As soon as I was at home again, the events of the day, from association
of ideas, naturally brought Minnie Vanderwelt into my head, and I
recollected that I had not written to her since my promotion and
appointment to the Circe; I therefore sat down and indited a long
letter, ending with expressing my regret at not having received an
answer from the many I had written, especially the last, which informed
them of my arrival in England, and gave them the knowledge where to
address me. I also requested to know what had become of young Vangilt,
whose escape I had contrived. Having enclosed that letter to the agent,
and begged him to have it forwarded to Hamburg, I went to bed, and,
after the excitement of the day, had a variety of dreams, in which
Minnie's form was continually making its appearance.
The following morning brought me a long letter from my aunt, Mrs
Bridgeman, very lively and very amusing: the only news in it was the
marriage of Lieutenant Flat to a tavern-keeper's daughter, which had
given great offence to the marine corps, as she was said to be rather
light of carriage. She begged me very much to pay them a visit, but
that was not all to my wishes, I most candidly confess. My pride
revolted at it; I even doubt if I would have fitted out a ship at
Chatham where people could point their finger at me, and say--That
post-captain's father was a marine in those barracks. Another letter
from Lord de Versely, announcing his arrival at Madeline Hall, and
requesting me to join him as soon as possible, was infinitely more to my
taste, and I resolved to start next day, which I did. I was very
cordially received by his lordship, and very graciously by the old lady,
who expressed a hope that I would now make a long visit. About an hour
after I had arrived, Colonel Delmar made his appearance: he was a cousin
of Lord de Versely's, but I certainly should not, from his appearance,
have supposed him to be a Delmar: for he was short, round-shouldered,
and with a fat, rubicund face, apparently about forty years of age. I
observed, after our introduction, that his eyes were very often directed
towards me; but his manner was courteous, and, although his appearance
at first sight was not prepossessing, his conversation was very
agreeable, and he was very gentleman-like. Before dinner was over, I
felt a great liking for him.
As the first of September had not yet arrived, the birds had still two
days of peace and quietness, leading their broods through the stubbles,
and pointing out to them the corn which had spilled on the ground, for
their food. That the old birds had some idea of a gun, it is to be
supposed, from their having escaped the season before; but the young
coveys had still that pleasure to come; in two days more they were to be
initiated into the astonishing fact, that fast as feathers could fly,
lead could fly faster, and overtake them.
The two or three days before the shooting season begins are invariably
very tedious in the country, and I passed my morning chiefly in roaming
through the park and pleasure grounds, and I hardly need say that,
during those rambles, my thoughts were chiefly occupied with the
intimacy which had taken place between my mother and Lord de Versely.
On the third morning after my arrival I had been strolling for more than
two hours, when I came to a very retired sort of Gothic cell, formed of
the distended limbs of an old oak, intermixed with stones and grass. It
faced towards the park, and was built up on the green lawn amidst clumps
of laurel and other evergreens. I threw myself on the benches. It was
just the place for a man to select for a rendezvous: just the secret
spot where a maiden could listen without trembling at intruders; and it
struck me that this must have been the trysting place of my parents.
For an hour I remained there, castle-building for the future, and musing
on the past, when I heard a voice, close to me on the other side of the
cell, the back of which was turned towards the hall. I knew the voice
to be that of the old lady, who, it appears, had, as usual, come out in
her garden chair, and was dragged by her attendant, Phillis: the wheels
had made no noise on the velvet lawn, and, until roused by her voice, I
was not aware of their approach.
"Nonsense, Phillis; why, child, what should you know about such things?"
said the old lady.
"If you please to recollect, ma'am," replied Phillis, who certainly was
old enough to recollect all the passages in a woman's life, "I was your
maid at the time that it happened, and I was constantly in company with
Bella Mason. She was very respectful towards you, but you did not know
what her temper was; there never was so proud a young woman, or who
considered herself of such consequence as she did--so much so, that she
treated even Mr Jonas, the butler, and Mrs Short, the housekeeper,
with disdain."
"Well, well, I know that she was proud; her mother was always a proud
woman. Mr Mason, in his younger days, held property of his own, at
least his father did, but he ran through it revelling and horse-racing;
but what does that prove?"
"I only say, madam, what was said at the time by everybody, that Bella
Mason never would have married that marine, whom she looked upon with
contempt, although he certainly was a good-looking young man, if she had
not been obliged to do so."
"But why obliged, Phillis?"
"To conceal her shame, madam; for, if you recollect, the child was born
three months after marriage."
"I recollect that, very well," replied Miss Delmar; "it was a sad thing,
and, as my nephew said, I ought to have looked out sharper after Bella
than I did, and not have allowed her to be so much in company with that
marine."
"That marine, ma'am! he was innocent enough; Bella was not likely to
listen to one like him."
"Who can you mean then, Phillis?"
"Why, Lord de Versely, ma'am, to be sure. Everybody in the Hall was
sure the child was his; he and Bella were for ever together for months
before her marriage."
"Phillis, Phillis, you don't know what you are saying--it's impossible;
indeed, I recollect talking the matter over with Lord de Versely, who
was then Captain Delmar, and he was more shocked at the impropriety than
even I was, and offered to give the marine a good whipping."
"That may be, madam, but still Captain Delmar was the father of that
boy; for, if you recollect, old Mrs Mason came to the Hall, and went
away almost immediately."
"Well, what of that? she was displeased no doubt."
"Yes, indeed she was, madam; but she had a private meeting with Captain
Delmar; and Mrs Short, the housekeeper, overheard what passed, and I
understand that the captain did not deny it to her. One thing is
certain, that Mrs Mason, as she was going away, in her rage made use of
language about Captain Delmar, which otherwise she never would have
dared. And, then, madam, only look at Captain Keene,--why, he is the
very image of his lordship."
"He is very like him, certainly," said the old lady, musing.
"And then, madam, do you think his lordship would have brought the boy
up in the service, and made him a post-captain, if he had been the son
of a marine? And then, madam, see how fond his lordship is of him; why,
he dotes upon him; and would he ask the son of his own servant to come
down to Madeline Hall, as fit company for you? No; so, madam, depend
upon it, Captain Keene is a Delmar, and no wonder his lordship is so
fond of him, madam; for he is his only child, and I dare say his
lordship would give him his right hand if he could leave him the barony
and estates, instead of them going away, as they will, to his younger
brother's children."
"Well, well, Phillis, it may be so. I don't know what to think of it.
I shall speak to Lord de Versely about it; for if Captain Keene is a
Delmar, he must be looked to. He is a Delmar, although with the bar
sinister. I feel a little cold, Phillis, so drag me to the terrace,
that I may get a little sunshine."
Phillis, I thank thee, said I to myself, as the chair wheeled away.
Your love of chatting may be useful to me. Perhaps his lordship may now
acknowledge my birth to his aunt, and good may come of it. I waited
till the chair wheels were heard on the gravel walk, and then quitted
the grotto, and bent my steps away from the Hall, that I might commune
with my own thoughts without chance of interruption.
I had quitted the park, and was now pacing over several fields, one
after another, walking as if I had some important business in hand, when
in fact, my legs were only trying to keep pace with my thoughts, when I
vaulted over a gate, and found myself in a narrow lane, sunk deep
between two hedges. Indifferent as to the path I took, I turned to the
right, and continued on my way, walking as fast as before, when I heard
the low bellowing of an animal. This induced me to raise my eyes, and I
witnessed a curious scene in front of me, which I will narrate in the
next chapter.