Whether Mr. Harper, being a rather proud and reserved individual, was
not “so happy to be seen in the evening” as an attendant planet openly
following his sphered idol, or whether, like all true lovers, he was
very jealous over the lightest public betrayal of love's sanctity, most
certainly he did not appear until he had been expected for at least two
hours. Even then his manner was somewhat constrained. Emma's smiling,
half-jesting congratulations were nipped in the bud; she felt as she
afterwards declared--“quite frightened at him.”
Agatha, too, met him rather meekly, fearing lest she had led him into
a position distasteful to his feelings. She was relieved when,
taking little notice of herself, he fell into conversation with Mr.
Thornycroft--a serious discussion on political and general topics. Once
or twice, glancing at him, and noticing how well he talked, and how
manly and self-possessed he looked, Agatha began to feel proud of her
betrothed. She could not have endured a lover who--in not unfrequent
lover-like fashion--“made a fool of himself” on her account.
While the two gentlemen still talked, Miss Bowen stood secretly
listening, but apparently watching the rich twilight that coloured the
long sweep of the Regent's Park trees--a pretty sight, even though in
the land of Cockayne.
“There's a carriage at our door!” screamed Missy from the balcony,
receiving a hurried maternal reproof for ill-behaviour. Mrs. Thornycroft
wondered who the inopportune visitor could be.
It was a lady, who gave no name, but wished to know if Mr. Locke Harper
were there, and if so, would he come to the carriage and speak to her a
moment?
Nathanael did so, looking not less surprised than the rest of the party.
After five minutes had elapsed, he was still absent from the room.
“Very odd!” observed Emma, half in jest, half earnest; “I should inquire
into the matter if I were you. Let me see--I fancy the carriage is still
at the door. It would be rude to peep, you know, but we can inquire of
the maid.”
“No,” said Agatha, gently removing Mrs. Thornycrofts hand from the
bell; “Mr. Harper will doubtless tell me all that is necessary. He is
perfectly able to conduct his own affairs.”
It was speech implying more indifference than she really felt, for this
mysterious interview did not quite please her. She tried vainly to go on
talking with Mrs. Thornycroft, and actually started when she heard the
carriage drive off, and Nathanael come up-stairs.
His countenance was a good deal troubled, but he did not give the
slightest explanation--not even when Mrs. Thornycroft joked him about
his supposed “business.”
“With a lady, too! Not, I hope, a young lady?”
“What did you say?” he asked, absently, his eyes fixed afar off on
Agatha.
“I hope your visitor in the carriage was not a young lady?”
“No.” The answer was in a tone that put an end to any more jesting.
Nathanael sat down, and tried to take up the thread of politics just
dropped with Mr. Thornycroft, but only for a few minutes. Then, stealing
round by Miss Bowen's side, he whispered:
“I want to speak to you: would you mind coming home soon?”
“At once, if you wish it,” she answered, perceiving that something was
wrong, and feeling towards him too much of kindness and too little of
jealous love, to be in any way displeased at his strange behaviour.
“Will you do it, then, dear Agatha? Do it for me.”
Agatha was ill at contrivance, but she managed somehow to get away; and
before it was dark she and her betrothed were out in the broad terrace.
“Now,” said she, taking his arm kindly, “if anything is amiss, you can
tell me all as we walk home. Better walk than ride.”
“No, we must ride; I would not lose a minute,” Nathanael answered, as
he hurried her into a conveyance, and gave the order to drive to Bedford
Square.
Miss Bowen felt a twinge of repugnance at this control so newly
exercised over the liberty of her actions; but her good-heartedness
still held out, and she waited patiently for her lover to explain.
However, he seemed to forget that any explanation was necessary. He
leaned back in the corner quite silent, with his hand over his eyes.
Had she loved him, or not known that he was her lover, Agatha would soon
have essayed the womanly part of comforter, but now timidity restrained
her.
At length timidity was verging into distrust, when he suddenly said,
just as they were entering the square:
“I have used the dear right you lately gave me, in taking a strange
liberty with you and your house. I have appointed to meet me there
to-night one whom I must see, and whom I could not well see in any other
way--a lady--a stranger to you. But, stay, she is here!”
And as they stopped at the door, where another carriage had stopped
likewise, Nathanael unceremoniously leaped out, and went to this
“mysterious stranger.”
“Go in, dear Agatha,” said he returning; “go to your own sitting-room,
and I will bring her to you.”
Agatha, half reluctant to be so ordered about, and thoroughly bewildered
likewise, mechanically obeyed. Nevertheless, with a sort of pleasure
that this humdrum courtship was growing into something interesting at
last, she waited for the intruding “lady.”
That she was a lady, the first glimpse of her as she entered the
room leaning rather heavily on Nathanael's arm, brought sufficient
conviction. She was tall, and a certain slow, soft way of moving,
cast about her an atmosphere of sweet dignity. Her age was not easily
distinguishable, but her voice, in the few words addressed to Mr.
Harper, “Is your friend here?” seemed not that of a very young woman.
In her presence, Miss Bowen instinctively rose.
“Yes, she is here,” said Nathanael, answering the stranger. “You could
not have learnt what I wrote yesterday to my father and to Elizabeth.
She is Agatha Bowen, my--my wife that will be. Agatha, this lady is Miss
Anne Valery.”
It would be hard to say which of the two thus suddenly introduced to
each other was most surprised. However, the elder lady recovered herself
soonest.
“I was not aware of this; but I am very glad. And I need not now
apologise for thus intruding.”
She went up to the young betrothed, and took her by the hand warmly,
seeming at once and without further explanation to comprehend all; while
on Agatha's side, her look, her voice, her touch, communicated a sudden
trust and pleasure. It was one of those instinctive, inexplicable
attractions which almost every one has experienced more or less during
life. She could not take her eyes off Miss Valery; the face and manner
seemed at once familiar and strange. She had never been so impressed by
any woman before.
To show all hospitable attentions, to place an arm-chair for her guest,
and even, as she appeared weary, to entreat her to put aside her bonnet
and mantle--seemed quite natural to Miss Bowen, just as if they had
been friends of years. Anne thanked her courteously, let her do what she
would--but all the while looked anxiously at Nathanael.
“You know we have much to say. Is she aware of what I told you?”
“Not yet; I could not tell her; it shocked me so. Oh, my poor uncle!”
Agatha, who was unfastening her guest's cloak, turned round.
“What, your Uncle Brian? Has anything happened? You speak almost as if
he were dead.”
Anne Valery shivered.
“Dead! God forbid!” cried the young man, more deeply moved than his
betrothed had ever seen him. “But we have had ill news. He went as
interpreter on a Government mission, as he had often done before; he was
so popular among the Indians. But from some treachery shown them, the
tribe grew enraged and carried him off prisoner. Heaven only knows if
they have spared his life. But I think--I feel they will. He was so just
to the red men always. He is surely safe.”
“Yes, he is safe,” repeated Miss Valery, as if any alternative but that
were utterly incredible and impossible.
Nathanael continued: “The tidings reached Kingcombe yesterday, and our
friend here, coming to London, volunteered to bring them, and consult
with me. If there is any good deed to be done, it is sure to be done by
Anne Valery,” added Nathanael, stretching out his hand to hers.
She took it without speaking, being apparently much exhausted. And now
that her bonnet was off, and she sitting near the lamp, Agatha discerned
that Miss Valery was by no means young or beautiful. At all events, she
was at that time in an unmarried woman's life when it ceases to signify
whether she is handsome or not. Her hair at first seemed brown, but on
looking closer, there appeared on either side the parting broad silvery
lines, as if two snow-laden hands laid on the head had smoothed it down,
leaving it shining still.
Agatha turned from her passing examination of Miss Valery to the subject
in question, evidently so painful to her betrothed.
“You two wish to consult together? Do so. Pray stay here. I am very
sorry for your trouble, Mr. Harper. Anything that I can do for you or
your friend, you know”--and her voice dropped softly--“it is my duty
now.”
Nathanael looked at her, as if longing to clasp her to his heart and
say how happy he was; but he restrained himself and let his eyes alone
declare what he felt. They were very eloquent.
While this passed between the young people, the elder lady arose from
her chair; quietness seemed painful to her.
“Nathanael, every minute is precious to anxiety such as you must feel.
Have you thought what had better be done, since you are the right person
to do it?”
“As yet I have thought of nothing. And, alas! what _can_ be done?”
“Sit down, and let us consider,” said she, laying her hand on his, with
a force soft yet steady as that of her words.
Agatha was gliding out of the room, but her lover's quick movement and
Miss Valery's look stopped her.
“Do not go, Miss Bowen; you are not so unknown to me as I am to you. I
had much rather you stayed.”
So she took up her position a little distance off, and listened while
the two friends consulted; pondering the while on what a rare kind of
man Mr. Brian Harper must be to win such regard.
“You say the news came accidentally?” Mr. Harper observed. “It may not
be true, then.”
“It is. I had it confirmed to-day.”
“How?”
“I went to the Colonial Office myself.” (“Kind Anne Valery!” murmured
the young man.) “It was best to do so before I told you anything. You,
knowing the whole facts, would then decide more readily.”
“You are right and wise as ever. Now, tell me exactly what you heard.”
“While a treaty was going forward for the Government purchase of Indian
lands, there arose a quarrel, and two red men were upon slight grounds
punished cruelly. Then the whole tribe went off in the night, carrying
as prisoners two Englishmen--one by force. The other is believed to have
offered himself willingly as a hostage, until the reparation of what he
considered an injustice shown by his countrymen to the Indians. You may
guess who he was.”
“Uncle Brian, of course,” cried Nathanael, pacing the room. “Just like
him! He would do the maddest things for the sake of honour.”
Anne Valery's eyes flashed in the dark a momentary brightness, as if
they were growing young again.
“But his life is surely safe: all over the Indian country they respect
the very name of Brian Harper. No harm can touch him--it is quite
impossible!”
“I think so too.” And Miss Valery drew a long breath. “Still, such
danger is very terrible--is it not?” And she turned slightly, to include
Agatha in their conversation.
“Oh, terrible!” the girl cried, deeply interested. “But could he not
be sought for--rescued? Could not a party be despatched after him? If I
were a man I would head one immediately.”
Miss Valery, faintly smiling, patted Agatha's hand. It was easy to
see that this good heart opened itself at once to Nathanael's young
betrothed.
“That is what I had in my own mind, and should have spoken of to his
nephew here--a party of search which the Canadian Government, if urged,
would no doubt consent to. Nathanael could propose it--plan it. He is
both ingenious and wise.”
“Ah, he is; he seems to know everything!” cried Agatha warmly. “Surely,
Mr. Harper, you could think of something--do something?”
“I could,” said the nephew, slowly waking from a long interval of
thought. “I could do--what perhaps I ought, and will--for him who has
been more than a father to me.”
“What is that?” Agatha asked, while Miss Valery regarded him silently.
“To go back to America--head a search; or, if that is refused me, search
for him myself alone, and never give up until I find him--living or
dead.”
“Ah, do so! that will be right, generous, noble--you could not fail.”
“There is no saying, Agatha; only, if done, it must be done without
delay. I must start at once--in a week--nay a day--leaving England,
home, you, everything. That is hard!”
He uttered the last words inaudibly, and his left hand was suddenly
clenched, as he turned and walked once up the room and down again.
Agatha knew not what to say. Only a great love conscious of the extent
of its own sacrifice, would have had boldness to urge the like sacrifice
upon him.
Miss Valery's voice broke the troubled pause:
“You cannot start yet, Nathanael; you would have to apply to the
Government here. It would be impossible for you to leave under at least
a fortnight.”
“Ah!” he sighed, momentarily relieved, which was but natural “Yet, how
wrong I am! for my poor uncle's sake I ought not to lose a day. Surely
there would be some way of hastening the time, if inquiries were to be
set on foot.”
“I have made all that could be made; still, try yourself, though I fear
it is useless. The suspense is bitter, but what is inevitable must be
borne,” said Anne, with the smile of one long used to the practice of
that doctrine. “And in a fortnight--a fortnight is a long time, Miss
Bowen?”
The smile, flitting to Agatha, took a cheerfulness which hitherto in
the sad subject of her talk Miss Valery had not displayed. A certain
benevolent meaning, which Agatha rather guessed at than discerned, was
likewise visible there.
“Come,” said she, “for this night we can do nothing; but having settled
what we shall do, or rather what Mr. Harper will do, let us make
ourselves at rest. Be content, my dear Nathanael. Heaven will take care
of him for whom we fear.”
Her voice trembled, Agatha fancied; and the young girl thought how full
and generous was this kind woman's sympathy! likewise how good Nathanael
must be to have awakened so deep a regard in such an one as Miss Anne
Valery.
The clock struck ten. “We are early folk in Dorsetshire; but as my
old servant Andrews has secured my lodgings close by (I am a very
independent woman, you see, Miss Bowen), if you will allow me, I should
like to sit another half-hour, and become a little better acquainted
with you.”
Agatha gave her a delighted welcome, and astonished the Ianson family
by ordering all sorts of hospitalities. The three began to converse upon
various matters, the only remarkable fact being that no one inquired for
or alluded to a person, doubtless familiar to all--Frederick Harper. On
Agatha's part this omission was involuntary; he had quietly slipped
out of her thoughts hour by hour and day by day, as her interest in him
became absorbed in others more akin to her true nature.
But though every one tried to maintain the conversation on indifferent
topics, the feelings of at least two out of the three necessarily
drew it back to one channel. There they sat, running over the slight
nothings, probable and improbable, which in hard suspense people count
up; though still the worst Nathanael seemed to fear was the temporary
hardship to which his uncle would be exposed.
“And he is not so young as he used to be. How often have I urged him to
be content with his poverty and come home. He _shall_ come home now. If
once I get him out of these red fellows' hands, he shall turn his face
from their wild settlements for ever. He can easily do it, even if I
must stay in Canada.”
The young man looked at his newly-betrothed wife, and looked away again.
It was more than he could bear.
“Agatha,” said Miss Valery, after a pause, during which she had closely
observed both the young people--“I may call you _Agatha_, for the sake
of my friend here, may I not?”
“Yes,” was the low answer.
“Well then, Agatha, shall you and I have a little talk? We need not mind
that foolish boy; he was a boy, just so high, when I first knew him. Let
him walk up and down the room a little, it will do him good.”
She moved to the sofa, and took Agatha by her side.
“My dear”--(there was a rare sweetness in the way Miss Valery said the
usually unsweet words _my dear_)--“I need not say, what, of course, we
two both think, that she will be a happy woman who marries Nathanael
Harper.”
Agatha, with her eyes cast down, looked everything a young girl could be
expected to look under the circumstances.
“Your happiness, as well as your history, is to me not like that of an
entire stranger. I once knew your father.”
“Ah, that accounts for all!” cried Agatha, delighted to gain this
confirmation of her strange impression in favour of Miss Valery. “When
was this, and where was I?”
“Neither born nor thought of.”
Agatha's countenance fell. “Then of course it was impossible--yet I felt
certain--I could even believe so now--that I have seen you before.”
While the girl looked, a quick shadow passed over Anne Valery's still
features, for the moment entirely changing their expression. But soon
returned their ordinary settled calm.
“We often fancy that strangers' faces are familiar. It is usually held
to be an omen of future affection. Let me hope that it will prove so
now. I have long wished, and am truly glad, heart-glad to see you, my
dear child.”
She bent Agatha's forehead towards her, and kissed it. Gradually her
lips recovered their colour, and she began to talk again, showing
herself surprisingly familiar with the monotonous past life of the young
girl, and likewise with her present circumstances.
“How kind of you to take such an interest in me!” cried Agatha, her
wonder absorbed in pleasure.
“It was natural,” Anne said, rather hastily. “A woman left orphan
from the cradle as I was, can feel for another orphan. And though my
acquaintance with your father was too slender to warrant my intruding
upon you--still I never lost sight of you. Poor child, yours has been a
desolate position for so young a girl.”
“Ay, very desolate,” said Agatha; and suddenly the recollection
crossed her mind of how doubly she should feel that desolation when her
betrothed husband was gone, for how long, no one could tell! A regret
arose, half tenderness, half selfishness; but she deemed it wholly the
latter, and so crushed it down.
“How long have you been engaged to Nathanael?” asked Miss Valery, in a
manner so sweet as entirely to soften the abruptness of the question,
and win the unhesitating answer.
“A very short time--only a few days. Yet I seem to have known him for
years. Oh, how good he is! how it grieves me to see him so unhappy!”
whispered Agatha, watching his restless movements up and down.
“It will be a hard trial for him, this parting with you. Men like
Nathanael never love lightly; even sudden passions--and his must have
been rather sudden--in them take root as with the strength of years. I
am very sorry for the boy.”
And Miss Valery's eyes glistened as they rested on him whom probably
from old habit she thus called.
“Well, have you done your little mysteries?” said he, coming up to the
sofa, with an effort to be gay. “Have you taken my character to pieces,
Anne Valery? Remember, if so, I have little enough time to recover it. A
fortnight will be gone directly.”
No one answered.
“Come, make room; I _will_ have my place. I _will_ sit beside you,
Agatha.”
There was a sort of desperation in his “I will” that indicated a
great change in the reserved, timid youth. Agatha yielded as to an
irresistible influence, and he placed himself by her side, putting his
arm firmly round her waist, quite regardless of the presence of a third
person--though about Anne there was an abiding spirit of love which
seemed to take under its shadow all lovers, ay, even though she herself
were an old maid. But perhaps that was the very reason.
“I was doing you no harm, Nathanael,” said she, smiling. “And I was
thinking, like you, how soon a fortnight will be gone, and how hard it
is for you to part from this little girl that loves you.”
The inference, so natural, so holy, which Miss Valery had unconsciously
drawn, Agatha had not the heart to deny. She knew it was but right that
she should love, and be supposed to love, her betrothed husband. And
looking at him, his suffering, his strong self-denial, she almost felt
that she did really love him, as a wife ought.
“If,” said the soft voice of the good angel--“if you had not known
each other so short a time, and been so newly betrothed, I should have
said--judging such things by what they were when I was young,”--here she
momentarily paused--“I should have said, Nathanael, that there was
only one course which, as regarded both her and yourself, was wisest,
kindest, best.”
“What is that?” cried he, eagerly.
“To do a little sooner what must necessarily have been done soon--to
take one another's hands--thus.”
Agatha felt strong, wild fingers grasping her own; a dizziness came
over her--she shrank back, crying, “No, no!” and hid her face on Miss
Valery's shoulder. Nathanael rose up and walked away.
When he returned, it was with his “good” aspect, tender and calm.
“No, Anne, I was wrong even to think of such a thing. Assure her I will
never urge it. She is quite right in saying 'No'--What man could expect
such a sacrifice?”
“And what woman would deem it such?” whispered Miss Valery. “But I
know I am a very foolish, romantic old maid, and view these things in
a different light to most people. So, my dear, be quite at rest,” she
continued, soothing the young creature, who still clung to her. “No one
will urge you in any way; _he_ will not, he is too generous; and I had
no right even to say what I did, except from my affection for him.”
She looked fondly at the young man, as if he had been still a little
child, and she saw him in the light of ancient days. These impelled her
to speak on earnestly.
“Another reason I had; because I am old, and you two are young. Often,
it seems as if the whole world--fate, trial, circumstance--were set
against all lovers to make them part. It is a bitter thing when they
part of their own free will. Accidents of all kinds--change, sorrow,
even death--may come between, and they may never meet again. Agatha,
Nathanael--believe one who has seen more of life than you--rarely do
those that truly love ever attain the happiness of marrying one another.
One half the world--the best and noblest half--thirst all their lives
for that bliss which you throw away. What, Agatha, crying?”
And she tried to lift up the drooping head, but could not.
“Nay, dear, I was wrong to grieve you so. Please God, you two may meet
again, and marry and be happy, even in this world. Come, Nathanael, you
can say all this much better than I. Tell her you will be quite content,
and wait any number of years. And, as to this parting, it is a right and
noble sacrifice of yours; let her see how nobly you will bear it.”
“Ay, Agatha, I will,” said the young lover firmly, as he stood before
her, half stooping, half kneeling--though not quite kneeling, even then.
But his whole manner showed the crumbling away of that clear but icy
surface with which nature or habit had enveloped the whole man.
Agatha lifted her head, and looked at him long and earnestly.
“I will,” he repeated; “I promise you I will. Only be content--and in
token that you are so, give me your hand.”
She gave him both, and then leaned back again on Miss Valery's shoulder.
“Tell him--I will go with him--anywhere--at any time--if it will only
make him happy.”
The same night, when Nathanael and Anne Valery had left her, Agatha sat
thinking, almost in a dream, yet without either sorrow or dread--that
all uncertainty was now over--that this day week would be her
wedding-day.