Jack Harkaway in New York; or, The Adventures of the Travelers' Club
Page 12
CHAPTER XII.
MRS. VAN HOOSEN SACRIFICES HER DAUGHTER TO HER AMBITION.
When Lena Van Hoosen recovered her senses she found herself in theouter room which she had just entered. Her maid Fifine was engaged inbathing her forehead with Florida water and fanning her face.
"Where am I?" she gasped.
"In the house of the clairvoyant, ma'm'selle," answered Fifine.
"Where is Madame Levine?"
"Gone. She took the medium away, and they went out together."
"Oh! why did you bring me here?" said Lena, wringing her handspiteously.
"Ma'm'selle wished to know whom she would marry, and it seems to methat the English suitor is rich and handsome."
"Be silent."
Fifine shrugged her shoulders.
"For my part, I wish he would love me well enough to marry me," shecontinued.
"You are impertinent. Let us go home," replied her mistress.
Just as she had arranged her shawl and was about to take her departure,Madame Levine entered the apartment.
"Are you satisfied?" she inquired.
"I am bewildered. I know not what to think," answered Lena.
"Oh! as for that, you can always rely upon the predictions of themedium, who is really remarkable."
"But she told me I should marry the man I hate."
"Then it will be so."
"Can you explain how she came to have the portrait of Lord Maltraversin her locket?" asked Lena.
"That is a mysterious locket," said Mme. Levine; "in ordinary times itis perfectly blank. When the medium wishes to think of any particularindividual, the face is represented on the glass."
Lena smiled, incredulously.
"I cannot believe that," she said.
The madame touched a small bell, and its silvery cadence had scarcelydied away when the servant attached to the house entered.
"Bring down Adele," she exclaimed.
The domestic bowed and departed.
"Oh!" said Lena, under her breath. "Her name is Adele."
Presently Adele Bellefontaine, pale and delicate, entered the room,with an absent air.
She did not seem to notice any one.
"Child," exclaimed Madame Levine.
Adele started and pressed her hand to her head as if in pain.
It was clear that the clairvoyant possessed a strange influence overher.
"You called me," she replied.
"I did. Show that lady your locket."
Adele walked with a childish manner and offered the locket to Lena,who, with trembling fingers, opened it.
A cry of astonishment escaped her, for the surface of the locket wasperfectly plain.
"There is nothing there," she said.
"Is not that precisely what I told you?" replied Mme. Levine.
Like one in a dream Lena put her hand on her head, shuddered, andquitted the house.
"How beautiful she is!" she muttered, thinking of Adele.
She was completely mystified, for it did not occur to her that themadame, seeing the peculiar effect the portrait in the locket hadupon her, had taken the precaution to remove it while she was lyingsenseless in the adjoining room.
Lena reached home a short time before her mother returned from theopera, and waited in the drawing-room to receive her.
Mrs. Van Hoosen did not come back alone.
She was accompanied by Lord Maltravers.
"You look _distraite_, my dear," said Mrs. Van Hoosen. "I hope yourhead is better?"
"A little, mamma," replied Lena, flushing, as she extended her hand toMaltravers, adding, "How do you do? it is some time since we met."
"Yes, indeed. It seems an age to me."
"Did you like the opera, mamma?"
"I cannot say I did. It was Lohengrin. Wagner may have his admirers,but for my part I do not care for the music of the future."
Saying this, Mrs. Van Hoosen retired to take off her bonnet and leftthe young people together.
Lena sat on the sofa, and toyed with a fan.
"I hope you do not consider my presence an intrusion, Miss Van Hoosen,"exclaimed Maltravers.
"Oh, no; any friend of my mother's is welcome to me," she answered.
"Is not your reception a little cold?"
"Not that I am aware of."
He left the chair in which he was sitting, and ventured to take a seatby her side on the sofa.
Lena moved away, and pulled up the skirts of her dress as if she wereafraid of his touching them.
"May I take this opportunity of telling you how dear you are to me?" hesaid.
"I have heard that before, my lord," she replied.
"Lena--let me call you Lena--I love you madly, passionately, and Ioffer you my hand, my heart, my coronet and my fortune."
"I wish to remain single," she answered.
"It is your mother's wish that you should marry me. We have had aconversation about it."
"Lord Maltravers," replied Lena, "I can never love you. Would you takethe hand, where the heart can never be?"
"Oh, yes. If I can only call you mine, I will teach you to love me;believe me, dearest, love will come in time."
"Never!"
"Is it possible that you love another?"
Lena looked up indignantly, almost angrily.
"You have no right to pry into the secrets of my heart," she replied.
"I know how it is," said Maltravers, bitterly, "you love that fellow,Harkaway."
"Suppose I do care for Mr. Harkaway--what then?"
"You shall never be his."
"Allow me to ask you a question, my lord," she exclaimed. "Have younever loved before?"
"Never, until I saw you."
"Who is Adele?"
At this question he turned pale, and it was only by the exercise of agreat effort that he mastered his emotion.
She saw him change color and gnaw his nether lip and drew her ownconclusions.
"I do not know any one of that name," he replied. "What induces you toask me?"
"Never mind. Perhaps it was a silly fancy of mine."
"Once more; will you be mine?" he urged.
"Give me time to think."
"I want your answer now."
"You shall have it in a week. I cannot talk further, now," repliedLena. "Pardon me if I leave you."
Lord Maltravers took up his hat.
"I shall not intrude further upon you; in a week I shall call for youranswer. Please say good-night to your mother for me," he exclaimed.
Seizing her hand he raised it to his lips and imprinted a passionatekiss upon it.
As he left the room he added, under his breath: "She shall yet be mine,in spite of every thing."
Scarcely had she drawn a sigh of relief at his welcome absence than hermother entered.
There were tears in Lena's eyes, and she was pale and tremulous.
"Where is Lord Maltravers?" asked Mrs. Van Hoosen.
"He has gone."
"I hope, my child, you have not offended him."
"No," said Lena, laconically.
"Did he talk to you on a delicate subject?"
"He did."
"That is right. I gave him permission to do so. What answer did yougive him when he asked you to become his wife?"
"I told him he should have my answer in a week, and I gave him tounderstand that I could never love him."
"I am sorry for that, for I have set my heart on your marrying thatman. You must become Lady Maltravers or I will disown you. Girls do notknow what's good for them."
"Pity me, mamma," cried Lena.
"I will not; pity would be wasted on so silly a girl. Think of thebrilliant match I have arranged for you! There are very few youngladies who would refuse Lord Maltravers with his ancient lineage, fineform and splendid income."
"I do not love him."
"Pshaw! People do not marry for love nowadays. Accept his lordship in aweek or prepare to leave my house forever."
"I will obey you, mamma,"
replied Lena.
Mrs. Van Hoosen bent over and kissed her affectionately.
"That is my own dear girl," she said. "I am content now, and to-morrowI will arrange for your wedding outfit."
That night Lena cried herself to sleep, for she had allowed her motherto sacrifice her to her ambition.
Jack Harkaway was lost to her forever and she could never know whathappiness was again.
The week passed, Lord Maltravers called, and was coldly but formallyaccepted by Lena.
It was settled that the marriage should take place in a month, and thepapers contained the following announcement:
"ENGAGED.--Lena Van Hoosen, daughter of the late Cornelius Van Hoosen, to Lord Maltravers of the peerage of Great Britain."
This to all appearance sealed her fate.