Page images
PDF
EPUB

der the world remembers us so long."

"I have a note to write, Doctor," said the Baronet suddenly, treading at the same time gently on my foot, "which I intend to beg you will carry up to town for me. Will you excuse me for a few moments ?" I bowed. "Lady Anne, I dare say, will entertain you from the Morning Post-ha! ha!"

She smiled faintly. I observed Sir Henry's eye fixed upon her, as he shut the door, with an expression of agonizing apprehension. The reader may imagine the peculiar feelings of embarrassment with which I found myself at length alone with Lady Anne. Being ignorant of .the degree or species of her mental infirmity, I felt much at a loss how to shape my conversation. As far as one could judge from appearances, she was as perfectly sane as I considered myself. I could detect no wildness of the eye-no incoherence of language-no eccentricity of deportment-nothing but an air of languor and anxiety.

"Sir Henry is looking well," said I, as he closed the door.

"Yes-he always looks well; even if he were ill, he would not look so.' "I wish I could sincerely compliment your ladyship on your looks," I continued, eyeing her keenly.

"Certainly-I have been better than I am at present," she replied, with a sigh-" What I have to complain of, however, is not so much bodily ailing, as lowness of spirits." "Your ladyship is not the first on whom a sudden seclusion from society has had similar effects. Then why not return to town-at least for a season?"

[ocr errors]

"There are reasons why I should at present prefer to continue in retirement," she replied, dropping her eyes to avoid the steadfast look with which I regarded them.

"Reasons! permit me to ask your ladyship the import of such mysterious terms?" I enquired, with gentle earnestness, drawing my chair nearer to her, believing that the ice was at length broken.

"I am not aware, Doctor," said she, coldly, "that I said any thing that should be called mysterious."

"Pardon, pardon me, my lady! I was only anxious lest you might

have any secret source of anxiety preying on your mind, and from which I might have the power of relieving you. Permit me to say, how deeply grieved I am to see your ladyship's altered looks. I need not disguise the fact that Sir Henry is exceedingly anxious on your account"

"What! what! Sir Henry anxious -on my account!" she repeated, with an air of astonishment; "why, can it then be possible that I am the object of your present visit, Dr

[ocr errors]

I paused for a moment. Why should I conceal or deny the fact, thought I.

"Your ladyship guesses aright. Sir Henry's anxieties have brought me hither this morning. He wishes me to ascertain whether your ladyship labours under indisposition of any kind."

"And pray, Doctor," continued her ladyship, turning pale as she spoke, "what does he imagine my complaint to be? Did he mention any particular symptoms?"

"Indeed he did-lassitude-loss of appetite-lowness of spirits."

She raised her handkerchief to her eyes, which, glistening with tears, she presently directed to the window, as if she dreaded to encounter mine. Her lips quivered with emotion.

"Dear lady, for Heaven's sake, be calm! Why should you distress yourself?" said I, gently placing my fingers upon her wrist, at which she started, withdrew her hand, looked me rather wildly full in the face, and bursting into tears, wept for some moments in silence.

[ocr errors]

"Oh, Doctor !" at length she sobbed, in hesitating, passionate accents you cannot-you cannot imagine how very ill I am-here," placing her hand upon her heart. "I am a wretched, a miserable woman! There never lived a more unfortunate being! I shall never, never be happy again," she continued, vehemently.

"Come, come, your Ladyship must make a confidant of me!What, in Heaven's name, can be the meaning of all this emotion? No one, sure, can have used you ill? Come, tell me all about it!"

"Oh, I cannot-I dare not! It is

a painful secret to keep, but it would be dreadful to tell it. Have you really no idea of it? Has it not, then, been openly whispered about in the world?" she enquired eagerly, with much wildness in her manner.

Alas, poor Lady Anne! I had seen and heard enough to satisfy me that her state corroborated the fears expressed by Sir Henry, whose return at that moment, with a sealed note in his hand, put an end to our me. lancholy tête-à-tête. He cast a sudden keen glance of scrutiny at his lady and me, and then went up to her, and kissed her tenderly, without speaking. What wretchedness were in his features at that moment! I saw by his manner, that he desired me to rise and take my leave; and after a few words on indifferent subjects, I rose, bowed to her ladyship, and, accompanied by the Baronet, withdrew.

"Well, am I right or wrong, Doctor, in my terrible suspicions?" enquired the Baronet, his manner much disturbed, and trembling from head to foot, as we stood together in the large bow-window of his library. I sighed, and shook my head.

"Did she make any allusions to the present arrangement I have been obliged to adopt in the house?"

I told him the substance of what had passed between us. He sighed profoundly, and covered his eyes for a moment with his hands.

"Is her Ladyship ever violent?" I enquired.

I can

"No-seldom-never, never! I wish she were! Any thing-any thing to dissipate the horrid monotony of melancholy madness-but I cannot bear to talk on the subject. scarcely control my feelings!" He turned from me, and stood looking through the window, evidently overpowered with grief. For a minute

or two neither of us spoke.

"The dreadful subject forces itself upon us," said he, suddenly turning again towards me-" Doctor, what, in Heaven's name-what is to be done in this tremendous emergency? Let our first care be to prevent exposure. I suppose a temporary seclusion, I am afraid, will be necessary?" he added, in a hollow whisper, looking gloomily at me. I told him I feared such a course would ertainly be advisable, if not even

necessary, and assured him that he need be under no apprehension on that score, for there were many admirable retreats for such patients as his unfortunate lady-where privacy, comfort, amusement, and skilful surveillance, were combined. I told him not to despond of his lady's early restoration to society.

"Oh, Doctor!"- he groaned, clasping his hands vehemently together "the maddening thought that my sweet, my darling wife, must be banished from my bosom-from her home-from her child-and become the inmate of-of-a-." He ceased abruptly. A wild smile shot across his features.

"Doctor," said he, lowering his tone to a faint whisper, "can I trust you with a secret? I know I am acting imprudently unnecessarily disclosing it but I know it will be safe with you!"

I bowed, and listened in breathless wonder * My flesh crept from head to foot as he went on. I had been all along the dupe of a MADMAN. His eye was fixed upon me with a devilish expression. The shock deprived me of utterancefor a while, almost of sight and hearing. I was startled back into consciousness, by a loud laugh uttered by the Baronet. He was pointing at me, with his arm and finger extended, almost touching my face, with an air of derision. The dreadful truth flashed all at once upon my mind. I could now understand the illness, the melancholy of Lady Anne-whose blanched countenance, looking through the half-opened door, caught my eye at that moment, as I happened to turn in the direction of the breakfast-room. I trembled lest the madman should also see her, and burst into violence!

The "secret" of the Baronet consisted in his alleged discovery of a mode of converting tallow into wax: That it would, when carried into effect, produce him a revenue of fifty thousand a-year: That because the king could not prevail upon him to. disclose it, he had sent spies to watch all his movements, and had threatened to arrest him for high treason! All this horrid nonsense he told me in a loud, serious, energetic tone of voice and manner; and though my countenance must have

turned deadly pale when the shocking discovery first broke upon me, and my violent agitation became apparent, Sir Henry did not seem to notice it. I know not what called forth the laugh I have mentioned, unless it was the delight he experienced from the success with which he had imposed upon me so long. "But, Doctor," he continued, "I have not disclosed this great secret to you for nothing. I set about discovering it in consequence of an alarming accident which has happened to me, and of which both you and the world will ere long hear much. It became necessary, in a word, that I should develope a new source of independence, and, thank Heaven, at length it is found! But the mere money it will produce is the least consideration-there are grander results to follow-but of them anon. You, Doctor, are a scientific man-I am but superficially so; and that is a species of knowledge essential to the successful use of my great discovery. We must therefore become partners-eh?" I bowed. "The terms, you know, we can arrange afterwards. Ah, ha, ha! what will my constituentswhat will my political friends-say to this? Sir Henry Harleigh turned wax-maker! Why, Doctor, why are you so silent? Chop-fallen, eh? and why?"

I had been pondering all the while on the proper course to follow under such extraordinary and melancholy circumstances, and therefore permitted him to ramble on as he pleased." Calculating the profits, eh?-Well-but we must go through a good deal before we get to that part of the story, believe me! First and foremost," his countenance suddenly fell, and he cast a disturbed glance at the breakfast-room door, we must make some decisive arrangements about poor Lady Anne. She knows my secret, and it is the thoughts of it that have turned her head (women, you know, cannot bear sudden fortune!)-but, oh! such a gentle madness is hers!" He uttered this last exclamation in a tone that touched my heart to the quick; melting, moving, soul-subduing was it, as some of the whispers of Kean in Othello!

"Doctor," he commenced abrupt

ly, after a pause, let me consider of it for a moment-a thought suggests itself I would not have her feelings wounded for worlds!-I'll consider of it-and presently tell you my determination.”—He folded his arms on his breast, and walked slowly up and down the library, as if engaged in profound contemplation, and so continued for five or ten minutes, as if he had utterly forgotten me, who stood leaning against the window-frame, watching him with unutterable feelings. What should I do? It was next to impossible for me to have another interview with Lady Anne before leaving. I thought it on the whole advisable not to alarm his suspicions by any such attempt, but to take my departure as quietly and quickly as possible: determined, on reaching London, to communicate immediately with Mr Courthrope, his brother-in-law, with whom I had some little acquaintance, and with him suggest such measures as were necessary to secure the safety, not only of the Baronet, but his wretched lady. This resolution formed, I felt anxious to be gone. As the poor Baronet's cogitations, however, seemed far from approaching a close, I found it necessary to interrupt him.

"Well, Sir Henry," said I, moving from the window-recess, "I must leave you, for I have many engagements in town."

"Do you know, now," said he, with a puzzled air, "I positively cannot remember what it was I had to think about! How very absurd! What was it, now?" standing still, and corrugating his brows. "Oh, it was whether it would be proper for me to see Lady Anne before I left- -Ah," said he briskly, "aye, so it was-I recollect-why-see Lady Anne ?-No-I think not," he replied, with an abrupt, peculiar tone and manner, as if displeased with the proposal. "I will accompany you to the road, where you will find the carriage in readiness to take you back to town." He at the same time took from a pocketbook in his bosom pocket a note-case, and gave me a check, by way of fee, of L.500!

By the way," said he, abruptly, as arm-in-arm we walked down to the park gates, "what, after all, are

we to do with Lady Anne? How strange that we should have forgotten her! Well, what step do you intend taking next?"-I sighed.

"I must turn it over carefully in my mind, before I commit myself." "Ah, Sallust!-Priusquam incipias-consulto; sed ubi consulueris sed ubi consulueris, Doctor

"Mature facto, opus sit, Sir Henry," I replied, humouring his recollection.

[ocr errors]

"Good. There never was any thing more curt and pretty.' He repeated the sentence. Well, and what will you do?"

"I cannot precisely say at present; but you may rely upon seeing me here again this evening. I hope you will conceal it from Lady Anne, however, or it may alarm her."

"Mind me, Doctor," said he abruptly, his features clouding over with a strange expression, "I-Iwill have no violence used."

"Violence! my dear Sir Henry! violence! God forbid!" I exclaimed, with unaffected amazement.

"Of course, Doctor, I hold you personally," laying a strenuous emphasis on the last word, “I hold you personally responsible for whatever measures may be adopted. Here, however, is the carriage. I shall await your return with anxiety." I shook him by the hand, and stepped into the chariot.

"Good morning-good morning, Sir Henry!" I exclaimed, as the postilions were preparing to start. He put in his head at the window, and in a hurried tone whispered, "On second thoughts, Dr, I shall decline any further interference in the matter at least to-day." He had scarcely uttered the last words, when the chariot drove off,

"Hollo! hark ye, fellow! stop! stop!" shouted the Baronet, at the top of his voice, "stop, or I'll fire!" The postilions, who, I observed, had set off at pretty near a gallop, seemed disposed to continue it; but on hearing the last alarming words, instantaneously drew up. I looked with amazement through the window, and beheld Sir Henry hurrying towards us-fury in his features, and a pocket-pistol in his extended right hand.

"Good God, Sir Henry!" I exclaimed, terror-struck, "what can

be the meaning of this extraordinary conduct?"

"A word in your ear, Doctor," he panted, coming close up to the carriage door.

66

Speak, for Heaven's sake, speak, Sir Henry," said I, leaning my head towards him.

"I suspect you intend violent measures towards me, Doctor-.' "Against you! Violent measures -against any body?—You are dreaming, Sir Henry!"

Ah, I see further into your designs than you imagine, Doctor — ! You wish to extract my secret from me, for your own exclusive advantage. So, mark me-if you come again to

Hall, you shall not return alive-so help me! Adieu!" He strode haughtily off, waved his hand to the terrified postilions, and we soon lost sight of the unhappy madman. I threw myself back in my seat completely bewildered. Not only my own personal safety, but that of Lady Anne was menaced. What might not frenzy prompt him to do, during my absence, and on my return? Full of these agitating thoughts, I rejoiced to find myself thundering townward, as fast as four horses could carry me, in obedience to the orders I had given the postilions, the instant that Sir Henry quitted us. At length we reached a steep hill, that compelled us to slacken our pace, and give breath to our panting horses. I opened the front window, and bespoke the nearest postilion.

"Boy, there! Are you in Sir Henry's service?"

"No, sir, not exactly-but we sarves him as much as thof we was, for the matter of that," he replied, touching his hat.

"Were you surprised to see what occurred at starting?"

"No, sir," he replied, lowering his tone, and looking about him, as if he expected to find the Baronet at his heels. "He's done many a stranger thing nor that, sir, lately!

[ocr errors]

'I suppose, then, you consider him not exactly in his right senses, eh?"

"It a'n't for the likes o' me to say such a thing of my betters, sir; but this I may make bold for to say, sir, if as how I, or any o' my fellowsarvants, had done the likes o' what we've latterly seen up at the Hall

there, they'd a' clapped us into jail or bedlam long ago!" "Indeed! going on?"

Why, what has been

"You'll not tell of a poor lad like me—will you, sir ?”

"Oh, no-you may be sure of that -I'll keep your secret."

"Well, sir," said he, speaking more unconstrainedly, turning round in his saddle, full towards me-"first and foremost, he's discharged me, and Thomas here, my fellow-sarvant, an' we takes up at the inn, a mile or so from the Hall; likewise the coachman and the footman; likewise all the women sarvants-always excepting the cook, and my lady's maidand an't them a few sarvants for to do all the work of that great Hall? An't that strange-like, sir?"

"Well, what else? How does Sir Henry pass his time?"

"Pass his time, sir? Why, sir, we hears from cook, as how he boils candles, sir," quoth the fellow, grinning.

"Boils candles, sirrah? What do you mean? Are you in earnest ?"

"Yes, sir, I be indeed! He'll boil as many as twenty in a day, in the cook's best saucepans; and then he pours the most precious brandy into the mess-wasting good brandy-and then throws it all into a deep hole every night, that he has dug in the garden. 'Twas no later nor yesterday, sir, cook told me all-how she happened to be squinting through the key-hole, and no harm neither, sir, (axing your pardon)-when a man goes on in sich ways as them-and seed him kneel down upon the dirty hearth, before the saucepan full of candles, as they were boiling, and pray sich gibberish-like!"

"Well!" said I, with a sigh, "but what does her Ladyship all this while?"

"Oh, sir, our poor lady is worn almost, in a manner, to skin and bone. She follows him about like a ghost, and cries her eyes out; but for all that she is so gentle-like, he's woundy starn with her, and watches her just like a cat does a mouse, as one would say! Once he locked her in her bedroom all day, and only gave her bread and water! But the strangest thing is yet to come, sir; he makes out that it's her that's mad! so that for a long time, we all belie

ved it was so-for, sir, it's only of late, that we began to see how the real truth of the matter stood, sir. Sir Henry was always, since we've known him, a bit queer or so, but steady in the main; and as our poor lady was always mopish and melancholic-like, it was natral we should give in to believe it was her that was, as one would say, melancholy mad, and so all true what Sir Henry said of her."

"Is Sir Henry ever violent?"

"Lord, sir! Mrs Higgins, that's the cook, tells strange tales of him just latterly. He bolts every door, great and small, in the Hall, with his own hands, every night, and walks about in it with a loaded blunderbuss!"

"Miss Sims," said the further postilion, "that's my lady's maid, told Mrs Higgins, and she told my sister, who told me, as a secret, sir, that Sir Henry always sleeps every night with a bare drawn sword under his pillow, and a couple of loaded pistols stuck into the watch-pockets, as they call 'em, and frightens my Lady to death with his pranks!"

I could scarcely believe what they were telling me.

"Why, my boy, I cannot believe that all this is true!"

"Deed, sir, we wish it warn't!" "How long have you known it?" "Only a day back, or so." "And why did not you set off for London, and tell

"Lord, sir-us spread about that Sir Henry was mad! Nobody would believe us, for he's woundy cunning, and can talk as grave as a judge, and as good as the parson, when he chooses; an' that being so, if we'd gone up to town with them stories, the great folk would ha' come down, and he'd a' persuaded them it was all false-and what would have become of we?"

"And what is become of the servants? Are they all dumb?"

"Yes, sir, in a manner, seeing as how they have been bound to silence by our poor lady, till she should tell them to give the alarm; an' he's been too cunning latterly to give her opportunity of doing so. She'll be main glad o' your coming, I'll warrant me, for scarce a fly dare leave the house but he'd be after it!"

"Drive on-drive on, boys, for

« PreviousContinue »