The ship was standing towards us. We had now no doubts of her being a
large English merchantman. She was a new ship, too, apparently.
Presently she was hove to. A boat was lowered, and with rapid strokes
pulled towards us. "Who are you? Where do you come from?" asked some
one in the boat as we lowered our sails.
"Our answer would be a long one, friend," said Mr Sedgwick. "We are
English people escaping from a burning mountain."
"You will be welcome aboard our ship at all events," was the answer.
"Here, catch hold of this rope, and we will tow your raft alongside."
A rope was hove to us over the stern of the boat, and without further
words we were towed away towards the ship. I eyed her with pleasure. I
had often thought that if I once got ashore I should never wish to go to
sea again. On looking, however, at her fine proportions and trim
rigging, I felt that I should be proud to be an officer of such a craft.
Of course we did not move quickly. It was some time before we were
alongside. "Come, we must now take you on board," said the officer in
the boat. "The ladies first, I conclude." The Frau, Emily, and Grace
were handed in. "We can take more, though. Here you, young man, and
one of you gentlemen." Mr Hooker followed him into the boat.
An accommodation ladder was let down, as the sea was as smooth as in a
sheltered harbour. The Frau was helped up the side first, and the two
girls followed. Suddenly I heard a loud shriek of astonishment, and
presently whose face should I see but that of my old friend Captain
Davenport appearing at the gangway. In another instant he had his
daughter Grace in his arms.
"My mother! where is my mother?" exclaimed Grace.
"Here, here, my child!" and Mrs Davenport received her daughter from
her husband's arms. Both held her, gazing anxiously at her face.
"You are restored to us, my child," said Mrs Davenport.
"And Emily, our second daughter!" exclaimed the old captain, taking
Emily in his arms. She received almost as loving a welcome as Grace had
done, and I had ample reason to be thankful for my reception.
I must make a long story short. We found that Captain and Mrs
Davenport, after waiting at Singapore for some months, vainly expecting
our return, and after having made every inquiry in their power for the
missing _Dugong_, had at length given up the search, under the belief
that we had been lost in a typhoon. A ship had touched at Singapore
whose captain had died, and Captain Davenport having lost so much of his
property in the _Bussorah Merchant_, had been compelled to accept the
charge of taking her home. He had there been immediately appointed to
the command of a new ship--the _Ulysses_. The offer he gladly accepted,
as she was, after touching at Singapore, to proceed round the south
coast of Borneo, and thus up through the Sea of Celebes to the
Philippine Islands and Japan. He had faint hopes of finding us, but yet
the opportunity was not to be lost.
Our meeting was indeed wonderful, and we had reason to be thankful that
we had been saved the sufferings to which we might have been subjected,
and that their anxiety was thus happily ended. I need scarcely say that
Mrs Davenport and her husband suffered greatly at the supposed loss of
their daughter, while I fully believe they mourned also greatly for us;
indeed, they treated both Emily and I as if we were their own children,
and nothing could exceed their kindness and attention. Captain
Davenport offered to return to Singapore for the sake of landing Mr
Hooker and our uncle; but they preferred remaining on board the ship,
declaring that they must set to work to replace the treasures they had
lost; and as the ship was to remain for several days at every place she
touched at, they hoped in a limited degree to do so; but I could not
help being amused sometimes at hearing them mourning the loss of their
specimens--not, however, so much on their own account as on that of the
scientific world in general.
"But surely, uncle," I said one day, "you have saved your note-books,
and from them you may give a good deal of information."
"Of course, Walter," he answered. "That is my great consolation. Had
it not been for that, I scarcely think I could have survived the
terrible disaster."
We had reason to be thankful that we had fallen in with the _Ulysses_,
for we had not been on board a couple of days when it came on to blow
hard, and so heavy a sea got up, that I suspect our raft would scarcely
have held together, or at all events we should probably have been washed
off it. I must reserve the notes we made at the fresh places we visited
for another occasion.
At length we were once more on our homeward voyage. The first mate of
the ship having got appointed to the command of a vessel which had lost
her master, Mr Thudicumb took his place. The boatswain also was taken
ill, and Dick Tarbox became boatswain in his stead; while the other men
entered as seamen on board the _Ulysses_.
We arrived in England after a prosperous voyage. I told Captain
Davenport that I hoped he would allow me to accompany him again to sea,
trusting that I might soon obtain a berth as mate on board his ship.
"I should be very glad to have you, Walter," he said; "but I have
received some information which will make it your duty, I suspect, to
remain on shore. When I was last in England, I saw an account in the
newspapers of the death of the surviving children of your father's elder
brother, and now he himself has followed them to the grave. As far,
therefore, as I can learn, you are heir-at-law to the title and estates
of Lord Heatherly."
I almost lost my breath as I listened to this information. I could
scarcely indeed believe it.
"I think you must be mistaken, my dear sir," I answered. "I never even
heard my father say that he was likely to succeed to the title."
"Probably not," said Captain Davenport, "as your eldest uncle had two
children, and Lord Heatherly had a younger brother; but as all four have
since been removed by death, I believe that there is no other heir than
yourself."
This information he gave me at his house at Poplar, where Emily and I
were residing with him. That very afternoon our uncle, Mr Sedgwick,
arrived. He, too, had just heard of the death of my uncle, Mr
Heathfield, though he was not aware that all his children were also
dead.
"I see that I must bestir myself, Walter, for your and Emily's
interests," he observed. "Captain Davenport is right, I am sure, in
supposing that you are the heir-at-law to Lord Heatherly, besides which
you have inherited some property which would have been your mother's."
My uncle, though an enthusiastic naturalist, was also a man of action.
He proposed immediately setting off to visit Lord Heatherly, and to see
whether he would acknowledge my claims.
"I was once well acquainted with his lordship," he observed, "and I
think he will attend to my representations. If he does not, we must see
how far the law can help us. I have, however, little doubt that he will
be ready to acknowledge you as his heir."
The next day a postchaise arrived at the door, when my uncle and I
started in it for Hampshire, in which county Lord Heatherly resided. As
we neared the house, I observed the sadly dilapidated condition of
numerous cottages we passed; indeed, the whole property seemed to wear
an air of neglect very unusual, I must say, about an English estate. On
arriving at the house, the servant who opened the door said that Lord
Heatherly was very ill, and could not possibly see strangers.
"But I am not a stranger," said Mr Sedgwick; "and this young gentleman
is a relation of his lordship,--indeed, the nearest he has; and probably
Lord Heatherly would be glad to see one who will some day succeed to his
name and estates."
The manner of the servant immediately changed. "Lord Heatherly, sir,
is, I am afraid, dying," he answered; "but I will let his lordship know
who has come, and possibly he may be ready to do as you wish. At the
same time, pray understand, sir, that it will not be my fault if he
refuses to see the young gentleman."
"Of course not, my good man," said Mr Sedgwick.
In a short time the servant returned, saying that Lord Heatherly would
see us. We found the old lord lying on a stately bed in a handsome
room, a harsh-featured nurse by his side, while a footman stood at the
foot of the bed ready to receive orders.
"Mr Sedgwick, I remember you," he said. "Your sister married my
cousin.--And so this lad claims to be my heir? Let me look at him. I
remember Walter Heathfield's features well. Yes, I can believe that you
are his son. I have made no will. All my estates are entailed, and if
you can prove that you are next of kin, you will succeed. It matters
not to me, though I should prefer that they were inherited by one who
has been brought up as a gentleman. I do not wish to dispute your
rights, if you are really my heir. The doctors say I am dying. They
may be right. I have lived a number of years, and I am pretty well
tired of life. You think, young gentleman, that you are about to
succeed to a noble inheritance; but let me tell you that an estate like
this entails many cares and responsibilities. The responsibilities I
have ignored. Of the cares I have had enough. If you follow in my
footsteps, you will find but little satisfaction in the property. It is
somewhat heavily encumbered; and if my brother Jack had succeeded, it
would in a short time have been still more so. There, I have given you
a few hints; it will be your own fault if you do not take them.
Speaking so much has wearied me. You and Mr Sedgwick are welcome to
remain in the house as long as you please. If I am alive to-morrow
morning I shall be happy to see you again. You will find dinner
prepared for you. And now, good afternoon."
My cousin, who was propped up with pillows, made an inclination with his
head, but did not even attempt to hold out his hand. My uncle bowed,
and I followed his example as we left the room. We found the servants
arranged in the hall, and with many bows they ushered us into the
drawing-room. Soon afterwards the housekeeper made her appearance, and
begged to learn my commands. I declined, however, giving any, saying
that we were but guests in the house of Lord Heatherly, and would trust
to her to act as she thought fit. I asked Mr Sedgwick whether he
wished to remain.
"Yes, Walter," he said; "I think it will be the best thing to do. If
his lordship publicly acknowledges you it will be nine-tenths of the law
in your favour; and, indeed, as I cannot learn who else claims to be the
heir, I trust that you will have no competitor."
I had never in my life seen a better entertainment than was in a short
time put before my uncle and me. I felt very shy when sitting down at
table with so many attendants, and was very glad when dinner was over
and they retired. My uncle and I then drew our chairs towards the fire,
and talked over my prospects. Certainly the change seemed very great,
when I reflected that not a year ago I was living a solitary being, cast
away on an island in the Eastern Seas, and that I was now heir to a
title and a large estate.
During the night I was awaked by hearing the sound of footsteps moving
along the passage, and soon afterwards there was a rap at the door. I
jumped out of bed, and asked who it was. It was the butler, who entered
the room and lighted the candles.
"His lordship is very much worse, sir," he said; "and if you wish to see
him alive, you should come immediately."
I hurried on my clothes, and, accompanied by Mr Sedgwick, who had also
been roused, repaired to Lord Heatherly's room. The doctor was by his
side. He made a sign to us to come forward. The dying man opened his
eyes and fixed them on me. "He is my heir," he said. "In a few minutes
he will be Lord Heatherly, and I shall be dust."
Scarcely had he uttered these words when I saw a fearful alteration take
place in his countenance. The medical man held his pulse, and presently
I saw him lean forward and close my cousin's eyes, whose last gaze had
been fixed on me.
"He is gone," said the doctor, "and I can be of no further service.
Probably the young Lord Heatherly and you, sir," he added, turning to
Mr Sedgwick, "will give such directions as you may think fit. You, I
conclude, are acquainted with the late Lord Heatherly's wishes."
Strange were the sensations which came over me. I had scarcely realised
till then my position. I felt, indeed, utterly unfit to think or act
for myself, and was very glad when I once more found myself in my own
room and in bed.
As may be supposed, I slept but little for the remainder of the night;
and the next morning when the servants addressed me as "your lordship,"
I almost felt as if they were mocking me; indeed, I was not a little
annoyed by the constant repetition of the expression. At length I
begged my uncle to come with me to the study, giving directions to the
servants that we should be left alone. However, we were soon
interrupted by persons who came to take orders for the funeral, and I
found myself at once with numberless responsibilities on my shoulders.
The first moment of quiet I could find I sat down to write to Emily, and
to send messages to our kind friends. Mr Sedgwick undertook to come
back as soon as various necessary arrangements were made, and to bring
her to Heatherly Hall. I begged that he would invite Grace to accompany
her, requesting that, after the funeral, Captain and Mrs Davenport
would come also.
I will pass over the account of the funeral, which was attended, I am
sorry to say, with very few real mourners, though all the families in
the neighbourhood sent their carriages, and a few gentlemen who had been
more intimately acquainted with the late lord came themselves.
In a short time another claimant appeared; but as I had been
acknowledged in the presence of sufficient witnesses by the late lord,
he soon withdrew his claim, and I was left in undisputed possession of
the title and property. I remembered Lord Heatherly's remarks with
regard to the responsibilities of my position, and I considered well
what they were. He acknowledged that he had reaped but poor enjoyment
from his wealth. "That also may be my case," I said to myself; "but one
thing I will do, I will pray for guidance from above, and will endeavour
to fulfil to the best of my power the responsibilities cast on me." My
uncle had an old friend, a clever and honest lawyer, whose services I
immediately engaged; and with his aid, and that of the steward of the
estate, I set to work to ascertain what incumbrances existed, and what
was most required to be done on the property. The cottages of the poor
tenants were in a sadly dilapidated state. My first care was to have a
number built in a style best suited to their wants, with four or more
rooms in each, and with various conveniences for their comfort. They
were well drained, and had an ample supply of good water. For their
spiritual wants I engaged an experienced missionary, who might
constantly go among them; and while he preached the glad tidings of
salvation, might ascertain who were sick or suffering, and report to me
accordingly, that I might relieve them.
Among my first guests was Oliver Farwell. He took an eager interest in
what was going forward, and greatly assisted the missionary in his
labours. I asked Oliver what profession he purposed following, whether
he wished again to go to sea.
"I should probably have done so," he answered; "but Mr Hooker has
proposed that I should go to college, and my tastes certainly lead me to
adopt one of the learned professions. I delight in study, and should
like to choose the one by which I might the most benefit my
fellow-creatures. Had I my free choice, I should wish to become a
minister of the gospel, for I am sure to no more honourable or important
calling can man devote the energies and talents with which his Maker has
endowed him."
"I am thankful to hear that, Oliver," I answered. "You and I have been
like brothers so long, that you must allow me to treat you as a younger
brother, and bear your college expenses. I have, too, I understand, two
livings in my gift, the incumbents of which are at present old men, and
I gladly promise to present you to the first which becomes vacant,
should you by that time have been ordained."
"I will tell Mr Hooker of your kind intentions," he answered; "and
indeed, Lord Heatherly, I am truly grateful to you for them."
It sounded very odd to hear Oliver calling me Lord Heatherly. "Call me
Walter, as before, my dear Oliver," I said. "You and I must always be
Oliver and Walter to each other."
As soon as a number of decent cottages had been put up, I offered them
to the tenants at the same rents that they had paid for the ruinous
ones, which I then had pulled down, as I found they were utterly unfit
to be repaired. On their sites, after the ground had been drained, I
erected others; and in the course of two or three years, no one would
have recognised the place. Three or four wretched public-houses or
beerhouses had existed in the village. I declined renewing the leases
of the tenants of these, and got a respectable man to take a new and
decent inn, which I had built for the purpose. That part of the parish
had been noted for poachers, and the number of other disorderly
characters it contained. These either left the place or took to better
callings.
One of my earliest undertakings was to have a good school-house erected,
with a residence for the master and mistress, in the most central
position I could fix on. By giving rewards and encouragements to the
pupils, in a short time there was not a child on the property who did
not attend school.
I consulted Emily, as also my uncle and Mr Hooker, as to how I could
best prove my gratitude to Captain and Mrs Davenport. They managed to
place a sum to his credit at his banker's, in a way which prevented him
from suspecting from whom it came. Shortly afterwards I found, from the
way he spoke of the satisfactory addition to his fortune, he had no idea
that I was the donor.
"Our great wish had been to give our dear Grace a finished education,"
observed Mrs Davenport. "She is already as well informed as most girls
of her age, but probably a few accomplishments would be advantageous to
her. With our increased income we can now afford to send her to a
first-rate school. I have heard of one where the mistress is not only
an accomplished lady, but a pious woman, who watches over the most
important interests of her pupils, and from the account I have heard
from the young ladies under her charge, I feel sure that Grace cannot
fail to benefit by spending two or three years with her."
When Emily found that Grace was to go to school, she begged to accompany
her. I had too many duties to perform to allow me to go to college,
which I should otherwise have done, though already rather old, I
fancied, for commencing a university career. I, however, through Mr
Hooker, found a first-rate tutor, and during the time my sister and
Grace were at school, I read hard every day with him. I found also his
advice of great assistance in my efforts to improve the condition of the
people committed to my charge.
Captain Davenport had not given up the sea entirely; but after making
two or three successful voyages, he so improved his means, that he was
able to retire and live on shore, where he obtained a lucrative
employment.
He had some time before presented me with Merlin, who soon made himself
at home in the house, though he never went far from it, evidently
considering it, as the ship had been, under his especial charge.
Whenever he heard me narrating our adventures, he pricked up his ears,
as if he understood what was said, and wished to corroborate my account.
He lived to extreme old age, amiable and faithful to the last.
Emily, at length, having left school, came to reside with me, and
preside over my establishment. I should have said that it was far less
difficult to manage than in my cousin's time, as I had dismissed several
of the footmen and grooms, as well as other useless hangers-on, who, I
felt sure, benefited neither themselves nor me, by living lives of
idleness. As may be supposed, Emily, who had grown into a beautiful
young woman, had no want of admirers; but, to my surprise, she refused
several excellent offers in succession.
"Why should I leave your house, my dear brother?" she answered, when one
day I gently expostulated with her on the subject. "When you have a
wife of your own, it will be time enough for me to do so; unless she
wishes me to remain."
Soon after this, Oliver Farwell, who had generally spent his vacation
with me, was ordained, and the incumbent of the chief living belonging
to the property having died, I presented him to it, and he commenced a
career of sympathising care over the flock committed to him, which soon
endeared him to them, while he gained the love and respect of people of
all denominations in the parish.
"It is a long time since the Davenports paid us a visit," I said to
Emily one day. "Will you write and invite them? I am sure that you
will be glad to have your old friend Grace with you."
I had not seen Grace for a long time, and I somehow or other always
thought of her as the little girl who had been Emily's friend, and the
daughter of our kind protector during our adventures in the Eastern
Archipelago. I could scarcely believe my eyes when an elegant and
refined young lady stepped out of the carriage which brought Captain and
Mrs Davenport to my house. I had never thought of marrying; indeed, I
had not been attracted by any of the young ladies in my immediate
neighbourhood. When I saw Grace, however, and found her sweet, and
amiable, and well-instructed, and refined, and right-minded, possessed
indeed of all the qualities which should adorn a woman, new thoughts and
feelings took possession of me, and I became convinced that no lady in
the world was more calculated to add to my happiness than she was.
Still, I could not tell how her own feelings might be engaged. Perhaps
Emily saw how things were going on, for one day she said to me--
"I do not think you need be afraid, Walter; and if you ask her, I shall
be very much surprised if she refuses you."
Thereon, before many hours had passed away, I spoke to Grace, and found
that there was every prospect of all my hopes of happiness being
realised.
"And, Emily," I said to her the next day, "will you confide to me the
reason why you have refused so many good offers of marriage? I do not
wish to get rid of you, and I am very certain that you would add greatly
to Grace's happiness if you remain here."
"In that case," she answered, "I think it will be my duty, as well as
pleasure, to remain your guest."
"That is not a categorical answer," I remarked. "Come, Emily, tell me,
is there no one for whom you have more regard than for those unhappy
gentlemen whom you refused?" I saw a gentle blush rise to her cheek.
"Well," I said, "I shall ask Oliver Farwell to come and stay here. He
keeps away far more than there is any necessity for, as he can easily
ride across the park to his vicarage, and equally well attend to his
duties as he can when residing there."
"If Mr Farwell keeps away, he has probably good reason for doing so,"
answered Emily; "though, of course, you are welcome to ask him to come
over here, if you like to do so. I greatly respect him, and I am sure
whatever he does is from a right motive."
The following day I rode over to the vicarage, and pressed Oliver to
come and stay with us, and help to entertain Captain and Mrs Davenport.
I saw he hesitated somewhat. Though he congratulated me sincerely on
my prospect of marriage, he uttered an involuntary sigh as he ceased
speaking. "I hope, my dear Oliver, that you may enjoy the same
happiness yourself," I said. "I am very certain that the usefulness of
a clergyman is greatly increased by the assistance of a suitable wife--
one who will sympathise with him in his unavoidable trials and
disappointments, and who will attend to many of the cases of distress
which he may find it difficult to manage." He looked grave, and then I
thought he gave an inquiring glance up at my face. "Yes, Oliver," I
said; "and I am sure if you can find a woman possessed of the qualities
you desire, and her heart is disengaged, she is not likely to refuse to
share your fortunes."
Before I left, Oliver had promised to come over that day to the hall.
Whatever Emily had intended to do, somehow or other before long Oliver
found out that, should he make her an offer, she was not likely to
refuse him.
The two marriages took place on the same day, and among those who were
present were Dick Tarbox, Roger Trew, Potto Jumbo, and our old friend
Macco--Merlin wearing a huge favour on this occasion. Macco, indeed,
was installed soon afterwards as a butler at the vicarage; while Potto
Jumbo became under-cook in my establishment, and soon, by his
intelligence and attention, rose to be head-cook. Dick Tarbox and Roger
Trew promised, when they gave up the sea, to come and settle down on my
estate, and I pointed out the site where I would build two cottages for
their accommodation.
My friends and I had gone through many trials and dangers together, and
I believe we had all learned an important lesson from them,--to put
implicit trust in a merciful God who watches over his creatures, who
allows not a sparrow to fall to the ground unknown to him, who desires
the happiness of all, and who has made the way plain and simple, having
given us the most minute directions by which that happiness may be
obtained.