4th _September_, 1814.
I resume my pen, my dear Sophia, to narrate the most extraordinary series
of incidents which can have ever taken place in such surroundings. You may
have seen some reports in the public journals, but cannot have heard the
details. Let me strive to impart my news in as collected a manner as they
merit.
I should premise that my Henry arrived on his leave, and the very day
after received cordial invitations from Mr and Mrs Darcy to wait on them
and join in all the parties of pleasure consequent on young Willoughby's
arrival. A number of friendly gatherings took place, and Captains Gilbert
and Ord from the Chatham garrison were visitors at Rosings. Still, I
ventured to hope that though thus besieged, the lovely Charlotte did
sometimes cast an eye on Henry, though Willoughby was ever at her side. An
invitation to inspect the Indian rarities followed later, and we drove in
my pony carriage to Rosings, and were received with all Mrs Darcy's
obligingness. She was attended by her two daughters, and I observed
Charlotte's complexion heighten in the most interesting manner as Henry
made his compliments, though young Willoughby was by her side, and very
much at his ease. The young man is extremely handsome--very
brown-complexioned and with piercing eyes, of a good height and person.
His manners I thought a little disposed to be familiar; but from the
beginning of the acquaintance, I had set this down to the account of an
Indian life and its freedoms. He remained fixed to Miss Darcy's chair, a
manoeuvre I could not see with comfort. Elegant refreshments--cold meat,
fruit, etc.--were immediately served, the Collinses being present and the
Brandons arriving later.
When all had been refreshed, Mr. Darcy led the way to the library, and the
curiosities were produced. The Admiral was in his element, and young
Willoughby was called on for explanations which he gave well enough. At
last the famous Ivory Shrine was removed from its glass case, and set upon
a round table where all could view it.
I must now be particular in my description. It was a cabinet of the
richest ivory, carved with images of idols whose histories I know not.
"The thinking mind," said Mr Collins, "must lament to see such skill
lavished on such a worthless subject, were it not the happy destiny of
this cabinet to become an appanage of the great. In the magnificent
mansions of our nobles (titled and untitled) such objects afford the
instructive contrast of an inferior civilisation with all that is
Christian and elegant."
Mr. Darcy slightly bowed. He then threw open the doors of the cabinet,
disclosing a surprising object indeed--a seated figure of clumsy
proportions with the head of an elephant, supposed by these poor heathen
to be a god, of whom the name escapes me. This also was ivory, with a
necklace and girdle of small jewels inset. Mr Darcy applied to young
Willoughby, by his side, for information of the attributes of this strange
being, which he gave with an elegance as much out of the common as his
figure, Mr Darcy following with the story of its acquisition by his uncle,
Mr Lorenzo Darcy. We all drew near to examine the carvings, the
hideousness of the image precluding admiration; and Mrs Brandon was
gratified, as she told me, to find her _protégé_ distinguish himself
by his address.
"We find his company very agreeable," she said aside, to me and Mrs Darcy.
"He is a young man of parts, and his travels have made him very
conversible. Our servants find his Indian attendant, Tippoo, an endless
source of surprise. He cannot speak a word of English, and to see him roll
his black eyes and gesticulate causes laughter which penetrates even to
our end of the house."
Mrs Darcy enquired if he were a troublesome inmate on account of caste
prejudices; but Marianne assured her that such was not the case. He was
perfectly obliging.
Still, Sophia, I felt one should be on one's guard where foreigners are
concerned. A young man, though of English parentage, brought up in India
and surrounded by wily Orientals, can scarcely be expected to have the
solid principles of an English training. I am told that attendance on
Divine Service is sadly lax among our wealthy nabobs; that it is even a
practice to give entertainments on the Sabbath, when other than sacred
music is performed. What must be the result on the young mind?
The afternoon ended, as I feared, in Mr Darcy giving Willoughby an
invitation to spend a week at Rosings, that he might assist him to
classify his Indian collection, a proposal to which the young man
instantly agreed. That I thought it imprudent, I must not deny, unless
indeed there were a settled intention as regards Miss Darcy, since it
would throw them so much together, and already they were more easy than my
judgment could approve. I observed Henry's spirits, like my own, a little
sunk at such a distinction, though to him also the manners of both Miss
Darcy's parents were conciliatory in the extreme. Both have a generosity
of disposition which will suspect no evil. Yet, Sophia, we hear on the
highest authority that the wisdom of the serpent is equally desirable with
that of the dove.
Willoughby now became a guest at Rosings, and the parties of pleasure were
fewer, the young officers from Chatham having left. The week passed, and
the invitation was extended by a few days, the lists of Indian rarities
still being unfinished.
I was seated in the late afternoon at my embroidery frame, when Mrs
Collins was ushered in, so pale, so trembling and overcome, that I cried
without any ceremony, "Good God! what is it?" and fell back in terror. She
sunk into a chair and endeavoured to collect her spirits, the Admiral
hurrying in from the lawn. At length she spoke, but with difficulty.
"Miss Darcy is fled with Willoughby!" and could utter no more.
The Admiral hastily fetched a glass of Constantia, and on partaking, she
resumed with more composure. O Sophia, how express our feelings!
It now appeared that, when Willoughby was summoned to a cold collation,
prepared in view of an afternoon excursion, he could nowhere be found.
Tippoo was called, that he might seek his master, but to the consternation
of all, his scanty possessions were removed and the room entirely empty;
and the servants, hastening to his master's chamber, found a dressing-case
known to stand on his table disappeared.
Theft was the first suspicion, and Willoughby's presence doubly desirable.
Again they sought, and in vain. Miss Caroline was seated with her mother,
and hearing all this, she rose with a countenance pale as ashes and
trembling in every limb, and cried:--
"O Mama, where is Charlotte? I saw her last after breakfast in the
shrubbery with Willoughby. The lake--O God, can it be possible!"
These fears at once communicated themselves to her parents and, hastily
summoning help, Mr Darcy ran to the lake. The boat was loose and floating
on the water, with an oar beside it, and a coat of Willoughby's on the
bank; instantly the worst was feared and Tippoo forgotten. The
lodge-keeper and his men were summoned with drags, poor Mrs Darcy on the
bank wringing her hands in speechless affliction.
"Thus," pursued Mrs Collins, "were two valuable hours lost in dragging the
lake, and more might have been the case, owing to the success of this vile
scheming, but that the gamekeeper--Ward, you know, Ma'am--came running up
in hot haste. One of his underlings had seen, hours before, a post-chaise
standing in the road before the north gate, as if awaiting a party, but
took no particular notice at the time. Returning later to the east gate,
he observed the same post-chaise dashing along at full speed, and will be
positive he saw Miss Darcy's face at the window and Willoughby with her.
Such was the speed, that he could say no more than that the driver was a
dark handsome young man in a triple cape. Thinking it was merely one of
the parties of pleasure which had been so common, he loitered along,
resumed his work, and only by a chance mentioned it to the gamekeeper, who
with more presence of mind ran at once to his master.
"O my dear Lady Sefton," continued Mrs Collins, "What a scene of horror
was here! An elopement! And with a man virtually unknown, and of whose
parent Marianne Dashwood's experience was dreadful! Pursuit was
immediately ordered, and Mr Darcy mounted his horse, though none can be
sure what way they will have taken at the crossroads. Who--who could have
supposed this of a young lady so virtuously brought up as Miss Darcy?"
"A sly little jade!" said the Admiral; and actually smiled! Such are even
the best of men!