LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
Her sweet song died, and a vague unrest
And a nameless longing filled her breast.
--_Whittier_.
The sisters had not seen their young landlord since he was a lad of ten
years of age, at which epoch he had been sent to Europe to receive his
education. He had but recently been recalled home by his widowed mother,
for the purpose of entering upon his estate and celebrating his majority
in his patrimonial mansion by giving a dinner and ball in the house to
all his kindred and friends, and a feast and dance in the barn to all
his tenants and laborers.
It was said that his lady mother and his two young lady sisters, haughty
and repellent women that they were, had objected to entertaining his
dependents, but the young gentleman was resolved that they should enjoy
themselves. And he had his way.
Nora had no recollection whatever of Herman Brudenell, who had been
taken to Europe while she was still a baby; so now, her curiosity being
stimulated, she plied Hannah with a score of tiresome questions about
him.
"Is he tall, Hannah, dear? Is he very handsome?"
"How can I tell? I have not seen him since he was ten years old."
"But what is his complexion--is he fair or dark? and what is the color
of his hair and eyes? Surely, you can tell that at least."
"Yes; his complexion, as well as I can recollect it, was freckled, and
his hair sandy, and his eyes green."
"Oh-h! the horrid fright! a man to scare bad children into good
behavior! But then that was when he was but ten years old; he is
twenty-one to-day; perhaps he is much improved."
"Nora, our sheep have passed through here, and left some of their wool
on the bushes. Look at that little bird, it has found a flake and is
bearing it off in triumph to line its little nest," said Hannah, to
change the subject.
"Oh, I don't care about the bird; I wish you to tell me about the young
gentleman!" said Nora petulantly, adding the question: "I wonder who
he'll marry?"
"Not you, my dear; so you had better not occupy your mind with him,"
Hannah replied very gravely.
Nora laughed outright. "Oh, I'm quite aware of that; and as for me, I
would not marry a prince, if he had red hair and a freckled face; but
still one cannot help thinking of one's landlord, when one is going to
attend the celebration of his birthday."
They had now reached the top of the hill and come upon a full view of
the house and grounds.
The house, as I said, was a very elegant edifice of white free-stone; it
was two stories in height, and had airy piazzas running the whole length
of the front, both above and below; a stately portico occupied the
center of the lower piazza, having on each side of it the tall windows
of the drawing-rooms. This portico and all these windows were now wide
open, mutely proclaiming welcome to all comers. The beautifully laid out
grounds were studded here and there with tents pitched under the shade
trees, for the accommodation of the out-door guest, who were now
assembling rapidly.
But the more honored guests of the house had not yet begun to arrive.
And none of the family were as yet visible.
On reaching the premises the sisters were really embarrassed, not
knowing where to go, and finding no one to direct them.
At length a strange figure appeared upon the scene--a dwarfish mulatto,
with a large head, bushy hair, and having the broad forehead and high
nose of the European, with the thick lips and heavy jaws of the African;
with an ashen gray complexion, and a penetrating, keen and sly
expression of the eyes. With this strange combination of features he had
also the European intellect with the African utterance. He was a very
gifted original, whose singularities of genius and character will reveal
themselves in the course of this history, and he was also one of those
favored old family domestics whose power in the house was second only to
that of the master, and whose will was law to all his fellow servants;
he had just completed his fiftieth year, and his name was Jovial.
And he now approached the sisters, saying:
"Mornin', Miss Hannah--mornin', Miss Nora. Come to see de show? De young
heir hab a fool for his master for de fust time to-day."
"We have come to the birthday celebration; but we do not know where we
ought to go--whether to the house or the tents," said Hannah.
The man tucked his tongue into his cheek and squinted at the sisters,
muttering to himself:
"I should like to see de mist'ess' face, ef you two was to present
yourselves at de house!"
Then, speaking aloud, he said:
"De house be for de quality, an' de tents for de colored gemmen and
ladies; an' de barn for de laborin' classes ob de whites. Shall I hab de
honor to denounce you to de barn?"
"I thank you, yes, since it is there we are expected to go," said
Hannah.
Jovial led the way to an immense barn that had been cleaned out and
decorated for the occasion. The vast room was adorned with festoons of
evergreens and paper flowers. At the upper end was hung the arms of the
Brudenells. Benches were placed along the walls for the accommodation of
those who might wish to sit. The floor was chalked for the dancers.
"Dere, young women, dere you is," said Jovial loftily, as he introduced
the sisters into this room, and retired.
There were some thirty-five or forty persons present, including men,
women, and children, but no one that was known to the sisters. They
therefore took seats in a retired corner, from which they watched the
company.
"How many people there are! Where could they all have come from?"
inquired Nora.
"I do not know. From a distance, I suppose. People will come a long way
to a feast like this. And you know that not only were the tenants and
laborers invited, but they were asked to bring all their friends and
relations as well!" said Hannah.
"And they seemed to have improved the opportunity," added Nora.
"Hush, my dear; I do believe here come Mr. Brudenell and the ladies,"
said Hannah.
And even as she spoke the great doors of the barn were thrown open, and
the young landlord and his family entered.
First came Mr. Brudenell, a young gentleman of medium height, and
elegantly rather than strongly built; his features were regular and
delicate; his complexion fair and clear; his hair of a pale, soft,
golden tint; and in contrast to all this, his eyes were of a deep, dark,
burning brown, full of fire, passion, and fascination. There was no
doubt about it--he was beautiful! I know that is a strange term to apply
to a man, but it is the only true and comprehensive one to characterize
the personal appearance of Herman Brudenell. He was attired in a neat
black dress suit, without ornaments of any kind; without even a
breastpin or a watch chain.
Upon his arm leaned his mother, a tall, fair woman with light hair,
light blue eyes, high aquiline features, and a haughty air. She wore a
rich gray moire antique, and a fine lace cap.
Behind them came the two young lady sisters, so like their mother that
no one could have mistaken them. They wore white muslin dresses, sashes
of blue ribbon, and wreaths of blue harebells. They advanced with smiles
intended to be gracious, but which were only condescending.
The eyes of all the people in the barn were fixed upon this party,
except those of Nora Worth, which were riveted upon the young heir.
And this was destiny!
There was nothing unmaidenly in her regard. She looked upon him as a
peasant girl might look upon a passing prince--as something grand,
glorious, sunlike, and immeasurably above her sphere; but not as a
human being, not as a young man precisely like other young men.
While thus, with fresh lips glowingly apart, and blushing cheeks, and
eyes full of innocent admiration, she gazed upon him, he suddenly turned
around, and their eyes met full. He smiled sweetly, bowed lowly, and
turned slowly away. And she, with childlike delight, seized her sister's
arm and exclaimed:
"Oh, Hannah, the young heir bowed to me, he did indeed!"
"He could do no less, since you looked at him so hard," replied the
sister gravely.
"But to me, Hannah, to me--just think of it! No one ever bowed to me
before, not even the negroes! and to think of him--Mr. Brudenell--bowing
to me--me!"
"I tell you he could do no less; he caught you looking at him; to have
continued staring you in the face would have been rude; to have turned
abruptly away would have been equally so; gentlemen are never guilty of
rudeness, and Mr. Brudenell is a gentleman; therefore he bowed to you,
as I believe he would have bowed to a colored girl even."
"Oh, but he smiled! he smiled so warmly and brightly, just for all the
world like the sun shining out, and as if, as if--"
"As if what, you little goose?"
"Well, then, as if he was pleased."
"It was because he was amused; he was laughing at you, you silly child!"
"Do you think so?" asked Nora, with a sudden change of tone from gay to
grave.
"I am quite sure of it, dear," replied the elder sister, speaking her
real opinion.
"Laughing at me," repeated Nora to herself, and she fell into thought.
Meanwhile, with a nod to one a smile to another and a word to a third,
the young heir and his party passed down the whole length of the room,
and retired through an upper door. As soon as they were gone the negro
fiddlers, six in number, led by Jovial, entered, took their seats, tuned
their instruments, and struck up a lively reel.
There was an, immediate stir; the rustic beaus sought their belles, and
sets were quickly formed.
A long, lanky, stooping young man, with a pale, care-worn face and
grayish hair, and dressed in a homespun jacket and trousers, came up to
the sisters.
"Dance, Hannah?" he inquired.
"No, thank you, Reuben; take Nora out--she would like to."
"Dance, Nora?" said Reuben Gray, turning obediently to the younger
sister.
"Set you up with it, after asking Hannah first, right before my very
eyes. I'm not a-going to take anybody's cast-offs, Mr. Reuben!"
"I hope you are not angry with, me for that, Nora? It was natural I
should prefer to dance with your sister. I belong to her like, you know.
Don't be mad with me," said Reuben meekly.
"Nonsense, Rue! you know I was joking. Make Hannah dance; it will do her
good; she mopes too much," laughed Nora.
"Do, Hannah, do, dear; you know I can't enjoy myself otherways," said
the docile fellow.
"And it is little enjoyment you have in this world, poor soul!" said
Hannah Worth, as she rose and placed her hand in his.
"Ah, but I have a great deal, Hannah, dear, when I'm along o' you," he
whispered gallantly, as he led her off to join the dancers.
And they were soon seen tritting, whirling, heying, and selling with the
best of them--forgetting in the contagious merriment of the music and
motion all their cares.
Nora was besieged with admirers, who solicited her hand for the dance.
But to one and all she returned a negative. She was tired with her long
walk, and would not dance, at least not this set; she preferred to sit
still and watch the others. So at last she was left to her chosen
occupation. She had sat thus but a few moments, her eyes lovingly
following the flying forms of Reuben and Hannah through the mazes of the
dance, her heart rejoicing in their joy, when a soft voice murmured at
her ear.
"Sitting quite alone, Nora? How is that? The young men have not lost
their wits, I hope?"
She started, looked up, and with a vivid blush recognized her young
landlord. He was bending over her with the same sweet ingenuous smile
that had greeted her when their eyes first met that morning. She drooped
the long, dark lashes over her eyes until they swept her carmine cheeks,
but she did not answer.
"I have just deposited my mother and sisters in their drawing-room, and
I have returned to look at the dancers. May I take this seat left vacant
by your sister?" he asked.
"Certainly you may, sir," she faltered forth, trembling with, a vague
delight.
"How much they enjoy themselves--do they not?" he asked, as he took the
seat and looked upon the dancers with a benevolent delight that
irradiated his fair, youthful countenance.
"Oh, indeed they do, sir," said Nora, unconsciously speaking more from
her own personal experience of present happiness than from her
observation of others.
I wish I could arrive at my majority every few weeks, or else have some
other good excuse for giving a great feast. I do so love to see people
happy, Nora. It is the greatest pleasure I have in the world."
"Yet you must have a great many other pleasures, sir; all wealthy people
must," said Nora, gaining courage to converse with one so amiable as she
found her young landlord.
"Yes, I have many others; but the greatest of all is the happiness of
making others happy. But why are you not among these dancers, Nora?"
"I was tired with my long walk up and down hill and dale. So I would not
join them this set."
"Are you engaged for the next?"
"No, sir."
"Then be my partner for it, will you?"
"Oh, sir!" And the girl's truthful face flashed with surprise and
delight.
"Will you dance with me, then, for the next set?"
"Yes, sir, please."
"Thank you, Nora. But now tell me, did you recollect me as well as I
remembered you?"
"No, sir."
"But that is strange; for I knew you again the instant I saw you."
"But, sir, you know I was but a baby when you went away?"
"That is true."
"But how, then, did you know me again?" she wonderingly inquired.
"Easily enough. Though you have grown up into such a fine young woman,
your face has not changed its character, Nora. You have the same broad,
fair forehead and arched brows; the same dark gray eyes and long lashes;
the same delicate nose and budding mouth; and the same peculiar way of
smiling only with your eyes; in a word--but pardon me, Nora, I forgot
myself in speaking to you so plainly. Here is a new set forming already.
Your sister and her partner are going to dance together again; shall we
join them?" he suddenly inquired, upon seeing that his direct praise, in
which he had spoken in ingenuous frankness, had brought the blushes
again to Nora's cheeks.
She arose and gave him her hand, and he led her forth to the head of the
set that was now forming, where she stood with downcast and blushing
face, admired by all the men, and envied by all the women that were
present.
This was not the only time he danced with her. He was cordial to all his
guests, but he devoted himself to Nora. This exclusive attention of the
young heir to the poor maiden gave anxiety to her sister and offense to
all the other women.
"No good will come of it," said one.
"No good ever does come of a rich young man paying attention to a poor
girl," added another.
"He is making a perfect fool of himself," said a third indignantly.
"He is making a perfect fool of her, you had better say," amended a
fourth, more malignant than the rest.
"Hannah, I don't like it! I'm a sort of elder brother-in-law to her, you
know, and I don't like it. Just see how he looks at her, Hannah! Why, if
I was to melt down my heart and pour it all into my face, I couldn't
look at you that-a-way, Hannah, true as I love you. Why, he's just
eating of her up with his eyes, and as for her, she looks as if it was
pleasant to be swallowed by him!" said honest Reuben Gray, as he watched
the ill-matched young pair as they sat absorbed in each other's society
in a remote corner of the barn.
"Nor do I like it, Reuben," sighed Hannah.
"I've a great mind to interfere! I've a right to! I'm her brother-in-law
to be."
"No, do not, Reuben; it would do more harm than good; it would make her
and everybody else think more seriously of these attentions than they
deserve. It is only for to-night, you know. After this, they will
scarcely ever meet to speak to each other again."
"As you please, Hannah, you are wiser than I am; but still, dear, I must
say that a great deal of harm may be done in a day. Remember, dear, that
(though I don't call it harm, but the greatest blessing of my life) it
was at a corn-shucking, where we met for the first time, that you and I
fell in love long of each other, and have we ever fell out of it yet?
No, Hannah, nor never will. But as you and I are both poor, and
faithful, and patient, and broken in like to bear things cheerful, no
harm has come of our falling in love at that corn-shucking. But now,
s'pose them there children fall in love long of each other by looking
into each other's pretty eyes--who's to hinder it? And that will be the
end of it? He can't marry her; that's impossible; a man of his rank and
a girl of hers! his mother and sisters would never let him! and if they
would, his own pride wouldn't! And so he'd go away and try to forget
her, and she'd stop home and break her heart. Hannah, love is like a
fire, easy to put out in the beginning, unpossible at the end. You just
better let me go and heave a bucket of water on to that there love while
it is a-kindling and before the blaze breaks out."
"Go then, good Reuben, and tell Nora that I am going home and wish her
to come to me at once."
Reuben arose to obey, but was interrupted by the appearance of a negro
footman from the house, who came up to him and said:
"Mr. Reuben, de mistess say will you say to de young marster how de
gemmen an' ladies is all arrive, an' de dinner will be sarve in ten
minutes, an' how she 'sires his presence at de house immediate."
"Certainly, John! This is better, Hannah, than my interference would
have been," said Reuben Gray, as he hurried off to execute his mission.
So completely absorbed in each other's conversation were the young pair
that they did not observe Reuben's approach until he stood before them,
and, touching his forehead, said respectfully:
"Sir, Madam Brudenell has sent word as the vis'ters be all arrived at
the house, and the dinner will be ready in ten minutes, so she wishes
you, if you please, to come directly."
"So late!" exclaimed the young man, looking at his watch, and starting
up, "how time flies in some society! Nora, I will conduct you to your
sister, and then go and welcome our guests at the house; although I had
a great deal rather stay where I am," he added, in a whisper.
"If you please, sir, I can take her to Hannah," suggested Reuben.
But without paying any attention to this friendly offer, the young man
gave his hand to the maiden and led her down the whole length of the
barn, followed by Reuben, and also by the envious eyes of all the
assembly.
"Here she is, Hannah. I have brought her back to you quite safe, not
even weary with dancing. I hope I have helped her to enjoy herself,"
said the young heir gayly, as he deposited the rustic beauty by the side
of her sister.
"You are very kind, sir," said Hannah coldly.
"Ah, you there, Reuben! Be sure you take good care of this little girl,
and see that she has plenty of pleasant partners," said the young
gentleman, on seeing Gray behind.
"Be sure I shall take care of her, sir, as if she was my sister, as I
hope some day she may be," replied the man.
"And be careful that she gets a good place at the supper-table--there
will be a rush, you know."
"I shall see to that, sir."
"Good evening, Hannah; good evening, Nora," said the young heir, smiling
and bowing as he withdrew from the sisters.
Nora sighed; it might have been from fatigue. Several country beaus
approached, eagerly contending, now that the coast was clear, for the
honor of the beauty's hand in the dance. But Nora refused one and all.
She should dance no more this evening, she said. Supper came on, and
Reuben, with one sister on each arm, led them out to the great tent
where it was spread. There was a rush. The room was full and the table
was crowded; but Reuben made good places for the sisters, and stood
behind their chairs to wait on them. Hannah, like a happy, working,
practical young woman in good health, who had earned an appetite, did
ample justice to the luxuries placed before them. Nora ate next to
nothing. In vain Hannah and Reuben offered everything to her in turn;
she would take nothing. She was not hungry, she said; she was tired and
wanted to go home.
"But wouldn't you rather stay and see the fireworks, Nora?" inquired
Reuben Gray, as they arose from the table to give place to someone else.
"I don't know. Will--will Mr.--I mean Mrs. Brudenell and the young
ladies come out to see them, do you think?"
"No, certainly, they will not; these delicate creatures would never
stand outside in the night air for that purpose."
"I--I don't think I care about stopping to see the fireworks, Reuben,"
said Nora.
"But I tell you what, John said how the young heir, the old madam, the
young ladies, and the quality folks was all a-going to see the fireworks
from the upper piazza. They have got all the red-cushioned settees and
arm-chairs put out there for them to sit on."
"Reuben, I--I think I will stop and see the fireworks; that is, if
Hannah is willing," said Nora musingly.
And so it was settled.
The rustics, after having demolished the whole of the plentiful supper,
leaving scarcely a bone or a crust behind them, rushed out in a body,
all the worse for a cask of old rye whisky that had been broached, and
began to search for eligible stands from which to witness the exhibition
of the evening.
Reuben conducted the sisters to a high knoll at some distance from the
disorderly crowd, but from which they could command a fine view of the
fireworks, which were to be let off in the lawn that lay below their
standpoint and between them and the front of the dwelling-house. Here
they sat as the evening closed in. As soon as it was quite dark the
whole front of the mansion-house suddenly blazed forth in a blinding
illumination. There were stars, wheels, festoons, and leaves, all in
fire. In the center burned a rich transparency, exhibiting the arms of
the Brudenells.
During this illumination none of the family appeared in front, as their
forms must have obscured a portion of the lights. It lasted some ten or
fifteen minutes, and then suddenly went out, and everything was again
dark as midnight. Suddenly from the center of the lawn streamed up a
rocket, lighting up with a lurid fire all the scene--the mansion-house
with the family and their more honored guests now seated upon the upper
piazza, the crowds of men, women, and children, white, black, and mixed,
that stood with upturned faces in the lawn, the distant knoll on which
were grouped the sisters and their protector, the more distant forests
and the tops of remote hills, which all glowed by night in this red
glare. This seeming conflagration lasted a minute, and then all was
darkness again. This rocket was but the signal for the commencement of
the fireworks on the lawn. Another and another, each more brilliant
than the last, succeeded. There were stars, wheels, serpents, griffins,
dragons, all flashing forth from the darkness in living fire, filling
the rustic spectators with admiration, wonder, and terror, and then as
suddenly disappearing as if swallowed up in the night from which they
had sprung. One instant the whole scene was lighted up as by a general
conflagration, the next it was hidden in darkness deep as midnight. The
sisters, no more than their fellow-rustics, had never witnessed the
marvel of fireworks, so now they gazed from their distant standpoint on
the knoll with interest bordering upon consternation.
"Don't you think they're dangerous, Reuben?" inquired Hannah.
"No, dear; else such a larned gentleman as Mr. Brudenell, and such a
prudent lady as the old madam, would never allow them," answered Gray.
Nora did not speak; she was absorbed not only by the fireworks
themselves, but by the group on the balcony that each illumination
revealed; or, to be exact, by one face in that group--the face of Herman
Brudenell.
At length the exhibition closed with one grand tableau in many colored
fire, displaying the family group of Brudenell, surmounted by their
crest, arms, and supporters, all encircled by wreaths of flowers. This
splendid transparency illumined the whole scene with dazzling light. It
was welcomed by deafening huzzas from the crowd. When the noise had
somewhat subsided, Reuben Gray, gazing with the sisters from their knoll
upon all this glory, touched Nora upon the shoulder and said:
"Look!"
"I am looking," she said.
"What do you see?"
"The fireworks, of course."
"And what beyond them?"
"The great house--Brudenell Hall."
"And there?"
"The party on the upper piazza."
"With Mr. Brudenell in the midst?"
"Yes."
"Now, then, observe! You see him, but it is across the glare of the
fireworks! There is fire between you and him, girl--a gulf of fire! See
that you do not dream either he or you can pass it! For either to do so
would be to sink one, and that is yourself, in burning fire--in
consuming shame! Oh, Nora, beware!"
He had spoken thus! he, the poor unlettered man who had scarcely ever
opened his mouth before without a grievous assault upon good English! he
had breathed these words of eloquent warning, as if by direct
inspiration, as though his lips, like those of the prophet of old, had
been touched by the living coal from Heaven. His solemn words awed
Hannah, who understood them by sympathy, and frightened Nora, who did
not understand them at all. The last rays of the finale were dying out,
and with their expiring light the party on the upper piazza were seen to
bow to the rustic assembly on the lawn, and then to withdraw into the
house.
And thus ended the fête day of the young heir of Brudenell Hall.
The guests began rapidly to disperse.
Reuben Gray escorted the sisters home, talking with Hannah all the way,
not upon the splendors of the festival--a topic he seemed willing to
have forgotten, but upon crops, stock, wages, and the price of tea and
sugar. This did not prevent Nora from dreaming on the interdicted
subject; on the contrary, it left her all the more opportunity to do so,
until they all three reached the door of the hill hut, where Reuben Gray
bade them good-night.