The Weird of the Wentworths: A Tale of George IV's Time, Vol. 1

by Johannes Scotus

  CHAPTER XV.

  "The stately homes of England How beautiful they stand, Amidst their tall ancestral trees, O'er all the pleasant land! The deer across the greensward bound Through shade and sunny gleam, And the swan glides past them with the sound Of some rejoicing stream."--_Hemans._

  "Look, Nelly, see the deer!" cried little Maude Ravensworth, as theircarriage slowly climbed the gentle ascent leading from the foot of thepark to the Towers; "see them--one, two, three--bounding across theroad."

  "Yes, love; the park is full of them; look, Maude, there are five stagsbeneath that oak-tree," said her sister Ellen.

  "What a shot that fellow with the tall antlers is!" said Johnny, leaningback from the box on which he sat, beside the coachman.

  "I marvel how any one has the heart to shoot a stag," said his father."To me it seems little short of murder. I can understand hunting thefox, the wolf, or baiting the badger; but to kill deer, so innocent, soharmless, seems quite cruel."

  "The Captain doesn't think so," said Johnny. "I heard him say he wouldhave a stag-hunt this autumn, and he promised I should go. How I wishthis place was mine!" he continued, as a bend in the road divulged thebaronial-looking old castle, with its four lofty towers,[F] standing onthe green eminence in front.

  The whole scene was one of surpassing loveliness; the hard white road,so beautifully kept--it was level as a bowling-green--was overhung onthe right by beech and oak trees, through which were gained glimpses ofthe park, dotted with patriarchal trees under which strayed herds oftimid deer; on the left tall fir-trees clothed the steep descent to therivulet beneath. At the foot of the park, in a large hollow, a sheet ofwater glistened in the sun; sedgy banks surrounded it, whilst on thesurface proudly floated several swans: the majestic look of these birdsas they sailed amid the numerous wild fowl was graceful in the extreme.The piping of snipes and other waders was heard among the rushes, andnow and then a coot or waterhen flew along the surface, beating thestill waters with its flapping wings. The castle shone white anddistinct from the dark green foliage that surrounded it, and above thewoods rose the blue Lammermoor hills, a fitting boundary for so fair alandscape.

  It was quite a pet day in the beginning of July; if there was a fault itwas its sultriness, an uncommon one in Scotland, where the hottest daysare generally tempered by a cool breeze. The arch of the heaven abovewas blue and cloudless, and the sun, still high, shone with a dazzlingbrilliancy. Rising above the Lammermoors, however, were piled somesplendid cumulus clouds, white as carded wool; and across them one ortwo dark streaks cut their snowy wreaths, and seemed to betoken thepresence of thunder in those white pavilions. It was about three in theafternoon, and still the hottest part of the day; not a breath relievedthe dead heat, not a leaf was swayed, and all nature seemed as thoughshe slumbered beneath the hot beam, and took her siesta. A blue, mistyhaze rose above the silent woods, whose every leaf basked in thesunshine; the deer had fled to cool retreats, or the umbrageous oaks inthe park; the songsters had hushed their notes in brake and tangleddell, and no bird tempted the glare save one solitary hawk, which withoutspread wings poised himself on the thin air, and ever and anonquivered as he beheld his prey, possibly some tiny harvest mouse whichlittle dreamed of its airy foe. The birds were silent;--not so thethousand grasshoppers, whose harsh whirr resounded from the grass--notso the myriad insect forms that flitted to and fro beneath thedark-green beeches,--not so the bees that hummed over their feast amongthe sweet lime-blossoms. The only other sounds were the rippling,musical purlings of the rivulet in the dell beneath: the stream was nowreduced to its smallest dimensions by the long-continued drought, andthe melodious sound now rose clear, and now dwindled to almostimperceptible thinness, as a fuller or lesser flow of water shook thepebbles, and gurgled among the moss-covered rocks.

  As the carriage drew nearer the castle, other rustic sounds wereheard--the mower whetting his scythe, or the merry laugh of thehaymakers, whilst the sweet smell of the new-made hay was delicious. Thetrees now ceased to fringe the road, which ran through the park towardsthe west tower of the castle; a neat wattling on either side kept outthe cattle; and our friends had an uninterrupted view of the park,dotted over with haycocks, round which strolled many busy figures, someengaged in tossing the hay, some heaping it into haycocks, and othersraking the ground.

  "How jolly!" exclaimed Johnny; "I shall soon be there helping--lots oftime before dinner."

  "You must remember, Johnny, you are a guest, and only do what you areasked," said his father.

  "Oh, I am quite at home here, papa; every one may do as they please atthe Towers--it is Liberty Hall. Besides I see Lord Wentworth amongthem. I am sure no one would stick at home on a day like this."

  "You must not abuse your liberty, my boy, but have patience; everythingin its time."

  The carriage now entered the barbican, crossed the drawbridge, and soonpassed beneath the archway, and entered the ample courtyard. Severalother carriages, some very grand turn-outs, were drawn up before thedoorway, and blocked the road; round them flitted numbers of busyservants, carrying boxes and trunks into the hall. In its due course Mr.Ravensworth's carriage drew up before the door, where old Andrew actedthe part of seneschal, and sent his inferior servants hither and thitherat his will.

  "Eh, sir, you are come at last: I hae been expecting you this langwhile; and how are ye missy? a' richt noo?" said the privileged oldbutler, addressing Mr. and Miss Ravensworth, and patting the latterfamiliarly on the shoulder. "Peter--Jamie--ye idle loons--see the youngleddy up the stairs, and carry their gear ben the house."

  Ellen followed the footmen, and Mr. Ravensworth with Johnny and Maudewalked close behind, along the great hall to the reception chamber, alarge airy room, with oaken ceiling, splendidly carved, panelled withthe same wood. Three large windows, opening in Venetian fashion, led toa balcony, from which a light iron suspension bridge spanned the moat,and formed a communication with the park, on which the view looked.

  The room was quite full of strange faces, and Ellen hung back a momentas she entered, as if uncertain how to act, when a lady rose, andhurried forward to meet her.

  "My dear Lady Arranmore, how glad I am to find you here!"

  "Welcome, dearest Ellen," said the Marchioness, embracing her. "How wellyou look again! How d'you do, Mr. Ravensworth; how d'you do, Johnny, andmy little Maude? Come and sit by me, Ellen, and tell me all aboutyourself: first let me introduce you to some one, Mr. Ravensworth; andJohnny, you had better run and join the haymakers."

  Hardly waiting for leave, Johnny shot away like an arrow from the bow,crossed the bridge, and was soon far off, running down the park.

  "The dear boy," said Lady Arranmore, "how he enjoys the country!"

  She then introduced Mr. Ravensworth to Mr. Scroop, a gentlemanly lookingyoung man, about the middle height, with rather a slight figure, andvery light Saxon hair; he was the only representative of the Borderfamily, so famous in the olden time, and was possessed of broad lands onthe southern side of the Cheviots.

  The two gentlemen soon engaged in conversation, whilst Ellen and herfriend, seated on a sofa near the window, talked over all their travels.

  At length Lady Arranmore said, "Really, Ellen, it is a sin to lingerindoors such a day as this! All my guests are now arrived: what shouldhinder us from taking a turn and joining my brothers and Arranmore, whoare with the haymakers?"

  "Nothing; I shall be charmed to go with you," said Ellen, rising.

  The friends then crossed the slender bridge, and conversing as they wentslowly walked towards the merry groups, busily engaged at their varioustasks.

  "How hot it is!" said Ellen, fanning herself with her handkerchief; "itreally reminds me of the weather we had at Geneva."

  "It does, indeed, dear. I wonder how long this weather will continue?If it will only hold up for two days more I do not care; you know onWednesday we have our grand picnic at Cessford's Peel."

  "Oh, I hope it will! Look, I see the Marquis,
and--"

  "My brother, Wentworth," said the Marchioness, finishing Ellen'ssentence; "so like him, Ellen; see he has got a cask of beer, for thosepoor weary haymakers; how hot they must be working under such a sun."

  The two ladies had now approached within fifty yards of the rusticgroup; conspicuous above all was Johnny mounted on the top of a hugerick, waving his cap on the end of a rake. Beneath the rick the Earlpresided over an immense cask of ale, from which old Andrew was busilyengaged handing foaming mugs of the refreshing beverage to the wearylabourers, who, as they wiped the toil-drops from their brows, anddrained the beakers, bestowed many a blessing on the stout Earl; thesons of Erin, of whom the greater number was composed, were loudest intheir benedictions, and declared they would serve his grace's honour tothe last drop of their blood! Others stood near, cap in hand, waitingtheir turn. A little to the right, leaning over a smaller rick, theMarchioness perceived the tall form of her husband; he was flirting witha very pretty girl, who stood smiling on the other side, leaning on thehandle of a rake. This was Jenny Forbes, the acknowledged belle of theneighbourhood. Still further sat a young man on horseback, talking to astout yeoman, John Forbes, the father of the village belle. Dressed ashe was, in a light Indian military costume, with a white handkerchiefwound turban-like round his brow, his hot, sunburnt face, high andwell-chiselled nose, and dark moustache, gave quite an oriental look toCaptain de Vere, who, hot as it was, still smoked his favourite blackpipe. Near him, stretched at their listless ease, or seated on thenew-mown grass, were several gentlemen in various attitudes, talking orlaughing to each other, as they leant over, or lay full length on theground, with handkerchiefs spread over their heads to protect them fromthe fiery rays. Sir Richard Musgrave, and Captain Wilson, a navalcommander, were amongst these. As the two ladies approached, a generalmovement took place through the company. The Earl walked forward to meethis guest, Johnny slipped down off the rick; the gentlemen arose; theMarquis started back from his position, and tried to put on an innocentexpression as he strolled towards his lady. The Captain alone moved not;but went on with his conversation, which, to judge from his earnestness,was very interesting.

  "Ha! you have found us out at last, Miss Ravensworth," said the Earl."Is not this quite Swiss? Blue skies, and haymaking with the sunshining. You must have seen many a scene like this in Bern, I am sure."

  "Scarcely one so pretty; and certainly no group like this; it is quitecharming!"

  "When did you arrive? Is your father come? And where is Mr. Lennox? Ithought he would have joined you."

  "One question at a time, Clarence," said the Marchioness; "Ellen cannotanswer so many at once. And what have you to say, my Lord?" addressingthe Marquis, who had just come up. "What excuse for flirting with acountry girl, as you were doing just now? Pretty well, after all yourvows to me."

  "Tut! Edie! what matters a passing joke to a pretty girl. You are notjealous of Jenny Forbes, I hope?"

  "By no means; only you should remember you are now married, and shouldleave such follies to the unmarried young men."

  As they spoke the party had come to where the Captain still stood.

  "John, have you nothing to say to our guest, Miss Ravensworth?" saidLady Arranmore.

  "It is d--d hot, isn't it, Miss Ravensworth?"

  Ellen could not forbear smiling at the curt reply, though she feltsomewhat shocked.

  "You were ill, I was sorry to hear," continued the young officer; "butyou have apparently picked up in a wonderfully short time. I am blessedif I would have ever found it out."

  They passed on, and the Captain resumed his interrupted conversation.

  "I'faith! it is hot, though. This reminds me of Spain a bit, where ourmen dropped dead by sunstroke like ripe acorns. There, I have nothingmore to say now, Forbes, so you may go on with your work, and give mylove to your fair daughter; or stay, I will save you the trouble, as mysister has carried off the Marquis. Here, boy," addressing a peasantlad, "hold my horse--or stay, lead it up to the stables; and tell Wiltonto give you half-a-crown for your trouble;" at the same time flinginghimself off his steed, he said, in sotto voce, to the farmer, "You willremember and send one, then?"

  "Ay, ay, sir! I'll send a laddie this very night."

  "All right," said the Captain. "Wilton will pay you, boy."

  "You are exceedingly generous with other people's money," said the Earl,who was passing again.

  "Lord help us! You don't grudge the boy a dirty half-crown?"

  "Not I; only I would give it myself if I were you. A pretty grumblingwill Wilton make."

  "And let him grumble, and be d--d to him. How many half-crowns does heget from me, I wonder, and half-skivs too!"

  The Captain then walked off by himself to where Jenny Forbes stillstood, and cracked some joke, which she resented by a pretty pout of herlips and ill-feigned frown.

  "By my troth, Jenny, you should come up to town with me; I would dressyou out in silks and satins, and I am shot if you wouldn't just create a_furore!_"

  "I shall choose a better guide than you, when I go!" retorted the girl,with a laugh.

  "It will be long ere you find a better one," said the Captain, as hewalked away.

  "Or one who thinks better of himself, either," said the girl, as aparting hit.

  "Hallo! whom have we here?" said the Captain to himself, as he reachedthe road, and saw a gentleman, who seemed quite overcome by the heat,resting on a stone and wiping his hot brow; a little further off was aboy, who, with an immense carpet-bag, toiled up the hill. "By Jove! isthat you, Lennox? You have chosen a d--d hot day for marching. You don'tmean to say you walked out?"

  "Oh, dear, no," said Mr. Lennox, dusting his boots as he rose. "Takingadvantage of the coach, I proceeded by that conveyance to your noblepark-gates, and, alighting there, I thought I would walk up, fancyingthe castle could not be far; but it is a long and hot walk. However, Ihired a young man, as you see, to carry my luggage."

  "Egad! then you have tramped a good five miles. What a joke! You must bejolly tired. Here, take a pull," said the Captain, producing an immensebrandy-flask--his bosom companion at all times and seasons.

  "Thank you all the same, no. I seldom take spirits at all; and neverplain."

  "A most foolish error; and one you would soon be conquered of if youlived at the Towers," said the Captain, taking a long draught. "At theleast you will then take a weed?" handing his cigar-case.

  "I thank you; I never smoke."

  "Neither drink nor smoke! No wonder you feel hot and weary. Egad! Sir,you should have been with me through the Peninsula; and I should like tohave seen how the devil you would have stood the marching under a sunwhich this is a joke to? Brandy to wet our lips, and cigars when we hadlittle to eat, kept our fellows going. You would have never been herenow, with your principles, had you fought in Spain! Heat cures heat!Hair of the dog good for the bite."

  Mr. Lennox, accompanied by his dashing companion, then walked on to theTowers, devoutly wishing he had never met him, and anathematizinghimself for walking, as he felt he should cut a poor figure with his boyand baggage; and the old rhyme came into his head--

  "Them what is rich, them rides in chaises, Them what is poor, them walks like blazes."

  He had hoped to have slipped in unobserved; but had the misluck to meetthe Earl and a bevy of visitors at the door; amongst them was Johnny.

  "Ah! how do you do, Lennox?" said the Earl. "Taken advantage of the fineday and walked out, I see. You must have found it hot, did you not?"

  "Only from the Lodge-gates; I took the coach so far," said Mr. Lennox;but we fear his answer was hardly heard. "Confound it," he muttered,almost aloud; "they will think I walked out all the way; and I wouldn'tfor the world Johnny Ravensworth should think so. I do not care forthese people of rank half so much as I do for that boy."

  "You are just in time, sir," said a footman. "Is that your bag, sir?Follow me to your room; dressing-bell has gone."

  Mr. Lennox was the very first who entered the drawi
ng-room. After he hadbeen alone some minutes the door opened and a middle-aged gentlemanentered, and soon commenced a conversation with him.

  "Do you not admire the prospect, sir? This is the finest park I think Ihave ever seen. Why, I had no idea you had such parks in Scotland."

  "It is indeed a fine one; but cannot, I think, be compared to many Ihave seen in England. I am myself English, though residing here--suchparks as Goodwood, in Sussex, for instance?"

  "Is that a finer one? I had not thought it."

  "Oh, dear, yes. Goodwood, the Duke of Richmond's, as I suppose you know;this cannot compare with it."

  "Indeed! Why, God a-mercy, sir! I do not think so."

  "You cannot surely have seen it, sir,--or must forget it. You surelycannot know Goodwood, to say so."

  "Indeed, sir, if I do not know it, I wonder who else does, considering Iam its owner?" said the gentleman, smiling.

  Mr. Lennox's surprise was great.

  "You the Duke of Richmond. I am sure I beg your Grace's pardon."

  "There is no need--thought is free--every one may have his own opinion."

  "Then I may claim the honour of relationship to your Grace, being aLennox myself."

  "I doubt it not," said the Duke, shaking hands. "The Duke of Leinster,you know, was not ashamed to claim cousinship with every beggar who borethe name of Fitzgerald; and I am sure I am honoured by claiming it withyou."

  Mr. Lennox felt that beneath this compliment indirectly he had beencalled a beggar, and was not over-pleased with his first interview withhis noble relative--nor with his conversation.

  Meanwhile, the room had filled with ladies and gentlemen; and when thegong sounded more than thirty descended to dinner. Mr. Lennox, owing tothe scarcity of ladies, and general rank of the other gentlemen, wasforced to walk down with Johnny as a companion.

  "We cut but poor figures," said Johnny, "with no ladies to take down."

  Mr. Lennox vouchsafed no reply to this, as he thought, impertinentremark.

  "You must be tired after your long trudge."

  "I came sir, by the _coach_, and only walked from the Lodge," said Mr.Lennox, exceedingly annoyed.

  "It is a good grind from the Lodge," replied his tormentor, as theyentered the dining-room.

  Lord Wentworth had so arranged that Ellen Ravensworth sat next him attable, though of course he had not brought her down. Opposite was anempty chair. When dinner was begun, a young officer, in full uniform,entered the room and took possession of the vacant place. Ellennaturally glanced to see who it was--Horror untold! she had not dreamedof this. Opposite her sat who? but Captain L'Estrange! She felt hercheek blush, though aware the Earl's eye was upon her, at thisunexpected rencontre, as she called to mind where and how she had lastseen him. L'Estrange concealed his feelings better, and seemed quiteunconcerned at her presence, and after apologising for his lateness onthe plea he had taken a long ride, he addressed her with the utmostnonchalance.

  "I am glad to see you looking so blooming, Miss Ravensworth; I hope youare now quite recovered?"

  Ellen marvelled at his coolness when she remembered his last words onlya few days before.

  "Thank you, I am very well now," she answered, trying to assume anunconcerned air and speak naturally, but she knew how ill she played herpart, and again felt the blood rising to her cheek, and fancied all eyeswere turned on her. Her ill-concealed agitation did not escape the Earl,who, however, imputed it entirely to nervousness, and relieved her fromthe trying position by addressing her on another subject. By-and-by herconstraint wore off, and she actually found herself talking and evenlaughing with L'Estrange before the table broke up. Either, she thought,he told me false when he expressed himself most miserable, or he has astrange power of hiding mental agony by a smiling guise. The rest of theevening was spent in music and conversation upstairs, though somepreferred strolling among the flower gardens till the bats began to flitabout. The ladies then retired to their rooms; and the gentlemen,excepting Mr. Lennox and his friend Mr. Ravensworth, Johnny, Mr. Powerthe clergyman, and a few other quiet persons, retreated to the smokingroom, where they kept up the fun to a late hour. One by one they toodropped off to bed, leaving only the Marquis, equal to any amount ofstrong drink, the Captain and L'Estrange. At last the Marquis went off,alleging as a reason it was "a shame to keep his wife awake so long."

  "Egad! and do you really think she will keep awake for you? Hangmarriage, it spoils all good fellows; but get along," said the Captain,anxious to be alone with L'Estrange, yet unwilling the Marquis shouldthink so. As soon as they were left alone, he continued, "I think, Ned,a foul fiend is against us; who the devil would have thought the Earlwould have chosen Cessford's Peel for his double d--d picnic! I triedall I could to throw him off, and so did Musgrave, but it was no go, soI must warn Bill, and get Juana stowed away. I told that rascal Forbesto send a fellow along to-night; I wonder why the deuce he has not doneso!"

  At this moment old Andrew opened the door and introduced a smart-lookingyoung man. "A laddie who wished to see you, Captain."

  "Show him in--and begone: what the devil are you standing eavesdroppingthere for, you old blackguard?"

  "Heaven sain us," said Andrew, quickly departing.

  "Have a glass of spirits, my lad--whisky, or brandy, or what?"

  "Whisky, please your honour."

  "There you are," said the Captain, filling him a glass.

  "Your healths, sirs," draining the glass and smacking his lips--"that'sthe rale gude stuff."

  "Take another glass--and look you here, you know Cessford's Peel?"

  "Ay, sir, seeven mile, or thereby, sou-east o' the Towers."

  "Exactly; ride there to-night, and give this note to the old man; stayfor an answer, and meet me to-morrow with it in the Holly Walk, at two.Do not keep me waiting, on your life,--and breathe not a word of this toliving soul, or, by Heaven, I would not be you!"

  "Nae fears, your secret is safe with me."

  "And there is for your trouble," said the Captain, dropping some goldinto his hand; "and now begone, and remember _two_ o'clock!"

  "Do not say," continued the Captain, when the young man had departed,"that I am not a zealous ally. God knows, I have to think and planeverything, though I wish to God that girl had never come,--it was notmy doing; and now let us go to roost."

  And so saying the two young men left the room and proceeded to theirdifferent apartments.