and he may be described as such by his own family, but when his mode
of life is inquired into, he will be found frequenting places and
societies which a virtuous man would shun as offensive to his taste,
and destructive of his honour."
When a forbidden passion has once gained an ascendency over the mind
of a female, it very often throws such a spell around her, that she
becomes either unable or unwilling to see the inevitable ruin that
lies before her; and though she will listen to the advice of her
friends with apparent interest, and sometimes profess to adopt it,
under a full conviction that it is such as she ought to follow, yet
as soon as she comes into contact with the fatal object on which her
affections are irrecoverably placed, she feels an influence which
destroys all her wise resolves, and hurries her to her doom.
Thus it was with the infatuated Emma, who, after struggling with
her affections for many months, and endeavouring to recover that
mental peace which she formerly enjoyed, rashly determined to follow
the impulse of her will, though her ruin should be the inevitable
consequence.
The family had accepted an invitation to spend a few days with an
intimate friend, who resided near Tunbridge Wells, but as Emma did
not wish to go into company at present, she was excused, and took
leave of her parents and sisters with the tenderest expressions of
attachment, and said she hoped they would enjoy the visit. On their
return they were informed by the housekeeper that Miss Emma had not
been home since the day after they left, but had requested her to
present the following letter to her father as soon as she saw him:--
"MY DEAR FATHER,--Before you receive this, I shall have
committed an act which will plunge you and every one of our
family into the greatest distress; but I have been compelled to
it by dire necessity. I could not conquer my passion for Captain
Orme, and am therefore now his wife. Had I not consented, my
life would have fallen a sacrifice to my feelings; and as I am
not prepared to die, I judged it prudent to perpetuate a life,
with some chance for happiness, rather than lose it, with a
certain prospect of misery. I hope you and my dear mother will
forgive me; and if you cannot suffer me to visit you, I hope
you will pray for me. My present home is at the Colonel's, and
though I do not expect to find it such a one as that which I
have left, yet I trust it will not be without its comforts. With
every affectionate regard to you, my dear Mamma, and sisters,
and brothers, I am your undutiful, yet much attached,
"EMMA."
A SEQUEL TO THE FOREGOING.
The distress into which the Holmes' family were plunged, on
hearing the contents of the letter just referred to, exceeds all
description; and though, during the first ebullition of their grief,
they gave utterance to heavy censures and bitter reproaches, yet, on
cooler reflection, they felt more disposed to pity than blame the
poor deluded Emma. "A deceived heart," said her father, "hath led
her astray, and she needs not the vial of our displeasure to fill up
the bitter cup which she has to drink. We, as a family, have had,"
he continued, "a larger proportion of happiness for a long series of
years than has fallen to the lot of most; and if, in the decline of
life, it should please an all-wise Providence to cast over us the
clouds of sorrow, we must not repine, but rather bow in submission
to his righteous will, and pray for wisdom and for grace, to guide
and support us, when walking through the darkness by which we are
now surrounded."
"But," said Mrs. Holmes, "this is an evil which I did not expect.
I thought she had too much regard for her own honour, and too
much respect for our feelings, to steal away from us in such a
clandestine manner, as though her home were a prison, and her
parents tyrants. She deserves all she may suffer; and if she has not
become as callous as a rock, must endure a martyrdom of anguish."
"Yes, my dear, but she is still our child; and though she has torn
herself away from us, we must not abandon her."
"Abandon her! no, impossible! I can never forget that I gave her
birth; that I watched over her in infancy and childhood; and that
she was the pride of my heart in my old age. It is the strength of
my affection that gives me such intense pain when I think of her
ungrateful conduct."
Her clothes, &c., were carefully packed up, and sent to Colonel
Orme's, according to her own request, accompanied by the following
letter, which inclosed a draft on her father's banker for £50:--
"MY DEAR EMMA,--I shall not attempt to describe our
consternation when on returning home we received your letter,
which informed us of the step you have taken. To reproach you,
now the deed is done, will not repair the evil, nor will it
afford any alleviation to our distress. We hope you may be
happy, and may meet that kindness from your new connections,
which you, no doubt, have anticipated; but which we do not
expect. I have inclosed a draft for your _own use_, as a token
of my affection, and assure you that you will always meet with a
welcome reception at the Elms, when you choose to visit us; but
you must come alone. As you are now an inmate in a family which
makes no profession of religion, I fear you will be exposed to
temptations, which will efface every devout impression you have
received; and you may be induced to treat with indifference, if
not with contempt, the faith in which you have been educated.
Remember, my dear child, that the fashion of this world is
passing away, and that in a few years you will have to stand
before the judgment seat of Christ, and if, in that solemn and
awful moment, you should be separated from us, by the impassable
gulf, with what feelings will you await your sentence! We will
pray for you; but our prayers will be useless unless _you_
likewise pray, and repent, and believe the gospel.--I remain
your affectionate father,
H. HOLMES."
Her husband took this draft to the bank and got it cashed, but he
kept the money; and when his wife ventured to ask him for it, he
requested her to apply to her father for more. This she refused to
do, which drew from him the first unkind expression she had heard
him utter. As the news of his marriage spread abroad, his creditors
became very clamorous for the settlement of their accounts; and
though by dexterous manoeuvring, he contrived to keep them from
adopting any violent measures, yet he felt conscious that the
crisis was fast approaching, unless Mr. Holmes could be persuaded
to assist him. He made a contrite apology to his wife for the
unguarded language he had used--pledged his honour never more to
wound her feelings--and assured her that nothing but dire necessity
had induced him to appropriate the money to his own use, which was
designed exclusively for hers. She accepted the apology, but felt
startled by his allusion to pecuniary embarrassment, though she felt
the subject to be too delicate to notice.
Her husband's family treated her with the utmost degree of respect
and affection, and every one strove to promote her happiness.
Captain Orme was unremitting in his attentions, studied her
gratification in all his arrangements, and conducted himself with
so much propriety, that she flattered herself with the prospect
of enjoying a large portion of conjugal felicity. Six months had
now passed away without any fresh interruption to her happiness,
when she began to perceive a fixed gloom on the countenance of her
husband, who absented himself more frequently, and for a longer
space of time than he had been accustomed to do; and she heard some
ambiguous expressions from her father and mother-in-law, which she
knew not how to explain; nor would her high spirit suffer her to ask
an explanation. At length, one day the Colonel informed her that
some application must be made to her father for a settlement, as his
son's pay was not equal to the expenses of the family which he was
now likely to have.
"Captain Orme informed me, Sir, when he solicited me to leave my
father's house to become his wife, and you assured me that his
statement was correct, that his fortune was large, and that it was
quite immaterial to him whether my father gave me a fortune or left
me penniless."
"I deny it, Madam, and now tell you that your husband is in
embarrassed circumstances, and it is useless to conceal the fact any
longer. Something must be done, or you are both ruined."
"No gentleman, Sir, ever ventured to suspect the truth of my
testimony, and I am sorry that I ever gave you an opportunity to do
it."
"Well, well, I beg your pardon for the abruptness of my reply.
Perhaps I did say that his statement was correct; but to be frank,
he is in difficulties, and we must endeavour to get him out as well
as we can; and no one has so much at stake in this business as
yourself."
"If his difficulties have come upon him since our marriage I will
submit to any privation, and will take upon myself any task to
extricate him; but if they existed before, I do not know that it is
in my power to forgive an act of deception so cruel and unjust as
that which you have all practised upon me."
"You talk," said the Colonel, "like one who lived before the fall,
in a state of paradisiacal innocence, rather than like one who has
seen the world as it is. The world is governed by deception; in
church, in state, in all the departments of social life; and if you
have been deceived by any statements which might have been given to
allure you to the altar, we have all been deceived since your return
from it."
"Not by me, Sir."
"No, Madam, but by your father."
"My father! no! impossible! As he is too humane to reproach, he is
too sincere to deceive."
"Why, we all expected, when the marriage was over, that he would
provide handsomely for you."
"I have no doubt that he will, ultimately, but I never gave you any
reason to expect it."
"But we _did_ expect it, and I think we have a _right_ to expect it.
Can he suppose that my son is to meet all the expenses which you and
your family may bring upon him, without receiving some assistance!
If he do, he is deceived, and will entail on you and himself
disgrace and misery."
"But you know, Colonel," said Mrs. Orme, "it is no use to wound the
feelings of dear Emma so much. If Charles is in trouble, I know she
will do what she can to assist him, without being very particular
respecting the cause of his difficulties; and I would propose,
without any farther remarks on this very painful question, that she
write to her father on the subject, or give her consent for you to
write."
"What are his difficulties?" inquired Emma.
"O dear, only a small account which he is obliged to pay
immediately."
"And cannot he pay a small account?"
"Why, my dear, he has had to settle several lately, which has taken
from him all his ready money."
"How much is this small account?"
"O, only about £200."
"And do you consider this a trifling sum to owe one tradesman?"
"Certainly, my dear, for a gentleman of his profession."
"Well," said Emma, "I will have some conversation with Charles on
the subject when he returns; and we will decide on the adoption of
some plan."
"Why, my dear, I am sorry to inform you, that he is at present
detained by the formalities of the law."
"Detained by the formalities of the law! I do not understand you."
"Perhaps not; but he cannot return home till the money is paid or
some security is given that it shall be paid."
"Then, where is he?"
"Why, my dear, it will afford you no pleasure if I tell you. You had
better not press the question."
"But I must press the question; and I must request to know where he
is."
"Well, my dear, since you must have it, the gentleman who waited
on him for the payment of the money, has very kindly given him
permission to stay in his house till it is paid."
"What! is he in prison?"
"No, not exactly in prison; only the formalities of the law require
that he should remain with the gentleman till the money is paid."
"Can I see him?"
"Why, you had better not. You had better write to your father on the
business, or let the Colonel write."
"Then let the Colonel write, for I can never consent to tell such a
tale to my father, after having treated his remonstrances with so
much contempt; and violating my most solemn pledge, that I would
never suffer myself to be beguiled again from the path of duty."
The Colonel wrote to Mr. Holmes, requesting that he would give his
daughter some portion of her fortune; delicately hinting at the
temporary embarrassments of her husband; soliciting, at the same
time, the honour of an interview, when he had no doubt, but some
expedient could be devised to bring about a friendly reconciliation,
by which the happiness of both families might be placed on a
substantial basis. To this letter Mr. Holmes replied, that he felt
it his duty to make every provision in his power for the personal
comfort of his daughter; but no circumstances should induce him to
pay the enormous debts which he knew her husband had contracted by
a course of extravagant profligacy; and while he was willing to
admit her under his roof, it was not his intention ever to form the
most distant intimacy with a family who had acted with such cruel
duplicity towards his child, and sacrificed her happiness for life.
On the receipt of this letter, the Ormes were thrown into the
greatest degree of perplexity; and though they did not read it to
Emma, because it contained some severe reflections on their conduct,
yet they judged it expedient to inform her, that Mr. Holmes refused
to comply with their request. "You must now, my dear, apply for some
cash," said Mrs. Orme, "as you will soon want many conveniences,
which it will not be in Charles's power to procure, and I would
advise you to press for a generous remittance." This application,
however, was rendered unnecessary, as a few days afterwards, she
received a letter from her father, inclosing a draft for £30 for her
own use, and informing her, that if she preferred being confined at
the Elms, everything was ready for her reception.
She now began to see the extreme delicacy of her situation, and to
feel the direful consequences of her own imprudence; but she had no
friend in whom she could confide or who could sympathize with her
misfortunes. Her mind was in a state of perpetual anxiety, often
deeply wounded by the neglect, or unkind looks and expressions of
those who once professed the utmost degree of affection--with the
near prospect, too, of becoming a mother, without a home, or any
provision for herself or child, except by returning to her father's
house--a step which she contemplated at present with extreme
reluctance.
After an absence of several days, Captain Orme returned home in
high spirits, informing his wife that he had had an interview with
her father, who very generously forgave him, and drew a check on
his banker for £300. "Now," said the Captain, "I'll give you a
proof of my honour. I'll take you to the bank, you shall receive
the cash, and pay yourself the £50, which necessity compelled me to
appropriate to my own use."
"No, Charles," replied his wife, "if my father has forgiven you, so
will I; and still indulge the hope, that our union, which has been
embittered with grief, may yet prove a source of mutual felicity. I
request that no further allusion be made to the money."
"Indeed, I cannot be happy unless you allow me to redeem my honour,
which stands pledged to you for it. You must consent to take it,
and I'll accompany you to the bank. You will wound me if you make
another objection."
She entertained no doubt of the truth of his statement; and they
accordingly drove to town together the following morning. Just as
they were going into the bank, he said, "There's a friend whom I
have been anxious to see some months; you will step in and get the
cash, and after I have seen him, I will return and meet you."
As she was well known to one of the partners in the banking firm,
who had often visited at the Elms, the check was honoured without
much inspection; and having the money, she gave her husband £250,
and then begged his acceptance of the £50, as an expression of
her attachment. With this sum he paid the debt for which he was
arrested; and prevented another arrest which he had been daily
expecting.
Things now wore a brighter aspect, and the unsuspecting Emma was
induced to decline accepting her father's offer; choosing to be
confined at the Colonel's, where she could enjoy the society of
her husband, without giving any trouble to the members of her own
family. Though often pressed to pay a visit to the Elms, she had
always deferred doing so; but she now proposed a visit to express
the pleasure she felt in prospect of a reconciliation between the
two families. On mentioning this, however, to her husband, he urged
her not to do it till after her confinement, saying, "The heir will
be our advocate, and heal the breach." The eventful time drew near,
and everything necessary for the occasion had been sent, with a
pressing invitation to spend a few weeks at home, as soon as she was
capable of doing so.
"I am happy to inform you," said her husband, a few weeks after the
occurrences above narrated, "that I have had another interview with
your father; after expressing his good wishes for your welfare,
and requesting that I would accompany you to the Elms after your
convalescence, he very generously said, that as our expenses
just now must be very heavy, and he wished you to have the best
professional advice, and every comfort that money could procure, he
would beg my acceptance of this check for £400. Now, my dear Emma,
we will go to town in the morning, and you shall get the cash, and
do what you like with it." This was accordingly done in the course
of the following day.
At night the family retired to rest as usual; but about midnight
they were disturbed, and ere day-break the birth of a fine boy
was announced. The news was immediately despatched to the Elms,
with a particular request from Mrs. Charles Orme, that her sister
Louisa would come to see her. The interview was interesting and
affecting; for though the two sisters bore no resemblance to each
other in taste or in disposition, yet their attachment was mutual;
and increased on this occasion by the influence of misfortune and
sorrow. Miss Holmes remained at Redhill nearly three weeks; and on
her return, when detailing the incidents of her visit, she referred
to her father's generosity to Captain Orme.
"Indeed, my dear," said Mr. Holmes, "I have done nothing which has
not been previously agreed upon by us."
"Why, father, it is very good in you to speak so of your generosity
to Captain Orme. We were rather surprised, however, at your not even
mentioning to us that you had seen him."
"I have not seen Captain Orme since the day of his marriage, and I
am at a loss to conceive to what acts of generosity you refer."
"Not seen him, Papa! why, have you not given him two drafts on your
banker, for a considerable amount?"
"I never did anything of the kind! You must be dreaming, Louisa."
"Emma informed me that you had; and that she went, at her husband's
urgent request, and got them cashed."
"Then he has forged my check; and again imposed on the credulity of
our dear child."
He immediately rode off to his banker's, and found forged checks
to the amount of £700. This discovery involved the family in great
distress; but they resolved not to take any steps in the business
till they had seen Emma, which they expected to do in the course
of a few days. On the morning she left for the Elms, Captain
Orme requested that she would make no allusion to her father's
generosity, as he did not wish it to be known. As she had already,
however, mentioned the circumstance to Louisa, the request came too
late, and Mr. Holmes, as above-mentioned, had now become aware of
the villainy of his son-in-law. His resolve to question Emma on the
subject, after her arrival, was abandoned, on witnessing the joy
which she displayed on again meeting with her parents and sisters.
The family all agreed that it would be cruelty to broach the matter
at present, and that it had better be deferred to some more fitting
opportunity.
Mrs. Orme had been at home a month, and was preparing to return to
Redhill, when her father took an opportunity of asking her who it
was she saw at the bank, how often she had been there, what sums of
money she had received, and what circumstances induced her to go.
To all these questions she replied in very direct terms, and when
she had finished, expressed her gratitude to her father for his
kindness, and hoped that now he would consent to be reconciled to
her husband.
"Your husband, my child, has been pursuing one uniform plan of
deception, from the time he first saw you to the present hour; and
though this last instance of his duplicity is not the most fatal to
your happiness, it is certainly the most hazardous for his own. I
gave him no drafts, nor have I seen him since your marriage."
"Not seen him, father!"
"No."
"Nor given him any checks!"
"Never."
"How in the world did he get them then?"
"He has forged my name, Emma, and made you the innocent agent in his
villainy."
"And is it possible! Am I the wife of such a man!"
"Such a man is your husband; and if the law now take its course, he
will be liable to transportation for life."
"O! father, spare Charles. Have mercy on your poor Emma; though he
were the most wicked man alive, he is still my husband."
"I shall refrain from prosecuting him; but it will be necessary to
put a stop to such a system of fraud."
"O! my father, what will now become of me and my babe!"
"You have left your home once, my child, without my consent, but I
hope you will not leave it again."
"Never, father! if you will permit me to remain, though I fear my
presence will be a source of perpetual anxiety."
Mr. Holmes, after deliberating on the matter, sent the following
letter to Captain Orme, unsealed, in an envelope, addressed to the
Colonel:--
"SIR,--I have seen the forged checks which you got cashed at my
banker's; and on inquiry find that you induced my daughter to
present them, by telling her that I had given them to you, as
a token of my reconciliation. I presume you are aware of the
consequences to which you have subjected yourself; though you
may suppose that a regard for my daughter's feelings, and the
reputation of her child, will induce me to forego a prosecution.
I have, however, to warn you against the repetition of such
a base and hazardous course, for there are bounds which the
tenderest humanity will not suffer to be passed with impunity. I
should hope, for the honour of your father's character, that he
was ignorant of the crime which you have committed; but I fear
you are not the only person that is involved in the guilt of its
commission."
To this letter he received the following reply the next day:--
"SIR,--You say you have detected my fraud, and express your fear
that I am not the only person that is involved in the guilt of
it. Very true, Sir. Your own daughter suggested to me this mode
of getting at some portion of her fortune--procured the blank
checks--and went herself and got them cashed; and now you are at
liberty to let the law take its course, if you please. She is
unfortunately my wife; and as she is once more under your roof,
I hope she will remain there till I send for her, which will not
be till you are induced to give her a fortune equal to my rank,
as I was fully entitled to expect on marrying her. My father,
who feels too indignant at your base insinuation to reply to it,
begs me to say, that he does not choose to admit your daughter
into his house again. You will, therefore, permit me to return
your own compliment, by saying, that all intimacy between our
families has ceased, and you may be assured, that I regret that
any intimacy was ever formed.--Your obedient servant,
"CHARLES ORME."
This letter confirmed the suspicions which had been, for a long
time, excited in the breast of Mrs. Charles Orme; and though the
open avowal of her husband's baseness produced a painful impression,
yet it decided the course which necessity compelled her to adopt;
and she could not forbear sending him the subjoined letter:--