When Stapylton stepped out of his boat and landed at “The Home,” the
first person he saw was certainly the last in his wishes. It was Miss
Dinah who stood at the jetty, as though awaiting him. Scarcely deigning
to notice, beyond a faint smile of acquiescence, the somewhat bungling
explanation he gave of his absence, she asked if he had met her brother.
“No,” said he. “I left the village a couple of hours ago; rather
loitering, as I came along, to enjoy the river scenery.”
“He took the road, and in this way missed you,” said she, dryly.
“How unfortunate!--for me, I mean, of course. I own to you, Miss
Barrington, wide as the difference between our ages, I never yet met any
one so thoroughly companionable to me as your brother. To meet a man
so consummately acquainted with the world, and yet not soured by his
knowledge; to see the ripe wisdom of age blended with the generous
warmth of youth; to find one whose experiences only make him more
patient, more forgiving, more trustful--”
“Too trustful, Major Stapylton, far too trustful.” And her bold gray
eyes were turned upon him as she spoke, with a significance that could
not be mistaken.
“It is a noble feeling, madam,” said he, haughtily.
“It is a great misfortune to its possessor, sir.”
“Can we deem that misfortune, Miss Barrington, which enlarges the
charity of our natures, and teaches us to be slow to think ill?”
Not paying the slightest attention to his question, she said,--
“My brother went in search of you, sir, to place in your hands some
very urgent letters from the Horse Guards, and which a special messenger
brought here this morning.”
“Truly kind of him. They relate, I have no doubt, to my Indian
appointment. They told me I should have news by to-day or to-morrow.”
“He received a letter also for himself, sir, which he desired to show
you.”
“About his lawsuit, of course? It is alike a pleasure and a duty to me
to serve him in that affair.”
“It more nearly concerns yourself, sir,” said she, in the same cold,
stern tone; “though it has certainly its bearing on the case you speak
of.”
“More nearly concerns myself!” said he, repeating her words slowly. “I
am about the worst guesser of a riddle in the world, Miss Barrington.
Would you kindly relieve my curiosity? Is this letter a continuation of
those cowardly attacks which, in the want of a worthier theme, the Press
have amused themselves by making upon me? Is it possible that some enemy
has had the malice to attack me through my friends?”
“The writer of the letter in question is a sufficient guarantee for its
honor, Mr. Withering.”
“Mr. Withering!” repeated he, with a start, and then, as suddenly
assuming an easy smile, added: “I am perfectly tranquil to find myself
in such hands as Mr. Withering's. And what, pray, does _he_ say of me?”
“Will you excuse me, Major Stapylton, if I do not enter upon a subject
on which I am not merely very imperfectly informed, but on which so
humble a judgment as mine would be valueless? My brother showed me the
letter very hurriedly; I had but time to see to what it referred, and to
be aware that it was his duty to let you see it at once,--if possible,
indeed, before you were again under his roof.”
“What a grave significance your words have, Miss Barrington!” said he,
with a cold smile. “They actually set me to think over all my faults and
failings, and wonder for which of them I am now arraigned.”
“We do not profess to judge you, sir.”
By this time they had sauntered up to the little garden in front of
the cottage, within the paling of which Josephine was busily engaged
in training a japonica. She arose as she heard the voices, and in her
accustomed tone wished Stapylton good-evening. “_She_, at least, has
heard nothing of all this,” muttered he to himself, as he saluted
her. He then opened the little wicket; and Miss Barrington passed
in, acknowledging his attention by a short nod, as she walked hastily
forward and entered the cottage. Instead of following her, Stapylton
closed the wicket again, remaining on the outside, and leaning his arm
on the upper rail.
“Why do you perform sentry? Are you not free to enter the fortress?”
said Fifine.
“I half suspect not,” said he, in a low tone, and to hear which she was
obliged to draw nigher to where he stood.
“What do you mean? I don't understand you!”
“No great wonder, for I don't understand myself. Your aunt has, however,
in her own most mysterious way, given me to believe that somebody has
written something about me to somebody else, and until I clear up what
in all probability I shall never hear, that I had better keep to what
the Scotch call the 'back o' the gate.'”
“This is quite unintelligible.”
“I hope it is, for it is almost unendurable. I am sorely afraid,” added
he, after a minute, “that I am not so patient as I ought to be under
Miss Barrington's strictures. I am so much more in the habit of command
than of obedience, that I may forget myself now and then. To _you_,
however, I am ready to submit all my past life and conduct. By you I am
willing to be judged. If these cruel calumnies which are going the round
of the papers on me have lowered me in your estimation, my case is a
lost one; but if, as I love to think, your woman's heart resents an
injustice,--if, taking counsel of your courage and your generosity,
you feel it is not the time to withdraw esteem when the dark hour of
adversity looms over a man,--then, I care no more for these slanders
than for the veriest trifles which cross one's every-day life. In one
word,--your verdict is life or death to me.”
“In that case,” said she, with an effort to dispel the seriousness of
his manner, “I must have time to consider my sentence.”
“But that is exactly what you cannot have, Josephine,” said he; and
there was a certain earnestness in his voice and look, which made her
hear him call her by her name without any sense of being off ended.
“First relieve the suffering; there will be ample leisure to question
the sufferer afterwards. The Good Samaritan wasted few words, and asked
for no time. The noblest services are those of which the cost is never
calculated. Your own heart can tell you: can you befriend me, and will
you?”
“I do not know what it is you ask of me,” said she, with a frank
boldness which actually disconcerted him. “Tell me distinctly, what is
it?”
“I will tell you,” said he, taking her hand, but so gently, so
respectfully withal, that she did not at first withdraw it,--“I will
tell you. It is that you will share that fate on which fortune is now
frowning; that you will add your own high-couraged heart to that of one
who never knew a fear till now; that you will accept my lot in this the
day of my reverse, and enable me to turn upon my pursuers and scatter
them. To-morrow or next day will be too late. It is now, at this hour,
that friends hold back, that one more than friend is needed. Can you be
that, Josephine?”
“No!” said she, firmly. “If I read your meaning aright, I cannot.”
“You cannot love me, Josephine,” said he, in a voice of intense emotion;
and though he waited some time for her to speak, she was silent. “It
is true, then,” said he, passionately, “the slanderers have done their
work!”
“I know nothing of these calumnies. When my grandfather told me that
they accused you falsely, and condemned you unfairly, I believed him.
I am as ready as ever to say so. I do not understand your cause; but I
believe you to be a true and gallant gentleman!”
“But yet, not one to love!” whispered he, faintly.
Again she was silent, and for some time he did not speak.
“A true and gallant gentleman!” said he, slowly repeating her own words;
“and if so, is it an unsafe keeping to which to intrust your happiness?
It is no graceful task to have oneself for a theme; but I cannot help
it. I have no witnesses to call to character; a few brief lines in an
army list, and some scars--old reminders of French sabres--are poor
certificates, and yet I have no others.”
There was something which touched her in the sadness of his tone as he
said these words, and if she knew how, she would have spoken to him in
kindliness. He mistook the struggle for a change of purpose, and with
greater eagerness continued: “After all I am scarcely more alone in the
world than you are! The dear friends who now surround you cannot be long
spared, and what isolation will be your fate then! Think of this, and
think, too, how, in assuring your own future, you rescue mine.”
Very differently from his former speech did the present affect her;
and her cheeks glowed and her eyes flashed as she said, “I have never
intrusted my fate to your keeping, sir; and you may spare yourself all
anxiety about it.”
“You mistake me. You wrong me, Josephine--”
“You wrong yourself when you call me by my Christian name; and you arm
me with distrust of one who would presume upon an interest he has not
created.”
“You refuse me, then?” said he, slowly and calmly.
“Once, and forever!”
“It may be that you are mistaken, Miss Barrington. It may be that this
other affection, which you prefer to mine, is but the sickly sentiment
of a foolish boy, whose life up to this has not given one single
guarantee, nor shown one single trait of those which make 'true and
gallant gentlemen.' But you have made your choice.”
“I have,” said she, with a low but firm voice.
“You acknowledge, then, that I was right,” cried he, suddenly; “there is
a prior attachment? Your heart is not your own to give?”
“And by what right do you presume to question me? Who are you, that
dares to do this?”
“Who am I?” cried he, and for once his voice rose to the discordant ring
of passion.
“Yes, that was my question,” repeated she, firmly.
“So, then, you have had your lesson, young lady,” said he; and the words
came from him with a hissing sound, that indicated intense anger. “Who
am I? You want my birth, my parentage, my bringing up! Had you no friend
who could have asked this in your stead? Or were all those around you
so bereft of courage that they deputed to a young girl what should have
been the office of a man?”
Though the savage earnestness of his manner startled, it did not
affright her; and it was with a cold quietness she said, “If you had
known my father, Major Stapylton, I suspect you would not have accused
his daughter of cowardice!”
“Was he so very terrible?” said he, with a smile that was half a sneer.
“He would have been, to a man like you.”
“To a man like me,--a man like me! Do you know, young lady, that either
your words are very idle words or very offensive ones?”
“And yet I have no wish to recall them, sir.”
“It would be better you could find some one to sustain them.
Unfortunately, however, you cannot ask that gallant gentleman we were
just talking of; for it is only the other day, and after passing over
to Calais to meet me, his friends pretend that there is some obstacle
to our meeting. I owe my tailor or my bootmaker something; or I have
not paid my subscription to a club; or I have left an unsettled bill ar
Baden. I really forget the precise pretext; but it was one which to them
seemed quite sufficient to balk me of a redress, and at the same time to
shelter their friend.”
“I will not believe one word of it, sir!”
“Well, we have at least arrived at a perfect frankness in our
intercourse. May I ask you, young lady, which of your relatives has
suggested your present course! Is it to your aunt or to your grandfather
I must go for an explanation?”
“I suspect it is to me, Major Stapylton,” said Barrington, as he came
from behind Josephine. “It is to me you must address yourself. Fifine,
my dear, your aunt is looking for you; go and tell her, too, that I am
quite ready for tea, and you will find me here when it is ready. Major
Stapylton and I will take a stroll along the river-side.” Now this last
was less an invitation than a sort of significant hint to Stapylton that
his host had no intention to ask him to cross his threshold, at least
for the present; and, indeed, as Barrington passed out and closed the
wicket after him, he seemed as though closing the entrance forever.
With a manner far more assured thau his wont, Barrington said: “I have
been in pursuit of you, Major Stapylton, since four o'clock. I missed
you by having taken the road instead of the river; and am much grieved
that the communication I have to make you should not take place anywhere
rather than near my roof or within my own gates.”
“I am to suppose from your words, sir, that what you are about to say
can scarcely be said to a friend; and if so, cannot you hit upon a more
convenient mode of making your communication?”
“I think not. I believe that I shall be dealing more fairly with you by
saying what I have to say in person.”
“Go on,” said Stapylton, calmly, as the other paused.
“You are aware,” continued Barrington, “that the chief obstacle to a
settlement of the claims I have long preferred against the India Company
has been a certain document which they possess, declaring that a
large portion of the territory held by the Rajah of Luckerabad was not
amenable to the laws that regulate succession, being what is called
'Lurkar-teea,'--conquered country,--over which, under no circumstances,
could the Rajah exercise prospective rights. To this deed, for their
better protection, the Company obtained the signature and seal of the
Rajah himself, by means which, of course, we could never discover; but
they held it, and always declared that no portion of my son's claim
could extend to these lands. Now, as they denied that he could
succeed to what are called the 'Turban lands,' meaning the right of
sovereignty--being a British subject--on the one hand, and rejected
his claim to these conquered countries on the other,--they excluded him
altogether.”
“My dear sir,” said Stapylton, mildly, “I'm shocked to interrupt you,
but I am forced to ask, what is the intimate bearing of all this upon
me, or on your position towards me?”
“Have a little patience, sir, and suffer me to proceed. If it should
turn out that this document--I mean that which bears the signature and
seal of the Rajah--should be a forgery; if, I say, it could be shown
that what the India Board have long relied on to sustain their case and
corroborate their own view could be proved false, a great point would be
gained towards the establishment of our claim.”
“Doubtless,” said Stapylton, with the half-peevish indifference of one
listening against his will.
“Well, there is a good prospect of this,” said Barring-ton, boldly.
“Nay, more, it is a certainty.”
“Mr. Barrington,” said Stapylton, drawing himself haughtily up, “a few
hours ago this history would have had a very great interest for me. My
hopes pointed to a very close relationship with your family; the last
hour has sufficed to dispel those hopes. Your granddaughter has rejected
me so decidedly that I cannot presume to suppose a change in her opinion
possible. Let me not then, obtain any share in your confidence to which
I have no right whatever.”
“What I am about to say will have more interest for you, sir,” continued
Barrington. “I am about to mention a name that you will recognize,--the
Moonshee, Ali Gohur.”
Stapylton started, and dropped the cigar he was smoking. To take out
another and light it, however, sufficed to employ him, as he murmured
between his teeth, “Go on.”
“This man says--” continued Barrington.
“Said, perhaps, if you like,” broke in Stapylton, “for he died some
months ago.”
“No; he is alive at this hour. He was on board the Indiaman that was run
down by the transport. He was saved and carried on board the 'Regulus'
by the intrepidity of young Dill. He is now recovering rapidly from the
injuries he received, and at the date of the letter which I hold here,
was able to be in daily communication with Colonel Hunter, who is the
writer of this.”
“I wish the gallant Colonel honester company. Are you aware, Mr.
Barrington, that you are speaking of one of the greatest rascals of a
country not famed for its integrity?”
“He lays no claim to such for the past; but he would seem desirous to
make some reparation for a long course of iniquity.”
“Charmed for his sake, and that of his well-wishers, if he have any.
But, once again, sir, and at all the risk of appearing very impatient,
what concern has all this for me?”
“A great deal, sir. The Moonshee declares that he has been for years
back in close correspondence with a man we long since believed dead,
and that this man was known to have communicated constantly with the
law advisers of the India Board in a manner adverse to us, he being
none other than the son of the notorious Sam Edwardes, whom he always
addressed under cover to Captain Horace Stapylton, Prince's Hussars.”
“This is--strange enough, when one thinks of the quarter it comes
from--perfectly true. I came to know Edwardes when on my voyage home,
invalided. He took immense trouble about me, nursed and tended me,
and, in return, asked as a favor to have some letters he was expecting
addressed to my care. I neither knew who he was, nor cared. He got
his letters, and I suppose read them; but of their contents, I, it is
needless to say, know nothing. I am speaking of a dozen years ago, or,
at least, eight or ten, for since that time I have never heard of either
Edwardes or his friend.”
“He tells a different story. He asserts that to his letters, forwarded
to the same address up to the period of last March, he regularly
received replies; but at last finding that the writer was disposed to
get rid of him, he obtained means to circulate a report of his death,
and sailed for Europe to prefer his claims, whatever they be, in
person.”
“And if every word of this were true, Mr. Barrington, which I don't
suspect it is, how, in the name of common sense, does it concern me? I
don't suppose I ever took my own letters at a post-office twice in my
life. My servant, who has lived with me fourteen years, may, for aught I
know, have been bribed to abstract these letters on their arrival; they
would be easily recognized by the very superscription. This is one way
the thing might have been done. There may have been fifty more, for
aught I know or care.”
“But you don't deny that you knew Edwardes, and had a close intimacy
with him?--a circumstance which you never revealed to Withering or
myself.”
“It is not at all improbable I may have known half a dozen of that name.
It is by no means an uncommon one, not to say that I have a singularly
infelicitous memory for people's names. But for the last time, sir, I
must protest against this conversation going any further. You have taken
upon you, I would hope without intending it, the tone of a French _Juge
d'Instruction_ in the interrogation of a prisoner. You have questioned
and cross-questioned me, asking how I can account for this, or explain
that. Now, I am ready to concede a great deal to your position as my
host, and to your years, but really I must entreat of you not to push my
deference for these beyond the limits of the respect I owe myself. You
very properly warned me at the opening of this conversation that it
ought not to have the sanction of your roof-tree. I have only to beg
that if it is to go any further, that it be conducted in such a shape
as is usual between gentlemen who have an explanation to ask, or a
satisfaction to demand.”
There was consummate craft in giving the discussion this turn. Stapylton
well knew the nature of the man he was addressing, and that after the
passing allusion to his character as a host, he only needed to hint at
the possibility of a meeting to recall him to a degree of respect only
short of deference for his opponent.
“I defer to you at once, Major Stapylton,” said the old man, with a
bland courtesy, as he uncovered and bowed. “There was a time when I
should scarcely have required the admonition you have given me.”
“I am glad to perceive that you understand me so readily,” said
Stapylton, who could scarcely repress the joy he felt at the success of
his diversion; “and that nothing may mar our future understanding, this
is my address in London, where I shall wait your orders for a week.”
Though the stroke was shrewdly intended, and meant to throw upon
Barrington all the onus of the provocation, the Major little suspected
that it was the one solitary subject of which his opponent was a master.
On the “duello” Barrington was an authority beyond appeal, and no
subtlety, however well contrived, could embarrass or involve him.
“I have no satisfaction to claim at your hands, Major Stapylton,” said
he, calmly. “My friend, Mr. Withering, when he sent me these letters,
knew you were my guest, and he said, 'Read them to Major Stapylton. Let
him know what is said of him, and who says it.'”
“And, perhaps, you ought to add, sir, who gives it the sanction of his
belief,” broke in Stapylton, angrily. “You never took the trouble to
recite these charges till they obtained your credence.”
“You have said nothing to disprove them,” said the old man, quickly.
“That is enough,--quite enough, sir; we understand each other perfectly.
You allege certain things against me as injuries done you, and you wait
for _me_ to resent the imputation. I 'll not balk you, be assured of it.
The address I have given you in London will enable you to communicate
with me when you arrive there; for I presume this matter had better be
settled in France or Holland.”
“I think so,” said Barrington, with the air of a man thoroughly at his
ease.
“I need not say, Mr. Barrington, the regret it gives me that it was not
one of my detractors himself, and not their dupe, that should occupy
this place.”
“The dupe, sir, is very much at your service.”
“Till we meet again,” said Stapylton, raising his hat as he turned away.
In his haste and the confusion of the moment, he took the path that
led towards the cottage; nor did he discover his mistake till he heard
Barrington's voice calling out to Darby,--
“Get the boat ready to take Major Stapylton to Inistioge.”
“You forget none of the precepts of hospitality,” said Stapylton,
wheeling hastily around, and directing his steps towards the river.
Barrington looked after him as he went, and probably in his long and
varied life, crossed with many a care and many troubles, he had never
felt the pain of such severe self-reproach as in that moment. To see his
guest, the man who had sat at his board and eaten his salt, going out
into the dreary night without one hospitable effort to detain him,
without a pledge to his health, without a warm shake of his hand, or one
hearty wish for his return.
“Dear, dear!” muttered he, to himself, “what is the world come to! I
thought I had no more experiences to learn of suffering; but here is
a new one. Who would have thought to see the day that Peter Barrington
would treat his guest this fashion?”
“Are you coming in to tea, grandpapa?” cried Josephine, from the garden.
“Here I am, my dear!”
“And your guest, Peter, what has become of him?” said Dinah.
“He had some very urgent business at Kilkenny; something that could not
admit of delay, I opine.”
“But you have not let him go without his letters, surely. Here are all
these formidable-looking despatches, on his Majesty's service, on the
chimney-piece.”
“How forgetful of me!” cried he, as, snatching them up, he hastened down
to the river-side. The boat, however, had just gone; and although he
shouted and called at the top of his voice, no answer came, and he
turned back at last, vexed and disappointed.
“I shall have to start for Dublin to-morrow, Dinah,” said he, as he
walked thoughtfully up and down the room. “I must have Withering's
advice on these letters. There are very pressing matters to be thought
of here, and I can take Major Stapylton's despatches with me. I am
certain to hear of him somewhere.”
Miss Barrington turned her eyes full upon him, and watched him narrowly.
She was a keen detector of motives, and she scanned her brother's
face with no common keenness, and yet she could see nothing beyond the
preoccupation she had often seen. There was no impatience, no anxiety. A
shade more thoughtful, perhaps, and even that passed off, as he sat down
to his tea, and asked Fifine what commissions she had for the capital.
“You will leave by the evening mail, I suppose?” said Miss Barrington.
“No, Dinah, night travelling wearies me. I will take the coach as it
passes the gate to-morrow at five; this will bring me in time to catch
Withering at his late dinner, and a pleasanter way to finish a day's
travel no man need ask for.”
Nothing could be more easily spoken than these words, and Miss Dinah
felt reassured by them, and left the room to give some orders about his
journey.
“Fifine, darling,” said Barrington, after a pause, “do you like your
life here?”
“Of course I do, grandpapa. How could I wish for one more happy?”
“But it is somewhat dull for one so young,--somewhat solitary for a
fair, bright creature, who might reasonably enough care for pleasure and
the world.”
“To me it is a round of gayety, grandpapa; so that I almost felt
inclined yesterday to wish for some quiet davs with aunt and
yourself,--some of those dreamy days like what we had in Germany.”
“I fear me much, darling, that I contribute but little to the pleasure.
My head is so full of one care or another, I am but sorry company,
Fifine.”
“If you only knew how dull we are without you! How heavily the day drags
on even with the occupations you take no share in; how we miss your
steps on the stairs and your voice in the garden, and that merry laugh
that sets ourselves a-laughing just by its own ring.”
“And you would miss me, then?” said he, as he pushed the hair from her
temples, and stared steadfastly at her face,--“you would miss me?”
“It would only be half life without you,” cried she, passionately.
“So much the worse,--so much the worse!” muttered he; and he turned
away, and drew his hand across his eyes. “This life of ours, Fifine, is
a huge battle-field; and though the comrades fall fast around him, the
brave soldier will fight on to the last.”
“You don't want a dress-coat, brother Peter, to dine with Withering,
so I have just put up what will serve you for three days, or four, at
furthest,” said Dinah, entering. “What will be the extent of your stay?”
“Let me have a black coat, Dinah; there 's no saying what great man may
not ask for my company; and it might be a week before I get back again.”
“There's no necessity it should be anything of the kind, Peter; and with
your habits an hotel life is scarcely an economy. Come, Fifine, get to
bed, child. You'll have to be up at daybreak. Your grandpapa won't think
his coffee drinkable, if it is not made by your hands.”
And with this remark, beautifully balanced between a reproof and
a flattery, she proceeded to blow out the candles, which was her
accustomed mode of sending her company to their rooms.