Early on the following morning Mr Darnley the elder, accompanied by
his son, proceeded to the rectory of Smatterton. And considering that
the excursion on which the rector was going was one of humility,
retractation, and penance, his aspect was cheerful and gay. But he felt
confident of a welcome reception, and had an inward consciousness that
he should be rather regarded as conferring a favour than as soliciting
forgiveness.
His anticipations of a most cordial and welcome reception were
presently realized. There was a freedom and openness of manner about
Mr Primrose that finely contrasted with the reserve and pompous
artificialness of Mr Darnley. The hand of greeting was held out, and
the whole demeanour of Mr Primrose was such as to exclude any very
regular and set apology from the lips of the rector of Neverden.
But unless Mr Darnley had said something by way of acknowledgment,
he felt that he should lose the reputation and praise and glory of
confessing himself to have been in the wrong. Therefore he began with
mighty earnestness of manner to say; “Mr Primrose, you probably did not
expect this visit from me, but----”
Then Mr Primrose hastily and cheerfully interrupted him, saying, “My
good friend, I am most happy to see you. We will have no apologies; we
are very sure that you have been only misinformed. I am glad to shake
hands with you, and so will be Penelope.”
At these words Penelope made her appearance, and Mr Darnley formally
and graciously advanced to meet her. And he held out his hand to meet
her with an unusual degree of condescension, and with that dignified
kind of smile that looked rather more like granting than asking
pardon. But in such matters Penelope was not fastidious, and she took
the proffered hand as graciously and cordially as it was offered; and
she made a lowly, reverential, and graceful curtsey. And though this
was the usual mode in which Penelope greeted those whom she respected,
yet there appeared to Mr Darnley a more than usual degree of humility
and gracefulness in the young lady’s manner on the present occasion.
And this thought touched him deeply, and he extended his other hand
as if to prohibit and prevent such an undeserved homage; and he was
beginning to speak, and there was in the tone of his voice that which
reminded Penelope of former days and of the great agitations of mind
through which she had passed, and there came before the eye of her
memory the form of her deceased benefactor Doctor Greendale; and
there was also great joy rushing into her spirit at the thought of
reconciliation to old acquaintances and the revival of friendships, and
thus trembling, she needed support, and she would have fallen to the
ground, but Mr Darnley caught her in his arms, and she wept gently but
audibly, and Mr Darnley found no power to speak.
The heart of the rector of Neverden was deeply affected at this
interview, and most unexpectedly so, for he had not anticipated such
purely kind and graceful feeling. He had supposed that his errors
would be pleasingly and readily pardoned, but he had not expected
that he should meet with such powerful and contagious emotion. So he
felt self-reproach more keenly than he expressed it; and his studied
condescension availed him not, and his set speeches were dispersed.
And it does not unfrequently happen that, when there is a studied
preparation or deliberate anticipation of what shall be said and how
it shall be spoken, all this preparation comes to nought, and the
anticipation is disappointed, if not totally reversed.
We think it not impossible or unlikely that many a young gentleman,
ambitious of fame as a public speaker, has heard with comparative
contempt the efforts of others, and has anticipated with what greater
eloquence he himself will speak when it shall come to his turn; and
yet when it has come to his turn, he has made sad work of it, and has
forgotten his rhetoric and mislaid his figures, and has turned his
metaphors the wrong end upwards.
It is very certain that Mr Darnley found himself disappointed. Yet
his disappointment was not altogether of an unpleasant nature; for,
though he felt upon reflection a greater degree of regret than he
had anticipated, he also experienced in the mode of his reception at
Smatterton a greater pleasure than he had expected.
The more powerful emotions of the first meeting soon subsided, and they
were succeeded by miscellaneous talk of divers kinds; but the more
prominent topic was the elopement of Miss Glossop. The rumour of course
had soon been spread through the village of Smatterton, and as Mr
Pringle had now no longer need of secresy, he had also talked with Mr
Primrose concerning the information received from Zephaniah the critic.
And they were all amazed at the wickedness of Lord Spoonbill. When
also Mr Darnley understood from the narration which he had received
from his son, the pains which Lord Spoonbill had taken to withdraw
the affections of Penelope from him on whom they had been so worthily
fixed, he could not refrain from strong expressions of indignation and
contempt.
And though Mr Darnley had been in the first instance disappointed in
the expression and utterance of all that he would have said, he could
not but take an opportunity of apologizing to Miss Primrose for having
ever suspected her of an attachment to a person of such principles, or
want of principle, as Lord Spoonbill.
Penelope very readily replied; “I must not hear anything from you,
sir, like apology. It was not at all surprizing, considering all the
circumstances, that you should entertain an unfavorable opinion of me.
And if that had been true, which appeared to be so, it was not to be
expected that you should have acted otherwise.” Speeches of this nature
were peculiarly agreeable and acceptable to Mr Darnley; and though
he did love homage and compliment most fervently, yet he was always
grateful for the incense, and he thoroughly and heartily enjoyed it.
To throw away compliments and fine speeches upon those who do not
regard and value them, is mortifying; but nothing of this kind was
thrown away upon Mr Darnley, the rector of Neverden. So he began to
see fresh beauties and hitherto undiscerned excellences in the mind of
Penelope Primrose, and he repeated again and again the expression of
his deep and sincere regret at the misunderstanding which had suspended
his acquaintance with so worthy and excellent a person.
All these regrets Penelope endeavoured to abate or disperse, by proving
to Mr Darnley’s very great satisfaction that he had not been at all
deserving of blame, but that under all the circumstances he had acted
with the profoundest wisdom and according to the strictest and purest
moral principles.
How pleasant a thing is penitence, and how agreeable is confession
when, upon the acknowledgment that we have done wrong, we have
the satisfaction to hear that what we considered wrong proves to
be altogether right and good, and when, instead of meeting with
rebukes and reluctant forgiveness, apologies are furnished for our
transgressions with a sophistry more ingenious than our own self-love
can form them withal.
So greatly delighted was Mr Darnley with his reception at Smatterton,
so many new beauties did he discover in Penelope, and so many
unsuspected good qualities did he discern in Mr Primrose, that in the
ardour of his reconciliation he would insist upon it that an early day
should be fixed for a festive meeting at Neverden rectory; and he was
so impatient, that he would have the following day appointed for that
purpose, without once considering whether or not it might be convenient
to Mrs Darnley to provide an entertainment for a party at so short a
notice.
Having made this engagement, Mr Darnley and his son took their
departure from Smatterton, and it occurred to the elder gentleman that
it would be proper for him to make a call of sympathy and condolence on
Lady Aimwell. And if Sir George Aimwell had not been the great man of
the parish, it would also have occurred to the reverend gentleman that
it would be proper to give the magistrate a gentle rebuke for having so
neglected the charge committed to him, as to suffer the young lady to
elope from his house. But to a mind so susceptible of impression from
the majesty of rank and the dignity of high birth and large fortune, it
appeared altogether a species of high treason to admonish roughly or
reproachfully an opulent baronet and an unpaid magistrate.
We cannot think of unpaid magistrates without reverence and gratitude;
for, when we think how dear is law and how expensive the protection of
property, it is quite delightful to know that we may have some sort of
law for nothing. As to the quality of that gratuitous law, we cannot
say much; all the beauty of it is, the fact that it is gratuitous--it
costs nothing!
When Mr Darnley reached Neverden Hall, he found Lady Aimwell reading
Stackhouse’s History of the Bible, and the worthy baronet amusing
himself with a volume of the Newgate Calendar. For, though the
magistrate was not what is called a great reader, he used now and then,
when it was not shooting season, to amuse himself with a book. As Mr
Darnley entered the room, the baronet laid down his book, and her
ladyship lifted up her head. And the baronet spoke first, saying;
“Good morning, Mr Darnley, I am glad to see you. So you find us both at
our books--one at law, and the other at gospel. By the way, did you
ever read the Newgate Calendar? It is the most entertaining book I ever
read.”
Mr Darnley did not make a full and immediate reply to all that the
worthy baronet said; but merely returned his greeting, and then
addressed himself to Lady Aimwell, and expressed a hope that her
ladyship was not the worse for her alarm on the preceding day.
This hope thus expressed, and this allusion to the transgression of
Miss Glossop, was designed by Mr Darnley as a very, very gentle hint to
Sir George Aimwell. For the worthy rector of Neverden could not think
of going farther in the way of reproof than merely by an indefinite
hint, which the great man might or might not apply, according as might
suit his convenience or taste.
The baronet however, whether regarding it as a rebuke or not,
immediately directed his conversation to Mr Darnley on that topic,
and said, “Ay, this is an unpleasant affair, this elopement; it would
have been better and more regular if Lord Spoonbill had proceeded in
the ordinary mode of courtship and arrangement; but his lordship, you
know, is peculiarly situated. I mentioned the subject to Colonel Crop,
and he satisfied me that it was absolutely impossible, under existing
circumstances, that any other steps could be taken.”
“But are you quite sure, Sir George, that Lord Spoonbill will marry
the young woman? Has not Miss Glossop placed herself in a very awkward
situation by this proceeding?”
“Marry her!” replied the baronet; “to be sure he will. I told the
colonel that I would have no negociations on any other ground.”
At this information Mr Darnley started, and was actually astonished
beyond his ordinary powers of self-government; and forgetting for a
moment the dignity of baronet and magistrate, he directed a look of a
reproachful character towards the unpaid one, and exclaimed, “Surely,
Sir George, you would never suffer Colonel Crop to enter your house
a second time after suggesting in your hearing any other ground of
negociation?”
“I believe,” said the baronet with very great composure, “that the
colonel was not aware that there was any relationship in the case
between my family and that of the young lady.”
The virtuous indignation of Mr Darnley was more strongly excited; but
his recollection came to his aid, and he subdued his anger as well as
he could; but was most heartily disgusted with the low-mindedness of
the magistrate, when he replied in answer to some more observations,
“Ay, ay, you gentlemen of the cloth have nicer notions of morality than
men of the world.”
In this conversation Lady Aimwell took little or no part; but her
ladyship was very well pleased that Mr Darnley had been so bold as to
give the baronet a little rebuke, and the baronet was not altogether
satisfied with himself that he had suffered the silly girl to listen to
Colonel Crop, and to receive messages from Lord Spoonbill under such
circumstances. It is superfluous to say, that the unpaid magistrate
had not a very nice perception of propriety to suffer such proceedings,
especially since he knew, or might have known, the weakness of the
young lady’s character.