HILDA'S FIRST MEETING WITH DON HERNAN--HILDA ON BOARD THE CORVETTE--ROLF
MORTON PILOTS THE SHIP--CRUISE IN THE "SAINT CECILIA."--HILDA ACCEPTS
DON HERNAN.
The heiress of Lunnasting was high-minded, unconscious of evil,
confident of her own strength and resolution, and utterly ignorant of
the world and of its deceits and wickedness. She had for long lived in
one of her own creation, which she fancied was like the real world of
other mortals. She met Don Hernan Escalante, and at once clothed him
with all the attributes and perfections with which a romantic girl could
endow the object of her fancy. He, too, at the moment he entered the
hall, and found her seated in courtly style to receive him, was struck
by her rare and exquisite beauty. He had never seen any being so
lovely, and, man of the world as he thought himself, he at once yielded
to the influence of that beauty. She herself was scarcely aware of the
power she might have exerted over him, but gave herself up to the full
enjoyment of the new sensations she experienced.
Hilda occasionally heard from her father and sister, but not very
frequently, and their letters contained little more than an outline of
their progress, the names of the places they had visited, and the length
of their stay at each. Sir Marcus now and then added a few directions
as to the management of the estate, but generally wound up by saying,
that as he felt sure everything necessary would be done, he would not
interfere with any arrangements she might have seen fit to make.
Hitherto all had gone well. Hilda had, by a wonderful exertion of
resolution, so successfully combated the dreadful malady which, like
some monster bird of prey, hung hovering above her, ready to pounce down
and dethrone her intellect from its sway, that few, although in constant
communication with her, had any suspicion of the real state of the case.
Probably at that time only two people in the world had discovered the
unstable character of Hilda's mind, and they themselves were the two
most opposite in all respects connected with her--her nurse Bertha and
her cousin Lawrence; but while the latter had more than once betrayed
his knowledge to her, the former had never by word or look allowed her
to suspect that she had an idea of the truth.
The Spanish corvette had been nearly a week at anchor in Eastling Sound,
and on each day her captain had appeared at Lunnasting, his visits
increasing gradually in length as he found them more and more
acceptable. Hilda had at first received him in the great hall, into
which, as not only the members of the household, but all visitors, had
access, their intercourse was too public and restrained to suit the
feelings which were springing up in their hearts.
"Lady, the view from the summit of the tower where I first beheld you
must be lovely," said Don Hernan, adding in a lower tone some words
which made the colour mantle into Hilda's cheeks. An invitation to
visit the tower was the consequence of the remark; but before going
there a ramble was taken over the chief part of the castle, to which Don
Hernan had not yet been introduced. There was a private entrance to the
highest floor of the tower; but as that led through the lady's
apartments, they had to descend to mount the more public stair. That
was, however, narrow and winding, and somewhat inconvenient; at the foot
of it they encountered Lawrence.
"Ah, my brave Don Hernan, so our cousin Hilda is about to show you the
secrets of her prison tower," he exclaimed, in a facetious tone. "Take
care that she does not shut you up, as enchantresses of old were wont to
do their captive knights, and never again set you free. However, to
prevent such a catastrophe, I'll accompany you. Let me mount first, and
show you the way, or you might chance to knock your head against some of
the iron-plated gates, which bar the approach to the summit."
In what direction Don Hernan might just then have wished poor Lawrence,
it need not be said. No means of getting rid of him occurred to his
mind. Had he been on the top of the tower, he might have felt inclined
to throw him over; but as it was, he had to submit to his company with
as good a grace as he could command.
"I fear that you may not consider my cousin the best of guides on all
occasions; but he can lead the way to the top of our tower as well as a
wiser man," said Hilda, observing the Spaniard's look of anger, and at
the same time, from maiden bashfulness, not sorry to have Lawrence as an
escort. Up they went, therefore, till they reached Hilda's
sitting-room.
"This, you see, Don Hernan, is my fair kinswoman's bower--her boudoir,
her retiring-room, or whatever else you like to call it--where she sits
brooding in silence, watching the stars and the moon sometimes, ye ken,
or reading romances and works on philosophy, metaphysics, astrology, and
other subjects far too deep for my poor brain," said Lawrence, as he
entered the apartment.
Don Hernan glanced round with an eye of curiosity and surprise. "It is
indeed a delightful spot for retirement and contemplation," he remarked,
turning to Hilda, as he offered her his hand to assist her up the last
step of the stair. "I would gladly give up my roving life to inhabit
it."
"How strange! for though I love it dearly, I can fancy nothing so
delightful as being able to wander here and there to new and far-off
lands," answered Hilda, smiling.
Don Hernan whispered a few words, which Lawrence could not hear. "You
have now shown me your home on the shore, let me have the opportunity of
showing you mine on the water," he added, taking her hand, with an
expression which called forth a deep blush on her cheek; yet her hand
was not withdrawn. "You can, I doubt not, persuade your cousin and good
housekeeper to accompany you, and any other escort you may deem
advisable. I will send for our pilot, and we will take a short cruise
round some of the neighbouring islets."
Hilda, after a moment's hesitation, consented to the proposal. Lawrence
was delighted at the idea of a sail in the big ship.
The summer days of Shetland are few, but they are perfect while they
last, and long enough to satisfy the most enthusiastic admirer of
out-door amusements. Such was the day Hilda had selected for paying a
visit to the corvette. At an early hour the state barge of Lunnasting
was in attendance at the landing-place, manned by a sturdy crew of eight
of her tenants, whilst Lawrence claimed the privilege of acting as
coxswain--a post for which, from his practical knowledge of seamanship,
he was perfectly well fitted.
The Spanish captain had wished to send a boat from the corvette, but the
offer had been declined, as Hilda knew that it would be considered
undignified unless she went in her own. Besides the crew and Lawrence
Brindister, her only escort consisted of Bertha Eswick, Nanny Clousta,
her own attendant, and her factor, Sandy Redland.
As they got alongside, the crew sprang aloft and manned yards, but
instead of cheering they waved their hats above their heads; a salute
was at the same moment fired from the guns, and the captain himself
descended the side ladder to assist Miss Wardhill on deck. He pressed
her hand as he did so, and the glance she gave him showed the pleasure
she felt in visiting his ocean home. They said but little, for they
already understood each other too well to feel inclined to interchange
many words in public. The first lieutenant, Pedro Alvarez, took charge
of Bertha Eswick, and one of the junior officers devoted himself to
Nanny Clousta, very little caring what was her position in the family.
Lawrence, who had constantly been on board the corvette, seemed on
intimate terms with every one, while Sandy Redland, the factor, stalked
about wondering at the sights he beheld, and not attempting to exchange
words with any one. As soon as the last of the party were out of the
Lunnasting barge, she was sent back to the castle, with directions to
pull off to the ship when a signal should be made; at the same moment
the boatswain's shrill whistle was heard, the topsails were let fall,
the capstan bars were shipped, and the men tramped round to the sound of
fife and fiddle. The wide extending courses next dropped from the
brails, the topgallant sails and royals were set, and the ship under all
her canvas stood out with the wind on her larboard quarter by the
northern passage from Eastling Sound. As she began to move on, Rolf
Morton, who had been on the forecastle superintending getting up the
anchor, came aft to the wheel to direct her course. He bowed distantly
to Hilda, while with affectionate warmth he pressed Bertha Eswick's hand
to his lips; Lawrence shook him cordially by his hand, saying as he did
so--
"I am glad, cousin, that you have charge of so fine a ship. I hope it
will be as profitable as a voyage to Greenland. We are all cousins
here, you see, captain--that is to say, all of true Norse blood; and,
moreover, are not ashamed of our connections. Here we have Rolf Morton,
as pretty a man as you may wish to see, though not Shetland born, as far
as we know, married to young Bertha Eswick, daughter to our good cousin
Dame Eswick, at present governess, manager, or housekeeper of Lunnasting
Castle. Thus, you understand, Rolf Morton is our cousin by marriage;
and who would disown him because he is at present but an humble pilot!
A finer fellow or a truer seaman does not step, though I say it to his
face."
Morton had not listened to these remarks; but Don Hernan had heard
sufficient to understand their tenor, and to make him feel that he was
not wrong in placing perfect reliance on his pilot's seamanship and
knowledge of the coast. Hilda, who had never before been on board a
large ship, was delighted with the sight as she gazed upwards on the
towering mass of canvas which seemed to rise into the very blue sky
itself; then around on the rich carving and gilt work; on the polished
brass, of which several of the guns were formed; on the fresh, bright
painting, and the various other embellishments of the ship.
Directed by Morton, the "Saint Cecilia" soon glided out through the
narrow entrance to the Sound, so close to the black rocks on one side
that a good leaper could almost have sprung on shore. The officers
turned their eyes now and anon from the rocks, which threatened
destruction to their beautiful ship, to the pilot, but his calm,
self-confident look assured them that there was no danger, and soon she
was rising and falling to the undulations of the open sea, while Whalsey
and the other outlying islands blended rapidly into one, and soon could
not be distinguished from the main land.
"This is indeed truly enchanting!" exclaimed Hilda. "Though I have
frequently been at sea, it has always been on board some slow-sailing
trader or packet, where sights and sounds and associations were all
unpleasant together. In a ship like this, how delightful to sail round
the world! I should never weary of such a life."
"Then share it with me, Hilda," was the natural though unexpected
rejoinder of the Spanish captain, spoken in a low voice. "Oh do not
raise hopes and thoughts and aspirations, only to hurl them overboard!
We rovers of the sea have but little time to give to wooing. Be mine
now and for ever."
Hilda's countenance betrayed the agitation, doubt, and astonishment
which filled her bosom.
"Dearest lady! I would not thus hurriedly press my suit, but any post
may bring me orders to leave the coast, never again to return. Your own
words betrayed me into uttering a prayer I might not otherwise have
ventured so soon to urge; but now it has been made, do not compel me to
retract it."
He stopped a moment to allow his words to take effect. Two or three of
his own officers and men only were within hearing, and his calm attitude
and manner did not betray the subject of their conversation. Her
countenance would have done so to Bertha or Morton, but she turned her
head towards the side, apparently watching the ship's course through the
water. No one valued her own position more than did Hilda; she had long
been taught the importance of keeping her feelings and words under
control, from the very reason that she was well aware should she once
give them rein they would run wildly off beyond her power. Her
thoughts, unhappily, she had never been able to command; and now she
found her feelings for this stranger--for stranger he was, though he
came in the guise of a kinsman--too powerful for her to conquer. Don
Hernan stood gazing into her countenance with as great anxiety,
apparently, as if his life hung on her decision. The struggle within
her--and a violent one it was--continued till it well-nigh overcame her.
She had to hold on to the bulwarks to support herself. Don Hernan
began to fear that she would decide against him.
"Speak, Hilda--relieve me from the misery of this suspense!" he
exclaimed in a low voice, which could but just reach her ear.