He fell, and, deadly pale,
Groaned out his soul.
MILTON.
"Do, mamma, come here," said Emily, as she was looking out of the window
of an inn on the road, where they had stopped to take some
refreshment--"do come, and see what a pretty lady is in the chariot
which has stopped at the door."
Mrs Rainscourt complied with her daughter's request, and acknowledged
the justice of the remark when she saw the expressive countenance of
Susan (now Mrs McElvina), who was listening to the proposal of her
husband that they should alight and partake of some refreshment. Susan
consented, and was followed by old Hornblow, who, pulling out his watch
from his white cassimere _femoralia_, which he had continued to wear
ever since the day of the wedding, declared that they must stop to dine.
"This country air makes one confoundedly hungry," said the old man; "I
declare I never had such an appetite in Cateaton-street. Susan, my
dear, order something that won't take long in cooking--a beef-steak, if
they have nothing down at the fire."
Mrs Rainscourt, who was as much prepossessed with the appearance of
McElvina as with that of his wife, gave vent to her thoughts with "I
wonder who they are!" Her maid, who was in the room, took this as a
hint to obtain the gratification of her mistress's curiosity as well as
her own, and proceeded accordingly on her voyage of discovery. In a few
minutes she returned, having boarded the Abigail of Mrs McElvina just
as she was coming to an anchor inside the bar; and, having made an
interchange of intelligence, with a rapidity incredible to those who are
not aware of the velocity of communication between this description of
people, re-entered the parlour, to make a report to her commanding
officer, precisely at the same moment that Susan's maid was delivering
her cargo of intelligence to her own mistress.
"They are a new-married couple, ma'am, and their name is McElvina," said
the one.
"The lady is a Mrs Rainscourt, and the young lady is her daughter, and
a great heiress," whispered the other.
"They have purchased the hunting box close to the --- Hall, and are
going there now," said the first.
"They live at the great park, close to where you are going, ma'am," said
the second.
"The old gentleman's name is Hornblow. He is the lady's father, and as
rich as a Jew, they say," continued Mrs Rainscourt's maid.
"Mrs Rainscourt don't live with her husband, ma'am; by all accounts
he's a bad 'un," continued the Abigail of Susan.
The publicity of the staircase of an hotel is very convenient for making
an acquaintance; and it happened that, just after these communications
had been made, Emily was ascending the stairs as Mrs McElvina was going
down to join her husband and father at the dinner table. The smiling
face and beaming eyes of Emily, who evidently lingered to be spoken to,
were so engaging that she soon found her way into the room which the
McElvinas were occupying.
Mrs Rainscourt was not sorry to find that she was to have for
neighbours a couple whose appearance had so prepossessed her in their
favour. As she expected that her society would be rather confined, she
did not suffer to escape the favourable opportunity which presented
itself of making their acquaintance. As they were returning to their
vehicles, Emily ran to Mrs McElvina to wish her good-bye, and Mrs
Rainscourt expressed her thanks for the notice they had taken of her
daughter. A few minutes' conversation ended in "hoping to have the
pleasure of making their acquaintance as soon as they were settled."
The carriages drove off; and we shall follow that of the McElvinas,
which arrived at its destination late in the evening, without any
accident.
The cottage-ornee (as all middle-sized houses with verandas and French
windows are now designated), which Hornblow had purchased, was, for a
wonder, quite as complete as described in the particulars of sale. It
had the sloping lawn in front; the three acres (more or less) of
plantation and pleasure ground, tastefully laid out, and planted with
thriving young trees; the capital walled gardens, stocked with the
choicest fruit trees, in full bearing; abundant springs of the finest
water; stabling for six horses; cow-house, cart-house, farm-yard, and
_complete piggery_. The dimensions of the conservatory, and rooms in
the interior of the house were quite correct; and the land attached to
it was according to "the accompanying plan," and divided into parcels,
designated by the rural terms of "Homestead," "Lob's-pound,"
"Eight-acre-meadow," "Little-orchard field," etcetera, etcetera.
In short, it was a very eligible purchase, and a very pretty and retired
domicile; and when our party arrived, the flowers seemed to yield a more
grateful perfume, the trees appeared more umbrageous, and the verdure of
the meadows of a more refreshing green, from the contrast with so many
hours' travelling upon a dusty road, during a sultry day.
"Oh, how beautiful these roses are! Do look, my dear father."
"They are, indeed," replied old Hornblow, delighted at the happy face of
his daughter;--"but I should like some tea, Susan--I am not used to so
much jumbling. I feel tired, and shall go to bed early."
Tea was accordingly prepared; soon after which, the old gentleman rose
to retire.
"Well," said he, as he lighted his chamber candle, "I suppose I am
settled here for life; but I hardly know what to do with myself. I must
make acquaintance with all the flowers and all the trees: the budding of
the spring will make me think of grandchildren; the tree, clothed in its
beauty, of you; and the fall of the leaf, of myself. I must count the
poultry, and look after the pigs, and see the cows milked. I was fond
of the little parlour in Cateaton-street, because I had sat in it so
long; and I suppose that I shall get fond of this place too, if I find
enough to employ and amuse me. But you must be quick and give me a
grandchild, Susan, and then I shall nurse him all day long. Good
night--God bless you, my dear, good night."
"Good night, my dear sir," replied Susan, who had coloured deeply at the
request which he had made.
"Good night, McElvina, my boy; this is the first night we pass under
this roof; may we live many happy years in it;" and old Hornblow left
the room, and ascended the stairs. McElvina had encircled Susan's waist
with his arm, and was probably about to utter some wish in unison with
that of her father, when the noise of a heavy fall sounded in their
ears.
"Good Heaven!" cried Susan, "it is my father who has fallen down
stairs."
McElvina rushed out; it was but too true. The stair-carpet had not yet
been laid down, and his foot had slipped at the uppermost step. He was
taken up senseless, and when medical advice was procured, his head and
his spine were found to be seriously injured. In a few days, during
which he never spoke, old Hornblow was no more. Thus the old man, like
the prophet of old, after all his toiling, was but permitted to see the
promised land; and thus are our days cut short at the very moment of
realising our most sanguine expectations.
Reader, let us look at home. Shall I, now thoughtlessly riding upon the
agitated billow, with but one thin plank between me and death, and yet
so busy with this futile work, be permitted to bring it to a close? The
hand which guides the flowing pen may to-morrow be stiff; the head now
teeming with its subject may be past all thought ere to-morrow's sun is
set--ay, sooner! And you, reader, who may so far have had the courage
to proceed in the volumes without throwing them away, shall you be
permitted to finish your more trifling task?--or, before its close, be
hurried from this transitory scene where fiction ends, and the spirit,
re-endowed, will be enabled to raise its eyes upon the lightning beams
of unveiled truth?