Constance Sherwood: An Autobiography of the Sixteenth Century
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case! Methinks most women would beready to forgive one they loved when misfortune threatened them, butshe beyond all others, who never at any time allowed jealousy ornatural resentments to draw away her love from him to whom she hathvowed it. But is Lord Arundel then indeed in less favor with hermajesty? And how doth this surmise agree with the report of her visitto Kenninghall?"
"Ah, Mistress Sherwood," he answered, "declines in the human bodyoften do call for desperate remedies, and the like are often requiredwhen they occur in court favor. 'Tis a dangerous expedient to spendtwo or three thousands of pounds in one or two days for theentertainment of the queen and the court; but if, on the report of herintended progress, one of such high rank as Lord Arundel had failed toplace his house at her disposal, his own disgrace and his enemies'triumph should have speedily ensued. I pray God my Lord Burleigh donot think on Cottessy! Egad, I would as lief pay down at once oneyear's income as to be so uncertainly mulcted. I warrant you LordArundel shall have need to sell an estate to pay for the honor hermajesty will do him. He hath a spirit will not stop half-way inanything he doth pursue."
"Then think you, sir," I said, "he will be one day as noted for hisvirtues as now for his faults?"
Sir Henry smiled as he answered, "If Philip Howard doth set himselfone day to serve God, I promise you his zeal therein will far exceedwhat he hath shown in the devil's service."
"I pray you prove a true prophet, sir," I said; and, as we now hadreached the door of Lady Tregony's house, I took leave of thiscourteous gentlemen, and hastily turned toward Basil--with anuneasy desire to set him on his guard to use some reserve in hisspeeches with Hubert, but withal at a loss how to frame a briefwarning, or to speak without being overheard. Howsoever, I drew him alittle aside, and whispered, "Prithee, be silent touching Owen's work,even to Hubert."
He looked at me so much astonished, and methought with so great a lookof pain, that my heart smote me. We exchanged a brief farewell; andwhen they had all ridden away, I felt sad. Our partings were wont tobe more protracted; for he would most times ask me to walk back withhim to the gate, and then made it an excuse that it should beunmannerly not to see me home, and so three or four times we used towalk to and fro, till at last I did laughingly shut the door on him,and refused to open it again. But, ah me! that evening the chill Ispoke of had fallen on our simple joys like a blight on a fairlandscape.
On the next day two missives came to me from Euston, sent by privatehand, but not by the same messenger. I leave the reader to judge whatI felt in reading these proofs of the dispositions of two brothers, soalike in features, so different in soul. This was Basil's letter:
"MINE OWN DEAR HEART--The business which hath brought Sir Henry and Hubert here will, I befrightened, hold me engaged all to-morrow. But, before I sleep, I mustneeds write thee (poor penman as I be) how much it misliketh me to seein thee an ill opinion of mine only and dear brother, and suchsuspicion as verily no one should entertain of a friend, but much lessof one so near in blood. I do yield thee that he is not as zealous asI could wish in devout practices, and something too fond of worldlypleasures; but God is my witness, I should as soon think of doubtingmine own existence as his fidelity to his religion, or his kindness tomyself. So, prithee, dear love, pain me not again by the utterance ofsuch injurious words to Hubert as that I should not trust him with anysecrets howsoever weighty, or should observe any manner of restraintin communicating with him touching common dangers and interests.Methinks he is very sad at this time, and that the sight of hispaternal home hath made him melancholy. Verily, his lot hath in itnone of the brightness which doth attend mine, and I would we couldanyways make him a partaker in the happiness we do enjoy. I pray Godhe may help me to effect this, by the forwarding of any wish he hathat heart; but he was always of a very reserved habit of mind, and notprone to speak of his own concernments. Forgive, sweetheart, thisloving reproof, from thy most loving friend and servant,""BASIL ROOKWOOD."
Hubert's was as followeth:
"MADAM--My presumption toward you hath doubtless been a sin callingfor severe punishment; but I pray you leave not the cause of itunremembered. The doubtful mind you once showed in my regard, and ofwhich the last time I saw you some marks methought did yet appear,should be my excuse if I have erred in a persistency of love, whichmost women would less deserve indeed, but would more appreciate thanyou have done. If this day no token doth reach me of your changedmind, be it so. I depart hence as changed as you do remain unchanged.It may be for mine own weal, albeit passion deems of it otherwise, ifyou finally reject me whom once you did look upon with so great favor,that the very thought of it works in me a revived tenderness as shouldbe mine own undoing if it prevailed, for this country hath laws whichare not broken in vain, and faithful loyal service is differentlyrequited than traitorous and obstinate malignity. I shall be thegreater for lacking your love, proud lady; but to have it I wouldforego all a sovereign can bestow--all that ambition can desire.These, then, are my last words. If we meet not to-day, Godknoweth with what sentiments we shall one day meet, when justice hathovertaken you, and love in me hath turned to hatred!"
"HUBERT ROOKWOOD."
"Ay," I bitterly exclaimed, laying the two letters side by side beforeme, "one endeth with love, the other with hate. The one showeth thenoble fruits of true affection, the other the bitter end of selfishpassion." Then I mused if I should send Basil, or show him laterHubert's letter, clearing myself of any injustice toward him, butdestroying likewise for ever his virtuous confidence his brother'shonor. A short struggle with myself ensued, but I soon resolved, forthe present at least, on silence. If danger did seem to threatenBasil, which his knowledge of his brother's baseness could avert, thenI must needs speak; but God defend I should without constraint pour apoisoned drop into the dear fount of his undoubting soul. Passion maydie away, hatred may cease, repentance arise; but the evil done by therevealing of another's sin worketh endless wrong to the doer and thehearer.
The day on which I received these two letters did seem the longest Ihad ever known. On the next Basil came to Banham Hall, and told me hisguests were gone. A load seemed lifted from my heart But, albeit weresumed our wonted manner of life, and the same mutual kindness andaccustomed duties and pleasures filled our days, I felt less secure inmy happiness, less thoughtless of the world without, more subject tosudden sinkings of heart in the midst of greatest merriment, thanbefore Hubert's visit.
In the early part of June, Mr. Congleton wrote in answer to Basil'seager pressings that he would fix the day of our marriage, that he wasof opinion a better one could not be found than that of our Lady'sVisitation, on the 2d of July, and that, if it pleased God, he shouldthen take the first journey he had made for five-and-twenty years; fornothing would serve Lady Tregony but that the wedding should takeplace in her house, where a priest would marry us in secret at breakof day, and then we should ride to the parish church at Euston for thepublic ceremony. He should, he added, carry Muriel with him, howsoeverreluctant she should be to leave London; but he promised us thisshould be a welcome piece of constraint, for that she longed to see meagain more than can be told.
Verily, pleasant letters reached me that week; for my father wrote hewas in better health, and in great peace and contentment of mind atRheims, albeit somewhat sad, when he saw younger and more fortunatemen (for so he styled them) depart for the English mission; and by acypher we had agreed on he gave me to understand Edmund Genings was ofthat number. And Lady Arundel, to whom I had reported the conversationI had with Sir Henry Jemingham, sent me an answer which I will heretranscribe:
"MY WELL-BELOVED CONSTANCE--You do rightly read my heart, and the hope you express in my regard,with so tender a friendship and solicitous desire for my happiness,hath indeed a better foundation than idle surmises. It hath trulypleased God that Philip's disposition toward me should change; andalbeit this change is not as yet openly manifested, he neverthelessdoth oftentimes visit me, and testifies much regret for his pastneglect of one whom he doth now confess to be his truest frie
nd, hisgreatest lover, and best comfort. O mine own dear friend! my life hasknown many strange accidents, but none greater or more strange thanthis, that my so long indifferent husband should turn into a secretlover who doth haunt me by stealth, and looking on me with new eyes,appears to conceive so much admiration for my worthless beauty, and tofind such pleasure in my poor company, that it would seem as if a newface and person had been given to me wherewith to inspire himwith this love for her to whom he doth owe it. Oh, I promise thee thishusbandly wooing liketh me well, and methinks I would not at oncedisclose to the world this new kindness he doth show me and revival ofconjugal affection, but rather hug it and cherish it like a secrettreasure until it doth take such deep root that nothing can againseparate his heart from me. His fears touching the