q 3
 
 244 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 perpetrated so much crime with Robespierre, and achieved so much 
 glory with Napoleon this people were, as a people, contented 
 to be utterly excluded from all power and voice in the State I 
 Out of thirty-three millions of subjects, less than two hundred 
 thousand electors ! Where was there ever an oligarchy equal to 
 this ? What a strange infatuation, to demolish an aristocracy anc* 
 yet to exclude a people ! What an anomaly in political archi- 
 tecture, to build an inverted pyramid ! Where was the safety- 
 valve of governments where the natural vents of excitement in 
 a population so inflammable ? The people itself were left a 
 mob : no stake in the State no action in its affairs no legisla- 
 tive interest in its security. 1 
 
 On the other hand, it was singular to see how the aristocracy 
 of birth broken down the aristocracy of letters had arisen. A 
 Peerage, half composed of journalists, philosophers, and authors ! 
 This was the beau-idtal of Algernon Sydney's Aristocratic Re- 
 public ; of the Helvetian vision of what ought to be the dis- 
 pensation of public distinctions ; yet was it, after all, a desirable 
 aristocracy ? Did society gain ? did literature lose ? W T as the 
 priesthood of Genius made more sacred and more pure by these 
 worldly decorations and hollow titles ? or was aristocracy itself 
 thus rendered a more disinterested, a more powerful, or a more 
 sagacious element in the administration of law, or the elevation 
 of opinion ? These questions, not lightly to be answered, could 
 not fail to arouse the speculation and curiosity of a man who 
 had been familiar with the closet and the forum ; and, in propor- 
 tion as he found his interest excited in these problems to be 
 solved by a foreign nation, did the thoughtful Englishman feel 
 the old instinct which binds the citizen to the fatherland 
 begin to stir once more earnestly and vividly within him. 
 
 " You, yourself individually, are passing like us," said De 
 Montaigne one day to Maltravers, " through a state of transition. 
 You have for ever left the Ideal, and you are carry ing your cargo 
 of experience over to the practical. When you reach that haven, 
 you will have completed the development of your forces." 
 
 "You mistake me I am but a spectator." 
 
 " Yes ; but you desire to go behind the scenes. And he who 
 
 1 Has not all this proved prophetic !
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 245 
 
 once grows familiar with the green-room, longs to be an 
 actor." 
 
 With Madame de Ventadour and the De Montaignes, Ma\- 
 travers passed the chief part of his time. They knew how to 
 appreciate his nobler, and to love his gentler attributes and 
 qualities; they united in a warm interest for his future fate ; they 
 combated his Philosophy of Inaction ; and they felt that it was 
 because he was not happy that he was not wise. Experience 
 was to him what ignorance had been to Alice. His faculties were 
 chilled and dormant. As affection to those who are unskilled in 
 all things, so is affection to those who despair of all things. The 
 mind of Maltravers was a world without a sun 1 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 'Coelebs, quid agam?" 1 HORAT. 
 
 IN a room at Fenton's Hotel sat Lord Vargrave and Caroline 
 Lady Doltimore two months after the marriage of the latter. 
 
 " Doltimore has positively fixed, then, to go abroad on your 
 return from Cornwall ? " 
 
 "Positively to Paris. You can join us at Christmas, I 
 trust?" 
 
 " I have no doubt of it ; and before then I hope that I shall 
 have arranged certain public matters, which at present harass 
 and absorb me even more than my private affairs." 
 
 " You have managed to obtain terms with Mr. Douce, and to 
 delay the repayment of your debt to him ? " 
 
 " Yes, I hope so, till I touch Miss Cameron's income ; which 
 will be mine, I trust, by the time she is eighteen." 
 
 " You mean the forfeit money of 3O,ooo/. ? " 
 
 " Not I I mean what I said ! " 
 
 " Can you really imagine she will still accept your hand ? n 
 
 1 What shall I do, a bachelor ?
 
 246 ALICE'; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "With your aid, I do imagine it ! Hear me. You must take 
 Evelyn with you to Paris. I have no doubt but that she will be 
 delighted to accompany you ; nay, I have paved the way so far, 
 For, of course, as a friend of the family, and guardian to 
 Evelyn, I have maintained a correspondence with Lady Vargrave. 
 She informs me that Evelyn has been unwell and low-spirited ; 
 that she fears Brook-Green is dull for her, &c. I wrote, in reply, 
 to say, that the more my ward saw of the world, prior to her 
 accession, when of age, to the position she would occupy in it, 
 the more she would fulfil my late uncle's wishes with respect to 
 her education and so forth. I added, that as you were going 
 to Paris and as you loved her so much there could not be a 
 better opportunity for her entrance into life, under the most 
 favourable auspices. Lady Vargrave's answer to this letter 
 arrived this morning : she will consent to such an arrangement 
 should you propose it" 
 
 " But what good will result to yourself in this project ? at 
 Paris you will be sure of rivals, and " 
 
 " Caroline," interrupted Lord Vargrave, " I know very well 
 what you would say : I also know all the danger I must incur. 
 But it is a choice of evils, and I choose the least. You see that 
 while she is at Brook-Green, and under the eye of that sly old 
 curate, I can effect nothing with her. There, she is entirely 
 removed from my influence ; not so abroad ; not so under your 
 roof. Listen to me still further. In this country, and especially 
 in the seclusion and shelter of Brook-Green, I have no scope for 
 any of those means which I shall be compelled to resort to, in 
 failure of all else." 
 
 " What can you intend ? " said Caroline, with a slight shudder. 
 
 " I don't know what I intend yet. But this, at least, I can tell 
 you that Miss Cameron's fortune I must and will have. I am 
 a desperate man ; and I can play a desperate game, if need be." 
 
 "And do you think that /will aid, will abet ?" 
 
 " Hush, not so loud ! Yes, Caroline, you will, and you must 
 aid and abet me in any project I may form." 
 
 " Must ! Lord Vargrave ? " 
 
 "Ay!" said Lumley, with a smile, and sinking his voice into 
 a whisper, " ay ! you are in my power I "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 247 
 
 " Traitor ! you cannot dare ! you cannot mean " 
 
 " I mean nothing more than to remind you of the ties that 
 exist between us ties which ought to render us the firmest and 
 most confidential of friends. Come, Caroline, recollect all the 
 benefit must not lie on one side ; I have obtained for you rank and 
 wealth ; I have procured you a husband you must help me to 
 a wife!" 
 
 Caroline sank back, and covered her face with her hands. 
 
 " I allow," continued Vargrave coldly " I allow that your 
 beauty and talent were sufficient of themselves to charm a wiser 
 man than Doltimore ; but had I not suppressed jealousy sacri- 
 ficed love had I dropped a hint to your liege lord nay, had I 
 not fed his lap-dog vanity by all the cream and sugar of flatter- 
 ing falsehoods you would be Caroline Merton still!" 
 
 " Oh ! would that I were ! Oh ! that I were anything but your 
 tool your victim ! Fool that I was ! wretch that I am ! I am 
 rightly punished ! " 
 
 " Forgive me forgive me, dearest," said Vargrave, soothingly ; 
 " I was to blame, forgive me : but you irritated, you maddened 
 me, by your seeming indifference to my prosperity, my fate. 
 I tell you again and again, pride of my soul, I tell you, that you 
 are the only being I love ! and if you will allow me, if you will 
 rise superior, as I once fondly hoped, to all the cant and pre- 
 judice of convention and education the only woman I could 
 ever respect, as well as love. Oh, hereafter, when you see me at 
 that height to which I feel that I am born to climb, let me think 
 that to your generosity, your affection, your zeal, I owed the 
 ascent ; at present I am on the precipice without your hand I 
 fall for ever. My own fortune is gone the miserable forfeit due 
 to me, if Evelyn continues to reject my suit, when she has 
 arrived at the age of eighteen, is deeply mortgaged. I am 
 engaged in vast and daring schemes, in which I may either rise 
 to the highest station or lose that which I now hold. In either 
 case, how necessary to me is wealth : in the one instance, to 
 maintain my advancement ; in the other, to redeem my fall." 
 
 " But did you not tell me," said Caroline, " that Evelyn proposed 
 and promised to place her fortune at your disposal, even 
 rejecting your hand ? "
 
 248 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Absurd mockery ! " exclaimed Vargave ; " the foolish boast ol 
 a girl an impulse liable to every caprice. Can you suppose that 
 when she launches into the extravagance natural to her age, and 
 necessary to her position, she will not find a thousand demands 
 upon her rent-roll not dreamt of now ? a thousand vanities and 
 baubles that will soon erase my poor and hollow claim from her 
 recollection ? Can you suppose that, if she marry another, her 
 husband will ever consent to a child's romance ? And even were 
 all this possible, were it possible that girls were not extravagant, 
 and that husbands had no common sense, is it for me, Lord 
 Vargrave, to be a mendicant upon reluctant bounty ? a poor 
 cousin a pensioned led-captain ? Heaven knows I have as little 
 false pride as any man, but still this is a degradation I cannot 
 stoop to. Besides, Caroline, I am no miser, no Harpagon : I do 
 not want wealth for wealth's sake, but for the advantages it 
 bestows respect, honour, position ; and these I get as the 
 husband of the great heiress. Should I get them as her depend- 
 ant ? No : for more than six years I have built my schemes 
 and shaped my conduct according to one assured and definite 
 object ; and that object I shall not now, at the eleventh hour, 
 let slip from my hands. Enough of this : you will pass Brook- 
 Green in returning from Cornwall you will take Evelyn with 
 you to Paris leave the rest to me. Fear no folly, no violence, 
 from my plans, whatever they may be : I work in the dark. Nor 
 do I despair that Evelyn will love, that Evelyn will voluntarily 
 accept me yet : my disposition is sanguine ; I look to the bright 
 side of things ; do the same !" 
 
 Here their conference was interrupted by Lord Doltimore, who 
 lounged carelessly into the room, with his hat on one side. "Ah 
 Vargrave, how are you ? You will not forget the letters of 
 introduction ? Where are you going, Caroline ? " 
 
 " Only to my own room, to put on my bonnet : the carriage 
 will be here in a few minutes." And Caroline escaped. 
 
 " So you go to Cornwall to-morrow, Doltimore ? " 
 
 " Yes cursed bore ! but Lady Elizabeth insists on seeing us, 
 and I don't object to a week's good shooting. The old lady, too, 
 has something to leave, and Caroline had no dowiy : not that I 
 care for it ; but still marriage is expensive."
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 249 
 
 * By the by, you will want the five thousand pounds you lent 
 me? w 
 
 " Why, whenever it is convenient." 
 
 'Say no more it shall be seen to. Doltimore, I am very 
 anxious that Lady Doltimore's dtbnt at Paris should be brilliant : 
 everything depends on falling into the right set. For myself, 1 
 don't care about fashion, and never did ; but if I were married, 
 and an idle man like you, it might be different." 
 
 " Oh, you will be very useful to us when we return to London. 
 Meanwhile, you know, you have my proxy in the Lords. I 
 dare say there will be some sharp work the first week or two 
 after the recess." 
 
 " Very likely ; and depend on one thing, my dear Doltimore, 
 that when I am in the cabinet, a certain friend of mine shall be 
 an earl. Adieu." 
 
 " Good-bye, my dear Vargrave, good-bye and, I say, I say, 
 don't distress yourself about that trifle a few months hence, 
 it will suit me just as well." 
 
 " Thanks I will just look into my accounts, and use you 
 without ceremony. Well I dare say we shall meet at Paris. 
 Oh, I forgot I observe that you have renewed your intimacy 
 with Legard. Now, he is a very good fellow, and I gave him that 
 
 place to oblige you still, as you are no longer a gar$on 
 
 but perhaps I shall offend you ? " 
 
 " Not at all. What is there against Legard ? " 
 
 " Nothing in the world but he is a bit of a boaster. I dare say 
 his ancestor was a Gascon poor fellow ! and he affects to say 
 that you can't choose a coat, or buy a horse, without his approval 
 and advice that he can turn you round his finger. Now this 
 hurts your consequence in the world you don't get credit for 
 your own excellent sense and taste. Take my advice, avoid 
 these young hangers-on of fashion these club-room lions. 
 Having no importance of their own, they steal the importance of 
 their friends. Verbum sap" 
 
 " You are very right Legard is a coxcomb ; and now I see 
 why he talked of joining us at Paris." 
 
 "Don't let him do any such thing! he will be telling the 
 Frenchmen that her ladyship is in love with him ha ! ha J "
 
 250 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! a very good joke poor Caroline ! very good 
 joke!" 
 
 "Well, good-bye, once more." And Vargrave closed the 
 door. 
 
 " Legard go to Paris not if Evelyn goes there 1 " muttered 
 Lumley. "Besides, I want no partner in the little that one 
 can screw out of this blockhead." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "Mr. Bumblecase, a word with you I have a little business." 
 "Farewell, the goodly Manor of Blackacre, with all its woods, underwoods, and 
 appurtenances whatever." WYCHERLEY : Plain Dealer. 
 
 IN quitting Fenton's Hotel, Lord Vargrave entered into one 
 of the clubs in St. James's Street : this was rather unusual with 
 him, for he was not a club man. It was not his system to spend 
 his time for nothing. But it was a wet December day the 
 House was not yet assembled, and he had done his official 
 business. Here, as he was munching a biscuit and reading an 
 article in one of the ministerial papers the heads of which he 
 himself had supplied Lord Saxingham joined, and drew him 
 to the window. 
 
 " I have reason to think," said the earl, " that your visit to 
 Windsor did good." 
 
 " Ah, indeed ; so I fancied." 
 
 " I do not think that a certain personage will ever consent to 
 the * * * * question ; and the premier, whom I saw to-day, seems 
 chafed and irritated." 
 
 " Nothing can be better I know that we are in the right 
 boat." 
 
 " I hope it is not true, Lumley, that your marriage with Miss 
 Cameron is broken off; such was the on dit in the club, just 
 before you entered." 
 
 " Contradict it, my dear lord, contradict it. I hope by the 
 spring to introduce Lady Vargrave to you. But who broached 
 the absurd report ? '*
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 251 
 
 "Why, your prottgt, Legard, says he heard so from his uncle, 
 who heard it from Sir John Merton." 
 
 " Legard is a puppy, and Sir John Merton a jackass. Legard 
 had better attend to his office, if he wants to get on ; and I wish 
 you'd tell him so. I have heard somewhere that he talks of 
 goin^ to Paris you can just hint to him that he must give up 
 such idle habits. Public functionaries are not now what they 
 were people are expected to work for the money they pocket 
 otherwise Legard is a cleverish fellow, and deserves promotion. 
 A word or two of caution from you will do him a vast deal 
 of good." 
 
 " Be sure I will lecture him. Will you dine with me to-day, 
 Lumley?" 
 
 " No. I expect my co-trustee, Mr. Douce, on matters of 
 business a tete-a-te'te dinner." 
 
 Lord Vargrave had, as he conceived, very cleverly talked over 
 Mr. Douce into letting his debt to that gentleman run on for the 
 present ; and, in the meanwhile, he had overwhelmed Mr. Douce 
 with his condescensions. That gentleman had twice dined with 
 Lord Vargrave ; and Lord Vargrave had twice dined with him. 
 The occasion of the present more familiar entertainment was 
 in a letter from Mr. Douce, begging to see Lord Vargrave 
 on particular business ; and Vargrave, who by no means liked 
 the word business from a gentleman to whom he owed money, 
 thought that it would go off more smoothly if sprinkled with 
 champagne. 
 
 Accordingly, he begged "My dear Mr. Douce" to excuse 
 ceremony, and dine with him on Thursday at seven o'clock he 
 was really so busy all the mornings. 
 
 At seven o'clock, Mr. Douce came. The moment he entered 
 Vargrave called out, at the top of his voice, " Dinner im- 
 mediately ! " And as the little man bowed, and shuffled, and 
 fidgeted, and wriggled (while Vargrave shook him by the 
 hand), as if he thought he was going himself to be spitted, 
 his host said, " With your leave, we'll postpone the budget till 
 after dinner. It is the fashion nowadays to postpone budgets 
 as long as we can r eh ? Well, and how are all at home ? 
 Devilish cold ; is it not ? So you go to your villa every day ?
 
 252 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 That's what keeps you in such capital health. You know I had 
 a villa too though I never had time to go there." 
 
 "Ah, yes I think, I remember, at Ful-Ful-Fulham !" gasped 
 out Mr. Douce. " Your poor uncle's now Lady Var-Var- 
 Vargrave's jointure-house. So so " 
 
 " She don't live there ! " burst in Vargrave (far too impatient 
 to be polite). "Too cockneyfied for her gave it up to me 
 
 very pretty place, but d d expensive. I could not afford it 
 
 never went there and so I have let it to my wine-merchant ; 
 the rent just pays his bill. You will taste some of the sofas and 
 tables to-day in his champagne. I don't know how it is, I 
 always fancy my sherry smells like my poor uncle's old leather 
 chair : very odd smell it had a kind of respectable smell ! I 
 hope you're hungry dinner's ready." 
 
 Vargrave thus rattled away in order to give the good banker 
 to understand that his affairs were in the most flourishing con- 
 dition : and he continued to keep up the ball all dinner-time, 
 stopping Mr. Douce's little, miserable, gasping, dace-like mouth, 
 with " a glass of wine, Douce ? " or " by the by, Douce," whenever 
 he saw that worthy gentleman about to make the ^Eschylean 
 improvement of a second person in the dialogue. 
 
 At length, dinner being fairly over, and the servants with- 
 drawn, Lord Vargrave, knowing that sooner or later Douce 
 would have his say, drew his chair to the fire, put his feet on 
 the fender, and cried, as he tossed off his claret, " Now, DOUCE, 
 WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU ? " 
 
 Mr. Douce opened his eyes to their full extent, and then as 
 rapidly closed them ; and this operation he continued till, having 
 snuffed them so much that they could by no possibility burn 
 any brighter, he was convinced that he had not misunderstood 
 his lordship. 
 
 " Indeed, then," he began, in his most frightened manner, 
 "indeed I really, your lordship is very good I I wanted to 
 speak to you on business." 
 
 " Well, what can I do for you some little favour, eh ? Snug 
 sinecure for a favourite clerk, or a place in the Stamp-Office 
 for your fat footman John, I think you call him ? You know, 
 my dear Douce, you may command me."
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MVSli.RIES. 353 
 
 " Oh, indeed you are all good-good-goodness but but " 
 
 Vargrave threw himself back, and shutting his eyes and 
 pursing up his mouth, resolutely suffered Mr. Douce to unbosom 
 iiimself without interruption. He was considerably relieved to 
 find that the business referred to related only to Miss Cameron. 
 
 Mr. Douce having reminded Lord Vargrave, as he had often 
 done before, of the wishes of his uncle, that the greater portion 
 of the money bequeathed to Evelyn should be invested in land, 
 proceeded to say that a most excellent opportunity presented 
 itself for just such a purchase as would have rejoiced the heart 
 of the late lord. A superb place, in the style of Blickling deer- 
 park six miles round 10,000 acres of land, bringing in a clear 
 8,ooo/. a year purchase money only 24O,ooo/. The whole 
 estate was, indeed, much larger 18,000 acres ; but then the more 
 distant farms could be sold in different lots, in order to meet 
 the exact sum Miss Cameron's trustees were enabled to invest. 
 
 " Well," said Vargrave, " and where is it ? My poor uncle 
 was after De Clifford's estate, but the title was not good." 
 
 " Oh ! this is much much much fi-fi-finer ; famous invest- 
 ment but rather far off in in the north. Li-Li-Lisle Court" 
 
 " Lisle Court ! Why, does not that belong to Colonel 
 Maltravers ? " 
 
 " Yes. It is, indeed, quite, I may say, a secret yes really 
 a se-se-secret not in the market yet not at all soon 
 snapped up." 
 
 " Humph ! Has Colonel Maltravers been extravagant ? " 
 
 "No but he does not I hear or rather Lady Julia so 
 I'm told, yes, indeed does not li-like going so far, and so they 
 spend the winter in Italy instead. Yes very odd very fine 
 place." 
 
 Lumley was slightly acquainted with the elder brother of his 
 old friend a man who possessed some of Ernest's faults very 
 proud, and very exacting, and very fastidious : but all these 
 faults were developed in the ordinary commonplace world, and 
 were not the refined abstractions of his younger brother. 
 
 Colonel Maltravers had continued, since he entered the Guards, 
 to be thoroughly the man of fashion, and nothing more. But 
 rich and well-born, and highly connected, and thoroughly a la
 
 254 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 mode as he was, his pride made him uncomfortable in London, 
 while his fastidiousness made him uncomfortable in the country. 
 He was rather a great person, but he wanted to be a very great 
 person. This he was at Lisle Court ; but that did not satisfy 
 him he wanted not only to be a very great person, but a very 
 great person among very great persons and squires and parsons 
 bored him. Lady Julia, his wife, was a fine lady, inane and 
 pretty, who saw everything through her husband's eyes. He 
 was quite master chez hii, was Colonel Maltravers ! He lived 
 a great deal abroad for on the Continent his large income 
 seemed princely, while his high character, thorough breeding, 
 and personal advantages, which were remarkable, secured him 
 a greater position in foreign courts than at his own. Two things 
 had greatly disgusted him with Lisle Court trifles they might 
 be with others, but they were not trifles to Cuthbert Maltravers 
 in the first place, a man who had been his father's attorne> , 
 and who was the very incarnation of coarse unrepellable 
 familiarity, had bought an estate close by the said Lisle 
 Court, and had, horresco referens, been made a baronet ! Sir 
 Gregory Gubbins took precedence of Colonel Maltravers ! He 
 could not ride out but he met Sir Gregory ; he could not dine 
 out but he had the pleasure of walking behind Sir Gregory's 
 bright blue coat with its bright brass buttons. In his last visit 
 to Lisle Court, which he had then crowded with all manner of 
 fine people, he had seen the very first morning after his arrival 
 seen from the large- window of his state saloon, a great staring 
 white, red, blue and gilt thing, at the end of the stately avenue 
 planted by Sir Guy Maltravers in honour of the victory over 
 the Spanish armada. He looked in mute surprise, and every- 
 body else looked ; and a polite German count, gazing through 
 his eye-glass, said, " Ah ! dat is vat you call a vim in your fays 
 the vim of Colonel Maltravers ! " 
 
 This "vim" was the pagoda summer-house of Sir Gregory 
 Gubbins erected in imitation of the Pavilion at Brighton. 
 Colonel Maltravers was miserable the vim haunted him it 
 seemed ubiquitous he could not escape it it was built on the 
 highest spot in the county ; ride, walk, sit where he would, the 
 vim stared at him; and he thought he saw little mandarins shake
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 255 
 
 their round little heads at him. This was one of the great curses 
 of Lisle Court the other was yet more galling. The owners of 
 Lisle Court had for several generations possessed the dominant 
 interest in the county town. The Colonel himself meddled little 
 in politics, and was too fine a gentleman for the drudgery of 
 parliament : he had offered the seat to Ernest, when the latter 
 had commenced his public career ; but the result of a communi- 
 cation proved that their political' views were dissimilar, and the 
 negotiation dropped without ill-feeling on either side. Sub- 
 sequently a vacancy occurred ; and Lady Julia's brother (just 
 made a Lord of the Treasury) wished to come into Parliament, 
 so the county town was offered to him. Now, the proud 
 commoner had married into the family of a peer as proud as 
 himself, and Colonel Maltravers was always glad whenever he 
 could impress his consequence on his connections by doing them 
 a favour. He wrote to his steward to see that the thing was 
 properly settled, and came down on the nomination-day "to 
 share the triumph and partake the gale." Guess his indignation, 
 when he found the nephew of Sir Gregory Gubbins was already 
 in the field ! The result of the election was that Mr. Augustus 
 Gubbins came in, and that Colonel Maltravers was pelted with 
 cabbage-stalks, and accused of attempting to sell the worthy and 
 independent electors to a government nominee ! In shame and 
 disgust, Colonel Maltravers broke up his establishment at Lisle 
 Court, and once more retired to the Continent. 
 
 About a week from the date now touched upon, Lady Julia 
 and himself had arrived in London from Vienna ; and a new 
 mortification awaited the unfortunate owner of Lisle Court. 
 A railroad company had been established, of which Sir Gregory 
 Gubbins was a principal shareholder ; and the speculator, Mr. 
 Augustus Gubbins, one of the " most useful men in the House," 
 had undertaken to carry the bill through parliament. Colonel 
 Maltravers received a letter of portentous size, inclosing the map 
 of the places which this blessed railway was to bisect ; and lo ! 
 just at the bottom of his park ran a portentous line, which 
 informed him of the sacrifice he was expected to make for the 
 public good especially for the good of that very county town, 
 the inhabitants of which had pelted him with cabbage-stalks 1
 
 256 ALICE; OK, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Colonel Maltravers lost all patience. Unacquainted with ou? 
 wise legislative proceedings, he was not aware that a railway 
 planned is a very different thing from a railway made ; and thar 
 parliamentary committees are not by any means favourable to 
 schemes for carrying the public through a gentleman's park. 
 
 " This country is not to be lived in," said he to Lady Julia , 
 " it gets worse and worse every year. I am sure I never had 
 any comfort in Lisle Court I've a great mind to sell it." 
 
 " Why, indeed, as we have no sons, only daughters, and 
 Ernest is so well provided for," said Lady Julia ; "and the place 
 is so far from London, and the neighbourhood is so disagreeable, 
 I think we could do very well without it" 
 
 Colonel Maltravers made no answer, but he revolved the/raf 
 and cons; and then he began to think how much it cost him in 
 gamekeepers, and carpenters, and bailiffs, and gardeners, and 
 Heaven knows whom besides; and then the pagoda flashed 
 across him ; and then the cabbage-stalks, and at last he went to 
 his solicitor. 
 
 " You may sell Lisle Court," said he, quietly. 
 
 The solicitor dipped his pen in the ink, " The particular?, 
 colonel ? " 
 
 " Particulars of Lisle Court ! everybody, that is, every gentle 
 man, knows Lisle Court ! " 
 
 " Price, sir ? " 
 
 " You know the rents calculate accordingly. It will be too 
 large a purchase for one individual ; sell the outlying woods and 
 farms separately from the rest." 
 
 " We must draw up an advertisement, colonel." 
 
 " Advertise Lisle Court out of the question, sir. I can have 
 no publicity given to my intention : mention it quietly to any 
 capitalist ; but keep it out of the papers till it is all settled. 
 In a week or two you will find a purchaser the sooner the 
 better." 
 
 Besides his horror of newspaper comments and newspaper 
 puffs, Colonel Maltravers dreaded that his brother then in 
 Paris should learn his intention, and attempt to thwart it ; and, 
 somehow or other, the colonel was a little in awe of Ernest, and 
 a little ashamed of his resolution. He did not know that, by a
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 257 
 
 singular coincidence, Ernest himself had thought of selling 
 Burleigh. 
 
 The solicitor was by no means pleased with this way of 
 settling the matter. However, he whispered it about that Lisle 
 Court was in the market ; and as it really was one of the most 
 celebrated places of its kind in England, the whisper spread 
 among bankers, and brewers, and soap-boiiers, and other rich 
 people the Medici of the New Noblesse rising up amongst us 
 till at last it reached the ears of Mr. Douce. 
 
 Lord Vargrave, however bad a man he might be, had not 
 many of those vices of character which belong to what I may 
 call the personal class of vices that is, he had no ill-will to 
 individuals. He was not, ordinarily, a jealous man, nor a spite- 
 ful, nor a malignant, nor a vindictive man : his vices arose from 
 utter indifference to all men, and all things except as conducive 
 to his own ends. He would not have injured a worm if it did 
 him no good, but he would have set any house on fire if he had 
 no other means of roasting his own eggs. Yet still, if any feel- 
 ing of personal rancour could harbour in his breast, it was 
 first, towards Evelyn Cameron ; and, secondly, towards Ernest 
 Maltravers. For the first time in his life, he did long for 
 revenge revenge against the one for stealing his patrimony, 
 and refusing his hand ; and that revenge he hoped to gratify. 
 
 As to the other, it was not so much dislike he felt, as an 
 uneasy sentiment of inferiority. However well he himself had 
 got on in the world, he yet grudged the reputation of a man 
 whom he had remembered a wayward, inexperienced boy : he did 
 not love to hear any one praise Maltravers. He fancied, too, 
 that this feeling was reciprocal, and that Maltravers was pained 
 at hearing of any new step in his own career. In fact, it was 
 that sort of jealousy which men often feel for the companions of 
 their youth, whose characters are higher than their own, and 
 whose talents are of an order they do not quite comprehend. 
 Now, it certainly did seem, at that moment to Lord Vargrave 
 that it would be a most splendid triumph over Mr. Maltravers 
 of Burleigh, to be lord of Lisle Court, the hereditary seat of the 
 elder branch of the family : to be, as it were, in the very shoes of 
 Mr. Ernest Maltravers's eldei brother. He knew, too, that it 
 
 R
 
 258 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 was a property of great consequence. Lord Vargrave of Lisle 
 Court would hold a very different post in the peerage from 
 
 Lord Vargrave of , Fulham ! Nobody would call the 
 
 owner of Lisle Court an adventurer ; nobody would suspect such 
 a man of caring three straws about place and salary. And if he 
 married Evelyn, and if Evelyn bought Lisle Court, would not 
 Lisle Court be his ? He vaulted over the ifs, stiff monosyllables 
 though they were, with a single jump. Besides, even should the 
 thing come to nothing, there was the very excuse he sought for 
 joining Evelyn at Paris, for conversing with her, consulting her. 
 It was true tliat the will of the late lord left it solely at the 
 discretion of the trustees to select such landed investment as 
 seemed best to them. But still it was, if not legally necessary, 
 at least but a proper courtesy, to consult Evelyn. And plans, 
 and drawings, and explanations, and rent-rolls, would justify 
 him in spending morning after morning alone with her. 
 
 Thus cogitating, Lord Vargrave suffered Mr. Douce to 
 stammer out sentence upon sentence, till at length, as he rang 
 for coffee, his lordship stretched himself with the air of a man 
 stretching himself into self-complacency or a good thing, and 
 said : 
 
 " Mr. Douce, I will go down to Lisle Court as soon as I 
 can I will see it I will ascertain all about it I will 
 consider favourably of it I agree with you, I think it will 
 do famously." 
 
 " But," said Mr. Douce, who seemed singularly anxious about 
 the matter, " we must make haste, my lord ; for really yes, 
 indeed if if if Baron Roths Rothschild should that is to 
 say " 
 
 " Oh, yes, I understand keep the thing close, my dear Douce ; 
 make friends with the colonel's lawyer ; play with him a little, 
 till I can run down." 
 
 " Besides, you see, you are such a good man of business, my 
 lord that you see, that yes, really there must be time to 
 draw out the purchase-money sell out at a prop prop " 
 
 "To be sure, to be sure bless me, how late it is! I am 
 afraid my carriage is ready. I must go to Madame dt 
 L V
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 259 
 
 Mr. Douce, who seemed to have much more to say, was forced 
 to keep it for another time, and to take his leave. 
 
 Lord Vargrave went to Madame de L 's. His position in 
 
 what is called Exclusive Society was rather peculiar. By those 
 who affected to be the best judges, the frankness of his manner, 
 and the easy oddity of his conversation, were pronounced at 
 variance with the tranquil serenity of thorough breeding. But 
 still he was a great favourite both with fine ladies and dandies. 
 His handsome, keen countenance, his talents, his politics, his 
 intrigues, and an animated boldness in his bearing, compensated 
 for his constant violation of all the minutiae of orthodox 
 conventionalism. 
 
 At this house he met Colonel Maltravers, and took an op- 
 portunity to renew his acquaintance with that gentleman. He 
 then referred, in a confidential whisper, to the communication he 
 had received touching Lisle Court. 
 
 " Yes," said the colonel, " I suppose I must sell the place, if I 
 can do so quietly. To be sure, when I first spoke to my lawyer 
 
 it was in a moment of vexation, on hearing that the railroad 
 
 was to go through the park, but I find that I overrated that 
 danger. Still, if you will do me the honour to go and look over 
 the place, you will find very good shooting; and when you come 
 back, you can see if it will suit you. Don't say anything about 
 it when you are there ; it is better not to publish my intention all 
 over the county. I shall have Sir Gregory Gubbins offering to 
 buy it if you do! " 
 
 "You may depend on my discretion. Have you heard 
 anything of your brother lately ? " 
 
 "Yes; I fancy he is going to Switzerland. He would soon be 
 in England, if he heard I was going to part with Lisle Court ! " 
 
 " What, it would vex him so ? " 
 
 " I fear it would ; but he has a nice old place of his own, not 
 half so large, and therefore not half so troublesome as Lisle 
 Court." 
 
 " Ay ! and he did talk of selling that nice old place." 
 
 " Selling Burleigh ! you surprise me. But really country 
 places in England are a bore. I suppose he has his Gubbins as 
 well as myself I" 
 
 R 2
 
 26o ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Here the chief minister of the government adorned by Lord 
 Vargrave's virtues passed by, and Lumley turned to greet him. 
 
 The two ministers talked together most affectionately in a 
 close whisper : so affectionately, that one might have seen, with 
 half an eye, that they hated each other like poison I 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 "Inspicere tanquam in speculum, in vitas omnium 
 Jubeo." l TERENT. 
 
 ERNEST MALTRAVERS still lingered at Paris : he gave up all 
 notion of proceeding further. He was, in fact, tired of travel. 
 But there was another reason that chained him to that "Navel 
 of the Earth" there is not anywhere a better sounding-board 
 to London rumours than the English quartier between the 
 Boulevard des Italiennes and the Tuileries ; here, at all events, 
 he should soonest learn the worst : and every day, as he took up 
 the English newspapers, a sick feeling of apprehension and fear 
 came over him. No ! till the seal was set upon the bond till 
 the Rubicon was passed till Miss Cameron was the wife of 
 Lord Vargrave, he could neither return to the home that was so 
 eloquent with the recollections of Evelyn, nor, by removing 
 further from England, delay the receipt of an intelligence which 
 he vainly told himself he was prepared to meet. 
 
 He continued to seek such distractions from thought as were 
 within his reach ; and, as his heart was too occupied for 
 pleasures which had, indeed, long since palled, those dis- 
 tractions were of the grave and noble character which it is 
 a prerogative of the intellect to afford to the passions. 
 
 De Montaigne was neither a Doctrinaire nor a Republican 
 and yet, perhaps, he was a little of both. He was one who 
 thought that the tendency of all European States is towards 
 Democracy; but he by no means looked upon Democracy as 
 a panacea for all legislative evils. He thought that, while a 
 
 1 I bid you look into the lives of all men, as it were into a mirror.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 201 
 
 writer should be in advance of his time, a statesman should 
 content himself with marching by its side ; that a nation could 
 not be ripened, like an exotic, by artificial means ; that it must 
 be developed only by natural influences. He believed that 
 forms of government are never universal in their effects. Thus, 
 De Montaigne conceived that we were wrong in attaching more 
 importance to legislative than to social reforms. He considered, 
 for instance, that the surest sign of our progressive civilisation 
 is in our growing distaste to capital punishments. He believed, 
 not in the \&C\n\ate perfection of mankind, but in their progressive 
 perfectibility. He thought that improvement was indefinite ; 
 but he did not place its advance more under Republican than 
 under Monarchical forms. " Provided," he was wont to say, "all 
 our checks to power are of the right kind, it matters little to 
 what hands the power itself is confided." 
 
 " ^Egina and Athens," said he, " were republics commercial 
 and maritime placed under the same sky surrounded by the 
 same neighbours, and rent by the same struggles between 
 Oligarchy and Democracy. Yet, while one left the world an 
 immortal heirloom of genius where are the poets, the philo- 
 sophers, the statesmen of the other ? Arrian tells us of republics 
 in India still supposed to exist by modern investigators but 
 they are not more productive of liberty of thought, or ferment 
 of intellect, than the principalities. In Italy there were common- 
 wealths as liberal as the Republic of Florence ; but they did not 
 produce a Machiavelli or a Dante. What daring thought, what 
 gigantic speculation, what democracy of wisdom and genius, 
 have sprung up amongst the despotisms of Germany ! You 
 cannot educate two individuals so as to produce the same results 
 from both ; you cannot, by similar constituiiuns (which are the 
 education of nations) produce the same results from different 
 communities. The proper object of statesmen should be to give 
 every facility to the people to develop themselves, and every 
 facility to philosophy, to dispute and discuss as to the ultimate 
 objects to be obtained. But you cannot, as a practical legislator, 
 place your country under a melon-frame : it must grow of its 
 own accord." 
 
 I do not say whether or not De Montaigne was wrong ! but
 
 262 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Maltravers saw at least that he was faithful to his theories ; that 
 all his motives were sincere all his practice pure. He could not 
 but allow, too, that in his occupations and labours, De Montaigne 
 appeared to feel a sublime enjoyment : that, in linking all the 
 powers of his mind to active and useful objects, De Montaigne 
 was infinitely happier than the Philosophy of Indifference, the 
 scorn of ambition, had made Maltravers. The influence exercised 
 by the large-souled and practical Frenchman over the fate and 
 the history of Maltravers was very peculiar. 
 
 De Montaigne had not, apparently and directly, operated upon 
 his friend's outward destinies ; but he had done so indirectly, by 
 operating on his mind. Perhaps it was he who had consolidated 
 the first wavering and uncertain impulses of Maltravers towards 
 literary exertion ; it was he who had consoled him for the 
 mortifications at the earlier part of his career ; and now, perhaps 
 he might serve, in the full vigour of his intellect, permanently to 
 reconcile the Englishman to the claims of life. 
 
 There were, indeed, certain conversations which Maltravers held 
 with De Montaigne, the germ and pith of which it is necessary 
 that I should place before the reader, for I write the inner as 
 well as the outer history of a man ; and the great incidents of life 
 are not brought about only by the dramatic agencies of others, 
 but also by our own reasonings and habits of thought. What I 
 am now about to set down may be wearisome, but it is not 
 episodical; and I promise that it shall be the last didactic 
 conversation in the work. , , 
 
 One day, Maltravers was relating to De Montaigne all that 
 he had been planning at Burleigh for the improvement of his 
 peasantry, and all his theories respecting Labour-Schools and 
 Poor-rates, when De Montaigne abruptly turned round, and 
 said 
 
 " You have, then, really found that in your own little village 
 your exertions exertions not very arduous, not demanding a 
 tenth part of your time have done practical good ? " 
 
 " Certainly I think so," replied Maltravers, in some surprise. 
 
 " And yet it was but yesterday that you declared ' that all 
 the labours of Philosophy and Legislation were labours vain ; 
 *V>eir benefits equivocal and uncertain ; that as the sea, where it
 
 ALICE; OR, THL MYSTERIES. 263 
 
 loses in one place, gains in another, so civilisation only partially 
 profits us, stealing away one virtue while it yields another, and 
 leaving the large proportions of good and evil eternally the 
 same.' " 
 
 " True ; but I never said that man might not relieve individuals 
 by individual exertion : though he cannot by abstract theories 
 nay, even by practical action in the wide circle, benefit the 
 mass." 
 
 " Do you not employ on behalf of individuals the same moral 
 agencies that wise legislation or sound philosophy would adopt 
 towards the multitude? For example, you find that the children 
 of your village are happier, more orderly, more obedient, promise 
 to be wiser and better men in their own station of life, from the 
 new, and I grant, excellent system of school discipline and 
 teaching that you have established. What you have done in 
 one village, why should not legislation do throughout a kingdom ? 
 Again, you find that, by simply holding out hope and emulation 
 to industry by making stern distinctions between the energetic 
 and the idle the independent exertion and the pauper-mendi- 
 cancy you have found a lever by which you have literally 
 moved and shifted the little world around you. But what is the 
 difference here between the rules of a village lord and the laws 
 of a wise legislature ? The moral feelings you have appealed to 
 exist universally the moral remedies you have practised are as 
 open to legislation as to the individual proprietor." 
 
 " Yes ; but when you apply to a nation the same principles 
 which regenerate a village, new counterbalancing principles arise. 
 If I give education to my peasants, I send them into the world 
 with advantages superior to their fellows ; advantages which, not 
 being common to their class, enable them to outstrip their fellows. 
 But if this education were universal to the whole tribe, no man 
 would have an advantage superior to the others ; the knowledge 
 they would have acquired being shared by all, would leave all 
 as they now are, hewers of wood and drawers of water : the 
 principle of individual hope, which springs from knowledge, 
 would soon be baffled by the vast competition that universal 
 knowledge would produce. Thus by the universal improvement 
 would be engendered a universal discontent
 
 264 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "Take a broader view of the subject Advantages given to 
 the few around me superior wages lighter toils a greater 
 sense of the dignity of man are not productive of any change 
 in society. Give these advantages to the whole mass of the 
 labouring classes, and what in the small orbit is the desire of the 
 individual to rise, comes in the large circumference the desire of 
 the class to rise ; hence social restlessness, social change, revolu- 
 tion, and its hazards. For revolutions are produced but by the 
 aspirations of one order, and the resistance of the other. Con- 
 sequently, legislative improvement differs widely from individual 
 amelioration ; the same principle, the same agency, that purifies 
 the small body, becomes destructive when applied to the large 
 one. Apply the flame to the log on the hearth, or apply it to 
 the forest, is there no distinction in the result ? the breeze that 
 freshens the fountain passes to the ocean, current impels current, 
 wave urges wave, and the breeze becomes the storm." 
 
 "Were there truth in this train of argument," replied De 
 Montaigne "had we ever abstained from communicating to the 
 
 o o 
 
 Multitude the enjoyments and advantages of the Few had we 
 shrunk from the good, because the good is a parent of the 
 change and its partial ills, what now would be society ? Is there 
 no difference in collective happiness and virtue between the 
 painted Picts and the Druid worship, and the glorious harmony, 
 light, and order of the great English nation ? " 
 
 " The question is popular," said Maltravers, with a smile ; 
 " and were you my opponent in an election, would be cheered 
 on any hustings in the kingdom. But I have lived among 
 savage tribes savage, perhaps, as the race that resisted Caesar ; 
 and their happiness seems to me, not perhaps the same as that 
 of the few whose sources of enjoyment are numerous, refined, 
 and, save by their own passions, unalloyed ; but equal to that 
 of the mass of men in states the most civilised and advanced. 
 The artisans, crowded together in the fcetid air of factories, with 
 physical ills gnawing at the core of the constitution, from the 
 cradle to the grave ; drudging on from dawn to sunset and flying 
 for recreation to the dread excitement of the dram-shop, or the 
 wild and vain hopes of political fanaticism, are not in my eyes 
 happier than the wild Indians with hardy frames, and calm
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 265 
 
 tempers, seasoned to the privations for which you pity them, and 
 uncursed with desires of that better state never to be theirs. 
 The Arab in his desert has seen all the luxuries of the pasha in 
 his harem ; but he envies them not. He is contented with his 
 barb, his tent, his desolate sands, and his spring of refreshing 
 water. 
 
 " Are we not daily told do not our priests preach it from 
 their pulpits that the cottage shelters happiness equal to that 
 within the palace ? Yet what the distinction between the 
 peasant and the prince, differing from that between the peasant 
 and the savage ? There are more enjoyments and more 
 privations in the one than in the other ; but if, in the latter case, 
 the enjoyments though fewer, be more keenly felt, if the 
 privations, though apparently sharper, fall upon duller sensi- 
 bilities and hardier frames, your gauge of proportion loses 
 all its value. Nay, in civilisation there is for the multitude an 
 evil that exists not in the savage state. The poor man sees 
 daily and hourly all the vast disparities produced by civilised 
 society ; and reversing the divine parable, it is Lazarus who 
 from afar, and from the despondent pit, looks upon Dives in 
 the lap of Paradise : therefore, his privations, his sufferings, are 
 made more keen by comparison with the luxuries of others. 
 Not so in the desert and the forest. There J>ut small 
 distinctions, and those softened by immemorial and hereditary 
 usage that has in it the sanctity of religion separate the 
 savage from his chief. The fact is, that in civilisation we 
 behold a splendid aggregate : literature and science, wealth 
 and luxury, commerce and glory ; but we see not the million 
 victims crushed beneath the wheels of the machine the health 
 sacrificed the board breadless the gaols filled the hospitals 
 reeking the human life poisoned in every spring, and poured 
 forth like water ! Neither do we remember all the steps, marked 
 by desolation, crime, and bloodshed, by which this barren 
 summit has been reached. Take the history of any civilized 
 state England, France, Spain before she rotted back into 
 second childhood the Italian Republics the Greek Common- 
 wealths the Empress of the Seven Hills what struggles, what 
 persecutions, what crimes, what massacres 1 Where, in the page
 
 266 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 of history, shall we look back and say, ' here improvement has 
 diminished the sum of evil?' Extend, too, your scope beyond 
 the state itself: each state has won its acquisitions by the 
 woes of others. Spain springs above the Old World on 
 the Wood -stained ruins of the New ; and the groans and 
 the gold of Mexico produce the splendours of the Fifth 
 Charles ! 
 
 " Behold England the wise, the liberal, the free England 
 through what struggles she has passed ; and is she yet 
 contented ? The sullen oligarchy of the Normans our own 
 criminal invasions of Scotland and France the plundered 
 people the butchered kings the persecutions of the Lollards 
 the wars of Lancaster and York the new dynasty of the 
 Tudors, that at once put back Liberty, and put forward 
 Civilization ! the Reformation, cradled in the lap of a hideous 
 despot, and nursed by violence and rapine the stakes and 
 fires of Mary, and the craftier cruelties of Elizabeth : England, 
 strengthened by the desolation of Ireland the Civil Wars the 
 reign of hypocrisy, followed by the reign of naked vice ; the 
 nation that beheaded the graceful Charles gaping idly on 
 the scaffold of the lofty Sidney ; the vain Revolution of 1688, 
 which, if a jubilee in England, was a massacre in Ireland the 
 bootless glories of Marlborough the organised corruption of 
 Walpole the frantic war with our own American sons the 
 exhausting struggles with Napoleon ! 
 
 " Well, we close the page we say, Lo ! a thousand years of 
 incessant struggles and afflictions ! millions have perished, but 
 Art has survived ; our boors wear stockings, our women drink 
 tea, our poets read Shakspeare, and our astronomers improve on 
 Newton ! Are we now contented ? No ! more restless than ever. 
 New classes are called into power; new forms of government 
 insisted on. Still the same catchwords Liberty here, Religion 
 there Order with one faction, Amelioration with the other. 
 Where is the goal, and what have we gained ? Books are 
 written, silks are woven, palaces are built mighty acquisitions 
 for the few but the peasant is a peasant still ! The crowd are 
 yet at the bottom of the wheel ; better off, you say. No, for 
 they are not more contented 1 The artisan is as anxious for
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 267 
 
 change as ever the serf was ; and the steam-engine has its 
 victims as well as the sword. 
 
 " Talk of legislation ; all isolated laws pave the way to 
 wholesale changes in the form of government ! Emancipate 
 Catholics, and you open the door to democratic principle, that 
 Opinion should be free. If free with the sectarian, it should be 
 free with the elector. The Ballot is a corollary from the Catholic 
 Relief-bill. Grant the Ballot, and the new corollary of enlarged 
 suffrage. Suffrage enlarged is divided but by a yielding surface 
 (a circle widening in the waters) from universal suffrage. Uni- 
 versal suffrage is Democracy. Is Democracy better than the 
 aristocratic commonwealth ? Look at the Greeks, who knew 
 b >th forms ; are they agreed which is -the best? Plato, Thucy- 
 dides, Xenophon, Aristophanes the Dreamer, the -Historian, 
 the Philosophic Man of Action, the penetrating Wit have no 
 ideals in Democracy. Algernon Sidney, the martyr of liberty, 
 allows no government to the multitude. Brutus died for a 
 republic, but a republic of Patricians! What form of govern- 
 ment is then the best ? All dispute, the wisest cannot agree. 
 The many still say ' a Republic;' yet, as you yourself will allow, 
 Prussia, the Despotism, does all that Republics do. Yes, but a 
 good despot is a lucky accident ; true, but a just and benevolent 
 Republic is as yet a monster equally short-lived. When the 
 People have no other tyrant, their own public opinion becomes 
 one. No secret espionage is more intolerable to a free spirit 
 than the broad glare of- the American eye. 
 
 " A rural republic is but. a patriarchal tribe no emulation, no 
 glory ; peace and stagnation. What Englishman what French- 
 man, would wish to be a Swiss ? A commercial republic is but 
 an admirable machine for making money. Is man created for 
 nothing nobler than freighting ships and speculating on silk and 
 sugar ? In fact, there is no certain goal in legislation ; we go on 
 colonising Utopia, and fighting phantoms in the clouds. Let us 
 content ourselves with injuring no man, and doing good only in 
 our own little sphere. Let us leave states and senates to fill the 
 sieve of the Danaides, and roll up the stone of Sisyphus." 
 
 " My dear friend," said De Montaigne, " you have certainly 
 made vhe most of an argument, which, if granted, would consign
 
 268 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 government to fools and knaves, and plunge the communities of 
 mankind into the Slough of Despond. But a very common- 
 place view of the question might suffice to shake your system. 
 Is life, mere animal life, on the whole, a curse or a blessing ? " 
 
 " The generality of men in all countries," answered Maltravers, 
 " enjoy existence, and apprehend death ; were it otherwise, the 
 world had been made by a Fiend, and not a God ! " 
 
 "Well, then, observe how the progress of society cheats the 
 grave ! In great cities, where the effect of civilisation must be 
 the most visible, the diminution of mortality in a corresponding 
 ratio with the increase of civilisation is most remarkable. In 
 Berlin, from the year 1747 to 1755, the annual mortality was as 
 one to twenty-eight; but from 1816 to 1822, it was as one to 
 thirty-four ! You ask what England has gained by her progress 
 in the arts ? I will answer you by her bills of mortality. In 
 London, Birmingham, and Liverpool, deaths have decreased 
 in less than a century from one to twenty, to one to forty 
 (precisely one-half!). Again, whenever a community nay, a 
 single city, decreases in civilisation, and in its concomitants, 
 activity and commerce, its mortality instantly increases. But if 
 civilisation be favourable to the prolongation of life, must it not 
 be favourable to all that blesses life to bodily health, to mental 
 cheerfulness, to the capacities for enjoyment ? And how much 
 more grand, how much more sublime, becomes the prospect of 
 gain, if we reflect that, to each life thus called forth, there is a 
 soul a destiny beyond the grave, multiplied immortalities! 
 What an apology for the continued progress of states! But 
 you say that, however we advance, we continue impatient and 
 dissatisfied: can you really suppose that, because man in every 
 state is discontented with his lot, there is no difference in the 
 degree and quality of his discontent no distinction between 
 pining for bread and longing for the moon ? Desire is implanted 
 within us, as the very principle of existence ; the physical desire 
 fills the world, and the moral desire improves it ; where there is 
 desire, there must be discontent : if we are satisfied with all 
 things, desire is extinct. But a certain degree of discontent is 
 not incompatible with happiness, nay, it has happiness of its 
 own ; what happiness like hope ? what is hope but desire ?
 
 ALICE; O^ THE MYSTERIES. 269 
 
 The European serf, whose seigneur could command his life, or 
 insist as a right on the chastity of his daughter, desires to better 
 his condition. God has compassion on his state ; Providence 
 calls into action the ambition of leaders, the contests of faction, 
 the movement of men's aims and passions: a change passes 
 through society and legislation, and the serf becomes free ! 
 He desires still, but what ? no longer personal security, no 
 longer the privileges of life and health ; but higher wages, 
 greater comforts, easier justice for diminished wrongs. Is there 
 no difference in the quality of that desire ? Was one a greater 
 torment than the other is ? Rise a scale higher : a new class 
 is created the Middle Class the express creature of Civilisa- 
 tion. Behold the burgher and the citizen, and still struggling, 
 still contending, still desiring, and therefore still discontented. 
 But the discontent does not prey upon the springs of life : it is 
 the discontent of hope, not despair; it calls forth faculties, energies, 
 and passions, in which there is more joy than sorrow. It is this 
 desire which makes the citizen in private life an anxious father, 
 a careful master, an active, and therefore not an unhappy, man. 
 You allow that individuals can effect individual good : this very 
 restlessness, this very discontent with the exact place that he 
 occupies, makes the citizen a benefactor in his narrow circle. 
 Commerce, better than Charity, feeds the hungry, and clothes 
 the naked. Ambition, better than brute affection, gives educa- 
 tion to our children, and teaches them the love of industry, the 
 pride of independence, the respect for others and themselves ! " 
 
 " In other words, a deference to such qualities as can best fit 
 them to get on in the world, and make the most money ! " 
 
 " Take that view if you will ; but the wiser, the more civilised 
 the state, the worse chances for the rogue to get on ! there may 
 be some art, some hypocrisy, some avarice, nay, some hardness 
 of heart, in paternal example and professional tuition. But 
 what are such sober infirmities to the vices that arise from 
 defiance and despair ? Your savage has his virtues, but they are 
 mostly physical fortitude, abstinence, patience: mental and 
 moral virtues must be numerous or few, in proportion to the 
 range of ideas and the exigencies of social life. With tha 
 savage, therefore, they must be fewer than with civilised men;
 
 270 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and they are consequently limited to those simple and rude 
 elements which the safety of his state renders necessary to him. 
 He is usually hospitable ; sometimes honest. But vices are 
 necessary to his existence as well as virtues : he is at war with 
 a tribe that may destroy his own ; and treachery without scruple, 
 cruelty without remorse, are essential to him ; he feels their 
 necessity, and calls them virtues ! Even the half-civilised man. 
 the Arab whom you praise, imagines he has a necessity for your 
 money ; and his robberies become virtues to him. But in 
 civilised states, vices are at least not necessary to the existence 
 of the majority ; they are not, therefore, worshipped as virtues 
 Society unites against them ; treachery, robbery, massacre, are 
 not essential to the strength or safety of the community: they 
 exist, it is true, but they are not cultivated, but punished. The 
 thief in St. Giles's has the virtues of your savage : he is true to 
 his companions, he is brave in danger, he is patient in privation ; 
 he practises the virtues necessary to the bonds of his calling 
 and the tacit laws of his vocation. He might have made an 
 admirable savage : but surely the mass of civilised men are 
 better than the thief?" 
 
 Maltravers was struck, and paused a little before he replied ; 
 and then he shifted his ground. " But at least all our laws, all 
 our efforts, must leave the multitude in every state condemned 
 to a labour that deadens intellect, and a poverty that embitters 
 life." 
 
 " Supposing this were true, still there are multitudes besides 
 tJte multitude. In each state Civilisation produces a middle 
 class, more numerous to-day than the whole peasantry of a 
 thousand years ago. Would Movement and Progress be without 
 their divine uses, even if they limited their effect to the produc- 
 tion of such a class ? Look also to the effect of art, and 
 refinement, and just laws, in the wealthier and higher classes. 
 See how their very habits of life tend to increase the sum ol 
 enjoyment see the mighty activity that their very luxury, the 
 very frivolity of their pursuits, create ! Without an aristocracy, 
 would there have been a middle class ? without a middle class, 
 would there ever have been an interposition between lord and 
 slave! Before commerce produces a middle class, Religion
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 271 
 
 creates one. The Priesthood, whatever its errors, was the curb 
 to Power. But, to return to the multitude you say that in all 
 times they are left the same. Is it so ? I come to statistics 
 again : I find that not only civilisation, but liberty, has a pro- 
 digious effect upon human life. It is, as it were, by the instinct 
 of self-preservation that liberty is so passionately desired by the 
 multitude A negro slave, for instance, dies annually as one to 
 five or six, but a free African in the English service only as one 
 to thirty-five ! Freedom is not, therefore, a mere abstract dream 
 a beautiful name a Platonic aspiration : it is interwoven with' 
 the most practical of all blessings, life itself! And can you say 
 fairly, that, by laws, labour cannot be lightened and poverty 
 diminished ? We have granted already, that since there are 
 degrees in discontent, there is a difference between the peasant 
 and the serf ; how know you what the peasant a thousand years 
 hence may be ? Discontented, you will say still discontented. 
 Yes ; but if he had not been discontented, he would have been 
 a serf still ! Far from quelling this desire to better himself, we 
 ought to hail it as the source of his perpetual progress. That 
 desire to him is often like imagination to the poet, it transports 
 him into the Future 
 
 ' Crura sonant ferro, sed canit inter opus ' 
 
 it is, indeed, the gradual transformation from the desire of 
 Despair to the desire of Hope, that makes the difference 
 between man and man between misery and bliss." 
 
 "And then comes the crisis. Hope ripens into deeds; the 
 stormy revolution, perhaps the armed despotism ; the relapse 
 into the second infancy of states ! " 
 
 " Can we, with new agencies at our command new morality 
 new wisdom predicate of the Future by the Past ? In 
 ancient states, the mass were slaves ; civilisation and freedom 
 rested with oligarchies ; in Athens 20,000 citizens, 400,000 slaves ! 
 How easy decline, degeneracy, overthrow in such states a hand- 
 ful of soldiers and philosophers without a People J Now we have 
 no longer barriers to the circulation of the blood of states. The 
 absence of slavery, the existence of the Press ; the healthful pro- 
 portions of kingdoms, neither too confined nor too vast; have
 
 272 ALICF; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 created new hopes, which history cannot destroy. As a proof, 
 look to all late revolutions : in England the Civil Wars, the 
 Reformation, in France her awful Saturnalia, her military 
 despotism ! Has either nation fallen back ? The deluge passes, 
 and behold, the face of things more glorious than before ! 
 Compare the French of to-day with the French of the old regime. 
 You are silent ; well, and if in all states there is ever some danger 
 of evil in their activity, is that a reason why you are to lie down 
 inactive ? why you are to leave the crew to battle for the helm ? 
 How much may individuals by the diffusion of their own 
 thoughts in letters or in action regulate the order of vast 
 events now prevent now soften now animate now guide ! 
 And is a man, to whom Providence and Fortune have imparted 
 such prerogatives, to stand aloof, because he can neither foresee 
 the Future nor create Perfection ? And you talk of no certain 
 and definite goal ! How know we that there is a certain and 
 definite goal, even in Heaven ? How know we that excellence 
 may not be illimitable ? Enough that we improve that we 
 proceed. Seeing in the great design of earth that benevolence is 
 an attribute of the Designer, let us leave the rest to Posterity 
 and to God." 
 
 " You have disturbed many of my theories," said Maltravers, 
 candidly; "and I will reflect on our conversation; but, after all, 
 is every man to aspire to influence others ? to throw his opinion 
 into the great scales in which human destinies are weighed ? 
 Private life is not criminal. It is no virtue to write a book, or to 
 mai<e a speech. Perhaps, I should be as well engaged in 
 returning to my country village, looking at my schools, and' 
 wrangling with the parish overseers " 
 
 " Ah," interrupted the Frenchman, laughing ; " if I have 
 driven you to this point, I will go no further. Every state of 
 life has its duties ; every man must be himself the judge of what 
 he is most fit for. It is quite enough that he desires to be 
 active, and labours to be useful ; that h acknowledges the 
 precept, ' never to be weary in well-doing.' The divine appetite 
 once fostered, let it select its own food. But the man who, after 
 fair trial of his capacities, and with all opportunity for their full 
 development before him, is convinced that he has faculties
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 273 
 
 which private life cannot wholly absorb must not repine that 
 Human Nature is not perfect, when he refuses even to exercise 
 the gifts he himself possesses." 
 
 Now these arguments have been very tedious ; in some places 
 they have been old and trite ; in others they may appear too 
 much to appertain to the abstract theory of first principles. Yet 
 from such arguments, pro and con, unless I greatly mistake, are 
 to be derived corollaries equally practical and sublime; the 
 virtue of Action the obligations of Genius and the philosophy 
 that teaches us to confide in the destinies, and labour in the 
 service, of mankind. 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 "Fll tell you presently her very picture ; 
 Stay yes it is so Lelia." 
 
 The Captain, Act v., Scene I. 
 
 MALTRAVERS had not shrunk into a system of false philo- 
 sophy from wayward and sickly dreams, from resolute self- 
 delusion ; on the contrary, his errors rested on his convictions 
 the convictions disturbed, the errors were rudely shaken. 
 
 But when his mind began restlessly to turn once more towards 
 the duties of active life; when he recalled all the former 
 drudgeries and toils of political conflict, or the wearing fatigues 
 of literature, with its small enmities, its false friendships, and its 
 meagre and capricious rewards : ah ! then, indeed, he shrank 
 in dismay from the thoughts of the solitude at home ! No lips 
 to console in dejection, no heart to sympathise in triumph, no love 
 within to counterbalance the hate without and the best of man, 
 his household affections, left to wither away, or to waste them- 
 selves on ideal images, or melancholy remembrance. 
 
 It may, indeed, be generally remarked (contrary to a common 
 notion), that the men who are most happy at home are the most 
 active abroad. The animal spirits are necessary to healthful 
 action ; and dejection and the sense of solitude will turn the 
 
 S
 
 274 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 stoutest into dreamers. The hermit is the antipodes of the 
 citizen ; and no gods animate and inspire us like the Lares. 
 
 One evening, after an absence from Paris of nearly a fortnight, 
 at De Montaigne's villa, in the neighbourhood of St. Cloud, 
 Maltravers, who, though he no longer practised the art, was not 
 less fond than heretofore of music, was seated in Madame de 
 Ventadour's box at the Italian Opera ; and Valerie, who was 
 above all the woman's jealousy of beauty, was expatiating with 
 great warmth of eulogium upon the charms of a young English 
 lady whom she had met at Lady G 's the preceding evening. 
 
 " She is just my beau id/al of the true English beauty," said 
 Valerie: " it is not only the exquisite fairness of the complexion, 
 nor the eyes so purely blue, which the dark lashes relieve from 
 the coldness common to the light eyes of the Scotch an& 
 German, that are so beautifully national, but the simplicity of 
 manner, the unconsciousness of admiration, the mingled modesty 
 and sense of the expression. No, I have seen women more 
 beautiful, but I never saw one more lovely : you are silent : I 
 expected some burst of patriotism in return for my compliment 
 to your countrywoman ! " 
 
 " But I am so absorbed in that wonderful Pasta " 
 
 " You are no such thing ; your thoughts are far away. 
 But can you tell me anything about my fair stranger and her 
 friends ? In the first place, there is a Lord Doltimore, whom 
 I knew before you need say nothing about him ; in the next 
 there is his new married bride, handsome, dark but you are 
 not well!" 
 
 " It was the draught from the door go on, I beseech you 
 the young lady the friend, her name ? " 
 
 " Her name I do not remember ; but she was engaged to be 
 married to one of your statesmen, Lord Vargrave the marriage 
 is broken off I know not if that be the cause of a certain 
 melancholy in her countenance a melancholy I am sure not 
 natural to its Hebe-like expression. But who have just entered 
 the opposite box ? Ah, Mr. Maltravers, do look, there is the 
 beautiful English girl ! " 
 
 And Maltravers raised his eyes, and once more beheld the 
 countenance of Evelyn Cameron 1
 
 BOOK VII. 
 
 ?i\6(. SOPH. CEdip. Tyran. 681. 
 Words of dark import gave suspicion birth. FOTTU. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 * Luce. Is the wind there ? 
 That makes for me. 
 Isab. Come I forget a business." 
 
 Wit without Money. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE'S travelling-carriage was at his door, and he 
 himself was putting on his greatcoat in his library, when Lord 
 Saxingham entered. 
 
 "What ! you are going into the country ?" 
 " Yes I wrote you word to see Lisle Court." 
 " Ay, true ; I had forgot. Somehow or other my memory is 
 not so good as it was. But, let me see, Lisle Court is in 
 
 shire. Why, you will pass within ten miles of C ." 
 
 " C ! Shall I ? I am not much versed in the geography 
 
 of England never learned it at school. As for Poland, Kam- 
 schatka, Mexico, Madagascar, or any other place as to which 
 knowledge would be useful, I have every inch of the way at .my 
 
 finger's end. But Apropos of C , it is the town in which my 
 
 late uncle made his fortune." 
 
 8 2
 
 276 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Ah, so it is. I recollect you were to have stood for C , 
 
 but gave it up to Staunch ; very handsome in you. Have you 
 any interest there still ? " 
 
 "' I think my ward has some tenants, a street or two, one 
 called Richard Street, and the other Templeton Place. I had 
 intended some weeks ago to have gone down there, and seen 
 what interest was still left to our family ; but Staunch himself 
 told me that C was a sure card." 
 
 " So he thought ; but he has been with me this morning in 
 great alarm : he now thinks he shall be thrown out. A Mr. 
 Winsley, who has a great deal of interest there, and was a sup- 
 porter of his, hangs back on account of the * * * * question. 
 This is unlucky, as Staunch is quite with us ; and if he were 
 to rat now it would be most unfortunate." 
 
 " Winsley ! Winsley ! my poor uncle's right-hand man. A 
 great brewer always chairman of the Templeton Committee. 
 I know the name, though I never saw the man." 
 
 " If you could take C in your way ? " 
 
 " To be sure. Staunch must not be lost. We cannot throw 
 away a single vote, much more one of such weight, eighteen 
 
 stone at the least ! I'll stop at C on pretence of seeing 
 
 after my ward's houses, and have a quiet conference with Mr. 
 Winsley. Hem ! Peers must not interfere in elections eh ? 
 Well, good-bye : take care of yourself. I shall be back in a 
 week, I hope, perhaps less." 
 
 In a minute more Lord Vargrave and Mr. George Frederick 
 Augustus Howard, a slim young gentleman of high birth and 
 connections, but who, having, as a portionless cadet, his own way 
 to make in the world, condescended to be his lordship's private 
 secretary, were rattling over the streets the first stage to C . 
 
 .It was late at night when Lord Vargrave arrived at the head 
 inn of that grave and respectable cathedral city, in which once 
 Richard Templeton, Esq., saint, banker, and politician, had 
 exercised his dictatorial sway. Sic transit gloria mundi I As 
 he Warmed his hands by the fire in the large wainscoted apart- 
 ment into which he was shown, his eye met a full length 
 engraving of his uncle, with a roll of papers in his hand, meant 
 for a parliamentary bill for the turnpike trusts in the neighbour-
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 277 
 
 hood of C . The sight brought back his recollections of 
 
 that pious and saturnine relation, and insensibly the minister's 
 thoughts flew to his death-bed, and to the strange secret which in 
 that last hour he had revealed to Lumley, a secret which had 
 done much in deepening Lord Vargrave's contempt for the forms 
 and conventionalities of decorous life. And here it may be 
 mentioned though in the course of this volume a penetrating 
 reader may have guessed as much that, whatever that secret, 
 it did not refer expressly or exclusively to the late lord's singular 
 and ill-assorted marriage. Upon that point much was still left 
 obscure to arouse Lumley's curiosity, had he been a man whose 
 curiosity was very vivacious. But on this he felt but little interest. 
 He knew enough to believe that no further information could 
 benefit himself personally ; why should he trouble his head with 
 what never would fill his pockets ? 
 
 An audible yawn from the slim secretary roused Lord 
 Vargrave from his reverie. 
 
 " I envy you, my young friend," said he, good-humouredly, 
 "It is a pleasure we lose as we grow older that of being 
 sleepy. However, ' to bed,' as Lady Macbeth says. Faith, I 
 don't wonder the poor devil of a thane was slow in going to bed 
 with such a tigress. Good night to you." 
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 " Ma fortune va prendre une face nouvelle." * 
 
 RACINE : Androm. Act t, Sc. I. 
 
 THE next morning Vargrave inquired the way to Mr. 
 Winsley's, and walked alone to the house of the brewer. The 
 slim secretary went to inspect the cathedral. 
 
 Mr. Winsley was a little thickset man, with a civil but blunt 
 electioneering manner. He started when he heard Isord Var- 
 grave's name, and bowed with great stiffness. Vargrave saw at 
 a glance that there was some cause of grudge in the mind of the 
 
 My fortune is about to take a turn.
 
 278 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 worthy man ; nor did Mr. Winsley long hesitate before he 
 cleansed his bosom of its perilous stuff. 
 
 " This is an unexpected hono.ur, my lord : I don't know how 
 to account for it." 
 
 "Why, Mr. Winsley, your friendship with my late uncle can, 
 perhaps, sufficiently explain and apologise for a vkut from a 
 nephew sincerely attached to his memory." 
 
 " Humph ! I certainly did do all in my power to promote 
 Mr. Templeton's interests. No man, I may say, did more ; and 
 yet I don't think it was much thought of the moment he turned 
 
 his back upon the electors of C . Not that I bear any 
 
 malice ; I am well to do, and value no man's favour no man's, 
 my lord!" 
 
 " You amaze me ! I always heard my poor uncle speak of 
 you in the highest terms." 
 
 "Oh ! well, it don't signify pray say no more of it. Can I 
 offer your lordship a glass of wine ? " 
 
 " No, I am much obliged to you ; but we really must set this 
 little matter right. You know that after his marriage my uncle 
 
 never revisited C ; and that shortly before his death he sold 
 
 the greater part of his interest in this city. His young wife, I 
 suppose, liked the neighbourhood of London ; and when elderly 
 gentlemen do marry, you know they are no longer their own 
 masters ; but if you had ever come to Fulham ah! then indeed 
 my uncle would have rejoiced to see his old friend." 
 
 "Your lordship thinks so," said Mr. Winsley with a sardonic 
 smile. " You are mistaken ; I did call at Fulham ; and though 
 I sent in my card, Lord Vargrave's servant (he was then My 
 Lord) brought back word that his lordship was not at home." 
 
 " But that must have been true ; he was out, you may depend 
 on it." 
 
 " I saw him at the window, my lord," said Mr. Winsley, taking 
 a pinch of snuff. 
 
 (Oh, the deuce ! I'm in for it, thought Lumley.) " Very 
 strange, indeed ! but how can you account for it ? Ah ! perhaps 
 the health of Lady Vargrave she was so very delicate then, 
 and my poor uncle lived for her you know that he left all his 
 fortune to Miss Cameron?"
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 279 
 
 " Miss Cameron ! who is she, my lord ? " 
 
 " Why, his daughter-in-law ; Lady Vargrave was a widow a 
 Mrs. Cameron." 
 
 " Mrs. Cam . I remember now they put Cameron in the 
 
 newspapers ; but I thought it was a mistake. But, " perhaps," 
 (added Winsley, with a sneer of peculiar malignity), " perhaps, 
 when your worthy uncle thought of being a peer, he did not like 
 to have it known that he married so much beneath him." 
 
 " You quite mistake, my dear sir ; my uncle never denied that 
 Mrs. Cameron was a lady of no fortune or connections widow 
 to some poor Scotch gentleman, who died I think, in India." 
 
 " He left her very ill off, poor thing ; but she had a great 
 deal of merit, and worked hard she taught my girls to 
 play " 
 
 " Your girls ! did Mrs. Cameron ever reside in C ? " 
 
 " To be sure ; but she was then called Mrs. Butler just as 
 pretty a name to my fancy." 
 
 " You must make a mistake : my uncle married this lady in 
 Devonshire." 
 
 " Very possibly," quoth the brewer, doggedly. " Mrs. Butler 
 left the town with her little girl some time before Mr. Templeton 
 married." 
 
 " Well, you are wiser than I am," said Lumley, forcing a smile. 
 " But how can you be sure that Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Cameron 
 are one and the same person ? You did not go into the house 
 you could not have seen Lady Vargrave " (and here Lumley 
 shrewdly guessed if the tale were true at the cause of his 
 uncle's exclusion of his old acquaintance). 
 
 " No ! but I saw her ladyship on the lawn," said Mr. Winsley, 
 with another sardonic smile ; " and I asked the porter at the 
 lodge as I went out, if that was Lady Vargrave, and he said, 
 'yes.' However, my lord, bygones are bygones I bear no 
 malice ; your uncle was a good man : and if he had but said to 
 me, ' Winsley,; don't say a word about Mrs. Butler,' he might 
 have reckoned on me just as much as when in his elections he 
 used to put five thousand pounds in my hands, and say, ' Winsley, 
 no bribery it is wicked ; let this be given in charity.' Did any 
 one ever know how that money went ? Was your uncle ever
 
 28o ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 accused of corruption ? But, my lord, surely you will take some 
 refreshment ? " 
 
 " No, indeed ; but if you will let me dine with you to-morro;v 
 you'll oblige me much : and, whatever my uncle's faults (and 
 latterly, poor man, he was hardly in his senses ; what a will he 
 made !) let not the nephew suffer for them. Come, Mr. Winsley,' 
 and Lumley held out his hand with enchanting frankness, " you 
 know my motives are disinterested I have no parliamentary 
 interest to serve we have no constituents for our Hospital of 
 Incurables ; and oh ! that's right we're friends, I see I Now 
 I must go and look after my ward's houses. Let me see, the 
 agent's name is is " 
 
 " Perkins, I think, my lord," said Mr. Winsley, thoroughly 
 softened by the charm of Vargrave's words and manner. " Let 
 me put on my hat, and show you his house." 
 
 " Will you ? that's very kind ; give me all the election news 
 by the way you know I was once within an ace of being your 
 member." 
 
 Vargrave learned from his new friend some further particulars 
 relative to Mrs. Butler's humble habits and homely mode of life 
 
 at C , which served completely to explain to him why his 
 
 proud and worldly uncle had so carefully abstained from all in- 
 tercourse with that city, and had prevented the nephew from 
 standing for its vacant representation. It seemed, however, that 
 Winsley whose resentment was not of a very active or violent 
 kind had not communicated the discovery he had made to his 
 fellow townspeople; but had contented himself with hints and 
 aphorisms, whenever he had heard the subject of Mr. Templeton's 
 marriage discussed, which had led the gossips of the place to 
 imagine that he had made a much worse selection than he really 
 had. As to the accuracy of Winsley's assertion, Vargrave, 
 though surprised at first, had but little doubt on consideration, 
 especially when he heard that Mrs. Butler's principal patroness 
 had been the Mrs. Leslie, now the intimate friend of Lady 
 Vargrave. But what had been the career what the earlier 
 condition and struggles of this simple and interesting creature ? 
 
 with her appearance at C , commenced all that surmise 
 
 could invent. Not greater was the mystery that wrapped the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. a8\ 
 
 apparition of Manco Capac by the lake Titiaca, than that which 
 shrouded the places and the trials whence the lowly teacher of 
 music had emerged amidst the streets of C . 
 
 Weary, and somewhat careless, of conjecture, Lord Vargrave, 
 in dining with Mr. Winsley, turned the conversation upon the 
 business on which he had principally undertaken his journey 
 viz. the meditated purchase" of Lisle Court. 
 
 " I myself am not a very good judge of landed property," said 
 Vargrave ; " I wish I knew of an experienced surveyor to look 
 over the farms and timber : can you help me to such a one ? " 
 
 Mr. Winsley smiled, 'and glanced at a rosy-cheeked young 
 lady, who simpered and turned away. " I think my daughter 
 could recommend one to your lordship, if she dared." 
 
 "Oh, pa!" 
 
 " I see. Well, Miss Winsley, I will take no recommendation 
 but yours." 
 
 Miss Winsley made an effort. 
 
 " Indeed, my lord, I have always heard Mr. Robert Hobbs 
 considered very clever in his profession." 
 
 " Mr. Robert Hobbs is my man ! His good health and a 
 fair wife to him." 
 
 Miss Winsley glanced at mamma, and then at a younger 
 sister, and then there was a titter and then a fluttering and 
 then a rising and Mr. Winsley, Lord Vargrave, and the slim 
 secretary, were left alone. 
 
 " Really, my lord," said the host, resettling himself, and 
 pushing the wine " though you have guessed our little family 
 arrangement, and I have some interest in the recommendation, 
 since Margaret will be Mrs. Robert Hobbs in a few weeks yet 
 I do not know a more acute, intelligent young man anywhere. 
 Highly respectable, with an independent fortune ; his father is 
 lately dead, and made at least thirty thousand pounds in trade. 
 His brother Edward is also dead ; so he has the bulk of the 
 property, and he follows his profession merely for amusement. 
 He would consider it a great honour." 
 
 " And where does he live ? " 
 
 " Oh, not in this county a long way off ; close to ; but 
 
 it is all in your lordship's road. A very nice house he has, too.
 
 282 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 I have known his family since I was a boy ; it is astonishing 
 how his father improved the place : it was a poor little lath- 
 and-plaster cottage when the late Mr. Hobbs bought it, and it 
 is now a very excellent family house." 
 
 "Well, you shall give me the address and a letter of intro- 
 duction, and so much for that matter. But to return to politics ; K 
 and here Lord Vargrave ran eloquently on, till Mr. Winsley 
 thought him the only man in the world who could save the 
 country from that utter annihilation, the possibility of which 
 he had never even suspected before. 
 
 It may be as well to add, that, on \vishing Lord Vargrave 
 good night, Mr. Winsley whispered in his ear, "Your lordship's 
 friend, Lord Staunch, need be under no apprehension we are 
 all right 1" 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 "This is the house, sir." Love's Pilgrimage, Act iv., Sc. 2. 
 " Redeunt Saturnia regna." J VIRGIL. 
 
 THE next morning, Lumley and his slender companion were 
 rolling rapidly over the same road on which, sixteen years ago, 
 way-worn and weary, Alice Darvil had first met with Mrs. 
 Leslie ; they were talking about a new opera-dancer as they 
 whirled by the very spot. 
 
 It was about five o'clock in the afternoon, the next day, 
 when the carriage stopped at a cast-iron gate, on which was 
 inscribed this epigraph " Hobbs' lodge Ring the Bell." 
 
 "A snug place enough," said Lord Vargrave, as they were 
 waiting the arrival of the footman to unbar the gate. 
 
 "Yes," said Mr Howard. "If a retired Cit could be 
 transformed into a house, such is the house he would be." 
 
 Poor Dale Cottage ! the home of Poetry and Passion ! But 
 change visits the Commonplace as well as the Romantic. Since 
 Alice had pressed to that cold grating her wistful eyes, time 
 
 1 A former state of things returns.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 283 
 
 had wrought his allotted revolutions the old had died the 
 young grown up. Of the children playing on the lawn, death 
 had claimed some, and marriage others ; and the holiday of 
 youth was gone for all 
 
 The servant opened the gate. Mr. Robert Hobbs was at 
 home ; he had friends with him he was engaged ; Lord 
 Vargrave sent in his card, and the introductory letter from 
 Mr. Winsley. In two seconds, these missives brought to 
 the gate Mr. Robert Hobbs himself, a smart young man, 
 with a black stock, red whiskers, and an eye-glass pendent 
 to a hair-chain which was possibly a gage d'amour from 
 Miss Margaret Winsley. 
 
 A profusion of bows, compliments, apologies, &c., the 
 carriage drove up the sweep, and Lord Vargrave descended, 
 and was immediately ushered into Mr. Hobbs's private room. 
 The slim secretary followed, and sat silent, melancholy. 
 and upright, while the peer affably explained his wants and 
 wishes to the surveyor. 
 
 Mr. Hobbs was well acquainted with the locality of Lisle 
 Court, which was little more than thirty miles distant ; he 
 should be proud to accompany Lord Vargrave thither the 
 next morning. But, might he venture might he dare 
 might he presume a gentleman who lived at the town of 
 
 was to dine with him that day ; a gentleman of the 
 
 most profound knowledge of agricultural affairs ; a gentle- 
 man who knew every farm, almost every acre, belonging 
 to Colonel Maltravers if his lordship could be induced to 
 waive ceremony, and dine with Mr. Hobbs, it might be 
 really useful to meet this gentleman. The slim secretary, 
 who was very hungry, and who thought he sniffed an 
 uncommonly savoury smell, looked up from his boots. Lord 
 Vargrave smiled. 
 
 "My young friend here is too great an admirer of Mrs. 
 Hobbs who is to be, not to feel anxious to make the 
 acquaintance of any member of the family she is to enter." 
 
 Mr. George Frederick Augustus Howard blushed indignant 
 refutation of the calumnious charge. Vargrave continued: 
 
 " As for me, I shall be delighted to meet any friends of yours
 
 284 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and am greatly obliged for your consideration. We may dismiss 
 the postboys, Howard, and what time shall we summon them ? 
 ten o'clock ? " 
 
 " If your lordship would condescend to accept a bed, we can 
 accommodate your lordship and this gentleman, and start at any 
 hour in the morning that " 
 
 "So be it," interrupted Vargrave. "You speak like a 
 man of business. Howard, be so kind as to order the 
 horses for six o'clock to-morrow. We'll breakfast at Lisle 
 Court." 
 
 This matter settled, Lord Vargrave and Mr. Howard were 
 shown into their respective apartments. Travelling dresses 
 were changed the dinner put back and the fish over- 
 boiled; but what mattered common fish, when Mr. Hobbs 
 had just caught such a big one ? Of what consequence he 
 should be henceforth and ever! A peer a minister a 
 stranger to the county, to come all this way to consult 
 him ! to be his guest ! to be shown off, and patted, and 
 trotted out before all the rest of the company ! Mr. Hobbs 
 was a made man ! Careless of all this, ever at home with 
 any one, and delighted, perhaps, to escape a tte-a-tte 
 with Mr. Howard in a strange inn, Vargrave lounged into the 
 drawing-room, and was formally presented to the expectant 
 family and the famishing guests. 
 
 During the expiring bachelorship of Mr. Robert Hobbs, his 
 sister, Mrs. Tiddy (to whom the reader was first introduced as 
 a bride gathering the wisdom of economy and large joints 
 from the frugal lips of her mamma), officiated as lady of the 
 house, a comely matron, and well-preserved, except that she 
 had lost a front tooth, in a jaundiced satinet gown, with 
 a fall of British blonde, and a tucker of the same, Mr. Tiddy 
 being a starch man, and not willing that the luxuriant charms 
 of Mrs. T. should be too temptingly exposed ! There was also 
 Mr. Tiddy, whom his wife had married for love, and who was 
 now well to do ; a fine-looking man, with large whiskers, and 
 a Roman nose, a little awry. Moreover, there was a Miss Biddy 
 or Bridget Hobbs, a young lady of four or five-and-twenty, who 
 was considering whether she might ask Lord Vargrave to write
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 285 
 
 something in her album, and who cast a bashful look of admira- 
 tion at the slim secretary, as he now sauntered into the room, 
 in a black coat, black waistcoat, black trousers, and a black 
 neckcloth, with a black pin, looking much like an ebony cane 
 split half-way up. Miss Biddy was a fair young lady, a ketle 
 faded, with uncommonly thin arms and white satin shoes, on 
 which the slim secretary cast his eyes and shuddered ! 
 
 In addition to the family group were the Rector of , an 
 
 agreeable man, who published sermons and poetry; also Sir 
 William Jekyll, who was employing Mr. Hobbs to make a 
 map of an estate he had just purchased ; also two country 
 squires and their two wives ; moreover, the physician of the 
 neighbouring town, a remarkably tall man, who wore spectacles 
 and told anecdotes ; and, lastly, Mr. Onslow, the gentfeman to 
 whom Mr. Hobbs had referred, an elderly man of prepossessing 
 exterior, of high repute as the most efficient magistrate, the best 
 farmer, and the most sensible person in the neighbourhood. 
 This made the party, to each individual of which the great 
 man bowed and smiled ; and the great man's secretary bent, 
 condescendingly, three joints of his backbone. 
 
 The bell was now rung dinner announced. Sir William 
 Jekyll led the way with one of the she-squires, and Lord 
 Vargrave offered his arm to the portly Mrs. Tiddy. 
 
 Vargrave, as usual, was the life of the feast. Mr. Howard, 
 who sat next to Miss Bridget, conversed with her between 
 the courses, "in dumb show." Mr. Onslow and the physician 
 played second and third to Lord Vargrave. When the dinner 
 was over, and the ladies had retired, Vargrave found himself 
 seated next to Mr. Onslow, and discovered in his neighbour 
 a most agreeable companion. They talked principally about 
 Lisle Court, and from Colonel Maltravers, the conversation 
 turned naturally upon Ernest. Vargrave proclaimed his early 
 intimacy with the latter gentleman, complained, feelingly, that 
 politics had divided them of late, and told two or three 
 anecdotes of their youthful adventures in the East. Mr. Onslow 
 listened to him with much attention. 
 
 "I made the acquaintance of Mr. Maltravers many years 
 ago," said he, "and upon a very delicate occasion. I was
 
 286 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 greatly iifterested in him, I never saw one so young (for 
 he was then but a boy) manifest feelings so deep. By the 
 dates you have referred to, your acquaintance with him must 
 have commenced very shortly after mine. Was he at that 
 time cheerful in good spirits ? " 
 
 " No, indeed hypochondriacal to the greatest degree." 
 
 "Your lordship's intimacy with him, and the confidence that 
 generally exists between young men, induce me to suppose 
 that he may have told you a little romance connected with 
 his early years." 
 
 Lumley paused to consider; and this conversation, which had 
 been carried on apart, was suddenly broken into by the tall 
 doctor, who wanted to know whether his lordship had ever 
 heard tKe anecdote about Lord Thurlow and the late King. 
 Tfhe anecdote was as long as the doctor himself; and when it 
 was over, the gentlemen adjourned to the drawing-room, and 
 all conversation was immediately drowned by " Row, brothers, 
 row," which had only been suspended till the arrival of Mr. 
 Tiddy, who had a fine bass voice. 
 
 Alas ! eighteen years ago, in that spot of earth, Alice Darvil 
 had first caught the soul of music from the lips of Genius and 
 of Love ! Bufcbetter as it is less romantic, but more proper 
 as Hobbs' Lodge was less pretty, but more safe from the winds 
 and rains, than Dale Cottage. 
 
 Miss Bridget ventured to ask the good-humoured Lord 
 Vargrave if he sang? "Not I, Miss Hobbs but Howard, 
 there ah, if you heard him ! " The consequence of this 
 hint was, that the unhappy secretary, who, alone, in a distant 
 corner, was unconsciously refreshing his fancy with some cool 
 weak coffee, was instantly beset with applications from Miss 
 Bridget, Mrs. Tiddy, Mr. Tiddy, and the tall doctor, to favour 
 the company with a specimen of his talents. Mr. Howard 
 could sing he could even play the guitar. But to sing at 
 Hobbs' Lodge to sing to the accompaniment of Mrs. Tiddy 
 to have his gentle tenor crushed to death in a glee by the 
 heavy splayfoot of Mr. Tiddy's manly bass the thought was 
 insufferable! He faltered forth assurances of his ignorance, 
 and hastened to bury his resentment in the retirement of a
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 287 
 
 remote sofa. Vargrave, who had forgotten the significant 
 question of Mr. Onslow, renewed in a. whisper his conversation 
 with that gentleman relative to the meditated investment, while 
 Mr. and Mrs. Tiddy sang "Come dwell with me;" and Onslow 
 was so pleased with his new acquaintance, that he volunteered 
 to make a fourth in Lumley's carriage the next morning, and 
 accompany him to Lisle Court. This settled, the party soon 
 afterwards broke up. At midnight Lord Vargrave was fast 
 asleep ; and Mr. Howard, tossing restlessly to and fro on his 
 melancholy couch, was revolving all the hardships that await 
 a native of St. James's, who ventures forth among 
 
 "The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads 
 Do grow beneath their shoulders 1 " 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 "But how w:re these doubts to be changed into absolute certainty?" 
 
 EDGAR HUNTLBY. 
 
 THE next morning, while it was yet dark, Lord Vargrave's 
 carriage picked up Mr. Onslow at the door of a large old- 
 fashioned house, at the entrance of the manufacturing town 
 
 of . The party were silent and sleepy till they arrived 
 
 at Lisle Court, the sun had then appeared the morning was 
 clear the air frosty and bracing. And as, after traversing 
 a noble park, a superb quadrangular pile of brick, flanked by 
 huge square turrets, coped with stone, broke upon the gaze of 
 Lord Vargrave, his worldly heart swelled within him, and the 
 image of Evelyn became inexpressibly lovely and seductive. 
 
 Though the housekeeper was not prepared for Vargrave's 
 arrival at so early an hour, yet he had been daily expected : 
 the logs soon burnt bright in the ample hearth of the breakfast- 
 room the urn hissed the cutlets smoked and while the rest 
 of the party gathered round the fire, and unmuffled themselves 
 of cloaks and shawl-handkerchiefs, Vargrave seized upon the 
 housekeeper, traversed with delighted steps the magnificent
 
 288 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 suite of rooms gazed on the pictures admired the state bed- 
 chambers peeped into the offices and recognised in all a 
 mansion worthy of a Peer of England ; but which a more 
 prudent man would have thought, with a sigh, required careful 
 management of the rent-roll raised from the property adequately 
 to equip and maintain. Such an idea did not cross the mind of 
 Vargrave ; he only thought how much he should be honoured 
 and envied, when, as Secretary of State, he should yearly fill 
 those feudal chambers with the pride and rank of England ! 
 It was characteristic of the extraordinary sanguineness and 
 self-confidence of Vargrave, that he entirely overlooked one 
 slight obstacle to this prospect, in the determined refusal of 
 Evelyn to accept that passionate homage which he offered to 
 her fortune ! 
 
 When breakfast was over the steward was called in, and the 
 party, mounted upon ponies, set out to reconnoitre. After 
 spending the short day most agreeably in looking over the 
 gardens, pleasure-grounds, park, and home-farm, and settling 
 to visit the more distant parts of the property the next day, the 
 party were returning home to dine, when Vargrave's eye caught 
 the glittering whim of Sir Gregory Gubbins. 
 
 He pointed it out to Mr. Onslow, and laughed much at 
 hearing of the annoyance it occasioned to Colonel Maltravers. 
 "Thus," said Lumley, "do we all crumple the rose-leaf under 
 us, and quarrel with couches the most luxuriant ! As for me, 
 I will wager, that were this property mine, or my ward's, in 
 three weeks we should have won the heart of Sir Gregory, made 
 him pull down his whim, and coaxed him out of his interest in 
 
 the city of . A good seat for you, Howard, some day or 
 
 other." 
 
 "Sir Gregory has prodigiously bad taste," said Mr. Hobbs. 
 " For my part, I think that there ought to be a certain modest 
 simplicity in the display of wealth got in business ; that was 
 my poor father's maxim." 
 
 " Ah ! " said Vargrave, " Hobbs' Lodge is a specimen. Who 
 was your predecessor in that charming retreat ? " 
 
 "Why, the place then called Dale Cottage belonged to 
 a Mr. Berners, a rich bachelor in business, who was rich enough
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MVSTERIES. 289 
 
 not to mind what people said of him, and kept a lady there. 
 She ran off from him, and he then let it to some young man 
 a stranger very eccentric, I hear a Mr. Mr. Butler and he, 
 too, gave the cottage an unlawful attraction a most beautiful 
 girl, I have heard." 
 
 "Butler!" echoed Vargrave" Butler Butler!" Lumley 
 recollected that such had been the real name of Mrs. Cameron. 
 
 Onslow looked hard at Vargrave. 
 
 "You recognise the name, my lord," said he in a whisper, 
 as Hobbs had turned to address himself to Mr. Howard. " I 
 thought you very discreet when I asked you, last night, if you 
 remembered the early follies of your friend." A suspicion at 
 once flashed upon the quick mind of Vargrave: Butler was 
 a name on the mother's side in the family of Maltravers ; the 
 gloom of Ernest when he first knew him the boy's hints that 
 the gloom was connected with the affections the extraordinary 
 and single accomplishment of Lady Vargrave in that art of 
 which Maltravers was so consummate a master the similarity 
 of name all taken in conjunction with the meaning question of 
 Mr. Onslow, were enough to suggest to Vargrave that he might 
 be on the verge of a family secret, the knowledge of which 
 could be turned to advantage. He took care not to confess 
 his ignorance, but artfully proceeded to draw out Mr. Onslow's 
 communications. 
 
 " Why, it is true," said he, " that Maltravers and I had no 
 secrets. Ah ! we were wild fellows then the name of Butler 
 is in his family eh ? " 
 
 " It is. I see you know all." 
 
 " Yes ; he told me the story, but it is eighteen years ago. 
 Do refresh my memory. Howard, my good fellow, just ride on 
 and expedite dinner : Mr. Hobbs, will you go with Mr. What's- 
 his-name, the steward, and look over the maps, outgoings, &c. ? 
 Now, Mr. Onslow so Maltravers took the cottage, and a lady 
 with it ? ay, I remember." 
 
 Mr. Onslow (who was in fact that magistrate to whom Ernest 
 had confided his name and committed the search after Alice, 
 and who was really anxious to know if any tidings of the poor 
 girl had ever been ascertained) here related that history with 
 
 T
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 which the reader is acquainted ; the robbery of the cottage 
 the disappearance of Alice the suspicions that connected that 
 disappearance with her ruffian father the despair and search of 
 Maltravers. He added that Ernest, both before his departure 
 from England, and on his return, had written to him to learn if 
 Alice had ever been heard of; the replies of the magistrate 
 were unsatisfactory. "And do you think, my lord, that Mr. 
 Maltravers has never to this day ascertained what became of 
 the poor young woman ? " 
 
 " Why, let me see, what was her name ? " 
 
 The magistrate thought a moment, and replied, " Alice 
 Darvil." 
 
 " Alice ! " exclaimed Vargrave. * Alice ! " aware that such 
 was the Christian name of his uncle's wife, and now almost 
 convinced of the truth of his first vague suspicion. 
 
 " You seem to know the name ? " 
 
 " Of Alice ; yes but not Darvil. No, no ; I believe he has 
 never heard of the girl to this hour. Nor you either ? " 
 
 " I have not. One little circumstance related to me by 
 Mr. Hobbs, your surveyor's father, gave me some uneasiness. 
 About two years after the young woman disappeared, a girl, 
 of very humble dress and appearance, stopped at the gate of 
 Hobbs' Lodge, and asked earnestly for Mr. Butler. On hearing 
 he was gone, she turned away, and was seen no more. It seems 
 that this girl had an infant in her arms which rather shocked 
 the propriety of Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs. The old gentleman told 
 me the circumstance a few days after it happened, and I caused 
 inquiry to be made for the stranger ; but she could not be 
 discovered. I thought at first this possibly might be the lost 
 Alice ; but I learned that, during his stay at the cottage, your 
 friend despite his error, which we will not stop to excuse, had 
 exercised so generous and wide a charity amongst the poor in 
 the town and neighbourhood, that it was a more probable 
 supposition of the two, that the girl belonged to some family 
 he had formerly relieved, and her visit was that of a mendicant, 
 not a mistress. Accordingly, after much consideration, I resolved 
 not to mention the circumstances to Mr. Maltravers, when he 
 wrote to me on his return from the Continent A considerable
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 291 
 
 time had then elapsed since the girl had applied to Mr. Hobbs ; 
 all trace of her was lost the incident might open wounds 
 that time must have nearly healed might give false hopes 
 or, what was worse, occasion a fresh and unfounded remorse at 
 the idea of Alice's destitution ; it would, in fact, do no good, 
 and might occasion unnecessary pain. I therefore suppressed 
 all mention of it" 
 
 " You did right : and so the poor girl had an infant in her 
 arms ? humph ! What sort of looking person was this Alice 
 Darvil ? pretty, of course ? " 
 
 " I never saw her ; and none but the persons employed in the 
 premises knew her by sight they described her as remarkably 
 lovely." 
 
 " Fair and slight, with blue eyes, I suppose ? those are the 
 orthodox requisites of a heroine." 
 
 " Upon my word I forget ; indeed I should never have re- 
 membered as much as I do, if the celebrity of Mr. Maltravers, 
 and the consequence of his family in these parts, together with 
 the sight of his own agony the most painful I ever witnessed 
 had not served to impress the whole affair very deeply on my 
 mind." 
 
 " Was the girl who appeared at the gate of Hobbs' Lodge 
 described to you ? " 
 
 " No : they scarcely observed her countenance, except that 
 her complexion was too fair for a gipsy's ; yet, now I think of 
 it, Mrs. Tiddy, who was with her father when he told me the 
 adventure, dwelt particularly on her having (as you so pleasantly 
 conjecture) fair hair and blue eyes. Mrs. Tiddy, being just 
 married, was romantic at that day." 
 
 " Well, it is an odd tale. But life is full of odd tales. Here 
 we are at the house it really is a splendid old place ! " 
 
 T 2
 
 293 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " Pendent opera interrupta." l VlRGIL. 
 
 THE history Vargrave had heard, he revolved much when he 
 retired to rest. He could not but allow that there was still little 
 ground for more than conjecture, that Alice Darvil and Alice 
 Lady Vargrave were one and the same person. It might, how- 
 ever, be of great importance to him to trace this conjecture to 
 certainty. The knowledge of a secret of early sin and degrada- 
 tion in one so pure, so spotless, as Lady Vargrave, might be of 
 immense service in giving him a power over her, which he could 
 turn to account with Evelyn. How could he best prosecute 
 further inquiry? by repairing at once to Brook-Green or 
 the thought struck him by visiting and "pumping " Mrs. Leslie, 
 the patroness of Mrs. Butler, of C , the friend of Lady Var- 
 grave ? It was worth trying the latter it was little out of his 
 way back to London. His success in picking the brains of Mr. 
 Onslow of a secret encouraged him in the hope of equal success 
 with Mrs. Leslie. He decided accordingly, and fell asleep to 
 dream of Christmas battues, royal visitors, the cabinet, the pre- 
 miership ! Well, no possession equals the dream of it ! Sleep 
 on, my lord ! you would be restless enough if you were to get 
 all you want. 
 
 For the next three days, Lord Vargrave was employed in ex- 
 amining the general outlines of the estate, and the result of this 
 survey satisfied him as to the expediency of the purchase. On 
 the third day, he was several miles from the house when a heavy 
 rain came on. Lord Vargrave was constitutionally hardy, and 
 not having been much exposed to visitations of the weather of 
 late years, was not practically aware that, when a man is past 
 forty, he cannot endure with impunity all that falls innocuously 
 on the elasticity of twenty-six. " He did not, therefore heed the 
 rain that drenched him to the skin, and neglected to change his 
 
 1 The things begun are interrupted and suspended.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 293 
 
 dress till he had finished reading some letters and newspapers 
 which awaited his return at Lisle Court. The consequence of 
 this imprudence was, that, the next morning when he woke, 
 Lord Vargrave found himself, for almost the first time in his life, 
 seriously ill. His head ached violently cold shiverings shook 
 his frame like an ague ; the very strength of the constitution on 
 which the fever had begun to fasten itself augmented its danger. 
 Lumley the last man in the world to think of the possibility of 
 dying fought up against his own sensations ordered his post- 
 horses, as his visit of survey was now over, and scarcely even 
 alluded to his indisposition. About an hour before he set ofif, his 
 letters arrived ; one of these informed him that Caroline, accom- 
 panied by Evelyn, had already arrived in Paris ; the other was 
 from Colonel Legard, respectfully resigning his office, on the 
 ground of an accession of fortune by the sudden death of the 
 admiral, and his intention to spend the ensuing year in a con- 
 tinental excursion. This last letter occasioned Vargrave con- 
 siderable alarm ; he had always felt a deep jealousy of the hand- 
 some ex-guardsman, and he at once suspected that Legard was 
 about to repair to Paris as his rival. He sighed, and looked 
 round the spacious apartment, and gazed on the wide prospects 
 of grove and turf that extended from the window, and said to 
 himself " Is another to snatch these from my grasp ? " His 
 impatience to visit Mrs. Leslie to gain ascendency over Lady 
 Vargrave to repair to Paris to scheme to manoeuvre to 
 triumph accelerated the progress of the disease that was now 
 burning in his veins ; and the hand that he held out to Mr. 
 Hobbs, as he stepped into his carriage, almost scorched the 
 cold, plump, moist fingers of the surveyor. Before six o'clock 
 in the evening Lord Vargrave confessed reluctantly to himself 
 that he was too ill to proceed much further. " Howard," said he 
 then, breaking a silence that had lasted some hours, " don't be 
 alarmed I feel that I am about to have a severe attack ; I 
 shall stop at M (naming a large town they were approach- 
 ing) I shall send for the best physician the place affords; if I 
 am delirious to-morrow, or unable to give my own orders, have 
 the kindness to send express for Dr. Holland but don't leave 
 me yourself, my good fellow. At my age, it is a hard thing to
 
 294 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 have no one in the world to care for me in illness ; d n 
 
 affection when I am well ! " 
 
 After this strange burst, which very much frightened Mr. 
 Howard, Lumley relapsed into silence, not broken till he reached 
 M . The best physician was sent for ; and the next morn- 
 ing, as he had half foreseen and foretold, Lord Vargrave was 
 delirious I 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 " Nought under Heaven so strongly doth allure 
 The sense of man, and all his mind possess, 
 As Beauty's love-bait." SPENSER. 
 
 LEGARD was, as I have before intimated, a young man of 
 generous and excellent dispositions, though somewhat spoiled 
 by the tenor of his education, and the gay and reckless society 
 which had administered tonics to his vanity and opiates to his 
 intellect. The effect which the beauty, the grace, the innocence 
 of Evelyn had produced upon him had been most deep and most 
 salutary. It had rendered dissipation tasteless and insipid it 
 had made him look more deeply into his own heart, and into the 
 rules" of life. Though, partly from the irksomeness of dependence 
 upon an uncle at once generous and ungracious, partly from a 
 diffident and feeling sense of his own inadequate pretensions to 
 the hand of Miss Cameron, and partly from the prior and 
 acknowledged claims of Lord Vargrave he had accepted, half 
 in despair, the appointment offered to him, he still found it im- 
 possible to banish that image which had been the first to engrave 
 upon ardent and fresh affections an indelible impression. He 
 secretly chafed at the thought that it was to a fortunate rival 
 that he owed the independence and the station he had acquired, 
 and resolved to seize an early opportunity to free himself 
 from obligations that he deeply regretted he had incurred. 
 At length he learned that Lord Vargrave had been refused 
 that Evelyn was free ; and, within a few days from that in- 
 telligence, the admiral was seized with apoplexy and Legard
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 2,)S 
 
 suddenly found himself possessed, if not of wealth, at least of 
 a competence sufficient to redeem his character as a suitor from 
 the suspicion attached to a fortune-hunter and adventurer. 
 Despite the new prospects opened to him by the death of his 
 uncle, and despite the surly caprice which had mingled with and 
 alloyed the old admiral's kindness, Legard was greatly shocked 
 by his death; and his grateful and gentle nature was at first 
 only sensible to grief for the loss he had sustained. But when, 
 at last, recovering from his sorrow, he saw Evelyn disengaged 
 and free, and himself in a position honourably to contest her 
 hand, he could not resist the sweet and passionate hopes that 
 broke upon him. He resigned, as we have see'n, his official 
 appointment, and set out for Paris. He reached that city, a 
 day or two after the arrival of Lord and Lady Doltimore. He 
 found the former, who had not forgotten the cautions of Vargrave, 
 at first cold and distant ; but partly from the indolent habit of 
 submitting to Legard's dictates on matters of taste, partly from 
 a liking to his society, and principally from the popular suffrages 
 of fashion, which had always been accorded to Legard, and 
 which were noways diminished by the news of his accession of 
 fortune Lord Doltimore, weak and vain, speedily yielded to 
 the influences of his old associate, and Legard became quietly 
 installed as the enfant de la maison. Caroline was not in this 
 instance a very faithful ally to Vargrave's views and policy. In 
 his singular liaison with Lady Doltimore, the crafty manceuvrer 
 had committed the vulgar fault of intriguers : he had over- 
 refined, and had overreached himself. At the commencement 
 of their strange and unprincipled intimacy, Vargrave had had, 
 perhaps, no other thought than that of piquing Evelyn, consol- 
 ing his vanity, amusing his ennui, and indulging rather his pro- 
 pensities as a gallant, than promoting his more serious objects 
 as a man of the world. By degrees, and especially at 
 Knaresdean, Vargrave himself became deeply entangled, by an 
 affair that he had never before contemplated as more important 
 than a passing diversion : instead of securing a friend to assist 
 him in his designs on Evelyn, he suddenly found that he hau 
 obtained a mistress anxious for his love and jealous of his 
 homage. With his usual promptitude and self-confidence, he
 
 296 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 was led at once to deliver himself of all the ill-consequences of 
 his rashness to get rid of Caroline as a mistress and to retain 
 her as a tool, by marrying her to Lord Doltimore. By the great 
 ascendency which his character acquired over her, and by her 
 own worldly ambition, he succeeded in inducing her to sacrifice 
 all romance to a union that gave her rank and fortune ; and 
 Vargrave then rested satisfied that the clever wife would not 
 only secure him a permanent power over the political influence 
 and private fortune of the weak husband, but also abet his 
 designs in securing an alliance equally desirable for him- 
 self. Here it was that Vargrave's incapacity to understand 
 the refinements and scruples of a woman's affection and 
 nature, however guilty the one, and however worldly the 
 other, foiled and deceived him. Caroline, though the wife 
 of another, could not contemplate, without anguish, a similar 
 bondage for her lover ; and, having something of the better 
 qualities of her sex still left to her, she recoiled from being an 
 accomplice in arts that were to drive the young, inexperienced, 
 and guileless creature, who called her " friend," into the arms of 
 a man who openly avowed the most mercenary motives, and 
 who took gods and men to witness that his heart was sacred to 
 another. Only in Vargrave's presence were these scruples over- 
 mastered ; but the moment he was gone they returned in full 
 force : she had yielded, from positive fear, to his commands that 
 she should convey Evelyn to Paris ; but she trembled to think 
 of the vague hints and dark menaces that Vargrave had let fall 
 as to ulterior proceedings, and was distracted at the thought of 
 'being implicated in some villanous or rash design. When, there- 
 fore, the man whose rivalry Vargrave most feared was almost 
 established at her house, she made but a feeble resistance : she 
 thought that, if Legard should become a welcome and accepted 
 suitor before Lumley arrived, the latter would be forced to 
 forego whatever hopes he yet cherished, and that she should be 
 delivered from a dilemma, the prospect of which daunted and 
 appalled her. Added to this, Caroline was now, alas ! sensible 
 that a fool is not so easily governed her resistance to an 
 intimacy with Legard would have been of little avail : Dolti- 
 more, in these matters, had an obstinate will of his own ; and
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 297 
 
 whatever might once have been Caroline's influence over hef 
 liege, certain it is that such influence had been greatly impaired 
 of late by the indulgence of a temper, always irritable, and now- 
 daily more soured by regret, remorse, contempt for her husband, 
 and the melancholy discovery that fortune, youth, beauty, and 
 station are no talismans against misery. 
 
 It was the gayest season of Paris ; and, to escape from herself, 
 Caroline plunged eagerly into the vortex of its dissipations. If 
 Doltimore's heart was disappointed, his vanity was pleased at 
 the admiration Caroline excited ; and he himself was of an age 
 and temper to share in the pursuits and amusements of his wife. 
 Into these gaieties, new to their fascination, dazzled by their 
 splendour, the young Evelyn entered with her hostess ; and 
 ever by her side was the unequalled form of Legard. Each of 
 them in the bloom of youth, each of them at once formed to 
 please, and to be pleased by that fair Armida which we call the 
 World, there was, necessarily, a certain congeniality in their 
 views and sentiments, their occupations and their objects : nor 
 was there, in all that brilliant city, one more calculated to 
 captivate the eye and fancy than George Legard. But still, to 
 a certain degree, diffident and fearful, Legard never yet spoke of 
 love ; nor did their intimacy at this time ripen to that point in 
 which Evelyn could have asked herself if there were danger in 
 the society of Legard, or serious meaning, in his obvious admira- 
 tion. Whether that melancholy, to which Lady Vargrave had 
 alluded in her correspondence with Lumley, were occasioned by 
 thoughts connected with Maltravers, or unacknowledged recol- 
 lections of Legard, it remains for the acute reader himself to 
 ascertain. 
 
 The Doltimores had been about three weeks in Paris ; and, for 
 a fortnight of that time, Legard had been their constant guest, 
 and half the inmate of their hotel ; when, on that night which 
 has been commemorated in our last book, Maltravers suddenly 
 once more beheld the face of Evelyn, and in the same hour 
 learned that she was free ; he quitted Valerie's box with a 
 burning pulse and a beating heart, joy, and surprise, and hope 
 sparkling in his eyes and brightening his whole aspect, he 
 hastened to Evelyn's side.
 
 298 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 It was at this time Legard, who sat behind Miss Cameron, 
 unconscious of the approach of a rival, happened by one of 
 those chances which occur in conversation, to mention the name 
 of Maltravers. He asked Evelyn if she had yet met him ? 
 
 " What ! is he, then, in Paris ? " asked Evelyn, quickly. " I 
 heard, indeed," she continued, "that he left Burleigh for Paris, 
 but imagined he had gone on to Italy." 
 
 " No, he is still here ; but he goes, I believe, little into the 
 society Lady Doltjmore chiefly visits. Is he one of your 
 favourites, Miss Cameron ? " 
 
 There was a slight increase of colour in Evelyn's beautiful 
 cheek, as she answered 
 
 " Is it possible not to admire and be interested in one so 
 gifted ? " 
 
 " He has certainly noble and fine qualities," returned Legard ; 
 " but I cannot feel at ease with him : a coldness a hauteur a 
 measured distance of manner seem to forbid even esteem. Yet 
 / ought not to say so," he added, with a pang of self-reproach. 
 
 " No, indeed, you ought not to say so," said Evelyn, shaking 
 her head with a pretty affectation of anger ; " for I know that 
 you pretend to like what I like, and admire what I admire ; and 
 I am an enthusiast in all that relates to Mr. Maltravers ! " 
 
 " I know that I would wish to see all things in life through 
 Miss Cameron's eyes," whispered Legard, softly ; and this was 
 the most meaning speech he had ever yet made. 
 
 Evelyn turned away, and seemed absorbed in the opera ; and 
 at that instant the door of the box opened, and Maltravers 
 entered. 
 
 In her open, undisguised, youthful delight, at seeing him 
 again, Maltravers felt, indeed, " as if Paradise were opened 
 in her face." In his own agitated emotions, he scarcely noticed 
 that Legard had risen and resigned his seat to him ; he availed 
 himself of the civility, greeted his old acquaintance with a smile 
 and a bow, and in a few minutes he was in deep converse with 
 Evelyn. 
 
 Never had he had so successfully exerted the singular, the 
 master-fascination that he could command at will the more 
 powerful, from its contrast to his ordinary coldness. In the very
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 299 
 
 expression of his eyes the very tone of his voice there was 
 that in Maltravers, seen at his happier moments, which irre- 
 sistibly interested and absorbed your attention : he could make 
 you forget everything but himself, and the rich, easy, yet earnest 
 eloquence, which gave colour to his language and melody to his 
 voice. In that hour of renewed intercourse with one who had 
 at first awakened, if not her heart, at least her imagination and 
 her deeper thoughts, certain it is that even Legard was not 
 missed. As she smiled and listened, Evelyn dreamt not of the 
 anguish she inflicted. Leaning against the box, Legard sur- 
 veyed the absorbed attention of Evelyn, the adoring eyes of 
 Maltravers, with that utter and crushing wretchedness which no 
 passion but jealousy, and that only while it is yet a virgin agony, 
 can bestow ! He had never before even dreamt of rivalry in 
 such a quarter ; but there was that ineffable instinct, which 
 lovers have, and which so seldom errs, that told him at once 
 that in Maltravers was the greatest obstacle his passion could 
 encounter. He waited in hopes that Evelyn would take the 
 occasion to turn to him at least when the fourth act closed. 
 She did not ; and, unable to constrain his emotions, and reply to 
 the small-talk of Lord Doltimore, he abruptly quitted the box. 
 
 When the opera was over, Maltravers offered his arm to 
 Evelyn ; she accepted it, and then she looked round for Legard. 
 He was gone.
 
 BOOK VIII. 
 
 D Zev, TI pov dpaaai /Sf^SovAewai ntpl ', 
 O Fate J O Heaven ! what have ye then decreed ? SOPH. (Ed. Tyr t , f. 
 
 * * * 
 
 * * * * 
 
 aKporarav etcrai>a/3acr' airornfiov 
 &pov<rev vtv fix avayaav. Ibid. 874. 
 
 Insolent pride * * 
 
 * 
 
 The topmost crag of the great precipice 
 Surmounts to rush to ruin. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 * " She is young, wise, fair, 
 In these to Nature she's immediate heir. 
 * * * 
 
 * Honours best thrive 
 
 When rather from our acts we them derive 
 
 Than our foregoers ! "All's Well that Ends Wdl. 
 
 LETTER FROM ERNEST MALTRAVERS TO THE HON. FREDERICK 
 
 CLEVELAND. 
 
 " EVELYN is free she is in Paris I have seen her I see 
 her daily. 
 
 " How true it is that we cannot make a philosophy of in- 
 difference ! The affections are stronger than all our reasonings. 
 We must take them into our alliance, or they \vill destroy all 
 our theories of self-government. Such fools of fate are we, 
 passing from system to system from scheme to scheme vainly
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 301 
 
 seeking to shut out passion and sorrdw forgetting that they are 
 born within us and return to the soul as the seasons to the 
 earth ! Yet, years, many years ago when I first looked 
 gravely into my own nature and being here when I first 
 awakened to the dignity and solemn responsibilities of human life 
 I had resolved to tame and curb myself into a thing of rule and 
 measure. Bearing within me the wound scarred over but never 
 healed the consciousness of wrong to the heart that had leaned 
 upon me haunted by the memory of my lost Alice I shuddered 
 at new affections bequeathing new griefs. Wrapped in a haughty 
 egotism, I wished not to extend my empire over a wider circuit 
 than my own intellect and passions. I turned from the trader- 
 covetousness of bliss, that would freight the wealth of life upon 
 barks exposed to every wind upon the seas of Fate I was 
 contented with the hope to pass life alone, honoured, though 
 unloved. Slowly and reluctantly I yielded to the fascinations of 
 Florence Lascelles. The hour that sealed the compact between 
 us was one of regret and alarm. In vain I sought to deceive 
 myself I felt that I did not love. And then I imagined that 
 Love was no longer in my nature that I had exhausted its 
 treasures before my time, and left my heart a bankrupt. Not 
 till the last not till that glorious soul broke out in all its bright- 
 ness, the nearer it approached the source to which it has returned 
 did I feel of what tenderness she was worthy and I was 
 capable. She died, and the world was darkened ! Energy 
 ambition my former aims and objects were all sacrificed at 
 her tomb. But amidst ruins and through the darkness, my soul 
 yet supported me ; I could no longer hope, but I could endure. 
 I was resolved that I would not be subdued, and that the world 
 should not hear me groan. Amidst strange and far-distant 
 scenes amidst hordes to whom my very language was unknown 
 in wastes and forests, which the step of civilised man, with his- 
 sorrows and his dreams, had never trodden I wrestled with my 
 soul, as the patriarch of old wrestled with the angel and the 
 angel was at last the victor ! You do not mistake me you 
 know that it was not the death of Florence alone that worked 
 in me that awful revolution, but with that death the last glory 
 fled from the face of things, that had seemed to me beautiful of
 
 302 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 old. Hers was a love that accompanied and dignified the 
 schemes and aspirations of manhood a love that was an incar- 
 nation of ambition itself; and all the evils and disappointments 
 that belong to ambition seemed to crowd around my heart like 
 vultures to a feast allured and invited by the dead. But this at 
 length was over; the barbarous state restored me to the civilised. 
 I returned to my equals, prepared no more to be an actor in 
 the strife, but a calm spectator of the turbulent arena. I once 
 more laid my head beneath the roof of my fathers ; and, if 
 without any clear and definite pbject, I at least hoped to find 
 amidst ' my old hereditary trees ' the charm of contemplation 
 and repose. And scarce in the first hours of my arrival had 
 I indulged that dream, when a fair face, a sweet voice, that had 
 once before left deep and unobliterated impressions on my heart, 
 scattered all my philosophy to the winds. I saw Evelyn ! and 
 if ever there was love at first sight, it was that which I felt for 
 her: I lived in her presence, and forgot the Future ! Or, rather, 
 I was with the Past in the bovvers of my spring-tide of life 
 and hope ! It was an after-birth of youth my love for that 
 young heart ! 
 
 " It is, indeed, only in maturity that we know how lovely were 
 our earliest years ! What depth of wisdom in^the old Greek 
 myth, that allotted Hebe as the prize to the god who had been 
 the arch-labourer of life ! and whom the satiety of all that 
 results from experience had made enamoured of all that belongs 
 to the Hopeful and the New. 
 
 " This enchanting child this delightful Evelyn this ray of 
 undreamt of sunshine smiled away all my palaces of ice. I 
 loved, Cleveland I loved more ardently, more passionately, 
 more wildly than ever I did of old ! But suddenly I learned 
 that she was affianced to another, and felt that it was not for me 
 to question, to seek the annulment of the bond. I had been 
 unworthy to love Evelyn, if I had not loved honour more ! I 
 fled from her presence, honestly and resolutely ; I sought to 
 conquer a forbidden passion ; I believed that I had not won 
 affection in return ; I believed, from certain expressions that I 
 overheard Evelyn utter to another, that her heart as well as her 
 hand was given to Vargrave. I came hither; you know how
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 303 
 
 sternly and resolutely I strove to eradicate a weakness that 
 seemed without even the justification of hope ! If I suffered, I 
 betrayed it not. Suddenly Evelyn appeared again before me ! 
 and suddenly I learned that she was free ! Oh, the rapture of 
 that moment ! Could you have seen her bright face, her en- 
 chanting smile, when we met again ! Her ingenuous innocence 
 did not conceal her gladness at seeing me ! What hopes broke 
 upon me ! Despite the difference of our years, I think she loves 
 me ! that in that love I am about at last to learn what blessings 
 there are in life. 
 
 " Evelyn has the simplicity, the tenderness, of Alice, with the 
 refinement and culture of Florence herself; not the genius not 
 the daring spirit not the almost fearful brilliancy of that ill- 
 fated being but with a taste as true to the Beautiful, with a 
 soul as sensitive to the Sublime ! In Evelyn's presence I feel a 
 sense of peace, of security, of home ! Happy ! thrice happy ! he 
 who will take her to his breast ! Of late she has assumed a new 
 charm in my eyes a certain pensiveness and abstraction have 
 succeeded to her wonted gaiety. Ah! Love is pensive; is it 
 not, Cleveland ? How often I ask myself that question ! And 
 yet, amidst all my hopes, there are hours when I tremble and 
 despond ! How can that innocent and joyous spirit sympathise 
 with all that mine has endured and known ? How, even though 
 her imagination be dazzled by some prestige around my name, 
 how can I believe that I have awakened her heart to that deep 
 and real love of which it is capable, and which youth excites in 
 youth ? When we meet at her home, or amidst the quiet yet 
 brilliant society which is gathered round Madame de Ventadour 
 or the Montaignes, with whom she is an especial favourite when 
 we converse when I sit by her, and her soft eyes meet mine 
 I feel not the disparity of years ; my heart speaks to her, and 
 that is youthful still ! But in the more gay and crowded haunts 
 to which her presence allures me, when I see that fairy form 
 surrounded by those who have not outlived the pleasures that so 
 naturally dazzle and captivate her then, indeed, I fel that my 
 tastes, my habits, my pursuits, belong to another season of life, 
 and ask myself anxiously, if my nature and my years are those 
 that can make her happy ? Then, indeed, I recognise the wide
 
 304 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 interval that time and trial place between one whom the world 
 has wearied, and one for whom the world is new. If she should 
 discover hereafter that youth should love only youth, my bit- 
 terest anguish would be that of remorse ! I know how deeply 
 I love, by knowing how immeasurably dearer her happiness is 
 than my own ! I will wait, then, yet a while I will examine I 
 will watch well that I do not deceive myself. As yet, I think that 
 I have no rivals whom I need fear: surrounded as she is by the 
 youngest and the gayest, she still turns with evident pleasure to 
 me, whom she calls her friend. She will forego the amusements 
 she most loves for society in which we can converse more at 
 ease. You remember, for instance, young Legard ? he is here ; 
 and, before I met Evelyn, was much at Lady Doltimore's house. 
 I cannot be blind to his superior advantages of youth and 
 person ; and there is something striking arid prepossessing in 
 the gentle yet manly frankness of his manner ; and yet no fear 
 of his rivalship ever haunts me. True, that of late he has been 
 little in Evelyn's society ; nor do I think, in the frivolity of his 
 pursuits, he can have educated his mind to appreciate Evelyn, 
 or be possessed of those qualities which would render him 
 worthy of her. But there is something good in the young man, 
 despite his foibles something that wins upon me ; and you will 
 smile to learn, that he has even surprised from me usually so 
 reserved on such matters the confession of my attachment and 
 hopes ! Evelyn often talks to me of her mother, and describes 
 her in colours so glowing, that I feel the greatest interest in 
 one who has helped to form so beautiful and pure a mind. Can 
 you learn who Lady Vargrave was ? there is evidently some 
 mystery thrown over her birth and connections ; and, from what 
 I can hear, this arises from their lowliness. You know that, 
 though I have been accused of family pride, it is a pride of a 
 peculiar sort. I am proud, not of the length of a mouldering 
 pedigree, but of some historical quarterings in my escutcheon 
 of some blood of scholars and of heroes that rolls in my veins ; 
 it is the same kind of pride that an Englishman may feel in 
 belonging to a country that has produced Shakspeare and 
 Bacon. I have never, I hope, felt the vulgar pride that disdains 
 want of birth in others ; and I care not three straws whethe/
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 305 
 
 my friend or my wife be descended from a king or a peasant. 
 It is myself, and not my connections, who alone can disgrace my 
 lineage ; therefore, however humble Lady Vargrave's parentage, 
 do not scruple to inform me, should you learn any intelligence 
 that bears upon it. 
 
 " I had a conversation last night with Evelyn that delighted 
 me. By some accident we spoke of Lord Vargrave ; and she 
 told me, with an enchanting candour, of the position in which 
 she stood with him, and the conscientious and noble scruples 
 she felt as to the enjoyment of a fortune, which her benefactor 
 and stepfather had evidently intended to be shared with his 
 nearest relative. In these scruples I cordially concurred ; and 
 if I marry Evelyn, my first care will be to carry them into effect 
 by securing to Vargrave, as far as the law may permit, the 
 larger part of the income I should like to say all at least till 
 Evelyn's children would have the right to claim it : a right not 
 to be enforced during her own, and, therefore, probably not 
 during Vargrave's life. I own that this would be no sacrifice, 
 for I am proud enough to recoil from the thought of being in- 
 debted for fortune to the woman I love. It was that kind of 
 pride which gave coldness and constraint to my regard for 
 Florence ; and for the rest, my own property (much increased 
 by the simplicity of my habits of life for the last few years) will 
 suffice for all Evelyn or myself could require. Ah, madman 
 that I am ! I calculate already on marriage, even while I have 
 so much cause for anxiety as to love. But my heart beats 
 my heart has grown a dial that keeps the account of time; 
 by its movements I calculate the moments in an hour I shall 
 see her ! 
 
 " Oh ! never ! never ! in my wildest and earliest visions, 
 could I have fancied that I should love as I love now ! Adieu, 
 my oldest and kindest friend J If I am happy at last, it will be 
 something to feel that at last I shall have satisfied your expec- 
 tations of my youth. 
 
 " Affectionately yours, 
 
 " E. MALTRAVERS. 
 
 "Ruede , Paris, 
 
 January , 1 8 ."
 
 306 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER IL 
 
 % 
 
 " In her youth 
 
 There is a prone and speechless dialect- 
 Such as moves men." Measure for Measure, 
 
 " Abbess. Haply in private 
 f " Adriana. And in assemblies too." Comedy of Errors. 
 
 IT was true, as Maltravers had stated, that Legard had of late 
 
 been little at Lady Doltimore's, or in the same society as 
 
 Evelyn. With the vehemence of an ardent and passionate 
 
 nature, he yielded to the jealous rage and grief that devoured him 
 
 He saw too clearly, and from the first, that Maltravers adored 
 
 Evelyn ; and, in her familiar kindness of manner towards him, 
 
 in the unlimited veneration in which she appeared to hold his 
 
 gifts and qualities, he thought that that love might become 
 
 reciprocal. He became gloomy and almost morose ; he 
 
 shunned Evelyn he forbore to enter into the lists against 
 
 his rival. Perhaps the intellectual superiority of Maltravers 
 
 the extraordinary conversational brilliancy that he could display 
 
 when he pleased the commanding dignity of his manners 
 
 even the matured authority of his reputation and years, might 
 
 have served to awe the hopes, as well as to wound the vanity, of 
 
 a man accustomed himself to be the oracle of a circle. These 
 
 might have strongly influenced Legard in withdrawing himself 
 
 from Evelyn's society ; but there was one circumstance, connected 
 
 with motives much more generous, that mainly determined his 
 
 conduct. It happened that Maltravers, shortly after his first 
 
 interview with Evelyn, was riding alone one day in the more 
 
 sequestered part of the Bois de Boulogne, when he encountered 
 
 Legard, also alone, and on horseback. The latter, on succeeding 
 
 to his uncle's fortune, had taken care to repay his debt to 
 
 Maltravers : he had done so in a short but feeling and grateful 
 
 letter, which had been forwarded to Maltravers at Paris, and 
 
 which pleased and touched him. Since that time he had taken 
 
 a liking to the young man, and now, meeting him at Paris, he
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 307 
 
 sought, to a certain extent, Legard's more intimate acquaintance. 
 Maltravers was in that happy mood when we are inclined to be 
 friends with all men. It is true, however, that, though unknown 
 to himself, that pride of bearing, which often gave to the very 
 virtues of Maltravers an unamiable aspect, occasionally irritated 
 one who felt he had incurred to him an obligation of honour and 
 of life never to be effaced ; it made the sense of this obligation 
 more intolerable to Legard ; it made him more desirous to 
 acquit himself of the charge. But, on this day, there was so 
 much cordiality in the greeting of Maltravers, and he pressed 
 Legard in so friendly a manner to join him in his ride, that the 
 young man's heart was softened and they rode together, con- 
 versing familiarly on such topics as were in common between 
 them. At last the conversation fell on Lord and Lady 
 Doltimore : and thence Maltravers, whose soul was full of 
 one thought, turned it indirectly towards Evelyn. 
 
 " Did you ever see Lady Vargrave ? " 
 
 "Never," replied Legard, looking another way; "but Lady 
 Doltimore says she is as beautiful as Evelyn herself, if that be 
 possible ; and still so young in form and countenance, that she 
 looks rather like her sister than her mother ! " 
 
 "How I should like to know her!" said Maltravers, with a 
 sudden energy. 
 
 Legard changed the subject. He spoke of the Carnival of 
 balls of masquerades of operas of reigning beauties ! 
 
 " Ah 1 " said Maltravers, with a half sigh, " yours is the age for 
 those dazzling pleasures ; to me they are, 'the twice-told tale.' " 
 
 Maltravers meant it not, but this remark chafed Legard. He 
 thought it conveyed a sarcasm on the childishness of his own 
 mind, or the levity of his pursuits ; his colour mounted, as he 
 replied, 
 
 " It is not, I fear, the slight difference of years between us, it 
 is the difference of intellect you would insinuate ; but you should 
 remember all men have not your resources ; all men cannot 
 pretend to genius ! " 
 
 "My dear Legard," said Maltravers, kindly, "do not fancy 
 that I could have designed any insinuation half so presumptuous 
 and impertinent. Believe me, I envy you, sincerely and sadly 
 
 U 2
 
 308 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 all those faculties of enjoyment which I have worn away. Oh, 
 how I envy you ! for, were they still mine, then then, indeed, 
 T might hope to mould myself into greater congeniality with the 
 beautiful and the young ! " 
 
 Maltravers paused a moment, and resumed, with a grave 
 smile : " I trust, Legard, that you will be wiser than I have 
 been ; that you will gather your roses while it is yet May : and 
 that you will not live to thirty-six, pining for happiness and 
 home, a disappointed and desolate man ; till, when your ideal is 
 at last found, you shrink back appalled, to discover that you 
 have lost none of the tendencies to love, but many of the graces 
 by which love is to be allured ! " 
 
 There was so much serious and earnest feeling in these words 
 that they went home at once to Legard's sympathies. He felt 
 irresistibly impelled to learn the worst. 
 
 " Maltravers ! " said he, in a hurried tone, " it would be an idle 
 compliment to say that you are not likely to love in vain ; 
 perhaps it is indelicate in me to apply a general remark ; and 
 yet yet I cannot but fancy that I have discovered your secret, 
 and that you are not insensible to the charms of Miss Cameron ! " 
 
 " Legard ! " said Maltravers, and so strong was his fervent 
 attachment to Evelyn, that it swept away all his natural cold- 
 ness and reserve, "I tell you plainly and frankly, that in my 
 love for Evelyn Cameron lie the last hopes I have in life. I 
 have no thought, no ambition, no sentiment that is not vowed to 
 her. If my love should be unreturned. I may strive to endure 
 the blow I may mix with the world I may seem to occupy 
 myself in the aims of others but my heart will be broken ! Let 
 us talk of this no more you have surprised my secret, though it 
 must have betrayed itself. Learn from me how preternaturally 
 strong how generally fatal is love deferred to that day when 
 in the stern growth of all the feelings love writes itself on 
 granite ! " 
 
 Maltravers, as if impatient of his own weakness, put spurs to 
 his horse, and they rode on rapidly for some time without 
 speaking. 
 
 That silence was employed by Legard in meditating over all 
 he had heard and witnessed in recalling all that he owed to
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 309 
 
 Maltravers ; and before that silence was broken the young man 
 nobly resolved not even to attempt, not even to hope, a rivalry 
 with Maltravers ; to forego all the expectations he had so fondly 
 nursed to absent himself from the company of Evelyn to 
 requite faithfully and firmly that act of generosity to which he 
 owed the preservation of his life the redemption of his honour. 
 
 Agreeably to this determination, he abstained from visiting 
 those haunts in which Evelyn shone ; and if accident brought 
 them together, his manner was embarrassed and abrupt. She 
 wondered at last, perhaps she resented, it may be that she 
 grieved ; for certain it is that Maltravers was right in thinking 
 that her manner had lost the gaiety that distinguished it at 
 Merton Rectory. But still it may be doubted whether Evelyn 
 had seen enough of Legard, and whether her fancy and romance 
 were still sufficiently free from the magical influences of the 
 genius that called them forth in the eloquent homage of 
 Maltravers, to trace, herself, to any causes connected with her 
 younger lover, the listless melancholy that crept over her. In 
 very young women new alike to the world and the knowledge of 
 themselves many vague and undefined feelings herald the dawn 
 of Love ; shade after shade and light upon light succeeds before 
 the sun breaks forth, and the earth awakens to his presence. 
 
 It was one evening that Legard had suffered himself to be 
 
 led into a party at the ambassador's ; and there, as he 
 
 stood by the door, he saw at a little distance Maltravers con- 
 versing with Evelyn. Again he writhed beneath the tortures 
 of his jealous anguish ; and there, as he gazed and suffered, 
 he resolved (as Maltravers had done before him) to fly from 
 the place that had a little while ago seemed to him Elysium ! 
 He would quit Paris he would travel he would not see 
 Evelyn again till the irrevocable barrier was passed, arid she 
 was the wife of Maltravers ! In the first heat of this deter- 
 mination, he turned towards some young men standing near 
 him, one of whom was about to visit Vienna. He gaily 
 proposed to join him a proposal readily accepted, and began 
 conversing on the journey, the city, its splendid and proud 
 society, with all that cruel exhilaration which the forced spirits 
 of a stricken heart can alone display, when Evelyn (whose
 
 3io ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 conference with Maltravers was ended) passed close by him. 
 She was leaning on Lady Doltimore's arm, and the admiring 
 murmur of his companions caused Legard to turn suddenly 
 round. 
 
 " You are not dancing to-night, Colonel Legard," said Caroline, 
 glancing towards Evelyn. "The more the season for balls 
 advances, the more indolent you become." 
 
 Legard muttered a confused reply, one half of which seemed 
 petulant, while the other half was inaudible. 
 
 " Not so indolent as you suppose," said his friend. " Legard 
 meditates an excursion sufficient, I hope, to redeem his character 
 in your eyes. It is a long journey, and, what is worse, a very 
 cold journey, to Vienna." 
 
 " Vienna ! do you think of going to Vienna ? " cried Caroline. 
 
 " Yes," said Legard. " I hate Paris ; any place better than 
 this odious city ! " and he moved away. 
 
 Evelyn's eyes followed him sadly and gravely. She remained 
 by Lady Doltimore's side, abstracted and silent for several 
 minutes. 
 
 Meanwhile Caroline, turning to Lord Devonport (the friend 
 who had proposed the Viennese excursion), said, " It is cruel in 
 you to go to Vienna, it is doubly cruel to rob Lord Doltimore 
 of his best friend, and Paris of its best waltzer." 
 
 " Oh, it is a voluntary offer of Legard's, Lady Doltimore, 
 believe me, I have used no persuasive arts. But the fact is, that 
 we have been talking of a fair widow, the beauty of Austria, 
 and as proud and as unassailable as Ehrenbreitstein itself. 
 Legard's vanity is piqued, and so as a professed lady-killer 
 he intends to see what can be effected by the handsomest 
 Englishman of his time." 
 
 Caroline laughed, and new claimants on her notice succeeded 
 to Lord Devonport. It was not till the ladies were waiting their 
 carriage in the shawl-room, that Lady Doltimore noticed the 
 paleness and thoughtful brow of Evelyn. 
 
 " Are you fatigued or unwell, dear ? " she said. 
 
 " No," answered Evelyn, forcing a smile, and at that moment 
 they were joined by Maltravers, with the intelligence that it 
 would be some minutes before the carriage could draw up.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 311 
 
 Caroline amused herself in the interval by shrewd criticisms 
 on the dresses and characters of her various friends. Caroline 
 had grown an amazing prude in her judgment of others ! 
 
 " What a turban ! prudent for Mrs. A to wear bright 
 
 red : it puts out her face, as the sun puts out the fire. Mr. 
 
 Maltravers, do observe Lady B with that very young 
 
 gentleman. After all her experience in angling, it is odd 
 that she should still only throw in for small fish. Pray, why 
 
 is the marriage between Lady C D and Mr. F 
 
 broken off? Is it true that he is so much in debt ? and is so 
 very very profligate ? They say she is heart-broken." 
 
 " Really, Lady Doltimore," said Maltravers, smiling, " I am 
 
 but a bad scandal-monger. But poor F is not, I believe, 
 
 much worse than others. How do we know whose fault it is 
 when a marriage is broken off? Lady C D heart- 
 broken ! what an idea ! Nowadays there is never any affection 
 in compacts of that sort ; and the chain that binds the frivolous 
 nature is but a gossamer thread ! Fine gentlemen and fine 
 ladies ! their loves and their marriages 
 
 ' May flourish and may fade 
 A breath may make them, as a breath has made.' 
 
 Never believe that a heart long accustomed to beat only in 
 good society can be broken it is rarely ever touched ! " 
 
 Evelyn listened attentively and seemed struck. She sighed, 
 and said in a very low voice, as to herself, "It is true how 
 could I think otherwise ? " 
 
 For the next few days Evelyn was unwell, and did not quit 
 her room. Maltravers was in despair. The flowers the books 
 the music he sent his anxious inquiries, his earnest and re- 
 spectful notes touched with that ineffable charm which Heart 
 and Intellect breathe into the most trifling coinage from their 
 mint all affected Evelyn sensibly ; perhaps she contrasted 
 them with Legard's indifference and apparent caprice ; perhaps 
 in that contrast Maltravers gained more than by all his brilliant 
 qualities. Meanwhile, without visit without message without 
 farewell unconscious, it is true, of Evelyn's illness, Legard 
 departed for Vienna.
 
 312 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ' A pleasing land * * * 
 
 Of dreams that wave before the half-shut eye, 
 And of gay castles in the clouds that pass, 
 For ever flashing round a summer sky." THOMSON. 
 
 DAILY hourly increased the influence of Evelyn over 
 Maltravers. Oh ! what a dupe is a man's pride ! what a fool 
 his wisdom ! That a girl a mere child one who scarce 
 knew her own heart beautiful as it was, whose deeper feelings 
 still lay coiled up in their sweet buds, that she should thus 
 master this proud, wise man ! But as thou our universal 
 teacher as thou, O Shakspeare ! haply speaking from the hints 
 of thine own experience hast declared 
 
 " None are so truly caught, when they are catch 'd, 
 As wit turn'd fool ; folly in wisdom hatched, 
 Hath wisdom's warrant." 
 
 Still, methinks, that, in that surpassing and dangerously in- 
 dulged affection which levelled thee, Maltravers, with the weakest, 
 which overturned all thy fine philosophy of Stoicism, and, 
 made thee the veriest slave of the " Rose Garden," still 
 Maltravers, thou mightest, at least, have seen that thou hast 
 lost for ever all right to pride, all privilege to disdain the herd ! 
 But thou wert proud of thin own infirmity ! And far sharper 
 must be that lesson which can teach thee that Pride thine 
 angel is ever pre-doomed to fall. 
 
 What a mistake to suppose that the passions are strongest 
 in youth ! The passions are not stronger, but the control over 
 them is weaker. They are more easily excited they are more 
 violent and more apparent; but they have less energy, less 
 durability, less intense and concentrated power, than in maturer 
 life. In youth, passion succeeds to passion, and one breaks 
 upon the other, as waves upon a rock, till the heart frets itself 
 to repose In manhood, the great deep flows on. more calm.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTKRIF.S. 313 
 
 but more profound, its serenity is the proof of the might and 
 terror of its course, were the wind to blow and the storm to 
 rise. 
 
 A young man's ambition is but vanity, it has no definite 
 aim, it plays with a thousand toys. As with one passion, so 
 with the rest. In youth, love is ever on the wing, but, like the 
 birds in April, it hath not yet built its nest. With so long 
 a career of summer and hope before it, the disappointment of 
 to-day is succeeded by the novelty of to-morrow, and the sun 
 that advances to the noon but dries up its fervent tears. But 
 when we have arrived at that epoch of life, when, if the light 
 fail us, if the last rose wither, we feel that the loss cannot be 
 retrieved, and that the frost and the darkness are at hand, 
 Love becomes to us a treasure that we watch over and hoard 
 with a miser's care. Our youngest-born affection is our darling 
 and our idol, the fondest pledge of the Past, the most cherished 
 of our hopes for the Future. A certain melancholy that mingles 
 with our joy at the possession only enhances its charm. We feel 
 ourselves so dependent on it for all that is yet to come. Our 
 other barks our gay galleys of pleasure our stately argosies 
 of pride have been swallowed up by the remorseless wave. 
 On this last vessel we freight our all to its frail tenement we 
 commit ourselves. The star that guides it is our guide, and in 
 the tempest that menaces we behold our own doom ! 
 
 Still Maltravers shrank from the confession that trembled on 
 his lips still he adhered to the course he had prescribed to 
 himself. If ever (as he had implied in his letter to Cleveland) 
 if ever Evelyn should discover they were not suited to each 
 other! The possibility of such an affliction impressed his judg- 
 ment the dread of it chilled his heart. With all his pride, there 
 was a certain humility in Maltravers that was perhaps one cause 
 of his reserve. He knew what a beautiful possession is youth 
 its sanguine hopes its elastic spirit its inexhaustible resources ! 
 What to the eyes of woman were the acquisitions which manhood 
 had brought him ? the vast but the sad experience the arid 
 wisdom the philosophy based on disappointment ? He might 
 be loved but for the vain glitter of name and reputation. and 
 love might vanish as custom dimmed the illusion. Men of strong
 
 314 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 affections are jealous of their own genius. They know how 
 separate a thing from the household character genius often is,- 
 they fear lest they should be loved for a quality, not for 
 themselves. 
 
 Thus communed he with himself thus, as the path had be- 
 come clear to his hopes, did new fears arise ; and thus did love 
 bring, as it ever does, in its burning wake, 
 
 " The pang, the agony, the doubt 1 * 
 
 Maltravers then confirmed himself in the resolution he had 
 formed : he would cautiously examine Evelyn and himself he 
 would weigh in the balance every straw that the wind should 
 turn up he would not aspire to the treasure, unless he could feel 
 secure that the coffer could preserve the gem. This was not only 
 a prudent, it was a just and a generous determination. It was 
 one which we all ought to form if the fervour of our passions 
 will permit us. We have no right to sacrifice years to moments, 
 and to melt the pearl that has no price in a single draught ! But 
 can Maltravers adhere to his wise precautions ? The truth must 
 be spoken it was, perhaps, the first time in his life that 
 Maltravers had been really in love. 
 
 As the reader will remember, he had not been in love with the 
 haughty Florence ; admiration, gratitude the affection of the 
 head, not that of the feelings, had been the links that bound 
 him to the enthusiastic correspondent revealed in the gifted 
 beauty ; and the gloomy circumstances connected with her 
 early fate had left deep furrows in his memory. Time and 
 vicissitude had effaced the wounds, and the Light of the Beauti- 
 ful dawned once more in the face of Evelyn. Valerie de 
 Ventadour had been but the fancy of a roving breast. Alice, the 
 sweet Alice ! her, indeed, in the first flower of youth, he had 
 loved with a boy's romance. He had loved her deeply, fondly 
 but perhaps he had never been in love with her ; he had mourned 
 her loss for years insensibly to himself her loss had altered his 
 character and cast a melancholy gloom over all the colours of 
 his life. But she whose range of ideas was so confined she 
 who had but broke into knowledge, as the chrysalis into the 
 butterfly how much in that prodigal and gifted nature, bounding
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 315 
 
 onwards into the ttroad plains of life, must the peasant girl have 
 failed to fill ! They had had nothing in common, but their youth 
 and their love. It was a dream that had hovered over the poet- 
 boy in the morning twilight a dream he had often wished to 
 recall a dream that had haunted him in the noon-day, but 
 had, as all boyish visions ever have done, left the heart unex- 
 hausted, and the passions unconsumed ! Years long years 
 since then had rolled away, and yet, perhaps, one unconscious 
 attraction that drew Maltravers so suddenly towards Evelyn was 
 a something indistinct and undefinable, that reminded him of 
 Alice. There was no similarity in their features ; but at times 
 a tone in Evelyn's voice a " trick of the manner " an air a 
 gesture recalled him, over the gulfs of Time, to Poetry, and 
 Hope, and Alice. 
 
 In the youth of each the absent and the present one there 
 was resemblance, resemblance in their simplicity, their grace. 
 Perhaps, Alice, of the two, had in her nature more real depth, 
 more ardour of feeling, more sublimity of sentiment, than 
 Evelyn. But in her primitive ignorance, half her noblest 
 qualities were embedded and unknown. And Evelyn his equal 
 in rank Evelyn, well cultivated Evelyn, so long courted so 
 deeply studied had such advantages over the poor peasant 
 girl ! Still the poor peasant girl often seemed to smile on him 
 from that fair face. And in Evelyn he half loved Alice again ! 
 
 So these two persons now met daily ; their intercourse was 
 even more familiar than before their several minds grew hourly 
 more developed and transparent to each other. But of love 
 Maltravers still forbore to speak ; they were friends, no more ; 
 such friends as the disparity of their years and their experience 
 might warrant them to be. And in that young and innocent 
 nature with its rectitude, its enthusiasm, and its pious and 
 cheerful tendencies Maltravers found freshness in the desert, 
 as the camel-driver lingering at the well. Insensibly his heart 
 warmed again to his kind. And as the harp of David to the 
 ear of Saul, was the soft voice that lulled remembrance and 
 awakened hope in the lonely man. 
 
 Meanwhile, what was the effect that the presence, the atten- 
 tions, of Maltravers produced on Evelyn ? Perhaps it was of
 
 316 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 that kind which most flatters us and most deceives. She never 
 dreamed of comparing him with others. To her thoughts he 
 stood aloof and alone from all his kind. It may seem a para- 
 dox, but it might be that she admired and venerated him almost 
 too much for love. Still her pleasure in his society was so evident 
 and unequivocal, her deference to his opinion so marked, she 
 sympathised in so many of his objects she had so much blind- 
 ness or forbearance for his faults (and he never sought to mask 
 them), that the most diffident of men might have drawn from so 
 many symptoms hopes the most auspicious. Since the departure 
 of Legard, the gaieties of Paris lost their charm for Evelyn, and 
 more than ever she could appreciate the society of her friend. 
 He thus gradually lost his earlier fears of her forming too keen 
 an attachment to the great world ; and as nothing could be more 
 apparent than Evelyn's indifference to the crowd of flatterers and 
 suitors that hovered round her, Maltravers no longer dreaded a 
 rival. He began to feel assured that they had both gone through 
 the ordeal ; and that he might ask for love without a doubt of 
 its immutability and faith. At this period they v/ere both in- 
 vited, with the Doltimores, to spend a few days, at the villa of 
 De Montaigne, near St. Cloud. And there it was that Maltravers 
 determined to know his fate ! 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " Chaos of Thought and Passion all confused." POPE. 
 
 IT is to the contemplation of a very different scene that the 
 course of our story now conducts us. 
 
 Between St. Cloud and Versailles there was at that time 
 perhaps there still is a lone and melancholy house, appropriated 
 to the insane. Melancholy not from its site, but the purpose to 
 which it is devoted. Placed on an eminence, the windows of 
 the mansion command beyond the gloomy walls that gird the 
 garden ground one of those enchanting prospects which win for 
 France her title to La Belle. There, the glorious Seine is seen in
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 317 
 
 the distance, broad and winding through the varied plains, and 
 beside the gleaming villages and villas. There, too, beneath the 
 clear blue sky of France, the forest-lands of Versailles and St. 
 Germains stretch in dark luxuriance around and afar. There you 
 may see sleeping on the verge of the landscape, the mighty city 
 crowned with the thousand spires from which, proud above the 
 rest, rises the eyry of Napoleon's eagle, the pinnacle of Notre 
 Dame. 
 
 Remote, sequestered, the place still commands the survey of 
 the turbulent world below ; and Madness gazes upon prospects 
 that might well charm the thoughtful eyes of Imagination or of 
 Wisdom ! In one of the rooms of this house sat Castruccio 
 Cesarini. The apartment was furnished even with elegance ; a 
 variety of books strewed the table nothing for comfort or for 
 solace, that the care and providence of affection could dictate, 
 was omitted. Cesarini was alone : leaning his cheek upon his 
 hand, he gazed on the beautiful and tranquil view we have 
 described. "And am I never to set a free foot on that soil 
 again ? " he muttered indignantly, as he broke from his reverie. 
 
 The door opened, and the keeper of the sad abode (a surgeon 
 of humanity and eminence) entered, followed by De Montaigne. 
 Cesarini turned round and scowled upon the latter ; the surgeon, 
 after a few words of salutation, withdrew to a corner of the 
 room, and appeared absorbed in a book. De Montaigne ap- 
 proached his brother-in-law u I have brought you some poems 
 just published at Mjlan, my dear Castruccio they will please 
 you." 
 
 " Give me my liberty ! " cried Cesarini, clenching his hands. 
 " Why am I to be detained here ? Why are my nights to be 
 broken by the groans of maniacs, and my days devoured in a 
 solitude that loathes the aspect of things around me ? Am / 
 mad ? You know I am not ! It is an old trick to say that poets 
 are mad you mistake our agonies for insanity. See, I am 
 calm I can reason: give me any test of sound mind no 
 matter how rigid I will pass it I am not mad I swear I am 
 not ! " 
 
 " No, my dear Castruccio," said De Montaigne, soothingly ; 
 4 but you are still unwell you still have fever ; when next I
 
 318 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 see you perhaps you may be recovered sufficiently to dismiss the 
 doctor and change the air. Meanwhile is there anything you 
 would have added or altered ? " 
 
 Cesarini had listened to this speech with a mocking sarcasm 
 on his lip, but an expression of such hopeless wretchedness in 
 his eyes, as they alone can comprehend who have witnessed 
 madness in its lucid intervals. He sank down, and his head 
 drooped gloomily on his breast " No," said he ; "I want 
 nothing but free air or death no matter which." 
 
 De Montaigne stayed some time with the unhappy man, and 
 sought to soothe him ; but it was in vain. Yet, when he rose to 
 depart, Cesarini started up, and fixing on him his large wistful 
 eyes, exclaimed " Ah ! do not leave me yet. It is so dreadful 
 to be alone with the dead and the worse than dead !" 
 
 The Frenchman turned aside to wipe his eyes, and stifle the 
 rising at his heart ; and again he sat, and again he sought to 
 soothe. At length Cesarini, seemingly more calm, gave him 
 leave to depart. " Go," said he, " go tell Teresa I am better 
 that I love her tenderly that I shall live to tell her children not 
 to be poets. Stay, you asked if there was aught I wished 
 changed yes this room ; it is too still : I hear my own pulse 
 beat so loudly in the silence it is horrible ! there is a room 
 below, by the window of which there is a tree, and the winds 
 rock its boughs to and fro, and it sighs and groans like a living 
 thing; it will be pleasant to look at that tree, and see the birds 
 come home to it, yet that tree is wintry and blasted too ! it 
 will be pleasant to hear it fret and chafe in the stormy nights ; 
 it will be a friend to me, that old tree ! let me have that room. 
 Nay, look not at each other it is not so high as this but the 
 window is barred I cannot escape ! " And Cesarini smiled. 
 
 " Certainly," said the surgeon, " if you prefer that room ; but 
 it has not so fine a view." 
 
 " I hate the view of the world that has cast me off when may 
 1 change ? " 
 
 " This very evening." 
 
 " Thank you it will be a great revolution in my life." 
 
 And Cesarini's eyes brightened, and he looked happy. De 
 Montaigne, thoroughly unmanned, tore himself away.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 319 
 
 The promise was kept, and Cesarini was transferred that 
 night to the chamber he had selected. 
 
 As soon as it was deep night the last visit of the keeper 
 paid and, save now and then, by some sharp cry in the more 
 distant quarter of the house, all was still, Cesarini rose from his 
 bed ; a partial light came from the stars that streamed through 
 the frosty and keen air, and cast a sickly gleam through the 
 heavy bars of the casement. It was then that Cesarini drew 
 from under his pillow a long-cherished and carefully-concealed 
 treasure. Oh ! with what rapture had he first possessed himself 
 of it ! with what anxiety had it been watched and guarded ! 
 how many cunning stratagems and profound inventions had 
 gone towards the baffling, the jealous search of the keeper and 
 his myrmidons ! The abandoned and wandering mother never 
 clasped her child more fondly to her bosom, nor gazed upon his 
 features with more passionate visions for the future. And what 
 had so enchanted the poor prisoner so deluded the poor 
 maniac? A large nail! He had found it accidentally in the 
 garden he had hoarded it for weeks it had inspired him with 
 the hope of liberty. Often, in the days far gone, he had read of 
 the wonders that had been effected of the stones removed, and 
 the bars filed, by the self-same kind of implement. He remem- 
 bered that the most celebrated of those bold unfortunates who 
 live a life against the law, had said, "Choose my prison, and give 
 me but a rusty nail, and I laugh at your gaolers and your walls' " 
 He crept to the window he examined his relic by the dim 
 starlight he kissed it passionately, and the tears stood in his 
 eyes. 
 
 Ah ! who shall determine the worth of things ? No king 
 that night so prized his crown, as the madman prized that rusty 
 inch of wire the proper prey of the rubbish-cart and dunghill. 
 Little didst thou think, old blacksmith, when thou drewest the 
 dull metal from the fire, of what precious price it was to 
 become ! 
 
 Cesarini, with the astuteness of his malady, had long marked 
 out this chamber for the scene of his operations; he had 
 observed that the framework in which] the bars were set seemed 
 old and worm-eaten that the window was but a few feet from
 
 320 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the ground- that the noise made in the winter nights by the 
 sighing branches of the old tree without would deaden the 
 sound of the lone workman. Now, then, his hopes were to 
 be crowned. Poor fool ! and even thou hast hope still ! All 
 that night he toiled and toiled, and sought to work his iron into 
 a file ; now he tried the bars, and now the framework. Alas ! 
 he had not learned the skill in such tools, possessed by his 
 renowned model and inspirer ; the flesh was worn from his 
 fingers the cold drops stood on his brow and morning 
 surprised him, advanced not a hairsbreadth in his labour. 
 
 He crept back to bed, and again hid the useless implement, 
 and at last he slept. 
 
 And, night after night, the same task the same results! 
 But at length, one day, when Cesarini returned from his moody 
 walk in the gardens (//mj-z^r-grounds they were called by the 
 owner), he found better workmen than he at the window ; they 
 were repairing the framework, they were strengthening the 
 bars all hope was now gone ! The unfortunate said nothing ; 
 too cunning to show his despair he eyed them silently, and 
 cursed them ; but the old tree was left still, and that was some- 
 thing company and music. 
 
 A day or two after this barbarous counterplot, Cesarini was 
 walking in the gardens, towards the latter part of the afternoon 
 (just when in the short days, the darkness begins to steal apace 
 over the chill and western sun), when he was accosted by a 
 fellow-captive, who had often before sought his acquaintance ; 
 for they try to have friends those poor people ! Even ive do 
 the same ; though we say we are not mad ! This man had been 
 a warrior had served with Napoleon had received honours 
 and ribands might, for aught we know, have dreamed of being 
 a marshal ! But the demon smote him in the hour of his pride. 
 It was his disease to fancy himself a monarch. He believed, 
 for he forgot chronology, that he was at once the Iron Mask, 
 and the true sovereign of France and Navarre, confined in state 
 by the usurpers of his crown. On other points he was generally 
 sane : a tall, strong man, with fierce features, and stern lines, 
 wherein could be read many a bloody tale of violence and 
 wrong- of lawless passions of terrible excesses to which
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 321 
 
 madness might be at once the consummation and the curse. 
 This man had taken a fancy to Cesarini ; and, in some hours, 
 Cesarini had shunned him less than others ; for they could 
 alike rail against all living things. The lunatic approached 
 Cesarini with an air of dignity and condescension 
 
 " It is a cold night, sir, and there will be no moon. Has 
 it never occurred to you that the winter is the season for 
 
 escape 
 
 Cesarini started the ex-officer continued : 
 
 "Ay, I see by your manner that you, too, chafe at our 
 ignominious confinement. I think that together we might 
 brave the worst. You probably are confined on some state 
 offence. I give you full pardon, if you assist me. For myself 
 I have but to appear in my capital old Louis le Grand must be 
 near his last hour." 
 
 " This madman my best companion ! " thought Cesarini, 
 revolting at his own infirmity, as Gulliver started from the 
 Yahoo. "No matter, he talks of escape." 
 
 /'And how think you," said the Italian, aloud, "how think 
 you, that we have any chance of deliverance ? " 
 
 " Hush speak lower," said the soldier. " In the inner garden, 
 I have observed for the last two days that a gardener is employed 
 in nailing some fig-trees and vines to the wall. Between that 
 garden and these grounds there is but a paling, which we can 
 easily scale. He works till dusk ; at the latest hour we can 
 let us climb noiselessly over the paling, and creep along the 
 vegetable beds till we reach the man. He uses a ladder for 
 his purpose, the rest is clear, we must fell and gag him 
 twist his neck if necessary I have twisted a neck before," 
 quoth the maniac, with a horrid smile. " The ladder will help 
 us over the wall and the night soon grows dark at this season." 
 
 Cesarini listened, and his heart beat quick. "Will it be too 
 late to try to-night ? " said he in a whisper. 
 
 " Perhaps not," said the soldier, who retained all his military 
 acuteness. " But are you prepared don't you require time to 
 m in yourself ? " 
 
 :< No no, I have had time enough ! I am ready." 
 
 " Well, then, hist ! we are watched one of the gaolers ! 
 
 X
 
 322 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Talk easily smile laugh. This way." They passed by one 
 of ,the watch of the place, and just as they were in his hearing, 
 the soldier turned to Cesarini, " Sir, will you favour me with* 
 your snuff-box ? " 
 
 " I have none." 
 
 " None what a pity ! My good friend," and he turned to the 
 scout, " may I request you to look in my room for my snuff-box ? 
 it is on the chimneypiece it will not take you a minute." 
 
 The soldier was one of those whose insanity was deemed most 
 harmless, and his relations, who were rich and well-bom, had 
 requested every indulgence to be shown to him. The watch 
 suspected nothing, and repaired to the house. As soon as the 
 trees hid him, " Now," said the soldier, " stoop almost on all 
 fours, and run quick." 
 
 So saying the maniac crouched low,- and glided along with a 
 rapidity which did not distance Cesarini. They reached the 
 paling that separated the vegetable garden from the pleasure- 
 ground the soldier vaulted over it with ease Cesarini, with 
 more difficulty followed, they crept along ; the herbs and 
 vegetable beds, with their long bare stalks, concealed their 
 movements; the man was still on the ladder. "La bonne 
 Esptrancel" said the soldier through his ground teeth, mutter- 
 ing some old watchword of the wars, and (while Cesarini, below, 
 held the ladder steadfast) he rushed up the steps, and with a 
 sudden effort of his muscular arm, hurled the gardener to the 
 ground. The man, surprised, half stunned, and wholly terrified, 
 did not attempt to wrestle with the two madmen, he uttered 
 loud cries for help! But help came too late; these strange and 
 fearful comrades had already scaled the wall, had dropped on 
 the other side, and were fast making across the dusky fields to 
 the neighbouring forest
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 323 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 
 
 " Hopes and Fears 
 
 Start up alarmed, and o'er life's narrow verge 
 Look down : on what ? a fathomless abyss ! " YOTTNO. 
 
 MIDNIGHT and intense frost ! there triey were houseless 
 and bread less the two fugitives, in the heart of that beautiful 
 forest which has rung to the horns of many .a royal chase. The 
 soldier, whose youth had been inured to hardships, and to the 
 conquests which our mother wit wrings from the stepdame 
 Nature had made a fire by the friction of two pieces of dry 
 wood ; such wood was hard to be found, for the snow whitened 
 the level ground, and lay deep in the hollows ; and when it was 
 discovered, the fuel was slow to burn ; however, the fire blazed 
 red at last. On a little mound, shaded by a semicircle of huge 
 trees, sate the Outlaws o r Human Reason. They cowered over 
 the blaze opposite to each other, and the glare crimsoned their 
 features. And each in his heart longed to rid himself of his 
 mad neighbour ; and each felt the awe of solitude the dread 
 of sleep beside a comrade whose soul had lost God's light ! 
 
 " Ho ! " said the warrior breaking a silence that had been long 
 kept, " this is cold work at the best, and hunger pinches me ; I 
 almost regret the prison." 
 
 " I do not feel the cold," said Cesarini, " and I do not care for 
 hunger : I am revelling only in the sense of liberty ! " 
 
 " Try and sleep," quoth the soldier with a coaxing and sinister 
 softness of voice ; " we will take it by turns to watch." 
 
 " I cannot sleep take you the first turn." 
 
 " Hark ye, sir ! " said the soldier, sullenly ; " I must not have 
 my commands disputed ; now we are free, we are no longer 
 equal : I am heir to the crowns of France and Navarre. Sleep, 
 I say ! " 
 
 " And what Prince or Potentate, King or Kaisar," cried Cesa- 
 rini, catching the quick contagion of the fit that had seized his 
 comrade, " can dictate to the monarch of Earth and Air the 
 
 X 2
 
 324 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Elements and the music-breathing Stars ? I am Cesarini the 
 Bard ! and the huntsman Orion halts in his chase above to listen 
 to my lyre ! Be stilled, rude man ! thou scarest away the 
 angels, whose breath even now was rushing through my hair ! " 
 
 " It is too horrible ! " cried the grim man of blood, shivering ; 
 " my enemies are relentless, and give me a madman for a 
 gaoler ! " 
 
 " Ha ! a madman ! " exclaimed Cesarini springing to his feet, 
 and glaring at the soldier with eyes that caught and rivalled the 
 blaze of the fire. " And who are you ? what devil from the 
 deep hell, that art leagued with Tny persecutors against me ? " 
 
 With the instinct of his old calling and valour, the soldier 
 also rose when he saw the movement of his companion ; and his 
 fierce features worked with rage and fear. 
 
 " Avaunt ! " said he, waving his arm ; " we banish thee from 
 our presence ! This is our palace ! and our guards are at 
 hand ! " pointing to the still and skeleton trees that grouped 
 round in ghastly bareness. " Begone ! " 
 
 At that moment they heard at a distance the deep barking ol 
 a dog, and each cried simultaneously " They are after me ! 
 betrayed ! " The soldier sprang at the throat of Cesarini ; but 
 the Italian, at the same instant, caught a half-burnt brand from 
 the fire, and dashed the blazing end in the face of his assailant. 
 The soldier uttered a cry of pain, and recoiled back, blinded 
 and dismayed. Cesarini, whose madness, when fairly roused, 
 was of the most deadly nature, again raised his weapon, and, 
 probably, nothing but death could have separated the foes ; but 
 again the bay of the dog was heard, and Cesarini, answering the 
 sound by a wild yell, threw down the brand, and fled away 
 through the forest with inconceivable swiftness. He hurried on 
 through bush and dell and the boughs tore his garments and 
 mangled his flesh but stopped not his progress till he fell at last 
 on the ground, breathless and exhausted, and heard from some 
 far-off clock the second hour of morning. He had left the 
 forest a farmhouse stood before him ; and the whitened roofs 
 of scattered cottages sloped to the tranquil sky. The witness 
 of man the social tranquil sky and the reasoning man ope- 
 rated like a charm upon the senses which recent excitement had
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 325 
 
 more than usually disturbed. The unhappy wretch gazed at 
 the peaceful abodes, and sighed heavily ; then, rising from the 
 earth, he crept into one of the sheds that adjoined the farm- 
 house, and throwing himself on some straw, slept sound and 
 quietly till daylight, and the voices of peasants in the shed 
 awakened him. 
 
 He rose refreshed, calm, and, for ordinary purposes, sufficiently 
 sane to prevent suspicion of his disease. He approached the 
 startled peasants, and, representing himself as a traveller who 
 had lost his way in the night and amidst the forest, begged for 
 food and water. Though his garments were torn, they were new 
 and of good fashion ; his voice was mild ; his whole appearance 
 and address those of one of some station and the French 
 peasant is a hospitable fellow. Cesarini refreshed and rested 
 himself an hour or two at the farm, and then resumed his 
 wanderings ; he offered no money, for the rules of the asylum 
 forbade money to its inmates ; he had none with him but 
 none was expected from him ; and they bade him farewell as 
 kindly as if he had bought their blessings. He then began to 
 consider where he was to take refuge, and how provide for him r 
 self ; the feeling of liberty braced, and for a time restored, his 
 intellect. 
 
 Fortunately, he had on his person, besides some rings of 
 trifling cost, a watch of no inconsiderable value, the sale of which 
 might support him, in such obscure and humble quarter as he 
 could alone venture to inhabit, for several weeks perhaps 
 months. This thought made him cheerful and elated ; he 
 walked lustily on, shunning the high road the day was clear 
 the sun bright the air full of racy health. Oh ! what soft 
 laptures swelled the heart of the wanderer, as he gazed around 
 him ! The Poet and the Freeman alike stirred within his 
 shattered heart ! He paused to contemplate the berries of the 
 icy trees to listen to the sharp glee of the blackbird and once 
 when he found beneath a hedge a cold, scentless group of 
 hardy violets he laughed aloud in his joy. In that laughter 
 there was no madness no danger ; but when as he journeyed 
 on, he passed through a little hamlet, and saw the children at 
 play upon the ground, and heard from the open door of a cabin
 
 326 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the sound of rustic music, then indeed, he paused abruptly ; the 
 past gathered over him : he knew that which he /tad been that 
 which he was now ! an awful memory ! a dread revelation ! 
 And, covering his face with his hands, he wept aloud. In those 
 tears were the peril and method of madness. He woke from 
 them to think of his youth his hopes of Florence of re- 
 venge ! Lumley Lord Vargrave ! better, from that hour, to 
 encounter the tiger in his lair, than find thyself alone with that 
 miserable man! 
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 It seemed the laurel chaste and stubborn oak, 
 And all the gentle trees on earth that grew, 
 It seem'd the land, the sea, and heaven above, 
 All breathed out fancy sweet, and sigh'd out love." 
 
 FAIRFAX'S Tasso. 
 
 AT De Montaigne's villa, Evelyn, for the first time, gathered 
 from the looks, the manners, of Maltravers that she was beloved. 
 It was no longer possible to mistake the evidences of affection. 
 Formerly, Maltravers had availed himself of his advantage of 
 years and experience, and would warn, admonish, dispute, even 
 reprove ; formerly, there had been so much of seeming caprice, 
 of cold distance, of sudden and wayward haughtiness, in his 
 bearing ; but now the whole man was changed the Mentor 
 had vanished in the Lover : he held his being on her breath. 
 Her lightest pleasure seemed to have grown his law no cold- 
 ness ever alternated the deep devotion of his manner; an 
 anxious, a timid, a watchful softness replaced all his stately 
 self-possession. Evelyn saw that she was loved ; and she then 
 looked into her own heart. 
 
 I have said before that Evelyn was gentle, even to yieldingness; 
 that her susceptibility made her shrink from the thought of pain 
 to another: and so thoroughly did she revere Maltravers so 
 grateful did she feel for a love that could not but flatter pride, 
 and raise her in her self-esteem, that she felt it impossible that
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 327 
 
 she could reject his suit. " Then, do I love him as I dreamt I 
 could love?" she asked herself; and her heart gave no 
 intelligible reply. " Yes ! it must be so ; in his presence I 
 feel a tranquil and eloquent charm; his praise delights me; his 
 
 esteem is my most high ambition ; and yet and yet " she 
 
 sighed and thought of Legard ; " but he loved me not ! " and she 
 turned restlessly from that image. " He thinks but of the world 
 of pleasure ; Maltravers is right the spoiled children of 
 society cannot love : why should I think of him ? " 
 
 There were no guests at the villa, except Maltravers, Evelyn, 
 and Lord and Lady Doltimore. Evelyn was much captivated 
 by the graceful vivacity of Teresa, though that vivacity was not 
 what it had been before her brother's affliction ; their children, 
 some of whom had grown up, constituted an amiable and 
 intelligent family ; and De Montaigne himself was agreeable and 
 winning, despite his sober manners and his love of philosophical 
 dispute. Evelyn often listened thoughtfully to Teresa's praises 
 of her husband to her account of the happiness she had known 
 in a marriage where there had been so great a disparity of 
 years ; Evelyn began to question the truth of her early visions 
 of romance. 
 
 Caroline saw the unequivocal attachment of Maltravers with 
 the same indifference with which she had anticipated the suit of 
 Legard. It was the same to her what hand delivered Evelyn 
 and herself from the designs of Vargrave ; but Vargrave 
 occupied nearly all her thoughts. The newspapers had reported 
 him as seriously ill at one time in great danger. He was now 
 recovering, but still unable to quit his room, He had written to 
 her once, lamenting his ill-fortune trusting soon to be at Paris ; 
 and touching, with evident pleasure, upon Legard's departure for 
 Vienna, which he had seen in the Morning Post. But he was 
 afar alone ill untended ; and though Caroline's guilty love 
 had been much abated by Vargrave's icy selfishness by 
 absence and remorse still she had the heart of a woman ; and 
 Vargrave was the only one that had ever touched it. She felt 
 for him, and grieved in silence; she did not dare to utter 
 sympathy aloud, for Doltimore had already given evidence of a 
 suspicious and jealous temper.
 
 328 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Evelyn was also deeply affected by the account of her 
 guardian's illness. As I before said, the moment he ceased to 
 be her lover, her childish affection for him returned. She even 
 permitted herself to write to him ; and a tone of melancholy 
 depression which artfully pervaded his reply struck her with 
 something like remorse. He told her in the letter, that he had 
 much to say to her relative to an investment, in conformity with 
 her stepfather's wishes, and he should hasten to Paris, even be- 
 fore the doctor would sanction his removal. Vargrave forbore 
 to mention what the meditated investment was. The last public 
 accounts of the minister had, however, been so favourable, that 
 his arrival might be almost daily expected ; and both Caroline 
 and Evelyn felt relieved. 
 
 To De Montaigne, Maltravers confided his attachment, and 
 both the Frenchman and Teresa sanctioned and encouraged it. 
 Evelyn enchanted them ; and they had passed that age when 
 they could have imagined it possible that the man they had 
 known almost as a boy was separated by years from the lively 
 feelings and extreme youth of Evelyn. They could not believe 
 that the sentiments he had inspired were colder than those that 
 animated himself. 
 
 One day, Maltravers had been absent for some hours on his 
 solitary rambles, and De Montaigne had not yet returned from 
 Paris which he visited almost daily. It was so late in the noon 
 as almost to border on evening, when Maltravers, on his return, 
 entered the grounds by a gate that separated them from an 
 extensive wood. He saw Evelyn, Teresa, and two of her 
 children, walking on a terrace immediately before him. He 
 joined them ; and, somehow or other, it soon chanced that 
 
 Teresa and himself loitered behind the rest a little 
 
 out of hearing. " Ah, Mr. Maltravers," said the former, " we 
 miss the soft skies of Italy and the beautiful hues of 
 Corno." 
 
 " And, for my part, I miss the youth that gave ' glory to the 
 grass and splendour to the flower.' " 
 
 " Nay ; we are happier now, believe me, or at least I should 
 b 2, if but I must not think of my poor brother. Ah ! if his 
 guilt deprived you of one who was worthy of you, it would be
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 329 
 
 some comfort to his sister to think at last that the loss was 
 repaired. And you still have scruples ? " 
 
 "Who that loves truly has not? How young how lovely 
 how worthy of lighter hearts and fairer forms than mine ! Give 
 me back the years that have passed since we last met at Como, 
 and I might hope ! " 
 
 " And this to me who have enjoyed such happiness with one 
 older, when we married, by ten years than you are now ! " 
 
 " But you, Teresa, were born to see life through the Claude 
 glass." 
 
 "Ah, you provoke me with these refinements you turn from 
 a happiness you have but to demand." 
 
 " Do not do not raise my hopes too high," cried Maltravers, 
 with great emotion ; " I have been schooling myself all day. 
 But if I am deceived ! " 
 
 " Trust me, you are not. See, even now she turns round to 
 look for you she loves you loves you as you deserve. This 
 difference of years that you so lament does but deepen and 
 elevate her attachment ! " 
 
 Teresa turned to Maltravers surprised at his silence. How 
 joyous sat his heart upon his looks no gloom on his brow 
 no doubt in his sparkling eyes ! He was mortal, and he yielded 
 to the delight of believing himself beloved. He pressed Teresa's 
 hand in silence, and, quitting her abruptly, gained the side of 
 Evelyn. Madame de Montaigne comprehended all that passed 
 within him ; and as she followed, she soon contrived to detach 
 her children, and returned with them to the house on a whispered 
 pretence of seeing if their father had yet arrived. Evelyn and 
 Maltravers continued to walk on not aware, at first, that the 
 rest of the party were not close behind. 
 
 The sun had set ; and they were in a part of the grounds 
 which, by way of contrast to the rest, was laid out in the English 
 fashion ; the walk wound, serpent-like, among a profusion of 
 evergreens irregularly planted ; the scene was shut in and 
 bounded, except where at a distance, through an opening of 
 the trees, you caught the spire of a distant church, over which 
 glimmered, faint and fair, the smile of the evening star. 
 
 " This reminds me of home," said Evelyn, gently.
 
 330 ALICE} OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 "And hereafter it will remind me of you," said Maltravers 
 in whispered accents. He fixed his eyes on her as he spoke. 
 Never had his look been so true to his heart never had his 
 voice so undisguisedly exp/essed the profound and passionate 
 sentiment which had sprung up within him to constitute, as he 
 then believed, the latest bliss, or the crowning misery of his- life ! 
 At that moment, it was a sort of instinct that told him they 
 were alone; for who has not felt in those few and memorable 
 hours of life when love long suppressed overflows the fountain, 
 and seems to pervade the whole frame and the whole spirit 
 that there is a magic around and within us that hath a keener 
 intelligence than intellect itself? Alone at such an hour with 
 the one we love, the whole world besides seems to vanish, and 
 our feet to have entered the soil, and our lips to have caught 
 the air, of Fairy Land. 
 
 They were alone. And why did Evelyn tremble ? Why did 
 she feel that a crisis of existence was at hand ? 
 
 "Miss Cameron Evelyn," said Maltravers, after they had 
 walked some moments in silence, "hear me and let your 
 reason as well as your heart reply. From the first moment we 
 met, you became dear to me. Yes, even when a child, your 
 sweetness and your fortitude foretold so well what you would 
 be in womanhood ; even then you left upon my memory a 
 delightful and mysterious shadow too prophetic of the light 
 that now hallows and wraps your image ! We met again and 
 the attraction that had drawn me towards you years before was 
 suddenly renewed. I love you, Evelyn ! I love you better 
 than all words can tell ! Your future fate, your welfare, your 
 happiness, contain and embody all the hopes left to me in life ! 
 But our years are different, Evelyn, I have known sorrows and 
 the disappointments and the experience that have severed me 
 from the common world have robbed me f ~ r more than time 
 itself hath done. They have robbed me ot that zest for the 
 ordinary pleasures of our race which may it be yours, sweet 
 Evelyn, ever to retain. To me, the time foretold by the Preacher 
 as the lot of age has already arrived when the sun and the 
 moon are darkened, and when, save in you and through you, I 
 have no pleasure in anything. Judge, if such a being you can
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 331 
 
 love ! Judge, if my very confession does not revolt and chill 
 if it does not present to you a gloomy and cheerless future 
 were it possible that you could unite your lot to mine ! Answer 
 not from friendship or from pity ; the love I feel for you can 
 have a reply from love alone, and from that reasoning which 
 love, in its enduring power in its healthful confidence in its 
 prophetic foresight alone supplies ! I can resign you without 
 a murmur but I could not live with you and even fancy that 
 you had one care I could not soothe, though you might have 
 happiness I could not share. And fate does not present to me 
 any vision so dark and terrible no, not your loss itself no, not 
 your indifference no, not your aversion, as your discovery 
 after time should make regret in vain, that you had mistaken 
 fancy or friendship for affection a sentiment for love. Evelyn, 
 I have confided to you all all this wild heart, now and evermore 
 your own. My destiny is with you." 
 
 Evelyn was silent he took her hand and her tears fell warm 
 and fast upon it. Alarmed and anxious, he drew her towards 
 him and gazed upon her face. 
 
 " You fear to wound me," he said, with pale lips and trembling 
 voice. " Speak on, I can bear all." 
 
 " No no," said Evelyn, falteringly ; " I have no fear, but not 
 to deserve you." 
 
 " You love me, then, you love me ! " cried Maltravers wildly, 
 and clasping her to his heart. 
 
 The moon rose at that instant, and the wintry sward and the 
 dark trees were bathed in the sudden light. The time the light 
 so exquisite to all even in loneliness and in sorrow how 
 divine in such companionship ! in such overflowing and ineffable 
 sense of bliss. There and then for the first time did Maltravers 
 press upon that modest and blushing cheek the kiss of Love 
 of Hope, the seal of a union he fondly hoped the grave itself 
 could not dissolve 1
 
 332 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 '* Queen. Whereon do you look ? 
 Hamlet. On him, on him, look you how pale he glares I " Hamlet. 
 
 PERHAPS to Maltravers those few minutes which ensued, as 
 they walked slowly on, compensated for all the troubles and 
 cares of years ; for natures like his feel joy even yet more 
 intensely than sorrow. It might be that the transport the 
 delirium of passionate and grateful thoughts that he poured 
 forth when at last he could summon words expressed feel- 
 ings the young Evelyn could not comprehend, and which less 
 delighted than terrified her with the new responsibility she had 
 incurred. But love so honest so generous so intense dazzled 
 and bewildered and carried her whole soul away. Certainly at 
 that hour she felt no regret no thought but that one in whom 
 she had so long recognised something nobler than is found in 
 the common world was thus happy and thus made happy by 
 a word a look from her! Such a thought is woman's dearest 
 triumph, and one so thoroughly unselfish so yielding and so 
 soft could not be insensible to the rapture she had caused. 
 
 " And oh ! " said Maltravers, as he clasped again and again 
 the hand that he believed he had won for ever, " now, at length, 
 have I learned how beautiful is life ! For this for this I have 
 been reserved ! Heaven is merciful to me a'nd the waking 
 world is brighter than all my dreams ! " 
 
 He ceased abruptly. At that instant they were once more 
 on the terrace where he had first joined Teresa facing the wood 
 which was divided by a slight and low palisade from the spot 
 where they stood. He ceased abruptly, for his eyes encountered 
 a terrible and ominous apparition a form connected with dreary 
 associations of fate and woe. The figure had raised itself upon 
 a pile of firewood on the other side of the fence, and hence it 
 seemed almost gigantic in its stature. It gazed upon the pair
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 333 
 
 with eyes that burned with a preternatural blaze, and a voice 
 which Maltravers too well remembered, shrieked out " Love 
 love What ! thou love again ? Where is the Dead ! Ha ! 
 ha ! Where is the Dead ? " 
 
 Evelyn, startled by the words, looked up, and clung in 
 speechless terror to Maltravers. He remained rooted to the spot. 
 
 "Unhappy man," said he, at length, and soothingly, "how 
 came you hither ? Fly not, you are with friends." 
 
 " Friends ! " said the maniac, with a scornful laugh. " I 
 know thee, Ernest Maltravers, I know thee: but is it not 
 thou who hast locked me up in darkness and in hell, side 
 by side with the mocking fiend! Friends! ah, but no 
 Friends shall catch me now! I am free I am free! air 
 and wave are not more free!" And the madman laughed 
 with horrible glee. " She is fair fair," he said, abruptly 
 checking himself, and with a changed voice, " but not so fair as 
 the Dead. Faithless that thou art and yet she loved tJiee i 
 Woe to thee ! woe Maltravers, the perfidious ! Woe to thee 
 and remorse and shame ! " 
 
 " Fear not, Evelyn, fear not," whispered Maltravers, gently, 
 and placing her behind him ; " support your courage nothing 
 shall harm you." 
 
 Evelyn, though very pale, and trembling from head to foot, 
 retained her senses. Maltravers advanced towards the madman. 
 But no sooner did the quick eye of the last perceive the move- 
 ment, than, with the fear which belongs to that dread disease 
 the fear of losing liberty, he turned, and, with a loud cry, fled 
 into the wood. Maltravers leaped over the fence, and pursued 
 him some way in vain. The thick copses of the wood snatched 
 every trace of the fugitive from his eye. 
 
 Breathless and exhausted, Maltravers returned to the spot 
 where he had left Evelyn. As he reached it, he saw Teresa and 
 her husband approaching towards him, and Teresa's merry 
 laugh sounded clear and musical in the racy air. The sound 
 appalled him he hastened his steps to Evelyn. 
 
 " Say nothing of what we have seen to Madame de Mon- 
 taigne, I beseech you," said he ; " I will explain why hereafter." 
 
 Evelyn, too overcome to speak, nodded her acquiescence.
 
 334 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 They joined the De Montaignes, and Maltravers took the 
 
 Frenchman aside. 
 
 But before he could address him, De Montaigne said, 
 
 " Hush ! do not alarm my wife she knows nothing but I 
 
 have just heard at Paris, that that he has escaped you know 
 
 whom I mean ? " 
 
 " I do he is at hand send in search of him ! I have seen 
 
 him. Once more I have seen Castruccio Cesarini 1 "
 
 BOOK IX. 
 
 AT of ra'o 1 ' fa &ia$avr). SOPH. CEdip. Tyran. 754. 
 Woe, woe : all things are clear. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 * The privilege that statesmen ever claim, , 
 Who private interest never yet pursued, 
 But still pretended 'twas for others' good* 
 
 * * 
 
 From hence on every humorous wind that veer*d 
 With shifted sails a several course you steer'd." 
 
 . Absalom and AckitopJiel, Part II. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE had for more than a fortnight remained at 
 
 the inn at M , too ill to be removed with safety in a season 
 
 so severe. Even when at last, by easy stages, he reached London, 
 he was subjected to a relapse ; and his recovery was slow and 
 gradual. Hitherto unused to sickness, he bore his confinement 
 with extreme impatience ; and, against the commands of his 
 physician, insisted on continuing to transact his official business, 
 and consult with his political friends in his sick-room ; for Lumley 
 knew well, that it is most pernicious to public men to be con- 
 sidered failing in health turkeys are not more unfeeling to a 
 sick brother, than politicians to an ailing statesman ; they give 
 out that his head is touched, and see paralysis and epilepsy in 
 every speech and every despatch. The time, too, nearly ripe 
 for his great schemes, made it doubly necessary that he should
 
 336 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 exert himself, and prevent being shelved with a plausible excuse 
 of tender compassion for his infirmities. As soon therefore, as 
 he learned that Legard had left Paris, he thought himself safe 
 for a while in that quarter, and surrendered his thoughts wholly 
 to his ambitious projects. Perhaps, too, with the susceptible 
 vanity of a middle-aged man, who has had his bonnes fortunes, 
 Lumley deemed, with Rousseau, that a lover, pale and haggard 
 just raised from the bed of suffering is more interesting to 
 friendship than attractive to love. He and Rousseau were, J 
 believe, both mistaken ; but that is a matter of opinion : they 
 both thought very coarsely of women, one, from having no 
 sentiment, and the other, from having a sentiment fhat was but 
 a disease. At length, just as Lumley was sufficiently recovered 
 to quit his house to appear at his office, and declare that his 
 illness had wonderfully improved his constitution, intelligence 
 from Paris, the more startling from being wholly unexpected, 
 reached him. From Caroline he learned that Maltravers had 
 proposed to Evelyn, and been accepted. From Maltravers 
 himself he heard the confirmation of the news. The last 
 letter was short but kind and manly. He addressed Lord 
 Vargrave as Evelyn's guardian ; slightly alluded to the scruples 
 he had entertained, till Lord Vargrave's suit was broken off; 
 and feeling the subject too delicate for a letter, expressed a 
 desire to confer with Lumley respecting Evelyn's wishes as to 
 certain arrangements in her property. 
 
 And for this was it that Lumley had toiled ! for this had he 
 visited Lisle Court ! and for this had he been stricken down to 
 the bed of pain ! Was it only to make his old rival the pur- 
 chaser, if he so pleased it, of the possessions of his own family ? 
 Lumley thought at that moment less of Evelyn than of Lisle 
 Court: As he woke from the stupor and the first fit of rage 
 into which these epistles cast him, the recollection of the story 
 he had heard from Mr. Onslow flashed across him. Were his 
 suspicions true, what a secret he would possess ! How fate 
 might yet befriend him ! Not a moment was to be lost. Weak, 
 suffering as he still was, he ordered his carriage, and hastened 
 down to Mrs. Leslie. 
 
 In the interview that took place, he was careful not to alarm
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 337 
 
 her into discretion. He managed the conference with his usual 
 consummate dexterity. He did not appear to believe that there 
 had been any actual connection between Alice and the supposed 
 Butler. He began by simply asking whether Alice had ever, in 
 early life, been acquainted with a person of that name, and when 
 residing in the neighbourhood of ? The change of counte- 
 nance the surprised start of Mrs. Leslie convinced him that 
 his suspicions were true. 
 
 " And why do you ask, my lord ? " said the old lady. " Is it 
 to ascertain this point that you have done me the honour to 
 visit me ? " 
 
 " Not exactly, my dear madam," said Lumley, smiling. " But 
 
 I am going to C on business ; and besides that I wished 
 
 to give an account of your health to Evelyn, whom I shall 
 shortly see at Paris, I certainly did desire to know whether it 
 would be any gratification to Lady Vargrave, for whom I have 
 the deepest regard, to renew her acquaintance with the said 
 Mr. Butler." 
 
 " What does your lordship know of him ? What is he ? who 
 is he ? " 
 
 " Ah, my dear lady, you turn the tables on me, I see for my 
 one question you would give me fifty. But, seriously, before 
 I answer you, you must tell me whether Lady Vargrave does 
 know a gentleman of that name ; yet, indeed, to save trouble, I 
 may as well inform you, that I know it was under that name 
 
 that she resided at C , when my poor uncle first made her 
 
 acquaintance. What I ought to ask is this, supposing 
 Mr. Butler be still alive, and a gentleman of character and 
 fortune, would it please Lady Vargrave to meet with him once 
 more ? " 
 
 " I cannot tell you," said Mrs. Leslie, sinking back in her 
 chair, much embarrassed. ''' 
 
 " Enough, I shall not stir further in the matter. Glad to 
 see you looking so well. Fine place beautiful trees. Any 
 commands at C , or any message for Evelyn ? " 
 
 Lumley rose to depart. 
 
 " Stay," said Mrs. Leslie, recalling all the pining, restless, 
 untiring love that Lady Vargrave had manifested towards the 
 
 Y
 
 338 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 lost, and feeling that she ought not to sacrifice to slight scruples 
 the chance of happiness for her friend's future years, "stay I 
 think this question you should address to Lady Vargrave, or 
 shall I ? " 
 
 " As you will perhaps I had better write. Good-day," and 
 Vargrave hurried away. 
 
 He had satisfied himself, but he had another yet to satisfy, 
 and that, from certain reasons known but to himself, without 
 bringing the third person in contact with Lady Vargrave. On 
 
 arriving at C he wrote, therefore, to Lady Vargrave as 
 
 follows : 
 
 " MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 " Do not think me impertinent or intrusive but you know me 
 too well for that. A gentleman of the name of Butler is ex- 
 ceedingly anxious to ascertain if you once lived near , in a 
 pretty little cottage, Dove, or Dale, or Dell cottage (some such 
 appellation), and if you remember a person of his name ? 
 Should you care to give a reply to these queries, send me a line 
 addressed to London, which I shall get on my way to Paris. 
 
 " Yours most truly. 
 
 " VARGRAVE." 
 
 As soon as he had concluded, and despatched this letter, 
 Vargrave wrote to Mr. Winsley as follows : 
 
 "MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 " I am so unwell as to be unable to call on you, or even to see 
 any one, however agreeable (nay, the more agreeable the more 
 exciting !) I hope, however, to renew our personal acquaintance 
 
 before quitting C . Meanwhile, oblige me with a line to say 
 
 if I did not understand you to signify that you could, if neces- 
 sary, prove that Lady Vargrave once resided in this town as 
 Mrs. Butler, a very short time before she married my uncle, 
 under the name of Cameron, in Devonshire ; and had she not 
 also at that time a little girl, an infant, or nearly so, who 
 must necessarily be the young lady who is my uncle's heiress, 
 Miss Evelyn Cameron ? My reason for thus troubling you is
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 339 
 
 obvious. As Miss Cameron's guardian, I have very shortly to 
 wind up certain affairs connected with my uncle's will ; and, 
 what is more, there is some property bequeathed by the late 
 Mr. Butler, which tnay make it necessary to prove identity. 
 
 " Truly yours, 
 
 "VARGRAVE." 
 
 The answer to the latter communication ran thus : 
 
 " MY LORD, 
 
 " I am very sorry to hear your lordship is so unwell, and will 
 pay my respects to-morrow. I certainly can swear that the pre- 
 sent Lady Vargrave was the Mrs. Butler who resided at C , 
 
 and taught music. And as the child with her was of the same 
 sex, and about the same age as Miss Cameron, there can, I 
 should think, be no difficulty in establishing the identity between 
 that young lady and the child Lady Vargrave had by her first 
 husband, Mr. Butler; but of this, of course, I cannot speak. 
 
 " I have the honpur, 
 
 " &c. &c." 
 
 The next morning Vargrave despatched a note to Mr. Winsley, 
 saying that his health required him to return to town immediately, 
 and to town, in fact, he hastened. The day after his arrival, 
 he received, in a hurried hand strangely blurred and blotted, 
 perhaps by tears, this short letter : 
 
 " For Heaven's sake, tell me what you mean ! Yes yes 
 I did once reside at Dale Cottage I did know one of the name 
 of Butler ! Has tie discovered the name / bear ? Where is 
 he ? I implore you to write, or let me see you before you leave 
 England ! 
 
 " ALICE VARGRAVE." . 
 
 Lumley smiled triumphantly when he read, and carefully put 
 tip, this letter. 
 
 " I must nofa amuse and put her off at all events for the 
 present." 
 
 Y 2
 
 340 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 In answer to Lady Vargrave's letter, he wrote a few lines to 
 say, that he had only heard through a third person (a lawyer) 
 of a Mr. Butler residing somewhere abroad, who had wished 
 these inquiries to be made that he believed' it only related to 
 some disposition of property that, perhaps, the Mr. Butler who 
 made the inquiry was heir to the Mr. Butler she had known 
 that he could learn nothing else at present, as the purport of 
 her reply must be sent abroad ; the lawyer would or could say 
 nothing more that directly he received a further communication 
 it should be despatched to her that he was most affectionately 
 and most truly hers. 
 
 The rest of that morning Vargrave devoted to Lord Saxing- 
 ham and his allies ; and declaring, and believing, that he should 
 not be long absent at Paris, he took an early dinner, and was 
 about once more to commit himself to the risks of travel, when, 
 as he crossed the hall, Mr. Douce came hastily upon him. 
 
 " My lord my lord I must have a word with your 1-1-lord- 
 ship ; you are going to that is " (and the little man looked 
 frightened) " you intend to to go to that is ab-ab-ab " 
 
 " Not abscond, Mr. Douce come into the library : I am in 
 a great hurry, but I have always time for you what's the 
 matter ? " 
 
 "Why, then, my lord, I I have heard nothing m-m-more 
 from your lordship about the pur- pur " 
 
 " Purchase ? I am going to Paris, to settle all particulars with 
 Miss Cameron ; tell the lawyers so." 
 
 "May may we draw out the money to to show 
 that that we are in earnest ? otherwise I fear that is, I 
 suspect I mean I know, that Colonel Maltravers will be 
 off the bargain." 
 
 " Why, Mr. Douce, really I must just see my ward first ! but 
 you shall hear from me in a day or two ; and the ten thousand 
 pounds I owe you ! " 
 
 " Yes, indeed, the ten ten ten ! my partner is very " 
 
 " Anxious for it, no doubt ! my compliments to him God 
 bless you ! take care of yourself must be off to save the 
 packet ; " and Vargrave hurried away, muttefing, " Heaven 
 sends money, and the devil sends duns ! "
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 341 
 
 Douce gasped like a fish for breath, as his eyes followed the 
 rapid steps of Vargrave ; and there was an angry scowl of disap- 
 pointment on his small features. Lumley, by this time, seated 
 in his carriage, and wrapped up in his cloak, had forgotten the 
 creditor's existence, and whispered to his aristocratic secretary, 
 as he bent his head out of the carriage window, " I have told 
 Lord Saxingham to despatch you to me, if there is any the 
 least necessity for me in London. I leave you behind, Howard, 
 because your sister being at court, and your cousin with our 
 notable premier, you will find out every change in the wind 
 you understand. And, I say, Howard don't think I forget 
 your kindness ! you know that no man ever served me in vain ! 
 Oh, there's that horrid little Douce behind you tell them to 
 drive on 1 " 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 * "Heard you that? 
 
 What prodigy of horror is disclosing?" LlLLO : Fatal Curiosity. 
 
 THE unhappy companion of Cesarini's flight was soon dis- 
 covered and recaptured ; but all search for Cesarini himself 
 proved ineffectual, not only in the neighbourhood of St. Cloud, 
 but in the surrounding country and in Paris. The only comfort 
 was in thinking that his watch would at least preserve him for 
 some time from the horrors of want ; and that, by the sale of 
 the trinket, he might be traced. The police, too, were set at 
 work the vigilant police of Paris! Still day rolled on day, 
 and no tidings. The secret of the escape was carefully con- 
 cealed from Teresa ; and public cares were a sufficient excuse 
 for the gloom on De Montaigne's brow. 
 
 Evelyn heard from Maltravers with mingled emotions of 
 compassion, grief, and awe, the gloomy tale connected with 
 the history of the maniac. She wept for the fate of Florence 
 she shuddered at the curse that had fallen on' Cesarini ; and 
 perhaps Maltravers grew dearer to her from the thought, that
 
 342 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 there was so much in the memories of the past that needed 
 a comforter and a soother. 
 
 They returned to Paris, affianced and plighted lovers ; and 
 then it was that Evelyn sought carefully and resolutely to banish 
 from her mind all recollection, all regret, of the absent Legard : 
 she felt the solemnity of the trust confided in her, and she 
 resolved that no thought of hers should ever be of a nature 
 to gall the generous and tender spirit that had confided its 
 life of life to her care. The influence of Maltravers over her 
 increased in their new and more familiar position, and yet still 
 it partook too much of veneration too little of passion ; but 
 that might be her innocence and youth. He, at least, was 
 sensible of no want she had chosen him from the world ; and, 
 fastidious as he deemed himself, he reposed, without a doubt, on 
 the security of her faith. None of those presentiments which 
 had haunted him when first betrothed to Florence disturbed 
 him now. The affection of one so young and so guileless 
 seemed to bring back to him all his own youth we are ever 
 young while the young can love us ! Suddenly, too, the world 
 took, to his eyes, a brighter and fairer aspect Hope born 
 again, reconciled him to his career, and to his race ! The more 
 he listened to Evelyn, the more he watched every evidence of 
 her docile but generous nature, the more he felt assured that 
 he had found, at last, a heart suited to his own. Her beautiful 
 serenity of temper, cheerful, yet never fitful or unquiet, gladdened 
 him with its insensible contagion. To be with Evelyn was like 
 basking in the sunshine of some happy sky ! It was an in- 
 expressible charm to one wearied with "the hack sights and 
 sounds " of this jaded world to watch the ever-fresh and 
 sparkling thoughts and fancies which came from a soul so 
 new to __ life! It enchanted one, painfully fastidious in what 
 relates to the true nobility of character, that, however various 
 the themes djscussed, no low or mean thought ever sullied 
 those beautiful lips. It was not the mere innocence of in- 
 experience, but the moral incapability of guile, that charmed 
 him in the companion he had chosen on his path to Eternity ! 
 He was also delighted to notice Evelyn's readiness of resources : 
 she had that faculty, without which woman has no independence
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 343 
 
 from the world, no pledge that domestic retirement will not 
 soon languish into wearisome monotony the faculty of making 
 trifles contribute to occupation or amusement ; she was easily- 
 pleased, and yet she so soon reconciled herself to disappoint- 
 ment. He felt, and chid his own dulness for not feeling it 
 before that, young and surpassingly lovely as she was, she 
 required no stimulant from the heated pursuits and the hollow 
 admiration of the crowd. 
 
 " Such," thought he, " are the natures that alone can preserve 
 through years the poetry of the first passionate illusion that 
 can alone render wedlock the seal that confirms affection, and 
 not the mocking ceremonial that vainly consecrates its grave ! " 
 
 Maltravers, as we have seen, formally wrote to Lumley some 
 days after their return to Paris. He would have written also 
 to Lady Vargrave but Evelyn thought it best to prepare her 
 mother by a letter from herself. 
 
 Miss Cameron now wanted but a few weeks to the age of 
 eighteen, at which she was to be the sole mistress of her own 
 destiny. On arriving at that age the marriage was to take 
 place. Valerie heard with sincere delight of the new engagement 
 her friend had formed. She eagerly sought every opportunity 
 to increase her intimacy with Evelyn, who was completely won 
 by her graceful kindness ; the result of Valerie's examination was, 
 that she did not wonder at the passionate love of Maltravers, but 
 that her deep knowledge of the human heart (that knowledge so 
 remarkable in the women of her country !) made her doubt how 
 far it was adequately returned how far Evelyn deceived herself. 
 Her first satisfaction became mingled with anxiety, and she 
 relied more for the future felicity of her friend on Evelyn's 
 purity of thought and general tenderness of heart, than on the 
 exclusiveness and ardour of her love. Alas! few at eighteen 
 are not too young for the irrevocable step and Evelyn 
 was younger than her years ! One evening, at Madame de 
 Ventadour's, Maltravers asked Evelyn if she had yet heard 
 from Lady Vargrave. Evelyn expressed her surprise that she 
 had not, and the conversation fell, as was natural, upon Lady 
 Vargrave herself. " Is she as fond of music as you are ? " asked 
 Maltravers.
 
 344 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Yes, indeed, I think so and of the songs of a certain person 
 in particular ; they always had for her an indescribable charm. 
 Often have I heard her say, that to read your writings was like 
 talking to an early friend. Your name and genius seemed to 
 make her solitary connection with the great world. Nay but 
 you will not be angry I half think it was her enthusiasm, so 
 strange and rare, that first taught me interest in yourself." 
 
 " I have a double reason, then, for loving your mother," said 
 Maltravers, much pleased and flattered. "And does she not 
 like Italian music ? " 
 
 " Not much ; she prefers some rather old-fashioned German 
 airs, very simple, but very touching." 
 
 " My own early passion," said Maltravers, more and more 
 interested. 
 
 " But there are also one or two English songs which I have 
 occasionally, but very seldom, heard her sing. One in especial 
 affects her so deeply, even when she plays the air, that I have 
 always attached to it a certain mysterious sanctity. I should, 
 not like to sing it before a crowd, but to-morrow, when you call 
 on me, and we are alone " 
 
 " Ah, to-morrow I will not fail to remind you." 
 
 Their conversation ceased ; yet, somehow or other, that night 
 when he retired to rest, the recollection of it haunted Maltravers. 
 He felt a vague, unaccountable curiosity respecting this secluded 
 and solitary mother ; all concerning her early fate seemed so 
 wrapt in mystery. Cleveland, in reply to his letter, had informed 
 him that all inquiries respecting the birth and first marriage of 
 Lady Vargrave had failed. Evelyn evidently knew but little of 
 either, and he felt a certain delicacy in pressing questions which 
 might be ascribed to the inquisitiveness of a vulgar family pride. 
 Moreover, lovers have so much to say to each other, that he 
 had not time to talk at length to Evelyn about third persons. 
 He slept ill that night dark and boding dreams disturbed his 
 slumber. He rose late and dejected by presentiments he could 
 not master: his morning meal was scarcely over, and he 
 had already taken his hat to go to Evelyn's for comfort and 
 sunshine, when the door opened, and he was surprised by the 
 entrance of Lord Vargrave.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES 345 
 
 Lumley seated himself with a formal gravity very unusual to 
 him, and, as if anxious to waive unnecessary explanations, 
 began as follows, with a serious and impressive voice and 
 aspect : 
 
 " Maltravers, of late years we have been estranged from each 
 other. I do not presume to dictate to you your friendships or 
 your dislikes. Why this estrangement has happened you alone 
 can determine. For my part I am conscious of no offence ; that 
 which I was I am still. It is you who have changed. Whether 
 it be the difference of our political opinions, or any other and 
 more secret cause, I know not. I lament, but it is now too late 
 to attempt to remove it. If you suspect me of ever seeking, or 
 even wishing, to sow dissension between yourself and my ill- 
 fated cousin, now no more, you are mistaken. I ever sought the 
 happiness and union of you both. And yet, Maltravers, you 
 then came between me and an early and cherished dream. But 
 I suffered in silence ; my course was at least disinterested, 
 perhaps generous : let it pass. A second time you cross my 
 path you win from me a heart I had long learned to consider 
 mine. You have no scruple of early friendship you have no 
 forbearance towards acknowledged and affianced ties. You are 
 my rival with Evelyn Cameron, and your suit has prospered." 
 
 " Vargrave," said Maltravers, " you have spoken frankly ; and 
 I will reply with an equal candour. A difference of tastes, 
 tempers, and opinions led us long since into opposite paths. I 
 am one who cannot disunite public morality from private virtue. 
 From motives, best known to you, but which I say openly I 
 hold to have been those of interest or ambition, you did not 
 change your opinions (there is no sin in that), but retaining them 
 in private, professed others in public, and played with the 
 destinies of mankind, as if they were but counters to mark a 
 mercenary game. This led me to examine your character with 
 more searching eyes ; and I found it one I could no longe? trust. 
 With respect to the Dead let the pall drop over that early 
 grave I acquit you of all blame. He who sinned has suffered 
 more than would atone the crime ! You charge me with my 
 love to Evelyn. Pardon me, but I seduced no affection, I have 
 broken no tie. Not till she was free in heart, and in hand, to
 
 346 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 choose between us, did I hint at love. Let me think that a 
 way may be found to soften one portion at least of the 
 disappointment you cannot but feel acutely." 
 
 "Stay!" said Lord Vargrave (who plunged in a gloomy 
 reverie, had scarcely seemed to hear the last few sentences of 
 his rival) : "stay, Maltravers. Speak not of love to Evelyn ! 
 a horrible foreboding tells me that, a few hours hence, you 
 would rather pluck out your tongue by the roots, than couple 
 the words of love with the thought of that unfortunate girl ! 
 Oh, if I were vindictive, what awful triumph would await 
 me now! What retaliation on your harsh judgment, your 
 cold contempt, your momentary and wretched victory over me ! 
 Heaven is my witness, that my only sentiment is that of terror 
 and woe ! Maltravers, in your earliest youth, did you form 
 connection with one whom they called Alice Darvil ? " 
 
 " Alice ! merciful Heaven ! what of her ? " 
 
 "Did you never know that the Christian name of Evelyn's 
 mother is Alice ? " 
 
 " I never asked I never knew ; but it is a common name,' 1 
 faltered Maltravers. 
 
 " Listen to me," resumed Vargrave : " with Alice Darvil you 
 lived in the neighbourhood of , did you not ? " 
 
 " Go on go on ! " 
 
 "You took the name of Butler by that name Alice Darvil 
 was afterwards known in the town in which my uncle resided 
 (there are gaps in the history that I cannot of my own know- 
 ledge fill up she taught music my uncle became enamoured of 
 her but he was vain and worldly. She removed into Devon- 
 shire, and he married her there, under the name of Cameron, by 
 which name he hoped to conceal from the vorld the lowness of 
 her origin, and the humble calling she had followed ! Hold ! 
 do not interrupt me. Alice had one daughter, as was supposed, 
 by a former marriage that daughter was the offspring of him 
 whose name she bore yes, of the false Butler ! that daughter 
 is Evelyn Cameron ! " 
 
 "Liar! devil!" cried Maltravers, springing to his feet, as if 
 a shot had pierced his heart. " Proofs proofs ! " 
 
 "Will these suffice ?" said Vargrave: as he drew forth the
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 347 
 
 letters of Winsley and Lady Vargrave. Maltravers took them, 
 but it was some moments before he could dare to read. He 
 supported himself with difficulty from falling to the ground ; 
 there was a gurgle in his throat like the sound of the death- 
 rattle ; at last he read, and dropped the letters from his hand. 
 
 " Wait me here," he said very faintly, and moved mechanically 
 to the door. 
 
 " Hold ! " said Lord Vargrave, laying his hand upon Ernest's 
 arm. " Listen to me for Evelyn's sake for her mother's. You 
 are about to seek Evelyn be it so ! I know that you possess 
 the god-like gift of self-control. You will not suffer her to learn 
 that her mother has done that which dishonours alike mother 
 and child ? You will not consummate your wrong to Alice 
 Darvil by robbing her of the fruit of a life of penitence and 
 remorse ? You will not unveil her shame to her own daughter ? 
 Convince yourself, and master yourself while you do so ! " 
 
 " Fear me not," said Maltravers, with a terrible smile ; " I will 
 not afflict my conscience with a double curse. As I have sowed, 
 so must I reap. Wait me here ! " 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 * * * Misery 
 That gathers force each moment as it rolls, 
 And must, at last, o'erwhelm me." LILLO : Fatal Curiosity. 
 
 MALTRAVERS found Evelyn alone ; she turned towards him 
 with her usual sweet smile of welcome ; but the smile vanished 
 at once, as her eyes met his changed and working countenance ; 
 cold drops stood upon the rigid and marble brow the lips 
 writhed as if in bodily torture the muscles of the face had 
 fallen, and there was a wildness which appalled her in the fixed 
 and feverish brightness of the eyes. 
 
 "You are ill, Ernest, dear Ernest, you are ill, your look 
 freezes me ! " 
 
 " Nay, Evelyn," said Maltravers, recovering himself by one of
 
 348 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 those efforts of which men who have suffered without sympathy 
 are alone capable; "nay, I am better now; I have been ill 
 very ill but I am better ! " 
 
 " 111 ! and I not know of it ? " She attempted to take his 
 hand as she spoke. Maltravers recoiled. 
 
 " It is fire ! it burns ! avaunt ! " he cried, frantically. " Oh, 
 Heaven ! spare me, spare me ! " 
 
 Evelyn was not seriously alarmed ! she gazed on him 
 with the tenderest compassion. Was this one of those 
 moody and overwhelming paroxysms to which it had been 
 whispered abroad that he was subject ? Strange as it may 
 seem, despite her terror, he was dearer to her in that hour 
 as she believed, of gloom and darkness than in all the 
 glory of his majestic intellect, or all the blandishments of his 
 soft address. 
 
 " What has happened to you ? " she said approaching 
 him again ; " have you seen Lord Vargrave ? I know that 
 he has arrived, for his servant has been here to say so ; has 
 
 he uttered anything to distress you ? or has " (she added 
 
 falteringly and timidly) " has poor Evelyn offended you ? 
 Speak to me, only speak ! " 
 
 Maltravers turned, and his face was now calm and serene : 
 save by its extreme and almost ghastly paleness, no trace of the 
 hell within him could be discovered. 
 
 " Pardon me," said he, gently, " I know not this morning 
 what I say or do ; think not of it think not of me it will pass 
 away when I hear your voice." 
 
 " Shall I sing to you the words I spoke of last night ? see 
 I have them ready I know them by heart ; but I thought you 
 might like to read them, they are so full of simple but deep 
 feeling." 
 
 Maltravers took the song from her hands, and bent over the 
 paper ; at first, the letters seemed dim and indistinct, for there 
 was a mist before his eyes ; but at last a chord of memory was 
 struck he recalled the words : they were some of those he had 
 composed for Alice in the first days of their delicious intercourse 
 links of the golden chain, in which he had sought to bind the 
 spirit of knowledge to that of love.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 349 
 
 " And from whom," said he, in a faint voice, as he calmly put 
 down the verses, "from whom did your mother learn these 
 words ? " 
 
 " I know not ; some dear friend, years ago, composed, and 
 gave them to her. It must have been one very dear to her, to 
 judge by the effect they still produce." 
 
 " Think you," said Maltravers, in a hollow voice " think you 
 IT WAS YOUR FATHER ? " 
 
 " My father ! she never speaks of him ! I have been early 
 taught to shun all allusion to his memory. My father ! it is 
 probable yes, it may have been my father ; whom else could 
 she have loved so fondly ? " 
 
 There was a long silence ; Evelyn was the first to break it. 
 
 " I have heard from my mother to-day, Ernest ; her letter 
 alarms me I scarce know why ! " ' 
 
 " Ah ! and how" 
 
 " It is hurried and incoherent almost wild : she says 
 she has learned some intelligence that has unsettled and 
 unstrung her mind : she has requested me to inquire if 
 any one I am acquainted with has heard of, or met abroad, 
 some person of the name of Butler. You start ! have you 
 known one of that name ? " 
 
 M I ! did your mother never allude to that name before ? " 
 
 " Never ! and yet, once I remember " 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " That I was reading an account in the papers of the 
 sudden death of some Mr. Butler ; and her agitation made 
 a powerful and strange impression upon me in fact, she 
 fainted, and seemed almost delirious when she recovered ; 
 she would not rest till I had completed the account, and 
 when I came to the particulars of his age, &c. (he was old, 
 I think) she elapsed her hands, and wept ; but they seemed 
 tears of joy. The name is so common whom of that name 
 have you known ? " 
 
 " It is no matter. Is that your mother's letter ? is that her 
 handwriting ? " 
 
 "Yes;" and Evelyn gave the letter to Maltravers. He 
 glanced over the characters ; he had once or twice seen Lady
 
 350 ALICE j OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Vargrave's handwriting before, and had recognised no likeness 
 between that handwriting and such early specimens of Alice's 
 art as he had witnessed so many years ago ; but now, " trifles 
 light as air " had grown " confirmation strong as proof of Holy 
 Writ," he thought he detected Alice in every line of the hurried 
 and blotted scroll ; and when his eye rested on the words 
 "Your affectionate MOTHER, Alice!" his blood curdled in his 
 veins. 
 
 " It is strange ! " said he, still struggling for self-composure ; 
 " strange that I never thought of asking her name before : 
 Alice ! her name is Alice ? " 
 
 " A sweet name, is it not ? it accords so well with her simple 
 character how you would love her !" 
 
 As she said this, Evelyn turned to Maltravers with enthu- 
 siasm, and again she was startled by his aspect ; for again it was 
 haggard, distorted, and convulsed. 
 
 " Oh ! if you love me," she cried, " do send immediately for 
 advice ! And yet, is it illness, Ernest, or is it some grief that 
 you hide from me ? " 
 
 " It is illness, Evelyn," said Maltravers rising : and his knees 
 knocked together. " I am not fit even for your companionship 
 I will go home." 
 
 " And send instantly for advice ? " 
 
 " Ay ; it waits me there already." 
 
 " Thank Heaven ! and you will write to me one little word 
 to relieve me ? I am so uneasy 1 " 
 
 " I will write to you." 
 
 " This evening ? " 
 
 "Ay!" 
 
 " Now go I will not detain you." 
 
 He walked slowly to the door, but when he reached it he 
 turned, and catching her anxious gaze, he opened his arms ; 
 overpowered with strange fear and affectionate sympathy, she 
 burst into passionate tears ; and, surprised out of the timidity 
 and reserve which had hitherto characterised her pure and meek 
 attachment to him, she fell on his breast, and sobbed aloud. 
 Maltravers raised his hands, and, placing them solemnly on her 
 young head, his lips muttered as if in prayer. He paused, and
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 351 
 
 strained her to his heart : but he shunned that parting kiss, 
 which, hitherto, he had so fondly sought. That embrace was one 
 of agony, and not of rapture ; and yet Evelyn dreamt not that 
 he designed it for the last ! 
 
 Maltravers re-entered the room in which he had left Lord 
 Vargrave, who still awaited his return. 
 
 He walked up to Lumley, and held out his hand. " You have 
 saved me from a dreadful crime from an everlasting remorse 
 I thank you ! " 
 
 Hardened and frigid as his nature was, Lumley was touched ; 
 the movement of Maltravers took him by surprise. " It has 
 been a dreadful duty, Ernest," said he, pressing the hand he 
 held ; " but to come, too, from me your rival ! " 
 
 " Proceed proceed, I pray you explain all this yet ex- 
 planation ! what do I want to know ? Evelyn is my daughter 
 Alice's child ! For Heaven's sake, give me hope say it 
 is not so say that she is Alice's child, but not mine ! Father, 
 father ! and they call it a holy name it is a horrible 
 one I" 
 
 " Compose yourself, my dear friend : recollect what you have 
 escaped ! You will recover this shock ; time travel " 
 
 "Peace, man, peace! Now then I am calm ! When Alice 
 left me she had no child. I knew not that she bore within 
 her the pledge of our ill-omened and erring love. Verily, the 
 sins of my youth have arisen against me; and the curse has 
 come home to roost ! " 
 
 " I cannot explain to you all details." 
 
 " But why not have told me of this ? Why not have warned 
 me why not have said to me, when my heart could have been 
 satisfied by so sweet a tie ' Thou hast a daughter : thou art not 
 desolate ? ' Why reserve the knowledge of the blessing until it 
 has turned to poison ? Fiend that you are ! you have waited 
 this hour to gloat over the agony from which, a word from you 
 a year, nay, a month ago a little month ago might have saved 
 me and her ! * 
 
 Maltravers, as he spoke, approached Vargrave, with eyes 
 sparkling vrith fierce passion, his hand clenched, his form dilated,
 
 352 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the veins on his forehead swelled like cords. Lumiey, brave 
 as he was, recoiled. 
 
 " I knew not of this secret," said he, deprecatingly, " till a 
 few days before I came hither ; and I came hither at once to 
 disclose it to you. Will you listen to me ? I knew that my 
 uncle had married a person much beneath him in rank ; but 
 he was guarded and cautious, and I knew no more, except 
 that by a first husband that lady had one daughter, Evelyn. 
 A chain of accidents suddenly acquainted me with the rest." 
 Here Vargrave pretty faithfully repeated what he had learned 
 
 from the brewer at C , and from Mr. Onslow ; but when he 
 
 came to the tacit confirmation of all his suspicions, received 
 from Mrs. Leslie, he greatly exaggerated and greatly distorted 
 the account. "Judge, then," concluded Lumiey, "of the 
 horror with which I heard that you had declared an attach- 
 ment to Evelyn, and that it was returned. Ill as I was, I 
 hastened hither : you know the rest. Are you satisfied ? " 
 
 " I will go to Alice ! I will learn from her own lips yet, 
 how can I meet her again ? How say to her, ' I have taken 
 from thee thy last hope I have broken thy child's heart ' ? " 
 
 " Forgive me, but I should confess to you, that, from all I 
 can learn from Mrs. Leslie, Lady Vargrave has but one prayer 
 one hope in life that she may never again meet with her be- 
 trayer. You may, indeed, in her own letter perceive how much 
 she is terrified by the thought of your discovering her. She has, 
 at length, recovered peace of mind, and tranquillity of con- 
 science. She shrinks with dread from the prospect of ever again 
 encountering one once so dear, now associated in her mind with 
 recollections of guilt and sorrow. More than this, she is sensi- 
 tively alive to the fear of shame, to the dread of detection. If 
 ever her daughter were to know her sin, it would be to her as 
 a death-blow. Yet, in her nervous state of health, her ever-quick 
 and uncontrollable feelings, if you were to meet her, she would 
 disguise nothing, conceal nothing. The veil would be torn aside: 
 the menials in her own house would tell the tale, and curiosity 
 circulate, and scandal blacken the story of her early errors. No, 
 Maltravers, at least wait a while before you see her ; wait till her 
 mind can be prepared for such an interview, till precautions
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 353 
 
 can be taken, till you yourself are in a calmer state of 
 mind." 
 
 Maltravers fixed his piercing eyes on Lumley while he thus 
 spoke, and listened in deep attention. 
 
 " It matters not," said he, after a long pause, " whether these 
 be your real reasons for wishing to defer or prevent a meeting 
 between Alice and myself. The affliction that has come upon 
 me bursts with too clear and scorching a blaze of light for me 
 to see any chance of escape or mitigation. Even if Evelyn 
 were the daughter of Alice by another, she would be for ever 
 separated from me. The mother and the child ! there is a kind 
 of incest even in that thought ! But such an alleviation of my 
 anguish is forbidden to my reason. No, poor Alice, I will not 
 disturb the repose thou hast won at last! Thou shalt never 
 have the grief to know that our error has brought upon thy 
 lover so black a doom! All is over! the world never shall 
 find me again. Nothing is left for me but the desert and the 
 grave ! " 
 
 " Speak not so, Ernest," said Lord Vargrave, soothingly ; " a 
 little while, and you will recover this blow: your control over 
 passion has, even in youth, inspired me with admiration and 
 surprise ; and now, in calmer years, and with such incentives 
 to self-mastery, your triumph will come sooner than you think. 
 Evelyn, too, is so young ; she has not known you long ; perhaps 
 her love, after all, is that caused by some mystic, but innocent 
 working of nature, and she would rejoice to call you ' father.' 
 Happy years are yet in store for you." 
 
 Maltravers did not listen to these vain and hollow conso- 
 lations. With his head drooping on his bosom, his whole form 
 unnerved, the large tears rolling unheeded down his cheeks, he 
 seemed the very picture of a broken-hearted man, whom fate 
 never again could raise from despair. He who had, for years, 
 so cased himself in pride, on whose very front was engraved the 
 victory over passion and misfortune, whose step had trod the 
 earth in the royalty of the conqueror ; the veriest slave that 
 crawls bore not a spirit more humbled, fallen, or subdued ! He 
 who had looked with haughty eyes on the infirmities of others, 
 who had disdained to serve his race because of their human 
 
 Z
 
 354 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 follies and partial frailties he even he, the Pharisee of Genius 
 had but escaped by a chance, and by the hand of the man he 
 suspected and despised, from a crime at which nature herself 
 recoils, which all law, social and divine, stigmatises as in- 
 expiable which the sternest imagination of the very heathen 
 had invented as the gloomiest catastrophe that can befall the 
 wisdom and the pride of mortals ! But one step farther, and the 
 fabulous QEdipus had not been more accursed ! 
 
 Such thoughts as these, unformed, confused, but strong 
 enough to bow him to the dust, passed through the mind of 
 this wretched man. He had been familiar with grief, he had been 
 dull to enjoyment ; sad and bitter memories had consumed his 
 manhood ; but pride had been left him still ; and he had dared in 
 his secret heart to say, "I can defy Fate!" Now the bolt had 
 fallen Pride was shattered into fragments Self-abasement was 
 his companion Shame sat upon his prostrate soul. The Future 
 had no hope left in store. Nothing was left for him but to die ! 
 
 Lord Vargrave gazed at him in real pain, in sincere compas- 
 sion ; for his nature, wily, deceitful, perfidious though it was, had 
 cruelty only so far as was necessary to the unrelenting execution 
 of his schemes. No pity could swerve him from a purpose ; but 
 he had enough of the man within him to feel pity not the less, 
 even for his own victim ! At length Maltravers lifted his head, 
 and waved his hand gently to Lord Vargrave. 
 
 " All is now explained," said he, in a feeble voice, " our inter- 
 view is over. I must be alone ; I have yet to collect my reason, 
 to commune calmly and deliberately with myself; I have to 
 write to her to invent to lie I, who believed I could never, 
 never utter, even to an enemy, what was false ! And I must not 
 soften the blow to her. I must not utter a word of love, love, 
 it is incest ! I must endeavour brutally to crush out the very 
 affection I created ! She must hate me ! oh, teach her to hate 
 me ! Blacken my name, traduce my motives, let her believe 
 them levity or perfidy, what you will. So will she forget me the 
 sooner ; so will she the easier bear the sorrow which the father 
 brings upon the child. And she has not sinned ! O Heaven, 
 the sin was mine ! Let my punishment be a sacrifice that thou 
 wilt accept for her ! "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 355 
 
 Lord Vargrave attempted again to console ; but this time the 
 words died upon his lips. His arts failed him. Maltravers 
 turned impatiently away and pointed to the door. 
 
 "I will see you again," said he, "before I quit Paris: leave 
 your address below." 
 
 Vargrave was not, perhaps, unwilling to terminate a scene 
 so painful : he muttered a few incoherent words, and abruptly 
 withdrew. He heard the door locked behind him as he departed 
 Ernest Maltravers was alone ! what a solitude ! 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 ** Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing 
 To what I shall unfold." Hamlet. 
 
 LETTER FROM ERNEST MALTRAVERS TO EVELYN CAMERON. 
 
 u EVELYN! 
 
 " All that you have read of faithlessness and perfidy will seem 
 tame to you when compared with that conduct which you are 
 doomed to meet from me. We must part, and for ever. We 
 have seen each other for the last time. It is bootless even to 
 ask the cause. Believe that I am fickle, false, heartless that a 
 whim has changed me, if you will. My resolve is unalterable. 
 We meet no more even as friends. I do not ask you either to 
 forgive or to remember me. Look on me as one wholly unworthy 
 even of resentment ! Do not think that I write this in madness, 
 or in fever, or excitement. Judge me not by my seeming illness 
 this morning. I invent no excuse, no extenuation for my 
 broken faith and perjured vows. Calmly, coldly, and deliberately 
 I write ; and thus writing, I renounce your love. 
 
 " This language is wanton cruelty it is fiendish insult is it 
 not, Evelyn ? Am I not a villain ? Are you not grateful for 
 your escape ? Do you not look on the past with a shudder at 
 the precipice on which you stood ? 
 
 " I have done with this subject, I turn to another. We are 
 
 Z 2
 
 356 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 parted, Evelyn, and for ever. Do not fancy I repeat, do not 
 fancy that there is any error, any strange infatuation on my 
 mind, that there is any possibility that the sentence can be 
 annulled. It were almost easier to call the dead from the 
 grave than bring us again together, as we were and as we 
 hoped to be. Now that you are convinced of that truth, learn, 
 as soon as you have recovered the first shock of knowing how 
 much wickedness there is on earth learn to turn to the future 
 lor happier and more suitable ties than those you could have 
 formed with me. You are very young in youth our first 
 impressions are lively but evanescent you will wonder here- 
 after at having fancied you loved me. Another and a fairer 
 image will replace mine. This is what I desire and pray for. 
 As soon as I learn that you love another, that you are wedded to 
 another, I will re-appear in the world ; till then, I am a wanderer 
 and an exile. Your hand alone can efface from my brow the brand 
 of Cain ! When I am gone, Lord Vargrave will probably renew 
 his suit. I would rather you married one of your own years 
 one whom you could love fondly one who would chase away 
 every remembrance of the wretch who now forsakes you. But 
 perhaps I have mistaken Lord Vargrave's character perhaps 
 he may be worthier of you than I deemed (/ who set up for the 
 censor of other men !) perhaps he may both win and deserve 
 your affection. 
 
 " Evelyn, farewell God, who tempers the wind to the shorn 
 lamb, will watch over you 1 
 
 " ERNEST MALTRAVERS." 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 '* Our acts our angels are, or good or ill, 
 The fatal shadows that walk by us still." JOHN FLETCHER. 
 
 THE next morning came; the carriage was at the door of 
 Maltravers, to bear him away he cared not whither. Where 
 could he fly from memory ? He had just despatched the letter
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 357 
 
 to Evelyn a letter studiously written for the object of destroy- 
 ing* all the affection to which he had so fondly looked as the 
 last charm of life. He was now only waiting for Vargrave, to 
 whom he had sent, and who hastened to obey the summons. 
 
 When Lumley arrived, he was shocked at the alteration which 
 a single night had effected in the appearance of Maltravers ; 
 but he was surprised and relieved to find him calm and self- 
 possessed. 
 
 "Vargrave," said Maltravers, "whatever our past coldness, 
 henceforth I owe to you an eternal gratitude ; and henceforth 
 this awful secret makes between us an indissoluble bond. If 
 I have understood you rightly, neither Alice nor other living 
 being than yourself know that in me, Ernest Maltravers, stands 
 the guilty object of Alice's first love. Let that secret still be 
 kept ; relieve Alice's mind from the apprehension of learning 
 that the man who betrayed her yet lives : he will not live long ! 
 I leave time and method of explanation to your own judgment 
 and acuteness. Now for Evelyn." Here Maltravers stated 
 generally the tone of the letter he had written. Vargrave 
 listened thoughtfully. 
 
 " Maltravers," said he, " it is right to try first the effect of 
 your letter. But if it fail if it only serve to inflame the 
 imagination and excite the interest if Evelyn still continue 
 to love you if that love preys upon her if it should under- 
 mine health and spirit if it should destroy her ? " 
 
 Maltravers groaned. Lumley proceeded, " I say this not to 
 wound you, but to provide against all circumstances. I too 
 have spent the night in revolving what is best to be done in 
 such a case ; and this is the plan I have formed. Let us, if 
 need be, tell the truth to Evelyn, robbing the truth only of its 
 shame. Nay, nay, listen. Why not say that under a borrowed 
 name, and in the romance of early youth, you knew and loved 
 Alice (though in innocence and honour) ? Your tender age the 
 difference of rank forbade your union. Her father, discovering 
 your clandestine correspondence, suddenly removed her from the 
 country, and destroyed all clue for your inquiries. You lost 
 sight of each other each was taught to believe the other dead. 
 Alice was compelled by her father to marry Mr. Cameron ; and,
 
 358 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 after his death, her poverty and her love for her only child 
 induced her to accept my uncle. You have now learned all 
 have learned that Evelyn is the daughter of your first love 
 the daughter of one who adores you still, and whose life your 
 remembrance has, for so many years, embittered. Evelyn herself 
 will at once comprehend all the scruples of a delicate mind ; Evelyn 
 herself will recoil from the thought of making the child the rival 
 to the mother. She will understand why you have flown from 
 her ; she will sympathise with your struggles ; she will recall 
 the constant melancholy of Alice ; she will hope that the ancient 
 love may be renewed, and efface all grief ; Generosity and Duty 
 alike will urge her to conquer her own affection ! And hereafter, 
 when time has restored you both, father and child may meet 
 with such sentiments as father and child may own ! " 
 
 Maltravers was silent for some minutes; at length he said 
 abruptly, " And you really loved her, Vargrave ? you love her 
 still ? your dearest care must be her welfare." 
 
 " It is ! indeed, it is ! " 
 
 " Then I must trust to your discretion ; I can have no other 
 confidant ; I myself am not fit to judge. My mind is darkened 
 you may be right I think so." 
 
 " One word more she may discredit my tale, if unsupported. 
 Will you write one line to me to say that I am authorised to 
 reveal the secret, and that it is known only to me ? I will not 
 use it unless I should think it absolutely required." 
 
 Hastily and mechanically Maltravers wrote a few words to the 
 effect of what Lumley had suggested. " I will inform you," he 
 said to Vargrave as he gave him the paper, " of whatever spot 
 may become my asylum ; and you can communicate to me all 
 that I dread and long to hear ; but let no man know the refuge 
 of despair ! " 
 
 There was positively a tear in Vargrave's cold eye ; the only 
 tear that had glistened there for many years ; he paused irreso- 
 lute, then advanced, again halted, muttered to himself, and 
 turned aside. 
 
 " As for the world," Lumley resumed, after a pause, " your 
 engagement has been public some public account of its breach 
 must be invented. You have always been considered a proud
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTtRItiS. 359 
 
 man ; we will say that it was low birth on the side of both 
 mother and father (the last only just discovered) that broke off 
 the alliance ! " 
 
 Vargrave was talking to the deaf : what cared Maltravers for 
 the world ? He hastened from the room, threw himself into his 
 carriage, and Vargrave was left to plot, to hope, and to aspire !
 
 BOOK X 
 
 OSkov"Ovtipov. HOMER, i, 9. 
 
 A dream ! 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 u Qualis ubi in lucem coluber 
 * * * Mala gramina pastus." l VlRGIL, 
 
 " Pars minima est ipsa puella sui." 2 OVID. 
 
 IT would be superfluous, and, perhaps, a sickening task, to 
 detail at length the mode and manner in which Vargrave coiled 
 Jiis snares round the unfortunate girl whom his destiny had 
 marked out for his prey. He was right in foreseeing that, after 
 the first amazement caused by the letter of Maltravers, Evelyn 
 would feel resentment crushed beneath her certainty of his 
 affection ', her incredulity at hs self-accusations, and her secret 
 conviction that some reverse, some misfortune he was unwilling 
 she should share, was the occasion of his farewell and flight. 
 Vargrave therefore very soon communicated to Evelyn the tale 
 Jie had suggested to Maltravers. He reminded her of the 
 habitual sorrow, the evidence of which was so visible in Lady 
 Vargrave of her indifference to the pleasures of the world of 
 
 * As when a snake glides into light, having jfed on pernicious pastures. 
 The girl is the least part of himself.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 361 
 
 her sensitive shrinking from all recurrence to her early fate. 
 " The secret of this," said he, " is in a youthful and most fervent 
 attachment ; your mother loved a young stranger above her in 
 rank, who (his head being full of German romance) was then 
 roaming about the country on pedestrian and adventurous 
 excursions, under the assumed name of Butler. "By him she 
 was most ardently beloved in return. Her father, perhaps, 
 suspected the rank of her lover, and was fearful of her honour 
 being compromised. He was a strange man, that father ! and I 
 know not his real character and motives ; but he suddenly with- 
 drew his daughter from the suit and search of her lover they 
 saw each other no more ; her lover mourned her as one dead. 
 In process of time your mother was constrained by her father to 
 marry Mr. Cameron, and was left a widow with an only child 
 yourself: she was poor very poor! and her love and anxiety 
 for you at last induced her to listen to the addresses of my late 
 uncle ; for your sake she married again again death dissolved 
 the tie ! But still, unceasingly and faithfully, she recalled that 
 first love, the memory of which darkened and embittered all her 
 life and still she lived upon the hope to meet with the lost 
 again. At last, and most recently, it was my fate to discover 
 that the object of this unconquerable affection lived was still 
 free in hand if not in heart : you behold the lover of your 
 mother in Ernest Maltravers ! It devolved on me (an invidious 
 a reluctant duty) to inform Maltravers of the identity of Lady 
 Vargrave with the Alice of his boyish passion! to prove to him 
 her suffering, patient, unsubdued affection ; to convince him that 
 the sole hope left to her in life was that of one day or other 
 beholding him once again. You know Maltravers his high- 
 wrought, sensitive, noble character ; he recoiled in terror from the 
 thought of making his love to the daughter the last and bitterest 
 affliction to the mother he had so loved ; knowing too how com- 
 pletely that mother had entwined herself round your affections, 
 he shuddered at the pain and self-reproach that would be yours 
 when you should discover to whom you had been the rival, and 
 whose the fond hopes and dreams that your fatal beauty had 
 destroyed. Tortured, despairing, and half beside himself, he has 
 fled from this ill-omened passion, and in solitude he now seeks to
 
 362 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 subdue that passion. Touched by the woe, the grief, of the 
 Alice of his youth, it is his intention, as soon as he can know 
 you restored to happiness and content, to hasten to your mother, 
 and offer his future devotion as the fulfilment of former vows. 
 On you, and you alone, it depends to restore Maltravers to the 
 world, on you alone it depends to bless the remaining years of 
 the mother who so dearly loves you ! " 
 
 It may be easily conceived with what sensations of wonder, 
 compassion, and dismay, Evelyn listened to this tale, the progress 
 of which her exclamations her sobs often interrupted. She 
 would write instantly to her mother to Maltravers. Oh ! how 
 gladly she would relinquish his suit ! How cheerfully promise 
 to rejoice in that desertion which brought happiness to the 
 mother she had so loved ! 
 
 " Nay," said Vargrave, " your mother must not know, till the 
 intelligence can be breathed by his lips, and softened by his 
 protestations of returning affection, that the mysterious object 
 of her early romance is that Maltravers whose vows have been 
 so lately offered to her own child. Would not such intelligence 
 shock all pride, and destroy all hope? How could she then 
 consent to the sacrifice which Maltravers is prepared to make ? 
 No! not till you are another's not (to use the words of 
 Maltravers) till you are a happy and beloved wife must your 
 mother receive the returning homage of Maltravers not till 
 then can she know where that homage has been recently 
 rendered not till then can Maltravers feel justified in the 
 atonement he meditates. He is willing to sacrifice himself he 
 trembles at the thought of sacrificing you ! Say nothing to 
 your mother, till, from her own lips, she tells you that she has 
 learned all." 
 
 Could Evelyn hesitate ? could Evelyn doubt ? To allay the 
 fears, to fulfil the prayers of the man whose conduct appeared 
 so generous to restore him to peace and the world above all, 
 to pluck from the heart of that beloved and gentle mother the 
 rankling dart to shed happiness over her fate to reunite 
 her with the loved and lost ; what sacrifice too great for this ? 
 
 Ah ! why was Legard absent ? Why did she believe him 
 capricious, light, and false? Why had she shut her softest
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 363 
 
 thoughts from her soul ? But he the true lover was afar, and 
 his true love unknown ! and Vargrave, the watchful serpent, was 
 at hand. 
 
 In a fatal hour, and in the transport of that enthusiasm which 
 inspires alike our more rash and our more sublime deeds which 
 makes us alike dupes and martyrs the enthusiasm that tramples 
 upon self, that forfeits all things to a high-wrought zeal for 
 others, Evelyn consented to become the wife of Vargrave! Nor 
 was she at first sensible of the sacrifice sensible of anything 
 but the glow of a noble spirit and an approving conscience. 
 Yes, thus, and thus alone, did she obey both duties ; that, which 
 she had well-nigh abandoned, to her dead benefactor, and that 
 to the living mother. Afterwards came a dread reaction ; and 
 then, at last, that passive and sleep-like resignation, which is 
 Despair under a milder name. Yes such a lot had been 
 predestined from the first in vain had she sought to fly it: 
 Fate had overtaken her, and she must submit to the 
 decree ! 
 
 She was most anxious that the intelligence of the new 
 bond might be transmitted instantly to Maltravers. Vargrave 
 promised, but took care not to perform. He was too acute not 
 to know that, in so sudden a step, Evelyn's motives would be 
 apparent ; and his own suit indelicate and ungenerous. He was 
 desirous that Maltravers should learn nothing till the vows had 
 been spoken, and the indissoluble chain forged. Afraid to leave 
 Evelyn, even for a day, afraid to trust her in England to an 
 interview with her mother, he remained at Paris, and hurried 
 on all the requisite preparations. He sent to Douce, who came 
 in person, with the deeds necessary for .the transfer of the money 
 for the purchase of Lisle Court, which was now to be immediately 
 completed. The money was to be lodged in Mr. Douce's bank 
 till the lawyers had completed their operations ; and in a few 
 weeks, when Evelyn had attained the allotted age, Vargrave 
 trusted to see himself lord alike of the betrothed bride, and the 
 hereditary lands of the crushed Maltravers. He refrained from 
 stating to Evelyn who was the present proprietor of the estate 
 to become hers ; he foresaw all the objections she would form ; 
 and, indeed, she was unable to think, to talk, of such matter
 
 364 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 One favour she had asked, and it had been granted : that she 
 was to be left unmolested to her solitude till the fatal day. 
 Shut up in her lonely room, condemned not to confide her 
 thoughts : to seek for sympathy even in her mother, the 
 poor girl in vain endeavoured to keep up to the tenor of her 
 first enthusiasm, and reconcile herself to a step, which, however, 
 she was heroine enough not to retract or to repent, even while 
 she recoiled from its contemplation. 
 
 Lady Doltimore, amazed at what had passed ; at the 
 flight of Maltravers ; the success of Lumley unable to ac- 
 count for it, to extort explanation from Vargrave or from 
 Evelyn, was distracted by the fear of some villanou' 
 deceit which she could not fathom : to escape, herself, she 
 plunged yet more eagerly into the gay vortex. Vargrave, sus- 
 picious, and fearful of trusting to what she might say in her 
 nervous and excited temper, if removed from his watchful eye, 
 deemed himself compelled to hover round her. His manner, 
 his conduct, were most guarded ; but Caroline herself, jealous, 
 irritated, unsettled, evinced at times a right both to familiarity 
 and anger, which drew upon her and himself the sly vigilance of 
 slander. Meanwhile Lord Doltimore, though too cold and proud 
 openly to notice what passed around him, seemed disturbed and 
 anxious. His manner to Vargrave was distant ; he shunned 
 all t$te-a-tetes with his wife. Little, however, of this did Lumley 
 heed a few weeks more, and all would be well and safe. 
 Vargrave did not publish his engagement with Evelyn : he 
 sought carefully to conceal it till the very day was near at hand : 
 but it was whispered abroad ; some laughed some believed. 
 Evelyn herself was seen nowhere. De Montaigne had, at first, 
 been indignantly incredulous at the report that Maltravers had 
 broken off a connection he had so desired, from a motive so 
 weak and unworthy as that of mere family pride. A letter from 
 Maltravers, who confided to him and Vargrave alone the secret 
 of his retreat, reluctantly convinced him that the wise are but 
 pompous fools ; he was angry and disgusted ; and still more so 
 when Valerie and Teresa (for female friends stand by us right or 
 wrong) hinted at excuses ; or surmised that other causes lurked 
 behind the one alleged. But his thoughts were much drawn
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 365 
 
 from this subject by increasing anxiety for Cesarini, whose abode 
 and fate still remained an alarming mystery. 
 
 It so happened that Lord Doltimore, who had always had a 
 taste for the antique, and who was greatly displeased with his 
 own family-seat, because it was comfortable and modern, fell, 
 from ennui, into a habit, fashionable enough in Paris, of buying 
 curiosities and cabinets high-back chairs and oak-carvings ; 
 and with this habit returned the desire and the affection for 
 Burleigh. Understanding from Lumley that Maltravers had 
 probably left his native land for ever, he imagined it extremely 
 probable that the latter would now consent to the sale, and he 
 begged Vargrave to forward a letter from him to that effect. 
 
 Vargrave made some excuse, for he felt that nothing could be 
 more indelicate than such an application forwarded through his 
 hands at such a time ; and Doltimore, who had accidentally 
 heard De Montaigne confess that he knew the address of 
 Maltravers, quietly sent his letter to the Frenchman, and, 
 without mentioning its contents, begged him to forward it. 
 De Montaigne did so. Now it is very strange how slight men 
 and slight incidents bear on the great events of life. But that 
 simple letter was instrumental to a new revolution in the 
 strange history of Maltravers. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 "Quid frustra simulacra fugacia captas? 
 
 Quod petis est nusquam. 1 OVID, Met. iii. 432. 
 
 To no clime dedicated to the indulgence of majestic griefs, or 
 to the soft melancholy of regret not to thy glaciers, or thy 
 dark-blue lakes, beautiful Switzerland, mother of many exiles 
 nor to thy fairer earth, and gentler heaven, sweet Italy fled the 
 agonised Maltravers. Once, in his wanderings, he had chanced 
 to pass by a landscape so steeped in sullen and desolate gloom, 
 that it had made a powerful and uneffaced impression upon his 
 
 1 Why, in vain, do you catch at fleeting shadows? That which you seek if 
 nowhere.
 
 366 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 mind : it was amidst those swamps and morasses that formerly 
 surrounded the castle of Gil de Retz, the ambitious Lord, the 
 dreaded Necromancer, who perished at the stake, after a career 
 of such power and splendour as seemed almost to justify the dark 
 belief in his preternatural agencies. 1 
 
 Here, in a lonely and wretched inn, remote from other habita- 
 tions, Maltravers fixed himself. In gentler griefs there is a sort 
 of luxury in bodily discomfort ; in his inexorable and un- 
 mitigated anguish, bodily discomfort was not felt. There is a 
 kind of magnetism in extreme woe, by which the body itself 
 seems laid asleep, and knows no distinction between the bed of 
 Damiens and the rose-couch of the Sybarite. He left his 
 carriage and servants at a post-house some miles distant. He 
 came to this dreary abode alone ; and in that wintry season, 
 and that most disconsolate scene, his gloomy soul found some- 
 thing congenial, something that did not mock him, in the frowns 
 of the haggard and dismal nature. Vain would it be to describe 
 what he then felt what he then endured. Suffice it that, 
 through all, the diviner strength of man was not wholly crushed 
 and that daily, nightly, hourly, he prayed to the Great Comforter 
 to assist him in wrestling against a guilty love. No man struggles 
 so honestly, so ardently as he did utterly in vain ; for in us all, if 
 we would but cherish it, there is a spirit that must rise at last 
 a crowned, if bleeding conqueror over Fate and all the 
 Demons ! 
 
 One day after a prolonged silence from Vargrave, whose 
 letters all breathed comfort and assurance in Evelyn's progres- 
 sive recovery of spirit and hope, his messenger returned from 
 the post-town with a letter in the hand of De Montaigne. It 
 contained, in a black envelope (De Montaigne's silence told 
 him how much he had lost in the esteem of his friend), the 
 communication of Lord Doltimore. It ran thus : 
 
 "MY DEAR SIR, 
 
 "As I hear that your plans are likely to make you a long 
 resident on the Continent, may I again inquire if you would be 
 
 1 See, for description of this scenery, and the fate of De Retz, the high-wrought 
 and glowing romance by Mr. Ritchie, called The Magician.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 36; 
 
 induced to dispose of Burleigh ? I am willing to give more 
 than its real value, and would raise a mortgage on my own 
 property sufficient to pay off, at once, the whole purchase- 
 money. Perhaps you may be the more induced to the sale 
 from the circumstance of having an example in the head of 
 your family, Colonel Maltravers, as I learn through Lord 
 Vargrave, having resolved to dispose of Lisle Court. Waiting 
 your answer, 
 
 " I am, dear Sir, truly yours, 
 
 " DOLTIMORE." 
 
 "Ay, n said Maltravers, bitterly, crushing the letter in his 
 hand, " let our name be blotted out from the land, and our hearths 
 pass to the stranger. How could I ever visit the place where I 
 first saw her ? " 
 
 He resolved at once he would write to England, and place 
 the matter in the hands of agents. This was but a short-lived 
 diversion to his thoughts, and their cloudy darkness soon 
 gathered round him again. 
 
 What I am now about to relate may appear, to a hasty 
 criticism, to savour of the Supernatural; but it is easily 
 accounted for by ordinary agencies, and it is strictly to the 
 letter of the truth. 
 
 In his sleep that night a dream appeared to Maltravers. 
 He thought he was alone in the old library at Burleigh, and 
 gazing on the portrait of his mother ; as he so gazed, he 
 fancied that a cold and awful tremor seized upon him that 
 he in vain endeavoured to withdraw his eyes from the canvas 
 his sight was chained there by an irresistible spell. Then it 
 seemed to him that the portrait gradually changed ; the 
 features the same, but the bloom vanished into a white and 
 ghastly hue ; the colours of the dress faded, their fashion grew 
 more large and flowing, but heavy and rigid as if cut in stone 
 the robes of the grave. But on the face there was a soft and 
 melancholy smile, that took from its livid aspect the natural 
 horror : the lips moved, and, it seemed as if without a sound, 
 the released soul spoke to that which the earth yet owned. 
 
 "Return," it said, "to thy native land, and thine own home.
 
 368 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Leave not the last relic of her who bore and yet watches over thee 
 to stranger hands. Thy good Angel shall meet thee at thy hearth !" 
 
 The voice ceased. With a violent effort Maltravers broke the 
 spell that had forbidden his utterance. He called aloud, and the 
 dream vanished : he was broad awake his hair erect the cold 
 dews on his brow. The pallet, rather than bed on which he lay, 
 was opposite to the window, and the wintry moonlight streamed 
 wan and spectral into the cheerless room. But between himself 
 and the light there seemed to stand a shape a shadow that 
 into which the portrait had changed in his dream that which 
 had accosted and chilled his soul. He sprang forward " My 
 mother ! even in the grave canst thou bless thy wretched son ! 
 
 Oh, leave me not say that thou " The delusion vanished, 
 
 and Maltravers fell back insensible. 
 
 It was long in vain, when, in the healthful light of day, he 
 revolved this memorable dream, that Maltravers sought to 
 convince himself that dreams need no ministers from heaven 
 or hell to bring the gliding falsehoods along the paths of sleep ; 
 that the effect of that dream itself, on his shattered nerves, his 
 excited fancy, was the real and sole raiser of the spectre he had 
 thought to behold on waking. Long was it before his judgment 
 could gain the victory, and reason disown the empire of a 
 turbulent imagination; and, even when at length reluctantly 
 convinced, the dream still haunted him, and he could not shake 
 it from his breast. He longed anxiously for the next night ; it 
 came, but it brought neither dreams nor sleep, and the rain beat, 
 and the winds howled, against the casement Another night, 
 and the moon was again bright ; and he fell into a deep sleep ; 
 no vision disturbed or hallowed it. He woke ashamed of his 
 own expectation. But the event, such as it was, by giving a 
 new turn to his thoughts, had roused and relieved his spirit, and 
 misery sat upon him with a lighter load. Perhaps, too, to that still 
 haunting recollection was mainly owing a change in his former 
 purpose. He would still sell the old hall ; but he would first 
 return, and remove that holy portrait, with pious hands ; he 
 would garner up* and save all that had belonged to her whose 
 death had been his birth. Ah! never had she known for what 
 trials the infant had been reserved.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 369 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 " The weary hours steal on, 
 And flaky darkness breaks." Richard III. 
 
 ONCE more, suddenly and unlocked for, the lord of Burleigh 
 appeared at the gates of his deserted hall ! and again the old 
 housekeeper and her satellites were thrown into dismay and 
 consternation. Amidst blank and welcomeless faces, Maltravers 
 passed into his study : and as soon as the logs burnt and the 
 bustle was over, and he was left alone, he took up the light and 
 passed into the adjoining library. It was then about nine o'clock 
 in the evening ; the air of the room felt damp and chill, and the 
 light but faintly struggled against the mournful gloom of the 
 dark book-lined walls and sombre tapestry. He placed the 
 candle on the table, and drawing aside the curtain that veiled 
 the portrait, gazed with deep emotion, not unmixed with awe, 
 upon the beautiful face whose eyes seemed fixed upon him with 
 mournful sweetness. There is something mystical about those 
 painted ghosts of ourselves, that survive our very dust ! Who, 
 gazing upon them long and wistfully, does not half fancy that 
 they seem not insensible to his gaze, as if we looked our own life 
 into them, and the eyes that followed us where we moved were 
 animated by a stranger art than the mere trick of the limner's 
 colours ? 
 
 With folded arms, wrapped and motionless, Maltravers con- 
 templated the form that, by the upward rays of the flickering 
 light, seemed to bend down towards the desolate son. How 
 had he ever loved the memory of his mother ! how often in his 
 childish years had he stolen away, and shed wild tears for the 
 loss of that dearest of earthly ties, never to be compensated, 
 never to be replaced ! how had he respected how sympa- 
 thised with the very repugnance which his father had at first 
 testified towards him, as the innocent cause of her untimely 
 death ! He had never seen her never felt her passionate kiss ; 
 and yet it seemed to him, as he gazed, as if he had known her 
 
 A A
 
 370 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 for years. That strange kind of inner and spiritual memory 
 which often recalls to us places and persons we have never seen 
 before, and which Platonists would resolve to the unquenched 
 and struggling consciousness of a former life, stirred within him, 
 and seemed to whisper, "You were united in the old time." 
 " Yes ! " he said, half aloud, " we will never part again. Blessed 
 be the delusion of the dream that recalled to my heart the re- 
 membrance of thee, which, at least, I can cherish without a sin. 
 ' My good angel shall meet me at my hearth ! ' so didst thou say 
 in the solemn vision. Ah, does thy soul watch over me still ? 
 How long shall it be before the barrier is broken how long 
 before we meet, but not in dreams !" 
 
 The door opened the housekeeper looked in " I beg pardon, 
 sir, but I thought your honour would excuse the liberty, though 
 I know it is very bold to " 
 
 " What is the matter what do you want ? " 
 
 " Why, sir, poor Mrs. Elton is dying they say she cannot 
 get over the night ; and as the carriage drove by the cottage 
 window, the nurse told her that the squire was returned ; and 
 she has sent up the nurse to entreat to see your honour before 
 she dies. I am sure I was most loth to disturb you, sir, with 
 such a message ; and says I, the squire has only just come off a 
 journey, and " 
 
 "Who is Mrs. Elton?" 
 
 " Don't your honour remember the poor woman that was run 
 over, and you were so good to, and brought into the house the 
 day Miss Cameron " 
 
 " I remember say I will be with her in a few minutes. 
 About to die ! " muttered Maltravers ; " she is to be envied the 
 prisoner is let loose the barque leaves the desert isle ! " 
 
 He took his hat and walked across the park, dimly lighted 
 by the stars, to the cottage of the sufferer. He reached her 
 bedside, and took her hand kindly. She seemed to rally 
 at the sight of him the nurse was dismissed they were 
 left alone. 
 
 Before morning, the spirit had left that humble clay ; and the 
 mists of dawn were heavy on the grass as Maltravers returned 
 home. There were then on his countenance the traces of recent
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 371 
 
 and strong emotion, and his step was elastic, and his cheek flushed. 
 Hope once more broke within him, but mingled with doubt, 
 and faintly combated by reason. In another hour Maltravers 
 was on his way to Brook-Green. Impatient, restless, fevered, he 
 urged on the horses he sowed the road with gold, and, at 
 length, the wheels stopped before the door of the village inn. 
 He descended, asked the way to the curate's house ; and crossing 
 the burial-ground, and passing under the shadow of the old yew- 
 tree, entered Aubrey's garden. The curate was at home, and 
 the conference that ensued was of deep and breathless interest to 
 the visitor. 
 
 It is now time to place before the reader, in due order and 
 connection, the incidents of that story, the knowledge of which, 
 at that period, broke in detached and fragmentary portions on 
 Maltravers. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 
 
 " I canna chuse, but ever will 
 Be luving to thy father still, 
 Whaireir he gae, whaireir he ryde, 
 My luve with him maun still abyde ; 
 In well or wae. whaireir he gae, 
 Mine heart can neir depart him frae." 
 
 LADY ANNE BOTH WELL'S Lament. 
 
 IT may be remembered, that in the earlier part of this 
 continuation of the history of Maltravers it was stated that 
 Aubrey had in early life met with the common lot of a disap- 
 pointed affection. Eleanor Westbrook, a young woman of his 
 own humble rank, had won, and seemed to return, his love; but 
 of that love she was not worthy. Vain, volatile, and ambitious, 
 she forsook the poor student for a more brilliant marriage. She 
 accepted the hand of a merchant, who was caught by her beauty, 
 and who had the reputation of great wealth. They settled in 
 London, and Aubrey lost all traces of her. She gave birth to 
 an only daughter: and when that child had attained her 
 fourteenth year, her husband suddenly, and seemingly without 
 cause, put an end to his existence. The cause, however, was 
 
 A A 2
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 apparent before he was laid in his grave. He was involved 
 far beyond his fortune he had died to escape beggary and 
 a gaol. A small annuity, not exceeding one hundred pound:?, 
 had been secured on the widow. On this income she retired 
 with her child into the country ; and chance, the vicinity of so ne 
 distant connections and the cheapness of the place, concuricd 
 to fix her residence in the outskirts of the town of C -- . 
 Characters that in youth had been most volatile and most 
 worldly, often when bowed down and dejected by the adversity 
 which they are not fitted to encounter, become the most 
 morbidly devout; they ever require an excitement, and when 
 earth denies, they seek it impatiently from Heaven. 
 
 This was the case with Mrs. Westbrook ; and this new 
 turn of mind brought her naturally into contact with the 
 principal saint of the neighbourhood, Mr. Richard Temple- 
 ton. We have seen that that gentleman was not happy in 
 his first marriage ; death had not then annulled the bond. 
 He was of an ardent and sensual temperament, and quietly, 
 under the broad cloak of his doctrines, he indulged his consti- 
 tutional tendencies. Perhaps in this respect he was not* worse 
 than nine men out of ten. But then he professed to be better 
 than nine hundred thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine men 
 out of a million ! To a fault of temperament was added the 
 craft of hypocrisy, and the vulgar error became a dangerous 
 vice. Upon Mary Westbrook, the widow's daughter, he gazed 
 with eyes that were far from being the eyes of the spirit. Even 
 at the age of fourteen she charmed him but when, after 
 watching her ripening beauty expand, three years were added 
 to that age, Mr. Templeton was most deeply in love. Mary was 
 indeed lovely her disposition naturally good and gentle, but 
 her education worse than neglected. To the frivolities and 
 meannesses of a second-rate fashion, inculcated into her till her 
 father's death, had now succeeded the quackeries, the slavish 
 subservience, the intolerant bigotries, of a transcendental super- 
 stition. In a change so abrupt and violent, the whole character 
 of the poor girl was shaken ; her principles unsettled, vague and 
 unformed, and naturally of mediocre and even feeble intellect, 
 she clung to the first plank held out to her in " that wide sea of
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 373 
 
 wax" in which "she halted." Early taught to place the most 
 implicit faith in the dictates of Mr. Templeton fastening her 
 belief round him as the vine winds its tendrils round the oak 
 yielding to his ascendency, and pleased with his fostering and 
 almost caressing manner no confessor in Papal Italy ever was 
 more dangerous to village virtue than Richard Templeton (who 
 deemed himself the archetype of the only pure Protestantism) 
 to the morals and heart of Mary Westbrook. 
 
 Mrs. Westbrook, whose constitution had been prematurely 
 broken by long participation in the excesses of London dissi- 
 pation, and by the reverse of fortune which still preyed upon 
 a spirit it had rather soured than humbled, died when Mary was 
 eighteen. Templeton became the sole friend, comforter, and 
 supporter of the daughter. 
 
 In an evil hour (let us trust not from premeditated villany) 
 an hour when the heart of one was softened by grief and 
 gratitude, and the conscience of the other laid asleep by passion, 
 the virtue of Mary Westbrook was betrayed. Her sorrow and 
 remorse his own fears of detection and awakened self-reproach, 
 occasioned Templeton the most anxious and poignant regret. 
 There had been a young woman in Mrs. Westbrook's service, who 
 had left it a short time before the widow died, in consequence of 
 her marriage. Her husband ill-used her ; and glad to escape 
 from him and prove her gratitude to her employer's daughter, 
 of whom she had been extremely fond, she had returned to 
 Miss Westbrook after the funeral of her mother. The name of 
 this woman was Sarah Miles. Templeton saw that Sarah more 
 than suspected his connection with Mary it was necessary to 
 make a confidant he selected her. Miss Westbrook was re- 
 moved to a distant part of the country, and Templeton visited 
 her cautiously and rarely. Four months afterwards, Mrs. Temple- 
 ton died, and the husband was free to repair his wrong. Oh ! 
 how he then repented of what had passed but four months' 
 delay, and all this sin and sorrow might have been saved ! He 
 was now racked with perplexity and doubt : his unfortunate 
 victim was advanced in her pregnancy. It was necessary, if he 
 wished his child to be legitimate still more if he wished to 
 preserve the honour of its mother that he should not hesitate
 
 374 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 long in the reparation to which duty and conscience urged him. 
 But on the other hand he, the saint the oracle the immacu- 
 late example for all forms, proprieties, and decorums, to scandalize 
 the world by so rapid- and premature a hymen 
 
 *' Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears 
 Had left the flushing in his galled eyes, 
 To marry " 
 
 No ! he could not brave the sneer of the gossips the triumph 
 of his foes the dejection of his disciples, by so rank and rash 
 a folly. But still Mary pined so, he feared for her health for 
 his own unborn offspring. There was a middle path a com- 
 promise between duty and the world : he grasped at it as most 
 men similarly situated would have done they were married, 
 but privately, and under feigned names : the secret was kept 
 close. Sarah Miles was the only witness acquainted with the 
 real condition and names of the parties. 
 
 Reconciled to herself, the bride recovered health and spirits 
 Tempkton formed the most sanguine hopes. He resolved, as 
 soon as the confinement was over, to go abroad Mary should 
 follow in a foreign land they should be publicly married they 
 would remain some years on the Continent when he returned, 
 his child's age could be put back a year. Oh, nothing could be 
 more clear and easy ! 
 
 Death shivered into atoms all the plans of Mr. Templeton. 
 Mary suffered most severely in childbirth, and died a few weeks 
 afterwards. Templeton, at first, was inconsolable, but worldly 
 thoughts were great comforters. He had done all that con- 
 science could do to atone a sin, and he was freed from a most 
 embarrassing dilemma, and from a temporary banishment 
 utterly uncongenial and unpalatable to his habits and ideas. 
 But now he had a child a legitimate child successor to his 
 name, his wealth a first-born child the only one ever sprung 
 from him the prop and hope of advancing years ! On this 
 child he doted with all that paternal passion which the hardest 
 and coldest men often feel the most for their own flesh and blood 
 for fatherly love is sometimes but a transfer of self-love from 
 one fund to another.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 375 
 
 Yet this child this darling that he longed to show to the 
 whole world it was absolutely necessary, for the present, that 
 he should conceal and disown. It had happened that Sarah's 
 husband died of his own excesses a few weeks before the birth 
 of Templeton's child, she having herself just recovered from her 
 confinement ; Sarah was therefore free for ever from her 
 husband's vigilance and control. To her care the destined 
 heiress was committed, and her own child put out to nurse. 
 And this was the woman and this the child who had excited so 
 much benevolent curiosity in the breasts of the worthy clergy- 
 man and the three old maids of C . l Alarmed at Sarah's 
 
 account of the scrutiny of the parson, and at his own rencontre 
 with that hawk-eyed pastor, Templeton lost no time in changing 
 the abode of the nurse and to her new residence had the 
 banker bent his way, with rod and angle, on that evening 
 which witnessed his adventure with Luke Darvil. 2 When 
 Mr. Templeton first met Alice, his own child was only about 
 thirteen or fourteen months old but little older than Alice's. 
 If the beauty of Mrs. Leslie's prottgfe first excited his coarser 
 nature, her maternal tenderness, her anxious care for her little 
 one, struck a congenial chord in the father's heart. It connected 
 him with her by a mute and unceasing sympathy. Templeton 
 had felt so deeply the alarm and pain of illicit love he had 
 been (as he profanely believed) saved from the brink of public 
 shame by so signal an interference of grace, that he resolved no 
 more to hazard his good name and his peace of mind upon such 
 perilous rocks. The dearest desire at his heart was to have his 
 daughter under his roof to fondle, to play with her to watch 
 her growth to win her affection. This, at present, seemed 
 impossible. But if he were to marry marry a widow, to whom 
 he might confide all, or a portion, of the truth if that child 
 could be passed off as hers ah, that was the best plan ! And 
 Templeton wanted a wife! Years were creeping on him and 
 the day would come when a wife would be useful as a nurse. 
 But Alice was supposed to be a widow ; and Alice was so meek, 
 so docile, so motherly. If she could be induced to remove from 
 
 1 See Ernest Maltr avers, Book iv. f p. 170. 
 IMJ., Book iv., p. 186.
 
 376 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 C , either part with her own child or call it her niece, and 
 
 adopt his. Such, from time to time, were Templeton's thoughts, 
 as he visited Alice, and found, with every visit, fresh evidence of 
 her tender and beautiful disposition such the objects which, in 
 the First Part of this work, we intimated were different from 
 those of mere admiration for her beauty. 1 But again, worldly 
 doubts and fears the dislike of so unsuitable an alliance the 
 worse than lowness of Alice's origin the dread of discovery for 
 her early error held him back, wavering and irresolute. To 
 say truth, too, her innocence and purity of thought kept him at 
 a certain distance. He was acute enough to see that he even 
 he, the great Richard Templeton, might be refused by the 
 faithful Alice. 
 
 At last Darvil was dead he breathed more freely he 
 revolved more seriously his projects ; and, at this time, Sarah, 
 wooed by her first lover, wished to marry again ; his secret 
 would pass from her breast to her second husband's, and thence 
 how far would it travel ? Added to this, Sarah's conscience 
 grew uneasy the brand ought to be effaced from the memory 
 of the dead mother the legitimacy of the child proclaimed ; 
 she became importunate she wearied and she alarmed the 
 pious man. He therefore resolved to rid himself of the only 
 witness to his marriage whose testimony he had cause to fear 
 of the presence of the only one acquainted with his sin and 
 the real name of the husband of Mary Westbrook. He 
 consented to Sarah's marriage with William Elton, and offered 
 a liberal dowry on the condition that she should yield to the 
 wish of Elton himself, an adventurous young man, who desired 
 to try his fortunes in the New World. His daughter he must 
 remove elsewhere. 
 
 While this was going on, Alice's child, long delicate and 
 drooping, became seriously ill. Symptoms of decline appeared 
 the physician recommended a milder air, and Devonshire was 
 suggested. Nothing could equal the generous, the fatherly 
 
 " Our banker always seemed more struck by Alice's moral feelings than even by 
 her physical beauty. Her love for her child, for instance, impressed him powerfully," 
 &c. " His feelings altogether for Alice, the designs he entertained towards her, were 
 of a very complicated nature, and it will be long, perhaps, before the reader can 
 thuoa^hly comprehend them." See Ernest Malt ravers, Book iv., p. 183.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 377 
 
 kindness which Templeton evinced on this most painful occasion. 
 He insisted on providing Alice with the means to undertake the 
 journey with ease and comfort ; and poor Alice, with a ht:art 
 heavy with gratitude and sorrow, consented for her child's sake 
 to all he offered. 
 
 Now the banker began to perceive that all his hopes and 
 wishes were in good train. He foresaw that the child of Alice 
 was doomed ! that was one obstacle out of the way. Alice 
 herself was to be removed, from the sphere of her humble 
 calling. In a distant county she might appear of better station, 
 and under another name. Conformably to these views, he 
 suggested to her that, in proportion to the seeming wealth 
 and respectability of patients, did doctors attend to their 
 complaints. He proposed that Alice should depart privately 
 to a town many miles off that there he would provide for her 
 a carriage, and engage a servant that he would do this for 
 her as for a relation and that she should take that relation's 
 name. To this, Alice, wrapt in her child, and submissive to all 
 that might be for the child's benefit, passively consented. It 
 was arranged then as proposed, and, under the name of Cameron, 
 which, as at once a common yet a well-sounding name, occurred 
 to his invention, Alice departed with her sick charge and a 
 female attendant (who knew nothing of her previous calling or 
 story), on the road to Devonshire. Templeton himself resolved 
 to follow her thither in a few days ; and it was fixed that they 
 should meet at Exeter. 
 
 It was on this melancholy journey that occurred that 
 memorable day when Alice once more beheld Maltravers ; 
 and, as she believed, uttering the vows of love to another. 1 The 
 indisposition of her child had delayed her some hours at the 
 inn : the poor sufferer had fallen asleep ; and Alice had stolen 
 from its couch for a little while, when 'her eyes rested on the 
 father. Oh, how then she longed, she burned to tell him of the 
 new sanctity, that, by a human life, had been added to their 
 early love! And when, crushed and sick at heart, she turned 
 away, and believed herself forgotten and replaced, it was the 
 pride of the mother, rather than of the mistress, that supported 
 1 See Ernut Maltravers, Book v., p. 224.
 
 ALICfc ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 her. She, meek creature, felt not the injury to herself ; but kis 
 child: the sufferer perhaps the dying one there, there was 
 the wrong ! No ! she would not hazard the chance of a cold 
 great heaven ! perchance an incredulous look upon the hubhed, 
 pale face above. But little time was left for thought for 
 explanation for discovery. She saw him, unconscious of the 
 ties so near, and thus lost depart as a stranger from the spot ; 
 and henceforth was gone the sweet hope of living for the future. 
 Nothing was left her but the pledge of that which had been. 
 Mournful, despondent, half broken-hearted, she resumed her 
 journey. At Exeter she was joined, as agreed, by Mr. Temple- 
 ton ; and with him came a fair, a blooming and healthful girl, to 
 contrast her own drooping charge. Though but a few weeks 
 older, you would have supposed the little stranger by a year the 
 senior of Alice's child : the one was so well grown, so advanced ; 
 the other so backward, so nipped in the sickly bud. 
 
 " You can repay me for all, for more than I have done ; more 
 than I ever can do for you and yours," said Templeton, "by 
 taking this young stranger also under your care. It is the child 
 of one dear, most dear to me ; an orphan ; I know not with 
 whom else to place it. Let it for the present be supposed your 
 own the elder child." 
 
 Alice could refuse nothing to her benefactor ; but her heart 
 did not open at first to the beautiful girl, whose sparkling eyes 
 and rosy cheeks mocked the languid looks and faded hues of 
 her own darling. But the sufferer seemed to hail a playmate ; 
 it smiled, it put forth its poor, thin hands ; it uttered its inarticu- 
 late cry of pleasure, and Alice burst into tears, and clasped them 
 both to her heart. 
 
 Mr. Templeton took care not to rest under the same roof with 
 her he now seriously intended to make his wife ; but he followed 
 Alice to the sea-side, and visited her daily. Her infant rallied ; 
 it was tenacious of the upper air ; it clung to life so fondly ; 
 poor child, it could not foresee what a bitter thing to some of 
 us life is! And now it was that Templeton, learning from 
 Alice her adventure with her absent lover ; learning that all 
 hope in that quarter was gone seized the occasion, and pressed 
 his suit Alice at the hour was overflowing with gratitude ; in
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 379 
 
 her child's reviving looks she read all her obligations to her 
 benefactor. But still, at the word love, at the name of marriage, 
 her heart recoiled ; and the lost, the faithless, came back to his 
 fatal throne. In choked and broken accents, she startled the 
 banker with the refusal ; the faltering, tearful, but resolute 
 refusal of his suit. 
 
 But Templeton brought new engines to work : he wooed her 
 through her child ; he painted all the brilliant prospects that 
 would open to the infant by her marriage with him. He would 
 cherish, rear, provide for it as his own. This shook her resolves ; 
 but this did not prevail. He had recourse to a more generous 
 appeal : he told her so much of his history with Mary Westb rook 
 as commenced with his hasty and indecorous marriage ; attri- 
 buting the haste to love ! made her comprehend his scruples in 
 owning the child of a union the world would be certain to 
 ridicule or condemn ; he expatiated on the inestimable blessings 
 she could afford him, by delivering him from all embarrassment, 
 and restoring his daughter, though under a borrowed name, to 
 her father's roof. At this Alice mused ; at this she seemed 
 irresolute. She had long seen how inexpressibly dear to 
 Templeton was the child confided to her care : how he grew 
 pale if the slightest ailment reached her ; how he chafed at the 
 very wind if it visited her cheek too roughly ; and she now 
 said to him simply : 
 
 " Is your child, in truth, your dearest object in life ? Is it 
 with her and her alone, that your dearest hopes are connected ? " 
 
 " It is it is indeed ! " said the banker, honestly surprised out 
 of his gallantry : " at least," he added, recovering his self- 
 possession, " as much so as is compatible with my affection for 
 you." 
 
 " And only if I marry you, and adopt her as my own, do you 
 think that your secret may be safely kept, and all your wishes 
 with respect to her be fulfilled ? " 
 
 " Only so." 
 
 " And for that reason, chiefly, nay entirely, you condescend to 
 forget what I have been, and seek my hand ? Well, if that were 
 all, I owe you too much ; my poor babe tells me too loudly 
 what I owe you, to draw back from anything that can give you
 
 380 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 so blessed an enjoyment. Ah ! one's child ! one's own child, 
 under one's own roof, it is such a blessing ! But then, if I marry 
 you, it can be only to secure to you that object ; to be as a 
 mother to your child ; but wife only in name to you ! I am not 
 so lost as to despise myself. I know now, though I knew it not 
 at first, that I have been guilty ; nothing can excuse that guilt 
 but fidelity to him ! Oh, yes ! I never, never can be unfaithful 
 to my babe's father ! As for all else, dispose of me as you will." 
 And Alice, who from very innocence had uttered all this without 
 a blush, now clasped her hands passionately, and left Templeton 
 speechless with mortification and surprise. 
 
 When he. recovered himself, he affected not to understand her ; 
 but Alice was not satisfied, and all further conversation ceased. 
 He began slowly, and at last, and after repeated conferences and 
 urgings, to comprehend how strange and stubborn in some 
 points was the humble creature whom his proposals so highly 
 honoured. Though his daughter was indeed his first object in 
 life : though for her he was willing to make a mesalliance, the 
 extent of which it would be incumbent on him studiously to 
 conceal ; yet still, the beauty of Alice awoke an earthlier 
 sentiment that he was not disposed to conquer. He was quite 
 \villingto make promises, and talk generously ; but when it came 
 to an oath, a solemn, a binding oath and this Alice rigidly 
 exacted he was startled, and drew back. Though hypocritical, 
 he was, as we have before said, a most sincere believer. He 
 might creep through a promise with unbruised conscience ; but 
 he was not one who could have dared to violate an oath, and 
 lay the load of perjury on his soul. Perhaps, after all, the union 
 never would have taken place, but Templeton fell ill ; that soft 
 and relaxing air did not agree with him ; a low but dangerous 
 fever seized him, and the worldly man trembled at the aspect 
 of Death. It was in this illness that Alice nursed him with a 
 daughter's vigilance and care ; and when at length he recovered, 
 impressed with her zeal and kindness ; softened by illness ; afraid 
 of the approach of solitary age, and feeling more than ever 
 his duties to his motherless child, he threw himself at Alice's 
 feet, and solemnly vowed all that she required. 
 
 It was during this residence in Devonshire, and especially
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 3<Jl 
 
 during his illness, that Templeton made and cultivated the 
 acquaintance of Mr. Aubrey. The good clergyman prayed with 
 him by his sick-bed; and when Templeton's danger was at its 
 height, he sought to relieve his conscience by a confession of his 
 wrongs to Mary Westbrook. The name startled Aubrey ; and 
 when he learned that the lovely child who had so often sat on his 
 knee, and smiled in his face, was the granddaughter of his first 
 and only love, he had a new interest in her welfare, a new reason 
 to urge Templeton to reparation, a new motive to desire to 
 procure for the infant years of Eleanor's grandchild the gentle 
 care of the young mother, whose own bereavement he sorrow- 
 fully foretold. Perhaps the advice and exhortations of Aubrey 
 went far towards assisting the conscience of Mr. Templeton, and 
 reconciling him to the sacrifice he made to his affection for his 
 daughter. Be that as it may, he married Alice, and Aubrey 
 solemnised and blessed the chill and barren union. 
 
 But now came a new and inexpressible affliction ; the child of 
 Alice had rallied but for a time. The dread disease had but 
 dallied with its prey ; it came on with rapid and sudden force ; 
 and within a month from the day that saw Alice the bride of 
 Templeton, the last hope was gone, and the mother was bereft 
 and childless! 
 
 The blow that stunned Alice was not, after the first natural 
 shock of sympathy, an unwelcome event to the banker. Now his 
 child would be Alice's sole care ; now there could be no gossip, 
 no suspicion why, in life and after death, he should prefer one 
 child, supposed not his own, to the other. 
 
 He hastened to remove Alice from the scene of her affliction. 
 He dismissed the solitary attendant who had accompanied her 
 on her journey ; he bore his wife to London, and finally settled, 
 as we have seen, at a villa in its vicinity. And there, more and 
 more, day by day, centred his love upon the supposed daughter 
 of Mrs. Templeton, his darling and his heiress, the beautiful 
 Evelyn Cameron. 
 
 For the first year or two, Templeton evinced some alarming 
 disposition to escape from the oath he had imposed upon 
 himself; but on the slightest hint there was a sternness in the 
 wife, in all. else so respectful, so submissive, that repressed and
 
 382 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 awed him. She even threatened and at one time was with 
 difficulty prevented carrying the threat into effect to leave his 
 roof for ever, if there were the slightest question of the sanctity 
 of his vow. Templeton trembled ; such a separation would ex 
 cite gossip, curiosity, scandal, a noise in the world, public talk, 
 possible discovery. Besides, Alice was necessary to Evelyn, 
 necessary to his own comfort ; something to scold in health, 
 something to rely upon in illness. Gradually then, but sullenly, 
 he reconciled himself to his lot, and as years and infirmities grew 
 upon him, he was contented, at least, to have secured a faithful 
 friend and an anxious nurse. Still a marriage of this sort was 
 not blessed : Templeton's vanity was wounded ; his temper, 
 always harsh, was soured ; he avenged his affront by a thousand 
 petty tyrannies ; and, without a murmur, Alice perhaps, in those 
 years of rank and opulence, suffered more than in all her 
 wanderings, with love at her heart and her infant in her arms. 
 
 Evelyn was to be the heiress to the wealth of the banker. 
 But the title of the new peer ! if he could unite wealth and title, 
 and set the coronet on that young brow ! This had led him to 
 seek the alliance with Lumley. And on his death-bed, it was not 
 the secret of Alice, but that of Mary Westbrook and his daughter, 
 which he had revealed to his dismayed and astonished nephew, 
 in excuse for the apparently unjust alienation of his property, 
 and as the cause of the alliance he had sought. 
 
 While her husband, if husband he might be called, lived, Alice 
 had seemed to bury . in her bosom her regret deep, mighty, 
 passionate, as it was for her lost child, the child of the unfor- 
 gotten lover, to whom, through such trials, and amid such new ties, 
 she had been faithful from first to last. But when once more free, 
 her heart flew back to the far and lowly grave. Hence her yearly 
 visits to Brook-Green ; hence her purchase of the cottage, hallowed 
 by memories of the dead. There, on that lawn, had she borne 
 forth the fragile form, to breathe the soft noontide air ; there, in 
 that chamber, had she watched, and hoped, and prayed, and 
 despaired ; there, in that quiet burial-ground, rested the beloved 
 dust ! But Alice, even in her holiest feelings, was not selfish : 
 she forbore to gratify the first wish of her heart till Evelyn's 
 education was sufficiently advanced to enable her to quit the
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 383 
 
 neighbourhood ; and then, to the delight of Aubrey (who saw in 
 Evelyn a fairer, and nobler, and purer Eleanor), she came to the 
 solitary spot, which, in all the earth, was the least solitary to 
 her! 
 
 And now the image of the lover of her youth which during 
 her marriage she had sought, at least, to banish returned to 
 her, and, at times, inspired her with the only hopes that the 
 grave had not yet transferred to heaven ! In relating her tale 
 to Aubrey or in conversing with Mrs. Leslie, whose friendship 
 she still maintained, she found that both concurred in thinking 1 
 
 o 
 
 that this obscure and wandering Butler, so skilled in an art in 
 which eminence in man is generally professional, must be of 
 mediocre, or perhaps humble, station. Ah ! now that she was 
 free and rich, if she were to meet him again, and his love was 
 not all gone, and he would believe in her strange and constant 
 truth ; now, his infidelity could be forgiven forgotten in the 
 benefits it might be hers to bestow ! and how, poor Alice, in 
 that remote village, was chance to throw him in your way ? 
 She knew not : but something often whispered to her, " Again 
 you shall meet those eyes ; again you shall hear that voice ; and 
 you shall tell him, weeping on his breast, how you loved his 
 child ! " And would he not have forgotten her? would he not 
 have formed new ties ? could he read the loveliness of unchange- 
 able affection in that pale and pensive face ! Alas, when we 
 love intensely, it is difficult to make us fancy that there is no 
 love in return ! 
 
 The reader is acquainted with the adventures of Mrs. Elton, 
 the 'sole confidant of the secret union of Templeton and Evelyn's 
 mother. By a singular fatality, it was the selfish and character- 
 istic recklessness of Vargrave that had, in fixing her home at 
 Burleigh, ministered to the revelation of his own villanous 
 deceit. On returning to England she had inquired for Mr. 
 Templeton ; she had learned that he had married again, had 
 been raised to the peerage under the title of Lord Vargrave, and 
 was gathered to his fathers. She had no claim on his widow or 
 his family. But the unfortunate child who should have inherited 
 his property, she could only suppose her dead. 
 
 When she first saw Evelyn, she was startled by her likeness
 
 384 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 to her unfortunate mother. But the unfamiliar name of 
 Cameron the intelligence received from Maltravers that 
 Evelyn's mother still lived dispelled her suspicions : and 
 though at times the resemblance haunted her, she doubted and 
 inquired no more. In fact, her own infirmities grew upon her, 
 and pain usurped her thoughts. 
 
 Now it so happened, that the news of the engagement ot 
 Maltravers to Miss Cameron became known to the county 
 but a little time before he arrived for news travels slow from 
 the Continent to our provinces and, of course, excited all the 
 comment of the villagers. Her nurse repeated the tale to 
 Mrs. Elton, who instantly remembered the name, and recalled 
 the resemblance of Miss Cameron to the unfortunate Mary 
 Westbrook. 
 
 " And," said the gossiping nurse, " she was engaged, they say, 
 to a great lord, and gave him up for the squire a great lord in 
 the court, who had been staying at Parson Merton's ! Lord 
 Vargrave ! " 
 
 " Lord Vargrave ! " exclaimed Mrs. Elton, remembering the 
 title to which Mr. Templeton had been raised. 
 
 " Yes ; they do say as how the late lord left Miss Cameron ail 
 his money such a heap of it though she was not his child 
 over the head of his nevy, the present lord, on the understand- 
 ing like that they were to be married when she came of age. 
 But she would not take to him after she had seen the squire. 
 And, to be sure, the squire is the finest-looking gentleman in 
 the county." 
 
 " Stop stop ! " said Mrs. Elton, feebly ; " the late lord left all 
 his fortune to Miss Cameron ? not his child ! I guess the 
 riddle I understand it all ! my foster-child ! " she murmured, 
 turning away ; " how could I have mistaken that likeness ? " 
 
 The agitation of the discovery she supposed she had made, 
 her joy at the thought that the child she had loved as her own 
 was alive and possessed of its rights, expedited the progress of 
 Mrs. Elton's disease ; and Maltravers arrived just in time to 
 learn her confession (which she naturally wished to make to one 
 who was at once her benefactor, and supposed to be the destined 
 husband of her foster-child), and to be agitated with hope
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 385 
 
 with joy at her solemn conviction of the truth of her surmises. 
 If Evelyn were not his daughter even if not to be his bride 
 what a weight from his soul ! He hastened to Brook-Green ; 
 and, dreading to rush at once to the presence of Alice, he 
 recalled Aubrey to his recollection. In the interview he sought, 
 all, or at least much, was cleared up. He saw at once the pre- 
 meditated and well-planned villany of Vargrave. And Alice, 
 her tale her sufferings her indomitable love 1 how should he 
 meet hert 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 M Yet once more, O ye laurels ! and once more, 
 Ye myrtles ! " LYCIDAS. 
 
 WHILE Maltravers was yet agitated and excited by the 
 disclosures of the curate, to whom, as a matter of course, he 
 had divulged his own identity with the mysterious Butler, 
 Aubrey, turning his eyes to the casement, saw the form of 
 Lady Vargrave slowly approaching towards the house. 
 
 "Will you withdraw to the inner room?" said he; "she is 
 coming ; you are not yet prepared to meet her ! nay, would it 
 be well?" 
 
 " Yes, yes I am prepared we must be alone. I will await 
 her here." 
 
 " But-" 
 
 " Nay, I implore you ! " 
 
 The curate, without another word, retired into the inner 
 apartment, and Maltravers sinking in a chair, breathlessly 
 awaited the entrance of Lady Vargrave. He soon heard the 
 light step without ; the door, which opened at once on the old- 
 fashioned parlour, was gently unclosed, and Lady Vargrave was 
 in the room ! In the position he had taken, only the outline of 
 Ernest's form was seen by Alice, and the daylight came dim 
 through the cottage casement : and, seeing some one seated in 
 the curate's accustomed chair, she could but believe that it was 
 Aubrey himself. 
 
 B B
 
 386 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " Do not let me interrupt you," said that sweet, low voice, 
 whose music had been dumb for so many years to Maltravers 
 " but I have a letter from France, from a stranger it alarms me 
 so it is about Evelyn," and, as if to imply that she medi- 
 tated a longer visit than ordinary, Lady Vargrave removed her 
 bonnet, and placed it on the table. Surprised that the curate 
 had not answered, had not come forward to welcome her, she 
 then approached : Maltravers rose, and they stood before eac-i 
 other face to face. And how lovely still was Alice ! lovelier he 
 thought even than of old ! And those eyes, so divinely blue, so 
 dovelike and soft, yet with some spiritual and unfathomable 
 mystery in their clear depth, were once more fixed upon him. 
 Alice seemed turned to stone ; she moved not she spoke not 
 she scarcely breathed ; she gazed spellbound, as if her senses 
 as if life itself had deserted her. 
 
 " Alice ! " murmured Maltravers," Alice, we meet at last ! " 
 
 His voice restored memory, consciousness, youth, at once to 
 her ! She uttered a loud cry of unspeakable joy, of rapture ! 
 She sprang forward reserve, fear, time, change, all forgotten 
 she threw herself into his arms, she clasped him to her heart 
 again and again ! the faithful dog that has found its master 
 expresses not his transport more uncontrollably, more wildly. 
 It was something fearful the excess of her ecstasy ! she kissed 
 his hands, his clothes ; she laughed, she wept : and at last, as 
 words came, she laid her head on his breast, and said passion- 
 ately, " I have been true to thee 1 I have been true to thee or 
 this hour would have killed me!" Then, as if alarmed by his 
 silence, she looked up into his face, and, as his burning tears fell 
 upon her cheek, she said again and with more hurried vehemence 
 " I have been faithful do you not believe me ? " 
 
 "I do I do, noble, unequalled Alice! Why, why were you 
 so long lost to me ? Why now does your love so shame my 
 own?" 
 
 At these words, Alice appeared to awaken from her first 
 oblivion of all that had chanced since they met : she blushed 
 deeply, and drew herself gently and bashfully from his embrace. 
 " Ah ! " she said, in altered and humbled accents, " you have 
 loved another 1 Perhaps you have no love left for me ! Is it
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 387 
 
 so ? is it ? No, no ; those eyes you love me you love 
 me still ! " 
 
 And again she clung to him, as if it were heaven to believe all 
 things, and death to doubt. Then, after a pause, she drew him 
 gently with both her hands towards the light, and gazed upon 
 him fondly, proudly, as if to trace, line by line, and feature by 
 feature, the countenance which had been to her sweet thoughts as 
 the sunlight to the flowers : " Changed, changed," she muttered; 
 " but still the same, still beautiful, still divine ! " She stopped : 
 a sudden thought struck her : his garments were worn and soiled 
 by travel, and that princely crest, fallen and dejected, no longer 
 towered in proud defiance above the sons of men. " You are 
 not rich," she exclaimed eagerly, "say you are not rich ! I am 
 rich enough for both ; it is all yours all yours I did not betray 
 you for it ; there is no shame in it. Oh, we shall be so happy ! 
 Thou art come back to thy poor Alice ! thou knowest how she 
 loved thee!" 
 
 There was ^n Alice's manner, her wild joy, something so 
 different from her ordinary self, that none who could have seen 
 her quiet, pensive, subdued would have fancied her the same 
 being. All that Society and its woes had taught were gone ; 
 and Nature once more claimed her fairest child. The very years 
 seemed to have fallen from her brow, and she looked scarcely 
 older than when she had stood with him beneath the moonlight 
 by the violet banks far away. Suddenly, her colour faded ; the 
 smile passed from the dimpled lips ; a sad and solemn aspect 
 succeeded to that expression of passionate joy " Come," she 
 said, in a whisper, "come, follow;" and, still clasping his hand, 
 she drew him to the door. Silent and wonderingly he followed 
 her across the lawn, through the moss-giown gate, and into the 
 lonely burial ground. She moved on with a noiseless and gliding 
 step so pale, so hushed, so breathless, that, even in the noon- 
 day, you might have half fancied the fair shape was not owned 
 by earth. She paused where the yew-tree cast its gloomy shadow ; 
 and the small and tombless mound, separated from the rest, was 
 before them. She pointed to it, and falling on her knees beside 
 it, murmured " Hush, it sleeps below thy child ! " She covered 
 her face with both her hands, and her form shook convulsively. 
 
 B B 2
 
 3S8 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Beside that form, and before that grave, knelt Maltraver.s. 
 There vanished the last remnant of his stoic pride ; and there 
 Evelyn herself forgotten there did he pray to Heaven for 
 pardon to himself, and blessings on the heart he had betrayed. 
 There solemnly did he vow, the remainder of his years, to guard 
 from all future ill the faithful and childless mother. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ** Will Fortune never come with both hands full, 
 But write her fair words still in foulest letters ? " 
 
 Henry IV., Part II. 
 
 I PASS over those explanations, that record of Alice's event- 
 ful history, which Maltravers learnt from her own lips, to confirm 
 and add to the narrative of the curate, the purpojrt of which is 
 already known to the reader. 
 
 It was many hours before Alice was sufficiently composed to 
 remember the object for which she had sought the curate. But 
 she had laid the letter which she had brought, and which 
 explained all, on the table at the vicarage ; and when Maltravers, 
 having at last induced Alice, who seemed afraid to lose sight 
 of him for an instant, to retire to her room, and seek some short 
 repose, returned towards the vicarage, he met Aubrey in the 
 garden. The old man had taken the friend's acknowledged 
 licence to read the letter evidently meant for his eye; and, 
 alarmed and anxious, he now eagerly sought a consultation with 
 Maltravers. The letter, written in English, as familiar to the 
 writer as her own tongue, was from Madame de Ventadour. It 
 had been evidently dictated by the kindest feelings. After 
 apologising briefly for her interference, she stated that Lord 
 Vargrave's marriage with Miss Cameron was now a matter of 
 public notoriety ; that it would take place in a few days ; that 
 it was observed with suspicion that Miss Cameron appeared 
 nowhere ; that she seemed almost a prisoner in her room ; 
 that certain expressions which had dropped from Lady Doltimore
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 389 
 
 had alarmed her greatly. According to these expressions, it 
 would seem that Lady Vargrave was not apprised of the ap- 
 proaching event ; that, considering Miss Cameron's recent engage- 
 ment to Mr. Maltravers, suddenly (and, as Valerie thought, 
 unaccountably) broken off, on the arrival of Lord Vargrave ; 
 considering her extreme youth, her brilliant fortune; and, Madame 
 de Ventadour delicately hinted, considering also Lord Vargrave's 
 character for unscrupulous determination in the furtherance 
 of any object on which he was bent considering all this, Ma- 
 dame de Ventadour had ventured to address Miss Cameron's 
 mother, and to guard her against the possibility of design or 
 deceit Her best apology for her intrusion must be her deep in- 
 terest in Miss Ca^neron, and her long friendship for one to whom 
 Miss Cameron had been so lately betrothed. If Lady Vargrave 
 were aware of the new engagement, and had sanctioned it, of 
 course her intrusion was unseasonable and superfluous ; but, if 
 ascribed to its real motive, would not be the less forgiven. 
 
 It was easy for Maltravers to see in this letter how generous 
 and zealous had been that friendship for himself which could 
 have induced the woman of the world to undertake so officious a 
 task. But of this he thought not, as he hurried over the lines, 
 and^huddered at Evelyn's urgent danger. 
 
 " This intelligence," said Aubrey, " must be, indeed, a surprise 
 to Lady Vargrave. For we have not heard a word from Evelyn 
 or Lord Vargrave to announce such a marriage ; and she (and 
 myself till this day) believed that the engagement between 
 
 Evelyn and Mr. , I mean," said Aubrey with confusion, " I 
 
 mean yourself, was still in force: Lord Vargrave's villany is 
 apparent ; we must act immediately. What is to be done ? " 
 
 " I will return to Paris to-morrow ; I will defeat his machi- 
 nation expose his falsehood ! " 
 
 " You may need a proxy for Lady Vargrave, an authority for 
 Evelyn ; one whom Lord Vargrave knows to possess the secret 
 of her birth, her rights : I will go with you. We must speak to 
 Lady Vargrave." 
 
 Maltravers turned sharply round. "And Alice knows not who 
 I am ; that I I am, or was, a few weeks ago, the suitor of 
 another ; and that other the child she has reared as her own !
 
 390 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Unhappy Alice ! in the very hour of her joy at my return, is she 
 to writhe beneath this new affliction ? " 
 
 " Shall I break it to her ? " said Aubrey, pityingly. 
 
 " No, no ; these lips must inflict the last wrong ! " 
 
 Maltravers walked away, and the curate saw him no more till 
 night. 
 
 In the interval, and late in the evening, Maltravers rejoined Alice. 
 
 The fire burned clear on the hearth the cur.tains were drawn 
 the pleasant but simple drawing-room of the cottage smiled 
 its welcome as Maltravers entered, and Alice sprang up to greet 
 him ! It was as if the old days of the music-lesson and the 
 meerschaum had come back. 
 
 " This is yours," said Alice, tenderly, as he looked round the 
 apartment. " Now now I know what a blessed thing riches 
 are ! Ah, you are looking on that picture it is of her who 
 supplied your daughter's place she is so beautiful, so good, you 
 will love her as a daughter. Oh, that letter that that letter 
 I forgot it till now it is at the vicarage I must go there 
 immediately, and you will come too you will advise us." 
 
 " Alice, I have read the letter I know all. Alice, sit down 
 and hear me it is you who have to learn from me. In our 
 young days I was accustomed to tell you stories in winter nights 
 like these stories of love like our own of sorrows which, at 
 that time, we only knew by hearsay. I have one now for your ear, 
 truer and sadder than they were. Two children, for they were 
 then little more children in ignorance of the world children 
 in freshness of heart children almost in years were thrown 
 together by strange vicissitudes, more than eighteen years ago. 
 They were of different sexes they loved and they erred. But 
 the error was solely with the boy ; for what was innocence in 
 her was but passion in him. He loved her dearly ; but at that 
 age her qualities were half developed. He knew her beautiful, 
 simple, tender ; but he knew not all the virtue, the faith, and the 
 nobleness that Heaven had planted in her soul. They parted 
 they knew not each other's fate. He sought her anxiously, but 
 in vain ; and sorrow and remorse long consumed him, and her 
 memory thre*v a shadow over his existence. But again for his 
 love had not the exalted holiness of hers (she was true !) he
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 391 
 
 sought to renew in others the charm he had lost with her. In 
 vain long long in vain. Alice, you know to whom the tale 
 refers. Nay, listen yet. I have heard from the old man yonder 
 that you were witness to a scene many years ago which deceived 
 you into the belief that you beheld a rival. It was not so : that 
 lady yet lives, then, as now, a friend to me ; nothing more. I 
 grant that, at one time, my fancy allured me to her, but my 
 heart was still true to thee." 
 
 " Bless you for those words ! " murmured Alice ; and she crept 
 more closely to him. 
 
 He went on. " Circumstances, which at some calmer occasion 
 you shall hear, again nearly connected my fate by marriage to 
 another. I had then seen you at a distance, unseen by you 
 seen you apparently surrounded by respectability and opulence ; 
 and I blessed Heaven that your lot, at least, was not that of 
 penury and want." [Here Maltravers related where he had 
 caught that brief glimpse of Alice l how he had sought for her 
 again and again in vain.] " From that hour," he continued, 
 "seeing you in circumstances of which I could not have dared 
 to dream, I felt more reconciled to the past; yet, when on the 
 verge of marriage with another beautiful, gifted, generous as 
 she was a thought a memory half acknowledged dimly 
 traced chained back my sentiments; and admiration, esteem, 
 and gratitude, were not love ! Death a death, melancholy and 
 tragic, forbade this 'union ; and I went forth in the world, a 
 pilgrim and a wanderer. Years rolled away, and I thought I 
 had conquered the desire for love a desire that had haunted me 
 since I lost thee. But, suddenly and recently, a being, beautiful 
 as yourself sweet, guileless, and young as you were when we 
 met woke in me a new and a strange sentiment. I will not 
 conceal it from you: Alice, at last I loved another! Yet, 
 singular as it may seem to you, it was a certain resemblance to 
 yourself, not in feature, but in the tones of the voice the name- 
 less grace of gesture and manner the very music of your once 
 happy laugh those traits of resemblance which I can now 
 account for, and which children catch not from their parents only, 
 but from those they most see, and, loving most, most imitate in 
 
 1 See Ernest MaUravers^ Book v., pp. 230, 231.
 
 392 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 their tender years ; all these, I say, made perhaps a chief 
 attraction, that drew me towards Alice, are you prepared for 
 it ? drew me towards Evelyn Cameron. Know me in my real 
 character, by my true name : I am that Maltravers to whom the 
 hand of Evelyn was a few weeks ago betrothed ! " 
 
 He paused and ventured to look up at Alice he was ex- 
 ceedingly pale, and her hands were tightly clasped together 
 but she neither wept nor spoke. The worst was over he 
 continued more rapidly, and with less constrained an effort. 
 " By the art, the duplicity, the falsehood of Lord Vargrave, I 
 was taught in a sudden hour to believe that Evelyn was our 
 daughter that you recoiled from the prospect of beholding 
 once more the author of so many miseries. I need not tell you, 
 Alice, of the horror that succeeded to love. I pass over the 
 tortures I endured. By a train of incidents to be related to you 
 hereafter, I was led to suspect the truth of Vargrave's tale. I 
 came hither I have learned all from Aubrey I regret no more 
 the falsehood that so racked me for the time. I regret no 
 more the rupture of my bond with Evelyn. I regret nothing 
 that brings me at last free and unshackled to thy 'feet, and 
 acquaints me with thy sublime faith and ineffable love. Here 
 then here beneath your own roof here he, at once your earliest 
 friend and foe, kneels to you for pardon and for hope ! he woos 
 you as his wife his companion to the grave ! forget all his 
 errors, and be to him, under a holier name, all that you were to 
 him of old!" 
 
 " And you are then Evelyn's suitor ? you are he whom she 
 loves ? I see it all all ! " Alice rose, and, before he was even 
 aware of her purpose, or conscious of what she felt, she had 
 vanished from the room. 
 
 Long, and with the bitterest feelings, he awaited her return ; 
 she came not. At last he wrote a hurried note, imploring her to 
 join him again, to relieve his suspense ; to believe his sincerity ; 
 to accept his vows. He sent it to her own room, to which she 
 had hastened to bury her emotions. In a few minutes there 
 came to him this answer, written in pencil, blotted with tears. 
 
 " I thank you I understand your heart but forgive me I
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 393 
 
 cannot see you yet she is so beautiful and good she is worthy 
 of you. I shall soon be reconciled God bless you bless you 
 both!" 
 
 The door of the vicarage was opened abruptly, and Maltravers 
 entered with a hasty but heavy tread. v . 
 
 "Go to her go to that angel go, I beseech you ! Tell her 
 that she wrongs me if she thinks, I can ever wed another ever 
 have an object in life, but to atone to, to merit her. Go 
 plead for me." 
 
 Aubrey, who soon gathered from Maltravers what had passed, 
 departed to the cottage it was near midnight before he returned. 
 Maltravers met him in the churchyard, beside the yew-tree. 
 " Well, well what message do you bring ? " 
 
 "She wishes that we should both set off for Paris to-morrow. 
 Not a day is to be lost we must save Evelyn from this snare." 
 
 " Evelyn ! Yes, Evelyn shall be saved : but the rest the 
 rest why do you turn away ? " 
 
 " ' You are not the poor artist the wandering adventurer 
 you are the high-born, the wealthy, the renowned Maltravers : 
 Alice has nothing to confer on you : you have won the love of 
 Evelyn Alice cannot doom the child confided to her care to 
 hopeless affection : you love Evelyn Alice cannot compare 
 herself to the young, and educated, and beautiful creature, whose 
 love is a priceless treasure : Alice prays you not to grieve for 
 her: she will soon be content and happy in your happiness.' 
 This is the message." 
 
 " And what said you ? did you not tell her such words would 
 break my heart ? " 
 
 "No matter what I said I mistrust myself when I advise 
 her. Her feelings are truer than all our wisdom ! " 
 
 Maltravers made no answer, and the curate saw him gliding 
 rapidly away by the starlit graves towards the village.
 
 394 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 "Think you I can a resolution fetch 
 From flowery tenderness?" Measure for Measure* 
 
 THEY were on the road to Dover. Maltravers leant back in 
 the corner of the carriage with his hat over his brows, though 
 the morning was yet too dark for the curate to perceive more 
 than the outline of his features. Milestone after milestone 
 glided by the wheels, and neither of the travellers broke the 
 silence. It was a cold, raw morning, and the mists rose sullenly 
 from the dank hedges and comfortless fields. 
 
 Stern and self-accusing was the scrutiny of Maltravers into 
 the recesses of his conscience, and the blotted pages of the Past. 
 That pale and solitary mother, mourning over the grave of her 
 of his own child, rose again before his eyes, and seemed silently 
 to ask him for an account of the heart he had made barren, and 
 of the youth to which his love had brought the joylessness of 
 age. With the image of Alice, afar, alone, whether in her 
 wanderings, a beggar and an outcast, or in that hollow prosperity, 
 in which the very ease of the frame allowed more leisure to the 
 pinijigs of the heart with that image, pure, sorrowing, and 
 faithful from first to last, he compared his own wild and wasted 
 youth his resort to fancy and to passion for excitement. He 
 contrasted with her patient resignation his own arrogant rebellion 
 against the trials, the bitterness of which his proud spirit had 
 exaggerated his contempt for the pursuits and aims of others 
 the imperious indolence of his later life, and his forgetfulness of 
 the duties which Providence had fitted him to discharge. His 
 mind, once so rudely hurled from that complacent pedestal, 
 from which it had so long looked down on men, and said, " I 
 am wiser and better than you," became even too acutely sensitive 
 to its own infirmities ; and that desire for Virtue, which he had 
 ever deeply entertained, made itself more distinctly and loudly 
 heard amidst the ruins and the silence of his pride.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 395 
 
 From the contemplation of the Past, he roused himself to 
 face the F ature. Alice had refused his hand Alice herself had 
 ratified and blessed his union with another ! Evelyn so madly 
 loved Evelyn might still be his ! No law from the violation 
 of which, even in thought, Human Nature recoils appalled and 
 horror-stricken forbade him to reclaim her hand to snatch her 
 from the grasp of Vargrave to woo again, and again to win 
 her ! But did Maltravers welcome, did he embrace that thought ? 
 Let us do him justice: he did not. He felt that Alice's resolu- 
 tion, in the first hour of mortified affection, was not to be consid- 
 ered final ; and even if it were so, he felt yet more deeply that 
 her love the love that had withstood so many trials never 
 could be subdued. Was he to make her nobleness a curse ? 
 Was he to say, " Thou hast passed away in thy generation, and 
 I leave thee again to thy solitude, for her whom thou hast 
 cherished as a child ? " He started in dismay from the thought 
 of this new and last blow upon the shattered spirit ; and then 
 fresh and equally sacred obstacles between Evelyn and himself 
 broke slowly on his view. Could Templeton rise from his grave, 
 with what resentment, with what just repugnance, would he 
 have regarded in the betrayer of his wife (even though wife but 
 in name) the suitor to his child ! 
 
 These thoughts came in fast and fearful force upon Maltravers, 
 and served to strengthen his honour and his conscience. He 
 felt that though, in law, there was no shadow of connection 
 between Evelyn and himself, yet his tie with Alice had been 
 of a nature that ought to separate him from one who had 
 regarded Alice as a mother. The load of horror, the agony of 
 shame, were indeed gone ; but still a voice whispered as before, 
 " Evelyn is lost to thee for ever ! " But so shaken had already 
 been her image in the late storms and convulsion of his sou!, 
 that this thought was preferable to the thought of sacrificing 
 Alice. If that were all but Evelyn might still love him; and 
 justice to Alice might be misery to her! He started from his 
 reverie with a vehement gesture, and groaned audibly. 
 
 The curate turned to address to him some words of inquiry 
 and surprise ; but the words were unheard, and he perceived, by 
 the advancing daylight, that the countenance of Maltravers was
 
 39* ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 that of a man utterly rapt and absorbed by some mastering and 
 irresistible thought. Wisely, therefore, he left his companion 
 in peace, and returned to his own anxious and engrossing 
 meditations. 
 
 The travellers did not rest till they arrived at Dover. The 
 vessel started early the following morning, and Aubrey, who was 
 much fatigued, retired to rest. Maltravers glanced at the clock 
 upon the mantelpiece ; it was the hour of nine. For him there 
 was no hope of sleep ; and the prospect of the slow night was 
 that of dreary suspense and torturing self-commune. 
 
 As he turned restlessly in his seat, the waiter entered to say 
 that there was a gentleman who had caught a glimpse of him 
 below on his arrival, and who was anxious to speak with him. 
 Before Maltravers could answer, the gentleman himself entered, 
 and Maltravers recognised Legard. 
 
 " I beg your pardon," said the latter, in a tone of great 
 agitation, " but I was most anxious to see you for a few 
 moments. I have just returned to England all places alike 
 hateful to me ! I read in the papers an an announcement 
 which which occasions me the greatest I know not what I 
 would say, but is it true ? Read this paragraph ; " and Legard 
 placed The Courier before Maltravers, 
 
 The passage was as follows : 
 
 " It is whispered that Lord Vargrave, who is now at Paris, 
 is to be married in a few days to the beautiful and wealthy 
 Miss Cameron, to whom he has been long engaged." 
 
 " Is it possible ? " exclaimed Legard, following the eyes o* 
 Maltravers, as he glanced over the paragraph. " Were not you 
 the lover, the accepted, the happy lover of Miss Cameron ? 
 Speak, tell me, I implore you ! that it was for you, who saved 
 my life and redeemed my honour, and not for that cold schemer, 
 that I renounced all my hopes of earthly happiness, and surren- 
 dered the dream of winning the heart and hand of the only 
 woman I ever loved ! " 
 
 A deep shade fell over the features of Maltravers. He gazed 
 earnestly and long upon the working countenance of Legard, 
 and said, after a pause
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 397 
 
 "You, too, loved her, then. I never knew it never guessed 
 it : or, if once I suspected, it was but for a moment ; and " 
 
 " Yes," interrupted Legard, passionately, " Heaven is my 
 witness how fervently and truly I did love I do still love 
 Evelyn Cameron ! But when you confessed to me your affection 
 your hopes I felt all that I owed you ; I felt that I never 
 ought to become your rival. I left Paris abruptly. What I 
 have suffered I will not say ; but it was some comfort to think 
 that I had acted as became one who owed you a debt never to 
 be cancelled nor repaid. I travelled from place to place, each 
 equally hateful and wearisome at last, I scarce know why, I 
 
 returned to England. I have arrived this day ; and now but 
 
 tell me, is it true ? " 
 
 " I believe it true," said Maltravers, in a hollow voice, " that 
 Evelyn is at this moment engaged to Lord Vargrave. I believe 
 it equally true that that engagement, founded upon false im- 
 pressions, never will be fulfilled. With that hope and that 
 belief, I am on my road to Paris." 
 
 " And she will be yours, still ? " said Legard, turning away his 
 face : " well, that I can bear may you be happy, sir ! " 
 
 " Stay, Legard," said Maltravers, in a voice of great feeling : 
 " let us understand each other better : you have renounced your 
 passion to your sense of honour (Maltravers paused thought- 
 fully). It was noble in you, it was more than just to me; I 
 thank ypu and respect you. But, Legard, was there aught in 
 the manner, the bearing of Evelyn Cameron, that could lead 
 you to suppose that she would have returned your affection ? 
 True, had we started on equal terms, I am not vain enough to 
 be blind to your advantages of youth and person ; but I believed 
 that the affections of Evelyn were already mine, before we met 
 at Paris." 
 
 " It might be so," said Legard, gloomily ; " nor is it for me to 
 say that a heart so pure and generous as Evelyn's could deceive 
 yourself or me. Yet I had fancied I had hoped while you 
 stood aloof, that the partiality with which she regarded you was 
 that of admiration more than love ; that you had dazzled her 
 imagination, rather than won her heart. I had hoped that I 
 should win, that I was winning, my way to her affection ! But
 
 398 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 let this pass ; I drop the subject for ever only, Maltravers, only 
 do me justice. You are a proud man, and your pride has often 
 irritated and stung me, in spite of my gratitude. Be more 
 lenient to me than you have been ; think that, though I have my 
 errors and my follies, I am still capable of some conquests over 
 myself. And most sincerely do I now wish that Evelyn's love 
 may be to you that blessing it would have been to me ! " 
 
 This was, indeed, a new triumph over the pride of Maltravers 
 a new humiliation. He had looked with a cold contempt on 
 this man, because he affected not to be above the herd ;' and 
 this man had preceded him in the very sacrifice he himself 
 meditated. 
 
 " Legard," said Maltravers, and a faint blush overspread his 
 face, " you rebuke me justly. I acknowledge my fault, and 
 I ask you to forgive it. From this night, whatever happens, I 
 shall hold it an honour to be admitted to your friendship ; frorn 
 this night, George Legard never shall find in me the offences 
 of arrogance and harshness." 
 
 Legard wrung the hand held out to him warmly, but made 
 no answer : his heart was full, and he would not trust himseli 
 to speak. * 
 
 " You think, then," resumed Maltravers, in a more thoughtful 
 tone ; " you think that Evelyn could have loved you, had my 
 pretensions not crossed your own ? And you think, also, pardon 
 me, dear Legard that you could have acquired the steadiness 
 of character, the firmness of purpose, which one so fair, so 
 young, so inexperienced and susceptible, so surrounded by a 
 thousand temptations would need in a guardian and protector ? " 
 
 " Oh, do not judge of me by what I have been. I feel that 
 Evelyn could have reformed errors worse than mine ; that her 
 love would have elevated dispositions yet more light and com- 
 monplace. You do not know what miracles love works ! But 
 now, what is there left for me ? what matters it how frivolous 
 and poor the occupations which can distract my thoughts, and 
 bring me forgetfulness ? Forgive me ; I have no right to 
 obtrude all this egotism on you." 
 
 " Do not despond, Legard," said Maltravers, kindly ; " there 
 may be better fortunes in store for you than you yet anticipate.
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 399 
 
 I cannot say more now ; but will you remain at Dover a few 
 days longer ? within a week you shall hear from me. . I will 
 not raise hopes that it may not be mine to realise. But if it be 
 as you think it was, why little, indeed, would rest with me. 
 Nay, look not on me so wistfully," added Maltravers, with a 
 mournful smile ; "and let the subject close for the present. You 
 will stay at Dover ? " 
 
 " I will ; but " 
 
 14 No buts, Legard ; it is so settled."
 
 BOOK XI. 
 
 *' 
 
 O'AvQpa>iros tvepyerbs irtfaiuSs. M. ANTONIN. lib. iii. 
 Man is born to be a doer of good. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 " His teeth he still did grind, 
 And grimly gnash, threatening revenge in vain." SPENSER. 
 
 IT is now time to return to Lord Vargrave. His most 
 sanguine hopes were realised ; all things seemed to prosper. 
 The hand of Evelyn Cameron was pledged to him, the 
 wedding-day was fixed. In less than a week she was to 
 confer upon the ruined peer a splendid dowry, that would 
 smooth all obstacles in the ascent of his ambition. From 
 Mr. Douce he learned that the deeds, which were to transfer 
 to himself the baronial possessions of the head of the house 
 of Maltravers, were nearly completed ; and, on his wedding- 
 day, he hoped to be able to announce that the happy pair 
 had set out for their princely mansion of Lisle Court. In 
 politics, though nothing could be finally settled till his 
 return, letters from Lord Saxingham assured him that all 
 was auspicious : the court and the heads of the aristocracy 
 daily growing more alienated from the premier, and more 
 prepared for a cabinet revolution. And Vargrave, perhaps, 
 like most needy men, overrated the advantages he should
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 401 
 
 derive from, and the servile opinions he shoi.ld conciliate 
 in, his new character ot landed proprietor and wealthy 
 peer. He was not insensible to the silent anguish that 
 Evelyn seemed to endure, nor to the bitter gloom that 
 hung on the brow of Lady Doltimore. But these were 
 clouds that foretold no storm light shadows that obscured 
 not the serenity of the favouring sky. He continued to 
 seem unconscious to either; to take the coming event as a 
 matter of course, and to Evelyn he evinced so gentle, un- 
 familiar, respectful, and delicate an attachment, that he 
 left no opening, either for confidence or complaint. Poor 
 Evelyn ! her gaiety, her enchanting levity, her sweet and 
 infantine playfulness of manner, were indeed vanished. Pale, 
 wan, passive, and smileless, she was the ghost of her former 
 self! But days rolled on, and the evil one drew near: she 
 recoiled, but she never dreamt of resisting. How many equal 
 victims of her age and sex does the altar witness ! 
 
 One day, at early noon, Lord Vargrave took his way to 
 Evelyn's. He had been to pay a political visit in the Faubourg 
 St. Germain, and he was now slowly crossing the more quiet 
 and solitary part of the gardens of the Tuileries, his hands 
 clasped behind him, after his old, unaltered habit, and his eyes 
 downcast ; when, suddenly, a man, who was seated alone beneath 
 one of the trees, and who had for some moments watched his 
 steps with an anxious and wild aspect, rose and approached him. 
 Lord Vargrave was not conscious of the intrusion, till the man 
 laid his hand on Vargrave's arm, and exclaimed 
 
 " It is he ! it is ! Lumley Ferrers, we meet again ! " 
 
 Lord Vargrave started and changed colour, as he gazed on 
 the intruder. 
 
 " Ferrers," continued Cesarini (for it was he), and he wound 
 his arm firmly into Lord Vargrave's as he spoke, " you have not 
 changed ; your step is light, your cheek healthful ; and yet I 
 you can scarcely recognise me. Oh, I have suffered so horribly 
 since we parted ! Why is this why have I been so heavily 
 visited ? and why have you gone free ? Heaven is not just !" 
 
 Castruccio was in one of his lucid intervals; but there was 
 that in his uncertain eye, and strange unnatural voice, which 
 
 C C
 
 402 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 showed that a breath might dissolve the avalanche. Lord 
 Vargrave looked anxiously round ; none were near : but he knew 
 that the more public parts of the garden were thronged, and 
 through the trees he saw many forms moving in the distance. 
 He felt that the sound of his voice could summon assistance in 
 an instant, and his assurance returned to him. 
 
 " My poor friend," said he soothingly as he quickened his 
 pace, " it grieves me to the heart to see you look ill : do not 
 think so much of what is past." 
 
 " There is no past ! " replied Cesarini, gloomily. " The Past is 
 my Present ! And I have thought and thought, in darkness and 
 in chains, over all that I have endured, and a light has broken 
 on me in the hours when they told me I was mad ! Lumley 
 Ferrers, it was not for my sake that you led me, devil as you 
 are, into the lowest hell ! You had some object of your own to 
 serve in separating her from Maltravers. You made me your 
 instrument. What was I to you that you should have sinned for 
 my sake ? Answer me, and truly, if those lips can utter truth ! " 
 
 " Cesarini," returned Vargrave in his blandest accents, " another 
 time we will converse on what has been ; believe me, my only 
 object was your happiness, combined, it may be, with my hatred 
 of your rival." 
 
 " Liar ! " shouted Cesarini, grasping Vargrave's arm with the 
 strength of growing madness, while his burning eyes were fixed 
 upon his tempter's changing countenance. " You, too, loved 
 Florence you, too, sought her hand you were my real rival ! " 
 
 " Hush ! my friend, hush ! " said Vargrave seeking to shake 
 off the gripe of the maniac, and becoming seriously alarmed ; 
 " we are approaching the crowded part of the gardens, we shall 
 be observed." 
 
 " And why are men made my foes ? Why is my own sister 
 become my persecutor ? why should she give me up to the 
 torturer and the dungeon ? Why are serpents and fiends my 
 comrades ? Why is there fire in my brain and heart ? and why 
 do you go free and enjoy liberty and life ? Observed ! what care 
 you for observation ? All men search for me ! " 
 
 " Then why so openly expose yourself to their notice ? 
 why "
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 403 
 
 " Hear me ! " interrupted Cesarini. " When I escaped from 
 the horrible prison into which I was plunged when I scented 
 the fresh air, and bounded over the grass when I was again 
 free in limbs and spirit a sudden strain of music from a village 
 came on my ear, and I stopped short, and couched down, and 
 held my breath to listen. It ceased ; and I thought I had been 
 with Florence, and I wept bitterly ! When I recovered, memory 
 came back to me distinct and clear : and I heard a voice say to 
 me, 'Avenge her and thyself!' From that hour the voice has 
 been heard again, morning and night ! Lumley Ferrers, I hear 
 it now ! it speaks to my heart it warms my blood it nerves 
 my hand ! on whom should vengeance fall ? Speak to me ! " 
 
 Lumley strode rapidly on : they were now without the grove : 
 a gay throng was before them. " All is safe," thought the 
 Englishman. He turned abruptly and haughtily on Cesarini, and 
 waved his hand ; " Begone, madman ! " said he, in a loud and 
 stern voice, " begone ! vex me no more, or I give you into 
 custody. Begone, I say ! " 
 
 Cesarini halted, amazed and awed for the moment ; and then, 
 with a dark scowl and a low cry, threw himself on Vargrave. 
 The eye and hand of the latter were vigilant and prepared : he 
 grasped the uplifted arm of the maniac, and shouted for help. But 
 the madman was now in his full fury ; he hurled Vargrave to the 
 ground with a force for which the peer was not prepared, and 
 Lumley might never have risen a living man from that spot, if 
 two soldiers, seated close by, had not hastened to his assistance. 
 Cesarini was already kneeling on his breast, and his long bony 
 fingers were fastening upon the throat of his intended victim. 
 Torn from his hold, he glared fiercely on his new assailants ; 
 and, after a fierce but momentary struggle, wrested himself from 
 their gripe. Then, turning round to Vargrave, who had with 
 some effort risen from the ground, he shrieked out, " I shall have 
 thee yet 1 " and fled through the trees and disappeared. 
 
 C C 2
 
 404 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 M Ah I who is nigh ? Come to me, friend or foe ! 
 Aly parks, my walks, my manors that I had 
 Ev'n now forsake me." Henry VI. , Third Part. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE, bold as he was by nature, in vain en- 
 deavoured to banish from his mind the gloomy impression which 
 the startling interview with Cesarini had bequeathed. The face, 
 the voice of the maniac, haunted him, as the shape of the 
 warning wraith haunts the mountaineer. He returned at once to 
 his hotel, unable for some hours to collect himself sufficiently to 
 pay his customary visit to Miss Cameron. Inly resolving not to 
 hazard a second meeting with the Italian during the rest of his 
 sojourn at Paris, by venturing in the streets on foot, he ordered 
 his- carriage towards evening dined at the Cafe de Paris ; and 
 then re-entered his carriage to proceed to Lady Doltimore's 
 house. 
 
 " I beg your pardon, my lord," said his servant, as he closed 
 the carriage-door, "but I forgot to say that, a short time after 
 you returned this morning, a strange gentleman asked at the 
 porter's lodge if Mr. Ferrers was not staying at the hotel. The 
 porter said there was no Mr. Ferrers but the gentleman insisted 
 upon it that he had seen Mr. Ferrers enter. I was in the lodge 
 at the moment, my lord, and I explained " 
 
 " That Mr. Ferrers and Lord Vargrave are one and the same ? 
 What sort of looking person ? " 
 
 "Thin and dark, my lord evidently a foreigner. When I 
 said that you were now Lord Vargrave, he stared a momeut, and 
 said very abruptly, that he recollected it perfectly, and then he 
 laughed and walked away." 
 
 " Did he not ask to see me ? " 
 
 " No, my lord ; he said he should take another opportunity. 
 He was a strange-looking gentleman and his clothes were 
 threadbare." 
 
 "Ah! some troublesome petitioner. Perhaps a Pole in
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 405 
 
 distress ! Remember I am never at home when he calls. Shut 
 the door. To Lady Doltimore's." 
 
 Lumley's heart beat as he threw himself back he again felt 
 the gripe of the madman at his throat. He saw, at once, that 
 Ccsarini had dogged him he resolved the next morning to 
 change his hotel, and to apply to- the police. It was strange 
 how sudden and keen a fear had entered the breast of this 
 callous and resolute man ! 
 
 On arriving at Lady Doltimore's, he found Caroline alone in 
 the drawing-room. It was -a tete-a-tete that he by no means 
 desired. 
 
 " Lord Vargrave," said Caroline, coldly, " I wished a short 
 conversation with you and, finding you did not come in the 
 morning, I sent you a note an hour ago. Did you receive it ? " 
 
 "No I have been from home since six o'clock it is now 
 nine." 
 
 "Well, then, Vargrave," said Caroline, with a compressed and 
 writhing lip, and turning very pale " I tremble to tell you that 
 I fear Doltimore suspects. He looked at me sternly this 
 morning, and said, 'You seem unhappy, madam this marriage 
 of Lord Vargrave's distresses you ! ' ' 
 
 " I warned you how it would be your own selfishness will 
 betray and ruin you." 
 
 " Do not reproach me, man ! " said Lady Doltimore, with 
 great vehemence. "From you at least I have a right to pity 
 to forbearance to succour. I will not bear reproach from 
 you" 
 
 " I reproach you for your own sake for the faults you commit 
 against yourself and I must say, Caroline, that after I had 
 generously conquered all selfish feeling, and assisted you to so 
 desirable and even brilliant a position, it is neither just nor 
 high-minded in you to evince so ungracious a reluctance to 
 my taking the only step which can save me from actual ruin. 
 But what does Doltimore suspect ? What ground has he for 
 suspicion, beyond that want of command of countenance which 
 it is easy to explain and which it is yet easier for a woman and 
 a great lady (here Lumley sneered) to acquire ? " 
 
 " I know not it has been put into his head. Paris is so full
 
 4 o6 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 of slander. - But Vargrave Lumley I tremble I shudder 
 with terror if ever Doltimore should discover " 
 
 " Pooh pooh ! Our conduct at Paris has been most guarded 
 most discreet. Doltimore is Self-conceit personified and 
 Self-conceit is horn-eyed. I am about to leave Paris about 
 to marry, from under your own roof; a little prudence 
 a little self-control a smiling face, when you wish us happiness, 
 and so forth, and all is safe. Tush ! think of it no more Fate 
 has cut and shuffled the cards for you the game is yours, 
 unless you revoke pardon my metaphor it is a favourite 
 one I have worn it threadbare but human life ts so like 
 a rubber at whist. Where is Evelyn ? " 
 
 " In her own room. Have you no pity for her ? " 
 
 " She will be very happy when she is Lady Vargrave ; and 
 for the rest, I shall neither be a stern nor a jealous husband. 
 She might not have given the same character to the magnificent 
 Maltravers." 
 
 Here Evelyn entered ; and Vargrave hastened to press her 
 hand to whisper tender salutations and compliments to draw 
 the easy-chair to the fire to place the footstool ; to lavish the 
 petits soins that are so agreeable, when they are the small 
 moralities of love. 
 
 Evelyn was more than usually pale more than usually 
 abstracted. There was no lustre in her eye no life in her 
 step : she seemed unconscious of the crisis to which she 
 approached. As the myrrh and hyssop which drugged the 
 malefactors of old into forgetfulness of their doom, so there 
 are griefs which stupefy before their last and crowning 
 consummation ! 
 
 Vargrave conversed lightly on the weather, the news, the 
 last book. Evelyn answered but in monosyllables ; and Caroline 
 with a hand-screen before her face, preserved an unbroken silence. 
 Thus, gloomy and joyless were two of the party thus, gay and 
 animated the third, when the clock on the mantelpiece struck 
 ten ; and, as the last stroke died, and Evelyn sighed heavily 
 for it was an hour nearer to the fatal day the door was suddenly 
 thrown open, and, pushing aside the servant, two gentlemen 
 entered the room.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 407 
 
 Caroline, the first to perceive them, started from her seat 
 with a faint exclamation of surprise. Vargrave turned abruptly, 
 and saw before him the stern countenance of Maltravers. 
 
 " My child ! my Evelyn ! " exclaimed a familiar voice ; and 
 Evelyn had already flown into the arms of Aubrey. 
 
 The sight of the curate in company with Maltravers explained 
 all at once to Vargrave. He saw that the mask was torn from 
 his face the prize snatched from his grasp his falsehood known 
 his plot counterworked his villany baffled ! He struggled in 
 vain for self-composure all his resources of courage and craft 
 seemed drained and exhausted. Livid, speechless, almost 
 trembling, he cowered beneath the eyes of Maltravers. 
 
 Evelyn, not as yet aware of the presence of her former lover, 
 was the first to break the silence. She lifted her face in alarm 
 from the bosom of the good curate " My mother she is well 
 she lives what brings you hither ? " 
 
 " Your mother is well, my child. I have come hither at her 
 earnest request to save you from a marriage with that unworthy 
 
 man 
 
 pi- 
 
 Lord Vargrave smiled a ghastly smile, but made no answer. 
 
 " Lord Vargrave," said Maltravers, " you will feel at once that 
 you have no further business under this roof. Let us withdraw 
 I have much to thank you for." 
 
 "I will not stir!" exclaimed Vargrave passionately, and 
 stamping on the floor. " Miss Cameron, the guest of Lady 
 Doltirnore, whose house and presence you thus rudely profane, 
 is my affianced bride affianced with her own consent. Evelyn 
 beloved Evelyn ! mine you are yet you alone can cancel 
 the bond. Sir, I know not what you have to say what mystery 
 in your immaculate life to disclose ; but unless Lady Doltimore, 
 whom your violence appals and terrifies, orders me to quit her 
 roof, it is not I it is yourself, who are the intruder ! Lady 
 Doltimore, with your permission, I will direct your servants 'to 
 conduct this gentleman to his carriage !" 
 
 " Lady Doltimore, pardon me," said Maltravers, coldly ; " I 
 will not be urged to any failure of respect to you. My lord, if 
 the most abject cowardice be not added to your other vices, you 
 will not make this room the theatre for our altercation. I invite
 
 4 o8 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 you, in those terms which no gentleman ever yet refused, to 
 withdraw with me." 
 
 The tone and manner of Maltravers exercised a strar^e 
 control over Vargrave ; he endeavoured in vain to keep alive 
 the passion into which he had sought to work himselfhis 
 voice faltered, his head sank upon his breast. Between these 
 two personages, none interfered ; around them, all present 
 grouped in breathless silence : Caroline, turning her eyes 
 from one to the other in wonder and dismay ; Evelyn, believing 
 all a dream, yet alive only to the thought that, by some merciful 
 interposition of Providence, she should escape the consequences 
 of her own rashness clinging to Aubrey, with her gaze riveted 
 on Maltravers ; and Aubrey, whose gentle character was borne 
 down and silenced by the powerful and tempestuous passions 
 that now met in collision and conflict, withheld by his abhorrence 
 of Vargrave's treachery from his natural desire to propitiate, and 
 yet appalled by the apprehension of bloodshed, that for the 
 first time crossed him. 
 
 There was a moment of dead silence, in which Vargrave 
 seemed to be nerving and collecting himself for such course as 
 might be best to pursue, when again the door opened, and the 
 name of Mr. Howard was announced. 
 
 Hurried and agitated, the young secretary, scarcely noticing 
 the rest of the party, rushed to Lord Vargrave. 
 
 "My lord! a thousand pardons for interrupting you 
 business of such importance ! I am so fortunate to find you ! " 
 
 " What is the matter, sir ? " 
 
 " These letters, my lord ; I have so much to say ! " 
 
 Any interruption, even an earthquake, at that moment must 
 have been welcome to Vargrave. He bent his head, with a 
 polite smile, linked his arm into his secretary's, and withdrew 
 to the recess of the furthest window. Not a minute elapsed, 
 before he turned away with a look of scornful exultation. 
 "Mr. Howard," said he, "go and refresh yourself, and come 
 to me at twelve o'clock to-night ; I shall be at home then/' 
 The secretary bowed, and withdrew. 
 
 "Now, sir," said Vargrave to Maltravers, "I am willing to 
 leave you in possession of the field. Miss Cameron, it will be,
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 409 
 
 I fear, impossible for me to entertain any longer the bright 
 hopes I had once formed ; my truel fate compels me to seek 
 wealth in any matrimonial engagement. I regret to inform 
 you, that you are no longer the great heiress : the whole of 
 your capital was placed in the hands of Mr. Douce for the 
 completion of the purchase of Lisle Court. Mr. Douce is a 
 bankrupt ; he has fled to America. This letter is an express 
 from my lawyer ; the house has closed its payments ! Perhaps 
 we may hope to obtain sixpence in the pound. I am a loser also ; 
 the forfeit money bequeathed to me is gone. I know not whether, 
 as your trustee, I am not accountable for the loss of your fortune 
 (drawn out on my responsibility) ; probably so. But as I have 
 not now a shilling in the world, I doubt whether Mr. Maltravers 
 will advise you to institute proceedings against me. Mr. Mal- 
 tn/vers, to-morrow, at nine o'clock, I will listen to what you 
 have to say. I wish you all good night." He bowed seized 
 his hat and vanished. 
 
 " Evelyn," said Aubrey, " can you require to learn more ? do 
 you not already feel you are released from union with a man 
 without heart and honour ? " 
 
 " Yes, yes ! I am so happy ! " cried Evelyn, bursting into tears. 
 " This hated wealth I feel not its loss I am released from all 
 duty to my benefactor. . I am free ! " 
 
 The last tie that had yet united the guilty Caroline to 
 Vargrave was broken a woman forgives sin in her lover, 
 but never meanness. The degrading, the abject position in 
 which she had seen one whom she had served as a slave 
 (though, as yet, all his worst villanies were unknown to her), 
 filled her with shame, horror, and disgust. She rose abruptly, 
 and quitted the room. They did not miss her. 
 
 Maltravers approached Evelyn ; he took her hand, and pressed 
 it to his lips and heart. 
 
 " Evelyn," said he, mournfully, " you require an explanation 
 to-morrow I will give and seek it. To-night we are both too 
 unnerved for such communications. I can only now feel joy at 
 your escape, and hope that I may still minister to your future 
 happiness." 
 
 "But," said Aubrey, "can we believe this new and astounding
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 statement ? can this loss be so irremediable ? may we not yet 
 take precaution, and save, at least, some wrecks of this noble 
 fortune ? " 
 
 " I thank you for recalling me to the world," said Maltravers, 
 eagerly. "I will see to it this instant; and to-morrow, Evelyn, 
 after my interview with you, I will hasten to London, and act in 
 that capacity still left to me your guardian your friend." 
 
 He turned away his face, and hurried to the door. 
 
 Evelyn clung mere closely to Aubrey. "But you will not 
 leave me to-night ? you can stay we can find you accommo- 
 dation do not leave me." 
 
 "Leave you, my child! no we have a thousand things to 
 say to each other. I will not," he added in a whisper, turning to 
 Maltravers, " forestall your communications." 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 ** Alack, 'tis he. Why, he was met even now 
 As mad as the vex'd sea." Lear. 
 
 IN the Rue de la Paix there resided an English lawyer of 
 eminence, with whom Maltravers had had previous dealings. to 
 this gentleman he now drove. He acquainted him with the 
 news he had just heard, respecting the bankruptcy of Mr. 
 Douce ; and commissioned him to leave Paris, the first moment 
 he could obtain a passport, and to proceed to London At all 
 events, he would arrive there some hours before Maltravers ; and 
 those hours were something gained. This done, he drove to the 
 
 nearest hotel, which chanced to be the Hotel de M , where, 
 
 though he knew it not, it so happened that Lord Vargrave him- 
 self lodged. As his carriage stopped without, while the porter 
 unclosed the gates, a man, who had been loitering under the 
 lamps, darted forward, and prying into the carriage-window, 
 regarded Maltravers earnestly. The latter, pre-occupied and 
 absorbed, did not notice him ; but when the carriage drove into 
 the court-yard it was followed by the stranger, who was muffled
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 411 
 
 in a worn and tattered cloak, and whose movements were 
 unheeded amidst the bustle of the arrival. The porter's wife led 
 the way to a second-floor, just left vacant, and the waiter began 
 to arrange the fire. Maltravers threw himself abstractedly upon 
 the sofa, insensible to all around him when, lifting his eyes, he 
 saw before him the countenance of Cesarini ! The Italian 
 (supposed, perhaps, by the persons of the hotel, to be one of the 
 new comers) was leaning over the back of a chair, supporting 
 his face with his hand, and fixing his eyes with an earnest and 
 sorrowful expression upon the features of his ancient rival. 
 When he perceived that he was recognised, he approached 
 Maltravers, and said in Italian, and in a low voice, "You are the 
 man of all others, whom, save one, I most desired to see. I 
 have much to say to you, and my time is short. Spare me a 
 few minutes." 
 
 The tone and manner of Cesarini were so calm and rational 
 that they changed the first impulse of Maltravers, which was 
 that of securing a maniac : while the Italian's emaciated coun- 
 tenance his squalid garments the air of penury and want 
 diffused over his whole appearance irresistibly invited com- 
 passion. With all the more anxious and pressing thoughts that 
 weighed upon him, Maltravers could not refuse the conference 
 thus demanded. He dismissed the attendants, and motioned 
 Cesarini to be seated. 
 
 The Italian drew near to the fire, which now blazed brightly 
 and cheerily, and, spreading his thin hands to the flame, seemed 
 to enjoy the physical luxury of the warmth. " Cold cold," he 
 said piteously, as to himself; "Nature is a very bitter protector. 
 But frost and famine are, at least, more merciful than slavery 
 and darkness." 
 
 At this moment Ernest's servant entered to know if his master 
 would not take refreshments, for he had scarcely touched food 
 upon the road. And, as he spoke, Cesarini turned keenly and 
 wistfully round. There was no mistaking the appeal. Wine 
 and cold meat were ordered : and when the servant vanished, 
 Cesarini turned to Maltravers with a strange smile, and said, 
 " You see what the love of liberty brings men to ! They found 
 me p'enty in the gaol ! But I have read of men who feasted
 
 4 i2 ALICE; OR THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 merrily before execution have not you ? and my hour is at 
 hand. All this day I have felt chained by an irresistible destiny 
 to this house. But it was not you I sought ; no matter, in the 
 crisis of our doom all its agents meet together. It is the !ast 
 act of a dreary play ! " 
 
 The Italian turned again to the fire, and bent over it, muttering 
 to himself. 
 
 Maltravers remained silent and thoughtful. Now was the 
 moment once more to place the maniac under the kindly vigi- 
 lance of his family to snatch him from the horrors, perhaps, 
 of starvation itself, to which his escape condemned him : if he 
 could detain Cesarini till De Montaigne could arrive ! 
 
 Agreeably to this thought, he quietly drew towards him the 
 portfolio which had been laid on the table and, Cesarini's back 
 still turned to him, wrote a hasty line to De Montaigne. When 
 his servant re-entered with the wine and viands, Maltravers 
 followed him out of the room, and bade him see the note sent 
 immediately. On returning, he found Cesarini devouring the 
 food before him with all the voracity of famine. It was a 
 dreadful sight! the intellect ruined the mind darkened the 
 wild, fierce, animal, alone left ! 
 
 When Cesarini had appeased his hunger, he drew near to 
 Maltravers, and thus accosted him : 
 
 " I must lead you back to the past. I sinned against you and 
 the dead : but Heaven has avenged you, and me you can pity 
 and forgive. Maltravers, there is another more guilty than I 
 but proud, prosperous, and great His crime Heaven has left to 
 the revenge of man ! I bound myself by an oath not to reveal 
 his villany. I cancel the oath now, for the knowledge of it 
 should survive his life and mine. And, mad though they deem 
 me the mad are prophets and a solemn conviction, a voice 
 not of earth, tells me that he and I are already in the Shadow 
 of Death." 
 
 Here Cesarini, with a calm and precise accuracy of self- 
 possession a minuteness of circumstance and detail, that, 
 coming from one whose very eyes betrayed his terrible disease, 
 was infinitely thrilling in its effect, related the counsels, the 
 persuasions, the stratagems of Lumley. Slowly and distinctly
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 413 
 
 he forced into the heart of Maltravers that sickening record ot 
 cold fraud, calculating on vehement passion as its tool ; and thus 
 he concluded his narration : 
 
 " Now wonder no longer why I have lived till this hour why 
 I have clung to freedom, through want and hunger, amidst 
 beggars, felons, and outcasts! In that freedom was my last hope. 
 the hope of revenge ! " 
 
 Maltravers returned no answer for some moments. At length 
 he said calmly, " Cesarini, there are injuries so great that they 
 defy revenge. Let us alike, since we are alike injured, trust our 
 cause to Him who reads all hearts, and, better than we can do, 
 measures both come and its excuses. You think that our enemy 
 has not suffered that he has gone free. We know not his in- 
 ternal history prosperity and power are no signs of happiness, 
 they bring no exemption from care. Be soothed and be ruled, 
 Cesarini. Let the stone once more close over the solemn grave. 
 Turn with me to the future ; and let us rather seek to be the 
 judges of ourselves, than the executioners of another." 
 
 Cesarini listened gloomily, and was about to answer, when 
 
 But here we must return to Lord Vargrave. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 " My noble lord, 
 Your worthy friends do lack you." Macbeth. 
 
 " He is about it; 
 The doors are open." Ibid. 
 
 ON quitting Lady Doltimore's house, Lumley drove to his 
 hotel. His secretary had been the bearer of other communica- 
 tions, with the nature of which he had not yet acquainted 
 himself. But he saw by the superscriptions that they were of 
 great importance. Still, however, even in the solitude and 
 privacy of his own chamber, it was not on the instant that he 
 could divert his thoughts from the ruin of his fortunes : the loss 
 not only of Evelyn's property, but his own claims upon it (for
 
 414 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the whole capital had been placed in Douce's hands) the total 
 wreck of his grand scheme the triumph he had afforded to 
 Maltravers ! He ground his teeth in impotent rage, and groaned 
 aloud, as he traversed his room with hasty and uneven strides. 
 At last he paused and muttered, " Well, the spider toils on even 
 when its very power of weaving fresh webs is exhausted ; it lies 
 in wait it forces itself into the webs of others. Brave insect, 
 thou art my model ! While I have breath in my body, the world 
 and all its crosses Fortune and all her malignity shall not 
 prevail against me ! What man ever yet failed until he himseli 
 grew craven, and sold his soul to the arch fiend, Despair ! 'Tis 
 but a girl and a fortune lost they were gallantly fought for, that 
 is some comfort. Now to what is yet left to me ! " 
 
 The first letter Lumley opened was from Lord Saxingham. 
 It filled him with dismay. The question at issue had been 
 formally, but abruptly, decided in the cabinet against Vargrave 
 and his manoeuvres. Some hasty expressions of Lord Saxingham 
 had been instantly caught at by the premier, and a resignation, 
 rather hinted at than declared, had been peremptorily accepted. 
 Lord Saxingham and Lumley 's adherents in the government 
 were to a man dismissed ; and, at the time Lord Saxingham 
 wrote the premier was with the king. 
 
 " Curse their folly ! the puppets ! the dolts ! " exclaimed 
 Lumley, crushing the letter in his hand. " The moment I leave 
 them, they run their heads against the wall. Curse them curse 
 myself curse the man who weaves ropes with sand! Nothing 
 nothing left for me, but exile or suicide ! Stay, what is this ? " 
 His eye fell on the well-known handwriting of the premier. 
 He tore the envelope, impatient to know the worst. His eyes 
 sparkled as he proceeded. The letter was most courteous, most 
 complimentary, most wooing. The minister was a man consum- 
 mately versed in the arts that increase, as well as those which 
 purge, a party. Saxingham and his friends were imbeciles 
 incapables mostly men who had outlived their day. But Lord 
 Vargrave, in the prime of life versatile, accomplished, vigorous, 
 bitter, unscrupulous Vargrave was of another mould Vargrave 
 was to be dreaded ; and, therefore, if possible, to be retained 
 His powers of mischief were unquestionably increased by the
 
 ALICE; OK, THE MYSTERIES. 415 
 
 universal talk of London, that he was about soon to wed so 
 wealthy a lady. The minister knew his man. In terms of 
 affected regret, he alluded to the loss the government would 
 sustain in the services of Lord Saxingham, &c., he rejoiced that 
 Lord Vargrave's absence from London had prevented his being 
 prematurely mixed up, by false scruples of honour, in secessions, 
 which his judgment must condemn. He treated of the question 
 in dispute with the most delicate address confessed the reason- 
 ableness of Lord Vargrave's former opposition to it ; but con- 
 tended that it was now, if not wise, inevitable. He said nothing 
 of the justice of the measure he proposed to adopt, but much on 
 the expediency. He concluded by offering to Vargrave, in the 
 most cordial and flattering terms, the very seat in the cabinet 
 which Lord Saxingham had vacated, with an apology for its 
 inadequacy to his lordship's merits, and a distinct and definite 
 promise of the refusal of the gorgeous viceroyalty of India which 
 would be vacant next year by the return of the present governor- 
 general. 
 
 Unprincipled as Vargrave was, it is not, perhaps, judging him 
 too mildly to say that, had he succeeded in obtaining Evelyn's 
 hand and fortune, he would have shrunk from the baseness he 
 now meditated. To step coldly into the very post of which he, 
 and he alone had been the cause of depriving his earliest patron 
 and nearest relative to profit by the betrayal of his own party 
 to damn himself eternally in the eyes of his ancient friends 
 to pass down the stream of history as a mercenary apostate ; 
 from all this Vargrave must have shrunk, had he seen one spot 
 of honest ground on which to mantain his footing. But now the 
 waters of the abyss were closing over his head ; he would have 
 caught at a straw ; how much more consent to be picked up by 
 the vessel of an enemy ! All objection, all scruple, vanished at 
 once. And the "barbaric gold " " of Ormus and of Ind " glittered 
 before the greedy eyes of the penniless adventurer ! Not a day 
 was now to be lost : how fortunate that a written proposition, from 
 which it was impossible to recede, had been made to him, before 
 the failure of his matrimonial projects had become known ! Too 
 happy to quit Paris, he would set off on the morrow, and conclude 
 in person the negotiation. Vargrave glanced towards the clock
 
 4 i6 ALICE ; OR, THE 1VSTERIES. 
 
 it was scarcely past eleven. What revolutions are worked in 
 moments ! Within an hour he had lost a wife a noble fortune 
 changed the politics of his whole life stepped into a cabinet 
 office and was already calculating how much a governor- 
 general of India could lay by in five years ! But it was only 
 eleven o'clock he had put off Mr. Howard's visit till twelve he 
 wished so much to see him, and learn all the London gossip 
 connected with the recent events. Poor Mr. Douce ! Vargrave 
 had already forgotten his existence ! he rang his bell hastily. 
 It was some time before his servant answered. 
 
 Promptitude and readiness were virtues that Lord Vargrave 
 peremptorily demanded in a servant ; and as he paid the best 
 price for the articles less in wages than in plunder he was 
 generally sure to obtain them. 
 
 " Where the deuce have you been ? this is the third time I 
 have rung ! you ought to be in the ante-room ! " 
 
 " I beg your lordship's pardon ; but I was helping Mr. 
 Maltravers's valet to find a key which he dropped in the court- 
 yard." 
 
 " Mr. Maltravers ! Is he at this hotel ? " 
 
 " Yes, my lord ; his rooms are just overhead." 
 
 " Humph ! Has Mr. Howard engaged a lodging here?" 
 
 " No, my lord. He left word that he was gone to his aunt, 
 Lady Jane." 
 
 "Ah! Lady Jane lives at Paris so she does Rue 
 Chausse"e d'Antin you know the house ? go immediately 
 go yourself don't trust to a messenger and beg Mr. Howard 
 to return with you. I want to see him instantly." 
 
 " Yes, my lord." 
 
 The servant went. Lumley was in a mood in which solitude 
 was intolerable. He was greatly excited ; and some natural 
 compunctions at the course on which he had decided made him 
 long to escape from thought. So Maltravers was under the 
 same roof! He had promised to give him an interview next 
 day ; but next day he wished to be on the road to London. 
 Why not have it over to-night ? But could Maltravers meditate 
 any hostile proceedings ? impossible ! Whatever his causes of 
 complaint, they were of too delicate and secret a nature for
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTLRIES. 417 
 
 seconds, bullets, and newspaper paragraphs ! Vargrave might 
 feel secure that he should not be delayed by any Bois de 
 Boulogne assignation ; but it was necessary to his honour (/) 
 that he should not seem to shun the man he had deceived and 
 wronged. He would go up to him at once a new excitement 
 would distract his thoughts. Agreeably to this resolution, Lord 
 Vargrave quitted his room, and was about to close the outer 
 door, when he recollected that perhaps his servant might not 
 meet with Howard that the secretary might probably arrive 
 before the time fixed it would be as well to leave his door open. 
 He accordingly stopped, and writing upon a piece of paper, 
 " Dear Howard, send up for me the moment you arrive : I shall 
 be with Mr. Maltravers au second " Vargrave wafered the afficlie 
 to the door, which he then left ajar, and the lamp in the landing- 
 place fell clear and full on the paper. 
 
 It was the voice of Vargrave, in the little stone-paven ante- 
 chamber without, inquiring of the servant if Mr. Maltravers was 
 at home, which had startled and interrupted Cesarini as he was 
 about to reply to Ernest. Each recognised that sharp clear voice 
 each glanced at the other. 
 
 " I will not see him," said Maltravers, hastily moving towards 
 the door ; " you are not fit to " 
 
 " Meet him ? no ! " said Cesarini, with a furtive and sinister 
 glance, which a man versed in his disease would have under- 
 stood, but which Maltravers did not even observe ; " I will retire 
 into your bedroom ; my eyes are heavy. I could sleep." 
 
 He opened the inner door as he spoke, and had scarcely 
 reclosed it before Vargrave entered. 
 
 "Your servant said you were engaged; but I thought you 
 might see an old friend : " and Vargrave coolly seated himself. 
 
 Maltravers drew the bolt across the door that separated them 
 from Cesarini ; and the two men, whose characters and lives 
 were so strongly contrasted, were now alone. 
 
 " You wished an interview an explanation," said Lumley ; " I 
 shrink from neither. Let rne forestall inquiry and complaint. I 
 deceived you knowingly and deliberately, it is quite true all 
 stratagems are fair in love and war. The prize was vast ! I 
 believed my career depended on it : I could not resist the 
 
 D D
 
 418 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 temptation. I knew that before long you would learn that 
 Evelyn was not your daughter; that the first communication 
 between yourself and Lady Vargrave would betray me ; but it 
 was worth trying a coup de main. You have foiled me, and con- 
 quered : be it so ; I congratulate you. You are tolerably rich, 
 and the loss of Evelyn's fortune will not vex you as it would 
 have done me." 
 
 " Lord Vargrave, it is but poor affectation to treat thus lightly 
 the dark falsehood you conceived, the awful curse you inflicted 
 upon me. Your sight is now so painful to me it so stirs the 
 passions that I would seek to suppress, that the sooner our in- 
 terview is terminated the better. I have to charge you, also, 
 with a crime not, perhaps, baser than the one you so calmly 
 own, but the consequences of which were more fatal : you 
 understand me ? " 
 
 " I do not." 
 
 " PO not tempt me ! do not lie ! " said Maltravers, still in a 
 calm voice, though his passions, naturally so strong, shook his 
 whole frame. "To your arts I owe the exile of years that 
 should have been better spent ; to those arts Cesarini owes the 
 wreck of his reason, and Florence Lascelles her early grave ! 
 Ah ! you are pale now ; your tongue cleaves to your mouth ! 
 And think you these crimes will go for ever unrequited? think 
 you that there is no justice in the thunderbolts of God ? " 
 
 " Sir," said Vargrave, starting to his feet ; " I know not what 
 you suspect I care not what you believe ! But I am account- 
 able to man, and that account I am willing to render. You 
 threatened me in the presence of my ward ; you spoke of 
 cowardice, and hinted at danger. Whatever my faults, want of 
 courage is not one. Stand by your threats I am ready to 
 brave them ! " 
 
 " A year, perhaps a short month, ago," replied Maltravers, 
 " and I would have arrogated justice to my own mortal hand ; 
 nay, this very night, had the hazard of either of our lives been 
 necessary to save Evelyn from your persecution, I would have 
 incurred .all things for her sake ! But that is past ; from me 
 you have nothing to fear. The proofs of your earlier guilt, with 
 its dreadful results, would alone suffice to warn me from the
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 419 
 
 solemn responsibility of human vengeance. Great Heaven ! what 
 hand could dare to send a criminal so long hardened, so black 
 with crime, unatoning, unrepentant, and unprepared, before the 
 judgment-seat of the ALL JUST? Go, unhappy man ! may life 
 long be spared to you ! Awake awake from this world, before 
 your feet pass the irrevocable boundary of the next !" 
 
 " I came not here to listen to homilies, and the cant of the 
 conventicle," said Vargrave, vainly struggling for n haughtiness 
 of mien that his conscience-stricken aspect terribly belied ; " not 
 I but this wrong world is to be blamed, if deeds that strict 
 morality may not justify, but the eftects of which I, no prophet, 
 could not foresee, were necessary for success in life. I have 
 been but as all other men have been who struggle against 
 fortune, to be rich and great : ambition must make use of foul 
 ladders." 
 
 " Oh ! " said Maltravers, earnestly, touched involuntarily, and 
 in spite of his abhorrence of the criminal, by the relenting that 
 this miserable attempt at self-justification seemed to denote, 
 " Oh ! be warned, while it is yet time ; wrap not yourself in these 
 paltry sophistries ; look back to your past career ; see to what 
 heights you might have climbed, if with those rare gifts and 
 energies with that subtle sagacity and indomitable courage 
 your ambition had but chosen the straight, not the crooked, 
 path. Pause! many years may yet, in the course of nature, 
 afford you time to retrace your steps to atone to thousands 
 the injuries you have inflicted on the few. I know not why I 
 thus address you : but something diviner than indignation urges 
 me ; something tells me that you are already on the brink of 
 the abyss ! " 
 
 Lord Vargrave changed colour, nor did he speak for some 
 moments; then raising his head, with a faint smile, he said, 
 " Maltravers, you are a false soothsayer. At this moment my 
 paths, crooked though they be, have led me far toward the 
 summit of my proudest hopes the straight path would have 
 left me at the foot of the mountain. You yourself are a beacon 
 against the course you advise. Let us contrast eacli other. 
 You took the straight path : I the crooked. You, my superior 
 in fortune ; you infinitely above me in genius ; you born to 
 
 D D 2
 
 ,20 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 command and never to crouch ; how do we stand now, each in 
 the prime of life ? You, with a barren and profitless repu- 
 tation; without rank, without power almost without the hope 
 of power. I but you know not my new dignity I, in the 
 cabinet of England's ministry vast fortunes opening to my 
 gaze the proudest station not too high for my reasonable 
 ambition ! You, wedding yourself to some grand chimera of 
 an object aimless when it eludes your grasp. I, swinging, 
 squirrel-like, from scheme to scheme ; no matter if one breaks, 
 another is at hand ! Some men would have cut their throats 
 in despair, an hour ago, in losing the object of a seven years' 
 chase Beauty and Wealth, both ! I open a letter, and find 
 success in one quarter to counterbalance failure in another. 
 Bah ! bah ! each to his metier, Maltravers ! For you, honour, 
 melancholy, and, if it please you, repentance also ! For me, the 
 onward, rushing life, never looking back to the Past, never 
 balancing the stepping-stones to the Future. Let us not envy 
 each other ; if you were not Diogenes, you would be Alexander. 
 Adieu ! our interview is over. Will you forget and forgive, and 
 shake hands once more ? You draw back you frown ! well, 
 perhaps you are right. If we meet again " 
 
 " It will be as strangers." 
 
 " No rash vows ! you may return to politics, you may want 
 office. I am of your way of thinking now: and ha! ha! 
 poor Lumley Ferrers could make you a Lord of the Treasury ; 
 smooth travelling, and cheap turnpikes on crooked paths, believe 
 me. Farewell ! " 
 
 On entering the room into which Cesarini had retired, Mal- 
 travers found him flown. His servant said that the gentleman 
 had gone away shortly after Lord Vargrave's arrival. Ernest 
 reproached himself bitterly for neglecting to secure the door 
 that conducted to the ante-chamber : but still it was probable 
 that Cesarini would return in the morning. 
 
 The messenger who had taken the letter to De Montaigne 
 brought back word that the latter was at his villa, but expected 
 at Paris early the next day. Maltravers hoped to see him 
 before his departure : meanwhile he threw himself on his bed
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 421 
 
 and despite all the anxieties that yet oppressed him, the fatigues 
 and excitements he had undergone exhausted even the endur- 
 ance of that iron Jrame, and he fell into a profound slumber. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 " By eight to-morrow 
 Thou shalt be made immortal " 
 
 Measure for Meamrt. 
 
 LORD VARGRAVE returned to his apartment to find Mr. 
 Howard, who had but just that instant arrived, warming his 
 white and well-ringed hands by the fire. He conversed with 
 him for half an hour on all the topics on which the secretary 
 could give him information, and then dismissed him once more 
 to the roof of Lady Jane. 
 
 As he slowly undressed himself, he saw on his writing-table 
 the note which Lady Doltimore had referred to, and which he 
 had not yet opened. He lazily broke the seal, ran his eye care- 
 lessly over its few blotted words of remorse and alarm, and 
 threw it down again with a contemptuous " pshaw ! " Thus 
 unequally are the sorrows of a guilty tie felt by the man of the 
 world and the woman of society ! 
 
 As his servant placed before him his wine and water, Vargrave 
 told him to see early to the preparations for departure, and to 
 call him at nine o'clock. 
 
 " Shall I shut that door, my lord ? " said the valet, pointing to 
 one that communicated with one of those large closets, or 
 armoires that are common appendages to French bedrooms, 
 and in which wood and sundry other matters are kept. 
 
 " No," said Lord Vargrave, petulantly ; " you servants are so 
 fond of excluding every breath of air. I should never have a 
 window open, if I did not open it myself. Leave the door as it 
 is, and do not be later than nine to-morrow." 
 
 The servant, who slept in a kind of kennel, that communicated 
 with the ante-room, did as he was bid ; and Vargrave put out his 
 candle, betook himself to bed, and, after drowsily gazing some
 
 42Z ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 minutes on the dying embers of the fire, which threw a dim 
 ghastly light over the chamber, fell fast asleep. The clock 
 struck the first hour of morning, and in that house all seemed 
 still. 
 
 The next morning, Maltravers was disturbed from his slumber 
 by De Montaigne, who, arriving, as was often his wont, at an 
 early hour from his villa, had found Ernest's note of the previous 
 evening. 
 
 Maltravers rose, and dressed himself ; and, while De Mon- 
 taigne was yet listening to the account which his friend gave of 
 his adventure with Cesarini, and the unhappy man's accusa- 
 tion of his accomplice, Ernest's servant entered the room 
 very abruptly. 
 
 " Sir," said he, " I thought you might like to know, ^-what is 
 to be done ? the whole hotel is in confusion Mr. Howard has 
 been sent for, and Lord Doltimore so very strange, so 
 sudden!" 
 
 " What is the matter ? Speak plain." 
 
 " Lord Vargrave, sir poor Lord Vargrave " 
 
 "Lord Vargrave!" 
 
 " Yes, sir ; the master of the hotel, hearing you knew his lord- 
 ship, would be so glad if you would come down. Lord Vargrave, 
 sir, is dead found dead in his bed ! " 
 
 Maltravers was rooted to the spot with amaze and horror. 
 Dead ! and but last night so full of life, and schemes, and 
 hope, and ambition. 
 
 As soon as he recovered himself, he hurried to the spot, and 
 De Montaigne followed. The latter, as they descended the 
 stairs, laid his hand on Ernest's arm and detained him. 
 
 "Did you say that Castruccio left the apartment while 
 Vargrave was with you, and almost immediately after his 
 narrative of Vargrave's instigation to his crime ? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 The eyes of the friends met a terrible suspicion possessed 
 both. 
 
 " No it is impossible ! " exclaimed Maltravers. " How could 
 he obtain entrance how pass Lord Vargrave's servants ? No, 
 no think of it not"
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 They hurried down the stairs they reached the other door o.' 
 Vargrave's apartment the notice to Howard, with the name o! 
 Vargrave underscored, was still on the panels De Montaigne 
 saw and shuddered. 
 
 They were in the room by the bedside a group were 
 collected round they gave way as the Englishman and his 
 friend approached ; and the eyes of Maltravers suddenly rested 
 on the face of Lord Vargrave, which was locked, rigid, and 
 convulsed. 
 
 There was a buzz of voices which had ceased at the entrance 
 of Maltravers it was now renewed a surgeon had been sum- 
 moned the nearest surgeon a young Englishman of no great 
 repute or name. He was making inquiries as he bent over the 
 corpse. 
 
 " Yes, sir," said Lord Vargrave's servant, "his lordship told me 
 to call him at nine o'clock. I came in at that hour, but his lord- 
 ship did not move nor answer me. I then looked to see if he 
 were very sound asleep, and I saw that the pillows had got 
 somehow over his face, and his head seemed to lie very low ; so 
 I moved the pillows, and I saw that his lordship was dead." 
 
 "Sir," said the surgeon, turning to Maltravers "you were a 
 friend of his lordship's, I hear. I have already sent for Mr. 
 Howard and Lord Doltimore. Shall I speak with you a 
 minute ? " 
 
 Maltravers nodded assent. The surgeon cleared the room of 
 all but himself, De Montaigne, and Maltravers. 
 
 " Has that servant lived long with Lord Vargrave ? " asked the 
 surgeon. 
 
 " I believe so yes I recollect his face why ? " 
 
 * And you think him safe and honest ? " 
 
 ' I don't know I know nothing of him." 
 
 " Look here, sir," and the surgeon pointed to a slight discolo- 
 ration on one side the throat of the dead man. " This may be 
 accidental purely natural his lordship may have died in a fit 
 there are no certain marks of outward violence but murder 
 by suffocation might still - " 
 
 " But who besides the servant could gain admission ? Was 
 the oufer door closed ? "
 
 424 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 " The servant can take oath that he shut the door before going 
 to bed, and that no one was with his lordship, or in the rooms, 
 when Lord Vargrave retired to rest. Entrance from the win- 
 dows is impossible. Mind, sir, I do not think I have any right 
 to suspect any one. His lordship had been in very ill health a 
 short time before ; had had, I hear, a rush of blood to the 
 head. Certainly, if the servant be innocent, we can suspect 
 no one else. You had better send for more experienced 
 practitioners." 
 
 De Montaigne, who had hitherto said nothing, now looked 
 with a hurried glance around the room : he perceived the closet- 
 door, which was ajar, and rushed to it, as by an involuntary 
 impulse. The closet was large, but a considerable pile of wood, 
 and some lumber of odd chairs and tables, took up a great part 
 of the space. De Montaigne searched behind and amidst this 
 litter with trembling haste no trace of secreted murther was 
 visible. He returned to the bedroom with a satisfied and relieved 
 expression of countenance. He then compelled himself to 
 approach the body, from which he had hitherto recoiled. 
 
 " Sir," said he, almost harshly, as he turned to the surgeon, 
 "what idle doubts are these ? Cannot men die in their bedsof 
 sudden death, no blood to stain their pillows, no loop-hole for 
 crime to pass through, but we must have science itself startling us 
 with silly terrors ? As for the servant, I will answer for his 
 innocence his manner his voice attest it." The surgeon drew 
 back, abashed and humbled, and began to apologise to qualify, 
 when Lord Doltimore abruptly entered. 
 
 " Good heavens ! " said he, " what is this ? What do I hear ? 
 Is it possible? Dead! So suddenly!" He cast a hurried 
 glance at the body shivered and sickened and threw himself 
 into a chair, as if to recover the shock. When again he removed 
 his hand from his face, he saw lying before him on the table an 
 open note. The character was familiar, his own name struck 
 his eye, it was the note which Caroline had sent the day before. 
 As no one heeded him, Lord Doltimore read on, and possessed 
 himself of the proof of his wife's guilt unseen. 
 
 The surgeon, now turning from De Montaigne, who had been 
 rating him soundly for the last few moments, addressed himself
 
 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 425 
 
 to Lord Doltimore. " Your lordship," said he, " was, I hear, Lord 
 Vargrave's most intimate friend at Paris." 
 
 " I his intimate friend ! " said Doltimore, colouring highly, and 
 in a disdainful accent. " Sir, you are misinformed." 
 
 " Have you no orders to give, then, my lord ? " 
 
 " None,.sir. My presence here is quite useless. Good-day to 
 you, gentlemen." 
 
 " With whom, then, do the last duties rest ? " said the surgeon, 
 turning to Maltravers and De Montaigne. " With the late lord's 
 secretary ? I expect him every moment ; and here he is, I 
 suppose," as Mr Howard, pale, and evidently overcome by his 
 agitation, entered the apartment. Perhaps, of all the human 
 beings whom the ambitious spirit of that senseless clay had drawn 
 around it by the webs of interest, affection, or intrigue, that 
 young man, whom it had never been a temptation to Vargrave 
 to deceive or injure, and who missed only the gracious and 
 familiar patron, mourned most his memory, and defended most 
 his character. The grief of the poor secretary was now indeed 
 overmastering. He sobbed and wept like a child. 
 
 When Maltravers retired from the chamber of death, De Mon- 
 taigne accompanied him ; but, soon quitting him again, as Ernest 
 bent his way to Evelyn, he quietly rejoined Mr. Howard, who 
 readily grasped at his offers of aid in the last melancholy duties 
 and directions. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 "If we do meet again, why, we shall smile." Julius Ctesar. 
 
 THE interview with Evelyn was long and painful. It was 
 reserved for Maltravers to break to her the news of the sudden 
 death of Lord Vargrave, which shocked her unspeakably ; and 
 this, which made their first topic, removed much constraint and 
 deadened much excitement in those which followed. 
 
 Vargrave's death served also to relieve Maltravers from a 
 most anxious embarrassment. He need no longer fear that
 
 426 ALICE ; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 Alice would be degraded in the eyes of Evelyn. Henceforth 
 the secret that identified the erring Alice Darvil with the 
 spotless Lady Vargrave was safe, known only to Mrs. Leslie 
 and to Aubrey. In the course of nature, all chance of its 
 disclosure must soon die with them ; and should Alice at last 
 become his wife, and should Cleveland suspect (which was 
 not probable) that Maltravers had returned to his first love, 
 he knew that he might depend on the inviolable secrecy of 
 his earliest friend. 
 
 The tale that Vargrave had told to Evelyn of his early 
 but, according to that tale, guiltless passion for Alice, he 
 tacitly confirmed ; and he allowed that the recollection of her 
 virtues, and the intelligence of her sorrows and unextinguish- 
 able affection, had made him recoil from a marriage with her 
 supposed daughter. He then proceeded to amaze his young 
 listener with the account of the mode in which he had dis- 
 covered her real parentage ; of which the banker had left 
 it to Alice's discretion to inform her, after she had attained 
 the age of eighteen. And then, simply, but with manly and 
 ill-controlled emotion, he touched upon the joy of Alice at 
 beholding him again upon the endurance and fervour of her 
 love upon her revulsion of feeling at learning that, in her 
 unforgotten lover, she beheld the recent suitor of her adopted 
 child. 
 
 "And now," said Maltravers, in conclusion, "the path to 
 both of us remains the same. To Alice is our first duty. 
 The discovery I have made of your real parentage does not 
 diminish the claims which Alice -has on me, does not lessen 
 the grateful affection that is due to her from yourself. Yes, 
 Evelyn, we are not the less separated for ever. But when I 
 learned the wilful falsehood which the unhappy man, now 
 hurried to his last account to whom your birth was known, 
 had imposed upon me, viz., that you were the child of Alice 
 and when I learned also, that you had been hurried into 
 accepting his hand, I trembled at your union with one so 
 false and base. I came hither resolved to frustrate his schemes 
 and to save you from an alliance, the motives of which I 
 foresaw, and to which my own letter, my own desertion, had
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 427 
 
 perhaps urged you. New villanies on the part of this most 
 perverted man came to my ear : but he is dead ; let us spare 
 his memory. For you oh! still let me deem myself your 
 friend your more than brother ; let me hope now, that I have 
 planted no thorn in that breast, and that your affection does 
 not shrink from the cold word of friendship. 
 
 "Of all the wonders that you have told me," answered 
 Evelyn, as soon as she could recover the power of words, 
 " my most poignant sorrow is, that I have no rightful claim 
 to give a daughter's love to her whom I shall ever idolise 
 as my mother. Oh ! now I see why I thought her affection 
 measured and lukewarm. And have I I destroyed her joy 
 at seeing you again? But you you will hasten to console 
 to reassure her! She loves you still, she will be happy at 
 last ; and that that thought oh ! that thought compensates 
 for all!" 
 
 There was so much warmth and simplicity in Evelyn's 
 artless manner, it was so evident that her love for him 
 had not been of that ardent nature, which would at first have 
 superseded every other thought in the anguish of losing him 
 for ever, that the scale fell from the eyes of Maltravers, and 
 he saw at once that his own love had blinded him to the true 
 character of hers. He was human ; and a sharp pang shot 
 across his breast. He remained silent for some moments ; and 
 then resumed, compelling himself as he spoke, to fix his eyes 
 steadfastly on hers. 
 
 " And now, Evelyn still may I so call you ? I have a duty 
 to discharge to another. You are loved " and he smiled, but 
 the smile was sad " by a younger and more suitable lover than 
 I am. From noble and generous motives he suppressed that 
 love he left you to a rival : the rival removed, dare he venture 
 to explain to you his own conduct, and plead his own motives 
 
 George Legard " Maltravers paused. The cheek on 
 
 which he gazed was tinged with a soft blush Evelyn's eyes 
 were downcast there was a slight heaving beneath the robe. 
 
 Maltravers suppressed a sigh and continued. He narrated his 
 interview with Legard at Dover ; and, passing lightly over what 
 had chanced at Venice, dwelt with generous eloquence on the
 
 428 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 magnanimity with which his rival's gratitude had been displayed. 
 Evelyn's eyes sparkled, and the smile just visited the rosy lips 
 and vanished again the worst because it was the least selfish, 
 fear of Maltravers was gone, and no vain doubt of Evelyn's 
 too keen regret remained to chill his conscience in obeying its 
 earliest and strongest duties. 
 
 " Farewell ! " he said, as he rose to depart ; " I will at once 
 return to London, and assist in the effort to save your fortune 
 from this general wreck : LIFE calls us back to its cares and 
 business farewell, Evelyn ! Aubrey will, I trust, remain with 
 you still." 
 
 " Remain ! Can I not return then to my to her yes, let 
 me call her mother still ? " 
 
 " Evelyn," said Maltravers, in a very low voice, " spare me 
 
 spare her that pain ! Are we yet fit to " He paused ; 
 
 Evelyn comprehended him, and hiding her face with her hands, 
 burst into tears. 
 
 When Maltravers left the room, he was met by Aubrey, who, 
 drawing him aside, told him that Lord Doltimore had just 
 informed him that it was not his intention to remain at Paris, 
 and had more than delicately hinted at a wish for the departure 
 of Miss Cameron. In this emergency, Maltravers bethought 
 himself of Madame de Ventadour. 
 
 No house in Paris was a more eligible refuge no friend 
 more zealous no protector would be more kind no adviser 
 more sincere. To her then he hastened. He briefly informed 
 her of Vargrave's sudden death; and suggested, that for Evelyn 
 to return at once to a sequestered village in England might be 
 a severe trial to spirits already broken ; and declared truly, that 
 though his marriage with Evelyn was broken off, her welfare 
 was no less dear to him than heretofore. At his first hint, 
 Valerie, who took a cordial interest in Evelyn for her own sake, 
 ordered her carriage, and drove at once to Lady Doltimore's. 
 His lordship was out her ladyship was ill in her own room 
 could see no one not even her guest. Evelyn in vain sent up 
 to request an interview ; and at last, contenting herself with an 
 affectionate note of farewell, accompanied Aubrey to the home 
 of her new hostess.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 429 
 
 Gratified at least to know her with one who would be sure to 
 win her affection, and soothe her spirits, Maltravers set out on 
 his solitary return to England. /, 
 
 Whatever suspicious circumstances might or might not have 
 attended the death of Lord Vargrave, certain it is that no 
 evidence confirmed, and no popular rumour circulated, them. 
 His late illness, added to the supposed shock of the loss of the 
 fortune he had anticipated with Miss Cameron, aided by the 
 simultaneous intelligence of the defeat of the party with whom 
 it was believed he had indissolubly entwined his ambition, sufficed 
 to account, satisfactorily enough, for the melancholy event De 
 Montaigne, who had been long, though not intimately, acquainted 
 with the deceased, took upon himself all the necessary arrange- 
 ments, and superintended the funeral ; after which ceremony, 
 Howard returned to London ; and in Paris, as in the grave, all 
 things are forgotten ! But still in De Montaigne's breast there 
 dwelt a horrible fear. As soon as he had learned from 
 Maltravers the charge the maniac brought against Vargrave, 
 there came upon him the recollection of that day when Cesarini 
 had attempted De Montaigne's life, evidently mistaking him in 
 his delirium for another and the sullen, cunning, and ferocious 
 character which the insanity had ever afterwards assumed. He 
 had learned from Howard that the outer door had been left ajar 
 when Lord Vargrave was with Maltravers ; the writing on the 
 panel the name of Vargrave would have struck Castruccio's eye 
 as he descended the stairs; the servant was from home the apart- 
 ments deserted ; he might have won his way into the bedchamber 
 concealed himself in the armoire, and in the dead of the night, 
 and in the deep and helpless sleep of his victim, have done the 
 deed. What need of weapons ? the suffocating pillows would 
 stop speech and life. What so easy as escape ? to pass into the 
 ante-room ; to unbolt the door : to descend into the court-yard ; 
 to give the signal to the porter in his lodge, who, without seeing 
 him, would pull the cordon, and give him egress unobserved? 
 
 All this was so possible so probable. 
 
 De Montaigne now withdrew all inquiry for the unfortunate ; 
 he trembled at the thought of discovering him of verifying his 
 awful suspicions of beholding a murderer in the brother of his
 
 430 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 wife ! But he was not doomed long to entertain fear for 
 Cesarini ; he was not fated ever to change suspicion into 
 certainty. A few days after Lord Vargrave's burial, a corpse 
 was drawn from the Seine. Some tablets ;n the pockets, 
 scrawled over with wild, incoherent verses, gave a clue to the 
 discovery of the dead man's friends : and, exposed at the 
 Morgue, in that bleached and altered clay, De Montaigne 
 recognised the remains of Castruccio CesarinL " He died and 
 made no sign'" 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 " Singula quseque locum teneant sortita." l HOR. Art. Poet. 
 
 MALTRAVERS and the lawyers were enabled to save from the 
 insolvent bank but a very scanty portion of that wealth in which 
 Richard Templeton had rested so much of pride. The title extinct, 
 the fortune gone ; so does Fate laugh at our posthumous ambition ! 
 Meanwhile Mr. Douce, with considerable plunder, had made 
 his way to America : the bank owed nearly half a million : the 
 purchase money for Lisle Court, which Mr. Douce had been so 
 anxious to get into his clutches, had not sufficed to stave off the 
 ruin but a great part of it sufficed to procure competence for 
 himself. How inferior in wit, in acuteness, in stratagem, was 
 Douce to Vargrave ; and yet Douce had gulled him like a child ! 
 Well said the shrewd small philosopher of France " Onpeutfare 
 plus fin qtiun autre, mats pas plus fin que tous les autres" l 
 
 To Legard, whom Maltravers had again encountered at Dover, 
 the latter related the downfall of Evelyn's fortunes ; and Mal- 
 travers loved him when he saw that, far from changing his 
 affection, the loss of wealth seemed rather to raise his hopes. 
 They parted ; and Legard set out for Paris. 
 
 But was Maltravers all the while forgetful of Alice ? He had 
 not been twelve hours in London before he committed to a long 
 
 1 To each lot its appropriate place. 
 
 * One may be more sharp than one's neighbour, but one can't be sharper than all 
 erne's neighbours. ROCHEFOUCAULD.
 
 ALICE.; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 431 
 
 and truthful letter all his thoughts, his hopes, his admiring and 
 profound gratitude. Again, and with solemn earnestness, he 
 implored her to accept his hand, and to confirm at the altar the 
 tale which had been told to Evelyn. Truly he said, that the shock 
 which his first belief in Vargrave's falsehood had occasioned his 
 passionate determination to subdue all trace of a love then asso- 
 ciated with crime and horror followed so close by his discovery 
 of Alice's enduring faith and affection had removed the image 
 of Evelyn from the throne it had hitherto held in his desires 
 and -thoughts ; truly he said, that he was now convinced that 
 Evelyn would soon be consoled for his loss by another, with 
 whom she would be happier than with him truly and solemnly 
 he declared that if Alice rejected him still, if even Alice were 
 no more, his suit to Evelyn never could be renewed, and Alice's 
 memory would usurp the place of all living love ! 
 
 Her answer came : it pierced him to the heart. It was so 
 humble, so grateful, so tender still. Unknown to herself, love 
 yet coloured every word ; but it was love pained, galled, crushed, 
 and trampled on ; it was love, proud from its very depth and 
 purity. His offer was refused. 
 
 Months passed away Maltravers yet trusted to time. The 
 curate had returned to Brook-Green, and his letters fed Ernest's 
 hopes and assured his doubts. The more leisure there was left 
 him for reflection, the fainter became those dazzling and rainbow 
 hues in which Evelyn had been robed and surrounded, and the 
 brighter the halo that surrounded his earliest love. The more 
 he pondered on Alice's past history, and the singular beaut)' of 
 her faithful attachment, the more he was impressed with wonder 
 and admiration the more anxious to secure to his side one tc 
 whom Nature had been so bountiful in all the gifts that make 
 woman the angel and star of life. 
 
 Months passed from Paris the news that Maltravers received 
 confirmed all his expectations the suit of Legard had replaced 
 his own. It was then that Maltravers began to consider how far 
 the fortune of Evelyn and her destined husband was such as to 
 preclude all anxiety for their future lot. Fortune is so indeter- 
 minate in its gauge and measurement. Money, the most elastic 
 of materials, falls short or excesds, according to the extent of our
 
 432 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 wants and desires. With all Legard's good qualities he was 
 constitutionally careless and extravagant ; and Evelyn was too 
 inexperienced, and too gentle, perhaps, to correct his tendencies. 
 Maltravers learned that Legard's income was one that required 
 an economy which he feared that, in spite of all his icformation, 
 Legard might not have the self-denial to enforce. After some 
 consideration, he resolved to add secretly to the remains of 
 Evelyn's fortune such a sum as might, being properly secured 
 to herself and children, lessen whatever danger could arise from 
 the possible improvidence of her husband, and guard against the 
 chance of those embarrassments which are among the worst 
 disturbers of domestic peace. He was enabled to effect this 
 generosity, unknown to both of them, as if the sum bestowed 
 were collected from the wrecks of Evelyn's own wealth, and the 
 
 profits of the sale of the houses in C , which of course had 
 
 not been involved in Douce's bankruptcy. And then if Alice 
 were ever his, her jointure, which had been secured on the pro- 
 perty appertaining to the villa at Fulham, would devolve upon 
 Evelyn. Maltravers could never accept what Alice owed to 
 another. Poor Alice ! No ! not that modest wealth which you ' 
 had looked upon complacently as one day or other to be his. 
 
 Lord Doltimore is travelling in the East, Lady Doltimore, 
 less adventurous, has fixed her residence in Rome. She has 
 grown thin, and taken to antiquities and rouge. Her spirits are 
 remarkably high not an uncommon effect of laudanum. 
 
 CHAPTER THE LAST. 
 
 "Arrived at last 
 Unto the wished haven." SHAKSPEARE. 
 
 IN the August of that eventful year a bridal party were 
 assembled at the cottage of Lady Vargrave. The ceremony 
 had just been performed, and Ernest Maltravers had bestowed 
 jpon George Legard the hand of Evelyn Templeton.
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 433 
 
 If upon the countenance of him who thus officiated as a 
 father to her he had once wooed as a bride, an observant eye 
 might have noted the trace of mental struggles, it was the trace 
 of struggles past ; and the calm had once more settled over the 
 silent deeps. He saw from the casement the carriage that was 
 to bear away the bride to the home of another ; the gay faces of 
 the village group, whose intrusion was not forbidden, and to 
 whom that solemn ceremonial was but a joyous pageant ; and 
 when he turned once more to those within the chamber, he felt 
 his hand clasped in Legard's. 
 
 " You have been the preserver of my life you have been the 
 dispenser of my earthly happiness ; all now left to me to wish 
 for is, that you may receive from Heaven the blessings you have 
 given to others ! " 
 
 "Legard, never let her know a sorrow that you can guard 
 her from ; and believe that the husband of Evelyn will be dear 
 to me as a brother ! " 
 
 And as a brother blesses some younger and orphan sister 
 bequeathed and intrusted to a care that should replace a 
 father's, so Maltravers laid his hand lightly on Evelyn's golden 
 tresses, and his lips moved in prayer. He ceased he pressed 
 his last kiss upon "her forehead, and placed her hand in that of 
 her young husband. There was silence and when to the ear of 
 Maltravers it was broken, it was by the wheels of the carriage 
 that bore away the wife of George Legard ! 
 
 The spell was dissolved for ever. And there stood before the 
 lonely man the idol of his early youth, Alice, still, perhaps, as 
 fair, and once young and passionate, as Evelyn pale, changed, 
 but lovelier than of old, if heavenly patience and holy thought, 
 and the trials that purify and exalt, can shed over human 
 features something more beautiful than bloom. 
 
 The good curate alone was present, besides these two 
 survivors of the error and the love that make the rapture and 
 the misery of so many of our kind. And the old man, after 
 contemplating them a moment, stole unperceived away. 
 
 ''Alice," said Maltravers, and his voice trembled; "hitherto, 
 from motives too pure and too noWe for the practical affections 
 
 E E
 
 434 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 and ties of life, you have rejected the hand of the lover of your 
 youth. Here again I implore you to be mine ! Give to my 
 conscience the balm of believing that I can repair to you the 
 evils and the sorrows I have brought upon you. Nay, wee-p 
 not ; turn not away. Each of us stands alone ; each of us needs 
 the other. In your heart is locked up all my fondest associations, 
 my brightest memories. In you I see the mirror of what I was 
 when the world was new, ere I had found how Pleasure palls 
 upon us, and Ambition deceives! And me, Alice ah, you love 
 me still ! Time and absence have but strengthened the chain 
 that binds us. By the memory of our early love by the grave 
 of our lost child that, had it lived, would have united its parents, 
 I implore you to be mine ! " 
 
 " Too generous !" said Alice, almost sinking beneath the emo- 
 tions that shook that gentle spirit and fragile form. " How can 
 I suffer your compassion for it is but compassion to deceive 
 yourself? You are of another station than I believed you. How 
 can you raise the child of destitution and guilt to your own rank ? 
 And shall I I who, Heaven knows ! would save you from all 
 regret bring to you now, when years have so changed and 
 broken the little charm I could ever have possessed, this blighted 
 heart and weary spirit ?~oh ! no, no ! " and Alice paused abruptly, 
 and the tears rolled down her cheeks. 
 
 " Be it as you will," said Maltravers, mournfully ; " but, at 
 least, ground your refusal upon better motives. Say that now, 
 independent in fortune, and attached to the habits you have 
 formed, you would not hazard your happiness in my keeping 
 perhaps you are right. To my happiness you would indeed 
 contribute ; your sweet voice might charm away many a memory 
 and many a thought of the baffled years that have intervened 
 since we parted ; your image might dissipate the solitude which 
 5s closing round the Future of a disappointed and anxious life. 
 With you, and with you alone, I might yet find a home, a com- 
 forter, a charitable and soothing friend. This you could give to 
 me ; and with a heart and a form alike faithful to a love that 
 deserved not so enduring a devotion. But I what can I bestov/ 
 on you ? Your station is equal to my own ; your fortune satisfi .*s
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 435 
 
 your simple wants. 'Tis true the exchange is not equal, Alice. 
 Adieu!" 
 
 " Cruel ! " said Alice, approaching him with timid steps. " If 
 I could I, so untutored, so unworthy if I could comfort you 
 in a single care ! " 
 
 She said no more, but she had said enough ; and Maltravers, 
 clasping her to his bosom, felt once more that heart which never, 
 even in thought, had swerved from its early worship, beating 
 against his own I 
 
 He drew her gently into the open air. The ripe and mellow 
 noonday of the last month of summer glowed upon the odorous 
 flowers ; and the broad sea, that stretched beyond and afar 
 wore upon its solemn waves a golden and happy smile. 
 
 " And ah," murmured Alice, softly, as she looked up from his 
 breast ; " I ask not if you have loved others since we parted 
 man's faith is so different from ours I only ask if you love me 
 now ? " 
 
 " More ! oh, immeasurably more, than in our youngest days," 
 cried Maltravers, with fervent passion. " More fondly more 
 reverently more trustfully, than I ever loved living being ! 
 even her, in whose youth and innocence I adored the memory of 
 thee ! Here have I found that which shames and bankrupts the 
 Ideal ! Here have I found a virtue, that, coming at once from 
 God and Nature, has been wiser than all my false philosophy, 
 and firmer than all my pride ! You, cradled by misfortune, 
 your childhood reared amidst scenes of fear and vice, which, 
 while they scared back the intellect, had no pollution for the 
 soul, your very parent your tempter and your foe, you, only 
 not a miracle and an angel by the stain of one soft and unconscious 
 error, you, alike through the equal trials of poverty and wealth, 
 have been destined to rise above all triumphant ; the example 
 of the sublime moral that teaches us with what mysterious 
 beauty and immortal holiness the Creator has endowed our 
 human nature when hallowed by our human affections ! You 
 alone suffice to shatter into dust the haughty creeds of the 
 Misanthrope and Pharisee ! And your fidelity to my erring self 
 has taught me ever to love, to serve, to compassionate, to respect 
 
 C 2
 
 436 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 
 
 the community of God's creatures to which noble and elevated 
 though you are you yet belong ! " 
 
 He ceased, overpowered with the rush of his own thoughts. 
 And Alice was too blessed for words. But in the murmur of 
 the sunlit leaves in the breath of the summer air in the song 
 of the exulting birds and the deep and distant music of the 
 heaven -surrounded seas, there went a melodious voice that seemed 
 as if Nature echoed to his words, and blest the reunion of her 
 children. 
 
 Maltravers once more entered upon the career so long 
 suspended. He entered with an energy more practical and 
 steadfast than the fitful enthusiasm of former years. And it 
 was noticeable amongst those who knew him well, that while 
 the firmness of his mind was not impaired, the haughtiness of 
 his temper was subdued. No longer despising Man as he is, and 
 no longer exacting from all things the ideal of a visionary 
 standard, he was more fitted to mix in the living World, and to 
 minister usefully to the great objects that refine and elevate our 
 race. His sentiments were, perhaps, less lofty, but his actions 
 were infinitely more excellent, and his theories infinitely more 
 wise. 
 
 Stage after stage we have proceeded with him through the 
 MYSTERIES OF LIFE. The Eleusinia are closed, and the 
 crowning libation poured. 
 
 And Alice ! Will the world blame us if you are left happy 
 at the last ? We are daily banishing from our law-books the 
 statutes that disproportion punishment to crime. Daily we 
 preach the doctrine that we demoralise, wherever we strain 
 justice into cruelty. It is time that we should apply to the 
 Social Code the Wisdom we recognise in Legislation ! It is 
 time that we should do away with the punishment of death for 
 inadequate offences, even in books; it is time that we should 
 allow the morality of atonement, and permit to Error the right 
 to hope, as the reward of submission to its suffering. Nor let it 
 be thought that the close to Alice's career can offer temptation 
 to the offence of its commencement. Eighteen years of sadness 
 youth consumed in silent sorrow over the grave of Joy
 
 ALICE; OR, THE MYSTERIES. 437 
 
 have images that throw over these pages a dark and warning 
 shadow that will haunt the young long after they turn from the 
 tale that is about to close ! If Alice had died of a broken heart 
 if her punishment had been more than she could bear then, 
 as in real life, you would have justly condemned my moral ; 
 and the human heart, in its pity for the victim, would have lott 
 all recollection of the error. My tale is done. 
 
 THE ElfD