CHAPTER XVI.
THE CONFESSION.
Bella McKay's uneasiness at the apprehension and conviction of Donald may be imagined, when taking into consideration the state of mind Charlie would be in, leaving under the belief that his hands had been imbued with the blood of a fellow creature, and that her forgiveness was withheld, which would have been cleared up had her letter been delivered, and would have assisted to lighten his sorrow on his long voyage.
Her maid added to her unhappiness by her despair at the fate of Donald.
Lord Lundy, on recovering from his wound, seeing the coast clear, resumed his addresses with redoubled perseverance, and aided by her uncle, forced her to seek once more the protection of her father.
On arriving in the Highlands, she threw herself on her knees before him, claiming his pity, and begging him not to force her to a marriage which she would sooner suffer death than endure.
Her father was greatly moved at the earnestness of her appeal, but could not understand her objection to such a brilliant match. He took his daughter on his knee, and coaxingly asked her to unburthen her bosom, requesting her to tell him whether her heart was otherwise engaged, since she so strenuously opposed such a splendid offer, which would improve her position as well as that of her relations. If her heart was really bestowed upon another, by her making him her confidant, he promised her all the protection in his power in order to secure her future happiness.
The blushing girl affectionately embraced her father, and hiding her streaming eyes in his bosom, confessed, without reserve, her long and ardent love for Charlie Stuart.
Mr. McKay started with astonishment and anger at the announcement, pushing her from him, and told her in a stern voice that he was surprised to hear her acknowledging affection for one who would at one time have received his sanction, but one who had on two occasions insulted her, and had forfeited all sympathy and claim to her hand.
It was now Bella's turn to be surprised; she gazed with a vacant look into her father's frowning countenance for an explanation, when he told her all he had heard from Lord Lundy.
To describe Mr. McKay's feelings on learning the real facts of the case, as described by his daughter, would be impossible.
The disappointments and sacrifices they had suffered through the malicious calumnies of Lord Lundy, the scene at Mr. Stuart's death bed, and his Lordship's undoubted complicity with the assassin Melrose, all came to his mind, and increased his agony.
Bella now endeavoured to soothe her father's despairing and self-accusing mind, in being an unfortunate dupe and passive instrument in his Lordship's hands, by which an old and estimable neighbour came to an untimely grave, and a noble and honourable young man had become deprived of his home and bride. She impressed upon him the necessity of never mentioning it to George, lest it might cause a meeting between him and Lord Lundy, which might terminate fatally; and further, never to let Lord Lundy know that his villany was discovered. These propositions were approved of by Mr. McKay, and he resolved not to act for, or receive any favors from Lord Lundy for the future. He accordingly wrote to his Lordship, resigning the factorship on the ground of ill health, and recommended his son as his successor, as he wished him to leave the army, that he might be near him in case of his death. He also wrote to George on the same subject, pleading indisposition and unwillingness to attend any longer to business, as an illness had set in which soon reduced his strong, robust form.
This change was more apparent after receiving the following sad intelligence from London:—"You will, I am sure, be sorry to hear, that the vessel in which your young neighbour Mr. Charles Stuart embarked, never reached her destination, and that her total loss, with all on board, is beyond a doubt. A coasting vessel picked up a boat's stern with the name of the vessel upon it."
This calamity weighed so heavily on Bella's mind that she shunned all company, and refused all consolation, passing her spare time in solitary rambles among haunts which reminded her of happier days. But the greater portion of her time was occupied in visiting the poor, and attending to her invalid father, who, on seeing the great change in his usually lively daughter whose misfortunes preyed so much on his mind, that he soon succumbed under his afflictions, and was laid in Killinn, by the side of his neighbour Mr. Stuart.
Soon after this George and Bella received an invitation from their uncle in London to visit him, as he intended to sail for Australia, with the idea of establishing a branch house of business there, where he intended to remain.
Thinking this might revive his sister's spirits, George accepted the invitation, and both set out on their journey.
On their arrival, an occurrence took place which promised future happiness to Mary Grant, and which gave great satisfaction to others. This was that the housemaid, whom Brown had sent out of the way at the time of Donald's trial, was now in the service of Mr. McKay. On her and Mary becoming acquainted, the latter, among the confidential gossip, related her misfortune in losing her lover through the villany of Brown and his accomplices, and how the valet persecuted her with his addresses afterwards.
The girl was ignorant of Donald's conviction through the evidence of the pistol, and now understood Brown's motives for getting Donald out of the way, and told Mary the whole truth. Another circumstance which established this statement, as well as Donald's innocence, was the conviction of Williams for highway robbery, and who had confessed his complicity with Brown in giving false evidence against Donald; the reason of Williams's confession being, that he always extorted money from Brown for keeping the secret, but the valet getting tired of these incessant demands upon his purse, had left Williams to his fate, without engaging counsel for him at his trial as he had promised, being glad to get the troublesome highwayman out of the way. He was, however, forced to abscond, on hearing of Williams's confession, in order to evade punishment.
The reader may well imagine Mary Grant's joy on getting possession of Donald's free pardon; and, as she was determined to be the bearer of it, she begged Bella to allow her to embark with Mr. McKay.
Bella, although the bereavement would be great, would not allow herself to stand in the way of her maid's happiness, and immediately gave her consent.
Mr. McKay took his departure, after an affecting farewell with George and Bella. Mary Grant, with many tears and blessings, left her young mistress, from whom nothing but her lover's happiness could induce her to part. George and Bella then returned to the Highlands, there to await tidings of their arrival, and to pass their time in attending to the comfort of the cotters and tenants of Lochlinn.
In due time the wished-for communication from Mr. McKay arrived; and, on breaking the seals, she read as as follows:—"My Dearest Niece,—I would give half my fortune this moment to have you near me, that I could behold once more your happy smile, which I fear has been a stranger for some time to your face. Now if you promise me to be a good girl, and try not to be overexcited, I will tell you something that will make you as happy as ever. You would never guess who the first person was that boarded our ship on our arrival in this beautiful harbour. I will tell you; it was no other than your former lover and neighbour, Charlie Stuart." Bella could read no more, she gave a faint scream, and would have fallen, if George, who had been reading the same joyful news, had not caught her in his arms. After soothing her agitated mind, and congratulating her on the happiness which was yet in store for her, she was at length able to resume her letter, which went on to say, "the surprise they had in meeting with the lost one, his ample fortune, through a successful speculation in New Zealand, his manly and improved looks, and, lastly, his constancy and devotion to Bella." The letter also went on to say that Mr. McKay had entered into partnership with him in a pastoral enterprize, which was considered to be the best paying occupation in the colony, that Charlie would manage the station, and Mr. McKay would attend to his business in Sydney. It concluded with an invitation to Bella to come out by the first favourable opportunity, and gave several reasons for such a proposition.
The first of these was, that Mr. McKay had been suffering a great deal and was not likely to recover, and having no family, he would leave his fortune to her, provided she did as he wished. But the last and most powerful argument was, that Charlie did not intend to return to his native land, at least for some time, and that he also advocated Mr. McKay's suggestion, that their solemn vows might be fulfilled.
Bella at once came to the determination to accept the invitation, which as quickly gave way to the consideration of her brother's happiness, whom she did not like to leave, as she was the only relation left him; nor could she think of entertaining the prospect of her own happiness at the sacrifice of his.
While debating on this point, she raised her eyes to her brother's, he folded her in his arms, and spoke as follows:—"My dear and only sister, I can easily divine your thoughts. Far be it from me to harbour for one moment the idea of throwing the slightest obstacle in your way, but I hail with joy the prospect of your joining your lover in that far distant land, as a just reward for the days of sorrow and suffering you have passed for the last two years. My present situation and circumstances will not allow me to accompany you, yet I hope the time is not far distant when I shall be able to follow you, and when, I trust, we shall be all united in that happiness which has been denied us in our native land of late years."
This affecting address brought tears of gratitude to his sister's eyes, when she kissed her brother affectionately.
A letter was shortly after sent to their uncle, telling him that she intended taking a passage in a ship commanded by a Captain Hector McLean, who was then on a visit to his native land, and who had lately married a friend of Bella's.
A more favourable opportunity than this could not have presented itself. The Captain, who was a brave and excellent seaman, was now on the eve of returning to Australia, and the passage was therefore secured.