Selina, regarding herself as a free agent, since Ireton professed a
respect for Ellis that made him ashamed of his former doubts, flew, the
next morning, to the chamber of that young person, to talk over the
play, Lord Melbury, and Lady Aurora Granville: but found her _protegee_
absorbed in deep thought, and neither able nor willing to converse.
When the family assembled to breakfast, Mrs Maple declared that she had
not closed her eyes the whole night, from the vexation of having
admitted such an unknown Wanderer to sup at her table, and to mix with
people of rank.
Elinor was wholly silent.
They were not yet separated, when Lady Aurora Granville and Mrs Howel
called to renew their thanks for the entertainment of the preceding
evening.
'But Miss Ellis?' said Lady Aurora, looking around her, disappointed; 'I
hope she is not more indisposed?'
'By no means. She is quite well again,' answered Mrs Maple, in haste to
destroy a disposition to pity, which she thought conferred undue honour
upon the stranger.
'But shall we not have the pleasure to see her?'
'She ... generally ... breakfasts in her own room,' answered Mrs Maple,
with much hesitation.
'May I, then,' said Lady Aurora, going to the bell, 'beg that somebody
will let her know how happy I should be to enquire after her health?'
'Your Ladyship is too good,' cried Mrs Maple, in great confusion, and
preventing her from ringing; 'but Miss Ellis--I don't know why--is so
fond of keeping her chamber, that there is no getting her out of it ...
some how.--'
'Perhaps, then, she will permit me to go up stairs to her?'
'O no, not for the world! besides ... I believe she has walked out.'
Lady Aurora now applied to Selina, who was scampering away upon a
commission of search; when Mrs Maple, following her, privately insisted
that she should bring back intelligence that Miss Ellis was taken
suddenly ill.
Selina was forced to comply, and Lady Aurora with serious concern, to
return to Brighthelmstone ungratified.
Mrs Maple was so much disconcerted by this incident, and so nettled at
her own perplexed situation, that nothing saved Ellis from an abrupt
dismission, but the representations of Mrs Fenn, that some fine work,
which the young woman had just begun, would not look of a piece if
finished by another hand.
The next morning, the breakfast party was scarcely assembled, when Lord
Melbury entered the parlour. He had ridden over, he said, to enquire
after the health of Miss Ellis, in the name of his sister, who would do
herself the pleasure to call upon her, as soon as she should be
sufficiently recovered to receive a visit.
Elinor was struck with the glow of satisfaction which illumined the face
of Harleigh, at this reiterated distinction. A glow of a far different
sort flushed that of Mrs Maple, who, after various ineffectual evasions,
was constrained to say that she hoped Miss Ellis would be well enough to
appear on the morrow. And, to complete her provocation, she was reduced,
when Lord Melbury was gone, to propose, herself, that Selina should lend
the girl a gown, and what else she might require, for being seen, once
again, without involving them all in shame.
Ellis, informed by Selina of these particulars, shed a torrent of
grateful tears at the interest which she had thus unexpectedly excited;
then, reviving into a vivacity which seemed to renew all the pleasure
that she had experienced on the night of the play, she diligently
employed herself in appropriating the attire which Selina supplied for
the occasion.
Mrs Maple, now, had no consolation but that the stay of Lady Aurora in
the neighbourhood would be short, as that young lady and her brother
were only at Brighthelmstone upon a visit to the Honourable Mrs Howel;
who, having a capital mansion upon the Steyne, resided there the
greatest part of the year.
Mrs Howel accompanied her young guest to Lewes the following morning.
Miss Ellis was enquired for without delay, and as Mrs Maple would suffer
no one to view her chamber, she was summoned into the drawing-room.
She entered it with a blush of bright pleasure upon her cheeks; yet with
eyes that were glistening, and a bosom that seemed struggling with
sighs. Lady Aurora hastened to meet her, uttering such kind expressions
of concern for her indisposition, that Ellis, with charmed sensibility,
involuntarily advanced to embrace her; but rapidly, and with timid
shame, drew back, her eyes cast down, and her feelings repressed. Lady
Aurora, perceiving the design, and its check, instantly held out her
hand, and smilingly saying, 'Would you cheat me of this kindness?' led
her to a seat next to her own upon a sofa.
The eyes of the stranger were not now the only ones that glistened.
Harleigh could not see her thus benignly treated, or rather, as he
conceived, thus restored to the treatment to which she had been
accustomed, and which he believed her to merit, without feeling tears
moisten his own.
With marked civility, though not with the youthful enthusiasm of Lady
Aurora, Mrs Howel, also, made her compliments to Miss Ellis. Lord
Melbury arrived soon afterwards, and, the first ceremonies over, devoted
his whole attention to the same person.
O powerful prejudice! thought Harleigh; what is judgment, and where is
perception in your hands? The ladies of this house, having first seen
this charming Incognita in tattered garments, forlorn, desolate, and
distressed; governed by the prepossession thus excited of her
inferiority, even, to this moment, either neglect or treat her harshly;
not moved by the varied excellencies that should create gentler ideas,
nor open to the interesting attractions that might give them more
pleasure than they could bestow! While these visitors, hearing that she
is a young lady of family, and meeting her upon terms of equality, find,
at once, that she is endowed with talents and accomplishments for the
highest admiration, and with a sweetness of manners, and powers of
conversation, irresistibly fascinating.
The visit lasted almost the whole morning, during which he observed,
with extreme satisfaction, not only that the dejection of Ellis wore
away, but that a delight in the intercourse seemed reciprocating between
herself and her young friends, that gave new beauty to her countenance,
and new spirit to her existence.
When the visitors rose to be gone, 'I cannot tell you, Miss Ellis,'
said Lady Aurora, 'how happy I shall be to cultivate your acquaintance.
Will you give me leave to call upon you for half an hour to morrow?'
Ellis, with trembling pleasure, cast a fearful glance at Mrs Maple, who
hastily turned her head another way. Ellis then gratefully acceded to
the proposal.
'Miss Ellis, I hope,' said Mrs Howel, in taking leave, 'will permit me,
also, to have some share of her society, when I have the honour to
receive her at Brighthelmstone.'
Ellis, touched, enchanted, could attempt no reply beyond a courtesy, and
stole, with a full heart, and eyes overflowing, to her chamber, the
instant that they left the house.
Mrs Maple was now in a dilemma which she would have deemed terrible
beyond all comparison, but from what she experienced the following
minute, when the butler put upon the table a handful of cards, left by
the groom of Mrs Howel, amongst which Mrs Maple perceived the name of
Miss Ellis, mingled with her own, and that of the Miss Joddrels, in an
invitation to a small dancing-party on the ensuing Thursday.
'This exceeds all!' she cried: 'If I don't get rid of this wretch, she
will bring me into universal disgrace! she shall not stay another day in
my house.'
'Has she, Madam, for a single moment,' said Harleigh, with quickness,
'given you cause to repent your kind assistance, or reason to harbour
any suspicion that you have not bestowed it worthily?'
'Why, you go beyond Elinor herself, now, Mr Harleigh! for even she, you
see, does not ask me to keep her any longer.'
'Miss Joddrel,' answered Harleigh, turning with an air of gentleness to
the mute Elinor, 'is aware how little a single woman is allowed to act
publicly for herself, without risk of censure.'
'Censure?' interrupted Elinor, disdainfully, 'you know I despise it!'
He affected not to hear her, and continued, 'Miss Joddrel leaves,
therefore, Madam, to your established situation in life, the protection
of a young person whom circumstances have touchingly cast upon your
compassion, and who seems as innocent as she is indigent, and as formed,
nay elegant in her manners, as she is obscure and secret in her name and
history. I make not any doubt but Miss Joddrel would be foremost to
sustain her from the dangers of lonely penury, to which she seems
exposed if deserted, were my brother already--' He approached Elinor,
lowering his voice; she rose to quit the room, with a look of deep
resentment; but could not first escape hearing him finish his speech
with 'as happy as I hope soon to see him!'
'Ah, Mr Harleigh,' said Mrs Maple, 'when shall we bring that to bear?'
'She never pronounces a positive rejection,' answered Harleigh, 'yet I
make no progress in my peace-offerings.'
He would then have entered more fully upon that subject, in the hope of
escaping from the other: Mrs Maple, however, never forgot her anger but
for her interest; and Selina was forced to be the messenger of
dismission.
She found Ellis so revived, that to destroy her rising tranquillity
would have been a task nearly impossible, had Selina possessed as much
consideration as good humour. But she was one amongst the many in whom
reflection never precedes speech, and therefore, though sincerely sorry,
she denounced, without hesitating, the sentence of Mrs Maple.
Ellis was struck with the deepest dismay, to be robbed thus of all
refuge, at the very moment when she flattered herself that new friends,
perhaps a new asylum, were opening to her. Whither could she now wander?
and how hope that others, to whom she was still less known, would escape
the blasting contagion, and believe that distress might be guiltless
though mysterious? A few shillings were all that she possessed; and she
saw no prospect of any recruit. Elinor had not once spoken to her since
the play; and the childish character, even more than the extreme youth
of Selina, made it seem improper, in so discarded a state, to accept any
succour from her clandestinely. Nevertheless, the awaited letter was not
yet arrived; the expected friend had not yet appeared. How, then, quit
the neighbourhood of Brighthelmstone, where alone any hope of receiving
either still lingered? The only idea that occurred to her, was that of
throwing herself upon the compassion of her new acquaintances,
faithfully detailing to them her real situation at Mrs Maple's, and
appealing to their generosity to forbear, for the present, all enquiry
into its original cause.
This determined, she anxiously desired, before her departure, to
restore, if she could discover their owner, the anonymous bank-notes,
which she was resolute not to use; and, hearing the step of Harleigh
passing her door in descending the stairs, she hastened after him, with
the little packet in her hand.
Turning round as he reached the hall, and observing, with pleased
surprise, her intention to speak to him, he stopt.
'You have been so good to me, Sir,' she said, 'so humane and so
considerate, by every possible occasion, that I think I may venture to
beg yet one more favour of you, before I leave Lewes.'
Her dejected tone extremely affected him, and he waited her explanation
with looks that were powerfully expressive of his interest in her
welfare.
'Some one, with great, but mistaken kindness,' she continued, 'has
imagined my necessities stronger than my ...' She stopt, as if at a loss
for a word, and then, with a smile, added, 'my pride, others, perhaps,
will say; but to me it appears only a sense of right. If, however, my
lengthened suspense forces me to require more assistance of this sort
than I already owe to the Miss Joddrels, and to the benevolent Admiral,
I shall have recourse to the most laborious personal exertions, rather
than spread any further the list of my pecuniary creditors.'
Harleigh did not, or seemed not to understand her, yet would not resist
taking the little packet, which she put into his hands, saying, 'I have
some fear that this comes from Mr Ireton; I shall hold myself
inexpressibly obliged to you, Sir, if you will have the goodness to
clear up that doubt for me; and, should it prove a fact, to return it to
him with my thanks, but the most positive assurance that its acceptance
is totally impossible.'
Harleigh looked disturbed, yet promised to obey.
'And if,' cried she, 'you should not find Mr Ireton to be my creditor,
you may possibly discover him in a person to whom I owe far other
services, and unmingled esteem. And should that be the case, say to him,
I beg, Sir, that even from him I must decline an obligation of this
sort, though my debts to him of every other, are nearly as innumerable
as their remembrance will be indelible.'
She then hastened away, leaving Harleigh impressed with such palpable
concern, that she could no longer doubt that the packet was already
deposited with its right owner.
He passed into the garden, and she was going back, when, at the entrance
of the breakfast-parlour, she perceived Elinor, who seemed sternly
occupied in observing them.
Ellis courtsied, and stood still. Elinor moved not, and was gloomily
silent.
Struck with her mien, her stillness, and her manner, Ellis, in a fearful
voice, enquired after her health; but received a look so indignant, yet
wild, that, affrighted and astonished, she retreated to her chamber.
As she turned round upon entering it, to shut herself in, immediately
before her stood Elinor.
She looked yet paler, and seemed in a sort of stupor. Ellis respectfully
held open the door, but she did not advance: the fury, however, of her
aspect was abated, and Ellis, in a voice condolingly soft, asked whether
she might hope that Miss Joddrel would, once more, condescend to sit
with her before her departure.
At these words Elinor seemed to shake herself, and presently, though in
a hollow tone, pronounced, 'Are you then going?'
Ellis plaintively answered Yes!
'And ... with whom?' cried Elinor, raising her eyes with a glance of
fire.
'With no one, Madam. I go alone.'
This answer was uttered with a firmness that annulled all suspicion of
deceit.
Elinor appeared again to breathe.
'And whither?' she demanded, 'whither is it you go?'
'I know not, alas!--but I mean to make an attempt at Howel Place.'
The countenance of Elinor now lost its rigidity, and with a cry almost
of extacy, she exclaimed, 'Upon Lord Melbury?--your new admirer? O go to
him!--hasten to him!--dear, charming Ellis, away to him at once!--'
Ellis, half smiling, answered, 'No, Madam; I go to Lady Aurora
Granville.'
Elinor, without replying, left the room; but, quick in action as in
idea, returned, almost instantly, loaded with a packet of clothes.
'Here, most beautiful Ophelia!' she cried, 'look over this trumpery. You
know how skilfully you can arrange it. You must not appear to
disadvantage before dear little Lord Melbury.'
Ellis now, nearly offended, drew back.
'O, I know I ought to be excommunicated for giving such a hint,' cried
Elinor, whose spirits were rather exalted than recovered; 'though every
body sees how the poor boy is bewitched with you: but you delicate
sentimentalists are never yourselves to suspect any danger, till the men
are so crazy 'twould be murder to resist them; and then, you know,
acceptance is an act of mere charity.'
Ellis laughed at her raillery, yet declined her wardrobe, saying that
she had resolved upon frankly stating to Lady Aurora, all that she was
able to make known of her situation.
'Well, that's more romantic,' returned Elinor, 'and so 'twill be more
touching; especially to the little peer; for as you won't say who you
are, he can do no less than, like Selina, conclude you to be a princess
in disguise; and that, as you know, will bring the match so properly
forward, that parents, and uncles, and guardians, and all those
supernumeraries of the creation, will learn the business only just in
time to drown themselves.'
Ellis heard this with a calmness that shewed her superior to offering
any vindication of her conduct; and Elinor more gently added, 'Now don't
construe all this into either a sneer or a reprimand. If you imagine me
an enemy to what the old court call unequal connexions, you do me
egregious injustice. I detest all aristocracy: I care for nothing upon
earth but nature; and I hold no one thing in the world worth living for
but liberty! and liberty, you know, has but two occupations,--plucking
up and pulling down. To me, therefore, 'tis equally diverting, to see a
beggar swell into a duchess, or a duchess dwindle into a beggar.'
Ellis tried to smile, but felt shocked many ways; and Elinor, gay, now,
as a lark, left her to get ready for Howel Place.
While thus employed, a soft tap called her to the door, where she
perceived Harleigh.
'I will detain you,' he said, 'but a moment. I can find no owner for
your little packet; you must suffer it, therefore, still to encumber
you; and should any accident, or any transient convenience, make its
contents even momentarily useful to you, do not let any idea of its
having ever belonged to Mr Ireton impede its employment: I have examined
that point thoroughly, and I can positively assure you, that he has not
the least knowledge even of its existence.'
As she held back from taking it, he put it upon a step before the door,
and descended the stairs without giving her time to answer.
She did not dare either to follow or to call him, lest Elinor should
again appear; but she felt convinced that the bank-notes were his own,
and became less uneasy at a short delay, though equally determined upon
restitution.
She was depositing them in her work-bag, when Selina came jumping into
the room. 'O Ellis,' she cried, 'I have the best news in the world for
you! Aunt Maple fell into the greatest passion you ever saw, at hearing
you were going to Howel Place. "What!" says she, "shall I let her
disgrace me for ever, by making known what a poor Wanderer I have taken
into my house, and permitted to eat at my table? It would be a thing to
ruin me in the opinion of the whole world." So then, after the greatest
fuss that ever you knew in your life, she said you should not be turned
away till Lady Aurora was gone.'
Ellis, however, hurt by this recital, rejoiced in the reprieve.
The difficulties, nevertheless, of Mrs Maple did not end here; the next
morning she received a note from Mrs Howel, with intelligence that Lady
Aurora Granville was prevented from making her intended excursion, by a
very violent cold; and to entreat that Mrs Maple would use her interest
with Miss Ellis, to soften Her Ladyship's disappointment, by spending
the day at Howel Place; for which purpose Mrs Howel begged leave to send
her carriage, at an early hour, to Lewes.
Mrs Maple read this with a choler indescribable. She would have sent
word that Ellis was ill, but she foresaw an endless embarrassment from
inquiring visits; and, after the most fretful, but fruitless
lamentations, passionately declared that she would have nothing more to
do with the business, and retired to her room; telling Elinor that she
might answer Mrs Howel as she pleased, only charging her to take upon
herself all responsibility of consequences.
Elinor, enchanted, fixed upon two o'clock for the arrival of the
carriage; and Ellis, who heard the tidings with even exquisite joy,
spent the intermediate time in preparations, for which she no longer
declined the assisting offers of Elinor, who, wild with renovated
spirits, exhorted her, now in raillery, now in earnest, but always with
agitated vehemence, to make no scruple of going off with Lord Melbury to
Gretna Green.
When the chaise arrived, Mrs Maple restless and curious, suddenly
descended; but was filled with double envy and malevolence, at sight of
the look of pleasure which Ellis wore; but which gave to Harleigh a
satisfaction that counter-balanced his regret at her quitting the house.
'I have only one thing to mention to you, Mrs Ellis,' said Mrs Maple,
with a gloomy scowl; 'I insist upon it that you don't say one syllable
to Mrs Howel, nor to Lady Aurora, about your meanness, and low
condition, and that ragged state that we found you in, patched, and
blacked, and made up for an object to excite pity. Mind that! for if you
go to Howel Place only to make out that I have been telling a parcel of
stories, I shall be sure to discover it, and you shall repent it as long
as you live.'
Ellis seemed tempted to leave the room without condescending to make any
reply; but she checked herself, and desired to understand more clearly
what Mrs Maple demanded.
'That there may be only one tale told between us, and that you will be
steady to stand to what I have said, of your being a young lady of good
family, who came over with me from France.'
Ellis, without hesitation, consented; and Harleigh handed her to the
chaise, Mrs Maple herself not knowing how to object to that civility, as
the servants of Mrs Howel were waiting to attend their lady's guest.
'How happy, how relieved,' cried he, in conducting her out, 'will you
feel in obtaining at last, a little reprieve from the narrow prejudice
which urges this cruel treatment!'
'You must not encourage me to resentment,' cried she, smiling, 'but
rather bid me, as I bid myself, when I feel it rising, subdue it by
recollecting my strange--indefinable situation in this family!'