Although I loved Monsieur de Villardin sincerely, and left my interest
in his heart in a very precarious state, yet I acknowledge that I was
delighted to ride away from the Prés Vallée. Ever since the death of
Monsieur de Mesnil, a gloom had fallen over the place, of which I
could not divest it for a moment. These sensations would probably have
worn away in a few days, although I began to think more seriously
about human life than I formerly did, had not Monsieur de Villardin
seemed to feel so deeply upon the subject himself. His regret and
melancholy were a constant excitement to my own; and though, of
course, the feelings that I experienced were far less poignant than
his, and no other internal torment was added to the awful memories
which oppressed me, yet the cloud that overcast his days shadowed mine
also; and the sight of all the little traits which revealed how
painfully he remembered the death of the Count, constantly recalled to
my mind the share that I also had taken therein.
Besides this, my mind was fretted and annoyed at beholding continually
the anxieties, suspicions, and cares, to which Monsieur de Villardin
made himself a prey; the destruction of an amiable woman's happiness,
and the misery of a man I loved. I have said fretted and annoyed,
because latterly a degree of impatience, which sometimes almost
mastered my respect, had mingled with the grief that the sight of such
a state of things had first occasioned in my bosom. From all these
causes, my feelings, instead of being painful, were joyful in a high
degree, on quitting the scenes which, a few months before, had
appeared to me so beautiful and peaceful that I had fancied I could
dwell in them for ever; and each mile as I rode on seemed to take more
and more of the load from off my heart.
It was the morning of a bright and beautiful day in spring; and as I
suppose that there are few people who do not feel themselves happier
when the aspect of the world is cheerful around them, the pleasure I
experienced in getting away from scenes of discomfort and pain was
augmented by the warm sunshine and the clear sky. The thirst of
novelty, too, still fresh upon me, made me feel delighted with the
journey; and the hope that this change in our dwelling would
ultimately lead to a change in the general chain of events, had no
small share in the joy with which I set out. The truth was, that
though I had certainly met with a sufficient stock of adventures since
I had lived with Monsieur de Villardin to occupy my time abundantly,
yet they had not been (if I except those which occurred during the
first few weeks) of a kind that at all suited my disposition.
Enterprise of almost any sort I liked and enjoyed; but the excitement
which I had lately felt was of a gloomy and of a sombre character,
which saddened without satisfying--oppressed, but did not please me.
Now, however, I anticipated other scenes and other pleasures; and
though in truth I had not the slightest reason to suppose that any
alteration would really take place, yet fancy can always supply
abundance of materials for the architecture of hope; and as I
journeyed on, I gave imagination full scope to work her will, in
building up gay edifices in the distant prospect.
Nothing occurred to amuse or interest me in the course of my journey
except the simple change of scenery; but as the country through which
we passed was very beautiful, and the season one which shows off the
loveliness of nature to the greatest advantage, what between fair
objects flitting before my eyes as I rode along, and gay dreams rising
up in my own bosom, the road did not seem long, nor the time tedious.
It was night when we reached the Château of Dumont, and as the gossip
of the one château had been, of course, regularly transmitted to the
other, by the servants and messengers that were continually passing to
and fro between them, I found that the two or three domestics by whom
the house was at this time tenanted, were prepared to receive me with
every sort of deference and respect, having heard that I was an
especial favourite with their lord, and that he had declared he
regarded me as his own son.
The next morning, at breakfast, I was visited by the intendant, and
delivered to him the letters with which I was charged, and which he
proceeded to read in my presence. After asking me for some
explanations, in regard to the Duke's will, on two or three points
which did not appear very clear to him, he added, "Here is one letter,
monsieur, referring to yourself alone, and as I suppose you are well
acquainted with the contents, I have only to say, that I shall be very
happy to accompany you immediately."
I assured him, in reply, that I was perfectly ignorant of his meaning,
as I had not been before aware that his lord had written anything
concerning me at all.
"The Duke orders me here," said the intendant in reply, laying before
me the letter he had just opened, "to put you in possession of the
lands and houses of Juvigny, which, he says, he ceded to you, by a
deed of gift, about two months ago. If, therefore, you are inclined to
take possession this morning, I shall have much pleasure in walking
down with you, and formally making over to you the lands, as well as
pointing out the boundaries of the farm and the dependencies thereunto
attached."
It is not to be supposed that so young and new a proprietor as myself
would be very unwilling to see and take possession of the first
property he ever had in his life; and, thanking the intendant, whom I
began to look upon as a very civil person indeed, I willingly agreed
to accompany him to my territory of Juvigny. As the place itself and
the road that conducted thither are memorable in my little history, on
many accounts, I must be permitted to describe that morning's walk,
step by step, as we proceeded.
We set out, then, about half-past nine, and took our way across a
broad terrace, which extended in front of the château, and which, at
either extremity, sloped away into a fine road, broad enough for
either horses or carriages. In front, however, it was supported by a
perpendicular stone facing of about six feet high, at the bottom of
which lay an extensive flower-garden, reached by a wide flight of ten
steps; and, beyond the garden, again extended a fine park, laid out in
walks and alleys, containing about three square miles of ground, on
either side of a deep and rapid river, which, passing between high
banks, took its way, through the midst of the estate, towards the sea,
at which it arrived without mingling its waters with any other stream.
Across this river the various paths, with which the park was
intersected, were carried over a number of bridges, built in very good
taste, some of stone and some of wood, as the character of the scene
immediately around seemed to require. Over one of these, which
consisted of a light wooden arch, the intendant and myself took our
way, after having passed through the flower-garden and a considerable
part of the park. This direction, I found, was followed, in order to
cut across a bend in the river; for, after issuing forth through a
postern door into the country beyond the park, we again crossed the
stream by another bridge, and proceeded along its course, pursuing a
path which wound in and out through a scene of mingled rock and wood
as wild and varied as ever I beheld.
As we proceeded along this road, which we followed for about half a
mile, the intendant informed me that the little farm of which I was
now the master had been bought by Monsieur de Villardin, on the death
of the last proprietor, lest it should at any time fall into the hands
of people who might render its proximity to his park an annoyance to
him. We soon after reached our boundary, and, having called at the
Métairie, where I was formally introduced to the farmer and put in
possession of my new property, we went round the limits, which
were much more extensive than I had expected, and returned by the
dwelling-house of the old Lords of Juvigny, which consisted of a small
feudal tower, with modern offices on the same scale, perched upon a
high bank overhanging the water, and commanding a beautiful prospect
down the valley through which the river wandered.
While the intendant was busy opening the door, which, from having had
entirely its own way for several years, seemed very unwilling to give
admission to a new lord, I asked the good farmer, who had followed us
on our round, what was the extensive grey building which I observed
about a quarter of a mile farther down on the other bank of the
stream. He replied, in a patois which I could scarcely make out, that
it was a convent of Ursuline nuns, to whom a great part of the ground
on the opposite side of the river belonged.
I answered, that I was glad to hear that I was to have such good
neighbours; and, following the intendant, who had by this time opened
the door, I was inducted into my house, which afforded a much greater
promise of warmth and comfort in the inside, than had been given by
its external appearance.
The worthy intendant showed me over every part of it; and when he had
done, he added, "You have now seen the whole of the estate, sir, which
being--as I understand the Duke--conferred upon you in full, gives you
every seigneural privilege, comprising droits de moulin, et de
colombier, d'eau, et de four."
As I turned away quite satisfied with all these fine rights, of mill
and dove-cot, water and oven, I observed a slight smile pass between
the intendant and the farmer; and as I did not affect to observe it,
the honest countryman explained it by a question which he asked my
companion in one of those horse whispers which may be heard distinctly
at a mile.
"Is he a boy, really," asked the farmer, grinning, "or a little man?"
The intendant made no reply, but enjoined silence by holding up one of
his fingers; and, walking gravely after me, showed me the same
deferential respect which he had formerly put on, and at which I could
plainly see he had been laughing in his sleeve. I was nettled a good
deal, I confess; for though I did not, in truth, feel myself at all
what the world calls a boy, I had not the slightest wish to assume any
station but that which was my due. At the same time, I am well aware,
and was so even at the time, that the habit of mingling with mankind,
and the fact of having passed all my early years in gathering
knowledge of the world instead of poring over grammars and
dictionaries, had given a sort of decision and promptitude to my
manners, which, coupled with my juvenile appearance, might well win
for me the character of a conceited little fellow from those who saw
no farther. However, as I have said, I was nettled at finding that the
respect with which the intendant had been treating me, and which was
rather suspicious from its profoundness, was nothing but a mockery;
and had any occasion for venting my irritation occurred at the time, I
might have done so with a vehemence which most probably would have
amused him and rendered myself ridiculous. A little reflection, as we
walked on, took the anger, and consequently the absurdity, out of my
feelings; and, remembering that it was very likely that the worthy
intendant might attempt to treat me as a conceited boy in money
matters also, I resolved to show him that I was fully aware of my own
situation.
"Of course, Monsieur l'Intendant," said I, as we again entered the
park, "you will continue to receive the rents of the farm, and pay
them into the hands of Monsieur de Villardin; for though he has been
kind enough to bestow it upon me, I am well aware that my youth and
inexperience of such matters utterly incapacitate me to manage it
myself. I know, too, that, as a foreigner, I cannot exercise any of
the rights you mentioned just now, without higher permission, which,
however, the Duke has already promised to solicit for me; and,
doubtless, it will be granted long before I am qualified by age to
make use of it."
The intendant opened his eyes half an inch wider at a discourse which,
I am sure, he did not expect; and, as I thought over the business, I
proceeded:--"One thing, however, I will ask you on my own account;
which is, to seek me out a good tenant for the house, and the field in
which it stands; as the one is overgrown with weeds, and the other is
very likely to get out of repair. But, at the same time, it is
absolutely necessary that the tenant should be one who is agreeable to
Monsieur de Villardin. If you can find such a person as I describe,
who will be attentive to and careful of the place in which he dwells,
the advantage of having the house kept from dilapidation will, of
course, induce you to let him have the dwelling for a certain time
without rent, and the land at the lowest value of the ground."
Whether the intendant did or did not conceive a better opinion of me
from this discourse, I can hardly tell; for he was one of those men,
so often met with, who, with an air of profound respect, have at the
same time a slight smile hanging ever about the corners of their
mouths, which casts a sneering expression over their whole
countenance. I gave myself very little further care upon the subject,
indeed; for though the people on whom nature or habit has inflicted
such a look are always hated--because, without having a pretext for
resenting it, we perceive that they are insulting us in their own
hearts--yet he was always civil, and never afforded me the slightest
pretence for anger, either by his demeanour or his actions. It was
therefore, of course, my wisest policy to think as little as possible
of what I could not remedy.
At the end of a week, Monsieur de Villardin and the whole household
made their appearance; and the bustle of taking possession of their
new abode concealed for the first day any changes that had occurred.
When all the arrangements were over, however, I began to see a marked
and unpleasant difference. Monsieur de Villardin was something more
than grave and gloomy; he was abstracted, and at times fierce; and it
was evident that the internal irritation of his feelings made him
perceive subject of offence in things the most simple and harmless.
To me he was certainly as kind as he could be; but still there was a
difference there also. He often spoke to me gently, even
affectionately, of my circumstances and my future prospects; treated
me in most respects as his son; made me dine with himself and Madame
de Villardin; but he never referred to the events which had taken
place at the Prés Vallée. I saw, too, that, on the excuse of not
looking upon me any longer in the light of a page, but rather as one
of his own family, the familiar intercourse which I had held with him
was in a great degree denied to myself and permitted to another; and
that Gaspard de Belleville was closeted with him for hours every day.
Of course, this did not please me; for although I trusted to my own
conduct to maintain the good opinion of the Duke, yet, with the common
weakness of human nature, I did not like that his confidence should be
given to another, though it had often been painful to myself. I knew
very well that my behaviour, though it might not have gratified his
jealousy by admitting suspicions I believed to be false, would command
his esteem more than that of Gaspard, who, probably, was more
complacent--but who is there so strong and philosophic in heart, as to
value esteem more than affection? I saw clearly, and I saw it with
regret, that Monsieur de Villardin's love was likely to be given to
him who pampered the weakness under which he laboured, rather than to
him who tried to clear away suspicions, which, however detrimental to
himself, were too firmly rooted to be eradicated without pain.
As some compensation, however, I found that my place in the regard of
the Duchess was becoming higher each day; and as Monsieur de
Villardin, on his arrival at Dumont, had desired me to attend upon her
in her walks and drives, not as a page, but as her companion,--I was
but fourteen, be it remembered,--and as her guard in case of danger, I
had continually the means of cultivating her good opinion. Her spirits
by this time were so depressed, that all the gay levity of manner
which I had formerly remarked, was gone; and, grave, sad, and
thoughtful, she took her daily walk through the park, accompanied by
myself and her little girl; sometimes endeavouring to amuse herself by
talking to me of England, and of the scenes that I had gone
through--sometimes moved to a smile at my boyish pranks with the
beautiful child that ran on beside us--but still relapsing into
melancholy the moment that the evanescent light was gone. Never by any
chance did she refer to her husband's behaviour towards her; though
once, when she seemed more than usually depressed, her words and her
manner made me think she was going to do so.
"You have greatly won Monsieur de Villardin's confidence and esteem,"
she said, after some previous conversation during one of our walks;
"and I very well perceive that hereafter that esteem will be much
increased. Now, Monsieur Hall," she proceeded, speaking with a
considerable degree of emotion, "I have a favour to ask you, and a
promise to exact from you. Of course, no woman in my situation can
count upon life for more than three or four months, with any degree of
confidence. Should I die, then, in the course of the event which is to
befal me,--which I think more than probable,--as you will grow up to
manhood with my children, and possess their father's confidence, will
you promise me to be to them as a brother, to defend them with your
whole heart and strength, by hand and voice, against any one that
would wrong them; and never to forget to uphold their cause whenever
you hear them assailed? Will you promise me this, upon your word of
honour as a loyal Englishman and the son of a good soldier?"
"That I will, madam, and that I do," replied I: "even had you not
asked it, I would have done so. But I now bind myself by everything I
hold dear, in case--amongst the many changes of the world, which have
laid my own hearth desolate, and given my father's house to
strangers--they should ever require such weak aid as mine, I will give
it to them with my whole heart and soul, and show as much zeal in
their cause as if I were their brother."
I purposely made my promise as strong in point of language as I could
devise, because I clearly saw, by the agitation of the Duchess while
she spoke, that her husband's late conduct towards herself had excited
in her bosom many a fearful apprehension in regard to the fate
of her children. Hope, I have heard, will catch at straws; and
certainly--though in the wide range of probability it was possible I
might ultimately be able to render the services she required--there
appeared but little likelihood of my assistance being of much avail:
yet nevertheless my zealous promise seemed to relieve her mind
greatly; and as I made it, I saw the tears, which had been crowding to
the gates of her eyes while she herself had spoken, now burst forth
and roll over her cheeks.
"Thank you, thank you!" she replied: "I know that your promise will
not be forgotten, and therefore I shall never mention the subject to
you again, but rely in all confidence upon your word:" and so saying,
she led the way back towards the château.