Modern Flirtations: A Novel

by Catherine Sinclair

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  It is the greatest height of wisdom to be happy, but the happiestperiods of existence are the most difficult to describe; and from thistime forth, within the domestic circle of Mr. Granville, Marion wasintroduced into a scene of such refined and intellectual enjoyment,that it seemed to her as if she had hitherto beheld the picture oflife, painted only by some inferior artist, coarsely daubed over withglaring hues, and vulgarly discolored; but it now appeared to her inall the graceful symmetry, subdued harmony, and exquisite coloring ofa great master.

  Marion's natural taste had revolted from the mean, reckless,exaggerated caricatures of happiness, which had been exhibited to herin Sir Patrick's riotous revellings, and in her sister's feverishexcitement; while Agnes wasted her heart and feelings in building upromances for herself, very much in the Minerva press andAdela-de-Montmorency school; but now the morality appeared in all itstrue fascination and inestimable worth to Marion, when she saw realfelicity formed upon that divine model, which she had before imagined,but never seen.

  While sharing the pure joys and peaceful happiness of Clara andRichard, scarcely a thought of Marion's heart remained unspoken,except her secret and increasing consciousness of the wide disparitybetween that home, where she found nothing but a heartless desolationor neglect of her best feelings, and the beautiful exemplification ofdomestic felicity to which she had now been introduced. Everyoccupation or amusement in which she engaged with her friends, becameenhanced in pleasure and importance, by the consciousness, that beyondthe mere gratification of the moment, it was consecrated to a higherand better aim; that it might be remembered hereafter without remorse,and that it was but a link in the bright chain of eternal happinessfor which they were all preparing, and which they expected all toenjoy together, by the light of that sun which never sets, but shinesbeyond the grave.

  The Christian friendship of a brother and sister for each other, isperhaps the purest and happiest of all earthly attachments, for thereis not an hour of life from childhood to old age, in which they havenot experienced the same joys and the same sorrows, known everyvicissitude of existence together, acquired the same habits, wept forthe same sorrows, rejoiced in the same prosperity, and cherished thesame hopes. The affection of Clara and Richard was not the transientunion of two individuals thrown together by the accident of birth,united by mere instinct, living in contact for convenience, andexpecting to be finally separated by death; but it was the deep,strong, heart-felt attachment of a Christian family, linked togetherfor mutual support in sunshine or shadow, tenderly to assist eachother along the difficult path of life, happy in the blessings thatwere given them now, and happier still in the expectation of those yetto come in that "new heaven and new earth, wherein dwellethrighteousness."

  As Mr. Granville's character became more known to Marion, and theinterest with which he listened to her thoughts and feelingsperceptibly increased, she could not but secretly indulge sometimes inthe thought, presumptuous though it seemed to herself, how differentlife might yet become, if the preference already so obviouslytestified were by any "strange impossibility" to increase, till hebecame allied, to her by the strictest tie of perpetual friendship,and their lives and affections were mingled into one. Marion's youngheart glowed with emotion when she thought how her feelings would allthen be understood, her affections appreciated, her happiness caredfor, and every trivial incident of her life rendered doubly important,because it belonged to another as well as to herself--to one who wouldshare all her thoughts, direct all her actions, and mingle with everyChristian motive to exertion, the desire to please him in her ownhappy home.

  The attachment of Agnes for Captain De Crespigny was like that of achild for its rattle, compared with the ennobling sentiment of whichMarion's heart was capable, for there a mine of undiscoveredaffections lay buried and unknown, while every deeper emotion hadhitherto been repelled or neglected by all around, except her uncle,and she could not but tremble to think, if her affections were everwarmed into life by reciprocal attachment, how inconceivable must bethe misery or the happiness which would ensue. She indulged in nofallacious expectations of life, no romantic dreams of never-endinghappiness and never-dying love, which originate in unreasonableexpectation, and too certainly end in bitter disappointment; but, tobe the object of Mr. Granville's unchangeable confidence andaffection, his companion in sickness as much as in health, the sharerof his sorrows as well as his joys, a participator in all his duties,and, most of all, to testify her gratitude for his preference, bydevoted attachment on her own part, not bounded within the perishablelimits of a mere earthly tie--these were the silent, unspoken wishesof Marion, which glanced through her mind often, as she hurried home,late and unwillingly, to St. John's Lodge, and which caused her brighteye to beam with additional lustre, or brought the color in a richercarnation to her cheek.

  Events always happen when least expected, and if there be a day inlife when any one in this world of change can feel peculiarly certainthat nothing remarkable shall occur, that is probably the period whenthe most remarkable events take place. Marion had gone with Clara andher brother to spend a quiet day among the romantic glens of Roslin,when, finding herself alone with Mr. Granville, in one of the mostbeautiful parts of the rocky glen, she was suddenly astonished by hismaking her, with manly frankness, and yet evident diffidence, anexplicit declaration of his attachment. He said, on the occasion, allthat could be said by such a man, with the eloquence of deep emotion;and, encouraged by the timid pleasure with which Marion evidentlylistened to his words, Mr. Granville laid open the whole depths of aheart in which all that was ennobling in nature had become embellishedby all the purifying influences of religion, while she, with tears andblushes, heard thus unexpectedly what promised her the utmost sum ofhuman felicity, and she attempted not to conceal how highly, beyondall expression, she appreciated his preference and attachment.

  There is a language of the heart which words cannotexpress,--thoughts, feelings, and affections too deep to be told, butrevealed only in the eyes and voice, when with sincerity of emotion,such as Mr. Granville's, a long concealed attachment is at lastdeclared.

  "I have asked myself a thousand times whether I could make you happy,and if I believed," said he, "that there lived a man upon the earthwho could love you more, or make you happier than myself, I wouldendeavor to resign all hope; but I know the lasting nature of myattachment, which time itself cannot alter, nor death finallyextinguish; and if such affection as mine, with nothing else to offer,can make you happy, it will be a new motive to exertion on my part,and a new source of thankfulness to the Divine Giver of all good. Yourbrother knows better than most men the pecuniary embarrassment inwhich a long-continued law-suit has plunged me, and that my futureincome may not perhaps be large, but consult him,--and my very dearMarion, as I must for once be allowed to call you, consult your ownwishes and your happiness. Before giving me a final answer, take somedays to consider----"

  "Not an hour,--or a moment," replied Marion, frankly, but with afaltering voice and glistening eye, while a vivid blush dyed hercheek, "I need only consider whether my own heart be worthy of you! Ihave thought sometimes,--I have dreamed of such happiness as oursshall be, but little did I hope ever to see it more than realizednow!"

  Love is with lovers an endless subject, and hours appeared likemoments, while they conversed together on the past and the futurewith new feelings of confidence and joy, and the whole beautifulscenery around seemed as it were haunted by the spirit of thoughtand of enjoyment, while it was with a thrilling emotion of deepgratification that Marion now felt undoubtingly conscious that shehad become indeed an object of preference to Mr. Granville, that shewould be thought of always by one whom she could never forget, thatshe knew the whole story of his heart and affections, and that thesewere devoted,--ardently devoted to herself; and now resolutelydiscarding every apprehension of future difficulties or sorrows, allaround took the color of her happiness, and she lived only in the joyof the present hour. Nothing requir
ed concealment between them, andit seemed the sole object of both to open up the most secret recessesof their minds, comparing opinions and feelings, while before long itappeared strange to Marion that a time had ever existed when theirhearts were unknown to each other. No caprices, no misunderstandings,no jealousies could arise between them, for there seemed to be butone heart and one mind in common, from the moment when Marionwhispered her confession, that their attachment was reciprocal.

  Oh! there are looks and tones that dart, An instant sunshine through the heart, As if the soul that minute caught, Some treasure it through life had sought.

  At length they were warned to return homewards, by the golden light ofa setting sun, which yet looked in glowing majesty over the distanthills, and sprinkled its glory on the highest tops of the trees, tillthey were tipped with fire; but Marion paused, in delightedadmiration, on the centre of a rustic fairy-bridge, like a spider'sweb, thrown across the narrowest and deepest part of the swollenstream. Among rock and moss, tufted with weeping birch, theoverhanging cliffs here formed themselves into two sides of a naturalarch, in which nature had apparently omitted the key-stone, though arthad supplied the deficiency, by a slight bridge, underneath which thesparkling waters boiled and thundered on with bewildering rapidity,like a stream of light, bounding and leaping, with a clamorousbrawling uproar, along the rocky channel, and disappearing behind abold promontory, over-grown with tall pines, and twisted with theknotted and gnarled roots of many an ancient oak.

  The country seemed indeed clothed with a prodigality of beauty--thewild confusion of rocks--the feathered branches of a hundredtrees--the sparkling sunbeams, sprinkled like scattered leaf-gold onevery object--the shadows interlaced upon the verdant grass--theyellow broom, glowing with its sunny hues--the groups ofwell-conditioned cattle ruminating on the meadows--and the stream, nowmurmuring in wild music over its rocky bed, and dimpling into smilesbeneath the sunshine, while the mind and conversation of Mr. Granvilletravelled into the highest regions of thought, and Marion compared thebright gay aspect of all around to her own happy feelings.

  "It is a pleasure to think," said Marion with animation, "that thepoorest and most destitute of human beings might enjoy the beauties ofnature as we do now, and all the pleasures, too, of confidence andaffection, if they but knew how to value them. God gives all that ismost precious to his creatures in common; and how little of our realhappiness in life is derived from the mere vulgar display of wealth,equipages, jewels, and external splendor. It is not the materials ofour happiness which are so important, as the way in which we build upthe fabric."

  "I have sometimes been ready to regret," answered Mr. Granville, "thatin offering you my hand and fortune, I offer you so little; but Inever desired wealth for myself. No man living cares less for luxury;and we may trust that my devoted affection shall succeed in shieldingyou from the thousand inconveniencies of a very limited income."

  "It is the heart I value," whispered Marion. "With all my faults, thelove of money never was one. We shall be rich in happiness, and in allthat Providence gives to the most favored of those who trust in Him."

  "Yes! such mutual confidence as ours, with Christian contentment andcheerfulness, are the real elixir of happiness," replied Mr.Granville. "It is by closing our eyes against the pure enjoymentsprepared for us by the God of nature, and opening them to theartificial wants invented by man, that we lose all the simplicity, andmost of the real felicity of life. One can scarcely wonder, in a scenelike this, that many Christians think this beautiful earth, in apurified state, shall hereafter become the place of our eternalhappiness; but wherever the presence of God is, that, and that onlywill constitute heaven."

  "And who could wish for more?" said Marion. "That should in itselfexcite all our gratitude and joy."

  "Yet this noisy turbulent stream, rushing wildly past in its angrycareer, is like the troubled course of human wishes, thoughts, andspeculations, with which we are continually disturbing that calm,unruffled state, in which our minds would best reflect the light ofheaven," answered Mr. Granville. "No one ever had a plummet longenough to measure the depth of that love to man, which has placed usas probationers in our sin-blighted world; and even if we had nofuturity of glory promised us, and were finally to perish at death, wehave cause to be thankful for seeing so much natural beauty, and somuch intellectual enjoyment, while permitted to remain here."

  "Yes!" replied Marion, "considering that we have forfeited everyblessing, I think any man who has enjoyed life as he ought to, mightgive a receipt in full, as having received a thousand mercies to whichhe had no claim."

  "But who can imagine the magnificent expansion of mind hereafter, whenthe whole scheme of nature, of providence, and of grace, shall befully revealed, and our capacities enlarged, to comprehend andappreciate the mighty plan," continued Mr. Granville. "Now, even thewisest and best of Christians must be satisfied with the intelligentignorance of knowing that he knows nothing; for even angels,travelling on the wings of thought for thousands of years, cannot yetunderstand the whole counsel of God; but our present business is tostudy and practise here the temper and manners of that celestial cityin which we hope hereafter to reside, that our attachment, begunindeed now upon earth, may be blessed and perpetuated throughouteternity."

  _C'est bien d'etre avec les gens qu'on aime--leur parler, ne leurparler pas._ The eye of Mr. Granville now gazed in delighted admirationon the whole circumference of earth and sky, with a keen perception oftheir beauties, and an intelligent recollection that while the eternalsky and the decaying earth form an apt emblem of soul and body, all theworks of nature may be brought beautifully to exemplify the works ofgrace. Marion and he long stood still together in that companionablesilence, which became so soothing and delightful to their spirits, thatneither seemed willing to break the spell.

  Both Marion and Mr. Granville delighted in devoutly contemplating theglories of creation--nature's system of divinity--those "elderScriptures writ by God's own hand"--the majestic display of Almightywisdom, power, and goodness, in the grand theatre of human life, aswell as in the minutest events of their own existence.

  This is religion--not unreal dreams, Enthusiastic raptures, and seraphic gleams; But Faith's calm triumph--Reason's steady sway-- Not the bright lightning but the perfect day.

  Thus musing together, in silent, speechless happiness, Mr. Granvillewas suddenly roused, by observing a young lady approach with agitatedand disordered steps, leaning on the arm of a more elderly female, andwalking at a pace of such unusual rapidity, that it almost amounted torunning. They both glanced frequently and hurriedly behind, as if undergreat alarm, while so remarkable an expression of terror was evident inall their looks and movements, that Mr. Granville, without a moment'shesitation, stepped forward, and courteously volunteered his services,while Marion with delighted astonishment, recognised her friend andcompanion, Caroline Smythe.

  "You seem alarmed! Allow me to offer my assistance!" said Mr.Granville. "Shall we accompany you?"

  "No! no! I am safest alone!" gasped the younger lady, in accents ofwild alarm. "He carries pistols! He is perfectly insane! Stop him ifyou can! Oh! stop him! Do not let him follow! Direct him wrong! Doanything! Try, if you possibly can, to detain him!"

  Mr. Granville glanced swiftly round, and observed, with surprise, notfar from the bridge, and turning the sharp corner of a projecting rock,the figure of a tall, powerful young man, of rather gentleman-likeappearance, wrapped up to the chin in a large cloak, who instantly, onperceiving strangers, muffled his face closely in his handkerchief, anddrew down his hat, but approached with rapid strides and violentgesticulations, apparently speaking to himself, and muttering curseswith terrifying vehemence. Not a moment was lost in hesitation, beforeMarion assisted the elder lady in supporting Caroline onwards, whoevidently suffered under a mortal terror, while they rapidly draggedher across the fragile bridge, on which Marion and Richard had solately enjoyed some brief and happy moments.

  Mr. Granvi
lle, in the mean time, approached the stranger so as to standdirectly in his path, and necessarily to impede his progress, while hesteadily fixed his gaze upon the blazing eye of the madman with a calmand commanding look, which testified an unflinching determination toobstruct his onward career, and a steady resolution not to beintimidated by the air of scowling defiance with which he was met.

  "Stand back!" exclaimed the stranger, in a tone of maniacal fury. "Lifeand death are at stake! stand back! delay me one moment, and you die!"

  "Is the bridge secure?" asked Mr. Granville, catching hold of themadman's arm when he was rushing past, and instantly stooping down asif to examine the foundation, when, by a powerful effort of strength,he suddenly hurled the whole fabric into the eddying stream, whichwashed the shattered fragments in a moment out of sight.

  With a cry of almost fiendish rage, and setting his teeth till itseemed as if they would be ground to powder, the maniac sprang like atiger on Mr. Granville, and would have collared him; but with greatagility he eluded the madman's grasp, and fixed his eyes with anexpression of stern resolution upon his frantic antagonist, till hisface cowered beneath that steady gaze, when he said in a calm, slow,resolute accent,

  "Those ladies shall pass on unmolested. It is base and cowardly toterrify timid females whom we are bound with our very lives to protect.Go back as you came, and beware of touching them or me."

  A wild and hideous laugh was the maniac's only reply, and his eyesgleamed more and more fiercely, while he gnawed his lip with rage, butat length suddenly bursting with irresistible fury past Mr. Granville,he took a long, quick run to where the bridge had formerly stood, andinstantly, with a single bound of marvellous agility, leaped across.Richard Granville was for half a moment bewildered with astonishment atthis unexpected achievement, and saw with consternation and dismay thatit would be vain to attempt impeding the infuriated maniac, who turneda deaf ear to his loudly vociferated remonstrance, and deliberatelyfired a pistol in the air, while he held up another in a menacingattitude towards Mr. Granville, and then replacing the deadly weapon inhis breast, he hastily disappeared along the same path which had beenso recently pursued by the ladies.

  Richard, heedless of any danger to himself, became now most seriouslyalarmed for the safety of Marion and her companions, therefore hedelayed not an instant to scramble across the stream where it wasfordable, and to follow at his utmost speed. In the impetuosity of Mr.Granville's career, the ground receded beneath his feet, and as herushed onward a band of iron seemed to restrain his breath, for theroad became steeper and more solitary, while long grass and weeds hadgrown over the wheel tracks, and the way was impeded by wild stragglinghedges, which threw their sprays of brier and thorn almost entirelyacross the way. At length meeting a couple of countrymen, he hurriedlyexplained his apprehensions, when they mentioned having met a strange,wild-looking man, proceeding with long strides in an oppositedirection. To Mr. Granville's great relief, however, they seemed tothink that no ladies could have gone in that way, and after prevailingon the two laborers, with a bribe, to assist him in capturing themaniac, he resolutely and fearlessly pursued his course.

  Marion, meantime, had accompanied the two ladies in their mostunexpected flight through the forest, at a pace which precluded thepossibility of speaking, except that now and then an ejaculation ofterror, or an expression of fervent thankfulness was wrung from themwhen they glanced around, giving a fearful idea of instant danger.Caroline's pallid lips were parted, her eyes straining forward withimpatient apprehension, and every limb nerved for exertion, while shesilently pursued her way, though her feet seemed to herself as if theyhad become lead, in her vehement efforts to fly onwards; and thecountenance of her aunt expressed scarcely less terror.

  Without speaking, Marion did all in her power to accelerate theirprogress, but at length Caroline's footsteps faltered, her eye becamedim, and she staggered back, faint with fatigue, seeing which Marionsilently pointed to a large empty barn which stood beside the road, andhaving supported her within the door, Caroline fell helplessly on thefloor, covering her face with her hands, and trembling visibly in everylimb.

  Marion brought water, rubbed Caroline's temples, and tried by everymeans to soothe her with the hope of being safe, but in vain--hertongue grew parched, her eyes became glassy, her features almost livid,and she faintly pointed towards the door, which Marion barricaded tothe best of her ability. Caroline threw herself back on a heap ofstraw, and covered her face with her hands in a helpless agony of fear.Several minutes afterwards elapsed in breathless silence on the part ofMarion and Mrs. Smythe, when Caroline at length started up, eager topursue her course towards the nearest village, now scarcely a mile off,while her companions earnestly entreated her to rest rather, andcompose herself.

  "He has lost the track! he cannot be following us now," said Marion, inaccents of trembling alarm, the agitated tone of which belied herwords, while an icy chill had crept through her veins. "Let us resthere, we are safe now! He will hurry past! He will not think ofsearching for us in this place!"

  "He will! he will! when the fit is on nothing escapes him," repliedCaroline, who felt a choking sensation in her throat which impeded herutterance. "Oh! think of the fearful past! that dreadful night when hefirst became insane! Why did I believe him when he promised never toterrify me more! a horrid dread is upon me! a strange ringing in myears! a weight of lead upon my heart!"

  "How wonderful that he never can be traced! that he always finds usout! that if there ever be a moment when we feel peculiarly safe fromhis presence, he comes!" whispered Mrs. Smythe, in an under tone, as ifafraid that the very walls might re-echo her words. "We must leave thisneighborhood, we must take new precautions till he can be found andshut up."

  Before Caroline could utter the affirmative, which trembled on herlips, her eyes became stony with a look of sudden fear, her hands werefaintly clasped together, her parched and livid lips were parted, andwith a half uttered shriek she threw herself behind Marion, rivetingher arms closely round her waist, when, the next minute, a window ofthe barn was dashed in with a violence which nothing could resist, andthe maniac, giving a wild cry of malignant triumph, began to clamberin, clinging to the window-sill with his long bony fingers, whileconcealing his face, so that nothing could be seen but his eyes, whichburned like living coals.

  "You have deceived me once, but you shall deceive me no more!" said he,in hoarse, deep accents, and with a ghastly look, while the terrifiedgirl seemed to wither beneath his glance. "I cannot breathe while youlive! I have shed blood before now, and none can tell who did it! Youmay call, but there are none to help--you may weep, but I cannotpity--you may fly, but there is no escape! My heart is turned to stone!My blood is liquid fire! Strange figures are gibbering behind me!Unearthly voices are whispering in my ear! I will do it! Yes! when Istand on the scaffold to be executed I shall not be nearer death thanyou are at this moment."

  Marion, conscious that the madman's fury was not directed at herself,and feeling the courage which arises from desperation, resolved, atwhatever cost, at least to delay, if possible, any catastrophe whichshe might not be able finally to prevent, and anxious, even for aninstant, to take the maniac's eye off the trembling girl beside her,she now walked resolutely forward to the window, though trembling asmuch as if she were about to throw herself beside a wild beast in hiscage. Her teeth chattered with terror, and the words seemed to stiffenin her throat as she uttered them, but still she persevered, saying ina gentle, soothing accent:

  "You are a gentleman, and cannot want money! What would you have? Whohas injured you? Tell me why you pursue us? Think for one moment howmany years you have to live, and how miserable you may be for ever, ifyou do a rash act now! Pause and consider, for the curse of God and manwill be upon you!"

  The madman gazed for an instant at the pale countenance of Marion,every feature in which quivered with emotion; he seemed almost ashamedof his own fearful violence, and was about, in a calmer tone, to reply,when the barn door was suddenly bur
st open by the two countrymen, whoentered with Mr. Granville.

  "He shall die!" muttered the maniac between his clenched teeth, "Both!all! all! The power of life and death is here!"

  Marion heard a sound of terror close beside her--it was a click, as ofa pistol being cocked, the muzzle of which was directed towards Mr.Granville, while the maniac deliberately took his aim; but with asudden impulse of desperation, she threw her arm upwards, and struckthe fatal weapon, which instantly went off with a report that stunnedher senses.

  Nearly blinded by the shock, Marion staggered backwards as if about tofall, yet strained her eyes, in speechless agony, to ascertain if Mr.Granville were saved. There was blood upon his cheek, but he rushedforward at once, and pinioned the madman's arms within his own, whilethe two countrymen assisted; and after a severe scuttle, the maniac,perfectly mastered, lay panting on the floor, while he glared on Mr.Granville with a frown of baffled malignity, uttering execrations bothloud and deep, so dreadful to hear, that Marion's heart quailed withinher at their awful import, though unable to look round, while occupiedin applying restoratives to Caroline, who had sunk, with a heavy groan,perfectly insensible on the floor.

  After more than ten minutes, during which not a pulse could be felt,Caroline was carried into the air by Mr. Granville, when the wind,playing on her cheek, brought on a gradual restoration to life--aslight fluttering was perceived at her heart, a faint color tinged hercheek, and with a deep-drawn sigh and a bewildered look, she suddenlystarted up, as if about to renew her flight.

  "Dear Caroline!" said Marion, calmly, "all is safe! Do not agitateyourself. We have had, indeed, a wonderful escape."

  Miss Smythe embraced Marion in a transport of joy and gratitude, afterwhich she turned to Mr. Granville, uttering the warmest expression ofher thanks, while he, with an evident desire to conclude a discussionobviously so agitating to the two ladies, proposed, after amplyremunerating the two countrymen, his assistants, to hurry forward andsend conveyances from the neighboring inn. With one anxious look at thepale, exhausted countenance of Marion, Mr. Granville hastilydisappeared, meditating, as he hastened along, with deep interest onhis recent adventure, and with pleasing emotion on the happy_eclaircissement_ which had that morning taken place with Marion,binding them to each other by the strong ties of honor, principle, andaffection.

  Half an hour afterwards, Richard returned with two carriages, in one ofwhich he placed the ladies, whom he met advancing along the road; butafter proceeding forward with the other, to secure his prisoner, he wasstartled and astonished to discover that the maniac and his two keepershad entirely disappeared.