MARY SEAHAM,
A NOVEL.
BY MRS. GREY,
AUTHOR OF "THE GAMBLER'S WIFE," &c. &c.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
COLBURN AND CO., PUBLISHERS,
GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.
1852.
Notice is hereby given that the Publishers of this work reserve to
themselves the right of publishing a Translation in France.
LONDON:
Printed by Schulze and Co., 13, Poland Street.
MARY SEAHAM.
CHAPTER I.
She left her home with a bounding heart,
For the world was all before her;
And felt it scarce a pain to part,
Such sun-bright beams came o'er her.
A. A. WATTS.
The wedding feast was cleared away, the guests had departed, and the
last joy peal with its varied chimes, and crashing cannons from the old
church tower was sounding musically through the mountain valley.
Over the whole aspect of Glan Pennant was spread that air of almost
desolation, ever, more or less, succeeding an event such as had, this
day, been celebrated there.
The very servants, to whose festive entertainment the evening had been
appropriated, whether able to carry out to the required extent the kind
intentions of their employers, or reduced by the fatigue and excitement
of the day to the condition of that establishment, Dickens has so ably
and ludicrously described, at all events suffered not their notes of
mirth to escape the precincts of their apartments. All was hushed as the
sleeping beauty's palace in the superior portion of the mansion; and if
not quite deserted, to one entering the house at the moment of this
opening chapter, it might almost have seemed that the same spell had
been cast over its inmates.
Another moment, however, and there could have been distinguished the
quick opening and shutting of an upper chamber door, and soon down the
staircase, a young lady, divested of all bridal costume, in every day
walking attire, might be seen to glide, and passing along the oaken
passage to the door of the library, enter that apartment. A profound
stillness reigned therein, though the room was not devoid of living
occupants.
An old gentleman had quietly yielded himself to the indulgence of an
evening nap in a maroon-coloured leather chair; whilst on an opposite
sofa an elderly lady had, it seemed, been overtaken by the same
necessity, whilst to the murmur of the summer breeze she contemplated
the satisfactory completion of the day's great event, over the large
piece of worsted work, in which, as it now lay idly at her feet, a
little terrier dog had made its nest.
Mary Seaham looked upon this scene and smiled to herself. Her quiet
entrance had not disturbed the sleepers. It amused her perhaps for a
moment to witness a placid forgetfulness, affording so strong a
contrast to the eager bustle which had but so lately subsided.
But her smile, not exactly sorrowful, was gentle and subdued,
harmonising entirely with the spirit of her movements, as well as with
the whole character of the scene in which she seemed to play so solitary
a part.
The smile, however, was soon chased by a slight sigh, and softly calling
the little dog, who roused and shook itself at her summons, springing
with alacrity to obey her call, she passed through the open window, and
with a semblance of relief proceeded across the lawn, her spirit
appearing to revive with every elastic step she took, beneath the
influence of the fresh and open air.
* * * * *
The clock struck eight as she passed from the grounds, and skirting the
village made her way through a romantic dell, where a rapid stream
issued from a thick wood, turning the rustic mill situated at its base.
Slowly she ascended a precipitous hill leading to a heath-clad common.
Although she had avoided the actual village, where rude attempts at
wedding decorations would have greeted her on every side, and her
appearance have attracted more notice than would have been agreeable to
her feelings just then, she did not escape, during her route, some stray
encounters; and many a curtsey, smile, and kindly word, were bestowed
upon her, by the good, simple-hearted people she met. Whilst none the
less did she prize this greeting, because with the congratulatory
expression of their countenances, something of pitying condolence might
be visible.
The poor and humble however devoid they may be of sentiment, have often
readier sympathy for the natural feeling of humanity, than we are apt to
give them credit, and they could compassionate the poor young lady who
had acted bridesmaid to a last unmarried sister--seen that sister
carried far from home--and she left behind all alone with the old
people.
Perhaps their compassion might extend almost further than the real state
of the case required.
It is very sad indeed to be left behind under similar circumstances. The
void, the blank, at first experienced, is perhaps one of the most
painful of all mental affections that can be sustained. But I think
there is something almost more melancholy, in what is sooner or later
sure to follow, in more or less degree according to the tone of men's
minds or the circumstances of their position--namely, when the aching
void begins imperceptibly to assuage, the blank to fill up, and we cease
to miss, or with difficulty realize the consciousness of our
bereavement; when the strong realities and intimate associations of
years seem, as by one magic touch, obliterated, and we would fain
recall even the haunting shadows of the past, to assure us that such
things have been.
"We cannot paint to memory's eye
The scene, the glance we dearest love,
Unchanged themselves, in us they die,
Or faint and false their shadows prove."
But Mary Seaham was not to be subjected to any of the latter
contingencies. She, also was to depart on the morrow from the home of
many years, and it is to contemplate scenes which for a long time she
may not look upon again, that we find her hastening.
* * * * *
The history of Mary Seaham's present position was this: She was an
orphan, and till the return of a brother from the colonies, where he had
gone to examine into the state of some very important family property;
she was thrown, (particularly since the event celebrated that morning)
to a certain extent, alone upon the world. Even had she desired to
linger in her deserted home, the privilege was denied her.
Circumstances rendering it expedient that Glan Pennant should continue
to be let until the final settlement of her brother's affairs, and the
Great uncle and aunt who had hitherto rented the place from their
nephew, and at the same time filled the office of affectionate guardians
to their unmarried nieces, now in their old age, becoming desirous of
being established more among their kindred and acquaintances, than in
this beautiful but distant, and out of the way country.
They were shortly to leave Wales and settle in London, with an only
daughter, who had lost her husband, and lately returned from India, with
her children.
The offer had been kindly made to Mary, to make her home with these
relations under this new arrangement; but being a stranger to her Indian
cousins, together with other motives for its rejection, she declined the
proffer, at least for the present, and preferred accepting an
invitation to spend the rest of the summer with another cousin and his
wife in ----shire, although these relations, except from early
associations, which drew her towards them with interest and affection,
might be said to be almost equally unknown to her; thus her future
prospects, were but of a very dim and uncertain nature.
But Mary Seaham did not take this much to heart. She was not of an age
or character, nor did she possess experience sufficient, to feel any
great weight of depression on this score.
The melancholy she now felt was rather of the soft, tender nature from
which, like the early blossom beneath the influence of the mild spring
air, her soul seemed struggling forth with hope and longing towards the
uncertain future.
Although now one and twenty, her life had been, in its outward course,
so calm and circumscribed, within the current of home interests, and
domestic affections; so gently and gradually had the home circle broken
up around her, link by link falling away, till she scarcely felt the
influence of the change, that it was with confiding pleasure rather than
any anxious care, or restless misgiving, she contemplated an entrance
upon a changed sphere of action, never doubting but that she should find
love and affection, such as she had ever been accustomed to receive, in
all those professing friends who now came forward with proffered
assistance in her time of need.
"In every heart a home, in every home a heaven."
In the warm-hearted cousin she remembered of old, one in whom she might
repose trust and confidence, as in a brother, and in his beautiful and
engaging wife the truth and sympathy of a sister.
Seated, therefore, upon the heathy common, there was more of pleasant
dreaminess than of regretful sadness influencing her spirit, as her eyes
wandered over the prospect spread before her with the attention of one,
who would fain engrave each familiar feature on her memory, and bear
away therein, a true and vivid picture of their beauties.
The pretty valley we have described lay immediately at her feet, with
the woods beyond, amongst which proudly rose the mansion of Plas Glyn,
of which her sister, by her marriage that morning with Sir Hugh Morgan,
had become the youthful mistress; and a faint peculiar smile played on
Mary's countenance as she sat there in her solitary freedom, and dwelt
for a moment on this feature of the landscape.
But it had passed away, when her glance turned towards the spot where
stood her own more modest, but still fairer home, Glan Pennant--then
upwards, where the mountain ridges towering one above the other, were
now eradiated by one of those sunsets of rare magnificence, which nature
seemed to have called forth on this occasion, as a farewell token of
affection to her meek and loving votary.