Lord Maudlaine had indeed left the Castle, but not for the reason Brace
Norton had hoped. The time was getting on, and a hint or two to that
effect from his friend in London had induced him to seek an opportunity
for speaking to Isa alone.
The opportunity was soon afforded him, for Sir Murray, guessing his
wish, and himself anxious that the marriage should take place, left them
one evening together in the drawing-room, while he sought his study,
where, a quarter of an hour after, the Viscount came to him.
"What! so soon?" said Sir Murray.
"Utter refusal--appeal to my feelings--impossible to accept me--and all
that sort of thing," said the Viscount, angrily. "I'm being played
with, Sir Murray Gernon," he exclaimed, bitterly--"led on and trifled
with!"
"Are you willing to take her as she is--to risk all?" said Sir Murray,
quietly.
"Quite--yes, of course," said his lordship.
"Stay here, then, till I return," said Sir Murray.
He went to the drawing-room, where he found Isa, vainly striving to keep
back her tears.
"Come here and sit down, Isa," he said, in quiet, measured tones.
"There, don't tremble," he said, as he took her hand. "I'm not very
angry with you, and I'm not going to scold and play the tyrant. You
have just refused Lord Maudlaine, when you know that for months past it
has been an understood thing that he was to be your husband. I do not
ask you why you have done this, because I know. While we were in Italy
there was no opposition shown upon your side; since we have returned you
have often made me blush for the coldness--almost rudeness--with which
you have treated him."
"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Isa, appealingly.
"You must hear me out," he said sternly. "I will tell you why you are
cold to him: it is because you think that you love this Brace Norton;
and, irrespective of the feeling between our houses, were he a man of
honour, he would, after my words to him, have ceased his persecution."
"Your words!" faltered Isa.
"My words," he said sternly. "I saw him, and I have appealed to him in
every way, but only to meet with an obstinate refusal. Then I brought
to bear means that at the time I believed to be effectual. This is no
silly romance of love, my child, but stern fact, that I have to deal
with. I have chosen Lord Maudlaine to be your husband. You will be a
titled lady, and some day wear a Countess's coronet. You will both be
wealthy, and let me tell you that it is an alliance to be proud of.
Now, promise me that, if I send him in, you will accede to his
proposals."
Isa was silent.
"You hear me, Isa," he said, gently--"why do you not reply? You will
accede to his wishes, will you not?"
"I cannot," said Isa, in a whisper. "It would be a mockery!"
"Absurd, silly, romantic nonsense, my child! You must accept him, and
at once. I wish to have your marriage off my mind before I return to
Italy; for I cannot stay in this place."
"Let us go, then, together!" said Isa, eagerly. "Why do you trouble
about this matter at all?"
"It is my wish to see you married, and to Lord Maudlaine," he said,
firmly. "I cannot live with the constant harass of this man's
pretensions. I tell you, on my honour as a gentleman--since you set at
nought my word as your father--that a marriage between you and Brace
Norton is an impossibility. I told him--lowering myself even to giving
him the reasons; and the man's character is such that--here, look, I
have his letter to you, and which I refuse to let you read. I tell you,
Isa, that in spite of my moroseness at times, I have a love for you from
the way in which you recall your mother; but I would see you in your
coffin sooner than the wife of this man!"
"But, papa--dear papa," sobbed Isa, "you are prejudiced--you are cruel!
You do not know how good, and brave, and true he is, and I love him so--
so dearly!"
She threw herself, sobbing, upon his breast, hiding her burning cheeks;
while, apparently softened, he held her to him--a sad, wild, pained look
in his face, as he kissed and smoothed her long, dark tresses.
"My child," he said, sadly, "I own I hate father and son with a fierce,
undying hatred; but it is not that alone which makes me tell you that
Brace Norton can never be your husband. Can you not believe me when I
tell you that every word I utter is solemn truth?"
"Yes--oh yes!" sobbed Isa.
"Then you will see Lord Maudlaine?"
"Indeed--indeed, I cannot!" sobbed Isa. "I--"
"Hush!" said Sir Murray, sternly, as, rising, he stood holding her hand.
"In plain terms, you must. Hearken to me, Isa. You know me only as a
cold, harsh, and bitter man; an unhappy life has made me what I am.
Proud I was always: but I might have been amiable--loving and loved--but
it was not to be. I have still some traces of better feeling left; and
I ask you--I implore you--not to force me to make revelations that shall
prove the impossibility of your wedding Brace Norton. I might look over
his father having been the bane of my life, and, did I see that it was
for your happiness, give way; but once again, I tell you that it is
impossible. Will you take my word?"
Isa looked up into his face with an aspect that was pitiable.
"Can you feel no pity for me?" she whispered.
"Yes," he said, gently; "I am having pity on you, though you cannot see
it, and are obliged blindly to take my word. And now I ask you, can you
not have pity on me?"
Isa sat as if stunned, while, throwing her hand from him, Sir Murray
strode for awhile up and down the room. Then, returning to her, he
again seated himself by her side.
"Look here, Isa," he said, "Lord Maudlaine wishes this affair to take
place at the end of this month. I may tell him that you consent, may I
not?"
"No!" she said, her spirit rising at the thought of being forced into
accepting a man she despised. "I will not consent."
"You are blind, Isa--blind!" he said, sadly; and then a groan seemed to
tear itself from his breast, as he bent over her, speaking in low,
hoarse tones.
"I would have spared you," he said; "for whatever you might have felt
for this young man, Isa, you had the one good excuse, that you had
obeyed me in accepting Lord Maudlaine. Time will not allow that the
wedding should longer be deferred. It is his wish that it should take
place at once--and mine; for my life is a burden to me here. I lead the
life of one haunted by the past; and it was only when, moved by some
strange impulse that I could not counteract, I returned, to find,
what?--misery, and disappointment, and scenes that remind me of what
should have been my happier days. But, once more, do you force me to
this avowal? I ask you again to spare yourself and me, taking it for
granted that what I tell you is right. May I refrain, and then tell
Lord Maudlaine to come to you?"
"I cannot--indeed I cannot!" imploringly exclaimed Isa.
Sir Murray rose, his face working and his whole aspect speaking of the
careworn, broken man. Then waiting a few moments, he stood with one
hand shading his eyes, before again speaking.
"Isa," he said, "Jane McCray has acted the part of a mother to you, at
your own mother's wish; and I have ever kept her at your side. Go to
her now, and ask her why I have never shown you a father's love--a
parent's tender care; and though she will utter a strenuous defence of
the dead, you may read in her words my reason for saying that Brace
Norton can never be your husband. You will know yourself that it is
impossible that such an union can take place; for, before Heaven, my
child, I believe every word I utter to be true!"
Book 2, Chapter XXVII.