The Mysterious Wanderer Volume Iii Part 3

"The elder St. Ledger, on his return in the evening, received me with his usual friends.h.i.+p. To him my father had never divulged the secret of his unhappiness; nor could I reveal it: but on his inquiring the reason of my journey to London, I related what had pa.s.sed between me and my mother since the death of my father, and the means she had used to make me appear insane. St. Ledger listened to my tale with complaisance; but regarded my conduct as proceeding from youthful folly; and plainly told me, he should sooner credit the idea of my insanity, than any thing to the prejudice of Lady Corbet, who, he was well a.s.sured, loved me too well, and was too just, wilfully to injure me or any one! He, however, requested I would make his house my home as long as I remained in town; and, at my entreaty, forbore to inform my mother where I was. The precaution, however, was useless, as Lady Dursley accidentally saw me, and wrote to my mother, who immediately came to London.

"With our subsequent rencontre at Sir John's, you are already acquainted. My mother, on her first arrival in town, designed to have called on St. Ledger; but, understanding he was at his country seat, deemed it unnecessary; and, having recovered her emigrant, took leave of her friends, and reconducted me to the Hall, where, a few days after, I was again placed in confinement.

CHAPTER III.

"The visits of Mr. Talton in some degree restored my liberty: but solitude was then become my choice; my mind, by constantly dwelling on the waywardness of my fate, became gloomy; and my wretchedness was farther encreased, by hearing the exultations of my mother, at the subjection to which she had reduced me.

"Mallet, nevertheless, wished my death, under an apprehension that I might, one day, discover the means which had been used to defraud me of my possessions; and repeatedly endeavoured to persuade her to let him administer such drugs as, without leaving any signs of violence, would quickly send me to the grave.--This, however, my mother as often opposed; and, at last declared, if I died, she would marry Talton.

"This arrangement by no means satisfied Mallet, whose real motive, I believe, was an idea, that if I were dead, he might persuade or terrify her into a marriage with himself.

"In the mean time, my mother continued her usual mode of behaviour toward me; occasionally allowing me the liberty of rambling in the surrounding plantations, though with two or three servants to watch me, lest I should again attempt to escape.

"Thus pa.s.sed more than a twelve-month, when I was taken ill; I loathed my food; my strength failed me; and repose became a stranger to my pillow. Frequently I pa.s.sed the night in pacing my room; or, when the moon afforded sufficient light, in contemplating the venerable structure where the ashes of my father rested, or in tracing the different haunts where he had so often attended me in my juvenile rambles.

"One night, as usual, I deserted my bed, my mind brooding on the ills which might befall my Eliza and her friends, if fate should consign me to the tomb; an event I thought very likely to happen;--restless, and not knowing where to fly for relief, I, after some time wandering about the chamber, unlocked the door of the private room; and, almost unconsciously, advanced to the spot which had afforded me such a source of unhappiness.

"Mallet was with my mother, and I soon found a disagreement, of no trivial nature, had taken place.

"'--I speak more from a consideration of your safety, Lady Corbet, than my own,' I heard him say. 'I have many resources which you have not; and--I again repeat it--whilst Sir Henry lives, not only your property, but your life also, is in danger: and, a moment's consideration would make you sensible of what the consequence must be, should Mrs. Blond or Mrs. Crawton seek the protection of Talton. They have eloquence as well as you, nor might even their beauty vainly plead in their favour!'

"'Charles, no more!' said my mother. 'You have instigated me thus far, nor will I now leave half my scheme unaccomplished. If you, Sir, are so easily intimidated--I am not! Let them seek his protection--it will be of no avail. I have Talton too securely in my toils, to fear any application they may make!'

"'Perhaps not!' continued Mallet. 'I do not like trusting to a chance, when you can proceed on a certainty. What would avail all your fine-spun policy, if Sir Henry should ever discover the will?--Your ruin must inevitably follow; nor will a charge of insanity then avail. With such a proof in his favour, he will soon find friends to support him; and you may then wish you had followed my advice. If he were dead, you would be at least secured in your present property.'

"'Would then he were dead!' e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed my mother.--'But it is impossible he should ever discover the will; though where Corbet could put it, I cannot think. But it must and shall be found--and soon too!'

"Their discourse ceased; but I was too much lost in reflection to remark it; and stood expecting its continuation, when my mother entered my apartment. An exclamation of surprise and dismay escaped her, on beholding the private room open, and anxiously advancing, she discovered me, my head resting against a pilaster, and my hand pressed to my beating temples.

"'What mean you, Sir?--How came you here?--How dare you enter this room, without my permission?' she angrily demanded--her eye quickly glancing from me to every part.

"'The same reason which brings you here, Madam,' I replied, 'first induced me to enter: the hope and expectation of finding my father's will.'

"'Your father's will!' she repeated. 'What means the boy?'

"'Not to establish my rights on a mother's destruction,' I replied: 'though most undoubtedly to do justice to those she has wronged. Oh, my mother! in mercy, go no farther; nor thus lay up a source of wretchedness for thy latter years. Life smiles gaily now, the meridian of a summer's day; but recollect, that night, however late, must still succeed. Will not my mother's soul then shrink from its glooms, and dread to meet the record of her actions?'

"'Knowest thou to whom thou art speaking?' she cried, darting a look of mingled scorn and fear at me.

"'To my mother!' I replied: 'and as such let her for once listen to me with patience!--You must be conscious, Madam, I am not ignorant of the measures you have pursued, to obtain the greatest part of my father's property; neither for what reason you now regard and treat me as an enemy. Believe me, you injure me, if you imagine that for the sake of regaining those possessions, I should ever wish to expose you to the censure of the world. Far from my heart be such a thought! I want not superfluous wealth; for me the fortune inherited from my forefathers, is amply sufficient. Freely then enjoy what you have obtained; by me you shall never be molested. All I ask is the restoration of Blond's property, and the society of my friends.'

"'Wretches!' she exclaimed. 'You too, I suppose, like your father, would foster the vagrant Ellenor! But let her, and your friends, as you call them, beware!'

"'She never injured you, Madam,' I cried; 'and recollect, she is the sister of the man, to whom you bound yourself by the most solemn ties before the face of Heaven. For myself I plead not; but as you hope for mercy hereafter, show it to her and the unhappy Elvyns.'

"'And art thou to prescribe to me?' she contemptuously exclaimed.--'To your chamber this instant, Sir; I shall not apply to you for guidance: and, as you value your existence, dare not again to give such licence to your tongue!--Begone, Sir!'

"I obeyed; taking the key from the door as I pa.s.sed.

"She instantly followed me, and peremptorily demanded it.

"'Excuse me, Madam,' I replied, 'I cannot yield it. It was given me by my father; and, as master of this mansion, I have an undoubted right to retain it.'

"'Master of this mansion!' she franticly repeated. 'Never whilst I exist.--Thinkest thou I will stoop to acknowledge thy superiority?'

"'Had I not been willing to acknowledge yours, Lady Corbet,' I answered, 'I had not thus long submitted to the restriction you have ordained; though I do not promise much longer patiently to bear it!'

"She regarded me with a frenzied eye--'Dost thou threaten too?--Severely shalt thou suffer for this! This instant, Sir, deliver the key.'

"'For G.o.d's sake, my mother,' I cried, 'do not thus oppress me: long have I borne each ill you have inflicted, and nearly without a murmur; in pity, then, spare me; nor thus add to the sorrows of a heart that is already nearly broken.'

"'No trifling, Sir; my purpose is fixed; nor, by all that is sacred, will I be dissuaded from it! I will not be subjected to your control, or longer kept in awe by your pretensions!'

"'I do not wish it,' I cried; 'all I ask, is that which, if not possessed by me, cannot devolve to you.'

"She stamped with rage.--'The key, Sir; this moment give it me.'

"'I have already told your Ladys.h.i.+p, I cannot--I will not yield it!'

"Never before had my mother experienced such opposition from me. Her pa.s.sions, already raised by the insinuations of Mallet, hurried her nearly to madness; she s.n.a.t.c.hed a pen-knife from the table where I had been writing, her lips quivered as she grasped my arm--'Harry--if thou darest again refuse--thou forfeitest thy life!'

"'Then take my life,' I cried; the tears starting to my eyes, and so agitated that I could scarcely speak; 'when a mother seeks to destroy it, what hand shall be raised for its preservation!--Yet think not by depriving me of existence, to secure your safety. A charge of lunacy may screen the action from the knowledge of the world; but there is an all-seeing eye, Lady Corbet, that would mark it, and make you for ever dread to meet the face of Heaven!'

"She regarded me with an agitation, that too plainly showed the state of her mind, then cast me from her with violence, and hurled the knife to the further part of the room. I was hastening to secure it, when Mallet, either for the purpose of a.s.sisting her to search for the will, or from a motive of a darker nature, entered the chamber. He started on beholding me, and, with a well-counterfeited surprise, asked the reason of my being up at such an unseasonable hour?

"'Where the a.s.sa.s.sin dwells,' I replied, 'it is requisite to watch, instead of sleeping!'

"'a.s.sa.s.sin!' he repeated as he advanced; when perceiving the knife in my hand--'What madness, Sir Henry, have you been attempting? A strait waistcoat I believe will soon terminate your nightly exploits!'

"My mother here informed him of her finding me in the private room, and of my refusing to resign the key.--'A circ.u.mstance,' he significantly returned, 'at which I am not in the least surprised. Your Ladys.h.i.+p will most probably be very soon convinced, that the measures I advised were highly requisite.'

"My mother regarded him with an expressive countenance, but was silent, and Mallet continued--'It is not yet too late to rectify the error; and as I know the necessity for it, I shall take the liberty of dispossessing Sir Henry of the means of future entrance to that apartment.' Then addressing me--'I have no time to lose in persuasion, young gentleman: if you do not peaceably resign the key, I shall use effectual means to obtain it!'

"'Never from my hands shall you receive it,' I indignantly cried: 'nor whilst I have life will I part with it. I know the blackened purpose of your heart too well; but Corbet still has a friend, who will deliver him from your machinations.'

"'What mean you by that insinuation, Sir?' he ferociously exclaimed.

"'Look on this wasting form,' I replied, 'and let that answer thee.--Wretch that thou art, could not thy injuries to my father satisfy thee, but thou must also seek to destroy his son!'

"He did not receive this imprudent accusation calmly, but seized me with a strength I had not power to oppose.--'Since you have taxed me with such an intention,' he exclaimed, 'it shall not be for nothing. Your life has long been in my power, though I have weakly spared it!'

"My mother called to him to forbear; but rage had bereaved him of all prudence or consideration, and, wresting the pen-knife from me, he attempted to plunge it into my bosom.

"Quick as lightning, my mother caught his hand, and again commanded him to desist, or she would instantly alarm the family.