Edward Russell had been my school-fellow and college chum. Like
myself, he had been destined for the Lord Chancellorship, when the
death of an elder brother freed him from the probable burden of
keeping her majesty's conscience. The same event also relieved him of
certain obstacles in the way of proposing for, and obtaining the hand
of Fanny Felworth. Mrs Russell--at this time about two years
married--was the only daughter of Col. Felworth, who some years
previous had held a staff appointment in the south of England. Her
brother, Russell, and I, had been school-fellows some ten years before
the time I speak of; and I may add, that the Emerald Isle, fruitful as
it is in such characters, never produced a more light-hearted youth
than Frederick Felworth. The days of school are quickly followed by
the active business and the varied events of life. Russell and I went
to Cambridge; Felworth obtained a commission in a regiment then in
India. Soon after, Col. Felworth retired from the service, and went to
reside on his property in Ireland, accompanied by his daughter and a
widowed sister, his wife having died several years before.
In early youth, correspondence is seldom regularly persevered in for
any length of time. Felworth wrote twice or thrice from India, and
then his letters ceased. Russell succeeded to his property some time
before his collegiate course was finished; and as soon as he took his
degree, went to Ireland. In his travels there, he visited the
Felworths, (which I suspect was his principal object,) and the natural
consequences followed. Immediately on his marriage, Russell went to
the Continent, where he remained until a few weeks previous to the
time of which I speak. Of Frederick Felworth, I saw occasional mention
in the Indian newspapers; such as his distinguishing himself in
tiger-shooting expeditions, riding horse-races, and the like.
Latterly, however, I had heard nothing of him.
On my way to Ireland, I diverged a few miles from the line of railway,
for the purpose of spending a day with the Russells. I found the
"little Fanny" of former years now the staid matron, with the
apartment called the nursery not altogether untenanted. When Russell
and I were alone, we fell (as persons in such circumstances invariably
do) into conversation about old times and old friends. It is needless
to say that I made special inquiry after Frederick Felworth. I found
that he had returned from India a short time before Russell's
marriage: and that, when about to rejoin his regiment after a few
months' leave of absence, the Colonel feeling lonely after the
departure of his daughter, and finding infirmities growing upon him,
compelled him to sell out.
"You remember," said Russell, "the passion he had for horses when a
boy; well, this madness (for it can be called by no other name) has
ever since continued on the increase;--and between farming,
magisterial duties, and his horses, he finds occupation and amusement
sufficient. The Colonel is daily feeling more and more the effects of
age, so that all matters devolve on Frederick. I was writing to him
this morning, and I promised that you would pay him a visit when in
Ireland. The house is called Craigduff, about forty miles from
Dublin."
"I will very gladly do so," I replied; "but my stay will be short, as
I am under a positive promise of speedy return."
"I am happy," added Russell, "to hear you will go. I have only to add
that the country about Craigduff is tranquil;--and (you are still
single,) though there is no charmer in the house, there is one not far
off."
I did not see much of Mrs Russell during my stay, as some matters
seemed to engage a good deal of her attention. In a brief
conversation, however, which I had with her in the evening, I found
that she, like my friend Thomson, was a believer in the science of
Phrenology.
Having been always accustomed to treat the subject as a butt for the
shafts of ridicule, I fear I did not then speak of it with due
respect. Conjecturing that "the baby" must have a fine development, I
ventured to ask what bumps were the most prominent.
She immediately replied, that "number" was as largely developed on his
head as on his Uncle Frederick's. "But there is little use," she said,
"in talking to an unbeliever like you on the subject:--but this I
have to say, now that you are going to Craigduff, beware of Units!
(Edward, recollect you are not to explain.) Mark my words, _Beware of
Units!_ And now, good-night! You are to go, you say, by the early
train, so that I shall not see you in the morning; but when you come
to visit us on your return, I trust you will be able to tell me that
you _did_ beware of Units."
After her departure, in every way, and with all legal ingenuity, did I
tempt the allegiance of her husband, but in vain. At last, when I felt
sure, that my cross-examination had left him no loophole for escape,
he gravely replied--"That he was not yet long enough married to
disobey his wife; but he hoped for better times in the future."