BEHIND THE CLOUDS THE SUN IS SHINING.
"I am armed with innocence,
Less penetrable than the steel-ribbed coats
That harness round thy warriors."
MADDEN'S THEMISTOCLES.
"That one so formed in mind and charms to grace,
The brightest scenes of life, should have her seat
In the shadow of a cloud; and yet 'tis weakness.
The angels watch the good and innocent,
And where they gaze it must be glorious."
MRS. BALE'S "ORMOND GROSVENOR."
My gentle reader will pardon the long stride of time which here
intervenes, disclosing nothing of those in whom we feel an interest.
Nearly a year of moments had sped since that in which Mrs. Santon had
passed away. Winnie had seen her loved mother laid in that narrow,
silent house, which is prepared for the dead, and her tears had watered
the green grass which groweth so silently,--upspringing everywhere, even
in the lonely places of burial, a fit covering for those who
slumber,--emblematical of the life beyond the tomb. The joyous mirth
which abode in Winnie's nature had superseded, in a measure, days of
deep mourning; yet this first taste of earth's sorrow had left an
impress upon her mind never to be erased; and though thoughtless ones
perhaps observed no change in her young, elastic spirits, there was one,
gentle and youthful, who had been to her as a mother in her
bereavement,--the Sea-flower. She could see that the death of a loved
one had wrought a good work upon the heart of her friend, as it may with
us all, if we will lie passive in the hands of the workman.
It was a disappointment to Natalie that her intention of returning home
had been frustrated; yet it was with cheerfulness that she resigned her
hopes, when she saw that duty pointed out another way. Mr. Santon, on
the sudden death of his wife, which occurred on the very evening before
Natalie was to bid them farewell, had himself written a very touching
letter to Mrs. Grosvenor, begging, if it were not asking of her too
much, that she would spare her daughter to them a little while longer,
as it had been the last wish of Mrs. Santon that their daughter might be
with her who had proved such a blessing to them all; and so, in pity for
the dear ones of her friend, of whose death she was pained to learn,
Mrs. Grosvenor had consented to another year's separation from her
child, though it was indeed asking of her a great sacrifice. Old Vingo,
who had wondered if his young missy would take him by the hand, as she
used, when he heard that another long year must pass before he would see
her again, cried like a child; but no one was more disappointed than
Harry, who had counted the days for months, when she would come home;
but his patience was not to be tested thus. He had visited his sister in
Boston, and had received so favorable an impression of city life, or it
may be that he had received a more favorable impression of a certain
pair of black eyes, which were constantly fixed upon him, when he had
accidentally glanced towards a certain young lady, whom, report said,
(Mr. Montague being among the foremost to give credit thereto,) was the
"greatest catch" in town. Whether it was actually the lady's beauty in
question which had dazzled scores of disengaged young men, or whether
they had seen visions of a well-built money-chest, we do not pretend to
say; but this much we can perceive, that a beautiful young heiress, left
to her own discretion in the choosing of a partner for life, stands in a
critical situation, and if these innuendoes refer to Miss Winnie Santon,
we are foremost in wishing our young nautical friend success in the
great game of hearts, for we can see too much of worth in her character,
for her to be thrown away on a worthless dandy, whose money, for the
little time that it keeps him company, is his god. Be all this as it
may, Harry Grosvenor had found several opportunities for visiting his
sister, and upon each visit he was received, not only by the Sea-flower,
but by Winnie herself, with a warm welcome.
But Winnie, as we have discovered, has been a sad coquette. Another
year, however, has been added to her age since we saw her in society
last, and this last year, so different from any other of her sunny life,
has brought with it the knowledge and experience of many. Perhaps the
Sea-flower's influence, which fortunately she has been under, may have
had its effect upon her character, which is now forming itself; and yet
her bewitching smile, which Harry loved to dwell upon, when he had
returned to his island home, as second only to his matchless sister's,
was very like those which she had bestowed upon many an elated gallant.
Natalie had not failed to notice the seeming pleasure with which her
brother had listened to Winnie's brilliant conversation, and she had
asked herself if it were possible that Winnie could be so heartless as
to impress her brother with erroneous views in regard to her sentiments.
She would not believe that she had the heart to do it; and yet, through
habit, and a perfect thoughtlessness of the consequences, she might be
led to do so.
It was evening, and the two sat folded in each other's arms, gazing at
an autumn sunset. Winnie was still in her black habiliments, for it was
not quite a year since Mrs. Santon had died. Harry had left them the day
before, and had bade them both a warm farewell. Winnie had been silent
for some moments, when Natalie remarked,--"What new scheme are you
planning now, Winnie? you are very thoughtful to-night."
Winnie roused herself, and blushingly replied, "I do not wonder that
you note my thoughtful moments, I am such a gay creature; but, dear
Natalie, there are times when even _I_ can be serious, though there are
few who could credit my words."
"I can believe you, Winnie, for I know you have a good heart; but what
can have occurred of sufficient importance to banish those dimples from
your cheek? Come, rogue, make me your confidant, or I shall begin to
think you are at your old tricks, after all."
"If I did not know your forgiving spirit, I should hesitate to place
myself in your power, for fear you might repay me with interest, in
making you, and your particular friend Mr. Delwood, the subjects of my
merriment."
Natalie looked calmly into her eyes; the truth flashed across her mind
at once, and she was about to clasp her in her arms, calling her by the
name of sister, when a well-known voice from behind them repeated the
name, "Sea-flower," and Mr. Delwood was by her side.
"Where did you learn the name by which I am called in my island home?"
asked Natalie.
"Why did you never tell us that you have a name in keeping with your
character?" he asked, taking the seat by her side which Winnie, who had
retired to hide her blushes, had vacated.
"'Tis the name by which my father loved to call me, and I associate it
with his sacred memory," she replied; and a tear, which Delwood looked
upon as also sacred, fell upon the hand which clasped her's as with
reverential fervency.
"Your brother told me of the name," he replied, "and will you permit me
to associate with that name all that is of purity? May I not call you by
that name? Can you give one thought to him whose very happiness for life
is dependent on you?"
There was a pause, Delwood had never until this night, declared to her
his love, in so many measured words, which were but coldness in
comparison with the love for her which filled his soul. A year ago would
have sealed his doom, but that night witnessed another scene. Death had
claimed it for his own. The hand which he held was not withdrawn,
neither did a simper mark her reply. With eyes meekly turned upward, she
answered in a calm, low voice,--"My dear father is in heaven; if he is
looking down, I feel that he will smile upon me, when, with my mother's
consent, she shall give me away to you. I have long ago given myself to
Christ, and if you recognize him as your Saviour, we will together serve
him as dutiful children, praying one for the other that we may
not fall."
"I am not like you," he replied; "I can never be as pure as you are;
neither am I what the world calls a Christian; but by God's help, I
pledge myself to be one of Christ's followers; and of one thing I am
confident, I shall never be if I grope my way alone through the world,
as I must if I lose you, what I shall be if I have you for a guide!"
"It is enough; you depreciate your own merits," she said, glancing
proudly upon him; "go, when I return, and with your own lips ask my
mother, if she can find a place in her noblest of women's hearts, for
him who is all too worthy of her daughter's love."
He folded her to his heart, and the rich harvest moon had sunk far below
the horizon, ere these two kindred spirits had wearied of the
glorious night.
Mr. Santon had not felt the utter desolation, after the first
overpowering sense of grief had passed, after his wife's death, that he
would have felt had he had no one upon whom to have leaned. As it was,
his home was not desolate, for he cherished his daughter as the "apple
of his eye," and he had come to be like himself again. Happy faces met
him as he came in wearied from his duties "on 'change," and he had again
assumed his easy, jocose manners. Natalie was still continuing her
studies, making unprecedented progress, to the rapturous delight of the
Signor; while Winnie enlivened the whole household.
As mistress of the mansion she had new duties to discharge, though they
were not so arduous as to deprive her of entertaining the young
aspirants to her hand, who if they did not throw themselves at her feet,
it was only for the want of an opportunity. And thus was everything
going on harmoniously at Santon Mansion, when, to the no little surprise
of every one, it was rumored that the wealthy Mr. Santon was about to
introduce to his domains a new mistress. No one was more taken by
surprise than were Winnie and Natalie. They could hardly credit their
senses, when Mr. Santon congratulated his daughter on the prospect of
having a new mother.
Poor Winnie! she tried to smile, and she tried to make one of her most
brilliant remarks, as she congratulated her father on his happiness; yet
it was not like herself, and Natalie could see, what Mr. Santon in his
blindness of joy did not discern,--there was no heart in his daughter's
mechanical tones. Winnie had not as yet seen her intended mother-in-law;
she might be all that could be desired of one standing in that peculiar
relation, and she might be otherwise; it was not that which had quelled
the buoyant spirits of the heiress, it was that she shrank from the
thought of any one so soon filling her own dear mother's station, and
she hid her face in Natalie's golden tresses, as her father left the
room, and burst into tears.
"Dear, dear Natalie," she exclaimed, "you will think me so wicked! But I
wanted no other mother than you! Though you are younger than myself, I
have learned to look up to you, as a valuable bequest left me by my
mother, who smiled even in death, when you promised never to forget me.
We are happy now; why need a stranger come among us? Oh, Natalie, I
never can part from you!"
"Hush! hush! dear Winnie, you must not think thus! you may come to love
your new mother, filling the most sanguine wishes of your father's
heart, who would be wretched, if his daughter were not reconciled to her
who will stand in the nearest relation to him."
And thus the Sea-flower endeavored to prepare Winnie's mind for
receiving her new mother, who would so soon take her place at the head
of this once unbroken family, as became a meek and dutiful child; but
she did not tell her of the trembling within her own heart, lest this
new tie should prove a source of sorrows, sowing her youthful heart with
seed which might be productive of bitter among the sweets; neither did
she know of the prayers of the innocent maiden, that hers might be a
thornless path.
The lady in question, whom Mr. Santon had deemed worthy of his hand, and
its consequent honors, was of a family of lower standing than his own as
far as much of this world's goods go to give caste; but if, aside from
depth of purse, she was his inferior, we have yet to learn. The
marriage ceremonies were attended with little display, in deference to
Mr. Santon's wishes, and the day at length arrived, when the bride, who
resided in a neighboring city, was to be received in her new home.
She came, and congratulations were exchanged between mother and
daughter, first impressions were made, and the hour arrived which should
liberate each one to the night's repose. Winnie flew to her room; she
had seen her whom she was to call "mother," and from the few hours which
she had already passed with her, her superior discernment of character
had judged of her aright; she never had cause to vary from the opinion
which she had from the first formed of her; she choked back the tears,
so strange to see within her eyes, and kneeling, she repeated the very
first prayer her mother had ever taught her, an exercise which from the
example set before her for the last two years, she now never failed to
observe. Arising, she endeavored to dispel the mountain of anguish which
was creeping into her soul,--in sleep. Poor Winnie! we can pity you;
'tis but life's lesson taught.
The impression which Natalie had received of the second wife of Mr.
Santon's choice, though she would not bring herself to realize it, were
by no means prepossessing. She had schooled her own, and Winnie's heart
to love her under any circumstances, but when she saw with what
frigidity she received Winnie's warm welcome, thinking not of the
condescension with which she had taken her own hand, her tender heart
was pierced as Winnie looked toward her, as if for strength, and she had
returned her look with a smile which could not fail to prove to her a
ray of sunshine.
Why is it that it is of so frequent occurrence, that a man who has been
blessed with peculiar loveliness of character in a wife, if he be called
upon to part with her, finds, alas! too late, in a second partner, an
extreme opposite? It was thus in Mr. Santon's experience, as he but too
soon was obliged to acknowledge to himself, though he would not that
others should have a suspicion of the fact; yet it was evident to his
nearest friends that he was not the happy man he once was; the few
sprinkles of gray, which had reflected honor upon the raven black of his
hair, had increased ere the honey-moon was hardly ended.
Early the next morning after the arrival of Mrs. Santon, Winnie was
awakened by an attendant, whose sense of propriety were a question, if
placed in a balance with that of her new mistress, which were the
weightier. The woman apologized for disturbing "her leddy-ship," but the
new mistress would like to see Miss Santon in the drawing-room as soon
as possible.
"You can go," was Winnie's reply, "and tell Mrs. Santon that at my
convenience, I will see her!" but recalling the servant, with her next
thought, she added, "merely say to my mother, that I will soon be with
her," and hastily making her toilet, she repaired to the drawing-room.
Mrs. Santon was alone, for it was a full hour before the family's usual
time for arising. Winnie bade her mother "good morning," and was about
to ask if she had rested well in her new home, when she was interrupted
by her, and in an imperative tone she said:--
"This may be earlier than you have been accustomed to 'rising, Miss
Santon, but my habits for early rising are proverbial, and of course my
household will conform to my wishes in regard to matters which you will
at once see are for the best. What I wished to speak with you more
particularly about this morning, is in regard to the keys; you will
please produce them, as I shall have a thorough overhauling at once, and
if I mistake not," said she, glancing at Winnie's neat morning attire,
"the sooner the better, for I think those jewelled hands have not
troubled themselves much about such things. I wonder that you have not
been brought up to something beside killing time!"
"Madam!" vociferated Winnie, her face crimsoned with the insult which
she had received, but she paused, though still trembling with rage, her
eye had rested on a gentle form, standing within the open door--it was
the Sea-flower. With one finger upon her lip, her brow calm as the new
day, she gazed upon Winnie, till gaining her eye, unobserved by Mrs.
Santon she glided away. Instead of the rage Winnie would have poured
forth, she merely said, "I will send you the keys," and left the room.
Despatching a servant with the keys, which she had intended to have put
into her hands at the earliest opportunity, thereby acknowledging her
superior claim at once, she sought Natalie, whom she found seated in the
conservatory, enjoying the Indian summer breeze, which stole softly in
among the fragrant plants, which were the particular objects of her
care. Each knew what was uppermost in the other's mind, but Winnie's
heart was too full to speak.
"I have been thinking, Winnie," said the Sea-flower, "how thankful we
should be, that we have so many friends to love us. I think I have never
realized it until now, and," she spoke in a lower tone, "dear Winnie,
should you ever receive other than the kindly treatment to which you
have always been accustomed, let it serve to increase your gratitude
that you have so many with whom you can trust your affections."
"Yes, Natalie, I will strive to do aright. I will try to do as I think
you would have done, but I fear I shall not have your strength. O, it is
so hard! if I only had a mother to love me, I could endure anything
else!" and her excitable nature getting the better of her, she burst
into tears. Natalie threw her arm about her neck, and, her own voice
tremulous with the pity which she felt for her, she tried to soothe her
spirits; "you shall have a mother! My mother shall be your mother! for
are you not to be my sister? and she will love you as did your own
gentle mother! but Mrs. Santon will yet become reconciled to you, for
when she finds what a good heart you have, she cannot but treat you with
kindness."
At this juncture the door opened, and Mrs. Santon brushed rudely in;
"welladay! is this your usual morning's occupation? Miss Grosvenor, I
think you should have more wisdom than to be petting a spoiled child! I
imagine that I shall have as much as I shall care to undertake, to undo
the mischief which is already too apparent. It has been as much as I
could do for the last two hours, to get things a little in order; but I
suppose I need not look for assistance here," she scornfully said, and
turned to leave the room. Winnie had it upon her tongue's end to reply,
"My father employs his servants to keep his house in order, and they
have never failed to give satisfaction," but biting her lip, the thought
died away. Natalie arrested Mrs. Santon's steps, saying, "Winnie and
myself will consider it a pleasure to assist you, and whatever we can do
at any time for your enjoyment, we shall be most happy to do it." The
hard-hearted woman quailed a little, at the Sea-flower's proffered
assistance, and Natalie accompanied her to the upper drawing-room,
wondering much what could have given offence to her ideas of a
well-regulated house; for under the housekeeper's scrupulous care,
everything was kept in the nicest order. Desiring Natalie to assist her
in the disposal of some articles, she directed Winnie to find some
out-of-the-way place, and to stow away the rubbish which she would find
in the next apartment, pointing to the room which had been her mother's,
and which Winnie had not permitted any one to disturb, since her death.
Everything had been left just as she had left it, even some withered
flowers had not been removed, and the book from which she had read, had
been left opened at the place her eye had last looked upon. This room
had been kept as a place sacred to Winnie's heart, and indeed the very
servants passed it by with a blessing on their departed mistress; and it
was now with trembling steps that Winnie, hardly realizing what had been
said to her, followed in the direction which the cruel woman had
pointed. She opened the door, and sank fainting into a chair! In the
middle of the floor were the very clothes which her mother had worn,
with other articles thrown together in a pile! her mother's portrait
had been removed, and the room was otherwise in disorder. Natalie ran to
Winnie's assistance, bathing her temples, and smoothing back her long
tresses with tenderness. Just at that moment Mr. Santon entered the
room; he looked at his daughter! at the disordered apartment of his
buried wife, which he had never held more sacred, and he looked at Mrs.
Santon! Without speaking a word he left the room. Poor Winnie! this is
indeed life's lesson! but thou art learning to "suffer and be strong."
Had the character of the mother-in-law been in accordance with her
exterior, Santon Mansion might still have resounded with joy, for hers
was a face by no means forbidding. On the contrary, a stranger would
have pronounced her to be decidedly good-looking, considering that she
was a woman of nearly fifty years, and those good looks were the secret
of Mr. Santon's unfortunate connection with her. From the first, the
woman had taken a dislike to Natalie; it seemed as if she was determined
to spite her in every way possible. Why she should have felt thus toward
her, was certainly unaccountable, as there was no trait more unlovable
than innocency, about her character; but this very gentleness of nature,
in contrast with the iciness, seldom found in woman's heart, would, as
an unavoidable result, serve to widen the two extremes.
The Sea-flower would, as time advanced, have sought refuge in her own
home, from this mist of unrest, which had by degrees spread itself
around, but when she had spoken of the thing to Mr. Santon, he had
grasped her by the hand, as a drowning man would catch at a straw,
saying, if she would not entirely sever the golden thread which was once
bound around their home circle, she would defer her departure, for at
least, a little time; and she had seen the tear, which was as molten
lead, welling up from the strong man's heart. Then she said, "It is my
duty! I will remain with you! I feel there is something which bids me
stay; some mysterious power controlling my destiny."
"May you have your reward!" was Mr. Santon's reply; and we heartily
respond, "May she have her reward!"
Never a word did Mrs. Santon receive from the Sea-flower, in return for
her ungenerous treatment of her, other than tones of kindness; and
Natalie was happy under this new dispensation, for she said within
herself,--"I am but bearing a part of the burden which would crush dear
Winnie's heart;" and so she sang and played with her usual glad spirit,
gliding about the house with simple dignity, with a cheering word for
every one, and, as Biddy said,--"she was an escaped ray of light, too
bright for the darkness to hide."
As we may foresee, this very light-heartedness of the Sea-flower only
served to incite the ire of Mrs. Santon, who saw that every new
indignity which she had cast upon her, was returned with more meekness
of spirit. If Natalie had resented such conduct, giving "measure for
measure," the stern woman could have borne it better; but as it was, it
enraged her, that she could not come within her sphere; and, if the
truth were known, her senses were not so steeped in the waters of
insensibility, but that in her very heart she felt her great superiority
over herself.
"I will put her down, yet!" she said to herself, after another return,
through the Sea-flower, of "good for evil." "She shall yet feel my
power! and why Mr. Santon will persist in her staying with us, is more
than I can tell. But that is the way with these men! they will get
strange notions into their heads, which nobody can account for; even a
wife's wishes are looked upon as of little consequence, in comparison
with their lordly commands. I should not be surprised at any time if
Santon should withhold a favor from me to lavish upon her! But I'm
thinking that he will before long find out what I am made of, if he
thwarts my wishes. To be sure, his daughter has become attached to her,
but what of that? She must learn that she cannot have every whim
gratified; she is a spoiled child at best, and will not be likely to
improve under her skim-milk discipline. Leave me alone for managing
affairs. I've got the staff in my own hands, and all they can do wont
make me anything but the Honorable Mr. Santon's lady! though I'm greatly
mistaken if he don't look with evil eyes on the day that made me his
bride; but that's not of the slightest consequence, as I used to tell my
first husband. Poor fellow! I suppose I was rather hard upon him once in
a while; but I knew he was waiting patiently for the day which should
separate us. He little thought he would go first," and the woman
laughed aloud, as she thought how she had crept into the good graces of
her present husband. "Leave me alone for playing my part," she said, as
seated in her own apartment, she listened to the voice of Delwood in the
drawing-room. "It is evident that her very life is wrapt up in Mr.
Delwood, and it is really quite a pity that so fine a fellow should be
deceived; and lest she should follow my illustrious example, I might as
well interfere in their arrangements; and if I can see aright, she has
talked the enviable heiress into the belief that her brother is a very
paragon of perfection, for she knows right well that a good bag of money
would be no serious objection to his fishermanship. How they ever raised
two such likely looking specimens of humanity down there in the land of
whales, is a mystery; but they'll find they cannot take the precedence
with Boston gentry. If I can avail anything, my particular friend
Montague shall try his luck in securing that portion of the heiress's
estate which I shall be pleased to leave her."
With these plans matured, she ushered herself into Delwood's presence,
and in her blandest manner made him welcome, initiating herself as far
as possible into his good opinion, which was no difficult task, inasmuch
as he had been accustomed to look upon a character so spotless, that he
was not prepared for the detestable machinations of one who was not
worthy the name of woman. It had been far from the Sea-flower to breathe
a suspicion that there was aught amiss in the character of the
flattering mistress of Santon Mansion. Her high esteem for Mr. Santon
had not permitted her to speak of the sad change, even to her mother.
"My dear," said Mrs. Santon, turning to Natalie, "in the pleasure which
we must ever find in Mr. Delwood's society, you have forgotten your
engagement with the destitute family, which you have taken under your
especial charge, and poor Mrs. Brown's child is so ill, I fear a few
hours' delay in taking the necessary restoratives recommended by our
physician, may cause the poor thing to suffer; I would despatch an
attendant, but I fear there may be some mistake made, and I know your
very presence will impart comfort to the poor woman."
"Oh, no, I had not forgotten them," replied Natalie; "but the physician
said any time this afternoon would do, as the little sufferer's disease
is about turning, and we must await the result."
"Yes, but I have such an anxiety about them, for in their ignorance they
may act contrary to orders, and so be the means of the little fellow's
death. It will be a great relief to my mind if you will just step around
and look in upon them, as it is but a step, and I know Mr. Delwood will
excuse you for a few moments, and I will promise to do my best to supply
your absence."
Natalie prepared to depart on this errand of mercy, and Delwood would
have taken his hat to accompany her, but Mrs. Santon held him fast by
commencing a brisk conversation, from which he could not with politeness
take himself away.
"Miss Grosvenor excels in her performance of the latest style, which the
Signor has introduced," remarked Mrs. Santon, endeavoring to draw him
out, when the Sea-flower had departed.
"I am perfectly amazed at her original rendering of the Italian,"
replied Delwood, "and I think I can safely say, that among all my
sojournings among their people, I have never met with one whose style is
more pure than that of Miss Grosvenor's. I should certainly say that
she is of Italian birth, though she tells me that she has never crossed
the Atlantic."
"She is evidently captivated with their people, or perhaps I may more
properly say, with the only person she has ever met of that nation,"
said Mrs. Santon, with a mysterious manner.
"To what or whom do you refer?" asked Delwood, in an altered tone of
voice.
"Mr. Delwood, I feel that it is my duty to inform you of a matter, which
has been a source of no little uneasiness, not only to myself, but to
every member of my family; and as you have shown a manifest interest in
Miss Grosvenor, it is not well that you should remain in ignorance of
what so deeply concerns your welfare."
"Speak! what can it be?" asked Delwood, pale with emotion.
"Do not allow yourself to be thus moved, I pray you; but what I have to
say is, that three months ago, we gave the Signor notice that we should
require his services no longer, as we had reason to believe his visits
were becoming something more than mere professional calls, and to our
great consternation, we found that Miss Grosvenor was not entirely
indifferent to his marked attentions. I was the last to believe that
Miss Grosvenor could so lose her self-respect and standing, as to look
upon a poor professor, who gains his bread by his own exertions, as a
favored competitor for her hand, and, it was not until I saw with my own
eyes, that I could credit what I had heard. I was satisfied in time,
that his rapt admiration as he gazed upon her, was something more than
enthusiasm that she had excelled even his most ardent expectations; and
the expression of her beautiful face, as she concluded, might have been
the envy of a greater than the Signor. We dismissed the Signor, but he
still continued his visits, under the plea that it was his custom to
give a few additional lessons at the close of a course, and if he might
be allowed, he should consider it a valuable acquisition to his own
musical powers, to continue for a time his exercises under Miss
Grosvenor's superior talent."
As Mrs. Santon paused, Delwood, in a state of frenzy, exclaimed,--
"It cannot be! I will never believe that she is false to me, even though
she should declare to me with her own lips, that another's claims upon
her affections were paramount to my own! Excuse me, madam, but I think
there must be some dreadful misunderstanding in regard to the facts
which you have stated. No! I would scorn myself if I had a doubt of her
innocence! and if such a thing might be possible, I would die rather
than be forced to believe it! I will tell her this very day what I have
heard, but I will not degrade myself, or forfeit her trust, by asking
her if it can be so!"
"Be calm, my dear friend," said Mrs. Santon; "compose yourself, I pray
you, and take my advice in the matter. Say nothing of what you have
heard to any one, but come here to-morrow morning at ten, when the
Signor will make his appearance, and from a private window, opening from
the conservatory, you may, unknown to any one, witness for yourself the
truth of what I have said."
"I will follow your advice, inasmuch as I will reveal to no one what I
have heard, until I become like myself," said Delwood, endeavoring to
compose himself as he heard the light step of the Sea-flower in the
hall; and as she entered, he arose to depart, pleading a slight
indisposition as an apology for his abruptness.
The calm, spiritual eyes of Natalie looked out upon him, as he walked
rapidly down the street, for she could not but notice an estrangement in
his manners; but she did not mistrust that an arrow, poisoned by sin in
its vilest form, had been aimed at his heart.
The starry heavens of that night told that another day had gone to be
with the past, and innocence laid her head upon her pillow and slept,
unmindful of plots of guilt, engendered of sin, which might prove for
her a draught of bitterness.
At an early hour the following morning, Clarence Delwood bent his steps
towards the residence of Mr. Santon. "Come here to-morrow, and you shall
see for yourself,"--those words still sounded in his ears, and, as he
drew nearer the house, it seemed as if they grew louder and louder, till
his brain was nearly distracted. But would he privately watch her ways,
whom of all others in the "wide, wide world," he had looked upon as
nearest perfection? No, he would not thus debase himself.
It was at a much earlier hour than that which Mrs. Santon had named,
that Delwood presented himself, and handsomely feeing the porter who
answered his summons, he asked to see Miss Santon; "and, James," said
he, "you need mention my presence to no other member of the family, as
my business is strictly private, for Miss Santon's ear alone."
"Yes, sir," replied James, twisting his face info a most knowing wink,
as he smiled upon the yellow ore, "I've been there before."
Winnie soon made her appearance with no little astonishment pictured in
her countenance, that Mr. Delwood should have honored them with what she
termed "a sunrise call;" and that he should have asked for her in
particular, was a matter more mysterious. His manners, so unlike
himself, served to check at once her flow of spirits, which, in spite of
the weight of oppression which had marked the last year, would find
vent, if not in a witty remark, in the expression of her speaking
countenance was it visible; but she was not slow to discern that some
serious subject was upon his mind, and became serious also.
In a few words he informed her of what he had learned from Mrs. Santon
the day previous, but what was his astonishment to find her totally
ignorant of the circumstances, not hesitating to declare the whole a
base falsehood.
"I had not a doubt of the falsity of the report," said Delwood; "but
what can have given rise to such a statement? Surely, your mother would
not wish to injure my feelings, by repeating what may have originated,
without foundation, among the servants, and which she could not have
herself credited!"
Winnie saw the truth at once, knowing as she did the character of her,
whom, if she had ever looked upon as a mother, must from this moment
forfeit every claim upon her feelings, unless it were that of
utter contempt.
"Mr. Delwood," said she, raising herself to her full height, her slender
fingers clenched together, every nerve 'roused to action,--"if you would
not insult me, never again call the woman who has had the heart to cast
such a slur upon the character of her whom we know is innocent, _my
mother_! It is not to injure your feelings that she has invented such a
vile scheme, but it is by injuring Natalie's character in your eyes, she
may banish from her heart all future happiness. Nay, do not start at
such a strange declaration from my lips; you are the only person, out
of my father's household, who has a suspicion that our happiness is not
what it once was; but since it has come to this, I will, at the risk of
disclosing to the world what it were wisdom to conceal, establish the
innocent; and rest assured that what I say is true,--this originated not
among the servants, for there is not one but would kneel and kiss the
very ground upon which our dear Sea-flower treads."
Delwood was thunderstruck.
"Indeed, I never could have mistrusted Mrs. Santon's character was so
vile!" said he; "but I can sooner believe this than that darkness is
born of light. And has Miss Grosvenor suffered the ill-will of this
cruel, cruel woman, and never lisped a word but should lead others to
respect her? Noble girl that she is! thrice noble have these very evil
designings proved her! 'Tis useless for intrigue to cope with purity."
"And she bade you come and see for yourself. What meaning is there in
that?" asked Winnie; for surely such an act would go to prove her
innocence."
"If Mrs. Santon can stoop to the deed, which fortunately has been
disclosed in time to prevent the affair from coming to Miss Grosvenor's
knowledge, she would not hesitate to do a meaner thing, favorable to the
furtherance of her plans; and it is my opinion there is more to be
learned in regard to this matter. I will foil her by following her own
advice, and at the appointed hour will station myself as desired, not as
a spy upon her ways, but that I may sift this affair to the bottom."
Accordingly, at the hour which Mrs. Santon had mentioned, Mr. Delwood's
summons were answered by the mistress of the mansion in person, who
smilingly drew him to the conservatory, which overlooked the
drawing-room, where he could, unobserved by any one, notice every
movement of her whose very being was dearer than his own. Natalie was
performing his favorite air, and as he listened, he gradually lost sight
of the object of his visit,--engulfed in the ocean of bliss which her
impassioned tones had spread before him, when he was recalled to a sense
of outward circumstances by the voice of the Signor, who, as the
bird-like trill of her voice died away, sprang to his feet, and in a
voice hoarse with passion, exclaimed,--"Never!" and was about to leave
the house, when Delwood intercepted him in the hall, and taking him by
the collar, demanded to know the cause of his strange conduct. The
Signor, in his peculiar dialect, replied, "Do not detain me, sir! it
were far better that none should ever know of the temptation which
well-nigh made me a villain!"
"You do not leave this house, sir, until you disclose to me what may
concern my welfare! And do not, I pray you, sir, force me to treat you
as other than a gentleman, for if I mistake not, you are yet worthy
of respect."
"You do me proud, sir; but I would much prefer to keep my own tongue;
for should it come to the ear of madam that her secret is a secret no
longer, I fear it may prove an injury to my professional duties."
"Remember that I have said, sir, you do not leave this house until you
have given me an account of your strange conduct; but in doing thus, if
I find you undeserving of censure, it shall be no sacrifice to your
reputation. I will pledge myself that you lose nothing."
"Since you are determined, sir, I will make a clean breast of it," said
the Signor, dashing several pieces of gold upon the floor,--"there, sir,
is indeed the root of all evil! that gold was placed in my hands by a
woman, who would make me a tool for the carrying out of designs, which I
have not the heart to perform."
"Well."
"Madam, for some cause, has an under current of thought, which does not
appear to be in keeping with the more open sentiments of this family;
for that amount of gold she connived with me to express such sentiments
toward Miss Grosvenor, as should fire you with a belief of her
inconstancy, and an attachment for myself. It was some time before I
could be bought with gold, but she, doubling the amount, I at last
yielded to what, thank God, I have not had strength to perform. Had it
been other than Miss Grosvenor whom I was to injure, I tremble for my
weakness in resisting so great a temptation; but she reminds me too
strongly of the tear which I have seen in my mother's eye, when she
prayed for her baby boy. No, sir, thrice that paltry amount should not
tempt me now to such degradation!"
"You have done well, sir," said Delwood, calmly, as he placed double
the amount of Mrs. Santon's bribe in the Signor's hand; "you have done
well, sir; and mark my words,--gold can never relieve a guilty
conscience! Go, sir, and see that you lisp not a syllable of this to
any one."
Mr. Delwood was about to take his leave, when he was met by Winnie, who
tripped lightly in, fresh from a morning walk. He grasped her hand and
pressed it to his lips, saying,--"You have helped to do away with the
sinful impressions which did their best to fasten themselves upon me.
You will never be forgotten by me, and I know you will do your best to
protect _her_ from the wiles of this hard-hearted woman, of whose deeds
the world shall through me be none the wiser."
"I should be iron-hearted, did I not strive to make her happy; for it is
in pity for my father and his motherless child, that she consents to be
separated from her own loved family."
Mrs. Santon had never the impudence to inquire in what way this matter
terminated, but she could see that her machinations had been foiled, as
day after day brought Mr. Delwood a welcome visitor to the house; yet
this defeat did not subdue her bitter feelings towards the Sea-flower;
they only slumbered, to break out afresh on the first occasion that
might present. Natalie had observed the Signor's abrupt departure; she
knew that something must be amiss, and questioning Winnie in the matter,
she disclosed to her what never came to the ear of Mr. Santon:
"I forgive her," said the Sea-flower, "and I can pity her; for perhaps
she has never had dear friends who might teach her how to love."