A BRAVE MAN IN SORROW
If my fair readers should be of opinion that my hero's levity in love
is altogether unpardonable, I must remind them that all his griefs and
difficulties did not arise from that sentimental source. Even the lyric
poet, who complains so feelingly of the pains of love, could not forget,
that, at the same time, he was 'in debt and in drink,' which, doubtless,
were great aggravations of his distress. There were indeed whole days in
which Waverley thought neither of Flora nor Rose Bradwardine, but which
were spent in melancholy conjectures on the probable state of matters at
Waverley-Honour, and the dubious issue of the civil contest in which he
was pledged. Colonel Talbot often engaged him in discussions upon
the justice of the cause he had espoused. 'Not,' he said, 'that it is
possible for you to quit it at this present moment, for, come what will,
you must stand by your rash engagement. But I with you to be aware
that the right is not with you; that you are fighting against the real
interests of your country; and that you ought, as an Englishman and a
patriot, to take the first opportunity to leave this unhappy expedition
before the snowball melts.'
In such political disputes, Waverley usually opposed the common
arguments of his party, with which it is unnecessary to trouble the
reader. But he had little to say when the Colonel urged him to compare
the strength by which they had undertaken to overthrow the Government,
with that which was now assembling very rapidly for its support. To this
statement Waverley had but one answer: 'If the cause I have undertaken
be perilous, there would be the greater disgrace in abandoning it.'
And in his turn he generally silenced Colonel Talbot, and succeeded in
changing the subject.
One night, when, after a long dispute of this nature, the friends
had separated, and our hero had retired to bed, he was awakened about
midnight by a suppressed groan. He started up and listened; it came from
the apartment of Colonel Talbot, which was divided from his own by a
wainscoted partition, with a door of communication. Waverley approached
this door, and distinctly heard one or two deep-drawn sighs. What could
be the matter? The Colonel had parted from him, apparently, in his
usual state of spirits. He must have been taken suddenly ill. Under
this impression, he opened the door of communication very gently, and
perceived the Colonel, in his nightgown, seated by a table, on which
lay a letter and a picture. He raised his head hastily, as Edward stood
uncertain whether to advance or retire, and Waverley perceived that his
cheeks were stained with tears.
As if ashamed at being found giving way to such emotion, Colonel Talbot
rose with apparent displeasure, and said, with some sternness, 'I think,
Mr. Waverley, my own apartment, and the hour, might have secured even a
prisoner against'--
'Do not say INTRUSION, Colonel Talbot; I heard you breathe hard, and
feared you were ill; that alone could have induced me to break in upon
you.'
'I am well,' said the Colonel, 'perfectly well.'
'But you are distressed,' said Edward: 'is there anything can be done?'
'Nothing, Mr. Waverley: I was only thinking of home, and of some
unpleasant occurrences there.'
'Good God, my uncle!' exclaimed Waverley.
'No,--it is a grief entirely my own. I am ashamed you should have seen
it disarm me so much; but it must have its course at times, that it may
be at others more decently supported. I would have kept it secret from
you; for I think it will grieve you, and yet you can administer no
consolation. But you have surprised me,--I see you are surprised
yourself,--and I hate mystery. Read that letter.
The letter was from Colonel Talbot's sister, and in these words:
'I received yours, my dearest brother, by Hodges. Sir E. W. and Mr. R.
are still at large, but are not permitted to leave London. I wish to
Heaven I could give you as good an account of matters in the square.
But the news of the unhappy affair at Preston came upon us, with the
dreadful addition that you were among the fallen. You know Lady Emily's
state of health, when your friendship for Sir E. induced you to leave
her. She was much harassed with the sad accounts from Scotland of the
rebellion having broken out; but kept up her spirits as, she said, it
became your wife, and for the sake of the future heir, so long hoped
for in vain. Alas, my dear brother, these hopes are now ended!
Notwithstanding all my watchful care, this unhappy rumour reached her
without preparation. She was taken ill immediately; and the poor infant
scarce survived its birth. Would to God this were all! But although
the contradiction of the horrible report by your own letter has greatly
revived her spirits, yet Dr--apprehends, I grieve to say, serious,
and even dangerous, consequences to her health, especially from
the uncertainty in which she must necessarily remain for some time,
aggravated by the ideas she has formed of the ferocity of those with
whom you are a prisoner.
Do therefore, my dear brother, as soon as this reaches you, endeavour to
gain your release, by parole, by ransom, or any way that is practicable.
I do not exaggerate Lady Emily's state of health; but I must not--dare
not--suppress the truth.--Ever, my dear Philip, your most affectionate
sister, 'LUCY TALBOT.'
Edward stood motionless when he had perused this letter; for the
conclusion was inevitable, that by the Colonel's journey in quest of
him, he had incurred this heavy calamity. It was severe enough, even in
its irremediable part; for Colonel Talbot and Lady Emily, long without a
family, had fondly exulted in the hopes which were now blasted. But this
disappointment was nothing to the extent of the threatened evil; and
Edward, with horror, regarded himself as the original cause of both.
Ere he could collect himself sufficiently to speak, Colonel Talbot had
recovered his usual composure of manner, though his troubled eye denoted
his mental agony.
'She is a woman, my young friend, who may justify even a soldier's
tears.' He reached him the miniature, exhibiting features which fully
justified the eulogium; 'and yet, God knows, what you see of her there
is the least of the charms she possesses--possessed, I should perhaps
say--but God's will be done!'
'You must fly--you must fly instantly to her relief. It is not--it shall
not be too late.'
'Fly!--how is it possible? I am a prisoner--upon parole.'
'I am your keeper--I restore your parole-I am to answer for you.'
'You cannot do so consistently with your duty; nor can I accept a
discharge from you with due regard to my own honour--you would be made
responsible.'
'I will answer it with my head, if necessary,' said Waverley,
impetuously. 'I have been the unhappy cause of the loss of your
child--make me not the murderer of your wife.'
'No, my dear Edward,' said Talbot, taking him kindly by the hand, 'you
are in no respect to blame; and if I concealed this domestic distress
for two days, it was lest your sensibility should view it in that light.
You could not think of me, hardly knew of my existence, when I
left England in quest of you. It is a responsibility, Heaven knows,
sufficiently heavy for mortality, that we must answer for the foreseen
and direct result of our actions,--for their indirect and consequential
operation, the great and good Being, who alone can foresee the
dependence of human events on each other, hath not pronounced his frail
creatures liable.'
But that you should have left Lady Emily,' said Waverley, with much
emotion, 'in the situation of all others the most interesting to a
husband, to seek a--'
'I only did my duty,' answered Colonel Talbot, calmly, 'and I do not,
ought not to regret it. If the path of gratitude and honour were always
smooth and easy, there would be little merit in following it; but it
moves often in contradiction to our interest and passions, and sometimes
to our better affections. These are the trials of life, and this, though
not the least bitter' (the tears came unbidden to his eyes), 'is not the
first which it has been my fate to encounter. But we will talk of this
to-morrow,' he said, wringing Waverley's hands. 'Good night; strive to
forget it for a few hours. It will dawn, I think, by six, and it is now
past two. Good-night.'
Edward retired, without trusting his voice with a reply.