The exposure which had taken place separated the Rashleighs for ever.
Challenges were interchanged between the gentlemen at the same hour.
The selfish woman who had thus brought disgrace on her husband, herself,
and the man she had infatuated by her art, lost all prudence in her
ungovernable state of excitement, and wrote a passionate appeal, from
her retirement near Newlands, entreating Captain Fairfax to see her once
again. But Sir Adrian had placed his nephew under arrest. Mrs
Rashleigh had the hardihood to endeavour to force her way into his
quarters by night; she was repelled from the door at the point of the
bayonet, the sentry having due orders to prevent the ingress of such a
visitor. In vain she implored, in vain she stormed.
Captain Walton kept watch upon his brother aide-de-camp within, and
would not let him yield to the temptress.
Clarence resigned his appointment on his uncle's staff, and was ordered
to England forthwith.
Lady Amabel and I were in the library with Sir Adrian when his nephew
entered to take his leave. It was before official hours, and such a
meeting was wholly unexpected on our part, nor perhaps had he
anticipated it.
Lady Amabel could not pass him by; her heart was full--her eyes swimming
with tears as he caught her hand.
"Dear aunt," said he, "_you_ will wish me well."
"Sit down, Amabel; sit down, Miss Daveney," said Sir Adrian.
"Yes, Clarence, they will both wish you well; I do, from my soul; I take
some blame to myself in this wretched business; but what is done cannot
be undone. You have been the victim of that wretched, worthless being,
whom it would be an insult to name here. Sit down, my lad, amongst us
again; we are all deucedly sorry to part with you; when we meet again,
you will be all the wiser for this business, I hope. I hardly like to
let you go, but I suppose I must. I shall not get on at all well
without you, my dear boy. Confound that devil.
"Well, Amabel, it is enough to make any one swear; for, now that she is
fairly down, every one comes forward to say that she ought to have been
banished from society long ago. I don't pity her one bit," continued
the General, rising and pacing the chamber; "but I am heartily vexed to
think she has seduced my sister's son, and in this affair _she_ is the
seducer, not Clarence."
"Oh! sir, I deserve more reproaches than you dream of," replied his
nephew. "I cannot stay; I unworthy of any kindness or consideration.
Aunt, God bless you."
Lady Amabel was sobbing audibly.