THE PRIVILEGE OF GENIUS.--LESTER’S SATISFACTION AT THE ASPECT
OF EVENTS.--HIS CONVERSATION WITH WALTER.--A DISCOVERY.
“Alc.--I am for Lidian:
This accident no doubt will draw him from his hermit’s life!
“Lis.--Spare my grief, and apprehend
What I should speak.”
--Beaumont and Fletcher.--The Lovers’ Progress.
In the course of the various conversations our family of Grassdale
enjoyed with their singular neighbour, it appeared that his knowledge
had not been confined to the closet; at times, he dropped remarks
which shewed that he had been much among cities, and travelled with the
design, or at least with the vigilance, of the observer; but he did
not love to be drawn into any detailed accounts of what he had seen,
or whither he had been; an habitual though a gentle reserve, kept watch
over the past--not indeed that character of reserve which excites the
doubt, but which inspires the interest. His most gloomy moods were
rather abrupt and fitful than morose, and his usual bearing was calm,
soft, and even tender.
There is a certain charm about great superiority of intellect,
that winds into deep affections which a much more constant and even
amiability of manners in lesser men, often fails to reach. Genius makes
many enemies, but it makes sure friends--friends who forgive much,
who endure long, who exact little; they partake of the character of
disciples as well as friends. There lingers about the human heart a
strong inclination to look upward--to revere: in this inclination
lies the source of religion, of loyalty, and also of the worship and
immortality which are rendered so cheerfully to the great of old. And
in truth, it is a divine pleasure to admire! admiration seems in some
measure to appropriate to ourselves the qualities it honours in others.
We wed,--we root ourselves to the natures we so love to contemplate,
and their life grows a part of our own. Thus, when a great man, who has
engrossed our thoughts, our conjectures, our homage, dies, a gap seems
suddenly left in the world; a wheel in the mechanism of our own being
appears abruptly stilled; a portion of ourselves, and not our worst
portion, for how many pure, high, generous sentiments it contains, dies
with him! Yes! it is this love, so rare, so exalted, and so denied to
all ordinary men, which is the especial privilege of greatness, whether
that greatness be shewn in wisdom, in enterprise, in virtue, or even,
till the world learns better, in the more daring and lofty order of
crime. A Socrates may claim it to-day--a Napoleon to-morrow; nay, a
brigand chief, illustrious in the circle in which he lives, may call it
forth no less powerfully than the generous failings of a Byron, or the
sublime excellence of the greater Milton.
Lester saw with evident complacency the passion growing up between
his friend and his daughter; he looked upon it as a tie that would
permanently reconcile Aram to the hearth of social and domestic life; a
tie that would constitute the happiness of his daughter, and secure to
himself a relation in the man he felt most inclined, of all he knew, to
honour and esteem. He remarked in the gentleness and calm temper of
Aram much that was calculated to ensure domestic peace, and knowing
the peculiar disposition of Madeline, he felt that she was exactly the
person, not only to bear with the peculiarities of the Student, but to
venerate their source. In short, the more he contemplated the idea of
this alliance, the more he was charmed with its probability.
Musing on this subject, the good Squire was one day walking in his
garden, when he perceived his nephew at some distance, and remarked that
Walter, on seeing him, was about, instead of coming forward to meet him,
to turn down an alley in an opposite direction.
A little pained at this, and remembering that Walter had of late seemed
estranged from himself, and greatly altered from the high and cheerful
spirits natural to his temper, Lester called to his nephew; and Walter,
reluctantly and slowly changing his purpose of avoidance, advanced and
met him.
“Why, Walter!” said the uncle, taking his arm; “this is somewhat unkind,
to shun me; are you engaged in any pursuit that requires secrecy or
haste?”
“No, indeed, Sir!” said Walter, with some embarrassment; “but I thought
you seemed wrapped in reflection, and would naturally dislike being
disturbed.”
“Hem! as to that, I have no reflections I wish concealed from you,
Walter, or which might not be benefited by your advice.” The youth
pressed his uncle’s hand, but made no reply; and Lester, after a pause,
continued:--
“You seem, Walter, I am most delighted to think, entirely to have
overcome the little unfavourable prepossession which at first you
testified towards our excellent neighbour. And for my part, I think
he appears to be especially attracted towards yourself, he seeks your
company; and to me he always speaks of you in terms, which, coming from
such a quarter, give me the most lively gratification.”
Walter bowed his head, but not in the delighted vanity with which a
young man generally receives the assurance of another’s praise.
“I own,” renewed Lester, “that I consider our friendship with Aram one
of the most fortunate occurrences in my life; at least,” added he with
a sigh, “of late years. I doubt not but you must have observed the
partiality with which our dear Madeline evidently regards him; and yet
more, the attachment to her, which breaks forth from Aram, in spite
of his habitual reserve and self-control. You have surely noted this,
Walter?”
“I have,” said Walter, in a low tone, and turning away his head.
“And doubtless you share my satisfaction. It happens fortunately now,
that Madeline early contracted that studious and thoughtful turn, which
I must own at one time gave me some uneasiness and vexation. It has
taught her to appreciate the value of a mind like Aram’s. Formerly, my
dear boy, I hoped that at one time or another, she and yourself might
form a dearer connection than that of cousins. But I was disappointed,
and I am now consoled. And indeed I think there is that in Ellinor which
might be yet more calculated to render you happy; that is, if the bias
of your mind should ever lean that way.”
“You are very good,” said Walter, bitterly. “I own I am not flattered by
your selection; nor do I see why the plainest and least brilliant of the
two sisters must necessarily be the fittest for me.”
“Nay,” replied Lester, piqued, and justly angry, “I do not think, even
if Madeline have the advantage of her sister, that you can find any
fault with the personal or mental attractions of Ellinor. But indeed
this is not a matter in which relations should interfere. I am far from
any wish to prevent you from choosing throughout the world any one
whom you may prefer. All I hope is, that your future wife will be like
Ellinor in kindness of heart and sweetness of temper.”
“From choosing throughout the world!” repeated Walter; “and how in this
nook am I to see the world?”
“Walter! your voice is reproachful!--do I deserve it?”
Walter was silent.
“I have of late observed,” continued Lester, “and with wounded feelings,
that you do not give me the same confidence, or meet me with the same
affection, that you once delighted me by manifesting towards me. I know
of no cause for this change. Do not let us, my son, for I may so call
you--do not let us, as we grow older, grow also more apart. Time divides
with a sufficient demarcation the young from the old; why deepen the
necessary line? You know well, that I have never from your childhood
insisted heavily on a guardian’s authority. I have always loved to
contribute to your enjoyments, and shewn you how devoted I am to your
interests, by the very frankness with which I have consulted you on my
own. If there be now on your mind any secret grievance, or any secret
wish, speak it, Walter:--you are alone with the friend on earth who
loves you best!”
Walter was wholly overcome by this address: he pressed his good
uncle’s hand to his lips, and it was some moments before he mustered
self-composure sufficient to reply.
“You have ever, ever been to me all that the kindest parent, the
tenderest friend could have been:--believe me, I am not ungrateful.
If of late I have been altered, the cause is not in you. Let me speak
freely: you encourage me to do so. I am young, my temper is restless; I
have a love of enterprise and adventure: is it not natural that I should
long to see the world? This is the cause of my late abstraction of mind.
I have now told you all: it is for you to decide.”
Lester looked wistfully on his nephew’s countenance before he replied--
“It is as I gathered,” said he, “from various remarks which you have
lately let fall. I cannot blame your wish to leave us; it is certainly
natural: nor can I oppose it. Go, Walter, when you will!”
The young man turned round with a lighted eye and flushed cheek.
“And why, Walter?” said Lester, interrupting his thanks, “why this
surprise? why this long doubt of my affection? Could you believe I
should refuse a wish that, at your age, I should have expressed myself?
You have wronged me; you might have saved a world of pain to us both by
acquainting me with your desire when it was first formed; but, enough. I
see Madeline and Aram approach,--let us join them now, and to-morrow we
will arrange the time and method of your departure.
“Forgive me, Sir,” said Walter, stopping abruptly as the glow faded
from his cheek, “I have not yet recovered myself; I am not fit for other
society than yours. Excuse my joining my cousin, and--”
“Walter!” said Lester, also stopping short and looking full on his
nephew, “a painful thought flashes upon me! Would to heaven I may be
wrong!--Have you ever felt for Madeline more tenderly than for her
sister?”
Walter literally trembled as he stood. The tears rushed into Lester’s
eyes:--he grasped his nephew’s hand warmly--
“God comfort thee, my poor boy!” said he, with great emotion; “I never
dreamt of this.”
Walter felt now that he was understood. He gratefully returned the
pressure of his uncle’s hand, and then, withdrawing his own, darted down
one of the intersecting walks, and was almost instantly out of sight.