so," replied Charley, with a sigh. "By marrying a man with a knight's
spurs at his heels! Ran not the old woman's words so? And canst thou
believe that I can coolly contemplate the probable accomplishment of
any such prophecy?"
"Charley!" cried Rosa, with great feeling, whilst tears swelled from
under her beautiful eyelids, "canst thou believe it possible that I
should ever forget all I owe to thee? Canst thou believe that I can
forget my often repeated vows? Canst thou believe that those infant
affections which have grown up with me, strengthening as they grew,
until they have now ripened with me in womanhood, can ever perish
but with my life? My life is thine, for to thee I owe it. My soul
is thine, for to thee I am indebted for that culture and expansion
which may best fit it for heaven. My heart is thine, for it is to
thee that I have been indebted for stocking it with its best and
purest sympathies. Canst thou then doubt that I ever could be any
other's than thine?"
"May the Virgin ever bless thee for thy words, my love!" cried Charley,
with ecstasy. "I am satisfied of the truth of thine affection. Yet
had I been better pleased if that old woman had never given utterance
to those idle dreams of hers. At such a time too!--So awful!--Just
before her vexed and worn out spirit took its flight from its wretched
earthly tenement!"
"It was awful, indeed!" said Rosa, solemnly. "But methinks," added
she, after a pause, and in a more cheerful tone--"Methinks the poor
Howlet's words might bear a more pleasing interpretation than thou
wouldst seem inclined to put upon them; yea, and to my fancy, much
more natural withal."
"As how?" demanded Charley, eagerly.
"Marry, that thou mayest be the man with the knight's spurs at his
heels," said Rosa, dropping her voice and her eyes, and blushing
deeply.
"What!" exclaimed Charley, energetically. "By all the saints in the
calendar, but that were an interpretation indeed! I thank thee, Rosa,
for thy augury. Trust me, if it lacks accomplishment, in due time, it
shall not be my fault. Though I have been turned over into the dirt,
by him to whom I should have looked for countenance and support, to
encourage me in a nobler career--by him to whom I reasonably looked
for the education befitting a soldier,--thanks to mine honest patron,
Sir Piers, I am not now altogether in want of it. Thanks, moreover,
be to God, that I have never done anything which may, with reason,
make my father ashamed of me. And, with the blessing of Saint Andrew
on this arm of mine, I may yet live to earn those honours, which his
indifference towards me would have denied me."
Rosa did not altogether enjoy perfect ease of mind after Charley
Stewart had left her. She thought, with some pride to be sure,
of the nobleness of that spirit which she had thus seen blaze up
within him. But she felt that she had now the dread responsibility of
having thus roused it; and all a woman's fears for the consequences
were awakened in her bosom. Nor was the happiness of the days that
followed increased by this accidental conversation. For now, she
rarely or ever saw him, in whose society her whole life had hitherto
glided on with so much felicity. Alice Asher too, had her complaints
to make of her son's frequent and long absence from her; and the only
consolation the maiden had, was in frequently visiting the mother of
Charley Stewart--to talk over his merits--a theme of which neither
of them were very likely to tire--and to sigh for his presence.
Meanwhile Charley was almost constant in his attendance upon Sir Piers
Gordon; and he very soon distinguished himself so much in all the
accomplishments of a soldier, that he became the most cherished and
favoured of the old soldier's followers. But this was not all; for,
unknown to himself, and altogether without any effort on his part,
he found especial favour in the sight of Marcella Gordon, niece, and
acknowledged heiress of his patron, Sir Piers. This was a lady, by no
means uncomely, though of most uncommonly masculine manners and mind,
who, at any time, would have much preferred to witness a fray, or even
to take her share in it, than to sit down to a feast, or to mix in a
dance or a masking party. She became smitten with Charley Stewart for
his martial acquirements, bold bearing in his saddle, and hardihood
at all times; and for all these he well merited her admiration.
Sir Piers Gordon and his party were one day returning from an
expedition, which had been suddenly undertaken in pursuit of some
Catteranes, whom, as being public marauders, and general enemies to
all, he had, without scruple, followed across the territories of the
Stewart of Stradawn. He passed at no great distance from the humble
dwelling of Mrs. MacDermot.
"So please thee, Sir Knight," said Charley Stewart to Sir Piers,
"I will turn aside a brief space to yonder cottage, to say a few
words to an old friend, whom I have not seen for many a day; and I
will join thee again ere thou hast ridden a long mile."
"I care not if I go with thee, Charley," said Sir Piers; "that is,
if thy friend's house can furnish me with a draught of any thing
better than water, for my throat is parched like a mountain corry in
the dog-days."
"Such as that humble roof may afford, I think I may venture to promise
thee," replied Charley, somewhat disappointed at being so attended.
"I shall go with thee too," said Marcella Gordon, who, on this
occasion, had followed her uncle in his expedition.
The men-at-arms having been halted by the road-side, Charley led the
way to the widow's cottage. As he rode forth from among the trees of
the birch-grove, that flanked one side of the house, and partly shaded
half its front, Rosa's quick eyes caught his figure--her heart bounded
with joy, and in a moment she was at the door, and, from the first
irresistible impulse of her heart, she almost sprang into his arms;
but immediately perceiving that her lover was not alone, she blushed,
and hastily retreated within doors.
"Is that your sister, young man?" demanded the Lady Marcella.
"No, lady," replied Charley, in some confusion; "but she is a very
old friend of mine."
"A very young friend of thine, methinks!" said Sir Piers. "She is
very beautiful."
Mrs. MacDermot now appeared, and ushered the strangers into the house
with well-blended humility and kindness, and proceeded to do the little
hospitalities of her unpretending roof. Charley was himself abashed
and baulked; but yet he conversed with Rosa, though in that chastened
manner that more than any thing else betrays the consciousness of
lovers, in the eyes of those who may be observing them. No eyes were
more penetrating than those of Marcella Gordon. They shot basilisks
at the pair. The visit was necessarily short, and the parting between
Rosa and Charley was doubly severe to both, since they were thus
compelled by the presence of others, to conceal their emotions.
"By all the saints, but thou art a happy fellow, Stewart!" said Sir
Piers Gordon to Charley, as they turned away to join the party. "That
is the prettiest young creature I have seen for many a long day."
"I see little to admire about her," said the Lady Marcella, with a
scornful air; "a waxen child! a smock-faced red and white pippin!"
"Nay, Marcella, women are no judges of beauty in their own sex,"
replied Sir Piers. "I say she is very lovely; and I say again thou
art a happy fellow, Stewart; for, judging from appearances, thou
seem'st to be right well established in her affections."
"We have known one another since her childhood," said Charley Stewart
hurriedly.
"And so now thou wouldst fain convert her from thy playmate into thy
wife," said Sir Piers, laughing.
"My wife, Sir Piers!" said Charley, in great confusion. "What could I
do with a wife, who am so poor and unknown? I must e'en follow Fortune
for some time as my mistress, and court her till she smiles upon me."
"Fear not that she will refuse to smile upon one of thy merit," said
the Lady Marcella. "One who can ride, and wield his weapons as thou
canst, may well look to Fortune providing something better for him
than the obscure and low-bred orphan of a common man-at-arms."
Charley Stewart was silent, but Sir Piers was not altogether so blind
as not to perceive how matters stood with his niece. He had observed
the Lady Marcella's manner,--was struck with her words,--and a strong
conviction entered his mind that she had allowed herself to fall in
love with Charley Stewart. Now his affection for Charley had waxed
so strong, that, knowing the good blood that was in him, he would
have rejoiced to have seen him the husband of Marcella. But feeling
that it would be prudent, before giving encouragement to any such
scheme, that he should privately satisfy himself as to the suspicions
he entertained of an existing attachment between Charley and Rosa
MacDermot, and, having failed in one attempt to lead Charley to be
explicit, he privately resolved in his own mind, secretly to visit
Mrs. MacDermot herself, from whom he looked to receive clearer and
more ready information.
Having accordingly ridden over to her house alone, the very next
morning, he soon learned from the worthy woman the whole history
of the lovers. He was not a little disappointed to find that he
had made so shrewd a guess, and that, to so honest and honourable a
mind as his, there thus remained no fair hope of the completion of
that alliance, which would have been so agreeable to him, as well
as to his niece. All that he had learned from the widow regarding
Charley, had only served to increase his admiration of him, and to
make his regret the greater. But being now in possession of the fact,
he thought it his duty to deal plainly with the Lady Marcella, and
he accordingly embraced the very first opportunity he could command
of speaking with her in private.
"Marcella," said he to her abruptly, "what think ye of Charley
Stewart?"
"A proper young man, I promise thee," replied the lady, with the same
want of ceremony.
"His lameness is unfortunate,--it mars his appearance much," said Sir
Piers. "And that cross scar on his cheek is any thing but ornamental."
"Pshaw!" cried the lady; "a fico for his scar! I hope, ere he dies,
to see his manly face seamed by many a deeper ornament of the same
sort, gained in tough fight, man to man. And as to his lameness! shew
me one that will vault into his saddle with him, or ride with him,
or hold a lance with him after he is in it! Charley Stewart is a
prince of a fellow!"
"All that is very true, niece," said Sir Piers; "but methinks thou
speakest of him with unusual warmth. Pray Heaven thou be'st not in
love with the young man!"
"Nay, uncle, since I must needs say so, that is already past praying
for," replied Marcella, with a sigh; which, as it was the first that
ever in her life escaped her, was a precious deep one.
"I am sorry to hear thee say so, niece," said Sir Piers; "for thy
case is hopeless, seeing that thou hast already a rival, to whom he
is not only attached, but affianced."
"What, uncle!" exclaimed the lady, in a supercilious tone; "dost thou
think so very meanly of thy niece, as to suppose that the whey-faced
orphan of a miserable man-at-arms, can have any chance with me,
when I, the heiress of thy lands, choose to enter the lists?"
"I think and hope too well of my niece and heiress," said Sir Piers
gravely, "to believe, that, for her own gratification, she will try to
divide two hearts already united by the tenderest vows that affection
can form."
"Affection!" exclaimed the lady; "tush, nonsense, uncle! the affection
of children! the brotherly and sisterly affection of babes, for such
was the sort of affection of which Stewart himself spoke, and his
words are all we have yet to go upon."
"Pardon me," said her uncle, calmly; "I have yet better information
than any thing we have gathered from him. Suspecting that Charley
Stewart's merits were beginning to render him not altogether without
interest in your eyes, I deemed it to be my duty to know the truth
regarding this attachment between him and Rosa MacDermot. With this
view I visited the Widow MacDermot herself, and from her I learned,
that the bond between the pair, lacks nothing to complete it, but
the holy sacrament that may fasten the tie for ever."
"And until that tie be fixed, it is nothing," said the lady. "Yet
what sort of evidence would you bring me, truly, of this same
attachment?--That of an old woman, who, in her folly, sees every
thing just according to the way her wishes may lead her fancy. I will
believe Stewart himself before a dozen such crones, especially where
self-interest, and the interest of her girl, must so evidently sway
her. Let me but try my influence on him, and thou shalt see how soon
he will forget this peasant maid. Thou shalt see"----
"I grieve to find that thou art so resolved to blind thyself,
niece!" interrupted Sir Piers, very seriously; "but it is alike my
duty to see that you neither run into hopeless misery, nor try to
convert that misery into happiness, by unjustly and cruelly ruining
the peace of another. I shall again visit the Widow's cottage, this
very afternoon. I shall see and converse with the daughter herself,
after which I shall hold plainer converse than I have ever yet done
with Stewart. If I find that you have judged correctly, and that there
is nothing more in this matter than that the mother hath allowed her
judgment to be warped by her wishes, my best endeavours shall not
be wanting to accomplish those desires which thou hast so clearly
exposed to me. But I tell thee honestly, that if, on the other hand,
I find that the Widow has judged and reported truly, I shall, for
your sake, as well as for that of Stewart, do all I can to promote
his union with Rosa MacDermot."
"Say'st thou so, old man?" muttered the Lady Marcella to herself,
after her uncle had left her; "then must I act--aye, and act quickly,
and boldly too."
After a moment's thought, she clapped her hands for her page, and
sent him directly to entreat that Stewart would favour her with a
private interview immediately. He came at her summons; and, after
the usual salutations were over, she, with a face that, spite of her
determined and dauntless character, absolutely burned, from the very
nature of the communication she had resolved to make, entered upon
it in a low yet steady and unbroken tone.
"I take it for granted, Stewart," said she, "that the few words I
let fall, the other day, when we were returning from our pursuit
after the caitiff Catteranes, were not thrown away upon one of your
quick wit. They were not uttered without intention; and they have,
I trust, proved to thee that thy rare merits have not escaped my
notice, and that I take no common interest in thee."
The Lady Marcella paused for an answer; and the astonished Charley
Stewart, having mumbled some confused and ill-connected expressions
of gratitude for her good opinion, she continued in a yet calmer and
more collected tone.
"I have thus sent for thee, honestly to confess to thee, that the
interest I take in thee is of a nature, which could not permit me
to see unmoved, one, who is so manifestly born for better fortunes,
ignorantly to mar them from too humble an estimation of his own merits,
and, without looking higher, blindly to tie himself down from all
chance of rising, by rashly binding himself to baseness and poverty. If
ever a desire of turning the issues of fate into their proper course,
might be an excuse for a woman speaking out more openly and plainly
than tyrant custom has permitted her sex to do, certain I am it might
be reasonably held to be in the present case. But, were it otherwise,
thou hast already seen enough of me to know, that I am no ordinary
woman; and I, who have dared much, would dare this too--yea, and ten
times more, to secure mine own peace, and thy happiness. Reflect,
then, on the words I uttered as we returned from our expedition. Know,
that Fortune hath not refused to shine on thy deserts, for she now
offers thee the hand and fortune of her who addresses thee."
"Lady!" exclaimed Charley Stewart, staggering back with absolute
amazement, and altogether unable to answer coherently, from the
confusion he was thrown into--"I have been foolishly reserved, lady. I
have been strangely and grievously misconceived. Yet I thought I had
spoken plainly enough.--I--I--I am altogether unworthy of any one of
thy station. I am already pledged to another."
"I was not altogether unprepared for some such confession," said the
lady, with a self-possession, arising from the circumstance, that she
spoke truly. "I had heard, and I did see enough to make me aware that
something had passed between thee and the silly girl MacDermot. But
these were childish ties, entered into when thou couldst have no
foreknowledge of thine own fortunes; and they must, of stern necessity,
yield to that expediency which now demands thine exaltation."
"Lady," replied Stewart, who by this time began to be somewhat
more master of his faculties, "I have learned enough to know that
true exaltation can never be purchased by treachery, perfidy, and
cruelty. Rosa MacDermot and I loved one another whilst she was yet
a child, it is true, but we have loved one another ever since with a
growing affection, which has produced vows of the most solemn nature
between us. I love her more than I do life itself; and not for all
the wealth or honours that this world could bestow, would I cease to
love her."
"So great a constancy, and so true a heart, proves but the more
how much thou wert born for knighthood," said the lady, calmly. "And
perhaps, entangled as thou seemest to have been, it might have been due
to such honour as might befit a knight, to have clung to engagements
so made. But to render such a case of so great self devotion rational,
it would at least be requisite that it should be mutual. Hast thou
proof that it is really so? Hast thou never had doubts on that
score? No suspicions?"
"Proof of the love of Rosa MacDermot, lady?" exclaimed Charley,
with astonishment. "Doubts of Rosa? I should as soon ask for proof
that the blessed sun gives light, or have doubts that the glorious
orb might drop from the firmament."
"Other men before thee have been as honestly confiding, and yet
have been deceived," said the lady. "The humble soil where thou hast
rooted thine affections, is not always that which produces the most
virtuous fruits."
"What wouldst thou hint, lady?" demanded Charley, in a disturbed and
agitated tone.
"I grieve to tell thee," replied the lady. "It pains me to be compelled
to undeceive thee, by withdrawing thee from thy pleasing dreams, to
look boldly on the afflicting truth. Yet I must tell thee, that thy
heroic constancy hath not been met by a like unshaken return of it."
"Say--what?--Holy saints protect me!" cried Charley Stewart, in a
greatly agitated and excited manner. "What wouldst thou insinuate
lady? Rosa unfaithful?--Oh! impossible!--Where is the liar who
hath thus abused thine ear regarding her who is purity and truth
itself? Tell me his name, that I may make my sword drink his base
black heart's blood!"
"Be calm, Stewart," replied the lady, with imperturbable placidity of
manner. "Thou wilt gain nothing by yielding thyself up to blind rage. I
trust thou wilt see that it is no ordinary affection in me that can
prompt me to the disclosure that I am now about to make to thee."
"Speak on, lady. Oh keep me not in suspense!" cried Charley Stewart,
wildly breaking in on her mysterious pause.
"Stewart," said the lady, solemnly, "thou wert prepared to withstand
all temptation that might be calculated to break the rash vows of
youthful ignorance. But she for whom you made them--she for whose
sake thou wouldst have so honourably maintained them to the sacrifice
of wealth and advancement--she, I fear, has had less resolution to
resist their allurements. Be not too much astonished or shocked, for
I must tell thee, that mine uncle, Sir Piers Gordon, is the favoured
lover of Rosa MacDermot."
"Thine uncle Sir Piers, Lady?" cried Charley, petrified with
surprise. "Impossible! it cannot be!"
"Strange as it may seem to thee, and strange as it unquestionably is,"
replied the Lady Marcella, "it is in reality but too true that she
favours his visits for her own purposes. He has already found his way
to the Widow's cottage more than once, and he has even ventured to hint
to myself that he has not been coldly received--and then, Stewart----"
"Lady," interrupted Charley, impatiently and violently, "I would not
believe even Sir Piers himself if he were to tell me this!----and
yet," added he, after a pause, during which he struck his forehead
with the palm of his hand, and seemed to be immersed in deep thought,
"and yet, he was strangely struck with her when first they met!--But
the time is so short--so very short since then--she!--Rosa! Oh, Rosa
never could have been brought, in so short a time, to forget the days
of her childhood, and her oft repeated vows to me!"
"Reflect, Stewart," said the lady, "that mine uncle is a landed laird,
and a belted knight, with spurs at his heels!"
"What!" exclaimed Charley Stewart, in an intense agony of excited
feeling, and with a half choked voice, "landed laird, saidst thou! a
belted knight, with spurs at his heels! Can it be? Oh! that accursed
prophecy of that most accursed hag! But art thou sure of what thou
sayest, lady? How canst thou satisfy me? By all the holy saints I
must be satisfied!"
"Nay," replied Marcella, coolly, "I can satisfy thee no otherwise
than by saying that I have his own word for it, and--"
"His own word!" cried Charley; "Oh, wicked, wicked, and most deceitful
man, thus wilfully to undermine me! Though I was less open in thy
presence, lady, yet I said enough to him afterwards, to have enabled
even a fool and a dotard, to have read my meaning."
"So indeed he hinted," replied Marcella; "but then his apology for
the interpretation which he hath found it convenient to put upon thy
words is, that he has been encouraged by the girl herself. And as he
was with her but yesterday, if he had not spoken truly as to this,
he would have hardly hurried back again thither so soon as he has
now done."
"Back, didst thou say, Lady?" exclaimed Stewart, growing black with
rage and jealousy. "Back!--whither?--when?--how?--Oh, my brain is
burning! Back, didst thou say?"
"Yea," replied the Lady Marcella, with perfect calmness, "mine uncle,
Sir Piers, hath gone to visit Rosa MacDermot this very afternoon. He
parted from me for that purpose but a few minutes before thou camest
in hither. He is on his way thither now. Go!--convince thyself! But be
prudent. Act not rashly. Forget not that a knight, such as he is, hath
a natural belief in him that he is entitled to some little license,
where the matter concerns those only of such low degree as the girl
Rosa MacDermot can boast of."
Charley Stewart listened to those words of the Lady Marcella with a
fixedness of eye, and of aspect, that was almost too fearful for her,
bold as she was, to look upon. He seemed intent upon devouring every
syllable she uttered. And yet, his intentness of gaze was more like
that of a maniac, than of a rational man. She had no sooner finished
than he ground his teeth, clenched his hands, struck them both with
violence upon his bosom, and then rushed from the chamber, without
giving utterance to a word.
"I have stung him to the quick," muttered the Lady Marcella,
in soliloquy, after he was gone. "And now," added she, bitterly,
"my prudent uncle has some chance of learning, to his cost, that it
were better to face the lean and starving lioness, when preying for
food for her famished whelps, than to step between a woman and her
love. I never meant to have brought this upon him. He hath brought
it altogether upon himself; and now let him look to it, that his
heritage be not mine, some few good years before he would have had
it descend upon me. Should the plot chance to work so, my triumph
over this youth will be easy and certain."