"Is there no constancy in earthly things?
No happiness in us but what must alter?
No life without the heavy load of fortune?
What miseries we are, and to ourselves!
Even then, when full content sits by us,
What daily sores and sorrows!"
Beaumont & Fletcher.
Mr. Delancey hurried from the court-room to his own house. He said
nothing about what had occurred, to his wife, but, stern and silent,
took his seat in the breakfast-room, waiting for the morning meal to be
served.
"Go to Miss Della's room," said he, to a servant, who entered, "and tell
her I wish her to fill her place at table this morning."
The servant returned in a moment, telling his master that he had knocked
loudly, but received no answer, and he could hear no one stirring in the
room.
"And has Ruth been by the door constantly, as I bade her?"
"She has, sir; but says she has heard no sound in the room since the
usual hour for retiring last night."
"She can't be asleep at this hour," said Mrs. Delancey, looking up from
the morning paper.
A sudden thought seemed to strike the merchant, and starting to his
feet, he hurried away to his daughter's apartment; he knocked, but all
was still; he tried the door, but it was locked.
"Go," said he, to a servant standing near, "and bring me the brass key
lying on my dressing-table; it fits this lock."
The key was brought, and Mr. Delancey entered the room, closing the door
behind him. All was silence and loneliness around him. He called his
daughter's name, there was no responsive voice; he rushed to her
sleeping-apartment, but the luxurious couch, unrumpled and unpressed,
told it had known no occupant during the night. The balcony, the garden,
belonging to her rooms, all were searched, but in vain; and the agonized
father threw himself upon the chair Della had so often occupied, with
all the terrible truth rushing across his heart. He buried his pallid
face in his hands, and _wept_; aye, _wept_ hot, burning tears, from
those steady eyes that had never wept for another's woe, and rarely for
his own. There was no note, no word, or line, left to tell him of her
flight, but he knew all without; and bitter, bitter was the crushing
weight upon his mighty pride.
He sent word to Mrs. Delancey, that she would breakfast without him;
and two hours passed before he again stood in the presence of his
anxious wife. None might know what fearful storms, what blighting
whirlwinds, what earthquakes of passion, had passed over that strong
heart in those two short hours. However fierce had been the struggle, it
had been conquered, not by prayer and pleading at that Throne whence all
mercy flows, but by the unbending power of that strong, indomitable
will.
When he broke the news to Mrs. Delancey, the voice was calm and quiet,
and no signs of emotion were visible. But with his wife it was
different. She shrieked, and screamed, and tore her hair, and wept with
a wild violence; Mr. Delancey looked upon her anguish with those same
cold eyes; and when she went off in a fit of violent hysterics, he
ordered her attendants to convey her to her own room, and then drove off
to the store, as though nothing had happened. But what a hidden fire was
scorching up the heart within! Shame and sorrow, remorse and wounded
pride, all struggling and battling there, with their volcanic fires
striving to burst forth, but smothered and kept down by the strength of
the proud heart they lacerated.
Arrived at the store, he seemed to take no notice of Wilkins' absence,
but went straight to his own high desk, and sat there with his eyes
looking out of the door before him. Those who knew the result of the
morning trial pitied him deeply, wondering at the calmness he
displayed; but Guly, who knew how much more he had suffered by the
flight of his only daughter, and sole remaining child, felt for him a
deep and earnest sympathy which he longed to, but dared not, express.
Suddenly the merchant rose in his seat.
"Gulian Pratt, if disengaged I would like to see you here."
Guly bowed and advanced toward him; but it was with a heart bounding
forebodingly, for he remembered he had been chiefly instrumental in
getting his son convicted, and he fancied that the merchant was about to
discharge him. He saw that Mr. Delancey looked ten years older than when
he had seen him in the morning, and with a gush of sympathy in his warm
heart, he gained the merchant's side and extended his hand.
Mr. Delancey took it, and for the first time pressed it kindly.
"Pardon me, sir, for touching upon a painful subject, but allow me to
express the sincere sympathy I feel for you."
The merchant bowed, and for an instant both were silent, Mr. Delancey
sitting with his eyes looking down.
"I sent for you," said he at last, speaking very quietly, and in a
measured tone, "to ask you if you think yourself capable of filling
the--the vacant place yonder?"
"The head clerk's."
"The same."
"I certainly think not, sir," replied Guly, blushing; "even though I
were capable--which I think I am not--it might give rise to
dissatisfaction among the other clerks."
"As for the dissatisfaction, that is my business. Did you ever study
book-keeping?"
"I have, sir."
"Know something about it?"
"Something, sir."
"Then take your place at the desk yonder, and consider the situation and
the salary yours."
Guly was utterly astonished. It was something so far from his
expectations--a promotion he had only aspired to in the future; and to
receive such unexpected good fortune was something for which he felt
deeply grateful, and he told the merchant so.
But, as Guly was moving away, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and
with a glance of sorrow, not for himself, but for the bereaved father,
he said:
"Mr. Delancey, I fear if you knew all you would not feel disposed to do
this for me. There are some circumstances I would feel happier to have
you know, and then if you still feel thus inclined, I shall take the
situation, feeling that I have acted honestly with you."
"Whatever you wish to say, speak; I am ready to listen."
"Last night I was _there_," said the boy, hesitatingly, scarcely knowing
how to tell it; "I saw them married--in the old Cathedral--Mr. Wilkins
and--"
"Enough!" said the merchant; starting violently; then with an effort
regaining his calmness, "don't speak that name in my presence, ever. How
came you, young man, to be present at a ceremony you knew was without my
sanction or knowledge, and utterly against my will?"
"I knew nothing of the circumstances, sir, before hand; not even aware I
was to witness a marriage ceremony till after I reached the Cathedral.
But I like Mr. Wilkins--have been a warm friend of his since I've been
here, and when I found he was to be married, I officiated with
pleasure."
"Knowing it was my--knowing who the lady was?"
"No, sir, not till afterwards--just as they were about to leave; but
when I found out the truth, I did congratulate my friend most heartily,
for I deem him worthy of any lady in the land, and rejoiced to see him
happy."
"And they seemed happy. Oh, curses on them!"
"Nay, do not curse them. Your daughter's view of happiness was but
different from your own, and she has seen fit to follow it out. She shed
many tears, no doubt, for her father; but she smiled also many times
upon her husband, and I know must have felt much sorrow mingled with her
joy. Had she but gone with her father's blessing, how unalloyed would
her happiness have been."
"He took her for her fortune; curse him, I say! Not a cent of mine shall
he ever touch. When poverty falls upon her head, she'll think of what
she's lost by her disobedience."
"A father's curse is a fearful thing," said Guly with a shudder.
Mr. Delancey suddenly drew himself up as if just aware that he had been
betrayed into saying a great deal more than he ever intended to, and at
the same time cast a look of mute wonder upon Guly, who stood with his
eyes fixed upon his face. It was rarely that any one dared to approach
the merchant, (at least any of his subordinates,) as, cold and stern, he
sat at his high desk during business hours, and none ever thought of
differing from his opinions, or advancing any of their own. Guly's
courage astonished him.
"Go to your place, young man."
"My old place, I suppose, sir."
"Didn't I tell you to take the head clerk's? what I say I mean. Do your
best, and I shall be satisfied. I have no more daughters to lose," he
muttered as he looked after Guly's retreating figure, "and nothing to
fear."
With a blush, Guly took his place at Wilkins' desk, to the no small
surprise of the clerks, but the first moment that the store was clear of
customers, Mr. Delancey rose up, and formally stated that henceforth
Gulian Pratt would occupy the situation of head clerk, and he hoped
that all would look up to and respect him as such, and having delivered
this speech in his peculiar formal manner, the merchant left, and drove
home to dinner.
Guly's promotion gave general satisfaction, and as he sat there with his
young face and golden curls bent over the great books, not an eye sought
his, but had a warm glance of congratulation in it, and many pressed
forward to express in words their gratification at the new arrangement.
Now that Quirk was gone, not one in the establishment but loved and
respected Guly; and, though there were many there older, who might
perhaps more fitly have filled the important vacancy, all felt that it
was held by one whose firm principles and noble heart would prompt him
rightly to perform the onerous duties resting upon him. Guly,
henceforth, occupied Wilkins' room with Arthur. Mr. Hull took Guly's old
place, and a new clerk filled his own, and soon everything was again
smoothly jogging on at No. -- Chartres Street.