Newton Forster; Or, The Merchant Service

by Frederick Marryat

  VOLUME THREE, CHAPTER NINE.

  Come o'er the sea, Maiden, with me, Mine through sunshine, storm and snows; Seasons may roll, But the true soul Burns the same where'er it goes. Let fate frown on, so we love and part not, 'Tis life where thou art, 'tis death where thou'rt not. MOORE.

  The voyage was at last accomplished without adventure or interest, theWindsor Castle not having fallen in with more than two or three vesselsduring her passage. Happy were the military officers to hear the ordergiven for the anchor to be let go upon their arrival in Madras Roads;more happy were they to find themselves again on shore; and most happywere Captain Oughton and his officers to witness the debarkation of thetroops, who had so long crowded their decks and impeded their motions.Parting was indeed sweet sorrow, as it always will be when there isshort allowance of room and still shorter allowance of water.

  Newton Forster was in a state of anxiety during the quarter of an hourin which he was obliged to attend to his duty, furling the sails andsquaring the yards; and the time appeared most insupportably long, untilhe could venture aft to make some inquiries from the dubashes, who werecrowding alongside, as to the fate of Isabel Revel. Time and absencehad but matured his passion, and it was seldom that Isabel was away fromhis thoughts. He had a faint idea formed by hope that she was partialto him; but this was almost smothered by the fears which opposed it,when he reflected upon what might be produced by absence, importunity,and her independent spirit, which might, if not well treated by herrelation, reconcile her to a marriage, which, although not in every wayeligible, secured her a prospect of contentment and of peace.

  At last the yards were squared to the satisfaction of the boatswain, theropes were hauled taut, and coiled down, and the men sent below to theirdinners. Newton walked aft, and the first person he met was the dubashwho had attended the Bombay Castle. The cheeks of Newton flushed, andhis heart throbbed quick, and his lips quivered, as he askedintelligence of the colonel and his family.

  "Colonel Saib quite well, sir. Two ladies marry officer."

  "Which two?" demanded Newton, eagerly.

  "Not know how call Bibi Saib's names. But one not marry--she veryhandsome--more handsome than all."

  The heart of Newton bounded at this intelligence, as he knew that itmust be Isabel who was still a spinster. This was shortly aftercorroborated by an English gentleman who came on board. Their stay atMadras was intended to be short, and Newton resolved to ask immediateleave on shore. Apologising to Captain Oughton for making such anunusual request, which he was induced to do from intelligence he hadjust received relative to his friends, he expressed his anxious wish.Captain Oughton, who had reason to be highly satisfied with Newton, gavehis consent in the kindest manner; "and, Forster, if you wish to remain,you have my permission. We will manage without you: only recollect, wesail on Thursday night." Newton was soon ready, and quitted the shipwith Major Clavering; to whose credit it ought here to be observed, thata _daily_ note was despatched to Captain Oughton, requesting thepleasure of his company at the mess, until he was satisfied that, inthis instance, the general invitation was sincere.

  As soon as he was clear of the surf, and out of the masulah boat, Newtonhired a conveyance, and drove out to the bungalo of the old colonel. Hetrembled as he announced his name to the butler, who ushered him halfway to the receiving room; and, like most of the natives, finding somedifficulty in pronouncing English, contented himself with calling out"burrah saib," and then walked off. Newton found himself in thepresence of the old veteran and Isabel. The latter had been reading anew publication, which she laid down at the voice of the butlerannouncing a visitor. But "burrah saib" may be any body; it implies agentleman. What then was the surprise of Isabel, who had no intimationof his arrival, when Newton Forster made his appearance? Herexclamation of delight, as she ran to him and extended her hand, madeNewton Forster but too happy; and, as for a few seconds he held the handnot withdrawn, and looked in her beaming eyes, he quite forgot thepresence of the colonel. A glance from the eye of Isabel in thedirection where the old gentleman was seated, brought Newton to hisrecollection. He walked up to the colonel, who shook hands, anddeclared that he was most glad to see him.

  "You take up your quarters here, of course, Mr Forster?"

  "I shall have great pleasure in availing myself of your kind offer for aday or two," replied Newton. "I trust that you have been in good healthsince we parted."

  "Not very; that is, latterly. I am thinking of a change of climate. Iintend to go home in October. I suppose you have been informed that thetwo young women have married?"

  "I was told so by some one who came on board."

  "Yes. Isabel, my dear, order a chamber for Mr Forster." Isabel leftthe room. "Yes, both married--thought of nothing else--regularly cameout on spec. In less than a month they knew the exact rank of everygentleman in the presidency; ascertained their prospects, and the valueof their appointments; turned the rupees into pounds sterling; broke offa conversation with an ensign at the sight of a lieutenant; cut thelieutenant for a captain; were all smiles for a major; and actually madelove themselves to any body who was above that rank, and a bachelor.They made their decision at last; indeed pretty quick. They were onlyfour months on my hands. Both up the country now."

  "I trust they have married well, sir?"

  "That depends upon circumstances. They have married young men not usedto the climate. May be widows in half a year. If their husbandsweather it, of course they will come in for their share of the goodthings; but I'll warrant they will never be able to leave the country."

  "Not leave the country, sir! May I ask why?"

  "Because they have married foolish, extravagant wives, who will run themin debt; and when once in debt, it is no easy matter in this country toget out of it. They must insure their lives for the money which theyborrow; and as the house of agency will be gainers by their demise, ofcourse they will not be permitted to leave the country and their chanceof the _cholera morbus_. Don't you think that my niece looks remarkablywell?"

  "I do; the climate does not appear to have affected her."

  "Rather improved her," replied the colonel; "she is not so thin as whenshe came on shore. God bless her! I'm sure, Mr Forster, I am undergreat obligations to you for having persuaded me to go for the dear girlwhen she arrived. She has been a treasure to me! If she has had one,she has had twenty offers since you left; many unexceptionable; but shehas refused them all. In some instances I have persuaded her--I thoughtit was my duty. But no; she has but one answer, and that is a decidedone. She will not leave me. She has watched and attended me in mysickness as my own daughter. I say again, God bless her!"

  It was with delight that Newton heard these encomiums upon Isabel, and,her resolution not to marry. Whether it was wholly on account of notwishing to leave the colonel or not, still every delay gave him morechance of ultimate success. Isabel, who had stayed away that thecolonel might have time to make any communications to Newton, nowreturned, and the conversation became general. Newton entered into anarrative of what had occurred during his passage home, and amused themwith his anecdotes and conversation.

  In about an hour the colonel rose from his chair that he might preparefor dinner; and then it was that Newton perceived the great change whichhad taken place. He was no longer upright but bowed down; his step wasno longer firm, it was almost tottering; and, as he left the room,Newton's eyes met those of Isabel.

  "You think him ill?" said Isabel, inquiringly.

  "Yes, I do, Miss Revel. He is very much changed; his stamina appears tohave been exhausted by the climate. I trust he will go home, as heproposes."

  "He has been ill--very ill indeed. He talks constantly of going home;he has done so for months; but when the time comes he puts it off. Iwish you would persuade him."

  "I will do all I can; but if you cannot prevail, I'm afraid that mypersuasion will be of little use."

  "Indeed, I think otherwise; you have power
over him, Mr Forster. Ihave not forgot how kindly you exercised it in my behalf. We--that is,"continued Isabel, colouring up, "the colonel has often talked of yousince you quitted us."

  "I feel highly flattered by his remembrance," replied Newton; "but youare in mourning, Miss Revel. If not a liberty from one who feels aninterest in all concerning you, may I inquire for whom?"

  "It is for my father," replied Isabel, with emotion, sitting down andpassing her hand across her eyes.

  "I never heard of his death, and must apologise for having been soindiscreet as to renew your sorrow. How long is it since? and what washis complaint?"

  "He had no complaint--would to God that he had had! He was shot in aduel," replied Isabel, as the tears coursed down her cheeks. "Oh! MrForster, I trust I am resigned to the dispensations of Providence, but--that he should be summoned away at the moment when he was seeking thelife of his fellow-creature, with all the worst passions in excitement--unprepared--for he was killed on the spot. These reflections will makehis death a source of bitter regret, which can terminate but withexistence."

  "Your mother is still alive?" inquired Newton, to change the painfulsubject.

  "Yes, but very ill; the last accounts were very distressing; they saythat her complaint is incurable."

  Newton regretted having brought up so painful a subject. A few words ofcondolence and sympathy were offered, and they separated to prepare fordinner.

  Newton remained four days under the roof of the colonel, during whichtime he was constantly in the society of Isabel; and when the period ofhis departure arrived, he had just grounds to imagine that were allobstacles in other points removed, Isabel Revel would not, on her part,have raised any against the accomplishment of his wishes; but theirmutual dependent situations chased away all ideas of the kind for thepresent, and although they parted with unconcealed emotion, not a wordwhich could be construed into a declaration of attachment was permittedto escape his lips.

  The Windsor Castle sailed for Calcutta, and in a few days anchored atKedgeree to wait for a pilot to come down the river. During their shortstay at this anchorage, Mr Williams, the first-mate, who was an oldIndian voyager, went on shore every evening to follow up his darlingamusement of shooting jackals, a description of game by no means scarcein that quarter of the world. Often remonstrated with for hisimprudence in exposing himself to the heavy night-dew he would listen tono advice. "It was very true," he acknowledged, "that his brother haddied of a jungle fever in pursuing the same amusement, and what wasmore, the fowling-piece in his hand belonged to his brother, who hadbequeathed it to him; but as he had never heard of two brothers dyingfrom a jungle fever taken by shooting jackals, he considered that theodds were strongly in his favour." This argument, however specious, didnot prove good. The third morning he returned on board, complaining ofa head-ache and shivering. He was bled and put into his bed, which henever left again.

  Before the Windsor Castle was ready to sail, the remains of Mr Williamswere consigned to the burying-ground at Diamond Harbour, and NewtonForster was promoted to the rank of first-mate of the Windsor Castle.This, as will hereafter be proved, was a most fortunate occurrence toNewton Forster. The Windsor Castle sailed with leave to call at Madrasfor letters or passengers, and in a few days was again at anchor in theroadstead. The first intelligence which they received upon theirarrival was, that the cholera morbus had been very fatal, and that amongothers, the old colonel had fallen a victim to the disease. Newtonagain obtained permission to go on shore to Isabel. He found her indistress at the house of a Mrs Enderby, a lady who had lost her husbandby the same ravaging epidemic, and who had long been the intimate friendof the colonel and of Isabel. Mrs Enderby was about to return toEngland by the first vessel, and had advised Isabel to take sofavourable an opportunity of a chaperone. Isabel, who had many reasonsfor wishing to leave the country, particularly the declining state ofher mother's health, had consented; and it was with great pleasure thatshe received from Newton the information of the best cabins of theWindsor Castle not having been hitherto engaged.

  The colonel's will had been opened. He had bequeathed his property, thewhole of which, with the exception of his establishment in India, wasinvested in the English funds, to his grand-niece Isabel Revel. Itamounted to nearly seventy thousand pounds. It would be difficult tosay whether Newton Forster felt glad or sorry at this intelligence. ForIsabel's sake, he undoubtedly was glad, but he could not but feel thatit increased the distance between them, and on that account, and on thatalone, his reflections were painful. "Had it," thought he, "been fivethousand, or even ten thousand pounds, it would have been different. Inthe course of a few years I might have been able to produce anequivalent to it, and--but this fortune has raised her above my hopes;even if she had a prepossession in my favour, it would be dishonest totake advantage of it."

  Isabel Revel had very different feelings on the subject;--she was herown mistress, and her manner to Newton was more cordial, moreconfidential than before. She had not forgotten that Newton had shownthe same regard and partiality for her when she was going out to India;and afterwards, when in distress, he had been her friend and admirerwhen in adversity. She knew his feelings towards her, and she hadappreciated his delicacy and forbearance. Lately she had seriouslyanalysed her own, and her analysis was wound up by a mentalacknowledgment, that her wealth would be valueless, if she could notshare it with Newton Forster.

  At the request of Mrs Enderby, the poop cabins were engaged for Isabeland herself. Their time for preparation was short; but one day morehaving been obtained from Captain Oughton, through the influence ofNewton, Mrs Enderby and Isabel embarked, and the Windsor Castle spreadher canvas, sailing away from pestilence and death.

  Newton Forster--by Captain Marryat