_A Tender Avowal_
IT MUST be confessed that Captain Ormsby and Major M’Intyre were two
very different sort of men to Mr. Ferrers. Never were two such gay,
noisy, pleasant, commonplace persons. They were ‘_on leave_’ from one
of the Mediterranean garrisons, had scampered through Italy, shot
red-legged partridges all along the Barbary coast, and even smoked a
pipe with the Dey of Algiers. They were intoxicated with all the sights
they had seen, and all the scrapes they had encountered, which they
styled ‘regular adventures’: and they insisted upon giving everyone a
description of what everybody had heard or seen. In consequence of their
arrival, Mr. Ferrers discontinued dining with his accustomed host; and
resumed his old habit of riding up to the casino, every evening, on his
Barbary ass, to eat oranges and talk to the Consul’s daughter.
‘I suppose you know Florence, Mr. Ferrers?’ said Major M’Intyre.
Mr. Ferrers bowed.
‘St. Peter’s, of course, you have seen?’ said Captain Ormsby.
‘But have you seen it during Holy Week?’ said the major. ‘That’s the
thing.’
‘Ah, I see you have been everywhere,’ said the captain: ‘Algiers, of
course?’
‘I never was at Algiers,’ replied Mr. Ferrers, quite rejoiced at the
circumstance; and he walked away, and played with the gazelle.
‘By Jove,’ said the major, with elevated eyes, ‘not been at Algiers!
why, Mr. Consul, I thought you said Mr. Ferrers was a very great
traveller indeed; and he has not been at Algiers! I consider Algiers
more worth seeing than any place we ever visited. Don’t you, Ormsby?’
The Consul inquired whether he had met any compatriots at that famous
place. The military travellers answered that they had not; but that Lord
Bohun’s yacht was there; and they understood his lordship was about to
proceed to this island. The conversation for some time then dwelt upon
Lord Bohun, and his adventures, eccentricities, and wealth. But Captain
Ormsby finally pronounced ‘Bohun a devilish good fellow.’
‘Do you know Lord Bohun?’ inquired Mr. Ferrers.
‘Why, no!’ confessed Captain Ormsby: ‘but he is a devilish intimate
friend of a devilish intimate friend of mine.’
Mr. Ferrers made a sign to Miss Ponsonby; she rose, and followed him
into the garden. ‘I cannot endure the jabber of these men,’ said Mr.
Ferrers.
‘They are very good-natured,’ said Miss Ponsonby.
‘It may be so; and I have no right to criticise them. I dare say they
think me very dull. However, it appears you will have Lord Bohun here in
a short time, and then I shall be forgotten.’
‘That is not a very kind speech. You would not be forgotten, even if
absent; and you have, I hope, no thought of quitting us.’
‘I have remained here too long. Besides, I have no wish to play a second
part to Lord Bohun.’
‘Who thinks of Lord Bohun? and why should you play a second part to
anyone? You are a little perverse, Mr. Ferrers.’
‘I have been in this island ten weeks,’ said Mr. Ferrers, thoughtfully.
‘When we begin to count time, we are generally weary,’ said Miss
Ponsonby.
‘You are in error. I would willingly compound that the rest of my
existence should be as happy as the last ten weeks. They have been
very happy,’ said Mr. Ferrers, musingly; ‘very happy, indeed. The only
_happy_ time I ever knew. They have been so serene, and so sweet.’
‘And why not remain, then?’ said Miss Ponsonby, in a low voice.
‘There are many reasons,’ said Mr. Ferrers; and he offered his arm
to Miss Ponsonby, and they walked together, far away from the casino.
‘These ten weeks have been so serene, and so sweet,’ he continued, but
in a calm voice, ‘because you have been my companion. My life has
taken its colour from your character. Now, listen to me, dearest Miss
Ponsonby, and be not alarmed. I love you!’
Her arm trembled in his.
‘Yes, I _love_ you; and, believe me, I use that word with no common
feeling. It describes the entire devotion of my existence to your life;
and my complete sympathy with every attribute of your nature. Calm as
may be my speech, I love you with a burning heart.’
She bowed her head, and covered her face with her right hand.
‘Most beauteous lady,’ continued Mr. Ferrers, ‘pardon me if I agitate
you; for my respect is equal to my love. I stand before you a stranger,
utterly unknown; and I am so circumstanced that it is not in my
power, even at _this_ moment, to offer any explanation of my equivocal
position. Yet, whatever I may be, I offer my existence, and all its
accidents, good or bad, in homage to your heart. May I indulge the
delicious hope that, if not now accepted, they are at least considered
with kindliness and without suspicion?’
‘Oh, yes! without _suspicion_,’ murmured Miss Ponsonby--‘without
suspicion. Nothing, nothing in the world shall ever make me believe that
you are not so good as you are------gifted.’
‘Darling Henrietta!’ exclaimed Mr. Ferrers, in a voice of melting
tenderness; and he pressed her to his heart, and sealed his love upon
her lips. ‘This, this is confidence; this, this is the woman’s love I
long have sighed for. Doubt me not, dearest; never doubt me! Say you are
mine; once more pledge yourself to me. I leave our isle this night. Nay,
start not, sweet one. ‘Tis for our happiness; this night. I shall return
to claim my bride. Now, listen, darling! our engagement, our sweet and
solemn engagement, is secret. You will never hear from me until we meet
again; you may hear _of_ me and not to my advantage. What matter? You
love me; you cannot doubt me. I leave with you my honour: an honour
_never sullied_. Mind that. Oh no, you cannot doubt me!’
‘I am yours: I care not what they say: if there be no faith and truth in
you, I will despair of them for ever.’
‘Beautiful being! you make me mad with joy. Has fate reserved for me,
indeed, this treasure? Am I at length loved, and loved only for myself!’