How many fruitless beatings of the heart there are in the world!
Whether it be from fear, anxiety, agitation, hope, anger, love,
hatred, that beating of the heart is one of the most vain and useless
operations which any part of the human frame performs. The heart of
Chandos Winslow beat very idly at the door of General Tracy's house,
in Green-street. He fancied that in about a minute and a half he would
be in the presence of Rose Tracy, he painted to himself her looks,
he seemed to hear her words; but when he found himself in the
drawing-room, the General was there alone; and the very simple words,
"Bring dinner," which were uttered as soon as he entered, showed him
as plainly as if the General had spoken an oration, that he and his
host were to dine tête-à-tête. He felt a good deal disappointed; but
he did not suffer his mortification to appear; and in about ten
minutes he was seated at the hospitable board and partaking of a very
excellent, though plain dinner. The wines were all exceedingly good,
though not very various; and Sherry, of the best vintage, Madeira,
which had twice seen the Cape, with Oporto, which had lived as wine in
part of two centuries, supplied well the place of Champagne, of
Claret, and of Burgundy.
The General suffered the meal to pass by, and also the two first
glasses of wine after dinner, without touching upon anything which had
a business tone in it. Chandos found that Rose, Emily, and Mr. Tracy
had moved during the preceding day to that gentleman's house, in
Berkeley-square.
"There is a great deal to be done there," said General Tracy; "and it
is well that they should be on the spot."
Some short time after dinner, came one of those pauses which are
generally produced by a slight feeling of embarrassment on both parts.
Chandos was not sure whether General Tracy expected him to begin upon
the subject nearest his heart, or not; and the General himself, though
a very brave and determined man in most matters, shrunk a little from
the commencement of a conversation, in the course of which he felt
that pain might be given to one whom he liked and esteemed.
At length he forced himself to the task; and, after putting over the
decanter to his guest, and rubbing his right temple for a moment, he
said, "Your friend, Sir ----, made an admirable defence for you,
Winslow. I could only have wished that he had omitted a few words
about my pretty niece, Rose. I think it was unnecessary, and not
altogether judicious."
"Had I possessed any power of stopping him," replied Chandos Winslow;
"those words should never have been spoken, my dear Sir. But I very
well understand the motives on which Sir ---- acted. He only thought
of his client's defence; and judged it was necessary to assign or hint
some reason for not calling Miss Tracy on my part, as it had already
appeared that she was the last person with whom I spoke before the
murder. I am exceedingly grieved, however, that the slightest pain
should have been inflicted upon her for my sake."
"No, no," said General Tracy; "do not vex yourself about that. I am
not inclined to think that Rose has felt any pain on that account. The
reason why I feel sorry, is, that what he said must force forward
explanations, my young friend, which might have been better delayed.
No one can accuse you, Chandos, of having acted in any way but with
the most perfect delicacy, except, perhaps, in having induced Rose to
conceal from her family your real rank and name, while playing
gardener at Northferry."
"I trust, General Tracy," replied Chandos, "that you and your brother
are both perfectly well aware, I had no notion whatever, when I came
to Northferry, that my London acquaintance, Miss Tracy, was a daughter
of the master of the house. Had I been informed of the fact, I give
you my word of honour, I should not have played gardener there at all.
When I had once applied for the place, however, if I had not bound her
to secrecy, of course, I must have abandoned my whole scheme."
"That certainly makes a difference," said General Tracy, with a smile;
"and would make a greater difference still, if there had not been a
little bit of love in the case, my young friend."
"There was none when I came there," exclaimed Chandos, eagerly; "I had
but seen Miss Tracy once. I admired her, as all who see her must
admire her; but I can assure you there was nothing more: though I do
not mean to deny that longer acquaintance, and the circumstances in
which we have been placed with regard to each other, have changed what
was then mere admiration into the most sincere and devoted
attachment."
"Well, well," said General Tracy, "we will not dwell upon the past,
Chandos, but rather turn to consider the future. I must enter into
explanations with you, my young friend, painful for me to give, and
which, in their deductions, may be painful, I fear, to you also."
"Do not tell me not to hope, General Tracy," replied Chandos, in a
gloomy tone; "for that would take all power from the efforts which I
am called upon to make to change a bad situation into a good one."
"Such is not at all my intention," said the old officer. "But it is
necessary that your position with my sweet niece should be exactly
defined; and as my brother was not willing to enter upon any
explanation, I have taken it upon myself: so listen patiently. You
must have heard, at least, I will take it for granted you are aware,
that grave embarrassments have most suddenly and unexpectedly fallen
upon Rose's father. In short, he has acted like a great fool; and has
only for his excuse, that the madness is epidemic just now. The
Northferry estate was engaged for its full value, or very nearly so,
to meet the first pressing difficulty some time ago. A further debt,
to the amount of more than one hundred thousand pounds remained to be
paid; but to meet that, he had shares which at their then value would
have covered the sum within a few thousand pounds. Some of the shares
fell in value; and I saw that there would be a necessity for my
stepping in to his aid. I exacted from him authority, however, to sell
the whole of the rubbish on which he had been spending his fortune, in
order to realize as much as possible; but when I came to inquire, I
found that the shares were in the hands of a broker; and two days
after I discovered that this broker has absconded, carrying all with
him. A reaction is taking place--several of the lines have risen much
in the market. If my brother had possession of the papers, all could
be cleared in an hour. But the man's retreat is not to be discovered;
and though he cannot sell them himself without great danger, he has
taken no steps as yet to negociate for the restitution of the property
to my brother, as we supposed might be the rascal's course. In the
mean while my brother was arrested and brought to London, where the
action was bailed; but a threat has been held out to make him a
bankrupt as a dealer--a thing most disgraceful to a gentleman. I have
always been anxious to spare my brother Arthur all unnecessary pain on
the subject, and willing to make any personal sacrifices for him; and,
after due consideration, I yesterday made a proposal to the creditors
to the following effect:--To sell my own estate; and, with the
reservation of ten thousand pounds for each of the girls, and ten
thousand more to buy an annuity for my own and my brother's lives, to
make over to them all the proceeds, upon their giving him a release,
and forbearing to strike a docket against him, with a covenant, that
if the papers respecting the shares are ever recovered, the whole
shall be sold to pay off what debt may remain. It is estimated by
competent persons, that what I offer, together with the proceeds of
the sale of his house in town, the books, pictures, &c., will afford a
dividend of about seventy per cent., and I think they will accept it.
My brother will then be saved from the disgrace of a bankruptcy court;
but you will remark that Rose's portion will be but ten thousand
pounds."
"I think I need hardly tell you, General Tracy," replied Chandos;
"that Miss Tracy's fortune was never for one moment a consideration
with me. Little or great, my attachment is the same, and would remain
so if she had nought but her hand to bestow."
General Tracy smiled. "You are too impetuous," he said. "I can easily
conceive that her fortune was no _inducement_, young gentleman; but a
matter of consideration it must be both with you and me. Could I
divide all I have at this moment between my two nieces, and give Rose
a portion which would enable you to live at ease, I should have no
hesitation, no care; but such is not the case. She has but a small
dower; you, if I mistake not, have not much more, and the amount that
you could together supply would not be sufficient to maintain you in
the station of life in which you have both been born. You have at
present no profession, Chandos; no means of increasing your income.
You must seek one--you must choose some course which will give a
reasonable hope of securing competence; and then, claim the dear
girl's hand if you will. I am not ambitious for my niece--I seek for
her neither high nor wealthy alliance; but I have lived long enough to
learn that, after health, competence is the best blessing of God. The
days of love in a cottage have long passed by; and as my brother has
fully authorized me to deal with this matter as I think fit, I say
thus shall it be--apply yourself to find some honourable means of
supporting a lady by your own abilities in the station of a lady, and
Rose Tracy's friends will oppose no obstacle; but till then, no sworn
vows or solemn engagements. If you cannot trust to her affection, her
affection is not worth having. If she cannot rely upon your honour,
she is better without yourself."
Chandos took his hand and pressed it warmly. "So be it," he said; "but
two questions more, General Tracy. What will you think sufficient to
justify us in marrying?"
"I have thought of no particular income," replied the old officer. "A
pursuit that may lead to one, is the first thing. As to the rest, say
five hundred a year more than you already possess together. Now for
the second question."
"It is, whether you intend to refuse me her society till such a point
be obtained," was Chandos Winslow's reply.
"Nay, Heaven forbid!" cried the old officer; "that were to inflict
unnecessary pain, and to take from you the best encouragement to
exertion. No! I trust entirely to your honour, my young friend, that
you do not pursue your suit beyond the bounds agreed upon; and, with
that understanding, when she becomes the inmate of my dwelling, as
will most likely soon be the case, you may see her when you
please--with due moderation, Chandos--with due moderation, remember."
"You thought that what you had to say would give me pain, my dear
General," answered Chandos; "but it is all I could wish or expect. I
have now an object in life, now a hope to lead me on; and energetic
efforts under such circumstances will not fail of success, I am sure.
I have, however, other tasks before me, which I must execute in the
first place, although I anticipate little success. If therefore, you
have any commands for Northferry, I am ready to perform them, as I
shall be down in that neighbourhood for a fortnight to come."
"I have none," replied the General. "Northferry and ourselves will
soon, I suppose, have to part for ever; and I should have thought your
connexion with that pleasant place was already severed. Alas! that it
should be so. I have come to that time of life, Chandos, when the
mind's food is memory. Hope is the pabulum of youth, my young friend;
recollection the diet of old age: and we cling to everything that
recalls pleasant memories, as one of your London diner's-out attaches
himself to a giver of good dinners. But what, I wonder, takes you to
Northferry?"
"A wild goose chase, I believe," answered Chandos; "I would fain
encourage expectation of some good resulting from it; but the hopes
fade away as soon as they are born; and I go more because a good and a
wise friend advises me, than from any conviction on my own part.
Neither do I exactly go to Northferry; but very near it I shall
certainly be, if you have any commands."
"Few, few," replied the General. "One thing, indeed, you may do, if
you will; namely, bring the little boy, Tim, to London with you. I
must put him to a school in the neighbourhood; for even misfortune
must not make me forget my given word."
Chandos promised to take all care of the boy; and the conversation
turned to other subjects.