A wreck from the last Lombard revolt landed upon our shores in June. His
right arm was in a sling, and his Italian servant following him, kept
close by his side, with a ready hand, as if fearing that at any moment
the wounded gentleman's steps might fail. There was no public war going
on just then: for which reason he was eyed suspiciously by the rest of
the passengers making their way up the beach; who seemed to entertain an
impression that he had no business at such a moment to be crippled,
and might be put down as one of those foreign fools who stand out for
a trifle as targets to fools a little luckier than themselves. Here,
within our salt girdle, flourishes common sense. We cherish life;
we abhor bloodshed; we have no sympathy with your juvenile points of
honour: we are, in short, a civilized people; and seeing that Success
has made us what we are, we advise other nations to succeed, or be
quiet. Of all of which the gravely-smiling gentleman appeared well
aware; for, with an eye that courted none, and a perfectly calm face, he
passed through the crowd, only once availing himself of his brown-faced
Beppo's spontaneously depressed shoulder when a twinge of pain shooting
from his torn foot took his strength away. While he remained in sight,
some speculation as to his nationality continued: he had been heard to
speak nothing but Italian, and yet the flower of English cultivation was
signally manifest in his style and bearing. The purchase of that day's
journal, giving information that the Lombard revolt was fully, it was
thought finally, crushed out, and the insurgents scattered, hanged, or
shot, suggested to a young lady in a group melancholy with luggage, that
the wounded gentleman was one who had escaped from the Austrians.
“Only, he is English.”
“If he is, he deserves what he's got.”
A stout Briton delivered this sentence, and gave in addition a sermon on
meddling, short, emphatic, and not uncheerful apparently, if estimated
by the hearty laugh that closed it; though a lady remarked, “Oh, dear
me! You are very sweeping.”
“By George! ma'am,” cried the Briton, holding out his newspaper, “here's
a leader on the identical subject, with all my views in it! Yes! those
Italians are absurd: they never were a people: never agreed. Egad! the
only place they're fit for is the stage. Art! if you like. They know all
about colouring canvas, and sculpturing. I don't deny 'em their merits,
and I don't mind listening to their squalling, now and then: though,
I'll tell you what: have you ever noticed the calves of those
singers?--I mean, the men. Perhaps not--for they' ve got none. They're
sticks, not legs. Who can think much of fellows with such legs? Now, the
next time you go to the Italian Opera, notice 'em. Ha! ha!--well, that
would sound queer, told at secondhand; but, just look at their legs,
ma'am, and ask yourself whether there's much chance for a country that
stands on legs like those! Let them paint, and carve blocks, and sing.
They're not fit for much else, as far as I can see.”
Thus, in the pride of his manliness, the male Briton. A shrill cry drew
the attention of this group once more to the person who had just kindly
furnished a topic. He had been met on his way by a lady unmistakeably
foreign in her appearance. “Marini!” was the word of the cry; and the
lady stood with her head bent and her hands stiffened rigidly.
“Lost her husband, I dare say!” the Briton murmured. “Perhaps he's
one of the 'hanged, or shot,' in the list here Hanged! shot! Ask those
Austrians to be merciful, and that's their reply. Why, good God! it's
like the grunt of a savage beast! Hanged! shot!--count how many for one
day's work! Ten at Verona; fifteen at Mantua; five--there, stop! If we
enter into another alliance with those infernal ruffians!--if they're
not branded in the face of Europe as inhuman butchers! if I--by George!
if I were an Italian I'd handle a musket myself, and think great guns
the finest music going. Mind, if there's a subscription for the widows
of these poor fellows, I put down my name; so shall my wife, so shall my
daughters, so we will all, down to the baby!”
Merthyr's name was shouted first on his return to England by Mrs. Chump.
He was waiting on the platform of the London station for the train to
take him to Richford, when, “Oh! Mr. Pow's, Mr. Pow's!” resounded, and
Mrs. Chump fluttered before him. She was on her way to Brookfield, she
said; and it was, she added, her firm belief that heaven had sent him
to her sad, not deeming “that poor creature, Mr. Braintop, there,
sufficient for the purpose. For what I've got to go through, among
them at Brookfield, Mr. Pow's, it's perf'ctly awful. Mr. Braintop,”
she turned to the youth, “you may go now. And don't go takin' ship
and sailin' for Italy after the little Belloni, for ye haven't a
chance--poor fella! though he combs 's hair so careful, Mr. Pow's, and
ye might almost laugh and cry together to see how humble he is, and
audacious too--all in a lump. For, when little Belloni was in the
ship, ye know, and she thinkin', 'not one of my friends near to wave a
handkerchief!' behold, there's that boy Braintop just as by maguc, and
he wavin' his best, which is a cambric, and a present from myself,
and precious wet that night, ye might swear; for the quiet lovers, Mr.
Pow's, they cry, they do, buckutsful!”
“And is Miss Belloni gone?” said Merthyr, looking steadily for answer.
“To be sure, sir, she has; but have ye got a squeak of pain? Oh, dear!
it makes my blood creep to see a man who's been where there's been
firing of shots in a temper. Ye're vary pale, sir.”
“She went--on what day?” asked Merthyr.
“Oh! I can't poss'bly tell ye that, Mr. Pow's, havin' affairs of my own
most urrgent. But, Mr. Paricles has got her at last. That's certain.
Gall'ns of tears has poor Mr. Braintop cried over it, bein' one of the
mew-in-a-corner sort of young men, ye know, what never win the garl, but
cry enough to float her and the lucky fella too, and off they go, and he
left on the shore.”
Merthyr looked impatiently out of the window. His wounds throbbed and
his forehead was moist.
“With Mr. Pericles?” he queried, while Mrs. Chump was giving him the
reasons for the immediate visit to Brookfield.
“They're cap'tal friends again, ye know, Mr. Pow's, Mr. Paricles and
Pole; and Pole's quite set up, and yesterday mornin' sends me two
thousand pounds--not a penny less! and ye'll believe me, I was in a
stiff gape for five minutes when Mr. Braintop shows the money. What a
temptation for the young man! But Pole didn't know his love for little
Belloni.”
“Has she no one with her?” Merthyr seized the opportunity of her name
being pronounced to get clear tidings of her, if possible.
“Oh, dear, yes, Mr. Paricles is with her,” returned Mrs. Chump. “And,
as I was sayin', sir, two thousand pounds! I ran off to my lawyer; for,
it'll seem odd to ye, now, Mr. Pow's, that know my 'ffection for the
Poles, poor dears, I'd an action against 'em. 'Stop ut,' I cries out
to the man: if he'd been one o' them that wears a wig, I couldn't ha'
spoken so--'Stop ut,' I cries, not a bit afraid of 'm. I wouldn't let
the man go on, for all I want to know is, that I'm not rrooned. And
now I've got money, I must have friends; for when I hadn't, ye know,
my friends seemed against me, and now I have, it's the world that does,
where'll I hide it? Oh, dear! now I'm with you, I don't mind, though
this brown-faced forr'ner servant of yours, he gives me shivers. Can he
understand English?--becas I've got ut all in my pockut!”
Merthyr sighed wearily for release. At last the train slackened speed,
and the well-known fir-country appeared in sight. Mrs. Chump caught him
by the arm as he prepared to alight. “Oh! and are ye goin' to let me
face the Poles without anyone to lean on in that awful moment, and no
one to bear witness how kind I've spoken of 'em. Mr. Pow's! will
ye prove that you're a blessed angel, sir, and come, just for five
minutes--which is a short time to do a thing for a woman she'll never
forget.”
“Pray spare me, madam,” Merthyr pleaded. “I have much to learn at
Richford.”
“I cann't spare ye, sir,” cried Mrs. Chump. “I cann't go before that
fam'ly quite alone. They're a tarr'ble fam'ly. Oh! I'll be goin' on my
knees to ye, Mr. Pow's. Weren't ye sent by heaven now? And you to run
away! And if you're woundud, won't I have a carr'ge from the station,
which'll be grander to go in, and impose on 'em, ye know. Pray, sir! I
entreat ye!”
The tears burst from her eyes, and her hot hand clung to his
imploringly.
Merthyr was a witness of the return of Mrs. Chump to Brookfield. In
that erewhile abode of Fine Shades, the Nice Feelings had foundered. The
circle of a year, beginning so fairly for them, enfolded the ladies and
their first great scheme of life. Emilia had been a touchstone to this
family. They could not know it in their deep affliction, but in manger
they had much improved. Their welcome of Mrs. Chump was an admirable
seasoning of stateliness with kindness. Cornelia and Arabella took
her hand, listening with an incomparable soft smile to her first
protestations, which they quieted, and then led her to Mr. Pole; of whom
it may be said, that an accomplished coquette could not in his situation
have behaved with a finer skill; so that, albeit received back into the
house, Mrs. Chump had yet to discover what her footing there was to
be, and trembled like the meanest of culprits. Mr. Pole shook her
hand warmly, tenderly, almost tearfully, and said to the melted woman:
“You're right, Martha; it's much better for us to examine accounts in a
friendly way, than to have strangers and lawyers, and what not--people
who can't possibly know the whole history, don't you see--meddling and
making a scandal; and I'm much obliged to you for coming.”
Vainly Mrs. Chump employed alternately innuendo and outcry to make him
perceive that her coming involved a softer business, and that to money,
she having it now, she gave not a thought. He assured her that in future
she must; that such was his express desire; that it was her duty to
herself and others. And while saying this, which seemed to indicate that
widowhood would be her state as far as he was concerned, he pressed her
hand with extreme sweetness, and his bird's-eyes twinkled obligingly. It
is to be feared that Mr. Pole had passed the age of improvement, save
in his peculiar art. After a time Nature stops, and says to us 'thou art
now what thou wilt be.'
Cornelia was in black from neck to foot. She joined the conversation as
the others did, and indeed more flowingly than Adela, whose visage
was soured. It was Cornelia to whom Merthyr explained his temporary
subjection to the piteous appeals of Mrs. Chump. She smiled humorously
to reassure him of her perfect comprehension of the apology for his
visit, and of his welcome: and they talked, argued a little, differed,
until the terrible thought that he talked, and even looked like some one
else, drew the blood from her lips, and robbed her pulses of their play.
She spoke of Emilia, saying plainly and humbly: “All we have is owing
to her.” Arabella spoke of Emilia likewise, but with a shade of the
foregone tone of patronage. “She will always be our dear little sister.”
Adela continued silent, as with ears awake for the opening of a door.
Was it in ever-thwarted anticipation of the coming of Sir Twickenham?
Merthyr's inquiry after Wilfrid produced a momentary hesitation on
Cornelia's Part--“He has gone to Verona. We have an uncle in the
Austrian service,” she said; and Merthyr bowed.
What was this tale of Emilia, that grew more and more perplexing as he
heard it bit by bit? The explanation awaited him at Richford. There,
when Georgiana had clasped her brother in one last jealous embrace, she
gave him the following letter straightway, to save him, haply, from the
false shame of that eager demand for one, which she saw ready to leap
to words in his eyes. He read it, sitting in the Richford library alone,
while the great rhododendron bloomed outside, above the shaven sunny
sward, looking like a monstrous tropic bird alighted to brood an hour in
full sunlight.
“My Friend!”
“I would say my Beloved! I will not write it, for it would be false. I
have read of the defeat. Why was a battle risked at that cruel place!
Here are we to be again for so many years before we can win God to be
on our side! And I--do you not know? we used to talk of it!--I never can
think it the Devil who has got the upper hand. What succeeds, I always
think should succeed--was meant to, because the sky looks clear over
it. This knocks a blow at my heart and keeps it silent and only just
beating. I feel that you are safe. That, I am thankful for. If you were
not, God would warn me, and not let me mock him with thanks when I pray.
I pray till my eyelids burn, on purpose to get a warning if there is any
black messenger to be sent to me. I do not believe it.
“For three years I am a prisoner. I go to the Conservatorio in Milan
with Mr. Pericles, and my poor little mother, who cries, asking me where
she will be among such a people, until I wonder she should be my mother.
My voice has returned. Oh, Merthyr! my dear, calm friend! to keep
calling you friend, and friend, puts me to sleep softly!--Yes, I have my
voice. I felt I had it, like some one in a room with us when we will not
open our eyes. There was misery everywhere, and yet I was glad. I kept
it secret. I began to feel myself above the world. I dreamed of what I
would do for everybody. I thought of you least! I tell you so, and take
a scourge and scourge myself, for it is true that in her new joy this
miserable creature that I am thought of you least. Now I have the
punishment!
“My friend! the Poles were at the mercy of Mr. Pericles: Wilfrid had
struck him: Mr. Pericles was angry and full of mischief. Those dear
people had been kind to me, and I heard they were poor. I felt money in
my breast, in my throat, that only wanted coining. I went to Georgiana,
and oh! how truly she proved to me that she loves you better than I do.
She refused to part with money that you might soon want. I laid a scheme
for Mr. Pericles to hear me sing. He heard me, and my scheme succeeded.
If Italy knew as well as I, she would never let her voice be heard till
she is sure of it:--Yes! from foot to head, I knew it was impossible to
fail. If a country means to be free, the fire must run through it and
make it feel that certainty. Then--away the whitecoat! I sang, and
the man twisted, as if I had bent him in my hand. He rushed to me, and
offered me any terms I pleased, if for three years I would go to the
Conservatorio at Milan, and learn submissively. It is a little grief to
me that I think this man loves music more deeply than I do. In the two
things I love best, the love of others exceeds mine. I named a sum of
money--immense! and I desired that Mr. Pericles should assist Mr. Pole
in his business. He consented at once to everything. The next day he
gave me the money, and I signed my name and pledged my honour to an
engagement. My friends were relieved.
“It was then I began to think of you. I had not to study the matter long
to learn that I did not love you: and I will not trust my own feelings
as they come to me now. I judge myself by my acts, or, Merthyr! I should
sink to the ground like a dead body when I think of separation from you
for three years. But, what am I? I am a raw girl. I command nothing but
raw and flighty hearts of men. Are they worth anything? Let me study
three years, without any talk of hearts at all. It commenced too early,
and has left nothing to me but a dreadful knowledge of the weakness in
most people:--not in you!
“If I might call you my Beloved! and so chain myself to you, I think I
should have all your firmness and double my strength. I will not; for I
will not have what I do not deserve. I think of you reading this, till
I try to get to you; my heart is like a bird caught in the hands of
a cruel boy. By what I have done I know I do not love you. Must we
half-despise a man to love him? May no dear woman that I know ever marry
the man she first loves! My misery now is gladness, is like rain-drops
on rising wings, if I say to myself 'Free! free, Emilia!' I am bound for
three years, but I smile at such a bondage to my body. Evviva! my soul
is free! Three years of freedom, and no sounding of myself--three years
of growing, and studying; three years of idle heart!--Merthyr! I
throb to think that those three years--true man! my hero, I may call
you!--those three years may make me worthy of you. And if you have given
all to Italy, that a daughter of Italy should help to return it, seems,
my friend, so tenderly sweet--here is the first drop from my eyes!
“I would break what you call a Sentiment: I broke my word to Wilfrid.
But this sight of money has a meaning that I cannot conquer. I know you
would not wish me to for your own pleasure; and therefore I go. I hope
to be growing; I fly like a seed to Italy. Let me drill, and take sharp
words, and fret at trifles! I lift my face to that prospect as if I
smelt new air. I am changeing--I have no dreams of Italy, no longings,
but go to see her like a machine ready to do my work. Whoever speaks
to me, I feel that I look at them and know them. I see the faults of my
country--Oh, beloved Breseians! not yours, Florentines! nor yours, dear
Venice! We will be silent when they speak of the Milanese, till Italy
can say to them, 'That conduct is not Italian, my children.' I see the
faults. Nothing vexes me.
“Addio! My friend, we will speak English in dear England! Tell all that
I shall never forget England! My English Merthyr! the blood you have
shed is not for a woman. The blood that you have shed, laurels spring
from it! For a woman, the blood spilt is sickly and poor, and nourishes
nothing. I shudder at the thought of one we knew. He makes Love seem
like a yellow light over a plague-spotted city, like a painting I have
seen. Goodbye to the name of Love for three years! My engagement to Mr.
Pericles is that I am not to write, not to receive letters. To you I say
now, trust me for three years! Merthyr's answer is already in my bosom.
Beloved!--let me say it once--when the answer to any noble thing I might
ask of you is in my bosom instantly, is not that as much as marriage?
But be under no deception. See me as I am. Oh, good-bye! good-bye!
Good-bye to you! Good-bye to England!
“I am,
“Most humbly and affectionately,
“Your friend,
“And her daughter by the mother's side,
“Emilia Alessandra Belloni.”
ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS
A plunge into the deep is of little moment
A marriage without love is dishonour
Active despair is a passion that must be superseded
Am I ill? I must be hungry!
And, ladies, if you will consent to be likened to a fruit
And he passed along the road, adds the Philosopher
Bear in mind that we are sentimentalists--The eye is our servant
Being heard at night, in the nineteenth century
Beyond a plot of flowers, a gold-green meadow dipped to a ridge
But love for a parent is not merely duty
Depreciating it after the fashion of chartered hypocrites.
Emilia alone of the party was as a blot to her
Fine Shades were still too dominant at Brookfield
Had Shakespeare's grandmother three Christian names?
He thinks that the country must be saved by its women as well
His alien ideas were not unimpressed by the picture
Hushing together, they agreed that it had been a false move
I had to cross the park to give a lesson
I cannot delay; but I request you, that are here privileged
I had to make my father and mother live on potatoes
I detest anything that has to do with gratitude
I know that your father has been hearing tales told of me
I am not ashamed
It was as if she had been eyeing a golden door shut fast
Littlenesses of which women are accused
Love that shrieks at a mortal wound, and bleeds humanly
Love discerns unerringly what is and what is not duty
Love the poor devil
Love, with his accustomed cunning
Man who beats his wife my first question is, 'Do he take his tea?'
My mistress! My glorious stolen fruit! My dark angel of love
My voice! I have my voice! Emilia had cried it out to herself
My engagement to Mr. Pericles is that I am not to write
No nose to the hero, no moral to the tale
Nor can a protest against coarseness be sweepingly interpreted
Oh! beastly bathos
On a wild April morning
Once my love? said he. Not now?--does it mean, not now?
One of those men whose characters are read off at a glance
Our partner is our master
Passion does not inspire dark appetite--Dainty innocence does
Passion, he says, is noble strength on fire
Pleasure sat like an inextinguishable light on her face
Poor mortals are not in the habit of climbing Olympus to ask
Revived for them so much of themselves
She was perhaps a little the taller of the two
She had great awe of the word 'business'
Silence was their only protection to the Nice Feelings
So it is when you play at Life! When you will not go straight
Solitude is pasturage for a suspicion
The majority, however, had been snatched out of this bliss
The circle which the ladies of Brookfield were designing
The woman follows the man, and music fits to verse,
The sentimentalists are represented by them among the civilized
The dismally-lighted city wore a look of Judgement terrible to see
The sentimentalist goes on accumulating images
The gallant cornet adored delicacy and a gilded refinement
The philosopher (I would keep him back if I could)
Their way was down a green lane and across long meadow-paths
They, meantime, who had a contempt for sleep
They had all noticed, seen, and observed
To know that you are in England, breathing the same air with me
True love excludes no natural duty
Victims of the modern feminine 'ideal'
We have now looked into the hazy interior of their systems
We are, in short, a civilized people
What was this tale of Emilia, that grew more and more perplexing
Wilfrid perceived that he had become an old man
Women are wonderfully quick scholars under ridicule
You have not to be told that I desire your happiness above all
End of Project Gutenberg's Sandra Belloni, Complete, by George Meredith