THE DRAWING-ROOM.
On the fourth day following the adventure detailed in the last chapter, I
made my appearance in the drawing-room, my cheek well blanched by copious
bleeding, and my step tottering and uncertain. On entering the room, I
looked about in vain for some one who might give me an insight into the
occurrences of the four preceding days; but no one was to be met with. The
ladies, I learned, were out riding; Matthew was buying a new setter, Mr.
Blake was canvassing, and Captain Hammersley was in bed. Where was Miss
Dashwood?--in her room; and Sir George?--he was with Mr. Blake.
“What! Canvassing, too?”
“Troth, that same was possible,” was the intelligent reply of the old
butler, at which I could not help smiling. I sat down, therefore, in the
easiest chair I could find, and unfolding the county paper, resolved upon
learning how matters were going on in the political world. But somehow,
whether the editor was not brilliant or the fire was hot or that my own
dreams were pleasanter to indulge in than his fancies, I fell sound asleep.
How differently is the mind attuned to the active, busy world of thought
and action when awakened from sleep by any sudden and rude summons to arise
and be stirring, and when called into existence by the sweet and silvery
notes of softest music stealing over the senses, and while they impart
awakening thoughts of bliss and beauty, scarcely dissipating the dreamy
influence of slumber! Such was my first thought, as, with closed lids, the
thrilling chords of a harp broke upon my sleep and aroused me to a feeling
of unutterable pleasure. I turned gently round in my chair and beheld Miss
Dashwood. She was seated in a recess of an old-fashioned window; the pale
yellow glow of a wintry sun at evening fell upon her beautiful hair, and
tinged it with such a light as I have often since then seen in Rembrandt’s
pictures; her head leaned upon the harp, and as she struck its chords at
random, I saw that her mind was far away from all around her. As I looked,
she suddenly started from her leaning attitude, and parting back her curls
from her brow, she preluded a few chords, and then sighed forth, rather
than sang, that most beautiful of Moore’s melodies,--
“She is far from the land where her young hero sleeps.”
Never before had such pathos, such deep utterance of feeling, met my
astonished sense; I listened breathlessly as the tears fell one by one down
my cheek; my bosom heaved and fell; and when she ceased, I hid my head
between my hands and sobbed aloud. In an instant, she was beside me, and
placing her hand upon my shoulder, said,--
“Poor dear boy, I never suspected you of being there, or I should not have
sung that mournful air.”
I started and looked up; and from what I know not, but she suddenly
crimsoned to her very forehead, while she added in a less assured tone,--
“I hope, Mr. O’Malley, that you are much better; and I trust there is no
imprudence in your being here.”
“For the latter, I shall not answer,” said I, with a sickly smile; “but
already I feel your music has done me service.”
“Then let me sing more for you.”
“If I am to have a choice, I should say, Sit down, and let me hear you talk
to me. My illness and the doctor together have made wild work of my poor
brain; but if you will talk to me--”
“Well, then, what shall it be about? Shall I tell you a fairy tale?”
“I need it not; I feel I am in one this instant.”
“Well, then, what say you to a legend; for I am rich in my stores of them?”
“The O’Malleys have their chronicles, wild and barbarous enough without the
aid of Thor and Woden.”
“Then, shall we chat of every-day matters? Should you like to hear how the
election and the canvass go on?”
“Yes; of all things.”
“Well, then, most favorably. Two baronies, with most unspeakable names,
have declared for us, and confidence is rapidly increasing among our party.
This I learned, by chance, yesterday; for papa never permits us to know
anything of these matters,--not even the names of the candidates.”
“Well, that was the very point I was coming to; for the government were
about to send down some one just as I left home, and I am most anxious to
learn who it is.”
“Then am I utterly valueless; for I really can’t say what party the
government espouses, and only know of our own.”
“Quite enough for me that you wish it success,” said I, gallantly. “Perhaps
you can tell me if my uncle has heard of my accident?”
“Oh, yes; but somehow he has not been here himself, but sent a friend,--a
Mr. Considine, I think; a very strange person he seemed. He demanded to see
papa, and it seems, asked him if your misfortune had been a thing of his
contrivance, and whether he was ready to explain his conduct about it; and,
in fact, I believe he is mad.”
“Heaven confound him!” I muttered between my teeth.
“And then he wished to have an interview with Captain Hammersley. However,
he is too ill; but as the doctor hoped he might be down-stairs in a week,
Mr. Considine kindly hinted that he should wait.”
“Oh, then, do tell me how is the captain.”
“Very much bruised, very much disfigured, they say,” said she, half
smiling; “but not so much hurt in body as in mind.”
“As how, may I ask?” said I, with an appearance of innocence.
“I don’t exactly understand it; but it would appear that there was
something like rivalry among you gentlemen _chasseurs_ on that luckless
morning, and that while you paid the penalty of a broken head, he was
destined to lose his horse and break his arm.”
“I certainly am sorry,--most sincerely sorry for any share I might have had
in the catastrophe; and my greatest regret, I confess, arises from the fact
that I should cause _you_ unhappiness.”
“_Me_? Pray explain.”
“Why, as Captain Hammersley--”
“Mr. O’Malley, you are too young now to make me suspect you have an
intention to offend; but I caution you, never repeat this.”
I saw that I had transgressed, but how, I most honestly confess, I could
not guess; for though I certainly was the senior of my fair companion in
years, I was most lamentably her junior in tact and discretion.
The gray dusk of evening had long fallen as we continued to chat together
beside the blazing wood embers,--she evidently amusing herself with the
original notions of an untutored, unlettered boy, and I drinking deep
those draughts of love that nerved my heart through many a breach and
battlefield.
Our colloquy was at length interrupted by the entrance of Sir George, who
shook me most cordially by the hand, and made the kindest inquiries about
my health.
“They tell me you are to be a lawyer. Mr. O’Malley,” said he; “and if so, I
must advise you to take better care of your headpiece.”
“A lawyer, Papa; oh dear me! I should never have thought of his being
anything so stupid.”
“Why, silly girl, what would you have a man be?”
“A dragoon, to be sure, Papa,” said the fond girl, as she pressed her arm
around his manly figure, and looked up in his face with an expression of
mingled pride and affection.
That word sealed my destiny.