CHAPTER IV.
"Oh! teach me to elude each latent snare,
And whisper to my sliding heart, Beware!"
Fatigued by the exertions of the night, the party at Valpée Court at a very late hour the following morning assembled in the breakfast room. Not any had profited more by a sound repose than the sisters; nevertheless the roses of their cheeks were scarcely perceptible, and their eyes did not sparkle with their usual lustre.
Lady Valpée looked somewhat anxiously at Rosilia, whose thoughtful countenance betrayed that something more than the effects of fatigue was concerned with her gravity. The attention of Douglas to her the preceding evening had been too apparent to escape her experienced eye, and the real interest Lady Valpée took in the happiness of her young friend, determined her to afford Rosilia some information, which might act as a sort of guard or caution in the direction of her future conduct. Her ingenuity soon afforded her an opportunity to open the subject. With as much delicacy as possible, and without in the least appearing to notice the confusion at times manifesting itself in her young auditor, she proceeded to remove the veil which had hitherto, she conceived, blinded her judgment as to the defects in the character of Douglas, who, from the various reports she had gathered, she concluded to be one of the most finished libertines of the day. She drew a little picture of the general manner in which he spent his time in London, lamenting that one so favoured by nature was so intemperate and improvident. She spoke of the patrimony left him by his father, the late Lord Deloraine, which he had wantonly squandered by excess and extravagant living; and ended her discourse by saying, "Great, great indeed will be my compassion for the woman who may be so indiscreet as to connect her fate with his; she will have nothing to look forward to but a long, long perspective of wretchedness."
Sir Charles and his son then appearing. Lady Valpée proposed adjourning to the music room. She had cast a look of tender interest at Rosilia, whose countenance had become entirely pallid during her remarks. Various emotions struggled in her bosom, but upon collecting her scattered faculties, sentiments of such pure intelligence emanated from her eyes, that she might have seemed as if suddenly exalted above every weakness incident to humanity, virtue alone prevailing. It was at her shrine Rosilia had secretly resolved to bow. Alas! she little conceived how difficult would be the task,—she was little aware of the mental trials and conflicts to be experienced, when the judgment has to act in opposition to inclinations warm and ardent as hers!
The train of her reflections was interrupted by the encouraging voice of her ladyship, who again summoned her to the music room, which they entered just in time to hear the solo of Mr. Valpée on his flute, in tones sweet and clear, which dying gradually away inspired a mournful tenderness, like that sentiment which had imperceptibly crept into the heart of Rosilia, so soft, so seductive, that alas! in fading, left impressions silent, sorrowful, and affecting!
Lady Valpée in approaching a piano lightly ran over the keys; the air she played was enlivening; her aim however being merely to prevail on some of the ladies of the party to perform in turn, her piece in consequence soon came to a conclusion; when she called upon Oriana, as knowing her to be well skilled in the art. Happy to oblige, with unaffected acquiescence, Oriana took her seat at the harp: though not timid of her powers, yet unused to perform among strangers, her heart palpitated; she looked instinctively towards Valpée, whom she knew to be a connoisseur, as contemplative and silent he stood by her side.
The piece she had selected possessed a flute accompaniment, and to encourage her, Valpée took his instrument and joined its soft mellow cadence with the full reverberating tones of the enchanting harp. In the concord of sweet sounds thus produced by Valpée, Oriana by degrees lost the consciousness of self, and, her soul became rapt by the influence of harmony. Valpée instantaneously paused in his accompaniment to listen to the low and deep, the full and soft expression given to the air by the incomparable skill of Oriana; he felt his assistance was unnecessary. No one was more skilled in the theory as well as the practical part of music than himself; he well knew how to discriminate and mark with due distinction the separate beauties of every composer; he admired the brilliancy of Dussek, he deeply felt the pathos of Mozart, but the grandeur of Haydn thrilled upon his every nerve.
The piece that Oriana was executing possessed science, but was not the less embellished by taste. The variety of her tones, the energy of her style, the graceful attractions of her person, rendered her at that moment an object truly fascinating to Valpée, and every sense was lost in pleasure and admiration. The beautiful piece finished, Oriana arose from her seat, and received with a grateful pleasure the praises it elicited. In compliance with the request of the ladies, Valpée then gave another solo on his flute, after which, none of the ladies willing to dispute the palm with Oriana, she was called upon a second time, and was about complying, when Sir Charles entered, accompanied by some gentlemen, amongst whom were Sir Howard Sinclair and Captain Douglas. A whisper of "Hush! hush!" ran through the apartment. Sir Charles turning to his new visitors put his finger to his lip in token of silence, and Oriana commenced: she had been solicited to add the accompaniment of her voice, the tender pathos of which happily accorded with the sentiment of her song; her words distinctly as they were heard, filled the fancy, communicating the most delightful sensations. Sweet and clear her tones thrilled in higher sounds, when gradually decreasing, they faintly died away, and naught was heard but the harps reverberating echo, and Valpée's low and unconscious exclamation of delight.
The gentlemen who had remained at the door then advanced to make their salutations to the company. Anticipating the success of his last night's declaration, the appearance of Douglas manifested if possible more than usual attraction. His dress was elegant and fashionable. His eyes, animated and piercing, immediately fell upon that countenance which never failed to rivet their gaze: but how soon did every look and gesture, correspondent to his mental joy, vanish upon perceiving Rosilia's coldness towards him! Upon his first appearing indeed, his quick glance showed him the colour heightening upon her cheek, but a moment after, he saw it fade away, and give place to an expression calmly pensive. Her interesting perturbation had been appeased, he thought, by the influence of her sister's melody; for who, more than Rosilia, had a soul attuned to harmony?
She who was harmony itself, though she never touched the lyre, nor breathed forth the exquisite charm of song, was still ever in her heart awake to each sweet and captivating strain; each note of melody never failed to soothe or elevate her fancy. She had received some instructions in music, but had never cultivated the art, willingly yielding the pre-eminence to her sister, whose powers of execution were in a high degree brilliant. It was in the chaste and beautiful art of painting, Rosilia particularly excelled in all its various branches; her imitations of nature were portrayed with infinite judgement, patience, and skill.
Having paid some appropriate compliments to Oriana on her performance, Sir Howard with an obsequious politeness approached Rosilia, who, by the affability and obligingness of her manners, wishing to make him some amends for the disappointment he had expressed in her so soon retiring with him from the dance the preceding evening, so charmed his attention, that he seemed apparently to forget that any other object was present than herself.
Sir Howard was somewhat low in stature, but of pleasing exterior; his manners, words, and actions were so studiously specious and polished as always to discover a certain finesse: having pretensions to learning, his phrases were ever most correctly appropriate, and his pronunciation exact almost to pedantry; wishing to shine, and to make a figure in the world, no one sported a more elegant equipage; he was not opulent, but he was desirous of being thought so; the love of riches was his ruling passion: ambitious to insinuate himself into the good graces of the wealthy, he lost no opportunity of doing so; nevertheless his heart was ever ready to receive impressions from beauty, and it was his admiration of Rosilia's charms that now led him to pay homage at her shrine. He engaged her in a very interesting and animated discussion relative to the separate beauties of music and painting. Rosilia, with a modest deference, spoke in favour of the former; Sir Howard, in compliment to herself, dwelt upon the superior excellence of the latter, styling it the father of arts, one which so happily represented to us the charms, the graces, the varieties of nature, that it might be deemed a creation in itself. Thus was Sir Howard engaged in arranging his discourse in the manner he imagined best adapted to win upon and flatter his fair auditor, who, he found combined to an unaffected simplicity and ingenuousness, an intelligence truly captivating.
In the meanwhile, Douglas, who had followed him with keen penetration, in hearkening to all he had uttered was not at a loss to discover the end which influenced his remarks; and upon perceiving also the complaisance with which he had been listened and replied to, impressions of the most vehement jealousy took possession of him; mute with anguish, his brow contracted, his eye flashing wrath, forming a contrast most striking when compared to the well-modulated soft accent, the unvarying complacency, depicted in the looks of his imagined rival.
Yielding to sentiments so painful to his peace, where was then that pleasant humour and lively eloquence, ever acting with such resistless efficacy to fascinate attention, even to bestow a secret delight on those who disdained openly to admire him, swayed either by envy or a just prejudice against his general character? A prey to every varying emotion and every passion, he was then tortured by the most imperious of any; his irritation seemed every moment increasing, till at length, unable any longer to control his feelings or continue a silent spectator of a scene so calculated to probe his soul, he arose, and with a hurried step glided behind the company, approached Sir Howard, and whispered some incoherent words in his ear: his cheeks were flushed, fire darted from his eyes, and with an air of suppressed passion he left the room. This conduct, so unexpected and extraordinary, naturally excited in Sir Howard much astonishment; motionless and speechless, he seemed petrified; but soon returning to the full command of his faculties, an art with which he was singularly endowed, he apologized to Rosilia for thus abruptly leaving her, and with an apparently unconcerned demeanour was following Douglas, but before he reached the door he was stopped by Sir Charles, who, holding his arm, sought to detain him.
The party, variously engaged, had not at first noticed what was passing, till the words "He has demanded my immediate presence, he awaits my coming," from Sir Howard, and distress visible upon Sir Charles's countenance, excited the alarm of a little circle gathering around the disputants; whilst Rosilia, overcome by some sense of dread which she could not define, would have fallen from her seat, had not her sister and Lady Valpée flown to her assistance. Sir Howard took the advantage of the momentary confusion to quit the apartment, followed by Sir Charles.
The short interval which had elapsed previous to the coming of Sir Howard, had afforded Douglas an opportunity of recollecting himself; for, hurried along by the impetuosity of his character, he had in the first instance attended but to its impulse. Having retired to an adjoining apartment, he was pacing it with hasty steps, when, catching the accents of Sir Charles, still in expostulation with Sir Howard, lie flung open the door, and presented himself before them. His elevated form, his air of grandeur, his looks proud and fierce, were never more calculated to dismay; by the force of his strong and powerful mind it might seem as if he claimed to himself alone the right of absolute command, to which he expected all were to bow and to submit. Those whom he now had to deal with, were however differently disposed.
Having entered the apartment, Sir Howard calmly begged of Sir Charles to leave him a few minutes with Captain Douglas, "whom, he added," he might unintentionally have offended, and should that be the case, he felt happy to think the occasion admitted of a speedy explanation." Sir Charles, possessing that true dignity which ever accompanies noble sentiments, waiving compliance for a moment with the request of Sir Howard, accosted Douglas, saying, "I am led to fear, sir, by the warmth of manner in which you have conducted yourself towards this gentleman, that you entertain some hostile views against him; and as the master of this house, hoping to maintain in it peace and decorum, duty, as also honour, requires my interference."
Impatient of delay, and losing nothing of his haughty mien, Douglas replied, "I have but one question to ask; it will depend upon Sir Howard's answer whether this business will terminate in hostility or otherwise."
With the utmost coolness Sir Howard then demanded of Douglas whether he had any disinclination to speak before a third person; that if he had not, he was immediately ready to give him the satisfaction required.
Sir Charles, under the hope that the dispassionate judgement of Sir Howard might tend to moderate his antagonist's warmth, said, "As no idle curiosity, gentlemen, prompts my stay, and not wishing to intrude upon your confidence, I shall withdraw; but before I do so, I must request of Captain Douglas, as the aggressor in this affair, to respect the rights I hold in this house, and not abuse the hospitality with which my doors are ever open for the reception of my guests and the happiness I wish to preserve amongst them." Not waiting a reply he quitted the room.
Sir Howard a second time demanded an explanation. The image of Rosilia, beautiful and touching, as then presented before the mental vision of Douglas, fired his soul, and in the fulness of energy he exclaimed, "I wish to be informed, sir, what are the pretensions which have authorised you to court the notice of Miss De Brooke,—Rosilia De Brooke, in the assiduous manner you have done this morning."
The commanding tone in which these words were uttered, the daring and passionate eye which seemed already to devour its object, were certainly calculated to exasperate Sir Howard; but still, deeply concentrating within himself the impressions which governed him, he with decision replied, "I presume, sir, it may be allowed me in my turn to ask by what claim you hold yourself entitled to catechize me on this point."
"By claims of prior right, sir", retorted the other with vehemence. Sir Howard bowed profoundly; his lip quivered, he would have spoken, but Douglas, whose feelings became less tumultuous after he had given utterance to them, proceeded somewhat more calmly; "I have already made my sentiments known, they were not rejected; I had reason to expect a favourable issue; and I cannot, cannot resign these claims to any, to any man living!"
Regarding Douglas with an air at once grave, cautious, and subtle. Sir Howard after a short pause replied, "that after an avowal so explicit he could have nothing more to say." To which Douglas, entirely disarmed, and truly generous when no impediments opposed the course of his passions and desires, expressed his acknowledgments with all the vivacity that honour, frankness, and cordiality could dictate. Sir Howard replied in terms of affected civility, for piqued and mortified, and angry at heart, his reconciliation was in appearance only. Beneath a ready and specious address, he concealed the jealous malignity of his feelings. He rung for his servant, ordered his curricle, seemed all hurry, all courtesy, and presently flinging himself into his seat and seizing the reins, drove swiftly from the door.
Sir Howard was one who never thought of marriage but as a traffic, a speculation not unworthy of making, if to improve his fortune; a sort of bondage to which he never could submit himself, unless his bride came to him with such a portion as he might deem an equivalent for the title he had to bestow, and for the personal advantages to which his self-conceit led him to attach vast importance. The infant flame with which Rosilia had inspired him, had not, from his short acquaintance with her, been capable of producing any change in his usual mode of reflecting; his admiration of her having been kept within the bounds of an equilibrium, excited by his governing and ruling principle of covetousness. But such was the perversity of his nature, that no sooner had his sentiments received opposition from Douglas, than a rivalship ensued, adapted infinitely to enhance in his imagination the fair object of it, connected with feelings of spleen and envy, as also the fervent wish that Douglas in the end might be rejected, disdained, and wholly defeated in his plans.
Left to himself, Douglas quickly revolved in his mind all that had passed. He loved Rosilia for herself alone; it was the predominant sentiment of his soul. The voice of discretion, prudence, all was hushed; the possession of a diadem, even of a world, would have been valueless without her. Thus amidst the many defects which obscured his character, a certain magnanimity reigned. The desire of seeing Rosilia, and of having a few moments' conversation with her previous to his leaving the house, impelled him again to enter the saloon, where he was mortified to find only Sir Charles and his son.
From motives of delicacy, Rosilia did not wish to return until she was assured of the departure of Douglas; she feared again to find herself in the presence of him who had caused her so much painful solicitude. When she reflected upon his vehement conduct of that morning, seeming so analogous to that of the preceding evening, a slight suspicion of the real cause floated over her mind. Faint and tremulous, she remained at the open window of the inner drawing-room, her sister and friends around her, when the well-known accents of Douglas in amicable conference with Sir Howard thrilled upon her every nerve, and the apparently cordial farewell of the latter as he drove down the avenue dissipated all her fears.
Finding her thus recovered, Lady Valpée left her to rejoin her guests, but found they had all dispersed with the solitary exception of Douglas, who remained impatiently awaiting the appearance of Rosilia. Lady Valpée informed him in a tone of mingled raillery and anger of the alarm he had spread among the ladies, and also of the sudden illness of Rosilia. During the recital his colour changed from white to red every second: was it for him or for Sir Howard that she had been thus affected? A confused hope dazzled him for an instant, but it was as suddenly checked by the recollection of the indifference which had marked her manners, and reception of him, upon his first entering that morning. He wished extremely to converse with her, if but for a few moments; but not venturing to request it, after a short interval of general conversation he thought proper to retire. Rosilia was still at the open window, but the instant he came near it she drew back, whilst crimson blushes spoke her distress. Too much a man of the world not to understand the meaning of this silent eloquence, the most rapturous sensations took possession of him; forgetting the innumerable things he had but lately in contemplation to say, he could only express his transports; and Rosilia having entirely lost her self-command was seeking in vain to regain it, until relieved by the approach of her sister, whose presence interrupting Douglas, he made his farewell salutations with as much appearance of composure as he could assume, and reluctantly departed.