THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT'S LEVEE.
"You have doubtless called, my dear Cecilia," said Mr. Greenwood, as he
handed the fair visitant to a seat in his elegant drawing-room,--"you
have doubtless called to remonstrate with me respecting my note of this
evening."
"No," answered Cecilia coldly: "I come on a more momentous affair than
that: Sir Rupert knows all!"
"Ah!" cried Greenwood; "is it possible that the villain Chichester--"
"Has betrayed us," added the lady. "Moreover, Sir Rupert and his
inseparable friend have been watching and dogging all our movements for
months past."
"This is awkward--very awkward," observed Greenwood. "However, Sir
Rupert will not dare show his teeth against me, nor venture to give
publicity to the affair."
"Because you hold his bill, with a forged acceptance, for one thousand
pounds," said Lady Cecilia.
"Ah! he has told you that much--has he?" exclaimed Greenwood. "Well--you
perceive, my dearest Cecilia, that he is completely in my power."
"The most remarkable part of the entire business," observed the lady,
"is that I am actually deputed by Sir Rupert to negotiate the amicable
settlement of the affair with you."
"Indeed!" cried Greenwood. "He could not have chosen a more charming
plenipotentiary."
"His proposal is this:--you are to give up the acceptance, and he will
sign any paper you choose to guarantee you against legal proceedings on
his part."
"I do not see, fair ambassadress," said Greenwood, who did not treat the
business with so much serious attention as Lady Cecilia had
anticipated--"I do not see that I should benefit myself by such an
arrangement. So long as the bill remains in my possession, it is
impossible for Sir Rupert Harborough to commence civil proceedings
against me, because he knows full well that were he to have process
issued against me, I should that moment hand him over to the officers of
justice."
"Then, for my sake, Mr. Greenwood," said Lady Cecilia, cruelly hurt by
this cold calculation on the part of a man the slave of whose passions
she had so completely been,--"for my sake, compromise this affair
amicably."
"A thousand pounds is a large sum to fling into the street, my dear
Cecilia," observed Greenwood.
"And suppose that by some accident my husband should raise that amount
and pay the bill--"
"It never was my intention to allow him to pay all," interrupted
Greenwood. "I imagined that by threatening him, I should obtain five or
six hundred on account, and I should still hold the bill for the
balance. That balance I would not receive, were he to offer it, because
by retaining the bill, I keep him in my power."
"Then, once again, for my sake--_for my sake_," repeated Lady Cecilia,
"consent to the proposal made to you this evening--settle the affair in
an amicable manner."
"To oblige you, my dear Cecilia, I will assent to Sir Rupert
Harborough's proposal. Let him draw up and sign a document in which he
acknowledges that he has discovered the--the--"
"Criminal conversation between his wife and Mr. George Greenwood," said
Cecilia: "we will not mince words in a negotiation of this kind," she
added ironically.
"Precisely," exclaimed Greenwood, coolly; "and that he has received full
satisfaction for the same. In this manner the business can be disposed
of to the satisfaction of all parties."
"To-morrow morning at eleven o'clock I will call with that paper," said
Lady Cecilia.
"And I will give you up the forged bill," returned the Member of
Parliament. "And now, my dear Cecilia, allow me to make an observation
relative to the answer I sent you this evening to your little note. The
truth is, that representing as I do an enlightened and independent
constituency--"
"Pardon me," said Lady Cecilia, rising: "we will not talk of any other
business until this most painful affair be settled."
The fair patrician lady then took her leave, and returned to her
husband, who awaited Greenwood's decision in a state of the most painful
suspense.
Cecilia communicated to him the particulars of the interview; and, ere
he retired to rest, the baronet drew up the document which was to save
himself by the compromise of his honour.
"So far, so good," said Sir Rupert, as he handed the paper to his wife.
"I have now a proposal to make to you, Cecilia--and I have little doubt
that you will accept it."
"Proceed," said Cecilia.
"After the explanation which has taken place between us this evening, it
is impossible that we can ever entertain much respect for each other
again. You know me to be a forger--I know you to be unfaithful to my
bed. If it suits you, we will agree to live together beneath the same
roof as hitherto--to have our separate apartments--to maintain an
appearance of enjoying domestic tranquillity--and each to follow his own
pursuits without leave or remonstrance on the part of the other. You
will never interfere with me--I will never interfere with you. If you
hear that I have a mistress, you will take no notice of it: if I know
that you have a lover, I shall be equally blind and dumb. Does this
please you?"
"Perfectly," answered Lady Cecilia. "Shall we commit this compact to
writing?"
"Oh! with much pleasure," returned Sir Rupert. "I will draw up two
agreements, embodying the conditions of our compact, immediately. You
can retain one; and I will keep the other."
The baronet set to work, and, in a most business-like manner, wrote out
the compact. He then read it to Lady Cecilia, who signified her approval
of its terms. A counterpart was written; and the husband and wife signed
the papers that released them from all the moral obligations of their
marriage-vows!
They then retired to their separate apartments, better pleased with each
other, perhaps, than they had been for a long--long time.
The reader need scarcely be informed that Lady Cecilia said nothing to
her husband relative to the mysterious letter containing the Bank note
for a thousand pounds.
On the following morning Lady Cecilia repaired to the abode of Mr.
Greenwood. When she arrived in Spring Gardens, she found the street
completely blocked up with a train of charity children--boys and girls,
marshalled by the parish beadle, and accompanied by the schoolmaster and
schoolmistress. The girls were attired in their light blue dresses,
plain straw bonnets, white collars, and pepper-and-salt coloured cloaks;
and their arms, red with the cold, were only half covered with their
coarse mittens. The boys wore their muffin caps, short coats, and
knee-breeches; and each was embellished with a large tin plate, or
species of medal, affixed like a badge of honour, to the breast. Their
meagre countenances, their thin arms, and lanky legs, did not speak much
in favour of the quantity of food which constituted their diurnal meals.
Lady Cecilia was conducted to the drawing-room by the Italian valet, who
informed her that Mr. Greenwood would wait upon her the moment he had
dismissed the charity children.
Lafleur, in the mean time threw open the door of the mansion, and
admitted the procession into the spacious hall, after having kept the
poor creatures shivering in the cold for nearly a quarter of an hour.
The beadle took his station upon the steps, with awful dignity, and
watched the boys and girls as they defiled past him in military order
into the hall. It was very evident from the timid glances which the
little scholars cast towards the countenance of this functionary, that
they believed him to be one of the most important personages on the face
of the earth; and perhaps they were even perplexed to decide, in their
own minds, whether the parish beadle whom they saw before them, or Mr.
Greenwood, M. P., whom they were about to see, was the greater man of
the two.
At length the procession had entirely cleared the threshold of the
mansion, and then only did the beadle enter. He doffed his enormous
cocked hat out of respect to the owner of the dwelling in which he now
found himself, and made his long staff ring upon the marble pavement of
the hall with a din that electrified the children and called looks of
solemn importance to the countenances of the schoolmaster and mistress.
In a few moments a side door opened, and Mr. Greenwood appeared.
The beadle struck his stick upon the hall floor once more; and the
children, duly tutored to obey the signal, saluted the great man, the
girls with low curtseys, and the boys by doffing their muffin caps,
bobbing their heads forward, and kicking back their left legs.
"Well, Mr. Muffles," said the Member of Parliament to the beadle, with
one of his usual affable smiles; "brought your little family--eh?"
"These children, sir," responded Muffles in a self-sufficient and
important tone, glancing at the same time in a patronising manner upon
the groups of juveniles around--"these children, sir, has come, as in
dooty bounden, to hoffer up the hincense of their most gratefullest
thanks to you, sir, as their kind paytron which supplied 'em with
pea-soup, blankets, and religious tracts, to keep their bodies and souls
both warm and comfortable, as one may say."
"I am delighted, Mr. Muffles," replied the Member of Parliament, in a
most condescending manner, "to receive this little mark of gratitude on
the part of those for whom I entertain a deep interest, and I am the
more pleased because this visit on their part was quite spontaneous, and
on mine totally unlooked for."
Mr. Greenwood did not think it necessary to state his knowledge that the
whole affair had been got up by Lafleur, in obedience to his own
commands.
"Representing as I do," continued Mr. Greenwood, "an enlightened,
independent, and important constituency, I cannot do otherwise than feel
interested in the welfare of the rising generation; and when I glance
upon the happy countenances of these dear children, I thank God for
having given me the means to contribute my mite towards the maintenance
of the schools of the parish wherein I have the honour to reside."
Mr. Muffles' stick was here rapped upon the floor with tremendous
violence; and the boys and girls immediately burst forth into shrill
cries of "Hear! hear!"
When silence was once more restored, the beadle in due form presented
the schoolmaster and schoolmistress to Mr. Greenwood.
"This gen'leman, sir," said the parish functionary, "is Mr. Twiggs, the
parochial perceptor--as worthy a man, sir, as ever broke bread. He's bin
in his present sitivation thirteen year come Janivary--"
"Febivary, Mr. Muffles," said the schoolmaster, mildly correcting the
beadle.
"Oh! Febivary, be it, Mr. Twiggs?" exclaimed the parish authority. "And
this, sir, is Mrs. Twiggs, a lady well known for her excellent qualities
in teaching them blessed young gals, and taking care o' their linen."
"Delighted to see your scholars looking so well, Mr. Twiggs," said
Greenwood, bowing to the master: "quite charmed, Mrs. Twiggs, to behold
the healthy and neat appearance of your girls," he added, bowing to the
mistress.
"Would you be kind enough, sir," said Mr. Twiggs, in a meek and fawning
tone, "to question any of them lads on any pint of edication?"
"Perhaps I might as well, Mr. Twiggs," returned Greenwood; "in case I
should ever have to allude to the subject in the House of Commons."
The mere idea of any mention of the parochial school being made in
Parliament, produced such an impression upon the beadle that he banged
his staff most earnestly on the hall floor; and the children, taking it
for a signal which they had been previously tutored to observe, again
yelled forth "Hear! Hear!"
"Silence!" thundered Mr. Muffles; and the vociferations instantly
ceased.
"Now, my boy," said Mr. Greenwood, addressing the one who stood nearest
to him, "I will ask you a question or two. What is your name?"
"Jem Blister, sir," was the prompt reply.
"James Blister--eh? Well--who gave you that name?"
"Father and mother, please, sir."
"Blister, for shame!" ejaculated Mr. Muffles, with a terrific frown:
then, by way of prompting the lad, he said, "_My Godfathers and_--"
"_My Godfathers and Godmother in my baptism_," hastily cried the boy,
catching at the hint; and after a pause, he added, "_I mean an outward
and visible sign of an inward_--"
"Blister, I am raly ashamed of you!" again exclaimed Mr. Twiggs. "Stand
back, sir; and let the boy behind you stand for'ard."
Another urchin stepped forth from the rank, and stood, blushing up to
his very hair, and fumbling about with his cap, in the presence of Mr.
Greenwood.
"My good boy," said the Member of Parliament, condescendingly patting
him upon the head, "what is _your_ name?"
"M. or N. as the case may be, please, sir," replied the boy.
"I should observe, sir," said the schoolmaster, "that this lad only
began his Catechism yesterday."
"Oh very well, Mr. Twiggs," exclaimed Greenwood: "that accounts for his
answer! I will ask him something else, then. My good lad, who was Adam?"
"The fust man, sir."
"Very good, my boy. And who was Eve?"
"The fust 'ooman, sir."
"Very good indeed," repeated Mr. Greenwood. "Now tell me what is the
capital of England?"
"This boy is not in geography, sir," said Mr. Twiggs. "He's jest begun
cyphering."
"Oh very good. Can you say your multiplication table, my boy?"
"Twice one's two; twice two's three; twice three's eight; twice four's
ten; twice five's fourteen--"
The boy was rattling on at a furious pace, when the ominous voice of Mr.
Twiggs ejaculated, "Garlick, I am ashamed of you!"
And Master Garlick began to cry most piteously.
"Come, it is not so bad, though," said Mr. Greenwood, by way of soothing
the discomfited schoolmaster and restoring the abashed beadle to
confidence; "he evidently knows his Bible very well--and that is the
essential."
The Member of Parliament then delivered himself of a long harangue in
favour of a sound religious education and in praise of virtue; and thus
ended the solemn farce.
The great man bowed and withdrew: the beadle rapped his staff upon the
floor; Lafleur opened the door; and the procession filed slowly out of
the mansion.
Mr. Greenwood, having thus gone through a ceremony an account of which
was to appear in the papers on the following morning, hurried up to the
drawing-room where Lady Cecilia awaited him.
"My dear Cecilia," he exclaimed, as he entered the room, "a thousand
pardons for keeping you; but the fact is that the position in which an
intelligent and independent constituency has placed me, entails upon me
duties--"
"A truce to that absurdity with me," interrupted the baronet's wife, in
a more peremptory tone than Mr. Greenwood had ever yet heard her use. "I
am come according to appointment to settle a most unpleasant business.
Here is my husband's acknowledgment, drawn up as you desired: please to
deliver up to me the bill."
Mr. Greenwood ran his eye over the document, and appeared satisfied. He
then drew forth the bill from his pocket-book, and handed it to Lady
Cecilia.
There was a flush upon the lady's delicately pale countenance; and her
eyes sparkled with unusual vivacity. She was dressed in a very neat, but
plain and simple manner; and Mr. Greenwood fancied that she had never
seemed so interesting before.
As he delivered the bill into her keeping, he took her hand and
endeavoured to convey it to his lips.
She drew back with an air of offended dignity, which would have well
become a lady that had never surrendered herself to the pleasures of an
illicit love.
"No, Mr. Greenwood," she said, in a firm, and even haughty tone: "all
_that_ is ended between you and me. You are a heartless man, who cannot
appreciate the warmth with which a confiding woman yields herself up to
you;--you have treated me--the daughter of a peer--like a pensioned
mistress. But let that now pass:--I have made you acquainted with the
nature of my thoughts--and I am satisfied."
"I am at a loss to understand how I should have deserved these harsh
words, Cecilia," replied Greenwood, with a somewhat supercilious smile;
"but perhaps my inability to supply you with the means of gratifying
your extravagances has given you offence."
"Your cool indifference of late has indeed given me a bitter lesson,"
said Lady Cecilia.
"And yet I manifested every disposition to serve you, madam," rejoined
Greenwood haughtily, "when I consented to compromise your husband's
felony."
"Yes--you generously abandoned your claim to a thousand pounds,"
exclaimed Cecilia, with cutting irony, "in order to hush up an intrigue
with the wife of the man whom you had inveigled into your net. But think
not, Mr. Greenwood, that I attempt to justify my husband's conduct: I
know him to be a heartless--a bad--an unprincipled man;--and yet, Mr.
Greenwood, I do not conceive that _you_ would shine the more
resplendently by being placed in contrast with _him_. One word more. Had
you refused to deliver up that bill, I was prepared to pay it. Some
unknown friend had heard of this transaction--heaven alone knows how;
and that friend forwarded last evening the means wherewith to liquidate
this debt. Here is the letter which contained a Bank-note for a thousand
pounds: it fell into my hands, and my husband knows naught concerning
it;--can you say whose writing that is?"
Greenwood glanced hastily at the letter, and exclaimed, "Yes--I know
that writing well: Mrs. Arlington is your husband's generous friend!"
"Mrs. Arlington!" exclaimed Cecilia: "Oh!--now I recollect that rumour
points to that woman as having once been my husband's mistress."
"The same," said Greenwood, struck by this noble act on the part of the
fair one whom he himself had first seduced from the paths of virtue.
"It would now be difficult to decide," observed Cecilia, in a tone of
profound contempt, "which has acted the more noble part--the late
mistress of Sir Rupert Harborough, or the late lover of his wife."
Greenwood only answered with a satirical curl of the lip.
Lady Cecilia rose from her seat, bowed coldly to the capitalist, and
withdrew.
Thus terminated the amours of the man of the world and the lady of
fashion--ending, as such illicit loves usually do, in a quarrel.
But the reader must not suppose that the same sentiments of pride which
had thus induced Lady Cecilia to break off abruptly a connexion which
her paramour had been for some time dissolving by degrees, influenced
her in the use to which she appropriated the handsome sum supplied for
an especial purpose by Mrs. Arlington. The lady knew no compunction in
this respect, and she therefore devoted the thousand pounds so
generously forwarded by her husband's late mistress, to her own wants!
* * * * *
The Italian valet had overheard the entire conversation between Lady
Cecilia Harborough and Mr. Greenwood, which we have just described.
In the course of the day the whole details of that interview were
communicated to Mrs. Arlington, who thus learnt that Lady Cecilia had
intercepted the money intended for Sir Rupert Harborough, and had
settled the forged bill without being compelled to disburse it.