THE PRINCE'S LEVEE.
The room had a very brilliant appearance, being crowded with officers
of high rank. In the antechamber all who desired the honour of a
presentation were assembled.
On the entrance of the prince, who proceeded towards the upper end of
the room, and took up a station there, all the nobles and heads of
clans formed a semicircle around him--those nearest his royal
highness, on the right and left, being the Duke of Perth, the Marquis
of Tullibardine, the Marquis d'Eguilles, Lords George Murray,
Pitsligo, Nairne, Kilmarnock, and Balmerino.
The first persons to approach the prince were Colonel Townley and the
Chevalier de Johnstone, the latter of whom, as already stated, being
aide-de-camp to Lord George Gordon.
Colonel Townley, who was in full uniform, wore a plaid waistcoat, and
a plaid sash lined with white silk. He came to inform the prince that
the Manchester Regiment was now embodied, and would be paraded on the
morrow.
"The deficiency in men, of which I complained to your royal highness,
has been made good by Colonel Johnstone, who has delivered over to me
all the recruits raised for him in this town by Sergeant Dickson."
"You have done well, colonel," remarked the prince, approvingly, to
Johnstone. "How many men has Sergeant Dickson enlisted?"
"Nearly two hundred," was the reply. "They are all fine fellows, and
will make excellent soldiers."
"I esteem myself singularly fortunate in obtaining them," observed
Colonel Townley. "I was almost in despair, not being able to find
fifty volunteers myself."
"Sergeant Dickson deserves promotion," said the prince. "I am told
that he entered the town, attended only by Helen Carnegie and a
drummer."
"It is perfectly true," replied Johnstone. "I would not detract from
the brave fellow's merit; but without Helen he would have done
nothing."
"Between them they have raised the Manchester Regiment," remarked
Colonel Townley, "and saved me a vast deal of trouble."
"Have all the officers joined?" asked the prince.
"All," replied Townley. "Two of them are in the ante-chamber. Captains
James Dawson and Atherton Legh. May I have the honour of presenting
them to your royal highness?"
Charles Edward having graciously signified his assent, Colonel Townley
bowed and retired, reappearing in another moment with the two young
officers in question.
They now wore the uniform of the regiment--red faced with white--and
looked so well that Colonel Townley felt very proud of them as he led
them towards the prince, by whom they were received with the utmost
condescension.
Atherton Legh's appearance seemed particularly to please him, and at
the close of the brief interview, he desired him to remain in the
house, as he had some orders to give him.
Much gratified by the command, Atherton bowed and retired with his
friend.
Several other presentations then took place, which need not be
recorded, the two persons chiefly distinguished by the prince's notice
being Dr. Deacon and Dr. Byrom.
To the latter he said many flattering things well calculated to
gratify him; towards the other he adopted a more serious tone, and
thanked him earnestly for the zealous attachment he had always shown
to the royal cause.
"You have proved your devotion in many ways, doctor," he said, "but
never more than in causing your three sons to enrol themselves in the
Manchester Regiment. I thank you in the king my father's name, and in
my own."
"Heaven grant that my sons may serve your royal father well, most
gracious prince!" said Dr. Deacon. "I can only aid you with my
prayers."
Overcome by his emotion, he then bowed deeply and retired.
At this juncture the doors of the ante-chamber were thrown open, and a
bevy of ladies, all attired in white, and wearing plaid sashes, came
forth, imparting a much more lively character to the scene.
Most of these fair Jacobites were young, and many of them being
exceedingly pretty, it is not wonderful that their appearance should
produce an effect upon the excitable Highlanders, who did not care to
conceal their admiration of the Southron beauties. Their assiduities,
however, did not seem disagreeable to the Manchester damsels.
Meantime the ladies were conducted in succession to the prince, and
each had the honour of kissing his hand. Some of them received a
pretty compliment into the bargain. So well turned were these
compliments, and so captivating the smiles that accompanied them, that
the younger damsels were quite bewitched, and declared that so
charming a prince had never been seen.
By far the prettiest of those presented was Beppy Byrom, who was quite
as much influenced as any of the others by the witchery of the
prince's manner.
As she drew near, she scarcely dared to raise her eyes towards him,
but a few pleasant words soon set her at her ease, and the smile that
lighted up her fair features so improved their expression that Charles
was as much charmed with her as she was with him.
After their presentation the ladies were taken to an adjoining
parlour. It fell to Atherton's lot to conduct Beppy to this room,
which was crowded with fair damsels and Highland officers, laughing,
chattering, and quaffing champagne. Large glasses of the same wine
were offered them on their entrance, and having drunk the appointed
toast with enthusiasm, they seated themselves on a sofa.
Whether the excitement of the occasion gave unwonted lustre to Beppy's
eyes, we know not, but it is certain that Atherton felt their force
more than he had ever done before.
"I wonder whether you will return to Manchester when the campaign is
over, Captain Legh?" she inquired, looking rather languishingly at him
as she spoke.
"Does Miss Byrom care to see me again?" he asked. "If so, I shall make
a point of coming back, supposing I am able to do so."
"You pay me a great compliment," she remarked. "But surely, I am not
the only person you desire to see again? You must have many dear
friends?"
"I have none," he replied, rather gloomily. "You know I am quite alone
in the world. If I fall in this expedition, not a tear will be shed
for me."
"There you are mistaken," she rejoined, in a sympathetic tone. "But
you speak rather bitterly. I fear you have been badly treated."
"No, I have no right to complain. I am only paying the penalty of my
folly. I have been deluded by false hopes; but I shall try to act more
sensibly in future."
"An excellent resolution, and I trust you will keep to it. Never fall
in love again--if you can help it. That's my advice."
"But you don't expect me to follow it?"
"I have no influence over you, and cannot therefore expect you to be
guided by my counsels. But I repeat--don't fall in love again."
"The warning comes too late," he said. "I must make a desperate
effort, or I shall be caught in fresh toils."
"Well, the effort can be easily made, since you are going away."
"But I shall carry the remembrance with me. I shall not forget our
present conversation, and if I return I will remind you of it."
"I have very little faith in the promise. By that time you will
probably have changed your mind."
"You must entertain a very poor opinion of me, Miss Byrom, if you
really think so."
"I don't imagine you differ from the rest of your sex. Men are
proverbially inconstant. 'Out of sight, out of mind,' you know."
"On my return you will find me unchanged," he said.
So engrossed was Atherton by the young lady near him, that he had not
noticed the entrance of Constance, with Jemmy Dawson and Monica. But
chancing to look up at the moment, he perceived her standing at a
little distance, with her large eyes fixed upon him. The expression of
her countenance showed that she had overheard what had passed between
him and Miss Byrom. With a disdainful glance, she moved away with her
father.
Atherton was quite confounded, and for a moment could not speak, but
at length he stammered:
"Do you see who is in the room?"
"Miss Rawcliffe you mean," replied Beppy. "Yes, I saw her come in. I
did not tell you, because I fancied you had no longer any interest in
her. But I begin to think you have not so completely shaken off your
fetters as you imagined. If all is at an end, why should her presence
trouble you?"
"I am not quite master of my feelings," he rejoined.
"So I perceive," said Beppy. She then added, in a good-natured tone:
"Well, we have stayed here long enough. Let us go."
Much relieved by the proposal, the young man instantly arose, and
offering her his arm, prepared to quit the room.
But, in making their way through the crowd, they were soon brought to
a stand-still, and found themselves face to face with Constance.
By this time Atherton had recovered his self-possession, and bowed
coldly, and his salutation was as distantly returned. Beppy, however,
who had some little malice in her composition, rather enjoyed the
situation, and not feeling inclined to put an end to it, immediately
engaged Miss Rawcliffe in conversation, and left Atherton to Monica
and Jemmy Dawson.
Fain would he have escaped, but he could not leave Beppy, who, indeed,
did not relinquish her hold of his arm. Luckily, champagne was brought
by the attendants, and everybody took a glass, as in duty bound.
Again the prince's health was drunk, and with as much enthusiasm as
before, though Beppy only placed the glass to her lips.
"You have not done justice to the toast, Miss Byrom," cried a voice
near her.
And turning, she perceived Colonel Townley, who had just entered the
room with her father.
"I have already drunk it," she replied. "But I have wine enough left
to drink 'Success to the Manchester Regiment,' and I do so."
And she again raised the glass to her lips.
Colonel Townley bowed, and expressed his thanks.
"More champagne," he cried to the attendants. "Gentlemen," he added,
to his officers, "let us drink to Miss Rawcliffe and the ladies who
have helped to raise the regiment."
Due honour was done to the toast. As Atherton bowed to Constance, she
regarded him coldly, and scarcely acknowledged the attention.
"Something is wrong," thought Colonel Townley. "I must endeavour to
set it right. You will be pleased to hear, Miss Rawcliffe," he said,
"that his royal highness fully appreciates the service you have
rendered him. I took care to tell him the Manchester Regiment owed
Captain Legh to you."
"The circumstance was scarcely worth mentioning," she rejoined, with
affected indifference.
"The prince thought otherwise," remarked Colonel Townley. "I will not
repeat the flattering things he said----"
"Oh, pray do not!" she interrupted. "I would rather not hear them."
"But they relate chiefly to Captain Legh."
"Then keep them for his private ear," she rejoined.
The colonel shrugged his shoulders and said no more.
Just then the pipers stationed in the court began to play, and as the
hall-door stood open, the lively strains resounded through the house,
and made the Highland officers eager for a dance.
They began to talk about Scotch reels and other national dances, of
which the young ladies had never heard, but they did not venture to
propose any such agreeable exercise, as it would have been contrary to
etiquette.
The pipers, in fact, had been ordered to play as an intimation to the
assemblage that the prince's levée was over, and as soon as this was
understood the company began to depart.
Colonel Townley offered his arm to Constance, and conducted her to the
entrance-hall, where they found Sir Richard Rawcliffe, Dr. Byrom, and
several other gentlemen who were waiting for their wives and
daughters.
As soon as the young ladies had been consigned to their natural
protectors, Colonel Townley turned to Atherton, and said:
"You will return at eight o'clock to-night, Captain Legh. You are
bidden to the supper by the prince. I was specially commanded to bring
you. His royal highness seems to have taken a fancy to you. But tell
me!--what is the cause of the misunderstanding between you and Miss
Rawcliffe?"
"I know not," replied Atherton. "But she looks coldly upon me--and her
father has treated me with great rudeness."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Colonel Townley. "I will have an explanation from
him. Remember that the regiment will be paraded in St. Ann's Square at
ten o'clock to-morrow."
They then separated, and Atherton quitted the house.
The court was filled by the Highland body-guard and the pipers. The
latter, drawn up in two lines, through which the company passed, were
making a prodigious din, greatly to the delight of the crowd collected
in the street.