No little art and management had been necessary to make the admiral
auxiliary to the indirect plan proposed by his friend to bring George
and Isabel together. This, however, effected, the general turned his
whole strategy to the impression to be made on the heart of the young
gentleman.
Sir Frederick Denbigh had the same idea of the virtue of management as
the Dowager Lady Chatterton, but he understood human nature better.
Like a prudent officer, his attacks were all masked, and, like a great
officer, they seldom failed of success.
The young couple were thrown in each other's way, and as Isabel was
extremely attractive, somewhat the opposite to himself in ardor of
temperament and vivacity, modest, and sensible, it cannot be expected
that the association was maintained by the youth with perfect impunity.
Within a couple of months he fancied himself desperately in love with
Isabel Howell; and, in truth, he had some reason for the supposition.
The general watched every movement of his son with a wary and vigilant
eye--occasionally adding fuel to the flame, by drawing his attention to
projects of matrimony in other quarters, until George began to think he
was soon to undergo a trial of his constancy, and in consequence he
armed himself with a double portion of admiration for his Isabel, in
order to enable himself to endure the persecution; while the admiral
several times endangered the success of the whole enterprise by
volunteer contributions to the hopes of the young man, which only
escaped producing an opposite effect to that which was intended, by
being mistaken for the overflowings of good nature and friendship.
After suffering his son to get, as he thought, sufficiently entangled in
the snares of Cupid, Sir Frederick determined to fire a volley from one
of his masked batteries, which he rightly judged would bring on a
general engagement. They were sitting at the table after dinner, alone,
when the general took the advantage of the name of Miss Howell being
accidentally mentioned, to say--
"By the by, George, my friend the admiral said something yesterday on
the subject of your being so much with his daughter. I wish you to be
cautious, and not to give the old sailor offence in any way, for he is
my particular friend."
"He need be under no violent apprehensions," cried George, coloring
highly with shame and pride, "I am sure a Denbigh is no unworthy match
for a daughter of Sir Peter Howell."
"Oh! to be sure not, boy, we are as old a house as there is in the
kingdom, and as noble too; but the admiral has queer notions, and,
perhaps, he has some cub of a sailor in his eye for a son-in-law. Be
prudent, my boy, be prudent; that is all I ask of you."
The general, satisfied with the effect he had produced, carelessly arose
from his seat, and joined Lady Margaret in her drawing-room.
George remained for several minutes musing on his father's singular
request, as well as the admiral's caution, when he sprang from his seat,
caught up his hat and sword, and in ten minutes rang at Sir Peter's door
in Grosvenor Square. He was admitted, and ascending to the drawing-room,
he met the admiral on his way out. Nothing was further from the thoughts
of the veteran than a finesse like the general's; and, delighted to see
George on the battle-ground, he pointed significantly over his shoulder
towards the door of the room Isabel was in, and exclaimed, with a good-
natured smile,
"There she is, my hearty; lay her aside, and hang me if she don't
strike. I say, George, faint heart never won fair lady: remember that,
my boy; no, nor a French ship."
George would have been at some loss to have reconciled this speech to
his father's caution, if time had been allowed him to think at all; but
the door being open he entered, and found Isabel endeavoring to hide her
tears.
The admiral, dissatisfied from the beginning with the tardy method of
despatching things, thought he might be of use in breaking the ice for
George, by trumpeting his praises on divers occasions to his daughter.
Under all circumstances, he thought she might be learning to love the
man, as he was to be her husband; and speeches like the following had
been frequent of late from the parent to the child:
"There's that youngster, George Denbigh: now, Bell, is he not a fine
looking lad? Then I know he is brave. His father before him, was good
stuff and a true Englishman. What a proper husband he would make for a
young woman, he loves his king and country so; none of your new-fangled
notions about religion and government, but a sober, religious churchman;
that is, as much so, girl, as you can expect in the guards. No
Methodist, to be sure;--it's a great pity he wasn't sent to sea, don't
you think so? But cheer up, girl, one of these days he may be taking a
liking to you yet."
Isabel, whose fears taught her the meaning of these eloquent praises of
Captain Denbigh, listened to these harangues in silence, and often
meditated on their import by herself in tears.
George approached the sofa on which the lady was seated before she had
time to conceal the traces of her sorrow, and in a voice softened by
emotion, he took her hand gently as he said,--
"What can have occasioned this distress to Miss Howell. If anything in
my power to remove, or which a life devoted to her service can mitigate,
she has only to command me to find a cheerful obedience."
"The trifling causes of sorrow in a young woman," replied Isabel,
endeavoring to smile, "will hardly require such serious services to
remove them."
But the lady was extremely interesting at the moment. George was goaded
by his father's caution, and urged on by his own feelings, with great
sincerity, and certainly much eloquence, he therefore proffered his love
and hand to the acceptance of his mistress.
Isabel heard him in painful silence. She respected him, and dreaded his
power over her father; but, unwilling to abandon hopes to which she yet
clung as to her spring of existence, with a violent effort she
determined to throw herself on the generosity of her lover.
During her father's late absence Isabel had, as usual, since the death
of her mother, been left with his sister, and had formed an attachment
for a young clergyman, a younger son of a baronet, and the present Dr.
Ives. The inclination had been mutual; and as Lady Hawker knew her
brother to be perfectly indifferent to money, she could see no possible
objection to its indulgence.
On his return, Ives made his proposals, as related; and although warmly
backed by the recommendations of the aunt, he was refused. Out of
delicacy the wishes of Isabel had not been mentioned by her clerical
lover, and the admiral supposed he had only complied with his agreement
with the general, without in any manner affecting the happiness of his
daughter by his answer. But the feelings which prompted the request
still remained in full vigor in the lovers; and Isabel now, with many
blushes and some hesitation of utterance, made George fully acquainted
with the state of her heart, giving him at the same time to understand
that he was the only obstacle to her happiness.
It cannot be supposed that George heard her without pain or
mortification. The struggle with self-love was a severe one, but his
better feelings prevailed, and he assured the anxious Isabel that from
his importunities she had nothing to apprehend in future. The grateful
girl overwhelmed him with thanks, and George had to fly ere he repented
of his own generosity.
Miss Howell intimated, in the course of her narrative, that a better
understanding existed between their parents than the caution of the
general had discovered to his unsuspecting child, and George was
determined to know the worst at once.
At supper he mentioned, as if in remembrance of his father's injunction,
that he had been to take his leave of Miss Howell, since he found his
visits gave uneasiness to her friends. "On the whole," he added,
endeavoring to yawn carelessly, "I believe I shall visit there no more."
"Nay, nay," returned Sir Frederick, a little displeased at his son's
obedience, "I meant no such thing. Neither the admiral nor myself, has
the least objection to your visiting in moderation; indeed, you may
marry the girl with all our hearts, if you can agree."
"But we can't agree, I take it," said George, looking up at the wall.
"Why not? what hinders?' cried his father unguardedly.
"Only--only I don't like her," said the son, tossing off a glass of
wine, which nearly strangled him.
"You don't," cried the general with great warmth, thrown entirely off
his guard by this unexpected declaration "and may I presume to ask the
reason why you do not like Miss Howell, sir?"
"Oh! you know, one never pretends to give a reason for this sort of
feeling, my dear sir."
"Then," cried his father with increasing heat, "you must allow me to
say, my dear sir, that the sooner you get rid of these sort of feelings
the better. I choose you shall not only like, but love Miss Howell; and
this I have promised her father."
"I thought that the admiral was displeased with my coming to his house
so much--or did I not understand you this morning?"
"I know nothing of his displeasure, and care less. He has agreed that
Isabel shall be your wife, and I have passed my word to the engagement;
and if, sir, you wish to be considered as my son, you will prepare to
comply."
George was expecting to discover some management on the part of his
father, but by no means so settled an arrangement, and his anger was in
proportion to the deception.
To annoy Isabel any further was out of the question; to betray her,
base; and the next morning he sought an audience with the Duke. To him
he mentioned his wish for actual service, but hinted that the maternal
fondness of Lady Margaret was averse to his seeking it. This was true,
and George now pressed his uncle to assist him in effecting an exchange.
The boroughs of the Duke of Derwent were represented by loyal members of
parliament, his two brothers being contemporary with Mr. Benfield in
that honor; and a request from a man who sent six members to the
Commons, besides having a seat in the Lords in his own person, must be
listened to.
Within the week George ceased to be a captain in the guards, and became
lieutenant-colonel of a regiment under orders for America.
Sir Frederick soon became sensible of the error his warmth had led him
into, and endeavored, by soothing and indulgence, to gain the ground he
had so unguardedly lost. But terrible was his anger, and bitter his
denunciations, when his son acquainted him with his approaching
embarkation with his new regiment for America. They quarrelled; and as
the favorite child had never, until now, been thwarted or spoken harshly
to, they parted in mutual disgust. With his mother George was more
tender; and as Lady Margaret never thought the match such as the
descendant of two lines of dukes was entitled to form, she almost
pardoned the offence in the cause.
"What's this here?" cried Sir Peter Howell, as he ran over a morning
paper at the breakfast table: "Captain Denbigh, late of the guards, has
been promoted to the Lieutenant-Colonelcy of the ---- Foot, and sails
to-morrow to join that regiment, now on its way to America."
"It's a lie, Bell!--it's all a lie! not but what he ought to be there,
too, serving his king and country; but he never would serve you so."
"Me?" said Isabel, with a heart throbbing with the contending feelings
of admiration for George's generosity, and delight at her own
deliverance. "What have I to do with the movements of Mr. Denbigh?"
"What!" cried her father in astonishment; "a'n't you to be his wife,
a'n't it all agreed upon--that is, between Sir Frederick and me, which
is the same thing, you know--"
Here he was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the general himself,
who had just learnt the departure of his son and hastened, with the
double purpose of breaking the intelligence to his friend, and of making
his own peace.
"See here, Denbigh," exclaimed the admiral, pointing to the paragraph,
"what do you say to that?"
"Too true--too true, my dear friend," replied the general shaking his
head mournfully.
"Hark ye, Sir Frederick Denbigh," cried the admiral fiercely; "did you
not say that your son George was to marry my daughter?"
"I certainly did, Sir Peter, and am sorry to say that, in defiance of my
entreaties and commands, he has deserted his home, and, in consequence,
I have discarded him for ever."
"Now, Denbigh," said the admiral, a good deal mollified by this
declaration, "have I not always told you, that in the army you know
nothing of discipline? Why, sir, if he was a son of mine, he should
marry blindfolded, if I chose to order it. I wish, now, Bell had an
offer, and dared to refuse it."
"There is the barber's clerk, you know," said the general, a good deal
irritated by the contemptuous manner of his friend.
"And what of that, Sir Frederick?" said the sailor sternly; "if I choose
her to marry a quill-driver, she shall comply."
"Ah! my good friend," said the general, willing to drop the disagreeable
subject, "I am afraid we shall both find it more difficult to control
the affections of our children than we at first imagined."
"You do, General Denbigh?" said the admiral, with a curl of contempt on
his lip; and ringing the bell violently, he bid the servant send his
young lady to him.
On the appearance of Isabel, her father inquired with an air of settled
meaning where young Mr. Ives resided. It was only in the next street,
and a messenger was sent to him, with Sir Peter Howell's compliments,
and a request to see him without a moment's delay.
"We'll see, we'll see, my old friend, who keeps the best discipline,"
muttered the admiral, as he paced up and down the room, in eager
expectation of the return of his messenger.
The wondering general gazed on his friend, to ascertain if he was out of
his senses. He knew he was quick to decide, and excessively obstinate,
but he did not think him so crazy as to throw away his daughter in a fit
of spleen. It never occurred to Sir Frederick, however, that the
engagement with himself was an act of equal injustice and folly, because
it was done with more form and deliberation, which, to the eye of sober
reason, would rather make the matter worse. Isabel sat in trembling
suspense for the issue of the scene, and Ives in a few minutes made his
appearance in no little alarm.
On entering, the admiral addressed him abruptly, by inquiring if he
still wished to marry that girl, pointing to his daughter. The reply was
an eager affirmative. Sir Peter beckoned to Isabel, who approached,
covered with blushes; and her father having placed her hand in that of
her lover, with an air of great solemnity he gave them his blessing. The
young people withdrew to another room at Sir Peter's request, when he
turned to his friend, delighted with his own decision and authority, and
exclaimed,
"There, Fred. Denbigh, that is what I call being minded."
The general had penetration enough to see that the result was agreeable
to both the young people, a thing he had long apprehended; and being
glad to get rid of the affair in any way that did not involve him in a
quarrel with his old comrade, he gravely congratulated the admiral on
his good fortune and retired.
"Yes, yes," said Sir Peter to himself, as he paced up and down his room,
"Denbigh is mortified enough, with his joy, and felicity, and grand-
children. I never had any opinion of their manner of discipline at all;
too much bowing and scraping. I'm sorry, though, he is a priest; not but
what a priest may be as good a man as another, but let him behave ever
so well, he can only get to be a bishop at the most. Heaven forbid he
should ever get to be a Pope! After all, his boys may be admirals if
they behave themselves;" and he went to seek his daughter, having in
imagination manned her nursery with vice and rear admirals in embryo by
the half dozen.
Sir Peter Howell survived the marriage of his daughter but eighteen
months; yet that was sufficient time to become attached to his
invaluable son-in-law. Mr. Ives insensibly led the admiral, during his
long indisposition, to a more correct view of sacred things, than he had
been wont to entertain; and the old man breathed his last, blessing both
his children for their kindness, and with an humble hope of future
happiness. Some time before his death, Isabel, whose conscience had
always reproached her with the deception practised on her father, and
with the banishment of George from his country and home, threw herself
at the feet of Sir Peter and acknowledged her transgression.
The admiral heard her in astonishment, but not in anger. His opinions of
life had sensibly changed, and his great cause of satisfaction with his
new son removed all motives for regret for anything but for the fate of
poor George. With the noble forbearance and tenderness of the young man
to his daughter, the hardy veteran was sensibly touched; and his
entreaties with Sir Frederick made his peace with a father already
longing for the return of his only hope.
The admiral left Colonel Denbigh his blessing, and his favorite pistols,
as a remembrance of his esteem; but he did not live to see the reunion
with his family.
George had soon learnt, deprived of hope and in the midst of novelty, to
forget a passion which could no longer be prosperous; and two years from
his departure returned to England, glowing in health, and improved in
person and manners by a more extensive knowledge of the world and
mankind.