ALRINA'S FIRST LOVE-LETTER.
The wine and dessert had remained on the table, although all but
Frederick had dined long ago. The two brothers sat over their wine, as
Mrs. Courland had requested them to do; but their time was otherwise
employed than in drinking wine. Mr. Morley related to his brother the
history of his life, from the time of their father's death, and his
miraculous escape from the shipwreck. Frederick, in return, related to
his brother the incidents of his life,--his miraculous preservation on
the cliffs at the Land's-End; Josiah's prompt assistance; the discovery
of the box of gold; the conjuror;--indeed, all except his love-affair.
That he retained as a secret still. They had much to tell, and the
brothers sat late.
It was a great relief to Mr. Morley's mind to know that their father's
box was safe. That Mr. Freeman knew something about the parties, he had
no doubt whatever, and he was now as anxious as his brother was to find
him, in order to obtain any information he might be able to give them;
for Josiah, who had been sent for into the dining-room, to give them a
description of the "man of cunning," and his habits and mode of life,
said that "The Maister" knew "bra' things."
Alrina was mentioned by Frederick; but he did not tell all respecting
her, nor did he so far confide in his brother as to tell him of the
plighted troth which existed between them. Mr. Morley guessed, however,
that there was something more than disinterested friendship in his
brother's anxiety on her account.
The discovery of the house in which the murder had been committed was
also told; and the brothers determined to go to the deserted house again
the next day, and effect an entrance, when they might possibly discover
some clue to the mystery.
When they were about to separate for the night, Mr. Morley gave his
brother a letter which he said had been left at the "First and Last Inn"
for him; but as he supposed it had come from Ashley Hall, he did not
think of giving it to him before, as he had no doubt heard its contents
from the lady herself. Frederick took the letter and put it into his
pocket, intending to read it in his bedroom. He could not imagine who
could have written it. It could not have been either his aunt or sister;
for they would no doubt have mentioned it, if it had come from them.
The ladies had retired long ago; and the brothers, being tired, followed
their example.
When Frederick had closed the door of his room, he took out the letter
and examined the address, which appeared to be written in pencil. He did
not know the handwriting. It was a neat lady-like hand. At first he
thought of Miss Pendray,--but what could she have to write him about? At
last he broke the seal, and was astonished as well as delighted, to find
that it was a letter from Alrina--a short letter evidently written in
haste. So he sat down and almost devoured its contents.
ALRINA'S LETTER.
_My own dear Frederick_,
_May I call you so? Yes; I feel I may,--and yet I scarcely know
what to say or how to begin a letter to you. But who else can I
look to? Oh! Frederick, I am very, very unhappy. My father
discovered our meetings. He knows our secret,--by what means I know
not._
_I was in a state of stupor for a long time, and when I recovered
myself I was in a strange place. How I was conveyed here, or when,
I do not know. I am puzzled and bewildered._
_The house is surrounded by high walls on every side. My father has
been absent,--I have only seen him once. I think this house must be
near the sea; for the owner dresses like a sailor, and I overhear
conversations which lead me to believe he is connected with
smugglers. His wife is older than he is. Oh! Frederich, she is such
a tyrant, and treats that poor girl shamefully. (I forgot to say
they have a young girl living with them, whom they call their
niece.) Poor girl! I pity her; but I am not allowed to speak to
her,--indeed, she seems to forbid it herself, by placing her finger
on her lips whenever I happen to meet her. I hear her cries, poor
child!_
_There is some mystery about her,--I feel convinced of this. I hear
whisperings. My aunt is in the secret, whatever it is. The two
women have been closeted continually. I am closely watched and
guarded--I know that; so that I amuse myself by watching too, and
listening; but I cannot learn much. Yesterday the man went out, and
took the girl with him; and soon after, my aunt told me she was
going a short journey, and I must remain here until her return. I
am accustomed to hear of her short journeys. She often went from
home; but the journeys appeared to be long ones,--she generally
stayed away a fortnight. All is mystery. The old woman keeps guard
over me. The boy Billy, whom you may have seen in poor Mr. Brown's
stable, came with my father, and he managed to get me this sheet of
paper and a pencil unknown to anyone. I am writing now as a
prisoner; for the old woman locks me in when she is not with me. I
am thankful to be alone, for then I can think of you,--and oh! how
pleasant the thought. When I shall see you again I know not,--and
whether I shall be able to send this letter after I have written
it, God only knows; but it is a pleasure, in my solitude, to write
my thoughts and my troubles, to one who will feel for me. I shall
try to send this by the boy, should he ever come here again. Hark!
I hear the bolt of the door drawn back. She comes! Adieu!_
_Your fond and loving_
ALRINA.
Frederick read Alrina's letter over and over again, as he paced the
floor of his bedroom in mad agitation. He had wasted his time by coming
after this waggon, while his Alrina was probably still within a few
miles of her former habitation. Had he received this letter before he
started, he might have rescued her; but now! it may be too late. Several
days had passed,--days? yes, nearly a fortnight since that letter was
written. "Fool! madman! idiot!" he exclaimed as he paced the floor. "Why
did I not enquire more strictly before I took this fool's journey?"
Exhausted nature gave way at last, and, throwing himself on the bed, he
slept heavily till Josiah came to call him for their usual early
morning's ride. He had not taken off his clothes, so that, after a
refreshing wash, he went out into the garden followed by Josiah. The
fresh morning air invigorated him, and restored tranquillity to his
mind; and he was enabled to tell his faithful follower the principal
contents of the letter.
"Well, sar," said Josiah, "that's a whisht job sure nuf; but what's done
caen't be helped. Ef har fe-a-ther es a conjuror, you arn't, I s'pose;
so how cud you tell that she wor there?"
"True," said Frederick, who now began to see the folly of reflecting on
himself for coming to Bristol instead of remaining in Cornwall--a
mistake which it was impossible he could have seen the result of.
"We have done something by coming here, however," he continued,
reflectively; "we have discovered that lonely house. Now, I think you
had better remain here with my brother; for I feel convinced that by
entering that house, some discovery will be made. In the meantime I will
return and seek Alrina and her father. If I can find that boy, I shall
succeed without a doubt in rescuing her."
"Iss; but semmen to me that two 'f's' do belong to that," said Josiah.
"What do you mean by 'two f's?'" exclaimed Frederick.
"Why, the fust es, _ef_ you cud find the boy," replied Josiah; "and the
next es, _ef_ she's there still. You don't knaw that boy so well as I
do; but 'tes no harm to try. I'll go home, or stay here, whichever you
plaise; but there's one thing I ha' got to say, that I b'lieve we wor
'pon a good scent, after all."
"What do you mean?" asked Morley.
"Why, I heard somethen' spoke down in the servants' hall last night,
that I ha' b'en thinken' about a bra' deal; but I cudn't, to save my
life, make the two ends to 'kidgey' like; but your letter ha' opened my
eyes all abroad."
"You are speaking in enigmas, Josiah," said his master.
"I don't knaw what sort of things they are, not I," said Josiah; "but
putten' this agen that, I can see a bra' way this mornen', I think."
"What are you driving at?" said Morley, looking puzzled.
"Why, this here es about the size of et," replied Josiah, looking very
wise,--"Miss Freeman wor in that woggen, so sure as my name es 'Siah
Trenow."
"How can you possibly know that?" cried Morley, very much excited.
"Well, I don't knaw et zackly," replied Josiah; "but the porter said,
last night, that there ha' b'en a woman up there two or three times
spaken' to Mrs. Courland, an' he watched her in an' out o' that little
gate in the garden; and by what he said, I do b'lieve 'tes she. He
chalked her out zackly, semmen to me."
"Whatever could she be doing here?" asked Morley. "It is quite absurd to
think of such a thing."
"Zackly like that," said Josiah; "but I do b'lieve 'twor she, an' that
man an' the little maid wor the ones that Miss Reeney spoke about. 'Tes
some new manoeuvre of 'The Maister's,' I'll be bound, an' I shall watch
like a cat watching a mouse. Dedn't Miss Reeney say that he knaw'd all
about you, an' everything. He wor watching you when you dedn't knaw et,
down there, I'll be bound. An' now he ha' sent she for to tell your aunt
somethen'."
At this point of their conversation, they were joined by Mr. Morley, to
whom Frederick read the most material portions of Alrina's letter, and
Josiah repeated his suspicions that Miss Freeman was lurking about the
neighbourhood. If so, they had no doubt she was there on some errand
from her brother respecting Frederick Morley. What it was they couldn't
imagine. It was arranged therefore that Frederick should return to
Cornwall again in search of Alrina and her father; while Mr. Morley and
Josiah should remain at Ashley Hall, for the purpose of making what
discovery they could in the deserted house, and of finding out whether
Miss Freeman was really in the neighbourhood, and what she was about.
So, after an early breakfast, their plans were formed, and Mr. Morley
and Josiah proceeded to the deserted house, while Frederick rode on the
wings of love to the rescue of his imprisoned enchantress.