by Walter Scott
CHAPTER XXXIII.
This by his tongue should be a Montague! Fetch me my rapier, boy; Now, by the faith and honour of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.
Romeo and Juliet.
HARDLY had Miss Ashton dropped the pen, when the door of the apartmentflew open, and the Master of Ravenswood entered the apartment.
Lockhard and another domestic, who had in vain attempted to oppose hispassage through the gallery or antechamber, were seen standing on thethreshold transfixed with surprise, which was instantly communicated tothe whole party in the state-room. That of Colonel Douglas Ashton wasmingled with resentment; that of Bucklaw with haughty and affectedindifference; the rest, even Lady Ashton herself, showed signs offear; and Lucy seemed stiffened to stone by this unexpected apparition.Apparition it might well be termed, for Ravenswood had more theappearance of one returned from the dead than of a living visitor.
He planted himself full in the middle of the apartment, opposite to thetable at which Lucy was seated, on whom, as if she had been alone in thechamber, he bent his eyes with a mingled expression of deep grief anddeliberate indignation. His dark-coloured riding cloak, displaced fromone shoulder, hung around one side of his person in the ample folds ofthe Spanish mantle. The rest of his rich dress was travel-soiled, andderanged by hard riding. He had a sword by his side, and pistols in hisbelt. His slouched hat, which he had not removed at entrance, gavean additional gloom to his dark features, which, wasted by sorrow andmarked by the ghastly look communicated by long illness, added to acountenance naturally somewhat stern and wild a fierce and even savageexpression. The matted and dishevelled locks of hair which escaped fromunder his hat, together with his fixed and unmoved posture, made hishead more resemble that of a marble bust than that of a living man. Hesaid not a single word, and there was a deep silence in the company formore than two minutes.
It was broken by Lady Ashton, who in that space partly recovered hernatural audacity. She demanded to know the cause of this unauthorisedintrusion.
"That is a question, madam," said her son, "which I have the best rightto ask; and I must request of the Master of Ravenswood to follow mewhere he can answer it at leisure."
Bucklaw interposed, saying, "No man on earth should usurp his previousright in demanding an explanation from the Master. Craigengelt," headded, in an undertone, "d--n ye, why do you stand staring as if you sawa ghost? fetch me my sword from the gallery."
"I will relinquish to none," said Colonel Ashton, "my right of callingto account the man who has offered this unparalleled affront to myfamily." "Be patient, gentlemen," said Ravenswood, turning sternlytowards them, and waving his hand as if to impose silence on theiraltercation. "If you are as weary of your lives as I am, I will findtime and place to pledge mine against one or both; at present, I have noleisure for the disputes of triflers."
"Triflers!" echoed Colonel Ashton, half unsheathing his sword, whileBucklaw laid his hand on the hilt of that which Craigengelt had justreached him.
Sir William Ashton, alarmed for his son's safety, rushed between theyoung men and Ravenswood, exclaiming: "My son, I command you--Bucklaw, Ientreat you--keep the peace, in the name of the Queen and of the law!"
"In the name of the law of God," said Bide-the-Bent, advancing also withuplifted hands between Bucklaw, the Colonel, and the object of theirresentment--"in the name of Him who brought peace on earth and good-willto mankind, I implore--I beseech--I command you to forbear violencetowards each other! God hateth the bloodthirsty man; he who strikethwith the sword shall perish with the sword."
"Do you take me for a dog, sir" said Colonel Ashton, turning fiercelyupon him, "or something more brutally stupid, to endure this insult inmy father's house? Let me go, Bucklaw! He shall account to me, or, byHeavens, I will stab him where he stands!"
"You shall not touch him here," said Bucklaw; "he once gave me mylife, and were he the devil come to fly away with the whole house andgeneration, he shall have nothing but fair play."
The passions of the two young men thus counteracting each othergave Ravenswood leisure to exclaim, in a stern and steady voice:"Silence!--let him who really seeks danger take the fitting time whenit is to be found; my mission here will be shortly accomplished. Is THATyour handwriting, madam?" he added in a softer tone, extending towardsMiss Ashton her last letter.
A faltering "Yes" seemed rather to escape from her lips than to beuttered as a voluntary answer.
"And is THIS also your handwriting?" extending towards her the mutualengagement.
Lucy remained silent. Terror, and a yet stronger and more confusedfeeling, so utterly disturbed her understanding that she probablyscarcely comprehended the question that was put to her.
"If you design," said Sir William Ashton, "to found any legal claim onthat paper, sir, do not expect to receive any answer to an extrajudicialquestion."
"Sir William Ashton," said Ravenswood, "I pray you, and all who hearme, that you will not mistake my purpose. If this young lady, of her ownfree will, desires the restoration of this contract, as her letterwould seem to imply, there is not a withered leaf which this autumn windstrews on the heath that is more valueless in my eyes. But I must andwill hear the truth from her own mouth; without this satisfaction I willnot leave this spot. Murder me by numbers you possibly may; but I aman armed man--I am a desperate man, and I will not die without amplevengeance. This is my resolution, take it as you may. I WILL hear herdetermination from her own mouth; from her own mouth, alone, and withoutwitnesses, will I hear it. Now, choose," he said, drawing his sword withthe right hand, and, with the left, by the same motion taking a pistolfrom his belt and cocking it, but turning the point of one weapon andthe muzzle of the other to the ground--"choose if you will have thishall floated with blood, or if you will grant me the decisive interviewwith my affianced bride which the laws of God and the country alikeentitle me to demand."
All recoiled at the sound of his voice and the determined action bywhich it was accompanied; for the ecstasy of real desperation seldomfails to overpower the less energetic passions by which it may beopposed. The clergyman was the first to speak. "In the name of God," hesaid, "receive an overture of peace from the meanest of His servants.What this honourable person demands, albeit it is urged with overviolence, hath yet in it something of reason. Let him hear from MissLucy's own lips that she hath dutifully acceded to the will of herparents, and repenteth her of her covenant with him; and when he isassured of this he will depart in peace unto his own dwelling, andcumber us no more. Alas! the workings of the ancient Adam are strongeven in the regenerate; surely we should have long-suffering with thosewho, being yet in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity, are sweptforward by the uncontrollable current of worldly passion. Let then, theMaster of Ravenswood have the interview on which he insisteth; it canbut be as a passing pang to this honourable maiden, since her faith isnow irrevocably pledged to the choice of her parents. Let it, I say, bethis: it belongeth to my functions to entreat your honours' compliancewith this headling overture."
"Never!" answered Lady Ashton, whose rage had now overcome her firstsurprise and terror--"never shall this man speak in private with mydaughter, the affianced bride of another! pass from this room who will,I remain here. I fear neither his violence nor his weapons, though some,"she said, glancing a look towards Colonel Ashton, "who bear my nameappear more moved by them."
"For God's sake, madam," answered the worthy divine, "add not fuel tofirebrands. The Master of Ravenswood cannot, I am sure, object to yourpresence, the young lady's state of health being considered, and yourmaternal duty. I myself will also tarry; peradventure my grey hairs mayturn away wrath."
"You are welcome to do so, sir," said Ravenswood; "and Lady Ashton isalso welcome to remain, if she shall think proper; but let all othersdepart."
"Ravenswood," said Colonel Ashton, crossing him as he went out, "youshall account for this ere long."
"When you please," replied Ravenswood.
"But I," said Bucklaw, with a half smile, "have a prior demand on yourleisure, a claim of some standing."
"Arrange it as you will," said Ravenswood; "leave me but this day inpeace, and I will have no dearer employment on earth to-morrow than togive you all the satisfaction you can desire."
The other gentlemen left the apartment; but Sir William Ashton lingered.
"Master of Ravenswood," he said, in a conciliating tone, "I think I havenot deserved that you should make this scandal and outrage in my family.If you will sheathe your sword, and retire with me into my study, I willprove to you, by the most satisfactory arguments, the inutility of yourpresent irregular procedure----"
"To-morrow, sir--to-morrow--to-morrow, I will hear you at length,"reiterated Ravenswood, interrupting him; "this day hath its own sacredand indispensable business."
He pointed to the door, and Sir William left the apartment.
Ravenswood sheathed his sword, uncocked and returned his pistol to hisbelt; walked deliberately to the door of the apartment, which he bolted;returned, raised his hat from his forehead, and gazing upon Lucy witheyes in which an expression of sorrow overcame their late fierceness,spread his dishevelled locks back from his face, and said, "Do you knowme, Miss Ashton? I am still Edgar Ravenswood." She was silent, and hewent on with increasing vehemence: "I am still that Edgar Ravenswoodwho, for your affection, renounced the dear ties by which injured honourbound him to seek vengeance. I am that Ravenswood who, for your sake,forgave, nay, clasped hands in friendship with, the oppressor andpillager of his house, the traducer and murderer of his father."
"My daughter," answered Lady Ashton, interrupting him, "has no occasionto dispute the identity of your person the venom of your presentlanguage is sufficient to remind her that she speaks with the mortalenemy of her father."
"I pray you to be patient, madam," answered Ravenswood; "my answermust come from her own lips. Once more, Miss Lucy Ashton, I am thatRavenswood to whom you granted the solemn engagement which you nowdesire to retract and cancel."
Lucy's bloodless lips could only falter out the words, "It was mymother."
"She speaks truly," said Lady Ashton, "it WAS I who, authorised alikeby the laws of God and man, advised her, and concurred with her, toset aside an unhappy and precipitate engagement, and to annul it by theauthority of Scripture itself."
"Scripture!" said Ravenswood, scornfully.
"Let him hear the text," said Lady Ashton, appealing to the divine, "onwhich you yourself, with cautious reluctance, declared the nullity ofthe pretended engagement insisted upon by this violent man."
The clergyman took his clasped Bible from his pocket, and read thefollowing words: "If a woman vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herselfby a bond, being in her father's house in her youth, and her father hearher vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her fathershall hold his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand, and everyvow wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand."
"And was it not even so with us?" interrrupted Ravenswood.
"Control thy impatience, young man," answered the divine, "and hear whatfollows in the sacred text: 'But if her father disallow her in the daythat he heareth, not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hathbound her soul, shall stand; and the Lord shall forgive her, because herfather disallowed her."
"And was not," said Lady Ashton, fiercely and triumphantly breakingin--"was not ours the case stated in the Holy Writ? Will this persondeny, that the instant her parents heard of the vow, or bond, by whichour daughter had bound her soul, we disallowed the same in the mostexpress terms, and informed him by writing of our determination?"
"And is this all?" said Ravenswood, looking at Lucy. "Are you willingto barter sworn faith, the exercise of free will, and the feelings ofmutual affection to this wretched hypocritical sophistry?"
"Hear him!" said Lady Ashton, looking to the clergyman--"hear theblasphemer!"
"May God forgive him," said Bide-the-Bent, "and enlighten hisignorance!"
"Hear what I have sacrificed for you," said Ravenswood, still addressingLucy, "ere you sanction what has been done in your name. The honour ofan ancient family, the urgent advice of my best friends, have been invain used to sway my resolution neither the arguments of reason northe portents of superstition have shaken my fidelity. The very dead havearisen to warn me, and their warning has been despised. Are you preparedto pierce my heart for its fidelity with the very weapon which my rashconfidence entrusted to your grasp?"
"Master of Ravenswood," said Lady Ashton, "you have asked what questionsyou thought fit. You see the total incapacity of my daughter to answeryou. But I will reply for her, and in a manner which you cannot dispute.You desire to know whether Lucy Ashton, of her own free will, desiresto annul the engagement into which she has been trepanned. You have herletter under her own hand, demanding the surrender of it; and, in yetmore full evidence of her purpose, here is the contract which she hasthis morning subscribed, in presence of this reverence gentleman, withMr. Hayston of Bucklaw."
Ravenswood gazed upon the deed as if petrified. "And it was withoutfraud or compulsion," said he, looking towards the clergyman, "that MissAshton subscribed this parchment?"
"I couch it upon my sacred character."
"This is indeed, madam, an undeniable piece of evidence," saidRavenswood, sternly; "and it will be equally unnecessary anddishonourable to waste another word in useless remonstrance or reproach.There, madam," he said, laying down before Lucy the signed paper and thebroken piece of gold--"there are the evidences of your first engagement;may you be more faithful to that which you have just formed. I willtrouble you to return the corresponding tokens of my ill-placedconfidence; I ought rather to say, of my egregious folly."
Lucy returned the scornful glance of her lover with a gaze from whichperception seemed to have been banished; yet she seemed partly to haveunderstood his meaning, for she raised her hands as if to undo a blueribbon which she wore around her neck. She was unable to accomplish herpurpose, but Lady Ashton cut the ribbon asunder, and detached the brokenpiece of gold, which Miss Ashton had till then worn concealed in herbosom; the written counterpart of the lovers' engagement she forsome time had had in her own possession. With a haughty courtesy, shedelivered both to Ravenswood, who was much softened when he took thepiece of gold.
"And she could wear it thus," he said, speaking to himself--"could wearit in her very bosom--could wear it next to her heart--even when---- Butcomplain avails not," he said, dashing from his eye the tear whichhad gathered in it, and resuming the stern composure of his manner. Hestrode to the chimney, and threw into the fire the paper and piece ofgold, stamping upon the coals with the heel of his boot, as if to ensuretheir destruction. "I will be no longer," he then said, "an intruderhere. Your evil wishes, and your worse offices, Lady Ashton, I willonly return by hoping these will be your last machinations against yourdaughter's honour and happiness. And to you, madam," he said, addressingLucy, "I have nothing farther to say, except to pray to God that youmay not become a world's wonder for this act of wilful and deliberateperjury." Having uttered these words, he turned on his heel and left theapartment.
Sir William Ashton, by entreaty and authority, had detained his son andBucklaw in a distant part of the castle, in order to prevent theiragain meeting with Ravenswood; but as the Master descended the greatstaircase, Lockhard delivered him a billet, signed "Sholto DouglasAshton," requesting to know where the Master of Ravenswood would beheard of four or five days from hence, as the writer had business ofweight to settle with him, so soon as an important family event hadtaken place.
"Tell Colonel Ashton," said Ravenswood, composedly, "I shall be found atWolf's Crag when his leisure serves him."
As he descended the outward stair which led from the terrace, he wasa second time interrupted by Craigengelt, who, on the part of hisprincipal, the Laird of Bucklaw, expressed a hope that Ravenswood wouldnot leave Scotland within ten days at least, as he had both former andrecent civilities for which to
express his gratitude.
"Tell your master," said Ravenswood, fiercely, "to choose his own time.He will find me at Wolf's Crag, if his purpose is not forestalled."
"MY master!" replied Craigengelt, encouraged by seeing Colonel Ashtonand Bucklaw at the bottom of the terrace. "Give me leave to say I knowof no such person upon earth, nor will I permit such language to be usedto me!"
"Seek your master, then, in hell!" exclaimed Ravenswood, giving way tothe passion he had hitherto restrained, and throwing Craigengelt fromhim with such violence that he rolled down the steps and lay senselessat the foot of them. "I am a fool," he instantly added, "to vent mypassion upon a caitiff so worthless."
He then mounted his horse, which at his arrival he had secured to abalustrade in front of the castle, rode very slowly past Bucklaw andColonel Ashton, raising his hat as he passed each, and looking in theirfaces steadily while he offered this mute salutation, which was returnedby both with the same stern gravity. Ravenswood walked on with equaldeliberation until he reached the head of the avenue, as if to showthat he rather courted than avoided interruption. When he had passed theupper gate, he turned his horse, and looked at the castle with a fixedeye; then set spurs to his good steed, and departed with the speed of ademon dismissed by the exorcist.
