Tales and Novels Volume V Part 40

Lady Julia quitted him, and Vivian remained in a species of amaze, from which he could not immediately recover. Her frankness, her magnanimity, her enthusiastic sensibility, her eloquent beauty, had altogether exalted, to the highest ecstasy, his love and admiration. Then he walked about, beating his breast in despair at the thought of her affections being irrecoverably engaged,--next quarrelled with the boldness of the confession, the _a.s.sertion_ of her love--then decided, that, with all her s.h.i.+ning qualities and n.o.ble dispositions, she was not exactly the woman a man should desire for a wife: there was something too rash, too romantic about her; there was in her character, as she herself had said, and as Russell had remarked, too little _reserve_. Something like jealousy and distrust of his friend arose in Vivian's mind: "What!" said he to himself, "and is Russell my rival? and has he been all this time in secret my rival? Is it possible that Russell has been practising upon the affections of this innocent young creature--confided to him too?

All this time, whilst he has been cautioning me against her charms, beseeching me not to propose for her precipitately, is it possible that he wanted only to get, to keep the start of me?--No--impossible! utterly impossible! If all the circ.u.mstances, all the evidence upon earth conspired, I would not believe it."

Resolved not to do injustice, even in his inmost soul, to his friend, our hero repelled all suspicion of Russell, by reflecting on his long and tried integrity, and on the warmth and fidelity of his friends.h.i.+p.

In this temper he was crossing the castle-yard to go to Russell's apartment, when he was met and stopped by one of the domesticated friends of the family, Mr. Mainwaring, the young lawyer: he was in the confidence of Lord Glis...o...b..ry, and, proud to show it, he let Mr.

Vivian know that he was apprised of the proposal that had been made, and congratulated him, and all the parties concerned, on the prospect of such an agreeable connexion. Vivian was quite unprepared to speak to any one, much less to a lawyer, upon this subject; he had not even thought of the means of obeying Lady Julia, by withdrawing his suit; therefore, with a mixture of vexation and embarra.s.sment in his manner, he answered in commonplace phrases, meant to convey no precise meaning, and endeavoured to disengage himself from his companion; but the lawyer, who had fastened upon him, linking his arm in Vivian's, continued to walk him up and down under the great gateway, saying that he had a word or two of importance for his private ear. This man had taken much pains to insinuate himself into Vivian's favour, by the most obsequious and officious attentions: though his flattery had at first been disgusting, yet, by persevering in his show of civility, he had at length inclined Vivian to think that he was too harsh in his first judgment, and to believe that, "after all, Mainwaring was a good friendly fellow, though his manner was against him."

Mr. Mainwaring, with many professions of regard for Vivian, and with sundry premisings that he hazarded himself by the communication, took the liberty of hinting, that he guessed, from Mr. Vivian's manner this morning, that obstacles had arisen on the part of a young lady who should be nameless; and he should make bold to add that, in his private opinion, the said obstacles would never be removed whilst _a certain person_ remained in the castle, and whilst the young lady alluded to was allowed to spend so much of her time studying with her brother when well, or nursing him when sick. Mr. Mainwaring declared that he was perfectly astonished at Lord Glis...o...b..ry's blindness or imprudence in keeping this person in the house, after the hints his lords.h.i.+p had received, and after all the proofs that must or may have fallen within his cognizance, of the arts of seduction that had been employed. Here Vivian interrupted Mr. Mainwaring, to beg that he would not keep him longer in suspense by _inuendoes_, but that he would name distinctly the object of his suspicions. This, however, Mr. Mainwaring begged to be excused from doing: he would only shake his head and smile, and leave people to their own sagacity and penetration. Vivian warmly answered, that, if Mr. Mainwaring meant Mr. Russell, he was well a.s.sured that Mr.

Mainwaring was utterly mistaken in attributing to him any but the most honourable conduct.

Mr. Mainwaring smiled, and shook his head--smiled again, and sighed, and hoped Mr. Vivian was right, and observed that time would show; and that, at all events, he trusted Mr. Vivian would keep profoundly secret the hint which his friends.h.i.+p had, indiscreetly perhaps, hazarded.

Scarcely had Mr. Mainwaring retired, when Captain Pickering met and seized upon Vivian, led to the same subject, and gave similar hints, that Russell was the happy rival who had secretly made himself master of Lady Julia's heart. Vivian, though much astonished, finding that these gentlemen agreed in their discoveries or their suspicions, still defended his friend Russell, and strongly protested that he would be responsible for his honour with his life, if it were necessary. The captain shrugged his shoulders, said it was none of his business, that, as Mr. Vivian _took it up so warmly,_ he should let it drop; for it was by no means his intention to get into a quarrel with Mr. Vivian, for whom he had a particular regard. This said, with all the frankness of a soldier, Captain Pickering withdrew, adding, as the clergyman pa.s.sed at this instant, "There's a man who could tell you more than any of us, if he would, but _snug's_ the word with Wicksted."

Vivian, in great anxiety and much curiosity, appealed to Mr. Wicksted: he protested that he knew nothing, suspected nothing, at least could venture to say nothing; for these were very delicate family matters, and every gentleman should, on these occasions, make it a principle to see with his own eyes. Gradually, however, Mr. Wicksted let out his opinion, and implied infinitely more than Captain Pickering or Mr. Mainwaring had a.s.serted. Vivian still maintained, in the warmest terms, that it was impossible his friend Russell should be to blame. Mr. Wicksted simply p.r.o.nounced the word _friend_ with a peculiar emphasis, and, with an incredulous smile, left him to his reflections. Those reflections were painful; for, though he defended Russell from the attacks of others, yet he had not sufficient firmness of mind completely to resist the suggestions of suspicion and jealousy, particularly when they had been corroborated by so many concurring testimonies. He had no longer the courage to go immediately to Russell, to tell him of his proposal for Lady Julia, or to speak to him of any of his secret feelings; but, turning away from the staircase that led to his friend's apartment, he determined to observe Russell with his own eyes, before he should decide upon the truth or falsehood of the accusations which had been brought against him. Alas! Vivian was no longer in a condition to observe with his own eyes; his imagination was so perturbed, that he could neither see nor hear any thing as it really was. When he next saw Russell and Lady Julia together, he wondered at his blindness in not having sooner perceived their mutual attachment: notwithstanding that Lady Julia had now the strongest motives to suppress every indication of her pa.s.sion, symptoms of it broke out continually, the more violent, perhaps, from her endeavours to conceal them. He knew that she was pa.s.sionately in love with Russell; and that Russell should not have perceived what every other man, even every indifferent spectator, had discovered, appeared incredible. Russell's calm manner and entire self-possession sometimes provoked Vivian, and sometimes quelled his suspicions; sometimes he looked upon this calmness as the extreme of art, sometimes as a proof of innocence, which could not be counterfeit. At one moment he was so much struck with Russell's friendly countenance, that, quite ashamed of his suspicions, he was upon the point of speaking openly to him; but, unfortunately, these intentions were frustrated by some slight obstacle.

At length Miss Strictland, who had lately been very courteous to Mr.

Vivian, took an opportunity of drawing him into one of the recessed windows; where, with infinite difficulty in bringing herself to speak on such a subject, after inconceivable bridlings of the head, and contortions of every muscle of her neck, she insinuated to him her fears, that my Lord Glis...o...b..ry's confidence had been very ill placed in Lord Lidhurst's tutor: she was aware that Mr. Russell had the honour of Mr. Vivian's friends.h.i.+p, but nothing could prevent her from speaking, where she felt it to be so much her duty; and that, as from the unfortunate circ.u.mstances in the family she had no longer any influence over Lady Julia Lidhurst, nor any chance of being listened to on such a subject with patience by Lord Glis...o...b..ry, she thought the best course she could take was to apply to Mr. Russell's friend, who might possibly, by his interference, prevent the utter disgrace and ruin of one branch of a n.o.ble family.

Miss Strictland, in all she said, hinted not at Vivian's attachment to Lady Julia, and gave him no reason to believe that she was apprised of his having proposed for her ladys.h.i.+p: she spoke with much moderation and candour; attributed all Lady Julia's errors to the imprudence of her new governess, Miss Bateman. Miss Strictland now showed a desire not to make, but to prevent mischief; even the circ.u.mlocutions and stiffness of her habitual prudery did not, on this occasion, seem unseasonable; therefore what she suggested made a great impression on Vivian. He still, however, defended Russell, and a.s.sured Miss Strictland that, from the long experience he had himself had of his friend's honour, he was convinced that no temptation could shake his integrity. Miss Strictland had formed her opinion on this point, she said, and it would be in vain to argue against it. Every new a.s.sertion; the belief of each new person who spoke to him on the subject; the combination, the coincidence of all their opinions, wrought his mind to such a height of jealousy, that he was now absolutely incapable of using his reason. He went in search of Russell, but in no fit mood to speak to him as he ought. He looked for him in his own, in Lord Lidhurst's apartment, in every sitting-room in the castle; but Mr. Russell was not to be found: at last Lady Sarah's maid, who heard him inquiring for Mr. Russell from the servants, told him, "she fancied that if he took the trouble to go to the west walk, he might find Mr. Russell, as that was a favourite walk of his." Vivian hurried thither, with a secret expectation of finding Lady Julia with him--there they both were in earnest conversation: as he approached, the trees concealed him from view; and Vivian heard his own name repeated.

"Stop!" cried he, advancing: "let me not overhear your secrets--I am not a traitor to my friends!"

As he spoke, his eyes fixed with an expression of concentrated rage upon Russell. Terrified by Vivian's sudden appearance and strange address, and still more by the fierce look he cast on Russell, Lady Julia started and uttered a faint scream. With astonishment, but without losing his self-command, Russell advanced towards Vivian, saying, "You are out of your senses, my dear friend!--I will not listen to you in your present humour. Take a turn or two with me to cool yourself. The anger of a friend should always be allowed three minutes' grace, at least," added Russell, smiling, and endeavouring to draw Vivian away: but Vivian stood immoveable; Russell's calmness, instead of bringing him to his senses, only increased his anger; to his distempered imagination this coolness seemed perfidious dissimulation.

"You cannot deceive me longer, Mr. Russell, by all your art!" cried he.

"Though I am the last to open my eyes, I have opened them. Why did you pretend to be my counsellor and friend, when you were my rival?--when you knew that you were my successful rival?----Yes, start and affect astonishment! Yes--look, if you can, with _innocent_ surprise upon that lady!--Say that you have not betrayed her father's confidence!--say, that you have not practised upon her unguarded heart!--say, that you do not know that she loves you to distraction!"

"Oh! Mr. Vivian, what have you done?" cried Lady Julia: she could say no more, but fell senseless on the ground. Vivian's anger was at once sobered by this sight.

"What have I done!" repeated he, as they raised her from the ground.

"Wretch! dishonourable villain that I am! I have betrayed her secret--But I thought every body knew it!----Is it possible that _you_ did not know it, Russell?"

Russell made no reply, but ran to the river which was near them for some water--Vivian was incapable of affording any a.s.sistance, or even of forming a distinct idea. As soon as Lady Julia returned to her senses, Russell withdrew; Vivian threw himself on his knees before her, and said something about the violence of his pa.s.sion--his sorrow--and her forgiveness. "Mr. Vivian," said Lady Julia, turning to him with a mixture of despair and dignity in her manner, "do not kneel to me; do not make use of any commonplace phrases--I cannot, at this moment, forgive you--you have done me an irreparable injury. I confided a secret to you--a secret known to no human being but my father and yourself--you have revealed it, and to whom?--Sooner would I have had it proclaimed to the whole world than to ----; for what is the opinion of the whole world to me, compared to his?--Sir, you have done me, indeed, an irremediable injury!--I trusted to your honour--your discretion--and you have betrayed, sacrificed me."

"Vile suspicions!" cried Vivian, striking his forehead: "how could I listen to them for a moment!"

"Suspicions of Mr. Russell!" cried Julia, with a look of high indignation--"Suspicions of your n.o.ble-minded friend!--What wickedness, or what weakness!"

"Weakness!--miserable weakness!--the sudden effect of jealousy; and could you know, Lady Julia, by what means, by what arts, my mind was worked up to this insanity!"

"I cannot listen to this now, Mr. Vivian," interrupted Lady Julia: "my thoughts cannot fix upon such things--I cannot go back to the past--what is done cannot be undone--what has been said cannot be unsaid.--You cannot recall your words--they were heard--they were understood. I beg you to leave me, sir, that I may have leisure to _think_--if possible, to consider what yet remains for me to do. I have no friend--none, none willing or capable of advising me! I begged of you to leave me, sir."

Vivian could not, at this moment, decide whether he ought or ought not to tell Lady Julia that her secret was known, or at least suspected, by many individuals of the family.

"There's a servant on the terrace who seems to be looking for us," said Vivian; "I had something of consequence to say--but this man--"

"My lady, Miss Bateman desired me to let you know, my lady, that there is the Lady Playdels, and the colonel, and Sir James, in the drawing-room, just come;--and she begs, my lady, you will be pleased to come to them; for Miss Bateman's waiting for you, my lady, to repeat the verses, she bid me say, my lady."

"Go to them, Mr. Vivian; I cannot go."

"My lady," persisted the footman, "my lord himself begged you to come; and he and all the gentlemen have been looking for you every where."

"Return to my father, then, and say that I am coming immediately."

"Forced into company!" thought Lady Julia, as she walked slowly towards the house; "compelled to appear calm and gay, when my heart is--what a life of dissimulation! How unworthy of me, formed, as I was once p.r.o.nounced to be, for every thing that is good and great!--But I am no longer mistress of myself--no soul left but for one object. Why did I not better guard my heart?--No!--rather, why can I not follow its dictates, and at once avow and justify its choice?"

Vivian interrupted Lady Julia's reverie by pointing out to her, as they pa.s.sed along the terrace, a group of heads, in one of the back windows of the castle, that seemed to be watching them very earnestly. Miss Strictland's face was foremost; half her body was out of the window; and as she drew back, they heard her say--"It is not he!--It is not he!"--As they pa.s.sed another front of the castle, another party seemed to be upon the watch at a staircase window;--the lawyer, the captain, the clergyman's heads appeared for a moment, and vanished.

"They seem all to be upon the watch for us," said Vivian.

"Meanness!" cried Lady Julia. "To watch or to be watched, I know not which is most degrading; but I cannot think they are watching us."

"My dear Lady Julia!--yet let me call you dear this once--my hopes are gone!--even for your forgiveness I have no right to hope--but let me do you one piece of service--let me put your open temper on its guard. You flatter yourself that the secret you confided to me is not known to any body living but to your father--I have reason to believe that it is suspected, if not positively known, by several other persons in this castle."

"Impossible!"

"I am certain, too certain, of what I say."

Lady Julia made a sudden stop; and, after a pause, exclaimed--

"Then farewell hope! and, with hope, farewell fear!"

"My lady, my lord sent me again, for my lord's very impatient for you, my lady," said the same footman, returning. Lord Glis...o...b..ry met them in the hall.--"Why, Julia! where have you been all this time?" he began, in an imperious tone; but seeing Mr. Vivian, his brow grew smooth and his voice good-humoured instantly.--"Ha!--So! so!--Hey! well!--All right!

all right!--Good girl! good girl!--Time for every thing--Hey! Mr.

Vivian?--'Que la solitude est charmante!' as Voltaire says--Beg pardon for sending for you; but interruption, you know, prevents _tetes-a-tetes_ on the stage from growing tiresome; and the stage, they say, holds the mirror up to nature. But there's no nature now left to hold the mirror up to, except in a few odd instances, as in my Julia here!--Where so fast, my blus.h.i.+ng darling?"

"I thought you wished, sir, that I should go to Lady Playdel and Sir James."

"Ay, ay, I sent for you to repeat those charming verses for them that I could not clearly remember.--Go up! go up!--We'll follow you!--We have a word or two to say about something--that's nothing to you."

Lord Glis...o...b..ry kept Vivian for a full hour in a state of considerable embarra.s.sment, talking to him of Lady Julia, implying that she was favourably disposed towards him, but that she had a little pride, that might make her affect the contrary at first. Then came a disquisition on pride, with quotations and commonplaces;--then an eulogium, by his lords.h.i.+p, on his lords.h.i.+p's own knowledge of the human heart, and more especially of that "moving toyshop," the female heart; then anecdotes ill.u.s.trative, comprising the gallantries of thirty years in various ranks of life, with suitable bon-mots and embellishments;--then a little French sentiment, by way of moral, with some philosophical axioms, to show that, though he had led such a gay life, he had been a deep thinker, and that, though n.o.body could have thought that he had had time for reading, his genius had supplied him, he could not himself really tell how, with what other people with the study of years could not master:--all which Vivian was compelled to hear, whilst he was the whole time impatient to get away, that he might search for Mr. Russell, with whom he was anxious to have an explanation. But, at last, when Lord Glis...o...b..ry set him free, he was not nearer to his object. Mr. Russell, he found upon inquiry, had not returned to the castle, nor did he return to dinner; he sent word that he was engaged to dine with a party of gentlemen at a literary club, in a country town nine miles distant.

Vivian spent the greatest part of the evening in Lord Lidhurst's apartment, expecting Russell's return; but it grew so late, that Lord Lidhurst, who was still indisposed, went to bed; and when Vivian quitted his lords.h.i.+p, he met Russell's servant in the gallery, who said his master had been come in an hour ago: "but, sir," added the man, "my master won't let you see him, I am sure; for he would not let me in, and he said, that, if you asked for him, I was to answer, that he could not see you to-night."--Vivian knocked in vain at Russell's door; he could not gain admission; so he went reluctantly to bed, determined to rise very early, that he might see his friend as soon as possible, obtain his forgiveness for the past, and ask his advice for the future.

CHAPTER X.

Suspense, curiosity, love, jealousy, remorse, any one of which is enough to keep a person awake all night, by turns agitated poor Vivian so violently, that for several hours he could not close his eyes; but at last, when quite exhausted, he fell into a profound sleep. The first image that came before his mind, when he awoke in the morning, was that of Lady Julia; his next recollection was of Russell.

"Is Mr. Russell up yet?" said Vivian to his servant, who was bringing in his boots.

"Up, sir! Oh, yes, hours ago!--He was _off_ at daybreak!"

"Off!" cried Vivian, starting up in his bed; "off!--Where is he gone?"

"I can't say, sir. Yes, indeed, sir, I heard Mr. Russell's man say, that his master was going post to the north, to some old uncle that was taken ill, which he heard about at dinner from some of those gentlemen where he dined yesterday; but I can't say positively. But here's a letter he left for you with me."

"A letter!--Give it me!--Why didn't you give it me sooner?"