After staying one night at a hotel, we went into private lodgings at
Brompton.
For several days after our arrival, my brother was employed in the
pleasant duty of escorting his wife and mother-in-law--on a round of
visits to their numerous old acquaintances, while I was left to wander
alone through the streets of the stupendous city. I had anticipated
some little pleasure in visiting the far-famed metropolis; but in this I
was disappointed; and soon began to feel regret for having left behind
me the free life I had been pursuing on the gold-fields.
I had some business, however, to transact, even in London. The gold I
had obtained in California--along with that bequeathed to me by poor old
Stormy Jack--had been forwarded to the Bank of England; and about a week
after my arrival, I went down to the city, to draw out the money deposit
that was due to me. On presenting myself to the cashier, I was told
that it would be necessary for me to bring some responsible person, to
say that my name was Rowland Stone. This individual must be known to
the authorities of the Bank.
This requirement placed me in a little dilemma. Where was I to find a
sponsor? I was a perfect stranger in London. So were my travelling
companions. I knew not a soul belonging to the great city--much less
one who should be known to the magnates of the Bank.
To whom should I apply?
When I had mentally repeated this question, for the twentieth time, I
bethought me of Captain Nowell. He should be the very man.
I at once hailed a cab; and drove to the address he had given me.
Fortunately he had arrived from Portsmouth; and was at home.
Without a moment's hesitation, he accompanied me to the Bank, where
everything was satisfactorily arranged. Instead of drawing out the
deposit, I added to it, by paying in an additional sum--consisting of
the gold I had gathered in Australia. My only object in troubling
myself about it at the time, was to make sure that the gold I had
forwarded from California had arrived safely, and was otherwise "all
right."
Before parting with Captain Nowell, he requested to know why I had not
gone to his house to see him sooner.
"Your coming to-day," he said, "was not a visit; and I shan't take it as
such. You only came to trouble me on business for which you needed me,
or probably I should not have seen you at all. You must pay me a
regular visit. Come to-morrow; or any time that best suits your
convenience. You know my style at sea? You'll find me just the same
ashore. Don't forget that I've something to show you--something you had
better have a look at, before you choose elsewhere."
I gave the kind-hearted Captain my promise to call upon him--though not
from any inclination to be assisted by him in the way he seemed to wish.
The finding a wife was a thing that was far--very far from my thoughts.
Several days had elapsed after my interview with Captain Nowell; and
each day I was becoming more discontented, with the life I was leading
in London. My brother, his wife, and Mrs Morell, were very kind to me;
and strove to make me as happy as possible. But much of their time was
taken up in paying visits, or spent in amusements, in which I could feel
no interest. I soon found that to be contented, it would be necessary
for me, either to take an active part in the busy scenes of life, or be
in possession of great domestic happiness. The latter I could never
expect to attain; and London appeared to present no employment so well
suited to my disposition and habits, as that I had followed upon the
gold-fields.
I might have passed some of my time very pleasantly in the company of
Captain Nowell; but I was prevented from availing myself of that
pleasure--even of paying my promised visit to him--by the very thing
that might otherwise have attracted me. I had no desire to form the
acquaintance of the young lady, he had spoken of; and for me to call at
his house might give occasion for him, as well as others, to think
differently.
I admit that I may have been over-scrupulous in this matter: since
Captain Nowell and I had become fast, and intimate friends. But from
what he had already said, I could not visit the young lady, and remain
indifferent to her, without the conclusion being come to, that I thought
her unworthy of my regard, and that, after seeing, I had formed an
unfavourable opinion of her. It may have been silliness on my part;
allowing such a thought to prevent my visiting a friend; but, as I had
not come to London wife-hunting, I did not desire others to think that I
had. To me, matrimony was no more a pleasant subject for
contemplation--especially when it referred to myself--and the few words,
spoken to me by the captain on that theme, had been sufficient to defeat
the only object he probably had any particular wish to attain: that I
should call upon him and partake of his hospitality.
About a month after our arrival in London, I inquired at the General
Post Office for letters from Australia; and had the pleasure of
receiving two. One was from Olliphant, the other from my sister.
Martha's was a true woman's letter: that could be read once by the
recipient, and then easily forgotten. It was full of kind words for all
of us in London; but the only information to be obtained from it was,
that she thought well of everybody, and was herself exceedingly happy.
Perhaps I was more gratified with the contents of Olliphant's letter,
from which I select the following extract:--
"On our return to Sydney, I learnt that my father had just got back from
a visit to England--which he had long before determined on making. I
was very anxious to see him, in the hope that we might become friends
again; but, knowing that the first advances towards a reconciliation
must come from himself, I would not go to him. I could not think of
acknowledging myself sorry, for having done that which I knew to be
right. The only step I could make, towards the accomplishment of my
wishes, was to put myself in communication with a mutual friend; and let
him know that I had returned to Sydney. I did not omit to add, that I
had returned from the diggings with a full purse: for I knew that this
would also be communicated to my father, and might have some effect upon
him of a favourable character.
"It appeared as if I had not been mistaken. Three days after, the
governor called at the hotel where I was staying; and met me as a father
should meet a son, whom he has not seen for more than three years. I
was no little surprised at the turn things had taken: for, knowing the
old gentleman's obstinate disposition, I did not expect a settlement
either so prompt, or satisfactory. I presumed it would take some time
and trouble, to get on good terms with him again.
"He seemed greatly pleased with Martha's appearance; and they became
fast friends all at once.
"`I like the look of you,' said he to her, `and am willing to believe
that you are worthy of Alex; and that is saying a good deal for you.
Ah, my son,' continued he, addressing himself to me, `had you brought
home your London cousin for a wife--as I commanded you to do--should
certainly have horsewhipped you on your return. When I came to see her
in London, I soon changed my mind about her. She is nothing but an ugly
silly fool; and too conceited to know it. I admire your spirit for
disobeying orders, and marrying a girl, whom I am not ashamed to
acknowledge as my daughter.'
"We shall leave town to-morrow for my father's station; and the only
thing we require now to make us perfectly happy, is the company of
yourself, William and his wife, I hope that after you have tried the
`Old Country' for a few weeks, you will believe, as I do, that it is
only a place for flunkeys and snobs; and that every young man of
enterprise and energy should come out here, where life can be spent to
some purpose--worthy of the toil that all ought to endure. I shall
expect to see you in Sydney within the next year."
There was a strong suspicion in my mind, that "The Elephant" was right,
in believing I would soon return to the colonies. Why should I remain
in London? I could be nothing there. It was different with my brother.
He might now be happy anywhere. He only wanted a spot, where he might
tranquilly await his final departure from the world, while I was a
Rolling Stone that must roll on--or be miserable.
The more consideration I gave to the circumstance, the more determined
did I become to part from London: and go to some land, where youth and
health were worth possessing. I could feel that the blessings, Nature
had bestowed on me were not worth much in London, where men are enslaved
by customs and laws that subject the million to the dominion of the few.
I determined, therefore, on going, where I should be regarded as the
equal of those around me, where there was room for me to move, without
the danger of being crushed by a crowd of self-sufficient creatures--
most of whom were in reality more insignificant than myself. I should
join "The Elephant" in New South Wales; and perhaps become a man of some
influence in a land where the sun is to be seen every day.
I at this time regretted, that I had ever been a Rolling Stone. I
believed that a man may be happier who has never wandered from home to
learn lessons of discontent, and become the slave of desires, that in
one place can never be gratified. Each spot of earth has its peculiar
advantages, and is in some respects superior to all others. By
wandering in many lands, and partaking of their respective pleasures, we
become imbued with many desires to which we look back with regret when
they can no longer be gratified. After residing in a tropical climate,
who can encounter the chilling blasts of a northern winter, without
longing:
"For green verandahs hung with flowers,
For marble founts, and orange bowers?"
And when nearly cooked by the scorching sun--when tortured at every turn
by reptiles, and maddened by the worry of winged insects--we sigh for
the bracing breezes of a northern clime, and the social joys of the
homes which are there found--a happiness such as my brother might now be
permitted to enjoy, but which was for ever denied to me.
With such reflections constantly passing through my mind, I felt that
London, large as it was, could not contain me much longer; and I only
waited, until some slight turning of Fortune's wheel would bestir me to
make a fresh start for the Antipodes.
Volume Three, Chapter XXIV.