The Complete Northanger Horrid Novel Collection (9 Books of Gothic Romance and Horror)

by Eliza Parsons

  Lucy profited, therefore, very little by my passion. I did, indeed, occasionally play a little air on the flute under her window at night, or danced twice with her on a Sunday, when the other damsels had that honour only once; or if I could get a nosegay without much difficulty, I presented it to her, entwined with a blue ribbon, in a basket of my own workmanship. I also told her sometimes, in the most elegant manner, if she was alone and seemed to wish for it, that she was as beautiful as an angel, that I adored her, and that it depended entirely upon her to be beloved by me for ever. If I was in an uncommonly good humour I even ventured to steal a kiss, and to repeat the sweet theft if she was angry at my boldness. This was, however, all I did for her. My rusticated phlegm did not suffer me to venture farther. The fervour of the first evening had been damped by the serenade; and I should have been vexed to death at our foolish frolic, if I had not been diverted by the cares attending my culinary and domestic employment.

  It was, at bottom, nothing but kindness for the Count that prompted me to await patiently the conclusion of our whimsical farce; for love appeared to me, at that time, to be nothing else but an occupation fit only for idle people. The work I had on my hand quickened the circulation of my blood, enlivened my ideas, and rendered them more healthy, which enabled me to improve considerably, in that situation, in the true philosophy of life.

  Unfortunately, our pleasure did not last much longer. The hamlet was too far remote from the high-road than that its inhabitants could have attained a great knowledge of the gallantry of the nation.

  It was, therefore, the custom with them to marry first, and then to commence to make love. The servants had, besides, not been over-careful to conceal our rank; and we had rendered ourselves very suspected the first night. The father of the two girls being heartily tired of the trouble of guarding their virgin treasure, and seeing their former lovers relinquish them, applied frankly to the Count, desiring him to declare whether we would marry his girls or not. S******i wanted to pacify him by an evasive answer and vague excuses; however, the farmer declared he perceived the drift of our courtship, and knew very well that it was impossible a serious alliance between ourselves and his daughters could ever take place; desiring him, at the same time, in the politest manner, never to enter his house again, nor to appear under the window, if he did not choose to expose himself to disagreeable accidents. My poor friend really was seized with despair; for although he had no mind to marry, yet he was violently in love with his charmer. He now told the fields his sorrows, and the echo repeated his desponding complaints. The moon and the stars were most ruefully invoked to witness his tears and his despair. His amorous fury and grief were, however, only poetical. He did, indeed, rove the fields, abscond himself in the most solitary recesses of the wood, gaze wildly at the waterfalls, and conjure the chilling autumnal gales, which only the absence of all feeling could mistake for Zephyrs, to waft his sighs and amorous complaints to his cruel Phyllis.

  I was not displeased at that unfavourable turn of our affairs: and if the girls only had been a little more of our party, this would have afforded the finest opportunity for adventures. My healthy blood spoke of nothing but of murder and elopement. Opposition made me enterprising and I could have torn our faithless inamoratas from the bosom of their parents and carried them to the most distant parts of the globe. But the misfortune was, that the girls were not at all disposed to elope; and I laughed, at last, at myself and the Count, and resolved to attempt his conversion to sound sense.

  I never performed a good work with less difficulty; for he soon began to laugh at himself and me. He coincided with my humour, and we began publicly to act the furious lovers. We quarrelled every day with the father of the girls, and not a night passed without a serenade under their window. The whole hamlet was put into an intestine commotion, and divided in different parties. A deputation appeared, at length, at our farm and requested us respectfully to depart in peace. This was just what we wanted: we yielded, therefore, generously to their humble request, settled our affairs, sold our cows and sheep, paid our rent, and departed laughing, highly elated by the ridiculous; termination of our frolic.

  CHAPTER VIII

  I forbear troubling my readers with an enumeration of the changes that little adventure, which, at bottom, was a mere nothing, produced in my character. They will be perceived, without my assistance, in the sequel of my history. The chief effect it produced was a growing coldness to Caroline. A fluctuation with regard to this point too, in which I had, till then, displayed a firmness that reflected honour on my character; a sudden breaking from a kind of mental sleep, a strong internal ebullition, fleeting sensations, hazarded pretensions, a high degree of activity, and a subsequent state of apathy, made me dream, then urged me again to hunt eagerly after peace and happiness, and, when I imagined to have found them, to throw them away suddenly. The enthusiasm arising from a quicker circulation of the blood was past and I now commence that period in which an unsatisfied internal sense, an ardent desire for activity, begins to stir, and at length relapses again into its former dormant state.

  The gay periods of my life are now on the verge, and my career grows more serious. The wanton sports of an exuberant imagination are on the decline; and the reader soon will behold the birth of a new love, great and sacred, glowing and powerful, without any nourishment for the senses, new-moulding my whole character, dispelling its shades, raising the lustre of its brighter parts, artless and omnipotent. The vicious spirit of an abominable confederation purifies itself in its genial fire; and moments are dawning in which the veil of mortality drops before me, and my spirit soars beyond the confines of humanity.

  I cannot conceive how it came that, after this incident, I found my disposition not quite so cloudless as before, every gratification being blended with a greater degree of care, and joy and gaiety less benevolently smiling upon me. I relapsed into serious contemplations; and although I was neither dissatisfied nor melancholy, yet I could, notwithstanding the circumspection with which I continually watched over myself, never recover that cheerful station from which that ludicrous adventure had expelled me. I was constantly obliged to spur myself to activity; and I am almost inclined to believe that my taste, and my notions of tranquillity and happiness were entirely changed.

  I was, as it were, gradually prepared for the impending period of my adventures: a serious, but inviting, shade spread itself over every object that came in my way; and I felt as if I returned from the serene luxury of an exuberant and gay landscape, to the melancholy, sweet night of a fragrant grove carpeted over with aromatic flowers, and animated with the plaintive notes of the solitary nightingale. Former scenes of joy, and the heart-expanding retrospect of the past events of my life, now represented themselves to my mind, and absorbed me in sweet reveries. I enjoyed neither the essence nor the external of those events, but only the sentiments and notions which they produced and nurtured in my soul.

  The Count either was infected by me; or a different cause had, perhaps, produced the same effect. He spoke less, and was more frequently absorbed in serious reflections. Formerly he had now and then, and always with success, trusted to hazard; but now he consulted carefully with himself before he attempted any thing, and the consequence constantly turned out unfavourable. It was very natural that he was not disposed to ascribe the cause of this phenomenon to himself, for he found it without difficulty in the capricious humour of fickle Fortune. He was sullen and gloomy whenever he could find an excuse for being so; and my altered looks always afforded him a palpable plea for relapsing in that cheerless humour.

  Do the events of human life really follow a predelineated trait, or does chance sometimes produce oddly united circumstances? Our minds were, indeed, now and then, cheered by lucid and pleasing intervals. Our good humour frequently made ample amends, in an hour, for what we had neglected in the course of several days, when we were refreshed by a sound sleep, if the morning was clear, not too cold, and neither wind nor snow troubled us on the road,
which was less frequently the case the nearer we approached the south of France. The most important morning of my life was also the finest I recollect ever to have seen; my mind too partook of the serenity of the sky.

  January was already on the verge; and the winter having been as mild as spring, summer seemed to be drawing near. The almond trees were already high in blossom, and the shrubs began to be invested with a leafy verdure. The olive woods, with their unfading green, embosomed already every where germinating wheat-fields; and the lark, the harmonious herald of the morn, strained its warbling throat to welcome the approach of the fine season. The returning spring carries along with it a genial warmth, which diffuses itself through body and mind; every gentle gale breathes an animating spirit; the mystic humming in the air, and the almost visible growth of the budding plants, produces a symbol of a cheerful resurrection. And when we behold again, for the first time, a flower, and the sun-beams gleam through the young leaves, our heart is thrilled with a heavenly rapture, and our language is too poor to do justice to our feelings.

  A secret pulsation in my blood, a mystic unaccountable pressure against my panting heart, a sudden stop of the gentle stream of my thoughts, frequently disturbed the peace of my mind on that heavenly morning. Every thing around me seemed to be animated with nameless beings; the mystic sounds which pervaded the forest, the fluctuating of the sun-beams in the rising vapours, the sparkling dew-drops gliding from one leaf upon the other, the current streams of vernal warmth, formed in my busy imagination a smiling picture, without colour, without a distinct contour and centre. The whole was attended with a certain obscure pretension, with an ominous, though unintelligible, meaning; and some mystic certainty lurked in my soul, without my daring to consider in it the reality of its existence. The beautifullest landscape hailed our enraptured looks: yet its beauty rather consisted in a secret charm which my soul, unknowingly and secretly, imparted to it, than in the sweet variegated mixture of its parts. On our right a beautiful country seat stretched extensive gardens and pleasure grounds over the contiguous chain of hills: smiling, picturesque groups of trees, and little neat cottages, descended from the declivity into the vale. A rosy-coloured morning vapour was still sweetly blended with the bluish coloring of the back ground, and, where it was less intense, exhibited to our view some part of a village, the lower part of a rock, or trees whose tops towered above the vaporous ocean. The castle, whose site we also could descry only partially, was not far distant; and the morning sun reflected with radiant splendor from its flaming windows. It was, with its light-green trees, fairy-like suspended in the misty background.

  We arrived at length at the park; and one of our servants (I do not recollect whether it was Alfonso, or that of the Count) began to repeat to us the information he had gathered from the landlord in whose house we had slept the preceding night, with regard to the Lord of the Manor. He was a misanthrope, secluded from the world by misfortunes, who educated here a daughter famous for her uncommon beauty. Adelheid, Baronness of V******l, was the brightest ornament and the admiration of the whole province. She lived, however, a solitary life, having no intercourse with her neighbours; few had seen, and a still smaller number ever spoken to her.

  This information agitated me in a singular manner. "V******l!" I exclaimed: "have you heard right?"

  "I cannot be mistaken. My Lord," he replied.

  "The name is very familiar to me: should he, perhaps be the father of V******l?"

  "Whose life you saved at G******," Antonio interrupted me.

  "The very person," I resumed. "I now recollect that he frequently has conversed with me of his father and sister; and I am certain he was a native of this province."

  In that moment I rejoiced at my good deed. When I resided at G******, that young man fell into the river. He could not swim, and was in danger of being drowned. I instantly plunged into the water and was so fortunate to save his life. This was, indeed, no heroic action, as I was a good swimmer; and it had entirely slipt my memory; but now I recollected it with pleasure.

  I took; from that moment, a warmer interest in every object I beheld. The wall was low, and I could survey all the walks. "Perhaps (thought I) thou wilt meet young V******l in the bosom of his family, happy and animated with friendship for thee."

  I was profoundly absorbed in the pleasing sensations this idea created in my heart, when Count S******i suddenly exclaimed, "Stop! Marquis: for Heaven's sake stop! You will instantly drop from your horse. Don't you perceive that your horse's girth has got loose?"

  I stopped to alight, the servants not being within call. However, he dismounted, exclaiming, with his amiable kindness, "Keep your seat: my saddle, too, wants to be tied faster." While he was employed to bind the girth faster, I made some motions to make it easier to him and in the same moment my looks caught a white object in the park. My heart began violently to palpitate; a cold tremour pervaded my limbs; and I scarcely was capable to keep myself in the saddle.

  A female being, of an heavenly form, walked in the park, within a small distance from the wall. She carried a book in one hand, and with the other screened her face against the dazzling rays of the fun, reflecting, as it seemed, upon what she had read. A little green straw-hat, fixed with a white ribbon beneath her chin, overshaded her long auburn tresses, which depended in beautiful ringlets upon her girdle; the morning breezes sported with her white white gown, which was tied round the waist with a green sash: her uplifted hand was whiter than the muslin from which it stole forth, and the roseate smile of health was diffused over her countenance. Her gown being unfortunately caught by a brier, she was obliged to remove her hand from her eyes to disentangle it; and having extricated her garment, her black eyes met me by accident. She started a little when she saw us so contiguous to her; a deeper hue blushed over her delicate face, and she cast her eyes suddenly to the ground, as if in search for something. My horse, whom I inadvertently had pricked with my spurs, began suddenly to bound; the Count called to me to be on my guard. She looked once more at me, growing as pale as ashes, and quickened her paces. I pacified my horse; and while she turned round a corner into another walk, she directed her beautiful eyes again at me; and in that moment the Count too observed her, exclaiming, "Eternal God!" It is impossible to say more to the praise of a beautiful object than these two words, the astonishment and the features of my friend expressed; and yet it was by far too little. My heart was thrilled with unutterable sensations, and an unknown something pervaded my whole frame.

  I could not conceal the state of my heart, which expressed itself legibly on my countenance. The Count observed me awhile seized with speechless astonishment, and at last broke out in the words, "Poor G******!" He perceived the growing passion; and knowing that my temper was too irritable than that I ever could be fortunate in love, wished to be able to destroy my passion in the bud. "But how shall I accomplish this?" he said to himself. "It is impossible her soul should entirely answer her external appearance. There is no possibility to prevent my poor friend from getting acquainted with her; I will, therefore, assist him; and if he sees himself disappointed in his sanguine expectations, the cure of his passion will soon be effected."

  He told me, therefore, laughing, "I perceive, Marquis, I shall have an opportunity to act here the same part you undertook from friendship for me in our winter quarters." But apprehending his untimely joke would offend me, he added, in a soothing accent, "yet I hope, Carlos, you will repose confidence in me!" He accompanied these words with a hearty squeeze of his hand, which I returned cordially. Meanwhile we were arrived at the village, and dismounted at the inn. While I retired to a private apartment, to give audience to my thoughts, the Count mixed with the people of the house, and having made several inquiries concerning the Lord of the Manor, wrote the following note in my name, and sent it to the castle.

  "The Marquis of G****** has had the honour to be intimately acquainted with a Mr. de V******l. Having great reason to believe that Baron de V******l is the happy parent of
that excellent young man, he begs leave to pay his respects to the father of his friend."

  His ambassador returned in the course of a few minutes with one of the Baron's servants, and a formal invitation for my self and the Count. Our horses were instantly taken out of the stable, and our servants desired to bring them with our portmanteaus to the castle. "You must be very intimate with the Baron, or strongly recommended to him," the landlord said to the Count, shaking his head.

  The latter now came to my apartment, and finding me on the bed, absorbed in a profound reverie, said, "Will you not get up, Marquis? The Baron," he added coolly, "has just sent us an invitation to come to the castle."

  "How! the Baron, did you say?" I exclaimed.

  "Yes, yes, the Baron," he replied, smiling, and related his artifice to me. I pressed him to my bosom, transported with rapturous joy, and we went to the castle, but Heaven knows with what an anxiety on my part. My knees trembled, and my heart palpitated violently. I was obliged to take hold of my friend's arm, lest our conductor should perceive my emotion by my gait. Whenever I looked at the windows of the castle, and saw the curtains move, I was violently agitated, my tongue trembled, and I could scarcely speak intelligibly. The attention of some servants, who stood at the gate, opening the folding doors on our approach, made the blood rush into my face; and I now began first to make the observation that our dress was very indifferent; for, to confess the truth, I had nothing on but a simple green hunting coat, and my hair was in the greatest disorder. I could not help communicating these remarks, in a whisper, to the Count. However, he smiled, replying, in German, "What a vanity! I assure you, you never have looked better!" We entered the castle, at length. A man, who appeared to be the butler, welcomed us with respectful politeness, informing us that he had orders to shew us to the drawing room till his master was dressed. We were conducted to a spacious apartment, decorated with a number of portraits and other pictures. The servant having withdrawn, we began to examine the pictures. They were, probably, family pieces. I did, indeed, gaze at every one of them, but without the least attention, my mind being differently occupied. I admired, at length, even the frames of some, declaring the carving to be excellent, when the Count quickly replied, "Dear Marquis, if you are such an admirer of frames, then come, and look at this: I am sure you never saw a finer one." I went to the other side of the apartment where he was, and he exclaimed, again and again, "Is it possible any thing could be more elegant than this frame?" "You are mistaken dear Count; for the garland of yon picture is much more beautiful and elegant." "I am of a contrary opinion." he replied, laughing: "this is of a much better workmanship. Upon my honour the picture does not deserve such a beautiful frame." These words naturally made me look at the painting. I started back, seized with astonishment, when I beheld myself as if in a mirror. I instantly recollected to have been persuaded by young V******l, after his accident, to let him have that picture. Astonishment fettered my tongue; and I scarcely heard the Count say, "Faith, Marquis, you are grown much handsomer, or the painter has not done justice to your face."