Tales and Novels Volume X Part 67

And now all the salutations were given and received, and all the murmur of congratulations rising, the living tide poured out of the church; and then the noise of carriages, and all drove off to Lady Davenant's; and Lady Davenant had gone through it all so far, well. And Lady Cecilia knew that it had been; and her eyes had been upon her husband, and her heart had been full of another day when she had knelt beside him at the altar. And did he, too, think of that day? She could not tell, his countenance discovered no emotion, his eyes never once turned to the place where she stood. And she was now to see him for one hour, but one hour longer, and at a public breakfast! but still she was to see him.

And now they are all at breakfast. The attention of some was upon the bride and bridegroom; of others, on Lady Cecilia and on the general; of others, on Lady Davenant; and of many, on themselves. Lady Davenant had Beauclerc on one side, General Clarendon on the other, and her daughter opposite to him. Lady Katrine was there, with her "_tristeful_ visage,"

as Churchill justly called it, and more _tristeful_ it presently became.

When breakfast was over, seizing her moment when conversation flagged, and when there was a pause, implying "What is to be said or done next?" Lady Davenant rose from her seat with an air of preparation, and somewhat of solemnity.--All eyes were instantly upon her. She drew out a locket, which she held up to public view; then, turning to Lady Katrine Hawksby, she said--"This bauble has been much talked of, I understand, by your ladys.h.i.+p, but I question whether you have ever yet seen it, or know the truth concerning it. This locket was _stolen_ by a worthless man, given by him to a worthless woman, from whom I have obtained it; and now I give it to the person for whom it was originally destined."

She advanced towards Helen and put it round her neck. This done, her colour flitted--her hand was suddenly pressed to her heart; yet she commanded--absolutely commanded, the paroxysm of pain. The general was at her side; her daughter, Helen, and Beauclerc, were close to her instantly. She was just able to walk: she slowly left the room--and was no more seen by the world!

She suffered herself to be carried up the steps into her own apartment by the general, who laid her on the sofa in her dressing-room. She looked round on them, and saw that all were there whom she loved; but there was an alteration in her appearance which struck them all, and most the general, who had least expected it. She held out her hand to him, and fixing her eyes upon him with deathful expression, calmly smiled, and said--"You would not believe this could be; but now you see it must be, and soon. We have no time to lose," continued she, and moving very cautiously and feebly, she half-raised herself--"Yes," said she, "a moment is granted to me, thank Heaven!" She rose with sudden power and threw herself on her knees at the general's feet: it was done before he could stop her.

"For G.o.d's sake!" cried he, "Lady Davenant!--I conjure you---"

She would not be raised. "No," said she, "here I die if I appeal to you in vain--to your justice, General Clarendon, to which, as far as I know none ever appealed in vain--and shall I be the first?--a mother for her child--a dying mother for your wife--for my dear Cecilia, once dear to you."

His face was instantly covered with his hands.

"Not to your love," continued she--"if that be gone--to your justice I appeal, and MUST be heard, if you are what I think you: if you are not, why, go--go, instantly--go, and leave your wife, innocent as she is, to be deemed guilty--Part from her, at the moment when the only fault she committed has been repaired--Throw her from you when, by the sacrifice of all that was dear to her, she has proved her truth--Yes, you know that she has spoken the whole, the perfect truth---"

"I know it," exclaimed he.

"Give her up to the whole world of slanderers!--destroy her character!

If now her husband separate from her, her good name is lost for ever! If now her husband protect her not---"

Her husband turned, and clasped her in his arms. Lady Davenant rose and blessed him--blessed them both: they knelt beside her, and she joined their hands.

"Now," said she, "I give my daughter to a husband worthy of her, and she more worthy of that n.o.ble heart than when first his. Her only fault was mine--my early neglect: it is repaired--I die in peace! You make my last moments the happiest! Helen, my dearest Helen, now, and not till now, happy--perfectly happy in Love and Truth!"