A few miles from the town of Southampton there is an old mansion-house,
which has been for centuries known as Madeline Hall, in the possession
of the de Versely family. It is a handsome building, surrounded by a
finely timbered park of some extent, and, what is more important, by
about 12,000 acres of land, which also appertain to it. At the period
in which I commence this history, there resided in this mansion an
elderly spinster of rank, named the Honourable Miss Delmar, sister of
the late Lord de Versely and aunt to the present earl, and an Honourable
Captain Delmar, who was the second son of the deceased nobleman. This
property belonged to the Honourable Miss Delmar, and was at her entire
disposal upon her decease.
The Honourable Captain Delmar, at the time I am speaking of, commanded a
frigate employed upon what was designated channel service, which in
those days implied that the captain held a seat in the House of Commons
and that he voted with the ministry; and further, that his vote might,
when required, be forthcoming, the frigate was never sea-going, except
during the recess. It must be admitted that H.M. ship Paragon did
occasionally get under weigh and remain cruising in sight of land for
two or three days, until the steward reported that the milk provided for
the captain's table was turning sour; upon which important information
the helm was immediately put up, and the frigate, in a case of such
extreme distress, would drop her anchor at the nearest port under her
lee. Now as the Paragon was constantly at Spithead, Captain Delmar was
very attentive in visiting his aunt, who lived at Madeline Hall;
ill-natured people asserted, because she had so fine an estate in her
own gift. Certain it is, that he would remain there for weeks, which
gave great satisfaction to the old lady, who liked her nephew, liked
attention, and was even so peculiar as to like sailors. But it must be
observed that there was another person at the mansion who also liked the
captain, liked attention, and liked sailors; this was Miss Arabella
Mason, a very pretty young woman of eighteen years of age, who
constantly looked in the glass merely to ascertain if she had ever seen
a face which she preferred to her own, and who never read any novel
without discovering that there was a remarkable likeness between the
heroine and her pretty self.
Miss Arabella Mason was the eldest daughter of the steward of the old
Lord de Versely, brother to the Honourable Miss Delmar, and was much
respected by his lordship for his fidelity and his knowledge of
business, in the transaction of which he fell, for he was felling trees,
and a tree fell upon him. He left a widow and two daughters: it was
said that at his death Mrs Mason was not badly off, as her husband had
been very careful of his earnings. Mrs Mason, however, did not
corroborate this statement; on the contrary, she invariably pleaded
poverty; and the Honourable Miss Delmar, after Lord de Versely's death--
which happened soon after that of his steward--sent both the daughters
to be educated at a country school, where, as everything that is taught
is second-rate, young ladies, of course, receive a second-rate
education. Mrs Mason was often invited by the Honourable Miss Delmar
to spend a month at Madeline Hall, and used to bring her eldest
daughter, who had left school, with her. Latterly, however, the
daughter remained as a fixture, and Mrs Mason received but an
occasional invitation. It may be inquired in what capacity Miss
Arabella Mason remained at the Hall; she was not a servant, for her
position in life was above that of a menial; neither was she received
altogether in the saloon, as she was of too humble a grade to mix with
gentry and nobility; she was, therefore, betwixt and between, a sort of
humble companion in the drawing-room, a cut above the housekeeper in the
still-room, a fetcher and carrier of the honourable spinster's wishes, a
sort of link between the aristocratic old dame and her male attendants,
towards whom she had a sort of old maidish aversion. However this
position might be found useful to her mistress, it must be admitted that
it was a most unfortunate position for a young, thoughtless, and very
pretty girl, moreover, who was naturally very lively, very smart in
repartee, and very fond of being admired.
As the Honourable Captain Delmar was very constant in his visits to his
aunt, it was but natural that he should pay some little attention to her
humble companion. By degrees the intimacy increased, and at last there
were reports in the servants' hall, that the captain and Miss Bella
Mason had been seen together in the evergreen walk; and as the captain's
visits were continually repeated during the space of two years so did
the scandal increase, and people became more ill-natured. It was now
seen that Miss Bella had been very often found in tears, and the old
butler and the older housekeeper shook their heads at each other like
responsive mandarins; the only person who was ignorant of the scandal
afloat was the old lady spinster herself.
I must now introduce another personage. The Honourable Captain Delmar
did not, of course, travel without his valet, and this important
personage had been selected out of the marine corps which had been
drafted into the frigate. Benjamin Keene, for such was his name, was
certainly endowed with several qualities which were indispensable in a
valet; he was very clean in his person, very respectful in his
deportment, and, after the sovereign of Great Britain, looked upon the
Honourable Captain Delmar as the greatest person in the world.
Moreover, Benjamin Keene, although only a private marine was, without
exception, one of the handsomest men that ever was seen and being
equally as well made and well drilled as he was handsome in person, he
was the admiration of all the young women. But Nature, who delights in
a drawback, had contrived to leave him almost without brains; and
further, he was wholly uneducated--for he was too stupid to learn--his
faculties were just sufficient to enable him, by constant drilling, to
be perfect in the manual exercise, and mechanically to perform his
duties as a valet.
Ben always accompanied his master to the hall, where the former was at
one and the same time the admiration and laughter of all the servants.
It hardly need be observed, that the clever and sprightly Miss Arabella
Mason considered Ben as one much beneath her, that is, she said so on
his first arrival at Madeline hall; but, strange to say, that two years
afterwards, just at the time that reports had been raised that she had
been frequently discovered in tears, there was a change in her manner
towards him; indeed some people insinuated that she was setting her cap
at the handsome marine: this idea, it is true, was ridiculed by the
majority; but still the intimacy appeared rapidly to increase. It was
afterwards asserted by those who find out everything after it has taken
place, that Ben would never have ventured to look up to such an unequal
match had he not been prompted to it by his master, who actually
proposed that he should marry the girl. That such was the fact is
undoubted, although they knew it not; and Ben, who considered the wish
of his captain as tantamount to an order, as soon as he could comprehend
what his captain required of him, stood up erect and raised his hand
with a flourish to his head, in token of his obedience. Shortly
afterwards, Captain Delmar again came over to Madeline Hall, accompanied
as usual, by Ben, and the second day after their arrival it was made
known to all whom it might concern, that Miss Arabella Mason had
actually contracted a secret marriage with the handsome Benjamin Keene.
Of course, the last person made acquainted with this interesting
intelligence was the Honourable Miss Delmar, and her nephew took upon
himself to make the communication. At first the honourable spinster
bridled up with indignation, wondered at the girl's indelicacy, and much
more at her demeaning herself by marrying a private marine. Captain
Delmar replied, that it was true that Ben was only a private, but that
every common soldier was a gentleman by profession. It was true that
Bella Mason might have done better--but she was his aunt's servant, and
Keene was his valet, so that the disparity was not so very great. He
then intimated that he had long perceived the growing attachment; talked
of the danger of young people being left so much together; hinted about
opportunity, and descanted upon morals and propriety. The Honourable
Miss Delmar was softened down by the dexterous reasoning of her nephew;
she was delighted to find so much virtue extant in a sailor; and, after
an hour's conversation, the married couple were sent for, graciously
pardoned, and Mrs Keene, after receiving a very tedious lecture,
received a very handsome present. But if her mistress was appeased,
Mrs Keene's mother was not. As soon as the intelligence was received,
old Mrs Mason set off for Madeline Hall. She first had a closeted
interview with her daughter, and then with Captain Delmar, and as soon
as the latter was over, she immediately took her departure, without
paying her respects to the mistress of the Hall, or exchanging one word
with any of the servants; this conduct gave occasion to more
innuendoes--some indeed ascribed her conduct to mortification at her
daughter's having made so imprudent a match, but others exchanged very
significant glances.
Three weeks after the marriage, the Parliament having been prorogued,
the admiral of the port considered that he was justified in ordering the
frigate out on a cruise. Ben Keene, of course accompanied his master,
and it was not until three months had passed away that the frigate
returned into port. As usual, the Honourable Captain Delmar, as soon as
he had paid his respects to the admiral, set off to visit his aunt,
accompanied by his benedict marine. On his arrival, he found that
everything appeared to be in great confusion; indeed an event was
occurring which had astonished the whole household; the butler made a
profound bow to the captain; the footmen forgot their usual smirk when
he alighted. Captain Delmar was ushered in solemn silence into the
drawing-room, and his aunt, who had notice of his arrival received him
with a stiff, prim air of unwonted frigidity, with her arms crossed
before her on her white muslin apron.
"My dear aunt," said Captain Delmar, as she coldly took his proffered
hand, "what is the matter?"
"The matter is this, nephew," replied the old lady--"that marriage of
your marine and Bella Mason should have taken place six months sooner
than it did. This is a wicked world, nephew; and sailors, I'm afraid,
are--"
"Marines, you should say, in this instance, my dear aunt," replied
Captain Delmar, insinuatingly. "I must confess that neither sailors nor
marines are quite so strict as they ought to be; however, Ben has
married her. Come, my dear aunt, allow me to plead for them, although I
am very much distressed that such an event should take place in your
house. I think," added he, after a pause, "I shall give Mr Keene seven
dozen at the gangway, for his presumption, as soon as I return on
board."
"That won't mend the matter, nephew," replied Miss Delmar. "I'll turn
her out of the house as soon as she can be moved."
"And I'll flog him as soon as I get him on board," rejoined the captain.
"I will not have your feelings shocked, and your mind harassed in this
way, by any impropriety on the part of my followers--most infamous--
shameful--abominable--unpardonable," interjected the captain, walking
the quarter-deck up and down the room.
The Honourable Miss Delmar continued to talk, and the honourable captain
to agree with her in all she said, for an hour at least. When people
are allowed to give vent to their indignation without the smallest
opposition they soon talk it away; such was the case with the Honourable
Miss Delmar. When it was first announced that Bella Keene was safely in
bed with a fine boy, the offended spinster turned away from the
communication with horror; when her own maid ventured to remark that it
was a lovely baby, she was ordered to hold her tongue; she would not see
the suffering mother, and the horrid marine was commanded to stay in the
kitchen, lest she should be contaminated by meeting him on the stairs;
but every day softened down her indignation, and before a fortnight was
over the Honourable Miss Delmar had not only seen but admired the baby;
and at last decided upon paying a visit to the mother, who was now
sufficiently recovered to undergo a lecture of about two hours' length,
in which the honourable spinster commented upon her _in_decency,
_in_discretion, _in_considerateness, _in_correctness, _in_decorum,
_in_continence, and _in_delicacy; pointing out that her conduct was most
inexcusable, iniquitous, and most infamous. The Honourable Miss Delmar
having had such a long innings then gave it up, because she was out of
breath. Bella, who waited patiently to make her response, and who was a
very clever girl, then declared, with many tears, that she was aware
that her conduct was _in_excusable, her faults had been _in_voluntary,
and her sorrow was _in_expressible; her _in_experience and her
_in_fatuation her only apology; that her _in_felicity at her mistress's
displeasure would _in_evitably increase her sufferings; assured her that
she was not _in_corrigible, and that if her mistress would only indulge
her with forgiveness, as she hoped to _in_herit heaven she would never
_in_cur her anger by committing the same fault again. Satisfied with
this assurance, the Honourable Miss Delmar softened down, and not only
forgave, but actually took the child into her lap that Bella might read
the Bible which she had presented her with. Reader, the child who had
this great honour conferred upon him, who actually laid in the
immaculate lap, on the apron of immaculate snowy whiteness of the
immaculate Honourable Miss Delmar, was no other person than the narrator
of this history--or, if you please it, the Hero of this Tale.
That my mother had so far smoothed things pretty well must be
acknowledged; but it was to be presumed that her husband might not be
pleased at so unusual an occurrence, and already the sneers and
innuendoes of the servants' hall were not wanting. It appeared,
however, that an interview had taken place between Ben and Captain
Delmar shortly after my making my appearance: what occurred did not
transpire, but this is certain that, upon the marine's return to the
kitchen, one of the grooms, who ventured to banter him, received such a
sound thrashing from Ben that it put an end to all further joking. As
Ben had taken up the affair so seriously, it was presumed that if there
had been anticipation of the hymeneal rites he was himself the party who
had been hasty; and that now he was married, he was resolved to resent
any impertinent remarks upon his conduct. At all events, the question
now became one of less interest, as the scandal was of less importance;
and as Ben had made known his determination to resent any remarks upon
the subject, not a word more was said, at all events when he was
present.
In due time I was christened, and so completely was my mother
reinstalled in the good graces of her mistress, that as Captain Delmar
had volunteered to stand my sponsor, the Honourable Miss Delmar gave the
necessary female security; at the particular request of my mother, the
captain consented that I should bear his own Christian name, and I was
duly registered in the church books as Percival Keene.