Read Ebook: Lewis Arundel; Or The Railroad Of Life by Smedley Frank E Frank Edward Browne Hablot Knight Illustrator

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Ebook has 2922 lines and 266102 words, and 59 pages

"I made use of one of the secrets of the mesmerist, certainly," replied Lewis; "I managed her by the power of a strong will over a weak one."

"I should hardly call Rachel's a weak will," observed Rose, with a quiet smile.

"You must confess, at all events, mine is a stronger," replied Lewis. "When I consider it necessary to carry a point, I usually find some way of doing it; it was necessary for the sake of Faust's well-being to manage Rachel, and I did so."

He spoke carelessly, but there was something in his bearing and manner which told of conscious power and inflexible resolution, and you felt instinctively that you were in the presence of a masterspirit.

During the evening, in the course of conversation, Mrs. Arundel again referred to the project of teaching music and singing. Lewis made no remark on the matter at the time, though his sister fancied, from his compressed lip and darkened brow, that it had not passed him unobserved. When the two ladies were about to retire for the night, Lewis signed to his sister to remain; and having lighted his mother's candle, kissed her affectionately, and wished her good-night, he closed the door. There was a moment's silence, which was broken by Lewis saying abruptly, "Rose, what did my mother mean about giving singing lessons?"

"Dear, unselfish mamma!" replied Rose, "always ready to sacrifice her own comfort for those she loves! She wants, when we leave the cottage, to settle near some large town, that she may be able to teach music and singing , in order to save me from the necessity of going out as governess."

"Leave the cottage! go out as governess!" repeated Lewis in a low voice, as if he scarcely understood the purport of her words. "Are you mad?"

"Hush!" exclaimed Lewis sternly, "you will distract me." He paused for some minutes in deep thought; then asked, in a cold, hard tone of voice, which, to one skilled in reading the human heart, told of intense feelings and stormy passions kept down by the power of an iron will, "Tell me, what is the amount of the pittance that stands between us and beggary?"

"Dear Lewis, do not speak so bitterly; we have still each other's love remaining, and Heaven to look forward to; and with such blessings, even poverty need not render us unhappy." And as she uttered these words, Rose leaned fondly upon her brother's shoulder, and gazed up into his face with a look of such deep affection, such pure and holy confidence, that even his proud spirit, cruelly as it had been wounded by the unexpected shock, could not withstand it. Placing his arm round her, he drew her towards him, and kissing her high, pale brow, murmured--

"Forgive me, dear Rose; I have grown harsh and stern of late--all are not true and good as you are. Believe me, it was for your sake and my mother's that I felt this blow: for myself, I heed it not, save as it impedes freedom of action. And now answer my question, What have we left to live upon?"

"About ?100 a year was what Mr. Coke told mamma."

"And, on an average, what does it cost living in this cottage as comfortably as you have been accustomed to do?"

"Poor papa used to reckon we spent ?200 a year here."

"No more, you are certain?"

"Quite."

Again Lewis paused in deep thought, his brow resting on his hand. At length he said, suddenly--

"Yes, it no doubt can be done, and shall. Now, Rose, listen to me. While I live and can work, neither my mother nor you shall do anything for your own support, or leave the rank you have held in society. You shall retain this cottage, and live as you have been accustomed to do, and as befits the widow and daughter of him that is gone."

"Rose, you do not know me. When I left England I was a boy: in years, perhaps, I am little else even yet; but circumstances have made me older than my years, and in mind and disposition I am a man, and a determined one. I feel strongly and deeply in regard to the position held by my mother and sister, and therefore on this point it is useless to oppose me."

Rose looked steadily in his face, and saw that what he said was true; therefore, exercising an unusual degree of common sense for a woman, she held her tongue, and let a wilful man have his way.

Reader, would you know the circumstances which had changed Lewis Arundel from a boy to a man? They are soon told. He had loved, foolishly perhaps, but with all the pure and ardent passion, the fond and trusting confidence of youth--he had loved, and been deceived.

Lewis had walked some miles that day, and had travelled both by sea and land; it may therefore reasonably be supposed that he was tolerably sleepy. Nevertheless, before he went to bed he sat down and wrote the following letter:--

"Your affectionate Friend,

"Lewis Arundel.

Having in some measure relieved his mind by finishing this letter, Lewis undressed, and sleep soon effaced the lines which bitter thoughts and an aching heart had stamped upon his fair young brow.

"Has the post come in yet, Rose?" inquired Mrs. Arundel, as she made her appearance in the breakfast-room the following morning.

"No, mamma; it is late to-day, I think."

"It is always late when I particularly expect a letter; that old creature Richards the postman has a spite against me, I am certain, because I once said in his hearing that he looked like an owl--the imbecile!"

"Oh, mamma! he's a charming old man, with his venerable white hair."

"Very likely, my dear, but he's extremely like an owl, nevertheless," replied Mrs. Arundel, cutting bread and butter with the quickness and regularity of a steam-engine as she spoke.

"Here's the letters, ma'am," exclaimed Rachel, entering with a polished face beaming out of a marvellous morning cap, composed of a species of opaque muslin , which appeared to be labouring under a violent eruption of little thick dots, strongly suggestive of small-pox. "Here's the letters, ma'am. If you please, I can't get Mr. Lewis out of bed nohow, though I've knocked at his door three times this here blessed morning; and the last time he made a noise at me in French, or some other wicked foreigneering lingo; which is what I won't put up with--no! not if you was to go down upon your bended knees to me without a hassock."

"Give me the letters, Rachel," said Mrs. Arundel eagerly.

"You're come to bring the toast just at the right moment," said Lewis, who had approached unobserved, "and you're going down to give Faust his breakfast; and he is quite ready for it, too, poor fellow!"

As he spoke, a marvellous change seemed to come over the temper and countenance of Rachel: her ideas, as she turned to leave the room, may be gathered from the following soliloquy, which appeared to escape her unawares:--"He's as 'andsome as a duke, let alone his blessed father; but them was shocking words for a Christian with a four years' carikter to put up with."

"Good news, I hope, my dear mother, from your manner?" observed Lewis, interrogatively.

"Excellent news," replied Mrs. Arundel gaily. "Show your brother the letter, Rose. Oh! that good, kind Lady Lombard!" Rose did as she was desired, but from the anxiety with which she scanned her brother's countenance, as he hastily ran his eye over the writing, it was evident she doubted whether the effect the letter might produce upon him would be altogether of an agreeable nature. Nor was her suspicion unfounded, for as he became acquainted with its contents a storm-cloud gathered upon Lewis's brow. The letter was as follows:--

"My dear Mrs. Arundel,--To assist the afflicted, and to relieve the unfortunate, as well by the influence of the rank and station which have been graciously entrusted to me, as by the judicious employment of such pecuniary superfluity as the munificence of my poor dear late husband has placed me in a position to disburse, has always been my motto through life. The many calls of the numerous dependents on the liberality of the late lamented Sir Pinchbeck, with constant applications from the relatives of his poor dear predecessor , reduce the charitable fund at my disposal to a smaller sum than, from the noble character of my last lamented husband's will, may generally be supposed. I am, therefore, all the more happy to be able to inform you that, owing to the too high estimation in which my kind neighbours in and about Comfortown hold any recommendation of mine, I can, should you determine on settling near our pretty little town, promise you six pupils to begin with, and a prospect of many more should youi method of imparting instruction in the delightful science of music realise the very high expectations raised by my eulogium on your talents, vocal and instrumental. That such will be the case I cannot doubt, from my recollection of the touching manner in which, when we visited your sweet little cottage on our wedding trip, you and your dear departed sang, at my request, that lovely thing, 'La ci darem la mano.' I dare say, with such a good memory as yours, you will remember how the late Sir Pinchbeck observed that it put him in mind of the proudest moment of his life, when at St. George's, Hanover Square, his friend, the Very Reverend the Dean of Dinnerton, made him the happy husband of the relict of the late John Girkin. Ah! my dear madam, we widows learn to sympathise with misfortune; one does not survive two such men as the late Mr. Girkin, though he was somewhat peppery at times, and the late lamented Sir Pinchbeck Lombard, in spite of his fidgety ways and chronic cough, without feeling that a vale of tears is not desirable for a permanency. If it would be any convenience to you when you part with your cottage to stay with me for a week or ten days, I shall be happy to receive you, and would ask a few influential families to hear you sing some evening, which might prove useful to you. Of course I cannot expect you to part with your daughter, as she will so soon have to quit you , and wish you to understand my invitation extends to her also.

"I am, dear Madam, ever your very sincere friend,

"Sarah Matilda Lombard.

"P.S.--Would your son like to go to Norfolk Island for fourteen years? I think I know a way of sending him free of expense. The climate is said to produce a very beneficial effect on the British constitution; and with a salary of sixty pounds a year, and an introduction to the best society the Island affords, a young man in your son's circumstances would scarcely be justified in refusing the post of junior secretary to the governor."

"Is the woman mad?" exclaimed Lewis impetuously, as he finished reading the foregoing letter, "or what right has she to insult us in this manner?"

"Insult us, my dear," replied Mrs. Arundel quickly, disregarding a deprecatory look from Rose. "Lady Lombard has answered my note informing her that I wished for musical pupils with equal kindness and promptitude. Mad, indeed! she is considered a very superior woman by many people, I can assure you, and her generosity and good nature know no bounds."

"Dearest Lewis," murmured Rose, imploringly, "remember it is mamma you are speaking to."

An exclamation of ungovernable anger burst from Lewis, and he appeared on the point of losing all self-control, when Rose, catching his eye, glanced for a moment towards her father's portrait. Well did she read the generous though fiery nature of him with whom she had to deal: no sooner did Lewis perceive the direction of her gaze, than, by a strong effort, he checked all further expression of his feelings, and turning towards the window, stood apparently looking out for some minutes. At length he said abruptly--

"Mother, you must forgive me; I am hot and impetuous, and all this has taken me so completely by surprise. After all, it was only my affection for you and Rose which made me resent your patronising friend's impertinent benevolence; but the fact is, I hope and believe you have been premature in asking her assistance. I have little doubt I shall succeed in obtaining a situation or employment of some kind, which will be sufficiently lucrative to prevent the necessity of your either giving up the cottage, or being separated from Rose. I have written to Frere about it, and expect to hear from him in a day or two."

"My dear boy, would you have us live here in idleness and luxury, while you are working yourself to death to enable us to do so?" said Mrs. Arundel, her affection for her son overcoming any feeling of anger which his opposition to her pet scheme had excited.

"I do not see that the working need involve my death," replied Lewis. "Perhaps," he added, with a smile, "you would prefer my embracing our Lady Patroness's scheme of a fourteen years' sojourn in Norfolk Island. I think I could accomplish that object without troubling anybody: I have only to propitiate the Home Office by abstracting a few silver spoons,--and Government, in its fatherly care, would send me there free of expense, and probably introduce me to the best society the Island affords, into the bargain."

"Poor dear Lady Lombard! I must confess that part of her letter was rather absurd," returned Mrs. Arundel; "but we must talk more about this plan of yours, Lewis; I never can consent to it."

"You both can and will, my dear mother," replied Lewis, playfully but firmly; "however, we will leave this matter in abeyance till I hear from Frere."

And thus, peace being restored, they sat down to breakfast forthwith,

Lewis feeling thankful that he had restrained his anger ere it had led him to say words to his mother which he would have regretted deeply afterwards, and amply repaid for any effort it might have cost him by the bright smile and grateful pressure of the hand with which his sister rewarded him. Happy the man whose guardian angel assumes the form of such a sister and friend as Rose Arundel!

Rachel was spared the trouble of calling her young master the following morning, as, when that worthy woman, animated with the desperate courage of the leader of a forlorn hope, approached his room, determined to have him up in spite of any amount of the languages of modern Europe to which she might be exposed, she found the door open and the bird flown; the fact being that Lewis and Faust were taking a scamper across the country, to their mutual delectation, and the alarming increase of their respective appetites. Moreover, Faust, in his ignorance of the Game Laws and the Zoology of the land of his adoption, would persist in looking for a wolf in the preserves of Squire Tilbury, and while thus engaged could not resist the temptation of killing a hare, just by way of keeping his jaws in practice; owing to which little escapade he got his master into a row with an underkeeper, who required first knocking down and then propitiating by a half-sovereign before he could be brought to see the matter in a reasonable light.

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